ASIA/MALAYSIA - Resignation of the Bishop of Melaka-Johor, appointment of successor

Friday, 20 November 2015

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 19 November 2015 the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Melaka-Johor, Malaysia, presented by His Exc. Mgr. Paul Tan Chee Ing, S.I., in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law. The Holy Father appointed Rev. Anthony Bernard Paul, parish priest of the Cathedral and Vicar for Pastoral Care of the Diocese of Penang as Bishop of the Diocese of Melaka-Johor.
Rev. Anthony Bernard Paul was born on July 6, 1953 in Alor Star, in the diocese of Penang. He entered the diocesan Minor Seminary and then worked briefly as a teacher in a local school. He studied philosophy and theology at the Major Seminary in Penang. He was ordained a priest on July 21, 1989 for the diocese of Penang.
Since his ordination he has served the following roles: 1989-1992: Assistant priest of St. Francis Xavier in Melaka; 1992-1995: Pastor of St. Mary in Tapah; 1995-1998: Pastor of the Nativity of the BVM in Butterworth; 1996-1997: diocesan director for vocations; 1997-2000: Vicar General in Penang; 1998-1999: Parish administrator of the Immaculate Conception Parishes of the Sacred Heart in Penang Kulim, Kedah; 1999-2005: Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Kulim; 2005-2010: Parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish, Sibilin, Ipoh; since 2010: Pastor of the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Penang; since 2012: Vicar for the Pastoral care.
The Diocese of Melaka-Johor, built in 1985, is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, has an area of 20,364 square kilometers and a population of 3,696,000 inhabitants, of whom 39,537 are Catholics. There are 58 parishes, 36 priests (30 diocesan and 6 religious), 5 religious brothers, 9 permanent deacons, 40 nuns and 7 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2015)


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