| On Christmas Eve 2009, the Church of Phnom Penh received notice--transmitted to all the priests and leaders by text message--that Fr. Olivier Schmitthaeusler, MEP, had been appointed coadjutor bishop to Bishop Emile Destombes, the ordinary of Phnom Penh. Today Bishop Olivier was ordained to the episcopacy in a three-hour ceremony that took place at the Don Bosco Technical School for Boys, one of the few venues in Cambodia that could accommodate the large crowd who attended. |
| Fr. Olivier in the large room used for vesting before the ceremony. At 39 years of age, Bishop Olivier (center) is the third youngest Catholic bishop in the world. |
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| The day was bright and sunny but also quite hot. Luckily a breeze blew through most of the area under the tents were the ceremony was held. This is the procession from the vesting area to the ceremony area. |
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| Approximately 6,000 people from the Church of Cambodia were expected for the ordination. The liturgy took place on a stage under a sports enclosure and the people sat in tents extended back through the school yard. |
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| At an early stage of the ordination ceremony which has much the same format as it has had for 1,000 years, Bishop Olivier is asked if he will shepherd the people, preach the gospel, administer well the church, and promise obedience to his superiors. |
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