WWII heroine could be Malaysia’s first saint

By LiCAS News

Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang, made the announcement after a series of consultations with Archbishop Julian Leow of Kuala Lumpur. The prelate has appointed Fr. Eugene Benedict of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur to lead the cause.

“We will do well to revisit her life and works to find inspiration for our times. I wish that efforts be made to gather, compile, study, reflect, and make available her life and work as a testimony to us. I hope to advance her cause for beatification and canonization by God’s Grace,” said Cardinal Francis.

Sybil Kathigasu is renowned for her compassionate care and resistance efforts during the Japanese occupation of Malaysia in World War II. 

According to Cardinal Francis, Kathigasu continues to inspire various sectors of society. Her life has been depicted in numerous plays, documentaries, and films, establishing her as a symbol of courage and faith. 

Her legacy has also captured the interest of students from the School of Architecture, emphasizing her enduring impact on Malaysian culture and heritage.

In 2019, the Year of Mission, Kathigasu was recognized as one of five exemplars of missionary witness at the Church of Assumption in Penang. A dedicated wing in her memory exists at St. Joseph’s Church in Batu Gajah, Perak. 

Her profound influence is also highlighted in the Malaysian Catechetical series for Year 7 students in Tamil.

Pilgrimages to her grave at the Church of St. Michael in Ipoh and her clinic in Papan, Perak, continue, reflecting the deep respect and admiration from both the community and visitors. 

Cardinal Francis noted that Kathigasu’s legacy also influences personal milestones, with many Catholic parents naming their children after her, indicating her role as a model of lay Catholic witness.

This year marks the 76th anniversary of Kathigasu’s death on June 12, 1948. Cardinal Francis remarked that her life exemplified the power of faith and hope, which sustained her through significant challenges.

Born in Indonesia, Sybil and her husband Dr. Abdon Clement Kathigasu ran a free clinic in Papan, Perak, during the Japanese occupation in World War II. 

She aided the resistance by secretly providing medicines and medical services to Allied forces. She was captured, interrogated, and tortured by Japanese authorities. 

Sybil died on June 12, 1948, at the age of 48 in Britain and was initially buried in Lanark, Scotland. Her body was later returned in 1949 to Malaya and reburied at the Roman Catholic cemetery beside St Michael’s Church on Jalan Sultan Idris Shah in Ipoh.

In her honor, Jalan Sybil Kathigasu in Fair Park, Ipoh, was named after independence to commemorate her bravery. Today, the shophouse at No.74, Main Road in Papan, which was once Sybil’s clinic, serves as a memorial museum. 

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