4552(III)_Thanks for the missionary fire of the pioneers - pass it on!

Cambodia - Myanmar FMA missionaries celebrate

November 14, 2017

By Sr. Annarani Cherayath, FMA

Phnom Penh, Cambodia -- On the eve of November 14th, the 29 FMA sisters gathered in the Phnom Penh provincial house (CYM: Cambodia - Myanmar Province) to give thanks and relaunch the missionary commitment of the first missionary expedition in 1877. First FMA missionaries were sent to Uruguay. For occasion was present also the General Councilor for Youth Ministry, Sr. Runita Borja, former missionary in Cambodia.

The symbolic boat, the soft and the gentle noise of the ocean, the picturesque presence of young sisters in Black habit representing the missionaries who set their sail 140 years back and the garden itself where were present for the evening prayer already set a good tone for the prayers.

The prayer had three parts. God creating the world, Jesus commissioning his disciples and the moments the Holy founders spent with the missionaries, loaded with good wishes and advices. The sentiments that lingered all through the prayer were that of real courage and pain of partition. Reading of the pages of chronicle, took us to the day letting us relive it fully and totally, exhorting each of us to rededicate with passion our commitment.

At the conclusion of the prayers, each of us was given a commitment and a letter of Mother Mazzarello to be read and personalised and to be lived. Then Sr. Runita Borja wished us and gave us a medal of Mary of Christians and Mother Mazzarello. This event is part of a long preparation journey of the whole FMA Institute to rekindle the missionary fire on the occasion of 140th missionary anniversary.

The CYM province of the FMA sisters has five communities in Myanmar and three communities in Cambodia, where the great majority are missionaries ad gentes coming together from 16 different nationalities.