GRACE TO RENEW OURSELVES

Last weekend, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, which left me completely immersed in the profound messages of the Responsorial Psalms, the readings of the day, and Church Prayers. They say, "All nations shall prostrate before the Lord; all the kings will adore Him; all nations will praise Him; every knee shall bow before Him; every tongue shall confess His name; and all the peoples will serve Him.”

These sacred verses resonate with the Lord Jesus’ manifestation and a wonderful vision of everyone coming together to honour Him! They highlight how everyone, regardless of status and race, culture and language, will acknowledge His sovereignty and greatness, and every nation will raise its voice in praise of Him. It also illustrates that every knee shall bend in submission and humility, every tongue will openly confess His name, and all peoples will commit themselves to His service. It is a powerful reminder to live out our mission to make Him known and glorified among all people.

As we conclude the Christmas season with the Baptism of the Lord, we transit into Ordinary Time from 13 January to 4 March 2025. This season invites us to live our faith and reflect on Jesus’ teachings. Over the next eight weeks, we will live our faith as we reflect deeply on the daily readings, celebrate Jesus in the Eucharist, and embrace our discipleship with renewed commitment and joy.

This month of January, we will unite as a Parish to make the first three Jubilee-themed events a vibrant start to this special year:

• The wonderful Tamil-speaking community of St. Thomas Kuantan is all geared up and excited to celebrate the cultural festival of the Jubilee of Pongal! Join us for Mass on Saturday, 18 January 2025, at 5.30 pm, as we express our gratitude to God. At the same time, let us not forget our Chinese-speaking community, who will welcome the Chinese New Year on Wednesday, 29 January, with a Eucharistic celebration at 9.00 am. It is a lovely time for everyone to come together and celebrate!
• On 19 January 2025, during the 8.30 am Mass, Archbishop Julian Leow will officially announce and appoint our Parish as a Pilgrim Centre for the Jubilee Year of Hope for the East Coast Churches. We will also hold our Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) on the same day. We warmly invite everyone to come together for this gathering.
• We will celebrate the Jubilee of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 25 January. This special occasion encourages us to come together and strengthen our connections with all Christian Churches in Kuantan. Let us come together in prayer, fostering unity and love as we work towards the common goal of living as one Body of Christ!

The Jubilee Year of Hope offers us a profound grace to renew ourselves, forgive one another, and courageously live as people of hope. Let us open our hearts to the blessings of this year, allowing them to inspire us to grow in faith, unity and service.

GOD’S ENDLESS LOVE AND GRACE

As we journey through this exciting New Year - the Jubilee Year of Hope - the Church invites us to commit ourselves to reconciliation, peace, and renewal together! This year is special, and it is all about being instruments of forgiveness - beginning with our families and our Parish community. Let us join forces and work hand in hand to create a brighter and more hopeful future for everyone this year.

As Parishioners, we share a common desire that resonates across the globe - a wish for peace, healing and reconciliation. It is time for us to unite and transform this wish into a reality, right here in our Parish, and among our friends and family. Forgiveness starts with a simple choice, and understanding grows when we take the time to listen to one another. We can foster unity by letting go of past grievances that hold us back. This is a year in which we seek God’s grace in our lives. Together, we can make this Jubilee Year a wonderful time of renewal and hope for everyone in our Church family! 

Is there someone you have been holding a grudge against? Is there a relationship that could use a little tenderness, loveand care? Take a moment to be courageous in stepping forward and inviting the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts - whether offering a heartfelt apology, reaching out with a phone call, or even just beginning to pray for someone who may have hurt you. These small, meaningful actions help us embrace what helps us embrace the spirit of this Jubilee Year!

This Jubilee Year is a wonderful opportunity for us to refresh our spirit and take on the challenges of living out the Gospel in real, meaningful ways. It is all about spreading hope to those who truly need it! There are families or individuals struggling to make ends meet, someone feeling a bit lonely, or a neighbour who seems to have lost their way. It could be through simple acts of kindness, sharing a kind word, or just being there for someone. Every little bit helps and truly makes a difference!

As a pilgrim church in the East Coast, we welcome pilgrims from all walks of life! No matter where they come from, we are here to connect with them and share love across different faiths and cultures. This is one of the most meaningful ways we can spread and reflect God’s endless love and grace!

May this Jubilee Year inspire us to become a Parish that radiates God’s love and peace. Together, let us journey in faith, with hope as our guide and Christ as our light. Let us take a specific, step by reaching out to someone in need, forgiving a past hurt, spending quiet time in prayer, and asking God to guide our path. In doing so, we can truly live out the spirit of this Jubilee Year.

A TIME FOR GRACE AND HOPE

This year’s Christmas celebration at our Parish of St. Thomas in Kuantan was absolutely fantastic! It was heartwarming to see such a huge crowd coming together from various parts of Malaysia and even from abroad. We were thrilled to invite our Migrant friends and the Orang Asli community, and provided transportation for them, so they could join in the festive fun. The church was packed with many standing inside and lots more gathering outside the Church building, celebrating the spirit of community and togetherness. It was indeed a beautiful sight!

Approximately thirty children participated in the Nativity Story this year, showcasing their incredible talent in the Christmas pageant before the Christmas Eve Mass. These wonderful kids committed themselves to practice over the past two months, supported by our dedicated catechism teachers. Through this play, they not only had a great time but also gained a deep understanding of the Christmas story and the special characters that make it so memorable. Participating in the nativity play brought to life their imagination as they embraced their roles – whether as sheep, shepherds, angels, wise men, Mary, or Joseph. It was like the story was living inside them!

The Universal Church officially launched the Jubilee Year on Christmas Eve with the uplifting theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” To commemorate this significant occasion, the Holy Father opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, which will remain open throughout the entire year until 6 January 2026. This longstanding tradition of Jubilee Year, originating in 1300, which the Church has celebrated every 50 years and, more recently, every 25 years, serves as a special time of reflection, grace, forgiveness, and hope.

In the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, the Jubilee Year will be inaugurated on December 29 with a special Mass at St. John’s Cathedral. At our Parish of St. Thomas, we held a soft launch on Christmas Eve and are eagerly preparing for the official launch on 19 January 2025 during Archbishop Julian Leow’s visit when he will officially declare our Parish as a designated Pilgrim centre. We have an exciting lineup of events planned throughout the Jubilee Year that offer a beautiful opportunity for all of us to embark on a heartfelt pilgrimage, embrace indulgences, and experience the power of forgiveness and grace. We warmly invite every Parishioner of St Thomas to fully engage in the fun and festivities, and together, we will warmly welcome all pilgrims who visit our Church.

As we gear up for this extraordinary Jubilee Year, remember what Christmas truly means: Emmanuel, God with us! This is a time to rediscover how God walks with us, lights our path, and renews our hope as we journey together as pilgrims of hope. Let’s celebrate the Jubilee Year and experience Grace and forgiveness with our families, friends, and everyone we meet. Let’s come together on this inspiring journey!

MAKING CHRISTMAS TRULY UNFORGETTABLE

The season of Advent is coming to a close. These special days are just flying by. Soon, we will be celebrating Christmas together. The excitement of Christmas fills our hearts with joy and hope. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the season, let’s focus on the true spirit of Christmas – the gift of God’s love made manifest in Jesus.

Over the past three weeks of Advent, I pondered how profoundly God’s presence has shaped me. It is amazing recalling those moments when I have truly seen His hand at work in my ministry. At times, it is easy to overlook the little things – the laughter shared with my Parishioners and friends, the opportunities to show kindness to migrants and strangers, or the simple beauty of nature around me. God’s presence is all around us in so many ways! Advent reminds us to become more aware and truly see and feel how God reveals Himself to us daily.

Small actions can powerfully convey the profound messages of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love. Simple gestures such as sharing a meal, actively listening to someone in need, or making donations create a ripple effect that spreads Christ’s light. Sharing a meal fosters genuine connections while listening demonstrates true compassion, reminding others that they are not alone. Additionally, no matter the size, donations clearly reflect our commitment to supporting those in need, echoing Christ’s generosity. Let’s take the initiative to spread that love and kindness with purpose!

Christmas is not just about the festivities; it is a special time to recognise how God is at work in our lives today! He desires to fill our hearts with peace, renew our hope, and integrate Him into our daily lives. 

Our Parish looks so festive with all the decorations, and many of you have also been busy decorating your homes and wrapping gifts. Whether you have ticked off everything on your shopping list or are still racing against time for those last-minute items, the excitement of getting together with loved ones is definitely in the air! As we gear up for these celebrations, let’s take a moment to prepare our hearts. This season is a call to welcome Jesus into our lives and to reconnect with those we may have distanced ourselves from. Christmas encourages us to open our hearts to Christ and everyone around us, especially those we have struggled to embrace. Remember, Christ comes to us as Emmanuel, God with us, wanting to share in our joys and challenges, bringing peace and healing to us all. Let’s embrace this beautiful time together!

Wishing all the dear and near ones a joyful Christmas filled with love and togetherness! May this special time bring you and your loved ones closer to Jesus and to one another. Let’s wholeheartedly welcome Him into our hearts through our actions and kindness – together, we will make this Christmas unforgettable!

OPEN OUR HEARTS TO CHRIST’S GENTLE INVITATION

Seventeen Clergy members from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, together with forty dedicated volunteers from the Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry, set aside five days from their hectic schedules to visit seven prisons in the states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Terengganu. During their visits, they celebrated the Sacraments of Confession and Eucharist, and shared the Word of God with imprisoned Catholic and Christian friends. 

It was a profoundly moving experience that beautifully reminded us of Christ’s invitation to “visit those in prison” (Matthew 25:36). For many of these men and women, life behind bars can be isolating and despairing. However, during our visit, we brought a spark of hope into their lives. We sang, prayed and attentively listened - joyfully celebrating God’s presence among us. After this wonderful shared experience and the joyous celebration of the Sacraments, we gathered for a meal - fostering a strong sense of community.

The generosity of the prison authorities in welcoming us and creating a warm environment was indeed a blessing. Their kindness enabled us to support the prisoners spiritually and through fellowship with all those who attended our sessions. This lovely gesture of hospitality reflected the love and abundance that Christ extended to all His people. In serving those incarcerated, we witnessed firsthand how the light of Christ can shine even in the darkest places, transforming lives and bringing hope. Jesus entered into the margins of society, bringing light to those in darkness.

Ministering with prisoners is an essential outreach effort to foster spiritual growth and provide heartfelt emotional support. Their stories can inspire us to extend our hands to those who feel isolated in our communities - whether in prisons, hospitals, or even in our neighbourhoods. This week, our Parish Flood Relief Team achieved something heartwarming by reaching out to 100 families affected by the first monsoon rains in Muadzam Shah, Pahang. With generous support from NGO partners - Yayasan Hasanah and HARAP, we provided much needed food items such as rice, canned foods, cooking oil and dried foods.

As the monsoon season continues, our team remains vigilant and ready to align with the humanitarian relief of being Christ’s hands and feet in the world. We urge Parishioners to continue supporting these efforts through your prayers, contributions, and volunteering your time. Together, we can bring light to those in darkness.

As we enter the third week of Advent and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, we pause to reflect on the gift of Emmanuel - God with us. This Advent, let us open our hearts to Christ’s gentle invitation. Every act of kindness toward the least among us is a way of serving Him. We pray that these men and women continue to feel God’s mercy and find strength in their faith. Let’s make space for His love to be reborn in our hearts and world.

DISPEL THE DARKNESS AND RESPOND TO HIS INVITATION

The monsoon weather along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia has improved, with rainfall decreasing these past few days. As a result, floodwaters in many affected areas have started to subside. However, moderate rainfall is still expected in the coming days, particularly in flood-prone areas. It is crucial to stay updated with local weather reports and take necessary precautions, especially in areas vulnerable to flooding. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant, as keeping safe is our top priority during this rainy season.

With Christmas drawing near, I once again had the privilege of visiting prisons in Marang and Kuala Dungun, Terengganu as well as the Penor Prison in Kuantan earlier this week. Together with three dedicated volunteers from the Prison Ministry - Stanislaus Emmanuel, Peter Chia and Robert Muthu, our visit to the prisons held special significance – bringing hope, joy, and God’s abiding presence to incarcerated people. We joyfully shared the profound message of Christmas: Emmanuel - God is with us - reminding our Christian prisoners that no matter the circumstances, God’s love reaches all, and His grace is ever-present.

As part of our outreach efforts, we humbly requested the Prison Authorities to provide a festive meal and some essential items - like soap, toothbrushes, and toothpaste - for our Christian prisoners. This small gesture is all about reminding them of their dignity and the hope that comes with this season. Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers, wishing them peace, strength and a renewed sense of purpose during this special time of love and forgiveness.

Advent begins in the darkness of the world’s brokenness, reminding us of our need for the light of Christ.This week, we will light the second candle on our Advent wreaths, expecting the light of Christ to dispel the darkness in our lives. Advent teaches us to prepare and anticipate during this time of waiting, aligning our hearts and minds with God’s will and responding to His invitation to encounter Him deeply.

Advent is more than a “countdown to Christmas!” It is a beautiful spiritual journey that draws us closer to Christ - His birth in Bethlehem and His glorious return. This season offers opportunities for spiritual renewal and inspires us to live our faith, fully, as we contemplate God’s promises and His faithfulness. His Holiness Pope Francis emphasises the significance of “Spiritual Vigilance” amidst global anxieties and conflicts. He encourages us to “raise our heads” and awaken spiritually, placing our trust in God’s salvation plan even during challenging times.

Let’s make this season a truly joyful time for everyone, by sharing the warmth of Christmas cheer with those who may feel forgotten. May this Advent bring renewal and transformation for you and your loved ones, guiding you towards a delightful Christmas celebration and a life that reflects the essence of love.

 

SHARE KINDNESS AND JOY

The Season of Advent is here again, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for Catholics to participate in meaningful practices and reflections that help us connect more deeply with the birth of Jesus. This particular time in our liturgical calendar leads us right up to Christmas. A beautiful journey through Advent can ultimately prepare our hearts and minds for the joyful celebration of Christmas and the anticipation of His Second Coming. Let's embrace this season together!

Advent is an excellent opportunity to cultivate an attitude of hopeful expectation that can really enrich our faith. During this special season, many people join in spiritual activities such as prayer, scripture reading, devotion, etc. These practices help us feel more connected to the significance of the season and remind us of God’s constant presence in His Word, Sacrament and all events in our lives. By taking time for reflection and worship, we grow personally and gain a deeper understanding of our beliefs - we feel inspired to live out our faith daily.

This season brings hope, encouraging us to look forward to fulfilling God’s promises and the arrival of Christ. Spiritual Advent radiates through its power to cultivate a space for reflection and transformation. It’s a beautiful opportunity to examine our spiritual journey closely, fostering humility and a genuine desire for renewal. By engaging in this reflective practice, we prepare for the joyful celebration of Christmas and the exciting journey of faith that continues well beyond this time of year.

During this season, we engage ourselves in meaningful acts of kindness, charity, or service that reflect the profound love of Christ. Let’s find ways to show love and support to those around us, reflecting the spirit of Christ. It could be as simple as a warm smile, lending a hand to someone in need, or sharing an uplifting word with someone who’s feeling down. Why not volunteer in one of our Church ministries? Whether it is helping out in the soup kitchen or supporting the flood relief task force, there are many ways to get involved in our Parish and local community. By coming together for a cause, we help others and build a fantastic, hopeful community filled with generosity and shared humanity. Whether you volunteer, donate or just spread a little kindness, you will find that sharing Christ’s love brings happiness to everyone involved!

As we get ready to celebrate the joyful season of Christ’s birth and look forward to the Jubilee Year 2025, let’s make it a point to share kindness and joy with everyone we meet. This is a perfect chance for all of us to focus on personal spiritual renewal and foster growth within our Parish community!