Fr Truong Le SVD cares for three rural parishes in different villages of the Isan region of northeastern Thailand – All Saints Church in Ban Muang, The Epiphany Church in Ban Chad, and St Lucia in Namphong.

And while each of those communities in Khon Kaen Province are small and located in an area known as being the poorest region in the country, Fr Truong says the friendship and support from locals, both Catholics and Buddhists alike, and an enduring love for the Eucharist, form the foundations of his parish ministry.

“Through the years, SVDs have been caring for poor and neglected parishes in the rural Isan region of northeastern Thailand,” he said.

“It is the poorest region in the country due to the lack of industry, and rice is harvested only once a year. That harvest must feed families through the next annual cycle, leaving little or nothing that can be sold for income.”

Fr Truong is located at the priest’s house at All Saints Church, roughly in the middle of the other two parishes, which lie about 30 km in opposite directions, requiring considerable travelling time.

“These are small communities, about 50 families in total,” he said. “Many people have left the villages to seek work and better opportunities in larger cities. Those who remain are mostly the elderly and children.”

Fr Truong had always hoped for an assignment with a newer church and priest’s house so he would not have to deal with constant maintenance.

“Instead, I believe God has stretched my calling to include the roles of construction worker, plumber, and concrete worker,” he said.

“I am becoming quite good at these tasks, though not without a cost … back pain. When I visit other confreres, I find they face the same situation. We simply have to renovate in order to raise the standard of living.”

Every five years the diocese reshuffles its priests, and every SVD priest is sent to a new post for the next five-year term. Last June, Fr Truong received his new assignment to these three rural churches.

“When I first stepped into the priest’s house, the reality struck like a physical blow. The place had stood abandoned for years,” he said.

“Mould crept across the walls. Unusable, century-old appliances cluttered every table. The bathroom was the worst of all, being torn away from the structure of the building itself, a gaping ruin through which every kind of critter freely came and went.

“There was no backup lodging, nowhere else to rest. I had no choice but to begin cleaning at once, stripping away the neglect layer by layer. It took three full months of relentless work before the house became livable again, before I could finally call it home.”

For his parishioners, life is also challenging.

Many families live on low incomes. Alongside rice farming, every able-bodied person seeks daily-wage work whenever it can be found.

Fr Truong said the elderly rely on money sent by family members working in larger cities, yet these allowances arrive irregularly because those who send them also have their own needs to meet.

Despite these difficult conditions, parish sacramental and community life plays an important role.

“I continue the usual pastoral programs: Mass and the other sacraments, English and computer courses, outreach to the poor, and visits to the sick that include Holy Communion,” he said.

“One clear difference from my previous assignment is the demand for Communion. In all three villages there are many elderly people who need to receive it, so every Friday I go out for this ministry.”

Fr Truong said his ministry is one of quiet presence.

“I never expect any grand gesture. Quietly I come and go, always with the simple question in mind: How can I help? How can I serve?”

The people respond with a shared dedication to supporting parish life, in particular by volunteering to assist with Sunday Mass.

“Whenever there are major celebrations, the people are ready to give both their time and their money, and for the daily maintenance and ordinary work, I have one or two helpers who are always available,” he said.

“My helpers are Buddhists. In return for allowing their oxen and cows to graze on the church grounds, they freely offer their labor around the property. They are dependable, skilled, and always ready when needed.

“Beyond these regular helpers, Buddhist villagers as a whole readily step forward to assist with church celebrations, giving their time and effort without hesitation.

“My outreach work also embraces low-income Buddhist families, treating them with the same care as the Catholic households. In all of this, I have come to enjoy a genuine and respectful relationship with the villagers, Catholic and Buddhist alike.”

Fr Truong said that among the joys of his ministry with the people has been the satisfaction at completing the renovation tasks that have allowed him to live in modest comfort.

“A safe, clean personal space is more important than it may sound,” he said. “From here I rest, and from here I rise each morning ready to face whatever challenges come - whether large or as small as the endless maintenance work that never quite ends.

“There is always something that needs fixing, and the daily chores across all three parishes keep me constantly occupied.

“Yet through it all, my love for the Eucharist holds me steady. It grounds me and keeps me firm against disappointment, loneliness, and despair.”

PHOTOS

TOP RIGHT: Fr Truong visits parishioners regularly with the sacraments and practical assistance.

TOP LEFT: Fr Truong assists villagers by helping them raise chickens for income.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Blessing a young parishioner.

MIDDLE LEFT: Fr Truong teaches children about the faith and also teaches them computer skills.

BOTTOM RIGHT: One of the churches in his parish in the Isan region of northeastern Thailand.