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Herald Malaysia
04-07-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
A feast of prayer, reflection and hope
The Church of St Anthony came alive from June 6 to 15, as more than a thousand faithful gathered to commemorate its 131st parish feast with the theme Pilgrims of Hope as a Community. Jul 04, 2025 Fr Victor Louis incensing the statue of St Anthony. Bernard Anthony The Church of St Anthony came alive from June 6 to 15, as more than a thousand faithful gathered to commemorate its 131st parish feast with the theme Pilgrims of Hope as a 10-day celebration was marked by novenas, Masses, preaching, a candlelight procession, and fellowship drawing parishioners and pilgrims from across the country to honour one of Malaysia's most beloved first six days of the novena were held at the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) level, fostering prayer and reflection within the neighbourhoods. On Day 7, parish priest Fr David Lourdes presided over the Mass, reflecting on the theme Caring for God's Gift of the June 13 to 15, guest preacher Fr Victor Louis, from the Church of Christ the King, Sungai Petani, delivered a series of stirring homilies. His Day 8 message, With St Anthony: Listening Deeply, Walking Boldly, Living the Gospel, urged the faithful to align their lives with the teachings of Christ and the example of St Day 10, Fr Victor reflected on the feast's anchor theme, calling on all present to be 'pilgrims of hope in God, as a community for others.'The feast reached its pinnacle on Day 9, where an estimated 1,400 devotees took part in the evening celebration that included the novena, feast Mass, candlelight procession and Victor, who was the main celebrant, was joined by Fr David Lourdes as concelebrant and Deacon Richard Wilson assisting. Preaching on the theme 'Becoming the Light of Christ,' Fr Victor drew inspiration from Scripture, highlighting that 'light' is mentioned over 250 times in the Bible — from God's first command in Genesis to the final vision in Revelation.'Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.' Today, He calls us to be the light and salt of the earth,' he said, referencing Matthew 5:13– Victor also tied in the celebration of Father's Day, praying that all fathers may be a guiding light to their traditional candlelight procession featured the statue of St Anthony placed on a decorated hand-pulled carriage, accompanied by Rosary recitations in various vernacular languages. The 45-minute procession moved smoothly through the surrounding streets before returning to the church for Victor invited those carrying candles to proclaim, 'Christ, the Light,' and to commit to being a light to celebration concluded with a sumptuous dinner at 9.00pm, attended by parishioners and guests in a festive atmosphere marked by decorations, music and fellowship. The faithful gave thanks to God for the fine weather and the opportunity to celebrate together. 'This feast has strengthened our bonds as a community of faith,' said one parishioner. 'It reminded us to live as pilgrims of hope — not just during the feast, but in our daily lives.
Herald Malaysia
16-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Chinese Catholics celebrate the opening of two new churches
Chinese Catholics see the inauguration of new churches in the nation's Hubei Province and Shanxi Province as concrete signs of perseverance on the path of faith. May 16, 2025 File photo of Chinese Catholics celebrating their faith (AFP or licensors) BEIJING: The growth and perseverance of Catholic communities in the People's Republic of China have been marked by the recent opening of two new churches, tangible expressions of enduring faith amidst changing historical contexts. Church of Christ the King According to Fides News Agency , on May 10, Bishop Francis Cui Qingqi, OFM, of Hankou/Wuhan presided over the solemn inauguration of the new Church of Christ the King in Xiaogan, Hubei Province. During his homily, Bishop Cui described the 33-meter-high bell tower as a symbol directing the faithful's gaze toward the Kingdom of Heaven, while also serving as a call to ground Christian life in the richness of Chinese tradition. The inauguration ceremony drew a large gathering, including 32 concelebrating priests and about 1,000 local Catholics. Civic officials also attended the liturgy. The new church, encompassing 525 square meters, includes a rectory and a parish centre, and has a capacity for over 500 worshippers. Bishop Cui called the church 'a place of prayer and a source of grace,' anticipating that it would become a spiritual and architectural landmark in the region. Our Lady of China On the same day, the parish of Guzhai in the Archdiocese of Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, also consecrated a new church, dedicated to Our Lady of China, just ahead of her feast day on May 13. The celebration followed the parish's observance of the recent election of Pope Leo XIV. Bishop Paul Meng Ningyou, who led the ceremony, reflected on the history of the small rural parish, noting the resilience and missionary dedication of its members. Despite facing challenges such as an ageing population, Bishop Meng praised the vitality of the community, enriched by the presence of migrant workers, and highlighted the parish's spirit of communion and synodality. He commended the laity as the 'driving force' of the parish and encouraged their active role in prayer leadership and parish management. Both celebrations concluded with prayers for the guidance of Christ and the intercession of the Virgin Mary as these communities continue to grow in faith and witness.--Vatican News
