Richie's letters
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The Jesuit Mission in Cambodia began in 1981 when the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) started assisting Cambodian refugees and displaced persons in refugee camps along the Thai border during the civil war in Cambodia. Recognizing the extensive needs of the poor, JRS formalized its commitment in 1990 by signing an agreement with the Cambodian Ministry of Social Action to establish a Jesuit ministry in Phnom Penh.
As of August 2024, the Jesuit mission in Cambodia consists of approximately 25 Jesuit priests, brothers, and scholastics, who work alongside more than 500 collaborators, including religious sisters, diocesan and religious clergy, international lay volunteers, and Cambodian partners. Together, they administer an apostolic prefecture, parishes, schools, and student centers. They also manage programs focused on poverty alleviation, ecology, rural development, and special support for people with disabilities. In addition, they advocate for peace, human rights, and the elimination of landmines and cluster munitions, while also assisting and accompanying refugees. The mission provides pastoral and spiritual care to various individuals and communities, teaches at universities and seminaries, and engages in interreligious initiatives and local church development.
The Jesuit mission in Cambodia is dedicated to serving the poor and marginalized, upholding their rights, and empowering them and their communities to work towards a better future. The mission’s projects are designed not only to achieve their specific objectives but also to accompany the people they serve, walking together in optimism to overcome suffering and embrace a hopeful future.