Battambang, Cambodia, 6 July 2018 -- Fr. Ceferino Ledesma, Theologian and missionary to the Cambodian Salesian Delegation, led the formation journey with the young confreres in practical training last 5th and 6th of July in the newly opened community setting of Don Bosco Aundung Chen. The program included a visit to Jesuit Mgr. Enrique Figueredo (aka Mgr. Kike), a great friend of Don Bosco and who is the leader of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang.

The Cambodian Delegation counts with four young confreres in practical training, all of them expressing a great hope in the future for the missions of Don Bosco in the Kingdom of Wonder, as it is promoted to the outside world. 

Two of them are the first Cambodian Salesians and thus bringing on their hands the flag of a historical step of Saint John Bosco among the Cambodian youth: Br. John Phen Nary, past pupil of Don Bosco Sihanoukville, doing his experience in Phnom Penh; and Br. Kong Somony, past pupil of Don Bosco Phnom Penh, doing his experience in Sihanoukville. The other two belong to the group of foreign missionaries coming from two very dynamic nations with a Catholic missionary spirit, sharing their Christian values with other continents: Br. Anthony Hoang Van Nguyen from Vietnam, doing his practical training in Don Bosco Phnom Penh, and Brother Joshua Pilaku (aka Br. Somnang Jr.) from Nigeria, doing his experience in Kep, but recently accepted to start this year his theology in Parañaque, Philippines.

Fr. Ceferino Ledesma (aka Fr. Cef,) led his four junior confreres in the path of human development and empowerment of the young people, stewardship as an ethic that embodies the responsible planning and management of resources, ownership and experience is the best teacher. The formation gathering included also a visit to the main destination of the Salesian mission: the young, with visits to the Agro-technical School in Salabalat and the kindergarten, elementary and High School in Adeung Cheng.

The visit to the Apostolic Prefect of Battambang was also an important mark for the young confreres, meeting with Mgr. Kike, a Jesuit leading a very united local Catholic Church where the Salesian Family plays an important role with the Salesian Sisters and the projects of Don Bosco for the children and youth of Battambang, the second largest city of Cambodia after Phnom Penh. The Don Bosco Andung Chen and Salabalat projects are canonically united to the Salesian Local Community of Don Bosco Phnom Penh, 293 kms (182 miles) at the southeast of Battambang. Fr. Gerard Ravasco (aka Fr. Gigi), is the Salesian in charge of the Battambang projects together with two volunteers (Ms. Paciencia Gregorio, aka Mommy Pas and Ms. Tineke van de Beek,) and teachers. They welcomed Fr. Cef and the practical trainees with a spirit of joy and community love.  

Mgr. Enrique Figeredo (the 4th LTR), Jesuit and Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, welcomes Fr. Gigi (LTR), Br. Kong Somony, Br. Joshua Pilaku (aka Br. Samnang Jr.) and, at the right of Mgr. Kike, Br. John Phen Nary and Br. Antony Hoang Van Nguyen.

Mgr. Enrique Figaredo welcomed Fr. Ángel Ferández in Siem Reap during the Rector Major visit to the Salesian Delegation in March 2016. Mgr. Kike, Jesuit, is from the same Spaniard province of the Rector Major, Asturias. During the visit of Fr. Angel, both shared as old friends and Kike asked the Rector Major to give priority to Battambang as one of the main Cambodian cities and also a meaningful Catholic community. 

Among the young, I am at home... Fr. Cef and the four young Salesians in practical training with the students of Don Bosco Andong Chen in Battambang City.

Fr. Cef leading the formation journey of the four young Salesian confreres at the Cambodian Delegation.