FROM ADVENT HOPE TO CHRISTMAS LIGHT

The monsoon rains have severely affected our surrounding areas, particularly in Pekan, Maran, and Muadzam Shah. Heavy rainfall over the past week has raised water levels and caused road closures, making many areas inaccessible. As a result, I was unable to travel to celebrate Mass for the Orang Asli and Indonesian communities who live far from our Church of St Thomas, Kuantan. I sincerely hope that, in the coming week, conditions will improve and that I will be able to visit their settlements to celebrate Jesus with them. Let us continue to keep all those affected by the monsoon in our prayers. Several families are affected, and we shall reach out to them before and after the Christmas celebration by providing necessary household items and financial aid.

We are now entering the Fourth Week of Advent, with Christmas just five days away. Over the past three weeks, we have journeyed together in spirit, preparing our hearts and minds for the special season of Advent and Christmas. It has been a meaningful time of prayer, reflection, and quiet moments as we await the arrival of the newborn Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

Advent invites us to be vigilant and prayerful. Let us take time to pray earnestly and make space in our hearts so that the loving presence of Christ may become the true treasure of our lives. I am pleased to see many of you taking this call seriously – coming for individual confession, participating in spiritual recollection, and spending time in the adoration room before the Blessed Sacrament. These moments of grace help prepare you inwardly for the celebration of Christmas.

Many of you have also been faithfully following the daily readings, attending daily and weekend Masses, performing acts of charity, and reaching out with compassion. During this time, we have administered the Anointing of the Sick for our elderly and homebound Parishioners. Let us remember them in our prayers, especially those who are unable to attend Mass in church due to illness and those who do not have anyone to bring them to church. These sacramental encounters serve as a meaningful preparation for Christmas, reminding them that the Church has not forgotten them, especially the weak and vulnerable.

Since the first week of Advent, our church compound has been beautifully adorned with Christmas lights. At night, the church shines like a city of lights, a visible sign of hope in the darkness. These lights will continue to shine throughout Christmas and until the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope.

As Christmas draws near, may we “cast off the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light” (Rom 13:12). May the Lord fill our hearts with true joy and peace, strengthen our faith, and enable us to be bearers of His light and hope for one another.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A PEACEFUL, JOYFUL AND SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTMAS!

A JUBILEE OUTREACH OF HOPE AND LOVE FOR THE PROSPECTS

From Tuesday, 9 December to Thursday, 11 December 2025, our dedicated Priests from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, together with volunteers from the Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry (ACPM), visited prisons in Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. These visits, which will be completed on Monday, 15 December 2025, are part of our ongoing mission to bring hope, faith, and support to incarcerated individuals and their families.

The Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 serves as a reminder that every individual, regardless of their past, is a child of God deserving dignity, mercy, and an opportunity for a new beginning. The Late Pope Francis underscored this message, particularly for those incarcerated – also known as Prospects – when he opened the Holy Door at Rebibbia Prison in Rome on 14 January 2025. He urged everyone to hold on to Christ Jesus, who is our Anchor of Hope, and to open their hearts to compassion, reconciliation, and solidarity.

Our Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry (ACPM) brings this vision to life. During their visits, volunteers and Priests share the Word of God, provide counselling and spiritual support, and celebrate the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confession. Over the last 40 years, the ministry has also provided financial assistance to some Prospects, enabling them to pursue their degree courses, fostering hope, personal growth and preparation for reintegration into society.

This ministry is also dedicated to supporting the families of Prospects. Many encounter emotional and financial difficulties that often remain unnoticed. Through initiatives such as the Jalinan-Kasih (Bonds of Love) Programme and ongoing outreach activities, families are welcomed into a caring community, invited to share their stories and experiences, and reassured that they are not alone.

As part of the Jubilee Year for incarcerated individuals, this ministry invites all Catholics nationwide to join in prayers on Sunday, 14 December 2025, at 3.00 pm. You are encouraged to light a candle at home and recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those in prisons, those who have been released, their families, crime victims, and prison staff and authorities. Our prayers, together with the efforts of our Priests and volunteers, serve as a reminder that healing, mercy, and hope are always accessible. Even in the most challenging circumstances, we can bring the light of Christ into the places of darkness and despair.

We sincerely appreciate the generosity and dedication of our Priests, volunteers, and parishioners who keep this ministry thriving. Through your support, we continue to bring hope, dignity, and the love of Christ to those often forgotten, showing that God’s mercy truly knows no limits.

Let us come together for all Prospects, their families, the prison authorities, and the volunteers in this ministry to serve faithfully. May our hearts remain open, our hands ready to serve, and our prayers always be a beacon of hope.

HEARTS UPLIFTED THROUGH PRAYER AND HOPE

As we light the second Advent candle, we are drawn once again to the deep longing in our hearts – the yearning to see Jesus Christ more lovingly, to welcome Him into our lives. This season prompts us to consider the “rough ways” and “winding roads” in our hearts that need straightening, and what worries, distractions, or sins hinder us from preparing a clear path for the Lord.

In this sacred time leading to Christmas, the Church calls us to step away from the noise of our busy schedules and to make ready our hearts for Christ’s coming. Let the light of Advent turn our inner journeys into clear paths of love, peace, repentance, and hope.

December is typically the height of the monsoon rainy season, with warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. Here in the East Coast – the coastal regions of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, rainfall at this time can be heavy for several days.

Recently, those living around the outskirts of Kuantan have experienced floods, but now we see a reassuring sign: the waters have subsided. We are grateful, trusting that God has watched over us. As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we also honour God’s protection and provision for our neighbourhoods, communities, families, and Church.

While we celebrate restoration, we also recognise that the Christmas season – filled with parties, family visits, gift exchanges, feasts, and gatherings – can lead to stress, busyness, and even anxiety. During this time, the call of Advent grows more urgent: to clear pathways, both around our homes and within our hearts. The Church urges us to focus more on Christ, to shed distractions that clutter our souls, and to embrace silence, prayer, and interior renewal. This prepares us to welcome Jesus – not only in a manger but also into our hearts.

As a Parish family, we have an opportunity to respond to this call. On 11 December 2025, at 7.30 pm at the Church of St Thomas, the Apostle, Kuantan, we will gather for a Penitential Service (confession) – a sacred moment of grace extended to everyone. The confession is part of the requirements of this Jubilee Year. We urge all Parishioners to join in this confession to repent, renew, and spiritually prepare for Christmas. Let us use this moment to reflect on our lives, honestly confess our shortcomings, and accept the Lord’s grace, mercy, and healing.

Let us recall what our faith teaches: Advent is not solely about external preparations – decorations, gifts, and parties – but primarily about our inner readiness. The “winding roads” and “rough paths” of our past must be made straight, and the clutter of sin and distraction cleared away.

As we focus on spiritual readiness, keep our hearts uplifted through prayer and hope. Stay vigilant in confession, practise charity, and remain steadfast in love – so that when Christ returns, we can warmly welcome Him into new dwellings built on truth, repentance, and grace. 

May this Advent season prepare our hearts with humility, kindness, and hope as we cherish this special time together.

AWAKE, READY AND WAITING!

Every year, the sacred season of Advent arrives quietly and swiftly. It is often overshadowed by the noise, lights, and rush around us. Yet the Church, in her wisdom, through the season of Advent, reminds us that God continues to come to us in silence, longing, and anticipation. As we cross the threshold into Advent, we are encouraged to slow down and rediscover the grace found in waiting.

In a world that constantly urges us to rush, Advent whispers a different truth: Christmas is not something we achieve through activity but something we receive with a ready and open heart. It reflects the deeper spiritual journey of humanity – our longing, hope, and yearning for God.

This year, the monsoon rains have begun across both the east and west coasts, and is expected to last until March. As we enjoy our holidays and family gatherings, we must also remain focused on being safe: travelling carefully, avoiding flooded areas, and watching out for each other. These reminders echo the spiritual call of Advent – to stay alert, be ready, and focus on what truly matters. If Christ were to arrive today, would He find a place in my heart?

Advent offers us the opportunity to prepare our inner space, not by frantic activity, but through humble and deliberate inner work.

First, Advent calls us to prayer. St. Therese of Lisieux beautifully described prayer as “a surge of the heart.” Even a few quiet minutes each morning before sunrise, or at night before resting, can create a small but precious space for God to enter.

Second, Advent invites us into silence – not an empty or passive silence, but one that purifies, clarifies, and awakens our spirit. In this silence, we rediscover God’s presence, realising that He has been waiting for us far longer than we have waited for Him.

Third, Advent calls us to spiritual renewal. Just as we prepare our homes for a special guest, our hearts too need renewal – letting go of grudges, confessing overlooked sins, and giving up behaviours that diminish love. Through reconciliation, we create a space where Christ can truly dwell.

Fourth, Advent encourages us to practise charity with warmth and tenderness. This season presents many opportunities to care for others – especially the poor, the lonely, and those who are overlooked. Every act of kindness gently builds the “manger” of our hearts, creating a place where Christ can find rest.

If we embrace it, Advent becomes a gentle guide that transforms our routines, aligns our desires, and renews our hope. Let this sacred season not go unnoticed. May it intensify our longing, soften our hearts, and help us prepare to receive Christ with lasting joy beyond Christmas Day.

May you and your loved ones experience a blessed, safe, and grace-filled Advent as together we await the coming of the Lord.