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).

UNCERTAINTY TO CERTAINTY

On this Second Sunday of Easter, St. John tells us that the disciples of Jesus are gathered together behind locked doors, in fear of the Jewish authorities. The very first word that the Risen Lord when He appeared to His disciples and a week later to Thomas, said – “Peace be with you!” (John 20: 19-31).

Thomas was doubtful and he was known as “Doubting Thomas.” After his experience with the Risen the Lord, he became a believer of Christ and proclaimed – “My Lord and My God!”

Doubt is not a bad thing. At time we have doubts. Doubt is not negative unless it leads us to choose not to believe. They are actually good because they lead us back to God for answers.

We may wonder where is God in this time of global pandemic. Here, Jesus comes and stands in the midst of all our uncertainties, trials and fear and says – “Peace be with you.”

We need to place our complete trust in the Risen Lord Jesus and depend on Him 100%. When we bring our doubts to Him surely and certainly He assures our faith in Him and salvation to our souls.

“GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, FOR HIS LOVE HAS NO END.” (Ps 117)

PRAYING FOR NEW HOPE AND NEW LIFE – ALLELUIA!

These past weeks have been an unprecedented time of uncertainty for people throughout the world due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. In Malaysia, Churches suspended Masses and closed their doors even before the Movement Control Order (MCO) was announced. Since then, we Catholics have been following live-streamed masses from within our homes. Many of us have expressed our longing for the Eucharistic celebration – Jesus who is truly present in the Eucharist. However we are still under the movement restriction order - staying at home and doing our best while wisely spending time with God. We believe that this current crisis will surely - by the grace of God, come to an end soon, and we will return to our Church. Till then, just stay at home, stay healthy and stay fit!

I take my hat off to all of you, my dear Parishioners for staying in touch, interacting and supporting one another spiritually, physically and mentally. During this time of trial, we are “like sheep without a shepherd,” (Mk 6: 30-34) moving and wandering aimlessly within our four walls. Everyone loves Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. However, we are unable to celebrate this highest and most favourable of the liturgical celebrations in Church this year. Nevertheless, we are spiritually in communion with the Church, praying together with our families at home.

During Holy Week, starting from Palm Sunday and continuing until Easter Sunday, I decided to turn on the PA system to celebrate Mass at the Church altar together with our Sacristan, Joseph. On Easter Vigil night, I will play the recorded Exsultet (the Proclamation of Easter) and the Easter Alleluia proclamation in the Church, just to stimulate the heart of the Church and your hearts, so as to be in communion with the Church. Rev Fr Moses Rayappan, who will be con-celebrating with me on the Easter Vigil Mass - we will also bless the whole church with the sprinkling of Holy Water, whilst imagining that you are all present, sitting in your usual pews with your respective families in church. You may be wondering why we do all these unnecessary things! Deep inside, I feel these gestures and actions will help to invigorate you to help keep your faith alive. I believe this will help to raise your spirits!

Once we are back again in Church, celebrating mass, we shall sing joyfully all the Easter hymns and proclaim the “Alleluia” with pride and joy. We will never get tired singing the “Alleluia”. The word “Alleluia” is a Hebrew word, meaning “Praise Yahweh”. It is proclaimed triumphantly at Easter Vigil – a term of great jubilation. I am eagerly waiting to hear “Alleluia” echoing through our Church and the bells tolling once again when all of you return to the Church of St. Joseph. Come back with all your hearts to express your conviction and your faith in the Risen Lord, and begin the mission of the Church. The Church is always on mission.

During this Coronavirus pandemic, we have not neglected the Church’s mission on outreach to the Little, the Lost, the Last, the Least and the Lonely (5Ls). For the past two Sundays, our Parish Ministry of the Poor (MOP) has carried out their mission of outreach towards the poor families. With the help of a few MOP members – Aloysius Anthony, Gabriel Moses, Teresa Shaun, Jacqueline Franciss, Dorothy Anthonysamy, George D’Cruz and also our Myanmar community coordinator, Bosco, we managed to reach out to almost 300 poor families (80 families who live in and around Sentul and 206 Myanmar families). We provided them with groceries and some money to them. This is only the first phase, and the second outreach will take place sometime towards the end of April 2020.

On Friday, the Prime Minister announced that the MCO has been further extended till 28 April 2020, and this may probably go on till May 2020. Many of us may be facing some kind of financial challenges ahead and many will lose jobs and their livelihood. Nevertheless, the Church mission continues and our outreach mission work towards the poor and the needy will never end. We must remember to support them the best we can, and to be more committed in our Church mission work. When we give joyfully and generously in the service of the Kingdom of God, in return God will bless us abundantly.

I wish to invite everyone to light candles at home, beginning from Easter Vigil right up to Easter Sunday, when you end with the Evening Prayer (Vespers – The Church Prayer) and family Rosary. Let us all be in solidarity with the world by fervently praying for an end to the COVID-19 pandemic. I will play the Gregorian Chant in the Church immediately after Easter Sunday Mass and I will turn on the Gregorian Chant every day after my daily morning Mass throughout the Easter Octave (the eight-day period that starts on Easter and concludes on the following Sunday, the 2nd  Sunday of Easter).

We pray for the Grace of God and His holy intervention for the Coronavirus crisis to end soon and that God will give humanity, new hope and new life in the Risen Lord. Alleluia!

HAVE A PEACEFUL AND LOVELY EASTER WITH YOUR LOVED ONES. GOD’S BLESSINGS BE UPON ALL OF YOU.