The country's oldest-serving Roman Catholic church of St Peter's in Malacca once again became the focal point of Holy Week celebrations for local Catholics and members of the Portuguese-Eurasian community, including those in Singapore.

Built in 1710, the church adheres to traditional practices laced with Portuguese and Hispanic traits introduced by Augustinian missionary monks in 1587.

Entrenched in the local Catholic populace of Malacca, the celebrations are unique to the country and faithfully observed and re-enacted every year.

The statue of Mary Mother of Sorrows being carried during the procession.

From as early as the 1850s, the local non-Christian community has recognised the two notable celebrations of Holy Week, and have referred to Palm Sunday as Datuk Pikul Balak (Lord Carrying the Cross) and Good Friday as Datuk Mati (Lord is Dead).

The Irmaos de Igreja (Brothers of the Church in old Portuguese), said to be the oldest-surviving all-male church organisation in the region, oversees the ceremonies in which the age-old rituals, procedures, vestments, devotional prayers and hymns are still intact.

There is written evidence to suggest that this organisation started as the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, a Dominican missionary tradition which can be traced to 1549 with Father Gaspar da Cruz as its founder.

Veronica displaying the imprint of Jesus' face.

Despite overcast skies and a steady drizzle interspersed with thunderclaps, close to 2,000 devotees, local parishioners and non-Christian pilgrims with umbrellas in hand braved the rain to partake in a late evening procession.

The procession began after an Eucharistic celebration presided over by Rev Fr Moses Lui.

A 23-strong Irmaos de Igreja, under the leadership of Micheal Lazaroo and two members carrying the standards of the Holy Eucharist and Mater Dolorasa (Mother of Sorrows), went in front of the candle-lit procession bearing two larger-than-life statues of Christ carrying the cross and Mother Mary of Sorrows.

The procession wound around the church compound with the participants in its wake.

It may have appeared unusual for the procession to re-enact Christ carrying the cross during the Palm Sunday proceedings, however, it is an Augustinian missionary practice steadfastly held by St Peter's.

The statue of Christ carrying the cross being paraded around the church compound.

The statues were borne by men who had signals to indicate progressive movements by the use of a matraka, a wooden clapper with metal rings.

The presence of women's in the proceedings is allowed only after Veronica, acted out this year by Christina Mong, wipes the face of Jesus.

Each year, a young girl is selected for the role to sing a Latin dirge while unfurling a shroud with an imprint of Jesus' face.

Holy Week ceremonies at St Peter's are steeped in tradition and engulfed in solemnity.

Members of the Irmaos de Igreja carring the statue of Christ carrying the cross.

The week, spelling the last lap of the Lent season, culminates with Easter Sunday, which is described as the pinnacle of the Universal Catholic Church.

Many of the sons and daughters of the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, the largest Portuguee-Eurasian community in the country, make it a point to return for Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter, despite living and working elsewhere and even overseas.

It is a time for families to pray together with loved ones, relatives and friends and, like Christmas, is devoted to reunions and enhancing the community spirit.