从亚答屋到百年堂区：浮罗山背耶稣圣名堂的信仰历程

1）初播福音：从一间亚答屋开始

在槟城西南宁静的乡区——浮罗山背，今日庄严的耶稣圣名堂，其起点却是一间简陋的亚答屋。百余年的岁月流转，这片土地见证了信仰如何由微小种子，逐渐成长为扎根人心的堂区。

十九世纪中叶，巴黎外方传教会（Missions Étrangères de Paris, MEP）展开槟城一带的福传工作。杜科蒂神父（Rev. Fr. François-Xavier Ducotey）成为最早踏足此地的传教士之一。这位法国神父原从事商业，后回应圣召远赴马来半岛。1845年，他已在浮罗山背一间亚答屋内主持弥撒，开启了福音在此地的传播。

当时，浮罗山背仍隶属于浮罗池滑堂区，既无固定圣堂，也没有常驻神父。随着信友逐渐增加，至1854年，这里建立起传教站，并兴建简朴圣堂；1856年耶稣圣名庆日正式祝圣启用，成为今日耶稣圣名堂的雏形。

2）百年耕耘：信仰与教育并进

1854年至1961年间，共有16位巴黎外方传教会神父在此服务。他们远离故土，在乡区默默耕耘，使信仰逐步融入地方生活。

由于早期教友多为华人客家人，这些传教士在被派遣前多已学习客家话，以熟悉的语言与教友沟通，使福音更贴近人心。这种跨文化的投入，使信仰得以深深扎根。

堂区从亚答屋逐步发展为坚固庄严的圣堂，司铎住宅及相关设施也相继建立，堂区生活趋于稳定成熟。

与此同时，教育事业蓬勃发展。圣乔治学校、圣心学校，以及由修女主持的女子学校相继创立，不仅提升乡区教育水平，也培育信仰与品格，影响深远。浮罗山背因此逐渐成为兼具信仰与教育基础的重要社区，并在马来亚华人天主教发展史上占有一席之地。

3）包神父：以生命筑成的信仰印记

在众多传教士中，第六任本堂司铎包神父（Fr. Léon Page）尤为令人难忘。他在浮罗山背服务17年，将一生最宝贵的岁月奉献于此。

面对不断增长的教友人数，他带领教友展开圣堂扩建工程，亲自参与采石、搬运，与教友并肩劳作。今日圣所仍可见一块块层层堆叠的石墙，正是当年开山取石所留下的见证，朴实却坚实，承载着一段用双手建构的信仰历史。

在他的努力下，教堂增建两侧翼廊并扩展祭台区，使圣堂更为宽敞庄严；同时从欧洲订制九扇彩绘玻璃窗，至今仍保存完好，在光影中映照出信仰的美与历史的深度。

除建设外，他亦致力于教育与慈善，推动学校发展、加强要理培育，并创办孤儿院，关怀弱小。

在牧灵工作上，他不辞劳苦，翻山越岭探访教友，甚至深夜应召前往病者身边。其沉着应对险境的事迹，至今仍在地方流传。

1897年，这位年仅42岁的神父因病辞世，安葬于圣堂圣所内。他的一生虽短，却以全部心力，在这片土地上留下深刻而持久的信仰印记。

4）建筑的延续：信仰的外在记号

随着堂区的发展，后来的传教士继续完善圣堂结构。其中最具标志性的，是教堂前方高耸的钟楼。

钟楼采用圆锥形尖顶设计，顶端竖立十字架，不仅成为浮罗山背的地标，也象征信仰指向天主的终极意义。钟声曾伴随村庄的日常生活，提醒教友祈祷与参与礼仪。

这些建筑元素，与早期的石墙、彩绘玻璃窗相互辉映，使耶稣圣名堂不仅是一座礼仪空间，更是一部可被“看见”的信仰历史。

5）时代的延续：本地教会的成长

1961年以后，巴黎外方传教会神父不再在本堂服务，堂区逐渐由来自中国、后迁至马来亚的传教士，以及本地司铎接续牧养，标志着教会迈向本地化发展的阶段。

随着信仰扎根，圣召亦在堂区萌芽。1981年，本堂迎来首位本地圣召刘开祥神父（Fr. Stephen Liew）晋铎，他日后成为教区重要牧者之一。至今，堂区已培育出三位本地司铎，见证信仰由外来播种转化为本地承传。

6）教友的脚步：从乡区走向世界

浮罗山背耶稣圣名堂曾被视为马来西亚天主教客家文化的重要发源地之一。

随着时代变迁，许多教友迁往各地发展，足迹遍布华都牙也、怡保、武吉丁雅、马章武莫，甚至远至香港。仅香港一地，已有数百位来自本堂的教友。他们把在此孕育的信仰与文化带往各地，使这片土地的影响远超地域限制。

从人口变化亦可见发展轨迹：1862年约212人，1892年约800人，1915年达1,200人，1970年约3,000人，达至高峰；而今日约为1000人。人数虽减，信仰却随着迁徙不断延续。

结语

从一间亚答屋，到一座百年堂区；从外方传教士的播种，到本地教会的承传，浮罗山背耶稣圣名堂的发展，不仅是一段地方历史，更是一段信仰的旅程。

今日，这座圣堂依然静立乡间。石墙、钟楼与彩窗无声述说着过去，而一代代信友的生命，则继续书写着未来。

—— 撰文：麦可佐思

[English Version]

From an Attap Hut to a Over 100-Year-Old Parish Holy Name of Jesus Church, Balik Pulau

1) The Beginning of the Mission: From an Attap Hut

The history of Holy Name of Jesus Church in Balik Pulau began in the mid-19th century with a simple attap hut. In 1845, Rev. Fr. François-Xavier Ducotey celebrated Mass there, marking the beginning of Catholic evangelization in the area. As the Catholic community grew, a mission station and small church were established, forming the foundation of today’s parish.

2) A Century of Growth: Faith and Education

Between 1854 and 1961, sixteen priests from the Paris Foreign Missions Society served in Balik Pulau. Many learned the Hakka language to better serve the local Chinese community, helping the faith grow deeply among the people. During this period, schools such as St. George’s School, Sacred Heart School, and a convent school were established, contributing greatly to education and faith formation in the village.

3) Fr. Léon Page: A Legacy Built with Love and Sacrifice

Among the missionaries, Fr. Léon Page is especially remembered for his 17 years of dedicated service. He led the expansion of the church and personally worked alongside parishioners in quarrying and carrying stones. He also introduced stained-glass windows from Europe, promoted education and catechism, and cared deeply for the poor and sick. He passed away in 1897 at the age of 42 and was buried inside the church sanctuary, where his legacy continues to be remembered today.

4) Continuing the Church Building

As the parish continued to grow, later missionaries further developed the church building. The most recognizable addition was the bell tower with its pointed roof and cross, which became a landmark of Balik Pulau and a visible symbol of faith for the local community.

5) The Growth of the Local Church

After 1961, the parish gradually came under the care of local clergy and missionaries from China and Malaya. The parish also began producing local vocations. In 1981, Fr. Stephen Liew became the first local priest ordained from the parish. Since then, three local priests have emerged from the Holy Name of Jesus Church community.

6) The Journey of the Faithful: From a Rural Parish to the World

The Holy Name of Jesus Church in Balik Pulau has long been regarded as one of the birthplaces of Hakka Catholic heritage in Malaysia.

As the years passed, many parishioners left Balik Pulau to pursue new opportunities elsewhere. They settled in places such as Batu Gajah, Ipoh, Bukit Tengah, Machang Bubuk, and even as far as Hong Kong. In Hong Kong alone, several hundred Catholics trace their roots to this parish. Carrying with them the faith and cultural traditions nurtured in Balik Pulau, they helped extend the influence of this small rural community far beyond its geographical boundaries.

The parish's demographic history also reflects this journey of growth and migration. The Catholic population numbered about 212 in 1862, increased to around 800 in 1892, reached 1,200 in 1915, and peaked at approximately 3,000 in 1970. Today, the parish has about 1000 members. Although the number of parishioners has declined over the years, their faith has continued to flourish wherever they have gone.

Conclusion

From a humble attap chapel to a century-old parish, and from the pioneering efforts of foreign missionaries to the faithful stewardship of the local Church, the story of the Holy Name of Jesus Church in Balik Pulau is more than a chapter of local history—it is a journey of faith.

Today, this church continues to stand quietly amidst the countryside. Its stone walls, bell tower, and stained-glass windows silently bear witness to the past, while the lives of generations of faithful continue to write the story of its future.