Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng | |
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Archbishop of Kuching | |
![]() Archbishop Simon Poh in 2019 | |
Church | Roman Catholic |
Archdiocese | Kuching |
Appointed | 5 March 2017 |
Installed | 20 March 2017 |
Predecessor | John Ha Tiong Hock |
Orders | |
Ordination | 31 July 1988 by Peter Chung Hoan Ting |
Consecration | 24 September 2015 by John Ha Tiong Hock |
Personal details | |
Birth name | Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng |
Born | Sri Aman, Crown Colony of Sarawak, British Empire (modern-Malaysia) | 15 April 1963
Nationality | Malaysian |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Previous post(s) | Auxiliary Bishop of Kuching (2015-17) Titular Bishop of Sfasferia (2015-17) |
Alma mater |
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Motto | Pastor cordis Christi (Shepherd of the Heart of Christ) |
Coat of arms | ![]() |
Styles of Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng | |
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Reference style | His Grace |
Spoken style | Your Grace |
Religious style | Archbishop |
Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng | |
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Simplified Chinese | 傅云生 |
Traditional Chinese | 傅雲生 |
Hanyu Pinyin | Fù Yúnshēng |
Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng (傅云生; born 15 April 1963) is the third and current Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuching in Malaysia.[1] Prior to being appointed, he had been serving as an auxiliary bishop in the same diocese.
Early life and education[]
Poh was born on 15 April 1963, in Sri Aman, Sarawak to Joseph Poh and Geraldine Poh. The oldest child in the family, he has two sisters, Irene and Doreen, and two brothers, Raymond and Norman. From 1970 to 1975, Poh attend St Joseph’s primary school. He then continued his study at St Joseph's secondary school from 1976 to 1982. He and his family converted to Catholicism between the year 1979 and 1980. After becoming a Catholic, Poh joined the school club Young Christian Students, Legion of Mary, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral’s altar servers.[2]
Ordination and ministry[]
The late Fr Josef Wassermann greatly inspired Poh due to his commitment and dedication. In 1982, he decided to enter the seminary at St. Peter's College, Kuching. At the age of 25, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Peter Chung Hoan Ting on 31 July 1988.[3]
In 1996, Poh obtained a Licentiate in Missiology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy. He returned back to Kuching and served as parish rector for six years at St. Anne Church, Kota Padawan. He then become the director of the Commission for Vocations and also as Spiritual Director of the Commission for Youth.[2]
Poh also worked as Chancellor of the archdiocese and Member of the College of Consultors, professor of Missiology and Spiritual Director of the St. Peter's College, Kuching. Besides serving as assistant parish rector of St. Joseph's Cathedral, Kuching, he also coordinated the archdiocesan commission or mission and evangelization. In 2001, he studied Mandarin in Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan.[2]
In 2012, he was officially appointed parish rector of the Cathedral.[2]
In 2015, he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Indiana, United States.[2]
Episcopal ministry[]
Auxiliary bishop of Kuching[]
On 9 July 2015, Pope Francis appointed Poh as auxiliary bishop of Kuching and titular bishop of Sfasferia.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on 24 September 2015 from Archbishop John Ha Tiong Hock with Archbishop Peter Chung Hoan Ting and Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom, serving as co-consecrators.[1][5]
Archbishop of Kuching[]
On 5 March 2017, Poh was appointed Archbishop of Kuching by Pope Francis to succeed Archbishop John Ha Tiong Hock who resigned for early retirement.[6][7] He took canonical possession of the diocese and was installed on 20 March 2017.[8]
Coat of arms[]
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References[]
- ^ a b "Bishop Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng". Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved 5 March 2017. [self-published]
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Simon Poh shares his thoughts about Episcopal Ordination". Herald Malaysia. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "教宗方濟各任命傅雲生神父為古晉教區輔理主教". Radio Vaticana. 9 July 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Pope appoints Fr Simon Poh as auxiliary bishop". The Borneo Post. 11 July 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Auxiliary bishop ordained for Kuching archdiocese". Catholic News Singapore. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Pope appoints new head to Malaysian Archdiocese of Kuching". Radio Vaticana. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
- ^ "Archbishop Emeritus John Ha: I retire with peace of mind and heart". Today's Catholic. 16 April 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Most Rev Simon Poh is the third Archbishop of Kuching Archdiocese". Herald Malaysia. 2 April 2017. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
External links[]
- Catholic-Hierarchy.org [self-published]
- Interview with Archbishop Simon Peter Poh Hoon Seng
- 1963 births
- 21st-century Roman Catholic archbishops in Malaysia
- Malaysian people of Hakka descent
- Malaysian people of Chinese descent
- Living people
- Bishops appointed by Pope Francis
- People from Sarawak
- Fu Jen Catholic University alumni