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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Praying for peace during Feast of St Michael |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 15 2006 |
Taken from The Herald of 15 Oct. 2006 issue."
"We hope to start praying the chaplet of St Michael, as it is a powerful tool to campaign for peace in the world," said parish priest of St Michael, Fr Michael Cheah, in his homily.
Fr Cheah said the celebration of the feastday of the three Archangels, shows us how to live a God-fearing way of life.
St Michael was the protector of the church, Gabriel the bearer of good news and Raphael, a healer. St Michael defeated Satan who was also once an archangel known as Lucifer, the bearer of light. Wickedness, conceitedness and violence overcame Lucifer and he began to oppose God.
It was the Archangel St Michael who fought and defeated Lucifer and sent him and other fallen angels, who opposed God, to earth.
"As St Paul in Eph 6:12, we are fighting against the powers of darkness and the forces of the world. If we do not honour God with our lives, then, that's where sin begins. Jesus always tried to do His Father's will. We are placed here to make a choice for or not for God.
"The devil made a contradicting choice against God, and he and his evil spirits have come on earth for the ruin of souls. Sin is a violation of God and violation of Love, which is part of the nature of God. If we do not turn towards God, we can never turn our lives to become more compassionate, and merciful. How are angels connected to us? They are messengers of God.
"To have the spirit of Nathaniel as in the gospel reading Jn 1:47-51 and to have an open heart to receive the messengers of God is one way to start. Even those in our family or around us can be these angels or messengers of God, as they teach us how to respond to God. We must learn to acknowledge them and that Jesus is Lord and King of the Angels.
"So let us open our hearts to messengers so we too can be obedient to God. When we do this, our relationship with God will be healed. We pray to God to give us this grace to follow Him, through His messengers."
After Mass, a procession carrying the statue of St Michael the Archangel weaved its way around the church grounds. The procession was led by altar servers bearing the thurifier, and cross, BEC leaders with their respective BEC banners, followed by hospitality ministers carrying the statue of St Michael, the congregation carrying lighted candles, flower-girls strewing flower petals, the Blessed Sacrament carried by Fr Cheah, followed by the Eucharistic Ministers. After the procession, the congregation worshipped the Blessed Sacrament in the church.
Earlier after Holy Communion, keychains bearing the image of St Michael were distributed to the congregation.
The congregation at SMC prayed for peace and protection during the feastday celebration of St Michael the Archangel at SMC Ipoh.
Last changed: May 14 2007 at 12:06 PM
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