Closing Time

It’s 6:05 AM and these women are closing up their shop in a wholesale market. They start selling about 4:00 AM and by 6:00 AM they have supplied restaurants, stores, and smaller markets and it’s time to pack up and go home.

Woman Driver

I had an unusual experience today when I rode a tuk-tuk home from a meeting. There was a young woman driving. I always assumed there were some women drivers–in a predominantly man’s job–but this was the first time I’ve seen one. The trip was unusual also because although the most efficient route is shown on the phone app in front of the driver, two times she deliberately went WAY out of her way and did not follow the map. The cost of the trip is set by the app before the trip starts so her going farther than necessary costs her money.

If you don’t want flooding….

it’s rather difficult getting around the streets near my house these days. Phnom Penh is known for flooding–especially because the government tycoons keep filling in the water catchment areas to sell to their friends–so new sewers are a necessity, but when a busy street–the size of an alley in the U.S.–is torn up, I and the fruit seller and the school girl all have to find an alternative route.

First Mass at St. Jude School

Our first liturgy as the English Catholic Community at St. Jude Thaddeus School was enhanced by the blessing of the church (the people) and the building (the place where the church meets). In addition we were fortunate to celebrate the renewal of their marriage vows by Manuel and Juanita Isip.

Manuel and Juanita Isip (both in white) in the front row at the first mass at St. Jude Thaddeus School.
Juanita and Manuel renewed their promises with the community as witnesses. We thank the Isips for their faithfulness and the example they give to all our married members.

First Mass at St. Jude School

Our Saturday night English Catholic Community finally found a new home at St. Jude Thaddeus International School. Starting 20 July, our Saturday masses will be held in their new multipurpose room. These are pictures from our first liturgy there.

Because this was the first time for our gathering at St. Jude Thaddeus School, Fr. Charlie explained both the building and the church blessing liturgy we would celebrate that evening.
First we had a blessing of the people–the church–and then Fr. Charlie blessed the building where the church will meet from now on.
As the blessing of the building ended, members of the parish covered the previously bare altar with the altar cloths and set out the candles and the liturgical books to be used.
Then Fr. Kevin blessed the altar.
Then we continued with the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist in our first mass in our new center.
After the last blessing, everyone turned to face a rear balcony for a photograph to help us remember this special day.

[Our special thanks to Ms. Myra Dalmacia, the director of the St. Jude Thaddeus International School, who has invited us to use her school for our liturgy. And our sincere thanks to Tommy Boukhris Photography who took these photos for us.]

New Church Progress

The warehouse we are taking over as a worship space for our Saturday night liturgy for the English Catholic Community is almost ready. It’s still got a rough concrete floor, no fans, etc., but we have a “sanctuary” and the old altar we used to use at World Vision and 229 plastic chairs. Tomorrow is the day for our first gathering there.

New Church Progress

Our first Saturday evening mass at St. Jude Thaddeus School’s multipurpose room is getting close but we’re getting things ready mostly on schedule. Today I took the old altar we used at the World Vision auditorium to the school on top of a tuk-tuk. That’s Sambath, known to three decades of Maryknollers, taking it off the top. While in the hall, I also tested the new sound system and it works. We’re getting there!