Final touches: A church volunteer checking the flower arrangements as the team prepares for the feast and nine-day long novena at Minor Basilica of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
Church all set to welcome over 100,000 pilgrims during 10 days of celebration
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Minor Basilica of St Anne here is all set to welcome more than 100,000 pilgrims, including those from abroad, over the course of Novena and the feast day celebrations.
A Novena is a tradition of devotional praying in Christianity consisting of private or public prayers repeated for nine successive days.
St Anne’s feast day will be commemorated here until July 28 in the establishment’s traditional 10-day celebration with the theme “Enlarge The Space of Your Tent”.
Deacon Lazarus Jonathan said preparations started immediately after Christmas last year.
“We have 1,880 registered volunteers and it is increasing by the day. The volunteers will help in various ministries, such as the mass liturgy.
“They are also part of the medical and firefighting team, involved in multimedia, and preparing meals for pilgrims, among others.
“We expect more than 100,000 people this time, both locally and from other countries. We are expecting many from China as there is visa-free travel.
“We have already welcomed a group from China and expect more over the next few days.
“There will definitely be visitors from Indonesia, Philippines and other neighbouring countries.
“We will see visitors from other South-East Asian countries and from India as well throughout these 10 days,” he said.
Deacon Lazarus said there will be free breakfast and lunch served to all visitors on July 26, 27 and 28, and dinner served on July 26 and 27.
“The highlight of the celebration will be on July 27 with a multilingual open-air mass at 7pm, followed by a 1.6km procession that loops around Jalan Berjaya at 8.30pm.
“A spiritual concert by parish youth is scheduled after the procession at the Green Hall of the Minor Basilica, starting at about 10pm,” he said.
Deacon Lazarus said the highlight would be their first inter-Christian denominational prayer service.
“Pastors from Christian denominations gathered for the first time on Friday to pray together.
“We hope the rest of the days go smoothly and there is good weather. We want the pilgrims to travel to and from here safely.
“Our volunteers have been told to interact with the pilgrims and make them feel welcome,” he said.
Deacon Lazarus also said enforcement officers will be on hand to ensure everything goes smoothly.
St Anne is regarded as the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ, and Catholics observe the feast day on July 26 every year.
This year, the Church of St Anne will have activities revolving around devotions and prayers for unity, grandparents, the elderly, neighbours, youth, and people living on the margins of society.
The events are listed on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BasilicaofStAnneBM.
