(ANS – Sihanoukville) – Just a week ago now, the Rector Major and his Council approved the newest circumscription in the Salesian Congregation – the Delegation of Cambodia, juridically dependent on St Paul’s Province, Thailand.

Preparation for this event, both in Cambodia and in Thailand, the mother province, began quite some time ago. Cambodia is in a particular situation of rapid development, including rapid Salesian development marked in a very positive way by the first profession of the first Khmer Salesians recently, and it has not been easy for Thailand to oversee this development. Delegations are not created for merely administrative purposes, but to ensure a more effective animation of the charism and mission of Don Bosco on behalf of the young. With the beginnings now of local vocations, and a sizeable Salesian (SDB and FMA) presence in the nation, the time has finally come for this step to be taken.

Perhaps one needs to go back to December 15 1960, however, when the then Regional for the English speaking Salesian world, Fr Bernard Tohill, stopped overnight in Pnom Penh and stayed with the Vicar Apostolic resident in the city, Bishop Raballand MEP. It was then that the first oral invitation to send Salesians to Cambodia was issued.

However, the scourge of the Khmer Rouge had meant almost the complete disappearance of the Church, and the certain death of Khmer priests.

And this is where the Salesian connection begins to kick in to the story: Bro Robert Panetto, sdb, missionary in Thailand, began working in the Refugee camps on the Thai-Cambodian border. With the help of many lay missionaries, past pupils mostly from our Thai schools, he began setting up technical training centres in the camps. This work was then extended to Pnom Penh by Royal invitation in 1991, when on 24 May the first formal Salesian presence in Cambodia took shape. Now there are Salesian houses also in Poipet, in Sihanoukville, Battambang, Kep, Kompung Cham...

Bro Robert has the distinction of being the first Salesian citizen of Cambodia: the King has recognised his outstanding service on behalf of the nation.

Two foundations have been set up in Cambodia bearing Don Bosco's name: the Don Bosco Foundation, Cambodia (DBFC) and the Don Bosco Children Fund (DBCF). The former is the 'parent' of the latter. But for Cambodians at every level, it is just 'DB', Don Bosco, that means so much. When Don Bosco Poipet officially opened in 2004, the then Deputy Prime Minister had this to say: “Don Bosco has an enormous task in Cambodia! Don Bosco knows how to interest the youth in Cambodia! Don Bosco provides the youth with education and jobs in Cambodia! Don Bosco's feeding programs and educational funds are unique in Cambodia! And certainly, Don Bosco is a great help for the government of Cambodia!”

Development has gone on apace, and Cambodia has also been an attractive centre for Salesian activity from the Region. The Salesian Brothers Seminar for EAO was held there in 2006; students of theology from Vietnam took their holidays at Sihanoukville in 2011. Salesians have offered facilities for a number of international conferences. The range of activities and expressions of the charism in Cambodia is extensive, and  the work done in the communications field – among many others – deserves a particular mention: many young Cambodians trained at 'Don Bosco' in any number of centres, seek and find employment in the field as journalists and technical operators.

Published 19/06/2013