Agenzia Fides
ASIA/CAMBODIA - Easter 2008: 23 baptisms of adults in the heart of the small Vietnamese community at Svay Pak, infamous for its prostitution, AIDS victims, drugs, and violence
Svay Pak (Agenzia Fides) - The tiny village of Svay Pak, at about 15 kilometers to the north of Phnom Penh, celebrated Holy Week and Easter in the joy of a community blessed with the presence of 23 newly-baptized, all of them adults of Vietnamese or Cambodian origin. The celebrations for the Easter Triduum were marked by great fervor in this village that is known for its prostitution (both adult and child), its large number of AIDS victims, drugs, and domestic violence. There are 70 Catholic families living in the town.
A 23-year-old young woman named Somnang was especially happy about her Baptism. She discovered the Catholic Church thanks to the testimony of her neighbors. After nearly 3 years of preparations as a catechumen, she was baptized along with her companions in the Easter Vigil that lasted almost 3 hours. Among the newly-baptized was a forty-year-old Cambodian woman named Dara, who lives several kilometers outside the town. She met the Catholic Church in the refugee camps of Thailand. In just a few years, a truly devout atmosphere has arisen in this Vietnamese community.
Father Bruno, who presided the Holy Week celebrations in this community which has no priest in residence, told Agenzia Fides of his surprise at the number of adult baptisms in a Vietnamese community: “After 13 years of working Cambodia, this is the first time I have witnessed such an amazing growth as in the Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene. The Vietnamese Catholics usually request Baptism for their small children, hardly ever for adults. Seven years ago, about a dozen people were baptized, as the situation of the war had prevented them from being able to before. And now, we have this group of newly-baptized who are ready to take an active part in community life.” In his homily during the Easter Mass, Father Bruno reminded the faithful of the importance of the community’s testimony in the entire village, saying that their mission is “to spread the message of the Risen Christ, who has come to transform our lives.” (PB) (Agenzia Fides 28/3/2008; righe 27, parole 340)
ASIA/CAMBODIA - Easter 2008: 23 baptisms of adults in the heart of the small Vietnamese community at Svay Pak, infamous for its prostitution, AIDS victims, drugs, and violence
Svay Pak (Agenzia Fides) - The tiny village of Svay Pak, at about 15 kilometers to the north of Phnom Penh, celebrated Holy Week and Easter in the joy of a community blessed with the presence of 23 newly-baptized, all of them adults of Vietnamese or Cambodian origin. The celebrations for the Easter Triduum were marked by great fervor in this village that is known for its prostitution (both adult and child), its large number of AIDS victims, drugs, and domestic violence. There are 70 Catholic families living in the town.
A 23-year-old young woman named Somnang was especially happy about her Baptism. She discovered the Catholic Church thanks to the testimony of her neighbors. After nearly 3 years of preparations as a catechumen, she was baptized along with her companions in the Easter Vigil that lasted almost 3 hours. Among the newly-baptized was a forty-year-old Cambodian woman named Dara, who lives several kilometers outside the town. She met the Catholic Church in the refugee camps of Thailand. In just a few years, a truly devout atmosphere has arisen in this Vietnamese community.
Father Bruno, who presided the Holy Week celebrations in this community which has no priest in residence, told Agenzia Fides of his surprise at the number of adult baptisms in a Vietnamese community: “After 13 years of working Cambodia, this is the first time I have witnessed such an amazing growth as in the Parish of Saint Mary Magdalene. The Vietnamese Catholics usually request Baptism for their small children, hardly ever for adults. Seven years ago, about a dozen people were baptized, as the situation of the war had prevented them from being able to before. And now, we have this group of newly-baptized who are ready to take an active part in community life.” In his homily during the Easter Mass, Father Bruno reminded the faithful of the importance of the community’s testimony in the entire village, saying that their mission is “to spread the message of the Risen Christ, who has come to transform our lives.” (PB) (Agenzia Fides 28/3/2008; righe 27, parole 340)
1 comment:
Can you post an update on this Catholic community in Svay Pak, please?
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