St Anne's Feast Day 2016 , Bukit Mertajam

It has been so long since I went for the St Anne's Church Feast Day, Bukit Mertajam in end of July and finally I have decided to blog about it.

Over the years this St Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam has attracted hundreds of  thousands of Catholics  and other devotees from across the country to celebrate the feast day. The 188 years old church has become a tourist attraction as one of the country's largest religious celebration.

This year the  actual feast day of St Anne was on 26 July 2016 but the celebration lasted 10 days.  I have been attending the celebration since year 2014.  This year  I stayed for 2 nights at iconic hotel to participate in the celebration.  The 10 days celebration turned Bukit Mertajam town into a carnival like atmosphere with lots of stalls selling items and food outside the church.

It was reported that more than 100,000 pilgrims attended the Saturday mass on the 30th July.   With many of them are Hindu and Buddhist devotees.  They came all the way to seek the blessing of St Anne.  Some were here to expressed their gratitude and offer thanksgiving who had their wishes and petitions granted.  They pray with lighted candles, they offer candles and flowers to St Anne. Some made donations honor of St Anne.

St Anne was the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ. As a grandmother and mother of Mary,  Saint Anne became the patron of unmarried women,  housewives and for childless couples. She has been known as an intercessor of healing in particular,  especially in marriage and family.

The mass and candlelight procession was celebrated by Bishop Sebastian Francis. After the mass I joined the crowd for the candlelight procession which took place within the church compound.   The float bearing the statue of St Anne was carried by devotees,  followed by altar servers and flower girls lead the procession,  carrying lanterns,  flags and crosses. 

The mass was attended by the Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, together with some of his fellow members of Parliament.  

It was such a wonderful event filled with joy and excitement.  I will try to come back every year to attend the feast day celebration.