2010 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Egypt, Israel, Palestinian Authority & Jordan)

The weekend is here!! I'm having a light and easy weekend after a very long time, so I've decided to write a short-post on my blog and share some photos of my pilgrimage. Hmmm just realized it has been so long I made a post on my blog. Better start blogging again.

Anyway....

Together with my mother and 43 other people, I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Places at Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Jordan from October 01-11, 2010. We also had some sight-seeing such the Great Pyramid and a cruise on the River Nile. The experiences I had experienced is indescribable and unexplainable. It was just AWEsome.



It was indeed a spirit-filled experience. I thank God for giving me this opportunity to make this pilgrimage at the end of my 32 years of life here on earth 'in the footsteps of Jesus and the prophet Moses'. All the places I visited was indeed memorable but one particular place that I want to mentioned; that made an impact in me was the place of the Birth of Jesus, Our Lord and Saviour. The place where God gave a special gift to all of us i.e. His Son Jesus. God becoming human to save mankind. "For God so loved the world He gave us His only Son..." (John 3:16).
I had the privilage to venerate the place of Jesus' birth, His crucifixion, the place where His body was anointed, His tomb and the place He ascended to heaven.





To summarize my pilgrimage experience:-
A journey from the Old Testament (Exodus story - Israelites' journey from Egypt to the promised land) - to the New Testament. A Promised Foretold (OT) to the Promised Fulfilled (NT). And my challenge now as I begin my 33 years of life which God has given me is, to Live the Promise (Resurrection - New Life, Pentecost & Acts - Apostolic life).








For more photos, please click on the links below:-
Album 1
Album 2
Album 3

Suara Takbir...

'...Terdengar suara takbir
Memuji nama Illahi
Rasa dalam kalbu
Tenteram dan aman selalu...'

The sentiments from the phrase above taken from a song of P. Ramlee was exactly what I felt this morning. I was awaken with the sound of 'Takbir' coming from the mosque nearby. I just enjoyed that moment, praying with my Muslim brothers and sisters. It reminded me of our very own Exsultet which we hear during Easter Vigil.

If I'm not mistaken, we hear the Takbir sung during 'Eid ul-Fitr' which marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and 'Eid al-Adha' i.e the Festival of Sacrifice.

The 'Exsultet' is sung after our own month of 'Ramadan' i.e the beautiful season of Lent. The season when we prepare ourselves through prayer, penitence, alms-giving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here is a clip of the Takbir:-


Here is a clip of the Exsultet:-


Here is the clip by P. Ramlee

Lyrics:-
Dengar beduk berbunyi
Sayup bergema di subuh sunyi
Memanggil kepada muslimin
Segera berbakti kepada Illahi

Suara azan menyahut
Terdengar sayup memecah sunyi
Memohon restu dengan bakti
Kepada Illahi Tuhan Maha Suci

( korus )
Terdengar suara takbir
Memuji nama Illahi
Rasa dalam kalbu
Tenteram dan aman selalu

Kini tiba masanya
Hati gembira di Hari Raya
Bertemu sanak dan saudara
Bermaaf-maafan dengan keikhlasan

'...Kini tiba masanya

Hati gembira di Hari Raya

Bertemu sanak dan saudara

Bermaaf-maafan dengan keikhlasan.'

~SeLaMaT HaRi RaYa~

The Call to Prayer....Lord teach us to pray (Lk 11:1-4)

At catechism class, we were discussing about the church bells and the call to prayer. One of my student told me that he was irritated with the Islamic call to prayer i.e the Azan which is uttered loud via speakers. I then shared with the class about my experiences upon hearing the Azan. This is what i shared to them:-

I stay near 2 'surau' and I work next to a mosque. So I hear the Islamic call to prayer 5 times a day. I am actually very happy with this environment. This is because, as my Muslim friends are reminded to pray, I too am reminded to pray. Each time I hear the Azan, I pray softly in my heart, be it The Angelus or The Lord's Prayer or the Hail Mary. I pray for any intention that comes to my mind at that time. Hearing the Azan always, I can say I am lucky, for it is a good reminder; an opportunity to pray.

For Catholics, we too have such reminder to pray; i.e the Angelus. Sadly most churches do not toll the bell anymore. The tolling of bells for Angelus is at 6am, noon and 6pm.
Hmmm for me then it's a good 8 reminders a day to pray i.e. 5Azan+3Angelus=8 (reminder) call to prayer...hehehe

The clip below is a solemn, melodious Azan:-




And here is the Angelus:-

Honey....I shrunk the food.

I had this craving for a fast food which the last time ate was ages. I went to the outlet, placed my order and was told that I have to wait for about 10mins. I agreed and paid for it and after getting my change I just stood next to the counter since it was a 'take-away' and moreover there were no one behind me at the queue. The cashier was polite and friendly. After seeing me standing there, she offered me to sit and gave me a drink 'on the house'. Wow what a hospitality! This is the 1st time in 33 years I have received such hospitality at a fast-food joint. In less than 10mins I got my food. I extended my appreciation and told them how pleased I was at their service and hospitality.

Upon reaching home (my room for a matter of fact), I poured myself a glass of red wine and brought out a bottle of chili sauce. But what shocked me was the meal that I got. When I opened the box, I found that the particular food I ordered was small. I was thinking to myself..did they give me the wrong food?? Did they give me a kid's meal? It cant be, because this particular item is not in the kid's menu. As I mentioned earlier the last time I ate that particular food was ages, and at that time it was huge....sigh... Hmmmm what happened? It is true that the food items are not as what it looks like as how it is advertise...but why shrink the food? Expensive some more... sighhhh.

I wonder what's the reaction of the founder/creator of the fast-food restaurant when they come to know that their signature food items have been shrunk.

SFX Church, Malacca Confirmation Camp - 2010.

I have conducted many confirmation camps but this group from the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Malacca has been my best group so far. What I like in them the most is that, they asked good, quality, theological questions. Yes, I like when students actively participate and asks questions.
This camp with the theme given by the catechist; 'Confirmation and My Mission' was held at the Good Shepherd Seminary, Malacca on July 04-06, 2010. Thanks to the teachers who prepared them the past few years, these confirmation students were all energized and eager to receive the sacrament of confirmation. They were all cool, happening and sporting bunch of young people who are so excited in wanting to know more about the Lord and share in His mission.


Looking at their spirit and enthusiasm, I am convinced that the students left the camp with a new theme i.e 'MY Confirmation and MY Mission'.
May God continue to bless, guard and guide them always....Amen.

Nostalgic Perak & Penang holiday...

I took a trip down memory lane recently (June 24-29, 2010) and I literally mean that. It was a nostalgic trip for me to Perak and Penang. The 2 states in Malaysia where I stayed during the year 2001-2004 (Parit Buntar, Perak was in 2004). I had a great opportunity to meet some people whom I befriended while staying there. I am really so blessed with many nice good friends, some of them whom I have worked with while doing my pastoral as a seminarian in those states.

Parish House @ Parit Buntar

This was my room

When I first arrived at a home in Parit Buntar, I was surprised with a cultural welcoming and confetti. I really enjoyed my 2 1/2 days there meeting all of them now all older and grown up in age and sizes, and catching up with each others lives.







The rest of another 2 1/2 days I was in Penang. This time it was more of relaxation. Did meet a few friends and one of them was a lost friend but thanks to facebook managed to contact and meet him. Thanks to my good friend S. Dominic - a catholic priest, I had a pleasant stay in Penang with lots of makan-makan.


Unfortunatley I could not visit the place that I actually stayed when I was living in Penang, i.e. College General. I was told by a Priest from the seminary that my presence there would affect the seminarians. It is indeed hurting and sad to hear it say by a priest whom I had associated with before; Catholic priest who should actually have compassion and understanding especially of people like me, an ex-seminarian. I think he was afraid that the seminarians will start to question injustices being done in the seminaries, just like how I have questioned an unjust system or practice of a seminary that lead to my dismissal.

Anyway..put it aside.... I do have fond memories of my seminary life which I will cherish.

Cheersssss