Today's Catholic Vol.27 No.11 March 2016

CATHOLIC today’s

A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak

Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

Vol 27 No 12 March 2016

Inside...

St Joseph’s International School to open 2017

24th KAYA

P8

P6

Jesus said, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone...”

Jn 8:7

今日教友 第十六至二十二頁

24 Hours

for the Lord KUCHING — In the Archdiocese of Kuching, the city parishes came together to celebrate the ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ in St Joseph’s Cathedral.

The local observance began with a Mass presided over by Archbishop John Ha at 12 noon on 4 March, followed by the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which lasted for 24 hours.

The programmes lined up during the 24 hours included Stations of the Cross, Rosary recitation, Divine Mercy chaplet, Taizé prayers, praise and worship, and Gospel reflections led by the priests. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was also made available around the clock. The entire event ended the next day at 12 noon with Benediction and Prayer of the Pope led by the Archbishop.

In his closing remark, Archbishop Ha expressed his joy to see the laity participating in the programmes and going for Confession even in the wee hours. He hoped that all who have experienced the Lord’s mercy would in turn offer mercy to others.

The late Brother Columba Gleeson fondly remembered at commemoration service and Mass

KUCHING — On 13 February, many former students of the late Br Columba Gleeson came to Tan Sri Datuk William Auditorium of their alma mater to bid final farewell to their beloved ex-principal.

It was an emotional ceremony as they were able to relate to the many memories mentioned in the tributes.

The commemoration service was followed by the requiem Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral. Presiding at the Mass was Archbishop John Ha with Bishop Simon Poh, Bishop Richard Ng and nine priests.

“Today we come to honour, firstly, the work of the La Salle brothers in

this part of the world and throughout the world, and in particular, we honour the legacy of Br Columba who died on 3 February in Ireland,” said Bishop Simon Poh during the homily.

Br Columba was born on 18 March 1935 to a farming family in a small town called Cullenwaine, Co. Offaly in Ireland.

At the age of 13, he left home to join the De La Salle Brothers’ Junior Training Centre at Mallow and Castletown. At a young age of 22, he arrived in Sarawak in 1957 to teach in Sacred Heart School in Sibu until 1962 when he returned to Ireland for further studies.

Visit us at http://www.todayscatholic.com.my

• Continued on p2

FAREWELL ... Crowd queueing up to sign the condolence book

Contact us at 082-231164 (Tel), 082-425724 (Fax), todaycat@gmail.com (E-mail), P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching (Post)

NEWS

PAGE 2

EDITORIAL

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

With love and gratitude from the bottom of our hearts

“I am not leaving Sarawak. I am taking her with me.” I remember those words from the late Brother Columba before he left for Ireland after 40 years of Christ-like witnessing among the last, least and lost among us.

Many may not know that apart from his illustrious and legendary stint as an educator par excellence, we had the honour of having Brother as our first advisor / writer / layout / cut and paste assistant all rolled into one in 1986. Today’s Catholic is now 30 years old.

My prayer is that we will continue to reflect his spirit of being good news to all.

Although I had never enjoyed the privilege of

working alongside him on the paper, he would still drop by the office to see how we were getting on in the months before he left in 1997. With a twinkle of his kind smiling eyes, he boosted my confidence with encouraging words for my amateur editorial efforts.

We are happy to present a feature on page 14-15 filled with marvellous, heartfelt tributes from those whose lives have been changed for the better because of how and for whom he lived.

Rest in peace dear Br Columba. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we are certain that we will forever remain in yours.

Stella Chin

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) STAFF Audrey Yu

The late Brother Columba Gleeson fondly remembered at commemoration service and Mass

T

he late Brother Columba Gleeson cast many pearls of wisdom during his life on earth and Today’s Catholic was privileged to catch some of them for 15 years in Signposts. Here are selected gems for reflection.

Lent…

Lent challenges us to look into our hearts and ask ourselves what will God see there when we appear before him, when all distracting externals have been stripped away and left behind? (“The Lord looks at the heart”. Living Our Faith. p.163) It is easy to overspiritualise the events surrounding the passion, feeling that his sufferings were somehow made less by the fact that he was God and knew that he was in control… this would be to devalue the wonderful mystery of the incarnation. The sorrow Jesus felt… the pain… the hurt… the anguish… the fear… the physical torture… the desolation… these were all sufferings which Jesus really felt in the depths of his humanity. (“Truly human”. Living Our Faith. p168)

• Continued from p1 Whilst in Sibu, he excelled as a footballer and was a member of the Sibu football team in the then Sarawak Cup competition in the early 1960s.

In 1966, he returned to Sarawak to teach in St Joseph’s School Kuching.

He took over as Principal of St Joseph’s School from the late Br Albinus in 1970 and remained as principal until his retirement in 1987.

During his stewardship at St Joseph’s School, the School enjoyed a most successful era of having excellent academic results and outstanding performances in sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Br Columba forged a strong bond with his fellow teachers and students, developing their teaching and intellectual

(From top left, clockwise) At the commemoration service at the School and requiem Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral for Br Columba.

(Bottom left) At the burial service at the community cemetery, Castletown, Ireland on 5 Febraury

potentials and instilling in them strong moral values.

“The leadership of the man in stirring interest and commitment among students, teachers and colleagues alike is exemplary of the man and leader he was,” testified Dr Sim Kui Hian, the chairman of the Old Josephians Association and an ex-student of Br Columba.

After his retirement from St Joseph’s School, he was actively engaged in pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Kuching, including counselling of the youths, a task which he always enjoyed and found most fulfilling.

During this period, he founded the newspaper, Today’s Catholic. His regular column, Signpost, was a favourite amongst many of its readers who find his writings an inspiration in the search for a true meaning

of life. These articles have now been compiled into a book, Living Our Faith.

For family reasons, he returned to Ireland in 1997 where he served the La Salle Community in various capacities in Castletown and Belfast. He returned to this part of the world from time to time on the invitation of his former students to “catch up” with them in Kuching, Sibu and Singapore.

Many of his students also visited him in Ireland particularly in the last few years when he was at Miguel House, the retirement home at Castletown where he passed away peacefully on 3 February.

Br Columba is buried in the De La Salle Brothers community cemetary, Castletown, Ireland.

See p14-15 for the tributes for Br Columba

Death…

The Indian poet Rabindrath Tagore described death as “extinguishing the lamp because the dawn has come.” The dying are not leaving us; they are merely moving on; going ahead of us where we too must surely follow. (“Life is changed, not ended”. Living Our Faith. p.208) Easter…

However there is one powerful symbol of new life in your Sarawak church which I miss here in Ireland… the RCIA at Easter! Adult baptisms are very rare here… But the church too experiences periods of death and resurrection and in the midst of our present barrenness, the Spirit is at work and seeds are germinating signs of new life... (which) will ultimately bring a new face and renewed vitality to the Irish church. (“Life goes on”. Living Our Faith. p.174) Easter proclaims that there is a purpose to our living beyond the cares and concerns of this earthly world; that the sand of our brief desert journey through life will be transformed into the crystal glass of heaven, for us to shine like the stars for all eternity. (“Easter transformation”. Living Our Faith. p.180) As you celebrate resurrection and new life at Easter do count your blessings and commit yourself anew to the future of the church, which is all of you. Remember that bringing the good news to others is the task and privilege of everyone. Few if any of the newly baptised among you were brought to Christ by reading or lectures by intellectual debate or dramatic miracles, but rather by the example and encouragement of another ordinary person. A husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, colleague or neighbour. (“Nourished by memories”.

Living Our Faith. p.183)

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

NEWS

Closing Mass of the Year of Consecrated Life

KUCHING — The Year of Consecrated Life ran from the First Sunday of Advent, 30 November 2014 to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 2 February 2016 which is also the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

Himself, a religious, Pope Francis called for the past year to be an occasion of renewal for men and women in consecrated life, of thanksgiving among the People of God for their dedicated service and an invitation to young Catholics to consider a religious vocation.

Archbishop John Ha presided over the closing Mass in the Archdiocese of Kuching at the Carmelite Chapel on 2 February at 7.30 pm. Auxiliary Bishop Simon Poh was present with eleven other priests: religious and diocesan.

The Mass began with a blessing of candles at the entrance of the Carmelite Monastery, followed by a

HERE I AM ... Priests and religious joining in the procession after blessing of candles at the monastery entrance procession into the chapel for at the Vatican, Pope Francis Mass. Many lay people came described the just-ended Year to join the men and women of Consecrated Life as “a of consecrated life of the river”, saying “it now flows archdiocese in this celebration. into the sea of mercy, into the In his homily, Archbishop immense mystery of love that Ha mentioned about the journey we are experiencing through the of light. It is represented by Extraordinary Jubilee.” the candle procession as our After the Mass a simple own journey, religious or lay, fellowship of food followed at approaching the Light of Christ, the parlour of the nuns and the the source of our life. chapel compound.

During the closing Mass Fr Francis Lim, SJ

KUCHING — During the Sunset Mass on 30 January, Sr Maria Jovita, SSFS made her final profession to the religious life, witnessed by her family members and more than a thousand parishioners.

During the rite of profession, Sr Jovita knelt before the Superior General Sr Flora Tingang, SSFS and Archbishop John Ha and pronounced the vow of chastity, poverty and obedience for the rest of her life.

The Archbishop then blessed and placed the ring on Sr Jovita’s ring finger, saying: “I espouse you to Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty Father, and may he keep you ever in his love. Receive this Ring of Faith and Fidelity, the sign of the Holy Spirit, that you may be called spouse of God...”

Sr Jovita, 35, was born to Michael Gani, a retired army

and Cecelia Baor, a housewife. She is the third of five siblings.

The seed of religious vocation started to grow since she met the Franciscan sisters in 1992 when she became involved in church activities in Sibu.

“I wanted to be like them, who devoted their life for others,” she told Today’s Catholic. “The Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004 I ESPOUSE YOU TO CHRIST ... affected me a lot. Archbishop Ha placing the ring on the finger of Sr Maria Jovita I then decided to advice for those who might be seriously consider the interested in the religious life, religious life,” she said.

Sr Jovita began her religious she said, “Step in for a try. There formation in 2006 and took her is nothing to lose! ” Sr Jovita is currently serving first profession on 31 March in the Diocese of Sibu.

2009.

Audrey Yu Asked if she has any

Sr Jovita made her final profession, a lifetime of commitment

BE AGENTS OF MERCY ... About 240 participants attended the Mystery of Mercy Formation and Recollection for the Jubilee Year of Mercy conducted by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek, OFS (inset).

The event was organised by the Legion of Mary of the Archdiocese of Kuching and held at Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang from 19-21 February.

Deacon Sherman led the participants in seeing and understanding the depths of God’s mercy for his people throughout the biblical history. He encouraged the participants to be God’s agents of mercy in this Year of Mercy.

PAGE 3

Thrift Shop Miri branch opens

JUST AS GOOD AS NEW ... The proceeds from the sale will go toward supporting charity projects of SSVP MIRI — A new branch of home visits and providing the Society of St Vincent de Paul educational support to (SSVP) thrift shop officially children in need. The SSVP opened its door on Sunday, 31 Miri Conference was officially January after the Holy Mass launched on 25 April 2015. at St Dominic and the Rosary Situated at Lot 6339 Jalan Church.

Lambir 1, Taman Tunku, the Located just across the thrift shop is open from 5.30 street from the church the thrift pm to 7.00 pm on Saturdays shop sells clothing, books, and 9.00 am to 12 noon on magazines, bags, toys and Sundays. kitchen utensils, all pre-owned The committee members and donated by parishioners and would like to thank all the public. Proceeds from the donors for their generous sale will be used to fund charity contributions. It would be projects and tuition centre much appreciated for wouldundertaken by the Society. be contributors to donate items SSVP is an international which are in good condition Catholic voluntary organisation for them to be resold to rais dedicated to serving the poor fund for the Society to help and the disadvantaged through the needy. - Sophia Soo

CELEBRATING TOGETHER … On 8 February, Bishop Richard Ng celebrated the Chinese New Year Mass with four priests at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Miri. In his homily, he reminded all present of Pope Francis’s message “to remember the poor and to feed the hungry” during the Year of Mercy.

After the Mass, parishioners were invited to the Chinese New Year Open House hosted by the bishop and priests at the hall. The picture above shows Bishop Richard handing out ‘angpows’ to the elderly parishioners.

DONATE BLOOD, SAVE LIVES ... On 21 February, 41 participants generously donated blood at the blood donation campaign at St Peter’s Church, Padungan.

The event was part of the Wardens’ Ministry Lenten activities held every year during Lent. The rector of St Peter’s Church, Fr Vincent Chin thanked all sponsors and blood donors for their contribution to the society for a worthy cause to save lives.

Photo shows a donor during the bood donation event.

NEWS

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Diocese of Miri closes Year of Consecrated Life

CONSECRATED ... The three SSFS sisters in Miri city, Sr Odilia Ngui, Sr Emily Ubong and Sr Theodora Lai MIRI — Bishop Richard Ng on Tuesday 2 February called on the faithful to consecrate their lives to God, to allow God to make use of them as a source of salvation and as a light to the people around them, leading them to Jesus.

For just like a burning candle which gives light to all is consumed during the process, so is the Christian life that is offered to God. “Don’t live it for yourself,” said Bishop Richard. “We live it for God, we live it for others”.

The prelate was speaking to religious sisters and laity at the closing Mass of the Year of Consecrated Life in Carmelite Chapel, Miri.

The Mass, celebrated on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, was presided over

by Bishop Richard with four priests concelebrating.

“Let’s pray for our

consecrated sisters in our diocese, that they will stay focused and will continue to consecrate their entire lives to God doing his work”, he said.

“We also pray for ourselves that all of us may find opportunities to consecrate ourselves to God’s service,” said the prelate.

In the Diocese of Miri, there are only two religious communities, namely the Discalced Carmelite Nuns (OCD) who are cloistered, and the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS) which is an active community.

The Year of Consecrated Life declared by Pope Francis was aimed at renewing the religious life of men and women, giving thanks for the service of sisters, brothers, priests, and nuns, and inviting young Catholics to consider the religious vocation.

Sophia Soo

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Towards building ChristianMuslim Relationship

KUCHING — In view of the worrying deterioration of relationships between peoples of different religious beliefs in parts of Malaysia, our local Church had experienced hope in building bridges with the Muslims.

On 17 February, upon the invitation of Archbishop John Ha, Puan Zabariah bt Haji Matali, the Chief Executive Officer of the Islamic Information Centre (IIC), went to the Mother Mary Home for Retired Priests (Stutong) to give a simple sharing with priests of the diocese during their monthly gathering and their usual recollection. Her presentation was entitled “Being a Muslim”.

She shared the beliefs of Muslims as well as the practices they observed during the month of Ramadan which are similar to the Lenten disciplines practised by Christians. Among these are praying, fasting and almsgiving. It was a time where representatives from the two religious faiths mutually enriched each other.

At the end of the presentation, Archbishop John Ha and Pn Zabariah exchanged gifts. Pn

DIALOGUE FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING ... Priests listening to Puan Zabariah’s talk entitled “Being a Muslim”, sharing on the beliefs and practices of the Muslims Zabariah gave the Archbishop having fellowship together. materials on Islam while he It is hoped that this will mark presented her a copy of Nostra the beginning of stronger Aetate – Vatican II’s Declaration relationship of respect and on Relation of the Church to acceptance between Catholics Non-Christian Religions – which and Muslims in Sarawak. expresses esteem for Muslims, Pn Zabariah is a Sarawakian exhorts Christians and Muslims from Marudi who has helmed to “work sincerely for mutual the IIC since its inception understanding and to preserve in 2008. The IIC’s goals as well as to promote together include working to promote for the benefit of mankind social inter-religious dialogue and justice and moral welfare, as understanding guided by the well as peace and freedom.” principle of inclusiveness and An informal luncheon, which universality which are the followed, witnessed priests precepts of Islam. and members from the IIC Fr Felix Au

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

PAGE 5 20TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of AGATHA TSEN VUN TCHIN called to rest by the Lord on 10 March 1996 Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

Fondly remembered and greatly missed by all loved ones at home and abroad.

4TH ANNIVERSARY In ever loving memory of GEORGE JIM ANAK JOHN MOIN 25 November 1931 - 8 March 2011

MMS

Obedience to Truth is obedience to Love.

With Compliments

- Archbishop Fulton Sheen

PALM-SPIRIT SDN BHD (668356-U)

Education Placement

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

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Sadly missed, deeply loved and fondly remembered by sons, daughters, sons & daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sisters and all loved ones

(since 1981)

Market Management Services Sdn Bhd No. E32 (2nd Floor) Taman Sri Sarawak Mall Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 93100 Kuching Tel: 082-246 795 / 012-808 5112 Email: market@mms.com.my Website: www.mms.com.my

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.

9TH ANNIVERSARY 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

In ever-loving memory of

ANTHONY CHEN FOH TECK (安东尼 曾和德) whom the Lord called to rest on 14 March 2007.

Always remembered by wife, Monica Liaw, sons, Michael, Peter, Paul and Martin, daughters, Mary and Doris, son-inlaw, Aaron, daughters-in-law, Agnes and Iris, grandchildren, Joshua, Othniel, Adriel, Christabel, Annable, Noel and all loved ones.

6TH ANNIVERSARY In ever-loving memory of PETER YEO SONG HO whom the Lord called to rest on 24 March 2010

~ St Thomas Aquinas

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

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Always remembered and cherished by beloved wife, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and all loved ones.

13TH ANNIVERSARY In ever-loving memory of

Tomb Maker

JAMES LEE FOOK SHIN

Simon Sim See Huat

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

May he rest in peace. Amen.

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

Departed: 24 March 2003

Dearly missed & always remembered by loving wife Catherine (Min Choo), Children: Mary Ann, Angelie, Richard & Elma, Ignatius, Agatha & John, Grandchildren: Jeremy & Johanna and all loved ones.

ADVERTISING Today’s Catholic offers In Memoriam and commercial advertising for local businesses.

The payments made towards the advertisements are respectfully regarded as contributions to be used to cover the expenses incurred in the production of Today’s Catholic.

Today’s Catholic is not obligated to publish all intended materials to be advertised.

For further details, please contact Today’s Catholic Office (Tel: 082-231164, Email: todaycat@gmail.com)

NEWS

PAGE 6

St Joseph’s International School to open its door in January 2017

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Raising fund for new Miri cathedral

The Board of St Joseph’s Private School Management Bhd is undertaking to redevelop the facilities of the former SK St Theresa.

KUCHING — St Joseph’s International School Kuching (SJIS) will commence operation on 3 January 2017 offering classes for Year 7 and Year 8 (equivalent to Form 1 and 2 respectively). The school is opened to both foreign and Malaysian students. It will be located at the former SK St Theresa, Padungan (beside St Peter’s Church).

The school offers the British Cambridge syllabus leading to the Cambridge O and A level examinations.

SJIS will be managed by the Marist Brothers and will be assisted by a team of trained and experienced teachers.

The class size will be limited to 25 students per class. The medium of instruction will be in English. Malaysian students will be required to study Bahasa Melayu, Moral Studies/Islamic Studies and Malaysian History. Classes for Bahasa Melayu will be taught in Malay while the other two subjects will be conducted in English and Malay. To ensure the students receive a holistic education, the school will also focus on developing the soft skills of its students by offering subjects in creative arts (such as music, drama and dance), and nurturing them in interpersonal and leadership skills.

The school will be a single session co-ed school with lessons from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm to be followed by extracurricular activities.

The Board of St Joseph’s Phase

Facilities to be constructed

THANK YOU ... Bishop Richard Ng addressing the people at the Fund Raising Dinner

ARTIST’S IMPRESSION ... The images above show the right front aerial view (top) and back aerial view (bottom) of the proposed school on the site of the former SK St Theresa Private School Management Bhd, which also governs St Joseph’s Private School Kuching, is undertaking to redevelop the facilities of the former SK St Theresa. This will see the existing two classroom blocks being renovated and the construction of two new 4-storey buildings and a toilet block (see prospective drawing).

When completed, the school will have around 30 classrooms, nine multi-purpose rooms to accommodate laboratories for sciences and technology, music room, art room, etc. It will have its own basketball court cum multi-purpose area. Kuching City South has given permission Facilities

for the school to use its recreation facilities (running track, football field and recreational areas) which is located just across the road (Jalan William Tan) from the school. The Council also allows the school to access the Kuching Municipal Swimming Pool.

Interested applicants can contact St Joseph’s Private School’s office at Jalan Nagor, 93400 Kuching (Tel 082-414575 / 420575) during office hours (8.00 am - 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm) on weekdays or email stjosephprivate@gmail.com.

The redevelopment timeline of the International School is estimated as follows: Estimated completion date

Phase 1(a) Renovation of two Six classrooms together with an October 2016 existing classroom blocks administration office and a temporary dining facility Phase 1(b) Construction of two • 9 classrooms October 2017 4-storey building and • 9 laboratories / multipurpose rooms toilet blocks • Library • Refectory Phase 2 Construction of one • 12 classrooms Date to be decided 4-storey block • Administration offices

BINTULU — About 1,500 Catholics of diverse races attended the Chinese New Year gathering in Bintulu on 13 February. It was the first fund raising dinner for the new St Joseph’s Cathedral, Miri. About RM3.4 million in pledges and cash was raised during the dinner when dance performances, songs and lucky draws were held.

Bishop Richard Ng in his speech thanked the Bintulu community in particular the fund raising committee with its organising chairman Peter Kho for taking the lead to organise the first major fund raising event for the new cathedral in Miri, which is also the mother church of the diocese. “Father God we thank you for your love, friendship and the many gifts that you have given to us, especially for the many generous people who have made tonight’s fund raising event a very successful one,” said Bishop Richard.

The current cathedral was built in 1972 to accommodate 500 people. There is a need to build a bigger church in line with the growing Catholic community. The new cathedral will be able to seat 2000 people.

Infrastructural facilities to include a day chapel, adoration room, grotto, columbarium, funeral parlour and basement car park will be constructed.

Demolition of current cathedral and construction of a new one will expect to take place in 2019. An initial amount

of RM15 million will have to be raised within three years, with an average of RM5 million per year.

Cash donations, monthly pledges, sales from food fair, dinner and concert tickets, joggerthon, PayPal and grants from the government are proposed channels to raise the amount needed.

Besides material support, Bishop Richard also requested for spiritual support with prayers and especially offering of rosary for the successful completion of the new cathedral. “For ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain (Ps 127:1)’,” he said. “Spiritual support is equally important as material support”.

The construction of the new St Joseph’s Cathedral is one of the five plans under the Wisma St Joseph Project launched on 27 December 2015 by the Bishop. The other four plans include construction of new SK St Joseph and a new church in Permy Jaya, and refurbishment of pastoral centre and Bishop’s residence.

The 5-year project is estimated to cost RM35 million.

SPDP President YB Datu Seri Tan Sri Tiong King Sing, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities YB Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Ak Uton, Tan Sri Dato Yee Ming Seng and Datuk Vincent Pui were among the distinguished guests present at the event. — Sophia Soo

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

NEWS

PAGE 7

Mobile app seeks to connect people around the world through prayer VATICAN CITY — The Apostleship of Prayer has created a mobile app – Click to Pray – that aims to connect people around the world to pray for the Pope’s monthly intentions.

The app was created as part of the re-launch of the Apostleship of Prayer, the Jesuit-run outreach that has given Catholics the Pope's monthly prayer intentions since 1890.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Jesuit Father Frederic Fornos, international director of the apostleship, said the app responds to Pope Francis’ message for World Communications Day 2016, which stresses the power that modern means of communications have to build bridges between people.

“The app accompanies you throughout your day. It connects you with thousands of people who find purpose in praying every day for the challenges of humanity and for the mission of the Church as the Pope proposes in his monthly prayer intentions,” according to the Click to Pray website.

The app allows the user to choose three times throughout the day to receive prayers.

“You set the time you want to

Photo: CNS

LEADING BY EXAMPLE ... Before listening to Confessions during the Penitential Service at St Peter’s Basilica on 4 March, Pope Francis went to Confession. The annual Penitential Service kicked off the Rome celebration of the ‘24 Hours for the Lord’.

Photo: CNS

start your day in the morning.

You select another moment during the day to receive an inspirational thought. And, finally, you select a moment in the evening to close your day with a daily review,” the website said.

Vatican Radio reported that users also can opt to receive notifications to remind them to pray, and the app offers the option of writing one's own intention or prayer.

The app is the second new media feature to be rolled out this year by Apostleship of Prayer. Working with the Vatican Television Centre, it also began a video series in January featuring Pope Francis discussing his universal prayer intention. The monthly videos are uploaded on Facebook,

Twitter, Instagram and YouTube on the first Friday of each month.

While the Pope speaks in Spanish, the videos have subtitles for 10 languages, Fr Fornos told Vatican Radio in January.

In a later interview about the app, Fr Fornos said Pope Francis had told Fr Adolfo Nicolas, the Jesuit superior general, that he is “very happy with the re-foundation, re-creation of the worldwide network of the Apostleship of Prayer and with the fact that in this Year of Mercy it can help people pray in communion with him”.

The Click to Pray app is available for iPhone, Android and Windows, and the prayers also can be found at clicktopray. org. - CNS

New parish council members installed

DEDICATION TO SERVICE ... The members of St Theresa’s Parish Council swearing in to take up office in the presence of Serian’s parishioners

SERIAN — The members of St Theresa’s Parish Council were installed by their rector Fr Paul Herry at the first Mass on Sunday, 14 February. The tenure of their office will expire on 31 December 2018.

The designated parish council members for the fiscal year 2016 - 2018 is as follows: President: Rector Fr Paul Herry Vice Presidents: Fr Joseph Chai

Fr Pavulu Arockyaraj

Fr Joseph Liew Chairman: Dennis Sung Weng Kuo Vice Chairman: Anthony Taguk Secretary: Wilson Banyui Asst. Secretary: Justina Te-eng Treasurer: Simon Yong Asst. Treasurer & Publicity Chief:

Joseph Then Members: Dennis Edwin Manung, Marianne Lai, Thomas Ramli Sutu, Marietta Girip, Wellington Sabang, Alphonsus Naming, Tom Na’ar,

Sr Jane Mbang, Damian Mpulop, Kat. Lina Sabang, Simon Mpulop, Robert Ho, Nonyet Braok and Louis Jamas.

The 106 kampungs in the parish have been grouped into 10 zones so that activities and programmes planned for the parishioners could be implemented more effectively. A catechist and a parish council member will work closely with the chairman of each Zone.

The kampungs which made up the 10 Zones of the Parish are as follows: Zone Batang Samarahan (covering nine kampungs), Zone Balai Ringin A (covering 13 kampungs), Zone Balai Ringin B (11 kampungs), Zone Bung Sadong (12 kampungs), Zone Kedup A (nine kampungs), Zone Kedup B (ten kampungs), Zone Batang Sadong A (ten kampungs), Zone Batang Sadong B (eight kampungs), Zone Bingarat (13 kampungs) and Zone Simunjan (11 kampungs).

Joseph Then

PAGE 8

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Program Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Apostolate ke-24 KOTA PADAWAN — Atas kasih kurniaNya, Program KAYA ke-24 telah melabuhkan tirai dengan jayanya pada 7 Februari.

Program tahunan anjuran Komisi Belia Keuskupan Agung Kuching ini berlangsung dengan jayanya dari 11 Januari hingga 7 Febrauri dan disertai oleh seramai 155 orang peserta termasuk 15 orang fasilitator. Peserta KAYA 24 ini terdiri daripada belia lepasan SPM, STPM, lepasan kolej dan Universiti dari paroki-paroki St Joseph (Kuching), St Peter (Padungan), St Jude (Bunan), St Theresa (Serian), St Ann (Kota Padawan), Our Lady Queen of Peace (Sri Aman), St Stephen (Bau), Holy Spirit (Lundu), Sarikei, Kapit, Mukah, Julau dan Masai (Johor). Mereka berkampung di Pusat Pastoral St Lukas, Kota Padawan selama sebulan.

Program KAYA dimuatkan dengan empat aspek iaitu formasi hidup berkomuniti, formasi kemanusiaan, formasi kerohanian dan formasi pastoral.

Menerusi aspek tersebut, peserta diperkayakan dengan beberapa aktiviti iaitu Misa Kudus harian, doa kelompok dan individu, sesi ceramah dan bengkel.

Selain itu, peserta berpeluang untuk membuat penginjilan ke beberapa kampung di paroki sekitar Keuskupan Agung Kuching. Pada tahun ini, pesertapeserta KAYA turut membuat pilgrimage ke Pusat Peringatan Pilgrimage Katolik (CMPC) di Singai, Bau bersempena

telah diberikan kepada saya.” - Meldrick ak Shepard, St Mark’s Church, Batu Kawa “Perkara yang paling menyentuh hati saya ialah semasa mengikuti outreach ke Kpg Mentung Mubuk.

Semasa outreach ini, saya telah belajar erti bersyukur dengan apa yang saya miliki dan yang tidak dapat dimiliki.” - Mathias anak Albert, Holy Spirit Lundu dengan Tahun Jubli Kerahiman.

Selain itu, peserta turut mempelajari kemahiran untuk membina semangat kekeluargaan dalam hidup berkomuniti dengan aktiviti kelompok iaitu bekerja, bernyanyi dan bergaul dengan rakanrakan baharu. Mereka juga mempelajari cara untuk memahami Firman Tuhan di samping melakuan perkongsian dengan satu sama lain sama ada perkongsian alkitab mahupun perkongsian kemahiran dan bakat. Lantaran itu, program ini bukan sahaja melahirkan umat Kristian Katolik yang kaya imannya malah menjadi rasul Kristus yang akan melayan dan berjasa bukan sahaja di komuniti gereja malah

KYCS holds breakfast charity sale to help the poor

KUCHING — The Kuching Young Christian Students (KYCS) held their Coffee Morning Charity Breakfast Sale on Sunday, 31 January at St Joseph’s Parish Gallery. This event was organised to raise funds for the poor through the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP).

A total of eight stalls were set up by secondary students from the YCS Club of six schools, namely Lodge National Secondary School, SMK Green Road, SMK St Joseph, SMK St Teresa, SMK Sungai Tapang and St Joseph's Private Secondary School. Ex-YCS members also assisted in the sale which sold a variety of local delicacies, western dishes, homecooked food, and barbeque pork and chicken wings. Members of SSVP also sold second-hand clothing and put up exhibits on SSVP and its works of mercy for the public.

The morning’s event collected a grand total of RM 6,560.40, out of which the sum of RM 5,000 was channelled to the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the

remaining RM 1,560.40 to fund KYCS events, such as the upcoming camps and outreach programmes.

KYCS would like to thank everyone who came and supported them during the charity sale, as well as their sponsors Yeow Kee Kopitiam and John’s Pie for their delicious food, Empowered Ministry for the use of their equipment, and many others who contributed in cash and in kind. Appreciation also goes to all the YCS members who helped in organising this event, especially parents for their support and encouragement.

Cassandra Shim Testimonies:

“I was in awe to see such overwhelming response from the students! I had an amazing time serving as a musician.” - Jasmine Ingan, live band member “There were many ups and downs as we prepared for the event, but we got through together as a team and made the event a successful one.” James Alvir, Coordinator

kepada masyarakat sekeliling Program KAYA 24 diakhiri dengan Misa Penutupan yang dirayakan oleh Uskup Agung John Ha, Bishop Simon Poh dan Fr Felix Au. Bruan Constance & Silvia Gordon Testimoni: “Sepanjang program KAYA ini berlangsung, saya telah belajar erti hidup dalam komuniti, hidup berdikari dan hidup dalam keadaan yang sederhana. Saya juga belajar untuk mensyukuri dan menghargai apa yang

“Pengalaman ini membantu saya supaya lebih terbuka hati dan bersedia untuk mengampuni serta mengasihi orang lain. Saya juga bersedia untuk melayani dan berkongsi pengetahuan yang telah saya perolehi dengan orang lain.” - Aliscia anak David, St Theresa’s Church, Masai (Johor) “Saya juga belajar untuk hidup dalam komuniti kerana selama ini saya tidak pernah berkongsi makanan dan bilik mandi dengan orang lain. Perkara yang menyentuh hati saya ialah semasa sesi Puji dan Sembah. Selama ini saya tidak pernah memuji dan menyembah nama Tuhan Yesus kerana saya tidak tahu bagaimana caranya.” - Stephnie Sumpai, St John’s Church, Brunei

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

FEATURE

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

The face of the Father’s mercy: from the crib to the cross

by Francis Lim Chin Choy, SJ Once upon a time, on top of a mountain, three little trees grew and dreamed of what they would become when they were fully grown. The first little tree looked up at the vast blue sky and said, “I want to be a chest that holds the world’s greatest treasure. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!”

The second looked out at the small stream trickling down the mountain side and said, “I want to travel through mighty waters and carry powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world!”

The third little tree looked down into the valley below where people worked and lived in a busy town. “I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.”

After many years, three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his axe, the first tree fell. “Now I shall be a beautiful chest that holds wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong.

It’s perfect for me.” With a swoop of his axe, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail Photo source: http://gretchenjoanna.com/2011/11/ mighty waters and carry mighty kings!” thought the second tree.

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her even though in the midst of shame, because way. She stood straight and tall, pointing towards heaven. But the wood was standing tall for those who were in From the moment of Jesus’ he cutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me,” he muttered. need of salvation. On the cross it could see the With a swoop of his axe, the third tree fell. birth in the wood of peaceful and life-giving face of the Father’s Now the first tree that had dreamed of being a beautiful treasure chest was mercy. the manger, he was instead made into a manger. It was sold to a farmer who used it in his stable These three trees bore the person of Jesus where he fed his animals. destined to die on the in his birth, during his adult life and in his The second tree was made into a small fishing boat. Its dream of becoming The Father’s mercy is revealed through wood of the cross in order death. a great ship was gone. Now it only carried fishermen and the fish they caught the face of Jesus who lived his life on earth each day from a small sea. to bring about God’s as a child, an adult and at the moment of his The third tree spent many years in a lumber yard, left forgotten by its salvation for the world. death. owner. Its wish to stand tall was not fulfilled.

The Father sent his only begotten Son into Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. the world to live as a man in order to save But one night a young woman and her husband came to the stable looking for humankind. From the moment of Jesus’ birth in the wood of the manger, he was shelter. In that manger, they laid their newborn son. Suddenly the first tree realised destined to die on the wood of the cross in order to bring about God’s salvation for that it was holding the greatest treasure in the world. It could see the face of the child the world. sleeping; that was the face of the Father’s mercy.

A German philosopher, Martin Heidegger (1889-1976), says that human beings Years passed. One evening a tired traveller and his friends crowded into the fishing are beings-towards-death. It means that the reality of humankind is all humans from boat that was the second tree and crossed the small sea. Suddenly, a storm arose and the moment of birth are destined to die. It is not a philosophical way to state the strong waves rocked the boat. The second tree shuddered because she knew that she gruesome reality of death. Rather it is a way of saying that humans live in time that did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the storm. The progresses, and that humans move from babies to grown-ups and eventually die. tired traveller awoke. He rebuked the storm and it ceased. And suddenly the second In the same way, we can say that Jesus’ life is summed up from the crib to the tree knew that he was carrying the King of heaven and earth, one who was greater cross. than any worldly king. It could see the calm face of the Father’s mercy.

This Jesus has a human face: the face of a sleeping child at his nativity, the face of One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when its beams were yanked from an adult who taught and performed miracles, the face of one who suffered and died the forgotten wood pile. It was made into a cross and put on the shoulder of a tired ignominiously in the worst kind of criminal execution known at that time. The human man who had been badly beaten. The man was forced to carry it in the midst of a Jesus has to go through the reality of a being-towards-death in order to conquer death. jeering crowd to a mountain top. The man was then nailed to the cross and it was The shepherds and wise men beheld the face of the child at the manger; the lifted high up on that mountain. Suddenly, the third tree knew that it was standing tall, disciples beheld the face of the teacher in the boat amidst the storm; and the crowd beheld the face of one who was despised but is the Saviour of the world.

The first man, Adam, disobeyed God and therefore sinned against God. This brought about the condemnation that humans deserved. However, in the mercy of God, God wants to save humans from this condemnation. The only way to go about it was to send a God-man who is the new man to redeem fallen humankind.

The story of our salvation began and unfolded itself in God’s mercy.

Therefore, we can reiterate from the tale of the three trees, each tree helped in the portraying of the face of Jesus who is the face of the Father’s mercy at the different stages of his life on earth.

Despite their noble dreams of becoming great in the sight of the world, each of the trees, no matter how lowly they have become, they still portray the face of the Father’s mercy.

We too, as beings-towards-death, journey humbly in our individual ways along the path of life to reach heaven’s gate where the fullness of the resurrection has been Image on the left: A mosaic called “Face achieved through the saving work of Jesus in the Father’s mercy. It may be a slow and of Christ” on display at the art exhibition painful journey, yet it is one that is filled with hope and love. in the crypt of the Basilica of St Lorenzo, During this Lent, let us reflect on the image of the movement from the crib to the Florence in November 2015. (Source: CNS) cross and be consoled that the Father’s mercy has been revealed to us in the face of Jesus.

The Father’s mercy is revealed through the face of Jesus who lived his life on earth as a child, an adult and at the moment of his death.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016 FEATURE Chrism Mass explained

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By Fr Vincent Chin, STL (Liturgy) The word ‘Chrism’ derives from the Greek word “khrisma” meaning ‘anointing’. Chrism Mass is an annual Eucharistic Celebration in which oils used for anointing during the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Order and the Anointing of the Sick are being blessed by the Bishop.

Rooted in the early Church tradition as noted in Gelasian Sacramentary (named after Pope Gelasius, d 496), the celebration of Chrism Mass was later absorbed into the Holy Thursday evening Mass. In the compendium of the 1955 Holy Week Revisions of Pope Pius XII, it was reinstituted as a special Mass of the Chrism distinct from the evening Mass.

For pastoral reasons, the Archdiocese of Kuching has for many years, been celebrating the Chrism Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral during the monthly recollection day of all priests closest to the Holy Thursday.

This year, it will be celebrated on Wednesday, 23 March, at 7.30 pm at the Cathedral.

Two vital parts of the Chrism Mass: blessing of holy oils and renewal of priestly promises Blessings of Holy Oils The Oil of the Sick for the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, Oil of Catechumens for the Sacrament of Baptism and Oil of Chrism for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders, are blessed during

of teaching, following Christ as the head and Shepherd. The faithful are also reminded to pray for their priests and bishop unceasingly.

the Chrism Mass. The liturgical rite of Chrism Mass allows two different timings of blessing: a) the blessing of the Oil of the sick to take place before the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, but the blessing of the Oil of Catechumens and the consecration of the Chrism take place after communion; b) for pastoral reasons, it is permitted for the entire blessing to take place after the liturgy of the Word.

Our Archdiocese has always opted for the second.

Before the final dismissal, the Archbishop hands over these three Blessed Oils to the Parish Priest of each parish symbolising the entrusting of the administration of the sacraments of each parish to Parish Priests and priests of the

parish. The blessing of Holy Oils and the entrusting of them to priests, emphasises the intimate bonding between the Bishop of the diocese and his priests, their unity and communion in service of the people of God.

Presence of the faithful at Chrism Mass The underlining beneficiary of the celebration of the Chrism Mass is the People of God. The blessed Oils for the use of sacraments aim to benefit God’s people and the priestly ministry of which priests at Chrism Mass renew is at the service of the faithful. Hence, maximum participation at Chrism Mass not only affirms the faithful’s support of their priests but also expresses their personal faith in the priesthood and the Church’s sacraments.

Let us all come in full force and join in the Chrism Mass to pray especially for our local church in the Archdiocese of Kuching.

Renewal of priestly Promises This Concelebrating of the Chrism Mass by all priests of the diocese together with their Bishop and faithful is also the locus for the annual priestly promises to rededicate themselves to the priestly ministry, to celebrate the Eucharist and other liturgical rites, to discharge faithfully the sacred office

In the Year of Mercy, open doors of mercy are everywhere

By Maureen Pratt When I was in Washington last year, one of the things that fascinated me was the Holy Door at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Simply carved in glowing wood, the door was firmly closed when I saw it. A sign in front of it explained that it would be opened on 8 December 2015, at the start of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, and would be closed 20 November 2016.

As I stood before the door, I thought of how powerful a symbol a door can be.

Mercy and opening doors have much to do with each other, and also much to say to those of us living with serious illnesses and pain. There is the tangible act of a door that opens to let in the doctor who will treat us, the nurse who will check our vital signs.

For those with mobility issues, many automatic doors provide a merciful service to make entry into buildings, including homes, achievable. A kind (and merciful) stranger who holds an elevator door open is certainly an earthly angel for those of us suffering from endof-day extreme fatigue!

Often, I find that when I am troubled by a new diagnosis or wondering about a new medication, a wise friend or member of my medical team can open

a door to information or perspective, helping me make important and, often, life-enhancing decisions.

True, I can also open a door to information online, but I also like to hear of personal experiences from those who have been through similar conditions.

Their openness to helping me is one of the great blessings that illness brings.

Our lives with illness are much like doors, too. If we keep them closed and

distance ourselves from others and the world around us, we give ourselves little opportunity to help others understand us and be merciful.

But if we open the doors to our hearts and our unique lives, we can serve the twofold purpose of participating and giving, loving and being loved. If we look upon the more “dreaded” routines (medical appointments, exercise routines) as ways to open the door to better health,

we can embrace progress and invite improvement.

Open doors let in light and fresh air, often in the form of new ideas and perspectives. They can lead us to personal journeys of discovery and growth. This year, I am going to spend time exploring the writings of some of the saints with whom I am least familiar, thus walking through new, open doors that will help me learn.

I will consider my illness as a door, too, and find ways through it to gain better patience and empathy. I'll try to help others discover the doors in their lives and the ways that these can lead to health-filled goodness. And I will be even more aware of the door that is always open within, the door that leads to faith-filled prayer and greater closeness with God. Illness can sometimes seem devoid of anything good. Days of pain can wear us down and box us in. It can be easier than we’d like to admit to lose sight of the love, mercy and hope available to us and the ways that we can be all of that and more to others. But if we look to the blessedly open doors around us, the darkness can be illuminated and the deep sorrow uplifted by mercy and joy.

CNS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

FEATURE

Our Lenten Journey The coming of Lent is a time, when people make Lenten resolutions. They decide on what to do or to give up for Lent or – at a deeper level – they take a look at themselves and decide that there are things they would like to change and Ash Wednesday sees them trying to put those changes into place. However, most of these resolutions are expressed in terms of actions – e.g. I will give up sweets for Lent or maybe, say the rosary each day – but I have found that trying to change myself through actions – i.e. doing or not doing certain things – can be a very uncertain way of proceeding, for should I slip just once, I lose heart and invariably give up the whole project. “My resolution is broken, so what is the point of trying any further!”

I remember, in the days when I used to smoke, I would usually take the beginning of Lent as an opportunity to stop smoking – and so ruined several Lents by losing heart when I slipped just once with my self-imposed smoking ban. I still clearly remember one Ash Wednesday, travelling to an Iban longhouse for Mass and the blessing of ashes, and this journey took me past the home of a Catholic Chinese family, set back a little from the road. I knew that if they were at home they would invite me in for a drink and the Papa would offer me a cigarette, and so, to avoid stopping, I speeded up as I came near the house and tried to look the other way, so I could say that I had not seen them wave, but when I got near the house, I found the Papa standing in the middle of the road waiting for me. He knew I would be coming, as he would be at the longhouse later for Mass, and he must have heard my car from a long way off, because only few cars travelled that path. The upshot was that I had to go into his house have my cup of tea, accept the proffered cigarette – and so another Lenten penance ended in collapse!

I am gradually discovering, however,

Q&A

that there is another way of changing my way of living, one which does not concentrate on particular actions, but on choosing the type of person I would like to be – and by doing it this way, I make sure that the Lord is a part of the project. The problem with “act-based resolutions” is that it is I myself, who decide on the act and, moreover, I depend on my own strength to carry it out – I may ask the Lord for the grace and strength to do so, but I realise now that I never asked him whether I should be making these resolutions in the first place. It was me saying: “I have decided on this, but I need your help”, but by doing that I reduce the Lord to being my servant, instead of my Master – and in my experience, he will not go along with that!

What I am discovering, more and more, is that if I am to change, then the Creator must do it – I have neither the inspiration to know what change is truly needed nor do I have the power to carry it out. This is an ancient, but often overlooked teaching in the Church: St Irenaeus teaches that the Father is still creating us, using “his two hands”: the Word and the Holy Spirit. Through his Word, God speaks to me from without and so gives me a vision, not of what action I should do, but of what type of person I could become, if I so chose; and through his Holy Spirit, the Father fills my heart, from within, with a desire and longing which enables me to choose to become that person.

The “choice” is my part in this process, however, it is not a choice to do something, but to become someone – a choice spoken in answer to the Lord’s invitation to walk and live with him in his mission. However, this “choice” cannot be made just once, but has to be re-affirmed over and over again, through the many situations I meet on my life’s journey. The Lord leads me to make that choice, but always at ever deeper levels in my being – and although it will probably begin by being a choice to do

certain action – such as, maybe, to attend Sunday Mass – in the course of my life it becomes ever more deeply rooted – becoming ever more a choice “to be” rather than “to do”: and thus I am led into an ever deeper friendship of trust with the Lord.

This choice will involve me in doing or not doing certain actions, but these actions will change from time to time and from place to place, for what may be a good action in one situation may not be so in another. For instance, it is good to go to Mass to seek the Lord’s grace, but should there be someone in my house who is sick and needs my attention, then it would not be a good action to leave that person by themselves while I go to Mass. So an action which is right in one situation is not necessarily right in all situations. Our journey, then, is a journey of learning to listen for the Lord’s guidance, but deeper still, a journey of ever growing trust that even though I may get it wrong, the Lord will make it right in the end – for this is the faith that saves (Eph 2:8).

This journey of trust, however, can be a frightening and uncertain thing – because we don’t know whether we are right and because of this, it often seems safer to hold on to rules and actions, which I believe to be “right”, for fear that I will sin and be cut off from God. But our weaknesses or sins do not cut us off from God, on the contrary, they reveal to us what we are really like deep in our heart and so give us an opportunity to open the door of ourselves to God at a much deeper level than we had hitherto been able to.

When, having sinned, I sit in sorrow, amidst my weakness and failures, I can turn to God and say: “Lord, here in my failure, I see more clearly now, who I want to be: I want to be like you; I want to be your companion and so, Lord, here in my failure, I choose you, please accept me!” This is a teaching we hear each year as the priest or deacon sings the Exultet: “O Happy Fault, O truly necessary sin

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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. of Adam that brought us so great a Redeemer!” It reminds us that our trust in Christ is well-founded for nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ – not even our sins – and this is true for the whole human race and for each one us personally.

So, even though, during this Lent, we may fail to keep to our Lenten penances – those failures may be of greater benefit to us than if we succeeded in carrying them out – for if we dare to look at that failure squarely and see the self that it reveals, it also gives us the opportunity to renew our baptismal promises at Easter from an even greater depth of my soul, saying to the Lord: “But, even so, it is you whom I still choose, it is you whom I still want to walk with, it is you whom I want to love”. Then I am already sharing in the Mystery of the Risen Lord.

Fasting during Lent

by Fr Kenneth Doyle

Q

On the two obligatory days of fasting – Ash Wednesday and Good Friday – I do fast, but I get very hungry during the latter part of the day. So I sometimes wait until just after midnight and then satisfy my hunger with an amount of food not in keeping with the notion of fasting.

While I believe that I am meeting the letter of my obligation, I am not sure that I am honouring its spirit. What sort of guidance would you offer?

A

The Catholic Church, it seems to me, is rather modest in the dietary discipline it asks from believers. As you note, there are only two days of fasting on the church’s calendar: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. On those days, Catholics are to limit themselves to only one full (and meatless) meal.

Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times, but that food (combined) should not equal a full meal. Liquids are permitted at any time, but no solid food should be taken between meals.

The discipline of fasting governs only those between the ages of 18 and 59, and it does not apply to anyone for whom it might create a health risk -- for example, the sick or the frail, pregnant or nursing women -- or even to guests at a meal who cannot fast without offending the host.

We fast, of course, to unite ourselves to Christ and to the burdens he endured on our behalf. Logically, then, this fasting should result in some sacrifice on our part.

In your case, I believe that you are being faithful to the letter and the spirit of the law (assuming that after midnight you are not being gluttonous). The fact that you do

Photo: thecatholicspirit.com

struggle later in the day means that it does cost you something – not to mention the fact that you need to stay up so late to satisfy your hunger! –­ CNS

FEATURE

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

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 6)

The Story of the Jesuits in the Malaysia and Singapore

by Fr Francis Lim Chin Choy, SJ Malaysia Up to this time, Bishop Olcomendy had been Bishop of the whole Malayan Peninsula and Singapore. On 25 February 1955, two new dioceses were established from the original territory. Fr Dominic Vendargon became Bishop of Kuala Lumpur, covering the states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Trengganu, while Fr Francis Chan became Bishop of Penang, with responsibility for the states of Penang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis, and Kelantan. Bishop Olcomendy was now Archbishop of Malacca-Singapore and his diocese now just covered Singapore and the two southern Malayan states of Malacca and Johore.

Almost as soon as the new Bishop of Kuala Lumpur was installed, he began to ask for a Jesuit residence in his diocese. This would include a chapel for the public, with the prospect of a full church being built in the future. The Jesuits accepted the offer and started planning for the construction of a church and youth centre. The Bishop offered the Jesuits a two-acre site, about three miles from the centre of Kuala Lumpur which is now Petaling Jaya.

St Francis Xavier Church, Petaling Jaya, 1960s There was no doubt that this was going to be an important section of Kuala Lumpur in a few years’ time, for close by the University of Malaya was setting up a medical school and a hospital. A university engineering school was also to be built there, and other buildings of an educational nature. The university intended to become a fully residential university for some 5,000 students. In 1961, the Registrar of the university appealed to the Jesuits to allow the new youth centre to be used as a university hostel instead.

Therefore, a large parish church, a student hostel (instead of a youth centre), a spacious residence for the Jesuits and a parish hall was planned.

St Francis Xavier’s Church was duly opened and solemnly blessed by Bishop Vendargon on 2 February 1961. The first parish priest was Fr Geoff Murphy, and Fr Brian Kelly assumed the role of warden of the hostel.

Just 10 days later, St Francis Xavier Church, present day Archbishop Olcomendy presided at the blessing and formal opening of St Ignatius Church in Singapore on 12 February 1961.

By March 1961, the two churches and hostels in Singapore and Malaya were fully up and running.

In 1985 Malaysia and Singapore together became a Dependent Region of the Province of Hong Kong. Later, in 1991, it became the Dependent Region of the Province of Indonesia.

Melaka-Johor Diocese There are Jesuits in Melaka-Johor Diocese. Fr Peter Kim first went to the diocese to direct the formation of catechists and those involved with religious education. He was also involved in giving retreats, recollections and pastoral formation.

The two Jesuit terrace houses in Taman Rinting, Masai were opened and blessed on 20 September 1999 by Bishop James Chan, the then Bishop of Melaka-Johor.

The first Jesuit community there which is called Arrupe House is comprised of Fr Peter Kim, Fr Jojo Fung, Fr Thomas Chong and Br Simon Raj. Other Jesuits came and went. They mostly work in the different ministries of the diocese like helping out at parishes, catechesis, retreat, migrant, etc.

In 2003 Pope John Paul II appointed Paul Tan Chee Ing, SJ, a Malaysian Jesuit, the Bishop of Melaka-Johor. He is the second bishop of that diocese. His episcopal ordination took place on 15 May 2003.

Maranatha Retreat House A retreat house, Maranatha Retreat House, on the northern outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in a heavily wooded and secluded area called Janda Baik, which is just over the border of Pahang was built and officially opened on 11 April 2004. This is run by the Jesuits. It is intended to be a place for silent prayer and retreats in Ignatian spirituality. This place is 27 km from Gombak, Kuala Maranatha Retreat House, Janda Baik Lumpur. It is a sprawling 75,908 square foot sanctuary, nestled 2000 feet above sea-level in the cool tropical hill environment of a pine forest reserve. An annual calendar of retreats can be found on its website.

The Archdiocese of Kuching The Jesuits also manage St Joseph’s Private Secondary School in Kuching. In June 2012, Fr Larry Tan, SJ arrived in Kuching to begin his pastoral ministry as one of the assistant parish priests at the Cathedral of St Joseph, Kuching.

With him was Deacon Francis Lim, SJ who went to St Joseph’s Private School to begin his term as Principal of the Secondary School. After his ordination in August 2012, Fr Francis Lim, SJ continued as Principal.

Fr Alvin Ng, SJ joined the school in August 2013 as a teacher. Scholastic Stanley Goh, SJ is currently doing his two year regency, teaching in the school since June 2014.

The Jesuits have bought an intermediate house and set up a community in Laman Sun Valley, off Jalan Bampfylde which is about five minutes’ drive from the Cathedral and from the school.

This community is dependent on the Jesuit community of Arrupe House, Taman Rinting, Johor. It was formally established with a decree from Father General Adolfo Nicolaus, SJ on 22 April 2015, which is the feast of Mary, Queen and Mother of the Society. The official name of this community is Bellarmine House. St Robert Bellarmine, SJ (1542 – 1621) was an Italian, theologian, Doctor of the Church and cardinal. - Ends -

Visit our website: www.mas-jesuits.org Facebook Page: Jesuits of the MalaysiaSingapore Region, Jesuit Vocations MalaysiaSingapore The Jesuits who are in Kuching: (left to right) Sch Stanley Goh, Fr Alvin Ng, Fr Larry Tan, Fr Francis Lim, Fr Varghese Lopez

Facebook Group: Jesuits in Malaysia and Singapore

CHILDREN

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

PAGE 13

Giving him your best

Hi Kids!

Easter is on the way. Keep a record of all the good deeds you have done during Lent. If you haven’t done any, it’s still not too late to start doing something good for the people around you.

Have a blessed Easter and may you have the Risen Christ with you in your heart all year round!

Then Mary took about a pine of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.

John 12:3 Read John 12:1-8.

Find the words of the passage in the puzzle below.

Aunty Jo

The parable of the fig tree This cloze passage is taken from Luke 13:6-9.

Complete the paragraph by filling in the blanks with the correct words from the word bank at the bottom of the story.

Jesus tells a story Then

he

told

this

_____________________________: “A man had a _____________________________ tree, planted in his _____________________________, and he went to look for _____________________________ on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For _____________________________

BETRAYED DEAD EXPENSIVE FEET FILLED FRAGRANCE HAIR HOUSE JESUS JUDAS LAZARUS MARTHA MARY MONEY PASSOVER PERFUME POOR POURED RAISED WIPED

years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig _____________________________ and haven’t found any. _____________________________ it down! Why should it use up the _____________________________?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more _____________________________, and I’ll _____________________________ around it and _____________________________ it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it _____________________________.’” cut dig down

fertilise fig fruit

parable soil three

tree vineyard year

Easter Colouring Contest Colour this Easter picture and send your entries to: (Sila kemukakan ke:) Today’s Catholic, P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching, Sarawak Closing date: (Tarikh tutup:) 30 March 2016 Name/Nama: ________________________________________________________________________________ Age/Umur: (12 and below) ________________________________________________________________________________ Tel No: ________________________________________________________________________________ Address/Alamat: ________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________

SPECIAL

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Remembering Brother Columba Gleeson, FSC A tribute to the much loved Irish educator who made Sarawak his home

“

Br Columba had deeply touched the lives for many Josephians and by extension, also their families. Well-known for his humility and integrity, he once wrote that he was an “apostle of the ordinary” and he transmitted this humility to all who came under his care. He often gave them this gentle reminder: “A simple greeting, an act of kindness, a word of thanks, a sign of forgiveness – all can touch hearts. A smile costs nothing and crosses all language barriers, but may bring a spark of joy and hope to a broken and lonely life”.

He transformed this School, in his time, to be a great educational institution. I can say he was, what he himself described, as “the gardener tending to his plants, giving space and time to grow into their own particular shape and beauty”. Based on this enlightened approach or philosophy to teaching, he allowed his pupils the space and time, to grow into men and women with excellent personal attributes and strong moral fibres, to becoming fine humans mindful always of their duties to God, Country, society, family and themselves.

When he left for Ireland in early 1988, his Irish eyes were reportedly smiling – not only for the joy of having a well earned opportunity to see his family in Ireland, but more importantly, because he was able to look back with a sense of deep satisfaction of what he had accomplished for the School, for the students whose character he had helped to mould and whose deep affection and profound admiration for himself, was very much felt by him personally. He had lived up to the noble aims of the De La Salle Order.

His remarkable service to this School, to the pupils under his charge and to the Christian community in this Archdiocese, and particularly, to this State of Sarawak, will long be remembered with deep appreciation, and indeed, will never be forgotten. - Datuk JC Fong, Board of Management of St Joseph’s School (Full text of the tribute can be found on www.todayscatholic.com.my)

Datuk JC Fong (left) and family visiting Br Columba (centre) and Br John at Miguel House, Ireland on 19 February 2015

“

Teaching was more than just a profession.

He allowed his pupils the space and time to grow

Staff members gave more back to the school

As a Principal, he was caring and encouraging; approachable and understanding. He understood the demands and pressures faced by the teachers in having to maintain the excellent academic and sports powerhouse records that St Joseph’s School was renowned for. Thus his support and trust; and his willingness to step forward to strengthen, energise and help in challenging times was deeply appreciated.

Br Columba had good listening ears and was compassionate. Staff members were able to discuss their problems with ease. When they had to call in sick or when they had to attend to an urgent or unavoidable crisis of sorts, his understanding and compassion made them give more back to the school.

Br Columba was also a good motivator with a good sense of humour.

He was a cheerful person, though a strict disciplinarian. He touched and changed lives with his patience, acceptance, empathy and unparalleled genuine, caring nature.

His retirement in 1987 was a sad closing of the era of the De La Salle Brothers in St Joseph’s School; but at the same time, a testimony that the legacy of the De La Salle Brothers’ dedication to education, guidance and inspiration would see St Joseph’s School through the years. - Florence Chye-Goh and teachers of St Joseph’s School (Full text of the tribute can be found on www.todayscatholic.com.my)

“ He was what he himself described, as “the gardener tending to his plants, giving space and time to grow into their own particular shape and beauty”.

Datuk JC Fong

Today’s Catholic was his brain child

“

Br Columba was instrumental in the establishment of Today’s Catholic. He was one of the founding members of Today’s Catholic where the newspaper was his brainchild, initially as a bulletin for St Joseph’s Cathedral Parish but soon became an archdiocesan newspaper spreading to all corners of the archdiocese and beyond after a formal publication permit was granted.

Since the beginning of the newspaper he was the ‘force’ and ‘inspiration’ behind it, always advising, directing, contributing to, and encouraging the editorial team who often struggled to meet press deadlines and distribution targets in the early years.

Since the conception of Today’s Catholic in 1986 till he left Sarawak in 1997, he was the advisor and director for Today’s Catholic. In a couple of intervening years when the editor’s post was vacant, he even stood in as editor-in-chief.

As an advisor, he wasn’t just giving advice on the side lines. He was totally committed to giving spiritual and temporal advice, always guiding the editorial team to ensure that Church guidelines and doctrines were adhered to. As a director he actively participated in the operation and production of the newspaper – that news items were of quality and news worthiness, providing administrative support, and always suggesting ways to improve. More importantly through his guidance and direction, he had imparted onto the Today’s Catholic team his steadfast vision for the newspaper – that it grows and directs itself to become an effective instrument to evangelise, and supplement the faith formation and spiritual needs, of our Catholic community.

In Signpost, he wrote vigorously about living out our Catholic faith in our daily lives and relationships. In his profound reflections on death and beyond, he wrote, telling us “do not be afraid” and “death is not life ended but life changed”, and that “heaven begins on earth” and we are all called to be “saints without halos”. In death, he must surely have found out now that his writings had been an unassuming and unintended witness and testimony of his own exemplary life and Christ-like values.

Many of us were students of Br Columba, and perhaps we had viewed him much as a disciplinarian and a religious with a strict call to duty. But when many of us had the privilege to work together with him in Today’s Catholic since its beginning and for many years in the past, we related with him as co-workers and friends. It is at this relationship level one gets struck by his selfless, unassuming, compassionate, and warm humanity. He was heavily committed in guiding, directing, and driving the work in Today’s Catholic, yet he always cared deeply for and never took for granted the welfare and well-being of the office and volunteer workers of Today’s Catholic who worked with him.

- Dr Dennis Lee Haw Aik, on behalf of Today’s Catholic (Full text of the tribute can be found on www.todayscatholic.com.my)

It was a vocation.

Br Columba’s philosophy that education is not only restricted to the classroom has been proven by his relentless push for sports and extra-curricular activities. He believed that character building occurs outside the class room as well. Towards this he spent a good part of his afternoons in the sports field both in Sibu and later in Kuching; coaching, motivating, and developing his charges in the jubilant school athletics, football, rugby, hockey teams and many others to dominate the inter-school meets. Many of his charges became state players in their respective disciplines. Such experiences for success and hunger for achievement prepared many old Josephians to be leaders in their own endeavours after school.

During that era, schooling was not just restricted to 7.30 am to 1.15 pm. The library and classrooms were open for those who did not have the right environment to study at home. They were encouraged to come and use such facilities for free. He took time each evening to “patrol” the premises to ensure that there was silence and work was being done.

Many students took that opportunity and can today look back with gratitude for the opportunity and encouragement they received from the man who has just left us. Many boarders of the time could recall how Br Columba also doubled up as a boarding master. He was the mentor, father and tutor all rolled in one to the boarders of the time.

Today many ex-students living here and around the world can look back with gratitude to a man who had played a part in making them what they are. - YB Senator Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Chairman of the Old Josephians Association (Full text of the tribute can be found on www.todayscatholic.com.my)

He inspired my

“

priestly vocation

Therein was the compassionate nature of the man, who in spite of his strong relationship with God, did not neglect his duty as the eldest among his siblings.

Br Columba was a kind and loving person. I remember the time when I was robbed of my necklace while going back from school. I did not know how Br Columba found out but the next day, he caught hold of me and asked if I was all right. That care and concern of his really touched me. Even though he had over 1000 students, he never lost sight of the individual person. He reminded me of the parable of the shepherd who had 100 sheep and when one got into trouble, he went all out to rescue it and bring it home. Every single person was precious to Br Columba.

I can proudly say Br Columba inspired my priestly vocation. I was searching for a meaningful path in life when I was 17 or 18 and was attracted to Br Columba’s altruism, humility, joy and commitment to serve God and people. He was ever so cheerful and positive, inspiring the people around him to give their best. I felt this was how I would want to spend my life. My search eventually brought me to St Peter’s College and the diocesan priesthood.

I have no doubt that Br Columba who lived a life of love, service and faithfulness to God thousands of miles away from home has finally arrived at his true home in heaven.

- Bishop Richard Ng, Diocese of Miri

“

“

He was part of my faith journey

Br Columba was my principal from 1976-1982. His dedication and commitment - together with Br Adrian and Br Mark - were remarkable and bore fruits in sports, athletics, academics and faith development.

Br Columba has been used by God to be part of my faith journey. I was in Form 4 in 1979 when he started his Sunday Faith Formation classes. This eventually led to my Baptism and by Upper Six, I entered St Peter’s College to respond to God’s Call. It was thus a great joy to honour Br Columba at his Memorial Service and to preach the homily at his Requiem Mass on 13 February. - Bishop Simon Poh, Archdiocese of Kuching

“I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.”

– John O’Donohue

It is an honour to be writing this tribute for such an inspirational man who was a mentor, friend, spiritual guide, teacher and ex-principal to so many of us.

He was Br Columba, James, Jimmy, James Columba Gleeson to me.

He once said that he probably confused me with all his identities; but no matter what he was called, he was total peace and inspiration to me.

He was an inspirational teacher who believed that the glory of the teaching profession lies in nurturing the minds and hearts. He was more than a teacher; he was an educator of the highest order and a nurturer of life. Educator is derived from the Latin, ED: out, DUCO: I lead. His goal was not to push facts and knowledge into us but to lead us out. He inspired us to be aware of all that life has to offer – beauty, courage, truth. Br Columba lovingly used his life to serve us all.

While I may not have understood the depth of his wisdom while a school girl, I feel so very lucky and grateful that fate conspired to keep us in touch over the 30 over years, so that as I aged, I was able to fully appreciate his wisdom. We were able to move beyond the relationship of a beloved principal and his happy graduate; we became friends and we acknowledged each other as the other’s Anam Cara, the Gaelic words for “Soul friend.”

James had a gift for living life. He never lost the twinkle in his eyes.

There was nothing he couldn’t laugh about with his wonderful sense of humour. He lived in the present, nourished by his family, community and warm memories of friends across the globe, content and peaceful, regardless of circumstances, in good health or otherwise. In his last e-mail to me, of 10 January, he wrote “I am happy to live as long and as best as I can with the realities of life and of my particular situation.” In our last conversation on 28 January, with his sense of humour intact at the hospital, he said, “I’m fine but I’m talking to you while I’m pinching my bleeding nose. This is quite an annoyance.”

His view of life may be best summed by his favourite prayer: “God our Father, open our eyes to see your hand at work in the splendour of creation, in the human life. Touched by your hand our world is holy. Help us to cherish the gifts that surround us and experience the joy of life in your presence.”

I thank you my dear friend James Gleeson for all your love, wisdom and inspiration. I shall grieve healthily for our connection that has been lost, but I will also celebrate your life, live your spirit and pass on your legacy of living in inspiration, with beauty, courage and truth.

- Tan Siow Ling (Siow L Vigman) SJS Lower Six 1982

Dr Sim Kui Hian

Br Columba in the garb with the then Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Taib Mahmud in January 1997 at St Joseph’s School

“… when suffering inevitably enters our own lives, let us be encouraged by the fact that Jesus has been there before us, that his sufferings are interwoven with ours, and that for us too, despite the darkness, pain and almost despair of the here and now, resurrection somehow lies ahead.” (“Truly Human”. Living Our Faith. p168. Paraphrased)

Br Columba with Tan Siow Ling

In August 2014, Bishop Richard Ng went to Ireland to present the award of Pingat Terpuji Jubli Mas from the government to Br Columba

FOKUS

PAGE 22

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

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

Wajah Kerahiman Bapa: Dari Palung ke Salib Oleh Francis Lim Chin Choy, SJ Pada suatu masa dahulu, di atas sebuah gunung, tiga pokok kecil tumbuh dan bermimpi mengenai keadaan mereka apabila mereka sudah besar sepenuhnya.

Pokok kecil pertama melihat ke langit biru yang luas di atas dan berkata, “Saya mahu menjadi peti besar yang menyimpan harta karun paling agung di dunia. Saya akan menjadi peti harta karun yang paling indah di dunia!”

Pokok kedua melihat anak sungai kecil yang mengalir di lereng gunung dan berkata, “Saya mahu bergerak menerusi perairan yang hebat dan membawa raja-raja yang berkuasa.

Saya akan menjadi kapal paling kuat di dunia!”

Pokok kecil ketiga melihat ke lembah di bawah di mana orang bekerja dan hidup di sebuah bandar yang sibuk.

“Saya sama sekali tidak mahu meninggalkan puncak gunung ini. Saya mahu tumbuh begitu tinggi supaya apabila orang berhenti untuk melihat saya, mereka akan mengangkat mata mereka ke langit dan memikirkan Tuhan. Saya akan menjadi pokok paling tinggi di dunia.”

Selepas bertahun-tahun, tiga penebang pokok menaiki gunung tersebut. Penebang pokok pertama melihat pokok pertama dan berkata, “Pokok ini cantik. Ia amat sesuai bagi saya.”

Dengan satu hayunan kapaknya, pokok tersebut pun tumbang.

“Sekarang saya akan menjadi peti besar yang cantik dan menyimpan harta karun yang hebat!” kata pokok pertama.

Penebang pokok kedua melihat pokok kedua dan berkata, “Pokok ini teguh. Ia amat sesuai untuk saya.”

Dengan satu hayunan kapaknya, pokok kedua pun tumbang.

“Sekarang saya akan belayar di perairan yang hebat dan membawa rajaraja yang agung!” fikir pokok kedua.

Pokok ketiga merasakan jantungnya jatuh apabila penebang pokok terakhir melihat ke arahnya. Ia berdiri lurus dan tinggi, menunjuk ke arah langit.

Namun penebang pokok tersebut tidak mendongak ke atas langsung.

“Saya boleh menggunakan sebarang jenis pokok,” dia berkata. Dengan satu hayunan kapaknya, pokok ketiga pun tumbang.

Pokok pertama yang bermimpi untuk menjadi peti harta karun yang cantik sebaliknya dibuat menjadi palung. Ia dijual kepada seorang petani yang menggunakannya di bangsalnya di mana dia memberi makanan kepada haiwan ternakannya.

Pokok kedua pula digunakan untuk membuat bot nelayan kecil. Impiannya

untuk menjadi kapal yang besar pun lenyap. Sekarang ia hanya membawa nelayan sahaja dan ikan yang mereka tangkap setiap hari dari sebuah laut kecil.

Pokok ketiga menghabiskan masa bertahun-tahun di sebuah limbungan kayu balak, dilupai oleh pemiliknya.

Keinginannya untuk berdiri tinggi tidak dimakbulkan.

Hari dan malam silih berganti. Ketigatiga pokok hampir melupai impian mereka. Namun pada suatu malam, seorang wanita muda dan suaminya tiba di bangsal berkenaan untuk mencari tempat berteduh.

Dalam palung itu, mereka meletakkan anak lelaki mereka yang baharu lahir.

Tiba-tiba pokok pertama menyedari ia sedang membawa harta karun paling agung di dunia. Ia dapat melihat wajah bayi itu yang sedang tidur; ia adalah wajah kerahiman Bapa.

Tahun demi tahun berlalu. Pada suatu petang, seorang pengembara yang letih bersama rakan-rakannya memenuhi bot nelayan yang diperbuat daripada pokok kedua dan menyeberangi laut kecil bekenaan. Tiba-tiba taufan melanda dan ombak kuat membadai bot.

Pokok kedua rasa gusar kerana ia tahu ia tidak memiliki kekuatan untuk membawa begitu ramai penumpang dengan selamat dalam keadaan taufan.

Pengembara yang letih tadi terjaga dari tidur. Dia menegur taufan dan ia berhenti.

Tiba-tiba pokok kedua tahu ia membawa Raja Syurga dan Bumi, raja yang lebih besar berbanding mana-mana raja duniawi. Ia dapat melihat wajah tenang bagi kerahiman Bapa.

Realiti umat manusia ialah semua manusia daripada saat kelahiran sudah ditakdirkan untuk mati.

Pada suatu pagi Jumaat, pokok ketiga terkejut apabila tiang kayunya diangkat daripada timbunan kayu yang dilupai. Ia dibuat menjadi salib dan diletakkan di atas bahu seorang lelaki yang letih dan dipukul dengan teruk. Lelaki tersebut dipaksa membawa salib tersebut di khalayak orang ramai yang mengejeknya ke puncak gunung.

Lelaki itu kemudian dipaku pada salib dan ia diangkat tinggi di atas gunung itu.

Tiba-tiba, pokok ketiga tahu bahawa ia sedang berdiri tinggi, walaupun dalam keaiban, kerana dia berdiri tinggi bagi mereka yang memerlukan penyelamatan.

Di atas salib, ia dapat melihat wajah bagi kerahiman Bapa yang tenang dan memberi kehidupan.

Tiga pokok ini membawa Yesus ketika kelahiranNya, sewaktu kehidupannya sebagai orang dewasa dan dalam

kematianNya. Kerahiman Bapa didedahkan menerusi wajah Yesus yang menjalani kehidupanNya di Bumi sebagai kanakkanak, orang dewasa dan pada waktu kematianNya. Bapa mengutuskan PuteraNya yang Tunggal ke dalam dunia untuk hidup sebagai manusia bagi menyelamatkan umat manusia. Dari saat kelahiran Yesus di dalam palung kayu, Dia ditakdirkan untuk mati di atas salib kayu untuk membawa penyelamatan Tuhan bagi dunia.

Seorang ahli falsafah Jerman, Martin Heidegger (1889-1976) berkata umat manusia merupakan makhluk yang sedang menuju kematian. Ia bermakna realiti umat manusia ialah semua manusia daripada saat kelahiran sudah ditakdirkan untuk mati.

Ia bukan satu cara berfalsafah untuk menyatakan realiti kematian yang mengerikan. Sebaliknya ia adalah satu cara untuk menyatakan manusia hidup pada waktu yang sedang maju ke depan, dan manusia beralih daripada bayi kepada orang dewasa dan akhirnya mati.

Demikian juga, kita boleh menyatakan kehidupan Yesus dirumuskan dari palung ke salib.

Yesus mempunyai wajah manusia: wajah seorang bayi yang sedang tidur ketika Dia dilahirkan, wajah seorang dewasa yang mengajar dan melakukan mukjizat, wajah seseorang yang menderita dan mati dengan mengerikan dalam bentuk perlaksanaan hukuman mati yang terburuk pada zaman itu.

Yesus yang manusia perlu mengalami realiti seorang makhluk yang menuju ke arah kematian untuk membolehkanNya mengatasi kematian.

Gembala dan lelaki bijaksana menatap wajah bayi di palung; muridmurid menatap wajah guru dalam bot ketika taufan berlaku; dan orang ramai menatap wajah seseorang yang dibenci tetapi adalah Penyelamat Dunia.

Manusia pertama Adam mengingkari Tuhan dan oleh yang demikian berdosa terhadap Bapa. Ini membawa kepada hukuman yang sewajarnya diberikan kepada manusia.

Bagaimanapun, dalam kerahiman Tuhan, Tuhan mahu menyelamat umat manusia daripada hukuman ini.

Satu-satunya cara untuk melakukannya adalah dengan mengutus manusia-Tuhan yang merupakan manusia baharu untuk menebus umat manusia yang jatuh. Kisah penyelamatan kita bermula dan berlaku dalam kerahiman Tuhan.

Maka itu, kita boleh menegaskan daripada kisah tiga pokok berkenaan, setiap pokok membantu dalam usaha menggambarkan wajah Yesus yang

Kerahiman Bapa didedahkan menerusi wajah Yesus yang menjalani kehidupanNya di Bumi sebagai kanak-kanak, orang dewasa dan pada waktu kematianNya. merupakan wajah bagi kerahiman Bapa pada pelbagai peringkat dalam kehidupanNya di Bumi.

Walaupun mereka menaruh impian yang mulia untuk menjadi hebat di mata dunia, setiap daripada pokok-pokok terbabit, tidak kira betapa rendahnya mereka, mereka masih menggambarkan wajah bagi kerahiman Bapa.

Kita juga, sebagai makhluk yang menuju ke arah kematian, berjalan dengan rendah hati dalam cara-cara kita sebagai individu di sepanjang jalan kehidupan untuk sampai ke pagar syurga di mana kesempurnaan kebangkitan sudah dicapai menerusi usaha Yesus yang menyelamatkan dalam kerahiman Bapa. Ia mungkin perjalanan yang perlahan dan menyakitkan, namun ia adalah perjalanan yang penuh dengan harapan dan kasih.

Pada musim Lent ini, marilah kita merenungkan imej pergerakan dari palung ke salib dan dihiburkan dengan hakikat bahawa kerahiman Bapa sudah diwahyukan kepada kita dalam wajah Yesus.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

IMAN DAN HIDUP

PAGE 23

Pada Tahun Kerahiman, pintu kerahiman yang terbuka ada di mana-mana Oleh Maureen Pratt Ketika saya berada di Washington pada tahun lepas, salah satu perkara yang menakjubkan saya adalah Pintu Suci di Basilika Makam Kebangsaan Maria Dikandung Tak Bernoda (Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception).

Diukir dengan sederhana dalam kayu yang bersinar, pintu itu ditutup rapat ketika saya melihatnya. Notis di depannya menjelaskan ia akan dibuka pada 8 Disember 2015, pada permulaan Jubli Kerahiman luar biasa, dan akan ditutup pada 20 November 2016.

Ketika saya berdiri di depan pintu itu, saya memikirkan tentang simbol pintu yang begitu kuat.

Kerahiman dan pintu terbuka ada banyak kaitan dengan satu sama lain, dan juga banyak bercakap kepada kita yang hidup dengan kesakitan dan penyakit yang serius. Kita ada aksi yang dapat dilihat di mana pintu dibuka untuk membolehkan si doktor masuk untuk merawat kita, dan jururawat yang akan memeriksa tanda-tanda penting dalam badan kita.

Bagi mereka yang ada masalah pergerakan, banyak pintu automatik menyediakan perkhidmatan yang penuh belaskasihan untuk memudahkan kemasukan ke dalam bangunan, termasuk rumah.

Orang asing yang baik hati (dan berbelaskasihan) dan menahan pintu lif ternyata malaikat di bumi bagi kita yang mengalami keletihan ekstrim pada penghujung hari!

Selalunya saya mendapati apabila

Kerahiman dan pintu terbuka ada banyak kaitan dengan satu sama lain, dan juga banyak bercakap kepada kita yang hidup dengan kesakitan dan penyakit yang serius. saya ada masalah dengan diagnosis baharu atau tertanya-tanya tentang ubat baharu, seorang rakan yang bijaksana atau anggota pasukan perubatan saya dapat membuka pintu kepada maklumat atau perspektif, sekali gus membantu saya membuat keputusan yang penting dan selalunya mengukuhkan kehidupan.

Benar, saya juga dapat membuka pintu kepada maklumat dalam talian, tetapi saya juga suka mendengar tentang pengalaman peribadi daripada mereka yang pernah mengalami keadaan yang sama. Keterbukaan mereka untuk membantu saya adalah salah satu keberkatan hebat yang dibawa oleh penyakit.

Kehidupan kita dengan penyakit adalah sama seperti pintu juga. Jika kita membiarkan diri ditutup dan

Foto: CNS

menjauhkan diri kita daripada orang lain dan dunia di sekeliling kita, kita tidak memberi peluang kepada diri kita untuk membantu orang lain memahami kita dan berbelaskasihan.

Namun jika kita membuka pintu hati kita dan kehidupan kita yang unik, kita dapat mencapai dua matlamat iaitu mengambil bahagian dan memberi, menyayangi dan disayangi.

Jika kita melihat rutin yang lebih “menakutkan” (temu janji perubatan, rutin senaman) sebagai cara untuk membuka pintu kepada kesihatan yang lebih baik, kita dapat mencapai kemajuan dan mengundang penambahbaikan.

Pintu terbuka membolehkan cahaya dan udara segar untuk masuk, selalunya dalam betuk perspektif dan idea baharu. Ia dapat membimbing kita dalam perjalanan

penemuan dan perkembangan peribadi.

Pada tahun ini, saya akan meluangkan masa untuk menerokai tulisan beberapa orang kudus yang saya paling tidak kenali, sekali gus berjalan menerusi pintu terbuka baharu yang akan membantu saya untuk belajar.

Saya akan menganggap penyakit saya sebagi pintu juga dan mencari jalan menerusinya untuk meningkatkan lagi kesabaran dan rasa empati. Saya akan berusaha untuk membantu orang lain menemui pintu dalam kehidupan mereka dan cara pintu ini dapat membawa kepada kebaikan yang dipenuhi kesihatan.

Saya juga akan jauh lebih sedar mengenai pintu yang sentiasa terbuka di dalam, pintu yang membawa kepada doa yang penuh dengan keimanan dan keakraban yang lebih erat dengan Tuhan.

Penyakit kadang-kadang kelihatan seperti tidak membawa sebarang kebaikan. Kesakitan selama berharihari dapat melemahkan kita dan mengongkong kita. Ia mungkin lebih mudah untuk mengakui bahawa kita tidak dapat melihat kasih, belaskasihan dan harapan yang ada bagi kita dan cara-cara kita dapat menjadi semua itu dan lebih lagi bagi orang lain.

Namun jika kita melihat pintupintu terbuka yang berkat di sekeliling kita, kegelapan dapat diterangi dan kesedihan mendalam dilenyapkan oleh belaskasihan dan kegembiraan.

CNS (Terjemahan)

Hati ke hati...

dari pena penulis jemputan,

Fr Lazarus Swinie

Kita masih lagi dalam musim prapaska. Ada di antara umat yang bertanyakan kepada saya mengapakah pada musim prapaska terutamanya pada hari Rabu Abu dan Jumaat Agung keinginan untuk makan terlalu tinggi.

Godaan timbul dari keperluan peribadi. Kuasa kejahatan tahu tentang kelemahan kita. Oleh yang demikian, dia menggunakan kelemahan kita untuk memesongkan perhatian kita kepada kehendak Tuhan.

Ketiga-tiga godaan yang Yesus alami ketika di padang gurun dapat kita gunakan

sebagai garis panduan dalam menghadapi godaan-godaan di dunia ini. Ketiga-tiga godaan tersebut itu ialah: menukar batu menjadi roti, menyembah Iblis jika ingin memiliki kerajaan duniawi dan terjun jika dari bumbung bait Allah untuk mendapatkan pengiktirafan (Luk. 4:1-13).

Dalam godaan yang pertama, setelah Yesus tamat berpuasa selama empat puluh hari di padang gurun sudah tentulah Yesus lapar. Iblis menggunakan kesempatan ini dengan mencadangkan, “Jika Engkau Putera Allah, suruhlah batu ini menjadi roti” sama seperti yang

Puasa, ibadat dan sedekah kita tidak membawa makna jika kita tidak hidup seturut kehendak Tuhan. dikatakannya kepada Adam di Taman Eden, “Benarkah Allah melarang kamu makan buah daripada sebarang pokok di taman ini” (Kej. 3:1). Iblis menggunakan keraguan untuk memenangi hati Yesus dan Adam namun Yesus menolak rasa ragu-ragu dengan berdiri teguh pada firman Tuhan.

Selepas berpuasa sudah tentulah Yesus memerlukan makanan. Adalah tidak salah jika Yesus makan namun cara mendapatkan makanan bukanlah melalui cara yang mudah tetapi cara yang berpatutan. Itulah sebabnya Yesus menjawab, “Ada tertulis: Manusia hidup bukan dari roti sahaja.”

Dalam godaan yang kedua, Iblis memperlihatkan kepada

Yesus kerajaan duniawi dan berjanji untuk menyerahkan kepada-Nya jika Yesus menyembah dia. Iblis sedar bahawa tidak lama lagi Yesus akan memulakan tugas pelayanan-Nya dan sudah tentu memerlukan cara untuk menarik perhatian orang ramai supaya mengenal dan menerima pewartaan-Nya tetapi Yesus menjawab, “Ada tertulis: Engkau harus menyembah Tuhan, Allahmu, dan hanya kepada Dia sajalah engkau berbakti.”

Dalam godaan yang ketiga Iblis menyuruh Yesus terjun dari bumbung bait Allah untuk membuktikan bahawa Dia benar-benar Putera Allah. Orang ramai pernah menyuruh Yesus

untuk menunjukkan bukti bahawa Dia adalah benar-benar Mesias. Iblis mencadangkan cara yang sensasi iaitu dengan terjun tanpa menggunakan payung terjun untuk mendapat perhatian dan pengiktirafan.

Sekali lagi Yesus tidak memperdulikan godaan.

Keilahian Yesus bukan melalui cara sesasi tetapi melalui cara kehidupan seharian.

Dalam keadaan ekonomi yang tidak menentu dan dibebani oleh kos sara hidup yang setiap hari meningkat sedangkan jumlah pendapatan masih pada tahap yang lama sudah tentulah sesetengah kita ‘tergoda’ untuk melakukan sesuatu untuk mengurangkan tekanan perbelanjaan. Dalam apa cara sekalipun, pastikanlah bahawa segala usaha untuk meningkatkan pendapatan kita seturut kehendak Tuhan.

Menggunakan kedudukkan kita untuk mendapatkan sesuatu bukanlah cara Tuhan.

Puasa, ibadat dan sedekah kita tidak membawa makna jika kita tidak hidup seturut kehendak Tuhan. Marilah kita melakukan amalan prapaska dengan mengamalkan belas kasih Allah.

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Misa Krisma Diperjelaskan Dari meja pengarang

Oleh Fr Vincent Chin, STL (Liturgy) Perkataan ‘Krisma’ diambil daripada perkataan Yunani ‘khrisma’ yang bermaksud ‘pengurapan’. Misa Krisma adalah Perayaan Ekaristi tahunan di mana minyak yang digunakan untuk pengurapan bagi Sakramen Pembaptisan, Penguatan, Pentahbisan dan Pengurapan Orang Sakit diberkati oleh Uskup.

Berakar-umbi dalam tradisi awal Gereja seperti yang dinyatakan dalam Gelasian Sacramentary (dinamakan sempena Pope Gelasius, yang mangkat pada 496), perayaan Misa Krisma kemudian diserapkan ke dalam Misa Malam Khamis Suci. Dalam kompendium Pindaan Minggu Kudus oleh Pope Pius XII pada 1955, ia telah disusun semula sebagai Misa Krisma khas yang berasingan daripada Misa Malam.

Atas sebab-sebab pastoral, Keuskupan Agung Kuching sudah bertahun-tahun merayakan Misa Krisma di Katedral pada hari rekoleksi paderi bulanan yang paling dekat dengan Hari Khamis Suci. Pada tahun ini, ia akan dirayakan pada Rabu, 23 Mac, jam 7.30 malam di Katedral kita.

mereka tanpa henti-henti.

Terdapat tiga jenis minyak: untuk Sakramen Pembaptisan, Penguatan, Pentahbisan dan Pengurapan Orang Sakit waktu pemberkatan yang berlainan: a) pemberkatan Minyak Orang Sakit berlangsung sebelum hujung Doa Ekaristi, tetapi pemberkatan Minyak Katekumen dan konsekrasi Krisma berlangsung selepas komuni; b) atas sebab-sebab pastoral, ia dibenarkan bagi seluruh pemberkatan untuk berlangsung selepas liturgi Sabda.

ini kepada Paderi Paroki dan setiap paderi untuk melambangkan amanah kepada Paderi Paroki dan paderi di setiap paroki untuk merayakan sakramensakramen.

Pemberkatan Minyak Kudus dan pengamanahan kepada paderi menekankan jalinan intim di antara Uskup dengan paderi-paderinya, perpaduan dan kesatuan (komuni) mereka untuk memberi khidmat kepada umat Tuhan.

Keuskupan Agung kita (Kuching) selama ini menggunakan pilihan kedua.

Sebelum pengutusan terakhir, Uskup Agung menyerahkan tiga Minyak Berkat

Pembaharuan Janji Kepaderian Perayaan bersama Misa Krisma ini oleh semua paderi keuskupan bersama Uskup dan jemaat mereka juga merupakan fokus bagi janji-janji kepaderian tahunan untuk mengabdikan diri semula kepada pelayanan kepaderian, merayakan Ekaristi dan upacara liturgi lain, menjalankan kerja mengajar yang suci, mengikuti Kristus sebagai ketua dan Gembala. Jemaat juga diingatkan untuk berdoa bagi paderi-paderi dan uskup

Dua bahagian yang amat penting dalam Misa Krisma: Pemberkatan Minyak Kudus dan Pembaharuan Janji Kepaderian Pemberkatan Minyak Kudus Minyak Orang Sakit bagi Sakramen Pengurapan Orang Sakit, Minyak Katekumen bagi Sakramen Pembaptisan serta Minyak Krisma bagi Sakramen Pembaptisan, Sakramen Penguatan dan Sakramen Pentahbisan, diberkati dalam Misa Krismas. Upacara liturgi Misa Krisma membolehkan dua

Kehadiran jemaat di Misa Krisma Penerima manfaat utama perayaan Misa Krisma adalah Umat Tuhan. Pemberkatan Minyak bagi kegunaan sakramen bertujuan untuk memanfaatkan umat Tuhan dan pelayanan kepaderian di mana paderi-paderi dalam Misa Krisma memperbaharui janji untuk memberi khidmat kepada jemaat.

Maka itu penyertaan maksimum dalam Misa Krisma bukan sahaja mengesahkan sokongan jemaat kepada paderi-paderi mereka tetapi juga menunjukkan kepercayaan mereka sendiri kepada kepaderian dan sakramen-sakramen Gereja.

Marilah semua kita datang beramairamai dan menyertai Misa Krisma untuk berdoa terutamanya bagi gereja tempatan dalam Keuskupan Agung Kuching. (Terjemahan)

M is a Kr is ma Keuskupan Agung Kuching

Tarikh: 23 Mac Masa: 7.30 pm Tempat: Katedral St Joseph,

Kuching

Pembukaan Kedai Murah Persatuan St Vincent de Paul Miri Kedai murah SSVP Miri dibuka dari jam 5.30 petang hingga jam 7.00 malam pada Hari Sabtu dan jam 9.00 pagi hingga jam 12.00 tengah hari pada Hari Ahad.

MIRI — Kedai murah Persatuan St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) Miri secara rasmi membuka pintunya pada 31 Januari lalu selepas Misa Kudus di Gereja St Dominic dan Rosari.

Kedai tersebut, yang terletak di seberang jalan dari gereja tersebut, menjual pakaian, buku, majalah, beg, patung permainan dan peralatan dapur, semua sebelum ini dimiliki dan diderma oleh anggota paroki dan orang ramai.

Hasil jualan akan disalurkan kepada projek kebajikan dan pusat tusyen yang diusahakan oleh persatan itu.

SSVP merupakan sebuah organisasi sukarela antarabangsa Katolik yang mengabdi diri kepada usaha melayani orang miskin dan orang kekurangan menerusi lawatan ke rumah dan memberi sokongan pendidikan kepada kanak-kanak yang

BERITA

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Dengan kasih sayang dan kesyukuran dari lubuk hati kami

“Saya tidak meninggalkan Sarawak. Saya membawanya bersama saya.”

Saya ingat kata-kata tersebut dari mendiang Brother Columba sebelum beliau pulang ke Ireland selepas 40 tahun menjadi saksi Kristus kepada golongan terakhir, terkecil dan tersesat di kalangan kita.

Ramai mungkin tidak tahu, selain pencapaiannya yang legenda dan cemerlang sebagai seorang pendidik, kita juga berbesar hati kerana Brother pernah menjadi penasihat pertama / pengarang / penulis / pembantu potong dan lekat / susun atur pada masa sama pada tahun 1986. Today’s Catholic sekarang berusia 30 tahun.

Doa saya ialah agar kita akan sentiasa mencerminkan semangat beliau yang menjadi berita baik bagi semua.

Walaupun saya tidak pernah bekerja di sisi beliau dalam akhbar ini, beliau tetap akan singgah di pejabat

kita untuk mengetahui tentang perkembangan kita selama beberapa bulan sebelum beliau meninggalkan Sarawak pada 1997.

Dengan kelipan mata yang seakan-akan senyum dan mencerminkan kebaikan hati beliau, beliau menaikkan keyakinan saya dengan kata-kata menggalakkan mengenai usaha saya sebagai seorang pengarang amatur.

Kami dengan gembiranya memaparkan satu rencana di halaman 14 & 15 yang dipenuhi penghormatan yang amat indah dan mendalam daripada mereka yang telah menjalani kehidupan yang lebih baik disebabkan oleh cara beliau hidup dan untuk mereka beliau hidup.

Bersemadilah dengan tenang, wahai Brother Columba.

Terima kasih dari lubuk hati kami dan kami pasti bahawa kami akan sentiasa hidup selamanya di dalam hati anda.

Stella Chin (Terjemahan)

Sr Jovita lafaz ikrar kekal KUCHING ­ — Dalam Misa Senja pada 30 Januari lalu, Sister Maria Jovita SSFS membuat ikrar terakhirnya bagi kehidupan religius, disaksikan oleh ahli-ahli keluarganya dan lebih seribu anggota paroki.

Sewaktu upacara melafazkan ikrar, Sr Jovita bertelud di hadapan Superior Jeneral Sister Flora Tingang SSFS dan Uskup Agung John Ha dan melafazkan tiga kaul iaitu kesucian, kemiskinan dan kepatuhan sehingga akhir hayatnya.

Uskup Agung kemudian memberkati dan menyarungkan cincin pada jari cincin Sr Jovita sambil berkata: “Saya menyerahkan anda kepada Yesus Kristus, Putera Bapa Maha Besar, dan semoga Dia mengekalkan anda di dalam kasihNya. Terima Cincin Keimanan dan Kesetiaan ini, tanda Roh Kudus, agar anda boleh dipanggil Pengantin Tuhan.”

Sr Jovita, 35, dilahirkan kepada Michael Gani, seorang pesara tentera, dan Ceclia Baor, seorang suri rumah.

Beliau adalah anak ketiga di kalangan lima adik beradik.

SERAHKAN ANDA KEPADA KRISTUS… Uskup Agung John Ha menyarung cincin pada jari Sr Maria Jovita.

Benih panggilan religius mula berkembang sejak beliau mengenali sister-sister Fransiskan pada 1992 ketika beliau terlibat dalam aktiviti gereja di Sibu.

“Saya mahu menjadi seperti mereka yang mengabdi diri kepada orang lain,” katanya kepada Today’s Catholic.

“Tsunami dan gempa bumi di Lautan Hindi pada 2004

meninggalkan kesan mendalam pada diri saya. Saya seterusnya memutuskan untuk menimbang kehidupan religius dengan serius,” katanya.

Sr Jovita memulakan formasi religius pada 2006 dan membuat ikrar pertamanya pada 31 Mac 2009.

Sr Jovita sekarang berkhidmat di Keuskupan Sibu.

Audrey Yu (Terjemahan)

Kumpulan Pro-Life menyediakan: + Kaunseling Krisis Kehamilan - Secara peribadi atau melalui telefon - Sulit dan rahsia + Maklumat berkenaan kehamilan dan jahat pengguguran + Tempat berteduh + Sokongan satu dengan satu semasa dan selepas kehamilan + Bantu mengatur pengambilan anak angkat sebagai satu alternatif kepada pengguguran Hubungan kami Telefon: 082-413454

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) STAF Audrey Yu

Pasangan suami isteri masih bahagia selepas 60 tahun

SETIA SAMPAI MATI … Raymond Allas (tengah) bersama isterinya Marie Samai (kiri) di Misa di mana mereka memperbaharui ikrar perkahwinan mereka.

Kaunseling Krisis Kehamilan

SEBAIK YANG BARU... Kedai Murah SSVP menjual pelbagai barang terpakai dari buku ke pakaian degan harga murah memerlukannya.

Ahli-ahli jawatankuasa SSVP Sidang Miri ingin mengucapkan terima dilancarkan secara rasmi pada kasih kepada semua penderma 25 April 2015. di atas sumbangan mereka Terletak di Lot 6339 Jalan yang murah hati.

Lambir 1, Taman Tunku, kedai Bagi mereka yang ingin murah itu dibuka dari jam 5.30 membuat sumbangan, mereka petang hingga jam 7.00 malam dinasihatkan untuk menderma pada Hari Sabtu dan jam 9.00 barang dalam keadaan baik pagi hingga jam 12.00 tengah dan boleh dijual sahaja. hari pada Hari Ahad.

Sophia Soo (Terjemahan)

PAGE 25

E-mel: kprolife@gmail.com

Atau datang ke Pejabat Pro-Life: Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre, 1st Floor, Lot 2500, Jalan Stampin, 93350 Kuching Laman web: http://www.prolifegroupkuching.org

KOTA PADAWAN — Pada 31 Disember 1955, dua individu muda, Raymond Alex Allas dan Marie Annie Samai, telah berkahwin di bangunan lama Gereja St Joseph di Kuching.

Upacara perkahwinan dirasmikan oleh mendiang Father Harry Van Erp, seorang Paderi Mill Hill.

Selama 60 tahun mereka mendirikan rumah tangga, pasangan tersebut telah dikurniakan dengan enam orang anak, 18 orang cucu dan tujuh orang cicit.

Raymond menjadi seorang jurugambar bebas selepas karier yang berjaya di SESCO manakala Marie duduk di rumah dan menjaga keluarga.

Apabila ditanya tentang rahsia rumah tangga mereka yang bahagia dan bertahan lama, Raymond berkata pergaduhan adalah biasa dan kerap berlaku dalam setiap rumah tangga.

Beliau menambah, salah satu nasihat terbaik yang dikongsikan oleh Fr Harry ketika beliau melafazkan ikrar perkahwinannya kepada Marie adalah untuk sentiasa menghormati dan setia kepada satu sama lain sebagai suami isteri.

Sehingga ke hari ini, beliau masih setia kepada ikrar perkahwinannya.

Baginya,

Marie adalah wanita paling cantik yang pernah beliau temui dan beliau rasa bertuah kerana mengahwininya.

Marie pula rasa bahawa rahsianya adalah untuk sentiasa menghormati suaminya dan bersabar apabila keadaan tidak berjalan lancar. Beliau merasakan bahawa sikap cemburu akan menimbulkan ketegangan dalam kehidupan rumah tangga dan harus diselesaikan secara baik.

“Untuk mendirikan rumah tangga sehingga kematian memisahkan kita dan untuk setia selama-lamanya” adalah nasihat yang diberikan kepada Marie oleh ibu bapanya dan beliau telah berpegang kepada kata-kata itu sejak 60 tahun yang lalu.

Encik dan Puan Allas memperbaharui ikrar perkahwinan mereka pada 19 Disember 2015 di Gereja St Ann. Ikrar perkahwiman mereka dibuat di hadapan Friar Gerard Victor OFM selain ahli keluarga dan rakan karib.

Selepas itu, semua hadirin diraikan dengan makanan tengah hari, yang diadakan di “kawasan Merarau” di paroki tersebut.

Sumbangan (terjemahan)

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Perjalanan kita pada Musim Lent Lent adalah musim di mana umat membuat azamazam Lent. Mereka membuat keputusan tentang apa yang hendak dilakukan atau ditinggalkan sempena Lent – pada peringkat yang lebih mendalam – mereka merenung diri sendiri dan memutuskan perkara yang mereka mahu ubah dan Hari Rabu Abu menyaksikan cubaan mereka untuk memulakan perubahan itu.

Bagaimanapun, kebanyakan azam ini ditonjolkan menerusi tindakan – contohnya saya tidak akan makan gula-gula sempena Lent atau mungkin menyebut doa rosari setiap hari – tetapi saya mendapati cubaan untuk mengubah diri menerusi tindakan – iaitu melakukan atau tidak melakukan perkara tertentu – boleh menjadi satu cara yang sangat tidak menentu untuk menjalankan usaha itu, kerana jika saya tersandung walaupun sekali, saya akan berputus asa dan biasanya melupakan seluruh projek itu. “Azam saya sudah rosak, jadi apa gunanya untuk terus mencuba lagi!”

Saya ingat pada zaman saya masih merokok, saya biasanya menggunakan permulaan Lent sebagai satu peluang untuk berhenti merokok – tetapi saya merosakkan beberapa musim Lent apabila saya terus berputus asa walaupun saya tersandung hanya sekali sahaja dengan larangan merokok yang saya kenakan terhadap diri sendiri.

Saya masih ingat dengan jelas satu Hari Rabu Abu, ketika saya melawat sebuah rumah panjang Iban untuk Misa dan pemberkatan abu, di mana dalam perjalanan ini, saya melintasi sebuah rumah Cina Katolik, jauh sedikit dari tepi jalan.

Saya tahu jika mereka ada di rumah, mereka akan menjemput saya ke dalam untuk minum dan Papa akan menawarkan rokok kepada saya, dan untuk mengelak daripada bersinggah di sana, saya mempercepatkan kenderaan ketika saya mendekati rumah tersebut dan cuba melihat ke tempat lain, supaya saya boleh berkata bahawa saya tidak melihat mereka melambai kepada saya, tetapi apabila saya mendekati rumah itu, saya mendapati Papa berdiri di tengah jalan menunggu saya.

Dia tahu saya akan datang, kerana dia akan pergi ke rumah panjang berkenaan untuk Misa nanti, dan dia pasti dapat mendengar kereta saya dari

jauh lagi kerana hanya beberapa buah kereta sahaja yang menggunakan laluan itu.

Kesudahannya ialah saya terpaksa memasuki rumahnya, minum secawan teh, menerima rokok yang ditawarkan – dan dengan demikian satu lagi hukuman dosa sempena Lent berakhir dengan kegagalan!

Bagaimanapun saya perlahan-lahan menyedari terdapat cara lain untuk mengubah cara saya hidup, cara yang tidak memberi tumpuan kepada tindakan khusus, tetapi memilih jenis manusia yang saya ingin jadi – dan dengan melakukannya seperti ini, saya memastikan Tuhan terlibat sama dalam projek itu.

Masalahnya dengan “azam berasaskan tindakan” ialah

“dua tanganNya”: Sabda dan Roh Kudus.

Menerusi SabdaNya, Tuhan bercakap kepada saya dari luar dan menunjukkan visi kepada saya, bukan visi tindakan yang saya harus ambil, tetapi jenis manusia yang saya harus jadi, jika itu yang saya pilih; dan menerusi Roh Kudus, Bapa mengisi hati saya, dari dalam, dengan keinginan dan kerinduan yang membolehkan saya untuk memilih untuk menjadi orang itu.

“Pilihan” ini adalah peranan saya dalam proses ini, namun ia bukan pilihan untuk membuat sesuatu tetapi untuk menjadi seseorang – pilihan yang disebut sebagai jawapan kepada pelawaan Tuhan untuk berjalan dan hidup bersamaNya dalam

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

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.

Contohnya, ia adalah bagus untuk menghadiri Misa bagi mendapatkan rahmat Tuhan tetapi jika ada seseorang di rumah saya yang sakit dan memerlukan perhatian saya, ia bukan satu tindakan yang baik untuk meninggalkan orang itu bersendirian sementara saya menghadiri Misa.

Jadi satu tindakan yang

Kelemahan atau dosa kita tidak memisahkan kita dari Tuhan, sebaliknya ia mendedahkan kepada kita siapa diri kita sebenarnya jauh di lubuk hati kita.

saya sendiri yang menentukan tindakan itu dan selain itu, saya bergantung kepada kekuatan saya sendiri untuk melakukannya – saya boleh memohon rahmat dan kekuatan daripada Tuhan untuk berbuat demikian tetapi saya menyedari sekarang bahawa saya tidak pernah bertanya terlebih dahulu kepadaNya sama ada saya harus membuat azam ini atau tidak.

Ia adalah saya yang berkata: “Saya sudah memutuskan perkara ini, tetapi saya memerlukan bantuanMu”, tetapi dengan berbuat demikian, saya menjadikan Tuhan hamba saya, dan bukan Tuan saya – dan dalam pengalaman saya, Dia tidak akan bersetuju dengan keadaan itu!

Apa yang saya semakin sedari ialah jika saya mahu berubah, Sang Pencipta mesti melakukannya – saya tidak ada inspirasi untuk mengetahui perubahan apa yang amat diperlukan dan saya tidak ada kuasa untuk melakukannya.

Ini adalah satu ajaran purba yang sering terlepas pandang dalam Gereja: St Irenaeus mengajar bahawa Bapa masih mencipta kita, menggunakan

misiNya. Bagaimanapun, “pilihan” ini tidak boleh dibuat hanya sekali sahaja tetapi perlu ditegaskan berkali-kali, dalam banyak situasi yang saya alami dalam perjalanan hidup saya.

Tuhan membimbing saya untuk membuat pilihan itu, tetapi sentiasa pada tahap yang jauh lebih mendalam di dalam diri saya – dan walaupun ia mungkin akan bermula sebagai pilihan untuk melakukan tindakan tertentu – contohnya mungkin untuk menghadiri Misa Ahad – dalam perjalanan hidup saya, ia berakar jauh lebih mendalam – menjadi lebih satu pilihan “untuk menjadi” dan bukan “untuk melakukan”: dan dengan demikian saya dibimbing ke dalam persahabatan dengan Tuhan dan kepercayaan yang jauh lebih mendalam.

Pilihan ini akan melibatkan saya dalam melakukan atau tidak melakukan tindakan tertentu, tetapi tindakan ini akan berubah dari semasa ke semasa dan dari tempat ke tempat, kerana apa yang mungkin satu tindakan baik dalam satu situasi mungkin tidak begitu baik dalam situasi lain.

betul dalam satu situasi tidak semestinya betul dalam semua situasi.

Maka itu perjalanan kita adalah satu perjalanan untuk belajar mendengar bimbingan Tuhan, tetapi lebih mendalam lagi, satu perjalanan bagi kepercayaan yang sentiasa berkembang iaitu walaupun saya mungkin melakukannya dengan salah, Tuhan akan memperbetulkannya pada akhirnya – kerana ini adalah kepercayaan yang menyelamat (Efesus 2:8) Bagaimanapun perjalanan kepercayaan ini boleh menjadi sesuatu yang menakutkan dan tidak menentu – kerana kita tidak tahu sama ada kita betul atau tidak dan oleh kerana ini, ia selalunya kelihatan lebih selamat untuk berpegang kepada peraturan dan tindakan yang saya percaya adalah “betul”, kerana khuatir saya akan berdosa dan dipisahkan dari Tuhan.

Namun kelemahan atau dosa kita tidak memisahkan kita dari Tuhan, sebaliknya ia mendedahkan kepada kita siapa diri kita sebenarnya jauh di lubuk hati kita dan dengan demikian memberi peluang kepada kita

untuk membuka pintu diri kita kepada Tuhan pada tahap yang jauh lebih mendalam berbanding apa yang kita selama ini mampu lakukan.

Apabila selepas berdosa, saya duduk dengan begitu sedih sekali di tengah kelemahan dan kegagalan saya, saya dapat berpaling kepada Tuhan dan berkata: “Tuhan, inilah kegagalanku, aku melihat dengan lebih jelas sekarang, siapa yang aku ingin jadi: aku mahu menjadi sepertiMu; aku mahu menjadi temanMu dan maka itu, Tuhan, inilah kegagalanku; aku memilihMu, tolong terima aku!”

Ini adalah satu ajaran yang kita dengar setiap tahun apabila paderi atau diakon menyanyikan Exultet: “O Happy Fault, O truly necessary sin of Adam that brought us so great a Redeemer!” (Ya Kesalahan Gembira, Ya dosa Adam yang benar-benar perlu untuk membawa seorang Penebus yang begitu agung kepada kita).

Ia mengingatkan kita bahawa kepercayaan kita kepada Kristus memang berasas kerana tiada apa yang dapat memisahkan kita daripada Kasih Kristus – malah termasuk dosa-dosa kita – dan ini adalah benar bagi seluruh umat manusia dan bagi setiap daripada kita secara peribadi.

Maka itu, walaupun pada musim Lent ini kita mungkin gagal untuk meneruskan hukuman dosa kita sempena Lent – kegagalan itu mungkin jauh lebih bermanfaat bagi kita berbanding jika kita berjaya melaksanakannya – kerana jika kita berani untuk melihat kegagalan itu betulbetul dan melihat diri kita yang didedahkannya, ia juga memberi peluang kepada kita untuk memperbaharui janjijanji pembaptisan kita sewaktu Paska dari lubuk jiwa kita yang jauh lebih mendalam dan berkata kepada Tuhan: “Namun demikian, ia adalah Engkau yang aku tetap pilih, ia adalah Engkau yang aku masih mahu temani, ia adalah Engkau yang aku mahu sayangi.”

Jika begitu, saya sudah berkongsi dalam Misteri Tuhan Yang Bangkit. (Terjemahan)

TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

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Pecah tanah tapak gereja baharu

MAJLIS PECAH TANAH ... (Kiri) Uskup Agung John Ha berdoa sebelum memberkati tapak untuk kompleks gereja.

(Kanan) Jemaat Lundu turut mengambil bahagian dalam majlis pecah tanah menurut rancangan Tuhan yang masyarakat dengan berfikiran LUNDU — Pada 31 Acara dirasmikan oleh Uskup Misa Kudus dirayakan oleh telah disediakanNya. terbuka dan dengan kasih yang Januari lalu, jemaat Gereja Agung John Ha bersama Paderi Uskup Agung di Gereja Holy Beliau menambah, tiada Allah berikan kepada kita.

Holy Spirit Lundu telah Paroki Father Lazarus Swinie, Spirit Lundu.

Dalam homili beliau, beliau apa di bumi yang lebih besar Kompleks bangunan gereja berkumpul di tapak kompleks Father Christopher Laden, daripada kasih, dan sehubungan baharu ini merangkumi sebuah gereja dan pusat paroki ADUN N.2 Opar, Ranum Mina, menegaskan Allah menciptakan itu kita dipanggil untuk bangunan gereja, pejabat baharu untuk menyaksikan dan pengerusi jawatankuasa orang yang unik daripada orang mengasihi antara satu sama lain. paroki, asrama dan juga dewan dan mengambil bahagian pembinaan bangunan gereja lain dan untuk rencanaNya tersendiri.

Beliau turut menyeru kepada serbaguna. dalam majlis pecah tanah dan baharu Sylvester Diaz.

Setiap orang harus hidup jemaat untuk membina seluruh Danison Manium pemberkatan tapak.

Sebelum majlis pecah tanah,

Membina Hubungan KristianMuslim

MENGERATKAN SILATURAHIM ... Uskup Agung dan para paderi mengambil gambar bersamasama Pn Zabariah dan rakan-rakan sekerja dari Islamic Information Centre KUCHING — Ekoran persamaan dengan disiplin umat manusia, keadilan sosial kemerosotan hubungan yang Musim Lent bagi orang Kristian. dan kebajikan moral selain membimbangkan di antara Antaranya adalah doa, puasa keamanan dan kebebasan”. rakyat berbilang kepercayaan dan sedekah. Ia adalah pagi Pembentangan disusuli agama di beberapa tempat di di mana wakil-wakil daripada majlis makan tengah hari tidak Malaysia, Gereja tempatan dua kepercayaan agama saling rasmi di mana paderi dan telah mengalami harapan memperkayakan satu sama lain. kakitangan IIC dapat membina dalam usaha membina Di akhir pembentangan, silaturahim. jambatan dengan orang Uskup Agung John Ha dan Kita harap ini dapat Muslim.

Puan Zabariah bertukar hadiah. menandakan permulaan bagi Pada 17 Februari lalu, atas Puan Zabariah memberi bahan hubungan yang lebih erat pelawaan Uskup Agung John mengenai Islam kepada Uskup dengan sikap hormat dan saling Ha, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Agung manakala Uskup menerima di antara orang Pusat Maklumat Islam (IIC) Agung menyampaikan kepada Katolik dan orang Islam di Puan Zabariah bt Haji Matali Zabariah senaskhah buku Nostra Sarawak. telah melawat Pusat Paderi Aetate – Deklarasi Vatikan Puan Zabariah merupakan Bersara Mother Mary di mengenai Hubungan Gereja anak jati Sarawak dari Marudi Stutong untuk membahagikan dengan Agama-agama Bukan yang sudah menerajui IIC sejak maklumat bersama paderi- Kristian – yang menyuarakan ia ditubuhkan pada 2008. paderi keuskupan agung ini di penghormatan bagi orang Matlamat IIC termasuk perhimpunan bulanan mereka.

Muslim dan menyeru kepada termasuk berusaha untuk Pembentangannya bertajuk orang Kristian dan orang Muslim mempromosikan dialog antara “Menjadi Orang Muslim” – untuk “berusaha dengan ikhlas agama dan kefahaman dibimbing beliau berkongsi kepercayaan untuk saling faham-memahami oleh prinsip keterangkuman orang Mislim selain amalan antara satu sama lain dan dan kesejagatan yang mereka yang mereka buat pada bulan memelihara serta sama-sama percaya adalah ajaran Islam.

Ramadan yang mempunyai memupuknya demi kebaikan Fr Felix Au (Terjemahan)

UTUSLAH AKU ... Pada 1 Februari, Father Stanley William Matakim telah ditahbiskan paderi oleh Uskup Julius Dusin Gitom di Gereja St Dominic, Lahad Datu. Beliau merupakan paderi kedua kelahiran Keuskupan Sandakan selepas Father David A Garaman yang ditahbis lima tahun yang lalu. Father Stanley memulakan kehidupannya seminarian pada tahun 2007 di Catholic Diocesan Centre (KK) dan seterusnya di St Peter’s College, Kuching. Paderi baru itu kini melayani sebagai pembantu paderi di Katedral St Mary, Sandakan.

(Sumber: Keuskupan Sandakan)

RAYAKAN BERSAMA ... Misa sempena Tahun Baru Cina telah diadakan pada Isnin, 8 Februari lalu dipimpin oleh Paderi Paroki St Bernard, Dalat, Father Simon Lau yang dibantu oleh Rektor St Peter & St Paul, Father Joseph Sebastian di Gereja St Peter & St Paul, Mukah. Misa tersebut dikendalikan dalam Bahasa Mandarin. Fr Simon Lau turut memberkati buah limau mandarin semasa misa tersebut. Buah limau tersebut dibahagikan kepada jemaat selepas Misa.

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC MARCH 2016

Paus: Bersyukur kepada Tuhan yang mencorak kehidupan anda ECATEPEC, Mexico — “Bersyukur dan berterima kasih” adalah fokus ucapan Pope Francis semasa memimpin Misa Kudus di Mexico pada 14 Februari lalu. Selepas menjelaskan beberapa perkara menarik tentang tema ‘bersyukur’, prelatus itu kemudiannya mengajak umat beriman Mexico untuk membantu negara mereka menjadi ‘tanah yang memberi banyak peluang’ sambil mengingatkan mereka agar tidak melupakan asal usul mereka.

Dalam pembacaan pertama yang dipetik dari Kitab Ulangan, Bapa Suci memberi renungan tentang beberapa panduan yang diberikan oleh Musa kepada umat Israel.

“Pada musim menuai, pada musim berkelimpahan dan ketika mendapat hasil pertama, jangan lupa asal usul, nenek moyang dan Tuhan yang memberikan rezeki,” ujar Paus.

“Bersyukur adalah sesuatu yang lahir dan bertumbuh di kalangan mereka yang tahu mengingati serta menghargai.

Ia berakar dari generasi terdahulu, melalui pelbagai rintangan dan masamasa gembira yang membentuk masyarakat pada masa kini.”

Ratusan ribu umat berhimpun bagi merayakan Misa di Pusat Pengajian Ecatepec, di mana Pope Francis meneruskan kunjungannya ke Mexico pada 12-17 Februari lalu.

“Pada hari perayaan ini, marilah kita merayakan betapa baiknya Tuhan

selama ini kepada kita. Marilah berterima kasih dan bersyukur di atas kesempatan ini di mana kita dapat berkumpul bersama bagi mempersembahkan hasil pertama anak-anak kita, cucu kita, harapan dan semua perancangan kita kepada Bapa yang maha Baik. Bukan itu sahaja, marilah kita bersyukur sambil mempersembahkan hasil pertama budaya, bahasa, tradisi dan hasil daripada keprihatinan kita kepada Bapa yang berbelas kasihan.”

Paus juga menyebut tentang kepentingan mengimbas kembali kenangan dan masa lampau dalam menghidupkan iman.

“Pada hari ini, Musa mengajak umat Israel dan kita semua, sebagai orangorang yang mengingati dan menghargai, nabi itu mengajak kita untuk menjadi orang-orang yang meneruskan kenangan sukacita, kenangan hidup Tuhan untuk diwariskan kepada umat-umat Tuhan, bahawa Tuhan sentiasa hadir di tengahtengah mereka.

“Perturunkan kepada anak-anak bahawa mereka bukan sahaja akan mewarisi tanah kelahiran mereka, budaya dan tradisi tetapi juga hasil hidup iman yang sangat berkait rapat budaya kesyukuran kepada Tuhan sejak zaman berzaman. Hanya melalui keakraban dan solidariti, akan membantu kita untuk terus mendongak kepada Tuhan dan tidak akan putus-putus berharap kepada Tuhan.”

Mukah lancar Tahun Kerahiman

Foto: CNS

“Saya juga akan menyertai anda semua bagi mengenang masa-masa sukacita Tuhan, kenangan hidup akan Tuhan yang sangat baik sepanjang hidup kita.”

Pope Francis juga memberikan semangat kepada warga Mexico agar bersama membanteras jenayah, kegiatan dadah, dan pelbagai masalah dalam negara itu.

“Saya mengajak anda untuk menjadi barisan hadapan, untuk menjadi orang

pertama yang dapat membantu tanah terberkati Mexico agar menjadi tanah yang memberikan peluang, di mana tidak ada lagi penghijrahan ke negara luar untuk menggapai impian, tidak ada lagi eksploitasi dalam pekerjaan, tidak ada kekecewaan dan kemiskinan, tidak ada penyeludupan dan kegiatan dadah yang banyak menghancurkan keluarga dan anak-anak muda Mexico!”

CNA/EWTN (Terjemahan: Herald)

Paus kata rahib yang dibunuh adalah martir zaman moden

Foto: CNS MERAIKAN TAHUN KERAHIMAN ... Fr Joseph Sebastian mengetuai jemaat dalam doa sempena pembukaan Tahun Jubli Kerahiman MUKAH — “Kita perlu ada harapan bahawa sesuatu yang indah dari Tuhan akan berlaku kepada kita dalam hidup kita,” kata Rektor Gereja St Peter & St Paul Father Joseph Sebastian dalam homili beliau untuk Misa Yesus Dipersembahkan di Kanisah pada 2 Februari lalu.

Ia juga merupakan perasmian Tahun Jubli Kerahiman bagi Paroki Mukah.

Fr Joseph berkata kita harus menunggu dalam harapan, hidup dengan harapan dan perlu ada harapan.

Beliau memberitahu jemaat, sebagai orang beriman, kita mungkin masih putus asa apabila kita berdepan dengan cabaran tetapi “marilah kita menunggu dalam harapan dan bersabar kerana kuasa Tuhan akan dinyatakan dalam hidup kita”, katanya memberi galakan kepada jemaat.

Dalam Misa itu, Fr Joseph turut memberkati lilin yang dibawa oleh jemaat. Lilin adalah simbol bagi cahaya kepercayaan.

Harapi Charles (Terjemahan)

Pejuang pro-kerajaan Yaman menjaga di luar sebuah rumah warga tua Missionaries of Charity pada 4 Mac selepas lelaki bersenjata yang tidak dikenali menyasarkan rumah tersebut di Aden KOTA VATIKAN — Pope Francis Beliau menyuarakan keakrabannya berkata empat orang rahib yang dibunuh dengan perkumpulan religius tersebut, di Yaman merupakan martir-martir zaman dan berkata rahib-rahib terbabit moden dan mangsa sikap acuh tak acuh. “menumpahkan darah demi Gereja” Dalam ucapannya kepada jemaat yang dan mereka bukan sahaja mangsa berhimpun di Dataran St Peter untuk penyerang tetapi juga “globalisasi yang doa Angelus, Paus berdoa untuk rahib- acuh tak acuh”. rahib yang maut dan merupakan anggota Rahib-rahib itu adalah antara 15 perkumpulan Ibu Teresa ‘Mubaligh orang yang maut dalam satu serangan Kasih’ yang berkhidmat di sebuah pusat oleh pengganas yang menyerang pusat untuk warga emas yang diserang Jumaat persaraan berkenaan. lalu oleh lelaki bersenjata di bandar raya Vatican Radio Aden.

(Terjemahan)

Published by: The Archbishop of Kuching, 118 Jln Tun Abang 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