John Bosco Manat Chuabsamai (Thai:มนัส จวบสมัย;RTGS: Manat Chuapsamai; 31 October 1935 – 20 October 2011) was a ThaiRoman Catholic prelate, who served as thebishop ofRatchaburi from 1986 to 2003.[1]
Manat was born on 31 October 1935 in Bang Nok Khwaek. He was ofMin Chinese descent, as the surname "Chua" (蔡) is commonly associated with theTeochew andHokkien communities originating fromFujian andGuangdong, China.[2][circular reference] He was sent to study philosophy and theology inMadras,India, and was then ordained a priest on 10 May 1961. After ordination, he worked in parish, school, and seminary posts in the Diocese of Ratchaburi. In 1976/77, he studied atThe Catholic University of America inWashington, D.C., from which he obtained a master's degree in philosophy. He then taught philosophy at the Lux Mundi seminary, the onlymajor seminary inThailand. In 1984, he became rector of the seminary.
On 25 November 1985, Manat was appointed bishop of Ratchaburi in succession to the lateJoseph Ek Thabping. On 6 January 1986, he was consecrated bishop byPope John Paul II inRome.[3]
In May 1993, during a visit toManila in thePhilippines, Manat came into contact with theSociety of Saint Pius X. In April 2000, he met with the Superior General of the Society, BishopBernard Fellay. In 2001, he visited many of the Society's chapels in theUnited States. He resigned as bishop of Ratchaburi on 24 July 2003.[4]
