Author: Charles Dittmeier

Pope Francis funeral

The Vicariate of Phnom Penh had a memorial service for Pope Francis this morning, a few hours before his funeral in Rome. All three bishops from Cambodia were there and about 50 priests.

Bishop Olivier presided at the memorial service which was attended by government officials, ambassadors, representatives of other churches, and 800 of the Catholic community. (That is the slightest glimpse of my face behind the bishop’s left elbow.)

Pope Francis

The Catholic presence in Cambodia is quite small. There are fewer than 10,000 Cambodian Catholics in a population of 16,000,000 people. Officialdom here has noted the death of Pope Francis, though. Today, on behalf of Bishop Olivier, the bishop of Phnom Penh, I posted to social media and websites three letters of condolence from King Sihomani and from the present and former prime ministers.

Is that first caption true?

The caption above says Cambodia is not leaning toward China and away from the USA.

But look at the captions of these other four pictures which were beside the first picture in one photo spread. Every one of them emphasizes China’s dominant relationship with Cambodia.

They speak of international cooperation, an ironclad shared future with China, vital cooperation with China, a major railway infrastructure project funded by China, and cooperation with China in a digital economy.

China’s Premier Xi Jin Ping was in Cambodia last week speaking of all these things (after first visiting Vietnam and Malaysia). At the same time, the US government was attacking China economically and cutting off trade and imposing tariffs. IMHO China doesn’t need to win the war with the US because the US has decided to lose the war.

[All the photos come from the Khmer Times, a local English newspaper.]

Holy Week: Holy Saturday

In the first part of the Easter Vigil service, we light the Easter candle to symbolize the risen Christ and then process to the sanctuary.
Fr. Charlie preaching the homily.
All the community renew what they professed at baptism–a renunciation of a sinful life and a belief in our God and Jesus the Son.
Fr. Charlie then processed through the community sprinkling them with the holy water as was used when they were baptized.

Holy Week:Good Friday

We began the Triduum liturgies this evening with our Good Friday service.

Fr. Pedro unveils the cross after carrying it in to begin the service.
All the congregation came forward to venerate the cross in the second part of the service. Some knelt, some kissed it, some touched it, some genuflected or made a wai.
After the veneration of the cross, Fr. Pedro introduced the communion service.

Holy Week: Holy Thursday

This evening we began what the church calls the Triduum, the three days that mark the Last Supper and then the sufferings, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is really one liturgical celebration spread over three days.

Fr. Pedro Emilio presided at this ceremony.
A major part of the liturgy is the washing of the feet, recognizing Jesus as servant leader.
At the end there was a procession, in silence, with the eucharist to an altar of repose.
The congregation were invited to spend a few minutes in adoration before leaving in silence.

Khmer New Year–Day 3

Most of the people leave the city for the rural provinces during the new year festival but before they go many groups and business set up a traditional display that showcases Cambodia’s rural roots and parts of the culture that still exist, like fish traps, straw hats, woven baskets, etc. They mark the holiday while all the people are gone!