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
Parish bulletin:
Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4
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St Michael’s Church PHDC visits Lighthouse |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Jan 19 2009 |
November 02, 2008
IPOH: Exactly two years to the day of our first visit, the Parish Human Development Committee (PHDC) of St Michael’s Church (SMC) paid a return visit to the Lighthouse Drop-in Centre in Penang. The Oct 16 trip was organised as part of the PHDC’s outreach efforts as well as to expose new members to the reality of the urban poor under the umbrella of a Diocesan ministry run by the Penang Office for Human Development (POHD).
The group’s first stopover was at St Peter’s Home, located on the grounds of the Church of the Assumption. Vincent Lim, Welfare Officer for Lightworks and John, the housemaster of St Peter’s Home took the group on a tour of the Home’s facilities.
PHDC members listened attentively as Vincent explained, at some length, about Lightworks, the grave maintenance programme, which complements the work of the Lighthouse by providing grave maintenance work and daily odd jobs to the unemployed urban poor, rehabilitated street people and former drug addicts who were ready to get off the streets and resume regular lives.
At the moment, the Lightworks team which consists of five men, are maintaining several hundred graves at the Western Road and Kelawei Road Christian cemeteries. St Peter's Home was opened in April this year to house the Lightworks workers and others who are looking to make a positive change in their lives.
The group then proceeded to the Lighthouse Drop-in Centre where they were met and given a briefing by Lighthouse manager, Belevendiran Joseph (Bele). The Lighthouse, which was established in 2003, ministers to the homeless and hungry (“clients”). In order to make the outreach more meaningful, PHDC members had offered to sponsor and serve tea and dinner to the Lighthouse's clients. A few PHDC members took the opportunity to engage in conversation with some of the clients who come from all walks of life and age.
Since our visit two years previously, there have been significant improvements in the facilities and services provided by the Lighthouse. Thanks to the generosity of a well-known IT company, the cooking and food preparation areas had been expanded and covered. The Centre feeds approximately 100 clients daily and continues to attract food and cooking sponsorships from Christians and people of other faiths. The Lighthouse clients also receive medical attention and assistance from two local doctors who visit the Centre twice monthly. Besides medication, referrals are made to government hospitals when necessary. An on-going counselling service is also provided.
Asked on his aspirations for the Centre, Bele expressed the hope that more PHDCs from the Penang Diocese will come and visit and support the Lighthouse. He explained that there is a special peace, which comes from knowing that the needs of the Lighthouse clients are being taken care of. It is particularly satisfying when some clients are able to get back on their feet and lead purposeful lives, such as one former client who had successfully completed his drug rehabilitation programme and is now working in a restaurant in Langkawi.
During the course of our visit, we were honoured by the presence of Eustace Nonis, Chairman of the POHD. Also on hand were 14 other volunteers who regularly help out at the Lighthouse. Special mention must be made of the husband and wife team of Ambrose and Dorothy who have been faithfully volunteering at the Lighthouse since its establishment several years ago.
— By Stephanie Yeap
Last changed: Jan 19 2009 at 4:01 PM
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