Phnom Penh: 6 March 2013
--After 23 years
of Salesian
presence in Cambodia, it is worth looking briefly at
where things
stand, and taking a broader view. We are already well
aware of
interesting and positive developments in the kind of
work that has made
'Don Bosco' recognised as the best NGO in Cmabodia:
this week sees the
formal opening of the Kep complex, as indicated in a
recent
austraLasia, and the Agro-vocational Centre in
Battambang, close to the
Thai border, was also officially opened last month.
The school is a
response to the huge number of young people who are
forced by
circumstances of poverty and lack of skills into
labour in brick
factories or paddy fields. But all these wonderful and
very important
activities in Cambodian society depend very much on a
consolidated
Salesian presence.
Recently Fr Klement made his second visit to Cambodia
as Missions
Councillor (he had visited several times earlier in
his capacity as EAO
Regional, and in 2008 carried out the Extraordinary
Visitation). With
his background knowledge and his by now very wide
experience of
Salesian mission activity, he was able to provide that
broader view for
austraLasia. What follows are a few indicators from
discussions with
him:
It is important to note that 'Salesian' Cambodia is
actually about 36
strong and internationally diverse: 24 Salesian
Sisters from 14
countries, and already with some young Cambodian
Sisters in initial
formation; 12 Salesians from 7 nations (9 currently
physically working
in Cambodia, 3 in initial formation out of the country
for the moment)
and the prospect of the first 2 Cambodian novices
making their first
profession this year (in Thailand) with 2 prenovices
in the wings and a
number of aspirants.
'Salesian' Cambodia is making a huge impact in the
country, including
in terms of faith and evangelisation. 300 new
Catholics are likely to
be baptised this coming Easter, many of them coming
from Sdb and FMA
settings.
Despite the smaller number of Salesians SDB, the
development of
Salesian work in the country has been enormous: Phnom
Penh,
Sihanoukville as the two major centres, with various
offshoots in
places like Kep, Battambang, Poipet.... Our work is
offering young
Cambodian boys and girls, men and women the very best
in educational
terms and moral, physical, intellectual and spiritual
development.
Certainly everyone working in this scene sees that it
is time that
Cambodia take on formal Delegation status, and that
too is close to
being finalised: statutes exist, are just in need of
some further
development especially now that the whole initial
formation scene is
opening up for them, and once formal application is
made, everything
then depends of course on the Rector Major and his
Council.
There is no question that Salesian Cambodia has been
an excellent
example of the contribution and continuing importance
of Don Bosco
Mission partners - people from around the world who
have backed the
development in terms of financial solidarity in
planning and execution
of plans; volunteers both young and old, who have
given of their time
and labour. And of course, the Salesians missionaries
themselves. They
need more!
Cambodian crossroads! The catchword for now is
probably consolidation
and direction, but the scene is positive, the good
will is there, to
balance the reality of so much and such complex
activity, with Don
Bosco's typical flexibility. And it would seem that
potential vocations
are also there - the great need being to ensure that
these can be
properly accompanied over the short and long term. The
need for further
missionary input is also clear.
