Three Catholic priests have been ordained in Laos, bringing the total number of priests in the communist-run state to 20, reports Agenzia Fides.
The three new Laotian priests were ordained on Sept.16 at a celebration in the city of Savannakhet, where the main seminary that provides the formation of Laotian seminarians is situated.
"First of all let us thank the Lord for his great gift. We are very happy for the three new priests who will work full time in the small Catholic Church in Laos," said Father Tito Banchong Thopanhong, Apostolic Administrator of Luang Prabang, reported Agenzia Fides.
"All three will dedicate themselves, in particular, to the pastoral work in the Vicariate of Luang Prabang: for me it will be a great help," he said.
Two Laotian bishops, a bishop from Thailand and another from France attended the event, as did 54 priests from Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, numerous religious women and over a thousand Laotian Catholics.
Christians make up 1 percent of Lao's six million people of whom 45,000 are Catholics.
