The history of St. Mary's School Udonthani
Founded 25 May 1961
House of Our Lady of Grace
บ้านแม่พระแห่งพระหรรษทาน
The school founded by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians did not begin with the word “institution” — it began with the word “home”.
The family's roots
A path of grace, from Italy to the land of Isan
Before it became this home in Udon Thani, the story began on the other side of the world and slowly made its way to us.
- 18725 August
Mornese · Italy
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) were founded on 5 August by Saint John Bosco and Saint Maria Mazzarello.
- 1931B.E. 2474
Bang Nok Khwaek · Samut Songkhram
The FMA Sisters began their work in Thailand, pioneered by Sr. Rose Moore and Sr. Cecilia Chan Phalawasu.
- 1961B.E. 2504
Udon Thani
This home was born, under the name “House of Our Lady of Grace”.
We are here
Source: website of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (fma.or.th)
25 May 1961
The first day of a home
The first building was a single storey, teaching Grades 1 to 6, with just 160 students and 6 teachers. It was founded by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who had travelled far to care for the young people of Udon Thani.
The original name of this home
บ้านแม่พระแห่งพระหรรษทาน
House of Our Lady of Grace
Six decades later
From one hundred and sixty lives to a home for thousands
More than 60 years on · today we teach from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12
* Student and teacher numbers are taken from the school's previous website — not yet the figures for Academic Year 2026
The educational method of Saint John Bosco
The Preventive System
The three pillars that hold up this home
The approach of Saint John Bosco, alive in every classroom at St. Mary's — preventing rather than correcting, and caring with understanding.
Reason
เหตุผล
Guiding through understanding rather than force — teaching students to think for themselves and to tell right from wrong.
Religion
ศาสนา
Forming through faith and virtue, so that each one grows into a good person with a beautiful heart.
Loving-kindness
ความรักใจดี
Teachers stay beside their students like family, caring with love and kindness.
“Knowledge and Virtue”
ความรู้คู่คุณธรรม
The identity of a St. Mary's student
The spiritual heart of the home
At the heart of this home shines the Chapel of Mary Help of Christians
“Every home has a heart — and the heart of this home is faith”
Photo: St. Mary's School
The crest above the door
Reading the school crest
ST. MARY UDONTHANIGolden star
A bright point above the crest
Anchor
At the centre of the shield
Flowers
A lily on the left and a rose on the right, flanking the anchor
Pink and blue shield
The school colours: pink and blue
“Knowledge and Virtue”
ความรู้คู่คุณธรรม
* The elements and colours are described as they appear on the crest — their detailed symbolic meaning is as defined by the school.
This home does not stand alone
Sister homes of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
St. Mary's is one of the schools of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in Thailand — every one of them part of the same family.
St. Mary's
Mueang · Udon Thani
Our home
“This home is still being written — and the next page is your memories”
Awaiting memories from the St. Mary's family
If you have photographs of the first building, the pioneering sisters or past activities, please send them to help complete this page.
St. Mary's School · 129 Nittayo Road, Mak Khaeng, Mueang, Udon Thani
Founded 25 May 1961