Saintly Saturday -Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung


Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung was born on February 28, 1895, in Thailand. His parents raised him as a Christian, being converted from Buddhism, and he entered a minor seminary at the age of thirteen. Nicholas then went on to the Penang Major Seminary in 1920, and was ordained a priest in 1926. Nicholas served as a parish priest and also taught his native language to the Salesian Order upon their arrival to Thailand in 1927. In 1930, he was sent near Vietnam in Northern Thailand to serve as a missionary to the poor. Eleven years later, upon ringing the church bell in anticipation for Sunday Mass, Nicholas was arrested on the charge of “rebellion against the kingdom.”

Although Thailand was officially neutral during WWII, anti-Western government dominated the country nonetheless. The Catholic Church was seen as a tool of the imperialis France and Catholics were considered a danger as “unpatriotic” and dangerous to the country.

   

Up to the moment of his arrest, Nicholas remained faithful to his ministry and to the Church, fighting for the freedom of religion. And despite his sentence of fifteen years, the good priest continued his duties among his fellow inmates. For himself, the rosary became a refuge. 

   

Poorly treated, Nicholas contracted tuberculosis and was confined to a hospital, where he was refused care because of his Catholic faith. He died on January 12, 1944. The Blessed is also known as Fr. Benedikto Chunkim, and is the first martyred priest of modern Thailand.

   

    Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, pray for us!

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