Saturday, September 01, 2007

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

DSC06738

DSC06732

To celebrate this great feast, I went to the former Cathedral of the Assumption, established in 1786, the year Penang was founded by Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company.

DSC06734

DSC06735

It was formerly the Cathedral of the Bishop of Penang when the Diocese was established in 1955 with His Lordship, the late Msgr. Francis Chan as it's first Bishop.

DSC06736

DSC06740

I went early so the Church was empty. Later on it began to fill as the Rosary was prayed. The seminarians and several priests joined the Bishop for the titular feast of this Church. Bro. Allan OFM, Cap, brother of my parish priest, Fr. Marshall Frenandez can be seen below.

DSC06741

His Lordship, Bishop Antony Selvanayagam of Penang joined in the rosary as well.

DSC06745

DSC06749

After the rapid urbanization and demographic changes in Penang, the former Cathedral saw it's parishioners move out at great rate until there was no community left to sustain a parish. The seat of the Bishop was moved to a newer, thriving parish in the suburbs. The former cathedral was merged with the Church of St. Francis Xavier, St. John Britto and Our Lady of Lourdes to form the City Parish.

DSC06755

From left, Fr. Michael Thoo, the parish priest, Fr. Decroix MEP, Fr. Henry Rajoo, assistant priest at the new Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the Bishop, Fr. Francis Anthony, the Cathedral Administrator and Fr. Paul Cheong, OFM, Cap concelebrated the Mass.

DSC06759

DSC06760

Hoc est enim Corpus Meum
DSC06761

DSC06762

It was nice to see so many people coming to this Church to celebrate it's titular feast. Fellowship then followed in the Church compound.

DSC06763

3 comments:

war in the pocket said...

hey, thanks for your well wishes!! I appreciate it.

Andrew said...

Don't mention it!

Pietro Siffi said...

Wow nice site! Just put your email otherwise it's difficult to join you! Please see this website: www.tridentinum.com