Fr Thomas Koo Kwai Fong CDD Fr Thomas Koo was born in 1961 into a non-Catholic family in Bentong, Pahang. He was the number nine of 14 siblings. He studied in Catholic High School in his home town. During High School, he joined the Young Christian Society, learned the Catholic faith and was baptised in 1981. After High School, he went to Taiwan and enrolled in a Diploma in Civil Enginering Course. He worked in the construction line for three years after obtaining his diploma. Then he discovered God’s calling and joined CDD in 1986. He was sent to Taiwan’s Seminary for Religious and Priesthood formation & professed his final vows in 1993. Fr Thomas was ordained in SIC on 27 January 1995. After ordination, he went back to Taiwan to serve in Heng Yee High School (a CDD High School) as a Moral Teaching teacher. In 1997, he came back to Malaysia to serve as Assistant Parish Priest in SIC. He served as SIC Parish Priest from 2000-2004. Then he went to Loyola University Chicago where he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies. After returning from the US, he was appointed as rector to serve in CDD Formation House in Melaka. In 2011, he served in the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kulim, Kedah. Later he was transfered back to CDD Community House to serve as Treasurer. Then from 2020-2023, he served in St Francis Xavier Chuch, Malacca, as Assistant Parish Priest. Fr Thomas assumed duties as Parish Priest of SIC on 1 November 2024.
Fr Martin Then Jin Vui CDD Fr Martin was born in 1971 in Kuching, Sarawak. He was baptised on 6 June 1971 with St Martin de Porres as his patron saint, and received the Sacrament of Confirmation on 4 August 1985. After joining the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD) as a postulant in 1989, Fr Martin was sent to the novitiate in Taiwan on 15 August 1992. After spending a year there, he took his first vows. From 1995 to 2000, he studied philosophy at Catholic Regional Seminary in Taipei (two years) and theology at Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei (three years). On 12 August 2000, Fr Martin took his final vows in Taiwan and returned to Malaysia on 31 October 2000. He began pastoral training in SIC for a year beginning from September 2000 and was ordained as Deacon on 25 July 2001 at SIC. Eight months later, on 6 April 2002, he was ordained to the priesthood at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Kuching. After his ordination, Fr Martin served as Assistant Parish Priest at St Theresa Church, Malacca (April 2002 – August 2004) & SIC (2004-2007). As part of his ongoing formation, he was in the Philippines for studies at the Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia, East Asian Pastoral Institute, Southeast Asia Instructional Development Institute, and Asian Religious Formation Institute from 2008 to 2010. On returning to Malaysia, Fr Martin was appointed Parish Priest of Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Penang (2010-2015), Assisting Priest at St Theresa Church in Malacca (2015-2017) and CDD Postulant Master at CDD House, Malacca (2015-2020). Fr Martin – who is well-versed in Mandarin, English, Bahasa Malaysia & Hakka – returned to serve in SIC as Second Assistant Parish Priest on 1 September 2020. Fr Martin assumed duties as Assistant Parish Priest of SIC on 1 November 2021.
Fr Philip Tan Chong Men CDD Fr Philip Tan was born in Seremban in 1965 into a Catholic family with five siblings, where he is the third child. In 1985, he joined the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD) in Malacca. After a year and three months of postulancy, he was sent to the novitiate at Yangmingshan, Taiwan. He professed his first vows on 15 August 1987. In September of the same year, he began his studies in philosophy and theology at St Pius X, Major Seminary in Tainan. He made his perpetual profession on 15 August 1992. On 28 June 1993, he graduated with a degree in philosophy and theology and was ordained a deacon on the same day. After graduation, Fr Tan returned to Malaysia and was assigned to the CDD Minor Seminary in Malacca as a formator until 1997. He was ordained a priest on 13 November 1993, at Church of The Visitation in his hometown, Seremban. In addition to his responsibilities at the minor seminary, he also assisted in various pastoral ministries, including teaching catechism classes, leading university students and youth groups, and supporting the Legion of Mary. Due to the shortage of Chinese-speaking priests, the Bishop of the Malacca-Johor Diocese appointed Fr Tan as an associate pastor of St Francis Xavier Church in Malacca in February 1996, where he was responsible for Chinese pastoral ministries. In September 1997, Fr Tan went to Ireland for further studies, and in June of the following year, he proceeded to the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome to pursue a master’s degree (STL) in spiritual theology. He completed his studies in June 2000 and returned to Malaysia. In September of the same year, he was assigned by his superior to edit the book Spirituality of the CDD for one year. In January 2002, Fr Tan was assigned to St Ignatius Church in Petaling Jaya as Assistant Parish Priest. Two years later, in June 2004, he became the Parish Priest, a position he held until June 2010. During his time at St Ignatius Church, he also served as the spiritual director of the Curial of the Legion of Mary. In his religious congregation, Fr Tan has held various roles, including rector, provincial treasurer, and provincial councilor. In 2008, he was elected Provincial Superior of the CDD in Malaysia, a role he served until March 2017. On 30 May 2017, he was sent by the CDD to Toronto, Canada, where he served as an associate pastor at St Agnes Kouying Tsao Church. On 24 June 2024, Fr Tan was assigned by the Archbishop of Toronto to take charge of Saviour of the World Chinese Catholic Church in Mississauga. Fr Philip assumed duties as Assistant Parish Priest of SIC on 1 July 2026. |
