BUKIT MERTAJAM: More than 25,000 devotees gathered at St Anne’s Church here on Saturday (July 26) to mark the annual St Anne’s Novena and Feast, one of the largest Catholic celebrations in the country.
The event drew pilgrims from across Malaysia and with many arriving days earlier to participate in the nine-day novena prayers leading up to the grand feast day.
Church grounds were packed with worshippers attending masses, processions, and candlelight vigils held throughout the day.
The celebration, steeped in tradition, commemorates Saint Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and has been a major religious and tourism event in Penang for decades.
Devotees from all walks of life were seen walking with decorated floats bearing the statues of St Anne and her daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, that was taken on a 1.6km journey outside the church in Jalan Kulim.
Many were also seen walking with lit candles during the procession.
Earlier, the open air mass began at about 7pm and was presided by the Catholic Bishop of Penang, Cardinal Datuk Seri Sebastian Francis, alongside other clergy and religious leaders.
After the mass, the devotees with other priests and deacons followed by the pilgrims walked around the nearby Kampung Baru area and back to the church.
The procession which began at about 8.30pm where the float was pulled was pulled by a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Latin Gregorian chants echoed through the public address system as pilgrims recited the rosary and offered prayers during the procession.
Rev Deacon Lazarus Jonathan said the feast is celebrated by Catholics to honour Jesus Christ’s maternal grandmother, St Anne.
He said that with the theme "Celebrating, Listening and Walking as Pilgrims of Hope", this year’s celebration focuses on compassion, unity and encouragement in times of hardship.
The 10-day celebration will end Sunday (July 27).
