Category Archives: Feb 2018

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis on February 11, 2018, sent greetings to all who will be celebrating Lunar New Year on February 15. His greeting came after praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square.

In the Far East and in several parts of the world, millions of men and women celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 15. I send my cordial greeting to all their families, with the hope that they will live it in greater solidarity, fraternity and the desire of goodness, contributing to create a society in which every person is accepted, protected, promoted and integrated.

I invite to pray for the gift of peace, precious treasures to be pursued with compassion, farsightedness, and courage. I accompany and bless you all.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

PENAMPANG: Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau has issued a statement for Chinese Catholics to mark the end of the Year of the Rooster and the start of the Year of the Dog on February 16.

In his address, the prelate said “Let us be filled with faith and hope for this New Year, because we know that God is with us and He will surely bless us and lead us.”

In Chinese, the barking of a dog wang wang sounds like the character that corresponds to the word “prosperous”. Wang is also the pronunciation of the word hope .

Playing on the meaning of these words, Archbishop Wong reminded the faithful not to put their hopes for the new year in the ephemeral joy of material goods.

“Let us not put our focus and hope solely in prosperity and wealth,” he writes. “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.”

“Brothers and sisters,” he adds, “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.”

In ending his message, the prelate calls on Catholics not to lose heart in times of difficulty and to put their trust in the support of Christ.

“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.”

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

What is Lent for me? Is this about performing my religious obligation or transforming my spiritual life?

Approximately 200 catechism children were called to reflect on the real meaning of Lent 2018 prepared by the Archdiocese Office of Human Development Kuala Lumpur. This year’s Lenten Campaign theme is, ‘Caring for our Common Home’ where each Christian is called to be “Stewards of Ecological Change”. We are God’s stewards and we are responsible in guarding the Mother Earth by changing our throw-away culture.

Gabriel Moses (PPC chairman) together with a few catechism teachers Sharon and Amanda presented the Lenten Campaign message of this year. This Lenten formation was held at the St. Joseph Church Formation Hall on the 4th (primary level) and 11th February 2018 (secondary level) whereas the Tamil Lenten formation for both primary and secondary levels was held on 11th February from 8.30 am to 10.30 am and was coordinated by Nicholas and Monica.

There is more to praying, fasting and alms giving that the catechism children need to learn as part of the Lenten preparations. These actions are typically understood as sacrifices that they need to make as the Lenten observance. These will lead them to the real transformation and the birth of new life as they journey towards Easter.

The sessions ended with a loud and clear message that we need to change our perspective of our spiritual life and to make our earth a better place to live in.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

“How can a secular government help people to realize themselves, if it does not contemplate God and neglects religious sentiment?”; “The domination of rationalism and the industrial revolution are the causes of the crisis of values ??that affect the European countries”; “Theology is faith that seeks knowledge, it is not an explanation of faith. This is where Europe’s failure lies “. Thus Msgr. William Goh Seng Chye (photo), Archbishop of Singapore, analyzes the differences in religious experience in the West and East. Together with the bishops of Malaysia and Brunei, Msgr. Goh travelled to the Vatican February 4 and 9 last for an ad limina visit. Below the second part of (of three) an interview with the prelate.

After having illustrated the climate of harmony and the relationship of collaboration between the city-state institutions and religious confessions, the Archbishop of Singapore, Msgr. Goh analyzes the misunderstandings that mark relations between religion and Western societies. “Instead of rejecting it, the European countries should be inspired by religion in the government of people, in making their lives better, in giving them meaning and fulfillment – says the prelate – I think that Singapore can be an example in this sense. However, unlike Europe, our government is secular but not secularist or anti-religious. The European weakness is represented by the fact that many governments are adverse to faith. How can a secular government help people to realize themselves, if it does not contemplate God and neglects religious sentiment? In the West, a very important dimension of people’s lives is being lost. In an attempt to be more and more secularized, faith is relegated to something private, marginal. In this way, men will never find happiness in the things they possess “.

Although Singapore is a very prosperous country, where competitiveness and economic development are primary objectives, society holds “a strong religious feeling”. The archbishop explains why: “When you have everything you need, the question that arises is: ‘What is the meaning of life?’. Religion provides the solution to this question, which cannot be answered without God. Even the younger generations of Singapore, who have been raised in a state of well-being, ask themselves these questions: ‘What do you live for? Do you want to make a difference in people’s lives? You cannot find meaning in your life if you do not live for others. I am used to meeting numerous entrepreneurs, successful people, who in the course of their lives all become philanthropists. They are people who possess more than necessary, money that they would not be able to spend in their whole lifetime. And so they begin to try to benefit others, offering their service for the good of the country and giving part of their wealth to non-governmental organizations, the Church and charitable institutions. People in Singapore are very generous and donate without prejudice. The parishes are full and the Church is alive. This is why, when we come to Europe, we are sad to see empty churches. We are very busy and in all we celebrate eight liturgies every weekend”.

Msgr. Goh identifies in the “domain of rationalism and the industrial revolution” the causes of the crisis of values ??sweeping through European countries. “Europe has thus become rationalist, materialistic and individualistic – he says – religion cannot be explained, it is something that comes from the heart, it is an encounter. Faith and reason do not contradict each other, but faith is greater than reason”.

There are also many differences between East and West in how religion is experienced. “Asians are generally sentimental people, very spiritual – explains the archbishop – Europe has instead lost its spiritual dimension and a large part of religion is in the minds of people. Reasoning prevails over personal experience, over the encounter. The Gospel is a miracle, it goes beyond human words”. According to Msgr. Goh, one of the reasons why Christianity, especially Catholicism, has taken root in Asia is “respect for what is sacred”, typical of local cultures. “This is the reason why religions in Asia are flourishing, what drives us to rediscover our encounter with Christ. However,  given that Singapore subject to strong Western influence, my fear is that our citizens tend to be too ‘cerebral’.

Consequently, in his pastoral work, Msgr. Goh seeks to renew the faith of Catholics through spiritual retreats and experiences of conversion. “As a bishop, it is my duty to guide this kind of initiative every year, to help people meet Jesus directly. This, moreover, is the foundation of our faith. Without this meeting, one can study all the theology that one wants, but no change will take place in people’s heart. Theology is faith that seeks knowledge, it is not an explanation of faith. This is where Europe’s failure resides, which also contributes to the scandals and bad examples that have invested religious leaders. As Pope Francis affirms, the renewal of the Church passes through the renewal of her pastors. The faithful want this change, in Singapore they are ‘hungry’ for the Word of God. We need a conversion of hearts that starts from the top and reaches the base, “concludes Msgr. Goh.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

SENTUL: The Parish of St. Joseph, Sentul witnessed a double celebration on World Marriage Day – Renewal of Marriage Vows and Installation of the newly formed Family Life Ministry.

Couples, many of whom came donned in the wedding finery, walked down the aisle at the start of Mass with the youngest couples leading the procession.

Fr. George Packiasamy, in his homily, advised that newly married couples should be helped “to enrich and deepen their conscious and free decision to have, hold and love one another for life” (Amoris Laetitia 217). He also urged couples to hold on to the romantic love that brought them together in the first place. Couples were invited to the front to exchange their marriage vows and Father concluded the short ceremony by sprinkling holy water on all couples. Truly, showers of blessing! Father George also invited the newly formed committee to the front and introduced them to the Parish.

After Mass, couples adjourned to the community hall where breakfast was served. The youth of the parish then led in an ice-breaking session – a game of musical chairs with a twist which saw wives scrambling to sit on their husbands’ laps. Fun and laughter filled the hall during this and the games that followed.

Three couples shared their couple journey where they encouraged all to persevere, not give up during times of trial and to be proud that the Church is ever present to offer support for all.

The highlight of this event was the cake cutting ceremony by the oldest couple – Maria and James Fernandez , married for 63 years. This was followed by a video presentation of couples’ shots taken on their wedding day. A brief session ensued offering practical suggestions on how to affirm one’s spouse.

The Prayer Group then led couples through a time of Praise and Worship offering God Glory and Praise which wrapped up this memorable and momentous occasion for all who attended!.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful…[Colossians 3:12-17]

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Archbishop William Goh Seng Chye of Singapore, discussed a number of issues with AsiaNews on 9 Feb 2018 after his meeting with Pope Francis Feb 8, issues like the reality of Asia, the life of the Church and religious harmony in Singapore, and his personal observations about Amoris Laetitia.

Nine years after the last ad limina visit in 2008, the 11 bishops of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (BCMSB) visited the Vatican between 4 and 9 February, to visit the tombs of the holy apostles Peter and Paul and meet Pope Francis.

Born in Singapore in 1957, Abp Goh was ordained archdiocesan priest in 1985. For four years, he was assistant parish priest at the Holy Cross Church before travelling to Rome in 1992 to finish his studies in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Upon his return home, he taught and lectured at the St Francis Xavier Major Seminary of (SFXMS) between 1992 and 2005.

In 2005, Fr Goh was appointed SFXMS rector and spiritual director of the Catholic Spiritual Centre, a position he held until his ordination as the fourth archbishop of Singapore in 2013. What follows is the first part (of three) of an interview with the prelate.

“The real challenges for the Catholic Church are here in Asia,” said Abp Goh, during his first ad limina visit to the Vatican as Archbishop of Singapore. “The Asian continent is different from all the others, since it is extremely varied in terms of religions, cultures and economic realities,” he added. In this context, Singapore stands out as a reality in its own right.

“It is a very particular Asian country, characterised by strong economic and technological progress, perhaps similar to South Korea and Hong Kong. Together with Malaysia and Brunei, it belongs to a Bishops’ Conference that brings together nations that face different political, economic and religious challenges.

“Singapore is a unique country, the expression of a cosmopolitan and highly educated society. More than 40 per cent of its residents have at least one university degree. About 75 per cent of the population is ethnic Chinese, but there are important Malay (13.5 per cent) and Indian (9 per cent) communities.”

One of the peculiarities that characterise the rich city-state is the relationship between the government and religion. “Unlike neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore has a secular government,” the prelate explained. “However, we like to define ourselves more as a ‘multicultural and multi-religious state’. The government is in fact secular in order to preserve the unity of the nation, but most ministers and officials profess a faith. The state is not against religion, but is in favour of it, seeing it as a fundamental component for the country’s development.

“The government provides important support to all religions, without favouritism. For example, it is customary to invite religious leaders to take part in numerous meetings and ask them for advice on issues affecting the country, especially from a moral and social point of view.”

“Some ministries, like the Ministry of the Family or the Ministry of Education, collaborate closely with religious leaders. Along with youth policies, these are the areas in which the government invites us to express opinions because we all work for the good of the country.”

The collaboration between the State and religions for the country’s development is also reflected in the archbishop’s personal involvement. “I was appointed presidential adviser for minority rights and religious harmony. Thanks to the work of governmental inter-ethnic and inter-religious bodies, there are frequent occasions for discussion and talks among all groups in Singapore’s cosmopolitan society. Our ability to live together peacefully, especially among different religions, is truly a miracle.

“Among the various initiatives, religious groups have set up a non-governmental organisation, the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO), which provides a significant place for sharing different experiences of faith, this thanks to the important help from the government. All this makes Singapore a truly unique reality, where every religious problem is dealt with directly among religious leaders, even with a phone call. This is the beauty of our country, there are no conflicts,” the archbishop said.

“All religions are on the same level and do not exercise any political power. Instead, all the countries that surround Singapore have a dominant religion, favoured by their governments. When this happens, the tendency to discriminate against others is strong. Unlike what happens in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, religions in Singapore do not have political power and do not seek it. For this reason, dialogue is easier and the common goal is the good of the country.

“Whenever foreign delegations visit Singapore, they make sure to meet local religious leaders. Recently, even Prince Charles of England visited the country and held talks with leaders on how to promote religious harmony. In Singapore we try to be a model, but ultimately the problem of many countries is the mutual exploitation of religion and politics. This is why I believe that elsewhere our system may not be effective, ” Abp Goh noted.

The day before the interview, Abp Goh met Pope Francis along the bishops of Malaysia and Brunei. The archbishop said that these countries are very different from one another. For this reason, during the audience with the pontiff, the presentation of each took a long time. “As a result, there was little time for questions and observations,” the archbishop explained.

Still, “We managed to have a very meaningful talk,” Abp Goh said. “’Ask me all the questions you want, any! Even if you do not like the pope, you can tell me,” Pope Francis told us with the humility that is his trademark. He was present like a father and as such he listened to us.

“For my part, I asked him two questions that are close to my heart. First, I explained my curiosity about the efficiency of a structure organised around small dicasteries in the context of a universal institution to which billions of people belong. After, I asked for clarifications on the theme of communion for the divorced included in Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis’s second apostolic exhortation.

“Many in the Church have doubts and are uncertain. Such confusion and division also frighten me, but the Holy Father told me: ‘Chapter VIII cannot be decontextualised. It is only the end of the exhortation. Chapter IV is more important, where its principles are explained. For Pope Francis, the question cannot be reduced to whether divorced people can receive communion or not?’ Rather, the question is: ‘How can we reach them, [and] assist them from a spiritual point of view?’ Unfortunately, sometimes there are different approaches between academics and those involved in grassroots pastoral outreach. Pope Francis belongs to the latter group.”

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The seven-day celebration for the feast of the Holy Infant Jesus with the theme We have Passion for Mission in Christ closed on Sunday, February 4, 2018 with the celebration of two Masses.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino presided at the Mass with Chapel Administrator, Fr VA Michael and Fr Albet Arockiasamy as concelebrants.

In his homily, the Nuncio told the congregation that the Church is on a mission to reach out to all, especially the weak and the downtrodden. Archbishop Marino, who was on his first visit to Kuala Selangor, called on the assembly to be imitators of Christ, like St Paul, who became all things to all men.

On February 3, there was a procession in honour of the Lord during the evening Mass with the sub-theme Be Not Afraid, We Belong To Christ, With Mary. Capuchin priest, Fr Sebastian Aputharaj, who was the preacher for most of the other days, presided, with Fr Michael and Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap concelebrating the tri-lingual Mass.

Fr Sebastian shared about Bishop Fulton Sheen’s experience on a flight. He encountered a lady who thrice asked him if he wanted something to eat. He replied no. Before leaving the flight, Bishop Fulton told the lady, “God has given you everything. In return, what are you going to give to Him?” After a few years, he received an invitation to an orphanage run by the lady whom he had met on the plane. The lady told the Bishop how her encounter with him changed her life and she had left her job to serve in the orphanage. This showed how Bishop Fulton is a disciple for bringing someone to Jesus.

“As Christians, we must be disciples of Christ by being good Christians in our actions. We preach the Gospel by our way of life, by our actions; just like Mary did, like the saints did,” he added.

After Mass and a short procession with the Blessed Sacrament, they returned to the chapel for adoration followed by Benediction.

Fr Michael, the parish priest of the Church of St Paul the Hermit in Bestari Jaya, said about 7,000 faithful came for the seven days this year.

There was fellowship after every Mass. There were free tram rides for the children, with games and goody bags, ice-cream and balloons.

Fr Michael expressed his gratitude to the celebrants and concelebrants, those coming from far and near for their active participation and the Organising Committee. He also thanked the children’s choir.

More parents are coming to the chapel with their children as they believe in the power of the Holy Infant Jesus.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The New Thessalonian Apostolate (NTA) and The Lighthouse, Penang, two Catholic social powerhouses, have come together, leveraging on each other’s strengths and expertise to serve the refugee community scattered across Penang Island.

This collaboration saw the establishment of, among other things, a school for refugee children, skills and livelihood training programmes for refugees (men and women), as well as healthcare services for the refugee community as a whole.

Planning for this initiative commenced in March 2017 during which NTA did multiple assessments to identify the extent of the need. This was done by spending time with the community, speaking to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and various other NGOs and stakeholders regarding the needs of the refugees in Penang. NTA also ensured that the curriculum is customised to cater towards the specific needs of refugee children.

The Lighthouse, on the other hand, looked into providing the infrastructure needed for the project, including providing the premises for the school and training centre, arranging for the children’s transportation to and from school and providing breakfast and lunch for the children.

The NTA — Lighthouse School for Refugee Children as it is known, is merely the first step towards serving the refugee community in the area, in a similar vein to the The Lighthouse’s service to the urban poor in the area since 2003.

January 19 marked the first day of school for the refugee children who were provided with uniforms by NTA. A brief induction session was conducted by Marianne See, NTA’s Director of Education.

This was followed by a short break during which breakfast was served by The Lighthouse. Classes resumed shortly after.

The children had their very first VIP visitor when Bishop Sebastian Francis visited and blessed the school. The Bishop was then given a briefing on the collaboration undertaken by the two NGOs.

The children ended their first day at school with lunch at 1.00pm.

Elaborating on this noble initiative, NTA’s Director of External Affairs, Sherril Netto, explained that they had discovered pockets of refugees on Penang island where children have no access to any form of formal education.

The New Thessalonian Apostolate is a lay Catholic Missionary Organisation founded in 1993, dedicated to stewardship, spiritual formation, integral human development, and bringing the Gospel message to the world by reaching out and serving those most in need, in new and innovative ways.

The Lighthouse, on the other hand, was founded by the Diocese of Penang in 2003 to reach out to the urban poor and marginalised people of the society.

NTA’s Founder and Director General, Dave J. Kameron, expressed that NTA and The Lighthouse coming together is the most natural of collaborations as both organisations have similar philosophies. “One Thought, One Mission, One Church,” said Dave, “it feels like the disciples, Peter and Paul, coming together not only to serve the people, but also for the greater glory of God.”

Gerard Robless, the Director of TheLighthouse, said that the collaboration is the perfect example of two Catholic NGOs coming together with a common purpose to provide Catholic advocacy in public.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

In line with the theme of 2018, Be Disciples of Hope, the Feast of St Francis de Sales was celebrated on January 28 at the only church named after St Francis de Sales (SFDS) in Peninsular Malaysia. Prior to the feastday celebration, Novena prayers were organised in honour of St Francis de Sales at BEC level.

The first triduum Mass kicked off with prayers and the hoisting of the flag. The Mass was celebrated by parish priest Fr Vincent Paul on the theme He is Hope for all. During the homily, Fr Vincent shared how St Francis De Sales taught the people of his time all about the spiritual life in a simple way. He led a very devout life. In the same way, when we come to worship, we must surrender ourselves to God, thank Him and put all our pride aside. We must interact with one another.

Those serving in the ministries of the church must serve as Jesus served.

On the second day, the theme was He Heals. The homily was preached by Deacon Elect James Pitchay who has been assigned to the parish. He stressed that in order to be healed, we must open our hearts at all times. St Paul accepted whole heartedly when he was touched by our Lord and healed. There are three ways when Jesus heals;

a) Jesus goes to persons/people;
b) People go to Jesus, and
c) when somebody brings the person to Jesus.

For the third day, the theme was He is the Redeemer.

For the homily, Deacon James Pitchay stated that the Lord wants to redeem and save us. He urged the congregation to work for our own salvation.

On Saturday, the Holy Hour based on the theme He is the Word, was followed by a short reflection and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

On the feastday proper, the multi-lingual Mass was celebrated by Fr Vincent on the theme He is Power and Life. In his homily, Deacon Ricky Loo from Kuala Kangsar, said that the message for the day was “Love one Another.” He posed a question to all: whether we love Jesus. The answer is to love everyone as He did. God’s love is unconditional — Agape Love. It’s just like parents’ love for their children. It is not easy. We all need to have love in order to give love to others.

He explained that to fill our “Love Tank,” we must attend Mass regularly and pray everyday.

Before the final blessing, Fr Vincent thanked the Deacons who had come to assist and also the BEC coordinators and the parishioners for contributing in one way or another to make the feastday celebration a memorable one.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Members of the Penang Diocese Association of Religious celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord 2018 over the February 2-4 weekend at the Church of the Holy Name of Mary, Permatang Tinggi.

It began at 4.30pm with Mass, one hour adoration at Domus St Anne, Bukit Mertajam, followed by a fellowship dinner.

On February 3, vocation promotion displays were set-up in the smaller of two halls, courtesy of Fr Augustine Wong, the Parish Priest of the Church of the Holy Name of Mary. Colourful banners, books, brochures, bookmarks and collar pins in one case, told the story of each Congregation.

Visitors over the next two days were led through the displays by the religious members who elaborated on the foundation and expansion of the respective congregation; its mission / vision and the outcome of their missionary efforts in the lives of the people they ministered. The whole mission field of the Church was covered, from apostolic to monastic, from children to elderly, from towns to villages, from Europe to Kelantan.

The religious priests, brothers and sisters participated in all the weekend Masses. They shared their personal vocation stories and it is hoped that it would have an impact on the listeners .

This year’s celebration has been different from previous years. Permatang Tinggi is fertile ground for promotion of priestly and religious vocations. The different language groups are vibrant, attendance at services is inclusive, parishioners come as families, breakfast fellowship cements bonding. They love the church, they love the liturgy and they love their parish priest. What a beautiful witness to the Catholic Church.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online