Monthly Archives: January 2014
Mass at the shrine of Our Lady at Assumption Church
You are aware of what had happened in the Church of the Assumption, in which parish priest, Fr Dominic had issued a press statement. In the light of this and earlier incidents, many people and groups had been (and still is) praying for the nation – for peace and unity.
On this coming Tuesday (4 Feb), there will be a special Mass in front of the Our Lady shrine at 7.30 pm. Do attend and inform your friends about it.
Let us come together to pray for our nation against religious extremists and for freedom of the practise of own’s religion (as according to the constitution).
Gong Xi Fai Cai
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CHINESE PARISHIONERS AND THOSE WHO CELEBRATE THE CHINESE NEW YEAR
Priests find silver lining in Penang church incidents
Malaysiakini
by Susan Loone
28 January 2014
Fr Dominic (2nd from right) with the Penang CM on his right.
The City Parish, Penang, has expressed sadness over yesterday’s incidents where controversial banners were hung on churches, and home-made bombs were hurled into the compound of the Church of the Assumption compound along Farquhar Street.
“We are sad that there are elements out to create mischief between the various religious communities,” said its parish priest, Father Dominic Santhiyagu, in a statement today.
The City Parish consists of four churches within Georgetown, including the Church of the Assumption.
“The Church prays that peace and harmony will prevail at all times,” he added.
Santhiyagu also said that in the midst of these incidents, many, from various segments of society and of all races, had called to provide moral and spiritual support. He added that he trusted the police to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Santhiyagu also thanked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, the state executive council members and others, for their concern and visits to the Church of the Assumption.
“Thank you for being in solidarity with us. Let us continue to pray and work for peace and harmony in our beloved country, Malaysia”.
At 1.30am yesterday, two Molotov cocktails were hurled into the compound of the 229 year old church by unknown individuals.
This happened after five banners with the words ‘Allah is great, Jesus is the son of Allah’, were found at the premises of five churches, including one in Butterworth, on Sunday.
Other than the Assumption Church, the Immaculate Conception Church in Pulau Tikus, St John Britto, Sungai Pinang, Victory Lutheran Church, Island Glades, and Church of the Nativity in Butterworth had the similar banners hung outside their gates.
The police are probing the case under the Sedition Act for inciting religious tension and under the Penal Code for mischief by use of fire.
Sixteen reports have been lodged over the banners and Molotov cocktail incidents, and 283 police personnel have been deployed to monitor the situation of churches and mosques in Penang.
‘Don’t be provoked’
State exco for religious affairs, Abdul Malik Kassim, said those who placed the banner outside the churches may be the same ones who threw the firebombs.
“These groups doing these actions to benefit themselves,” Malik said, without pinpointing any political party or NGO.
He cautioned Muslims and Christians not to be swayed, trapped or provoked by these incidents which are intended to create racial and religious discord.
“Muslims are taught to protect the houses of worship of other religions. We are always taught to respect other religions and race,” he told a press conference in Komtar today.
State Umno liaison committee chairperson Zainal Abidin Osman also told the public not to listen to rumours.
“Check with the authorities and don’t be easily provoked,” he added at a press conference today.
Press statement from Fr Dominic
In the light of what had happened yesterday at the Church of the Assumption, where two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of the church, in front of the shrine of Our Lady, parish priest, Fr Dominic released a press statement today.
In the meantime, please note that there will be prayers service to pray for peace and harmony in our country, as follows:
1. Organised by City Parish
Church of St John Britto at 7.30p to 8.30pm on 28 Jan (Tuesday)
2. Orgnaised by Shalom Working Youth Fellowship
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at 8.30pm on 28 Jan (Tuesday)
3. Organised by Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM)
Georgetwon Baptist Church in Larut Road at 8.00pm on 29 Jan (Wed).
Get to know about the ‘Allah’ controversy
Understand it the easy way – through diagrams. You can also read about it in full details in wikipedia or simply googling for ‘allah malaysia’ will give you plenty of links.
Our church’s argument to show the history of Christian use of ‘Allah’.
The 10-point solution, issued by the Najib administration shortly before the Sarawak state election in 2011, allowed for bibles in Malay and indigenous languages to be printed, imported and distributed nationwide with certain conditions imposed for Peninsula Malaysia.
City Parish, Penang 