Father Ray Day-A Special Event to Remember

The event started off with students from the Father Ray Children’s Home, Father Ray Children’s Village, the School for the Blind and the Redemptorist Vocational School for People with Disabilities all gathering together and entertaining the public with a selection of traditional and modern song and dance routines.

Then blind students gave a wonderful performance of traditional Thai music, whilst the boys from the Father Ray Children’s Home showed their combat skills in an exhibition of Muay Thai.

The wheelchair dancers received a standing ovation, and everyone agreed that the toddlers from the Father Ray Day Care Center looked their cutest. The audience sat in silence as they watched a performance from Tuxedo Magic and were astounded by the movements of the Beat-Boyz break-dance troupe.

Miss Thailand World 2009, Pongchanok Kanklab, took the stage alongside well known Thai celebrities Nadis Suriyawongse, Sonia Couling and Cindy Burbridge for a special charity auction of designer handbags in association with TV 360 Degree and Channel 3 Family News.

On the following day, the anniversary of Fathers Ray’s passing, two religious ceremonies were held. Students, volunteers and teachers gathered to make merit and receive a blessing from nine local monks on that special day.

Later in the day at St. Nikolaus Catholic Church a memorial mass was held. Attended by more than one thousand people the mass was celebrated by Father Somphong Tewtrakul, Vice Provincial of the Redemptorists in Thailand.

Once the mass was over a candlelight procession made its way to the final resting place of Father Ray where his children sang the song ‘You’re An Unsung Hero’, the words of which were specially written and dedicated to Father Ray.  

Next year, Pattaya will once again celebrate Father Ray Day, but until then the Father Ray Foundation will continue to provide a caring home and an education to those in need. From that one baby who arrived in 1974 more than five thousand people have received help and the Foundation stands by their vision that they ‘never turn a needy child away’.

More information about the Father Ray Foundation can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email info@fr-ray.org