ASIOC 1EWS

No. 39 March, 2008

Asia Oceania Region CSsR News

Fr Joseph Dinh Huu Thoai CSsR (Province Secretary)

Fr Patrick Corbett, CSsR (Retreat Master)
V. Rev Vincent Pham Trung Thành, (Provincial of
Vietnam)
Asioc News Page 1

An Extraordinary Retreat
Front Cover: The picture was taken on the occasion of a retreat preached in
November 2007 to the confreres of the Province of Vietnam by Fr Patrick
Corbett, CSsR from Australia. Fr Pat doesn’t speak Vietnamese, but language
did not prove to be a barrier. The talks were sent to Vietnam prior to Pat’s
arrival and translated into Vietnamese. Two hundred confreres were present,
and the main points of the talks were presented in PowerPoint. Not only were
the members of the province present, but the retreat begun with a veneration of
the ancestors of the province who were also symbolically present for the retreat.
The retreat took place prior to an Assembly of the province of Vietnam.

60 Years: The Redemptorist Story in Thailand

On Saturday, 7 June, 2008, the Redemptorists will celebrate the

sixtieth anniversary of their presence in Thailand. The theme of
the celebration will be Reaching to Bright Horizons.
Asioc News Page 2

The story of the Redemptorist presence and ministry in Thailand begins in

1939. In that year Bishop Gouen, the Ordinary of the huge mission comprising
all of Northeastern Thailand and Laos, applied to the Holy See for more
missionaries to assist the work of the Church in Siam. The Holy See asked the
Redemptorists if they could find someone to accept this task. The Redemptorist
Superior General, Father Patrick Murray, looked around the provinces and saw
that the St Louis Province in the United States had many members, big
ordination classes and no foreign mission. So, St. Louis was asked, and the
province answered the call and agreed to come to Siam. However, before the
missionaries could set forth, war broke out in the Far East, and the mission
could not begin. Figuring that the Siamese mission was a dead issue, St Louis
accepted, in 1943, a mission on the Amazon River in Brazil. The Province
committed both personnel and finance resources for this mission.

After the Second World War, as peace and tranquility descended on The Far
East, the commitment given to the Siamese mission by the St Louis Province
was recalled. Bishop Claude Beyet, the successor of Bishop Gouen renewed the
appeal. St Louis did not offer the excuse of having already accepted a new
mission in Brazil, but felt pressed in fulfilling the original commitment to Siam.

Fr Francis Fagen, then provincial of the Province, began looking for suitable
personnel. Unfortunately, he had the mistaken notion that missionaries with
French names would be most acceptable to the Siamese. As a matter of fact,
just prior to the world War, Siam had engaged in a war with France, and more
French were not seen as welcome additions to the church. However, the names
of Duhart, Godbout, La Rivere and Kane, did not prove a deterrent to their
missionary efforts; and Father Godbout's fluency in French was a positive asset
in dealing with the mainly French speaking missionaries in Thailand.

More important than French sounding names, was the character of the first
missionaries. Father Clarence Duhart, the first superior of the Mission, was
already experienced in different phases of the apostolate. Upon ordination he
had gone to Catholic University in Washington and graduated as a “man of
letters of rare Latin prepositions”. In 1942, he volunteered to serve as a
chaplain in the US Army and spent his overseas service in the Pacific. After
mustering out of the Army, he worked on the home mission band in the US,
preaching missions in many Southern States.

Father Roger Godbout, ordained 8 years before his assignment to Siam, had
experience working for Spanish Americans; later he gained experience in
parish work and the development of new parishes. Like Duhart, Godbout had
Asioc News Page 3

preached extensively over the southern US giving missions in French, English

and Spanish. He remained fluent in French and Spanish all his life.

The final two missionaries assigned to the new Siamese mission were Frs
Robert La Riviere and Edward Kane. These two brought with them youthful
enthusiasm, not much experience, but readiness for anything. Father La Riviere
was a professor in the minor seminary. Father Kane went straight from the
seminary to Siam. They did bring with them, however, an ability to learn
languages, something that would be extremely valuable as they set themselves
to mastering the difficult Siamese language.

After the inevitable delays, the departure for the new mission in Siam (soon to
be renamed Thailand) took place on 6 March 1948. A “missioning ceremony”
was held at the Redemptorist seminary in Oakland, California. Afterwards the
four pioneers set sail on the freighter, the “SS Arkansan”, bound for Bangkok
via Yokohama and Saigon. In Yokohama they were joyously received by
Father Henry D Sutton, CSsR who was a U.S. Navy chaplain stationed there.
The confreres still talk about the extraordinary hospitality extended to them by
this confrere.

The voyage was a long one, two months and three days to Saigon. They whiled
away the days and hours in playing pinochle, reading, and some early attempts
at their new language. Pinochle would remain a staple of their early missionary
career and 50 years later remains a favourite recreation of the confreres. The
voyage was particularly arduous for Father Godbout, who suffered from sea
sickness the whole trip.

In Saigon, the confreres found that they would have to find new passage to their
final destination of Bangkok. After two weeks, they succeeded transferring
their more than 100 trunks, containing practically everything they might need
on a day to day basis in Thailand, to a new vessel. The Bishop of Bangkok had
advised them to, “bring everything you can”, and they did so: everything from
beds to cigars for Father Godbout. At customs in Bangkok the officials asked
them to open just one of the trunks for inspection, and picked out the one chock
full of Father Godbout's cigars. The customs officials were satisfied that was
the only trunk that would cause any difficulty and graciously left Father
Godbout with his treasure.

Their journey finally ended on May 19, 1948, at the port of Koh Si Chang, off
the coast of Sriracha in Thailand. A tug boat brought them up the shallow Chao
Phyao River to Bangkok. In Bangkok they were welcomed by Bishop Louis
Asioc News Page 4

Chorin, the French Bishop of Bangkok. (He was the last French Bishop of
Bangkok in a line going back some 300 years). He was later succeeded by a
Thai Bishop, Msgr Nittayo. Bishop Chorin welcomed the missionaries warmly,
told them he would be delighted if they would make a foundation in his
diocese, and remained a good friend up until his death.

Their first days in Bangkok were spent at “The Procure”, the headquarters for
the Bangkok Archdiocese. For the most part, those living at the Procure were
French speaking Paris Foreign Missionaries. Their English was limited so
Father Godbout's French was indispensable. Their first public Mass was at the
Assumption Cathedral in Bangkok where there was an English Mass for foreign
residents of the city. The missionaries were comfortable working in their native
language, but began making friends with Bangkok residents who would remain
good friends and supporters of their missionary work.

The time came for them to leave the relatively modern city of Bangkok and
travel to the Northeast where they would begin their missionary careers. After a
five day trip, they arrived at their destination in Thare, (then a Vicariate
Apostolic, now divided into the Archdiocese of Thare and Nonseng and the
Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani). There they met for the first time Bishop
Claude-Philippe Bayet, MEP. Bishop Bayet was a giant of a man, with a beard
almost as long as himself. He was a man of unfailing good humour, a booming
voice, and a rare fluency in the dialect of the Northeast, which most closely
resembled Laotian. He also proved to be a loving father-figure to our
“greenhorn” missionaries, unfailingly kind and helpful. The mission of Thare at
that time included all of Northeastern Thailand and the whole country of
Laos. Five years later two separate missions in Laos and three in Northeastern
Thailand were established.

Bishop Bayet quietly set the new missionaries to work learning Thai. This
would be the basis of their language study; but situated in the Northeast, their
day to day language would be the dialect spoken throughout the region, namely
Laotian. This would prove a difficulty for successive generations of
missionaries who would start out studying Thai, only to end up working in the
Laotian dialect. Their first professor was a young priest named Lawrence
Kien. Father Kien later became the second Thai Bishop of the newly formed
diocese of Thare. Eventually he would consecrate his pupil, Father Duhart, to
the episcopate.
Asioc News Page 5

The first community established by the Redemptorists in Thailand was in a

village called Xang Ming (“Glorious Elephant”). By Thai standards, it was a
large Catholic village. It had a relatively large priests' house, built of brick and
mortar, and was centrally located. So the community could live together and
travel, on a regular basis, to the five mission stations entrusted to their care.

From the beginning priority was given to community living, that being one of
the strengths of our Redemptorist charism. The confreres were soon walking,
biking and riding on horseback to minister to the various mission outposts
under our care, usually returning on a daily basis to the community. Xang
Ming would remain a community for the next eight years, but the foundation
added the communities of: Phonsung, Huey Suem, Huey Leb Mue and
Viengkuk to our care. Four of our earliest Thai vocations have come from Xang
Ming village, including two Vice Provincials

Holy Redeemer Parish, Bangkok

In 1949, as the missionaries were establishing themselves in Xang Ming, two
more missionaries arrived, Fathers Charlie Cotant and John Duyn. Both would
distinguish themselves mastering Thai; in Father Duy's case, he also became
fluent in Vietnamese.

In the same year we also founded a small community in Bangkok. The Bishop
of Bangkok, Msgr Chorin, renewed his request, made on the arrival of the first
missionaries, to establish a parish in his diocese to serve the large English
speaking population of Bangkok. Father Godbout had spent his first year in
Thailand suffering from diarrhoea and found it difficult to apply himself to
learning Thai. He did acquire a familiarity with the language, but not a fluency,
and this remained the biggest cross of his missionary career. But God's
Providence was at work here, because there was ample work in English and he
was uniquely suited for beginning this parish and overseeing its early
development. Father Cotant joined him in founding the parish and completed
his language study in Bangkok by studying with private tutors.

Not surprisingly, it took some time for the Fathers to find a permanent
settlement in Bangkok. They began by renting a house on Nai Lert Lane not
very far from the present site of Holy Redeemer Parish. They converted one
room of the house, designed to be a garage, into a chapel and immediately
began holding services for the Catholics to whom they had introduced
themselves.
Asioc News Page 6

This first chapel was appropriately named “Our Lady of the Garage”. Not long
after, they moved to Dr Lert's abandoned clinic on Sathorn Road, and held
Sunday services at Mater Dei School for a growing number of parishioners.
In those days of the “Cold War”, the Russian Embassy was situated near our
house. The forbidding gates were always locked, and it seemed like a
formidable fortress. One day, finding the gates open, Father Godbout pedalled
in on his bicycle. Tongue in cheek, he explained that he was doing a census of
his parish and wondered if any Catholics lived there. He was quickly escorted
to the gate. Eventually the missionaries got permission and with financial
assistance from St Louis they were able to purchase a small piece of property
(4 ½ rai, or 1 1/2 acres) that would serve as the permanent site of Holy
Redeemer Parish. However, this small piece of property put severe limitations
on plans for expansion, and in later years much more money was needed to
purchase two additional pieces of land.

For the time, though, it seemed adequate. A large community house was built
with room for about 15 confreres, and the famous Holy Redeemer Church was
constructed and blessed in the year 1954. The idea for the unique style of this
church was suggested by Msgr Fulton J Sheen on a visit to Bangkok. “Father”,
he said to Fr. Roger Godbout, “when you get around to building a church, why
not build it in the style of Thai architecture?”

Father Godbout did just that. Put very simply, it looks like a Buddhist temple,
with a tiered and slanted roof of multicoloured tiles. The doors are framed in
gold leaf, and only a cross on the front gave a hint to its actually being a
Catholic Church. At the time, it was an idea that received opposition from Thai
and foreigner alike, but Father Godbout has been proved absolutely right in
taking the course he did.
Asioc News Page 7

In 1957, Father Godbout procured the services of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus to
direct two parish schools he proposed to open in that year. In May, four classrooms
were formed by partitions in the then parish hall, and first grade classes were held in
the two Holy Redeemer Schools. Two classrooms were devoted to lessons in Thai
and English. By 1998 each school had expanded to bigger campuses and each has an
enrolment of about 2,000 pupils from kindergarten through to High School.

Meanwhile our apostolate upcountry was expanding. All of the Christian

communities, in what is now the Diocese of Udonthani, were turned over to the care
of the Redemptorists by Bishop Bayet. Unbeknownst to us, he was making plans for
the division of his huge diocese and had plans for the Redemptorists to take over one
of the new missions. Father Duhart, the superior of the mission from its inception,
was instructed by our Roman superiors to try to discourage any thinking along these
lines. So, he was surprised, on coming back from home leave in the US in 1953, to
learn that his superiors had approved his appointment as the head of the Udonthani
mission, formally called the Prefecture Apostolic of Udonthani. Msgr Duhart moved
from the community of Viengkuk to take up residence in Udon in 1954. From this
date forward, the Prefecture of Udon while headed by a Redemptorist and staffed
completely by Redemptorists, would develop as a separate entity from the
Redemptorist Mission and later Vice Province of Thailand.

The further expansion of our apostolate was made possible by continual additions to
our missionary personnel from the United States. From 1950 to 1953 Frs Smith,
Lowery, Martin, Gautreaux and Brother Kevin Power were added to the
“workforce”. The priests undertook language study in the city of Chantaburi,
southeast of Bangkok, under the tutelage of Thai priests. Brother Kevin, brought over
to help us in our building programs, was given no formal language training but
became proficient in the language on his own. In 1960, Brother Kevin returned to the
US to study for the priesthood to which he was ordained in 1966. As a lay-brother, he
left behind him many accomplishments, among them the Church of Our Lady of the
Rosary in Viengkuk.

On 19 January, 1954 the community of Viengkuk was formed, with Father Charles
Cotant as its first superior. This was the first community established within what later
became the Diocese of Udon. Frs Duyn and Gautreaux joined Father Cotant and were
pastors of parishes along the Mekong river. Viengkuk was a long established
Catholic community and had already given two of its daughters to the Congregation
of the Lovers of the Cross. Srs Agnes and Lucia were later martyred in the village of
Song Khon in 1940 and beatified along with five of their companions on 22 October,
1989. Like Xang Ming, Viengkuk would give several of her sons to the
Redemptorists, most notably Fr Peter Leng Khothisien who died of cancer in
Asioc News Page 8

1992. Father Leng was a nephew of Blessed Sister Lucia.

From Xang Ming to ongkhai

On 1 January, 1957, the Redemptorists gave up the foundation of Xang Ming, and
concentrated their efforts to build up the Mission of Udon. A new community was
formed in Nongkhai with Frs Duyn, Gautreaux, Lowery (superior) making up the
community. They were also joined by a new addition to the mission in Thailand,
Brother Cornelius Ryan, who arrived in Thailand in December, 1956. The
contribution this man made to the development of the Congregation and church in
this country is the stuff of which legends are made.

Khon Kaen Community

In September, 1958, the members of the Viengkuk Community were assigned to
begin work in Khon Kaen. The Viengkuk community was not formally suppressed
yet, nor the Khon Kaen community canonically erected. Hence, the trio of Frs Smith,
Gautreaux and Travis were dubbed “The Phantom Community”. Their presence,
however, was real enough. Father Travis made initial contact in Ban Noi, a village
populated mostly by leprosy patients. Ban Noi has played an important role in the
Redemptorist apostolate for the sick, handicapped and poor. In February, 1959, the
community of Khon Kaen was canonically erected with Father Griffith as the
superior, and Frs. Morrissy and Thiel making a quorum. This expansion to provide
pastoral coverage to the southern part of the Udon Mission was made possible by the
continued influx of missionaries from the States. Between the years 1955 and 1962,
Frs Bueche, Travis, Thiele, Morrissy, Bolin, Thiel, Gibbons, Fleming, Wells,
Terkovitch, Brennan, Wright and Strass arrived. In addition to these foreign
missionaries, our first two Thai Redemptorists, Frs George Phimphisan and Philip
Viraphong Wachrathit, came back from studies and ordination in the United States.

Sriracha
In the local appointments of February, 1959, the Redemptorists took a major step
toward insuring their growth and effectiveness in the apostolate in Thailand. They
began a minor seminary in the coastal town of Sriracha, 100 kilometres east of
Bangkok. Prior to this date, the Redemptorists were accepting candidates for the
priesthood and the religious life, and three candidates, including George Phimphisan,
had gone to Cebu for their minor seminary training. Boys from up country were sent
to the minor seminary at Thare. In 1959, a decision was made to gather our vocations
in our own seminary and look after their spiritual direction ourselves.

A piece of property right on the shore of the Bay of Thailand, which is an extension
of the South China Sea, was rented and a temporary building to house the students
was erected. The plan for their schooling was: they would be sent to Assumption
Asioc News Page 9

School in Sriracha run by the Brothers of St. Gabriel for their secular education; but
they would live at the seminary where they would experience formation for religious
life. Father Bob Martin was appointed superior of the community and he was assisted
by two new arrivals from the US, Frs Gibbons and Fleming. This simple plan of
training at Assumption School and living in the seminary reduced the number of
priests needed to run the seminary and has served the Redemptorists well for almost
40 years. The seminary began with an enrolment of 16 candidates; now there are now
30 Thai priests and 2 Thai Brothers who passed that way on their journey to the altar
and 2 Thai Brothers. In 1963, the seminary was transferred to a new site owned by
the Congregation in Sriracha, and the building originally used on the rented site was
moved to this new location.

Pattaya
The Redemptorist presence in Pattaya goes all the way back to 1958, when our
priests began saying mass for the English speaking tourists on Sundays in Sriracha.
At the time, the missionaries were studying the Thai language. Some of these
missionaries started also to go to Pattaya for mass because it was a city where many
tourists came for weekends. Gradually more and more foreigners and Thai Catholics
moved to the area of Pattaya. Father Roger Godbout, an ardent missionary, arranged
a census of the Catholics and built a church in 1967. In 1970, St. Nikolas Church,
Pattaya, welcomed Father Roger Godbout as its first pastor.
In addition to providing pastoral care, the Redemptorists also established the
Redemptorist Center, Pattaya, under Father Ray Brennan. The Center opened
officially on 11 September 1984 with Father Ray Brennan as the first Superior. The
Center was part of St Clement Hofbauer House which hosted seminars, retreats, and
many other activities for priests, religious and students. The Center was also used for
national meetings, such as the international meetings of the Justice and Peace
Commission of the Redemptorists, and other Asian gatherings. This Redemptorist
Center has helped make the Redemptorists of Thailand known, especially in Asia.

With great zeal and genuine ability Father Ray Brennan built an orphanage for
abandoned children. During the days of the War in Vietnam Father Ray expanded his
charity work by opening a vocational school for crippled people, a home for blind
children, a home for run-away children. Today there are almost 800 people and 350
staff and the work of St Clement Hofbauer House in Pattaya makes a difference to
the lives of many of the abandoned.
Asioc News Page 10

Fr Ray Brennan, CSsR

1932-2003

The 1960s
This decade saw the spread of the Redemptorist Congregation in Thailand in the
mission of Bangkok, Chantaburi and Udonthani. Many other dioceses were
evangelised by the work of the parish missions which were preached right from the
beginning in the various dioceses of Thailand; but the major missionary thrust of the
Congregation was in Bangkok, Udonthani and Chantaburi.

Missionaries from the States continued to come and our first Thai confreres were
returning. American confreres included Frs Patin, Shea, Maier. With the return of our
Thai vocations from the US the number of American Redemptorist missionaries
decreased. Our Thai confreres, fromm this decade, include Frs George, Philip,
Anonth, Collaco, Chai and Leng

The Diocese of Udonthani

The Prefecture Apostolic of Udonthani was established on 4 December, 1953, and
Father Clarence Duhart was named Ordinary of the mission territory. Not yet
ordained to the bishopric, he was referred to as Msgr Duhart. He didn't waste any
time establishing himself in Udon, buying several pieces of property for further
expansion, not only in Udon but in other populated places in the mission. He built a
modest rectory and chapel in the Ban Chik area of the city, and this would be his
personal residence for over 20 years.

One of the most important moves he made was to procure the services of the Salesian
Fathers and Sisters to run Catholic schools for the city of Udon. By the late ’50s a
boys' and a girls' school were operating under the guidance of these zealous
religious. From this time on the mission of Udon concentrated on obtaining the
Asioc News Page 11

cooperation of religious orders and lay missionaries.

In 1966 the hierarchy was formally established in Thailand, and with it the creation
of regular dioceses. Again, Msgr Duhart was appointed by the Holy See to head the
new Udonthani Diocese. With the job came the dignity of being consecrated a
Bishop. This ceremony was held in the hall of St Mary's school. Bishop Duhart's old
language teacher, Bishop Kien, was the principal consecrator. The congregation
rejoiced at this great honour bestowed on our pioneer.

Along with the churches, schools, rectories, convents, and clinics established during
this decade, one other important task remained to be accomplished: the building of a
cathedral suitable for the diocese. Bishop Duhart approached Brother Cornelius
(Corny), and requested that he build it, asking, “How much will it cost?” He was not
prepared for what was to become Corny's standard reply, “How much have you
got”. Well, what Bishop Duhart had was not enough for what Brother Corny wanted
to be the crowning achievement of his life. But the church was built, and indeed
fulfilled Corny's dream. It was consecrated in December, 1969. It replaced the former
chapel at Ban Chik (seating 100), and seats upwards of 1,500 people.

Bishop George Phimphisan CSsR

With the fall of Indochina to the Communists in 1975, the worst fears of the people
of Northeastern Thailand seemed to be close to realisation. The so called “Domino
Theory” declared that when Indochina fell to the Communists, the other countries of
the Thai-Malay Peninsula would fall like a row of dominoes. It didn't happen, but
conventional wisdom said that it was time for Thai priests to take over as Bishops in
all the dioceses. Bishop Duhart was the first to submit his resignation and within a
few months Father George Phimphisan, our first Thai Redemptorist, was appointed
to head the Udonthani diocese. There is neither time nor space to detail all that
Bishop has done both for his diocese and the church in Thailand, but foremost among
his accomplishments was the establishment of minor seminary in the diocese and
promotion of diocesan priests.
Asioc News Page 12

Contemporary Redemptorist ministry in Thailand

Today there are more than eighty Redemptorists in Thailand and they are engaged in
a variety of diverse apostolates ranging from parish ministry in our public churches,
parish missions, schools, including the Ruamrudee International school in Minburi
and vocational training for the handicapped in Pattaya, orphanages, a leper hospital, a
retreat center and many other ministries of outreach both within and beyond the small
Catholic community in Thailand.

Material adapted from the Thai Redemptorist website: http://www.cssr.or.th/

The leadership group in the

Vice-Province of Thailand.
V. Rev Tom Picton (Denver
Provincial); V. Rev John
Somphong Teowtrakul (Vice
Provincial); Frs James Thanu
Krathong and Fr Peter
Pattarapong (OPC); Fr Anthony
Sirichai Laukobkul, Fr Paul
Sukhum Thanasingha, Fr Larry
Patin and Fr Joseph Waiyakorn
Suksawat (EPC). Below:
Chapter gathering.
Asioc News Page 13

EWS FROM THE REGIO

RESULTS OF ELECTIOS I THE ASIA-OCEA IA REGIO
CO GREGATIO OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER
TRIE IUM 2008-2010
( OT ALL U ITS HAVE YET HAD ELECTIO S )
U DERLI ED = ELECTED TO DATE
ITALICS = EWLY ELECTED MAJOR SUPERIOR
BLACK ( O U DERLI E OR ITALICS) = STILL EXERCISI G
LEADERSHIP FROM LAST TRIE IUM

U IT PROVI CIAL SUPERIOR VICAR PROVI CIAL

(DATE OF CO FRIMATIO ) (DATE OF CO FRIMATIO )

**0058 LEE, JEO G HO RAPHAEL KWO , OH SA G

REGIO OF 03.01.2007 CASIMIRO
KOREA raphari@hotmail.com 03.01.2007
*0802 HAMMA, JORDA
MORI KATSUSHI,
VICE PROVI CE OF 11.02.2008
RAYMU DUS
KAGOSHIMA okashira@alpha-net.ne.jp
SETO, TAKASHI
*1902
FRA ÇOIS-CLÉME T GIRARD, JEA -
VICE PROVI CE OF
16.01.2008 RAYMO D
TÔKYÔ
vp-tokyo@cssr.or.jp
**2100 BIRD, PAUL
HILL, JOH
PROVI CE OF 30.01.2008
30.01.2008
CA BERRA prov@iprimus.com.au
*2101
ECHA O, JOSEPH
VICE PROVI CE OF LUBI, ARIEL
vpmanila@pldtdsl.net
MA ILA
2102
BROW , PETER
REGIO OF MCGILL, BRUCE
12.02.2008
AOTEAROA/ EW 12.02.2008
faifeau@ihug.co.nz
ZEALA D
*2103 DE CRUZ, GLE
VICE PROVI CE OF MICHAEL CECIL KEE PE G CHOO ,
IPOH (MALAYSIA 13.06.2005 PAUL MICHAEL
& SI GAPORE) gdecruz@singnet.com.sg
Asioc News Page 14

PHẠM TRU G THÀ H,

**3400
VI CE T CAO ÐÌ H TRN, JOSEPH
PROVI CE OF
18.09.2007 09.11.2007
VIỆT AM
dcctsg@hcm.vnn.vn
**3800 PAZHA GATTE, PAUL
PROVI CE OF 08.03.2008
BA GALORE cssrblr@rediffmail.com
MULA JA A IKAL,
**3801 ROHA PERERA,
THOMAS
REGIO OF CHRISTOPHER
14.06.2005
COLOMBO 14.06.2005
rcssrsuperior@yahoo.com
VADAKKEDATH,
*3802
CLEME T
VICE PROVI CE OF POO OLY, JOY
15.03.2008
ALWAYE
vprovaly@satyam.net.in
CRUZ ORO HA,
3803 IRUDIARAJ, PAUL
GREGORIO
REGIO OF JULIUS
10.04.2005
MUMBAI 10.04.2005
regionmumbai@yahoo.co.in
3804
TOPPO, EBERTUS
MISSIO I XXXXX
redken@swiftkenya.com
KE YA
TEOWTRAKUL,
*4503
JOH SOMPHO G KRATHO G,
VICE PROVI CE OF
22.11.2007 JAMES THA U
BA GKOK
johnphong@msn.com
**4700 MA, JOVE CIO
MOSTAJO, CRISPI
PROVI CE OF 23.05.2005
07.07.2005
CEBU srprovcb@mozcom.com
**4900 WOGA, EDMU D
SELA , MATHEUS
PROVI CE OF 22.05.2005
22.05.2005
I DO ESIA papafi@idola.net.id
Sometimes confreres have a number of email addresses. The email address given is
the one listed first at: http://www.cssr.com/members/resources/AddressesMenuPage-
EN.shtml
Asioc News Page 15

Redemptorist Pilgrimage Program for WYD08,

July 4-26, 2008

July 4 Friday Arrive Perth, WA

July 5 Saturday Perth

pilgrimage program
July 6 Sunday Perth
pilgrimage program
July 7 Monday Perth
pilgrimage program
July 8 Tuesday Perth
pilgrimage program
Redemptorist Monastery
orth Perth, WA

July 9 Wednesday Arrive Melbourne

VIC

July 10 Thursday Melbourne

pilgrimage program
July 11 Friday Melbourne
pilgrimage program
July 12 Saturday Melbourne
pilgrimage program
Yarra River July 13 Sunday Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC pilgrimage program
Asioc News Page 16

July 14 Monday Arrive Sydney, SW

July 15 Tuesday Opening Mass for WYD

Opera House & Harbour Bridge
Sydney, SW
July 16 Wednesday Sydney
pilgrimage program
July 17 Thursday Sydney
pilgrimage program
July 18 Friday Sydney
pilgrimage program
July 19 Saturday Sydney
pilgrimage program
July 20 Sunday Papal Mass concluding
WYD

Blue Mountains
West of Sydney, SW
July 21 Monday Arrive at Galong,
SW

July 22 Tuesday Galong

pilgrimage program
July 23 Wednesday Galong
pilgrimage program
July 24 Thursday Galong
pilgrimage program
July 25 Friday Galong
Galong Castle & Monastery
pilgrimage program
Galong, SW

July 26 Saturday Sydney, SW

Departures as
scheduled.
Pilgrimage ends

Spires of St. Mary’s Cathedral

Sydney, SW
Asioc News Page 17

Province of Vietnam

V. REV VINCENT, PHẠM TRUNG THÀNH, CSSR

(Provincial of Vietnam)

The fifth child in a family of seven children (5 boys and 2 girls), Fr Vincent
was born in Saigon on 11 July, 1995. His parents had fled from North to South
Vietnam in 1954, and Vincent grew up and was educated in Saigon. Being from
a poor family, he had to help his parents work as traders at the local market,
and he also took a night-time job as a tutor.

After graduation from High School, he joined the Redemptorist Congregation.

During the period of Postulancy, he began his tertiary education, and in
December 1976, he entered the Novitiate house of Thu Duc. On 5 January
1978, he took the first vows quietly, without wearing the habit, because it was a
sensitive issue for the new Communist Government. In Saigon, he continued
with theological studies in what was an extremely hard time for the religious of
Vietnam as the country was now under Communist rule.
Asioc News Page 18

Religious could not work publicly so, for fourteen years, Vincent worked for a
construction company, during which time he completed a civil engineering
degree (1990). From 1980-1988, he also worked in the parish of Binh Tho, Thu
Duc and studied theology privately in Huu Phu with Fr. Michael Nguyen,
CSsR. On 9 November 1987, he took final vows at the main monastery in
Saigon. In 1988, after the collapse of the Communist party in Eastern Europe,
he left the parish and went back to the monastery where he was one of the three
confreres who organised theology classes for young students.

In 1990, he was quietly, and secretly, ordained to priesthood. After ordination,

he worked in a number of roles:
• 1989-1993, he was assistant to the Novice master
• 1990-1993, he was the Director of the bookshop of Our Lady of
Perpetual Help in Saigon
• 1994-1995, he worked at the monastery of Hue (middle of country)
• 1995-2005, he returned to the position of Director of the bookshop,
and stayed at the house of Mai Thon (12 km away from the monastery
of Saigon)
• 1995-1996 and 1999-2005, he was the Superior of the house of Mai
Thon
• Since 2000, he has worked as the Secretary General of the Sacred-Art
Committee of the Federation of Vietnamese Bishops
• In 2000, he established the open house of St Gerard to serve pregnant
young women who had been abandoned by their families and by
society. At this time, he formed pro-life and anti-abortion groups and
built a cemetery for aborted babies.
• 2005-2008, he was the Provincial Vicar.
• 30 January 2008, he was elected the Provincial Superior of Vietnam.

Source: Joseph Dinh Huu Thoai, CSsR (Vietnam, Province Secretary)

Translation, Joseph Do Tuan Anh, CSsR (Australia)
Asioc News Page 19

ew Provincial
for the
Australian
Province

Fr Paul Bird CSsR, the editor of the family magazine The Majellan, is the new
provincial leader of the Redemptorists for Australia/New Zealand. He was
elected to the role at the order’s chapter held recently at the Redemptorist
retreat and conference centre in Galong, NSW.

The new provincial’s responsibilities include care for the Redemptorists and
their ministry all around Australia and New Zealand, and also the Philippines,
Singapore and Malaysia. One of Fr Bird’s first assignments as provincial was to
travel to New Zealand to attend an assembly of Redemptorists in Auckland. In
April he will attend a conference of Redemptorists and their lay associates in
the Philippines.

Since arriving in Australia in 1882, the Redemptorists have been widely known
for their ministry of parish missions – programs of prayer and preaching to
encourage people in their faith and inspire them to live their Christian lives to
the full. It was during missions in his home parish in the Newcastle suburb of
Asioc News Page 20

Carrington that Fr Bird first met Redemptorists. He was particularly impressed

by their enthusiastic preaching and their kindness in hearing confessions.

After his ordination in 1975, he was involved in parish mission programs

himself and this was his main apostolate until he joined the Majellan
Publications team in 1987.

As provincial, Fr Bird hopes to encourage the Redemptorists and their lay

associates in the various apostolates they have in Australia and beyond, as they
share with people the good news of God’s personal love for each one of us. He
also hopes to nurture the vocations of those who feel drawn to join the
Redemptorists in their ministry.

Fr Bird is particularly pleased that the Australian Redemptorists have been

boosted by the arrival of young Redemptorists from Vietnam who have become
members of the Australian province and are now continuing their studies here
with a view to ministry in Australia in the years to come.

The arrival of Redemptorists from Vietnam is one example of cooperation

between Redemptorists in various countries. At present, there are 5,500
Redemptorists around the world and one of their priorities for the next few
years is to develop ways in which they can work together on the international
level.

The Redemptorist chapter at Galong also elected four other members of a new
provincial council. The provincial vicar is Fr John Hill, a Scripture scholar and
leader of the Redemptorist community in Perth. The other members of the
council are Fr Bruce Duncan, who teaches social justice studies at Yarra
Theological Union in Melbourne, Fr Joseph Mai Van Thinh, who is helping the
recently arrived Redemptorist students from Vietnam as they adjust to life in
Australia, and Fr John Martin who in the last few years has been involved in
counselling in Perth and in faith education programs in parishes in Geraldton,
Port Pirie and Townsville.

Source: Kairos Catholic Journal, Volume 19, No 03, 9-22 March, 2008
Asioc News Page 21

Region of Korea

L-R: Fr Casimir Kwon, CSsR. - Vicar and First Consultor

Fr Raphael Lee, CSsR - re-elected Regional Superior
Brother John Kim, CSsR - Second Consultor

New Year's eve, 2008, was very quiet in our neighborhood. Except for the
faint sound of firecrackers coming from the distant city centre, the silence was
undisturbed. It was very cold that night but from our roof garden one could see
the city lights even though they were rather hazy in the misty night. The night
was quiet, but the TV showed images of young people rejoicing in the center of
Seoul City. A giant stage showcased the latest tunes and dance steps of pop
stars. Fireworks burst out as the clock struck at midnight. Happy new year !

Our Regional community gathered in the morning of the new year to begin our
Regional Assembly for the new triennium. A day of retreat gave a serious air to
the event. The Assembly was to last for five days: January 1-5. Nineteen of us,
official delegates and observers, began in earnest this initial event of the new
triennium. It was an electoral as well as a legislative gathering. The second day
found us listening to reports of from communities, from formation, and of the
Asioc News Page 22

various apostolic works. The third day was a day for the propositions,
discussions, and decisions. The morning of the fourth day was devoted to the
elections of our Regional Superior and his consultors. The Assembly ended
with the Eucharist led by the new Regional leadership team. The fifth day was
only a half day which was spent finalising reports

The electoral process was interesting. At various times several confreres

informed the Assembly that they were renouncing their passive voice; but the
confreres after listening to each one’s reasons, did not judge them serious
enough for them to renounce passive voice. The Elections were concluded by
the end of the morning.

Fr Raphael (Regional Superior) has previously been House Superior and

Novice Master. Fr Casimir has also had turns at being Novice Master, Student
Prefect and the present Rector of the Regional House. Br. John is an
experienced worker and vehicle mechanic.

In terms of decisions, we decided that the Novitiate will return to our mountain
house in Hongcheon. In future, the formation community will be separate from
the apostolic community. We also decided to look for some ways to serve the
poorer sector of our society by having a residence among the poor or a new
apostolate among the disadvantaged.

In March, our community appointments will be made. Pray with us that the new
triennium will be, for us a time of renewal in our Alphonsian charism.

Source, Willy Jesena, CSsR (19 February, 2008)

Asioc News Page 23

Fr David "George" Januarius Tither, CSsR

August 18, 1920 - January 31, 2008

Fr David Tither was born on 18

August 1920, at Invercargill,
Southland, New Zealand. He was
baptised on September 19 in the same
year at the parish of Gore in the
Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand.
His parents were William Tither and
Frances Snodgrass. He was Irish in
origin. Fr Tither was the eldest of ten
children. Three of them entered the
Religious life: David, to the
Redemptorists, Sr Genaro, SMSM and
Sr Catherine, OP.

David always dreamed of becoming a

priest. When he was still a child he
used to play the role of a priest. It was
not difficult for him to imitate the
priests in his parish because his
parents brought the children regularly
to church. They even knew their
prayers by heart prior to going to
school.

David was introduced to the

Redemptorists by a brother in his
parish.

He was told that by becoming a missionary he could do more good, and save
souls – so he entered the seminary. In the Juniorate, in Australia, he was given
the nickname, "George" which was the name of a well-known British
comedian. His fellow seminarians teased him about his look-alike and the
nickname stuck.

George was professed on February 2, 1940. His novice master was Fr Dennis
Grogan, CSsR. After five years, he made his final profession on 11 February,
1945 and was ordained a priest on 9 September, 1945 at the Redemptorist
Asioc News Page 24

monastery in Wendouree in the Diocese of Ballarat, Australia. The ordaining

bishop was Most Reverend James P O'Collins. Shortly after his ordination,
George made preparations to go on the missions. His first mission was in
Singapore, then he was sent to Malaysia, later to Hong Kong and finally he
came to the Philippines on 17 May, 1948. His travelling companion was Father,
later Bishop, Patrick Hurley, CSsR.

His first years in the Philippines were spent either Baclaran and Lipa. He was a
Consultor for 3 years. He was the Superior in Lipa from 1961 –1964, and
Superior in Baclaran from 1964-1967. It was during these years, that Baclaran
began the novena.

In 1968, it was said that Missions in the City were losing their appeal and
people, now used to watching television, were not so keen to get up and go to
church each evening and missioners were also changing, and transistors were
the "in thing". At this stage George challenged his confreres to give a mission
in the entire fourth district of Manila and in the process he was able to secure
the approval of the Archbishop and the support of the parish priests.

Despite the fact that some of his confreres thought the idea was crazy, and one
said that it was positively dangerous, the mission was conducted simultane-
ously in the parishes of Paco, Pandacan, Penafrancio, San Andres, Santa Ana
and Pius X. The mission was called Kilusang llaw (Project Light). In January
1972 up to the end of March 1973, the Secretariat of the Apostolate organised a
mission that involved nine missioners from Baclaran and Lipa. The beginning
of martial law almost shut down the mission but eventually George was able to
secure permission from Camp Crame for the continuation of the mission.

After his time in Baclaran, he was transferred to the Formation House and
became involved in formation of the seminarians. George was then appointed
to travel through South America to investigate new missionary styles. Sadly, he
became seriously ill and had to have major heart surgery. However, in 1990,
after serving in various capacities in the Communities in the Tagalog Region,
he was assigned to the community in Legazpi City, and never really left till the
present.

The life of David “George” Tither was quite remarkable in that he was not only
an effective and pastoral priest, but he was in demand as a water diviner. He
would just use an ordinary branch of the guava tree (preferably "Y" shaped) as
divining rod or a pendulum in search of water sources. When the rod starts to
twirl as it is held over the ground, or when the pendulum begins to swing like it
Asioc News Page 25

has a life of its own, then water is found. For years he had helped many
families, businessmen, subdivisions, community projects, schools, NGO's,
residences and others in search of water supply. He passed this gift to one of his
confreres, Fr Ino Cueto, CSsR.

George was also a zealous vocation director. When he was younger, he would
tirelessly go around the schools looking for vocations. He would send
newsletters to those discerning their vocation, and also to young seminarians,
inspiring them with his words of wisdom. When he could no longer go around
the schools, he would always be present on the vocation retreats entertaining
the candidates with songs and stories.

Likewise, he was always there to say mass and hear confessions.

He was a popular retreat master, and very versatile, as he could offer recol-
lections for groups of grade school pupils, and for the highly educated. The
confessional was often the place where George could be found, especially
during the latter years of his life when his activity was limited by illness and
old age. According to the Bishop of Legazpi, Most Rev Lucilo B Quiambao,
DD, Fr Tither was a "24-hour" confessor, and was the most sought after
confessor and spiritual director of the faithful - clergy, religious and laity alike.

Fr. Tither was a man of prayer, and many people asked him to pray for them or
to pray over them. He had a habit of teaching others his favourite prayer,
"Centering Prayer." According to him; "Distractions are so many that we just
have to take time out to be with Him at the centre of our being." This is praying
in the Spirit, often in a far deeper sense than those who pray or sing in tongues.

He was also a healer. When he was in Baclaran, Fr Tither used to go to Tala

Leprosarium for a healing Mass. In Legazpi City, where he spent the last 17
years of his life, he had a healing session every first Friday of the month. Many
people came to be healed of both spiritual and physical infirmities.

His great love was the eucharist and George would never miss saying mass.
Even when physically indisposed he would still say mass. Fr Tither was often
ill even when he was young, and in the seminary, he used to suffer from
paralysis. Thankfully, it never affected his vocation. His health never stopped
him from spending his life in the service of God and the people. He underwent
two heart surgeries and long suffered the debilitating effects of Pakinson's
Disease before finally succumbing to severe pneumonia. Fr David Januarius
"George" Tither, CSsR. died on January 31, 2008 at the age of 87 at the Re-
demptorist Legazpi Mission Community.
Asioc News Page 26

A holy man, and a true Redemptorist, that was Fr Tither.

Redemptorist Vice-Province of Manila: 1ews & Features (November-

February, 2008)

Province of Bangalore

Students of the Redemptorist Philosophate

Sadupadesa (House of Good Counsel)
Province of Bangalore, India
Photo from their yearly magazine
Prema Sandesha, 2007
Asioc News Page 27

Order on the Front Line

The Redemptorists in Belfast provided the 'sanctuary' in which the fledgling
1orthern Ireland peace process could gain in strength until, just 10 years ago,
it was possible to bring together the conflicting parties for the signing of the
Good Friday Agreement.

Fr. Alex Reid, CSsR and the Clonard Monastery, Belfast

That Northern Ireland's Executive came into being under the joint leadership of
two erstwhile implacable political enemies, Ian Paisley of the Democratic
Unionist Party and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein, still shocks many. The
cordial relations Dr Paisley now enjoys with Mr McGuiness have damaged Dr
Paisley's standing in his staunch evangelical Protestant constituency and appear
to have hastened his retirement as First Minister at the end of May. But the
sight of the leading loyalist and republican politicians sharing jokes has
inspired hope that peace in Northern Ireland will endure. So how did we arrive
at this point and what part did the Catholic Church play in creating conditions
that brought about an end to republican violence?

In the decade or so before the outbreak of the Troubles in the late 19605 there
was a growing recognition in church circles that Catholic education and social
service functions in the North depended to a large degree on government
financial support. At the same time Catholics were generally regarded as being
dangerous to the interests of the state, dedicated to reuniting Ireland, deserving
only of second-class citizenship. The bishops were determined to ensure that a
violent backlash from neither the state nor irregular Loyalist groupings would
be forthcoming and advocated reform within Northern Ireland.

Since the partitioning of Ireland in 1922, the Unionist Government in the North
had exercised power unfairly. This brought about the emergence in 1967 of the
Asioc News Page 28

Civil Rights Association to protest against injustices like the discrimination

against Catholics in the allocation of local authority housing. A series of
peaceful marches organised by the association provoked a violent response
from the police in the name of enforcing law and order. The situation escalated:
the Provisional IRA emerged in December 1969 and by 1971 had acquired an
offensive capability. Different forms of Unionist and Loyalist vigilantism co-
alesced in the Ulster Defence Association, formed in September 1971. By the
time of the 1994 ceasefire, more than 3,000 people would have lost their lives
in the Troubles.

Internment without trial of 346 IRA suspects in 1971 and the shooting dead of
13 unarmed Catholics at a march in Derry on Bloody Sunday in January 1972
forced the Catholic bishops into castigating the Government for state brutality.
The corresponding viciousness of the IRA response to events provoked a strong
denunciation of political violence. In their 1975 pastoral letter "Human Life is
Sacred", the bishops exclaimed in exasperated tones: "Our vocabulary of moral
condemnation has been virtually exhausted ... From the very outset of this
campaign the Catholic Church has pointed out unequivocally that it is utterly
immoral."

The most prominent critic of republican violence was Bishop (later Cardinal)
Cahal Daly, who was determined to isolate those in the Nationalist community
who would use violence to pursue political ends. This also served to undermine
irresponsible claims in some Unionist quarters that the Church and the
republican movement were somehow in murderous collusion against
Protestants.

Relations between Bishop Daly and some of his flock became strained. By
1993, in response to a suggestion that the Catholic Church might act as an
intermediary with the IRA, Cardinal Daly stated that the Church "would not be
willing to meet with the representatives of any organisation engaged in a cam-
paign of violence". It was clear that a large section of the Catholic community
rejected the leadership of the Catholic hierarchy.

For many republicans the Church had allowed itself to become one element in
the design of the British Government to alienate Sinn Fein and the IRA from
the Catholic community, and is still bitterly resented by many in such quarters
to this day. Some republicans have never forgiven the late Fr Denis Faul for the
pivotal role that he played in ending the 1981 hunger strikes: he encouraged
mothers to save their sons by having them fed once they fell unconscious.
Others, however, are eternally grateful for his great courage.
Asioc News Page 29

While the Catholic bishops were generally opposed to talking with republicans,
there were other currents within the Church determined to keep the channels of
communication open. Since the start of the Troubles in 1969 there was a
parallel strategy of engagement with republican leaders by the Redemptorist
Congregation. This approach grew out of their belief that the Catholic Church
needed to do more than simply condemn the republican movement and its
actions.

The location of the Redemptorist monastery at Clonard in West Belfast on the

peace line itself added urgency. The Redemptorists were well known and
respected in the area. Fr Alex Reid, having mediated in internecine disputes
among republicans, had built up a reputation among them for being trustwor-
thy. He had identified key republican figures prepared to examine actively the
possibility of pursuing a political rather than a military approach. With the
support of his congregation he initiated a face-to-face dialogue with rep-
resentatives of the IRA and Sinn Fein - the start of the Redemptorist peace
ministry.

It is clear that the peace process started with the work of this Redemptorist
priest. He managed to convince leaders of constitutional nationalism that the
republican leadership could be persuaded to lay down its arms through face-to-
face discussion. Talks had to be aimed, in the first instance, at ending the
isolation of the republican movement. The Redemptorists facilitated a
tearmann - a safe place where republicans and representatives of the Irish
Government and the moderate Nationalist SDLP could meet. For the
Redemptorists this mission represented an "authentic exercise of the Church's
mission in the present conflict".

When the first IRA ceasefire was announced in August 1994, the then
Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, acknowledged the role played by Fr Reid: "That
priest was absolutely vital in trying to bring about peace. He never gave up in
going back and forth. He was at all times reliable in conveying what the various
views were:'

The ceasefires and the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 have changed Northern
Ireland dramatically. Undoubtedly the Catholic Church played an important
role in bringing about the right conditions for it. It is to be hoped that the new
power-sharing Executive can build on the progress to date and consolidate
peace in Northern Ireland. What roles the Churches will take in that more
peaceful society remains to be seen.
Asioc News Page 30

Source: Fr Niall Coll, “Order on the Front Line”. The Tablet (15 March, 2008):
16. Fr Coll is senior lecturer in religious studies at St Mary's University
College, Belfast.
China Mission

It’s a long way from China, but John Le Dinh Cac, CSsR (pictured in
wheelchair) is making a steady recovery after suffering two broken legs in a
tragic traffic accident in southern China. He is currently in Kew (Melbourne)
and is seen here participating in the Easter vigil. L-R: Edmond Nixon, John Le
Dinh Cac and Kevin O’Shea (vested).

uns find themselves in a fine pickle

Holy Gherkins! Sounds like a cool expression, doesn’t it? In fact, it is one of
our most frequently used expressions in the Phillipines. But there really such a
thing!

Gherkins are known as cornichons in France. Young cucumbers picked and

pickled when one to three inches in length. And there are many varieties.
Asioc News Page 31

I’ve tried many gherkins in my life but none met my want for crunch more than
the Red Nun’s pickled gherkins.

They are, for me, among the easiest pickle eats I’ve encountered. I can munch
on them all day! The crunch, texture and flavor are by far superior to those
imported brands we spend a fortune on.

Perhaps because they were formulated for our taste buds or because they were
made by praying hands? They have the perfect sweetness and just the right
amount of tartness.

Leave it to the sisters to adjust the recipe according to your preference. They
have an excellent recipe for those who want it tarter as well. The rest of their
crop they sell chopped up and turned to relish, for which they also have a
special recipe.

It all began when a Redemptorist priest in Cebu started distributing cuttings of

a particular gherkin variety. The Redemptoristine nuns then planted them in the
fertile volcanic soil of their backyard in Legazpi. And the rest I leave to your
imagination.

The gherkins flourished. So the next question was what to do with them.

Off to the kitchens they went, merrily experimenting with recipe after recipe.
And, after 10 years, the result is the irresistible Red Nun Pickled Gherkins!

As contemplative religious, their time is devoted mostly to prayer. Sister May

Raphael says, “We could not engage in hectic, demanding activities for a living
- even for our most simple lifestyle! So what people donate for our products
augments the alms, gifts and offerings for prayers we receive. We live by the
religious rule of Ora et Labora (prayer and work) with health, balance,
recreation, study and community living.”

Each sister uses her own talent to contribute to the community. Some make
cards, vestments, religious articles and little trinkets. Others make quiche,
lasagna and gourmet delicacies when orders are made. One makes fruitcakes
for Christmas.

At the moment, these simple forms of livelihood that they call small home craft
are patronized primarily by friends who have tasted them.
Asioc News Page 32

Sister Mary Raphael adds that after I told her I wanted to feature them, she
thought, “What could God’s providence be telling us? Should we expand? That
would need capital and we don’t have that! We would need more workers and
neither could we afford that. However, if it be God’s will, these questions will
resolve themselves.”

Perhaps sister, this is why a bottle of those gherkins got to me through my

friends Jenny and Imelda who brought them home from Legazpi. To let people
know, so we could be of help.

God found a way once again!

Reggie Aspiras
Phillipines Inquirer 06/21/2007

Chapter delegates at the Australian Chapter which took place at Galong

in NSW in January, 2008
 ASIOC 1EWS
ASIA / OCEA1IA REGIO1AL
CSsR 1EWSLETTER
Michael A Kelly CSsR
Redemptorist Community
10 Majella Crt. Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia
Tel: 61 3 9816 9342 ex 323 Fax: 61 3 9816 9805
Mobile: 61- 408 556761
Email: mkelly@cssr.catholic.org.au

Thanks to those without whose help

this newsletter could not have been produced

1ewsletter (Cebu) Gerry Griffith, Edwin C Bacaltos

1ews and Features (Manila) Joseph O Echano & Jasmin
1ews-Report (Canberra) Reg Ahearn
Prema Sandesha (Bangalore) Velos Fernandes
Sangam (Bangalore) Francis M Ezhanikatt & J.N. Paul
Redemptorist Voice (Alwaye) Manoj Kunnath
The Redemptorist Word: Denver: Paul Coury
Saudara (Singapore / Ipoh) Simon Pereira
The Visit (Bangkok) Denis Gervais
Shalom (Bangalore theologate) The students
Joythis (Alwaye Study House) Jaison, Bijo and Alex

Reggie Aspiras John Baptist Dang Nhat Truong

Joseph Dinh Huu Thoai Joseph Do Tuan Anh
Joseph Dorcey Sr Mary Raphael Caldag
Joseph Echano Willy Jesena
Edmond Ryan

Apologies to anyone whose name was inadvertently omitted.

1ext issue of ASIOC 1EWS, July, 2008