Abang Johari: New St Peter's Church building a symbol of vision, resilience and faith
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said the church building is not just a place for prayer and reflection, it is a symbol of vision, resilience and deep-rooted faith.
"The presence of St Peter's Church among other religious houses in close proximity is a powerful testament to the religious harmony and unity that Sarawak is so proud to uphold," he said in his speech at the opening ceremony.
His speech was read by his deputy, Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas.
Abang Johari said Sarawakians are blessed to live in a land where mutual respect and peaceful coexistence are not mere aspirations, but a way of life.
"This church adds further beauty to that legacy and will undoubtedly be a feature tourism attraction in the years to come," he said.
"What is even more heartening is the spirit of togetherness that made this vision a reality."
He lauded the remarkable collaboration shown by the Catholic community, joined hand-in-hand by friends and supporters from other faiths and walks of life.
He said whether through generous funding or dedicated physical labour, this has truly been an exemplary showcase of what a united community can achieve.
He also said it is the shining model of how shared purpose and collective goodwill can give rise to greatness.
Later, Uggah, on behalf of the premier, handing over a RM1 million cheque to the church in further aid to the building fund.
The RM38-million church, which can accommodate up to 1,000 parishioners, first opened its doors for the midnight mass on Christmas Eve last year.
The new church also features an impressive collection of stained glasses that have been handmade and expertly designed by Italians, as well as incorporating the Brooke family crest and the Sarawak emblem in two stained glasses, along with local Dayak motifs showcasing the uniqueness of Sarawak's culture and history.
Thye church's history dated back to 1937 with the purchase of seven acres of swampland in Padungan by Monsignor Aloysius Hopfgartner to foster the growth of the local church.
With the availability of the land, he later initiated the construction of the church, which was completed in December 1949.
Since then, it had undergone several further developments by the 1960s to accommodate the growing congregation.
Present at the event were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundie, former federal minister Tan Sri Leo Moggie, Penang Cardinal Bishop Datuk Seri Sebastian Francis, Kuching Archbishop Datuk Dr Simon Poh, Melaka-Johor Diocese Bishop Berard Paul and St Peter's Church rector Father Vincent Chin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Malaysia
19 hours ago
- Herald Malaysia
Corpus Christi Procession around Lundu town
On June 21 at 5pm, parishioners from the different outstations of Holy Spirit parish gathered for the celebration of Holy Mass at Holy Spirit Church, to mark the feast of Corpus Christi. Aug 20, 2025 Holy Spirit parish rector Fr Adrian Kho joining parishioners for the Corpus Christi procession around Lundu town. LUNDu: On June 21 at 5pm, parishioners from the different outstations of Holy Spirit parish gathered for the celebration of Holy Mass at Holy Spirit Church, to mark the feast of Corpus Christi. Many had remarked that it was the first time that a parish-level event in Lundu was participated by such an unprecedented number of parishioners. Because of the huge turnout, most of the parishioners had to participate in Holy Mass from the car-park area below the Church. This huge congregation expressed their desire to come together to celebrate the true presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and to publicly express their faith by participating in the procession with the Blessed Sacrament around Lundu town, after the celebration of Mass. For this procession, the monstrance carrying the Blessed Sacrament was mounted on a lighted floral decorated platform, carried in turns by wardens in groups of four from the different zones throughout the route. The 3.2km procession route took about two hours to complete. The celebration for the evening concluded with a Benediction for all who came.--Today's Catholic
Herald Malaysia
20 hours ago
- Herald Malaysia
English priest presents Our Lady of Persecuted Christians icon to Iraqi bishop
Marking the 11th anniversary of forced displacement of Christians in Iraq, Father Benedict Kiely presented an icon of Our Lady of Persecuted Christians to Bishop Benedictus Younan Hanno, Syriac Catholic archbishop of Mosul and its dependencies, on Aug. 6 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. Aug 20, 2025 Bishop Benedictus Hanno receives the Our Lady of Persecuted Christians icon in Qaraqosh, Iraq, on Aug. 6, 2025, from Father Benedict Kiely of | Credit: Father Benedict Kiely By Georgena Habbaba Marking the 11th anniversary of forced displacement of Christians in Iraq, Father Benedict Kiely presented an icon of Our Lady of Persecuted Christians to Bishop Benedictus Younan Hanno, Syriac Catholic archbishop of Mosul and its dependencies, on Aug. 6 in Qaraqosh, Iraq. The bishop announced that the icon will be placed in St. Ephrem Church in Qaraqosh, which is currently under construction and expected to open in November. Kiely, a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, England, has spent the last decade supporting persecuted Christians. In 2015, while visiting Iraq to assist in Aid to the Church in Need's efforts to shelter and feed victims of forced displacement, he became deeply bound to the Christians there who suffer for their faith, leading him to return many times and expand his support. His efforts bore fruit in 2016 with the official founding of dedicating his priesthood to preaching, writing, and raising global awareness of the persecution of Middle Eastern Christians 'as well as working to create job opportunities to help them remain in their historic homeland, something that cannot be achieved without a source of livelihood,' he told ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner. 'Over 10 years of service, our organization has supported more than 60 small projects in Iraq alone in addition to other initiatives in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Armenia, and Jordan,' Kiely said. 'We focus on small and family-run projects to help families remain rooted in the land of their forefathers.' Spiritual support before humanitarian aid Driven by a sincere desire to call Church members to intensify prayer for their persecuted brothers and sisters worldwide and to draw attention to their suffering, Kiely has launched a spiritual initiative to establish shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary under the title 'Our Lady of Persecuted Christians.' 'A Catholic organization founded by a priest cannot be just like any other humanitarian NGO [nongovernmental organization] that provides material aid only,' Kiely explained. 'Prayer must be at the heart of our mission. That is why we have created these shrines, to offer a space for prayer for suffering Christians, many of whom are in the diaspora, so they can also be a sign of hope.' This year, the group launched an annual World Day of Prayer for the Persecuted on July 24, which will be observed every year at all shrines. After the dedication at the Church of St. Michael in New York City — which featured an icon of the Virgin in traditional Chaldean dress holding the Child Jesus — there were dedications at six more shrines around the world: Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory in Warwick, London; St. John Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton, Massachusetts; Akalla Church in Stockholm; Byzantine Chapel of Wyoming Catholic College in Lander, Wyoming; and Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Astana, Kazakhstan. The seventh shrine in Qaraqosh will have its dedication this October. Most of the dedication ceremonies included the local bishop who celebrated the Divine Liturgy and blessed the icon. Middle Eastern Christian artists While the icons share stylistic similarities, they all bear their title in Syriac. 'I wanted it to express the identity and continuity of Iraq's Christians and remind the world that the language of Christ is still alive and spoken in this land,' he explained. Kiely prefers the icons to be created by Middle Eastern Christian artists to carry symbolic meaning and offer them both encouragement and support. The Qaraqosh icon was written by Deacon Ibrahim Lallo, an artist from nearby Bartella. Kiely concluded with a message of hope to Iraq's Christians: 'You are not forgotten. The Church in the West prays for you and supports you so you can remain in your historic homeland, keep your faith, your language, and your heritage. You have been here for 2,000 years, and these shrines are a sign of our concern for you and our commitment to stand by your side.'--CNA
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Gothic grandeur of faith and unity
Dignitaries gathering for a group photo during the opening ceremony of St Peter's Church. — Photos by ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star WITH its imposing bell towers, pointed spires and stained-glass windows, the new St Peter's Church in Kuching is an architectural masterpiece. More significantly, the striking Gothic structure is a work of faith and devotion – and a testament to Sarawak's religious harmony. The original St Peter's Church was completed in 1949 and gradually expanded over the decades. But in recent years, the timber foundation began to fail, prompting the decision to build a new church on the same site. Stained glass windows adorn the new St Peter's Church in Kuching. — Photos by ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star Reflecting on the project, St Peter's rector Father Vincent Chin described it as a journey of faith. 'From the very beginning, I firmly believed this church is what God wants, and that conviction kept me going,' he said. The RM38mil Roman Catholic church was completed last December and officially opened on June 28. Its Gothic style was suggested by Archbishop Emeritus Datuk John Ha. A stained glass panel depicting figures from the Bible. 'He wanted a church that looked traditional and referred me to the old St Joseph's Cathedral in Kuching, which was a Gothic church,' Chin said. One of the new church's most outstanding features is its stained-glass windows – 88 in total – including rose windows and panels depicting biblical scenes and figures. The windows were made entirely on site by two Italian master craftsmen. 'Each piece of stained glass tells its own story,' Chin said. 'The main piece is 11m by 5.5m, with St Peter in the centre, surrounded by the Four Evangelists and four Old Testament prophets.' The rose window featuring The Last Supper at its centre. Other windows portray the 14 Stations of the Cross, key moments from the life of Christ, and a rose window featuring the Last Supper at its centre. Local Dayak motifs were also incorporated, including four traditional shields arranged to form a cross. St Peter's rector Father Vincent Chin. The floor tiles were produced by a local factory, the main door and cross were crafted by a Sarawak wood specialist, and other fittings came from local artisans. 'This is truly a Sarawak-built church and we should be proud of it,' Chin said. Archbishop Datuk Simon Poh speaking at the opening ceremony of St Peter's Church. Other Gothic features include the bell towers, flying buttresses and arches, while the lofty interior is supported by steel roof trusses echoing the old church's design. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Datuk Simon Poh said St Peter's is now a landmark that reflects Sarawak's religious harmony, friendship and goodwill. The new Gothic-style St Peter's Church in Kuching is a landmark of Sarawak's religious harmony. 'St Peter's now stands proudly among Kuching's major religious landmarks – the old State Mosque, Sikh temple, Hindu temple, Floating Mosque, Anglican Church and three Chinese temples,' he said. 'It represents the Catholic community as an integral pillar in this harmony.' The lofty and spacious interior of St Peter's Church is supported by steel roof trusses. Poh also noted that Kuching was declared a City of Unity in 2015. 'This church is a sign of our desire for harmony, to contribute to society and build a better Sarawak as a model for other parts of Malaysia and the world,' he said.
