DANKE PAPST BENEDIKT!

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on New Year’s Eve at the age of 95. We, the Parishioners of St Thomas, held a 7th-day memorial prayer and Mass for him on Friday, 6 January 2023 at 7.30 pm, followed by Vespers (Evening Prayer), Holy Hour and Adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

We have never heard of a Pope resigning or retiring. It was a shock to us all when Pope Benedict XVI resigned as head of the Universal Church in 2013. He was the first ever Pope to resign during his reign, 600 years since Pope Gregory XII’s resignation in 1415. He was known as a “very gentle” and “humble” man, but Pope Benedict was also a controversial man. His papacy faced several challenges, including the scandal of sexual abuses by the cleric. Pope Benedict reiterated his predecessors stand on matters of priestly celibacy, ecclesiastical organisation, liturgy and its solemnity.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral which was presided over by Pope Francis, took place on Thursday, 5 January 2023 at St Peter’s Square, Vatican City. For the first time, we had seen a living Pope (Pope Francis) preside over another Pope’s funeral. When Pope John Paul II passed away, the Dean of the College of Cardinals – Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger presided over the funeral.

It is a tradition for the reigning Pope to write his first “encyclical” letter the moment he becomes a Pope - to be circulated to the Universal Church and the World. After his election in 2005, Pope Benedict’s first encyclical was on “Deus Caritas Est” (God’s Love for Humanity) on 25 December 2005 and followed by two other encyclicals - “Spe Salvi” (Saved in Hope, 2007) and “Caritas in Veritate” (Love in Truth, 2009).

As a Priest, I have served three Popes - Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis. I didn’t have a chance to meet them face to face, but I saw them in the Wednesday audience, at St Peter’s Square during my pilgrimages. In my early years of priesthood, I enjoyed reading Pope Benedict’s encyclicals, exhortations and homilies, and I admired all his works and his style of writing. His works have profound knowledge and insights. He was very intelligent and a great theologian. Now with Pope Francis, I find myself loving his writings and messages more, because they are down-to-earth, especially his concern for the underprivileged, the poor and migrants.

Each Pope writes a “Spiritual Testament” which will only be made known to the public after his death. Pope Emeritus wrote his spiritual testament on 29 August 2006. He thanked God, his parents, friends and collaborators who had journeyed through his life. The most important point he highlighted was “the centrality of faith in God”, and inviting us to “stand firm in the faith!”

We thank God for the gift of Pope Emeritus. During his short period of ruling the Catholic Church, he “offered us living intellectual tools” for today’s world. Pope Francis has written a preface for a book on the Spiritual Reflection of Pope Emeritus entitled “God is Always New” edited by Luca Caruso which will be published on 14 January 2023. Pope Francis expressed that the theology of Benedict was Passion Steeped in the Gospel, Magisterium (Church) and Vision of Faith – “God is always New, God is never repetitive, God surprises us, and God brings newness.”

Danke Papst Benedikt! (Thank you Pope Benedict) and Santo Subito! (A Saint Right Away)

REMAIN STEADFAST AND JOURNEY TOGETHER

What a wonderful Christmas celebration we had at Church! The turn-up was unexpected for both the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses. It was overwhelming! The multi-lingual carolling was well performed, and the congregation came early for the Christmas Eve Mass to listen to the carols being sung. Many thanks to all carollers for your effort, and congratulations on your fabulous singing. We all enjoyed it!

We invited the Orang Asli and Indonesian communities from the oil palm estates as well as other migrants, to be with us this Christmas. About 100 of them including children, stayed overnight and on Christmas Day, we had a party for them. The PIHDM (Orang Asli Ministry) and the East Malaysians from the Armed Forces organised a potluck and catered food. A big thank you to them for hosting this event. We distributed 200 goody bags to the children present that day.

 

With the Grace of God, we are ending the Year 2022 on a high note. Although we have faced some hardships and tough times along the way, the Lord made all things possible and His Spirit stands before and beside us in every moment of our lives. We thank the Almighty God for all the great achievements and blessings that we have received over the past year. We should also give ourselves a pat on the back and acknowledge our perseverance - allowing ourselves to learn, add value, strengthen and grow in our faith life.

Now, we welcome a brand New Year 2023 with a lot of excitement and exhilaration! As we take our steps day by day, be thankful for what we already have and continue to work hard for the things we desire. On the very first day of the New Year, take time to set goals, priorities and commitments, as we look forward to this New Year. We should back it up with strategies and actions in order to achieve our plans.

 

January 1st is also celebrated as “World Day of Peace” and the Holy Father, Pope Francis has chosen the theme for the 56th World Day of Peace – “No One Can Be Saved Alone” as he encourages us to remain steadfast and have our gaze fixed on times and seasons, as we wait for the Lord’s return (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2).

 

In his message, he highlights that the whole world is still “combating COVID-19 together, embarking together on paths of peace.” Every individual and family are still facing long “periods of isolation and restrictions on freedom contributed” by COVID-19. The infectious virus has fractured our social status, caused economic instability, threatened job security, and increased loneliness and poverty.

 

Nevertheless, we have learned, realised and experienced the greatest need for one another during this COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot be saved alone, but we need “to join together in seeking and promoting the universal values that can guide us to the growth of this human fraternity.”

 

As we continue to combat the virus, everyone needs a spirit of “responsibility and compassion” in order “to build a new world – with love, justice and peace.” The Holy Father hopes that in this New Year we shall “journey together” and “value the lessons that history has taught us – so that we make this a good New Year!”

 

WISHING YOU A SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR, BLESSED WITH HAPPINESS AND PEACE - TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. STAY WELL, STAY SAFE AND STAY BLESSED ALWAYS!

A REMARKABLE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

The Glory of the Lord shines on us like the sun. He will rise over us and appear in our midst. Glory is the characteristic of God who shared His glory with His Son Jesus Christ, the radiance of His glory. As He shines on the entire world, let our lips, hearts, minds and souls be filled with praises and glory all the days of our lives, (cf Ps 70).

Christmas has come! Today, we celebrate the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, (John 1: 14). Christmas is a wonderful time of the year because we are celebrating the most amazing mystery of salvation – the coming of the Saviour of the World once again. On this Christmas, we are grateful and thankful to God for the gifts of His Only Son. It is a time to share gifts of love with one another – our families and friends. Christmas is not about giving and receiving presents, but it is about the presence of Child Jesus and celebrating Him in our hearts and homes who is the real gift of Christmas.

Since the first week of Advent, Kuantan City residents and Parishioners have been admiring the glow of Christmas lights twinkling around our Church compound. The Christmas tree crib and decorations have already been put up inside and outside of the Church with the efforts of East Malaysians and a few individuals.This year will be my second Christmas with you. The first Christmas was way back when I was an Assistant Parish Priest in 2003.

 

Each Christmas reminds us that sharing love with others is our privilege, and every time we do that, Jesus is reborn in our midst. This Christmas, we have invited the Orang Asli families, the migrant Indonesians (plantation workers), and Vietnamese and University students to come for Christmas Eve and Christmas Masses. We have provided buses for them. They will stay overnight in our Parish for the Christmas celebration. We have catered meals and some potluck for them. We will distribute 250 goody bags as one of the gifts amongst others for all children on Christmas day at the breakfast corner and we invite Parishioners to join us in welcoming them.

For the first time, our carolers will be caroling in four languages at the Christmas and New Year's Eve Masses in our Church. They have been practicing these past four weeks and they are excited to sing the Christmas carols announcing the coming of Christmas and telling the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. We invite everyone to come together and worship the birth of Child Jesus in our personal way and prepare ourselves to move with the Spirit as we enter into the Christmas season.

After two tough years of the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent lockdowns and restrictions, this year we are looking forward to a remarkable Christmas celebration. As we gather together as family and friends in the Church for the Christmas celebration starting with the Eucharist, let the coming of Christ Jesus in the Holy Communion bring joy and the warmth of Christmas in our hearts. May the Child Jesus dwell in our hearts to bring hope, peace, joy, and a love-filled Christmas.

May the joy, love and happiness shine in our Parish 

as we pray that the spirit of Christmas is kept alive in our hearts always. 

A Very Merry Christmas to everyone!

WE LONG TO SEE CHRIST

We have come to the last Sunday of Advent. This year we observe four complete weeks of Advent because Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. Back in 2017, we celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Advent and immediately after, we celebrated Christmas Eve (Sunday evening) and Christmas Day (Monday). Christmas will only fall on a Sunday once again, in 2033. 

The season of Advent always comes and goes quickly because we are busy with the festivities and hustle and bustle of preparing cookies, shopping, and decorating for Christmas and New Year. We often forget to meditate on the Advent readings and perhaps neglect to reflect on the purpose and spiritual aspects of the Advent season.

During this Fourth Week of Advent - a week that increases our longing to see Christ Jesus - we learn to be more patient and forgiving, more service-oriented and contemplative like Mary, who “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart,” (LK2:19). In the next few days before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, take a few moments each day not to get ahead of ourselves, but instead to live the final week of Advent with the proper disposition in our hearts to welcome Child Jesus on Christmas Day and New Year. 

We long to see Christ and celebrate Him this Christmas - a spiritual Christmas! It is a “time for the baby to be born… wrapped him in swaddling clothes and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn,” (LK2:6-7). This Christmas we embrace Child Jesus in our hearts and welcome Him into our homes. We want Him to lay in the manger of our hearts. His coming and His presence will make us holy. Let His light shine on us, and bring us joy. As the glory of the Lord shine on the entire world and let our lips, hearts, minds, and souls are filled with praises and glory all the day of our lives (cf. Ps 70).

As you all know, it has been raining these past few days, causing flash floods and landslides in parts of our country. The weather forecast across Malaysia says that we should expect to see more rainfall in the coming weeks. The Parish Flood Relief Ministry (PFRM) had our emergency meeting on Tuesday (13 December 2022) to prepare ourselves for any instances of flooding. The PFRM will purchase all the necessary items in order to move forward and assist victims in flood-prone areas, especially Muadzam Shah, Pekan and Rompin. We will also work on collecting items, getting the necessities for cooking in the kitchen and evacuation centres, should the need arise. We hope to provide everything we can, to help keep flood victims safe from danger and illnesses, and as comfortable as possible.

 

MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES BE BLESSED WITH PEACE, LOVE AND JOY.

LIVING A JOY-FILLED ADVENT

December is a hectic and stressful month for many of us, but it is the most cheerful, exciting, wonderful time of the year because of the holidays and festivities! It surprises us with a sense of wonder and a sense of giving. As we come closer to Christmas and New Year, we should strive to make our lives significantly better, by clearing a pathway and preparing our hearts to welcome Child Jesus to be born in us, once again.

As we enter more profoundly into the third week of Advent, also known as “Gaudete Sunday” (rejoice) - our hearts are rejoicing for Christmas is drawing near, and His coming is closer at hand. We look into the depth of our hearts and examine our spiritual and moral lives. During this crucial period of preparation, the Church demands us to be patient, more attentive to the Word of God and show our genuine love and charity towards others, which will lead us into a joyful Christmas and New Year. It is an appropriate time to bring our hearts to a mode of penance and anticipation, before the Christmas Eve Mass.

It is easy for us to lose sight of the significance and meaning of the four-week Advent. I myself have realised that I haven’t spent much time in prayer this Advent. Even though I have attempted to be with the Lord in prayer and meditation, I was somehow carried away with my priestly duties. For the past couple of days, I have been visiting the homebound, administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Anointing of the Sick and distributing the Holy Eucharist to the elderly and the sick at home and at hospitals. It was wonderful to visit them once again, and I hope that they may find wholeness, acceptance, affirmation and peace.

During the season of Advent, we celebrate a most prominent feast - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - which falls on 8 December every year. The Immaculate Conception is about Mary’s pure (holy) conception from the time she was the tiniest baby in her mother’s womb. She was preserved from sin through the Grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit and she was born free from the stain of original sin. She was sinless all through her life. It was a great gift to us that God honoured Mary by choosing her to be the Mother of Our Lord Jesus.

On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, we placed the most prominent figurines in the Christmas Crib - Mary, Joseph and Angel Gabriel. These figurines help us to reflect the mystery of God’s love that was revealed in humility and poverty – “although He was rich, He became poor for your sake, so that you should become rich through His poverty,” (2 Cor 8:9).

We pray and hope this Christmas will be more energetic, enthusiastic and spirit-filled, so that our lives will be blessed with joy and peace from God. We continue to remain in watchful and joyful expectation for the Lord to come – “Come, Lord Jesus! Come and visit your people. We await your coming. Come, Lord Jesus!”