Klang’s oldest Catholic church lights up for Christmas

Free Malaysia Today

Parish priest Reverend Father Gregory Chan speaks with FMT Lifestyle about the church’s history and why the less fortunate are always included in their Christmas celebrations.   Story by: Sheela Vijayan  Shot by: Fauzi Yunus, Afizi Ismail & Hizami Safri  Presented by: Theevya Ragu  Edited by: Andrea Edmonds   Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2024/12/25/oldest-catholic-church-in-klang-shines-bright-for-christmas/    Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTLifestyle #Christmas2024 #Klang #OurLadyOfLourdes

Transcript

00:00The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is an architectural masterpiece, a sight to behold in the royal

00:13city of Clang.

00:16It is exceptionally striking during the Christmas season when it is adorned with beautiful decorations,

00:22sparkling lights and a giant Christmas tree.

00:27FMT Lifestyle recently visited the church to learn more about its history.

00:34Some people say it was 1928, this church was first built.

00:38However, I've been checking the records and the church existed, I think, in the form of

00:47an atap hut, maybe along Jalan Tengku Kelana, and this was in 1923, for five years.

00:56It was one Father Suhai who was assigned to look after the Catholics in Clang and its

01:00neighbouring districts who recognised the need for a church building.

01:06He set about acquiring the church's present site and also influenced its design, which

01:10follows the style of Gothic architecture.

01:14I think many people do not realise that there is a sense of a tunnel from the top.

01:20Actually, it allows the church to reverberate sound.

01:25There are also stained glass windows that add a quaint charm to the church.

01:30Upon ascending a spiral staircase to a loft, you will discover an intricately designed

01:36rose window.

01:37You look at the rose window, all of it has a picture of Christ and all his apostles.

01:43So there were 12 plus Jesus, 13.

01:46So it's called the rose window because each resembled a petal, a petal which would eventually

01:51form a rose.

01:53Chan shares that the Christmas season is a busy time for the church, as people gather

01:57to usher in the Yuletide joy.

02:01Even in the midst of the festivities and merrymaking, the church does not forget the less fortunate

02:07in society.

02:08The message of the Christmas season is to give love, and it's so important that we

02:13acknowledge that Christ is the greatest gift of all.

02:16He came in the form of a baby.

02:19Nevertheless, to be able to see that is to inspire all of us to reach out to others.

02:26On Christmas Day, the church hosts a party for people from all walks of life, including

02:31migrants and those from the lower-income group.

02:35And after standing majestically for close to a century, what is Chan's wish for the

02:41church's future?

02:43My hope would be that the church becomes a place of refuge, a field hospital for people

02:50to come and that we will be able to receive them and accept them and love them and serve

02:57them.

02:58Divya Ragu and Sheila Vijayan, FMT Lifestyle.

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