PALM SUNDAY AT BOKOR CHURCH

On the morning of March 29, atop Bokor Mountain bathed in sunlight and wind, the Palm Sunday Mass — commemorating the Passion of Christ — was solemnly celebrated at the historic Bokor Catholic Church. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, presided over the liturgy, joined in communion with the faithful from the Kampot Pastoral Center.

Within the quiet and contemplative atmosphere of a church that has endured nearly a century of history, the blessing and procession of palms carried a profound meaning. The raised palm branches not only recalled the people of Jerusalem welcoming Jesus into the Holy City, but also became a profession of faith — a faith that does not remain in glory, but enters into the path of the Cross.

In his homily, Bishop Olivier invited the faithful to contemplate the “Way of Peace” shown by Christ — a path not built upon power or worldly triumph, but upon self-giving love. He emphasized three essential pillars of this journey:

• The sacrifice of life: through self-denial, forgiveness, and love. In offering His Body and Blood, Christ opened the way to true peace for all humanity.
• Surrender of personal will: seeking and fulfilling God’s will rather than one’s own. This trust becomes a guiding light, even in the darkest moments.
• Prayer and silence: choosing not to respond with violence, but with love and forgiveness. Silence in prayer is not weakness, but an inner strength born of complete communion with God.

In the context of Bokor Church — a structure that has endured war, occupation, and abandonment — these reflections resonate with particular depth. Here, a space once stripped of its sacred purpose has now become again a place of liturgy, where prayer rises in the silence of the mountains.

Palm Sunday at Bokor, therefore, is not merely the remembrance of an event in salvation history. It is also a living sign that faith remains present — quiet yet steadfast — even when the building itself stands only as stone walls marked by time.

Within the journey of restoring Bokor Church, today’s liturgy carries a deeper meaning:
a reminder that restoration is not only about rebuilding physical structures, but about rekindling liturgical life — the very heart of a church. The palm branches raised on this mountain summit not only recall ancient Jerusalem, but also stand as a promise: that this place will once again become a living space of faith, prayer, and encounter with God.

As the Church enters Holy Week, the faithful are invited to prepare their hearts to walk with Christ along the Way of the Cross — not as a distant memory, but as a personal interior journey. And here on Bokor Mountain, amidst mist and wind, that journey becomes more tangible: a path of humility, healing, and hope.