Companions in a mission of justice and reconciliation

19 February 2018

Celebration of Final Vows by Fr In-gun Kang SJ

Categories: Formation, Province News

February 6 was a special day at Prieb So, the Jesuit community and apostolic centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Fr In-gun Kang SJ pronounced his Final Vows as a Jesuit during the Eucharistic Celebration presided by Fr In-don Oh SJ, Delegate of the Korean Provincial.

The chapel was filled to overflowing. Fr Kang’s brother and sister-in-law were there as were Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia Director Sr Denise Coghlan RSM, other sisters, lay volunteers and staff of Jesuit Service Cambodia. Also present were Fr Kang’s Jesuit confreres – Apostolic Prefect of Battambang Bishop Enrique Figaredo SJ and most of the Jesuits working in or visiting Cambodia – and two Diocesan priests from Korea who are attached to Battambang Prefecture.

Fr Kang is a Korean Jesuit missionary in Cambodia. He is very much involved in inter-religious dialogue and has a very close relationship with the Buddhist monks in the country. He is also Secretary for Buddhist Studies and Dialogue for the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.

During the service, Fr Oh expressed his gratitude to Fr Kang for his dedicated service. Others also shared their personal feelings.

Fr Kang expressed these sentiments: “At the moment of taking my final vows, I have an ever-present feeling of unworthiness, but I am overwhelmed by God’s grace and love, which justify my audacity to take the improbable, or even impossible, commitment to His call.”

He said that it is not he who is taking the Final Vows. “It is God who takes Her faithful vows first, promising that She will be with me whenever and wherever I am. So, I said ‘Yes!’

“I remember the words of Pope Francis which I take personally as my mission as a professed member of the Society: to become an apostle of joy and Consolation, of Compassion and of Communal Discernment.”

After the Eucharistic service, everyone adjourned for a celebratory dinner.

Share this article

More News

Subscribe to JCAP eNews

Stay Connected with the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific.

Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific will use the information you provide on this form to provide news and updates. Please tick the box below to confirm your subscription.

JCAP eNews

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at enews@jcapsj.org. We will treat your information with respect. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at enews@jcapsj.org. We will treat your information with respect. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

GDPR We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.