Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ta Om (Agenzia Fides) – "Ta Om is the symbol of the Resurrection..amidst the painful experience of the people of this village during the war and persecution. The Lord was present. Now God gives his grace, the joy of baptism. The Lord of life blesses all those who seek Him in this community, reborn from the ashes." These were the words of the Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, Bishop Enrique Figaredo, participating in recent days in the celebration of the 130th anniversary of the Catholic community in the village of Ta Om, in the province of Banteay Meanchey. This is a small community, poor but fervent in spirit, established in 1880. It survived the war with courage and persecution, even during the destructive regime of Pol Pot.
As Fides has learned from the local Church, the 130th anniversary celebration was celebrated with a festival which was attended by over 800 people, including the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio. He presided over a solemn Eucharistic celebration in which 20 adults and 8 children were baptized. The children were described as "a sign of rebirth and new hope for this small but ancient community.” They are, in fact, the first baptisms in the church of Ta Om - a Gothic-style building of the 19th century - 40 years ago, the Khmer Rouge regime tried to erase every trace of faith in the country, finally reaching the village of Ta Om, as well.
The Apostolic Nuncio also inaugurated a new library and a new Pastoral Center dedicated to Benedict XVI, which will be added to the other social works already present in the community.
Since its foundation, thanks to the French missionary Fr. Alfonso Misner, the small church of Ta Om has lovingly met the needs of the population in the territory. Thanks to the presence of the Congregation of the Sisters of Providence (of Portieux) a primary school and a clinic have been opened which provide an invaluable service in the education of children and care for the sick. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 04/24/2009)
