Sharing the Grief of Death and Farewell

Saturday, 10^th September will be a day that I will never forget. After the Sunset Mass, Fr William Michael and I went out for a dinner. While we were having dinner I received a message via whatsapp saying that Rev Fr Phillips Muthu had passed away. I couldn't believe it. Consequently, two other text messages came in saying the same. I quickly called and spoke over the phone with some of the parishioners in Terengganu. After speaking to them and finding out certain details of his passing, I still I couldn't accept the fact of his death. I was shaken up and speechless for a few minutes.

Then, we were contacting some of the clergy to find out details on further arrangements especially in bringing the body back to Rawang. It was the weekend and all our priests had the Sunday Masses to celebrate as well as other pastoral commitments. After much discussion among our clergy, Frs Mitchell Anthony, William Michael and I decided to leave on Saturday midnight. We arrived early in the morning and met with some of Fr Phillips’ family members who were already there. That Sunday morning we went to Kemaman Police Station and obtained the necessary documentation in order to release his body from the hospital. It was very long waiting hours at the hospital mortuary and finally at about 2 pm we got the clearance from the hospital.

Fr Phillips Muthu had spent almost 5 fruitful years ministering not only to the Catholics but also the people of other faiths in the East Cost of Peninsular Malaysia. We had a very special thanksgiving Mass in honour of Fr Phillips at about 2.30pm on Sunday at the Chapel of St Philip Minh, before the coffin was to be taken to his home parish at Church of St Jude, Rawang. There were approximately 350 parishioners from Kuala Terengganu, Dungun, Kemaman and Kuantan including the University students at the Eucharistic celebration. The Mass was animated by the University and College Students from Sabah and Sarawak who are studying in the state of Terengganu.

Fr Philips always had a very special place in his heart for the varsity students and youths. He organised many programmes, spiritual formations, activities and outings for them. During their weekend or holidays these students will come and spend time with him and he never failed to look into their needs whenever they came to his house. He accommodated them well and made them happy.

The community of Terengganu has lost two shepherds who passed away while serving the community. The first was Fr John Wang who died in 1989 at the age of 61 and now Fr Phillips at the age of 56.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen!

Praise the Lord for Vocations

On Monday, 12^th September, Srs Amy Saminathan and Santhamary Ganapragasam from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus (IJ) had their Final Profession. It was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Kampar, Perak at 10.30 am. I witnessed their Final Profession at the Eucharistic celebration officiated by Bishop Sebastian of Penang. It was a time of rejoicing for the Catholic community and the IJ congregation as they witnessed the two individuals who have committed themselves freely and forever to follow Jesus in proclaiming His love in the service of His people.

Let us continue to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

The Rich Man and Steward

In the gospel (LK 16: 1-13), the main character is the steward and not the rich man. The steward acted shrewdly and smartly. Jesus does not ask us to be dishonest but He wants us to be shrewd, discerning and focusing on the road to salvation.

Jesus teaches the wrong attitudes about wealth and how are we dealing with what He has given to us.

I am accountable to God because everything that I have today is a God’s gift and I don’t own anything. Every good and perfect gift comes from God. He is the Owner. Your very breath is a gift from God. Your ability to walk and work is a gift from God. Every gift you have, He gave it to you. Every possession you have, He gave it to you. He is the Owner.

Everything that I have, my health, my life, my possessions, my family is not mine, but God owns it, I manage it.

Lives are destroyed over money or property issues. How do we use money? And how is it money uses us? How do we use our wealth?

“CARRIER OF GOD’S TENDER AND MERCIFUL LOVE”

During this month of September, the Church in Peninsular Malaysia invites us to focus on the theme, “Sharing God’s Mercy to the Needy”. We cannot remain silent or expect certain organisations to minister to the needy. In this month we need a special relationship with them through sharing the mercy to the sick and the dying who are in need of real agape love. It is also a time for us to share God’s blessings with these less fortunate people.

Everyone knows Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata. She has inspired us with her simple and humble services, which touched the hearts of millions of people of all faiths. Her face had radiated God’s tender and merciful love through her loving actions. She went to Kolkata, India to share the “merciful face of the Father and to give to the world the Good News of the Father’s mercy and tenderness.” She responded wholeheartedly to the cry of Jesus on the cross, “I Thirst,” (Jn 19:28) expressing the depth of God’s longing for all mankind by her life of holiness and humble works of love to the poorest of the poor.

On September 4^th, 2016, Pope Francis will canonize her as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. A Eucharistic celebration will be celebrated for the newly canonized St Teresa in St Peter’s Square, Vatican City at 10 am (Malaysian Time 4 pm). In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, the Holy Father has made Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata as an icon of the Father’s Mercy. The Church hopes that her words and examples may make an inspiration to our young people, students, teachers and parents to emulate her qualities especially her service to the poorest of the poor beginning in our families and communities.

A Catholic Nun and a missionary Mother Teresa was born in 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia. She taught in India for 17 years before she experienced “call within a call” to devote herself to the care of the sick and poor in September 1946.

Mother Teresa was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to helping the poor. She received the Nobel Peace Prize for the humanitarian and corporal works of mercy. Through her kindness, generosity and unfailing commitment, she devoted herself to a life of devotion to Christ for 69 years of service assisting “the unwanted, the unloved, the uncared for.” She died in September 5, 1997 at the age of 87 and St Pope John Paul II beatified her in October 2003. She never rested from her work during her lifetime and she assured us that she would continue her corporal works of mercy from heaven in another form.

I have dedicated one of our formation rooms under her name, Saint Teresa of Kolkata. Today, let’s get down on our knees and ask Saint Teresa of Kolkata to intercede for us so that “Carrier of God’s Tender and Merciful Love” inspires every member of our family and our parish community.

Mother Teresa to Become a Saint During the Year of Mercy

On Friday, September 2, 2016, we had an occasion to witness the blessing of the Holy picture of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta during the evening Mass at 7.30 at St Joseph’s Church, Sentul. ‪On September 4, 2016, The Holy Father, Pope Francis will canonize her as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Her canonization is going to be a very essential event on this Year of Mercy. She had inspired millions of people around the world with her simple and humble service to the sick and dying. 

During the Mass and Holy Hour, the parishioners of SJC were invited to reflect on the life of Blessed Mother Teresa. There was a video clip presentation for 10 minutes on her life servicing the poor. Every Catholic should take an opportunity to recognise Mother Teresa’s qualities especially her service to the poorest of poor. Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for us.

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

 

On the Canonization  of St Teresa of Calcutta

Loving and gracious God,

You called forth Mother Teresa

From humble means 

To be a strong witness 

to the transforming power of your Son, Jesus.

Help us to be like her, Lord,

To dedicate our lives to caring 

For the poor and suffering,

To listen to your eternal Word,

To be the face of Christ

For everyone we meet.

Grant that, through her intercession,

We might shine the light of your love 

In our daily lives 

So that all people 

May come to know, love and serve you. Amen.