The mission of the spiritual apostolate in Cambodia is to weave together all aspects of our social, educational, and pastoral activities into spiritual programs that foster a transformative and interreligious spirituality. This mission is grounded in dialogue between the Ignatian tradition and other religious traditions, particularly Theravada Buddhism. The Jesuits in Cambodia accompany individuals on their spiritual journeys, offering spiritual direction, retreats, and talks. Additionally, the Jesuit Mission provides Cambodian youth with opportunities to encounter God more deeply through the MAGIS program, which is designed to deepen their faith and spiritual engagement.

MAGIS

In the context of Jesuit motto: “Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam”, the word MAGIS (Latin) means ‘more’ or ‘greater’. The MAGIS program, offered by the Society of Jesus in collaboration with other religious institutes, provides young people with the opportunity to learn and practice Ignatian Spirituality. Introduced to Cambodia, along with other Asia Pacific countries, in 2008, MAGIS has become a vital part of youth ministry within the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP). The development of the MAGIS program was enhanced through the creation of the MAGIS Formation Module and the biannual MAGIS JCAP Gathering. In 2019, the gathering took place in Thailand, and in 2023, participants from MAGIS Cambodia joined the World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal.

The goal of MAGIS Cambodia is to introduce Ignatian Spirituality to laypeople, particularly the youth, who, according to the Ignatian paradigm, are the true bearers of this spirituality. Ignatian Spirituality helps them cultivate relationships with themselves, with God, with others, and with nature. The program aims to prepare the younger generation as lay leaders, both for the Church and the nation, equipped with the values and principles of Ignatian Spirituality.