All of us have STORIES!!

Its been 5 weeks attending CPE. I am so tensed up, with lots of work to do for this course and lots of reflection. I have never experience such tensed situation in the seminary. While all this going on, the feedback from my supervisors are disheartening too. One of them came up with the opinion that i do not have a priestly vocation. Yes, even my spiritual directors were shocked! In 5 weeks my supervisors can come up with that opinion whereas the same vocation stories shared to bishops, priests, aspirants and laity for the past 8years has been affirming. Hahaha i don't know! This call for lots of reflection!

Anyway back to what i wanted to post....STORIES!! Yes all of us have stories; happy ones, sad ones, emo ones, etc. But who is listening? Who has time to listen? In CPE, i am called to listen to those stories of the people i meet and help them find meaning and answers. Actually the answers are all in the stories itself.

Every morning, since i started taking this course i have been traveling in 2 busses and 1 train service to the hospital and when i look at the faces of the people taking the same transport with me, i see faces of stories...a mother, a father, school going children, a wife, a husband, old man, a young adult, etc. All of them have stories. I use to wonder what type of stories they have. Yes, i would like to listen!

But for a Christian, what type of story a Christian has or should have? It should be this..."This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Saviour all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long" - from the hymn Blessed Assurance.
Yes for a Christian his or her story is Christ! He or she is called to be the Light of the World. Sadly i have yet to hear any story of praising the Lord! I hope mine will be that STORY!!

Prayer Service for the Dead.

I prepared this prayer service for my uncle's death anniversary. I decided to post it here so others can use it for any prayer service for the dead. I have compiled this prayer using many sources.

OPENING HYMN: Abide With Me

Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide,
The darkness deepens Lord with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me!

I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour,
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power;
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Thro’ cloud and sunshine, oh abide with me!

Hold thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine thro the gloom & point me to the skies
Heav’n’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee.
In life, in death, O lord, abide with me.


OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Holy Lord, almighty and eternal God,
hear our prayers for your servant (...name...),
whom you have summoned out of this world.
Forgive his/her sins and failings and grant him/her a place of refreshment, light and peace.
Let him/her pass unharmed through the gates of death to dwell with the blessed in light,
as your promise to Abraham and his children for ever.
Accept (...Name...) into your safekeeping
and on the great day of judgement
raise him/her up with all the saints to inherit your eternal kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen

SCRIPTURE READING (1Thess 4:14)
We believe that Jesus died and rose again; so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have died believing in Him.

INTERCESSIONS
Leader: Let us pray to Christ who gives us the hope that our mortal bodies will become like his in glory.

Response: Lord, you are our life and our resurrection.

For (...Name...)and all the departed we have known and loved, that they may live for ever in their Father’s house. We pray to the Lord. R/

For all of us gathered here, that our faith may be stronger than our grief, and that our regrets may not be without hope. We pray to the Lord. R/

For all who suffer, that they may never feel God has abandoned them. We pray to the Lord. R/

For the church, that she may faithfully reveal to the world Christ who is Lord of the living and the dead. We pray to the Lord. R/

A decade of the Rosary
Leader: Let us say 1 decade of the Rosary, asking Mother Mary to continue to intercede for (...Name...)and all the departed and also for her maternal protection for all us living.

CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: God, all compassionate,
Ruler of the living and the dead,
you know beforehand those whose faithful lives reveal them as your own.
We pray for those who belong to this present world
and for those who have passed to the world to come;
grant them pardon for all their sins.
We ask you graciously to hear our prayer through the
intercession of all your saints and for your mercy’s sake.
For you are God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen

CONCLUDING HYMN : Mother Dearest, Mother Fairest

Mother dearest, Mother fairest,
Help of all who call on thee,
Virgin purest, brightest, rarest,
Help us, help, we cry to thee.

Chorus
Mary, help us, help we pray;
Mary, help us, help we pray;
Help us in all care and sorrow;
Mary, help us, help we pray.

Lady, help the absent loved ones,
How we miss their presence here,
May the hand of thy protection,
Guard and guide them far and near. Chorus

CPE here i come!

Hi...I am back. I know this post is long due!!! Been very busy with so much happenings!!
I am back in Singapore but currently doing a course in Mount Alvernia Hospital for 3mths. The course is 'Clinical Pastoral Education'. If you want to know about it just click here.

If you have been following some of my personal reflections that I have posted last year, this is the result of it. This is the result for being open, for speaking the truth, for seeking justice, for telling the superior his/her mistakes. The decision has been made without even listening to my part of the story. So CPE here i come!! Even though I am open to this course, I believe this is not God's plan for me. But I need not be afraid. God has assured me that He is by my side guiding and guarding me as I go through this course. As the psalmist in psalm 23:4 says; "Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage."

The Book of Isaiah has the same sentiments too. "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you.For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior...". (Is.43:1-3).

Truly the Word of God is strength. I end this post with a famous song by Don Moen. Will update on my experiences in CPE.