Statements, Letters & News
CBCMSB MEDIA STATEMENTS, LETTERS & NEWS
CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE & BRUNEI
OBITUARY NOTICE
25 August 2023
It is with profound sadness that we announce the demise of our dear Reverend Father Dr Michael Teng Woon Pheng (aged 62), at approximately 11.09 am on 25th August 2023 at Graceville, MAJODI Centre, Jalan Masai, Plentong, Johor. Fr. Michael Teng had had cancer for several years before his demise.
Details of the official wake and funeral are as follows:
The body of the late Rev. Fr. Dr Michael Teng will arrive on the evening of 25 August 2023 and be placed at the Cathedral for the wake mass:
➢ Wake Mass: Friday, 25th August 2023,
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
1729 Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia Time: 8:00 pm
After the wake mass, the body will be moved to the Chapel of Divine Mercy at the Cathedral until the Funeral Mass on Monday, 28th August 2023. Please check with the Cathedral for the schedule of the wake prayers.
➢ Funeral Mass: Monday, 28th August 2023,
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
1729 Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia Time: 11:00 am
Presided by Bishop Bernard Paul
After Mass, the cortège will leave for burial at Ulu Tiram Catholic Cemetery, Johor.
His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Anthony Bernard G. Paul, D.D., the Bishop of Malacca Johore Diocese and the clergy of the Diocese extend their deepest condolences to the family, relatives, caregivers, and friends of Fr. Dr Michael Teng Woon Pheng in this time of loss and assure them of their Fraternal prayers and support.
Messages:
Message from Abp Julian Leow, President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei
Message from Abp Simon Poh, President, Catholic Bishops of Malaysia
Articles:
New Leadership Helms the Conference
New Leadership Helms the Conference – Published in Today’s Catholic
New Appointments: Bishops’ Conference Presidents share Reflections – Published in Today’s Catholic
Brothers in faith – Archbishop Simon Poh (L) and Archbishop Julian Leow (R)
The Malaysian bishops pledge to work towards ecological dioceses
Communication skills training with media professional Augustine Anthuvan
New Leadership Helms the Conference
His Excellency Archbishop Wojciech Załuski Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia & Timur Leste, and Apostolic Delegate to Brunei Darussalam (3-R front row) with the Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei. (Photo: MJD)
by Charles Bertille
It was a significant week at the 112th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CBCMSB) gathered at Majodi from the 9-14 July 2023 – working on a variety of subjects and making decisions that will bear an impact on all our local churches the coming years.
The highlight of the week was the election of the new office bearers for the Conference as well as for all the Commissions. In this next phase, the bishops discerned and decided to elect Abp Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur as the President of the CBCMSB and Abp Simon Poh of Kuching as President of the Malaysian Bishops to helm the Conference. Cardinal William Goh remains as Vice President of the Conference. The list of office bearers can be viewed below. The term of office for office bearers and commissions is 2 years’ renewable.
The preceding week saw the announcement of the official delegates from our Conference to the Synod in Rome this October. Cardinal William Goh of Singapore is the elected official delegate of the Bishops Conference, and together with him there would be Ms Anna Amandus from Sandakan, Fr Clarence Devadass from Kuala Lumpur, and Prof Christina Kheng from Singapore as an expert or resource person. Four from a small Conference, including from Sabah – it’s indeed a blessing.
On Sunday night as the bishops arrived, we heard the proclamation that Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang, the outgoing president of the Conference, will be elevated Cardinal in the coming consistory of September. The Holy Father must have had in mind the kaleidoscope of faiths and cultures represented by the region and the opportunity it holds for dialogue, evangelisation of cultures & inculturation of faith.
Monday was dedicated to working on communication skills for bishops, with their spokespersons and social communication teams. The significant takeaway was to be prepared for any crises, courage to encounter the media, and the good preparation that is needed. Augustine Anthuvan, the media professional and trainer from Singapore closed with a powerful quote, “A good bishop or leader will not surround himself with yes-men but those who are willing to tell the hard truths to church leadership – and in that process help you to develop your own leadership.”
Tuesday morning, His Excellency Abp Wojciech Zaluski, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia and Timur Leste, and Apostolic Delegate to Brunei Darussalam met and addressed the bishops on a wide range of topics. He gave importance to the Synod process and Safeguarding – protection of minors from abuse, and all the efforts being put into these areas.
Messages:
Message from Abp Julian Leow, President, Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei
Message from Abp Simon Poh, President, Catholic Bishops of Malaysia
Articles:
New Leadership Helms the Conference
New Leadership Helms the Conference – Published in Today’s Catholic
New Appointments: Bishops’ Conference Presidents share Reflections – Published in Today’s Catholic
For further information, click: https://www.synod.va/en/news/instrumentum-laboris-a-document-of-the-whole-church.html
Synthesis of the Instrumentum Laboris (IL)
Click below for the letter and details on the Synthesis of the Instrumentum Laboris (IL) from the Secretariat of the Synod of the Holy See.
Documents in Bahasa Malaysia:
For the latest Synod newsletters, click: https://cbcmsb.org/synod-newsletters-2023/
Funeral Mass Livestream on Malacca Johore Diocese YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fgf1jtZi3M
(Monday, 24 April 2023, 11:00am)
OBITUARY NOTICE
22 April 2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Right Reverend Bishop Emeritus James Chan Soon Cheong (age 97), the first bishop of the Malacca Johore Diocese. Bishop James returned peacefully to the Lord at approximately 9:15 am on Saturday, 22 April 2023, at Graceville, MAJODI Centre, Jalan Masai, Plentong, Johor. He had been in good health right up till his demise.
Details of the official wake and funeral are as follows:
The body will lie in state at the Divine Mercy Chapel in Sacred Heart Cathedral from today until after the 6 pm Mass on Sunday, 23 April 2023, where it will be transferred to the Cathedral.
Funeral Mass Livestream on Malacca Johore Diocese YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fgf1jtZi3M
Funeral Mass:
Monday, 24 April 2023
Time: 11:00 am
Sacred Heart Cathedral
1729 Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Presided by Bishop Bernard Paul
(After Mass, the cortège will leave for burial at Ulu Tiram Catholic Cemetery, Johor)
His Lordship, Right Reverend Bernard Paul, the Bishop of Malacca Johore and the clergy of the Diocese mourn the passing of this diocese’s first Bishop, extend their condolences and prayers to the family and relatives of Bishop Emeritus James Chan, and are united with all who are saddened by his loss with prayer and support.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CBCMSB) with the executive secretary, and the Apostolic Nuncio, HE Abp Wojciech Zaluski during their meet at the Minor Basilica of St Anne, Bukit Mertajam, January 2023
BUKIT MERTAJAM — The 111th Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CBCMSB) and the bi-annual general meeting of the Conference of Religious Major Superiors (CRMS) was held under the maternal embrace of St Anne, at the Minor Basilica in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
The bishops, together with the Apostolic Nuncio, the major religious superiors, lay faithful, representatives of other religious traditions and state dignitaries had gathered on the evening of 9 January 2023, to celebrate the solemn declaration of the Minor Basilica in a long and meaningful ceremony.
…
Some of the other matters discussed by the bishops included the processes towards the Malaysian Pastoral Convention in 2026, the outstanding work around the National Seminary Charter and seminary concerns, the ongoing efforts of the Laudato Si Action Platform, the Caritas Malaysia Relief Fund Appeal 2023, the progress of the Episcopal Commission on Migrants, Itinerants & Victims of Trafficking, upgrading of Catechetical materials, the World Youth Day in Lisbon, the Malaysian Catholic Youth Ministers Committee (MCYMC) initiatives, Inter-faith and Ecumenical matters, and Liturgical concerns.
The next meeting of the CBCMSB will be held at MAJODI from 09 to 14 July, 2023. The Bp President concluded by exhorting everyone to “Be true and faithful to the processes prepared by the Church and you will be faithful to the Holy Spirit.”
Another Cardinal-elect from the Conference!
30 May 2022
Archbishop William Goh, 65, of Singapore became the first archbishop-head from Singapore to be named a cardinal by Pope Francis and the third from the Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei. It is not only an honour for the city-church but also for the state of Singapore and the Conference. He is among the 21 new cardinals named on Sunday in Rome.
The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CBCMSB), Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang, offered his felicitations and fraternal support from all the bishops and churches in the region.
CBCMSB PASTORAL LETTERS
FOR A SYNODAL CHURCH: COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION AND MISSION
CBCMSB Pastoral Letter on Synod Launch – English – 17 October 2021
CBCMSB Pastoral Letter on Synod Launch – BM – 17 October 2021
CBCMSB Pastoral Letter on Synod Launch – Tamil – 17 October 2021
CBCMSB Pastoral Letter on Synod Launch – Mandarin – 17 October 2021
CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF MALAYSIA
CBCM MEDIA STATEMENTS & NEWS
Malaysia Pre-Synod Assembly – Mon, 11 July 2022
Assembly: 9.30am – 5.15pm; Mass: 5.30pm
YouTube Link (LIVE Broadcast): https://bit.ly/malaysia_pre-synod_assembly
CBCM PASTORAL LETTERS
OTHER MEDIA
CFM MEDIA STATEMENTS
CFM MEDIA STATEMENT MERDEKA DAY & MALAYSIA DAY 2023
UNITY IS STRENGTH
Malaysians stand together at the threshold of celebrating with much joy and happiness the 66th anniversary of Merdeka Day on 31st August and the 60th anniversary of the formation of Malaysia on 16th September with the theme “Malaysia MADANI: Tekad Perpaduan Penuhi Harapan (Determination in Unity, Fulfilling Hope).
The Christian Federation of Malaysia, representing the Christian community from the regions of Sarawak, Sabah and Semenanjung, continues to pray to Almighty God in seeking His continued blessings upon our beloved nation.
Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST)
MCCBCHST MEDIA STATEMENTS
MCCBCHST LETTERS