Christmas Celebrations in Cambodia--2001

Christmas Program at Seminary -- 20 December

There is a tradition in Phnom Penh of the students and priests at the seminary having a Christmas opening house shortly before Christmas. Young people from various youth programs run by the church and quite a few of the priests and sisters attend.

Prayer service in chapel The program at the seminary starts with a simple service of hymns and scripture readings, at about 5:00 PM, after everyone finishes work for the day. Here some students sing a hymn.

The seminary Christmas crib The chapel in the seminary is a simple but artfully decorated little room up on the roof. Here is the Christmas nativity scene set up there.

Bishop Emile singing carols After the prayer service, everyone goes downstairs to the living room of the seminary (a big house in the Tuol Kork area of Phnom Penh), and the Christmas carols begin. Here Bishop Emile joins in the singing.

Guitars leading the singing Guitars are not part of Khmer culture but there are a surprising number of them at gatherings like this Christmas celebration. Here Fr. Omer, one of the seminary priests, joins in a song with one of the lay missioners and a seminarian.

Leading a sign language song Fr. Charlie, along with some sign language beginners, here leads the community in singing and signing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

Singing Christmas carols The Christmas program is always marked by a great deal of good cheer and youthful exuberance on the part of the students singing Christmas carols in a not-too-familiar English.

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	The program at the seminary starts with a simple service of hymns and scripture readings, at about 5:00 PM, after everyone finishes work for the day. Here some students sing a hymn.
	The chapel in the seminary is a simple but artfully decorated little room up on the roof. Here is the Christmas nativity scene set up there.
	After the prayer service, everyone goes downstairs to the living room of the seminary (a big house in the Tuol Kork area of Phnom Penh), and the Christmas carols begin. Here Bishop Emile joins in the singing.
	Guitars are not part of Khmer culture but there are a surprising number of them at gatherings like this Christmas celebration. Here Fr. Omer, one of the seminary priests, joins in a song with one of the lay missioners and a seminarian.
	Fr. Charlie, along with some sign language beginners, here leads the community in singing and signing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
	The Christmas program is always marked by a great deal of good cheer and youthful exuberance on the part of the students singing Christmas carols in a not-too-familiar English.