SERIAN — A big congregation including foreign workers from the nearby plantations attended the Christmas Eve Holy Mass at St Theresa’s Church, celebrated by Fr Leonard Yap.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Leonard blessed all the children present before bringing “baby Jesus” followed by the congregation, to place him in the “manger” at the ground floor compound of the main church for the blessing ceremony.
The Christmas Day Holy Mass on the morning of 25 December was celebrated by Rector Fr Paul Herry.
Both the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses were packed to capacity. Among the congregation were Muplop Pandi (aged 76) and his wife Janet Daris (aged 75).
Muplop Pandi suffered a stroke in 2010 and was bed ridden for some time until God’s mercy led to his recovery. Since then, together with his wife and family, he had never missed Mass even when he found it hard to climb up the 24 staircases of the church. They are also blessed with 5 sons and a daughter who are professionals, 21 grand children and a great grandchild.
Also as part of the Christmas celebration, and with the assistance of the villagers, the Parish Pastoral team of St Theresa’s Church led by John Sup (Senior Citizen), and Dismas Julai (Youth), organized children’s parties where they distributed the Christmas gifts received from both the Serian local well wishers and the Archdiocese of Kuching.
They were given to the children of Kampung Sebangkui (17.12.2019), Kampung Kakai (19.12.2019) and Kampung Sg. Kranji (21.12.2019).
The St Vincent De Paul Society also distributed gifts received from well wishers to the needy in the Parish.
Joseph Then
