Thai nuns share ray of hope among landfill scavengers

Last updated on: March 16, 2014 at 10:04 pm by CNA Daily News

Thai nuns share ray of hope among landfill scavengers 2014-03-16T22:04:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Mar 16, 2014 / 04:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A group of missionary sisters are bringing humanitarian assistance to the scavengers who live in the rubbish dump of the Thai city Lopburi.

“We bring to them the necessary, basic items of life, and spend some time teaching them, sharing their struggles, and encouraging their shattered hopes,” Sr. Mary Clare Thong IN, superior of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres in Lopburi, told CNA March 11.

Lopburi is a city of more than 26,000, located 80 miles southeast of Nakhon Sawan, and the Paulist sisters there have begun reaching out to those on the periphery of the city.

“St. Paul instructed Christians to serve and embrace all people irrespective of class, race and religion in his First letter to the Corinthians,” Sr. Mary Clare reflected.

“‘All things to all people’ has been our guiding, inspirational motto from our patron St. Paul,” she continued.

Sr. Mary Clare described how some of the city’s residents have become scavengers in the landfill, living in unhygienic and hazardous conditions on the decaying materials, with birds and animals of prey as their neighbors.

They sustain their livelihood by scavenging in the sea of rubbish, even making their temporary shelter with a patched tent which flutters in the breeze, unprotected during rains.

It’s “overwhelming” to see their bright, happy, smiling faces in the midst of their strife-ridden and difficult lives, Sr. Mary Clare said.

“The site is scary, with devouring birds and pack of animals, while the stench is so awful that even when one comes home and takes a shower, the illusion of the smell lingers for hours,” Fr. Alessandro Chamnan Klahan, rector of St. Paul Seminary in Korat, told CNA March 11.

“The SPC sisters’ commendable commitment, missionary zeal, and courage to stand against all odds makes a world of difference for a better world.”

Sr. Mary Clare noted that “the strong formative exposure in our junior days transforms our faith into action in the footsteps of our superiors — which becomes our point of reference.”

She stressed Pope Francis’ repeated call to Catholics to “go to the peripheries,” especially “to the poor and marginalized,” as one of her inspirations for the ministry.

“My inspiration was also Mother Myriam Kitcharoen, our former Mother General, who was magnanimous and generous toward the poor, and who has left an indelible imprint of her exemplary testimony of life.”

The Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres were founded in France in 1696 by Fr. Louis Chauvet to care for the sick and the poor. They are now spread over 35 countries, serving apostolates of health care, education, and evangelization.

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

March 16, 2014

Let the word of God grow in your heart, encourages Pope

Next Post

March 16, 2014 Three abducted priests in Crimea returned safely

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the entire Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

66 80 39 73