April 17, 2025
GEORGE TOWN – The “Washing of the Feet” (Maundy) during Holy Week has traditionally only involved men.
However, at the Church of the Assumption, women are now included, symbolising change in the servitude.
Assistant parish priest Father Desmond Jansen said the change aligns with Pope Francis’ decree allowing women to participate in the ritual.
He said the Holy Thursday celebration will begin today, which includes the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.
He added that the highlight of mass is the “Washing of the Feet”, a gesture symbolising humility and service.
“In recent years, Pope Francis has opened the ritual to include not just men, but women and people from all walks of life, emphasising the universal nature of Jesus Christ’s message.
“Malaysian parishes have since embraced this inclusive practice, with priests washing the feet of both male and female parishioners in a moving ceremony.
“While the tradition once involved only 12 men, it now includes women to reflect the community’s diversity. They will be chosen from the community, and I will wash and kiss their feet, following Jesus’ example with his 12 apostles,” said Father Jansen.
Maundy Thursday also marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum, a three-day period recalling the passion, death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
Father Jansen said the church, which is the oldest Catholic church in Penang (founded in 1786), began its Holy Week with Palm Sunday on April 13.
“From Monday to Wednesday this week, we will have the preparation mass from 11.30am to 12.30pm followed by a confession session. On Thursday, the washing of the feet will be from 6pm onwards,” he said.
On Good Friday, he said the church will be filled with sombre silence as they commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.
“The Veneration of the Cross and Reading of the Passion form the core of this solemn service. Here, it will begin the service with Stations of the Cross, allowing the congregation to focus on prayer and reflection in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ.
“There will be a service at noon, no mass or any form of singing, and everyone will leave silently after the service,” he said.
He said the celebrations will culminate in the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.
“The liturgy starts with the blessing of the Easter fire and the lighting of the Paschal candle, symbolising Christ’s light overcoming death.
“The Vigil also includes multiple readings from Scripture (Old and New Testament), the singing of the Exsultet (Easter Proclamation), and the baptism and confirmation of new members into the church,” he said.
Father Jansen said Easter Sunday will be marked with joy and thanksgiving as they celebrate the resurrection of Christ.
The Pro-Cathedral of St George the Martyr Penang’s spokesperson Petra Oon said that at the main church, the Maundy Thursday service will feature a reenactment of Christ’s final Passover meal with His disciples, preceding His journey to the Cross on Good Friday.
“This is to signify the impending crucifixion of Christ the next day. This service will be held in the main church at 8pm,” she said.
Oon said the Good Friday service will be held from noon to 3pm.
“We will have seven preachers meditating on the last seven words Jesus said at the Cross. We will be having an Easter Eve service at 7pm where we will be conducting our baptisms and confirmation.
“The following day, we will be celebrating Easter Sunday with the distribution of Easter Eggs to mark the death and resurrection of Christ.
“We will be having several services that morning. There will be two services in English which will be at 8am and 10am.
“There will be a Bahasa Malaysia service at 10am as well. There will also be services in Tamil and Chinese at 11.30am,” she said.
Christians celebrate Easter after observing 40 days of Lent.
It is a season that is devoted to prayer, fasting and alms-giving – a time for repentance.