Can you tell us about your missionary experience before coming to Thailand?
Before coming to Thailand I spent many happy years in Papua New Guinea. In 1969 I received my first missionary appointment to Papua New Guinea. The first 15 years there were as finance administrator for the Diocese of Goroka in the Eastern Highlands with Bp. John Cohill, SVD. In Goroka as well as being financial administrator I looked after Kefamo Center which became a retreat center as well as a home away from home for other missionaries in the Diocese. After 15 years I returned to our mission Center in the USA, after 4 years I returned to Papua New Guinea for a further 10 years – this time being assigned to work with the Bishop’s Conference in Port Moresby and after one year was recalled by the SVD Provincial as Provincial Treasurer for the Province of PNG where I worked for 9 years.
When did you come to Thailand and how did you begin in the HIV/AIDS ministry?
I came to Thailand in March of 1999 with Br. James Wilkins, SVD and studied the Thai language for one year. In March of 2000 we arrived in Nong Bua Lamphu as an assignment by Bp. George Phimphisan, CSsR to work along with the staff at Mother of Perpetual Help Center, which at that time was the only Catholic presence in Nong Bua Lamphu.
How would you describe your missionary experience here?
My experience here in Nong Bua Lamphu has been a very rewarding one. In some ways it was difficult as not having a great command of the Thai language, but on the other hand the work of the Center was able to go on well because of a very good Thai staff. The first couple of years I spent going on visitations with the staff and through this experience became familiar with the many needs for further development of the Center, both the physical structure as well as further development of programs.
You are known as someone who built many programs and buildings here, including the church. How did you manage to accomplish these things?
Through visitations and working along with the staff the physical needs as well as programs became known. During this time I continued to work on projects to funding agencies to keep the day to day programs running and at the same time seeking funds to build both the church and the center. Gradually funding was received so that the programs could continue and slowly funding as well for the physical structure. With the help from Catholics in Bangkok and a funding agency in America funds were in place for the building of the church, other funding agencies came through with sufficient funds first to construct Mother of Perpetual Help Center as it is today. During this time it was felt that a home for HIV children should be part of the plan. Two years after the SVD arrived the Missionary Sisters of Mother Teresa arrived and shared in the funding for the new home for HIV children and as a further need for a hospice for adults arose part of the Center was converted into the hospice to care for adults.
Some people say, “Brother has a lot of money”. How do you feel about that?
I find this comment very disturbing and sometimes I feel disappointed. Yes, it may seem that Brother has a lot of money. The money Brother has is money from generous benefactors and persons who are interested in helping the people here in Nong Bua Lamphu, in particular poor people and people with aids. Brother has money enough to keep the Center running and the programs running properly, not excessive money. All of the money received goes to keep the Center and it’s many programs running, such as aids education and awareness with the youth in schools, the hospice, the new home for HIV teenagers.
What is your biggest challenge for your working in Nong Bua Lamphu?
The biggest challenge still remains to have sufficient funds to keep the Center running and to continue the programs. My dream and my hope is that before I can retire sufficient funds can be in place to ensure that this work continues – this of course remains in God’s hands.
What has been most rewarding?
Most rewarding has been to see that so many people in need of help have been helped and so many because they have come to us have been able to return to their homes in better health. Rewarding has been to see a further development of the new home for teenagers – surely in this development can be felt the Divine Providence. The first years with so many funding request rejections, I felt at times to give up, but at the same time felt that if this whole venture was to be that help would come – it did!
What are some of the work that is occupying your heart and mind at this time?
The same works that have been going on and the hope that all can continue and change with the needs as they arise.
How does God and being a brother play in the work that you are doing in Nong Bua Lamphu?
Without God’s help I feel that none of what has developed here in Nong Bua Lamphu would have been possible. Being a brother I feel that I am an instrument in the development here in Nong Bua Lamphu.
How do you feel what you sit back and look at all the things that are now going on in the Nong Bua Catholic Community?
I feel good! Good and great to see that new life is developing in and around the Center with the St. Michael’s being an integral part of this new life in the Catholic community. New life at the Center and the Church with the arrival of more SVD presence and young SVD life to secure the future of the Church and the Center.
