First bishop of Malacca-Johore Diocese passes away at 97

First Catholic bishop of the Melaka-Johor diocese, Rev. Bishop Emeritus James Chan Soon Cheong, died on April 22 at the age of 97. The diocese’s first native bishop has been lauded for his work in implementing the church’s renewal process and pastoral activism in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council.

Bishop James, who served the diocese from 1972 to 2001, had “good health until his demise,” according to an official statement on the Melaka-Johor Diocese Facebook page. He passed away at the MAJODI Centre in Plentong, Johor state.

He was laid to rest at Ulu Tiram Catholic Cemetery in the state capital Johor Bahru following a funeral Mass celebrated by Bishop Bernard Paul at the Sacred Heart Cathedral on April 24.

James, a native of Selama, Perak, was the oldest of six children raised by a Catholic family. He attended St. Xavier’s Institution until the start of World War 2 in 1941. In 1947, he finished his secondary studies at St. George’s Institution in Taiping.

Father Noel Clement, a former parish priest of St. Louis Catholic Church in Taiping, and Brother Dennis, a LaSallian, both encouraged him to enter the ministry.

At the age of 24, he entered a seminary in Singapore when the Malacca-Johore was part of the Singapore Diocese. He was ordained a priest for Penang Diocese on Aug. 9, 1959.

He served the diocese in a variety of capacities, from parish priest to administrator, until Pope Paul VI appointed him the first bishop of Malacca Johore on December 22, 1972, after establishing a new diocese by absorbing territories from the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore.

Renewal movement in the Malaysian Church

He was ordained bishop on June 8, 1973, by Archbishop Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon of Kuala Lumpur. Archbishop Vendargon, who attended Vatican II (1962-1965) sessions greatly influenced James leadership and pastoral activism.

Vendargon led the renewal movement in the Malaysian Church with the embrace of the Second Vatican Council’s doctrine of aggiornamento (renewal and reform) of the Church in 1976, which Bishop James succeeded in his diocese.

His personal experience with a post-Vatican II Renewal programme at the East Asian Pastoral Institute (Philippines) inspired him to work with clergy and laity to bring about church renewal.

Bishop James served as the secretary general and treasurer of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia and was chairman of the National Commission for Social Communications; the Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs; and the Commission for Charismatic Renewal.

He also managed the renovation of a number of churches, chapels, and parish multi-purpose halls while he was in office. He extended invitations to the Jesuits and at least seven other religious orders to work in the diocese.

In addition, he oversaw the development of the MAJODI Centre in Johor, which houses the elderly, provides day care for children, and serves as a retreat and formation centre for Christian groups in Malaysia and Singapore.

Bishop James published a book about his life and spirituality in 1992 called “When The Fruits Of The Rambutan Tree Are About To Ripen.”

Bishop James began residing in Graceville, a retirement community he built for senior priests, after he retired in 2001.

According to Malacca Johore Diocese chancellor Father Lawrence Ng’s message, Bishop Chan was known as “a warmer person” and “a vibrant and passionate pastor” who sincerely loved the people he served.