KUALA LUMPUR: The Archdiocesan Chinese Language Apostolate Committee (ACLAC) of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur held its 2026 Annual General Meeting and election of its 16th Executive Committee on July 4 at the Church of the Holy Rosary.
The gathering brought together 42 representatives from parish Chinese Language Apostolates across the archdiocese and 14 representatives from various subministries. The day began with fellowship over breakfast before participants gathered for a forum themed, Journey Together with Commitment – Participation and Leadership of Chinese Language Leaders.
The forum was attended by ACLAC ecclesiastical assistant Fr Augustine Lee, advisor Fr Chin Sin Wee, OCD, and lay leader Joseph Lim, who shared reflections on leadership, service and evangelisation.
Drawing from his own experience, Joseph distinguished between parish ministry and community service, encouraging participants to cultivate their spiritual lives through retreats and prayer. He noted that moments of silence enable believers to draw closer to Christ and become more attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting on his own vocation, Fr Augustine spoke about finding a sense of belonging within the Church and encouraged participants to embrace leadership with courage and generosity. He reminded them that responsibility is shared by the entire Christian community, not only by committee members, and urged them to entrust every challenge to God through prayer. Referring to the upcoming Malaysia Pastoral Convention (MPC2026), he said the Church in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak is called to walk together in a spirit of communion rather than work in isolation.
Fr Chin highlighted the indispensable role of the laity in the Church’s mission of evangelisation. He encouraged participants to recognise the unique gifts God has entrusted to each person and to place those gifts at the service of the Church. He described ACLAC as a platform that provides formation, resources and pastoral support to the Chinese-speaking Catholic community.
Following the forum, participants gathered in small groups for Conversation in the Spirit, reflecting prayerfully on the challenges faced by parish leaders, ministry coordinators and volunteers. The afternoon session featured annual reports from the various sub-ministries and parish representatives, providing an opportunity to share pastoral experiences, celebrate the fruits of evangelisation and learn from one another.
The meeting then proceeded with the election of the 16th Executive Committee after Fr Augustine formally dissolved the outgoing committee. The election was conducted by a team led by Leonard Sim Yong Chian, chairman of Mustard Seeds Evangelisation, in the presence of Fr Stephen Ng, CDD, ecclesiastical assistant to Mustard Seeds.
Archbishop Julian Leow later joined the assembly to offer encouragement and pastoral guidance. Commending ACLAC for its 33 years of service to the Chinese-speaking Catholic community, he acknowledged its significant contribution to faith formation and pastoral accompaniment throughout the archdiocese.
Looking ahead to the Jubilee of the Redemption in 2033, the archbishop challenged the newly elected committee to move beyond maintaining existing ministries and, instead, ask how many more people could encounter Christ through their efforts by 2030 and 2033. He urged members to become missionary disciples who actively bring the Gospel to others.
The newly elected Executive Committee for the 2026–2029 term is led by chairman Michael Sew, assisted by vice chairman Christopher Tan, secretary Adelina Wong, vice secretary Regina Bon and treasurer Victor Chew. Eric Liow and Lucie Cheong were elected auditors, while Eric Tan and Joan Chong serve as committee members.