History of CIC
CIC JB is an active centre of Catholic life and prayer in the heart of Johor Bahru City. The Roman Catholic priests continue their tradition of preaching, personal instruction, sacramental life and pastoral care extending well beyond the geographical boundaries of Johor Bahru.
This historic and the oldest of Church of Johor Bahru was built in the year or 1927 by the late Rev. Fr. C. Saleilles, M. AP. The Original Church was built in the year 1883 and was named as the “Our Lady of Lourdes”.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Rev Fr. Saleilles: The beginnings saw the establishment of Johor as an outstation of Serangoon in 1881. Rev. Fr. Saleilles came to administer to the needs of the catholic families by boat. He was generous to the poor.
OUR LADY OF LOURDES
Some time later, a piece of land was graciously given by His Highness Sultan Abu Bakar and in 1883, the little church of Our Lady of Lourdes was inaugurated. This building was later used a funeral parlour.
PRESENT CHURCH
The present Church of the Immaculate Conception was built by Rev. Fr. M Duvelle, and blessed by Bishop Barillon at the end of 1921, when there was only a wooden bridge linking Johor and Singapore.
The late Sultan Ibrahim also donated the big statue of Our Lady to the church. It now stands in front of the Church. It was blessed on 8th September 1947 by Rev. Fr. Noel Goh.