A CHURCH ON A MISSION

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has dedicated the month of October 2019 as an Extraordinary Missionary Month, with the theme “Baptised and Sent: The Church of Christ on a Mission in the World.” In a “month of the missions”, once again the Church reminds us of our duty and obligation to preach the gospel and to make disciples of all nations, (MT 28: 19-20).

On 21 October 2018, the Holy Father - in his message for World Mission Sunday 2018 - established the month of October 2019 as an “Extraordinary Missionary Month”. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s writing on mission entitled “Maximum Illud” which means that momentous. Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922) was known as a “Missionary Pope”. He highlighted the essential task of every Christian to “go into the whole world and preach the gospel to all creation,” (Mark 16:15).

The Archbishop and Bishops of Peninsula Malaysia has announced this year as an Extraordinary Year of Mission 2019, inviting every baptised Catholic to play prominent roles in missionary activity and to redevelop a sense of duty towards the mission of the Church in Malaysia and pastoral care towards people. On the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord (5 & 6 January 2019), all the parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur officially launched the Year of Mission 2019 and it will end on 31 December 2019.

 

The Extraordinary Missionary Month of October coincides with the Month of the Rosary and the feast of a remarkable saint – Saint Therese of Lisieux, France. She is known as a Patroness of Mission and Missionaries because she felt a call to support the missionary activity of the Church with her daily prayer and life of quiet fidelity. 

When we began the Extraordinary Month of October and the month of the most Holy Rosary, I invited parishioners of St Joseph’s Church (via a text message sent through the BECCOT Chairperson – Mary Bernadette) to start off the BEC rosary prayers with the Evening Vespers on the first day (Tuesday, 1 October 2019) in their respective BECs. I also enclosed the Church’s mission prayer, as proposed by Pope Francis for the Extraordinary Missionary Month, to be prayed either individually or communally throughout the month.

Every one of us should commit ourselves to the spirit of New Evangelisation and revitalise our faith, as we remain permanently in a state of mission. From now till December 2019, I hope our parishioners will take every opportunity to discern further our ministries, leadership roles and commitments as a church on mission. It is crucial for us to renew our baptismal call to be missionary disciples by presenting Jesus to the needy and underprivileged.

We have two important events ahead of us before the year end –  3rd  World Day of the Poor cum Parish Family Day on Sunday , 17 November 2019 and the distribution of free school uniforms to the underprivileged school children, which will be held on Saturday, 14 December 2019. It is not through the work of individuals, but through the collaboration of the entire parish that we can add value and blessings to these people. I invite you to pray always for the heartfelt generosity in serving and embracing the poorest and helpless.

As missionary disciples, let us walk the same path Christ walked - to live the life of holiness and to do good deeds. It is the Holy Spirit who sends, accompanies and encourages us to be on mission, “… you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which come on you, and then you will be my witnesses to earth’s remotest end,” (Acts 1:8).

INCREASE OUR FAITH

The Apostles ask Jesus to “Increase our faith,” (Lk 17: 5). 

The most tiny “faith like a mustard seed”, if exercised, can accomplish the seemingly impossible. The smallest amount of faith can accomplish great things. If we have fervent, ardent faith, even though it seemed to be small, you would accomplish great things.

Without faith we underestimate our own abilities. Without faith we end up giving up and blaming God. Faith empowers us to hold on as it deals with every problem we face in life. 

In this Extraordinary Missionary Month – October 2019 – Church is on Mission in the world. In this month we shall find ways to help to make Christ Jesus known to one another without going on the foreign mission. 

The Church invites every baptised and confirmed Catholic to get into a basic duty and obligation to live our faith, to grow in holiness and to do good deeds. If we are fail to live our faith then we are incomplete in living our faith in Christ and His Church.

“O that today you would listen his voice! Harden not your hearts,” (Ps 95).

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/a-church-on-a-mission/

WELCOMED, PROTECTED, PROMOTED AND INTEGRATED

The Universal Church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Pope Pius X (Pope from 1903-1914) invited Christians to pray for migrants, after millions of Italians had migrated abroad. In 1985, St John Paul II was the first pontiff to issue a yearly message, calling the Church to pray and pay attention to some of the realities and difficulties faced by migrants and refugees.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees was initially celebrated on the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. However in 2014, Pope Francis shifted the annual celebration from January to the last Sunday of September, at the request of the Bishops’ Conference. In many countries, World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated between 15-29 September 2019. In Malaysia, it was celebrated last Sunday, 22 September 2019.

This year, the Church celebrates the 105th anniversary of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Holy Father, Pope Francis has chosen the theme – “It is not just about Migrants” and in his message, the Holy Father invites us to include the migrants and refugees in our society - whether they are newly arrived or they have been staying long term in that particular country. The Holy Father wants us not to limit our concern for them alone but for ourselves and for everyone. It is not only concerning the migrants and refugees, but also all about us as well – the present and the future of humanity. He wants us to respond to the challenges that we face, by using four verbs: “to welcome, protect, promote and integrate.” The Holy Father also affirms that when we apply these four verbs in our daily lives “we will help build the city of God and man” and “help the world community to come closer to the goals of sustainable development.”

In our parish, we have almost 1400 migrants and refugees from Myanmar who are from the Zomi Community. They come and participate in the weekend Masses, every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Rev Fr Robert Khan Suan Khai from Myanmar celebrates Mass for their community and looks into their affairs. Currently, he is studying Social Communication in a private university and is residing at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Kuala Lumpur. During the 1st and 3rd  Sunday of the month, the children will attend their catechism classes. 

Besides the Zomi community, we have quite a number of migrants and refugees from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who are staying within our vicinity. A few of these families receive provision of groceries from our Ministry of the Poor. Their children are studying tuition on Mondays and Tuesdays in our parish, with the assistance of  the Parish Educare Ministry.

St Joseph’s Church always strives to keep to our mission, in reaching out to these migrants and refugees who need to be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated. Over the past few years, the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHD) - which consists of Parish Ministry of the Poor, Parish Educare Ministry, Parish Women Ministry, Parish Migrant Ministry and Eagle’s Wing - have been assisting and seeing to the needs of the migrants and refugees in our community, providing them with staple provisions, education, counselling, etc. 

We will continue to play our part and make every effort to put into practice the four verbs towards migrants and refugees, adults and children alike - who seek a better life in our land. Let us embrace them with joy and generosity.

REPENT AND GROW IN GODLINESS

Jesus begins the parable (Luke 19: 13-31) by introducing us two different men. The first man is the Rich Man who were “lovers of money.” The Rich Man lived like a king, with fine clothing and luxurious feasting every day.

Just outside his door we find the second man, Lazarus who is poor. Lazarus is dressed in sores that immobilised him. To make his situation worse and more pitiful, dogs would come and lick his sores.

Both the Rich Man and Lazarus died. Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s side, the place of honour at a heavenly banquet!

The Rich Man cried in the Hell, “Father have mercy upon me.” While he tormented in hell he realised during his life time he was too busy having a good time, spending his money, treating his friends, partying, etc. He realised it was too late to do all the things which he should have done on earth before he died.

A person who truly believe in Christ will live a life of repentance and grow in holiness.

 “Praise the Lord, my soul!” (Ps 146).

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/welcomed-protected-promoted-and-integrated/

CULTIVATE HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

The Catholic Church has always encouraged us to be rooted in the Word of God as a step to learn, to know and to serve the Lord. We Catholics, tend to not to put in as much effort in reading the Sacred Scripture as compare to the Protestants, who are more diligent when it comes to reading the Word of God and embracing it into their lives.

Therefore, this weekend I would like to assist you in practising the “Lectio Divina” method. Lectio Divina is known as ‘sacred reading’ in Latin. As we practice reading the Sacred Scripture, we allow our hearts to cultivate hearing the voice of God in the silence of our hearts. By reading Holy Scripture, we enlighten our hearts and increase our knowledge of God.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI introduced an ancient method of utilising Lectio Divina while reading the Sacred Scripture. It is one way to bring profound understanding to many Catholics about Scripture and to go into a deeper prayer life. Here are the ways of engaging into this method:

a)     Lectio (Read): First and foremost, we need to select a passage from the Bible. We can always use the daily reading given in the Roman Missal in the Catholic Church. Before reading the texts, invite the Holy Spirit to assist us in our reading and prayer by saying: “Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening,” (1 Sam 3:9).

b)     Meditation or Reflection: Recall the passage you have just read and take a word or phrase to yourself and see what God is trying to communicate to you through the particular passage. God wants to speak to your heart. The Holy Spirit hears and will slowly respond to you. If possible, read and reread the Scripture text slowly and gently so that you may able to grasp the details of the passage and become familiar.

c)      Oratio (Speak to God) and Contemplatio (Receive): It is the heart of the Lectio Divinia. Close your eyes and allow yourself to become silent. Slowly place yourself in the scene by using your imagination - what does Jesus look like? What are the people saying to one another and their emotions? We need to use our intellect, imagination and senses to make the scene real and alive. When a thought or imagination sparks an idea that descends to your heart then you can talk to the Lord in an intimate way and rest in His presence.

I still remember reading and contemplating the infancy narrative of Jesus. In my imagination, I was 12 years old and Jesus was a boy the same age as me. We were playing football together, went swimming in the river, camping, climbing, fishing, hunting… I was one with Boy Jesus and it was an assurance of Jesus’ presence in my imagination. 

This conversations with the Lord can be for a few minutes. Authentic prayer must be brought into reality of one’s life.

d)    Transformation or Application: The ultimate motive of Lectio Divina and all other form of prayer is to be transformed into the very essence of Jesus, to follow His footsteps. A St Paul says, “It is no longer I live, but Christ who lives in me,” (Gal 2:20).

I invite you to start using this Lectio Divina method by choosing our text, reading it in a more meditate way, speak to God, contemplate, converting the Word of God into prayer and live your life faithfully and reverently. This method teaches us to cultivate the ability to listen and to read the Sacred Scripture, and to apply this to our lives.