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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Communicants urged to help others in need |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 15 2006 |
12 Nov. 2006 issue of The Herald
IPOH: Many of the 53 young children who received their first Holy Communion at St Michael's Church, cited a great love for Mother Mary and Jesus. They described Mother Mary as a person who always leads people to God through the Church.
They also saw Jesus as someone Holy and Good, who always had a heart for the poor and who was able to lift them out of their difficult situations in life. Jesus inspired them to do better in their lives.
In his homily, parish priest Fr Michael Cheah, told the children if they really believed Jesus is present in the Eucharist, they should move out to others in need as well as to spread Christ's love to them .
"The church can only be alive if we are alive. Ask what can I do to respond in love and follow the message and actions of Jesus. Ask for the spiritual sight, to be Jesus to others, pray to the Holy Spirit to continue building God’s kingdom and loving each other," he said.
Earlier, Fr Cheah said it was important for all Catholics to continue the practice of going to confession, and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The compassionate mercy of God abounds from the Old Testament till today, yet how many of us see this and appreciate this?
Jesus offered himself as the sacrifice for our sins, and this makes the sacrament of Reconciliation even more beautiful. If we do not go, we are not able to see the offering made by Christ.
He said many people now are "blinded" as in the gospel reading Mk 10:46-52 which speaks of Bartimeaus the blind beggar who was healed both physically and spiritually by Jesus because of his deep faith.
"Have we the spiritual sight to realise the importance of what Christ tells us, the meaning of conversion? Those who are blinded by pain - the old, infirm and sick - are the people special to Jesus. We must be open to their need, and go one step further to extend our vision in our daily life," he said.
What the children say...
Joseph Fong, 10, said he was led by Mother Mary to the church, as he spoke very little English. He felt drawn to Mother Mary when he was brought by his mother, Rose Fong, to Mass on Sundays. Admitting that he felt lazy to pray sometimes, he now hopes to join his friends, Benjamin Lee, 10 and Darren Ho, 10, as an altar server.
Rachael Lee Bavin, 10, said Jesus was someone who helped her to be wise, not to be "poor" in her life, and his death on the cross for man showed he was holy and good.
Theresa Rani Amulraj, 10, said she was excited to offer herself to God, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and love. "I like to help the poor, and I hope I won’t sin again," she said. Theresa is already active in the BEC her family is in, reading the scripture during the gatherings. Her mother, Fatima Sinnappan, said her youngest daughter is not at all afraid to read the Scriptures aloud in front of the BEC members.
V. Kristie Anne Mary, said she loved Mother Mary very much, and Holy Communion was special because she was receiving Jesus.
Edwin Lim Jack Fee and Stephen Mah Chee Meng, both 11, delayed their first Holy Communion by a year because they would be converted to the Catholic faith then.
Last changed: May 14 2007 at 11:59 AM
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