Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng

---

Bishop(s) Louis Chamniern Santisukniram, Archbishop Suffragan Dioceses Nakhon Ratchasima Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 18 December 1965 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Thailand Square Kilometers: 25,477 (9,840 Square Miles) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6, Sakon Nakhon 47000, Thailand Telephone: (042)71.12.72; 71.17.18 Fax: 71.20.23

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Laos
  • Latin Name: Laosiensis
  • Erected: 4 May 1899
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Thailand

• Vicariate Apostolic of Thare
  • Latin Name: Tharensis
  • Name Changed: 21 December 1950
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Thailand

• Vicariate Apostolic of Thare and Nonseng
  • Latin Name: Tharensis et Nonsengensis
  • Name Changed: 25 March 1960
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Thailand

---

Past and Present Ordinaries

• Marie-Joseph Cuaz, M.E.P. † (12 May 1899 Appointed - 26 Apr 1912 Resigned)
• Constant-Jean-Baptiste Prodhomme, M.E.P. † (2 Jun 1913 Appointed - 20 Aug 1920 Died)
• Ange-Marie-Joseph Gouin, M.E.P. † (27 Apr 1922 Appointed - 1 Jul 1943 Resigned)
• Henri-Albert Thomine, M.E.P. † (13 Jul 1944 Appointed - 21 Mar 1945 Died)
• Claude-Philippe Bayet, M.E.P. † (10 Apr 1947 Appointed - 7 Mar 1953 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Ubon)
• Michael Mongkhol On Prakhongchit † (7 May 1953 Appointed - 23 Jan 1958 Died)
• Michel Kien Samophithak † (12 Feb 1959 Appointed - 6 Mar 1980 Resigned)
• Lawrence Khai Saen-Phon-On † (6 Mar 1980 Appointed - 14 May 2004 Retired)
• Louis Chamniern Santisukniram (1 Jul 2005 Appointed - )

---

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Laos
4 May 1899	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Laos (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Thare
21 December 1950	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Laos	Vicariate Apostolic of Thare
7 May 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Thare	Vicariate Apostolic of Ubon (erected)
7 May 1953	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Thare	Prefecture Apostolic of Udonthani (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Thare and Nonseng
25 March 1960	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Thare	Vicariate Apostolic of Thare and Nonseng
Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng
18 December 1965	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Thare and Nonseng	Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng

---

Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Laos
1950	24,500			27		27	907			103		ap1951
Vicariate Apostolic of Thare
Vicariate Apostolic of Thare and Nonseng
Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng
1970	25,153	1,500,000	1.7%	24	7	31	811		7	72		ap1971
1980	34,918	2,179,808	1.6%	20	3	23	1,518		3	74	15	ap1981
1990	41,917	2,697,000	1.6%	29		29	1,445			92	28	ap1991
1999	48,229	3,113,865	1.5%	49		49	984			95	32	ap2000
2000	48,887	3,117,179	1.6%	47		47	1,040			92	30	ap2001
2001	49,489	3,118,865	1.6%	51		51	970			99	30	ap2002
2002	48,930	3,262,786	1.5%	50		50	978			102	49	ap2003
2003	49,528	3,343,077	1.5%	52		52	952			103	49	ap2004
2004	50,008	3,157,780	1.6%	49	1	50	1,000		1	107	74	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

---

Affiliated Bishops

• Claude-Philippe Bayet, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Apr 1947 to 7 Mar 1953)
• Louis Chamniern Santisukniram (Priest: 17 May 1970 to 5 Nov 1998; Archbishop: 1 Jul 2005 - )
• Marie-Joseph Cuaz, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 May 1899 to 26 Apr 1912)
• Ange-Marie-Joseph Gouin, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Apr 1922 to 1 Jul 1943)
• Michel Kien Samophithak † (Vicar Apostolic: 12 Feb 1959; Archbishop: 18 Dec 1965 to 6 Mar 1980)
• Michael Mongkhol On Prakhongchit † (Vicar Apostolic: 7 May 1953 to 23 Jan 1958)
• Constant-Jean-Baptiste Prodhomme, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 2 Jun 1913 to 20 Aug 1920)
• Lawrence Khai Saen-Phon-On † (Priest: 16 Jan 1957; Archbishop: 6 Mar 1980 to 14 May 2004)
• Henri-Albert Thomine, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Jul 1944 to 21 Mar 1945)