Melaka Vicariate organises inaugural Family Day

Nov 08, 2024

By Francis Ong
About 1400 parishioners from the main churches in Melaka - Our Lady of Guadalupe; St Francis Xavier; Holy Spirit; St Theresa; St Peter and St Mary and chapels; gathered together at the grounds of the Church of St Mary, on October 26 which had been colourfully decorated for the Melaka Vicariate Family Day.

This vicariate celebration was a result of the diocesan assembly held last year.

At 8.00am, the event kicked off with a vibrant Lion Dance performance by the Montfort Youth Centre, marking the start of this auspicious celebration, a first for the Melaka Vicariate. The energy continued with joyful praise and action songs led by the youth from the Church of St Mary and Pulau Gadong Chapel. The lively atmosphere had everyone — young and old — clapping, smiling, and swaying along to the upbeat music and singing. From 8.30am to 10.00am, attendees were free to participate in various field and hall games, enjoy a relaxed chat over tea or coffee, or watch a movie at the St Mary School Hall.

At 10.00am, praise and worship sessions were conducted in four languages at different locations, providing a time for thanksgiving, worship, and celebrating our unity as one Church family. The Rosary followed at 10.30am, recited in four languages within the church, leading into the 11.00am Mass, which used the liturgy of the Holy Family. The Mass was presided over by Bishop Bernard Paul, joined by all 10 priests from the Melaka Vicariate. Together, as God’s family, we worshipped in a spirit of prayer and gratitude, united in faith.

Bishop Bernard urged us to pray that Jesus remains the centre of our lives, families, and communities, following the example of the Holy Family. He emphasised four key aspects of the Holy Family: following the Word of God; keeping Jesus at the centre; fostering mutual respect within the family — father, mother, and children — as gifts from God; and embracing God’s plan and mission by encouraging one another to follow Jesus.

During Mass, Bishop Bernard blessed all married couples present, with a special blessing for those who had been married for 50 years or more. After the service, everyone gathered at St Mary’s School hall for lunch, followed by a series of cultural performances. The festivities also included several lucky draws, with cash prizes for the winners. The Vicariate Family Day concluded at 2.30pm with a final blessing from Bishop Bernard. We thank Fr Alexuchelvam Mariasoosai and his team for organising this truly wonderful and enjoyable Vicariate Family Day.