austraLasia #3236
SIHANOUKVILLE: 19 June 2013 -- Just a week ago now, the Rector Major and his Council approved the newest circumscription in the Salesian Congregation - the Delegation of Cambodia, juridically dependent on St Paul's Province Thauiland. The Rector Major and his Council also approved the Statututes of the new circumscription. Work will begin immediately on consultation for a superior of the Delegation, or 'Delegate', as he is obviously called.
Preparation for this event, both in Cambodia and in Thailand, the mother province, began quite some time ago, so the news itself is not so surprising. Cambodia is in a particular situation of rapid development, including rapid Salesian development marked in a very positive way by the first profession of the first Khmer Salesians recently (May this year), and it has not been easy for Thailand to oversee this development. Delegations are not created for merely administrative purposes, but to ensure a more effective animation of the charism and mission of Don Bosco on behalf of the young. With the beginnings now of local vocations, and a sizeable Salesian (SDB and FMA) presence in the nation, the time has finally come for this step to be taken.
Even just using the 50 or so austraLasia's that have made reference to Saelsian Cambodia over the past 15 years, we can draw up a potted history of this extraordinary development.
Perhaps one needs to go back to December 15 1960, however, when the then Regional for the English speaking Salesian world, Fr Bernard Tohill, stopped overnight in Pnom Penh and stayed with the Vicar Apostolic resident in the city, Bishop Raballand MEP. it was then that the first oral invitation to send Salesians to Cambodia was issued.
However, Christianity and Catholicism in particular had fallen on very difficult times since the faith first came to Cambodia in 1550. The terrible scourge of the Khmer Rouge had meant almost the complete disappearance of the Church, and the certain death of Khmer priests.
And this is where the Salesian connection begins to kick in to the story: Bro Robert Panetto, a Salesian from Piedmont (Turin) and missionary in Thailand began working in the Refugee camps on the Thai-Cambodian border. With the help of many lay missionaries, past pupils mostly from our Thai schools, he began setting up technical training centres in the camps. - a work that then extended to Pnom Penh by Royal invitation in 1991 when on 24 May the first formal Salesian presence in Cambodia took shape, and is now found in Poipet and Pnom Penh, in Sihanoukville, Battambang, Kep, Kompung Cham.... Some of these smaller centres (like Battambang and Kompung Cham) are Salesian outliers: literacy centres and the like.
Bro Robert has the distinction of being the first Salesian citizen of Cambodia. The King has recognised his outstanding service on behalf of the nation. He now runs the Don Bosco Hotel School at Sihanoukville.
Two foundations have been set up in Cambodia bearing Don Bosco's name: the Don Bosco Foundation, Cambodia (DBFC) and the Don Bosco Children Fund (DBCF). The former is the 'parent' of the latter, so to speak, perhaps explaining the similarity of acronyms! But for Cambodians at every level, from Monarch to Government to the humblest citizen, it is just 'DB', Don Bosco, that means so much. When Don Bosco Poipet officially opened in 2004, the then Deputy Prime Minister had this to say: "Don Bosco has an enormous task in Cambodia! Don Bosco knows how to interest the youth in Cambodia! Don Bosco provides the youth with education and jobs in Cambodia! Don Bosco's feeding programs and educational funds are unique in Cambodia! And certainly, Don Bosco is a great help for the government of Cambodia!"
Development has gone on apace, and Cambodia has also been an attractive centre for Salesian activity from the Region. The Salesian Brothers Seminar for EAO was held there in 2006; students of theology from Vietnam took their holidays at Sihanoukville in 2011. Salesians have offered facilities for a number of international conferences. The range of activities and expressions of the charism in Cambodia is extensive - much already hinted at above. We would also need to mention the work done in the communications field, now resulting in a very strong an important influence in the nation as young Cambodians trained at 'Don Bosco' in any number of centres, seek and find employment in the field as journalists and technical operators.
Congratulations, Cambodia, and your mother Province, Thailand, for this significant step.
Congratulations - Cambodia Delegation
SIHANOUKVILLE: 19 June 2013 -- Just a week ago now, the Rector Major and his Council approved the newest circumscription in the Salesian Congregation - the Delegation of Cambodia, juridically dependent on St Paul's Province Thauiland. The Rector Major and his Council also approved the Statututes of the new circumscription. Work will begin immediately on consultation for a superior of the Delegation, or 'Delegate', as he is obviously called.
Preparation for this event, both in Cambodia and in Thailand, the mother province, began quite some time ago, so the news itself is not so surprising. Cambodia is in a particular situation of rapid development, including rapid Salesian development marked in a very positive way by the first profession of the first Khmer Salesians recently (May this year), and it has not been easy for Thailand to oversee this development. Delegations are not created for merely administrative purposes, but to ensure a more effective animation of the charism and mission of Don Bosco on behalf of the young. With the beginnings now of local vocations, and a sizeable Salesian (SDB and FMA) presence in the nation, the time has finally come for this step to be taken.
Even just using the 50 or so austraLasia's that have made reference to Saelsian Cambodia over the past 15 years, we can draw up a potted history of this extraordinary development.
Perhaps one needs to go back to December 15 1960, however, when the then Regional for the English speaking Salesian world, Fr Bernard Tohill, stopped overnight in Pnom Penh and stayed with the Vicar Apostolic resident in the city, Bishop Raballand MEP. it was then that the first oral invitation to send Salesians to Cambodia was issued.
However, Christianity and Catholicism in particular had fallen on very difficult times since the faith first came to Cambodia in 1550. The terrible scourge of the Khmer Rouge had meant almost the complete disappearance of the Church, and the certain death of Khmer priests.
And this is where the Salesian connection begins to kick in to the story: Bro Robert Panetto, a Salesian from Piedmont (Turin) and missionary in Thailand began working in the Refugee camps on the Thai-Cambodian border. With the help of many lay missionaries, past pupils mostly from our Thai schools, he began setting up technical training centres in the camps. - a work that then extended to Pnom Penh by Royal invitation in 1991 when on 24 May the first formal Salesian presence in Cambodia took shape, and is now found in Poipet and Pnom Penh, in Sihanoukville, Battambang, Kep, Kompung Cham.... Some of these smaller centres (like Battambang and Kompung Cham) are Salesian outliers: literacy centres and the like.
Bro Robert has the distinction of being the first Salesian citizen of Cambodia. The King has recognised his outstanding service on behalf of the nation. He now runs the Don Bosco Hotel School at Sihanoukville.
Two foundations have been set up in Cambodia bearing Don Bosco's name: the Don Bosco Foundation, Cambodia (DBFC) and the Don Bosco Children Fund (DBCF). The former is the 'parent' of the latter, so to speak, perhaps explaining the similarity of acronyms! But for Cambodians at every level, from Monarch to Government to the humblest citizen, it is just 'DB', Don Bosco, that means so much. When Don Bosco Poipet officially opened in 2004, the then Deputy Prime Minister had this to say: "Don Bosco has an enormous task in Cambodia! Don Bosco knows how to interest the youth in Cambodia! Don Bosco provides the youth with education and jobs in Cambodia! Don Bosco's feeding programs and educational funds are unique in Cambodia! And certainly, Don Bosco is a great help for the government of Cambodia!"
Development has gone on apace, and Cambodia has also been an attractive centre for Salesian activity from the Region. The Salesian Brothers Seminar for EAO was held there in 2006; students of theology from Vietnam took their holidays at Sihanoukville in 2011. Salesians have offered facilities for a number of international conferences. The range of activities and expressions of the charism in Cambodia is extensive - much already hinted at above. We would also need to mention the work done in the communications field, now resulting in a very strong an important influence in the nation as young Cambodians trained at 'Don Bosco' in any number of centres, seek and find employment in the field as journalists and technical operators.
Congratulations, Cambodia, and your mother Province, Thailand, for this significant step.
