NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING

December has come to an end. All our Christmas decorations will be gradually removed and the Christmas spirit will slowly subside. The holiday season will end and we shall be back to work and our children will return to school. We shall say goodbye to the old year 2017 and the New Year is waiting to welcome us. How did the past year go?

As we step into the first week of the year 2018, I encourage you to take time reflecting on several questions and look ahead with anticipation. The New Year is a great time to take stock of the year we’re leaving behind and look forward to the year that is to come.

We have completed the Year 2017 successfully, with God’s grace. Firstly, we thank God for the goals achieved and for the events that went and worked well. These have made our year 2017 better than we first thought. Secondly, we express our gratitude to the people who have played a part in our success and acknowledge them. Thirdly, we appreciate being able to allow ourselves to continually learn, add value, strength and growth to our faith life. We were not stagnant in our growth, but we have become smarter, more informed and have further developed our abilities. Fourthly, as we conclude the year 2017, we realise that it was a tough year, as well as a spirit-filled year for us - making us true to ourselves.

As we leave 2017, now is the time to forget and forgive faults, failures and misfortunes of the past, and pray that all these experiences and insights lead us to more meaningful goal-settings for the year ahead. In 2018, we are going to face another challenging year at our schools, colleges, work places as well as at home. We need to prioritise our relationships within our families, church community and society at large. It is a year that we need to reflect and discern more, pray hard and get to know ourselves better as we build our relationships with one another and Triune God.

What will the New Year be? In this year of 2018, we should take on many roles and commitments in our schools, colleges, work places and family lives. How can we show up in each of these places as true students, spouses, friends and leaders? We must find ways to do better and we should make time to give more meaning to each task that we commit to, and be authentic and obedient as we set goals for how to achieve each commitment we undertake. 

Today is the day that we should think seriously about our goals, intentions and commitments for the year ahead. As we put all our thoughts and reflections in place, start writing our goals down and make them specific. Keeping our goals and our priorities set ahead, and remind ourselves that we need to back it up with a plan, strategy, commitment and action in order to see the fruits at the end. It is going to be a powerful year, with big goals and big changes within us as we look forward to a promising year which will bring peace, love, joy, good health, good life and prosperity. 

You would have received a multitude of New Year greetings and wishes. I just want to say, let’s have a fresh start and be happy this New Year. May all your dreams come to reality and all your effort produce great achievements. 

WISHING YOU A SUCCESSFUL AND GLORIOUS NEW YEAR! MAY 2018 BRING JOY, PEACE AND HAPPINESS TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

A GODLY FAMILY MANIFESTS LOVE

Today is the first Sunday after Christmas – the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The future of the Church is the family. The Church is always “Promoting Family Values” that upholds the significance of the family. Our Christian character is not about impressing people but about living out our faith with reverence and respect for God.

Parents have responsibilities to teach their children the Word of God and to observe the commandments of God. When parents disobey God’s commandments they invite a curse upon their families. When they obey God’s commandments they invite a blessing from God. 

The holy family that God is desiring, is a truly inclusive family where all are accepted, welcomed, appreciated and loved, just as our Heavenly Father loves each one of us.

Every godly family should manifest the love, joy and peace of Christ in our homes. Let us ensure that our families enjoy the blessings of Christ and demonstrate the way of true godliness by trusting in the Lord with all our heart. 

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways,”(Ps 128).

WELCOMING THE INFANT JESUS

All of us love Christmas. Christmas is such a beautiful time of the year. There is so much loveliness that surrounds us during this month of December, the glow of the lights, the decorated trees, the carols, the crib, and the extra kindness and charity that people show to one another.

We have come to the last day of Advent. This year the Advent season is quite short and Sunday is the only day in the Fourth Week of Advent. To celebrate a beautiful Christmas the Church has set four weeks for our spiritual preparation. We have started Advent with high hopes and set some great ways to prepare for the Lord’s birth.

This Christmas, everyone brings lots of gifts during Christmas family get-togethers and you too may get something. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” (Jn 3:16) and what can we give Jesus this Christmas? He only wants us to voluntarily trust Him. Jesus wishes to have first place in our lives before anything and anyone. We choose to place Jesus first in all things and even in all our troubles, “Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God and trust in Him,” (Jn 14:1). As we give Jesus our trust, make Him first in our life and bring others to Him, then we are giving Him gifts far more valuable than the ones the Wise Men brought (gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” (Matt 2:11).

Last Saturday, 16^th December, we distributed 325 school uniforms for the underprivileged students. We are really proud of the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) and the volunteers for the successful distribution. The committee also organised some entertainment with songs, activities and games to bring warmth, cheer and fun for them. They served lunch as well.

Thank you for the tremendous support, encouragement and contribution from our St Joseph’s community towards this annual campaign that so positively affects the lives of many underpriviliged students and their families. Before the year ends we will be distributing provision of groceries for 100 low income families. Thank you for making our Christmas outreach a memorable one.

During this year’s Christmas Mass we are privileged to be using Oman Frankincense from Oman. The finest and highly prized Frankincense in the world comes from this country. A friend of mine bought this for us from Oman to be used during the Christmas season. It is uniquely fragrant and we shall use it to aromatise the house of God this Christmas. Praise God!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, AND ALL THE BEST IN THE NEW YEAR 2018! MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES BE BLESSED WITH PEACE, LOVE AND JOY.

BE PREPARED FOR CHRIST'S COMING

This year Advent is very short, Sunday being the only day in the fourth week. Traditionally, on 4th Sunday of Advent we look at Mother Mary and her act of obedience that comes from her faith in God.

It was Archangel Gabriel who foretold the timing of the Messiah’s coming. Mary’s response: “May it be done to me according to your word.” When she chose God’s way over her own, at that moment she became the new Eve, the woman, full of grace.

This Annunciation to Mary, it reminds us that God keeps His promises. He has promised to come to us and not leave us orphans. He will not disappoint us.

This promise from God about the King has finally reached to the fulfillment in Nazareth in the person of Jesus, a descendant of David. He is the One whose “kindness is established forever” and rules in kindness now and forever. 

Christmas is a great time to refresh our memories about God’s faithfulness to us. This last day of Advent we are reminded to be prepared for Christ’s coming with faithfulness.

PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR THE COMING OF THE INFANT JESUS

As we come closer to Christmas and the New Year, of course there will be a lot of parties, visitors and celebrations taking place in your home. In the midst of all these we too face a lot of tension, anxiety, stress and many more things in our lives. These last days of Advent the Church invites us to make our life much better, more meaningful, and more Christ centered as we clear our pathways and to make ready our hearts to welcome Jesus into our midst once again this Christmas. We shall make our pathways to enter into the ambiance of silence in order to experience the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit – “Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity,” (CCC 1832).

As we enter more profoundly into this 3^rd Week of Advent, our hearts yearn for more interior peace than any other riches that the modern world can offer. It is a time that we should learn to examine ourselves, our spiritual and moral lives, and time alone with God we shall find peace in the inner rests of our soul. We need to do a lot of examination of our conscience and repent from our wrongdoings in order to experience the inner joy and peace. The Lord demands patience, attention, humility, selflessness, genuine love and charity towards others which will lead us into a joyful Christmas and the New Year celebrations. May we imitate St Joseph and Mother Mary so that Jesus can take us into the depth of our hearts.

The Forth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Masses are falling one after another this year. Both celebrations are obligations for us to fulfill. The Fourth Sunday of Advent begins with Sunset Mass on 23^rd December and ends with Sunday morning Masses on 24^th December. Whereas our Christmas Masses begins at 7.30 pm and 10.00 pm on 24^th November and ends on Monday, 25^th December with 7.30 am and 10.00 am. I hope you don't skip both days of obligation for no reason.

           

As we enter into this new chapter of our parish vision for the year 2018 “Committing Ourselves To New Evangelisation” we shall pray for inspiration and courage to serve and spread the Gospel with joy and respectfully with EVERYONE, including with people of our Faiths. We pray this prayer regularly every weekend and make it familiar among us and come together to own the vision and mission as we grow as a Church.

Below is the prayer that we have composed to help us focus on New Evangelisation:

COMMITTING OURSELVES TO NEW EVANGELISATION

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your love and grace in helping us experience wholeness and hope in our lives. We put ourselves, our lives, and our future in Your hands. May the power of Your Son’s resurrection work in us and transform us according to Your will.

We embrace the commitment of love graciously as stewards of patience, kindness, and gentleness as we engage with EVERYONE.

We commit ourselves in the spirit of new evangelisation as we step forward in faith, to go where You lead us without hesitation or fear and to trust that Your presence is with us and that You will provide all we need.

Loving St. Joseph, our Patron, watch over us, protect us and guide us. Most Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.