Church of St Joseph (1882)
Jalan Changkat, 31000 Batu Gajah, Perak
T: 05-3662727
Parish Priest : Rev. Robin Andrews
Sat. Sunset Mass: 6.00 pm
Sunday Mass : 8.30 am
Mass Centres:
St. Jude's Chapel, Gopeng : 4.30 pm (2nd & 4th Sunday)
Holy Family, Kinta Valley : 5.00 pm (3rd Sunday)
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Ensure communion in church, community |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 15 2010 |
GOPENG: The feast of Saints Simon and Jude was celebrated at the chapel of St Jude on Oct 31 by hundreds of people who came to thank God for prayers answered through the intercession of St Jude. Many others came to present their petitions to St Jude, known as a great intercessor for those who are in despair.
The feastday was preceded by three days of novena and Mass at the chapel every evening, after which there was fellowship. Fr Joseph Stephen CSsR, from Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Ipoh, celebrated the Mass. Concelebrating with him was Fr Robin Andrews, parish priest of St Joseph’s church in Batu Gajah. In his homily in English and Tamil, Fr Joseph spoke on the feastday theme, Communion and Mission. He said the special vocation of Christian families was to ensure communion in church as well as in our families and community.
This takes a lot of time, hard work and sacrifice from all. The challenges the church faces demand understanding and action from all sections of the community. And it is our responsibility as members of the Body of Christ, to carry out the mission of Jesus. “It doesn’t matter which parish we are from or what race we are. Do we feel a sense of belonging as Christians, and what is our mission?” As a minority group in the country, we must live the Gospel values of charity and love. No matter how small our community, we must ensure occasions for deeper and richer experiences of love and unity.
“Like Zaccheus we are vulnerable, recognizing our weakness and failures yet God has called us. “People become conscious of God’s goodness and see this communion in their families, between parents and children, brothers and sisters. “We work at it for this oneness in our family life. Likewise as a church, work at your church ministry, BECs and community. We have to communicate and learn to relate to one another. “We do this because of God and because we wish to establish a communion with others. In collaboration with God we can establish ‘kingdom values.’ “All of us want love, respect and fair treatment. This is our mission, to work in solidarity to achieve this.
That is why we come to worship God today. The Eucharist not only teaches the important principle of self-giving but it invites us to practise it and live it in our lives. God will change our mindset as we realize there are higher values to attain. “We build communion. The signs of this communion are support given to others in times of grief, or sickness or crises,” he added. “We don’t become indifferent or blind, and choose to respond. We do this for a mission.
“Today we pray that as Christians, we are conscious of God calling us and believe that Jesus is giving himself to all of us. We pray also for our church, that communion will continue to grow,” he said. After communion, the sick were prayed over and blessed with holy water. The procession around the chapel then began, with the statue of St Jude carried aloft by hospitality ministers.
Flower girls threw flower petals before the statue of St Jude and the crowd sang hymns to St Jude. After Mass, Fr Robin said he was thankful that God gave fine weather for the feastday. He thanked Fr Joseph for celebrating Mass, and all those who had helped in the preparations for the feastday. There was a wonderful lunch for all after that.
Last changed: Nov 15 2010 at 11:48 AM
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