A Perspective on 'hazy' Situation

As I was reflecting on the haze situation in KL City these past days it took me down memory lane to the year 1995. I was then in my initiation year at College General Seminary in Penang. One day I was feeling so down and was not sure of my life in the seminary. As my usual habit, I came out to my balcony to have a view of the Island. It happened that day it was surrounded by thick haze. I recalled when the atmosphere was clear without haze where I could see the panoramic view of the sea, KOMTAR and the main land of Penang as well from my balcony. I came to the realization that if ever I want to have a better view of surrounding areas surely I need to walk a little ahead to have a glimpse of them. It was the same when it came to my life as a seminarian. As I go through gradually day by day, year by year surely I would be able to have a better vision of my priestly life. It’s also the same in everyone’s life. Probably right now we are not sure of what is happening in our life. It is like our vision and future are enveloped with haze. We may not have a clear vision of our future at the moment. Once we take courage to move forward surely we may be able to have a better vision of life.

Cardinal Tagle and His Zeal for the Church in Asia

I had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle during dinner at our clergy recollection on Tuesday, May 14. His Eminence is currently in Kuala Lumpur for the FABC Office of Theological Concerns in Asia conference together with 14 other members (Bishops and Priests). Cardinal Tagle was present at the last conclave (March, 2013) and was also on the list of potential Papal candidates.

Philippines Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, age 55, Asia’s most prominent Roman Catholic leader, is among those who observers say may be in the running to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. His deep mastery of theology, passionate faith, compassion for the poor and humble ways are winning hearts and minds in his homeland and have impressed Benedict XVI. When Benedict announced his resignation in February 2013 and the media listed Tagle as one of several potential successors. 

Tagle is the seventh cardinal from the Philippines, which embraced Christianity under the colonial influence of Spain in 1521. The younger of two children of a pious Catholic couple who worked in a bank and came from middle-class backgrounds, Tagle dreamed of becoming a doctor. He studied from grade school to Ateneo University, Manila and later at the Catholic University of America in Washington, where he took up doctoral studies on theology. Tagle consistently finished with top honours. After Washington, Tagle returned to the Philippines and was assigned to numerous church offices and roles. He was ordained a priest in 1982, then a bishop in 2001 at an old cathedral. Cardinal Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI, appointed Tagle as a member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission and was impressed with his research work and papers. In October 2011, Benedict declared Tagle the new archbishop of Manila, then just a year later, elevated him to cardinal. 

When he was teaching in the seminary for about two decades, staying in a room that had no television or air-conditioning unit but was filled with religious and philosophy books. Even as a bishop, Tagle did not own a car. He took the bus or “jeepney,” the popular working-class minibus, to church and elsewhere, allowing him to mingle with the masses. His eminence is known for his great communication skills - he's a superb storyteller, has a good singing voice, a strong sense of humour, and speaks Italian, Latin and French. Recently that the number of his Facebook followers had jumped from about 80,000 and late last year to more than 120,000, with a lot of postings from abroad, including Europe. It was a wonderful moment for me to meet Cardinal Tagle who is a very brilliant, intelligent, very humble, simple, full of zeal that could energise the Church in Asia.

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.