UCAN Diocesan Profiles Series

Apostolic Officials
A. Ordinary of the Apostolic Vicariate
		Bishop Emile Destombes was born on Aug. 15, 1935, in Roncq, France. He joined the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP) and studied at the MEP seminary and Sorbonne University in Paris. He was ordained a priest on Dec. 21, 1961, and went to Cambodia in 1964. He was named Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh and Titular Bishop of Altava on April 14, 1997. His episcopal ordination took place on Oct. 5, 1997. Bishop Destombes took over as Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh on April 14, 2001, the same day his predecessor (Bishop Yves Ramousse) retired. Address: # 787 (rue 93) Bd. Preah Monivong, P.O. Box 123 - Phnom Penh Phone: (855) 23-212-462, (855) 012-878-023 Email: evecam@forum.orgkh
		Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Olivier Michel Marie Schmitthaeusler, M.E.P was born on June 26, 1970, in Strasbourg, France. He was ordained a priest of Paris Foreign Missions (MEP) on June 28, 1998. After ordination, he went to Cambodia as a missioner. He started studying the Khmer language and became a pastor in the Takeo and Kampot areas in the south of the country. Since 2002 he has served as director of the Catholic Education Committee of the Phnom Penh apostolic vicariate. From 2003-2005, he also taught Church history at the major seminary in Phnom Penh before being appointed vicar general in 2007. He has established schools for children and youths, as well as vocational training centers for widows and young rural women. He is also founding director of St. Paul Institute, a vocational training school for poor students in Takeo province. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father Schmitthaeusler as coadjutor apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh on Dec. 24., 2009. Bishop Schmitthaeusler was ordained and installed Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh on March 20, 2010, at Don Bosco Technical School in Phnom Penh. Bishop Emile Destombes, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Bangkok-based apostolic nuncio to Cambodia, and Auxiliary Bishop Christian Kratz of Strasbourg were the consecrating bishops.
		Previous Ordinaries
		Vicar Apostolic Emeritus: Bishop Ramousse was born on Feb. 23, 1928, in Sambadel, France. After joining the Paris Foreign Missions Society, he studied at Gregorian University in Rome and Catholic University in Paris. He was ordained a priest on April 4, 1953. He was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh and Titular Bishop of Pisita on Nov.12, 1962, and ordained a bishop on Feb. 24, 1963. Forced to leave Cambodia on April 30, 1975, he resigned in 1976 and was succeeded by Bishop Chhmar Salas. After Bishop Chhmar Salas died in 1977, Bishop Ramousse was appointed on Feb. 6, 1983, to care for all Khmer Catholics in various countries, and for all of Cambodia. The Holy See reappointed him Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh on July 25, 1992. On Dec. 21 that same year, he was appointed Administrator of Battambang. He retired on April 14, 2001. Address: Catholic Church Sihanoukville Street 12 13, Sangkat 3, Khan Mittapheap Sihanoukville, P.O.Box 123 - Phnom Penh Phone: (855) 012-766 882, (855) 34-933-712 E-mail: cckps@camintel.com, ramousse@camintel.com
		Bishop Joseph Chhmar Salas (1975-1977) Bishop Salas was born on Oct. 21, 1937, in Preah Meada, Cambodia. He studied in Paris, and after was ordained a priest in 1964, he was put in charge of a school to train catechists in Battambang. He was named Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh and Titular Bishop of Sigus on April 6, 1975. He was ordained a bishop on April 14 that same year. He became responsible for the vicariate when Bishop Ramousse had to leave Cambodia on April 30, 1975. However, Bishop Salas was obliged to join the work force at Taing Kauk on April 18, 1975, and died at the Pagoda of Taing Kauk in September 1977.
		Bishop Gustave André Ferdinand Raballand, M.E.P. (1956-1962) Bishop Jean-Baptiste Maximilien Chabalier, M.E.P. (1937-1955) Bishop Valentin Herrgott, M.E.P. (1928-1936) Bishop Jean-Claude Bouchut, M.E.P. (1902-1928) Bishop Jean-Baptiste Grosgeorge, M.E.P. (1896-1902) Bishop Marie-Laurent-François-Xavier Cordier, M.E.P. (1882-1895) Bishop Jean-Claude Miche, M.E.P. (1850-1873)
B. Other Officials
		Vicar General:

Statistics

A. Catholic Population

In 1998, there were 4,303,234 people in the territory covered by the vicariate. At the end of 2003, the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh had 15,382 Catholics from 2,962 families, most of them ethnic Vietnamese. The vicariate now has 38 parishes. In 2003, there were 1,526 Children and 482 catechumen and 247 children and 65 baptisms.

People in the Apostolic Vicariate

Buddhists: 99.25 percent

Christians (Catholics and Protestants): 0.60%

Muslims: 0.15%

B. Diocesan and Religious priests

Diocesan priests: 22 (2 Khmers, 20 foreigners)
Religious priests: 6 foreigners

C. Deacons

Transitional: 1 from institutes

D. Religious Brothers, Sisters

Religious Brothers: 8 foreigners
Religious Sisters: 53 (3 Khmers, 50 foreigners)

E. Lay Missionaries, Catechists

Lay missionaries: 25
Catechists: 104 volunteers

F. Seminaries

Diocesan seminarians: 7
Minor seminary: Saint John Mary Vianney
Address: # 44 Bd. Kim II Sung (rue 289) Boeung Kak, Tuol Kork, P.O Box 123, Phnom Penh
Phone / Fax: (855) 23-880-190

G. There are 38 parishes in five provinces and two cities:

	Kandal Province	18
	Koh Kong Province	1
	Kompong Speu Province	2
	Kompot Province	3
	Phnom Penh City	6
	Sihanoukville	6
	Takeo Province	2

Apostolic Activities and Organizations

A. Major Commissions and Organizations

	Diocesan Commission for Interreligious Dialogue Diocesan Commission for Vocations Diocesan Committee for Catholic Catechism Diocesan Committee of Social Service Diocese Committee for Catholic Education
	Other Pastoral Activities: Mass for English-speaking Foreigners: 5:00 p.m. every Saturday. World Vision Cambodia No. 20 St. 71 Sangkat Tone Bassac, Khan Chamcar Mon, Phnom Penh Mass for French-speaking Foreigners: 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturday each month. St. Joseph Church, #1788-B National Road 5, Phnom Penh

B. Catholic Educational Institutions

Kindergarten

Professional High School (St. Francis)

Technical student center Phnom Penh (Caritas)

Saint John Baptist Catholic Student Center

Salesians Don Bosco Training School run by Men Religious

Salesians Don Bosco Training School run by Women Religious

Statistics:

	Schools	Students
Kindergarten	18	616
Primary School	23	984
High School	1	64
Catholic Church Student Center for University Students	2	71
Center for high School and Secondary Students	3	50
Others	6	758

C. Catholic Social Welfare

Main Caritas Social Center: 3

Children Care Center (HIV and Mentality): 7

Temporary Health Care: 3

Temporary Health Care at St. Joseph Parish

Church care for the sick in villages

D. Social Communications

Cambodia Social Communications Office

Monthly newsletter The Messenger in Khmer language.

A 15-minute weekly radio program focused on youth, broadcast on FEBC Protestant radio station.

Audio-visual programs on training.

Web-site: www.catholiccambodia.org

E. Other Church Organizations and Associations

A.C.R (Australian Catholic Relief)

C.R.S (Catholic Relief Service)

Caritas Cambodia

CIOMAL (Comite International de l'Ordre De Malte)

Figtie Di Maria Ausiliatrice (FMA)

Japan Lay Missionary Movement (JLMM)

Jesuit service Cambodia (JSC)

Maryknoll Father and Brother (MM)

Missionaries of Charity

New Humanity

Salesians of Don Bosco

SIDSE (Cooperation International for Development and Solidarity)

Religious Congregations, Societies and Institutes

A. Religious Institutes of Men

Foreign Missions Society of Quebec ~ SME

Korea Missions Society ~ KMS

Marist Brothers ~ FMS

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers ~ MM

Missionaries of Charities Brothers ~ MC

Paris Foreign Mission Society ~ MEP

Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions ~ PIME

Salesians of Don Bosco ~ SDB

Society of Jesus (Jesuits) ~ SJ

Thai Missionary Society ~ TMS

Provident Sisters attending Mass

at St. Joseph Parish, mourning

the late Pope John Paul II

B. Religious Institutes of Women

Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul ~ DC

Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice (Salesians Sisters) ~ FMA

Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic (Maryknoll Sisters) ~ MM

Missionaries of Charity ~ MC

Soeurs de la Providence de Portieux

Soeurs du Rosaire Pont de Beauvoisin

Lay Missionaries:

Association Fraternelle Internationale (AFI)

Address: ICS - UFER

# 24 Street 348, Khan Chamcar Mon, Phnom Penhv

P.O Box: 2057 - Phnom Penh 3

Phone: (855) 23 218553

Hong Kong Catholic Lay Missionary Association

Address: Catholic Church Student Center

# 120 St. 95, Boeung Trabek

P.O Box: 123 - Phnom Penh

Italian Community Lay Missionary

Address: # 35 St. 317 Borung Kak Tuol Kork

P.O Box 48 Phnom Penh

Phone: (855) 884 963

Japan Lay Missionary Movement (JLMM)

Address: # 30(Z) St. 29 Tonle Bassac, Chamcar Mon

P.O Box 156 - Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Lay People associated with the Maryknoll Cambodia Mission Team

Address: # 31 St.306 Boeung Keng Kang 1, Chamcar Mon

P.O Box: 632 Phnom Penh

Lay people associated with the Quebec Foreign Mission Society

Address: # 14 Street 536 Tuol Kork

P.O Box: 123Phnom Penh

Maryknoll Affiliate Program (MA)

Maryknoll Lay Missioners (MLM)

Philippines Catholic Lay Mission

Address: # 33 Street 294 Boeung Keng Kang 1, Khan Chamcar Mon

P.O Box: 632Phnom Penh

Volunteers for Cooperation

General Characteristics of the Apostolic Vicariate

On Aug. 30, 1850, the Holy See established the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh which covered the Kingdom of Cambodia. From 1870 up to 1955, three provinces of lower Cambodia, namely: Phsardec, Chaudoc and Sroctrang (South Vietnam) were placed under the care of the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh. On Sept. 20, 1955 the Holy See announced that the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh to take care of the Catholics of Cambodia alone.

On Sept. 23, 1968 the Holy See divided the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh into three ecclesiastical Circumscriptions, namely: the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh, the Apostolic Prefectures of Battambang and Kompong Cham.

The entire church was destroyed during the civil war, Khmer priests, brothers, bishop of the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh were killed during the Pol Pot regime 1975-1979.

Church started again in 1990. On Jan. 18, 1990, following a request presented by a Hungarian diplomat, the government of the State of Cambodia orally agreed to the construction of a place of worship for all Christians. It would be situated about six kilometers from Phnom Penh. Its leadership would be assured by a tripartite committee made up of Catholics, various other Christian religions and the Patriotic Front.

In March 1990, the Catholics wrote to the President of the State of Cambodia to celebrate the Khmer New Year (1315th April) "according to Catholic tradition". On April 3, the Central Political Bureau of the Party gave its approval and on April 9, Mr. Chea Sim, President of the Front for National Safety, signed a letter, widely broadcasted on Cambodian radio and television, officially recognizing the existence of the Christians.

Nowadays, the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh comprises Phnom Penh City, Kep City, Sihanoukville, the provinces of Kandal, Takeo, Kampot, Kompong Speu and Koh Kong.

< Last updated on: July 29, 2005 >