Friday 29 November 2013

FATIMA PARISH PLANNING FOR 2014



CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA OF THE HOLY ROSARY, KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN
THEME: CALLED, CHOSEN AND SENT
FOCUS: SPIRITUAL RENEWAL

SETUP OF THE PARISH COMMUNITIES

There are basically 4 COMMUNITIES namely:
a.Kota Bahru Catholic Communities comprising  parishioners living in two main BEC’s, namely Jalan Kuala Krai BEC and Jalan Telipot BEC.
b. East Malaysian Communities comprising Kem Desa Pahlawan Communities (3 communities: Rangers, Engineering and Artillery), Kem Tanah Merah, TUDM Gong Keda.
c.  St Joseph Chapel of Kuala Krai Community and
d.  KCYS,  Kelantan Catholic Youth Society,  mainly from the Campus-Institute-University students.
     Masses are celebrated once a Month in East Malaysian Communities & St Joseph Chapel. Sr. Carol Gan has been given the task to see to the welfare of the East Malaysian Communities especially in the area of Faith Development Programme and Women Affairs. Sr. Jackie will see to the needs of the KCYS and their faith development.
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) [consultative role] will assist the Parish Priest to see to the overall parish development ranging from parish maintenance to community development and faith.
For some immediate or urgent matters, Parish Priest will consult the Parish Advisory Team (PAT), made of the Office Bearers of Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Committee (PFC) on matters pertaining to the parish.
This is norm of the parish administrative guide line from the Diocese.

BASIC RELEVANT REPORTS/COMMENTS FROM PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
 The Parish seems to be an ‘inward looking parish’. Most of the activities organized in the parish in the recent years are meant for the needs of the parish communities only. There is a need to ‘open’ the doors of the parish to a wider circle of society. There seems to be a lack of integration among the 4 communities mentioned above. There is a need to develop more concrete actions/plans/strategies for further integration.

ANNUAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES 2014
Fatima Feast Day Celebration (October)
Fatima Community Sports (October)
Fatima Community Outing (During the Fasting Ramadan month)
Fatima Christmas Celebration (December)
Parish Easter Celebration (March-April)
Chap Goh Meh Celebration & Moon Cake Celebration (February and September)
Fatima BEC Gatherings [a minimum of 6 meetings a year]
Fatima Gotong Royong (before Parish Feast Day)

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR 2014
  • Indian Harvest Festival -Ponggal (January)
  • East Malaysian Harvest Festivals - Gawai / Keamatan

FORMATION/TALKS/COURSES/PRAYER SESSIONS FOR 2014
1. FORMATION: For the Year 2014, there will be two focused session. Both sessions will be conducted by Martin Jalleh in the parish.
a) On the role of the lay-people in the world based on the document “The faithful of Christ” - Cristofidelis Laici  - by Pope John Paul II 
b)The importance of family - Familiaris Consortio - is also based on the document on “Family” by the same pope. 

2. ADORATION ON THE EVERY FIRST WEEK OF THE MONTH (Thursday):
 Adoration will be accompanied with certain focus/reflection for the month. Duration of the adoration & reflection is about 90min. 

3. PARISH PRAYER DAY: One day in the month will be designated as “Parish Prayer Day” [1 hour] where everyone will pray at home or wherever they are. Focus for the prayer day will be given. 

4. BUILD UP FAMILY PRAYER & INDIVIDUAL PRAYER. 

5. FOCUS ON THE SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH (7 Sacraments) 

6. PRAYER INTENTION BOX: For those wish to make pleas for prayer/intention.

7. MAJOR OR IMPORTANT FEASTDAY MASSES/SAINTS TO BE CELEBRATED:
 Masses in honour of some great Saints such as St. Anthony, St Jude, St Anne and etc to be celebrated in the church. Masses during these feasts days/in honour of the saints will be in the evening at 8.00pm.

8. IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY: Month of May & October as month of Rosary. 

9. SPIRITUAL DIRECTION – HEALING - RETREAT: For those who are interested. 

10. THE EAST MALAYSIAN ACTIVITIES: Sr. Carol will conduct some talks/awareness program at the Kem Desa Pahlawan

11. YOUTH ACTIVITIES [KCYS]: Sr. Jackie has arranged some reflection 

CHURCH FACILITIES

1. Repair & Maintenance ( facelift) work on  church public toilets

2. Fatima Columbarium

Please send your comments and suggestions through your respective area leaders or directly to the parish priest via email. Only concrete suggestions or recommendation are given much consideration.

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Fatima Parish Retreat in August

Monday 26 - Thursday 28 August 2013

About 20 parishioners attended the  retreat conducted by Fr. Robert Daniel and Fr. Nelson Chitty. Participants attended the nightly sessions from 8.00 - 9.30 pm, allowing time for quiet meditation after a short talk each night on a specific word. On the first night, it was on 'Abundance'.
Meditating in silence on the word before going to bed, without communicating with others...This was repeated throughout the retreat. For many, it was a first time we were experiencing such a retreat, and for me, it was a refreshing change to the hectic lifestyle we are living. The retreat was a relaxing time, taking time to experience God in His Abundance.  Thank you Fr. Robert and Fr. Nelson for sharing your experience with us.

Fr. Robert Daniel
Fr. Nelson Chitty


The participants of the Retreat on the First nIght

Fr. Nelson giving the introductory talk

The lighted candle and the video display to help participants meditate.