Ignatian Online, Website of St Ignatius Church, Petaling Jaya

By Sulochini Nair

Called & Chosen – but how are we responding? But what kind of response are we giving? Why are you a Catholic? This was the question thrown at the 26 participants at the outset of the SIC annual Catechists outstation retreat in Malacca from 6-8 June. Our facilitator, Fr Eddie Rayappan, a Montfort director for 25 years before joining the priesthood and with a solid teaching background as a Brother, did not mince words when he threw that challenging question at us on Friday night (6 June). "God chose you and all catechists responded and accepted the call. Now because you have answered the call, you have a chance to be holy. God will hold you responsible so don’t take your role lightly," he warned.

Fr Eddie reminded us that we are not volunteers but commissioned with a mission (by virtue of our baptism) by God to help our students in their faith knowledge. What catechists should teach is not the catechist’s individual faith but the faith of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the subject of our faith together with the church and the truths it teaches. He said, "You have to stand for Christ’s idealogy, justice, peace, compassion and forgiveness." Fr Eddie’s talks during the weekend were on the theme Called, Chosen & Sent: As Catechists & Evangelisers. Led by SIC Sunday School coordinator May Mathew, the participants included a strong team from Sunday School administration who helped ensure all logistics were taken care of including food and drinks for our tea breaks. Our youth catechists organised and led in the Vespers and Divine Office as well as praise & worship. 

On the second day, Fr Eddie’s challenging question to us was: We all want to do God’s work but do we really understand or know our God? In the session on My Beloved Invites Me To Know Him, he shared that we are called to be Christ’s brothers & sisters, temples of the Holy Spirit, part of God’s family the Church and set apart to be Jesus’s ministers, bearers of His love for others; consecrated to be configured in His image. He also spoke extensively on sin to help us understand and teach it correctly to our students. He reminded primary school catechists that they are the most important people in faith building in the Church. If the faith is not correctly imparted at primary school level, it will be hard to do it later at the secondary level – which is why it’s called secondary.

Fr Eddie also cautioned on the excessive parental role at the confirmation class level when it is all about the students. "It is not the parents who are going to be confirmed but the children who must be allowed to actively and seriously be involved in truly becoming ready to receive this sacrament." He encouraged assessment of the children’s faith knowledge and their personal commitment to attendance to prove they are really worthy of the sacrament. He reminded us that more than prayers and worship, the Catholic faith is about mission and living in harmony with one another. The participants attended Mass on all three days, including Sunday Eucharistic celebration at the Church of St Theresa where Fr Eddie serves as assistant parish priest.

Parishioner Joseph Yong was worried that there would be an afternoon downpour that could affect this year's Rosary at the Grotto in St Ignatius Church (SIC). So the best thing that he could do was to pray to Our Lord Jesus and Mother Mary for good weather. And lo and behold, his prayer was answered as the rain clouds stayed away for some 300 parishioners to take part in the event on 31 May 2014. Starting at 4.45 pm, a statue of Our Lady decorated with flowers was carried starting from within the church to five locations around the church compound.   

Stopping at each location, all present recited a decade of the Glorious Mystery and sang hymns in English, Mandarin and Tamil in honour of our Blessed Mother. The procession ended when Our Lady was carried back into church. Parishioners stayed back for Mass which started at 6 pm and fellowship after Mass. SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng and Fr Philip Tan (Provincial, CDD priests in Malaysia) also joined in the procession in celebration of the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This year's event was organised by the Sunday School, BEC SS7 and BEC Kelana Puteri.

More photos are available here and here. 

Photography: John Ari Ragai, Peter Law & Matthew Soo

"Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit." With these words and anointing with chrism, His Grace Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam and St Ignatius Church (SIC) Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 86 Catholic youths. The Rite of Confirmation took place during the 6 pm sunset Mass at SIC on 24 May 2014 witnessed by sponsors, family, friends and fellow Catholics.

Sixty-five students from the English Sunday school, 20 students from the Mandarin Sunday school and an adult were anointed with the Oil of Chrism to signify the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. Confirmation brings an increase and deepening of baptismal grace, unites us more firmly to Christ, increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us, and renders our bond with the Church more perfect. In addition to bread and wine, confirmands offered up their talents and gifts for which they have been blessed with, and faith experiences encountered through Sunday School lessons, Renewal in the Spirit Seminar, service projects, Confirmation Camp and other activities. Towards the end of Mass, SIC parishioners celebrated the 50th anniversary of Archbishop Emeritus Murphy's ordination to the priesthood with a cake and best wishes.

More photos are available here. 

Photography: Daniel Khong, Peter Law, Charmaine Chong & Aaron Thomas

Thousands of St Ignatius Church (SIC) parishioners ushered in the start of Holy Week during the Palm Sunday weekend of 12-13 April. The feast of Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem – as the Prince of Peace instead of a political messiah. SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng and SIC Assistant Parish Priest Fr Andrew Wong blessed the palms at the church entrance before the start of Masses which they celebrate. The 6 pm Mass on 13 April was preceded by the blessing of palms at the Grotto followed by a procession around the church compound with palms held up high. Selfless parishioners had gathered early the day before to help clean and cut the palms down to size for the benefit of all parishioners. 

The bilingual Mass on Holy Thursday which began at 8 pm was filled to overflowing around the church building. This Mass of the Lord's Supper inaugurates the Easter Triduum and commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his Apostles. Twelve Communion Ministers – eight from the English-speaking community and four from the Mandarin-speaking – had their feet washed by Frs Lucas and Andrew to illustrate the service & love of Christ who came not to be served but to serve. Fr Philip Tan (Provincial, CDD priests in Malaysia) was the concelebrant. Shortly after the end of communion, Frs Lucas, Andrew and Philip led the procession to transfer the Most Blessed Sacrament from the tabernacle to the Altar of Repose on the first floor of Costantini Community Centre. Open for adoration till midnight, the Altar of Repose was set up by members of the Liturgy Ministry together with other volunteers.

A Way of the Cross around the church compound was held on Good Friday on 18 April. Cross bearers for the Stations of the Cross included representatives from SIC Scripture Study (SSS), Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), Sunday School, Parents Group, Senior Citizens, Communion Ministers (2 teams), Parish Integral Human Development (PIHD), Parish Communication Team (PCT), Formation Team, Charismatic Prayer Group, Youths, and Mandarin PCCC (2 teams). Bearers carried a bigger and heavier cross this year compared to the last occasion from one station to another. Fr Lucas carried a smaller cross from the altar to the First Station whilst 2 representatives from PCT carried it to the altar after the final 14th Station. 

Participants and onlookers alike were able to experience and retrace through the Way of the Cross the last stage of the journey that Our Lord walked in his earthly life. Fr Andrew was the celebrant for the Mass that followed. Apart from the Liturgy of the Word, the Good Friday celebration of the Lord’s Passion also include the Veneration of the Cross. His Holiness Pope Francis has also given us a timely reminder on our living out the life of Christ when he tweeted (on 18 Apr 2014): 'It is not easy to follow Jesus, because the path he chooses is the way of the Cross.' 

'I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.' Eighteen words which 36 elects of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) class of 2013/14 heard as they were baptised at the Easter Vigil Mass on 19 April. Simple yet profound, these words open for them the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other sacraments of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Accompanied by their godparents and witnessed by family members and friends seated amongst a fully-packed congregation, they were baptised by SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng and Assistant Parish Priest Fr Andrew Wong. 

The newly-baptised (joined by another five candidates for confirmation) also received the Sacrament of Confirmation from Fr Lucas and Fr Andrew who anointed them with the Oil of Chrism to seal them with the gift of the Holy Spirit. With joy in their hearts, the new members of Christ and his Church then received their first Holy Communion – the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. Newly-baptised Christina Foo and confirmand David Lim found the baptism, confirmation and RCIA journey (which began on 11 June 2013) meaningful. They realised that they have taken only the first steps of a lifetime journey of faith which they will soon take further together in holy matrimony. Kim Ang and Khor Chai Huat shared that they are 'so blessed to be the godparents of Christina and David. Once we were strangers but because of Christ, we are now family.'

We hope our new Catholics will continue to be nourished by the Word of God and the sacraments instituted by Christ out of love for the new chosen people in his Church. To deepen the roots of their faith, they will have to take up Bible & catechism studies and participate in formation programmes. It is also important that they integrate into the life of the parish through serving in ministries and BECs. Thence, all Catholics are to go forth to make disciples of all nations and bring hope to the last, least and lost. At the Easter Vigil Mass in Mandarin which started at 6.45 pm, 17 elects were baptised and three candidates were confirmed together with the elects. SIC wish all Catholics a Blessed Easter!

Photography by: John Ragai & Daniel Khong

by Tropicana John Paul II BEC

A plea for assistance for a decent place of worship in 2013 led BEC Tropicana John Paul II from St Ignatius Church (SIC) to heed that call. That call came from the Catholic community of the Semai orang asli group near Temor, Perak. The BEC proceeded to raise funds and used it to renovate and refurbish the orang asli’s chapel. Thanks to the generosity of various people including members of the BEC and parishioners of SIC, the renovation of the chapel could take place. This community now has a permanent and comfortable prayer centre to carry out their daily worship. Bishop Sebastian Francis (Bishop of Penang) was at hand in November 2013 to bless the chapel. The balance of the funds were also used to build bathrooms for several orang asli families.

The BEC came together once again on 23 March 2014 as part of their Lenten Campaign to provide further assistance to this orang asli community. Food, provisions and financial assistance were provided during the visit. Together with their families, the BEC joined hands in praise and worship with the orang asli community. The Word of God was read and shared by Johanis, the lay leader of the orang asli community. Thereafter the BEC were provided with updates on the achievements of the orang asli community and heard their plight. Amongst others, their grievances include the lack of basic amenities and job opportunities. For instance, one orang asli girl who had just graduated as a nurse found it difficult to gain employment.

Johanis explained that the men folks hardly support or participate in religious activities. Hence, the orang asli women were left to raise their children in the Christian faith alone. Moved by their plight, BEC Coordinator Jennifer Heng explained that education is essential for the children especially in the development of their Christian faith. She said the BEC will assist the orang asli community by providing reading materials for these children. The BEC then spend time interacting with the orang asli community before returning to Petaling Jaya. Let us work together so that everyone will have bread are the words of Blessed John Paul II that has inspired the BEC to continue with its corporal works of mercy.

by Shelagh Nunis

Smiling faces were seen around St Ignatius Church as married couples renewed their marriage vows at the 8.45 am Mass on World Marriage Day, Sunday 9 February 2014. The purpose of World Marriage Day is to honour husband and wife as the foundation of the family, the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness, sacrifice and joy in daily married life. The celebration echoes to married couples the commandment given to us by Jesus: Love one another, as I have loved you (John 15:12). World Marriage Day was given the Apostolic Blessing of the late Pope John Paul II in 1993.

Photography: Daniel Khong