By Christopher Kushi
PENANG — For ten grace-filled days, the Minor Basilica of St Anne became a place where faith, hope and community converged, as an estimated 100,000 pilgrims journeyed to the Shrine of St Anne — affectionately known today as the Shrine of Harmony. From July 17 to 26, pilgrims from across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and beyond came with hearts full of prayer, thanksgiving and hope, united by a shared devotion to St Anne.
The celebration reflected the universal beauty of the Church. A total of 55 Masses were celebrated in various languages, welcoming pilgrims from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Behind the scenes, about 220 helpers served each day tirelessly ensuring every pilgrim felt welcomed and cared for. At a special Mass for helpers, Cardinal Sebastian Francis reminded them that they were not merely volunteers but pastoral workers ministering to thousands who had come seeking rest, healing and renewal for their souls.
This year’s theme, Walking Together with St Anne, beautifully echoed the Church’s synodal journey. Each day invited pilgrims to reflect on a different aspect of Christian discipleship — from building trust and fostering inclusivity to caring for our common home, empowering young people, accompanying one another and living synodality. The final day, themed The Cry of the Earth is the Cry of the Poor, coincided with the Feast of Sts Joachim and Anne and the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.
Although Cardinal Sebastian was away attending the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) in Jakarta, his pastoral presence remained deeply felt throughout the celebrations.
The highlight of the feast came on July 25, when Bishop Bernard Paul presided over the solemn openair Eucharistic celebration before leading thousands of pilgrims in the traditional 1.6-kilometre candlelight procession. As darkness fell, the gentle glow of countless candles illuminated the streets of Bukit Mertajam, transforming the procession into a moving witness of faith and hope as the faithful accompanied the float of St Anne through the town before returning to the basilica.
In his homily, Bishop Bernard reflected on Sts Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus, as enduring examples for grandparents and the elderly today. Their lives, he said, reveal the quiet strength of patient perseverance, the importance of leaving a legacy of faith and the enduring witness of lives faithfully lived before God.
He invited parents, grandparents and senior citizens to prayerfully ask themselves, “Why am I a parent, a grandparent or an elderly person?” Like King Solomon, he said, they should seek not worldly success but “an understanding and discerning heart” — a wisdom that enables people to face life’s anxieties, distinguish right from wrong and recognise what truly lasts. Such wisdom, he added, takes root only when people surrender their own plans to God, make room for prayer and imitate the faithful lives of Sts Joachim and Anne.
“As we walk with Sts Anne and Joachim, we are also walking with our grandparents and the elderly.” Bishop Bernard reminded them.
The celebrations also reflected the spirit of harmony that has become synonymous with the shrine. On July 24, Penang Chief Police Officer, CP Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng, attended under the Royal Malaysia Police’s Community Policing Programme, affirming the force’s commitment to unity and social harmony. Also present was Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives and Member of Parliament for Bukit Mertajam, who joined the pilgrims in solidarity.
Adding to this year’s celebrations was the unveiling of a new devotional statue depicting St Joachim, St Anne and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Blessed by Cardinal Sebastian on July 16, the statue invites pilgrims to contemplate the holiness of family life and to entrust their loved ones to God’s providence through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth.
The feast concluded with the vibrant St Anne’s Youth Concert at Dataran St Anne, where music, praise and joyful fellowship filled the evening. It was a fitting finale to ten unforgettable days — a celebration that reminded every pilgrim that faith is not merely a destination but a journey best made together, strengthened by prayer, inspired by the saints and sustained by the hope that never disappoints.
