New auxiliary bishop for Kuching

KUCHING – Kuching Archdiocese has the joy of seeing a second auxiliary bishop in the person of Fr Simon Poh recently.  His episcopal ordination took place on 24 September 2015.  He was not a born Catholic.  His family became Catholic only in 1979, that is, when he was in Form Four.  After his baptism, he joined the School Young Christian Students, Legion of Mary, and St Joseph’s Cathedral’s Altar Servers.  He had his education at St Joseph’s School.  In gratitude to his Alma Mater, as “a son of St Joseph who is responding to God’s call,” he uses the profile of the school badge in his episcopal Coat of Arms.  He attributes his calling to the late Fr Josef Wassermann, his parish priest.

“Most evenings, he could be seen walking to the neighbourhood family rosary prayers. His commitment and dedication, his adoration before the Blessed Sacrament during Holy Hour in May and October Rosary months have greatly inspired me,” said the new bishop.  He  entered St Peter’s College seminary in 1982, and was ordained in 1988.  He has served in the archdiocese ever since.  On his appointment as auxiliary bishop, he said:

“I can recall clearly that just a few days before this announcement in July, our Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Joseph Marino, on behalf of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, asked me whether I am willing to accept the appointment to be an Auxiliary Bishop. Deep within me, I knew that I have to make this journey of faith again. And so I accepted it willingly, with a humble heart, to serve God’s people in the Archdiocese.”