HEARTS UPLIFTED THROUGH PRAYER AND HOPE

As we light the second Advent candle, we are drawn once again to the deep longing in our hearts – the yearning to see Jesus Christ more lovingly, to welcome Him into our lives. This season prompts us to consider the “rough ways” and “winding roads” in our hearts that need straightening, and what worries, distractions, or sins hinder us from preparing a clear path for the Lord.

In this sacred time leading to Christmas, the Church calls us to step away from the noise of our busy schedules and to make ready our hearts for Christ’s coming. Let the light of Advent turn our inner journeys into clear paths of love, peace, repentance, and hope.

December is typically the height of the monsoon rainy season, with warm temperatures and frequent rainfall. Here in the East Coast – the coastal regions of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, rainfall at this time can be heavy for several days.

Recently, those living around the outskirts of Kuantan have experienced floods, but now we see a reassuring sign: the waters have subsided. We are grateful, trusting that God has watched over us. As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we also honour God’s protection and provision for our neighbourhoods, communities, families, and Church.

While we celebrate restoration, we also recognise that the Christmas season – filled with parties, family visits, gift exchanges, feasts, and gatherings – can lead to stress, busyness, and even anxiety. During this time, the call of Advent grows more urgent: to clear pathways, both around our homes and within our hearts. The Church urges us to focus more on Christ, to shed distractions that clutter our souls, and to embrace silence, prayer, and interior renewal. This prepares us to welcome Jesus – not only in a manger but also into our hearts.

As a Parish family, we have an opportunity to respond to this call. On 11 December 2025, at 7.30 pm at the Church of St Thomas, the Apostle, Kuantan, we will gather for a Penitential Service (confession) – a sacred moment of grace extended to everyone. The confession is part of the requirements of this Jubilee Year. We urge all Parishioners to join in this confession to repent, renew, and spiritually prepare for Christmas. Let us use this moment to reflect on our lives, honestly confess our shortcomings, and accept the Lord’s grace, mercy, and healing.

Let us recall what our faith teaches: Advent is not solely about external preparations – decorations, gifts, and parties – but primarily about our inner readiness. The “winding roads” and “rough paths” of our past must be made straight, and the clutter of sin and distraction cleared away.

As we focus on spiritual readiness, keep our hearts uplifted through prayer and hope. Stay vigilant in confession, practise charity, and remain steadfast in love – so that when Christ returns, we can warmly welcome Him into new dwellings built on truth, repentance, and grace. 

May this Advent season prepare our hearts with humility, kindness, and hope as we cherish this special time together.

AWAKE, READY AND WAITING!

Every year, the sacred season of Advent arrives quietly and swiftly. It is often overshadowed by the noise, lights, and rush around us. Yet the Church, in her wisdom, through the season of Advent, reminds us that God continues to come to us in silence, longing, and anticipation. As we cross the threshold into Advent, we are encouraged to slow down and rediscover the grace found in waiting.

In a world that constantly urges us to rush, Advent whispers a different truth: Christmas is not something we achieve through activity but something we receive with a ready and open heart. It reflects the deeper spiritual journey of humanity – our longing, hope, and yearning for God.

This year, the monsoon rains have begun across both the east and west coasts, and is expected to last until March. As we enjoy our holidays and family gatherings, we must also remain focused on being safe: travelling carefully, avoiding flooded areas, and watching out for each other. These reminders echo the spiritual call of Advent – to stay alert, be ready, and focus on what truly matters. If Christ were to arrive today, would He find a place in my heart?

Advent offers us the opportunity to prepare our inner space, not by frantic activity, but through humble and deliberate inner work.

First, Advent calls us to prayer. St. Therese of Lisieux beautifully described prayer as “a surge of the heart.” Even a few quiet minutes each morning before sunrise, or at night before resting, can create a small but precious space for God to enter.

Second, Advent invites us into silence – not an empty or passive silence, but one that purifies, clarifies, and awakens our spirit. In this silence, we rediscover God’s presence, realising that He has been waiting for us far longer than we have waited for Him.

Third, Advent calls us to spiritual renewal. Just as we prepare our homes for a special guest, our hearts too need renewal – letting go of grudges, confessing overlooked sins, and giving up behaviours that diminish love. Through reconciliation, we create a space where Christ can truly dwell.

Fourth, Advent encourages us to practise charity with warmth and tenderness. This season presents many opportunities to care for others – especially the poor, the lonely, and those who are overlooked. Every act of kindness gently builds the “manger” of our hearts, creating a place where Christ can find rest.

If we embrace it, Advent becomes a gentle guide that transforms our routines, aligns our desires, and renews our hope. Let this sacred season not go unnoticed. May it intensify our longing, soften our hearts, and help us prepare to receive Christ with lasting joy beyond Christmas Day.

May you and your loved ones experience a blessed, safe, and grace-filled Advent as together we await the coming of the Lord.

RICH IN GRACE, SERVICE AND GROWTH

This weekend, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, marking the final Sunday of Ordinary Time. This feast reminds us that Christ is the centre of our lives, the Ruler of history, and the One who leads our Parish community forward.

Next weekend, we joyfully enter a new liturgical year (2025/2026) and begin Year A in the Lectionary cycle. The season of Advent opens before us – a sacred time of watchfulness, preparation, and renewed enthusiasm for the coming of the Lord. I invite all Parishioners to embrace this spiritual journey with open hearts. Let us walk together as a community - rooted in Scripture, faithful in prayer and strengthened through the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

As we prepare for the new calendar year, we conclude the Jubilee Year of Hope - which officially ends on 4 January 2026, on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. This Jubilee has been a tremendous blessing for our Parish of St Thomas, the Apostle. We were privileged to be chosen as one of the Jubilee Pilgrimage Centres of the Archdiocese, and we have welcomed countless pilgrims from near and far.

In thanksgiving for this grace-filled year, we will hold a Spiritual Recollection and Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) on Saturday, 13 December 2025 from 9am-3pm. This spiritual formation will encourage us to pause and reflect on the Jubilee Year journey, and discern how God is inviting us to grow further as a parish community. 

I strongly encourage Parishioners from all language groups to register and participate in this upcoming spiritual formation. Do not miss this opportunity to prayerfully review the year, give thanks for God’s blessings, and discern how the Holy Spirit is calling us forward.

 

This past year has been one of our busiest and most fruitful. Together, we journeyed through numerous formation sessions, parish events, feast day celebrations, spiritual gatherings, pilgrimages, and various community activities. 

What a blessed year it has been!

• We worked hard, hand in hand, to welcome pilgrims for the Jubilee Year.
• Our various ministries and language groups served with dedication.
• We deepened our faith through formation sessions and liturgical celebrations.
• We reached out to the poor, supported outreach missions, and strengthened Parish unity.
• Many new members – young and old – were added to our Parish family through the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.

It has been a year rich in grace, service and growth. All of this was possible because of your commitment, your dedication, your willingness to serve, and your love for the Parish. We have gained much wisdom, matured in faith, and strengthened our bond as one family in Christ.

To every Parishioner, leader, volunteer, and ministry member: Thank you. You have shown what it means to be a Church that lives its faith with hope, joy and charity. Let us move forward together with unity of heart, openness to the Holy Spirit, and a deep desire to grow as a Parish that radiates Christ’s love to all.

A HEART FOR THE POOR

Pope Leo XIV, in his message for the World Day of the Poor (WDP) 2025, reminds us that our Christian hope is not founded on possessions or our own strength, but on God’s faithful love. The theme is “You, O Lord, are my hope” (Ps 71:5), which arises from deep suffering, yet is filled with trust and hope. This is the core of the Jubilee Year’s message: hope in God never disappoints because it is rooted in His mercy and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Father highlights that the poor are true witnesses of hope. Even in the face of poverty, instability, and exclusion, they show faith and perseverance. They remind us that God alone is our lasting treasure, not wealth or success. Jesus urges us to accumulate treasures in heaven, where love and compassion endure forever.

The Pope warns that the deepest kind of poverty is spiritual – when people no longer know God or seek His presence. The poor, however, often have hearts that are ready to receive faith. Therefore, the Church must never neglect their spiritual well-being. True love for God must always lead to love for our neighbour. Without charity, hope fades and faith becomes empty.

Pope Leo XIV states that hope is the anchor of our Christian life, anchoring us through life’s storms and guiding us towards our true homeland in heaven. Hope must be expressed practically through acts of charity. Charity sustains hope and transforms faith into action. Each of us is encouraged to nurture hope through service to the poor, caring for those in care homes, promoting education, improving health, and performing acts of kindness to heal society.

The Pope highlights that poverty has deep structural causes that require justice. Helping the poor is not only charity – it is a matter of fairness and shared responsibility. He urges governments, institutions, and communities to create policies that promote decent work, housing, education, and healthcare for all, asserting that true peace comes from justice and compassion, not weapons.

Finally, Pope Leo XIV invites us, as we conclude this Jubilee Year of Hope, to open our hearts to the poor not as passive recipients but as teachers of faith and hope. In their eyes, we see the face of Christ.

(Abstract of the Holy Father’s Message for the World Day of the Poor 2025)

Since 2017, I have joyfully celebrated the WDP each year with my parish communities. Sometimes it has been in large gatherings, and other times in simple, heartfelt moments. The preference for the poor has become part of my heart and ministry: to reach out with charity, prayer, and pastoral care to those who struggle, suffer, and hope. Every encounter with the poor renews my faith and reminds me that love is the most important measure of our journey as disciples. 

As we observe this year’s celebration, may our hearts remain anchored in Christ, our hope, and our hands continue to serve with compassion, tenderness, and faith. In serving the poor, we truly touch the living heart of Jesus.

A SEED OF HOPE IN GOD’S KINGDOM

As the Church of St. Thomas, the Apostle, Kuantan prepares to celebrate the 9^th World Day of the Poor (WDP) on Sunday, 16 November 2025 during the 10.30 am Mass, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the journey we have shared over the past four years (2022–2025). Each year, this celebration reminds us that faith finds its deepest meaning when it reaches out in love to those in need every day. 

In 2022 and 2023, our Parish joyfully celebrated the WDP on a grand scale, with carnivals of joy - filled with games, food and community spirit. Parishioners from every ministry, including the BECs, came together to serve with open hearts and willing hands. The laughter of children, the smiles of migrants, and the gratitude of families in need, reminded us that the hope we bring to others reflects the living heart of Christ’s Gospel.

In 2024, we continued our WDP celebration on a more personal and heartfelt manner, focusing on meaningful encounters and shared fellowship. This year too, we will, on 16 November, we will gather our brothers and sisters from the Orang Asli communities, migrants from Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam, and also our local families who face financial and social challenges, to share moments of friendship and encouragement that serve as a reminder that God’s love remains alive among His people. 

After the morning Mass, all Parishioners are invited to the breakfast corner for fellowship with our guests, as we share a simple meal, accompanied with a variety of entertainment. As we approach this special day, let us acknowledge the dedication and generosity of our organising committee and all Parishioners who are working tirelessly to ensure the success of this event. May our efforts remind us that every smile we bring, every hand we hold, and every meal we share is a seed of hope in God’s Kingdom.

As that day draws to a close, we will gather as one parish-family for our Thanksgiving Dinner Fellowship, a joyful expression of gratitude and solidarity as we near the end of the liturgical year. As we did last year, we have been fortunate once again this year, to be able to engage the services of a caterer from Sekinchan in Selangor, to prepare an eight-course Chinese dinner for us. We have successfully sold all 50 tables - thanks to the generous support of our Parishioners. Several tables have been lovingly sponsored for the elderly, university students, Sabahan and Sarawakian families, and our faithful altar servers - ensuring that everyone shares in the joy of the evening. This is not a fundraising event, but a Thanksgiving Celebration!

Together, let us continue to live out our calling – to love, to serve, and to lift one another, so that through us, the light of Christ’s hope may shine ever brighter in our community.

MISSIONARIES OF HOPE AMONG ALL PEOPLES

We celebrated World Mission Day 2025 on 19 October. In his message, written on the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle (January 25th), Pope Francis invites all Christians to become “Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples,” echoing the Jubilee Year theme: “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). He reminds us that every baptised person is part of the mission of the Church to share the hope of Christ with everyone, ensuring that the name of Jesus resonates in every part of the world.

1. In the Footsteps of Christ, Our Hope

As we mark the first Ordinary Jubilee of the Third Millennium, the Holy Father encourages us to keep our gaze fixed on Christ, the heart of history. He came to share the Good News and to initiate “the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:19). Through His life, passion, death, and resurrection, Jesus shines as the Divine Missionary of Hope – bringing healing, forgiveness, and renewed trust in the Father’s limitless love.

Even in His suffering, Jesus remained faithful to the Father’s saving plan, offering us hope for the future. Today, through His disciples, Christ sustains this mission – reaching out to the poor, the afflicted, and those in despair. The Church, despite its imperfections, is called to be a vibrant and missionary community, walking with Christ through the world to bring light, comfort, and renewal.

2. Christians as Bearers and Builders of Hope

Following Christ involves sharing in the joys and sorrows of everyone around us. Pope Francis lovingly reflects on the Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, reminding us that the hopes and pains of others should always touch our hearts. Whether we are serving abroad or right in our local community, every missionary helps to make Christ’s love visible through kind and compassionate actions.

The Holy Father warns us about the increase in loneliness and indifference in today’s world. Even though we are more connected than ever before, many people still feel lonely and unloved. As Christians, we are encouraged to build authentic relationships based on warmth, kindness, and compassion. By being present with love and care, we share the hope and consolation that God has poured into our hearts.

3. Renewing the Mission of Hope

Pope Francis encourages all the faithful to become “artisans of hope,” renewed through prayer and the Eucharist. He reminds us that genuine missionary zeal begins in prayer, which sustains hope and inspires action. By praying with Scripture – especially the Psalms – we learn to recognise God’s signs of hope, even in darkness.

Evangelisation, as the Pope highlights, is a heartfelt journey of faith, witness, and service that unites us all. Everyone – kids, teenagers, adults, and seniors – is warmly invited to take part in this meaningful mission of sharing Christ’s love with the world.

Finally, Pope Francis entrusts this important mission to Mary, our Mother of Hope, praying that the Church will continue to shine brightly as a guiding light of God’s love and hope for all people.

(Abstracted from the Message of Pope Francis for World Mission Sunday 2025)

A JOURNEY OF GRACE AND RENEWAL

Our Jubilee pilgrimage in this Holy Year of Hope has truly been a journey filled with grace – a living encounter with Christ, His Church, and His saints. We, thirty-six pilgrims from Malaysia, spent ten blessed days, travelling across Italy carrying in our hearts the prayer of the universal Church: “Hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5: 5).

Our journey began in Rome, marking our first three-day visit to the heart of our faith. Passing through the Four Holy Doors – the Basilicas of St. Peter, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major – we deeply felt that each door offered a great experience of God's mercy in its fullness.

Each of us crossed those thresholds with silent prayers – for family, for peace, for healing, but most of all, for reconciliation, conversion, and renewal. In those sacred moments, we realised that Christ Himself is the true Holy Door. His words came alive: “I am the Door; whoever enters by Me will be saved.” (John 10:9).

 

Standing inside those ancient basilicas, immersed in the beauty of faith, we were reminded that the Jubilee is not about travelling but about transformation – letting God open new doors within us. It is a journey through grace, where every step, prayer, and encounter becomes an open door into the heart of God.

 

From Rome, our journey took us to San Giovanni Rotondo to meet the humble friar, St. Padre Pio. His life of prayer and suffering reflected complete trust in God. At Assisi, the peace of St Francis, St. Clare and St. Carlos Acutis touched us deeply. Their joy and simplicity reminded us that the Gospel can be lived in every small act of kindness and surrender.

 

In Siena, St. Catherine showed us the courage born from prayer – a reminder that God can use even the humble to renew the Church. Finally, in Padua, before St. Anthony, we felt at home. His uncorrupted tongue became a sign that every word spoken in truth and love continues to live. Their examples whispered to our hearts: holiness grows when love is lived quietly and faithfully.

 

The first part was about grace received through the Holy Doors of Basilicas, and the second part concerns the grace we are called to live as saints. Our final visits to Venice, Milan and Turin, especially the Holy Shroud, invited us to contemplate the face of Christ – silent, wounded, yet radiant with the hope of resurrection.

 

We laughed, prayed, and walked through the Italian streets, and each Mass, Rosary, and quiet moment made our heartfelt journey all the more meaningful. As we now return home, we do so not just as pilgrims but as witnesses of hope. The Holy Doors we have passed are now open within us – doors of forgiveness, gratitude, and renewed trust in God.

 

May the saints inspire us to love deeply in our daily lives. May this pilgrimage bring blessings to our families, parishes, and nation. May we embrace the Jubilee message with joy, simplicity, and humility.