SMC parishioners go on pilgrimage to Assumption Church

Aug 30, 2019

IPOH: Parishioners of St Michael’s Church (SMC) made a meaningful pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption on Aug 17.

SMC parish priest, Fr Anthony Liew, celebrated Mass there, after five buses took the 200 SMC pilgrims to Penang’s oldest church, which was founded in 1786.

It seemed also very apt that the Church of the Assumption (of the Blessed Virgin Mary) was chosen as the pilgrimage church, because Mary is the Mother of God, and every Christian is devoted to her.

Many pilgrims prayed at the shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary before Mass started at 11.30am.

“Be conscious of God’s presence among us. It is important to spend some time in prayer, for we are here to experience God,” said Fr Liew.

He was speaking during his homily at the bilingual Mass celebrated for St Michael’s Church parishioners during their pilgrimage.

“If we don’t make time for God and improve our spiritual lives here on pilgrimage, then it becomes just a tour,” he said.

“In the Old Testament, Joshua asked the people whom they wished to serve – their ancestors’ idols or the Lord God who had led them through the desert, out of slavery.

“Joshua and his family chose the Lord, and the people, after being made to realise all the blessings the Lord had bestowed on them, chose to serve the Lord God,” he added.

“How about us? Are we convinced that this is the Lord that I want and no other?

“Examine your inner disposition and make your choice. If you are too busy with other things or just taking photos here, then the pilgrimage won’t have an impact on your spiritual self,” he said.

Fr Liew also asked the pilgrims to create space throughout the day for prayer, and meditate on the Word of God.

“Take time to quietly think of those saints who dedicated themselves to God, and who sacrificed their lives so that others could be saved,” he said.

He was referring to the Collegegeneral Martyrs, St Philip Minh and companions, Sts Chastan and Imbert, the Vietnamese Martyrs, and many other martyrs from Thailand and Korea.

(The relics of the College General martyrs are kept in St Joseph’s chapel there, but were moved to the Church of the Assumption pilgrimage centre for general display in conjunction with the extraordinary year of mission 2019.)

Fr Liew said while in church, the people can also reflect on the lives of the local missionaries whose lives are detailed in the mini-exhibition in the church.

These locals modelled their lives after Christ. They are Sybil Kathigasu, Fr Anthony Khaw, Fr Arthur Julien MEP, Fr George Lee and Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon.

“We all received Christ at Baptism, and He wants our cooperation in his mission to be Baptised and Sent into the world,” Fr Liew said.

After Mass, the pilgrims took a group photo. Then they listened to a history of the Church and of the relics on display, by Assumption church parishioner Ron Fernandez.

They then renewed their baptismal vows at the baptismal font at the front of the church.

After lunch, the pilgrims also visited the Penang Diocesan Museum and Fr Joseph Reutens’ artworks.