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August 14-17, the Maryknoll Lay Missioners are celebrating their 50th anniversary at Maryknoll, New York. I flew up from Louisville to celebrate and reflect on the 38 years I spent with the lay mission group.
It’s always so pleasant to come back to the beautiful Maryknoll seminary building.
Registration was in the Walsh Building and as soon as I walked in, I encountered our former Cambodian colleagues, Dave and Judy Saumweber and Sami Scott.
After the mass we had dinner at the Sisters Center.
The first official function was a mass for all the guests at the chapel of the Sisters Center. I interpreted the first scripture reading into sign language.
The first day program ended with reflections on Maryknoll by Sr. Ellen McDonald and Fr. John Sivalon (pictured here).
One of my first tasks was to set up my computer for e-mail, messages, and this website. I’m online but there is a LOT more work to do. Stay tuned!
This morning I got Sambath to bring his tuk-tuk over to my house and I loaded it with stuff that I am giving to DDP. Tuk-tuk drivers are masters at putting all sizes and shapes of loads in their vehicles.
Today at the 10:30 AM mass we had a farewell for Charlie. This was his last mass with the English Catholic Community in Phnom Penh before returning to the United States tomorrow.
Tonight I had my last mass at St. Jude school, our Saturday night venue, and we had a full house. Afterwards we had a simple farewell program. Fr. Kevin, who has been with me for 20 of my 25 years, introduced the program after the final prayer of the mass.
Before mass Benilda Fernando, a pillar of the English Catholic Community, Hang Tran, a Maryknoll Lay Missioner, and Fr. Kevin Conroy and I got together for a photo.
Before leading the blessing of the community for me, Fr. Kevin spoke of our living and working together in the parish community. It was a really well developed reflection and I immensely appreciated it.
For 37 years I worked with the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, especially in Hong Kong and Cambodia. In Cambodia we work with lay missioners from other countries and some of the international group got together for an Italian dinner opportunity to say goodbye to me.
Today four of the interpreters and staff of DDP invited me to lunch to say goodbye. It was really good to catch up with them–and they also gave me the pictured silk shirt!
Our DDP students learned a traditional Cambodian dance. It is extra difficult for them to dance without the music.
Then I had a chance speak of my 25 years at DDP.
The deaf people were invited to speak and Samath spoke of the very early days of the Deaf Development Programme.
Saphaek from the UN Human Rights office spoke about working with DDP.
Then it was time to eat.