OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH
We Are Witnesses to All This: We and the Holy Spirit, Acts 5:27-32,40-41
04 May 2025, Sunday, 3rd Week of Easter
The Gift of Togetherness: Fellowship and Community
The joyful spirit of togetherness filled the air as families from all angles of the community came together as the Blessed Sacrament Church (BSC) recently held its Parish Family Day on Sunday, May 4th, 2025, at the Church compound from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The Family Day served as the Parish’s initiative to promote Communion, Participation, and Mission and generate funding for various church projects, infrastructure, and human development. Approximately sixty stalls offered various delicacies and activities, making it a vibrant gathering for everyone. Steered by the concept of “church family” that underlines the importance of relationships and the shared journey of faith within the community, the day felt like an international food fair, featuring local delights such as lemang, ‘pansuh’ chicken cooked in bamboo, ‘kacangma’, and not to forget the impressive array of barbecued meats.
The event saw a remarkable turnout as organizers filled the day with activities to strengthen family connections and foster community spirit. With something suited for everyone, families left the gathering with smiles and cherished their memories, thanks to the bright sunshine that day. The generous support and camaraderie showcased the community’s commitment to its goals, which included local businesses that played an essential role through sponsorship, which showed their spirit of mutual support. Ministries managing the stalls expressed their delight over the event’s success. “Family Day is a cherished tradition in our community, and this year’s turnout exceeded our expectations,” stated Adriel from the Bible and Faith Formation Commission. Many who came voiced their appreciation for the Parish community’s endeavours in hosting such an occasion. The day concluded with a message from the Parish Rector, Rev Fr Leonard Yap, who acknowledged the organizing committee and offered gratitude to God. He remarked, “Parish Family Day, like this, reminds us of the importance of community. Together, we are stronger,” and added that a Thanksgiving mass at BSC would be held soon.
The Blessed Sacrament Church Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Chairperson, Mdm Pauline Lim, expressed her heartfelt thanks to all the ministries and non-ministry stallholders who did such an excellent job not only on 3rd and 4th May but also at all the presales. “My deepest heartfelt thanks to all the preparations and effort everyone has made to make this event a great success! The exemplary collaboration, the spirit of unity, the willingness to sacrifice for the common good of the parish, the generosity of time, talent and treasures for the Lord’s people contributed to the event’s success. And indeed, to the Lord for His favours and all answered prayers! Without Him, nothing works! I hope this BSC Family Day has deepened our Christian fellowship through the various skit practices and the day’s events. Most importantly, let’s continue to love, comfort and encourage each other graciously and sincerely because love never fails, and now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is Love (1 Cor 13:8-13).”
In closing, let us one day look at the bricks this event built, and make it a reminder that Jesus knows that love must grow from strength to strength in our humble capacity. With God’s grace, over time, we will be able to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Paragraph 55 of the Synod Final Report sums it up well: “We, the Church, start from the real-life situations of families today, all needing mercy, beginning with those who suffer most. With the Merciful Heart of Jesus, the Church must draw near and guide the weakest of her members who are experiencing a wounded or lost love, by restoring confidence and hope, as the beacon light of a port, or a torch carried in the crowd, to illuminate those who have lost their way or find themselves in the midst of a storm” (Relation Synodic, 55).
By Diana Marie
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