Ignatian Online, Website of St Ignatius Church, Petaling Jaya

The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) of St Ignatius Church (SIC) has produced the Parish Planner/Calendar for 2014. It lays out the Pastoral Plan for SIC guided by the theme: Caring & Sharing, United In Christ. Apart from the five main levels of pastoral care and goals, the document also lists in detail the main church-level, ministry and BEC activities for the year.

Click here to view or download the Planner/Calendar onto your PC/tablet/phone for reference.

by Stefenie Choo

Sometime in 2013, numerous painful challenges were inflicted upon me over a short period of time. One day, alone, grieved and feeling extremely down and miserable, I found myself lost in direction in life... Just then, my eyes inadvertently cast upon the Bible on a nearby table in the house. Picking it up, not knowing which part of the Scripture to read on, the Bible opened itself up before me. The Word (Psalm 27) in the Bible came alive and enfolded before me. Its beauty and wisdom permeated into my whole being. Almost instantly, before finishing the third verse, an immense peace overwhelmed me. My spirit was lifted up and revived! The Word of the Lord heals and revitalises, as the Word is Power and Love!

Catholics are privileged to receive both His Word and Holy Communion in each Eucharistic Celebration. In order that our communion with God becomes more complete as we try to live out the Scriptures on a daily basis, we need to know the Lord better through the learning and understanding of His Word. Such soul-searching calls could be accomplished by engaging oneself in a variety of Scripture enrichment sessions. One such Spirit-inspiring scripture study programme is offered by the SIC Scripture Study (SSS) Ministry. 

I embarked on the 24-week The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation in June 2013, after journeying with SSS in their A Quick Journey Through the Bible and Revelation: The Kingdom Yet to Come modules in 2012 and first half of 2013. My first course with SSS – A Quick Journey Through the Bible – was both the Call and my earnest search for knowing the Lord better. Subsequent enrolment in other modules offered by SSS was the outcome of (i) the tremendous spiritual enrichment gained from earlier modules, (ii) inspiration and enjoyment experienced throughout the learning journey brought forth by the grace of God, the inspiring presenter Jeff Cavins, and the selfless, devoted and caring SSS core-team and facilitators!

The Bible Timeline (BT) comprised a series of 24 weekly sessions of video presentations by Jeff Cavins, an internationally-renowned Bible teacher cum public speaker from USA. This module is a Journey through the Bible that helps participants to learn the “big picture” of God’s plan in Sacred Scripture through 12 biblical periods of salvation history and to understand its meaning for our lives. Each session begins with the Bible Enthronement, followed by Praise & Worship and Gospel reading for the day. The session continues with a one-hour video presentation by Jeff Cavins, followed by another hour of group discussion in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere led by facilitators based on information acquired from the video presentation of the day.

To aid learning, transcribed notes prepared by facilitators and discussion questions are pre-distributed to participants weeks earlier for reading and as reference, and for the preparation of the discussion questions. Discussion questions are designed to take participants into the text, to make the participants think how various parts of the Scriptures are inter-related and are connected to the current world, and how the Word is applicable to their daily lives. Other learning materials carefully sourced and provided in aid of learning include biblical maps, pictures and diagrams, which help to illustrate the study and make it more comprehensible.      

I find the BT a fascinating study, taking the participants on a journey through the entire Bible, going deep into each period of salvation history and discovering the amazing story woven throughout all of Sacred Scripture. The module imparts the participants with knowledge of the major people, places and events of the Bible and shows how these come together to reveal the remarkable story of Catholic faith! I have recently signed up for another module entitled Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom which will commence in March 2014. I would strongly encourage all to partake in Scripture modules offered by SSS: 

·     Modules offered are interesting, well-structured, enriching, enlightening and Spirit-inspiring,

·     Presented by an excellent speaker, who communicates the Catholic faith at a level that everyone can understand, taking theological truths and expressing them in a practical way,

·     Under the guidance of a team of lively, caring, friendly and devoted SSS facilitators who often-times go beyond the course requirements to, (a) source for additional Scripture-related materials, (b) research information tirelessly in answering class queries, (c) constantly encourage and remind participants to live out the Scripture by sharing information on community/world concerns and various charity/community activities, (d) sustain and instil spiritual zeal and enhance knowledge by organising Scripture-related activities in-between modules such as video screenings, Seder Meal, graduation ceremony,

·     Meeting and making many new friends as brothers- & sisters-in-Christ from other parishes, and 

·     Joy and fulfilment experienced throughout the Journey into God's Word.

Photography: Matthew Soo & John Ragai 

Click here for more information about SSS.

More than 600 parishioners attended the SIC Family Fiesta held on 10 November 2013 to help bring the curtain down on St Ignatius Church's (SIC) 25th anniversary celebrations. A year-long series of events – Feast Day Triduum, Anniversary Dinner, Anniversary Book, Anniversary Logo, souvenir items, formation programmes and other activities – were organised to mark this milestone for the church. A bilingual Mass beginning at 8.30 am helped usher in the Family Fiesta which kicked off with a procession into church by BEC leaders.

After releasing balloons and two pigeons to declare the start of festivities, SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng acknowledged the tireless contributions of parishioners in making SIC's Silver Jubilee celebration a success. Moreover, activities organised over the past 12 months have reinforced the importance of Faith: Know, Live, Share amongst parishioners. Apart from food/craft & games stalls, other Fiesta attractions include a Family Talent Contest, Nativity Dress Up Contest, mini-health checks, artists corner, sand art, face painting, horse rides and BECs & Ministries Banner Contest. SIC Assistant Parish Priest Fr Andrew Wong and Fr Philip Tan (Provincial, CDD Malaysia) also officiated at the event. Several Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) sisters presented an acting/song skit.

In between were song and dance items performed by the young & not-so-young alike. Many parishoners stayed back till about 3 pm hoping to snag the Raffle Draw grand prize – a laptop computer valued at RM2,500. Kudos to the 25th Anniversary Organising Committee and other volunteers for helping to bring not only the Fiesta but all Anniversary events to fruition. SIC looks forward to its next quarter century with much hope and optimism. 

Click here and here to view more photos of the event.

Photography: John Ari Ragai & Matthew Soo

Sixteen boys and girls were baptised into the Catholic Church and received their First Holy Communion on Sunday 29 September 2013 under a special programme conducted by the St Ignatius Church (SIC) Sunday School. This year’s event was extra special as the children were joined by 14 infants for baptism by SIC Assistant Parish Priest Fr Andrew Wong. Together with their parents, godparents and friends, they waited with excited anticipation at the main church entrance for the ceremony to begin at 4.45 pm. 

 

by Shelagh Nunis

It was a privilege to be one of 28 pilgrims who visited Italy as part of St Ignatius Church’s 25th Anniversary celebrations. The 10-day pilgrimage from 6-15 May 2013 was led by SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng and organised by SIC’s Family Life Ministry (FLM). We began our pilgrimage in Milan, north-eastern Italy, and visited Verona, Castions, Concordia, Padua, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Chianti, Pisa, Siena, and Assisi, before ending our trip in Rome and Vatican City. An Anniversary highlight of the trip was to visit the birthplace of Cardinal Celso Costantini who founded the Congregatio Discipulorum Domini (CDD) Order which is the religious order SIC priests belong to. His birthplace, Castions, and the nearby town of Concordia, revealed the Cardinal Costantini that we did not know about. Not only was the Cardinal an eminent prelate who led the inculturation process of the Church in China, but Cardinal Costantini was also a talented artist and sculptor. His one-time family residence in Castions is now a museum where his life’s work is well documented.

The pilgrimage satisfied on many levels. We took in the beauty of ancient cities, art and architecture; the charming vistas of countryside. It was a feast for the mind, the heart and the soul to walk the streets that Saints Anthony of Padua, Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena walked and to learn more about the lives of these towering figures in Catholic Church history. The peak experience for many was to soak in the treasures of the heartland of our Catholic Church – St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.  We also attended our Holy Father’s General Audience on 15 May when the Vicar of Christ was present in St Peter’s Square for 45 minutes – moving around in the Popemobile, giving a homily, then blessing the pilgrims who had gathered from many parts of the world and their families. He also blessed religious articles pilgrims had purchased to take home. Indeed our hearts were full to be in our Holy Father’s presence that morning.

During the course of our journey, the pilgrimage was a testament to our living faith. This was felt in so many ways – attending Mass and receiving the Eucharist; praying together and sharing our faith experiences; the care and concern shown one for another (e.g. giving each other a hand with the luggage or up the bus; sharing plasters and zambuk for sore feet). An invaluable outcome is that we got to know each other better as parishioners of SIC. Kudos to Michael Lip, Antonio Lee and Helen Foo of FLM who planned the trip and who assisted the travellers every step of the way. Antonio and his wife, Bing, who had lived in Rome for several years, were fantastic guides. They provided an additional insight into life in Italy and even taught us basic Italian terms to use. All in all, it was a trip we will remember for the rest of our lives.