Feast of Assumption - Holy Trinity Church Tawau

Catholics all over the world celebrates The Feast of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), Mother of Christ Jesus on the 15th August . The Holy Trinity Church in Tawau celebrated the feast on the 14th August 2009 organised by the Legion of Mary with a procession by candle light around the Church compound.

The celebration started off at 7.00 pm with a hymn dedicated to Mother Mary by the church choir followed by the recital of the Holy Rosary on the Glorious Mysteries in English, Chinese and BM at the Grotto.

The statue of Mother Mary was mounted on to a wooden carriage decorated with color lights and flowers and placed on a table in front of the grotto. The grotto was also beautifully decorated with flowers and candle light specially for the occasion. Before the celebration commenced, the lights were switched off and the candles held by the congregation present were then lighted.

Crowning of Mother Mary

After having recited the fourth Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary, the flower girls came forward to crown the statue of Mother Mary with flowers. They then proceeded to recite the fifth Glorious Mystery, which is the Coronation of our Mother Mary.

After the recital of the Holy Rosary , the procession commenced from the Grotto to the Church via the car park accompanied with songs by the choir. Leading the procession were the flower girls followed by the statue of Mother Mary, carried by 4 members of the Legion of Mary in full uniform with the choir and parishioners following closely behind. They were holding lighted candles and singing praises to Mother Mary all along the procession.

Parishioners with lighted candles in front of the grotto

It was a sight to behold to see a sea of lighted candles in a pitch dark environment with the parishioners walking slowly following the procession. The atmosphere was simply beautiful and joyful with many parishioners participating in the procession, singing praises to Mother Mary with lighted candles in their hands.

Mother Mary placed in front of the altar

Presentation of gifts

On reaching the entrance of the Church, the parishioners put off their candles before entering as the lights in the Church were switched on. The statue of Mother Mary was carried into the Church and placed on a table in front of the altar. The Eucharistic Mass was celebrated by Msgr. Nicholas Ong which drew over 300 parishioners including many members of the Legion of Mary in their uniform.

Members of LOM after the mass

Article by Nicholas Chia and photos by William Chew, HTC Tawau