Diocese of

Nakhon Ratchasima

Thailand

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Nakhon Ratchasima / สังฆมณฑลนครราชสีมา) (ไทย) / 呵叻 (正體中文) / Nakhonratchasimanën(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Tharé–Nonseng

Neighbouring Dioceses: Nakhon Sawan (←), Udon Thani (↑), Ubon Ratchathani (→), Bătdâmbâng (↘), Chanthaburi (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1965.03.22: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Nakhorn-Rajasima / Nakhornraiasimæn(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Ubon)
1965.12.18: Promoted as Diocese of Nakhorn-Rajasima / Nakhornraiasimæn(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Thare and Nonseng)
1969.07.02: Renamed as Diocese of Nakhon Ratchasima / สังฆมณฑลนครราชสีมา) (ไทย) / 呵叻 (正體中文) / Nakhonratchasimanën(sis) (Latin)

Present Prelates

Bishop (2006.11.30 – ...):

Bishop Joseph Chusak Sirisut (70)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand

Ordinaries

Bishops of Nakhon Ratchasima (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Chusak Sirisut (70)
(2006.11.30 – ...)

Bishop of Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand)
General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand

Born:	1956.02.24 (Bang Nok Kwek, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1984.05.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.02.10

Priest of Ratchaburi (Thailand) (1984.05.11 – 2006.11.30)

Bishop of Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand) (2006.11.30 – ...)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2009.10 – 2018?)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2021.10.01 – 2025.03.25)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2025.03.25 – ...)

Bishop Joachim Phayao Manisap
(1977.05.30 – 2006.11.30)

Born:	1929.07.19 (Chanthaburi, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1958.11.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1977.09.03
Died:	2007.11.03 († 78)

Bishop of Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand) (1977.05.30 – 2006.11.30)

Bishop Alain Sauveur Ferdinand van Gaver, M.E.P.
(1969.07.02 – 1977.05.30)

Born:	1921.02.13 (Marseille, France)
Ordained Priest:	1946.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1965.07.22
Died:	1993.05.04 (Marseille, France † 72)

Titular Bishop of Capra (1965.03.22 – 1965.12.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Nakhorn-Rajasima (Thailand) (1965.03.22 – 1965.12.18)

Bishop of Nakhorn-Rajasima (Thailand) (1965.12.18 – 1969.07.02)

Bishop of Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand) (1969.07.02 – 1977.05.30)

Bishops of Nakhorn-Rajasima (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alain Sauveur Ferdinand van Gaver, M.E.P.
(1965.12.18 – 1969.07.02)

(see above)

Vicars Apostolic of Nakhorn-Rajasima (Roman Rite)

Bishop Alain Sauveur Ferdinand van Gaver, M.E.P.
(1965.03.22 – 1965.12.18)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Ratchasima
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Nakhon Sawan (←), Udon Thani (↑), Ubon Ratchathani (→), Bătdâmbâng (↘), Chanthaburi (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 43,595 km²

Population: 7,009 Catholics (0.1% of 5,324,898 total)

Pastoral Centres: 35 parishes

Personnel: 36 priests (29 diocesan, 7 religious), 42 religious (14 brothers, 28 sisters), 3 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.03.30

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