MISSIONER NEWSLETTER – Fall 2025

Hang Tran, Cambodia

Msgr. Pierre Suon Hang Ly processes to his episcopal ordination in Phnom Penh, becoming only the second Cambodian to hold this role in the Church’s history.

CAMBODIA—The latest exchange of fire at the border between Cambodia and Thailand came to an unconditional ceasefire on July 28, 2025, brokered by Malaysia. As the border negotiation continues, rhetoric persists! There are thousands of internally displaced persons on both sides of the border, the most vulnerable of whom are children. Further information can be found at the Union of Catholic Asian News.

Since Aug. 1, Caritas Cambodia has been collaborating with national and international organizations and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Peter Wells to Cambodia and Thailand to provide emergency relief. The services include temporary shelters, clean water, latrines, sanitation materials, and psychosocial care and support at 10 internally displaced persons camps.

Recently, I participated with a Caritas team to assist in three camps: Wat Por Prampoan Doem (11,197 people), Wat Chroyneangngoun (1,705 people), and Wat Phnom Kabour (1,354 people.) These wats are local temples that have opened their doors for these camps.

My part was supporting emotional well-being through drawing and coloring. I made drawings of animals, houses, trees, etc. for the youth to color. In these moments, the kids were occupied with nature and familiar things that they can create with crayons and papers. A few grandparents and parents joined the children in these recreational activities, and seemed relaxed and smiling.

The Caritas staff gathered information from the young and old. The majority of the children thoroughly enjoyed a vacation from schools and a festival-like atmosphere to play games with numerous youth they had met for the first time.

Children in a Cambodian displacement camp come together around drawing and coloring, finding small joys and comfort in creativity.

Some kids, who had firsthand experiences of the border conflict, such as hearing loud explosion noises or fleeing from dangers to safe zones with their families, have difficulty sleeping or nightmares.

Older adults, who had been through previous wars, can recognize the directions of weaponry being fired by sound, and were skillful in leading others to natural caves or underground bunkers for protection. Most adults are worried about their crops, cows, and pigs back homes. Some are glad to have free meals, health checkups, and medication. Other affected people, who are not in these camps, took refuge with their families and friends in other cities.

Meanwhile, on a brighter note, Cambodia had an episcopal ordination of Msgr. Pierre Suon Hang Ly as Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar to Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler for Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh on Sept. 6. Bishop Ly is the second Cambodian to hold this position; the first was Bishop Joseph Chhmar Salas, who died as a laborer in 1977 during the Khmer Rouge regime. Representatives of the Buddhist, Bahai, and Muslims faith traditions were present to congratulate Bishop Ly.

Bishop Olivier presided alongside Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Peter Wells and Bishop Jean Marie Prida Inthirath, Apostolic Vicar of Savannakhet, Laos. Among the concelebrants at Mass were three cardinals, several archbishops and bishops of countries around Asia, especially Thailand. Also present were lay missionaries, nuns, and priests from countries around the globe, such as Kenya, Nigeria, Columbia, Venezuela, France, Italy, Spain, Korea, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and the United States, to name a few, and the local faithfuls. It was estimated that more than 3,500 people attended this event.

It may take a while to process these sorrows and joys, which could be opportunities of grace. During peace, many are in the business of brewing war. During war, many are working toward peace.

National and international folks assisting in the internally displaced persons camps on both sides of the border and attendees of the bishop ordination ceremony chose to share friendship and solidarity amidst tension. As pilgrims of hope in this Jubilee Year, I join the prophet Micah in praying that, one day “…they will cut up their swords into plows, and their spears into hoes. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will no longer learn to wage war.” (Micah 4:3)

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