What is going on here?

 Pictures tell the story.  Well, what is this story? 

It is Easter this week and, at the Easter Vigil at Assumption cathedral, last Saturday, 19 people were were baptised.  One of them was Tun, a young Burmese Karen, and my first convert in my over nine years here.  That is a milestone for me as it says that I am here long enough to be known and to know people such that I can be the connection for having someone realise their dream of becoming a Christian and then wanting to join the Catholic Church. 

I will put this into context.  Thailand is a Buddhist country.  Of its 65 million people, only 320,000 are Catholic.  Christians total less than 1% of the population.  This is more than a simple statistic as this reflects the Thai national identity and mindset.  To be Thai is to be Buddhist and it is part of their psychology.  It is very difficult for a Thai to think of being anything else than being Buddhist.  So Christianity will never make inroads here as becoming a major religion.  Having said that, Christianity has a high profile in Thailand through its schools, hospitals and good acts in helping the poor.  For all this, Thais would appreciate the presence of Christian churches.  Basically, they like having good people around them.  I also have to say that the little, Thai Catholic Church has a huge profile thanks to its big and wealthy schools and other institutions. 

Having said this, who are the Catholics in Thailand?  They are not what I would name as the Thai Thai, or pure Thai, but Thai Chinese, Thai Vietnamese, hill tribes people and other ethnic mixes.  Of course, my convert is not Thai Thai.  He is living here as one of the many Burmese seeking a life that they cannot get in Myanmar.  He has wanted to become a Catholic and was then connected with me through a very good friend here who is part of the cathedral community and English.  My English friend was the sponsor and there he is in the photos right beside Tun.  So I would honestly have to say that this has been not a solo effort or triumph but a community effort, and that is the way it is meant to be.