Our History
Background history of Saint Francis Xavier’s Church, Kanowit.
On 14th April 1883, two Mill Hill Missionaries:Fr Edmund Dunn and Fr.Aloysius Keyzer arrived in Kanowit, chose an area not far from the confluence between Kanowit River and the Rajang River (the longest river in Malaysia)and built a Mission and School,which were both put under patronage of St.Francis Xavier. The choice of St.Francis Xavier was informed by the fact that in March 1881, when the first Missionaries began their journey to Borneo, Pope Leo Xiii blessed them and dedicated the Borneo Mission to St.Francis Xavier and St.Michael the Archangel. Kanowit,being among teh first Missions in Borneo, was put under the patronage of St.Francis Xavier.
From Kanowit, the earley Missionaries looked after the community they had started in Sari in 1882. They had moved fron Sari to Kapit and then from Kapit to Kanowit due to the fact that Kanowit was more central, among others.
The Missionaries taught the people about God and many were converted.However, they cared not only about the people’s spritual needs but also their material needs.They introduced formal education, built and run schools,provided medical care and introduced dairy farming, swamp paddy farming, coffee and rubber farming.
St.Francis Xavier’s Church Kanowit is regarded as the Centre of Evangelization in teh Rejang Basin.
Many blessing to you.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
Maker of all that is, visible and invisible .
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
Through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Weekday Masses :
6.00 pm-Mon to Fri (E/Iban)
Saturday Sunset Mass :
6.30 pm (C)
Sunday Masses :
7.15 am (E), 9.15 am (Iban)
| Confession | Saturday: 9.00-11.00 am |
| Holy Hour | Friday: 7.30 pm |
| Pusat St Joseph Retreat Centre | Ms Theresa Lim T: 013-8033641 |
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