20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
between the Vatican and Cambodia

29-30 October 2014

After the Khmer Rouge era, one of the steps Cambodia took to return to a pre-war state was to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1984. This week there was a twentieth-anniversary celebration of the event.

 Fr. In-don, Bishop Kike, Bro. Terry

Before the mass on Wednesday
 On Wednesday morning there was a liturgy open to all the members of the diocese. Before the mass, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Tschang In-Nam, posed with the Cambodian bishops while Fr. Bruno Cosme made some announcements.
Young dancers from Battambang
 After the liturgy, some young girls from the Diocese of Battambang performed one of the traditional dances for the assembled group.
Lunch after the mass
 Then a simple lunch was served for everyone who attended the morning liturgy. In the afternoon there was another celebration, a prayer service.
Classroom turned bedroom
 Some of the participants who came from northern Cambodia arrived yesterday and used one of the religious education classrooms as a dormitory.
The nuncio giving an address
 On Thursday evening there was a reception for the diplomatic corps at a hotel. Here the nuncio gives a presentation to the group as the Cambodian Foreign Minister listens.
US Ambassador and Maryknoll priests
 United States Ambassador Bill Todd is a good friend of Maryknoll and spent part of the evening talking with Charlie Dittmeier, Kevin Conroy, and Bob Wynne.

 

Go to Cambodia Church page
Go to Charlie Dittmeier's home page