The Church is on ‘fire’

Jul 18, 2019

By Francis Magimay
The Music Ministry of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima staged a musical based on the most crucial period of Jesus’ life on earth — from the Last Supper to His Ascension into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit. The show was held at the Temple of Fine Arts in Brickfields on June 30.

In line with the Church’s Extraordinary Missionary Year, the musical was held in support of the Assisi Palliative Care (AsPaC). AsPaC is a charitable, non-profit organisation established to provide free care and comfort to patients facing challenging end-of-life illnesses. Proceeds from the musical were donated to the organisation.

All 600 tickets were sold out for the show, with members of the audience coming from different parts of the Klang Valley. Distinguished guests included Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Fr Bernard Arputhasamy, Fr Clarence Devadass and board members of AsPaC.

The concert showed what Jesus did during the last days of his life on earth which, as we know today, changed the history of the world. The concert, The Apostles’ Journey – The Call to Mission showed how the apostles accepted the responsibility to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth.

The opening scene was the Last Supper in which Jesus consecrated the Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ. That night, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray with the Apostles. They fell asleep as they were exhausted and filled with sorrow. Shortly afterwards, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus with a kiss. Peter stood at a distance as Jesus was arrested. Those present were then treated to the dramatisation of Peter’s denial as selected members of the audience suspected him of being a disciple. The scene ended with a rendition of Above All, as Peter fell prostrate at the phrase ‘like a rose trampled on the ground, You took the fall and thought of me above all.’

In Scene 2, Mary Magdalene arrived at Jesus’ empty tomb and burst into tears. She did not recognise Jesus who said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” Realising who he was, she ran towards him and cried out, “Rabboni”. Then she ran to the disciples with the news, “I have seen the Lord.” The choir then sang the hymns See What A Morning and Victory Chant, accompanied by a colourful dance routine. The next two scenes staged ‘The Walk to Emmaus,’ as well as Jesus’ appearance to the disciples and Doubting Thomas. “I will not believe unless I see the nail marks on Jesus’ hands and put my finger on His hands and in His side”, said Thomas. When Jesus reappeared, He asked Thomas to put his fingers on His hands and His side. Thomas fell on his knees and cried out, “My Lord and My God.” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me you have believed, but blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” The concert conveyed this profound spiritual message. The scene was accompanied by the Hymn This I Believe, which incorporated phrases from the Apostles’ Creed.

The audience was then treated to the re-enactment of the ‘Miraculous Catch Of Fish.’ When Jesus appeared on the shores of Galilee, the Apostle John said, “It is the Lord.” As Peter rushed up to the shore, Jesus said, “bring me some of the fish you have just caught” and later, “come have breakfast.” The Apostles then witness Jesus asking Peter to lead his Church with the words “take care of my sheep”.

The last two scenes focused on the Ascension of Jesus into heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had promised. The choir sang the hymns Shine, Jesus, Shine and Church on Fire, following Peter’s monologue when he addressed the crowd, asking them to “repent and be baptised”. The dancers and actors on stage portrayed their joy on the coming of the Holy Spirit. The audience responded by clapping, tapping their feet, and singing along. After the show, the audience showed their delight as they mingled with and congratulated the cast and crew.

Archbishop Julian Leow has emphasised that we need to reach out to “the last, the least, the little and the lost”, and the Church has always conveyed the message that we are ‘baptised and sent’ to bring the Good News to our families, BECs, neighbours, friends and communities. Thus, the call to mission applies to all of us.

The entire production involved over 70 cast and crew from the parish of Our Lady of Fatima. It was led by Adrian Anthony, Mariska Anne de Rozario, Gabriel Januarius, Jeremy Gavin and Edlyn Andrew Herbert, with the assistance of Anthony Januarius, Maria Assunta, Brigitte Januarius and Joe Hamilton. Special thanks to Margaret Raj and the OLF BECCOT team who helped with the sale and distribution of tickets through the BECs.

Visit www.aspacmalaysia.org.com for more information on the Assisi Palliative Care.