50 ปี พันธกิจแห่งรัก

health care and medical aid for the poor. Sr.Joan and our candidates also worked with them. From this experience we discovered that many children suffered from severe malnutrition. To answer this urgent need we started Day Care Centers, one by one in different villages. Eventually there were eight Day Care Centers in Mak Hung, Non Du, Non Daeng, Ban Dua, Ban Thin, Nong Buo, Don Wai and Don Kok. Good Shepherd ran these until the early 1990’s when they handed them over to the the Government who had begun operating pre-schools in the area. We had discovered that the children who reached the age of attending government schools, were unable to do so because of extreme poverty and so we implemented a Sponsorship Programme. At one time there were more than 800 children in our programme with many of them completing university. At present, we sponsor over 500 children. The families of the children in the Sponsorship Programme are members of Saving Groups and a Funeral Fund, which assists with financial burdens. Children who complete their education and are working, now contribute to a ‘Gratitude Fund’ so as to give educational opportunities to other children. In1983, the Regina Women’s Self-Help Centre was opened in NongKhai to provide training and work 101 50GSP.indd 101 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

to local women and is still producing fine crafts today. Our sisters had heard stories of vans entering the villages at the weekend and luring girls to ‘work’ in the cities. To prevent the girls from being trafficked, we then started an income generating project in the village of Mak Hung which moved to Huai Sai in 1994 and still operates today. Other ventures included the opening of the Isan Shop in 1997, Isan Weaving in 1999, and a sewing center in Don Wai village in 2000. As a result of these projects, thousands of women and young girls have been trained and educated over the years. In order to help the men and young boys involved in drugs and alcohol and facing unemployment, Isan Pottery was started in 1988. Women also became artisans and the quality of the pieces received many accolades. However, due to a decrease in sales, the potters diversified their activities and began producing natural fertilizers for local sale in 2012. To address the needs of farming communities an agricultural project was begun by the Maryknoll Fathers in the early 1980s. and the Village Vocational Training Centre (VVTC) was opened. The Cow Bank was established in the village of 102 50GSP.indd 102 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

Huai Sai in 1987. Our Sisters took over the project completely in 1997 and the VVTC continues today, to serve a rural population with training and start up agricultural activities in target villages. It also offers its extensive facilities for use by other community groups, NGOs and schools. From the onset of the Nongkhai Mission, village outreach was at the heart of identifying needs and serving the poor but the programme was formalized in 2000. Since that time - food and milk programmes, home visitation, hospital and specialist visits have been carried out by an 103 50GSP.indd 103 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

Outreach Team, offering support especially to those living with HIV/AIDS. Under the Outreach Programme, the Friendship Centre was constructed in 2001 and the Garden of Friendship opened in 2008 to provide residential and medical care to a growing number of villagers facing health issues.In 2005, the Hands of Hope income-generating project began for those living with HIV/AIDS and is, ten years later, a continuing source of creativity and hope for all involved. Each sister who spent time in the Nongkhai community,played an integral part in the development of the projects and each gave witness to the charism of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Two of our sisters, returned to God after long years serving him on this earth - Sr Margaret Mary Brady in 2002 and Sr Mercy Ho in 2009. Alone, the Sisters could not have carried out God’s mission to the poor and we have been blessed with a dedicated and compassionate staff and generous friends and benefactors. Sr Margaret – one of the founding members of the Nongkhai Community, spoke these words when the convent opened in October 1983. They are words which resonate as much now as they did then. 104 50GSP.indd 104 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

“As we look back to our beginnings, our hearts are filled with gratitude for God’s many graces. He guided us in many ways to this part of Thailand and generously supplied the spiritual and material means to establish here, the works of Good Shepherd.” Presently, there are five Sisters in Good Shepherd Convent, Nongkai, Sister Suphatra Anantachat, Sister Mary Hayden, Sister Pranee Sitti, Sister Virginia Sunanta Hiranyagan and Sister Sutisa Utalun. [Nongkai Convent] 50GSP.indd 105 105 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

PATTAYA The 3rd House in Thai Sector Seeing the plight of women and children exploited by the tourism industry in Pattaya Fr.Ray Brenan and Fr.Tom Griffith, the Provincial of the Redemptorist Fathers, asked the Good Shepherd Sisters to assist these marginalized people. Responding to this request the Thai Sector Council appointed Sr.Michelle Lopez and Sr.Euphrasia Daruna Meesomklin to survey and study the situation in Pattaya. The Sisters 106 50GSP.indd 106 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

also received the official invitation from Bishop Thienchai Samanchit to work in his Diocese in September 1988. The two Sisters worked two days a week in Pattaya at the Satri-Pat Center which was run by Khun Saranya the sister of Fr.Sirichia a Redemptorist Priest. On the 15th of August 1989 Fountain of Life Center, the Good Shepherd Ministry in Pattaya officially began operations, under Sr.Michelle Lopez and Lampa Wattanasuntorn, an ex-Buddhist Nun from our development center in Bangkok. For this programme Fr.Ray Brenan allowed them to use a building called Two Buffaloes on Soi Regent Marina. In 1990 Sr.Joan Raper a missionary from Australia came to the Fountain of Life Center and worked with the marginalized women and children. Our Thai Sisters from Bangkok also took turns to work at the Fountain of Life Center. On the 31st of March 1991 the Fountain of Life Center was officially blessed by Bishop Thienchai Samanchit In 1992 after having worked for eighteen months at the Fountain of Life Center Sr.Joan 107 50GSP.indd 107 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

Raper returned to her province in Australia. In July 1992 Sr.Benigna Danglo, a missionary from the Philippines, came to work at our center. After having worked for a year she returned to her Province. In September 1992 Sr.Aileen Dalton, missionary from the Province of Ireland, came to work at Fountain of Life. She studied the language before she began her ministry in Pattaya. During this time the number of women coming to our center was increasing and they were bringing their children along with them. The children needed protection and education. Responding to this need Sr.Michelle and Sr.Aileen Dalton started the Fountain of Life Children’s Programme in 1992 at Soi Regent Marina. Fr.Ray had another property at Soi Buakhao which he sold to the Sisters. The Fountain of Life Women’s Programme was then transferred there. Every year ever since the beginning, Fr.Chalerm Kijmonkol would collect donations from people of good will to buy prizes for the Christmas lucky dip at the Fountain of Life Center. He and his team from the Chanthaburi diocese would be responsible for this event. The proceeds would then be donated to the Center. Every Christmas party was officially opened by Bishop Thienchai Samanchit and now this significant 108 50GSP.indd 108 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

service is faithfully continued by his successor Bishop Siripong Charatsri. We are grateful to God for all the women, teenage girls, children and transvestites who have benefited from the services offered at the Center. Khun Oye, a transvestite who graduated as a hair dressing teacher from our Center was invited to speak to the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences when they met in Pattaya to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Human Rights Document in 1998. Khun Oye, spoke about the dignity of each person, since every person is a child of God, made in the image of God and given a special vocation that no other living being will ever share. Sr.Michelle Lopez participated at the Fourth World Congress on Women in 1995. This congress took place in Beijing, China. At that Congress Sr.Michelle Lopez met Queen Fabiola of Belgium. The Queen expressed her desire to visit Fountain of Life in Pattaya. Queen Fabiola had heard about our Center from Prince Phillip her nephew who had visited the two Centers earlier on the 12th of November 1992. In September of 1995 Queen Fabiola and Princess Sirindhorn visited our two centers. Bishop Thienchai Samanchit was also 109 50GSP.indd 109 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

present. Our royal guests stayed and chatted with the women and children. This incident is deeply engraved in the hearts of our women, children, staff and Sisters. In July 1995 after having worked for two years Sr.Aileen Dalton returned to Ireland . When the lease for the Fountain of Life Children’s Center at Soi Regent Marina expired. A new Fountain of Life Children’s Center at Pattaya Third Road was built. In January 2001 our Sisters in Pattaya received a big donation from the Japanese Embassy to build this Center for the children. Sr.Joan and Sr.Jiemjit were invited to the Embassy for the signing ceremony. On the 31stMay 2002 the new Children’s Center was blessed by Bishop Thienchai Samanchit. The Women’s Center at Soi Buakhao was in need of constant repair. The electricity system and the water system were in a very poor condition. The health department of Chonburi visited the place and informed the Sisters that it was too crowded and unsuitable for a development center. It was decided that the building be sold. A new Fountain of Life Women’s Center at Soi Naklua was built. On the 9th of April 2005 the new Fountain of Life Women’s 110 50GSP.indd 110 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

Center was blessed by Bishop Thienchai Samanchit. For the Eucharistic celebration, the Gospel was from John, Chapter 4, about “The Samaritan Woman”. Bishop Thienchai Samanchit read the part of Jesus. The Narrator and the Samaritan woman were two students from the Center. When the Bishop read, “anybody who drinks this water, will never be thirsty again”… about four hundred women, voiced, “Master give me this water so that I will never be thirsty again”. On the 8th of September 2005 – our Novice Sr.Jantana Jantorn made her first profession at Fountain of Life Women’s Center in Pattaya. Bishop Thienchai Samanchit was the main celebrant. A congregation of four hundred women including teenage girls who work in the tourism industry of Pattaya sang for the Mass. It was a very touching event and many of the people who attended the profession ceremony were in tears to see these marginalized people singing for Mass. In 2013 Fountain of Life Children’s Center received the Good Citizen’s award because of the valuable services rendered by the center especially in its role against the trafficking of children from the Mekong Region. Princess Somsavalee presented 111 50GSP.indd 111 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

the award and Sr. Michelle received the award on behalf of all those involved with the Center. Presently, there are four Sisters in Good Shepherd Convent, Pattaya, Sister Jiemjit Thamphichai, Sister Joan Gormley, Sister Goretti Lwin and Sister Piyachat Boonmul. In the Good Shepherd Provincialate area, there are two Sisters, Sister Regina Htoohtoo and Sister Saisuda chaopaknum 112 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM 50GSP.indd 112

Sisters and girls in Chiangrai CHIANGRAI The 4th House in Thai Sector Since 1993, Sr.Euphrasia Daruna Mesomklin and Sr.Louise Horgan had been conducting the follow up of the Leadership Training Programme in Chiangrai. At that time “Tok Khew” was being practiced in the North. The Sisters witnessed the villagers selling their own daughters who were just finished their primary education. This transaction took place in the school compound. The Sisters were very sad to see what was taking place and 113 50GSP.indd 113 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

immediately thought that they should do something to help stop these young girls from being lured into prostitution. The Sisters became aware of the need for education of young girls and their parents, especially among the Hill Tribe people. The Good Shepherd Sisters then began Non-Formal Education in Amphur Phan. Our teacher stayed with Khun Yupa and Khun Fung Klinviboon Bishop Joseph Sangval Surasarang warmly welcomed the Good Shepherd Sisters into the Diocese with much encouragement and assistance. Bro.Vijan Songsiengchai the head of social welfare for The Congregation of the Gabrielite Brothers offered to construct a building for Non-formal Education and Vocational Training for us so that we could accept young Hill Tribe people to further their education. The blessing ceremony of the building took place on 20th October 1996. As a result of this wonderful intervention we were able to commence this ministry much sooner than we expected. There were twelve young hill tribe girls in the first group. Some of them could scarcely speak a word of Thai. In 2015, there are sixty girls in our care who enrolled either in the School, University, or for Non-Formal Education 114 50GSP.indd 114 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

and Vocational Training. Around this time many young people living with HIV/AIDS had died. As a result many children were left with their grandparents who were themselves poor. In order to respond to the needs of the community The Good Shepherd Sisters started a programme to give assistance and scholarships to the children and their families affected by this phenomenon. The “Good Life Project” was started to get some income to support the education of young girls and for the poor women who live nearby and for Hill Tribe women to earn extra income. Regarding education, The Good Shepherd Sisters reaches out to the Hill Tribe villages to offer Non Formal Education, Thai language instruction and to provide handicraft work for young girls and women. We also teach them how to make soap, washing liquid, how to cultivate bean sprouts and mushrooms. Presently, there are three Sisters in Good Shepherd Convent, Chiangrai(Amphur Phan), Sister Lena Siriworasin, Sister Supapawn Chotiphon and Sister Chalaad Sungkalurk 115 50GSP.indd 115 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

SIHANOUKVILLE, CAMBODIA The 5th House in Thai Sector Good Shepherd Sisters Ministry in Cambodia The government of Cambodia, met Bishop Ramousse and asked him to invite the Good Shepherd Sisters to work with prostitute women and children in Cambodia because they knew that this was their special area of expertise. In 1996 the Thai Sector Council visited Cambodia. This was followed by a visit of the Cambodian Social Workers to Thailand. They visited the different programmes in Thailand. After their exposure they asked if one Sister could go in and train their social workers. Responding to 116 50GSP.indd 116 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

this request Sr.Michelle Lopez conducted several workshops and training courses for their social workers. This service had to be stopped because of political unrest. Sr.Michelle however maintained contact with Bishop Ramousse and continued visiting Cambodia whenever the opportunity arose. Sr.Ramani Silva our Provincial, Sr. Michelle and Sr.Jiemjit visited Kampuchea from the 7th to the 12th of June 2006. In July of that same year Sr. Michelle studied the Khmer language for one month. She stayed with the Providence Sisters in Phnom Penh. During that time she visited the different NGO’s in order to learn from them about the situation in Cambodia. During the weekends Sr.Michelle worked with terminally ill patients. This was at a HIV/AIDS hospice run by the Mary Knoll Society. In August 2006 She returned to Thailand and shared with the Thai Sector Councilors her experience in Cambodia and her plans for the future. On the 19th of November 2006, Sisters Michelle Lopez, Supapawn Chotiphon, Community Leader and Jiemjit Thamphichai, the Bursar arrived at Phnom Penh. From there the Sisters took a taxi to Sihanoukville. Fr.Verachai Sripramong welcomed 117 50GSP.indd 117 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

the Sisters and asked them to stay at the retreat center until they found their own accommodation. Bishop Ramousse was away in Madagascar attending a meeting organized by the Paris Foreign Mission. The following day Fr.Verachai took the Sisters around the town to find a house. For two days they went round the city looking for a place but they were unsuccessful. There were some houses for rent but they were beyond the budget that the Sisters had. Finally the Sisters decided to rent the house in the church quarters. That same day Bishop Ramousse who had just returned from Madagascar, he then phoned the Sisters and informed them that he was happy that they had come, but he felt it was not advisable to stay in the church quarters as the Sisters would be far away from the target group. After lunch on that same day Fr.Verachai took the Sisters out to look for a house. While they were driving round the city, they spotted a poster “House for Rent.” The Sisters went in to see the house. The owner was a former student of Don Bosco. She told us that tenants had left the building and she was willing to rent it out to us for three hundred USD per month. Fr.Verachai and the sisters were very pleased with the house which was very close to ‘Phnom Kiew village’ which is a red-light district 118 50GSP.indd 118 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

and where many of the young women live. That evening the contract with the owner was signed. On the Sunday 26th November 2006 we celebrated the feast of Christ the King. After Mass the two Sisters, Michelle and Jiemjit, were asked to introduce themselves to the parishioners in Khmer which they did. Bishop Ramousse then officially welcomed the Sisters and presented them with bouquets of flowers. That same evening Bishop Ramousse drove the Sisters to their new residence. The house was empty but it was in good condition. After Bishop Ramousse left the two Sisters went from room to room singing “On this Day O Beautiful Mother.” It was their way of asking Mary, Mother of Christ our King to bless and protect them. 119 50GSP.indd 119 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

Sr.Michelle Lopez with the help of three staff started The Good Shepherd Fountain of Life Center in Cambodia. There are programmes designed to protect victims of human trafficking and programmes to respond to the increasing social needs faced by the people in the villages. Our staff teach vocational skills such as hair dressing, sewing and cooking. We get regular sewing orders from the Fatima-Self- Help Center in Bangkok. The women are able to practice their skills and also earn some money for the work they do. Every evening we offer English classes for adults and children. About one hundred and fifty people make use of this opportunity. Our staff teach Khmer to the many Vietnamese children with Cambodian Citizenship who are unable to read and write in Khmer. Every day they go out to teach the women and teenage girls who work in the bars. We also work with women prisoners. We teach them sewing, Thai and English. Responding to the needs of the people in the villages we do community development work. We run a day care for children in difficult circumstances, such as children whose parents are in prison or whose mothers work in the Bars and we provide assistance to single mothers who have been abandoned and have nowhere to go. 120 50GSP.indd 120 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

In 2008 Sr.Michelle Lopez was elected the Leader of the East Asia Province. Sr.Kanyanee Tuanrussanee was missioned to Cambodia Sr. Jiemjit helped to raise funds and responsible for the construction of the Centre in Cambodia. On the 31st of December 2014 after working for five years at Fountain of Life Cambodia Sr.Kevin returned to Myanmar. Presently, there are four residing in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Sister Michelle Lopez, Sister Kanyanee Tuanrussamee, Sister Prantiati Fransisca Angellina and Sister Noella Mendis. 50GSP.indd 121 121 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

PHUKET The 6th House in Thai Sector After the Tsunami in 2004, the Good Shepherd Sisters and Staff were involved in helping family members who survived the tragedy. Many organizations worked together to provide counseling and give some hope to those who were left stranded. Two years later, 2006, the Bishop of Surat Thani Diocese, Bishop Prathan Sridarunsil officially invited the Good Shepherd Sisters to work in Phuket. Temporary facilities were provided on the second and third floors of the Patong Catholic Church which belonged to the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There are three Programmes in place in the Phuket Project, the GSS Development and Vocational Training Center, Patong started in 2006, the GSS Home 4 Hope started in 2008 and the GSS Migrant Workers started in 2010. We would like to express our gratitude to the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of Our Lord Jesus Christ who helped and supported us in the early days. Trocaire Organization, Bishop Michael 122 50GSP.indd 122 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

[Sister Lakana and her work in Phuket] Smith from Diocese of Meath, Ireland and Caritas Italy sponsored the programmes. In 2008, Mr.Alfredo Villa, an Italian benefactor donated a house called Good Shepherd Home 4 Hope. This house is a shelter for single mothers and their babies. Sr.Euphrasia Mesomklin has worked with lay associate and volunteers to ensure that the marginalized women and girls in our care are treated with dignity and have thereby contributed to 123 50GSP.indd 123 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

the empowerment of these people in our care. 2010, the Diocese donated the Seafarer’s Home to us, where Single Mothers and their children live. Also in residence there are poor migrants and refugees. Sr.Lakana Sukhsuchit and Sr.Euphrasia Sandra Aye minister to these people. At the same time, Sr.Lakana Sukhsuchit started an educational programme for Burmese migrant children by renting a plot of land belonging to the fishermen from the area. Later, with the help of generous and kind benefactors, Sr.Lakana Sukhsuchit managed to build a Good Shepherd Children Learning Center for them. There are now about one hundred and sixty children in the programme. Presently, there are two Sisters residing in Phuket, Sister Lakana Sukhsuchit and Sister Apinya Sornjan. 124 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM 50GSP.indd 124

WILDFLOWER HOME FOUNDATION, CHIANGMAI The 7th House in Thai Sector The Wildflower Home serves single mothers and women and children in crisis. Most of the women are from different tribes in Thailand and some have no formal education. We provide them with a support system including shelter, education, counseling, health care, vocational training and agricultural skills.  These women come from poor families, are in crisis, and are often on their own without support 125 50GSP.indd 125 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

from their families or their partners/husbands. Some have run away from their abusive husbands. Because of this, we also supply the necessities for the women and their children. Transportation is regularly provided to take pregnant women and babies to hospital. We encourage women to continue their education and we support those women who are able to do some vocational training so that they can get obtain work to support themselves and their children. Most of the women come from agricultural backgrounds so while they are with us we teach them how to grow vegetables and raise pigs, chickens, ducks, geese and fish, to fulfill the joint purpose of sustainability and providing the women with agricultural skills. The Good Shepherd Sisters assumed management of Wildflower Home Foundation in June 2013, taking over from Elizabeth and Michael Thaibinh, the original founders, after they decided to move back home to the United States of America. We are dedicated to continuing their good work and providing excellent resources for the women who come to us. Presently, there are two Sisters residing in Wildflower Home, Chiangmai, Sister Anurak Chaiyaphuek and Sister Siriporn Suwanchairob. 126 50GSP.indd 126 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

Today, in 2015 The Good Shepherd Sisters in the Thai Sector (Thailand and Cambodia) have seven houses: Bangkok, Nongkhai, Pattaya, Chiangrai, Phuket and Ban Dok Mai Pa in Chiangmai and Sihanukkville in Cambodia, There are thirty Sisters in all. We, Good Shepherd Sisters take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all our benefactors, lay staff, volunteers, lay associates and lay partners who have collaborated with us in our mission of love and reconciliation during the past fifty years. “GRATITUDE IS THE MEMORY OF THE HEART.” St.M.Euphrasia Pelletier (Founder of the Good Shepherd Sisters) 50GSP.indd 127 127 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM

50GSP.indd 128 1/21/58 BE 8:47 PM