Mongkol Wongwai, OMI

Mongkol Wongwai, OMI is a Thai Oblate of Mary Immaculate priest who pursued theological studies at the Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University, in Quezon City, Philippines. He earned his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 2020 and subsequently completed a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, specializing in Systematic Theology. His master’s thesis, “A Comparative Study of the Understanding of Sin in Thai Culture and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC),” was written under the advisement of Fr. Jose Mario Francisco, S.J., S.T.L., Ph.D.

His research explores the meaning of bap, the Thai term associated with sin, in popular Thai culture and Catholic teaching. Drawing on expressions found in sayings, folktales, songs, films, television dramas, and Catholic catechetical and pastoral texts, his study examines how Buddhist cultural influences shape the language used to communicate the Christian understanding of sin in Thailand.