Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) – For the first time, on Thursday 18 June, all the novices, postulants and seminarians of Cambodia gathered together for a day of pray and reflection organised by the Catholic Seminary of Phnom Penh. At present 16 candidates are undergoing formation in various different religious congregations present in Cambodia: the Sœurs de la Providence de Portieux, the Daughters of Mary Auxiliatrix (Salesians), the Lovers of the Cross, the Handmaids of Mary, Carmelite Sisters, Jesuits and diocesan priests. The participants spoke about the development of their respective vocations. The young people in formation come from Catholic and from Buddhist families, and all clearly express the presence of the Lord in their life.
Sodanara told her companions how the Lord changed her life: “I was rejected by my family for many years, and those were years of suffering. Through the Lord and the Church I found a family which heals my wounds and changes me. I have been sent in turn to bear witness to young people who suffer ”. Fr Bruno Cosme, rector of the major seminary, stressed the importance of this first Meeting for young Catholics of Cambodia: “Not only young members of religious congregations are meeting here today. This is a group of young men and women anxious to serve the Church in Cambodia. I am sure they will be a determinant sign for other young people who will be encouraged to see, after dark times in Cambodia, a good number of young people have risen up to follow the Lord in the religious or the priestly life ”.
The second part of the Meeting was held a few kilometres from Phnom Penh, at the Vietnamese community at Aréaksat. This is a place pilgrimage dedicated to Notre-Dame du Mékong. In April 2008, in fact, a bronze statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, weighing more than 160 kilos, was found by fishermen in the Mekong River. The statue, whose origin has yet to be ascertained, was welcomed by the Catholic community, deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the village of Aréaksat, close to where it was found. Catholics and Buddhist come every day to venerate the statue renamed Notre-Dame du Mékong. The group of young novices, postulants and seminarians participated in the celebration of the Eucharist together with hundreds of parishioners, thanking God for calling them to serve the Church in Cambodia. (PB) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2009 ; righe 32, parole 464)
