OLF Celebrates 63 Years of Grace with Thanksgiving Mass and Parish Fellowship

The Church of Our Lady of Fatima celebrated the 63rd anniversary of its canonical erection with a Thanksgiving Mass on Saturday, 1 August 2026, coinciding with the Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church and founder of the Redemptorists.

The Eucharistic celebration brought together parishioners in thanksgiving for God’s abundant blessings upon the parish since its establishment on 31 July 1963, while remembering with gratitude the generations of priests, religious and faithful whose service and dedication have shaped the life of OLF over the past six decades.

During the parish announcements, Fr. Andrew Manickam shared that the parish’s anniversary celebrations will continue throughout 1–15 August, encouraging parishioners to see the occasion not simply as a series of events, but as an opportunity to deepen their spiritual lives and strengthen the bonds of the parish family.

He also invited the faithful to remember all priests in prayer, especially on 4 August, the Feast of St. John Vianney, Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Parishioners were encouraged to pray for all clergy who have served and continue to serve OLF, and to spend a few moments reflecting on the list of former parish priests displayed outside the church.

At the conclusion of Mass, the parish community gathered for the traditional cake-cutting ceremony, joyfully singing “Happy Birthday” in celebration of OLF’s 63rd anniversary.

The celebration continued at Dewan Fatima, where parishioners shared a fellowship meal as one family in Christ. Continuing his practice of servant leadership, Fr. Andrew personally served packed chicken nasi briyani to parishioners after blessing the meal, creating another memorable moment of fellowship within the parish community.

As OLF celebrates 63 years of grace, may the parish continue to grow as a community of faith, hope and love, remaining faithful to its mission of proclaiming Christ and serving His people for generations to come.

Church of Our Lady of Fatima Celebrates 63 Years of Grace

The Church of Our Lady of Fatima marks the 63rd anniversary of its canonical erection on 31 July 2026, remembering with gratitude the journey of our parish since 31 July 1963.

For more than six decades, OLF has been a spiritual home to generations of Catholics β€” a place where the faithful have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist, receive the Sacraments, hear the Word of God and journey together through the many seasons of life.

On this anniversary, we give thanks for the generations of priests, religious and parishioners whose faith, service and generosity have helped build and sustain the parish community we know today.

The anniversary is also an opportunity to look ahead. As OLF continues its mission, may we remain a community rooted in Christ, attentive to the needs of one another and faithful in bearing witness to the Gospel.

To mark this occasion, parishioners and friends are invited to a Thanksgiving Mass on Saturday, 1 August 2026 at 6.00pm at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima.

As we celebrate 63 years of grace, we remember our past with gratitude, renew our commitment to serve today and entrust the future of our parish to God.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Saints Francisco and Jacinta, pray for us.

πŸ™ β€œI Felt Connected to Jesus”

My son who is not baptised followed me to mass on 28 July – it has been a very long time since he came to mass. We were there during rosary + some part of the adoration and I told him to lift all his pain and anxiety to our Lord who is present in the Blessed Sacrament.

After mass I asked him how he felt and he shared that he felt connected to Jesus when he prayed during Adoration – it’s something I knew he would feel since I have felt the powerful presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament every time I attend Adoration or spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

He was very moved and touched by Father Andrew’s sermon on “sacred wounds” – he never saw his wounds as sacred and his comment was that Father spoke from his heart and truly believed in what he shared.

To God be all glory, AMEN

~ Anon

Catechetical Sunday 2026 – Be Christ to One Another

As the Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday on 2 August 2026, this year’s theme, β€œBe Christ to One Another,” invites us to reflect not only on the ministry of our catechists, but also on the responsibility each of us shares in witnessing to Christ.

In his Catechetical Sunday message, Rt. Rev. Joseph Hii Teck Kwong, Episcopal President of the Malaysian Catechetical Commission, reminds the faithful of Pope Francis’ words that catechists are people who keep the memory of God alive in themselves and are able to revive it in others.

While Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to recognise and thank those who serve formally as catechists, the call to share the Gospel belongs to every baptised Catholic. Through our words, actions and the way we accompany one another, each of us can help make Christ present in our families, parish and wider community.

On this special day, we remember our catechists in prayer and thank God for their dedication, sacrifices and commitment to sharing the faith with young and old alike.

May Catechetical Sunday also invite each of us to consider a simple but important question:

How can I be Christ to another person today?

Fr. Andrew Manickam, together with all parishioners of OLF, wishes every catechist a blessed and inspiring Catechetical Sunday.

Deo Gratias.

Catechetical Sunday 2026 – Celebrating the Gift of Faith and Those Who Share It

The Church of Our Lady of Fatima will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on Sunday, 2 August 2026, giving thanks for the catechists who faithfully share the Gospel and help nurture the faith of children, young people and adults.

Catechists are witnesses of faith who, through their teaching, example and accompaniment, help others to know Christ and grow in their relationship with Him.

At OLF, Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated during:

Tamil Mass – 8.30am
English Mass – 10.30am

Parishioners are warmly invited to join us as we pray for our catechists and give thanks for their dedication and service in helping to nurture the faith of our parish community.

Holy Hour for Those Who Have Lost Their Lives

The Church of Our Lady of Fatima will hold a special Holy Hour on Friday, 31 July 2026, offering prayers for all those who have lost their lives through tragedies, accidents, natural disasters and other calamities, as well as those whose lives have ended through suicide.

During this time before the Blessed Sacrament, those gathered will entrust the departed to the infinite love and mercy of God, praying that He may receive them into His eternal peace.

The Holy Hour will also remember their families, friends and loved ones, particularly those who continue to carry the sorrow of sudden or unexpected loss. May they find consolation, strength and hope in the presence of Christ.

Parishioners and friends are warmly invited to join this special time of prayer and remembrance.

✝️ Never Letting Go of the Cross

I was the photographer for the first day of the Perjalanan Salib. As I tried my best to capture every meaningful moment for our Facebook page, I found myself focusing so much on getting the perfect shot that I was slowly missing the experience itself.

I kept hoping for that one perfect photograph, but somehow it never came. Instead, God was waiting to capture my heart.

As Fr Andrew and several others walked in procession towards the altar, something touched me deeply. It was not the procession itself, but the way every hand reached out to hold the wooden cross. Each person carefully supported it, helping to keep it balanced as they walked. I couldn’t take my eyes off that moment.

Then, when the cross was finally placed firmly on its stand, a question quietly arose within me:

Lord, were You too heavy to carry? Or was it the fear of dropping You?”

As I looked at the cross standing so steadily before us, another thought came to my heart.

Perhaps that is what our lives are meant to be.

As we journey with Christ, carrying our crosses is never easy. We stumble. We struggle. Sometimes we are afraid we are not strong enough, or that we might fail Him. Yet when we finally reach the destination and place our burdens before God, our struggles no longer seem greater than the Cross itself. The Cross stands firm, unshaken, reminding us that Christ has always been stronger than the weight we carried.

Maybe the journey is not about how perfectly we carry the Cross, but about never letting go of it until we reach Him.

~ TS

Strengthening the Tamil-speaking BEC Community at PPR Kampung Muhibbah

The Tamil Apostolate, led by Stella Santiago, together with Ir. S. Arul Raj and Fr. Andrew Manickam, recently visited the Tamil-speaking Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC) of St. Rebecca at PPR Kampung Muhibbah.

The visit provided an opportunity to meet with the community, encourage its members and support its ongoing pastoral life.

During the gathering, Mr. Sebastian, the BEC Coordinator, shared that members come together every week to pray the Rosary and reflect on the Word of God. It was encouraging to see almost the entire community present, reflecting the commitment of families to growing together in faith.

As part of OLF’s pastoral mission, special attention continues to be given to supporting the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Tamil-speaking community while strengthening Basic Ecclesial Communities as places of prayer, fellowship and faith.

The evening concluded with fellowship among those gathered, highlighting the important role that BECs continue to play in building vibrant communities where faith is lived, shared and nurtured within families and neighbourhoods.

Christ-like Listening Seminar | 8, 9, 15 and 16 Aug 2026

The Archdiocesan Mission of New Evangelisation for Christ (AMNEC) is inviting parishioners to register for the Christ-like Listening Seminar, a two-weekend formation programme designed to help Christians develop the art of listening in the spirit of Jesus.

Led by Fr. Dominic Sultana, the seminar explores how attentive, compassionate listening can deepen relationships, accompany others in their faith journey and become an effective way of sharing the Gospel.

Participants will learn practical approaches to:

  • Listen without trying to fix people.
  • Discern where God may be at work in another person’s life.
  • Ask questions that open hearts.
  • Accompany others with healthy boundaries.
  • Build Christ-centred conversations that lead to deeper faith.

The seminar will be held over two weekends:

Weekend One
πŸ“… 8–9 August 2026

Weekend Two
πŸ“… 15–16 August 2026

πŸ“ AMNEC Hub
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
152, Jalan Peel
55100 Kuala Lumpur

Registration is now open. Those interested are encouraged to register early using the link below.

πŸ“ Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeUtFhAXR3pyjdjRTtSRqkN0qJHIDA3WiaF3rEj-76pEZsKog/viewform?usp=header

The Cross That Heals: OLF Concludes Its Week with the Perjalanan Salib

More than a hundred parishioners gathered at the Church of Our Lady of Fatima on the evening of 28 July 2026 for the final day of the Perjalanan Salib – Journey of the Cross during its stay at the parish.

In his homily, Fr. Andrew Manickam reflected on the Cross as a sign not only of Christ’s suffering, but also of the wounds experienced by every person. He spoke of how pain, brokenness and hurts can sometimes be carried across generations, affecting families and communities. Yet through Christ’s Passion, the Cross becomes a place of hope, healing and restoration.

Fr. Andrew invited the congregation to see themselves not merely as recipients of God’s healing, but as “wounded healers”β€”people whose own experiences of suffering can become a source of compassion, encouragement and support for others.

The day’s Scripture readings reinforced this message. In the First Reading, the prophet Jeremiah gave voice to a people wounded by suffering yet steadfast in hope, praying, “O our God, you are our hope.” The Gospel reminded the faithful that amid the struggles of the present, those who remain faithful to Christ “will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

Special prayers were offered for the sick, those facing medical challenges and all who carry physical, emotional or spiritual wounds, affirming that no one is forgotten in Christ’s love.

At the conclusion of Mass, Fr. Andrew blessed the congregation with a crucifix as the recessional hymn was sung. The simple yet moving gesture served as a reminder that the healing power of the Cross extends to every generation and calls each believer to become an instrument of Christ’s compassion in the lives of others.

With the conclusion of its week at OLF, the Perjalanan Salib now continues its journey through the churches of the Kuala Lumpur Central District, beginning with Holy Rosary Church, Brickfields, before proceeding to St. Anthony’s Church, Pudu, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and Cardijn House. The Cross will eventually join the eight other diocesan crosses at the Malaysia Pastoral Convention 2026 in Sibu, where they will come together as a visible sign of the unity of the Church in Malaysia.