Thousands throng Klang to celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Mar 14, 2014

By Bernard Anthony
The annual feast of Our Lady of Lourdes was celebrated meaningfully and solemnly at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) with daily Novena and Mass Feb 6 -16. Thousands of parishioners including visiting Catholics from far and near converged at this historical Church to thank God and to ask Our Lady to intercede for them. This year the anchor theme was The Church is Holy.

One of the attractions this year was the “Bernadette Walk”, a journey with St Bernadette to discover the Lourdes experience through dioramas and photo exhibitions. The Walk was set-up in the Basement Rooms of Wisma Lourdes Klang. Visitors and parishioners alike, besides learning more about St Bernadette’s life, learnt more about the Marian iconography and devotions. Many were impressed with the “Bernadette Walk” as they spent some time admiring the replica of St Bernadette’s home and photos. There was also a video on Lourdes that many watched. Certainly many were captivated by the work involved in the setting-up of the exhibition. A replica of the Lourdes grotto was also featured. Beside that there was a room where Catholics could spend some quiet moments before the Blessed Sacrament. The room was beautifully decorated to set the right ambience for adoration of the Lord.

On Feb 15 at the 6.00pm multi-lingual Mass, Fr Clarence Devadass concelebrated with OLOL Parish priest Fr Michael Chua and Fr Peter Anthoney from Banting. The sub-theme was Mary, Model of Holiness. Fr Clarence in his homily in three languages, spoke vividly about Mary’s role as a model of holiness that we Catholics can emulate. The Diocesan priest said as a true mother, Mary gives us an example and encourages us to follow the path of holiness.

Right after Mass, the 2,000 strong crowd walked in the hour-long candlelight procession with the clergy along Jalan Tengku Kelana towards ‘Little India’ and back. The icon of Our Lady of Lourdes was taken in procession and the Rosary was recited.

Earlier in the day at 10.30am, a Special Mass with Anointing for the sick was held. Many came for healing and to pray, in conjunction with World Day of Prayer for the Sick.

On Feb 8, after the 6.00pm Mass which was focused on the Eucharist, the Source and Summit of our Life of Holiness, there was a Eucharistic Procession of the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament along Jalan Tengku Kelana.

On Sunday, Feb 9, the sub-theme was Sacraments of Healing/ Healing Sin. Fr Chua celebrated Mass. He said God calls us out of the darkness into the light. In short we must be the light and salt of Christ for the world.

On Feb 11, the actual feastday, the sub-theme was Evangelical Counsels. Fr Simon Yong, SJ was the main presider and preacher for the 7.30pm Mass.

On the last day, Sunday Feb 16, Fr Chua preached on The Church is Holy, the second mark of the Church, which is also the focus for 2014.

At the end of the 11-day-long feast celebrations, Fr Chua on behalf of the whole parish and the PPC, thanked all volunteers and donors and those who had assisted in making this year’s parish feast a meaningful celebration. Fr Chua also thanked all visitors who came to join in the celebration and prayed that God will continue to shower them with His abundant blessings.