Author Archives: Ken Wong

SUKAN SOLIDARITI KEUSKUPAN KENINGAU

MEMBAKUT :  Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan Keningau telah berlangsung selama tiga hari bermula pada 31 Ogos 2017 dan berakhir pada 2 September 2017 yang lalu. Paroki St. Valentine Beaufort dan Paroki St.Patrick Membakut merupakan dua paroki yang telah bekerjasama menjadi tuan rumah bagi kejohanan ini yang diadakan setiap dua tahun sekali.

Kejohanan ini dianjurkan oleh Komisi Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan Keningau dan telah melibatkan seramai lebih kurang 500 orang atlet dari sepuluh paroki dan mission yang terdapat di Keuskupan Keningau dan merupakan program utama Komisi sukan Solidariti Keuskupan Keningau.

Kejohanan ini dimulakan dengan misa pembukaan yang telah diadakan di gereja St.Valentine Beaufort. Misa disempurnakan oleh Rev.Fr.Paul Mikin dan kemudiannya diikuti dengan fellowshippembukaan kepada semua atlit dan umat yang hadir pada malam tersebut. Fellowship tersebut telah diadakan di dewan gereja St. Valentine Beaufort.

Kejohanan selama tiga hari tersebut diisi dengan perlawanan bola sepak yang telah diadakan di padang stadium Beaufort, futsal yang telah diadakan di gelanggang futsal Membakut, bola tampar yang diadakan di gelanggang bola tampar terbuka padang Pekan Beaufort, badminton yang diadakan di Dewan Baru Beaufort  dan pingpong yang diadakan di dewan gereja St. Valentine Beaufort.

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Pada majlis penutupan yang diangsungkan di Dewan Gereja St.Patrick Membakut, saudara Fredolin Umis selaku pengerusi Komisi Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan mengucapkan tahniah dan syabas kepada semua pasukan yang telah bertanding secara adil dan penuh dengan semangat solidariti. Beliau menganggap penganjuran sukan selama tiga hari tersebut telah berjalan dengan lancar dan menepati objektif sukan solidariti yang ingin dicapai. Beliau juga mengucapkan terima kasih dan tahniah kepada paroki St. Valentine Beaufort dan paroki St.Patrick Membakut kerana telah banyak berusaha menjayakan sukan tersebut terutama sekali didalam menyediakan tempat-tempat pertandingan. Beliau berharap agar kerjasama seperti ini akan mengeratkan lagi hubungan diantara semua paroki-paroki dan mission didalam keuskupan Keningau dalam mengalakkan solidariti dikalangan umatnya.

Rev.Fr. Ronnie Alfred Luni, Paderi Paroki pula berkata, memang baik sekali sukan solidariti keuskupan telah dapat dianjurkan dengan lancar. Namun begitu, beliau masih mengharapkan sokongan daripada umat untuk menyokong penganjuran keuskupan seperti sukan solidariti. Menurutnya lagi, beliau tidak dapat lari daripada rasa kecewa kerana bilangan umat yang datang menonton setiap perlawanan mahupun pada majlis pembukaan dan majlis penutupan, adalah terlalu sedikit. Beliau berharap setiap atlet yang menyertai kejohanan ini akan pulang dengan membawa semangat solidariti, semangat kesatuan dan mengongsikan kepada umat diparoki masing-masing tentang cinta kasih Tuhan serta keindahan solidarity dan bukan hanya tentang kemenangan pingat semata-mata.

Program sukan ini yang telah berlangsung selama tiga hari menyaksikan pasukan dari paroki St.Francis Xavier Keningau muncul sebagai juara keseluruhan manakala paroki  St. Anthony Tenom telah dipilih sebagai tuan rumah bagi Sukan Solidariti Keuskupan pada tahun 2019.  KOMSOS St.Patrick Membakut

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Article reproduced from Diocese of Keningau

TAMU SOLIDARITI KSFX KALI KE-15

KENINGAU : Tamu Solidariti KSFX telah berjaya disempurnakan pada 1 Oktober 2017. Tamu Solidariti kali ke-15 ini bertempat di Dataran Keuskupan Keningau.

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Umat-umat daripada setiap KUK, KKD dan juga Zon sekitar Paroki Keningau datang bersama untuk menyokong dan memeriahkan lagi Tamu Solidariti. Turut menghadirkan diri Datuk Jake Jikulin Nointin dan isteri serta rombongan.

Tamu Solidariti merupakan salah satu program yang diadakan setiap tahun di paroki KSFX untuk mencari dana bagi keperluan-keperluan pastoral. Selain itu juga, Tamu Solidariti merupakan salah satu persiapan dalam manyambut Jubli Perak Keuskupan Keningau pada tahun 2018. Tamu Solidariti juga diadakan untuk membantu dalam pembangunan gereja-gereja stesen luar Paroki KSFX juga pembangunan Pusat Ziarah Keluarga Kudus Nulu Sosopon. Setiap pembelian adalah dengan menggunakan kupon.

Majlis dimulakan dengan Tarian Tradisional bagi menyambut kedatangan Bishop Datuk Cornelius Piong dan para tetamu jemputan. Seterusnya sesi ucapan alu-aluan dan perasmian Tamu Solidariti yang dilaksanakan oleh Bishop sendiri.

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Saudara Paul Jawa selaku Pengerusi juga wakil bagi Tim Perlaksana Tamu Solidariti mengucapkan kesyukuran ke atas keterlibatan semua pihak sekitar Paroki KSFX dan sokongan-sokongan umat serta penderma-penderma. Beliau juga berterima kasih atas sokongan dan keparcayaan yang diberikan oleh Uskup, para paderi dan Komuniti Religius  kepada Tim Perlaksana sehingga Tamu Solidariti dapat berlangsung dengan jayanya.

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Pelbagai acara yang disediakan dalam Tamu Solidariti ini. Antaranya ialah jualan makanan, minuman, beras, sayur-sayuran dan macam-macam lagi. Disamping itu, terdapat juga gerai-gerai yang menyediakan permainan mini untuk menarik perhatian umat yang datang. Persembahan pentas, cabutan tiket bertuah, karaoke terbuka dan sumbangan lagu juga diadakan bagi memeriahkan lagi suasana Tamu Solidariti.

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Article reproduced from Diocese of Keningau

 

 

Konferensi Amos ke-3 di Keuskupan Sandakan (Hari Pertama)

 

Latar belakang:
“Gereja berpihak kepada semua yang bekerja untuk mempertahankan, membela hak setiap orang untuk hidup dengan bermaruah, …” (Paus Fransiskus – Perutusan Sempena Hari Migran dan Pelarian Sedunia 2016)
Semasa mesyuarat ke-2 Komisi Episkopal tentang Migran dan Orang Berpindah-randah yang disyorkan oleh Uskup Paul Tan di Pulau Pinang pada tahun 2010, telah dipersetujui agar semua keuskupan di Malaysia-Singapura-Brunei perlu dengan lebih prihatin melihat isu pelayanan kepada migran.

Wakil-wakil dari 3 keuskupan di Sabah telah berbincang dan merasakan bahawa isu migran di Sabah selama ini diwarnai dengan pandangan yang negatif. Oleh itu, sudah tiba masanya bagi umat Katolik yang prihatin dari ketiga-tiga keuskupan ini untuk datang bersama bagi merenung dan mengkaji hal ini.

Respon: Amos Pertama dan Kedua

AMOS yang pertama telah diadakan pada bulan Februari 2011 di Bundu Tuhan Retreat Centre. Dalam program tersebut, para peserta telah didedahkan kepada isu-isu migrasi secara global dan berpeluang untuk mendengar keluhan wakil-wakil migran yang dijemput khas ke program tersebut.

AMOS yang kedua pula dijalankan pada Februari 2013 di Rumah Retret Keuskupan Keningau, Tuarid Tatal, Keningau. Dalam program itu, Keuskupan Agung KK, Keuskupan Keningau dan Keuskupan Sandakan digalakkan untuk mewujudkan jaringan kerjasama yang konkrit dalam pelayanan pastoral kepada migran; dan agar keuskupan di Sabah membuat jaringan dengan keuskupan-keuskupan di negara jiran untuk berkongsi maklumat demi melicinkan lagi pelayanan kepada para migran.

Respon: Jaringan Kerjasama

Oktober 2013, Pertemuan Pastoral Segi Tiga Ke-3 telah memberi peluang kepada Keuskupan Sandakan (ada perwakilan dari Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu yang turut serta), Keuskupan Tanjung Selor dan Keuskupan Larantuka, Indonesia mengadakan sesi dialog di Larantuka, Flores Indonesia untuk membincangkan bagaimana keuskupan-keuskupan asal, transit dan tujuan dapat bekerjasama untuk membantu meringankan beban para migran. Perancangan telah diplotkan oleh semua pihak yang berkenaan untuk menjangkau mereka yang dalam perantauan.

Pada Oktober 2015, Keuskupan Sandakan telah menjadi tuan rumah kepada Pertemuan Pastoral Segi Tiga Ke-4 yang meliputi Keuskupan Agung Ende dan Keuskupan Larantuka dari Flores NTT, Indonesia sebagai Wilayah Asal, Tanjung Selor, Kalimantan, Indonesia sebagai Wilayah Transit dan Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu, Keuskupan Sandakan dan Keningau, Sabah selaku Wilayah Tujuan. Maka, setakat ini, jaringan kerjasama yang konkrit untuk menangani isu-isu migran dari Indonesia sudah wujud dan akan ditambahbaik. Namun, jaringan kerjasama seupamanya belum ada untuk migran dari Filipina.

Amos ke-3:

Maka, melalui perbincangan oleh beberapa perwakilan daripada ketiga-tiga keuskupan di Sabah, persetujuan dicapai bahawa program Amos masih ada keperluan untuk diteruskan. Objektif penganjuran pada kali ini adalah:
i. Melihat dan menilai secara keseluruhan, sejauh mana Pelan Tindakan AMOS Ke-2, Pertemuan Pastoral Segi Tiga Ke-3 (2013) dan Ke-4 (2015) dapat terlaksana dan apakah hasil yang telah dicapai.
ii. Merangka Pelan Tindakan AMOS Ke-3 dengan menggariskan arah tuju jaringan kerjasama ketiga-tiga keuskupan dalam menangani isu-isu migrasi di Sabah yang mana pelan tindakan tersebut akan dilaporkan dalam Pertemuan Pastoral Segi Tiga Ke-5 (2017) di Keuskupan Agung Ende.
iii. Mengenalpasti program pembentukan dan latihan yang efektif untuk pekerja pastoral sepenuh masa dan para sukarelawan yang terlibat dalam pelayanan sosial dan perdamaian di gereja terutamanya melibatkan migran.
(Para peserta dari Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu)
(Para peserta dari Keuskupan Keningau)
(Para peserta dari Keuskupan Sandakan)
(Para peserta dari Keuskupan Miri, kiri-kanan: Pertama, ketiga, ketujuh)
SANDAKAN: Konferensi Amos ke-3 yang berlangsung selama tiga hari telah dimulakan pada Khamis, 21hb September 2017. Tema konferensi iaitu “Gereja: Pembela yang lemah dan tak bersuara” telah dihadiri oleh lebih kurang 150 peserta dari Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu, Keuskupan Keningau, Keuskupan Sandakan dan Keuskupan Miri, Sarawak dan mereka terdiri daripada para uskup, paderi, religius sister, pemimpin umat awam serta sukarelawan yang terlibat secara langsung dan aktif dalam pelayanan sosial dan perdamaian di gereja terutama melibatkan komuniti migran.
Sesi suaikenal untuk memberikan suasana yang lebih mesra dan selesa antara sesama peserta.

Kletus Muyuk, Penyelaras kepada Tim Pelaksana Utama Konferensi Amos ke-3 merangkap Pengerusi Komisi Pembangunan Insan Keuskupan Sandakan.

Sesi Pengenalan tentang Konferensi Amos-3:
Kletus telah memberi pengenalan dan ringkasan bagi seluruh perjalanan konferensi. Beliau menekankan bahawa konferensi kali ini memacu penerusan dari program Amos sebelumnya. Konferensi kali ini memuatkan sesi perbincangan yang lebih kolektif dan mendalam antara ketiga-tiga keuskupan di Sabah, sesi dialog dengan perwakilan daripada Konsulat Republik Indonesia, Tawau dan juga daripada Magistrate Mahkamah Tinggi Kota Kinabalu. Perbincangan yang mendalam ini juga termasuk pertukaran gagasan mengenai penyelesaian tindakan yang berkesan dalam mengendalikan 1.5 juta Migran di Sabah. Beliau juga menyeru agar setiap keuskupan melihat dengan serius isu migran ini yang tidak mempunyai interaksi di antara tiga keuskupan ini.

Perayaan Ekaristi Pembukaan di Katedral St. Mary, Sandakan
 

Uskup Agung John Wong Soo Kau dari Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu telah menjadi selebran utama. Semasa homili Uskup Agung berkata, “Hari ini Gereja merayakan Pesta Santo Matius. Dia adalah seorang rasul dan penulis injil. Matius adalah seorang pemungut cukai. Matius dipandang rendah oleh orang Yahudi kerana sebagai pemungut cukai, dia dianggap sebagai pengkhianat bangsa kerana dia membantu kuasa asing menindas orang sendiri. Namun Yesus telah memanggil Matius untuk mengikuti Dia. Santo Matius menyahut panggilan Tuhan tanpa banyak persoalan dan keraguan”.

“Adakah kita sama seperti Matius yang menjadi pemungut cukai? Kerana kita membantu para migran yang dianggap orang asing. Di dalam Amos ke-3, kita harus merasakan bahawa Tuhan memanggil kita untuk melayani umat-Nya terutama para migran. Semua gereja mempunyai panggilan yang khas dan berbeza-beza. Namun demikian, semuanya demi pembangunan Tubuh Kristus.”
“Sebagai Bapa yang penuh belas kasihan, kita sebagai seorang Kristian juga harus berbelas kasihan dan memenuhi panggilan untuk melayani umat-Nya walaupun mereka adalah migran-perantau. Sebagai gereja yang konstruktif, kita harus proaktif untuk keluar dan menjangkau golongan migran-perantau yang memerlukan bantuan, yang menderita, lapar, ditindas serta dipaksa melakukan walaupun mereka tidak suka.”
“Apabila kita melayani golongan yang memerlukan, kita melayani Kristus. Mungkin anda akan menghadapi rasa kekecewaan tetapi jika kita hidup dengan semangat Kudus, kita akan dapat menjalani perjalanan ini dengan lebih bermakna daripada berfokus pada penderitaan. Biarlah semangat itu menggerakkan dan menjadikan diri kita bertemu dengan Kristus melalui orang lain.”
Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom dari Keuskupan Sandakan, tuan rumah konferensi memberi kata-kata aluan selepas misa kudus.

Uskup Julius mengatakan bahawa konferensi ini mempunyai satu tujuan khusus iaitu untuk melihat, memahami serta membahaskan isu-isu migran di Negeri Sabah agar gereja di ketiga-tiga keuskupan dapat memberi pelayanan yang sewajarnya kepada mereka.
Yang Mulia memaklumkan bahawa konferensi ini telah menjemput perwakilan daripada Konsulat Republik Indonesia, bahagian kehakiman Malaysia dan Philippine Embassy. Namun, pihak Kedutaan Filipina tidak dapat menghantar wakilnya pada kali ini. Uskup Julius menyatakan harapannya bahawa konferensi ini akan dapat menghasilkan satu jalinan kerjasama yang lebih baik di antara tiga keuskupan dan akhirnya membuahkan hasil seperti yang Kristus sendiri inginkan.
Romo Lukas Laba Erap, Pr dari Komisi Migran Perantau, Keuskupan Larantuka, Flores Timur, Indonesia. 

Sesi: “Martabat Manusia sebagai Citra (Imej) Tuhan”
Romo Lukas menerangkan bahawa manusia itu tidak dapat diukur dari aspek ekonomi sahaja tetapi lebih dari segenap aspek kemanusiaan. Dunia migrasi sering diwarnai dengan banyak gangguan maruah manusia kerana perspektif yang salah. Pastoral migran dan perantau adalah medan untuk memperjuangkan banyak isu kemanusiaan yang dihadapi. Betapa penting Gereja untuk membina hubungan dan komunikasi yang semakin sengit (connect) dan kerjasama yang semakin erat (collaborate).
Romo Lukas juga mengatakan bahawa Gereja sebagai sakramen (tanda kelahiran Tuhan di dunia) hendaknya menerima semua orang tanpa perbezaan. Gereja harus semakin ramah dan manusiawi: Menerima (to welcome), mempromosikan (to promote), mengintegrasikan (to integrate) para migran dan perantau. Tindakan pastoral migran dan perantau apapun bentuknya, hendaklah berasaskan kerohanian migrasi. Kerohanian yang semakin mendalam mendorong kita untuk merangkul mereka “yang berdokumen dan tidak berdokumen”. Inilah yang membezakan gereja dari institusi lain (differentiate). Gereja haruslah memperjuangkan maruah manusia sebagai tuntutan imej Tuhan.
Konferensi hari pertama telah diakhiri dengan sesi doa malam yang dipimpin oleh Sr. Anita James, fsic dari Keuskupan Agung Kota Kinabalu.
Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

Follow Mary’s example and be disciples of hope

The annual nine-day feast of Our Lady of Good Health culminated on September 9 with the evening Mass. Some 1,700 faithful converged at the Chapel of Our Lady of Good Health (OLGH) for the celebration, beginning at 5.30pm with the recitation of the Rosary and Novena prayers to Our Lady.

The 6.00pm multi-lingual Mass, with the theme Mary, make me a Disciple of Hope, was presided by Fr Sebastian Aputharaj OFM Cap. Joining him were Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Chapel Administrator Fr Edwin Peter, Fr Mari Arokiam, Capuchin Fr Iruthaya Raj from India and Fr Joseph from Uganda.

Fr Sebastian, in his remarks, quoted Pope Benedict XVI in his Encyclical, who said we are all travellers on earth. Our Mother Mary is the star of hope, she will guide us and she will support us.

The Indian Capuchin priest said Mother Mary is the star of hope and if we follow her, we will become disciples of hope.

“If you seek her help, Mary will support you. If you ask her for strength, surely she will support you. If you trust her, she will certainly support you.”

We need to follow Mary and love God to become disciples of hope. Be humble and follow the example of Mary, who is the disciple of Jesus. She lived as mother and disciple of Jesus, learned from Jesus and practised what she learnt.

Fr Sebastian also said Mother Mary loved God so much and that is why she said “Yes” in her fiat.

The Capuchin priest said we should try to express our love in actions. We learn from our parents that all the problems in the family will be solved with love. We need to be humble.

Touching on the Annunciation, when the Angel brought the message to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God and she said, “I’m the Lord’s servant, may it be done to me as you have said,” she accepted the will of God and, through her obedience, she brought salvation to the world. Fr Sebastian told the assembly that we should accept the will of God cheerfully to become disciples of hope.

After Mass, the float with the icon of Our Lady of Good Health led the procession, followed by the clergy and the assembly, going around the vicinity of the chapel while the Rosary was recited. Upon returning to the chapel 45 minutes later, Fr Sebastian led the Benediction.

This year the various themes for the nine day Novena and Mass were specifically focused on Caregivers, People with Special Needs, the Sick and those on the Peripheries. It called everyone to be devoted, to be instrumental, to be supportive, to be courageous, to initiate, to be proactive, to be loving and to be enduring. It is hoped that the faithful would progressively be transformed, with Mary’s guidance, to be Disciples of Hope in the nation.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Christian missionaries have left an indelible mark on social, cultural life

Vatican Ambassador to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino, planted a tree in Grace Garden at the Infant Jesus Convent, which the school has cultivated for many years, to instruct its students to care for the environment.

He was then introduced to the teachers and staff before being taken on a tour of the school by senior teacher Lee Siew Kee.

In his address to the teachers, parents and students, Archbishop Marino said it was a great honour for him to be here to mark the 92nd anniversary.

He said it signifies, in the first place, a spirit of dedication which inspired the first three religious sisters in 1925 to establish a school primarily for girls.

He said such a prophetic initiative at that time to give priority to women who, in many parts of the world, were not even recognised to have the right to participate in the democratic process of elections.

“It signifies, too, the benevolent and generous leadership of Sultanah Rogayah who, after recognizing the high quality of education taking place here, decided to donate a piece of land so that the school could expand,” he said.

He mentioned that the Church and State can work together, especially in the area of education, so all the citizens will benefit. This is certainly the reality of this school which represents a beacon of light in this part of Malaysia.

The Vatican ambassador noted that the Catholic Church is involved in education with much joy and enthusiasm as she has only the overall good of the students in mind.

He said the Church, through its schools, makes this contribution by bringing expertise to her institutions, employing the finest methods in imparting knowledge to the students who have been entrusted to her.

Expounding further, he said the Church carries out the work of education with a spirit of genuine and effective openness, embracing people of all religions and backgrounds in a truly exemplary fashion.

He said, “One cannot but express admiration for this attitude especially in today’s world which, in so many places, is marked by an unfortunate divide among peoples of faith.”

He also stated that Christian missionaries have left an indelible mark on the social and cultural life of this part of the world, primarily in the area of education, introducing solid values which all people of goodwill embrace and live by.

The Archbishop also pointed out that the Church seeks to contribute in operating schools that attend not only to the cognitive, but also to the spiritual and moral development of children which is essential for a stable and prosperous society.

He stressed that the teachers and those in administration have a high responsibility in assuring that these values are truly taught by word and by example.

He said the basis for a good education is good teachers who are committed to their work of educating children, imparting knowledge and human values which serve the common good.

However, he said, attaining this goal is not only an academic preparation, which of course is essential, but also giving true testimony to what is being taught and the values that are being given, adding that, “learning by example is as powerful as learning by the word.”

In fact, the Archbishop noted, research has shown that what education needs today are teachers that provide witness to what is good and right and just and this is what inspires children to acquire knowledge with enthusiasm and joy.

He went on to say that this school has been blessed with teachers who carry out their obligations with a sense of mission, that is, with a sense that teaching is more than a job, it is a way of life and a vocation, requiring discipline and preparation.

Turning to the students, Archbishop Marino said, “You have been given a unique opportunity by your parents and guardians to be a part of this school, with its long and glorious history.”

He encouraged them to approach each day as an opportunity to learn something new, to discover something different and to know another friend.

He said school life requires a real sense of discipline and openness in an environment which enables the development of a community of learning, marked by respect for one another.

In all of this, Archbishop Marino said that a school with all its vast diversity gives an example to what society must be, a place where everyone is treated equally and fairly, a place where everyone is given space to grow and develop and a place where harmony is lived and celebrated.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Celebrating the migrants in our society and country

SEREMBAN: In Malaysia, Migrant Sunday is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in September. This year’s theme is Minor migrants, vulnerable and voiceless.

At the Church of the Visitation, it was celebrated during the 9.00am Mass. The readings, intercessions and hymns were presented in various languages. During the Entrance hymn, migrants walked into the church carrying the flags of their respective countries and a lit candle. They took an active part in the liturgy of the Word and Eucharist.

There was a short sharing by a Pakistani migrant, Mr Shahid, about his life here in Malaysia. “Sana tak ada peluang kerja, hidup susah, sini hidup ada baik. Mari Church pun kita rasa gembira, semua orang di sini banyak bagus.” (Life back home is not easy and I was not employed. Here we are gainfully employed and life is good. The Church here is welcoming and the people are good. We are happy ).

After Mass, parishioners paid a visit to a mock home of a migrant set up inside a minibus. Pictures in the bus showed how they lived there.

The migrants at Visitation parish are from Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Myanmar. Everyone joined in the lunch fellowship at the church canteen.

We thank AOHD KL, PIHDM and the parish migrant team for directions and support given for this day.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

God’s word should influence our lives

JOHOR BAHRU: “The Word of God sets us free from fear, hatred and division which freezes us to a life of sacrifice and fullness of joy, blessings and gratitude.” said Bishop Bernard at the concluding Eucharistic celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal on Sept 17.

He said, God’s Word should have an influence in our lives and in our deaths as we are called to let others encounter God in our good deeds.

Secondly, he said, having been forgiven much by God, we are called to spread God’s love and forgiveness by the practice of forgiving one another and reconciliation.

Finally, the Bishop said we are called to spread God’s Spirit of Unity. “We are called to wholeness within our self and the community and also with all of creation for the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Unity.”

Bishop Bernard raised three pertinent questions that challenged the participants of the two-day session to action and commitment:

The Lord is compassionate and loving, slow to anger and rich in mercy. Do you believe that the Merciful Father has forgiven you and freed you and is sending you to forgive and heal others?

Remember the last day in death and decay…the commandments and the covenant. Are you resolved to feed on the Word of God?

The word that sets you free.

In life and in death, each of us influences each other. Are you ready to be used by God to be His witnesses? Healers make a difference to the wounded around you.

Fr Christopher Lee, Ecclesiastical Advisor to the Diocesan Service team shared that they had only less than a month to plan the publicity, registration and the programme for this retreat.

He said, “There was an absolute trust in Divine Providence to bring in the people that the Lord has called to participate in the programme, and for finances.”

The team also worked hard, going to various parishes for registration. Within two weeks of publicity, over a thousand people had registered to attend the day and healing sessions at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Joseph, Plentong and Skudai Catholic Centre.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

SFA’s ‘Clean Me Up’ mission

CHERAS: Pope Francis has designated Sept 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The day of prayer, the Pope said, will give individuals and communities an opportunity to implore God’s help in protecting creation and an opportunity to ask God’s forgiveness “for sins committed against the world in which we live.”

Francis said he was instituting the prayer day for Catholics because he shares the concern of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who initiated a similar prayer day for the Orthodox Church in 1989.

Francis said Christians want to make their special contribution to safeguarding creation, but to do that, they must rediscover the spiritual foundations of their approach to earthly realities, beginning with an acknowledgement that “the life of the spirit is not dissociated from the body or from nature,” but lived in communion with all worldly realities.

The ecological crisis, he said, is a summons “to a profound spiritual conversion” to a way of life that clearly shows they are believers.

Quoting his encyclical, Laudato Si, he said, “living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.”

The parish gathered in the friary on Sept 1 from 9.00am to 12 noon for prayers for creation. For the whole month of September, the Guided Rosary for the Care of Creation was recited in all the Sunday Masses.

On Sept 22, the parish carried out a social activity in cleaning the beach at Pantai Remis in Kuala Selangor. Two buses of volunteers left SFA at 6.30am, followed by the others in their own transport.

The theme for the activity was Care for Creation. Most of the rubbish we found were Styrofoam and other plastic materials. The youths also dug up four tyres which were fully submerged in the sand.

When our work was done, we said a prayer, took group photos and had light refreshments before returning home.

You could see the happy faces of the parishioners which was proof that they had had a fruitful and fun day.

Parish priest Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap explained that Pope Francis expressed his passion for nature in his encyclical letter Laudato Si and added that St Francis of Assisi is the patron of ecology. He also said that we should take care of our home and that this would be an on-going event.

My friends, Gabriella, Laura, Abigail, Jayden and I had fun picking up shells and drawing pictures in the sand. We hope that there will be more activities like this in future. –By Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap and Trasilla Annette SM Andrew

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Celebrating World Mental Health Day

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjuction with this year’s Mental Health day, the Archdiocesan Mental Health Ministry (AMHM) will be having two plenary sessions as well as a variety of workshops in four languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil) in the morning and afternoon.

Themed, Pain is Real, But So is Hope, the sessions will be held on Saturday, October 14 from 8.00am to 5.00pm at the Church of St Ignatius, Petaling Jaya.

The AMHM is hoping to reach out to children, youths, adults, couples and seniors from within and beyond the Catholic community. It will be a wonderful time learning from the presenters, and gaining new experiences from the hands-on workshops that we have customised for each age group.

For more information, please refer to the registration link/ registration booth in your parish. Registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/BAMV5UUfbHeQ9pOg1 or contact us at 03 2078 0239 / mentalhealth@archkl.org.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

New appointments

Chancery Notice — Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
September 20, 2017
chan/MC/01/2017

Opus Dei community now in KL Archdiocese

With the permission of His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow, the Cathedral of St John, Kuala Lumpur has been assigned to the Opus Dei community for their activities and gatherings with effect from July 1, 2017.

Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity.

Opus Dei is Latin for Work of God; hence the organisation is often referred to by members and supporters as the Work.

Founded in Spain in 1928 by St Josemaría Escrivá, Opus Dei was given final approval in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In 1982, by the apostolic constitution Ut sit, St John Paul II made it a personal prelature — that is, the jurisdiction of its own bishop covers the persons in Opus Dei wherever they are, rather than geographical dioceses

In St John’s Cathedral, the recollection is held every first Saturday of the month. For the women, it starts at 9.30am and ends with Mass at 12.00noon. The recollection for men begins at 2.00pm and ends at 4.00pm. These recollections are open to non-members who are interested in attending.

For more information: please go to the official website of Opus Dei opusdei.org.

1. Rev Deacon Xavier Andrew has been assigned to the Church of St Jude, Rawang, to exercise his diaconal ministry and assist Rev Fr David Arulanatham, with effect from August 13, 2017.
2. Rev Fr V.A. Michael, the Parish Priest of the Church of St Paul the Hermit, has completed his term of office as the Director of the Regional Office for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS).
3. Rev Fr Jean Claude Lourdes, Parish Priest of the Church of Risen Christ, KL has been appointed as the Director of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Office for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) with effect from September 19, 2017.
4. Rev Fr Joseph Pereira, Parish Priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, has tendered his resignation as Chancellor of theArchdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, and this has been duly accepted by His Grace Archbishop Julian Leow, with effect from August 31, 2017. In the interim, Rev Fr Michael Chua, Parish Priest of the Church of Jesus Caritas and Administrator of the Chapel of Kristus Aman has been appointed as Acting Chancellor with effect from September 1, 2017.
5. Rev Fr Michael Chua has also been appointed as the Ecclesiastical Assistant for the Catholic Ministry for the Deaf which will be officially launched on October 29, 2017, at the 9.15am Mass at the Church of Jesus Caritas, to be presided by His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow.

Fr Michael Chua
Acting Chancellor
Archdiocesan Chancery
528, Jalan Bukit Nanas, KL

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