BRING LIGHT AND FAITH TO ALL

To many, the Christmas festivities and holidays are the best part of the Christian calendar year and everyone enjoys this celebration joyously. As part of Christmas, everyone gets involved in greetings, shopping, singing, carolling  visiting, partying, eating delicious food, exchanging gifts with family members and friends and also helping to bring joy in the lives of the poor. All Christian families and friends join together with others to celebrate the joy, love and happiness of the birth of Child Jesus, the Son of God.

Our parish of St Joseph’s Zommi Catholic Community celebrated a wonderful Christmas this year. The presence of Her Excellency Kamala Shirin Lakhdir, who is the United States Ambassador to Malaysia made their celebration a significant and meaningful one. Together with her team, she joined the community for Christmas Day Mass at 11.30am. After Mass, they organized a fellowship with the community and the Ambassador had a meal with them. She also joined in the stage shows and entertainment held at Dewan Msgr Anthony Thomas. The Zommi community thanked the Ambassador and her colleagues and presented them with gifts.

December has come to an end. This holiday season will end too and we will head back to work soon and our children will return to school. We will bid farewell to the year 2019 and welcome 2020. It is a wonderful time to reflect on the year that’s been, as we bid it a fond farewell. As a parish, we started 2019 with exciting formations, get-togethers, events and fellowships. I am very grateful to all parish leaders from the various ministries and committees as well as volunteers who dedicated valuable time and worked collaboratively to bring success to all our events and celebrations. We truly couldn’t have done it without you!

The Holy Father Pope Francis, in his message on Christmas Day, invites us to “bring tenderness to all, and brighten the darkness of this world.” As we move forward to our third-year parish vision, “Committing Ourselves to New Evangelisation” with the mission to embrace, to care for and to heal the 5Ls – the Last, Lost, Least, Little and Lonely, let us commit ourselves to bringing the light of Christ to them. As we look forward in expectation, let us stay together and work hand in hand to bring light to all, and live our faith devotedly. We need every one of you to come together to accomplish a shared goal – our vision and mission. Let’s learn how to embrace, to care for and to heal the 5Ls and give our best this coming year.

1 January 2020 will mark the 53rd World Day of Peace. The Holy Father explains that peace as a journey of hope is to be embarked upon in a spirit of dialogue, reconciliation and ecological conversion. He also adds that peace has “great and precious value, the object of our hope and the aspiration of the entire human family.” Peace requires patience and trust which is something that we “must build up continually” and it is a journey “in constant pursuit of the common good”. The peace process is to be made together step by step, not with empty words but with convinced witnesses as peacemakers who are open to dialogue and to live in forgiveness. Pope Francis recalls his Encyclical Letter, “Laudato Si” which invites us not to be hostile towards others and lack respect for our common home or be abusively exploiting of natural resources. The Holy Father concludes with a prayer that “the Holy Spirit prompts in us ways of thinking and speaking, that make us artisans of justice and peace.”

Let’s have a fresh start and may all your efforts produce great success in the year 2020. The Lord will bring peace, joy, happiness and success in your life. Happy New Year and God bless you always.

https://www.stjosephsentul.org/bring-light-and-faith-to-all/

KEEP OUR FAMILIES IN GOD'S PALN

The feast of the Holy Family instructs us on how to have holy families and to create healthy families function.The future of the Church and of society begins in the family. Therefore, parents should not forget their responsibility in keeping their families in God’s plan.

Life in God’s family requires us to forgive others as God has forgiven us. Love is the “bond of perfection” that holds the family and community together. Family is the best place to begin learning these virtues – “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”  It takes discipline to live this way.

When families stay together, and pray together, and sing together and learn together, all of society is enriched and strengthened. Today, we pray for all those who are having troubles in their marriages, for families with conflicts, and for those in disordered relationships. 

Jesus, be with us and be the head of our families; Mary and Joseph, pray for our families.

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in His ways.” (Ps 128)

https://www.stjosephsentul.org/bring-light-and-faith-to-all-1/

THE SPIRIT AND JOY OF CHRISTMAS

We have come to the last Sunday of Advent. Once again, the Fourth week of Advent is quite a short one and we have only two days to pray and reflect about it, before celebrating a beautiful Christmas! During the four weeks of Advent as we approached Christmas, we have been preparing for the Child Jesus to born again in our hearts and in our homes. 

There are groups of people who simply do not want to sing or listen to Christmas music and Christmas carols until 25 December. However, I was listening to Advent hymns as well as carols since the First Sunday of Advent. They have brought me a kind of joy and pleasure as I prepared for the Big Day. I believe this form of listening to Christmas music and carols has allowed me to experience the joy of the Christmas season.

St. Paul advises that we should rejoice always and rejoice in the Lord. We share the ideal gift of joy to everyone we meet during Christmas. It is also the kind of gift that everyone needs. The gift of joy may dismiss their worries and anxieties and the peace of God will be experienced in their hearts and minds, (cf. Philippians 4:4-7).

We will be entering into Christmastide as we echo, “Christ has been born for us; come let us adore him.” The reason for the season is celebrating the most greatest birthday of Our Lord and Saviour on Christmas Day – Christ was born of the Virgin Mary and placed in the manger for all of us to adore Him. As the glory of the Lord shines on the entire world, and let our lips, our hearts, minds, and souls are filled with praises and glory all the day of our lives (cf. Ps 70).

During this Advent, we have reached out to seventy infirmed elderly and sick at their homes. These people are unable to encounter Jesus in the Sacraments regularly due to their inabilities, age or illnesses. Some of them are going through a kind of spiritual war and others are undergoing emotional problems, loneliness, depression and rejection. They need our companionship, our visits, our prayers and support.

 “Is anyone among you suffering? Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him or her with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him or her up. And if he or she has committed sin, he or she will be forgiven,” (James 5:13-15). St. James emphasises that the Church has always cared for her sick and dying, and always rejoices with the gifts of healing and forgiveness.

Through our recent visits to their homes and through the administration of the Sacraments of Holy Anointing, Holy Communion and Confession, these surely would have brought a kind of comfort and strength - physically and spiritually. Let’s always remember the elderly, sick and dying members of our parish in a special way during this season and pray that Jesus’ birth once again brings joy in the depths of their hearts this Christmas.

May the light of joy, love and happiness shine on us, and our lives be filled with blessings this Christmas season. We pray that the spirit of Christmas be kept alive in our hearts and our homes always.

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE! 

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON, 

AND ALL THE BEST IN THE NEW YEAR 2020! 

MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BE BLESSED 

WITH PEACE, LOVE AND JOY.

JESUS, THE EMMANUEL

God came into the world like the rest of us and He truly wanted to be with us. Our Gospel (Matt 1: 18-24) illustrates He was true God and true man. He was true - man because he was born of a woman, the Virgin Mother.

The early Church understood Jesus to be the Emmanuel which means God-with-us. Jesus lived a human life so He can understand our human life. He understands our joys, our happiness, our heartaches, our sorrow, our pain and our suffering. 

The divine life can reach into our lives with his saving grace and peace. So through the spirit, Jesus as God can walk with us, can be with us and can give us the affirmation, if we trust in Him.

The gift of Christmas is that we have a God that is both human and divine who understands the human conditions so as God He can walk with us and give us a measure of his peace and love.

“Let the Lord enter! He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 23)

BUILDING OUR MISSION OF RELATIONSHIPS

On Saturday, 7 December 2019, we had our Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) for the year 2019 at the Formation House. There were approximately 65 attendees, which was a slight decrease compared to previous years. Nevertheless, the PPA went well, with the presence of Archbishop Julian Leow, together with Monsignor Mitchel Anthony and his Pastoral team.

The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur Pastoral Team led by Msgr. Mitchel had earlier on given us survey forms to discuss three of eight cluster findings, actions, plans and strategies in our Parish. The three clusters are – Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), Ecumenical and Inter-religious Dialogue (EIRD) and Parish Youth. First of all, I would like to thank the three clusters for taking the time to come together to discuss, reflect and share before the PPA 2019. I believe you would have been enriched, and learned more about your areas of concerns which included your strengths and weaknesses.

The Archdiocese Pastoral Team divided the participants into 10 groups, and gave us four questions related to missions – i) Mission on Relationships, ii) Mission on Outreach, iii) Mission on Unity and iv) Mission on Social Media. The purpose of the group discussions and sharing was to find out what our Parish, as well as the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, need to focus on, for the coming year. Nine out of the ten groups chose to discuss the need of Mission on Relationships.

On the 1st Sunday of Advent 2019/2020, we, as parishioners of St Joseph’s Church decided our strategies for our Parish mission with focus being on the 5Ls (Lost, Little, Last, Least and Lonely). We have geared ourselves on mission for the year 2020 with the 5Ls, and we will strive to build relationships with them without qualms. At every mass during the weekends, we recite our mission statement: We as parishioners of St Joseph’s Church are sent forth joyfully to embrace, to care for and to heal the 5Ls. In this statement we clearly state the three “verbs” as our “values” to embrace, to care for and to heal in building strong and successful relationships with the 5Ls. Our ultimate goal is to ensure our parishioners build ties and foster healthy relationships with people of 5Ls.

In his speech, Archbishop Julian Leow highlighted that the various ministries and clusters should work collectively and take their roles seriously in the Parish. He invited us to engage with everyone, to have dialogues with people of other Faiths, and for the youth and leaders to be rooted in community life and use social media wisely. His Grace was quite happy with the various outreach programs we had in the past, particularly the success of the Third World Day of the Poor.

This past one year, I realised that our Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) and Parish Council Coordinators (PCC) together with the leaders from the various ministries in our Parish, chose to be actively involved in the life of our Parish. I admire the characteristics of our leaders and committee members because whenever I assign them specific tasks, they do it wholeheartedly and with full commitment. Thank you for your time, effort and desire to serve in our Parish. Once again I would like to thank our PPC and PCC for all the preparations made in ensuring a successful and enriching PPA 2019.

Let us strive to build our Parish with shared leadership and feelings of connectedness with one another, as we build our Mission on Relationships, keeping in mind the 5Ls.

MAKE OUR HEARTS REJOICE

In the Gospel, we meet a discouraged and dejected John the Baptist, (MT 11: 2-11). He sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 

Even though John the Baptist would not be released from Herod’s prison, the Kingdom of God was still advancing. With patience, we can be sure that God will not disappoint us. We are rejoice to know a day is coming when “sorrow and mourning will flee.”

Our situation in life may not have changed but, by the grace of God, all our sorrow and mourning will become something beautiful.

St. James gives us helpful instruction in our Advent time of waiting for God to keep all His promises: “Be patient, until the coming of the Lord.” We need patience in order for our faith not to fail us and “make our hearts firm” in our waiting and to seek virtue.

There is no better way to get ready for Christmas. The Lord who is about to come will make all things possible and will make us happy.

“Lord, come and save us” (Psalm 145).

https://www.stjosephsentul.org/building-our-mission-of-relationships/

THE KING WHO IS TO COME

The New Liturgical Year 2019/2020 has already begun with the first Sunday of Advent. At the end of this month, we will celebrate New Year’s Eve and then, of course, New Year’s Day. The season of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time and all the other annual feast days mark our day-to-day lives with Christ and His Church. Every time we celebrate each season, we have an opportunity “to let the mystery of time become His-story of time.”

It is already the Second Sunday of Advent and Christmas and New Year will soon be upon us. The liturgy leads us to celebrate Jesus’ birth and to walk together towards the Lord and fulfil the words of Prophet Isaiah, “come, let us walk in Yahweh’s light,” (Isaiah 2:5). As Advent prepares us for the Nativity of Our Lord, we are reminded of the calling of all people, “Let us adore the Lord, the King who is to come,” (Invitatory Antiphon of Morning Prayer - Lauds).

Many homes, offices, hospitals and shopping malls excitedly set up Christmas trees, Christmas lights and decorations, but it is very hard to see people setting up nativity scene. This custom has slowly faded off from our generation. Pope Francis has published an Apostolic Letter on 1 December 2019 (1st Sunday of Advent) entitled “Admirable Signum,” on the meaning and importance of the Nativity Scene. The Pope hopes this Letter encourages families to carry out this admirable tradition of preparing the nativity scene. He hopes “this custom will never be lost and that, wherever it has fallen into disuse, it can be rediscovered and revived.”

Our Church purchased two beautiful nativity sets (1 foot and 4 feet in height) in December 2014. The one-foot size nativity set is always displayed at the parish office whereas the 4-foot size nativity set is at the Church. As far I know, we are the only Church that has the 4-foot size nativity set in the whole of Peninsular Malaysia. Initially, we placed this scene at the sanctuary of our Church but these past two years I placed them outside the Church because I noticed that many are only interested of taking photographs rather than spending time praying and adoring Baby Jesus in the manger.

I purchased it for the purpose of praying at the nativity scene and for evangelisation – “joyful proclamation of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God.” The Holy Father says that “the nativity scene is like a living Gospel, rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture.” Each time we gaze at the nativity scene and contemplate the Christmas story (the Infancy narrative), we are “drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter” us and “we come to realise that so great is his love for us that he became one of us, so that we in turn might become one with him.”

It is good to set up the crib in our homes, offices or churches, as the Pope says that “it helps us to re-live the history of what took place in Bethlehem” and “it touches our hearts and makes us enter into salvation history” in order to experience God’s love and to believe that God is with us and finally “we find true happiness.” As we “feel and touch” the simplicity, humility and poverty of Infant Jesus, we are invited to imitate him in our lives by showing mercy and compassion to those in greatest need (cf. MT 25:31-46).

As we gaze at the nativity scene this year, especially figures of Mary and Joseph, let us respond to God as Mary responded with obedience, “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). In this manner, we should submit ourselves in faith to the will of God and commit ourselves faithfully in spreading the Gospel. St Joseph has “entrusted himself always to God’s will” and stood next to Mary, “protecting the Child and His Mother.”

St. Francis of Assisi, who created the first crib scene in 1223 to commemorate the birth of Jesus, will pray for us so that we may open our hearts and pray with gratitude and thanksgiving. 

“The Lord has made known to us” (LK 2:15).

PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS

The Second Sunday of Advent is a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus and His Second Coming. The message of John the Baptist (MT 3:1-12), tells us how to prepare for the coming of Jesus in this Season.

“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand,” and “Prepare a way for the Lord, make His paths straight,” (MT 3:3-4).

The word “repent” means “to change one’s mind.” Repentance is not a one-time thing in life? It is a continual repentance. Conversion is merely the beginning of a process of change.

In this season of Advent, we shall reset our clocks and relearn what it is like to be. It has to start with each of us – we cannot change the others’ minds and hearts but we can change ourselves first.

Let us start with our hearts and minds. Let us remove the sins that block the way of God and prepare the way for God as we embrace, care for and heal our fella brothers and sisters.

“In His day justice shall flourish, and peace till the moon fails.” (Psalm 71).

https://www.stjosephsentul.org/the-king-who-is-to-come/