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Since assuming full responsibility for the diocese of Phnom Penh, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler has introduced several initiatives to strengthen the diocese and create a new and dynamic spirit among the people and their leaders. Today he called a meeting of the men and women religious (sisters and brothers) and the lay missionaries from the various groups working in Phnom Penh, to allow them to meet each other and better understand the work of the different communities. |
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Bill Burns, a lay missioner working as part of the Maryknoll community, was one of the organizers for this morning's activities. |
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Bishop Olivier is a thinker and prolific writer. In the first few months of his role as bishop, he has taken every opportunity to explain his vision and to try to give a solid structure and spiritual grounding to the diocese. |
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The major focus of the morning was for small groups, composed of members from various religious communities, to look at posters the different communities had prepared about their mission, their charism, and their activities in Cambodia. |
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After moving around to view the various posters, the small groups met to discuss what they had seen and to draw out and record what they had learned. |
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Then there was a liturgy presided over by Bishop Olivier. Six priests were also present for the morning, mostly from the communities that have a strong lay mission presence. After the liturgy all the participants were invited to a lunch served at St. Joseph Church where the conference was held. |