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Herald Malaysia
09-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Celebrating Divine Mercy: A week of hope, faith, and healing
With devotion, hope, and enthusiasm, they walked through the main streets of Jalan Kenari, Sungai Ara, undaunted by the blazing sun as they proclaimed Jesus' mercy and bore witness to His boundless love. May 09, 2025 The congregation touching the image of the Divine Mercy PENANG: With devotion, hope, and enthusiasm, they walked through the main streets of Jalan Kenari, Sungai Ara, undaunted by the blazing sun as they proclaimed Jesus' mercy and bore witness to His boundless love. The Divine Mercy Sunday procession through the neighbourhood surrounding the Church of Divine Mercy marked the joyful culmination of the parish's annual Feast Day and weeklong baptised parishioner Eric shared his experience: 'Being involved for the first time as a Divine Mercy image bearer, I naturally found it heavy at first. But it made me reflect on how much heavier it must have been for Jesus to carry the weight of our sins on His shoulders. As the procession continued, it truly felt as though the Lord was carrying it with us. We were all filled with joy and felt truly blessed.'The Feast began on a gentle note with the nine-day Novena starting on Good Friday, gradually building in spiritual momentum through the joyous celebration of Easter and culminating with great fervour on Divine Mercy Sunday. On Easter Monday, the Church was struck by sorrow with the passing of its chief shepherd, the beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, a true disciple of Divine Mercy, whose death was mourned by the faithful around the honour of the late Holy Father, each day of the Divine Mercy Novena Masses included special prayers for his soul. A table bearing his image and a lit candle was placed beside the altar as a tribute to his life, legacy, and unwavering witness to Divine alignment with the Universal Church's milestone Jubilee Year theme, Pilgrims of Hope, celebrated by over a billion Catholics worldwide, the parish adopted the theme: Divine Mercy: Inspiring Hope Against All Hope, taken from the final verse of the Litany of Divine Praises. Throughout the week, the main celebrant, Fr Raymond Raj, expounded on daily Mass themes that reflected the core elements of the Jubilee. These included: (i) Be Awakened: Pilgrims of Hope, (ii) Be Healed: Hope through Reconciliation, (iii) Be Nourished: Hope in the Eucharist, (iv) Be United: Hope in the Gospel, and (v) Be Other-Centred: Missionaries of it down, Fr Raymond shared, 'The words mercy and hope are inseparable. The Feast of Divine Mercy invites us to reflect on and embrace the virtues of hope and mercy toward one another. I hope and pray that this feast has inspired the faithful to become instruments of God's love and mercy.'Throughout the week, various parish ministries organised activities based on the daily Novena intentions, helping devotees fully embrace the teachings of Divine Mercy. On Divine Mercy Monday, the congregation paused between decades of the Chaplet to pray for those yet to know God, reflecting the group whom Jesus instructed St Faustina, the 'Apostle of Mercy,' to bring to 'His ocean of mercy.'On Tuesday, each decade of the Chaplet was prayed for those separated from the Church. Short audio clips of individuals who feel alienated, representing groups such as divorcees, LGBTQ individuals, migrants, parents of special needs children, and those with mental health challenges, were interspersed between each decade. This helped bring the plight of marginalised groups to life, making their struggles more real and saw many families bringing their children for a special blessing, as the church prayed for the meek and little ones. After Mass, attendees received origami hearts prepared by the Catechism classes as a token of were also encouraged to spend time in quiet adoration at the JPII Adoration Room and to write notes of thanksgiving in line with Thursday's intention for those who especially venerate God's mercy. A special blessing for the sick and elderly was offered at the end of Mass that Friday, the faithful gathered to remember their deceased loved ones, whose names were offered during Mass as part of the Novena intention for souls in Novena concluded on the ninth day with a prayer for lukewarm souls, whom Jesus said 'cause me more suffering than any other.' Over the final four days of the Novena, attendees were encouraged to pray for themselves and others struggling with a lukewarm faith, urging them to reignite and make their faith vibrant and the week's Novena Masses, attendees were given special prayer cards. When collected over six days, the cards formed an image of Divine Mercy on the reverse side. Leading up to the 3.00pm Mass on Sunday, exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament were held, along with opportunities for confession, all in preparation for the grand celebration that his inspiring weekend homilies, Bishop Bernard Paul of Malacca Johore spoke about three distinct groups of people. First, those without hope, those who have given up on life, the lost, and the aimless. Second, those with false hope, those who seek comfort in lies, half-truths, and 'build on sand.' Finally, he addressed those who hold fast to true hope, returning to the 'written word,' listening to the Holy Spirit within them, and building on a foundation of genuine shared three ways God inspires true hope in us. First, Christ-centred communities, similar to the early Christian communities, which became beacons of hope for others. Bishop Bernard encouraged us to be like little lights, guiding those in need of hope. The second way is through the 'written word.' It sustains and ignites our faith and love. The third way he mentioned is 'mercy encounters,' powerful moments of God's presence that bring deep, freeing peace. God is merciful, gentle, and forgiving. These mercy encounters transform lives, filling individuals with new purpose. Ultimately, our only true hope is Divine Mercy, the resurrected Christ — hope that never disappoints. Visitors from other parishes and even from different states, including a busload of pilgrims from Our Lady of Lourdes in Ipoh, joined in the feast day celebrations. Overwhelmed by the enthusiastic participation throughout the week, Parish priest, Fr Michael Raymond OFM Cap shared, 'Mercy is the name and the face of God.' His words perfectly captured the sense of God's abundant grace flowing freely, available for all to receive.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Holy Cross Oratory that shielded Mazgaon from dreaded bubonic plague completes 150 years
Mumbai: In the heart of the East Indian enclave of Matharpacady in Mazgaon nestles a venerable holy cross that was built to protect residents from the dreaded bubonic plague that beset Mumbai in the 19th Century. Miraculously, not a single resident of the village fell victim to the disease. A few years later, in 1875, an oratory was built around the sacred relic. On May 1, Matharpacady Holy Cross Oratory will celebrate its 150th anniversary. A nine-day Novena prayer that began April 22 will end April 30. Roydon Gonsalves, vice president of the Matharpacady Holy Cross Oratory Committee, said, "In 1855 Bombay was plunged into gloom when the plague started in China and spread to the subcontinent. Much of Bombay including Matharpacady, was still unpaved and the rat infestation caused people to drop dead like flies. People ran for the hills, suburbs or hinterland. Bombay was virtually emptied of people by 1897." "The people of Matharpacady were settlers from distant Kalina, Uttan, Bhayander, Gorai, Bassein and Thane who came to work in the port and shipbuilding industry. Our forefathers turned to Lord Jesus to save them from the scourge. And legend has it that not a single case of plague was recorded in Matharpacady. By 1875, one Mrs Buthelo donated the land and this cross was built." At 7.00 pm on Feast Day May 1, high mass will be celebrated by Bishop Lourdes Daniel, bishop emeritus of Nashik. "The best choirs and orchestras from Mumbai will perform. We will felicitate concelebrants and serve boiled channa in keeping with East Indian custom," said Roydon. Already a food festival and tributes to Matharpacady's freedom fighters Kaka Joseph Baptista and Dr Ubaldo Mascarenhas have been held. Art and architecture schools are invited for study tours and after all the study and sketches are done, an art exhibition may be held. Roydon's father Frank Gonsalves led an orchestra comprising his ex-students of St Mary's High School, Mazgaon, who would perform here till 1977. "This is the first year since the 1970s that we have managed to put together a full orchestra for the feast," Roydon said.
