The Cambodian government has awarded a Catholic bishop for his contribution to society.
Bishop Olivier Michel Marie Schmitthaeusler, vicar apostolic of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia on March 8 received the “Grand Order of National Merit” from His Excellency Sam Al Say, Ministry of Environment.
The event took place at Saint Paul Institute in Takeo province, about 78 km east of Cambodia.
The prelate received the award for development in many sectors in Takeo province such as education, art and culture, social work, health care, and community service.
King Norodom Sihanouk founded the Grand Order of National Merit on October 5, 1995. It is awarded to foreign Heads of State and to Cambodian nationals who have performed exceptional services to the nation, according to government sources.
“The Grand Order of National Merit is given for all the works of Catholic Church from 2010 to 2022 in Takeo province,” the bishop told RVA Khmer News.
He thanked the Royal Government of Cambodia for recognizing the church’s services to society in several sectors, including religion.
“The church exists to help people who are hopeless to be hopeful,” said Schmitthaeusler, a member of the Paris Foreign Mission Society congregation.
The credit for the recognition goes to the collective work of priests, nuns, and laypeople. “These are not my works alone, but these are the works of the Catholic community, especially in Takeo province,” Schmittaeusler confirms.
He thanked all missionaries and laity who serve the country on many fronts.
“I would like to thank all my colleagues for our activities, especially, in the field of education, social development, art, and culture. This is great and successful work for all of us and new strength to move forward,” the prelate said.
Due to his hard work, love for Cambodia, and participation in the development of Cambodian society, the King and Royal Government of Cambodia have granted Cambodian citizenship to Schmittaeusler.
He has also received several honors such as Medal of National Merit, Royal Order of Sahametrei Grans Cross, Royal Order of Monisaraphon Grand Cross, Royal Order of Monisaraphon Commander, and Medal of National Construction Gold.
The bishop came to Cambodia as a young priest in 1998 and was sent to Takeo province in 2002.
From that year, he started to develop the small countryside by setting up the high school named Saint Francois Professional High School in Takeo from Grade 10 to 12 while building the church community with great love and compassion.
He also established Saint Paul Institute, Saint Francis Technical High School.
Besides, the missionary set up Peace Center for Handicraft Children, Peace Village for Inclusion, Handicrafts Center Cocoa, Social Enterprise, and Cocoa.
All these activities help the poor people to get jobs so that they can support their families in the rural area in Takeo province.
With inputs from Sreyhouch Dalys Soun
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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