Then the party began: all our children lined up and one by one they poured lustral water over the cupped hands of the assembled old folks (who represent our children's families) and asked a blessing in return. Our children also gave the old folks parcels of food in a gesture of thanks for the blessing. And, being the kids they are, splashed water everywhere!

Later in the afternoon, our kids walked to the nearby slum-friendly Temple by the Bridge where nine of our boys have become Buddhist Novices for the next 30 days until school holidays are over.

Entering the monkhood is a glorious experience for these kids, and the first day is full of ceremonies. The only sad part was at the tonsure ceremony, the point in the day when the parents are supposed to help the monks shave their sons' head and then float their hair in holy water. Our boys don't have parents, so our Mercy Centre house dads had to take their place.

Our boys became novice monks for many reasons. Most importantly, it is a rite of passage in Thailand, much like a confirmation in church or a bar mitzvah at a Jewish synagogue. It is also a way of making merit and showing respect for your parents, your country, and, this year in particular, for His Royal Majesty, the King of Thailand, the longest reigning monarch, in celebration of his 60th year on the throne

Our girls are also having a fabulous time this summer holiday. Besides dancing and music classes, they are also learning to cook, most especially cookies and their favorite Thai dishes. All these activities make them "cool," which is quite important to all children but especially to children, like ours, who have been abandoned.

Almost forgot to mention: Of the nearly two hundred children living with us, almost every single one of them passed final exams and will move up another grade in school when the new school year begins this May.

And, even while our boys join the Buddhist monkhood for a month, we are a Catholic House, and what of that? Yes - we have Holy Week ceremonies and the telling of our Sacred Truths, but we did all of that last week -because you can not walk to Jerusalem with Jesus in his Sorrow and Death and celebrate the festivities of the New Year at the same time. So we did the washing of the feet, and adoration of the Holy Cross and Blessings of the Baptismal Water and Fire and Earth and Air last week. And then this Sunday, we celebrate Easter and Jesus rising from the dead. Plus we are going to have this huge Easter Egg Hunt!!

Some might say, "Hey, you can't move feasts around like that!" And they are probably right, but it was either move them or not have them at all. You can't ask Buddhist, Muslim or Christian kids not to party... So... we try to give them the best of both worlds.

Happy Thai New Year everyone - and Happy Easter. What a glorious combination of joy and blessings and "just plain having a good old time." And our children and old folks and our folks with AIDS, and our neighbors and staff and myself - we all wish you a Happy New Year and Happy Easter.

Fr. Joe - April 2006 - Mercy Centre - Klong Toey Slums - Bangkok