PENANG — On June 15 and 16, the Diocese of Penang celebrated the diamond jubilee of Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam’s sacerdotal anniversary in two parishes where he had previously served as parish priest of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (NBVM) in Butterworth and the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) in Ipoh. Archbishop Emeritus Murphy, a native of the Penang diocese, served as the third metropolitan archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur from 2003 to 2013.
Celebration at NBVM, Butterworth
Parishioners of NBVM, gathered on June 15 to honour Archbishop Murphy on his 60th anniversary of priesthood. The Mass, presided over by Cardinal Sebastian Francis and concelebrated with four priests including NBVM parish priest Fr Dominic Santhiyagu, was attended by the archbishop emeritus’ family, friends, and parishioners.
In his homily, Cardinal Sebastian emphasised the significance of thanksgiving in Catholic life, saying, “For us Catholics, thanksgiving is a way of life; it is our daily bread. And the Eucharist, too, simply means thanksgiving.” He attributed Archbishop Emeritus Murphy’s 60 years of dedicated service to his spirit of gratitude, sustained by the Holy Spirit. Cardinal Sebastian highlighted the missionary spirit of the Penang diocese, which has trained and formed five bishops who were then sent to serve in other dioceses, showcasing a true missionary spirit. “We have been a generous diocese, and we will continue to be one,” he affirmed.
Quoting St Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Cardinal Sebastian remarked, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful — for He cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13), affirming God’s unwavering faithfulness mirrored in Archbishop Emeritus Murphy’s journey. The celebration was a testament to this divine faithfulness and the archbishop emeritus’ steadfast commitment to his vocation. Cardinal Sebastian concluded his homily with the blessings Ad multos annos (to many years) and Tu es sacerdos in aeternum (you are a priest forever).
The celebration continued with a heartfelt speech by Agnes Chin, a long-time parishioner, who reminisced about Archbishop Emeritus Murphy’s pastoral care, particularly his dedication to the spiritual growth of children and his encouragement of parishioners to engage with the Liturgy of the Hours. A video presentation followed, highlighting his 60 years of service, after which the archbishop emeritus shared his reflections and blessed the congregation. The event concluded with attendees sharing personal moments with him, filled with joy and nostalgia.
Celebration at OLOL, Ipoh
The following day, June 16, the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, celebrated a dual event ? the Sacrament of Confirmation for 44 young parishioners and Archbishop Emeritus Murphy’s diamond jubilee to the priesthood.
Present together with Cardinal Sebastian Francis were Frs Robert Daniel and George Vaithynathan, and Deacon Sandnasamy Peter. In his homily, Cardinal Sebastian highlighted the parable of the mustard seed from the Gospel, drawing a parallel between the smallest seed growing into the largest shrub and Archbishop Emeritus Murphy’s spiritual journey. He emphasised that, like the seed, individuals must plant themselves in the fertile soil of God’s mercy through faith and surrender to His divine will.
Cardinal Sebastian also acknowledged the parish’s longstanding missionary role, particularly in the lives of Archbishop Emeritus Murphy and Bishop Bernard Paul of Malacca Johore diocese, both of whom served as parish priests at OLOL.
Archbishop Emeritus Murphy, ordained at OLOL on May 10, 1964, was the first priest to be ordained after the church’s new building was completed in 1959. He served as parish priest from 1970 to 1972, earning the title “Shepherd of Transformation” for his innovative pastoral initiatives. During the confirmation ceremony, the 44 candidates received blessings from both Cardinal Sebastian and Archbishop Emeritus Murphy.
Before the Mass, a video tribute celebrated Archbishop Emeritus Murphy’s priestly journey. Parish Council chairperson Zavier presented him with a portrait capturing his service over the years. The archbishop emeritus expressed his deep gratitude to all present, thanking them for their support throughout his priestly journey. The celebration ended with Archbishop Emeritus Murphy bestowing individual blessings on the congregation, young and old, who eagerly received his special grace.
These celebrations at NBVM and OLOL underscored the profound impact of Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam’s ministry and the deep affection and respect he garnered from the communities he served.
