St. Francis High School Hosts Interfaith Blessing Ceremony to Strengthen the Culture of Peace [Takeo Province]: On the afternoon of March 30, 2026, St. Francis General Knowledge High School—located in Chamkar Tieng Village, Tram Kak District, Takeo Province—organized a grand ceremony titled “New Year’s Exhortation and Blessing” for its management team, teachers, staff, and students to welcome the upcoming Khmer Traditional New Year. The program was uniquely organized as an interfaith event, featuring leaders from two major religions: • Venerable Nget Chamroeun (Chiravaddhano), Abbot of Ang Monrei Pagoda, chanted Buddhist victory prayers and performed a traditional lustral water blessing. • Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, shared words of wisdom and offered blessings according to Catholic traditions. During this special occasion, Bishop Olivier delivered a meaningful educational message emphasizing the “preservation of Khmer identity and its glorious culture.” He encouraged students and staff to work together in “building a culture of peace,” which begins with mutual respect and valuing one another. The Bishop added “True peace and harmony stem from the ability to sit together at the same table, to compromise, and to practice mutual empathy.” This ceremony was not only a way to welcome blessings for the New Year but also a demonstration of solidarity and harmonious coexistence within the school and society at large. The event concluded in a joyful atmosphere, filled with hope for the upcoming New Year 2026.