Since 1966 Father Michael Shea, C.Ss.R. and
other Redemptorists have
cared for the poor people living in the northeast areas of Thailand. Their work centred on the
outcast, those that no one loved the incurably ill, the elderly and the
orphans
both Catholic and Buddhist.
The Redemptorists' work with AIDS
victims began
around 1998. It first started with adults. Many of the AIDS victims
were
banished from their villages. Their families and long-time neighbours
and
friends wanted nothing to do with them. They were forced to leave their
homes
and live in hovels in the jungle. The Redemptorists brought to them
food,
medicine, compassion, love and the Word of God.
To read on click
here to visit the Sarnelli website.
Houses
Although Sarnelli House is the name of the
house that cares for children
with HIV/AIDS in Don Wai, it is also the umbrella name for the projects
under
the care of the Redemptorists run by Fr Mike Shea in the province of Nongkhai in Northeast Thailand.
These include:
1. Sarnelli House in the village of Don Wai: home for children with
HIV/AIDS
2. Nazareth House in the village of Don Wai: home for teenage girls
with HIV/AIDS
3. St Patrick Boys Home in the village of Pi Si Tong: home for abandoned and
orphaned boys
4. House of Hope in the village of Pi Si Tong: home for babies and
toddlers
5. Our Lady of Refuge Home for
Girls in the town of
Viengkhuk: home for abandoned and
orphaned girls
6. Outreach Programme: home
visiting and support
for people living with HIV/AIDS in the community
7. Batik Programme: to teach women
sewing,
needlepoint, batik and other crafts. The work is sold and parts of the
profits
are used to purchase more materials and the rest is given to the women
as pay
for their beautiful handiwork.
For more info on Sarnelli houses click
here.
Top:
The
main house
Bottom: St Patrick's Boys home
