We are Called to be Missionary Disciples

On 4th June 1669, the pope of the day established the local church in Siam.  So last Saturday saw a major celebration of the Thai Church to celebrate its 350th birthday.  This enticed me to travel to a place just outside Bangkok that I call the Thai Vatican as there you find the national seminary, the Bangkok pastoral centre, the Catholic cemetery, a Catholic school and minor seminary, and much more.  The area is otherwise known as Samphran.  Featured amidst all this Catholic property is the John Paul II hall where the mass for the occasion was to be held. 

As I approach the site, I am overcome yet again by its grandeur.  It is all too much for me.  Then I see so many people and all the food stalls ready for lunch.  I am just overwhelmed as is this not a small church in a Buddhist country?

John Paul II Hall

 The experience of this was one of caught between being overpowered and being overwhelmed. 

Let the event begin

Beyond buildings and presented wealth, I am then overcome by the number of Catholic Sisters taking up the front seats inside the hall.  Then the entrance procession begins and I wonder - where do all these priests come from?  This is a small church but so many priests and then the bishops.  All this in Buddhist Thailand where the church is such a minority and all this grandeur when this small church is often fearful of taking a high profile.  All too much for me.

I can sense the grandeur but do not feel a part of it.  It belongs to someone else.  I feel so small in this church, insignificant, surrounded by so much wealth and ecclesial hierarchy.  What is going on?  I name it as i am standing in a Catholic enclave in Buddhist Thailand.  It is an experience of church that excludes the little people thanks to its use of grandness.

Original dictionary by two early French bishops

I have this experience of being overwhelmed but it is also a powerful experience.  I was so glad I went for there was the history and the culture.  They had a display of church texts from their history and there was the orchestra and choir. Both just fantastic.    So where to now?

The Thai Church has chosen its way.  At this grand celebration, it proclaimed itself to be the Church of missionary disciples.  I wonder how when it is so caught up in its own grandeur.  Quite the challenge. I would think, but anything is possible in my Bangkok.  So history shows and so the choir sings.

Orchestra and Choir  

Beyond the big event, beyond the party, it is taking on the commitment of the hard work of becoming the poor and humble church, that reaches out and gives dignity to those with none.  So we be church.  So we be disciples and change both ourselves and our world.  Which is harder?