CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, PENANG
Unity in Diversity | Communion, Participation, Mission
CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, PENANG
Unity in Diversity | Communion, Participation, Mission
Unity in Diversity | Communion, Participation, Mission
Unity in Diversity | Communion, Participation, Mission
The parish was founded in 1958, with about 1,000 parishioners. They celebrated Masses at the canteen of Convent Green Lane. After 10 years of hard work raising funds, they were ready to build the church. Mr Seng Tuck HOOI, a forward thinking architect who designed the first high rise in Penang (the 11 storey Ambassador Hotel) was appointed Architect for the church project. Construction of the church finished in 1969 and the church was blessed by Gregory Yong, then Bishop of Penang. In the 1990s, the parish community hall named Dewan Holy Spirit and three levels of classrooms were open.
In 2001, the church was closed for renovations to prepare for the dedication ceremony 2 years later. In 2003, the cathedral status was transferred from the former Cathedral of the Assumption to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. The Rite Of Dedication was held on 20 January 2003 and the new cathedral was blessed by Antony Selvanayagam, Bishop of Penang.
Rector
Priest in Residence
Priest in Residence
Priest in Residence
Fr. Raymond Raj
Thaddeus Chan
David Chan
Roselyn Tan
Iruthaya Das
Anita Wee
Victoria Labrooy
Anne Ho
Christine Ho
Adrian Oyog
Albert Loh
Sebastian Pillai
Marina Chong
Andrew Loh
– Rector
– Parish Pastoral Council Chair
– Parish Pastoral Council Vice Chair
– Parish Pastoral Council Secretary & representing Service & Outreach Cluster
– representing Parish Finance Committee
– representing Liturgical Team Cluster
– representing Prayer & Spirituality Cluster
– representing Formation Cluster
– representing Zones/BECs under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster
– representing Youth Ministry under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster
– representing Chinese Apostolate under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster
– representing Tamil Apostolate under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster
– Council Member
– Council Member
| Fr. Raymond Raj | Parish Priest |
| Thaddeus Chan | Parish Pastoral Council Chair |
| David Chan | Parish pastoral Council Vice Chair |
| Roselyn Tan | Parish Pastoral Council Secretary & Representing Caritas Cluster |
| Iruthaya Das | Representing Parish Finance Committee |
| Anita Wee | Representing Liturgical Team Cluster |
| Victoria Labrooy | Representing Prayer & Spirituality Cluster |
| Anne Ho | Representing Formation Cluster |
| Christine Ho | Representing Zones/BECs under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster |
| Adrian Oyog | Representing Youth Ministry under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster |
| Albert Loh | Representing Chinese Apostolate under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster |
| Sebastian Pillai | Representing Tamil Apostolate under Youth + Unity + BEC Cluster |
| Marina Chong | Council Member |
| Andrew Loh | Council Member |
A relic of Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung is set on the altar of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Penang.
Blessed Nicholas was the first martyred priest in Thailand. Born in 1895 as one of six children in a Christian-converted family, Nicholas entered the seminary at age 13 and did his priestly formation at College General in Penang
Throughout his years as a priest, he worked as a missionary across Thailand to engage lapsed Catholics. During World War II, Thailand’s Buddhist-majority government was skeptical of Western influence, including that of the Catholic Church. Nicholas was arrested and eventually died in prison of tuberculosis after being refused medical treatment due to his religion.
As a fierce advocate for religious freedom, Nicholas helped people find their faith even at the end of his life, converting nearly 70 people while in prison.
| Rev. Maurice Surmon | 1958 – 1970 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. A. Besson | 1969 – 1971 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. James Chan曾顺祥神父 | 1970 – 1972 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. M. de Gigord | 1970 – 1971 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Peter Shyu徐连文神父 | 1971 – 1973 (Assistant Parish Priest) 1973 – 1974 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Francis Lui | 1973 – 1974 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Benedict Liew | 1973 – 1975 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. P. Decroix | 1974 – 1984 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. A. Julien余廉神父 | 1976 – 1985 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. A. Dorett | 1984 – 1992 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Martin Lam林柄权神父 | 1987 – 1991 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Paul Chin陈汉忠神父 | 1990 – 1991 (Assistant Parish Priest) 1992 – 1999 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Charles Chin陈赞光神父 | 1999 – 2000 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Stephen Liew刘开祥副主教 | 2000 – 2005 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Francis Anthony | 2005 – 2010 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Henry Rajoo饶恒力神父 | 2005 – 2010 (Assistant Parish Priest |
| Rev. Bernard Paul博纳德副主教 | 2010 – 2015 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Andrew Stevens | 2010 – 2011 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Martin Arlando | 2011 – 2014 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Anthony Liew刘善财神父 | 2014 – 2015 (Assistant Parish Priest) 2015 – 2017 (Acting Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Joachim Robert | 2017 – 2024 (Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Francis Anthony | 2017 – 2019 (Assistant Parish Priest) Sep 2020 – Present (Priest-in-Residence |
| Rev. Michael Raymond, OFM, Cap | 2019 – 2020 (Assistant Parish Priest) |
| Rev. Raymond Raj | 2025 – Present (Rector) |