Pilgrimage （ 1 ）朝圣之旅

七月26 日，我参加了一个非常特别的朝圣之旅，到槟城大山脚圣妇亚娜（St. Anne's Church) 朝圣。

我加进了一团来自沙劳越加拿逸（Kanowit）伊班族的朝圣团。该团是由一位来自非洲肯亚籍神父及当地领袖兼传道员带领而来。

玛窦神父来自非常的肯亚，属于英国弥尔传教修会的会士。大约两年多前，在晋铎的两个月后，他被派遣到沙劳越诗巫教区服务。

这位勇敢的传教士，为了尽快及有效的实现传教使命，他很快的学会了伊班语，解除了语言的障碍及文化的差异。他会说一些华语。再假些时日，他的华文造诣必会更好。

 这是我第一次这么样的近距离与伊班族的兄弟姐妹接触，及一位非洲肯亚的神父交流。

这也是我第一次到圣妇亚纳堂朝圣。我本身对朝圣的态度可能与他人不同。还没朝圣，就有了“朝圣疲劳” 。。。对朝圣听得及见得太多（听过很多美丽的朝圣地方及故事，也见过很多“朝”过的“圣人”），所以有一种“不圣的唏嘘”（此文曾刊载于《爱之光》）。

这次我应该是因着“朝声”而前往圣妇亚纳堂作一个朝圣之旅。 不过，我告诉自己，无论结果如何，圣或不圣，这趟行程必定是与众不同，也必定有所收获。

 我们一行人，在28号下午三时左右，就抵达圣妇亚纳场地，然后参加了晚上八时的感恩弥撒。

这台弥撒是由罗马梵蒂冈宗座驻 马来西亚大使若瑟马力诺总主教主祭，古晋夏总主教，槟城主教及多位神父共祭。弥撒过后有圣妇安纳塑像游行。

槟城首席部长林冠英也出席了这台弥撒，不过他在领圣体前就离开。

我在这里见到了朝圣者的恭敬，虔诚及信德的行为而感动。

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On July 26, I embarked on an unique pilgrimage to St. Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

I joined a group of Iban pilgrimes from Kanowit, Sarawak led by Fr. Mathews Olili and lay leader Catechist Edmund Kalai.

Fr. Mathews is a Mill Hill Missionaries priest from Kenya. He was sent to Sibu Diocese immediately upon ordination slightly more than 2 years ago. He was recently being transferred from St. Francis Xavier's church in Kanowit to St. Charles's church in Selagau.

This brave young missionary has to overcome cultural shock and language barrier soonest possible in order to discharge his pastoral missions. Within a short period of 2 years, he has mastered the Iban language and some Mandarin.

This was my first time such close contact with fellow Iban Catholics and more uniquely, an African priest from Kenya. A rare opportunity and blessed encounter for me!

This was also my first pilgrimage to St. Anne Church honouring St. Anne, the mother of Blessed Virgin Mary on its feast day.I saw waves of big crowd thronging the grounds throughout the evening and night.

I witnessed their fervent devotion, piety and acts of Faith towards St. Anne, leading them to God through Sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Eucharist. 

We attended the feast day 8:00 pm Mass on Saturday, July 28. The Mass was celebrated by Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Jeseph Marino, co-celebrated by Archbishop John Ha of Kuching, Sebestian Francis, Bishop of Penang, and many other priests.

Lim Guan Eng, the chief minister of Penang was also present at the Eucharistic celebration. However, he left before the Holy Communion.

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(Video in Youtube)