Cambodia: Marist school and boarding school in Pailin

Summary of the letter from Brother Bernhard Tremmel (December 2024):

Two important holidays occurred in Cambodia, p’chum ben and bon om tuk. The former can be compared to our All Souls’ Day. People make offerings and donations to the pagodas in an attempt to curry favour with the spirits of the deceased. The second festival is a kind of Thanksgiving and the start of a new planting season. In addition, the royal oxen ‘predict’ the best harvest yields during the ploughing ceremony.

A major event brought me to Vietnam for the second time. Four young, local brothers took eternal vows. For people in Asia, this is a big celebration with hundreds of guests. There are also many Catholic churches in Ho Chi Minh City. We celebrated in style.

Our work is progressing very well. We have almost two hundred young people in the Marist Education Centre (lessons). In the Marist Centre of Hope, we have twice as many young people as last year. As always, the realisation of our plans depends on financial support. In addition to my retirement pension, we receive the necessary funds from the Congregation to support the community (3 brothers, 3 volunteers). The financing of our missionary work depends on donations. We now have a very lucky experience. Thanks to generous donations from our Marist support association ‘Maristen Solidarität International e.V.’, totalling more than 27,000 euros for 2025, we can do a lot of good for our young people. What is still ongoing is the support of two students from the Bunong minority in Mondolkiri.

A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS AND FRIENDS! We have received a valuable Christmas present. On behalf of the young people and their parents, may they all receive our thanks and be blessed by God.

Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year 2025 from the bottom of our hearts.

Brother Gustavo, Anh, Bernhard and the volunteers Liz, Nico, Boni