FOCUS ON PRAYERS AND GRATITUDE TO GOD

The Christmas season and New Year celebrations have ended swiftly, leaving us with mixed emotions. Some may feel joyful and happy, while others may experience a sense of sadness. However, all our celebrations, parties and gatherings have left wonderful memories that hold a special place in our hearts even after weeks have passed - and for this, we should give thanks and praise to God.

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which we celebrated on Monday, 8 January 2024, marked the end of the liturgical season of Christmastide. We began the first of the two periods of Ordinary Time the following day. This first period will continue until the season of Lent begins, on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.

During the Christmas Eve and Day Masses, almost 50% of our congregation were visitors from outstation, just as some of our parishioners were out of town for the festivities and holidays too. Last weekend, however, I noticed that many have resumed their regular routine and are back home in Kuantan in preparation to return to work and school.

We began our Church activities and formations last weekend. First, with a briefing on our Lenten Campaign 2024 at the Pahang / Terengganu District Level. The briefing was held on Saturday, 6 January 2024, and about 40 parishioners from Bentong, Kemaman and Kuantan churches attended the 2-hour session. The Archdiocesan Office of Human Development (AOHD) conducted the briefing in four different languages.

Many parents of our catechism students have already registered their children for the upcoming catechism classes. Lessons will begin this Sunday and will include a spiritual orientation and introductory session. We have an enthusiastic team of catechists who are well-versed in three languages: English, Mandarin, and Bahasa Malaysia. This year, we have a total of 35 catechists - 20 catechists for English sessions, 6 for Bahasa-speaking students, and 9 for Mandarin-speaking students. We have assigned two catechists for each of the English classes to ensure a more manageable teacher-student ratio. The 6 Bahasa Malaysia-speaking catechists will assist classes with more students from East Malaysia, who may find it difficult to understand the lessons in English.

We will not be using the Regent International School (RIS) classrooms this year, and have instead made arrangements to accommodate all our catechism students within our building. We have installed a TV screen and internet facilities for each class to benefit both catechists and students during lessons. Teachers can more effectively engage students in learning by using the TV, laptop and internet facilities. Teachers can prepare slides and video presentations instead of writing and erasing lessons on the whiteboard. Having the right equipment means our children will have a better learning experience during catechism classes.

As we fully immerse ourselves in the Year of Prayer 2024, we should focus on gratitude to God, self-care, self-awareness, determination and the true spirit of calmness. We are also called to pray for the Holy Father’s intention for the gift of unity and diversity in the Church. May the Holy Spirit help us to recognise the gift of different charisms within the Christian communities and discover the richness of different traditions and rituals in the Catholic Church.

Our Catechetical Year 2024 is scheduled to commence on 14 January 2024, and we would like to take this opportunity to invite all parents to actively participate in nurturing the faith of their children studying in our Catechism classes. We appreciate that you were sending them regularly for their faith education, and we have seen their performance and attendance reach up to 95%. We encourage you to continue doing the same this year, so that they will grow in faith and morality. You are responsible for ensuring that your children attend their faith education program on Sundays, just as you make every effort to send them to school and tuition classes.

Registration for Catechism classes are open, and while many have already signed-up, some have not. We are expecting at least 108 students to attend this year’s Catechism classes, so if you have yet to register your child, please do so as soon as possible. On the reopening day of Catechism, we will begin with a spiritual orientation program. It will include the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and a short briefing for both parents and children.

 

The Holy Father has declared that 2024 will be celebrated as the Year of Prayer. This is a promise and a preparation for the grand celebration of faith that will take place in the Jubilee Year of 2025. The Year of Prayer provides us with an opportunity to prepare ourselves spiritually and emotionally for the holy journey that we will embark on, as a prelude to the grand jubilee 2025 theme of “Pilgrims of Hope”. 

 

As we journey through this year of prayer, the Lord will certainly strengthen our faith and enkindle in us the fire of His love. Let us prepare our hearts to receive the abundant blessings that await us as we journey inwardly. Let us strive for fruitful spiritual growth, and courageously walking towards the golden gate of 2025. I wish you a new year filled with steadfast prayer; always stay on your knees and pray for one another.

 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from 18 January to 25 January. The Holy Father chose a theme - “You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself,” (Luke 10:27). The Holy Father’s intention for the month of January 2024 is to pray to the Holy Spirit to recognise and appreciate “the diverse gifts of charisms” in the Christian Churches and “to discover the richness of the different ritual traditions” that are present within the Catholic Church. When we allow “the Holy Spirit to guide us - abundance, variety and diversity will not cause conflict.”

On 25 January 2024 - on the closing of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - we will host a liturgical celebration and fellowship at our Church by inviting pastors, elders and leaders from the ecumenical churches. May this gathering inspire us to work towards Christian unity, deepen relationships and promote reconciliation among ecumenical churches, enabling us to  love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

PEACEFUL WORLD FOR GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW

On 1 January 2024, the Church celebrates the 57th World Day of Peace with a theme entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Peace." The Holy Father, Pope Francis, highlights the role of science and technology in achieving peace and discusses the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Pope addresses the ethical concerns surrounding (AI), including “privacy, prejudice, and their impact on human dignity.” He suggests that these issues should be addressed in the education system and the development of international laws.

The Holy Father has raised concerns regarding the potential risks of AI, such as misinformation and social control. He emphasises the importance of regulating and monitoring the development of AI technologies to ensure that they serve humanity and protect our planet. According to the Pope, if AI promotes integral human development, it could bring about significant agriculture, education, and cultural advancements. However, the true measure of our humanity lies in how we use AI to help those who are most vulnerable and in need.

Pope Francis urges world leaders to exercise co-responsibility to shape a better world for future generations. He emphasises that everyone should “pay attention and choose well if we are to hand down a better, more peaceful world to generations to follow.” AI should enhance our “greatest human potential and support our highest aspirations, rather than compete with them.” He emphasised strengthening the ethical issues that arise in this field and also protecting the rights of those who use AI or are affected by its use.

The Pope emphasised that achieving positive outcomes in the field of new information technologies is only possible if we act responsibly and respect fundamental human values. He pointed out that while these technologies offer exciting opportunities, they also pose “serious risks that have significant implications for justice and harmony among different people.” AI is acceptable when “it serves the common good, protects the inalienable value of human beings, and promotes fundamental rights” for a world of greater solidarity, justice and peace.

(AN EXTRACT OF POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2024)

ENCOMPASS THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

We have come to the end of the Advent season - a time of preparation for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent now gives way to the celebration of His first coming as Baby Jesus in a manger in Bethlehem, and for the next three weeks, we will read, hear, and reflect on Christmas stories again. These stories tell of the long-awaited Messiah entering human history, including his birth and his childhood narrative, before his public ministry.

Since the First Week of Advent, the front view of our church compound has been decorated with lights, Christmas trees, a crib and other decorations. Inside the church, the red and gold-coloured linen cloths hang ceremoniously. Our Church looks simply majestic with more decorations this year. For this, we must thank Ah Lek, La Seng, Melisa, Francis Loh, Peter Tan, Anthony Dass, Maria and a few others for working together to make our Church even more beautiful.

The Parish Christmas Carollers have been rehearsing for several weeks now, and they will come together to perform for 30 minutes at the altar just before the Christmas Eve Mass. The performance will take place in front of the entire congregation. This year, we are proud to have university students from East Malaysia join the choir and carolling group, making it even more special. The Carollers have also been invited to perform at the Swiss Garden Hotel in Kuantan on December 24th. The Mandarin Carollers have performed at the old folks’ home, orphanage, and in several residential homes. After the Mandarin Mass last weekend, they also sang carols at the Church’s main entrance.

During the Advent season, we had the opportunity to administer the Sacrament of Holy Anointing and Holy Communion to 15 homebound individuals. These are old folks and elderly who live alone and long to experience the presence of Jesus.

Advent is also a time of reconciliation and being at peace with one another, and it is a time to experience the mercy of God by forgiving someone who has hurt us. On Tuesday, 19th December, eight priests were available for the Penitential Service at our Church, and about 200 Parishioners made a good confession to prepare themselves for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Christmas is a time of excitement, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas music is always enjoyable, and we all like to hum and sing along to classic songs such as “O Holy Night”, “Silent Night”, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, “Joy to the World”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, etc. Christmas is indeed a time for happiness and joy, as we remember and celebrate the birth of Our Lord and Saviour.

We have celebrated many Christmases before, but how can we make this Christmas special for ourselves and our family? Let’s embrace the true spirit of Christmas by spreading kindness, generosity, love, and peace. This year, let’s make an effort to reach out to those who are lonely and in need. And if you are alone this holiday season, seek good company to spend it with!

Merry Christmas to you and your family! 

                       May your Christmas be filled with peace, love and happiness.

A HEART FILLED WITH LOVE

The Health Ministry has reported over 20,000 active COVID-19 cases as of 11 December 2023. With the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases recently, it is important for the public to practice self-care measures, such as following personal hygiene, wearing a face mask in public areas, washing hands, and using sanitisers regularly. It is crucial for individuals to realise that it is time to act before the government implements guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Although COVID-19 cases are on the rise, this doesn’t mean that the Church will be limiting the seating capacity, implementing a requirement to wear masks, pre-registering, limiting the number of hymns, etc. However, if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, we kindly ask that you wear a mask when attending Mass, even if masking is not mandatory. This will help prevent the spread of the virus, especially to those with a weakened immune system. If you have already contracted COVID-19, we advise you not to attend Masses. We must prioritise the safety of our senior citizens, who are more vulnerable to the virus. Together, we can keep our community safe and healthy.

The weather forecast for the East Coast indicates that it will rain continuously for the next few days. Most days this week, the sky was cloudy, and when it did rain, the heavy downpours reduced the heat and humidity, resulting in cooler nights. Although this respite from the heat is somewhat pleasant, there is also a concern that the heavy rains could lead to flooding in Kuantan and the rest of the East Coast.

Last year, we formed the Parish Flood Relief Task Force (PFRTF) to prepare for any possibility of floods in Kuantan and its surrounding areas. Should the forecast trigger flood incidents, the task force comes together and works as a team. The PFRTF is responsible for providing information on the current and predicted weather situations - continuously monitoring the weather conditions, and issuing warnings to the committee members through our WhatsApp group.

We have arrived at the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, to express the joy of anticipation for Christmas. While we may be busy with holiday preparations and celebrations, it’s important to bear in mind that COVID-19 infections continue to spread, and there is also a risk of flooding in the East Coast due to the monsoon rains. Therefore, let’s work together to keep our community safe and healthy by adhering to the protocols and taking all the necessary precautions to slow the spread of infections. It is important not only to offer prayers but also to reach out and assist flood victims in any way possible.

Since the beginning of the Advent season, we have been reminded to be watchful and remain constantly awake for the coming of Our Lord Jesus. It is a time to deepen our faith and live in His presence, regardless of what is happening around us. With a heart filled with love, we transform every moment into something precious and meaningful, as we wait in joyful anticipation.