You are the God that healeth me, You are the Lord my healer.
By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — The Archdiocese of Kuching organised a Mass to pray for the sick, the elderly and those with special needs, at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching on 21 February 2023.
The special Mass with prayers and anointing for healing was celebrated by Fr Joseph Kannampally VC, with concelebrants Fr Michael Payyapilly VC, Fr Nicholas Ng, Fr Galvin Ngumbang, Fr Mark Bonchol, Fr Alvin Ng SJ and Fr Eugene Maglasang SDB.
Vincentian Priests
Fr Joseph Kannampally is the Regional Superior of Andhra Region of Vincentians and has ministered and preached in India and the Gulf countries. He is a living miracle who has survived near death experiences multiple times with the Lord’s Hand protecting him always.
Fr Michael Payyapilly is Director of the Divine Retreat Centre, Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is also a Vincentian Priest and a seminarian batchmate of Fr Joseph Kannampally. Since his ordination in 2006, he has travelled to more than 50 cities to give retreats.
In his opening commentary, Fr Joseph informed the congregation that the Divine Team comprising himself, Fr Michael and Vincent (one-man choir) would be in Kuching for one week to pray and glorify God with them.
Quoting Psalms 37:5 “Commit your ways to the Lord, and he will act for you,” he told them, “This evening, God will act for all of us.” In Acts of the Apostles 4:30 “Stretch out your hands to heal O Lord, the mighty powerful name of your holy servant Jesus,” he said, “Jesus will do miracles and wonders in our life.”
Giving his homily after the Gospel Reading, Fr Michael Payyapilly shared that “God heals through the prayers of the community.” He asked everyone to pray as a community and not as individuals, as “We are called to serve and not to be served.” He said, “We are to believe in the power of the community that is gathered in prayers.”
Anointing of the sick, the elderly and those with special needs
The exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and anointing of the sick took place after Holy Communion. Fr Michael led the congregation into a prayer “to invite Jesus into our midst” and told them to offer to the Lord in faith all prayer intentions, but to be selfless and remember that everyone is an instrument for the healing of others.
The seven priests were joined by Fr Joseph Liew and Fr Patrick Heng to administer anointing to the Christian community who had come from the different parishes in the Archdiocese and who filled the Cathedral that evening. It appeared the whole congegation, young and old, sick or otherwise, queued for the anointing.
The Mass for healing ended with Fr Michael Payyapilly raising the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance to bless the congregation in the Cathedral.
Amazing moment of Grace
In his concluding remarks, Fr Michael called the evening “an amazing moment of Grace.” He thanked Jesus and said it was a beautiful way to start the blessed season of Lent, as the Mass was held on the eve of Ash Wednesday, the start of the 40 days of Lent.
