In celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, participants were urged to accept their sufferings willingly instead of mumbling, complaining and grieving in their sorrow.

Fr Thomas Bobby Emprayil, VC explained that such negativity would open the door to despair and would, ultimately, destroy a person.

Fr Bobby, from India, preached at a two-day rally at Majodi Centre, Sept 16-17.

Fr Bobby also shared many testimonies on the willingness to accept suffering, transforming sufferings by joining themselves to the sufferings of Christ for the souls in purgatory, for family members and for people who are suffering.

Participants were also advised to make reparation for personal sins and the sins of their families.

He said, “Rejoice always, pray unceasingly and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus … I rejoice in my suffering for you as I am suffering in my own body to make up for what is lacking in the the Church, his body.”

These two verses resonated in Fr Bobby’s sessions.

Fr Bobby shared extensively from his experiences of growing up in abject poverty in rural India. He saw his own suffering of living with an alcoholic dependent father as a preparation for his ministry to thousands of people who flock to his retreat centre in Assam, India.

He said many were set free from their bondage to alcohol.

He said, when we praise and thank God for our sufferings and pains, God is enthroned in the praises of his people, and where God is, there is fullness of joy.

He added, “Our sorrow and pain can be applied to help others suffering from similar problems in their lives and also for the souls in purgatory.”

Christians do not live only for the present; they live for eternity, so they have to offer a wider vision of life for the rest of humanity, said Fr Bobby.

He said that Charismatics are doing a good job of creating a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit working in people.
Fr Bobby then led the prayer for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The powerful presence of God could be felt as he prayed in tongues.

The outpouring of God’s love was followed by the laying of hands for healing.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Bernard Paul shared his concern that the Charismatic renewal in the diocese had stagnated.

He challenged the leaders of the renewal to step up their commitment, not be dependent on speakers from outside the diocese and to be more evangelising in their approach.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Celebrating the 500th year of the reformation of Luther, the Lutheran and the Catholic Church jointly organised a special seminar called From conflict to communion a Malaysian Christian response.

This half-day seminar was held at Loyola Hall, Church of St Francis Xavier on Sept 22. A mixed crowd of Catholics, Lutherans and other Christians attended. The focus was on the topic of Scripture and Tradition, one of the five imperatives of the document of Luther .

Deacon Sherman Quek of Malacca- Johore Diocese spoke for the Catholics. He delivered an inspiring and very informative sharing with bits of humour into it.

Participants were also asked to sit in groups for discussions to promote dialogue and acceptance of one another.

Later, there was a time for sharing by Aloysius Gan, a Catholic from Seremban and a lay leader from the Lutheran church.

A participant from the Lutheran Church shared that this seminar is very encouraging so she will continue to participate in events to promote ecumenism.

Jason Ho, a Catholic, felt it amazing to realise that all were seated together not realising that walls had divided them in history. Archbishop Julian Leow, Archbishop emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Bishop Aaron of Lutheran church and several pastors were also present at this seminar. Special thanks go to the organisers, Rev Sivin Kit a Lutheran pastor and all the helpers.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

After almost nine decades, Johor’s first Catholic girls school, the Infant Jesus Convent, marked its 92nd anniversary with a big bash with students, ex-students, parents, former teachers, and the public attending the event, Sept 20.

The guest-of-honour for the event was the Vatican’s Ambassador to Malaysia (Apostolic Nuncio) Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino who celebrated Mass for students, past pupils, parents, teachers and ex-teachers at the Convent’s 92 year-old chapel in the morning. Concelebrating was Fr Edward Rayappan.

In his homily, Archbishop Marino said the great mystery of our faith is the fact that, in Jesus, God has become man; “God has been made visible in the flesh.”

He said Jesus himself proclaimed in the Gospel of John, “he who sees me, sees the Father, he who hears me hears the Father.”

As a result, he says, there is no longer a distance between God and us; there is no longer a gap between our creator and his creature; there is no longer a separation between our loving Father and his children.

Hence, the Nuncio said, in this great mystery of our faith, the Word has become flesh and has made his dwelling among us.

He went on to say that this immense mystery truly marks us as Christians because we live with the conviction that God so loved us, he could not remain indifferent or aloof, he could not remain detached from his creatures.

He continued, “That is the human person, the best of creation, he could not let us go astray like sheep without a shepherd and, for that reason, he came and he lives with us.”

He said every Christian is called to share this mystery, at times through proclamation itself, but always in the way we live, and that is why St Paul so beautifully linked mystery and the way we live, adding that, “you must know how to behave in God’s family, that is, in the Church of the living God.”

He said the Church today proves the indispensable role that lay men and lay women play in the mission of the Church.

He stressed that by virtue of our baptism, we are all ministers, each in his or her proper role and no one can be excluded from making his or her contribution to the life of the Church.

He told the congregation that it is remarkable to see the lay people today continuing the mission of this school, first established by religious sisters.

The Nuncio encouraged all who are contributing to this ministry in the Church to do so with much zeal and dedication and, in this way, we are able to proclaim: “Great are the works of the Lord.”

At the end of the Mass, the Nuncio gave a special blessing to the students who are sitting for the PT 3 and SPM exams. He told the students that there is no substitute for hard work.

The Vatican Ambassador also had the opportunity to meet one of the school’s oldest living alumni Prisudiamah Kathirasoo, 93.

He greeted her and presented her with a rosary which was blessed by Pope Francis.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

TANJUNG ARU – The virtue of fidelity was highlighted at the combined jubilee celebration of seven Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC) on 7 Oct 2017, memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, at the Stella Maris Church here.

Archbishop John Wong stressed this quality – divine (God’s faithfulness) and human (jubilarians’ response) in his homily and reiterated it in his speech after the Mass.

He added that the more important part was the spiritual preparation (personal retreat) of the jubilarians prior to the event for it is in silence that God reveals Himself.

The celebrators were ruby jubilarian Sister Martha Jonik, golden jubilarians Sisters Rita Chew and Imelda Angang, and the four diamond jubilarians Sisters Stella Chin, Regina Majakil, Rosalind Thien and Ignatia Gomes.

Joining Abp Wong at the altar were Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Nacua OFMCap of Iligan Isabela Philippines, OFM Custodios Friar John Wong, Msgr Primus Jouil, Father Boniface Kimsin and Father Thomas Madanan.

Over 400 turned up for the event including guests from the Philippines, Singapore, Sarawak, and the three Sabah dioceses as well as members of the congregation, family members, and relatives of the jubilarians.

After the Mass all adjourned to the parish hall for the cake-cutting ceremony, lunch and stage presentations by various groups.

Born on 23 Apr 1956 in Kinuta, Margaretha Jonik joined the congregation in 1975 and took the religious name of Sister Martha of St Mary of the Angels.  She made her first profession in 1977 and took her final vows in 1982.  She is currently assigned in Tawau.

Rose Chew, born on 20 Oct 1946 in Kuala Penyu, entered the congregation in 1965.  Taking as her religious name Sr Rita of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she took her first vows in 1967 and made her final profession in 1972.  Presently she is in charge of the Stella Maris Retirement Home Tg Aru as well as head of the Archdiocesan Education Commission.

Her co-jubilarian, Sister Imelda of the Blessed Sacrament, was born as Angeline George Angang on 8 Aug 1948 in Kuala Penyu.  She also joined the FSICs in 1965, made her first profession in 1967 and took her final vows in 1972.  She is assigned in Penampang and is currently the assistant of Sister Dariah Ajap in the Archdiocesan Catechetical Commission.

Of the four diamond jubilarians, Sister Stella Chin was born in Jamaica on 6 Sept 1936 as Pamela Evadne Chin Siew Chin.  She entered the congregation in 1954, took her first vows on 11 Feb 1957 and made her final profession on 11 Feb 1962.

Sister Regina of the Blessed Trinity was born as Noemi Majakil on 15 Nov 1935 in Limbahau.  She also joined the Franciscan Sisters in 1954, made her first profession on 11 Feb 1957, and took her final vows on 15 Aug 1962.

The third diamond jubilarian, Sister Rosalind of St Dominic, was born in Tenom on 17 Apr 1938 as Mary Thien Siew Yun.  She entered the congregation in 1955, took her first vows on 4 Oct 1957, and made her perpetual profession on 20 Dec 1962.

Sister Ignatia Gomes of St Therese of the Child Jesus was born as Olive Marian on 29 Jan 1935 in Kg Kambau Penampang.  She joined the Sisters in 1955, made her first profession on 4 Oct 1957, and took her final vows on 25 Aug 1963.

Together the seven jubilarians have served the local Church for 380 years – a witness of the human response to God’s mercy and faithfulness.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – Leaders and representatives of 65 parish groups, ministries, committees and communities of Sacred Heart Cathedral here attended an updating-cum-briefing by their parish priest Archbishop John Wong and his assistants on 5 Oct 2017 at the parish centre.

At the meeting, Anthony Lim, parish finance council chairman, updated those present on the progress made on the major renovation works made at the parish centre last year.

In 2016, two major works were done: re-wiring of the parish centre (RM63,250.00) and replacement of the leaking main pipe (RM31,300.00).  General repair work was also done amounting to RM15,357.69.

Earlier this year, the roofing gutters were repaired (RM21,800.00) as well the complete renovation of the male and female toilets on the first floor (RM85,160.00).

It is hoped that renovation of all the rooms, repainting of walls, repair and replacement of air-conditioner units, replacement of carpets and curtains, building of storage cubicles on both sides of F7, and installing of two units of big ceiling industrial fans in the parish hall will be completed before the end of the year.

After the updating, Abp Wong briefed the attendees on the parish participation in the construction of the RM9.6m Catholic Centre.

He explained the need for it and its location.

The prelate told them that all parishes and subparishes in the archdiocese have been allocated an amount according to their means.

For the cathedral parish, the prelate continued, it is RM1 million.

Anita Tunggolou, head of the parish fundraising committee, informed the leaders that the time frame for fundraisers is one year: August 2017 to August 2018.

The committee has decided on three main fundraisers: a)  third collection on first Sundays (started Sept 2017); b) lucky draw on Dec 31 and c) bazaar in June 2018.

For the lucky draw, all the groups have an allocation of tickets (RM20/booklet) within a period of three months for diffusion.  Contact person is Michelle Linggi, treasurer of the fundraising committee.

Pledge cards for individual donors (Catholics and non-Catholics) are also available at the parish office under Johnny Chong.

The groundbreaking event, Lim said, will be at the end of the year (2017). The construction is scheduled to be completed within two years.

This was the second briefing for the parish group leaders.  The first was held on 2 March 2017.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KENINGAU : Majlis Penyampaian Sijil kepada pelajar PPK Tahap 1 sesi 2016/2017 dan Tahap 2 sesi 2015/2016  telah berlangsung dengan jayanya. Majlis yang berlangsung pada 9 September 2017 ini diadakan di Dewan Terbuka PPK.

Majlis ini dimulakan dengan Misa Kesyukuran kepada pelajar PPK yang terlibat. Misa disempurnakan oleh Rev. Fr. Rudolf Joannes. Dihadiri oleh lebih kurang 100 orang termasuklah pelajar PPK Tahap 1 dan 2, Pelajar Baru PPK dan ahli-ahli keluarga pelajar yang yang turut memeriahkan majlis.

“Pengetahuan mengenai Tuhan dan gereja yang di kecapi itu merupakan satu perubahan baru kepada setiap kamu  agar lebih dapat mendorong umat untuk mendekati dan mengimani Tuhan. Kerendahan hati dalam diri juga perlu diutamakan terutama dalam pelayanan sebagai pemimpin gereja. Sifat cinta kasih dan sabar juga harus ada sebagai pemimpin gereja dalam menghadap umat yang kurang pengetahuan  mengenai Tuhan. Kerana kasih merupakan inti dalam kualiti pelayanan yang baik.” demikianlah pesan yang disampaikan dalam homili Fr. Rudolf.

Selepas Misa, Penyampaian Sijil dan jamuan kesyukuran diadakan di Dewan Terbuka PPK. Sesi penyampaian sijil kepada  36 orang pelajar Tahap I dan 15 orang pelajar Tahap II. Majlis penyampaian sijil ini disempurnakan sendiri oleh Pengarah PPK iaitu Fr. Rudolf. Serentak dengan penyampaian sijil, majlis dimeriahkan lagi dengan sambutan kedatangan 40 orang pelajar PPK tahap I bagi sesi 2017-2018 yang baru.

 

 

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PERKONGSIAN PELAJAR PPK

Pengalaman selama setahun belajar dalam Tahap 2 sangat bermakna. Pelbagai cabaran yang harus  ditempuhi terutama sekali kekangan masa unuk menghadiri kelas kerana ada kalangan kelas diadakan pada waktu malam. Pengorbanan dan disiplin diri sangat penting sepanjang Tahap 2 ini. Namun semuanya ini menjadi pengalaman  yang sangat indah, suka dan duka bersama rakan-rakan dan guru-guru. Pendedahan untuk berkatekisis diluar adalah satu lagi pengalaman baru bagi saya agar lebih berani dan sentiasa bersiap sedia berhadapan dengan pelayanan. Kerjasama dan sikap ambil berat antara sesama pelajar dan guru-guru menyuntik semangat untuk terus belajar dan bertahan sehingga selesainya pembelajaran di Tahap 2. Mengikuti Tahap 2 selapas Tahap 1 sesi 15/16 bertujuan untuk menambahkan lagi pengetahuan bukan hanya untuk diri sendiri tetapi juga untuk dikongsikan lebih-lebih lagi kepada para pembimbing.

Selain keinginan diri sendiri, saya juga didorong oleh rakan-rakan pembimbing dan katekis pemimpin ibadat dari KUK Panui, juga guru-guru PPK. Dorongan juga hadir daripada keluarga yang sentiasa memberi kekuatan bagi saya.

Perasaan yang sukar diungkapkan setelah berjaya menamatkan pembelajaran Tahap 2. Kegembiraan yang tidak terhingga dan sangat berbaloi. Namun belajar bukan setakat disini tetapi akan terus belajar.

Terima kasih kepada Rev. Fr Rudolf, Sr. Pat, Cikgu John, Cikgu Fred dan Cikgu Patrick atas tunjuk ajar dan bimbingan, rakan-rakan Tahap 1 dan 2 yangs entiasa membantu dan semua ahli keluarga yang sentiasa mendorong . Tuhan Memberkati. – Imelda Goniur Denis (Katekis Pembimbing dan Lektor)

 

 

 

Saya Lawrance Yong berumur 55 tahun daripada pelajar Katekis Tahap 1 dan melayani sebagai Pemimpin Ibadat Sabda dan Pelbagai Doa.

Sepanjang saya mengikut kelas Katekis Tahap 1, kami mempelajari sebanyak lapan subjek yang berkaitan dengan pemimpin awam atau lebih dikenali sebagai Katekis selama satu tahun.

Tujuan saya mengikut kelas ini adalah kerana saya ingin memperolehi pengetahuan yang mendalam tentang ajaran Katolik serta mahu melayani di ladang Tuhan.  Saya mendapat dorongan daripada Roh Kudus, bukan itu sahaja isteri serta anak-anak saya juga mendorong saya untuk mengikuti kelas ini.

Saya amat bersyukur kerana berjaya menyelesaikan pembelajaran saya dalam Katekis Tahap 1,  saya amat bersuka cita, kerana sebelum ini saya amat risau,  saya akan gagal. Terima kasih kepada semua tenaga pelajar.  -Lawrance Yong 

 

 

 

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Keniagau

KUALA LUMPUR: The demise of Monsignor Anthony Thomas on 24 September 2017 has brought great sadness and grieving to those who have known him personally and to those who have worked with him closely in various parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

I have very little experience working with the late Monsignor Anthony Thomas. In January 2002 I was assigned to do pastoral work for a month at the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Peel Road, Kuala Lumpur. It was an assignment just before my final year in the seminary. I stayed with him and I worked with the youth ministry and altar servers. He hardly spoke to me and he seldom invited me to have meals together. I noticed he was a poor eater and he always skipped his meals. He was a very observant man. On my last day of my mission in his parish, he commented on some of my good qualities and appreciated very much the enthusiasm that I had in carrying out my task with the youths and altar servers and his congregation.

During my early years in the priesthood, I didn’t interact and converse much with him. When I was posted to Seremban, I had an opportunity to work with him at the Negeri Sembilan district level. He was then Parish Priest of the Church of St. Aloysius, in Mantin (2008-2013).

During that time his memory began to slowly decline. We held our priests’ district meetings in Seremban. However, on two occasions he lost his way to the Church of Visitation, Seremban. Once he drove around Seremban town for almost 2 hours before getting to the Church. The second time he ended up in Port Dickson. From then on I decided to send someone to fetch him from his parish.  During one of our district meetings he shared with our district priests, his joy of ministering in his parish. He told us that he had only 70 families and that a majority of them were Chinese. He expressed his wonderful time visiting all the families in Mantin. It was a very small community but he brought life to his parish. He too shared with us about his intention to refurbish the Carmelite Monastery, which was situated at the back of his Church. The monastery was abandoned for few years after the Carmelite Sisters moved to their new premise in Seremban. He wanted to turn it into a pastoral center for the state of Negeri Sembilan. I was so impressed with his ideas and his visions for the churches in Negeri Sembilan even though his memory was gradually deteriorating.

I was able to work together with the late Monsignor Thomas for two years in the same district before pursuing my post-graduate studies overseas from 2010 to 2012. In 2013, I went to pay him a courtesy visit as well as make my confession with him at Mantin. After that we sat together but we hardly spoke to each other. Each time when I said something he just ignored me. For almost an hour he just didn’t pay attention to me. That made me bored. Finally, I asked him, “Father, shall we go for a drive?” He was so agreeable and I took him for a drive towards Nilai town and we visited the Church of St. Theresa, Nilai. He was so high-spirited after that. I realised he liked driving around by car.

Lately, a few months before his passing, Cardinal Soter Fernandez insisted that I come and visit Monsignor Thomas at the Little Sister of the Poor, Cheras so that we could take him for a drive in the town. Today, I felt sad that I didn’t make an attempt to take him for a drive together with Cardinal Soter.

The late Monsignor Thomas was a man of prayer and a very good priest and counselor. He built beautiful Church community centers and grew faithful communities in all the parishes that he was sent to. He left a very significant legacy in each parish that he served and ministered to. Today, these parishioners really miss him dearly and expressed their sympathy that comes from their hearts.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

PAPAR – Around 300 local and migrant parishioners turned up for the local parish observance of Migrant Sunday at Mother of Mercy open hall, St Joseph Parish here on 1 Oct 2017.

The celebration was in conjunction with the 103^rd World Migrant Day 2017 with this year’s theme: Minor Migrants, Vulnerable and Voiceless.

In his homily, Father Thomas Yip shared the importance of emulating Jesus Christ’s behaviour and acts, who was ever faithful to God the Father, humble, sincere and forgiving.

At the fellowship after the Mass, organising chairperson Rogerlio expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the support given by the parish and the working committee comprising the Indonesian and Filipino communities and the Human Development Committee (KPI) led by its coordinator Dominic Lim.

Mikael Wura Darang, the parish’s Indonesian Committee leader, shared the importance of education as the pillar of enhancing the mindset and future well-being of migrant children and youth.

In his brief speech, Johnny Sitamin, the PPC chairman, stressed the need for collaborative teamwork among the parish’s various committees and communities, both local and migrant alike. Likewise, one must avoid falling into unnecessary conflicts or spreading unjustified rumours for one’s personal gain.

Yohanes Sogen, the Community Learning Centre (CLC) coordinator, in his comprehensive briefing on the development of the CLC in the parish, invited migrant parents to  enroll their children with the CLC for educational values in order to eradicate illiteracy and alleviate them from poverty in the hope of breaking the migration chains when they return back to their motherland. He also advised his fellow people to avoid instigating arrest, social disrepute and to prioritise on their children’s education instead. Lastly, he thanked the parish for initiating and the continuous support provided in the development and the growth of the CLC in the church.

Franciscan Sister Juanah led the grace before lunch and joined the lay leaders and migrant community in the cake-cutting ceremony.

A video presentation on the AMOS 3 conference in Sandakan was screened with a concise sharing from William Charles on the objective of this conference and the church migrant ministry’s planning and future endeavour. He also said that local parishioners must discard the stigma of a negative perception of the migrant in order for the migrant ministry to move forward as part of Christ’s mission.

The video presentation was followed by a number of stage performances featuring cultural dances, solo and choral singing by the youth choirs, CLC students and outstation migrant children. – William Charles Mindus (SOCCOM Papar Limbahau)

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

St Anthony Church Mid Autumn Festival Gathering (1.10.2017)

 

                             

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Miri

The Malaysia Catholic Youth Ministers’ Committee (MCYMC) held their annual meeting on 25-29 Sept 2017 at Sibu Pastoral Centre.

36 youth ministers, clergy and religious sister from nine arch/dioceses were present at the meeting.

        

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sibu