‘Mission Impossible’ church opens

SYMBOLIC ACT: Pakiamanointing the altar duringthe official opening of theChurch of Divine Mercy inShah Alam yesterday. —Starpic by SIA HONG KIAU

SHAH ALAM: It is officially called the Church of Divine Mercy but many Catholics call it the “Mission Impossible” or “miraculous” church. 

This is because it took 28 years to build the church after facing various obstacles, including red tape. 

Parish priest Father Raymond Pereira and his team celebrated the official opening of the church yesterday.  

About 8,000 people, including senior Catholic priests and ambassadors from Ghana, Italy and Croatia, attended the opening ceremony presided upon by Archbishop Datuk Murphy Nicholas Xavier Pakiam, who also led the mass. 

In his message, Archbishop Pakiam said the church was a beacon of light for the community. 

He also urged the followers to reach out to foreign Catholics working here, the poor and others in need. 

“We can practise our faith in our everyday lives. For example, how do we treat our housemaids who left their homes to live with us? 

“We must be more understanding towards them,” he said. 

Father Pereira thanked his team and others for their support during the 28 years. 

“The government officials who helped to realise the construction of this church must be commended for being able to see what is good and act on it,” he said. 

He also thanked Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, former Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar and Shah Alam mayor Ramli Mahmud for approving the building's certificate of fitness.