THE VICTORY OF LIFE OVER DEATH

Holy Week and Easter Triduum were celebrated joyfully with a multitude of Parishioners assembled in Church. The celebrations were wonderful and a little different, as Covid-19 rules and regulations have been more relaxed since the start of April 2023. Furthermore, the weather was pleasant throughout all the celebrations, and many of our local Parishioners participated in Masses and services. About 30 Orang Asli, 80 Indonesian migrant workers and 20 varsity students were also among those present at our Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday celebrations.

This year, we were blessed to experience every ritual and rite of the Holy Week celebrations. We had a procession on Palm Sunday and Liturgy of the Light on Easter Vigil. We also had the washing of the feet for selected Parish youth and altar servers on Holy Thursday and the Veneration of the Cross, which invited everyone to come closer to the Cross to venerate with a bow or genuflect and touch. All these rites and rituals were performed with great solemnity.

During the Liturgy of the Word on Easter Vigil, we read all nine readings from Genesis through to the New Testament - leading us to Christ, the True Light. The baptismal liturgy was performed with the presentation of the catechumens for baptism. This year, we had a total of 20 adult catechumens initiated into the Christian community, most of whom were East Malaysians. There were 14 candidates for Baptism and 2 candidates from the Protestant tradition coming into the Catholic faith. Confirmation also took place at the same time. During the Holy Communion, the neophytes received their First Holy Communion. Most of the Baptismal liturgy rites and rituals were solemnly celebrated in Bahasa Malaysia. It was the first time in our Church’s history that such a large number of catechumens received the Sacraments of Initiations.

We have always been grateful to all the RCIA facilitators and godparents/sponsors for guiding and journeying with the catechumens. They have been coaching, praying and assisting to bring them closer to the Sacraments of Initiation. It is the role of the Parish community to welcome and guide them in the life of the Church. 

EXPERIENCE NEW LIFE IN THE RISEN LORD

Easter begins! We can now sing “Alleluia” proudly and joyfully, after waiting for the past six weeks. Easter is a lengthy season - fifty days of celebrations - the longest season in the Church’s liturgical calendar. These 50 days of Easter - between Easter Sunday and Pentecost - is the time to rejoice in the Risen Lord, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad” (Ps 118:24).

 

In the next few weeks, we will encounter scriptural texts of the disciples encountering the Risen Lord until His Ascension, while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. We will also encounter texts that speak of the birth of early churches (Acts 2) and the gifts of the Holy Spirit - inviting us to live as true and faithful disciples. It is a time to enhance our spiritual experiences, which we have undergone during the season of Lent and, fittingly, become fully alive in faith and in the life of the Church. 

 

After completing the Lenten observances, we stand together at the beginning of the Easter season and hold lit candles to renew our baptismal promises. We reject Satan and all his works and empty promises and profess our faith. It expresses our loyalty and belief in One God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, in the communion of saints, forgiveness of sin, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Through this renewal of promises, we will celebrate new life in the Risen Lord, and promise to serve Him faithfully in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church (CCC 811).

 

Every person experiences Lent in a great and different way, especially when it comes to spiritual growth. Personally, I cannot say how I have lived out this Lent, as it went by so quickly. It seems like there wasn’t time for much impact in my spiritual life, apart from dutifully observing the Lenten practices. I may have slackened in working out my weaknesses and realising the need for the Grace of God in order to grow in prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

 

I realise I didn’t give myself enough opportunity, nor did I make a concerted effort, to strengthen my prayer life and priestly ministry. It seems like it may have been a situation where I didn’t walk the talk. Perhaps my actions have been less than perfect and I may have slacked in actively pursuing my faith. However, I know that my Church has never said that I can only return when I am perfect! I also know that the Risen Lord asks that I be fruitful and willing to open my heart to the light, joy and victory of Easter.

 

Easter is a culmination of our faith in the Risen Lord, as He opens the door for us to experience new life in Him. He repeatedly welcomes us with open arms, to live our faith. Let’s look forward to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to grow in our relationship with Jesus, our Church and our community. 

 

HAVE A VERY BLESSED EASTER! MAY THIS SEASON BRING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEWNESS AND FRESHNESS IN FAITH.

TRANSFORMATION TO EXPERIENCE NEW HOPE

Over the past three weeks or so, we have been complaining about the hot weather! We are puzzled as to why the weather can be extremely hot and humid and are looking forward to having some rain. The prolonged periods of hot and humid weather have caused heat waves throughout our country, leaving many of us lethargic. We need to drink sufficient fluids and remember to keep our pets and plants sufficiently hydrated as well. As we begin Holy Week in April, the weather is predicted to be sunny, hot and dry with minimal rainfall and temperatures could range between 32-34 degrees. 

Holy Week is the most sacred week of the year in the Church’s liturgical calendar. It is a commemoration of the Paschal Mystery – the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We start Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday from 1 April 2023 (Sunset Mass) till 9 April 2023 (Easter Sunday). 

As we solemnly enter Holy Week, let us make it a spiritual recollection and contemplation of the events of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem - which appears in the four gospels - followed by Jesus’ carrying of the cross to Mt Calvary and His accomplishment of our salvation.

The Holy Week liturgy invites us to meditate on how Jesus was humiliated, insulted, spat upon, cruelly crucified, and died on the cross. We should not water down the celebrations of the Paschal Mystery as events, ideas or stories but instead, experience it as a process of dying and rising - death and new life. This process of dying and rising that we experience daily may be likened to leaves on the trees falling in autumn and eventually showing signs of new life in the spring. Similarly, our faith experience gives growth and vitality to our spiritual life.

During Holy Week, let us put aside our busy schedules and read and meditate on the Gospel of the Passion and Death of Jesus, especially the last two chapters from any of the four Gospels. This last week of Lent offers us an opportunity to bring our hearts and minds closer and in harmony with Christ. As we journey through this Holy Week, we pray courageously that the Lord Jesus brings us transformation - to experience new hope in each one of us.

All this while we took the opportunity to be free from the obligation to attend Mass in Church by following live-streamed Masses. It is time for all of us to come back to Church for the celebration of the Christian Mystery. So, beginning from this Palm Sunday Weekend, all Parishioners should attend Sunday Masses and other holy days of obligation in person. We have all read and understood the Chancery Notice of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur dated 21 March 2023 pertaining to the guidelines concerning attendance at Mass in Churches.

With that said, we request those feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms, to adhere to COVID-19 precautionary measures, protecting yourself and others in order to prevent the spread of this virus.

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED HOLY WEEK!

THE SPIRIT OF SYNODALITY OF LENT

Our synodal journey of Lent began with two important events in our Parish - Spiritual and Outreach. An early Parish Penitential service, a Spiritual Lenten Retreat and a Day Camp for Catechism students, as well as other spiritual formations, were prepared to enrich the Lenten experience of all Parishioners and students. 

The outreach was coincidental, as it was in aid of the flood victims of Kg Orang Asli. The village was affected quite badly, with waters rising to the rooftops of many homes. Luckily, with the help of volunteer-Parishioners, we managed to collect and distribute all the necessary items - including some financial aid – within a short period of time. No doubt, we truly entered the season of Lent with the spirit of synodality – journeying together, guided by the Holy Spirit, to experience the grace for individual conversion and community renewal.

 

We have completed two-thirds of Lent and have only one week left before entering Holy Week. Thus far, Lent has been remarkable for us in many ways, particularly in our spiritual growth and faith. As Catholics, we somehow have a high regard for this holy season because it spiritually disciplines and trains our inner selves.

 

Any athlete will tell you that one needs endurance training to be fit, before competing in a race. Athletes make many sacrifices - cutting back leisure hours, changing eating habits and working hard day-in and day-out - to get themselves ready for a race. Hence we too, as spiritual athletes, need to make sacrifices to realise our goals and see gradual improvements in our behaviour and lifestyle. We must continue to put effort in refraining from habitual sins and keep observing the discipline of Lent to win the race against evil.

 

During this holy season, we have to continue maintaining our spiritual health by always seeking the Lord Jesus to “create for me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalms 51: 10) as we encounter challenges - internally and externally. It is important that we endure and persevere throughout life, as that will eventually lead us to victory.

 

For the past few weeks, many of us have attended formations, spiritual retreats, and other charity outreaches. We hope that at the end of this season of Lent, we become people of renewed faith in Christ. In the coming weeks, let us pray hard for ourselves - not to harden our hearts, but to continue listening to the Word of God, and be sensitive to the needs of others - which will add strides for conversion and set our paths to holiness.

 

Let us remember these words of St James, “Submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The nearer you go to God, the nearer God will come to you. Clean your hands, and purify your hearts, you waverers. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4: 7-8, 10).

SERVANTS OF GRACE

The Church of the Holy Redeemer in Klang hosted this year’s Chrism Mass on Tuesday, 14 March 2023 at 7.00 pm. Earlier in the day, before the Chrism Mass, the priests gathered at the Church for the first part of our Monthly Priests' Recollection with reflection, Vespers (Evening Prayer), Holy Hour and individual Confession. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Julian Leow and concelebrated with the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio in Malaysia, priests and religious.

The Chrism Mass is a very significant celebration in the life of each Archdiocese / Diocese throughout the world. Traditionally, the Chrism Mass takes place on Holy Thursday morning, to commemorate the institution of the ministerial priesthood. However, it was difficult, especially for priests to be present for the Chrism Mass in the morning and then make it back to their respective Parishes for the Mass of the Lord’s Supper that same evening. Therefore, Local Bishops choose a day as close to Holy Week as possible, so that every priest may be present in the celebration. This is a symbol of oneness and unity in the Church.

In the past, the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur celebrated the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, in Kuala Lumpur. However, for the past few years, it has been celebrated throughout Parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. This has provided an opportunity for other Parishes to host it, and at the same time, dignify and uplift them. Hopefully, it also opens the eyes of the young people of these Parishes to respond to the priesthood and religious life.

During the Chrism Mass, we the priests renewed our priestly commitments and promises that were taken during our ordination. We are entrusted to give our total dedication and be available in the mission work of evangelising and rekindling the faith of the people. God is always blessing our land with bountiful priestly vocations. Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his homily for the 2022 Chrism Mass said: “Being priests is a grace, a very great grace, yet it is not primarily a grace for us, but for our people.” It is a grace and gift of priesthood that provides us with the office to administer the Sacraments for the people of God.

In the Chrism Mass, too, the Bishop blesses three oils, which will be used in the Sacraments throughout the year to come: the oil of the infirmary (for the anointing of the sick), the oil of catechumens (for the Baptism) and the oil of Chrism (for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders). Oil is an integral part of our daily lives. It is used for cooking, fire, fuel, and other purposes. The Church uses these sacramental oils to offer sacrifices as religious practices, (cf. Ex 29:40), and to consecrate, sanctify, heal, beautify and strengthen individuals.

Let us continue to pray for our Church and Clergy, who are the ministers of the sacraments in our parishes, that they may be humble and generous servants of the Lord.