Mass celebrates East Anglia links with Cambodia

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Mass celebrates East Anglia links with Cambodia

The Diocese of East Anglia's twinning link with the Cambodian Diocese of Battambang was celebrated on April 28 with a Cambodian-style Mass at St John of the Cross, Aylsham, attended by nearly 60 people from across the Diocese, reports Katie Maidment.


Hosted by North Walsham Parish (twinned with St Francis Xavier Parish, Svay Sisophon),these twice-yearly masses are an opportunity for parishioners from all the twinned parishes to come together in prayer to celebrate our links with Cambodia and experience familiar liturgy through the eyes of a different culture.

Fr Philip Shyrane led the celebration with Fr James Walsh and Fr David Ward also taking part together with representatives from St Mary's Ipswich (Chomnaom), St Ethelreda's, Ely (Prek Toal), Our Lady & St Walstan's, Costessey (Tahen) and parishioners from Great Yarmouth and Gorleston.

Traditional Khmer offertory gifts of incense, flowers and food provided a timely link with the host parish's current efforts to "Live Simply, Sustainably and in Solidarity with the Poor' [CAFOD initiative] and many present contributed to a collection of items for the local Foodbank.

Mass concluded with two Khmer customs: the offering of incense in memory of the faithful departed and the sharing of food and friendship.

The next Cambodia-style Mass is on Friday September 22 at North Walsham.

Pictured is the Cambodia Mass in Aylsham. Pictures by Gerald Fox.

 

 

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