The Diocese of Battambang
The Catholic community in Cambodia is very small, and easily forgotten. Cambodia is still emerging from years of turmoil and terror in the 1970s and 1980s: years of civil war, U.S. carpet bombing and a U.S.-backed military government, the genocidal Communist regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, famine, millions of landmines, HIV/AIDS and much besides. In the late 1970s, all Cambodian priests and sisters, and many lay people, were killed. The Catholic Church came close to being wiped out altogether. Only since 1992 have Christians been allowed to worship openly. Now there are real signs of new life.
Cambodia is divided into three dioceses. East Anglia is 'twinned' in friendship with that of Battambang. The Apostolic Prefect (much like a bishop) there is Mgr Kike Figaredo.
The 'twinning' of the Diocese of Battambang and the Diocese of East Anglia began in March 2004. Close bonds of friendship ('Mittapheap' in Cambodian) have been established since then, between the bishops, the dioceses and various parishes.
Christmas Cards
Every year, hundreds of Christmas cards make their way from East Anglia to Cambodian parishes. Mgr Kike wrote in January 2005: 'The amount of cards is incredible! The whole diocese is full of very nice Christmas cards from East Anglia. It is like a gentle rain of love falling in the hearts of the communities of Battambang'.
Young people
Young adults from East Anglia have been visiting the Diocese of Battambang for an initial 'taster' experience of two or three weeks. They experience first-hand the life of the Catholic Church in Cambodia, its prayer and service of those in need, and the lives of the Cambodian people. A local charitable foundation contributes to the cost for young adults who are interested in such an experience. Eighteen have been so far, including two of our seminary students who have asked to do their parish placement there.
Deaneries and parishes
There are already deaneries and parishes twinned with parishes in Cambodia:
Bury St Edmund's Deanery - Siem Reap
St Mary's, Ipswich - Battambang & Chamnaom
St George's, Norwich - Pursat & Kompong Luong
Costessey - Ta Hen
North Walsham - Svay Sisophon
Ely - Prek Tal
DIOCESAN PROJECTS
Besides the local parish links, the diocese has taken on various funding projects. Between March 2004 and February 2008, East Anglia has contributed around £100,000.
Our first project was to build a Learning Centre and Reservoir in the remote village of Ta Om. This cost about £16,000. This is now very much used, especially for well over 100 children who go there for rice soup, health education, classes and community.
KOMPONG KO
All of our projects in 2005 were centred on the village of Kompong Ko, the site of the largest Cambodian Catholic community before Pol Pot. This involved paying for the training of two nurses/midwives for the village, the restoration of the local kindergarten and social centre, and helping to build a middle school for the local children.
There are no Catholic schools in Cambodia. The diocese there seeks funding simply to build schools in the poorest villages for the service of the local people (98% Buddhist).
PROJECTS IN 2006
The diocese took on the funding of a range of projects in 2006:
• Building a simple shelter in the remote village of Botrong, to be used for pre-school activities and the distribution of rice soup by Fr Heri (Siem Reap) and his team of catechists
• Supporting the running costs of a health education project run for women by the Sisters in Poipet
• Buying five second-hand computers and printers for computer classes for young people in Siem Reap
• Contributing to the costs of developing Dei Moranasakrey (Land of the Martyrs) at Spien Kbal village. This is the site of the martyrdom of Mgr Paul Tep Im Sotha, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, by the Khmer Rouge in 1975. The diocese hopes to develop the site, providing a shelter, a library, and a memorial to the martyrs.
• Sponsoring three young people from the Diocese of Battambang to go to the Asian Youth Day in Hong Kong (this is the regional version of World Youth day).
PROJECTS IN 2007
Our main project in 2007 was supporting the small Catholic community in the village of Nikum, near Battambang, and its work for the wider community there. We have paid for the re-roofing and other repairs to the old church at Ta Om, now used as a community gathering place.
CAN YOU HELP?
To send contributions, simply send a cheque made out to 'RC Diocese of East Anglia' with a letter making clear where you would like your donation to go. Post it to:
Bishop Michael, 'Building Bridges in Cambodia', 21 Upgate, Poringland, Norwich, Norfolk NR14 7SH
