BUKIT MERTAJAM: A delegation from Sabah was among the thousands of Catholics who made an impact at St Anne’s church, here, for the yearly pilgrimage.
The Catholics from Penampang as well as Sabahans residing or working on the island and in the peninsula gave the occasion a traditional flavour by donning the Kadazan costume and performing the Sumazau before the mass (pic).
It is believed that this year’s event attracted nearly 100,000 pilgrims to the 10-day annual St Anne’s Novena and Feast as it is called.
St Anne is recognised as the grandmother of Jesus Christ. At the old St Anne’s church, now known as the Shrine of St Anne, pilgrims offered lit candles, flowers, flower garlands and prayers to St Anne.
In 2019, about three months before Covid-19 was first detected, the Pope raised the church to the status of a “Minor Basilica”. There are four major basilicas in Rome and several minor basilicas around the world.
Church deacon Reverend Lazarus Anthony Jonathan said the crowd this year was bigger than ever. Pilgrims enjoyed free meals provided by the church throughout the 10-day event.
“Pilgrims filled our church for every novena and mass in the 10 days, which were held in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil at separate sessions.
“I met pilgrims from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Australia.
“Despite the drizzle which started at about 9pm and lasted till the end, the crowd stayed and followed the procession holding candles,” he said, adding that the procession route was 6.5km.
Heading the main procession group were a cross-bearer, altar boys carrying ornamental candles, flag bearers and girls sprinkling flower petals on the ground.
The procession has been a tradition and a significant event for the town as it passes by several major streets.
Observing the statue of St Anne and her daughter the Virgin Mary in procession, Daniel Tang said he came to understand the religious significance of the feast held in honour of this Christian saint.
“We were so excited to attend the feast and the procession. From now on, we will come every year,” said Tang, 20, a student.
Jeslyn Jacob, 26, an accountant from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, said she had been attending the feast every year since her schooldays, but missed out the last two years due to the pandemic.
“It is so good to be back to pray. We are Catholics and it is our family tradition to attend the feast annually,” she said.
K. Deva Mary, 39, an accounts executive from Shah Alam, has happy memories of her parents bringing her to the feast every year during her childhood.
But she had given the feast a miss over the last five years because of work commitments.
“Now that we are vaccinated and moving towards treating Covid-19 as an endemic disease, it felt important for me to come and pray. I am so glad I made it,” she said.
Many pilgrims came from other countries too, including Elizabeth Smith, 37, a nurse from Medan, Indonesia.
“I heard about the St Anne’s Feast from a friend and decided to come here for the first time to experience it,” she said.
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