Malayalam Charismatic Group (MCG), Woodlands

Introduction

When Portuguese and British first came to India centuries ago, they were surprised to find a Christian community in Kerala. Who could have preached the Word of God in this South Indian state, they wondered. The local Christians, however, claimed that it was St Thomas.

Today, the Christians in Kerala number more than six million, most of them Catholics. They have evolved a Christian lifestyle that includes attending annual retreats and singing songs of praise in their mother tongue, Malayalam. There are a number of retreat centres in the state. Thousands of Malayalam songs with exciting tunes reverberate in the churches and homes of the Christian community there.

Some of these Malayalee Catholics migrated to Singapore in the Forties and Fifties, and more followed in the Nineties. Though far away from their native land, they still cherish the Christian culture and the language in which they used to praise our Lord.

In view of their longing for praise and worship in their cultural backdrop, the Malayalam Charismatic Group (MCG) has been formed as a part of SACCRE. With MCG’s initiative, several prayer groups are functioning around Singapore.

Among them, MCG Woodlands is, not only a prayer group, but also a ministry in St Anthony’s Church. It gives its members the opportunity to praise and worship the way they used to back home. At the same, they can also serve the parish along with the main stream of parishioners by participating in its various activities.

Our Programmes

The Malayalee Community has some regular programmes for its members:

• Monthly Prayers:
  Every third Sunday of the month we have a prayer and worship session. After the evening mass, our members assemble in a room allotted in the Church at about 7.30 pm. After the prayers lasting till 9.30 pm, we assemble at the canteen to share the Potluck among ourselves. Bringing home cooked food for the Potluck is voluntary and those who cannot are never left out. It ends as a social gathering enjoyable for children and adults once a month.
  
  
• Overnight Intercessory Prayers:
  Every first Friday of the month, some of the members assemble in one of the rooms in the church to offer intercessory prayers for all those who have asked to pray for them. The session begins at 10 pm and continues till the next morning. We normally start the Night Vigil with Holy Mass in Malayalam. There would be facility to confess in Malayalam depending on the availability of Malayalam speaking priest.
  
  
• Rosary Months:
  We have daily Rosary prayers in May and October at our members’ homes.
  
  
• Onam Celebrations:
  We celebrate Onam with food, and fun fare for children. Though it is not possible to celebrate on the exact day of Onam, we make use of our monthly prayers of the month as the day to celebrate. The Potluck of the day would have all the 18 dishes of the Onam Sadya, thanks to our lady members.
  
  
• Christmas:
  We celebrate Christmas with the rest of the parish, sharing in all activities planned by the church.
  
  
• Family Outing:
  We also organise family outing and games.
  
  

Join us today!

If you are living in Woodlands or in its neighbourhood, you are welcome to join MCG Woodlands. You will love the opportunity to mingle with your own community people, worship our Lord in Malayalam, and be more active in the parish.

Please contact any of the following core team members:

Email:

Tony Kattoor (Co-ordinator)
Tel: 9822 4650

Suseela Mendez (Asst. Co-ordinator)

Eileen Paul

Juliet Reynold

Thomas Stanislaws