Category Archives: Oct 2017

SEREMBAN: In Malaysia, Migrant Sunday is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in September. This year’s theme is Minor migrants, vulnerable and voiceless.

At the Church of the Visitation, it was celebrated during the 9.00am Mass. The readings, intercessions and hymns were presented in various languages. During the Entrance hymn, migrants walked into the church carrying the flags of their respective countries and a lit candle. They took an active part in the liturgy of the Word and Eucharist.

There was a short sharing by a Pakistani migrant, Mr Shahid, about his life here in Malaysia. “Sana tak ada peluang kerja, hidup susah, sini hidup ada baik. Mari Church pun kita rasa gembira, semua orang di sini banyak bagus.” (Life back home is not easy and I was not employed. Here we are gainfully employed and life is good. The Church here is welcoming and the people are good. We are happy ).

After Mass, parishioners paid a visit to a mock home of a migrant set up inside a minibus. Pictures in the bus showed how they lived there.

The migrants at Visitation parish are from Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Myanmar. Everyone joined in the lunch fellowship at the church canteen.

We thank AOHD KL, PIHDM and the parish migrant team for directions and support given for this day.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

JOHOR BAHRU: “The Word of God sets us free from fear, hatred and division which freezes us to a life of sacrifice and fullness of joy, blessings and gratitude.” said Bishop Bernard at the concluding Eucharistic celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal on Sept 17.

He said, God’s Word should have an influence in our lives and in our deaths as we are called to let others encounter God in our good deeds.

Secondly, he said, having been forgiven much by God, we are called to spread God’s love and forgiveness by the practice of forgiving one another and reconciliation.

Finally, the Bishop said we are called to spread God’s Spirit of Unity. “We are called to wholeness within our self and the community and also with all of creation for the Spirit of God is the Spirit of Unity.”

Bishop Bernard raised three pertinent questions that challenged the participants of the two-day session to action and commitment:

The Lord is compassionate and loving, slow to anger and rich in mercy. Do you believe that the Merciful Father has forgiven you and freed you and is sending you to forgive and heal others?

Remember the last day in death and decay…the commandments and the covenant. Are you resolved to feed on the Word of God?

The word that sets you free.

In life and in death, each of us influences each other. Are you ready to be used by God to be His witnesses? Healers make a difference to the wounded around you.

Fr Christopher Lee, Ecclesiastical Advisor to the Diocesan Service team shared that they had only less than a month to plan the publicity, registration and the programme for this retreat.

He said, “There was an absolute trust in Divine Providence to bring in the people that the Lord has called to participate in the programme, and for finances.”

The team also worked hard, going to various parishes for registration. Within two weeks of publicity, over a thousand people had registered to attend the day and healing sessions at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Joseph, Plentong and Skudai Catholic Centre.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

CHERAS: Pope Francis has designated Sept 1 as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The day of prayer, the Pope said, will give individuals and communities an opportunity to implore God’s help in protecting creation and an opportunity to ask God’s forgiveness “for sins committed against the world in which we live.”

Francis said he was instituting the prayer day for Catholics because he shares the concern of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who initiated a similar prayer day for the Orthodox Church in 1989.

Francis said Christians want to make their special contribution to safeguarding creation, but to do that, they must rediscover the spiritual foundations of their approach to earthly realities, beginning with an acknowledgement that “the life of the spirit is not dissociated from the body or from nature,” but lived in communion with all worldly realities.

The ecological crisis, he said, is a summons “to a profound spiritual conversion” to a way of life that clearly shows they are believers.

Quoting his encyclical, Laudato Si, he said, “living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.”

The parish gathered in the friary on Sept 1 from 9.00am to 12 noon for prayers for creation. For the whole month of September, the Guided Rosary for the Care of Creation was recited in all the Sunday Masses.

On Sept 22, the parish carried out a social activity in cleaning the beach at Pantai Remis in Kuala Selangor. Two buses of volunteers left SFA at 6.30am, followed by the others in their own transport.

The theme for the activity was Care for Creation. Most of the rubbish we found were Styrofoam and other plastic materials. The youths also dug up four tyres which were fully submerged in the sand.

When our work was done, we said a prayer, took group photos and had light refreshments before returning home.

You could see the happy faces of the parishioners which was proof that they had had a fruitful and fun day.

Parish priest Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap explained that Pope Francis expressed his passion for nature in his encyclical letter Laudato Si and added that St Francis of Assisi is the patron of ecology. He also said that we should take care of our home and that this would be an on-going event.

My friends, Gabriella, Laura, Abigail, Jayden and I had fun picking up shells and drawing pictures in the sand. We hope that there will be more activities like this in future. –By Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap and Trasilla Annette SM Andrew

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

KUALA LUMPUR: In conjuction with this year’s Mental Health day, the Archdiocesan Mental Health Ministry (AMHM) will be having two plenary sessions as well as a variety of workshops in four languages (English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Tamil) in the morning and afternoon.

Themed, Pain is Real, But So is Hope, the sessions will be held on Saturday, October 14 from 8.00am to 5.00pm at the Church of St Ignatius, Petaling Jaya.

The AMHM is hoping to reach out to children, youths, adults, couples and seniors from within and beyond the Catholic community. It will be a wonderful time learning from the presenters, and gaining new experiences from the hands-on workshops that we have customised for each age group.

For more information, please refer to the registration link/ registration booth in your parish. Registration link: https://goo.gl/forms/BAMV5UUfbHeQ9pOg1 or contact us at 03 2078 0239 / mentalhealth@archkl.org.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Chancery Notice — Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
September 20, 2017
chan/MC/01/2017

Opus Dei community now in KL Archdiocese

With the permission of His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow, the Cathedral of St John, Kuala Lumpur has been assigned to the Opus Dei community for their activities and gatherings with effect from July 1, 2017.

Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church that teaches that everyone is called to holiness and that ordinary life is a path to sanctity.

Opus Dei is Latin for Work of God; hence the organisation is often referred to by members and supporters as the Work.

Founded in Spain in 1928 by St Josemaría Escrivá, Opus Dei was given final approval in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In 1982, by the apostolic constitution Ut sit, St John Paul II made it a personal prelature — that is, the jurisdiction of its own bishop covers the persons in Opus Dei wherever they are, rather than geographical dioceses

In St John’s Cathedral, the recollection is held every first Saturday of the month. For the women, it starts at 9.30am and ends with Mass at 12.00noon. The recollection for men begins at 2.00pm and ends at 4.00pm. These recollections are open to non-members who are interested in attending.

For more information: please go to the official website of Opus Dei opusdei.org.

1. Rev Deacon Xavier Andrew has been assigned to the Church of St Jude, Rawang, to exercise his diaconal ministry and assist Rev Fr David Arulanatham, with effect from August 13, 2017.
2. Rev Fr V.A. Michael, the Parish Priest of the Church of St Paul the Hermit, has completed his term of office as the Director of the Regional Office for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS).
3. Rev Fr Jean Claude Lourdes, Parish Priest of the Church of Risen Christ, KL has been appointed as the Director of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Office for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) with effect from September 19, 2017.
4. Rev Fr Joseph Pereira, Parish Priest of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, has tendered his resignation as Chancellor of theArchdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, and this has been duly accepted by His Grace Archbishop Julian Leow, with effect from August 31, 2017. In the interim, Rev Fr Michael Chua, Parish Priest of the Church of Jesus Caritas and Administrator of the Chapel of Kristus Aman has been appointed as Acting Chancellor with effect from September 1, 2017.
5. Rev Fr Michael Chua has also been appointed as the Ecclesiastical Assistant for the Catholic Ministry for the Deaf which will be officially launched on October 29, 2017, at the 9.15am Mass at the Church of Jesus Caritas, to be presided by His Grace, Archbishop Julian Leow.

Fr Michael Chua
Acting Chancellor
Archdiocesan Chancery
528, Jalan Bukit Nanas, KL

In celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, participants were urged to accept their sufferings willingly instead of mumbling, complaining and grieving in their sorrow.

Fr Thomas Bobby Emprayil, VC explained that such negativity would open the door to despair and would, ultimately, destroy a person.

Fr Bobby, from India, preached at a two-day rally at Majodi Centre, Sept 16-17.

Fr Bobby also shared many testimonies on the willingness to accept suffering, transforming sufferings by joining themselves to the sufferings of Christ for the souls in purgatory, for family members and for people who are suffering.

Participants were also advised to make reparation for personal sins and the sins of their families.

He said, “Rejoice always, pray unceasingly and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus … I rejoice in my suffering for you as I am suffering in my own body to make up for what is lacking in the the Church, his body.”

These two verses resonated in Fr Bobby’s sessions.

Fr Bobby shared extensively from his experiences of growing up in abject poverty in rural India. He saw his own suffering of living with an alcoholic dependent father as a preparation for his ministry to thousands of people who flock to his retreat centre in Assam, India.

He said many were set free from their bondage to alcohol.

He said, when we praise and thank God for our sufferings and pains, God is enthroned in the praises of his people, and where God is, there is fullness of joy.

He added, “Our sorrow and pain can be applied to help others suffering from similar problems in their lives and also for the souls in purgatory.”

Christians do not live only for the present; they live for eternity, so they have to offer a wider vision of life for the rest of humanity, said Fr Bobby.

He said that Charismatics are doing a good job of creating a greater awareness of the Holy Spirit working in people.
Fr Bobby then led the prayer for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. The powerful presence of God could be felt as he prayed in tongues.

The outpouring of God’s love was followed by the laying of hands for healing.

In his opening remarks, Bishop Bernard Paul shared his concern that the Charismatic renewal in the diocese had stagnated.

He challenged the leaders of the renewal to step up their commitment, not be dependent on speakers from outside the diocese and to be more evangelising in their approach.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

Celebrating the 500th year of the reformation of Luther, the Lutheran and the Catholic Church jointly organised a special seminar called From conflict to communion a Malaysian Christian response.

This half-day seminar was held at Loyola Hall, Church of St Francis Xavier on Sept 22. A mixed crowd of Catholics, Lutherans and other Christians attended. The focus was on the topic of Scripture and Tradition, one of the five imperatives of the document of Luther .

Deacon Sherman Quek of Malacca- Johore Diocese spoke for the Catholics. He delivered an inspiring and very informative sharing with bits of humour into it.

Participants were also asked to sit in groups for discussions to promote dialogue and acceptance of one another.

Later, there was a time for sharing by Aloysius Gan, a Catholic from Seremban and a lay leader from the Lutheran church.

A participant from the Lutheran Church shared that this seminar is very encouraging so she will continue to participate in events to promote ecumenism.

Jason Ho, a Catholic, felt it amazing to realise that all were seated together not realising that walls had divided them in history. Archbishop Julian Leow, Archbishop emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Bishop Aaron of Lutheran church and several pastors were also present at this seminar. Special thanks go to the organisers, Rev Sivin Kit a Lutheran pastor and all the helpers.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

After almost nine decades, Johor’s first Catholic girls school, the Infant Jesus Convent, marked its 92nd anniversary with a big bash with students, ex-students, parents, former teachers, and the public attending the event, Sept 20.

The guest-of-honour for the event was the Vatican’s Ambassador to Malaysia (Apostolic Nuncio) Archbishop Joseph Salvador Marino who celebrated Mass for students, past pupils, parents, teachers and ex-teachers at the Convent’s 92 year-old chapel in the morning. Concelebrating was Fr Edward Rayappan.

In his homily, Archbishop Marino said the great mystery of our faith is the fact that, in Jesus, God has become man; “God has been made visible in the flesh.”

He said Jesus himself proclaimed in the Gospel of John, “he who sees me, sees the Father, he who hears me hears the Father.”

As a result, he says, there is no longer a distance between God and us; there is no longer a gap between our creator and his creature; there is no longer a separation between our loving Father and his children.

Hence, the Nuncio said, in this great mystery of our faith, the Word has become flesh and has made his dwelling among us.

He went on to say that this immense mystery truly marks us as Christians because we live with the conviction that God so loved us, he could not remain indifferent or aloof, he could not remain detached from his creatures.

He continued, “That is the human person, the best of creation, he could not let us go astray like sheep without a shepherd and, for that reason, he came and he lives with us.”

He said every Christian is called to share this mystery, at times through proclamation itself, but always in the way we live, and that is why St Paul so beautifully linked mystery and the way we live, adding that, “you must know how to behave in God’s family, that is, in the Church of the living God.”

He said the Church today proves the indispensable role that lay men and lay women play in the mission of the Church.

He stressed that by virtue of our baptism, we are all ministers, each in his or her proper role and no one can be excluded from making his or her contribution to the life of the Church.

He told the congregation that it is remarkable to see the lay people today continuing the mission of this school, first established by religious sisters.

The Nuncio encouraged all who are contributing to this ministry in the Church to do so with much zeal and dedication and, in this way, we are able to proclaim: “Great are the works of the Lord.”

At the end of the Mass, the Nuncio gave a special blessing to the students who are sitting for the PT 3 and SPM exams. He told the students that there is no substitute for hard work.

The Vatican Ambassador also had the opportunity to meet one of the school’s oldest living alumni Prisudiamah Kathirasoo, 93.

He greeted her and presented her with a rosary which was blessed by Pope Francis.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online

TANJUNG ARU – The virtue of fidelity was highlighted at the combined jubilee celebration of seven Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (FSIC) on 7 Oct 2017, memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, at the Stella Maris Church here.

Archbishop John Wong stressed this quality – divine (God’s faithfulness) and human (jubilarians’ response) in his homily and reiterated it in his speech after the Mass.

He added that the more important part was the spiritual preparation (personal retreat) of the jubilarians prior to the event for it is in silence that God reveals Himself.

The celebrators were ruby jubilarian Sister Martha Jonik, golden jubilarians Sisters Rita Chew and Imelda Angang, and the four diamond jubilarians Sisters Stella Chin, Regina Majakil, Rosalind Thien and Ignatia Gomes.

Joining Abp Wong at the altar were Archbishop Emeritus John Lee, Bishop Emeritus Joseph Nacua OFMCap of Iligan Isabela Philippines, OFM Custodios Friar John Wong, Msgr Primus Jouil, Father Boniface Kimsin and Father Thomas Madanan.

Over 400 turned up for the event including guests from the Philippines, Singapore, Sarawak, and the three Sabah dioceses as well as members of the congregation, family members, and relatives of the jubilarians.

After the Mass all adjourned to the parish hall for the cake-cutting ceremony, lunch and stage presentations by various groups.

Born on 23 Apr 1956 in Kinuta, Margaretha Jonik joined the congregation in 1975 and took the religious name of Sister Martha of St Mary of the Angels.  She made her first profession in 1977 and took her final vows in 1982.  She is currently assigned in Tawau.

Rose Chew, born on 20 Oct 1946 in Kuala Penyu, entered the congregation in 1965.  Taking as her religious name Sr Rita of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she took her first vows in 1967 and made her final profession in 1972.  Presently she is in charge of the Stella Maris Retirement Home Tg Aru as well as head of the Archdiocesan Education Commission.

Her co-jubilarian, Sister Imelda of the Blessed Sacrament, was born as Angeline George Angang on 8 Aug 1948 in Kuala Penyu.  She also joined the FSICs in 1965, made her first profession in 1967 and took her final vows in 1972.  She is assigned in Penampang and is currently the assistant of Sister Dariah Ajap in the Archdiocesan Catechetical Commission.

Of the four diamond jubilarians, Sister Stella Chin was born in Jamaica on 6 Sept 1936 as Pamela Evadne Chin Siew Chin.  She entered the congregation in 1954, took her first vows on 11 Feb 1957 and made her final profession on 11 Feb 1962.

Sister Regina of the Blessed Trinity was born as Noemi Majakil on 15 Nov 1935 in Limbahau.  She also joined the Franciscan Sisters in 1954, made her first profession on 11 Feb 1957, and took her final vows on 15 Aug 1962.

The third diamond jubilarian, Sister Rosalind of St Dominic, was born in Tenom on 17 Apr 1938 as Mary Thien Siew Yun.  She entered the congregation in 1955, took her first vows on 4 Oct 1957, and made her perpetual profession on 20 Dec 1962.

Sister Ignatia Gomes of St Therese of the Child Jesus was born as Olive Marian on 29 Jan 1935 in Kg Kambau Penampang.  She joined the Sisters in 1955, made her first profession on 4 Oct 1957, and took her final vows on 25 Aug 1963.

Together the seven jubilarians have served the local Church for 380 years – a witness of the human response to God’s mercy and faithfulness.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU – Leaders and representatives of 65 parish groups, ministries, committees and communities of Sacred Heart Cathedral here attended an updating-cum-briefing by their parish priest Archbishop John Wong and his assistants on 5 Oct 2017 at the parish centre.

At the meeting, Anthony Lim, parish finance council chairman, updated those present on the progress made on the major renovation works made at the parish centre last year.

In 2016, two major works were done: re-wiring of the parish centre (RM63,250.00) and replacement of the leaking main pipe (RM31,300.00).  General repair work was also done amounting to RM15,357.69.

Earlier this year, the roofing gutters were repaired (RM21,800.00) as well the complete renovation of the male and female toilets on the first floor (RM85,160.00).

It is hoped that renovation of all the rooms, repainting of walls, repair and replacement of air-conditioner units, replacement of carpets and curtains, building of storage cubicles on both sides of F7, and installing of two units of big ceiling industrial fans in the parish hall will be completed before the end of the year.

After the updating, Abp Wong briefed the attendees on the parish participation in the construction of the RM9.6m Catholic Centre.

He explained the need for it and its location.

The prelate told them that all parishes and subparishes in the archdiocese have been allocated an amount according to their means.

For the cathedral parish, the prelate continued, it is RM1 million.

Anita Tunggolou, head of the parish fundraising committee, informed the leaders that the time frame for fundraisers is one year: August 2017 to August 2018.

The committee has decided on three main fundraisers: a)  third collection on first Sundays (started Sept 2017); b) lucky draw on Dec 31 and c) bazaar in June 2018.

For the lucky draw, all the groups have an allocation of tickets (RM20/booklet) within a period of three months for diffusion.  Contact person is Michelle Linggi, treasurer of the fundraising committee.

Pledge cards for individual donors (Catholics and non-Catholics) are also available at the parish office under Johnny Chong.

The groundbreaking event, Lim said, will be at the end of the year (2017). The construction is scheduled to be completed within two years.

This was the second briefing for the parish group leaders.  The first was held on 2 March 2017.

Article reproduced from Catholic Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu