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33 Jalan Macalister, 10400 Penang

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The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, originally Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, is a Catholic church for Chinese-speaking parishioners in Penang. It is presently located at Macalister Road, next to Heng Ee Primary School.

The history of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows goes back to the founding of the British settlement in Penang. In 1786, when the British settlement on Penang was established, it is estimated that the Chinese population in Province Wellesley numbered around one hundred. By 1825, the number of Chinese in Penang had reached eleven thousand. A Catholic missionary by the name of Father J.B. Boucho arrived to do mission work here, between 1826 and 1843. He managed to convert a few of the Chinese settlers to Catholic, along with the priest of the Church of Immaculate Conception. However, the Chinese community did not have their own place of worship, unlike the Indian parishioners that already had a church of their own, the St Francis Xavier Church, since 1857.

In 1886, Father Emile Barillon, young missionary who had learned Chinese, arrived in Penang from Singapore. He stayed at the Church of the Assumption while he went about preparing to build a church for the Chinese parishioners. The land purchased was at Macalister Road. A small church building, Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, was inaugurated in March, 1888.

The present building of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows dates back to 1958, under the tenure of Father Philip Lee. Beside the church building is a 107 feet high bell tower. The next parish priest, Father Arthur Julien, was instrumental in establishing the Heng Ee School - the secondary school at Hamilton Road while the primary school within the church compound.

The present parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows is Father Michael Thoo. Mass times on Saturday are at 6.45am, Sunday 8.30am, 10am. To cater to the increasing Filipino population in George Town, a Filipino mass is also available at 11.15am. Monday to Wednesday: 7.30am. Thursday and Friday: 6pm.

Visiting Penang

If you're planning a trip to Penang, please go through the information I have assembled in Penang Travel Tips. You'd find there information covering all aspect about Penang, including accommodation, transport, food, shopping, places of interest and more. Everything you need to know Penang is right there at your finger tips!


Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, next to Heng Ee Primary School, at Macalister Road


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