And Readers. He Also Trained Selected Laymen to Guide the Congregation
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The Catholic Church had its changes and readers. following the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council. He also trained His Lordship Dominic Vendargon having attended selected laymen all the sessions in his capacity as member of the to guide the commission for the Religious and the commission congregation on for the laity in Rome, recalled that the sessions the various parts marked for “The First Time” in the history of the of the mass and Catholic Church that 3000 bishops met to confer to encourage the and decide on important and controversial changes congregation to to be made in the Catholic Church especially those His Excellency Cardinal Cardijn. respond in the aspects pertaining to the Church in the modern collective prayers world. Some of the changes were immediate, and to participate in the singing of hymns. such as the replacement of the Latin Mass with the vernacular and greater lay participation in the In appreciation of the dynamic nature of liturgy. Some other changes were also visible, like the work of the YCW, the Church sent James developments in the habits of some of the Orders, Lee and James Arunasalam to Bangkok to attend the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus changed the International YCW Conference. During gradually from a formidable all-black to a simple the Conference they met up with Most Rev. white. All these were executed without educating Cardinal Joseph Cardijn, the founder of the YCW the people at large. movement and Fr. Murphy Pakiam. They relate to the Cardinal their efforts taken for the formation Our Parish Priest Fr. Pierre Bertaudeau, who of youths in Sentul1964 and in the estates by applying was on his way to France for his first holiday had the “SEE JUDGE ACT” method. The Cardinal to deviate his journey to Rome, on the directive was very impressed and informed the young men of His Lordship Bishop Dominic Vendargon to of his desire to visit St. Joseph Church, Sentul participate in the Second Vatican Ecumenical while in Kuala Lumpur. Council which was held during the last quarter of 1965. In December 1964 Most Rev. Cardinal Joseph Cardijn visited St. Joseph Church, Sentul. In 1963, Fr. Gilbert Griffon was keen to Fr. Griffon together with the YCW members prepare the parishioners for Christmas so with honoured the Cardinal with a hero’s welcome the help of Rev. Mother Martha of Convent by arranging a group of motorcycle outriders Sentul, translated a French play into English comprising of YCW members. The motorcade entitled “Christmas with the Gypsies”. Bosco commenced from the junction of Jalan Lower D’Cruz produced this play, which was staged at Kovil, Sentul to the Church. In the same evening the Convent Hall to a capacity crowd. Most Rev. Cardinal Joseph Cardijn celebrated the Eucharist participated by an overwhelming In 1964, Fr. Gilbert Griffon became the Parish congregation. His itinerary included a visit Priest upon the transfer of Fr. Pierre Bretaudeau to Bukit Muchong estate where the people to Our Lady of Fatima in Brickfields. T he young irrespective of religion gave him a traditional Hindu who had largely helped to organise the Indian welcome. The success of the activities in Tamil speaking youths in Sentul was touched by the estates was mainly due to James Arunasalam, the Lord and accepted Him as his Master and E. Samson, Batumalai, Peter Saisoo, Mrs. James Saviour. Fr. Griffon initiated and baptised the Arunasalam and many others. young man during Easter of that same year. With the changes brought about after Second Vatican Council, Fr. Griffon initiated some changes 1963 in the Liturgy introducing lay commentators 25 In honour of Most Rev. Cardinal Joseph Tamil-speaking parishioners volunteered to assist Cardijn the YCW and the youths of the Parish him. Fr. Christophe celebrated the Eucharist at formed a football team called THE CARDINALS Risen Christ, Jalan Ipoh. in 1965 with Cyril Ponniah as Captain and Stanis With impulse sustained from the tandem Louis appointed as Manager. In the course of 1965 “Griffon-Le Guen” St. Joseph’s, being one of time, this team became a formidable team in the bigger parishes in the diocese, developed its Kuala Lumpur. The team held on to its lead for missionary outreach program in a three pronged sometime and began to fizzle-out when players approach: had to take on jobs away from Kuala Lumpur. I. Religious in formation The Parish through the prayers of the laity, II. Resolutely true to Gospel social Actions coupled with the blessing of God, celebrated the III. Missionary in outlook diaconate of Edward Xavier Soosay on 5 May Fr. Gilbert Griffon began Bible sessions in 1965. the neighbourhoods attended by non-Christians. In mid 1965 Fr. Laurent Le Guen was He taught catechism to the Orang Asli appointed assistant Parish Priest. Fr. Gilbert catechumenate in Kepong and the children in the Griffon and his new assistant had many ideas in estates and surrounding areas. common and could co-operate as a team in all A group of volunteer Tamil lay Catechists areas of parish work. Together with a formidable (Arulappu, Dorairaj, S. Joseph, Clara, Mrs. Rajah) volunteer work force of 110 Legionaries and 108 attended to the needs of the children in their YCW members, they embarked on a plan to studies and by setting up kindergartens for the pre- awaken the estate workers to answer the call of school children. They taught the older children the Gospel. The YCW both English and Tamil and adolescents the values of healthy and clean become the real apostles of the estates. They living. S. Joseph used his new car Toyota Crown trained and educated them to approach their many to the remote areas. It was during this time that social difficulties and employment grievances in Fr. Laurent Le Guen purchased a second-hand the light of the Gospel. diesel car a Morris Oxford to ferry the team of In 1965, Fr. Christophe from Singapore workers to the estates every evening except on was sent to St. Joseph Church at Sentul to study Sundays. Monday evenings were gainfully spent Tamil under the guidance of Fr. Griffon and some at Coalfields, Sungai Tinggi, Thennamaram and Minyak Estates. Fr. Carroff, the Parish Priest of St. Paul The Hermit, Batang Berjuntai, sought the assistance of Fr. Laurent Le Guen to help him organise the YCS and YCW in his Parish. On 8 January 1966 Rev. Deacon Edward Xavier Soosay was ordained priest in a simple ceremony in the company of the clergy, relatives and friends. The celebration of the ordination was officiated1966 by His Lordship Bishop Dominic Vendargon. Thus placing our first Jewel in the crown of the Diocese of Kuala Lumpur. On 19 January 1966 His Lordship Bishop Dominic Aloysius Vendargon sent Rev. Fr. Michael G. Pinto who was ordained at the Church of YCW football team, 1959 anniversary of YCW. Assumption on 2 January to St. Joseph’s Church, as assistant parish priest. 26 In the area where the present community St. Joseph being centre is, Fr. Griffon constructed two classrooms, a very large parish one for meetings and the other to address the of about 8000 socio-economic needs of many young men Catholics of whom Fr. Anthony Thomas. irrespective of race or religious beliefs who were 3000 were scattered jobless then in Sentul. The YCW agreed with in the rubber estates of Northern Selangor and Fr. Gilbert Griffon that vocational training to be Pahang and the rest were widely distributed in the provided to these youths. This could improve environs of Sentul. To meet the growing demand their self-image and be responsible citizens of the of the parish, Bishop of Kuala Lumpur sent Fr. country. With the help of some generous local Anthony Thomas as an assistant parish priest. He instructors together with the aid of an American was a man of varied talents with a keen interest Peace Corps volunteer classes in electronics and in liturgy and spirituality. He was known as “the motor mechanics commenced. The success of man of few words”. the above courses was due to Stencil Fernandez (Motor Mechanics) and Gary Adams (American In mid1967 Fr. Pierre Decroocq returned Peace Corps Volunteer), Mike Roberts and Francis to the Parish with a mission mainly to pastor the Nair (Electronics). Chinese Catholics who were steadily increasing in the Kuala Lumpur North District. With St. Fr. Griffon began celebrating weekly masses Joseph’s as his base camp Fr. Pierre Decroocq at a single story shop lot (Nirmala Kindergarten) started work with the Catholics in Ipoh Road, along Jalan Terolak 4, Bamboo Gardens, and Jalan Jinjang and Kepong. Ipoh. This housing estate was still growing and had the prospects of emergence of a large Catholic The end of 1967 he was making plans population in the near future, as all housing areas in for a church in Ipoh Road. In 1970 Fr. Pierre Sentul apart from Tamam Billion were then largely Decroocq celebrated1967 his Easter Vigil service in the Railway owned and private housing areas were almost ready church. At this service he baptised a new concept then. Fr. Griffon was assisted by numerous Chinese in a predominantly Indian Fr. Christophe (now in Singapore) and occasionally setting. The church was later blessed by Bishop by a young priest, Fr. Edward Xavier Soosay. Vendargon on 9 May 1971 and named it as Risen However, Mrs. Leo Nathan a former resident Christ to the wishes of Fr. Decroocq who had of Taman Bamboo reported that masses were frequently spoke of his many encounters with the celebrated in 1963 in Nirmala Kindergarten. Risen Christ. Fr. Pierre Decroocq was appointed the first parish priest of the Church assisting In 1967 His Lordship Bishop Dominic him was Fr.