Church – Welcome to Cambodia, and…..

Trip to Kentucky–Friday

St. Thomas Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky was in operation for eighteen years. I was there for the middle six-year span. Many of us who went through St. Thomas keep in touch via a Google group called “LostBoysofSTS.” Most of our contact is online but occasionally we meet for lunch. We got together last Friday and it was a great gathering.

This photo caught everyone to my right looking rather sombre but it was really a good time!

Still going strong

For thirty years, the Maryknoll community met every Wednesday for a meeting and a liturgy and a dinner together–and for celebrations for special events like birthdays. The Maryknoll NGO is no longer in Cambodia but some of those formed by Maryknoll’s long tradition of weekly meetings continue to gather each Wednesday.

Today was a birthday celebration for those born in May and we honored (L to R) Binh, Cristina, Kila, and Robert.

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.

Pope Francis

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.

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.

Holy Week: Palm Sunday

We began our celebration of Holy Week last night with a liturgy at St. Jude Thaddeus School’s hall which we use on Saturdays. It is not an environment conducive to a good liturgical ambiance but it is what we have.

Fr. Kevin presided at this liturgy which began with a blessing of the palms at the back of the hall.

Fr. Kevin sprinkled the palms before processing to the altar.

Chrism Mass

The Catholic Church has an annual liturgy called the chrism mass in which the holy oils are blessed that are used in some sacramental celebrations. The bishops and all the priests gather for this mass and it is also the occasion for the priests to renew their promises of obedience to their bishops. This was the entrance procession for today’s chrism mass at the pastoral center with about 80 priests and about 800 or 900 lay people.