OUR CHILDREN ARE SPECIAL

These past couple of weeks, the Catechetical ministry has been busy with various camps, formations and activities for their Catechism students. The ministry organised one-day stay-in camp for the First Holy Communion students at the Formation Hall from 4-5 November 2017, with the theme ‘Christ Our Joy’. There were 24 English-speaking students and 3 Tamil-speaking students at the camp, which was facilitated by Sister Mary David, FDCC. This camp prepared the students for their first Sacrament of Reconciliation, which will take place on Saturday, 25 November 2017. The students will celebrate their Sacrament of First Holy Communion on 26 November 2017, which is also the Solemnity of Christ the King.

On Saturday, 11 November 2017, the ministry hosted a formation at the Formation Hall entitled ‘I Am Special’ for the teenage catechism students. Several Catechism teachers and youth from the Church of the Visitation, Seremban, led by Peter Tee, facilitated the formation for our teenagers. There were about 57 youth present that day, and it was amazing to watch them present and participate in the activities and discussions. I know most of them since I was ministering in Seremban, as they were my catechism students and it was fascinating to watch them embrace their sessions. They have really grown in their knowledge of God.

The next day, 12 November 2017, there was another formation for the primary school catechism students on the Eucharist. This formation was facilitated by Tomson Scaria, and it was held after the Sunday morning Mass, from 10.30am to 5.30pm. The session ended with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and benediction.

My special thanks goes out the catechetical coordinators and teachers who prepared the camp and formations with great enthusiasm and dedication. It truly is an exceptional closing to their Catechetical Year 2017.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, declared 19 November 2017 as the First World Day of the Poor with the theme ‘Let us love, not with words but with deeds’. He suggested that all Christians communities find ways to “create moments of encounter” with the poor. In conjunction with that, St. Joseph’s Church will celebrate World Day of the Poor, as well as our Parish Family Day. Our catechism students will have the opportunity to mingle with the poor children and their families, in our Church compound. There will be raffle draws, games, a jumble sale and live bands performing throughout the day and it promises to fun time for everyone. These two celebrations mark the end of our three-year (2015-2017) faith journey with the vision ‘Towards Strengthening Our Faith Community.”

There are so many heart-breaking stories of poverty and hopelessness in our community, and as a fitting ending to their faith education for the year 2017, the World Day of the Poor will bring a kind of exposure to our catechism students, as they share their day with them. This celebration will help our children hear the voice of the poor and the marginalised. I am sure this experience will become an eye-opener for our catechism children, as they learn and share their day with these children. It is also a step for them to set a way of life in reaching out to the needy in the future.

BE DILIGENT

In this Gospel (Matt 25: 14-30), two of the three individuals have started trading with what they have been given to them. Sadly, the third individual makes no effort to invest what he has been given and instead, buried it. He placed what God has given him in the wrong soil and that is why it did not grow.
We learn that God has called us to be good stewards and faithful servants with our time and our talents. Choose to invest your time and talents in God’s Kingdom and be a good steward of everything He has entrusted to you. Do not waste your time building the kingdoms of this world.

Our talents are on loan from God. They are to be use

d to build God’s Kingdom because His Kingdom will remain forever. It is not simply giving things away or keeping them safely in trust, but use them wisely.

How are you spending your time doing? Are you using it to serve God?


“Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others’” (1 Peter 4:10).

REMEMBERING MSGR ANTHONY THOMAS WITH LOVE

At the funeral of Monsignor Anthony Thomas on 27^th September, 2017, many parishioners of St Joseph as well as a few priests asked me why the funeral did not take place here in our parish of St Joseph Sentul, as the late Monsignor Thomas had served here for 22 years, which was more than he had served in any of the other parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

After some deliberation and discussion with a few individuals (clergy and laity), I decided that holding the 40^th Day Memorial service in our parish would be a fitting tribute to Msgr Thomas who had touched the lives of so many people here.

Some of the individuals who came forward included Neubert Ambrose, who volunteered to take on the responsibility of Organising Chairman for the 40^th Day Memorial Mass, Jillian Thomas (booklet preparation), Gabriel Moses, Mary Bernadette, Gregory William, Nicholas and Joshua Jude (committee members in charge of logistics, foods and the evening entertainment). In a short period of time, they managed to coordinate, plan and execute this memorial celebration successfully.

Close to 1,000 people attended the memorial Mass which was held on Sunday, 5^th November. The 13 clergy and concelebrants included Cardinal Soter Fernendez, Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam and Archbishop Julian Leow. We began the celebration of life of late Monsignor with the Vespers (the evening prayer of the Church) at 5.45 pm. The Memorial Mass started at 6.00 pm celebrated by Fr V.A. Michael and assisted by Frs James Gabriel and Jean Claude. These three priests were sent by the late Monsignor to the seminary in 1980s.

Immediately after the Mass the congregation adjourned to St Joseph Community Hall where Archbishop Julian Leow unveiled a plaque inscribed with “Dewan Monsignor Anthony Thomas.” The late Monsignor had built the St Joseph Community Center in 1987 and it is the first legacy of his, followed by two other community centers at Church of Visitation, Seremban and Church of the Sacred Heart, Kuala Lumpur. During dinner, both our Tamil and English choral groups entertained us with music and songs composed by the late Monsignor. All those who came that evening felt contented and went home with fond memories.

On behalf of the 40^th Day of Memorial Mass Committee, I would like to personally thank our parishioners and the parishioners of the Church of St Aloysius, Mantin as well as everyone who had penned down your thoughts and fond memories of the late Monsignor and for sparing your memorable photographs of him for us. There is a saying, “Memories are old but the pen is fresh.” Your fresh pen through contribution of articles and also photographs for the booklet has revived and refreshed many people’s old memories. This Memorial Mass and fellowship was our tribute to the late Monsignor Anthony Thomas who has rendered his service to the Church in Malaysia. He lived his priestly life for 52 years and grew faithful communities with love, faith and charity. During these five decades he was truly a priest, pastor, friend, builder, liturgist and a musician. We love you and we cherish you always!

“In you, Lord. I have found my peace,” (Ps 131).

GETTING READY

Today’s parable (Matt 25: 1-13) is about wise and foolish bridesmaids presumes understanding of a Jewish wedding custom of Jesus’ day. The bride waited for the arrival of the bridegroom. It also speaks of the Second Coming of Christ. It does not matter when He comes. It matters whether we are ready or not.

We ask ourselves how we can be ready for Jesus? Jesus tell us to watch because we do not know the day or time when he will return. For the day is coming, and time is still available to consider how we might better prepare. We make a room for God in our lives, improve attitudes that need improving and allow Jesus to stay in our hearts.

The Church provides a guide for us to live well, to live in the way God designed us, to know our true end and live accordingly.

Are you ready now? Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith and trust in Him. Is your life committed to Him? He will come and it is our responsibility to be ready and to try to get others ready as well by warning them of His coming.

IN REMEMBRANCE OF OUR DEPARTED ONES

Since early October many of our parishioners as well as non-parishioners have come to inscribe the names of departed souls in the “Book of Remembrance” which is left here in our parish office. Today the book contains about 4,231 names of our loved ones who comprise our family members and relatives, i.e. our grandparents, parents, spouses, siblings, aunts and uncles and friends who have died and are likely in purgatory. Our Catholic teaching speaks about after death, i.e. there is a period of purification which occurs in a place of Purgatory. We should remember our dear ones with gratitude and we pray for them.

Can we help those who are in purgatory? Definitely we can help them. There are countless souls in purgatory in need of our prayers. We may have forgotten and neglected them in our prayers. The souls in purgatory are suffering in a very real and painful way, a way we cannot fully comprehend. We have the ability to help them and relieve them by our prayers and actions.

The month of November begins by remembering All Saints on November 1^st and All Souls on November 2^nd. On these two days most of you came together with your families to the Church and prayed for the souls of your loved ones. The Catholic Church dedicates the month of November to pray for the dead. That's why the Church provides us with a memorial Mass for all the faithful departed every November 2^nd and invites all its members to remember to pray for them throughout the month of November.

As your parish priest I shall continue to offer up all the names collectively during the weekday and weekend Masses this month of November. During the weekend Masses the Social Media group will play the audio, the Requiem hymn in Latin and we shall kneel and remember them in prayers. We have been doing it these past 3 years during the month of November. Once again, we join our hands in prayers and offer Masses asking God to be merciful to them and to forgive all their sins which they have committed during their lifetime and bring them into their eternal reward. We offer our prayers, Masses, our love and our recommendation for the souls in purgatory to God who are probably not yet enjoying the fullness of His love.

Paying a visit to the departed in the cemetery or at the columbarium is a solemn occasion. Some of you are really caught up with your tight schedule and have not visited them in the cemetery or columbarium. Do make it a point to go and pay a visit to your departed relatives and loved ones and say a prayer and if possible light some candles or place a bouquet of flowers there.

We hope that the small sacrifice of time and prayers we make in this life will bring joy of meeting them in heaven one day and realising that we have helped them with our prayers. All Souls day also reminds us about our death. Everybody dies. Nobody lives forever. Each one of us is given an extremely limited time on this earth. How are you doing with your time?  Are you doing God’s work with your life? It is time for all of us to get serious about our faith, our life and our deaths.

During this month, let us renew our commitment to praying for our brothers and sisters who suffer in the purifying love of God. Let us continue to pray for our departed loved ones and friends, and live our lives in the hope of eternal life.

A short prayer for the Holy Souls:

Eternal Rest Grant Unto Them O Lord, 

and Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Them. 

May They Rest In Peace. Amen.

Requiem Aeternam dona eis, Domine

Et lux perpetua luceat eis:

Requiescant in pace. Amen.