圣母升天堂：历史遗产与使命

1. 历史起源与早期社群 (1786 - 1857)

• 开埠与社群抵达：1786年8月，当天主教团体随同弗朗西斯·莱特（Francis Light）创建乔治市时，他们便一同来到了槟城。这群具有葡萄牙血统的欧亚社群（Eurasian Community）不仅是这里的首批定居者，还协助建造了康华利斯堡和乔治市。

• 第一座木结构圣堂：作为槟城的第一批基督徒，教友在教堂街（Church Street）兴建了首座圣堂（1786-1857）。那是一座建在高脚柱上的木结构建筑，其范围还包括了一座修道院、一所学校和一座主教府。

2. 天主教教育的根基

• 办学先驱：1825年，布绍神父（Fr. Boucho）以本堂主任司铎的身份建造了一座砖砌学校，并命名为“圣方济各·沙勿略免费学校”。

• 圣家兄弟会的引入：1852年，当时担任宗座监牧（Vicar Apostolic）的布绍主教邀请了圣家兄弟会（La Salle Brothers）来到槟城。圣母升天堂也因此成为了该修会在马来亚推行天主教教育的重要基地。

3. 社会福利与慈善事业 (SSVP)

• 照料贫困者：1908年，随着圣母升天堂新教区礼堂的启用，堂区通过圣文生协会（Society of St. Vincent de Paul）开始了针对贫困者的社会照料工作。

• 协会的正式起始：1934年，马来亚第一个“会议”（Conference）在圣母升天堂正式成立。这标志着圣文生协会在马来亚发展的起点。

4. 堂区艺术与灵修：法国彩色玻璃窗

• 战争后的重建：现存的法国彩色玻璃窗建于1954年，旨在取代二战期间受损的旧窗户。

• 圣母生平与玫瑰经奥迹：这些彩色玻璃展示了圣母玛利亚生平中的重要事件。窗户具体描绘了圣玫瑰经（Holy Rosary）中的四个欢喜奥迹（Joyful Mysteries）和一个荣福奥迹。其中，“天使报喜”（3月25日）的窗户极具代表性，引导教友效法圣母玛利亚谦卑的榜样。

5. 教堂内的历史印记：墓碑与长椅

• 神长墓碑：教堂内部安置有两个墓碑，纪念对堂区贡献卓越的神长：

  • 曼尼斯尔神父 (Fr. Louis Claude Manissol)：卒于1881年，他是这座教堂建筑的实际建设者。

  • 布绍主教 (Bishop J.B. Boucho)：卒于1871年，他是槟城和新加坡天主教学校的创始人。

• 百年长椅：教堂在1900年更换了新长椅，但两侧通道目前仍保留着最原始的长椅。

6. 音乐与圣音：管风琴与礼仪钟

• 历史管风琴：来自英国莫顿与穆迪（Morton & Moody）的管风琴建于1914年，是马来西亚第二古老的教堂管风琴。它拥有640根风琴管、12个音栓、两个键盘和一个踏板。

• 诺曼底礼仪钟：教堂拥有四口于1906年铸造的钟，来自法国诺曼底著名的钟匠科尔尼尔-哈瓦尔（Cornille-Havard）。四口钟分别命名为：玛利亚、安娜、若瑟、约阿敬。它们由教区成员捐赠，在每天早上6点、中午12点、晚上6点以及弥撒前鸣响。

7. 敬礼与纪念：法蒂玛圣坛与花园纪念碑

• 圣母法蒂玛圣坛：教堂外部设有专门建造的圣坛，安放着圣母法蒂玛像。该圣像于1954年安放，在此之前曾在乔治市街道上进行了长时间的游行敬礼。

• “穆斯凯”号纪念碑：在教堂花园里立有一座纪念碑，用以纪念1914年在穆卡头（Muka Head）附近发生的法国驱逐舰“穆斯凯”号（Mousquet）失事事件中丧生的43条生命。

8. 现代愿景与禧年回顾

• 2025年禧年回顾：堂区在2025年隆重庆祝了“2025年禧年”（Jubilee 2025），其核心主题为“希望的朝圣者”（Pilgrims of Hope）。

• 朝圣足迹：在禧年期间，许多教友完成了前往圣母升天堂的虔诚朝圣，并获得了由槟城教区主教施恩天枢机（Cardinal Sebastian Francis）和主任司铎温耀仁神父签署的朝圣者证书（Pilgrim's Certificate），以此纪念他们在基督内的信德提升与希望重燃。

• 持续的使命：尽管禧年已过，堂区依然秉持着希望的精神，以热忱的态度欢迎所有到访的教友与朝圣者，并继续通过“爱心奉献箱”筹集资金，以维护这座具有历史意义的建筑及管风琴。

[English Version]

1. Historical Origins and Early Community (1786 – 1857)

• The Founding and Arrival of the Community: The Catholic community of this church arrived in Penang with Francis Light when he founded George Town in August 1786. This Eurasian Community from Portuguese descent were the first settlers and assisted in the construction of Fort Cornwallis and George Town.

• The First Wooden Church: As the first Christians in Penang, they built their first church on Church Street between 1786 and 1857. It was a wooden building on stilts and included a convent, a school, and a bishop's house.

2. Foundations of Catholic Education

• Pioneer in Education: In 1825, Father Boucho, serving as the Parish Priest, constructed a brick school and named it the "St. Francis Xavier Free School".

• Arrival of the La Salle Brothers: In 1852, having become a Vicar Apostolic, Msgr. Boucho invited the La Salle Brothers to Penang. Consequently, the Assumption Church became the base for the Catholic education provided by the La Salle Brothers in Malaya.

3. Social Welfare and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP)

• Care for the Poor: In 1908, as part of the operations of the new Parish Hall of the Assumption Church, the care for the poor was formally brought under the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

• The Official Inception of SSVP: In 1934, the first "conference" in Malaya was formed at the Church of the Assumption, marking the official beginning of the SSVP in Malaysia.

4. Parish Art and Spirituality: French Stained Glass Windows

• Post-War Reconstruction: The existing French stained glass windows date from 1954, replacing those that were damaged during World War 2.

• The Life of Mary and the Rosary Mysteries: These artistic windows depict significant events from the life of Mary, specifically illustrating four of the joyful mysteries of the Holy Rosary and one of the glorious mysteries. Among them, the window of "The Annunciation" (March 25th) is highly representative, inspiring parishioners to follow Mary's example of humble faith.

5. Historical Markers Inside: Tombstones and Pews

• Tombstones of the Pioneers: The interior of the church houses two historic graves that commemorate clergy who made exceptional contributions to the parish:

  • Fr. Louis Claude Manissol (d. 1881): The actual builder of this church edifice.

  • Msgr. J.B. Boucho (d. 1871): The initiator of Catholic schools in Penang and Singapore.

• Century-Old Pews: Although new pews were installed in 1900, the original pews are still preserved and can be found in both transepts.

6. Music and Sacred Sound: Pipe Organ and Liturgical Bells

• The Historic Pipe Organ: Constructed by Morton and Moody (England), the pipe organ dates from 1914 and is the second oldest church pipe organ in Malaysia. It features 640 pipes, 12 stops, two manuals, and a pedalboard.

• The Bells of Normandy: The church possesses four bells cast in 1906 by the famous bell-maker Cornille-Havard from Normandy, France. Donated by individual parishioners, they are named Mary, Anna, Joseph, and Joachim, and can be heard daily at 6 am, 12 noon, and 6 pm, as well as before Masses.

7. Devotions and Memorials: Fatima Shrine and Garden Memorial

• Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima: Outside the church, a specially built shrine houses a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. It was placed there in 1954 after being carried in a grand procession through the streets of George Town.

• The "Mousquet" Memorial: A monument in the church garden commemorates the loss of 43 lives from the French destroyer Mousquet, which sank in 1914 off Muka Head.

8. Modern Vision and Jubilee Reflection

• Reflection on Jubilee 2025: In 2025, the parish celebrated the Jubilee Year under the theme "Pilgrims of Hope".

• Pilgrim Footsteps: During the Jubilee, many faithful completed a sacred pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption. They were awarded a Pilgrim's Certificate signed by H.EM. Cardinal Sebastian Francis (Bishop of Penang) and Rev. Fr. Edmund Woon (Parish Priest) to commemorate the renewal of their faith and hope in Christ.

• An Ongoing Mission: In 2026, the parish continues to welcome all visitors and pilgrims with a spirit of hope. The community is invited to support the maintenance of this heritage building and heritage organ through the "Love Offering" boxes located at the back of the church