The Martin Relics

The Diocese of Phnom Penh is in the middle of a three-year focus on families and family life and Bishop Olivier connected that theme with the bringing of the relics of the parents of St. Theresa of Lisieux to Cambodia. Today was a family day celebration at which the bishop (behind the yellow table) addressed those attending
The relics are contained in the metal receptacle enclosed under the heavy plastic cover. A photo of Louis and Zelie Martin, Theresa’s parents, is at right.

School visit to church

Three groups of students from ASEAN International School went to the Church of the Child Jesus in Boeung Tum Pun this week to learn about what Catholics believe and practice. Almost all the students were Buddhist and this was their first time in a Catholic Church. I explained our basic beliefs and then showed them around the church and answered their questions.

Vocations Camp Visitors

The Church of Cambodia is having a vocations camp this week, bringing together 300 youth from all over the kingdom to discuss what it means to be a Catholic Christian and to reflect on the idea of a vocation of service as a sister or brother or priest. Today different small groups visited various organizations to learn about the work of the Catholic Church in Cambodia. This group came to the Deaf Development Programme where I talked to them about deaf ministry.

The Government needs help

This is a really good example of what’s wrong with Cambodia. I have no problem with respecting the culture and traditions of a nation–I encourage it–but….pointing your foot at a car? Who was offended? The government makes a big deal of things like this to convince the populace that the government is with them and protecting them. And such antics distract from the failures of the government to do all the things it should be doing: providing schools, insuring medical care, protecting the forests and rivers, preventing land grabs, etc.

Visit of Relics to Cambodia

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, together with St. Francis Assisi is considered one of the most popular saints in the history of the church.  She died at the age of 24, in 1897, but is known for her simple and practical approach to the spiritual life. What sets her apart from other saints, whether in ancient times or modern times, is that her parents were also canonized as saints, the only married couple so honored. Some relics of her parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, have been brought to Cambodia as an inspiration to Cambodian Catholics as they focus on the family this year. Here Bishop Olivier is at the cargo terminal at the Phnom Penh airport to claim the shipment when it arrived in the kingdom. He has been taking the relics to the parishes and institutions throughout Cambodia.

What is it?

Here’s another Cambodian fruit for which I don’t know the name. They are rock-hard and about the size of a tennis ball or maybe even a baseball. They must be seasonal because I don’t see them very often–or maybe they’re just not that popular.