Church of the Holy Family at Ulu Tiram of Johor

It was 3rd Sunday of Advent ( 10 December 2011 ), and we were exploring the compound and vicinity of Church of the Holy Family at Jalan Bedara, off Jalan Sungai Tiram; before setting off to Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for Sunset Mass.

Jalan Bedara is not readily visible from the Google Map.   Neither was there a road sign to indicate it when we finally made our way to the church after making several enquiries along the way from the bus terminal at Jalan Duku.

The church is located behind the more popularly known chinese primary school, SRJK (C) Tiram or simply the 'chinese primary school' as the residents would call it when offering advice on the direction to the church.

The single-storey church is at the far end of the narrow road that runs beside the school hall cum canteen.   It serves a small community, and English mass is only held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.

Notice the Tabernacle ?

That's the back-view of the main entrance to the sanctuary.

Front-view of the main entrance to sanctuary.

The left flank of the church's compound.   The newly-added building of the primary school towers above the church.

Parish office (Tel: 07-8631485).   Toilets are in the background.

Our Lady's Grotto is located in front of the parish office.   It would be great if the community could embark on some tree-planting efforts to provide shade to the sprawling compound.

Sungai Tiram runs beside the left flank of the church's compound. The broadcasting tower in the background could serve as the landmark to look out for when travelling along the main road (Jalan Kota Tinggi) from the checkpoint.   Beside the tower is Tiram mart.

I wonder whether it would overflow and flood the church's compound during the year-end monsoon.

The soiled tree branch could have been washed ashore during heavy rains.

The long corridor leads to the toilets and back of the sanctuary.

The back of the sanctuary leads to the right flank of the church's compound which has a small gate that opens onto the primary school's compound.

A view of the right flank from the front gate.   The small side-gate that leads to the primary school is to the right of this sheltered compound.

There it is the side-gate !

The front porch of the primary school.   The church is behind the school.   The school hall cum canteen is to the left of the front porch.

The stage of the school hall cum canteen.

The Christmas Party runs from 3.30pm to 9.00pm

Games !    Games !

A test of the steady hands and mind !

Hmm.   What am I to do ?

Scooping the ping-pongs .....

How am to give the best shot ?

Knock them, I mean the cans, out ?

That's the row of shophouses opposite the church.   The narrow road leads to Jalan Sungai Tiram.

That's the other far end of the road leading to Jalan Sungai Tirum.   The church is to the right.

The junction of Jalan Sungai Tirum and Jalan Bedara.   The school hall cum canteen is in the background.   There are some small stalls or coffee shops selling laksa, soup noodles, drinks, etc. near the junction.

We decided to settle for the wanton noodle stall at a coffee shop further up (nearer to Jalan Duku).   The bus terminal is within walking distance behind this coffee shop.   The church is on the other side of the flyover in the background.

RM3.50 for this sumptuous bowl of wanton noodle !

Coincidentally, we left with the same bus that brought us to Jalan Sungai Tirum from City Square (RM3.00 per person for a 45 minutes).


Click here for Majodi Centre

MAJODI Centre

MAJODI Centre derives its acronym from Malacca-Johore Diocesan Centre.   

It is located at 2101 Jalan Masai, Plentong, 81750 Masai, Johor.


Accessible by public bus service 39, 133 and 208 (Bus fare: RM2.70).

Located 2 bus-stops away is the Church of St Joseph.

A purpose-built centre for:

• Silent and Preached Retreats,
• Seminars for Adults and Youth,
• Formation Sessions,
• Conferences,
• Weddings,
• Regional Meetings,
• Chapters,
• Gatherings,
• BBQs, etc.

The main gate opens onto a vast compound, with the Pastoral Institute in the background, the St James' Chapel to the left, and the Graceville ( Home for Aged and Destitutes ) to the right.

The below site-map helps tremendously our orientation on the sprawling habitat.

Ample parking space and open space for games and outdoor activities.

On the right is the Reference Library and MAJODI Diocesan Curia.

St James' Chapel is in the background.

The Bookshop is next to the chapel, and aims to:

• form a reading and thinking society,
• create awareness,
• bring knowledge to the masses,
• feed the hungry mind, and
• fill the thirsting soul.

Morning mass is held at the chapel at 7.30am.


Religious retreats where guidance and aids in contemplation and meditative techniques or spiritual motivational sessions can be arranged on prior request.

To attend a retreat is to seek God, and to rest in his presence in a time set apart for prayer and reflection.

Solitude, silence and stillness, in varying degrees, are normally regarded as necessary conditions.

The below nursery is just next to St James' Chapel.

Take in the beauty of His creation, immerse in the surrounding lush greenery with 30 acres of fruit trees and well maintained gardens.

To the right of St James' Chapel is Our Lady at the fountain.

There are badminton courts, table tennis, football courts and a volleyball court for loved ones and friends to engage in games for your physical well-being and recreation. 

This covered link-hall connects the Curia and St Augustine retreat house.

There are ample quiet spaces where you can share peaceful, serene moments with those you love, and with whom you can go on long walks in the cool of the day.

A shot from the dormitory of the way out to the main gate.

The centre sits on 30-acres of lush greenery.   A great experience to appreciate the serenity of nature and its inhabitants.

Look out for that fishing pond in the background.   The St John Vianney Retreat House is located behind shrubs and trees.

Clear evidence of proper maintenance of grounds, plants, fruit trees, vegetable plots, oil palm plantation, etc.

One corner of Matthew's Place ( nearer to fishing pond ).

The ground floor of Domus Shalom Hall, Rooms and Dormitories.

The link between the dormitories and Matthew's Place.

It offers clean and comfortable fully air-conditioned en-suite Single Rooms, Double Rooms, Chalets, Dormitories, Meeting Rooms, a 1,000 seating capacity Hall and wide open spaces. 

“Come with me, by yourselves, to some lonely place where you can rest quietly”

(Mark 6: 30)

Above:   Poustinia adjoins the Majodi Hall (below).   Poustinia is a small sparsely furnished cabin or room where one goes to pray and fast alone in the presence of God.

The hall caters to Diocesan and Church groups, Religious Congregations, International and Regional Religious Organisations as well as those from other faiths.

Preparation in progress for a private function by a Malay organizer.

Across from the Majodi Hall is Our Lady's Grotto.

The open field in front of Our Lady's Grotto.

Works in progress to add more facilities to the centre.   This new row of facilities stretches all the way from Our Lady's Grotto to Graceville.

A

The rear of Pastoral Institute.

Our Lady's Grotto is to the left.

The double-storey living quarters of Graceville.

The Diocesan Pastoral Institute of the Melaka-Johor Diocese (MJDPI) is the formation hub and pastoral centre of the Diocese.

It houses some twenty pastoral ministries of the Diocese and assists the Bishop in his pastoral work over the Church.


St Theresa Retreat House adjoins the institute.

This walk-about experience at Majodi Centre that I missed for my RCIA Retreat due to the SARS deadly disease sets me thinking about how far more enriching my journey could have been had I spent the weekend there with my fellow catechumens then.


Click here for St Joseph Church