Trend and progress of devoted priests and people's faith,
to be the Catholic Church of Saint Roch this day ....
The Catholic Church of Saint Roch nowaday
Basement Preparation
The early mission of missionary in Thailand are target to Chinese people. This refer to the records of Pastor Gude, "Their are large amount of Chinese in this country. The conversion attemption seems to be easier than to do with Siamese. The king do not forbid them to become catholics because they like foreigners. Missionary who knows Chinese language will be more useful in Siam". By this analization, Cardinal Couverzy send Pastor Albrand to Pad-reaw <Chachoengsao>.
At Pad-reaw
First temporary church establish at Ban-mai by Pastor Albrand, made of bamboo. Use as co-church for catholics of Pad-reaw and Tha-kai.
In 1857, catholics are increase fast. Pastor Daniel recreate new church, stronger and larger, made of wood.
Pastor Schmitt
In 1873, Pastor Schmitt move the church from
Ban-mai to Bang-teen-pet. Reference to the old memorandum, "He buy some
land on left bank of the river and build Catholic Church of Saint Paulo,
finished in 1875. The church made of brick with wood belfry. That is one of the
most beautiful church in Siam". Saint Roch Church
After Saint Paul Church are on service, Pastor Schmitt notice that Tha-kai's catholics come to the church in less amount because it's too far. Then he plan to build a temporary church at Tha-kai. This chapel are ready on service in 1875.
Pastor Perbet
In the year 1904, Pastor Perbet built up
new church with whole teakwood. This refer to annual report <C.R. - Compte
Rendu>"Pastor Perbet found that the chapel are so tiny, catholics are scattered to waterside's bank and field. He begin to buy large land, approximated to 1200 acres <4,800,000 square meters / 3000 rais> for catholics to hire with planning of new church, Pastor's house, Nun's house and school. Catholics around the area are about 300 mans".
When project are decided, Pastor perbet ask Bishop Perros for Assistant Pastor to proceed his planning. Bishop Perros send him Pastor Carrie. The new church start to build up, Pastor perbet support on all inventories, Pastor Carrie are the architecture and control on construction.
In the annual report of 1912, Bishop Perros records, "With 2 hours of boat paddle from Pad-reaw along Pad-reaw - Bangkok canel, will found the area that Pastor Perbet build one church call Catholic Church of Saint Roch, Tha-kai. For catholics who works on agriculture and farming. The amount of catholics here are increase fast. Pastor Carrie control on the process of construction and teach children with eager heart".
Pastor Perbet pass away on May 21, 1924. He make a will to give his land property of Saint Roch Church's area to Pastor Carrie, in case of this Assistant Pastor always devoted himself to do everything in his project both at Saint Roch Church and Saint Paul Church.
Pastor Carrie
When Pastor Carrie take abbot position of
Saint Roch Church and Saint Paul Church. His attention target are on education
development and Bible's teaching. The story tells, "He have such a hundred
adopted childs, boys and girls, all are an orphans. He build an orphan house,
take them good care, give them highest education they can learn and find jobs
for them when they grow up".He build Catholic Church of Saint Anthony in 1944, south of Saint Paul Church, across the river, near city to make catholics in the city can come to church easier. The church are including school, Pastor's house and Nun's house.
In the year 1960, Pastor Henry Carrie give land property of Saint Roch Church's area to Bangkok Roman Catholic Organization and pass away on May 3, 1961 at Saint Paul Church.
The next abbot is Pastor Lanfrant <1960-1970>. He create more school building at Saint Roch Church and build road access from Chachoengsao-Minburi main road to canel.
Pastor Sum-ang
Pastor Sum-ang Peawkleang is hightlight as
an Assistant Pastor at Saint Roch Church since the time of Pastor Carrie with
power as abbot on self decision. He manage on new school building and build
concrete road from front of the church to canel. The story of mans who living on his age tells, "Pastor Sum-ang is a very strict man, however, kindfully with helping hands. He establish the faith and pray habits to people, setting up Lagiomary at Saint Roch Church for the first time. He teach catholics to be more discipline, advice them to another type of agriculture and farming to make more income to their families".
The evidence of his faithfully to God and discipline are from one event, "While he have got hard ill <3-4 days before he pass away>. He use two mans, support him to make a Mass". He brings the bless from God to us until the last time of his life. Some mans says, "This Pastor seems to be father of us, catholicians at Saint Roch Church".
Pastor Sum-ang pass away on April 10, 1969 by cancer at Saint Roch Church. His body are tomb at the center of church's cemetery, nowaday, use as the altar in a Mass of Annual Blessed Cemetery.
The next abbot is Pastor Joly <1970-1979>. He create wood bridge across the canel to connect church with road <previously, we use boat crossing> and brings electricity to Tha-kai area.
The previous Saint Roch Church
Old church's figure are whole teakwood
including tile <a small square sheet cutting of teakwood using for roof call
teakwood tile>. All are import from England by Bombeyber store in Bangkok
and transport to Tha-kai by vessel.The church's entrance in early day are only low bars with hinge as a fence. At center walkway links to left and right passage between the walls <double walls>, the inner wall stand in column line.
Church having 3 entrances, large door at center <install later>, small doors on left and right, terminal of both passage open to sacristy room. In early day, sacristy room have back corner use for Paster's lodging. Several years later, the inner wall are demolish to expand church area.
The New Saint Roch Church
New church build up in 1983, finished in
1987. Because of an old church are much rotting by time and area are not enough
to support catholics increasing. Project start to west across the canel, 400 meters far from old church, on right side of sub-road for people journey be more easier.
Widescreen of Saint Roch Church today
New church establish on 8 acres <32,000
square meters / 20 rais> contains church, Pastor's house, Nun's house and
school. That cause of limits of old church area, this plan are design large for
more buildings expansibility in the future.
Copyright © 2003 Catholic Church of Saint
Roch, all rights reserved.
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