The Hmong Language Service of Radio Veritas Asia (RVA) celebrated its annual Audience Day with a vibrant gathering of faith, culture, and community at the Good Pastor Hmong Pastoral Center in Lomsak, Phetchabun Province, northern Thailand.
The celebration on September 20 drew more than 200 participants from surrounding villages. The day began with registration and a light breakfast, assisted by young volunteers who also guided newcomers in connecting to RVA’s social media platforms.
Now in its 26th year, RVA’s Hmong Service has been a vital bridge between the Catholic Church and the Hmong people since its first broadcast in 1999, initiated by the late Fr. Yves Bertrais, OMI. Over the decades, the service has become a trusted companion for Hmong Catholics, both in Thailand and across the world.
The event was carefully prepared the previous day by local volunteers who worked in the rain to ready the center, digging canals to drain water, mowing lawns, trimming trees, and decorating the stage with flowers. Their dedication reflected the deep bond between the Hmong community and RVA.
The formal program began with a presentation by Fr. Domenico, OMI, Coordinator of the Hmong Language Service, who outlined the history, mission, and continuing relevance of RVA’s work among the Hmong. RVA Program Director Fr. John Mi Shen who attended the celebration, shared about RVA’s renewed direction in digital evangelization.
The highlight of the day was the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. Phonsri Thongkham, OMI, Superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Thailand. In his homily, he called on the Hmong faithful to become “missionaries in their own communities,” living and sharing the Gospel where they are.
Following the Mass, the pastoral center transformed into a lively dining hall, where traditional Hmong and Thai food was shared in fellowship. The afternoon featured colorful cultural performances, with groups in traditional attire filling the hall with music, dance, and joy.
Audience Day, organizers emphasized, is more than an annual celebration. It is a moment of encounter, listening to the needs of RVA’s audience, strengthening their faith, and affirming that the Hmong people are an integral part of the wider Asian Church.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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