Each group was tasked with addressing four questions for activities to be undertaken
By Mercy Almeida Stellus
Aug 22 2023
SELANGOR – The Church of St Jude held its Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) on August 5. A small number gathered at the church at 2.00pm.
In her opening speech, Parish Pastoral Council chairperson, Christine Vincent, said that the PPA served as a reminder of the strong foundation upon which this parish was built — a foundation of prayer, fellowship and service. The participants came to reflect on their journey so far and also to envision the path that lies ahead.
The assembly commenced with representatives from the Youth, Family Life and Formation cluster groups sharing activities they have had, as well as the challenges faced organising the programmes such as parishioners’ participation. On the same note, the three groups agreed they had parish priest Fr Vincent Thomas’ full cooperation.
The youth said some parents were the obstacle as they were reluctant to send their children to church activities. Many parents were primarily focused on sending their children to pursue their studies, leaving little time for them to take part in parish youth activities.
The following item on the agenda involved group sharing, during which participants were organised into groups based on their respective zones. Each group was tasked with addressing four questions related to potential activities that could be under taken and strategies to help strengthen the faith of the parishioners. Among the various suggestions raised from the group sharing, starting a ministry for the elderly or senior citizens was top on the list, as they felt the golden agers still had a lot to contribute to the community
The Family Life Ministry proposed conducting talks on mixed-marriages as this is a difficult issue parents are facing today, and they must learn to deal with the present generation of children. There was also a suggestion to host talks catering to the needs of single parents, young parents, and divorcees.
The youth requested counselling sessions for children and teenagers. They also asked to be allowed to animate Mass once or twice a month. Adrian Joseph, the youngest PPC member, said a lot can be achieved if there was cooperation from every parishioner.
Senior parishioner Mas Muthu said, “We are called to be Christ-like”. He said we have to be good role models and reach out to the parishioners to dialogue with them, while being humble and more attuned to their feelings.
Fr Vincent brought the assembly to a close with a quote from St Teresa of Calcutta.
He said, “Keep in mind that our community is not composed of those who are already saints, but of those who are trying to become saints. Therefore, let us be extremely patient with each other’s faults and failures.”
Fr Vincent added that it might not be feasible to put into action every suggestion but he will sit with his council members to discuss the best approach for implementing these recommendations to foster the growth of the parish. He thanked Bro Ashvin Andrew Xavier and Theresa Ayyakkannu for moderating the assembly. – Herald Malaysia
