TOWARDS BECOMING SYNODAL PRIESTS

We, the clergy of Peninsular Malaysia have been having our directed annual spiritual retreat on a rotational basis during this month of September for 6 six days from Sunday evening till Friday noon. The retreat is organised over four consecutive weeks throughout the month in three different centres – Cameron Highlands (1st and 4th week), Penang Island (2nd week) and Plentong, Johor (3rd week). During the COVID-19 pandemic, for two years there wasn’t any directed retreat organised for us but we carried it out on our personal level. This year once again we had an opportunity to be physically present in our respective retreat centres.

All clergy (Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and Deacons), religious and seminarians are required canonically “to observe the period of the annual retreat.” We take time off from our parish ministry and administration to attend spiritual retreats not just to fulfil the Canon Law’s requirement but to make time for ourselves to re-energise, re-examine and recharge our spiritual batteries. Jesus himself withdrew from His public ministry and spent time in solitude in the desert for forty days, (Lk 4:1-3). Hence, we are strongly encouraged to step away from our daily routine and hectic schedules and enter into the depths of our souls.

 

Every year in the past, I preferred to attend my yearly retreat in Stella Maris, Penang Island no matter who, the retreat master. I specifically choose to be in Penang Island in the past because of the coastal environment of the retreat centre and furthermore, Penang, is a foodie’s paradise. This year, however, I opted instead to be in MAJODI Center, Plentong for my spiritual retreat due to certain circumstances.  Altogether 30 of us were together in this retreat centre (7 Permanent Deacons and 24 Priests) from 18-23 September 2022.

 

Our Retreat Master was Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil Billones from the Archdiocese of Cebu, Philippines. He obtained his doctorate in Theology from the Loyola School of Theology of the Ateneo de Manila University. His episcopal ordination was on 26 September 2019. He guided us in our retreat with the theme, “Towards Becoming Synodal Shepherds for Renewal in the Church.” He developed the retreat on “synodality of re-awakening”, and “synodality of conversion” towards “presbyteral synodality and sacramental brotherhood.” It is basically about living our priestly identity and journeying together as companions to be in communion as a Church and to work collaboratively in the mission of the Church. He reminded us over and over again that in this process of synodality, we should not push God aside in our priestly ministry but open a doorway to synodality - a greater communion, participation and mission.

 

Bishop Midyphil is a very young, wise, learned, prayerful and spiritual man. His reflections, his personal priestly experiences and sharing were deemed more conducive to obtain in-depth insights. Furthermore, the choicest of his philosophical and theological terms offer lessons worth learning for me. He gave a few scriptural passages including the Holy Father's encyclical texts for my further studies and reflections to engage in prayerful mediations in the future. It was an enriching retreat and I have gained new insights in the depth of my soul. I am grateful to Bishop Midyphil and most of all to God for blessing us with a wonderful and knowledgeable retreat master.

BUILDING THE FUTURE WITH MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Since 1914 the Universal Church has been celebrating World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) a few months before the outbreak of World War I. Pope Pius X (a Pope 1903-1914) invited Christians to pray for migrants and refugees after millions of Italians had migrated abroad. In 1985, Saint John Paul II was the first Pontiff to release a yearly message for the WDMR and initiate the Church to pray ceaselessly for migrants and refugees, that they overcome the harsh realities and difficulties they face daily.

The WDMR was initially celebrated on the 2^nd Sunday after Epiphany. Pope Francis has shifted this annual celebration from January to the last Sunday of every September. This year the 108^th anniversary of WDMR falls on 23 September 2022 with the theme entitled: “Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees.” The Church invites us to pray for these migrants and refugees “as they face various kinds of challenges,” and “to increase awareness about the opportunities that migrant offer.”

 

We as a Church should pay attention to and support migrants and refugees who have left or been forced to flee their homes for many reasons. The Holy Father called us “to renew our commitment to building a future that conforms ever more fully to God’s plan of a world in which everyone can live in peace and dignity.”  

 

Righteousness and justice are very important virtues and values that need to be cultivated in the present world as a part of our contribution towards building the future for migrants and refugees. The presence of migrants and refugees in our community creates “a great challenge” and “an immense opportunity” for us to grow culturally and spiritually. “Their work, their youth, their enthusiasm and their willingness to sacrifice, enrich” the growth of the social and economy of our society today and in the future.

This year as we celebrate the WDMR, we take every effort to revitalise and cheer our celebrations with them as we “share our different expressions of faith and devotions” as people of God. It may open an opportunity “in our common humanity and build together an ever-greater sense of togetherness” for the future of the Kingdom of justice, fraternity and peace that is yet to come.

Let us build our future today! The future begins today and it begins in each one of us.

              

PRAYER FOR THE 108^TH WDMR:

 

Lord, make us bearers of hope,

Go that where there is darkness,

Your light may shine,

And where there is discouragement,

Confidence in the future may be reborn.

 

Lord, make us instruments of your justice, 

so that where there is exclusion, fraternity may flourish,

and where there is greed, a spirit of sharing may grow.

 

Lord, make us builders of your kingdom,

together with migrants and refugees

and with all who dwell on the peripheries.

 

Lord, let us learn how beautiful it is 

to live together as brothers and sisters. Amen.

 

(AN EXTRACT OF THE MESSAGE OF POPE FRANCIS FOR THE WDMR 20220)

 

FOLLOW HER EXAMPLE IN FAITH

The Universal Church celebrates three birthdays in the liturgical calendar – the birthday of Jesus Christ (25 December), John the Baptist (24 June) and Blessed Virgin Mary (8 September).  Before Mary was born, her parents - Joachim and Anne - were unable to conceive. They were deeply saddened by this, yet prayed and fasted fervently, until one day an angel appeared to Anne and prophesied that all generations would honour their future child: “The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth, and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.” Her parents offered Mary to God as a consecrated Virgin for the rest of her life. 

The moment she was born, Mary became a future Mother of Our Lord Jesus, the Saviour of the World. Her birth was exactly nine months after the Solemnity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which falls on 8 December. The Bible does not record her infancy nor her early childhood, but traditionally the Church has celebrated her nativity since the sixth century.

 

On Thursday, 8 September 2022, our Parish celebrated our Spiritual Mother’s birthday in our Church. About 300 Parishioners gathered in front of the grotto to recite the Luminous Mystery of the Rosary. Unfortunately, we couldn’t complete all five decades at the grotto as it started to drizzle. The remaining two decades were recited inside the Church and the prayer concluded with the Litany to Our Lady. This was followed by the Eucharistic celebration. After Mass, the Legion of Mary members had a cake cutting ceremony and served some light refreshments. It was a pleasant celebration in honour of the BVM- reminding us to follow her example in faith.

In the months of August and September, there are several Chapels and a Parish in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur celebrating the feast of the BVM and her birthday. The Parish of Our Mother of the Perpetual Help in Mentakab, Pahang celebrated their feast day on her Queenship as Queen of Heaven and Earth (22 August 2022). Three other chapels will celebrate their feast days of Our Lady of Annai Velangkani (Our Lady of Good Health) this weekend (10 September 2022). These chapels are situated in Gadong (Seremban), Assam Jawa (Kuala Selangor) and Kampung Pandan (Ampang). The chapels are well-known and believed to have healing powers, drawing over 2000 people every year during their feast days.

 

Mother Mary is a very special Spiritual Mother and dear to Catholics - and even to others of different faiths. Many of our elderly faithful recite the Rosary without fail as they believe strongly that she gives them her care and protection from all anguish, struggle, distress and illness. When we pray the Rosary, she intercedes for our needs and protects us against all harm, evil and danger.

 

As we journey together, let us embrace her as our Mother and learn to be obedient to the will of God by saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done according to Your word,” (Luke 1: 38).

UNITY, STRENGTH AND TOGETHERNESS

We commemorated and celebrated Malaysia’s 65th Merdeka on 31 August 2022 with the theme “Keluarga Malaysia Teguh Bersama” (The Malaysian Family is Stronger Together). This is the theme for both National Day and Malaysia Day which is celebrated on 16 September. We have witnessed the public celebrations, exhibitions and parades and it is time to thank all Malaysians who have contributed and dedicated their lives to the growth of our nation over the past 65 years, despite all the challenges. Our blood, sweat, tears, effort, dedication and hard work is a big factor on how we, as a nation, have come thus far.

After two years of being unable to celebrate our National Day due to the pandemic, we have come together as a Keluarga Malaysia to celebrate with pride, as we gradually progress together. As citizens of Malaysia, we expressed patriotism towards our country by raising the Malaysian and respective state flags in our Churches, institutions, buildings, offices, malls, homes, vehicles and along the streets.

Initially, when Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was elected as the 9th Prime Minister of Malaysia, I was a little skeptical. Now, after a year of his administration, I acknowledge his leadership and his concept of seeing us as a family. He cannot be a perfect or ideal PM, but I hope he will do his level best to develop our nation with a sense of unity and inclusiveness for all Malaysians.

 

We have many political parties springing up like mushrooms after the rain since the last General Election (GE), each with their own interests and manifestos, and lately, a few parties have been pressuring the PM to announce a date for GE15. Every party seems to be actively gearing up with a ferocious fighting spirit for the next election. I pray that whatever the outcome, leaders are elected in a fair and just manner, for their ability to lead with dignity and grace.

Certain groups, supporters and individuals were really affected emotionally for whatsoever reason, after a former Prime Minister was sentenced to jail on 23 August 2022. However, the vast majority of the people are happy and relieved with the Federal Court’s decision. From September onwards, we hope to hear the news that a few other persons would be charged in court. Let our prayers and best wishes be for Chief Justice (CJ), Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and other judges to ensure the law is enforced in order put an end to all forms of corruption, tricks and tactics.

We have been liberated from the kleptocratic government but we are still facing a lot of corruption, distressing events, political instability and economic deterioration throughout the country. After observing some progress in economic growth in the second half of the year 2022 in our country, I have some admiration for our PM and CJ.

The rakyat are looking to them for a sense of justice, patriotism, togetherness and affection for the nation. Keluarga Malaysia is looking forward to having more achievements in the country, led by honest and hardworking leaders whose main goal is to prosper our nation through unity, transparency and morality. Many wishes and many congratulations to all Malaysians!

HARMONY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

On Tuesday, 23 August 2022 (25 Muharram 1444H), the Sultan Ahmad I State Mosque in Kuantan organised a get-together among the city’s spiritual leaders. It was part of their “Program Merarau Harmoni” (Masjid Negeri’s Harmony Lunch). Merarau is a newly coined word by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) which means lunch gathering. Frederick Lim, the head of our Parish Inter-religious Dialogue and I, attended this program officially.

There were several other religious leaders and chairpersons in attendance, and among them were representatives from the Tamil Methodist Church of Kuantan, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple and the Hindu Association of Kuantan.

We were greeted and welcomed by Dato Ustaz Haji Badli Shah Bin Haji Alauddin (Chief Imam and Chairman of the State Mosque), Tuan Mohd Affandi Bin Abdul Rani (Chairman of JAIS), Imam Muhammad Izzan Idris and En Muhammad Hafizuddin Bin Tajuddin, as well as other committee members of the Mosque.

In his speech, Dato Ustaz Badli Shah mentioned that the objective of the program was to create harmony among all religions and enhance community living, especially in Kuantan. He also emphasised the need for us to have a better perspective of religious understanding and its teachings in a multi-racial and multi-religious nation and a desire to strive towards building a spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood. According to him, it was the first meeting among all the religious leaders at the mosque, and he hopes there will be many more such gatherings on a regular basis in the future.

Tuan Mohd Affandi, who is a Board Director of the State Mosque, encouraged us to engage in more inter-religious dialogues in our places of worship, to exchange ideas and build harmonious integration among religions. He expressed feelings of disappointment and being disheartened amid tension and misunderstanding between religions in our nation.

After the various speeches, there was a video presentation on the Mosque’s organisation structure and board members, followed by lunch. Dato Ustaz Badli Shah then led us on a tour of the mosque. They showed us some of the facilities available – the administration office, wedding hall, dining hall, formation rooms, etc. The most fascinating of all was their main prayer hall, which had two sections – one for men and another for women – with separate entrances for each section. The men are seated right in-front after the Imam, while the women are seated behind the men, at prayer time.

All guests were invited to sign the guestbook. A photo session followed by a gift presentation session by Dato Ustaz Badli Shah ended the programme for the day. I found the event to be a pleasant, friendly and memorable one. 

Here are brief details about Pahang’s State Mosque which is located in Kuantan. The mosque is named after His Royal Highness Sultan Ahmad I (1836-1914). The state mosque was initially based in Kuala Lipis, which was the capital of Pahang from 1898 to 1953. A new state mosque was initiated after the relocation of the state capital of Pahang from Kuala Lipis to Kuantan on 27 August 1955. The initial existing wooden mosque was reconstructed, renovated, refurbished and redesigned over the years and finally, it came to completion with the official grand reopening on 21 October 1994.

Image credit: Masjid Negeri Sultan Ahmad 1 Kuantan