Catholics mourn death of Fr John Chia
MIRI: Catholics here are mourning the loss of their priest, Rev Fr John Chia Fu Hin who died at Bintulu Hospital at 10.07am yesterday.
Bishop Richard Ng said Fr John, 49, died of multiple organs failure.
“He was admitted to Bintulu Hospital on Sunday. He was feeling unwell for the past two weeks with loss of appetite.
“He was treated at a health clinic in Sg Asap but did not improve. Consequently, he was transferred to Bintulu Hospital on March 29 and was diagnosed with severe pneumonia. He passed away Tuesday morning,” Ng said.
Fr John was born on Feb 26, 1971 in Kpg Medait, Limbang to Stephen Chia and Doreen Aba, He was the second of three boys, baptised on Aug 26, 1976, and studied in Limbang until Form 5.
Fr John entered the Miri Diocesan Seminary in 1990 and graduated in 1996. He was subsequently ordained deacon on Dec 8 the same year in Bintulu, and ordained priest on May 1, 1997 in Limbang by Bishop Anthony Lee.
He served at St Michael’s Parish Batu Niah from 1997 to 1999, and at St Edmund’s Parish Limbang from 2000 to 2005. He was sent to Rome to study Liturgy at S. Anselmo Institute, and graduated in 2008.
Upon his return, he headed the Liturgy Commission and was appointed to the following parishes: St Anthony’s Parish, Bintulu from 2008 to 2012, St
Edmund’s Parish, Limbang from 2013 to 2016 and Holy Cross Parish, Sg Asap, Belaga from 2016 up to the present.
“Fr John will be remembered as a hardworking and cheerful priest with a deep love for the people.
“He was constantly visiting the people in the longhouses and villages in the parishes he served to provide pastoral care and the sacraments. He was well-versed in several languages and was close to the people,” said Bishop Ng.
He added that Fr. John was also popular with the youth, and reached out to them through his motivational talks, songs and music.
“On behalf of the clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese, I offer my deepest condolence to the family of Fr John for their great loss. No words can adequately express our sorrow and shock at his sudden passing.”