Stories of Trials and Triumph at Monthly Rosary Meet
The parish’s monthly Rosary meet was done a little differently in the month of August with the inclusion of a meditation on the pandemic desert experience and testimonies from parishioners.
The first testimony for the evening by Valentine Dass was about his experience of contracting Covid-19, as well as his recovery and healing. During the very trying and scary time of being ill, he shared that God’s assurance and favour never left him and his family. He recalled the day he developed a high fever and was abruptly awakened from his sleep at midnight. He went on to pray with scripture and sing hymns of praise for 2 hours, which led to a great sense of peace. The next day he discovered that the fever had broken. Valentine said that he realised that praying with the Word of God is extremely powerful. “There is a huge difference when you pray with the words of promise that God has given us,” he said. He added that he clung firmly to the words in Jeremiah 29:12-14 throughout his time of illness.
The meditation guided by Jacqueline Lourdes led the attendees on the Israelites’ desert journey. They reflected on the times when God’s presence and providence were questioned and the many hurdles encountered on the way to the promised land. Parallels were drawn to our current experience with the pandemic and how we can find great comfort in the words of scripture that whatever His children face, whether thousands of years ago or today, God is faithful and with us every step of the way.
Next, Matron Stella Roseline shared about her experience managing a team of nurses at a district hospital and a quarantine centre. It has been a long journey through the desert, which has been especially difficult in recent months with cases remaining high and becoming more severe. She revealed that working continuously for long hours has been a significant mental and physical challenge for the frontliners. Matron Stella shared that she saw serving as a frontliner by supporting the team under her as God’s call for her. She draws strength and courage from the Eucharist that she continues to be privileged to receive every week. “Receiving the Lord has been the most nourishing for me to get me through the week,” she said.
Celestine Sarah, a working mother of three small children, also spoke about how she has been juggling working and family life during these challenging times. Sarah explained that while she has always worked remotely, doing so during this pandemic has been a completely different ball game. Workload has increased and there is no boundary between work and personal time as she found herself constantly responding to customers beyond office hours. This left her stressed, constantly tired and unproductive, while her prayer life suffered too. “I didn’t start my day with prayer, I started it in front of my laptop,” she said. She was also ridden with guilt for not paying enough attention to her children and felt ashamed for failing to set a good example for them.
Realising that her health was taking a toll, Sarah decided to make changes to her daily habits. She made it a point to wake up earlier to begin the day with prayer. She noticed that after a week of doing so she felt more refreshed and was able to better control her emotions. “It’s a minor initiative that I took but I feel more positive now. Although my workload has not decreased nor my problems resolved, I am better able to manage my work and family life. I talk to Jesus throughout the day and he has helped me see the blessings in my life rather than focusing on the difficulties. Throughout my life, I’ve had many ups and downs but God has always lifted me up. I realise that he has allowed me to be in such situations to remind me that he is there for me and that he loves me unconditionally,” shared Sarah.
Parish priest Fr Dominic shared his observations that many people have been generous in giving to those in need during these difficult times. He talked about Project Kasih, a parish initiative to provide rations and daily necessities to SSVP beneficiaries and migrant families who have lost employment. As priests, he added, they have been celebrating daily Masses for the intentions of the people and overseeing the parish’s day-to-day operations. A major challenge has been ensuring that the newly renovated NBVM Church is ready for the parish feast day. Fr Dom shared that he has noticed God’s hand at work in moving things favourably in this direction and thanked God for His kindness to his people.
The prayer session went on with the recitation of the Rosary, seeking Mother Mary’s continued intercession to help us navigate these difficult times just as she navigated desert experiences in her own life. A blessing from Fr Dom and the hymn Lord, Heal our Land brought the evening to a close.