main altar

This is the main altar of the La Asincion Church.
The Church, Rectory and School complex was built by Maryknoll.

La Asuncion Church

The parish church of La Asuncion. It was the main chapel although we did have some other amall chapels in the parish to accomodate the large numher of prishioners.
Above the door you can see a triangle which is the Holy Spirit. This triangle was made by me and it was about the main altar. It is a custom in Maryknoll to have the Holy Spirit over the altar.

Maryknoll School

This is a recent photo of the Maryknoll elementary and High School in Las Higueras, Talcahuano, Chile. It was a free school under the Society of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. We had 200 teachers and over 2,000 students with classes in the morning from 8:00 to 2:00 in the afternoon. More classes from 2:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the afternoon.
It was the largest school complex in Chile. The other being in Lima, peru which was St. Rose of Lima, also under the sponsorship of Maryknoll.
This parish and school was turned over to the archdiocese of Concepcion in 1986 with me be the last Maryknoller there.

We also had another parish called San Miguel in Huapencillo. This area of Chile was an industrial area with the largest steel mill in the country which was from the Bethleham steel company in the United States. There was a number of priests, Brothers and Sisters in this parish that belong to Maryknoll.

Maryknoll Sisters Convent

The Maryknoll Sisters lived in this convent at the end of the park. There were around 10 Maryknoll Sisters in residence at this time and all were involved in paris or pastoral work as well as teaching in the Maryknoll elementary and high school..

our house

This is the La Asuncion house for priests and Brothers. The house now is occupied by one of the priests from the Archdiocese of Concepcion.
In 1973, in residence were the Maryknoll priests, Manuel Mejis, superior, Joseph Smith and Charles Magsam.
The Brothers were Gregory Grant, John Beeching and myself. Also a seminarian Michael Shea was with us at that time.

Santiago, Chile to Talcahuano

This photo of the Cathedral of Santiago, Chile was taken last Jaunary before the terrible earth quake.
I arrived here after langauage school in Cochabamba in 1973. Chile was going through a very difficult time under the Socialist government of Salvadore Allende. I had just left a military government in Bolivia. But here it was worst with many strikes and shortages of food, toilet paper and other items that were necessary. Meat was also ration.
Father Thomas Kirchmeyer was the Suprior a the time. Bro. Bob Power and I went to the center of the city of Santiage near the Moneda and there were demonstrations going on.
In fact some military tanks were on the street.
When we return to our Maryknoll house on Vasco de Gama, Father Tom asked us where have we been and we told him in the city and he wasn't too happy about it due to all the disturbances that were going on.
A few days later after getting registered by the Chilean government. I then took a very long train ride to Concepcion, Chile. It was more than 12 hours. The train was stopped many times due to disturbancea sn rocks put on the tracks. Fortunately a young man gave me his poncho which is a large blanket to keep warm because there was no heat and all the windows were open.
Finally arrived in Concepcion and Father Manuel Mejia picked me up to take me home.

Maryknoll language school

This is a recent photo of the Maryknoll Language school that I have taken.
When I came here the first time in 1972, it was called this. Now it is called the Maryknoll Mission Center for Latin America.
When I arrived here Father Arthur Kiernan was the Director. The majority of the students Priesrs, Brothers and Sisters were all Maryknoll.
Today the Maryknoll Mission Center is open to everyone from overseas who will be doing Mission in South America or ministry in Spanish in their own country.
Father Raymond Finch is now the Director of the institute. We have students from all over the world now. In fact 25 students from the United States for a 6 week course this Summer 2010. And then we will have a course for the second semester starting in mid July.

Leaving home

The colonial home on 64 Walnut Street in North Quincy, Massachusetts.

Leaving your home and family is not easy the first time for mission overseas and perhaps other times as well is difficult..
I remember crying on the plane from the Logan International Airport to New York.
Probably thinking about it now, is seeing my parents for the last time. First it was my Father in 1982 and then again with my mother in 1986.

from Maryknoll to Bolivia

From Maryknoll, New York I was assigned to Chile in 1972.
The trip was from Boston to Miami, Mexico city, Guatemala and finally Lima Peru.
The airline was Lufthansa a German airline and due to overweight in baggage I was charged. Brother Bob Power went with me. We stayed a few days in Lima, peru before going on to Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Back to New York

After I left our Seminary at Mountain Veiw, California. I returned to Maryknoll New york for studies at Westchester Community College and at Maryknoll College that was runned by the Maryknoll Sisters. This was in preparation for going to the Missions overseas. The degrees were in counseling and also teaching English as a second language.

cable car in San Francisco

The cable car is being turned around on the turntable and you can see the man turning it around. You can see another cable car in the background waiting to come in. It is a very popular tourist attraction as the cable cars go up the steep hills of San Francisco. The cable is not above but underneath the street which pulls the cable car up the hills..

"I left my heart in San Francisco" .... by the singer Tony Bennett

The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Rome is of another day.
I've been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhatten.
I'm going home to my city by the bay.

I left my heart in San Francisco high on a hill, it calls o me.
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco Above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
Your golden sun will shine for me!



This is the famous song for this beautiful city called San Francisco.
It is a very friendly city and the people are very helpful to help you in need.
I give thanks to my friends Rod and max for showing me around the city the many times that I have visited this City by the Bay.
San Francisco has a wonderful climate year round.
It is proud of its own history going back to the Gold Rush days.
It also has the largest gay population in the United States and probably in the world.
It is a very free city and it is noticeable that that people are respected no matter what colour you are or even what race you belong too. It has the largest Asian population and the largest Chinese community.
So this song of San Francisco brngs back a lot of memories for me. And I hope also that someday it will be my home as well.
San Francisco has steep hills just like here in La Paz, Bolivia

I left my heart in San Francisco

This photo of me was taken by a very kind person last July as I visited my favorite place which is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It was built the year of my birth 1937.
A lot of tourists from all over the world come to visit this historic site.

Los Altos, California

This is now the Maryknoll Residence at Los Altos, California. It is an hour drive from the city of San Frncisco. I lived here in the early 1960's after the Japanese Los Angeles Parish.
This was a junior seminary for young men who were interested in Maryknoll missionary priesthood. They came here after elementary school.
It is here that I met Rod Odgers and also Judy Churchill. They were both interested in Maryknoll Missionary life.
Rod had just come out of the Navy ane was living in San Bruno, a short distance from San Francisco. He changed his mind and didn't go into Maryknoll. He met a good friend Max Wilson and bought a home in the famous Heigh Ashbury area of San Francisco. Famous for the Flower children and the song about San Francisco.
We have continued to be friends for many years and also have enjoyed his hospitality through the years. My parents also stayed at their home many years ago.
I have no idea what has happened to Judy Churchill. The last time I saw her was at Maryknoll, New york.
The picture of the former junior seminary is now a residence for Maryknoll Missioners who are retired. The photo was taken a year ago. July 2009.

June 29th 2010

This photo of me was taken at Maryknoll, New York last year when I celebrated my 50th Anniversary in Maryknoll as a Maryknoll Missionary Brother.

It was on this day that I took my first Oath to the Society of Maryknoll in 1959.
at our Maryknoll Brothers Novitiate in Brookline, Massachusetts.
There were 38 of us that entered the Novitiate in September 29th, 1957. Now 53 years ago.

My parents had driven me up in the car from our home on Walnut Street in North Quincy. My brother and sisters were with me on that day.
Father Thomas Nolan was the superior at the time. Others in residence were
Fathers Reardon and Hannon. Also in residence in the house was Bishop Raymond Lane.

The novitiate was a time of reflection and preparation for life as a Maryknoll Brother and missionary life.

The property of the Maryknoll Brothers Novitiate and the building was the Sears Estate. The family had hoped to join the Bostonian Society from Chicago but it didn't materialize for them Probably the Boston Society was too snobbish for them.

Today is Wednesday, June 30th. I had to stop my writing yesterday because we had a small celebration here at the Maryknoll Mission Center in honor of Maryknoll's Foundation Day on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

We celebrated our 99th year of existence because we were founded by Bishop Walsh and Father Price in 1911. They attended an Eucharistic Congress and was founded by these two men and with the approval of the Pope.

Next year we will be celebrating 100 years.

We also had Mass in the Society Chapel here in Maryknoll in Cochabamba. Fr. Gene Toland was the celebrant and Ray Finch read a paper from our Founder James Anthony Walsh which was a good reflection as we look forward to the future of Maryknoll.

Present for the Mass was Dae Kim a young seminarian who is here for overseas experience in Mission. Larry Kenning, one of our older Brothers and he has been in Bolivia for many years. He is a farmer from Minnesota. Gene Toland is from my hometown of Quincy, Massachusetts. Actually Wollaston. He also served on the General Council many years ago. Also present was Ray Finch, the former Superior General of the Society of Marykn oll Fathers and Brothers. He is now Director of the Maryknoll Mission Center here in Cochabamba and also coordinator of the Cochabamba Pastoral Group here at the Center. Plus myself.

After Mass which ended at around 12:35 p.m. We had a nice lunch and it was pork chops and using the recipe of my sister Maureen Thayer in North Attleboro. The pork chops were baked in the oven and they were not dry.

We usually have as a diet here, chicken and hamburger and special occasions we have steak. We try to keep a healthy diet since we are old timers and we have to watch our diets. So we have plenty of vegetables and fruit for our meals.

The celebration of our Foundation Day went very well. And probably next Sunday which is July 4th, the Independence Day of the United States we will have a cook out. But it is not certain yet.

Well getting back to Brookline, I was there for almost two years, actually 21 months before going to Maryknoll, New York. You can see the seminary building behind me in the photo above.

I lived on the 4th floor with other Brothers at that time. It was the Brothers Wing. The Brothers house which was the former first seminary for the Society was torn down. It was not a very safe plae and actually a fire trap becuase the house could of went up in flames like a box of matches. Fortunately nothing like this ever happened even though we had some of the older Brothers living in that house.

At Maryknoll, New York we had Father Robert Sheridan as the Suprior. He had done missionary work in the Philippines. He was very conservative and trditional. He was training us to become "monks" actually. He loved to talk about the visitors that came to the Center. We also had to come to him for permissions as well after Evening Prayer.

During this time we had a large number of young men who had served in the Military Service. They were mature men with a lot of experiences. So eventually in time, Father Sheridan was isolatd and not respected by the Brothers. Times were changing.

He went back to the Philippines but it didn't work out as planned. So he return to Maryknoll, New York and became Guest Master of the Seminary.

The Brothers started to take on more responsibilities and we were advancing a lot faster and the Brothers were in Charge.

In 1961, I went to California to work in the Japanese parish in Los Angeles, California, which was for a few years with Father Michael McKillop and Clement baseplug and then I was transferred to our Maryknoll Junior Seminary in Mountain View, California with Fathrs John Linehan, John Teat and others.

It was a Junior seminary for our high school students who were interested in the missionary priesthood of Maryknoll. The young men had just come out of elementary school. The Japanese parish was a positive experience with a lot of youth, scouts etc and I had the opportunity to be driving a school bus through the the streets of Los Angeles which was quite an experience. I still keep in contact with the Japanese people today.

More to come..

Boston Massachusetts and the Charles River

It is sunday evening and the time is 7:19 p.m. on this day of June 27th.
I just finished listening to the news on BBC TV with Brother Albert Patrick. He turned 65 years old this week, actually last Thursday and his birthday was almost forgotten. The girls in our kitchen had forgotten to make a cake for him which is the custom here when we sr have birthdays for our community members here in the house which are priests and Brothers. Al will be leaving us at the end of the monthn of July for Maryknoll, New York.
He plans to retire. He has been working with young men in a carpentry shop in "Cereco" which is place for retarded children. The plan is to give the young men skills to be able to work on their own outside. in the city of Cochabamba. No one has taken the opportunity to find work outside in carpentry which is the purpose of this training. They like to stay close to home and also to be with Brother Al in his carpentry shop.

This morning I got up early around 6:30 a.m. and took a shower to get ready for Mass at the Francican Church of the Hospicio at 7:30 a.m. I had a quick bowl of cereal, actually cheerios and milk plus a cup of coffe.
I then took the taxi for Mass, a good ten minute ride to the church. Father Walter Viviani had the Mass today and he is a little long winded in giving his homily. It is almost like catechism class as he goes step by step. The theme was on freedom and following Jesus which leads to death on the Cross.

It was a nice day and not too cold even though we are at the beginning of Winter here in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In fact I had planned to take a picture of the church with my camera from the plaza colon but the battery was dead in my camera and so I couldn't take any pitures. I will do so now on Monday since I have recharged the battery for the camera.

Just going back a little, when I had return from taking a shower at around 6:30 in the morning, I had turned on my computer. I started to shave to get ready to leave when the computer started calling me by a buzzing sound. I went to look at it to see what was happening and found out that it was the twin Brother of Brother Benny was calling me. He is a Franciscan Brother as well as his Brother India. We couldn't make contact because he was off to see a Bishop and I was in the process of shaving my face.

Today we had a nice chicken dinner with baked potatoes and vegetables as well as salad. Our cook escally is excellent, her Mother worked for us for many years and is now retired .

Well this is all for now as I will be gettng ready to get some sleep and also to do some reading.

The photo above is of the city of Boston along the Charles River which separates the city of Boston from the city of Cambridge.

Frank

Maryknoll, New York

This is a photo of the Maryknoll Quadrangle with the Maryknoll Seminary in the background.

with my two nieces

It is a year ago now that I celebrated my 50th anniversary as a Brother in Maryknoll.
In the photo is my nieces Melissa Thurston on my left and my other niece Kara Smith
who came down to Maryknoll for the day to celebrate my anniversary as a Brother in Maryknoll over the last weekend in June of 2009. A year ago now. The foundation of Maryknoll is on june 29th, 1911. We will be celebrating one hundred years this coming year 2011. It will be a worldwide celebration and the Maryknoll Sister follow the next year 2012.
So it will be for two years.

Maryknoll Foundation Day June 29th

It is a year ago this weekend, June 29th, 2009 that I celebrated my 50th year in Maryknoll as a Maryknoll Brother. My two nieces were with me on this day, Melissa Thurston and Kara Smith. They made the trip in one day, leaving Boston early in the morning.
I was with my classmates Jude Conniff and Goretti Zilli. Joseph Hamel who is now a Maryknoll priest in Japan was not with us but he is celebrating his 25th year as a priest in Maryknoll. This photo was taken by my niece Melissa who is the daughter of my youngest sister Bernardne.