Kep City, Cambodia, 23 May 2017 -- Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, presided the celebrations of the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians in the Salesian Community of Don Bosco Technical School and Children Fund of Kep Province. It is a very dear celebration for the Salesians of Don Bosco and all Catholics who are devote of Mary under the title of Help of Christians.
The celebrations is traditionally hold on May 24, but Bishop Olivier could attend the event on 23 in agreement with Fr Albeiro Samnang and the Academic Community of Don Bosco Kep. Bishop Olivier, who belongs to the Parish Missionary Society, has been very much near to the Salesian projects in Cambodia. He himself has opened some educative centers for young people like the Saint Paul Institute in Takeo Province.
Don Bosco Kep was opened as a technical school in 2011 by Fr Albeiro Rodas under the Salesian Community of Don Bosco Sihanoukville. It offers technical formation in social communication, information technology, electricity, agriculture, hospitality and office administration, and the children fund that includes the kindergarten, Don Bosco Brother Sun Teenagers Residence and child villagers sponsorship.
Every year Bishop Olivier presides the Solemnity of the Virgin in one of the three Salesian communities inside the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh: Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh and Kep. The Projects of Battambang and Poipet belong to the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang where Mgr. Enrique Figaredo, Jesuit, as the Church's leader.
At his arrival, Fr Samnang (Albeiro Rodas) brought him around the school to pay a look to the new developments such as the renovation of the Don Bosco Brother Sun Cross at the seaside, a symbol of ecumenism and love for Creation; the installation of facilities for students that are physically challenged, a project that was possible thanks to USAID and Salesian Missions and the Don Bosco Campus.
At 17:00 the small group of Catholics of the school met with the Bishop at the Blessed Michael Rua Chapel with Fr Fernando Zapata, Fr Charles and the Carmelite Sisters of Sacred Heart. During this short meeting with a group of 10 Catholics, Bishop Olivier encouraged them to be seeds of Faith and Hope in the middle of the academic community where they are minority.
At 18:00 the Solemn Eucharist of Mary Help of Christians started at the Don Bosco Kep Multipurpose Hall with the participation of students, teachers and members of the Kampot Catholic Parish led by Fr John and the sisters. The Bishop reminded the compromise of unity and love inside the school that pays honor to Saint John Bosco, patron of the youth. At the end of the Mass, the academic community made the procession throughout the campus to end at the new built Holy Cross of Saint Francis of Assisi at the seaside, sign of ecumenism and care for environment.
"In the Gospel we see how Mary, the Mother of the Lord, asked us to do what the Lord says. Thanks to this, we can know about this wonderful miracle of the transformation of water into wine. Here, in this beautiful campus of Don Bosco, most of you are Buddhist, Muslims, but all of you call Don Bosco as your father. This miracle we just listen in our Word of God means that we all are included in the Love of God. We all are transformed by Love, as the Love you receive everyday throughout the actions of the Salesians," said Bishop Olivier.
After the dinner, the students make the Cultural Program or Academia with dancing, songs and comedy to honor Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Virgin of Don Bosco.
Representation of Mary Help of Youth inspired by the Don Bosco Kep Kindergarten students.
Bishop Olivier visits the Don Bosco Birth House Monument with Fr Samnang (Albeiro Rodas).
Sister Juanita Navel from Mexico, Carmelite Sisters of Sacred Heart of Guadalajara and volunteer with sister Milagros Ramirez from Peru in Don Bosco Kep, gives a present to Bishop Olivier, a handicraft made with the girls of the school.
Meeting with the small group of Catholics in Don Bosco Kep (missing 4). "You are a seed of hope," said Bishop Olivier to them.
Bishop Olivier preaching to the Don Bosco Kep Academic Community.
