Herald Malaysia
TANJUNG BUNGAH, Penang – College General celebrated the Feast of St Philip Minh and his Companions on Jun 19 with prayer, reflection and fellowship, honouring the former seminarians who returned to Vietnam after their priestly formation and were later martyred for the faith. They were canonised by Pope St John Paul II in 1988.
The celebration was made even more meaningful by the presence of the Salib Malaysia, which had arrived at the seminary two days earlier. The cross was received from Mt Miriam Cancer Hospital by Rector Fr Ryan Innas Muthu, Dean of Studies Fr Surain Durai Raj, seminarians and staff before being placed in the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The feast day began with a reflection by Fr George Vaithynathan, assistant parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ipoh, who drew on the seminary’s 2026 theme, A joyful community of disciples rooted in Christ.
He reminded seminarians that authentic Christian joy is found not only in moments of happiness but also amid suffering and challenges. Reflecting on the formation journey, he highlighted four interconnected virtues: walking humbly, fostering fraternity, listening deeply and serving wholeheartedly. The program continued with Vespers, Holy Hour and Mass.
Archbishop Julian Leow, who presided at the Mass, reflected on the relevance of the martyrs’ witness in today’s world. While Catholics in Malaysia do not face the same persecution endured by the Vietnamese martyrs, he said the faithful are nevertheless called to remain courageous and steadfast in living out their faith.
Recalling his own years as a seminarian at College General, Archbishop Julian noted that it had been 24 years since his priestly ordination. He contrasted the white cassock he once wore as a seminarian with the red chasuble he now wore as celebrant, symbolising the sacrifice of the martyrs and the call to courageous discipleship.
This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as College General welcomed the faithful, particularly the families of its seminarians, to join in the festivities. Many parents travelled from across the country to celebrate with their sons, while members of religious communities and representatives from parishes and institutions where the seminarians had served during their pastoral placements were also in attendance, underscoring the shared commitment to nurturing future priests.
Parents described the celebration as both moving and encouraging, expressing gratitude for the seminary’s formation team and the faith-filled environment in which their sons are discerning their vocation. Seminarians likewise said the presence of their families made the feast especially meaningful, reminding them that their vocation is sustained not only by God’s grace but also by the love, prayers and accompaniment of the wider Church.
After the Mass, guests enjoyed fellowship over refreshments, including rambutans and mangosteens harvested from the seminary grounds, while seminarians presented cultural performances that added to the festive atmosphere. – Herald Malaysia
