For a Thai Catholic, the Cebu Congress is just the beginning of a new evangelisation

Somchai Chaopatanawong is a member of a Basic Ecclesial Community in his native Thailand. Along with other fellow Thais, he flew to the Philippines for the conference, which ended on Sunday, 31 January. For him, it was a “wonderful 'miracle' to see so many Catholics and people from other religions meet."

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - Somchai Chaopatanawong, a Thai Catholic and member of a Basic Ecclesial Community, spoke to AsiaNews about the challenge that awaits those who travelled to Cebu, Philippines, for the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC), which ended yesterday, 31 January.

For him, “evangelisation means sharing with my friends the experience that I had by participating in the Eucharistic Congress. It is the easiest way to do it: telling them about the wonderful 'miracle' of seeing so many Catholics and people from other religions meet."

Somchai was especially impressed by the testimony of Fr Thomas Rosica, a Canadian priest, who spoke about ‘Evangelisation in a secular world’. "According to Fr Rosica, this evangelisation requires three steps. The first is humility; the second is to imitate the example of our brave martyrs (like Saint Pedro Calungsod for the Philippines) in bearing witness to God; and lastly to be useful to other Catholics by proclaiming the Word of God."

Pornchanok Pantutamungkurn also came to Cebu from Thailand. "It is the second time that I take part in an IEC,” she said. “The first time was in Ireland in 2012.”

“I am very glad to have seen people from all over the world who profess their faith in Jesus Christ. This made me realise the true value of Christ in communion. This time, in Cebu, I felt at home. Many people used the 'language of love’, smiling and practicing the message of 'being one in Jesus'."

For Pornchanok, evangelisation begins with "praying for everyone I know, for the Church, for the souls in Purgatory, for the sick, the homeless and the neglected of society.”

“I am also concerned that my family receive the faith my ancestors passed onto me. I consider myself very lucky because my husband, a devout Buddhist, takes me to church every Sunday."

"From the IEC,” she noted, “I also learnt that the Eucharist has to do with the poor. I remembered the words of the vicar general of the diocese of Bangkok, Fr Wudhilert Haelome, who said, 'For the Jubilee of Mercy, it is not necessary to organise charity activities. What we have to do is look around and help those we see in trouble. Somehow, this is an automatic way to proclaim the Catholic faith."

• thailand
• international eucharistic congress
• evangelisation
• witness