2008 Mission in Siem Reap

The city of Siem Reap, known to many tourists as the entry point to the famous Angkor Wat temples, houses one of Jesuit Service Cambodia's major works.

In Siem Reap Province, there are two Catholic churches catering to two small Catholic communities, one in Siem Reap town, the other is the floating village of Chong Khnies, about 10 km south of Siem Reap town.

In Siem Reap town, the Catholic Church is located on the east side of Siem Reap River (opposite the Grand Hotel d’Angkor), in Slorkram Village. It is a simple wooden church, built in 2004, offering catechism, liturgical celebration and charity service for the poor. In Siem Reap, there are about three hundred Catholics. The patron Saint of Siem Reap church is Saint John, the Apostle.

Besides the church in Siem Reap, there is another church in Chong Khnies, in the floating village. This floating church, which is also known as the Karaoke church because it was formerly a Karaoke parlor, serves the needs of seven Catholic families consisting of about seventy people. The Patron Saint of this church is Saint Peter, the fisherman.

One of the priorities of the Siem Reap Jesuit mission is to help the children and youth, who are very important to the future of the country. Special attention have been given to children and youths by setting up several learning centers in which educational activities are offered, including: Khmer dance practice, value education, basic hygienic education, English classes, Khmer literacy class, library and reading communities, and leadership training. At present there are seven learning centers reaching out to more than one thousand children and youths.

Between 9 ~ 11 December 2008, we visited 3 Learning Centers for Children set up by the Jesuit Service in Cambodia, to appreciate the condition and needs of the community so that we can develop programs to help them in future missions. We are thankful to Fr Erbin Fernandez, Asst Parish Priest of the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, in providing us spiritual guidance throughout our mission in Cambodia.