"If i am your child, oh my God, it is because You did give me such a Mother" - Memoria of St. Monica.

Feast Day - August 27.

St. Augustine said this of his mother, St. Monica; "Never can i describe what her love was for me! By her glance as well as her words, she raised our hearts to God. If I am your child, oh my God, it is because You did give me such a mother".

It never actually hit me when when my friends says fond things about my mother after having met her, until i read what Augustine had to say of his mom.
This made me to reflect that my mother was one of the source of my inspiration to be a priest. I believe her simple ways and her prayer life has given me the courage, the love and the joy of wanting to serve Christ. Her words like "Praying for you" and "I love you" after each time I call gives me the motivation to persevere.

I'm sure we all have someone praying for us or someone who has been an inspiration in our life, that now we want to be Christ-like (be it our mother, father, a priest, saints, politician, humanitarian and charity workers, the many unsung heroes or even a friend, etc.). They might still be alive or even dead. So today in a special way we remember them and thank the Lord for them and its our turn now to pray for them.

All those who have been influential in our life have lead us to know God the father who loves us very much, with childlike trust we pray...

Perseverance - Memoria of St. Monica (August 27)

The church commemorates the memoria of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine on 27 August. Saint Monica succeeded in converting her husband through gentleness and she shed so much tears and went all out, to lead her son, Augustine to the truth. She loved him and prayed unceasingly for the conversion of her son. Her prayers were not answered immediately but it finally bear fruit because of her perseverance.

Through her example, we are taught to persevere and go all out in our ministry of service. We might be praying for someone or something and sometimes it never seems to be heard or answered or the answers are not what we had expected. Through the life story of St. Monica and St. Augustine, we are reminded that God actually answers at times He feels right for us and what is best for us.

We pray that we may be given the strength to persevere and let God's will be done in our life.

Could not find the right match or have given up hope in life?

In our parish today…(‘our’?…yes! I ‘feel’ belonged and I’m part of it); we had the last preparations for the 1st Holy Communion candidates before they receive the Eucharist for the first time this weekend. It was held at a nearby school hall. This school is run by thechurch and nearly all the candidates are from this school. The sessions were given by Sr. Joan Goodwin RSJ. who serves at the parish and nearby schools. One of the session was a ‘mass explain’ via viewing a video. They even had the opportunity to learn hands-on on how bread (hosts) and wine were made; the two important elements for mass. After lunch we walked to the church to end with a session by Fr. Mark (Parish Priest). Father elaborated further about the Mass and he showed them the right manner when they come up to receive Holy Communion.

Session for !st Holy Communion Candidates by Sr. Joan Goodwin RSJ.

Session at the church.

While all this was going on, I was recalling a fond memory; an incident which is so close to my heart. About 9years ago, I was giving a similar session for the 9 years old in a parish in Kuala Lumpur. After my session, when I was leaving the hall, a girl stood up and stopped me. She said; “You are a priest”. I pat on her head and told her that I am not. She replied; “I know…but you are a priest” Hmmm... "I know"?? I had many sleepless nights pondering on it, even now! This is one of the many affirmations I have received that has helped me in my discernment to the priesthood. I do not know who the girl was and I’ve never seen her before but she had to ‘pat’ actually give me a big ‘hit’ on my head to give me a 'message'. In 2006 I was sent to that parish for pastoral. Coincidently I was asked to give a session for the confirmation class. According to my calculation, that little girl should be in this class if she was still in the parish. And when the students asked me about my vocation story, I shared with them this incident and they were shocked when I told them that that little girl might be one of them. Unfortunately no one could remember and no one came up claiming to be that little girl. So, was she an angel sent by God? Hmmm.


While still being in cloud nine; recalling the day and the fond memory of that little girl, I received a message from a new friend who had just added me on her facebook. When she found out that I am considering being a priest, she asked whether is it because I couldn’t find the right match or I have given up hope in life! Hahaha I just had to laugh. I was thinking do people still think like that? She said she was kidding and later said it was interesting when I shared more. So I guess it’s just plain ignorance; not only her but many out there especially our Catholic friends. I was not angry with her; in fact, it was good for her to remind me why I want to be a priest and of course the joy I find in the priesthood. Even by being an aspirant and looking forward towards this great gift of God; I feel so happy, how much more will it be when by God’s grace I’m given the opportunity to be His priest. I am still praying and hoping that I’m doing God’s will. Many are aware that at this moment I am going through some difficult and testing time. They have asked how is it that I’m so relaxed and not worried about my future? My answer to them is ‘prayer’. Prayer is the one, that keeps me going in life and of course ‘trusting in the Lord’ which has been a constant theme in my life (and in my blog!!). Where else can I go? To whom else can I turn to? (Jn 6:68). He is my creator and He is responsible to look after me, especially after His promise to me when I said my first ‘Yes’.


Yes Lord, I’m only your clay, so You mold me as you wish. I pray Lord that You will help me not to be a dry clay or turn to be a stone (stubborn and can't be molded) but open and willing to do and be; anything according to your will and plan.


Friends, please pray for me, and many those aspiring to be priest and in fact for each one of us; that we will do what God wants us to do and be.

Parish and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Unanderra.

I promised in a previous post to publish something about the parish i am staying at during this 1st visit to Australia. So today being the Memoria of the Queenship of Mary ,I would like to dedicate this post to the Parish and Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Unanderra. The parish is in the Diocese of Wollongong, NSW, Australia.

Parish Founded – 16 November 1952

Church Blessed and Opened – 21 November 1954

The sanctuary of the church.

When the church was 1st built, the statute of Our Lady was above the tabernacle.
Then in July 1972 the statue of Our Lady was removed to the shrine
and it was replaced with a large Crucifix
and later, the statues of Mary and the Beloved Disciple.

The church was declared the Diocesan Shrine to Our Lady – 25 March 1993.

This large painting embellishing one bay of the ceiling of the nave
is of the Coronation of Our Lady surrounded by the Blessed Trinity.
(The feast day today)

The Presbytery (parish house) was blessed on 19 May 1957.
The window on the top left is my room window.

The prayer room (Oratory) at the Presbytery (parish house).

I am so amazed with this particular statues of the scene
of 'at the foot of the cross'.
It is the same scene as in the church,
but these figurine is so unique
that every morning when i look at it during my prayer,
it makes me think and reflect on the figurine's facial and body gestures
esp the hands of Mary and the Beloved Disciple.
It also makes me wonder what they are thinking
at that moment looking at the crucified Christ.
I always ask myself what was the intention of the sculptor
when he made this figurine, what was in his mind.

Prayer

Almighty God, our Father,
you have given us Mary, the Mother of your Son,
to be our Mother and Queen.
Grant that, supported by her prayers,
we may come to the kingdom of heaven
and to the glory destined for your children.
(Concluding prayer from the DO for the Memoria)

Memoria of St. Bernard, Abbot & Doctor of the Church (Feastday August 20)

Introduction to Vespers. 
The Psalm 138 (139) which we pray this evening, gives us the confidence that God knows us through and through. Before ever a word is on our tongue, God knows it.

Many times we have taken God and our prayers for granted that our prayer becomes careless. We are very fortunate to have ample of prayer times..but.. how have we used it?

St. Bernard says; “A person who prays carelessly, and yet expects his prayers to be heard, is like a man who pours bad grains into a mill, but expects to receive good flour in return”.

Let us pray that we may be faithful and truthful in our prayer, for prayer is a form of expressing our relationship with God.

As a community journeying in prayer, we pray…

Memoria of St. Bernard, Abbot & Doctor of the Church (Feastday August 20)

Introduction to Lauds.
“For Sion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest” In this phrase taken from the Canticle (Isaiah 61), we can see the prophet’s eagerness and anticipation in restoring the holy city.
 
Likewise we can see the same sentiments in the life of St. Bernard whose memorial we celebrate today. He was very much concern for the happenings of the church even though living an austere monastic life. He exposed the fallacies, which exalted human reason and rationalism and thus restored peace and unity in churches which have been divided. During the 2nd crusade, when Jerusalem and Antioch were threatened he went to preach the crusade.
 
We pray that we will be like St. Bernard, standing up to our faith and defending the church and it’s teachings in the midst of all kinds of scandal and happenings around the world.  

As a community, having so much love for the church, we pray…

Post World Youth Day

The 2008 World Youth Day (WYD) in Australia was like a tsunami, a spiritual tsunami! But unlike the tsunami, there have been lots of preparations in the various dioceses in Australia and also around the world for this event. I am now here in Australia at the phase 3 of the WYD i.e. the post-celebrations. Like the tsunami, I do feel the ‘after effects’ of this great event which was brilliantly initiated by the great well loved Pope John Paul II. The people here in Australia still do talk about it. It’s only about a month after the event, so it is still fresh in their minds. They are proud, happy and thankful for being given the chance to host it. It has been indeed a great opportunity to receive and give. I have been for 2 WYD (Manila-1995 and Rome-2000) but I do regret for not being able to be here during the WYD, graced by Pope Benedict XVI. Over the weekend, I attended 2 post 2008 WYD gatherings and heard lots of testimonies and sharing on how the WYD has greatly affected their lives.

The 1st gathering was with some young adults. It was a get-together at a club – food court (for us in Malaysia it would be like ‘lepaking at the mamak stall’). This gathering was organized by the Youth Mission Team with the idea to enable the young adults engage in fun and spiritual growth as how they have experienced during the WYD. The 2nd meeting was at the parish. Here we had a mix group-the seniors, adults, young adults, teenagers and the kids. Everyone shared their experiences; some being the host family to the pilgrims, some as the local pilgrims themselves and even the kids had something to say. They all shared how the preparations, the journey of the WYD Cross and Icon has been a great encounter with the Lord and how the WYD events at the week itself have been meaningful. Some could not even describe it with words, but with their expressions on their faces I could read their feelings of joy about the WYD which they have experienced.

Young Adults Gathering
(L-R: Me, Joseph, Tim & Stephen)

Some of the people who came to the gathering at the parish.

I am sure those people who I have met in these 2 meetings and all Australians for the matter of fact and not forgetting the pilgrims who came from all over the world will agree with me that they can all express the same sentiments in the words of St. Peter at the transfiguration of the Lord; “Lord it is wonderful for us to be (have been) here”. But, now is the most difficult part of the WYD and it is the same with all kinds of event especially spiritual events. The theme for the 2008 WYD is “you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) and from the testimonies of the people I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has indeed filled the hearts and enkindled the fire of His love among the hearts of the faithful. The challenge now is to keep the fire burning within, the challenge now is to share with others 'that' fire of love which the Spirit has filled in our hearts, and the challenge now is to be a witness.

At the transfiguration of Jesus (Mt.17), the disciples felt so good and motivated that they wanted to remain there with the experiences of what they have encountered. But no, that’s not right! Jesus had to bring the disciples down the mountain; for it is down there (here), the mission is. (Jesus had to continue to do his work when he came down from the mountain. Ref -Mt.17:14) It is true; it is not Catholic to just remain 'there'! Our mission is to share. That is why at the end of each mass, after our encounter with the Lord through His Word, Eucharist and others, we are told to ‘Go forth to serve and love’. It is always difficult to ‘go, serve and love’, but Jesus assures us, just like how He assured the disciples at the transfiguration; “…but Jesus came and touched them, saying do not be afraid” (Mt.17:7).

We have heard this phrase “Do not be afraid” repeated many times in all WYD’s and it is still relevant today as we take now the challenge to keep the fire burning, to share with others and to be a witness, because Jesus has come, touched us all (through these experiences) and assured us not to be afraid.