Return from Fund Raising Event Techny Through Europe

After the fund raising event which was held at Divine Word Missionaries in Techny, Illinois I returned to Thailand via Europe. The purpose for this travel was to visit several of the funding agencies such as Kindermissionswerk and Misereor in Aachen Germany as well as Missio Austria. All of these agencies have been and continue to be very generous to Mother of Perpetual Help Center, especially with help for children and our Aids Education and Awareness Program with the youth in schools throughout the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu. At the same time by visiting many of our SVD houses in Germany the opportunity of meeting up again with many of the retired missionary priests and brothers who had been working in Papua New Guinea.

Above a unique small chapel in the offices of Misereor where I visited with persons responsible for funding programs for Thailand and East Asia.

Also in Aachen the offices of Kindermissionswerk where children from the areas go from door to door singing Christmas carols to collect funds for needy children throughout the world. Our programs with children have been fortunate over the years to receive help from them.

The beautiful chapel in St. Gabriel's in Austria. Our founder St. Arnold Janssen was influential in the construction of this very large seminary where in the early years 400 to 500 young men had gone through to study for the priesthood and brotherhood. The large structures were all built by hard work from the Brothers. Many retired priests and brothers from Austria retire here at a very nice infirmary with good nursing care.

Below an arial view of the entire complex at St. Gabriel's in Austria which in the early years also had a printing press, farms and orchards as St. Arnold was very strong on having self sufficiency.

Before travelling to Austria Brother Bernd Ruffing, Brother Hermann Hempenn and I made a visit to Goch where St. Arnold Janssen was born. Today there remains a meuseum which shows the birthplace of Arnold and some of the things which Arnold possessed.

The stove and kitchen where Arnold was brought up and below some of Arnolds personal books and rosary.

The room and bed where Arnold was born

At the Parish Church in Goch are stained glass windows of St. Arnold and St. Josef Freidnametz (the first SVD missionary to be sent to China).

The baptismal font where St. Arnold was baptized.

In the crypt below the main chapel at St. Michael's in Steyl Holland is the final resting place of Arnold.

Here the main chapel of our seminary at St. Wendel's in Germany. Another very large complex where again a great number of young men studied for the priesthood and brotherhood. This complex just outside of St. Wendel town is fixed amid a beautiful landscape of hills and forests.

Here at St. Wendel's many priests and brothers now retired from hard work in Germany and in the missions overseas retire here with good care. Here at St. Wendel's it was great to visit so many of the missionaries who again had been working together with me during my years in Papua New Guinea.

Apostolic Nuncio's Visit to Nong Bua Lamphu - October 19, 2011

October 19th, 2011 was marked with the visit of our Apostolic Nuncio from Bangkok, His Excellency Archbishop Giovanni Daniello. We at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Mother of Perpetual Help Center and Mother Teresa's Children's Home were happy and honored to give hospitality to him and our Bishop Joseph Luechai Thatwisai.

His Excellency was greeted by parishioners from St. Michael's, parishioners from the parish in Loei, patients and staff from Mother of Perpetual Help Center, Sisters and children from Mother Teresa's Home. After greeting our visitors everyone proceeded to our meeting room where presentations about the various ministries in Nong Bua Lamphu were given. Before going to the Church the Archbishop and Bishop Joseph toured the Center and Hospice, then everyone proceeded to the Church where the Archbishop gave a short presentation and talk to the crowd before going to the Sala to enjoy a meal together - again with some presentations and performances by the youth from Ban Mae Marie and the children from the home.

The days events were enjoyed by all and we were happy as well that many from Loei were able to attend since the Archbishop did not have time to travel to Loei. Soon after lunch he then went on to visit the church in Khon Kaen and other parts of the Udon Thani Diocese before making a visit also to the Diocese of Tare in the Province of Sakorn Nakon.