Catholics Show Solidarity With Cyclone Survivors In Myanmar

Posted: 20th May 2008

PHNOM PENH (UCAN) -- Catholics of all three Church jurisdictions in Cambodia have contributed to the relief effort for Myanmar people facing dire circumstances by Cyclone Nargis.

On May 16, Bishop Emile Destombes, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, transferred US$2,943 collected from Cambodian Catholics throughout the country to Salesian Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon.

During Mass on Pentecost Sunday, May 11, Bishop Destombes urged people to give whatever they could to alleviate the suffering caused by Nargis, which devastated the area along Myanmar's southwestern coast up to Yangon on the night of May 2.

"It is urgent that our local Church manifest its sense of solidarity and togetherness with our brothers and sisters of Myanmar. We shall not only pray for them, but also send them some material donation as a sign of our love," the Paris Foreign Missions bishop said. "Do not think about the quantity of money. What really counts is our sharing with love," he added.

Church sources in Myanmar say the death toll will pass 100,000, and millions of homeless, injured and traumatized people face lack of food and water, as well as mental distress.

Lay Cambodian Catholics who spoke with UCA News expressed their solidarity with these people.

"We, as members of one great family, the Church, and as children of the same God, come together in solidarity. Now they are suffering because of a terrible natural disaster. We want to let the Myanmar people know that we are with them," said Chum Rolong, 43, of St. Joseph Parish in Phnom Penh.

Oem Sokhorn, a newly baptized Catholic of Neak Loeung parish in Kompong Cham prefecture, said the tragedy in Myanmar helped her discover the deep sense of communion and solidarity in the Catholic Church, which does not have any boundaries. "I was moved to see the great concern of many Christians of our local Church, who expressed sorrow and compassion for the suffering people in Myanmar," added the 23-year-old woman.

Monsignor Antonysamy Susairaj, apostolic prefect of Kompong Cham, told UCA News on May 17 that the small Christian communities of his prefecture gathered on Pentecost Sunday to pray for the suffering people in Myanmar.

"I was very happy to see the sincere solidarity of our Christians, not only in terms of prayers but in material donations as well," the Paris Foreign Missions prelate said over the phone.

Similarly, Monsignor Enrique Figaredo, apostolic prefect of Battambang, told UCA News by phone, "We felt a deep inner joy while witnessing the strong sense of charity of our local Churches." He pointed out that "most Cambodians know by heart what suffering is," referring to the physical and psychological suffering Cambodians went through from the 1970s into the 1990s because of civil war.

Article Source: UCAN