Today's Catholic Vol. 27 No.9 December 2015

CATHOLIC today’s

A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak

Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

Vol 27 No 9 December 2015

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests!

(Lk 2:14) 17th-century painting titled “Adoration of the Shepherds”

by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione. (Photo: CNS) Website: http://www.todayscatholic.com.my

Contact us at 082-231164 (Tel), 082-230196 (Fax), todaycat@gmail.com (E-mail), P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching (Post)

NEWS

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EDITORIAL

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

When the baby you carry in your womb is… God

‘Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus…’ It must be a rare Catholic who is not familiar with this prayer. But I daresay most days, we lip service our way through the rosary in a trancelike state.

Recently an instinctive aversion to mindless repetition forced me to ponder on my Hail Marys. I was asking myself the question, why repeat Angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary a total of 200 times for the 4 mysteries. A thought came to me. It is the moment when the Lord of the universe, our Creator, Almighty God the giver of life came to us in the form of a human foetus in the uterus of a Jewish teenage girl called Mary. The focus is not Mary but Jesus. He could have chosen any other way but he chose to be born of a woman.

Don’t we always replay a joyful event over and over again in our minds? Tell others about it? Post it on Facebook? Tweet it? Instagram it and it is shared a thousand times over? Or imagine a young couple in love, talking and thinking about the moment they first met and fell in love… it is never boring repetition as long as the heart and soul are engaged in the experience. It may even be repeated 2000 times!

Let that truth sink in slowly, that Jesus is God who was born of the Virgin Mary, and I guarantee you, Christmas will never be the same again.

This month, we are happy to feature a special message from Archbishop John Ha on page 12.

Praying for all a joyful Christmas and 2016!

CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM PUBLISHER The Archbishop of Kuching ADVISOR Fr Felix Au EDITOR Stella Chin ASSOCIATE EDITOR (Chinese) Magdalene Yeo EDITORIAL TEAM Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (English) Victoria J Lim

(English Children’s Section) James Lo (Chinese) Margaret Bong

(Chinese Children’s Section) YOUTH PAGE Audrey Yu STAFF Audrey Yu

Launching of St Peter’s Development Fund

THE CHURCH IS GROWING ... Artist’s impression of the new St Peter’s Church, Padungan (left) and Our Lady Star of the Sea Chapel, Bintawa (right)

KUCHING — On the feast of Christ the King, 21 November, the rector of St Peter’s Parish, Fr Vincent Chin, launched the fund raising drive for the St Peter’s Development Fund.

This fund is for two development projects that the Parish is undertaking, namely

the new Our Lady, Star of the Sea Chapel, Bintawa and the new St Peter’s Church together with the construction of a Columbarium.

Of the two projects, Our Lady, Star of the Sea Chapel, Bintawa, at an estimated cost of about RM4 million, will be constructed first.

The new St Peter’s Church and Columbarium are in the design stage and will be submitted to the relevant authorities for approval once the drawings are ready.

Fr Vincent Chin appealed to parishioners and well-wishers to donate generously to the said fund. It would be very much

appreciated if they could either make a pledge of a certain amount over a 5-year period in the pledge forms and envelopes available in the Parish, or contribute a small donation each week with ‘A Ringgit a Brick’ envelopes that have been distributed during the weekend Masses. They could also make

out cheques to ‘St Peter’s Development Fund’.

The Rector thanked all in advance for their generous contribution and support anticipated and hoped that these two projects would be realised for the benefit of the community at large.

St Peter’s Parish Council

Friends of St Peter’s College celebration 2015 KUCHING — St Peter’s College held her annual Thanksgiving Mass for the Friends of St Peter’s on 3 November at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching.

During the Thanksgiving Mass, which was well attended by about 600 friends of St Peter’s College and family members, twelve Second Year Theologians were installed to the Ministry of Acolyte by Archbishop John Ha. With this installation, the acolytes will assist at the altar to help out with the distribution of the Holy Communion during Mass and to bring the Blessed Sacrament to the sick and the infirmed.

This installation serves as an important milestone in the

THE INSTITUTION ... (Left) John Direk accepting the vessel with bread to be consecrated from Archbishop John Ha; (Right) The newly installd acolytes at a photo call with Archbishop John Ha

life of the seminarians as they advance nearer to the priesthood.

The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a fellowship dinner at St Peter’s College compound. The seminarians

presented entertainment items to include songs, a skit, cultural and modern dances.

The College Rector, Fr Nicholas Ng in his welcoming speech, thanked the benefactors

for their generous contributions in terms of cash and kind, prayers and their friendship.

Archbishop John Ha later gave out the certificates to the newly installed Acolytes.

In total, there are 38 seminarians from all the nine archdioceses and dioceses in Malaysia studying at St Peter's Major Seminary this year.

Galvin R Ngumbang

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

NEWS

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Second priest for the year: the Archdiocese rejoices for the ordination of Fr Robert Jissem

KUCHING — The ordination of Fr Robert Jissem to the Order of priesthood on 8 November brought tremendous joy to the Archdiocese of Kuching. It was the second sacerdotal ordination for the year. The first was the ordination of Fr Benard Jimbun in June.

The ordination Mass was presided over by Archbishop John Ha, concelebrated with three bishops, more than 20 priests and assisted by two deacons. Among the clergy present were the former classmates of Fr Robert, namely Fr John Pereira from Melaka (ordained 1 October), Fr Harry Dorisoh and Fr Hilanus Simon from Keningau (ordained 10 and 17 October respectively), Deacon Stanley William from Sandakan and Deacon Joshua Liew from Kota Kinabalu. Also worth a mention is the presence of Bishop Richard Ng of Miri, who was the former rector of St Peter’s College Major Seminary and the formator of Fr Robert and his five friends during their seminary days.

Fr Robert, 42, hails from Kpg Segong, Singai. He is the third priest from Singai with pioneers in the person of Fr Augustine Jepy and Fr Peter Liston. Therefore, the Bidayuh community of Singai has every

A NEW PRIEST FOR THE PEOPLE ... Archbishop John Ha annointing the hands of Robert Jissem (inset); on the Archbishop’s left and right were Robert’s classmate, Deacon Stanley William and Deacon Joshua Liew

reason to celebrate and be proud.

“The Bidayuh community in Bau, and those in Singai in particular, are very proud of you,” said Vincent Eddy Sireng, the organising chairman of the thanksgiving dinner at Redeems Centre. The dinner held on 14 November in celebration of the ordination of Fr Robert was attended by more than 1500 people.

The Singai community presented him with a new Proton Saga FLX SV as a sign of their

love and support.

“This gesture of support, love and appreciation will be continued in the future as a manifestation of our belief,” said Vincent Eddy. He added that it was also to encourage more young people to answer God’s call to the priesthood.

Ten years in the seminary was not an easy journey for the newly ordained Fr Robert.

Besides his struggle with English, he had to cope with the pain of losing his parents. His

father, Stephen Jissem passed away when he was in his first year of Theology. The passing of his mother, Elizabeth Rikim followed two years later.

Fr Robert credited his vocation to the priesthood to his late mother, who nurtured his faith and allowed the seed of vocation to be planted as early as when he was in primary school.

He recalled that the call to the priesthood became stronger when he was working in a hotel.

Despite the good job with a

good pay and a girlfriend, he felt “something was missing and there was emptiness”.

“The idea of priesthood came back to my mind again.

The feeling to become a priest grew stronger and stronger until finally in 2005 I made a decision to enter the seminary, where I found joy and peace and the emptiness was filled,” said the newly ordained priest.

For those who have worked with him, Fr Robert is known for his simple and humble ways.

Archbishop John Ha in his message in the ordination souvenir booklet, wrote: “I see Robert as a shepherd after Christ’s own heart and therefore a selfless servant who readily puts his whole heart, mind and soul into his service of the people.”

“He had shown great pastoral care for the communities in the outskirt of Kuching...,” wrote Auxiliary Bishop Simon Poh in the same souvenir booklet. “I would like to commend him for this humble spirit of service.”

Fr Robert in his speeches at the ordination Mass and the dinner, urged young men to consider serving the Church as priests and to courageously answer God’s call to the priesthood.

Audrey Yu

The Alpha Course successfully completed A new bishop for MelakaJohor Diocese

SUCCESSFUL SECOND COURSE ... Participants and facilitators of Alpha Course posing for a photo in front of a local restaurant KUCHING — A dinner conducted over a period of 12 Pinang. Many guests, hosts and was held at a local restaurant weeks. The outcome has been helpers alike experienced being where families and friends positive so much so that many touched by the Holy Spirit, gathered to mark the end of the who sought for answers in life and the love and mercy of God Alpha Course. The testimonies found reaffirmation in their during the Weekend Away. given that evening inspired Christian faith.

All participants were given everyone.

The course is designed to the opportunity to be prayed This second Alpha Course be carried out in a relaxing and over. They sought forgiveness for the year kicked-off on 18 conducive environment with through Confession as well as August and was hosted by St video talks by Nicky Gumbel. celebrated the Holy Mass which Joseph Cathedral at the Mater Group sharing and fellowship was presided over by Bishop Domini Auditorium, ACCPC. that followed encouraged Simon Poh. A total of 120 to include guests, questions and thoughtThe next Alpha Course hosts and helpers participated provoking discussions. themed “Is there more to life and turned up for the course.

The highlight of this course than this?” will commence in The Alpha Course, a 15 was the Holy Spirit Weekend March 2016. session practical introduction Away held from 3 - 4 October to the Christian faith, was at Christian Worship Centre, Sg Gloria Chai

CONGRATULATIONS! ... Bishop Paul Tan SJ (left) with Msgr Bernard Paul who succeeds him as the next bishop of Melaka-Johor Diocese

JOHOR BAHRU — Pope Francis has appointed Msgr Bernard Paul, 62, to be the new bishop of Melaka-Johor Diocese. This was announced at the Vatican on 19 November at noon, corresponding to 7 pm Malaysian time.

He will succeed Bishop Paul Tan Chee Ing, SJ, whose resignation from the pastoral governance of Melaka-Johor Diocese, in accordance with canon 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law, has been accepted by the Holy Father.

Msgr Bernard Paul was born in Kuala Lumpur on 6 July 1953. After completing his studies, he entered the seminary in Penang and was ordained priest on 21 July 1989.

He had served in almost all the states in the Diocese of Penang except in Kelantan.

He is currently the parish priest of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang and Vicar General of the diocese.

Continued on p7

NEWS

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Archbishop John Wong speaks on the Synod of Bishops on the Family

KOTA KINABALU — In his interview with Catholic Sabah on 5 November, Archbishop John Wong from the Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu spoke rather candidly about his experience at the just-concluded Synod of Bishops on the Family.

Archbishop Wong, who heads the Commission for Family Life, represented the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei to attend the Synod of Bishops in Rome. In fact, he was the sole representation from Malaysia.

The Vatican’s synod on the family was opened by Pope Francis on 4 October and closed on 25 October. Themed “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the modern world,” the Synod was a follow-up of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family 2014, focusing on the pastoral challenges involved in family life.

The interview between the prelate and Catholic Sabah is as follows:

What was it about the Synod that strikes you most?

The Pope chose the focus on the important basic cell of society - the family, which is the domestic church, for his Synod because of the unique challenges the family faces today. What strikes me most was that in setting out for a Synod which speaks about the family, learns from the family, as well as readily acknowledges its dignity, its strength and its value, the Synod fathers has no qualms in acknowledging that many families were in fact trying to live up faithfully to the vocation of family in the face of their struggles and diminishing values of the concept of families as laid down by the Church.

What is your evaluation of this Synod?

I was struck with its openness right from the beginning.

The Pope encouraged participants to speak freely. And they did speak freely. Open discussions were fostered on many topics regarding families around the world.

There was a palpable sincerity from the Synod fathers, delegates from the married couples, individuals, as well as representatives from other churches.

What do you think of the methodology of this Synod?

The new methodology is good. It facilitates more dialogue and discussion between the prelates. It is based on the tried method of ‘see, judge/reflect, act’.

The working document, the Instrumentum Laboris was helpful as a base text. This year the Synod was broken into three parts based on: 1) Listening to the challenges of family in the present time; 2) Discerning

As Christians, we are called to imitate the Good Shepherd and to help families experiencing difficulties.

(Photo: Archbishop John Wong making an Intervention at the Synod in Rome) the vocation of Christian family; and 3) Exploring the mission of family today, with the results of the small group discussions being collected and presented to the General Assembly.

Would you say there is an atmosphere of freedom in the Synod?

Yes, especially in the Synod Hall where the General Assembly and group discussions took place.

What is your expectation of the Synod? How have they been met?

It was beyond my expectation. Speaking for our Catholic Bishops Conference, we had hoped to resolve much of our tribunal hitches, and that the Church would be able to look more into the strengthening of the vocation of family.

Prior to the Synod, there was a lot of talk, argument, taking of sides for the traditional, moderates, and progressives, talks of conspiracy, etc. I was surprised to find that there was much peace inside the Synod Hall.

The procedure was quiet and smooth flowing.

What do you hope the Synod has accomplished for the Archdiocese (of Kota Kinabalu) in the pastoring of families with its related issues?

What comes out strong for me was “accompaniment”.

The 94-paragraph report highlighted the role of pastors in helping the couples, and families to understand church teaching, to grow in faith and take responsibility for sharing the Gospel by “accompanying” them.

Accompaniment for the church is simply “being close to the family as a travelling companion, assuming wisely differentiated attitudes: sometimes it is necessary to stay by their side and listen in silence; other times it must

With Compliments

indicate the path to follow; and at still other times, it is opportune to follow, support and encourage.” I acknowledge that within our archdiocese greater efforts must be made to be with struggling families, children who are affected by family problems as well as world values, singles who are afraid to get married or fears of those who are preparing for marriage, those who have lost the theological values of marriage because of the struggle to make ends meet, those who are not looking at marriage as a vocation, those within the first five years of marriage, the elderly who have been rejected by society and considered as useless to society but whom the church should treasure, last but not least the migrants who are struggling with family members left behind as well as with the integration of family in the country of destination.

What are some of the changes that can be anticipated in the local Church with the recently concluded Synod as well as the two new documents (‘motu propio’) reforming the annulment process?

I acknowledge that we still have a long way to go in helping the families that are under our care. Plans are being finalised to revamp the pre-marriage course.

For the after-marrieds, a counselling centre is in place at least in the Cathedral parish. The new documents of ‘motu propio’ recently approved by Pope Francis would make the annulment process more accessible and less time-consuming. The English translation has yet to be made available. I would personally think and hope that the CBC would step in to discuss further the ‘motu propio’ to see whether the bishops’ conference, rather than the individual bishop (as recommended) should be referred to.

However, an Intervention was also presented by me to the Synod that the CBC could be accorded the autonomy especially to deal with cases of mixed marriages in Malaysia, between Catholics and those of other faiths. In cases of failed mixed marriages where the abandoning partner is a Muslim, the non-Muslim spouses are legally prevented to return to their original faith even after legally officiating their divorces.

In conclusion, I thank the Lord, who has guided our synodal process in these days by his Holy Spirit, whose presence I so tangibly felt throughout the entire Synod, and on whom we rely for ongoing guidance.

Lastly I would say the presence of Pope Francis was inspiring. He was present in most sessions and truly lived out what he preached. He mingled and spoke simply without pretence, paid attention to all, and was very welcoming.

Catholic Sabah

5TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

PALM-SPIRIT SDN BHD (668356-U)

~ Pope Francis

HENRY GARAN

Yoshi Square, Blk A, Unit A4-3F, No 4, Jalan Pelabuhan, Pending, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: +6 082 484789 Fax: +6 082 483789 Email: jklrufus@yahoo.co.uk

Departed: 19 December 2010 Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Always remembered and dearly missed by wife, daughter, son, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, grand-daughters, grandsons and all loved ones.

CLASSIFIED

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

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WE NEED YOU!

B.PGK.KCH(JM)698/2015/03

Our Archdiocese needs a media team to proclaim his good news to all through print and audio visuals. If you are a videographer, photographer, sound engineer, video editor, production manager, scriptwriter, journalist, graphic artist, web designer, layout specialist, this is your calling.

We also welcome with open arms those who may not be professionally trained but who are interested / willing to contribute to this ministry.

To find out more kindly contact Audrey at Today’s Catholic Office (082231164) during office hours, or email to todaycat@gmail.com.

Social Communications Committee Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Kuching

6TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

ANNOUNCEMENT

JOSEPH JUNIT AK JURENG Departed: 13 December 2009

Pope Francis will deliver his Christmas Message and Blessing Urbi et Orbi on 25 December at about 6.30 pm Malaysian time.

The link to the live broadcast will be provided in www.kuchingcatholic. org nearer the time. All are encouraged to watch the broadcast.

Pope Francis also grants a plenary indulgence to those who devoutly receive the papal blessing by radio, television and new communications media (the internet).

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Deeply missed by wife, son and daughter.

8TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of AIDA AUSTIN DRUCE (26.5.1931 – 18.12.2007)

5TH ANNIVERSARY In ever loving memory of (SJN 1099762)

AUGUSTINE ANAK PATRICK BUJANG

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though she dies.” John 11:25

Eight years have gone by without you in our lives, but sweet memories that you shared still linger on and always remain in our hearts forever.

who was called home by the Lord on 5 December 2010 Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon him May he rest in peace. Amen.

Out of gratitude and love for him we should desire to be reckoned fools.

St Ignatius of Loyola

Deeply missed by wife Minahsiah Binti Bah Sugep, daughters and son (in Kapar, Perak); parents, sisters, brother, and brothersin-law (in Kuching).

6TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

MMS EDUCATION PLACEMENT Market Management Services Sdn Bhd

Tomb Maker Simon Sim See Huat 15 Nanas Road 93150 Kuching, Sarawak Tel: 082-617616 / 0138117616 Fax: 082-627616 Specialise in: Construction & Cleaning of Grave Monuments Manufacturing Gravestones imported from China, Italy

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.

Deeply loved and missed by sons, daughter, daughters-in-law, great grandchildren, grandchildren & all loved ones.

IN EVER-LOVING MEMORY

Since 1981

No E32 (2nd & 3rd Floors) Taman Sri Sarawak Mall Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 93100 Kuching Tel: 082-246795 / 012-8085112 Email: market@mms.com.my Website: www.mms.com.my

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace.

40TH ANNIVERSARY 3RD ANNIVERSARY 12TH ANNIVERSARY

DORIS YEO CHOON ENG who was called by the Lord on 22 December 2009

Forever in our hearts, minds and prayers.

Deeply missed, cherished and lovingly remembered by husband, children, grandchildren and all loved ones.

12TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory Mary, you left us beautiful memories, Your love is still our guide, Tho’ we cannot see you, You’re always at our side.

You are loved beyond words & missed beyond measure.

Rest in peace, Mary.

MARY DOMINIC ATONG

Sadly missed by all loved ones.

Born: 17 May 1955 Departed: 14 December 2003

JERRY SIMON OSWALD MARTIN Departed: 17 April 1976

ANN MARTHA TAN TANG HIANG Departed: 1 January 2013

FERNANDO ALEXANDER MARTIN Departed: 23 February 2004

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

Light shines in the darkness for good men, for those who are merciful, kind and just; happy is the person who is generous with his friendship and love. A good person will never fail, he will always be remembered.

Gone is the face we loved so dear, Silent is the voice we loved to hear, Too far away from sight and speech, But not too far from our thoughts to reach, Gone from our sight, gone from our home, Gone to the Father’s home above, Days brought sorrow, months brought sorrow, Years brought the loving memories which no heart can speak.

Forever in our hearts and minds: Loving children, brothers, sisters, relatives & all loved ones “And know that I am with you always ...” Mt 28:20

Requiem Mass will be offered on 15 January 2016 at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching at 5.30 pm.

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Holy Cross Ministry goes to Kuala Lumpur

FOR THE ALBUM... Participants from Holy Rosary Church with Alexius Bong (4th left) and Fr Joachim Tan (5th left) KUALA LUMPUR — with workshops conducted More than 30 participants by Alexius and others. The successfully completed a workshops included the topics faith formation programme on Gift of Tongues, Visitation at Holy Rosary Church, of the Holy Spirit, Gift of Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur on Prophecy, Gift of Knowledge 27 September. and Gift of Miracles.

The Faith Formation Alexius ministered a healing Programme, for the most session as requested by the part, utilised DVD recordings organisers at the end of the produced by Holy Cross programme.

Ministry of Deliverance The parish priest of Holy originally designed for St Rosary Church, Fr Joachim Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching Tan oversaw the running of the in 2009. The recordings are programme, while Janet Ang have not been in use since then was involved in organising the because the programme is being event. Their enthusiasm and conducted “live” annually. zeal made all the difference to The DVD recordings consist the success of the programme. of 45-minute talks presented by Holy Cross Ministry of Alexius Bong. The participants Deliverance was founded by from Holy Rosary Church Stephen Bong in the mid-80s. got to attend 16 talks running The Ministry is known for every week from 9 June – 22 providing spiritual counselling September. and praying over for Christians 27 September saw the and non-Christians. programme rounded off Augustine Tan

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Participants brought for an amazing journey with St James KUCHING — Holy Trinity Parish, Kenyalang started The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Studies series in 2011 with the “Bible Timeline: Story of Salvation” and concluded its 5th year of the series with its 8th module on the “Epistles of James: Pearls for Wise Living” on 29 October.

The “Epistles of James: Pearls for Wise Living” is a DVD based Catholic Bible Studies created by Jeff Cavins.

About 65 participants attended the weekly sessions regularly since August this year.

The group enjoyed the weekly home assignments and group discussion with the input made available in DVD. Generally, the weekly study of the Epistles of James continuously reminded and challenged the participants to demonstrate their faith by their action, to receive and act upon the implanted Word of God, to be quick to listen and slow to

WONDERFUL ADVENTURE ... Participants of the Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study posing for photos speak. is lacking in the suffering of Some participants found the Christ (cf. Colossians 1:24) final session to be one of the but in order that we may come best teachings they had ever to know the love of God, experienced particularly on the he has made room for us to question so often asked, “Why participate in the suffering of is there so much suffering?” Christ. In a practical way, Jeff Jeff Cavins explained the two Cavins explained how we may kinds of suffering, physical and therefore offer our sufferings moral, to include the temporal up in union with Christ. and definitive aspects as well Light refreshment and as the redemptive value of fellowship followed after suffering. every session.

He quoted Pope St John Paul II and explained that nothing Perpetua Phang

Meeting the needs of the care takers KUCHING — The Catholic Welfare Services Council Sarawak (CWS) has initiated a food coupon programme in its outreach to poor patients and their families at the Sarawak General Hospital.

The hospital has approved the food coupon programme which is open to all.

Family members who are taking care of the sick in

the hospital can use the food coupons to redeem lunch and dinner at the hospital canteen.

The food coupons with the value of RM5 each can be obtained from the welfare officer, Puan Naomi Anne Masilamany who is based at the hospital.

Family members are required to make known their need of the coupons to the doctor on duty

before seeing Puan Naomi.

CWS requests all parishioners and readers of Today’s Catholic to spread the word around on the food coupons made available to those who need them.

For inquiries, please contact CWS office at 082-241407 or email catholicwelfareservices@ yahoo.com. — CWS

New office bearers for St Colette Catholic Centre

KUCHING — 8 November saw the election of the new office bearers of St Colette Catholic Centre, Taman Malihah, for the year 2005-2018.

Sebastian Misif was elected new chairman.

Solomon Selimun was elected for the first time to assist Sebastian. Both have been actively involved in the Church: as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Sunday School teachers and RCIA facilitators, making them the right people for the right job.

Sebastian and Solomon, together with their committee members, will serve a threeyear term.

The line up for the new office bearers is as follows: Chairman: Sebastian Misif Vice Chairman: Solomon Selimun Secretary: Edwincy Rebin Assistant Secretary: Fenny Nyalo

HANDING OVER ... Joe Junit (1st left) handing over St Colette’s files to the new chairman, Sebastian Misif (2nd right) Treasurer: Simon Kundang Assistant Treasurer: Bernard Duwang Committee Members: Solomon Bukit Edward jalip Matthew Nisoy Zacry Asong Matthew Maning Henry Alence John Mok Prosper Parameswaran Malisa Matra

Johannes Javan The newly elected chairman of St Colette has humbly requested for cooperation from the committee and the lay leaders to assist the rector in the work of evangelisation and spiritual growth of the community.

The meeting also witnessed the handing over of duty between Joe Junit and his successor Sebastian Misif.

Matthew Mark Dangus

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

NEWS

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Make the mercy jubilee a ‘revolution of tenderness’, Pope Francis urges VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has granted an interview to the official website for the Jubilee of Mercy, in which he expresses his intention that the year be an occasion to encounter God's tenderness in a world rife with cruelty and atrocities.

“The revolution of tenderness is that which, today, we must cultivate as a fruit of this year of mercy: the tenderness of God toward each one of us,” the Pope told the official Jubilee publication ‘Credere’ in an interview released on 2 December.

The Roman Pontiff gave the example of an employer who manages the contracts of

their employees in such a way as to deprive them of benefits and pensions. Such an employer does not show tenderness, but rather treats his workers as objects, he said.

In today's world, where we have grown accustomed to hearing about cruelty and atrocities, it is clear that there is need for mercy, he added.

Pope Francis listed some of the atrocities taking place in the world: arms trafficking and production, the brutal murder of the innocent, the exploitation of minors and children. These atrocities constitute “a sacrilege against humanity, since man is sacred. He is the image of the living God,” he said.

“I believe that this is the moment of mercy,” he said. “We are all sinners. All of us carry weight within.”

“It is the year of forgiveness, the year of reconciliation.”

Pope Francis stressed the need to recognise God the Father as merciful, and to focus on healing rather than condemnation.

“The world needs to discover that God is Father, that there is mercy, that cruelty is not the way, that condemnation is not the way, because the Church itself at times follows a strict line, (yields) to the temptation to follow a strict line, the temptation to only stress moral norms, yet how many people are left out.”

He reiterated the image of the Church as a field hospital, a theme he has touched on in

the past. “The wounded are cared for, helped to heal, not subjected to tests to analyse their cholesterol.”

Pope Francis said it was his intention to follow in the footsteps of his predecessors in stressing the theme of mercy in the life of the Church. He cited in particular St John Paul II, with his 1980 encyclical on divine mercy, Dives in misericordia; the canonisation of St Faustina; and the establishment of the feast of Divine Mercy on the octave day of Easter.

“I realised it that it was necessary to do something and continue this tradition.”

Continued on p8

Pope Francis says he was surprised by crowds, joy in Africa ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM AFRICA — Pope Francis told reporters he is well aware that God is a god of surprises, but he had not been prepared for what a surprise his first visit to Africa would be.

Obviously tired, but equally content, Pope Francis told reporters he prayed in a mosque in Bangui, Central African Republic, and rode around a Muslim neighbourhood with the imam seated with him in the popemobile. Both were spontaneous initiatives of the Pope on 30 November, his last

day in Africa.

“The crowds, the joy, the ability to celebrate even with an empty stomach” were impressions the Pope said he would take home with him after his six-day trip to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic.

After two years of civil war, the Pope told reporters, the people of the Central African Republic want “peace, reconciliation and forgiveness”.

“For years, they lived as brothers and sisters,” the Pope said, and local Catholic, Muslim and evangelical Christian

leaders are doing their best to help their people return to that situation of peace, coexistence and mutual respect.

Leaders of every religion must teach values, and that is what is happening in Central African Republic, Pope Francis said.

“One of the most-rare values today is that of brotherhood,” a value essential for peace, he said.

“Fundamentalism is a disease that is found in all religions. We Catholics have some,” he said.

“I can say this because it is my church.”

“Religious fundamentalism isn’t religion, it’s idolatry,” he told the press. Ideas and false certainties take the place of faith, love of God and love of others.

Given his visits to Uganda and Kenya, where new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths continue, Pope Francis

was asked if he thought the church “should change its teaching” about the use of condoms.

Pope Francis responded that an ongoing question for Catholic moral theology is whether condoms in that case are an instrument to prevent death or a contraceptive – in which case they would violate church teaching on openness to life.

But, he said, the question is too narrow. People are dying because of a lack of clean water and adequate food. Once the world takes serious steps to solve those problems, then it would be “legitimate to ask whether it is licit” to use condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS. Pope Francis said that at various moments of his trip, he visited the very poor, people who lack everything and have suffered tremendously. He said he knew that a small percentage

of the world’s population controls the vast majority of the world’s wealth – “and I think, ‘How can these people not be aware?’ It’s such suffering.”

The Pope also was asked about the Vatican trial underway in connection with the leak and publication of confidential documents related to Vatican finances.

“I haven’t lost any sleep” over the leaks and the arrest of a monsignor, his assistant, a woman who served on a former Vatican commission and the two authors who wrote books allegedly based on the material, Pope Francis said.

As for future trips, Pope Francis was not full of surprises. He said he plans to go to Mexico and visit cities where St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI never went.

The trip is expected in late February.

CNS

Continued from p3

A new bishop for Melaka-Johor Diocese Soon after the announcement, Msgr Bernard said he was happy at his appointment but a little anxious of his new task. He said that he was aware of the magnitude of this office and the responsibilities that come with it, adding, “I am aware of my own inadequacies and limitations.”

He said that youth, family and inter-religious cooperation would be among his areas of focus when he takes over as bishop.

The bishop-elect has had three guiding principles. They are: begin from where they are; build upon the predecessors, maintain or improve; enable and

empower the people, the laity.

Speaking to Herald, the bishop-elect pointed out that he “believes in continuity in building upon his predecessor, Bishop Paul Tan’s work.”

He went on to say that he also believes in team ministry and community discernment, “that’s why I sign of ‘Together Building His Kingdom’”.

He will use his priestly ordination theme “Take! Bless!

Break! Give” for his episcopal ordination. He said these words are noted in the consecration of bread and wine.

“The Last Supper Eucharist is the multiplication of the five loaves and two fishes to feed

5,000,” he said. “Small we may be, but with God who is able to make anything possible, we see greatness.”

For many, the bishop-elect is known as a humble and open priest. Bishop Sebastian Francis of the Penang Diocese has described him as “a Father, Priest, Shepherd, Friend, Confessor, an Enabler, a Disciplinarian and a Fun Guy”.

The Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Bernard Paul is scheduled for 12 January next year. Further details of the ordination would be announced at a later date.

Herald/Vincent D’Silva

PAGE 8

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Denied place of worship, Yasmin Church Myanmar cardinal wants Irrawaddy faithful celebrate Advent on streets dam project halted

Photo: Asianews.it

JAKARTA — The faithful of the Indonesian Yasmin Bogor Christian Church (GKI) have decided to celebrate Advent and Christmas in the heart of Jakarta, in front of the presidential palace, involving all Christian denominations and other religions to demand respect for the rights of minorities. Yasmin spokesman Dwiati Novita Rini, told the Jakarta Post, said that “it will be an interreligious and interfaith celebration of Christmas.”

The same spokesman announced that the community has received the support of some Human Rights networks such as the Setara Institute. The celebrations are organised together with the Batak Protestant Chuch (Hkbp), the largest Protestant denomination in Indonesia.

Rini said that the services of Advent will be on 6 and 13 December, while Christmas service will be held on 25 December, in the square next to the palace.

It will be the sixth Christmas in a row for Yasmin Church without a church building, since the administration of Bogor revoked the building permit (IMB) of the place of worship in 2010 and stopped the work. For several weekends, the faithful celebrated the liturgical service at the presidential palace, but the gesture has so far not convinced the president Joko Widodo to implement the commitment to protect religious minorities. Not even the fact

that the governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, also a Protestant, seems to be in favour of the faithful of the GKI Yasmin.

Over the years, the Protestants have received the support of many human rights organisations, such as the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (Lbh) and the Commission for the disappeared persons and victims of violence (Kontras).

Bona Sigalingging, another community spokesperson, says: “Many friends come to support us every time we celebrate Christmas in front of the palace.”

He believes that by inviting people of different religious faiths, the GKI encourage other Christian minorities to take courage and speak up, demanding the right to be protected by the state: “We want to knock on the doors of other Christian churches so that they can reflect and understand that they should not give up just because they are a minority”.

Indonesia, the world’s most populous (Sunni) is increasingly the scene of attacks or episodes of intolerance against minority groups, whether Christian, Ahmadi Muslims or of other faiths. The coordinator of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas Ham) office for religion and faith accused Jakarta of “turning a blind eye” on cases of abuses against religious minorities and not to use its authority to revoke discriminatory laws of local governments.

AsiaNews / Agencies

MYANMAR — Myanmar’s prominent Catholic Church leader has urged the country’s newly elected government to halt the controversial Myitsone dam project in northern Kachin state, which is widely viewed as environmentally and culturally destructive.

Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon explained to UCANEWS that if Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy that won the 8 November election, really wants to fulfil the desire of the people she should follow the desire of the ethnic Kachin people.

The $3.8 billion dam, slated to be the 15th largest hydroelectric power station in the world when completed by 2017, is being built on the Irrawaddy River, Myanmar’s premier waterway, to provide power almost exclusively to neighbouring China.

By 2010, the dam’s construction caused at least 2,000 people to be relocated from their ancestral homes in Aung Myin Thar village. The militarybacked government of President Thein Sein suspended construction in September 2011, while China vigorously agitated for recommencing work on the project.

“The Irrawaddy is our mother and our life-blood river so ending the project

is not only the will of ethnic Kachins but also the people of Myanmar,” Cardinal Charles Bo Cardinal Bo said. He promised to speak out on the issue when he gets a chance to meet Suu Kyi personally.

Myanmar’s first cardinal said he also raised concerns on another Chinabacked project – a copper mine in central Myanmar – and questioned the outgoing government’s relationship with China and neighbouring India. He argued that despite maintaining good relations with Myanmar’s neighbours, the government should consider the will of the people. He warned that an accident during the dam’s construction could destroy several villages, while environmental destruction caused by the dam will largely impact local people.

In his pre-election 10-point guide about choosing candidates, Cardinal Bo referred to the dam project, encouraging voters to choose candidates and parties that “safeguard the country’s nature and natural resources, protecting our forests and not selling our sacred rivers and resources to foreign powers.”

Vatican Radio

Continued from p7

Make the mercy jubilee a ‘revolution of tenderness’, Pope urges

The Pope said mercy has been a theme of his pontificate since the very beginning, centring his first Angelus address in St Peter's Square and his first homily in the Vatican parish Sant'Anna on mercy.

“It is not a strategy, but came from within: the Holy Spirit wants something.”

Pope Francis was asked about the significance of Divine Mercy for priests and bishops, and the working of mercy in his own life.

“I am a sinner. I feel sinful. I am sure of it,” he said, while adding: “I am a forgiven man. God has looked on me with mercy and forgiven me.”

Pope Francis said he still sins, and goes to confession every 15 or 20 days, “because I need to feel that God’s mercy is still upon me.”

The Roman Pontiff recounted a

It is the year of forgiveness, the year of reconciliation.

- Pope Francis

particular moment in his life where he felt God’s mercy. It was 21 September 1953, during Argentina's Springtime celebrations. At the age of 17, he was “just a practising Catholic”: He went to Mass on Sundays and took part in Catholic Action, but nothing beyond this.

Passing by a church, he felt the need to go to confession.

“And I don’t know what happened. I walked out different, changed. I returned home with the certainty that I must consecrate myself to the Lord.”

The priest who heard his confession accompanied him for a year, before succumbing to leukaemia. Pope Francis said his death caused him to think that God had abandoned him.

“This was the moment in which

I came upon God’s mercy,” he said, recalling that 21 September – the day he was called into the Church as a teenager – is the feast of St Matthew. He therefore drew his episcopal motto from an account

by St Bede of Christ’s call of St Matthew: “miserando atque eligendo,” or, “By having mercy, by choosing him.”

The journalist asked about how mercy is presented in the Bible as being in the “womb” of God, and how the Jubilee of Mercy is an occasion to reflect on this “maternity” of God and the feminine aspect of the Church.

While there is a “maternal dimension to God,” the Pope acknowledged this way of describing God is not widely understood.

He therefore prefers to speak of

“tenderness,” specifically that of a mother: “The tenderness of God, born from the paternal womb: God is father and mother.”

The journalist asked the Pope how the Jubilee of Mercy would bring about a conversion among families, citing St John XXIII’s famous line in which he told families to return home and “give a caress to your children.”

“When I see the sick, the elderly, I spontaneously caress them,” Pope Francis said. The first gesture made by a mother and father toward their newborn baby, he said, it communicates “I love you.”

Asked what he would do over the course of the Jubilee to give witness to God's mercy, the Pope said he would make a “different gesture” on one Friday of each month during the Holy Year.

CNA/EWTN News

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

FOCUS

PAGE 9

Year of Consecrated Life

This is the series on the Jesuits. It is a continuation of the features on the different religious congregations (Franciscan Sisters of Sarawak, La Salle Brothers, Carmelite nuns, Claretians, Franciscan Friars) in the Kuching Archdiocese in conjunction with the Year of Consecrated Life 2015, 30 November 2014 – 2 February 2016.

THE STORY OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS (Part 4)

The Story of the Founding of a New Religious Order

by Fr Francis Lim Chin Choy, SJ The First Superior and His International Band The official recognition of the Society came from Pope Paul III on 27 September 1540. Paul III was pleased with this small band of fervent men who were willing to serve God anywhere under the Vicar’s authority.

Ignatius was unanimously elected the first superior general in the following year. Even Xavier, who had already left for the Far East, put his vote for Ignatius beforehand in an envelope.

Ignatius declined after the first vote. He felt unworthy for the position because of the vanity and licentiousness of his earlier life, and because he felt that others were more theologically knowledgeable. After much discernment, he accepted the position and served until his death sixteen years later.

On 22 April 1541, the companions took their final vows before Ignatius as their first superior general at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. They vowed perpetual poverty, chastity and obedience.

And they also added a fourth vow which was to the pope in terms of mission.

Ignatius said that this vow, “all that His Holiness will command us for the good of souls or the propagation of the faith, we are bound to carry out…whether he send us among the Turks, to the New Worlds, to the Lutherans or any other manner of believers or unbelievers…This vow may scatter us to distant parts of the world.”

This indeed it did.

From its early beginnings, from what we can see from the original band of men, the Society of Jesus has been international in its make-up with members from all over Europe.

At the time of Ignatius’ death in 1556, there were about 1,000 Jesuits spread all over the world, organised into eleven units; nine were in Europe, one was in Brazil and the other was in the Far East.

Ignatius remained tied to an office desk in Rome writing letters to his men. All in all, he was one of the most prolific correspondents in Europe during the sixteenth century. He wrote about 7,000 letters which encouraged, made requests, chided; letters telling of everyday events and of outstanding feats.

He wrote to people of high positions and ordinary people in both church and state alike, and to women as well as men. But most of these letters were to his Jesuit companions, thus forming a vast communication network of friendship, love, and care. They had spread throughout the world as missionaries, ministering in countries such as the East Indies, Morocco, the Congo, Ethiopia and South America.

His closest friend was Xavier, with whom he wrote many letters. Xavier would cut out the signature of Ignatius from his letters and wore it around his neck wherever he went on mission. That was how Xavier cherished his friendship with Ignatius.

In the end, Ignatius the playboy, the soldier, the pilgrim, the mystic had to learn to watch others carry out the adventurous deeds which he longed to do while for sixteen years he supervised and organised the building up of the Society of Jesus and its movements across the world.

While in Rome, other than his desk job, Ignatius also founded institutions for rescuing prostitutes, started orphanages and organised catechetical instructions.

Besides that, at the time of Ignatius’ death, there were 35 schools founded by the Jesuits. Twenty-five years later the number of schools rose to 144, and another 35 years after that, it approached 400. Education became an integral feature of the Society’s mission because of the need to educate the young even though initially Ignatius did not intend it.

The General and His Missionary Right after the Society’s foundation, the King of Portugal, John III, made a request to the pope for priests to minister to the needs of the growing number of his subjects in the Portuguese overseas colonies. The pope asked Ignatius and his companions for help.

Ignatius appointed Nicolás Bobadilla and Simão Rodrigues. At the last moment, however, Bobadilla became seriously ill. Ignatius reluctantly called upon his good friend, Xavier, to go in Bobadilla's place. Xavier had been serving as the secretary of the Society up to this time. With his usual generosity and availability, Xavier went on a day’s notice. Ignatius knew he would never see his beloved companion again. Thus, Xavier accidentally began his life as the first Jesuit missionary.

First, Xavier went to Lisbon to board the ship to the Far East. Here he spent a year, living at a hospice and helping to care for the sick there, visiting the poor, and visiting those in prison.

Xavier left Lisbon on 7 April 1541 which fell on his 35th birthday. He was given a brief from the pope appointing him apostolic nuncio to the Far East.

The journey was long from Lisbon to Goa. The seas were rough and the conditions

Left to right: St Francis Xavier, St Ignatius of Loyola, St Peter Faber difficult. Xavier was seasick for the first two months. The ship stopped for six months

by Mozambique, a Portuguese colony, because of the monsoon winds.

They finally arrived in Goa, the Portuguese stronghold in India on 6 May 1542.

From his base at the hospice in Goa, Xavier commenced his missionary work.

During the course of a normal day, Xavier would nurse the sick, comfort the dying and administer the sacraments. He would then visit the prisons where he often counselled the inmates to repent for their sins of the past and change their way of life.

He would then meet the children and teach them to pray. Similar classes were also held for adults.

Xavier was well known as the priest who called upon the people of the town to pray and learn the catechism by walking around the streets and ringing the bell.

Xavier preached in Portuguese and his words had to be translated into Konkani, the native language of Goa. He attempted to overcome this language barrier by setting into tune most of the common prayers and teaching. He was known as a cheerful and good humoured man.

From Goa, Xavier moved on to Malacca in 1545; 1546 to the Moluccas and Ambon; then back to Malacca; 1548 to Goa; 1549 Malacca; and then on to Japan; 1551-1552 Goa and Malacca.

Xavier is considered one of the Church’s greatest missionaries; so much so that many consider him the greatest missionary since St Paul. In the span of ten years in ministry, he travelled across the world to bless and baptise tens of thousands of people from India, South East Asia, right up to Japan.

Xavier’s mission was not for him alone; it was a corporate mission of the Society of Jesus. He may appear solitary at the first glance. However, he was clearly acting with others, and in many cases preparing the way for fellow Jesuits to follow up.

This is evident in his many letters. He was constantly thinking, planning, actively recruiting and assigning Jesuits to the various missions. He was appointed the Jesuit superior in the Far East.

Xavier died on 3 December 1552 on the small island of Shangchuan, just off the coast of mainland China, within sight of the country that he wished to visit and evangelise.

News of Xavier’s death only reached Ignatius over two years later. Letters from Ignatius to Xavier were still being written during that time. In fact, Ignatius wrote to Xavier in June 1553 requesting him to return to Europe with the intention of appointing Xavier as his successor. However, his good friend had already returned to the Lord.

The Two Friends and Saints Ignatius himself died on 31 July 1556. Both Ignatius and Xavier were canonized together by Gregory XV on 12 March 1622. The two good friends were made saints by the Church on the same day.

Finally, after a long time, Pope Francis made Faber, the third roommate (beatified since 5 September 1872), a saint on 17 December 2013 by way of equivalent canonization, a process that dispenses with the standard judicial procedures and ceremonies in the case of someone long venerated. Now Faber can also be venerated as a saint with his two closest friends and roommates.

To be continued. Next, the Story of the Jesuits in the Malay Peninsular

FEATURE

PAGE 10

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Jubilee of Mercy MERCIFUL LIKE THE FATHER 8 December 2015 - 20 November 2016

T h e H oly Yea r a nd th e Holy Door : W hy and wha t is it?

A call to repentance Since the year 1300 when Pope Boniface VIII declared the first Holy Year, the Catholic Church has regularly celebrated “Holy Years,” usually every twenty-five years (at least since 1470), except for special circumstances, like in 1983 when a Holy Year was declared to mark the 1950th anniversary of the death and resurrection of our Lord.

Holy Years usually are held every 25 years; the last was the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. Holy years feature special celebrations and pilgrimages, strong calls for conversion and repentance, and the offer of special opportunities to experience God's grace through the sacraments, especially confession.

Extraordinary holy years, like the Holy Year of Mercy, are less frequent, but offer the same opportunities for spiritual growth.

During a Lenten penance service in March 2015, Pope Francis announced his intention to proclaim an Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy as a way for the Church to "make more evident its mission to be a witness of mercy.” This is scheduled for 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016.

Portions of the document or Bull of Indiction Misericordia Vultus (The Face of Mercy) proclaiming the Extraordinary Year of Mercy was subsequently read in front of the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica.

The Holy Door, usually bricked up, is opened at the beginning of a jubilee year.

The other major basilicas of Rome also have Holy Doors that are opened for jubilee years. A major aspect of the Holy Year has been that of pilgrimage to Rome to make reparation for sin and to renew the conversion of one’s life.

Jesus said: “I am the door” (Jn 10:7) A very important symbolic act performed by each pilgrim has been to pass through the Holy Door. Christ identified himself as “the door.” In his bull Incarnationis Mysterium proclaiming the last Jubilee Holy Year in 2000, Pope St John Paul II stated that the Holy Door “…evokes the passage from sin to grace which every Christian is called to accomplish.

Jesus said, ‘I am the door’ (Jn 10:7) in order to make it clear that no one can come to the Father except through him. This designation which Jesus applies to himself testifies to the fact that he alone is the Saviour sent by the Father. There is only one way that opens wide the entrance into this life of communion with God: It is Jesus, the one and absolute way to salvation. To him alone can the words of the psalmist be applied in full truth: ‘This is the door of the Lord where the just may enter’ (Ps 118:20).”

Therefore to pass through the door from the outside of St Peter’s into the basilica is to pass from this world into the presence of God, just as in the old Temple of Jerusalem, the High Priest on the Feast of Yom Kippur passed through the veil covering the doorway of the Holy of Holies to enter into the presence of God to offer the sacrifice of atonement.

Moreover, to pass through the door is to confess with firm conviction that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Lord, and the Saviour who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. With great courage, a person freely decides to cross the threshold leaving behind the kingdom of this world so as to enter the new life of grace of the Kingdom of God.

Knock three times In opening the door, the Holy Father has traditionally struck the door three times with a silver hammer (although in the year 2000 Pope St John Paul II pushed three times on the door). The striking of the door also has symbolic meaning: Moses struck the rock so that water would pour out miraculously to quench the thirst of the people (Num 20:6ff); the Holy Year is a time when God pours forth abundant graces to quench the thirst of our souls.

God struck the earth to free St Paul and Silas from prison, which resulted in the jailer and his family asking for baptism (Acts 16:25ff); God has struck our hearts opening them to his graces, beginning with the saving grace of Baptism. As our Lord hung upon the cross, the soldier struck his most Sacred Heart, and out flowed blood and water, symbols of the Holy Eucharist and Baptism (Jn 19:31f) which nourish each of our souls.

In all, the striking of the door symbolises the release of graces, flowing abundantly to the faithful.

Our salvation history summarised in 16 panels The construction of the door itself reminds us of the history of salvation. The door consists of sixteen panels, four panels grouped into four rows; the “door” itself is divided into two with two columns of panels for each door. The very top row has two panels showing the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden after the Fall with the sword wielding angel guarding the entrance with the fiery sword. The opposite two panels depict the Annunciation with the Archangel Gabriel asking Mary to be the Mother of Jesus. The inscription covering both panels reads, “What sad Eve took away [paradise], you [Mary] give back with life-giving child” (“Quod Heva tristis abstulit, Tu reddis almo germine”).

The next row of four panels highlight gospel stories of the mercy and forgiveness of God: First, the baptism of our Lord by St John at the Jordan with the inscription, “You come to me?” (“Tu venis ad me?”). The second, the good shepherd finding of the lost sheep: “To save what had been lost” (“Salvare quod perierat”). Third, the prodigal son asking forgiveness from his father: “Father I have sinned against Heaven and also you” (“Pater, peccavi in coelum et coram te”). Fourth, Jesus curing the paralytic, but first saying, “Your sins are forgiven”: “Take your mat and walk” (“Tolle grabatum tuum et ambula”).

The third row continues the same theme: First, the penitent woman washing the feet of Jesus in the home of Simon the Pharisee: “Her many sins are forgiven her” (“Remittuntur ei peccata multa”). Second, St Peter asking our Lord how many times must a person forgive and our Lord replying, “Seventy times seven” (“Septuagies septies”). Third, Peter weeping after he had just denied our Lord three times outside the home of Caiphas the High Priest on Holy Thursday evening: “The Lord turned and looked at Peter” (“Conversus Dominus respexit Petram”). Fourth, the crucifixion, with our Lord between the two thieves, and saying to the “good thief,” “Today you will be with me in paradise” (“Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”).

The final row proclaims the Easter mystery and the birth of the Church: First, St Thomas inspecting the wound marks of Jesus: “Happy are those who have believed” (“Beati qui crediderunt”). Second, Jesus appearing to the apostles on the night of his resurrection, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (“Accipite Spirituum

The Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome Sanctum”). Third, Jesus appearing to Saul (St Paul) on the road to Damascus: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (“Sum Jesus quem tu persequeris”).

Finally, a picture of the Holy Father striking the Holy Door, “I stand at the door and knock” (“Sto ad ostium et pulso”).

In all, these scenes remind us of our call as pilgrims to enter the mystery of salvation and to pass from sin to grace, from separation to union with God, and from death to eternal life.

As we consider the Holy Door and particularly the coming Holy Year of Mercy which begins on 8 December, our Lord stands at the door of our hearts knocking. We must open our hearts to him and cross the threshold of hope, striving for holiness.

Compiled from Catholic Straight Answers and National Catholic Register.

In Kuching, the launching of the Jubilee Year of Mercy will be held on 13 December in all parishes.

The Holy Doors are found in three parishes below, and will be officially opened on 2-3 January.

1. St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching (2 January) 2. Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sri Aman 3. Catholic Memorial & Pilgrimage Centre, Singai In Miri, the Holy Door is located at St Joseph’s Cathedral and will be opened on 3 January. The designated pilgrim centre is St Dominic’s Church and the Rosary Church, Taman Tunku.

In Sibu, the Holy Door is located at Sacred Heart Cathedral, and to be opened on 8 December inline with the opening of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica, Rome.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

FEATURE

On “being good” and “being caring” Some time ago, a woman came up to me after Mass and asked me to bless her three children and when I asked her whether there was a special reason for the request, she answered, “Because I want them to be good!” I asked her whether, by “being good”, she meant that they would do what she told them to do and she answered, “Yes”; so I said, “I will bless them so that they may become what God calls them to be, but not that they will “be good”, for the Lord does not call us to be good – he calls us “to be caring” and there is a great difference between the two!”

If I do something because I want to “be good”, I do it because I want someone to approve of me – and so, my attention is directed towards myself. However, if I reach out to someone because I “care”, my attention is on the other person and this is the direction of love – the road along which the Lord is calling us to travel with him. It is true, that when we refer to someone as “a good person”, we usually mean that that person is a loving, caring person, who shares in God’s compassion and tenderness for the world and its people, but when we say that we want someone “to be good”, we usually mean that we want them to do what they are told – whether they have the heart for it or not. St Irenaeus, one of the earliest teachers in the Church, tells us that “the God is glorified when men and women are fully alive!” and just “doing what you’re being told to do” can hardly be called being “fully alive”.

“Being good” usually means: “being respectable” and although this is not wrong and is an important part of our social education, because it is how we learn to treat others in the proper manner – nevertheless, we can get stuck

Q&A

Q A

at that level and become content with just doing what everyone else is doing – and this is hardly the “goodness”, which gives glory to God. The Gospels show us that the Lord was not considered as “respectable”, by the worthy people of his time. He scandalised people by mixing with those whom others considered “disreputable” – and this, I think, was not just because they needed his care, but because he really seemed to enjoy their company – maybe it was because they were “real” – they were “alive”! We see this characteristic also in the great saints, such as St Francis, St Vincent de Paul or Mother Teresa of Calcutta; they “broke the mould” and often did things that were not considered “nice” or “respectable”. They saw people in need and reached out to them – even though “respectable” people condemned them – at least at the beginning.

The New Testament calls us to “charity”, but we often get into difficulty understanding the true Gospel meaning of this word. It is often defined as: “the voluntary giving of help to those in need”, but this can send us off in the wrong direction, because it focusses on the “what” of charity and not the “why” or “how”, and it is the latter two words, which really distinguish the love of God, for the needs of people are usually complicated and cannot be solved just by a “hand-out”, especially when there is no concern behind the gift; people need a caring, discerning approach and an effort to discover the best way to help, for there are many people, who have been damaged, rather than helped, by misplaced charity. The slogan of a well-known charity organisation says: “If I give a hungry man a fish, he will be hungry again tomorrow (and therefore forever dependent on hand-outs and his

self-esteem will be destroyed) but if I teach him how to fish he will never go hungry again”.

Maybe the true meaning of “charity” can be best seen in the Latin word it comes from: “caritas” – and we have two words in English which derive from this word and show what it truly means: the first is “to care”, which means we are focussed on the person – and not just on his/her need, nor on the approval from others that we will get from helping. The second word is “to caress” and again this points to an affection and sympathy for the person in need and not primarily with just supplying them with what is lacking.

In other words, “charity” is a call to love the person, to be with them, even, maybe, when there is be nothing I can give them – except the gift of myself being there.

Our Lady knew this as she stood at the foot of the cross, helpless to prevent the sufferings of her son, but not helpless in giving the only gift she had to give, at that time – her presence, her love and the gift of tears.

When she stood there, at the foot of the cross, Jesus knew she was there, and, I’m sure was glad of it, but there was another time when she also reached out to him, but when he did not know she was there – and that was when he was a babe in arms. Then, she fed him, cleaned him, when he messed himself, and nursed him when he cried. She learned to love him in this way and she did so because he needed her – not because he gave her his approval. She did it because that is the way love grows in her heart and grows in ours. It is the royal road of selfless love – how to become one with the love of God. Maybe, this is how Christmas teaches us about love in such an important and profound way – for the baby we are given to love at Christmas can give us nothing

PAGE 11

PADI SEEDS

Fr Terry Burke is a Mill Hill Missionary, who has served in Sarawak, Indonesia, India and England.

Currently, he is a resident lecturer at St Peter’s College and also assigned to do formation work in the Archdiocese.

Today’s Catholic thanks him for sharing his rich pastoral reflections in his column ‘Padi Seeds’.

He sends out a blog each week.

If you would like to receive it, please email him at terrylburke@gmail.com. in return – except the love which will grow in our hearts, when we reach out to him through the other helpless people, we meet on the way. He is like the “Star”, which guides us to the house of Mary and Joseph, for when, like them, we see the baby in all his helplessness, our hearts are drawn to him to care and caress – not because it will make us “good”, but because in that embrace we find our God, whose love makes us “fully alive”.

May those blessings be yours and your families this Christmas.

Fr Terry Burke

Christian response to ISIS

By Fr Kenneth Doyle

We are confronted with the reality that the terrorists of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are growing in power. What is the Christian response to this crisis?

The Christian response to ISIS is to deplore their violence and to seek the most effective means to stop it.

In March 2015, in what was seen as an unusually blunt endorsement of military action, the Vatican’s representative to the United Nations in Geneva called for a coordinated international force to stop the “so-called Islamic State.”

Archbishop Silvano Tomasi said that any anti-ISIS coalition should include the Muslim states of the Middle East and unfold under the sponsorship of the United Nations.

Archbishop Tomasi noted that everything possible ought to be done first to achieve a political settlement without violence, “but if that not possible, then the use of force will be necessary.”

Following the ISIS bombings in Paris in November 2015 (which Pope Francis deplored as “intolerable” and said “using God’s name to justify this path is blasphemy”), Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin backed the possibility of global military action against ISIS militants. He referenced the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2308), which states that “as long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.”

A parishioner happened to ask me, after the Paris bombings, how he could ever “forgive ISIS.” I told him that he didn’t have to, because forgiveness (in my mind)

“... governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.” (CCC #2308)

Photo: CNS

presumes remorse on the part of the perpetrator and a pledge of changed behaviour, both of which are notably lacking in the ISIS terrorists. I said that we should pray for those benighted individuals and leave judgment of them to God – while also remembering, of course, to pray especially for their victims.

CNS

FEATURE

PAGE 12

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

A Christmas message

by Archbishop John Ha

“O

n entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother; and they knelt down and paid Him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Mt 2:11).

The gesture and gifts of the wise men from the east expressed their faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God made Man to lay down His life for us that we might have life and have it abundantly.

Life is God’s precious gift to us. The wise men from the east acknowledged it with their humble gifts to Him. At Christmas we celebrate life – the life of the human person of Jesus at His birth. We also celebrate the life He was born and died to give us. This gift of life was offered in love and also in mercy. Out of love, God endowed His human creatures with life in paradise.

Instead of appreciating and keeping it, they recklessly lost it. In His mercy, God sent His Son to re-offer it to all humankind. The birth of Jesus marked God’s physical entry into our world for this purpose, thus showing His mercy.

Mercy flows from God’s heart of love for us. The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by

Pope Francis was officially launched on 8 December 2015 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and will close on 20 November 2016 (Feast of Christ the King). The Holy Father wants the Church to radiate the mercy of God to all humankind. Certainly he also wants every one of us to experience God’s mercy in the Church, especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We are called to share that mercy with one another in the Church and with others outside the Church. Thus, the theme for the Year of Mercy: “Merciful like the Father”.

The event of the wise men finding Jesus with His mother is traditionally termed the Epiphany. This word means “manifestation”.

Jesus manifested Himself to His own people – the Jewish people. But beyond them He also manifested Himself to the gentile world.

The wise men from the east represented the gentiles. With the guidance of a star and revelation from the Scriptures, they made their way to Jesus and worshipped Him. That was God’s way of manifesting Jesus to them and therefore to the gentile world.

The same Jesus was manifested to us, gentiles in Sarawak, at first through Mill

Hill missionaries who came to our Fair Land in 1881.

That manifestation spread to different parts of Sarawak. It was not just the Mill Hill missionaries but also the catechists of the early days and later local priests and religious Sisters who were instruments in God’s hands to proclaim Jesus the Lord and Saviour to more people in our beloved State.

As a result, the Church in Sarawak grew. It did so to a point when it was able to stand on its own feet and manage its own affairs. On 31 May 1976, the Archdiocese of Kuching and the Diocese of Miri were erected. Archbishop Peter Chung was the first Archbishop of Kuching and Bishop Anthony Galvin the first Bishop of Miri. Next year (2016) we will mark the 40th year of the Archdiocese of Kuching. In full acknowledgement of God’s hand behind the arrival of the Gospel on the shores of Sarawak and the steady growth of the Church here, we have chosen this theme for the 40th anniversary celebration:

“Celebrating God’s steadfast love and mercy”.

Glory and thanks to God for this steadfast love and mercy of His. May the 40th anniversary celebration of the Archdiocese be enhanced by the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy as God’s kairos (= time of grace) for all of us. May this Christmas lead us to a deeper experience and appreciation of God’s love and mercy and us to be “merciful like the Father”.

Such experience and mission will undoubtedly fill us with joy. It is in this joy that I wish all faithful in the Archdiocese of Kuching and all readers of this Catholic paper, “A Blessed Christmas filled with God’s grace of love and mercy.”

Don’t let the past drag you down

by Fr John Catoir As a priest for over 55 years, I've heard a lot of confessions. It's one of the joys of the priesthood to bring peace to the souls who come to us for relief.

Inner pain that comes from guilt can be awful.

Some people seek the help of psychiatrists or psychologists to help them quiet their feelings of guilt and worry. Jesus gave us absolution and a sense of humor to take care of this problem.

One thing that can help us deal with feelings of guilt and worry is the art of living in the present moment.

I once attended a meeting where we had to dispense with the reading of the minutes out of respect for someone who said he was religiously required to not think about the past or the future.

A pretty extreme position, I admit. But isn't it essentially a good idea?

Living in the present moment is an ideal not easily attained. The present moment is the only place where we can find peace and joy. The past is a memory. The future is unknown and unpredictable. If you live in the past, you drag things into the present

moment, which might disturb your peace.

The same is true for the future. Many people worry about things that will never happen. Isn't it better, therefore, to eliminate needless worry about the future?

Here is the basic truth: Happiness is not a destination or a memory. It is the joy we experience in the here and now.

Granted, we enjoy remembering the happy times of the past but not the dark corners. Regretting past mistakes is only good for stimulating atonement. Confess and be done with it.

Memory fades and so do the happy moments we once enjoyed. The only place we are really able to be happy is in the present moment. The here and now cannot be wasted with needless worry.

Two things are worth striving for in this connection.

The first is a clean conscience. Guilt can poison your life with unnecessary misery.

JO Y

is the reward of your faith in God’s love.

Strive to put things in order. Believe in God's forgiveness. Go to confession and renew your good intentions. Pray to

persevere in believing that God is love.

Also, reject fear. This involves a commitment to control fearful thoughts.

If you control your thoughts, dreadful feelings will soon evaporate. Every apprehension about the future gives birth to fear. Close it down right away.

As you gradually reduce needless fear and guilt, you will have cleared the present moment from quite a bit of garbage. Worry will dissipate.

The struggle of daily life can be eased by clearing your mind the minute you begin to be afraid. Stop fear and you will automatically enhance your capacity for joy. Joy is a choice, and it's yours for the asking. Joy is the reward of your faith in God's love.

CNS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

CHILDREN

PAGE 13

The spirit of Christmas

Hi Kids!

The crowds asked John, “What shall we do?”

John told them, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn’t have any.

If you have food, share it with someone else.”

Luke 3:10-11

It’s Christmas time! The best Christmas gift is sharing our love with others, especially those who are less fortunate than us. This Christmas, do something special for someone like that.

Aunty Jo

Look at the numbered clues, determine the correct word, and write that word in the spiral puzzle.

Each numbered square will begin a new word.

Prepare the way As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

Luke 3:4 Enter the correct words in the boxes based on the shape of the letters.

5.

1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Flames which are used to burn something A large, woody plant with branches and leaves What we eat The edible, usually sweet food that grows on trees and plants A warm outer garment usually worn in winter

COAT

2.

6.

3.

7.

4.

8.

baptism crooked desert prepare rough smooth straight voice

FIRE

FOOD

FRUIT

TREE

Mary’s song And Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.”

Luke 1:46 Read about Mary’s song in Luke 1:46-55. Colour the picture below.

Christ is coming again At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Luke 21: 27

1.

2.

3.

4.

Each line of the puzzle has one word hidden in a list of random 5. letters. The blank space is a 6. missing letter that belongs to 7. that word. Fill in the missing letter.

8.

Christmas Colouring Contest Colour this Christmas picture and send your entries to: (Sila kemukakan ke:) Today’s Catholic, P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching, Sarawak Closing date: (Tarikh tutup:) 31 December 2015 Name/Nama: _____________________________________________________ Age/Umur: (12 and below) _____________________________________________________ Tel No: _____________________________________________________ Address/Alamat: _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

PAGE 14

YOUTH

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Kuching Young Christian Students learn their rights on

KOTA PADAWAN — From the 23 - 25 November, Kuching Young Christian Students (KYCS) had its annual Joseph Cardijn’s Camp.

The event was held at St Lukas Catholic Centre, Kota Padawan.

About 51 participants and 38 serving committee members from various schools namely SMK St Teresa, SMK St Joseph, SMK Green Road, SMK Sungai Tapang, St Joseph’s Private School, SMK Batu Lintang, SMK Serian, SMK Sungai Maong, SMK Tebakang, SMK Balai Ringin, SMK Kuching High, SMK Jalan Arang, SMK Penrissen No 1 and SMK Lake attended the camp. The objective of the camp is to unite YCS members in the bond of friendship and to create awareness on the the issue faced by teens in line with the theme “Freedom of Speech”.

The first day of camp started off with ice-breaking activities followed by a session when the participants were to work out goals to be achieved during the camp. A session on the first part of the YCS methodology, SEE, was conducted by Ralph Balan. The participants got to see how freedom of speech could affect people. The day ended with night prayers where the participants were

provided with a conducive environment to reflect on the day’s session.

A rosary prayer started off the second day of camp. Then, Bishop Simon Poh with guest speakers and seminarians conducted two sessions on JUDGE. The participants were exposed to the concept of humans’ right in voicing one’s opinion within reasonable limits.

The last section of the YCS methodology, ACT, was introduced to the participants as well. Then, a short praise and worship session was held before the participants were given time to prepare for Solidarity Night. Solidarity Night served as an outlet for the participants to perform and showcase what they have learnt from the camp. Every group was

Testimonies from participants of Joseph Cardijn’s Camp: “Freedom of speech is the concept of the inherent human right to voice out one’s opinion publicly without fear of censorship or punishment. 'Speech' is not limited to public speaking and is generally taken to include other forms of expression.” – Brennan Chin, 13 years old, SMK St Joseph

given the opportunity to perform.

The last day of camp started off with an outdoor opening prayer. The second session on ACT was then conducted by Ralph Balan. The participants were given the opportunity to construct their own action plans before getting into groups with their schoolmates to construct an action plan to promote the freedom of speech in their own school. Fr Felix Au celebrated the concluding Mass.

Allyssa Amanda

“It has been a wonderful experience throughout the entire camp. I have encountered Jesus after having worked with the participants of the camp.

They inspired me to move forward in life.” – Genesius Lee, 14 years old, SMK Green Road “Freedom of speech does not guarantee that truth is told, of course, but it does permit it to be told.” – Zacqueline Zee, 16 years old, SMK St Teresa “I have learnt that even though we have the freedom of speech, we should never misuse it.” – Cassandra Shim, 14 years old, St Joseph Private’s School

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

YOUTH

PAGE 15

Through thick and thin: Pope urges youths

to read the Bible

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis said his Bible is old, beat up and worth more to him than anything money can buy.

“If you saw my Bible, you would not be impressed,” he wrote to young people. “You’d say, ‘What? This is the Pope’s Bible? A book so old, so beat up?’ You might even want to give me a gift of a new one, something that costs 1,000 euro. But I don’t want it.”

Pope Francis wrote about his Bible and his Bible-reading habits in the preface to the German-language study guide, “Youth Bible for the Catholic Church”. It was released in late October by the Germany-based Katholisches Bibelwerk and the YouCat Foundation. Other language versions are expected in 2016.

The Jesuit journal, La Civilta Cattolica, published an Italian translation of the preface in early December.

The well-worn Bible has been with Pope Francis for half his life, wrote the Pope, who will turn 79 on 17 December.

“It has seen my joy and has been bathed by my tears: it is my priceless treasure,” the Pope wrote, and “nothing in the world would make me give it up”.

Youths and young adults in Germany and Austria worked with three Catholic biblical scholars to compile the new introduction to reading and understanding the Bible. The illustrated guide, designed for teens and young adults, contains selections from every book of the Bible with an introductory note, as well as commentary on the chosen passages, reflections by the young people and related citations from saints and popes.

In the preface, Pope Francis urges young people to use the study guide and to read their Bibles daily. He asks them not to hide it on a bookshelf where

Building a peaceful future with

today’s youth

After the recent attacks on Paris, what happens next? What kind of world do we want to live in?

I remember being 12 and watching my country bomb Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. I remember wondering if girls like me in Baghdad were looking up at the fire in the sky from homes like mine, wondering if they were going to be all right.

I’m in my 30s now and I still wonder what happened to the people I thought about that night.

I grew up, went to college, got married and moved to a new city.

What about the people in Baghdad? Did those girls grow up happy? Did they flee during the war that occurred after 9/11?

Do they have kids? Are they still running? Are they happy?

The movies make war seem glorious and brilliant. Sure, there are always moments of great heroism, battles that save the day and wins for the good guys. But you don’t often see the cost of that victory. In the movies, you don’t see the innocent people who live where the war is taking place or what happens to them when they have to run.

Teens in many parts of the world today know the reality of what happens after war invades a country. They see thousands of refugees fleeing Syria and Iraq on their smartphones and on their televisions. They have questions that their parents and teachers can’t always answer.

I had many of those questions when I was 16 and Timothy McVeigh bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City. The following week, I saw a Time magazine cover with the headline, “The Face of Terror”, depicting a white man.

God loves all of his children, wherever they may be, whoever

they may be. He wants everyone to be safe, whether they already have happy homes or if they are refugees searching for a safe place to live.

Following the attacks on Paris, what happens now? What kind of world do we want?

Ten years from now, the teens reading this column will be poised to make a distinct difference in the world. They will be nurses in hospitals and aides in the White House.

They will be studying and practising journalism and developing apps in Silicon Valley. They will be making decisions to help our world become a better place.

What kind of world do you want?

Don’t you want a world where everyone can live in peace? Where war is an afterthought? Where people feel that they don’t have to flee their homes to survive? Where nobody has to look up and see a fire in the sky and wonder whether they’re going to make it through the night?

You are going to build that world, one without bombs, without guns brandished at innocent people, without the need for civilians to flee everything they’ve ever known.

It will be a world of light, where people are judged not by “the colour of their skin but by the content of their character,” as Martin Luther King Jr said.

It’s a world you can start building in schools and streets. It’s a world you can start building in your community. It’s a world where everyone gets a chance to be happy and gets the chance to speak out against war. It’s a world where everyone can stop looking at race and class and happily invite all sorts of people to eat at the table.

Teens, it’s your world now. Start building the peace you want today.

Karen Osborne (CNS)

it will gather dust “until one day your own children sell it at a used book stall. No! Don’t let that happen.”

The Bible is not just a piece of literature, he said. There are Christians in the world today being persecuted just for having a Bible; “evidently, the Bible is an extremely dangerous book.”

The Pope quoted Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, who said, “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature.”

God speaks through the Bible, the Pope wrote. It is not a book designed for the shelves, but for the hands.

Pope Francis asked young people to read from the Bible each day and with attention.

“Ask ‘What does this say to my heart? What is God saying to me through these words?’” the Pope counseled.

“I want to tell you how I read my old Bible. Often I pick it up, read a bit, then set it down and let myself be seen by the Lord.

I am not the one looking at him, but he looks at me. God is truly there, present.”

Pope Francis reassured the young people that it is not uncommon at all to feel like God is

not saying anything. “But, patiently, I stay there and I wait, reading and praying.”

“I pray seated,” he said, “because it hurts when I kneel.

Sometimes when I’m praying I even fall asleep, but that’s OK because I’m like a son near his father and that’s what counts.”

“Do you want to make me happy?” the Pope asked the youths. “Then read the Bible”.

CNS

三原教区两位新铎

FOKUS

PAGE 22

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

TahunJubli Kerahiman BERBELASKASIHAN SEPERTI BAPA 8 Desember 2015 - 20 November 2016

Ta h u n S u c i d a n P in tu S uci. Ap a itu ?

Sejak tahun 1300 ketika Pope Boniface VIII mengisytiharkan Tahun Suci pertama, Gereja Katolik kerap meraikan “Tahun Suci”, biasanya sekali setiap 25 tahun (sekurang-kurangnya sejak 1470), kecuali bagi suasana istimewa, seperti pada 1983 apabila Tahun Suci diisytiharkan untuk memperingati ulang tahun kewafatan dan kebangkitan Tuhan kita yang ke1950.

Tahun Suci biasanya diadakan sekali setiap 25 tahun, yang terakhir adalah Jubli Agung Tahun 2000. Tahun suci memaparkan ziarah dan perayaan khas, seruan yang lantang bagi perubahan hati dan pertaubatan, dan tawaran bagi peluang yang istimewa untuk menikmati rahmat Tuhan menerusi sakramensakramen terutamanya pengakuan dosa.

Tahun suci luar biasa, seperti Tahun Suci Kerahiman, tidak begitu kerap diadakan tetapi memberi peluang yang sama untuk perkembangan rohani.

Sewaktu acara pertaubatan Musim Lent pada Mac 2015, Pope Francis mengumumkan hasratnya untuk mewartakan Tahun Suci Kerahiman Luar Biasa sebagai satu cara bagi Gereja untuk “menjadikan lebih nyata misinya untuk menjadi saksi kerahiman”.

Ini dijadualkan pada 6 Disember 2015 hingga 20 November 2016.

Beberapa petikan daripada dokumen ‘Bull of Indiction’ berjudul Misericordia Vultus (Wajah Kerahiman) yang mewartakan tahun Kerahiman Luar Biasa seterusnya dibaca di hadapan Pintu Suci di Basilika St Peter. Pintu Suci, biasanya ditutup dengan batu bata, dibuka pada permulaan tahun jubli.

Basilika utama lain di Rom juga mempunyai Pintu Suci yang dibuka sempena tahun jubli. Satu aspek penting pada Tahun Suci ialah ziarah ke Rom untuk membuat pemampasan bagi dosa selain memperbaharui perubahan hati dalam kehidupan kita.

Yesus bersabda: “Akulah pintu” (Yohanes 10:7) Satu amalan simbolik sangat penting yang dilakukan oleh setiap penziarah adalah untuk memasuki Pintu Suci. Kristus memperkenalkan diri sebagai “pintu”.

Dalam surat beliau Incarnationis Mysterium yang mewartakan Tahun Suci Jubli terakhir pada 2000, Pope St John Paul II menyatakan Pintu Suci “melambangkan laluan daripada dosa kepada rahmat yang setiap orang Kristian diseru untuk capai.

Yesus bersabda, “Akulah pintu” (Yoh. 10:7) untuk menjelaskan bahawa tidak ada orang yang dapat datang kepada Bapa kecuali menerusiNya. Gelaran yang digunakan oleh Yesus untuk menggambarkan diri menjadi kesaksian kepada hakikat bahawa Dia sahaja adalah Penyelamat yang diutus oleh Bapa. Hanya ada satu cara sahaja yang membuka luas pintu masuk ke dalam kehidupan kesatuan dengan Tuhan ini: ia adalah Yesus, satu-satunya jalan yang mutlak ke arah keselamatan. KepadaNya sahaja kata-kata pemazmur dapat diguna pakai dalam kebenaran sepenuhnya: “Inilah pintu Tuhan yang boleh dimasuki orang benar” (Mazmur 118:20).

Maka itu untuk melalui pintu dari luar Basilika St Peter bagi memasuki basilika tersebut bermakna untuk pergi dari dunia ini dan memasuki hadirat Tuhan, sama seperti di dalam Bait lama di Yerusalem, Pendeta Tinggi pada Perayaan Yom Kippur melalui selubung yang menutupi pintu ‘Holy of Holies’ untuk memasuki hadirat Tuhan dan mempersembahkan korban penebusan.

Selain itu, untuk melalui pintu itu bermakna mengaku dengan keyakinan yang teguh bahawa Yesus Kristus adalah Putera Allah, Tuhan dan Penyelamat

yang menderita, wafat dan bangkit demi penyelamatan kita. Dengan keberanian yang tinggi, seseorang itu dengan bebas memutuskan untuk melintasi pintu dan meninggalkan kerajaan dunia ini bagi memasuki kehidupan rahmat baharu dalam kerajaan Tuhan.

Ketuk tiga kali Ketika membuka pintu, Bapa Suci menurut tradisi mengetuk pintu sebanyak tiga kali dengan tukul perak (walaupun pada tahun 2000, Pope St John Paul II menolak pintu sebanyak tiga kali). Mengetuk pintu juga ada makna yang simbolik: Musa atau Moses memukul batu besar supaya air akan mencurah keluar secara ajaib untuk menghilangkan kehausan umat (Ulangan 20:6ff); Pintu Suci adalah waktu apabila Tuhan mencurahkan rahmat yang melimpah-ruah untuk menghilangkan kehausan jiwa-jiwa kita.

Tuhan mengetuk bumi untuk membebaskan St Peter dan Silas dari penjara, yang menyebabkan si pegawai penjara dan keluarganya untuk meminta pembaptisan (Kisah Para Rasul 16:25ff); Tuhan mengetuk hati kita untuk membukanya kepada rahmatNya, bermula dengan rahmat Pembaptisan yang menyelamatkan kita. Ketika Tuhan kita bergantung di atas salib, askar mencucuk HatiNya yang Paling Suci, dan darah serta air mengalir keluar, lambang Ekaristi Suci dan Pembaptisan (Yoh. 19:31f) yang menyuburkan setiap jiwa kita. Pada keseluruhannya, mengetuk pintu melambangkan pelepasan rahmat, yang melimpah kepada umat.

Sejarah penyelamatan kita dirumuskan dalam 16 panel Pembinaan pintu berkenaan mengingatkan kita kepada sejarah penyelamatan. Pintu itu terdiri daripada 16 panel, empat panel yang dikumpulkan ke dalam empat barisan; “pintu” itu dibahagikan kepada dua dengan dua ruang panel bagi setiap pintu. Barisan paling atas mempunyai dua panel yang menunjukkan pembuangan Adam dan hawa dari Taman Eden selepas Kejatuhan dengan malaikat yang mengawal pintu masuk dengan pedang berapi. Dua panel sebelah menggambarkan Peristiwa Pengumuman di mana Malaikat Agung Gabriel menyuruh Maria menjadi Bonda Yesus.

Inskripsi pada kedua-dua panel menyebut, “Apa yang dirampas (syurga) oleh Hawa yang sedih, kamu (Maria) kembalikan dengan bayi yang memberi kehidupan” (“Quod Heva tristis abstulit, Tu reddis almo germine”).

Barisan empat panel seterusnya mengetengahkan cerita-cerita Injil mengenai kerahiman dan pengampunan Tuhan: Pertama sekali, pembaptisan Tuhan kita oleh St John di Sungai Jordan dengan inskripsi, “Kamu datang kepadaku?” (“Tu venis ad me?”). Kedua, gembala baik yang menjumpai domba yang sesat: “Untuk menyelamatkan yang sesat” (“Salvare quod perierat”).

Ketiga, si anak pemboros yang meminta kemaafan daripada bapanya: “Bapa, aku telah berdosa terhadap Syurga dan juga kamu” (“Pater, peccavi in coelum et coram te”). Keempat, Yesus yang menyembuhkan lelaki lumpuh, tetapi terlebih dahulu berkata, “Dosa kamu diampuni”: “Ambil tikar kamu dan berjalanlah” (“Tolle grabatum tuum et ambula”).

Barisan keempat meneruskan tema yang sama: Pertama sekali, wanita yang bertaubat mencuci kaki Yesus di rumah Simon Si Farisi: “Dosa-dosanya yang banyak sudah diampuni” (“Remittuntur ei peccata multa”). Kedua, St Peter bertanya kepada Tuhan kita berapa kali mesti seseorang itu diampuni dan Tuhan kita menjawab, “Tujuh puluh kali tujuh” (“Septuagies septies”). Ketiga, Petrus menangis selepas dia baharu sahaja menafikan Tuhan kita sebanyak tiga kali di

Pintu Suci di Basilika St Peter, Rom luar rumah Caiphas Pendeta Tinggi pada malam Khamis Suci: “Tuhan berpaling dan menatap Petrus” (“Conversus Dominus respexit Petram”). Keempat, penyaliban, dengan Tuhan kita di antara dua pencuri, dan berkata kepada si “pencuri baik”, “Hari ini kamu akan menyertaiKu di syurga” (“Hodie mecum eris in paradiso”).

Barisan terakhir mewartakan misteri Paska dan kelahiran Gereja: Pertama sekali, St Thomas meneliti tanda luka Yesus: “Berbahagialah mereka yang percaya” (“Beati qui crediderunt”). Kedua, Yesus menjelma kepada rasul-rasul pada malam kebangkitanNya, dan berkata, “Terimalah Roh Kudus” (“Accipite Spirituum Sanctum”). Ketiga, Yesus menjelma kepada Saul (St Paul) dalam perjalanan ke Damsyik: “Akulah Yesus yang kamu tindas” (“Sum Jesus quem tu persequeris”).

Akhir sekali, gambar Bapa Suci yang mengetuk Pintu Suci, “Aku berdiri di depan pintu dan mengetuk (“Sto ad ostium et pulso”).

Pada keseluruhannya, adegan-adegan ini mengingatkan kita kepada seruan kita sebagai penziarah untuk memasuki misteri penyelamatan dan bergerak daripada dosa kepada rahmat, daripada pemisahan kepada penyatuan dengan Tuhan, dan daripada kematian kepada kehidupan abadi.

Apabila kita merenungkan Pintu Suci dan khususnya Tahun Suci Kerahiman yang bermula pada 8 Disember, Tuhan kita berdiri di pintu hati kita dan mengetuk. Kita mesti membuka hati kita dan melintasi ambang pintu harapan, dan berusaha ke arah kekudusan.

Disusun daripada Catholic Straight Answers dan National Catholic Register Di Kuching, pelancaran Tahun Jubli Kerahiman akan berlangsung pada 13 Disember di semua paroki.

Pintu Suci boleh didapati di tiga paroki berikut, dan akan dibuka secara rasmi pada 2-3 Januari.

1. Katedral St Joseph, Kuching (2 Januari) 2. Gereja ‘Our Lady Queen of Peace’, Sri Aman 3. Pusat Ziarah & Peringatan Katolik, Singai

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

IMAN DAN HIDUP

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Harapan Advent Oleh Fr Thomas Reese, SJ Advent merupakan waktu yang saya gemari dalam tahun liturgi. Bagi orang lain, saya pasti ia mungkin Krismas atau Paska tetapi bagi saya, perayaan-perayaan tersebut tidak pernah memenuhi jangkaan.

Sebahagian daripadanya, saya pasti, ada sebab psikologi – saya tidak berupaya untuk menikmati waktu itu selain kecenderungan saya untuk memikirkan tentang perkara seterusnya. Apabila saya pergi ke muzium kesenian, saya cuba duduk sambil berkontemplasi di hadapan sebuah lukisan tetapi tidak kira betapa indahnya lukisan itu, selepas beberapa minit, saya bersedia untuk bergerak.

Itu mungkin sebabnya kenapa saya menyukai Advent. Advent melihat ke masa hadapan. Ia segalanya mengenai perkara seterusnya. Ia melihat ke arah Krismas tetapi lebih-lebih lagi ke arah kedatangan Kristus semula. Epifani Kristus, dan bukan Krismas, sebenarnya adalah kesimpulan Advent.

Oleh kerana Advent adalah mengenai masa depan, ia juga adalah mengenai harapan. Pada hari ini, apabila kita memikirkan tentang masa depan, ia mungkin sangat menyedihkan: pemanasan global, terorisme, peperangan, ekonomi yang tidak menentu, penyakit, umur tua, kematian.

Namun pesan Advent adalah pesan harapan – penyelamatan bakal tiba! Keadilan akan menang. Keamanan akan bertapak. Golongan yang tertindas akan dibangkitkan.

Saya terutamanya suka dengan bacaan Kitab harian pada musim Advent.

Selasa pada minggu pertama Advent, satu bacaan daripada Kitab Yesaya: Dia akan mengadili orang miskin dengan adil, dan membuat keputusan yang betul untuk orang yang terseksa di bumi ini.

Dia akan menyerang orang yang kejam dengan batang dari mulutNya, dan dengan nafas dari bibirNya, Dia akan membunuh orang zalim.

Keadilan akan menjadi lingkaran di sekeliling pinggangNya, dan kesetiaan tali pinggang pada pinggulNya. Kemudian serigala akan menjadi tetamu anak domba, dan harimau bintang akan baring bersama anak kambing; Anak lembu dan anak singa akan meragut rumput bersama, dengan seorang anak kecil untuk membimbing mereka.

Lembu dan beruang akan hidup berjiran, anak-anak mereka akan sama-sama berehat; singa akan makan rumput kering seperti lembu jantan.

Bayi akan bermain di tepi jerumun ular tedung, dan kanak-kanak akan meletakkan tangannya di atas sarang ular beludak.

Tiada kerosakan atau kemudaratan yang akan berlaku di atas semua gunung suciKu; kerana bumi akan dipenuhi pengetahuan tentang TUHAN, seperti air meliputi laut.

Sahutan bagi perantaraan mazmur mengungkapkan segalanya: Keadilan akan berkembang pada zamannya, dan kepenuhan kedamaian buat selama-lamanya.

Dunia kita amat memerlukan keadilan dan kedamaian atau keamanan.

Pope Francis dalam ensiklikalnya Laudato Si memberi amaran yang jelas

mengenai akibat daripada perkara yang kita buat kepada alam sekitar, tetapi beliau tidak berputus asa. Beliau menaruh harapan kepada kuasa Roh Kudus, kepada kuasa kasih. Beliau mempunyai harapan Advent, sesuatu yang diperlukan oleh dunia kita pada hari ini.

Terdapat tanda-tanda harapan di dalam dunia kita. Pope Francis adalah satu, tetapi demikian juga jutaan manusia yang memainkan peranan mereka untuk menjadikan dunia ini sebuah tempat yang lebih baik, dengan senyuman, dengan kata-kata yang baik, dengan memberi bantuan.

Advent adalah mengenai kedatangan Tuhan. Adakah Dia akan datang ke dalam hati dan tangan kita supaya kita meneruskan kerja belaskasihan dan kasihNya, kerja keadilan dan kedamaianNya? Ini hanya boleh berlaku jika kita terbuka kepada harapan, terbuka kepada Roh Kudus.

Bacaan Kitab pada musim Advent penuh dengan harapan. Bacaan tersebut adalah penawar kepada kesinisan dan keputusasaan yang begitu berleluasa pada zaman kita.

Ia wajar dijadikan bacaan dan renungan.

Beberapa dekad yang lalu, saya menulis satu ruangan di mana saya menggalakkan orang untuk “mencuri buku Misa kecil” supaya mereka dapat mengaji bacaan Kitab di rumah. Pada hari ini, itu tidak perlu lagi. Bacaan harian dapat diperolehi atas talian, menerusi aplikasi, dan sebagai podcast.

Mengaji bacaan Kitab harian adalah satu cara yang amat baik untuk menyuburkan semangat atau roh kita pada bila-bila masa sepanjang tahun, tetapi terutamanya pada musim Advent.

Datanglah Tuhan Yesus, datanglah. – NCR (Terjemahan)

Hati ke hati...

Krismas adalah bukti kehadiran Kristus di dunia ini.

dari pena penulis jemputan,

Fr Lazarus Swinie

Kata sipemikir, “Segala sesuatu di dunia ini berlaku pada waktu yang ditentukan Allah” (Pengkhutbah 3:1).

Kita telahpun memasuki Tahun Liturgi C di samping menghampiri detik ketibaan Tahun 2016. Tahun Liturgi kita dimulakan dengan musim Adven iaitu saat untuk menanti dengan penuh harapan kedatangan Kristus yang ditandai dengan perayaan Krismas.

Identiti Kristus terbongkar melalui pengumuman malaikat kepada Yosef di dalam mimpi ketika dia sedang bercadang

untuk memutuskan tali pertunangannya dengan Maria.

Kata malaikat kepadanya, “Anak itu harus engkau namakan Yesus, kerana Dia akan menyelamatkan umatNya daripada dosa … Anak itu akan dinamakan Imanuel (dalam bahasa Ibrani bererti ‘Allah menyertai kita’) (Mat 1:21-23). Yosef pasrah kepada kehendak Tuhan.

Apabila lahir, anak itu dinamakannya Yesus yang bermaksud ‘Tuhan menolong’ atau ‘Tuhan menyelamatkan’.

Ramalan tersebut terbukti benar kerana Yesus telahpun

menyelamatkan ramai orang dari pelbagai jenis penyakit, mengampuni dosa serta menerima mereka yang ditindas oleh masyarakat dan ketua agama. Untuk mempastikan apa yang telah diasaskanNya berkekalan, Yesus telah mewajibkan semua pengikutNya untuk membuat perkara yang serupa. Perbuatan Yesus berkait rapat dengan nama yang telah diberikan oleh Yosef dan Maria atas nasihat malaikat.

Gelaran ‘Imanuel’ yang bermaksud ‘Allah menyertai kita’ adalah pendedahan

yang sangat menakjubkan.

Di dalam Perjanjian Lama, Tuhan berfirman kepada umat-Nya melalui para nabi dan malaikat namun dengan kelahiran Kristus ke dunia ini telah menjalin hubungan akrab antara Tuhan dan manusia.

Di dalam Yesus bukan sahaja Tuhan telahpun membuktikan kehadiran-Nya di tengah-tengah umat-Nya tetapi juga mudah didekati. Yesus mendekati semua orang dengan penuh cinta kasih tanpa mengira umur, jantina dan kedudukan dalam masyarakat dan mengajak supaya mereka berubah.

Perubahan membuahkan iman.

Iman menghasilkan harapan. Harapan memberikan ketenangan. Ketiadaan iman itulah yang menjadi penghalang

utama untuk mereka melihat dan mengakui keilahian Yesus.

Krismas sudah dekat.

Krismas adalah bukti kehadiran Kristus di dunia ini.

Kedatangan Kristus adalah untuk memberi harapan kepada kita. Dia adalah Yesus dan Imanuel. Walaupun demikian, ada juga yang masih tercaricari Tuhan. Cabaran dalam kehidupan kadang-kadang menghakis kepercayaan kita kepada rahmat dan cinta kasih Tuhan. Kita mudah terpedaya oleh kehendak tubuh dan duniawi. Komersialisasi telah mengambil alih perayaan kerohanian kita. Krismas menjadi perayaan untuk berbelanja dan berpesta pora.

Mata kita dikaburi oleh jualan murah di gedung membelibelah; biskut yang pelbagai bentuk dan warna di kedai runcit dan perhiasan rumah yang cantik.

Kesederhanaan Tuhan patut menjadi pengajaran kepada kita. Kristus lahir ke dunia ini dalam rupa bayi yang lemah. Kesederhanaan akan membolehkan kita untuk lebih menghargai rahmat dan cinta kasih Tuhan.

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Perutusan Krismas 2015 daripada Uskup Agung John Ha

“A

pabila mereka memasuki rumah, mereka melihat bayi itu bersama Maria, bondaNya; dan mereka bersujud dan memberi penghormatan kepadaNya. Mereka kemudian membuka peti-peti harta karun mereka dan memberikan hadiah-hadiah emas, kemenyan dan mur kepadaNya” (Mt. 2:11). Tindak-tanduk dan pemberian lelaki-lelaki bijaksana dari timur menunjukkan kepercayaan mereka kepada Yesus Kristus sebagai Putera Tuhan yang menjadi Manusia untuk menyerahkan nyawaNya bagi kita agar kita memperolehi kehidupan dan memilikinya dengan melimpah-ruah. Kehidupan adalah anugerah daripada Tuhan yang tidak ternilai kepada kita. Lelakilelaki bijaksana dari timur mengiktirafnya dengan hadiah-hadiah mereka yang sederhana kepadaNya. Pada perayaan Krismas, kita meraikan kehidupan – kehidupan Yesus ketika kelahiranNya sebagai seorang manusia. Kita juga meraikan kehidupan yang Dia berikan kepada kita menerusi kelahiran dan kewafatanNya. Anugerah kehidupan ini diberikan dalam kasih dan juga dalam belaskasihan. Kerana kasih, Tuhan mengurniakan makhluk-makhluk manusiaNya dengan kehidupan dalam syurga. Bagaimanapun, daripada menghargai dan menjaganya, mereka semberono kehilangannya. Dalam kerahimanNya, Tuhan mengutuskan PuteraNya untuk menawarkannya semula kepada semua umat manusia. Kelahiran Yesus menandakan kemasukan Tuhan secara fizikal ke dalam dunia kita bagi tujuan ini, dan oleh itu menunjukkan kerahimanNya. Kerahiman atau belas kasihan mengalir dari

S&J

S J

hati Tuhan yang penuh kasih bagi kita. Tahun Jubli Kerahiman Luar Biasa yang diisytiharkan oleh Pope Francis dilancarkan secara rasminya pada 8 Disember 2015 (Perayaan Kandungan Suci) dan akan ditutup pada 20 November 2016 (Perayaan Kristus Raja). Bapa Suci mahu Gereja memancarkan kerahiman Tuhan kepada semua umat manusia. Beliau sudah tentu juga mahu setiap daripada kita menikmati kerahiman Tuhan dalam Gereja, terutamanya menerusi Sakramen Perdamaian.

Kita dipanggil untuk berbelaskasihan dengan satu sama lain dalam Gereja dan dengan orang lain di luar Gereja. Oleh itu, tema bagi Tahun Kerahiman adalah: “Berbelaskasihan seperti Bapa”.

Mengikut tradisi, peristiwa di mana lelaki-lelaki bijaksana menjumpai Yesus bersama ibunya dipanggil Epifani. Perkataan ini bermaksud “manifestasi”. Yesus menunjukkan Diri kepada bangsaNya sendiri – bangsa Yahudi. Namun selain mereka, Dia turut menunjukkan Diri kepada bangsa-bangsa lain (bukan Yahudi). Lelakilelaki bijaksana dari timur mewakili bangsa-bangsa bukan Yahudi. Dibimbing oleh bintang dan wahyu daripada Kitab Suci, mereka melakukan perjalanan kepada Yesus dan menyembahNya. Itu adalah cara Tuhan menunjukkan Yesus kepada mereka dan dengan demikian kepada dunia bukan Yahudi.

Yesus yang sama ditunjukkan kepada kita, iaitu bangsa bukan Yahudi di Sarawak, mula-mula menerusi mubaligh Mill Hill yang datang ke tanah air kita pada 1881. Manifestasi itu berkembang ke pelbagai tempat di Sarawak. Ia bukan hanya mubaligh Mill Hill sahaja tetapi juga golongan katekis pada zaman awal dan

kemudian rahib serta paderi tempatan yang menjadi alat dalam tangan Tuhan untuk mewartakan Yesus Tuhan dan Penyelamat kepada lebih ramai orang di negeri yang kita sayangi ini.

Hasilnya Gereja di Sarawak berkembang. Ia berbuat demikian sehingga ia dapat berdikari dan mengurus hal ehwal sendiri. Pada 31 Mei 1976, Keuskupan Agung Kuching dan Keuskupan Miri diwujudkan. Uskup Agung Peter Chung menjadi Uskup Agung Kuching yang pertama manakala Uskup Anthony Galvin menjadi Uskup Miri yang pertama. Pada tahun depan (2016) kita akan meraikan ulang tahun ke-40 Keuskupan Agung Kuching. Untuk mengiktiraf sepenuhnya tangan Tuhan di sebalik ketibaan Injil ke bumi Sarawak dan pertumbuhan Gereja yang tetap di sini, kami telah memilih tema ini untuk sambutan ulang tahun ke-40: “Meraikan kasih dan kerahiman Tuhan yang setia”.

Kemuliaan bagi Tuhan dan syukur kepadaNya di atas kasih dan kerahimanNya yang setia ini. Semoga perayaan ulang tahun ke-40 Keuskupan dipertingkatkan oleh Tahun Jubli Kerahiman Luar Biasa sebagai kairos (waktu rahmat) Tuhan bagi semua kita. Semoga Krismas ini kita lebih menghargai dan mengalami kasih dan kerahiman Tuhan dengan lebih mendalam dan kita menjadi “berbelaskasihan seperti Bapa”. Misi dan pengalaman sedemikian pasti akan memenuhi kita dengan kegembiraan. Ia adalah dalam kegembiraan ini yang saya mengucapkan kepada semua jemaat dalam Keuskupan Agung Kuching dan semua pembaca akhbar Katolik ini, “Selamat Menyambut Krismas yang berkat dan penuh dengan rahmat kasih dan kerahiman Tuhan”.

Tindak balas Kristian kepada ISIS Oleh Fr Kenneth Doyle

Apakah tindak balas Kristian kepada ‘Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’ (ISIS)?

Tindak balas Kristian kepada ISIS adalah untuk mengecam keganasan mereka dan mencari kaedah yang paling berkesan untuk menghentikannya.

Pada Mac 2015, dalam tindakan yang dilihat sebagai sokongan yang luar biasa kepada tindakan ketenteraan, wakil Vatikan ke Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) di Geneva mencadangkan tentera antarabangsa yang selaras untuk menyekat “apa yang dipanggil Negara Islam”. Uskup Agung Silvano Tomasi berkata sebarang perikatan anti-ISIS seharusnya merangkumi negara-negara Islam di Timur Tengah dan dibentuk di bawah tajaan PBB. Uskup Agung Tomasi berkata segalanya yang dapat dilakukan harus dibuat terlebih dahulu untuk mencapai penyelesaian politik tanpa keganasan, “tetapi jika itu mustahil, maka penggunaan kekerasan adalah perlu”.

Ekoran serangan bom oleh ISIS di Paris pada November 2015 (yang dikecam oleh Pope Francis sebagai “tidak boleh dibiarkan” dan berkata “menggunakan nama Tuhan untuk mewajarkan laluan ini adalah kufur), Setiausaha Negara Vatikan Kardinal Pietro Parolin menyokong kemungkinan bagi tindakan ketenteraan global ke atas puak militan ISIS. Beliau merujuk kepada Katekisme Gereja Katolik (No. 2308) yang menyatakan “selagi bahaya perang berterusan dan selagi pihak berkuasa antarabangsa dengan kuasa dan kecekapan yang diperlukan tidak ada, kerajaankerajaan tidak dapat menafikan hak untuk mempertahankan diri secara sah, jika semua usaha damai gagal”.

Seorang anggota paroki kebetulan bertanya kepada saya, selepas serangan bom di Paris, bagaimana dia dapat “memaafkan ISIS”. Saya memberitahunya bahawa

“... kerajaan-kerajaan tidak dapat menafikan hak untuk mempertahankan diri secara sah, jika semua usaha damai gagal.” (CCC #2308) dia tidak perlu berbuat demikian, kerana pengampunan (dalam minda saya) Photo: CNS mengandaikan penyesalan di pihak pelaku dan ikrar untuk mengubah kelakuan, kedua-duanya khususnya tidak ada pada pengganas ISIS. Saya berkata kita harus berdoa untuk individu-individu yang masih dalam kegelapan itu dan menyerahkan penghakiman ke atas mereka kepada Tuhan – dan sudah tentulah pada waktu yang sama, ingat untuk berdoa terutamanya bagi mangsa-mangsa mereka.

CNS (Terjemahan)

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015 Dari meja pengarang

BERITA

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Apabila bayi yang anda bawa dalam rahim anda adalah ... Tuhan

‘Terpujilah buah tubuhmu Yesus…’ Orang Katolik amat jarang sekali tidak biasa dengan doa ini. Namun saya berani berkata kebanyakan waktu, kita menyebut doa rosari dalam keadaan tidak sedar.

Baru-baru ini, naluri tidak suka kepada pengulangan yang tidak menggunakan fikiran memaksa saya untuk merenungkan doa Salam Maria saya. Saya bertanya kepada diri sendiri soalan ini, kenapa mengulangi salam Malaikat Gabriel kepada Maria sebanyak 200 kali untuk empat misteri berkenaan?

Satu fikiran datang kepada saya. Ia adalah saat Tuhan semesta alam, Pencipta kita, Tuhan Maha Besar, pemberi kehidupan, datang kepada kita dalam bentuk janin manusia di dalam rahim seorang gadis remaja Yahudi bernama Maria.

Tumpuan bukan kepada Maria tetapi Yesus. Dia dapat memilih cara lain tetapi Dia memilih untuk dilahirkan oleh seorang wanita.

Bukankah kita biasanya berulang kali mengingati peristiwa

yang gembira di dalam minda kita? Memberitahu orang lain mengenainya? Memaparkannya dalam facebook?

Menunjukkannya dalam Twitter? Mempamerkannya dalam Instagram dan ia dikongsi ribuan kali? Atau bayangkan pasangan muda yang sedang bercinta, berbual dan memikirkan tentang saat mereka pertama kali berkenalan dan jatuh cinta ... ia bukan pengulangan yang membosankan selagi hati dan jiwa menghayati pengalaman itu. Malah ia mungkin diulangi 2000 kali!

Biarkanlah kebenaran itu menyerap perlahan-lahan, bahawa Yesus adalah Tuhan yang dilahirkan oleh Perawan Maria, dan saya memberi jaminan kepada anda, Krismas tidak akan sama lagi.

Pada bulan ini, kami dengan gembira memaparkan perutusan khas daripada Uskup Agung John Ha pada muka surat 24.

Mendoakan Krismas dan tahun 2016 yang menggembirakan bagi semua! (Terjemahan)

CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM PENERBIT Uskup Agung Kuching PENASIHAT Fr Felix Au EDITOR Stella Chin EDITOR BERSEKUTU (B Cina) Magdalene Yeo SIDANG EDITOR Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (B Inggeris) Victoria J Lim (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Inggeris) James Lo (B Cina) Margaret Bong (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Cina) HALAMAN BELIA Audrey Yu STAF Audrey Yu

Seminar Apologetik membuka mata dan hati peserta KUALA LUMPUR — Dalam dunia yang serba moden dengan kemajuan teknologi yang berlumbalumba, kita juga semakin dihimpit bukan sahaja masalah modenisasi yang menjadi keutamaan kebanyakan orang zaman sekarang tetapi juga yang paling penting adalah cabaran kepada iman Kristiani yang sering kali diserang melalui pertanyaan dan hujah dari sudut perspektif yang bukan Kristiani.

Oleh hal yang demikian, Ministri Apologetik di bawah Kerasulan Umat Berbahasa Malaysia (ABMA) Keuskupan Agung Kuala Lumpur telah menganjurkan satu Seminar Apologetik di Pusat Pastoral Keuskupan Agung Kuala Lumpur pada 23 - 25 Oktober, yang dihadiri perwakilan dari 13 paroki yang terdiri daripada para pemimpin Komuniti Umat Berbahasa Malaysia (KUBM) dan juga pemimpin pelajar dari lapan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi.

Pada dasarnya, Apologetik berasal daripada Bahasa Yunani iaitu ‘Apologia’ yang bererti seni menjelaskan serta membela iman Kristiani.

Secara umumnya, orangorang Kristian sering dihimpit dengan pelbagai persoalan daripada orang yang tidak bertanggungjawab untuk menjatuhkan kita agar kita meninggalkan Yesus.

Bukan itu sahaja, malah ramai antara kita bingung dan

tidak dapat menjawab persoalan dan tuduhan yang tidak berasas atau berlandaskan Al-Kitab disebabkan pengetahuan yang kurang lengkap selain tidak tahu mengenai cara berapologetik yang sebenar.

Sesungguhnya penganjuran seminar kali ini bersifat luaran (external) di mana topiktopik yang dibentangkan merupakan topik-topik yang lebih menjelaskan serta mempertahankan iman dan kepercayaan sebagai seorang Kristian secara umumnya.

Antara topik-topik tersebut adalah mempertahankan Keilahian Yesus, Tritunggal, Dasar Keselamatan dan Kesahihan Al-Kitab yang disampaikan oleh seorang hamba Tuhan yang berasal dari Semenanjung tetapi kini aktif menjalankan misi dan evangelisasi di Sabah dan juga Sarawak.

Secara dasarnya, topiktopik ini menjadi kegemaran orang yang tidak seiman untuk

mempersoalkan kepercayaan kita dengan memesongkan maklumat mengikut perspektif mereka sehingga mampu menggoyahkan kepercayaan kita sekiranya tidak mendalami ajaran berkaitan ataupun memahaminya dengan lebih sungguh.

Selain pembentangan atau ceramah, sesi perbincangan dalam kumpulan dan sesi forum soal jawab turut diadakan.

Peserta dapat berkongsi pengalaman mereka dalam kehidupan seharian, membincangkan soalan-soalan yang diberi dan juga dapat mengemukakan soalan-soalan berkaitan dengan iman Kristiani.

Di samping sesi-sesi ceramah, soal jawab dan perbincangan, satu sesi kesaksian khusus telah diadakan di mana seorang hamba Tuhan yang pada asalnya bukan seorang Kristian dan pengikut tegar sebuah agama yang selalu menentang ajaran Kristian telah memberi kesaksian bagaimana

beliau boleh menjadi seorang Katolik berkat bimbingan Bonda Maria yang membawanya kepada Yesus melalui Doa Rosari.

Melalui kesaksian tersebut, beliau berkongsi dengan peserta berkenaan tiga soalan yang dikemukakan oleh Paderi sebelum beliau dibaptis dan menjadi Katolik di mana soalan tersebut menjadi inti perbincangan dan perkongsian semasa sesi yang diperuntukkan pada malam Sabtu.

Soalan yang dikemukakan adalah, (1) Di dalam banyakbanyak aliran, mengapa memilih Gereja Katolik?; (2) Apa yang anda mahukan daripada Gereja Katolik?; dan (3) Jelaskan bagaimana hubungan anda dengan Yesus melalui bimbingan Bonda Maria?

Soalan-soalan ini sesungguhnya memberi renungan yang mendalam kepada peserta untuk menilai kembali serta menghargai iman Katolik serta kepentingan

hubungan yang intim dengan Yesus secara individu dan juga bimbingan Bonda Maria.

Sesi forum dan soal jawab merupakan sesi terakhir pada seminar kali ini sebelum Misa Kudus bersama jemaat KUBM di Gereja St Anthony, Kuala Lumpur.

Selepas Misa selesai, Father Justin Joannis SJ telah membuat penggulungan dan rumusan seminar yang turut membakar semangat peserta untuk menyelami dan mendalami lagi ajaran Katolik lebih-lebih lagi dalam menjelaskan serta mempertahankan iman dan berapologetik dengan orang yang tidak seiman.

Sesungguhnya seminar ini telah membuka mata peserta dan mencadangkan agar seminar ini terus diadakan dari semasa ke semasa serta diperluaskan di semua peringkat agar umat Allah diperlengkapi dengan ‘senjata-senjata’ iman yang utuh lalu dapat menyebar serta “memberitakan Injil kepada seluruh bangsa di seluruh dunia dan membaptis mereka dalam nama Bapa, Putera dan Roh Kudus” (Mt 28:20).

Seminar berakhir dengan berkat dan perutusan daripada Fr Justin, yang juga merupakan Pendamping Rohani, Archdiocesan Bahasa Malaysia Apostolate (ABMA), Keuskupan Agung Kuala Lumpur.

Charles Eric George

CWS tawar kupon makanan KUCHING — Majlis Khidmat Kebajikan Katolik Sarawak atau Catholic Welfare Services Council Sarawak (CWS) telah memulakan program kupon makanan dalam usahanya untuk membantu pesakit miskin dan keluarga mereka di Hospital Umum Sarawak (HUS).

Ahli-ahli keluarga yang menjaga mereka dapat

menggunakan kupon makanan itu untuk menebus makanan tengah hari dan makanan malam di kantin HUS. Kupon yang bernilai RM5 setiap satu ini dapat diperolehi daripada pegawai kebajikan, Puan Naomi Anne Masilamany, yang berpangkalan di hospital itu.

Ahli-ahli keluarga yang memerlukan kupon mesti mendapatkan perakuan daripada doktor yang bertugas

sebelum bertemu dengan Puan Naomi. Pihak hospital sudah meluluskan program kupon makanan ini yang terbuka kepada semua.

CWS merayu kepada semua jemaat paroki dan pembaca akhbar Today’s Catholic untuk memaklumkan tentang kupon makanan ini kepada pesakit miskin dan keluarga pesakit yang mereka temui di HUS.

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Tentang “menjadi baik” dan “bersikap prihatin”!

Tidak lama yang lalu, seorang wanita datang kepada saya selepas Misa dan meminta saya memberkati tiga orang anaknya dan apabila saya bertanya kepadanya sama ada dia mempunyai sebab yang istimewa bagi permintaan itu, dia menjawab, “Kerana saya mahu mereka menjadi baik!”

Saya bertanya kepadanya sama ada, dengan “menjadi baik”, dia bermaksud agar mereka membuat apa yang dia suruh mereka buat dan dia menjawab, “Ya”; lalu saya berkata, “Saya akan memberkati mereka supaya mereka boleh menjadi apa yang Tuhan inginkan, tetapi bukan supaya mereka akan “menjadi baik”, kerana Tuhan tidak memanggil kita untuk menjadi baik – Dia memanggil kita “untuk bersikap prihatin” dan keduaduanya ada perbezaan yang ketara!”

Jika saya membuat sesuatu kerana saya mahu “menjadi baik”, saya membuatnya kerana saya mahu orang menyukai saya – dan dengan demikian, perhatian saya diarahkan kepada diri sendiri.

Bagaimanapun, jika saya mendekati seseorang kerana saya “prihatin”, perhatian saya adalah kepada orang itu dan inilah hala tuju kasih – jalan di mana Tuhan menyeru kepada kita untuk berjalan bersamaNya. Memang benar, iaitu apabila kita menyebut seseorang itu adalah “orang baik”, kita biasanya bermaksud orang itu adalah seseorang yang penyayang dan prihatin, yang berkongsi dalam belaskasihan dan kelemahlembutan Tuhan bagi dunia dan manusia di bumi, tetapi apabila kita berkata kita mahu seseorang itu “menjadi baik”, kita biasanya bermaksud bahawa kita mahu mereka membuat

apa yang disuruh – sama ada mereka ada hati untuk berbuat demikian atau tidak. St Irenaeus, salah seorang guru paling awal dalam Gereja, memberitahu kita bahawa “Tuhan dipermuliakan apabila lelaki dan wanita hidup sepenuhnya!” dan sekadar “membuat apa yang kita disuruh buat” tidak boleh dianggap sebagai “hidup sepenuhnya”.

“Menjadi baik” biasanya bermakna: “memilik reputasi yang baik” dan walaupun ini tidak salah dan merupakan sebahagian yang penting dalam pendidikan sosial kita, kerana ia adalah cara kita belajar untuk melayan orang lain dengan cara yang betul – walau bagaimanapun kita boleh tersekat pada peringkat itu dan mula berpuas hati dengan sekadar melakukan apa yang dilakukan oleh semua orang lain – dan ini sama sekali bukan “kebaikan” yang memberi kemuliaan kepada Tuhan.

Injil menunjukkan kepada kita bahawa Tuhan tidak dianggap sebagai “memiliki reputasi yang baik” oleh orang yang disanjung pada zamanNya. Dia mengejutkan orang dengan bergaul bersama golongan yang orang lain anggap “memiliki reputasi yang buruk” – dan ini, saya rasa, bukan hanya kerana mereka memerlukan keprihatinanNya, tetapi juga kerana Dia benar-benar kelihatan seperti menyukai mereka sebagai teman-teman – mungkin ia adalah kerana mereka adalah “tulen” – mereka “hidup”! Kita melihat sifat ini juga pada orangorang kudus yang agung, seperti St Francis, St Vincent de Paul atau Mother Teresa di Calcutta; mereka “memecah acuan” dan sering membuat perkara yang tidak dianggap “menarik” atau “memberi reputasi yang baik”. Mereka melihat orang yang memerlukan bantuan dan mendekati mereka – walaupun

orang yang “memiliki reputasi yang baik” mengecam mereka – sekurang-kurangnya pada mulanya.

Perjanjian Baharu menyeru kita kepada “amal kebajikan”, tetapi kita selalunya menghadapi masalah untuk memahami makna sebenar perkataan ini menurut Injil. Ia sering ditakrif sebagai: “pemberian bantuan secara sukarela kepada mereka yang memerlukannya”, tetapi ini boleh menunjukkan kita ke arah yang salah, kerana ia memberi tumpuan kepada “apa” dalam amal kebajikan dan bukannya “kenapa” atau “bagaimana”, dan ia adalah dua perkataan terakhir itu yang benar-benar membezakan kasih Tuhan, kerana keperluan manusia biasanya adalah rumit dan tidak dapat diselesaikan hanya dengan “pemberian” sahaja, terutamanya apabila pemberian itu tidak disertai dengan keprihatinan; orang memerlukan pendekatan yang prihatin dan peka serta usaha untuk mencari cara terbaik untuk membantu, kerana terdapat ramai orang yang telah dirosakkan, dan bukannya dibantu, oleh amal kebajikan yang tidak bertempat. Slogan sebuah organisasi kebajikan yang terkenal menyebut: “Jika saya memberi ikan kepada seorang lelaki yang lapar, dia akan lapar lagi esok (dan oleh itu selama-lamanya bergantung kepada pemberian dan harga dirinya akan musnah) tetapi jika saya mengajarnya bagaimana untuk menangkap ikan, dia tidak akan kelaparan lagi”.

Mungkin makna sebenar “amal kebajikan” (charity) dapat dilihat dengan terbaik dalam perkataan Latin yang menjadi asal perkataan tersebut: “caritas” – dan kita ada dua perkataan dalam bahasa Inggeris yang berasal daripada perkataan ini dan menunjukkan apa maknanya

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

BENIH-BENIH PADI Fr Terry Burke ialah seorang mubaligh Mill Hill yang pernah berkhidmat di Sarawak, Indonesia, India dan England. Buat masa sekarang, beliau adalah pensyarah di Kolej St Peter selain ditugaskan kepada kerja pembentukan di Keuskupan Kuching.

Today’s Catholic ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Fr Burke kerana membahagikan renungan dan pengalaman pastoral yang kaya di dalam ruangan ini yang bertajuk Benihbenih Padi.

yang sebenar: pertama adalah “untuk mengambil berat” yang bermakna kita fokus kepada orang itu – dan bukan sekadar kepada keperluannya – mahupun kesukaan orang lain yang kita terima kerana membantu mereka. Perkataan kedua adalah “untuk membelai” dan sekali lagi ini menunjuk kepada kasih sayang dan simpati bagi orang yang memerlukan bantuan dan bukan pada asasnya dengan sekadar membekalkan mereka dengan apa yang kurang. Dalam perkataan lain, “amal kebajikan” adalah seruan untuk mengasihi orang itu, untuk bersama mereka, walaupun mungkin ketika saya tidak ada apa-apa untuk diberikan kepada mereka – kecuali pemberian diri yang ada di sana. Bonda kita tahu perkara ini ketika dia berdiri di kaki salib, tidak berdaya untuk menghalang penderitaan puteranya tetapi berdaya untuk memberi satu-satu pemberian yang dia perlu berikan ketika itu – kehadirannya, kasih sayangnya dan air mata.

Ketika dia berdiri di sana, di kaki salib, Yesus tahu ibuNya ada di sana, dan, saya pasti gembira dengan hakikat itu, tetapi ada satu ketika di mana bonda turut mendekatiNya, tetapi ketika Dia tidak tahu bonda ada di sana – dan itu adalah ketika dia masih bayi di dalam pelukan bonda.

Kemudian, bonda memberi makanan kepadaNya, membersihkanNya apabila Dia kotor, dan menyusuNya apabila Dia menangis. Bonda

belajar untuk mengasihinya dengan cara ini dan bonda berbuat demikian kerana Dia memerlukan bonda – bukan kerana Dia menunjukkan kesukaanNya kepada bonda.

Bonda berbuat demikian kerana itulah caranya kasih berkembang di dalam hati bonda dan berkembang di dalam hati kita. Ia adalah jalan diraja bagi kasih sayang yang tidak mementingkan diri – bagaimana untuk menjadi satu dengan kasih Tuhan.

Mungkin ini adalah caranya Krismas mengajar kita tentang kasih dengan cara yang begitu penting dan mendalam – kerana bayi yang diberikan kepada kita untuk disayangi pada Hari Krismas tidak dapat memberi apa-apa balik – kecuali kasih yang akan bertumbuh di dalam hati kita, apabila kita mendekatiNya menerusi orang lain yang tidak berdaya, yang kita jumpa dalam perjalanan. Dia umpama “Bintang”, yang membimbing kita ke rumah Maria dan Josef, kerana apabila seperti mereka, kita melihat bayi itu dalam segala kelemahannya, hati kita tertarik kepadanya untuk menjaganya dan membelainya – bukan kerana ia akan menjadikan kita “baik” tetapi kerana dalam pelukan itu, kita menemui Tuhan kita, dengan kasihNya yang menjadikan kita “hidup sepenuhnya”.

Semoga berkat itu menjadi milik anda dan keluarga anda pada perayaan Krismas ini.

Bantuan untuk mangsa kebakaran

MUKAH — Catholic Welfare Services (Khidmat Kebajikan Katolik) Gereja St Peter & St Paul yang diketuai Terry Jepanih menyampaikan sumbangan kepada Luhi bin Mersi selepas rumahnya musnah dijilat api sebelum waktu subuh pada 1 November lalu.

Bantuan wang tunai itu diserahkan oleh Paderi Paroki St Peter & St Paul, Father Joseph Sebastian, kepada Luhi baru-baru ini di hadapan rumahnya yang Kpg Jebungan.

Turut hadir sewaktu penyampaian bantuan itu adalah Pengerusi Majlis Pastoral Parish St Peter & St

Fr Joseph (dua kanan) menyerahkan bantuan wang tunai kepada Luhi disaksikan oleh Dominic Aseng (kanan), Alexander (kiri) dan lain-lain.

Paul, Dominic Aseng bin Edal, Alexander Hanipah bin Ubing Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Chapel dan Terry Jepanih.

Sacred Heart Jebungan/Tegak, Harapi Charles (Terjemahan)

SYUKUR … Pada 1 November lalu, Father Augustine Jepy, Rektor Gereja Our Lady Queen of Peace, Sri Aman telah menyambut ulang tahun pentahbisan beliau yang ke-37 sebagai paderi. Fr Jepy ditahbiskan sebagai paderi pada 1 November 1978 oleh Uskup Agung Emeritus Peter Chung.

Bagi meraikan ulang tahun beliau itu, satu majlis makan malam “pot luck” telah diadakan di Pusat Katolik. Majlis ulang tahun itu turut diraikan bersama-sama jemaat Katolik Gereja Our Lady Queen of Peace.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

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Paderi kedua bagi tahun ini: Keuskupan Agung meraikan pentahbisan Robert Jissem

KUCHING — Pentahbisan Father Robert Jissem ke dalam golongan paderi pada 8 November lalu begitu menceriakan Keuskupan Agung Kuching. Ia merupakan pentahbisan kepaderian kedua bagi tahun ini.

Pentahbisan pertama adalah bagi Father Benard Jimbun pada Jun lalu.

Misa Pentahbisan dipimpin oleh Uskup Agung John Ha, dirayakan bersama tiga uskup lain, lebih 20 paderi dan dibantu oleh dua diakon. Di antara paderi yang hadiri adalah bekas rakan sekelas Fr Robert, iaitu Father John Pereira dari Melaka (yang ditahbiskan pada 1 Oktober lalu), Father Harry Dorisoh dan Father Hilanus Simon dari Keningau (masing-masing ditahbis pada 10 dan 17 Oktober lalu), Diakon Stanley William dari Sandakan dan Diakon Joshua Liew dari Kota Kinabalu.

Juga wajar disebut adalah kehadiran Uskup Richard Ng dari Miri, yang merupakan bekas rektor Seminari Utama Kolej St Peter dan formator Fr Robert dan lima rakannya semasa mereka belajar di seminari tersebut.

Fr Robert, 42, berasal dari Kpg Segong, Singai. Beliau merupakan paderi ketiga dari Singai selepas perintis Father Augustine Jepy dan Father Peter Liston. Maka itu, masyarakat Bidayuh di Singai ada sebab yang amat baik sekali untuk bergembira dan merasa bangga.

“Masyarakat Bidayuh di Bau amnya dan mereka di Singai khasnya, sangat bangga dengan anda,” kata Vincent

PENOPANGAN TANGAN ... Uskup Agung John Ha menopang tangan ke atas Diakon Robert semasa pentahbisannya sebagai paderi untuk memohon pengurapan Tuhan Eddy Sireng selaku pengerusi penganjur Tempoh 10 tahun di seminari ternyata di majlis makan malam kesyukuran yang bukan perjalanan yang mudah bagi Fr diadakan di Pusat Redeems.

Robert yang baharu ditahbis. Selain Majlis tersebut yang diadakan pada masalahnya dengan bahasa Inggeris, dia 14 November lalu untuk meraikan terpaksa menangani keperitan selepas pentahbisan Fr Robert dihadiri lebih kehilangan ibu bapanya. Bapanya, 1,500 orang.

Stephen Jissem, meninggal dunia pada Masyarakat Singai menghadiahkan tahun pertama Teologi, diikuti pemergian sebuah kereta baharu Proton Saga FLX ibunya, Elizabeth Rikim, dua tahun SV kepadanya sebagai tanda kasih dan kemudian. sokongan mereka.

Fr Robert mengaitkan panggilannya “Tanda sokongan, kasih dan kepada kepaderian dengan mendiang penghargaan ini akan diteruskan pada masa ibunya, yang memupuk dan memelihara depan sebagai manifestasi kepercayaan kepercayaannya dan membolehkan benih kita,” kata Vincent Eddy yang menambah panggilan ditanam sejak pendidikan ia juga bagi menggalakkan lebih ramai sekolah rendah lagi. pemuda untuk menyahut seruan Tuhan Beliau menceritakan bahawa kepada kepaderian. panggilan kepada kepaderian menjadi

semakin kuat ketika beliau bekerja di sebuah hotel. Walaupun mempunyai pekerjaan yang bagus dengan gaji yang bagus selain seorang teman wanita, beliau merasakan “ketiadaan sesuatu dan merasai kekosongan”.

“Idea mengenai kepaderian kembali semula ke dalam fikiran saya. Perasaan untuk menjadi paderi bertambah kuat sehingga akhirnya pada 2005, saya membuat keputusan untuk memasuki seminari, di mana saya menemui kegembiraan dan ketenangan dan kekosongan saya dipenuhi,” kata paderi baharu itu.

Bagi mereka yang pernah bekerja dengannya, Fr Robert dikenali kerana cara-caranya yang sederhana dan rendah hati.

Uskup Agung John Ha, dalam perutusannya di dalam buku cenderamata pentahbisan, menulis: “Saya melihat Robert sebagai seorang gembala yang memiliki hati Kristus sendiri dan oleh itu seorang hamba yang tidak mementingkan diri dan bersedia untuk menabur bakti kepada jemaat dengan seluruh hati, fikiran dan jiwanya.”

“Beliau telah mempamerkan penjagaan pastoral yang amat baik kepada masyarakat di pinggiran Kuching,” tulis Uskup Auksiliari Simon Poh dalam buku cenderamata yang sama.

“Saya ingin memuji beliau di atas semangat khidmat bakti yang rendah hati ini.”

Audrey Yu (Terjemahan)

Jadikan jubli kerahiman ‘revolusi Perayaan St Martin de Porres kelemahlembutan’, kata Paus KOTA VATIKAN — Pope Francis telah mengadakan temuramah dengan laman sesawang rasmi bagi Jubli Kerahiman di mana beliau menyuarakan hasrat agar tahun itu menjadi waktu untuk menikmati kelemahlembutan Tuhan dalam dunia yang penuh dengan kekejaman.

“Revolusi kelemahlembutan adalah revolusi yang pada hari ini kita mesti pupuk sebagai buah tahun kerahiman ini: kelemahlembutan Tuhan terhadap setiap daripada kita,” kata Paus kepada penerbutan rasmi Jubli ‘Credere’ dalam temu ramah yang dikeluarkan pada 2 Disember lalu.

Pemimpin Gereja Roman Katolik itu memberi contoh seorang majikan yang mengurus kontrak pekerja mereka dengan cara yang menafikan faedah dan pencen bagi mereka. Majikan sedemikian tidak menunjukkan kelemahlembutan tetapi sebaliknya melayan pekerjanya seperti objek atau benda, katanya.

Dalam dunia pada hari ini, di mana kita sudah semakin biasa mendengar tentang kekejaman, ia adalah jelas bahawa belaskasihan amat diperlukan, tambahnya.

Pope Francis menyenaraikan beberapa kekejaman yang berlaku di dunia: pengeluaran dan penyeludupan

senjata, pembunuhan kejam orang yang tidak bersalaj, eksploitasi golongan bawah umur dan kanak-kanak.

Kekejaman ini termasuk “pencabulan terhadap umat manusia kerana manusia adalah suci. Dia adalah imej Tuhan yang hidup”, katanya.

“Saya percaya ini adalah waktu kerahiman,” katanya. “Semua kita adalah orang yang berdosa. Semua kita membawa beban ini di dalam.”

“Ia adalah tahun pengampunan, tahun perdamaian.”

Pope Francis menegaskan tentang keperluan untuk mengiktiraf Tuhan, Bapa kita, sebagai berbelaskasihan, dan fokus kepada penyembuhan dan bukan kepada kutukan.

“Dunia perlu menyedari Tuhan adalah Bapa, bahawa belas kasihan itu ada, bahawa kekejaman bukan caranya, kecaman bukan caranya, kerana Gereja sendiri kadang-kadang mengikuti garisan yang ketat, tunduk kepada godaan untuk mengikuti garisan yang ketat, godaan untuk hanya menekankan norma moral, namun begitu ramai orang yang diketepikan.”

Beliau menekankan tentang imej Gereja yang umpama hospital lapangan, satu tema yang pernah disentuhnya pada masa lalu.

Bersambung di ms28

SEBAGAI KENANGAN … Ahli Jawatankuasa Gereja Kampung (KGK) bergambar kenangan bersama Friar William Lee OFM (duduk kanan sekali) sempena Hari Perayaan PADAWAN — Pada 3 November Porres untuk membantu jemaat di Kpg lepas, Chapel St Martin de Porres, Kpg Sira lebih mengenali siapa Penaung Sira, telah menyambut Hari Perayaan Chapel mereka. Selesai Misa, semua Penaungnya. jemaat berkumpul di balai raya kampung Misa sempena Hari Perayaan itu untuk meraikan Hari Perayaan Gereja dirayakan oleh Friar William Lee, OFM dengan jamuan secara ‘potluck’. pada petang hari tersebut. Jemaat di Santo Martin De Porres merupakan Kpg Sira bersama jemaat dari kampung- santo penaung untuk bangsa campuran kampung sekitar telah menghadiri Misa (kacukan), tukang gunting rambut, Kudus tersebut. pekerja kesihatan awam dan penjaga Pada perayaan kali ini, Friar tempat penginapan. Beliau berasal dari William menayangkan klip video yang Lima, Peru. Hari Perayaannya jatuh pada memaparkan biografi Santo Martin De 3 November setiap tahun. - Sumbangan

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2015

Jadikan jubli kerahiman ‘revolusi kelemahlembutan’, kata Paus Bersambung dari ms27 “Mereka yang luka dijaga, dibantu untuk sembuh, bukan tertakluk kepada ujian untuk menganalisa kolesterol mereka.”

Pope Francis berkata ia adalah niatnya untuk mengikuti jejak langkah paus-paus sebelumnya dalam menekankan tentang tema kerahiman dalam kehidupan Gereja. Beliau khususnya memetik St John Paul II, dalam ensiklikal beliau pada 1980 mengenai kerahiman Illahi, Dives in misericordia; kanonisasi St Faustina; dan penetapan bagi perayaan Kerahiman Illahi pada hari oktaf Paska.

“Saya menyedari ia adalah perlu untuk membuat sesuatu dan meneruskan tradisi ini.”

Paus berkata belaskasihan sudah menjadi tema kepimpinannya sejak awal lagi, malah memusatkan kerahiman atau belaskasihan dalam ucapan Angelus pertamanya di Dataran St Peter dan homili pertamanya di paroki Sant’Anna, Vatikan.

“Ia bukan satu strategi tetapi datang dari dalam: Roh Kudus mahukan sesuatu.”

Pope Francis ditanya tentang makna Kerahiman Illahi bagi paderi adan uskup, dan amalan berbelaskasihan di dalam kehidupannya sendiri.

“Saya orang yang berdosa.

Saya ras berdosa. Saya pasti mengenai perkara itu,” katanya dan menambah: “Saya seorang manusia yang diampuni.

Tuhan sudah melihat saya dengan belaskasihan dan memaafkan saya.”

Pope Francis berkata beliau

masih berdosa dan membuat pengakuan dosa sekali setiap 15 atau 20 hari “kerana saya perlu merasakan bahawa kerahiman Tuhan masih menyelubungi saya”.

Pemimpin Gereja itu menceritakan tentang satu waktu khusus dalam kehidupannya di mana beliau merasai belaskasihan Tuhan.

Ia adalah pada 21 September 1953, ketika perayaan Musim Bunga di Argentina. Pada usia 17 tahun, beliau “hanya seorang Katolik yang mengamalkan kepercayaan: Beliau menghadiri sembahyang Misa pada Hari Ahad dan menyertai perkumpulan ‘Catholic Action’ tetapi tidak lebih daripada itu.

Ketika melintasi sebuah gereja, beliau merasakan keperluan untuk membuat pengakuan dosa.

“Saya tidak tahu apa yang berlaku. Saya berjalan keluar dalam keadaan yang berbeza, berubah. Saya pulang ke rumah dengan kepastian bahawa saya mesti mengabdikan diri kepada Tuhan.”

Paderi yang mendengar pengakuan dosanya mengiringinya selama setahun sebelum paderi tersebut meninggal dunia akibat penyakit leukimia. Pope Francis berkata kematiannya membuatkannya berfikir bahawa Tuhan sudah mengabaikannya.

“Ketika inilah saya mengalami kerahiman Tuhan,” katanya dan mengingati bahawa 21 September – hari beliau dipanggil ke dalam Gereja ketika remaja – adalah perayaan St Matius. Sebab itulah beliau menghasilkan cogan kata keuskupannya daripada kisah

yang diceritakan oleh St Bede tentang panggilan Kristus kepada St Matius: “miserando atque eligendo” atau “Dengan memiliki belaskasihan, dengan memilihnya”.

Wartawan berkenaan bertanya tentang bagaimana belaskasihan disampaikan di dalam Al-Kitab sebagai berada di dalam “rahim” Tuhan, dan bagaimana Jubli Kerahimana adalah waktu untuk merenungkan “keibuan” Tuhan ini dan aspek feminin Gereja.

Walapun “Tuhan ada dimensi keibuan”, Paus mengakui cara menggambarkan Tuhan sebegini tidak difahami dengan meluas.

Maka itu beliau lebih suka bercakap mengenai “kelemahlembutan”, khususnya kelemahlembutan seorang ibu: “Kelemahlembutan Tuhan, yang dilahirkan daripada rahim kebapaan: Tuhan adalah bapa dan ibu.”

Wartawan berkenaan bertanya kepada Paus bagaimana Jubli Kerahiman dapat membawa perubahan hati di kalangan keluarga, dengan memetik ayat terkenal St John XXIII di mana beliau memberitahu keluarga untuk pulang ke rumah dan “memberi belaian kepada anak-anak anda”.

“Apabila saya melihat orang sakit, orang warga emas, saya secara spontan membelai mereka,” kata Pope Francis.

Tindakan pertama yang dibuat oleh seorang ibu dan seorang bapa kepada bayi mereka yang baharu lahir, katanya, menyampaikan “aku sayang kepadamu”.

MEMBUKA PINTU KERAHIMAM … Letak senjata perang dan bekerja untuk keadilan, gesa Pope Francis kepada rakyat Republik Afrika Tengah (CAR) dalam homili petang pada 29 November lalu di katedral Bangui. Sambil menjelaskan kepada hadirin di luar katedral Bangui bahawa bandar raya mereka, pada hari itu, adalah “ibu kota rohani dunia”, Pope Francis berdoa untuk kerahiman dan rahmat kedamaian apabila beliau menggunakan kedua-dua tangan dan berat badannya untuk menolak dan membuka Pintu Suci katedral. CAR merupakan zon perang yang aktif ekoran pemberontakan pada Disember 2012 yang membawa kepada penggulingan presiden. Kirakira 6,000 orang sudah maut dalam konflik di sana, manakala beberapa ribu lagi hidup dalam pelarian. Jubli Kerahiman bermula pada 8 Disember tetapi Pope Francis memutuskan untuk membuka Pintu Suci di katedral Bangui sebagai tanda doa dan perpaduan dengan negara tersebut.

Ditanya apa yang beliau akan buat sepanjang Jubli untuk memberi kesaksian kepada kerahiman Tuhan, Paus berkata beliau akan membuat “amalan

yang berlainan” pada satu Hari Jumaat setiap bulan pada Tahun Suci.

CNA/EWTN News (Terjemahan)

Majlis kesyukuran tamat latihan kepolisan PADAWAN — Pada 22 November lepas, acara Puji dan Sembah telah diadakan di Chapel All Saints PULAPOL Kuching sempena tamat latihan kepolisan pelatih polis yang beragama Kristian.

Puji dan Sembah ini dipimpin oleh kumpulan belia dari Paroki St Ann, ‘The Followers’ (Pelayanan Muzik St Ann). Sesi turut dihadiri pelatih konstabel polis, pelatih polis bantuan, kakitangan PULAPOL yang terdiri daripada pegawai dan anggota polis serta kakitangan awam serta ahli keluarga masingmasing.

Sesi ini diadakan bagi meraikan seramai 163 orang

pelatih Konstabel Skuad 2/2015 yang menamatkan Latihan Kepolisan mereka pada 5 Disember lalu. Mereka menjalani Latihan Asas Kepolisan enam bulan sejak Jun lepas.

Selain Puji dan Sembah, terdapat juga perkongsian firman daripada kalangan ahli ‘The Followers’. Acara Pengutusan turut diadakan di mana pelatih yang bakal tamat latihan didoakan bersama oleh jemaat dengan penopangan tangan.

Penaung Badan Kebajikan Kristian, Chapel All Saints PULAPOL turut menyampaikan amanat khas disusuli dengan ucapan daripada Presiden

KONSENTRASI … Acara Puji dan Sembah dipimpin oleh kumpulan belia ‘The Followers’ dari Paroki St Ann. Pelatih Kristian. Dalam sesi ini juga, pelatih diingatkan agar sentiasa berpegang teguh kepada

iman sebagai orang Kristian walau apa pun cabaran yang bakal dihadapi semasa bertugas

nanti. Selesai majlis, jamuan makan tengah hari disediakan untuk semua yang hadir.

Chapel All Saints PULAPOL Kuching merupakan sebuah chapel gabungan yang menyatukan warga Kristian PULAPOL, khasnya untuk pelatih polis beragama Kristian yang menjalani latihan kepolisan di sini. Aktiviti kerohanian dijalankan di chapel ini secara bergilir setiap minggu oleh wakil-wakil gereja-gereja Kristian. Semoga amalan baik ini diteruskan bagi membantu pelatih polis untuk terus memuji dan mendekati Tuhan.

Sumbangan

Published by: The Archbishop of Kuching, 118 Jalan Tun Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching. Tel: 082-231164 Printed by: Bahagia Press Sdn Bhd (86546-K), Lot 225, Section 49, Jalan Padungan Utara, 93100 Kuching. Tel: 082-238900