A student from St. Mary's College in Dundalk, Ireland, is with Thai and Burmese children, who are taking classes at a Marist mission in Thailand.
Marist priest Fr. Jimmy McElroy has been bringing students from Ireland for the past eight years to a Marist mission in Ranong, Thailand.
“Its a great place to bring them for an experience and exposure to Marists on mission,” McElroy said. “The community in Ranong is so welcoming and willing to have the help of the students.”
Their regular two-week visit each year coincides with students at St. Mary’s College—a Catholic co-educational secondary school located in Dundalk, Ireland—finishing their school year, and wanting to serve and experience links with the wider Marist world. St. Mary’s operates under the trusteeship of the Marist Fathers.
The students get selected in their final year of school and they prepare for and promote their trip with fundraising and mission awareness throughout the school year.
The kids make a great contribution each year, according to the Marists, by running the “English Language Camp” for hundreds of Thai and Burmese students in partnership with the local Ministry of Education and selected Thai schools. Learning English is identified as a significant help for their futures.
The Burmese students at the Marist School in Ranong also enjoy the opportunity to be taught by young Irish students, experience fun games and an enjoyable opportunity to have conversations in English outside the classroom program.
Because of the visit, the Burmese migrant students become aware that people from all around the world support them, and want to encourage their learning and education.
Fr. Kevin Medillo, director of the Marist mission in Ranong, says it is a very special feeling of support and friendship that has been built up over the years.
“During their time with us the Irish students visit classrooms, learn about the situation of Burmese migrants and the fishing industry,” Medillo said. “As well as the highlight of teaching the English camp, they get to accompany a student to their home, witness the environment they live in and meet Burmese families. Eyes and hearts are opened in a new way.”
A number of the St. Mary’s students commented afterward about their experience in Thailand:
“I realize how stupid many of our worries are. The kids here have so many more worries than us, yet they are so happy and so willing to learn.”
“I thought it was going to be a lot harder. The students are so respectful and it’s great to see how much they enjoyed our company, coming up afterward getting pictures and autographs. It’s nice to see how they live, how they are taught. Here they really want to come to school and learn. It's so nice to see.”
“I’m leaving a different person.”
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
Follow Notre Dame on Twitter at @NDPMA.
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.