KOTA BHARU, FRIDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2012
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| Bishop greeting parishioners |
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| Bishop receiving the Scroll (creed) from Gerard Yeo |
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| Bishop Sebastian Francis striking the Gong to launch Year of Faith |
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| East Malaysian Children presenting a cultural dance |
The Parish of Our
Lady of Fatima of the Holy Rosary Kota Bharu celebrated its 62nd Anniversary on Friday, 5th October
with the launching of the Year of Faith at parish level by His Lordship, Rt.
Rev. Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang. (Officially the Year of Faith will be
launched by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on October 10 when all Catholics
will be invited to open the ‘Door of
Faith’)
The Bishop, on his
first Episcopal visit to the parish, concelebrated the Parish Feast Day Mass
together with the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Robert Daniel. In his homily, His
Lordship invited everyone to open the ‘Door of Faith’ with the help of the Holy
Spirit and to ‘Enter’ and to ‘see what happens’ when we ‘surrender’ to Jesus. During the Year of Faith, we are encouraged
to celebrate, deepen and share our faith. Even though we may be a small parish,
the Bishop reminded the congregation
that ‘small is beautiful’ as in the ‘mustard’ seed which grows into a big tree.
After Thanksgiving,
His Lordship launched the Year of Faith by striking a gong followed by a one
and a half-minute video presentation and a lively dance by 10 East Malaysian
children combining the unique cultures of Sarawak and Sabah. As a pledge of
faith, Mr. Gerard Yeo, the chairman of the Feast Day Organizing committee
presented a scroll containing the Creed to the Bishop.
In his speech on
behalf of the Kelantan Catholic community, Parish Pastoral Council Chairman,
Mr. Alex Poh extended his congratulations to the Bishop on his recent Episcopal
ordination. He noted that this was the first parish to be honoured by a
pastoral visit from His Lordship. In the last two years, the Fatima Church had
undergone a ‘massive’ transformation with renovations and building of the
Fatima Hall thanks to our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Robert and hoped that he will be allowed to continue his pastoral
mission here.
After mass, the
celebrations continued with the cutting of the anniversary cake and a sumptuous
buffet lunch for all present in the Fatima Hall.
Report by Joseph Wang
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| Cutting of Anniversary Cake by Bishop and Alex Poh |
