SALESIAN MISSION TERRITORIES
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. The
Salesians already worked in Bangkok focusing
on technical and vocational education at that
time. Soon enough, 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.
A Definitive Presence
among the Youth
On the 24th of May 1991, the Solemnity of
Mary Help of Christians, Father Walter Brigolin
and Brother Roberto Panetto came to Phnom
Penh and started works with the poor youth
and orphans who were scattered and easy to
find in a postwar period with Cambodia. Their
battle cry was ''Education as a tool to fight
poverty."
Within two years time, there were around 3,000
young participants who had gained 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?”
The Don Bosco Technical School of Phnom
Penh, is recognized as the ''Cambodian
Valdocco'', which opened in 1993. On May 24,
1994. Father John Visser came to the city and
became its first rector. The needs of technical
education in the country where the war
destroyed schools and many opportunities,
urged the Salesian missionaries to think of a
second work. The chosen place was the
Cambodian international port, Sihanoukville or
Angkor of Cambodia
Kompong Som. The Don Bosco Technical
School of Sihanoukville opened in January
1999.
With the technical education came other
proposals to answer the needs of a society in
poverty. The following interventions were
established: the Don Bosco Children Fund to
support education of children in very poor
conditions and the Don Bosco Food Program to
contribute with food to 47 schools in Banteay
Meanchey Province.
By the year 2000, Don Bosco Phnom Penh did
the first experience of the Youth Center or
better known as the Oratory. Soon, in
November 2004, another setting opened in
Poipet as a shelter home for children victims of
trafficking.
At present. several thousand young people are
the immediate beneficiaries of work in Phnom
Penh, Sihanoukville and Poipet.
The work continues and is very much
appreciated in spite of the language barrier. It is
a most welcome news that everyone is happy
that Don Bosco is now in Cambodia. As Fr.
Bernard Tohill prays “God bless Cambodia and
the Church and Congregation.”
________________________
www.catholiccambodia.org
www.bosconet.aust.com/rssala.xml
SALESIAN MISSIONARY IN FOCUS
Fr. Gerardo Ravasco, SDB
Cambodia is best remembered in the consciousness of man for
personages like Polpot, the Khmer Rogues and the famous stories about
the killing fields. The nation has gone through a lot of crisis in matters of
trials and sufferings but the development and social work continues. Don
Bosco’s presence is much felt in this aspect and at the same time
appreciated by the government.
My journey in the work for the missions started
as a process. I opted to begin my missionary
calling by testing the water of ministering first in
the rural missions of Naga here in the
Philippines. When the opportunity came that
Papua New Guinea needed people to substitute
for the missionaries to be given their respite, I
took the opportunity to alternate and thus work
for the people in PNG as well. It was there that I
worked in the bush and also got to experience
walking long miles in order to say Holy Mass for
the people. Likewise, it was inevitable for me to
contract malaria. When my friends and
classmates were ready to get back to PNG
again, my waiting time was over. I finally
proceeded to Cambodia.
Why Cambodia? I laugh in recalling the reason
why I volunteered to opt for this country. I
remember that what made me choose this land was reading the letter of the
Rector Major asking for volunteers. Fr. Odorico who was then the Missions
Councilor asked me specifically why not other mission lands. I reiterated
simply that it was the most urgent at that time and the Rector Major made
the invitation.
Some of the personal considerations I feel that is needed in Cambodia is
primarily the necessity for mental stamina. The difficulty in learning the
language is so complex that I still have to read my homilies since I cannot
say it straight. Similarly, I consider that the best way to be productive in
the mission work is also the adaptability to adjust in a tropical climate.
The saving grace in working in this land is the fact that my complexion as
a South East Asian does not create barriers for me to interact with the
youth and the people of the Church. This is unlike the perception that is
commonly seen among missionaries in PNG where
the term of “white man” is heard instantaneously for
expatriates.
The focus of Salesian work models itself in an NGO
type of school setting. It caters to the development of
students who are Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians
alike. The key word here is development. The main
thrust of the relevance of Don Bosco in Cambodia is
community adaptation that does not give exclusive
attention to particular groups and personages. All
pastoral care goes hand in hand with developmental
work. This receives reciprocal government support
and appreciation especially since everything is done
and given for free.
Working and serving in the missions is a fulfilling
experience for me in my ministry of priesthood. I
believe that the bottom line of working in the missions
and for every missionary as well, is loving the life one wants to do and
basically I love the work I do. This is the essence of missiology. We help
the people of the place and help them in the best way we can. Our
Cambodian Bosconians are definitely not exempt from this. If they are
going to be Catholics, they have to be Catholics in the Cambodian way.
