Category Archives: Jan 2019

By James Savarinathan
The parishioners of the Church of St Francis of Assisi (SFA) visited Pusat Kusta Negara (National Leprosy Centre) on Dec 29 to spread the Christmas joy to 49 patients. Our group of 35, including a Santa and two guitarists, visited eight wards to sing Christmas carols.

We experienced much joy and happiness among the people who live there. Many could also sing along in both English and Mandarin. We spent around two hours giving gifts, singing and chatting with them.

A few participants shared their experiences and testimonies of how they were touched by the Lord.

On a sobering note, ‘knowing it’ and ‘witnessing it’ can be quite different: the reality of what you are faced with is something for which you can never quite be prepared.

Nevertheless, it was great joy for all who participated in this mission and we look forward to many other parishioners joining us in our next mission in 2019.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

By Henritta Miranda
The Church of the Risen Christ celebrated the sacrament of the Eucharist recently for 18 children.

Our children’s involvement in an in-house interactive camp and then the culmination of receiving Jesus for the first time was an extension of their ongoing spiritual education.

Their innocent and boisterous nature in class brought out an increased appetite and desire to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him.

And this journey will continue to be shared by their faith educators: their parents, their teachers and the parishioners of Risen Christ.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

PENANG: Spending the festive season away from home can be difficult at times, but you could feel less homesick celebrating as a community preserving the traditions together.

The Church of Our Lady of Sorrows (City Parish) hosted the Simbang Gabi Novena, also known as Misa de Gallo, which is a celebration steeped in Filipino tradition involving nine days of Novena leading to Christmas.

The Filipinos have maintained a strong presence in OLS Church for almost 20 years, evident in the establishment of the Filipino Catholic Community in Penang (FCCP).

Instead of having Mass at dawn as practised in the Philippines, the community here celebrates the Eucharist at night from December 15 to December 23, and the celebrations culminate with Christmas Vigil Mass on December 24.

Parish priest Msgr Aloysius Tan said the Simbang Gabi displays the beautiful diversity of the parish, and hopes that the Filipino community will deepen their faith through the celebration.

Fr Priscillano Elardo Jr., from the Diocese of Borongan in Eastern Samar, was invited as the preacher for the 2018 Simbang Gabi celebrations.
Reflecting on the origins of Simbang Gabi which can be traced to Spanish rule in the 17th century, Fr

Priscillano said he was impressed by the preparations made by the Filipinos in Penang.

“I hope that the celebrations will allow them to grow closer to God, and bond closer as a community,” he said.

He added that Christmas is a celebration of love, and urged the Filipinos to share the love of Christ with everyone around them.

“God was so good to send His only begotten Son, as told in John 3:16, so all of us must be faithful to the Father and allow change in our lives,” he said.

Filipino altar server Ric Jose Francis M. Felipe said he was proud that the Filipino tradition of gathering for Mass before Christmas could be continued here in Penang.

“For me, to be able to serve throughout the nine days is indeed a great blessing, and it helped me to prepare for Christmas better,” he said. — By Aaron Lim

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUCHING: This year, civil society organisations in Sarawak are calling on everyone to make the state a better place in 2019.

Rise of Sarawak Efforts (ROSE) said Sarawakians should take it upon themselves not to just jump on the bandwagon of getting back state rights but to read up on history and think critically about the issue.

“It’s important to ask the more crucial question of how this will make Sarawak a better place for us and our future generations.

“Participation and engagement in the democratic process are key,” ROSE spokesman Ann Teo said.

Towards this end, she said, ROSE would continue to advocate for automatic voter registration, and conduct voter education workshops.

She said the organisation would also provide avenues for dialogues on issues that were shaping Sarawak.

The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS), meanwhile, wished to see mutual respect across races and people of different religions this year.

“Let us focus on making a difference in 2019. Recognise our similarities and accept our differences.

“Promote activities that nurture civic consciousness, patriotism, harmony and unity at all levels of society.

Refrain from actions that offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate others,” ACS secretary-general Ambrose Linang said.

He called on Malaysians to reject any form of discrimination, bigotry, extremism and actions that cause harm to others or disrupt harmony.
ACS, he said, would keep praying for government leaders, the judiciary, security personnel, civil servants and community leaders to carry out their duties with justice and compassion.
“ACS also continues to pray for healing and reconciliation among all the people of Sarawak. Let us take concrete steps to promote inter-religious dialogues which will promote the common principles of peace and harmony.

“This year, let us make Sarawak a better place for all of us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) president Dr Dusit Jaul called on the Dayak community to give priority to their children’s education this year.

He also urged the government to pay special attention to uplift Dayak educational attainment and to ensure politics and religion would not interfere in education matters.

 

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online