“Could this be the place?” you wonder aloud looking at the Catholic Diocese Of Penang. It stands as a testament to faith in northern Malaysia. The Catholic Diocese Of Penang covers five states. These include Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan. Its story began on February 25, 1955. It was created alongside the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
Imagine the early days of Catholicism here. The first priests arrived in Malacca in 1511. The College General seminary moved to Penang in 1808. Captain Francis Light built a church in 1787. It was named Church of the Assumption. More churches followed like Church of the Immaculate Conception.
In 1810, Msgr Garnault led the Vicariate of Siam and Kedah. Penang was part of this vicariate. In 1841, Penang joined the Vicariate of Malaya. Later, it fell under the Diocese of Malacca in 1888.
World War II cast a shadow. Many churches closed. Only Sunday Masses continued. After the war, a new diocese was needed. So, in 1955, the Diocese of Malacca split. The Catholic Diocese Of Penang was born with the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.
Bishop Francis Chan was the first bishop. Archbishop Dominic Vendargon was also ordained then. In 1967, Bishop Gregory Yong succeeded Chan. In 1977, he became Archbishop of Singapore. Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez followed. He later became archbishop in Kuala Lumpur in 1983.
Bishop Antony Selvanayagam became bishop in 1983. He retired in 2012. In July 2012, Sebastian Francis became the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese Of Penang. He was ordained in August 2012.
The 1970s saw local clergy take over College General. By the 1990s, the diocese had 34 parishes. Fewer priests led to changes. The four George Town churches became City Parish.
In 2001, Pusat Keuskupan Katolik opened. In 2002, St Anne’s Church in Bukit Mertajam opened too. Bishop Antony made a crucial decision that year. He moved the cathedral status from the Church of the Assumption. The Holy Spirit Cathedral became the new cathedral in 2003.
The Catholic Diocese Of Penang celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005. In 2010, the Church of Divine Mercy opened. It was the first new church on Penang Island in 41 years.
Today, the Catholic Diocese Of Penang includes 29 parishes. It also has 77 chapels. Bishop Sebastian Francis leads the diocese. The main office is in George Town. The oldest church is the Church of the Assumption. The newest is the Church of Divine Mercy.
Each year, St. Anne’s Feast draws many pilgrims. Every five years, priests are transferred. The Catholic Diocese Of Penang continues to evolve. It remains a vibrant center of faith. Its history enriches Penang Island.