The first youth mass in Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish was celebrated on 24 June 2012. The youth mass is a special type of mass because it is organized and structured by the youth; where even the choir worship songs were accompanied by a live band of young performers.

It was attended by about 120 youths from different centers in the parish including those who came from the Tep Im Student Center, Arrupe Welcome Center, Salesian Center, Lidy House, and the youths that form the choir group, SSVP group, football and taekwondo teams. Fr. Totet and Bro. Soo Young led the Youth Mass with the support of youth leaders.

Before mass, trivia question and answer games were held to help the youths get more familiar with each other. Seven representatives from the different groups participated. Prizes such as t-shirts and pendants bearing the symbols of the church were awarded to those who successfully answered questions about the history and general knowledge about the Catholic traditions. The representative from the choir group got the first place while a tied score for second place was shared by representatives from Salesian and Tep Im student centers. The biography of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was also presented in honor of his Feast Day last 21 June. Saint Gonzaga is the patron saint of youth and students. 

There was a good and lively atmosphere during the event and everyone enjoyed, sang and danced altogether in praise of the Lord.  

For more pictures, please visit our facebook page. 

On June 10, 2012, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Parish Church in Battambang celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi. To mark the importance and the solemnity of the day, a “lively tradition” of holding solemn procession with the Blessed Sacrament around Pet Yiey Chee Catholic compound was once again attended by hundreds of faithful coming from different parishes in the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang. 

The Catholic Church professes worship of the Eucharist not only during Mass, but also outside of its celebration, preserving the utmost conscientiousness of the consecrated hosts and presenting them for the solemn veneration of the Christian faithful. By carrying the Eucharist in the procession gives the faithful the joy of showing their faith publicly into the community. 

The Feast of Corpus Christi commemorates the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the Eucharist, which has been celebrated universally since 1264. The church hopes that both the precession and the mass renew among the faithful present in the celebration the joy and the gratitude for the Eucharistic presence of Jesus in the midst of his people. The church reminds everybody that the Lord remains present beyond the time of the celebration of Mass and encourages everyone to adore the Eucharist in prayer, suggesting that an individual can do it by praying and meditating in front of the tabernacle. 

For more pictures of the event, please visit our facebook page. 

Oscar Romero Pastoral Center at the Assumption Parish Church in Battambang is going to launch a family apostolate soon. The first step of the said apostolate is to form small group of families as the basic ecclesial communities. A prayer guide for a weekly prayer assembly was
tested for accuracy and appropriateness for the Khmer families in the parish. 
 
Four couples came for a prayer meeting using the prayer guide. After the prayer, they critiqued the format and content of the prayer guide. They gave comments and suggestions to improve it and ensure its appropriateness to the local families. Sr. Marie Simon Savy, a Providence sister also offered her thoughts about the guide as she was present at the prayer meeting as observer.

Blas Descallar, JVP Volunteer 

The United Nations’ Environment Program (UNEP) declared a World Environment Day (WED) in 1972 to create awareness and personalize environmental issues around the world. It aimed to enable everyone to realize their responsibility toward the environment and their power to make changes and improve our environment as a better place to live. World Environment activities take place all year round but it is celebrated every June 5th each year.

As part of activities for this day, Fr. Gabby Lamug-Nanawa, SJ, point-person for the Environment Issues for the Jesuit Service Cambodia in Phnom Penh,  came to Battambang to conduct a seminar-workshop entitled “A Second Look At Garbage” on June 2, 2012. Staff from various offices of Pet Yiey Chee Catholic compound of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang and the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish gathered to participate. The workshop taught attendees how to manage and dispose garbage properly.

On June 5, the seminar-workshop was redid by participants of the first workshop and held for a different audience. Youth from the parish community gathered at the Oscar Romero Pastoral Center in Peyt Yiey Chee to attend the forum on Proper Garbage Disposal. Two of our parish youth leaders, Thun Bunthean and Chab Vibol gave the presentation and facilitated the discussion after the talk. Aside from the various youth groups at the parish, there were eight participants from Hope for the Children Cambodia, a non-government organization which takes care of the orphaned, abandoned children and youth.

As the organizer of the event, I thought that the seminar-workshop is worthy and fitting activity to celebrate WED. I trust that the participants understood clearly the pros and cons of garbage and its proper management. I just hope that each participant would be responsible enough to educate others in reducing, reusing, and recycling the garbage. Activities are going on for the whole year, everyone can get involved in ensuring a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for ourselves and future generations.

--- Blas Descallar, Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP)

Today is the Feast of the Holy Trinity.  There are several themes from which I can easily focus my homily: Trinity is a relationship, Trinity is a community, Trinity is love.  

I thought that in my parish, where there are many young people and children, I needed to explain the basic notion of God as Trinity.  I could not recall an anecdote to explain this part of our faith.  So I used the image of the coffee that I had this morning.  

I asked the people at mass if they know what is 3-in-1 coffee.  Except the children, almost everyone answered yes.  Here’s how I explained:

With the 3-in-1 coffee, you know that there are three ingredients:  coffee, milk, and sugar.  You can differentiate one from the other, each one distinct taste, color, and texture from the other.  

Once you pour your 3-in-1 sachet into a cup of hot water, the three becomes one color, taste and texture.  Each sip is a full experience of each of the three as ONE – each one complementing, and enchancing the whole. 

The same can be said of the Holy Trinity.  The Trinity is  God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each with its own nature and mission.  The Father is the creator, source of life and love.  The Son is the redeemer and points the way, the truth, and life.  The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, inspires us, interprets the Word of God for us in our times, and leads us to the Father.  

Our experience of the divine is always an experience of God as one.  Each experience, like a sip of a good coffee, is an experience of one God as Father who creates and loves, as Son who redeems, and as Spirit that sanctifies.  

I am sharing these thoughts knowing that the image I used might have watered down the doctrine of the Trinity.  For this I beg pardon.  But as always, it is difficult to explain the Trinity.  Our thoughts and images will always fall short in explaining the mystery of God.  -  Fr. Totet, SJ

Battambang, 01 June 2012.  INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHILDREN. 

We join the whole world in celebrating our Children.  Today, the kindegarten children from Battambang and Chrap Viel Parishes joined together to spend a day of fun in the Tang Heng Sae Fun Park.  Teachers and some volunteer parents came to assist the children.  The children had fun with rides, games, drawings, competitions, and food.