laotian catholic conference

Columbus Hosts Laotian Catholic Community Conference

By Harry Sopraseuth

Laotian Catholic Community

More than 70 Lao community leaders from different parts of the United States, as well as Canada, France, and Thailand attended the Laotian Catholic Conference from Friday, July 2, to Sunday, July 4, at Columbus Holy Spirit Church.

The event, sponsored by the Laotian Catholic National Pastoral Center, focused on the topic of conversion and sharing passion for the Catholic way of life through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

An estimated 150 Lao Catholics from the Columbus area and elsewhere attended a special Mass on July 4. The celebrants were Bishop Pierre Bach, PMI, who is based in Bangkok, Thailand, and is a missionary bishop to Lao Catholics around the world; Father Wilfred Lowery, CSsR, who works with the Lao community in Minneapolis; and Father Peter Pramote Chinnacode, CSS, a visiting priest from Thailand. The Mass was followed by a traditional Baci (calling of the soul) ceremony.

The conference was full of enjoyment, ideas, and plans to preserve traditional Lao cultural values. First-generation Americans and members of the younger generation talked about how to become more actively involved in parish life and how to bridge the gap between the generations. The conference also helped reinforce the network among Lao multiethnic communities around the world.

In addition, testimonies of faith from young adult leaders were shared, and Cecile Motus, assistant director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ subcommittee on Asian and Pacific island affairs, gave a presentation on cultural diversity. Parents were encouraged to serve as role models for their children and restore their Catholic faith by continuing to be active and spread the word of God.

Besides Bishop Bach, Fathers Lowery and Chinnacode, and Motus, other special guests were Father William Arnold, pastor of Holy Spirit Church, and Deacon Joua Pao Yang.

Many thanks to Alice Thepouthay and Khamphoui Singvongsa, who organized and assisted the conference. Also, special thanks to members of the Lao Catholic Association of Columbus for their generosity and contributions in support of the event.