Archbishop Emeritus John Ha celebrated his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass on 14 December 2022, joined by Jubilarian classmates.
By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — Born 5 March 1947, Archbishop Emeritus Dato John Ha was ordained a priest on 14 December 1972 by Bishop Charles Reiterer. He studied for his Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures in Rome from 1973-1976. He returned to Rome for his Doctorate in Sacred Scriptures in 1982-1984, and one semester in 1985.
Fr John joined College General Penang as a Formator in 1980, but was recalled back to Kuching to help establish St Peter’s College Seminary in 1982. He became the rector there from 1984-1991 and 1997-1998. From 1993-1996, he was the rector at St Joseph’s Cathedral.
Fr John was ordained Bishop on 6 june 1998, and served as Auxiliary Bishop from 1998-2003. He was installed as the second Archbishop of Kuching on 23 june 2003, taking over when Archbishop Emeritus Dato’ Sri Peter Chung retired.
Archbishop Emeritus John announced his retirement in March 2017 on his 70th birthday, presenting Archbishop Simon Poh as his successor and the third Archbishop of Kuching.
Grace and Gratitude
In a beautiful celebration to mark his 50 years of priestly ministry, Archbishop Emeritus John presided over his Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass on 14 December 2022, 50 years to the date he was ordained a priest.
The Mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Simon Poh, Archbishop Emeritus Peter Chung and the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, with over 60 brother priests who included archbishops, bishops, and priests from Arch/Diocese of Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Miri, Sibu, Thailand, Singapore and Kuching.
The Apostolic Nuncio also personally handed over to Archbishop Emeritus John a document with the Pope’s blessings.
With a “heart filled with profound gratitude to him for His gift of vocation and mission”, the Archbishop Emeritus said: “50 years of my priesthood has given me abundant experiences of God’s blessing.” He attributed all the “love, care and guidance as well as unfailing help” he received, to “All is Grace” for when “God calls, it is for a mission, and He’s sure to grant him or her his unfailing help.” This, he quipped, reminded him of the song, “You never walk alone”.
Old Classmates and Jubilarians
When the young John was a seminarian at College General Penang in 1967, he formed a steadfast bond with two seminarians from Thailand. They have supported each other until today. In recognition of their friendships, he invited Fr Peter Chavalit and Fr Joseph Chalerm to concelebrate his 50th priestly ordination anniversary Mass.
Book of Homilies
As a token for all the prayers and support he has received for his 50 years of priestly life and ministry, Archbishop Emeritus John gifted all the priests, religious, his guests and the faithful who attended his Golden Jubilee Mass, a compilation of his Book of Homilies.
He personally presented his book to Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, Archbishop Simon Poh, Archbishop Emeritus Peter Chung, and the arch/bishops and Jubilarian priests who travelled to join him in “fraternal solidarity”.
The recessional hymn “A light within the world” closed the memorable Golden Jubilee Mass for Archbishop Emeritus John Ha.
