By Priangka Elizabeth
KUALA LUMPUR – The Church of St Francis of Assisi (SFA) was the site of a significant milestone for the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur as it celebrated the ordination of Fr Jonathan Andrew Rao on Jan 25. This marks the first ordination at SFA in 28 years, since the ordination of Fr Andrew Manickam, OFM, Cap. The ceremony, which took place on the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, added further significance to the occasion.
The Eucharistic Celebration was presided over by Archbishop Julian Leow, joined by clergy from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and other dioceses. The event was attended by religious men and women from various congregations, as well as parishioners from across Malaysia, including guests from Sabah, Sarawak, and staff and children from the Myanmar Learning Community Centre. The gathering provided an opportunity for attendees to come together in prayer, witness the sacred ceremony, and celebrate Fr Jonathan’s journey into the priesthood.
In his homily, Archbishop Julian emphasised the immense effort and resources required to form a priest, stressing that it takes the support of many individuals and communities to nurture a vocation. He encouraged the congregation to pray for more courageous men and women to dedicate their lives to serving the Church. The archbishop expressed his belief that, through the strength and passion within each person, more vocations would arise to serve the Church in Malaysia.
He also urged parents to continue praying for their children, hoping they would feel called to serve the Church in a deeper, more intimate way, particularly through religious life. The archbishop also highlighted the importance of unity, calling on leaders from all faiths; whether Buddhist, Christian, or otherwise; to collaborate for the common good, fostering harmony and spiritual growth within both the Church and society.
Fr Jonathan began his thanksgiving speech with deep joy and gratitude, reflecting on his calling to the priestly ministry. Reflecting on his ordination theme, Do you love me? Feed my sheep, he highlighted the importance of self-giving, sacrifice, and service. He emphasised that God’s love transcends all, and it is this divine love that gives him hope and strength in his vocation.
He also offered heartfelt thanks to his mother for her unwavering love and courage, which helped him overcome life’s challenges and strengthened his faith in serving the Lord. Fr Jonathan also expressed gratitude to SFA’s parish priest, Fr Paul Cheong OFM, Cap and the organising committee for making his ordination at SFA possible, as well as to Archbishop Julian for his ongoing support.
Fr Jonathan also spoke briefly on how his journey to the priesthood was a grace-filled one, marked by challenges and triumphs. Over eight years of formation at the seminary, he found strength in the Word of God and the Eucharist, which kept him grounded in his calling.
He then thanked the Lord for calling him to serve in His vineyard and asked for continued prayers. He pledged to remain a humble and faithful servant, always ready to respond to the needs of the faithful. To the surprise of the congregation, Fr Jonathan ended his speech by greeting and thanking everyone in nine different languages, leaving a lasting impression on all present.
Archbishop Julian announced that Fr Jonathan will serve as the assistant priest at the Church of St Jude, Rawang, where he will continue his ministry. The celebration concluded with a communal lunch, as parishioners and guests gathered to continue the joyous occasion.
On Jan 26, Fr Jonathan celebrated his first thanksgiving Mass at SFA, further cementing his commitment to his vocation. – Herald Malaysia
