MAKE TIME FOR PRAYER

The high point of the Easter season is over. It concluded last Sunday with the Feast of the Pentecost. On 16th May, we returned to Sundays in Ordinary Time. There is one theme that marks the Ordinary Time of the liturgical year, it is the theme of growth in Christian living. The liturgical colour green symbolises life and growth, as we know from nature. Ordinary Time will take us to the end of the liturgical year (26 November 2016).

Growth is a practical and everyday concern. We, human beings are naturally spiritual and our unique awareness of spirituality marks humanity as distinct. Our Christianity as a whole is centered on a relationship with God. Christian life is not possible without a relationship with God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and His Holy Spirit. As we return to Ordinary Time and to the daily challenges of living the Christian life, let us know that we are not alone in the struggle. God the Father is on our side, Jesus Christ the Son of God is on our side, the Holy Spirit the Power of God Most High is on our side. Now this is hope, this is hope that never disappoints us.

Our goal of life is to be at one with God. This is attained through Christ in whom we have access to the Father. Our hope is to share in God’s glory. “And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).

If we want to grow spiritually we should make continuous progress in our prayer life and hope that this prayer journey becomes our way of life and way of peace. We are still struggling to begin our day with prayers. If we do not focus on prayer from the very start  of our day, we are likely to fall off track. The less we pray, the more we are in danger of sin. Prayer is the number one thing in our daily lives that deepens our relationship with God.

Prayer is the most important part of our day. The more we make daily prayer a habit, the more effective we will be. Our days need to be prayerful, so that we can make the plan of God a reality to guide our families and ourselves in the way of holiness and peace.

Often we find ourselves so busy that we forget to deepen our own spiritual life. Being busy can be an impediment in our journey to holiness. During the Ordinary Time, let us re-focus on prayer and the Sacraments; focus on God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and our ministries so that we can grow in   holiness and peace.

LET US EXPERIENCE A ‘PERSONAL REBIRTH’ THIS PENTECOST

Pentecost celebration concludes the Easter season. It marks the birth of the Church on earth and affirms that “Jesus is the Lord and King of the Kingdoms of the earth” (Ps 67). The Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost that we might forever carry out firmly our Church mission in preaching, celebrating Jesus in the Sacraments and in all events of our lives.

Since Lent and immediately after Easter Sunday I noticed that many of you are seeking for a renewal in your faith and desiring to grow in the love of Christ and the Church. Some of you come a little early spending a few minutes in prayers on your own before the Eucharistic celebrations begin. I have also encountered a few lapsed Catholics who are now finding their way back into our church. That’s great!

Whatever problems or issues arise, Church has the answer for all your searching. The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of everyone. Just faithfully carry out your Christian commitments either at home or church or in your work place. Do participate and involve yourself in the various ministries and you will experience the enhancement in your faith life. No matter what, our Church will assist you in your faith and keep you on the right path to life of holiness.

Our Novenas and Feast Day to St Joseph has brought us to the height of our parish feast day and Easter celebrations. Personally, I felt that these celebrations have touched my faith even deeper and made me take a step closer to Jesus. As your priest I do take my priestly commitments seriously and work towards strengthening your faith despite issues that arise here and there in the various ministries. On your part I do see all of you giving the best of yourselves, time and efforts to make things successful in your ministries.

On 13 May 2016 (Friday) the Church celebrated the 99^th Year anniversary of our Lady of Fatima. The Angel of Peace appeared three times to the shepherd children, Lucia (10), Francisco (8) and Jacinta (6) in the beginning of 1916. These visitations prepared the way for the six apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima the following year in 1917. The Church will mark 100 years since the Fatima apparitions in the year 2017.

The central message of Fatima was urging the faithful disciples to prayer as the path of “salvation for souls” and “to stay on the narrow path to Heaven”. It also calls us to do penance and conversion and a daily turning away from sin. At all six appearances, the Virgin Mary only requested for us to pray the Rosary, every day, which can help, save our souls.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1: 8).

Wish all of you my dear parishioners “Happy Pentecost Day!”

Pray For Unity

What could Jesus Christ have prayed for in the final moments before His arrest at gethsemane?

JESUS PRAYS FOR OUR UNITY (John 17: 20-26). Jesus prayed for the unity of the Church. He prayed a dynamic and growing church that would last throughout the ages. He prayed for Christians unity, so that the unity of Christians would make such an impact to the world.

We live in world of disunity and diversity. We are so disunited and diverted. We must see that the church is one despite our disunity and diversity. Every individual must act as a unifier in the Church and in the various ministries that you are in. With all our differences we should journey towards "STRENGTHENING OUR FAITH COMMUNITY".

Jesus still wants unity for His church. He wants the church to be as united as He and the Father are. Would you like to be in the Church and work towards the unity?

Journey with Mary and Joseph in the Month of May

We have come to the end of our Novenas in conjunction with the Feast of St Joseph the Worker. I noticed the overwhelming crowds throughout the novenas compared to that of last year. All preparations towards the feast of our Patron Saint, St Joseph the Worker went smoothly without any hiccups. All our Presiders for the Novena Masses were from our Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur namely Fathers Surain Raj, James Gabriel, Peter Anthoney, Michael Chua, Mari Arokiam and David Arulandu. We too have a special guest priest from India, Fr. Stephen Jayarad to celebrate with us our patron saint’s feast day.

All our invited priests have made us realise the importance for us to be exemplary of Christ in our community. In this year of Mercy, we as true Catholic Christians, are constantly reminded to be merciful to those with whom we were not patient and to those who showed less patience with us. The priests too have highlighted to us about our duty as Christians in spreading this ongoing “gospel of mercy and love” to one another. As we were listening attentively to their homilies there were few other words which have touched us such as, care, gentleness, tenderness, compassion, listening, friendliness, justice and peace. These words have inspired and motivated us to turn ourselves away from hatred and to become truly merciful and loving persons towards our community.

Today, it is our duty to spread this ongoing good news, the good news of mercy and love every day, everywhere and always. This message of mercy and love can help to give testimony to Christ, to his Church, and to our beautiful Catholic faith, as it transmits the joy and hope of the Gospel.

We are in the month of May, a month that is specially dedicated to Mary and St Joseph as well. The Church encourages us to walk with Mary and Joseph during this month of May and invites us to make time for the Rosary with our BECs or with our families or as individuals. When we pray the Rosary, let us include the litany and novena to St Joseph the Worker. You can get the novena prayer to St Joseph from your BEC leaders or from our parish office. Do give our Lady and our Patron Saint a place in your heart and in your home. In this month of the Rosary, let’s us without fail pray together with Mary and Joseph. 

For those people who don’t seem to pray the Rosary, do carry a rosary with you and get into a habit of reciting at least one or two decades in a day with your friends or families. Let’s not allow this beautiful devotion to fade away like so many other things in our lives. Dear young people, do not let your day pass by without reciting at least one or two decades of the Rosary daily. Mother Mary and Joseph can assist you to get closer to Jesus our Lord.

In your homes where possible place a statue of Mother Mary and St Joseph at your altar and pray together the Rosary and Novena to St Joseph the Worker.

“Call on Mary with devotion, and She will not leave your needs unattended since She is merciful, indeed, the Mother of Mercy,” (St Bernard of Clairvaux).