Formerly a lay minister while working in M&S company, Fr. Catanus experienced a crucial moment where an RPG hit the house where he lives in Plamango, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat during the all-out-war in 2000. Fortunately, he was not in the house at that time. He felt that it was his second life and so decided to enter the seminary to serve in the Church.
Fr. Ben Catanus, OMI is a missionary assigned in Thailand. He was ordained priest on September 11, 2011 and received his first obedience to work as a missionary in Thailand. He is from Tacupan, Carmen, Cotabato and now the parish priest of Christ the King parish in the Diocese of Udonthani, Thailand.
Thailand is a delegation under the province of OMI Philippines. As a young delegation, Thailand has only 16 OMI priests and brothers – 3 Filipinos, 2 Italian, 1 French, 7 Thai priests and 3 Thai deacons. Most of the missions in Thailand are among the students as teachers in school, parishes, seminaries, the refugees, the Hmong tribe and the poor.
The OMIs in Thailand are mainly living the mission Ad Gentes – Mission to the world or nations. They go to villages to look for people who are in need; they go visit homes where sick people live; they listen to their stories and share in their meals. Whether Christian or Buddhist, they are all equally important for the OMIs in Thailand.
Sunday celebrations in Thailand is not the usual scene like what we have here in the Philippines. In his parish, Fr. Catanus would only have at least 30 to 50 parishioners attending his Sunday mass. Sounds shocking for a parish but being in a Buddhist country it is not unusual. Although there is a small number of Christians in Thailand, it is not an option for the OMIs to proselytise the Thai people. For them, it is very clear that faith is not something that should be forced but something that is received as a gift.
But what is interesting is that some Buddhists would go to the Church and inquire about Catholic faith. This is the usual scene and after some catechism, they would ask to be baptized to Catholic faith. But the main reason of the OMI presence in Thailand is not to proselytise but to serve the poor.
After his Sunday mass in the parish, Fr. Catanus would go to the villages especially those which have not been visited for years. Visitation and going to people’s homes are avenues where their faith is restored for some baptized Catholics. Likewise, visitation is not only limited to Christians. Fr. Ben and his team would also visit Buddhists families and share some goods and aids like food, medicine, and other things the family needs.
Since there are very few Catholics in the area, Fr. Catanus would invite Buddhist kids in the Church for games, singing and some simple catechism. Sometimes, old people would also visit the Church just to have a chat. In one school where OMIs teach, they would say mass with Buddhist students. And it’s not a problem. For them, all religions are good and the mass for them is also a blessing.
In Naluang village, Fr. Catanus with some nuns of the Daughters of Charity and a Thai priest would go and visit families of poor people to give food and to share some goods. Most of their foods are also coming from stipends and donations from generous people. Once a week, Fr. Catanus, together with his gardener and cook would also visit another village, Rongchit.
People of Rongchit village are all Buddhists. Before, he would rent a house for several months to have a place to stay during his visits. But after several months, someone donated a house and lot to the OMIs. That house is now turned into a small chapel used for about 5 persons during the mass.
People in Thailand are warm and hospitable. But the mission there brings some challenges especially with regard to culture and language. Since most Thais cannot speak in English, missionaries have to really know how to speak the language. It’s the only way one can understand the people and their culture.
Fr. Catanus is now well-versed with Thai language after several years of being assigned in Thailand. He now celebrates mass in Thai which is very important in that mission. When asked why he is in Thailand, Fr. Catanus mentioned about the need of personnel in Thailand. That Thailand delegation need OMIs to continue the mission. But deep in his heart, he knew that as an OMI, he was called and ordained by God to care and help God’s people in Thailand.
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