The original meeting schedule had us starting on Monday evening but later the agenda was revised and it was decided we could start Tuesday night and Tuesday became a free day for those who had already bought their tickets. I used the day well to do some running around Hong Kong.

Each morning has started with a liturgy in the Stanley House chapel. Today the presider was Bill Larousse with Roberto Rodriquez concelebrating.

The chapel in the Stanley House is a real treasure. The room itself is impressive but it also has many Chinese-style decorations and furnishings.

At lunch time I went to Wanchai to meet with five of my really good friends from the deaf community. These four were in high school when I first came to Hong Kong and later were members of our deaf parish, and all along they have been wonderful friends, one of the reasons I love Hong Kong.

After lunch I went to Ap Liu Street in the Sham Shui Po area where there are hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of electronics and also assorted "stuff" like this tableful. I bought a battery pack, a flashlight, a camera lens cap, and some super glue.

I rode the MTR (Hong Kong's subway) a lot today, and on each trip the majority of the riders had their faces buried in their phones and other devices.

This is a typical Wanchai intersection on Hong Kong Island. People actually live in the urban areas in Hong Kong and they are amazingly alive and vibrant. Hong Kong is my home.

During the day the rest of the meeting participants arrived and before supper there was a social hour. Here Tom O'Brien, Bill McIntire, and Gerry Lee discuss things Maryknoll.

For a large group like ours, the big dining room is put into service. The Stanley House staff is so considerate and so anxious to make everything work out well, and gatherings there are always enjoyable.

We had a quick introductory meeting after supper and then people were free. But Brian Barrons, the Asia regional superior; Gerry Hammond, the Korea local superior; and Fr. Joe Loftus, the facilitator, stayed behind to go over the agenda for the next day.