Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 16 April 2017 -- Sr. Vilma Tallone, Economer-General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, visited the CMY (Cambodia-Myanmar) Province recently. She stayed in Cambodia from April 5 to 9 and in Myanmar from April 9 to 16. Sr. Jessica Salvaña, CMY Provincial, and Sr. Lakana Yawasang, Provincial Economer, accompanied her on her visits to the three communities in Cambodia and five in Myanmar.
In Cambodia, where Sr. Vilma met 24 FMAs who were mostly missionaries, she underlined not only the true essence of the vow of poverty, and talked of matters pertaining to economic or financial administration and practices, but she also spent considerable time talking about the mission. Having been herself a missionary in Africa for 28 years, Sr. Vilma had a lot of missionary insights and experiences to share. Many things were clarified for the Sisters during the conferences and in personal talks with her.
The CMY Sisters were happy, too, that Sr. Vilma had spent Holy Week and Easter with them, which this year coincided with the celebration of Khmer New Year, a very festive occasion. In Cambodia, both students and staff showed eagerness to wash Sr. Vilma’s hands with scented water, a tradition that expressed gratitude and respect towards parents and elders.
Instead in Myanmar, she had a glimpse of the Thingyan Festival or commonly called Water Festival, which is considered to be the New Year celebration in Myanmar tradition. The religious and cultural traditions Sr. Vilma experienced in this East Asian province must have added to her rich store of mission experiences.
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