25 January 2013| last updated at 12:58AM
KOTA KINABALU: About 3,000 people filled the Sacred Heart Cathedral here yesterday to witness the installation of Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau as the head of the Kota Kinabalu diocese.
The cathedral compound was filled with people coming from near and far.
The event was also telecast on a monitor for members of the congregation outside the church.
More than 10 archbishops and bishops nationwide celebrated the installation by donning their traditional ceremonial robes.
Present was Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.
The installation started at 10am when 79-year-old Archbishop John Lee presented a croiser to his successor.
It was then followed by a prayer session, led by the newly appointed archbishop.
"This is a historical ceremony for Catholics as it signifies the church's tradition in continuing the apostolic succession.
"As this is the Year of Faith for us, I hope each and every one of us will make room for compassion and love in our daily lives," Wong said in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese after the ceremony.
Born in Sandakan on June 6, 1968, the new archbishop was ordained as a priest in 1999 and consecrated as the co-adjutor archbishop in 2008.
He took over the responsibilities of the post from Dec 1 last year after the Vatican City accepted Lee's resignation.
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