Author: Charles Dittmeier

St. Joseph Farewell for Charlie

Today at the 10:30 AM mass we had a farewell for Charlie. This was his last mass with the English Catholic Community in Phnom Penh before returning to the United States tomorrow.

At the homily Charlie spoke of faith, not as assent to a series theological statements but rather a force that leads us to do as Jesus asks us.
A special part of this liturgy was the presence of deaf people and staff (front row, all Buddhist) from the Deaf Development Programme with Maryknoll Lay Missioner Julie Lawler interpreting in Cambodian Sign Language for them.
After some reflections there was time to take photos of various groups within our English Catholic Community. Here are the various liturgical ministers who serve our community.

St. Jude Farewell for Charlie

Tonight I had my last mass at St. Jude school, our Saturday night venue, and we had a full house. Afterwards we had a simple farewell program. Fr. Kevin, who has been with me for 20 of my 25 years, introduced the program after the final prayer of the mass.

Before mass Benilda Fernando, a pillar of the English Catholic Community, Hang Tran, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, and Fr. Kevin Conroy and I got together for a photo.

Before leading the blessing of the community for me, Fr. Kevin spoke of our living and working together in the parish community. It was a really well developed reflection and I immensely appreciated it.

And another goodbye

For 37 years I worked with the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, especially in Hong Kong and Cambodia. In Cambodia we work with lay missioners from other countries and some of the international group got together for an Italian dinner opportunity to say goodbye to me.

Another goodbye

Today four of the interpreters and staff of DDP invited me to lunch to say goodbye. It was really good to catch up with them–and they also gave me the pictured silk shirt!

DDP Farewell for Charlie

Our DDP students learned a traditional Cambodian dance. It is extra difficult for them to dance without the music.

Then I had a chance speak of my 25 years at DDP.

The deaf people were invited to speak and Samath spoke of the very early days of the Deaf Development Programme.

Saphaek from the UN Human Rights office spoke about working with DDP.

Then it was time to eat.

DDP Farewell for Charlie

As soon as I arrived at the Deaf Development Programme, the picture taking started with different group. Here are our barber students and their trainer.

Some of the young women from our Education Project who performed traditional Cambodian dance for the first time.

Our house parents

Some of our Education Project and Job Training Project students

Then I had to take the first piece of an hors d’oeuvres-type dish.

DDP Farewell for Charlie

We had a super farewell for me today at DDP. About 100 people came, many of them deaf people I hadn’t seen for years after they left our program.

When I first arrived, staff were working preparing lunch for everyone, to be served Khmer style after our program.

Visitors from Japan

Today a family from Japan visited DDP. The Cambodian wife is deaf and was our student until graduation in 2016. Soon after she married her Japanese deaf husband and moved there. Now with two hearing children, they came to visit and it was really heart-warming to see her and her family so happy. A DDP success story!