A FUTURE OF JUSTICE AND PEACE

Photo: January 2020

The Pope had in 2019 declared that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) would be celebrated on the last Sunday of September. Initially, the Universal Church celebrated WDMR in January, a week after the feast of the Epiphany. The celebration of WDMR expresses of our concern for the many challenges faced by migrants and refugees and we continue to pray for them as we place them at the core of our hearts and Church.

This year we celebrate the 107^th WDMR which falls on 26 September 2021. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has chosen a theme: Towards an Ever Wider, ‘WE’”. The Pope says “that we are all in the same boat and called to work together so that there will be no more walls that separate us, no longer others, in terms of ‘them’, ‘those’, but only ‘us’ – in a single ‘we’ – (Fratelli Tutti, no. 35). They are no longer others but they part of our families and communities, co-workers and buddies. Their children are studying together with our own children. Some of them are looking after our elderly and sick, and they also work with us in our farms, factories, offices, etc. The Holy Father encourages us to walk together with them without creating any wall or separation with them and “grow stronger and healthier together” as one “Body of Christ,” (1 Cor 12:27). 

Some of these immigrants, refugees and asylum-seekers have entered our country with proper documentation while others have arrived here without any. They left their countries due poverty, violence, wars, natural disasters, political chaos, and some others came looking for opportunities to survive, to get shelter, and for a better life. That is why the Holy Father appeals to us to build a single “we” as we journey together and build together one human family with a better future ensuring that no one is left behind. He desires us “to cultivate communion in diversity” and “to learn to live together” as one home, one family and one Church, the Body of Christ.

 

In his letter on the occasion of WDMR, the Holy Father addressed the Catholic faithful and all people in the world, he made a plea for everyone to “walk together an ever wider ‘WE’” to embrace everyone and everything,” “to heal the wounded and seek out the lost.” The Holy Father encourages us to be “aware of the interconnectedness of our lives” and “our responsibility to respond to them as good neighbours”. It is a time for us to dream together, “as a single human family” and together we pray the prayer below as we “build together a future of justice and peace,” without leaving anyone behind.

Photo: January 2020

Prayer

Holy, beloved Father, 
your Son Jesus taught us 
that there is great rejoicing in heaven 
whenever someone lost is found,
whenever someone excluded, rejected or discarded 
is gathered into our “we”,
which thus becomes ever wider.

We ask you to grant the followers of Jesus, 
and all people of good will,
the grace to do your will on earth.
Bless each act of welcome and outreach
that draws those in exile
into the “we” of community and of the Church,
so that our earth may truly become
what you yourself created it to be:
the common home of all our brothers and sisters. Amen.

(An Extract from the message of Pope Francis for the 107^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2021)

PRAY FOR NATIONWIDE RECOVERY

The Malaysian government has not declared the Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory, neither for every citizen nor non-citizen in the country. Instead every individual has supposedly been given the freedom of choice - either to be vaccinated or otherwise.

According to September 2021 statistics, slightly over 65% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in our country. In line with this, under the National Recovery Plan, the authorities have allowed the reopening of many sectors, with relaxation of restrictions in many areas throughout the country. However, even with the high number of fully vaccinated adults, we realise that the number of COVID-19 cases are high - hovering around 17,000 - 25,000 per day. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 has increased too - up 300 to 450 a day! It is time for all of us to be responsible, rational and ensure that we take necessary precautions in order to avoid contracting the Coronavirus.

 

In some Malaysian states like Labuan, Perlis, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Putra Jaya, Pahang and Kuala Lumpur, we see signs of progress in preventing COVID-19 infections. Even Selangor, which has been recording the highest number of daily cases, hovering around 5,000 to 7,000 cases per day, has seen a drop in numbers. One of the reasons for this is the fact that more people are vaccinated. Unfortunately, few other states such as Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, Perak, Kedah and Johor are seeing a rise in the number of cases.

 

When the vaccination was introduced in Malaysia, many people were reluctant to receive it due to inadequate information and a surplus of unreliable comments and views. However, people have come to realise the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination to combat the raging pandemic. With more reputable and reliable testing and research, the vaccination has proven to help combat the effects of the virus.

 

The authorities have rightly encouraged every individual to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and have even imposed restrictions on those who have yet to be vaccinated. Without possession of a “fully vaccinated”certificate, these individuals are prohibited from entering certain public spaces such as malls, restaurants, office buildings, worship places, etc.

 

“Not fully vaccinated - no church involvement.” If priests and parishioners are not fully vaccinated then there will be issues in administrating or participating in the sacraments and liturgical celebrations. Indirectly, it has become a mandatory requirement in order to be permitted to part take in various activities and ceremonies like weddings, funerals and celebrations of Sacraments in the church.

 

As the vaccine rolls out nationwide, we hope and pray that the rakyat will be relieved from emotional stress and financial difficulties soonest, and that Malaysia may eventually experience economic recovery.

JOURNEYING TOGETHER AS A PILGRIM CHURCH AND MISSIONARY PEOPLE

Since 2013, under Pope Francis’ pontificate, there have been two synodal journeys - the first focused on Family (Amoris Leatitia - the Joy of Love in the Family, 2016) and the second focused on Youth (Christus Vivit - Christ is Alive, 2019).

This year, on 9-10 October 2021, Pope Francis will officially open his third synodal - a three-year synodal as preparation for the celebration of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. The Synod of Bishops, headed by the Pope, invites the entire Church to focus on the theme - “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission."

A synodal means “journey together” which enacts and manifests the nature of the Church as a pilgrim Church and missionary people of God. In the Preparatory Document, the Holy Father desires us to reflect and discern, consult and discus on how the Holy Spirit has led the Church throughout history till today, in order to grow as a Synodal Church (walking or journeying together) on the three different levels:

i)            The Particular or Local Church (Arch/dioceses and Bishops’ Conferences) - from October 2021 to April 2022; 

ii)                 The five continents (The Reginal Areas) - from September 2022 to March 2023; and 

iii)            The Universal Church with the final Gathering of College of Bishops’ - on 23 October 2023.

We need to recognise and appreciate the Church – “as both gift and task” as we use the variety of charisms and gifts that God has bestowed upon us for the benefit of the Church community and the entire human family on this “journey together.” In the process of journeying together, we invite everyone to participate and contribute through listening, discerning and sharing our story of faith and experiences, and recognise how to avoid the abuse of power and authority - so called “clericalism”. In our preparation of journeying together as a Church, we will experience a “renewal” which was proposed by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) which will then lead us “to live communion, to achieve participation, to open Herself to mission.”

Archbishop Julian Leow will open phase one of the synodal in our Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 17 October 2021, with a live broad cast of the event via tv.archkl.org. At this first level, each parish is required to form a Parish Synod Team (PST) consisting of 5-6 members (all languages) to reflect, discuss and discern in line with the questions below:

i)               How is this “journey together” happening today in your parish / particular Church?

ii)              What steps does the Spirit invite us to take, in order to grow in our “journey together”?

In our spirituality of journeying together towards October 2023, the Church will continue to hold our roles and responsibilities within our Christian communities and engage in dialogue with non-Christians, as we grow in our relationship with the Church and the entire human family.

DEDICATED MISSIONARY WORK IN MALAYSIA

After completing his priestly formation and licentiate in Theology, and following his Priestly Ordination on 2 April 1956, Reverend Fr Pierre Bretaudeau MEP (Fr Peter) came to Malaysia in 1957 to serve permanently in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. He was the last and longest serving MEP (Missions Etrangeres De Paris or Paris Foreign Missions) Priest in Malaysia- and he served in this country for 57 years, before saying goodbye in 2014 to retire and settle in his home country, France. According to Monsignor James Gnanapiragasam, who was part of his send-off entourage in June 2014, Fr Peter wished to return to France to re-evangalise! He seemingly had lots of zeal and enthusiasm left in him, despite retirement.

To be honest, I didn’t really know Fr Peter well, and had only one opportunity to celebrate Mass with him. It was at an estate in Seremban on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Chapel of Medjore Estate in Rantau. I invited him to celebrate the chapel’s feast day Mass in Tamil, back in 2009 and he did so with much enthusiasm! The parishioners of the Chapel truly enjoyed having him there. As we were driving to Medjore Estate, we stopped along the way at several houses to greet parishioners. He also showed me other estates in that area, in which he served during his time at the Church of Visitation in Seremban (1967-1977). 

Upon hearing of his decision to return to France permanently, many parishioners in the Rantau and Siliau estates requested for him to stay with them instead of leaving. They wanted to care for him throughout his retirement years, as a sign of gratitude for his service and constant outpouring of compassion and love for their community. However, Fr Peter decided to return to his home country but he always had a special fondness for the Tamil-speaking estate and rural Catholic community.

 

I admire Fr Peter’s diligence and tenacity when it came to meeting families and members of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) of his Parish. He visited many homes and took many census of families and parishioners in whichever parish he was sent to. This left me awe struck as I hardly knew if any of our priests did this anymore.

 

While glancing through the Church of St Joseph’s 100th Anniversary Magazine (2008) the other day, I discovered two interesting things about Fr Peter. First, in 1965 on his first-ever trip back to France for a holiday break since coming to Malaysia, Fr Peter took a detour to Rome to participate in a conference at the request of His Lordship Bishop Dominic Vendargon. He also participated in another conference while he was back in France on holiday. Second, Fr Peter was conferred the highest Chevalier Award (a French title for a certain order of knighthood) from the French government, for his dedicated missionary work in Malaysia. This award was presented to him by the French Ambassador to Malaysia, on 14 July 2007.

 

Fr Peter served at the Church of St Joseph for many years altogether. He was the Assistant Parish Priest from 1960-1962 and again from 1967-1971. He was the Parish Priest from 1962-1963 and the Priest-in-Residence from 2007-2011. He was indeed a people’s priest and a priest who worked enthusiastically, with a missionary spirit.

 

Fr Peter - we truly appreciate your love, compassion and dedication throughout your service here in Malaysia, especially in our Parish. Your light and faith continue to shine in every person you have met, and your memory will continue to linger on. You have shown us the spirit of mission and you can be assured of our humble prayers for your beautiful and loving soul. May you rest in peace…till we meet you again in the Kingdom of Love.