Holy Redeemer Church, Bangkok
| Holy Redeemer Church | |
|---|---|
| Thai: วัดพระมหาไถ่ | |
 | |
| Location |
Ruamrudee Lane Witthayu Rd Pathum Wan District, Bangkok 10330 |
| Country | Thailand |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website |
www |
| History | |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founder(s) | Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Thai |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Bangkok |
| Clergy | |
| Pastor(s) | Rev. John Wirach Amonpattana C.Ss.R. |
Holy Redeemer Church in Bangkok, Thailand is a Roman Catholic church established by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.[1] (also known as the Redemptorists[1]). It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok, part of the province of Thailand[2]
Location & Accessibility
The church is located[3] in Soi Ruamrudee, off Phloen Chit BTS Station (brisk walk 10 minutes), very close to the foreign embassy district in the city.
It is accessible via the BTS Skytrain or motorcycle taxi ride (1 minute) down Soi Ruamrudee.
Liturgy
The church celebrates mass daily with separate services in Thai and English.[4] The musical elements of the services are provided by an electronic organ and the participation of the congregation.
History
The Parish of Holy Redeemer was established by the Redemptorists in 1949.,[5][6] with the church itself being built in 1954.[5][7] It is built in the traditional Thai architectural style[2][8][9]
Community
Its location in the city lends itself to a large congregation[10] catering to local and international parishioners from many different cultures and walks of life.[5][11][12][13] It also draws many of its congregation from the Klong Toey slums.[14]
Schools
The Redemptorists, with the support of expatriate parishioners, founded the Ruamrudee International School in 1957.[15] The school is now located in Minburi and has grown to have a student population of approximately 1300.[15] It grew from the original Thai-medium school, Holy Redeemer School, which remains on the parish property.[2] Ruamrudee follows the American curriculum and uses English as its medium of instruction while Holy Redeemer follows the local curriculum.
Marriage Preparation
The parish has a well-established marriage preparation program (Pre-Cana instruction) and serves as the main centre for Roman Catholic parishes in Bangkok to send couples for marriage preparation.[5][16]
Food Outreach Program
The church supports a Food Outreach Program that aims to help people who are asylum seekers, mostly from Pakistan with others from Sri Lanka, Palestine and Syria. Started in 2009, it now supports more than 400 families each month
Social Outreach
The Thailand Redemptorists have also developed numerous other community-based programs or institutions, including:
- Sarnelli House Thailand, an orphanage for children who have been abandoned or who have HIV/AIDS
- Human Development Foundation Mercy Centre, a "shelter for street kids, five orphanages, a hospice, a home for mothers and children with HIV/AIDS, a 400-pupil kindergarten, a community meeting place, and a serene haven in the slums with small gardens and playgrounds
- Father Ray Foundation, an organisation that cares for "orphaned, abused and disadvantaged children and students with disabilities
Various Community Services
- Overeaters Anonymous, a support group for overeaters, particularly expats in Bangkok[17]
- Alcoholics Anonymous meeting place[18][19]
See also
- Ruamrudee International School - founded by Redemptorist priests from the church
- Roman Catholicism in Thailand
- Christianity in Thailand
- List of Roman Catholic dioceses in Thailand
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok
References
- 1 2 Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
- 1 2 3 Redemptorist Celebration of the new Province of Thailand
- ↑ Google Map showing location of Holy Redeemer Church, Bangkok
- ↑ Mass Times
- 1 2 3 4 Holy Redeemer Church, Bangkok: A microcosm of the Universal Church
- ↑ History of Redemptorists in Thailand
- ↑ "Holy Redeemer Church, Bangkok". The Redemptorist - Thailand Chapter. 16 Dec 2006. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ↑ Barrett, Kenneth (2014). 22 walks in bangkok Exploring the City's Historic Back Lanes and Byways. New York: Tuttle Publishing. p. 311. ISBN 9781462913800.
- ↑ Hoskin, Photography by Allen W. Hopkins. Text by John (1995). Bangkok by design : architectural diversity in the city of angels. Bangkok: Select Books. p. 139. ISBN 978-9742020378.
- ↑ Christmas in Bangkok by photojournalist Jack Kurtz
- ↑ Obituary of Jonathan Harger (The Nation)
- ↑ Bangkok Companies church reviews
- ↑ Happy Together: The Catholic Blueprint for a Loving Marriage by John Bosio (book) (published by Happy Together)
- ↑ Hopkins, Father Joe Maier ; foreword by Jerry (2005). Welcome to the Bangkok slaughterhouse : the battle for human dignity in Bangkok's bleakest slums. Singapore: Periplus. p. 15. ISBN 978-0794602932.
- 1 2 Ruamrudee International School website
- ↑ "Church Timings and Details". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
- ↑ Acclimate Magazine, Ann White
- ↑ Bangkok Guide (book) (published by Australian-New Zealand Women's Group)
- ↑ Successful living in Bangkok by Jennie Sharples of Community Services of Bangkok(book) (published by Community Services of Bangkok)
External links
- Official Website of the Church (English)(Thai)
- Food Outreach Program
- The Holy See (The Vatican)
- Holy Redeemer Church (unofficial) on Facebook
- Sarnelli Orphanage
- Human Development Foundation Mercy Centre