New chapter for Miri Diocese

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I grew up in Kuching and had a normal Catholic family childhood. After my Form 6 in 1985, I worked one year as a site supervisor, and a few months in a laboratory. In 1987, I joined the seminary and graduated in 93. –
Bishop Richard Ng

Bishop Richard Ng

A NEW chapter will be written in the history of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Miri tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 25) with the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Richard Ng at the Miri Indoor Stadium before a crowd of 6,000.

Ng, 47, of Kuching, will replace the Rt Rev Anthony Lee, the charismatic Bishop Emeritus of Miri, who has led the diocese for 36 years. Ng’s appointment was announced on Oct 30, 2013 at the Vatican.

The Mass for the Episcopal Ordination will be held at 9am, and is expected to be attended by at least seven archbishops, 10 bishops, 82 priests, five deacons, heads of several other denominations, politicians and Catholics from all over Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Ng studied at St Peter’s College, the Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Kuching and was ordained a priest in 1995. In September 1999, he was sent to study Sacred Scriptures at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and graduated in 2003 with a Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures.

Upon his return to Kuching, he was posted to teach Sacred Scriptures at St Peter’s College as well as to serve as a full-time formator for seminarians. In 2008, he was appointed rector of St Peter’s College, a post he held until his recent appointment.

The Feast of the Conversion of St Paul falls on Jan 25, and it is indeed a most appropriate occasion for Ng’s Episcopal Ordination as St Paul’s whole life can be summed up in the words: “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

Ng shared his journey of faith with The Borneo Post during an hour-long interview this week, which demonstrated his humility, openness and resolve to serve.

He is known for his inclusiveness, quick grasp of issues and challenges, solid seminarian and teaching background, emphasis on spiritual life and the needs of the people.

 

Q: What was your childhood like and what was your ambition then?

A: I grew up in Kuching and had a normal Catholic family childhood. After my Form 6 in 1985, I worked one year as a site supervisor, and a few months in a laboratory. In 1987, I joined the seminary and graduated in 93.

 

Q: What inspired you to become a priest? When and how did you answer the call to serve?

A: When I was in secondary school, probably Form 3 or Form 4, the La Salle brothers were then looking after the school. One in particular, Brother Columba, was a great inspiration to me in his dedication and commitment to serve the people. I was attracted to his way of life. I thought that was a meaningful way to live my life.

I was thinking that when I finished school, I wanted to join them. So that was how it started. Even while I was in secondary school, I was not preparing for other things, I roughly knew what I wanted to do, and did not bother to apply for university. After Form 6, I needed to work, and was a site supervisor for a year and spent a few months working in a laboratory before joining St Peter’s College.

I suppose, God’s calling for vocation works in mysterious ways where we cannot put our finger on it. We can’t really explain everything. It is just the draw, the interest. When God calls us, you know it inside. You cannot explain. Even when I joined the seminary, I still could not visualise myself as a priest and only told myself to try. Year after year, before I knew it, I was ready for ordination as a priest.

 

Q. It is the norm rather than the exception for Bishops in Sarawak to be multilingual. What languages or dialects do you speak and preach in?

A: In school, we were exposed to different languages. The three main languages – Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese – and I speak some Bidayuh dialects and a little bit of Iban. I hope to pick up other languages. That should not be a problem.

 

Q: Who has most encouraged and helped you reach this moment?

A: My parents have been very supportive back then and still are. I have an elder brother and a younger sister. My Bishop in Kuching, fellow priests and close friends were very supportive. They helped me when I had issues.

 

Q: What were your thoughts and feelings when you were informed of your new calling?

I was first informed by my Bishop that the Apostolic Nuncio wanted to see me. So I flew to KL and when I met him, he asked me to sit down and told me that the Pope had appointed me as Bishop of Miri Diocese and asked me “Do you accept?” Ha. What could I say? If the Pope has appointed me, how could I turn the Pope down? Out of obedience to the Pope, I said: “Yes, I will accept.” Of course with quite a heavy heart as it means a lot of responsibility and a lot is demanded of me. I have my fears and reservations about myself – whether I can live up to this role but the people around me were all very encouraging, and affirmed my vocation as a priest.

As rector, I have always
told my students that one of the most important qualities is obedience. This is how the church works, and as priests promise their obedience to the bishop, I have to accept it even though I was quite hesitant to accept this appointment. After praying, I have peace of mind that I have made the right decision. Since God has appointed me and called me to this new task and responsibility, he will give me the strength and grace that I need to fulfil this responsibility.

 

Q: What would you miss most about the seminary you are leaving behind?

A: Life is very structured and we just follow the bell and flow with the timetable. It is nice because there are no surprises and you know what is coming. I was there 10 years and was quite comfortable with life and already settled down. In a way, it was not so challenging any more.

With this new appointment, everything is new – the people, place, responsibility and challenges are new. I will face much bigger issues and be out of my comfort zone, which I will miss. In the same way, I feel that I need new challenges or I will remain stagnant. This will enable me to grow.

 

Q: What kind of bishop do you pray to be?

A: The new Pope has set the direction for the Church – the Church must take care of the poor and underprivileged. Hopefully, as a bishop, I will be able to follow the direction that the church take cares of the people. They are the most important. I would like to be the bishop for the people. That is the meaning of being a shepherd, as a bishop is shepherd of the diocese. Catering for the spiritual, community, family and needs of the people, I will try to be available to the priests and the people.

 

Q: You are almost the same age as Bishop Joseph Hii of Sibu Diocese. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the Church and faithful in this era and what are your priorities?

A: Bishop Joseph Hii and I were together at the seminary. No one would have thought that he would become a bishop. No one would have thought that I would become a bishop too. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

The biggest challenge facing the church is modernisation, where there is so much materialistic pursuit and consumerism that people have little time for God. They place so much importance on material things, consumerism, education of their children, so much so that there is growing indifference to spiritual life, especially in developing countries.

 

Q. Pope Francis is very much people-centric. As Bishop of Miri what would your approach be and what are your plans for the diocese?

A:Pope Francis has set the trend and said bishops must smell like sheep. It means being available, open to the people, be there for them and with them and be very people-centred. For me, that would be the way.

I will look into the long-term and short-term plans of the diocese and follow the plan, work with the priests. Definitely, it should be centred on the well-being of the people, trying to answer the spiritual needs of the people.

 

Q: In today’s wired world, youths are more exposed to cross-border issues, happenings and information … Do you plan to tap into this to be closer to the younger generation?

A: It is important for the Church to give the young the right formation and values. Sometimes, the young are so brainwashed by society that they only value material things, not family and spiritual life.

The young are experts on modern tools of social communication. Yes, the church will tap into those areas to engage them, and use their knowledge and expertise to reach out to others. They are Internet-savvy and know what to do. We should engage them and use their creativity. They have lots of energy and are willing to work and help. We should organise and tap into their creativity and talents.
Q: So it would be a more youth inclusive approach?

A: Yes. All sectors of people – youth, family life, children and elders and not leave anyone out.

 

Q: The sprawling Miri Diocese stretches across three divisions, covering remote places from Belaga, Tatau, Baram, Limbang and Lawas apart from major urban towns of Miri and Bintulu. What are your plans to visit them?

A: Yes, it is huge geographically. My aim is hopefully to be able to visit all these rural areas within this year to meet the people, listen to them, be with them.

 

Q. Your stated motto would be ‘Proclaim the Gospel’. How would you like to see it pan out in Miri Diocese, and at the end of the day, what do you hope to accomplish? What is your call to your flock?

A: This is also the Gospel reading for my ordination and of the Feast of St Paul’s conversion from a persecutor of the church to become one of its greatest missionaries, particularly to the non-Jewish world. I chose this theme as in our society in Malaysia, there are many who may have not heard or learnt more about it. To proclaim the Gospel means not only to hear it but understand it. I want to teach and give formation on the Word of God, and this explains the motto.

What I was doing at the seminary was to teach and form people, form lay people, run Bible courses, give talks and retreats in Kuching. Hopefully in Miri, I can do the same so that the people would be more knowledgeable of the Bible, understand the Word of
God better and lead their faithful.

 

Q. Will Mirians be seeing you cycling and setting up a club with clergy and laity?

A: Cycling is my passion and exercise. Yes, I plan to set up a cycling club surely. My plan is to cycle from Miri to Kuching! I have brought my three bikes to Miri. It is also a good way to engage the young. I used to cycle 30km on weekdays in the undulating terrain in Bau, sometimes up to 70km on weekends. There are also priests who cycle.

 

Q: Would you like to add anything else?

A: I would like the people to continue to pray for me so that I would be a good shepherd to the people. As priests and bishops, we need a lot of prayers and spiritual support from the people, otherwise the cross would be too heavy. Also Miri Diocese is so huge and we have only 16 priests. We need more courageous and generous young people to step forward and serve God as priests and ministers. Definitely, we need more priests.