Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Church of Battambang
Battambang (Agenzia Fides) - "The new baptisms of young people and adults that we celebrated this year are a sign of great hope. They show that young Cambodians hear God's call and want to follow it. For our Church, they are a true source of strength and life," said Father Enrique Figaredo (SJ), Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, to Fides. He reported that a total of 92 people, mostly young people, were baptized in his Apostolic Prefecture on Easter Sunday. "The catechists are also very happy and enthusiastic. For us in Battambang, who suffer so much from the tense situation on the border with Thailand, with internally displaced persons, unemployment, and economic insecurity, these young people are a source of true joy and hope. The values and ideas they express – solidarity, peace, and hope for a better future – are extraordinary," he concluded.
Cambodia's small Catholic community (a total of 20,000 members, 0.15% of the predominantly Buddhist population) traditionally celebrates new baptisms on Easter Sunday – a day of great joy for the new "children of God." In the capital, Phnom Penh, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar, baptized 152 catechumens during the Easter Vigil at the Church of Our Lady of the Smile in Chamkar, Takeo Province. The Apostolic Prefecture of Kampong Cham recorded 131 baptisms at Easter, bringing the total number of Cambodians baptized at Easter (including children, but mainly teenagers and adults) to 375.
In Takeo, Bishop Schmitthaeusler emphasized the exhortation "Do not be afraid" as a cornerstone of modern life. In a world marked by conflict, violence, and uncertainty, “the resurrection of Christ represents a definitive victory over death and despair,” he said. “The Resurrection is not simply another piece of news among many, but the most significant event in history, an event that fundamentally changes our worldview,” the Apostolic Vicar stated.
The bishop called on the Christian community to become messengers of peace, beginning with mutual forgiveness within families and society, as well as with neighboring countries.
Addressing the catechumens, he said: “Our life is short, so move forward with hope, for Jesus Christ is with us. He endured cruelty, violence, and pain to give us life.”
Bishop Schmitthaeusler then connected the significance of the Christian Easter with the upcoming Khmer New Year (April 14–16, “Choul Chnam Thmey,” which marks the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season). He encouraged the Catholic community to use the feast days as a time of reconciliation, to build with faith a “new world founded on peace, forgiveness, and the shared dignity of all people as children of God.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/4/2026)
