Visitation Celebrates Year of the Priest - PCC Chairman's Speech

By Jerome Selva Retnam
Parish Coordinating Council Chairman

Today we are here for the thanks giving Mass, thanking God for giving us three wonderful priest.

The dedication (by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI) of the period June 2009 to June 2010 as the Year of Priests is indeed a tremendous and an inspired move that helps us give due recognition and appreciation to the priests of the universal Catholic Church most or all of whom are wholly committed to the mission of Jesus in the many nations, dioceses and parish communities of the world.

It is (to my mind) a call to us as the People of God to give thanks to God for these chosen people who have given their lives (as it were) to serving full time in the priesthood of Jesus in the many facets of mission of Jesus. The decision to give their lives to serving in mission (as we all would know) is a decision that calls for courage to a readiness to serve God in whatever the ministry might be after eight years of intensive study and pastoral training. It is an answer to a calling by God to each one in some special way. They do not know what the circumstances of their journey would be.

We have vivid instances of God’s calling to people in both the old and new testaments. They just respond without looking back or subjecting God to terms and conditions of service. They just go out into the wilderness (the world) trusting in God’s continued presence with them. Divine providence is their way of life. They enjoy support in their new found communities and they also face criticism and rejection. We are touched as we read about their persistence and determination (in their missionary callings).

This is the same of the priests in today’s time. Their journey in mission is never something that spells of comfort and peace. It is fraught with challenges and diverse community needs. The diocesan priests (like those attached to parishes throughout the world), by and large face the greatest challenges. Many have stood the test of time and many still struggle. The consolation is that God is with them. He stands by them in all circumstances.

We too need to stand by them. We (as the people of God) need to accept them, appreciate them and affirm their mission among us. We strive to remain one with them.

In the beautiful words of St. John Marie Vianney – the patron saint for all priests – “IF WE HAD NO PRIEST, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THE LORD IN THE EUCHARIST. WHAT WOULD BE THE USE OF A HOUSE FULL OF GOLD, IF YOU HAD NOBODY TO OPEN YOU THE DOOR! THE PRIEST HAS THE KEY OF THE HEAVENLY TREASURES.”

This historical parish of the Visitation (established in 1848) has been served by so many priests since its founding. We thank God for the journeying with the priests that He has sent to us. They have come and they have gone. We can only remember them and pray for them.

Today as we focus on the Year of Priests in our parish, we remember that we have (in our parish today) three dynamic priests – Fr. Michael Chua, our Parish Priest, Fr. George Packiasamy our Assistant Parish Priest and the newly ordained Fr. Clement Lim.

In this Year of Priests we (in a personal way) express of gratitude to God for placing them here to journey with us towards our spiritual goals. We ask God to bless them each day as they strive to live out their mission in our diverse communities. We love them and we keep them in prayer.

Later this month we would lose one to (to be gained) by a neighbouring parish. Father Clement Lim who has been with us for hardly a year would move to the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Port Dickson after Christmas – taking on the responsibilies of a Parish Priest. Though we would miss him, we are also happy for him on his elevation in this new posting. We place on record our sincere appreciation to him for being so much a part of our lives here at the Visitation. We thank you, Fr. Clement and we love you.

On this same note I place on record, on behalf of the Parishioners of Visitation, our deep appreciation to Fr. Michael Chua and Fr. George Packiasamy as we continue to affirm them in the mission among us. We thank you and we love you.