NunEssential

Our SOLT Mission of the Rebirth Center (care for drug addicts) for women in Thailand: I will post a history of this center soon (which is amazing!) but here are a few pictures of the women chanting the principals of the center, the words to their creed, some of the buiding, and the site of a future dining hall.

Please say a prayer for all of the students and teachers as they head back to school. May God grant them peace of mind, widsom and an eagerness to learn all about His creation and marvels. A blessed new school year to you all!

One of the amazing experiences that I had in Thailand was to visit the Bridge on the River Kwai and travel on the railroad built by the POWs. It was humbling and very sobering to visit the museum dedicated to those who lost their lives building the Thailand-Burma railway. Here are some pictures and video of the journey.

Below is the site of the one of the former POW camps (minus the modern housing). Also the actual living conditions of the people along the river (middle picture) and the river itself, flowing majestically through the lush hills.

The Museum dedicated to education about the "Death Railway" and the cemetery where many of the POWs were laid to rest. Also, the Bridge on the River Kwai (which was rebuilt after it was destroyed by allied bombs)

A very warm congratulations to Sr. Mary Mediatrix of all Graces Patterson who made her first Profession in Wales, England on August 15th.

I had to leave Asia early, before our International Assembly ended, so I hope that some of my sisters will send me some pictures to post of what I missed, so you can all share in our gathering. If you ever get a chance to go and visit some part of Asia, do it! I am very grateful to have had this opportunity and it will impact me forever. It was amazing just to see how other people live and how other cultures relate. Wow. I have more information and pictures I will post from some of our earlier experiences in Asia, I really want you to know more about our SOLT Rebirth Center in Thailand that serves drug addicted men and women. That was a profound experience. So, I leave with you with some parting shots of my trip ;) from Taipei as a typhoon approached. May God continue to bless Asia, its land and people.

Our community took a little day trip by boat to the island of San Miguel. It was a sort of coming-home celebration for some of our SOLT members, who hadn't been back to the island in years. The people of the island came out in huge numbers to greet us and they performed some traditional (and more modern) dances as well. It was a great experience.

After we had general elections, our Founder blessed the new General Councils. The Sisters also had a celebration for those commorating 25 years or more of religious life. From l-r Sr. Mary of the Trinity Vaughan, Sr. Margaret Mary Loehr , Sr. Maria Teresa Pacheco and Sr. Marie Hesed Champagne. (my sincere apologies for the poor picture quality)

The Perpetual Profession of Sr. Mary Agnes of the Triune God Abordo, Sr. Maria Fe Ayucardo and Sr. Rosary Marie Marollano at our International Assembly (one of our brothers made his perpetual promises at the same Mass). A perpetual profession is when a sister declares her desire to be espoused to Jesus perpetually, for all eternity. It is a moving ceremony that takes place during the Mass. The sister prostrates herself on the floor while the congregrations prays the Litany of the Saints, and the sister is then clothed with a scapular and a crown of flowers! Congratulations to the Sisters!

Here's our SOLT Community singing "Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity". The video doesn't really do the song justice but it is so beautiful to hear the entire community singing. Enjoy!

You can see the statue of Our Lady with the flags representing our locations, a drawing by one of our seminarians, and some of our priests and sisters.

This is the opening ceremony for the assembly. The Thai, Philippine and Papua New Guinea members performed a cultural dance.