Bro. Manuel Ruperez Arroyo,  Fr. Ramon Galve Borja,  Archbishop of Kuching,  Simon Poh and Fr. Andre Belo

May the young of Malaysia be led to Jesus’ way.”

By Fr. Ramon Borja, SDB

Kuching, Malaysia, 20 August 2017 -- On the Solemnity of Our Lady’s Assumption and on the birthday of St. John Bosco, our father and founder, the momentous two-day meeting of the Archbishop of Kuching, Most Reverend Simon Poh, and the first Salesian missionaries for Malaysia, Fr. Ramon Borja (Philippines), Fr. Andre Belo (Timor Leste) and Bro. Manuel Ruperez (Spain), the first they had all together for the setting up of an educational institution in the Archdiocese that will be run by the Salesians, which becomes the first Salesian presence in the country, finally came about.

Together with them were Mr. Gerald Lee Leong Ai, Director of St. Joseph’s Private School Management Berhad, and Mr. Christopher Chua Boon Hua, Principal of St. Joseph’s Private Secondary School. They are the Archbishop’s delegate in spearheading this project.

The education institution entrusted to the Salesians will be located near Kuching, in a locality called Samarahan (10 acres of land) with a name ‘St.Joseph’s College’ (students age of 17 years above), which is brand of the Kuching Archdiocese schools which will facilitate all necessary legal process. The Archdiocese is currently governing 3 big schools (St. Joseph’s Primary – Secondary – International school). The St. Joseph’s College would be the fourth.

In this first meeting of the three SDB community with Archbishop Simon Poh were discussed the possible departments of the College: teachers training and formation, courses on agriculture, courses on technical vocational field (electrical, auto-mechanic, culinary art, housekeeping etc.

Today on August 20 was concluded the Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly (KAPA). It was a very good opportunity for the three Salesians to be with the key people of the local Church and witness personally how alive and enthusiastic they all were, clergy, religious and laity, men and women, young and old, from urban and from rural settings, in living as Catholics in a country that is experiencing a significant lack of religious freedom and many other big challenges. And is amazing that among the archdiocesan top priorities are the five following pastoral priorities.

1. Preparation of the youth for the Synod on Youth in 2018


2. Formation of youth as catechists and missionaries to their fellow youth


3. Promotion of parish youth and campus students as catalysts in society


4. Protection and safeguarding of children and the vulnerable


5. Education, empowerment and faith formation of people especially in rural parishes

From August 21 to 25 the first community takes part in the Kuching clergy retreat preached by Salesian Archbishop Savio Hon Tai Fai and then will leave for Italy to attend one month long course for the new missionaries in Rome and Colle Don Bosco concluded with the 148th Salesian missionary expedition from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christian at Valdocco on September 24th.

In the following months the two priests Fr. Andre and Fr. Ramon will be assigned to one parish in order to follow the process for the establishment of the College and also learn well the local languages – both Bahasa Malay and Badyuk (local ethnic people language).

Website of the Kuching archdiocese

Related article:

• Australasia 3891 (I) Don Bosco mission dream continues
• AustraLasia 4002: Malaysia need first three missionaries
• AustraLasia 4147 - Warm welcome in Kuching

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