In the earlier days, Novena devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help in HRC has always been held at 6pm after the 5pm sunset mass. There was no sharing of Thanksgiving letters and for the homily, the Saturday gospel reading was read.
The Novena Apostolate came into being in 1996 with a small group of 5 members committed to conducting the devotion in line with the Redemptorists, i.e., sharing of thanksgiving letters and a short sharing on the power of intercession of our Lady or some aspect of Marian Theology. This apostolate was faithfully supported by a group of 13 ladies praying weekly for this Novena Apostolate mission to “Make Our Mother of Perpetual Help Better Known and Loved”.
In 1998, a Redemptorist priest from Singapore, Fr. James Wallace, CSsR, conducted a weekend recollection and formation for the Apostolate group. The second recollection day was organized in April 1999 at APC, with our Parish Priest Fr. John Gnanapiragasam as spiritual director. This eventually led to the formation of the Marian Prayer group which started off with a group of 10 members and grew over the years to a team of 45 – 50 members organizing rosary devotion
before Masses, with participation of the Sunday school children from the Joyettes as well.
Another meaningful recollection day with the theme “in humble service to the Lord” was conducted by Fr. Raymond Pereira in September 2001 at the Holy Family Church in Kajang. Then from September - October 2002 saw the visit of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima to HRC and there was a month long programme to promote the Message of Fatima, starting off with a short movie “The Day the Sun Danced”, highlighted by Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adorations and rosary recitations, Investiture of the Brown Scapular, Act of Consecration of families to the Twin Hearts, Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Reconciliation and Blessing of Families. BECs and Parish Ministries, together with the Chinese-speaking Legionaries were rostered everyday throughout the month to visit the shrine to offer rosary prayers.
Our Lord has indeed ensured that His Mother is better known and loved in HRC!