Grand candlelight procession

The grand candlelight procession of Our Lady took place at the Church of The Visitation after the 6.00pm sunset Mass on May 26. The multilingual Mass, animated by the Youths, marked the fourth day of the nine days of Rosary, Eucharistic celebration and Fellowship leading to the Visitation Feastday on May 31. It also coincided with the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, Most Rev Joseph Salvador Marino, was the main celebrant. In his homily, Archbishop Marino said, “The world of Christ’s mercy did not end when he was taken up to heaven. Instead, Jesus told his disciples and tells us today to go into the world and baptise in the name of the Holy Trinity.” The Church is the sacrament of Mercy as the Holy Father Pope Francis gave us the Jubilee of Mercy in 2016. “Mercy is the foundation of the life of the Church. The Mercy shown by Jesus is to touch our human suffering and that is why Jesus came to the world. What matters to Jesus is to save those shunned by the world and to restore every human being to the family of God.” Archbishop Joseph concluded his homily with what the Pope wrote. “We can fear to lose the saved or we want to save the lost, that is to go outside and bring those who are lost into the Church. The Church has always been the way of Jesus, the way of mercy.”

At the end of the Mass, Fr George thanked Archbishop Joseph for celebrating Mass and the entire liturgy team for the preparation.

The solemn procession started in front of the Church. The route passed by two places of worship, the Gurdwara Sahib and Sri Bala Thandayuthapani Temple. Other landmarks were the iconic A&W restaurant, the General Post Office, the Railway Station, NSCRC and the site where the Seremban Convent school founded in 1904 once stood till 1994. As our Lady made her final lap passing the Little India street, the church bell rang once again. As the float stopped in front of the church, the Nuncio said a closing prayer. Parishioners approached Our Lady to offer prayers and thanksgiving. Thanks to the traffic police, RELA and Hospitality ministers, the procession went well.

Fr George then led Archbishop Joseph to the fellowship reception area. A group photo with members from different faiths was taken with the Nuncio. Performances were presented on stage to entertain the guests and parishioners. In appreciation, the Church of The Visitation awarded three parishioners for their selfless giving in service to the Church for a good number of years. They were Lawrence Xavier (Christmas Campaign for the Poor), Charles De Lima (St Anthony’s meal) and Madam Angeline Van Huizen (Hospitality Ministry). They each received a plaque and certificate.

The statue of Our Lady was first installed in the main sanctuary of the Church of Visitation in 1933 by Fr Georges Auguin, an MEP priest and (the then) Fr Dominic Vendargon. In 1966, resident priests at the Visitation – Fr Paul Wan, Fr Edward Limat, Fr Pallier and Fr Joseph Tsai – had the statue relocated to the front of the Church. It is elevated above the main entrance overlooking Seremban town.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online