Vicariate Apostolic of Savannakhet

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Bishop(s) Jean Marie Prida Inthirath, Vicar Apostolic

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Vicariate Apostolic Name Changed: 26 November 1963 Vicariate Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: Lao People’s Democratic Republic Square Kilometers: 38,089 (14,711 Square Miles) Mailing Address: Centre Catholique, B.P. 012, Thakhek, Khammouane, Laos Telephone: (020)556.56.522

Historical Details

• Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek
  • Latin Name: Thakhekensis
  • Erected: 21 December 1950
  • Country: Lao People’s Democratic Republic

• Vicariate Apostolic of Thakhek
  • Latin Name: Thakhekensis
  • Elevated: 24 February 1958
  • Vicariate
  • Country: Lao People’s Democratic Republic

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Jean-Rosière-Eugène Arnaud, M.E.P. † (17 Jul 1950 Appointed - 28 Jun 1971 Resigned)
• Pierre-Antoine-Jean Bach, M.E.P. † (28 Jun 1971 Appointed - 10 Jul 1975 Resigned)
• Jean-Baptiste Outhay Thepmany † (10 Jul 1975 Appointed - 21 Apr 1997 Resigned)
• Jean Sommeng Vorachak † (21 Apr 1997 Appointed - 14 Jul 2009 Died)
• Jean Marie Prida Inthirath (9 Jan 2010 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek
21 December 1950	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Laos (Gammon, Savannakhet, Saravane, and Bassac)	Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek (erected)
4 April 1957	Territory Added	Vicariate Apostolic of Kontum (Attopeu)	Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek
Vicariate Apostolic of Thakhek
24 February 1958	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek	Vicariate Apostolic of Thakhek
Vicariate Apostolic of Savannakhet
26 November 1963	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Thakhek	Vicariate Apostolic of Savannakhet
12 June 1967	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Savannakhet (Saravane, Vapikhamthong, Sédon, Champassac, Attopeu, and Sithandone)	Vicariate Apostolic of Paksé (erected)

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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 Savannakhet
1970	6,370	600,000	1.1%	4	11	15	424		11			ap1971
1974	6,777	681,000	1.0%	7	11	18	376		11	51	16	ap1991
1999	10,743	1,375,100	.8%	7		7	1,534			34	52	ap2000
2000	10,755	1,536,771	.7%	6		6	1,792			39	54	ap2001
2001	10,967	1,847,920	.6%	6		6	1,827			40	54	ap2002
2002	11,526	2,200,750	.5%	7		7	1,646			40	54	ap2003
2004	12,500	2,700,250	.5%	6		6	2,083			47	54	ap2005
2010	13,565	1,325,966	1.0%	6		6	2,260			53	49	ap2011
2014	12,317	1,325,000	.9%	6	2	8	1,539		3	46	43	ap2015
2017	11,059	1,370,546	.8%	8	7	15	737		10	48	44	ap2018
2020	12,491	1,460,000	.9%	11	5	16	780		5	49	42	ap2021
2022	12,342	1,525,000	.8%	11	6	17	726		6	48	42	ap2023

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

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Affiliated Bishops, Living

• Jean Marie Prida Inthirath (Priest: 20 Apr 1986; Vicar Apostolic: 9 Jan 2010)

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Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

• Jean-Rosière-Eugène Arnaud, M.E.P. † (Prefect: 17 Jul 1950; Vicar Apostolic: 2 Mar 1958 to 28 Jun 1971)
• Pierre-Antoine-Jean Bach, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Jun 1971 to 10 Jul 1975)
• Jean-Baptiste Outhay Thepmany † (Priest: 29 Jun 1963; Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jul 1975 to 21 Apr 1997)
• Jean Sommeng Vorachak † (Priest: 29 Jun 1963; Vicar Apostolic: 21 Apr 1997 to 14 Jul 2009)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Thakhek Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 43, Page 253, and Page 254 Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 49, Page 752, and Page 753 Vicariate Apostolic of Thakhek Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 617, to Page 619

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