Thousands gather for Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in Klang

Mar 07, 2025

By Nesa Dhevasahayam
The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) celebrated its annual Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes from February 6 to 16, attracting thousands of parishioners and pilgrims. This year’s celebration embraced the Jubilee Year theme, Pilgrims of Hope, inspired by Matthew 19:26: Hope in God, all things are possible. The nine-day novena focused on various Marian titles, exploring themes of Family, Church, Ecology, and Society.

The novena Masses were led by priests from the dioceses of Penang and Malacca Johore and the archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, with the opening ceremony featuring the raising of the feast flag by parish priest, Fr Gregory Chan, assistant parish priest Fr Gnana Selvam Berentis and members of the congregation.

Throughout the celebration, highlights included reflections on Mary’s virtues. On Day 1, Fr Surain Durairaj preached on Mary’s Hope in God’s Salvation, emphasising her trust in God’s plan. Day 2 saw Fr Stanley Antoni reflect on Mary’s Unwavering Faith, drawing from the Wedding at Cana. On Day 3, Sunday Masses were celebrated in multiple languages, with Fr Stanley and Fr Desmond Jensen preaching on Mary, Queen of Our Home, and highlighting the importance of faith in family life. Fr Andrew Manickam, OFM, Cap led Day 4’s reflection on Mary, Mother of Nature, encouraging environmental leadership as an act of faith.

February 11 marked the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. The Mass and anointing of the sick, attended by 1,500 pilgrims, was presided over by Fr Albet Arockiasamy, with five priests concelebrating. Fr Albet’s homily on Mary, Mother of Mercy, resonated with the crowd as he shared a personal story about his mother’s compassion. The evening Mass was concelebrated by three ‘sons’ of OLL - Fr Peter Anthoney, Fr Vincent Thomas and Fr Bonaventure Rayappan, with several other clergy. Fr Peter’s homily reflected on Mary’s intercessory role, drawing connections to the Wedding at Cana and the Feeding of the Five Thousand.

Fr James Pitchay celebrated Mass on Day 6, focusing on the theme Mary, Mediatrix of Grace, explaining the meaning of Mary, full of grace. The following day, Fr Moses Rayappan preached on the theme Mary Pondered and Cherished All Things in Her Heart. He shared a story about a group of monkeys on a retreat who were distracted by the scent of mangoes and abandoned their journey. Drawing a parallel to life’s distractions, he highlighted Mary’s steadfast faith, emphasising how she remained unwavering and cherished all things in her heart, even amidst uncertainty.

On Day 8, Fr Michel Dass preached on the theme Mary, Servant of the Lord. In his homily, he reflected on the profound significance of hope, emphasising Mary’s unwavering service to God and her deep devotion to others. He urged the faithful to follow her example and embrace a life of service.

Pilgrims also took part in the Lourdes Wash, a sacred ritual inspired by the miraculous waters of Lourdes, France. Many testified to experiencing healing and inner peace through this profound experience. The spiritual atmosphere was further enriched by a healing rally led by the Putri Karmel Sisters, where participants shared powerful testimonies of renewal and transformation.

The festivities culminated on Feb 16 with a Mass for Children celebrated by Fr George Harrison, followed by an evening Mass led by Archbishop Julian Leow. The theme Mary, New Ark of the Covenant was reflected throughout the liturgy. Approximately 1,500 faithful participated in a candlelight procession through Jalan Tengku Kelana, passing through ‘Little India’ before returning to the church. The Eucharistic procession with the Blessed Sacrament and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes offered a deeply moving and reverent experience, concluding with a solemn benediction at the grotto.