Head of Laotian vicariate hopes to visit previously off-limit regions

Published: 2004-01-12

BANGKOK, Thailand (CNS) -- Construction of a residence and increased visits to "off-limits" provinces are goals the head of the Luang Prabang Apostolic Vicariate in Laos hopes he can accomplish in 2004. Msgr. Tito Banchong Thopanhong, apostolic administrator, said that the Laotian government finally gave approval in early December for a property owner in Luang Prabang to sell him land, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. While traveling through Bangkok Jan. 10, Msgr. Banchong spoke to UCA News about the pastoral situation in his vicariate in northern Laos. He is the only priest in the vicariate, but has been based outside the vicariate in Vientiane, Laos. The Luang Prabang vicariate has about 3,500 Catholics living in six northern Laotian provinces. The ancient city of Luang Prabang, a center for Buddhism and culture in Laos, is about 135 miles north of Vientiane.

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