KLUANG — More than 50 participants, including clergy, religious, and lay leaders, gathered at the Church of St Louis recently for the Diocesan Pastoral Council Assembly of the Malacca Johore Diocese (MJD). The day was marked by prayer, shared reflection, and a renewed commitment to walking together as Church.
Over 30 lay members from their parish pastoral councils joined 16 clergy, three religious sisters, and two seminarians for the assembly, which formally established MJD’s first Diocesan Pastoral Council. The move follows the creation of Vicariate Pastoral Councils in Malacca, North Central Johore, and South Johore over the past year and aligns with the 2026 diocesan theme, MJD: A Diocese that Walks Together.
The day opened with Eucharistic adoration, grounding participants in an encounter with Jesus and setting the tone for faith-centred discernment.
In his opening remarks, MJD Pastoral Director Fr Dr Lawrence Ng thanked attendees for their dedication to parish and diocesan service. He reflected on the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality, stressing that synodality is not just a concept but a way of being Church, calling for humility, listening, and shared responsibility.
During the Conversation in the Spirit, moderated by Sr Shanti Mariadass, FDCC, participants shared small-group reflections, revealing a common longing for a deeper encounter with the Lord, renewed prayer, and a stronger sense of calling to service. They acknowledged the need for the Church to adapt to a changing world while remaining true to its identity.
In a session on Moving Forward as a Diocese, Fr Lawrence highlighted Bishop Bernard Paul’s motto, Building the Kingdom of God Together, and emphasised a synodal approach that avoids top-down leadership. Sharing a light-hearted anecdote about parishioners calling the priest when a toilet breaks down, he underscored a serious point: the Church grows when members take ownership together.
Fr Lawrence explained that the Diocesan Pastoral Council is a consultative body supporting pastoral planning, guided by synodality, co-responsibility, subsidiarity, communion, and mission. It empowers the laity and ensures their voices are heard.
The newly formed core team was introduced:
• Francis Chua (chairperson, Malacca Vicariate Pastoral Council) – Chairperson
• Mark Anthony (chairperson, South Johore Vicariate Pastoral Council) – Vice Chairperson
• James Lee (chairperson, North Central Johore Vicariate Pastoral Council) – Secretary
Francis from the Church of St Mary Ayer Salak, acknowledged the challenges of leadership: “As much as I seek to fully understand what this post entails, I look forward to giving what I can.”
Mark from the Church of the Divine Mercy, Skudai, described synodality as a learning journey and encouraged collaboration for the good of the diocese.
Bishop Bernard Paul framed the assembly within the upcoming Malaysia Pastoral Convention 2026, highlighting the three pillars of synodality — communion, participation, and mission — and four interconnected focus areas: family, ecology, society, and the Church. Vicariate and Diocesan Pastoral Councils, he explained, strengthen synodality through communal discernment, helping the diocese move forward together under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Participants were informed that the next Diocesan Pastoral Council Assembly will be on July 18, while the Diocesan Annual Pastoral Assembly, scheduled for November 24 – 26 at the MAJODI Centre, will gather all clergy and Parish Pastoral Council members — a first for the diocese.
