TREASURE CREATION AS OUR HOME

Every year from 1 September to 4 October, the Universal Church observes the Season of Creation. It is a time for prayer, reflection and action to care for our common home, the Earth. The season ends on 4 October with the feast of St Francis of Assisi, the saint who loved God’s creation, and reminded us that all creatures are our brothers and sisters.

This year is particularly significant because the Church celebrates the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ “Canticle of the Creatures” and the receipt of his stigmata. In 2026, we will mark the 800th anniversary of his death. As Patron of Italy and a universal model of simplicity and peace, St. Francis continues to inspire us to love and protect God’s creation.

This weekend, we reflect on the theme: “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” The destruction of the environment is not only about polluted rivers or disappearing forests. At its core, it is also about broken relationships, selfishness, greed and injustice. When creation suffers, people suffer too - especially the poor and vulnerable. Without justice, there can be no peace. And without peace, creation cannot flourish.

During this Season of Creation, we are encouraged to pause and listen. The voice of creation is heard in the cry of the Earth, in the cry of the poor, and even in the silence of forests, rivers, and skies. Creation is God’s precious gift, yet it suffers from climate change, pollution and exploitation. We are called to be healers, protectors and co-workers with God in protecting and renewing the Earth.

Pope Francis, in Laudato Sí, reminds us that ecological conversion is not only about science, innovation or politics, but it also touches our faith deeply. It calls us to gratitude, simplicity and solidarity. To care for creation is to live out the Gospel, for Jesus came to bring life in abundance for all – not just for humans, but for every creature.

Here are some practical steps we can take in our daily lives:

a.     Pray for creation – Thank God for the beauty of nature, and ask for the grace to care for it.

b.     Reduce waste – Use less plastic - recycle and avoid unnecessary consumption.

c.     Save energy and water – Turn off lights, conserve water and opt for walking or cycling whenever possible.

d.     Plant and protect – Care for trees, plants or even small gardens, as signs of hope.

e.     Support the poor – Remember that environmental harm affects the poor first. Acts of charity and justice go hand in hand with care for the Earth.

As we journey through this Season of Creation, let us not only admire nature but also act with courage and hope. May the spirit of St Francis of Assisi inspire us to treasure creation as our home and to safeguard it for generations to come.

SHEPHERDING GOD’S PEOPLE WITH HOPE

From Sunday evening, 7 September 2025, to Friday afternoon, 12 September 2025, I joined 35 brother Priests and Deacons from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and the Diocese of Melaka-Johor for our annual spiritual retreat at Majodi Centre in Plentong, Johor. It was guided by Rev Dr Henry D’Souza, SVD from Mumbai, India. Our six days together was a time of silent reflection, prayer, renewal, and rediscovering our call to be Priests for a Synodal Church.

A retreat is always a favourable time (2 Cor 6:2). It is when the Lord reshapes and moulds us, like clay in the potter’s hand (Jer 18:5-6). We are invited to surrender our Priestly lives entirely into His hands, with no resistance, trusting that God is doing something new in us (Is 43:19).

Fr Henry reminded us that a retreat is not just a break from our pastoral duties, but a grace-filled experience where Christ renews our hearts (Eph 3:16–19). To gain the most from this time, he encouraged us to adopt six dispositions: self-surrender, attentive listening, deep longing for God, seeking His will, hungering for His presence, and discovering His purpose for our lives and ministries.

One of the strongest invitations was to “put out into the deep” (Lk 5:4) – to leave behind shallow waters of comfort, routine and clericalism, and to venture courageously into deeper waters of faith, co-responsibility and listening. Just as Jesus met Peter in his exhaustion and disappointment, Christ meets us in our weaknesses and renews us for His mission.

We are also reminded that priestly identity is not found in titles, roles or positions, but in being beloved sons of God and living in Persona Christi. To be a priest is not a career, but a lifelong commitment to Christ and His Church. Our vocation calls us to walk with parishioners, to welcome them without judgment, to unite rather than divide, and to be shepherds who journey with the flock.

Fr Henry also identified the crises Priests face today: confusion of identity with roles, temptations of power, comfort or popularity, and the wounds to credibility and leadership. However, he reminded us of Jesus’ gaze upon Peter after his denial – a gaze of choice, forgiveness, and mission. Like Peter, every Priest is an imperfect human, yet we are loved, forgiven, and sent forth anew.

A Synodal Church is rooted in communion, participation and mission. As priests, we are called to promote communion, heal divisions and build trusting relationships. This involves cultivating a spirit of listening, humility and servant leadership. True leadership, as Jesus showed, is not about power, but service - not about distance, but closeness. A priest must “smell like the sheep” (Pope Francis), walking with his people and empowering them.

Finally, Fr Henry challenged us with inner transformation, by putting on the mind of Christ (Rom 12:2) – a mind of humility, self-emptying and openness to God’s Spirit. Only then can our priesthood radiate joy and hope to the people entrusted to us.

SEEDS OF PEACE AND HOPE

This year, the Season of Creation runs from 1 September to 4 October 2025 with the theme “Seeds of Peace and Hope.” The season takes on special significance as we celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, gently reminding us that, like seeds buried in soil to grow into new life, we are also called in Christ to be seeds that help renew the earth and bring peace to the world.

Jesus describes Himself as the grain of wheat that must die to produce new life (Jn 12:24). From small, hidden beginnings, new life blooms. Flowers even sprout in the cracks of concrete roads, showing us that God’s creation has a remarkable way of surprising us with beauty and hope. The prophet Isaiah assures us that when God’s Spirit is poured out, barren deserts will transform into fruitful gardens, and justice will bring lasting peace and security (Is 32: 15–18).

Today, our common home suffers deeply. Pope Leo XIV warns of deforestation, pollution, climate change, and the loss of biodiversity, often driven by greed and injustice. The poor and the vulnerable, especially indigenous communities, are the ones who suffer most from these wounds. Too often, creation itself is treated as a simple commodity, fought over and exploited, instead of a gift entrusted to our care.

The Holy Father, in his message for the 10^th World Day of Prayer for the care of creation 2025, reminds us that caring for creation is not an optional part of Christian life but a core expression of our faith. God commanded humanity to “till and keep” the earth (Gen 2:15), which means to cultivate, protect, and preserve it. It involves justice, protecting the environment, and honouring the Creator. Harming creation affects the poor and dishonours God. Caring for it fosters peace and hope for future generations.

As a parish, let’s continue praying, reflecting, and taking action together during this beautiful Season of Creation. We include prayers for caring for the planet and for those most affected by environmental crises in our daily prayers. We can also offer the Rosary or pray during Mass with this intention. Let’s come together with open hearts and hope to make a positive difference.

During our recent Catechetical meeting, we agreed to continue with Our Parish’s ecological initiatives, including recycling, waste reduction, energy conservation, tree planting, and maintaining the grounds. We aim to deepen the understanding of our catechism students of caring for creation by encouraging them to take small actions at home, in Sunday classes, or within the Church, such as reducing their use of single-use plastic, conserving water, and turning-off light switches and air conditioners when leaving the room.

Let us sow seeds through prayer, education, and action that will grow into peace for our world and hope for our children. May the Spirit of God help us to till and keep the garden of the world, so that creation may truly reflect the glory of Christ.

LOVE AND RESPECT FOR ALL CREATION

Let’s take a moment to reflect on two significant calls: caring for creation, and our nation’s 68th Merdeka Day celebration!

The Holy Father’s prayer intention for September 2025 is deeply Franciscan: “Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our inter-dependence with all creatures who are loved by God, and worthy of love and respect.” This intention coincides with the Season of Creation, which the Church observes in September. It is a time to pray, reflect and act with creation, not just to preserve it for the future, but because creation itself is God’s gift and revelation of love.

Pope Francis reminded us that “the earth is sick, just like anyone who’s sick.” Creation groans under the weight of human negligence, climate change and environmental disasters. As the Holy Father pointed out, it is always the poor who suffer the most when families are forced from their homes by floods, droughts or other natural disasters. The Pope called us to a response that is not only ecological, but also social, economic and political. We are called to commit ourselves to fight against poverty, and to protect nature by changing our personal and community habits.

As a Parish community, we will take a tangible step forward on this journey. Starting 31 August 2025 - coinciding with Merdeka Day - our Parish will commit to a renewed ecological initiative. Together, we will cultivate habits and undertake projects that protect the environment - from reducing waste to planting trees, conserving energy to raising awareness on how our everyday choices impact the environment. Inspired by Saint Francis, we aim to make our Parish a testament that love for God must also include love and respect for all of God’s creatures.

This call for ecological conversion also resonates deeply with the meaning of Merdeka. Malaysia celebrates 68 years of independence this year. Independence is not just about raising our national flag, but about building a nation that upholds justice and dignity - caring for all its citizens. Sadly, we often see strong reactions - such as when the flag is raised upside down - while deeper crises such as rising living costs, environmental degradation and a loss of trust in leaders,  are left unaddressed.

True patriotism must go beyond the national flag. It is about ensuring that every citizen has food security, quality healthcare, fair opportunities, and the freedom to live with dignity. A mature and confident nation listens to the cries of its people, and the cries of creation. Malaysia should strive to be a nation that shows respect for both people and homeland (tanahair).

Let us therefore unite our love for God, creation and our beloved country. As we pledge ourselves to ecological care, may we also renew our commitment to building a nation rooted in justice, compassion and responsibility. In this way, we honour both the Creator and the cherished gift of independence as true Malaysians.

HAPPY MERDEKA, MALAYSIA!

LET’S KEEP THE SPIRIT OF UNITY ALIVE!

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF CATHOLIC FAITH

On 28 August 2025, I was fortunate to meet a new Asli Community (Indigenous people) at Kampung Asli, Kundang, Muadzam Shah, approximately 120 km from Kuantan. Around 80 members of this community have expressed their interest in becoming Catholics. 

On this first encounter, we gathered to celebrate the Word of God, and together we learned to pray the Rosary. It was a moment of simplicity, yet deeply moving, as faith began to take root in their hearts. Each family received a holy picture of St. Thomas the Apostle and a Rosary—reminders that Christ walks with them on their journey of faith.

 

As we continue to accompany this community, I humbly invite all of us to keep them in our prayers. May the Lord, through the loving intercession of Mother Mary and St. Thomas the Apostle, bless their desire to embrace the Catholic faith. May He grant them strength in trials, perseverance in faith, and joy in following Christ.

 

Thank you, Joseph and Ivan, for your assistance and cooperation. I pray that this little seed planted today will blossom into a vibrant community of believers, rooted in the Catholic Church and alive in the Spirit.