Doing little things with ‘big love’

May 31, 2019

By Elena Chan
One hundred members of PAMSPEC (Parish Ministry of Senior Persons Circle), together with some parishioners of the Church of Holy Rosary, Brickfields, went on a pilgrimage to the Church of St Theresa, Nilai, the pilgrim church for the Extraordinary Missionary Year 2019.

When the three busloads of pilgrims arrived at the church, they were pleasantly surprised by the warm reception accorded by Fr Eugene Benedict and his parishioners. After being treated like VIPs and feted with coffee and refreshment, Fr Eugene introduced St Theresa of Lisieux, the Little Flower who died in 1897 at the age of 24 and who was canonised in 1925. He gave an account of her life and the publication of her manuscript, written under obedience, in the book The story of a Soul.

Then Fr Eugene led the pilgrims on the “walk” to the old church. The pilgrims prayed the Hail Mary, asking Mother Mary and St Theresa to intercede for them.

At the old church, Fr Eugene gave a brief history of the church and how it was burned down in 2012. He appealed to the pilgrims to help rebuild the church.

Mass was celebrated by Fr Eugene and concelebrated with Fr Joachim Tan and Msgr Daniel Lim. In his homily, Fr Eugene asked the pilgrims to open themselves to the Holy Spirit. He told them that their love for Jesus demands much from them. However, being “golden oldies,” they cannot do big things but they could do little things with Big Love. He asked them to go on a mission to support missionaries and the church, especially the Church of St Theresa.

After Mass, everyone, including Fr Eugene and all his helpers, adjourned to lunch in a nearby restaurant. The atmosphere was festive and joyful despite so many of them crammed into a tiny place with no air-conditioning!

It was a very memorable pilgrimage. We came home happy and mission driven. With the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, PAMSPEC members will strive to rebuild the Church of St Theresa in our small way, with Big Love.