Sarawak Heart Centre demonstrates religious harmony by building Chapel on its premise

By Ivy Chai

KUCHING — The Sarawak Heart Centre (Pusat Jantung Sarawak) at Kota Samarahan, created history on 4 March 2022 with the opening of the Sacred Heart Chapel officiated and blessed by Chairman of the Association of Churches, Sarawak, Catholic Archbishop Dr Simon Poh.

This is probably the first Chapel built within the premise of any medical facility in the country. The idea to build a chapel was mooted in 2019 and with the support of Dr Mohd Asri bin Riffin, Director of Pusat Jantung Sarawak, and Richard Lon, Director of Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), the task to plan the chapel was given to the Catholic Church.

According to Archbishop Simon Poh, the Catholic Church, responding to the request for Masses by the hospital’s Christian staff and patients, had been celebrating monthly Masses at small rooms assigned to them since 2015.

Although the Catholic faith was chosen as the “anchor religion”, Archbishop Simon echoed the comment by UNIFOR Director Richard Lon that the chapel was for the use of all Christian denominations, religions and faiths.

Building the Sacred Heart Chapel

Construction of the chapel commenced on 15 April 2021 and it was completed on 15 December at a total cost of RM366,000. The building of the chapel is financed by a RM280,000 grant from UNIFOR, with the Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching contributing the balance.

The chapel’s opening ceremony was graced by Archbishop Simon Poh, with other dignitaries, Dr Mohd Asri Riffin from Pusat Jantung Sarawak, Richard Lon from UNIFOR and Roy Fender Entusa, chairman of the chapel management committee. Together, they performed a “ribbon cutting” to declare the Sacred Heart Chapel open.

In a symbolic gesture, Archbishop Simon then switched on the lights in the Chapel with the emcee reading the Bible verse from Genesis 1:3 “Let there be light”.

Archbishop Simon in his speech, expressed his happiness at the completion of the Chapel and believed that from the beginning, it was a “blessing from God”, saying it was “to build mutual respect and acceptance between races, religion and culture so that we can truly be one family.” He hoped the opening of the Sacred Heart Chapel at Pusat Jantung Sarawak, “will be a model for the rest of Malaysia.”

He added that COVID-19 and the recent floods in the country have “taught us that we need to work as one family, one human family, not just Malaysia but throughout the world.” We are to be a “brother and sister to each other because we are all created by the same God. By a God who loves us.”

The Archbishop believes that sick people, in their struggle and pain, will be searching for God, wondering where their God is as they want answers to their sufferings. They tend to “draw strength from above.” He added, “It is in prayer that we find the purpose, meaning and strength.”

The Chapel is a place “to pray”, “encourage healing”, be they physical, spiritual or emotional. He thanked God for making it possible for the Chapel to be built, as well as for the support from Dr Mohd Asri and UNIFOR.

To cap the opening and handing over ceremony, Archbishop Simon was asked to sign the official opening plaque for the Sacred Heart Chapel as well as cut a cake to commemorate the occasion.

Archbishop Simon Poh celebrated the first Mass at the Chapel where Catholic Masses will hence be held every month.