English-Speaking Catholic Community

Holy Week 24-31 March 2013

Palm Sunday Fr. Charlie Dittmeier was the presider for both the Saturday Palm Sunday liturgy and the Sunday morning one. The palms for the service are supplied by one of the Vietnamese communities that live along the Mekong River. We would like to have long straight strands of palm to carry in the procession, but the Vietnamese don't believe in that. For them, the palms MUST be woven and plaited into crosses and other shapes. They're doing us a big favor so we carry woven palms!

Wednesday We have not had a community penance service for several years because few people attended the last ones we had. This year there seemed to be a different feeling, though, so we scheduled one for this Wednesday of Holy Week, and it was a great success. About 100 persons attended. Before the service, Sami Scott (L), Arvin Mamhot, and Charlie Dittmeier talked about the music for the service. Fr. Kevin Conroy joined Fr. Bob Wynne and Fr. Charlie Dittmeier as the priest presiders for this service. It was held at the Korean Center because we cannot rent our usual World Vision hall after 5:00 PM at night.

Holy Thursday We celebrated the Holy Thursday liturgy at 6:00 PM today at the Korean Center. Fr. Ashley Evans was the presider. For the washing of the feet twelve members of the congregation sat on the top step of the altar platform. At the end of mass on Holy Thursday, there is no regular blessing and dismissal but the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the altar to an altar of repose in another part of the room. Fr. Bob Wynne put together this simple altar of repose for us and after mass many of the congregation stayed for about fifteen minutes before we had to leave our rented room.

Good Friday The Good Friday service can be a very powerful celebration in the Catholic tradition. The first major element experienced after the entrance in silence is the reading of the Passion of Jesus according to John. We had the text divided for reading by four persons representing different groups in the gospel. Fr. Kevin Conroy was the presider for this evening's service. Another major element of the Good Friday liturgy, especially according to time, is the veneration of the cross as all the people come forward and one-by-one show some sign of respect and devotion to the cross on which Jesus died.

Holy Saturday We are blessed with a skilled and enthusiastic choir and group of musicians. Their numbers were augmented tonight for the Easter Vigil and we even added a violin to our keyboards, drum, and guitars. Fr. Bob Wynne presided at this year's Easter Vigil. The service begins with a lighting of the new fire and then a lighting of the paschal or Easter candle from the new fire. This took place up on the stage so all could see it. All those who have been baptized lit a candle from the Easter candle which represents Jesus who has come as the Light of the World to overcome the darkness of sin. The individual candles represent our choice to go through the darkness of sufferings and death in our lives so that we can rise with Jesus to be lights for the world. Judy Santmire was baptized and raised in another Christian tradition but decided to enter the Catholic community. Tonight she was fully received into the church and received the sacrament of confirmation and received the eucharist with us for the first time. Here she recites the Nicene Creed as the sign of her commitment. Then the whole community, again with lit candles, renewed our our promise of faithfulness and our baptismal promises to turn from evil and live lives modeled on that of Jesus.

Easter Sunday Since his ordination as bishop of the Phnom Penh diocese, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler has tried to visit all the different communities. Because of scheduling difficulties, he had never been to the Sunday morning English community so he came to celebrate the Easter liturgy with us this morning. Because it was Easter and because the bishop was attending, our congregation doubled this morning from 150 to 300 people. They were standing in the side aisles and completely filled the back of the hall we use for a church. After mass Bishop Olivier posed for photographs with some of the sisters and brothers from the Missionaries of Charity and some of our regular congregation members.

Easter Sunday Evening On Easter Sunday evening the Maryknoll community came together for a meal just by themselves. Different people brought different dishes. Here Nancy Davies, Steve Chinnavaso, James Havey, and Bob Wynne make selections from the appetizing fare. It is unusual for the Maryknoll community to meet by themselves. For most holidays we are joined by friends and colleagues from our work places and other mission groups.

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