Cardinal Tagle to Celebrate Mass at St Anne’s Basilica During Great Pilgrimage of Hope
As part of the Great Pilgrimage of Hope, to be held in Penang, Malaysia, from November 27–30, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization, will celebrate a special Mass at St Anne’s Minor Basilica in Bukit Mertajam on November 29. The Mass and the concert by Fr. Rob Galea of Australia, both to be held on the basilica’s campus, will be the only two Pilgrimage events open to the public.
The Mass by Cardinal Tagle, one of the Catholic Church’s most influential global voices, is expected to draw scores of pilgrims from across Malaysia and the region as they gather in prayer, reflection, and hope.
St Anne’s in Bukit Mertajam, now recognised as a Minor Basilica, is one of Malaysia’s oldest and most significant pilgrimage centres.
Its origins trace back to the 1840s, when French missionaries from the Missions Étrangères de Paris (MEP) built a small chapel to serve migrant farmers living in the foothills of the town. Devotion to St Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, took deep root among Chinese and Indian Catholic families who sought her intercession for healing, family life, fertility, protection, and thanksgiving in times of crisis.
Every year, thousands of pilgrims descend on Bukit Mertajam for the Feast of St Anne on July 26, transforming the usually quiet town into a vibrant spiritual centre. Over nine days of novenas, candlelit vigils, healing services, and processions, pilgrims travel from all across Malaysia and the region, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and beyond.
Many come to fulfil vows, express gratitude, or seek strength amid personal struggles. The basilica grounds, the Old Church, and the historic 19th-century chapel fill with a rich, multicultural tapestry of languages, traditions, and generations united in prayer.
The first permanent church on the site was built in 1888, followed by the larger Old Church completed in 1958. The present basilica complex, constructed in the early 2000s, was designed to accommodate the enormous crowds attending the annual feast. In 2019, the Vatican elevated St Anne’s to the rank of Minor Basilica, recognising its historical legacy, missionary roots, and enduring spiritual significance for Malaysian Catholics.
The Great Pilgrimage of Hope comes at a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church in Asia. The gathering will bring together bishops, priests, religious, deacons, and lay leaders from across the continent to Penang for four days of discernment, dialogue, and celebration.
Organised by the Office of Evangelization of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC-OE), the pilgrimage seeks to explore fresh pathways for moving forward, remaining faithful to Catholic identity while engaging Asia’s rich cultural and spiritual diversity. Through collaborative conversations and shared wisdom, the event aims to chart a forward-looking vision for the Church in Asia.
Cardinal Tagle’s Mass at St Anne’s serves as a symbolic anchor to this landmark gathering, linking the deep roots of the Church in Malaysia with the emerging hopes of a continent looking toward renewal and unity.
The Mass and the concert will be livestreamed on Radio Veritas Asia’s Facebook and YouTube platforms (@VeritasAsia), beginning at 5.30 p.m. on November 29.
