25th August 2023
OBITUARY NOTICE
Reverend Father Dr Michael Teng Woon Pheng
Born (Johor Bahru): 2nd October 1960
Ordained Priest: 23rd June 1999
Departed: 25th August 2023
Age: 62
It is with profound sadness that we announce the demise of our dear Reverend Father Dr Michael Teng Woon Pheng (aged 62), at approximately 11.09 am on 25th August 2023 at Graceville, MAJODI Centre, Jalan Masai, Plentong, Johor. Fr. Michael Teng had had cancer for several years before his demise.
Fr. Michael Teng was born in Johor Bahru on 2nd October 1960 to Paul Teng Kee Wah and Rosa Tan Lock. He had an elder brother and three younger sisters.
The seeds of vocation were planted early in Fr. Michael’s life. This was because he did his primary and secondary education at St. Joseph’s in Johor Bahru, a school managed by the Brothers of St. Gabriel. Fr. Michael continued his education at Stamford College in Singapore for his ‘A’ levels. After graduating in 1979, he studied printing at Baharuddin Vocational Institute in Singapore. In 1982, Fr. Michael joined the Gabrielite brothers as an aspirant. While there, he also served as a printing instructor at the vocational training centre at Montfort Boys’ Town, Batu Tiga, as an aspirant of the Gabrielite Brothers.
Fr. Michael left about two years after discerning that he may be more suited to serve in parish communities. Before applying for the seminary, Fr. Michael sought work experience. Among his work experiences was as a clerk in a legal firm. However, he has related that he enjoyed his time best as a sales assistant at MPH Bookstore due to his love for books. Fr. Michael was also active in his home parish, Sacred Heart Cathedral. His activities included participating in youth groups, Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC), Charismatic Renewal, and Parish Renewal Weekends.
After some years of discernment, Fr. Michael applied and was accepted to the seminary in 1989. He did a year of Initiation Year in January 1989 at the Good Catholic Seminary in Melaka and then continued his formation at College General Penang for philosophy and theology. Fr. Michael completed his priestly studies in December 1996 and graduated with a Baccalaureate from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome.
His first posting after the seminary was to St Theresa parish, Melaka, in 1997. The parish priest then was the late Rev. Fr. John Yu. This was for him to gain more pastoral experience and improve his Mandarin. On 1st May 1998, he was ordained a deacon at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Johor Bahru. He continued to serve as a deacon at the parish of St Theresa, Melaka, From May 1998 to September 1998. He was then posted to the parish of St Francis Xavier, Melaka, from October 1998 to May 1999 under the guidance of the then parish priest, the late Rev. Fr. Francis Ng.
Fr. Michael was ordained to the priesthood at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Johor Bahru, on 23rd June 1999. He was posted as an Assistant Parish Priest at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish on 8th July 1999, where he served until he was assigned to St Theresa Parish, Melaka, in February 2001.
In 2002, Fr. Michael left for Rome to obtain his licentiate in Moral Theology at Alphonsianum, a pontifical institution of higher education founded in 1949 by the Redemptorists and located in Rome, Italy. Fr. Michael did well in his licentiate that his professors recommended he continue his studies with a doctorate in Sacred Theology, which he completed in 2009.
He took about seven years to complete his doctorate as he was diagnosed with throat cancer. His battle and living with cancer demonstrated his will and determination to press forward once he set his mind to accomplish a goal.
A trait of Fr. Michael was his love for reading and his desire to understand the content of faith. Even in the seminary, he would engage with his professors to better understand a subject. Students have often remarked that entering his room was like entering a mini library, as books were littered everywhere.
However, Fr. Michael could not be said to be bookish, as his passion for learning was met equally by his love for sports, especially football. Fr. Michael was a talented player and was on the seminary football team when they won the College Cup in 2000. He was a man who had great energy and passion for life.
His struggle with cancer did not diminish that. Upon returning to ministry, Fr. Michael initiated a ministry to the sick and served for as long as possible until his decline in recent years. Fr. Michael also served as Head of the Diocesan Biblical Ministry and Rite Christian Initiation of Adults Facilitator from December 1999 to January 2001 and Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of MalaysiaSingapore-Brunei from 2011 to 2016.
Earlier this year, Fr. Michael informed the Bishop’s office that in the event of his passing, he would like his theme to be “I will sing of the Mercy of the Lord, forever…. (Ps. 89:1)” May Fr. Michael who saw fit to proclaim and sing of the Lord’s mercy while he lived now be embraced by the mercy of God’s love.
Details of the official wake and funeral are as follows:
The body of the late Rev. Fr. Dr Michael Teng will arrive on the evening of 25 August 2023 and be placed at the Cathedral for the wake mass:
Wake Mass: Friday, 25th August 2023,
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
1729 Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Time: 8:00 pm
After the wake mass, the body will be moved to the Chapel of Divine Mercy at the Cathedral until the Funeral Mass on Monday, 28th August 2023. Please check with the Cathedral for the schedule of the wake prayers.
Funeral Mass: Monday, 28th August 2023,
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
1729 Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Time: 11:00 am
Presided by Bishop Bernard Paul
After Mass, the cortège will leave for burial at Ulu Tiram Catholic Cemetery, Johor.
His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Anthony Bernard G. Paul, D.D., the Bishop of Malacca Johore Diocese and the clergy of the Diocese extend their deepest condolences to the family, relatives, caregivers, and friends of Fr. Dr Michael Teng Woon Pheng in this time of loss and assure them of their Fraternal prayers and support.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Fr. Dr Lawrence Ng Yew Kim
Chancellor
Malacca Johore Diocese
