By Peter Tan
14 February 2025. Mount Hosanna Church is still undergoing expansion and the Church is expected to increase its seating capacity to 500 people, compared to the previous capacity of just over 100.
A Church Built on Faith and Healing
Mount Hosanna Church (also known as Mount Hosanna Chapel), located 33.4 kilometres from Simanggang and 162 kilometres from Kuching, holds a special place in the hearts of many. Who can forget the angelic song “Three Candles, Three Persons in One God?” Originally sung as the opening hymn for a regular Mass, it became a historic anthem for the inauguration of Mount Hosanna Church, symbolising the Light of the Holy Spirit igniting the faith of every Catholic worshipper.
Refrain: On Mount Hosanna, we worship You,
On Mount Hosanna, we adore You,
On Mount Hosanna, we sing to You,
On Mount Hosanna, we praise Your Holy Name.
We shall come from near and far
To your Holy Mount Hosanna
With shouts of joy we come before your throne
To celebrate your glorious victory won
O let the light of your face on us shine
And fill us with your Healing Grace Divine’
and the grace of joyful trust
to see the wonders of your love.
Mount Hosanna Church was built under the vision of the late Fr Richard Khoo, with its design crafted by Mr Desmond Ling. Fr Khoo purchased the land from a local resident in Gua Sukat after unsuccessful attempts to acquire land in the Bukit Bengunan and Selepong areas.
After four years of planning, the land for Mount Hosanna Church was purchased in 1992, marking the beginning of its development. On 8 October 1994, efforts to define the Church’s boundaries began with placing boundary markers. This was followed by site clearing and ground leveling on 2 December 1994, to prepare the area for construction. Finally, Archbishop Peter Chung was invited to bless the site with holy water, signifying the sacred foundation upon which the Church would be built.
However, due to financial constraints, no site activity took place in 1995, and the project was put on hold for a year. It was only in October 1996 that construction officially resumed, leading to the Church’s completion in 1997.
Initially envisioned as a place for healing and reverence, the Church’s foundation was deeply connected to the healing prayers that began in 1987, during the Year of Marian. These prayers were originally held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church (OLQP), while Fr Khoo searched for a permanent location. However, nowadays, Mount Hosanna Church is no longer a place for healing but mainly for prayer, devotion, and pilgrimage.
The Origin of the Shrine at Mount Hosanna Church
In 2013, a pilgrimage team from Saint Michael Church of Batu Niah visited Mount Hosanna Church during its feast day. Sister Alice, a teacher in Batu Niah, led the group. A miraculous event occurred during their visit—a rosary fell from the sky into the Mount Hosanna Church compound. This miraculous site is where the Mother Mary Shrine stands today, a place that all visitors can now witness.
Originally, Fr Richard Khoo planned to build the Mother Mary Shrine on the mountain adjacent to Mount Hosanna Church. However, following the miraculous event of the rosary falling from the sky, he decided to establish the shrine at the very location where the miracle took place. This decision solidified the sacred significance of the site.
In 2018, the pilgrimage group from Saint Michael Church, Batu Niah, returned to Mount Hosanna Church to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the miraculous rosary event. The shrine continues to be a site of devotion and spiritual pilgrimage for many.
A Design Inspired by the Holy Trinity
The Church’s distinctive architecture features three towering candles, symbolising the Most Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—radiating divine light, healing, and peace to the world. A striking feature of the Church is its 100-step staircase, inspired by Jacob’s dream of a stairway reaching from earth to heaven, where angels ascended and descended, symbolising a spiritual journey toward God. (Genesis 28:16) “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it!”
However, in later years, modifications were made to the staircase to ensure accessibility, making it easier for elderly parishioners and those with mobility challenges to ascend Mount Hosanna. Today, after modifications, the staircase consists of 201 steps.
A Vision for the Future
Mount Hosanna Church was officially opened on 16 November 1997, by Archbishop Peter Chung (now Emeritus). Today, as the Church undergoes expansion, it continues to stand as a beacon of faith and devotion. With its growing capacity, it will soon provide a welcoming space for even more worshippers to gather in unity and prayer.
