Dear Everyone,

Thank you for your condolences and prayers. Condolences + to share sorrow = compassion. A beloved friend sent us this Greek word: Silipitria. I am told it means ‘to mourn with’ those who are experiencing a great loss, to feel it deeply, personally. Like compassion, to walk through someone's suffering with them. It's very Christ-like.

The whole of Thailand is somber at the passing of His Majesty; flags fly at Half Mast, there are no partygoers; even Bangkok's notorious traffic crawls along unusually quiet. Yesterday, we celebrated Solemn Requiem Mass with our entire staff. This morning, again, with the children during our regular Saturday morning Mass.

But to dwell in sadness and defeat is no way to honor His Majesty. However sluggish we may feel, life goes on. It must. Our children here at Mercy know that “The Father of our Nation” has died.

So what can we do, they ask? They decided, on their own, to say Three Catholic Hail Mary’s each night for a month. Also, they promised -- really, really deep down promised -- to take extra good care of our home here at Mercy. Even though we are orphans, we do have a home. So, in a children’s way: Protect Our Land, our home. This includes taking care of each other. Making sure we all do well in school. And when we meet kids on the streets, who are homeless like we were, we will invite them to live with us. Doubly so if they are sick, so we may take them to the Hospital. And, of course, the children will continue to care for all the stray doggies and kitties outside our Mercy house (but they cannot come into the house-- thus sayeth Fr Joe’s rules).

So, we ask all of you, our family throughout the world, to join us in "Silipitria" and in prayer. Together we may send good blessings to our orphan children so that they grow from this great loss.

Prayers for all. Fr. Joe & all of us.