By Christopher Kushi
PENANG – The courage of the martyrs remains a living call to selfrenunciation, obedience and faithful discipleship, Cardinal Sebastian Francis told the College General community during its feast-day celebration.
The community commemorated Sts Jacques-Honoré Chastan and Laurent-Marie-Joseph Imbert, together with the 103 Korean Martyrs, at the Sacred Heart Chapel, College General Regional Major Seminary, on Sep 21.
Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang and President of College General, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. The Mass was concelebrated by Frs Ryan Innas Muthu, Surain Durai Raj, Cyril Mannayagam and Larry Tan SJ, together with Friar Cosmas Francis OFM, while Deacon Paul Kang assisted.
The celebration reflected College General’s 2026 theme, Walk Humbly, Celebrate Fraternity, Listen Deeply, Serve Wholeheartedly. Discerned collectively by its formators and seminarians, the theme expresses their vision of becoming A Joyful Community of Disciples Rooted in Christ.
In his homily, Cardinal Sebastian drew attention to the theme’s many verbs and dispositions, which challenge the community to translate words into concrete action.
Referring to experiences at College General and during the Malaysia Pastoral Convention 2026 (MPC2026) in Sibu, particularly through Conversation in the Spirit, he highlighted the collective power of silence, words and actions prompted by the Holy Spirit — and the importance of celebrating what the Spirit brings forth through the community.
Read in the light of Wisdom 3:1–9, he said, these dimensions reveal a deep connection between the witness of the College General martyrs, the seminary’s theme, the feast-day celebration and the Malaysian Church’s continuing journey after MPC2026.
This connection, however, must take root in the soul and become visible through the quiet but real synodal conversion taking place within individuals and communities.
Drawing on Luke 9:23–26, Cardinal Sebastian identified three steps in this Spirit-led conversion: renouncing oneself, taking up one’s cross and following Jesus.
He told the seminarians: “Renounce yourself from being the centre; carry your cross and follow Jesus.”
The cardinal said Christians should fear only one thing: sinning against and disregarding the promptings of the Holy Spirit. His words carried both a warning against resisting the Spirit and an invitation to embrace intentional obedience and committed discipleship.
Concluding his homily, Cardinal Sebastian prayed that the Church in Malaysia and Asia would not become disobedient, isolated or left behind, but would faithfully follow where the Holy Spirit had already gone before it.
He encouraged those present to continue walking together as a synodal Church, united with the nine bishops of Malaysia and guided by the Holy Spirit. The congregation responded: “Amen, Amen, Amen! Maranatha, Maranatha, Maranatha!”
Cardinal Sebastian also recalled his former seminary mate, Fr Marcel Truong, a Cambodian alumnus who courageously returned to his homeland during the Khmer Rouge regime and subsequently disappeared. The cause for his canonisation, together with those of other heroic students, bears witness to College General’s enduring missionary spirit and the cost of faithful discipleship.
The Diocese of Penang has also honoured Sts Chastan and Imbert through the church dedicated to them at Chai Leng Park, Prai, which was established in 1995.
College General rector Fr Ryan Innas Muthu thanked the formators, seminarians, lecturers, staff and all who contributed to the celebration and the formation of the seminary community. – Herald Malaysia
