Last 25-28 January, the Jesuit Community in Phnom Penh hosted the JCAP meeting of Major Superiors. This was a chance for the community to welcome participants of the meeting to their new home, Prieb So (The White Dove) in Phnom Penh Thmey.

Prieb So, the newly built Jesuit House and Apostolic Center, has 17 modest rooms and a large conference room, thus was able to accommodate the meeting. Fr Gabriel Je (KOR), Delegate of the Korean Provincial, and Fr Taejin Kim (KOR), Secretary to the Delegate, were happy to see their long and hard work of house building bear fruit in their being able to welcome and host such an activity.

On the days of the meeting, the relaxed garden setting and the small koi pond by the dining area in Prieb So were much appreciated as a gathering place and conversation area. Thanks to Fr Greg Priyadi (IDO) and Fr Mardi Joannes (IDO) who have tended to the garden and the fish, the JCAP group had good breathing, de-stressing space in between marathon sessions. Future visitors and residents of Prieb So will surely also benefit from these life-giving spaces.

Also helping with other logistical needs of the meeting were Fr Panus Winarto (IDO) and Sch Mark Lopez (PHI) who were equally happy to have met the major superiors of the region.

Special meals were a highlight of that week. In order for the group to get to know some of the work of Jesuits in Phnom Penh, one lunch was hosted at the Jesuit Service Cambodia office in Tuol Kork where the group got to meet former JS Director Sr. Denise Coghlan and all the JS Staff now headed by Fr Greg Priyadi. On another day, dinner was hosted by the Banteay Prieb Community of Jesuits and volunteers, headed by Fr Indon Oh (KOR). Banteay Prieb is the technical boarding school for the disabled established and run by the Jesuits around 20 km away from Phnom Penh. And on one evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lee who are among the Korean donors of Prieb So, hosted the group for dinner at their restaurant, the Imperial Garden.

On the day of the meeting’s end, the formal house blessing and ribbon cutting for Prieb So was held. Msgr. Emile Destombes, MEP, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, presided over the blessing which was attended by 150 guests (JCAP Superiors, Phnom Penh based missionaries, church workers, lay collaborators, benefactors and Jesuits of the Cambodia Mission). For most of that week, therefore, Prieb So and the Jesuits in Cambodia were thankfully graced by the presence of so many friends in the Lord and so many partners in mission. (Contributor: Fr Taejin Kim)

View more pictures of the Prieb So Blessing.