PETALING JAYA: James Chan, the first bishop of the Melaka-Johor diocese, has died at the age of 96.
According to a post in the diocese’s Facebook page, Bishop Emeritus James passed away at 9.15am at Graceville, its home for retired clergy and the elderly, located at the Majodi Centre, in Plentong, Johor.
“The body will lie in state at the Sacred Heart Cathedral’s funeral parlour until after the evening mass tomorrow, where it will then be transferred to the main Cathedral building itself,” it said.
The funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral, at 11am, on Monday.
Born in Selama, Perak, James was the eldest of six siblings in a Catholic family. He was educated at St Xavier’s Institution until the second world war started in 1941.
He completed his secondary school education at St George’s Institution, Taiping, in December 1947. His interest in becoming a priest was inspired by the then parish priest of St Louis Catholic church in Taiping, Father Noel Clement, and a LaSallian, Brother Dennis.
He entered the seminary in Singapore in 1950, at the age of 24, and was ordained nine years later in Penang.
James was appointed bishop of Melaka-Johor on Dec 22, 1972 after it split from the Archdiocese of Singapore. His episcopal ordination took place on June 8, 1973.
Among his major accomplishments during his 28-year tenure were the establishment of the Majodi Centre as a home shelter and the rebuilding of several parishes, including the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Johor Bahru.
He also wrote a book in 1992 about his life and spirituality entitled “When The Fruits Of The Rambutan Tree Are About To Ripen”.
James retired in 2001 at the age of 75 and was succeeded by bishop Paul Tan.
Fond memories
Meanwhile, Bishop Sebastian Francis of the Penang diocese had fond memories of James, having worked under him for many years in the Melaka-Johor diocese, first as a priest and later as vicar-general.
He said he last visited James in Johor about six months ago, where the latter was his usual gracious self and gave a blessing to him.
“Bishop James Chan had always understood that his vocation was to love people unconditionally, and even in his weakened state, he continued to do so,” he told FMT.
Sebastian also remembered how James, together with Bishop Gregory Yong and Archbishop Dominic Vendargon of Kuala Lumpur, had led the renewal of the Catholic Church in West Malaysia, in the 1970s, which allowed the laity to play a more active role in the church.
“Bishop James Chan was also active in the media world, owning a printing press and opening bookshops that provided Catholic literature to the people.
“He was ahead of his time in social communications, creating the Catholic Information Service to spread the word of God,” he said.
Sebastian also recalled the way James always greeted people: “There are no hellos for bishop James Chan. It is always ‘I love you’, to all and sundry.” - FMT
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