Abstract

The Chanthaburi Diocese, one of the nine dioceses and the largest in the provincial areas in Thailand, prioritizes the development of lay Catholic Christians, with its Pastoral Plans (2016–2020 and 2021–2030) setting goals for formation through training, practice, and appropriate responsibility. Despite this long-term commitment, no formal research has assessed the progress of these efforts. This study provides a preliminary descriptive analysis of 279 lay development projects implemented between 2022 and 2024 across four departments: Desk for the Laity, Desk for the Family, Desk for the Youth, and Desk of Pastoral Ministry for the Deaf. Using a framework based on threefold lay roles (priestly, prophetic, and kingly), the study categorizes projects through document analysis and in-depth interviews with eight departmental coordinators. Given the limited detail in written reports, interviews were critical in classifying projects according to their primary role focus. Findings show a clear emphasis on the priestly role (152 projects), particularly in the Desks for Youth (seventy-nine) and the Desks for Family (thirty-six). Desk for the Laity contributed across all three roles, while Desk of Pastoral Ministry for the Deaf began contributing in 2024. Prophetic projects totaled thirty-five, while kingly role initiatives were least represented (twelve), indicating limited focus on lay leadership in societal transformation. Overall, current practices reflect strong progress in spiritual formation, and a need for further development to meet the Second Vatican Council’s broader vision for lay engagement in Church and society. To fully realize the lay vocation, future strategies must foster a more balanced development of all three roles: priestly, prophetic, and kingly.