Kriengsak Kovitvanit
Encyclopedia
Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit is Archbishop of Bangkok.
Born in Ban Rak, he entered the St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sampran
. From 1970 to 1976 he studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
in Rome, and was ordained as priest on 11 July 1976. At first he was assistant priest at the Nativity of Mary Church in Ban Pan, and then at the Epiphany Church Koh Vai (1977–1979). In 1979-1981 he served as vice-rector of St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sampran. He went to the Gregorian University in Rome from 1982 till 1983 to specialize in spirituality. From 1983 to 1989 he was rector of the Holy Family Intermediate Seminary in Nakhon Ratchasima
, and then till 1993 under-secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand, as well as rector of Lux Mundi National Major Seminary in Sampran since 1992. In 2000 he became parish priest at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hua Take, and also since 2001 a special lecturer at Sampran major seminary. From 2003 until his appointment as bishop, he was parish priest of the Assumption Cathedral
and secretary of the council of priests of the Archdiocese of Bangkok
.
On 7 March 2007 Pope Benedict XVI
appointed him as bishop of Nakhon Sawan
, which had been vacant since 2005, when his predecessor Louis Chamniern Santisukniram
was made Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng
. He was ordained on 2 June by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu
, whose successor as Archbishop of Bangkok he became on 14 May 2009. Archbishop Kriengsak Kovitvanit was officially installed on 16 August 2009.
Born in Ban Rak, he entered the St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sampran
Amphoe Sam Phran
Sam Phran , is the southernmost district of Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand.-History:The district was established in 1896, then named Talat Mai district...
. From 1970 to 1976 he studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
in Rome, and was ordained as priest on 11 July 1976. At first he was assistant priest at the Nativity of Mary Church in Ban Pan, and then at the Epiphany Church Koh Vai (1977–1979). In 1979-1981 he served as vice-rector of St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sampran. He went to the Gregorian University in Rome from 1982 till 1983 to specialize in spirituality. From 1983 to 1989 he was rector of the Holy Family Intermediate Seminary in Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima
Nakhon Ratchasima or is a city in the north-east of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It is the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province and Nakhon Ratchasima district...
, and then till 1993 under-secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand, as well as rector of Lux Mundi National Major Seminary in Sampran since 1992. In 2000 he became parish priest at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hua Take, and also since 2001 a special lecturer at Sampran major seminary. From 2003 until his appointment as bishop, he was parish priest of the Assumption Cathedral
Assumption Cathedral, Bangkok
The Assumption Cathedral is the principal Roman Catholic church of Thailand, located at 23 Oriental Avenue, New Road, in the Bang Rak district of Bangkok. It is the main church of the Archdiocese of Bangkok...
and secretary of the council of priests of the Archdiocese of Bangkok
Archdiocese of Bangkok
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok, Thailand dates back to 1662, when the of created. It was renamed in 1841 and in 1924...
.
On 7 March 2007 Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed him as bishop of Nakhon Sawan
Diocese of Nakhon Sawan
The Diocese of Nakhon Sawan is located in central Thailand. It is a suffragan diocese of the archdiocese of Bangkok....
, which had been vacant since 2005, when his predecessor Louis Chamniern Santisukniram
Louis Chamniern Santisukniram
Louis Chamniern Santisukniram is the Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng, Thailand.Louis Chamniern Santisukniram was ordained as priest on May 17, 1970, and was appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Nakhon Sawan on November 5, 1998...
was made Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng
Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng
The Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng is located in the north-east of Thailand. It is based in Tha Rae, a subdistrict municipality in the Mueang Sakon Nakhon district....
. He was ordained on 2 June by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu
Michael Michai Kitbunchu
Michael Michai Cardinal Kitbunchu is a Thai Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Bangkok from 1973 to 2009, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983.-Early life and ministry:...
, whose successor as Archbishop of Bangkok he became on 14 May 2009. Archbishop Kriengsak Kovitvanit was officially installed on 16 August 2009.