FABC Seminar for Office of Clergy at Bangkok

ASSUMPTION UNIVERSITY

I was in Bangkok together with Frs Gerard Theraviam, Christopher Wilvaraj and George Harrison attending a seminar organised by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference (FABC) themed “Formation of Positive, Integral, Effective and Humanly Well-developed Priests for the Continent of Asia”.

The seminar which commenced on 7th May and ended on 11th May was held at the Suvarnabhumi Campus (Assumption University), Samut Prakan, Thailand. The campus is constructed as a “University of Park”, comprising almost 200 acres of beautifully landscaped assemblies of mixed architecture surrounded by tropical gardens and trees.  

A total of 100 Archbishops, bishops and priests from 10 countries in Asia attended this seminar which was targeted especially for formators who are teaching at the seminaries and responsible for forming the seminarians.

Our first day commenced with the Morning Prayer and the Eucharistic celebration presided by Bishop Vianney from Sri Lanka. Another first day ‘experience’ was the unfortunate power failure. Nevertheless, we continued with the sessions despite the heat and discomfort.

Bro. Martin

On the last day we had an unexpected visitor during our lunch break today and personally I would consider it as a historic moment for me. Our visitor was no other than the founder of Assumption University, Rev Bro. Dr.Prathip Martin Komolmas. The 90-year old President Emeritus who is partially blind, was accompanied by the present President Rev Bro Bancha Saenghiran. Established in 1969, the Assumption University is a private university administered by the Brothers of St. Gabriel, who have been active in education in Thailand since 1901.

St Gabriel is a worldwide Catholic Religious Order devoted to education and philanthropic activities. The religious order was founded in France 1705 by St. Louis Marie De Montfort. Presently, the University has a student body of about 20,000 including a large number of foreign students drawn from 75 countries of the world.

When will we establish a Catholic University or a Catholic College for higher learning in Malaysia? Dreams do come true, and let us pray that this dream will come true for us too.

Feast of St Peregrine

2nd May is a feast of St Peregrine. Peregrine was an Italian Catholic priest, born in 1260; died May 1, 1345. He is the patron saint for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS, or other illness. We shall pray for all cancer sufferers and the terminally ill. Through St Peregrine, he may obtain for them the strength to overcome trails with patience and deliver them from infirmities that afflict their bodies. Keep them in our prayers. 

A message to the sick: Cheer up friends, God is with you. You suffer, it is true. But He is near you. Trust in Him. If God let you suffer, it is because He sees something good in it which today you do not know. Your peace of mind is in your “TRUST in GOD” who can never let you down (Blessed John Paul II).

A Prayer to St. Peregrine for the One Suffering from Cancer:

Dear St. Peregrine, I need your help. I feel so uncertain of my life right now.This serious illness makes me long for a sign of God's love. Help me to imitate your enduring faith when you faced the ugliness of cancer and surgery. Allow me to trust the Lord the way you did in this moment of distress. I want to be cured, but right now I ask God for the strength to bear the cross in my life. I seek the power to proclaim God's presence in my life despite the hardship, anguish and fear I now experience.

O Glorious St. Peregrine, be an inspiration to me and petitioner of those needed

graces from our loving Father. Amen.

Labour Day and Feast of St Joseph

By labour and abilities men and women always strive to improve the quality of their life. Today, particularly by means of science and technology, they have extended their mastery over almost the whole of nature, and still continues to extend it. The more the power of mankind increases, the wider is the scope of their responsibilities, as individuals and as communities. We are being created in God’s image, have been commissioned to master the earth and all it contains, and so rule the world in justice and holiness.
(Man's activity in the world - From the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World of the Second Vatican Council, no. 33-34)

1st May - Happy Labour Day 2013 and Happy Feast of St Joseph, the Worker.

Youth of Today

It’s sad to note that many of our youths, upon reaching a certain age or once they start college/university, slowly begin to distance themselves from the Church and church-related activities. And just like how the Good Shepherd leaves the 99 sheep and goes after that one lost sheep, we too need to draw our young people back to the Church and make them a part of the Church.

If we separate them from the Church or leave them abandoned or alienated, then we may find it hard to build a Church of young people. Parents, elders and adults should not keep a distance or create boundaries between them. Our young people today are growing up very fast in terms of maturity and world-knowledge especially with so many types if technology easily available at hand – the internet, Facebook, Twitter and so many other IT and phone applications, and at times, we the older people seek their help when we are baffled by all these new technologies.

At the same time, let’s not forget that our young people are very much in need of spiritual support and guidance. We should minister to them so that can stay focused on their walk with God and spend more quality time with their families. The Church needs the young people. At the end of day, the leaders in the various ministries of the Church should direct them according to teaching of the Church and in accordance to God’s Word. His word will direct them and help them stay on the right path and to not go astray.

I am committed to carry out my mission no matter how difficult it will be and no matter how many obstacles I will have to face and for this I ask for all your continuous prayers and support.

  

"Vocations as a Sign of Hope Founded in Faith"

During the Second Vatican Council in 1963 Pope Paul VI designated Good Shepherd Sunday as “World Day of Prayer for Vocations”. This important annual event in the life of the Church was instituted as a means of inviting Catholics throughout the world to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life.

The 50th annual world day of prayer for vocations takes place on this Fourth Sunday of Easter (April 21st, 2013). During the Year of Faith, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has written a message to coincide with the day of prayer this year. The theme of his message is "Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith." It reminds us that God continues to call people to work in the vineyard and that we must continue to pray and trust in our ultimate hope which is God himself.

The Pope said that the vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life are born out of the experience of a personal encounter with Christ, out of sincere and confident dialogue with Him, so as to enter into His will. It is necessary, therefore, to grow in the experience of faith, understood as a profound relationship with Jesus, as inner attentiveness to his voice which is heard deep within us. This process, which enables us to respond positively to God’s call, is possible in Christian communities where the faith is lived intensely, where generous witness is given of adherence to the Gospel, where there is a strong sense of mission which leads people to make the total gift of self for the Kingdom of God, nourished by recourse to the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and by a fervent life of prayer.

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is a day that Christians are invited to reflect on the meaning of God’s call and to pray for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. To help us reflect on the meaning of the priestly vocation, the church presents to us in today’s gospel the figure of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Last Sunday we saw Our Lord three times giving Peter the charge to “feed my sheep.” In that way Jesus made Peter a shepherd, a pastor. Our Lord continued his work of shepherding his people through Peter and his co-workers: the apostles and disciples, and through their successors: the Pope, the bishops, priests, deacons, catechists, and committed lay people.

We pray that our young people may respond with open and generous hearts. Lord, give them the gift of understanding to discern their service in the Church, the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life and for the gift of courage to follow Your call and the Christian parents will happily accept the possibility that God may call one of their children to priesthood or consecrated life.