Saint Joseph The Worker Parish

In 1985 Father Prachuap Chok Tri Sopha was assigned to take care of Kilometer 48 Chapel. He started learning Akha language and taught Thai to children and youth. As well as taking care of illness in the village by distributing medicine to patients. Later, in the year 1987 the bishop ordered the parish priest to build the church of Saint Joseph and a small hall used for classroom as there was a huge need of Thai language teaching for children and young people. During that time, the sisters of St. Paul de Sartre from Mae Sot led by Sister Maurice, came to help teachings Thai language and catechism every weekend. On Sunday they helped organizing activities for Akha women and assisted the Legion of Mary group. The legion gave hand in assisting and visiting the sick and elderly people.

In the year 1989, Father Prachuachob moved definitively to the KM.48 parish and stayed there for another two years. In 1991, he was assigned to Nakhon. None regular priest was assigned there due to lack of local priests. Meanwhile, the bishop assigned Father Manat Suphalak from Mae Sot parish to look after this Catholic community. Father regularly offered mass. Both priests worked and collaborated a lot with the Akha lay people in the development of the church.

In May 1992, the Bishop assigned Father Udomsak Wongwuthipong as regular parish priest of Km.48. While still serving St. Luke's Church, Phichit Province, he started to come regularly and managed to build the presbitery. In the same year, Monsignor assigned Father Prasert Sitti as parish priest Father Samran Laorasitthom as assistant parish priest. Both worked and took care of the Christian community with the help of young catechists. They managed to renovate the Church.

On May 10, 1997 Father Dacha Arpornrat was assigned as parish priest until 1999. After that, Father John Baptist Rangsipol was assigned as parish priest but only worked for six months. Father Joseph Banchop Sophon worked from 1999 to 2005. Then Father Joseph Konlabutr substituted him and worked as parish priest from 2011 to 2014. After that, Bishop Joseph Piboon Wisitthonchai reached agreement with the Xaverian Missionaries and trusted the care of Saint Joseph Parish under its first missionaries: Father Thierry Kamga, Father Giovannie Mattiazzi And Father Tiago Rodriques began to be stationed in the village of Akha, KM 48. The bishop assigned Father Thierry as parish Priest who worked until May 2020.