After more than two decades of contemplative presence, a Carmelite monastery established by Korean sisters in Phnom Penh formally closed on March 19, with Church leaders citing the absence of new vocations among young Cambodian women.
By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, LiCAS News The Discalced Carmelite monastery in Phnom Penh, founded in 2004 by sisters from the Seoul Carmelite Monastery, held the distinction of being the first contemplative religious community from South Korea to undertake missionary work in Cambodia. After years of service, the remaining sisters are now returning to their homeland. The closing ceremony was marked by a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, and concelebrated by Bishop Pierre Hangly Suon, Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh, and numerous priests. Around 100 members of the local Catholic community gathered to express gratitude for the sisters’ quiet but profound witness over the years. In his homily, Bishop Schmitthaeusler expressed deep regret over the closure, acknowledging the spiritual richness the Carmelite presence brought to the local Church. At the same time, he encouraged the faithful to remain hopeful and united in prayer, emphasizing the enduring value of contemplative life even in its physical absence. The Carmelite sisters, members of the Order of Discalced Carmelite Nuns (OCD), first arrived in Cambodia in 2004. They initially resided in a house in Phnom Penh before moving in 2010 to a purpose-built monastery in Ang Snuol District, Kandal Province, on the outskirts of the capital. At its height, the community consisted of seven Korean sisters, many of whom learned Khmer and some English to better connect with the local Church. Faithful to their charism, the sisters lived a cloistered life dedicated to prayer, silence, penance, and manual work. Their monastery became widely regarded as a place of peace and spiritual refuge amid the rapid development and social changes unfolding in Cambodia. Visitors often described a profound sense of tranquility upon entering the grounds, where the rhythm of prayer shaped daily life and worldly concerns seemed to fade beyond the monastery walls. Despite their limited external engagement, the sisters’ presence carried a universal mission. Rooted in the Carmelite tradition, their primary “work” was prayer—for the Church, for society, and for a world marked by suffering and division. Their hidden sacrifices were offered as a form of spiritual solidarity with humanity. The closure also highlights wider regional concern. In neighboring Thailand, Church leaders are witnessing similar trends. “A similar situation in Thailand,” said Niphon Saengpradab, immediate past council president of Serra in Thailand, an organization dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. “The shortage of vocations is attributed to secularization, a decline in family faith, and poor catechesis,” he told LiCAS News. Mr. Niphon, who chaired a seminar for Serra members in the country’s eastern region on March 20–21, stressed that addressing the decline requires a more proactive approach. “There must be a renewed and deliberate effort to foster a culture of vocations within the Church,” he said. “We must move from a passive stance to active promotion, accompanied by prayer.” Reflecting on the origins of the mission, the monastery’s prioress, Sr. Mary, OCD, once described the Cambodian foundation as a historic step for the Korean Church. Established in 1940 with roots linked to France, the Seoul Carmel community had grown steadily over decades, eventually founding multiple monasteries across South Korea. The mission to Cambodia, she wrote, was a historic milestone, making it the first contemplative outreach beyond Korea. While the monastery’s closure marks the end of its presence in Cambodia, many in the local Church remember the Carmelite sisters as a quiet yet powerful witness whose legacy of prayer will continue beyond their departure.