Thousands make beeline to church in Bukit Mertajam for annual pilgrimage

MORE than 100,000 people are expected to attend the annual St Anne’s Feast celebrations in Bukit Mertajam this weekend 30-July-2011 where the highlight would be a candlelight procession around the church grounds.

Most of the pilgrims would likely participate in the procession after the 8pm evening mass.
The 10-day ‘My Family, My Life’ feast will end this Sunday.

  

In the past seven days, the sanctuary of the Church of St Anne along Jalan Kulim has been a magnet for pilgrims by the thousands.

They came to pray, make vows and give thanks to the patron saint, the grandmother of Jesus Christ.
Pilgrims who have had their vows fulfilled after praying to St Anne, returned to the 165-year-old shrine this year to offer flowers and other gifts as thanksgiving.

Altar boys bearing crosses, light bearers and flower girls accompanied the statues as the crowd sang religious hymns.
The adoration of the blessed sacrament and healing for the sick was also conducted by priests yesterday.
Two siblings from Sumatra, Indonesia, — Elisabeth Alam Shah, 45, a housewife, and her sister Emilia Alam Shah, 40 — have been attending the feast for the last three years but this is the first time that they came earlier to attend mass on St Anne’s birthday.
The siblings who arrived in Penang by flight on Monday, are returning tomorrow.

  

An Australian couple who only wanted to be known as Derek and his wife Sherry, both aged 45, from Melbourne, said they were delighted to have attended the celebration.
They said that this is their fourth trip for the celebrations and plan to make a trip annually.
“I have a strong belief in God and I believe that medicine alone will not cure sickness. It is our faith.”
According to Derek, he was in serious pain when he walked up the flight of church stairs.
Derek, who was on crutches, did not specify his ailment but said that he felt relief when he came down after praying to St Anne.
S. Belvin, 30, and his fiancee S. Alinda, also 30, from Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, said they came to pray to St Anne for their wedding, which is slated for Sept 1.

For further information about the feast, call the church at 04-5386405 or visit its online portal at www.stannebm.org.

St Anne's Annual Novena & Feastday Celebration 2011

St Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam is a famous Church located in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia. Its annual celebration of the feast of St Anne regularly attracts over 100,000 pilgrims from Malaysia as well as neighbouring countries like Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Australia. Event General Info  Period 22 July 2011 - 31 July 2011 7am - 11pm Venue St Anne's Church Bukit Mertajam, Jalan Kulim, Penang. Organiser St Anne's Church Contact 04-538 6405

A 10 days prayer ritual that draws a congregation of its followers. In conjunction with the annual St Anne's fest which the Night of Candle ligt procession usually follows at the church grounds on Saturday night at 30-July-2011. Location / Map

St Anne Feast

How to get there? 1. There is no public bus directly to St Anne's Church. You can take a taxi from Megamall Pinang or     Butterworth Ferry Terminal. St Anne's Church is around 20km away from Butterworth Ferry Terminal. 2. Or you can take U702 from Butterworth Ferry Terminal and ended at Bukit Mertajam Bus Terminal.     Then only you can take a taxi goto St Anne's Church. Estimated Travel Time 40 minutes if driving from Megamall Pinang