Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) – Preaching the Gospel to those near and far, accompanying the Christian community in favor of a more dynamic and participative Church, responding to the needs and hopes of the people, promoting Christian values through new technologies...these are some of the new challenges for the mission in Cambodia that the Center for Social Communications of the Church there, has made their own.
Led by their Director, Fr. Omer Giraldo, the Center has launched a series of communications initiatives that have given the Christian message a greater presence in society, through a newspaper (“The Messenger”), weekly radio shows, a web site, film productions, and funding for pastoral work and other initiatives at the service of the Bishops and the entire Church in the country.
There has also been the formation of a group of lay Catholics who have developed their talents in this area and who now manage the projects in the Center. In fact, Agenzia Fides has been informed by the Church in Cambodia, that a layman will now take up the leadership of the Center. According to the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, Bishop Emile Destombes, layman Ly Sovanna will now serve as Director. A laywoman, Keo Kagna, will serve as Vice-Director, and the Center will be accompanied in its services by Fr. Paul Roeung Chat Chy, of the Foreign Missionaries of Thailand.
In the years to come, says Bishop Destombes, there will be three main guidelines to be followed: formation, collaboration, and dialogue.
The formation will come from within and from outside: there should be competent workers with a Christian conscience, who are “communicators of the face of Jesus” and the Center is also called to form the public that surrounds it.
The collaboration will consist of maintaining contact with the Cambodian Bishops, but will also be open to local initiatives, parishes, and Catholic associations. A special relationship will be maintained with the other mass media present in Cambodia.
In conclusion, as Bishop Destombes says: “dialogue is essential to the Center as it engenders trust and improves communication...with the goal of promoting truth, justice, and peace.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/3/2009)
