Offer hope to the forgotten

Apr 18, 2025

By Bernard Anthony
The Catholic community of the Church of the Annunciation, established in 1952, celebrated its parish feast day on March 29, marking the Solemnity of the Annunciation with a Rosary and a Feast day Mass.

The evening celebration saw Archbishop Julian Leow preside over the Mass, with Fr Clement Lim as concelebrant. Archbishop Julian warmly welcomed everyone, expressing his joy in celebrating this significant feast with the local community and thanking Mary for her ‘Yes’ to God. In his homily, delivered in English and briefly in Bahasa Malaysia, the Archbishop posed the question: “What is this Jubilee Year for? Why do we celebrate it?” He explained that the Jubilee Year is an invitation to embark on a journey — one that is not limited to just this year, but is a lifelong pilgrimage of faith. From the moment we are born until we pass from this life, we are all on a journey of faith. Pope Francis has given us this Jubilee Year to walk together as fellow pilgrims, reminding us that our permanent home is in heaven, while our time on earth is temporary. After death, we hope to ascend to heaven and not descend to hell.

The archbishop emphasised that the Jubilee Year of Hope is also an opportunity to remember the most marginalised in society. Drawing from Spes Non Confundit, the Bull of Indiction for the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025, he highlighted Pope Francis’ call to focus on those often forgotten by society — migrants, youth, the elderly, those with special needs, and the poor. Today, we are called to reach out to these groups and step out of our comfort zones to show them that they are loved and cared for. For the archbishop, this is the essence of the Jubilee Year — not just visiting Jubilee churches for enjoyment, but going to the forgotten and offering them hope. We must be pilgrims of hope to those in need.

The archbishop noted that large parishes have the means to celebrate the Jubilee, and it was heartening to see city parishes, including some pilgrims from Kuala Lumpur, join in the celebration with smaller parishes like Raub. He encouraged all to be beacons of hope to these smaller communities. “Walk in this journey of faith, identify those who need a helping hand, and become a beacon of hope to them — not just this year, but as a part of our ongoing Christian mission. Be the salt and light to those who have lost or are about to lose hope in life. Let us be pilgrims of hope for all in need.”

Fr Clement, who is also the parish priest of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Bentong, briefly translated the archbishop’s homily into Mandarin for the congregation.

During the Prayer of the Faithful, the archbishop reflected on the example of Mary, who despite her circumstances, followed God’s will and became the Mother of Christ.

At the end of the Mass, Fr Clement expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Julian, acknowledging the challenges of the heavy traffic from Kuala Lumpur to Bentong. He thanked the archbishop for making the effort to join the Raub community and invited everyone to a dinner fellowship, where the archbishop was also asked to bless the new parish hall.

The archbishop praised Fr Clement for his leadership and the improvements made to the chapel and its facilities, recognising his pastoral duties and efforts in serving the Raub Catholic community.

Then, the parishioners surprised Fr Clement with a birthday cake at the entrance of the church. After the archbishop blessed the cake, the assembly sang “Happy Birthday” to Fr Clement, who expressed his thanks to the parishioners before cutting the cake. The cake was shared with everyone during the fellowship.

Though small in numbers, the vibrant faith and zeal of the Raub Catholic community made this feast day celebration memorable and joyous. The presence of the archbishop and the blessing of the new parish hall added to the significance of the occasion, creating a celebration filled with gratitude and renewed hope.