PERSEVERE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH

A significant number of Catholics initiated a nine-day Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit after the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, 9 May 2024. We strongly encourage everyone to continue the practice of praying the Rosary with great fervour, along with the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The Rosary is a powerful prayer that involves meditating on the life of Jesus Christ, and can provide a sense of peace during challenging times. By combining the Novena to the Holy Spirit and the Rosary, Catholics can deepen their spiritual connection with God and experience greater faith and devotion.

Some of you may have devoted your time to reading articles and books, watching videos and listening to audios related to the Holy Spirit. Devoting time to learning about the Holy Spirit is crucial for experiencing a personal Pentecost, and achieving spiritual transformation. This experience can lead us to turn away from our wrongdoing, forgive others and entrust our faith in Jesus Christ more profoundly. The Holy Spirit - the Third Person in the Holy Trinity - is a remarkable gift that inspires us to undergo spiritual transformation, and achieve a greater sense of peace in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is an essential aspect of the Christian faith, representing the presence of God’s power, love and guidance in our lives. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he instructed his apostles to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:4-5). The apostles obeyed Christ’s command and made the first Novena - a nine-day period of prayer - to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus, empowering them to spread the Gospel and establish the early church. As we move from the Ascension of the Lord towards Pentecost, we are encouraged to focus on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us. This outpouring is a reminder of the ongoing presence of God in our lives and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives. It also serves as a call to action – urging us to use our gifts and talents to serve others, and to spread the message of Christ.

We have been delving into the rich accounts of the Acts of the Apostles throughout the daily liturgy since Easter Sunday. Through the journeys of St Paul and St Barnabas, we learn about their efforts to visit the previous churches they had established - encouraging and strengthening the disciples in their faith. Their mission was to uplift the spirit of the disciples and to “put fresh hearts into them, encouraging them to persevere in the faith” (Acts 14: 22).

As we move towards Pentecost, let us make the most of this time - using it to gain a deeper understanding of our faith - to persevere and strengthen our relationship with the Lord Jesus.

A RENEWED SENSE OF SPIRITUAL VITALITY

As of today, we have faithfully completed five weeks of the seven-week-long Easter season. This means that we have two more weeks left until we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. It is incredible how time flies, and it is hard to believe that we have already come this far. During the remaining two weeks, we continue to commemorate Jesus Christ’s resurrection and reflect on this holy season’s significance.

As we approach the feast of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other disciples of Jesus (cf. Acts 1: 4), the daily readings in the liturgy increasingly refer to the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a significant time for Christians because it highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian. In light of this, it is important to continue praying, “Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart with love, joy and peace.” This simple yet powerful prayer helps us acknowledge our dependence on the Holy Spirit, and invite Him to take control of our lives. 

In the Catholic faith, the month of May is dedicated to praying the Rosary, and many of us faithfully pray it individually, as a family or even in online groups on social media platforms. The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord falls on Thursday, 9 May 2024, and many Catholics initiate a nine-day Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit. This Novena Prayer is a traditional Catholic practice that involves praying for nine consecutive days to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf. Is 11: 1-3). 

I strongly encourage everyone to continue the practice of praying the Rosary with great fervour during this Month of the Rosary. Furthermore, I particularly urge everyone to join in the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit, which can bring you closer to God and help you experience His divine presence. As we draw near to Pentecost, let us remember the significance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we be blessed with a renewed sense of spiritual vitality during this time of celebration.

During the recitation of the Rosary, we incorporate the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit, until Pentecost. By including the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit in our Rosary prayers, we seek to keep ourselves in harmony with the presence of the Holy Spirit and His guidance as we say: 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. 

V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. 

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

Let us pray: O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us, in the same Spirit, to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SUPPORT THROUGH FAITH-SHARING

We have seen a significant rise in the number of people imprisoned in local jails and prisons since the 1970s. Their incarceration could be due to various social issues, such as drug and poverty-related crimes, gangsterism and other related problems. Unfortunately, many of these individuals face challenges when trying to reintegrate into society after their release.

The Archdiocesan Catholic Prison Ministry (ACPM) was founded in 1985 after the headquarters of the Prison was moved from Pudu to Kajang. The aim of the ACPM is to assist incarcerated individuals to regain their self-respect and dignity so that they can become valuable members of society after their release. Additionally, the ACPM members expect these individuals to lead worthy lives and be accepted back into society. The ACPM is inspired by the Gospel’s spirit of “I was in Prison, and you visited me” (Matt 25:35ff).

 

At present, there are 22 priests, including Archbishop Julian Leow, who hold permits to visit prisons in the states of Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu. There are approximately 90 volunteers who hold permits, too, and regularly visit prisoners in the Remand Blocks, Sentence Blocks (men and women) and Death Row - to share the Christian faith and the Word of God, provide counselling and perform other religious activities. During the seasons of Advent and Lent, Priests make themselves available to celebrate the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for prisoners in preparation for Christmas and Easter. Over the past 10 years, the Prison Ministry has extended their outreach to the Dioceses of Penang and Melaka-Johor.

 

During each visit to prisons, the Core Team of the Prison Ministry for the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur writes a letter to the Malaysian Prison Department Headquarters in Kajang, Selangor, requesting permission for the clergy in the Archdiocese to hear confessions and celebrate Masses for the inmates. This year, permission was only granted after the Third Week of Easter due to the fasting month of Ramadhan and Hari Raya celebrations. We are grateful that the relevant authorities allowed the ACPM to make visits to the prisons.

 

During each prison visit, either a priest or volunteer discovers the challenging experience of the prisoners, providing them with sacraments, spiritual needs, as well as psychological and physical support. On a recent visit to Bentong Prison, the ACPM met an Indonesian man in his twenties, who requested his First Holy Communion. After assisting him with his personal confession, Archbishop Julian Leow gave him Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time. With approval from the prison authorities, we also collected details from those who requested Bibles, spiritual reading materials, eyeglasses, and other permissible items. 

 

We treat incarcerated individuals with love, care and support through faith-sharing. We lead them to God, bring them to greater awareness, and comfort their troubled hearts by trusting God—“Do not let your heart be troubled; trust in God and trust in Jesus,” (John 14:1).

“YES” TO A PRIESTLY VOCATION

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is celebrated as Vocations Sunday or Good Shepherd Sunday, and it is also observed as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This day invites us to reflect on Jesus’ words, where He instructs us to pray that “the Lord of the harvest sends labourers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37).

Therefore, the Church invites us to pray for young people’s response to God’s call for all vocations - married life, consecrated life, chaste single life, or Holy Orders (Priesthood and Diaconate). We pray earnestly that young people may listen to God’s voice, discern their vocation, and respond to His invitation to work in His vineyard.

Engaging in our interests, hobbies, activities and professions can lead to a shift in our perspective on life. When we carry out our responsibilities with a deep sense of respect and reverence, we realise that our unique gifts, skills and talents flourish - enriching and benefiting those around us. We can achieve this by discovering our unique calling and how it fits with the different gifts bestowed upon us by the Spirit. This enables us to show our dedication to something greater than ourselves. Our choices become a response to God’s call for each individual to live a life of holiness.

Prayer is an incredibly powerful activity that can help promote and nurture vocations. We should aim to do it every day. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is a synodal character that encourages us to listen to each other’s spiritual gifts and talents and walk together in the direction where the Spirit is leading us, for the benefit of all. When we pray, listening to God is more important than talking to Him. He speaks to our hearts, and we need to make sure that our hearts are always open, sincere and generous.

Our Parish of St. Thomas in Kuantan has yet to produce a priest, and we believe it is time to pray for the young people in our community to pursue the priesthood. We need to encourage our youth to come forward and serve God as priests. Every family in our Parish hopes to inspire our sons and grandsons to respond to God’s call, and understand the beauty of the priesthood. Let’s connect with the young people in our community better, stir their hearts with a desire to serve God, and encourage them to say “Yes” to a priestly vocation. Additionally, we also should pray for our brother priests and bishops for their strength, courage, faithfulness and growth in holiness.

 

Life presents countless opportunities, but only those who take action and commit themselves to God’s will achieve true fulfilment and happiness. Don’t let fear or uncertainty hold you back. Have faith in yourself and your abilities, and make a pledge to pursue God’s dreams. Although the journey may be challenging, with determination and perseverance, you will ultimately succeed. Take a leap of faith and have the courage to commit!

INSPIRING EQUALITY AND PEACE

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has declared that his intention for April 2024 is to focus on the Role of Women. He invites people across the world to pray that women’s dignity and immense value are recognised in every culture, and that discrimination against women comes to an end, in all parts of the world.

The role of women in today’s society is crucial. They have been found to possess superhero-like powers in everyday life. They contribute so much love, compassion, and care to those around them and significantly promote unity and prosperity within human society. Women are naturally creative and skilful, holding strong moral values while also being compassionate, pure-hearted, and possessing tremendous inner strength.

Women play a pivotal role in families and are adored by their children, whom they raise to become compassionate adults. We must never underestimate their ability, talent, and contribution, as they are capable of achieving anything men can, and sometimes even better! Gone are the days when women were confined to the home, performing household chores and taking care of children. Nowadays, women pursue careers and lifestyles that interest them, achieving success and recognition equal to their male counterparts.

Women are well-educated and contribute greatly in various professional fields, including science, medicine, engineering, anthropology, teaching and leadership roles. They are involved in social movements - advocating equality, justice, tolerance, and peace. Their contributions to society are inspiring and continue to evolve, pushing towards a more inclusive and brighter future in the 21st century.

We encounter many influential women in today’s society, including our mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, friends and other relatives. They excel in all areas of life and words alone cannot describe the significant role they play in shaping our world. We must respect women and give them the freedom to be all that they can be. They are the pillars of strength that inspire future generations with innovative ideas to support families, organisations and societies.

Datin Paduka Sister Enda Ryan, FMM, an Irish Nun who joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1947, passed away on Sunday, 7 April 2024, at the age of 96. She arrived in Malaya in 1954 and set up the Ave Maria Welfare Clinic in Petaling Jaya. In 1955, she founded and became the headmistress of the Assunta Girls School. Sister Enda Ryan received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Taylor's University in 2022, in recognition of her contribution to education. 

She was a true champion of girls’ education, and her legacy will live on through the many lives she touched during her time as a teacher and mentor. On her funeral day, over 1,000 ex-Assunta students from various backgrounds, race and religion, as well as Religious and Priests, gathered to bid her a final farewell. She was a legend in her own right, and will be remembered for her positive impact on so many women’s lives.