A three-week Lenten mission at St James Chapel in Merlimau, Melaka recently concluded, contributing to renewal and community life among the local Catholic faithful.
The chapel, dedicated to St James, marked its 100th anniversary in 2024. It was established by early Melaka-based missionaries, with Fr. R. Lourdes of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Melaka, and the late Fr Bala played important roles in building the faith community. In his later years, Fr Bala also established a foundation at Malaka to support the education of poor children in Merlimau and other regions.
This Lenten mission was initiated at the invitation of the current parish priest, Fr. Alex Chelvam, earlier this year, with the aim of strengthening the parish Community, and the mission started on 15 March 2026. A main part of the mission involved visiting parishioners/lapsed Catholics and their families, who have been away from church life either due to illness or other circumstances. Each morning, the missionaries visited their homes, offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation, giving Holy Communion, and, where appropriate, the Anointing of the Sick. These visits also provided time for conversation and, at times, spiritual interaction. In the afternoons, personal counselling sessions were arranged at the parish upon request.
Formation sessions were held on weekends for various parish groups, including leaders, youth, and altar servers. The sessions included discussions on servant leadership, collaboration, and working together for the common good, with an emphasis on unity within the parish.
Reflecting on the visits, Fr. Antony Prabhu noted, “In many homes, it was clearly evident that despite various challenges, people have not given up their faith.” As Holy Week approached, a three-day triduum in honour of St James, the patron of the chapel, was held. The theme was set as Holy Week with St James. Youth participants contributed by presenting dialogue-style reflections along with the missioner, on the life of the apostle.
The mission concluded with the Easter Vigil on April 4, which saw strong participation from the parish community, marking the close of the three-week period. Fr. Antony Prabhu highlights the experience as an opportunity to immerse himself in the culture and people of Merlimau, which not only encouraged his faith and religious life but also to serve.
(Source: Facebook post of Novena Church)
