All Generations Will Call Me Blessed

When Pius XII defined the dogma of the Assumption that Mary was "assumed body and soul into heavenly glory," on 1 November 1950, it was a cause of great joy throughout the Catholic world.

We firmly believe that from the first moment of her conception, Mary was free of all sin including original sin. She was recognised as “full of grace,” “blessed among women,” and “one with the Lord.” She was chosen to be the Mother of our Saviour. She conceived our Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit and through her, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14).

The Assumption is proof that God literally lifts up the lowly. Like her Son and his Ascension, Mary is lifted up by God into the Kingdom of Heaven.

On this Solemnity, we thank the Lord for giving us such a wonderful Mother. She helps us to stay on the path of fulfilling God’s will with obedience and to live more like her in humility. Do sing a Magnificat in our own heart, “The Almighty has done great things for me!”

LET US BE UNITED BY SPORTS

The Olympic Games Rio 2016 has started on Friday, 5^th August in Rio de Janeiro and it will end on Sunday, 21^st August. Some of you would have watched the opening ceremony and are already in the ‘Olympic’ mood watching the athletes’ performances.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has announced the universal prayer intentions for the month of August: “That sports may be an opportunity for friendly encounters between peoples and may contribute to peace in the world.” The Pope also says, “I dream of sports as the practice of human dignity, turned into a vehicle of fraternity.”

He is hoping and praying that every Christian will help to bring about world peace through this Olympics Games Rio 2016. As we keep track of the athletes’ performances and all the Rio Olympic news, our Holy Father wants every Christian to live the Gospel values, giving witness to our faith, to be honest and love one another.

Sport has historically played an important role in our societies. Sport has benefited and contributed strongly in various aspects especially for individual development, health, humanitarian, social integration and development of peace building.
When I was a young boy I involved very much in sports mainly as a long distance runner and in football. Sports had built me a better platform in my outreach with my Malay, Chinese and Indian friends. We participated together and competed against each other in sports and this further strengthened our solidarity and fraternity despite all the differences. Today our children and young people are spending a lot of time surfing their Internet and no longer go outside and play or mix with their peers. It is weakening them to gather together towards a common goal, promoting fellowship, solidarity, and peace.

The world has changed a lot. Today's world is not a safe place to allow our kids to go out and play. Terrorist attacks, crime and violence take place everywhere in the world killing and injuring thousands of innocent lives and threaten our people’s safety. The threat rates are going higher and higher each day. Many terrorist groups continue to plan and carry out attacks without treasuring the gospel values of peace, fraternity and human dignity.

As we follow the Olympic Games, let us learn to use sports as an important investment not only for our physical activities or play but also for developing peace, fraternity and human dignity. Children and adults alike, do take part in various sports for your own benefit and to build a community spirit. Let us keep fit while praying the intention of the Holy Father for the present and future of our families, community and nation.

“LORD, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?” (ACTS 9: 6)

How to be a servant of God? Where can I draw my encouragement and strength in serving God and others? Serving God and serving others is not an easy job. At times in my ministry I do experience feelings of inadequacy and loneliness. At times ministering for Jesus in this parish can be both uplifting and exciting and burdensome and tedious. But no matter how tough my tasks become I keep my spirit going and growing in the way the Lord leads me.

When I began my ministry as a priest in February, 2003 in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia I was afraid and I didn't even have a clear vision of what it means to be a servant of God. If I am going to serve Jesus Christ and His Church I need to find the way God wants me to minister. Over the years I have come to learn how to meet the human needs and how to live my ordination motto, “To live a life of love” (2 Jn 6), a life that is lived for others. Often I pray that I may not lose sight of being a true servant of God “to act justly, and to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with the Lord,” (Micah 6: 8).

Some of you have been ‘servants’ or leaders in the various ministries and BECs for a few years now. Have you ever asked yourself, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” I know you have more than enough commitments at home, at the work place and in the community and society as well. We can’t do everything all at one time or do it all on our own. But we can do something and do it with full commitments. As servants of God we are called to serve and help one another to grow into a relationship with God.

In Christian service, each of us should take the place of Jesus on this planet, “Not to be served but to serve,” (MT 20:28) and to cultivate the attitude of sacrifice and service to others. In our Christian ministry, we will face difficult people, difficult situations and difficult circumstances. Problems with people are the most difficult to bear. When the people we serve irritate us or upset us, the first thing we should do is to pray for them, forgive them and let the Lord change them. The Holy Spirit can use them as tools to build our spiritual maturity and leadership qualities.

On 27^th August, we will begin an “EQUIP LEADERSHIP TRAINING” programme in our parish. This programme consists of a series of modules and workshops, which will be presented over a couple of months. I strongly encourage all leaders and members from the various ministries, BECs, parishioners and even those who are attached in the corporate world to participate in this training programme.

“I am sure of this, that the Lord who began a good work in you will bring it to completion...” (Phil 1: 6).

What is Really Important in Life?

"Be on your guard against all kinds of greed,"(Luke 12:15). Jesus identifies a problem that all of us can be tempted by something called GREED.

What is greed all about:

a) Greed is a disease. It makes us “unclean”. It makes us behave like the godless and wicked of this world do. Greed is idolatry.
b) Greed makes us block God out of our lives. It makes us focus on the power of money rather than the faithfulness of God.

Most people the main priority in life is to attain enough money to live the good life. As St Paul says, “Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth” and Jesus urges us not to store up treasures on earth but to make ourselves rich in the sight of God. A generous heart is a treasure. To have a generous heart is to be rich in the sight of God. 

This weekend Gospel passage forces us to make a decision about what kind of life do we want? Do we want a life dependent on things of this world or do we want a life with no guarantee of any of the world’s materials but close to God or to be in communion with God? 

Ask yourselves, “What is really important in life?” Just make a very simple decision “Are you going to live a life for yourself or are toward God?

Message for World Youth Day 201

 Last Sunday, 17^th July, about 289 youths, 10 Clergy and 3 Religious representatives from the Church in Malaysia left for Krakow, Poland for the 31^st World Youth Day.

The Holy Father began this journey with the spirit of Beatitudes since 2014. He encourages the young people throughout the world to reread and mediate on the Beatitudes and use them as guides for their daily life. The theme for 2014 was on the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3). The theme for 2015 was: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Mt 5:8). The theme for World Youth Day 2016 is “Blessed are the Merciful, for they will receive mercy,” (Mt 5:7). This year the Holy Father focuses on mercy, the most prominent topic of the Universal Church. He stresses on our young people to be instruments of mercy for others. They should have merciful hearts by giving their time and efforts in their words and capacity to listen to those most in need.

The WYD 2016 will start from 25^th July to 1^st August (Monday to Sunday). The youth will be staying in the foster homes in Krakow or other parts of the cities. During this time they will meet for their catechetical sessions in various parishes or formation centers together with Bishops and leaders of the Church. There will be other programmes such as shows, music, group discussions, prayers, vigils, reconciliation and celebration of Mass. Pope Francis will travel to Krakow on July 27, meeting that day with political leaders and with the country’s bishops. On July 28, he will travel to Czestochowa, to the beloved shrine of the Black Madonna. On Friday he will visit the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. On Saturday, July 31, he will travel to the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow. That evening he will join the WYD participants in a prayer vigil. He will celebrate the closing Mass for WYD on Sunday.

The World Youth Day (WYD) is an event for our Catholic youth throughout the world, which is celebrated on Palm Sunday every year at the diocese level. Once in every two or three years, it will be celebrated on a global level. St John Paul II initiated this WYD celebration in 1984. Ever since then, the WYD invites thousands and thousands and even millions of young people throughout the world to meet at one location. This meeting witnesses the living Church and brings liveliness and renewal in our Catholic Church. The main reason for the WYD is for the young people to meet the Holy Father, leaders of the Church and other youths from all over the world. It is also an opportunity to share their faith and the message of Christ to the world.

I had a very enriching experience of the WYD in 1995 in Manila, before joining the Major Seminary in Penang. It was my first experience abroad. I had a close look at St Pope John Paul II while he was passing by with his bulletproof mobile. My 10 day-experience meeting up with youths throughout the world in Manila had given me a sense of vocation to the priesthood and uplifted my faith.

We pray for the success of the World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.