About Us
Wat Promwachirayan (Wat Thai of MN), St. Louis Park, Minnesota, USA
Wat Promwachirayan is a center for the dissemination of Theravada Buddhism and the promotion of Thai culture in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, founded with the faith of the Buddhist community in Minnesota.
In 2004, a Thai Dhammaduta monk who was performing religious duties in California was invited to travel to Minnesota to disseminate Buddhism by teaching Dhamma and leading Vipassana meditation practice for Buddhists in Minnesota. Subsequently, a Dhammaduta monk was invited to lead the establishment of a Buddhist temple and to organize for knowledgeable and capable Dhammaduta monks to perform regular religious duties.
Wat Promwachirayan was originally named Wat Pah Nanachat Minnesota. It was registered as a non-profit organization under U.S. law on April 22, 2004, at 19710 Chartwell Hill, Shorewood, Minnesota, 55331, under the management of the temple’s executive committee. Subsequently, the committee proceeded to purchase land in the city of Becker, which covers an area of 28 acres, consisting mostly of forest and lowland areas. There is a building for Buddhist religious activities located at 16790 67th Street, Becker, Minnesota 55308.
In 2006, the committee expanded the temple’s area by purchasing a house located at 10863 208 Avenue, Northwest Elk River, Minnesota 55330. This new location serves as the temple’s new site, suitable for religious activities and capable of accommodating the increasing number of Buddhists participating in religious and cultural activities.
On January 9, 2017, the committee met and considered that the temple’s location was far from the community. To facilitate the Dhammaduta monks and Buddhists in performing religious activities, it was decided to move the temple to a location closer to the Buddhist community. They decided to purchase an old church to renovate it into a Buddhist temple, located at 2544 Highway 100 South, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416, with an area of 3.8 acres.
On May 30, 2017, the temple’s executive committee traveled to respectfully invite His Holiness Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan (who was then known as Phra Brahma Wachirayan), a member of the Supreme Sangha Council and the abbot of Wat Yannawa in Bangkok (currently serving as the head monk of Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn). He is also the chairman of Wat Dhammaram in Chicago, Illinois, and the chairman of Wat Nawamintararachutis in Boston, Massachusetts. He was on a religious mission at Wat Dhammaram in Chicago, Illinois, and was invited to perform religious duties in Minnesota. His Holiness graciously agreed to take the temple under his patronage.
On August 2, 2017, Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan (whose ecclesiastical title at that time was Phra Brahma Wachirayan) graciously bestowed the name “Wat Wromchirayan” upon the temple. This was to serve as a center for the dissemination of Buddhism and as a place for Buddhists to perform public charitable activities.
On January 30, 2019, the committee purchased the house at 2600 Utica Avenue South, St. Louis Park, Minnesota 55416. The house, located near the temple, was renovated to serve as a residence for the Dhammaduta monks who perform regular religious duties.
On May 21, 2019, the committee initiated a project to construct a parking lot to comply with the regulations of St. Louis Park and to facilitate Thai Buddhists who would use it for religious, cultural, and community purposes. The construction project was completed in August 2019.
On June 9, 2019, the committee organized a celebration for the 16th anniversary of the founding of Wat Thai Minnesota, which was established as Wat Promwachirayan on November 15, 2017. The event also included a merit-making ceremony for the 82nd birthday of Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan and the inauguration of the Thai Cultural Council in the United States, Minnesota (Saint Louis Park). Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan presided over the religious ceremony, while Ms. Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Deputy Consul General acting as Consul General in Chicago, presided over the lay ceremony. Thai and international Buddhists attended the event to uphold and continue Thai cultural traditions.
On May 28, and 29, 2022, Wat Promwachirayan, in collaboration with the Thai Cultural Council in the United States, Minnesota (St. Louis Park), organized the first Minnesota Songkran Festival in front of the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul, MN. Somdet Phra Maha Thirachan, presided over the religious ceremony, while Mr. Pisanu Sobhon, Consul General in Chicago, presided over the lay ceremony. The event was attended by Minnesota state government officials, honored guests from both Thailand and other countries. Since then, the Minnesota Songkran Festival has been held annually, with notable figures from Thailand and the United States participating in the event.
On June 11, 2022, the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the United States officially recognized Wat Promwachirayan as the 71st affiliated temple under the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the United States, according to the resolution of the Executive Committee of the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the United States in 2019.
At the end of 2022, Wat Promwachirayan, in collaboration with the Thai Cultural Council in the United States, Minnesota (St. Louis Park), joined the Thai Language and Culture Teaching Project Abroad of Bansom-dejchaopraya Rajabhat University. This initiative aims to provide Thai and international youth abroad with the opportunity to study the language, customs, traditions, and culture of Thailand. The school, named the “Thai Arts and Culture School of Minnesota”, has been operating since November 15, 2022, and continues to do so to this day.
Currently, Wat Promwachirayan in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is led by Phra Maha Chamnian Jirapanyo, who holds a Pali Level 9 and a master’s degree in Buddhist Studies and serves as the Assistant Abbot of Wat Yannawa in Bangkok. The temple has 10 resident monks who perform regular religious duties.
