FMA[*] Cambodia Marks 25th Anniversary
The
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (also known as Salesian Sisters of Don
Bosco) celebrated the Silver (25th) Anniversary of their mission in
Cambodia last 9th November 2017. The long-awaited, auspicious day
was held at Don Bosco School, Teuk Thla, Phnom Penh.
The
celebration began with the solemn Eucharistic celebration at 8.30 a.m. at the
High School hall. Most Rev. Olivier Schmitthaeusler, the Apostolic Vicar of
Phnom Penh, presided over the celebration along with Rev. Msgr. Enrique
Figaredo, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang and Rev. Msgr. Antonysamy Susairaj,
Apostolic Prefect of Kompong Cham. Rev. Fr. Filiberto Gonzalez, SDB General
Councillor for Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Roel Soto SDB, the Provincial Delegate
to Cambodia, along with other Salesians, and diocesan/religious priests who came
from all over Cambodia, concelebrated the Holy Eucharist.
During
the offertory procession, 25 representatives of the Educating Community, namely,
the students, staff, parents, and past pupils offered 25 kinds of fruits,
signifying the fruitfulness of the Sisters’ mission.
Also
present were several Sisters from different religious orders. The Superior
General of the FMA congregation, Mother Yvonne Reungoat, was represented by Sr.
Runita Borja, Councillor in charge of FMA Youth Ministry, who came all the way
from Rome. Sr. Sarah Garcia, an ex-Provincial of CMY Province, was also
present. She is currently posted at the FMA Human Rights office in Geneva.
Salesian
Sisters from the inter-provincial conference of CIAO also graced the occasion.
There was the Provincial of East Timor-Indonesia, Sr. Alma Castagna; the
Provincial of Thailand, Sr. Nipha Agnese Rangabpit; the Provincial of Vietnam,
Sr. Vu thi Kim Lien Rosa and the ex-Provincial of Japan, Sr. Kenjo Sumie
Teresina. Other Sisters from Thailand, Vietnam, Hongkong, Laos, East Timor and
Myanmar, especially the ones who had been part of our mission in its earlier
stages, also came. Visitors and benefactors from Japan, Australia, Singapore
and Thailand were also present. The students, past pupils and staff warmly
welcomed their former teachers and volunteers.
At
9.30 a.m. the guests were around the colorful exhibition entrance for its
opening. The three Bishops, assisted by benefactors, cut the ribbon and the
guests entered the room to view the exhibit. It was indeed a very artistic
presentation of the Province: its roots and beginnings and its growth and
development. The “Very Important Persons” were asked to sign the day’s
guest book.
At
10.30. a.m. the cultural program began with the welcoming and ushering in of
the guests into the spacious high school hall while the children’s band of Don
Bosco School played music. Then the guests of honour were presented and
honoured. After the assembly had sung the
Cambodian National Anthem, a blessing dance was performed by a group of Teuk
Thla students and staff.
“Together”,
a choreographed song, was presented by the Teuk Thla high school students. This
was followed by the message of Sr. Runita Borja. She underscored the
significance of the jubilee celebration as a call to remember the
reason for which our Institute came to this blessed land: to provide an
integral education for young people, especially girls, and so that they might
do their part in building a society that promotes the culture of life. It was
also a call to celebrate the life that continues to pulsate in the different
communities and in the works where our Educating Communities are present. And lastly, she pointed out that the jubilee
was a call to look forward to the future, that is,
the FMA
presence in Cambodia to continue and multiply.
After
the message, the students from the four schools of the Salesian Sisters in
Cambodia (Tuol Kork, Teuk Thla, Battambang and Phum Chreh), presented their “Thanksgiving”
in a creative way through dance, song, action and choreography. The well-prepared and much applauded
presentation expressed in a unique way the Sisters’ and their beneficiaries’
gratitude for all the blessings received all thorough these 25 years.
Then
Sr. Jessica Salvaña, Provincial of CMY Province, further expressed words of
gratitude to each one who contributed to the growth and development of the Province,
to all who were the Sisters’ strength and support in all these years. She
presented a souvenir and a certificate to each one as a token of appreciation.
The
celebration concluded with an agape. It was still another beautiful moment to
get together to share, thank and appreciate each other.
Silver
years of living with, healing and helping rebuild a nation into a truly great
people….and now celebrating how the educative charism and family spirit of Don
Bosco and Mother Mazzarello have given new life and hope to young people in
Cambodia.
The
celebration was doubly significant because it coincides with the 140th
Anniversary of the First Send-off of FMA Missionaries to America on 14th
November 1877. This expansion “beyond the seas” took place just five years
after the foundation of the Institute in Italy (1872). Six Italian Sisters departed for Uruguay in
South America.
Back
in Cambodia, the year 2017 also marks the opening of a new FMA house in Phum
Chreh, a depressed village in a marginalized area of the city. The new
“presence” at Don Bosco School-Chreh is directly under the CMY Provincial and
consists of three Sisters: Sr. Teresita Garcia (in-charge), Sr. Thippawan
Teresa Parksuwan and Sr. Teresa Maria Tran Kim Phoung.
“All
glory to God who builds the house and guards over it.”
-
Sr. Anna Rani,FMA and
Sr. Malen Estacio,FMA
