VENI, SANCTE SPIRITUS

Christians celebrate Pentecost 50 days after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ disciples. Our journey from Easter Sunday to Pentecost has been greatly enlightening and profoundly impacted our faith in Christ Jesus and His Church. Today, we find comfort and confidence in the promise of the Holy Spirit, as expressed in John 14: 16: “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you always.”

As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday this weekend, we hope the Spirit of God will refresh our hearts with renewed faith so that our good works will be for His glory and for the well-being of our neighbours. The Church encourages us to confidently spread the message of Christ and carry out the Church’s mission in the world. It is essential to maintain a positive outlook and hold on to our faith - no matter what challenges and uncertainties come to our life. 

The Church’s mission must be carried out with joy and courage, without fail. The 12 Apostles boldly fulfilled Christ’s mission after receiving the power of the Holy Spirit, bringing lasting joy and peace to the world. We need to be more assertive and always pray that the Holy Spirit gives us the strength and ability to fulfil the mission of the Church by witnessing Jesus Christ in all corners of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8)

During the Eastertide, we have conducted spiritual formations in four languages with the theme “Pentecost – A New Beginning.” Generally, all sessions were attended by a good number of participants and everyone gained significant benefits from them. We have been provided with some scriptural texts for our own reading and reflection during the sessions. It is important to take time to pray and meditate on those texts and also readings that occur on Pentecost Day from the Sunday Missal.

Following the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, 18 May 2023, several parishioners began a nine-day Novena prayer to the Holy Spirit. I would like to draw attention to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual gifts in this discussion on apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healing, help, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues, wisdom, knowledge, faith, discernment of spirit and interpretation of tongues, (cf. 1 Cor 13). Each of us has at least one spiritual gift, which is to be used for the benefit of all humanity and must be exercised in love.

To have a more meaningful personal Pentecost experience, we should prepare ourselves by repenting, forgiving, and professing our faith. We pray that we may be guided by the Holy Spirit and enlighten our hearts and minds so that we too can be filled with wisdom and find joy and comfort in our lives. Let’s participate in prayers and silent reflection and allow ourselves to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, inspires and transforms our Parish community.

Together with our family and community, we pray: 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love and mission.

 

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

The 57th World Day of Social Communications will be celebrated on 21 May 2023 with the theme “Speak with the heart” - Varitatem Facientes in Caritate” (Doing the truth in charity). Pope Francis has linked it to last year’s theme – “Listen with the ear of the heart,” as the entire Church is in preparation for the Synod in October 2023. Our heart is what motivates us to explore, observe and actively listen. It is this same heart that inspires us to communicate in an open, welcoming and friendly style of communication.

The Holy Father urges us to use “the gift of communication as a bridge, and not as a wall.” The theme emphasises the importance of speaking the truth - which must be rooted in the Gospel. However, it is essential to practice “a style of mercy, of sincere participation in the joys and sufferings of people of our time,” as seen in the dialogue between the mysterious presence of Jesus and the disciples of Emmaus, which perfectly provides an example of such a style. 

To communicate kindly, we need to practice listening with patience and not forcefully assert our own views. By listening with an open heart, we can speak truthfully and lovingly. Speaking from the heart is essential for genuine listening and expressing ourselves truthfully. When we communicate in a friendly and respectful way, others will more likely accept our involvement in the experiences of people in our society - including their joys, fears, hopes and struggles. Engaging in friendly conversations can often soften our toughest hearts.

In the media industry, it is crucial that communication should not lead to hostility, anger and conflict. Instead, it should encourage peaceful and thoughtful reflection and interpretation of the world around us. We must emulate Saint Francis De Sales (Patron Saint of Journalists) for his “meek attitude, humanity and willingness to dialogue patiently with everyone, especially with those who disagree.” Adhering to this standard of excellence guarantees top-quality communication.

The Holy Father stressed, “In the Church, there is a great need to listen to and to hear one another.” When we listen without judgment and with openness, we can speak in a way that reflects God’s style of closeness, compassion and tenderness. The book of Proverbs (6:5) says, “A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.” In today’s world, it is crucial to communicate with compassion, to promote peace in areas affected by war and to create opportunities for dialogue and reconciliation in places where hostility prevails.

In a world that is divided and closed off, we have the ability to use words to create a civilised society. We are all expected to contribute to this endeavour, but those who work in the communications field are particularly motivated by a sense of responsibility to carry out their work as a mission.

Let us ask the Lord Jesus to assist us in communicating with clarity, openness and integrity. May the Holy Spirit lead us to listen to one another and enable us to speak the truth kindly and to look out for each other’s well-being.

(An abstract of the message from the Holy Father, Pope Francis for the 57th World Day of Communication)

Many countries and churches the world over have embraced Mother’s Day as an annual celebration on the 2nd Sunday in May. This year, Mother’s Day falls on 14 May 2023 and we would like to lift all mothers in prayer during Mass as a sign of love and gratitude.

Mother’s Day celebration originated in the 19th Century, before the Civil War (1861), in the United States. It was initiated by Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia with a “Mother’s Day Work Club” to educate women about caring for their children. In 1868, she organised “Mothers’ Friendship Day” to promote reconciliation within families. In 1873, Julia Ward Howe campaigned a “Mother’s Peace Day” which urged all mothers to unite in promoting world peace. In 1905, Anna Jarvis (daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis) organised a Mother’s Day celebration to honour sacrifices made by mothers for their children.

 

As we celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, we honour our mothers - young and old - who have tirelessly raised and nurtured us with love and virtue. We may have many ways to celebrate this day with our mothers, to show them our gratitude and appreciation, and to spend quality time with them.

 

This month of May – a month for Mother Mary – as we gather to pray the Rosary as families or as a BEC, please remember to dedicate a decade to our own mothers, who have poured their maternal care and granted protection each time we turn to them. May our Spiritual Mother always pray for our mums to be healthy. We also pray for ourselves during this month of the Rosary - that we may grow in humility, simplicity, chastity, integrity, charity and virtue.

 

This year, we thank our Parish Youth who have come together to bake cupcakes - with the support and guidance of Ms Georgina and her baking team. The St Thomas Baking Team have never failed to make beautiful and delicious cakes, buns and cupcakes for the parish community. These homemade cupcakes come in a variety of tempting flavours - vanilla, chocolate, coffee and butter. Instead of giving florals, the Youth have decided to distribute cupcakes and bookmarks with composed prayers, during the weekend Masses. They took this initiative to show all mothers in our Parish how special they are - not only to their families, but also to our Parish community.

 

Loving God,

We thank you for every mother and we honour them always. 

Bless our mothers and keep them under your protective care, always.

May they be loved, honoured and cherished. Help us to be ever grateful for them and helpful towards them, not only on Mother’s Day, but every day. Amen!

 

To ALL mothers – wishing you a delightful Mother’s Day! 

God bless you with good health, always.

RAISE OUR EYES IN FAITH

About 25 of us made a six-day pilgrimage to Vietnam, covering the cities of Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue and Danang. The eminent Pilgrimage destination and attraction was to pay homage to Our Lady of La Vang in Central Vietnam, and this took place on 4 May 2023.

The story of the apparition of Our Lady began with a group of persecuted Catholics who hid from oppression, deprivation and suffering, in the rainforest of La Vang in 1785. Every sunset, they would gather under a tree to recite the Rosary. In 1798, after many years of devout dedication and prayer, Our Lady with Child Jesus in her arms, dressed in traditional Vietnamese attire, and two angels beside her, appeared to them from among the branches of a tree.

During the apparition, she told them that she was fully aware of their hardships and sufferings of chronic illnesses due to contaminated water. She told them to gather leaves that grew nearby and use these to make a strong tea for healing. They did as per her instructions and their favour was granted. Word of this miracle spread to the people around the area, and many were converted to Catholicism. 

 

In honour of Our Lady of La Vang, they built a chapel in 1820. Pope John XXIII elevated the Church of Our Lady of La Vang to the rank of minor basilica on 22 August 1961 and then Pope John Paul II recognised it as La Vang Basilica in 1998, as a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of her first apparition. 

 

As Catholics, we raise our eyes in faith to behold Mary in the course of our earthly pilgrimage. We pray to her and strive to increase in holiness. She assists all her children, whatever their condition, to find in Christ - the way to the Father’s house. It is always good to place our affection and trust in our Holy Virgin Mother. 

 

The word La Vang is a derivative of the Vietnamese word meaning “crying out”. In our devotion to Our Lady, may we find comfort, solace and courage when we cry out to her with courage for our needs and favour.  “Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of God's name” (Psalms 66). Let us again and again cry out to her with recitation of the Rosary in all our anguish and misery during this month of the Rosary.

 

Vietnam is also known as a land of martyrs, after Japan. One fascinating image we encountered in La Vang was an image (approximately 7x3 meters) with 117 Martyrs depicted on it. Among them - Sts Chastan and Imbert, MEP and St Philip Minh and companions (Vietnamese) - who were lecturing and studying in College General, Penang. Below this image was written - “Holy Martyrs of Vietnam, Pray for us!”