OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS CATHOLICS LAST A LIFETIME

Last Sunday I had a formation for parents and godparents for this year’s confirmation students. There were about 48 of them who attended the session out of 60. Thank you to all of those who took the time and effort to attend this session. Some of these parents and godparents will be animating the Confirmation Mass on 2nd July.

During the session I highlighted to them not only their roles and responsibilities, but also the challenges the parents, godparents and parish itself could face after the children’s confirmation:

• ·      We, the catechism teachers and coordinators, are competent in preparing our teenagers for the Sacrament, but what happens the days after their Sacrament of Confirmation?
• ·      How is it that many of our teenagers are confirmed, but we don’t see most of them again in the life of the Church?
• ·      Why do so many of our Confirmation students drift away from the church after receiving the Sacrament?
• ·      Parents and godparents, are you willing to spend your time to help your children grow closer to Jesus?

Soon, our confirmation students will end their catechism classes. Parents and godparents, you will be their primary tutors for the rest of the years to come. You must make every effort to lead them to Jesus so that they may develop their friendship and discipleship with Jesus.

We all are required to renew our lives daily. Our Parish is always providing on-going spiritual formation and educational programmes for all levels. After receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, you are encouraged to get involved in the dynamic life in Jesus, His Church, and in personal outreach to others. We shall remember to pray for our confirmation students that they may live the Catholic faith when they meet this troubling and challenging world and mature in their service to God and each other.

We celebrated the Jubilee Year of Priests on the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Father’s Day last weekend. It was wonderful to hear that many of you remembered to pray for me as your priest/spiritual father. I take great pride and rejoice with you for my accomplishments of two years in this parish. Despite having experienced many great as well as difficult moments along the way, I feel loved and proud to be part of your Parish and family. I pray that I will remain firm in the teachings of the Church, and through my homilies and talks, will follow what I preach through my actions in my everyday living.

My dear parishioners, you are always wonderful to me. We shall work together as a community and do remain united in prayers as we continue to serve our parish in this Year of Mercy. Let us continue to focus on “BECs – Witnessing Jesus through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy”. God bless you and your families.

APPRECIATING OUR FATHERS

On this third Sunday of June, we celebrate Father’s Day. We specially honour all our fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and our spiritual fathers as well. They have greatly influenced our family life and society. Father’s Day was inaugurated in the early 20th Century to complement Mother’s day.

Children, you would probably contemplate designing cards for your fathers or on the type of gifts to purchase such as electronic gadgets or a suitable place to go where the family may dine together. Just give a big hug to your fathers and tell them that you love them and if possible do spend time together during this weekend.

Do thank them graciously for the things they provided to you and for your family and the efforts they took in ensuring your education. Do thank them for the faithful instruction and advice given for your moral and faith life.

Fathers, don’t be too hard on your children. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful but instead instill in them the love for God and loving discipline. Do make this world a better place for your children throughout their growing years.

We are already in the second half of the year. Our children are back in school after their short-term break. This Sunday, Catechism classes will resume. We have about 15-17 Sunday classes for the rest of this year.

There will be about 34 candidates receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on 2 July 2016 (Saturday)at our Church. Many parents and godparents are eagerly waiting to witness their children being conferred by Archbishop Julian Leow. I am sure that many of you have already invited or will be sending invitations to your relatives and close friends to attend the Confirmation Mass. You may have already been thinking about what presents to purchase and what kind of outfits to get for your children. Some would have already planned or made reservations for your family dinner or lunch. While it is all right to make such preparations, please don’t forget the spiritual preparations.

The Catechism teachers and coordinators have been tirelessly preparing your children spiritually these past years for their Sacrament of Confirmation. On 25th June, a week prior to the Sacrament of Confirmation, our candidates will be having the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As our young people and our own children are preparing for their Confirmation we pray that they will celebrate and live their lives as Catholics and embrace their Catholic identity.

May they come to understand what it means to live as a true and  faithful ambassador of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) and grateful sons and daughters who value the moral teachings of the Church and their faith.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! 

Take up your Cross Daily and Follow Me!

"If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me," (LK 9: 23).

We follow Jesus today because we know what He did for us on Mt Calvary. Jesus' calling to be His disciples was a lifetime calling to follow and to be more intimate friendships and fellowship with a deeper understanding. We follow Jesus today because we know what He did for us on Mt Calvary. If we want to be His followers, then we must make sacrifices. The sacrifice usually involves, the sacrifice of self or put aside our own desires and conveniences, our time, talents and treasures. We are invited to take deeper commitments every day to serve God, His Church and to serve others.

“My soul is thirsting for You, O Lord my God.”

Jesus Forgives, Restores and Strengthens

In the gospel (Lk 7: 36-50), Simon the Pharisee thinks he is the righteous one who is worthy to be in the company of Jesus and that the adulterous woman was the sinful one, unworthy to be with Jesus. 

In Simon’s mind, his reasonings were; if Jesus were a prophet or teacher, he would know people’s character. He would know this woman was a sinner, he would not allow her to touch him in a very improper way.

Jesus did not say that the woman was not a sinner. Jesus only said that the man was a sinner too, and in fact a worse sinner than the woman.

A few gentle and encouraging words of Jesus enable to change her life: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace," (Lk 7: 50).

Forgiveness is not always easy. There is no peace without forgiveness. Those who come to Jesus in repentance and faith will be forgiven. Jesus forgives, restores and strengthens all those who come to him in faith and repentance. 

“Forgive, Lord, the guilt of my sin.”

Nothing is Impossible for Jesus!

The woman in the Gospel (LK 7: 11-17), she could not help her son and it was out of her hands. Her son was dead and this mother was grieving for the loss of her precious son. He was her only son and to make things worse her husband had died as well. I am sure we felt so sorry for this widow mother right?

One of the most tragic things parents will ever have to endure is losing their children. Most parents expect to die first but there are times or situations where children passes before parents. There is nothing we can do. We have to accept the realities. What then should we do... Trust in Jesus!

When Jesus saw the situation, He had pity on this woman... "Do not cry!" He touched her dead son and the young man was raised from the dead. Nothing is impossible for our Lord Jesus! Jesus cares for us! He will make a miracle.

Jesus replaces all our fear, tears, sorrows and grievance with hope and joy, even death with life!

The Eucharist Builds up the Church

The Body and Blood of Christ

When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we are focused on our intimate union with Christ in the Eucharist, and all are made union with Christ as our Head. The Holy Eucharist builds up the Church. 

We come to participate in the Eucharist because we are sinful, needful, spiritually hungry and weak. The Eucharistic presence builds us up from the inside out. Christ loved us first, when we were soaked in sin and unable to love.

When we take the Holy Eucharist, we should celebrate Christ’s self-giving in our lives. If the Holy Eucharist fails to make any change in the quality of our lives and in relationships with our fellow brothers and sisters then the Holy Eucharist has not touched us at all. If the Eucharist does not make any change in our lives, it has failed in its purpose. 

This Eucharist should enable us to recognise Christ in us. When Jesus shares His body as food for us, He in turn challenges us to bring food for others through our loving service. Are we willing to take up this challenge?

The Holy Spirit is Living in Us

On that Day of Pentecost the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak in tongues and were boldness to their witness. The power of the Holy Spirit was living in and through them. (Acts 2: 1-6).

The purpose of Pentecost is to allow God to fill us and empower us with His Holy Spirit. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit filling and overflowing through us we have no power to battle the power of evils.

Most Christians understand the Holy Spirit in terms of symbols which describe Him as tongues of fire or Dove or wind. The Holy Spirit is a person. In theological terms He is recognised as the Third person in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is a divine person, living in us and loving us with the most tender love. 

Once we understand the power of the Holy Spirit is a person we can begin to develop in our relationship with Him in prayers and in fellowship with Him.

May this Pentecost we have merciful heart, powerful and peaceful transformation.

Finding Mercy through the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The month of June is dedicated to the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “Sacred Heart” really stands for the entire mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ, the totality of His being – tender mercy and infinite love, the salvation of mankind. Jesus’ heart figures prominently as “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt 11:29). His side was pierced with a lance, blood and water from his heart flowed from the wound (John 19:34). We, Christians have always seen this as symbolic of the sacraments of salvation – baptism and the Eucharist.

Pope Francis asserted that the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy. The Holy Father also said that “from the Heart of Jesus, the Lamb sacrificed on the Cross, flow forgiveness and life for all people.” The center of merciful heart of Jesus is the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed forth. He came to save us from sin and death.

God loves us in spite of our weaknesses. He came to heal all our wounds and divisions. Jesus has opened up His Sacred Heart to forgive us. Forgiveness is a very great gift, which we need to experience it in this Year of Mercy. Let us take every effort to forgive and to enter into the Heart of Jesus through regular examinations of conscience and Sacrament of Confession. Let us strengthen our prayer life and renew our strength in all our struggles. With the trusting heart of a child, let us strive to be happy at all times.

As the Sacred Heart of Jesus look upon us with mercy and care, He consecrates our hearts, our lives, and our families. May the Most Holy Heart of Jesus keep our families close to His Heart and may His special protection be with us always!

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and it is the holiest month in their calendar. It is the month during which Muslims observe fasting from morning twilight (Fajar Prayer) to the evening twilight (Maghreb Prayer). Fasting is an obligation in Islam not an option. It is one of the five pillars on which Islam is built. The benefits of fasting are manifold. Fasting has personal, social, hygienic, and best of all spiritual benefits and to gain self-restraint. Fasting is one of the most sincere worshipping of God and thus its rewards are numerous.

It is almost a week since our Muslim brothers and sisters started their “Ramadhan”. We hope and pray that this month provides them a time for fasting, praying, reconciliation, repentance and change of heart.  May they live in solidarity, harmony and in peace with all people especially with non-Muslims in this country. God bless their fasting.