First new church in northern Laos since revolution

Source: Fides

On Saturday, 29 November 2014, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Delegate Apostolic for Laos, Malaysia, Brunei and Myanmar, as well as Papal Nuncio in Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore, blessed the first church built in north Laos since the Communist revolution in the mid 1970s.

The church is in Pong Vang, Luang Prabang Vicariate Apostolic, in the province of Sayaburi. The 300 Catholics in this area kept the faith and remained united through many difficult years even without a priest. Today they have their own church.

"This little Church, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, is a reward for the faith of this community", Archbishop Pennacchio told Fides.

Sayaburi civil authorities attended the ceremony and Rev Tito Banchong, Apostolic Administrator of Luang Prabang and Mgr Brian Udaigwe, an official at the Nunciature concelebrated with Archbishop Pennacchio. The local Catholics were very happy and deeply moved. During his homily the Archbishop told them he brought greetings from Pope John Paul II, and the Pope's blessing and encouragement.