By Ivy Chai
“You are Peter and on this rock, I will build my Church.” (Matthew 16:18)
KUCHING — The iconic gothic architecture that stands as a beacon of hope and faith in the heart of Kuching was consecrated to God our Father on the Solemnity of St Peter, the patron saint of St Peter’s Church, Padungan on 29 June 2025.
Archdiocese of Kuching Archbishop Dato Simon Poh, in welcoming one and all to the Consecration Mass that was live streamed so the world could see “a house of God for everyone” said, “This is our Catholic Church. Whenever we come here, we are at home because we belong to one holy Catholic apostolic Church wherever we are.”
Built at a cost of RM38 million, the new St Peter’s Church faced financial constraints, a victim of the pandemic outbreak that delayed the construction as well as the fallout of the initial pledge to finance half of the cost of the building. By the grace of God, the shortfall was fully covered before the consecration date.
God’s Gift to Us
Parish rector Fr Vincent Chin firmly believed that this new Church is “God’s gift to us.” From the outset, from obtaining government approval to raising all the necessary funding for the building, he saw God’s hand working in and through him.
It became “and still is, a profound journey of faith; a pilgrimage marked by divine providence, and the unwavering trust in His perfect timing. Humanly speaking, the task before me was impossible. Yet, as our Lord reminds me in Luke 1:37, ‘For nothing is impossible to God.’” This reflection sums up Fr Vincent’s conviction that this Church is “God’s gift.”
Consecration of the Altar and Pillars of the Church
During the Rite of Consecration in the presence of the Cardinal, all the Archbishops, Bishop, Fr Vincent Chin and 70 priests from in and around Malaysia and even Brunei, the religious and the congregation, Archbishop Simon Poh embedded the first-class relic of St Peter at the front of the marble altar.
Archbishop Simon then donned an apron to cover and anoint the altar with chrism oil, then together with Kuching Archbishops Emeriti Dato Sri Peter Chung and Dato John Ha, Cardinal Dato Sri Sebastian Francis (Bishop of Penang), Archbishop Julian Leow (Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur) and Bishop Bernard Paul (Bishop of Malacca-Johor), proceeded to anoint the 12 pillars in the Church with chrism oil. Candle lamp crosses are affixed to these 12 main pillars, symbolising the foundation stone of the 12 Apostles.
Parishioners and the Church had earlier been blessed with holy water drawn from the Baptismal pool in front of the sanctuary.
After incensing and lighting of the candles, the altar was ready to prepare for Eucharistic celebration.
The Pallium – A symbol of Communion and Unity of the whole Catholic Church
Archbishop Simon explained the Pallium worn by Archbishops and disclosed that the pallium of Archbishop Emeritus Peter Chung is housed within the central receptacle of a Cross-shaped reliquary etched into the altar top. Emeritus Peter was the first Archbishop of Kuching and this marks his “enduring spiritual bond with the parish” and “communion with the whole Catholic Church.”
The use of Latin at the Consecration Mass created a sacred, ethereal, and transcendent atmosphere, evoking a sense of reverence and awe, reminiscent of bygone days and perfect for the neo-gothic architecture of the new St Peter’s Church.
Parishioners left the new Church with a souvenir of a special gift card of a picture of St Peter embedded with a piece of third-class relic of St Peter.
