SR. TERESA SOPHEAK: THIRD CAMBODIAN FMA
Sr. Phim Teresa Sopheak
became the third local FMA vocation from Cambodia when she made her temporary
profession last 5th August 2016. Msgr. Enrique Figaredo, Apostolic Prefect of
the Vicariate of Battambang, to where Sr. Teresa Sopheak belongs, presided the Mass of
Religious Profession while another Bishop and a dozen of priests concelebrated
the Mass held in the chapel of the Sisters at Teuk Thla, Phnom Penh.
Sr. Jessica Salvaña, the new Provincial of Cambodia-Myanmar (CMY), accepted her to the Institute in the name of the Superior General, Mo. Yvonne Reungoat. All the 28 FMAs in Cambodia, mostly missionaries from different countries, warmly and joyfully received the 32-year-old Sr. Teresa Sopheak.
Meanwhile, Sr. Sopheak’s mother, a Buddhist, who was present with other relatives to witness the ceremony, was deeply touched especially when her newly-professed daughter knelt down before her to express filial love and gratitude. Sr. Sopheak lost her father two years ago while she was doing her noviatiate in the Philippines.
Sr. Jessica Salvaña, the new Provincial of Cambodia-Myanmar (CMY), accepted her to the Institute in the name of the Superior General, Mo. Yvonne Reungoat. All the 28 FMAs in Cambodia, mostly missionaries from different countries, warmly and joyfully received the 32-year-old Sr. Teresa Sopheak.
Meanwhile, Sr. Sopheak’s mother, a Buddhist, who was present with other relatives to witness the ceremony, was deeply touched especially when her newly-professed daughter knelt down before her to express filial love and gratitude. Sr. Sopheak lost her father two years ago while she was doing her noviatiate in the Philippines.
Like the two other Cambodians who professed earlier -- Sr. Tang Mary Sovathanak and Sr. Eng Mary Domenica Sarin – Sr. Teresa Sopheak is a past pupil of the FMAs in
Cambodia. She studied “Home and Food Management” for two years and worked with the Sisters for some time. Sr. Mary Sovathanak made her perpetual profession last year while Sr. M. Domenica Sarin did the renewal of her temporary vows last August 3rd,which also marked the (FMA-Cambodia) celebration ofSr. Jessica’s 25th anniversary as an FMA.
“Open to me the gates of holiness; I will enter and give thanks.”- Ps.118:19…this was the Scriptural passage that Sr. Teresa Sopheak and her groupmates had chosen as
their religious motto. It is also expressive of the sentiment and desire of many girls in Cambodia who are seriously discerning about their life-time vocation. May the Spirit lead their way!
By Sr. Malen
Estacio,FMA
