Category Archives: Feb 2018

One of the significant developments in the Church after Vatican II is the emergence of Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) in various parts of the world including Malaysia. In his encyclical, Redemptoris Missio 51, John Paul II considered BECs as “signs of vitality in the Church … a cause of great hope for the Church and a solid starting point for a new society based on the civilisation of love.”

The promotion and formation of BECs is one of the means of renewing the Church which was the aim of Vatican II. The communitarian vision of the Church as Communion and as People of God — a priestly, prophetic kingly people — has made it possible for BECs to emerge. The 1976 Aggiornamento and the subsequent Peninsular Malaysia Pastoral Conventions (PMPC), echoing the Vatican II vision of a renewed Church, recognised this when it declared:

“Our vision of the Church as communion, participation and mission, the Church as priestly, prophetic and kingly people, and as the Church of the Poor — a Church that is renewed — is today finding expression in one ecclesial movement. This is the movement to foster Basic Ecclesial Communities.”

The presence and vitality of BECs in the dioceses and parishes may be one of the indicators for evaluating how ecclesial renewal promoted by Vatican II and the 1976 Aggiornamento and PMPC being implemented.

For some dioceses the BECs, as envisioned by PMPC, is already a reality. For others it remains a dream. In the course of promoting and forming BECs, a lot of problems and concerns have emerged that need to be addressed.
Problems and Concerns

1. Sustainability
Many BECs that have been formed could not be sustained, especially when the parish priests who initiated them were transferred and those who took their place were not supportive. This was also the case, when external pastoral agents who helped form BECs were gone. Some BECs have run out of steam. The members were very enthusiastic at the start but they lose interest after a while.

2. Attendance and participation
There are BECs, where only a few actively participate in the ongoing activities (e.g. the montjyl BEC gatherings or the weekly Bible-sharing). Most of those who attend are women. The men and young people are seldom seen. Attendance and participation may increase during community Masses and during the Rosary months (May and October) as well as for the Christmas carolling.

3. Leadership
Some BECs have leaders who are incompetent and lacking in commitment. Others have leaders who are very authoritarian and dictatorial. Some are acting like little-priests, falling into a new form of clericalism of lay leaders. The leaders lack team-work. Many don’t go out of their way to reach out to the members and to encourage them. Others resort to policies and sanctions to assert their authority.

4. Relations with Lay Associations
In many cases the relationship between BECs and lay organisations tend to be problematic. Some members of lay associations regard BECs as just another organisation and because of this there is no need to participate in the BECs since they already belong to an organisation. Others claim that their organizations can be considered as BECs — so again there is no need to be members of the BECs in their neighbourhood or village. In some cases, members of BECs who become members of lay associations stop participating in their BECs. Consequently, a spirit of antagonism and competition prevails between BECs and lay associations.

5. Responding to Social Concerns and Issues
Many BECs remain inward-looking communities that lack social concern. Their activities revolve around Bible-sharing and liturgical celebrations. They do not respond to social problems and issues that they face – e.g. poverty, hunger, criminality, injustice, conflict, the destruction of the environment, etc. These BECs feel helpless in the midst of poverty and conflict. They are either incapable of addressing these concerns or they think that BECs should only focus on spiritual concerns.

6. Understanding the vision and nature of BECs
Many practitioners and members of BECs do not have an adequate understanding of the vision and nature of BECs. There are many who associate BECs exclusively with the small group or cell, composed of five to 15 families, who gather monthly to reflect on the Word of God. The BEC becomes just an activity (Bible-sharing) or that small exclusive group. But in the parishes, BECs are area-based — those who are staying within a certain vicinity form the BECs under the direction of the parish leaders. They are supposed to focus on community dynamics and ecclesiality.

Most of these problems and concerns are interrelated. The problems of sustainability and poor participation in BECs may be the result of problematic leadership, the use of coercive policies and sanctions, problematic relationship with lay associations, failure to respond to social concerns and inadequate understanding of the vision and nature of BECs.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The Komuniti Umat Bahasa Malaysia (KUBM) of St Ignatius Catholic Church made a visit to Orang Asli villages in Negeri Sembilan together with assistant Parish Priest Fr Lawrence Ng CDD, Bro Joseph Lim CDD and members from the Mandarin and English speaking groups.

Along the journey, they stopped at the Church of St Theresa, Nilai and were greeted by Parish Priest, Fr Eugene Benedict and some of the parishioners. After a short prayer in the church, they had fellowship, an ice-breaking session and lunch. The KUBM visitors were taught by the parishioners how to make the “Angel of Hope” dolls using socks, ribbons, cotton and buttons.

After a group photo, they continued their journey.

In Kg. Sebir, they were warmly welcomed by the village community. They visited many Orang Asli houses and learnt of their culture through fellowship and sharing of food. In return, the group taught the villagers how to make the “Angel of Hope” dolls as they had learned it in St Theresa, Nilai.

After bidding farewell, they headed to Kg Tekir. Upon arrival, they visited the oldest church in the village, Gereja Bonda Maria, which was built in the year 1901. After a short prayer in the church, they visited the homes in the village and later had fellowship and dinner. They also entertained the village community with Christmas songs and performed the Sumazau, the traditional dance of the Kadazan/ Dusun community.

They again taught the villagers how to make the “Angel of Hope” dolls.

At about 8.00pm everyone went back to their respective homes with joyful hearts. It was a great experience for all.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

1.0 Clergy On Leave
Rev Fr Raymond Pereira, Parish Priest of the Church of St Thomas More, Subang Jaya, will be on sabbatical leave from February 10, 2018.

In the interim, His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow, has appointed Rev Fr William Michael as the Parish Administrator of the Church of St Thomas More with effect from February 10, 2018.

2.0 New Appointment
We would like to welcome Dr Steven Selvaraju to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Team. He will be engaged in the area of the animation and development of Catechetical Ministry in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur.

3.0 Chrism Masss 2018
The Chrism Mass, which the Archbishop celebrates with the members of his presbyterium, and at which the oils are blessed and where the priests renew their priestly promises, manifests the communion of the priests with their Bishop.

This year’s Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 7.00pm in the Church of St Ignatius, Petaling Jaya.

Fr Michael Chua Chancellor 
Archdiocesan Chancery
528, Jln Bkt Nanas, KL

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

The Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, commonly known as the ‘Red Mass,’ is a highly anticipated annual celebration for the Catholic Lawyers’ Society (CLS) to call upon divine assistance in the work of the entire Bench and Bar and to invoke the Holy Spirit to inspire judges in the conduct of their ecclesiastical affairs and administering justice. Red, the liturgical colour to represent the Holy Spirit, also symbolises a willingness to defend the truth with the ultimate sacrifice, blood.

Bishop Bernard Paul was the main celebrant, with Archbishop Julian Leow, Archbishop Emeritus Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, Fr Michael Chua, CLS advisor and fellow priests concelebrating.

Judges and lawyers, dressed in their court robes, were joined in the celebration by Yang Berhormat Teresa Kok, Member of Parliament, Michael Winzap, Ambassador of Switzerland and the lay faithful at the Good Shepherd Church, Setapak on January 20.

Bishop Bernard Paul reminded the faithful of their commitment and aspiration to be a change agent and to push forward for a better nation by restoring Malaysia and restoring life. Quoting St Catherine of Genoa, he reiterated that there cannot be change without reformation, transformation and conversion. Personal uprightness faces a constant battle against the streak of evil and public opinions. Appealing to original goodness rather than succumbing to circumstances and remaining uncorrupted is an uphill task.

An apt way of looking at this challenge is to assume one’s profession as one’s vocation. As members of the Bench and Bar and servants of the law, four stages of conversion are crucial in uplifting justice in the pursuit of peace:

1. Personal conversion – realising my higher calling as son or daughter of God

2. Communitarian conversion – recognising common brotherhood and sisterhood where race, religion and caste are no longer barriers

3. Ecclesial conversion – cognisant of the fact that we are all part of God’s family, the Body of Christ sharing in the Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Jesus

4. Ecological conversion – consciously treating this world as our common home where actions or inactions on global issues have an impact on me Ms Rita Wong, president of CLS, thanked the bishops and priests for celebrating the Red Mass and called for more members of the legal fraternity to enrol in CLS and support its causes.

Archbishop Julian Leow took the opportunity to thank Bishop Bernard for his attendance and urged the faithful to continue to pray that people of all faiths will be able to work together and be a sign of peace and harmony as justice is sought and advocated.

This celebration most definitely offered lawyers, judges and members of parliament a chance to reflect on their past individual accomplishments and, as a community, to ask for strength and guidance for the future and call upon the grace of God to aid them as they begin this New Year. The celebration ended with a lunch fellowship.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Seminarians Bro Dominic Tan and Bro Simon Lau were ordained to the Diaconate Order by Archbishop Julian Leow at the Church of St Anthony on January 23, 2018.

More than 50 clergy, mainly from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, including Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Leow and Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam were present, with Deacons Nicholas Hoh and Xavier Andrew and eight seminarians. .

The theme chosen for the Diaconate Ordination was Feed My Sheep (Mark 6:34).

“We are privileged this evening to come together to celebrate two new deacons into the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur,” said Archbishop Leow. “We give thanks to God and ask the Lord to bless us and the families of the deacons for having produced servants for the Church.”

The Rite of Ordination began after the Gospel proclamation. Fr Gerard Theraviam (former Rector of College General) presented the candidates to the Ordaining Prelate.

Archbishop Leow in his homily spoke about the duties and functions of the diaconate, which is one of the three ordained offices in the Catholic Church. “These two will help the bishop and his priests in the ministry of the Word, of the altar, and of charity, showing themselves to be servants to all.” As ministers of the altar, they will proclaim the Gospel, prepare the sacrifice, and distribute the Lord’s body and blood to the faithful. They will preside over public prayer, administer baptism, assist at and bless marriages, bring viaticum to the dying and conduct funeral rites. They will perform works of charity and, with the help of God, they are to go about all these duties in such a way that people will recognise them as disciples of Jesus, who came not to be served, but to serve.

Archbishop Leow told Tan and Lau that, as deacons, they need to do the will of God and serve the people in love and joy.

“You will exercise your ministry committed to the celibate state; know that celibacy is both a sign of pastoral charity and inspiration to it, as well as a source of spiritual fruitfulness in the world.

“You are to free yourselves more completely for the service of God and man, and minister more effectively in the work of spiritual rebirth. You must be firmly rooted and grounded in the faith.”

The prelate advised them to never allow themselves to be turned away from the hope offered by the Gospel. “Now you must not only be hearers of this Gospel but also its ministers. Hold the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. Express it by your actions, the Word of God, which your lips proclaim, so that the Christian people, brought to life by the Spirit, may be a pure offering, acceptable to God.

“Grow in your relationship with Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Look and seek for the lost, those who have strayed from the Lord.

“Always remember to care for the wounded sheep in your charge. We imitate the Good Shepherd as we follow Him at the altar.”

After the homily, the ordination rite continued. Both Deacons were vested with the Stole and Dalmatic by the parish priests of their parishes, namely Fr Gregory Chan (Assumption, PJ) for Deacon Tan and Fr Christopher W. Soosaipillai (Good Shepherd, Setapak) for Deacon Lau.

Archbishop Leow then prayed and handed the Book of the Gospels to both Deacons Dominic and Simon as they knelt before the prelate. This was followed by the Kiss of Peace. They then assisted in the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

After Mass, both Deacons expressed their gratitude to Archbishop Leow for ordaining them and to Fr James Gabriel, the parish priest of Church of St Anthony and the committee for all their efforts in organising this event.

They also thanked their Formators in their formation years at the seminary: Fr Gerard, Archbishop Leow (who was the former Dean of Studies), Cardinal Soter (formerly Spiritual Father in College-General), Fr Edwin Peter. Others involved include seminarians here and in Sabah and Sarawak and those who guided them in their pastoral work as well as their parish priests. They had a special word of thanks for Archbishop (now Emeritus) Pakiam for accepting both of them into the seminary.

Deacon Tan added that his parish community had influenced him, as did his three parish priests (some no longer with us) and his own family members, particularly his mother. “Without all of you, I would not be standing here today,” he said.

Deacon Lau, a convert, attributed his faith to the Catholic community in Setapak, where he met Jesus. He shared that he regularly attended the KLASE prayer meetings. He thanked his mother, saying it was not an easy decision for her to let her son enter the seminary, especially when his father passed away during his first year in seminary. He thanked all who had been supportive of him entering the seminary.

In closing, Deacon Lau said they wanted to promote vocations to the priesthood. “Many say it is an impossible vocation but we can testify that it is possible.” He invited young Catholics to attend the Feb 24 and 25 Diocesan Vocation Camp to be held in Good Shepherd Church, Setapak. “Young people, we hope to see you there,” he said.

Dinner fellowship was held in the parish grounds.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

January 17, 2018 will forever be etched in the memories of the staff and students of NTA School for Refugee Children as they welcomed the US Ambassador to Malaysia, Her Excellency Madam Kamala Shirin Lakhdir.

The ambassador took a personal interest in the young students. She spoke to each one of them saying how proud she was of their determination to obtain a good education and their perseverance in spite of adversity. “No matter the situation, you continue to persevere and do your best to obtain an education,” said Her Excellency.

In return, the students, having overcome their initial shyness, surrounded the ambassador and were more than happy to show off their creative skills using lego building blocks and other crafts.

After spending a considerable time with the students and staff, the ambassador and her entourage, which included her Political Secretary Mr Andrew Leyva, Political Specialist Mr Brian Yap and Economic Section Office Management Specialist, Ms Meghan Connolly, adjourned to the NTA PieceWorks Training Centre, also in Alor Setar.

The ambassador was impressed with the Centre that had been set-up with the funds received when NTA was awarded the prestigious Julia Taft Award in 2016. The Julia Taft Fund supports community-based projects that provide sustainable assistance to refugees, internally displaced persons, vulnerable migrants and stateless persons.

At NTA Pieceworks Training Centre, the ambassador met the current advanced training candidates and, here too, she spent time speaking to the ladies, understanding where they had come from, their struggles and their aspirations. She also distributed the certificates of completion and baking starter kits to the candidates for completing the Baking 101 course and sampled some of the cakes that the ladies had just finished baking and decorating.

Madam Kamala ended her two-hour visit by speaking to the Board of Directors of NTA about the current refugee situation in the northern region and what else can be done to not only address their plight, but to assist these communities to once again gain the confidence to live an independent life.

The New Thessalonian Apostolate (NTA) is a Catholic missionary organisation which was founded 23 years ago as an Association of the Faithful. It was fully recognised by Bishop Sebastian Francis in 2017 and was placed directly under the Titular of the Roman Catholic Church.

NTA runs a number of programmes and initiatives to help and empower disadvantaged communities, including NTA schools for refugee children, free medical clinics, maternity care, vaccinations for infants, advisory centres, emergency aid and various other programmes, besides running different formation programmes for the local parishes. NTA PieceWorks is the nonprofit social enterprise arm of NTA. It was founded to support NTA’s goals of helping the vulnerable through empowerment and capacity building.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KENINGAU – Over 200 catechists gathered at Katedral St Francis Xavier here to celebrated Catechetical Sunday on 28 Jan 2018.

Bishop Cornelius Piong presided at the Mass themed Chirst our Hope.

He reminded those present that  parents are their children’s first catechists and not the parish catechists.  The reminder is in line with the diocesan silver jubilee theme: Christ-centred families in a God-fearing culture with strong faith and social responsibility.

The diocese has 236 catechists with 54 new ones.  They renewed their commitment before the bishop and the people during the Mass. – Feabiah Sandar

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KENINGAU – The Filipino community celebrated the Feast of Santo Nino (Holy Infant) at the Katedral St Francis Xavier here on 21 Jan 2018.

In its fourth year, the theme of the celebration was “Let the children come to me.”

Father John Emerson Tepait of Masbate City Philippines presided at the Mass on Sunday afternoon.

The event began with the procession of the statue of the Santo Nino from the entrance of Dataran Solidariti to the cathedral.

In his homily, the priest said that the yearly celebration of Sto Nino “always reminds us of who we were and what we were before. No matter what we have become or what have we accomplished, we are always reminded of our humble beginnings. As a child, we want no more than attention, love, care, simple things and everything for us becomes fulfilling and complete.”

He said the theme is an invitation to be aware of the parents’ important role in the lives of their children. Jesus, he continued, raised the dignity of children by rebuking the disciples as they hindered the children from coming closer to Him.

Parents, he added, need to let their children know always of their pride, love, value in them because  “if we don’t do it, they will grow up without proper mental and spiritual orientation.”

The priest said that if a child feels loved, he will have great self-esteem.  It also lessens the chances of  “your kids becoming aggressive, anti-social and having other behavioural problems. While adolescents might be embarrassed at the physical affection, there should always be words of support and empathy to take its place. Parents should spend quality time with their children. Discipline them with love and affection.”

Cherilyn Rondidas, chairperson of the KFSX Filipino Pastoral Committee (FPC) and the vice chairperson of Persatuan Kababayan Sabah (PKS), expressed her gratitude Bishop Cornelius Piong for allowing the community to celebrate the event.

She also expressed her gratitude to the organising committee for their efforts and commitment and to all generous sponsors for their support in making the celebration a memorable one.

She added that the FPC has set up a relief fund to help fellow Filipino members in times of bereavement, critical sickness and other calamities. Each family member may contribute RM10 – 20 to the fund.

Rondidas, a Malaysian-born Filipino, said it took time for her to figure out how to organise the event and wished the community to continue to grow in faith in Jesus.

She also thanked the Sandakan Filipino Pastoral Group for their presence in support of the celebration.

After the Mass, parishioners joined in the procession of the Infant Jesus from the church entrance to the Dataran Solidariti Hall where a lunch of traditional local and Filipino dishes was served.

Guests included members of Filipino communities of St Mary Sandakan, St Theresa Tambunan, Holy Cross Toboh, Holy Spirit Sook, and St Valentine Beaufort.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – One of the pioneer Pauline Sisters in Malaysia died of pneumonia in St John of God Hospital Pasay City Philippines on 1 Feb 2018.  She was 84.

Born on 3 May 1933 in Iloilo, Lilia del Rosario entered the congregation of the Daughters of St Paul in Pasay City in 1956 after finishing secondary school.  She made her first profession in 1960, taking the name of Sister Rosaria.  After her final profession in 1965, she was sent to the newly opened community in Brickfields Kuala Lumpur (1965-1967).  After two years she was sent to Jesselton/Kota Kinabalu (1967-1969), and posted again to West Malaysia, this time in Petaling Jaya (the community moved from Brickfields to Petaling Jaya in 1969) where she stayed until 1972.

The Daughters of St Paul has two phases of foundation in Sabah (North Borneo before 1963); the first from 1961-1971 and the second from 1989 onwards.

“I stayed six years and seven months in Malaysia and I thank God for the many blessings I have received in the mission which strengthened my Pauline vocation,” Sr Rosaria wrote in the souvenir magazine commemorating the golden jubilee of the congregation in Malaysia in 2015.

Back in the Philippines she served in Iloilo, Pasay City, Bacolod, Zamboanga, and Naga.

When diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, she was transferred to the wing reserved for the sick and the elderly sisters in Pasay City.  But her illness did not rob her of her smile, her kindness and her attitude of gratitude toward everyone.

In late January 2018, she went down with pneumonia which made it necessary for her to be admitted to the hospital and it was there that she ended her earthly pilgrimage and entered into eternal rest on Thursday night at 11:50 pm.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

PENAMPANG – Kota Kinabalu Archdiocese celebrated World Day for Consecrated Life (WDCL)  quietly on 2 Feb 2017, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, at the Woori Jib St Francis Xavier Home run by the Korean Clerical Society of the Most Holy Trinity of Mirinae (SST) at Kg Potuki here.

The annual observance, organised by the Council of Religious headed by Pauline Sister Christine Henry Sundin, took place at the covered open hall.

Archbishop John Wong presided over the Mass which was concelebrated with Father Wilfred Atin, Father Thomas Madanan, and the three Korean priests Father Leo Choi, Father Lawrence Kim and Father Andrew Kim.

Around 200  faithful turned up for the celebration including around 60 men and women religious, members of secular orders, seminarians and lay people.

In his homily, and later in his impromptu address to the religious after Mass, the prelate (citing Pope Francis) touched on the event as an encounter with the Lord, which he hoped they had prepared themselves well through the preceding triduum of prayer at the Carmelite Chapel Karamunsing.  He also assured them of his prayers.

He then reminded them that this event is an outflow of the liturgical celebration – Presentation of the Lord – the faithfulness of the Lord in coming to meet his people in the temple.  He remarked that he was happy to see familiar faces, several of whom have celebrated their silver, ruby, golden or even diamond anniversaries of religious professions.

The renewal of consecration by the religious present took place after the homily.  The prelate accepted it and gave his blessing.

In her address, Sr Christine touched a bit on the WDCL history and thanked all those present for their participation, the Korean community in particular, for hosting the event.

After the Mass, all the people adjourned for a simple reception at the dining hall and on the outside grounds.

In the archdiocese, there are currently four men religious institutes (La Salle Brothers, Gabrielite Brothers, Marist Brothers. Holy Trinity Clerical Society) and four women congregations (Carmelite Nuns, Daughters of St Paul, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and the Religious of the Good Shepherd).  The three secular institutes are the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, Ordo Francisanus Saecularis, and Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu