[Obituary] Passing of Bishop Emeritus Dominic Su Haw Chiu, First Bishop of the Diocese of Sibu

[Obituary]

Passing of Bishop Emeritus

Dominic Su Haw Chiu,

First Bishop of the Diocese of Sibu

 “Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.”

With deep sorrow, yet in the firm and holy hope of the Resurrection and the Ascension of the Lord, we announce that Bishop Emeritus Dominic Su Haw Chiu, the first shepherd of the Diocese of Sibu, returned to the Lord in the loving embrace of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 9:52 AM on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the age of 87.

Born on May 26, 1939, Bishop Dominic Su was ordained as a priest on December 4, 1969. On December 22, 1986, he was appointed the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Sibu, and was subsequently consecrated by Saint Pope John Paul II on January 6, 1987. He faithfully and selflessly shepherded the Diocese until his retirement on December 24, 2011, leaving behind a lasting spiritual legacy of humility and faith.

■ Deep Spiritual Bond with Naju and His Witness of Faith

Bishop Dominic Su held an exceptionally deep and providential bond with Our Lady of Naju, standing as an official witness and defender of the numerous spiritual graces and miracles granted through Her.

•    Official Witness to Eucharistic Miracles: On August 24, 1995, he personally witnessed a Eucharistic miracle in Naju.

The following year, on September 17, 1996, he invited Julia Kim to the Diocese of Sibu. During a Holy Mass he celebrated at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, witnessed by over 3,000 faithful, another profound Eucharistic miracle took place. Following this, he issued an official decree declaring that these events were recognized as authentic Eucharistic miracles.

•    Witnessed the miracle of the descent of the Precious Blood on August 15, 2002 at the Blessed Mother's Mountain. 

Bishop Su, together with his two priest brothers — Fr. Francis Su and Fr. Philip Su — witnessed the miracle of the descent of the Precious Blood at the Blessed Mother’s Mountain in Naju on August 15, 2002.

•    Granting of the Decree of Nihil Obstat: Even after his retirement, Bishop Su continued to make multiple pilgrimages to Naju to offer his support and encouragement. Recognizing the deep theological and spiritual value of the messages of Naju, he granted the Nihil Obstat to the Book of "The Way of Love Toward the Lord" and "The Five Spiritualities", giving them his ecclesiastical approval.

■ Offering of Sacrificial Suffering and 8 months extension of life 

On September 10, 2025, word reached Naju that Bishop Su was in critical condition, doctors predicting he had less than 24 hours to live. Father Su immediately flew to Malaysia to be by his side, whispering into the failing ears of the Bishop that Mama Julia was offering intense prayers for him.

At that same time, Mama Julia was enduring intense physical sufferings, uniting them to Christ and offering them for Bishop Su’s healing. In the days that followed, Bishop Su experienced a remarkable recovery: he regained strength to speak, eat, and move with assistance, even expressing his heartfelt desire to celebrate Holy Mass.

Many within the Diocese of Sibu perceived this recovery as a special grace from God, received through the prayers and sacrifices offered for him. Graced with this extension of life, Bishop Su lived peacefully and without severe pain for another eight months with thanks to God.

■ Mama Julia's Offering of Suffering and Request for Prayers

On the night before the passing of Bishop Dominic Su, Mama Julia endured a profound and suffocating agony, uniting her sufferings to Christ in prayer for the Bishop. When news of his death reached Naju the following morning, this offering was understood by many as a spiritual act of intercession, entrusting his soul to the mercy of God with hope of eternal rest.

At present, Mama Julia continues to bear her physical sufferings in union with the Lord, praying that Bishop Su may be granted peace in Christ. We earnestly invite the faithful to join in prayer for Mama Julia’s health and spiritual strength, and to commend Bishop Su’s soul to the loving embrace of our Savior.

“O Bishop Dominic Su, most beloved son of the Blessed Mother and a humble shepherd of God’s people,

May you find eternal rest in the arms of the Merciful Jesus of Glory and Our Lady of Naju.”

We offer our deepest gratitude for the example of humility and faith you showed us in this world. We humbly pray that from your place in the Kingdom of Heaven, you may intercede for us, so that Our Lady of Naju may eventually be granted the official declaration of Nihil Obstat by the universal Church. Amen.

This evening at 8 PM, a Holy Mass will be offered at the Naju Shrine for the eternal repose of the soul of Bishop Dominic Su. Please join us in prayer for his soul, and may abundant graces be with you all. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

The Funeral Mass for Bishop Su will be broadcast live from the Naju Shrine at 6:30 AM on May 16, 2026 (Korean Standard Time).

We will share the livestream link shortly.