Coming straight from Kompong Cham’s rice fields, and mainly the mountains of Mondulkiri (1), I was first startled by the incredible development of Phnom-Penh. Everywhere, as far as the eye could see, there were brand new towers, luxury apartments and all sorts of shops, no less luxurious. In Europe, Cambodia even has a nickname: the “new Asian dragon”. As a result, where there used to be a huge lake behind my parish, similar to a nature reserve, there is now a special economic zone and with it appeared an enormous mall where everything is nice, clean… and expensive! And I’m not even mentioning the brand-new international airport, but you should note that it will be operational in 2025. I also got the opportunity to visit Diamond Island, an investment area mainly created so that the Chinese could invest into real estate and casinos. We can find Parisian style buildings (which are empty), great Haussmann-like avenues, and even an Arc de Triomphe and an Eiffel Tower. In short, Cambodia, or at least its capital, has definitely entered the era of modern-day consumerism. However, the country also adopted its vices (such as drugs and prostitution). Of course, there are many social outcasts, and the money (dirty but quickly laundered!) generated mainly benefits the Chinese, but it doesn’t matter: salaries are rising and the girls are pretty!
As for to the Church, it is evolving as well: this year, 300 adults were baptized! Of course, we are very happy, even if they are mainly of Vietnamese or Bunong descent. For the Khmers, we pray that they remain Christian for as long as they live and do not surrender to the illusion of the consumer society, or, in the case of young girls, to a Buddhist husband. But enough negativity: in my parish, during the Easter celebration, I baptized 17 young adults, most of whom are young professionals comfortable in their skin and in their faith. At the seminary I teach at, we have three seminarians who are starting their cycle of theology after studying philosophy in Thailand. There are also seven new candidates to the propaedeutic year, even if most of them are Vietnamese. That’s a fact: on the whole, the Khmers seem reluctant to follow Christ. Still, the Church is super dynamic: retreats, pilgrimages, various formations, and many other activities often take place and are open to everyone.
In the case of my new parish, there are about 400 people who receive communion during the Sunday mass. In other words, it is a large community for Cambodia.
This year, we are celebrating the 30 years of the parish, which was created thanks to the Providence sisters. In 2000, I went there several times. At the time, the church was made of wood and rested on piles in the middle of the countryside. Today, the church is very beautiful. It was built in the 2010s by Father Mario, and it now surrounded by houses and concrete buildings! It’s a big change compared to the green hills of Mondulkiri!
In the parish, we have the Saint Lucy nursery school attended by about a hundred children, each cuter than the next. They are supervised by a sister and four teachers. There is also a home where a dozen of young boys live. Most of them go to high school, and they are the parish’s little hands. Then, we have a building with various storeys where we rent some rooms to young catholic professionals. In front of the parish, where the sisters live, there is a home for young girls and another one for disabled people. Finally, there is a school for 300 autistic children that employs around a hundred young people!
Everything is going wonderfully well, I was welcomed like a king and the parishioners are all very friendly. The liturgy is very meticulous and the singing is extremely pleasant.
I am also in charge of an interdiocesan center for about thirty young people who came to Phnom -Penh to study. And let’s not forget the Saint Irenaeus center for the catechesis, and the liturgical and biblical comity. Finally, Mgr Oliver Schmitthaeusler asked me to take over the Saint Justin school destined to the diocese’s catechists. Once again, I am far from getting bored, and I am as happy as ever!
In fact, I only have one worry: assuring the longevity and economic independence of the parish. Indeed, despite the many efforts my predecessors made, we still overly depend on foreign aid, especially the Paris Foreign Missions. Every year, I have to find at least 120 900 euros.
Fortunately, the money does not include the center for students, nor the catechesis and liturgy services or the school dedicated to autistic children, as these do not directly depend on the parish. However, they are mainly financed by the MEP, which generosity won’t be there forever. Of course, I could raise the nursery school fees as well as those of the youth center and the rents, but in that case, I would only welcome rich people, and it is not exactly what we are looking for. If someone has an idea, you are more than welcome to share it! Here, it is possible to invest the money in a bank, with 5 to 8% interest rates. But it is only possible if we have a capital to begin with… We were also thinking about building rental properties, but the output isn’t always there. To sum it up, I am still looking for the goose that lays the golden eggs. For lack of having found it, I have faith in Providence!
I am leaving you with a few pictures. You can find more on Facebook or Telegram (Lopok Ponlu, Child jesus Church, Catholic Student Center Cambodia, Catholic faith Cambodia, Catholic Phnom-Penh…). Know that I am thinking about you and praying for you all. The community also takes time to pray for our donors and friends from France and elsewhere, so let’s remain in communion! May the Lord bring you Peace and Joy.
François Hemelsdael , MEP
(1) For those who may not know, I left the Saint John the Baptist parish in Busra, Mondulkuri where I had been caring for the Bunong ethnic minorities for seven years, and I went to the Child Jesus parish in Phnom-Penh, the capital. A 180-degree change!
(2) You can still write a cheque to the Missions Étrangères de Paris (128, rue du Bac, Paris 75007), and the mention “For Father François Hemelsdael’s mission, Cambodia ». You will automatically receive a tax receipt. And thanks from me!
