Catholics mark Holy Thursday
KUALA LUMPUR: Catholics gathered to observe Maundy Thursday and took part in the highlight of the ceremony – the washing of feet to remind the people to be humble.
For Ronald Kwok and Kevin Ng, this year’s Holy Thursday was an unforgettable experience as they had their feet washed for the first time by a priest of their church.
“It was a humble gesture and I felt blessed to be part of today’s ceremony,” said Kwok.
For Ng, it was an emotional moment. “When the priest, the leader of a church bends down to wash his parishioners’ feet, it reminds me of the humility Jesus showed when he bent down to do it to his 12 apostles,” said Ng.
Kwok and Ng were among the 12 parishioners of the Church of St Francis of Assisi selected this year for the washing of feet ceremony.
Together with about 1,500 other parishioners, they congregated at the church last night for the solemn occasion.
Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, the fifth day of the Holy Week, commemorates the last supper Jesus shared with his 12 apostles.
Church priest Father Valentine Gompok, who had conducted the washing of feet ceremony on Holy Thursday for nine years, felt proud to be part of the occasion.
“It symbolises humility, simplicity and a sense of forgiveness and reconciliation,” he said.
Catholics will mark Holy Saturday tomorrow followed by the Easter celebration on Sunday.