Born: 26 August 1943
Entered: 1 March 1985, Novitiate in Petaling Jaya
Ordained: 1 May 1992, Church of St Francis Xavier, Petaling Jaya
Final Vows: 1 May 1997
Dismissal from the Society of Jesus: 6 March 2012
Incardinated as a priest of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur: 19 November 2019
Death: 5 June 2020, Pantai Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Father OC Lim was born in 1943 the eldest son of Dato’ Selawatang Lim Foo Yong (a well-known businessman) and grew up in the midst of great material wealth. He became a Catholic while attending the La Salle Brothers’ St Xavier’s Institution in Penang. He completed his sixth form education at St John’s Institution, Kuala Lumpur. He then pursued his tertiary education at University of Malaya for one year but opted out as he was more interested in law. He then went to London to pursue his dream to become a lawyer at the Inner Temple. He qualified as a barrister in England in 1969 and returned to Kuala Lumpur where he joined a law firm in 1970 and practised for 14 years before entering the Society of Jesus.
When he was asked why he has chosen the Jesuits, he said, “A Jesuit priest is mobile, flexible and always available. He can be a man for all seasons. There are no permanent ties to people, places, or posts. He is ready to get up and go when told. So, he is able to dedicate himself totally to God’s work, which is what I wanted to do.”
He did his Novitiate in Petaling Jaya from 1985 to 1987. He professed his first vows on 2nd of March 1987. He studied philosophy and theology at the Ateneo de Manila University and Loyola School of Theology respectively from 1987 till 1992. On 1st of May 1992, Father O.C. Lim (then aged 49), was ordained to the priesthood at the Church of St Francis Xavier in Petaling Jaya. Five years later, he professed his final vows on 1st of May 1997.
“My calling to be a Jesuit priest has given me a new impetus to my belief that faith would be meaningless without the promotion of justice. I see one aspect of my vocation as a continuation of my work in the legal profession in my ‘past life’, but charged with a faith dimension, defending the ‘poor’, the ‘exploited’ and the ‘innocent’ and promoting their rights while not forgetting that the well-to-do also have their rights.” (June 1992 edition, CANews)
Father OC had insisted that he was not a politician but could perhaps be described as a ‘politicised priest’ in the sense that he was in touch with the political developments in the country and the world.
One of his first appointments was as Director of the Catholic Research Centre (CRC) and Editor of the Catholic Asian News (CANews), a post he held from 1993 to 2009. During his tenure, he continued to further develop not only CRC but also CANews This monthly magazine provided thought provoking reflections for many to read and reflect. Under his direction CRC focused on bringing about a critical awareness to Christians and others of their role in the Malaysian society in its socio-politico, economic and religious context.
In 1992, he was appointed as the first Spiritual Director for the newly established Catholic Lawyers Society Kuala Lumpur, a role which he relished with much gusto for several terms over a span of almost 18 years. An outspoken advocate for justice, Father OC Lim gave courage to those fighting for just causes, always advising them to “stand up and be counted.”
He was the Honorary Assistant Secretary of the (then) Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) from 1993 to 1996. (In 2006, Taoists were officially represented in the organisation and the name was changed to the present-day Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.) He was also actively involved in the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM).
Fatherr OC also spearheaded the Maranatha Retreat House (MRH) committee from 1996 to 2009, taking on the role of Director, guiding the team to stay on course by setting a clear direction for the retreat house programmes.
During his 15 years as a fully professed Jesuit priest, he assumed the role of Regional Superior of the Malaysia-Singapore Region of the Society of Jesus for six years (1998 to 2004) and was assigned the role of Local Superior of the Jesuit Community residing in Petaling Jaya for various periods until 2009. He had also served as Assistant Parish Priest of the Church of St Francis Xavier, Petaling Jaya during various periods for a total of about 9 years.
He spent the last decade of his life convalescing during his medical leave following his heart bypass in 2009, he dedicated much of his time to prayer, intellectual and spiritual reading.
Reference:
http://www.heraldmalaysia.com/news/obituary-notice-kuala-lumpur-archdiocese-fr-oc-lim/53821/5
https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2020/06/10/malaysian-catholic-priest-father-oc-lim-an-outspoken-advocate-for-justice-dies-aged-76
http://www.catholiclawyersmalaysia.org/news/tribute-fr-oc-lim-man-all-seasons
https://www.journeywithus.asia/fr-oc-lim-a-life-lived-for-common-good-and-the-greater-glory-of-god/
https://passionofchrist-lechemindecroix.blogspot.com/2009/10/father-oc-lim-our-priest-lawyer.html
Funeral Service for Rev Fr O.C. Lim (1943 – 2020): https://youtu.be/GBp9B-3QMZ8