Interview with newly baptised Pauline Mah

A SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH PAULINE MAH PUAY LIM

A happy Auntie Pauline

RCIA Class 2011-2012

Auntie Pauline being interviewed by Joseph Wang

Madam Mah, who prefers to be called 'Auntie Puay Lim', was baptized on Christmas Eve, 2012 at the Christmas Vigil mass after having gone through more than a year of preparation in RCIA. Below is an account of her Journey of Faith.

When and How did you become interested in the Catholic Faith?

Since I was a small girl when I saw my mother praying. My younger sister had earlier became a Catholic in Singapore and Fr. Surmon used to come to my house to give my mother catechism lessons.  I have 3 brothers and 7 sisters, except for one brother, all of whom have become Christians .

Later in 1956 -59, when I was sent for teacher training in Kirkby College in England, I joined a group of catholic trainee teachers who were invited by Fr. Ramsbottom every Saturday evening for prayers and sharing/talks and supper. It was a happy time for me. Around 1957, I was fortunate to visit Lourdes in France and the experience remains with me to this day. I felt peace and joy and was filled with wonder at the many people who came with crutches and in wheelchairs, but left Lourdes without them.

Although I was not yet a Catholic,  the  faith that God had given me earlier helped me in my married life.  I used to pray and I believed God answered my prayers.

What brought you to ask for baptism ?

Three events which happened and  I believed God answered my prayers convinced me of my faith in God and that led me to ask for baptism:

1)    For 30 years, my husband has been troubled by heart palpitations which could not be explained even by specialists. Then, 14 year ago, we met Dr. Mahendran Raj, who was lecturing in USM and he was instrumental in sending my husband for a checkup at  IJM (Heart Institute of Malaysia). The specialists there found the cause of the palpitations – a extra vein in the heart. He had an operation to remove the vein and since then he is no longer troubled by palpitations.

2)    The second incident  in which I prayed very hard and I believed God answered my prayers happened 2 years later. After bath one day, my husband had breathing difficulties and I drove him to Hospital USM. Again, it was Dr. Mahendran who took the trouble to stop his work and ordered a stress test for him. Again, he was sent to IJM where they found 3 arteries were blocked. Immediately he underwent  a heart bypass operation and thank God, he is OK 12 years later now.

3)  For the last 14 years, I suffered from back pain and it became excruciatingly painful until I couldn’t walk. I was scared to have the operation done as I had heard of the high risks and  stories of other unfortunate cases.  In 2009, I was recommended to ProfessorDr. Kwan at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre who convinced me to have the operation done.  I put my life in God’s hands and He did not fail me.  My spine operation was successful, thanks to God and I have been free of pain since then, and able to walk and drive.
  
Throughout these years, I believe that God was with me, and He answered my prayers.

Can you share with us your Faith experience after you decided to enroll in RCIA Class?

I am very happy to attend all the RCIA classes,  to listen and to share with the other students and to learn so many new thngs about God and the Catholic church. In fact, after every RCIA session, I call my daughter who is living in US to share what I have learnt.

How do you feel after being baptized?

Happy, that I am finally God’s child. 

We praised and thank God for Auntie Pauline who has gone through her Journey of Faith, and may God continue to bless her and her family as she begins her 'new life of faith' and continue to grow in her spiritual life.
Thanks to Sr. Regina and all the students of RCIA 2011-2012 without whom this continuing Journey in Faith would not have begun.
And thanks to Fr. Robert for his tremendous encouragement throughout this journey.

Joseph Wang.