Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
Malay: Gereja Our Lady of Lourdes
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang
3°02′14″N101°26′40″E / 3.037327°N 101.444405°E / 3.037327; 101.444405 (Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang)
Location	Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang
Country	Malaysia
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	http://ollklang.org/
History
Status	Active
Architecture
Architectural type	Gothic Revival
Years built	1928 [1]
Administration
Archdiocese	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) is a Catholic church built in 1928 on Jalan Tengku Kelana, Klang, Malaysia. The current parish priest is Rev. Fr. Jude Gregory Chan and is assisted by Rev. Fr. Gnanaselvam Berentis. The church had celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2008 after the church building had undergone some restoration and repainting works. Additionally, a new four-storey formation centre, named Wisma Lourdes, had been added to the church's complex in order to meet the increasing number of students and classes needed for Sunday School. Wisma Lourdes also houses the parochial house.

The interior of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang.

Glass panes believed to show the Virgin Mary image (left) and the face of Jesus (right).

Attractions

Annual Novena Feast Celebration

The annual novena (translation: nine-day) feast celebration of Our Lady of Lourdes tends to attract thousands of Catholic pilgrims to the church, particularly in the month of February with the celebration of the World Day of the Sick on 11 February as instituted by Pope John Paul II on 13 May 1992. The annual novena feast celebration is usually culminated with an outdoor procession, drawing hundreds of faithful with a missional goal by way of a communal participation. ^[2]

Relic of Maria Goretti

On 8 February 2015, a first-class relic of Maria Goretti was placed by the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, The Most Reverend Julian Leow, within the altar of the church and was witnessed by 1,300 congregants. ^{[3] [4]}

Glass panes depicting images of Mary and Jesus

In 2012, two glass panes believed to showcase images of the Virgin Mary and the face of Jesus were moved to the church from the Sime Darby Medical Centre in Subang Jaya (SJMC). ^[5] These panes are available for viewing from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. daily. ^[6]

Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (photographed in 1928)

Convent Klang

Adjacent to the church is the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus and its convent schools (primary and secondary). The convent had been built by 1928 for the Sisters of the Infant Jesus who conducted a school in nearby Kuala Lumpur - Convent Bukit Nanas - and were keen to open a similar private missionary school for girls in Klang. ^[7] Ownership of the school remains with the Sisters. ^[8] Convent Klang celebrated its centenary in 2024 when 730 primary and 1,100 secondary schoolgirls constituted the student cohort. ^{[9] [10]}

See also

• Christianity in Malaysia

References

1. "Archbishop Julian's Public Schedule".
2. EDWARD RAJENDRA (4 February 2015). "Holy feast, prayers to draw thousands". The Star (Malaysia) .
3. FMT Reporters (9 February 2015). "Relic of St Maria Goretti now housed in Klang Church's altar". Free Malaysia Today. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
4. VANESSA EE-LYN GOMES (9 February 2015). "Rare placement of relic witnessed by thousands". Malay Mail .
5. EILEEN NG (21 November 2012). "'Virgin Mary' glass panes moved to Klang". The Star Online.
6. Ida Lim (20 November 2012). "Virgin Mary' window removed and given to Catholic Church". The Malaysia Insider. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
7. Chin, Kon Yit; Chen, Voon Fee (2003). Landmarks of Selangor. ISBN   9789814068789 . Retrieved 16 December 2021.
8. Wai, W. (7 August 2022). "Review the quit rent of some convent schools". The Star. Retrieved 23 March 2023. ...The Infant Jesus Sisters (IJS), who are the owners of the country's convent schools,...There are currently 56 convent schools [in Malaysia] comprising 34 primary and 22 secondary schools.
9. Rasiah, K. (19 October 2024). "Heart and Soul: Salute to our grand old dame, Convent Klang". The Star. Retrieved 25 October 2024. Convent Klang is a century old this year. We are celebrating in a variety of ways. The buzz of excitement started in early March when the Board of Governors announced the Centenary Year Celebrations. The grand finale was to be the celebratory Gala Dinner in September.
10. Sri Priya, Shiela (11 September 2024). "Convent Klang gala to mark 100 years". Star Media Group Berhad. Retrieved 28 March 2025. The primary school, SK Convent (1) Klang is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Together with SMK Convent Klang, both schools are in need of major upgrades....However, he pointed out that Convent Klang, which caters to 730 primary and 1,100 secondary school students, would benefit from a larger event as millions of ringgit were needed to renovate its many rundown areas.