Farewell Photos

Priests of the Diocese of Torit at the farewell gathering in Sudan.

The evening before Fr. Sylvester and I left Sudan, Vicar General Fr. Celestino Murras hosted a farewell gathering for us on behalf of the diocese at which local priests and the St. Daniel Comboni Missionary Youth participated. It was a bittersweet occasion for us, one mixed gratitude and sadness. The youth came for Mass early the next morning and insisted on staying till we left for the airstrip. To our surprise the missionary flight arrived two hours ahead of schedule and we had to say a rushed, tearful goodbye to the young people and race to the airstrip to catch the plane.

St. Daniel Comboni Missionary Youth with Fr. Sylvester and me.

While in Kenya, before departing the continent of Africa, my good friends of Communion and Liberation in Nairobi hosted a farewell celebration at St. Joseph Parish in Kahawa Sukari on the outskirts of the city after the 11:00 am Mass at which I presided and preached. As always there was lots of singing and laughter, including the humorous action song led by Chrispine and the children below. Porzia is playing the guitar in the background.

A warm CL goodbye in Nairobi.

I was also grateful for the opportunity to make a final trip to Kisumu to say goodbye the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, who have so graciously welcomed me for times of rest and prayer at St. Catherine's Home.

Left to right: Sr. Mae, Sr Teresa Marie, Fr. Herald, Sr. Patricia, Sr. Mary Thanh.