Thousands of devotees expected to attend St Anne's Feast Day

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Thousands of devotees are expected to attend the celebration of the St Anne's Novena and Feast this coming Saturday at the Church of St Anne here.
The 10-day Novena (an act of pious devotion by public and private prayers) began last Friday and lasts until July 30.
At the end, devotees from Penang and the world over are expected to attend the grand mass to mark the Feast Day itself.
Church priest Monsignor Henry Rajoo said he expected a crowd of some 5,000 to attend on Wednesday evening.
He said a 3km procession will be held at the town here at 8.30pm after mass was conducted at 7pm.
"We expect locals and those abroad to join us," he told theSun when met today.
Rajoo said another procession will be held within the church compound this Saturday to mark the end of the Feast.
He expected more than 100,000 to come to pray and seek blessings from God.
"Food will be distributed for free to those who attend," he added.
Church tradition shows St Anne to be the mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother of Jesus Christ.
Meanwhile, the congregation at the church has begun preparations for the celebrations.
One of them is David Anthony, 66, who has volunteered to clean the premises of the church compound.
He said he has not failed to volunteer his effort every year to ensure the church was clean and tidy.
"This is our sincere gesture," he said.
His wife, Mary Josephine, 61, added that she too never failed to volunteer every year to help out.
She said volunteers were assigned to various duties before and on the Feast Day as tasks include distributing water and general cleaning duties.