THE GREATEST GIFT – GOD WITH US

The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses this year were truly overwhelming in the most beautiful way. The large turnout uplifted our hearts, and our celebrations were made even richer by the presence of our brothers and sisters from the Indonesian, Orang Asli, Sabahan, and Sarawakian communities. On Christmas Day, a special Mass was celebrated for the Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia speaking communities, and the Parish Hall was filled with faith, joy, and gratitude.

A good number of families and individuals stayed overnight in our Parish premises, sleeping in our classrooms, dormitories, and hall. Although the space was somewhat crowded, everything was managed with patience, understanding, and a beautiful spirit of cooperation. Meals were provided for all, and for this, I express my sincere appreciation to PIHDM for their generous hospitality and support. Their dedication and service truly added warmth and meaning to our Christmas celebrations.

Since we are still in the midst of the monsoon season, weather forecasts predict heavy rainfall from late December to early January, mainly affecting the East Coast. We should stay alert and prepared, especially those living in flood-prone areas. Our Parish Flood Relief Team will remain ready to respond, offering help, compassion, and support if needed.

Christmas reminds us that God is the greatest giver. The Christmas season gently invites us to treasure the greatest gift of all—Jesus Christ. His love gives meaning to our lives, and His friendship remains constant through every season. As the Gospel reminds us, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). Jesus is God’s own life shared with us in love. He is not a distant ruler, but Emmanuel – God with us (Matthew 1:23). He walks with us in joy and sorrow, in moments of light and in times of darkness. 

As we look ahead to the New Year, parents and children are invited to rediscover the joy of presence—time spent together, forgiveness shared, and love renewed. Children are precious gifts entrusted to families and to the wider community, to be nurtured with faith, care, and a deep sense of responsibility.

This year, the Feast of the Holy Innocents will not be celebrated separately, as it falls on the weekend dedicated to the Feast of the Holy Family. Nevertheless, a special blessing for children will take place during the Sunday Masses in the Parish of St Thomas, Kuantan. This blessing offers us a sacred moment to entrust our children to the loving care of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, praying that they may grow in age, wisdom, gratitude, respect, and love—especially towards their parents and elders.

As we come to the close of this year, may we do so with grateful hearts, and may we begin the New Year renewed in faith and hope. May 2026 be a year filled with God’s blessings, peace, good health, and renewed strength, as we continue to walk with Christ – the greatest Gift, who calls us friends – and share His light with all whom we meet.

FROM ADVENT HOPE TO CHRISTMAS LIGHT

The monsoon rains have severely affected our surrounding areas, particularly in Pekan, Maran, and Muadzam Shah. Heavy rainfall over the past week has raised water levels and caused road closures, making many areas inaccessible. As a result, I was unable to travel to celebrate Mass for the Orang Asli and Indonesian communities who live far from our Church of St Thomas, Kuantan. I sincerely hope that, in the coming week, conditions will improve and that I will be able to visit their settlements to celebrate Jesus with them. Let us continue to keep all those affected by the monsoon in our prayers. Several families are affected, and we shall reach out to them before and after the Christmas celebration by providing necessary household items and financial aid.

We are now entering the Fourth Week of Advent, with Christmas just five days away. Over the past three weeks, we have journeyed together in spirit, preparing our hearts and minds for the special season of Advent and Christmas. It has been a meaningful time of prayer, reflection, and quiet moments as we await the arrival of the newborn Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

Advent invites us to be vigilant and prayerful. Let us take time to pray earnestly and make space in our hearts so that the loving presence of Christ may become the true treasure of our lives. I am pleased to see many of you taking this call seriously – coming for individual confession, participating in spiritual recollection, and spending time in the adoration room before the Blessed Sacrament. These moments of grace help prepare you inwardly for the celebration of Christmas.

Many of you have also been faithfully following the daily readings, attending daily and weekend Masses, performing acts of charity, and reaching out with compassion. During this time, we have administered the Anointing of the Sick for our elderly and homebound Parishioners. Let us remember them in our prayers, especially those who are unable to attend Mass in church due to illness and those who do not have anyone to bring them to church. These sacramental encounters serve as a meaningful preparation for Christmas, reminding them that the Church has not forgotten them, especially the weak and vulnerable.

Since the first week of Advent, our church compound has been beautifully adorned with Christmas lights. At night, the church shines like a city of lights, a visible sign of hope in the darkness. These lights will continue to shine throughout Christmas and until the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope.

As Christmas draws near, may we “cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light” (Rom 13:12). May the Lord fill our hearts with true joy and peace, strengthen our faith, and enable us to be bearers of His light and hope for one another.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A PEACEFUL, JOYFUL AND SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTMAS!

A JUBILEE OUTREACH OF HOPE AND LOVE FOR THE PROSPECTS

From Tuesday, 9 December to Thursday, 11 December 2025, our dedicated Priests from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, together with volunteers from the Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry (ACPM), visited prisons in Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. These visits, which will be completed on Monday, 15 December 2025, are part of our ongoing mission to bring hope, faith, and support to incarcerated individuals and their families.

The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 serves as a reminder that every individual, regardless of their past, is a child of God deserving dignity, mercy, and an opportunity for a new beginning. The Late Pope Francis underscored this message, particularly for those incarcerated – also known as Prospects – when he opened the Holy Door at Rebibbia Prison in Rome on 14 January 2025. He urged everyone to hold on to Christ Jesus, who is our Anchor of Hope, and to open their hearts to compassion, reconciliation, and solidarity.

Our Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry (ACPM) brings this vision to life. During their visits, volunteers and Priests share the Word of God, provide counselling and spiritual support, and celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confession. Over the last 40 years, the ministry has also provided financial assistance to some Prospects, enabling them to pursue their degree courses, fostering hope, personal growth and preparation for reintegration into society.

This ministry is also dedicated to supporting the families of Prospects. Many encounter emotional and financial difficulties that often remain unnoticed. Through initiatives such as the Jalinan-Kasih (Bonds of Love) Programme and ongoing outreach activities, families are welcomed into a caring community, invited to share their stories and experiences, and reassured that they are not alone.

As part of the Jubilee Year for incarcerated individuals, this ministry invites all Catholics nationwide to join in prayers on Sunday, 14 December 2025, at 3.00 pm. You are encouraged to light a candle at home and recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those in prisons, those who have been released, their families, crime victims, and prison staff and authorities. Our prayers, together with the efforts of our Priests and volunteers, serve as a reminder that healing, mercy, and hope are always accessible. Even in the most challenging circumstances, we can bring the light of Christ into the places of darkness and despair.

We sincerely appreciate the generosity and dedication of our Priests, volunteers, and parishioners who keep this ministry thriving. Through your support, we continue to bring hope, dignity, and the love of Christ to those often forgotten, showing that God’s mercy truly knows no limits.

Let us come together for all Prospects, their families, the prison authorities, and the volunteers in this ministry to serve faithfully. May our hearts remain open, our hands ready to serve, and our prayers always be a beacon of hope.

HEARTS UPLIFTED THROUGH PRAYER AND HOPE

As we light the second Advent candle, we are drawn once again to the deep longing in our hearts – the yearning to see Jesus Christ more lovingly, to welcome Him into our lives. This season prompts us to consider the “rough ways” and “winding roads” in our hearts that need straightening, and what worries, distractions, or sins hinder us from preparing a clear path for the Lord.

In this sacred time leading to Christmas, the Church calls us to step away from the noise of our busy schedules and to make ready our hearts for Christ’s coming. Let the light of Advent turn our inner journeys into clear paths of love, peace, repentance, and hope.

December is typically the height of the monsoon rainy season, with warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. Here in the East Coast – the coastal regions of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, rainfall at this time can be heavy for several days.

Recently, those living around the outskirts of Kuantan have experienced floods, but now we see a reassuring sign: the waters have subsided. We are grateful, trusting that God has watched over us. As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we also honour God’s protection and provision for our neighbourhoods, communities, families, and Church.

While we celebrate restoration, we also recognise that the Christmas season – filled with parties, family visits, gift exchanges, feasts, and gatherings – can lead to stress, busyness, and even anxiety. During this time, the call of Advent grows more urgent: to clear pathways, both around our homes and within our hearts. The Church urges us to focus more on Christ, to shed distractions that clutter our souls, and to embrace silence, prayer, and interior renewal. This prepares us to welcome Jesus – not only in a manger but also into our hearts.

As a Parish family, we have an opportunity to respond to this call. On 11 December 2025, at 7.30 pm at the Church of St Thomas, the Apostle, Kuantan, we will gather for a Penitential Service (confession) – a sacred moment of grace extended to everyone. The confession is part of the requirements of this Jubilee Year. We urge all Parishioners to join in this confession to repent, renew, and spiritually prepare for Christmas. Let us use this moment to reflect on our lives, honestly confess our shortcomings, and accept the Lord’s grace, mercy, and healing.

Let us recall what our faith teaches: Advent is not solely about external preparations – decorations, gifts, and parties – but primarily about our inner readiness. The “winding roads” and “rough paths” of our past must be made straight, and the clutter of sin and distraction cleared away.

As we focus on spiritual readiness, keep our hearts uplifted through prayer and hope. Stay vigilant in confession, practise charity, and remain steadfast in love – so that when Christ returns, we can warmly welcome Him into new dwellings built on truth, repentance, and grace. 

May this Advent season prepare our hearts with humility, kindness, and hope as we cherish this special time together.

AWAKE, READY AND WAITING!

Every year, the sacred season of Advent arrives quietly and swiftly. It is often overshadowed by the noise, lights, and rush around us. Yet the Church, in her wisdom, through the season of Advent, reminds us that God continues to come to us in silence, longing, and anticipation. As we cross the threshold into Advent, we are encouraged to slow down and rediscover the grace found in waiting.

In a world that constantly urges us to rush, Advent whispers a different truth: Christmas is not something we achieve through activity but something we receive with a ready and open heart. It reflects the deeper spiritual journey of humanity – our longing, hope, and yearning for God.

This year, the monsoon rains have begun across both the east and west coasts, and is expected to last until March. As we enjoy our holidays and family gatherings, we must also remain focused on being safe: travelling carefully, avoiding flooded areas, and watching out for each other. These reminders echo the spiritual call of Advent – to stay alert, be ready, and focus on what truly matters. If Christ were to arrive today, would He find a place in my heart?

Advent offers us the opportunity to prepare our inner space, not by frantic activity, but through humble and deliberate inner work.

First, Advent calls us to prayer. St. Therese of Lisieux beautifully described prayer as “a surge of the heart.” Even a few quiet minutes each morning before sunrise, or at night before resting, can create a small but precious space for God to enter.

Second, Advent invites us into silence – not an empty or passive silence, but one that purifies, clarifies, and awakens our spirit. In this silence, we rediscover God’s presence, realising that He has been waiting for us far longer than we have waited for Him.

Third, Advent calls us to spiritual renewal. Just as we prepare our homes for a special guest, our hearts too need renewal – letting go of grudges, confessing overlooked sins, and giving up behaviours that diminish love. Through reconciliation, we create a space where Christ can truly dwell.

Fourth, Advent encourages us to practise charity with warmth and tenderness. This season presents many opportunities to care for others – especially the poor, the lonely, and those who are overlooked. Every act of kindness gently builds the “manger” of our hearts, creating a place where Christ can find rest.

If we embrace it, Advent becomes a gentle guide that transforms our routines, aligns our desires, and renews our hope. Let this sacred season not go unnoticed. May it intensify our longing, soften our hearts, and help us prepare to receive Christ with lasting joy beyond Christmas Day.

May you and your loved ones experience a blessed, safe, and grace-filled Advent as together we await the coming of the Lord.

RICH IN GRACE, SERVICE AND GROWTH

This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, marking the final Sunday of Ordinary Time. This feast reminds us that Christ is the centre of our lives, the Ruler of history, and the One who leads our Parish community forward.

Next weekend, we joyfully enter a new liturgical year (2025/2026) and begin Year A in the Lectionary cycle. The season of Advent opens before us – a sacred time of watchfulness, preparation, and renewed enthusiasm for the coming of the Lord. I invite all Parishioners to embrace this spiritual journey with open hearts. Let us walk together as a community - rooted in Scripture, faithful in prayer and strengthened through the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

As we prepare for the new calendar year, we conclude the Jubilee Year of Hope - which officially ends on 4 January 2026, on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. This Jubilee has been a tremendous blessing for our Parish of St Thomas, the Apostle. We were privileged to be chosen as one of the Jubilee Pilgrimage Centres of the Archdiocese, and we have welcomed countless pilgrims from near and far.

In thanksgiving for this grace-filled year, we will hold a Spiritual Recollection and Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) on Saturday, 13 December 2025 from 9am-3pm. This spiritual formation will encourage us to pause and reflect on the Jubilee Year journey, and discern how God is inviting us to grow further as a parish community. 

I strongly encourage Parishioners from all language groups to register and participate in this upcoming spiritual formation. Do not miss this opportunity to prayerfully review the year, give thanks for God’s blessings, and discern how the Holy Spirit is calling us forward.

 

This past year has been one of our busiest and most fruitful. Together, we journeyed through numerous formation sessions, parish events, feast day celebrations, spiritual gatherings, pilgrimages, and various community activities. 

What a blessed year it has been!

• We worked hard, hand in hand, to welcome pilgrims for the Jubilee Year.
• Our various ministries and language groups served with dedication.
• We deepened our faith through formation sessions and liturgical celebrations.
• We reached out to the poor, supported outreach missions, and strengthened Parish unity.
• Many new members – young and old – were added to our Parish family through the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.

It has been a year rich in grace, service and growth. All of this was possible because of your commitment, your dedication, your willingness to serve, and your love for the Parish. We have gained much wisdom, matured in faith, and strengthened our bond as one family in Christ.

To every Parishioner, leader, volunteer, and ministry member: Thank you. You have shown what it means to be a Church that lives its faith with hope, joy and charity. Let us move forward together with unity of heart, openness to the Holy Spirit, and a deep desire to grow as a Parish that radiates Christ’s love to all.

A HEART FOR THE POOR

Pope Leo XIV, in his message for the World Day of the Poor (WDP) 2025, reminds us that our Christian hope is not founded on possessions or our own strength, but on God’s faithful love. The theme is “You, O Lord, are my hope” (Ps 71:5), which arises from deep suffering, yet is filled with trust and hope. This is the core of the Jubilee Year’s message: hope in God never disappoints because it is rooted in His mercy and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Father highlights that the poor are true witnesses of hope. Even in the face of poverty, instability, and exclusion, they show faith and perseverance. They remind us that God alone is our lasting treasure, not wealth or success. Jesus urges us to accumulate treasures in heaven, where love and compassion endure forever.

The Pope warns that the deepest kind of poverty is spiritual – when people no longer know God or seek His presence. The poor, however, often have hearts that are ready to receive faith. Therefore, the Church must never neglect their spiritual well-being. True love for God must always lead to love for our neighbour. Without charity, hope fades and faith becomes empty.

Pope Leo XIV states that hope is the anchor of our Christian life, anchoring us through life’s storms and guiding us towards our true homeland in heaven. Hope must be expressed practically through acts of charity. Charity sustains hope and transforms faith into action. Each of us is encouraged to nurture hope through service to the poor, caring for those in care homes, promoting education, improving health, and performing acts of kindness to heal society.

The Pope highlights that poverty has deep structural causes that require justice. Helping the poor is not only charity – it is a matter of fairness and shared responsibility. He urges governments, institutions, and communities to create policies that promote decent work, housing, education, and healthcare for all, asserting that true peace comes from justice and compassion, not weapons.

Finally, Pope Leo XIV invites us, as we conclude this Jubilee Year of Hope, to open our hearts to the poor not as passive recipients but as teachers of faith and hope. In their eyes, we see the face of Christ.

(Abstract of the Holy Father’s Message for the World Day of the Poor 2025)

Since 2017, I have joyfully celebrated the WDP each year with my parish communities. Sometimes it has been in large gatherings, and other times in simple, heartfelt moments. The preference for the poor has become part of my heart and ministry: to reach out with charity, prayer, and pastoral care to those who struggle, suffer, and hope. Every encounter with the poor renews my faith and reminds me that love is the most important measure of our journey as disciples. 

As we observe this year’s celebration, may our hearts remain anchored in Christ, our hope, and our hands continue to serve with compassion, tenderness, and faith. In serving the poor, we truly touch the living heart of Jesus.