On September 28, 2019 in Selangor, in the suburbs of the big city Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the St. Francis of Assisi Church, a Novena prayer was ongoing for nine days. The prayers were preparing the parish for the celebrations related to the Founder of the Franciscan Order. The Novena prayer ended on October 6th with a solemn Mass celebrated by most Rev. Julian Leow Beng Kim.
Every day, in the Novena prayers a great number of parishioners as well as pilgrims coming for the prayer from various parishes of Kuala Lumpur and other villages participated.
The John Paul II Foundation Administrator, Fr. Krzysztof Wieliczko, from Vatican, was invited to lead the last days of the Novena. On the fifth day of the Novena prayers, Fr. Wieliczko at 6:30 p.m. led the Holy Hour and Rosary prayers. While, at 8 p.m., he celebrated a Holy Mass during which he delivered a homily “Strategically aim you Family in the right direction.” On the sixth day of the Novena, Fr. Andrew along with the faithful led the meditations – Transitus (last moment of St. Francis’ life), while Fr. Wieliczko along with other priests celebrated the Holy Mass. In the homily, Fr. Wieliczko encouraged faithful to give love and attention to children: „as your kids grow, pay attention to how they are developing spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally”.
On the seventh day, during which the liturgical remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi was celebrated, was very special. At 10 a.m. Fr. Wieliczko celebrated a Holy Mass and delivered the homily to the sick people. After the Mass, each sick person was blessed individually with the Blessed Sacrament. It was a special moment of prayers and entrust to the Eucharistic Jesus. The blessing was followed by veneration of the Relic of St. Francis of Assisi and St. John Paul II. In the evening, at 6:30 p.m., there was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by the Novena to St. Francis. A solemn Holy Mass was celebrated at 8 p.m. After the Mass, there faithful participated in the procession with the Franciscan Rosary.
On the eight day of the Novena, at 8:30 a.m. there were Holy Hours and Benediction prayers. Then, at 9:30 a.m., there was veneration of the Relic of St. Francis of Assisi and at 10 a.m. a multilingual Mass was celebrated.
On the ninth day, most Rev. Julian Leow Beng Kim celebrated a Holy Mass which ended with plenary indulgence. The Novena and celebrations of the St. Francis of Assisi feast ended with a lunch for which all faithful were invited.
