GIVE SUCCESS TO THE WORK OF OUR HANDS

In early January 2020, the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) and the Parish Coordinating Council (PCC) came together to prepare the Year 2020 Planner. For the past three years (2018-2020) our Parish Vision has been “Committing Ourselves into New Evangelisation”. In addition to this, we set a mission statement each year, as our pastoral priority. Our Vision’s third-year mission is – “We, as Parishioners of St Joseph, are sent forth joyfully to embrace, care for and to heal the Lost, the Last, the Least, the Little and the Lonely – 5Ls.”

While preparing the 2020 Planner, I mentioned to our committee members and to Parishioners that we would not have any major activities or events on a large scale like in previous years, but instead, I highlighted that our focus would be more on spiritual formation. I started my ministry here at this Parish in the middle of 2014 and I can proudly say that I have done my very best and that I have taken our Parish to new heights. I don’t have any regrets working with all of you thus far, and I am still going strong, serving this Parish with a lively and cheerful spirit.

Initially, when we started planning for our Parish feast day for this year– the Feast of St Joseph, the Worker, some of you suggested that we should have a low-key celebration, ie; just a 3-day Novena and Thanksgiving Mass, without the usual procession along the streets in the surrounding neighbourhood of our Parish, as we did in the past few years. As fate would have it, the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Movement Control Order (MCO) – (phase one, two, three and now four) – have prevented us from gathering in Church for worship and other pastoral activities. As a result, we decided to carry out the Novena online, and on 1 May 2020, being the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, we celebrated the Thanksgiving Mass which was live streamed so the faithful could follow Mass from the confines of their homes. Initially, I just wanted to have an online Thanksgiving Mass on 1st May, but eventually I decided to include the nine-day Novena to St Joseph as well, which started on Wednesday, 22 April 2020.

Although I may appear to be a workaholic, but in actual fact, I am very much with the spirit of St Joseph – “Ora et Labora” – Pray and Work. My spirit is cheered-up whenever I have a task to commit to. I do it whole-heartedly and I would always push Parishioners to get involved in Parish activities, formations, etc. I want everyone to move together with our Parish’s Vision and Mission. That is why during this MCO my heart was prompted to do the Novena in preparation for the Feast of St Joseph and I am glad that, with the help of a committed team, it turned out very well. I am truly grateful to Shaun Paiva and Augustine Sinbad for assisting us in the live streaming of the Novenas and Thanksgiving Mass. Together with their team – which also comprised, Leonard Paiva and Deeveyan Selvakumaran – they worked tirelessly to make the daily live streaming possible, so the faithful could follow these from home.

St Joseph was a carpenter and He did all his carpentry work whole-heartedly, in the presence of God, the Child Jesus “who was growing in wisdom and maturity in age,” (Lk 2: 52). Today, St Joseph teaches us to love our work, and to do everything whole-heartedly and with conviction. God will bring all things to fulfilment and happiness. Do our work with “justice and honesty” - and every task that is done successfully with justice and honesty, is done with “an expression of love for God.” God sees things from above He will bring all the blessings to us.

Today the world celebrates Labour Day. A majority of the workforce is on lockdown and many are just waiting anxiously to get back to work – with the intent of adopting a more efficient work attitude and being more productive, as things slowly turn into a new normal after the MCO. However, a survey has found that following COVID-19 and the Movements Control Order (MCO), 46.6% of all self-employed respondents, as well as workers in the agriculture and services sectors, will see the highest percentage of job losses in Malaysia, (New Straight Times, 9 April 2020). You may find yourselves feeling upset, hurt, anxious, angry and depressed thinking about your future. It may also cause financial strain and stress as this is a challenging time for many.

Today’s Psalm, “Give success to the work of our hands” is one of my favourite Psalms which I often pray, asking the Lord, be it any occasion or in my daily work. In fact, in the second reading today, St Paul says, “Whatever your work is, put your heart into it,” (Col 3:23), knowing that the Lord will repay or reward our work. I realise that the Lord has shown me His way and brought success to the work of my hands, on many occassions. Of course, we trust that our work is in God’s hands and He will make all things beautiful and He promises to reward the work of our hands.

The Holy Father Pope Francis, urges all of us to pray the Rosary as a family or as individuals, during the month of May, for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the Coronavirus started spreading throughout the world, and the MCO implemented, he composed a simple prayer pertaining to Covid-19 which is also for the people who are directly or indirectly affected by the COVID pandemic. I was really amazed when the Holy Father invited every Catholic to pray the Rosary throughout the month of May for “all those who are experiencing the greatest suffering” and to pray to “overcome this time of trial.”

Since the MCO was implemented, I often send prayers pertaining to this global crisis to my daily parish group chats and also to my personal friends chat groups. I shall continue to forward prayers on COVID-19 till the end of the Month of Rosary and you could always include them in your rosary prayers and intercessions, while you pray the Rosary with your family or as an individual. 

We have learnt many valuable lessons and gained many treasured memories through these moments of trial, brought upon by the Coronavirus pandemic. Let us continue to stay at home, stay safe and stay healthy. 

Happy Feast of St Joseph to all of you!

BE COURAGEOUS TO SAY "YES"

Today’s Gospel (John 10:1-10) portrays Christ is our Good Shepherd who recognises the voice of His sheep and their characteristics and their limitations. A Good Shepherd cares for and looks out for the flock. He protects, guides, directs and feeds them personally. May the Good Shepherd speaks to us through His Word, and that we will hear His voice and obey to Him.

Today the Church celebrates the 57^th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. It is a day that we need to promote vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. On this day the Holy Father invites us to reflect on four key words – “pain, gratitude, encouragement and praise – as a way of thanking priest and supporting their ministry.” 

We pray for the priests and religious that the Good Shepherd will continue to strengthen and bless them in their ministries. We also pray for our young people that they will respond courageously and generously to answer God’s call to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life by saying – “Here, I am Lord, I come to do Your will!”. Mother Mary always accompanies and intercedes for you. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”(Ps 23)

PRESSING JESUS TO STAY WITH YOU

Novena is a traditional Catholic method of prayer. Derived from the Latin word – novem which means “nine” – it is a nine-day period of public or private devotion to obtain graces, make special intentions or pleas for special favours from God, through the Saints of the Church. Our Parish began broadcasting the Novena to St. Joseph since Wednesday, 22April 2020 in preparation for the Feast of St Joseph, the Worker - our Patron Saint, on 1 May 2020 which will be celebrated via live streaming of Mass at 11.00am.

The first day of the Novena, was greeted with heavy rain and thunder storms in the evening and this interrupted the live streaming of the Novena, Adoration and Benediction from our Church which was scheduled to start at 5.00pm. Many waited patiently, hoping they would not miss out on the First Day of Novena of our Patron Saint and to participate in the Evening Prayer (Vespers), as well as in the adoration and benediction. Eventually, the broadcast took place at 6.45pm, after the 6.00pm live streamed Mass from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. There were many who participated in the Novena and we received encouraging feedback including a few suggestions for improvements on the broadcast.

With regards to the coronavirus pandemic crisis - an official announcement was made on 23 April 2020, informing all of Government’s decision to extend the Movement Control Order (MCO) to Phase 4, commencing from 28 April until 12 May 2020. It has already been more than 6 weeks since the lockdown started and many issues have risen within our community, especially among the poor. Families are going through anxiety, fear, panic, unemployment, and a large number are going through starvation. They are practically helpless and only God can show them the way. Our Parish Ministry of the Poor (MOP) has been reaching out to these people to help them as much as we possibly can. The Holy Father said, “This is another pandemic, another virus: it’s a social pandemic.” He invited us “to pray for these families, for their dignity” hoping that the Lord will “touch their hearts,” (cf. From the Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis on the feast of St. George, the Martyr, 23 April 2020).

Since early March 2020 we have been for the most part confined to our homes. We have missed so many Masses and celebrations in the Church. I am so impressed with the creativity and gestures of our Catholic Parishioners in the way they celebrate Jesus in their homes during this time when the celebration of the Eucharist has been suspended in all our Churches. Many of our Parishioners have shared their experiences and photos with me on how they celebrate the Liturgy at home.

Here, I would like to share a few of their experiences with you. On Palm Sunday, many Parishioners decorated their homes with palms more creatively and placed them at their altars and at their front doors. An elderly couple also shared with me that how they washed each other’s feet during the live streaming of Holy Thursday Mass and according to them, this was the first such experience of their lives! A young wife and mother shared how her husband kissed both her and their children’s feet, and she was overcome with emotion at this gesture of his. At Easter Vigil, the Church would normally decorate the surroundings of the Paschal candle and baptism fond with flowers and plants. This year, many Catholics decorated their own candles and celebrated the Risen Lord in their homes solemnly. Some of them shared how they set up simple altars with lit candles in front of their TV screens while following the online Masses. I know of an elderly single mother who makes unleavened bread and during the Holy Communion, she consumes it as a sign of consuming the Eucharist spiritually, while saying the Act of the Spiritual Communion prayer. Since we started live streaming the Novena to St Joseph, a young mother shared that her daughter, Sonia Gabrielle Gill, a special needs child, would touch the images of St Joseph and Mother Mary when the images appeared on their TV screen.

With these and many other experiences, you are expressing your faith in Christ and in your Church. Since the lockdown, we have been spending more time praying alone and with our families. Although not physically not present in the Church, you have instead brought the Church to your homes and you are “pressing Jesus to stay with you” (cf. LK 24: 29). Today you can feel the presence of Jesus more and more in your homes. The saving grace of God is at work in your life. Just continue to keep the spirit up – together let us build the Church, the Body of Christ at home during this pandemic.

DEPRESSION INTO JOY

The Resurrection is the central point of Christianity. Today’s Gospel (LK 24: 13-35) is about Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus on Resurrection Day. While they were walking to Emmaus, they thought Jesus was just another traveller and they did not even recognise Him in the breaking of bread.

As a result of this COVID-19 pandemic, we are still in lockdown staying at home while some are quarantined or in self-isolation. However we are not isolated from the Risen Lord. He continues to be present in our hearts and our homes. We must recognise that Christ Jesus is always dwelling within us and in our homes. We may miss our Church and Parishioners so much but we need to grow in our relationship with God through the Risen Lord.

After the experience, Cleophus and the other disciples went running back to Jerusalem to share with other disciples that “The Lord is truly risen.” Their encounter with Jesus and recognition of Him, changed their depression into joy.

We need to experience this kind of joy in this time of trial by reading the Word of God and listening to Jesus and feel our hearts zealously burning with faith and hope in Him that He is truly risen in our midst.

“You will show us the path of life,” (Ps 16:11).

https://www.stjosephsentul.org/pressing-jesus-to-stay-with-you/

ONE IN THE SPIRIT OF EASTER JOY

“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain,” (1 Cor 15:14). With these convincing words of St. Paul, we have celebrated Easter in a very simple manner but with deep faith knowing that Christ is truly risen from the dead. He is alive! We rejoice and are glad!

This year, we celebrated the Easter Triduum in our own homes by following the live streaming of masses / services, with our respective families. Although it seemed like a rather strange experience, it wasn’t an empty, meaningless or insignificant celebration. It was in fact a glorious celebration of faith in the Risen Lord which truly proved that our unfailing faith is not in vain. This unprecedented time of uncertainty has assisted us to go through a new reality of experiencing our faith. Today, we are one - one in the spirit of Easter Joy as we wonderfully exclaim  – “Sing Alleluia, the Lord is Risen, He is Risen indeed, Alleluia!”

Since the beginning of the Lenten season, Masses were suspended in all churches. However,  I was hoping that this global pandemic would have ended at least before the Easter Triduum. I was planning to have a beautiful Holy Week celebration with my Parishioners to mark the commemoration of the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (the Paschal Mystery). Unfortunately, it was not to be. I felt sad and perhaps a little lonely, celebrating the Easter Triduum Masses in an empty Church, which would, in normal circumstances, have been packed to overflowing with the faithful.

We are still unable to attend mass in Church, and every one of us is patiently waiting for the day when we can return to Church as usual for the Eucharistic celebrations, formations and other parish activities. For now, it looks like we may only be able to return to Church towards the third quarter of the year – which means that the Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Wesak festivals would be affected as well. I hope that God will continue to strengthen us and help us to keep our faith alive in this trying time. He still exists in our midst and He will not abandon his people as He says – “I will be Your God, you shall be My People,” (Jer 7:23).

The feast day of our Parish Patron Saint - St Joseph, the Worker, is soon approaching. This year, although we will not be celebrating the feast in church, due to this unprecedented crisis, I have planned something for 1st May 2020. It is meant to be a surprise, so stay tuned for further details!

We will begin the Novena to St Joseph from Wednesday, 22 April until Friday, 1 May 2020. I will forward the Novena Prayer to St Joseph everyday through WhatsApp for circulation among our Parishioners throughout the novena days. I am planning to have an hour’s Adoration with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, whilst incorporating the Evening Prayer (Vespers) from 5.00 to 6.00pm which will be live-streamed via Facebook live video (https://www.facebook.com/stjosephsentul/live/) throughout the nine days from our Church. (I will update you on this, once details have been finalised). Immediately after that you could follow the 6pm online Mass which is currently being live streamed everyday by the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur (tv.archkl.org). We must thank God for the development of the digital world and social media which enables us to participate in the Eucharistic celebrations online and stay united in prayer with the Church.

I believe most of you (if not all) are following the live streamed daily Mass. I still remember a few years ago when some Parishioners enquired about participating in online Masses – is this valid? Does the Catholic Church encourage online Masses? I firmly told them that the Catholic Church would never encourage this because there is a requirement and an obligation to attend Mass in Church, except for those who are homebound or for other health reasons. However today, due to this Coronavirus pandemic, following online Masses has become obligatory – at least until we get back to Church.

Ever since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was enforced throughout the nation, life has become a little boring and emotionally challenging and many are growing impatient. Freedom to move around is restricted as we are mostly confined to our homes, albeit for our own safety and well-being. We are now in the third phase of the MCO, which started on 15 April and will go on until 28 April 2020. We have already completed 4-weeks of the MCO, and God willing this trying period will be over soon.

In the meantime, do take the time and make the effort to evaluate our faith, our lives, and our relationship with God as well as with own family members. Of course, this virus is threatening all of mankind, but it will put us in the right perspective in terms of our connection with God, humanity and the world. In this time of uncertainty, be assured that God will make all things beautiful. He will ‘reset’, ‘restart’ and ‘refresh’ planet Earth. It is like our gadgets – sometimes they stall or breakdown, and we need to refresh or restart them again so that it can go on functioning as usual. So, as we reboot our lives after the Movement Control Order (MCO), let us be wiser and remember to always grow and glow in the Spirit, to live a life as One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, 811-812).