“When is Father coming to my house for Mass?”

Special child Brian Lim was overjoyed this Easter season when his dad, Benedict, was baptised at Easter and Mass in the BEC was celebrated in his home recently.

May 10, 2024

Brian with his parish priest Fr Lawrence Ng, CDD during the Church of St Ignatius’ 35th anniversary celebration.


By Bob Ho
Special child Brian Lim was overjoyed this Easter season when his dad, Benedict, was baptised at Easter and Mass in the BEC was celebrated in his home recently. For five years, the differently-abled relentlessly asked every priest he met: “When is Father coming to my house for Mass?”

On April 5, Brian’s wish was fulfilled when 38 members of the St Jude BEC from the Church of St Ignatius (SIC) participated at the Mass celebrated by SIC’s assistant parish priests, Fr Thomas Koo, CDD and Fr Martin Then CDD, in his home.

Brian’s love for Jesus had him glued to his device streaming “live” Mass during the pandemic. He continues even now, joining online Masses from around the world. His family joins him when he casts it over TV, moving his dad towards accepting Christ as our saviour.

It was around this time last year, also at Brian’s home, that parish priest Fr Lawrence Ng, CDD, invited Benedict to join the RCIA. Now both parents are Catholics.

Brian, 27, lives with dyspraxia, a development coordination disorder (DCD). He only started walking when he was two years old, and could only say single words at age four.

God gifted him with a talent only few could master – sculpturing balloons into creative art toys for children. Brian is happy when donning his clown costume, sharing God’s gift at children’s parties and spreading God’s love.

During Advent, he was Santa Claus at the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, mesmerising the children with his talent.

God’s gift came as a 10th birthday present of balloons and a CD on balloon sculpturing. Brian learned by watching the video and honing his skills from YouTube.

He is loved by both children and adults, including Archbishop Julian Leow, whom he delighted with a bouquet of balloon flowers at SIC’s 35th anniversary celebration. Brian was also the clown wowing the children of Rumah Ozanam during the Lenten almsgiving programme.

On April 27, Brian and his mom, Rose, attended the Mass with the Differently-Abled (Special Needs) celebrated by Archbishop Julian at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Kuala Lumpur,.

“Brian is very well loved ... our BEC embraces his uniqueness with all our hearts,” said Kim Ang, who fondly recalls Brian as a very young boy who could hardly sit still for a few seconds “but is now an indispensable member of our BEC family”.

The St Jude family witnessed Brian’s transformation into the most constant in the BEC; listening quietly, ever ready to volunteer to host the next meeting, and most eager to attend all Masses. Brian is the permanent St Jude’s flagbearer at every feast day of St Ignatius.

Barbara Edmonds calls Brian “The Voice of AMEN”. She quipped: “You would be sure to know of his presence in church. An exuberant member we are proud of.”

Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7: 7-8). Brian knocked. The door opened. Alleluia.

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