On 8th October 2026, H. Em. Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, formally decreed the establishment of ‘The Samaritan Missionaries of Hope’ as an Official Diocesan Ministry. Cardinal Sebastian then blessed and officially opened the Samaritan Hope Centre at Jalan Chain Ferry, Butterworth, an event made more meaningful as it coincided with the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day symbolizing an example and model of the Christian life.
This new ministry embodies the Gospel call of Matthew 25:35-36 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ For the foundress, Sr. Fatima Emmanuel Sinnapan, every person encountered: the poor, homeless, abandoned, or forgotten, is the living face of Christ. Sr. Fatima recalls Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:40 “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Her conviction is simple: Christians are called to be missionary people, radiating Christ’s love through concrete acts of mercy.
Cardinal Sebastian noted that Sr. Fatima had experienced “a call within a call.” Formerly with the Little Sisters of the Poor, she felt drawn to serve the homeless living on the streets. Since 2018, Sr. Fatima has led the Samaritan Hope outreach in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, reaching out to the homeless and marginalized with compassion and dignity. In blessing the Samaritan Hope Centre, Cardinal Sebastian prayed that it would become a haven of human dignity, hope, and safety. Recalling that Jesus Christ had nowhere to lay His head, he reminded those present that every person bears the infinite image of God. “May this home feed the hungry, may these walls keep out the cold, and may all who pass through this door find the warmth of Christ’s love,” he said.
In June 2023, at the invitation of Rev. Fr. Dominic Santhiyagu, Parish Priest of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (NBVM), Butterworth, Sr. Fatima began a preliminary mission in Penang. Together with NBVM volunteers, she walked beneath flyovers, along shop lot corridors, and through the hidden corners of Butterworth, encountering people who had been rejected by their families, recently released from prison, or left with nowhere to go. Simple offerings of buns and water became the first steps toward conversation, trust, and the sharing of stories marked by hardship and hope.
The four-day mission bore fruit with several volunteers committing themselves to continuing the outreach weekly. Their dedication, combined with discernment involving Cardinal Sebastian and Fr. Dominic, led to the decision to establish a soup kitchen and shelter to provide a stable, compassionate presence for the homeless in Butterworth. Sr. Fatima reminds volunteers: “We feed the poor, but the food is only the means. The real mission is to show God’s love and help transform lives.” For her, the Church must be a family for those left by the roadside, echoing the late Pope Francis’ call for a Church that accompanies, heals, and lifts-up those in need.
During the launch, street volunteers wearing T-shirts printed with “Serving with Love and Compassion” welcomed guests, benefactors, and well-wishers. Their presence embodied the spirit of the ministry: humble, joyful, and deeply missionary. This is a story of faith, generosity, and the courage to serve. It is not merely social work: It is God’s work!
by Christopher Kushi
