PEACE AND HARMONY THROUGH DIVERSITY

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) has been observed since 1908, with a focus on praying for the unity of the Church. The WPCU is traditionally celebrated from 18 January, starting with the Feast of St. Peter’s Chair, and concluding on 25 January with the Feast of St. Paul's Conversion. This year, The Universal Church has chosen the theme: “You shall love the Lord Your God… and Your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10: 27). 

On Thursday, 25 January 2024, at 7.30 pm, the Church of St. Thomas in Kuantan held a liturgical service to end the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Around 30 members from neighbouring churches in Kuantan City - including five Pastors - and approximately 60 of our Parishioners, gathered together to celebrate unity, followed by a fellowship.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity aims to unite all of us, realising our one mission of Christ in a unique way, despite the diversity of gifts. As Christians, we have the common mission to spread the Good News and be missionaries wherever we are. Our daily interactions with family, co-workers, customers and friends should reflect God’s glory and love. Pope Francis views the diversity present in the Church as a gift which creates a harmonious “symphony” of voices or sounds towards a common goal of peace and harmony. 

Some time ago, I watched an interview on TV with a famous singer - P. Suseela, from India’s Kollywood Film industry - and she talked about her experience of recording songs. In the old days, she had to sing in front of an entire orchestra with many musicians. If anyone made a mistake, they had to redo the entire recording. However, with advanced technology of gadgets and instruments, they can now make corrections immediately and edit the track. She gave an example - when two people sing a duet, they don’t need to be physically present together. They can record their parts at different times and then blend them together to make a song.

If you have ever been to a live orchestra performance, you would know how exciting it is to listen to musicians play different parts of the same instrument, coming together to create an incredible harmony that makes the music truly exceptional. However, it is not easy for everyone to play their own music and instrument simultaneously, and create a perfect musical harmony. In fact, an orchestra requires a conductor to ensure synchronisation; that everyone plays on time, and stays in tune. A conductor’s skill brings unity and uniqueness to the orchestra. 

God values the act of bringing His people together to worship Him. While unity is important, diversity is also highly valued, as we are all united in Christ. As a body has many parts but still functions as one, so it is with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12). The WPCU allows us to come together as Christians, and experience the Lord’s presence in various ways. Let us strive for greater unity and heal the divisions in our churches - becoming one orchestra, creating peace and harmony in our churches.

SYNODAL CHURCH IN MISSION

Every year in January, the Clergy of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur gathers for the Clergy Annual Pastoral Assembly (CAPA). This year, the assembly was held at Glory Beach Resort in Port Dickson, from Sunday evening, 14 January until Thursday afternoon, 18 January 2024. Approximately 60 Bishops and Priests attended the four-day event, and we gathered to review and study the outcome of SYNOD 2023 as well as explore the latest issues and documents. We discussed, shared, and presented several topics in our CAPA. 

During the meeting, Rev Fr Simon Labrooy reviewed the CAPA Report of 2023, which analysed past years’ challenges and satisfaction. Rev Fr Clarence Dass conducted two sessions - on the outcome of Synod on Synodality 2023, and the preparations for the Synod in October 2024. He was one of the delegates from Malaysia who attended the Synod 2023 in Vatican City. In his first session, he shared his experience as a participant and member of the drafting committee. In the second session, he presented the need for us to be prepared for the Synod in October 2024 at the Malaysian Church Conference level. Furthermore, he explained how the Church could become a Synodal Church in Mission, by fulfilling the missionary commitments while maintaining unity and diversity.

Archbishop Julian Leow and Rev Fr Philip Tay invited us to revisit and study the two recent declarations/documents, namely the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings (Fiducia Supplicans dated 18 December 2023) and the Participation of Transgender and Homosexual Persons in the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony (Dicasterium Pro Doctrina Fidei dated on 31 October 2023). Through this exercise, we gained a better understanding of questions related to the blessing of same-sex unions, the synodality of the Church’s mission, the importance of repentance, and other issues that were highlighted during Synod 2023. The inputs, insights and sharing from the study helped to clarify our doubts, enabling us to comprehend better the declarations and issues that had previously caused confusion.

During a forum, we had an open conversation with Archbishop Julian Leow who has been our shepherd for almost ten years in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. As priests, we are satisfied with how he governs the Archdiocese, and we expressed our willingness to work with him, adopting an attitude of co-responsibility in building the Church and its people, and carrying out the thrust of the Archdiocese. All the priests confirmed our support for him and our commitment to working together towards the mission of the Church.

Apart from this, we also came together in prayer, silent adoration, and Eucharistic celebrations to reflect on the issues facing us, so that we may serve the Church with clarity, charity, and greater responsibility. We have been entrusted with serving the Church’s mission through our priestly ministry, and this year’s CAPA has enlightened our minds to serve the Church and its mission to the best of our abilities. Our gathering has been productive and enriching, fostering prayer and strengthening relationships and priestly ministry.

FOCUS ON PRAYERS AND GRATITUDE TO GOD

The Christmas season and New Year celebrations have ended swiftly, leaving us with mixed emotions. Some may feel joyful and happy, while others may experience a sense of sadness. However, all our celebrations, parties and gatherings have left wonderful memories that hold a special place in our hearts even after weeks have passed - and for this, we should give thanks and praise to God.

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrated on Monday, 8 January 2024, marked the end of the liturgical season of Christmastide. We began the first of the two periods of Ordinary Time the following day. This first period will continue until the season of Lent begins, on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.

During the Christmas Eve and Day Masses, almost 50% of our congregation were visitors from outstation, just as some of our parishioners were out of town for the festivities and holidays too. Last weekend, however, I noticed that many have resumed their regular routine and are back home in Kuantan in preparation to return to work and school.

We began our Church activities and formations last weekend. First, with a briefing on our Lenten Campaign 2024 at the Pahang / Terengganu District Level. The briefing was held on Saturday, 6 January 2024, and about 40 parishioners from Bentong, Kemaman and Kuantan churches attended the 2-hour session. The Archdiocesan Office of Human Development (AOHD) conducted the briefing in four different languages.

Many parents of our catechism students have already registered their children for the upcoming catechism classes. Lessons will begin this Sunday and will include a spiritual orientation and introductory session. We have an enthusiastic team of catechists who are well-versed in three languages: English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Malaysia. This year, we have a total of 35 catechists - 20 catechists for English sessions, 6 for Bahasa-speaking students, and 9 for Mandarin-speaking students. We have assigned two catechists for each of the English classes to ensure a more manageable teacher-student ratio. The 6 Bahasa Malaysia-speaking catechists will assist classes with more students from East Malaysia, who may find it difficult to understand the lessons in English.

We will not be using the Regent International School (RIS) classrooms this year, and have instead made arrangements to accommodate all our catechism students within our building. We have installed a TV screen and internet facilities for each class to benefit both catechists and students during lessons. Teachers can more effectively engage students in learning by using the TV, laptop and internet facilities. Teachers can prepare slides and video presentations instead of writing and erasing lessons on the whiteboard. Having the right equipment means our children will have a better learning experience during catechism classes.

As we fully immerse ourselves in the Year of Prayer 2024, we should focus on gratitude to God, self-care, self-awareness, determination and the true spirit of calmness. We are also called to pray for the Holy Father’s intention for the gift of unity and diversity in the Church. May the Holy Spirit help us to recognise the gift of different charisms within the Christian communities and discover the richness of different traditions and rituals in the Catholic Church.

Our Catechetical Year 2024 is scheduled to commence on 14 January 2024, and we would like to take this opportunity to invite all parents to actively participate in nurturing the faith of their children studying in our Catechism classes. We appreciate that you were sending them regularly for their faith education, and we have seen their performance and attendance reach up to 95%. We encourage you to continue doing the same this year, so that they will grow in faith and morality. You are responsible for ensuring that your children attend their faith education program on Sundays, just as you make every effort to send them to school and tuition classes.

Registration for Catechism classes are open, and while many have already signed-up, some have not. We are expecting at least 108 students to attend this year’s Catechism classes, so if you have yet to register your child, please do so as soon as possible. On the reopening day of Catechism, we will begin with a spiritual orientation program. It will include the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and a short briefing for both parents and children.

 

The Holy Father has declared that 2024 will be celebrated as the Year of Prayer. This is a promise and a preparation for the grand celebration of faith that will take place in the Jubilee Year of 2025. The Year of Prayer provides us with an opportunity to prepare ourselves spiritually and emotionally for the holy journey that we will embark on, as a prelude to the grand jubilee 2025 theme of “Pilgrims of Hope”. 

 

As we journey through this year of prayer, the Lord will certainly strengthen our faith and enkindle in us the fire of His love. Let us prepare our hearts to receive the abundant blessings that await us as we journey inwardly. Let us strive for fruitful spiritual growth, and courageously walking towards the golden gate of 2025. I wish you a new year filled with steadfast prayer; always stay on your knees and pray for one another.

 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from 18 January to 25 January. The Holy Father chose a theme - “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself,” (Luke 10:27). The Holy Father’s intention for the month of January 2024 is to pray to the Holy Spirit to recognise and appreciate “the diverse gifts of charisms” in the Christian Churches and “to discover the richness of the different ritual traditions” that are present within the Catholic Church. When we allow “the Holy Spirit to guide us - abundance, variety and diversity will not cause conflict.”

On 25 January 2024 - on the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - we will host a liturgical celebration and fellowship at our Church by inviting pastors, elders and leaders from the ecumenical churches. May this gathering inspire us to work towards Christian unity, deepen relationships and promote reconciliation among ecumenical churches, enabling us to  love our neighbour as we love ourselves.