Phnom Penh bids farewell to the Carmelites who accompanied the rebirth of its Church

The monastery, re-established in 2004 by Korean nuns on the ashes of the previous contemplative community wiped out by Pol Pot's persecution, has closed. The decision is due to a lack of new vocations. Bishop Schmitthaeusler expressed his gratitude: "The fruits of your presence will continue in our community.”

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews) – After 21 years of contemplative pastoral service, the Catholic Church in the Cambodian capital gratefully bid farewell on 19 March to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Phnom Penh, who are preparing to end their presence in the Southeast Asian country due to a lack of new vocations. This concludes a discreet and constant presence in the Cambodian Church's journey of rebirth.

The monastery was founded in 2004 by the nuns of the Carmelite monastery in Seoul. In Cambodia, which was then just beginning to emerge from the terrible legacy of Pol Pot, they chose to continue the legacy of the order's presence that began in the capital in 1940 with a group of French nuns. The arrival of the Khmer Rouge in 1975 forced its closure, resulting in the destruction of the building itself.

The mission in Cambodia was the first contemplative evangelisation initiative outside Korea for the Carmelite nuns of Seoul, and for 21 years, it has significantly accompanied the journey of the Cambodian Church in Phnom Penh with its prayers. At the time, the Church had been almost completely wiped out by persecution, but today it numbers approximately 23,000 faithful in three dioceses.

The closing ceremony centred on the Eucharistic celebration led by the apostolic vicar, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, and concelebrated by Coadjutor Pierre Hangly Suon, the second Cambodian bishop after Bishop Joseph Chhmar Salas, who died during the Khmer Rouge years and whose beatification process is underway.

Present at the service, along with numerous priests, were around a hundred members of the local Catholic community who gathered to express gratitude for their precious presence over the years.

In his homily, Bishop Schmitthaeusler expressed deep regret for the closure, acknowledging the spiritual richness that the presence of the Carmelites brought to the local Church.

At the same time, he encouraged the faithful to keep hope alive and remain united in prayer, emphasising the timeless value of the contemplative life.

The Carmelite nuns initially resided in a house in Phnom Penh, before moving in 2010 to a purpose-built monastery in Ang Snuol, a district in Kandal province, which borders the capital.

At its peak, the community consisted of seven Korean nuns, many of whom learnt Khmer and English to better connect with the Church and the local community.

Their monastery was a place of peace and spiritual refuge amidst the rapid development and social changes taking place in Cambodia.

The faithful often described a profound sense of tranquillity as soon as they crossed the threshold of the complex, where the rhythm of prayer punctuated daily life and the worries of the outside world seemed to vanish beyond the surrounding walls.

Despite their limited presence outside the monastery, they carried with them a universal mission through prayer for the Church, society, and the entire world marked by suffering and division.

Bishop Schmitthaeusler encouraged the faithful to pursue this task in Phnom Penh even without the physical presence of the monastery.

• cambodia
• south korea
• carmelite nuns
• monastery
• closure
• khmer rouges
• rebirth
• Olivier schmitthaeusler