My dear brothers and sisters,

As our 9-Day Novena in honour of Our Lady of the Assumption has concluded, my heart is full of gratitude. Together, we journeyed through the Memorare, line by line, and I pray that these nine days have drawn each of you closer to our Blessed Mother, and through her, closer to her Son.

Again and again, we returned to the Wedding at Cana, to Mary’s words to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” These same words she speaks to us today. They carried us from Cana all the way to the foot of the cross, where Mary stood, faithful and unwavering, even in her deepest sorrow. She invites us to stand there too, not to run from our own crosses, but to carry them as she did, with trust.

I have seen so much growth in our Parish these nine days. Growth in trust. Growth in confidence in God’s mercy and faithfulness. And I hope and pray, growth in each of your hearts to answer the call to be participative members of our community, our BECs, and our parish family. We cannot deny that we all carry a cross. But we do not carry it alone. Mary walks with us, and she asks her Son to help us carry what feels too heavy to bear on our own.

To every BEC and ministry who worked behind the scenes these nine days, thank you for giving your 100%, often unseen, always faithful. And a special word of thanks to our AYM, for the Rosary in Latin. Doing something different, something that stretched us, reminded us that our faith is both ancient, traditional, always relevant and always alive. It meant a great deal to our parish.

May Our Lady of the Assumption continue to intercede for us and may we all continue to live these teachings long after this Novena ends.

“Do whatever He tells you.”

For He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

With love  and gratitude,

Fr Leonard Lexson
Parish Priest
Church of the Assumption, Petaling Jaya