CHURCH OF ST. ANTHONY, TELUK INTAN

THE SEDER MEAL EXPERIENCE

By Marie Ann Dawson, EC 

The Catholic Church of St Anthony in Teluk Intan experienced a gentle, educational touch in Lent this April 2026 with a Seder-style meal designed especially for children. The parish transformed the hall into a warm, communal space where familiar rituals became hands-on lessons about faith, memory, and gratitude. Long tables held simple but symbolically rich elements—bitter herbs for hardship, matzah (flatbread) for haste and humility, a bowl of salt water for tears—each item introduced with a child-friendly explanation that connected the Passover tradition to the Lenten journey of reflection.

Children moved from station to station, tasting a small piece of matzah, dipping it into salt water, and asking curious, earnest questions as evangelizing catechists and volunteers guided them. The atmosphere balanced reverence with lively participation: a youngster tracing the rim of a Kiddush cup, another whispering to a friend about the story of liberation. Parents noted how the tactile experiences made abstract themes—sacrifice, freedom, hope—accessible and memorable.

This Seder Meal did not aim to replicate a full Jewish ritual but to honour its symbols in a Christian Lenten context, fostering inter-religious awareness and deepening the children’s grasp of their own season of preparation. The event left small faces thoughtful and the community quietly renewed.

A PASSION PLAY BY THE CATECHISM CHILDREN & YOUTH

By Mariaselvam, Catechism Coordinator

During Lent this April 2026, the Sacred Heart of Jesus parish in Kulim drew the whole community into the heart of Holy Week by staging a moving Passion Play performed by catechism children and the youth. This Passion Play was an enactment of Christ’s final hours, beginning from the Last Supper through to the Crucifixion and ending with the Resurrection. It served both as a form of catechesis and that of a communal prayer. Simple costumes with earnest acting and carefully narrated scenes, made the Gospel accessible without diminishing its solemnity.

For the children, the preparation for this performance was truly informative. Through rehearsals they learned scripture passages, reflected on Christ’s sacrifice, and practiced gestures of reverence and compassion. Youth leaders who mentored them guided the young performers to express grief, hope, and forgiveness in ways that that were equal in expression to older peers and even elders.

Parishioners responded with quiet attentiveness. Many remarked on the authenticity and sincerity that the youth brought to familiar scenes. Older parishioners found the portrayals renewing, while families felt a deepened connection to the liturgical season. After the final scene, there was a shared moment of silence and prayer. This experience made Lent more tangible and left the parish renewed by the faithful witnesses of its young people.

By Kathlin Ambrose

In a world that often moves too quickly, a gentle and meaningful encounter took place on Saturday, 7 March 2026, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Penang.

Nineteen participants from seven parishes gathered for a half-day “Day of Discovery” (DoD) into the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS). What began as a workshop soon became an invitation into a different way of seeing the child, of experiencing faith, and of knowing God.

Led by Monica Dicom and Rosalind Simon from the Church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (OMPH), Ipoh, together with catechists from CIC and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the sessions offered a glimpse into the richness of CGS, alongside presentations such as the Altar, Epiclesis, Scooping, and the Good Shepherd. Participants were especially moved by the calm, reverent rhythm of the Atrium—a specially prepared space where children encounter God through hands-on materials, silence, and wonder. Many described it as “peaceful, intentional, and deeply respectful of the dignity of the child.”

Developed in the 1950s by Dr Sofia Cavalletti and Gianna Gobbi using Montessori principles, CGS recognises the unique relationship between God and the young child, particularly before the age of six. Here, catechesis is not rushed instruction, but a quiet unfolding, where children come to know they are loved, known, and called by name.

The morning was made even more memorable by the presence of Cardinal Sebastian Francis, who spent time encouraging participants and affirming the importance of this work.

CGS Level 1 training for children aged 3–6 years is currently offered in the Penang Diocese at CIC and OMPH, with hopes for expansion as more catechists are formed. Those inspired can take the next step at the upcoming CGS Level 1 Part 1 Formation, to be held from 27 May to 1 June 2026 at CIC, led by the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese team.

For many, the DoD was just that—a beginning …

1. QUOTABLE QUOTES on the Goal of Catechesis –  from Directory for Catechesis (DC, 2020).

                                                                            

   The quotes highlight
   the central aim that the 5 tasks of making missionary disciples serve:

   • The definitive
     aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in
     intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father
     in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity. (DC #75)
   • Catechesis makes
     the initial conversion ripen and helps Christians to give a complete
     meaning to their existence, educating them in a mentality of faith in
     keeping with the Gospel, to the point of gradually coming to think, feel
     and act like Christ. (DC #77)
   • This pedagogy
     of Jesus then moulded the life of the Christian community: “they devoted
     themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and the
     prayers.” (Acts 2:42, DC #79)
    

   The 5 Fundamental Tasks of Making Missionary Disciples through
   Catechesis

   Here are
   quotable phrases that summarize the importance of each of the five tasks.

   1. Leading to knowledge of the faith [DC #80]

   Catechesis has the task of fostering the
   knowledge and exploration of the Christian message. (DC #80)

   In this way, it helps the believer to know the
   truths of the Christian faith, introduces him to the knowledge of Sacred
   Scripture and of the Church’s living tradition, fosters knowledge of the Creed
   (Symbol of the faith) and the creation of a coherent doctrinal vision that can
   be used as a reference in life. (DC #80)

   2. Initiating into the celebration of the Mystery [DC #81- 82]

   Through this task, catechesis helps the believer
   to understand the importance of the liturgy in the Church’s life, especially
   the sacrament of the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of
   the Church. (DC #81)

   3. Forming for life in Christ [DC #83-85]

   The catechetical task of educating the believer
   to the good life of the Gospel involves the Christian formation of the moral
   conscience, so that in every circumstance he may listen to the Father’s will in
   order to discern, under the guidance of the Spirit and in harmony with the Law
   of Christ, the evil to be avoided and the good to be done and putting this into
   practice with diligent charity. (DC #84)

    

   4. Teaching prayer [DC #86-87]

   Catechesis has the task of educating the believer
   for prayer and in prayer, developing the contemplative dimension of Christian
   experience. (DC #86)

   When catechesis is permeated by a climate of
   prayer, the assimilation of the entire Christian life reaches its summit. (DC #86)

   This task implies the teaching of both personal
   prayer and liturgical and community prayer, initiating the believer into the
   permanent forms of prayer: blessing and adoration, petition, intercession,
   thanksgiving, and praise. (DC #87)

   5. Introduction to community life [DC #88-89]

   Catechesis, in reference to preparation for
   community life, therefore has the task of belonging to the Church; teaching the
   sense of ecclesial communion, promoting the acceptance of the Magisterium,
   communion with pastors, fraternal dialogue; forming believers in the sense of
   ecclesial co-responsibility, contributing as active participants to building up
   the community and as missionary disciples to its growth. (DC #89)

    

    

1. THE MAKING OF MISSIONARY DISCIPLES IN CATECHESIS – By His Eminence Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang

   As the first catechist in the diocese, I, as the Bishop, hold the primary responsibility for promoting and guiding catechesis. I am called to foster a real passion for catechesis, allocate necessary resources, and ensure the adequate and ongoing formation of catechists across four dimensions:  

   • being (spiritual maturity),
   • knowing-how to be with (relational identity and missionary awareness),
   • knowledge (biblical-theological formation), and
   • savoir-faire (pedagogical skills).

   This comprehensive approach ensures that the diocese, inspired by the Holy Spirit, continually serves the new evangelization by transforming the faithful into joyful and competent missionary disciples.

   The Directory for Catechesis (2020) presents a compelling call for the renewal of the Church’s evangelizing mission, rooted in a pastoral conversion that affects all ecclesial activity. This renewal pivots on the formation of the missionary disciple—the central figure through whom the Gospel message is transmitted and lived.

   The Missionary Imperative and Kerygmatic Focus

   The Directory for Catechesis anchors catechesis within the broader, dynamic process of evangelization. This activity must adopt a posture of ‘missionary going forth’, viewing the missio ad gentes as the paradigm of all pastoral action. Catechesis is fundamentally redefined to incorporate the primacy of the kerygma, meaning the essential proclamation that ‘Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you’. Catechesis must therefore be consistently kerygmatic, leading to a deepening and existential encounter with Christ.

   The ultimate goal of this catechetical process is profound: transforming the baptized into authentic missionary disciples. The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not just in touch, but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ. This shifts the understanding of the faithful from passive recipients of instruction to active participants in the catechetical initiative itself, sent out to proclaim the Word, thereby embodying ‘a permanent state of mission’.

   The Five Tasks of Missionary Discipleship Formation

   Catechesis pursues its central goal—communion with Christ—through five interconnected tasks, following the example of Jesus as he formed his disciples (teaching them mysteries, prayer, values, communion, and mission):

   1. Leading to knowledge of the faith: This task explores the truths of the Christian message, integrating understanding of Sacred Scripture and the Church’s living Tradition to create a coherent doctrinal vision. This knowledge ensures the missionary disciple’s commitment is rational and deeply rooted in the deposit of faith.
   2. Initiating into the celebration of the Mystery: Catechesis helps the faithful comprehend and experience liturgical celebrations and sacramental life. It focuses particularly on the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the Church’s life and mission. This initiation shapes the believer’s identity by instilling attitudes like joy, communal sense, and appreciation for liturgical signs.
   3. Forming for life in Christ: This task calls Christians to holiness by demonstrating that a filial way of life follows the Beatitudes (the ‘Christian’s identity card’). It forms the moral conscience, educating believers to follow Christ’s example of love and discern specific vocations, thereby actively fostering the coming of the Kingdom of God.
   4. Teaching prayer: Prayer is first and foremost a gift from God. Catechesis develops the contemplative dimension, teaching the believer to pray with and like Jesus. A climate permeated by prayer enables the assimilation of the entire Christian life, providing the necessary spiritual foundation for missionary labour.
   5. Introduction to community life: This task develops the essential sense of belonging to the Church, promoting fraternal dialogue and communion with pastors. By forming believers in ecclesial co-responsibility, this dimension directly leads the faithful to become active participants—missionary disciples—in the growth and mission of the community.

   Conclusion: A Call to Pastoral Conversion and Missionary Action

   The Directory for Catechesis is a profound summons for all of us to embrace a deep pastoral conversion. This conversion is not merely a change in programs; it is a fundamental shift in posture—a commitment to missionary outreach as the very paradigm of all pastoral action.

   The goal before us is clear and transformative: to move the faithful from being passive recipients of instruction to becoming active participants in the Church’s life and mission. The five tasks of catechesis are the scaffolding for this work, ensuring that our people are not just taught about Christ, but are brought into communion, into intimacy, with Him.

   By fostering the four dimensions of catechist formation—being, knowing-how to be with, knowledge, and savoir-faire —and by prioritizing the primacy of the kerygma, we ensure that every person in our diocese is equipped to live in a “permanent state of mission”.

   Let us, therefore, with a real passion for catechesis and in the power of the Holy Spirit, dedicate ourselves to this evangelizing vision. It is through the formation of these joyful, competent, and authentic missionary disciples that the Gospel message will be transmitted, lived, and truly renewed in our time. The Kingdom of God is at hand; let us go forth and proclaim it.

1. CATECHESIS SESSIONS @ The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang

   Catechism classes (Sunday School) are an integral part of a parish community. In every issue, we have featured one parish and the catechesis that takes place there. Here, we highlight a parish in the Penang Deanery.

   Name of Church:  Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

   Address: No. 1, Tingkat Besi Satu, Green Lane, 11600 Penang

   Telephone: 604-658 4909

   Website: https://chs-penang.seedlings.dev/

   Rector: Fr. Raymond Raj

    

   Catechism Coordinator (English): Anne Ho

   Assistant Primary Coordinator (English): Maria Yeap

   Assistant Secondary Coordinator (English): Christopher Siddharth

   CLOW Coordinator (English): Kenneth Ho

   Number of CLOW ECs (English): 6 groups (with 4 members in each group)

    

   Time of Catechism: Saturday, 4 pm (English)

   Profile of Catechism Classes in 2025

   Classes	Pre-School to Year 6	Form 1-5
   Enrolment	90	100
   Number of ECs & Helpers	19	16

    

    

   Anne Ho, the Catechism Coordinator at CHS, Penang, shares her experience.

    

   1. What we found works for us:
   • Camps (with outreach activities).
   • Praise & Worship and Devotion time before class begins.
   • Engaging with parents, whenever possible.
    
   2. What we are thinking of introducing this year:
   • More outreach activities.
   • Sports day or something similar.
   • Bible quiz.
    
   3. Challenges we face
   • Students prioritising exams and tuition over faith formation.
   • Negative influence via social media.

   We would like to share one of our past events.

   Last Christmas (2025), the Ministries under the Formation Cluster in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit came together to organize an outdoor Christmas Crib for the parish.

   The Formation Cluster comprises the Catechism, CLOW, RCIA and Parish Formation Ministries. Not only was a different sort of Nativity scene presented, but the Formation Ministries put together videos and reflections to help parishioners prepare themselves for Christmas.

   Info-boards provided a brief understanding of the various Advent scenes. They also allowed parishioners to view heart-warming videos of what Christmas means to us, especially to our children.

1. TAIPING CATHOLIC CHURCH – Shared by Anne Choong, Catechism Co-ordinator at Taiping Catholic Church
   

    

Celebrating a Sacerdotal Anniversary

The parish of Taiping celebrated Rev. Msgr.  Stephen Liew’s 44^th Sacerdotal Anniversary at the Flemington Hotel on 3 September. They also had a potluck at the IJ terrace after Sunday Mass on 7 September 2025. 

Each Sunday School class gave him a special ordination anniversary card to express their gratitude for his service in the mission of the Church.