PHNOM PENH (RVA News): Hundreds of faithful from across Cambodia’s three ecclesiastical jurisdictions, joined by national and international guests, gathered in Phnom Penh on May 2 for the dedication Mass of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Phsar Toch.
Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, presided over the dedication rites. Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez, apostolic prefect of Battambang; Bishop Pierre Suon Hangly, apostolic prefect administrator of Kompong Cham; and Bishop Paul Trairong Multree of the Diocese of Surat Thani, Thailand.
In his homily, Bishop Schmitthaeusler described the new church as a significant milestone for the Catholic community in Cambodia.
“This is a most precious gift that God has bestowed upon his faithful people within the Catholic Church in Cambodia,” he said.
The archbishop noted that the new structure, now the largest and most modern church in the Vicariate of Phnom Penh, symbolises both renewal and continuity for a Church that endured severe destruction during the Khmer Rouge period.
“It stands as a testament to the glory of God and his love for his people in Cambodia,” he added.
Father Paul Roeung Chatsirey, parish priest of St. Joseph’s and coordinator of the Northern Phnom Penh Pastoral District, said the dedication marked the end of a long journey for the parish community.
“For over 33 years, from 1992 until May 2, 2026, we utilised the old building for our liturgies. Today, we finally receive the joy of this newly dedicated church,” he said.
Father Chatsirey outlined the development process, noting that the project was initiated in 2018, received funding approval from the Paris Foreign Missions Society in 2019, and began construction in 2020. Despite delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the building was completed on 8 December 2025, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.
The new church measures 48.4 metres in length, 30 metres in width, and rises 46 metres to its spire. Its design combines traditional Khmer architectural elements with French colonial influences and Catholic symbolism.
The altar houses a relic of St. Louis Martin, father of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, along with soil from the land associated with the Servants of God in Cambodia.
The church complex includes an underground parking facility, a multi-purpose hall, a sanctuary for liturgical celebrations, archival and exhibition spaces, and a bell tower. The site also carries historical significance, as it was formerly the location of the Minor Seminary of the Catholic Church in Cambodia and includes a heritage structure dating to 1930.
The dedication concluded with prayers of thanksgiving, marking a new chapter for the Catholic community in Phnom Penh.
