Gereja Katolik Risen Christ (1968)
60A Jalan Air Itam
11500 Air Itam, Pulau Pinang
T/F: 04-8281025
Parish Priest : Rev. Maiccal Sinnappan
Daily Mass : 7.00 am
Sat. Novena & Benediction : 5.30 pm
Sat. Sunset Mass : 6.00 pm
Sunday Masses : 8.30 am; 10.30 am (Mandarin)
5.30 pm (2nd & 4th Sunday in Tamil)
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Fr Andrew Stephen ordained on Nov 3 |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 22 2010 |
21 November 2010
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PENANG: About 1,200 people thronged the newly renovated Risen Christ Church on Nov 3 to witness the ordination of a ‘Son of Risen Christ’, Fr Andrew Stephen. In attendance were 56 priests from all over the Diocese, including Sabah, Sarawak and also Brunei.
Two Anglican pastors from the Church next door were also invited to witness the rich ritual of a Catholic ordination ceremony. The ordination was presided by the Bishop of Penang, Rt Rev Antony Selvanayagam, and joining in was Emeritus Archbishop Soter Fernandez.
Fr Andrew Stephen chose 'Go… I will be with you till the end of time' (Mt 28:30) as his theme. On why he chose this theme, he said, “During my journey in life, especially in my formation years at the seminary, I have seen the hand of God in my life. In my struggles, he has been there for me and I truly believe he will always be there for me. In all my weaknesses and limitations, he has promised to be there and he always keeps his promise, I know he will continue to be with me as I step into my vocation as a priest.” (Extract from the souvenir book)
Fr Andrew Stephen, 40, entered the Seminary in 2000. After his seminary years, he served in St Louis Church, Taiping. He was ordained a deacon on Apr 24, 2010. He comes from a family of three boys, and he is the second son.
His father, Stephen Joseph, 70, is a staunch, dedicated Catholic, who had instilled in his three sons the importance of faith. He said that when the boys were young, he always insisted on gathering them together for family prayers everyday. He also taught the boys to read the Bible. He is very happy and proud that now one of his sons has dedicated his life to God.
Anthony Tan, the chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council shared that Fr Andrew Stephen was the second local boy to be ordained in Risen Christ Church. He thanked parish priest, Fr Augustine Wong, for guiding them. Joe Pragasam, the chairman of the Ordination Organising Team said it was an honour to hold the Ordination Mass as it had been 42 years since the last ordination took place in the church.
He specifically thanked Fr Andrew Stephen, for journeying with them and guiding them during the meetings to organize the ordination. Both of them thanked all those involved in the organization and also the priests and people who came for the ordination. Special thanks to donors and well-wishers.
Fr Andrew Stephen said it was a privilege for him to be called to the priesthood and he looked to it as a gift from God. He proceeded to thank a horde of people, beginning with his parents, whom he was very indebted to for nurturing in him a deep faith and love for prayers. To show his appreciation, he garlanded his parents. He thanked Bishop Selva for ordaining him a priest, Emeritus Archbishop Soter for his presence, all priests, seminarians, religious, his formators, the organizing committee. He pointed out to the congregation the presence of the Anglican pastors and thanked them for their presence.
Bishop Selva said that while listening to Fr Andrew’s speech, he realized he had listed out so many people to thank. This, Bishop said, showed that a priest went through many processes — the people around him, the institutions he been through — all these help to shape a priest. However, he said, there is also a divine presence all round that made things possible.
“Nowadays, we don’t see young boys joining the priesthood,” said Bishop Selva, “but we see more mature young men of say 35 years, joining instead. Young boys need to catch the divine presence of God in their journey of life. It is a challenge for us to impart this sense of ‘someone above me who is more important’ to young men.
Let this ordination carry a message for us — that we, as parents, teachers, friends, are important in shaping a person but there is someone above us, who is more important. We should be able to communicate this to young people to push for vocations.” After Mass, many could be seen queuing to congratulate the new priest and to ask for his blessing. — By Lucia Lai
The family of Fr. Andrew Stephen
Last changed: Nov 22 2010 at 10:41 AM
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