Thailand
2025.9.2-10.20
In the Beginning…
On the pilgrimage to WYD Seoul 2027, we were invited to join the WYD Cross and Icon in Thailand. As most of its citizens are Buddhist, there are only a small number of Catholics, but we were excited to meet them and see how we express the same faith in different languages. We believed we could come together, united in our desire to follow God and become more like Jesus, and share His love, becoming a source of strength for one another.
Our Pilgrimage Together
Our group was invited to the National Catholic Youth Leadership Camp held at Hua Hin Vittayalai School. Approximately 350 youth and young adults participated, along with 35 clergy members and 45 young volunteers.
The opening Mass began with a procession of the WYD Cross and Icon, along with a relic of Saint Carlo Acutis. The subsequent catechesis and activities held along the coast were beautiful to witness, with everyone joyfully participating.
During the camp, we were assigned the role of carrying the Cross and escorting it into the church. Walking on Thai soil wearing hanbok while bearing the Cross felt like being part of a living journey, breathing alongside the Lord.
It was also remarkable to see how the WYD Cross was venerated during the ceremony. It was not merely an object to gaze upon, but a living sign of faith touched by everyone. In that moment, the Cross no longer felt like a religious relic. Instead, it came to us as the body of the Lord, welcoming our rough and childlike hands in humility.
On the final day, we performed the dance we had been unable to perform on the first day. Though not professional dancers, we were deeply grateful to our Thai friends who allowed us to finish our performance amidst heartfelt cheers and applause. On this pilgrimage, the Cross was held up like a mirror to us, allowing us to confront our frailties and to encounter the Lord who uses even those frailties as His instrument. Truly, the love of the Lord, etched into every rough grain of that Cross, has brought forth new courage in our lives, illuminating the journey ahead.
Let’s Hear from the Locals
From the very first day of the pilgrimage, I could feel the young Thais’ fervent faith and love for the Lord. However, there was also frustration at not being able to fully understand the Mass and programs due to the language barrier. As I prayed alone, unable to comprehend, a choir volunteer (Montira Yuni Hokjaroen) approached me and interpreted the bishop's homily in broken English. Though not perfect, I was deeply moved to hear the Lord speaking through her. In that moment, I realized that we shouldn’t hesitate just because we don’t feel up to the task. If we serve the Lord to the best of our ability, God will take care of the rest.
Creating WYD Seoul 2027 Together
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand (CBCT) has undertaken activities to facilitate participation of young Thais in WYD Seoul 2027, such as translating the official prayer for WYD Seoul 2027 into Thai and distributing it to dioceses across Thailand. We also sent around eight priests from the CBCT to visit Seoul. They celebrated Mass at the Saenamteo Shrine and visited the Local Organizing Committee at Myeongdong to discuss WYD Seoul 2027. Through these encounters, we are exploring various ways for young Thai Catholics to participate in shaping WYD Seoul 2027.
(Archdiocese of Bangkok / Sirikanya·Teresa)
Text and Photos: Antonio Taeyoon Kim, Maria Hyekyung Yang