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The Catholic Centre
The picture shows a gathering at the Catholic Centre, which is along Brewster Road (just before the HIJ Convent), Ipoh. This centre was built in 1968 by Rev Father Jean Ciatti – who was then the parish priest of St Michael's Church. The centre was used for dinners, youth gatherings, games (it had an indoor badminton court), and other church functions. In the 70s, Mrs Lip Seng Chiew became the Chairperson of the Catholic Centre.
Seated in the front row is who we believe to be: Rev Father J Wallace, CSsR (extreme right), and Sr De Chantel, FMDM (third from right). This picture was probably taken in the 70s, when the centre was still active. Sometime in the 90s, the Diocese sold the land to a private owner. The building had been abandoned for some time, while the grounds were mainly used as a parking lot. Today (2018) the Catholic Centre building is now a the RM 2 Shop (a budget store, where most of the products sold cost RM 2). The space next to the Catholic Centre houses a food court as well as a Chinese Medicinal Hall (Yin Onn).
If anyone could confirm these details / provide us with more information, do let us know.
To read the history of St Michael's Church, click here.
To know more about Lip Seng Chiew, click here.