2005-08-31 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing. It's good to be back. Many meetings today to prepare for start of school year tomorrow. 

Welcome to new CAS overseas teachers: Greg & Lucy (with Sabrina & Damyn) from Australia, Louis o.m.i.   from Canada, Margaret from UK and Shaun from UK  (with Garth due from Australia in November). Photos of new team yesterday ..... + ....  this morning for Louis' 25th ....and a thank you & good bye to Amy from HK...and a belated welcome to HK volunteer Betty

Many thanks  to kind school and principal in HK for donation of many English books for Zhaoqing....and thanks to HK-Zhaoqing ferry company (CKS) for free delivery of same!

Last week a group of Caritas young people spent several days in Zhaoqing serving the poor. Thank you! (photos coming....)

Last Saturday, Aug 27: evening meal with the poor at Marco Polo - with special visitors Steve & Brenda

These few days: Some Ricci Centre children being accepted at local primary school. Number so far is about 11.  Thank you Zhaoqing Education Office + local school authorities + Rosa H and Rosa C for all your work this past week on this task

Calendar

Food for thought - a most important report from China

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Ricci Center can be accessed in HK & China, but not Australia....I don't know why. Can anyone help?
Can site be accessed in UK/USA/ other countries?  please let me know. Thank you

2005-08-24 Dear Friends

Good morning again from Notre Dame in Hong Kong.  The past week:

* Last Wednesday morning August 17 at dear 94 year old Mum's nursing home on the Gold Coast, I said Mass for Mum and  10 other residents.....photos after Mass....then during the day I recorded all 15 decades of the Rosary + a few other prayers for Mum to listen to on her cassette machine + headphones....and said goodbye once again. Not easy.  That night a happy farewell meal at my brother Peter's home. 

* Last Thursday Aug 18: Qantas Fl87 to HK.  Enjoyed  many good ideas in  Talking Business + excellent TV documentary "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?" (Frontline)

* As QF87 taxied to HK terminal, I saw AC007 from Canada landing....and half an hour later had the pleasure of welcoming Fr Louis Legare o.m.i. to HK.   Louis and I due to travel to Zhaoqing this Friday.....due to start class work at CAS on September 1.   Welcome Louis and thank you for coming!

* Last Sunday Aug 21: after Masses at Notre Dame + Yum Cha, Louis and I joined several other friends for visit to Fr Stan Sun o.m.i. at Sheung Shui.....and stayed for Holy Hour presided by Fr Stan

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+ Have you tried this IQ test?  I failed all 4 QQ

+ Maiden Senate speeches of Barnaby Joyce & Steve Fielding - ignored by CathNews?

+ Presently reading "The End of Poverty" by Jeffrey Sachs (in all bookshops this month, Aust & HK).....can't someone somewhere do a little bit more to help Africa?

+ July 15-20, 2008: World Youth Day Sydney.......Aug-Sep 2008: Beijing Olympics.  
Better if WYD in 2007?

+ November 6, 2005: Betty running in New York Marathon to raise funds for Ricci Centre! If you'd like to sponsor her or wish her well, please send her an email: bettychu001@yahoo.com 

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

Sorry, Hotmail  filter was on wrong setting Aug 20-23....might have missed some emails

2005-08-17 Dear Friends

Hello from Gold Coast on last day of holiday in Australia. I'm due to fly from Brisbane to Hong Kong tomorrow.  Many thanks to my brother Peter and family for kind and restful hospitality

Dear 94 year old Mum continues to battle on courageously in her nursing home bed.....same story: she could leave this life today or in several months. Last Wednesday - weather was perfect - I had the joy of taking her outside one last time (?) in a special mobile bed, for a walk in the next door park. She's in Good Hands

Also in the Same Hands is Mum's and our family's life time friend Thelma  who went home to Heaven last Thursday, Aug 11.  Sincere sympathy to my oldest friend Fr Bill o.m.i. and his family. Yesterday I attended Requiem Mass for Thelma at Iona College in Brisbane (which is just across the road from  her family's former home). Thelma, Mum, Bill & I in Melbourne in 1970 and about 1970 in Brisbane

And after the funeral, a quick visit to dear Wynnum friends Max and Lenore.

Before the funeral, visit to grave of dear Wynnum next door neighbours

Happy re-union last Wednesday Aug 10 with former China teacher John H who spent four years in Chongqing, and another re-union last Sunday Aug 14 with former CAS teachers Pam & Bruce (at & after Mass at St Vincent's in Surfers Paradise)

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+ Nearly finished another new book: J. Girzone - "Joshua in a Troubled World" (not as good as his earlier books but has some spot-on reflections re  terrorism)

+ NCR this week: An Apology for Hiroshima

+ As regards USA and others saying Iran may not have nuclear weapons.....bit like man smoking cigar telling boy not to smoke = the country with the most WMD telling another country it may not have even one WMD....yet media keeps on pushing the idea that Iran must do what USA says. This is more of the same air of bullying injustice that breeds, not stops,  terrorism

+ On a happier note: has been fascinating following the first week of new Senate in Australia - Go Barnaby (& Steve Fielding)!  Put "Barnaby+Joyce+Fielding" into www.google.com 

+ November 6, 2005: Betty running in New York Marathon to raise funds for Ricci Centre! If you'd like to sponsor her or wish her well, please send her an email: bettychu001@yahoo.com 

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-08-10 Dear Friends

Hello again from the Gold Coast. One week of holiday to go. Dear Mum much the same as last week....could bat on for some time yet....not unlike the Australian Cricket team's tail last Sunday night which lasted far longer than anyone expected. Everything in hands of Heavenly Umpire

* Re-unions (Aug 3, 5) with former China/CAS  teachers Bro Scho, Josie, Pam & Bruce (also a happy re-union on Aug 7 with former CAS teachers Jan & Dennis)

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+ November 6, 2005: Betty running in New York Marathon to raise funds for Ricci Centre! If you'd like to sponsor her, please send her an email: bettychu001@yahoo.com 

+ Re London bombings:
- Luc o.m.i., on brief holiday to family home in Rodrigues (Mauritius), officiated at funeral for one of the London bombing victims, a young lady whose wedding he officiated at this time last year 
- Bush & Blair have blood on their hands (Guardian, Aug 5) - Galloway not 100% wrong

+ Thought for the week: USA is spending more than one billion dollars a week on Iraq invasion

+ Must read:
- Monbiot (Aug 2): The Treaty Wreckers
- Hilton Deakin (Aug 3): Does anyone care about what's happening West Papua? (c.f. What happened to West Papua - Guardian, George Monbiot, May 3, 2005)

+ Mum about 75 years ago

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-08-03 Dear Friends

August hello from the Gold Coast.  Half way through holiday.  Mum continuing to decline slowly.....body parts gradually shutting down, as Dr Kenneth McAll put it so beautifully (see below, Diary of June 8). Mum's mind still sharp: when I asked her the Pope's name she said "Benedict"; when I said he was at present on holidays she quipped "Already?" (....he's been in job only a couple of months...)

At the other end of this earth's life cycle, most happy Baptism last Sunday for Mum's great grand-daughter Katie (in presence of two other great grandparents + four grandparents)

While here I've been using computers at a local internet shop .....sometimes having problems with Hotmail - apparently some of my messages have not been received (only the heading received). If you received such a non-message, please let me know and I'll re-send.  I now have a third email address for times when both Hotmail and China8 email addresses are down: jdwomi@gmail.com .  Needed this because China8 address now  goes via Hotmail....so in fact only two addresses

On the brighter side of communications - people in Australia can phone China for only AUD$0.059 cents (Y0.35) per minute - using cards such as that offered by www.gotalk.com.au (on which site you can check details of every call, as you can on www.vodafone.com.au).  To phone Australia from China costs about Y6/AUD$1 per minute 

Two other interesting sites:  www.slow.net.au (!) and www.newmatilda.com 

Also good news: kind friend in New York is booked to run in NY Marathon on November 6.....donating proceeds to our work for the poor in Zhaoqing.  Thank  you!

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Very frank, honest and challenging report yesterday, called "Shortage of Public Goods" in headlines of www.china.org.cn - about the widening gap between rich and poor in China.....and the unwillingness/inability of city authorities to implement Beijing directives about providing education, health care and accommodation for migrant workers in the coastal cities  (....just put "public goods" in search engine of www.china.org.cn to find this story)

And a great new book I'm half way through: "Gandhi's Hope" (Orbis, 2005) by Jay McDaniel. 
Subtitle: "Learning from Other Religions as a Path to Peace" 
Quote on back cover by Gandhi's grandson Arun: "This book makes an attempt to help better understand the religions of the world so that we can stop killing in the name of God"

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-07-27 Dear Friends

Good afternoon again from the Gold Coast. Beautiful Winter weather here.....fine and sunny during day, not cold at night.  Dear Mum is thinner and weaker by the day but still battling on. Battle could finish today or last for several months. She's in Good Hands

* More photos from North Point group's visit to poor areas of Zhaoqing earlier this month - including prize winning photo of a baby looking up at two ladies....check it out

* Last Saturday, July 23: happy re-union of CAS friends at Wynnum beach, after visit to several graves at Hemmant Cemetery, including grave of cousins Col & Tessie Gilmore

* Last Sunday, July 24: happy family re-union, after morning Mass at Iona

* Yesterday, Tuesday July 26: trip to Bulimba (and Hemmant Cemetery again) for funeral of Don Daly, father of Fr Peter o.m.i., principal of Iona College.  Sincere sympathy + may Don's prayers in Heaven help us all

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+ News these days.....Australian state and commonwealth governments preparing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to prevent terrorist attacks.  A cheaper method: treat the cause, not the symptoms. The cause = decades of unfair support for Israel in its Nazi-like treatment of the Palestinians + taking part in the illegal/immoral invasion of Iraq.  Until Australia & US & UK give the Palestinians a fair go and until there's an immediate hand over of Iraq to the U.N.,  terrorism will spread like SARS in the air of injustice.  
Notice how treating the cause gets almost no attention in the media, The Guardian a special exception. Terrorism is a top story.....no surprise the media, especially Murdoch's empire with its blatant pro-Israel bias, is milking it.
DV some day wiser/more honest heads will prevail and there will eventually be a most prosperous Middle East Economic Union, made up of a trouble free Israel and its Arab neighbours

+ On the same theme: more evidence of how Mr Bush, Mr Blair and Mr Howard are controlling their intelligence service reports to suit their pro-Murdoch agenda.....put "ABC Australian Story" (July 25) into www.google.com 

Thank you for a prayer for Mum, also for her dear friend Thelma Ousley, mother of  Fr Bill o.m.i., seriously ill in hospital after a severe stroke

God bless!

John W omi

2005-07-20  Dear Friends

Hello from the GOLD COAST in Australia. I'm typing this from the bedside of dear Mum who is in good spirits, still more or less able to eat and drink, but her 94 year old body is very frail and thin.....already one foot in Heaven......people in her condition can go suddenly or battle on for several months. Main aim: to be full of the Good Lord's peace and ready to go in His good time

My mobile in Australia: (61) 0406330307.  If you are phoning from outside Australia, you need the 61 but you don't need the first 0.....so from HK or China you'd phone: 61-406330307

Was a busy time in Hong Kong last week with many O.M.I. meetings

While in HK I discovered, horror-horror, that some of the 1421 material re the Chinese discovering America (see link above) is challenged and criticized by many people.   See "Criticisms File" in 1421

Last Saturday-Sunday-Monday there were 72 wonderful people from North Point in HK visiting the poor areas in Zhaoqing

This morning I sent donation to MSF ...website has latest about children in Niger and other African countries dying of starvation....and as I type this, I'm hearing Bert Newton interviewing a doctor on TV about the problem (now called an epidemic by World Health Org) of obese children in countries like Australia.  Africa needs urgent help....to overcome corruption/famine/un-fair trade etc.  Maybe one African country could be a model.....could humbly agree to an Afro-American UN joint-administrator, in conjunction with some sort of twinning program with some developed country/state....DV

Problem in HK & China: my Australian HSBC  4 digit pin card cannot be used.....HK & China banks are equipped for only 6 digit pin cards.   Solution (thank you staff at Southport HSBC): in HK & China, just add two zeros before your 4 digits!

Another piece of learning in the past week: children with Autism can overcome their disability and go to school in normal class by age 6.....if they receive intensive 40 hour per week individual coaching while aged 2,3,4 and 5.  Might never catch up if they are not helped while 2-5.  See new website www.littlesouls.com.au begun by family next door to my brother Peter, in partnership with my sister-in-law Yvonne.....using Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to help children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) as well as children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A big how to: 2005-07-18 from Japan: how to build an airport in the sea (thank you, Bill!)

This Saturday, July 23: gathering at Wynnum DV (see calendar below).  Everyone welcome

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A certain 94 year old some 70 years ago and  with great grand-daughter Katie two months ago

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-07-13  Dear Friends

Hello from  35 degree Hong Kong. I'm sure looking forward to Winter on the Gold Coast next week DV. My HK mobile: (852) 67095674

The past week:

* Last Wednesday July 6 (42 degrees): happy re-union with Wednesday night students

* Last Friday July 8: visit to Ricci Centre after party in community centre by 78 senior bike riders!

* The same day: Paul left for Adelaide via HK and Thomas had his final class at Ricci before leaving for Sydney via HK on July 10.  Many thanks to both of you for all your help at Ricci Centre

* Last Saturday July 9: Regular evening meal with the poor at Marco Polo Centre + another kind donation of clothing for the poor from CAS

* Last Sunday July 10: Summer School started at CAS - good luck Dara, David and Larry!

* Last Monday, July 11:  600th Anniversary of commissioning of Zhen He - see new look 1421 File

Calendar

+ Photos of Irek o.m.i. working at leprosy centre in Northern China

+ 2008 Beijing equestrian events will be held in ....Hong Kong

+ Re London bombs: (Guardian July 9, 2005)
"I pray for all those innocent families who have been caught up in these events so unexpectedly. In the same way we must also remember those innocent families who have suffered under the bombs of the US and the UK in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, who - like the Londoners on Thursday - were just going about their daily business. It is a sad time for all concerned".  ((latest Iraq casuality figure: 39,000))

+ Western leaders/media once again in denial - Blair's Blowback (Guardian July 11)

+ Two more excellent Monbiot articles - from www.monbiot.com 
- July 9: Africa's New Best Friends;   July 12: Faced with this Crisis (re climate change & G8)

I'm due  to fly out of HK this Friday night July 15 for Brisbane, staying with my brother Peter and family on the Gold Coast. Looking forward to giving dear Mum, 94, a big kiss on Saturday afternoon DV    + t.v. Saturday night  watching Lions give Eagles' tackles a big miss

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

once a year message: if anything should happen to me (travelling etc) Rosa C in Zhaoqing has details of what to do re my four websites 

(Sorry, john@china8.org email address was not working  from about April 25 to May 20.  Now working again, but all messages between April 25 and May 20, also all China8 email addresses, were lost. HK server's computer crashed badly. Other email address ok: jdwomi@hotmail.com )

2005-07-06  Dear Friends

Good evening from a hot Zhaoqing.....40 degrees yesterday, 40 today at 4.45pm, 42 today at midday!  Going to be a long hot Summer. Premier Wan Jiabo has asked people not to set air cons below  26 degrees and not to use lights unnecessarily in day time....China straining to keep up with power demand

CAS and most schools now in final week of this semester = final week of this academic year. Summer Holidays will run until start of new school year on September 1.  I wish all teachers and students a safe and happy holiday.  Special good wishes to all students/staff  leaving CAS

The past week:

* Last Thursday June 30: Happy Birthday Dara!

* Last Friday July 1: Happy Birth Day Bakhita Centre  and Happy First Birthday Ricci Centre, with HK visitors Kevin & Pao!   ......and welcome HK teacher Magdelaine, here to visit poor areas for a few of days

* Last Saturday July 2: Lady from poor area in hospital.....3cm most painful kidney stone....one hospital wanted Y4,000 for operation....Rosa C kept praying and using her special brand of Reflexology.....last minute check just before operation at hospital....stone had gone naturally...... DG!

* Same day:  Liam arrived back (!) after being "stung" by uni in Nanchang.....and helped with promotion at Winnie's new English centre

* Same night: Regular meal with poor at Marco Polo Centre  + visit to Ricci Centre by Guangzhou old friend Michael (..sorry, I forgot to take a photo!)

* Last Sunday July 3: CAS primary school end of semester ceremony in gym  + visit to Ricci and Bakhita Centres by wonderful Rotaract group from Macau

* Last Monday July 4: thank you CAS for kind donation of bedding and clothing for the poor + welcome again HK nurse Cecilia, here for one day visit to discuss plans for helping poor families + safe trip to HK Rosa C (...jobs + having  a short rest  before  busy Summer holidays in Zhaoqing)

* Yesterday Tuesday July 5: welcome to new CAS teacher David ....from UK....now in Liam's old room (...Liam in "t.v. room"..).  Next semester there will be three teachers from UK - David, Margaret and Shaun....+ three from Australia -Greg, Lucy and I + a Canadian referee - Louis!

* This morning, July 6: welcome to CAS Thomas' HK relatives - after visiting centres and poor areas yesterday

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+ Thank you, Pam, for spectacular photo from Columbia

+ Thank you, Agnelo, for new smile (2005-07-01)

+ Must read:
* Night commuters of the Ugandan bush (Tablet  July 2, 2005)

* Going Nowhere (June 30)  &  Save us from Ourselves (June 30)  &   G8 Blog      

* Staying in Iraq 'at whatever the cost' will cost us plenty  (NCR 2005-06-29_

+ New website: http://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/

+ China willing to improve relations with Vatican (Western media not accurate...)

I'm due to go to Hong Kong on Sunday July 10, staying at Notre Dame, mobile (852) 67095674. Due to fly to out Friday night July 15 for Brisbane, staying with my brother Peter and family on the Gold Coast. Dear Mum, 94,  is just hanging on in a Gold Coast nursing home......had to be evacuated to another home for several days earlier this week because of flooding on Gold Coast.  Second nursing home so crowded Mum was on mattress on floor

Thank you for a prayer!

John W omi

2005-06-29 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing where the first our almost daily storms is now  finishing. We often have several storms a day.   The school year just about finishing, too......a week or so to go. Has been a fast year. 

Has also been a fast week:

* Last Wednesday June 22:  I went to Dongguan for happy meeting with Seamus. Arrived home that night to find loads of clothes & books at my door, kindly donated by finishing CAS students for Ricci children

* Last Friday June 24: (1) Was Zhaoqing a dangerous place because of heavy rain and flooding?, (2) former CAS top  teacher Winnie Wong's English Centre and (3) Last Supper for this semester's CAS overseas staff

* Last Saturday June 25: Stephen, Lily & Terry at regular Sat meal with the poor at Marco Polo Centre

* Last Sunday June 26: Liam finally got away, by air (... train cancelled because of flooding) to Nanchang in Jiangxi Province. Cheers, Liam!   (...and as I typed Jiangxi, I had the feeling that the world needs to become more familiar with Chinese geography.....given China's growing importance in the world, the names of Chinese provinces should be as familiar as US states...)

* Also last Sunday: CAS promotion to town of Luoding, about two hours from Zhaoqing

* Last Monday  June 27: re-union dinner at Paddy's home for Thomas. The same evening - Rosa C stayed all night at hospital bed of lady from Area C  (...and again last night). Florence Nightingale indeed

* Yesterday Tuesday June 28: (1)  Zhaoqing firemen &  Rosa H at working bee in Area C  and (2) three groups of visitors at Ricci Centre.  Newsflash (8.05 am today): new centre in Area C is to be named Bakhita!

Calendar

+ Another Diary from CAS   by Maureen & Ray

+ Updated: Education for migrant children 

+ New links at top of this page: China.org.cn (excellent for understanding more about China...e.g. great link today re 1421 ) and Learn Chinese (from the same site, really good)

+ Another must-read Monbiot article: Our Very Own Enron? (...privatisation pitfalls...)

+ Rich states told to stop poaching doctors (Guardian June 28, 2005....and...."doctors" can be changed to "teachers"/"priests"/"nurses" etc

+ Caritas & other groups have asked that July 1 be a day of prayer & fasting for the eradication of world  poverty.....before G8 meeting July 6-8 in Edinburgh

Thank you for a prayer...on this feast of Peter & Paul. Wishing all Peters & Pauls a happy day

God bless!

John W omi

2005-06-22 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing.   School year has only a little while to go now.....CAS primary finishes July 3, kindergarten July 9, secondary July 10. CAS overseas staff due to have farewell meal this Friday night. Holidays are in the air....except at Ricci Centre where every day is a holiday and classes will continue right through July and August.

The past week:

* Last Wednesday June 15:  visit to Ricci Centre by students from Guangdong University of Finance...who kindly donated Y1,710.5 for the Centre

* Last Friday June 17: meeting re plan for a Matteo Ricci Cultural Exchange Conference to be held in Zhaoqing

* Also last Friday, two dear friends went Home: Mrs Coon Turner in Brisbane and Fr Noel Geraghty o.m.i. in Melbourne.  Sincere sympathy to both families....and thank you Coon & Noel for a prayer from Heaven

* Last Saturday morning, June 18: visit to Zhaoqing fire station by Ricci Students!

* Saturday afternoon: Thomas with his special student Gary 

* Saturday night: weekly  meal with the poor at Marco Polo Centre

* Last Sunday, June 19: CAS promotion to town of Fengkai, about 2 hours from Zhaoqing.   Rosa C, Rosa H, Florence and Thomas came on this trip....and while promotion was being held, they visited a poor family in a y village near Fengkai (some of the family work in Zhaoqing)

* Last Monday, June 20: English word bingo at Xinqiao and Ng Chuen primary schools. Farewell today from CAS for Kathleen who is now staying at Xinqiao as a volunteer to help with classes there. Thank you, Kathleen, for your time at CAS....and thank you Kathleen, Paul and Dara for your help at Ricci Centre and with physically handicapped children in poor areas

* Yesterday Tuesday June 21: visit to Ricci Centre by students from Zhaoqing Specialist Medical College ....who kindly donated Y2,035.80 for the Centre

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+ Another Diary from CAS ...with more photos of fire station visit! -  by Maureen & Ray

+ New file at top of this page: maps of Zhaoqing

+ Liam's food file now has menu of Chongqing Restaurant, as well as Muslim Restaurant

+ Coming soon: new mini-Centre in middle of Area C....thank you Rosa H!

Thank you for a prayer....and let's keep praying that the coming G8 meeting in Edinburgh will make things better rather than worse in Africa

God bless!

John W omi

2005-06-15 Dear Friends

Good morning from hot and sticky Zhaoqing....lovely for walk around 6am, but rest of day warm, warm, warm

Main hotspots of the past week:

* Last Wednesday, June 8: weekly visit to Ricci Centre by dedicated students from Guangdong University of Finance (Zhaoqing)

* Last Thursday, June 9: visit to Xinqiao Primary School by HK friends arranging July 17 -19 classes with some 72 HK volunteers! ....... + Zhaoqing's best second-hand shop 

* Last Friday, June 10: morning meeting at Dynasty Hotel re idea of a Matteo Ricci Cultural Exchange Symposium to be held in Zhaoqing in September this year.
Same day - response from Australia to appeal for an artificial arm for Gary. Thank you T!
Rosa C hoping to arrange visit soon for Gary to see specialist in Guangzhou (with help of HK friend Ken W)

* Last Saturday, June 12: renovations (panels for walls) at Ricci + evening meal with poor at Marco Polo (+ welcome again HK friend Cecilia)

* Last Monday, June 13: special English Corner at Ricci for students from nearby Li Kung College....with new panels on Ricci walls

* Yesterday, Tuesday June 14: visit to Ricci Centre by friends from Notre Dame in Hong Kong + local friend  Miss Lu ..... + welcome back Thomas from Sydney!

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+ Another Diary from CAS ...lots of info & photos - by Maureen & Ray

+ Local Muslim Restaurant menu now on www, in English & Chinese (thank you Liam!)

+ Internet classes, subscribed to by some 200,000 students nationwide....offered free to Ricci Centre if we had internet (some day DV....but a very complicated process....)

+ Concerns everyone - urgent update re climate change (Guardian, June 10, 2005)....one quarter (?)  of the human race depends on water from the Ganges, Mekong & Yangtze Rivers.....those rivers get their supply from the Himalayas.....no snow on Himalayas in a few decades will mean disaster for.....everyone, because everyone will feel the effects

+ English of final Gospel Story (no. 72) now on internet DG....a two year project....Chinese translation up to no. 22 with more coming soon.  Hope these stories will be useful for learning English

+ Senior Three students have now finished exams/school. Special good wishes for the future to CAS Senior  English Two group.  Oral English classes almost finished in secondary, already finished in primary, and still going strong in kindergarten.  Different sections of CAS have different finishing times for end of semester. Official start for Summer Holidays is July 10

Thank you for a prayer for Zimbabwe.....how small our problems are compared with theirs

God bless!

John W omi

2005-06-08 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing on a very important day at CAS....pay day.....the 8th of each month. For a while I used to grumble interiorly at the thought of having to line up at finance office like a beggar ....until I realised that most of the people in this area would give their eye teeth to queue  for what I receive (Y4,500)

A queue of the past week's happenings:

* Last Thursday night June 2: wedding meal in new community centre at Wai Kang (near Ricci Centre)

* Last Saturday June 4: visit to Ricci & Marco Polo Centres by Hong Kong Scout Group (who also visited poor areas on Friday and Saturday). Also at Marco Polo for the regular Saturday night meal with the poor was Zhaoqing TV's Alexis....encouraging Gary to have an artificial arm fitted. Both Gary and his father are keen for this to be done as soon as possible.  Can be done in Guangzhou fairly quickly....we just need some kind person/people to be the donor(s) of required amount (about Y7,000). Anyone able to help?  DV Gary can be helped in the same way as Joe has been helped

* Last Monday June 6: thanks again to Olivier and his company for 2nd donation of toys, delivered today to Cheungkwai, Ng Chuen and Xinqiao schools, after dedicated sorting job by Rosa C

Also on Monday, in between schools, our group paid visits to two poor homes in Xinqiao....and had evening meal in San Mau to farewell Singapore volunteers Christina and Joyce who just finished a month working in the poor areas....and to welcome local volunteer Maria who has joined our team

And ... Monday's daily Xijiang newspaper had a story on our work, as did its magazine cousin Xijiang Pictorial.    A new file has been started: media reports on our work for the poor

* Yesterday Tuesday June 7: visit to Ricci Centre by two local fireman + gathering of CAS families

+ Another Diary from CAS ...lots of info & photos - by Maureen & Ray

Calendar

Another  powerful NCR article:   The shock of being shocked (June 2, 2005)

Also closing down slowly.......CAS primary Oral English Classes have stopped, kindergarten and most secondary still  going ....revision/exams/holidays in the air

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-06-01 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing on International Children's Day, a very important day in China ....every school and community has special functions....parents dress children up and go out during these days. Good to see

Many children in the past week's photos:

* Last Wed-Thur-Frid May 25,26,27: this semester's final evening classes at Ricci Centre

* Last Thursday night, May 26: a visit to Paddy's home wishing him well for his trip to Henan the next day for Junior Three final exams

* Last Friday May 27: CAS teacher Paul took four of his old HK buddies - Alan, Chris, Malcolm and Rob - for a happy visit to Ricci Centre for school-less children

* Last Saturday May 28: DV the first of many Saturday night meals with the poor at Marco Polo Centre

* Last Sunday May 29: CAS promotion at Xinqing, about 1 hour from Zhaoqing

* Last Monday night, May 30: historic visit by Ricci older students to McDonald's (Thank you Paul!)
(...the same day....another load of toys from Olivier's factory...thank you....photos next week...)

+ Another Diary from CAS ...lots of info & photos - by Maureen & Ray

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+ Powerful article..."Why are we there?" (NCR).....but does anyone care any more? 

+ Speaking of WMD.....they have a Chinese cousin..."The Tiananmen Square Massacre" (...I have sent this link to ABC and Crikey in Australia....hoping someone will stop the annual, well, lies, about June 4, 1989)

Wishing everyone a happy June

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-05-25 Dear Friends

Good morning from hot and sticky Zhaoqing.....lovely under a cold shower ... or in an air-conditioned CAS classroom
Pretty hot at Ricci Centre these days despite the fans....thank you Rosa H, Florence, Cherry, Rosa J,  Janet & Wilson for all your sweat and toil.  Rosa C now getting her annual summer tan as she goes around the homes of the poor

+ While in Hong Kong for meetings last Friday to Monday I had chance to visit CAS pioneer teacher Peter Barry in Queen Mary hospital ...where he's courageously recovering from another operation on one of his hips. Peter's Mobile - (852 for HK) 63006433

+ Welcome CAS volunteer Kathleen from Belgium....arrived Zhaoqing on Monday night 

+ This week: final week of evening classes - hope to have some photos for next week's diary

+ Another Diary from CAS ...lots of info & photos - by Maureen & Ray

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+ Think of China when you undo your fly (Guardian May 25)

+ Beautiful testimony from Sydney Morning Herald re Fr Ted Kennedy who died recently in Sydney

Phoned dear Mum this morning (..now phone her each Mon-Wed-Frid..)...very happy, had great grand-daughter Katie on her lap.  Last Monday also happy....when nurse handed her mobile handset she thought it was a bottle of the doings

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-05-18 Dear Friends

Good morning from a very hot and sticky Zhaoqing......37 degrees last Sunday......3 cold showers the order of each day. As Summer starts, number of sick people are increasing....Rosa C being kept extra busy.  Congrats Rosa on receiving certificate as trainer in Billings Ovulation Method

Detailed weather report for the past week:

Last Wednesday May 11 to Saturday May 14: visit to Zhaoqing poor areas, Ricci Centre  & CAS by some 20 students and staff from Holy Family Canossian College, Hong Kong.  Friday photos  (including start of library at Ricci - thank you Thomas in Sydney and CAS Maureen & Ray for many books....and Rosa H, Florence, Noelle, Mary-Grace + Singapore volunteers Christina and Joyce for so many long hours processing the books)

Last Saturday and Sunday May 14,15: visit to Ricci Center by 23 dear friends from Notre Dame Parish in Kong.......and same day: photo of Philomena, born at home in Area B2 on May 3

Last Sunday afternoon May 15: HK World Youth Day group visit to Ricci Center and poor areas...in 37 degree heat. 
Also in these photos.... new CAS teacher Dara from USA, arrived at CAS Saturday night. Welcome!

Yesterday Tuesday May 17: visit to Ricci Centre by some 30 students from Zhaoqing University

+ May 8:   94th Birthday and Mother's Day photos of dear Mum with great grand-daughter Katie

+ Another Diary from CAS ...lots of info & photos - by Maureen & Ray

Calendar

I'm due to go to Hong Kong by bus  this Friday May 20 for OMI meeting.  Due to return to Zhaoqing by train afternoon of Monday May 23.  (A long weekend at CAS).  My HK mobile number: (852) 67095674 - thank you Ivan!

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

p.s. C'mon Lions against Tigers on Sat night!

2005-05-11 Dear Friends

Good morning from Zhaoqing where the most difficult occupation these days is getting (internet?) washing dry ....the longer our clothes stay  online, the wetter they get (...moisture, moisture...not just for 2 or 3 days as in previous years, but for 2 or 3 months).  People will shortly be in fig leaves? Moisture linked to pollution?

Milestone: on this day in 1610, Matteo Ricci died in Beijing.  400th Anniversary coming soon

* Last Saturday, May 7:  Hong Kong retreat photo. One night at recreation our group had a crack at remembering all the animals/creatures in the Four Gospels. Any more?

* Early May: photo of former CAS teachers Gerard & Marilyn meeting their former CAS student Jane in Brisbane where she is studying

* Yesterday Tuesday May 10: HK visitors Amir (from India) and Hermann (from Germany) helped with English at CAS & at Ricci Centre. Both on their first visit to China - thank you and welcome!
Also yesterday and last Monday: Rosa H and Rosa C made trips to Guangzhou with sick people

+ Not suitable for Australians: What happened to West Papua - Guardian, George Monbiot, May 3, 2005

+ Another Diary from CAS ...lots of info & photos - by Maureen & Ray

Calendar

My dear Mum had a good double last Sunday May 8: Mother's Day and her 94th birthday. I try to phone her every few days.  She sounds much brighter this week than last week. DG

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W omi

2005-05-04 Dear Friends

Good morning from Cheung Chau Island in Hong Kong where I'm attending annual OMI retreat, led by internationally well know writer and speaker Fr Ron Rolheiser o.m.i. (www.ronrolheiser.com). Maybe a photo next week.   (2004 photos)

Today is an historic day in China, the day in 1919 when patriotic Beijing university students launched the May 4 Movement (see search engine for details). This past week also an historic time: Mainland and Taiwan leaders shaking hands for first time in 60 years.  DV some day soon: an East Asia Economic Union: Korea (North & South), Japan, China (including Taiwan, HK, Macau)

Last Saturday April 30: CAS Open Day English Corners in primary school

May 1-7: "Golden Week" in China, 7 public holidays, starting with May Day, a time when something like 70,000,000 people travel!

Good news: Zhaoqing Education Office is helping most of our Ricci Centre older students apply for admission to local San Mau primary school for start of new academic year on September 1

I'm due to return to Zhaoqing on Saturday afternoon, May 7 (retreat ends a.m.). CAS classes resume on Sunday May 8.  Same day is 94th birthday of my dear Mum who is not "in danger" but continues to grow weaker in her Gold Coast nursing home. Thank you for a prayer for her. Also on May 8: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY all Mums!

I'm due to return to HK for meeting on weekend of May 21,22,23 (a long weekend at CAS). By then I hope to have a permanent) HK mobile number: (852) 67095674 - thank you Ivan!

Calendar

Thank you for a prayer.  

God bless!

John W omi

Diary  2005  January-February-March-April