Bishop of Myanmar Visits Zomi Community

Bishop Felix Lian Khen Thang (Bishop of Kalay Diocese, Myanmar), together with two other priests from Myanmar Frs Robert Kam Khua Hau and Martin Dal Do, were at the Church of St Joseph, Sentul, KL this morning (19 May) to visit the Myanmar Zomi Catholic Community.

More than 700 members of the community, mainly from Klang Valley and dressed in their traditional attire gathered at the church compound at 11am to welcome their Bishop. 

Despite being a working day, the Myanmar community who were excited with the arrival of their bishop took leave from their work and other commitments. 

The bishop held a one hour private conversation with the President of the community and the pastoral workers at SJC parish house. After the discussion, we were led to the entrance of the Church accompanied by their traditional dance and music.

Bishop Felix then celebrated the Eucharistic and this was followed by lunch and entertainment at the Church hall.

The real Meaning of Christmas

As Ray Conniff put it in song, “the real meaning of Christmas is the giving of love everyday, the real meaning of Christmas is to live as the Master may say, and when you’re giving your presents, don’t forget as you give them away, that the real meaning of Christmas is the giving of love everyday”.

The giving of love everyday means, we, reaching out, not just only to our dear families and friends, but also reaching out and lending a  helping hand to the aged and infirm, the disabled and the   handicapped, the poor and the impoverished, the sick and the lonely, the migrants and the homeless.

Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ, is just a matter of days away. Many of us are going about our busy schedules of shopping for clothes and presents, new furniture and accessories, baking cakes and cookies and preparing for the meals (yes, the numerous meals we have) for Christmas and ensuring sufficient stock of drinks and various types of alcohol to last the whole of Christmas season.

Then comes Christmas Day. There will be laughter and merry making in our homes. “Merry Christmas Everyone. Ho! Ho! Ho!” we  would yell while dressed in our best. Parties would be taking place everywhere. Dining tables overflowing with food and drinks. Wine glasses and Beer glasses clinking to the sound of “CHEERS!” in the background. Some  would probably be glued to the TV    watching the Victoria’s Secret    Fashion Week show that’s       apparently going to be shown on TV, which is supposedly a    holiday Special to be featured at CHRISTMAS!!!!!

IMAGINE IF JESUS CHRIST APPEARS IN PERSON AT OUR HOMES ON CHRISTMAS DAY DURING OUR CELEBRATIONS. 

As He looks around, what would He do?  What would he ask and say? Maybe, “What are you celebrating?” MY BIRTHDAY!! REALLY!  

Who do you think He would be looking out for?  He may ask “Where are old, the lonely, the poor and the homeless,? Would He be happy and stay at  His Birthday Party or would He be         disappointed and leave?

As we celebrate, let us remember the real meaning of Christmas. 

New Liturgical Year 2015

We had a great start to our new liturgical year 2015 with the commissioning of various heads of ministries in SJC and RCC. We have entrusted them to God and prayed that He will lead them in their ministries according to His will.

We had also launched our “Vision and Mission” for the years 2015 to 2017 together with our aspiring pastoral priorities. I am content with the 3-year plan and I believe Jesus Christ will make all things new for our parish. At times I do worry about how we are going to make our pastoral priorities workable but  I have confidence in all of you as we journey together with one spirit. I encourage you to pray for faith, hope and  submit to the will of God and see what He will do for our parish.

These past few days I have been visiting 40 home-bound  parishioners who wished to receive the Sacraments of      Penance, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Eucharist. There is something unique in each one of us – we are made to love and be loved. They need your kindness, gentleness and your loving concern for them. Let’s continue to pray that they will remain firm in their faith and that God will bless them with His healing touch.

The beauty of the season of Advent is that something new and amazing is happening – Jesus is coming! I hope and pray that the Nativity of Jesus brings the fulfillment of the promise,    healing, gifts, possibilities, life and love for each one of us including the elders, the sick and    home-bound parishioners.

The season of Advent is a time to foster a new longing for Christ who longs to meet us in the manger of rebirth. His love is intentional and healing. Come, Lord Jesus!

Let’s get ready for Christmas by reflecting on the following:

• What do you need to change in your life?
• How can you be generous to those around you?
• How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit daily!?

May Jesus be born in the depths of your heart this Christmas day!  

On Holy Hour and Mass

Holy Hour and Mass: Healing Through Forgiveness

Every Saturday we have Novena to Our Lady followed by Benediction. Every 1st Friday of the month we have Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I would like to encourage all of you, my dear parishioners, to begin the practice of spending time with the Lord during Holy Hour at least once a month.

By spending time during Holy Hour either on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, we are invited to pray for the Lord’s intentions for the Church, for priests, and for the salvation of souls as we grow in patience, kindness and find inner peace.

When you come to Church especially during Holy Hour, do keep repeating His words of mercy. In the process of spending an hour with the Lord, you may encounter the Lord’s mercy. Your tears will cease, your anger ends, your peace returns, and your joy, comes back.

Eventually, you will be able to pray the words of forgiveness from your heart. I am confident that the grace of the Eucharist at Mass and Holy Hour will carry us to the place of encounter with Jesus who forgives and heals.

The grace to forgive flows from His pierced heart and His agony, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24).

Do I help build my Church?

“Where is the Church”? Of course I know that my Church is right here around me, still on the same street. That is not what I am asking though; I want to know where the Church that was founded in Matt. 16:18, “You are Peter and on this rock I build My community / My Church, and the gates of underworld can never empower you.” Jesus chooses Peter to be the rock foundation, the head of His Church. This passage is crucial for a proper understanding of what the Church is, and our role in the Church.

The Church is founded on the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that He forgives our sins and He is the Savior of the world. Without Christ we have no power, no authority and no strength in building the Church.

Going to Church is very important. In fact, if you have no faith in coming to Church, we, priests have no one to celebrate and preach to.

Do I help build my Church?

Jesus did not entrust Peter and His successors alone the responsibility to build His Church. But everyone has a role in building the Church. The Priest cannot run the Church on his own or on one “Our Father” and three “Hail Marys”. 

We need you in building the Church. All God’s people have been called together as co-workers in His vineyard. But we do not own the Church. We belong to the church. The owner of the Church is Christ.

The question we could ask ourselves today is: “How is God using me to build up His Church? Am I letting God use me?” He needs to know from us today!