Emile Fernandez in year 1953, who requested, and was duly granted, a piece of land by the serving British Government, for a Chapel to be built. The land allocated was in a Chinese New Village, surrounded by Estates and towns that included Renggam, Layang-Layang and Twitchin (known as Ulu Remis since 1984). Alexander and Francis Mariam, their families, and many others. In fact, the first baptism, i
n the now newly constructed Our Lady of Fatima Chapel was that of the late Theresa Bridget Alexander on 16th October, 1953. The second notable baptism was that of Gatrual Fernandez, daughter of T.B. Fernandez, on 26th December, 1954. It must be noted here, that both G.D. Fernandez, until their retirement, were instrumental in the building of the Chapel, and saw to the gathering of Catholics from around the said areas. Masses were celebrated once a month, by the then Parish Priest, Rev. Emile Fernandez. In 1959, infant baptisms, from CEP Renggam Div. 1, included those of Sebastian Christopher, Theresammal and Gabriel, to name a few. The masses then were celebrated by the late Rev. From 1952 to 1970, the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima came under the pastoral care and supervision of the Parish Priest of St. Louis, Kluang. During that course of time, it can be recalled that Rev. Lourdes Rayappan, had brought along with him our present Rev. Deacon Louis Martin, to serve Mass in that Chapel. From 1970 to 1976, Rev. Lourdes, who was the Parish Priest, took care of the pastoral needs of the Chapel. During that time, many in the Indian Catholic community had either passed on, or retired, or relocated to Kluang town. With the growing Chinese Catholic community, living 10 kilometers away in Renggam, the need for a Chapel arose. Thus, the Estate Management began the construction of the Chapel of St Theresa of the Child in the vicinity of Ladang Hay in 1955. It was at the height of the Emergency. The Chinese community was given some 500 acres of land to cultivate, and they were later asked to vacate the Estate quarters they were residing in and to establish houses on the border of the said land. This area belonged to a Bengoli, named Namazi or Namayee and the place was named after him. There were then some twenty families, of mixed Buddhists and Catholics including, namely Agatha, Francis How, Peter Chai and Joseph How family, also known as Ah Kai. Thus, the Chinese Catholics, seven of them from Ladang Hay, settled down at Namazi in 1963. But, Ah Kai’s parents went to Kampung China near Layang-Layang. There were four Catholic families residing in Kampung China, Layang-Layang. And over the course of time, the Chapel was demolished, and the statue of St. Theresa was placed in the home of Francis How at Namayee, for the Priest to celebrate mass with the faithful of that area. Here again, the Parish Priest of St. Louis attended to their pastoral needs, and from 1976 to 1981, the parishioners were further blessed with the arrival of Rev. Francis Kou, Rev. Matthew Lee, both Chinese speaking priests, followed by Rev. Louis Danion and Rev. Barrteau, a visiting priest from Singapore who could converse in their dialect. In Namayee the home of Peter Chai was used for the purpose of Catechism, ably conducted by Maria Yong, the full time Catechist for the Chinese community of St. Louis Church, Kluang. It must be noted that Maria Yong as a catechist, not only served in Kluang but had also gone to St. Simon, Labis to teach catechism to the Chinese who lived there. She had played an important role in bringing many people of other faiths into the Catholic faith among the Chinese. She has served as a catechist under the supervision of French fathers, namely Rev. Jego, Rev. Barrteau. She is also fondly known as ‘Aku’ meaning a catechist in Chinese and even now though she is in her 70’s she accompanies the current Parish Priest Rev.Fr. Deva on his pastoral visits to the Chinese Catholic homes. In 1991 Rev. Benedict Yee, became the Parish Priest of Kluang. He was here till 2001. During his time he believed that the Chapel of Our Lady of Renggam could be a proper place of worship for the Chinese who were living around Renggam, Layang-Layang and Simpang Renggam. At this time there was no regular mass celebrated in the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima, besides the Annual Feast Day celebration. Later he suggested that we use Renggam Chapel, not only for feast days, but also for regular Masses, catechism and he initiated prayer meetings too. Benedict Yee celebrated monthly masses alternately between Namayee and the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima Rengam. However after he left the Parish, on transfer, Namazi or Namyee ceased, and the remaining seven Catholic families, soon after shifted to Layang-Layang, Simpang Renggam and Kluang. The last famiy to leave was Peter Chai’s family in 2004, to Simpang Renggam. First, as Assistant Parish Priest in 1999, and later, Parish Priest in 2001, Rev. James Rajendran, visited all the surrounding Chapels, dutifully re-opened St. Thaddeus, Paloh, St. Thomas, Ulu Remis and Our Lady of Fatima, Renggam. This was indeed a blessing to the Catholic community in all those areas, who now did not have to travel monthly to St. Louis, Kluang to fulfill their spiritual duties. Rev.Fr. James further encouraged that fellowship be held in the chapel compound after feast day Masses. James Rajendran also undertook the task of having a survey done to identify the boundary where the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima, Renggam was situated on. During his tenure, the main coordinators for St. Thomas were Mr. Brutus Mathanamani, and in Our Lady of Fatima, Ms Theresa Lim. With the transfer of Rev. James in 2004, Monsignor Sebastian Francis (now Bishop Sebastian) took over the spiritual reins. Monsignor Sebastian Francis insisted that the mother church of St. Louis, Kluang should pay more attention to the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima, Renggam as it is the only property registered and included under the care of St. Louis and the Diocese of Melaka-Johor.
