Richie's letters
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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.
During the Eucharistic celebration, Msgr. Kike highlighted three points in his homily: 1) He talked of the need for communal spirit as the apostles who were sent two by two to evangelize; 2) It is the Spirit which invites everyone to enter into the communion and to share with one another; 3) Likewise, he stressed that Sch. Rike has generously responded to this call which is completely the gift from the Almighty God to live out this communal spirit in the Society of Jesus with his other companions. He closed his homily with a sincere thanks to Sch. Rike’s parents who allowed and supported his decision all along the way despite their different faith and belief. Their generous giving, he emphasized, moves beyond the boundary of religion and faith, and such attitude already manifests the Spirit that animates the Church, the Spirit of sharing and of communion.
Currently, the Jesuits for Cambodia Mission are composed of four members including Sch. Rike. [note: there are more than 20 Jesuits who work as missionaries in Cambodia Mission, but they are members of other Jesuit Provinces such as Korea, Philippines, Ranchi]. We pray that more vocations will be given to the Church, particularly the Society of Jesus in Cambodia.
(Photos by Kim Tae-jin, SJ)