Children sing a song about Saint Paul during the camp
Youngsters praying together during the stay-in programSeptember 2, 2009
PHNOM PENH (UCAN) -- The Church in Phnom Penh recently held a faith formation camp for children focusing on the life of Saint Paul the Apostle, during which participants also learned about communal living.
"Childhood is the time when one easily absorbs (lessons from) one's social environment," said Father Bruno Cosme, rector of the major seminary in Phnom Penh.
"If we do not pay enough attention to children, we miss a great opportunity to educate them on their faith and the right way to conduct their lives," said the Paris Foreign Missions priest, who was one of the organizers of the August 24-29 camp.
About 150 children, aged mostly between nine and 12, attended the stay-in program at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center for girls. A committee which included 33 Catholic youths and four seminarians helped run the camp, which included lessons and reflections on the life of Saint Paul, talks on Catholic morality and hygiene, as well as group tasks and games.
"The main purpose of the camp was to teach them to be like Saint Paul who preached the Word of God, and to be good Catholics," said Father Cosme. "In addition, the children learned how to live together and how to cooperate with each other while performing tasks."
The camp, which had the theme, "Let's Go Together With Saint Paul to Meet Jesus," is the second of its kind. The first was in 2008 and had the theme, "The Word of God." About 130 children took part in that camp, said Father Bruno.
Saint Paul the Apostle was the major New Testament figure who preached the Gospel outside the Jewish community. He encountered many hardships and much persecution in his work.
Camp participants said that learning about Saint Paul's life helped them realize that sharing their faith with others is often a challenging task.
Ravy Sophearong, 12, said the camp taught him about "the mission of Saint Paul" and his preaching of the Word of God, "and discovered that it is not easy."
He said he could identify with the saint's experience, as he has also experienced criticism and rebukes when sharing his faith with people who do not understand it. He added that he liked the communal spirit of the camp, and learning and playing games together with other children.
Doung Reaksmey, 14, said he would be happy to be able bring the Good News to people around the world like Saint Paul, but like Sophearong, he realized that this would not be easy.
Organizers said the camp benefited them as well. Hom Chansophany, 22, said she acquired some leadership skills through volunteering to help out at the camp. She admitted that living with the children and making the program engaging for them was a challenging task.
Mung Ros, a seminarian, said the program included daily reflections on biblical passages, games related to the Gospel and lessons on morality.
"Childhood is the time when one easily absorbs (lessons from) one's social environment," said Father Bruno Cosme, rector of the major seminary in Phnom Penh.
"If we do not pay enough attention to children, we miss a great opportunity to educate them on their faith and the right way to conduct their lives," said the Paris Foreign Missions priest, who was one of the organizers of the August 24-29 camp.
About 150 children, aged mostly between nine and 12, attended the stay-in program at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center for girls. A committee which included 33 Catholic youths and four seminarians helped run the camp, which included lessons and reflections on the life of Saint Paul, talks on Catholic morality and hygiene, as well as group tasks and games.
"The main purpose of the camp was to teach them to be like Saint Paul who preached the Word of God, and to be good Catholics," said Father Cosme. "In addition, the children learned how to live together and how to cooperate with each other while performing tasks."
The camp, which had the theme, "Let's Go Together With Saint Paul to Meet Jesus," is the second of its kind. The first was in 2008 and had the theme, "The Word of God." About 130 children took part in that camp, said Father Bruno.
Saint Paul the Apostle was the major New Testament figure who preached the Gospel outside the Jewish community. He encountered many hardships and much persecution in his work.
Camp participants said that learning about Saint Paul's life helped them realize that sharing their faith with others is often a challenging task.
Ravy Sophearong, 12, said the camp taught him about "the mission of Saint Paul" and his preaching of the Word of God, "and discovered that it is not easy."
He said he could identify with the saint's experience, as he has also experienced criticism and rebukes when sharing his faith with people who do not understand it. He added that he liked the communal spirit of the camp, and learning and playing games together with other children.
Doung Reaksmey, 14, said he would be happy to be able bring the Good News to people around the world like Saint Paul, but like Sophearong, he realized that this would not be easy.
Organizers said the camp benefited them as well. Hom Chansophany, 22, said she acquired some leadership skills through volunteering to help out at the camp. She admitted that living with the children and making the program engaging for them was a challenging task.
Mung Ros, a seminarian, said the program included daily reflections on biblical passages, games related to the Gospel and lessons on morality.
19 comments:
These children are healthy and happy. Good for them.
French "colonial" tried to Christianisation my country Cambodia and my ancestors, but they missed. They now try again and I hope they fell better.
If Khmers tried to play along by adopting Christianity while French controlled Cambodia, the French would had not brought ah Youn back to administrate Cambodia and Laos.
Look what happened to Cambodia? The west told each others that Khmers are not just barbarians but stupidest.
11:15PM! are you fucking your mother for a living?
3:32PM! Do not wish for shit! Do some thing better thanthem or try hard to help your people!
11;21pm.
No I don't; and do you?
From reading your barbaric reply, you are not just a low class gangster but the evil monster creature every live.
I am glad that Khmer people finally free from the evil, religion dictator like you.
Wearing Buddhist label does not mean you are. Your barbaric words tell all.
11:34PM! you fucking fool! who say am I a buddhist?
Goask your mother if you cannot think! or your mother also stupid!
12;45am.
Why do you have to be too nastry like animal and drag the mothers of posters or drag your mother in your debate? I wonder you were molested by the woman when you are a child. You showed a trait of your past abused by others.
Your angry reply sounds so familiar to may patienst who were molested.
All my friends here in Europe are Christian and some of them are the head of the Religion in their countries, but they still have great respect the Teaching of Buddha.
Why some Caucasian Christian missionaries in Cambodia were so stupid, did not pay the respect to other religions.
1:10AM Is not a fucking debate!
How dare you called our ancestors stupid. For our people are not a liar, betrayal of any religion like the fucking communist! and stand to defend our country, culture, and our dignity as human!
Your fucking communist think that religion and any thing concerning human society just a gam! Does'nt it sound like you FUCKING YOUR MORTHER????
Youfucking Vietnamese communist just fucking so low and no respect for what is humanity!
May ligthning strike befor your ancestors curse you to hell!
2:15AM! what the reason for youto said that, fooL?
Or you try to maske people fighting?
May lightning strike the real evils!
The way you said, I think you are a wrong Christian.
Better than your fucking evil 2:39AM!
2:23am.
You keep bringning up mothers every comment. That is a sign that you were molested by an old woman. Is there a Counselor or Psychologist near by you? Go and ask for help.
Don't keep to long you will molest your own children if you don't get help soon.
2:47AM! because you not respect your mother or your mothe is a whour!
And the gosh of your morther will haunt you of your stupidity and evil intention!
2:58am.
If his mother is a whour then your mother is whore and a child mollestor.
2:58am! you motherfucker your mother is a bitch to have a stupid child like you!
i see the future of cambodia and khmer future is brighter and better when we teach and learn from everybody from all over the world. remember, there are more to cambodia than you and i. children are the nation's future, please teach them right. who says one can't fuse khmer way with others' way. after all society and people are always evolving. the important thing for cambodia is to encourage a strong khmer language skill like speaking fluent khmer and reading and writing khmer language. however, the social aspects can be evolved and reformed or changed or modified the way we see fit our nation and society. please keep learn and always keep an open minded because that is a smart way to learn and adopt, etc... god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people and citizens.
They're not losing their livelihood, They're losing their corrupt livelihood.
We made $1.00 a day just eat and die. We don't have any tv, karaoke, liquor, computer, internet, toy, bike, car, moto, laptop, running water and etc.
Our toilet would be digging dirt spot by spot for our poop around our shack. We worked sunrise till sunset and 7 a days a week to feed our whole family.
WORK, EAT, SLEEP, AND DIE..........
hey, make sure you exercise, too, or you will get high lipids and get heart disease from lack of physical activities. thank you.
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