By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — Work on the RM38 million Gothic-inspired St Peter’s Church built to accommodate over 1,000 parishioners, began in October 2019 and is expected to be completed by October or November 2024.
“If we can get the permit, we will hold a soft opening with a midnight Mass on Christmas eve,” Fr Vincent Chin, rector of St Peter’s Church, Padungan said.
According to Italian artisan Roberto Fasoli whose contract expires in August, production work on the stained-glass panels is about four years. So far, working with fellow Italian artisan Ernesto Reducci, they have completed about 80 percent or more of the commissioned work.
Incorporating Biblical and local native designs
The stained glass of St Peter surrounded by evangelists Luke, Mark, John and Matthew, and prophets from the Old Testament – Moses, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel adorns the facade of the Church. Costing RM600,000, it measures 11.5-metre high and 4-metre wide.
Stained-glass panels decorate the interior walls of the Church. On one wall is the Last Supper of Jesus and the 12 Apostles. Bible themes depicting St Joseph with focus on the life of Jesus, the Holy Family as well as Blessed Mother Mary and her involvement in salvation history decorate other walls.
Sandwiched between more biblical stories are the stained-glass panels of the 14 Stations of the Cross. Totalling 22 pieces, the commissioned panels cost RM120,000 each. The smaller stained-glass windows are incorporated with local ethnic motifs with a price tag of RM35,000 each.
The Church also carries the Vatican and Diocesan logos that can be viewed from the outside, and emblazoned across two inside doors are the Brooke and present State emblems.
The cross-shaped baptismal pool in front of the sanctuary is still under construction.
Work on the sanctuary and interior floor tiling has begun. According to Fr Vincent, the tiles are designed exclusively for the Church.
There is a unique wooden Cross hoisted above the sanctuary. The corpus or body of Christ was made in Vietnam but painted by a local artist. The Cross is made locally and has holes to reduce its weight as well as to represent sins of mankind. The reverse side of the Cross carries the letters AMDG, which stands for, “For the greater glory of God” in Latin.
St Peter’s Church will be fully air-conditioned with the ducts blending into the interior design and with temperature control features.
‘Give generously, give what you can spare’
With the new Church building nearing full completion, Fr Vincent disclosed that the project still lacks funds. He explained that nothing has been received from an initial pledge of RM15 million towards the cost of the construction of the Church with additional RM3 million for the Columbarium.
Contributions in cash and in kind have been good so far, but insufficient. “If everybody contributes and helps to promote,” he is confident the parish can raise the necessary funds. Someone had told him that “all the money is in your parishioners’ pockets.”
Fr Vincent reiterates the Church is for everyone and his message is: “Those who have more, please give generously. Those who have little, give whatever you can spare. The important thing is TO GIVE as a partner to make this Church a reality – something you can be proud of!”
The two-storey Columbarium is now in operation. Apart from the main Church building, there will be a shrine of Our Lady, multipurpose hall with an attached office block, an eight-storey hostel for an international school, a four-storey formation centre and ample parking space for cars.
