For the past three years, we have been working together with a poor community of ethnic Mokan (sea gypsies) living on Koh Lao, an island in Ranong Province.

Over 500 Bangkok children are currently enrolled in our Education Sponsorship Program. These are among the poorest children in Bangkok – children who could never afford the most basic school necessities without the support they receive from our education sponsors.

During a world tour sponsored by the International Peace Foundation, the renowned Clown Reinhard visited Mercy last Saturday and performed in front of a tough and demanding crowd of 100 Mercy children.

Last week, five hundred and five slum children received their diplomas during the annual Mercy Preschool graduation ceremonies. Moms, dads, grandmoms, brothers, sisters, aunties, community leaders, and many of our local school sponsors joined in the celebration, a balance of traditional pomp and riotous fun. Fr. Joe, wearing his doctoral robes for the occasion, presented a diploma to each graduating student; and at the end of the ceremony, in a thunderous “call and response” speech, Fr. Joe encouraged the children in no uncertain terms to stay in school. “If your mom plays cards and your dad is drunk, what do you do?” he shouted out.

There is at least one wonderful advantage to life in a large family like ours.

After years of practice and study, our children have started their own Thai orchestra.

สวัสดีทุกคน,

พวกเรา (ผมและครอบครัวชาวศูนย์เมอร์ซี่) ต่างก็เคยสะดุดล้มลุกคลุกคลานในชีวิต เราไม่มีทางรู้ได้ว่าแต่ละวันจะมีเพลงใหม่ๆที่มีเนื้อร้องเช่นใดเข้ามา และไม่รู้ว่ายามพระอาทิตย์ที่ขึ้นในตอนเช้าและตกในตอนเย็นของแต่ละวันนั้นจะ มีเรื่องราวเป็นเช่นใด