Church of St Michael (1890)
24 Church Road, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
T: 05-2540176
F: 05-2415437
stmc@streamyx.com
Parish Priest : Rev. Michael Cheah
Sat. Sunset Mass : 7.00 pm (English)
Sunday Masses :
8.00 am English
10.00 am Mandarin
5.30 pm English
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Children prepare themselves to receive Christ |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 28 2007 |
18 November 2007
IPOH: Forty-one children received their first holy communion at St Michael’s church on Nov 4. The children comprising 15 from the English-speaking and 26 from the Chinese-speaking section received the Holy Eucharist from SMC parish priest Fr Michael Cheah at the 8.00am and 10.00am Masses respectively.
Dressed in white, the children were brimming with excitement as they prepared to receive the Lord into their hearts. Many had “prepared” themselves, like ten-year-old Timothy Martin, who practised putting out his tongue to receive Holy Communion and praying.
“My mother tells me that Jesus takes care of us and we only need to pray to Him for our needs and our problems. He will surely answer us,” he said.
Susanna Phong, 12, was one the older children who received her first Holy Communion.
Although she knew that first Holy communion was usually received when a child turned ten, she asked to be allowed to receive when she was older.
“I wanted to learn more about God, about Jesus, and only receive Him when I was truly ready. I feel very joyful,” she said. Her parents helped her prepare for the event, which she said, now was more meaningful because she was able to fully understand its significance.
Anardshia Susanthana, 10, was happy that she was finally receiving her first Holy Communion. “I have waited for this day and I prayed hard,” she said. She also attends BEC gatherings and the rosary devotion at her area with her mother, and was happy that her sisters Elena, 13, and Tabitha, 7, were there with her to share her joy.
Her friend, Rachel Valerie Anthony, 10, however, admitted she was nervous, as she was there alone. Her father had to work that Sunday and her mother was a non-Catholic and did not come to church. Still, she said she found comfort in the “family” spirit she shared with the other children there.
Fr Michael Cheah, touched on Zacchaeus the Tax Collector in the Gospel reading of Luke 19:1-10. Explaining how listening to Scripture helps us to hear God, Fr Cheah said: “We must be humble like Zacchaeus when receiving Jesus into our hearts. We must be willing to be reconciled with others and God. Jesus acknowledged Zacchaeus because he saw his desire to be with God. It shows God is with us all the way, only we have to open our hearts to Him. Be humble especially among people we don’t like, like Jesus’ acceptance of Zacchaeus, a tax collector, who was hated by others.
Last changed: Nov 28 2007 at 11:16 AM
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