Here I Am, Here I Stay
Here I Am, Here I Stay
These were the words penned on Peter Mooney’s columbarium nestled at the Church of St. Michael, Ipoh.
A Requiem Mass was held at the said church on 21 May 2016 organised by the CLS.
Presiding at the Mass was Rev. Father Peter Kim SJ, who had also presided at Peter Mooney’s funeral Mass on 27 April 2015.
Present at the mass were Peter Mooney’s adopted sons, Prof Dr. Ghazali Musa and Tuan Mat Ghani Abdullah and their respective families. Also present were Dato’ Naban, a former pupil of Peter Mooney and Catherine Eu, former Bar Council Malaysia Executive Secretary. CLS was represented by its President Allen Miranda and senior member, Mr Ng Seng Kiok and his wife Maryanne and other members that included, Francis Pereira, Trevor Padasian and Joy Appukuttan.
During his homily, Father Peter, reflected on Peter Mooney’s many contributions. These included his overwhelming support to his adopted children. His contributions to the Catholic Church that included the setting up of Hospis Malaysia, Befrienders, Seri Seronok Retirement Home and being a catalyst in the formation of the CLS. His overwhelming support towards the Malaysian Bar. His contributions to Fatima Hospital, Ipoh and Assunta Hospital, Petaling Jaya. Taking cue from the Gospel Reading of the day (Mark 10:13-16), Father Peter explained that Christ reference to being like little children is not a reflection of one’s age but of giving of one’s self in service to God, as in the case of Peter Mooney.
Others present at the mass included, Aziz, Peter Mooney’s former driver, Hospis Malaysia’s chairman, Dato’ Richard Robless, Peter Loh, the Administrator of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Janet Sta Maria, Peter Mooney’s former secretary, Chan Kok Keong, Andrew Yee and Dominic, Catholic lawyers from Ipoh, representatives from Fatima Hospital and various religious congregations and friends of Peter Mooney.
In his speech, Prof Dr Ghazali Musa, thanked all for attending the Requiem Mass for Peter Mooney. He said “Those of you who knew my father, will have special memories of him, all of which will remain with us forever, in our minds, in our secret garden. He is always with me in this special secret garden.”
He then recited the following poem;
“Today we build a secret garden
It is so beautiful, it is so special
It is the home, for you and me
The meeting place for our souls
If your soul is in it, I am the happiest man
If your soul is with me, I feel all complete
Together, let us enjoy this eternal beauty
In our secret garden
It is only for you and me.”
Lunch ensued after mass which was held with approximately 100 members of the orang asli community.
