Today's Catholic Vol. 33 No. 10 January 2022 by Todays Catholic

CATHOLIC today’s

A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak

Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

Vol 33 No 10 January 2022

Pope's Mission Day message: Every Christian a witness to Christ in daily life Pope Francis releases his message for World Mission Day 2022, celebrated on 23 October, and urges all Christians to proclaim Christ’s message of salvation in every aspect of our daily lives. VATICAN CITY — Ever since 1926, the Church has celebrated World Mission Day, which falls in 2022 on 23 October. As the Church marks the Epiphany on Thursday, Pope Francis released his message for the occurrence focused on the theme: “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

‘You shall be my witnesses’ The Pope reflected on three foundations of “the life and mission of every disciple”. The first, he said, is “the call of every Christian to bear witness to Christ,” calling it the “heart of Jesus’ teaching to the disciples.” Pope Francis said Christ was the first to be sent to proclaim, as the Father’s missionary and as His “faithful witness.” “Every Christian is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ. And the Church, the community of Christ’s disciples, has no other mission than that of bringing the Gospel to the entire world by bearing witness to Christ. To evangelize is the very identity of the Church.”

Living in a missionary key The Pope said each baptized Christian is called to carry out the Church’s mission in a communitarian way, even in the ordinary activities of our daily lives.

Christians, he added, are sent on mission by the Church in Christ’s name, and never under our own initiative. He noted that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs, since “the witness of Christians to Christ is primarily communitarian in nature.” “The disciples are urged to live their personal lives in a missionary key: they are sent by Jesus to the world not only to carry out, but also and above all to live the mission entrusted to them; not only to bear witness, but also and above all to be witnesses of Christ.” Missionaries, said Pope Francis, proclaim the Good News of God’s salvation in Christ, not their own abilities or persuasive qualities. “In evangelization,” he added, “the example of a Christian life and the proclamation of Christ are inseparable. One is at the service of the other.” ‘To the ends of the earth’ Pope Francis went on to consider a second foundation of the Christian mission: “to the ends of the earth.” He said the early disciples gradually expanded the scope of their mission, and lived an image of the Church “going forth” and guided by divine Providence, not the desire to proselytize. As they faced persecution, early Christians fled their homelands, taking the Gospel with them to new countries, something which happens in our own day. Pope Francis added that the phrase “to the ends of the earth” also challenges modern Christians to proclaim Christ to those who have

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still not encountered Him. “Christ’s Church will continue to “go forth” towards new geographical, social and existential horizons, towards “borderline” places and human situations, in order to bear witness to Christ and His love to men and women of every people, culture and social status.”

‘Power from the Holy Spirit’ The Pope then turned to the third foundation of mission: “You will receive power from the Holy Spirit”. He said the Spirit broke the bonds of the Apostles’ fear in the first days after Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Spirit prompted St. Peter to give his missionary address to people in Jerusalem, as recounted in Acts, kicking off “an era in which the disciples of Jesus evangelized the world.” Pope Francis added that Christians are only able to bear “full and genuine witness to Christ the Lord without the Spirit’s inspiration and assistance. “All Christ’s missionary disciples are called to recognize the essential importance of the Spirit’s work, to dwell in his presence daily and to receive His unfailing strength and guidance. Indeed, it is precisely when we feel tired, unmotivated or confused that we should remember to have recourse to the Holy Spirit in prayer.” Prayer, said the Pope, plays an important role in the missionary life, since it “allows us to be refreshed and strengthened by the Spirit as the inexhaustible divine source of renewed energy and joy in sharing

Christ’s life with others.”

Notable anniversaries

missionary

Pope Francis then said that 2022 sees several notable anniversaries in the Church’s missionary spirit. The first is the 400th anniversary since the establishment of the Sacred Congregation De Propaganda Fide, now the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. This year also marks the 200th anniversary of the foundation of Society for the Propagation of the Faith by a young French woman, Pauline Jaricot, who will be beatified in 2022. Pope St. Paul VI granted the Society the status of “Pontifical” 100 years ago, along with the Association of the Holy Childhood and the Society of Saint Peter the Apostle. Pope Francis prayed that the local Churches will “find in these Societies a sure means for fostering the missionary spirit among the People of God.”

New era of Christian mission In conclusion, the Pope expressed his dream to see a “completely missionary Church, and a new era of missionary activity among Christian communities.” “Would that all of us in the Church were what we already are by virtue of baptism: prophets, witnesses, missionaries of the Lord, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the ends of the earth! Mary, Queen of the Missions, pray for us!” Vatican News

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EDITORIAL

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Love never ends “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4)

As we enter another new year, a year of Hope… Hope for an end to the pandemic. Hope for a better family life. Hope for the marginalised, vulnerable, poor, sick, af�icted… let us re�ect on what has got us through the past year, coping with one crisis after another. Did our Faith carry us through? Faith in God’s love? After witnessing and penning the ordination of a new Diocesan priest for Kuching Archdiocese and the combined jubilee celebration and thanksgiving Mass for 10 Religious sisters from the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) last month, I can say the experience has certainly increased my faith in the immeasurable love of God for his children. The Carmelite nuns elected a new Prioress and councillors for the next three years. Let us congratulate the new Mother Prioress, Sr Margaret of

St Joseph and her councillors. December was an eventful month for many parishes, with the resumption of weekend and daily Masses. But the greatest joy for parishioners must be the ability to attend Mass at Christmas and singing Christmas carols! We have compiled some photos for you, taken on Christmas and New Year 2022 on Page 3. Baby baptism, �rst holy communion and con�rmation Masses were also celebrated, much to the relief of many concerned parents. This year, Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated on 30 January with the theme: Family: A Path to Holiness (1 Cor. 12: 12). And with this in mind and knowing that love never ends, let us “look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM PUBLISHER The Archbishop of Kuching ADVISOR Fr Felix Au EDITOR Ivy Chai ASSOCIATE EDITOR (Chinese) Magdalene Yeo EDITORIAL TEAM Freddy Bohari (BM) Mabel Salin (English Children’s Section) Margaret Bong (Chinese Children’s Section) Annie Ng (Chinese Children’s Section) STAFF Shannon Wei

M E S S AG E From Archbishop Simon Poh Blessed New Year 2022 to my brothers and sisters in Christ! It was with great joy that Churches could be opened for Christmas Masses. Jesus’ birth has brought JOY, PEACE and HOPE for all humanity. We rejoice over this gift of Jesus—the EMMANUEL—a name which means “God-with-us” (Matthew 1:23). We had been living under a cloud of uncertainty from COVID-19 for almost two years. Thus, our Christmas eve night was like a light shining in the darkness of the storm. We are indeed grateful that our Lord has remained and accompanied us safely throughout the whole of 2021. When does the Christmas season end? Liturgically, we conclude the Christmas Season on the Baptism of the Lord which falls on Sunday 9 January 2022, this year. For the worldwide Catholic Church, we follow a Liturgical Ordo which shows a list of feasts of the Roman Catholic Church for each day of the year, with the stipulated readings and even the colour of the vestments used—Green, White (or Gold), Red, Purple or Rose during one Sunday in Advent and Lent. When you open the Ordo to Monday, 10 January 2022, it will indicate “1st Week, Ordinary Time” and list Green as the liturgical colour of vestment. During the Christmas season, we use White or Goldcoloured vestments. By switching to Green, the Ordo con�rms that the Christmas season has concluded with the Lord’s Baptism. Green is the colour of growing things, symbolising life and growth during the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year C in 2022. The next change of Liturgical colour will be to Purple on Ash Wednesday on 2 March 2022, which will mark the beginning of the penitential season of the 40 days of Lent. Counting the calendar days, we would realise that the Christmas season is very short, with only around 18 days between the birth of Jesus on Christmas eve night and the Baptism of the Lord in the River Jordan. Spiritually, the Church does not intend for Catholics to stay at the stable to be with the Baby Jesus. In fact, we read that “the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” (Luke 2:20). Later, “the wise men returned to their own country

by a different route.” The shepherds and wise men were in fact sent forth to announce the good news of Jesus! When Jesus was baptised, we know that “he was about thirty years old.” (Luke 3:23). By celebrating the Baptism of the adult Jesus, followed by his mission after baptism, the Church immediately draws us away from the manger with the child Jesus and, following the example of the wise men and shepherds, Mother Church now sends us forth to bring Hope, Joy, Peace and Loving Kindness of Jesus to everyone, especially during this pandemic. By our baptism, each of us is “Baptised and Sent” to carry on the same mission of our Lord Jesus. The logo of the Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019 is a missionary cross in which the primary colors refer to the �ve continents. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the month-long celebration was "Baptised and Sent." (Photo: CNS illustration/ Ponti�cal Mission Societies)

“The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.” (Luke 4:18-19) Let us always rejoice that our Lord Jesus continues to be with us in this journey of life, “until the end of time.” (Matthew 28:20). I would like to bless you with a 3000-year old blessing, given to Moses by God to pray over his brother Aaron and the people, amidst the challenging time of wandering in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. May God bless you all: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) ✠ Archbishop Simon Poh

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Churches welcome parishioners back with Joyful CHRISTMAS and Thanksgiving NEW YEAR Masses

Live-stream Christmas Eve Mass from St Joseph’s Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Simon Poh with co-celebrant Archbishop Emeritus John Ha CHRISTMAS: Blessed Sacrament Church Fr Joseph Ng, SJ

CHRISTMAS: St Ann’s Church, Kota Padawan Friar Don Don Ramerez, OFM

CHRISTMAS: Holy Trinity Church - Fr Stanley Goh, SJ

Blessed Christmas from the Archdiocese of Kuching

CHRISTMAS: Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa Fr Felix Au (Rector)

CHRISTMAS: St Theresa’s Church, Serian Fr Leonard Yap (Rector) CHRISTMAS: Blessed Sacrament Church Fr Patrick Heng (Rector) CHRISTMAS: St Mark’s Church, Batu Kawa Fr Lucas Ng, CDD

Live-stream New Year’s Eve Mass from St Joseph’s Cathedral celebrated by Archbishop Simon Poh with co-celebrant Fr Galvin Ngumbang CHRISTMAS: St Stephen’s Church, Bau (outstation) Fr Peter Liston (Rector)

CHRISTMAS: Chapel of Mother Mary, Stutong Msgr William Sabang (Rector)

NEW YEAR: Chapel of Mother Mary, Stutong Msgr William Sabang (Rector)

NEW YEAR: St Ann’s Church, Kota Padawan Friar David Au, OFM

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Carmelite nuns elect new Prioress and Councillors

New Prioress and Councillors for 2021-2024 (L-R) Sr Dominica, Archbishop Simon Poh, Sr Margaret (new Prioress), Sr Evelyn and Sr Karen. Inset: Sr Margaret of St Joseph accepting her new responsibility as Mother Prioress from Archbishop Simon Poh.

KUCHING — The Carmelite nuns of the Monastery of the Immaculate Heart of Mary elected a new Council for the next 3-year term on 23 December 2021, presided by Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh. The following were elected to serve the 2021-2024 term: Mother Prioress: Sr Margaret of St Joseph

1st Councillor: Sr Dominica of the Blessed Trinity 2nd Councillor: Sr Evelyn of the Mother of Sorrow 3rd Councillor: Sr Karen Emmanuel of Jesus on the Cross According to the Constitutions of the nuns, the Mother Prioress is a major superior and the Councillors are to assist her in a spirit of unity.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa caps year-end with eventful December

KUCHING — For the very first time in Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa, wedding and funeral Masses were celebrated during the Advent Season of December. The service teams of volunteers from various tamans and kampongs were formed in late November 2021 to assist at these Masses. Christmas Midnight Mass which began at 10.30 pm on 24 December 2021, was celebrated in a combined liturgy of Bahasa Malaysia and English. The 20member strong choir accompanied by three musicians, began with a 30 minute carolling in harmonic

and angelic voices as the congregation joined in with much enthusiasm before the Eucharistic celebration presided by Parish Rector Fr Felix Au. Baby Baptism was also held for 26 infants and toddlers on 26 December 2021, at 3.30 pm during the Feast of the Holy Family by Fr Lucas Ng, CDD. As we usher in the New Year of 2022, we hope and pray that more activities and events will continue to be held at Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa. Sacred Heart Church, Kota Sentosa

Legionaries of Kuching Comitium commemorate 70 years of LOM in the Archdiocese

Legacy booklet to commemorate launch of restored SJS Mill Hill Block available for sale KUCHING — THE MILL HILL LEGACY MMXXI, a booklet detailing the history of the iconic Mill Hill Block, fund raising activities, restoration works and completed MHB Gallery of St Joseph’s School, is available for purchase at RM30 per copy. The Legacy booklet was launched at a simple ceremony in December by Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, President of the Old Josephians’ Association (OJA), to commemorate the launch of the restored Mill Hill Block. Dr Sim officiated the official launch of the Mill Hill Block on 2 November on behalf of Sarawak Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, an old boy of the school. Purchase of THE MILL HILL

LEGACY MMXXI can be made from the School Office, School teacher Johnny Ateng (082-240885) or OJA Committee member Patrick YB Law (019-8870199). For outstation delivery, the charges for courier service is RM6 per copy.

Blessing of Oranges There will be blessing of CNY mandarin oranges in most parishes about two weeks prior to Chinese New Year on 1 February. For schedules, please check with your parish office, or the Archdiocesan social media pages.

KUCHING — Legionaries of Kuching Comitium commemorated the 70th Anniversary of the Kuching Archdiocese Legion of Mary Apostolate since its inception in 1951 and worldwide Centenary Celebration since 7 September 1921. Due to the unprecedented situation brought on by the pandemic, an online celebration was organised. A live-streamed Thanksgiving Mass was offered to give thanks to God and Mother Mary for the millions of graces received through the years, followed by an Anniversary Celebration hosted online through Zoom which was attended by over 300 legionaries throughout Sarawak. The celebration included an online exhibition where legionaries shared their personal experiences in the Legion of Mary through pre-

recorded videos, talks on new norm of active duties by the Singapore Senatus and personal sharings on Legion apostolic works by various praesidiae, curiae and Sibu Comitium. Archbishop Simon Poh presided the live-streamed Thanksgiving Mass at 9.00 am from St Joseph’s Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Kuching in Malaysia with co-celebrant, Kuching Comitium Spiritual Director, Fr Nicholas Ng. Designated attendees were present, including Kuching Comitium President, Bro. Joseph Wong, all comitium officers and a few representatives from Kuching Curiae, all while strictly adhering to SOPs set by the government. Continued on p8

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SSFS celebrates with Thanksgiving Mass at Combined Jubilee Celebration for 10 Religious Sisters

‘I give thanks to you, with all my heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds.’ (Ps 9:1) KUCHING — The Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) organised a Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass in celebration of the Jubilee Anniversaries of 10 Religious Sisters on 19 December 2021. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Simon Poh and concelebrated by Archbishop Emeritus John Ha, Fr Patrick Heng and Fr Martin Wong. It was live-streamed from the Chapel of Home of Santa Clara, the retirement home of the Sisters. Because of the pandemic restrictions, many of the religious Sisters and family members were unable to attend the joyous occasion, so the live telecast was a welcome move to unite everyone at what would otherwise have been a grand celebration. The eight Jubilarians present, led by Superior General Sr Rose Wong, each holding a lit candle, renewed their commitment and promised, “to keep the Rule of the Third Order of St Francis, approved of by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, by living in Poverty, Chastity and Obedience,

according to the Constitutions and Rules of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak.” To join in the celebration, albeit virtually, Sr Delicia and her team recorded a “virtual choir” to sing to the Jubilarians. There was also a short video presentation of the Jubilarians at the end of the live telecast. Sr Rose Wong, speaking as a representative of the Jubilarians, read out a message from Archbishop Emeritus Peter Chung who was unable to join them physically. Jubilarians Sr Theodora Lai (Miri) and Sr Michelina Martin (PJ, Selangor) were also not able to make the trip for the celebration. Sr Rose said: “My dear Jubilarians, on behalf of my Council members and all my fellow Sisters, I congratulate and thank you for giving yourself fully to this family of SSFS and God’s people for His mission. Your long years of commitment have been greatly appreciated. “Allow me to share an example of our oldest Sister, Platinum Jubilarian Sr Bridget Then who is 93. She still faithfully says her daily prayers, attends daily Mass and continues to give her daily service to the Sisters in her community. It is proven that age is

just a number. It is the heart of love towards God and others that makes the difference. Sr Bridget, thank you for having inspired us by how we should live our lives, by connecting with God and care for others, until the Lord calls us back to His heavenly kingdom. “Celebrating Jubilee is not celebrating an accomplishment. It is not what we have done for the past 25, 50, 60 or 70 years. It is an act of gratitude to celebrate and pray together as one big family for this Sacred Vocation that calls us to be more committed to imitate Christ and our Seraphic Father St Francis of Assisi in our love of God, humanity and God’s creation. We know that the more we appreciate and love Him, the more we will imitate Him, by being more faithful to our commitment at all costs, able to relate with one another without being bound by conditions. We see God’s presence in every situation and in His creation, and also we will have the desire to reach out to others in various pastoral care. “God has a purpose for all of us, and here we see some of us have tried to cooperate with Him, and put all our trust in Him, even at times when we see how limited we are. Do not divert our focus by losing hope in seeing the limitations of others, but to be like Christ to have untiring hope in every individual. If Christ could leave the ninety-nine sheep and looked for the lost one, this signifies that we should never single out anyone but to give importance to everyone. “My dear Jubilarians, we are Franciscans, let us continue to ‘SPEAK’ to the world through our way of life that is connected with and to God, so that people can see the greatness of His Truth, what He can do to our lives, and they will search for the right things that can make them feel more contentment within, more peaceful and happier to live. Our community life that embraced the examples and teachings of Christ

Sr Bridget Then (Platinum Jubilarian) aged 93 years.

should prove to every family that it is possible to build the Domestic Church as God wishes. God has given us the best way to live, and He has offered to us freely. It depends on how much we can accept His free gift.” (Click here to read the full text of Sr Rose’s speech.)

CongratulationstotheJubilarians The 10 Sisters celebrating their Jubilee Anniversaries were: Sr Bridget Then – Platinum (70 years) Sr Felicia Yong – Diamond (60 years) Sr Beatrice Ng – Diamond (60 years) Sr Mildred Chin – Diamond (60 years) Sr Matilda Abui – Diamond (60 years) Sr Theodora Lai – Golden (50 years) Sr Jennifer Nyidom – Golden (50 years) Sr Irene Chengann – Silver (25 years) Sr Michelina Martin – Silver (25 years) Sr Rose Wong – Silver (25 years) A small dinner reception was held after the Mass, at the Home’s dining hall where the Jubilarians were later presented with tokens of gifts. Ivy Chai

Photo taken after Mass shows: Front row (sitting L-R) Sr Matilda Abui and Sr Mildred Chin. Second row (standing L-R) Sr Irene Chengann, Sr Jennifer Nyidom, (sitting L-R) Sr Beatrice Ng, Sr Felicia Yong, Sr Bridget Then, (standing R) Sr Rose Wong. Back row (L-R) Fr Patrick Heng, Archbishop Simon Poh, Archbishop Emeritus John Ha, Fr Martin Wong. (Photo: Amelia Chieng)

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Catechetical Sunday Message – 30 January 2022 Theme: Family: A Path to Holiness (1 Cor. 12: 12) “Family: become what you are.” These words from the papal document, Familaris Consortio by St John Paul II, is a call and an earnest summons by the Church, for families to become more and more what God intended it to be. That is, “an intimate communion of life and love” (17). The Pope reminds families that this summons cannot be ignored, because it is a call for every family to recognise and live out its dignity and responsibility in the home and in society. In Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis states that families are a source of strength for the life of the Church: “The Church is good for the family and the family is good for the Church” (87). This is because, “in every Christian family, the different aspects and functions of the life of the entire Church may be reflected: mission, catechesis, witnessing, prayer and others” (General Directory for Catechesis, 255). This is why the Church has always held the institution of the family in high esteem. In recent Church documents, various images related to the family are mentioned, such as, ‘domestic church’, ‘the sanctuary of life’, ‘an educating community’, ‘the vital cell of society’, ‘the school of Christian life’ and others. In his first letter

to the Corinthians, St Paul uses the image of the body in relation to the Christian community, where every member is a part, but joined together in Christ with one another. This is also an ideal image for the family, as each member is a part of one body, joined with Christ and with one another by their love, and by the sharing of their unique personalities and gifts. A new family begins when a man and a woman enter into the Sacrament of Matrimony. In marriage, the couple help one another to attain holiness through their love and commitment for each other, and in bringing up their children. Among their responsibilities, as parents, is to take seriously the summons to become the primary faith educators of their children, as God intended them to be. The couple take this responsibility upon themselves on their wedding day when they make the promise “to accept children lovingly from God and to bring them up according to the law of Christ and his Church”. Through the Sacrament of Marriage, parents receive “the grace and the ministry of the Christian education of their children…” (General Directory for Catechesis, 227). This means parents are the first heralds of… Continued on p7

Caritas calls for support in aid of Malaysia National Flood Relief Fund KUCHING — Caritas Malaysia is calling on Malaysians to support the Catholic Church Relief Fund for the recent floods that had affected thousands of lives, especially in populous Selangor.

A: Unfortunately, it is not. Q4: What if I submit after the deadline? A: The deadline is 22 January, 2022. You can submit after the deadline but the money may be used for other initiatives.

FAQs Q1: What is this fund for? A: To help buy food and supplies for flood victims, provide temporary shelters, and help them rebuild their lives. Q2: How do I donate? A: You can send whatever amount you want to: Bank: AMBANK Account name: Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Account no: 8881-0008-01410 Swift Code: ARBKMYKLXXX If you want a receipt, you can email your bank-in slip to: accounts@archkl.org Q3: Is my donation tax deductible?

Q5: Is all this above board? A: Yes, this is a project was signed off by Bishop Bernard Paul—the Bishop of Malacca Johor Diocese and the board president of Caritas Malaysia, Bishop Sebastian Francis— Bishop of Penang Diocese and President of the Regional Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, and Archbishop Julian Leow—Bishop of Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. Q6: What is Caritas Malaysia? A: We are an organisation under the Catholic Church in Malaysia.

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NFASM holds Biennial General Meeting 2021 KUALA LUMPUR — The 19th Conference of the BGM of the Natural Fertility Awareness Service of Malaysia (NFASM) was conducted online via virtual platform Zoom, attended by 101 Billings Ovulation Method® (BOM) Teachers and 25 observers from West Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah. NFASM is affiliated to WOOMB International (World Organisation of the Ovulation Method – Billings), teaching the Billings Ovulation Method® to educate pre-marriage couples and others in observing and charting to understand the woman’s ovulation cycle; to achieve pregnancy or to postpone conception. It is also helpful in monitoring reproductive health. It is a powerful tool to ascertain fertility and infertility days. Abnormalities would be identified through the charts women record, thereby assisting couples to make responsible decisions to manage their fertility or infertility without artificial contraceptives through the use of medication, devices and operations which prevent the body from functioning normally and naturally. Couples become masters of their own fertility. Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Julian Leow graced the occasion with a welcoming address that echoes the importance of the role of BOM teachers in instilling conviction and educating married couples in the practical use of the BOM thereby supporting them in realising the goal of responsible parenthood which ultimately fulfils and respects God’s design in natural pro-creation. The conference started with a recollection given by Bro. Gerard Choo, SJ, who walked us through a series of meditation based upon this year’s BGM theme: Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. And before you went forth from the womb, I sanctified you. And I made you prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5) It was a quiet time to reflect, ponder and be immersed in the light and love of the Holy Spirit, refreshing, motivating, inspiring and affirming us in our role being prophets to the nations as BOM Teachers (BOMT). It was truly timely as for the present moment when social distancing permits no face to face consultation and teaching which had for a time come to a standstill especially for communities lacking virtual connectivity. During the conference we had a series of upskilling and training workshops. Attendance is a

requirement for re-accreditation as BOMT every four years. Dr Chan Lek Lim, NFASM Vice President & Associate Director WOOMB International, gave presentations on: • How to do Online Followups • Simple Explanation of the Continuum • ‘Signs at the Vulva’ which is a new PowerPoint Presentation produced by WOOMB International for worldwide use for initial instruction. An international speaker was Professor Pilar Vigil from Chile, a renowned world expert in human fertility, a medical doctor in O&G with post doctoral studies in Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology, and a medical director at the Reproductive Health Research Institute (RHRI) New York and Chile. She is also International President of TeenStar. She gave presentations on: 1. Billings Ovulation Method® and Menstrual Disorders – new findings & research of the menstrual cycle; how BOM helps to identify menstrual disorders; a tool to track a woman’s reproductive health. 2. TeenStar – a) engages children and adolescents on sexuality and affectivity. b) teaches holistic sexuality that includes the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual aspect of the person. Proven Achievements of the program – • awareness of bodily signs • delay and in the start of sexual activity • greater assertiveness in decision making • reduction in pregnancy rates among adolescents • learn how to decide for themselves at what time they will be ready to surrender to another (marriage) • 50 percent of sexually active youth stops having sexual relationship • better communication with parents, their peers and their teachers Another international speaker was Mrs Bernadette Davies, a physiotherapist who later did a Certificate in the ‘Biology of the Cervix’. She is the Director of WOOMB International as well as the Coordinator of the Teacher Training Correspondence. She gave a presentation on New Way of Training in Pandemic Times. Given that the Covid pandemic has brought the world to a halt and globally social distancing has since become the norm, WOOMB has packaged together a virtual

Archbishop Julian Leow (top left corner) addressing the conference.

Teacher Training Program for use internationally. BOM is scientifically based. Discovered and developed by doctors John and Evelyn Billings with the help of endocrine chemist, Prof James Brown & cervical specialist, Prof Erik Odeblad and other collaborators through years of research with thousands of case studies, it has become a highly reliable method. In Malaysia, BOM is presented in five languages—English, Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, Iban and Tamil. Some couples have become to BOM Teachers wanting to help promote and teach the method which has helped couples to use it to postpone pregnancy, achieve pregnancy including discovering and treating root causes of any disorders which may have caused infertility By and large, BOM Teachers have come onboard to volunteer

their time, making the effort to effect change in an environment which may be assailed persistently with pro-choice pressure in ways contradicting the preservation of life which is created in the image of God. Dr Calvin Dinesh, NFASM President, in his opening speech firmly confirmed our vocation and obligation to defend life at the moment of conception and that we are partners with God who is the author and creator of all life. During the meeting, the name of the organisation was changed to ‘Billings Ovulation Method® Service of Malaysia’ or BOMSM, for short. This is to be more specific to what the organisation is about—to PROMOTE AND teach the Billings Ovulation Method®. Monica Choo

Catechetical Sunday Message 2021 Continued from p6 …the Gospel for their children. They are the ones who first hand on the faith to their children and educate them in it, “through the witness of their daily Christian life… lived in accordance with the Gospel” (Apostolicum Actuositatem, 11). In this regard, the family is “the first community called to announce the Gospel to the human person during growth and to bring him or her, through a progressive education and catechesis, to full human and Christian maturity” (Familaris consortio, 2). The family is also the ‘setting for catechesis’, where the awakening of the sense of God, the first steps in prayer, education of the moral conscience, and formation in the Christian understanding of human love and sexuality, take place. Therefore, even before the child attends the first ‘catechism class’ in the parish, he or she has formed ideas about God and faith, about right and wrong, and about life in general, from his or her parents. Infact, whatever children learn or

do not learn from their parents and other significant elders in the family, can have a decisive impact on them throughout their lives. This is why the Church emphasises that, “Family catechesis precedes, accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis” (Catechesi tradendae, 68). This means that family catechesis takes precedence even over the catechesis held in the parish. The suspension of catechism in the parish due to the Covid-19 pandemic has made it more urgent and necessary for parents, and the family at large, to take greater responsibility for the faith education of its younger members. As we celebrate Catechetical Sunday this year, may we be reminded of the summons of the Church: “Family: become what you are”, and grow in holiness to become “an intimate communion of life and love” as God intended us to be. Malaysian Catechetical Commission (MCC)

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Pope at Angelus: May Mary inspire harmony in our hearts and world

File photo. (Photo: Vatican News)

At the New Year's Day Angelus, Pope Francis encourages us to "roll up our sleeves to build peace" praying that Mary, Queen of Peace, may obtain harmony in our hearts and in the entire world. VATICAN CITY — After presiding over the morning celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Pope Francis greeted pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, offering his New Year's good wishes and reflecting on the day's liturgy. In the Church, the first day of the civil New Year is also observed as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, as well as the World Day of Peace. In today's Gospel, we hear about the wonder of the crib

New Year’s Day Angelus. (Photo: Vatican News)

when the shepherds hasten to see the Christ Child announced to them by the angel. The Pope said we can imagine Mary, "like a tender and caring mother," placing Jesus in the manger, not only holding Him in her arms, but inviting us to look at Him in adoration and with welcome. "Behold Mary’s maternity," he said. "She offers the Son who is born to all of us."

problems cause fear for the future, the Pope acknowledged, recalling modern-day young mothers and their children fleeing conflicts and famine, or waiting in refugee camps. Like Mary, we too can make ourselves available to others to bring positive change in our world. "If we become craftsmen of fraternity, we will be able to mend the threads of a world torn apart by war and violence."

God gives us courage with tenderness "God with us" in the Christ Child gives us "courage with tenderness," the Pope pointed out, and this needed encouragement is light in these uncertain and difficult times caused by the pandemic. The resulting economic and social

Peace is a gift and shared commitment Recalling today's World Day of Peace, the Pope pointed out that peace comes from God and is the fruit of a shared commitment. We need to implore the gift of peace from on high, the Pope stressed, since we are not capable of

Legionaries of Kuching Comitium commemorate 70 years Continued from p4 Unbeknownst to most, this very day on 11 December, is the most important to Legion of Mary—the date when Frank Duff gathered with 15 people and a priest from the Dublin Archdiocese for the first time in Dublin for the first Legion of Mary meeting, on the eve of the birthday of our Lady, thus marking the birth of the first Legion of Mary praesidium. Today, active and auxiliary (praying) members make up a total of over 10 million members worldwide, making it the largest apostolic organisation of lay people in the Catholic Church. The very first praesidium in Sarawak, the Stella Maris praesidium was established on the 18 March 1951, on the eve of the feast of St Joseph.

The introduction of the Legion into Sarawak was brought about by two key persons, namely the late Fr Henry van Erp of Kuching Vicariate (known to most as Fr Harry) and the late Sr Luna Periera of Singapore. Like mushrooms after the rain, Sr Luna Periera’s visit in 1951 sparked the rapid growth of the Legion. To this date, the Kuching Comitium continues to grow with 2600 members strong, both active and auxiliary, in over 100 praesidiae across nine affiliate Curiae covering five parishes (Bau, Serian, Sri Aman, Kota Padawan, Lundu and Kuching). The influence of our Mother Mary is also spreading into other areas like Sibu, Miri, Limbang, Lawas, Belaga, Bintulu, Marudi and the interior region of Bau, Lundu and

Serian. The residents in Sarikei, Bintangor, Kapit and Kanowit are also embracing the spirit of the Legion. With a membership strength of over 5,300 members, both active and auxiliary, the Legion of Mary in Sarawak continues to grow to unprecedented levels. Legion of Mary Kuching Comitium

preserving it without His help. We need to have peace in our hearts from the Prince of peace, he reiterated, saying we must also be committed to peace, by taking concrete actions. This means being attentive to the poor, working for justice, and having the courage to forgive others in order to put out the fire of hatred. We also need a positive outlook, he said, both in the Church and in society, that is fostered by seeing the "good that unites us." The Pope added that "getting depressed or complaining is useless," saying we need to "roll up our sleeves" and work for peace, praying that Mary, the Queen of Peace, may "obtain harmony in our hearts and in the entire world." After imparting his apostolic blessing, Pope Francis wished everyone peace in a special way on this New Year's Day when the Church celebrates the annual World Day of Peace started by Saint Pope Paul VI back in 1968. He recalled this year's message, which has as its theme: "Dialogue Between Generations, Education and Work: Tools for Building Lasting Peace," recalling that these three elements are key for establishing a solid base for building peace in our world. The Pope also thanked the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, for his New Year's Year's greetings wishing him the same. He also paid tribute to all the pilgirms gathered in the Square, in particular members of the Sant'Egidio community working for peace around the world. Vatican News

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

FEATURE

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THE SACRAMENTS By Fr Patrick Heng THE SACRAMENTS is a series of teachings by Fr Patrick Heng Lesson 7 – The Sacrament of Holy Orders (Part 1) In the Catechism of the Catholic Church no.1210, it says “Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Con�rmation (or Chrismation), the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life: they give birth and increase, healing and mission to the Christian’s life of faith. There is thus a certain resemblance between the stages of natural life and the stages of the spiritual life.” The seven sacraments can be separated into three groups:

1. SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION which will bring a person into the full life of Christ (Baptism, Eucharist, Con�rmation) 2. SACRAMENTS OF HEALING which heal both the soul and the body (Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick) 3. SACRAMENTS OF COMMITMENT in which a person responds to a speci�c call of God (Marriage, Holy Orders)

The Sacraments at the Service of Communion Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist are Sacraments of Christian Initiation. They confer on a person the vocation of all Christ’s faithful which is a vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelising the world. These sacraments confer the graces needed for a Spirit-filled life. As Catholics journey towards the heavenly homeland, they are helped by the two sacraments at the service of communion: Holy Orders and Matrimony. The purpose of these two sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, enable individuals to direct their lives in a sacramental way for the salvation of others. Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are consecrated in Christ’s name, ‘to feed the Church by the word and grace of God’. Those who receive the sacrament of Matrimony are fortified Those who receive the and consecrated for the sacrament of Holy Orders duties and dignity of marriage. Through service are consecrated in to others, they build up the Christ’s name, ‘to feed the Body of Christ while Church by the word and contributing to their own grace of God’. personal salvation.

The Sacrament of the Holy Orders (CCC 1536) Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time: thus, it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate, presbyterate, and diaconate.

Why is this Sacrament called “Orders”? (CCC 1537-1538) The word order (Latin: ordo) in Roman antiquity designated an established civil body, especially a governing body. Ordinatio means incorporation into an ordo. In the Church there are established bodies which Tradition, not without a basis in Sacred Scripture, has since ancient times called taxeis (Greek) or ordines (Latin). And so, the liturgy speaks of the ordo episcoporum, the ordo presbyterorum, the ordo diaconorum. Other groups also receive this name of ordo: catechumens, virgins, spouses, widows, etc. Integration into one of these bodies in the Church was accomplished by a rite called ordinatio, a religious and liturgical

Priestly ordination. (File photo: Today's Catholic)

act which was a consecration, a blessing or a sacrament. Today the word “ordination” is reserved for the sacramental act which integrates a man into the order of bishops, presbyters, or deacons, and goes beyond a simple election, designation, delegation, or institution by the community, for it confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of a “sacred power” (sacra potestas) which can come only from Christ himself through his Church. Ordination is also called consecratio, for it is a setting apart and an investiture by Christ himself for his Church. The laying on of hands by the bishop, with the consecratory prayer, constitutes the visible sign of this ordination. The origin of the sacrament The beginnings of the ministerial priesthood are found in the Old Testament. Melchizedek was a priest of God, the first to offer bread and wine (Gen 14:18). After the call of Moses, God also chose Moses’ brother Aaron to be the one to act as the priest, the one to offer sacrifice on behalf of the people. This was the beginning of the Aaronic priesthood, centred around the tribe of Levi (Num. 3: 5-10). The Levites presided over the affairs of the Temple and served the intercessory role on behalf of the Israelites before God. The Church sees in this a foreshadowing of the priesthood of Christ himself, the one and only eternal high priest, “the one mediator between God and the human race” (1 Tim 2:5), who offered the one sacrifice that need never be repeated. The ministerial priesthood was established by Jesus when he asked his apostles to continue the ministries that he began. On Holy Thursday night when Jesus instituted the Eucharist, he told his apostles, “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19). When the risen Jesus appeared to the apostles in the Upper Room, Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21), and to equip them for their commissioning, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the holy Spirit” (Jn 20:22). Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he instructed the apostles, “Go, make disciples of all nations. Baptise them. Teach them” (see Mt 28:19, 20). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, asked Peter to continue his shepherding duties when he said, “Feed my lambs, tend my sheep” (Jn 21:15,16). Jesus’ final words of instruction to his apostles were, “You will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). To be continued

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FEATURE

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Reading the Bible from the Heart of the Church Word of God Sunday 2022 Message Sarah was studying in the university when she started reading the Bible seriously for the first time after having a personal encounter with God. As she opened the pages of the Bible, somehow, she knew that she was connecting with God in the Church. Despite limited proficiency in interpreting the Bible, she was not lost because she did not read the Bible in isolation, but within the communion of the Church: what she learned from weekly homilies, catechism classes, Christian hymns, Bible study, faith formation, fellow Catholics and Christian friends came together to help her understand what she reads in the Bible, though of course some passages remain difficult to understand. With the advent of social media, however, she has been exposed to a much wider sources of information, many of which conflict with what she has believed since her younger years. Initially, she encountered conflicting arguments coming from non-Catholic or even anti-Catholic sources. These only spurred her to learn even more about her Catholic faith so that she could give a reasonable explanation of her faith (cf. 1Peter 3:15). More recently, however, and with increasing frequency, she has been hearing conflicting arguments from within the Church, even from among Church authorities. They ask things like, “Did Jesus really say that?”. Some even question whether the Bible’s teaching is correct on current hot-button issues. It seems many people no longer believe that the Bible is the written word of God with God’s authority behind it.

Luckily, some of Sarah’s friends help her to read the Bible from the heart of the Church. That means three things: 1) reading the Bible with reverence and trust, not with suspicion; 2) interpreting what we read the Bible according to the time-tested understanding of the Church’s Sacred Tradition as expressed in the Liturgy, the Church Fathers, the Doctors of the Church and the Saints, and distilled in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC); and 3) learning from the Bible as disciples of Jesus Christ, sincerely trying to learn from the Master. Ultimately, reading the Bible is supposed to help us encounter Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. Such an encounter can be likened to a thirsty person who finds an abundant spring of water¹. Every time one is thirsty, one can drink as much as one can take in, but there is plenty of water that remains; and this is a good thing for which one should be grateful. If the spring were depleted, there would be no more water to quench subsequent thirst. Regional Bible Commission Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei ¹Cf. Commentary on the Diatessaron (a document that attempts to harmonise the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)) by Saint Ephrem, deacon (cf. Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings, Ordinary Time Week 6 Sunday).

A feature on Sunday’s Mass readings: 16 January 2022: Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C (Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11)

Jesus was single yet supportive of marriage Long-standing tradition, Church teaching and proof from sacred scripture all attest to the fact that Jesus was not married. But there are some scholars and fiction writers who claim that Jesus was married. Most well known among fiction would be Dan Brown’s “Da Vinci Code” which assigns Mary Magdalene a prominent role as Jesus’s confidante, disciple and possibly wife. The example of a scholar would be Karen King, a Harvard Divinity School professor who announced in 2012 that a tiny piece of papyrus was discovered that might conjecture Jesus was married. According to her, even if this scrap of papyrus was not evidential enough that Jesus was actually married, it could infer that some early Christians thought that Jesus had a wife. It shook the world of biblical scholarship. This fragment was written in Coptic and purportedly from the early days of Christianity. Within its short but incomplete passage, Jesus refers to a woman as "my wife." It also includes the words "Mary" and "she is able to be my disciple." King speculated these lines describe a dialogue between Jesus and his disciples on the matter whether his “wife,” possibly Mary Magdalene, was worthy of discipleship. On top of that, King provocatively labelled this fragment as the “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife.” Through her hypothesis, King wanted to highlight that women who are wives and mothers can be Jesus’s disciples too even from the early days of Christianity, and to challenge the patriarchal system of the Church. From the very beginning, Christians have disagreed about whether it is better not to marry or to marry, but within the first century after Jesus’ life, Christians have validated the unmarried state as more holy by using Jesus' marital status to support their position. From the Second Vatican Council, however, all states of life can lead to holiness, and holiness is not defined by only the unmarried state. The highly controversial “Gospel of Jesus’ Wife” was debunked by a journalist, Ariel Sabar, in his article, “The Unbelievable Tale of Jesus’s Wife” publised in The Atlantic in 2016. He later expanded it into a book, “Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus' Wife” in 2020. Understandably, King’s prominent reputation was damaged. Sabar is no biblical scholar, but would you believe it, he uncovered the forgery via ownership history? Sabar carried out a

by Fr Francis Lim, SJ

For the greater glory of God

thorough vetting of the papyrus’s chain of purchase and discovered one of the owners forged this papyrus. Later King herself publicly acknowledged the papyrus was likely a forgery. Jesus himself may not have been married, nonetheless he certainly went to a wedding. In John’s Gospel today, Jesus not only attended a wedding function, but he changed water into wine at the request of his mother who was incidentally invited. He did it also because he was sympathetic towards the wedding couple because of the lack of wine for the guests. In a way through this scriptural event, Jesus supports marriage as a state of life that leads to holiness by his important presence at this wedding reception. According to John, the miracle at Cana was the first of Jesus’ many signs where he let his glory be seen by the people. Jesus chose a wedding, of all the events of human life, to emphasise this point. He chose a wedding rather than a coming of age ceremony, death, or other social human events to manifest his divine splendour as the beginning of his earthly ministry. Besides the variety of gifts given in all sorts of different ways in different people, St Paul, in the second reading, also specifies that the particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. Whether married or celibate, each is called to live out one’s vocation differently according the purpose of God; all these are the calling of the one and the same Spirit who distributes different gifts to different people in their various vocations: whether married or celibate. To put out another argument, God even uses the allegory of marriage for God’s relationship with the people of Israel in the first reading. The term “the wedded” is ascribed to the people of Israel in the first reading; besides other matrimonial designation, ie, “the Lord takes (erotic) delight in them,” “the land will have its wedding,” “the one who built you wed you,” and “as the bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so will your God rejoice in you.” The image of husband and wife is deployed by God to highlight that the intimate and fruitful relationship for married couples can be used for God’s own close relationship with the people. Therefore, even though Jesus was unmarried, he underscored the importance of marriage for holiness. On top of that, even from ancient times, God has used the metaphor of marriage for divine-human relationship to underscore the intimate relationship all of us should have with God. If this is not holiness, what else can it be?

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Christian Reflections for the Year of the Tiger 2022 by Fr Stephen Chin The year 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. The Tiger according to Chinese Tradition The Chinese character for the tiger (虎) comprises 虍 (hu) representing the stripes of the tiger and 人 (ren) meaning ‘a man with legs reared up as a human being’. The tiger is the 3rd of the 12 terrestrial branches and is a symbol of magisterial dignity and sternness. It is also a model of courage and �erceness. Its roar represents danger and terror. The head of the tiger is often painted on shields of soldiers and on wooden covers of potholes of forts to terrify the enemy. It is embroidered on courts robes as an insignia of some ranks of military of�cers. In ancient times, Chinese soldiers were sometimes dressed in imitation tiger skins with tail. They ‘roared’ in battle, like a tiger, to strike terror in their enemies. The ashes of the bones of the tiger, its fat, skin, claws, liver and blood are useful in combating or preventing diseases. Its whiskers are good for toothaches. The tiger �gures in many ancient bronze and porcelain vessels. Its head is often struck as an ornament on the sides of these vessels, with a ring in its mouth. The tiger symbolises military prowess. It is an object of social terror to demons and is painted on walls to frighten malignant spirits away from the neighbourhood houses and temples. The shoes of children are also embroidered with tiger heads for the same reason. The god of wealth is sometimes represented as a tiger. Tiger gods are also to be found especially in Hanoi and Manchuria. According to astrologers, the Ursa Major (樞) is the start which gives birth to the tiger, the lord of the animals (山獸之君). So, the tiger is also called the ‘king of the beasts’ (獸之王). The Chinese character for ‘king’ (王) is believed to be traceable upon its brow. The tiger is seven feet in length – seven being the masculine principle. Its gestation period is seven months, and its life span is 1000 years. When it reaches 500 years, its colour changes to white. The tiger is said by Chinese writers to eat its victims and they become devils to regularly serve the tiger as slaves. If a tiger leaps three times at its prey and fails, it withdraws. The �esh of dogs is said to intoxicate the tiger. Bad smells and burnt horns can scare the tiger away. According to Chinese beliefs, the spirit of the person eaten by a tiger makes the tiger devour others. Those who meet a violent death may return to the world if fortunate enough to obtain a substitute. When a tiger bites a man to death, his soul has no strength to go anywhere and becomes a regular slave of the tiger. The soul is called ‘ch’ang’ (倀). The same idea of seeking a substitute (討替) is the explanation of the objection by superstitious persons to save a drowning man, for fear that they themselves would be dragged down as a substitute by the spirit of the one previously drowned there. A Christian Perspective The tiger roars, terrorises, kills, and is feared and revered for its enormous strength and destructive powers and is divinised as a god. In its dark side, it can be considered an incarnation of evil and personi�cation of the devil. It causes evil, death and slavery to the soul, its victim – hence, the Devilish King Tiger, the Devil. In considering the positive side of the tiger, it can be considered a symbol of Good, and hence can be a personi�cation of Good. Who is good? Only God is Good. He can be called the Heavenly Tiger King, symbolising Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Heavenly Tiger King who destroys sin and death in us by substituting for us in his death on the cross to give us redemption and eternal life. There are great saintly �gures of courage and prowess in the Old Testament and New Testament, but the greatest of them all is Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Son of God become man, is the King of Creation. He terrorises the devil who fears him. The devil trembles and prostrates before him and vanishes from his sight at his command by divine power, not by the physical force of the tiger. Jesus defeats and destroys evil and sin in man who repents and reveres him. He effects awe and reverential fear through his power to heal and to cast out demons that crowds were thunderstruck and proclaimed him to be the Divine Messiah from heaven. In his words and teaching, Jesus is feared. He is indeed the Saviour of mankind sent from heaven. He is the Son of God! So people go to him for all their physical and spiritual needs. There is nothing he cannot do. There

is no evil he cannot destroy. There is no sin he cannot forgive for those who repent. As our substitute Jesus (our Heavenly Tiger King) willingly became our slave to die for us on the cross to save us. In death, he saves. He shows great strength and courage, and overcomes our death. In his resurrection, the Divine power showed forth and he overcame death and restored life to us. The cross is the symbol of the power and strength of Christ to destroy death, and gain salvation for us. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most powerful sign that death is conquered, that sin is destroyed, that life is restored. Jesus Christ is the Power of God offering the gift of salvation to all to rise from sin and death to eternal life of love, happiness and peace in Christ, our Heavenly Tiger King. Our Heavenly Tiger King is reverently feared and adored, praised, glori�ed, honoured, and profusely thanked by man. The highest power, honour and glory is rendered to him by man from his birth to the end of time. The Holy Spirit is given to us to empower us to be his witnesses. We see the Apostles, the martyrs and the saints �lled with his Holy Spirit, becoming such shining witnesses of him, showing great fortitude in their trials and tribulations to proclaim that “Christ has died, and has risen and Christ will come again”. They follow the footsteps of Christ, their Heavenly Tiger King and they conquered the king of hell, sin and death in the Resurrected Christ. Many today in like manner, follow him and become his disciples in doing what others have done. A comparison between the Hellish Tiger King and the Heavenly Tiger King The Hellish Tiger King The devil, enslaves man by enticing man to sin, to be steeped in vices; causes man to have slavish fear, leads him to hell, to worship him, to imbibe, his evil spirit to help to conquer the world for him, to propagate hatred, and beget sons of darkness, to kill, to destroy and to become devils like him. Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Tiger King, on the contrary, crushes slavish fear and helps us to have a reverential fear of God, destroys evil, the darkness of sin, to save us by making us children of God. He willingly dies for us instead; he feeds us by giving us his �esh and blood to eat and drink, so as to imbibe his Spirit, to be �lled with his Divine Power and strength, to be co-workers with Christ, to conquer the world of mankind for God and reign in God’s kingdom with Christ, our Heavenly Tiger King. Some examples of Great Figures of the Old Testament: Samson killed hundreds of his enemies single-handedly with the jaw bone of an ass, with the power of God given him. King Saul, the tall and handsome brave �gure, destroyed his enemies by thousands with the power of God. David, the young shepherd boy, with God’s help, slew the giant Goliath of the Philistines. He was made king and representative of God and slew his enemies by tens of thousands. Judas Macabees and his brothers, helped by the hand of God, brought terror to their enemies by their courage and prowess in battles. Some New Testament Figures, being followers of Christ the Heavenly Tiger King John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ roared in the desert and many repented of their sins, to accept the coming of Christ, their Heavenly Tiger King. Peter ‘roared’ fearlessly as a witness to Christ and died a martyr’s death by cruci�xion. Saul, a persecutor of the Christians, became Paul by the power of the Risen Lord, became a great ‘tiger’ for Christ, ‘roaring’ and terrorising and conquering the devils and their company of evil men throughout Europe, saving innumerable souls before being beheaded outside the walls of Rome. His work continues in his letters to the end of time because Christ, the Heavenly Tiger King inspires him to preach the living Word that will never fall away but will always come to ful�lment. There are innumerable faithful followers of Christ, including millions of martyrs and saints who have lived and died for Christ out of loyalty to and love for the Risen Christ who has saved them. Conclusion: A few suggestions for the year of the tiger Think of Jesus Christ, our Heavenly Tiger King. Accept him as our Saviour and our God. Imitate him, reverently fear him for not doing enough for him. Love him, follow him, serve him with a consistent heart. Be his disciple, be his voluntary ‘slave’, ‘roaring’ for him, bearing witness to him by words and deeds after his example. The above quoted examples of great �gures are carved out by him. They have done marvellously well. May this New Year of the Tiger be a year �lled with courage from the Spirit of Christ and with the power of the Risen Lord who brings light and salvation to mankind. May the Holy Spirit of Christ bring joy, peace, harmony to us all, and enkindle in us the lively hope of our future glory in heaven with God our Heavenly Father.

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CHILDREN

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Hello kids! Happy new year and what’s your new year resolution? Is it the same with the previous year or are you planning to do something exciting soon? We wish you peace and joy in your hearts. May Jesus shower you with His love everyday!

Love, JoySome Siblings

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD: is the feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Join the dots then colour the image below.

THE 3 WISE MEN: A short story taken from Matthew 2: 7-11 Clue: use the keys given to complete this story.

Then Herod called the wise men and learnt from them exactly what time the

appeared.

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I may come and What else do you know about Jesus baptism? What happened when Jesus got out of the water? Tell your friends and family about it.

him also. Having heard the

king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the

, went before them, till it

came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great

. They went into the

house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother. They fell down and worshipped him, then opening their treasures, they offered unto him Santa Maria Bonda Allah, doakanlah kami yang berdosa ini sekarang dan waktu kami mati, Amin.

of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

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My Journey Towards Confirmation My name is Marcello Matthius Anak Muhren. I was not born a Catholic. Why? You may ask. Well, my father is a Catholic but my mother is from the BEM church denomination. However, I was baptised a Catholic at St Joseph's Cathedral when I was 10 years old. I confess that I was an ignorant Catholic. Back in 2014, I was supposed to receive my �rst Holy Communion, but I did not comply. Instead, I joined a football tournament because it gave me a sense of joy and ful�llment. I felt devastated later. Fortunately, by God's grace, I received my �rst Holy Communion the following year at 11 years old. My teachers taught me a lot about living my life God's way. My parents also guided me to the right path in life as a Catholic. As I entered secondary school, I knew that I would have to receive the Sacrament of Con�rmation. I decided to join the YCS Movement as one of my extra-curricular activities. I wanted to understand more about my faith and connect with others in Christ in my teenage years. I enjoyed the gatherings very much as I felt the presence of the Lord among the crowd. Besides that, catechism classes conducted by Catholic teachers had also kept me well-prepared for the Sacrament of Con�rmation. Sharing with you how I chose my con�rmation name, it was one evening, while I was playing futsal with my peers, the name ‘Matthew’ came to my mind. When I arrived home, I searched for more information about Matthew, the apostle saint. I was, and still am, truly inspired by his works and services in which I can relate to myself. Thus, the name Matthew. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world, the Rite of Con�rmation was postponed twice. I had to face so many challenges. For example, not believing in myself, not being prepared enough mentally and physically, and feeling scared. However, that was not a barrier for me to complete the sacraments of initiation. I remained eager to prepare myself. As the President of YCS, I often reminded myself to be prepared for any dif�culties as I felt very blessed to have such opportunity. In closing, I am so grateful for all that has happened throughout the journey towards receiving the Sacrament of Con�rmation. It has helped me to become a better self. Marcello Matthius Anak Muhren (Form 5) SMK St Joseph (M), Kuching

The pandemic has certainly taken a toll not only on our daily lives but most importantly our faith. We’re unable to attend Church like we used to which has made some falter in faith. This is something that I’m seeing even among my peers which is unfortunate to say the least. For me personally, I’ve been frequently attending online Masses with my family every Sunday morning. Frankly speaking, online Mass doesn’t give off the same feeling compared to attending Church physically. Going to Church and basking in the holy presence of the Lord’s house is something that I really miss. Even so, thanks to the initiative of our Churches, we are still able to say our prayers and sing our praises in a church-like setting from the comfort of our own homes through online Masses. That is something that we can’t take for granted. During the month of Rosary particularly last year, my family and I would gather around after dinner to recite the Rosary prayer. It’s actually a very good way to help me meditate more deeply and build a healthy spiritual relationship in the family. Aside from that, one of the things that has kept me connected to my faith was the gatherings that we had for the Young Christian Students (YCS) Movement in my school. We talked and shared about a plethora of topics which most of the time hit me really hard. I started to notice that I’ve been doing a lot of self-re�ection on myself and I’m very thankful for it because it helps me in preparing myself for con�rmation. Not to forget, my catechism classes have also helped me to realise some important things that I wouldn’t have thought of. All in all, my journey towards con�rmation was quite the ride for sure. There were times of doubts and uncertainties which made me question myself regularly and I’m sure I’ll still do. In spite of that, during and after our con�rmation, I know that it is the start of a new spiritual journey for all of us con�rmands. I strongly pray for everyone that the Holy Spirit guides us in everything we do and whispers the right directions to us on the path that we are taking or about to take. Bryan Balan Jim (Form 4) SMK St Joseph (M), Kuching

YOUTH

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

BSC Sunday School students receive Sacraments of Confirmation KUCHING — A total of 46 students from Blessed Sacrament Church (BSC) online Sunday School 2021 (English session), received their sacraments of Con�rmation at the Con�rmation Masses celebrated by Fr Patrick Heng on 12 and 19 December, respectively. The con�rmands, aged 16-17 years from Level 10, had to be divided into two batches of 26 and 20 students in compliance with strict pandemic SOPs. Parish Rector, Fr Patrick Heng had been granted the faculty to administer the sacrament of Con�rmation by Archbishop Simon Poh, the Ordinary Minister of Con�rmation. He reminded the con�rmands that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to them for their whole lifetime. These gifts will help them throughout their life journeys and if they are receptive to the Holy

KUCHING Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Commission | National Coordinating Of�ce Facebook/Instagram: @kchyouthcom Youtube: Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Commission Kuching Campus Ministry Facebook: @kchcampusmin Spirit, the gifts of Wisdom and Understanding, Judgement, Knowledge and other gifts will always be there to help and guide them. They must continue to pray to the Holy Spirit and also to pray for others in their lives. The Holy Spirit will strengthen their faith in the Lord Jesus and they will see changes in their lives. Fr Patrick

Pope sends greetings to Taizé youth

Archive photo of the 2018-2019 Taizé youth meeting in Madrid. (Photo: Vatican News)

“The Spirit of God never ceases to work and to give rise to creators of fraternity, solidarity and unity,” writes Cardinal Parolin in a message conveying Pope Francis’ greetings and prayers for young people of the Taizé Community. KUCHING — An eagerly awaited in-person meeting of European youth, led by the Taizé Community, has once again been postponed due to the ongoing covid-19 pandemic, with the meeting now scheduled to take place in July in Turin. “The Holy Father is praying for this intention,” writes

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, but for the present, “he is united in thought and prayer with all of you who are present online, and sends you his warmest greetings.” In a message conveying the Pope’s closeness, Cardinal Parolin commends the Taizé youth for not “giving in to defeatism,” but instead tackling dif�cult questions head-on, praying about them and listening to God’s word in order “to shed light on the most complex human situations.”

The Spirit breathes when we are together Recalling

the

events

advised them to always thank the Lord and to pray. Many parents were grateful that their children managed to receive the Sacrament of Con�rmation, especially those students who had transferred from other parishes because of the pandemic.

Pentecost, Cardinal Parolin notes that on that day, the disciples “were all together” – and he reminds young people that “it is when we are together that the Spirit of God breathes in a special way.” He goes on to explain that “with the current synod, the Catholic Church, too, is seeking to make itself more open to the work of the Spirit by inviting Christ's disciples to discover how much we need each other.” The Cardinal tells the young people that by choosing to face “human suffering and the pressing emergencies of the moment,” they have been given “the opportunity to participate in the solutions.” Although there is cause for concern and anxiety, he says that it is nonetheless true “that the Spirit of God never ceases to work and to give rise to creators of fraternity, solidarity, and unity.” He assures them that by opening themselves “to the presence of the Risen Christ,” by allowing Him to unify their hearts, they are preparing themselves to be among them. Cardinal Parolin concludes his letter a benediction from Pope Francis: “The Holy Father asks the Holy Spirit to bless you, the young Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants who are joining the European meeting in thought and prayer, and he entrusts you to the protection of the Virgin.” Vatican News

SIBU Sibu Diocese Youth Apostolate Instagram: @sibudiocesanyouthapostolate MIRI Diocese of Miri Youth & Campus Ministry Of�ce Website: http:// dioceseofmiri.blogspot.com/ KOTA KINABALU Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu Archdiocesan Youth Commission Instagram: @archkk_campusministry SANDAKAN Diocese of Sandakan Youth Commission Facebook: @Temasyabeliakeuskupan2019 KENINGAU Diocese of Keningau Youth & Campus Ministry Of�ce Facebook: Kekitaanfm Instagram: @komisibeliakeuskupankeningau KUALA LUMPUR ASAYO KL (Archdiocesan Single Adults & Youth Of�ce) Facebook: @AsayoKualaLumpur Instagram: @asayo_kl MALACCA-JOHORE Malacca Johore Diocese Young People Network Facebook: @mjdypn Instagram: @mjdypn @mjcc2020 PENANG Penang Diocesan Youth Network Facebook/Instagram: @pdynpenang Website: https:// www.pdynpenang.com

YOUTH

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

EMPOWERED Final Virtual Session for 2021

KUCHING — EMPOWERED Ministry organised its final virtual session for the year 2021 on Friday, 3 December via Zoom with the theme One Last Time for 2021. The session began with a short worship song led by Emmanuel Foong, Music Team leader and moved on to a group interactive game led by Brian Chin and Francis Davin, the hosts for the evening. After the game, a short message was shared by one of the Ministry leaders, Ralph Balan, in reviewing the year that was coming to an end. He shared how God worked powerfully throughout the year in the plans and activities that had taken place and how the Holy Spirit moved and inspired leaders, members, and friends in the Ministry. In relating to the Season of Advent, Ralph also invited those in the session to model after the Blessed Virgin Mary, to place our trust in God as she did in bearing Jesus while enduring the reality of being young, poor, unmarried, and far away from the comforts of home when she gave birth to Jesus. The session continued with testimonies from three youths—Samantha Lau, Faybians Abit, and Gerald Kiing, on the experiences that they had in joining the activities during the year. Samantha shared her experience with the 6-session How to Pray Like Mary Bible Study Series, Faybians shared his experience in the Cell Ministry, and Gerald shared his experience with the Discover the Riches of The Mass short Bible Study Series, Sunday Prayer Sessions, and Friday Sessions. The evening ended with a video montage highlighting activities and happenings for EMPOWERED Ministry throughout the year. EMPOWERED will resume virtual activities in 2022 beginning with the fortnightly Sunday Prayer Sessions on 2 January. For more updates, check out the Ministry’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Discord channel; or WhatsApp 014-694 5414.

2PM VIRTUAL SUNDAY PRAYERS KUCHING — EMPOWERED Ministry has organised fortnightly prayer sessions virtually on Sundays for its members and for others who are interested to pray together. The virtual prayer sessions initially begun in May 2021 as an effort to pray the Rosary together once a week in conjunction with May being the month of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When May 2021 ended, members of the Ministry and friends who have been joining in the weekly prayers decided to continue the practice to pray together virtually and thus the fortnightly sessions carried on. To date, the Ministry has also conducted other forms of Catholic prayers including the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office); and the Rosary in various languages and dialects such as Latin, Mandarin, Bidayuh Bukar-Sadong, and in Bahasa Malaysia. These virtual prayer sessions have not only been a space for members and friends of the Ministry to pray together but to also pray for each other’s needs and to be in touch with one another despite being physically apart due to the pandemic or being away from Kuching for studies and work. The virtual prayer sessions take place every first, third, and fifth Sundays of every month starting at 2PM on Zoom. All are

welcome

join

and

pray

together.

For

information to join, please WhatsApp 014-694 5414 or visit EMPOWERED Ministry’s social media pages on Instagram (empoweredkch) and Facebook (fb.com/empoweredkch).

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

『聖神藉著一個形像，如同鴿子，降在衪上邊；並有聲音從天上說：「你是我的愛子，我因你喜悅。」』（路3:22） Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

第405期

元旦和平日文告：以教育和工作建設和平（梵蒂冈新闻讯）教宗方济各在世界各地成立「相遇学校」，透过45万间学校为青年推出课程，培育他们建设和平的文化。教宗在本年元旦的「世界和平日」文告中呼应这份经验，重申教育乃建设持久和平的途径。教宗最近接见了相遇学校的学生，当中一位来自卢旺达的难民青年忆述他在大屠杀中幸存、逃到刚果民主共和国的故事，他在相遇学校中领悟到建设和平的方式，现在正修读法律课程，准备以专业贡献非洲社会。教宗透过本届和平日文告，发扬这份和平教育。文告以「教育、工作、代际对话：为建设持久和平的途径」为主题，阐明只有大众互相聆听、世代彼此往来、年轻人得到适当教育和众人都有合乎尊严的工作，世界才能达致和平；而众人也要回应「穷人和大地的呼

声」。虽然在新型冠状病毒疫情下，战争、军备竞赛、气候变化和饥荒所带来的影响也更加严重，但教宗在和平青年在相遇学校学习和平文化日文告中强调，世界仍能建立持久的和平，「这公正的世界，也保护受造要以自己的内心、家庭、社会界。和与环境的关系为起点。」教宗指出，疫情下，刚对于落实聆听与世代之进入就业市场的年轻人和陷间的对话，教宗表示，青年需入失业的成年人皆生活艰要「长者的生活、智慧和精神难，「我们必须集思广益，经验」，同时长者需要青年的努力创造条件和发现解决方支持、情感、创造力和活力。案，让每个处于劳动年龄的至于履行照料共同家园人都有机会以自己的工作为的承诺，也要几代人合力实家庭和社会生活作出贡践。教宗赞扬青年致力建造更献。」

教宗致夫妻書：婚姻有苦有樂，天主始終陪伴你們（梵蒂冈新闻网）正值普世教会庆祝「爱的喜乐」家庭年，教宗方济各在圣诞期内于12月26日圣家节向世界各地的夫妇发表了一封长信。教宗首先表示，在这新冠疫情肆虐的「非常时期」，他渴望让家庭感受到他的「关爱与亲近」。面对星火燎原的疫情、反复封城的措施，教宗写道：「当前处境让我渴望怀著谦逊、关爱和开放的态度陪伴每一个人、夫妻和家庭。」教宗这封信函著重于耶稣每天在家庭生活中的临在。所有夫妻都如同亚巴郎那样踏上旅途，离开父母的家，在婚姻内携手缔造新生活（参阅：创十二1）。教宗表示，「我们与天主的关系塑造我们、陪伴我们，派遣我们每一个人，并帮助我们『离开故土』，纵然肯定常会惴惴不安，甚至面对未知时心生恐惧」。然而，我们的基督信仰提醒我们，在婚姻的挑战前我们并不孤单，因为耶稣时时刻刻都在。在孩子出生、成长时，工作艰辛及病痛侵扰时，耶稣始终临在。夫妻携手「迈向天主许诺之地：在基督内两人成为一体」。「你们的生活合而为一；你们在与耶稣的爱的共融内成为集体的『我们』，耶稣生活并临在于你们生命的每时每刻里」。「天主始终伴随著你们；祂无条件地

爱著你们。你们并不孤单！」接著，圣父教宗念及有小孩的夫妻。他敦促为人父母者在各种互动中活出基督的爱，因为孩子总是专注观察、吸收一切。「孩子始终是份恩典；他们改变每个家庭的历史。他们渴望爱、无偿付出、尊重和信任。为人父母的身份要求你们传给孩子那份明白自己是天主儿女的喜乐」。教宗坦言，生儿育女并不容易，但孩子也教导父母许多功课：当父母亲善尽亲职时，孩子也会从中得到安全感和信任感。此外，教宗也叮嘱夫妻积极参与堂区生活，协助教会推展使命，陪伴其它比较没意识到天主临在的家庭。「你们肩负的使命是以你们在职场中的临在改变社会，确保家庭的需求恰如其分地被列入考量」。教宗重申婚姻是个圣召，并提到生活中的惊涛骇浪和我们所在的那艘船。耶稣要么是在船上平息风浪，要么是走近船边，等著我们邀请祂上船（参阅：谷四38、六 51）。「重要的是，你们一起定睛凝视耶稣。唯有如此，你们才会找到平安，克服冲突，为你们的许多问题找出解决方法。这些问题当然不会消失，但你们将能从不同的角度看待它们」。疫情下有危机也有转机。教宗省思这点，说到反复的封城措施迫使许多家庭在同一个屋簷下工作、读书、娱乐

和休息。这情况有时会造成困境。「你们的相处时光不是活受罪，却将成为暴风雨中的避难所」。「愿每个家庭都是接纳和理解的地方」。教宗也邀请家庭常说「请、谢谢、对不起」，睡前务必和好。再者，夫妻也要一起跪在圣体圣事前祈祷，每天晚上同声诵念祈祷文。「你们也要记得，宽恕能医治所有创伤。彼此宽恕是内心决定的成果，它源自于在祈祷、在我们与天主的关系中的日臻成熟」。教宗指出，有些夫妻忍不了疫情下的煎熬、打算分道扬镳；这对孩子造成巨大的伤痛。但教宗保证，他「亲近并关爱」分离的夫妻。面对准备结婚的情侣，教宗鼓励他们为婚姻培养「创意十足的勇气」，好能应对前所未有的艰难考验，迈入婚姻生活。教宗也问候各位祖父母，他们在封城时期体尝到格外孤独的滋味。教宗称这些年迈长者是「人类的活记忆」。在这封长信的结尾处，教宗期勉夫妻始终带著微笑和热忱活出他们的圣召，不要愁容满面。「愿大圣若瑟在所有家庭里激发创意十足的勇气；在当前划时代的改变时期，这勇气至关重要。愿我们的圣母助佑你们在婚姻生活中促进相遇文化。我们迫切需要以相遇文化来面对当今的问题与难关」。

月刊出版者：古晉總主教顧問：歐慶偉神父 Fr Felix Au 英語編輯：蔡愛薇 Ivy Chai 中文編輯：楊秀音 Magdalene Yeo 編輯組：黃儀惠 Margaret Bong 黄丽彬 Annie Ng Freddy Bohari (BM) Mabel Salin (Eng) 工作人員：魏愛沁 Shannon Wei

奉派職務宣揚真理和愛傳道員職務授予禮儀面世（梵蒂冈新闻讯）「请领受这个信仰标记，讲授基督的真理和爱，并用你的生活、行为和言语去宣扬信仰。」从明年元旦起，获教区特别委派的平信徒，将于主教秘鲁天主教会的慕道聚会/神父在监狱主持慕道聚会主持的礼仪中，借着这句的特定服务；第二是负起各勉言接受传道员的职务。教廷12月13日建立传道员项使徒工作，如带领团体的职务授予礼仪范本，教廷礼仪祈祷生活、照顾病人、主持及圣事部部长罗赫总主教葬礼、培育其他传道员、协（Arthur Roche）附上一封写调牧民工作，以及帮助穷给各主教团主席的信函，阐明人。罗赫总主教在信中强这项平信徒职务的性质和担当调，由于这项职务是召叫，条件。这礼仪落实了教宗方济各本年在《古老的职务》手谕主教要帮助接受这职务的人作分辨，并非所有「传道中，所确立的传道员职务。委派传道员职务的仪式员」或从事牧民工作的人，可于弥撒或圣道礼仪中举行，都必须接受这个职务，毋需范本也明定经文与流程，即劝接受的人士包括执事和司铎勉、祈祷、降福和授予十字的候选人和修会会士，以及学校宗教科老师和专为特定架。罗赫总主教首先澄清这教会团体服务的教友。信函指出，每个主教团项职务的性质，指出传道员蒙召「在地方教会内负起宣讲和要阐明传道员的角色和具体传递信仰的责任，与圣职人员工作，而担任传道员职务的合作，并在他们的领导下履行候选人，需要有深厚的信仰和成熟人格，也要接受过相职责。」他表示，这项职务有两关培育。大使命，第一是履行讲授要理

2025年禧年：教宗委託菲西凱拉總主教負責籌備工作（梵蒂冈新闻网）「圣父教宗方济各委托圣座促进新福传委员会负责圣座方面筹备 2025年圣年的协调工作」。这是圣座12月26日公告的内容，并指出「在这层意义上，该委员会主席菲西凯拉（Rino Fisichella）总主教数天前面见了圣座国务院、圣座财产管理局和圣座经济秘书处的首长们」。这是一次常规禧年。上一次禧年是慈悲特殊圣年，教宗方济各以《慈悲面容》诏书宣布举行这次禧年，同样委托菲西凯拉总主教负责协调。那次圣年从2015年11月29日开始，至2016年11月20日结束，先在中非的班吉提前开启圣门，后于12月8日开启了圣伯多禄大殿的圣门。 2025年的圣年将是教会历史上第27次常规禧年。首次禧年是博尼法爵教宗于1300年宣布的，在前来罗马的朝圣者中有但丁、奇马布埃、乔托，以及法国国王的弟弟瓦卢瓦的查理和他的妻子。最初，圣年每一百年举行一次，克莱孟六世教宗于1350 年规定每隔50年庆祝一次。保禄二世又于1470年颁布谕令，命每隔25年举行一次禧年。

拿破仑时期的事件阻止庇护七世于1800年举行圣年。同样，1850年，由于罗马共和国建立后的紧张局势及庇护九世的暂时流亡，禧年也未能举行。但这位教宗却能庆祝了1875年的圣年，尽管因意大利军队驻防罗马，未能举行开启和关闭圣门的仪式。良十三世举行了 1900年代的第一个禧年，若望保禄二世举行了2000年的第一个禧年。在历次特殊禧年中，除了教宗方济各发起的慈悲圣年外，有玛尔定五世1423年宣布的那次，庆祝教宗在亚味农流放后返回罗马；庇护十一世于1933年宣布第1900 年救赎圣年；保禄六世于 1966年为梵蒂冈第二届大公会议闭幕宣布了禧年，以及若望保禄二世于1983年宣布了第1950年救赎圣年。最近，教宗方济各也提到将于 2033年庆祝救赎禧年。禧年为信徒们提供获得全大赦的机会，能为自己，也能为亡者。禧年是修和与皈依、团结互助和促进正义、事奉天主和兄弟姐妹的一年。

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

聖伯多祿廣場上移民群雕貼置二維碼以更瞭解移民現實狀況

教宗：讓我們向難民敞開心門（梵蒂冈新闻网）教宗方济各12月22日在梵蒂冈保禄六世大厅主持公开接见活动中，再次向整个国际社会发出沉痛呼吁。他强调，需要做出具体和普遍的承诺来面对移民现象，特别是在地中海地区。在众人的沉默中，该地区又有新的悲剧发生。一周内，有160多名难民在利比亚和意大利兰佩杜萨岛之间的海域中溺水身亡。教宗说，「在我访问塞浦路斯和希腊期间，我能再次亲手接触到难民和移民受伤的人性。我也观察到，欧洲只有几个国家在承担地中海地区移民现象带来的大部分后果，而实际上，这移民现象需要的是共同责任，没有一个国家可以推卸这责任」。接著，教宗表示，「透过意大利当局的慷慨开放」，他能把访问塞浦路斯和希腊期间遇到的一群人带到罗马。「他们中的几位，今天

教宗在公开接见活动中

就在我们中间。欢迎你们！身为教会，我们将在未来的几个月照顾他们。这是一个小小的标记，我希望它能激励欧洲其它国家，好使它们让当地教会团体照顾急需重新安置的其他弟兄姐妹」。教宗强调，接纳移民后，另外需要做的就是移民的融入。「事实上，有很多当地教会、修会和天主教机构，都已

准备好接纳他们，并陪伴他们走向一个富有成效的融入进程。需要的只是打开一扇门!」周三公开接见结束后，教宗问候了一名一岁半的阿富汗男童，他们之前在希腊莱斯沃斯岛的难民营相遇。在教宗和圣艾智德团体的帮助下，现在，他和他的家人一起来到罗马接受治疗。

嗨!小朋友，

阿爸天父的话：“只要我们有吃有穿，就当知足。”（弟前6：8） ♥ 不小心丢了十令吉，我们首先应原谅自己的大意，不是哭闹。因为哭闹并不能解决问题。 ♥ 如果有长辈愿意帮助我们，在生活中再给与我们帮助，我们应该要满怀感恩的心。谢谢帮助我们的人，也立志不要再大意了。 ♥ 小朋友，知足，表现在感谢和珍惜自己当下所拥有的。

漫画转载自《方舟乐园008期》实践好习惯：小朋友，新的一年又到了。新的一年，我们大家一起来学习节制，不要贪心，也不要浪费。让“知足”让我们在这新年充满智慧和喜乐！

垃圾分类

年关近。请小朋友帮忙父母一起大扫除，应用学校教的垃圾分类法来收拾掉家里不再需要用到的物品。能拿去循环再使用的，请不要直接丢进垃圾通。

节制地吃

新年的时候，家里的餐桌上一定摆满了食物，茶几上一定还有林林总总、五颜六色的糖果和糕点。这时你要学了：有节制地吃，不要因为喜欢就过量吃，学习与家人分享。

少买新衣

小朋友，新年临近的时候，爸爸妈妈会带你们买新衣吧？记得不要贪心，买一两件合身的、舒服的就可以了，你们还会不断长大，所以当下有得穿就行了。

时时感谢

新年，小朋友一定还会收到很大红包，记得，这是长辈们爱你的表现。红包里都是长辈们大大的心意：祝福你岁岁平安，快高长大。记得要真诚表达你的感谢。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）安置在梵蒂冈圣伯多禄广场上的一组移民群雕，12月29日贴置了一个带有二维码的小标牌，帮助人们更加了解这个不被关注的群体。这组群雕是加拿大艺术家施马尔兹（Timothy Schmalz）的作品，两年前安置在圣伯多禄广场上，描述来自不同文化和历史时期的移民群体。群雕中央，有一对脱颖而出的天使的翅膀，提示神圣事物的临在。这组群雕的灵感来自《希伯来书》，『不可忘了款待旅客，曾有人因此于不知不觉中款待了天使』（十三 2）。通过贴在雕塑上的二维码，可以进入一个有不同语言的专门网站：有西班牙语、英语、法语、葡萄牙语和德语。参观者可以由此深入了解有关群雕的资料，同时也透过教宗方济各的教导更好地认识移民与难民的现实。

圣伯多禄广场上移民群雕

教宗方济各于2019年9月 29日，在第105届世界移民与难民日的机会上，为这组以青铜和陶土制作而成的群雕揭幕。他说，把群雕安置在圣伯多禄广场上，以提醒众人福音关于款待所提出的挑战。圣座促进人类整体发展部移民与难民事务处切尔尼枢机强调，「我们决定把文化讯息和教会近年来的训导结合起来，帮助参观者从来梵蒂冈的游客转变为朝圣者」。枢机指出，「通过这种新方法，我们有意推动对这群雕的辅助性解读，帮助了解对这艺术作品所表达的现实状况」。

圣经故事：《大力士三松的故事》在旧约，其中一名天主子民的民长，名叫三松。三松，Samson在希伯来文的意思是“太阳的儿子”。在他出生前，上主的使者显示给他没有生育能力的母亲说：“看，你将怀孕生子，剃刀不可触及他的头，因为这孩子从母胎就是献于天主的；他要开始从培肋舍特人手中拯救以色列。” 长大后的三松，是带领以色列人打败培肋舍特人的英雄。后来，他所喜欢的女人德拉里知道了他的力气来自他的长头发之后，就趁他入睡的时候叫人剪了他的头发。他醒来后，头发没了，力气也没了，上主已经离开了他。他被培肋舍特人捉住，弄瞎了双眼，捆在监狱中受尽折磨。在狱中，他的头发又渐渐长了起来。某天，培肋舍特人要为他们的神举行祭献大典，就让三松出来表演。这时，三松呼求天主：“吾主上主，求你再赐我力量，只要这一次！让我的性命和培肋舍特人同归于尽！”三松奋力屈身，弄断大殿中央两根大柱，大殿随之倒塌，压死所有殿内的培肋舍特酋长和民众。（参阅：民13：1-16：31）这故事中，上主的使者一开始就提醒过：三松的头发不能剪。无奈三松心软告诉了德里拉他的软弱之处，让她有机会背叛自己，惨遭剪发之祸。为我们的益处，天主藉着圣经教导我们许多事，告诉我们生活中可做和不可做的事。我们要学习听从，成为上主的好子女。

儿童游乐园：哟！三松的头发被剪，变成光头了！这时他不但要被敌人抓起来弄瞎眼睛，还要被他们折磨。请你赶快帮他画上头发，让他能再次充满神力，打到敌人！

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TODAY’S TODAY’S CATHOLIC CATHOLIC DECEMBER JANUARY 2020 2022

日本長崎總教區輔理主教為新任總主教

教宗2018年接见高见总主教

（梵蒂冈新闻网）日本长崎总教区高见总主教在满 75岁后的数个月辞去了管理教区的牧职。他从2016年起担任日本主教团主席一职。接替他的职务的是现年59岁的中村伦明主教。在过去的两年，新总主教是该总教区的辅理主教。长崎于1945年8 月9日遭原子弹轰炸。高见主教于2002年任长崎总教区辅理主教，2003年

起担任长崎总主教一职。在他 18年任期内的重要事件中，以教宗方济各2019年11月24日的访问最为特殊。当时，教宗参观了和平纪念馆。他在原子弹爆炸中心纪念公园的讲话中说，「这个地方使我们深刻意识到人类能彼此施加痛苦和恐惧」。「最近在主教座堂遗址上发现遭到损毁的十字架和圣母雕像，它们使我们再次想起原子弹轰炸的遇难者及其家人

所经历的无可言喻的恐怖」。高见主教极其关注在这悲剧中失去家人的家庭。长崎遭轰炸时，他的母亲已有身孕，是原子弹爆炸幸存者，高见主教是在隔年1946年3月出生。他不断大力推动核裁军，这是在他的工作中，比如在担任日本主教团主席一职中的一个主要议题。长崎在现代史上是个殉道城市，也是福音传到日本初期许多基督徒殉道的地方。1633 年至1637年，有16位基督徒遭处决而殉道，若望保禄二世教宗于1987年将他们册封为圣人。1597年，也有26位基督徒被钉在十字架上。1617年至 1632年日本当局又杀害了另外 205位殉道者。现今，长崎天主教徒约占该城市人口的 4,5%。有4个教区从属于长崎总教区。

古晉總教區在新冠病毒疫情期間蒙主賜予一位新神父（古晋讯）古晋总教区于2021年12月8日为庆祝圣母无染原罪庆日举行的弥撒中迎来新神父-马尔谷·诺厄· 邦卓（Mark Noel Bonchol）神父。他的执事圣秩授予礼则是在3月25 日，圣母领报庆日时隆重举行。马尔谷·邦卓神父的晋铎礼是一项喜悦的见证。当时歌咏团的临场唱赞美诗和弥撒的一些礼仪的恢复，营造了自疫情爆发以来我们所怀念的气氛。晋铎弥撒是由傅云生总主教、荣休钟万庭总主教和荣休夏若望总主教共祭。当天在圣若瑟总主教座堂仅限于家庭成员、神父、修生、修会会士及受邀宾客出席参礼。由于防疫的标准操作程序而无法亲自到场的朋友和整个基督教团体，受邀参与直播弥撒并见证祝圣仪式。在晋铎礼仪结束时，傅云生总主教为跪在他前的新晋铎神父的双手傅上圣油，并说道：「愿天父以圣神的德能所傅的主耶稣基督，看顾并守护你，使你引领基督徒成圣，并向上主献祭。」随后，陈初旸神父为新铎马尔谷神父戴上领带和穿上祭披，他接着前往主教面前领取为奉献的礼品。傅云生总主教将盛有面饼的圣盘以及装有酒掺和着水的圣爵交给了新祝圣的马尔谷神父。这些盛在圣盘内的面饼和圣爵内的酒水是信友们为举行弥撒而献上的礼品。他告诉新司铎道：「了解你所做的，效法你所庆祝的，并使你的生活符合主十字架的奥迹」。傅云生总主教随后在一臂之距离与他互祝平安并以兄弟友爱之吻欢迎他。新铎马尔谷神父亦向两位荣休总主教和全体司铎们互道平安，他们以掌声回礼。接着举行感恩祭，在领圣体后经结束时，以诵读大圣若瑟祷文作为大圣若瑟年的结束。

傅云生总主教将一份礼物移交新铎马尔谷神父的兄长安迪和姐姐安表达对他们将马尔谷奉献给教会的感激。(图：Danison Manium)

傅云生总主教欢迎他的新神父傅云生总主教在致辞中感谢马尔谷神父「勇敢地踏出信仰的飞跃」，在 40 岁时进入修院，而且是在独立工作了 25 年之后。最初马尔谷只是想「辨别上主是否在召叫他成为司铎」。他认为马尔谷神父的晋升执事与司铎的礼仪都是在圣母的两个隆重庆日时举行，这是对他的一份祝福。傅云生总主教说道：「作为一个多才多艺的人，愿你是上主祝福祂子民的有力工具」，并提醒他选择的座右铭：「他应该兴盛，我却应该衰微」（若望福音 3:30 ）。总主教欢迎他加入事工与他的司铎兄弟们共事时，说道：「愿你体验在主的葡萄园内工作的真正乐趣。」随后傅云生总主教将马来文弥撒经书和圣油交给新晋铎的神父，同时也赠送他兄长安迪和姐姐安一份礼物，以感谢他们「献出弟弟给教会」的这份礼物。

新晋铎的马尔谷·诺厄·邦卓神父发言致谢新铎以神父的身份首先祝福了他的兄姐和嫂子，然后他向傅云生总主教和钟万庭与夏若望两位荣休总主教的出席参礼致谢。他认为于 12 月 8 日举行的晋铎礼，即在圣母无染原罪庆日的隆重仪式上圆满完成了。因为他的圣召故事，是始于他的家乡诗巫堂区圣玛利亚教堂，他们庆祝堂区主保日，就是圣母无染原罪庆日。

马尔谷神父说他更愿意称他的晋铎礼为「我们的」而不是「我的」，因为没有大家的祈祷与支持，他的晋铎就不会实现。他打趣道：「培养一名修生成为司铎需要整个群体的信德。」他感谢上主赐予司祭职的恩宠，感谢圣母玛利亚的爱和关怀。他要感谢好多的神父，包括圣伯铎修院的信仰陶成导师、朋友、兄姐和他已故的父亲，还有他母亲的耐心和关怀。他对那些在司铎或修会生活中分辨圣召的人，说道：「不要害怕。相反地，不妨试一试。」最后他要求大家为他祈祷作结束。傅云生总主教以隆重的祝福礼结束了这晋铎礼与弥撒，特别是为新晋铎的马尔谷神父以及所有在线观众。

新铎简介和修院的陶成新晋铎的马尔谷·诺厄· 邦卓神父是四兄弟姐妹中的老幺，毕业于澳大利亚大学，获得文学学士学位，并在英国获得人力资源管理研究生文凭。在未入圣伯铎修院「分辨」他的圣召前，他已在私人界和公共部门工作。他于 2013 年进入沙巴哥打京那巴鲁的圣伯铎修院初学院，2014年进入古晋圣伯铎大修院，并于2020年5月修完哲学和神学课程。 2020年8月至 2021年4月期间，他在古晋肯雅兰园圣三堂实习牧灵工作，然后到古晋圣若瑟总主教座堂区执行他当前的执事职务。（蔡愛薇报导）（译文）

香港周守仁主教主持子夜彌撒偕同救主跨越困難

周守仁主教主持子夜弥撒

（香港公教报讯）周守仁主教于12月25日在圣母无原罪主教座堂，首次以主教身份主持子夜弥撒（图）。因着防疫限制兼参礼者众，大批教友需要坐在圣堂外广场。周主教在讲道中鼓励众人将希望寄托在救主默西亚身上，偕同他跨越当前社会上的困难。「婴孩能给人希望，因为他们带来众多可能性、联想和期望。每个人都需要期盼，好能在困难和灰暗中撑得住，救世主就是众人的希望。」放诸香港以至世界，周主教指出圣诞让众人庆祝救主厄玛奴耳在疫情下陪伴众人，进入世人的历史当中；而基督徒因着信仰，愿意望得远而阔，怀着盼望，勇敢迎接未来。对于建设未来，周主教强调成年人要帮助年轻人回到教会之中，「鼓励他们向前望、向前走，不是躺平，成年人需

要了解他们的困难、为何他们觉得自己不被欢迎。」贤士在寻找默西亚小耶稣的过程中，互相交谈和分辨，他们回乡后也分享这份喜乐，周主教表示，「这正是圣经中的共议同行。现代人要将教会带回共议同行这份梵二精神，我们需要去更新、改变，这需要青年的参与。」他说：「疫情下我们不用害怕，默西亚与我们同在，我们一无所缺。让我们一起共议同行、分辨。」圣诞节当天，周守仁主教在惩教署司铎伍永鸿执事等陪同下，到赤柱监狱主持圣诞节圣道礼，向在囚人士分享信仰，并送上圣诞祝福。他亦到访监狱医院，探望及关怀病患的在囚人士。（邓）

印度：在聖誕節慶祝活動期間發生一系列針對教堂的破壞行為

印度基督徒在祈祷 (ANSA)

（梵蒂冈新闻网）在2021 年圣诞庆祝活动期间，印度发生了一系列敌视和对基督徒不容忍的事件，最新的一起是发生在印度北部哈里亚纳（Haryana）邦，一座天主教教堂门口的耶稣态像在圣诞节当天被不明身份的人破坏。这个亵渎事件发生在傍晚，地点是在哈里亚纳邦安巴拉（Ambala）神圣救世主天主教堂。当时该教堂因新冠疫情大流行而实行的宵禁不对外开放。在圣诞节的第二天早上，人们发现基督救世主态像被打破。随后，警方对两名身份不明的年轻男子进行起诉，因教堂内的闭路摄像机拍到了他们翻越教堂围墙偷偷潜入的镜头。在此前的一次事件中，卡纳塔克邦（Karnataka）奇卡巴拉普尔区（Chikkaballapur）一座有160 年历史的圣若瑟天主教堂在圣诞节前12月22日遭到人为破坏。该教堂距班加罗尔（Bangalore）城65公里，不明身份的人于早上5点半潜入教

堂，破坏了堂中的圣物。在今年的圣诞节期间，印度其他地区也发生了宗教不容忍行为。在哈里亚纳邦的另一个城市古鲁格拉姆（Gurugram），一群自称是右翼活动分子的人在圣诞节前夕闯入帕陶迪（Pataudi）的一座教堂，高喊口号，扰乱祈祷礼仪活动。在东北部的阿萨姆（Assam）邦，一群暴徒在12 月 2 5 日破坏了卡查尔（Cachar）区的圣诞庆祝活动。另外，一些不明身份的人破坏了一个村庄的教堂。在印度北方邦（Uttar Pradesh）的阿格拉市（Agra），印度教激进分子在圣诞节当天烧毁了圣诞老人像，指责基督徒传教士利用圣诞节向儿童分发礼物来宣传基督宗教。在圣诞节前，一个倡导基督徒权利的印度基督新教组织致函印度内政部长，呼吁印度政府在基督宗教礼仪庆祝活动期间为基督徒提供保护。

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY DECEMBER 2022 2020

砂朥越聖方濟修女會十位修女聯合慶祝發願週年

庆祝发愿周年的修女们于感恩弥撒后与主持弥撒的神长们合摄。

『上主，我全心讚頌你，宣揚你的一切奇偉』（詠9:2）砂朥越圣方济修女会的修女们于2021年12月19日举办了一个联合周年庆感恩弥撒，庆祝十位修女的发愿周年。弥撒由傅云生总主教主祭，夏长福荣休总主教、王博弟神父及黄祯贤神父共祭，并从圣方济修女会圣克拉拉修女安养之家小圣堂直播。由于疫情的限制，许多修女和家人都不能出席见证此应是盛大庆典的喜悦时刻，为此，现场直播是受欢迎的连接众人的方法。八位庆祝周年的修女，在会长王碧玲修女的领导下，各手握点亮的蜡烛重宣誓愿：「按照砂朥越圣方济修女会的章程，藉着生活在神贫、贞洁和服从中，遵守圣父若望保禄二世教宗批准的圣方济第三会的会规。」为了参与这个庆典，德莉希亚修女（Sr Delicia）和她的团队特地录制了一个「虚拟歌咏团」为庆祝周年的修女们献唱。庆祝的修女们也在直播结束时呈献一个短视频。圣方济修女会总会长王碧玲修女，代表所有庆祝周年的修女发言时读出未能亲临庆典的锺万庭荣休总主教的贺词。另有两位庆祝周年的修女，一位在美里，一位在雪兰莪也不能参与此联合庆典。王修女说：「我亲爱的周年庆的姐妹们，我谨代表我的议会成员和所有修女姐妹，恭贺并感谢你们为主的使命，完全投入砂朥越圣方济修女会家庭及天主子民。我们非常感谢妳们长年的奉献。」「让我分享我们最年长的修女，庆祝发愿铂禧的93 岁邓玫瑰修女。她仍然忠实地念每日礼赞，参加弥撒，并继续每天为她的团体中的修女们提供服务。这证明年龄只是一个数字。是一片对天主和人们的爱而有所不同。玫瑰修女，感谢您藉着和天主沟通和照顾别人，直到主将我们召回祂的天国，来默感我们应该如何生活。「庆祝发愿周年并不是庆祝成就。并不是我们在过去的25，50，60或70年中所做的。而是一个作为一个大家庭，为这个召叫我们在我们对天主、人类和天主的受造物的爱，更坚定地仿效基

督和我们的会祖亚西西的圣方济，神圣的受召一同庆祝及祈祷感恩的行为。我们知道，我们越是赞赏和爱祂，就越会仿效祂，藉着不惜代价对我们的承诺越忠诚，而相互的关系能不受条件束缚。我们在每一个情况和在祂的受造物中看到天主的临在，我们也将有向别人提供各种牧灵照顾的意愿。」「天主对我们每个人都有一个目的，我们看到我们有些尝试和祂合作，完全地信赖祂，即使有时我们觉得我们有所限制。不要因看到别人的限制而失望而转移我们的注意力，而是要像基督一样对每个人都有不懈的希望。如果基督能放下九十九只羊去寻找迷途的一只羊，这表示我们应该不要单挑任何人，而同等重视每个人。「亲爱的庆祝周年的各位，我们是方济会修女，让我们继续藉着我们和天主连接的生活方式向世界『喊话』，使人们能看到祂的真理的伟大，祂能对我们的生命做什么，让他们寻求能使他们内心感到更满足、更平安和生活更快乐的正确的事。我们活出基督的榜样和教导的团体生活应向每个家庭证明，每个家庭都可能如天主所愿建立家庭教会。天主已给了我们最好的方式生活，而且祂是无节制地给予我们。就看我们能接受多少。」

恭贺庆祝发愿周年的修女十位庆祝发愿周年的修女是：邓玫瑰修女（Sr Bridget Then）-白金禧（70年）杨宝花修女（Sr Felicia Yong）-钻石禧（60年）比阿特丽斯修女（Sr Beatrice Ng）- 钻石禧（60年）陈有莲修女（Sr Mildred Chin）-钻石禧（60年）玛蒂尔达·阿布依修女（Sr Matilda Abui）-钻石禧（60 年）赖西奥多拉（Sr Theodora Lai）-金禧（50年）詹妮弗修女（Sr Jennifer Nyidom）-金禧（50年）艾琳·城安修女（Sr Irene Chengann）-银禧（25年）麦格莉娜·马丁修女（Sr Michelina Martin）-银禧（25 年）王碧玲修女（Sr Rose Wong）银禧（25年）弥撒后，众人在安养中心食堂参加一个小参会。庆祝周年的修女们各获赠一份礼物。（蔡愛薇报导）（译文）

要理主日文告~2022年1月30日主题：家庭生活：一種通往聖潔的道路(格前十二：12) 「家庭，你要成为你自己」这是摘自教宗圣若望保禄二世的《家庭团体》劝谕，是教会对于家庭的一个至诚召唤和呼吁，为让家庭越发遵照天主的意愿。这是「生命和爱的亲密团体」(17) 。教宗提醒所有的家庭，切勿忽略这召唤，因为这召唤是要让每个家庭正视并把在家里及在社会中的家庭地位和责任，落实到生活上。在《爱的喜乐》劝谕中，教宗方济各视家庭为教会的生命力泉源: 「教会惠及家庭，家庭也惠及教会」(87)。这是因为「每个基督家庭都反映着教会各个不同角度与功能的完整生命: 使命、教理、见证、祈祷及其他」(教理讲授指南 255)。这就是为何教会时常把家庭置于崇高位置的原因。近期的教会文献里，引用了与家庭相关的各种形象，比如「家庭教会」、「生命的圣所」、「一个教育的团体」、「社会关键的生命细胞」、「基督徒生活的学校」等。在写给格林多教会的第一封书信中，圣保禄以身体的形象比喻基督团体，每个成员都是其中的一部分，因基督而彼此结合。这也是家庭的一个理想形象，因为每个成员都是一

个身体的一部分，连同基督和他们彼此的爱，以及分享他们独特的个性与天赋，而共融合一。一个新家庭始于一位男士和一位女士进入了婚姻圣事。在婚姻关系里，这对夫妇从彼此的爱与承诺，以及他们对孩子的培育中，相互扶持而达到圣洁。身为父母，他们肩负着认真回应召唤的责任，去成为他们孩子的主要信仰培育者，正如天主所期望的那样。这对夫妇承担了他们在婚礼当天所许下的承诺；「以爱来接受天主所恩赐的孩子，并按照基督与教会的律法来培育他们」。藉着婚姻圣事，父母荣获「恩宠和以基督信仰培育他们孩子的事奉责任…」(教理讲授指南 227) 。这意味着父母是他们孩子的首位福音转令使者。父母是第一位把信仰传授给他们孩子并教育孩子们的人，「教友家庭以全部生活符合福音精神…作出最宝贵的见证」( 教友传教法令11)。在这方面，家庭是「第一个被召向在成长中的人宣报福音的团体，经由渐进的教育和教理讲授，使他或她达到圆满的人性的和基督的成熟」( 《家庭团体》劝谕 2)。家庭也是「教理讲授的场

地」，它激发了对天主的意识、开始了祈祷的第一步、道德伦理与良知的教育、并培育关于人的爱与性的基督价值观课题。因此，在孩子仍未参与堂区「要理班」之前，他或她早已从父母那里有着对天主与信仰、对与错、以及对一般生命的观念。实际上，无论孩子从他们的父母和其他关键的长辈身上学到抑或没学到什么，都会对他们的整个人生带来决定性的影响。这就是为何教会强调「家庭的教理讲授领先、陪伴并充实其他型态的教理讲授」(论现时代的教理讲授 68)。这意味着，家庭的教理讲授甚至比堂区的要理班授课，更占优先、更为重要。由于新冠肺炎肆虐导致堂区要理课被中止，令到父母和整个家庭更加迫切的需要为较年轻的家庭成员，负起更大的信仰培育责任。趁着我们今年庆祝要理主日的当儿，愿我们谨记教会的召唤: 「家庭，你要成为你自己」，并在圣洁中成长，成为「生命和爱的亲密团体」正如天主所愿意我们成为的那样。

古晉聖若瑟總主教座堂主辦兒童線上報佳音古晋圣若瑟总主教座堂的华文儿童圣道礼仪组于12月19 日晚上7时至9时主办了儿童线上报佳音活动，让不能来教堂的孩子们通过Zoom的管道在线上体验圣诞的喜乐和平安。这活动主要是让家中的孩子和家人同时在主内感受耶稣的爱和祝福。李永国老师在这项活动中首先拉开序幕，带领大家一起祈祷，接下来就由黄予彤小朋友恭读福音。接下来，儿童圣道礼仪组的黄仪惠老师和赖秀玉老师线上问候大家。紧接着，还有黄伟乾神父的问安和傅云生总主教的祝福。在这项活动中，古晋圣若瑟总主教区华文组的27位可爱的孩子通过录播方式，向大家呈现了圣诞歌曲的歌唱和舞

蹈。精彩的圣诞短片之后，小朋友还线上参与了线上问答有奖游戏。黄瑞俊神父在结尾的时候真心把圣诞节最好的礼物分发给每个孩子，那就是圣婴耶稣。在黄伟乾神父和黄瑞俊神父的祝福下，这个儿童线上报佳音活动顺利进行，在线参与的一百余家庭领受了满满的

祝福。活动结束的第二天和第三天，参与录播的孩子们纷纷收到儿童圣道礼仪组老师们的礼物和线上问答比赛的奖品。儿童圣道礼仪组老师们最大的心愿是疫情赶快过去，孩子们都能来教堂参与弥撒圣祭。(黄丽彬报导)

领坚振圣事感想在主日学上坚振课的这3 年里，其中2020年因疫情的关系是停滞的，没有上课。在2021年主日学再度复课，这期间主日学老师说我变化很大，变得很积极敢互动。由于疫情的关系，我们都无法上实体课，使得我们都经历了新鲜的上课方式。我非常感谢上主日学的这段期间各位老师的教导，让我们以非常特别的方式能顺利的领坚振圣事。（彭武阳 Elvis Phang Wu Yang) 我是来自圣三堂的黄仲毅 Melvin Wong。由于疫情的关系，我在12月31日晚上领受坚振圣事，为我们举行坚振圣事的是刘子健神父。神父在我额头傅油的那一刻，我不仅是高兴与喜悦，更多的是感恩天主

我终于如愿以偿领受坚振圣事了。在领坚振圣事前的两周，刘子健神父为我们举行了和好圣事，我们以纯洁的心灵来迎接圣拣选了我们做祂的儿女。通过这次的坚振圣事，也让我意识到作为天主教徒，要如何更好地为教会服务和奉献! 我们领受的不仅是一种仪式，更是领受到来自天主的恩赐，力量和勇气，在充满圣神的庇佑下成长。感谢主! 赞美主! 阿们! （黄仲毅 Melvin Wong Zhong Yik) 我是来自圣三堂的Shaun Pei。在2021年12月31日晚上，

神。领受了坚振圣事，让我与天主有着更坚定的关系，向天主表示自己的信仰，并愿意负起基督徒在教会的责任。领受了坚振圣事，也就是领受了圣神，从今尔后，必定要以言以行，勇敢地负起基督徒的使命。（裴立扬 Shawn Benedict Pae Lik Yang)

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TODAY’S TODAY’S CATHOLIC CATHOLIC DECEMBER JANUARY 2020 2022

傅雲生總主教的訊息祝愿基督内的兄弟姐妹们， 2022年新年蒙福。教堂可以在圣诞节开放举行圣诞节弥撒是大喜悦的事。耶稣的诞生已为人类带来了喜悦、平安和希望。我们为耶稣的这个恩赐---厄瑪奴耳---意思是「天主与我们同在」的名字（玛1:23）而欢欣。我们已经在新冠肺炎肆虐下不确定的阴霾下过了快两年。因此，我们的圣诞前夕就像照耀在暴风雨的黑暗中的一道光。在整个的2021 年，主一直和我们在一起陪伴着我们平安度过，为此我们深感感激。圣诞期到何时结束呢？在礼仪上，圣诞期在今年1月 9日的主受洗日结束。为普世天主教会，我们依据显示一年中每天的庆日和读经，甚至祭披的颜色---绿色、白色（或金色）、红色、紫色或将临期和四旬期的一个主日的粉色的罗马天主教会礼仪历书的规定。当你打开历书，找到 2022年1月10日一栏，它标明「常年期第一周」及绿色为祭披的礼仪颜色。在圣诞期

中，我们用白色或金色的祭披。藉着转为绿色，历书确定圣诞期已在主受洗日结束。绿色是生长物的颜色，象征2022年丙年礼仪年的常年期中的生命和生长。下一次礼仪颜色的转变将是在2022年3月2 日的圣灰星期三的紫色，它标志四旬期四十天封斋期的开始。算算日历上的日数，我们会发现，圣诞期其实很短，从耶稣在圣诞前夕诞生到主在约旦河受洗之间只有约18天。在精神上，教会不愿天主教徒停留在马槽和婴儿耶稣在一起。实际上，我们读到「牧人们为了他们所听見和看見的一切，就光荣赞美天主回去了」（路2:20）。然后，「贤士们就由另一条路返回自己的地方去了」（玛2:12）。牧人们和贤士们实际上是被派遣去宣布耶稣的福音! 当耶稣受洗时，我们知道「祂大约三十岁」（路 3:23）。藉着庆祝成年的耶稣的受洗，接着祂受洗后的使命，教会立时把我们从马槽和婴儿耶稣拉开，去仿效贤士们和牧人们，母亲教会现在派遣我们去将耶稣的希望、喜悦、

平安和慈爱带给每个人，特别在新冠大流行期间。因着我们的洗礼，我们每一个人「被洗及派遣」，去继续我主耶稣相同的使命。派遣我向贫穷人传报喜讯，向俘虏宣告释放，向盲者宣告复明，使受压迫者获得自由，宣佈上主恩慈之年。』（路4:18-19）我们的主耶稣继续在这生命的旅途中和我们在一起，「直到今世的终结」（玛 28:20），让我们常常喜乐。我愿以天主给梅瑟为他的兄弟亚郎和他的人民，当他们进入福地前他们在旷野中流浪时的祝福词、三千年的古老祝福语祝福你们。愿天主祝福你们：『愿上主祝福你，保护你；愿上主的慈颜光照你，仁慈待你。愿上主转面垂顾你，赐你平安。』（户6:24-26）

✠ 傅云生总主教（译文）

2022年天主聖言主日信息: 以教會的心讀聖經莎拉在大学念书时与天主有了个人的相遇，过后她第一次认真地阅读圣经。当她打开圣经时，她意识到她是在教会中与天主联系。尽管在理解圣经方面的能力有限，她并没有迷失，因为她不是独自地阅读圣经，而是在教会的共融中：她从每周的讲道、教理课、圣歌、圣经研读、信仰培育、教友和基督徒朋友那里所学的点点滴滴，帮助她理解在圣经中所读的内容。当然有些章节仍然难以理解。然而，随着社交媒体的出现，她接收信息的来源更为广泛，其中许多信息与她年轻时所相信的起了矛盾。起初，她遇到非天主教，甚至反天主教立场的矛盾论

点。这促使她多加学习自己的天主教信仰，以便为自己的信仰做出合理的解释（参照伯多禄前书 3:15）。然而，她最近越来越频密地听到来自教会内部，甚至是来自教会权威之间相互矛盾的论点。他们会问诸如「耶稣真的这么说吗？」之类的问题。有些人甚至质疑圣经的教导在当前热议的问题上是否正确。似乎很多人不再相信圣经是书写的天主圣言，背后有天主的权柄。幸运的是，莎拉的一些朋友帮助她从教会的心阅读圣经。这意味着三件事：1）带着敬畏和信赖阅读圣经，而不是带着怀疑；2）根据久经考验的教会圣传来理解圣经；教会的礼仪、教父、圣师和圣人们显示教会的圣传，而圣传在

亲爱的:

賢妻母亲婆婆岳母祖母外祖母

赖秀金女士 (Francisca Ivy Lai Fong)

往生三週年纪念忌日：二零一九年一月十八日农历十二月十三日

天主教教理中得到精炼; 3）作为耶稣基督的门徒来学习圣经，真诚地向师傅学习。归根结底，阅读圣经应该帮助我们与耶稣基督，天主的蒙主召回圣言相遇。这样的相遇，如同口渴的人从泉源里喝水一般¹ 。每当有人口渴时，他要喝多少就有多少，但水泉滔滔不绝；这让人感恩。如果泉水涸竭，人就无法再止渴。文:马新汶主教团圣经区域委员会

聖事王博弟神父《天主教教理》的第1210条说：「新约圣事是由基督建立的，共有七件，就是圣洗、堅振、感恩(圣体)、忏悔、病人傅油、圣秩以及婚姻。七件圣事涉及基督徒生命中的所有階段，以及一切重要时刻：它们产生、滋长、治愈基督徒的信仰生命，並赋予使命。这样，自然生命的各階段与灵性生命的各階段之間，有着某些类似之处。」这七件圣事可分为三组： 1. 2. 3.

入门圣事将一个人带入基督的完满生命 (圣洗圣事, 圣体圣事，坚振圣事) 治愈圣事治愈灵魂和肉身 (和好圣事，病人傅油圣事) 服务的圣事，一个人回应特定的天主圣召 (婚配圣事，圣秩圣事）

第七课 - 圣秩圣事（一）

为共融服务的圣事洗礼、坚振和感恩（圣体）圣事是基督徒入门圣事。它们是所有基督门徒共同圣召的基础；他们被召成圣，并实践向世界传福音的使命。这三件圣事赋予人充满灵性生命所需的圣宠。当天主教徒迈向天乡的旅途时，他们得到了为共融服务的两件圣事的帮助：圣秩和婚姻。这两件圣事的目的，即圣秩和婚姻，使个人能够以圣事的方式来指导自己的生活，以拯救他人。那些接受圣秩圣事者蒙受祝圣，因基督之名，「以天主的圣言与恩宠牧养教会」。那些接受婚姻圣事者，为善尽他们身份的职责而增强力量与蒙受祝圣。他们通过为他人服务而建立了基督奥体，同时也帮助其个人的得救。

圣秩圣事（天主教教理1536）圣秩是圣事，藉此圣事，基督所托付给宗徒的使命，得以在教会中继续执行，直到世代的终结。故此，它是宗徒职务的圣事。它包括主教职、司铎职、执事职三个等级。

为何称这圣事为圣秩圣事？（天主教教理1537-1538）在古代罗马，拉丁文Ordo

¹ 参照《福音注释》的论述是指一些确立的公务团体，特（由圣义范执事为玛窦、马尔谷、路加与若望四部福音的合编所作的注释。参照时辰颂祷礼，常年期第六主日诵读）。

低吟哀思怜母，亲

夫：方彦武率子、女、媳、婿、内外男女孙同追思

別是管理团体 (governing body)。Ordinatio则指被纳入一个这类的团体(Ordo)。在教会也有一些确立的团体，圣传依据圣经从古以來就称之为 taxeis(希腊文)，拉丁文是 ordines(圣秩)。于是，礼仪中说到ordo episcoporum(主教圣秩)，ordo presbyterorum(原意是「长老圣秩」，中文一般称「司铎圣秩」)，ordo diaconorum(执事圣秩)。其他的团体也用ordo这个名词，诸如：慕道者、贞女们、夫妇、寡妇等。加入教会中一个这样的「团体」，是经由一項稱為项称为ordinatio(入团礼)的仪式來达成；这是一项宗教和礼仪行动，是一种祝聖圣，或祝福，或一件「圣事」。今日，ordinatio一词则专用在使一个人加入主教行列、司铎行列或执事行列的圣事行动上，

并且此圣事行动超越纯粹由团体所作的选立、指派、授权或任命；因为这圣事行动賦予圣神的恩赐，使领受者能行使「神权」(sacra potestas)；这神权只能透过教会來自基督自己。这授秩礼 (ordinatio)又称为祝圣礼 (consecratio)，因为这是基督本人为了祂的教会，将领圣秩者从众人中选拔出來，授予他神权。主教的覆手联同祝圣祷词，就是构成此祝圣礼的可见标记。

圣事的起源旧约中记载了公务司祭职的开始。默基瑟德是天主的司祭，是首个献饼和酒的人（创 14:18）。天主召叫梅瑟之后，也拣选了梅瑟之弟亚郎作司祭，为百姓献祭。这是以肋未支派为中心的亚郎派司祭身份的开始（户 3:5-10）。肋未人管理圣殿的事务，并在上主面前为以色列人代祷。教会在这一点上看到了基督本身的司祭地位的铺垫，祂是唯一的永恒大司祭，「天人之间唯一的中保」（弟前2:5），祂献上了唯一永远不会重复的祭献。当耶稣要求门徒们继续祂的职务时，祂设立了公务司祭职。在圣周四晚上，当耶稣建立圣体圣事时，祂向门徒说：「你们应行此礼，为纪念我」（路 22：19）。当复活的耶稣在楼上房间向门徒显现时，说：「就如父派遣了我，我也同样派遣你们。」（若20:21）。为了装备他们接受使命，耶稣向他们嘘了一口气，说：「你们领受圣神吧！」（若 20:22）。耶稣升天之前，吩咐门徒说：「你们要去使万民成为门徒。为他们授洗。教训他们」（见玛 28:19,20）。好牧人耶稣要求伯多禄继续祂的牧养职责，祂说：「喂养我的羔羊，牧放我的羊群」（若 21:15,16）。耶稣对门徒的最后指示是：「你们要为我作证……直到地极」（宗 1:8）。（译文）待续）

PAGE 21

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY DECEMBER 2022 2020

虎年谈虎

愛永無止境

陈联瑞神父二零二二年是虎年。虎是十二地支之三。从华人的传统谈虎的特色，「虎」字由象征虎皮的条纹「虎」和象征人用脚立着的几组成。虎字也是部首之一，用它造成的字，大多是形容虎之特色。虎象征君王的身份和尊严，它是无惧和勇敢的楷模。虎的吼声象征危险让人害怕。虎象征军士的勇气，将虎头画在军兵的盾牌和堡垒的窗门上，为吓唬仇敌；在军官的军袍绣上虎的图像是为以辨别将兵的身份。在古代军兵打仗时穿着假的虎皮，大声吼叫，以吓走敵人。在墙壁上画上虎像来吓唬鬼神，在孩子们的鞋子上绣上虎头，也有同样的用意。虎有时被称为财神的象征。在古老的铜器和瓷器上许多都雕刻有虎的图像，铜壶和瓷壶被雕塑成虎头状，并在壶口挂一个环。虎的骨灰、油、皮、爪、肝、血等都有抵抗或预防疾病的特效。虎的胡须可治疗牙痛。在占星学中，虎是「枢」星，占星家让为「枢」星生虎，为兽中之王，在虎的额上可见「王」形纹。人们用虎爪作护身符，用虎灰作治病的符咒。虎身长七尺，七代表是雄性，它的孕育期也是七个月，而其寿命可达千年，当它活到五百岁，虎皮变白。按华人民间信仰，被虎吃掉的人将变成鬼，供虎差遣，使虎吃更多人。民间相信，遭横死的人可能返回世界找一个替身，但被虎咬死的魂无力去任何地方而只好做虎的奴隶。而虎如果对着它的猎物跳扑三次而没有捉到它时，就会放齐继续捕捉。据说狗肉对虎有迷醉的

主的

作用，而烧焦的角的臭味能吓跑虎。虎吼力大摄人魂，它一扑即得，一杀就有，使人发抖而敬畏，因而称它为虎神。虎性凶猛嗜杀，被看作虎被恶鬼的化身，其恶如鬼王，因而也被称为鬼虎王。

基督徒的看法来谈虎有人让为虎是好兽，是善的化身。谁是善的？只有天主是善的。天主可被称为天虎王，象征着基督，天主之子，是我们的天虎王。他在我们内，消灭了我们的罪恶和死亡，替我们在十字架上而死，并为我们还清罪债，恩赐我们永生。在旧约和新约中有许多很伟大，很神圣的英雄，不过最大的英雄还是耶穌基督。耶穌基督，天主子降生成人，是受造物的君王。耶穌基督不是用虎的能力，而是用天主的德能吓唬魔鬼，令他发抖，俯伏在地叩拜祂，并因着耶穌的德能，不是藉着虎的力量，令魔鬼在祂眼前消失。祂打垮魔鬼，歼灭在那些忏悔归向祂的人心中的罪恶。由耶穌获得的救恩正向人招手。耶穌以祂的德能治愈疾病，驱逐魔鬼，令人敬畏，使人惊奇，而声明祂就是从天降下的默西亚，称祂为天虎王。以祂的言教和身教，而被让出，祂真是天主派遣来的救世主。祂是天主子！因此人们到祂跟前来，求祂恩赐神形方面的需要。为祂什么事情都是可能的。没有任何恶祂不能消灭，为那些忏悔的人所犯的任何罪，祂都能赦免。因祂已做我们的替身死在十字架上，祂的圣死救赎了我们。在复活中，基督显示了祂的德能，征服了死亡，以及藉着祂的复活，恢复了我们的生命。十字架是基督毁灭死亡，为我们获得救恩的德能和力量

耶穌會士, 林進才神父

(十三)

话

愈顯主榮

2022年1月16日：丙年常年期第二主日 (依 62:1-5; 格前 12:4-11; 若2:1-11)

耶稣是獨身但卻支持婚姻長久以來的传统，教会教导和圣经的证据都证明耶稣不曾结婚的事实。但却有些学者和小说作家宣称耶稣结过婚。其中最为人熟知的小说当是丹·布朗（Dan Brown）的《达·芬奇密码》，赋予玛利亚·玛达肋纳作耶稣的红颜知己、门徒和可能是妻子的突出角色。学者例如哈佛神学院的教授凯伦·金（Karen King）于2012年宣布，一小片的纸莎草纸被发现，可能推测耶稣曾结婚。据她说，即使这小片的纸莎草纸不足以证明耶稣确实结过婚，但

它可推断，一些早期的基督徒认为耶稣有一位妻子。这说法震撼了整个圣经学术界。这小碎片是以科普特文书写，据称是来自基督信仰的初期。在这短小而不完整的片段中，耶稣称一位妇人为「我的妻子」。它也包括「玛利亚」和「她可以作我的门徒」的字眼。金推测这些字眼形容耶稣和祂的门徒们之间的对话，讨论祂的「妻子」--可能是玛利亚·玛达肋纳--有门徒的资格的事。最重要的是，金挑衅地将这碎片标为「耶稣妻子的福音」。藉着她的假设，金有意突

『各人不可只顧自己的事，也該顧及別人的事。』（斐2:4）

的标记。我们敬畏和朝拜、赞颂和光荣、尊敬和感谢我们的天虎王。从人出生，直到人生的结束，都应把一切崇敬和荣耀永归於主。基督的圣神赐给了我们，为使我们为祂作见证。宗徒们、殉道者和诸圣人圣女充满天主圣神，成为祂卓越的见证人，在他们忧患时有勇气宣布基督，他们追随基督，他们的天虎王的芳踪，并在基督内征服了鬼虎王—罪恶和死亡。在今天有许多人以同样的方式跟随基督，做祂的门徒，为祂作证，我们也要这样做！

鬼虎王与天虎王的比较：鬼虎王：鬼引诱人犯罪，沉迷在罪恶中，令人惧怕他，作他的奴隶，并引领人下地狱来崇拜他，吸收他的丑恶精神，好成全他征服世界的野心。他也散佈仇恨，并生黑暗之子，来毁灭世人成为跟他一样的魔鬼。天虎王耶穌基督与鬼虎王好相反。祂制服卑鄙的惧怕，帮助我们对天主产生敬畏之情，消灭罪恶，和救赎我们，使我们成为天主的子民。基督甘心情愿为我们舍生，并以祂自己的体血养活我们，好使我们吸收天主圣神的思想，充满祂的德能和勇气力量，成为基督的仝工来为天主征服人类的世界，以及同基督，我们的天虎王，使天主的国临格于世，永生永王。

当我们进入新的一年，希望的一年…新冠疫情结束的希望；更好的家庭生活的希望；边缘化、脆弱的、贫穷的、生病的、受苦的人们的希望…让我们反思，是什么使我们度过过去的一年，在一个又一个的危机中撑过来的。是我们的信德吗？是对天主的爱的信心吗？在见证及报导了上个月古晋总教区祝圣一位新教区神父，及砂朥越圣方济修女会的十位修女庆祝发愿周年的感恩弥撒后，我可以说，那经验肯定增加了我对天主对祂的子女不可估量的爱的信德。嘉尔默罗圣衣会的修女们选出了接下来三年的会长和议员。让我们恭贺新会长圣若瑟的玛格丽特修女和她的议员

• 桑松以天主赐给他的能力，大吼一声，以一块驴的顎骨杀死了数百个敌人。 • 撒乌耳，个子高大，英俊勇敢的王子，藉着天主的能力呼啸战场，消灭了上千的敌人。 • 达味，一个年轻的牧羊童，因为天主与他同在，而空手嘶吼，把非肋斯定

的巨人哥利亚杀死。后来他被选为王. 玛加伯和他的兄弟们，因着天主的帮助，以他们在战场上英勇吼叫作战，使敌人弃甲而逃。若翰洗者，基督的前驱，在旷野中吼号，因而有许多人认罪悔改，接受基督，他们的天虎王的来临。新约中一些跟随基督天虎王的人物伯多禄是基督的见证之一，无畏地咆哮宣讲福音，并为基督殉道死在十字架上。扫禄迫害基督徒，被复活的主的德能改变成追随基督的保禄，作基督的一个伟大的虎，为主而吼。吼声之大远至欧洲各地，使人们获得救恩，并使魔鬼闻声发抖，空手而去。最后在罗马的墙壁外被仇人斩首而为主殉道。在他所写的书信中继续他的事业直到末日，因为基督，天虎王恩赐给他灵感，使他

出那些为人妻子和母亲的妇女也可能是耶稣的门徒，甚至从基督信仰的初期，并挑战教会的父权制。从开始，基督徒一直不能在是结婚比较好还是不结婚比较好取得共识，但在耶稣在世生命后的第一个世纪，基督徒已验证不结婚的状态比较神圣，用耶稣的婚姻状态来支持他们的地位。尽管如此，从梵蒂冈第二大公会议，所有的生活状态都可达致神圣，而神圣不必只定位于不结婚的状态。这个高度争论的「耶稣妻子的福音」被一位记者阿里尔 ·萨巴（Ariel Sabar）在他2016 年发表在大西洋报的文章《不可信的耶稣妻子的福音》揭穿。他后来于2020年将它扩大成一本书《Veritas：哈佛大学教授、骗子和耶稣妻子的福音》。可以理解地，金的杰出名誉从此被毁。萨巴并不是圣经学者，但你能相信吗，他藉拥有权历史揭露了伪造品？萨巴对纸莎草纸的购买链进行了一个彻底审查而发现其中一个拥有者伪造了这片纸莎草纸。

后来，金本人公开承认那片纸莎草纸可能是伪造品。尽管耶稣本身或许不曾结婚，但祂肯定参加过婚宴。在今天的福音中，耶稣不只参加了婚宴，祂还在也一起参加婚宴的母亲的要求下变水为酒。祂这样做也是因为祂同情结婚的夫妻因为他们没有酒来宴客。藉着这个圣经中的情节，耶稣是以某种方式，以祂在婚宴的重要临在支持婚姻作为导向神圣的生活状态。按若望，加纳的奇迹是耶稣将祂的光荣让人们看到的许多记号的第一个。耶稣在人类生活的所有事件中选了婚宴来强调这一点。祂选了婚宴，而不是成年礼、死亡，或其他人类社交事件来彰显祂神圣的荣耀作为祂在世上的职务的开始。除了以所有不同的方式赋予不同的人们各种各样的天赋外，圣保禄在读经二中，也指明以特定的方式给予每一个人圣神都是为好的目的。是结婚或是独身，每个都是召叫人按天主的旨意活出各自的圣召；

在旧约中的伟大人物

•

• •

•

们。十二月多个堂区重开了周末和平日弥撒，是充滿活動的月份。但是，教友们最大的喜悦应是能够在圣诞节参与弥撒和咏唱圣诞歌曲！我们在第三面为大家刊登了一些圣诞节和2022新年的照片。各堂区也举行了婴儿领洗，初领圣体和坚振弥撒，家长们可大大松口气了。今年，要理主日将在正月卅日庆祝，主题是：「家庭生活：一種通往聖潔的道路」(格前十二：12)，心怀这信念，明白爱永无止境，让我们「不只顾自己的事，也该顾及別人的事」。蔡愛薇（译文）宣讲活的圣言，主的言语不死不灭，永远长存而至圆满。 • 还有无数的殉道者和圣者，他们为基督而活，也为基督而死，因为他们对复活的基督救主忠心耿耿，并爱慕至深。

结论我们要多想耶穌基督，我们的天虎王。让我们接受他为我们的救主，天主。我们要敬畏祂，诚心诚意地跟随祂，爱慕事奉祂，作祂的门徒。让我们以虎吼为祂以言以行，传报福音，并为祂作证。上述的英雄是天主所雕塑，他们作得真好! 请主耶穌派来的圣神充满我心，恩赐刚毅和德能。愿主耶穌基督光照普世大地的人，使他们都获得救恩。愿主耶穌基督的圣神以喜乐，平安及大众合而为一，灼热我们的心灵。我们希望能有一天，在天堂同天父永享光荣。恭祝各位「虎年」快乐，主赐宏恩。这一切都是那一位同一的圣神，将不同的天赋分派给不同圣召的不同的人：不论是结婚的或是独身的。为引出另一个论点，读经一中，天主甚至用婚姻来寓喻天主和以色列民的关系。读经一中，「已婚的」这个词被归因于以色列民；除了其他的婚姻称号，即「上主喜愛你」，「你的地域將要婚嫁」，「你的建造者也要怎樣娶你」，及「新郎怎樣喜愛新娘，你的天主也要怎樣喜愛你」。丈夫和妻子的形象被天主部署来突出，结婚的夫妻亲密而结果实的关系可以被用作天主自己和人们的亲密关系。因此，即使耶稣没有结婚，祂强调婚姻对神圣的重要性。更重要的是，甚至从古时，天主已经用婚姻的隐喻来比喻神人关系来强调我们全体和天主应有的亲密关系。如果这不是神圣，还能是什么呢？（译文）

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

SAKRAMEN Oleh Fr Patrick Heng SAKRAMEN ialah siri pelajaran oleh Fr Patrick Heng

Ajaran 7 – Sakramen Kepaderian (Bahagian 1) Dalam Katekisme Gereja Katolik No. 1210, ia menyebut “Kristus menetapkan sakramen-sakramen bagi undang-undang baharu. Terdapat tujuh sakramen: Pembaptisan, Penguatan (atau ‘Chrismation’), Ekaristi, Pertaubatan, Pengurapan Orang Sakit, Pentahbisan, dan Perkahwinan. Tujuh sakramen tersebut menyentuh semua peringkat dan semua waktu penting dalam kehidupan Kristian: ia memberikan kelahiran dan peningkatan, penyembuhan dan misi kepada kehidupan keimanan Kristian. Maka itu, persamaan tertentu wujud di antara peringkatperingkat kehidupan semulajadi dengan peringkat-peringkat kehidupan rohani.” Tujuh sakramen boleh dibahagikan kepada tiga kumpulan: 1. SAKRAMEN-SAKRAMEN INISIASI yang akan membawa seseorang itu ke dalam kehidupan Kristus sepenuhnya (Pembaptisan, Ekaristi, Penguatan) 2. SAKRAMEN-SAKRAMEN PENYEMBUHAN yang akan menyembuhkan jiwa dan tubuh mereka (Rekonsiliasi/ Perdamaian, Pengurapan Orang Sakit) 3. SAKRAMEN-SAKRAMEN KOMITMEN di mana seseorang itu respon kepada panggilan Allah yang khusus (Perkahwinan, Pentahbisan) Sakramen-sakramen Yang Melayani Komuni Pembaptisan, Penguatan dan Ekaristi merupakan Sakramensakramen Inisiasi Kristian. Sakramen-sakramen ini memberikan panggilan bagi semua pengikut Kristus, iaitu panggilan kepada kekudusan dan kepada misi menginjili dunia. Sakramen-sakramen ini memberikan rahmat yang diperlukan bagi kehidupan yang dipenuhi Roh Kudus. Dalam perjalanan umat Katolik menuju ke syurga, mereka dibantu oleh dua sakramen yang melayani Komuni: Kepaderian dan Perkahwinan. Tujuan dua sakramen ini, Kepaderian dan Perkahwinan, membolehkan individu untuk mengarahkan kehidupan mereka dengan cara sakramental bagi keselamatan orang lain. Mereka yang menerima Sakramen Kepaderian Mereka yang menerima dikonsekrasikan dalam nama Sakramen Kepaderian Kristus, “untuk memberi dikonsekrasikan dalam makanan kepada Gereja dengan sabda dan rahmat nama Kristus, “untuk Allah”. Mereka yang memberi makanan menerima Sakramen kepada Gereja dengan Perkahwinan diperkukuhkan dan dikonsekrasikan bagi sabda dan rahmat Allah”. kewajipan dan maruah perkahwinan. Menerusi pelayanan kepada orang lain, mereka membina Tubuh Kristus dan pada waktu yang sama menyumbang kepada keselamatan mereka sendiri.

Sakramen Kepaderian (CCC 1536) Kepaderian merupakan sakramen di mana misi yang diamanahkan oleh Kristus kepada rasul-rasulNya terus dĳalankan dalam Gereja hingga akhir zaman: maka itu, ia adalah sakramen ministri kerasulan. Ia merangkumi tiga darjat: episkopat, presbiterat, dan diakonat.

Kenapakah Sakramen ini dipanggil “Orders” dalam Bahasa Inggeris? (CCC 1537-1538) Perkataan order (Latin: ordo) dalam antikuiti Romawi menggambarkan sebuah badan sivil yang kukuh, terutamanya sebuah badan memerintah. Ordinatio bermaksud kemasukan ke dalam sesebuah ordo. Dalam Gereja, terdapat badan-badan kukuh yang Tradisi, dengan asas dalam Kitab Suci, sejak zaman purba dipanggil

Pentahbisan kepaderian. (Gambar fail: Today's Catholic) taxeis (Yunani) atau ordines (Latin). Maka itu, liturgi bercakap tentang ordo episcoporum, ordo presbyterorum, ordo diaconorum. Kumpulan lain turut menerima nama ordo ini: katekumen, perawan, suami atau isteri, balu, dan lain-lain. Integrasi ke dalam salah sebuah badan ini dalam Gereja dicapai menerusi satu upacara yang dipanggil ordinatio, satu amalan liturgi dan keagamaan yang merupakan satu konsekrasi, satu pemberkatan atau satu sakramen. Pada hari ini, perkataan “ordination” (pentadbisan) dikhususkan bagi amalan sakramen yang memasukkan seseorang lelaki itu ke dalam order uskup, presbiter (paderi), atau diakon, dan melangkaui pemilihan, pelantikan, perwakilan, atau penubuhan oleh komuniti, kerana ia memberikan anugerah Roh Kudus yang mengizinkan penggunaan “kuasa suci” (sacra potestas) yang datang hanya daripada Kristus sendiri menerusi Gereja-Nya. Pentahbisan juga dipanggil consecratio, kerana ia adalah satu pemisahan khas dan satu pengurniaan oleh Kristus sendiri bagi GerejaNya. Penopangan tangan oleh uskup, dengan doa konsekrasi, merupakan tanda yang dapat dilihat bagi pentahbisan ini.

Asal usul sakramen ini Permulaan kepaderian pelayanan dĳumpai dalam Perjanjian Lama. Melkizedek merupakan seorang paderi Allah, yang pertama memanjatkan roti dan wain (Kejadian 14:18). Selepas panggilan Musa, Allah juga memilih adik Musa, Aaron, untuk menjadi orang yang bertindak sebagai imam (paderi), orang yang mempersembahkan korban bagi umat. Ini adalah permulaan bagi imamat (kepaderian) Aaron, yang berkisar sekitar suku kaum Lewi (Bilangan 3: 5-10). Golongan Lewi mengurus hal ehwal Bait dan memainkan peranan sebagai pengantara bagi pihak bangsa Israel di hadapan Allah. Gereja melihat dalam hal ini satu bayangan bagi imamat (kepaderian) Kristus sendiri, satu-satunya imam (paderi) tinggi yang abadi, “satu-satunya pengantara di antara Allah dengan umat manusia” (1 Timotius 2:5), yang memanjatkan satu-satunya korban yang tidak perlu diulangi. Kepaderian pelayanan dimulakan oleh Yesus apabila Ia meminta rasul-rasulNya untuk meneruskan pelayanan yang Ia mulakan. Pada petang Khamis Kudus, ketika Yesus mewujudkan Ekaristi, Ia memberitahu rasul-rasulNya, “Lakukan ini untuk memperingati Aku” (Lukas 22:19). Apabila Yesus yang bangkit menjelma kepada para rasul dalam Bilik Atas, Yesus berkata, “Seperti Bapa mengutus Aku, maka Aku mengutus kamu” (Yohanes 20:21), dan untuk melengkapkan mereka bagi misi mereka, Yesus menghembus nafas ke atas mereka dan berkata, “Terimalah Roh Kudus” (Yohanes 20:22). Sebelum Yesus naik ke syurga, Ia mengarahkan para rasul, “Pergilah, jadikan semua bangsa murid-muridKu. Baptiskan mereka, ajar mereka” (lihat Matius 28:19,20). Yesus, Si Gembala Baik, meminta Petrus meneruskan kewajipannya sebagai gembala apabila Ia berkata, “Gembalakanlah domba-dombaKu” (Yohanes 21:15,16). Kata-kata ajaran terakhir Yesus kepada para rasul-Nya adalah, “Kamu adalah saksi-saksiKu … hingga ke hujung bumi” (Kisah Para Rasul 1:8). (Terjemahan) Akan Bersambung

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Membaca Al-Kitab Daripada Hati Gereja Perutusan Hari Minggu Firman Tuhan 2022 Sarah sedang belajar di universiti ketika dia mula membaca AlKitab secara serius buat kali pertama selepas bertemu secara peribadi dengan Tuhan. Semasa dia membuka halaman Al-Kitab, dia tahu bahawa dia sedang berhubung dengan Tuhan dalam Gereja. Walaupun kemahirannya terhad dalam menafsirkan Al-Kitab, dia tidak tersilap kerana dia tidak membaca Al-Kitab secara berasingan, tetapi dalam persekutuan dengan Gereja. Dia belajar daripada homili mingguan, kelas katekisme, nyanyian pujian Kristian, pembelajaran Al-Kitab, pembentukan iman, rakanrakan seiman Katolik, dan rakan-rakan seiman Kristian yang berkumpul untuk membantu memahami apa yang dibacanya dalam AlKitab, walaupun sudah tentunya terdapat beberapa petikan yang masih sukar untuk difahami. Namun, dengan kemunculan media sosial, dia telah terdedah kepada sumber maklumat yang lebih luas, kebanyakannya bercanggah dengan apa yang dia percayai sejak usia mudanya. Pada mulanya, dia menemui hujah-hujah bercanggah yang berasal daripada sumber-sumber bukan Katolik atau bahkan anti-Katolik. Ini hanya mendorongnya untuk belajar lebih mendalam lagi tentang iman Katoliknya supaya dia boleh memberikan penjelasan yang munasabah tentang imannya (rujuk 1 Petrus 3:15). Walau bagaimanapun, baru-baru ini, dan dengan kekerapan yang semakin meningkat, dia telah mendengar hujah yang bercanggah dari dalam Gereja sendiri, malahan daripada kalangan pihak berkuasa Gereja. Mereka bertanyakan perkara seperti, "Adakah Yesus benar-benar berkata demikian?" Ada juga yang mempersoalkan sama ada ajaran Al-Kitab itu betul mengenai isu-isu semasa. Nampaknya ramai orang tidak lagi percaya bahawa Al-Kitab adalah

Hati ke hati...

dari pena penulis jemputan,

Fr Robert Jissem Selamat Tahun Baharu 2022 kepada saudarasaudari terkasih. Gereja Katolik merayakan Hari Raya Santa Maria Bonda Allah pada 1 Januari. Kita diajak untuk mengadaptasi peranan Bonda Maria yang digelar sebagai Bonda Allah dan dipilih menjadi Bonda Penebus. Maria menjawab malaikat dengan penuh rendah hati: “Aku ini hamba Tuhan, terjadilah padaku menurut perkataanmu.” (Lukas 1:38) Dalam ruangan ‘Hati Ke Hati’ pada kali ini, saya terpanggil untuk berkongsi tentang kehidupan ketika saya kehilangan ibu terkasih. Pada 31 Oktober 2014, ibu saya telah kembali kepada Sang Pencipta akibat sakit kanser di

Hospital Umum Sarawak. Ketika itu, saya masih belajar pada tahun akhir di Seminari Kolej St Peter, dan beliau tidak berkesempatan untuk menyaksikan saya ditahbis menjadi paderi. Kebiasaannya, kebanyakan daripada anak-anak lelaki rapat dengan ibu-ibu mereka, termasuk saya sendiri, yang sangat rapat dengan ibu saya. Sejak kecil lagi sehinggalah saya dewasa, saya tidak pernah ditinggalkan atau berpisah dengan ibu. Ibu saya banyak berkorban demi saya dan adik-beradik saya, dan ibu melayan kami anakanaknya dengan adil dan saksama. Walaupun ibu adalah seorang yang tegas dalam banyak perkara, namun beliau juga adalah seorang yang penyayang.

Firman Tuhan yang ditulis berdasarkan wewenang Tuhan. Syukur kepada Tuhan, beberapa orang rakan Sarah membantunya membaca Al-Kitab menurut pandangan Gereja. Ini bermakna ada tiga perkara yang mendasarinya: 1. membaca Al-Kitab dengan rasa hormat dan kepercayaan, bukan dengan syak wasangka; 2. menafsirkan apa yang kita baca dalam Al-Kitab menurut pemahaman yang teruji oleh masa tentang Tradisi Suci Gereja seperti yang dinyatakan dalam Liturgi, oleh Bapa-Bapa Gereja, para pujangga Gereja dan para kudus, dan dimurnikan di dalam Katekisme Gereja Katolik (KGK); dan 3. belajar daripada Al-Kitab sebagai murid Yesus Kristus yang dengan ikhlas cuba belajar daripada Sang Guru. Akhir sekali, membaca Al-Kitab seharusnya membantu kita untuk menemukan Yesus Kristus, Firman Tuhan yang Hidup. Pertemuan sebegini boleh diibaratkan seperti orang yang kehausan dan menemukan mata air yang melimpah ruah.¹ Setiap kali seseorang itu haus, dia boleh minum sebanyak yang boleh diminumnya, tetapi masih terdapat banyak air yang tersisa, dan ini adalah perkara yang baik dan patut disyukuri. Jika mata air telah kering, tidak akan ada lagi air untuk menghilangkan dahaga yang menyusul. Komisi (Suruhanjaya) Al-Kitab Serantau Persidangan Uskup-uskup Katolik Singapura, Malaysia dan Brunei ¹Cf. Commentary on the Diatessaron (a document that attempts to harmonise the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)) by Saint Ephrem, deacon (cf. Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings, Ordinary Time Week 6 Sunday).

Ibu sanggup bekerja sebagai seorang buruh untuk mengurangkan beban keluarga. Selain itu, ibu kerap juga menegur dan menasihatkan saya, tetapi ada kalanya saya tidak dapat menerima dan berasa sakit hati. Namun saya sedar bahawa beliau sangat mengambil berat dan sayang dengan saya. Semasa ibu sakit, kami adik-beradik bergilir-gilir menjaga ibu di hospital dengan penuh kesabaran dan juga cinta kasih. Pada mulanya, saya berdoa kepada Tuhan agar ibu saya disembuhkan daripada penyakit yang dihadapinya, iaitu kanser. Namun lama-kelamaan, saya melihat ibu semakin tenat, dan saya serahkan segalanya kepada Tuhan. Walaupun ketika itu saya diselubungi kesedihan, saya teringat akan pesanan ibu untuk meneruskan pengajian saya di seminari dan menjadi seorang paderi. Iman dan kepercayaan saya kepada janji-janji Tuhan Yesus, iaitu “Akulah Jalan, Kebenaran dan Hidup” (Yohanes 14:1-3), banyak membantu saya untuk menguatkan semangat saya. Kepada saudara-saudari seiman dalam Yesus

Kristus, sayangilah ibu bapa anda, terutamanya pada usia tua mereka. Walaupun kita semua sedar bahawa mereka tidak sempurna, mereka pasti telah melakukan yang terbaik buat anak-anak mereka. Ibu dan bapa kita sanggup mengorbankan masa depan mereka demi anak-anak yang dikasihi. Semua mereka mempunyai hasrat untuk melihat anak-anak mereka berjaya dalam hidup dan memiliki keluarga yang bahagia. Marilah kita sama-sama membuka pintu hati dan fikiran untuk merenungkan bagaimana ibu bapa kita dahulu dapat menjaga kita semasa kita masih kecil, walaupun mempunyai ramai anak. Bagaimanapun, terdapat di antara kita pada hari ini langsung tidap dapat menjaga kedua-dua orang tua kita ketika usia mereka sudah meningkat. Di sinilah saya berasa sedih dan pilu apabila ada segelintir muda-mudi kita yang sanggup melarikan diri dari rumah setelah ditegur oleh ibu bapa, saudara-mara yang rapat dengan mereka, atau kawan-kawan yang berniat baik dan ingin membantu kita. Malah, ada juga

segelintir yang sanggup membenci dan tidak mahu berurusan dengan sesiapa lagi, lalu pergi membawa diri sehingga bertahun-tahun tidak kembali ke tempat asal usul mereka. Saudara dan saudari terkasih, kita perlukan cinta kasih Tuhan Yesus Kristus di dalam hati dan hidup kita untuk menyembuhkan luka batin kita. Kita memerlukan iman kerana ia dapat menyelamatkan kita. Marilah kita sama-sama mengambil contoh Bonda Maria yang telah menyerahkan seluruh hidupnya kepada Tuhan walaupun bonda tidak tahu apa yang akan berlaku pada masa hadapan. Semoga Hari Santa Maria Bonda Allah, yang kita sambut pada setiap 1 Januari, mengingatkan kita kepada contoh yang terbaik bagi hidup kita serta keluarga kita kerana Bonda Maria sendiri mengalami banyak dugaan dan cabaran dalam hidup bonda. Semoga apa yang saya kongsikan dalam ruangan ‘Hati Ke Hati’ pada kali ini sedikit sebanyak dapat memberi pedoman kepada semua kita.

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Ciri pada bacaan Misa Ahad: 16 Januari 2022: Hari Minggu Kedua dalam Masa Biasa, Tahun C (Yesaya 62:1-5; 1 Korintus 12:4-11; Yohanes 2:1-11)

Yesus bujang tetapi menyokong perkahwinan Tradisi sekian lama, ajaran Gereja, dan bukti daripada Kitab Suci memperakui hakikat bahawa Yesus tidak pernah berkahwin. Namun ada segelintir sarjana dan penulis fiksyen yang mendakwa Yesus pernah berkahwin. Fiksyen paling terkenal mungkin novel tulisan Dan Brown ‘Da Vinci Code’ yang memberikan peranan yang menonjol kepada Maria Magdalena sebagai tempat Yesus mengadu, murid-Nya, dan mungkin isteri-Nya. Contoh seorang sarjana mungkin Karen King, seorang profesor di Harvard Divinity School, yang mengumumkan pada 2012 bahawa sekeping papirus yang kecil telah dĳumpai dan mungkin mengagak Yesus pernah berkahwin. Menurut King, jika pun kepingan papirus ini bukan bukti yang cukup kukuh bahawa Yesus benar-benar pernah berkahwin, ia mungkin merumuskan bahawa sebahagian orang Kristian awal berpendapat Yesus ada isteri. Ia menggegarkan dunia kesarjanaan Al-Kitab. Serpihan kertas ini ditulis dalam Bahasa Koptik dan dikatakan berasal dari zaman awal agama Kristian. Di dalam petikannya yang pendek dan tidak lengkap, Yesus merujuk kepada seorang wanita sebagai “isteri saya”. Ia turut memuatkan perkataan “Maria” dan “dia dapat menjadi murid saya”. King membuat spekulasi bahawa ayat-ayat ini menggambarkan dialog di antara Yesus dengan murid-muridNya berhubung perkara sama ada “isteri” Yesus, mungkin Maria Magdalena, layak atau tidak untuk menjadi murid. Selain daripada itu, King secara provokatif melabel serpihan kertas ini sebagai ‘Gospel of Jesus’ Wife’ (Injil Isteri Yesus). Menerusi hipotesisnya, King ingin membuat sorotan bahawa wanita yang menjadi isteri dan ibu juga boleh menjadi murid-murid Yesus, malah dari zaman awal agama Kristian lagi, dan mencabar sistem patriarki Gereja. Dari awal lagi, umat Kristian sudah tidak sependapat mengenai sama ada ia adalah lebih baik untuk tidak berkahwin atau berkahwin, tetapi pada abad pertama selepas kehidupan Yesus, umat Kristian sudah mengesahkan kehidupan membujang sebagai lebih suci dengan menggunakan status Yesus yang tidak berkahwin untuk menyokong pendirian mereka. Bagaimanapun, daripada Majlis Vatikan Kedua, semua keadaan hidup boleh membawa kepada kekudusan, dan kekudusan tidak ditentukan hanya oleh keadaan hidup yang tidak berkahwin sahaja. ‘Gospel of Jesus’ Wife’ yang amat kontroversi telah dibongkar oleh seorang wartawan, Ariel Sabar, dalam artikelnya, ‘The Unbelievable Tale of Jesus’ Wife’ (Kisah Isteri Yesus Yang Tidak Dapat Dipercayai), yang diterbitkan di dalam akhbar The Atlantic pada 2016. Sabar kemudian memperincikannya dalam sebuah buku, ‘Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man and the Gospel of Jesus' Wife’ (Veritas: Seorang Profesor Harvard, Seorang Penipu, dan Injil Isteri Yesus) pada 2020. Sudah tentulah ia telah merosakkan reputasi cemerlang King. Sabar bukan sarjana Al-Kitab, tetapi percaya tak, beliau membongkar pemalsuan itu menerusi sejarah pemilikannya? Sabar menjalankan saringan terperinci

Oleh Fr Francis Lim, SJ

Demi kemuliaan Allah yang lebih agung

bagi rantaian pembelian papirus itu dan mendapati salah seorang pemiliknya telah memalsukan papirus tersebut. Kemudian King sendiri secara terbuka mengaku papirus itu kemungkinan besar satu pemalsuan. Yesus sendiri mungkin tidak pernah berkahwin, namun Ia ternyata pernah menghadiri majlis perkahwinan. Dalam Injil Yohanes pada hari ini, Yesus bukan sahaja menghadiri satu majlis perkahwinan, tetapi Ia mengubah air menjadi air anggur atas permintaan bonda-Nya yang kebetulan turut diundang. Ia melakukannya juga kerana Ia bersimpati terhadap pasangan yang baharu berkahwin kerana air anggur tidak mencukupi bagi para tetamu. Dalam satu segi, menerusi peristiwa dalam Al-Kitab ini, Yesus menyokong perkahwinan sebagai satu keadaan hidup yang membawa kepada kekudusan dengan kehadiran-Nya yang penting di majlis perkahwinan ini. Menurut Yohanes, mukjizat di Kana merupakan yang pertama daripada banyak tanda Yesus yang dibenarkan-Nya untuk menunjukkan kemuliaan-Nya kepada orang ramai. Yesus memilih majlis perkahwinan, daripada semua peristiwa dalam kehidupan manusia, untuk menekankan perkara ini. Beliau memilih majlis perkahwinan dan bukan upacara mencapai akal baligh, kematian, atau peristiwa sosial lain untuk memanifestasikan kehebatan-Nya yang ilahi sebagai permulaan bagi pelayanan-Nya di bumi. Selain kepelbagaian anugerah yang diberikan dalam semua cara yang berbeza kepada berbagai manusia, St Paulus, dalam bacaan kedua, turut menyatakan bahawa cara khusus Roh Kudus diberikan kepada setiap insan adalah bagi tujuan yang baik. Sama ada berkahwin atau membujang, semua diseru untuk menjalankan panggilan masing-masing dengan cara yang berlainan menurut tujuan Allah; semua ini adalah panggilan Roh Kudus yang memberikan berbagai anugerah kepada berbagai manusia dalam pelbagai panggilan mereka: baik berkahwin mahupun membujang. Bagi mematahkan satu lagi hujah lain, Allah malah menggunakan perkahwinan untuk mengibaratkan hubungan Allah dengan bangsa Israel dalam bacaan pertama. Ungkapan “pasangan berkahwin” merujuk kepada bangsa Israel dalam bacaan pertama; selain gambaran perkahwinan lain, iaitu “Tuhan amat ghairah dengan mereka”, “bumi itu akan menyaksikan perkahwinannya”, “Ia yang membina kamu mengahwini kamu”, dan “seperti pengantin lelaki bersukacita dengan mempelainya, begitu juga Allahmu akan bersukacita dengan kamu”. Gambaran suami dan isteri digunakan oleh Allah untuk membuat sorotan bahawa hubungan yang intim dan menghasilkan buah bagi pasangan yang berkahwin boleh digunakan bagi hubungan akrab Allah sendiri dengan umat-Nya. Maka itu, walaupun Yesus tidak pernah berkahwin, Ia menggariskan kepentingan perkahwinan bagi kekudusan. Selain itu, dari zaman purba lagi, Allah telah menggunakan metafora perkahwinan bagi hubungan ilahi-manusiawi untuk menggariskan hubungan intim yang semua kita harus ada dengan Allah. Kalau ini bukan kekudusan, apa lagi? (Terjemahan)

Perutusan Minggu Kateketik – 30 Januari 2022 Tema: Keluarga – Jalan Menuju Kekudusan (1 Korintus 12:12) “Keluarga, jadilah sebagaimana seharusnya.” Inilah kata-kata daripada dokumen Familiris Consortio (Keluarga Dalam Dunia Moden) yang ditulis oleh Paus Santo John Paul II, dan merupakan panggilan dan seruan penting Gereja kepada keluarga agar semakin menurut apa yang Allah kekendaki, iaitu “persekutuan yang mesra kehidupan dan cinta kasih” (17). Paus itu mengingatkan keluarga bahawa panggilan ini tidak boleh diabaikan, kerana ini adalah panggilan bagi setiap keluarga untuk menerima dan menghidupkan martabat dan tanggungjawabnya di rumah dan dalam masyarakat.

Dalam dokumen Amoris Laetitia (Sukacita Kasih), Paus Francis menyatakan bahawa keluarga adalah sumber kekuatan bagi kehidupan Gereja: “Gereja merupakan kebaikan bagi keluarga, dan keluarga merupakan kebaikan bagi Gereja.” (87). Ini adalah kerana dalam setiap keluarga Kristian, aspek dan fungsi yang berbeza dalam kehidupan Gereja dicerminkan: misi, katekesis, kesaksian, doa, dan lain-lain. (Direktori Umum Katekesis, 255). Inilah sebabnya mengapa Gereja selalu menjunjung tinggi institusi kekeluargaan. Dalam dokumen-dokumen terbaharu Gereja ada disebut berbagai gambaran berkaitan

dengan keluarga, seperti “gereja domestik’, ‘tempat pelindungan kehidupan’, ‘sebuah komuniti yang mendidik’, ‘sel penting masyarakat’, ‘sekolah kehidupan kristian’, dan lain-lain. Dalam surat pertamanya kepada jemaat di Korintus, Santo Paulus menggunakan gambaran tubuh untuk menjelaskan tentang komuniti Kristian, di mana setiap anggota tubuh yang disatukan dengan satu sama lain dalam Tubuh Kristus. Ini juga merupakan gambaran yang ideal bagi keluarga, kerana setiap anggota adalah satu bahagian dalam keluarga, yang disatukan bersama Kristus dan satu sama lain oleh kasih mereka, juga dengan membahagikan

keperibadian dan kurnia unik mereka. Sebuah keluarga baharu dimulakan apabila seorang lelaki dan seorang wanita disatukan dalam Sakramen Perkahwinan. Dalam perkahwinan, pasangan suami isteri saling bantu-membantu untuk mencapai kekudusan melalui cinta kasih dan komitmen mereka kepada satu sama lain, serta dalam membesarkan anak-anak mereka. Sebagai ibu bapa, ia adalah tanggungjawab serius mereka untuk menjadi guru utama iman bagi anak-anak mereka, seperti yang dikehendaki Allah daripada mereka. Bersambung di ms28

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Dari meja pengarang

BERITA

Kasih tidak pernah berkesudahan “Janganlah setiap daripada kamu hanya memperhatikan kepentingan sendiri, tetapi kepentingan orang lain juga.” (Filipi 2:4)

Tatkala kita memasuki satu lagi tahun baharu, tahun harapan… harapan bagi penamatan pandemik … harapan bagi kehidupan keluarga yang lebih baik… harapan bagi mereka yang terpinggir, lemah, miskin, sakit, dalam kesusahan… marilah kita merenungkan perkara yang telah membantu kita untuk menempuh tahun yang baharu sahaja berlalu, dengan menangani krisis demi krisis. Adakah iman kita yang telah membantu kita? Iman kepada kasih Allah? Selepas menyaksikan dan menulis tentang pentahbisan seorang paderi keuskupan baharu bagi Keuskupan Agung Kuching, serta perayaan jubli dan Misa Kesyukuran bagi 10 biarawati daripada perkumpulan ‘Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak’ (SSFS) pada bulan lepas, saya boleh katakan pengalaman itu ternyata telah meningkatkan iman saya kepada kasih Allah, yang tidak dapat diukur, bagi anak-anak-Nya. Perkumpulan biarawati Carmelite pula memilih prioress dan ahli-ahli majlis baharu bagi tempoh tiga tahun akan datang. Marilah kita mengucapkan tahniah kepada Ibu Prioress baharu,

Sr Margaret of St Joseph, dan ahli-ahli majlis beliau. Disember merupakan bulan yang penuh peristiwa bagi kebanyakan paroki, dengan Misa harian dan Misa hujung minggu yang diadakan semula di gereja. Namun perkara yang paling membahagiakan bagi jemaat paroki pastinya kebenaran untuk menghadiri Misa di gereja pada Hari Krismas dan menyanyikan lagu-lagu karol Krismas! Kami telah mengumpul beberapa buah gambar untuk anda, yang diambil pada Hari Krismas dan Tahun Baharu 2022, di Halaman 27. Misa-Misa Penguatan, pembaptisan bayi, dan komuni kudus pertama turut dirayakan, yang amat melegakan ramai ibu bapa. Pada tahun ini, Hari Minggu Kateketik akan dirayakan pada 30 Januari dengan tema ‘Keluarga: Jalan Ke Arah Kekudusan’ (1 Kor. 12: 12). Dengan perkara ini dalam �kiran, dan menyedari bahawa kasih tidak pernah berkesudahan, marilah kita “jangan hanya memperhatikan kepentingan sendiri, tetapi juga kepentingan orang lain juga”. (Terjemahan)

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CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM PENERBIT Uskup Agung Kuching PENASIHAT Fr Felix Au EDITOR Ivy Chai EDITOR BERSEKUTU (B Cina) Magdalene Yeo SIDANG EDITOR Freddy Bohari (BM) Mabel Salin (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Inggeris) Margaret Bong (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Cina) Annie Ng (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Cina) STAF Shannon Wei

P E RU T U S A N Daripada Uskup Agung Simon Poh Selamat Tahun Baharu 2022 yang berkat kepada saudara-saudari dalam Kristus! Dengan hati yang penuh sukacita, gereja-gereja telah dibuka untuk Misa Krismas. Kelahiran Yesus telah membawa sukacita, kedamaian dan harapan bagi semua umat manusia. Kita bersukacita dengan anugerah ini iaitu Yesus—Imanuel—nama yang bermaksud “Allah bersama kita”. (Matius 1:23) Kita telah hidup diselubungi ketidaktentuan akibat COVID-19 hampir selama dua tahun. Maka itu, malam ambang Krismas umpama cahaya yang menerangi kegelapan taufan. Kita sesungguhnya bersyukur kerana Tuhan kita tidak meninggalkan kita, bahkan terus mengiringi kita dengan selamat sepanjang tahun 2021. Bilakah musim Krismas berakhir? Dari sudut liturgi, kita mengakhiri Musim Krismas dengan Pembaptisan Tuhan yang pada tahun ini jatuh pada Hari Minggu 9 Januari 2022. Bagi Gereja Katolik di seluruh dunia, kita mengikuti Ordo Liturgi yang menunjukkan senarai perayaan Gereja Roman Katolik bagi setiap hari dalam setahun, dengan ditetapkan bacaan-bacaan dan malah warna jubah yang digunakan—hijau, putih (atau emas), merah, ungu, atau merah jambu pada satu Hari Minggu di Musim Advent dan Musim Lent. Apabila anda membuka Ordo pada Isnin, 10 Januari 2022, ia akan menunjukkan “Minggu Pertama, Masa Biasa” dan menyenaraikan hijau sebagai warna jubah liturgi. Pada musim Krismas, kita menggunakan jubah putih atau berwarna emas. Dengan peralihan kepada hijau, Ordo mengesahkan bahawa musim Krismas sudah berakhir dengan Pembaptisan Tuhan. Hijau merupakan warna benda tumbuh, yang melambangkan kehidupan dan pertumbuhan dalam Masa Biasa Tahun Liturgi C pada tahun 2022. Perubahan warna liturgi seterusnya adalah kepada warna ungu pada Hari Rabu Abu pada 2 Mac 2022, yang menandakan permulaan bagi musim pertaubatan Lent selama 40 hari. Bila kita mengira hari-hari kalendar, kita akan menyedari bahawa musim Krismas sangat singkat, dengan hanya kira-kira 18 hari dari kelahiran Yesus pada ambang malam Krismas hingga Pembaptisan Tuhan di Sungai Yordan. Dari sudut rohani, Gereja tidak berhasrat untuk mengekalkan umat Katolik dalam kandang haiwan ternakan bersama Yesus Si Bayi. Malah kita baca bahawa “kembalilah gembala-gembala itu sambil memuliakan dan memuji Allah bagi segala yang mereka dengar dan lihat.” (Lukas 2:20). Kemudian “lelaki-lelaki bijaksana itu kembali ke negara masing-masing dengan menggunakan laluan berbeza”. Gembala-gembala dan lelaki-lelaki bijaksana itu sebenarnya diutuskan untuk mengumumkan berita baik tentang Yesus! Ketika Yesus dibaptis, kita tahu “ia berusia kira-kira 30 tahun”. (Lukas 3:23). Dengan merayakan Pembaptisan Yesus yang sudah dewasa, diikuti misi-Nya selepas pembaptisan, Gereja segera menarik

kita daripada palungan bersama Yesus Si Bayi dan, mengikut contoh lelaki-lelaki bijaksana dan gembala-gembala, Gereja Ibunda sekarang mengutuskan kita untuk membawa harapan, sukacita, kedamaian dan cinta kasih Yesus kepada semua orang, terutamanya pada waktu pandemik sekarang. Menerusi pembaptisan kita, setiap daripada kita “dibaptis dan diutus” untuk meneruskan misi yang sama dengan Tuhan kita, Yesus. Logo Bulan Misionari Luar Biasa Oktober 2019 adalah salib misionari di mana warnawarna utama merujuk kepada lima buah benua. Tema yang dipilih oleh Paus Francis bagi perayaan selama sebulan itu adalah “Dibaptis dan Diutus”. (Ilustrasi CNS/ Persatuan-Persatuan Misi Kepausan)

“Roh Tuhan telah diberikan kepada-Ku, kerana Ia telah mengurapi-Ku. Ia telah mengutus Aku untuk membawa berita baik kepada orang miskin, untuk memberitakan pembebasan kepada tawanan dan penglihatan baharu kepada orang buta, untuk membebaskan orang yang tertindas, untuk memberitakan tahun rahmat Tuhan.” (Lukas 4:18-19) Marilah kita sentiasa bersukacita kerana Tuhan kita sentiasa bersama kita dalam perjalanan hidup ini, “hingga akhir zaman”. (Matius 28:20). Saya ingin memberkati anda dengan satu pemberkatan berusia 3,000 tahun, yang diberikan kepada Nabi Musa oleh Allah untuk berdoa di atas adiknya, Aaron, dan bangsanya, di tengah-tengah masa berkelana di gurun yang mencabar sebelum mereka memasuki Tanah Perjanjian. Semoga Allah memberkati anda semua: “Tuhan memberkatimu dan melindungimu; Tuhan menyinarimu dengan wajah-Nya dan memberimu dengan kasih karunia; Tuhan menghadapkan wajah-Nya kepadamu dan memberimu damai sejahtera.” (Bilangan 6:24-26)

✠ Uskup Agung Simon Poh (Terjemahan)

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BERITA

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

SSFS sambut Perayaan Jubli Biarawan Carmelite pilih Prioress & Ahli-ahli Majlis baharu Gabungan bagi 10 Rohaniwati dengan Misa Kesyukuran

Prioress baharu dan ahli-ahli Majlis bagi penggal 2021-2024 (dari kiri ke kanan) Sr Dominica, Uskup Agung Simon Poh, Sr Margaret (Prioress baharu), Sr Evelyn dan Sr Karen. (Sisipan: Sr Margaret of St Joseph menerima tanggungjawab beliau sebagai Ibu Prioress daripada Uskup Agung Simon Poh.)

‘Aku mahu bersyukur kepada kepada-Mu dengan segenap hatiku; aku mahu menceritakan segala perbuatanMu yang ajaib.’ (Mazmur 9:1) KUCHING — Perkumpulan Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) telah menganjurkan Misa Kesyukuran Jubli untuk merayakan Ulang Tahun Jubli bagi 10 orang rohaniwati pada 19 Disember 2021. Misa itu dirayakan oleh Uskup Agung Simon Poh bersama Uskup Agung Emeritus John Ha, Fr Patrick Heng, dan Fr Martin Wong. Ia distrim secara langsung dari Chapel Home of Santa Clara, rumah persaraan perkumpulan berkenaan. Disebabkan oleh sekatan pandemik, kebanyakan rohaniwati terbabit dan anggota keluarga tidak dapat menghadiri acara yang menggembirakan itu. Maka itu, siaran secara langsung itu ternyata langkah yang dialu-alukan untuk menyatukan semua orang di perayaan yang sepatutnya besarbesaran.

Lapan jubilarian yang hadir, diketuai Superior Jeneral, Sr Rose Wong, dan masing-masing memegang lilin yang dinyalakan, memperbaharui komitmen mereka dan berjanji, “Untuk mematuhi Peraturan Order Ketiga St Francis, yang diluluskan oleh Bapa Suci, Paus John Paul II, dengan hidup dalam Kemiskinan, Kesucian dan Ketaatan, menurut Perlembagaan dan Peraturan Kongregasi Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak”. Untuk menyertai perayaan itu, walaupun secara maya, Sr Delicia dan pasukannya merekodkan “koir maya” untuk bernyanyi kepada para jubilarian. Pada hujung siaran secara langsung itu, video yang singkat mengenai para jubilarian turut dibentangkan. Sr Rose Wong, yang berucap sebagai wakil para jubilarian, membaca perutusan daripada Uskup Agung Emeritus Peter Chung yang tidak dapat menyertai mereka secara fizikal. Dua jubilarian, Sr Theodora Lai (Miri) dan Sr Michaelina Martin (PJ, Selangor) juga tidak dapat melakukan perjalanan bagi perayaan itu.

KUCHING — Biarawati Carmelite di Biara Immaculate Heart of Mary memilih Majlis baharu bagi penggal selama tiga tahun akan datang pada 23 Disember 2021, yang dipengerusikan oleh Uskup Agung Kuching, Simon Poh. Biarawati berikut telah dipilih untu melayan bagi penggal 2021-2024: Ibu Prioress: Sr Margaret of St Joseph

Ahli Pertama Majlis: Sr Dominica of the Blessed Trinity Ahli Kedua Majlis: Sr Evelyn of the Mother of Sorrow Ahli Ketiga Majlis: Sr Karen Emmanuel of Jesus on the Cross Menurut Perlembagaan perkumpulan biarawati itu, Ibu Prioress adalah ketua utama dan ahli-ahli Majlis membantunya dalam semangat perpaduan.

Sr Rose berkata: “Para jubilarian yang dikasihi, bagi pihak ahli-ahli Majlis saya dan semua teman rohaniwati saya, saya mengucapkan tahniah dan terima kasih kerana menyerahkan diri sepenuhnya kepada keluarga SSFS ini dan umat Allah untuk misi-Nya. Komitmen anda selama bertahun-tahun amat dihargai. “Izinkan saya untuk membahagikan contoh rohaniwati tertua kita, Jubilarian Platinum Sr Bridget Then, yang berusia 93 tahun. Beliau masih dengan setia menyebut doa-doa hariannya, menghadiri Misa harian, dan masih menabur bakti hariannya kepada para rohaniwati dalam komuniti beliau. Ia terbukti bahawa usia hanyalah angka sahaja. Ia adalah hati kasih kepada Allah dan orang lain yang membawa perbezaan. Sr Bridget, terima kasih kerana memberi inspirasi kepada kita dengan cara kita harus menjalani kehidupan kita, menerusi hubungan dengan Allah dan prihatin terhadap orang lain, hingga Tuhan memanggil kita pulang kepada kerajaan-Nya di syurga. “Merayakan Jubli bukan merayakan satu pencapaian. Ia bukanlah apa yang kita telah lakukan selama 25, 50, 60 atau 70 tahun yang lalu. Ia adalah satu amalan kesyukuran untuk merayakan dan berdoa bersama

sebagai satu keluarga besar bagi Panggilan Suci ini yang menyeru kepada kita agar lebih komited untuk meniru Kristus dan Bapa Serafik kita, St Francis di Assisi, dalam kasih kita kepada Allah, umat manusia, dan ciptaan Allah. Kita tahu bahawa semakin kita menghargai dan mengasihi-Nya, semakin kita akan meniru-Nya, dengan menjadi semakin setia kepada komitmen kita tidak kira apa pun harganya, dan dapat memahami satu sama lain tanpa dibatasi keadaan. Kita melihat hadirat Allah dalam setiap situasi dan dalam penciptaan-Nya, dan kita juga ada keinginan untuk menyantuni orang lain dalam pelbagai penjagaan pastoral. “Allah ada tujuan bagi semua kita, dan di sini kita melihat ada di antara kita yang telah berusaha untuk bekerja sama dengan-Nya, dan memberikan kepercayaan kita kepada-Nya, malah pada ketika kita melihat betapa terbatasnya kita. Jangan hilang tumpuan kita dengan rasa putus asa selepas melihat keterbatasan orang lain, tetapi jadilah seperti Kristus dengan memiliki harapan yang tidak pernah berkesudahan terhadap setiap individu. Jika Kristus dapat meninggalkan 99 ekor domba dan mencari seekor domba yang hilang, ini menunjukkan bahawa kita… Bersambung di ms27

Ivy Chai (Terjemahan)

TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

BERITA

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Gereja-gereja mengalu-alukan kedatangan semula jemaat paroki dengan Misa Krismas yang Sukacita & Misa Kesyukuran Tahun Baharu

KRISMAS - Gereja St Theresa, Serian Fr Leonard Yap (Rektor)

KRISMAS - Chapel Bonda Maria, Stutong Msgr William Sabang (Rektor)

KRISMAS - Gereja Blessed Sacrament, Stampin Fr Joseph Ng, SJ

TAHUN BAHARU - Gereja St Ann, Kota Padawan Friar David Au, OFM

Misa Kesyukuran Tahun Baharu yang distrim secara langsung dari St Joseph di Bandar Raya Kuching dan dirayakan oleh Uskup Agung Simon Poh bersama Fr Galvin Ngumbang.

TAHUN BAHARU - Chapel Bonda Maria, Stutong Msgr William Sabang (Rektor)

SSFS sambut Perayaan Jubli Gabungan

Sr Rose Wong memimpin para jubilarian untuk memperbaharui ikrar komitmen mereka. (Gambar: Today’s Catholic)

Bersambung dari ms26 …tidak harus mengucilkan sesiapa tetapi mementingkan semua. “Para jubilarian yang saya kasihi, kita adalah perkumpulan Fransiskan, marilah kita terus ‘BERCAKAP’ kepada dunia menerusi cara hidup kita yang berhubung dengan dan kepada Allah, supaya orang dapat melihat kebesaran KebenaranNya, apa yang Dia dapat lakukan kepada kehidupan kita, dan mereka akan mencari perkaraperkara benar yang dapat

membuatkan mereka rasa lebih berpuas hati di dalam, lebih tenang dan lebih bahagia untuk hidup. Kehidupan komuniti kita yang menerima teladan dan ajaran Kristus seharusnya membuktikan kepada setiap keluarga bahawa Gereja Domestik dapat dibina seperti yang dikehendaki Allah. Allah telah memberikan kepada kita cara terbaik untuk hidup, dan Dia telah memberikan kepada kita secara percuma. Ia bergantung kepada sejauh mana kita dapat menerima pemberian-Nya yang percuma.” (Tek an di sini untuk baca teks

Gambar yang diambil selepas Misa menunjukkan: Barisan depan (duduk dari kiri ke kanan) Sr Matilda Abui dan Sr Mildred Chin. Barisa kedua (berdiri dari kiri ke kanan) Sr Irene Chengann, Sr Jennifer Nyidom, (duduk dari kiri ke kanan) Sr Beatrice Ng, Sr Felicia Yong, Sr Bridget Then, (berdiri kanan) Sr Rose Wong. Barisan belakang (dari kiri ke kanan) Fr Patrick Heng, Uskup Agung Simon Poh, Uskup Agung Emeritus John Ha, Fr Martin Wong. (Gambar: Amelia Chieng)

sepenuhnya ucapan Sr Rose)

Tahniah Jubilarian

kepada

Para

10 Rohaniwati yang menyambut Ulang Tahun Jubli mereka adalah: Sr Bridget Then – Platinum (70 tahun) Sr Felicia Yong – Intan (60 tahun) Sr Beatrice Ng – Intan (60 tahun) Sr Mildred Chin – Intan (60 tahun) Sr Matilda Abui – Intan (60 tahun)

Sr Theodora Lai – Emas (50 tahun) Sr Jennifer Nyidom – Emas (50 tahun) Sr Irene Chengann – Perak (25 tahun) Sr Michaelina Martin – Perak (25 tahun) Sr Rose Wong – Perak (25 tahun) Jamuan makan malam sederhana diadakan selepas Misa di dewan makan Rumah Persaraan di mana para jubilarian kemudian menerima hadiah. Ivy Chai (Terjemahan)

BERITA

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC JANUARY 2022

Caritas seru sokongan kepada Perkara doa Paus pada Januari: Tabung Bantuan Banjir Negara Bagi mereka yang mengalami penindasan keagamaan

KUCHING — Caritas Malaysia menyeru kepada rakyat Malaysia untuk menyumbang kepada Tabung Bantuan Gereja Katolik bagi menyokong Tabung Bantuan Banjir Negara ekoran kejadian banjir baru-baru ini yang telah menjejaskan kehidupan ribuan penduduk, terutamanya di Selangor yang mempunyai begitu ramai penduduk.

Soalan-soalan Kerap Ditanya

Yang

S1: Apakah tujuan tabung ini? J: Untuk membeli makanan dan bekalan bagi mangsa banjir, menyediakan tempat pelindungan sementara, dan membantu mangsa untuk membina semula kehidupan mereka. S2: Bagaimanakah saya menyalurkan derma? J: Anda boleh menyalurkan derma dengan jumlah yang anda inginkan ke: Bank: AMBANK Nama akaun: Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur No akaun: 8881-0008-01410 Kod SWIFT: ARBKMYKLXXX Jika anda mahukan resit, anda

boleh menghantar slip bank ke emel: accounts@archkl.org S3: Adakah sumbangan derma saya boleh ditolak cukai? J: Sayangnya tidak. S4: Bagaimana jika saya menyalurkan derma selepas tarikh akhir? J: Tarikh akhir adalah 22 Januari 2022. Anda boleh menyalurkan derma selepas tarikh akhir tersebut tetapi wang itu mungkin akan digunakan untuk inisiatif-inisiatif lain. S5: Adakah semua ini jujur? J: Ya, ini adalah projek yang ditandatangani Uskup Bernard Paul—dari Keuskupan Melaka Johor merangkap presiden lembaga Caritas Malaysia, Uskup Sebastian Francis—dari Keuskupan Pulau Pinang merangkap Presiden Persidangan Uskup-uskup Katolik Serantau Malaysia, Singapura dan Brunei, dan Uskup Agung Julian Leow—dari Keuskupan Agung Kuala Lumpur. S6: Apakah Caritas Malaysia? J: Kami adalah sebuah organisasi yang bernaung di bawah Gereja Katolik di Malaysia. (Terjemahan)

KOTA VATIKAN — “Bagaimanakah kita dapat membiarkan dalam masyarakat ini, yang begitu bertamadun, orang ditindas hanya kerana mereka secara terbuka mengaku kepercayaan mereka?” tanya Paus Francis dalam video untuk perkara doa bulanan beliau bagi Januari 2022. “Bagaimanakah begitu banyak agama minoriti sekarang mengalami diskriminasi atau penindasan?” Perkara doa bagi Januari menandakan permulaan tahun ketujuh bagi Pope Video, iaitu satu ministri dalam Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. Dalam perutusan beliau yang dikeluarkan pada Selasa lepas, Bapa Suci berkata menindas orang hanya kerana mereka secara terbuka mengaku kepercayaan mereka adalah “tidak berperikemanusiaan” dan “gila”.

Fenomena di seluruh dunia Badan amal Katolik, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), yang menyokong pesan pada bulan ini, menyatakan di dalam laporan tahunannya “Religious Freedom in the World” (Kebebasan Beragama di Dunia) bahawa di seluruh dunia, kebebasan beragama dilanggar di sebuah daripada setiap tiga buah negara, yang merangkumi kira-kira dua pertiga daripada populasi dunia

keseluruhan. Lebih 646 juta orang Kristian, ACN melaporkan, tinggal di negara-negara yang tidak menghormati kebebasan beragama.

Menerima orang lain sebagai saudara-saudari Paus Francis menegaskan bahawa “kebebasan beragama tidak terbatas kepada kebebasan untuk beribadah”, tetapi “membuatkan kita menghargai orang lain di dalam perbezaan mereka dan menerima mereka sebagai saudara-saudari”. Malah perbezaan besar, seperti perbezaan agama, “tidak harus mengaburi perpaduan besar sebagai saudara-saudari”. “Marilah kita memilih jalan persaudaraan. Kerana, sama ada kita menjadi saudara-saudari, atau semua kita rugi.” Pada bulan pertama tahun 2022 ini, Paus Francis mengundang kita untuk berdoa “agar mereka yang mengalami diskriminasi dan penindasan keagamaan, menemukan di dalam masyarakat di mana mereka hidup, hak-hak dan maruah yang datang daripada menjadi saudara-saudari”. Vatican News (Terjemahan)

Perutusan Minggu Kateketik 2022 Bersambung dari ms24 Pada hari perkahwinan mereka, pasangan itu menerima tanggungjawab apabila mereka membuat perjanjian “untuk menerima anak-anak, yang dianugerahkan oleh Allah, dengan penuh kasih sayang, dan mendidik mereka sesuai dengan hukum Kristus dan Gereja-Nya”. Melalui Sakramen Perkahwinan, ibu bapa menerima “rahmat dan pelayanan pendidikan Kristian untuk anak-anak mereka” (Direktori Umum Katekesis, 227). Ini bererti ibu bapa adalah pewarta Injil pertama kepada anak-anak mereka. Mereka adalah yang pertama menurunkan iman kepada anakanak mereka dan mendidik mereka dalam iman itu, “melalui

kesaksian hidup Kristian mereka sehari-hari… hidup sesuai dengan Injil” (Apostolicum Actuositatem, 11). Dalam hal ini, keluarga merupakan “komuniti pertama yang dipanggil untuk mewartakan Injil kepada manusia dalam masa pertumbuhannya, dan membawanya menuju kedewasaan manusiawi dan kristiani sepenuhnya, melalui pendidikan dan katekesis yang berterusan” (Familaris Consortio, 2). Keluarga juga merupakan “tempat penyediaan katekesis”, untuk menyedari tentang kehadiran Allah, langkah pertama dalam berdoa, pendidikan tentang kesedaran moral, dan pembentukan pemahaman Kristian tentang cinta kasih dan seksualiti manusia. Maka itu, sebelum anak

menghadiri ‘kelas katekisme’ pertama di paroki, dia sudah mempunyai idea tentang Tuhan dan iman, tentang apa yang benar dan apa yang salah, serta tentang kehidupan secara umum, daripada ibu bapanya. Sebenarnya, apapun yang dipelajari atau tidak dipelajari oleh anak-anak, daripada orang tua mereka dan orang dewasa lain dalam keluarga mereka, memberi kesan yang akan mempengaruhi kehidupan mereka sepanjang hayat. Inilah sebabnya Gereja menekankan bahawa “katekesis keluarga mendahului, menyertai dan memperkayakan segala bentuk katekesis lain” (Catechesi Tradendae, 68). Ini bererti bahawa katekesis keluarga adalah lebih utama, bahkan daripada katekesis yang

dĳalankan di paroki. Penangguhan katekisme di paroki disebabkan oleh pandemik COVID-19 menjadikannya semakin mendesak dan perlu bagi ibu bapa serta keluarga pada umumnya untuk memikul tanggungjawab yang lebih besar bagi pendidikan iman untuk anggota keluarga yang masih muda. Sempena sambutan Minggu Kateketikal pada tahun ini, moga-moga kita diingatkan tentang panggilan Gereja: “Keluarga—jadilah sebagaimana seharusnya”, dan bertumbuh dalam kekudusan untuk menjadi “persekutuan yang mesra kehidupan dan cinta kasih” seperti yang dikehendaki Allah bagi kita.

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