IPOH: There was rip-roaring fun and laughter at St Michael’s Church’s first telematch games on July 3 as parishioners of all ages and sizes joined in with gusto to make the special parish event into a “family” one. Everyone got a “prize” and no one was the loser — in fact the team which was trailing behind came out first, and the rest were given a blessing. This special parish event was part of SMC’s target to make all the parishioners experience “family,” as in Eph 4:5-6 which speaks of Unity in the Body of Christ whilst deepening discipleship.

Others include the One Family Event (where families eat together at least once a month) and One special BEC event. All these are geared towards forming a family life ministry in SMC. The event began with a bilingual Mass at 8.00am, followed by a parish breakfast of a hot drink and buns before the telematch began at the Sam Tet School field.

For a few marvellous hours, everyone “suspended” their priorities that day to spend time with each other, as part of one big family and parish community at SMC. It was quite unusual, yet worked out wonderfully for those young and old, as they could sit together and talk with each other at “eye level.”

For the new trainee recruits from the TUDM base in Ipoh, it was the first time they had experienced such an event. They enjoyed participating in the games and talked freely with other parishioners about their own home parishes in Sabah and Sarawak. They were especially touched by SMC parish priest Msgr Stephen Liew’s welcome to them, and other visitors to the parish during Mass and at the Telematch Games. Many confessed they felt right at “home”.

Through such events, it seems Jesus is brought to them wherever they are, in ways and words that somehow connect with their lives. “It makes me feel that the church is more friendly to us, at any time, should we decide to go,” one TUDM trainee from Sarawak said. It would be exciting if such scenarios could be made a reality in every church, so that those who feel “unconnected” with church in places far away from home, can find it more accessible, he said. Both Msgr Liew and assistant parish priest Fr Anthony Chong stayed throughout the whole Telematch event, cheering the participants.

The games had catchy names as well: North-South, Chain Gang, Gorilla Walk, Cucumber Race, All Aboard, Longest Line, The Dice Game, and Public Taxi. Thirteen-year-old Rebecca David, who is wheelchair bound, got a special prize from Msgr Liew for participating. Residents from the Convent’s Asrama Bintang Home cheered from the sidelines and started their own fun in dancing to the music played by the deejay, prompting many others to join in.