The newly baptised and those who received Confirmation with Fr Christopher Soosaipillai at the Church of St Theresa, Nilai
By Aileen Anthony
Apr 25 2023
NILAI, Negeri Sembilan – Musician William Dean Denny Koyoi, 40, used to enjoy performing in front of an audience in the Protestant church. “It was the artist in me who enjoyed the glamour,” shared Denny.
Denny and his sons, Raphael Elvern Kean Denny, 19, and Gabriel Elvin Konan Denny, 15, were among five Elect who received the Initiation Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation at the Church of St Theresa during the Easter Vigil.
Denny shared that his wife’s unwavering faith in the Roman Catholic Church made him turn the corner. “All these years, I have seen her reverence to prayer and her humility in her practice. One day, I realised it was time to come down from my pedestal. It was time for God to increase and I decrease,” he added. Denny shared that he had also considered Baptism in the Orthodox Church, but the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) journey showed him that Roman Catholicism is where his heart is.
Carlo Markus Chan Soon Kai, 39, had a similar source of inspiration, his wife. ‘I was considering between Islam and Christianity,” said Kai, who was raised Buddhist. However, his Catholic wife was always there to shine a light on the faith.
“If it weren’t for the MCOs, I would have been baptised sooner.” Kai shared that he found truth in Christ’s crucifixion and the sacrament of Reconciliation.
“When I was 14, my parents divorced. My mother brought me up singlehandedly,” said Jude Francoise Hii Ik Fan, 33. “For most of my life, I did not think about religion until I met my wife, who is Catholic.
Francoise shared that the love he felt from the Church marked the beginning of his journey. “When my prayers to get a job that did not require me to work weekends came true, I enrolled in the RCIA programme without hesitation,” he added.
“We are truly blessed to welcome our new members,” said parish priest, Fr Christopher Soosaipillai. “God works in marvellous ways. In this case, he worked through the wives. This shows us why Christ must always be at the centre of our families,” he added.
Together with the Elect were three other candidates who received their Confirmation and one who received the Holy Eucharist and Confirmation. The parish RCIA is facilitated by catechists Joanne Wee and Jason Christopher Fernandez. – Herald Malaysia
