Linkin Park - What i've done

I am looking forward for my favorite band; Linkin Park's new album 'minutes to midnight' which will be launched on May14. Have used some of their songs for sessions with the youths and waiting to use one song for a session with parents (wonder how they will react to it!!! hehehe).



Here is a clip of one of their lead single 'What i've done' from their new album; Minutes to Midnight. Its a cool song. Listen, enjoy and let the words speak to you.


Lyrics - What I've Done

In this farewell,
There’s no blood,
There’s no alibi.
‘Cause I’ve drawn regret,
From the truth,
Of a thousand lies.

So let MERCY come,
And wash away…

What I’ve Done.
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done.

Put to rest,
What you thought of me.
While I clean this slate,
With the hands,
Of uncertainty.

So let MERCY come,
And wash away…


What I’ve Done.
I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done.

For What I’ve Done

I'll start again,
And whatever pain may come.
Today this ends,
I’m forgiving what I’ve done.

I’ll face myself,
To cross out what I’ve become.
Erase myself,
And let go of what I’ve done.
What I’ve done.

Forgiving What I’ve Done.

Jesus is Mercy...
"Come Lord Jesus!" (Rev.22:20)
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"(Lk.18:38)

a place called SUCCESS

The Road to success is not straight
There is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion,
speed bumps called bad friends, red lights called enemies,
caution lights called family,
u will have flat tyre called jobs.

But...

If you have a spare wheel called determination,
an engine called perseverance,
insurance called faith, energy called prayer,
and
a driver called God.
U will make it to a place called success.

Every Hero has a choice - Spiderman 3

Watch Spider-Man 3 today.

Good movie with a strong message of friendship and forgiveness.

Here are some memorable quotes that we too can reflect on:-

" ...revenge is like a poison, it can take us over and before you know it, it can turn you into something ugly."

"We've all done terrible things to each other, but we have to forgive each other. Or everything we ever were will mean nothing."

"This suit, where'd this come from? The power, feels good... But you lose yourself to it"

"... Everybody needs help sometimes... Even Spider-Man. "

Month of May - The ROSARY

We are at the month of May and traditionally for the Catholic Church during this month and also at the month of October we have the Rosary Devotion. Do not restrict to saying the rosary only at these months but i highly encourage if it is possible to say the rosary daily. There are a lot of personal testimonies of the rosary. I too have encountered many, hope to share it in my blog one day. Through the rosary, Mary leads us to Jesus. The Rosary is just not Mariology but if reflected further and deeper you'll see its also Christology.

Here is a short reflection on the rosary (Miracle of the Rosary).

Diocesan Celebration for Vocation Sunday 2007

Yesterday i attended the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations held at the Church of the Holy Family, Singapore.

'Men of Prayer'
Some of the brothers (Seminarians) already in deep prayer even before the event.


The 'great musicians' of the seminary with the back up singer!!!
Br. Andrew - Organist
Br. Surain - guitarist
Br. Jovita - another loud speaker like me who keep the balance in the chapel when we sing!!!


"Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send send out labourers into His harvest"
Leading in praise and worship with Br. Joseph

With the parish altar servers who are full of life and joy
"keep it up guys, had a great time with you all,
for those La Sallians...keep the flag high man!!" All through our college...


Oh!! Curi-curi makan tak beritahu i ya!!!!
The brothers having tea with Fr. Christopher

This event yesterday brought back at least 3 memories:-

1. My involvement in Vocation Promotions was when I was in my teens. We use to have Prayer Vigils organized in the various districts. Good turn out of youths and some elderly. It has been always great working with some religious brothers and sisters too. Nowadays it is sad to see in some dioceses where even in vocation promotion they are divided. Diocesan promoting and having prayer service for the diocesan only and religious doing the same for their own congregation. We always pray the prayer of Jesus "Father...that they may be one..." (Jn 17:21-22) for Christian Unity, but i seriously feel we must also use this prayer of Jesus and join him in praying for unity in vocations promotions. There are lot of cries for the lack of vocations; disunity in vocation promotions can be one of the reason for it!!. How can we attract people when they see us not in unity especially when we are promoting to serve the ONE Lord. Jesus said at the conclusion of the same text..."that the world may believe that you sent me"; so how can people believe in Jesus and his invitation when they do not see his ministers in unity in vocation promotions. The Lord's servants at the field (both diocesan and religious) should work together and sow the seed of vocation and Let God direct them to his special ministry which he has decided for them. Just imagine the resources and manpower including the ideas that we can benefit through working together. I thank God that at least in my Archdiocese (Kuala Lumpur) we still have the Arcdiocesan Vocation Promotion Team (AVPT) that works in collaboration with the Diocesan and the Religious Orders. We have camps and prayers services organized together and we allow also individual orders to organize their own camps especially for those seriously thinking about the specific order. But when it comes to prayer services such as Vocation Prayer Day, they will organize it together.

I was also active in promoting vocations for the Carmelite Sisters. We were known as 'Young Friends of Carmel'. The group comprises 10 youths. Out of the 10 youths, 1 girl (i heard she is still) considering the Carmelite and 2 who considered the Diocesan (1 of the 2 has joined the Diocesan Seminary and is in the 7th year now....hehehe...its Me. Surprise yeah, that i didn't join the Carmelites as priests even after meeting with a Carmelite Priest a few times. The Priest and the Sisters shared with me about their spirituality but still kept the option open for me to choose. And through discernment in prayer and after meeting with few priest i seriously felt my calling was to be a diocesan priest).

2) Altar Servers!!! Yes, this also brought back some memories. I had a good time with the Altar Servers of the parish over dinner yesterday. Lively servers. I was an altar server for 9 years. Left it to join the various different ministries for experience (e.g. Youth Hospitality Ministers, Lector and Announcer, Choir (I know nuts about music, but loved singing), Parish Vocation Team and Member in the Liturgical Council -this one was like a 'life member'.
I always enjoyed serving and i believe my vocation was nurtured when i was a server too. Being with the servers last night brought to mind all the good times we had which i miss so dearly now (the games, camps, meetings, 'bullying', ang pow for serving the wedding masses, preparing for mass especially the big feasts and of course all the 'makan').

3) The third that brought back memories was leading in praise and worship. After yesterday, i think i need to brush up. The days when i was in the youths, we use to do it often, and i remember leading in worship so confidently and just like 'soaring' in the wings of the spirit of God. I found this feeling lacking yesterday; Why ah? Those days we were so 'on' in praise and worship, now 'kayu' already!! Hey Colin B Raj, i know you are proud of me!!! hehehe.

Day of Prayer for VOCATIONS 2007

Excerpts of the Message of the Holy Father for Vocation Sunday, with the theme The vocation to the service of the Church as communion..

The annual World Day of Prayer for Vocations is an appropriate occasion for highlighting the importance of vocations in the life and mission of the Church, as well as for intensifying our prayer that they may increase in number and quality.

The mission of the church, therefore, is founded on an intimate and faithful communion with God.

The care of vocations, demands a constant 'education' for the listening to the voice of God.

Docile and faithful listening can only take place in a climate of intimate communion with God which is realized principally in prayer.

Vocations to the priesthood and to other ministries and services flourish within the people of God wherever there are those in whom Christ can be seen through his Word, in the sacraments and especially in the Eucharist.

May the Virgin (Mary) who promptly answered the call of the Father...intercede so that the Christian people will not lack servants of divine joy...May she ensure, also in our times, an increase in the number of consecrated persons, who go against the current, living the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, and give witness in a prophetic way to Christ and his liberating message of salvation.


Click here for the full text of the message of the Holy Father for the 44th World Day of Prayer for Vocations (2007).

MARY mother of God, the joyful disciple of the Risen Lord.

Sermon I preached this evening at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Siglap-Singapore.

Theme: MARY mother of God, the joyful disciple of the Risen Lord.




Christ’s resurrection is the key truth of our Christian faith, and this proclamation of his resurrection was the first ‘good news’, the pattern of the message that was to convert billions and change the world’s history. It’s not only a ‘good news’ but a joyous news that announces that evil has ultimately been overcome by good. Jesus shares his victory with us, for now we too have the power to rise and be glorified forever. Thus Easter becomes a season of joyous thanksgiving. And we see this joy being manifested in the lives of those people Jesus had encountered with during his resurrection. The cries of joy from the disciples “It is the Lord” and “We have seen the Lord” was shared with the rest of the community. Mary too must have had an equally intense experience of the new life of her glorified Son (RVM. 23)

Scripture does not relate any appearance of Jesus to his mother on the day of the resurrection or at any of the post-resurrection events. However, many saints and mystics throughout Church history have assumed that it did in fact happen. In the "Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius", he who is meticulous in supporting his teachings with Scripture, says in the contemplation on the Resurrection of Jesus: “He appeared to the Virgin Mary. Though this is not mentioned explicitly in Scripture, it must be considered as stated when Scripture says that “he appeared to many others.” So, dear friends, knowing the mutual love that flowed from the heart of Jesus and Mary, is there any doubt about such an appearance?

We do not find any mention of Mary in Scripture after the Resurrection until we meet her in the Upper Room, awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). Because of her strong faith, Mary certainly played an important role during this time of waiting for the Holy Spirit at Pentecost with the disciples. Her own faith and trust I am certain is no doubt was a great influence on many others.
As Mary brought comfort, hope and joy to so many after the Resurrection, she was basically fulfilling her role as a disciple. The joy that she shared was a radiance of her witness to the presence and power of the Risen Lord dwelling within her. A Christian disciple is called not to only imitate the Master’s works but also to bring the Master’s joy and hope to everyone especially those who are down, living in fear, discourage and have given up hope. The world is lacking of prophets of the ‘good news’, we don’t hear messages of joy and hope anymore. Everywhere there is news of terror, sadness, fear. Just look at our papers and televisions!! See the faces of the people in the MRT and buses, all seem so worried and tensed.

Mary and the disciples, having experienced a deep love relationship with the Lord, was filled with joy and delight, realizing that the whole human race was redeemed, and that those who believe and followed him would share in the divine life and love of the Lord. We too have the opportunity and are called to become disciples of the Risen Lord who are bearers of the message of Joy of the Resurrection, the same experience of joy that Mary and the disciples experienced when Jesus rose from the dead.
As we prepare ourselves to go out today to be faithful disciples of the Risen Lord, the bearers of joyful news, let us take Mary as our model of discipleship. In her visit to her cousin Elizabeth, she brought a joy that was so great that the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. That Joy that Mary brought to her cousin is none other than Jesus.

We too need to bring Jesus to others, so we pray that like Mary, our mission in life is to say yes to the Lord in all the happenings of every day and share the Joy of the Lord to everyone we meet.