Flying into Phnom Penh, we begin our immersion in the vibrant capital city. Here, participants are introduced to Cambodia’s recent history and the devastating impact of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot regime. Visits to the former political prison S21 and the Killing Fields provide powerful opportunities to learn about the suffering experienced by the Cambodian people and to reflect on the consequences of violence, injustice and the denial of human dignity.
Understanding Cambodia’s past is an important part of understanding its present—and challenges us to consider how we can contribute to building a more just and peaceful world.
While in Phnom Penh, participants will stay in secure, newly refurbished Catholic Mission accommodation and begin to experience the warmth and hospitality of the local Catholic community.
From Phnom Penh, we travel north to Battambang, where we spend time with the small but vibrant Catholic community. Here, participants encounter a Church that is actively working alongside local communities and responding to the needs of some of the most vulnerable people. Through meeting local people and learning about the Church’s mission, participants gain an insight into the power of faith, community and solidarity to create hope and transform lives.
Our immersion concludes in Siem Reap, one of Cambodia’s most culturally significant destinations and home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples of Angkor. After the intensity of the experiences earlier in the immersion, this provides an opportunity to appreciate Cambodia’s extraordinary cultural and spiritual heritage. Standing among the ancient temples of Angkor Wat and watching the sunrise together is a memorable way to conclude an experience.
The immersion is an opportunity to listen, learn, reflect and encounter—and to return home with a deeper understanding of Cambodia, its people and the global missionary Church. Through guided reflection and meaningful encounters throughout the immersion, participants are encouraged to consider how their experiences challenge their understanding of poverty, justice, faith, resilience and human dignity—and how they might take what they have learned into their own lives and communities.
