Bishop
Silvio Siripong Charatsri presides over the ceremony.
Father
Lawrence Patin’s children have always looked to him for guidance.
Pratchaya Kerdthong
In a mass led by the Bishop of Chantaburi, Pattaya turned
out to bid farewell to Father Lawrence Patin, president of the Father Ray
Foundation.
The Jan. 12 evening funeral was led by Bishop Silvio
Siripong Charatsri who, with other speakers, eulogized the man who came to
Pattaya early last decade to take over the rectory at the Redemptorist
Center and eventually the entire Roman Catholic-based charity and welfare
organization. Patin died of a brain tumor Jan. 8 while undergoing treatment
in the United States.
Some of
his children are heartbroken.
One of six children, Patin entered seminary at age 14 in
Michigan and became a Redemptorist priest in 1963.
Patin first came to Thailand in 1963, and until last year
worked in parishes around the country, mostly in the north and in Bangkok.
At the turn of the century, he made a dramatic change by becoming rector of
the Redemptorist Center before taking over as president of the Father Ray
Foundation.
He became ill in early 2010 and later discovered he had a
brain tumor. A course of radiation treatment was given but did not hold back
the tumor. He passed away with his family beside him, and Thailand in his
heart.
Bishop
Silvio Siripong Charatsri celebrates mass.
Bishop
Silvio Siripong Charatsri presents the Eucharist.
Folks
from all walks of life express their feelings.
His
blind children sing the last song for their father.
Father
Lawrence Patin’s children gather to show their sadness.
