Farewell to US Ambassador

Farewell to the U.S. Ambassador
22 August 2008

Ambassador Joseph Mussomeli has been the U.S. Ambassador to the Royal Government of Cambodia for the past three years and has now finished his term. Both he and his wife Sharon are career diplomats, and they have represented the United States extremely well in the kingdom. They regularly come to the Catholic community's Saturday night liturgy and to the liturgy at the Maryknoll house on Wednesday evenings, so when they held a reception to say goodbye, they invited the Maryknoll group to the ambassador's residence.

Sharon Mussomeli and Maryknollers Every Friday Sharon Mussomeli joined a group of lay missionaries for a mass with Charlie Dittmeier so for her final Friday in Phnom Penh, the mass was held at the ambassador's residence before the reception.

Patio at ambassador's residence The patio at the rear of the ambassador's residence. The glass fence (left) kept the Mussomeli's three-year old son from a small swimming pool in the yard.

Sharon Mussomeli and Piper After the mass and before most of the guests arrived, Sharon Mussomeli was able to sit down for a few minutes to talk. With her is Piper, the Deputy Chief of Mission, who will be in charge until the new ambassador is confirmed.

Three Maryknollers Luis Lopez, Doy Castro, and Ed McGovern, three of the Maryknoll group, waiting for the formal activities to begin.

Sharon and Joseph Mussomeli Ambassador Mussomeli, here with his wife Sharon, began the evening with a few simple remarks to note the end of his time in Cambodia. He has a delightful low-key way of addressing issues, clear and profound.

Ambassador addressing the group Ambassador Mussomeli has been a strong and consistent voice in Cambodia for justice and human rights and a common sense approach to problems. He has shown a lot of wisdom in his interventions.

Friends of the Mussomelis The Mussomelis basically invited friends for this reception rather than the official diplomatic set, and they had an appreciative audience there to bid them goodbye.

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Go to Charlie Dittmeier's home page


	Every Friday Sharon Mussomeli joined a group of lay missionaries for a mass with Charlie Dittmeier so for her final Friday in Phnom Penh, the mass was held at the ambassador's residence before the reception.
	The patio at the rear of the ambassador's residence. The glass fence (left) kept the Mussomeli's three-year old son from a small swimming pool in the yard.
	After the mass and before most of the guests arrived, Sharon Mussomeli was able to sit down for a few minutes to talk. With her is Piper, the Deputy Chief of Mission, who will be in charge until the new ambassador is confirmed.
	Luis Lopez, Doy Castro, and Ed McGovern, three of the Maryknoll group, waiting for the formal activities to begin.
	Ambassador Mussomeli, here with his wife Sharon, began the evening with a few simple remarks to note the end of his time in Cambodia. He has a delightful low-key way of addressing issues, clear and profound.
	Ambassador Mussomeli has been a strong and consistent voice in Cambodia for justice and human rights and a common sense approach to problems. He has shown a lot of wisdom in his interventions.
	The Mussomelis basically invited friends for this reception rather than the official diplomatic set, and they had an appreciative audience there to bid them goodbye.