Redemptorist Father Philip Banchong Chaiyara was appointed bishop of Ubon Ratchani diocese, Thailand

Redemptorist Father Philip Banchong Chaiyara was appointed as the bishop of the diocese of Ubon Ratchani, Thailand, by Pope Benedict XVI. His Excellency Bishop Michael Boonlean Mansap presided at the Thanksgiving Mass of his Episcopal Consecration at Immaculate Cathedral, Ubon Ratchani, on June 27, 2006.

The diocese of Ubon Ratchani encompasses seven provinces in northeast Thailand. Its population is poor, primarily farmers who depend on rain for their crops. During the summer months, people travel to Bangkok looking for work and return home during the rainy season and harvest.

Born in Chang Ming (Phanna Nikhom district, Sakon Nakhon Province), Bishop Chaiyara made his profession as a Redemptorist on August 2, 1969. He studied philosophy at Holy Redeemer College in Waterford, Wisconsin, and theology at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York.

On June 12 1975, Bishop Chaiyara was ordained a priest. His first assignment was as a parish priest at the Nongkhai Mission, Diocese of Udon Thani, from 1976-78; he served as rector of the Redemptorist Seminary Minor at Siracha, 1979-81; he returned to parish ministry at Holy Redeemer Church in Bangkok from 1981-87, and at Bannoi, Khonkaen, Udon Thani diocese from 1987-92. He was director of Social Work at Pattaya, Diocese of Chanthaburi, from 1993-2002. Since 2005 he also was parish priest at St. Nikolaus, Pattaya, Chanthaburi diocese.