On May 31, a Cambodian national, Chour Damo, 29, pronounced his perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Society of Jesus, which signify his formal entrance into the order. He is only the second Cambodian to become a Jesuit, after Ham Toeun, who is presently doing his regency in Svay Sisophon, Cambodia. Damo made his vows at the Sacred Heart Novitiate in the Philippines, and is now a Jesuit scholastic.
There are around 30,000 Catholics in Cambodia representing only 0.15% of the total population. Sch Damo is from the province of Kampong Cham, northeast of Phnom Penh. As a young boy, from the age of 8, Damo was already attracted to the life of priests. He met many priests in Cambodia and saw how they were happy while busy helping other people. His heart resonated with theirs as he felt the deep desire to help the poor too. Damo’s awareness of and introduction to religious life began while he was at university, when he lived with other students at the Catholic Church Student Centre. There he met Jesuit priests such as Fr Ashley Evans SJ and Fr Kang Ingun SJ.
After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Royal University of Law and Economics in Phnom Penh, he worked as project coordinator of a high school in Prey Veng province for five years. Damo was involved with setting up the school, coordinating with the 
village chief, the Ministry of Education, parents and teachers. “I loved that job,” he said. “It was a great chance to guide the students, to do something for the improvement of education in Cambodia. I felt good about it. It made me feel happy.”
Following the voice of God in his heart, Damo entered the novitiate in the Philippines in 2012, where he spent two years with novices from the Philippines. One unforgettable experience was his labour trial, when he worked as a caregiver in a home for special children. For six weeks he lived with children with mental and other disabilities, feeding, bathing, grooming, and caring for their varied needs. Although he found it difficult at first, eventually he grew to love and appreciate all the children and the staff.
At the end of two years as a novice, he said, “In the beginning, I was alone in the Philippines. I had to face my problems alone. But through that, I got to know myself a lot better, my weaknesses and shortcomings. But much more than that, I was able to enter into the experience of God’s love for me despite my sinfulness. It was a very special time.”
Damo has returned to Cambodia to obtain his official academic records and visit his family. He returns to Manila on July 19 for English language studies at the Arrupe International Residence before he begins his philosophy studies.