Jesus Caritas Catholic Church is a vibrant and welcoming parish located in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur. Situated at Jalan Burung Hantu, the church serves as a spiritual home for Catholics in the area, fostering a strong sense of community and faith. Known for its peaceful ambiance and beautiful architecture, Jesus Caritas is a place where worshippers come together to celebrate Mass, partake in sacraments, and engage in various church activities.
The church also emphasizes outreach programs, youth ministries, and family-oriented events, making it a dynamic hub for spiritual growth and fellowship. Its serene surroundings and warm congregation make it an inviting space for prayer, reflection, and connection with God.
History
We are a Latin-rite Catholic Parish, dedicated to serving both the English and Mandarin-speaking communities in the Kepong, Selayang, and Segambut Areas of North Kuala Lumpur.
Our parish’s origins can be traced back to the late 1960s when it was established as a Mass centre. Inspired by the missionary spirit of St. Paul, Fr. Pierre Decroocq, MEP, embarked on a mission to establish Mass centres and entrusted them to trained lay leaders. His outreach extended across a vast area, from Kepong Lama to Kepong Garden and even as far as Jalan Damansara. In 1969, a corner shop became the first dedicated space for Masses in the Kepong area. Subsequently, a multipurpose community centre was established, providing a hub for tuition classes, tailoring services, and a nursery.
In the spirit of St. Paul’s missionary work, Fr. Pierre Decroocq, MEP, continued to expand his mission, covering a significant area from Kepong Lama to Kepong Garden and Jalan Damansara. The first centre in this locality was established in 1969 when a new housing scheme began in the Ong Bahru district. Here, a group of Catholic families gathered for worship and meetings in a corner shop house. Later, a community centre was established, offering tuition classes, tailoring services, and a nursery. This centre served the community for five years until a generous donation of land from a Chinese developer enabled the construction of a new church-community centre.
On this ideal piece of land, a two-story church was built, dedicated to JESUS CARITAS, and blessed by Archbishop Dominic Vendargon in April 1975. A Parish Pastoral Council was formed to serve both the Christian community and the wider community. Lay leaders received training in various ministries within the Christian community, including caring for the sick, aiding the poor, supporting drug addicts, educating students, and assisting working youth. Additionally, the community centre provided classes for people of different faiths, including programs for slow learners, tailoring classes, and a kindergarten. The centre even had a Music Hall for the youth, offering indoor games like billiards, badminton, and Taekwondo. Fr. Pierre Decrooq also became renowned for conducting prayer sessions every Friday with a group of volunteers, offering prayers for the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and recovery of those in need. He served as the first parish priest of “Jesus Caritas” parish from its foundation in 1975 until 1985 when his health could no longer sustain such an active life.
Over time, the parish community diligently raised funds, enabling a major renovation of the entire church complex during the tenure of Rev Fr Mitchel Joseph, completed in 2011. This renovation included the construction of a brand-new church and an adjacent building known as Wisma Caritas, which provided additional rooms for the kindergarten, Sunday school, and meeting facilities.
Subsequently, Rev Fr Surain Durai Raj briefly served as Parish Priest for two years before being reassigned elsewhere. In 2015, Fr. Michael Chua was transferred to the parish.
In 2019, significant beautification work was carried out in the sanctuary under the guidance of Rev. Michael Chua. However, in 2020, the parish faced the challenging decision to close its doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period of adversity, Masses and various spiritual formations were livestreamed, offering solace and spiritual growth opportunities to the faithful. This invaluable service was made possible through the leadership and guidance of Fr. Michael and Fr. Dominic.
Today, the Parish is under the pastoral care of Rev. Fr. Simon Lau, appointed as Parish Priest by the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur in early 2022. The Parish is embarking on a significant journey towards its 50th Year Jubilee in 2025. Extensive preparations, including renovations, rectifications, and repainting efforts, are currently underway to commemorate this momentous occasion.
Mass Time
Saturday
5:30pm – Novena
6:00pm – Mass in English
Sunday
8:30am – Rosary in English
9:00am – English Mass
10:45am – Rosary in Mandarin
11:15am – Mandarin Mass
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