堂区历史

本堂区的发展始于十分简朴的时期。最早的敬礼场所是一间古老的木屋，当时由戴文德神父（Jean Tavennec, MEP）主持，为亚依淡一带的小型天主教团体举行弥撒圣祭。

随着教友人数逐渐增加，原有场所已无法满足牧灵需要，因此兴建了一座较为永久性的建筑物，包括圣堂、司铎宿舍（本堂住宅）及聚会室。然而，随着亚依淡新市镇及垄尾（Paya Terubong）地区不断发展，越来越多家庭迁入，当地天主教教友人数迅速增长，这些设施渐渐显得不足。

1968年6月，堂区发展迈出重要一步。槟城教区购置了一栋洋房，并改建为小圣堂，由当时的杨瑞元主教（Bishop Gregory Yong）主持祝福礼。1978年，圣堂再次进行扩建与翻新，并由安多尼·费尔南德斯主教（Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez）主持祝福礼。同一时期，堂区司铎宿舍亦正式启用，以配合不断增长的牧灵需要。

其后的数十年间，堂区持续扩展教会范围，并分别于1988年及2003年购置毗邻土地，使圣堂园区得以进一步扩建。

鉴于教友人数持续增加，时任本堂神父黄炳隆神父（Fr. Augustine Wong）于2002年进行堂区人口普查。调查结果估计，亚依淡及垄尾一带约有2,000名天主教教友。为了回应牧灵发展的需要，堂区遂展开兴建堂区中心的计划。

楼高三层的堂区中心设有礼堂及多间课室，供举办各类活动及要理班使用，并于2009年1月正式启用。与此同时，教堂范围内原有的洋房亦完成翻修，并于2009年8月正式作为司铎宿舍及堂区办公室使用。

同年9月，旧圣堂正式移交进行全面翻新工程。圣堂经过重新设计，以更符合堂区团体不断发展的牧灵需要。工程于2010年10月顺利完成，焕然一新的圣堂重新开放，供教友举行礼仪及各项堂区活动。

2011年1月1日，本堂区迎来了发展历程中的重要里程碑。当日，由时任主教安多尼·塞尔瓦（Bishop Antony Selvanayagam）主持新圣堂奉献礼（Dedication of a Church），象征堂区迈入新的发展阶段，开启崭新的历史篇章。

2018年，随着巴黎外方传教会（MEP）的神父完成使命，堂区迎来了新的里程碑——方济会（OFM）正式应Sebastian Francis枢机（时任主教）之邀，接手牧养复活堂。在首任方济会本堂神父 Friar Arul Mariadass 的领导下，方济会的灵修精神——即简单、兄弟情谊与服务——开始融入社区生活，为亚依淡堂区注入了“福音生活化”的新活力。

进入2020年代，堂区致力于提升硬件设施，以更好地满足教友在牧灵与生活上的需求。在 Friar Esmond Chua 任内，多项重要设施相继落成：

• 圣母龛（Our Lady's Grotto）： 兴建了专属的户外祈祷与敬礼空间。

• The Oak Tree： 特别设立的教室，为主日学儿童提供生动有趣的信仰培育环境。

• St. Joseph's Centre 与 Fr. Peter Shyu (徐神父) Hall： 扩建了会议及活动空间，以支援堂区日益增加的善会活动。

• 绿色能源： 为了响应教宗对生态保护的号召，教堂安装了太阳能板，迈向绿色堂区的可持续发展道路。

2026年，堂区迎来了另一个重要的精神时刻——配合方济会禧年（Franciscan Jubilee Year），堂区举行了盛大的圣方济亚西西圣髑瞻仰活动。

如今，在现任本堂神父 Friar Crispus Mosinoh 的带领下，复活主堂已从最初的一座简陋木屋，蜕变为槟城教区方济会使命的核心阵地，继续书写信仰传承的新篇章。

[English Version]

Parish History

The early beginnings of the parish were humble. The very first place of worship was an old wooden house, where Rev. Fr. Jean Tavennec, MEP, began celebrating Mass for a small Catholic community in the Air Itam area.

As the community gradually grew, a more permanent structure was needed. A new building was later constructed, comprising a church, presbytery, and meeting rooms. However, over time, this facility proved insufficient as the Catholic population expanded rapidly, especially with the influx of families into Paya Terubong and Bandar Baru Air Itam.

A significant development took place in June 1968, when the diocese purchased a bungalow and converted it into a chapel. This chapel was blessed by Bishop Gregory Yong, who was then the Bishop of Penang. The church underwent further renovation in 1978 and was blessed by Bishop Anthony Soter Fernandez. During this period, the parish house was also opened to support the growing needs of the community.

In the years that followed, the parish continued to expand its physical space. Additional land was acquired in 1988 and again in 2003, allowing for the enlargement of the church grounds.

Recognizing the continued growth of the Catholic population, a parish census was conducted in 2002 by Fr. Augustine Wong, the former parish priest. The census estimated that approximately 2,000 Catholics were residing in the Air Itam and Paya Terubong areas. In response to this growth, plans for a parish centre were initiated.

The parish centre, a three-storey building equipped with a hall and classrooms for functions and catechism classes, was officially opened in January 2009. Around the same time, the bungalow within the church grounds was renovated, and by August 2009, it became the new priests’ residence and parish office.

Later that year, in September 2009, the old church building was handed over for major renovation. The church was redesigned to better meet the needs of the parish community. By October 2010, the renovation was completed, and the newly refurbished church was ready for use.

The journey reached a significant milestone on 1 January 2011, when Bishop Antony Selvanayagam officially dedicated the newly renovated church, marking a new chapter in the life of the parish.

A new chapter began in 2018 when the Franciscan Friars (OFM) officially accepted the invitation to shepherd the parish. Under the initial leadership of Friar Arul Mariadass, OFM, the Franciscan presence introduced a renewed focus on community-centric spirituality and the "Gospel of Life." This period saw the integration of Franciscan charisms—simplicity, fraternity, and service—into the daily life of the Air Itam community.

As the parish entered the 2020s, focus shifted toward enhancing the church grounds to better serve the pastoral and physical needs of the congregation. Under Friar Esmond Chua, OFM, several key facilities were developed to create a more welcoming environment:

• Our Lady’s Grotto: A dedicated space for outdoor prayer and devotion was constructed.

• The Oak Tree: A specialized room was established to provide a vibrant learning environment for catechism children.

• St. Joseph’s Centre & Fr. Peter Shyu Hall: New meeting and community spaces were opened to host the parish's expanding ministries.

• Sustainability Initiatives: In a move toward environmental stewardship, the church installed solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint.

The parish reached a spiritual peak in 2026 during the Franciscan Jubilee Year, marked by the rare exposition of the relic of St. Francis of Assisi. Today, under the leadership of Friar Crispus Mosinoh, OFM, the church continues to serve as a vital spiritual hub, bridging its humble wooden-house origins with its current role as a modern center of Franciscan mission in Penang.