A TIME OF GRACE

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has chosen the theme for this year's Lent: “Lenten Penance and Synodal Journey.” His Lenten message reflects on the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus at Mount Tabor, which can be read in three Gospel accounts - (Mt 17:1-13, Mk 9:2-13 and Lk 9:28-36).

He highlights that Lent is a journey that is “synodal” - climbing of Jesus with three of His disciples - Peter, John and James - to Mount Tabor. During this Lent, we will make a “synodal journey” in ascending “a high mountain” with Jesus to accompany us “to experience spiritual discipline.” Therefore, our Lenten journey is like going on an uphill mountain track which requires “effort, sacrifice and concentration.” As we climb the mountain, we should fix our eyes on our path, and once we reach the mountain top, we will be rewarded with beautiful panoramic views. 

“Lent is a commitment, sustained by grace, to overcome our lack of faith and our resistance to following Jesus and the way of the cross.” The Holy Father proposes two ways to reflect on experiencing the Lord’s passion and cross with faith, hope and love as we arrive at Easter.

a)      Listening - Lent is a favourable time - a time of grace – that we should “Listen to Him!” (Mt 17:5) as He speaks to us. Jesus speaks to us through the Scriptures. We take the initiative daily to read the Word of God, which occurs in the liturgy throughout this season and study the Bible through various sources. Jesus also speaks to us through our brothers and sisters, especially in the face of all kinds of challenges and in need of others.

b)      Jesus affirmed his disciples, saying, “rise and do not be afraid”. We shouldn’t fear anything in facing the reality of the world and daily struggles and hardships. He realises that the journey of Lent and the Church’s ongoing Synod on Synodality may be arduous and challenging, but we should be focused on our goals and stay committed always. Our synodal journey towards Easter may help us “to understand better God’s will and our mission in the service of His Kingdom.”

May the Holy Spirit inspire and sustain us this Lent as we ascend with Jesus to experience His divine light and deeper faith. 

(An Abstract from the Lenten Message of the Holy Father for the year 2023)

Lent is an opportunity to make our inner selves more beautiful by allowing Jesus Christ to rise and shine forth in us. This Lent, we shall focus on the theme chosen for our Lenten Retreat 2023 - “Arise and Shine” - which will take place from 3-5 March 2023. Thus far, we have 260 participants registered for this 3-day retreat. It will be conducted by Rev Frs Michael Payyapilly and Joseph Kannampally from the Vincentian Congregation (VC).

As we make the synodal journey this Lent, we take the initiative to listen to His voice and experience His light, as how the three disciples experienced “seeing and hearing” Him at Mount Tabor. We pray that Jesus will slowly and steadily transform and transfigure our minds, hearts and souls into a more beautiful and spiritual state of life. May the Glory of the Lord rise among us and shine in our lives.

LIVE LENT FAITHFULLY AND FRUITFULLY!

The Sundays and Weeks of Ordinary Time will stop at the 7th Week, making way for Lent and the Easter Cycle. The holiest season - Lent - will begin on 22 February with Ash Wednesday, and it will conclude on Holy Saturday, 8 April 2023 - a day before Easter. Ordinary Weeks will then resume after Pentecost with the 8th Week, on 29 May 2023.

On Ash Wednesday (A Day of Ashes), we are marked with blessed ash on our foreheads. A symbol in the shape of a cross will be displayed on our foreheads and the words – “Repent, believe in the Gospel!” (MK 1:15) will be spoken to us. This phrase is like a splash of ice-cold water on our faces to wake us up from our sinful nature and turn towards Jesus, remembering the Paschal Mystery - Passion, Death and Resurrection.

 

Ash Wednesday is a day of obligation and of abstinence (not eating meat). It also marks the first day of fasting, repentance, prayer, self-control and self-discipline. We are also strongly encouraged to abstain from consuming meat every Friday during Lent - remembering the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross on Good Friday - and unite ourselves in that sacrifice through abstinence and prayer.

The next six and a half weeks, a 40-day period of penance, invites us to engage with the three pillars – Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Lent is a gift to us to reflect on how we can draw ourselves closer to God. During this coming season of Lent, make every effort for personal and communal conversion by leaving behind all our selfishness and self-interest. Allow ourselves to learn more about God’s will and let Him to transform us towards greater joy, love and service to one another.

The Archdiocese of Human Development has set the theme “The Light of Life” for Lent 2023. Jesus is Our Light; whoever follows him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, (cf. John 8:12). We encourage every family in our Parish to purchase candles with stickers, and light them up daily in your home, during family prayers. You can purchase these candles (8” or 3” in height) from our Gift Shop. The remaining candles will be brought to Easter Vigil Mass and left at the grotto after Mass. Catechists and Catechism students are encouraged to light candles during their classes throughout Lent.

This Lent, we do our best to live our lives with faithful and good intentions that are centered in God’s way. May we not allow our pride, ego, ambition, worldly desires and all sorts of trials present around us, to distract or draw us away from the grace of God. We place our trust in Him wholeheartedly and acknowledge Him in every course - He will make our path straight, pleasing and perfect in the eyes of God (cf. Proverb 3: 5 -6). Let us discern and do God’s will as we make our Lenten Penance by taking a synodal journey of listening to God. Let’s live our Lent faithfully and fruitfully!

WALKING IN FAITH AND NOT SIGHT

Children may be educated by school and tuition teachers, catechism instructors, and even the media - but parents are still their “primary educators” and have the main responsibility of educating their children with moral, ethical, and religious values. Home is where we teach our children to be tender, compassionate, forgiving, respectful, faithful, loving and caring. The book of Proverbs says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it,” (Proverbs 22:6). When we train, educate and raise our children in the right way, they will discover and rediscover their purpose, and not turn away from us.

This Sunday (12 February), catechism classes officially begin for the year 2023. There will be a spiritual orientation and briefing for children and parents in the St Giles’ Room at 9.30 am. So far, we have a total of 117 students registered for catechism classes, from pre-school to Form 5. There are a total of 24 teachers who have committed themselves to the catechetical team. We also have 10 teachers under the supervision of Sr. Assunta Leong - to coordinate RCIA candidates - which will be available in three languages. This Easter Vigil, we may have 15 candidates who will receive their Sacrament of Initiation, 8 for the Sacrament of Confirmation and 2 will be received into the Catholic faith.

 

During our Parish Pastoral Assembly, one of the findings was on Mass attendance and our youth involvement in Parish activities. We want parents to make an extra effort to focus on our children’s faith and bring them back for Weekend Masses and catechism classes. As a Parish community, we have a crucial role in strengthening the faith of our younger generation by supporting, encouraging and, most of all, praying that they will grow in the life of the Church and serve in holiness.

 

Catechetical Sunday was on 29 January 2023, and we celebrated with the theme “Renewing the Church with Families of Faith” (cf.1 Cor 16:13-14). It is of utmost importance that everyone in the family “be watchful, and stand firm in the faith, and be courageous and strong,” (cf. 1 Cor 16:13-14). At the end of the Mass, all catechism teachers and RCIA facilitators came forward and renewed their commitment to the faith education of our children. During the Mass, Archbishop Julian Leow blessed all the catechism teachers and RCIA facilitators after commissioning them as faith instructors. We will have, once again, commissioning of faith education on the spiritual orientation and briefing day, for the children and parents. We expect everyone involved to be present.

 

We would like to thank all our catechism teachers and RCIA facilitators for their rededication to the mission of the Church and for being witnesses of the Gospel. May the Lord guide and inspire you as you continue in our Parish Catechetical Ministry. We are solely and completely responsible for transmitting our faith, deepening the knowledge of God - from fear to faith in Christ Jesus - so that our children may walk by faith and not sight. We will build and rebuild their future together, by the grace of God.

ENDING INEQUALITY, DISCRIMINATION AND VIOLENCE

Pope Francis requests prayers for his apostolic journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan from 31 January to 5 February 2023. This month we seek the intercession of St Josephine of Bakhita who was born in Sudan (1869-1947) and whose feast day falls on 8 February. She was kidnapped by Arab slave traders when she was a child. She was sold several times - maltreated and physically humiliated. She spent much of her life in captivity. Finally, she was placed in the custody of the Canossian Sisters in Venice, Italy. There, she learned about God and became a Canossian Sister. She was canonised in 1978 and is a patroness for victims of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Various types of slavery, violence and human trafficking against women and girls happen every day - “psychological violence, verbal violence, physical violence, sexual violence” - in every corner of the world. Millions are beaten, insulted, humiliated, raped and killed. The Church invites society to pray and protect these victims.

 

Each day, there is an estimated 137 women killed by members of their own families, and one in every three women yearly - an estimated 736 million - have undergone physical, psychological violence and sexual assault; 15 million adolescent girls worldwide - about one in four (27%) - aged between 15 to 19 have experienced forced sexual relations (the statistics compiled by UN Women – November 2020).

 

The UN has also reported that one in seven women have been killed by their intimate partner or family member (50,000 women in 2017 and 47,000 women in 2020) while 87,000 women have lost their lives in homicides (intentional killings). In India, 7,000 women were killed in a dowry-related dispute in 2017. During COVID-19 lockdowns, there was an increase in women seeking help for domestic-related violence in eight Asian countries, including a 70% rise in Malaysia. Women pay the highest price due to inequality, discrimination and negative societal stereotypes. A home is a dangerous place because most of the violence occurs in the home and many women still find themselves alone and isolated.

 

Society is called to greater action to eradicate harassment, trafficking, violence and power control. Everyone is urged to take part in carrying out campaigns throughout the world to end violence against women and girls. Altogether 155 countries have approved domestic violence laws and 140 have legislation regarding workplace sexual harassment. However, in many instances, they are not applied and/or enforced. Society has to prioritise the safety, well-being, equality and human rights to avoid discrimination against women and protect them. 

 

It is everyone’s responsibility to end or prevent violence against women and girls, and not just leave it to political commitment, law implementation and UN Women roles and strategies. We need to bring awareness through early education programmes, respectful relationships and through the media. We seek the intercession of St Josephine Bakhita for all who are affected by crimes of modern slavery, human trafficking and violence against women and girls.  We pray that they may find safety and healing from their trauma to healthily rebuild their lives.