TOWARDS TRUE CONVERSION

We will be entering into the season of Lent on Ash Wednesday, 2 March 2022 and it will end before the start of Holy Week on Sunday, 10 April 2022. Lent is a time of grace, a time of reconciliation and a time of growth as St Paul says, “well, now is the favourable time” and “a time of salvation,” (2 Cor 6:2). According to the Holy Father Pope Francis, Lent “is a time of recovery, renewal and conversion, a time to receive the love of God and rediscover the direction of life.” Therefore, the season invites us to observe well through almsgiving, prayer and fasting, and to look into the areas of our lives which may require extra self-discipline in order to enhance our spiritual life. 

What should I give up this Lenten season? Some of us may take this opportunity to go on a vegetarian diet during Lent, while some may want to abstain from movies, video games, surfing the internet, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or other things which may otherwise consume much of their time. Others may choose to skip a meal or two a day, in order to keep this season holy. 

 

Whatever it may be, we should remember to find a way to exhibit our faith and our discipleship by practising these Lenten Observances – almsgiving, prayer and fasting. They are not meant to be undertaken simply to fulfil the so-called rules of Lent but instead, we need to pray from the heart; fast from the things that interfere in strengthening our relationship with God and our neighbour; and give alms with compassion to those in need. By doing these, we will make our Lenten journey a fruitful period of renewal.

 

Lent is a time to sacrifice the things that we enjoy and utilise our time wisely and fruitfully until Easter and thereafter. No matter how rough the road is, no matter the distractions, mistakes and sins we encounter throughout the journey - firmly gaze at Jesus and be determined in all things. Lent is a time for repentance, which means giving up sin in order to prepare to experience the Resurrection of Jesus. As we journey towards Easter, we set aside all our time by exercising self-discipline, self-examination, repentance and transformation. Certainly, with these preparations, our path will gradually become surer and clearer.

 

Lent is also a time to refocus our efforts and renew our commitment even though we may fail – “for though the upright falls seven times, he gets up again...” (Proverbs 24:16). We may fall many times but each time we rise and say to Jesus, “Yes, now I begin again.” Even failing in our commitments can help us grow in humility and provide insightful knowledge of our own spiritual existence. The practice of spiritual discipline helps us integrate our lives holistically.

 

This Lent, let us do our best to slowly root out sin and make a sincere effort to nourish our spiritual life so that Jesus is able to nurture and strengthen us. I am sure that when we engage in spiritual discipline, we will see our lives transformed.

 

Wishing you and your family a holy and blessed grace-filled Lenten journey towards a true conversion of mind and heart!

CONTINUE TO FIX OUR GAZE ON GOD

It’s been over a month now since I moved to Kuantan, and it certainly has been a hectic time for me. Just like the weather - which has been rainy (with continuous downpour for days), sunny, windy and humid - my days here have been filled with various tasks and activities which have kept me busy.

Our Parish leaders have been gearing up, planning several formations, events and activities for the first quarter of 2022. However, we have to put those plans on hold due to the spike in Covid-19 cases. In the meantime, the Parish Integral Human Development (PIHDM) of St Thomas, the Apostle, had received 200 mattresses and 200 pillows which the PIHDM members distributed to some of the flood victims in Gambang, Pekan, Muadzam Shah and Tasik Chini. These areas were badly affected by the floods which devastated the state last December.

 

Despite a majority of Malaysians are fully vaccinated, we are currently experiencing some of the highest number of daily cases reported since the start of this pandemic. A couple of weeks ago, the numbers were cited at a little over 2000 cases a day, but now we’re looking at over 27,000 daily cases, which is alarming! The daily newspapers have indicated a 160% rise in the number of infections in the last 2 weeks, especially among children below 12 years old. We can’t help but ask ourselves - how long will we have to face these challenges? Will we have a more committed, accountable and transparent government? Where is our life heading towards now?

 

In this past two years, Covid-19 has affected many lives, caused economic instability and joblessness and pushed many into poverty. People are trying their best to find alternate ways to make ends meet and slowly recover from this pandemic. Many experts and medical personnel have warned that the infection rate may rise, even double or triple the present total numbers of cases. The prolonged pandemic has affected us emotionally, physically, mentally, psychologically and spiritually.

Everyone is worried. Life is scary. We are hoping and praying that the Covid-19 vaccine will protect us from getting sick, but nevertheless, we must face this reality and move on with our lives with the virus living among us. Every one of us must be responsible and pay heed to the SOPs to safeguard ourselves, our family and our community.

 

Our God stands as a sign of hope and He will save us from all these difficulties, sufferings and turmoil. We may attain an answer in due time, but until then, let us continue to fix our eyes on God and be connected with one another. “Our endurance brings acceptance, acceptance brings hope and hope doesn’t disappoint us, for God has poured His love and mercy into our hearts,” (cf. Rom 5: 3-5).

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, GUIDANCE AND NOURISHMENT

The 30th World Day of the Sick (WDS) was celebrated on 11 February 2022 with the theme - “Be Merciful, even as your Father is merciful,” (Lk 6:36) as chosen by the Holy Father. The WDS always falls in conjunction with The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and this year marks the 160th anniversary of the recognition of the Lourdes apparitions. The WDS was first inaugurated by Saint John Paul II in 1992, who encouraged people to offer prayers, care and concern for all those suffering from various illnesses, as well as their caregivers.  

Pope Francis invites healthcare workers and front liners as signs of merciful hands of the Father to “touch the suffering flesh of Christ” by giving their precious time and service to those who suffer. They need to carry out their duties with love and mercy, and extend their services beyond healthcare responsibilities. “Even when healing is not possible” the Holy Father encourages health caregivers to have “a sense of closeness” and “develop a capacity of listening and relating” to the sick and elderly.

 

The Pope also wishes for all healthcare institutions, palliative care, hospice centres and hospitals to give their greatest service to the sick and to those whom they care for, with genuine love and mercy. He encourages spiritual leaders not to be lacking in their pastoral duties when reaching out to those who are sick and living in isolation, as they require spiritual nourishment too. “I was sick, and you visited me” (cf. MT 25: 36) - when priests administer the Word and Sacraments to the sick, their journey of life will be strengthened, and their faith will grow in maturity.

 

In conjunction with WDS this year, we invited the elderly and the sick of our Parish to a special Mass and Anointing at 11.00am. About 150 parishioners participated in this celebration, coordinated by the Parish leaders. The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was done immediately after the Eucharistic celebration. After receiving the Oil of the Infirm - Oleum Infirmorum - they sat quietly in prayer before leaving the Church premises. Knowing that the sick are at a greater risk, SOP safety measures were strictly adhered to throughout the Mass celebration.

 

Although the number of cases due to the Omicron variant is high, we proceeded with caution and had the anointing of the sick and the elderly in order to provide pastoral care for them - spiritual support, spiritual guidance and spiritual nourishments. We celebrated with the Holy Father’s sentiments to console, affirm and strengthen them spiritually and physically. I am grateful to all family members, BEC coordinators and Parish Action Response Team (PART) for ushering and assisting the elderly and sick members of our Parish, from their homes, to be with us in Church on this WDS.

 

We seek the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes, health of the sick - to guide us in our pastoral care for the sick and their family members, so that they may find meaning in their suffering. May they receive consolation and strength from Jesus Christ, her Son - who bears the pain of the world.

SHOW THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S LOVE

We began the month of February 2022 with Mass for three important festivities – the Chinese Lunar New Year, celebrating the Year of Tiger on 1 February, as well as the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord which also marks the World Day of Consecrated Life (WDCL) on 2 February.

With strict SOPs in place to combat the risk of Covid19, the Chinese New Year Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated at 8:30am with approximately 250 parishioners present. We had a wonderful celebration, which brought Parishioners together in unity and prayer. After Mass, we gave out red angpow packets and oranges to everyone before gathering at St Thomas Square (car park area) to watch a lion dance and light some firecrackers. 

Days before the Thanksgiving Mass, the Parish youth started their preparation by decorating the Church and the premises with red cloth, lanterns, banners, red angpau packets and flowers as a sign of longevity, honour, wealth, luck and prosperity. The youth choir also rehearsed for a few hours and the lectors and commentators practised for the Mass. In the last two days before Chinese New Year, everyone was working around the clock to make sure everything went well on the day of celebration. Congratulations and thank you to everyone for the collaboration, dedication and hard work in making our celebration meaningful and enjoyable.

 

On the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we celebrated the WDCL during morning Mass. Six Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) Sisters and two Franciscan Sisters of Immaculate Conception (FSIC) came forward after the homily to renew their vows of evangelical counsel – poverty, obedience and chastity. They renewed their evangelical counsels while holding lit candles and after that, the candles were placed at the grotto. 

 

The vows they make are so important in order to stay committed and to live the charism of the particular order, society or congregation. These Sisters have been doing amazing ministerial work in the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia with the underprivileged, migrants and indigenous communities as well as parishioners. We have extended the celebration of WDCL to Friday, 4 February with Holy Hour and adoration, especially for all young people and single adults to discern God’s will and respond to His call. 

 

The Holy Father, Pope Francis’ intention for the month of February 2022 focuses on Religious Sisters and Consecrated Women. He invites us to pray for all religious sisters and consecrated women - thanking them for their mission and their courage, and praying that they find new responses to the challenges and crises of our times. The Pope encourages them “to show the beauty of God’s love and compassion” to the poor, with the marginalised, with all those who are enslaves by traffickers” and also “to continue in their vocation of service to the Church.”

 

During this month of February, let us pray especially for the young people in our community to discern God’s call, respond to the challenges of our times and continuously contribute to the mission of the Church.