Farewell Lunch for Bao Khanh and Andrew Kooi

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.
(standing from L to R) Brs. Moses, Myself, Martin, Surain & Andrew S.

With Br. Andrew Kooi

My Class (3rd Year Theology - 2007)

Introduction to Vespers - Week 3, Wednesday.

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.

Introduction to Vespers - Saturday, Evening Prayer 1 (sun).

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"

Educational Outing 2007

Yesterday (Oct 24), the seminary community went to the Singapore Science Centre for our Educational Outing.

Would like to share with you some of my pictures taken during the trip:-

Singapore Science Centre...here we come!!

the 'Organizer' and the 'Cashier' at the ticket counter

Adrian the Baptist

'kaa..boom' an experiment shown to us!
No, it was not the 'big bang theory'

the 'jing-bang' again!!

Introduction to Vespers - Week 1, Wednesday.

(Introduction based on Psalm 26 (27).
Last year when I visited my uncle who was old and sick, I used to bring him Holy Communion. He will usually ask about my parents and how the other relatives back home in Seremban. He will always tell me that he wants to come and visit them. Then when his situation became worst and he couldn’t eat anything, just being fed with fluid through the tube, I did not bring him Holy Communion. He called me close to him and whispered to me. I thought he was going to ask the same questions whenever I visited him; how are my parents and those in Seremban.

But to my surprise he asked me for the Eucharist. I was speechless. My cousin heard what he was asking and she consoled him by telling him that once he gets better and the tubes are removed he can receive Holy Communion.

In his request to me, my uncle actually repeated the same sentiments found in psalm 26(27); “There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savour the sweetness of the Lord, to behold His temple".

All he wanted was to live with God and to savour the sweetness of the lord. He never received Holy Communion before he died but he did receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the sick and I believe with his faith during his dying days he is now enjoying God’s presence and savouring the sweetness of the Lord.

Dear friends, how privileged are we, for everyday we have the opportunity to savour the sweetness of the Lord through the Eucharist and sit in his presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Let us pray that we will not take God’s gift and graces for granted but come to appreciate and long for it.
 
We also thank God for calling us and we pray too, that we will be worthy ministers of His sacraments.

Introduction to Lauds - Week 1, Wednesday.

(Introduction based on the hymn with Psalm 35(36).
Usually in the beginning of the movies, we will always see that the life of the action hero or super hero would go smoothly and successful. Then there would come a situation where they would be in great difficulty, but after all that, at the end, they would somehow get all the strength and be victorious in whatever they were trying to accomplish.

In real life too, we can see this happening. Everything will go on smoothly in the beginning then out of a sudden there will be an overturn where we would face difficult situations or reach a dead end. Then what are we to do? Where are we to get strength like the super heroes?
The 2nd verse of the hymn gives us a clue that we might have forgotten or even taken for granted. It sings “Your peaceful presence, giving strength, is everywhere, and fallen men may rise again on wings of prayer.” True, this is what we are to do when we are in those situations, and I know many can testify to experiences of rising again through prayer.

Even in times when we have fallen in sin, for psalm 35 (36) says that when we are in a sinful situation we do not experience God, we can’t feel him, we have no fear of God. So we the fallen should all the more pray. For only in God can we find refuge in the shelter of his wings and our sins forgiven.

We can rise again on wings of prayer!

Inculturation thro music!!

This is one explanation to what is 'inculturation'.
hehehe
Enjoy!!


argh my body and especially the legs are screaming of pain!!
ouch my shin! should have just quietly watched the clip.