by Weena Kowitwanij

Born into a traditional Buddhist family, 19 year old Uttaporn encountered Catholicism in school and chose to be baptized. A student at the Faculty of Arts he will graduate next year as a Chinese language major. Active in the choir, prayer groups and activities for children, on Facebook he has decided to witness to the faith in Jesus

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - Born into a traditional Buddhist family, thanks to childhood studies he encountered Catholicism and, over time, decided to convert receiving the baptism. Today, in his last year of university, he speaks to friends - through Facebook and social networks - about Jesus and explain the steps of the Gospel for others to "join me in the near future" and embrace Christianity. This is the story of Nate Uttaporn-phrom, a student at the Faculty of Arts of Silpakorn University, Bangkok founded in 1943 by a professor of Italian origin Corrado Fierce (Silpa Bhirasri, in Thai).

The 19 year old Uttaporn (pictured) is deepening the study of the Chinese language and will graduate next year. He wanted to tell and share his own story as a student and Catholic faithful on a TV program devoted to "Nansara" broadcast a few days ago. At first, the young man says, "my parents were reluctant to give me the opportunity to convert" at the age of 14, during high school years. At that time, he says, "I used to pray with my grandfather, who was sick, in front of the statue of Our Lady." And, in turn, family members "accompanied me to church on Sunday," while not being Catholics.

Over time, the young man became a member of a choir, prayer groups and catechism classes and in this way "I became familiar with the Catholic environment." Reading the Bible "has been of tremendous benefit" and even today, every day, he reads a passage from the Old or the New Testament.

Later, Uttaporn joined lay Bible study groups, and bcame an active animator for childrens groups. A commitment that "I want to carry on forever."

Today he is a member of the summer and youth camps of his parish of origin, in Ratchaburi province, although he hopes to see the birth of a Catholic group on campus, where at the moment he can share the experience of faith with only three other baptized. However, through social networks he tells friends "something more about being Catholic." "This is the way I found - he concludes - to speak about Jesus Christ to friends who want to know and meet Him."

 

• thailand
• youth
• faith
• conversion
• buddhism
• university
• social
• networks