KHAM NGOA, Laos (UCAN) -- Catholics in a small, poor village in southern Laos thanked God for this year's rice harvest and prayed for a good crop in the coming year.

Close to 200 Catholics in Kham Ngoa crowded into their 10-by-12-meter church, made of wood with a corrugated iron roof, for the Nov. 1 thanksgiving Mass. They belong to Pakse vicariate's Khampeng parish.

Father Andrew Souksavath Nouaneasa, the parish priest, led the Mass. "Of the more than 50 parishes in Pakse, it is great for me to be here with all of you to celebrate the harvest together as brothers and sisters of Christ," he said in his homily.

The priest encouraged the people gathered in this seven-year-old church in Xanasomboun district of Champasak province, 670 kilometers south of Vientiane, "to continue to love and pray for each other."

Father Souksavath is stretched in his pastoral work. He told UCA News this was the first time he was able to meet with people in this area since his ordination in December 2006. One of only three priests in Pakse vicariate, led by Bishop Louis Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, he has been busy with the nine other parishes under his care.

Kham Ngoa village is one of the poorest in the vicariate's territory. The lives of the 50 Catholic families here, and of the Buddhist villagers they live among, revolves around the annual rice crop.

Each family shared at least one bowl of new rice from the recent harvest with the Church after Mass. It was part of their thanksgiving and their hope that God will provide a good rice crop at the next harvest.

Later, Father Souksavath joined villagers in a meal that included bamboo-shoot soup, fermented fish and papaya salad.

With a smile on her face, Thongchane Vandy, 66, offered rice from the harvest, along with some fruit, then slowly made her way with her walking stick out of the church.

Thongchane told UCA News she has been a farmer all her life but cannot work in the fields any more. "But I can still remember the sense of joy of the harvest season," the woman added.

She said that having received "God's blessing," it was "time to offer thanksgiving for food that we receive each day in our life."

Sister Bouaphai Manyvong, 46, told UCA News, "I love to be with these people, because although they look poor in terms of material needs, they are rich in faith and unity."

"I always rejoice deeply through my mission here," she continued, "even though I am the only nun. I feel so much love from these people, and they help me in all the work I do."

Sister Bouaphai has been working in the parish for five years. She usually leads villagers in prayers on Sunday, when no priest is available to say Mass, and also does other pastoral work.

Khampeng, Pakse's biggest parish, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004. Every year during or after harvest time, people gather for thanksgiving Masses. The Church takes the newly harvested rice it receives as a gift from villagers and gives it to other parishes, the seminary and poor people.

Masses are held here only four or five times a year, however, marking major occasions such as Christmas and All Saints' Day. Aside from a priest with many other parishes to look after and one nun, it has only a few lay workers.

Speaking about the thanksgiving celebration later with UCA News, Bishop Ling highlighted the importance of the thanksgiving tradition.

"We accept what we are, and we are always willing to receive blessings from our Father, who is above us and will always provide for us in our need," the bishop said. "Just trust in him and love one another, for he will love us more."

Bishop Ling's vicariate covers four provinces and borders Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. Pastoral care is a challenge, as villages are remote and not easily accessible.

According to Church statistics, Catholics number about 35,000 in this country of 5.6 million people, most of whom are Buddhists.

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