Mayor Itthipol Khunplome
presided
over the opening ceremony of ‘In Loving Memory of Fr. Ray’.
Hundreds of people gathered on August 16 to honor
Father Ray Brennan, the date that marked the fifth anniversary of the
passing of a man who devoted a large part of his life to caring for the
orphans and the physically challenged people of Pattaya, and whose name
is firmly woven into the history of the city.
Father
Ray Brennan.
Numerous game and food booths were set up in the grounds of the Pattaya
Orphanage, providing lots of excitement and good food free of charge,
while the children scampered around enjoying themselves immensely.
Watching them, it became obvious how little it takes to bring joy to
small children, yet how easily they can be deprived of happiness.
The celebrations were opened by Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, who delivered
a speech in Thai and in English, in which he acknowledged Father Ray’s
many contributions to Pattaya’s underprivileged and needy children.
Guests of honor included Sopin Thappajug, Chanyuth Hengtrakul, Peter
Malhotra, Nittaya Patimasongkroh, Premprecha Dibbayawan, representatives
of Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya, Supagon Noja, Father Giovanni Contarin,
all priests from the Pattaya Diocese and several members of the city
council.
The founder of the Human Help Network in Germany, an organization that
has been helping support the orphanage for many years and which plans to
further extend cooperation, also attended the celebrations.
After the official opening, the youngsters from the orphanage performed
a dance whose beauty and grace was a match for any professional dance
group.
Following the speeches, including a heartfelt talk from Michael Weera
Phangrak, priest at St Nikolaus Church, it was time for the guests to
take some refreshments. Following this, the game booths were crowded by
generous people whose efforts all added to the funds that will be used
for the benefit of the orphanage and its residents.
There was the opportunity to visit a museum that displays some of Father
Ray’s personal items and pictures that show him with members of the
Royal Family, Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama and many other prominent
celebrities. A guestbook was laid out for people to write a few personal
lines.
Time passed quickly until another highlight was about to take place -
the football match between the orphanage team and the Pattaya
Mail/Rotary Club Jomtien-Pattaya team.
The spectators watched a cheering and thrilling game that had to be
decided by a penalty shot, as the game was drawn after regular time and
extra time. In the end, the luck was on the visitors’ side, defeating
the orphanage team with a score of 4:2.
At the same time, the Redemptorist School also celebrated Father Ray Day
by selling different products that were made by the physically
challenged youngsters and the orphanage children.
The evening ended with the lighting of candles and singing songs in
memory of Father Ray. The day had allowed each one taking part to
appreciate the importance of these children and to cherish the wonderful
memories Father Ray has brought to this place.
The evening saw a procession of about 500 people to Father Ray’s grave.
The Bishop of the Chantaburi Diocese, who is also in charge of the
Pattaya Diocese, conducted a mass together with another 15 clerical
dignitaries to pay tribute to Father Ray, who had been a priest at this
church for 13 years.
The congregation took many pictures at the monument of Father Ray, who
although he is gone, will never be forgotten. He helped countless people
and therefore has a place in our hearts eternally.
Raymond Allen Brennan was born on December 7, 1932, in Chicago. He came
to Thailand in 1961 as a volunteer to assist impoverished and disabled
people, and from that day until his last day, August 16, 2003 he devoted
himself to assisting the underprivileged in Thai society.
Father Ray established the Orphanage Foundation in the early 1970s,
after a baby was left in his care. In the early 1980s a young deaf boy
was left at the Orphanage, and Father Ray was unable to find a local
school for him. This led to the opening of the Sotpattana Kindergarten
School for the Deaf in 1983.
The Redemptorist Vocational School for the Disabled was founded in 1984
with just four students. The School for the Blind was founded in 1986
after a young blind child was left at the Orphanage, there being no
school locally specializing in teaching the blind.
The Father Ray Foundation was officially established in 2003 as the
umbrella organization for the increasingly diverse activities that had
sprung from the arrival of that one, unexpected child.
Father Michael Weera
Phangrak, director of the Pattaya Orphanage
presents a set of books on Father Ray to Mayor Itthipol Khunplome.
Father Worawut Saraphan,
licensee of the Redemptorist Vocational School presents a commemorative
picture depicting a Fr. Ray Brennan inspired event at the School.
The Mayor is captivated by
the beauty of a painting at the ‘Fr. Ray’s Museum’.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome
along with guests and administrators,
plant a tree in commemoration of Father Ray and pledge
to continue his noble work for the children of the world.
Chanyuth Hengtrakul
converses with officials
of the Redemptorist Vocational School.
Free haircuts were offered
to one and all.
Father Michael Weera
Phangrak, and Radchada Chomjinda,
executive secretary of the Father Ray Foundation together with children
of Pattaya Orphanage welcome guests as they arrive.
Sopin Thappajug was
amongst the dignitaries at the opening ceremony.
Radchada Chomjinda
welcomes Bruce Hoppe, Chitra Chandrasiri and Judy Hoppe.
Youngsters of the
Orphanage beautifully
and gracefully performed traditional Thai dances.
The Dara Samut School
brass band
was quite professional in their musical presentations.
Students from the
Redemptorist School for the Blind sing for the guests.
Guests pose with scores of
happy children in front of Fr. Ray’s Statue.
The football match between
the Pattaya Orphanage team and the Pattaya Mail/Rotary Club
Jomtien-Pattaya team was one of the main highlights of the day. The
trilling game ended in a 4-2 win for the visitors.
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome
along with guests and administrators,
plant a tree in commemoration of Father Ray and pledge
to continue his noble work for the children of the world.
