by Weena Kowitwanij

It will be the main theme in Catholic media. Tsunami-stricken families in Phuket call on volunteers to take part in Midnight Mass.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Catholic media in Thailand have chosen 'Bearing witness for the tsunami' as the main theme for Christmas. Fr Anthony Vorayuth Kitbamrung, director of Catholic Social Communications of Thailand, announced that Channel 11 will focus on "how the priests in the diocese of Surat Thani will celebrate Christmas with tsunami victims".

"I intend to show how, thanks to our support, people were able to rebuild their lives with new hope," he said.

"The Catholic Church in Thailand and Caritas have provided fishermen with more than 300 new boats so that they can back to work," he added.

In Phuket, one of the hardest-hit areas, Fr Peter Bancha Aphichartworakun, director of Tsunami Relief Center, announced that he will visit the area "to see whether they [survivors helped by the diocese] live a normal life or not, [and] to continue the good relationship we built during the relief" phase.

Due to the assistance provided by the Church, many locals have come to appreciate and trust Catholics.

Sister Rosa Supa Thongumpai, a member of the immediate diocesan relief team, said: "When I make a home visit, some villagers ask me: 'Don't forget to invite us to Christmas Mass.'   It seems they [. . .] trust us and will come for advice when they have to make some decisions."

Father Bancha said that "like every year, we shall pay s visit to the heads of the local Buddhist and Muslim communities and to Phuket's governor".

Finally, the clergyman noted that Phuket's various communities live in harmony—about "60 per cent are Muslim; 30 per cent, Buddhist; and 10 per cent, Catholic."

• thailand
• phuket
• catholics
• buddhists
• muslims
• tsunami
• a
• year
• later
• christmas
• bearing
• witness
• hope
• television
• channel
• 11