Easter Sunday in Visitation and Outstations

Kampung Orang Asli, Belihoi, Mantin

Today Christians everywhere (both Eastern and Western) celebrate the great feast of Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his victory over death. Today, a small community of Orang Asli villagers also celebrated their chapel's feast day, Rumah Besar Kebangkitan Kristus (Chapel of the Risen Christ). Villagers from other Orang Asli villages in the district (Sebir, Tekir, Port Dickson) also joined in the festivities.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes - February 11

History of Our Lady of Lourdes


The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France is the most visited pilgrimage site in the world -- principally because of the apparent healing properties of the waters of the spring that appeared during the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubiroux.

The first apparition occurred February 11, 1858. There were eighteen in all; the last took place July 16, of the same year. Bernadette often fell into an ecstasy during these apparitions, as was witnessed by the hundreds who attended the later visions, though no one except Bernadette ever saw or heard the apparition.
The mysterious vision Bernadette saw in the hollow of the rock Massabielle, where she and friends had gone to gather firewood, was that of a young and beautiful lady. "Lovelier than I have ever seen" said the child. She described the Lady as clothed in white, with a blue ribbon sash and a Rosary handing from her right arm. Now and then the apparition spoke to Bernadette.

One day, the Lady told the girl to drink of a mysterious fountain within the grotto itself, the existence of which was unknown, and of which there was no sign. But Bernadette scratched at the ground, and a spring immediately bubbled up and soon gushed forth. On another occasion the apparition bade Bernadette go and tell the priests she wished a chapel to be built on the spot and processions to be made to the grotto. At first the clergy were incredulous. The priest said he would not believe it unless the apparition gave Bernadette her name. After another apparition, Bernadette reported that the Lady told her, "I am the Immaculate Conception". Though the girl was unfamiliar with the term, the Pope had declared the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary in 1854.

Four years after Bernadette's visions, in 1862, the bishop of the diocese declared the faithful "justified in believing the reality of the apparition" of Our Lady. A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by M. Peyramale, the parish priest. In 1873 the great "national" French pilgrimages were inaugurated. Three years later the basilica was consecrated and the statue solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica and was consecrated in 1901 and called the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church; it is now observed on February 11.


Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes, Sagga

One of the chapels which comes under the pastoral care of the Church of Visitation, the Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes in Sagga estate celebrates its patronal feast too.

This year's celebration will take the form of a Triduum with the Eucharistic Celebration on each day as the highlight:
12 Feb (Fri) 7.30 pm
13 Feb (Sat) 7.30 pm
14 Feb (Sun) 10.00 am - Special Blessing for the Sick
10.30 am - Feast Day Mass

Services will be conducted in Tamil. This year the parish has invited Rev. Fr. Cyril M from the Diocese of Melaka Johor as the main preacher for the chapel's feast day.

Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai elevated to Parish and gets new Parish Priest

MONDAY (February 1) - The Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, which is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee (75th Year Anniversary) this year will have double cause for celebration. The chapel will be elevated to the canonical status of a full parish with effect from today. With this elevation, the Parish of St. Theresa, will also witness the appointment of its first resident Parish Priest, Fr. Raymond Pereira, who had just recently return from his post-graduate studies in the Philippines, where he obtained a licentiate-masters in spirituality, specialising in Mariology.

Fr. Raymond Pereira was formerly Parish Priest of Church of St. Aloysius, Mantin, Church of Holy Redeemer, Klang and Church of Divine Mercy, Shah Alam. Fr. Raymond will have the important task of building the new parish community of Nilai and catering to the pastoral needs of the ever-expanding Catholic population of Nilai and its surrounding suburbs.

The Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, has been under the administration of the Church of Visitation, Seremban since 2007. Fr. Michael Chua celebrated his last mass as administrator of the chapel last night. He hands over the mantle of administration to Fr. Pereira, the new Parish Priest of St. Theresa.

Thus begins a new chapter ...

SUNDAY January 31 (Nilai) - At his last mass as administrator of the Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, Fr. Michael Chua thanked the parishioners and leaders for their support and cooperation as he handed over the baton to Fr. Raymond Pereira, the first resident Parish Priest of the Chapel of Nilai. The chapel community also celebrated the birthday of Fr. Michael and organised a small fellowship to welcome their new Parish Priest and also to celebrate the elevation of the chapel to the status of a parish.

At the present moment, Fr. Raymond Pereira will be residing in the Church of Visitation, Seremban, until appropriate accommodations and office facilities be made available to him in Nilai.

Feast pf St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Nilai Chapel, October 2-4th

Theme: Deepening our Discipleship: "A Spirituality of Communion"

The Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan warmly invites you to celebrate our Patron’s Feast Day. Come join us in our triduum celebration beginning on Friday 2nd October – 4th October 2009.

2nd October 2009 (Fri) - 7.00pm Rosary, Novena followed by Mass.
Theme : Solidarity with One Another and Sharing Burdens.

3rd October 2009 (Sat) – 7.00pm Rosary, Novena followed by Mass and Candle Light Procession.
Theme : Seeing the Image of God in Every Man and Woman.

4th October 2009 (Sun) – 10.00am Rosary, Novena followed by Mass.
Theme: Mystery of Trinity dwelling in us.

Donations (in cash or cheques) are most welcomed.
Mass offerings and donations can be made before Mass each day at the entrance of the Chapel.
All cheques are to be made payable to : CHAPEL OF ST. THERESA

Chapel of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan Tel (hp) 017-3962977 (Mr. Maurice Sta Maria)

Visit the Chapel's blog at sttheresanilai.blogspot.com

Pesta Gereja Maria Bonda, Kampung Tekir (Orang Asli Village Celebrates the Feast of Our Lady, Patron of their chapel)

Komuniti Orang Asli di Kampung Tekir, Jalan Labu, akan merayakan Pesta Gereja Kecil mereka yang di letakkan dibawah naungan Bonda Maria, pada 13hb September. Ini adalah sempena Pesta Kelahiran Bonda Maria pada 8hb September.

Gereja Maria Bonda mempunyai sejarah yang melebihi 100 tahun. Pada masa sekarang, terdapat 3 komuniti Orang Asli yang berumat Katolik dibawah jagaan paroki Gereja Visitasi, Seremban, iaitu, Kampung Orang Asli Tekir, Kampung Orang Asli Sebir (kedua-dua di Jalan Labu) dan Kampung Orang Asli Belihoi (sepanjang jalan Seremban-Mantin).

Pesta Kelahiran Bonda Maria mengingatkan kita tentang identiti dan maruah peribadi kita. Tuhan Allah telah memilih Bonda Maria sebagai ibu kandung Yesus sejak dari permulaan. Oleh sebab, gadis Yahudi ini telah menyahut seruan Tuhan maka seluruh dunia dan manusia sejagat dapat menikmati keberkatan penyelamatan.

Pada hari yang mulia ini, marilah kita bersyukur kepada Tuhan atas kurniaannya, khususnya, Bonda Maria . Kita juga ingin bersyukur kepadanya atas nyawa setiap insan didunia ini, kerana setiap insan juga merupakan kurniaan daripada Tuhan dan diletak disini dengan tujuannya tersendiri.

(The Orang Asli Community of Kampung Tekir, Jalan Labu, celebrates the Feasts of Our Lady, the patron of their 100 year old village chapel on Sunday, September 13, 4.00 pm)

Gadong Chapel Feast - Annai Vellangkanni

The Chapel Feast Triduum Celebration began on September 11, Friday, with rosary devotion, confessions and Mass. Fr. Jonathan OFM Cap, who had served in the Church of Visitation as assistant priest for a period of 4 years (about 20 years ago), is preacher for the Triduum Celebration. Both Frs. Michael Chua and George Packiasamy were present to hear confessions before the Mass and concelebrated the with Fr. Jonathan thereafter.

At this evening's Mass, the second day of Triduum, the statue of Our Lady of Vellangkanni, will be taken in procession around the village of Gadong.

Gadong Chapel's Feast of Annai Vellangkanni - Our Lady of Good Health

Our Chapel of Annai Vellangkanni in Gadong will be celebrating its Patron's Feast with a Triduum.
Sep 11th (Frid) 7.30 pm Mass
Sep 12th (Sat) 7.30 pm Mass
Sep 13th (Sun) 11.00 am Mass (Feast Day)

The actual Feast of Annai Vellangkanni coincides with the Feast of the Nativiy of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8. As Annai Vellangkanni is also called "Our Lady of Good Health", her shrine has also been called the Lourdes of the East.

The Story of Mary's Apparition in the town of Vellangkanni

Our lady of Good Health, popularly called "Our Lady of Vellangkanni" is in the small town of Vellangkanni (5000 residents) located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. It is located 150 miles south of Madras in Tamil Nadu and 5 miles south of Nagapattinam. Our lady chose this place to dispense her miracles to mankind. A strong oral tradition attests to Our Lady’s apparitions at Vellangkanni. The tradition is built around the following three significant events:

First Miracle: Hindu Boy and Annai Vellangkanni

Sometime during the sixteenth century, Our Lady with her infant son appeared to a Hindu boy carrying milk to a customer’s home. While he rested under a Banyan tree near a tank (pond), Our Lady appeared to him and asked for milk for her Son and the boy gave her some. On reaching the customer’s home, the boy apologized for his lateness and the reduced amount of milk by relating the incident that occurred on his way. On inspection, the man found the milk pot to be full and realized that something miraculous had happened. That man, also a Hindu, wanting to see the place where the apparition occurred, accompanied the boy.

When they reached the tank, Our Lady appeared once again. On learning that it was Our Lady who appeared to the boy, the residents of the local Catholic community became ecstatic. The tank where the apparition took place is called "Matha Kulam" or Our Lady’s tank.

Second Miracle: Crippled Boy and Annai Vellangkanni

Some years later Our Lady appeared again. This time to a crippled boy who was selling buttermilk near a public square on the outskirts of the same village of Vellangkanni. She asked him for buttermilk for her infant Son and the boy compiled. Our Lady asked the boy to inform a certain wealthy Catholic man in the nearby town of Nagapattinam of her appearance. Not realizing that his crippled leg was miraculously cured by Our Lady, the boy rose up and began his journey. The man also had a vision the previous night in which Our Lady asked him to build a chapel for her. Together, the man and the boy returned to the site of the miracle.

This time Our Lady appeared to both. The man erected a thatched chapel for Our Lady at the site of Her second appearance. This chapel became a holy place of veneration to Our Blesses mother and She was called henceforth, Mother of Good Health ("Arokia Matha").

Third Miracle: Portuguese Ship and Annai Vellangkanni

A few years later, Our Merciful Mother rescued a few Portuguese merchant sailors from a violent storm, which wrecked their ship. When the merchants reached the shore of Vellangkanni they were taken by local fisherman to the thatched chapel. To give thanks and pay tribute to Our Lady, they built a small permanent chapel on their return trip. On subsequent visits they improved on it. The merchants dedicated the chapel to Our Lady on September 8th to celebrate the feast of her nativity and to mark the date of their safe landing to Vellangkanni.

Today, the celebration of this feast is an annual festival which lasts for 9 days and draws more than a million and a half pilgrims. Vellangkanni attracts more pilgrims than any other sacred shrine in India. Not only do multitudes of Catholic travel there throughout the year but many non-Christians visit as well. Hundreds of miraculous cures are reported every year.

A video of the car procession at the Shrine of Annai Vellangkanni, India

Titi Chapel celebrates Feast and Opening of Hall

The Chapel of St. Augustine, Titi, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, which comes under the pastoral care of the Church of Visitation, this year celebrates the feasts of its patron with a Triduum celebration. Fr. Clement Lim, assistant Parish Priest of Visitation, who also has been assigned pastoral care of the Mandarin Apostolate and the Chapel of St. Augustine, will be celebrating the Triduum masses. He will also be making pastoral visits to the families in the area.

This year's celebration will also see the official opening of the Chapel's Community Hall which was completed 2 years ago. This official opening would be an opportunity for the local community to express their gratitude and appreciation to all benefactors, donors, and well-wishers.