Category Archives: Nov 2018

Malaysia
It was represented by:

1. Kevin Chung from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
2. Sr Sagaya Mary Joseph from the Penang Diocese
3. Sebaestiammal Rina from the Penang Diocese

The representatives from Malaysia will propose to their dioceses to look into these following areas:

1) To explore the use of various Gospel Sharing methods with the aim to encourage BEC members to be more active in the sharing of the Word of God.
2) To continue to raise awareness and provide guidance for BECs to engage in interreligious dialogue
3) To provide on-going formation on spirituality and facilitating skills for the BEC coordinators.

India
Recognising the fact that Jesus Christ Jayanti (Jubilee) 2000 supports the formation of BECs as a pastoral priority for the Church in India and keeping in mind the significant progress achieved so far, we propose the following:

1. To promote and assist in the formation of Diocesan Animation Teams in all the dioceses.
2. To develop appropriate formation programmes, modules for priests, religious and bishops for the concept of the New Way of Being Church and its implementation
3. To promote suitable formation programmes for Seminarians and Novices in all formation houses to enable them to take up leadership roles in the model of NWBC as they start their ministries after their ordinations and professions.
4. To promote awareness on inter Religious Dialogue and collaboration with people of other faiths with the long term objective of rnoving on to BEC. We propose these objectives to the National Service Team (NST) for BECs in India for their consideration to draw appropriate Action Plans for the Dioceses of India.

Indonesia
The Objectives for the next three years : Diocese of Tanjungkarang :

1. Report to the Bishop about the AsIPA GA VII
2. If the Bishop decides to start AsIPA Pregramme, then the plan to introduce and to promote AsIPA and BECs be set up soon for some selected parishes and among priests
3. Promoting AsIPA Programme in cooperation with Pangkalpinang

Diocese Diocese of Pangkalpinang :

1. Reinforce the 7 Steps Gospel Sharing and initiate Group Response and Look-Listen-Love method
2. Raise awareness of BECs on Inter-religious Dialogue
3. Introduce the AsIPA method to all BECs in all parishes around the diocese
4. Have more skilled, faithful and humble leaders and facilitators Specific

Action to realise the objectives :

1. Strengthen the animation team with refresh programme at Vicariate and Parish level
2. Prepare and produce materials and modules to be used during the sessions of getting the objectives realised.

Korea

1. We have a national gathering of BECs every year
2. To promote BECs we will meet more people and parishes
3. We find the AsIPA Texts very effective so we will make efforts to translate them.
4. We will use other methods of Gospel sharing
5 We will collaborate more using IRD Texts
6. We find it difficult to sustain our training and developing resources so we are planning to establish a kind of BEC centre or Institute for sustainable support.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

During the AsIPA General Assembly VII (2015), there was a meeting between all the bishops present with the AsIPA Resource Team (ART). It was presided by Bishop Francis Viva Du, Bishop of Changmai, Thailand. Twelve Bishops from lndia, Indonesia, South Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand were present.

Six of them were attending the AsIPA General Assembly for the first time. After the prayer led by Bishop Cyprian, Bishop Vira thanked them for joining this event. Ms Bibiana Roh, Executive Secretary of AsIPA Desk, gave a brief explanation of what AsIPA stands for and its efforts since 2010. Eight of the members of the AsIPA Resource Team: (ART) were present. Ms Wendy Louis, Executive Secretary of the FABC Office of Laity and Family presented the composition and areas of concern of each.

The Bishops presented what is being done in their respective countries/dioceses and expressed interest in the tasks of the AsIPA Desk:

— Bishop Vira narrated how Thailand has made the efforts to build Basic Christian Communities to strengthen the faith life of the people. Evangelisation is high priority.

— Bishop Cyprian of India, expressed his gratitude and appreciation for all the efforts being done in India, especially the 30-day Theological Course on BECs. Inquiries were made when the next 30-day course will be held.

Aside from the course in India, it was also announced that a similar course is being offered in Bangkok.

The Bishops of Sri Lanka also expressed their interest that a similar course be offered in their country. The 30-day course gives the participants a chance to do immersion in the communities. The Bishops expressed their appreciation how their seminarians who participate will have a better understanding about BECs and gain some experience as well.

Fr Vijay, who is in charge of the course, expressed the present constraints he is undergoing to finance the courses.

–Bishop Hilarius from Indonesia expressed how he saw his people change after so many years of effort as they pray together with the Word, strengthening one another. He emphasised encouraging the people to read and pray the Gospel. He affirmed how the AsIPA method was most helpful in bringing about this change.

— Bishop Ri of Korea explained the importance of offering a method that will help the people enter deeply ‘into the living word of God,’ which is expressed very clearly in Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium. He also placed importance on the need to face the challenges of the world living out the social dimensions of our faith.

— Bishop Rimando from the Philippines, expressed the challenge to help the people deepen their faith through the Word and the Sacraments.

— Bishop Samson of Pakistan stressed the importance of inviting Religious Sisters and give them training to use this method since they have much infiuence in the Church in Pakistan.

— Bishop Sebastian from India, expressed how the Church is so institutionalised and hence depriving the pastors of time to be with the people and to give them training.

— Wendy expressed the need to invest more in training lay leaders. Her second point was on the need to reintegrate ministries for women and family life and to coordinate efforts at the grassroot level in our small communites. Bishop Vira ended with a word of thanks: “You have made me understand my episcopacy more!” He invited all to continue sharing during the remaining days of the General Assembly.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Fr Michael Chua shared the Church’s stand from biblical times to Pope Francis’ view on the matter.

While the Ten Commandments, particularly the fifth – “Thou shall not kill,” is often the first thought that comes to mind when Christians deliberate this topic, Fr Chua said, to discuss the morality of killing, we must first look at the story of the creation of mankind in the Book of Genesis.

“God creates man but, unlike other inanimate objects, He gives man the gift of life, and not just life which animates, as in all forms of flora and fauna, but an immortal soul. In other words, God singularly confers an aspect of His divine eternal life on man, and this is what makes our lives sacred. We are not just some stardust as some poets and songs would claim. We are gifted with something divine. This is what the Church calls the sanctity of life,” he said.

“Catholic Christians, therefore, believe that all human life is sacred from conception until natural death, and that the taking of innocent human life, whether born or unborn, is morally wrong. Note our constant opposition to both abortion and euthanasia. The Church teaches, ‘Human life is sacred because, from its beginning, it involves the creative action of God and remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can, under any circumstances, claim for himself the right directly to destroy an innocent human being’ (Donum Vitae, 5; CCC 2258).

“Since life is sacred and there is an absolute injunction against destroying the life of an innocent human being, how is this enforceable?”

Earlier this year, Pope Francis made a revision to paragraph 2267 of the Catechism, which St Pope John Paul II had amended in 1997 to strengthen scepticism about the death penalty’s use in the modern world and to emphasise the importance of protecting human life. St Pope John Paul II strongly opposed the use of capital punishment and called for Christians to be ‘unconditionally pro-life.’

The new paragraph reads: ‘Recourse to the death penalty on the part of the legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good.’ Fr Chua said, “Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of severe crimes.

Also, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, does not deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Malaysia’s death penalty laws have not succeeded in deterring serious crime, according to professionals of both law and faith, when speaking on the topic during a forum on October 29. Organised by the Catholic Lawyers Society and the Church of St Ignatius, the discussion, entitled Death Penalty: Is it a Deterrent? saw four speakers discuss the issue from both legal and religious standpoints.

The four speakers were YA Datuk Mah Weng Kwai, former Court of Appeal Judge, YA Datuk Jagjit Singh, former Sessions Court Judge and Deputy Public Prosecutor, Prematilaka Serisena of Sasana Abhiwurdhi Wardana, Buddhist Society, and Fr Michael Chua, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and Parish Priest of the Church of Jesus Caritas. The speakers addressed the audience who came from all walks of life and across all professions. From a legal perspective, the speakers agreed that the death penalty does not meet its aim of deterring crime, as crime statistics have seen an increase in Malaysia throughout the years.

Datuk Mah shared that according to the statistics of the Royal Malaysian Police, from January 2014 until October 2017, a total of 702,319 individuals were detained for trafficking and possessing drugs. He added that during the same time period, 21,371 arrests were made under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 – for which the mandatory death sentence is applicable. It was contended by both Datuk Mah and Datuk Jagjit that there has been no concrete or empirical proof that the death penalty is effective in deterring crime, adding that the number of drug-related murders and attempted murders have increased.

Datuk Mah added that the law has not had the effect that Parliament had intended when it was passed, and there are other social and legal mechanisms that can be used to discourage individuals from committing serious crimes. Of late, Malaysian communities have been abuzz with opinions on capital punishment and the death penalty, following an announcement by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Liew Vui Keong(who is also the de facto Law Minister) on October 10 this year heralding the abolishment of all death penalty laws in the country – a Bill which he said should be tabled at the next Parliamentary sitting. He added that there will be a moratorium on all executions until then.

The nation’s current premier, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, had also made a promise to abolish the death penalty provisions, a promise which was also part of the current Pakatan Harapan Government’s Manifesto. Malaysia is currently one of the 56 countries in the world that retain the death penalty by law, according to Amnesty International.

Dubbed as being “inhumane” and propagating the idea of “an eye for an eye” the draconian punishment has been receiving opposition from both local and international human rights groups alike, local politicians, as well as the Malaysian Bar.

In Malaysia, death penalty sentences are heard only in the High Court, by a single Judge, and can be either mandatory or discretionary. Mandatory death sentences are imposed for offences such as murder and the trafficking of dangerous drugs under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, as mentioned earlier.

Discretionary death sentences, which are imposed at the discretion of the Judge, are for offences such as gang robbery with murder under Section 396 of the Penal Code, among others. Offences carrying the death penalty are not bailable, which means the accused will remain in police custody until their sentence is carried out.

Both Datuk Jagjit and Datuk Mah explained that the death penalty in Malaysia is carried out in secret.

The offender’s lawyers or families are not informed of their forthcoming execution, much to the chagrin of human rights organisations, as this practice is in direct contravention of international standards.

From a religious standpoint, the concept of rehabilitation is prioritised, instead of retribution.

According to Prematilaka Serisena, Buddhism teaches that all life is precious, and should be spared including animals and insects.

Hatred is not overcome with hatred, and so the concept of retributive justice is ineffective in overcoming the occurrence of criminal activities.

Moving forward, abolishing the death penalty in Malaysia would be a step in the right direction for human rights in Malaysia and for respect for the right to life, which is enshrined in Artilce 5(1) of the Malaysian Federal Constitution.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

A home for children from broken and dysfunctional families has been established by Bishop Bernard Paul in Malacca.

Fatima Home took a year to be set up and was blessed and opened on Oct 21. The Board of Management consists of Bishop Bernard Paul as the President, Msgr Michcel Mannayagam as the Spiritual Director, assisted by Deacon Anthony Chua and Jeremy Lee as the Chairman of the Board.

By late April this year, Fatima Home became a reality when the first student was accepted. The Board of Management reviewed and studied the case before the boy, sent by the Malacca Welfare Department, was accepted.

Currently, there are a total of eight children — five girls and three boys. Only children of school going age are accepted into the Home. They go to Government schools and return to the Home after school where a House Mother takes care of them and sees to their needs. These children return to their respective homes during the school holidays to enable them to bond with their families. Parents and relatives can visit the children from 9.00am- 5.00pm.

At the opening ceremony on Oct 21, Bishop Bernard Paul said, “First and foremost, Fatima Home is the house of God for these unfortunate children and JESUS is the Lord of this Home. As such, it must be filled with Love and Prayer because Jesus is walking with us.” He went on to say that the aim of the Home is to provide the children a safe sanctuary. Guidance will also be given to the children so that they grow up to be good citizens.

He thanked all the benefactors, the committee members, those who come to the Home to help the children in their lessons, all those who have donated generously in cash or in kind to keep the Home going and, last but not least, he thanked Msgr Michcel for his untiring efforts to set up the Home.

The guests were reminded that Jesus comes not to be served but to serve. So, likewise, we must step out and do whatever we can to make a difference to the world. He ended his speech with these words, “Fatima Home is more than a children’s Home. It is also a Missionary Centre where opportunities are given for all to serve outside the parish. ”

The Spiritual Director, Msgr Michcel, has this to say, “It is my hope that Fatima Home will help the children to do well in their studies and that the chain of poverty will be broken through education.

The event ended with the guests being treated to a slide show into the children’s daily activities. There was also an exhibition of the children’s works.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Five members of St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) visited Parliament in Kuala Lumpur on October 17. The PPC was led by their Vice Chairman who were joined by another five members from the Sandakan Inter-Church members to make up a Sandakan Christian delegation to the Malaysian Parliament. All were first-time visitors to Parliament.

The study tour was made possible by the invitation of the Law Minister, YB Datuk VK Liew and the kind sponsorship from Dato Seri Joshua Chong, a corporate figure from Kuala Lumpur. The objective of the tour was mainly educational to gain first-hand experience of the Federal law-making process.

The group was hosted by officials from Batu Sapi Parliamentary seat. There were briefings and a guided tour of the galleries in the parliament building. The most profound experience was the opportunity to sit in the two different sections of the public gallery inside the Dewan Rakyat. We could see the chamber where the Members of Parliament (MPs) have their debates and discussions. On that particular visit, we witnessed the debate on the Sales and Service Tax (SST) issue. The debate was hot, but, friendly. The proceedings were very enlightening and we did not realise that it was way past our allotted time and we were asked to vacate our seats due to the many visitors that day.

During the Study Tour, we managed to meet a few lawmakers from Sandakan and even managed to shake hands with Datuk Anwar Ibrahim. Our intention was to pay a courtesy call on the Law Minister in his office in the Parliament building was not successful. Nevertheless, Datuk Liew was kind enough to include us for a dinner function that evening. This was an opportunity to discuss and exchange our views on the issue of abolishing the death penalty in Malaysia. At the same time, our Christian leaders brought up their Church’s needs to his attention.

Michael Lai our PPC Vice Chairman shared that we were fortunate to have been able to witness the proceedings in Parliament. Likewise, the fellowship that we, from the different denominations had, has brought us closer.”

Rev Khoo Keng Shiang from the Baptist Church was impressed by the openness of the Malaysian Parliament which is accessible for the public to visit. The study trip has given him some knowledge on how the process of Law is made in Malaysia. He hopes that in the near future a similar tour can be organised for other Church leaders.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

As part of their efforts in guiding current journey inquirers, the St Ignatius Church (SIC) Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team visited the St Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly which is run by the Little Sisters of the Poor on Sunday October 28.

Sr Teresa gave a briefing on the various activities available for the senior citizens. She took them on a tour of the home for a first-hand look at the facilities available. The RCIA team sang a few hymns while the inquirers served the food. After lunch, all were invited to visit the souvenir shop to look at the items made by the residents.

The inquirers listened to His Eminence Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez who shared his life experiences.

The children of the inquirers surrounded Cardinal Soter who gave out candy and religious stickers. The inquirers took home with them the sense of community life and hope that this will inspire them to live in hope and prayer.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

1.0 Retirement of Archdiocesan Financial Administrator

Mr Peter Loh, who has been the Archdiocesan Financial Administrator for the past three years, finished his term yesterday, October 31, 2018. He has decided not to extend his contract as he wishes to spend more quality time with the family. The Archbishop, Most Reverend Julian Leow, would like to thank him for his dedication and tireless service to the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur and wishes him a happy and well deserved retirement.

In the interim and before the appointment of a new Financial Administrator, Mr Ong Cheng Watt, the Financial Secretary, will assume the duties of Mr Peter Loh as the Acting Financial Administrator.

Mr Loh remains on the Board of Directors of Sri Seronok Retirement Home and Yayasan Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon.

2.0 Appointment of Vicar for Religious
His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow, has appointed Fr Paul Cheong OFM Cap as the Vicar for Religious for a term of three (3) years with effect from November 1, 2018. He will take over from Fr Lucas Ng CDD, who will now concentrate on his duties as the Provincial of the CDD Fathers. Fr Lucas remains the Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Archdiocesan Chinese Language Apostolate Committee (ACLAC).

Fr Michael Chua
Chancellor
Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
528 Jalan Bukit Nanas,
Kuala Lumpur

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUCHING – The “pioneering spirit” of the Church and early missionaries contributed to Sarawak’s social and human development, says Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah.

He said the missionaries had ventured into the jungles of Borneo to help the rural population by setting up schools for education and small clinics for health-care.

“I am one of the beneficiaries of such a school. If it had not been set up, I might not be standing here today,” the guest-of-honour said when opening the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants’ (CICIAMS) 20th World Congress here on 5 Sept 2018.

Uggah added that the clinics set up by the missionaries, which were staffed by Sisters and laypersons trained as nurses and midwives, became the backbone and foundation of government medical clinics as the state developed.

The congress, which takes place once in four years, was held at the Riverside Majestic Hotel  from 4-7 Sept 2018.

Also present at the global event, which was hosted by Catholic Nurses Guild Malaysia, were Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect for the Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development; Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino, Papal Nuncio; Bishop Cornelius Sim, Episcopal President of the Commission of Pastoral Healthcare of the Bishop’s Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei; and Archbishop Simon Poh of the Archdiocese of Kuching.

The four-day congress, held for the first time here, attracted about 300 delegates from Malaysia and 18 from other countries.

On the congress, Uggah said its focus on issues affecting children, youth and the elderly would provide tools for education, sustaining life and promoting human development through the nursing and healthcare profession.

Cardinal Turkson reminded Catholic nurses that they are “ministers of life, and that sustainable care was done by Jesus Christ.”   Referring to the theme of the congress, the Cardinal urged Catholic nurses to “educate, provide sustainable care and respect life”.

CICIAMS, through the congress, aims to provide a forum for its members to share experience on issues of education for sustainable health, engaging development and respecting life across the human life cycle.

In line with this year’s theme: Education for Sustainable Health: Engaging Development, Respecting Life, the congress hoped to achieve the objectives of 1) Improving and developing skills and expertise in the nursing profession in the context of the Catholic faith; 2) Sharing of global, regional and countries’ evidence for the development of tools to educate, sustain life and promote health for all and to enable each person to live with dignity; and 3) Equipping delegates with strategies to assist individuals and communities to live life with meaning and purpose through the life cycle of the human person.

Delegates returning home were strongly recommended to promote the Social teachings of the Church, to reach out to the needy, to see Christ in every person and ‘may they see Christ in us’. The church does not wait for the wounded to knock on her doors; she looks for them in the streets, she gathers them in, she embraces them, and she makes them feel loved in the name of God in Mercy.

Catholic Nurses were urged to upgrade their nursing development via continuous education and engagement with research in evidence based learning.

The congress concluded with the statement that the Church considers service to people who are sick and suffering an integral part of the Church mission.

At the same time, the congress has affirmed that CICIAMS will promote the scientific and pastoral response of the Holy See to questions relating to Human Dignity, Migration, Health Care, Charitable works and care of creation. – Francisca Malantin, thestar, and others

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

SANDAKAN – The BEC of St Teresa of Calcutta, Sandakan was formed in 2010 with some 30 active families. Since its inception, the members have made two local pilgrimages (Diocese of Keningau and St Anne, Bukit Mertajam, Penang) and an overseas pilgrimage to Manila, the Philippines. This year, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam was selected as their destination with assistance from the Vietnam IFFAsia Alumni (Institute of Formation Fondacio).

Over the course of five days, we visited seven Catholic pilgrimage sites, churches, Saigon Archbishop’s Residence and Pastoral Centres with significant historical and architectural values.

We were particularly impressed by Vietnam Catholics in forming the faith of their young.

In another parish, we witnessed how the International Young Catholic Students organized children faith formation by giving catecheses accompanied with activities.

The faith and religious practice among the Vietnamese believers is very much alive. This could be seen from the attendance of the faithful during the morning Mass in Notre Dame Cathedral.

Apart from the spiritual pilgrimage, we also took the opportunity to understand the Vietnamese way of life, culture and history by visiting places like the Mekong Delta, War Remnant Museum and the Presidential Palace. For many of us, we know little about Vietnam.  We knew Vietnam as a war-trodden country but after setting our foot here, we realized that Vietnam is a fast developing country. Coming to Vietnam, we saw it as a place where the Christian faith is flourishing, as can be seen in their efforts in nurturing a strong faith among the young.  We have come to see Vietnam as a place where God’s love reaches out to many and the people responding with faith and zeal.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu