Second Khmer Salesian story

By Cl. John Bosco Nary, SDB

Vocation does not come from willfulness. It comes from listening to God. I must listen to Him through my daily life and try to understand what it is truly about-quite apart from what I would like it to be about or my life will never represent anything real in the world, no matter how earnest my intentions…Before I would tell you my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to God telling me "who I am".

My name is JOHN NARY. I am 27 years old and the second oldest of four children in Buddhism family. I come from Cambodia, but now I am studying in Thailand. My primary schooling began at Phnom Domry School in Cambodia. When I was 17, I decided to stop my study for a few years (in High School), because I needed to work in order to earn money to support my brothers and sister who were studying in University and High School. At the same time my family moved to Steing Hav (Sihanouk Ville) where I got to know both the Salesians and the Catholic Church. I studied at Don Bosco Technical School of Sihanouk Ville for two years before entering the Brother Sunhouse (Aspirants House).

From my birth I grew as a Buddhist and then I converted to a Catholic Faith when I was 21 years old. I have been attracted to be Salesian in order contribute to the salvation of as many young people as possible. However, this sense of being called to be a Salesian was changing greatly in intensity throughout my years at Don Bosco School and during the beginning of my Vocation life. By the time I was second year at Don Bosco School, I found myself searching for something deeper, something that might only be fulfilled in seeking a vocation to be Salesian. After struggling with this for many months, I decided to enter Brother Sun-House.

My Don Bosco School provided daily Mass and regular Confession, which has enabled me to maintain my love for the sacraments. Salesians that have inspired me along my journey are Fr. John Visser and Fr. Albeiro Rodas Torres. These two Salesian priests have guided me along my journey and have definitely helped me in the good and bad. These Salesians and many more showed me the example of what it means to be a Salesian of Don Bosco. One who places others before themselves and truly expresses their love for God through their actions to help young people.

At present I have completed my third year of philosophy in Saengtham College, Sampran-Thailand and I can honestly say it has been a joyous school year. What I have experienced this past year no other career could offer me. I have been blessed by God to be on this path. I look forward to other years of formation where I am sure God will continue to bless me on this wonderful path he has given me.

God speaks to us in all these different ways. Life is not like a crossword or a Sudoku puzzle, where we have to analyses every clue and complete every answer in order to come to the end and reach a tidy conclusion. We simply get on with life, doing the best we can ''listen'' to God, paying attention to all these different ways listed above, seeing if there is a pattern, stopping to reflect when something strikes us with a new force or clarity. Usually, gradually, we find that we are being pulled in a certain direction, or we have enough to help us make a decision. And then, with trust and faith in God, we take the next step. Thank you..!

Salesian Mission in Cambodia will celebrate next year 25 years. Until now we count (only?) two professed SDB - both postnovices in Sampran, Thailand (Cl. Nary and Cl. Mony), one novice (FIS-Cebu) and two prenovices (FIS-Cebu and THA-Sampran). In the context of 7 Khmer Catholic priests and 5 Khmer FMA sisters it's an expression of slow but clear vitality of this very young Church, that was born again after the dark period of the Killing fields.