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This was the last day of formal talks for the retreat and Fr. Vidalis brought in some objects from the church to illustrate his ideas about symbols. |
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This is the exterior of St. Michael Catholic Church in Sihanoukville. No one knows it by that name. In the area it's just "the Catholic church." It is one of two Cambodian Catholic churches not destroyed by the Khmer Ruge in the Pol Pot era. |
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The church was designed by a famous Cambodian architect and his thought was to reflect the seaport environment in which the church is located. This large back wall is meant to represent a sailboat. The curved white piece on the left is the jib and the red brick area is the mainsail of a stylized boat. |
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The retreat house rooms are quite adequate but simple. Notice the toilet is at an odd angle and has no water connection. That is what the bucket is for--to pour it into the toilet to flush everything down. The brick is on the lid of the floor drain to keep rats from coming out from the sewer system into the bathroom. |
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It is an annual tradition to go to the Don Bosco Hotel School for dinner on the last night of the retreat. Charlie Dittmeier used the opportunity to talk with Fr. Gianluca Tavola about an upcoming marriage. Charlie is preparing the couple but the wedding will be in Gianluca's parish in Kep. |
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At the end of the delightful meal, Bishop Anthony thanked the student staff of the hotel retaurant for their excellent work and service. More than 900 Cambodian youth have been trained at the hotel school since it opened eight years ago. |
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