The MEP in Laos: an overview (1662-1975)

Surrounded by mountains and far from the coasts of South-East Asia, the Laos territory is hard to access. Thus, it is only relatively late that the MEP manage to settle in the country durably. Fathers Guégo and Prodhomme found the Laos mission in 1881. The beginnings of the mission are marked by a small and scattered missionary personnel. The MEP seminary in Paris sends few priests in Laos because of a general lack of numbers, and a scattering of new villages and Christian posts separated and independent from each other are founded across the territory.

The mission finally stabilises and settles down in 1899 as the apostolic vicariate of Laos is created, under the direction of M^gr Joseph Cuaz. New missionaries arrive and establish multiple annexes around the pre-existing Christian villages. With the First World War, the development of the mission is stopped by the conscription of the priests.

However, the episcopacy of M^gr Ange-Marie Gouin (nominated in 1922) gives a new impetus to the mission. Borders are extended both to the North and South of the territory, and Christianity spreads further. The 1930s witness the penetration of missionaries inside the country, making contact with isolated villages. Then, as the vicariate becomes too vast, it goes through successive divisions between the 1920s and the 1960s.

In 1945, the Japanese occupation leads to many executions, notably the execution of vicar apostolic M^gr Henri Thomine. The occupation therefore greatly disrupts the mission. Finally, in 1975, with the communists seizing power, all the missionaries are deported from Laos.

A chronology

• 1686: first expedition by P. Grosse in the Northeast of Siam (Phak Isan).
• 1881: foundation of the Laos mission by fathers Guégo and Prodhomme, who establish three cores of evangelisation: Ubon, Nakhorn Phanom, and Sakon Nakhorn.
• 1884-1887: French expansionist policy in Laos.
• 1897: 15 missionaries in Ubon.
• 1887: P. Guégo settles in Dôn Dône, where he establishes contact with the Sû tribe, populating the Laos forests.
• 1889: P. Rondel reaches the Këng Sa Dok region on the Laotian Mekong River. The first baptism takes place there in January. Christianity takes root in Laos from Siam.
• 1891: the first catechist school and the first seminary open in Dôn Dône, with the objective of training a local clergy.
• 1899: creation of the Laos apostolic vicariate, with Nong Saeng as its episcopal see. M^gr Joseph Cuaz is the first vicar apostolic up until 1912.
• 1901: the mission opens 5 workrooms and 27 learning workshops as well as 4 farming installations training 54 interns. These are the results of the major educative work of M^gr Cuaz.
• 1912-1918: M^gr Prodhomme is vicar apostolic. His episcopacy is marked by the First World War and the conscription. Only 14 fathers remain in 1916, mostly Thai priests or priests too old to be mobilised.
• 1922-1942: M^gr Ange-Marie Gouin is vicar apostolic. His episcopacy is dedicated to the expansion of the mission’s borders.
• 1938: creation of the Vientiane apostolic prefecture, under the direction of Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
• 1945: Japanese invasion of Indochina. Execution of M^gr Henri Albert Thomine and multiple MEP missionaries by the Japanese.
• 1951: creation of the apostolic prefecture of Thakhek.
• 1953: the Northeast mission is divided into two vicariates and one apostolic prefecture: the vicariates of Tharé (Michel On, local bishop) and Ubon (MEP), and the apostolic prefecture of Udon (American Redemptorists of the Saint-Louis province).
• 1959-1970: the Vietnam War causes the death of 5 MEP fathers.
• 1967: the apostolic vicariate of Paksé is established, under the direction of M^gr Jean-Pierre Urkia.
• 1975: the Pathet Lao communists seize power.
• 1975-1977: 21 missionaries are deported from Laos.