Cardinal Sebastian Francis Celebrates Sybil Karthigasu’ 77th Death Anniversary

Cardinal Sebastian Francis celebrated Sybil Kartigasu's 77th death anniversary 

 Cardinal Sebastian Francis was in Ipoh last week specifically on the 12 June 2025 to celebrate the 77^th death anniversary of Sybil Karthigasu. She died on 12 June 1948.  

Cardinal Francis had started a cause last year for the beatification and canonisation of civilian hero, Sybil Kathigasu. saying "her life example draws us to the fact that what motivated her is the faith…”

In her book ‘No Dram of Mercy’ Sybil wrote of the times “she prayed and sang aloud… the Stations of the Cross and the Litanies by heart and said the Rosary on my ten fingers..prayer was consolation and a source of strength..”  

When she was freed at the end of the war she wrote that she went to St Josephs Church, Batu Gajah and “two attendants carried her from the car to the entrance of the church…at my request they left me to make my way, painfully on all fours, to the aisle of the alter where I prostrated myself in thanksgiving and humble devotion”.  Due to her torture during detention she was unable to walk.

..the illuminated canopy for the evening event 

..flowers for Sybil

Every 12^th of the month St Michaels Church will hold devotional prayers at her gravesite in the morning. However Cardinal Francis held the 77 anniversary in the evening in order that more would attend. An estimated 100 participants showed up for the prayers with all in attendance saying a prayer at Sybil’s grave.

JAG

ADIK The One Eye'd Cat

ADIK.. the one eyed cat ....it turned up like that to Rocky's Place

Adik is a one-eyed-cat that sauntered into Rocky’s Place one humid evening. Neither Rocky nor the food stall owners minded it one bit.  

Over the next few weeks they noted that Adik used to rest on the bar counter where it would have a birds eye view over the whole dining floor.

ADIK on the counter ......

with a 'cat's-eye' view over the dining floor

Additionally Rocky would occasionally see dead rats, lizards and even cockroaches in the morning. Should another feline trespass into its lair a cat-fight would ensure.

But that was over a year ago. Now after it has accepted collars and bells ADIK is part of the Rocky family and is a regular feature at Rockys Place. 

..ADIK feeling at home, 1 year on, on the counter at Rocky's Place ....

JAG

Fallen JASMINE's........

 

On my morning ride this morning ...fallen Jasmine's ..due to the heavy downpour yesterday

..the downpour diluted its fragrance ...what a pity 

JaG

When it's 34'C at Noontime - Its time for Wawasan Chendoi ..............

WAWASAN Chendol ...at Bercham ... a Heat Saver at this present heat-wave 

eat it there ...all can do ...this is a Malaysian cuisie !!!!

better still .take it home to cool over a good Netflix ........

JAG

 

Lifted Manhole Covers Means " Wire Theft?"

On .....Persiaran Bercham Selatan 20...

 On my bike ride this morning I came across this lifted square man-hole cover. I had seen several of these lifted covers last 2 months throughout Bercham previously wonderimg who would want to work so hard. Seems these were the work of thieves to steal expensive copper wires buried down below. 

This cover took some work. I hadn’t seen this two days ago so they must have just hours ago. It was buried under the tarred road. So it must have taken some effort. This wire must be pretty lucrative to go through all the effort

…..hope they dont get electrocuted and trip the neighborhood…

KC

Towards Beatification and Canonization of Sybil Kathigasu

Parishoners gather at the grave of Sybil Kartigasu for devotional prayers 

Parishioners of St Michaels Church gather on the 12 of each month at the gravesite of Sybil Karthigasu and offer devotional prayers for her intersession. This prayers have been going since January this year. Prayers this month was held on the 12 which happened to be the holiday Wesak Day.

Last year in July Cardinal Sebastian Francis, bishop of Penang, had called for the beatification and canonization of Sybil Kathigasu. He described her as a heroine and lay martyr who protected information and housed and nursed local members of the anti-Japanese resistance.

Parish Priest Father Aloysius Tan announced after the prayers, that in June next month Cardinal Francis will be in attendance and the devotional prayer will be held in evening at the gravesite followed by mass. 

KC 

Harry Seggu's / 'City of Millionaires' Series Features YLCO Museum

Harry Seggu with YLCO Museum curator Ignatius Chew looking on.

The YLCO Museum got a visit from Harry Seggu the lawyer, educator and lately a videographer documenting the heritage stories of Ipoh in his series “Ipoh: City of Millionaires – From Nothing to Legacy.’

It is about immigrants and dreamers who started with nothing and built empires. Harry’s  ‘Millionaires’ delves into the stories of yesteryear IPOH , its colonial buildings, villages in Ipoh eg Buntong and included Jubilee Cabaret the entertainment place that was part up Ipoh then.

Harry's next episode is focused on some of the progressive families ie the Yeoh, Lim, Chew and Oh families that began in the Kinta Valley. Their story goes back 100 years and covers the growth of the business, their illustrious descendants through the ages cultivating that millionaire mindset to become doctors, politicians and actresses.

Incindentally, these families have their history all housed in their own museum with their own curator ie a family member named Ignatius Chew.

Will Harry’s interview cover it all. Log on to Fb/ Harry Seggu to find out this Saturday 10 May.

JAG

Maundy Thursday - The 1st Day of the Tridium Culminating On Easter

I always enjoy Holy Week – it’s a story  written in the Bible and is repeated possibly over 2000 years and we get to interact with it. On Holy Thursday churches reenact Jesus' act of washing his disciples' feet, symbolizing humility and service. This year OMPH Church had 2 of the 12 disciples were wheelchair bound ......

..the first 'disciple' was Frances Yeoh who became a Catholic less than a year ago .......... 

Presentation of the Chrism Oils .....

Presentation of the Holy Chrism Oils . It consists of the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Holy Chrism. The Oil of Catechumens is used in the Sacrament of Baptism, while the Oil of the Sick is used in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The Holy Chrism is used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, as well as for the consecration of churches and altars.

..Blessed Sacrament is transferred to ......

The Mass does not end. There is no dismissal or final blessing. The evening’s celebration concludes with a “stripping of the altar” in which not only are all decorations removed, the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the tabernacle on the main altar and processed to an altar of repose outside the main body of the churchthe The sanctuary candle or paschal candle is extinguished or darkened, and not relit until the Easter Vigil.

.... the Altar of Repose ....and concludes with the 'stripping of the altar' 

Eucharistic Adoration is common after the Holy Thursday Mass and continuing until midnight. It is reminiscent of waiting with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

...eucharistic adoration ...at the 'Garden of Gethesemane'

KC

OMPH Church Bell Rings For Pope Francis

KC

Happy Easter-He Is Truly Risen-Halleuiah!!!

 
Happy Easter One and All

Main Convent Ipoh/ Cancer Diagnostic Centre Meeting With Authorities

YB Howard Lee (right,in pink shirt) and authorities inspecting the grounds at the Main Convent, Ipoh.

The main parties at the centre of the Main Convent Ipoh and the Cancer Diagnostic Centre were called to meet with the authorities to explain the setup of the centre.  The meeting was called by the Education Department last week and held the school yesterday April 14 2025.

Present were representatives from Education Department, PIBG, MBI, Heritage department, Health Department and JKR.

Absent was the representative from the Bishop’s office, Board of Governors, National Cancer Society of Malaysia and the Project Manager.

YB Howard Lee was the Chairperson of the meeting.  

 

Asrama Bintang, the site of the proposed Cancer Diagnostic Centre

..the wide area at the back of the Main Convent for the proposed centre

Lets hope there will be a positive outcome from this meeting.

KC

Parents Protest Lost Field Due To Construction Of Cancer Diagnostic Centre

Close to a hundred parents held a gathering at the Main Convent Ipoh yesterday to protest the construction at the Asrama Bintang which has encroached into one third of the only grass field in the school.

The field used to be where the students held their field events such as long jump, high jumps, softball and netball. The site was the former Asrama Bintang and it has been proposed as a Cancer Diagnostic Centre.

The parents were in school for their children’s cross country event held yesterday morning. 

..construction has encroached into 1/3 of the field 

..the former field where they held softball and long jumps 

..the Convent cross country event held yesterday

KC

Main Convent, Ipoh .. Undergoing Construction / Renovation .. Isn't the Convent a Heritage Building

The back portion of the Main Convent. A wall demarcating the area of works. 

This is the Main Convent, Ipoh (SMK Convent Ipoh ) undergoing construction or a renovation.  It is always sad to see the old building undergoing works as these are the links to how Ipoh grew to what it is today.  

It is taking place at the the back portion of the Convent building and only from the inside of the Convent. A wall has been erected demarcating the area of works hence it won’t be visible from outside the Convent.

There is no sign of change to the front of the Convent where all looks normal.

It is very surprising as this is a Heritage Building built in 1907 before St Michaels School. Understand there are guidelines if Heritage buildings undergo any changes. 

the erected wall 

 

..a video ..shows a portion of the building has been torn down 

..all looks normal from the front ....

Will await the school authorities to shed information on this development.

KC

I Will Never Tire of the Evening View@Ipoh Padang #

I will never tire of a walk in the Ipoh Padang on a warm and bright sunny evening. The building surrounding the field never cease to stand out. Old Town Ipoh - St Michaels School, the India Muslim mosque ....KL Kepong , New CitiTel......   

seeing tourists (i think) dressed in white taking advantage of the warm evening sun and photgraphing away... 

 

..the old HSBC building, the Chinese Chambers....so much history ... 

..locals enjoying the nostalghia of Old Town ......

 ...and the ever present Court House and the Ipoh Club .... aaahh.....

KC

Its A Buzzard ...a Crested Honey Buzzard Sitting On The Cross@OMPH Church#

 Isaiah 40:31 ... "but those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary......

KC / JAG

Credits: A.Law/ graphics / text.