Phnom Penh Catholic Center – The Cambodian Salesian Family, together with the Catholic Church in Cambodia, celebrated with joy and faith the priestly ordination of Fr. Paul Bao Le Quoc, SDB, and the diaconal ordination of Br. Harris Raymond Lawrence, SDB. The ordinations were conferred by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, in the presence of Bishop Pierre Suon Hangly and Mgr. Enrique Figueroa, JS, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang.

The celebration gathered members of the Cambodian clergy, religious congregations, and lay faithful, with a particularly meaningful presence of children and youth from Salesian schools and projects across Cambodia. Families of the ordinands also joined: Fr. Paul Bao Le Quoc’s parents and relatives traveled from Vietnam, including his uncle, a priest; while Deacon Raymond Lawrence’s parents and brother came from India, where his brother is also preparing for priestly ordination.

The Saint Paul THA Province was represented by Fr. Ekasit Talhakultorn and other confreres from Thailand. From the Philippines, Fr. Rafael de la Cruz, rector of the Salesian Theologate in Parañaque, joined the celebration alongside Filipino priests, highlighting the international fraternity of the Salesian Family.

During the homily, Bishop Olivier expressed his joy in giving the Church and the Salesian Family a new priest and a new deacon:

“The Salesians of Don Bosco in Cambodia are at the service of the poor and the needy in the name of the Church and in the name of Jesus. We are not simply an organization; we are part of the mission of Jesus Christ.”

Following the ordination, Fr. Eugene Xalxo, delegate superior of the Salesians in Cambodia, announced the first obedience of Fr. Paul Bao Le Quoc to the Don Bosco Phnom Penh community, where he will serve alongside the newly ordained deacon, Rev. Raymond Lawrence, with special attention to youth ministry. Fr. Paul will celebrate his first Mass on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Mary Help of Christians Vice-Parish, within the Don Bosco Phnom Penh compound.

This event marks a significant milestone for the Cambodian Salesian Family and for the Catholic Church in Cambodia, a land of ad gentes mission. Here, the Church walks with the Cambodian people in love and unity, within an intercultural and interreligious context where inculturation means sharing ancestral wisdom and traditions rather than imposing. Coming from Vietnam and India, two countries where the Church is also a seed of hope and dialogue, the new priest and deacon are called to journey with Cambodian youth in building a civilization of love.