Thanks to the Cajuns
Deacon Reggie Bollich, his wife Dottie and three grandchildren visited us for three weeks in June. Their son Ben and his wife Laurie also joined us.
Reggie Bollich with Kung and Wan Pen
Everett and Nick with their new friends Bart, Peter and Son Lam
This family has been with us from nearly the beginning. They represent the people of south west Louisiana in the USA known generally as Cajuns. The Charlene Richard House was built near Sarnelli House to house volunteers and guests and this was accomplished thanks to Deacon Reggie’s efforts. Generous donors from the area around Lafayette and beyond have helped fund Charlene House and Charlene House money also sends teenagers to college and supports many works such as braces and prosthesis for the disabled workers at Sarnelli House and salaries for the workers at Charlene House and for a secretary who is also disabled who sends out the newsletters and works in the clinic. Many of our children are sponsored by these same people and our yearly jaunt to the mountains or seaside is bankrolled by a special donor and one of the best friends they have.
Dottie Bollich with Nook who works at Sarnelli House and
Jai who works in the clinic and office administration
Ben and Gai
Laurie and Ally with Gip and Auhn
We want to take this opportunity to salute Deacon Reggie, his family, friends and acquaintances whose sacrifice, interest and generosity furthers the cause of Charlene Richard more than any miracle (Some 40 years ago Charlene Richard was a young girl who contracted leukaemia and suffered a painful death when she was 12 years old. During her illness she showed an amazing sense of self sacrifice and empathy of the sick around her, by offering her suffering to alleviate the pain and distress of the sick in her hospital). Deacon Reggie and his deacon friends and some wonderful priests and laity have kept the name of Charlene Richard in the forefront in the Northeast Thailand.
Fr Shea C.S.s.R
August 2011
