Diocese of Nakhon Sawan, Thailand 🇹🇭

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Name: Nakhon Sawan / สังฆมณฑลนครสวรรค์ (ไทย) / 那空沙旺 (正體中文) / Nakhonsauanen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Bangkok

Neighbouring Dioceses: Ratchaburi (↙), Mawlamyine (←), Hpa-an (↖), Chiang Mai (↑), Luang Prabang (↗), Udon Thani (↗), Nakhon Ratchasima (→), Chanthaburi (↘), Bangkok (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1967.02.09: Established as Diocese of Nakhorn-Sawan / Nakhornen(sis)–Sauanen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangkok and became suffragan of Bangkok)
1969.07.02: Renamed as Diocese of Nakhon Sawan / สังฆมณฑลนครสวรรค์ (ไทย) / 那空沙旺 (正體中文) / Nakhonsauanen(sis) (Latin)
1970.06.20: Gained territory from Diocese of Chiang Mai

Present Prelates

Bishop (2024.02.13 – ...):

Bishop Paul Tawat Singsa (60)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Nakhon Sawan (Roman Rite)

Bishop Paul Tawat Singsa (60)
(2024.02.13 – ...)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand)

Born:	1966.03.13 (Ban Mi, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1992.10.24
Consecrated Bishop:	2024.03.23

Priest of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (1992.10.24 – 2024.02.13)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (2024.02.13 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Pibul Visitnondachai (79)
(2009.06.19 – 2024.02.13)

Bishop emeritus of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand)

Deus caritas est

Born:	1946.06.01 (Bang Buathong, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1974.03.17
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.09.12

Priest of Bangkok (Thailand) (1974.03.17 – 2009.06.19)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (2009.06.19 – 2024.02.13)

Bishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij (76) (later Cardinal)
(2007.03.07 – 2009.05.14)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Addolorata
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bangkok (Thailand)

Verbum crucis Dei virtus est

Born:	1949.06.27 (Bam Rak, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1976.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.06.02
Created Cardinal:	2015.02.14

Priest of Bangkok (Thailand) (1976.07.11 – 2007.03.07)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (2007.03.07 – 2009.05.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand) (2009.05.14 – 2024.06.27)

Vice-President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2009.10 – 2015)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2015 – 2021.10.01)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Addolorata (2015.02.14 [2015.10.11] – ...)

Bishop Louis Chamniern Santisukniran (83) (later Archbishop)
(1998.11.05 – 2005.07.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Thare and Nonseng (Thailand)

Adveniat regnum tuum

Born:	1942.10.30 (Nonseng, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1970.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.01.23

Priest of Thare and Nonseng (Thailand) (1970.05.17 – 1998.11.05)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (1998.11.05 – 2005.07.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng (Thailand) (2005.07.01 – 2020.05.13)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2009.10 – 2015)

Bishop Joseph Banchong Aribarg
(1976.05.24 – 1998.11.05)

Born:	1927.05.27 (Chanthaburi, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1956.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.07.12
Died:	2012.09.01 († 85)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (1976.05.24 – 1998.11.05)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1982 – 1985)

Bishop Michel-Auguste-Marie Langer, M.E.P.
(1969.07.02 – 1976.05.24)

Born:	1920.12.10 (Thévray, France)
Ordained Priest:	1946.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1967.04.13
Died:	1989.03.27 († 68)

Bishop of Nakhorn-Sawan (Thailand) (1967.02.09 – 1969.07.02)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (1969.07.02 – 1976.05.24)

Bishops of Nakhorn-Sawan (Roman Rite)

Bishop Michel-Auguste-Marie Langer, M.E.P.
(1967.02.09 – 1969.07.02)

(see above)

Special Churches

Cathedral: St. Ann Cathedral, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Sawan
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Ratchaburi (↙), Mawlamyine (←), Hpa-an (↖), Chiang Mai (↑), Luang Prabang (↗), Udon Thani (↗), Nakhon Ratchasima (→), Chanthaburi (↘), Bangkok (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 93,547 km²

Population: 21,955 Catholics (0.2% of 8,992,000 total)

Pastoral Centres: 48 parishes, 15 missions

Personnel: 52 priests (37 diocesan, 15 religious), 94 religious (19 brothers, 75 sisters), 13 seminarians