FULFILLING THE MISSION OF CHRIST

During my recent trip to Turkiyé, I was drawn to an image of Our Lady of Grace, made from bamboo silk carpet, measuring approximately 1.2m x 0.6m. It was an attractive and valuable image, and prior to buying it, I was in a state of ambivalence. However, the moment I made the purchase, I felt a deep sense of peace. After safely bringing it home and having it framed, we, the Parishioners of St. Thomas, held a special blessing before commencing our prayer for the closing month of the Rosary, on Friday 31 May 2024. The framed image was blessed at the evening Mass during the Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady to Elizabeth. It was then placed in our Adoration Room, where it now holds a place of honour.

 

My heart overflows with gratitude for the unity and faith our BECs and Parishioners expressed during our communal Rosary prayer in May. Your participation was a beautiful testament to our shared devotion, which made a profound impact on our Parish community. Mary, our Mother, holds a special place in our hearts, and we are confident that she will continue to guide us, our families, and our Parish - leading us closer to her Son, Jesus Christ.

 

The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests is an annual observance that coincides with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and is a significant event in our Church calendar. Pope Saint John Paul II instituted this special day in 2002, reminding priests to reflect on the value and nobility of their vocation. Priests have a sacred ministry to fulfil the mission of Christ. Hence, they are called to encounter Christ through fervent prayer and passionate love.

Parishioners often ask me how many times a day does a priest pray. It is hard to give an exact number, but generally, priests are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary) at least five to seven times daily. Due to pastoral responsibilities and other commitments, I sometimes miss two to three of these prayer times. However, starting and ending the day with prayer is crucial for me, as it sets the tone for a more promising and fulfilling day. I pray the communal prayers with my Parishioners before Masses, and participate in the Holy Hour, Adoration and other spiritual exercises.

 

As a Parish Priest living in Kuantan, I fill my days with meaningful activities. My schedule is occupied by the responsibilities of parish work, engaging with the community, and travelling outstation for Masses with migrants and Orang Asli, which often involves long-distance driving. Occasionally, I engage in spiritual readings and meditations and make it a point to keep healthy by exercising whenever possible. There is always something to keep me occupied.

Let’s gather for Mass and Holy Hour on Friday, 7 June 2024, to offer prayers and thanksgiving for our priests, who play a crucial role in receiving and administering the Sacraments in our lives. We also pray for their strength and wisdom in their ministry and mission of proclaiming the teachings of the Gospels.

Mary, the Mother of All Priests - intercede for them.

UNITE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST

We are currently in the second period of Ordinary Time, which began after Pentecost Sunday and will continue until the start of Advent. The first period of Ordinary Time commenced after Christmastime and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and continued until Ash Wednesday, which signified the start of Lent and preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter).

The celebration of Pentecost last weekend took on a deeper significance for us as Christians. Just as the early Church was publicly inaugurated and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we, as a community, are once again called to reflect on our duty and commitment to exemplify Christ’s teachings in our everyday lives.

During Ordinary Time, the liturgical colour green holds a profound significance. Green symbolises life in nature, hope and continuous growth in Christian life. Ordinary time provides us with the graces that draw us into the life of God, and the ongoing spiritual journey. This season in the liturgical calendar is dedicated to exploring and internalising Jesus’ three-year public ministry and His teachings, reflecting on His miracles and contemplating the expansion of the Church. It offers a valuable opportunity for personal meditation, spiritual development and practise to live out the principles of the Christian faith, and to carry out the mission of the Church in the world.

In Ordinary Time, we undergo a period of significant growth and maturation. This is a time when the profound mystery of Christ must become deeply integrated into our lives, leading to the ultimate unity of all things in Christ. Throughout this season, all celebrations are purposefully directed towards the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, which is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

We have a few important Solemnities and feasts in the next couple of weeks – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the closing month of the Rosary on 31 May, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on 2 June and the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in conjunction with the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Priestly Life on 7 June. These are not just dates on a calendar but pivotal moments for us to unite as a community and deepen our faith in Christ. Following these celebrations, we will observe the Novena and feast on St Thomas, the Apostle, from 1-7 July. These upcoming events are not just dates on a calendar, but opportunities for us to come together as a community, and deepen our faith in Christ.

Finding time for quiet moments of prayer and meditation can be tough in a world of challenges. But we can feel a deeper bond with God when we keep a continuous connection with Him. This can lead to receiving many graces and developing virtues like humility, gratitude and solidarity. May the Spirit of God fill us with strength and courage to represent Christ genuinely in our world today.

Our Lady of the Trinity, pray for us!

A CHRISTIAN CIVILISATION

Türkiye is a country unique with its historical sites, culture, and traditions. Geographically, Türkiye occupies land that bridges the continents of Asia and Europe. I went on a 10-day pilgrimage tour to Türkiye with 22 other pilgrims from 5-15 May 2024. My pilgrimage was magnificent! I enjoyed the beautiful sights and gained a deeper understanding of the New Testament. It was breathtaking and mind-refreshing, particularly learning about the journeys and works of the apostles - St Peter, St John the Evangelist, St Paul, St Barnabas, and others - in Asia Minor, which is now known as Türkiye.

St. Paul played a significant role in the spread of Christianity through his three missionary journeys, which are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles. St. John the Evangelist was also a crucial figure who wrote letters from Patmos Island to the seven churches in Türkiye: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. In his letters, he urged them to repent, hold firm to their faith in Christ, and be on guard against evil (cf. Revelation chapters 2-3). Some of these towns’ names have changed to modern names, such as Smyrna to Izmir, Iconium to Konya, Antioch to Antakya, Pergamum to Bergama, etc. Their missionary works helped Christianity take root in the land of Türkiye, and spread throughout the early Roman Empire.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Islamic civilisation flourished during the time of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923). The Christian civilisation declined, and Islam spread rapidly in the region during this time. On 29 October 1923, Türkiye became the Republic of Türkiye, with Ankara as its new capital, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became the country’s first president. Türkiye is a secular state with a predominantly Muslim population, making up 99% of the total population of 86 million. Istanbul alone has about 3,000 mosques, and there are over 90,000 mosques throughout the country.

In 1927, the Christian population in Türkiye was estimated to be 200,000 to 320,000, which is equal to 3-5% of the total population. However, by 2022, the Christian population had decreased to 0.2% due to migration, religious discrimination and familial pressure. Currently, there are approximately 70,000 Catholics, 70 Catholic priests and 3 bishops in Türkiye.

Centuries ago, many churches, cultural heritage sites and buildings in Türkiye were badly destroyed by earthquakes and have not been successfully restored. Archaeologists are still excavating these sites, and attempting to restore them, but they face difficulties due to financial and political issues. In Cappadocia, we have seen how monks stayed in natural volcanic rock caves formed by eruptions. Many caves in the castle are currently being used as pigeon houses. It is disheartening to see our Christian civilisation lost in Türkiye.

Ephesus was a delightful destination because we had the opportunity to visit the House of Mary, St. John the Evangelist’s burial tomb, and the birthplace of St. Paul at Tarsus. The house of Mary has puzzled many of us. It is believed that John would have taken Mother Mary to Ephesus, and from there, he would have travelled and spread the Good News (cf. John 19: 26-27). If the Blessed Virgin Mary can be present everywhere in the world, why can’t we believe that she would have stayed in Ephesus in the early 1st century?

"You are to put aside your old self, which belonged to your old way of life, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self." (Ephesians 4:22-24).