Message from the Apostolic Prefect

This report covers the first three years of activity of the re-established Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang. On 2nd July 2000 I was installed as Apostolic Prefect of Battambang. My predecessor, Mgr. Paul Tep Im Sotha, had been martyred in May 1975 at the beginning of the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1990, the Catholic communities had been given permission to worship freely again in Cambodia and from that time they were accompanied by Mgr. Emile Destombes, Fr. Bernard Dupraz, Fr. Pierre Tonlop Sophal and other religious... However, in the territory of Battambang diocese, Cambodia's northwest, peace did not fully come until the last of the Khmer Rouge factions laid down their weapons in December 1998.

Msgr. Kike with a Khmer family in a small town of the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang.

With peace come the new challenges of development. Battambang Diocese is strategically located for Cambodia's development. It lies along the main route to Thailand, includes the second, third and fourth largest cities of Cambodia, encircles the resource rich Tonle Sap Lake, holds within it Cambodia's precious cultural heritage of Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear, and its fertile agricultural fields, hitherto inaccessible because of conflict and landmines, are increasingly available for exploitation.

Confident that peace will stay, my first concern during these past three years has been to know and to encourage the Catholic communities. I have watched them grow in grace and knowledge, becoming more hospitable and mutually supportive, open to the poor and disabled and more able to contribute to Cambodian society. After three years, thanks to the generous support of many friends, the basic organizations of the diocese are in place. This report records and gives thanks for what has been done, outlines some of our dreams for the coming years, and introduces Battambang diocese to new friends who may wish to join us in serving the Cambodian people and enabling the Catholic Church in Cambodia to make its proper contribution in its own society.

Mgr. Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzález
Apostolic Prefect of Battambang