The event, held on 17 January, brought together representatives from Salesian groups across the country. Fr Roel Soto, SDB, animator of the Salesian Family in Cambodia, and Sr Ched Ditching, FMA Provincial for Cambodia and Myanmar, led the gathering. Delegates from Don Bosco Poipet, near the Thai border, were unable to attend due to regional tensions but joined via live transmission organised by Don Bosco Kep’s Media Communication Department.
Reflection and Mission
The day began with a screening of the Strenna presentation by Fr Fabio Attard, the 11th successor of Don Bosco, with Khmer voice dubbing. Sr Tang Savathanak (Sr Neath) offered reflections and answered questions from young participants, while Fr Arun Michael, SDB, delegate for missions, highlighted the significance of the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition.
This year’s Spirituality Day focused on peace and justice, acknowledging the plight of Cambodian families displaced along the border, including relatives of Don Bosco students. Organisers emphasised that the Salesian mission in Cambodia is rooted in walking alongside the people, preserving national identity, language and culture, while living in obedience to the Gospel message.
Local Voices
Teacher Sok Aun, representing the Salesian Cooperators, explained the importance of the Spirituality Days. He recalled the pioneering role of teacher Sry Thea, the first Cambodian Salesian Cooperator, who in 2004 founded a Salesian Oratory in Takeo province – a seed that later grew into a Catholic parish.
Faith in a Diverse Society
Cambodia, a predominantly Buddhist nation with around 30,000 Catholics, is home to a wide range of religious traditions including Hinduism, Islam, Taoism and indigenous spiritualities. Most students at Salesian schools are not Christian, a reality the Salesians describe as a source of intercultural richness and inclusivity.
The Cambodian Salesian Family includes the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (SIHM), founded in Thailand in 1937 by Salesian Bishop Gaetano Passoti, who joined the rebuilding of the Cambodian Church in the 1990s. Other groups include associations of past pupils of both SDB and FMA schools, indigenous alumni from Don Bosco Kep, and the Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB), a secular institute committed to apostolic work in family, society and civic life.
A Seed of Hope
Organisers described the Cambodian Salesian Family as a “seed of hope” in a society marked by cultural diversity, where spirituality is closely linked to ancestral values such as meditation, friendship and family.
