LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

In this time of global pandemic, many people in our country are facing trials and tribulations. COVID-19 cases are spreading like wildfire every day, especially in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negeri Sembilan. Many individuals and organisations have promptly stepped forward, to reach out to those in need throughout the nation. Each parish has a special Ministry of the Poor, under the umbrella of the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) which reaches out to the poor and destitute who seek protection, assistance, mercy and love.

Earlier this week, my Form Six classmates started a small online collection for a neighbourhood family in need. Everyone chipped in whatever amount they could, and within a few hours, we managed to collect a substantial amount for that family with three children. Taking a lead from that initiative, I then decided to do the same for the 300 Myanmar families in our Parish. These families are desperately in need of help, as the majority of them have lost their jobs and livelihood due to the pandemic, and are struggling to make ends meet. As a Parish, we are responsible to care for our own needy Parishioners.

Ever since the first lockdown in March 2020, we have provided cash aids to the Myanmar families in our Parish. However, our Myanmar Fund was running a deficit and thus the Ministry of the Poor started a collection campaign called “Adopt a Myanmar Family” which encouraged Parishioners to contribute a minimum of RM50 to our Parish account. An appeal letter was circulated to Parishioners and close friends earlier this week, and within 2 days, we managed to adopt and provide for 150 families.

The “Adopt a Myanmar Family” campaign will run till the end of this weekend, and all proceeds will be distributed to the respective families by Tuesday, 13 July 2021. This method of crowd-funding has proven to be the most effective and efficient way of assisting the Myanmar families in this time of need.

 

Besides the Myanmar Zomi community, we have quite a number of migrant and refugee families from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India who live within our Parish vicinity. About 100 of these families receive provision of groceries from our Ministry of the Poor on a monthly basis. Our Parish has been providing aid to them well before the global pandemic, including tuition classes for the children by our Parish Educare Ministry, every Monday and Tuesday. Classes are currently being conducted online. 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, our Parish continues to remain true to our mission of reaching out to migrants and refugees who need our support. We will continue to play our part and make every effort in reaching out to as many individuals - adults and children alike - during this pandemic. Let us embrace them with joy and generosity, living for the glory of God.

BUILD YOUR SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP

The first half of 2021 has passed us by, with many pleasant and unpleasant events having taken place during this unprecedented pandemic. We pray and hope for the best in the second half of the year, as we continue to move forward in cautiousness.

Photo: 2018

The Holy Father, Pope Francis’s prayer intention for the month of July 2021 is on Social Friendship. He invites us to pray for this intention and at the same time to be more “courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship” in the midst of social conflicts, economic downturns and political crises. His intention is to solve or avoid conflicts that cause constant division and social enmities in so many relationships which exist within our families, amongst individuals and in society at large. He yearns for all of us to focus on bridging our differences through dialogue and building up our friendships as a “path to seeing reality in a new way, so we can live with passion, the challenges we face in constructing the common good” with one another.

 

Pope Francis said, “We come from distant lands; we have different traditions, skin colour, languages and social backgrounds; we think differently and we celebrate our faith in a variety of rites. None of this makes us enemies; instead, it is one of our greatest riches,” (Homily, 19 November 2016). His saying reminds me about the variety friends that I have gained over the years. They are of various races, cultures, beliefs, faiths, practise different traditions and speak different languages. It saddens me to say that I have lost five close childhood friends since. May the Lord grant them eternal rest. I have also lost contact with school friends for years, but I do keep in touch with my college friends and we do communicate with each other via social media. Ever since I joined the seminary in 1995, and after being ordained a priest, I developed friendships with a different group of people, mainly from the circle of priests and parishioners. 

Many of us have friendships which has somehow lasted since our childhood and school days. Some of us find camaraderie in friendships with colleagues, neighbours and other people we meet in our daily lives. Some friends have moved overseas, but we somehow find ways to keep in touch with them through social media, as their friendship means something to us. Wherever they are, whoever they are, we are still in contact with them. Besides our family members, we need friends to talk to, to listen, to understand or to be companions on our journey of life - in good, as well as difficult times.

Photo: July 2021

Pope Francis, in his encyclical on “Fratelli Tutti” (Fraternity and Social Friendship, October 2020) has dedicated chapter six to “Dialogue and Friendship in Society.” He pointed out that “giving priority to dialogue means abandoning the logic of polarisation and replacing it with respect, without wanting to destroy others.” I believe we have developed a variety of richness in building up friendships through dialogue with one another, even though we have differences and interests. We have to take every opportunity in building up healthy relationships, rather than be hostile or pose as threats to others. We don’t want to lose our friends or to have enemies around us. Jesus says, “No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15: 13).

Early this week we heard about the White Flag (Bendera Putih) campaign. It is a noble and good spirit of outreach, in helping those who are not able to meet the basic food needs of their family during this difficult times. In this month of July, let’s keep a look out for those in need in our neighbourhood - families and friends who are in need of basic necessities and help, in order to assist them during this difficult period. It is time for us to work for the common good of our community as we rebuild our nation through fraternity, dialogue and social friendship.

EVOLVING DURING THESE UNPRECENDENTED TIMES

On 28 June 2021, we come to the end of our FMCO 3.0 in our country. However, the number of Covid-19 cases has not declined drastically as hoped for. Instead, the figures are still fluctuating in the thousands daily, and we don’t see a steady decline either in cases nationwide.

In some parts of the world, we have noticed a curb in the rate of infections, as they have speeded-up the vaccination process and ensured compliance of the SOPs. Some countries, such as Belgium and the United Kingdom, have stated that they have vaccinated approximately 50%-60% of their total population, and life has slowly started to return to normal again. After some consideration, and taking into account the drastic decline in the daily infection rate, the Euro Cup 2020 organising committee decided to proceed with the tournament from 11 June till 11 July 2021. This tournament was supposed to have been held during the summer of 2020, but was postponed due to the surge of Covid-19 cases worldwide.

 

In Malaysia, statistics indicate that 1.6 million people have been fully vaccinated, and 4.1 million people have received their first dose (The Star, 21 June 2021). By end of June 2021, the respective vaccination centres hope to administer at least 400,000 doses per day. Initially, Malaysians were hesitating to sign up for the vaccination program after hearing and reading about the many negative reviews and its side effects. People have however come to a better understanding of the vaccine and realise the importance of getting vaccinated, in order to break the infection chain throughout the country. Hopefully, once we have the majority of our population vaccinated, the number of Covid-19 cases will decline drastically.

 

I was recently reading an editorial column written by Bishop David, J. Bonnar (The Priest, June 2021), who mentioned that the Merriam-Webster has added 520 new words to its dictionary. A few new words that captured my attention include those related to the pandemic, such as “Covid-19” and “long hauler” as well as the term “second gentleman”.

Covid-19: a word that is already planted in everyone’s head since the beginning of the pandemic.

Long-hauler: a person who experiences one or more long-term effects following initial improvement or recovery from serious illness such as Covid-19.

Second gentleman: was added after the United States election in January 2021. When Kamala Harris was appointed Vice President, her husband was addressed as the second gentleman. This term refers to the male partner of the vice president.

 

Language is constantly evolving and from time to time, new words are introduced into our vocabulary. These new words help us to communicate and express a language better. If you’re curious to find out more about the new words that were added into the dictionary, you can always surf the internet for the full list of 520 new words.

 

Since the start of this year, we have not only learnt new words and terminologies, but we have also gained new experiences in facing the challenges during this new-normal way of life. Due to this deadly virus, many of us are undergoing emotional, physical and financial crisis. We have been persistently praying as families and communities, for an end to this pandemic, and every individual should strive to become a “Good Samaritan” - to be a source of comfort and support through our works of mercy by reaching out to those who are seeking assistance.  Let’s be united as a family of God and “be challenged to grow, pray together, live side by side, and serve one another” during this unprecedented times.

FATHERS, HELP YOUR CHILDREN GROW

This weekend (20 June 2021), we celebrate Father’s Day with the Full Movement Controlled Order (15-28 June 2021) still in effect. This will be the second year in a row that we celebrate Father’s Day on a smaller scale, due to the pandemic. Father’s Day was inaugurated in the early 20th Century to complement Mother’s Day. On this day we honour all fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers, and spiritual fathers, as well. They have greatly influenced individuals, families and society.

When I was growing up with my four siblings, my father was very much concerned about our studies. Entertainment, in any form, was not allowed. In fact, we didn’t even have a television set at home till the early 1980s! My father was so strict in disciplining us and I was often whacked with a stick for causing a ruckus. As I look back today, I appreciate the fact that my father paid so much attention to my personal growth and studies. Today, I thank him for relentlessly disciplining me, and ensuring that I was properly educated in academics, morals and faith.

Very often, fathers are seen to be strong and unemotional men. However, they are the pillars of our family and we must appreciate them for their silent commitment and dedication to their families, especially to their children. I am very sure that every one of us has memorable stories of our childhood, and of our respective father’s teaching us the importance of prayer, mutual respect, honesty, integrity, forgiveness and placing God in the centre of our lives. We all want and need good fathers to provide unconditional love and care, and to ensure that the basic necessities of our lives are met.

Fathers who are stern and strict are not necessarily bad fathers. Their methods may be a little outdated in these modern times, but we must appreciate that they too want the best for their children – raising them on a foundation of discipline and respect, to listen and to obey with love, instead of fear. Self-discipline and respect for others are makings of a good and upstanding person.

We have God, the Father - who is loving, kind, generous and approachable - and all earthly fathers should be like Him, in order to build healthy relationships with their children. Fathers need to encourage and motivate their children in their education, including religious and moral studies. They should also express their unconditional love and care to their children, freely and without hesitation.

Fathers, you are chosen to be the head of your household and spiritual leaders of your family. It is your responsibility to educate and teach your children, and to help them grow psychologically, emotionally, morally and spiritually. In the Bible, Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel and he proclaimed with one voice, “As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). In the midst of all kinds of challenges in our lives, fathers are entrusted to ensure that their home honours Jesus Christ, as the Head of families.

 

Happy Father’s Day! Be courageous, supportive and loving to your children!

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

Photo: 2019

On Friday, 11 June 2021, the Church celebrated World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to remind all priests to model themselves after the heart of Jesus. Priests have dedicated themselves to this sacred calling and devoted themselves in serving God and His people. As they take part in their various ministries, each priest should take the example of the Sacred Heart of Jesus within their own hearts, to be filled with love, tenderness, mercy, compassion and forgiveness. On this day, the Church prays for our Priests to live a life of holiness, and to be role models to our young generation, in responding to the Call of God.

I was reading about the vocation story of our Holy Father Pope Francis, recently. As a young boy, Jorge Mario Bergoglio promised his mother, Regina, that he would become a doctor – “a doctor for souls.” His mother was so proud that her eldest son, who was 19 years old then, would be a great doctor in the future. Since her house was a little crowded and noisy, she prepared a little room just for Jorge to spend time studying. Jorge told his mom that he would take care of cleaning his little room and there was no need for her to trouble herself to do it.

One day, knowing Jorge was too occupied with his studies, she decided to clean her son’s room. She discovered there were plenty of books on theology and philosophy instead of medical books. She was furious and she waited for her son to come back home. Once Jorge arrived, she asked “You told me you were studying medicine and why did you lie to me?” Jorge replied that he was studying medicine – for souls. It is interesting to see how God worked mysteriously in Jorge’s life, and now he is the Pope - the “doctor for souls” of the Universal Church. 

Many parents have their own dreams for their children and they never fail in motivating, encouraging and giving hope to achieve these goals and ambitions. In this present world, I really don’t know how many parents encourage their children towards Priestly or Religious life. Our Parish of St Joseph, Sentul, has produced 13 priests and 2 nuns thus far, but it has been more than 10 years since new vocations have emerged among our young people.

When I expressed my desire of wanting to be a priest, my parents strongly objected. I really struggled and found it hard to discern God’s will. If you were to ask any of our Priests or Religious, you would discover how they too struggled with their own personal vocation.

Our young people may find it very challenging to discern God’s will. Here is a little prayer to assist you in your discernment. It was composed by Fr Francis Xavier Lasance, and it can be found in his book entitled “My Prayer Book, Happiness In God,” originally published in 1908.

“Loving God, whenever it may become my duty to make a choice, be my light and my counsel, and mercifully make the way known to me wherein I should walk. Preserve me from listening to the suggestions of my own selfish desires, or worldly prudence, giving preference to your inspirations. Let your good spirit lead me into the right way, and let your providence place me, not where I may naturally feel inclined to go, but where all things may be most conducive to your glory and to the good of my soul. Mary, Mother of Good Counsel, Seat of Wisdom, Help of Christians, pray for me.”