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.