SET ASIDE TIME FOR SPIRITUAL ENRICHMENT

I must admit that I am very impressed with some of our SJC ministries and members who take their leadership roles seriously and responsibly by organising events using their own resources rather than depending on speakers or professionals from outside of the Parish.

Last weekend two important events took place in our Church and which was organised by own leaders. The English Catechetical Ministry organised a 2-day camp/retreat for our Forms 1 – 5 catechism students at our Formation Hall. You can read more about this on our parish website. In conjunction with Bible Sunday, our Tamil Apostolate and Tamil Catechetical Ministry organised a Bible Quiz for adults and a colouring competition for the kids at our Church Hall after the 7 am Tamil Mass.

This is how you should all come forward to share your knowledge, skills and talents within our community. In this way you are empowering, inspiring and energising our own youngsters and adults and bringing out the best among us. Keep up this spirit in your ministries.

My dear parishioners, if a little bit of spirituality is added in your own lives then you can see your leadership role and your Christian way of life grow tremendously. If someone asks you to stop communicating to God for some period of time, what will you do? Will you cease praying? Will you stop coming to Church? It sounds “un-Catholic” to say that I don't feel like praying to God or I just forgot to pray. It is also not good to say that I don't feel like reading spiritual books or listening / viewing spiritual and religious audio-visuals.

We are in tune with a new culture that draws us to depend on technology such as smart phone, I-pad, Internet, etc. We spend excessive hours with these gadgets. That is why we have become “slow to listen, quick to speak and quick to become angry.” We hardly have time to listen to God. We hardly have take time to read and pray with the Bible. We rarely read spiritual books or view spiritual materials in the forms of audio-visual.

Some of the spiritual and religious books, articles or audio-visual materials are available free on our Catholic websites. Do make it a point to visit some proper Catholic websites and take the time to browse through the many resources, materials and guides available there. Don't waste too much time browsing through your smart phone and I-pad just playing games or searching/reading things that are non-beneficial. Instead use your time and these social media platforms wisely.

As the psalmist says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain,” (Ps 139:6). Do take time to go to the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God. Through your spiritual reading and combined with your spiritual exercises, you will discover and rediscover of yourselves and of God. Your relationship with God and others will become very fruitful and unique.