‘Make this a house of prayer and a sign of your presence; when we come to rejoice and give thanks, to find comfort and wisdom, to be supported and strengthened.’
– Just a prayer
Last week, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian posted in his Facebook page a photo of him visiting the just-completed St Peter’s Church in Padungan, Kuching.
He was accompanied by his wife, Datin Amar Enn Ong. They were later joined in a photo call by Kuching Archbishop Dato Simon Poh and Reverend Father Vincent Chin, Rector of St Peter’s Church.
In the photo, Dr Sim handed over a cheque for RM1 million to Father Chin towards the church building project. The sum was a contribution from the Sarawak Government.
I believe this was the second contribution from the government which was handed over by the deputy premier for the project. The Catholics, particularly the parishioners of the Padungan parish, must be very thankful for the assistance from the government.
Right from the start since the new church project was mooted, there was the usual funding issue but we now learn of the determination and commitment of Father Chin and his team at St Peter’s to see the monumental project to its fruition.
As a Kuching Catholic, I also sent Dr Sim a “thank you” message for his role in getting the much-needed financial assistance from the government. Joining the church leaders of the Kuching Archdiocese in thanking the government was a simple gesture of gratitude and elation on my part.
At the same time, I also thought it was fitting and proper to write a little tribute to the prominent role played by Father Chin and his team in seeing the successful completion of this majestic house of God.
On Nov 2, I posted this salute entitled “Rev Father Vincent Chin’s deep faith pays off” to the good priest on my Facebook page: “Father Vincent Chin knew his parish didn’t have the money; he knew his Padungan parishioners didn’t have the money; even the Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching couldn’t possibly afford the RM38 million for the new St Peter’s Church.
“But Father Vincent went ahead, armed with his determination, resilience, courage and faith that ‘The Lord will provide’.
“And the good priest has done it, never mind that he still has to raise the remaining RM12 million needed. ‘The Lord will eventually provide’.
“The majestic new church of St Peter’s is now completed and will be officially consecrated on 29 June 2025 which coincides with the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
“Today, I offer my heartiest congratulations to Father Vincent Chin and his team for a job well done. I’m sure my fellow Catholics in Kuching would be happy to join me in saluting Father Vincent and his team for their hard work, vision, and dedication had created a sacred space that will serve as a beacon of hope, community and faith for generations.
“My most sincere thanks to Father Chin who led this endeavour; thank you for your leadership, tireless commitment, and unwavering devotion to this mission.
“Together, we pray that this new church be filled with The Lord’s abundant grace and blessings, peace, and joy, bringing comfort and inspiration to all who enter its doors. Amen.”
I have also noted that the church project has its critics and sceptics at the beginning. Many were concerned about the huge cost involved but I believe the church has its ways to overcome financial challenges.
I must concede I was also a skeptic of the project initially although the funding part was not a real concern of mine.
My reservation was that such a huge, magnificent structure would not be suitable to be constructed in the small plot available at the present site in Padungan. I was thinking of the castles I have seen in Wales in the highlands of Gwynedd where the mountainous terrain was used for defence in medieval times.
Even the castles in lowland areas in Cardiff look majestic as it was normally constructed in areas with large open spaces. The structures were a sight to behold. So, I thought the gothic-style new church would look awkward and “out of place” in the confined space of little Padungan.
However, looking at the completed church today, I can agree that the semi-gothic architecture and its colourful stained glass windows will be a new landmark to behold in Kuching.
As a Kuchingite and a Catholic, I should be proud of the magnificent structure, and I should never mind that it is not built on a hill or in an area with a large open space. When it comes to a house of worship, those personal preferences should be secondary.
Ultimately, it is important to recognise that a successful house of worship balances aesthetics, functionality and spiritual purpose to support personal devotion and community life.
Father Chin recently said that “upon completion of this RM38 million upgraded facility, it would stand as a prominent landmark in the Kuching landscape, enhancing the claim of Kuching as a city of unity and religious harmony”. Many will readily agree with the good man of God.
I hope to be back in Kuching soon to visit the new St Peter’s Church.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
