SEEKING HIS GUIDANCE THROUGH HIS SPIRIT

The month of September has been set aside for the annual retreats of the Clergy (Bishops, Priests and Deacons) of Peninsular Malaysia. The retreat lasts for six days, starting on Sunday evening and ending on Friday afternoon. These retreats are conducted in three different locations: Cameron Highlands (first and last week of the month), Penang Island (second week) and Johor Bahru (third week). Normally, two retreat masters conduct the retreat at each location.

There were approximately 30 clergy members who attended the retreat (17-22 September) in MAJODI Centre in Plentong, Johor. Since being ordained as a priest, I have attended my annual retreat in MAJODI Centre twice. I usually choose Penang Island because of the delicious food and beautiful scenery. However, since I’m currently residing in Kuantan, I took the coastal road along the South China Sea down south to Johor Bahru.

 

The retreat at MAJODI was led by Rev. Fr. Anthony Corcoran SJ, who is originally from the United States of America. Pope Francis appointed him to serve as an Apostolic Administrator in Kyrgyzstan in 2017. He was ordained as a priest in 1996 and has now served for 27 years. I recently learned about Kyrgyzstan - a mountainous Central Asian country - which shares its borders with China to the south and with the republics of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the east, all of which were formerly part of the Soviet Union. Kyrgyzstan obtained its independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country’s population is approximately 6 million, with the majority of its people being Muslim. However, there are approximately 1,500 Catholics of Polish, German and Korean origin. The Vatican has entrusted the jurisdiction of the area to the Jesuit Priests. Fr. Anthony Corcoran began our retreat with a poetic prayer to the Holy Spirit:

 

                Holy Spirit Prayer of St. Augustine (354-430)

                    “Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.

                    Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.

                    Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love, but what is holy.

                    Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.”

WALK IN SOLIDARITY AND SHOW TENDERNESS

Since 1914, the Catholic Church celebrates World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) every year on the last Sunday of September. This year, the 109th WDMR falls on Sunday, 24 September 2023, with the theme “Free To Choose Whether To Migrate Or To Stay.” The intention of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, is to encourage individuals to have a deeper reflection on “the right not to have migrated or the right to be able to remain in one’s own land.” 

Pope Francis has highlighted that the Holy Family’s escape to Egypt was not a free decision, just like many migrants today. He explained that millions of people are being forced to leave their countries due to persecution, conflicts, wars, extreme poverty, natural disasters, or the inability to live a dignified and prosperous life.

 

It is crucial that the forced migration of many individuals should be carefully considered. The right to remain in one’s own land is fundamental - “encompassing the ability to share in the common good”, “live with dignity”, and “access sustainable development”. These rights must be guaranteed in countries of origin by the international community, as well as understanding the importance of these fundamental rights, by working to ensure that they are protected.

 

The Holy Father’s message emphasises the need for collective efforts by individual countries and the international community to secure the right of all individuals to live in peace and with dignity in their own country. This includes the right not to be forced to emigrate.

 

The Pope urges us to recognise the presence of Christ in every migrant that comes to our door. He reminds us that we must ensure that migration is always a free decision and that we must treat each and every migrant with the utmost dignity and respect. No matter where we choose to establish our future, whether it is in our home country or abroad, the crucial aspect is that there is always a community willing “to welcome, protect, promote and integrate everyone,” without discrimination and without exclusion.

 

This day is an opportunity to pray for and raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities faced by migrants and refugees on their life journey. Let us walk in solidarity and show tenderness to our migrant brothers and sisters, so that all people can flourish in their homeland. 

 

The Holy Father ended with a prayer:

 

The Holy Father ended with a prayer:

God, Father almighty,

grant us the grace to work tirelessly

for justice, solidarity, and peace,

so that all your children may enjoy

the freedom to choose whether to migrate or to stay.

Grant us the courage to denounce

all the horrors of our world

and to combat every injustice

that mars the beauty of your children

and the harmony of our common home.

Sustain us by the power of your Spirit,

so that we can reflect your tender love

to every migrant whom you place in our path,

and to spread in hearts and in every situation

the culture of encounter and of care. Amen.

 

(An EXTRACT FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS FOR THE 109^TH WDMR 2023)

SMALL CHANGES MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

Pope Francis urged people worldwide to prioritise caring for the environment, asserting that it is our responsibility as Christians to protect God’s creations. As Christians, we are called upon by the Church to learn and put into practice the principles of earth care and to take action in accordance with Christ’s teachings in caring for the environment. Therefore, we have a unique responsibility to be stewards of God’s Creation and to pray for the welfare of this planet.

To draw attention to the irresponsible actions of humanity towards the environment, Pope Francis has established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1st. It is our duty to make a collaborative effort to address environmental issues, particularly in the areas of water, energy consumption and food. We can achieve greater ecological harmony with all living creatures when we preserve the beauty of creation. 

 

We are responsible as caretakers of God’s creation to conserve and protect our planet, avoiding waste and abuse. How can we reduce environmental destruction and protect ecosystems for future generations? Here are some tips:

a)     Reduce waste and pollution and lessen global warming by separating recyclable items such as cans, cartons, paper, and plastic bottles at designated recycling centres instead of burning garbage.

b)     Use water wisely - take shorter showers, wash dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher, and fix any leaks in your home.

c)     Do not litter or pour chemicals into drains. Dispose of chemical waste responsibly to prevent pollution.

d)     Conserve electricity by turning off lights, televisions and air-conditioners when not in use and purchase energy-efficient appliances.

e)     Use reusable bags and containers when shopping for clothes, books or food. This reduces plastic waste and pollution and saves money!

f)      Prepare only the amount of food that you will eat, to avoid wastage.

g)     Reduce our usage of plastic products; for instance, reusable water bottles instead of disposable ones.

h)     Stop receiving unwanted catalogues, flyers or posters.

i)      Minimise paper usage by printing only when necessary and recycling paper after using it.

j)      Grow your own vegetables or plant more trees in your own backyard, if feasible.

k)     Use alternative modes of transportation such as public transportation, carpooling, walking, or biking instead of driving alone. Avoid driving short distances; carpool to Mass instead of driving separately.

l)      It is crucial to teach children to reuse and recycle products.

Let’s do our part in conserving the environment to protect the future of our planet. Our efforts don’t have to be on a grand scale. Every small sacrifice, every small change in attitude towards improving our planet, can make a significant impact. You can make a positive change in your daily lifestyle and contribute to the well-being of our home, Mother Earth. Let us all work together as a community to make the effort to reduce, reuse and recycle our waste.

CARETAKERS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE

In 2015, Pope Francis declared September 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation (WDPCC), urging Catholics worldwide to pray for our common home. The theme for WDPCC this year is “Let Justice and Peace Flow”, based on Prophet Amos’ words “Let justice flow on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream” (Amos 5:24). In the Holy Father’s message, he said that justice should be carried out wherever it is required. We should strive to be just in all circumstances and live according to God’s laws. The Pope invites us to maintain the right relationship with God, humanity and nature, so that “justice and peace to flow like a never-failing stream of pure water, nourishing humanity and all creatures.”

The Holy Father has instituted WDPCC to highlight the irresponsible actions of humanity. The impact of war has caused rivers to dry up. Consumerist greed disrupts water cycles. The uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests is causing temperatures to rise, as well as droughts. Water shortages impact both rural areas and cities. Additionally, predatory industries are degrading and contaminating freshwater sources through extreme activities such as fracking, uncontrolled mega-mining projects and intense animal farming.

 

As Christian communities, how can we contribute to justice, peace, and the healing of our common home during the Season of Creation?

 

Our first step should be to resolve and “transform our hearts, lifestyles, and public policies ruling our societies.” We must cherish the Earth as a sacred gift from our Creator rather than seeing it as an object to be exploited. Second, let us transform our lifestyles. We can start by being grateful for the Creator and His creation and “repenting of our ecological sins.” Third, we must transform the public policies that “govern our societies and shape the lives of young people today and tomorrow.”

 

Our neglect and ignorance in living our lives have caused great destruction not only to our world and the nature God created for us, but also to the livelihood and well-being of various people. Therefore, all of us have a responsibility to take care of the world, including our environment and everyone who lives in it.

 

WDPCC is a day when we collectively focus our attention on the responsibility of taking care of our planet. We are all called to be worthy caretakers of this planet, which is a precious creation of God. Let us all reflect on what we can do, in our own unique way, to protect and preserve our planet.

 

We should do everything in our power to live our lives in accordance with the teachings and guidance of the Lord. We must love one another and be responsible for our actions and works, always mindful of our role as stewards of all that God has created for us in our world today.

Let’s inspire each other to live more faithfully, so that more people can be called to live a life that is truly worthy of God - today and always. Lord, please plant in us a heart full of love, courage and desire to love You, and everything You have created.

BE PRESENT IN THE CHURCH

During the month of August, the Holy Father has mandated a special intention for young people to actively live their faith and spread the Gospel’s message in their daily lives. This intention coincided with the 38th World Youth Day (WYD) event in Lisbon, Portugal, which took from 1 – 6 August 2023. In his message, the Pope asked young people to joyfully bear witness to the Gospel and encouraged them to embark on this path without hesitation. Pope Francis emphasised the significance of young people for the Church and highlighted that the Church’s survival is dependent on their involvement. 

Our Parish Youth Ministry of Saint Thomas in Kuantan hosted several activities throughout the month of August to commemorate WYD and to carry out Pope Francis’ intention and mission. On 6 August, a group of eight individuals performed a liturgical dance with the theme song from the WYD in Lisbon. The youth also sold cookies and cupcakes to raise funds for their future activities. They have expressed their gratitude to all Parishioners for their continuous support in helping them achieve their goals.

 

We have scheduled two significant events to take place before the end of the month. The first is a two-day camp with the theme “You, Him, and I,” which will be organised by the Chinese-speaking youth. It will take place this weekend (Saturday, 26 Aug - Sunday, 27 Aug) at the Assunta Retreat Center in Kuantan. The camp’s objective is to bring everyone together and foster a stronger relationship with God and each other. There are 29 participants registered.

 

In line with the Holy Father’s intention for this month, the Parish Youth will be hosting a Eucharistic Adoration on 30 August - the evening before National Day. The celebration will begin with Mass, followed by Holy Hour that includes Vespers (Evening Prayer), a Youth Message, a Video Clip, and ends with Adoration and Benediction. We strongly encourage all youth, including past and present Post-Confirmation students, to be present for this Eucharistic Adoration.

 

During this time, we invite our Parish Youth to gather and participate in prayer and reflection on the message of the Holy Father which is directed towards them. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for young people to experience the living Christ by spending meaningful time with the Lord in front of the Blessed Sacrament.

 

While the Pope led the young people in prayer with the Rosary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, a young girl who participated in the WYD regained her sight perfectly after receiving Holy Communion. She had been experiencing very blurry vision for two and a half years. From this miracle, it is important for young people to have faith and embrace the Eucharist as a transformative moment in their spiritual journey with God. This is a time to fully dedicate themselves to living for the Eucharist.

 

Many young people are distancing themselves from the Church and showing little interest in their faith in Christ. It is important to recognise our unique talents and actively engage in the Church through various formations and activities. The Church warmly welcomes teenagers and young adults and encourages them to invite other young people to encounter Christ, enriching them through communion, participation and mission.