Schedule for the 47th Annual General Meeting of the Council of Thai Bhikkhus in the USA
The Chanting Ceremony Honoring Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand
May 30–31 and June 1, 2025
At Wat Dhammaram, Chicago, Illinois
Thursday, May 29, 2025
4:00 PM Check in at the Holiday Inn Chicago, 6201 Joliet Road, Countryside, IL 60525, USA
Friday, May 30, 2025
6:00 AM – Morning chanting at Wat Dhammaram’s Ubosot
7:00 AM – Breakfast offered to 100 monks
8:30 AM – Registration and document distribution for participants
8:45 AM – All participants gather at Sirikit Hall, Wat Dhammaram
- Ceremony preparations by Phra Videsratanaporn, General Secretary of the CTU.
9:00 AM – Opening ceremony begins
- The monastic president lights incense and candles in homage to the Triple Gem
- Participants pay respects
- Phra Thepvajaravides, Chairman of the Council, offers homage on behalf of global Dhamma emissaries
- Welcome speech by Phra Maha Samroeng Apassaro (host monk)
- Welcoming remarks from local government officials
- Civilian co-chair gives a declaration of support
- The Consul General of Chicago delivers a speech
- Report from Phra Thepvajaravides to the presiding chairman
- Chairman delivers an address and officially opens the conference
Following that:
- Reading of a message from the Supreme Patriarch
- Representative from the National Office of Buddhism offers comments (10 minutes)
- Phra Videsratanaporn introduces senior monks, honored guests, and member abbots
- Various organizations present short (3–5 min.) videos on their work and history
- Group photo session
11:20 AM – Lunch offering to 300 monks
1:30 PM – Afternoon session of the conference begins
- Led by Phra Thepvajiravides, President of the CTU per the agenda
3:00 PM – Break for refreshments
3:30 PM – Session resumes
5:00 PM – Day one concludes
Saturday, May 31, 2025
6:00 AM – Morning chanting at the Ubosot
7:00 AM – Breakfast offered to 100 monks
9:00 AM – Council meeting continues per agenda
10:45 AM – Break
11:00 AM – Lunch offering to 300 monks
12:30 PM – Merit pole and honorary certificate presentation to honorary advisors
1:30 PM – Council meeting resumes
- Election of the Board of Directors committee members of the CTU
- Election of two Dhammaduta representatives to the council fund committee
4:00 PM – Money tree offering ceremony and official closing of the meeting
5:00 PM – First meeting of the newly elected BOD committee
Sunday, June 1, 2025
6:00 AM – Morning chanting
7:00 AM – Breakfast offered to 100 monks
9:30 AM – All participants(monks and Lay devotees) gather at Sirikit Hall, Wat Dhammaram
10:00 AM – Chanting ceremony in honor of Their Majesties the King and Queen
- The ceremony is presided over by Phra Brahmapundit, who lights candles and incense
- The Consul General of Chicago presents a floral tray before royal portraits
- Devotees stand to pay respect
- Royal anthem played
- 300 monks chant auspicious verses
- Ceremonial taking of precepts and protective chanting
- Chanting led by 10 senior monks and 290 others
- Offerings of requisites and monetary donations to monks
- Monks chant blessings and pour water for merit dedication
11:00 AM – Lunch offering to 300 monks
12:00 PM – Laypeople enjoy lunch
1:00 PM – Dhamma talk by Phra Brahmapundit, a member of the Sangha Supreme Council and Abbot of Wat Prayurawongsawas Worawihan, Bangkok
— End of Ceremony —
Note: The schedule is subject to change as appropriate.
