Blessing of CDM’s renovated grotto

May 29, 2014

By Elizabeth Simon
It was surely an act of faith to hold the Eucharistic celebrations of the newly renovated grotto at the Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM), outdoors, when evening downpours had been the order of the day recently.

A sizeable group of parishioners gathered in front of the grotto on the evening of May 13 which is also the feastday of Our Lady of Fatima. The sound of water cascading over the rocks from a fountain in the middle of a fish pond; an array of lush potted plants and colourful flowers surrounded by soft illumination, all added to the atmosphere in the Divine Mercy church compound in Sungai Ara.

Parish priest, Fr Martin Arlando proceeded to bless the grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes and led the faithful in reciting the Prayer of St Bernadette. Referring to the spring in Lourdes, Fr Martin accentuated that without faith, the water meant nothing.

In his homily, he said that the words of Christ read during the gospel were spoken simultaneously by the priest and by Christ himself. While the words of the former are physically audible to us, the voice of Christ is audible in our hearts, if we choose to listen to Him.

Fr Martin thanked the organizers and the multiple benefactors who had donated to the renovation of the grotto. As the crowd cleared, so did the sky, revealing the stars and a full moon in all its glory.