BRING OUR VISION AND MISSION TO LIFE

On the weekend of 19 January 2025, we held our Parish Pastoral Assembly. It was an opportunity to review our progress, acknowledge our challenges, and identify new ways to strengthen our efforts in building our thrust on Family, Church, Society and Ecology. As we journey through this Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond, we should focus on the graces bestowed on us - reconciliation, forgiveness, transformation and renewal.

When I first started my ministry here in Kuantan, many of you gently reminded me to slow down, by saying, “This is not Kuala Lumpur!” Over the past three remarkable years as your Parish Priest here at St. Thomas Church, I sincerely appreciate the collaborative spirit, and cherish our sense of community. It has truly been a joy to walk this journey of faith with you, and I thank each of you for being an integral part of it.

My heartfelt thanks go out to our amazing parish leaders - your dedication and perseverance during tough times truly mean the world to us all. Many of you have considered stepping down, but your choice to keep moving forward to serve our small community is inspiring. Your unwavering commitment and leadership truly make a difference, and your passion and dedication clearly reflect the Holy Spirit working in our community. 

I am truly touched to see so many of you get involved in our Parish events, spiritual programs and activities. Your involvement is a wonderful reminder of how we can celebrate our unique differences, while coming together in unity. Let’s keep spreading hope - encouraging each other to participate and embracing our shared mission! Thank you for all that you do to enrich our community.

This Jubilee Year is an extraordinary blessing for our Parish as we are now a Pilgrim Centre for the East Coast! What a wonderful privilege and responsibility this is for us. Let us open our hearts and extend a warm welcome to all the pilgrims who come to visit. May they find a home here, a place of spiritual renewal and grace, through the intercession of St. Thomas the Apostle. As we look ahead, let us unite in embracing our Parish Vision and Mission for 2025:

Parish Vision: To be a community that inspires faith throughout the Jubilee Year of Hope and beyond.

Parish Mission: We, the Parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle, are committed to welcoming everyone - actively sharing Gospel values and fostering hope through prayer, service and compassionate outreach.

Let’s bring our vision and mission to life in everything we do! With a spirit of collaboration, let’s spread faith and hope throughout our Parish. May God bless all - our Parishioners and Pilgrims - as we journey together during this Jubilee Year and beyond.

ANCHOR OUR LIVES IN THE PROMISES OF SCRIPTURE

During the weekend of 25-26 January 2025, we will celebrate for the Sixth year, Sunday of the Word of God as a Church. This year’s theme, “I Hope in Your Word” (Psalm 119), resonates completely with our Jubilee Year of Hope. It reminds us that God’s Word is not merely text but the very voice of God - alive, active and ever-present! Through the Word of God, we encounter Christ, who offers us strength in times of uncertainty and joy in moments of grace.

This celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God coincides with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) - traditionally observed by the Universal Church every year - beginning on 18 January with the Feast of the Chair of St Peter the Apostle and concluding with the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul the Apostle, on 25 January. This year, the theme “Do you believe this?” (John 11: 17-27) centres on Jesus’ profound dialogue with Martha following the death of her brother, Lazarus. This is when Jesus declares, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even if he dies. Do you believe this?”

The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) established the Nicene Creed (We Believe, later replaced by I Believe) as a vital component of the Church’s profession of faith. Today, we continue to profess “I Believe” – the creed encompassing twelve essential truths that we proudly proclaim in Jesus Christ, as the foundation of our faith.

In 2019, Pope Francis instituted the annual observance of the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, as the Sunday of the Word of God. In his Apostolic Letter, Aperuit Illis, the Holy Father emphasises the significance of deepening our focus on the living Word of God, which shapes our lives, strengthens our faith, and guides us through every moment. In Aperuit Illis, he writes, “The Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity.” This reminds us that we must recognise the Word of God - not just as a source of personal faith - but as a crucial bridge to strengthen our relationships with our Christian brothers and sisters. We must embrace this calling to foster genuine unity among us.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, the Sunday of the Word of God and WPCU offer us a renewed opportunity to anchor our lives in the promises of Scripture and to be a people of faith and action - sharing Christ’s message of love, hope and eternal life with all those we encounter. As we journey together in this Jubilee, let us become a community united by faith, strengthened by hope, and inspired to bring the light of Christ into our world.

May this Jubilee be a time to reaffirm our trust in the Word of God, strengthen our unity with ecumenical churches as one body in Christ, and confidently proclaim that we find the fullness of life and hope in Him!

GRACE TO RENEW OURSELVES

Last weekend, we celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, which left me completely immersed in the profound messages of the Responsorial Psalms, the readings of the day, and Church Prayers. They say, "All nations shall prostrate before the Lord; all the kings will adore Him; all nations will praise Him; every knee shall bow before Him; every tongue shall confess His name; and all the peoples will serve Him.”

These sacred verses resonate with the Lord Jesus’ manifestation and a wonderful vision of everyone coming together to honour Him! They highlight how everyone, regardless of status and race, culture and language, will acknowledge His sovereignty and greatness, and every nation will raise its voice in praise of Him. It also illustrates that every knee shall bend in submission and humility, every tongue will openly confess His name, and all peoples will commit themselves to His service. It is a powerful reminder to live out our mission to make Him known and glorified among all people.

As we conclude the Christmas season with the Baptism of the Lord, we transit into Ordinary Time from 13 January to 4 March 2025. This season invites us to live our faith and reflect on Jesus’ teachings. Over the next eight weeks, we will live our faith as we reflect deeply on the daily readings, celebrate Jesus in the Eucharist, and embrace our discipleship with renewed commitment and joy.

This month of January, we will unite as a Parish to make the first three Jubilee-themed events a vibrant start to this special year:

• The wonderful Tamil-speaking community of St. Thomas Kuantan is all geared up and excited to celebrate the cultural festival of the Jubilee of Pongal! Join us for Mass on Saturday, 18 January 2025, at 5.30 pm, as we express our gratitude to God. At the same time, let us not forget our Chinese-speaking community, who will welcome the Chinese New Year on Wednesday, 29 January, with a Eucharistic celebration at 9.00 am. It is a lovely time for everyone to come together and celebrate!
• On 19 January 2025, during the 8.30 am Mass, Archbishop Julian Leow will officially announce and appoint our Parish as a Pilgrim Centre for the Jubilee Year of Hope for the East Coast Churches. We will also hold our Parish Pastoral Assembly (PPA) on the same day. We warmly invite everyone to come together for this gathering.
• We will celebrate the Jubilee of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on 25 January. This special occasion encourages us to come together and strengthen our connections with all Christian Churches in Kuantan. Let us come together in prayer, fostering unity and love as we work towards the common goal of living as one Body of Christ!

The Jubilee Year of Hope offers us a profound grace to renew ourselves, forgive one another, and courageously live as people of hope. Let us open our hearts to the blessings of this year, allowing them to inspire us to grow in faith, unity and service.

GOD’S ENDLESS LOVE AND GRACE

As we journey through this exciting New Year - the Jubilee Year of Hope - the Church invites us to commit ourselves to reconciliation, peace, and renewal together! This year is special, and it is all about being instruments of forgiveness - beginning with our families and our Parish community. Let us join forces and work hand in hand to create a brighter and more hopeful future for everyone this year.

As Parishioners, we share a common desire that resonates across the globe - a wish for peace, healing and reconciliation. It is time for us to unite and transform this wish into a reality, right here in our Parish, and among our friends and family. Forgiveness starts with a simple choice, and understanding grows when we take the time to listen to one another. We can foster unity by letting go of past grievances that hold us back. This is a year in which we seek God’s grace in our lives. Together, we can make this Jubilee Year a wonderful time of renewal and hope for everyone in our Church family! 

Is there someone you have been holding a grudge against? Is there a relationship that could use a little tenderness, loveand care? Take a moment to be courageous in stepping forward and inviting the Holy Spirit to soften our hearts - whether offering a heartfelt apology, reaching out with a phone call, or even just beginning to pray for someone who may have hurt you. These small, meaningful actions help us embrace what helps us embrace the spirit of this Jubilee Year!

This Jubilee Year is a wonderful opportunity for us to refresh our spirit and take on the challenges of living out the Gospel in real, meaningful ways. It is all about spreading hope to those who truly need it! There are families or individuals struggling to make ends meet, someone feeling a bit lonely, or a neighbour who seems to have lost their way. It could be through simple acts of kindness, sharing a kind word, or just being there for someone. Every little bit helps and truly makes a difference!

As a pilgrim church in the East Coast, we welcome pilgrims from all walks of life! No matter where they come from, we are here to connect with them and share love across different faiths and cultures. This is one of the most meaningful ways we can spread and reflect God’s endless love and grace!

May this Jubilee Year inspire us to become a Parish that radiates God’s love and peace. Together, let us journey in faith, with hope as our guide and Christ as our light. Let us take a specific, step by reaching out to someone in need, forgiving a past hurt, spending quiet time in prayer, and asking God to guide our path. In doing so, we can truly live out the spirit of this Jubilee Year.