An interview with Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching

Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching, Episcopal President for the Commission of Youth and Campus Ministry, led a team of students from Sabah and Sarawak to the Malaysian Catholic Campus Students Day 2 (MCCSD2) June 23-27, 2017 in Penang.

Jul 22, 2017

Archbishop Simon Poh of Kuching, Episcopal President for the Commission of Youth and Campus Ministry, led a team of students from Sabah and Sarawak to the Malaysian Catholic Campus Students Day 2 (MCCSD2) June 23-27, 2017 in Penang.

According to Archbishop Poh, MCCSD2 was a very courageous move of bringing together an initial target of 1,500 campus students from East and West Malaysia during this year’s Hari Raya holidays. These students were housed with foster families. Archbishop Poh had personally journeyed with the youths during the organisation of the event. He hopes that the students would become agents of change within their small communities and commit themselves to possible areas of mission work.

Archbishop Poh further emphasised, “The Diocese of Penang (and her parishes) will never be the same again as it will be remembered as the principal point of gathering for this large number of students from the Archdioceses of Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu; the Dioceses of Penang, Melaka-Johor, Miri, Sibu, Keningau and Sandakan. Even though the racial composition of the students may be different between East and West Malaysia, nevertheless, the common Catholicism has enabled the parishioners to open their homes so that the students experienced a home-away-fromhome stay with them. The church leaders helping out at this event also had the opportunity “to give that we may receive” as we work not for ourselves but for the praise and glory of God. In that, we will be blessed.”

The procession of the Blessed Sacrament, part of MCCSD2, as explained by Archbishop, is a pilgrimage walk of faith displaying the solidarity and unity in the body of Christ. The coming together of East and West Malaysians to stand as witnessess for Christ in public is an eye-opener for both sides and this augurs well for fulfilling the purpose of MCCSD2 That They May Be One.

Through the conversations and interactions with Archbishop Poh over the five days at MCCSD2, he comes across as a humble, caring and down-to-earth person who shows much concern for the students. He blends in so well with his “flock” and the joy and happiness exuding from the students’ faces prove that Archbishop Poh is a much loved shepherd.

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