Sabahans pack oldest Catholic churches in Penang with even Mass celebrated in Kadazan

Daily Express

2 days ago

Published on: Sunday, August 03, 2025
Published on: Sun, Aug 03, 2025
By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: The pilgrims from Penampang and Keningau at the footsteps of St Anne's Shrine of Harmony. IT was the sound of Kadazan hymns that mainly filled the Minor Basilica of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, on July 25, as pilgrims from Sabah gathered for a special Mass in their native tongue. The mass was held to celebrate the Feast of Saint James, Apostle ahead of the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the maternal grandparents of Jesus. This marked the fourth consecutive year the Kadazan mass was celebrated at the basilica, reflecting the church's embrace of indigenous culture and language. 'Actually, it started with a call from the then Bishop, now Cardinal Sebastian Francis,' said Funholiday's Director, Philomina Tamin, who led an entourage of 80 from Penampang and Keningau on a journey of faith in conjunction with the Catholic Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. 'He called me because he's a dear friend of Brother Francis Xavier Gasper of the Montfort Youth Training Centre in Kinarut, whom I've known for many years. 'I had casually shared with Brother Gasper our intention to hold a Kadazan Mass. Without hesitation, he contacted the Bishop and to my surprise, the Bishop personally reached out to me to give his blessing,' said Philomina. Since then, every December, Deacon Lazarus Anthony Jonathan would ring Philomina to confirm the group's attendance for the following year's mass. This year's mass was celebrated by Friar Crispus Mosinoh, a Franciscan from Sandakan who has been serving at the Church of the Risen Christ in Penang since 2022. It was his first time presiding over a Kadazan mass. 'My first thought was 'Alamak!' I had never celebrated a Kadazan mass before, it was quite nerve-racking,' said Friar Crispus. The solemnity of the celebration didn't go unnoticed. 'Some parishioners said, 'Eh, so serious!' But actually, I wasn't being serious, I was just nervous,' he added. 'My eyes were glued to the ritual file. I had to read line by line, especially the Kadazan vocabulary, some words have double A or double O, which made it a challenge. 'Before the mass, I asked my father in Sandakan to help translate some of the difficult words for me because I struggled with Kadazan language.' Despite the doubts, Friar Crispus delivered: 'It was tough… I kept asking myself, can I do this? But I went through with it. This was my first time, and I hope there will be more chances in future. 'I'm very happy I got this opportunity. I believe God works in mysterious ways, He brought Philomina to approach me.' News of the Kadazan mass spread fast. Some pilgrimage groups even adjusted their itineraries to attend. Three pilgrim groups from Sabah, dressed in black T-shirts with traditional Kadazan motifs, came together for the occasion. Several pilgrims were selected to perform the Sumazau dance, leading the celebrants to the sanctuary, accompanied by the choir singing Kadazan hymns. When Cardinal Sebastian heard about the celebration, he declared, 'I'm going,' according to Friar Crispus. Sabah holds a special place in the Cardinal's heart. At the conclusion of the mass, he offered blessings for the pilgrims and their homeland. 'You are descendants of Saint Anne. You are all descendants of Mother Mary,' he proclaimed. 'As her children, and as God's people from Sabah and elsewhere, along with all pilgrims gathered here, we are blessed by the Mother and her Child. 'May you return from this holy land with renewed hope in each of your hearts. 'I also ask Saint Anne to bless our homeland, Sabah, that the upcoming election this year will be fair, clean, and honest, for the progress of the people of Sabah.' The Cardinal also expressed gratitude to the Sabah Church for hosting this year's Malaysian Catholic Gathering for the first time. St Anne's Church, built in 1888 atop a hill is surrounded by stories of faith, particularly among childless couples from all walks of life, including those from other religions, who believe their prayers have been answered. Many devotees also come here to pray for healing at the St Anne Shrine of Harmony. One of them, Suminah Lintung, Chairperson of the Church Community Committee of St Gabriel, Keningau, made the pilgrimage to pay homage. 'This is my fourth visit. I'm truly grateful. I really wanted to come here to give thanks because I've been blessed with healing. 'After my Covid-19 vaccination, my condition worsened. I had undergone an angiogram before, and suffered from gut pain that turned into ulcers,' she said. During her first visit, she was barely able to climb the steps to the shrine, requiring assistance before washing herself from the St Anne water. On her second visit, she could walk unaided. 'Even though I was still sick, I believed God was responding. I prayed to live on to see my children marry.' 'By the third year, I saw major changes, my blood pressure stabilised, and my heart blockage seemed to have dissolved. 'So this fourth year, I hope I am fully healed, as I have been praying devotedly for God's mercy and grace,' she said. The pilgrims also attended a mass service at the Church of the Assumption, located off Jalan Gereja. Established in 1786 following the arrival of Captain Francis Light, it is the third oldest Catholic Church in Malaysia. The Assumption Church holds significant heritage value. It houses the second oldest playable pipe organ in Malaysia, built by Morton and Moody of England in 1914. 'This pipe organ only plays during Sunday morning mass and feast days, because very few people know how to play it nowadays,' said church volunteer Mark Stephen, who briefed the pilgrims. The pilgrims were also seated on a 125-year-old pew in the front row, unaware of its historical value until Mark revealed it to them. 'Even the bells have names,' he added. 'Mary, Anna, Joseph and Joachim, the four bells were cast in France in 1906.' A memorial outside the church garden honours 43 French navy personnel killed during the First World War in 1914. 'Many think Asia wasn't affected by the war, but it was. A French and a Russian naval ship were torpedoed by German submarines. 'Forty-three French crewmen were killed and buried here. Most were teenagers including the youngest aged 15. We have no records of the Russian casualties,' said Mark. The pilgrimage concluded with the opening of the Door of Divine Mercy at the Church of Divine Mercy, Sungai Ara. A special feature of this church is the many relics it has received from holy saints. 'We are truly blessed to receive many holy objects. Their significance is described in the Bible,' said Daina Sulimin, a church volunteer from Tambunan. 'The relics we have here, when we pray through their intercession and with God's will…what we ask for can be fulfilled,' said Daina, who also shared her own personal testimony. The relics include those of Blessed Michael Sopocko, Saint Maria Faustina, Saint Maximilian Kolbe, and Saint John Paul II, all from Poland. These were donated by the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Kraków. Other relics include Saint Teresa of Calcutta, donated by the Missionaries of Charity, and the latest addition, Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. In silence, the pilgrims contemplated before the relics, marking the end of their journey.