St James of the Marches is the Custody’s first friary in West Malaysia, re-establishing a presence in Melaka-Johor, where Portuguese Franciscans first came to establish a community in 1511. From the original base in Bukit China, Franciscan missions were sent to the ancient capital of Siam and beyond, until the Dutch colonisation in the 17th Century. As a religious brotherhood today, the Franciscan Friars continue to be committed to the call to live and preach the Gospel with courage and conviction.
‘St James’
St James of the Marches was a 15th century Franciscan reformer and popular preacher. He originated from the Marches of Ancona on the eastern coast of Italy, a somewhat wild frontier area where St Francis himself had gone to preach some centuries before. In choosing this patron, the friars in Melaka-Johor honour the memory of St James, who went on to bring the Gospel message beyond boundaries, leading many to greater faithfulness, understanding and peace.
What We Do
All the members in the community serve in one way or another at the parish Church of St Theresa, Masai, comprising parishioners from diverse nationalities and backgrounds, ministering in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Tamil.
The friars are also engaged in a variety of individual ministries of mission & evangelisation, expanding the boundaries of God’s Kingdom by bearing witness through lives as lesser brothers, reaching out to those who have not yet encountered God as Good News, and showing the world that God can be encountered in many ways and in all peoples and settings.
A Prayer of St Francis
Almighty, most holy, most high and supreme God,
all good, supreme good, totally good,
You Who alone are good,
may we give back to you all praise, all glory,
all grace, all honour, all blessing and all Good.
So be it. So be it. Amen.
- Prayer before the Office of the Passion
St James of the Marches Friary
Franciscan Friars
St James of the Marches Friary
c/o Majodi Centre
2101 Jalan Masai
81750 Plentong
Johor, Malaysia
Guardian: Friar Arul Sagayaraj Mariadass OFM (05aruldass@gmail.com)
Members of The Marches:
Friar Arul Sagayaraj OFM – Guardian, Parish Pastor, from Penang
Friar John Wong OFM – Custos, from Kuala Lumpur
Friar Justin Lim OFM – Parish Assistant, from Singapore