Category: Maryknoll

Happenings in the Maryknoll world, especially in the Cambodia Mission Team.

Asia Area Director in Cambodia

There are four members of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Cambodia, and in an odd turn of events, the Asia Area Director is Steve Veryser–who lives in Kenya. Today Steve arrived in Cambodia for an official visit.

Kylene Fremling (L) and Julie Lawler greeting Steve Veryser at the Phnom Penh airport.

USA Trip 2020

Sunday, 2 October 2022

On my way back to Cambodia, I have stopped at the Maryknoll Sisters retirement home in Monrovia, California. Sr. Arlene Trant and I worked together with the deaf people of Macau and now she is administrator of this home. She has been inviting me to visit so I made this my first stop on the return journey.

The center is set in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains on the eastern edge of Los Angeles, 45 miles from the sea.
Originally this was a TB hospital but the Maryknoll Sisters purchased it in 1920.
This is a view of the front of the facility from the side of the property. All the sidewalks are accessible for sisters using walkers.
This is a view of the other side of the main building. I stayed in an apartment on the basement level. My windows are by the second chair in the photo.
Most of the buildings are connected by sheltered sidewalks, more to protect walkers from the sun than from the rain. The eastern side of LA, here at the base of the mountains, is considerably warmer than LA along the coast.

USA Trip 2022

Saturday, 17 September 2022

Afdter my sisters Martha and Mary picked me up at the airport, they started work in the kitchen to prepare for a BBQ dinner for all the brothers and sisters.
Meanwhile, Mary’s husband Mike was outside fixing his daughter’s bicycle she uses for commuting to work every day.
When the Reed family arrived from Ohio, Mary showed them her new garden and landscaping.
Finally everyone had arrived and it was time to eat.
After dinner the self-proclaimed Council of Elders gathered to resolve world problems.

USA Trip 2022

Saturday, 16 September 2022

Today was a loose day with three really important elements: visiting Fr. Tom Dunleavy, a lunch meeting with Ted Miles, and dinner at the NYC office of Maryknoll with Br. Tim Riable.

Another of the fabulous staff of Maryknoll Lay Missioners is Marci Winston, our long-time administrative assistant.
A view of the Rogers Building on the campus of the Maryknoll Sisters.





A wooden statue of Mary in the entrance way of the Sisters’ chapel.




Another shot in the main course of Grand Central Terminal, a really beautiful building.

USA Trip 2022

Thursday, 15 September 2022

Today was a day for visiting people around the larger Maryknoll campus, on the grounds of the priests and brothers, then the sisters, and then the lay missioners.

Sr. Luise Ahrens was in Cambodia for many years and is now in service at the Sisters Center in Ossining. She is recovering from a broken arm.
A bird feeder on the grounds of the Sisters Center.
Ted Miles, executive director, and Lupe Garcia, administrative assistant, at the Walsh Building, the home of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners.
A view of the old seminary building, with the chapel wing on the left.



The main seminary building occupants have just endured two weeks of Covid restrictions after a surge of infections. Those restrictions were lifted three days ago but one returning Maryknoll priest tested positive and is isolated in his room.



USA Trip 2022

Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Today was mostly a series of meetings as part of my process of “checking out” from the Maryknoll Society of priests and brothers.


One of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners team who was at the Walsh Building when I arrived was Pat Norberto.









My room for this trip in the old seminary building. The rooms weren’t so big and so nice in the days when the seminarians were here. (They now study in Chicago.)



This evening I ate dinner with Adel O’Regan, a good friend from her days as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Cambodia.