Strong Community Response to OLF Cancer Screening Day

Dewan Fatima was transformed into a busy medical screening centre on Sunday, 9 August 2026, as almost 200 people turned up for OLF’s Community Cancer Screening Day.

Organised by the Church of Our Lady of Fatima in collaboration with the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM), the programme offered a range of cancer and health screenings, with a 10-tonne mobile screening unit stationed in the church car park to provide a private space for breast examinations.

The response began even before the doors opened, with a queue forming about an hour ahead of the scheduled 8.00am start. Numbers continued to grow after each Sunday Mass as parishioners made their way to Dewan Fatima. Although the screening was scheduled to conclude at 3.00pm, the strong turnout saw the programme continue until 3.30pm.

Parishioners and members of the wider community from different age groups and backgrounds participated, with particular emphasis on reaching senior citizens, members of the B40 community and foreign workers.

NCSM supported the programme with a 24-member team comprising doctors, staff and volunteers, together with a volunteer doctor from OLF.

The parish and Parish Administrator Fr. Andrew Manickam extend their heartfelt appreciation to Petronilla Joseph and the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, as well as the doctors, staff, volunteers and OLF volunteers whose generosity and service helped make the screening possible.

The Community Cancer Screening Day formed part of OLF’s series of initiatives marking the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, celebrated this year with the theme “I will never forget you.”

The parish had earlier celebrated a special Eucharistic Celebration for grandparents and seniors on 27 July, followed by fellowship over lunch organised by the Amazing Greys Ministry.

The next initiative will be an outing for seniors, with details to be announced in due course.

Through these initiatives, OLF continues to affirm our elderly and vulnerable members of the community not only in words, but through concrete acts of welcome, care and accompaniment.

🧳 What Are You Still Carrying?

We all carry baggage through life — and much of it cannot be seen.

Past hurts, disappointments, regrets, fears, grief and unresolved experiences can remain with us, sometimes affecting our relationships, our choices and the way we move forward.

The OLF Formation Ministry invites parishioners and friends to “Carrying Baggage: A Reflection on Less Baggage, More Freedom”, a psycho-spiritual reflection exploring the emotional and spiritual burdens we may be carrying and how we can begin to recognise and address them.

📅 Saturday, 19 September 2026
🕙 10.00am – 12.00 noon
💝 Love Offering: RM10

For registration and enquiries:

Vanitha: 016-241 2252
Victor: 012-392 0001

Sometimes, moving forward begins with recognising what we have been carrying — and what we may finally be ready to put down.

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, normally celebrated on 15 August, has been transferred to Sunday, 16 August 2026 by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei for pastoral reasons.

Parishioners are kindly informed that all Masses at OLF that weekend will celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption and fulfil the Holy Day of Obligation.

Saturday, 15 August
6.00pm – Sunset Mass (English)

Sunday, 16 August
6.30am – English Mass
8.30am – Tamil Mass
10.30am – English Mass

The Rosary will be prayed at the usual times before Mass.

As we celebrate Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, may her life of faith and complete trust in God inspire us to remain faithful to Christ and to look with hope towards the promise of eternal life.

Our Lady assumed into Heaven, pray for us.

Feast of St Tarcisius – Celebrating Our Altar Servers and EMHC

The Feast of St Tarcisius will be celebrated at OLF on Saturday, 15 August 2026, with a special gathering honouring our Altar Servers and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC).

St Tarcisius, who gave his life rather than allow the Blessed Sacrament entrusted to him to be desecrated, remains a powerful witness to love and reverence for the Holy Eucharist.

9.00am – Holy Hour
10.00am – Holy Mass
Followed by brunch

As we give thanks for those who serve at the altar and in the ministry of Holy Communion, the witness of St Tarcisius invites each of us to reflect:

How deeply do we value the Eucharist in our own lives?

St Tarcisius, pray for us.

Strengthening the Tamil-Speaking BEC Community at St Anthony, Pantai Dalam

About 15 members of St Anthony Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), Pantai Dalam, gathered at the home of Mrs Juliana on the evening of 7 August 2026, as Parish Administrator Fr. Andrew Manickam continued his pastoral visits to the Tamil-speaking communities of the parish.

The gathering began with the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary, led by Arul Raj, the longest-serving BECCOT Coordinator. Prayed in both Tamil and English, the Rosary brought different generations together in prayer, from a young primary school pupil to teenagers and working adults.

The evening also provided an opportunity for an open and meaningful conversation between Fr. Andrew and the community. Members spoke candidly about their experiences, concerns and hopes for the future of St Anthony BEC, while Fr. Andrew listened and engaged with the issues raised.

He assured those gathered that the Tamil-speaking faithful are an integral part of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima, and reaffirmed the parish’s commitment to supporting their spiritual and pastoral needs and encouraging their participation in the wider life of the parish.

Fr. Andrew concluded the gathering with prayer and a blessing before everyone shared a home-cooked meal contributed by BEC members.

The fellowship that followed brought together young and old in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. More than a pastoral visit, the evening reflected what lies at the heart of BEC life: families gathering in prayer, listening to one another, sharing fellowship and growing together in faith.

Jubilee Year Donation Drive – Donate a Bag of Rice

As part of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, the Our Lady of Fatima Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHD) invites parishioners and friends to participate in a Rice Bag Donation Drive in support of families in need.

Inspired by the Church’s call to almsgiving as “a witness to fraternal charity” and “a work of justice pleasing to God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2462), this initiative offers a simple yet meaningful way for each of us to share God’s blessings with those facing hardship.

The donated rice will be distributed during the PIHD outreach programme to communities in the Batang Padang District, Perak, on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.

Every contribution, no matter the size, becomes a tangible expression of Christian love, compassion and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need.

Those who wish to contribute may contact:

Devid – 012-395 6152
Fr. Andrew Manickam – 016-521 6510

📍 Drop-off: OLF Parish Office
📅 Please send your donations before 11 August 2026

Together, let us become instruments of God’s love through acts of generosity and mercy.

Feast of St. John Marie Vianney Celebrated at Tampin

The Feast of St. John Marie Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests, was joyfully celebrated at the Church of St. John Marie Vianney, Tampin, with Archbishop Julian Leow and more than 30 priests gathering in thanksgiving for the life and witness of the humble Curé of Ars.

The celebration began with a Holy Hour, followed by the Holy Eucharist, during which the faithful joined in prayer for priests and for new vocations to the priesthood.

A particularly meaningful moment was the veneration of the first-class relic of St. John Marie Vianney, offering the faithful an opportunity to honour the saint whose life of humility, prayer and pastoral devotion continues to inspire priests and laity alike.

As the Church celebrates the patron saint of parish priests, the occasion also served as a reminder to keep all priests in our prayers, asking the Lord to strengthen them in their vocation and bless them with wisdom, perseverance and joy in their ministry.

We also give thanks to all who gathered in prayer on this special feast day. May the witness of St. John Marie Vianney continue to inspire holy shepherds after the heart of Christ and encourage many more vocations to the priesthood.

St. John Marie Vianney, pray for our priests and pray for us.

Feast of St. John Mary Vianney – Holy Hour for Priests

The Archdiocesan Prayer Ministry invites the faithful to a Holy Hour for Priests on the Feast of St. John Mary Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests.

As the Church honours the saintly Curé of Ars, we are invited to pray in a special way for all priests, asking the Lord to strengthen them in their vocation, sustain them in their ministry, and grant them the grace to shepherd God’s people with faithfulness, humility and love.

The programme is as follows:

🕕 6.00pm – Holy Hour for Priests
🕗 8.00pm – Holy Eucharist
📍 Church of St. John Marie Vianney, Tampin

May St. John Mary Vianney continue to intercede for all priests, especially those serving our parish and the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

St Valentine BEC and Tzu Chi Foundation Join Hands to Care for Our Common Home

Members of St Valentine Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), Happy Garden, joined volunteers from the Tzu Chi Foundation Malaysia for a community plogging activity on 19 July 2026, turning a simple morning of collecting litter into a meaningful expression of faith, service and care for creation.

The initiative grew out of the BEC’s reflection on “Ecology: Care of Our Common Home,” providing members with an opportunity to put their reflections into practice by caring for the neighbourhood they share with others.

The morning began with the national anthem, Negaraku, followed by light exercises and a briefing on waste separation and recyclable materials. Participants then walked through the Happy Garden neighbourhood, collecting litter and recyclable items while learning more about responsible waste management and environmental stewardship.

The activity reminded participants that caring for creation does not always require large-scale projects. Small, consistent acts carried out together can make a meaningful difference in protecting the environment entrusted to us by God.

The experience also reflected the words of Genesis 2:15:

“The Lord God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it.”

Working alongside volunteers from the Tzu Chi Foundation also demonstrated how people of different faith traditions can cooperate for the common good through shared concern for the environment and the wider community.

The morning concluded with fellowship over breakfast prepared by Tzu Chi volunteers, while St Valentine BEC was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of its participation.

As Pope Francis reminds us, care for creation begins with everyday choices. For the members of St Valentine BEC, this simple morning of service became a powerful reminder that caring for our common home often starts right outside our own doorstep.

Catechetical Sunday Celebrated at the 10.30am English Mass | 02 August 2026

The English Sunday School of the Church of Our Lady of Fatima celebrated Catechetical Sunday 2026 during the 10.30am Mass on Sunday, 2 August, joining the universal Church in giving thanks for the ministry of catechists and all who faithfully pass on the gift of faith.

This year’s global theme, “Be Christ to One Another,” reminded the faithful that while Catechetical Sunday honours those entrusted with teaching the faith, every baptised Christian is also called to witness to the Gospel through the way we live, love and serve others.

During the celebration, Fr. Andrew Manickam commissioned and blessed the English Sunday School catechists as they renewed their commitment to the important ministry of forming children and young people in the Catholic faith.

Across the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, similar rites of commissioning and blessing were held for catechism teachers, RCIA catechists and baptism instructors as they recommitted themselves to sharing the Gospel and accompanying others in their journey of faith.

The parish community gives thanks for the dedication, generosity and faithful witness of our English Sunday School catechists, whose ministry continues to nurture the faith of the next generation.

May the Lord continue to bless and strengthen them as they joyfully proclaim Christ through both word and example.