Ignatian Online, Website of St Ignatius Church, Petaling Jaya

St Ignatius Church (SIC) has become possibly the first church in the country to launch a formal structured training programme based on Echoes of Faith Plus (EOF+) – regarded as the most complete and widely-used catechist formation resource ever developed. SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng officiated the launch of the Catechist Formation & Enrichment Programme (CFEP) which is targeted at current faith formators and those who intend to be one. More that 60 catechists from SIC’s catechical ministries such as Sunday School, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), Little Rock Scripture Study (LRSS) and Infant Baptism attended the event held on 15 August 2010 at the Costantini Community Centre.

CFEP is a video-assisted process formation programme with the following features:
• Training catered to the needs of initiatory & ongoing catechesis
• Addresses the spiritual development of person of the catechist, their knowledge and methodologies in catechesis
• Interesting enough for catechists to sign up voluntarily
• Modular approach for flexibility in choice of modules
• Facilitated by Presenters using video & booklet
• Wide scope and range from six-year-olds to adults
• Short interesting sessions
• Each participant will receive an original booklet complete with CD-ROM

For a start, catechists at SIC will be able to attend EOF+ modules divided into three categories (The Catechist, Theology, Methodology) from 10 am to 12 noon on Sundays. This time slot was chosen because the majority (74%) of SIC catechists are teaching in Sunday School. Whilst they attend CFEP, their alternates would stand-in. The Catechical Services Task Team, which helped to implement and administer CFEP, hopes that it would help alleviate the lack of skilled and dedicated faith educators; overcome the shortcomings of ad-hoc training programmes; and produce a pool of available, skilled and dedicated catechists and trainers. In closing remarks, Fr Lucas encouraged those present to promote and attract other parishioners into the programme. 

Click on Echoes of Faith Plus for more information.

Seven hundred parishioners of St Ignatius Church (SIC) young and old alike, several priests and nuns and invited guests filled the Damansara Palace Restaurant, Kota Damansara, on 14 August 2010 to bid farewell to Fr Philip Tan who has served as SIC Parish Priest for the past six years and Assistant Parish Priest for two years preceding that. The dinner was also an occasion to welcome Fr Lucas Ng who assumed the post from 1st July 2010. Fr Philip is now the regional superior for the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD) priests in Malaysia.

Talented parishioners of SIC were more than happy to present several song & dance items, video snapshots of the life of Fr Philip and Fr Lucas as well as past CDD priests, gifts to Fr Philip, and quizzes for the audience. The highlight of the night was a symbolic ‘handing over the torch’ gesture from Fr Philip to Fr Lucas and SIC Assistant Parish Priest Fr Anthony Heng, followed by a special treat from Fr Philip who sang two songs to loud applause from those present. After much music and good cheer, the event ended with all present raising their hands in prayer over the three priests for God’s strength and guidance as they continue to shepherd and lead the SIC community.

View more pictures of the event by clicking on Photo Gallery, then select Church Events.

Pictures by Daniel Khong

St Ignatius Church (SIC) celebrated its annual feast day with a Triduum from 29 to 31 July 2010 anchored by the theme Discipleship in Mission. After a video presentation on the Life of St Ignatius of Loyola, the Triduum celebration kicked off with mass on 29 July celebrated by Fr Simon Labrooy (Parish Priest, Parish of St Thomas More) and concelebrated by SIC Parish Priest Fr Lucas Ng. Touching on the sub-theme, Fr Simon preached that we, as the “Laity in Mission”, need to reflect upon three areas: Awareness of the sanctity of life so that we will protect and uphold the dignity of every human person, Renewal of our lives which cannot take place without the help of Jesus, and the Need for Dialogue with those who are different from us such as non-Catholics and the 'New Poor' comprising migrant workers & foreign students amongst others. In these three tasks, we bear witness to our Lord Jesus Christ – the treasure of Truth held by the One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church.

On the second evening of the Triduum, Fr Simon explained that the sub-theme of “Vocation” for every Christian is a call of holiness. Holiness is not about spending long hours in church or the prayer room but concerns encountering Jesus, bringing Jesus to those in need, living our lives to the greatest potential, and in communion with God through prayer. The call of vocation leads towards either religious life (Nuns, Brothers, etc), marriage or the priesthood. Fr Simon also stated the importance of discernment in determining our vocation in line with God's will. The mass which started at 8.00 pm was concelebrated by SIC Assistant Parish Priest Fr Anthony Heng. Fr Simon also conducted an Ignatian Spirituality Exercise for some 150 parishioners after mass. Participants were led through a journey to meet their inner child in order to examine and reflect on their unforgiveness, violence, low self-esteem and other shortcomings.

Concurrently on the first two evenings, Fr John Chia CDD celebrated mass and preached in Mandarin at SIC’s Costantini Community Centre. Fr Lawrence Ng CDD, Fr Lucas and Fr Anthony were the concelebrants.

This year’s Triduum concluded with a bilingual mass on 31 July celebrated by Fr Simon and concelebrated by Frs Philip Tan (Regional Superior, CDD Malaysia), John Chia, Lucas Ng, Anthony Heng and Lawrence Ng. In his homily focusing on the sub-theme "Justice, Solidarity & Peace", Fr Simon proposed a few questions for the congregation including: Who are we? Are we doing our best? Could things be done better? He stressed the importance of sharing and caring in building character – which leads to true peace in our hearts. And love will be present when we care and share. We can then reach out and be in solidarity with the 'New Poor' and others in need outside the church, bringing about peace and justice. Fr John Chia also gave a homily in Mandarin.

After mass, parishioners and priests had a fellowship dinner together to celebrate a successful Triduum. 

This year’s St Ignatius Church (SIC) Family Telematch may have been delayed due to a drizzle but it did not dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of about 100 SIC parishioners, participants and volunteers who turned up. Family Telematch, which was held at Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Megah field on 3 July 2010 from 8.45 am to 12 noon, comprised not-too-physical games inspired by themes, people and events in the Bible. Young and old alike relied on teamwork, communication and strategy to outdo their opponents – in a fun yet challenging set of eight games. They included Miracle at Cana which involved the transport of water and filling them into containers; Transfiguration where participants disguise themselves with items such as hats, scarves and spectacles; and Samson which involved a form of bowling using coconuts and mineral water bottles.

Attending his first event as SIC’s new Parish Priest, guest-of-honour Fr Lucas Ng sportingly participated in some of the games, as well as handed medals to winners and runners-up and gave away part of the lucky draw prizes. More than a competition to come out best, the event was an occasion for community-building and bonding within and between families through sharing and friendship. SIC telematch was organised by SIC Family Life Ministry. BECCOT (Basic Ecclesial Communities Coordinating Team) helped with the food and drinks and the Junior Youth Ministry assisted in the running of the telematches. St John's Ambulance were at hand to provide medical assistance, which fortunately was not required.

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RM46,954 – this was the amount of money raised by the first-ever Musical Concert of Love held at the Costantini Community Centre, St Ignatius Church (SIC), on 26 and 27 June 2010. Monies will be re-directed to Rumah Kanak-Kanak Impian (operated by Society of St Vincent de Paul), Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHDM), the orang asli community, Prison Ministry and other deserving groups. Over the two nights, more than 800 parishioners, parents, guests and supporters from outside SIC attended the concert. Sr Cecilia Emmanuel [Superior, Little Sisters of the Poor (LSP)], 16 LSP residents, 15 children from RKKI and 25 adoptees under PIHDM programmes were the special guests.

The event kicked off with a rendition of Michael Jackson’s We are the World and Heal the World by the newly-formed SIC Children’s Choir, SIC Youth Choir and Klang Chamber Choir. This was followed up by SIC Children’s Choir performing an item titled Noah’s Ark; Michelle Lai, Laura Sta Maria & Rachel Lai singing You’ve Got a Friend; a dynamic blacklight dance item by the 2009 Youth Rally graduates (choreographed by Zachary Emaung & Michael Ho). SIC Youth Choir then sang about gratefulness to God with I Am His Child, followed by Broadway hits such as Les Miserable’s At the End of the Day and Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again from the Phantom of the Opera. Laura Sta Maria then took centre stage with a solo medley before a short break.

After the interval, the audience was treated to a full-orchestra performance with wide-ranging sounds from soothing strings to the clash of cymbals and thumping drums. The 45-member Puchong Community Orchestra & Choir, conducted by SIC parishioner Xavier Anthony, performed five pieces: Overture Don Giovanni composed by Mozart, Prelude to Carmen by Bizet Georges, Feather Theme from Forrest Gump, In A Persian Market by Albert Ketelby, and Light Cavalry Overture by Franze Von Suppe. With World Cup fever very much in the air, the audience which included SIC Parish Priest Fr Philip Tan and SIC Assistant Parish Priests Fr Lucas Ng and Fr Anthony Heng were on their feet dancing to the tune of several African songs performed by SIC Youth Choir and Klang Chamber Choir in Zulu – one of the major languages of South Africa.

Two surprise items, With A Grateful Heart (in Mandarin) and Always There, sung by Kevin Tay, Arthur Lim, Michelle & Rachel Lai and Laura Sta Maria (English song) were specially dedicated to Fr Philip who relinquishes his post as Parish Priest on 1 July 2010 after eight years of faithful service in building up SIC into a vibrant parish. SIC Children’s Choir then stepped forward for a medley of Flinstones songs, as well as children’s favourites like Banjo on My Knee, My Darling Clementine and My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean which brought back childhood memories of an earlier era for the grown-ups watching. SIC Youth Choir and the Klang Chamber Choir then joined their voices for the inspirational When You Believe from the movie ‘Prince of Egypt’ before the biggest cheer of the night for Fr Philip who sang I’ll Make the Difference. A stirring rendition of Shout Glory with encore brought the curtains down on the concert with much applause.

The idea for this event first cropped up in October 2009. Organised by SIC’s Junior Youth Ministry (JYM), the concert leveraged on the expertise and experience gained by youths in the JYM system through big-scale events like the SIC Youth Rallies over the past six years. A critical factor towards the success of the concert was the efforts and dedication of internationally-recognised Choir Master and vocal trainer Mr Lee Shiak Yao. In particular, Mr Lee assisted by Rachel Lai trained a select group of children and moulded them from novices into the SIC Children’s Choir which made their debut at the concert. The sacrifices and effort made by this 14-member group over the past six months encapsulate the contributions of all who made this event memorable. They can look back someday and say with some satisfaction: Yes, I have made a difference to the less fortunate and needy.

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