Maryknoll, New York

19 May 2003 (Monday) Today was a day of meetings. The first one was with some of the staff at Bethany. That one required a bit of homework to get materials ready for them to examine. Afterwards I burned more CDs with photos from the General Assembly and the assembly website. The next meeting was a lunch meeting at the seminary building with Marie Dennis, the director of the Maryknoll Office of Global Concerns. We worked on an itinerary and schedule for her proposed trip to Asia in August. This evening four of us had a delightful dinner and evening of conversation with the family of Debra Versheck who works in the Finance and Administration Department. From left to right are Craig Versheck, Ashley Versheck, Sami Scott, Debra Versheck, Kelly O'Brien, and Heidi Cerneka.

20 May 2003 (Tuesday) The ALT + 5 will continue their meetings Wednesday through Friday of this week, after a four-day break after the general assembly. Originally we had planned to start meeting on Monday, but several of the ALT + 5 were gone to weddings, graduations, and baptism over the weekend which we turned into a long weekend for all of us. Most of the delegates have started their journeys homeward, but for the few who remain, the work of the general assembly lingers on. Here Joanne Miya, Kelly O'Brien, and Charlotte Cook work on a summary of the directions and decision of the assembly which will be handed out to all the members.

21 May 2003 (Wednesday) This morning the three departments of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners known as U.S. Operations (Finances, Promotions, and Mission Services) had a meeting here at Bethany. The ALT + 5 led a short prayer service to begin the daylong meeting. Kelly O'Brien (second from left) saying goodbye to Sheila Matthews, Alicia Butkiewicz, Gerry Lee, and Heidi Cerneka. Kelly was the delegate from Thailand for the general assembly and is now heading back there after a visit home. Cathy Breen is a former Maryknoll lay missioner who just returned from six months in Iraq where she was part of a peace group showing support for the Iraqi people during the war. Tonight she spoke at the Sisters' Center about her experiences.