Parish Feast Day 2013

Friday, 4th October 2013,

The Parish of Our Lady of Fatima celebrated its 63rd Anniversary and Parish Feast Day in the Year of Faith 2013 with thanksgiving to God and our Patroness, our Lady of Fatima of the Holy Rosary.
This year, we had a  3 days- celebration ( Triduum ) with mass and adoration of the Blessed sacrament on 2nd October, and a renewal of our Baptismal vows and the 2nd Day. This morning, the celebration began with a cultural Malaysian dance by the children from Kem Desa Pahlawan, one of the BEC's in the parish.
The Youth Choir made of students from 10 univerities/colleges in Kelantan beautifully led the congregation in the singing. The celebration was further enhanced by the Offertory Dance, a beautiful East Malaysian Dance  performed again by the older children. Gifts of medallions were distributed after communion. Fr. Robert thanked everyone for their participation and support throughout this year and invited all to share in the buffet 'brunch' after mass.

The Young children performing the Malaysian Cultural Dance to welcome the Entrance Procession

Fr. Robert Daniel, celebrating mass on our Parish Feast Day

The Offertory Dance by East Malaysian Children from Kem Desa

Offertory gifts being brought forward by the Chairman and his wife, Mr. & Mrs Alex Poh

The Choir led by their young;active Choirmaster beautifully singing out their hearts.

The Patroness, Our Lady of Fatima of the Holy Rosary, being beautifully decorated with flowers 

The Feast Day ladies committee waiting to serve 'Brunch' after mass.

Some of our youths sitting down for their feast in Fatima Hall.

Annual Parish Gotong Royong 2013

Friday 25th September

After mass on Friday 25th September, all able bodied members of the parish, and even children from KemDesa, the Telipot and Jalan Kuala Krai BEC's and the Youth from 10 universities/colleges partiicipated in  our annual Gotong Royong in preparation for the Parish Feat Day on next Friday, 4th October 2013.
This is an annual Parish Event/Activity, which gives opportunity for all to spruce clean the physical aspects of the church and its surroundings. The saying, 'More hands make light work' aptly applies to this activity which every pariticipant did their best to make the church truly 'shining' and 'sparkling' in a physical sense.
Even the young children under the guidance of the youth volunteered their young hands for toilet cleaning and other duties. It was wonderful to see all cheerfully scrubbing, washing, wiping, and even climbing to clean the roof of the church and Fatima Hall. At the end of a hard and tiring 2 and a half hours of the labour of love, all were treated to lunch of nasi bungkus and cold refreshing ice-creams from the newly donated ice-cream vending machine!  Thanks to all the BEC coordinators, Josephine Foong and all parishioners who came forward to serve the church!
May God continue to bless our parish!!

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations

Last night was the Fifteenth Day of the Eighth Lunar Month, which the Chinese and other Asian Communities celebrate as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Traditionally, it is a time of family reunions, and thanksgiving after the  harvest has been collected, the people gather on the night of the full moon to celebrate.

Beautiful Lantern splendidly lighted up! The line of children follow their self-appointed " Youth" Leader' Philip Tiau who explains that it is to let the children remember this Mid Autumn Festival and how this tradition is celebrated by the Chinese community with a reunion pot-luck and lots of mooncakes. The round mooncake is shared by all reminding us of our unity in mind and heart.

Sounds of laughter and shouts of "Lang, lang gia teng lang, Hueh-hueh gia teng hueh!" (in Hokkien) meaning, "People,people carrying lighted lanterns; Light-light, carrying lights" a double line repeated as the children carrying lanterns walk in procession.

The Mid-Autumn event was organized by the BEC's leaders for Telipot and Jalan Kuala Krai.

Mid-Autumn Feast with sumptious  Pot-luck dishes and mouth watering mooncakes  for all present.

The KCYS Youth also joined in the feast.

Yummy!! Let's tuck in the food!

The children of the parish light lanterns for the fun walk round the church compound led by 'Youth leader' Philip Tiau!

Beautiful paper lanterns light being lighted up for the lantern walk.

Bishop Sebatian Francis Pastoral Visit

His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Sebastian Francis, made a 4-day pastoral visit to Kelantan from  23rd May - 26th May 2013. On 23rd May, he visited parishioners of Kuala Krai at St. Joseph's Chapel. On Friday, 24th May, on the Feast of the Holy Trinity, the bishop administered the sacrament of confirmation on 4 young confirmants during mass. In his homily, the bishop reminded the congregation that the Holy Spirit is present in each one of us and we must allow him to work in us and through us. The Holy Spirit is represented by various symbols. Besides the dove, He is represented by the symbols of  fire, the wind and water. Each of this elements have different meanings. The first Tsunami at Pentecost Day which we celebrated last week was the Tsunami of Fire, which descended upon the Apostles and on more than 3,000 people who heard the  Good News and were baptised. That was the beginning of the Church.
The Bishop joined parishioners for a sumptious breakfast, enjoying his favourite 'nasi kerabu' while getting to know the parishioners.
On Saturday, 25th May, He made pastoral visits to the Sabahans and Sarawakians at Kem Desa Pahlawan in Kok Lanas, and Kem Batu Sebelas in Tanah Merah.
He will be leaving for Lojing Highlands to another confirmation of over a hundred migrant workers. on 27th May.
We are grateful to His Lordship for his pastoral visit and his concern and care for this outlying parish and small communities.

Stories and Memories of Fr. Chong

A Father To All

 “Fr. Chong loved Kota Bharu more than anywhere else in Malaysia. Many times, he had expressed his intention and hope to be able to retire in KB as he considered the congregation and nuns at Our Lady of Fatima church like his family. After serving the Catholic Church for so many years, one would have thought his wishes would have been granted but alas, that was not to be. Many a times, he did sneaked back to KB from Ipoh, even for a day or two, in between weekend masses to meet up with church members, and of course, do a bit of his favourite fishing or hunting. Many homes have received his generosity of fish, meat and pigeons. A simple man of God, humble parish priest, quiet yet strong and consoling. Here is a man of the people and ever ready to serve and much loved by all. Jesus must really be proud of Father Chong as he has served the Lord unconditionally and epitomises the role of a good father to all his congregation(children) and that's why he truly deserves to be called Father.    Thank you Father Chong. –Rachel Tan

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When you talk about Fr Chong, you know for sure that he has shared his life without making a big fuss about it. Each of us definitely has tons of stories to share. And I am definitely sure that we all would love to hear .... so share them, its uplifts the soul –Francis Lai

Many talk about "UBAH" nowadays, but do we think one can achieve it just by a tick, once in 5 years? Fr Anthony Chong is one person, i have witnessed, making people's life "UBAH" just by his love and kindness. He is no Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela, but I'm sure there are many, many and many who would agree with me, and who have, in one way or another, experienced that "UBAH" in his/her life. We too can do it, so silently, yet so effectively, just like him. Let's make a difference, for ourselves, for our future generation, and for God's glory, just like him. 
God bless Fr Chong  -Francis

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My Fishing Experience
I caught my first and biggest fish in life with Fr Chong. What an experience, going into the sea and staring into the water and sea, nowhere to run, no appointments to catch, no phone calls to answer, no teeth to remove!!
One should see his excitement when he helps you bait a fish, but he is also similarly excited when you go with his into the interiors to visit his "friends". There was this family, one day, he took Dr Foong and me to visit, whose child was not well. Later Foong arranged for the child to be seen at HUSM. There are many instances when he does these little, little things that makes a big difference in some insignificant people.  – Jacob

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New Life

Once after Friday mass, Fr Choong brought us to see a Siamese lady with huge uterine fibroid n prolapsed. I think her husband left her because of that. We referred the patient  to HUSM. Operation done funded by the PHDC.
After OP the lady was very happy and said 'Banyak Terima kasih, kamu semua bagi saya hidup baru'. 
So nice of Fr Chong identifying  with and caring for the needy. - Dr. Minsyeh

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I first met Fr. Chong when i was sent here as a pre- novice to learn how to sing the psalm for the office...i met him just coming back from fishing then the next thing i knew he was up at the altar....then only i realized that he was the parish priest...i will never forget him coming outside at my window and asking me to open the door coz he has some herbal soup....i told him everyone was asleep but he insisted and made me wake the sisters up to drink the soup...but i was reluctant to drink coz he would not tell me what was in it..I remember him as a kind and humble person...ever ready to stop and help people..he live a real simple life which i really admire..the teachers at the kindergarten will remember him all the time...they told me they use to see him cleaning the fish and just throwing all the scales and other stuff at the tree near the sink and also they remember seeing a snake skin hanging on the tree. They too said that he would be the only priest that will come and speak to them and before they can wish him,....he would wish them first..all of them are praying for him.   - Sr. Jackie Pan

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Cure for Asthma by Fr. Chong

I have so many stories to tell. I am sure all of us have so many stories to tell about Fr Chong. Back in Kelantan my son Isaac had hyperactive airway. Fr Chong believes the squirrel can cure asthma so he always give us squirrel. I never think the squirrel heals but for sure now Isaac is free of airway problem. 
I remember a few times Fr. Chong came to visit our rented house in Kelantan. he just came, knocked at our door and once the door was opened he would go straight to the fridge and put in all the fish, vegetables, oyster and fruits and left. He was like a father figure. 
We are so blessed to have Fr Chong in Ipoh. Often he called to take wild boar from  his fridge...fresh one. The other day during mass, all of us lining up to receive communion. Before he give the host, he said to Foong 'see me after church' and rezeki besar he gave us fresh wild boar again. 
He loves everyone. After mass he always stand at the exit/entrance and offer everyone a sweet. So sweet of him. 
He is very simple, when we call him to have an appointment to bless the new house immediately he said “ Come let's go now. When we told him the house is still in a mess, he said 'Who is complaining?' ..He was a great man.  –  Minsyeh

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We would be fishing at sea, in the dark , with just some lighting from the generator. It was about 3-4 am, and I look across the other side of the boat and  I see an old man without a shirt on, fishing and holding on to his hand-line. He seems half asleep and tired, or that's what I thought ........ a few minutes later...I  heard a big splash like something had fallen overboard from the boat... panic all over !!!! darkness and fear..... then I see a body - that of Fr Chong in the sea at 3-4 am and he said to me...” hot, need to cool down a bit. !!!! “  -Francis Lai

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The Power of Prayer

I  remember one day a patient named Jesus, a Filipino dying in HUSM due to bleed in the brain. Someone unknown Filipino called me if I knew any priest to anoint/bless this patient. So I called Fr Chong. His response was instant. He came within minutes. The patient was pronounced dead not long after the blessing. 
And yesterday we went to visit Fr Chong we met an elderly couple. They were telling story, that They are thankful for the blessings they have received thru Fr Chong. Apparently the old lady had a stroke with half of the brain affected last month and was in coma and intubated for 4 days. Doctors told the husband she might not make it. Even if she regained consciousness she might be vegetative. Fr Chong came to bless her in the Hospital. After 4 days she regain consciousness and now walking without limbs, slight weakness only and her vision a bit blur according to her. I was speechless.. Praise The Lord!  -  Minsyeh

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True Faith from Fr. Chong

I could still vividly remember one fishing I went with Fr. Chong... Kiong was still in Jakarta so he couldn't join us back then. We went with his good friend Pakcik Alias of Pantai Senok. After an hour or two we reached the famous sunken British ship near Suri. Stories came to my ears that that area was haunted. 
It was midnight and I was already down with seasickness vomiting all the goodies I ate along the way. Fr. Chong loved to bring along all sort of local delicacies. 
Suddenly, a cool wind started to blow and within minutes we were caught in the muddle of a storm. Sea water was smashing the windows and I thought I better make peace with God if we were not going to make it.
That day I learnt true faith from Fr. Chong!!! He was standing ar the bow of the boat shouting away "ya hoo...ya h...  Edmund Yeo

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A Shark for Dinner

Fr Chong has been like a family to all in Kota Bharu..one fine day he came back from his fishing trip n brought a huge shark at our convent porch and said share with the people I have to rush back to Ipoh...I said “Father how to cut this big fellow?”....and he said “ Figure it out”. Sr Lucia and myself stood in front of the shark and we used all kind of knives but it did not cut, in the end we used a saw.!!...  Sr. Jackie

Looks like we were luckier, there was this time Fr came home with his supply of fish. Our maid Su, had gone home for holiday, and we told him we don't know what to do with it. "No problem" he said. Fr told me to get the knife and come, and u all should know what would have happened next.... Jacob

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I just came back from Pok Teh's place and told him of Fr. Chong condition. He was sad to receive the news but he say to tell Fr that his family will doa for him. He says that though he is a Malay, he considers like his brother. He said Fr would come over and bring things to help him and also food- he mentioned that Fr ate budu too. So pls whisper to Fr Chong that the Ikan Bawal Merah and patin that are in the pond is about 10 kg heavy.. and that Pok Teh is waiting for Fr Chong to come help him fish them. - Francis

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Many times I tumpang Fr. CHONG balik Kuala Krai on Friday during my stay at the 'hostel'...once while on they back to my home town through Machang. We saw a big 'bewok' hit by a trailer...eerrr....u can imagine how his reaction  -Frederick

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Gone Fishing- Finally Fr Anthony can go fishing /hunting and do the things he likes without having to worry or rush back. TQ Lord for giving us the oppurtunity to have known a great simple man who has displayed your prescence in him. RIP  Francis

 Fr. Anthony Chong, who is so much loved by all who encounter him, for his simplicity, kindness and humility, is now at 'home' with our God and Creator.... May his soul rests in peace ....

Compiled from Facebook website: olfkb.com and Fr.Anthony Chong

Rev. Fr. Anthony Chong - Called To Eternal Rest

Rev. Fr. Anthony Chong was born on 21^st March 1940 in Taiping and was ordained a priest on 8^th December 1968, together with Fr. Marshall and Fr. Naden. He has served in the Penang Diocese for the last 44 years, as parish priest and assistant parish priest in various parishes in the diocese.

Fr. Chong took over the parish of Our Lady of Fatima from Jan 1990 – June 1999 and during his tenure here, the church was fully air-conditioned, donated by several parishioners. The side extension of the Church was enlarged and improved for holding various functions and activities.

The RCIA first took off in 1993 with Sr. Caroline Gan organising the sessions and we had 5 graduates in the first class, among them Matthew Teoh and Adeline Tan (Anne Mary's sister). During this period, the RPP (Renewed Parish Project) which was at that time, the Diocesan Option, was launched to reostructure our BEC's and every year we had to organize a few Parish Events. One of the annual events of the parish from 1970's -1990's was the Annual Parish Outing - we used to hold picnics at different venues - Semerak beach, Bukit Keluang, Jeram Pasu, Jeram Linang, Bukit Bakar etc. 

        Fr. Anthony Chong served a second term from 2005-2008. In April 2008, he went on sabbaticcal leave. In his farewell speech, he ended with these 3 words: “I Love YOU”

We bid farewell to a beloved priest and spiritual father to all who come into contact with him. Simple and humble in personality, at times serious and blunt, Fr. Chong lived life to the fullest. An avid outdoor hunter and fisherman when he is not celebrating mass, he loved to go out to sea with the local fishermen who regarded him as one of them. Bringing back his treasures from his fishing trips, he shared them generously with his parishioners. His homilies were simple, yet practical, filled with down-to-earth everyday examples drawn from his own experiences.

        We are grateful to God for sending Fr. Chong to be with us all these years. He was with us for a total of 12 years 7 months – 9 years 5 months during his first term as parish priest, from 1991 - 1999 and again for another 3 years  2 months from 2005 – 2008. 

A Father To All

 “Fr. Chong loved Kota Bharu more than anywhere else in Malaysia. Many times, he had expressed his intention and hope to be able to retire in KB as he considered the congregation and nuns at Our Lady of Fatima church like his family. After serving the Catholic Church for so many years, one would have thought his wishes would have been granted but alas, that was not to be. Many a times, he did sneaked back to KB from Ipoh, even for a day or two, in between weekend masses to meet up with church members, and of course, do a bit of his favourite fishing or hunting. Many homes have received his generosity of fish, meat and pigeons. A simple man of God, humble parish priest, quiet yet strong and consoling. Here is a man of the people and ever ready to serve and much loved by all. Jesus must really be proud of Father Chong as he has served the Lord unconditionally and epitomises the role of a good father to all his congregation(children) and that's why he truly deserves to be called Father.    Thank you Father Chong.
 – Rachel Tan

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Remembering His Generosity
I remember a few times Fr. Chong came to visit our rented house in Kelantan. he just came, knocked at our door and once the door was opened he would go straight to the fridge and put in all the fish, vegetables, oyster and fruits and left. He was like a father figure. 
We are so blessed to have Fr Chong in Ipoh. Often he called to take wild boar from  his fridge...fresh one. The other day during mass, all of us lining up to receive communion. Before he give the host, he said to Foong 'see me after church' and rezeki besar he gave us fresh wild boar again. 
He loves everyone. After mass he always stand at the exit/entrance and offer everyone a sweet. So sweet of him. 
He is very simple, when we call him to have an appointment to bless the new house immediately he said “ Come let's go now. When we told him the house is still in a mess, he said 'Who is complaining?' ..He was a great man.  –  Minsyeh

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He has always been there for me. At times when i was so down when my husband was ill, he would somehow appear at my side. Always a source of strength and encouragement.

Fr Chong has been like a family to all in Kota Bharu. One fine day he came back from his fishing trip and brought a huge shark at our convent porch and said “Share with the people I have to rush back to Ipoh”...I said “Father how to cut this big fellow?”....and he said “ Figure it out”. Sr Lucia and myself stood in front of the shark and we used all kind of knives but it did not cut, in the end we used a saw.!!...  Sr. Jackie

One night  we were out fishing at sea. Suddenly, a cool wind started to blow and within minutes we were caught in the muddle of a storm. Sea water was smashing the windows and I thought I better make peace with God if we were not going to make it. That day I learnt true faith from Fr. Chong!!! He was standing at the bow of the boat shouting away "ya hoo...ya h...  - Edmund Yeo

In Fr. Chong’s own Words

In his homily at a Mass celebrating the 43rd sacerdotal anniversary of his priestly ordination at St Michael’s Church here on Dec 8, 2011 at the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Praise God for His love to you, and ask yourself how closely you are following Jesus. Salvation history shows the merciful love of God who made man so special with intelligence and willpower. “It is this power given to us, which killed Jesus. But God gave us a second chance, so that maybe mankind will appreciate creation. “Man failed the first time, but God’s mercy in giving us a second chance always is a reminder of his love.
         “Christmas is a special grace, and a reminder to us. Do we follow Jesus, and do we welcome Jesus? “God says the son of God is coming. Mary was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, who is fully man and fully God. That is why we have the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. “It is a special privilege for us to prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and we should be thankful.
         “For these 43 years, God called me to proclaim, like Mary, the goodness of the Lord. So we must continue to thank God for his plan for us and continue to praise Him,” he said.

We shall miss Fr. Chong as he goes to meet His Master who I can hear saying to him, “Well done, Good and Faithful servant. Welcome into your heavenly inheritance”  To Fr. Chong, there will always be a place in Kota Bharu for you, And your memory and example will always remain in our hearts. 

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Fr. Anthony Chjong with the FMM Sisters

Accompanying the Sisters in their Christmas Presentation in 2006

With the Parish Pastoral Council  2006-2008

Blessing all mothers on Mothers' Day 2005

Distributing Communion to the East Timurese Migrant Workers in Aring 5, Gua Musang

Celebrating the Bishop's Birthday in 2005

Conclebrating Parish FeastDay Mass with Fr, Marshall in 2007