Chapel of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary: A legacy of faith and compassion on Pulau Jerejak

Mar 14, 2025

By Christopher Kushi
Hidden within the dense vegetation of Pulau Jerejak, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary — also known as the Leper Asylum Church — stands as a poignant reminder of a bygone era. Built in 1896 by Fr Emile-Albert Joseph Mariette, a French missionary of the Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP), the chapel was dedicated to the spiritual care of 80 Catholic leprosy patients under the stewardship of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Penang.

Once a quarantine island, Pulau Jerejak was a refuge for those ostracised by society due to the stigma surrounding leprosy. Fr Mariette, moved by compassion, understood the need for not just medical care, but also spiritual solace. Recognising this, he took it upon himself to provide both, establishing a sanctuary for those who had been cast aside by society. The chapel, consecrated on January 4, 1896, became a beacon of hope and a place of worship for those enduring the harsh realities of isolation.



The island’s role as a quarantine station for leprosy patients, tuberculosis sufferers, and those with contagious diseases, persisted for several decades. As time passed, however, medical advancements led to the decline of leprosy asylums, and the need for the island’s quarantine facilities diminished. With the island’s purpose lost, the chapel was eventually abandoned and left to the mercy of nature.

Today, what remains of this oncesacred sanctuary is a crumbling structure, overtaken by thick foliage. Yet, despite its state of ruin, the chapel endures as a powerful testament to the faith, dedication, and resilience of those who served the outcast and the forgotten.

The chapel was more than just a place of worship; it was a haven of faith, hope, charity, and love for a community grappling with sickness and isolation. It stood alongside the Leprosy Hospital, with a priest’s house and a Catholic cemetery on the adjacent hill. In 1926, according to the Catholic Diary of India, Ceylon, and Burma, Fr L. Gojeaetche (MEP) served as the chapel’s vicar. By 1932, a Chinese catechist was stationed on the island to care for the 80 Catholic patients, under the supervision of the Vicarage of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, George Town.

In the 1950s, Fr Louis M. V. Riboud, the parish priest of the Church of St Francis Xavier in Georgetown, sent catechist Casimir Pillay to visit the Jerejak Quarantine Station. His task was to connect with newly arrived Roman Catholic immigrants, record their details, and relay this information to Fr Riboud, who would then inform parishes throughout Malaya and the Straits Settlements of their new parishioners.

The story of Pulau Jerejak’s association with leprosy began to draw to a close in October 1969, when the relocation of leprosy patients to the Sg Buloh Leprosarium in Selangor began. By the early 1970s, the island’s role as a leprosy colony had ended. Today, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary stands as a reminder of the sacrifices made, the faith upheld, and the love shared by those who served a forgotten community.

Special thanks are given to Mike Gibby, the author of Jerejak – Penang’s Untold Story, whose work has shed light on the island’s hidden history and the lives of those who once called it home.

Reflecting on the trials and suffering of the leprosy patients
On March 1, a memorial Mass marking 135 years of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary on Pulau Jerejak, Penang, was celebrated in reverence of its enduring legacy. The Mass was presided over by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, and concelebrated by Fr Michael Raymond OFM Cap. from the Church of Divine Mercy in Sungai Ara; Fr Joachim Robert of College General Penang, and Fr Desmond Jansen from the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Georgetown. They were joined by members of the Penang Diocese Catholic Heritage Conservation Committee, together honouring the chapel’s rich history.

This poignant Mass paid tribute to the chapel’s legacy of faith and hope, offering prayers and blessings for the souls of the patients who once lived and died on the island. Cardinal Sebastian’s homily reflected on the trials and suffering faced by those afflicted with disease on Pulau Jerejak. These individuals, united by their shared experiences of pain, isolation, and despair, walked into the chapel with unwavering faith, finding solace and love through the support of the missionary fathers and the community of believers. Through their struggles, the faithful on the island formed a resilient and growing community, bound by a spirit of mutual strength and support.

In the 1960s, a powerful wave of compassion and commitment swept through Pulau Jerejak, as Fr Arthur A. Julien, MEP, together with the Grey Sisters and seminarians from College General Penang, made pastoral visits to the island. Among the seminarians was Fr Francis Anthony, now 85, former Rector of College General Penang, who recalls accompanying the Grey Sisters in providing healthcare for the leprosy patients.

Fr Francis remembers how the patients, despite their suffering, greeted them with joy and a desire to converse. Yet, there was a quiet, unspoken awareness among them — they knew their time on the island was limited. Fr Francis reflects that, as seminarians, these patients became their formators in the priesthood, teaching them the profound lessons of care, compassion, and comfort for the sick. Many of the patients had come to terms with their fate, knowing they would likely pass away on the island, but they still found solace in the visits, in the touch of human connection.

In the early 1970s, another seminarian, Brother Francis Xavier Gasper, now 77, a Gabrielite Brother and one of the founders of Montfort Sabah, recalls how he volunteered to join the Grey Sisters in their mission. His role was simple yet deeply impactful — offering a listening ear, providing solace, and being a comforting presence. The patients, though resigned to their fate, showed an inner peace, content with the care and love they received.

Following the memorial Mass, Cardinal Sebastian invited all present to share their personal faith journeys. Each reflection was unique, yet all shared a common thread of gratitude and inspiration.

Fr Michael Raymond shared a powerful connection to St Francis of Assisi, founder of his Capuchin Order. St Francis, who found refuge in an abandoned church, received the call from the Lord: “Rebuild the Church” — a call to rebuild the inner life of the Church and journey towards full conformity with Christ. Fr Joachim Robert reflected on the steadfast faith of the Catholics on Pulau Jerejak, acknowledging that their resilience continues to inspire hope in the present-day Church. Their unwavering faith, even in the face of adversity, reminds us that we are never alone in our struggles.

Fr Desmond Jansen spoke with deep reverence of the legacy left by the early missionaries, whose dedication brought light and hope to those in their darkest hours. He expressed profound gratitude for their sacrifices, and with hopeful hearts, he envisioned that the chapel would continue to be a place of pilgrimage — a pilgrimage of hope for generations to come.

Maryann Robert, deeply moved, genuflected as she shared her emotive reflection. She expressed her joy and gratitude, feeling truly blessed to be at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Maryann spoke of her conviction that the Holy Spirit had been at work in this once-rejected and secluded community, through the missionary disciples who embodied a fervent passion for loving like Jesus.

Cardinal Sebastian bestowed his blessings upon the island, the chapel, and all the souls buried in their resting place, ensuring that their legacy of faith and perseverance will never be forgotten.

As we reflect on the past, we also remember the Grey Sisters of the Institute of Foreign Mission Sisters, whose motherhouse is at Notre Dame de La Motte, Seysses, France. These sisters devoted their lives to serving the sick on Pulau Jerejak, embodying their charism of sharing the life of the non-evangelised, the most underprivileged, and those far from Christ and the Church. Their mission was to announce the Good News of Salvation, bringing hope and love to those in need. Their dedication remains a shining example of selfless service and compassion.

In remembering the legacy of these early missionaries and the unwavering faith of the community of Pulau Jerejak, we are reminded of the profound power of love, service, and hope. May their example continue to inspire us all to serve with passion, to comfort with compassion, and to love with the heart of Christ.