JESUS WANTS US TO BE SAVED

Lord, will there be only a few saved?” (Lk 13: 23). The only way to make sure that we are saved is by pressing through the narrow entrance to the kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus describes that no one gets to heaven by accident but only those who strives because the road to heaven is narrow. It is a need for everyone to repent and put their faith in Him.

There is only one door. It is a narrow door. The narrow door is Jesus who says “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through me,”(Jn 14: 6).

We are saved by the grace of God and not by our own works. However, Jesus said that we must strive to enter through the narrow door. God knows our works and our thoughts. God wants everyone to be saved…” (1 Tim 2:4), because of “His kindness towards us.”

Lord Jesus, heal our weaknesses and make us strong to enter the narrow gate.

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/sowing-tangible-seeds-of-hope/

JOY IN GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGH FORMATION

We will be back to work and school after a week long vacation due to the school term break, Hari Raya Haji holidays and also a break from catechism classes (11 and 18 August). Children will be back to school from Monday,  19 August 2019 despite the weather being not so conducive due to the haze and smog pollution throughout the Klang Valley. It has been hazy since the start of August, and is expected to be this way till September 2019.  It is advisable to cut down on our outdoor activities and to avoid open burning.

We celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Thursday, 15 August 2019, a day of obligation in our Catholic Calendar. Despite the school holidays, the crowd was overwhelming for the three Masses (6:45 am, 1:0 pm and 8:00 pm). It is a major feast in the life  of Mary, who was privileged to be “the highest fruit of the Redemption” and “the most perfect example of Christian Perseverance.” She is crowned the Queen of Heaven and Earth, a feast which we will celebrate on 22 August 2019. She is our Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our  sweetness and our hope!

On Saturday, 17 August 2019, a special formation was organised by the Eagle’s Wing Ministry (EWM). This ministry comprises of 30 differently-abled people. It was established in our Parish over 12 years ago. Dr. Sheela Jeremy, who was the main presenter at the formation, spoke about the  physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of being differently-abled. It was a half-day formation for the members of the EWM, to enhance their faith, spiritual life and to assist them to live a more integrated life – within the community and society at large.

Our Parish RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and PMEIA (Parish Ministry of Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs) are organising a special get-together session with the past years RCIA candidates to be held on Sunday, 18 August 2019 at 7:30 pm in the Church Hall. This will be our first ever celebration with all those who have attended the RCIA programme and received their Sacrament of Initiation over the past years. After their respective programmes, many of the RCIA sponsors, inquirers, candidates and team members have Parish activities. We want them to return to the Catholic faith they have professed. It is an opportunity for them to reconnect with our Parish community and to revive and relive their faith.

At the end of the month, our Catechetical Team and Parish Family Life Ministry will organise two important talks to raise awareness among parishioners and their families. First, is a Fire Safety & Emergency talk on Sunday, 25 August 2019 from 10:30 am-12:30 pm. This free-of-charge awareness programme is open to all members of our Parish community, including children. The Fire Prevention Centre of Malaysia will be presenting the fire safety training, which includes how to prevent fires from happening. Everyone is invited to join this life-saving training programme which will be held in our Parish.

Second, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of Bukit Aman, Kuala Lumpur has agreed to hold an exhibition and talk on “Child Abuse Prevention” on Sunday, 8 September 2019 in our Parish. This talk will cover physical, sexual and emotional abuse, as well as neglect and how to prevent them. We invite parents and young people to join us, to shed some light and get an insight into this difficult and heart-breaking issue.

The Holy Father’s intention for the month of August is “Families – Schools of Human Growth.” I invite parishioners and families to fully engage in prayer and be aware of social issues which are on the rise within our families and in society. We are on a life-long learning journey and I urge all of you to find the time to participate in the various formations which would help you find God in your lives. It is the moments of joy found in God’s presence that make families strong in the midst of all challenges.

"NOT PEACE, BUT DIVISION!"

“Jesus said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth not peace, but division! …,”  (Luke 12:49-53).

Jesus brought the fire of division. There will be division between people. We should not be shocked by the division that comes within communities, churches and between Christians and non-Christians.

Where human beings are division is inevitable. We cannot always run and hide from it. When conflict comes around, and be prepared for it when it does. Conflict can be good for us. Like fire purifies metals, conflict can purify us.

The whole world will divide into two sites, for and against Christ. People want peace and harmony. We want peace and harmony for our families, for our communities and for our world.

We are looking for love, peace, grace and mercy. We need to live moral lives and help the poor. We need to both announce the good news and be the good news to those in need.

We need to follow the guidance of God's Holy Spirit. Let’s the Holy Spirit build a fire inside us and inspire us to work with Christ to let the fire burn brightly.

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/joy-in-gods-presence-through-formation-1/

GIVING HOPE WILLINGLY AND LOVINGLY

Life without hope is difficult. Troubles, suffering, physical health, illness and eventually death, comes like a thief to rob a person’s life. Jesus Christ is our hope and our joy. He brings forgiveness and hope for the future. He changes our lives and He will give us a new heart with renewed strength. He will give you the strength to live a dynamic life of faith. The Great God who lives amongst us will bring hope through the Word,  Sacraments and in all events.

When we look around us, there are many things that perhaps cause us to lose hope. But when we look at God and his promises, there is great hope for the future. As you keep your hopes high, St Paul says “do something each day that gets you closer to your goal of life.”(Ephesians 5:15-16). Make the best of the present time.

Hope changes our lives. The hope that we have through Christ transforms how we think and how we act. This living hope helps us to see the world with the eyes of Christ. As long as we have faith in Jesus Christ, we will always have hope. Other people see only a hopeless end, but we Christians rejoice in endless hope.

Our Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) will have a facelift. It is a ministry that identifies and locates the destitute and unfortunate within our community. Its brings hope and gives aid to the poor through its outreach - regardless of race, ethnic background, social status or faith. Under the umbrella of PIHDM, we have various ministries / desks - Migrant Ministry, Women’s Ministry, EduCare, Eagel’s Wings and Distribution of groceries to the poor. 

From August 2019 onwards, the office for distribution of groceries to the needy will officially be known as the Ministry of the Poor (MOP) under the Supervision of Aloysius, George D’Cruz, Teresa Shaun, Jacquline and Dorothy. They will look into the needs of the poor and prepare aid kits containing essential rations such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, sardines, noodles, biscuits, etc. and distributing them to the poor every month.

The MOP will continue their annual school uniform project and Christmas Campaign. This year, the fundraising for these two projects will commence  in August 2019. For the past 6 years, we have carried out these annual projects and campaigns successfully, and once again we have the opportunity to work together, bringing hope and joy to underprivileged children and their families at Christmas.

Annually, we target to distribute school uniforms to between 350-400 students, at an estimate cost of  RM100-RM120 per child. The uniform sets comprise 2 sets of uniforms, a bag, shoes and socks, stationaries, etc., for each child. The total cost for this project will amount to approximately RM35,000-RM45,000.

We also will provide groceries to poor families, as a part of our Christmas campaign. We need your support and encouragement to make these projects a success, and we hope parishioners will not hesitate to volunteer their time and resources in assisting us with this fundraising projects. Our faith in Christ, who became poor, and was always close to the poor and the outcast, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members. (Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, n. 186).

Jesus has special place in His heart for the poor, so much so that God Himself “became poor” and lived among us. He stood among the poor - comforting sorrows, healing their wounds and bringing the message of hope in their lives. It is a challenge for us today, as we seek to follow Jesus and to live as He lived, and not remain unmoved - but to reach out to them willingly and lovingly.

GREAT HOPE THROUGH PRAYER

The month of July has come to an end. We are in the midst of the second half of the year. The remaining months will move fast and we can’t control the passing days. Perhaps you have not done enough in the first half of the year but there is always the opportunity to re-adjust the second half in the light of Christ.

When we look around, there are many things that may cause us to lose hope in life. However, when we look at Jesus and His promises, there is great hope for the future. St Paul says that we should do something each day in order to get closer to our goal of life(cf. Ephesians 5:15-16) so make the best of the present time till the end of 2019!

During the feast of St Joseph, our Patron Saint (1May 2019), our Parish Catechetical Team was meant to declare a day off for the catechism students. However, classes continued on as usual. So in lieu of that, we have carried forward this day off to Sunday, 28 July 2019, so that our students may spend time with their families or go for St Anne and St Joachim’s Feast.

Generally, many Catholics throughout Peninsular Malaysia make their pilgrimage to the Shrines of St Anne and St Joachim either in Bukit Mertajam, Port Klang, Alor Gajah or Semenyih. The devotion to St Anne and St Joachim has always drawn throngs of people from all over. This feast of St Anne and St Joachim falls on 26 July 2019 and their novenas and celebrations go on for 10 days. St Anne and St Joachim are parents to Mother Mary and grandparents to Jesus. Although we know very little about them, they are truly remarkable people because they nurtured a wonderful daughter, Mary - who played a very important role in the work of the Redemption.The Feast of St Anne and St Joachim is well known feast which precedes three other feasts, namely, St Anthony, St Jude and Our Lady in our nation.

Prior to our parish being dedicated to St Joseph, the Worker, it was a chapel named after St Anne – built by Rev Fr Louis Duvelle. In 1908, the chapel was rededicated under the patronage of St Joseph, the Worker. Our neighbour, the Tamil School was named after him too, because the majority of parishioners and its surrounding residents were railways workers. If the name St Anne remained till the present, I believe it would have been another pilgrim shrine in Kuala Lumpur. But it was wise of the priests and parishioners in Sentul to keep the wonderful name of St Joseph, the Worker so as to remember not only railway employees but workers in general, who toil tirelessly everyday.

 

Last year, we celebrated the 110th anniversary of our Parish, faithfully honouring St Joseph, the Worker as our Patron. It is the only Church named after St Joseph, the Worker in the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese.

Next weekend (3-4 August 2019) we will have a Durian & Mangosteen Fiesta in our Church grounds. We have ordered about 300kgs of durian, including Musang Kingand 150kgs of mangosteen from Raub, Pahang. Prices start from RM10 onwards. If you plan to do a take  away, please bring your own containers and bags. This fun-filled event is being organised as form of fellowship among parishioners and of course, the profits from the sale will be utilised for the needy. We invite all durian lovers to join us next week, and if the response is good, we shall have this Fiesta every yummy season!