By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, March 31: One of Miri Diocesan Seminary’s first graduates, Rev Fr John Chia Fu Hin, 49, passed away this morning at Bintulu Hospital from multiple organ failure.
According to Bishop of Miri Richard Ng, Chia was admitted to Bintulu Hospital on Sunday, March 29.
“He was feeling unwell for the past two weeks with loss of appetite. He was treated at the health clinic in Sg Asap but did not improve. Consequently, he was transferred to Bintulu Hospital on March 29 and diagnosed with severe pneumonia,” Ng revealed in a statement.
Chia had tested negative for Covid-19 prior to his passing.
He was born on February 26, 1971 in Kampung Medait, Limbang to Stephen Chia and Doreen Aba.
He was the second child of three boys and was baptised on August 26, 1976.
He studied in Limbang until Form Five and entered the Miri Diocesan Seminary in 1990, graduating in 1996.
Chia was ordained as a deacon on December 8, 1996 in Bintulu and ordained as a priest on May 1,1997 in Limbang by Bishop Anthony Lee.
He served in St Michael’s Parish, Batu Niah from 1997 to 1999 and in St Edmund’s Parish, Limbang from 2000 to 2005.
He was sent to Rome to study Liturgy at S. Anselmo Institute and graduated in 2008.
Upon his return, he headed the Liturgy Commission and was appointed to the following parishes: St Anthony’s Parish, Bintulu from 2008 to 2012, St Edmund’s Parish, Limbang from 2013 to 2016 and Holy Cross Parish, Sg Asap, Belaga from 2016 up to the present.
“Fr John will be remembered as a hardworking and cheerful priest with a deep love for the people. He was constantly visiting the people in the longhouses and villages in the parishes he served to provide pastoral care and the sacraments,” Ng revealed.
“He was well versed in several languages and was close to the people. He was also popular with the youth and reached out to them through his motivational talks, songs and music. On behalf of the clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese, I offer my deepest condolence to the family of Fr John for their great loss. No words can adequately express our sorrow and shock at his sudden passing,” he added. — DayakDaily
