St. Nikolas church marked its 48th anniversary Sept. 14 with their annual parish festival.
Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri from Chantaburi celebrated mass before swearing in the newly elected, 54-person parish council led by Premprecha Dibbayawan.
A festive parade around the church grounds gave the festival an international and colorful touch since many parishioners dressed in their national costumes.
Group picture of the new church council with the bishop in the foreground.
Booths invited the visitors to eat and drink as much as they wanted and the hundreds of people who came during the day celebrated happily.
The bishop, priests and a few dignitaries from Pattaya, including Roman Catholic Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh, had lunch at the Dorothy Hall.
St. Nikolas church was founded by Swiss national Walter Leo Meyer and his wife in 1966 on land they donated. In 1976, the church was completed and was named St Nikolas to honor the great Swiss saint Nikolas de Flue.
In 1987 the church was extended – again through the sponsorship of Meyer – with a multipurpose building: Dorothy Hall.
The land for the adjacent cemetery was again given by Meyer and his wife.
