Hi guys,
Together with the Youths from Christ the Light and Christ the King, Kuala Lumpur, we are organizing a youth programme from Dec7-9 called MYSELF XPLORE 3. This is the 3rd time we are organizing such an event.
Pls pray for us the organisers, the participants, and the event itself.
If you know any youths age 16-39, pls encourage them to participate. Below is the poster with the details. You are most welcome to register too.
Thank you.
Yesterday was the last day for my pastoral at the Parish of Saint Vincent De Paul, Singapore. I was posted to serve in the RCIY (Rite of Christian Initiation for Youths) since August this year. It was a great and beautiful experience. I learned a lot while conducting the sessions for the Catechumenates. The Parishioners are very friendly too. I take this opportunity to thank Fr. Michael Sitaram for accepting me to do my pastoral in the parish.
with the catechumens & the co-ordinators
with some of the 'angels'
The Presentation of
the Blessed Virgin Mary; that dedication of herself, reminds us of the ‘YES’
Mary made to God. Her ‘Yes’ at the
Annunciation entailed many other ‘Yes-es’, sometimes in obscurity, sometimes in
situations totally unexpected and reached its climax at the foot of the cross.
Prayer is saying
‘Yes’. When we pray and keep on praying, our ‘Yes’ moves in the direction of
Jesus’ ‘Yes’. Saying ‘Yes’ means committing ourselves to all that Jesus stood
for: love, truth, justice, life, human dignity.
Introduction to Vespers based on Psalms
19(20) and 20(21).
Introduction to Lauds based on psalm 23(24).
Nearly everyone would stop their work just to look at a procession, be it a religious one, a national parade, a strike or street demonstration march or even a funeral. In Malaysia, most of our parishes have some kind of procession during some major feast day or the parish feast day. 
The people just love the experience of it. Somehow they feel they can be close to God in all the excitements during the celebrations and they feel so proud to express their devotion to all the people who watches the procession. Even in our liturgy we have processions i.e. the Entrance, Presentation of Gifts and the Recessional Processions.
This morning we are invited to join in a triumphant procession. Psalm 24 describes the procession of the Lord approaching the temple in triumph.
The psalm invites all of us to commit ourselves anew to the Creator-Lord as we take part in the procession. We are a pilgrim church, a people on a journey; we affirm our commitment as we start our procession this morning to reach the high point of the day i.e. to the table of the Eucharist through praying the Morning Prayer (Lauds).
“Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
who desires not worthless things,
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.” [Psalm 23(24) vs.3-4]
Today is the Anniversary of the youth group I was attach with for my pastoral year in 2005.
Click here for their webpage.
Happy 4th Anniversary my friends.
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men". (Matthew 5:13)
Have you wondered how salt can become tasteless? As i was reflecting this, i was thinking maybe when it is impure or has been mixed with other substances or maybe due to some extraction method. But even this might not be possible. I guess Jesus is simply just telling us not to be in such situation that you loose your identity. Our identity is that; we are God's children, His disciples (follower). More so being a Catholic Youth Group.
Today as we celebrate our anniversary, we are challenged again to continue to be the SALT of the earth. Salt is an important substance in the world, we the youths are important in our church, in society. Let us not loose our flavour, our identity and our influence in society.
with love,
Br. Adrian Mathews
I remember reading this story long ago, but this time after receiving it again from a friend I thought of sharing it with all of you.
Confused, fear, uncertainty, alone, angry,
hypocrisy, wrongly accused, wrongly judged, unjust.... argh!!! And my response....a SIGH!!
It is not in my hands, for i place everything in God's hands. I can only trust in Him, yes i trust in Him. Truth will prevail.
If i am to picture myself in the situation that i am in right now, it would be; a storm all around me, rough seas, high waves hitting around me, everywhere is chaos, like a child in fear i cling on tightly onto the Lord. For only in Him i trust.
Praying the psalter has been a great help for me, especially the psalter during the day which becomes so real for me. I can identify myself, what i am going through and also the outcome of my 'foes'. (Other than the lauds (morning prayer) and the vespers (evening prayer), seminarians, religious and priests pray the psalter during the day and the office of readings).
The Gospel reading for today (Luke 17:1-6) is very inspiring; For Jesus says that obstacles are sure to come...and he ends by affirming that only faith can move the obstacles.
Thank you for praying for me. For it is because of your prayer that I am able to cling onto the Lord, that my faith has not fail. Do continue to pray for me and for many who are facing the same, that God's Will Be Done.
The Malaysian seminarians had a farewell lunch for Br. Andrew Kooi (Final Year seminarian from my archdiocese) and Br. Bao Khanh (My classmate for the past 3 years) on October 31st. Br. Andrew has finish his studies and Br. Bao Khanh was asked to continue his priestly studies in Vietnam.
(sitting frm L to R) Brs. Cyril, Clement, Andrew K, & Bao Khanh.
With Br. Andrew Kooi
My Class (3rd Year Theology - 2007)
Introduction based on Psalm 126 (127)
There is a famous saying that goes this way; 'Behind every successful man is a woman'. I am sure this statement has been proven by many people. I do not deny this statement but for us people of faith, i think it goes more than that. For us it should be; 'Behind every successful man or woman is God'. For success depends on the Lord's blessings. We can see this element in Psalm 126 (127).
So let us look back and see 'what marvels the Lord has worked for us' [Ps.125 (126)] and as we pray we thank God for always being with us and blessing us.
Vespers Introduction based on the Canticle: Phil 2:6-11.
2 men were walking on a rough road on a hill. They were walking for so long and were tired and desperate for a ride. They finally saw a rickshaw in a distance. But as it pulls closer they notice a very old bare-bodied man with noticeable bones of his rib cage managing it. "There is no way I'm going to ride this" one walker exclaim feeling very sorry for the man. "Don't be a ninny" shouts back the other companion. As they both argue over it, the old man impatiently shoves both of them into the rickshaw. He cares less. This is his vocation. This is what he is called to do.
The canticle this evening; Jesus taking the form of a servant, reminds me of the story above. And while reading the story, I see a picture of Jesus kneeling with a basin of water, towel draped over his shoulders and washing the feet of his disciples. This is the King of kings, the Lord of lords and the Son of God! And yet He humbled Himself and saw a servant's role befitting Him, so long as it accomplished the purpose He was sent for.
I remember during my 1st retreat as a seminarian, i was taught on the Doulos Leadership. A new leadership based on that of the servant / "doulos" Jesus. I quote from the notes given by Fr. Jojo; "Feet-washing of the Other in terms of a self-emptying of one's importance and taking on the person of the slave and render selfless service to the lowly and unloved ones of society is our way of life because 'the greatest among you must be the least'. And we are no 'greater than the master' who has shown us that greatest lies in lowliness.
So with conviction we pray that we may be directed towards selfless service to others. That's having "A Servant Heart"
