SMALL CHANGES MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

Pope Francis urged people worldwide to prioritise caring for the environment, asserting that it is our responsibility as Christians to protect God’s creations. As Christians, we are called upon by the Church to learn and put into practice the principles of earth care and to take action in accordance with Christ’s teachings in caring for the environment. Therefore, we have a unique responsibility to be stewards of God’s Creation and to pray for the welfare of this planet.

To draw attention to the irresponsible actions of humanity towards the environment, Pope Francis has established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1st. It is our duty to make a collaborative effort to address environmental issues, particularly in the areas of water, energy consumption and food. We can achieve greater ecological harmony with all living creatures when we preserve the beauty of creation. 

 

We are responsible as caretakers of God’s creation to conserve and protect our planet, avoiding waste and abuse. How can we reduce environmental destruction and protect ecosystems for future generations? Here are some tips:

a)     Reduce waste and pollution and lessen global warming by separating recyclable items such as cans, cartons, paper, and plastic bottles at designated recycling centres instead of burning garbage.

b)     Use water wisely - take shorter showers, wash dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher, and fix any leaks in your home.

c)     Do not litter or pour chemicals into drains. Dispose of chemical waste responsibly to prevent pollution.

d)     Conserve electricity by turning off lights, televisions and air-conditioners when not in use and purchase energy-efficient appliances.

e)     Use reusable bags and containers when shopping for clothes, books or food. This reduces plastic waste and pollution and saves money!

f)      Prepare only the amount of food that you will eat, to avoid wastage.

g)     Reduce our usage of plastic products; for instance, reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones.

h)     Stop receiving unwanted catalogues, flyers or posters.

i)      Minimise paper usage by printing only when necessary and recycling paper after using it.

j)      Grow your own vegetables or plant more trees in your own backyard, if feasible.

k)     Use alternative modes of transportation such as public transportation, carpooling, walking, or biking instead of driving alone. Avoid driving short distances; carpool to Mass instead of driving separately.

l)      It is crucial to teach children to reuse and recycle products.

Let’s do our part in conserving the environment to protect the future of our planet. Our efforts don’t have to be on a grand scale. Every small sacrifice, every small change in attitude towards improving our planet, can make a significant impact. You can make a positive change in your daily lifestyle and contribute to the well-being of our home, Mother Earth. Let us all work together as a community to make the effort to reduce, reuse and recycle our waste.

CARETAKERS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE

In 2015, Pope Francis declared September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (WDPCC), urging Catholics worldwide to pray for our common home. The theme for WDPCC this year is “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, based on Prophet Amos’ words “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24). In the Holy Father’s message, he said that justice should be carried out wherever it is required. We should strive to be just in all circumstances and live according to God’s laws. The Pope invites us to maintain the right relationship with God, humanity and nature, so that “justice and peace to flow like a never-failing stream of pure water, nourishing humanity and all creatures.”

The Holy Father has instituted WDPCC to highlight the irresponsible actions of humanity. The impact of war has caused rivers to dry up. Consumerist greed disrupts water cycles. The uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests is causing temperatures to rise, as well as droughts. Water shortages impact both rural areas and cities. Additionally, predatory industries are degrading and contaminating freshwater sources through extreme activities such as fracking, uncontrolled mega-mining projects and intense animal farming.

 

As Christian communities, how can we contribute to justice, peace, and the healing of our common home during the Season of Creation?

 

Our first step should be to resolve and “transform our hearts, lifestyles, and public policies ruling our societies.” We must cherish the Earth as a sacred gift from our Creator rather than seeing it as an object to be exploited. Second, let us transform our lifestyles. We can start by being grateful for the Creator and His creation and “repenting of our ecological sins.” Third, we must transform the public policies that “govern our societies and shape the lives of young people today and tomorrow.”

 

Our neglect and ignorance in living our lives have caused great destruction not only to our world and the nature God created for us, but also to the livelihood and well-being of various people. Therefore, all of us have a responsibility to take care of the world, including our environment and everyone who lives in it.

 

WDPCC is a day when we collectively focus our attention on the responsibility of taking care of our planet. We are all called to be worthy caretakers of this planet, which is a precious creation of God. Let us all reflect on what we can do, in our own unique way, to protect and preserve our planet.

 

We should do everything in our power to live our lives in accordance with the teachings and guidance of the Lord. We must love one another and be responsible for our actions and works, always mindful of our role as stewards of all that God has created for us in our world today.

Let’s inspire each other to live more faithfully, so that more people can be called to live a life that is truly worthy of God - today and always. Lord, please plant in us a heart full of love, courage and desire to love You, and everything You have created.

BE PRESENT IN THE CHURCH

During the month of August, the Holy Father has mandated a special intention for young people to actively live their faith and spread the Gospel’s message in their daily lives. This intention coincided with the 38th World Youth Day (WYD) event in Lisbon, Portugal, which took from 1 – 6 August 2023. In his message, the Pope asked young people to joyfully bear witness to the Gospel and encouraged them to embark on this path without hesitation. Pope Francis emphasised the significance of young people for the Church and highlighted that the Church’s survival is dependent on their involvement. 

Our Parish Youth Ministry of Saint Thomas in Kuantan hosted several activities throughout the month of August to commemorate WYD and to carry out Pope Francis’ intention and mission. On 6 August, a group of eight individuals performed a liturgical dance with the theme song from the WYD in Lisbon. The youth also sold cookies and cupcakes to raise funds for their future activities. They have expressed their gratitude to all Parishioners for their continuous support in helping them achieve their goals.

 

We have scheduled two significant events to take place before the end of the month. The first is a two-day camp with the theme “You, Him, and I,” which will be organised by the Chinese-speaking youth. It will take place this weekend (Saturday, 26 Aug - Sunday, 27 Aug) at the Assunta Retreat Center in Kuantan. The camp’s objective is to bring everyone together and foster a stronger relationship with God and each other. There are 29 participants registered.

 

In line with the Holy Father’s intention for this month, the Parish Youth will be hosting a Eucharistic Adoration on 30 August - the evening before National Day. The celebration will begin with Mass, followed by Holy Hour that includes Vespers (Evening Prayer), a Youth Message, a Video Clip, and ends with Adoration and Benediction. We strongly encourage all youth, including past and present Post-Confirmation students, to be present for this Eucharistic Adoration.

 

During this time, we invite our Parish Youth to gather and participate in prayer and reflection on the message of the Holy Father which is directed towards them. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for young people to experience the living Christ by spending meaningful time with the Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

While the Pope led the young people in prayer with the Rosary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, a young girl who participated in the WYD regained her sight perfectly after receiving Holy Communion. She had been experiencing very blurry vision for two and a half years. From this miracle, it is important for young people to have faith and embrace the Eucharist as a transformative moment in their spiritual journey with God. This is a time to fully dedicate themselves to living for the Eucharist.

 

Many young people are distancing themselves from the Church and showing little interest in their faith in Christ. It is important to recognise our unique talents and actively engage in the Church through various formations and activities. The Church warmly welcomes teenagers and young adults and encourages them to invite other young people to encounter Christ, enriching them through communion, participation and mission.

MATTERS OF FAITH AND HUMANITY

Six state elections (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor) were held on Saturday, 12 August 2023. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition (Pakatan Harapan) secured victory in three states, while the conservative opposition (PAS backed by Perikatan Nasional) also seized three states. The appointments of the chief ministers and exco members by the respective coalition parties have been made. As they celebrate their victories, it is vital for each party to establish accountability, promote unity within their respective parties and refine their political platforms.

Our nation is regressing in economic, political and social affairs. It is important to reassess and review our educational system in schools, colleges and universities. The goal should be to cultivate a mature and sophisticated society, as well as to foster elite groups. Our goal is to raise new and young generations who are forward-thinking with progressive views rather than promoting conservatism and extremism. In past campaigns, whether in state or general elections, there was a lot of negative behaviour - backbiting and insulting one another. We should avoid instilling these negative attitudes in the minds of our young people.

 

I read an article entitled, “Anwar Should Stop Wasting Time - Conservative Malays Love Dirty Water, Poverty, Racism, Extremism and Corruption”, published by Finance Twitter on 15 August 2023. It was an exciting insight and it concluded that the PMX should focus on three areas – Economy, Education and Reforms. It is imperative that the MADANI Unity Government should start planning for their continued power and stability in the upcoming 16th General Election.

 

Our country’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) launched the Malaysia MADANI slogan on 19 January 2023. The goal is to improve the administration by “prioritising matters of faith and humanity, guided by values, morals, and just and effective governance.” When he was appointed Prime Minister, he had no vision for the country but he coined the word MADANI from the acronym for a script that stands for sustainability (keMampanan), prosperity (KesejAhteran), innovation (Daya cipta), respect (HormAt), trust (KeyakiNan) and compassion (Ihsan). Our nation is urgently working towards fortifying the MADANI policy framework in order to strengthen the economy, as well as political and social issues.

 

In the MADANI government, every Malaysian citizen - regardless of their background - has the basic right to live in sustainable communities and environments. It is important for our society to prioritise care and compassion in all areas, to ensure equal opportunities and promote equality. Encouraging empathy is vital in creating a fair and just world for all individuals. It is also crucial to encourage mutual respect as a norm to promote inclusivity among citizens. Moreover, incorporating innovation into all aspects of national life should be embraced. The MADANI government is committed to ensuring prosperity through sustainability, transparency, and cooperation. These policies and priorities are interconnected and integrated, working together to strengthen one another.

 

Together, let’s work within these frameworks to heal our nation and move towards a brighter future. May God guide and assist us as we strive to live by the words of Micah 6:8, “to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with Him.”

BUILDING WITH DIVINE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE

On 21 July 2023, I received an email from Dato’ Ar Lai Lok Kun through our Parish website. He introduced himself as the “original architect of the church.” I did not respond to his email immediately, however, a week later, he contacted me through the Parish landline and we had a brief conversation. He wanted to meet me and expressed his wish to revisit the Church he designed back in 1966.

Last Thursday (10 August 2023), Dato Lai along with his brother Ken Lai, sister and brother-in-law Mr and Mrs Leong, and his daughter Suyan, drove from Petaling Jaya, Selangor and visited the Church of St. Thomas in Kuantan. Two senior members from our Parish - Peter Chia and Peter Tan, who were involved in the building project in 1966 – were with me, to welcome them. During our conversations in my office, Dato Lai explained that it was his brother, Ken Lai, who was a dentist and parish member at the time, had introduced him to the late Rev Fr Antoine Henriot (MEP) and that was how he was appointed as the architect to design the new church. At the time, he was only 31 years old.

During his visit, Dato Lai shared that it was a memorable experience after 57 years. He recounted how he was inspired to design a new church back in 1966. He said he stood at the main gate on a very hot day, feeling the weight of his enormous responsibility to design a house of God. Looking up at the sky, he realised he needed divine wisdom and guidance to present his plan to the building committee for approval.

He was aware of the monsoon rainy season at the end of the year. To enhance the sensory experience of reaching for the heavens, he created a soaring roof that resembles a cross, sharp eaves, and a skylight over the altar. He didn’t make the trusses disappear but added elegance to the plain interior. Then, he designed a creative entrance for the Church and the altar and followed it with the construction of a floor and sitting area.

It was truly fascinating to see a unique church design that was built to accommodate the growing Catholic population in the East Coast. After a lengthy discussion, we took them to visit the Church and its surrounding areas. After lunch, we took them on a tour of Kuantan City, visiting some schools, beaches and old buildings. Our guests were thrilled to recall past memories along the way.

Dato Lai, who is presently 89 years old, was born in 1934. He obtained his architectural qualifications from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He has been a practising architect in Malaysia since 1963. He dedicated almost 60 years of his life to architecture, development, and collaborating with friends on township projects to advance his career.

Throughout his career in architecture, he has achieved numerous great accomplishments, with his latest being awarded the Gold Medal laureate by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia - PAM) among the best 11 architects in the country for 2021. He is an incredibly humble, kind-hearted and friendly man who has established architectural milestones in our country.