KUALA SELANGOR (Herald Malaysia): The 47 year-old Chapel of the Holy Infant Jesus has over the years became popular with pilgrims coming from far and near for the annual feastday celebration. Many parents come with their children for ‘special blessings’ from the Holy Infant Jesus.

Blessed by the then Bishop of Kuala Lumpur, Rt Rev Msgr Dominic Vendargon D.D. on May 29, 1965, this was the first house of worship with the name ‘Holy Infant Jesus.’ Today this small chapel that can only accommodate some 200 worshippers has several cracks on its walls and corners. This has prompted the current Chapel Administrator, Fr Edwin Paul, to say that repairs are necessary. The single storey chapel has a cross on the roof top and a bell with an icon of the Holy Infant Jesus (enclosed in a glass container)on top of the small porch.

Fr Edwin said the chapel caters to the spiritual needs of some 60 Catholic families living in Kuala Selangor. The first parish priest was Fr Hugolin OFM Cap. The land on which the chapel is situated is quite large and was donated by S. Anthony Muthu.

Fr Edwin, who is the parish priest of the Church of St Paul the Hermit in Bestari Jaya, also takes care of 12 other chapels besides this chapel. He mentioned that this feast has seen the crowd getting bigger every year. Last year there was only one daily Mass but this year three separate Masses were scheduled - Tamil, English and Mandarin. He said there are plans to erect a community hall on the empty land next to the chapel to be used for feast day celebrations; but funds are first needed. -- By Bernard Anthony