GOD’S GIFT OF HIS ONLY SON

On 28 November, we began the season of Advent, and over the last four weeks, the readings have been inviting us to prepare for the coming of the glory of the Lord – so that His glory will shine on us just as the sun does. At Mass, the choir has been singing joyfully in anticipation of the coming of Christmas, and now it has finally arrived! 

 

Christmas is a season of giving and sharing. It is a time to share with those who are near and dear to us. Spending quality time with family and close friends, rejoicing in the celebration of the birth of Christ. Christmas is also a time to remember those who have gone before us and those who are less fortunate than we are.

 

Last Christmas we were unable to participate in the Eucharistic celebration, as all Public Masses were suspended due to the spike in numbers of Covid-19 cases, especially in the Klang Valley. However, this year we are fortunate to have Public Masses in our Parishes and we are allowed to be physically present at Mass. It is still challenging for many of the faithful to attend Mass in person, as we continue to face the pandemic with the newly surfaced Omicron variant in our midst, and also due to the devastation caused by the recent floods in the Klang Valley and other states. Despite this, let us all make some time to join together in prayer and to celebrate the joy, love and happiness of the birth of Child Jesus, the Son of God. 

 

As we enter the joyful Season of Christmas, we pray that we will be more enthusiastic in making this season spirit-filled, by bringing the good news of God’s gift of His only Son to the World, who “has come from on high to visit us, to give light to those who live in darkness and the shadow dark as death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79).

 

Immediately after Christmas Day, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. On this last Sunday of the year, the Church dedicates a special day for all families - to look at how we have journeyed and moved forward as a family. The Holy Family - Mary, Joseph and Jesus reminds us of the importance of family obligations, relationships and virtues as the basic unit of Christian life and living. 

 

We need to show love, care and compassion for our parents and our children as we grow older. Every household has his/her obligation to carry out their duties and responsibilities in living their faith. To enjoy God’s favour and blessing, we need to place Jesus as the head of our family so that we become more loving, forgiving and understanding in our relationships, striving to keep unity and harmony in our home. Pray that we continue to care for one another, even in difficult times and pray that we always have empathy and compassion in our families.

 

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas filled with love, joy and happiness, and may all the blessings of this holy season be with you and your family, as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour.

SHARE THE TRUE LOVE OF CHRIST

We are entering into the 4th Sunday of Advent - the last week before Christmas - “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1: 14). The Word refers to Our Lord Jesus, the Emmanuel, who will come and dwell in us once again. We end every year with happy moments and with wonderful memories of Christmas and New Year. It is a time of celebration with family and loved ones, gathering together to celebrate the birth of Infant Jesus.

In the past two years, COVID-19 has affected many people’s lives, causing economic instability and joblessness and pushing many into poverty. Many have had to find alternate ways to make ends meet and to slowly recover from the pandemic. As we celebrate Christmas this year, we do our very best to reach out to the poor, the marginalised, the migrants and refugees, by bringing them the love and joy of Christmas. Of course, we are not expected to do great things - but every little thing done with great care and love will go a long way to brighten their lives. By sharing, caring and assisting others, we in turn can make our Christmas more significant and meaningful.

In the gospel of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), we see the rich man, who lived a life of extreme luxury during his lifetime being completely indifferent towards the poor man, Lazarus who hoped “to eat what fell from the rich man’s table” (v. 21). The rich man did not express his love, sympathy or compassion to Lazarus. So, when we place all the cookies and food on our dining tables this Christmas, keep in mind the poorest and marginalised among us.

As poverty accelerates during this COVID-19 pandemic, it causes uncertainty, fear and suffering in our community. This Christmas, let us share the true peace of Christ with those less fortunate than we are. Jesus Himself became one of the poorest, and came to dwell among us so that we may be able to share His true love, compassion and peace, and to live in harmony with those who need us.

The Holy Father Pope Francis, in his encyclical “Fratelli Tutti” which was released on 3 October 2020, focused on “fraternity and social friendship.” He invites us “to put aside all our differences and, in the face of suffering, to draw near to others.” Pope Francis urges us not to abandon the weak, but to “be Good Samaritans who bear the pain of other people’s troubles rather than fomenting greater hatred and resentments,” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 77). We are reminded once again to cultivate the virtues of love, compassion, kindness and tenderness to people who live among us and around us. We welcome them as we “open humanitarian corridors” for the poorest, the weakest and the marginalised.

It is a time to share the Word of life, the good news of the salvation in Jesus Christ with all those we meet, through our words and examples. Let’s bring the meaning of Christmas to the world, and be filled with many happy moments in our hearts, as we extend the love and peace of Christ over all who need our care and love.

GUIDES ON THE PATH OF HOLINESS

The Holy Father Pope Francis, concluded the Jubilee Year dedicated to Saint Joseph with a general audience at Vatican City on 8 December 2021. He encouraged all the dioceses throughout the world to continuously pray to the foster father of Jesus - Joseph, protector of the Holy Family and Patron of the Catholic Church. He emphasised that St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary are our “guides on the path of holiness.”

Our Parish held a 9-days celebration with Evening Prayers (Vespers), Novena and Litany to St Joseph, followed by Mass. The response was good, as Parishioners and those from other nearby parishes were physically present in Church, whilst others followed the celebration via live streaming on Youtube. The celebration concluded with a Eucharistic Mass, presided by Archbishop Julian Leow, who officially closed the Year of St Joseph and the Year of Plenary Indulgency (8 December 2020 – 8 December 2021).

In November 2021, when the closing of the year of St Joseph was drawing near, invitations were extended to the faithful including priests, to make a pilgrimage to walk with St Joseph, in our Parish. Several priests and their respective parishioners made their spiritual tour and concluded their pilgrimage with the celebration Mass. There were also individual groups from various other parishes who completed their pilgrimage successfully, meaningfully and prayerfully.

The Jubilee Year dedicated to St Joseph has brought a lot of insight about the life of St Joseph and his role as a great intercessor, protector, guardian and spiritual father of our faith journey. This one graceful year has drawn most of us closer to St Joseph, who is the Patron of the Catholic Church. Our Parish carried out several programs, formations and celebrations to make known the virtues of St Joseph, who isn’t profoundly explained in Scripture. 

The Apostolic letter of the Holy Father – With the Father’s Heart – Patris Corde – has given great inspiration and hope for all of us to commit ourselves in exercising the virtues of St Joseph. Several people have committed to consecrate themselves to St Joseph and have come to realise that they need him as a spiritual father in their faith journey. In fact, many people have personally shared with me how St Joseph has inspired and touched their spiritual life, especially during this Year of St Joseph. Personally, I have gained new understanding and knowledge about St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I have done my best these past few years in this Parish, and I am sure that St Joseph will continue to be my spiritual father as I move to my new posting at the Church of St Thomas, the Apostle in Kuantan, Pahang.

On behalf of Monsignor James Gnanapiragasam and our parish community, I would like to express a word of thanks to Archbishop Julian for declaring our Parish as a pilgrim church in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, and for celebrating the closing Mass. My sincerest gratitude to all who have tirelessly assisted and worked hand-in-hand in making the Year of St Joseph a successful and meaningful one.

 

St Joseph, Patron of the Catholic Church, pray for the Synodal Church 2023 - journeying together in Communion, Participation and Mission.

SAINT JOSEPH, A FATHER OF INTERCESSOR FOR FAMILIES

Since the past 7½ of years, I have been especially devoted to St Joseph. I have done my best to introduce St Joseph to all my parishioners and to others - through preaching, writings, social media, etc. Since the Holy Father, Pope Francis announced the Year of St Joseph and the Year of the Plenary Indulgence on 8 December 2020, I constantly sought the intercession of St Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, praying for an end to this COVID-19 pandemic, for our protection from this deadly virus, and for the increase of spiritual life in facing trials and crisis during these troubled times. Every day I have been sharing religious images with special intentions with my Parishioners and friends. They in turn, circulate these intercessions to their friends, inviting them to pray together as a Church.

This year of St Joseph, Patron Saint of the Catholic Church, has gone by quietly, without much promotion and evangelisation - true to the nature of St Joseph himself. He was always silent and worked mysteriously in the Salvation plan of God.

Therefore, in his honour several events and activities were planned for throughout the year as a way of promoting and evangelising St Joseph to everyone. During the first few months of this year, we conducted e-pilgrimages and online formations, which introduced St Joseph as our Spiritual Father. We also managed to celebrate in-person Novena and Mass to St Joseph, the Worker in Church, towards the end of April and beginning of May.

Through these celebrations and formations, many have shown their affection towards St Joseph and have drawn closer to him. People have begun to recognise him as a great intercessor, and whenever my friends or Parishioners request for prayers, I write and place them at the statue of St Joseph. I strongly believe he will pray those intercessions. I have also noticed that many people have included prayers and the litany to St Joseph into their daily lives, and some have made him their Spiritual Father. In fact, I too have done the same in my faith journey - seeking his intercession to assist me in my priestly ministry.

For the past few days, we have had several distinguish priests come to our Parish to celebrate the Novena and Mass for the closing of the Year of St Joseph. Today, I have the privilege of celebrating Mass with the theme - St Joseph, A Father Of Intercessor For Families. St Joseph was the foster father and guardian of Jesus. He never once faltered or relinquished his responsibilities towards Him.

Looking at our own parents, we realise that they are never tired of looking after us and nurturing us throughout our lives. They also never fail to pray for us. All parents would like to see their children grow faithfully and successfully. It is in this same manner that St Joseph, the head of the Holy Family, together with his chaste spouse, Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us unceasingly to their beloved Son, Jesus Christ - for all our needs and intercessions.

Since I was assigned to the Church of St Joseph, Sentul in 2014, my devotion to St Joseph and my faith life has become stronger day by day. I seek St Joseph’s intercession, and he guides my direction in carrying out the mission of Christ and to do God’s will. I personally have experienced how my ministry has become more promising, fruitful and fulfilling over the years - especially in this Parish. The Year of St Joseph will conclude on 8 December 2021, but that doesn’t mean that St Joseph will cease to pray for us and for our families. Our Parents will never abandon us, and certainly St Joseph and Mother Mary will always be our greatest intercessors.

In the Apostolic Letter, “With the Father’s Heart” the Holy Father Pope Francis, highlighted seven essential qualities and virtues of St Joseph. 

-        A Beloved Father,

-        A Tender and Loving Father,

-        An Obedient Father,

-        An Accepting Father,

-        A Creatively Courageous Father,

-        A Working Father, and

-        A Father In The Shadows. 

My dear Parishioners of St Joseph, it will be good for you to reflect and adopt these virtues in your spiritual life, as you grow in your faith. St Joseph is a great gift to me, as he is guiding my priestly life. 

I pray that all of us consistently and persistently seek St Joseph’s intercession, guidance and protection, as we keep his virtues closer to our hearts. During this Advent, we pray that St Joseph’s intercession will prepare us and our families with the true spirit of poverty - free from materialism and things of the world - for the Lord’s coming this Christmas.

CLOSING OF THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH

The amazing season of Advent is in our midst! It is a season for preparation for the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus. This year we begin Advent on 27 November, with Sunset Mass, and end it on 24 December 2021. Everyone eagerly looks forward to singing the various seasonal hymns such as “O Come, O Come Emanuel”, “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Come O Divine Messiah” to welcome the arrival of Christmas. As we begin the season of Advent, our Parish has initiated a wonderful celebration for the closing of the Year of St Joseph.

The Holy Father Pope Francis announced the Year of St Joseph and the Year of Plenary Indulgence (8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021) in honour of the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph as Patron Saint of the Catholic Church with the theme - “With the Father’s Heart” (Patris Corde). Since 1908, our Parish has been dedicated to St Joseph, and we made a request to Archbishop Julian Leow to officially declare it as a pilgrim centre for the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. He was pleased with our request and made the announcement on 21 December 2020.

 

We tried our best to promote and celebrate the Year of St Joseph despite the Movement Control Orders (MCO) that were declared by the government. We hosted various events, activities and formations online as well as an e-pilgrimage celebration. For the past 10 months, the Year of St Joseph went silently by, oblivious to many of the faithful, due to the pandemic. However, once the authorities lifted the inter-state travel ban and sectors started to open up, many pilgrims throughout the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur came to pay homage to St Joseph, at our Church.

 

As both the Year of Plenary Indulgence and the Year of St Joseph are coming to a close, we have extended invitations to both Priests and the faithful throughout the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur to make a pilgrimage to our Parish. Many have turned up from other parishes in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Seremban and Kuantan to pray and participate in the Eucharistic celebration. Many groups and individuals have planned their trip to our historical Parish, and I encourage those who have yet to do so, to make their pilgrimage soonest possible.

 

During this First Week of Advent, from 30 November 2021 until 8 December 2021, our Parish will celebrate a 9-Days Novena to St Joseph - including Mass - as a closing of the Year of St Joseph. We have extended invitations to several Priests to preside at the daily Eucharistic celebration for our devotees. However, due to the current situation, and requirements with regards to social distancing, we must limit the number of in-person participants to 300 people only. Those unable to register via google forms for in-persons celebration, could always follow the live stream via YouTube. Links for the live streaming of the Novenas and masses during these 9 days can be found on our Parish and KL Archdiocese websites – www.stjosephsentul.org or www.archkl.org. The links will be updated periodically, so kindly check these websites for updates.

 

We have quite an interesting spiritual programme planned for the next 9 days - Evening Prayers (Vespers), Novenas and the Litany to St Joseph as well as Recitation of the Rosary and Mass. We invite everyone to tune yourselves into a more prayerful and solemn manner, as we come to the end of the Year of St Joseph.

SERVING WITH KINDNESS AND DEDICATION

On Friday night, 19 November 2021, a text message was posted by Archbishop Julian Leow in our Clergy chat group. It was the sad and shocking news about the sudden demise of Rev. Fr John Gnanapiragasam at 8:20pm, at his residence in Seremban. I read this short text message over and over again, as I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

A day before his passing, I texted Fr John regarding the Novena and Mass in conjunction with the closing of the Year of St Joseph, at our Parish, and invited him to celebrate mass with us. He replied the next morning saying, “… Will surely be happy to be there [Parish of St Joseph] to celebrate with you…” I was so glad that he accepted my invitation for the celebration of the Anointing of the Sick, Novena and Masses on days 5 and 6 (2nd Sunday of Advent). These past four years he has not failed to celebrate our Parish Novena and Feast days.

I came to know Fr John when I was in the first year of my seminary in Penang in 1995. He wasn’t my lecturer, but he conducted a weekly seminar on “Fully Human, Fully Alive” by John Powell, SJ. His seminar and workshop helped me to discover myself and gave me new perspective and understanding. I shared with Fr John G, the uncertainties and anxieties I was going through during my first year in the seminary. He advised me to work seriously on these four areas - self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-knowledge and self-discipline. These four key areas caught my attention and I gradually developed them over the years. I really gained tremendous insight from his formation, and till today I continue to reflect on them.

Fr John G was a man of prayer, and he had very good methodology in his presentations. The NEWBEC (the New Way of Being Church) and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) reflection papers were the brainchild of Fr John. As the first Director of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute (API), he spent a lot of time giving proper insight and guidance for BECs in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

After I had completed my assignment as the Parish Priest in Church of the Visitation (May 2010), Fr John G had become my successor. He continued some of my unfinished works, and he carried out the vision of the Parish. He was also a mentor for the ALPHA program and on several occasions, I sought his assistance to conduct this programme at St Joseph’s Church as well as at the Church of the Visitation.

After his retirement in 2020, Fr John would occasionally visit the Church of St Joseph here in Sentul. He had a special affinity to this Parish as it was his first posting after he was ordained as a priest in 1972. He was assigned as the assistant to the late Fr Anthony Thomas.

We thank God for his priestly service in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. He has touched the hearts of countless people with his kindness and dedication throughout his priestly ministry. We will miss him dearly. Our heartfelt condolences to Monsignor James Gnanapiragasam and his family on the passing of Fr John Gnanapiragasam.

SERVICE TO THE POOR AND MARGINALSED

The Fifth World Day of the Poor (WDOP) was celebrated by the Universal Church on 14 November 2021, with the theme chosen by our Holy Father Pope Francis, “The Poor You Will Always Have with You,” (MK 14:7). Over the years, individuals and groups have come forward to spend their time and effort in contributing towards the poor who are affected physically, economically and financially. The Parish of St Joseph in Sentul has always paid extra attention and care towards the poor and vulnerable in our community. Parishioners have always placed great importance in their service to the poor and marginalised.

During the weekend of WDOP, our Parish organised two events – a vaccination program and a food distribution program. On Saturday, 13 November 2021, we organised the COVID-19 Immunisation Vaccination (CIV) program for both documented and undocumented refugees and migrants living within our vicinity. These refugees and migrants were mostly workers from farms, factories and restaurants in the area. A total of 300 people turned up for their vaccination. They have been given appointments for their second dose, scheduled to be on 4 December 2021.

 

Prior to this, we organised two other CIV projects for refugees and migrants on 16 October and 30 October 2021 respectively. These CIV programs, in collaboration with the Malaysian Red Crescent and Tenagita, went on smoothly without any hitches. Plans are in the pipeline to coordinate a CIV program especially for refugee and migrant children, aged 12-18 years in December 2021. As the roll out of the COVID-19 Immunisation Vaccination (CIV) takes place throughout our country, we need to ensure that even those who are undocumented receive their vaccines. Vaccinations are important as they may reduce the possibility of serious illness and effects of the C19 virus.

 

Our Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) distributed 330 food packs to all who turned up for their vaccination, including volunteers. The following day, on 14 November 2021, food packs were distributed to over 400 adoptee families and individuals. As some families were unable to collect their food packs personally, the PIHDM made necessary arrangements to personally deliver these to their homes. All this was part of our Parish’s annual World Day of the Poor program. 

 

In the first three years of WDP (2017-2019) our Parish celebrated this event on a grand scale together with our Parish Family Day, but in these past two years, we’ve been forced to curtail our celebrations due to the pandemic. The annual School Uniform project however, is scheduled to take place just before Christmas, in time for the 2022 school term. We hope that it will be as successful as in previous years.

 

People living in poverty are often neglected or overlooked. Most of the time they are invisible to our sight, even though they are always in our midst. We should not forget or ignore them. Instead, we should acknowledge their visible presence as they are part of our lives. Let us not hesitate to reach out to them as a people of God.

SERVING CHRIST THROUGH THE POOR

The Catholic Church celebrates the 5^th World Day of the Poor on 14 November 2021, with the theme – “The poor you will always have with you” (Mark 14:7). These words were uttered when Jesus visited the house of Bethany, and a woman there came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment. She poured the precious ointment on Jesus’ head. Pope Francis interpreted it in two different ways. First, he said that few people would spend on the ointment when instead it could be spent for the poor, but the woman has done a wonderful act for Jesus. Second, it reminds us that Jesus is “the first poor, poorest of the poor, because He represents all of them.” We remember this nameless woman’s act of empathy and understanding of Jesus’ mission.

The poor have so much to teach us. First and foremost, they are “always and everywhere”, and they give us an opportunity to evangelise them. The Holy Father reminds us that we should make every opportunity to express our kindness to the poor wherever they may be. The Holy Father invites us to open our hearts “recognising the many different forms of poverty,” “constantly care for the poor” and “desire for more relations in the community.”

There is widespread poverty, injustice, isolation, loneliness, homelessness, trafficking, violence and abuse happening around us, but the Gospel calls us to conversion and to live the message of Christ, by serving Him through the poor with love, respect, dignity and justice.

The Holy Father says that the poor are a Sacrament of Christ, represents Christ and points to Him. We need to discover the true face of Christ in the poor. The poor are neither strangers nor outside of our communities. We must make them part of our lives and take every opportunity to lift them up from all their sufferings and difficulties, in order “to restore their lost dignity” and to include them in our communities. Our sharing and caring “generates fraternity” and “strengthens solidarity” among the poor.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, millions of people have been impacted. Poverty has increased, and countries are facing difficulties in combating the virus. Many people have come forward to spend time and effort to contribute towards helping the poor, especially those who have been physically, economically and financially affected.

Everyone needs to find a new way of being evangelisers during this global crisis in order to “respond to the new form of poverty experienced by humanity today.” We should not hesitate in reaching out to them in their homes, hospitals, nursing homes or on the streets. The “poor are always present in our midst - let’s recognise them and make them part of our lives and an instrument of our salvation.”

(AN EXTRACT FROM THE FIFTH WORLD DAY OF THE POOR 2021)

PARTICIPATION DIRECTED TO MISSION

The Universal Church inaugurated Synodal 2023 - journey together - at every diocese level throughout the world with the theme: “For a Synodal Church - in Communion, Participation and Mission.” We are now in the first Diocesan / National Phase (October 2021 - April 2022) and this will be followed by the Continental Phase (September 2022 - March 2023) and the Universal Phase - Synod of Bishops in the Vatican City (October 2023).

Our Parish Synod Team (PST) consists of 9 members. They attended a briefing session with the Archdiocese Synod Team a week ago, and this week they presented the synodal process to our BEC leaders and other parish ministries. Our Parish of St Joseph is already onboard, and getting into momentum of the Synodal Church 2023 orientation. We are now in the phase of briefing the respective groups and will soon start distributing questionnaires in November 2021. Certainly, we will familiarise ourselves with certain terminology of the Synodal process and the 10 fundamental questions for our reflections and discussions. We invite every individual - BECs members, ministries and all parishioners - to participate fully in this discussion.

 

At this initial phase we would like everyone to listen and discern their Synodal journey till early December 2021. There are a few steps that parishioners should take into consideration before putting their thoughts, insights and reflections onto paper. First and foremost, we invoke the Holy Spirit to come upon us so that we may tune ourselves to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Hence, we need to vigorously pray as we “walk together” during this period of listening and discerning, mainly on these 10 important fundamental questions of Synodality. Our PST hopes that all parishioners will take part, and answer the questionnaires according to the given guidelines.

 

As we “walk together” at this first phase at our Parish level, we are invited to pray, listen, analyse, dialogue, discuss, discern, articulate and respond to the fundamental questions which are profoundly interrelated with the theme - “communion, participation and mission”.

 

Here are the 10 fundamental questions for us to recall our experiences (Communion), re-read the experiences (Participation) and gather the fruits to share (Mission). 

 

·      Companions on the Journey

·      Listening

·      Speaking Out

·      Celebration

·      Sharing Responsibly for Common Mission

·      Authority and Participation

·      Discerning and Deciding 

·      Forming Ourselves in Synodality

·      Dialoguing in Church and Society

·      Ecumenism

 

The PST is also ready to brief and facilitate workshops from time to time to various groups or ministries pertaining to the synodal process. We want everyone to feel at home,  responsibly participate and engage themselves in dialogues, discussions and interactions within the community. After much listening and discerning, all the collated answers and findings will be compiled and submitted to the Archdiocese Synod Team.

 

As we responsibly undertake this task, let us be reminded that by listening and discerning as a community, we are building up our faith in the “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.” The Holy Father stressed that the synodal process be “a process of becoming, a process that involves the local Churches, in different phases and from the bottom up, in an exciting and engaging effort that can forge a style of communion and participation directed to mission.”

JOURNEYING AS A PEOPLE OF GOD

After the Feast of St Joseph, the Worker in May 2021, we closed our Church to Public Masses for almost 5 months. However, the last Chancery Notice from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur dated 25 October 2021 was received with overwhelming joy, as it allows for an increase in capacity for the Eucharistic celebrations and for the resumption of other Sacraments in our Churches!

We are finally able to welcome all our parishioners once again for the Eucharistic celebration, as a People of God. We want our parishioners to return to Church and participate in the celebration of the Sacraments, especially encountering the real and true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It is part of our community of faith. 

 

We are in the midst of preparing for the Synodal Church 2021-2023 and some of our leaders have already attended briefing sessions with regards to this. Soon we will be disseminating a questionnaire in line with the Synodal Church, to every member of our Parish. When you receive the questionnaire, first and foremost we want you to go through it, to allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit, before responding.

 

Each member of our Parish is invited to give a reflection on how they have been using and sharing their gifts, while journeying together as a Church. Let’s look at the many opportunities and efforts which we have undertaken to strengthen our faith in order to build “One Body of Christ” while being in “Communion, Participation and Mission” and growing with a sense of belonging in the Church. We need your response, cooperation and support to work on the preparation for the Synodal Church 2021-2023 - journeying as People of God.

 

We have dedicated the Month of the Rosary to our dear Blessed Virgin Mary by praying the Rosary as individuals and families for various intentions. We urge you to continue your devotion in praying the Rosary during this Year of Plenary Indulgence, as we do penances for our own spiritual growth, for other greater intentions and not forgetting to pray for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also include our Pope’s intention for the month of November for the “people who suffer from various depression or burn-out, to find support and a light that opens them up to life and peace.” Praying the Rosary authentically will help us to imitate the footsteps of Mary and our roles in the service of families, communities and the Church.

We are stepping into the month of November, a month of remembering and dedicating our prayers to all the known and unknown Saints of the Church. We also pray for all the faithful departed souls of our loved ones and for the forgotten souls in purgatory at home or in the Church. (Do avoid large gatherings at the cemeteries due to the COVID-19 pandemic). 

 

Two weeks ago, we circulated a link to our parishioners for submission of names of their dearly departed. We received more than 6500 emails and we have collected more than 55,000 names. We have compiled these names into a booklet and will place this booklet at the altar, for offertory during all Masses throughout the month of November.

 

We are encouraged to pray always for the dead - not only during the wake or memorial service, but to remember them always in our prayers. Pope Francis says, “Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.” The Church always offers them collectively, during every Eucharistic celebration throughout the world. The Holy Souls need our prayers, and in return, they will pray for us once their souls are purified from all sin and have attained eternal life in Communion with all saints in Heaven, (cf. CCC 1032).

 

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

ENGAGING OURSELVES WITH EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE

This year, the Church celebrates World Mission Sunday on 24 October 2021 and the theme

chosen by the Holy Father is:

 “We cannot but speak what we have seen and heard,” (Act 4:20). Pope Francis reminds us that we cannot remain silent by keeping Jesus’ love, compassion, mercy and His teachings to ourselves, but instead, we must go forth and proclaim His message of hope to everyone, everywhere. We must speak what we have seen and heard in order to be His witnesses, as how the apostles were the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ entire ministry and His resurrection. The Holy Father invites individuals and communities to engage in the Church’s mission, which is to “Go, therefore to the highways and byways, and invite everyone you find,” (MT 22: 9) by sharing our experiences and encounters of God’s love to one and all.

The Apostles had experienced the first encounters of Jesus’ ministry and His resurrection. Their experiences and encounters prompted them to enter into dialogue with everyone, in every part of the world. When we read the Acts of the Apostles and of the lives of the first Christians, we are awakened to their endurance, hardships and the many conflicts which they had encountered in proclaiming the message of the Gospel to various communities. However, their witness and testimonies initiated and inspired the faith of those communities.

The Holy Father stresses that there is “an urgent need for the mission of compassion” for what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20) during this pandemic. Pope Francis wants us to be “missionaries of hope.” He expects us to share Christ, who is truly alive in us, in order to bring “transformation to our world and in the care of creation.”

In the present age, we face a lot of difficulties, obstacles, injustices, poverty, brokenness and divisions which cause “discouragement, disillusionment and fatigue” in carrying the mission of Christ. However, we have “to rise up and seek with creativity, every possible way to show compassion” and “Sacramental closeness of God to us” so that others may experience God’s touch too. As Christians, we cannot keep Jesus to ourselves, but we need to commit to being apostles of the Gospel of hope, and to become “messengers and agents of compassion,” in supporting the Pope’s missions.

Mission Sunday 2021 reminds us that everyone must be in “Communion, Participation and Mission” as we “journey together” for a Synodal Church. Let’s be in the spirit of mission always, keeping our faith and our Church alive, by engaging ourselves with everyone, everywhere. As we join the Holy Father’s mission, we pray that we will be “generous and joyful apostles of the Gospel of hope” and be “true missionary disciples” to our communities and to our nation.

(AN EXTRACT FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER FOR WORLD MISSION SUNDAY 2021)

A JOURNEY TOGTHER: ENCOUNTERING, LISTENING AND DISCERNING

On 10 October 2021, the Holy Father solemnly officiated the Synod of Bishop 2021-2023, with a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of St Peter, Vatican City. In his homily, he stressed on 3 key verbs – Encounter, Listen and Discern.

As we begin the “celebration of Synod” – which means – “walking on the same road together” with the theme, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission” The Holy Father desires the people of God, to “have a good journey together” and to journey as “pilgrims in love with the Gospel and open to the surprises of the Spirit,” over the next 2 years. I would like to share a little insight on these 3 key verbs, before we get involved in the discussion on a Synodal Church in our Parish.

 

Encounter: Encountering God is an essential element of each Christian. Self-revelation of God is made known to us in various ways, particularly through the reading of the Sacred Scripture and Sacred Traditions, celebrating Jesus in the Sacraments and in all our daily activity. How have we been praying and reflecting God’s presence in the Word, Sacraments and Events. How has this encounter with God and with others changed our spiritual and personal life? 

 

Listen: Studies have found that an average person can speak 125 words per minute and that most people have poor listening skills. An effective listener needs deep concentration in hearing and listening. We go through many hardships and trials in this life journey that leave us wondering - Does God listen to our cries and the cries of others. We realise His response is delayed. 

 

We should not harden our hearts (cf. 95: 8) but instead, we need to allow ourselves to open our hearts and listen to His voice. In this process of being in communion with the Church, participating in the various ministries and taking part in the mission of Church, we need to soften our hearts and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and to the cries of the people. Let’s listen to the challenges and changes that take place in our spiritual life and in the life of the Church. How can we be the hope of our Church in the future?

 

Discern: King Solomon asked God, “… give your servant a heart to understand how to govern your people, how to discern between good and evil…? (1 Kings 3: 9). Discernment is a special gift that comes from God. Before I joined the seminary, and during my eight years of study in the seminary, I was sent a few spiritual discernments in order to decide to be a priest. Even after being a priest, I continued my discernment so that I may be able to totally dedicate my ministry in serving God and His people.

God has given us various gifts and charisms in our ministries in the Church. Do we discern them? Do we utilise them for the mission of the Church and going forth, become missionary Disciples?

 

In this first level, the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur invites us to discuss, consult and answer the questions which have been given to us in order to draft a document for our Malaysian, Singapore and Brunei Bishops’ Conference. These three aspects - encountering, listening and discerning - will take place until April 2022.

 

Let’s together enter in prayer and engage ourselves in dialogue with God and with one another. The Holy Spirit invites us to take every step courageously, in order to grow in our journey together.