Kompong-Cham was established as an apostolic prefecture by the Holy See on Sept. 26, 1968.
The seven provinces -- Kompong-Cham, Kratie, Stung Treng, Rattanakiri, Mondolkiri, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng -- belong to the prefecture, with Monsignor Andre Lesouef as its first apostolic prefect.
Church properties were destroyed and many priests and lay Catholics were killed during the civil war in Cambodia from 1970 to 1979.
The prefecture has 3000 Catholics out of a total population of 5,763,685, and has 14 priests in its 27 parishes.