PARTICIPATING IN CHRISTIAN UNITY

It has been a month since the start of 2019, which marked the beginning of a new phase in our lives and in our parish community. As we start the month of February, I want to take a moment to look back at the short stretch of the month of January. 

Right at the beginning of the New Year, our Parish Ministry of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs (PMEIA) started to work hand in hand with the KL North district parishes to host the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU). About 10 pastors from various churches in Sentul and Sri Gombak were present, along with the distinguish guest - Rev Dr Hermen Shastri, the general secretary of the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM). We had a wonderful and fruitful ecumenical dialogue and gathering on 18 January 2019 at our parish.

Our parish mission priority for the year 2019 is on “Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue” (EIRD)– building friendships through conversation, dialogue and service with Christians and people of other Faiths from around our neighbourhood. The WPCU event, which was organised by PMEIA, led by Ms Eleanor, brought to awareness the need to be engaged in the work of Christian unity. Let us keep in mind the invitation of the Degree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Reintegratio(November, 1964)which invites us to “the restoration of unity among all Christian” (#1) and “all Catholics to participate in the work on Christian unity” (#4).

This year our parish BECAT (Basic Ecclesial Community Animating Team) has taken the initiative to conduct Communitarian Spirituality Experience (CSE) at the BEC level. The first CSE session was held on Saturday, 26 January 2019, attended by BEC 1, 2 & 3. Unfortunately, only 12 members from these BECs participated it. The team under the leadership of Richard Ganesh will continue to organise CSE for all BECs every last Saturday of the month. We invite several BECs to come together for the CSE program. The CSE will help the BEC members to deepen their spiritual conversion in living as a family and community and to build better relationship among themselves. We anticipate more participants from BECs in the coming CSE.

In the month of January 2019, we lost 7 parishioners. In BEC 3 alone (BEC of Taman Bahagia, Sentul) we had 4 deaths. However, am glad that BEC 3 members were faithfully going for the seven-day memorial prayers in the deceased family homes with no qualm. Some of them were quite exhausted rushing from work in order to be present for the seven-day memorial prayers in the respective houses. (FYI: In 2018, we had about 35 deaths, 32 baptisms and 27 marriages registered). We must always have the desire to pray in times of grieve, of pain, suffering and loss of loved ones. Let us remember in prayer, all those who have gone before us.

We are in the month of February - a shorter month, a month of hearts, love and valentines – and many parish events have been lined up. This weekend (3 February) our 254 catechism students and a few of their parents, will be leaving to Chapel of the Holy Infant Jesus in Kuala Selangor. The Chinese Apostolate will be celebrating the Chinese New Year on 5 February. The Family Life will be organising an event in conjunction with the World Day of Marriage on 17 February. There will be Parish Recollection on Saturday, 16 February based on “Missio ad Gentes” and it is open to all parishioners. Finally the Youth will organise a Youth Formative Gathering on Sunday, 27 February. Let’s make the second month of the year another significant month for us all. God bless!

REJECTION OF JESUS

When we experience rejection, we experience physical pain. Rejection hurts us so much.

Today’s gospel is known as the Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth (Lk 4:21-30). The rejection of Yahweh had a long history in Israel. The Israel did not accept Prophet Elijah.Jeremiah received strong negative reaction and rejection to his message but he knew that God will look after him.

Jesus responded rejection from people of Nazareth by saying that no prophet was accepted in his own country. The pain of rejection and opposition did not stop Jesus from the Spirit-empowered ministry. He was always on the move.

We need to be patient and double up all our efforts when we face pain of rejection, disappointment and hurts. In all circumstances, we should remain faithful in the face of hurtful rejection and, “always carry the shield of faith so that you can use it to quench the burning arrows of the Evil One,” (Ephesians 6:16).

I would like to invite you to examine your own spiritual lives and see if there is something more that you can do to help yourselves grow in your spirituality.

“My lips will tell of your help.” (Psalm 70)

A MISSION TO COMMUNICATE THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST

The Church in Malaysia has chosen a theme for the 2019 Catechetical Sunday – “Christ, Our Mission,” (Phil 1:21). Archbishop Julian Leow, Episcopal Advisor for Catechetical, who is presently overseeing Catechetics for Malaysia, said in his message that he desires that all baptised Catholics to be on mission and make Christ known to everyone.

The Universal Church celebrates Catechetical Sunday every 3rd Sunday of the month of September. However two years ago, the Malaysian Church decided to celebrate it every 4th Sunday of January.

On Sunday, 6 January 2019, we began the registration for catechism students for the year 2019. We had a total of 254 students registered for both languages (224 of them were for the English session and 30 were for the Tamil session).

On the catechism registration day, we also had an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a rite of commissioning and recommitment of catechists and students at our Church Hall. First, we commissioned 32 catechists (20 were from English and 12 were from Tamil sessions) and 10 RCIA facilitators (6 for the English session and 4 for the Tamil session) and one educator for Special Needs Children. They have recommitted themselves to serve in our Parish Catechetical Ministry once again for the year 2019. They have committed themselves to be on mission by communicating the message of Christ Jesus to their students. We thank and appreciate our catechists for giving their time and sharing their gifts in the work of catechesis.

Then, we invited the catechism students class by class to come forth and commit themselves to be present in every lesson and to be attentive to their lessons and show respect to their catechism teachers as well. We, as parents and catechists, hope our children will learn more about Our Lord Jesus and become the true disciples of Christ.

We ended the rite of commissioning and recommitment of catechists and students with the blessing of the Blessed Sacrament.

On Catechetical Sunday, 27 January 2019, we will initiate the rite of recommitment of parents, together with the rest of the parishioners. We want parents of catechism children, as primary educators, to commit themselves seriously to the faith formation of their children, and guide them in the faith of the Catholic Church. We shall also call upon all Parishioners of St Joseph, as baptised Catholics, to commit themselves to be always on mission in evangelising Christ, and to make Him known to others, through their words and deeds and to build friendships with one another.

As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday this weekend, it is a great opportunity for us to examine of our commitment as disciples of Christ, and take every effort to serve as catechists and faith educators and to share the faith of Christ with all those we meet in our lives. We commit ourselves to being steadfast in our faith in Christ and His Church, and to let others see Christ through us. So, let us live to make Christ known to the world as St. Paul says, “You must behave in a way that is worthy of the Gospel of Christ…” (Philippians 1:27).

On Sunday morning, 3 February 2019, all catechists, catechism students and some parishioners will be going to the Chapel of Infant Jesus, situated at the foot of Bukit Melawati, Kuala Selangor. It will an exciting pilgrimage for our children, as they will be joining the rest of the community in Kuala Selangor to celebrate the feast of Infant Jesus. May Infant Jesus and His Mother Mary, guide our children to grow gracefully in knowledge, wisdom and understanding.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

St. Luke emphasises the importance of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 4:14-15 ) in our world and in our own individual lives as well. We cannot read the Gospel of Luke (or Acts) without seeing the importance of the Holy Spirit.

In everything Jesus did as a human, He did through the power and with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to be His constant companion and guide.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the first step that will enable and empower us to make a difference in our lives. When we decide to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit makes the difference in our mission work.

Let us go to the Lord Jesus for a renewed heart, surrender our will and our being to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to empower us as we connect with others in helping them to find Jesus in their lives.

God gives us the challenge and the strength to bring Good News to the afflicted, to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and new beginnings to everyone who comes to Him.

“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.” (Psalm 19)

JUSTICE, JUSTICE WE SHALL PURSUE

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU), is traditionally celebrated between 18 – 25 January (ie; between the Feast of the Confession of Peter and the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul). These significant dates were proposed by Fr Paul Wattson in 1908, inviting the churches to celebrate, partake in fellowship and pray for unity. Christian Churches across the world come together for special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services.

Pope Pius X (1835-1914) officially accepted the idea and finally Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922), “encouraged its observance throughout the entire Roman Catholic Church.” All Christian leaders and communities are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “They May be One,” (John 17: 21).It is a prayer of Jesus desiring for unity among his disciples and his vision for Church unity. Thus, every Christian leader must make every effort to work towards unity in the church and also maintaining and restoring doctrinal unity as well unity in works of mission.

The WPCU 2019 theme is, “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue…”(Deuteronomy 16: 18-20). The theme was prepared by the Communion of Churches in Indonesia and the Indonesian Catholic Bishop’s Conference. This theme is selected because it gives a powerful message of promoting truth, equality and unity.We, as individual Christians, are supposed to promote justice, peace and protect the oppressed. Very often, all our hard work in uniting and building bridges with every one ends up with gaps between the poor and the rich. The gap is widening and many people are still living in poverty. We need to be witnesses to the world and to be Christ’s healing grace for the brokenness of the world.

The WPCU is also to create awareness among Christian communities about the common concern and response to the unjust reality and witness to the living unity in diversity. It is only when we unite ourselves that we may be able “to combat injustice” and “their situation and needs, and recognise this common need throughout the world.” 

The Kuala Lumpur North District Archdiocese, which consists of 7 parishes, organised the ecumenical gathering, which was held on Friday, 18 January 2019 at the Church of St Joseph, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur at 8.00pm. About 5 Catholic priests and 10 Pastors and representatives from various denominations around Sri Gombak and Sentul came together for the WPCU. There were about 350 parishioners who also attended this ecumenical prayer, celebration and fellowship. 

The KL North District has given us the privilege to host the WPCU service in our Parish for the first time. Our Parish Ministry of Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue Affair (PMEIA) has been working hand in hand with other PMEIA leaders from the KL North District parishes to make this event a memorable one. Syabas to all the committee members for successfully coordinating the event!

PMEIA is a relatively new ministry, which was formed in our Parish sometime in October 2018. In a short period our PMEIA has coordinated a few activities such as visiting mosques, welcoming their religious leaders and Muslim varsity students for dialogues and forums. Some of the religious leaders from other religions paid their courtesy visits to our Church. Our PMEIA will organize a few more events and formations pertaining to other Faiths this year. We need more parishioners to join in PMEIA activities and to participate in various formations, which will take place throughout the year.

This year being an Extraordinary Missionary Year 2019, let us move with the spirit of missionary activity especially in the area of ecumenical and interreligious dialogues within our communities where we live and breathe as well with the people of other Faiths. Jesus Christ prayed for unity of His disciples in His Priestly Prayer (John 17). In this week of Christian unity, let’s pray that we make our individual commitment to work together for justice and to make this world a just and peaceful household for all humanity uniting us by His love.