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MIRI: Catholics in Sarawak lost a pioneering local leader when Reverend Father Anthony Wan died on Thursday night at the Miri Hospital’s intensive care unit.
Father Wan, 60, was hospitalised three days earlier after he suffered breathing problems while he was in Batu Niah town, some 120km south of Miri city.
He passed away peacefully at about 8pm on Thursday night. He had just celebrated his 60th birthday about two months ago.
His passing is a great loss to the Catholics in the state, especially in northern Sarawak, as he was one of the most-dedicated local priests that the Catholic Church had produced, community members said.
The late Father Anthony Wan (with white hair third from either left or right) together with Miri Bishop Anthony Lee Koh Hin (second from left) and other senior priests during a healing mass last year.
There are more than 60,000 Catholics in the Miri Diocese in northern Sarawak. The Miri Diocese encompasses Lawas, Limbang, Miri, Baram, Niah, Bintulu, Belaga and part of the Bakun interior.
Father Wan had helped spread Christianity to the far reaches of the remote jungles of northern Sarawak, living in isolated settlements among the native ethnic groups, especially among the Orang Ulus like the Kayans, Kenyahs and even the Penans, the Catholic community said.
These natives lived in geographically-difficult areas that sometimes required days of walking and boat rides along dangerous rivers to reach.
He did this while suffering from bone problems, from his legs to his backbone, and diabetes.
Father Wan had always preferred to serve among the poor natives in rural Sarawak despite his physical sufferings and had been reluctant to be stationed in the cities and towns for long periods, his parishioners said.
He however, would willingly endure a tough journey and travel to the urban centres just to meet those who are sick and in need of him.
His last posting was in the remote settlement of Long San, seven hours by timber road from Miri.
Father Wan was also proficient in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin and also the natives’ ethnic languages.
Father Wan had served almost 40 years in the priesthood, together with Bishop Anthony Lee Kok Hin, Monsignor Francis Kulleh, Father Peter Mering and Father Philip Empalah.
During a grand 60th birthday celebration two months ago organised by parishioners for him, Monsignor Kulleh and Father Gabriel Cheong, Father Wan had spoken at length on the need for all people to forgive one another.
“Forgive readily from our hearts those who have hurt us,” he had said.
During the dinner, he also spoke about how he will face death with confidence and inner peace.
Father Wan will be laid to rest at the Catholic cemetery here after a farewell mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Miri on Monday.