圣神主教座堂历史简介

筹建与草创阶段 

第二世界大战以后,五十年代末，因人口变迁，本来稀有人住，从青草巷直到飞机场也成了一个社区。

1958年 Rev. Maurice Surmon 神父被委任并接受使命，在这一带成立教会团体。神父开始召集了安贫修女会，安老院内的修女及老人还有附近的居民，大约1000人左右，开始了他的牧民工作。

长达10年的主日弥撒和主保庆典，都在青草巷修道院学校(Convent Greenlane)的食堂举行,这也形成了一个没有圣堂的教会。

后来，经过多番筹款和策划，在1966-1973 年期间成立了教堂建委会。当时，成功购买一块地，又获得耶稣圣婴修会(Infant Jesus) Rev Mother Tarcisius 献地而奠定了基础，圣堂距离青草巷修道院学校大约400米。后来获当时陈永祥主教(Bishop Francis Chan) 同意取名圣神堂(Church of Holy Spirit)

圣神堂于1969年5月25日圣神降临主日，由杨瑞元主教(Bishop Gregory Yong)主持开幕降福。圣堂的钟来自法国，是由Fr Surmon的家人捐赠。

扩建与发展 

由于堂区的人口不断增加，不应需求，1991 年兴起扩建教堂的意念。在本堂神父陈汉忠神父(Fr Paul Chin)的主催下，由Wong Kam Fuat 带领成立建委会。

在1996年，由安东尼薛尔华主教(Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam) 主持动土礼。一半的筹建基金是由教区承担支付。另一半的经费是由 Mrs Melba Victor 领导的筹备基金会所筹募。1997年，一个拥有冷气礼堂，一个培训中心和三层楼课室的建筑竣工启用。

1999年，陈赞光神父(Fr Charles Chin)接任本堂，装修礼堂增设会议室和铺平停车场。

升格为主教座堂 

由于人口变迁，座落市区的圣母升天主教座堂的教友人数骤减，活动不多，安东尼薛尔华主教献议把主教座堂搬移到圣神堂。

2001年，教堂暂时关闭以进行装修，为准备两年后的升格庆典。此工程由刘开祥副主教带领及策划。2003年，本堂升格为主教座堂，替代了前圣母升天主教座堂。升格庆典于2003年1月20日举行，并由时任槟教区主教，安东尼薛尔华主教(Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam) 祝圣。

2016年，由本堂神父博纳德神父（Fr Bernard Paul -现任甲柔教区主教）推动兴建两栋新楼，后期由刘善财神父（ Fr. Anthony Liew），方济安东尼神父（Fr Francis Anthony）及 Lazarus执事接管，最后阶段则由前任本堂罗雅敬神父（Fr.Joachim Robert)善后。

2018年5月20日由施恩天主教祝圣及开幕。现由本堂神父雷孟神父（Fr. Raymond Raj) 接管。

建筑特色与内部布局 

• 本堂的构造是个圆形，让教友围绕着至 圣所 ( sanctuary)。

• 圣所上有祭台，圣体柜，圣油柜，主教座，领洗盆，主祭座，读经台。

• 祭台后方存放真福尼格老邦克德吉班荣(Blessed Nicolas Kitbamrung)的圣髑

• 教友座位分成8组的圆形座位可 容纳800 - 1000人

• 圣堂后方有绘画出玫瑰经画面的彩色玻璃。

周边设施 

• 圣堂后面有一个供祈祷的小圣堂，旁边是圣母龛。

• 小圣堂对面有一座楼，楼上有课室，楼下有多元用途室，厕所和祈祷室，连接的还有神父楼和教堂办公室。

• 神父楼对面另一座楼是课室，供开会，上要理课和做活动。楼下有个食堂，供膳食用途。

• 食堂旁边就是Dewan Holy Spirit大礼堂。

[English Version]

A Brief History of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

The Formative Years

Following the Second World War and towards the late 1950s, demographic shifts transformed what was once a sparsely populated area stretching from Green Lane to the airport into a growing community.

In 1958, Rev. Fr. Maurice Surmon was appointed and tasked with the mission of establishing a Catholic community in this area. He began his pastoral work by gathering the Little Sisters of the Poor, the residents of the home for the aged, and nearby inhabitants, numbering around 1,000 people.

For ten long years, Sunday Masses and Feast Day celebrations were held in the canteen of Convent Green Lane, forming a "church without a church building."

Eventually, after numerous fundraising efforts and planning, a Church Building Committee was formed between 1966 and 1973. A plot of land was successfully purchased, and the foundation was further secured when Rev. Mother Tarcisius of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus (IJ) donated an adjacent piece of land. The site of the church was located about 400 metres from Convent Green Lane. With the blessings of the then Ordinary, Bishop Francis Chan, the church was named the Church of the Holy Spirit.

The Church of the Holy Spirit was officially opened and blessed on Pentecost Sunday, 25 May 1969, by Bishop Gregory Yong. The church bell, which came from France, was generously donated by Fr. Surmon’s family.

Expansion and Development

As the parish population continued to grow rapidly, the existing building could no longer accommodate the congregation. In 1991, plans for expansion were initiated. Under the spearheading of the parish priest, Fr. Paul Chin, a building committee was formed and led by Mr. Wong Kam Fuat.

In 1996, the groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam. Half of the building funds were subsidised by the Diocese, while the remaining half was raised by a fundraising committee led by Mrs. Melba Victor. By 1997, the new complex—comprising an air-conditioned hall, a formation centre, and a three-storey classroom block—was completed and put into use.

In 1999, Fr. Charles Chin took over as parish priest. He renovated the hall, added meeting rooms, and paved the parish carpark.

Elevation to Cathedral Status

Due to shifting demographics, the Catholic population in the city center dwindled, leading to a decline in activities at the Cathedral of the Assumption. Consequently, Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam proposed relocating the cathedral seat to the Church of the Holy Spirit.

In 2001, the church was temporarily closed for major renovations in preparation for its elevation. This project was spearheaded and planned by the Vicar General, Msgr. Michael Cheah (刘开祥副主教). In 2003, the parish was officially elevated to a Cathedral, replacing the former Cathedral of the Assumption. The Solemn Dedication and Elevation ceremony took place on 20 January 2003, consecrated by the then Bishop of Penang, Bishop Anthony Selvanayagam.

In 2016, Fr. Bernard Paul (the then parish priest and current Bishop of Melaka-Johor) initiated the construction of two new building blocks. The project was subsequently overseen by Fr. Anthony Liew, Fr. Francis Anthony, and Deacon Lazarus, with the final stages completed under the previous parish priest, Fr. Joachim Robert.

On 20 May 2018, the new buildings were blessed and officially opened by Bishop Sebastian Francis. The parish is currently under the pastoral care of the parish priest, Fr. Raymond Raj.

Architectural Features and Layout

The architecture of the Cathedral is circular in design, allowing the faithful to gather around the sanctuary.

• The Sanctuary: Within the sanctuary are the Altar, the Tabernacle, the Ambry (for Holy Oils), the Cathedra (Bishop’s Chair), the Baptismal Font, the Celebrant’s Chair, and the Ambo (Lector's Lectern).

• The Relic: Enshrined behind the Altar is the sacred relic of Blessed Nicolas Kitbamrung.

• The Nave: The pews are arranged in eight circular sections, comfortably accommodating 800 to 1,000 parishioners.

• Stained Glass: The rear of the church features stained glass windows depicting the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

Surrounding Facilities

• The Chapel & Groto: Located at the back of the church is a small chapel for prayer, adjacent to the Our Lady's Grotto.

• The Parish Blocks: Opposite the chapel stands a building block housing classrooms upstairs, with a multi-purpose room, washrooms, and a prayer room downstairs. This block connects to the Priests’ House (Presbytery) and the Parish Office.

• Formation & Activity Block: Facing the Priests’ House is another building block with classrooms used for meetings, catechism classes, and parish activities. A canteen is located on the ground floor for catering and fellowship.

• The Grand Hall: Adjacent to the canteen is the Dewan Holy Spirit (The Holy Spirit Parish Hall).