Funds still needed to build new church in Rawang

Parish priest of the Church of St Jude, Fr David Arulanatham said many have contributed to the Building Fund for the proposed new church.

He said the money collected so far amounted to more than RM5 million. But the estimated total cost is about RM15 million.

The proposed Church will have a seating capacity of 1,300 and will be air-conditioned. The other facilities will include Sunday school classrooms, a funeral parlour, parish office, etc. Fr David is hoping that construction will start in October 2018, but it will depend on the generosity of the faithful.

“Sixty years ago, our predecessors built this present church. It is now our duty and responsibility to help to build the new church.”

Fr David said the building sketch plans are on display for all to see. A team from the Archdiocese is guiding the parish team.

A ten-minute video on the history of the church which was built on top a hill in Rawang in 1957 was shown.

Today, after 60 years of existence, the parish has a diversity of cultures and different races who come together for worship every week.

Fr David also introduced Fr Kenneth Gopal, OCD (Ordo Carmelitarum Discalceatorum or OCD), the first Carmelite priest in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. Fr Kenneth said the Religious Priest Order has just started a house in Seremban with a Deacon and a seminarian. He said a Carmelite priest is one who focuses on a deeper prayer life and mental prayer ie. meditation.

“The Order encourages people to take their prayer life seriously. We should learn to pray all the time because it is important to keep God in our lives.”

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online