Article written by Maximilian Lee
The Church of Divine Mercy Shah Alam celebrated its Chinese New Year mass on the first day of Chinese New Year. It is the event most looked forward to every year, especially for the Chinese-speaking community. It was also the year’s first mass in Mandarin and that too after a very long break.
The Chinese Apostolate of CDM was blessed to have its two new priests, Rev Fr Alan Pereira and Rev Fr Michel Dass, concelebrating the mass with Rev Fr Surain as the main celebrant. The mass was celebrated in both Mandarin and English.
This year, however, there was no lion dance performance before the celebration of the mass like pre-pandemic years partly due to pandemic restrictions. Nevertheless, the mass was well received and attended by parishioners of all races. There were some 400 people in the congregation.
Joyous traditional Chinese New Year songs with Christian adaptation were sung by CDM’s Chinese choir – St Ambrose Choir. The Rite of the Commemoration of the Ancestors, as customary to Chinese piety held to remember their ancestors, were led by the celebrant and angpows were distributed.
In short, the celebration was a joyful event for everyone who gathered before the Lord that day, giving thanks and praying for the new year.
Despite the SOP restrictions, it was a good start and a new hope for what is to come in the near future for the Chinese Apostolate and for the parish.
To buy pictures of the Chinese New Year mass, visit here.