AOHD Summit 2025: A transformative encounter of faith and unity

Apr 12, 2025

By Kristen Priya Krishnan
The Archdiocesan Office of Human Development (AOHD) of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur hosted the AOHD Summit 2025 – A Lenten Journey of Hope from March 21 to 24. This four-day summit, which aligned with the Jubilee Year theme "Pilgrims of Hope," reflected the message from Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have for you… plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." A total of 313 participants from various walks of life attended the different sessions and workshops.

The summit began with Mass at the Church of St Anthony. Archbishop Julian Leow was the main celebrant with Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, Bishop Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez SJ, also known as Bishop Kike, among the concelebrants.

In his homily, Archbishop Julian reminded attendees to embrace hope as a divine gift of life, never to give up or despair. He emphasised that God is present, even in pain, guiding people toward a future of hope. The celebration also included a cultural dance by Cambodian dancers, a gesture of unity and joy. Archbishop Julian also commissioned 15 new AOHD members

Following the Mass, Fr Albet Arokiasamy, the ecclesiastical assistant for AOHD, officially opened the summit, with Dr Gary Liew, director of AOHD, delivering the welcoming address.

The summit’s keynote speaker, Bishop Kike, shared his inspiring work in Cambodia, where he is renowned as the “Bishop of the Wheelchairs.” His initiative involves providing wheelchairs to the disabled and empowering them through employment, particularly focusing on the marginalised and landmine victims. His talk underscored the importance of transformation, social justice, and uplifting the least and the lost, promoting solidarity and communion.

Throughout the next four days, the summit featured nine main talks, 15 workshops, a Lent Concert, Holy Hour, and exposure immersion outreaches.

Among the notable sessions was a talk by Church of the Divine Mercy parish priest, Fr George Harrison, on My Mission on this Earth Today – A Hope-Filled Lenten Joy. Fr George who currently serves in the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development at the Vatican shared the story of Sr Rani Maria, a Franciscan nun who worked tirelessly for the empowerment of women and the marginalised before being tragically assassinated. His message highlighted the importance of living a mission of compassion, sharing the Good News, and showing mercy to those in need.

On March 22, there were three exposure immersion projects offered from 11.00am to 2.00pm: Feeding the homeless at Samaritan Hope, Visiting the Myanmar Learning Community or joining the tree planting activity at SMJK (T) Thamboosamy Pillai Sentul.

In the evening, the AOHD Human Library featured individuals who shared their personal experiences, encouraging deep dialogue and fostering a positive community. Borhan Pelanduk, the headman of an Orang Asli village, shared his struggle to protect his community’s ancestral land against developers. Jelatah, an Orang Asli member, discussed the challenges of obtaining clean water in their village, while Fr Paulino Miranda emphasised the ongoing fight for the rights of the Orang Asli people.

Other inspiring talks included “Stories on the Undocumented Chow Kit Youths” by Awaludin Jalalus Shuti, founder of Chow Kit Youths NGO, which helps young people break free from negative stereotypes and find purpose through community engagement. Dr Bugs Tan and Nicholas Lourdes also shared their stories of supporting underprivileged children’s education and overcoming personal disabilities, respectively.

A standout moment of the summit was the participation of Fara Diba Rosle, a 22-year-old Orang Asli student, who shared her remarkable journey from her village in Pahang to studying law at the University of Malaya. As the first in her family to pursue tertiary education, she hopes to change the future of her community.

Workshops led by Fr Gerard Theraviam and the World Community for Christian Meditation team offered participants a chance to experience Christian meditation and Taizé prayer, fostering deep moments of renewal and stillness.

Sr Salverina, a member of the Daughters of Carmel Religious Order, gave an inspirational session on “The Art of Listening,” emphasizing God’s constant presence and reassuring attendees not to fear, for God is always with them.

A session on Psychospirituality of the Pilgrim of Hope, led by Fr Philip Chua explored the connection between faith and mental health, followed by a mental health screening. These sessions helped attendees reflect on their emotional and spiritual well-being during the Lenten season.

The summit concluded with a Meet and Greet session where participants could engage with the speakers and leaders, sharing moments of reflection and encouragement.

The evening culminated with a Lenten Concert, featuring performances from Friar Derrick Yap, Cambodian dancers, and the Bave Chamber Choir. As the night came to a close, Archbishop Julian shared his final words, wrapping up this journey of reflection, music and faith, wishing the audience that the spirit of this Lenten season stay in our hearts as we continue our path of hope and renewal.

The highlight of the summit came at the conclusion of the Mass presided over by Archbishop Julian Leow and concelebrated by Friar Derrick Yap, and priests present.

What an amazing and meaningful four days it had been, bringing together faith leaders, experts, and communities to inspire change as well as to encounter God. Archbishop Julian’s final words reminded everyone to carry the spirit of hope and renewal beyond the summit.