UNITED THROUGH CULTURE AND RELIGION

The Tamil festival of Thai Pongal is a thanksgiving ceremony in which the farmers celebrate the event to thank God for providing a successful harvest. The Tamil population of the world celebrates the harvest festival to give their thanks to the farmers for the production of food.

I would like to congratulate the Tamil Speaking Community of St Joseph’s Church, Sentul, for the well-prepared Pongal (harvest festival) celebration last Sunday, 15^th January. Our theme for this year’s celebration was “… the first fruits of your harvest,” (Lev 23: 10). This year the Pongal celebration was celebrated differently than the usual. On Sunday morning at the 7am Mass the community offered a thanksgiving Mass by boiling a small pot of sweet pongal at the entrance of the Church. They offered it during the offertory together with other fruits, vegetables and sweet goodies.

In the evening the Tamil Speaking group organised Pongal Cultural Nite. Archbishop Julian Leow was our honourable guest and he was ushered from the parish house to the community hall with traditional music. He officiated the event by lighting up “kuthuvillavu” (oil lamp). There were many programmes prepared by the group. This included performances of old and new Tamil songs, Indian traditional and modern dances. One of our famous local artistes, Lokup Nathan, came to perform a few songs. About 500 people attended this cultural show and they were served with dinner and sweet rice. The Pongal cultural nite ended at 10.30 pm.

This cultural show is basically to appreciate and treasure the Indian cultures and customs. I must say a big “Syabas” to John Paul and his committee who have organised this pongal cultural nite successfully within a 2-week period. It was the first time our parish Tamil community has celebrated the cultural show. This event helped us, especially the Tamil community to realise the importance of promoting, respecting and valuing our cultures and traditions.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally held every year from January 18 – 25. It has a history of over 100 years. Christians around the world have taken the initiative to move towards the fulfillment of Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper “that they all may be one,” (Jn 17:21). By coming together during this week, we join with Christians around the world to pray for Christian unity in prayer, worship, reflection, study and fellowship.

The 2017 theme for the Week of Prayer is, “Reconciliation – The Love of Christ Compels Us,” (2 Cor 5: 14-20). This biblical text emphasises that reconciliation is a gift from God. We recognise the pain of the divisions, which afflict the Church and the love of Christ compels us to become ambassadors of Christ’s message of reconciliation.

We are thankful for this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity for being together as Christians and for the different ways we experience the Lord’s presence. May this theme and the invitation of St Paul to be ministers of reconciliation bring healing for our churches’ division. Let’s continue to grow in unity and reconciliation and be instruments of peace in our country.