The Cambodian Catholic community hosted a seminar on the fundamentals of Catholicism to profound their faith at Theresa Church in Takhmao on May 21.
As many as 30 people from Kong Noy, Takhmao, and Ampov Prey participated in the seminar.
This seminar’s primary objective is to enhance the spirituality of Catholics so that they can better comprehend the direction of their lives.
The Jesuit Deacon Damo Chou, the speaker of the workshop, shared the gift of Saint Ignatius to inform the community that “our life as Catholics is not only to serve the church, but we also pray to strengthen our relationships with God, who is the foundation of our lives.”
“We know that in everything we do, the core is not us but God’s core,” he said.
According to Chour, because our community has suitable social activities, but Catholic spirituality seems superficial, he desires Catholics to have a more profound spiritual experience and maintain a close relationship with God.
“The pastoral work is not only to help the poor but also to know where our strength comes from,” said deacon Damo Chour of the Jesuit Society.
This is his first workshop in the Phnom Penh vicariate, and he intends to continue this work after ordination as a priest.
One participant, Srun Sela, 23, said that he learned the fundamentals of Catholicism through this workshop: serving, honoring, and glorifying God. These teachings reminded him not to follow the ways of the world.
He said this knowledge helps him have a stronger faith and “remind himself not to forget God and to know what is right and wrong.”
Sela would share the workshop’s knowledge with some of his friends and explorers in his community.
Pho Sreyleak, 26, another participant, said, “At first, I did not understand that what we were doing was focused on God, just trying to please others.”
Sreyleak said that before, she did some things without knowing whether it affected others, but now she understands that “The main goal for our lives is towards God and will proclaim the faith of others who do not yet know God.”
The workshop’s speaker said he would continue to hold more seminars in the area to strengthen the Catholic faith
