Celebrating Christmas with the Kelantan Catholic community

Jan 10, 2025

By Serena Jonius
The bishop of Penang, Cardinal Sebastian Francis, celebrated a meaningful and joyous Christmas at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima of the Holy Rosary. The celebration included Mass, the administration of the Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation, and the rectification of marriage, marking a spiritually enriching occasion for the Catholic community in Kelantan.

Joining the Cardinal were Sr Florence Nemesius, FSIC, from the Diocesan BM Apostolate, Bro Francis Xavier Gasper of Montfort Boys Town, Shah Alam, and Serena Jonius from the Penang Diocesan Youth Network (PDYN). Also present were Sr Angela Wong, Sr Mary Anne Fletcher, and Sr Regina Ho of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM), whose convent in Kota Bharu has been a cornerstone of Catholic mission work for 62 years.

The FMM Sisters are deeply involved in local community services, including pre-school education, parish work, home visits, outreach to university students, counselling, spiritual direction, and catechism for the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking faithful. Sr Angela shared that approximately 400 faithful attended the Christmas celebrations, which featured fellowship meals, gift exchanges, singing, and dancing. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the parishioners for their unwavering support during the festive season.

Sr Florence highlighted the vibrant spirit of the community, noting how the parishioners’ prayers, worship, and songs brought the true meaning of Christmas to life. “The ‘Newborn Baby, the Emmanuel’ was born in everyone’s hearts," she remarked, encapsulating the essence of the celebrations.

Bro Gasper, a Gabrielite Brother and co-founder of Montfort Sabah, shared his joy at reconnecting with former Montfort students now residing in Kota Bharu. He also cherished the opportunity to bond with the East Malaysian community, which holds a special place in his heart.

Youth members from East Malaysia, Aan Natalie Handry and Edvern Mobik Risel, shared their festive experiences. Aan expressed gratitude for the welcoming community that made Christmas full of warmth and good vibes. She especially enjoyed singing Borneo songs during karaoke sessions, which reminded her of home.

Edvern, celebrating his second Christmas away from home, expressed his delight in attending the midnight and Christmas day Masses. He appreciated the vibrant performances by children and adults, as well as the recognition of their youth activities on Bernama TV. “It’s a wonderful way to end a challenging year with joy and celebration,” he said.

Joseph Wang, Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council, expressed his appreciation to Cardinal Sebastian for the pastoral visit and for celebrating Christmas with the Kelantan Catholic community. The parish serves Catholics across Kota Bharu, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai, and university campuses such as University Malaysia Kelantan and University Sains Malaysia (USM) Health Campus, along with police and army personnel, many of whom hail from Sabah and Sarawak.

The Christmas celebration served as a testament to the strength and unity of the Catholic community in Kelantan, fostering joy and spiritual renewal during this sacred season.