The Missions Etrangéres de Paris (MEP) – Paris Foreign Missions led by Most Rev. Olivier Schmitthaeusler MEP - Bishop of Phnom Penh, Rev. Fr. Vincent Sénéchel - Superior General of MEP at 128 Rue du Bac, Paris, Rev. Fr. Jean L’ Hour MEP - former Scripture Professor of College General Penang, and Rev. Fr. Vy Samnang - Assistant Rector of Saint Jean Marie Vianney Seminary in Phnom Penh, together with Rev. Fr. Bernard Hyacinth and Rev. Deacon Lazarus Jonathan, graced the People of God in Bukit Mertajam, by celebrating Mass at the Minor Basilica of St. Anne. This special occasion was part of their visit to Penang for the 360th Anniversary celebrations of College General Penang.
The MEP Fathers for 360 years have, through faith, service, resilience and sacrifice, contributed to the evangelization of Asian countries: Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia, India, Laos, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Burma and more. They proclaim the Gospel to the people of Asia. Since the beginning, 4,300 MEP missionaries have evangelized, established dioceses, translated the Bible, and written books in 60 Asian languages. Many were martyred and to-date, 23 have been canonized by the Catholic Church.
The College General Penang, founded by the MEP Fathers, has the hallowed title of ‘College of Martyrs’ where many of its alumni and professors were martyred and later canonized including Saint Laurent Marie Joseph Imbert, Saint Jacques Honore Chastan, Saint Peter Qui, Saint Philip Minh and many more. The relics of these saints are now housed at the College General Chapel.
Bishop Olivier in his homily shared the experiences of their mission in Cambodia, where the Church embodies the love and charity of the catholic faith to the local population. Bishop Olivier also shared the story of ‘Our Lady of the Mekong’. Fishermen of the Mekong River salvaged two oxidized cast-iron gray statues of the Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary in 2008 and Statue of the Madonna with Child Jesus in 2012. These statues were dumped into the river by Khmer Rouge soldiers during the Pol Pot regime (1975-1978). The discovery leading to the 2 statues is filled with visions, dreams and faith. The Queen of Peace Church of Areiksart is rapidly becoming a place of pilgrimage. Bishop Olivier has bought a 2-acre land for the future development. Just as with the Shrine of St. Anne, we pray for blessings upon those who come to pray and discern at the grotto of Our Lady of the Mekong.
Rev. Fr. Vy Samnang, ordained in 2023 is a sign of hope and growth for the Cambodian
Church. Fr Samnang represents the fruit of the local Church institutes – Don Bosco school where he studied and the Saint Jean Marie Vianney Seminary in Phnom Penh, the formation Center.
Rev. Fr. Vincent Sénéchel, who holds a doctorate in Biblical Theology, has served as a missionary in Cambodia for 9 years, was elected the Superior General of MEP in 2022. Fr. Vincent gently responded with “Thank JESUS” when the writer expressed gratitude on behalf of Malaysians for the MEP Fathers’ contribution to building the Church in Peninsula Malaysia, Amen to that.
Rev. Fr. Jean L’ Hour MEP, former Scripture Professor of College General, defies his 93 years with vitality. For this 360 Anniversary he will be reminiscing with many of his students who are now Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and senior priests. Fr. Jean shared stories of his time at College General. Cardinal Sebastian Francis always reminds us that his thought process and global perspective have been shaped by the French Formators at College General, for which he is grateful.
The MEP Fathers visited the Shrine of St. Anne where the first chapel on top of the hill was founded in 1846 by Fr. Adolphe Couellan MEP. In 1865 Fr. Ambrose Maistre MEP built a bigger chapel behind the St. Anne’s water fount. By 1888 Fr. F.P. Sorin MEP had built the present Shrine of St. Anne and is buried at the main aisle entrance of the church.
They next visited the historical ruins of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Pagar Tras, Bukit Mertajam, built in 1882 by Fr. Jean Francois Allard MEP and Fr. Francois Terrien MEP. This church, often referred to as the “Notre Dame in the Jungle” was constructed in a Gothic style reminiscent of its namesake in Paris. In 1948 due to the communist insurgency, the church was abandoned and a new church with the same name was built in Kulim town. Adjacent to the church, there is a cemetery with the tombs of two parish priests: Fr. Marcel Selier MEP who was buried there according to his last wishes, and Fr. Barnabas Gao.
The MEP Fathers gathered at the tomb of Fr. Marcel Selier, and it was a poignant moment when Bishop Olivier led the prayers in French as we stood in reverence before our beloved priest’s resting place. The French prayer, echoing at Fr. Marcel’s tomb after 50 years evoke a sense of sanctity.
We give thanks to Our Heavenly Father for the Missions Etrangeres de Paris (MEP) – Paris Foreign Missions, missionaries who have lived, served, and been laid to rest here, having given their all for the local Church.
By Christopher Kushi
