Parents' Day Celebration 2016

This morning, at the weekend mass, the parish celebrated Parents' Day ( a combined Mothers and Fathers' Day)  Special Parents' Day cards created by the children of the parish were presented at the offertory by Anne Yeo. A Thanksgiving song in honour of Fathers and Mothers - "All Because of You" by Jimmy Scott  was played and following that 2 videos on the love of a father and mother was presented. All parents present were called to the Sanctuary and a special prayer for parents was prayed by all present. Fr. Francis Andrew then blessed the parents. Happy Father and Mother's Day to all!

(Photo credit: Joseph Wang)

Parents called up to the Sanctuary

Children and congregtion pray for the parents.

Blessing by Fr. Francis for the Parents

Happy Wedding Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Francis Lai!

Thanksgiving Song "All Because of You" by Jimmy Scott

Video showing the love of a mother narrated by her son.

Rebecca Yeo, presenting the hosts

Gerard Yeo presenting the wine

Anne Yeo  presenting the children's cards at the Offertory

The Cards being lifted high for all to see

Penang Diocesan Synod 1st - 3rd May

Five delegates from Kota Bharu attended the 2 and half-days' Penang Diocesan Synod held at St. Anne's Church Bukit Mertajam. They were Fr. Francis Andrew, Gerard Yeo, Joseph Wang, Sr. Carol and Nicholas Martin. It was a good experience of living and participation in sessions and discussions. All delegates were given a book on the History of the Diocese of Penang written by Sr. Maureen Chew, IJ, The purpose of the Synod is to set the direction for the next 10 years by the process of the Three R's - Recalling, Review and Renew. The history of the last 40 years since 1976 -when the Arggionomento (Renewal)  was held in College General in Penang for the whole month of August, where all the priests from Peninsular Malaysia congregated and deliberated on how to make the church relevant to the modern times. 10 years later in 1986, PMPC I was held in Port Dickson to review and renew. PMPC II was held in Plentong and PMPC III in Kuala Lumpur. All the conventions came up with 4 basic core needs, Ongoing Formation, Unity within the church, Dialogue with other religions, Social concern for the poor and Ministry for the youth (added in 1996). The final vision is a Church which is the Communion of Communities (BEC's) centered on Christ, the Word of God and the Eucharist.

 (Photo credits: Jospeh Wang, Victor Joseph, Nicholas Martin)

The Synod Booklet

View inside St. Anne's Church Bukit Mertajam, venue of the Penang Diocesan Synod

Organising Chairman, Fr. Jude Miranda with Fr. Henry Rajoo 

Fr. Fabian Dicom

The Bishop also participated in the proceedings

The 390 delegates from all the parishes in the Diocese of Penang

Dr. Steven Selvaraju, Director of PDPI

All the priests were also present for the Synod

Professor Terence Gomez, giving the Keynote address on Global trends and Malaysian Realities

Question and Answer time

Bishop Sebastian Francis thanking the Professor.

The Bishop introducing one of the Fathers of Mercy sent by Rome

Groups within the cluster, engaged in  discussing the priorities

The Unity group attended by Gerard Yeo and his cousin, Edmund Yeo (Tanjung Malim)

Sr. Maureen Chew, author of  The History of the Diocese of Penang

Bishop Sebastian serving wine to Fr. Marshall Fernandez

Nickolas Martin and his friends

Having breakfast with two seminarians

Dinner and Fellowship time with some old firends

Sr. Carol and Gerard doing the Pongoh-Pongoh

Live entertainment by some parish groups

Fr. Francis Leading the Morning prayers

Bishop Sebastian Francis, giving his homily during the Final Eucharist

Welcoming Tan Sri Mohan, from the Hindu Sangam

The invited VIP guests 

Anglican  Bishop Charles and Tan Sri Mohan 

Catholic and Anglican Bishop side by side

Delegates pose for a foto with the Bishop during the dinner

Making time to enter through the Door of Mercy

Entertainment time

Dramatization of the Matyrs of  College General by the seminarians

Penang Diocesan Synod 2016 Report

PENANG DIOCESAN SYNOD 2016  REPORT

Theme: “Walking together”

Participants from Kota Bharu:

Fr. Francis Andrew, Gerard Yeo, Joseph Wang, Sr. Carol, Nicholas Martin

Date of:  Sunday, May 1 – Tuesday May 3 2016

Venue: St. Anne’s Church, Bukit Mertajam

Welcome  and Exhortation

Welcoming speech by Fr. Jude Miranda, Chairman of the organising committee who gave us the introduction, orientation, direction and process for the synod.

Instead of the Keynote address, Bishop Sebastian  made an Exhortation- summarising the main points in his keynote address:

·         The purpose of the synod is to set the direction for the next 10 years, by the process of3 R’s – Recalling, Review and Renew

·         Recalling the last time the Diocese met and assembled in 2010 (Diocesan Pastoral Assembly -mid-term review)

·         Dr. Terence Gomez will be touching on Global trends and Malaysian realities

·         PMPT questionnaire-the survey findings on various aspects, ministries and life in the church to be presented by Dr. Steven Selvaraju.

·         Pope John Paul introduced the term, that is very dear to us: “The Spirituality of Communion.”

·         Under Pope Francis – ‘The joy of the gospel’ and ‘ The Mercy of God the Father’ permeated our lives.

·         Recalling the joy that in this diocese, we were sent out as missionary disciples in Oct 2014.

·         Our youth today are in need of direction and purpose. We need to witness the resurrected Christ to them

·         Almost every group has been invited (Ministries, Apostolates, ecclesial groups including meditation groups, Covenant communities, Charismatic renewal etc.)

·         We are here as a family, as one church, one body, celebrating our rich and complex diversity as one.

Programme and Sessions attended.

Day 1

·         After the Bishop’s Exhortation, the first evening program continued with a short history of the Peninsular Church 1976 – 2016 followed by a Video presentation of this journey. 1976 – Arggionomento, 1986- PMPC I held in Port Dickson, 1996 – PMPC II in Plentong, Johor and PMPC III – Kuala Lumpur.

Report on the Penang Diocesan Pastoral Assembly (PDPA) 2010.

·         A summary report of the PMPC survey findings based on the responses from Clergy, Youth and parishes was well presented by Dr. Steven Selvaraju, director of PDPI (Penang Diocesan Pastoral Institute)* (detailed findings can be found in the Penang Diocesan Synod Booklet.)

·         The last session for the night was a very positive presentation of our Strengths, Opportunities and Aspirations (what we want the Church in Penang Diocese to become in 10 years time) *( details in PDS booklet.)

Finished at 10.30 pm.

Day 2

·         The keynote address on Global Trends and Malaysian Realities by Prof Terence Gomez, a well-known academician from MU, who traced the history of economic systems in UK.US and other countries, why and how. Etc. Interesting and offered a look at our Malaysian realities to make us aware of importance as Catholics/Christians to be on guard against a change in policies and Islamization.

·         After Lunch, we were assigned groups to discuss and deliberate on priority issues within the groups in clusters under 8 categories such as, inter-religious dialoq, family life, BEC’s, formation,unity, etc. Each category had to choose 2 main priorities to be forwarded to the Bishop for consideration, and may eventually be discussed at the PMPC IV.

·         After the hard day’s work, we were treated to a sumptuous dinner of nasi beriani, and fellowship, meeting new friends, reunions with old, and after dinner, entertainment by delegates from various parishes. The highlight was the dramatization of the College-General Vietnamese Martyrs by some of the seminarians.

Day 3

·         The presentation of Cluster deliberations at the Plenary Session was held after breakfast and Lauds.(Morning Prayer)

·         This was followed by responses from the participants based on the question: “How or what do you think the Catholic Church will be in ten years time in 2026?” There were many responses from all categories and parishes until there was not enough time for more responses.

·         The Bishop then presented his final speech, “Walking Together in the Way forward”. He said he was filled with joy at the working of the Holy Spirit, and he was happy to welcome the Anglican Bishop Charles and Tan Sri Mohan, president of the Hindu Sangham, who accepted his invitation to witness the closing ceremony of the Penang Diocesan Synod.

·       

            The Diocesan Synod ended with the celebration of the Eucharist.

·         After lunch, we travelled back from Bukit Mertajam, reaching Kota Bharu before 8.00 pm.

Report by Joseph Wang

3 May 2016