Peter Tan – The Digital Awakening
Living One Day At A Time
How did I spend the first day of the Chinese New Year? Uncle Paul took me to Mass together with his family. There I met my mother’s cousin, some second cousins and parishioners whom I have gotten acquainted with since going to Mass there. There was an air of joviality as the interior of the Cathedral was decked in red lanterns, scrolls with auspicious Chinese calligraphy hanging from the pillars and everbody wishing each other with a smile. Today was also the first time I attended Mass celebrated by the Reverend Father Francis Anthony, the new parish priest.
The Cathedral was not packed at all which was surprising because when I went to the Chinese New Year Mass at Balik Pulau last year, the church was filled to the brim. This could be due to the fact that today is also Ash Wednesday and I guess many will be going to the Mass later in the evening.
Later in the day, my paternal aunty, cousin and her husband whom I have not seen for four years dropped in. We spent some time catching up on the news of the relatives on my father’s side. It has been a very long time since I have met any of them as most of them are in Bukit Mertajam.
I spent the rest of the day reading. I bought two books at the Church of St. Francis Xavier the other day. One was titled Parishes in Post-Modernism. I had read part of it when I was at Wuan’s place. I finished the rest of it today. It was written by the Reverend Father Joseph Stephen who happened to be there to promote his book on that day. This book explores how we can continue to live a life of faith amidst the present-day challenges. He will be at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit from February 12 to 13 to promote this book. Father Joseph Stephen is a Redemptorist priest. Click here to learn more about the Redemptorists.
The other book that I bought was the Catholic Directory and Ordo of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei 2005. The directory lists the contacts of all Roman Catholic churches and Religious and secular organisations. Among others, the Ordo contains the Catholic Liturgical Calendar and the Liturgy of the Hour for the current year.
At today’s Sunset Mass, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit played host to the launching of the Jubilee Year from August 2004 to August 2005. The Penang Diocese celebrates the fiftieth years of its formation. The Golden Jubilee Celebration is a momentous occasion for the Diocese which encompasses the states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Kelantan.
The Cathedral was filled with roses of all shades for this occasion. There was only standing room as the Cathedral was packed to the brim with parishioners wanting to be a part of this beautiful event. Bishop Antony Selvanayagam, Monsignor Stephen Liew and a mass of Fathers and Religious from different Orders of the Roman Catholic Church were there to witness and celebrate the event with the laity.
I missed the beginning part of the Mass as I could not find a place to park my wheelchair in the crowded Cathedral. Then my cousin Mary found me a spot where I could see the altar, the projector screen and follow Mass. Towards the end of the Mass, I met fellow blogger Lucia of Mental Jog for the first time. A while later, while I was wheeling to get a better view, the digital camera slipped from my lap and dropped onto the floor. The fall broke the catch of the battery cover. The cover cannot be shut tightly and the camera kept flashing the battery exhausted message. Now I wonder how I can get it repaired.
In conjunction with this auspicious event, the Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Jubilee was unveiled by the Bishop and was heralded by the blowing of the horns. This statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Boy Jesus was conceptualised by Father Michael Cheah. They were given a local flavour with Mary and Jesus wearing clothes with an indigenous theme. Mass ended with a rapturous performance by the choir singing the Jubilee Theme Song.