BE PRESENT IN THE CHURCH

During the month of August, the Holy Father has mandated a special intention for young people to actively live their faith and spread the Gospel’s message in their daily lives. This intention coincided with the 38th World Youth Day (WYD) event in Lisbon, Portugal, which took from 1 – 6 August 2023. In his message, the Pope asked young people to joyfully bear witness to the Gospel and encouraged them to embark on this path without hesitation. Pope Francis emphasised the significance of young people for the Church and highlighted that the Church’s survival is dependent on their involvement. 

Our Parish Youth Ministry of Saint Thomas in Kuantan hosted several activities throughout the month of August to commemorate WYD and to carry out Pope Francis’ intention and mission. On 6 August, a group of eight individuals performed a liturgical dance with the theme song from the WYD in Lisbon. The youth also sold cookies and cupcakes to raise funds for their future activities. They have expressed their gratitude to all Parishioners for their continuous support in helping them achieve their goals.

 

We have scheduled two significant events to take place before the end of the month. The first is a two-day camp with the theme “You, Him, and I,” which will be organised by the Chinese-speaking youth. It will take place this weekend (Saturday, 26 Aug - Sunday, 27 Aug) at the Assunta Retreat Center in Kuantan. The camp’s objective is to bring everyone together and foster a stronger relationship with God and each other. There are 29 participants registered.

 

In line with the Holy Father’s intention for this month, the Parish Youth will be hosting a Eucharistic Adoration on 30 August - the evening before National Day. The celebration will begin with Mass, followed by Holy Hour that includes Vespers (Evening Prayer), a Youth Message, a Video Clip, and ends with Adoration and Benediction. We strongly encourage all youth, including past and present Post-Confirmation students, to be present for this Eucharistic Adoration.

 

During this time, we invite our Parish Youth to gather and participate in prayer and reflection on the message of the Holy Father which is directed towards them. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for young people to experience the living Christ by spending meaningful time with the Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

While the Pope led the young people in prayer with the Rosary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, a young girl who participated in the WYD regained her sight perfectly after receiving Holy Communion. She had been experiencing very blurry vision for two and a half years. From this miracle, it is important for young people to have faith and embrace the Eucharist as a transformative moment in their spiritual journey with God. This is a time to fully dedicate themselves to living for the Eucharist.

 

Many young people are distancing themselves from the Church and showing little interest in their faith in Christ. It is important to recognise our unique talents and actively engage in the Church through various formations and activities. The Church warmly welcomes teenagers and young adults and encourages them to invite other young people to encounter Christ, enriching them through communion, participation and mission.

MATTERS OF FAITH AND HUMANITY

Six state elections (Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor) were held on Saturday, 12 August 2023. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition (Pakatan Harapan) secured victory in three states, while the conservative opposition (PAS backed by Perikatan Nasional) also seized three states. The appointments of the chief ministers and exco members by the respective coalition parties have been made. As they celebrate their victories, it is vital for each party to establish accountability, promote unity within their respective parties and refine their political platforms.

Our nation is regressing in economic, political and social affairs. It is important to reassess and review our educational system in schools, colleges and universities. The goal should be to cultivate a mature and sophisticated society, as well as to foster elite groups. Our goal is to raise new and young generations who are forward-thinking with progressive views rather than promoting conservatism and extremism. In past campaigns, whether in state or general elections, there was a lot of negative behaviour - backbiting and insulting one another. We should avoid instilling these negative attitudes in the minds of our young people.

 

I read an article entitled, “Anwar Should Stop Wasting Time - Conservative Malays Love Dirty Water, Poverty, Racism, Extremism and Corruption”, published by Finance Twitter on 15 August 2023. It was an exciting insight and it concluded that the PMX should focus on three areas – Economy, Education and Reforms. It is imperative that the MADANI Unity Government should start planning for their continued power and stability in the upcoming 16th General Election.

 

Our country’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX) launched the Malaysia MADANI slogan on 19 January 2023. The goal is to improve the administration by “prioritising matters of faith and humanity, guided by values, morals, and just and effective governance.” When he was appointed Prime Minister, he had no vision for the country but he coined the word MADANI from the acronym for a script that stands for sustainability (keMampanan), prosperity (KesejAhteran), innovation (Daya cipta), respect (HormAt), trust (KeyakiNan) and compassion (Ihsan). Our nation is urgently working towards fortifying the MADANI policy framework in order to strengthen the economy, as well as political and social issues.

 

In the MADANI government, every Malaysian citizen - regardless of their background - has the basic right to live in sustainable communities and environments. It is important for our society to prioritise care and compassion in all areas, to ensure equal opportunities and promote equality. Encouraging empathy is vital in creating a fair and just world for all individuals. It is also crucial to encourage mutual respect as a norm to promote inclusivity among citizens. Moreover, incorporating innovation into all aspects of national life should be embraced. The MADANI government is committed to ensuring prosperity through sustainability, transparency, and cooperation. These policies and priorities are interconnected and integrated, working together to strengthen one another.

 

Together, let’s work within these frameworks to heal our nation and move towards a brighter future. May God guide and assist us as we strive to live by the words of Micah 6:8, “to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with Him.”

BUILDING WITH DIVINE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE

On 21 July 2023, I received an email from Dato’ Ar Lai Lok Kun through our Parish website. He introduced himself as the “original architect of the church.” I did not respond to his email immediately, however, a week later, he contacted me through the Parish landline and we had a brief conversation. He wanted to meet me and expressed his wish to revisit the Church he designed back in 1966.

Last Thursday (10 August 2023), Dato Lai along with his brother Ken Lai, sister and brother-in-law Mr and Mrs Leong, and his daughter Suyan, drove from Petaling Jaya, Selangor and visited the Church of St. Thomas in Kuantan. Two senior members from our Parish - Peter Chia and Peter Tan, who were involved in the building project in 1966 – were with me, to welcome them. During our conversations in my office, Dato Lai explained that it was his brother, Ken Lai, who was a dentist and parish member at the time, had introduced him to the late Rev Fr Antoine Henriot (MEP) and that was how he was appointed as the architect to design the new church. At the time, he was only 31 years old.

During his visit, Dato Lai shared that it was a memorable experience after 57 years. He recounted how he was inspired to design a new church back in 1966. He said he stood at the main gate on a very hot day, feeling the weight of his enormous responsibility to design a house of God. Looking up at the sky, he realised he needed divine wisdom and guidance to present his plan to the building committee for approval.

He was aware of the monsoon rainy season at the end of the year. To enhance the sensory experience of reaching for the heavens, he created a soaring roof that resembles a cross, sharp eaves, and a skylight over the altar. He didn’t make the trusses disappear but added elegance to the plain interior. Then, he designed a creative entrance for the Church and the altar and followed it with the construction of a floor and sitting area.

It was truly fascinating to see a unique church design that was built to accommodate the growing Catholic population in the East Coast. After a lengthy discussion, we took them to visit the Church and its surrounding areas. After lunch, we took them on a tour of Kuantan City, visiting some schools, beaches and old buildings. Our guests were thrilled to recall past memories along the way.

Dato Lai, who is presently 89 years old, was born in 1934. He obtained his architectural qualifications from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He has been a practising architect in Malaysia since 1963. He dedicated almost 60 years of his life to architecture, development, and collaborating with friends on township projects to advance his career.

Throughout his career in architecture, he has achieved numerous great accomplishments, with his latest being awarded the Gold Medal laureate by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia - PAM) among the best 11 architects in the country for 2021. He is an incredibly humble, kind-hearted and friendly man who has established architectural milestones in our country.

STRIVE FOR A JOYFUL AND LIVELY CHURCH

Photo: WYD in Lisbon (Internet)

Pope Francis has announced his prayer intention for the month of August 2023, which focuses on the ongoing World Youth Day (WYD), which is currently taking place from 1 – 6 August in Lisbon, Portugal. The Holy Father “invites young people to set aside their fears and embark on a joyful journey to bear witness to Christ in our world.” The Church aims for this 38th World Youth Day in Lisbon to empower young people with the inspiration and guidance to express and share the teachings of the Gospel in their day-to-day routines.

The Church should not be considered “an old people’s club any more than it is a youth club.” It is not for older people or youth exclusively. If it is only for older people, it will not persist or stay alive. Holy Father quoted what Saint John Paul II believed: living with young people can make you feel young. Therefore, the Church requires young people to remain youthful so that the Church doesn’t “grow old”. The Church invites all our young people to take on leadership roles and reach out to more young members to inspire their faith. The Church always desires to be more vibrant, youthful and compelling, now more than ever.

The Holy Father has chosen the theme: Mary Arose And Went With Haste (LK 1: 39-40) for this year’s WYD. Upon hearing that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary didn’t hesitate to offer her support, despite being in the early stages of her own pregnancy. Hence, it is vital for young people to undertake a joyful journey of witnessing Christ in our world by helping and serving others, as we take inspiration from Mother Mary and learn from her example.

The Holy Father hopes “to see a seed for the world’s future” during the WYD in Lisbon. In a world where love reigns supreme, we have the ability to recognise that we are all fellow brothers and sisters. The Pope expressed his desire for “a joyful world” where no one is afraid of witnessing the Gospel. As Christians, it is essential to spread the joy of the Gospel to the world. Without joy, we may not be seen as credible and people may not believe our message.

The youth are both the present and future of the Church. The Holy Father invites the Church to pray for young people worldwide this month. After the challenging experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation, he wants the “seeds” which have been planted during the WYD to bear fruits for the world’s future and persist in a youthful spirit in the Catholic Church.

We pray that the convoy of 148 young people from the Malaysian Church returns safely. We also pray that they foster a sense of hope and inspire other youth members in our parishes to strive for a joyful and lively Church across our nation from time to time.

“Jesus, Himself eternally young, wants to give hearts that are ever young… True youth means having a heart capable of loving, whereas everything that separates us from others makes the soul grow old…” (Christus Vivit, Christ is Alive, no. 13).