BUILDING WITH DIVINE WISDOM AND GUIDANCE

On 21 July 2023, I received an email from Dato’ Ar Lai Lok Kun through our Parish website. He introduced himself as the “original architect of the church.” I did not respond to his email immediately, however, a week later, he contacted me through the Parish landline and we had a brief conversation. He wanted to meet me and expressed his wish to revisit the Church he designed back in 1966.

Last Thursday (10 August 2023), Dato Lai along with his brother Ken Lai, sister and brother-in-law Mr and Mrs Leong, and his daughter Suyan, drove from Petaling Jaya, Selangor and visited the Church of St. Thomas in Kuantan. Two senior members from our Parish - Peter Chia and Peter Tan, who were involved in the building project in 1966 – were with me, to welcome them. During our conversations in my office, Dato Lai explained that it was his brother, Ken Lai, who was a dentist and parish member at the time, had introduced him to the late Rev Fr Antoine Henriot (MEP) and that was how he was appointed as the architect to design the new church. At the time, he was only 31 years old.

During his visit, Dato Lai shared that it was a memorable experience after 57 years. He recounted how he was inspired to design a new church back in 1966. He said he stood at the main gate on a very hot day, feeling the weight of his enormous responsibility to design a house of God. Looking up at the sky, he realised he needed divine wisdom and guidance to present his plan to the building committee for approval.

He was aware of the monsoon rainy season at the end of the year. To enhance the sensory experience of reaching for the heavens, he created a soaring roof that resembles a cross, sharp eaves, and a skylight over the altar. He didn’t make the trusses disappear but added elegance to the plain interior. Then, he designed a creative entrance for the Church and the altar and followed it with the construction of a floor and sitting area.

It was truly fascinating to see a unique church design that was built to accommodate the growing Catholic population in the East Coast. After a lengthy discussion, we took them to visit the Church and its surrounding areas. After lunch, we took them on a tour of Kuantan City, visiting some schools, beaches and old buildings. Our guests were thrilled to recall past memories along the way.

Dato Lai, who is presently 89 years old, was born in 1934. He obtained his architectural qualifications from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He has been a practising architect in Malaysia since 1963. He dedicated almost 60 years of his life to architecture, development, and collaborating with friends on township projects to advance his career.

Throughout his career in architecture, he has achieved numerous great accomplishments, with his latest being awarded the Gold Medal laureate by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia - PAM) among the best 11 architects in the country for 2021. He is an incredibly humble, kind-hearted and friendly man who has established architectural milestones in our country.

STRIVE FOR A JOYFUL AND LIVELY CHURCH

Photo: WYD in Lisbon (Internet)

Pope Francis has announced his prayer intention for the month of August 2023, which focuses on the ongoing World Youth Day (WYD), which is currently taking place from 1 – 6 August in Lisbon, Portugal. The Holy Father “invites young people to set aside their fears and embark on a joyful journey to bear witness to Christ in our world.” The Church aims for this 38th World Youth Day in Lisbon to empower young people with the inspiration and guidance to express and share the teachings of the Gospel in their day-to-day routines.

The Church should not be considered “an old people’s club any more than it is a youth club.” It is not for older people or youth exclusively. If it is only for older people, it will not persist or stay alive. Holy Father quoted what Saint John Paul II believed: living with young people can make you feel young. Therefore, the Church requires young people to remain youthful so that the Church doesn’t “grow old”. The Church invites all our young people to take on leadership roles and reach out to more young members to inspire their faith. The Church always desires to be more vibrant, youthful and compelling, now more than ever.

The Holy Father has chosen the theme: Mary Arose And Went With Haste (LK 1: 39-40) for this year’s WYD. Upon hearing that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary didn’t hesitate to offer her support, despite being in the early stages of her own pregnancy. Hence, it is vital for young people to undertake a joyful journey of witnessing Christ in our world by helping and serving others, as we take inspiration from Mother Mary and learn from her example.

The Holy Father hopes “to see a seed for the world’s future” during the WYD in Lisbon. In a world where love reigns supreme, we have the ability to recognise that we are all fellow brothers and sisters. The Pope expressed his desire for “a joyful world” where no one is afraid of witnessing the Gospel. As Christians, it is essential to spread the joy of the Gospel to the world. Without joy, we may not be seen as credible and people may not believe our message.

The youth are both the present and future of the Church. The Holy Father invites the Church to pray for young people worldwide this month. After the challenging experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation, he wants the “seeds” which have been planted during the WYD to bear fruits for the world’s future and persist in a youthful spirit in the Catholic Church.

We pray that the convoy of 148 young people from the Malaysian Church returns safely. We also pray that they foster a sense of hope and inspire other youth members in our parishes to strive for a joyful and lively Church across our nation from time to time.

“Jesus, Himself eternally young, wants to give hearts that are ever young… True youth means having a heart capable of loving, whereas everything that separates us from others makes the soul grow old…” (Christus Vivit, Christ is Alive, no. 13).

ARISE AND STAND FOR YOUR FAITH

This year the Church celebrates the 38th World Youth Day (WYD) from 1-6 August 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, with the theme – “Mary arose and went with haste” (LK 1: 38). Immediately upon hearing the news of her cousin Elizabeth’s conception in her old age, the Blessed Virgin Mary, who herself was in the early stages of her pregnancy, arose and went “in haste” to assist Elizabeth (LK 1:39-40). Hence, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, desires our young people to arise from their sleep and wake up to live fully and experience their youthfulness fully.

Saint John Paul II initiated the World Youth Day celebration through the influence of the Youth Light-Life Movement, which existed in Poland since 1985. The first WYD was held in Rome on Palm Sunday, in 1986. Since then, the Catholic Church has celebrated World Youth Day (WYD) annually worldwide, on Palm Sunday until 2020. Since 2021, it has been celebrated on the Feast of Christ the King at Diocese levels. Once every two or three years, it is celebrated on a global level.

The 34th WYD in Panama City (2019) was the last one held at worldwide level, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, and the next three consecutive years (2020-2022), the celebrations were held in dioceses worldwide. For these three years, the Holy Father emphasised the two verbs – “arise and stand up”, which are the keywords for their preparation for the WYD gathering in Lisbon, Portugal. This year’s gathering in Portugal will mark his fourth WYD after Poland, Brazil and Panama. Lisbon was chosen because, in the 15th and 16th centuries, the young people, including missionaries throughout Portugal, “set out for unknown lands, to share their experience of Jesus with other peoples and nations.”

“Arise and Stand Up” – come from the biblical texts for the three consecutive years’ theme for the WYD (2020-2023). For 2021, the theme was, “Young man, I say to you arise!” (Lk 7: 14), for 2021, “Stand up, I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen” (cf. Acts 26: 16) and for 2022/23, “Mary arose and went with haste,” (LK 1: 39). These verbs are the main highlight in the Holy Father’s Exhortation (2018),“Christus Vivit” (Christ is Alive!), inviting the young people to awaken and experience the new life in Christ.

The worldwide WYD celebration allows young people to connect with the Holy Father, Church leaders, and fellow youths worldwide. It is a chance to share their ideas, cultures, languages and experiences of faith. It is also an invitation to witness the living Church and how they can bring liveliness and renewal to the Catholic Church today. WYD meetings help understand the importance of Christ in personal faith journeys.

Young people must make great efforts to rise and stand up for their faith in Christ and share the Good News with those in contact with them. The Holy Spirit will accompany them, the grace of the Lord Jesus will overflow in their hearts to give them the courage to arise and stand for their faith, and the Church is always a lamp for their life path. My dear young people – you need to rise again!

LONGEVITY IS A BLESSING

The Universal Church celebrates the 3rd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (WDGE) this Sunday, 23 July 2023, with the theme “His Mercy Is From Age To Age” (Lk 1: 50). WDGE is celebrated on the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (Jesus’ grandparents) which falls on 26 July, every year. This theme is closely related to the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD), which will be held in Lisbon, Portugal, from 1-6 August 2023.

The theme for WYD emphasises the significance of the relationship between the young and older generations, as proclaimed in the Magnificat. It is the story of Mary, who quickly travelled to visit her older cousin Elizabeth. Both celebrations, which are just a matter of days apart, remind us to reflect on the “haste” (cf. v 39) with which Mary set out to visit Elizabeth – “the bond that unites young and old.” Holy Father expects the “young people to bring joy to the hearts of the elderly, as Mary did to Elizabeth, and gain wisdom from their experiences.”

In 2021, Pope Francis designated this day because he felt that grandparents and the elderly are frequently overlooked, despite their significant contributions to society. He aims to bridge the gap between generations and pass down valuable life experiences and faith to the younger generation. The Pope highlighted that “between the two generations, there is a communion of life and faith, mutual giving and gratitude, and a witness of hope and charity.”

The presence of grandparents and the elderly must be treasured in families and communities because we share the same heritage and roots. They should not be abandoned or cast aside. The Holy Father desires that young people who are attending WYD in Lisbon, visit their grandparents or an elderly person they know, before they leave for the trip. The Pope assures young people that blessings and prayers from the elderly will protect and accompany them throughout WYD’s celebration.

We want our elderly parents and grandparents to live long, healthy and peaceful lives. We want to see them happy and joyful in their golden years, surrounded by loving family and friends. We pray for those who have been abandoned and for those who are lonely and isolated. We pray for their spiritual strength and for their physical well-being. Scripture respects and honours the elderly, saying that “longevity is a blessing.”

Plenary indulgence will be granted to all the grandparents, the elderly, the sick and the homebound who participate in the Eucharistic celebration and Sacrament of Confession on the day of WDGE. Plenary Indulgence is also granted to those who visit them either in-person or virtual. The Holy Father wants us to be more charitable in deepening their spiritual lives and seek His mercy in every way.

To have grandparents and the elderly in our family is a blessing, indeed! They are great gifts that makeup part of our families and the church. “Do not reject me in my old age, nor desert me when my strength is failing…” (Ps 71: 9). May God’s will be done unto them.

A MENTOR AND SPIRITUAL GUIDE

Image source: Internet

On Sunday, 9 July 2023, Pope Francis announced the appointment of 21 new cardinals from the window of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. Out of these newly appointed cardinals, 18 are electors. Electors are individuals who are under the age of 80 and have the right to vote in a conclave when selecting a new Pope. The Pontiff has carried out this action nine times since he was elected in 2013.

 

The hierarchy of the Catholic Church is truly fascinating, especially when it comes to the rank of “cardinal.”Cardinals are the senior members of the clergy within the Catholic Church. The Pope appoints cardinals for a lifetime. It is the responsibility of the Pope to name cardinals, and the longer he serves, the more he appoints to replace retiring cardinals through the conclave. Over the centuries, the Roman Pontiff appoints regional bishops as cardinals to help in administering various offices of the Universal Church. At present, there are 137 cardinal electors in the College of Cardinals. The minimum quorum required by the regulations is 120.

The Most Reverend Dato Seri Sebastian Francis, DD, who serves as the Bishop of Penang, was named a Cardinal-Elect on 9 July 2023. Pope Francis will officially elevate him to the cardinalate during the 9th consistory, which will take place on 30 September 2023. Sebastian Francis, who is now a Cardinal-Elect, has been serving the Diocese of Penang since 2012. He has been the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei since 2016.

 

After the passing of Cardinal Soter Fernandez, Cardinal-Elect Sebastian will be the second cardinal from our country. When I first heard the announcement about his appointment as announced by the Vatican, I was filled with excitement. I first met him back in 1993, when I was among the three individuals who sat for psychological evaluation exams known as Parisi Test, as a requirement for admission into the seminary. He was a priest moderator or person-in-charge of the examination.

 

In 1995, the late Cardinal Soter Fernandez, who was the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur at the time, accepted me into the seminary in Penang. During my Initiation Year, I had the privilege of being taught Vatican Council by Cardinal-Elect Sebastian and from 1996 to 1997, he was my Spiritual Director and Confessor.

Once his term as a lecturer and formator in the seminary was over, he returned to serve in the Diocese of Johor-Malacca - his place of origin. I would seek spiritual guidance and advice, especially when I was discerning becoming a priest. He gave me good advice, which then pointed me in the right direction. Before being ordained, I went to him for my personal 5-day retreat to prepare for my significant milestone. Cardinal-Elect Sebastian has played an instrumental role in guiding me throughout my seminary life and priesthood. Even during the initial stage of my ministry, he has been a wonderful mentor and spiritual guide.

Cardinal-Elect Sebastian… as you wear your scarlet robes and as the Pope places the biretta (a hat) on your head to symbolise your elevation to the cardinalate, may you enthusiastically act with courage to strengthen the Christian faith and promote peace among the people.

Image source: Internet