Church expresses gratitude for support for nuns

SEREMBAN: The Catholic Church has expressed its gratitude to Malaysians from all religious background for their love and support following the senseless attack on two nuns here on May 14.

Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia Archbishop Joseph Marino said the incident, which took place outside the Church of Visitation in Jalan Yam Tuan, had touched the hearts of many Malaysians.

The attack took the life of 69-year-old Sister Julianna Lim, who passed away days after she and Sister Marie Rose alias Theresa Teng were attacked by a man wearing a full-faced helmet at about 6am.

"Sentiments of condolences have come from the highest civil authorities of our beloved Malaysia for which there is a real sense of gratitude, for the most common person.

"I was even told the story of a man who after Friday prayers last week came to Father to express sympathy and to give a gift to assist the sisters with medical expenses," he said at Lim's funeral at the Church of Visitation here on Friday.

Marino, the representative of the Vatican, also paid tribute to Lim for her work with children, particularly from poor families and with single parents.

Lim died without regaining consciousness on Tuesday due to severe head injuries sustained in the early morning attack.

She had arrived with two other nuns for morning mass and was walking in front of the church when the attack occurred.

Marie Rose, 79, who also sustained head injuries, was discharged from the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital.

The church's CCTV network recorded part of the footage of a suspect entering the church premises minutes after the sisters arrived and leaving hurriedly a short while later.

The Church of Visitation was packed with well-wishers and parishioners who came  to pay their last respects to Lim.

Present were Lim's family members and Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam.

During the funeral, the parishioners released a statement expressing  their gratitude to the selfless services of the Infant Jesus Sisters to the under-privileged children in dysfunctional families in Kg Pasir.

"We pledge to continue to work in solidarity with the Infant Jesus Sisters in reaching out to the least, last, lost and the lonely.

"Our grateful thanks to all who have shown their care and concern for greater concerted action for safety and security at all places of worship, and greater collaborative efforts at inter-racial integration and inter-religious harmony in the country," the statement read.

Sister Celina Wong of the Infant Jesus Sister Malaysia provincial, in an eulogy, said Lim left many "little prints and imprints" in the lives of those she had worked and lived with.

"The former students and teachers whom Sister Julianna had served will remember her as one who was very dedicated and committed in teaching the slower ones in schools," she said.

Lim was laid to rest at the Sikamat Christian cemetery.

More stories on Seremban church attack