Father Cheah reading out the solemn declaration in Latin and English. ―Photos: Buletin Mutiara
THE Church of St Anne in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, is over 200 years old and was officially proclaimed a “Minor Basilica” in the presence of clergy and Catholics from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Pakistan and New Zealand.
Although the title was granted by the Vatican’s Holy See three years ago, the proclamation was only made on Monday, as it had been delayed by Covid-19 restrictions earlier.
A special mass was held, during which Cardinal William Goh from Singapore presided over the Eucharist celebration while the parish priest of Church of St Michael, Alor Setar in Kedah, Father Michael Cheah read out a solemn declaration in Latin and English.
Two papal symbols, the ombrellino (little umbrella) and a silk canopy with yellow and red liveries, were displayed in the church next to the altar throughout the Eucharistic celebration.
Additionally, a tintinnabulum (bells) mounted on a pole was displayed to symbolise the church’s link with the Pope.
(Front row, from left), Yeoh, Chow, Lim, Sim and Heng during the mass.
Cardinal Goh, during his sermon, described the Minor Basilica of St Anne as “holy ground that has a place in the hearts of many.”
“The elevation of this church to a Minor Basilica is very appropriate for what it offers to the people and how important of a worship place it is among the people,” he said, as reported by Buletin Mutiara.
During an interview published in the Catholic Weekly Herald, Bishop of Penang Right Reverend Datuk Seri Sebastian Francis said the application to the Holy See to elevate the status of the church to a Minor Basilica was not because of its two-century-old existence, but because of its ability to attract people from all walks of life.
Every year in July, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and visitors from across the world throng the church to join its annual St Anne Feast Day celebrations.
Malaysia’s Catholic Apostolic Nuncio (ambassador) Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski joined in the special Eucharistic celebration.
Also present were Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, state tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Finance Minister II and Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng and Berapit assemblyman Heng Lee Lee.
