austraLasia #3488
Working for the Kingdom
PHNOM PENH: August 8, 2014 -- During the first 6 day animation visit to the THA – Cambodia Delegation, erected by the Rector Major upon the request of the THA provincial with the first Delegate Superior appointed on February 19, 2014 by Fr Chávez, the Regional Councillor EAO visited almost all presences in Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Battambang and Poipet. The most important day was August 6, one full day with all 8 SDB living and working in Cambodia currently (8 other SDBs are now studying abroad – 2 in Thailand, Sampran, 2 in Manila, Paranaque, 1 in Melbourne, Australia, 3 on family visit to their respective homelands – Philippines, Ethiopia and Korea).
Fr. Roel Soto, is the first Superior of the Cambodia Delegation. During the Recollection which focused on the spirit of GC27 (Witnessing), and as part of the assembly of confreres, Fr Klement listened to all dreams and challenges of the incipient Delegation, which is the result of the hard work and commitment over 25 years of many pioneer missionaries for the youth of Cambodia.
[At the moment the EAO region has other 3 Delegations: the oldest Delegation in FIN: PNG-SI since 2005, the VIE-Mongolia Delegation since 2009, the ITM-Indonesia Delegation since 2010].
At present there are 16 SDBs, 24 FMAs, 6 SIHM Sisters, about 24 Salesian Cooperators, some 900 registered Past Pupils of Don Bosco, two incoming VDB aspirants and FMA Past Pupils in the Delegation. This rich vocational growth is a mirror of the young and dynamic Cambodian Catholic community which has emerged from the ashes with the help of many missionaries from far and wide, As is also the case in Laos, there are no dioceses as yet in Cambodia. Phnom Penh is a Vicariate and Battambang and Kompong-Cham are Prefectures. Altogether there are some 75 priests – 5 of them local Khmer. There are many religious, missionary societies and already a few thousand young Catholics.
Among the consecrated groups of the Salesian Family we find already 2 Khmer SDBs, 2 FMA Sisters, 1 SIHM Sister and 1 novice, 2 VDB aspirants and a dynamic Past Pupils of DB group with very committed leadership (some 900 past pupils out of a total 9000+ are already registered with the national Alumni office). The five batches of recently promised Salesian Cooperators (the first group was in 2008) bring the more complete face of Don Bosco to the Salesian mission in the country.
In the five SDB settings: Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kep, Battambang and Poipet, there are hundreds of committed teachers, most of them past pupils, teaching more than 2000 students.
Although there are only two canonical communities (Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville), the Salesian mission is carried out by many Lay Mission Partners – 10+ expatriate volunteers, two diocesan priests (one who has, in the meantime, become a Salesian Cooperator and Coordinator of the ACS Centre in Phnom Penh. See photo above) and many past pupils who have deeply identified with Don Bosco and his mission.
Although there are many challenges in the fast-changing Cambodian social, economic and religious situation, the profile of Salesian works has remained alert to this fast-shifting reality. The youthful composition of teachers, other educators – among them many young, recently baptized Catholics – is a great asset!
The Delegation is planning to bring everyone together for a 3 day celebration at the end of January 2015, in Phnom Penh. They foresee the presence of Church and civil authorities, 4,000 or more past pupils (sdb and fma) and all seven groups of the Salesian Family in the country.
Working for the Kingdom
Fr. Roel Soto, is the first Superior of the Cambodia Delegation. During the Recollection which focused on the spirit of GC27 (Witnessing), and as part of the assembly of confreres, Fr Klement listened to all dreams and challenges of the incipient Delegation, which is the result of the hard work and commitment over 25 years of many pioneer missionaries for the youth of Cambodia.
[At the moment the EAO region has other 3 Delegations: the oldest Delegation in FIN: PNG-SI since 2005, the VIE-Mongolia Delegation since 2009, the ITM-Indonesia Delegation since 2010].
At present there are 16 SDBs, 24 FMAs, 6 SIHM Sisters, about 24 Salesian Cooperators, some 900 registered Past Pupils of Don Bosco, two incoming VDB aspirants and FMA Past Pupils in the Delegation. This rich vocational growth is a mirror of the young and dynamic Cambodian Catholic community which has emerged from the ashes with the help of many missionaries from far and wide, As is also the case in Laos, there are no dioceses as yet in Cambodia. Phnom Penh is a Vicariate and Battambang and Kompong-Cham are Prefectures. Altogether there are some 75 priests – 5 of them local Khmer. There are many religious, missionary societies and already a few thousand young Catholics.
Among the consecrated groups of the Salesian Family we find already 2 Khmer SDBs, 2 FMA Sisters, 1 SIHM Sister and 1 novice, 2 VDB aspirants and a dynamic Past Pupils of DB group with very committed leadership (some 900 past pupils out of a total 9000+ are already registered with the national Alumni office). The five batches of recently promised Salesian Cooperators (the first group was in 2008) bring the more complete face of Don Bosco to the Salesian mission in the country.
In the five SDB settings: Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Kep, Battambang and Poipet, there are hundreds of committed teachers, most of them past pupils, teaching more than 2000 students.
Although there are only two canonical communities (Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville), the Salesian mission is carried out by many Lay Mission Partners – 10+ expatriate volunteers, two diocesan priests (one who has, in the meantime, become a Salesian Cooperator and Coordinator of the ACS Centre in Phnom Penh. See photo above) and many past pupils who have deeply identified with Don Bosco and his mission.
Although there are many challenges in the fast-changing Cambodian social, economic and religious situation, the profile of Salesian works has remained alert to this fast-shifting reality. The youthful composition of teachers, other educators – among them many young, recently baptized Catholics – is a great asset!
The Delegation is planning to bring everyone together for a 3 day celebration at the end of January 2015, in Phnom Penh. They foresee the presence of Church and civil authorities, 4,000 or more past pupils (sdb and fma) and all seven groups of the Salesian Family in the country.
