2008
14th September: Parish Migrant Sunday
The members of Parish Human Development Committee (PHDC), parish of St. Joseph,
Batu Gajah celebrated Migrant Sunday on 14th September.
The PHDC members would like to thank the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Robin Andrews
who granted permission to carry on the programme and at the same time
supporting our effort. During mass, he dedicated the mass and prayers to the
migrant workers.
The aim of this programme was to introduce the migrant workers to the
parishioners as they seem to be isolated from the rest of the church. The
objectives of the event were also to touch every migrants' life and to reach
out to them; that they have a family here to support and to lend them a
helping hand during their hardships.
15 migrant workers turned up for the event. 6 of them were nurses whom were
undergoing a practical programme at the nearby hospital while the rest were
migrant workers from Indonesia (Flores) and 1 was from Myanmar. They work at
a nearby plantation and were introduced to the parish by the manager of the
estate who is a parishioner. In addition, around 25 parishioners including love squad
members and catechism children joined in the celebration.
The programme consisted of Mass followed by fellowship, games and get together
with the migrant workers.
By Alexander Lourdes
12th April: Projects with Hands-on Training: Migrant Ministry
5 members of the PHDC of St. Joseph's Church and 3 from St. Francis De Sales
attended this training held at St. Joseph, Batu Gajah.
This training organized by POHD for members of the PHDC hopes to train
members on the objectives of Parish Migrant Ministry, how to start one in the parish
and also the challenges of this ministry.
Conducted by Joachim Xavier of the Migrant's Desk of POHD, he said that
the main objective of the Parsih Migrant Ministry is to create a "Home Away from Home"
atmosphere for the migrant workers.
The population for migrant workers in Malaysia stands at approximately
3 million today, which is 12% of the total Malaysian population. The pressing
need for migrant workers in Malaysia is safe migration and protection. It is the
duty of the church to protect migrant workers who are in danger and also to
be the voice of the voiceless and powerless.
February/March: Lenten Campaign - Lend A Hand
Parish Priest, Rev Robin Andrews released 40 birds to launch this year's campaign.
The Love Squad built Lenten tents where they are stationed to create the
awareness on this year's theme.
Inside the Lenten tents: Parishioners are given the Lenten materials namely the
bookmarks, envelopes and flyers which explain the usage of the Lenten collection.
There were also skits performed by the Love Squad members to get the message
of Lending a Hand across.
Outreach: The Love Squad members reached out to the children from
"God's Children" Orphanage and brought them to the parish and entertained
them with games, music & food.