Grand celebration at Sacred Heart Church Kampar

Jul 11, 2014

KAMPAR (Herald Malaysia): The Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in the small town of Kampar came alive with joyful celebrations of its feast day multilingual Mass and procession on June 28.

The small but beautiful Church marked its 106th year in existence with a Mass celebrated by Fr Clarence Dass and concelebrated by Sacred Heart parish priest Fr Aloysius Tan at 7.00pm. Final-year seminarian Bro Joachim Robert from Tapah parish was also present.

The Mass was followed by a prayerful procession through Kampar Old Town area. The feastday Mass themed, Sent to bear witness was the culmination of nine novena Masses. A special anointing of the sick was held on June 27, during the Mass, celebrated by Fr Robin Andrews of St Michael’s Church, Ipoh.

At the feastday Mass, over 700, comprising people from Kampar and the surrounding towns, crowded into the small Church for Mass.


They then followed the vehicle carrying the Blessed Sacrament which was held by Fr Clarence and Fr Tan in turn.

Another vehicle carried a lighted statue of the Sacred Heart which was beautifully decorated with flowers.

As the procession weaved through the town’s main street, the people prayed the rosary in four languages, with lighted candles in hand.

At three points of the journey, the people knelt in veneration before the Blessed Sacrament, held aloft to bless the people. Flower girls strewed petals on the road as the Blessed Sacrament came to each stop.

After the procession returned to the Church, there was Benediction.

St Peter’s Choir of St Michael’s Church, Ipoh, and the choir of St Mary’s, Tapah, both sang at the Mass.

Earlier, Fr Clarence said that the celebration of the Sacred Heart Feast was all about Jesus’ compassion, love and forgiving heart. It was about showing the love and mercy of God to others, so that people will come to know Christ.

In his homily given in English and Tamil, Fr Clarence said Jesus’ parting words to his disciples as he ascended into heaven was to go make disciples.

“Powerful words, as Jesus tells them to make things happen and not to be passive or go back to what they were before. Their experience of Jesus should make them relive what Jesus taught them,” he said.

The reality of the world today is that it needs good role models. The saints encouraged us by their uprightness in their faith and by their devotion to God’s service in their lifetime.

Now, the young generation often prefer for their role models — footballers or movie stars. There is a lesson here for all of us.

Instead of attaining uprightness in God’s sight, many are even willing to give up values of the gospel so that they can be successful in the world, he added.

“As Christians we are called to be living examples to one another, and we are challenged at all times.

“It is not easy to be a witness to Christ, because it is easier to blend in, and we are caught up in the race for fame, popularity and the pursuit of money.

“Success in the kingdom of God is all important and so we are called to bear witness and glorify God in our lives.”

The Eucharist strengthens us, by the Word of God and the body and blood of Christ.

From then on, it is our response to the Gospel, with the whole of our being. That gospel which proclaims Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, has to evoke in us a commitment of faith, a dedication to God, which should transform us.

It is not how much we know of the Bible but more importantly, how we are to do ordinary things with extraordinary love to others.

The early Church’s actions attest to this. They did not preach at first but came together to share and broke bread together, he said.

Fr Tan thanked all who came, and those who had offered help in one way or another in preparing for the feastday. “This is the first time it has been celebrated in a grand way. It is a wonderful way for us to witness the love of God to others, to acknowledge Jesus Christ and the role he played in God’s providence for humanity. “We can pray for blessings on Kampar folk as well as all those who came,” he said.

Hospitality Ministers handed out souvenier prayer cards with pictures of the Sacred Heart and the Church on the back.

There was a delicious dinner provided for all at the parish grounds afterwards.