It was a joyful day for the Society of Jesus, particularly the Jesuit Mission in Cambodia which had just received the First Perpetual Vows of a new member, Sch. Henry Ky Rike, SJ, on March 26, 2022. This event was also historic because it is the first time for a Jesuit’s First Vows Mass to be held in Cambodia.

The Eucharist was celebrated at the St. Francis Xavier Church, Banteay Meanchey Province, by Msgr Enrique Figaredo (Kike), SJ, the Apostolic Prefect of Battambang Prefecture, Fr. Oh In-don, SJ, the Delegate of the Korea Provincial for Cambodia Mission of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Gregorius Priyardi, SJ, the Local Superior of the Northern Community and many other priests. 

Sch. Rike was born on December 22, 1986 in the refugee camp ‘Site 2’ in Thailand to his father, Mr. Ky Ka and his mother, Mrs. Soem Tin. He has one sibling, and he is the first born. Right after the repatriation in 1991, he remained in Serei Saophoan (Svay Sisophon) and grew up there. He got to know the Church and the Christian faith, and was baptized on April 07, 2007 at St. Joseph Church in Phnom Penh while he was doing his undergraduate studies there. He quit his work as Data Management Officer of the Ministry of Health in Pailin and came to Koun Prieb, a Jesuit Candidacy House, in 2018. He was accepted into the Novitiate of Sta. Maria Della Strada in Taunggyi, Myanmar under the guidance of his Novice Director, Fr. Fortunatus Parwoto (Romo Toto), SJ, in 2020. Sch. Rike briefly shared about his vocation story at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, emphasizing that throughout all these years, the desire to serve and journey with Christ through ministering to the poor and the needy is his primary calling. He wants to serve them because through them he can see the face of Christ.