Author Archives: Ken Wong

By Vincent D’ Silva
The Conference of Religious Major Superiors (CRMS) of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei gathered at Majodi Centre, Jan 9-11 for their annual meeting.

Twenty-two superiors of men and women religious congregations of Malaysia and Singapore also met with the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia and Apostolic delegate to Brunei, Archbishop Joseph Marino.

In his address to the religious, Archbishop Marino thanked the religious men and women for the wonderful work they are doing for God and the Church.

He informed them that he was a product of religious educational institutions, from the age of five up to his Licentiate in Theology in Rome.

Archbishop Marino then urged the religious for special prayers for the forthcoming Ad Limina visit of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB) with Pope Francis next month.

He stressed the importance of the Ad Limina visit of the local Arch/bishops with the Pope.

The CRMS also appreciates the opportunity to grow in relationship with their respective Arch/bishops through these annual encounters.

The major Superiors then joined the CBCMSB in the session with SUHAKAM, led by Jerald Joseph.

SUHAKAM was created by parliament as an oversight body to ensure Malaysia complies with human rights standards and its peoples understand and live by it. Created in 2000, SUHAKAM’s primary function is to advise the government that laws and policies are in line with international human rights norms. “We also have the mandate to investigate human rights complaints and to ensure victims are heard. We get about 500 to 600 complaints submitted to us annually… these complaints range from torture in detention, abuse of power, discrimination, violation of basic freedoms, issues of freedom of religion etc. Education of all people about human rights is important to raise awareness. Led by eight commissioners and a staff of 80 in three offices (KL, Sabah, Sarawak), this work needs the full support and collaboration of all stakeholders in Malaysia.

“In reaching out to all religious groups and political parties to emphasise the importance of human rights, SUHAKAM hopes that the bishops and leaders of the Church can encourage its members to utilise the functions of SUHAKAM if there are any issues of human rights violations that are occurring. The Church could also be a natural partner in the promotion of human rights education through its institutions, through its formation and media. SUHAKAM is ready to work in this area with the Church. There is also a need to seek the support of society in SUHAKAM’s role in advising the government in abolishing the death penalty and the ratifying of human rights conventions like the International Convention against Torture (CAT) etc, we would be looking at the Church for its support on such issues too.”

The Human Rights Group encouraged the Church to continue its work to promote and uphold human rights based on the dignity of the human person, by conscientising the people, particularly the members of the Catholic Church.

They also mentioned that Catholic schools could contribute to uphold human rights through information campaigns in its schools.

The superiors also shared “family news” — updates on what is happening in their community and ministries. They further discussed possible collaborative projects among themselves and other Christian organisations.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Parishioners of St Ignatius Church (SIC) had their first taste of the Ponggal Festival after the 6.45am Mass on Sunday, January 14.

Ponggal, which means ‘overflow’ or ‘boiling over,’ also signifies the gradual heating of the earth by the sun. Festivities typically begin with the boiling of rice with milk, brown sugar, ginger, tumeric or other ingredients.

SIC Parish Priest Fr Andrew Wong CDD blessed a pot of rice being cooked at the entrance of the church, accompanied by Assistant Parish Priest Fr Lawrence Ng CDD and Bro Joseph Lim CDD.

Parishioners had the opportunity to taste Ponggal rice and watch dance performances at the cafeteria.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

In addition to the January BEC Reflection paper prepared by the Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Team (PMPT), the Church of the Divine Mercy has prepared a reflection to be performed at home.

Food for the Journey: To be read at Home (On Encounter) Church Document Evangelii Gaudium, (The Joy of The Gospel), no. 3

Invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”[1]

The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realise that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace.”

How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven.

Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards!

[1] Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete in Domino (May 9, 1975), 22: AAS 67 (1975), 297.

Malacca Johore Diocese

Reaching out to the poor and elderly in the BEC

In the weeks before Christmas, members of BEC Kg Lapan contributed a total of RM960.00. This was distributed as ‘Christmas angpows’ to five elderly persons in our neighbourhood and as an outreach to a single mother with three children. Another sick person in our neighbourhood received foodpackages.

On December 30, 2017, the BEC had their gathering at the home of Francis and Christine Ong at 4.00 pm instead of the usual Wednesday night. This was to enable the elderly in our neighbourhood to be part of the programme. Four new members and a few other BEC members were also present. A slide presentation on the BEC activities in 2017 was shown: Photos of BEC gatherings in the homes, Montfort Youth Carnival outreach food stall, Bible Sunday, BEC member Auntie Locke’s 80th Birthday dinner, Parish 40 Days Mission, the home Mass and the Recollection in St Theresa’s Parish. The slide show brought many happy memories.

We then sang Happy Birthday to a King to Our Lord, Master and Saviour, Christ Jesus, as we celebrated His birth, followed by We wish you a Merry Christmas. A charade based on Biblical texts on the birth of Jesus was part of the programme which brought fun and laughter. The gathering ended 6.00pm with thanks to God for the enjoyable fellowship. — By Christine Ong

Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese

BEC begins the year with Mass

BEC St Basil’s (under the Church of St Francis of Assisi) feastday falls on January 2.

In conjunction with this, a Mass was celebrated by Fr Paul Cheong OFM Cap, on Friday, Jan 5, 2018 at the home of Margaret Cecillia.

“Why did your BEC choose the name St Basil?” asked Fr Cheong. He was very interested in the saint and read out St Basil’s charism to all present.

Around 19 families participated in the Mass. As it was still in the octave of Christmas, many Christmas songs were sung.

Why does the Church place so much importance on the BEC? Fr Cheong shared that this was one way for the laity to be involved in community building. Each of us is gifted. It is important for us to recognise our talents and use them to build up the community. Fr Paul then shared the four elements needed for a BEC to be vibrant: Prayers, Formation, Outreach and Fellowship.

After Mass, Sandra Ann, the coordinator of St Basil, shared on the activities undertaken by the BEC during 2017. The statement of accounts for 2017 was handed out to all. She then introduced the new Core Team members. She explained that it was a bigger team as the BEC is very big, covering more than five housing estates.

Christine Danker, the BECCOT chairperson, highlighted the need for the BEC to be divided as it was now too big to coordinate. Currently, St Basil consists of 40 families. The reason for such an action is, a smaller BEC will be more united to foster better communication and collaboration.

Sandra added that, whilst this suggestion need not be put into action immediately, nonetheless, the BEC has to assess and see how best this model can be adopted. This is for the betterment of BEC members as individuals and our SFA as a whole.

The night ended with a beautiful fellowship, where each family brought a dish or two for their potluck sharing.

Fr Cheong was asked to cut the St Basil cake. It is a sweet bread symbolising the hope that the New Year will be filled with the sweetness of life, health, and happiness for all. The coins baked in the cake are in memory of St Basil the Great and his acts of benevolence and philanthropy.

Everyone ate some cake hoping to get the coins. It was truly a memorable and a good start for 2018! — By Russell Goh

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

SUBANG JAYA: “St Therese, in writing her famous autobiography The Story of a Soul, says that in writing her life’s story, she was singing of the ‘mercies of the Lord.’”

“Perhaps unconsciously, in choosing this phrase from the Book of Lamentations as the theme for my priestly ordination, I, too, had been moved together with Thérèse in praising God for his great love in my life. For it has been said by some, that nothing that He does is accidental, and that all things work for the good of those who love Him,” said Deacon Nicholas Hoh Jeng Kin OCD.

“First and foremost, God has blessed me with a good and loving family. Although we were not Catholics, my family taught me good values and gave me a loving and stable environment while growing up. They have been supportive and encouraging throughout my life and, with the conversion of my parents to the Catholic faith at Easter 2006, they were the ones who gave me my first concrete introduction to the faith. My parents journeyed with me and my sister on our own RCIA journey the following year at St Francis Xavier’s in Petaling Jaya, and after our baptisms at Easter 2008, we grew together in the faith as a family, attending formation talks, daily Mass, prayers at home, and even to our first forays in serving our parish of St Thomas More and the wider Catholic community.

“Looking back at my youth, I see the love of God discreetly working in the circumstances of my childhood. Although growing up as a Buddhist, I had, in my circle of friends, many Christians of various denominations who showed me good examples of living Gospel-centred lives. The charity they possessed, their joy in having Christ in their lives and their hopefulness, even in difficult moments, made a deep impression on me. It convinced me of how Christians who sincerely live the Gospel are truly the salt of the earth, bringing goodness and love in discreet and quiet ways.

“However, it is probably in my vocation to religious life that the love of God shines most strongly. It was the spiritual testimonies of Carmelite saints, touched by their deep, personal encounters with God, who is Love, that so inspired and emboldened me to take the decisive step to leave behind a promising career and the comforts of the secular world. It was the desire to live these very experiences of the saints — St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, and St. Therese of the Child Jesus — that made me feel compelled that only a life lived in allegiance to Christ was a life worth living.

“In fact, it was while in religious life that I felt the call to priesthood. A priest is nothing other than an instrument of God’s love for his people. Christ, the Good Shepherd, who gave his life out of love for his flock, continues to work his labour of love through the ministry of the priest. The Lord Jesus, who forgave sins, healed the sick and set captives free, continues his work through the sacraments of the Church. It is with this desire to bring the love of Christ to those who need to experience it, that has given me the impetus to embrace this call by God.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. These words to me mean that it all begins with God’s love for us. It is a mantra that I would like imprinted in my heart in my future priestly ministry, that a priest is called to be a sign of God’s love for his people. It is also important to me, that I can only serve as a priest well if I am continually nourished by this very same Love. Therefore, I hope that in my priestly ministry, you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ reading this, will see the face of our Father, who loves and cherishes you like no other.

Deacon Nicholas Hoh OCD will be ordained by Archbishop Julian Leow on Jan 31, 2018 at the Church of St Thomas More at 10.30am.

Source: Archdiocesan Social Communication Ministry

The Discalced Carmelites (OCD)
The Discalced Carmelites (Discalced is derived from Latin, meaning “without shoes”) are a worldwide Religious Order which originated on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, eight hundred years ago.

The Carmelite family is made up of: Friars (priests and brothers), Contemplative Nuns, Secular Order Carmelites and associated lay people.

The Discalced Carmelites was established by St Teresa of Avila in 1562 and St John of the Cross in 1568 to renew the Order’s commitment to contemplation, simplicity, and community. The Discalced Carmelite order is now known by the initials “OCD.”

Carmelite spirituality is characterised by an intense thirst for an immediate and direct experience of God, reflected in the order’s motto Zelo zelatus sum pro Domino Deo exercituum (With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of hosts).

Carmelite spirituality in its most fundamental expression is thus centred on prayer, understood as loving friendship with God, and contemplation as the free gift of God.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The Feast of St Anthony the Abbot, also known as St Anthony of Egypt or St Anthony the Great, was celebrated with a Triduum at St Anthony’s Chapel. The chapel, which was extensively renovated in 2016, also marked its 52 years of existence.

Fr Anthony Heng CDD was the preacher for the three days, from Jan 12 to Jan 14.
Parish Administrator Fr Patrick Tyoh concelebrated the 8.30pm Mass with Fr Heng, Jan 13.

The homily was preached in Mandarin and Fr Heng used slides in both English and Mandarin to show the significance of poverty.

Fr Heng said the saints always sought poverty in their lives. All the saints were willing to live in poverty. He then asked the assembly, “Why poverty?” Because poverty makes us realise that our whole life belongs to God and God is always with us.

Touching on the patron saint of the church, Fr Heng said St Anthony the Abbot never stopped seeking poverty as he lived a simple life. “So how do we emulate this? Being poor doesn’t mean giving up everything, but it is to follow the Lord completely.”

Fr Heng stated that we can use the Ten Commandments to follow the Lord. Why the Ten Commandments? Because they teach us to be humble. Many have replaced God’s Kingdom with smartphones, instead of the Ten Commandments. Fr Heng gave an example: Christians, nowadays, when dining, do not say grace before meals. Instead, they take photos with smartphones and post them on Facebook. He reiterated that we must focus on God. “If we don’t, we will not have love for God or for others. We end up loving ourselves.”

After Mass, Fr Tyoh invited the students who had done extremely well in their recent public examinations to come forward to receive angpows. He also thanked Fr Anthony Heng, CDD, and all those who assisted in organising the triduum.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Sandakan: Pada 7 Januari 2018 yang lalu, majlis kesyukuran dan penghargaan kepada para paderi telah diadakan di Katedral St. Mary, Sandakan. Acara ini bermula pada jam 11.30 pagi sebaik sahaja Misa Kudus selesai. Seramai lebih kurang 500 umat telah hadir dalam majlis tersebut.

Ketibaan Bapa Uskup, para paderi dan sister telah disambut dengan paluan gong tradisional. Acara dimulakan dengan menyanyikan lagu natal “Joy to the World” sebagai tanda sukacita atas kelahiran Juruselamat manusia, Yesus Kristus.

  

Selepas itu, Sdra. Pilis Malim selaku Pengerusi Pastoral Paroki Katedral St. Mary telah memberikan ucapan beliau. “Sekali lagi kita merayakan hari Natal yang begitu besar sekali dan merupakan tahun baru bagi kita serta satu perayaan yang bermakna bagi kita. Perayaan ini dirayakan oleh pelbagai umat dari pelbagai bangsa yang beragama kristian di seluruh dunia.”

Seterusnya, ucapan disampaikan oleh Rev. Fr. David Garaman selaku paderi paroki yang baru. Di dalam ucapan Fr. David, terlebih dahulu dia mengucapkan selamat hari natal dan selamat tahun baru kepada semua umat yang hadir. Beliau menyatakan rasa syukur kepada Tuhan kerana diberikan peluang sekali lagi untuk melayani di paroki ini dan mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom kerana telah memberi kepercayaan kepadanya untuk memikul tugas dan tanggungjawab sebagai paderi paroki. Beliau juga menyatakan bahawa beliau akan berusaha sedaya upaya untuk melakukan tugas beliau sebagai seorang paderi paroki yang baru dan mengajak semua umat untuk berkerjasama dalam merealisasikan visi dan misi Keuskupan khususnya di Paroki Katedral St.Mary Sandakan.

Fr. David juga menyampaikan sedikit pesanan beliau kepada para belia, “Anda adalah berada ditempat yang teristimewa di dalam gereja kita. Gereja memerlukan bantuan belia, semangat belia, kejujuran belia untuk gereja kita dalam kristus untuk masa depan gereja kita. Jangan takut untuk menunjukkan bakat anda yang telah diberikan oleh Tuhan. I am looking forward untuk bekerjasama dengan belia, saya akan cuba untuk berjalan bersama kamu”.

Rev. Fr. Sunny Chung yang ditempatkan di Holy Trinity, Tawau sebagai pembantu paderi. Dalam ucapannya menyatakan “syukur  dan terima kasih kepada mereka yang telah mengenali saya setelah beberapa tahun saya menjadi seorang paderi, banyak pengalaman suka dan duka yang saya alami terutama sekali cabaran yang membuat saya menjadi lebih kuat untuk melayani di tempat yang baharu. Jika ada peluang lagi untuk berjumpa, saya akan menghadiri program-program yang dianjurkan di gereja ini.”

Di dalam ucapan Rev. Fr. Stanley Matakim, “terima kasih khususnya kepada Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom, para paderi, dan kepada semua sister kerana persahabatan dan tunjuk ajar yang telah diberikan kepada saya sepanjang saya melayani di Paroki Katedral St. Mary ini selama tiga tahun, dari seorang seminarian sehinggalah saya ditahbis menjadi diakon seterusnya menjadi seorang paderi. Saya telah memperolehi banyak pengalaman dan mempelajari sesuatu yang baru sepanjang saya melayani di Katedral ini dan saya berharap apa yang saya pelajari disini akan saya bawa ketempat yang baru. Sekali lagi, doakan saya kerana saya memerlukan doa kamu semua untuk meneruskan pelayanan saya di St. Martin, Telupid”.

Acara diteruskan dengan penyampaian sumbangan kasih kepada para paderi oleh umat disusuli dengan acara pemotongan kek.

Ucapan yang terakhir telah disampaikan oleh Yang Mulia Uskup Julius Dusim Gitom. Dalam ucapan, beliau mengucapkan tahniah kepada Fr. David, Fr. Stanley dan Fr. Christopher atas ulang tahun pentahbisan yang diraikan. “Saya sungguh-sungguh berterima kasih kepada Fr. Sunny dan Fr. Stanley yang telah membantu saya dengan begitu bersemangat. Tanpa mereka mungkin banyak perkara yang kita tidak dapat lakukan”. Bapa Uskup turut menyatakan bahawa Fr. Sunny akan datang ke Katedral ini sekali dalam sebulan untuk melayani umat khususnya komiti Bahasa Cina. Selain itu, beliau mengajak untuk mengambil peluang ini untuk berinteraksi antara sesama sebagai salah satu cara untuk mencapai visi dan misi keuskupan. Beliau mengongsikan pengalaman beliau yang menarik dan mencabar sepanjang dia menjadi paderi paroki di Katedral ini selama dua tahun. Beliau juga mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua umat atas kerjasama yang telah diberikan kepada beliau selama dua tahun beliau menjadi paderi paroki. “Apa juga kerjasama yang telah kamu berikan kepada saya selama ini, berikanlah itu kepada Fr. David dan Fr. Christopher. Itulah harapan saya.” Beliau turut menyatakan terima kasih kepada para sister yang juga telah banyak menyumbang di dalam paroki. Beliau mengakhiri ucapan beliau dengan mengucapkan Selamat Hari Natal dan Selamat Tahun baru.

Beberapa persembahan turut disediakan bagi memeriahkan lagi acara termasuklah pembahagian hadiah kepada semua kanak-kanak yang hadir. Acara berakhir pada jam 2.30 petang dengan doa penutup oleh Fr. Stanley W. Matakim.

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan

St.Dominic, Lahad Datu – Pada 7 Januari 2018, Komiti Inisiasi Kristian Dewasa (IKD) telah mengadakan jamuan krismas bagi para katekumen bersama para pembimbing yang bermula pada jam 11:00 pagi. Seramai 50 orang yang telah hadir untuk memeriahkan jamuan ini. Antaranya adalah para penanggung, ibu bapa serta keluarga katekumen. Turut dijemput dalam jamuan tersebut ialah Saudara Sebastian Francis selaku Penyelaras Katekatikal Pusat, Sr.Evelin Tivit dan Paderi Paroki Rev. Fr. Simon Kontou.

   

Dalam kata alu-aluan Saudara Bob Remon selaku pengacara majlis dan juga Penyelaras Komiti IKD mengatakan “Terima kasih kepada semua yang hadir pada hari ini terutama Fr. Simon, Sr. Evelin dan saudara Sebastian kerana telah meluangkan masa pada hari ini. Terima kasih juga kepada para katekumen yang telah berpartisipasi bersama para penanggung, ibu bapa dan keluarga masing-masing. Terdapat juga para katekumen yang tidak dapat hadir atas hal-hal yang tidak dapat dielakkan. Namun, kita harus meneruskan jamuan krismas ini agar dapat merayakan bersama para katekumen dengan Sukacita Natal”.

Sejurus selepas itu, saudara Sebastian dijemput untuk menerangkan tentang Minggu Katekatikal sekaligus memberi ucapan. Dalam ucapannya, beliau mengucap syukur  dan berterima kasih kepada Fr. Simon, para pembimbing, para katekumen serta semua hadirin yang telah hadir dan diberi peluang untuk merayakan jamuan krismas di dewan paroki. Beliau menyentuh tentang Minggu Katekatikal dimana sebelum ini dirayakan pada bulan September namun tahun ini dirayakan pada bulan Januari. “Oleh kerana pertukaran itu, Komiti Katekatikal Pusat telah inisiatif untuk membuat Konsert Katekatikal. Ini adalah kali pertama katekatikal kita membuat konsert. Dengan Ini, kita sudah membuat satu langkah, dengan mengadakan konsert katekatikal dan mungkin terdapat kecacatan-nya atau kekurangan dalam penganjuran kita. Tetapi saya sangat gembira bila mendengar IKD mahu dengan semangat untuk mengikuti di dalam minggu katekatikal ini”.

Dalam ucapan beliau itu juga, ia menyentuh tentang makna merayakan minggu katekatikal dan peranan serta tanggungjawab para pembimbing kepada umat. “Jika di sekolah kita merayakan hari guru tetapi disini kita merayakan hari minggu katekatikal, ia mengimbas kembali peranan dan tanggungjawab sebagai seorang pembimbing dimana ia merelakan diri untuk membimbing, serta membantu di dalam pelayanan ini. Pada hari itu juga kami, sebagai pembimbing akan diberi pengutusan oleh Paderi Paroki untuk menguatkan kami dalam pelayanan dan melayani umat sekalian. Semoga minggu katekatikal nanti akan berjalan dengan baik dengan kerjasama dari anda semua, saya mengucapkan terima kasih kerana telah menjemput saya dan Selamat Menyambut Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru”.

Pertukaran Hadiah

Jamuan dibuka dengan doa pembukaan disusuli doa makan oleh Fr. Simon. Sejurus selesai makan, acara utama dalam jamuan krismas ini ialah Pertukaran Hadiah antara para katekumen dan para pembimbing. Selepas itu, acara jamuan krismas ditutup dengan doa yang dipimpin oleh saudara Bob Remon dan gambar bersama. Acara selesai kira-kira jam 2:00 petang.

 

Article reproduced from Diocese of Sandakan 

 

KENINGAU – The Interior Diocese will celebrate its 25 years of existence as a diocese on 5 May 2018 at the Diocesan Solidarity Hall Keningau.

At the same time, Bishop Cornelius Piong will also mark 25 years of episcopal ministry.

The interior diocese – comprising Keningau, Tambunan, Toboh, Kuala Penyu Beaufort, Membakut, Tenom and Tulid Mission – was created on 2 Feb 1993 with Msgr Cornelius Piong as its first bishop.  He was ordained and installed as bishop on 6 May 1993.

At the time of its erection, the diocese had a Catholic population of 56,852 scattered in eight parishes and 155 outstations, served by seven priests, 137 catechists, and religious in eight convents.

Almost 25 years later,  the diocese has a Catholic population of 135,544 scattered in nine parishes, one mission and 402 outstations.  It is served by 18 clergy, one religious priest, 44 religious sisters, 24 religious brothers, six seminarians, 18 lay consecrated women, and 410 catechists (2016 statistics).

It has two retreat centres, two pilgrimage sites, a pastoral centre, a children’s home and three student hostels.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PENAMPANG – Seminarian David Richard Gasikol has been accepted by Bishop Cornelius Piong to be ordained deacon on 25 Feb 2018 at the Katedral St Francis Xavier Keningau at 4:30 pm.

Born in Sook on 29 June 1985, David entered the aspirancy at the Catholic Archdiocesan Centre Penampang in 2010.  After a year at the Initial Formation House in Kota Kinabalu in 2011, he went on for his philosophical and theological studies at St Peter’s College Kuching from 2012 – 2017.

He is currently assigned to serve in the cathedral.

 

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PENAMPANG – The Chinese community around the world is preparing to bid farewell to the Year of the Rooster and welcome the Year of the Dog, which begins on Feb 16.

The Chinese New Year is based on the lunar calendar and features 12 Chinese zodiac signs. They are represented by animals that occur in the following sequence: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Combined with the Chinese five atomic elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth, they form 60 possible combinations so, in fact, 2018 is the Year of the Earth Dog.

Below is the message of Archbishop John Wong to the Chinese faithful in the Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese on the occasion:

As spring of the new year  is approaching, may the Lord bless  you with His peace and good health.

This year, we celebrate the Year of the Dog. As the dogs bark (汪汪, which is pronounced as  ‘wang wang’), they sound like the Chinese character “Prosperous” (旺, pronounced as wang). For the Chinese, this is one of the favourite characters. Hence,as we enter into this New Year of the Dog,  we may be blessed with an abundant harvest and thriving careers and businesses. However, circumstances may often turn out to be against our hopes and wishes. As such, we are to shift our wishes for “prosperity” (旺) into “hope” (望, also pronounced as wang), praying that in good times or  bad times, we will be filled with hope. It is hoped that in time  of crisis, it will be turned into an opportunity.

In fact, at every turn of a new year, let us not put our focus and hope solely in prosperity and wealth. Jesus has come into the world to bring us new perspectives, broaden our vision, and change our thoughts and values, especially in terms of our behaviour  and moral values. He has come to bring us life eternal. Although the world is well-advanced in information technology and the growing abundance in material goods, we are sad to witness the deterioration in morality, care and love, etc. The world is filled with fraud, theft, sexual harassment, violence and murder. Genuine friendships are rare for many of them are built upon personal interests and profits.

Brothers and sisters, we know that we cannot attain true peace and happiness from wealth and pleasures of the world, but from a purpose-filled life, as the saying goes: The foundation of happiness stems from reaching out to others. For this reason, true happiness comes from serving and giving, not wealth. On top of that, a fulfilling life is not measured by how much we own, but by how much we have given, like Jesus who has lived his whole life in loving and serving, the total gift of self.

At the end of the year, the Chinese of our nation will pick a significant Chinese character. which reflects the aspirations of the people to conclude the year. This year, the character chosen is “road (路).”  I am sure that as we face the economic downturn, some of us cannot make ends meet. For this, we want to find a way out, especially financially. On the other hand, many of us are at the crossroads feeling lost and worried about our lives, careers and businesses. We are striving to ensure that our lives do not come to a dead-end.

Jesus once said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14: 6).  Not only that He shows us the way that leads to eternal life, He also indicates the right path we should take in this earthly journey. His way is different from the ways of the world and our ways. His way is a practical, simple and straight-forward. It is also a road filled with love, peace, forgiveness, acceptance and humility, one that is filled with goodness for ourselves and others.

The worldly ways often lead us unscrupulously towards prosperity, fame and power. When we own it all, we lose ourselves and make many vicious decisions for own interests and profits, endangering the community and causing chaos to the world.

Life is like a journey, from birth to our passing from this world. We cannot predict the length of this journey, but we are sure that it will come to an end. In this journey, there are times of uncertainty,  anxiety and loss. We are bound to encounter many failures, difficulties, pains, trials, temptations and disappointments. Whatever it is, we are called to be courageous, striving continuously because Jesus is with us always. He will never abandon us. These trials and experiences will enrich our lives, leading us to a wonderful and fulfilling journey.

The most important thing in life is to choose the right path to tread on. Some paths allow us to turn back and start over again. Others do not, for example: drug trafficking, murder and committing serious crimes. Therefore, we should be very cautious in the decisions we make. What is most important is to call on God to guide our every step and decision so that our choices are made according to His Will.

On this occasion of the New Year, I would like to encourage you with these words from the Bible: Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD, your God,teaching you how to prevail,leading you on the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48: 17) and the famous Chinese saying: “When the door is closed, He opens the window.” As long as one is willing to work hard and bravely tread on one’s path, he/she will find a way out.  With this, let us be filled with hope and faith for this New Year, because we know that God is with us and He will surely bless us and lead us. – ucanews.com/various sources

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu