WELCOMED, PROTECTED, PROMOTED AND INTEGRATED

The Universal Church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914, a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Pope Pius X (Pope from 1903-1914) invited Christians to pray for migrants, after millions of Italians had migrated abroad. In 1985, St John Paul II was the first pontiff to issue a yearly message, calling the Church to pray and pay attention to some of the realities and difficulties faced by migrants and refugees.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees was initially celebrated on the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany. However in 2014, Pope Francis shifted the annual celebration from January to the last Sunday of September, at the request of the Bishops’ Conference. In many countries, World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated between 15-29 September 2019. In Malaysia, it was celebrated last Sunday, 22 September 2019.

This year, the Church celebrates the 105th anniversary of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Holy Father, Pope Francis has chosen the theme – “It is not just about Migrants” and in his message, the Holy Father invites us to include the migrants and refugees in our society - whether they are newly arrived or they have been staying long term in that particular country. The Holy Father wants us not to limit our concern for them alone but for ourselves and for everyone. It is not only concerning the migrants and refugees, but also all about us as well – the present and the future of humanity. He wants us to respond to the challenges that we face, by using four verbs: “to welcome, protect, promote and integrate.” The Holy Father also affirms that when we apply these four verbs in our daily lives “we will help build the city of God and man” and “help the world community to come closer to the goals of sustainable development.”

In our parish, we have almost 1400 migrants and refugees from Myanmar who are from the Zomi Community. They come and participate in the weekend Masses, every 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month. Rev Fr Robert Khan Suan Khai from Myanmar celebrates Mass for their community and looks into their affairs. Currently, he is studying Social Communication in a private university and is residing at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Kuala Lumpur. During the 1st and 3rd  Sunday of the month, the children will attend their catechism classes. 

Besides the Zomi community, we have quite a number of migrants and refugees from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, who are staying within our vicinity. A few of these families receive provision of groceries from our Ministry of the Poor. Their children are studying tuition on Mondays and Tuesdays in our parish, with the assistance of  the Parish Educare Ministry.

St Joseph’s Church always strives to keep to our mission, in reaching out to these migrants and refugees who need to be welcomed, protected, promoted and integrated. Over the past few years, the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHD) - which consists of Parish Ministry of the Poor, Parish Educare Ministry, Parish Women Ministry, Parish Migrant Ministry and Eagle’s Wing - have been assisting and seeing to the needs of the migrants and refugees in our community, providing them with staple provisions, education, counselling, etc. 

We will continue to play our part and make every effort to put into practice the four verbs towards migrants and refugees, adults and children alike - who seek a better life in our land. Let us embrace them with joy and generosity.

REPENT AND GROW IN GODLINESS

Jesus begins the parable (Luke 19: 13-31) by introducing us two different men. The first man is the Rich Man who were “lovers of money.” The Rich Man lived like a king, with fine clothing and luxurious feasting every day.

Just outside his door we find the second man, Lazarus who is poor. Lazarus is dressed in sores that immobilised him. To make his situation worse and more pitiful, dogs would come and lick his sores.

Both the Rich Man and Lazarus died. Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s side, the place of honour at a heavenly banquet!

The Rich Man cried in the Hell, “Father have mercy upon me.” While he tormented in hell he realised during his life time he was too busy having a good time, spending his money, treating his friends, partying, etc. He realised it was too late to do all the things which he should have done on earth before he died.

A person who truly believe in Christ will live a life of repentance and grow in holiness.

 “Praise the Lord, my soul!” (Ps 146).

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/welcomed-protected-promoted-and-integrated/

CULTIVATE HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

The Catholic Church has always encouraged us to be rooted in the Word of God as a step to learn, to know and to serve the Lord. We Catholics, tend to not to put in as much effort in reading the Sacred Scripture as compare to the Protestants, who are more diligent when it comes to reading the Word of God and embracing it into their lives.

Therefore, this weekend I would like to assist you in practising the “Lectio Divina” method. Lectio Divina is known as ‘sacred reading’ in Latin. As we practice reading the Sacred Scripture, we allow our hearts to cultivate hearing the voice of God in the silence of our hearts. By reading Holy Scripture, we enlighten our hearts and increase our knowledge of God.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI introduced an ancient method of utilising Lectio Divina while reading the Sacred Scripture. It is one way to bring profound understanding to many Catholics about Scripture and to go into a deeper prayer life. Here are the ways of engaging into this method:

a)     Lectio (Read): First and foremost, we need to select a passage from the Bible. We can always use the daily reading given in the Roman Missal in the Catholic Church. Before reading the texts, invite the Holy Spirit to assist us in our reading and prayer by saying: “Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening,” (1 Sam 3:9).

b)     Meditation or Reflection: Recall the passage you have just read and take a word or phrase to yourself and see what God is trying to communicate to you through the particular passage. God wants to speak to your heart. The Holy Spirit hears and will slowly respond to you. If possible, read and reread the Scripture text slowly and gently so that you may able to grasp the details of the passage and become familiar.

c)      Oratio (Speak to God) and Contemplatio (Receive): It is the heart of the Lectio Divinia. Close your eyes and allow yourself to become silent. Slowly place yourself in the scene by using your imagination - what does Jesus look like? What are the people saying to one another and their emotions? We need to use our intellect, imagination and senses to make the scene real and alive. When a thought or imagination sparks an idea that descends to your heart then you can talk to the Lord in an intimate way and rest in His presence.

I still remember reading and contemplating the infancy narrative of Jesus. In my imagination, I was 12 years old and Jesus was a boy the same age as me. We were playing football together, went swimming in the river, camping, climbing, fishing, hunting… I was one with Boy Jesus and it was an assurance of Jesus’ presence in my imagination. 

This conversations with the Lord can be for a few minutes. Authentic prayer must be brought into reality of one’s life.

d)    Transformation or Application: The ultimate motive of Lectio Divina and all other form of prayer is to be transformed into the very essence of Jesus, to follow His footsteps. A St Paul says, “It is no longer I live, but Christ who lives in me,” (Gal 2:20).

I invite you to start using this Lectio Divina method by choosing our text, reading it in a more meditate way, speak to God, contemplate, converting the Word of God into prayer and live your life faithfully and reverently. This method teaches us to cultivate the ability to listen and to read the Sacred Scripture, and to apply this to our lives.

WORK HONESTLY AND BE GENEROUS

Jesus says, “The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness…,” (Lk 16:8). The steward has been caught for dishonesty.

We all live in a common culture that wealth is good, greed is good and pleasure is good. We are so rooted in our self-centred culture that we find it very hard to move wealth away from us in the other direction. 

Like the corrupted steward, people everywhere find it too difficult to tear away from a culture and society that believes in greed. Be grateful to God for what He has given us in this life. Work honestly and be generous with what we have.

God provides the very need of all people but it is a hard thing for us to share with others. God has made us steward of our lives. We are responsible to live a godly life and use God’s creation and resources wisely.

The future of the poor is to put their trust in God. God is our hope – “Praise the Lord, Who lifts up the poor.”

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/cultivate-hearing-the-voice-of-god-1/

OUR JOURNEY IN SERVICE FOR THE CHURCH

Last Saturday, 7 September 2019, we had two spiritual formations simultaneously in our Parish – the ALPHA Training Program and the Lectors & Commentators Session. 

 

The ALPHA Training Program for Catholics was conducted by Corrine and Christine from the ALPHA Team under the spiritual director, Rev Fr John Gnanapiragasam. Currently our Parish ALPHA team, which falls under our Parish New Evangelisation Team, consists of 10 members, and we are looking forward to adding on 10 more members by the end of the year, so that they too will be equipped with knowledge to be facilitators.

Initially, we wanted to start the ALPHA program in October/November this year, however due to time constraints and a shortage of members, the parish ALPHA Team has decided to only start the program in February 2020, as preparation for Lent and Easter. The ALPHA Program will be held one day a week, over nine weeks, with each session lasting approximately 2-3 hours. There will be one extraordinary topic, coordinated and planned as a weekend-away session. The main objective of this ALPHA program is to discover and rediscover Jesus, who is Love - believing in Him and responding to His love, as we undertake the greatest adventure in our journey of faith as a Church. Our parish ALPHA Team will be reaching out to you soon!

Around 55 parishioners involved in the Lectors & Commentators Ministry, attended a spiritual formation presented by Rev. Fr. Patrick Masang CSsR. The main purpose of this Formation was to bring about an awareness on the roles and responsibilities of lectors and commentators during the Mass. It was very inspiring and informative for all those who attended it. The last formation for this group was held in July 2016 with only 30 participants.

I would like to highlight that lectors and commentators, as well as psalmists/cantors, should be inside the church at least ten minutes before Mass begins. For those who are unable to make it on an assigned date, please make necessary arrangements for a substitute, and kindly inform the respective person in a timely manner. For all those who did not attend the formation session with Rev. Fr. Patrick Masang, I would suggest that you meet up with your coordinating team or friends who attended, to get an update. 

Thank you to both groups for making the effort in attending the abovementioned formations and most of all, for your sincere dedication to be in the ministries. We shall work collaboratively within the ministry and engage in parish activities, to make our parish alive!

Msgr. James Gnanapiragasam and I have recently attended our annual spiritual retreat under Retreat Master, Most Rev Gerrardo A. Alminazza, D.D. He is a Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos, Negros Island, in the Philippines. Msgr. James attended the first retreat (1-6 September 2019) in Cameron Highlands while I attended the second retreat (8-13 September 2019) in Penang Island. Our retreats were based on the theme Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019: Baptised, Ordained and Sent. 

It was a simple retreat with much relaxation and quiet time. I was really fascinated with what we were told of the Diocese of San Carlos under the shepherdship of Bishop Gerrardo. The Diocese has 850,000 Catholics, with over 80 priests working enthusiastically and collaboratively towards equality, justice and human rights, more especially to overcome poverty and drug trafficking.

Bishop Gerrardo shepherds with zeal, and his Diocese of San Carlos moves with the spirit of “UBUNTU", an African term in the Philippines which means, ‘interconnectedness, togetherness and working together’. 

As parishioners of St Joseph’s Church, let the spirit of “UBUNTU” work among us in order to lift up our parish to greater heights by using all the varied graces that we have received from God and put them into the service of others (1 Peter 4:10-11).

LOST SHEEP AND LOST COIN

This parable of Luke (LK 15: 1-10) is about things that seem to be lost to us, but they are not to God. We are never lost! God is always searching for us.

In these two parables God’s cares and He shows His righteousness and justice.  He is more than a just Judge. He is merciful.

In the first parable Jesus talked about a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of his sheep strayed away and became lost. So he left the ninety-nine and went to search for the one lost sheep. When he finds it He calls all his friends together to celebrate finding the lost sheep. 

In the second parable, Jesus talked about a widow who had ten silver coins and a silver coin was lost. When she finds the lost coin and she rejoices. 

When we lose something, search hard for it, and when we find it, we can celebrate by sharing our joy with others.

Sometimes we do get lost. When that happens, God doesn’t give up on us. He searches for us and He won't stop until we are found. 

“I will rise and go to my Father.” (Ps 51)

A SPIRITUAL MOTHER TO US ALL

On Sunday, 8 September 2019, the Catholic Church celebrates the birthday of Our Blessed Mother, daughter of St. Joachim and St. Anne. It is a traditionally fixed date, exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary which falls on 8 December. The Bible does not record her infancy or early childhood but some of the earliest Christian writers and Fathers of the Church have described her in the first century of the Church.

Tradition describes that Mary’s parents was deeply sad because they were unable to conceive a child. They began to pray and fast earnestly and finally an angel appeared to Anne and prophesied that all generations would honour their future child: “The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth, and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.”

Mary’s parents brought her to be blessed by the temple chief priests saying, “O God, bless this child, and give her an everlasting name to be named in all generations,”and “look upon this child, and bless her with the utmost blessing, which shall be for ever.”Her parents and the chief priests offered her to God “as a consecrated Virgin for the rest of her life, and enter a chaste marriage” with Joseph, the carpenter.

Every September, our Blessed Mother’s birthday is celebrated in the three main prominent feasts of Our Lady - Annai Velangkanni, Our Lady of Good Health and Mother of Perpetual Help. In the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, there is one parish (Mother of the Perpetual Help in Mentakab, Pahang) and three chapels (Our Lady of Annai Velangkanni in Gadong, Seremban, Our Lady of Good Health in Kg. Pandan, Kuala Lumpur and in Assam Jawa, Kuala Selangor) celebrate her birthday. I have ministered in the chapel of Annai Velangkanni, Gadong, which is situated in between Seremban 2 and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). It is quiet a well-known chapel in Negeri Sembilan whose faithful are mostly Tamil-speaking. The chapel draws approximately 2000-2500 pilgrims during the feast day.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is a very special and a powerful spiritual mother for all of us. Today, she is in heaven united fully with Christ Jesus and praying for us. We, Catholics have a very special devotion to Blessed Mother because we believe that she is a mother who gives us her maternal care and protection. Whenever we say our Rosary, the Blessed Virgin Mary communicates to us. When we turn to her in our time of need, she protects all of us from all harm, from all evil and from all danger.

St Louis de Montfort, who was a priest in the 18th century, in his book entitled – “True Devotion to Mary”, spoke about how Blessed Mother protects and leads souls to Jesus. He compares her to a hen who gathers and shelters us under her protecting wings, saving us from outside enemies - from hawks, eagles and vultures. To ensure that the hen becomes their escort, surrounding them as army in battle array. This is what Blessed Mother does out of love she has for everyone, especially those who are devoted daily to her. St Louis also added that when we trust in her, she “dispatches millions of angels” to protect us from the power of enemies. 

In our anguish, struggles and distress, our devotion to Our Lady and receiving the Holy Communion will save us from all evils and Jesus will make known His salvation to His people.

TO BE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

“If anyone comes to Me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers, sisters, and even his own life too, cannot be My disciple,” (LK 14:26).

Do you understand what it means to be a Disciple? It is not easy task to be Disciple of Jesus. There is a price to be paid for becoming a Disciple – the complete surrender of all self-interest. If we want to be His disciples we have to have undivided love for Him. Even family affection cannot interfere with the primary duty of discipleship.

God comes first. God comes before family, friends and before our own lives. That is a big price we have to pay. Discipship is a personal commitment to follow Jesus Christ faithfully and truthfully. We have to place Jesus first above everything else in our lives.

We need to change our lifestyle – not to cheat our neighbour. Do not involve in the gossip, hold grudges, not to be greedy. We must have willingness to share with others. We, as Christians, will not grow into the image of Christ unless we first experience and encounter Christ in our lives.