Thomas Michel was born in 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. His parents were devout Catholics. His father worked at the US Postal Service. He had three other siblings. He joined the diocesan major seminary in St. Louis. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1967.

On the 12th and 13th of August 2025, it was a great honor for us at Saengtham College, Xavier Campus, Chiang Rai, to humbly welcome Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, SJ, together with Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells and approximately 30 youths from Luxembourg. The atmosphere was filled with joy, warmth, and meaningful cultural exchange.

“Before going to Japan to participate in the Global Leadership Program 2025 (GLP), under the theme ‘Education and Cross-Border Cooperation for Sustainable Development,’ together with another student and a chaperone, my hope was simple yet meaningful: to practice speaking English with international friends from prestigious universities, to build connections across cultures, and to form lasting relationships that would inspire a spirit of cooperation for the future.”

From August 2 to 16, 2025, we (XLC: two students and one teacher) participated in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities – Asia Pacific Service Learning Program 2025, with the theme “One with Nature”, at Ateneo de Naga University, Philippines. We had the opportunity to experience a new way of life. Today, we would like to share our thoughts and good experiences on the topic “One with Nature.”