2.7.09- Judging of entries for the Golden Jubilee Logo competition

A total of 37 entries were received from 16 participants of the Golden Jubilee Logo competition when it closed on 30.6.09. A panel of 4 independent judges comprising our Padre, Rev. Fr. Simon Yong SJ, Ms Felicia Pereira, Mr Davin Arul and Mr Tony Chin met on 2.7.09 to judge the entries. The winning entries were as follows:-

1st. prize of RM500.00 went to Ms Bernadette Quah Phaik Choo
2nd. prize of RM300.00 went to Mr George Ho Chun Jen, and
3rd. Prize of RM200.00 went to Dennis Lee Wan-Chien.

The two consolation prizes of RM100.00 each were won by:-
a) MonicaYeoh Siu Cheng and b) Angeline Ann Andrew.

All the other 11 participants were also awarded tokens of appreciation in the form of RM50.00 cash each.

The winning logo (revised) was officially launched on the 12.7.09 Family Day and together with the other winning entries were also exhibited and introduced to the parish at large at the family day.

The winners and all participants were also presented their prizes and tokens of appreciation at the aboved official launch. The first prize winner Ms Bernadette Quah was gracious to donate back her winning prize money of RM500.00 for the SFX Church renovations fund.

The Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee wishes to place on record its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the Panel of Judges of the Logo competition and also to parishioner and event organizer Mr Francis Danker for putting together the launching ceremony of the winning Logo and also the exhibition booth of the winning entries.

Photos of the judging can be accessed at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66361346@N00/

7-9 August 2009 - Parish Renewal Experience

On Friday 7th August 2009, an event began that would mark the beginning of a transformation process of the people who participated in it. That event was the PRE – Parish Renewal Experience. A 3 day experience, it was aimed at the renewal of the participants, bringing about an inner transformation which would then be spread to others in the parish. This weekend renewal program was led by none other than Rev Fr Ignatius Huan, assisted by the Parish Animating Team.
Fr Ignatius, in his opening, reminded the participants of their commitment to the program. This, he says, is their covenant with God, to commit themselves to the renewal of themselves and the parish.
There were altogether 9 sessions in which Fr Ignatius gave his input followed by personal sharing from the members of the Animating Team. After that, the participants went into their small groups to share among themselves.
The highlight of this weekend was the Healing and Reconciliation session where the participants seek to be reconciled to one another and to the church. This was followed by a surprise “meeting” with their loved ones. This session was indeed a powerful as some participants felt the power of reconciliation and healing.
The weekend concluded with a commissioning Mass, sending the participants to spread the Love of Christ to the world. Their commitment was marked by the burning of their commitment during the Mass and receiving of the PRE cross. (Write-up by Philip Tay)

Photos from the PRE can be accessed at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=FrancisLKM&target=ALBUM&id=5370749535553218241&authkey=Gv1sRgCPCo9cyo_tCwEQ&feat=email
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66361346@N00/

2.8.09-Rite of Acceptance for new enquirers of the Catholic faith in SFX Church.

The 70 plus new enquirers of our Catholic faith were formally welcomed into the community of SFX Church at the Sunday 5.30pm Mass on 2.8.09. The Enquirers accompanied by their sponsors / god parents preceded the Presider in procession into the church. After the formal liturgical process of being welcomed which included being signed on the fore head, palm and ears and also being presented to a representative couple a copy of the Holy Bible, they were formally introduced to the congregation and were welcomed with a round of applause.

The enquirers now known cathecumens then departed from the church to proceed to their class in Loyola Hall where the 2nd part of the Rite of Welcome was held. There our dear Padre, Rev. Fr. Simon Yong blessed copies of the Holy Bible which were then presented to each of the cathecumens as their personal Bible.

The photos of the Rite-of-Welcome can be viewed by accessing :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/66361346@N00/sets/72157622110519042/

15.8.09 - Celebrating Rev. Fr. Larry Tan's 60th. Birthday

Rev. Fr. Larry Tan SJ has been one of the longest serving former Pastor of SFX Church in P.J. and his services is warmly remembered especially in this Year for Priests. To celebrate his forthcoming 60th. Birthday which actually falls on 18.8.09, a private birthday party was held in his honor on last Saturday night 15.8.09. On behalf of all present we wish to thank Vincent and Pat Lam for initiating the birthday dinner. Some photos from the occasion is posted for viewing and more are available at the Picasa Web Album as follows:-
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=FrancisLKM&target=ALBUM&id=5375398802068822017&authkey=Gv1sRgCLCU1eq4lon7CQ&feat=email

1.8.09 G.J. Celebrations Committee celebrates the 9th Sacerdotal Anniversary of our Padre

31.7.2009 was the Feast day of the Founder of the Society of Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola. It was also the 9th. Sacerdotal Anniversary of our Dear Padre Rev. Fr. Simon Yong SJ.

The Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee decided to host a dinner the followng day on Saturday 1.8.09 at Mum's Restaurant in Damansara Perdana to show our appreciation of his Priestly Ministry especially his service as the Shepherd of the flock in St Francis Xavier's Church. This was our simple way of showing our appreciation to our Jesuit Priests who have been pastoring SFX since its founding in 1961 and in line with this year's dedication by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI as the Year For Priests.

Photos from the dinner is posted in FLICKR and can be accessed at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66361346@N00/sets/72157622110750914/

31.7.09-Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus

The community of Jesuits gathered at SFX Church P.J. to celebrate the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola at the 6.15pm Mass 31.7.09. This Mass was an occasion for the Jesuits to remember the Founder of their Society and also the opportunity for them to renew zeal for their their priestly and religious vocation especially this year being the Year For Priests.

This year's Feast Day of St. Ignatius was also the 9th Sacerdotal Anniversary of our dear padre Rev. Fr. Simon Yong. The acting local superior of the Jesuits Rev. Fr. Lawrence Andrew in his homily also touched on the efforts of our dear padre to beautify the Church, and congratulated him and his team for their efforts.

Fr Simon Yong was then prayed over by his brother Jesuit Priests and they were joined by the parishioners in wishing him many more years of faithful service to our God and Xavier, Lord Jesus Christ.

Photos taken are posted at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66361346@N00/

15.8.09 Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

The Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on 15th August 2009 has been a favorite date since the early days for members of the Society of Jesus popularly known as the Jesuits to have been ordained as Holy Priests or taken vows as Brothers of the same order.

For us in SFX this 15.8.09 Feast Day of the Assumption was not only a Day of Obligation, but it was also the date chosen by Rev. Bro Gerard Choo Thean Yoon SJ to take his Final Vows as a Jesuit Brother. The joyful occasion was celebrated at the 9.00am Mass where Bro Gerard Choo took his vows before the main presider, Rev. Fr. Larry Tan SJ, the Jesuit Regional Superior of the Malaysia and Singapore, and his fellow Jesuits including Rev. Fr.O. C. Lim, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Andrew, Rev. Fr Aloysius Mowe, Rev. Fr. Ravi, and Rev. Fr. Albert Tan. There was also a good turn out of the various religious orders including the Jesuit Brothers, Marist Brothers, the FMM Sisters, the sisters from LSP and Daughters of St. Paul to celebrate this important Church eventand also to witness Bro Gerard taking his final vows.

Also present were several family members of the Malaysian Jesuits, not withstanding the guest of honour being the beloved mother of Bro Gerard Choo his brothers and sisters, cousins and their family members who came from near and far to witness their kin’s service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The fellowship that followed the 9.00am Mass was also special in that we remembered the 18th Sacerdotal Anniversary of Rev. Fr. Larry Tan and his up-coming 60th birthday. Therefore two cakes were cut, first by Rev. Fr. Larry and another by Rev. Bro Gerard. All present sang ‘birthday’ songs to each of our beloved Jesuits.

As was mentioned earlier, Rev. Fr. O.C. Lim was also present for the special 9.00am Mass. Fr. O.C. Lim continues to make good progress and recovery from his recent sickness and it was indeed a joy for all to see his presence too. In the thank you for the special occasion Fr. O.C. Lim was warmly welcomed. He managed to say hello and thank you to the parishioners who swarmed around him after Mass to wish him full and speedy recovery before departing early from the fellowship.

Photos taken for the occasion are posted herewith. The full photos album can be viewed at the picasa web album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=FrancisLKM&target=ALBUM&id=5375386420194234161&authkey=Gv1sRgCJHJ6fjXle6YkQE&feat=email