TO LOVE AND TO HONOUR

Last weekend (17 February 2019) we celebrated World Marriage Day in our parish, during both the Tamil (7am) and English (9am) Masses, respectively. We gathered married couples at the parish courtyard, and made a procession to the entrance of the Church for the Eucharistic celebration. Towards the end of the Mass and just before the final blessing and dismissal, we invited all married couples to come forward and renew their marriage promises. The couples stood up and held their spouses’ hands and declared their consent as below: 

“I (name) take you (name) to be my wife/husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you and to honour you all the days of my life.”

After blessing the couples with Holy Water as a sign of renewed commitment, there was a slideshow presentation of their wedding photographs. Once the Mass was over, some of the couples gathered at the Church Hall for fellowship and entertainment till noon. A big thank youto the Family Life Ministry for organising the event.

What do young adults think about marriage today?It is sad to see many of our young couples end their marriage at a very early stage. Today, the divorce rates are doubled, almost reaching 40 - 50 percent. Young married couples promise to stay together for the rest of their lives, yet many end up going their separate ways after a short time. They discard their dreams, plans and promises made before God, and declare their marriage over!

Why do they find marriage life so exhausting? Very often they say that the marriage is over, even after much discussion, debate and counselling. They still find no hope in repairing their marriage. The feelings of hurt, betrayal and fear made spouses reluctant to move forward in life. Family life becomes stagnant and couples find it hard to start all over again, or to continue where they left off.

Many priests have interviewed couples who are preparing for marriage - when they intend to build a future together. These couples seem to be full of hope and dreams for their life together. However, for many of them, their journey towards a happy marriage falls short. They go through hard times and sometimes forget that marriage is a decision that they made together. Regardless of the situation, it is important to remember not to use these troubled times as an opportunity to shame or be unkind to our spouse. Instead, even in moments of conflict and tension, turn towards each other lovingly.

Couples tend to celebrate their wedding anniversaries after ten, fifteen years etc. but all married couples should make it a point to renew their promises and commitment, annually. By renewing your vows, you take a moment to pause and reflect on your partnership and companionship. As you recommit and renew your promises, remember also to look at the positive experiences that grant affirmation and strength to continue on in your marriage life.

Having said that, every couple needs a little build-up in their marriage once in a while. One of the easiest and sweetest ways to be reminded of your love and commitment to each other is by looking at your wedding album. Most couples, if not all, spend a lot of money on photography and videography on their wedding day. However, many of these albums are just kept away, out of sight. It makes more sense to put the albums on display, and glance at them once in a while as a family to bring back sweet memories. As you turn each page, experience every emotion and memory of that day, when both you and your spouse made a decision and a promise to each other, before God. Happy marriages make happy families!

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Jesus says: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly.” (Luke 6: 27-28).

Being a Christian is the hardest thing in our life. We tend to become what we hate. Jesus loved us and died for us when we were his enemies.

Perhaps the hardest thing we will ever do, is to love that person. We need to refrain from returning evil thoughts for evil deed. Returning evil for evil has no place in the life of a Christian. When we carry unforgiveness, hateful thoughts, wishes for revenge in our hearts, then we are carrying a burden that will end up harming us seriously in the long run.

Saint Paul says, “Never pay back evil with evil… as much as possible be at peace with everyone… Never try to get revenge: leave that to God,” (Rom 12:17-19).

God looks on us with the utmost tenderness and love. Forgiveness and healing are the gifts that God continually offers us, with no questions asked.

Psalm: “The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy,” (Ps 102).

ADORATION IS A TIME FOR OUR SOUL

Making time for adoration at the Blessed Sacrament is growing in popularity amongst Catholics. Despite hectic daily schedules, we find that for some of us, there is a desperate need for a place to be in silence, especially with Eucharist. Every now and then, I see number of our parishioners - as well people from other Faiths -regularly coming and going into our Church, praying silently while looking at the Blessed Sacrament. Even in the scorching heat, people make themselves available to be with the Lord.

For the past four years, I have been thinking seriously about setting up a Eucharistic Adoration room. It has now come into realisation and we have named it the St Joseph’s Adoration Room. We shall give the honour to Monsignor James Gnanapiragasam to bless the room after the 645am Mass on Tuesday, 19 February 2019.

Many of our parishioners may still remember the very old tiles - with the three distinctly unique designs - which were laid on aisle of our Church in 1928, during the time of the late Rev Fr Victor Antoine Herman, who initiated the extension and rebuilding of the Church of St Joseph, Sentul. These 91-year-old tiles were removed from the aisle when our Church underwent major renovations in 2013. All these sentimental tiles were demoted to an unseen corner of our church compound, until we reused them at St Joseph’s Shrine, located next to the parish office, in June 2015. We’ve kept the balance of these tiles in storage, hoping to utilise them in the future.

So, when we wanted to set up an adoration room, we selected 417 tiles and they are now placed on the adoration room floor. We have laid them in the same manner as they were laid in the Church’s aisle, back in 1928. We are indeed blessed to have a small but meaningful token of our Church’s past, still being used in a relevant and significant way. It is important to repurpose these tiles, so that a part of our Church’s history remains. There are still a few more old tiles available which are not in perfect condition, however we will still lay them at grotto in couple of weeks.

At the base of the altar, where the tabernacle is positioned, I have buried a few medals and prayer cards of St George, St John Marie Vianney, St Anne, St Padre Pio, a miraculous medal of Mother Mary and Sleeping St Joseph. I have sprinkled them with Holy Water from Lourdes, France and blessed them with Chrism Oil. These blessed religious objects are sacred signs of sanctity, purification and protection.

The main purpose of the St Joseph Adoration Room is for us to spend time in prayer, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. It will be open from 7am to 1030pm every day. The Church too is still open as usual, for those who would like to sit there and pray instead.

What we can do in the St Joseph Adoration Room?

·     Read the Word of God and Meditate using Scripture.

·      Pray the Psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours

·      Pray the Rosary

·      Cry out to the Lord with all your heart and adore Him

·      Pray for forgiveness

·      Intercede for others

·    Sit quietly and just “be” in the presence of God. 

Adoration is a time for our soul. So, slowly increase your time and you will be amazed at how the Lord increases your faith and strength to be with Him! Let us make ourselves available to meet the Lord in adoration, and let our adoration never cease. (cf. Catechism Catholic Church, #1380).

BE A MISSIONARY DISCIPLE

Jesus preached two sermons (Beatitudes) that are quite similar in different places and times.Matthew’s Gospel has nine beatitudes and no woes; Luke’s Gospel (LK 6:20-26) has four of each – four beatitudes and four woes.

Luke compares that it is the poor, the hungry, the weeping and the persecuted who are blessed or happy.Woe or alas for those who are rich, full, joyful and popular. What is the meaning of “blessed”? Beatitude means perfect, blessedness or happiness.

All the qualifying factors mentioned in Luke’s Beatitudes – poverty, hunger, weeping, hatred – are all misfortunes. These attitudes, beatitudes are for living and they are not easy to practice in life. We have to make the choice of trusting in ourselves and in trusting in the Lord and His ways. If we trust only in ourselves, our lives will be as unrewarding and unfruitful. In God alone is our faith and trust.  In God alone is our hope and our final happiness.

Our life in this world is only a passing moment; the full and the final will only come after this life is over. Were do I put my trust?

“Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord!” 

TO LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE

Earlier this month, the Deeper Marriage Weekend (DMW) program was held at the Church of St Francis of Asissi (SFA) in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. It was a training weekend program for Tamil-speaking priests and married couples, which started on Sunday, 3 February and ended on Tuesday, 5 February 2019. There were altogether four married couples and three priests attended this DMW. The DMW training program was presented by Rev Fr Rupert Arul Valan, and Joseph and Shanti, a married couple from India. 

I was approached by Santiago and Maria (ME – Marriage Encounter Team of Selangor/Kuala Lumpur) to participate in this Deeper Marriage Weekend program so that I would be in the presenting Marriage Encounter Weekend Team, in the future. Initially, I was reluctant to join, but after giving it much thought, I decided to participate. When I went for this DMW program, I didn't expect anything much to come of it, but by the end of the weekend, I felt no regrets in attending it. I was surprised at my own interest in this DMW program. In fact, when the program was over, I spent the whole of the following day sitting with Fr Rupert and started writing my talks.

I thank the ME Team for providing this unique opportunity to discover and rediscover my priestly identity and my life. This Deeper Marriage Weekend program gave me a greater understanding of the Sacrament of the Priesthood and the joy of living the Sacrament daily. This 3-day program helped me to re-examine my priestly life and my behaviour patterns as well. It has given me a conviction to remain faithful in the priesthood and to re-live a renewed commitment. 

Last year, I went for a 5-day retreat at Seven Fountains in Chiang Mai, Thailand as a thanksgiving celebration to mark 15 years of my priesthood. This year on my 16th Priesthood Anniversary, the DMW program was an invitation for me to return, re-evaluate and to re-live my ordination theme, “To Live a Life of Love” (2Jn6). 

This DMW program was more relaxing for me as I was looking into the quality of my priestly life. It wasn't a deeper theological study program or formation on marriage and priesthood. It was more on understanding of myself, my relationship, sharing of feelings and personal experiences. At the end of the DMW, I realised that I have benefitted a lot. As I treasure the gift of my priestly vocation, my only prayer right now is, “Lord, receive my entire being in Your love and make me like you, consecrate me to live a life of love.”

To all married couples, I strongly encourage you to register for Marriage Encounter (ME) weekends, which will provide an opportunity for you to look deeply into your relationship with your spouse and with God, and to enhance your family life. You will learn a technique of loving communication between husband and wife, which you can use for the rest of your lives. It is a weekend that you will spend together, sharing your feelings, hopes and dreams. So please consider it!

World Marriage Day will be celebrated worldwide on Sunday, 10 February 2019 but in our parish we will celebrate on Sunday, 17 February 2019 by our Parish Family Life. They will organise few activities, slide presentations and fellowship at Dewan Monsignor Anthony Thomas,after the Sunday 9am Mass. During the Mass, we will invite all married couples to come forward and renew their promises in the eyes of Church. Let’s join the celebration and pray that married couples will remain in their marriage and fall in love with each other all over again.

GRACIOUSNESS OF GOD'S GRACE

Simon Peter fell at the knees of Jesus saying, “Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.”Jesus reassured him saying, “Do not be afraid”. (Luke 5:1-11).

God picks the unworthy to do His work in the world. Fear also keeps us from getting into God’s work. When Jesus called His followers, the one piece of advice that He gave them was, “Do not be afraid!” Jesus knew what was in the hearts of his disciples.He knew that the biggest obstacle to anyone following him was fear. So He encouraged them and us not to be afraid.

There are many things that make up this fear of following Christ. Perhaps the biggest obstacle that gets in our way is the fear of being inadequate and fear of failure. We are afraid that we will not be up to the task.

If we don’t overcome the fear of following Christ then it will hold us back from giving the love and service for others. Jesus will not allow us to go in or do it alone. He promises His presence, His power, His support in whatever we do. So, don't be afraid.

“Here am I, send me!” (Is 6: 8)

PARTICIPATING IN CHRISTIAN UNITY

It has been a month since the start of 2019, which marked the beginning of a new phase in our lives and in our parish community. As we start the month of February, I want to take a moment to look back at the short stretch of the month of January. 

Right at the beginning of the New Year, our Parish Ministry of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (PMEIA) started to work hand in hand with the KL North district parishes to host the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU). About 10 pastors from various churches in Sentul and Sri Gombak were present, along with the distinguish guest - Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, the general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM). We had a wonderful and fruitful ecumenical dialogue and gathering on 18 January 2019 at our parish.

Our parish mission priority for the year 2019 is on “Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue” (EIRD)– building friendships through conversation, dialogue and service with Christians and people of other Faiths from around our neighbourhood. The WPCU event, which was organised by PMEIA, led by Ms Eleanor, brought to awareness the need to be engaged in the work of Christian unity. Let us keep in mind the invitation of the Degree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Reintegratio(November, 1964)which invites us to “the restoration of unity among all Christian” (#1) and “all Catholics to participate in the work on Christian unity” (#4).

This year our parish BECAT (Basic Ecclesial Community Animating Team) has taken the initiative to conduct Communitarian Spirituality Experience (CSE) at the BEC level. The first CSE session was held on Saturday, 26 January 2019, attended by BEC 1, 2 & 3. Unfortunately, only 12 members from these BECs participated it. The team under the leadership of Richard Ganesh will continue to organise CSE for all BECs every last Saturday of the month. We invite several BECs to come together for the CSE program. The CSE will help the BEC members to deepen their spiritual conversion in living as a family and community and to build better relationship among themselves. We anticipate more participants from BECs in the coming CSE.

In the month of January 2019, we lost 7 parishioners. In BEC 3 alone (BEC of Taman Bahagia, Sentul) we had 4 deaths. However, am glad that BEC 3 members were faithfully going for the seven-day memorial prayers in the deceased family homes with no qualm. Some of them were quite exhausted rushing from work in order to be present for the seven-day memorial prayers in the respective houses. (FYI: In 2018, we had about 35 deaths, 32 baptisms and 27 marriages registered). We must always have the desire to pray in times of grieve, of pain, suffering and loss of loved ones. Let us remember in prayer, all those who have gone before us.

We are in the month of February - a shorter month, a month of hearts, love and valentines – and many parish events have been lined up. This weekend (3 February) our 254 catechism students and a few of their parents, will be leaving to Chapel of the Holy Infant Jesus in Kuala Selangor. The Chinese Apostolate will be celebrating the Chinese New Year on 5 February. The Family Life will be organising an event in conjunction with the World Day of Marriage on 17 February. There will be Parish Recollection on Saturday, 16 February based on “Missio ad Gentes” and it is open to all parishioners. Finally the Youth will organise a Youth Formative Gathering on Sunday, 27 February. Let’s make the second month of the year another significant month for us all. God bless!

REJECTION OF JESUS

When we experience rejection, we experience physical pain. Rejection hurts us so much.

Today’s gospel is known as the Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth (Lk 4:21-30). The rejection of Yahweh had a long history in Israel. The Israel did not accept Prophet Elijah.Jeremiah received strong negative reaction and rejection to his message but he knew that God will look after him.

Jesus responded rejection from people of Nazareth by saying that no prophet was accepted in his own country. The pain of rejection and opposition did not stop Jesus from the Spirit-empowered ministry. He was always on the move.

We need to be patient and double up all our efforts when we face pain of rejection, disappointment and hurts. In all circumstances, we should remain faithful in the face of hurtful rejection and, “always carry the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the burning arrows of the Evil One,” (Ephesians 6:16).

I would like to invite you to examine your own spiritual lives and see if there is something more that you can do to help yourselves grow in your spirituality.

“My lips will tell of your help.” (Psalm 70)