A Season to Give: The Fr. Ray Foundation

Father Ray Foundation

Father Ray

It’s easy this time of year to think only of ourselves as we prepare for the holidays, what we need to get done, what the family needs and what we want to accomplish before the year is done. Today I’m going to ask you to set aside those thoughts for a little bit and think about others that need your help as Fr. Ray Brennan did so long ago.

Father Ray was an American Priest who found out just before his ordination that he would be sent to Thailand, an Idea he did not relish. On arriving in Thailand in 1959 his first mission was in Sri Ratcha, 10 years Later he was transferred to Pattaya. Father Ray took over the duties as pastor of St. Nikolaus Church, where a year later his life and countless thousands of others lives would be changed.

Father Ray School for the Blind

After service one Sunday morning Father Ray was approached by a woman carrying a baby. The woman told Father Ray that the baby’s father, her husband, had run away and although she had found a new husband, he wanted nothing to do with the child. She placed the baby in Father Rays arms and Father Ray said he would take care of the child. This would be the beginnings of the Father Ray Foundation.

Father Ray and the childrenThrough the years the Father Ray Foundation has worked tirelessly in Thailand to help the poor, the disabled and any needy soul that needed looking after. In 1981 Father Ray founded a school for the deaf. He also started programs such as The Redemption Vocational School for People with Disabilities, The Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind Under the Royal Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, The Father Ray Outreach Work and Drop-In Center and, of course, the Father Ray Children’s home.

Through the years Father Ray gave selflessly of himself to the people of Pattaya and he has done so much to champion the causes of orphaned children, people with disabilities and the homeless.

Sadly, Father Ray passed away in 2003 but his work lives on and is his legacy to us. The Father Ray Foundation continues to do great work in and around Pattaya and they are always in need of donations.

The ChildrenSo, during this holiday season I am asking my readers for a gift, not for me, for Father Ray. I know times are hard, the economy is still a mess and you already have enough on your plate, I’m not asking for anymore than you can give. I am donating 3000 baht to the Father Ray Foundation today and I’m asking you, my readers, if you will join me and part with a little money to help change lives. It doesn’t have to be much, the minimum donation amount is 200 baht ( $6.60 ) and every little bit will help.

Most of us are on budget these days but we have the security of a roof over our heads, food in the pantry and good friends and family to comfort us. The holidays are about so much more than us, it’s about the people around us and what we can do together to make the world a little better for everyone.

Please click the picture below to donate.

To read more about this incredible man and his life’s work please visit the Fr. Ray Foundation website.

Father Ray Donate

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12 Comment(s)

  1. I recommend that people should give to BUDDHIST causes, and not to christian causes who are trying to undermine and ultimately destroy the Thai culture and way of life.

    Gene | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  2. Gene, pretty broad brush you are painting with there. The father Ray Foundation has done nothing but good for Thai people without an underlying agenda.

    Talen | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  3. Talen, I visited the Father Ray Foundation this year and was impressed at how professionally it is run. So absolutely, I will be matching your donation to this very good cause.

    Thank you for a great reminder :-)

    Catherine | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  4. Always a good idea to help those less fortunate.

    It is well worth noting that there are many worthy charities and humanitarian causes throughout Thailand, religious and agnostic, that are in need of whatever people can afford to give. My wife and I always prefer to give directly to organisations in our local community whereever that may be.

    I like Stanleys way of doing things (no I don’t read the blog), http://stanleykemp.blogspot.com/2010/12/today-we-were-off-to-makro.html

    Lloyd | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  5. Lloyd, I like Stanely’s way of doing it too. I think I am going to go to the toy store this weekend and take a load of toys to the Father Ray Children’s home next week as well.

    Talen | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  6. Cat, as always you are awesome!

    Talen | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  7. Hi Talen, it is always good to give to others. There are many good causes, and from what you say this one sounds deserving. Good luck with it.

    Paul Garrigan | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  8. Let us all be reminded that it’s more blessed to be giving than receiving. Every responsible Christian should do something to help the needy. Father Ray Foundation is an excellent example of this Christian belief. Well done, Father Ray!

    Steven | Dec 17, 2010 | Reply

  9. A copycat comment – Total weirdness… hmmm…

    Catherine | Dec 29, 2010 | Reply

  10. Cat, spammers are getting more creative…

    Talen | Dec 29, 2010 | Reply

  11. So true. I have some copying off my posts, but not so much the comments.

    Regardless, it was a gentle reminder to get to that donation now that I’m back in town (reading Italian paypal was too much of a stretch for me :-D

    Catherine | Dec 29, 2010 | Reply

  12. In reply to Gene’s posting that people should give to Buddhist causes. The majority of children and students living and being educated at the Father Ray Foundation are Buddhists. There are a few Catholics and Muslims, and it is not, and has never been the policy of the Foundation to convert any child or student to Christianity.

    Derek Franklin | Jan 16, 2011 | Reply

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