The Catholic Lawyers’ Society of Kuala Lumpur (KL) celebrated their 30th Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, more commonly known as Red Mass, on the 13th of January 2024 at Church of Divine Mercy, Shah Alam and was presided by The Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia His Excellency The Most Rev. Archbishop Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski. This Mass which is celebrated annually to consecrate and pray for the Society and all its members and all practitioners of the Law and administration of justice carried the theme “Teach me your law…” which was apt to commemorate the memorial of St.Hilary of Poitiers, another patron saint of lawyers and champion of orthodoxy, “the Hammer of the Arians” and a Doctor of the Church.

This year also marks the Society’s 30 years in existence as a registered Society.

The Red Mass is celebrated annually in the Roman Catholic Church for lawyers, judges and government officials of all faiths, to mark the opening of the judicial year. This year, in the 30th year of existence of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society, it continues its’  focus  on creating public awareness and protecting children’s rights and interests in Malaysia enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the supreme law of our beloved Nation, as well as in many statutes.

At the Red Mass, the members of the legal community, through prayer and thanksgiving, will petition for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in carrying out their respective roles in upholding the principles of justice, fairness and equality. The Red Mass offers us an opportunity to reflect on the God-given power and responsibility of everyone involved in the administration of justice.

With the rich blessings brought onto the Red Mass all the way from Rome, The Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia His Excellency The Most Rev. Archbishop Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski touched the hearts of the congregation and Catholic lawyers and encouraged them by the lucid and amazingly uplifting homily His Excellency exhorted the congregation to focus on the person of Jesus, and keep the strong Faith demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel, while carrying out the mission of upholding and dispensing justice in their daily lives, and emphasized on the concept of democracy in a community and advocates for world peace.

Everyone left the Red Mass feeling assured that we possess that faith and are able to do it.

It was an occasion to remember whereby many Lawyers, their families, parishioners, and well-wishers made up the congregation and were present to celebrate this blessed occasion.

His Grace Archbishop Julian Leow also graced this event with His presence as co-celebrant of this year’s Red Mass.

In line with tradition, all the Lawyers present on the day of the Red Mass gathered at the entrance of the Church for a procession into the Church and were seated based on seniority.

The Mass was carried out and enthusiastically animated by a few lawyers themselves, some comprising of the Executive Committee members of the Society/Past Presidents of the Society and even Young Catholic Lawyers’ taking roles as Reader, Cantor, Hospitality Ministers and Offertory Bearers.

The President of the Catholic Lawyers’ Society, Mr. Stan Cross, in his speech highlighted the his involvement in the Catholic Lawyer’s Society and their many successful events and to continue to get more young lawyers’ involved to carry on the Society’s good works and activities. Despite many setbacks, prayers and good wishes with support and encouragement from the people has seen the Society through, emphasizing that besides his legal profession this Society has always had a special place in his heart.

The Society’s Ecclesiastical Assistant and Spiritual Advisor, Reverend Father Gregory Chan, who has been graciously guiding the Society also graced the Red Mass with his presence besides Reverend Father Michael Dass, Assistant Parish Priest of the Church of Divine Mercy Shah Alam and Reverend Father Simon Labrooy. Sincere gratitude was also expressed by the President of the Society to his Executive Committee members for their tremendous support in making his job easier by carrying out their duties effectively, namely Mr. Trevor Padasian, who spearheads the role of planning for the Society’s Annual Red Mass till its’ execution. 

The Society’s hope is that all its members will continue to support the Society in all of its significant causes, programmes and initiatives.

The Red Mass concluded with a photo session at the main entrance with all the Lawyers and Mass Presiders followed by a cosy fellowship at the Wisma CNI within the Church’s vicinity with a delightful cake-cutting ceremony to mark the Society’s founding 30 years ago, in the year 1994. 

Prepared by Ms. Christina Param

Current Exco of CLS year 2023-2024