THE ARCHBISHOP of Bangkok has begun a three-day visit to Ireland to thank the parishioners of Meath for raising funds and supporting the people of Thailand and Burma.
Cardinal Michael Kitbunchu is the leader of the Catholic Church in Thailand.
Fr Paul Crosbie, Meath diocesan secretary, said the diocese had a strong relationship with southeast Asia, particularly since the tsunami of December 2004. Some €1.1 million was raised in Meath parishes after the tsunami and the diocese got involved in a number of education and humanitarian relief projects in south east Asia.
Five primary schools in Athboy, Mornington, Mullingar, Navan and Trim are now twinned with five schools on the Thailand/Burma border which provide education for Burmese migrant children.
Cardinal Kitbunchu will visit one of these schools, Gainstown National School in Mullingar, this morning. He will bless two crosses at the school, one of which will be delivered to the Burmese migrants’ school.
“We are very honoured to have him here,” said Fr Crosbie. “We have much to learn from him, especially from his experience of intercultural dialogue.
“But our relationship with southeast Asia is not new.
“The Columban Fathers at Dalgan Park in Navan have been doing work in southeast Asia since the 1930s.”
Bishop of Meath Dr Michael Smith has travelled to southeast Asia to see the humanitarian work and quickly launched an appeal to help the people of Burma after the recent cyclone.
Previously, as part of a Lenten appeal, the parish of Mullingar worked with Trócaire to raise €80,000 to provide a new centre for skills training for disadvantaged women in Thailand.
Today, Cardinal Kitbunchu will meet the priests from the diocese to thank them for the generosity of their parishioners and explain how their funds have been used.
Tomorrow, he will celebrate morning Mass in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar. to thank parishioners for raising funds.
