By Aaron Lim
Dec 14 2020
Parishes within the Penang state proved that they were undaunted despite various limitations and restrictions posed by the Movement Control Order and COVID-19 pandemic.
Parishes within the Penang state proved that they were undaunted despite various limitations and restrictions posed by the Movement Control Order and COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, the parishes from the Penang Island Deanery and Northern Deanery came out with creative activities to deepen the meaning of Advent for their parishioners.
Below are some of the activities from the various parishes:
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
The project entitled Sharing The Gift 2020 gives parishioners an opportunity to become beacons of joy and hope as the faithful await the birth of Christ.
The campaign is divided into several categories; namely the Gift of Blessing to provide schooling essentials to 100 families, Gift of Joy in bringing Christmas cheer to the Children’s Ward in Penang General Hospital and St Joseph’s Home and Pot Bless to Bless, which is to serve meals to poor families and charitable organisations.
Parishioners of CHS can volunteer towards helping out for these projects or contribute financially via online banking facility or scanning the parish’s DuitNow QR code.
Besides this, parishioners are also invited to share their stories on the journey towards Christmas throughout the sea son of Advent under the CHS Advent-Christmas Story 2020.
Photos together with short testimonies from participation in Sharing The Gift 2020 campaign are being collected to be compiled into a video to be shared on the parish’s social media (https://www.facebook. com/CathedralOfTheHolySpiritPenang).
City Parish, Penang
The outreach project entitled Give Hope This Christmas will assist the Catholic nonprofit Fr Julien Agape Centre, to purchase schooling essentials for underprivileged children residing in George Town and Jelutong as well as offering Christmas gift baskets to the adoptees of the four St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) conferences of the parish.
The project will run until Jan 9, 2021 and well-wishers are encouraged to participate by contributing via online banking or scanning the parish’s Touch N’ Go e-wallet QR code. (https://www.facebook.com/ cityparishpg)
Minor Basilica of St Anne, Bukit Mertajam
Parishioners of MBSA are encouraged to celebrate the joy of the season by participating in the Joy of Christmas Photography Contest from Dec 1 to Dec 13.
They can submit photos which are relevant to Christmas such as Christmas tree, crib, wreath or decorations, and the photos will be judged by their originality and creativity.
The photo which garners the most number of engagements on the parish Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ BasilicaofStAnneBM) will stand an opportunity to be featured as a cover photo on Facebook and YouTube.
Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Sts Chastan and Imbert, Butterworth
Using the hashtag #NBVMAdventFest2020, the parish has launched several initiatives to commemorate the season of Advent.
The needy and less privileged affected by the pandemic will be assisted through the appeal for generous contributions via online banking.
Social media followers are also invited to snap pictures and post online with the parish hashtag which will comprise the themes Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
In addition to that, NBVM and SCIC will open a Virtual Christmas Marketplace (http://nbvmscic.org/christmas-corner/) for vendors to sell and promote their Christmas products through online posters.
Talented musicians are also included as they can record videos of their singing together with family members or friends through the Virtual Christmas Carolling project.
Church of Divine Mercy, Sungai Ara
CDM parishioners will experience The Gift of Giving as they pledge and fulfil the wish lists of children from Ru Yi Home, Peace Children Care Centre and Seri Cahaya Home.
The contributions, which will be made through BEC leaders or the Parish Office, will also be used to bring Christmas cheer to the migrants and the poor living within the parish boundary. (https://www.facebook.com/ cdmsgarapg)
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus
The parish paid tribute to all medical frontliners in Malaysia during its Christmas tree lighting ceremony in appreciation of their tireless efforts in battling the pandemic and keeping the community safe.
Bishop Sebastian Francis together with parish priest Fr Jude Miranda officiated the ceremony which was held during the parish’s online Feastday Mass on Dec 8. – Herald Malaysia
