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.