Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1935)
3972 Jalan New Ferry, 12100 Butterworth, Penang
T: 012-5227233, 04-3249635
F: 04-3243067
Email: nbvmpg@yahoo.com
Parish Priest: Fr. Victor Louis
Sunday Masses :
8.30 am (English)
7.00am (Tamil)
5.00 pm (2nd, 3rd & 4th Sundays in Mandarin)
(Cp) Chapel of Sts Jacques Chastan & Laurent Imbert (1995)
106A Jalan Kurau, Taman Chai Leng,
13700 Perai
T: 04-3249635
Sat. Sunset Mass : 6.30 pm
Wednesdays :6.30 pm
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Nativity parish celebrates 75 years |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 10 2010 |
5 Nov. 2010
NBVM, BUTTERWORTH: The parishioners of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (NBVM) came together to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee with a Triduum Mass, a variety concert and fellowship. The theme was May We All Be One with Mary. Bishop Antony Selvanayagam was the main celebrant with Archbishop Murphy Pakiam and Archbishop Emeritus Soter Fernandez concelebrating with 16 priests.
Bishop Selva called on the faithful to recall the favours the Lord has done for them all these 75 years. He reminded everyone present to be grateful and loyal, adding that God has a purpose for the parish of NBVM. He echoed St Paul’s call to the Colossians to continue to live a virtuous life which is evident when one is grateful for the favours God has showered on them. He urged all to put on the garments of love wherever their vocation leads them. He summed up his homily by saying that one way of singing the Magnificat — Mary’s song of praise and thanksgiving — is by encouraging their children to join the priesthood or the religious life.
After the speeches, the three bishops and parish priest Fr Victor Louis cut the Jubilee Cake. The ‘Sons of the Parish’ who became priests and religious, Frs Maiccal Sinnapan, Andrew Manickam OFM Cap, Arulnathan Joseph, Nelson Joseph, (Mark Michael and Gregory Hwatt were both absent) and Brother Gasper (Order Of St Gabriel) were garlanded amidst loud rounds of applause.
Earlier, the parishioners had come in full force in the other three days. Fr Mark Michael in his homily on the first day, spoke passionately of God’s love for each one of us. He compared God becoming ‘crazy’ when we are ‘lost in sin and pride’ to the same situation as when his 10-yearold sister was lost in a crowd at St Anne’s.
His parents went mad with anxiety until she was found. He reiterated that if we behave so when we lose something or somebody precious, what more with God who regards us as his precious children, redeemed by the blood of his Son, Jesus. He asked, “Having been loved so much by God, do we then reflect God’s love for us?” On the second day, Fr Jude Miranda shared on Experiencing the Presence of God with Mary. This day was dedicated to all the priests, catechists, church workers and parishioners who have died. Fr Jude shared that to be sure of a place in heaven is to have experienced Jesus and to be faithful in making His kingdom present in the here and now.
He summed up his homily with 5 Cs: Communication — to allow ourselves as an offering to God in prayer; “Care-frontation” — to care and share God’s love that we have experienced with others; Compassion — for the less fortunate and marginalized around us; Creativity — to be creative in exploring, seeking and experiencing God’s love in Christ; — to have Christ’s mind in us so that we can build the kingdom of God. After the Mass, the congregation gathered again for the fellowship dinner and variety concert presented by the different BECs and zones. On Sept 26, Archbishop Pakiam related how the rich man in the parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus, was condemned to hell because he gave in to conventionalism. Mary, on the contrary, broke all conventions as she travelled across the country to reach out to be with Elizabeth.
She requested Jesus to perform the first miracle at Cana and watched helplessly at the prolonged suffering of her son, Jesus, at Calvary. Mary was always daring enough to reach out and act in compassion, even at times against the norms of society, because of her total sensitivity and dedication to God’s Will. He urged all parishioners too, to be like Mary, to dare to reach out in love and compassion to those in need, and to be active both in the parish ministry as well as in the BECs. — By Santhana D. and Annemarie
Last changed: Nov 10 2010 at 9:17 AM
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