At the beginning of this century, the District of Dindings was a rather secluded area without communication with the rest of the country.  The whole area consisted of rubber estates. 

The early Priests came from Penang by boat. The last two Priests used to stay in Batu Gajah and came to Sitiawan to serve the Chinese Community here.  In one of Rev.Fr. Noel Jean Maury’s letters he had stated that coming to Sitiawan and Lumut areas was dangerous because they used to encounter tigers, pythons, elephants and cobras.

In 1911 Fr. Perrisaud, the Parish Priest of Tapah, built a Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lumut. In those days all the rubber estate managers were Europeans.  Some of them were Catholics and helpful to the Church.  (One Mr. Smith from Sitiawan is particularly remembered)  Through him, Fr. Perrisaud got about 4 acres of land where he built the first wooden Church.  It was situated along Kampung Sitiawan Road almost in front of the Estate road going towards Sitiawan Estate Cemetery.

The former Church of St. Francis de Sales was also built by Fr. Perrisaud, on a land obtained from the Government.  Building work began in 1928 and was completed on 2^nd December 1929.  Once this Church was completed it was dedicated to St. Francis de Sales.  This church was used until 1996, when it was demolished to build a new and bigger church by Dato Rev.Fr.Arthur Julien.

From 1929-1953:

Once the Church was built in 1929, Sitiawan became an outstation Parish for Taiping with Fr. Olcomendy as the Parish Priest from 1929-1936  ( He later became the Arch Bishop of Singapore.) He was succeeded by Fr. Aloysius (1936-1946) who built St. Anne’s Chapel at Ayer Tawar and Fr. Deepoiziewt(1936-1946) who built the Bruas Chapel  which was dedicated to St. Jane de Chantal.

Taiping was in charge of Sitiawan during the Japanese occupation(1941-1945)  which was not an easy period.  The Church of the sacred Heart, Klian Pau was shut down.  Fr. Liu from China and Fr. Barnabas Gao re-opened the Church.

From 1953:

The First Residential Priest:

Our 1^st Resident Priest was Rev. Fr. Arsene Rigottier.  He was appointed the Parish Priest in the middle of 1953.  He was born on 20^th March 1912: in the District of Savoy in France.  He was ordained in 1936.  He carried out his priestly duties for 13 years in South India at Salem and as a result spoke fluent Tamil.  To start with he had to face many difficulties in organizing the Church.  He had no house to call his own and no comfortable means of transport.  He had unsurpassed patience.  With hard toil and fervent prayers he overcame most of these difficulties.  Some of us might still remember him cycling under the sun and rain, smiling and waving his hand as he greeted people on his way to  Ayer Tawar, Pantai Remis and Bruas as he carried out God’s mission.  His sunny friendly disposition quickly captured the hearts of, not only the Catholics but also people of all faith, creed and race. Many conversions took place both among the Chinese and Indians during this short period from 1953-1955.  Many Parishioners owe their great gift of faith to God through Fr. Rigottier.  He impressed many non-Catholics. As a result at all the social gatherings in the state of Dindings, he was always a VIP.

After setting up the Church in Sitiawan on firm grounds, and also the Convent of the Infant Jesus and St. Francis school in 1954-1955, his Lordship the Bishop of Penang Mgr.Francis. Chan, transferred him to the bigger parish of Taiping in 1955.  There too Fr. Rigottier was instrumental for many improvements in St. Louis parish.  He established the Senior Legion of Mary there and also the Y.C.W.  Society in 1954 and 1955 respectively. The Legion of Mary was known as the Morning Star Praesidium.  In 1959 he was sent back to Sitiawan to continue his zealous and untiring work.

He was good to the poor, sick and needy, helping them with whatever money he had.  He did not think about himself. He fell so ill that in 1961 he had to undergo a major operation of the lungs in Penang.Thank God, He realized how much Fr. Rigottier was needed in Malaysia so the operation was a success.  He returned to Sitiawan again, but the Bishop realizing how much Fr. Rigottier needed a rest sent him to his homeland, France, for a year, to regain his health.

The hall of St. Francis Continuation School became the Centre of the Youth Club under Rev Father P. Gauthier and his assistant Rev. Father Barnabas Gao in 1956.  Both the priests were also very active in the Legion of Mary.  Fr. Gao opened the Junior Praesidium ‘Star of the Sea’.

The Parish Council was established on 25^th January 1969.  In 1971 and 1972 under the care of Rev. Fr. Lucien Catel the retired Sisters of the Infant Jesus began to work outside the school.  Sr. Alphonse Pappo visited the people in Beruas and its outskirts together with Celestine, our Sacristan for many years.  Sister Clotilde Pillay from Taiping also stayed at Beruas in 1988 teaching sewing and giving Catechism lessons to the Indian girls there.

In 1972 Mother Catherine Hendricks (superior of Our Lady's Convent Secondary school from 1965-1971) and Sister Sebastian Bastian worked at Gula Perak and Kayan respectively.  They were involved in Faith Education and did some social work as well.

In 1973 under Rev. Father L. Catel, the parochial house was extended. A couple of Chinese Catechists stayed in to instruct the children and youth of the parish. 

From 1974 till 1975  -  Fr. Francis Lui
From 1975 till 1983  -  Fr. Paul Chin
From 1983 till 1999  -  Fr. Arthur Julien
From 1999 till 2000  -  Fr. Regis
From 2000 till 2003  -  Fr. Francis Xavier Selvarajo
From 2003 till 2004  -  Fr. David Lourdes
From 2005 (Present parish pries) - Fr. Nelson Joseph 

All these priests have been working relentlessly to spread the Good news of God through their faithful parishioners.  Let us not forget to pray for our past priests who have gone to meet the Lord and our present priests who are working untiringly to spread God’s Goodness and Holiness during this third millennium.