Kompong Cham (AsiaNews/Ucan) – The Catholic Church in Cambodia is a Church of catechumens, of the youth, of collaboration and of hope, its leading bishop says.  French-born Bishop Emile Destombes, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, spoke of his enthusiasm about the direction of the Church to members of the Thai Missionary Society during their annual retreat held from March 2-7 in Kompong Cham, 75 kilometers northeast of Phnom Penh. Nine members of the society work in Cambodia.

A member of  the Paris Foreign Missions Society, the bishop described the development of the Church since 1991, when religious freedom was restored, 12 years after Vietnamese troops forced Khmer Rouge from power. That radical communist regime destroyed religious institutions in the country during its brutal rule from 1975-1979.

Three Church jurisdictions now cover Cambodia—Phnom Penh vicariate, and Kompong Cham and Battambang prefectures. Thai missionaries work in all three.

Bishop Destombes called the local church a 'Church of Catechumens': more Kmers  are preparing for Baptism than are already professed Christians. According to Church statistics for the country, 19,000 Catholics take up 0.16 percent of the 12 million people. Many of them are ethnic Vietnamese. Khmer people form more than 90 percent of the population.

The bishop also described a Church of the young.  Youth count for the majority of the Catholic faithful, making a "lively" church in many places, the bishop said. The initiatives started by the Church will show its fruit in the future, and gives the faithful a reason to hope, the Bishop stated.

"It is a collaborative Church too because Religious and priests from many countries are missioners in the country, strengthening this Church." Many of the Thai Missionary Society members are missionaries in Cambodia. Their work consists of teaching catechism, running sewing classes, a preschool center, assisting with public health projects, developing a youth ministy, and establishing a home for young women.

Those working in Thailand welcomed the news that the religious congregation of Sisters, Lovers of the Holy Cross of Kompong Cham, which was expelled from Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge regime, has been revived with the profession of two new sisters on March 21st.  Kmer Sisters Ang Songvat and Bouang Buntharin will teach catechumens preparing for full-reception into the Catholic Church in Cambodia.

Paris Foreign Missions Father Jean Marie Pernand Dantonel, the Thai society's superior, introduced a newly ordained priest who is joining the society.