A Church leader in Cambodia has urged his flock to serve the poor and visit prisoners in order to build up the Church.

“Share food with the hungry, share clothes with the poor, visit sick people and prisoners, and welcome foreigners,” Monsignor Enrique (Kike) Figaredo Alvargonzales told about 1,000 Catholics in Battambang on July 4.

They were attending a celebration to mark the 10th year of Monsignor Figaredo’s leadership of Battambang apostolic prefecture.

“To build our Church, we do not only depend on priests or sisters,” the 50-year-old Spanish Jesuit told the people, some of them in wheelchairs.

The missioner has headed the Cambodian Church jurisdiction since July 2, 2000 and Catholics say they appreciate the work he has done.

The local Church has developed its social services and reached out to various communities under Monsignor Figaredo, said Dum Brachgna, a lay Church woman leader. “I thank God so much for him.”

Monsignor Figaredo has worked with Cambodian people, particularly the disabled, since 1985, beginning with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Thailand.

Battambang apostolic prefecture, one of three Church jurisdictions in the country, has about 5,000 Catholics in nine provinces in western Cambodia.

Bishop Emile Destombes, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, and Monsignor Antonysamy Susairaj, apostolic prefect of Kompong Cham, also attended the celebration in Battambang.

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