GEORGETOWN: Rev. Fr. Jacob Wong Haw Ran, MI, Delegate Superior of the Order of the Ministers of the Infirm Taiwan (Camillians) led a distinguished delegation from Camillian Saint Mary’s Hospital Luodong for a working visit to the Bishop of Penang, on 19 February 2025. The Camillian charism is the complete service and love to the sick as inspired by the spirituality of St. Camillus de Lellis.
Cardinal Sebastian Francis extended a warm welcomed to Fr. Jacob, our very own son of Penang, who was ordained in 2006 at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Jalan Macalister, George Town. Fr. Jacob is also the Chairman of Camillian Foundation Taiwan and Camillian Medical Foundation Taiwan. Present also were Rev. Fr. Aloysius Tan, Rev. Fr. Edmund Woon, Rev. Fr. Joachim Robert, and from Taiwan include Dr. Hon-Kwong Ma, Director of International Outreach, Michelle Yin, Director of Long-Term Care with other distinguished members of Saint Mary Hospital Luodong.
Cardinal remarked, “In 2006, Penang sent forth Fr. Jacob Wong as a missionary disciple to Taiwan and now in 2025, Fr. Jacob returns with ten Taiwanese missionary disciples to set the groundwork to serve the sick and elderly in Penang”.
Fr. Aloysius shared a heartfelt memory of their younger days when together with Fr. Jacob, alongside the Young Christian Students (YCS) and Youth of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, they dedicated themselves to aiding the sick and elderly. It was their collective dream and hope to establish a care center for those in need. Today that dream is finally coming to fruition, a testament that ‘Hope does not Disappoint”.
Under discussion is the collaborative establishment of Day Care Services for the Elderly and Dementia Patients. As Malaysia enters the era of an aging population, the need for comprehensive care solutions becomes increasingly urgent. With the wealth of experience from Taiwan’s long-term care services, and in keeping with the spirit of St. Camillus, there is a clear necessity to provide both medical care and everyday living assistance for dementia patients.
In Taiwan, the Camillians oversee the Saint Mary's Hospital in Luodong, with more than 600 beds, three nursing homes for the elderly, and a center for mentally disabled people. Additionally, the Camillians operate a nursing school, nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals. The community is further enriched with a youth dance center and pastoral service in a dozen mountain parishes among the aborigines.
By Christopher Kushi
