Church of the Immaculate Conception (1819)
1 Lorong Maktab, Pulau Tikus,
10250 Pulau Pinang
T: 04-2278297
F: 04-2277032
Email: iccpenang@gmail.com
Parish Priest : Rev. Marshall Fernandez
Assistant Parish Priest: Rev. Mark Michael
Parish Secretariat :
Sat. Rosary, Novena, Prayer & Benediction: 5.30 pm
Sat. Sunset Mass: 6.30 pm
Sunday Masses :
8.30 am and 6.00 pm
11.15 am (2nd & 4th Sunday in Mandarin)
11.15 am (1st & 3rd Sunday in Tamil)
Weekday Mass :
Mon, Tue, Wed & Sat. at 7.00 am followed by Lauds
Thu & Fri - 6.00 pm followed by Vespers
Every 13th of the month Rosary & Mass at 7.00 pm
1st Thurs. of the month: Charismatic Healing Service at 8.00 pm
Chapel - St. Joseph's Chapel, Hong Seng Estate: Mass at 8.00 pm (2nd Friday)
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Fr Mark Michael bids farewell to his mum |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Jan 19 2009 |
November 30, 2008
PENANG: A grieving but Spirit-filled son gave his beloved mum a farewell celebration that will be long remembered. Fr Mark Michael, assistant parish priest of IC Church, celebrated the funeral Mass for his sixty-one year-old mum, Antoniette Thiruchelvam, who passed away on Nov 10.
Archbishop Emeritus Soter Fernandez, Bishop Antony Selvanayagam, about thirty priests, seminarians, family and parishioners totalling about a thousand people, thronged the Church of the Immaculate Conception to bid her farewell recently.
Fr Mark spoke about his mother’s prayerful nature and how she regularly prayed for all priests and enquired after them. His reference to her steadfast kindness and faithfulness to God rang true in the words of Psalm 23:6 — that she had indeed made her home in the house of the Lord for all time to come. This highlighted the gospel message (Jn15:1-5) being celebrated “…. Make your home in me, as I make mine in you,” which in fact, reiterated the catechetical theme for the year.
Fr Mark, as son and celebrant, and a director of catechetics, was exemplary in all three roles. The funeral Mass was a catechetical experience on Christian Funerals, particularly on ‘What is the relationship between the sacraments and the death of a Christian (#354, 355 — Compendium, CCC)’. Given his blood-bond relationship with the departed, some people had expected him to break down at some point during the Mass, but his priestly faith shone through and with triumphant courage he stared death in the face, as if to echo 1 Cor 15:54-55, “When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?”
In response to the general sentiment that it must have been a painful experience to celebrate the funeral Mass, Fr Mark remarked, “It is my privilege and honour. When I came into the world she welcomed me. It is now my turn to send her. It is a moment I will cherish in my lifetime.”
— By Lucille Dass
Last changed: Jan 19 2009 at 4:38 PM
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