By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — The Archdiocese of Kuching welcomes another Salesian missionary, Fr Andre Delimarta SDB, who arrived in Kuching on 2 May 2023 from Indonesia. He is now attached to Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang as Assistant parish priest.
Fr Andre was born in Jakarta and is number eight out of nine siblings. His father Chen Feng Ying is from China and his Indonesian mother Christine, is a few generations removed from China descendants.
BIODATA
Name: Andre Delimarta (Chinese name: Chen Zhong Li)
Date of birth: 10 June 1969, Jakarta
Education: Primary and secondary schools in Jakarta, Indonesia
Joined Salesian of Don Bosco in 1989
Studied Philosophy and Theology in Manila, Philippines
Ordained priest on 15 April 1997
ASSIGNMENTS
In Timor Leste: Prefect of Studies at Don Bosco Seminary Fatumaca
In Indonesia: Rector, Novice Master and Delegate of SDB Indonesia, parish priest (last assignment before posting to Kuching Archdiocese)
In Sarawak: Assistant parish priest at Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang (current) and also now heads the Migrant Ministry.
Fr Andre has also been appointed Confreres in-charge of the SDB Community in the Kuching Archdiocese by the Provincial Superior, Manila Philippines, with effect from 1 July 2023.
In an interview with Today’s Catholic, Fr Andre says he loves Kuching. “It’s a beautiful place. The parishioners are also very welcoming and they are very faithful to practices of piety. It’s my first visit to Kuching. I’ve been to Malaysia several times for leisure with family. But Kuching is different,” he said.
As a missionary priest, Fr Andre’s stay in Kuching will be limited to a maximum of 10 years.
