Thanksgiving Celebration
2002
Alex, the Maryknoll chef at the Hong Kong center house, and one of his helpers taking a break from the preparations of a Thanksgiving meal of turkey and ham.
The large dining room, usually used for retreat groups, was set for about eighty guests. It is a Maryknoll tradition to invite priests of the Hong Kong diocese to this special dinner at the HK center house.
Fernando Montano, of the Guadalupe Missioners from Mexico, sat at a table with Charlie Dittmeier. Fernando replaced Charlie as the chaplain to the HK Catholic deaf community.
Bob Bains, a Maryknoll priest teaching in China, and Ed Szendrey, a Maryknoller working in Hong Kong, with one of the Guadalupe seminarians.
On the other side of the table were Ray, from the Scarboro mission group, who is now working in Kowloon, and Jerry from the Columbans.
One of the regular Maryknoll center house staff washes dishes after the meal. The house staff really work hard for this annual event, and traditionally they have the following day off in compensation.