THE NEW NORM IN ATTENDING MASS

Photo: 20/6/20
(Floor Marking for Social Distancing)

On 15 June 2020, the Government permitted all non-Muslim houses of worship - apart from those located within the high risk areas or red zones - to reopen for their respective religious prayers and activities during the Recovery Movement Controlled Order (RMCO). After more than three months, we finally feel a sense of relief and alleviation, hearing this good news! The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur has granted permission to all churches and chapels within its jurisdiction to reopen on 28 June 2020, with a one-third capacity congregation allowed to attend Mass, only on Sundays. Every Church is expected to regulate effective compliance with the requirements set out in the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) issued by the Ministry of National Unity (MNU) and National Security Council (NSC). Some of you would have read these SOPs, which were highlighted in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur’s Chancery Notice dated on 15 June 2020.

The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur has instructed all parishes to study the SOP meticulously and implement this accordingly, before reopening for Sunday Mass on 28 June. In preparation for the Sunday Eucharistic celebration, our Parish has already formed a Parish Response Team (PRT). The PRT consists of 7 members – Gabriel Moses, Alan Jong, Mary Bernadette Peters, John Bosco Morais, Leonard Paiva, Dr Jeremy Prakash and Dr Sheela Theivanthiran. The PRT will be responsible for studying, planning, coordinating, preparing and applying the guidelines for the celebration of Sacraments during the RMCO and post-RMCO period. They will also be responsible for recruiting volunteers and giving them the necessary training. 

As we move ahead, preparing for the reopening of our Church, the PRT will make sure the SOPs are strictly adhered to. We expect full cooperation and support from all Parishioners for a smooth resumption of our Sunday Eucharistic celebration. If the next couple of Sunday Masses proceed smoothly and without issues, we may probably move to the next phase, where we will be allowed to have multiple Weekend Masses, which will then include Saturday Sunset, Sunday Evening, as well as daily weekday morning masses besides the already approved Sunday Morning mass.

Photo: 20/6/20
(Cleaning Service Team)

As the Coronavirus continues to infect many people and with the prediction of a second wave of infection, we wish to remind all Parishioners attending the Weekend Mass to wear your facial masks at all times when in the church premises, maintain strict social distancing and adhere to the SOP safety measures. Most of all, we strongly encourage Parishioners to adapt to this new norm and ensure strict discipline when coming for Mass on Sundays.

We have been given this opportunity to return to our churches after a long period of suspension resulting from the pandemic. During this RMCO period, we pray that every Parishioner continues to be responsible with regards the well-being and protection of our community, our families and the nation as a whole.

I would like to highlight some important measures to ensure safety and protection from this COVID-19 virus infection and the basic norms of health and hygiene protocols that we, as Parishioners, should observe during the current epidemic crisis, especially when we are in the Church premises.

a)   Only one-third of the total congregations (probably 250 parishioners at one time) are allowed to attend Sunday Mass.

b)   Only Malaysian Parishioners between the ages of 13 and 69 are permitted to attend Mass.

c)  Those who have a cough, fever, or are displaying flu-like or respiratory symptoms, including high risk individuals (poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, kidney disease requiring dialysis of any sort, heart and cancer patients or those suffering from other chronic illness) are not permitted to attend Mass in church until the situation in the country improves. 

d)    You are required to wear a facial mask once you have entered the church premises. 

e)    Maintain strict social distancing with at least one meter distance from the next person.

f)  Avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily - wash or sanitise your hands soonest possible.

g)  No handshakes, no kisses, no hugging or touching, especially during the sign of peace – a big smile and a bow would suffice!!

h)    If you are sick, especially with a respiratory illness, please stay at home. You will not be allowed into the church premises. 

i)      Follow the instructions of the wardens.

j)      Do submit your names, Identity Card number, contact number, etc., to your respective BEC leaders beforehand.

k)  Registration closes at 8.55am sharp and late comers will not be allowed into the church premise, as the gates will be closed.

l)      Please register yourselves on the MySejahtera app.

m) Please do come for Mass on time and leave the church immediately after the Mass and do not loiter around the church premises.

n)    Do not enter the Adoration Room.

o)    No parking is allowed within the Church premises.

As we are allowed to return to our house of God, let us make every effort and discipline ourselves to work towards a new way of life, and build a healthy nation – physically, spiritually and emotionally.

DO NOT BE AFRAID

As Jesus instructed his Apostles to go on a mission, he told them not to be fearful or afraid of anyone,  and that He was sending them out to preach the Good News and to teach them (Mt 10). 

We have been taught about Truth, to boldly preach and to make known the Gospel of Christ to everyone. The Lord said “Do not be afraid” and He also promised, “I will be with you always.” This promise, not only gave the Apostles courage, but it also  gives us the courage to carry out His mission to the world. When we are afraid or fearful, this will then increase our failures in carrying out our tasks. The light of Jesus dispels the darkness of fear.

We’re afraid of the unknown and worry about uncertainties. We always have doubts and struggles over faith. Whenever we face fear, we need to realise that God is near us. We should place our trust in God and in His presence too.

God is always with us and He is our Warrior. He gives us great confidence to “fight the good fight,” in order to win. Be courageous then, to stand for the Truth, and do not fear anyone.

Let us count on God’s great love for us to enable us to do what He asks of us – “Lord, in Your great love, answer me,” (Ps 68).

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.

https://www.stjosephsentul.org/the-new-norm-in-attending-mass1/

IN SPIRITUAL COMMUNION WITH THE LORD

Photo: Live Steaming Mass

Although we have been formally dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass, as a result of the current pandemic, we are still able to participate in the Mass via live streaming, with the aid of technology. The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and various Archdioceses and Dioceses around the world, offer Masses daily through live feeds, for the benefit of us all. I really don’t know how long this practice of “spiritual communion” through live streaming will continue, but I hope that it can inspire our faith during this time of global crisis.

Recently, I met two of our catechism students, aged 10 and 11 respectively. I asked them about the online Mass and their participation in it. I was amazed that they could recite the Act of Spiritual Communion Prayer by heart. I don’t think many of us say this prayer by heart during the time of Holy Communion, when we attend the online Mass. We may recite it within 20-30 seconds when it appears on screen without truly understanding the meaning of it.

Ever since the Church started live streaming the Masses, the faithful have been strongly encouraged to pray the following prayer as an Act of Spiritual Communion, during Holy Communion.

My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

During this ongoing pandemic, we have been able to fulfil our days of obligation by attending Mass online, although we are unable to receive the Holy Communion sacramentally. However, we can receive Jesus when we express the Act of Spiritual Communion, which was written by St. Alphonsus de Liguori. We see four basic elements in this Act of Spiritual Communion Prayer – “Act of Faith, an Act of Love, a desire to receive Christ, and an invitation to Him to come into your heart.”

First, we profess with an Act of Faith that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist. It is a true mystery in the teachings of the Catholic Church. With the words of consecration – “Make holy, therefore, these gifts (bread and wine), we pray by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,” that the whole of Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ is truly present (cf. CCC. nos. 1374 and 1413).

Photo: 2018 Eucharistic
Procession

Second, we make an Act of Love and we confess that we love Jesus above all things and that He is good and worthy of our love. We are reminded that we should express our sacrificial love for God above all, by keeping close the Greatest commandments: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength” and “You must love your neighbour as yourself,” (Mark 12:30-31). We know these commandments by heart but they are not easy to live by. 

Third, we make an Act of Desire by yearning to receive Jesus in the Holy Communion sacramentally and spiritually. Of course, we long to receive Jesus in Holy Communion whenever we participate in the Eucharistic celebration. Currently we are unable to be physically present at the Mass but our deep desire is to be fully in union with Christ Jesus through this spiritual communion and to be like Him, as we sincerely commit ourselves to following in His footsteps willingly.

Fourth, we invite Jesus to come into our hearts – “Come, Lord Jesus” (the Maranatha) and to be with us at all times and at all seasons. As Jesus is “standing at the door and knocking” (Rev 3:20), we need to welcome Him as we make Christ a home in our hearts. We thank Jesus for being spiritually present in our hearts and in our beings. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to us in “Spiritual Communion” and abiding within us. Heal our mind and body, soul and spirit, strengthen us and sanctify us.

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. Over the weekend, after you have participated in the online Mass, just spend a quiet moment to adore the Lord, by saying or singing this at least three times: 

“O, Sacrament Most Holy;

O, Sacrament Divine,

All praise and all thanksgiving

Be every moment Thine.”

Photo: 2019 RCIA Catechumens 

JESUS, THE BREAD OF LIFE

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Most Precious Body and Blood of Jesus, Corpus Christi, the celebration of the True and Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. After consecration, the bread and wine are totally changed into Jesus’ body and blood (Transubstantiation). He says that I am the Living Bread… anyone who eats this bread … and drinks this blood will have eternal life, (John 6:51-58).

Jesus gave us the most admirable Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Sacred mystery of His Body and Blood which was instituted at the Last Supper. The Church made the Eucharist, the centrepiece of our thanksgiving worship and for the life of the world.

The Eucharistic Meal is to be celebrated in His remembrance – “Take His Body” and “Take His Blood” and the Church restores unity with God and mankind. At this meal of Christ, we experience the power of redemption and sanctification. Whenever we partake in this banquet, His presence in us increases our virtue, nourishes our mind and body with an abundance of Spiritual gifts.

We pray that when the Movement Controlled Order (MCO) is lifted, we shall return to Church to receive Holy Communion, the Heavenly Food, so that we can really feel a sense of peace. Till then, we pray together in faith that we will always be in communion with Jesus spiritually.

Photo was taken in 2019

CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH GOD

Sunset Mass at SJC
Photo: 25/1/2020

Many places of worship in the country, in particular, those located in the green zone areas, will be allowed to reopen from 10 June 2020 onwards, and will be required to adhere to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The Catholic Church has closely studied the SOP, looking for every possibility to start reopening churches soonest possible with the approval of the Ministry of National Unity (Kementerian Perpaduan). At the moment, the Ministry has allowed only three Catholic Churches in Peninsular Malaysia to reopen, with a condition that only a maximum of 30 parishioners be allowed to be in attendance at each mass. These churches will have to strictly follow the SOP, which includes sanitising the internal building, regular cleaning, wearing of masks, maintaining strict social distancing, etc. The live-streaming of Mass will continue as usual, to cater for all those who are unable to attend Mass at church.

During the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, we hardly heard of crimes, protests, demonstrations, riots, murders, thefts, robberies, drunk drivers, etc. For almost three months, especially during lockdown, millions of people adhered to the respective governments mandates to stay at home, maintain social distancing and to follow the SOP closely. Generally, people were united with one spirit, praying together for a common cause - combating the COVID19 virus. Now, many countries are easing their earlier strict lockdowns and gradually opening various sectors. As things move forward, we seem to be losing our gracefulness and we now get news of murders, protests across many countries, riots, robberies, accidents on the roads, drunk driving, drug trafficking, violation of rules and laws, etc. The world is once again permitting the undesirable to resurface.

Parish Family Day
Photo: 17/11/2019

Some people thought that the COVID-19 pandemic would give a new understanding and provide lifelong lessons for humanity – to be united with one spirit, to be at peace with one another and to be merciful to those in need. We realise that we are gradually losing this spirit of oneness and unity in prayer while praying for the global crisis and an end the pandemic. People seem to be ego-centric or self-centred instead, without any regret, consideration or sympathy for others. How are we going to heal the world, to save humanity and to overcome these difficult times? The global economy is deteriorating. The political situation is unstable. The list of social problems is rising day by day. Natural disasters are happening everywhere and our common home is once again contaminated and polluted.

The whole world seems to be facing a dilemma once again, as the movement control restrictions are slowly lifted and we are allowed, in stages, to get back to our jobs, business centres, places of worship, schools, etc. It appears that the ‘new normal’ everyone was talking about at the height of the pandemic, may not happen after all. The restrictions we adhered to during the lockdown in response to the Coronavirus, may likely be less practiced by many. During the lockdown, we were looking deeper into our faith and disciplining ourselves spiritually. We were at home, spending time with our families and there was a sense of closeness with our loved ones. It was hard but we learnt something from this, especially the spiritual aspects. We went through the lockdown patiently and joyfully. In the silence we heard God’s inner voice speaking to us. What we experienced during the first quarter of this year, I don’t think we may ever experience the same again. There is a great possibility that whatever good we may have learnt during this time of trial may fade away and we will revert to the same old realities of life.

The most significant seasons in the Church’s Liturgical calendar – Lent and Easter, have ended, and now we are in Ordinary Time, and this will go on till the end of November. No matter how the world treats us, we will continue to engage with God and with one another. We will continue to listen to His inner voice in the midst of all the noise, calamity and chaos. We will continue the spirit of praying together for healing and reconciliation in our relationships and in our families, communities and the world.

Let us always remember the Golden Rule – a principle of treating others as how we want others to treat us, which can be found from the Book of Tobit: “Do to no one what you would not want done to you… Give your bread to those who are hungry, your clothes to those who are naked… devote a proportion to almsgiving, and when you give alms, do it ungrudgingly. Ask the advice of every wise person. Bless the Lord in everything; beg Him to guide your ways and bring your paths and purposes to their end,” (Tobit 4: 15-19).

BEC of St Thomas More - BEC 2
Fellowship @ Sunway Putra
Photo: December 2019

TRIUNE GOD - THE UNDIVIDED UNITY

Today the Church celebrates the Most Holy Trinity. We firmly and truly believe in the Nature of God – the central truth and mystery of Christian faith that God is Three and God is One – the undivided Unity.

Jesus who is Our Way, has opened the path to the Father and He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Spirit makes us to call God – Abba Father! And from the Father and the Son proceeds the Holy Spirit.

As we are at home celebrating the Sunday Liturgy, we must remember that we are baptised with the Trinitarian formula – in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. We are saved by God through Jesus Christ Our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Let us bless the Father and the Son with the holy Spirit and to Him alone be all honour and glory and praise for ever. Then, each time when we begin our prayers we pray to the Father in Heaven, through Jesus Christ His Son in the Spirit of God. This shows us that Jesus Christ is always present among us.

St Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906) referred to the Triune  God as “the Trinity” or “my Trinity”. Her whole spirituality was about making her heart a Home for the Trinity. She also reminds us today that the Trinity God dwells in the depths of our hearts and souls and He will not leave us alone and that no one can take Him away from our lives.

The Trinity, tempera and gold on parchment by Taddeo Crivelli, 
from a manuscript from 1460–70; in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles