The Installation of the New Statue of St Joseph

Ever since I started my ministry in this parish of St Joseph, Sentul my objective was not to make major changes but more to reorganise, restructure and revive the various ministries in the Church and to give a new uplift to the Church of St Joseph. In the midst of planning for the refurbishment and renovation of the community hall and meeting rooms, I was ‘inspired’ to restructure the Shrine of St Joseph situated next to the parochial house.

Early this year, I was looking around to purchase a 5-foot statue of St Joseph from one of our neighbouring countries but it didn’t materialise at all. So the idea was temporarily dropped. Then in March, something triggered me again to purchase a new statue in order to replace the old fading and deteriorating one. Finally, a manufacturer in Jakarta was contacted and the work of constructing the new 6-foot high custom-made statue of St Joseph commenced. It was expected to be completed by end of April and to be delivered to our doorstep just before 1st May, 2015 for the feast of St Joseph, the Worker.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the work was delayed and because of this all the plans for the launching and blessing of the statue were postponed to the end of May to commemorate the closing of the Rosary Month and novena to St Joseph. Together we prayed as one community for the safe arrival of the statue to our Church and it finally found its new home on 4th of June, 2015.

While waiting for the arrival of statue from Jakarta by ship I was once again inspired to do up the shrine of St Joseph which was erected 7 years ago. And so a “Gazebo” (new wooden house for St Joseph’s statue) was ordered and it took almost 3 weeks to complete.

In the meantime, a contractor was assigned to remove the existing tiles and to replace them with some ‘very very’ old tiles with three different beautiful patterns on the sanctuary of St Joseph. If I’m not mistaken, these tiles were laid in 1928 during the time of the late Fr Victor Antoine Herman who took the initiative to extend and rebuild the Church. These 87 year old tiles were taken out from the floor when the existing Church was under renovation in 2013 and they were sadly relegated to an unseen corner of the church compound. I noticed them ever since I came to this parish and was wondering what to do with them.

While waiting for the arrival of the new “Gazebo” and the new statue of St Joseph from Jakarta, we started work of renovation and refurbishment of the Shrine of St Joseph. We erected a new shrine by placing the 87 year old tiles according to the patterns designed. The renovation on the old shrine commenced on 27th of May and was completed on 6th of June.

The new gazebo-shaped hut arrived on 4th June.  Before installing it we blessed the 4 legs and the centre - where lies the new statue of St. Joseph - with Chrism oil and placed 5 prayer cards in the holes, to signify the 5 wounds of Christ!

The inauguration of this statue finally took place in conjunction with the first time ever open-air Mass on the feast of Corpus Christi (7th June) at 6.00 pm at the car park area in front of the parish house. We commenced our celebration with the the unveiling and blessing of the new St Joseph statue, followed by a solemn novena to St Joseph, the Worker. We ended the whole celebration with a procession with the Blessed Sacrament.

Now that we have given a new facelift to the Shrine of St Joseph, let us give a ‘facelift’ to our own faith life. Saint Joseph is the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. He watches over the Church as carefully as he watched over Jesus and Mary.  Together let us journey towards strengthening our faith community by praying to St Joseph, the Worker, our Patronage.

Corpus Christi

The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ or in Latin “Corpus Christi” commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist.

 The celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ is at the very centre and heart of our faith, of our church, and of our parish; it is at the centre and heart of our families and the lives of each of us. The Eucharist is at the centre of Catholic spiritual life.

The feast was introduced in the late 13th century by Pope Urban IV in 1264 to encourage the people of God to give special honor to the institution of the Holy Eucharist and to the Blessed Sacrament. Our worship of Jesus in His Body and Blood, calls us to offer God our Father, a pledge of our undivided love and an offering of   ourselves in service of others.

Some find it difficult to believe that bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus and understandably so. Jesus comes to us at every Mass. At every Mass our attention is called to the Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ in it. It is a celebration of the love of Jesus for us. We need to add faith to our reason and intellect. As Paul says, in the Christian life, we go by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).

Jesus is really with us in the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the gift of God’s love for us. When we submit to God we will not lose anything, we will gain everything. We add faith to our reasoning and receive the love of God with faith. We need to be humble enough to add faith to our intellect by trusting, surrendering, believing and receiving the Holy Eucharist in faith. We express our unworthiness, “Lord I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.” When we receive Jesus, Jesus is in us and we are with Jesus. “He who eats my flesh abides in me and I in him.” (John 6: 57).

Journeying With Mary in the Month of May

We have come to the end of May, the month of the Rosary. This whole month we have been observing Mary and praying the Rosary individually, with families and at BEC level. During this month, we too have not forgotten to pray the Novena to St Joseph at the end of our Rosary prayer.

If we look back to the beginning of this month, some of us may have found our rosary beads collecting dust in forgotten junk  drawers. Some, broken, may have been discarded. Others might be retained as good-luck charms, yet without fail we pray the  Rosary daily throughout this month. Going to Mary and Joseph have helped us to grow in holiness and to allow the seed of faith to germinate within us and in our domestic church.

Earlier this month, we also celebrated Mother’s Day. We thanked all moms and did something to make them happy as we would like them to be always. It is good for children, no matter their age, to remember their mothers always. It’s good, first of all, because gratitude is the memory of the heart - a character trait that should be cultivated, beginning with gratitude to our very own mothers! 

Our human moms gave us life - whereas Mary gave us Jesus!  “Let it be to me according to your word,” was her reply to Angel Gabriel, and it was in that simple “Fiat” that we have every access to deepen our spiritual life. In turn, Jesus gave us Mary. “Behold, your mother!” - he told the beloved disciple, John, at the foot of his cross.

As Catholics, we raise our eyes with faith to behold Mary in the course of our earthly pilgrimage. We strive to increase in holiness. Mary helps all her children, wherever they may be and whatever their condition, to find in Christ - the way to the Father’s house. It’s always good to place our affection and trust on our blessed Mother.

As we Catholics know, the Rosary isn’t about worshiping Mary. It is actually about praying with Mary to Jesus who is our principal Mediator. It is asking the Mother of Christ to be our mother also.  And we know this would please Jesus very much!

It is essential to pray with one another in our families. Praying and having a meal together, having a relaxing fun time together - are all great ways to build unity and love within and among families. 

Glory to Jesus!  Honour to Mary!

THE GIFT OF PENTECOST

This week we shall recap and reflect on the “Homilies on Family” shared by “sons of our parish” during the Novena and Feast of St Joseph, the Worker  (24th April – 3rd May, 2015).

We long to live in a perfect family setting but families today are facing major challenges, trials and tests of faith. The institution of the family is in danger today. Many families are finding themselves fragmented, hurting,  depressed and in danger of breaking up. Divorce is on the rise, affecting society and the community. Family members are hurting in silence.

Why do today’s families go off-track? Some areas to ponder and re-examine:-
* Are we committed to slow down, to listen, to reflect on the Word of God, to re-examine our conscience; to take time to come together as a family to pray?
* What is our identity as a Christian family? There are times we lose our identity as children of God. We forget our Christ-centred roles as husbands and wives, parents and children to build up family, church and the community; may lead to rebellious tendencies and even separation!  * Family members find it increasingly hard to talk and to enjoy each other’s presence; not even during meal times (be it only once a week!), as the use of modern day gadgets has crept into family life, threatening to disrupt the bond and sanctity of family life.
* Lack of charity, compassion and understanding. We gossip and point out the wrongdoings within family members and neighbours to justify ourselves. It is hard to love our spouses, our children, our neighbours when we insist on being right; we react, with dire consequences!
* Married couples are not serious when it comes to marriage promises. Spouses fail to be content with the ten good qualities they see in their spouses and children and are tempted to be unfaithful.
* Many of our families do not take their faith seriously – e.g. parents of Catechism students are not serious in ensuring  proper attendance during Catechism classes; Ensuring family participation in the Eucharist will help uphold the sanctity of the family.

Today, more than ever, the Church needs “genuine Christian families” as role models and examples of Hope and Perseverance to weather these challenging times. We must stay together as a church (BEC) community rooted in Christ - for today’s family to emerge strong and purified in these trying times.

Even though there was a special grace about them, the Holy Family themselves were not perfect. They too had their share of troubled moments, doubts and misunderstandings. Being human, Joseph and Mary also failed in some way as parents but they remained faithful. We can’t expect to be a perfect family, but like the Holy Family, we can pick ourselves up again and journey on.

Because of Joseph’s and Mary’s love for Jesus, they went against all odds, suffering and persecutions and  yet lived a holy life. Let us never tire to follow in the footsteps of the Holy Family and make our families to be truly strong and holy today.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday in May. This year we shall celebrate Mother's day by honouring our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers, for their contribution to family and society. Let us acknowledge these special women and make them feel welcome and appreciated for their wide services within the Church. May our love, prayers and gestures enable them to hear the words of our heart: 

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children
 - we celebrate with you. 

To those who gave birth this year to their first child
 - we celebrate with you. 

To those who lost a child this year
 - we mourn with you. 

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed
adoptions
 - we grieve with you. 

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, disappointments and tears for years
 - we walk with you. 

Forgive us when we say foolish things to you.
 -We don't mean to make things harder for you. 

To those who have disappointments, heartaches and are distanced from your children
 - we sit with you.
To those who lost their mothers this year
 - we grieve with you. 

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother
- we acknowledge your experience and ask for God's healing touch. 

To those who have aborted children
 - we remember them and yourself on this day. 

To those who are single married woman mothering your own children
 - we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be. 

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and unexpected
 - we anticipate with you. 

Dear Jesus, we thank you for all mothers and care-givers around the world and for all they do for their children. We thank you for their patience when we don't get things right. We thank you for the encouragement they inspire when we find life hard. We pray that all mothers would feel really special today and that You, Lord, would remind us every day to show them as much love and help as they give to us. Amen

Dear mothers: This Mother's Day, we walk with you and we celebrate with you amidst your joys and sorrows and with all your ups and downs. 

Thanks for being a great murnl Wishing you a happy Mother's Day and God Bless.