About 230 young Catholics from the Cambodia's three ecclesiastical jurisdictions gathered for a four-day inter-diocesan youth camp on vocation, exploring faith, moral choices and the challenges of discerning God's call in an increasingly digital world.
The camp, held from October 29 to November 1 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Sihanoukville, a coastal city in western Cambodia, was organized by the Inter-Diocesan Vocation Committee.
The gathering brought together young people from the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh and the Apostolic Prefectures of Battambang and Kampong Cham. Bishop Pierre Suon Hangly, Coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh and Apostolic Administrator of Kampong Cham, presided over the event, joined by priests, religious brothers and sisters.
Bishop Hangly said the camp aimed to help young people recognize God's continuing call to spread the Gospel and share love and salvation with others. It also provided an opportunity for youth from different parts of the country to build friendships, exchange life experiences and strengthen communion through synodal listening and dialogue.
He further emphasized the importance of helping young people deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith and moral teachings while freely discerning their future according to their conscience.
The program included sessions on moral life, vocation and the influence of emerging technologies on personal discernment. Bishop Hangly presented talks on “Moral Life” and “Vocation to Love God and Serve Our Neighbors,” while the Catholic Social Communications Office led a session titled “Can Artificial Intelligence Help Me Hear the Call?”
The discussions encouraged participants to examine how Catholic values can guide their everyday decisions, relationships and use of technology.
Chamroeun Ratey, from the Battambang community, said it was her first time attending the camp and that the sessions gave her a broader understanding of different vocations, including religious life and marriage.
The discussions, she said, helped her appreciate the importance of making personal decisions and discerning which path to follow.
Tep Seyha, from the Prey Kabas community in Takeo province, who attended the camp for the third time, said this year's program stood out for addressing vocation in the digital and artificial intelligence era.
He said the discussions helped young people reflect on how to use their time responsibly, avoid allowing technology to dominate their decisions and become more attentive to God's will.
Sron Saman, from the Dak Dam community in Mondulkiri province, said sessions on morality and the pursuit of happiness encouraged her to reflect more deeply on her life and strengthen her relationship with God through prayer and active participation in Church activities.
In his concluding message, Bishop Hangly urged young people not to be afraid of responding to God's call.
“Please do not be afraid to respond to God's call. What matters is that we must pray, listen to His voice, and examine our life situation and current society to make the right choice to serve God and our brothers and sisters,” he said.
The Inter-Diocesan Youth Vocation Camp is organized every three years under the guidance of the bishops of Cambodia's three ecclesiastical jurisdictions: Phnom Penh, Battambang and Kampong Cham.
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