The Jesuit Region of Thailand has two new priests. Fr Pipat Muepae SJ and Fr Sarayuth Konsupap SJ were ordained on June 29 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Chiang Mai by the bishop, Most Rev Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana. It was a special ordination as ordained with them were four other men: two from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, one from the Betharram Fathers and one from the diocese of Chiang Mai. There were nearly 200 priests and at least 2,000 people in attendance.
Fr Pipat Muepae, or Fr Pat, is from the province of Mae Hon Son in northern Thailand on the border of Myanmar. He belongs to the Karen tribe and was born into a Catholic family. His father was a catechist for 27 years.
“I think my family, especially my father, really played a big role in my interest in religious life. My family was very devoted to church activities and evangelisation. My father was a very dedicated catechist and we hardly missed going to church and involving in church activities”, he shared.
Fr Pat dreamt of becoming a priest and felt drawn to religious life as a child, but he did not know any Jesuits then. Most of the priests he encountered were young French missionaries. “They looked very big, tall and scary but actually very kind”, he said. “They did all kinds of work such as giving people medicines, and farming and carpentry equipment, as well as preaching and teaching. They were very talented and well respected persons.”
After finishing high school, Fr Pat joined a vocation camp offered by a Jesuit scholastic in Thailand. He had initially joined for fun but he ended up writing an application to join the Jesuits. He entered the candidacy programme in Sampran, Nakhon Pathom.
“I was very happy because I made many friends in the candidates’ house and enjoyed my studies as well as my community. Little by little, I learned about Jesuit life and I fell in love with it.”
It was also the same time that Fr Sarayuth Konsupap, or Fr Thep, was in the candidacy programme. In fact, he had been there several years already.
Fr Thep is from Huay Pong, Khun Yuam District, also in the Mae Hong Son Province. Like Fr Pat, he was raised in a Catholic home and felt called to religious life young. He entered the Jesuit candidacy programme at the age of 13, right after finishing primary school. He was in the programme for six years, from junior throughout senior high school.
“It is God, himself, who chose me from the beginning and has always accompanied me faithfully in this journey, in times of joy and difficulties”, he shared.
Fr Thep and Fr Pat have spent many years together in their Jesuit formation. After their candidacy they entered the Maria Della Strada Novitiate in Taunggyi, Myanmar in 2007, both studied philosophy at the Driyarkara School of Philosophy in Jakarta, Indonesia and theology at the Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines. They were ordained as deacons in Manila in October last year.
Like all ordinations, Fr Thep and Fr Pat’s ordination is important for the Society, but even more so in Thailand, which is a small but growing Jesuit region. There are only 37 Jesuits in the country, 21 of them are Thai and majority are still in training for the priesthood. The newly ordained men are grateful for the gift of their priestly vocation.
“Some people refer to us, newly ordained, as ‘the new generation’”, shared Fr Thep. “It’s a big challenge for us but we have many partners faithfully working with us in the mission.”
Fr Thep’s first assignment as priest is Assistant to the Director of the Jesuit chapel at Xavier Hall in Bangkok and as Social Apostolate Chaplain.
“I am very hopeful for my next mission. I am excited to meet new people and work with them,” said Fr Thep. “Our mission in Thailand has been successful because of the help of our partners.”
Fr Pat has been assigned to the Seven Fountains Retreat Center, where he will guide retreatants through the Spiritual Exercises.
“I think Ignatian spiritually will help many people to realise their positive power to live happy lives despite the challenges in our world today”, he shared. “I’m very happy. It has been my dream to introduce Ignatian spirituality to Thai society.”