Church of St Michael (1890)
24 Church Road, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
T: 05-2540176
F: 05-2415437
email: smcipoh@gmail.com
Parish Priest : Msgr Stephen Liew
Assistant Parish Priest: Rev Anthony Chong
Sat. Sunset Mass : 7.00 pm (English)
Sunday Masses :
8.00 am English
10.00 am Mandarin
5.30 pm English
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Fr Michael Cheah compiles SMC’s 120 years |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 22 2010 |
21 November 2010
IPOH: St Mic
hael’s Church has come up with its very own book on its history over the past 120 years and the development of the parish. Former SMC parish priest, Fr Michael Cheah, who wrote and published the book, took time to research the church’s history. He is responsible for almost all of the photographs with some contributed by parishioner K S Cheang.
This hardcover coffee table book comes with splendid colour photographs and a comprehensive history of St Michael’s Church from its origins, and a brief writeup of priests who served at the parish. Sold at only RM20, it is a fitting tribute to mark the parish’s 120 years in existence this year. It also lists a profile of the church building, both external and internal, explaining the various facades, the statues, the panels on the High Altar, the Sanctuary and the Sacristy.
The annexes and premises include Dataran St Michael, the presbytery, parish activity centre, Our Lady of Fatima shrine, funeral parlour, parish columbarium and parish cemetery. Reading the history of St Michael’s parish, one can see this was certainly a miraculous provision from God; how land so quickly became available and how things fell easily into place.
St Michael’s church began as a simple wooden and attap building, when missionary MEP priest Fr Emile Barillon founded the parish of St Michael in 1890.Later as the parish grew, a new church was built by a Christian contractor. Through these early MEP priests, God showed a clear vision of the work to be done in Ipoh to build up the Christian community. There are records of the first baptism on Aug 31, 1890, and the second baptism soon after.
There were 250 Christians under Fr Barillon, but converts increased rapidly and the number of parishioners rose to 800 two years later. This shows the growth of the Christian community in the first early years. The priests were effective and professional in the way they carried out their duties, without losing the personal touch that was so important in their work. For example, Fr Jean Baptist Coppin (1904-1927) was a man of vision and determination, planting rubber trees in the church compound and investing in a rickshaw to facilitate travel.
Fr Coppin was also responsible for the development of Catholic schools in Ipoh, obtaining permits to open the Convent school with the help of the Holy Infant Jesus Sisters (1905) and La Salle Brothers who built St Michael’s Institution. Fr Joseph Fourgs (1929-1937) together with Phoong Tet Ching, founded the Sam Tet Chinese Primary School.
These priests indeed contributed a great deal towards the growth of Ipoh, by helping to set up Catholic schools and making it into a town with some of the most renowned schools in the country. Each priest had his own strengths and contributions to the parish, considering the most wise way to proceed depending on the situation at the time.
Some priests attended to the spiritual growth of the church whilst others were concerned with the parish’s direction for the future. Fr Jules Paul Francois (1938-1955) was serving the parish when the Second World War broke out. He began making notes on the War in Malaya, and how it affected the religious and priests.
Some La Sallian brothers were taken prisoners. In the post war years, priests continued to work steadily towards reconstruction and growth. Their stories, too, tell about their approach to the priestly challenges facing them, how they help revitalize and motivate others to do their best for God. In short, the book is informative, and helps us appreciate what priests face and the realities and struggles of their vocation.
Last changed: Nov 22 2010 at 10:43 AM
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