View source for Roman Catholic Diocese of Ratchaburi

{{Short description|Roman Catholic diocese in Thailand}}
{{onesource|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction      = Diocese
| name              = Ratchaburi
| latin             = Diœcesis Ratchaburensis
| local             = {{lang|th|สังฆมณฑลราชบุรี}}
| image             = 
| image_size        = 
| image_alt         = 
| caption           = 
| coat              = 
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| flag              = 
| flag_size         = 
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<!---- Locations ---->
| country           = {{flag|Thailand}}
| territory         = 
| province          = [[Archdiocese of Bangkok|Bangkok]]
| metropolitan      = [[Archdiocese of Bangkok|Bangkok]]
| deaneries         = 
| headquarters      = 
| coordinates       = 
<!---- Statistics ---->
| area_km2          = 31,362
| area_footnotes    = 
| population        = 2,327,381
| population_as_of  = 2004
| catholics         = 15,730
| catholics_percent = 0.7
| parishes          = <!-- Number of parishes in the diocese -->
| churches          = <!-- Number of churches in the diocese -->
| congregations     = <!-- Number of congregations in the diocese -->
| schools           = <!-- Number of church supported schools in the diocese -->
| members           = <!-- Number of members in the diocese -->
<!---- Information ---->
| denomination      = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| sui_iuris_church  = [[Latin Church]]
| rite              = [[Roman Rite]]
| established       = 
| dissolved         = 
| cathedral         = Cathedral of Nativity of Our Lady in [[Bang Khonthi District|Amphoe Bang Khonthi]]
| cocathedral       = 
| patron            = 
| priests           = 
<!---- Current leadership ---->
| pope              = {{Incumbent pope}}
| bishop            = [[Siripong Charatsri|Silvio Siripong Charatsri]]
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| vicar_general     = 
| episcopal_vicar   = 
| judicial_vicar    = 
| emeritus_bishops  = 
<!---- Map ---->
| map               = Thailand Diocese Ratchaburi.png
| map_size          = 
| map_alt           = 
| map_caption       = Location of the Diocese of Ratchaburi
<!---- Website ---->
| website           = 
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}}
The ([[Roman Catholic]]) '''[[Diocese]] of [[Ratchaburi]]''' (''Diœcesis Ratchaburensis'', {{langx|th|สังฆมณฑลราชบุรี}}) is a Latin [[suffragan]] diocese of the [[archdiocese of Bangkok]]  in western central [[Thailand]].

The diocese covers an area of {{convert|31362|km2|mi2}}, covering four of the western [[provinces of Thailand]]: [[Ratchaburi Province|Ratchaburi]], [[Phetchaburi Province|Phetchaburi]], [[Kanchanaburi Province|Kanchanaburi]], and [[Samut Songkhram Province|Samut Songkhram]]. As of 2001, of the 2.2 million citizens, 15,246 are members of the Catholic Church. It is divided into 17 parishes, having 71 priests altogether.

While the [[cathedral]] episcopal see dedicated to the [[Nativity of Our Lady]] is at Bang Nok Khwaek, the diocesan center is in the town of [[Ratchaburi]].

== History ==
The diocese dates back to 30 June 1930, when the '''''[[Mission sui iuris]]'' of Rajaburi''' was created, originally responsible for the south and west of Thailand, on territory split off from the then [[Apostolic Vicariate of Bangkok]] (now its Metropolitan). It was run by the [[Salesian]] order, who came there in 1927 and supplied the missionary Ordinaries. The 18 missionaries took over a mission previously run by the [[Paris Foreign Missions Society|Paris Foreign Missionaries]].
 
On 28 May 1934 it was elevated to '''[[Apostolic Prefecture]] of Rajaburi'''; on 3 March 1941 to '''[[Apostolic Vicariate]] of Rajaburi''', hence entitled to a [[titular bishop]].
 
On 18 December 1965 it became the '''Diocese of Bangnokhuek'''. On 21 October 1966 it was renamed '''Diocese of Ratburi'''.
 
On 26 June 1969 the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani|Diocese of Surat Thani]] was split off from the diocese (a fellow suffragan of Bangkok), which continued to be run by Salesians, while the remainder, again renamed '''Diocese of Ratchaburi''', was since then under the responsibility of native priests.

== Cathedral == <!-- This section is linked from [[List of cathedrals]] -->
{{main|Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Bang Nok Khwaek}}
[[Image:Bang Nok Khwaek - Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral (June 2022) - img 01.jpg|left|thumb|Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral]]

The cathedral of the diocese is the [[Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, Bang Nok Khwaek|Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral]] (Thai: อาสนวิหารแม่พระบังเกิด). It is in Bang Nok Khwaek, [[Amphoe Bang Khonthi]], [[Samut Songkhram Province]]. The church is built in French Gothic style and decorated with stained glass windows imported from France. In two rows these show scenes of the life of Jesus in top row, as well as holy people (men to the north, women to the south).

Around 1840 nine Chinese Catholic families moved to the rim of the [[Mae Klong River]]. The community grew to about 200 Catholics until 1847, when a first wooden church named Sala Daeng (Red Hall) or Raung Yao (Long Canal) was built near the site of the current cathedral. In 1850 Father Marin bought the land at the mouth of the [[Khlong Damnoen Saduak]] and donated it to the church.

In 1890 the French missionary Father Paulo Salmon<!--คุณพ่อเปาโล ซัลมอน--> started construction of the ''Nativity of Our Lady'' church, which was inaugurated on 2 February 1896. During World War II several of the windows broke, which took until 1993 to be fully repaired. In 1994-1999 a major renovation of the cathedral was undertaken, overseen by Father Pradit.

== Ordinaries ==
(all [[Roman Rite]])
;''Ecclesiastical Superior of Rajaburi'' 
* Gaétan Pasotti, [[Salesians]] (S.D.B.) (1931 – 1934.05.28 ''see below'')

;''Apostolic Prefect of Rajaburi'' 
* Gaétan Pasotti, S.D.B. (''see above'' 1934.05.28 – 1941.04.03 ''see below'')

;''Apostolic Vicars of Rajaburi''
* Gaétan Pasotti <!--กาเยตาโน ปาซอตตี-->, S.D.B. (''see above'' 1941.04.03 – death 1950.09.03), Titular Bishop of [[Barata (Lycaonia)|Barata]] (1941.04.03 – 1950.09.03)
* (Pietro) Luigi Carretto<!--เปโตร คาเร็ตโต-->, S.D.B. (1951.04.12 – 1965.12.18 ''see below''), Titular Bishop of [[Zenobias]] (1951.04.12 – 1965.12.18)

;''Suffragan Bishop of Bangnokhuek''
* Pietro Luigi Carretto, S.D.B. (''see above'' 1965.12.18 – 1966.10.21 ''see below'')

;''Suffragan Bishop of Ratburi''
* Pietro Luigi Carretto, S.D.B. (''see above'' 1966.10.21 – 1969.06.26), later Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani|Surat Thani]] (Thailand) (1969.06.26 – 1988.06.21)

;''Suffragan Bishops of Ratchaburi'' 
* [[Robert Ratna Bamrungtrakul]]<!--โรเบิร์ต รัตน์ บำรุงตระกูล--> (June 26, 1969 – April 28, 1975), also President of Bishops' Conference of Thailand (1973 – 1979); later bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiang Mai|Chiang Mai]] (1975.04.28 – 1986.10.17)
* [[Joseph Ek Thabping]]<!--ยอแซฟ เอก ทับปิง--> (October 2, 1975 – February 12, 1985 died)
* John Bosco [[Manat Chuabsamai]] (November 25, 1985 – July 24, 2003 resigned)
*''[[Apostolic Administrator]] (2003.06.20 – 2005.03.18) Lawrence Thienchai Samanchit, while Bishop of [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi|Chanthaburi]] (Thailand) (1971.07.03 – 2009.04.04 retired)''
* John Bosco [[Panya Kritcharoen]] (March 18, 2005 – June 13, 2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Resignations and Appointments, 13.06.2023 |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/06/13/230613b.html |website=Summary of Bulletin |publisher=Holy See Press Office |access-date=13 November 2024}}</ref>
* Silvio [[Siripong Charatsri]] (June 13, 2023 – Present)

==See also==
*[[Beata Mundi Regina]]
*[[Roman Catholicism in Thailand]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/ratc0.htm GigaCatholic]
* [http://www.ratchaburidio.or.th Website of the diocese - in Thai]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dratc.html catholic-hierarchy.org] [[Wikipedia:Verifiability#Reliable sources|{{sup|{{small|[''self-published'']}}}}]]

{{Subject bar |portal1= Catholicism |portal2= Thailand}}
{{Catholic church of Thailand|state=collapsed}}

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[[Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Thailand|Ratchaburi]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1930|Ratchaburi]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in Siam]]