Author Archives: Ken Wong

KLANG: In conjunction with the feast of Christ the King on 25 November, parishioners of the Holy Redeemer Church (HRC) celebrated BEC Sunday with a funfilled family day. The event, initiated by the newly elected BECCOT members, is in-line with the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan’s 5-Year Plan (2017-2021) in strengthening Basic Ecclesial Communities.

The day began with a multilingual Mass at 9.00am celebrated by parish priest, Fr Clement Lim. During the homily, Fr Lim stressed that “BECs developed as an extension of the Church by virtue of their faith that establishes communion with God and communion with others.” He further emphasised that “it is important for every Catholic family or individual to be part of the BEC in your neighbourhood.” After the final blessing, all the BECs’ coordinators and core teams were commissioned.

After Mass, the BECs prepared booths for children and adults to collect stamps to redeem gifts sponsored by the Family Life Ministry. They also organised “The Family Amazing Race.” The Family Day offered a bouncy castle, food and carnival games.

One of the parishioners said, “It was my first time joining a HRC event, and I had loads of fun myself! It’s a good experience seeing people having fun with their friends and family. Everyone was welcoming and pleasant to each other.” The day ended with the giving of prizes to the winners.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

An inter-religious organisation condemned the unprovoked attack on an emergency services worker outside a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya.

Ahead of a planned visit to the injured Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) expressed grave concern over the violence.

An unidentified person pulled the Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) worker from his vehicle and assaulted him, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

“It is disgraceful and unacceptable behaviour that a man protecting others was unfairly taunted. The MCCBCHST strongly condemns the use of force and cause of harm on any member of the public.

“Malaysians must come together to uphold peace and harmony. Mutual respect and compassion are fundamental virtues to maintain stability,” the group said.

A delegation from the interfaith group was due to visit the injured rescue worker at the National Heart Institute (IJN) later on Nov 28, after he was transferred there from a private hospital in Subang last night.
Doctors at IJN have placed Muhammad Adib on life support and said he is now stable and showing signs of recovery.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

JOHOR BAHRU: Fr Ignatius Huan Kin Kwang, 77, returned to the Lord at 3.28am on Monday Dec 3, 2018 the Feast of St Francis Xavier.

The wake was held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral (SHC) with Mass at 8.00pm on Monday (Dec 3) and Tuesday (Dec 4).

The funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, Dec 5 at 10.00am at SHC, presided by Bishop Bernard Paul and from thence for burial at the Ulu Tiram Catholic Cemetery.

With a deep passion in spiritual formation, Fr Huan has helped many people – young, old, lay people, seminarians and religious – in their journey to discover Christ and mould their lives through the retreats he conducted in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.

Trained in the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius while studying for his Licentiate in Sacred Theology in Rome, Fr Huan made learning about spirituality, simple and easy to understand.

Fr Huan is also the author of The Mass: We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

BANGI: Cultural diversity has always been part and parcel of the Malaysian identity, and inter-cultural engagement and dialogue between various communities fosters a sense of unity that is significant in creating a sense of nationhood.

This was why the Catholic Research Centre (CRC), in collaboration with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), decided to organise a symposium on Cultural Diversity, Identity and Nationhood: Malaysian Perspective on Saturday, November 24, at UKM’s Dewan Perdana, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. The symposium commenced with a welcoming address by chairperson of the steering committee, Dr Shanthini Pillai, who is an Associate Professor at UKM’s Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and Associate Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Ethnic Studies (KITA).

The keynote address was delivered by Distinguished Professor Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin, Founding Director of KITA, who spoke about two major frameworks in managing diversity in decolonised countries such as Malaysia.

The symposium was enhanced by the presence of Most Rev Julian Leow, Archbishop of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese.

The morning session saw scholars and arts practitioners sharing with the audience their perspectives on Cultural Diversity, Identity and Nationhood in the Malaysian Arts. Independent filmmaker Brenda Danker spoke about films, while Dr Keith Tan from the School of Architecture, Building and Design, Taylor’s University discussed architecture in Malaysia. Independent arts curator Tan Sei Hon and Dr Adil Johan, a research fellow with KITA, highlighted how visual artists and musicians depicted Malaysia’s cultural diversity, identity and nationhood in their creative works.

The afternoon session focused on Interfaith Perspectives on Malaysian Cultural Diversity. The four panelists at the forum were Dr Jaffary Awang, Associate Professor from UKM’s Faculty of Islamic Studies;
Fr Dr Clarence Devadass, director of the CRC; Mrs Gowri P.S. Thangaya, National Malaysia Hindu Sangam Women Leader; and Dr Jeslyn Sharnita Amarasekera, senior lecturer at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

All panelists spoke about how cultural diversity is embraced and incorporated in their respective faiths and contributes towards fostering a sense of nationhood among Malaysians.

The symposium was attended by about 100 people comprising of students, academics and members of the public including parishioners from churches in the KL Archdiocese.

The perspectives shared in the symposium provided a truly educational, eye-opening and enlightening experience to all attendees.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The Parish Catholic Women’s Apostolate collaborated with the Parish Pastoral Council of the Cathedral of St Mary to organise this year’s Parish Advent Recollection on November 24. Themed The Joy of Salvation, the half day recollection was facilitated by Fr Christopher Ireneus and Sr Theresa Martin, fsic and attended by 94 participants.

The Recollection started with the Enthronement of the Bible, followed by a gospel reading and reflection by Sr Regina Kimung fsic. The opening prayer was led by the Parish Rector, Fr David A. Garaman.
Sr Theresa gave the first session, What is Advent?.

She touched on the meaning of ‘Advent:’

— Brief explanation of the Cycle of Liturgy
— The origin of the language from which ‘Advent’ comes
— The focus of Advent
— The history of Advent

The second session, The Joy of Salvation was conducted by Fr Christopher Ireneus.

He said Advent is the first season of the Church year — the preparation for the coming of Christ. He then explained the symbolic meaning of the four candles of Advent 1) Hope (purple) 2) Peace (purple) 3) Joy (Pink) 4) Love (purple).

1. Hope – to be prepared and ready when Jesus comes again.

2. Peace – The necessity for the people to change their lives for the better. To give peace and be at peace with one’s self.

3. Joy – Rejoice! Jesus really is the special person that we have been waiting for.

4. Love – The love that overflows with small gestures of mutual care so as to build a better world, a contagious love.

Pilis Malim, the Parish Pastoral Council Chairman, expressed his gratitude to all the particpants for their attendance. He also thanked Fr Christopher and Sr Theresa for their input. He hopes that after listening to the talks all are aware of the significance of Advent.

The Recollection concluded at 1.00pm with a closing prayer by Fr Christopher.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The Gift of Hope project was launched during the World Day of the Poor celebration at the weekend Masses of November 17 and 18 at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (CHS). This initiative by the CHS Parish Human Development Committee (PHDC) is in response to the call by Pope Francis for all Catholics – clergy and laity – to get involved in an act of “loving attentiveness” towards the poor in the way God does.

CHS parish priest, Fr Joachim Robert, though away for the weekend, left his message in a video clip to convey to his parishioners the intent of the project. In his message that revolved around Psalm 34, Fr Joachim highlighted the verse: “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him,” to remind parishioners that the project provided an opportunity for all to become a beacon of HOPE in this troubled world. He invited all parishioners to visit the specially set up Advent Room to find out how they could be a part of this meaningful project to make a difference in the lives of the under privileged.

The presiding celebrants at the two Masses, Fr Simon Labrooy and Fr Francis Anthony, also spoke on the far-reaching benefits of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy towards the less fortunate. To mark the occasion, commemorative bookmarks with iconic representations and words on Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy were distributed to the congregation.

The verse from Psalm 34 must have struck a chord with parishioners who were reminded of another verse where Jesus clearly showed that action is more important than talk when he asked Bartimaeus, the blind man of Jericho in Luke 18:41, “What do you want me to do for you?” In reaching out to the cry of this destitute man, Jesus granted him both spiritual and physical healing.

Similarly, parishioners were exhorted to seek, invite and save the lost, the least and the little (cf. Lk 19:10). The response was encouraging as the colourfully illustrated and gift-stocked Advent Room turned into a hive of activity, with helpers guiding visitors through the five-step participatory approach to help fulfil the “Wish List” of the families or individuals in need.

Prior to the launch, the project organising team had done much groundwork visiting needy individuals and families and gathering information regarding their needs. After reviewing about 150 cases, they drew up a final “Wish List” of those most deserving of help. This list was posted in the Advent Room for parishioners to select the family/person they wished to help, collect the Gift of Hope Folio that contained detailed information, before reaching out to fulfil the needs listed.

Upon fulfilment, parishioners were to return and place the Star of Hope over Bethlehem City (a three-dimensional structure in progress) and duly confirm completion of their undertaking with the project organising team. The listed families/individuals will also be invited to our Parish pre-Christmas Party on December 15 — for added, meaningful cheer.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM) held its 5th Parish Pastoral Assembly on November 18, 2018. A wide cross section of the parish was present, aged from 93 years to just a few months old. The meeting began with everyone singing, Spirit Touch Your Church. This was followed by an opening prayer.

In his welcoming address, Parish Pastoral Council chairman, Rodney Gomez recounted that in the course of the parish’s growth over the past five years, they had been constantly challenged to do better each year. He said that as they continued to grow, they needed to remember that “the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few” (Luke 10:2) and take the opportunity to invite family and friends to join in the harvest. He added that the best way to do this was through their personal witness. Mr Gomez said that when faced with difficult situations, it helps to reflect upon two questions, namely, “What can we do for others?” and “What would Jesus have done?” He then presented the financial report which included a brief update on the parish’s solar power revenue generation project and its performance so far.

Next on the agenda was a review of feedback given by parishioners. This feedback had been collected over a one-month period. The parishioners had been asked to answer four questions specially formulated to gauge what CDM parishioners expected of CDM and to elicit suggestions on how they could participate more actively in the parish. The answers received included requests for Masses in Tamil and Mandarin, more spiritual formations, a baby corner and more motorcycle parking space. There were also suggestions on how to implement more environment-friendly practices in church and how to encourage greater participation from migrants coming to CDM.

In the report on fundraising and parish performance, the assembly was updated on the status of the proposed new building to house the Community Hall and Free Learning Centre. The results of the various events held during the year were explained. These included the #JomENJOY Food & Fun Fair and various coffee mornings after Sunday Mass. The report illustrated how a schedule of planned giving and donations could generate adequate funds for the new building within five years. The success of this venture depends largely on the participation and resolve of the parishioners. Updates were also given on the status of other planned church activities such as formations, pilgrimages and the family visits conducted by the parish priest, Fr Martin Arlando.

In his address, Fr Martin revealed that it had become increasingly difficult to manage a fast-growing parish like CDM. However, he had noted a great sense of unity which pervaded the whole parish and he could not help but feel proud each time he saw his parishioners determinedly coming together as one church to meet a new challenge. He said that this sense of unity and shared purpose was so strong that it had been obvious even to the delegates and VIPs who attended the recently-concluded 4th Asian Apostolic Congress on Mercy (AACOM) which CDM hosted. He explained that this unity was a sign of how much the parish had grown since setting out on their three-year liturgical plan, which began in 2017 with the parish focus on Prayer and continued in 2018 with the focus on the Word of God. Now, two years down the road, they were ready as a parish to step confidently into 2019, the Year of the Family.

Fr Martin went on to outline his plans for the parish in the coming year, which included activities for the Extraordinary Missionary Month, spiritual formations focusing on the family and on the care for the environment, an in-house BEC reflection paper more suited to CDM and a Ministry of the Sick. He gladly shared the news that CDM had just been granted a relic of Blessed Fr Michael Sopo?ko, the confessor and spiritual director to St Faustina. He also announced that the parish was looking into the possibility of building a columbarium. The assembly expressed their approval.

The last item on the agenda was a Q & A session during which Fr Martin answered queries regarding the affairs of the parish. The questions included the need for an assistant parish priest and the possibility of uploading Fr’s Sunday homilies onto the parish website.

The assembly ended with a prayer led by Fr Martin, after which everyone joined in to sing the hymn, Family of Faith. Although the attendance at this year’s assembly showed a slight drop in numbers, there was a general sense among those who came that CDM was growing and achieving its mission of becoming an inclusive community to all those who came.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Six children, four girls and two boys, received their First Holy Communion at the Church of St Matthew on November 17, 2018 at the 11.00am Mass celebrated by Parish Administrator, Fr Paul Wong.

Fr Wong, the Parish priest of the Church of St Andrew in Muar, Johor, congratulated the communicants after Mass and presented each with a gift.

In his homily, Fr Wong said the Church’s Liturgical Year will end soon. He asked, “Do we know when the world is ending? The angels and Jesus do not know, only the Father knows,” he answered. But it will come.

Fr Wong reiterated that we cannot say we are still young. Anytime, anyone of us can be laid down in a coffin. Not necessarily only when we are old. He cautioned all to get ready and to change now, as tomorrow, or soon, could be our next life. “Ask Lord Jesus to strengthen us and get ready for His coming. He will definitely come.”

A video clip entitled If Tomorrow Were Your Next Life was projected after Mass. The message was how we need to change and start being kind.

A cake was cut by the Communicants to celebrate them receiving the important sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Several students who excelled in their exams also received gifts. The Communicants later joined the students. The children of the parish then chanted the Ten Commandments in Mandarin.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Thirteen children from City Parish received their First Holy Communion on Mission Sunday.

The community witnessed this historic occasion at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows with newly-appointed parish priest Msgr Aloysius Tan as the celebrant. Msgr Tan began his homily by rephrasing the famous quote of John F. Kennedy, as he urged parishioners to “ask not what the Church can do for you, but ask what you can do for the Church.”

He said the readings showed that Jesus is offering a package of servant leadership for all to follow by giving up his life and sympathising with the sufferings of others.

“It is difficult to be good servants today because the world offers different things, but Jesus has made it clear that if we want to be leaders, we must serve faithfully,” he said.

Referring to the theme of Mission Sunday, Msgr Tan invited all to view serving and being missionaries of the Church as a privilege given to God’s children and to take responsibility by being witnesses of Christ and spreading the Good News.

“Through baptism, we are called to be evangelisers to everyone. Let people see Jesus in you by being missionaries in your school, workplace or neighbourhood because, when we are different, people will notice us and will be drawn to our faith,” he said.

He also asked for all to support and contribute towards the mission work of the Church and to spend some personal time reflecting on how to be involved in Jesus’ mission entrusted to us.

Msgr Tan then reminded the children that Jesus is within and closer to them through Holy Communion and urged them to be committed towards a life of discipleship.

Parishioners were inspired by the thanksgiving dance performance by the children. Certificates were presented by Msgr Tan who also expressed his thanks to the catechists who had journeyed with the children.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjunction with Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam’s 80th birthday, His Grace Most Rev Julian Leow, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, cordially invites the faithful to join in the 6.00pm Eucharistic celebration on Sunday,December 9, at the Cathedral of St John and to a fellowship thereafter.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online