HISTORY OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH (HISTORY OF SFX Pt. 2)

In 1955, the Diocese of Malacca was divided into three dioceses. The Bishop of the newly erected diocese of Kuala Lumpur, the Rt. Rev. Dominic Vendargon, invited the Jesuits to work in his diocese. Fr. Paddy Joy came up from Singapore and applied to the authorities in Petaling Jaya for land on which to build a Church and a Youth Leadership Centre. He was later joined by Fr. Edward Bourke, who was involved in the complicated negotiations concerning the site of the Church.

 

LEFT: Fr. Edward Bourke(1895 - 1985), the 3rd Parish Priest (1966 - 69) and Asst.Parish Priest (1969 - 78).

RIGHT: Fr. Geoffery Murphy (1922 – 1985), 1st Parish Priest (1961 – 65).

Fr. Joy returned to Ireland in 1958. Before he left Malaya, Fr. Paddy McGovern and Fr. Geoffrey Murphy came down from Hong Kong to continue the work begun by Fr. Joy. In May 1961, the Youth Centre, Xavier Hall, was completed. Fr. McGovern, chaplain to the Army in Kuala Lumpur, was a tireless fund-raiser for the new church while Fr. Murphy saw to the many practical details involved in the construction.

The Opening Of SFX on 2 February 1961 and a helicopter's view of SFX in 1961.

The Church of St. Francis Xavier was officially opened on February 2, 1961 by His Lordship Dominic Vendargon, the Bishop of Kuala Lumpur. Fr. Murphy was installed as the first Parish Priest. He was assisted by Fr. McGovern and Fr. Paul Jenkins. A few months later Fr. Edmund Sullivan and Fr. Joseph Garland joined the Jesuit community in Petaling Jaya. Fr. Sullivan did great work in Sungai Way New Village, saying Mass in a private house every Sunday evening and teaching catechism to children.

LEFT : Fr. Edmund Sullivan (1905 - 1985), Asst. Parish Priest (1961 - 65), 2nd Parish Priest (1965 - 66). Instrumental in starting the St. Ignatius Chapel in Sg. Way.

RIGHT: Fr. John Wood (1913 – 2000), Asst. Parish Priest (1965 – 69) and 4th Parish Priest (1969 – 1978)

In 1963 the Bishop of Kuala Lumpur asked the Jesuit fathers to take over the Church of the Assumption, which had been opened in 1960. Fr. Richard Harris and Fr. Patrick Grogan arrived to take on this responsibility, thus putting all 4500 Catholics in Petaling Jaya at that time under the care of the Society of Jesus.

LEFT: Fr. Frank Doyle, 5th Parish Priest (1978 – 79), currently a contributor to CANews, HERALD, and SHALOM, our local Catholic publications and based in Ireland.

RIGHT: Fr. Peter Kim, 6th Parish Priest (1979 - 85), currently in Myanmar.

Since then the Catholic population in Petaling Jaya has grown tremendously and now the Jesuits have their hands full running SFX. In 1981, Fr. Peter Kim SJ, began the process of renewal by transforming the parish into Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) along the New Image of the Parish (NIP) model. We have now 17 BECs and 30 Parish Groups.

LEFT: Fr. Selvaraju Selvam, 7th Parish Priest (1985 – 88, 1994 – 95) and Asst. Parish Priest (1984 – 85). Died in 1996.

RIGHT: Fr. Dr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung, 8th Parish Priest (1988 – 1992) and Asst. Parish Priest (1987 – 88). Currently Campus Ministry Advisor of the Malacca - Johore Diocese.

From their base in SFX, the Jesuits have also extended their pastoral care to Catholic residents in Subang Jaya and UEP Subang Jaya. A shoplot chapel, Chapel Kurnia Kristus, was set up to cater to the needs of the Catholics in 1995 (At present, the Jesuit community ministers to the Subang Jaya community by celebrating Masses at a multi-purpose hall of a private school). As we move into the next millennium, we will strive to serve the people of God as best as we can.

FROM LEFT: 1. Fr. Larry Tan, 9th Parish Priest (1992 – 94, 1995 - 2003). Currently Jesuit Regional Superior of Malaysia – Singapore.

2. Fr. Simon Yong, 10th Parish Priest (2003 - ), Asst. Parish Priest (2002 – 2003).

3. Fr. O.C Lim, Asst. Parish Priest (1995 – 98, 2003 - ), Jesuit Regional Superior of Malaysia - Singapore (1998 - 2004). Executive Director of the Catholic Research Centre.

NOT MENTIONED AND NOT IN PICTORIAL:

1. Fr. Steve Subramaniam, Asst. Parish Priest (1978 - 79). Died in 1990.

2. Fr. Paul Dass, Asst. Parish Priest (1998 – 2001). Actively involved in Social Commission Ministry. Currently based in Malacca-Johore diocese.