Ely parish welcomes Cambodian mission priest

St. Etheldreda Parish in Ely welcomed Fr Yacob, a missionary priest from the sister parish of St. Joseph in Prek Toal, Siem Reap. The visit was marked by Mass, inspiring words from Fr Yacob, and a shared lunch with the parish community. Eunice Kwashie reports.

On Sunday 6th October, the St. Etheldreda parish community was blessed with a special visit from Fr Yacob Chilka, a missionary priest from Cambodia. His visit strengthened the spiritual connection between the twin parishes and raise awareness of the challenges rural communities face in Cambodia through vital missionary work.

Fr Yacob is part of the Mill Hill Missionaries (Maidenhead), an organisation dedicated to spreading the Gospel in some of the world’s most remote areas. With a focus on pioneering missionary work, the Mill Hill Missionaries strive to bring Christ’s message to those who have never heard it. Their mission also extends to promoting justice, peace, and development initiatives. In Cambodia, where Fr Yacob serves alongside the priest in charge, Fr Totet, and two additional priests, their mission focuses on building faith communities, promoting education, and supporting regions with scarce resources.

Fr Yacob’s missionary journey began when he was inspired by the Mill Hill Missionaries who came to his home country of India. “I was touched by their charism,” he said. After 11 years of formation—including time spent in Kenya—he was ordained as a priest in India. “The missionaries were a fruit to me, and I wanted to be the fruit for others,” Fr Yacob reflected, recalling his call to continue the work that had deeply impacted his life.

In 2019, Fr Yacob was asked if he was ready to take on a new mission in Cambodia. He answered this call and embarked on a journey to evangelise in a predominantly Buddhist country. He described the challenge of learning the local language, Khmer, over two years, calling the experience difficult but ultimately “sweet.” He noted how the Cambodian community welcomed him with open arms. “They never close their doors,” he shared, expressing his admiration for their openness and warmth, which extends from young children to government officials.

Fr Yacob now serves as the parish priest at St. Joseph in Prek Toal, a floating community in the Siem Reap region of Cambodia. The area is extremely resource-limited, and his mission extends beyond spiritual guidance to supporting local children through education. The parish works with young boys and girls, helping them expand their horizons. “We try to show them they don’t have to follow the same path as their parents, who are often farmers,” Fr Yacob joked, reflecting that without the missionaries coming to India, he too might have followed in his Fr’s footsteps. At St. Joseph’s, the ministry seeks to empower the next generation, giving these young children the tools to create better futures.

Reflecting on his work, Fr Yacob shared a touching metaphor: Just as Jesus called His disciples to be “fishers of men”, he now finds himself “literally on the water,” spreading the message of Christ to the floating communities of Cambodia.

After celebrating Mass, Fr Yacob gave a brief talk, after which the parish hosted a special lunch in his honour. The gathering was a resounding success, with parishioners from Ipswich and surrounding areas coming together to meet and speak with Fr Yacob. The atmosphere was warm, and the sense of solidarity between the parish and the missionary efforts in Cambodia was unmistakable.

Fr Yacob left a lasting impression on the parish with his humility, dedication, and passion for his work in Cambodia. The lunch was a wonderful example of the unity and compassion that characterises the Ely parish, with the presence of friends from Ipswich, Yarmouth, and Fr Tony from Peterborough (the former parish priest of Ely) adding to the sense of togetherness.

During his visit, Fr. Yacob enjoyed attending Evensong at Ely Cathedral. He also had a memorable trip to Bury, where he met with young people from St. Benedict’s School who have visited and worked with him.

As the parish looks forward to future opportunities to support the mission in Cambodia, they are grateful for Fr Yacob’s visit and the reminder of the global reach of our faith.

A special thanks to Stella and Gerald Fox for organising this event and for their continued dedication to the Cambodian missions.

Pictured above (from left to right): Fr John Ablewhite (retired), Fr Yacob Chilka and Fr David Finegan (Parish Priest). Photo by Eunice Kwashie

Pictured below: Fr Yacob and Fr David with local parishioners involved in Cambodian missions. Photo provided by Stella Fox

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