SALESIAN MISSION TERRITORIES
History of the Catholic Church in Cambodia
It was about the 15th century where the first year
of evangelization in Cambodia began.
Missionaries from Portugal translated the
writings of Christian literature in the Khmer
language. By the 17th century, French
missionaries wrote books of Christianity in
Khmer and founded seminaries and religious
communities which were destroyed soon after
by the Vietnamese invasion of 1784.
The following year came where the Catholic
Khmers were deported to Bangkok. That time
also marked a Catholic community in
Battambang. The coming of the 19th century
was not peaceful too where wars and conflicts
did a great damage to the Church communities.
The 1970's war would change the landscape of
Cambodia. The coming to power of the regime
of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot (1975 - 1979)
would bring lot of sadness for the country, its
people and its religions. Many people lost their
lives in the nightmare of genocides committed.
The year 1990 opened a new hope for the
Church because the government gave freedom
of worship. Similarly, in December 3, 2006 in
Thang Koo, there was the celebration of the
450th year of the coming of the Gospel in
Cambodia with around 2000 faithful from
around the country. Statistically, there are about
4,000 Khmer Catholics in a country mostly
Buddhist.
First steps towards Don Bosco’s arrival in
Cambodia.
Don Bosco officially arrived in Cambodia in
1991 from Thailand, a country where the
Salesian presence started in 1927. Thailand
had to cope with the Cambodian refugee camps
on its territory. The Thai government forbade
any organization other than the Thai army to
come to the support of the refugees fleeing the
war.
In 1989, the Thai government allowed the
United Nations to conduct technical education
for youth in the refugee camps through the
Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and
Refugee (COERR). This organization delegated
the project to the Jesuits from India. They, in
turn, thought of the Salesians from Bangkok
due to their expertise in vocational and technical
education.
The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Renato
Martino, knowing the work of the Salesians, was
also in favor of giving the project to Don Bosco.
In August 1989 the Salesians established 6
centres for technical education at the 2, 8, Sok
Sann and B sites along the Thai-Cambodian
border. The centres were lead by Brother
Roberto Panetto and the past pupils of Don
Bosco Bangkok. The machinery was provided
by the Salesians from Macau to support the
project in favor of the Khmer youth in the
refugee camps. Within two years there were
around 3,000 young participants who had
gained some technical skills, but the war was
nearly over in Cambodia and the people were
about to be repatriated. Past pupils and the
personnel kept asking the Salesians “Are you
going to come with us?”
______________________
To be continued…
www.catholiccambodia.org
www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
SALESIANS IN FOCUS
NOVITIATE BATCH 1966-67 CELEBRATES RUBY JUBILEE OF PROFESSION AS SALESIANS
Dear Fr. Master,
May 24, 1973
It is with great joy that we write this letter to you. The impact of the significance of
our perpetual profession today, the feast of our Lady, Help of Christians, prompts
us to write and share with you our happiness and tender feelings—who else should
rejoice with us over the great things which the Lord has done?
At this moment, we recall the solicitous guidance and paternal care you always
had for us in our novitiate. The years we spent in practical training have proven
your teachings wise. You taught us Christ. That is the reason why as we approach
the day of our profession, we feel strengthened. We know we are not alone in our
dedication to the Lord. Christ is with us. And right behind them we find you, a
guide, a teacher, an inspiration and above all, a friend.
Your sons in Don Bosco
Novices 1966-67
Above is the letter addressed to Fr. Giuliano Carpella, novice master of batch 66-67, thanking him for his
guidance during their novitiate days. What their master did to them helped them equip themselves to be more
capable of putting up a life-long commitment and dedication to God, that which they sealed with their
signatures on the day of their perpetual profession.
On 29 June 2007, they celebrated the 40th year of their religious profession.
Among them, six became missionaries. They are Frs. Ochoa & Tapay (THA),
Fr. Pablo & Bro. de la Cruz (PNG), and the late Fr. Santos (Timor) & Zamora
(Africa) who died in the missions. The rest, Frs. Baldonado, Cavestany, Cruz,
Evangelista, Ocampo, & Varela, actively persevere in the ministerial
priesthood, celebrating their 30th Sacerdotal Ordination this year. One of them
even became a bishop, Most Rev. Patricio Buzon of the Diocese of Kabankalan,
Negros. Asked about their secret on how they endure, they say: “We know that
we are not alone in our dedication.” Certainly, for them, life is Christ.
