Information on the new St Ann's Complex License No: 54/RBK/2006

General Information   A Special Moment   A Little History   The Friars Arrive   At Present   A Pressing Need   Our Dream: St Ann’s Complex   What the new St Ann’s Complex will have   Construction in 4 Phases   Estimated Cost Progress Update   Coming soon How to contribute   You can make this Dream a Reality   A Daily Prayer   Contribution Form (cash or cheque)   Remittance via Telegrahic Transfer Pictures gallery   Coming soon Links (will open in new window)   Franciscan Friars   Archdiocese of Kuching

Parishioners attending a seminar at St Ann's "Baruk".

Fr Simon Poh handing a souvenir to Friar Arul OFM, signalling the handing over of the parish to the care of the Francisan Friars on 7th January 2001.

The faithful leaving the "Baruk" after a Sunday Mass.

St Ann began as an outstation mission of St Joseph’s Church (at present St Joseph’s Cathedral) in the late 1940s. The Archdiocese of Kuching had yet existed. The first pioneer to start this mission was Fr Harry Van Erp, a Mill Hill Missionary who began his work of evangelisation to villages such as Semeba, Seratau, Tijirak and Simpok. His initial efforts to these villages have borne much fruit, as they now boast hundreds of Catholic families. Fr Harry also saw to the education of poor children, who became future evangelisers of their own villagers. By then, mission sponsored mission schools were also built. In 1963, another Mill Hill by the name of Fr Tepstra engineered the idea of building a parish house or a presbytery, based at “10th Mile” - a bazaar with a sprinkling of settlements - which would serve as a based for the priests to work. There was no Church built, as the structure would act mainly as a working base. A chapel was constructed with the presbytery, which met with the needs of the priests to pray and conduct small-scaled weddings. Thus, St Ann’s Mission was born.

Confirmation at St Ann's "Baruk".

By the 1970s, 30 outstations had been established, and by the 1980s, the number increased to 40. By the 1990s, the Catholic population around the Mission had grown so rapidly that a hall had to be constructed to cater to Sunday Masses which were celebrated once a month due to the shortage of priests. An open-air prayer hall in the style of a Bidayuh Meeting House was built. Locally known as a “baruk”, it now serves as a make-shift Church to an ever-growing population. To date, St Ann’s parish cares for 45 villages, 14 schools and more than 10 housing estates, with a population of 18,167 Catholics. An average attendance at Sunday Masses in the “baruk” clocks at approximately 800 people, squeezed in a hall which was meant to hold half the number. Recently, the Sacrament of Confirmation was celebrated twice in the parish, with Archbishop of Kuching administering the sacrament to more than 300 candidates !

In the period between 1999 and 2000, Friars Arul Sagayaraj and Joseph Nasanathan OFM arrived in Kuching in response to the invitation which the then Archbishop of Kuching, Dato’ Sri Peter Chung had extended to the Custody of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. In the early part of 2000, Fr Joseph Lee OFM joined the band, followed shortly by Friar Joseph Goh OFM, both of whom are Sarawakians. These friars worked in the parish on a “trial” basis, in order to allow the friars and the Archdiocese to further understand and respect each other’s needs. Thereafter, Friars Anthoni Selvaraj, Kenny Anthonysamy and Michael Goh OFM also arrived, and though not officially appointed to the parish, they proved invaluable in assisting the parish in great and little ways. Fr Alban Mitchell OFM, a well-known and much-loved Australian friar from the Province of the Holy Spirit, who was in Singapore in the 1980s, was also a member of the community from 2001 to 2004. It was only in 2001 that an official contract was signed between the friars and the Archdiocese of Kuching. Just recently, Friars Gerard Victor and Moses Yap OFM also arrived on the shores of Sarawak. The Franciscan Friars are committed to the presence here in Kuching.

The Franciscan Friars of the Custody of St Anthony.

The friars are actively engaged in different ministries in Kuching. At St Ann’s, the majority of the faithful whom the friars serve are Bidayuhs and Ibans, with some Chinese and Indian parishioners. The main languages used for the Celebration of the Eucharist, devotional prayers and the administration of the Sacraments range from English and Bahasa Malaysia to Bidayuh Biatah and Iban … no small feat! While two Masses are celebrated over every weekend (Sunset Mass in English and two Sunday Masses in Bahasa Malaysia), the friars also travel to the villages and schools to celebrate the Eucharist in the main language of the people of the area: Biatah, Iban and Bahasa Malaysia.

Apart from the celebration of Masses and the Sacraments, the friars are also involved in many faith formation activities, as well as contributing to the Archdiocese of Kuching and the local congregation of Francisan sisters.

Friars ministering to parishioners, young and old.

An outdoor Mass at a distant village.

Fellowship with local Franciscan Sisters.

In this tiny corner of the universal Church, many needs have made themselves felt. Chief among them is the cry of the faithful for a more comfortable setting to gather and worship. Most of us may take Sunday masses for granted, as Sunday worship may not demand more from us than a prayerful attendance and participation in the Liturgy. At St Ann’s however, wiping and arranging hundreds of plastic chairs, lugging and setting up heavy equipment, as well as sweating it out in searching for a place to park in a small vicinity is a weekly event. Catechism classes are held with groups not more than 6 metres from each other with the same “baruk”, as classrooms are non-existent. Even the Children’s Liturgy room is a modified walkway. The friars have realised that in the process of building the faith of the people, they also need to provide physical places.

Top: Mass at the "Baruk". Top Right: Catechism Class in session.

Plans are on the way to build a complex in stages, to meet the people’s needs. Supported by the local Church authorities in their plans, the friars are appealing for support and help from the parishioners of St Ann, as well as from other generous hearts. Reasons for New Complex: 1.   Present “baruk” can no longer accommodate growing numbers, either for fellowship gatherings or worship. 2.   The thatch roof is leaking very badly and rapidly rooting. 3.   The electrical system is haphazardly planned and the risk factor of faulty wiring is extremely high. 4.   Plastic chairs used for Sunday worship are disintegrating over time. 5.   The lighting, ventilation, parking space, toilet facilities and other amenities are either very poor or non-existent. 6.   Living quarters for priests and staff is inadequate and uncomfortable. 7.   There are no classrooms for catechism. 8.   There are no specific areas for the various lay ministries to meet. 9.   Reception area, catechetical office and priest’s office are very small. 10.  There is no Day Chapel for private prayers, daily masses and small functions. 11.  The parishioners themselves are pleading for a more comfortable setting in which they can pray.

A Divine Mercy Sunday celebration. Feast Day Sales. Society of St Vincent de Paul.

1.  A church to accommodate 1200 people. 2.   A Day Chapel for various needs. 3.   Adequate parking space. 4.   Grounds for quiet prayer and meditation. 5.   A multipurpose hall. 6.   A small wedding reception hall. 7.   A piety (religious articles) shop. 8.   Living quarters for priests and parish staff. 9.   Classrooms for catechism. 10.  A canteen. 11.  A resource centre. 12.  Adequate office space for priests, staff and catechists.

The new church of St Ann (Artist's Impression). An aerial view of the entire Complex.

Phase 1: Church and Day Chapel, earth-filling, drainage and parking space. Phase 2: Offices and classrooms. Phase 3: Multi-purpose hall. Phase 4: Residence.

Multi-purpose Hall (Artist's Impression).

Residence (Artist's Impression).

Piety Shop/Office/Classrooms (Artist's Impression).

  Contribution Form (cash or cheque)
  Remittance via Telegrahic Transfer


A Daily Prayer

     Heavenly Father, you have graced your people with generous hearts in order that we may share our gifts and benefits with each other, thus participating in the building of your Church on earth. We pray that the efforts of the priests and parishioners of Kota Padawan to build St Ann’s Complex will meet with success. We pray that many people will come forward to share their time, skills and earnings with their brothers and sisters of this parish. Likewise, we pray that your Spirit may continue to inspire and protect all of us, that we too, may give of ourselves to the spread of your Kingdom here on earth. We ask this, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.




Parish of St Ann, 10th Mile, Kota Padawan,
93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Tel: +6(082) 611757/ 610308
Fax: +6(082) 616757
E-Mail: stann10@streamyx.com

ARCHDIOCESE OF KUCHING

www.bidayuh.com

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