LET’S GO TO ST JOSEPH!

About 36 of our St Joseph’s Church Parishioners have been Consecrated to St Joseph, the Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary, on Friday, 19 March 2021 during the 6.00pm and 8.00pm Masses. They successfully completed a 33-day online program as part of their preparation for the consecration to St Joseph. The program commenced on Monday, 15 February 2021 and ended on the Solemnity of St Joseph, the Spouse of Blessed Virgin Mary (Friday, 19 March 2021). This 33-day program was concluded with the Eucharistic celebration and praying the “Act of Consecration to St Joseph” together, at the sanctuary.

Many of us are familiar with the Marian Consecration - “33 Days to Morning Glory” - written by Fr Michael Gaitley of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (MIC), which consists of a 33-day Spiritual Preparation, but not many have heard of the Consecration to St Joseph.

Since the Holy Father, Pope Francis announced this year (8 December 2020 - 8 December 2021) as the “Year of St Joseph” Patron of the Universal Church, we initiated this 33-day spiritual online program as a preparation for consecrating ourselves to St Joseph.

Each day the English session was held at 5.30pm and the Tamil session at 9.00pm. We used the book “Consecration to St Joseph – The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father” written by Donald H. Calloway (MIC), as our guide for our spiritual preparation. We spent about 20-30 minutes studying the life of St Joseph - his virtues, his greatness and how he was “at the service of the entire plan of salvation.” This 33-day spiritual journey has given us the opportunity to discover the many titles of St Joseph in the Catholic Church, and the role he plays in the mystery of God’s plan.

We were really inspired by the insights we received and with this understanding, we hold St Joseph in a special place in our hearts. This program has led us to “go to Joseph” (Gen 41: 55) and accept him as our spiritual father. St Joseph, who was silent without a word in the Gospels, has elevated our spiritual lives to greater heights, and as we dedicate ourselves to the Church as St Joseph did, we will continue to carry out the mission of the Church with humility.

During this year of St Joseph, and for our Plenary Indulgence, we make sacrifices and obtain atonement for our sins as tokens or vouchers here on earth, in order to gain rich merits in heaven. We will continue to strive to live the virtues of St Joseph and acknowledge him as our spiritual father, as we entrust ourselves in the work of New Evangelisation. Let’s go to St Joseph for protection, guidance and well-being!

“I would wish to persuade everyone to honour him [St Joseph] with particular devotion. I have always seen those who honoured him in a special manner make progress in virtue, for this heavenly protector favours in a striking manner the spiritual advancement of souls who commend themselves to him” (St Teresa of Avila).

EQUALITY FOR RIGHTS THROUGH SERVICE AND MISSION

International Women’s Day (IWD) will be celebrated on Monday, 8 March 2021 with the theme – “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World.” The theme for IWD invites all women throughout the world to make every effort in shaping a more equal future, amidst recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. IWD is a day initiated with the motivation to “end harmful workplace conditions, promote equal rights and equal pay as well as end exploitation.” This goal is still in progress, and IWD is celebrated to acknowledge the power of women in society, politics and the economy.

Photo: 2018

Once a year we celebrate IWD to bring awareness towards gender equality and human rights, and encourage moving forward more fervently until we achieve complete equality. It is a challenge faced by all women - individuals as well organisations - to strive for a society and nation without prejudice or discord towards gender equality.

 

In 1908, a total of 15000 women marched the streets of New York City demanding reasonable working hours, equal pay and the right to vote. A year later, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Women’s Day. IWD is a wonderful way for women to be re-inspired, re-energised and reaffirmed that they are not alone in this battle of discrimination, harassment, inequality and oppression - as there are millions of women across the country and the world who are fighting against injustices and discrimination.

 

Since 1908, the colours purple, green and white were used to symbolise women’s equality. Purple symbolises justice and dignity, green, symbolises hope while white, symbolises purity. Today, purple is the colour of IWD, combined with green which represents the feminist movement.

 

This year the highlights of IWD are a little unique because it invites women to work towards an equal future of combating the deadly Coronavirus. In this challenged COVID-19 world, every nation and individual are “responsible for our own thoughts and actions.” Recent data from UN Women (an entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women) has revealed that “the Coronavirus Pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality” as during this pandemic, more women find themselves solely involved in domestic chores and family care. In several cities and countries, women’s rights are deteriorating and violent threats against women are increasing. Despite all these, every woman must move with courage and determination to fight against the Coronavirus crisis.

 

In our Parish, women are actively involved in the Catechetical Ministry and Parish Integral of Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) namely the Ministry of the Poor, EduCare Ministry, Eagle’s Wing Ministry (Differently Abled) and the Women’s Ministry itself. Their tireless dedication and unceasing willingness to assist and participate in the various activities of the Parish is commendable. Even during the pandemic, they continued with activities and outreach from their homes. Many volunteers their time to be physically present in Church to help with the distribution of food, groceries, clothes and other essentials for the needy. St Joseph’s Church continuously invites and encourages our women Parishioners to participate in the various ministries, as we carry out the mission of our Parish together. 

 

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

Photo: 2018

DISCOVER EACH VIRTUE OF ST JOSEPH

As we celebrate the Year of St Joseph, it is our privilege to once again present the e-Pilgrimage - (a 7-day journey) - started last Monday, 22^nd February till today, Sunday, 28 February 2021 - focusing on the 7 virtues of St. Joseph, highlighted in the Apostolic Letter - “Patris Corde” or With the Father’s Heart. 

It is a continuation programme of last month e-Pilgrimage where we “transported” you to various sites around the Church compound explaining its historical and significant of the sites. This month, we have assigned a project to our catechism students to showcase short video clips to reflect each virtue of St Joseph, and how it applies in their own respective families.

 

With their parents and catechism teachers, CHILDREN, you did a marvellous job!!! Our children spoke highly of their parents and they also identified with each virtue of St Joseph in their parents. You have a many more things to discover about them, and also your teachers as well.

 

Before the Holy Father announced the Year of St Joseph, I only know very few virtues of St. Joseph through my studies namely a silent man, a just man and faithful man. After reading the Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father on “With A Father’s Heart” - I have discovered seven other wonderful virtues of St. Joseph. Reading his apostolic letter, it was like reading the Holy Gospel over and over again.

 

During my seminary days, we hardly touch and explore who St. Joseph was. We had a special subject on Mariology (Study of Mary) for a semester but little were taught on this man. We only know that he was silent and hidden mysteriously in God’s salvation plan.

 

In His Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis described the 7 virtues of St Joseph as “a beloved father,” “a tender and loving father,” “an obedient father,” “an accepting father,” a father who is “creatively courageous,” “a working father,” “a father in the shadows”.

 

St Joseph has been very silent in my spiritual and priestly life. Only lately, I have started reading about St. Joseph and reciting the Litany to St. Joseph. Today, he has become my spiritual father who is assisting me in my spiritual life. Gradually, I discover more and more of this new spiritual father of mine. I strive my very best to apply his virtues in my priestly ministry as well.

 

Joseph lived in a difficult but his faith was great. The first reading (Genesis 22: 1-2, 9-13, 15-18) today, we heard about Abraham as a father of faith and his son, Isaac as an obedient man in the Old Testaments. In the New Testaments, we hear that St. Joseph as a great father of faith and an obedient man who listened to the voice of the Angel and followed the will of God.

 

The Gospel (MK 9: 2-10) is about the Transfiguration of the Lord and the disciples heard a voice from the cloud, “This is my Son, the Beloved, Listen to him.” St. Joseph listened and obeyed to the voice of God and followed the Lord’s footsteps. Abraham, Isaac and Joseph are our model of faith and obedient, and we too, should listen and obey to the voice of God as we carry out our responsibilities especially during difficult times.

 

During this season of Lent, it will be excellent if we make efforts to discover each virtue of St. Joseph in our lives and grow in our faith like his.

EXPERIENCE LENT AS A JOURNEY OF CONVERSION

The Holy Father’s Lenten message this year is entitled “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem” (Mt 20:18). During this time of Lent, Pope Francis invites us to make a journey towards Jerusalem together - to experience Lent with “renewed faith, hope and love.” He also says that our Lenten observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving will make us “live lives of sincere faith, living hope and effective charity” as we carry out the mission of Christ in the world. In this challenging and uncertain time, he wants us to pray fervently, practice charity and care for all those affected with the COVID-19 pandemic.

a)     The Holy Father explains that “faith calls us to accept the truth and testify to it before God and to all brothers and sister.” In order to accept and live the truth “revealed in Christ means, first of all, opening our hearts to God’s word.” Christ is the Truth, and through our fasting - which is a form of self-denial - helps us to discover God’s gift and leads us to the fullness of life. For all those who fast, make themselves identify with their own poverty and to treasure themselves to love both God and neighbour. In this way, we can “open the doors of our hearts to the One who comes to us, poor in all things, yet full of grace and truth,” (Jn 1:4).

b)    Although hope may seem challenging in fragile and uncertain times, “Lent is precisely the season of hope, when we turn back to God.” During this time of ongoing challenges and uncertainty, he says that hope can seem lost. He links hope to the “living water” that Jesus promises to the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn 4: 10) and “receiving the hope of Christ, who gave His life on the Cross and was raised by God on the third day.” It is a hope of receiving forgiveness from the heart of the Father. We give hope to others simply by being kind - “a kind person appears and is willing to set everything else aside in order to show interest, to give the gift of a smile, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference” (Fratelli Tutti, #224).

c)     “Faith, hope and love - but the greatest of these is love,” (1 Cor 13: 13). Pope Francis says that “Love is a leap of the heart,” and “it brings us out of ourselves and creates bonds of sharing and communion.”During this season of repentance, the Holy Father wants us to “renew our faith, draw from the living waters of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God.” Therefore, in order to experience Lent with love, he encourages us to give alms cheerfully and care for all “those feeling abandoned and isolated and to help others to realise that God loves them as sons and daughters” due to COVID-19 pandemic. It is only with love that we will be enable to build a better society and humanity (Fratelli Tutti, #183).

The Holy Father concludes by saying:

“The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father.”

Be assured of the blessings from the Risen Lord for us and for our families, as we journey together towards the light of Easter. 

(An Extract from the Message from the Holy Father for Lent 2021)

THE LORD FORGIVES AND HEALS US

6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021

Today’s Gospel (MK 1: 40-45) and the Book of Leviticus (Lev 13: 1-2. 44-46) are related to the lepers and disease of leprosy. The Book of Leviticus (Chapter 13) explains in details about the diagnosis of leprosy. When a leprosy appears on a person’s skin, it begins with “a swelling or scab or spot” and slowly the spots spread all over the person’s body and hair begins to fall out. It even gets worse, where the victim’s nails and toenails start to rot and eventually falls off piece by piece. Leprosy keeps eating away his/her body till death consumes that life.

 

It is a contagious skin-disease that time and it was considered as unclean. Interestingly, in the Old Testaments time, once a person was suspected of a skin-disease, he/she would be taken to a priest, and he would examine the infected part of the person by isolating him or her for 7 days. If on the seventh day, the priest observed that there are signs of infection has spread then he would declare the person as “unclean”. Even, the Old Testaments says that the leper has to stay 2 meters away from the person. The victim would be living on his/her own or isolated (quarantine) from the community until he was made “clean,” (cf. Lev 13: 45-46).

 

Today, we can liken this disease with the deadly virus  COVID-19. It is a contagious-virus and it spreads like wild fire, today. A person who has contracted with this virus may or may not indicate any symptom fever, cough, etc. After a RT-PTR (Swab Test), then the patient will know the result either positive or negative. 

 

Just for a precaution, we are constantly reminded and alerted to observe the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) such as, wearing facial mask, ensuring physical distancing and practising hand washing frequently. The authorities have come out with many Dos and Don’ts, accordingly. The patient may be quarantined either at home, rehabilitation centre or hospital.  There is no specific medication but ventilator will be provided, if necessary, for those have respiratory difficulties. The person is not allowed to come out in public until he/she completes the required period of quarantine. With the new found vaccine, we just hope (God’s willing) this vaccine will bring to an end, one day, to the C19 virus as how leprosy is almost quite unknow today.

 

In biblical times, there was no cure to leprosy and it was the worst type of disease to contract. Only in the early 20^thCentury, the doctors were treating the leprosy patients with modern medicine and methods. In the Old Testaments days, the leprosy was known as punishment from God for the leper’s sins and he would be treated as an unclean, corrupted, condemned outcast of the society.  In Jesus’s time, it was so much different, yet Jesus daring and confidently moved in into the personal space of the leper with love and passion, He touched the leper, murmured His instructions and “Immediately leprosy left him and he was cured,” (MK 1:40).

 

Any kind of illness or decease is not something that we should be equating to punishment for sin. We all have to face these life realities of pain, suffering, illnesses, sickness or even death, as you know today. We simply cannot run away from these realities. It may frighten us but we should not afraid of them. We need to learn or cope with them and I am sure, through the mercy of God, He will forgive and heal us. Therefore, we need to rebuild our faith, confidence and trust in Jesus, as the leper did in the Gospel encounter of Jesus. So, say this sincerely, “If you will, you can make me clean.” We all need our Lord’s loving, forgiving and healing touch. In His Time and Will, that we may be cleaned and be purified in my mind and body, spirit and soul. So be still as He fights for you every single breath you take and exhale.