ASIA/CAMBODIA – The First Youth Day in Cambodia and Laos

Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fide) - "We young people of Laos and Cambodia want to continue the personal encounter with Christ in our daily lives; we want to build the Kingdom of God through the witness of charity towards all. Through dialogue and sharing we want to strengthen brotherhood among us. We want to engage in the construction of the common area of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) at a spiritual and human level, by promoting brotherhood, peace, justice and freedom, and giving voice to the poor": are some of the pledges made by young people who in August experienced the first "Youth Day of Cambodia and Laos", which for a week (10-16 August) gathered more than 100 young people in Cambodia, under the aegis of the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC). Young Laotians were accompanied by Mgr. Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, Apostolic Vicar of Pakse. In the manifesto of the final Day, sent to Fides, the youth highlighted that they intend to "affirm the dignity of every man and commit themselves to the common good and the protection of Creation".
The Week, full of moments of prayer, listening, dialogue, reflection, celebration, was held in three places in Cambodia: Tangkok, land of the Cambodian martyrs, supreme examples of brotherhood with Christ; Phnom Penh; Battambang, where the closing Mass concelebrated by Bishop Ling and Mgr. Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh was held.
Contacted by Fides, Mgr. Schmitthaeusler declares: "The Churches of Laos and Cambodia have been united in the same Episcopal Conference since 1968, but the Bishops were not allowed to meet for many years. Now, every year we can meet alternately in Laos and Cambodia. These meetings are important moments of exchange, understanding and communion, in which joint initiatives are planned such as Youth Day which we celebrated with great joy".
Very importantly, according to the Bishop, is the attention to ASEAN: "The world is changing fast. The ASEAN common market is just around the corner. But will this space be successful only if it is built on economic foundations and policies? We Catholics in Southeast Asia must do our part and contribute to this construction, with the aim to walk together towards peace and justice. The youth responded with great enthusiasm to this appeal". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 02/09/2015)