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“I used to think that prayer changes things but now I know that prayer changes us and we change things.” ~ Mother Teresa |
Author: Charles Dittmeier
DDP Phnom Penh Staff
Every month we have a celebration for those whose birthdays are that month and today we celebrated September–and also added two staff who are finishing their time at DDP. Working with a young and lively staff is one of the benefits of the management job at DDP.
Fr. Bob’s last masses
This weekend was the last time for Fr. Bob Wynne to celebrate with the Saturday and Sunday English communities before he takes up a new assignment in the United States. Click here to see pictures from the two farewells.
Farewell at World Vision
In two weeks, Fr. Bob Wynne will take up a new assignment at the Maryknoll house in Seattle, Washington. Tonight was the last time he would celebrate the liturgy with the Saturday night congregation which meets at World Vision auditorium. He spoke about his mission in Cambodia and at the end of mass the community thanked him and gave him a gift.
Francis Chronicles
Pat Marrin is an artist who applies his skills to church themes connected with Pope Francis. He does a really good job of giving new insights into current issues such as the sexual abuse scandal or caring for the environment. His comic strips on Pope Francis are published twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Here is his latest strip, again taking a stance on clergy sexual abuse and the cover-up:
You can have an e-mail sent to you about each new Pope Francis cartoon by going to this address:
https://www.ncronline.org/news/environment/francis-chronicles/francis-comic-strip
Listening while deaf…
Kevin’s Birthday
Today was Fr. Kevin Conroy’s birthday and we celebrated it as part of our regular Maryknoll Wednesday meeting.
Kevin: “I was afraid no one would remember my birthday so I dressed up a little….”
Sr. Regina: “I’m staying away as far as I can. I think I’m safe here….”
Notable Quotes
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“This is an astonishing thing to have to say about an American president, but Trump is taking a page from the playbook of totalitarian dictators: Believe only me. Reality is what I say it is. Anyone who claims otherwise is an Enemy of the People.”
~Eugene Robinson (Washington Post Op-Ed) |
Nothing stays the same
The foreign population of Phnom Penh is constantly turning over. We see that in our parish community where we need to recruit new ministers every four or five months because so many are rotated out or reassigned. And it’s the same with the buildings here. Places that I pass often have been family homes, a restaurant, a crocodile farm, a bar and brothel in quick succession. One group moves out and the other moves in with the least bit of disruption.
An illustration is the house in these pictures. Just a year and a half ago, it was a residence for high-ranking US Embassy personnel. I was often there for meetings, dinners, birthdays, etc., with the family with four children who lived there. Yesterday it opened as some sort of high-end coffee shop!
Going to church….
Heavy rains–it’s the rainy season–plus extra water from a collapsed dam in Laos have raised the river levels quite high in Phnom Penh. Bishop Olivier experienced a bit more difficulty than usual in making visits to the parishes along the river. Click here for more.