“It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” (John 15:16). The vocation to be a priest, or religious, is a special grace from God, inviting you to live, follow, and serve Him.

Jesuit vocation is another God´s call for those who follow Him. Jesuits have two types: as a priest and brother, but both have the same mission which is to love, serve and proclaim the Good News of Christ in our world. The Jesuit vocation is based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus and is the author of the Spiritual Exercises. The Spiritual Exercises has helped many people discover God's will for their lives like St. Francis Xavier who joyfully become a great missionary. Just like what the Pope have said, “The Jesuit is a servant of the joy of the Gospel” (GC 36, 2016).

On July 15, 2023, all Jesuits in Thailand felt overwhelmed with happiness and blessings to congratulate our three brothers, Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier Pantharaks Rueangswasdi, Rev. Fr. David Sakda Saenbanchoedsuk, and Rev. Fr. Joseph Nguyen Van Luong, on their recent ordination as priests. Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana served as the ceremonial presider, and the event was held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Congratulations to our newly ordained Deacons, on February 04th, 2023,12 Jesuits were ordained to the diaconate by H.E. Card. Carlos Osoro Sierra, archbishop of Madrid, at Parish of Sagrado de Jesus Corazón y San Francisco de Borja. Among the 12 are 2 from the Thai region: Francis Xavier Phanthatraks Rueangswasdi SJ and David Sakda Saenbanchoedsuk SJ.

The Jesuits in Thailand and Vietnam rejoiced with the ordination to the priesthood of Deacons Matthew Narongrit Daorueangphadung SJ and Thomas Pham Ngo Hoang Dung SJ at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Chiang Mai on 27 August. Most Rev Francis Xavier Vira Appondratana, Bishop of Chiang Mai Diocese, presided over the liturgy together with the Bishop of Chiang Rai Diocese, Most Rev Joseph Vuthilert Haelom.