by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 30: Plans are underway for the construction of a new Catholic columbarium at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching.
This was revealed by Father Vincent Chin, custodian of the Kuching Catholic Cemeteries and Columbaria Service (KCCCS) and rector of St Peter’s Church, Padungan. When contacted, Chin confirmed that the decision to build a new columbarium stemmed from the fact that the 5,000 niches at Kuching’s only Catholic columbarium at St Peter’s Church, Padungan are almost fully taken up.
“The Archbishop (of Kuching, Datuk Dr Simon Poh) has decided to build one along the drains between the St Joseph’s Cemetery and St Peter’s College Seminary’s football field,” he told DayakDaily.
He further explained that there are plans to make this facility an outdoor columbarium, with 6,000 to 7,000 niches.
The project is currently still in the design and planning stage, and it will be under the purview of the KCCCS.
If plans are approved, Chin hoped that work could commence in 2026. Once completed, this will be the second Catholic columbarium, and fourth Christian columbarium in Kuching.
KCCCS currently oversees six cemeteries and one columbarium, including St Joseph’s Cathedral Cemetery, Sacred Heart Cemetery, Immaculate Heart Cemetery, The Lord’s Resting Place, St Ann’s Cemetery, II Paradisum at Kota Padawan, and St Peter’s Church, Padungan Columbarium.
Meanwhile, with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day approaching this weekend, KCCCS appeals to the faithful and well-wishers to contribute to the maintenance of these sacred resting places.
“Every donation helps us enhance and preserve these sacred places,” Chin said.
Every month, KCCCS requires approximately RM5,000 to RM6,000 to maintain the cemeteries under its care.
Donations may be made to the Archbishop of Kuching’s Maybank account. – DayakDaily
