KK Archdiocese bids farewell to last China-born priest

KOTA KINABALU – Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese bade farewell to its last China-born priest at the Sacred Heart Cathedral here on 9 Dec 2016.

Over a thousand faithful joined Archbishop John Wong and over 30 priests in saying farewell to the late Father Aloysius Tung Chien Chee who died Dec 7, aged 90.  With his death, the era of the Chinese missionaries came to an end.

The deceased’s nephew, two nieces and a grandnephew from China were present at the funeral Mass.  Several young priests accompanied the coffin as it moved from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to the cathedral before the bilingual Mass (Chinese and English) began.

Born in Hubei China in 1926, the deceased was ordained priest on 27 Dec 1953.  Shortly after, he was sent to serve in North Borneo (now Sabah) .  He retired from active ministry in 2009.  He had served the church in Sabah for 63 years.

His remains were buried at the Catholic Cemetery at Mile 4.5 Jalan Penampang Lama.