Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) – Friday 19 June, the Year of the Priesthood was solemnly opened at Saint Jean Marie Vianney major seminary in Phnom Penh, in the presence of the Vicar apostolic of Phnom Penh, Bishop Emile Destombes, the Vicar apostolic emeritus, Bishop Yves Ramousse, priests, Religious and young people from parishes in Phmom Penh. The celebration of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was an opportunity to venerate the relics of Saint Jean Marie Vianney, the Seminary's patron saint. At the end of the Mass celebrated in the open, the priests and seminarians were invited to offer grains of incense to the relics of the Patron Saint before the relics were taken in procession to the Seminary Chapel.
For the occasion the seminarians composed a prayer in honour of Saint Jean Marie Vianney, recalling his patience, humility, selflessness and dedication to the instruction in the faith of Christians, perseverance in hearing confessions, and his love for the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Church.
After being exposed in the Seminary Chapel the relics of the Cure of Ars will be taken in procession to the convent of Carmelite Sisters in Phnom Penh. Then the parishes of all three ecclesiastic circumscriptions of Cambodia will have a chance to welcome the relics for the veneration of the faithful.
On the occasion of the Year of the Priesthood, the seminary has planned an intense programme of events to foster reflection on the vocation of the priest at the service of the Church. Events will include: meetings for young people, conferences for seminarians, the publication of a booklet in Cambodian on the Cure of Ars, Adoration for the faithful in the Seminary Chapel. The translation in Cambodian of Presbyterorum Ordinis decree of Vatican II will soon be complete. To conclude the Year of the Priesthood, Phnom Penh Seminary will make a pilgrimage to Ars, Lourdes and Lisieux.
Phnom Penh seminary has 4 seminarians, students of philosophy. A new candidate will enter in October 2009. This is the first time in the 450 years of the Catholic Church's presence in Cambodia, that such a large number of seminarians are formed together in a seminary. In October 2010 the students will start formation in theology in Phnom Penh. We should point out that there are no documents of formation for seminarians in Cambodian. For some years an enormous effort is being made to translate Church documents for Cambodian seminarians and faithful. (PB) (Agenzia Fides 24/6/2009 ; righe 32, parole 438)
