The Lil' Church on the Hillock

5 Feb - 11 Feb 2012

2012-02-03T14:43:00.001+08:00

STC SUNDAY MASSES FOR SUNDAYS IN FEBRUARY WILL BE AT DEWAN ORANG RAMAI, PEKAN NILAI AT 9AM.
DATES: SUNDAYS 5/2, 12/2, 19/2 AND 26/2/2012.

ASH WEDNESDAY 22 February 2012 (Fast & Abstinence): MASS AT 7.30PM AT DEWAN ORANG RAMAI, PEKAN NILAI.

Catechism Classes:
No Classes on 12/2/2012.

BEC MASSES:

- BEC St. Dominic Savio (Desa Indah, Nilai Perdana, Kg. Baru, Tmn Ban Aik): 8/2/12 (Wed) @8pm: Home of Mr.& Mrs. Sebastian: 59, Jalan Nilai Perdana 3, Tmn Nilai Perdana, 71800 Nilai. Hp: 019-2028701

BEC Masses: Those who would like to open their houses for Masses please contact Father as soon as possible.

29 Jan - 4 Feb

2012-01-27T17:06:00.001+08:00

Next Week Sunday 5/2/2012(9am):
STC MASS,at DEWAN ORANG RAMAI, PEKAN NILAI.

STC February Calendar:
- Sun 5/2 - PFC Meeting
- Fri 10/2 - Negeri Priests Meeting
- Tues 14 & Wed 15 - KL Clergy Recollection
- Thurs 16/2 - Negeri District Team Meeting 8pm at Tampin
- WED 22/2 - ASH WEDNESDAY (Fast & Abstinence)
- Sun 26/2 - RCIA Rite of Elect - 9am STC; 3pm Holy Family Church, Kajang.

BEC MASSES:

BEC St.Anne (Desa Kasia): 2/2/12 (Thu) @ 8pm: Home of Mdm Lily: PT21909, Jalan Kolej
Hp: 012-9165303

BEC St. Dominic Savio (Desa Indah, Nilai Perdana, Kg. Baru, Tmn Ban Aik): 8/2/12(Wed) @8pm: Home of Mr.& Mrs. Sebastian: 59, Jalan Nilai Perdana 3, Tmn Nilai Perdana, 71800 Nilai. Hp: 019-2028701

Ash Wed: Pls bring yr old blessed palms by Sun 19/2.

22-28 Jan 2012

2012-01-20T14:19:00.004+08:00

Next Week Sunday 29/1/2012: STC MASS at DEWAN ORANG RAMAI, PEKAN NILAI.

Prayer Petition:
Let us continue to pray that our Lord Jesus will strengthen the faith and unity of our STC community and help us build our Church soon!

CNY GREETINGS:
WE WISH ALL THOSE CELEBRATING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, "A BLESSED & HAPPY CHINESE/LUNAR NEW YEAR! XIN NIAN KUAI LERK!
WAN SHI RU YI !
GOD BLESS!"

KL Archdiocesan BIBLE Apostolate: Those interested to attend any of the following pls contact Fr.Raymond: - Bible Knowledge Teachers' Congress: Tuesday 7th February'12 at OL of Fatima Church , 9am -1pm. - Facilitators' Workshop- The Bible in 40 Weeks:18/2/2012 at St.John's; 9am-4pm. Must have attended some Biblical Training/Course/ Programmes.

COMPASSION WALK: ASAYO invites Young Catholics 17-39yrs for a day of formation and mission. Date: 10/3/2012 9am-7pm at St.Anne's Church, Port Klang. Fee: RM 30(meals+Tshirts). Contact: Edmund 017-3678945.

Archdiocesan 5th Sunday Special Collection: For Migrants on 29/1/2012.

Baptism of Infants: Please register with Father as soon as possible.

BEC Masses: Those who would like to open their houses for Masses please contact Father as soon as possible.

DONATIONS: For St. Theresa Church are most welcome: Please address cheques to: Church of Saint Theresa, Nilai.

Masses in January 2012

2012-01-10T10:19:00.002+08:00

Dear all, please be informed that mass for all Sundays in January 2012 will be held at the Dewan Orang Ramai Nilai at 9am. Sunday School will follow after mass at the same venue. Thank you.

Church of Saint Theresa Fire on 1st Jan 2012

2012-01-05T14:18:00.002+08:00

Dear friends in Christ,

Please pray for our parishioners of St.Theresa Church, Nilai, whose Church was burnt on New Year's Day 2012 !

May God be with us here in St.Theresa, Nilai, give us courage and hope in Him in these time of shock and grief.

God bless you all!

Thank all too for your continued prayers and support!

Fr. Raymond Pereira
Parish priest
St.Theresa Church
Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan,
Malaysia.

More pix of the "Stc nilai" facebook

FEAST OF ST THERESA NILAI (29/9/-2/10)

2011-09-24T08:22:00.001+08:00

FEAST OF ST THERESA NILAI

29/9/2011 (Thur):
"Renewing Family Life"
7.00pm - Rosary/ Novena Prayers
7.30pm - Mass (Tamil / Eng)

30/9/2011 (Fri):
"Family Rooted in the Word God"
7.00pm - Rosary/ Novena Prayers
7.30pm - Mass (Multilingual)

1/10/2011 (Sat):
"Family- Reliving the Sacraments"
4.00pm - Legion/Rosary/Novena Prayers
6.00 pm - Mass (Multilingual)

2/10/2011 (Sun):
"Family on Mission"
8.15am - Legion/Rosary/Novena Prayers
9.00am - Mass (Multilingual)

ALL ARE WELCOME!
Donations in cash and kinds are most welcome. Please contact Mrs Maria Pakianathan (012 2458157).

10 July: Announcements

2011-07-09T10:04:00.001+08:00

STC ANNUAL DINNER:-
29th October 2011 (Sat), 7.00pm
Damansara Palace Restaurant,
Persiaran Surian, Jln PJU 3/31, PJ.
Tickets are on sale: RM80/person
For tickets/ info: Magdalene: 017-3962977, Edward Tan:012-2021365, or any Committee member.

CALENDAR:

1. STC Building Fund Committee
Meeting: Sun 10/7 @ 3.30pm in
Church.
2. Negeri Priests Meeting: Thurs 14/7 @
10.30am.
3. PIHDM: Meeting on Thurs 14/7 @
7.15pm.

STC Parish Monthly Subscription 2011:
Note: 60 cards have been distributed but only 20 are active. Please support this effort. Collection will be used for STC Maintenance and the new building fund.
Pls collect your forms from Mrs. Maria Pakianathan. TQ. Cheque donations for STC Building can be addressed to: Church of Saint Theresa, Nilai.

RCIA: will commence soon, Pls contact George mool (BM), Anthony Chia (English), or Fr. Raymond.

Announcements: 19 June 2011

2011-06-17T22:50:00.002+08:00

Most Blessed Trinity: 19/6/2011 (Sun)

Corpus Christi: 26/6/11 (Sun)
8am-9am: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by Mass at 9am. ALL are encouraged to come and adore our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

CALENDAR:

1. Liturgical Meeting: Sun 19/6 @ 10.15am All Liturgical reps must attend.
2. KL Clergy Recollection: Tues 21 & Wed 22/6.
3. STC Dinner Committee meeting: Wed 22/6 @ 7.30 pm.
4. STC Boundary Committee Meeting: Wed 29/6 @7.30 pm.

On Leave:
Fr.Raymond will be on leave from 17/6 - 4/7. For Parish pastoral matters pls contact Mr.Anthony Chia (016 356 9168). For Anointing of the sick pls contact any of the Negeri District priests. There will be no week day masses.

STC Parish Monthly Subscription 2011:
Note: 60 cards have been distributed but only 20 are active. Please support this effort. Collection will be used for STC Maintenance and the new building fund.
Pls collect your forms from Mrs. Maria Pakianathan. TQ. Cheque donations for STC Building can be addressed to: Church of Saint Theresa, Nilai.

Announcements

2011-06-11T11:10:00.002+08:00

Pentecost (12/6/11):
Thanks to those who organised
& attended the 9 Day Novena to
the Holy Spirit. Let us be open
to the Holy Spirit to discern
His gifts and help build God's
kingdom of peace, love &
righteousness ! A Blessed Pentecost to ALL!

Most Blessed Trinity: 19/6/2011 (Sun)
Corpus Christi: 26/6/11 (Sun)

STC ANNUAL DINNER:-
29th October 2011 (Sat), 7.00pm
Damansara Palace Restaurant,
Persiaran Surian, Jln PJU 3/31, PJ.
Tickets are on sale: RM80/person
For tickets/ info: Magdalene: 017-3962977, Edward Tan:012-2021365, or any Commitee member.

Father's Day (19/6)
We wish ALL FATHERS, "A Blessed & Happy Father's Day. God bless all fathers for your love, care & guidance!"

On Leave:
Fr.Raymond will be on leave from 17/6 - 4/7. For Parish pastoral matters pls contact Mr.Anthony Chia (016 356 9168). For Anointing of the sick pls contact any of the Negeri District priests.

No classes on:
29/5 and 5/6 - (School Holidays) | 19/6 - (Father's Day)

Meeting with parents: 3/7/2011 @ 10.30am.
No classes on this day. All parents required to attend. TQ

HELP WANTED: We need a teacher for the pre-school class urgently. Those interested, please approach any one of the teachers.

Announcements - 5 June 2011

2011-05-26T18:13:00.002+08:00

45th World Day of Social Communications:
5/6/2011 (Sun)

Pentecost (12/6/11):
9 Day Novena to
will be held after
the Masses. Let us
prepare ourselves
for the Feast of
Pentecost.

Most Blessed Trinity: 19/6/2011 (Sun)
Corpus Christi: 26/6/11 (Sun)

CALENDAR:
Meetings:

- BECCOT Meeting on Wed 8/6 at 7.15pm.All BEC Core Team must attend. TQ.

- Negeri District Pastoral Team: Meeting on Thursday 9/6 at 7.30pm in PD.

- PPC Meeting: Tues 14/6/11 - at 7.15pm.
BM Marriage Preparation Course: next one 24-26 June' 11

12/6/2011 -
Mass at Kg. Belihoi at 12 noon.

BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN:
Thank you to all who had donated blood and helped with the campaign. God Bless you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

No classes on:
29/5 and 5/6 - (School Holidays) | 19/6 - (Father's Day)

Meeting with parents: 3/7/2011 @ 10.30am.
No classes on this day. All parents required to attend. TQ

HELP WANTED: We need a teacher for the pre-school class urgently. Those interested, please approach any one of the teachers.

Announcements - 29 May 2011

2011-05-26T18:08:00.002+08:00

BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN:
29/5/2011 (Sun) -pls give your full support.

Ending the Rosary Month: Tues 31/5 Rosary Prayers at Our Lady's Grotto at 7.15pm.
ALL are encouraged to participate.

Ascension of the Lord:
2/6/2011(Day of Obligation): 1/6/2011 (Wed) - Mass at 7.30pm. 2/6/2011 (Thu) - Mass at 7.30pm.

Pentecost (12/6/11):
9 Day Novena to the Holy Spirit begins from 3/6/11. Held after the Masses.Let us prepare ourselves for the Feast of Pentecost.

45th World Day of Social Communications: 5/6/2011 (Sun)
Most Blessed Trinity: 19/6/2011 (Sun)
Corpus Christi: 26/6/11 (Sun)

Greetings: We wish ALL Sabahans & Sarawakians, "SELAMAT MENYAMBUT PESTA KAAMATAN (31/5) & GAWAI (1/6)! SEMOGA TUHAN MEMBERKATI ANDA SEMUA!!"

Baptism of Infants; We welcome infants, Noah, Raymond and Timothy to our Catholic community. God bless them and their families.

CALENDAR:
Meetings:
- BECCOT Meeting on Wed 8/6 at 7.15pm.All
BEC Core Team must attend. - PPC Meeting Tues 14/6/11 - at 7.15pm.

BM Marriage Preparation Course: next one 24-26 June' 11

SUNDAY SCHOOL
No classes on:
29/5 and 5/6 - (School Holidays) | 19/6 - (Father's Day)

Meeting with parents: 3/7/2011 @ 10.30am.
No classes on this day. All parents required to attend. TQ

HELP WANTED: We need a teacher for the pre-school class urgently. Those interested, please approach any one of the teachers.

HOLY WEEK Services:

2011-04-15T11:15:00.003+08:00

LENTEN Quotation: Pope Benedict XVI:
"Lent is a spiritual path that prepares for the commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus."

HOLY WEEK Services:

Let us prepare spiritually well this Holy Week for a Holy & Spirit-filled Easter!

Palm Sunday (17/4):
Mass; Sat 16/4@6pm;
Sun 17/4@ 9am
Pls bring your own Palms.

CHRISM MASS: on Wed 20 Apr at COMPH, Mentakab, at 6pm.

Holy Thursday (21/4)
Mass @7.30pm
Adoration:
9.00pm-10pm: Students/others -English
10pm-11pm- Tamil-speaking
11pm-12am- BM/English

Good Friday - 22/4
(Fast & Abstinence)
- Way of the Cross @ 12.30noon
- Way of the Cross @ 7.00pm
Good Friday Service @ 7.30pm.

- Easter Vigil - 23/4: Mass at 9.30pm.
POT LUCK AFTER EASTER VIGIL MASS: EACH BEC TO BRING SOMETHING. WE ALSO WELCOME SPONSORS (CASH & KIND) FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CELEBRATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT MRS MARIA AT 012 2458157.

- Easter Sunday - 24/4: Mass at 9am.

A Word of Thanks: to ALL who helped in the Lenten Gotong-Royong last Sunday.
God Bless you all!

Sunday School Classes as usual on Palm Sunday. No Classes on Easter Sunday.

Announcements: 2 Apr 2011

2011-04-02T10:45:00.002+08:00

The Divine Mercy devotion
every Fridays of Lent @
6.40pm. Way of the Cross
@ 7.15 p.m. followed by
Mass.

Negeri Sembilan District LENTEN Penitential Services:
-Tue 5/4 : Imm Conception, PD, 7.30 pm.
-Wed 6/4: St. John VianneyTampin, 7.30pm
- Thu 7/4 - Getco 7pm.
- Tue 12/4 - Gemencheh ,7.30pm
- Wed 13/4 - ST.THERESA, NILAI - 7.15PM.
- Thu 14/4 - Visitation, Seremban, 7pm.

HOLY WEEK Services:
- Palm Sunday 17/4 - Mass 9am. (Pls bring
your own Palms).
- Holy Thurs - 21/4 - Mass at 7.30pm
- Good Friday (Fast & Abstinence) 22/4 -
- Way of the Cross @ 2.30pm.
- Way of the Cross @ 7.00pm flwd by
Good Friday Service @ 7.30pm.
- Easter Vigil - 23/4 - Mass at 9.30pm.
- Easter Sunday - 24/4 - Mass at 9am.

CHRISM MASS: on Wed 20 Apr at COMPH, Mentakab, at 6pm.

STC Lenten Gotong-Royong:
10-4-11 at 10.30am. Please come to clean your church for the Easter Celebrations.

Calendar:
NO weekday Mass from Tues to Thursday: Church fumigation for termite infestation.

COFFEE MORNING:
Volunteers are welcomed to assist. All expenditure bought for the coffee morning can be reclaimed and only the profit is to be handed over to STC (Unless the individualwishes to donate the whole amount i.e expenditure + profit). Further Information Contact : Mr Maurice Santa Maria H/P: 017-3962977

STC Church Cleaning will follow the BEC animated Mass schedule.: Sat 2/4 St.Claire.

POT LUCK AFTER EASTER VIGIL MASS: EACH BEC TO BRING SOMETHING. WE ALSO WELCOME SPONSORS (CASH & KIND) FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CELEBRATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT MRS MARIA AT 012 2458157.

Announcements: 19 Mar 2011

2011-03-19T09:48:00.000+08:00

LENTEN Quotation:
Pope Benedict XVI:
"Lent is a spiritual path that perpares for the commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus."

The Divine Mercy devotion will be held every Fridays of Lent @ 6.40pm.
Way of the Cross at 7.15 p.m. followed by Mass.

Sun (20/3,2011),
11am: Vietnamese recollection/ confession
1pm: Mass in Vietnamese

Rest of announcements remain - as per last week.

Announcements: 12 Mar 2011

2011-03-11T23:54:00.002+08:00

Pope Benedict XVI:
"Lent is a spiritual path that perpares for the commemoration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus."

The Divine Mercy devotion will be held every Fridays of Lent @ 6.40pm continued with
Way of the Cross at 7.15 p.m. followed by Mass.

Calendar:
PPC Meeting (Tues)- 22/3/2011

KL Clergy Recollection: Tuesday 15 & Wed 16 March. Pls pray for our priests.

Cleaning of STC:
Beginning from April each wekend respective BECs will take turns to clean our Church. Contact: David Solomon. TQ for your co-operation.

NO CATECHISM CLASS ON 13/3 & 20/3/2011 (SCHOOL HOLIDAY)

WE WELCOME SPONSORS (CASH & KIND) FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CELEBRATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT MRS MARIA AT 012 2458157.

STC Parish Monthly Subscription 2011: ALL families & individuals pls collect yr forms from Mrs. Maria Pakianathan. TQ.

Announcements: 5 Mar 2011

2011-03-05T00:13:00.003+08:00

LENTEN REFLECTION: On Sun 6/3/2011, Time: 10.15am-12noon.
Theme: "Remember Me!". ALL parishioners must attend to prepare for Lent. Admission free!
Pls register at Church Entrance immediately! Speaker: Christine Ubong

Mass on 9/3/11 @ 7.30 pm.

Way of the Cross: Every Friday during Lent: 7.15pm followed by Mass.

Divine Mercy Devotion: on Thursdays of Lent: at 7.10pm.m (after the 6.30pm Mass)

Rite of Election: at Holy Family Church on Sun 13/3/11. In STc on Sun 13/3 at 9am . Let's pray for our elect.

WE WELCOME SPONSORS (CASH & KIND) FOR HOLY WEEK AND EASTER CELEBRATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT MRS MARIA AT 012 2458157

NO CATECHISM CLASS ON 13/3/2011 (SCHHOL HOLIDAY)

16-3-2011 (Wed) @ 8pm: BEC MASS @ the home of Mr & Mrs Anthony, 38, Jalan Lavendar 2, Nilai Impian

Calendar:
PPC Meeting (Tues)- 22/3/2011

Rest of announcements remain.

Announcements: 26 Feb 2011

2011-02-25T23:27:00.005+08:00

LENTEN REFLECTION: On Sun 6/3/2011, Time: 10.15am-12noon.
Theme: "Remember Me!". ALL parishioners must attend to prepare for Lent. Admission free!
Pls register at Church Entrance immediately! Speaker: Christine Ubong

Ash Wednesday Mass on 9/3/11 @ 7.30 pm.
Way of the Cross: Every Friday during Lent: 7.15pm followed by Mass.

COFFEE Morning after Mass (27/2/2011), Pls support, TQ.
PIHD Exposure: To Simpang Pertang, Jelebu (Fr Naden's place) on Sat 2 Apr' 11 is cancelled.

Interreligious dialogue: Short CD "The Imam & the Pastor" -Sun (27 Feb) @ 10.15am. in Church. All are welcome!

STC Parish Monthly Subscription 2011: ALL families & individuals pls collect yr forms from Mrs. Maria Pakianathan. TQ.

2/3/2011 @ 8pm: BEC MASS @ home of Jesse & Raj. 45 Jln Kasturi 2, Kasturi Heights

Other announcements remain.

Announcements: 19 Feb 2011

2011-02-19T00:44:00.005+08:00

Ash Wednesday: 9/3/11- pls bring yr old blessed palms by Sun 27/2. TQ

PIHD Formation: for all interested on Sat 26/2/11 @ Visitation Church, Seremban. For more information, please contact 017 3962977 (Mr Maurice).

PIHD Exposure: To Kuala Kelawang, Jelebu. Sat 2 Apr' 11. Bus leaves STC at 8am. Pls register at Church entrance now!

Interreligious dialogue: Short CD "The Imam & the Pastor" shown next Sun @ 10.15am. in Church. All are welcome!

LENTEN RECOLLECTION: For all Parishioners on Sat. 5 March 2011. Time: 1-5pm. Theme: "Remember Me" .Register at Church entrance. All are welcome!

Youth: Compassion Walk: on Sat 12/3/11 time: 9am-7pm. Venue: ASAYO, KL. fee; RM 30 per person. Registration: http://kl.catholicyouth.my .for more info: refer notice board, tel; 03-20707660.

Tamil CHOICE 32: 23-39 yrs. 1-3 Apr @ APC, KL. RM 120. Contact: Daniel Dass: 012-2996953.

Diocesan Vocation retreat: "Make a Difference". Date: 1/4 (7pm) -2/4 (10pm). @ Sacred Heart Church, Kl. age: 18-25yrs. Single Male.
Contact: Parish priesh or Fr. Chris. tel: 012-2184064.

Daily masses on 23/2 and 24/2 will be at BEC's
23/2 (Wed): St. Dominic Savio BEC MASS (8pm) @ The home of Mr John , Taman Indah

24/2 (Thu): St. Faustina BEC MASS (8pm)@ The home of Grace & Francis, PT10346, Jln BBN 11/3J, Desa Melati

Announcements: 12 Feb 2011

2011-02-12T00:35:00.003+08:00

Coffee Morning: This Sun (13/2/2011) by the Senior Parishioners. Please give them your fullest support.

Calendar:
KL Clergy Recollection: Tues 15 & Wed 16 Feb.
Liturgical meeting; Sun 13-2-11 at 10.15am.(E/T/BM).
Parish Integral human Devt (PIHD): meeting on Friday 18 Feb at 7.00pm. All BEC must send a representative.

Negeri District Family Life Ministry: Family Life Formation scheduled on Sat 26-2-2011 (3-5pm) at S.Aloysius Hall, Mantin has been postponed to May 2nd.

Sunday School Classes as usual this 13/2/2011. RM20 (registration fee) per child. This is for textbooks and related expenses. Please pay fees to your child's class teacher. Thank you.

Daily Masses: no Mass on Tues 15 & Wed 16 (KL Clergy Recollection). Other days as usual.

Announcements: 5 Feb 2011

2011-02-05T12:03:00.002+08:00

Thank you to those who helped in the CNY celebration and those who donated oranges. God Bless you all!

Daily masses this coming week as usual: 6.15pm evening prayer followed by mass at 6.30pm.

Sunday School resumes on 13/2/2011. Parents, please note that there is a registration fee of RM20.00 (includes textbook). Please pay fee to the your child's class teacher.

Other annoucements.. no change

Announcements: 29 Jan 2011

2011-01-28T22:14:00.002+08:00

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR
The Parish Councils & Fr.Raymond wish ALL Parishioners "A Very BLESSED & HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! XIN NIAN KUAI LERK! Wan Shr Ru Yi!"

A WORD OF THANKS: to Rev. Fr. Henriot and Fr. Amalanathan for celebrating our Sunday Eucharist. God Bless you, Fathers!!

Thanks to the Tamil-speaking group for successfully organizing the Ponggol Celebration last week. God Bless.

World day for Consecrated Life:
The Religious have CANCELLED their celebration which was supposed to be held on 12/2/11.

Daily masses:
Tuesday (1/2/2011): 6.15 p.m. evening prayer; 6.30p.m. mass
Wednesday (2/2/2011): 7.00a.m Mass
Thursday (3/2/2011) Chinese New Year: 9.00 a.m. Mass

The rest as per last week

Announcements: 22Jan 2011

2011-01-22T08:27:00.002+08:00

Calendar:
Negeri District Pastoral Team Meeting (NDPT): 10/2/11 at 7.30pm in Nilai.

Meetings:
- BECCOT MEETING: on Wed 26/2/11 at 7.15pm. ALL BEC Core Team Members (chief-co-ord, vice cord, secretary, PIHD Rep, Youth rep, etc.) must attend this meeting. TQ.

CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR
The Parish Councils & Fr.Raymond wish ALL Parishioners "A Very BLESSED & HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! XIN NIAN KUAI LERK! Wan Shr Ru Yi!"

Mass on Thursday 3/2/11 at 9am.
* Friday 4/2/11 NO Mass.

Sessi Pembentukan Iman untuk KUBM (BM): untuk umat Berbahasa Malaysia pada 19/3/2011. Masa: 9pg - 4ptg. Tempat: CDM, Shah Alam. Yuran; RM 15 seorang. Tarikh Tutup: 1/3/2011. Hubungi: Sr. Gilbert: 014-6451990.

Daily Masses: Tues (25/1) - Friday (26/1) as usual. Evening prayer at 6.15pm followed by Mass at 6.30 pm.

Announcements: 15 Jan 2011

2011-01-14T22:50:00.002+08:00

Calendar:
KL Clergy Annual Pastoral Assembly on 18-20 Jan' 2011.
Note: No Mass 18-20 Jan.

Meetings:
- PCC on Tues 18/1/2011 at 7.30pm
- BECCOT on Wed 19/1/2011 at at 7.30pm

World day for Consecrated Life: Archdiocean level celebrated in St.Theresa, Nilai Date: Saturday. February, 12th, 2011. 4.30pm-5.30pm - Adoration of Blessed Sacrament.
6pm Mass, followed by fellowship.
ALL are invited!!

Kursus Perkahwinan (Bahasa)
Stay-in Catholic Marriage Preparation Course -Tarikh: Feb 25-27; June 17-19; Oct 28-30.
Tempat: APC, KL.
Yuran: RM 250.00 per couple.
Contact: Parish

Holy Family Counselling Centre, Kajang: open every Wed from 7.30pm - 9.30pm (except public holidays). Contact: Ronald Fernandez (017-2915739).

Negeri District Family Life Ministry: Formation for all interested on Sat 26-2-2011
(3-5pm) at S.Aloysius Hall, Mantin. Speakers: Andrew & Andrene (KL). To register, contact; Fr. Raymond or Mr.Anthony Chia.

SUNDAY SCHOOL WILL START ON 23rd JAN 2011, 10.30 a.m.
Corfirmation Class Available.

Your talents are a gift from God. Share them.

Liturgical Ministry; those interested to join as Lectors, commentators, Altar servers, Wardens- pls register/ contact Fr.Raymond immediately.

1/1/2011 - Announcements

2010-12-30T22:44:00.002+08:00

NEW YEAR GREETINGS:
The Parish Councils and Fr.Raymond wish ALL Parishioners and friends " A Spirit-filled NEW YEAR 2011! ! May the newborn infant JESUS continue to fill our hearts with His Peace, Love, Joy & Hope! God Bless everyone!!"

Daily masses:

5-7/1- Evening prayer at 6.15, Mass at 6.30 p.m.

Negeri District Family Life Ministry: Formation for all interested on Sat 26-2-2011
(3-5pm) at S.Aloysius Hall, Mantin. Speakers: Andrew & Andrene (KL). To register, contact; Fr. Raymond or Mr.Anthony Chia.

Calendar:
KL Clergy Annual Pastoral Assembly on 18-20 Jan' 2011.

Your talents are a gift from God. Share them.

Liturgical Ministry; those interested to join as Lectors, commentators, Altar servers, Wardens- pls register/ contact Fr.Raymond immediately.

Announcements: 18 Dec 2010

2010-12-18T11:28:00.001+08:00

Christmas Greetings: The Parish Councils and Fr.Raymond wish ALL Parishioners and friends " A Very Blessed & Merry CHRISTMAS & A Spirit-filled NEW YEAR 2011! ! May the newborn infant JESUS continue to fill our hearts with His Peace, Love, Joy & Hope! God Bless everyone!!"

Christmas Masses:
CHRISTMAS EVE -24-12-2010 (Fri) -
9pm - Christmas Play & Carolling;
10pm - Mass.

CHRISTMAS DAY -25-12-2010 (Sat) - 9am - Mass
Note: No Sunset Mass (6.00pm) on 25/12.

A Word of Thanks: To ALL who dedicated their services to our recent Carolling, Gotong-Royong and Parish Christmas Party. God Bless all of you!

GREAT WORK CAROLLERS!

2010-12-16T23:15:00.004+08:00

A Word of Thanks to the
Carollers who went round
bringing cheer.
May God Bless you and your family.

Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas

2010-11-29T17:46:00.000+08:00

Catholic Traditions for Advent and Christmas

Announcements: Dec 2010

2010-11-27T00:18:00.002+08:00

Advent: begins on Sunday 28/11.Let us prepare our hearts for Christ's birthday.

Penitential Service: Negeri District
14 Dec- Immaculate Conception, PD.-7.30pm
15 Dec - St.Aloysius, MANTIN - 7.30pm
16 Dec- St.John Vianney, TAMPIN - 7.30pm
17 Dec- ST. THERESA, NILAI, - 7PM (Friday).
22 Dec- Visitation, Seremban, - 7pm.

Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve 24-12-2010 (Fri) -
9pm - Christmas Play & Carolling;
10pm - Mass.

CHRISTMAS DAY -25-12-2010 (Sat) - 9am

New Year Masses:
New Year's Eve - 31 Dec'2010 -
Vietnamese Mass - 6pm
Mass 10pm. (Thanksgiving)

NEW YEAR's DAY - 1st January 2011 -
Mass at 9am. (Mary, Mother of God).

STC PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
18/12/2010 (Sat) after sunset mass @ STC
All are invited: Parents, children, students, migrant workers.
Please register at Church entrance before 12/12/2010.
Registration Fee:
RM15.00 per family, RM5.00 per student/ single adult

Game categories:
Children ages 2-4, 5-8, 9-12, Teenagers/ Single Adults/ Family

Volunteers needed for the organising of the party. Please contact 017 3962977 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 017 3962977 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Mr Maurice).

Gotong -Royong will be held on 11/12 (Sat) @ 8.00am.

Donations in cash and kind are most welcome. All donations to be passed to Mrs Maria Pakianathan (012 2458157).

CAROLLING (9/10/11 Dec )
Please register at the Church Entrance
Practise on Saturdays and Sundays
after mass. (Attire during carolling, black pants/ skirt with white/ red tops + Santa/ Santarina hat:)

Meetings at STC:
- Liturgical Meeting: Compulsory for ALL Liturgical reps and team on Sun 28-12-2010, at 9.45am.

- PPC: on 1/12/2010 at 7.15pm

- PFC: on 2/12/2010 at 7.15pm

PARISH CENSUS will be taken in the church on 27-28/11/2010. Please bring a pen along and give your co-operation.

CHOIR PRACTICE will be held every Saturday after mass. For more information, please contact Mr Jude D Silva (013 3603274).

Your talents are a gift from God. Share them.
Volunteers: The Parish welcomes those willing to render their services to serve in the parish ministries (Liturgy, Tamil Apostolate, Choir, etc). Ministers of hospitality (men/women). Altar Servers:
Those interested pls contact Fr.Raymond.

Wanted: St. Theresa is in need of a Van for the parish. Anyone willing to donate/donations are most welcome. Contact Fr. Raymond.

SUNDAY SCHOOL: NO SUNDAY CLASSES UNTIL THE NEW YEAR. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

First Holy Communion

2010-11-20T14:09:00.002+08:00

Congratulations to All the 16 First Communicants. may they continue to live the Eucharstic Christ. God Bless them.

PIHD:
COFFEE MORNING-CUM-MINI JUMBLE SALE:
Sunday 21/11/2010 after mass. Please give your fullest support!

PARISH CENSUS will be taken in the church on 27-28/11/2010. Please bring a pen along and give your co-operation.

STC PARISH CHRISTMAS PARTY
18/12/2010 (Sat) after sunset mass @ STC
All are invited: Parents, children, students, migrant workers.
Please register at Church entrance before 12/12/2010.
Registration Fee:
RM15.00 per family, RM5.00 per student/ single adult

Game categories:
Children ages 2-4, 5-8, 9-12, Teenagers/ Single Adults/ Family

Volunteers needed for the organising of the party. Please contact 017 3962977 (Mr Maurice).

Gotong -Royong will be held on 11/12 (Sat) @ 8.00am.

Donations in cash and kind are most welcome. All donations to be passed to Mrs Maria Pakianathan (012 2458157).

CAROLLING (9/10/11 Dec )
Please register at the Church Entrance
Practise on Saturdays and Sundays
after mass. (Attire during carolling, black pants/ skirt with white/ red tops + Santa/ Santarina hat:)

THE BIBLE IN 40 WEEKS
by Mr. Bruno Pereira (from API, KL):
Next session 23/11 - 7.30-9.30pm @ STC. ALL ARE WELCOME. Please bring along your bible and writing material.

Your talents are a gift from God. Share them.

Volunteers: The Parish welcomes those willing to render their services to serve in the parish ministries (Liturgy, Tamil Apostolate, Choir, etc). Ministers of hospitality (men/women). Altar Servers:
Those interested pls contact Fr.Raymond.

Wanted: St. Theresa is in need of a Van for the parish. Anyone willing to donate/donations are most welcome. Contact Fr. Raymond.

CHOIR PRACTICE will be held every Saturday after mass. For more information, please contact Mr Jude D Silva (013 3603274).

General admin: PFC: Those requesting for cash from the Parish, pls submit the completed Reguest forms to the PFC Chairperson for consideration. Contact: Mrs. Maria Pakianathan (012 2458157).

Meeting at STC:
Liturgical Meeting: on Weds 24/11 at 7.15pm.

Evening prayers: Before weekday Masses, at 6.20pm.

Showtime!

2010-10-29T22:51:00.003+08:00

St. Theresa Church (STC), Nilai
75th Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

We are looking forward to welcome all of you to the
75th Diamond Jubilee Dinner:-
30/10/2010 (Sat), Loon Sing Restaurant Nilai, 6.30pm - arrival of guests.
Show starts 7.00pm SHARP...

All Saints Day:
1st Nov 2010 (Mon): Day of Obligation.
Mass at 7.30pm.

All Souls Day:
2nd Nov 2010 (Tues): Masses at 6.45am and 7.30pm.

Blessing of Cemetery:
   * Nilai Memorial Park: 10 am
   * Cheras cemetery: 10.30am
   * Kajang: 4pm
   * Semenyih: 3pm

*Mass offerings for All Souls Day; can be offered at the Church entrance.

No Evening Mass on 3/11 and 4/11
Mass on Deepavali Day (5/11) is at 9.30am.

STC Parish Diary November 2010.

Wed 10/11/2010:
Negeri District Priests Meeting in Mantin.
Fri. 12/11 /2010:
Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Meeting at 7.30pm.
Tues 16 & Wed 17/11/2010:
KL Clergy Recollection
Fri. 19/11/2010:
Parish Co-ordinating Council(PCC) Meeting at 7.30pm.
Sun 21/11/2010:
First Holy Communion
25/11/2010:

Countdown to the 75th Diamond Jubilee Dinner - 30/10/2010

2010-10-22T23:52:00.003+08:00

St. Theresa Church (STC), Nilai
75th Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

Diamond Jubilee Dinner:-
30/10/2010 (Sat), Loon Sing Restaurant Nilai, 6.30pm. For tickets call Mr Edward Tan
(012-2021365). Hampers/gifts are most welcome for the dinner. Contact: Anthony Chia. All Dinner tickets money to be handed over to Mr. Chia. TQ.

ATTENTION ALL PERFORMERS!
REHEARSAL FOR DINNER PERFORMANCES:
24th OCTOBER 2010, 3pm at STC. No catechism on this day. However, all children must be at STC @3pm for rehearsal.

LAST CHANCE REHEARSAL:
30th OCTOBER 2010, 9am, at Loon Sing.
All performers to be there.
SHOW TIME!
All committee members and performers to be at Loon Sing by 5.30pm on 30th OCTOBER 2010.

NO MASS ON: Wed 27/10 and Sat 30/10

NO CATECHISM ON: 31/10
2011 STC SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION OPEN:

ALL parents (Language: Tamil, BM, English) are encouraged to register your children. Please obtain the registration form from the entrance of the Church. All forms to be submitted to Mdm Mary, Mdm Anna Chia or Ms Aileen by 31st Oct 2010. For more information, please call 012-6821351 (Aileen).

All Saints Day:
1st Nov 2010 (Mon): Day of Obligation.
Mass at 7.30pm.

All Souls Day:
2nd Nov 2010 (Tues): Masses at 6.30am and 7.30pm.

Blessing of Cemetery:
   * Nilai Memorial Park: 10 am
   * Cheras cemetery: 10.30am
   * Kajang: 4pm
   * Semenyih: 3pm

*Mass offerings for All Souls Day; can be offered at the Church entrance.

Feast of St Theresa, Nilai NS

2010-10-10T22:18:00.002+08:00

Greetings: The Parishioners & Fr.Raymond wish all parishioners, pilgrims and friends " A very Blessed & Spirit-filled Feast Day! May St.Theresa pray & intercede for all of us! "

T H A N K Y O U
HEARTFELT THANKS to Archbishop Murphy Pakiam and all our Celebrants and preachers for their invaluable service during the Feast Day Masses. Thank you also to all who have helped in one way or other in our Feast Day Celebrations. God Bless you all!

We would like to wish
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam
"A Blessed & Happy 15th Episcopal Anniversary"

FEAST DAY PHOTOS HAVE BEEN UPLOADED TO STC NILAI NS FACEBOOK...
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001661677813#!/album.php?aid=3120&id=100001661677813

Programme: St Theresa Feast Day (1st Oct 2010)

2010-09-27T21:49:00.004+08:00

FEAST DAY PROGRAMME
ALL ARE WELCOME!

Thursday: 30th September 2010
Theme: Mary- Model of Discipleship
Novena: 6.30pm
Mass : 7.15pm

Friday: 1st October 2010-Feast of St. Theresa
Theme: BEC and Mission
Novena: 6.30pm
Mass : 7.15pm

Saturday: 2nd October 2010
Theme: A Witnessing Church
Novena: 5.15pm
Mass : 6pm followed by procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Fellowship.

Sunday: 3rd October 2010
Theme: Continuing our Journey with Christ
Novena :8.15am
Mass :9.00 am

St Theresa Feast Day (1st Oct 2010)

2010-09-24T21:57:00.002+08:00

Greetings: The Parishioners & Fr.Raymond wish all parishioners, pilgrims and friends " A very Blessed & Spirit-filled Feast Day! May St.Theresa pray & intercede for all of us! "

Gotong-royong: ALL are strongly encouraged to assist in Feast Day preparations:-
Gotong Royong: 29/9/2010@7.30pm. Also
to help with the cleaning up after each Jubilee Mass from 30/9-3/10.
THANK YOU.

Commissioning of All committee members of the PPC, PCC, PFC, BECCOT, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMOHC) on Sunday
26-9-2010. Let us pray for them.

2010-08-28T03:20:00.003+08:00

Merdeka Day Mass; 31-8-10, Mass: 9am.Let us come to give thanks for 53 years of God's blessing and pray for continued peace and justice in our beloved country, Malaysia! SELAMAT MENYAMBUT HARI MERDEKA!

PIHD: STC's 1st COFFEE MORNING:

Sunday 29-8-2010. Please give your support! For more info, please contact Mr. Maurice Sta Maria.

MEETINGS AT STC:

Youth meeting: Sunday 29/8/2010 after mass. All members are required to attend.

Liturgy meeting for Feast Day celebrations: Sunday 29/8/2010 after mass. All members are required to attend.

Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) Meeting: Thursday, 2/9/2010 at 7.15pm.

Feast Day Committee Meeting: Friday, 3/9/2010 at 7.30pm.

Holy Hour: on Friday, 6.30pm Mass followed by Hour hour til 7.30 pm.All are encourage to spend one hour with the Lord Jesus.

2010-08-27T00:09:00.002+08:00

The Church before and after extension works.

With the generosity of the Archdiocese and parishioners of STC and under the guidance of Fr. Raymond Pereira, the Church now sports new extensions to its right and left wing. The community in Nilai is expanding every week and this new development is a much welcomed one. The parish is home to students from all over the world and families.

Announcements: 21-27 Aug 2010

2010-08-21T10:46:00.002+08:00

PIHD:
STC's 1st COFFEE MORNING:
Sunday 29-8-2010.
Please give your support!
For more info, please contact Mr. Maurice Sta Maria (017 3962977).

MEETINGS AT STC:
Feast Day Committee meeting: Friday, 27-8-2010 at 7.15pm.

PIHD meeting: Saturday 21/8/2010 after mass. All members are required to attend.

Youth meeting: Sunday 29/8/2010 after mass. All members are required to attend.

Liturgy meeting for Feast Day celebrations: Sunday 29/8/2010 after mass. All members are required to attend.

Merdeka Day Mass; 31-8-10, Mass: 9am.
Let us come to give thanks for 53 years of God's blessing and pray for continued peace and justice in our beloved country, Malaysia!

Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly:
Sat. 28-8-2010 @ APC, KL. 8am - 7pm.
* Note: NO evening Mass on Sat. 28-8-10.
Novena as usual.
Sunday 29-8-10 - Mass as usual, at 9am.

STC SPIRITUAL TALK:
Tamil:
22/8/2010(Sun) @ 10.15 a.m.
Speaker: Sam Bosco
Topic: Following Christ: BEC and Mission of the Laity.
Admission free! All are encouraged to attend!

Ministry of Hospitality; Those interested to be wardens (men/women) are most welcome to register after the Mass.

PARISH CENSUS:
New families and those NOT yet registered, please do so now at the Church entrance immediately after mass.

ALWAYS A REASON TO CELEBRATE

2010-06-21T12:33:00.002+08:00

This time round.. the dad's get a pat on the back (you too Fr Raymond) and a towel for all their hard work.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Corpus Christi Celebration

2010-06-07T00:27:00.001+08:00

There was a good turnout this weekend at the Corpus Christi Mass Celebration. Mass was followed by a procession around STC and the benediction was held behind the church with the congregation gathered in front of the community centre. The presence of his mother and other members of the family made it all the more special for Fr Raymond.

BEC MASSES

2010-04-25T21:31:00.006+08:00

BEC MASS SCHEDULE:

28/4/2010 (Wed) 8.00pm: DESA CEMPAKA
Home: Mr Maurice Sta Maria & family. PT 5359, Desa Cempaka 2. Tel: 017 396 2977

29/4/2010 (Thu) 8.00pm: DESA JASMIN
Home: Mr James Antony Ratnam & family. PT7831, Jalan BBN 5/2G, Desa Jasmin. Tel: 012 233 1087

5/5/2010 (Wed) 7.45pm Rosary followed by Mass: DESA RIA & NILAI IMPIAN
Home: Mr Anthony James & family. No 38, Jalan Lavendar 2, Nilai Impian. Tel: 012 371 0390

6/5/2010 (Thu) 7.45pm Rosary followed by Mass: DESA KASIA & DESA KOLEJ
Home: Mrs Sylvia Adrianne Samuel & family. No 68, Jalan Kasia 3/7, Desa Kasia. Tel: 012 658 5569

Easter Triduum celebrations

2010-04-04T21:27:00.010+08:00

Fr Raymond and the STC Parish Committee wish all parishioners a blessed Easter. A word of thanks to all who donated in cash and kind for the Easter celebrations. Thank you also to all who helped with the triduum liturgical services.
Let us warmly welcome our 13 adults and 12 children who received the Sacrament of Initiation this Easter. May they continue to be witnesses for Christ God Bless You All.

Rite of Election

2010-02-21T18:41:00.004+08:00

Last week in the Church of St. Theresa, 13 candidates for baptism and confirmation had their names enrolled in the Book of Elect during the first part of the Rite of Election, also called the Rite of Sending Off.

The second part of the Rite of Election was celebrated today in the Church of Holy Family, Kajang, which saw 629 catechumens being enrolled by the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, His Grace Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, as elect in preparation of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. Apart from the catechumens (now called the Elect), their sponsors, godparents, RCIA teams members, parish priests and other parishioners were also present to lend them support.

The Parish of St. Theresa participated for the first time with a total of 13 candidates from the English and BM section.

Much to celebrate about

2010-02-14T22:36:00.003+08:00

14 Feb: Thirteen members of the R.C.I.A signed the book of elect today. We welcome them into our community and journey with them to discover Christ's abundant love.

On another note, Fr Raymond handed out oranges and red packets to the parishioners at today's mass. Many thanks to those who had donated the oranges.

Fr Raymond and the parish committee wishes everyone a HAPPY and SAFE LUNAR NEW YEAR.

Bulletin Announcements - February 7

2010-02-06T22:44:00.003+08:00

Chinese New Year Celebration
MASS on 14/2/2010 (Sunday)
will be at 9am. There will be NO evening mass.

Please bring your orange donations to Church by 13/2/2010. The oranges will be given out during mass on 14/2/2010.

Change of Mass times - March 2010
Beginning the month of MARCH 2010 onwards, the following masses will be celebrated:

Novena will be held at 5pm on Saturdays, followed by Mass.
Weekday masses
(Tues,Wed, Thurs -6.15am)
Friday - 8pm

As of now, the Sunday evening mass will continue to be celebrated at 6.00 pm until June, where it will then be changed to 10.45 am.

ASH WEDNESDAY
17/2/2010
(Fast & Abstinence)
Mass - 7.30pm

WAY OF THE CROSS
19/2/2010-7.30pm, followed by Mass

R.C.I.A. Rite of Election
Please pray for the 13 candidates from our parish who will be receiving the rite of election on 21/2/2010 at the Church of the Holy Family in Kajang. They will be signing the book of elect on 14/2/2010 and welcomed into the parish community.

THANK YOU
Haiti Earthquake Victims Relief Fund collection - RM548.85

Sunday School - Opening
Classes begin on 7th Feb 2010, 4.45-5.45pm. Please contact Ms. Mary at 06-7997450 for further details.

REGISTRATION OF PARISHIONERS
If you reside or study in Nilai, please register your name and address at the entrance of the Church after mass. Do inform your friends as well.

Infant Baptism - Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Contact Persons :- Mr. Maurice (Eng.) - 017-3962977
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712
Ms. Mary (Tamil) - 06-7997450

RCIA: Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng) - 016-3569168
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712

College Students Representatives
If you're new in this Chapel and looking for a place to belong, we welcome you to join one of the Catholic Students Fellowships in the various colleges in and around Nilai, or join the Central CSS at this chapel.

Please contact the following persons:

Colleges
MIAT and Central CSS (Chapel): Shaun Mirandah (017-7256657)
Inti: Clare (016-9373179)
Nilai: Kevin Mirandah (017-7774816)
KTT: Ricky (014-3727513)

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - February 2

2010-02-02T19:10:00.000+08:00

The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus, and falls on or around 2 February. In the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, the Presentation is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts, and is sometimes called Hypapante (lit., 'Meeting' in Greek). Other traditional names include Candlemas, the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin, and the Meeting of the Lord.

Traditionally, Candlemas had been the last feast day in the Christian year that was dated by reference to Christmas. Subsequent moveable feasts are calculated with reference to Easter.

Scripture
The event is described in the Gospel of Luke 2:22–40. According to the gospel, Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem forty days after his birth to complete Mary's ritual purification after childbirth, and to perform the redemption of the firstborn, in obedience to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 12, Exodus 13:12-15, etc.).

According to Mosaic law, a mother who had given birth to a boy was considered unclean for seven days. Also, she was to remain 33 days "in the blood of her purification." Luke tells us, quoting Exodus 13:2,12, that Mary and Joseph took Jesus to Jerusalem because every firstborn child was to be dedicated to the Lord. They also went to sacrifice a pair of doves or two young pigeons, showing that Mary and Joseph were poor. Once in the temple, Jesus was purified by the prayer of Simeon, in the presence of Anna the prophetess. Simeon, upon seeing the Messiah, gave thanks to the Lord, singing a hymn now called the Nunc Dimittis:

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
your word has been fulfilled:
My own eyes have seen the salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

The "light" which Simeon sang of may have given rise to the custom of blessing and lighting of candles associated with this feast, thus the name "Candlemas" (Old English - Candle Mass).

History
The Feast of the Presentation is among the most ancient feasts of the Christian Church. There are sermons on the Feast by the bishops Methodius of Patara († 312), Cyril of Jerusalem († 360), Gregory the Theologian († 389), Amphilochius of Iconium († 394), Gregory of Nyssa († 400), and John Chrysostom († 407).

The earliest reference to specific liturgical rites surrounding the feast are by the nun Egeria, during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land (381–384). She reported that 14 February (the Armenian Church and Eastern Orthodox still observe the feast on this day, 40 days after the Orthodox Christmas, January 6) was a day solemnly kept in Jerusalem with a procession to Constantine I's Basilica of the Resurrection, with a homily preached on Luke 2:22 (which makes the occasion perfectly clear), and a Divine Liturgy.

Originally, the feast was a minor celebration. But then in 542 the feast was established throughout the Eastern Empire by Justinian I. In 541 a terrible plague broke out in Constantinople, killing thousands. The Emperor, in consultation with the Patriarch of Constantinople, ordered a period of fasting and prayer throughout the entire Empire. And, on the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, arranged great processions throughout the towns and villages and a solemn prayer service (Litia) to ask for deliverance from evils, and the plague ceased. In thanksgiving, the feast was elevated to a more solemn celebration.

In Rome, the feast appears in the Gelasian Sacramentary, a manuscript collection of the seventh and eighth centuries associated with Pope Gelasius I, but with many interpolations and some forgeries. There it carries for the first time the new title of the feast of Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Late in time though it may be, Candlemas is still the most ancient of all the festivals in honor of the Virgin Mary. The date of the feast in Rome was moved forward to 2 February, since during the late fourth century the Roman feast of Christ's nativity been introduced as December 25.

The tenth century Benedictional of St. Æthelwold, bishop of Winchester, has a formula used for blessing the candles. Candlemas did become important enough to find its way into the secular calendar. It was the traditional day to remove the cattle from the hay meadows, and from the field that was to be ploughed and sown that spring. References to it are common in later medieval and early Modern literature.

Until 1969, the ancient feast of the presentation of Our Lord, which is of Oriental origin, was known in the West as the feast of the Purification of Our Lady. Since Vatican II, the feast is reckoned a feast of the Lord (as opposed to a feast of Mary), and officially designated "The presentation of the Lord."

Blessing of Candles
In the Catholic and Orthodox traditions it is the day on which believers bring beeswax candles to their local church to be blessed for use in the church or in the home.

According to post Vatican-II discipline, (if possible) the beeswax candles are to be blessed somewhere other than where the Mass is held. Often your local parish will hand out candles, or you may bring your own, to be blessed before the procession. These may be saved for later use in your home. After an antiphon, during which the candles held by the people are lighted, there is a procession into the church. During the procession to the church, the Nunc Dimittis is sung, with the antiphon "Lumen ad revelationem" (Luke 2:32). This procession into the church for Mass commemorates Christ's entrance into the temple.

Canon Law, the Parish and the Parish Priest

2010-02-01T07:34:00.002+08:00

Can. 515 §1 A parish is a certain community of Christ's faithful stably established within a particular Church, whose pastoral care, under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, is entrusted to a parish priest as its proper pastor.

Can. 519 The parish priest is the proper pastor of the parish entrusted to him. He exercises the pastoral care of the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, whose ministry of Christ he is called to share, so that for this community he may carry out the offices of teaching, sanctifying and ruling with the cooperation of other priests or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of Christ's faithful, in accordance with the law.

Can. 528 §1 The parish priest has the obligation of ensuring that the word of God is proclaimed in its entirety to those living in the parish. He is therefore to see to it that the lay members of Christ's faithful are instructed in the truths of faith, especially by means of the homily on Sundays and holydays of obligation and by catechetical formation. He is to foster works which promote the spirit of the Gospel, including its relevance to social justice. He is to have a special care for the catholic education of children and young people. With the collaboration of the faithful, he is to make every effort to bring the gospel message to those also who have given up religious practice or who do not profess the true faith.

§2 The parish priest is to take care that the blessed Eucharist is the centre of the parish assembly of the faithful. He is to strive to ensure that the faithful are nourished by the devout celebration of the sacraments, and in particular that they frequently approach the sacraments of the blessed Eucharist and penance. He is to strive to lead them to prayer, including prayer in their families, and to take a live and active part in the sacred liturgy. Under the authority of the diocesan Bishop, the parish priest must direct this liturgy in his own parish, and he is bound to be on guard against abuses.

Can. 529 §1 So that he may fulfil his office of pastor diligently, the parish priest is to strive to know the faithful entrusted to his care. He is therefore to visit their families, sharing in their cares and anxieties and, in a special way, their sorrows, comforting them in the Lord. If in certain matters they are found wanting, he is prudently to correct them. He is to help the sick and especially the dying in great charity, solicitiously restoring them with the sacraments and commending their souls to God. He is to be especially diligent in seeking out the poor, the suffering, the lonely, those who are exiled from their homeland, and those burdened with special difficulties. He is to strive also to ensure that spouses and parents are sustained in the fulfilment of their proper duties, and to foster the growth of christian life in the family.

§2 The parish priest is to recognise and promote the specific role which the lay members of Christ's faithful have in the mission of the Church, fostering their associations which have religious purposes. He is to cooperate with his proper Bishop and with the presbyterium of the diocese. Moreover, he is to endeavour to ensure that the faithful are concerned for the community of the parish, that they feel themselves to be members both of the diocese and of the universal Church, and that they take part in and sustain works which promote this community.

Can. 530 The functions especially entrusted to the parish priest are as follows:

1° the administration of baptism;

2° the administration of the sacrament of confirmation to those in danger of death, in accordance with can. 883, n. 3;

3° the administration of Viaticum and of the anointing of the sick, without prejudice to can. 1003 §§2 and 3, and the imparting of the apostolic blessing;

4° the assistance at marriages and the nuptial blessing;

5° the conducting of funerals;

6° the blessing of the baptismal font at paschal time, the conduct of processions outside the church, and the giving of solemn blessings outside the church;

7° the more solemn celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays and holydays of obligation.

Thus begins a new chapter ...

2010-02-01T00:12:00.006+08:00

SUNDAY (January 31) - At his last mass as administrator of the Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, Fr. Michael Chua thanked the parishioners and leaders for their support and cooperation as he handed over the baton to Fr. Raymond Pereira, the first resident Parish Priest of the Chapel of Nilai. The chapel community also celebrated the birthday of Fr. Michael and organised a small fellowship to welcome their new Parish Priest and also to celebrate the elevation of the chapel to the status of a parish.

At the present moment, Fr. Raymond Pereira will be residing in the Church of Visitation, Seremban, until appropriate accommodations and office facilities be made available to him in Nilai.

Fr. Michael Chua continues to blog under Church of Visitation's parish blog, "The Welcoming Parish" and his personal blog, "Your Grace is Sufficient".

Clergy Annual Pastoral Assembly 2010

2010-01-29T13:18:00.000+08:00

The Presbyterium of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur came together in Bayu Beach Hotel, Port Dickson, from the 26th to the 28th of January, for the Clergy Annual Pastoral Assembly (CAPA). In conjunction with the Year of the Priest and the PMPT theme which focused on the missionary aspect of discipleship, the theme chosen for this year's CAPA was "The Priest as Leader of the Missionary Community."

The theme was addressed from various angles: the priest's personal understanding of his own priesthood, people's perception and expectation of the priesthood, the leadership of priests in the light of Church documents and teachings, the fraternal community of the presbyterium, and finally the person of St. John Marie Vianney, seen as the model for priests. The process involved personal testimonies by priests from a cross section of the presbyterium, small group sharing, report on survey conducted by The Herald, theological reflections,movie review highlighting the spirituality of St. John Marie Vianney, and para-liturgical action of feet washing. The clergy generally felt that there was a need to find an integral balance between the relational and ministerial aspect of their priesthood, between pastoral and mission-oriented focus of their ministry, between the 'identity' (being) and 'ministry' (doing)that characterises their priesthood, between being leaders of faith communities and being part of a community of fellow priests.

More photos on Facebook.

Parish of St. Theresa, Nilai - 1st February

2010-01-29T12:49:00.009+08:00

The Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, which is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee (75th Year Anniversary) this year will have double cause for celebration. The chapel will be elevated to the canonical status of a full parish with effect from February 1, 2010. With this elevation, the Parish of St. Theresa, will also witness the appointment of its first resident Parish Priest, Fr. Raymond Pereira, who had just recently returned from his post-graduate studies in the Philippines, where he obtained a licentiate-masters in spirituality, specialising in Mariology.

Fr. Raymond Pereira was formerly Parish Priest of Church of St. Aloysius, Mantin, Church of Holy Redeemer, Klang and Church of Divine Mercy, Shah Alam. Fr. Raymond will have the important task of building the new parish community of Nilai and catering to the pastoral needs of the ever-expanding Catholic population of Nilai and its surrounding suburbs.

Prophet of God's Truth

2010-01-29T12:08:00.000+08:00

Fourth Ordinary Sunday Year C

Who is a prophet? Many people often think that a prophet is someone who foretells the future. Sometimes, the prophet does this but this isn’t the main task of the prophet. So who then is a prophet? A prophet is the messenger of God. He is the mouthpiece (spokesman) of God. He is a man who has been filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God through daily meditation and studying of the scriptures. It is through this studying of the scriptures that he comes to recognize the will of God for his time – what God is trying to say to his people in this time, under these circumstances and in this place. A prophet is not one who keeps silent. Once received, the message of God must be proclaimed. If not, God will raise other prophets to undertake the task.

The task of a prophet is not easy. Sometimes, the prophet is asked to give a message of hope and encouragement to God’s people. This is often welcomed. What is not easy to accept is the fact that the prophet is also given the task to challenge and condemn the people for their sinfulness. He is the conscience of the nation. It is here that the prophet faces opposition and rejection. Everyone likes to hear praises and words of encouragement. No one likes to hear criticism. But such criticism is necessary in order for us to grow. If we are not open to criticism, if we are not honest with ourselves, we would then be blind to the direction which God wants to lead us.

In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks of the many prophets in Israel’s history who were rejected by their own people and yet sometimes welcomed by others who were not Jews. Jesus too is such a prophet. When he speaks words of encouragement, like what he did in last week’s gospel reading, he receives people’s admiration. But in today’s gospel, Jesus chooses to reprimand his listeners. The Word of God is a double-edged sword. It cuts both ways. We must be prepared to hear not only words of encouragement but also words that would challenge our present way of life. In doing so, Jesus too is rejected.

What of us? Are we people who only like to hear praises and good things said about us? Or are we also able to accept a challenge to our present way of life? At the time of your baptism, each one of you was anointed to be a priest, prophet and king just like Jesus. Are you able to live up to this mission which you received at the time of your baptism?

Taking the prophetic role is difficult. No one wants to be the bad guy. That is why it is much easier to talk about people behind their backs then to confront them. As a prophetic people, we too are called to confront and challenge each other. Confrontation does not mean that we have no love. On the contrary, love is the reason why we must confront and act the prophet. In the second reading, we have the beautiful passage about love. Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, never boastful or conceited, or rude or selfish. Yes, all this is true. But the list also states that love delights in the truth. A prophet is not someone who is harsh and heartless. Rather, he is a person so full of love for God and his people that he is prepared to risk being rejected by his own people in speaking the truth to them.

Today, we are challenged to become such prophets. Love must be our motivation. Without love, we cannot be true prophets – we are only complainers and critics. Let us pray for the strength and the courage to speak the truth, but always to do so with love.

This text is being fulfilled today ...

2010-01-22T13:45:00.001+08:00

Third Ordinary Sunday Year C

What does the Bible mean to you? Whenever you hear the readings during the Liturgy of the Word, what are your feelings? Do you feel encouraged by these readings or challenged by them? Do you really pay attention to the readings or are you just waiting to receive holy communion? If we have never really paid attention to the readings read during the Liturgy of the Word or taken the trouble to read and study the bible, we may, perhaps, have left out one of the most important aspects of the Mass – the Liturgy of the Word. The liturgy of the Word is no less important than the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Both are equally important. Jesus who is truly present in the blessed sacrament is also present in the word proclaimed during the first half of the mass.

In the Gospel, Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He attributes what he has read to himself. He is the Word of God. He is the Word made flesh. He is the Word of life. This is the purpose of the Word of God: “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.” If we have not really been paying attention to the readings every Sunday, we may perhaps have lost out on these promises. If we turn our ears away from hearing God’s word, we will only hear ‘bad news’ – the bad news which society and our experiences feed us with everyday of our lives. The good news of the Bible is this – that in spite of all the evil that we see, hear and experience in this world of ours, God’s salvation is far greater. The good news is that Jesus, the Word of God, has conquered evil and death. Yes, we continue to experience many problems and difficulties, but we believe that God has already won the victory through Jesus Christ. This is our good news. We are no longer poor because Jesus has promised us the treasures of heaven, treasures that will not eaten by moth or turn to dust – everlasting life.

Those who fail to listen to God’s word continue to be trapped and imprisoned by their fears and addictions. Jesus promised us that he has come to proclaim liberty to the captives. If we listen to him, we too can experience this liberation. The most important freedom is internal freedom – it is only eternal freedom that can promise lasting joy. Those of us who fail to listen to God’s word will continue to be blind. We will continue to be blind to our own mistakes and our sinfulness. We will continue doing things as if everything was alright. A blind man is in a worst position when he doesn’t realize that he is blind. If you feel that everything is going wrong in your life, if you feel that the burden of tragedies and problems after problems, Jesus has come to set you free. Jesus has come to set the downtrodden free and to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

In Asian society, the teacher has a place of high standing in society. We are to treat our teachers with reverence as how we treat our parents. Likewise, within the Church, those members who have been given the position of teaching and instructing and of spreading God’s word are given the first place. This does not mean that they are to be treated as better than others in the community. The reason for giving them the first place is because of the Word of God which has been entrusted to them. The Word of God must have a central and prominent place within the community. Likewise, the Word of God must also be the basis of each of our lives. It is not enough to recite prayers and attend mass. These are good. But what is far better, is the need to study and read the Bible so that the Word of God can become our daily guide. When we constantly read the bible and listen attentively to the readings at every Mass, the Word of God will find fulfillment in our lives. Then, we can echo the words of Jesus as he says: “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.”

When the wine runs out ...

2010-01-14T20:19:00.001+08:00

Second Ordinary Sunday Year C

St. Paul in today’s second reading tells us: “There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people; it is the same God who is working in all of them.” Do we agree with this statement? If we agree with this statement, can we see it happening in our own parish? Do we see a variety of gifts manifested in different ways in our parish? Do we see God’s spirit working in this parish through the many people who volunteer for ministry? Are you using your gift for the service of the community and the Church?

If God wishes his church and his community to grow stronger, he will certainly provide it with all the gifts necessary to do so. God will not fail his community. Nevertheless, we sometimes fail God and the community. This happens when we do not acknowledge our gifts and the gifts of others in the community. A community can only flourish if its members are able to recognize their own gifts and are able to affirm one another gifts. A community is in real danger of being destroyed if its members are only always expecting something from others and who are not prepared to give or share. A community is in real danger when its members are constantly criticizing and finding fault with one another. A community is in real danger when the gifts of its members are suppressed rather than identified and nurtured. A community is in real danger of being destroyed when the wine runs out.

Today’s gospel tells the story of the wedding at Cana. This joyous occasion nearly ended in tragedy because the most important element that was keeping the party going had finished – they ran out of wine. Sometimes, when we see the same people serving in the Church growing older and older with each passing year without any successor, we begin to think that the wine is also running out. No Wine, no new leaders, no new plans, no new members, no Holy Spirit! The END! Do you think that our parish, is heading in this direction? Do you think that our wine is running out and we are about to ‘close shop’?

Thousands of years ago, the people of Israel also thought that the destruction of their country meant the end of everything. They were called the “Forsaken” and “Abandoned” People. But Isaiah in the first reading gives an entirely different message. It is a message of hope. All is not lost because God will return to redeem them. They will be called by a new name, they will receive a new glory, they will be called “My Delight” and “The Wedded” for God has taken delight in them again. God has renewed his covenant with them – God has wedded them again. What brought about the change? They realized that glory and blessings came from God alone. No human power, riches or glory will last. Eventually all these things will run out. Only God’s blessings remain. Only God can ensure that the wine will never run out.

All is not lost! The wine need not run out. This community still has a chance to grow and become stronger. Firstly, we must recognize that we need conversion. We need God and Christ to become the center of our lives. We can no longer think that we can solve all our problems through human efforts. If we have the ability to solve problems, it is the ability which is given none other by God. If this community is to survive and grow, each of us must experience a conversion of heart. We need to be re-evangelised. If we have become complacent and satisfied with what we have, its time to wake up. It’s not enough to maintain the things that we have. The community and the church must grow; if not, it will die. Let us then pray that our community will be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit and that we will come to recognize our gifts and how we can use these gifts in the service of the Church.

Bishops' Conference: Remain Calm, Do not React and Pray

2010-01-13T10:09:00.001+08:00

Malaysian Bishops Respond to Violence
Note Muslim Support; Say Root Is Politics, Not Religion

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, JAN. 12, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Malaysian bishops are urging reconciliation in the wake of attacks against nine Christian churches over the weekend, and affirming the incidents stain the reputation of the country's Muslim majority.

The prelates responded to attacks on three Catholic and six Protestant churches in a communiqué made public today by the Fides news agency. The prelates are beginning their plenary assembly of bishops from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

The assembly, planned some time ago, had to change its agenda completely in the wake of the violence.

Known as moderate

The bishops' communiqué noted harmony between Islam and Christianity in Malaysia, and said the attacks stain the reputation of Malay Islam, "known for its moderation and its peaceful coexistence with other religions."

In fact, Fides reported, moderate Muslim groups have organized watches in churches to prevent a repeat of the violence.

The communiqué stated Christians "are committed to do everything possible to keep calm, not to respond to the provocations, and to pray so that the violence will not spread."

The attacks over the weekend come in the context of a Dec. 31 high court decision overturning a ban on Christian groups referring to God as Allah.

Both Christians and Muslims pointed to political motivations behind the violence.

Driven by Love

2010-01-08T11:39:00.000+08:00

Feast of Baptism of the Lord

What is the thing that you want most in life? Big car … good family … loving husband or a loving wife … filial children. Whatever it is you want most in life – that thing is the thing which you believe will bring the greatest happiness into your life. In other words, the thing which we want most in life is happiness. Pursuit of happiness is the driving force of life.

We work hard, we choose friends and the person we want to marry, we try to get good grades in school, good jobs – hoping that at the end of it all we will be happy. We try to please others hoping that they will come to accept us and love us. But let me tell you the truth – happiness is not something that we can achieve. Happiness is never the reward of doing something well. We can never buy happiness.

Rather, happiness is a gift from God. It is a gift freely given by God to those open to receive it. Happiness is knowing in the depths of one’s heart that one is truly loved by God. Happiness is knowing that we are loveable and that we are precious in the eyes of God. No matter how others may see us, no matter how others may judge us, nothing can change this single reality – we are loved by God.

This knowledge was the driving force behind Jesus. At his baptism, Jesus received this beautiful words from God the Father – “This is my Son, the Beloved, my favour rests on him.” Knowing that he was loved by his Father in heaven, Jesus began his mission to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God. Although he faced many setbacks, although he was criticized and hated by many people, although he was rejected by his own relatives and neighbours, although he was betrayed by his own disciples, Jesus never waivered in his resolve. Only one thing mattered to him – knowing that he was loved by God and nothing … absolutely nothing can change that. On the cross, in the midst of his pain and loneliness, Jesus was sustained by the knowledge of God’s love for him and that God will never abandon him at this moment of his greatest need.

This is what God wants to tell each of you: “You are my Son. You are my daughter. You are precious. I love you very much!!!” We don’t have to prove ourselves to God. We don’t have to show him that we are good or that we are perfect. God loves us in spite of our sins and weaknesses.

If we live each day with this knowledge of God’s love for us, we will not easily give up especially when we are faced with criticism from others. Whenever we celebrate the Mass, we are reminded again and again that we are loved by God. It was because of love, that God sent his only Son to die for us. Jesus, who gives his body and blood, is living proof of this. The mass is proof of God’s love. Because we are loved by God, let us now share this love with every other person.

Feast of Epiphany

2010-01-02T17:32:00.001+08:00

Epiphany (from Koine Greek ἐπιφάνεια "appearance", "manifestation") is a Christian feast day which celebrates the revelation of God in human form in the person of Jesus Christ. It falls on January 6 or on a Sunday close to that date. January 6 in the Julian Calendar, which is followed by some Eastern Churches, corresponds at present to January 19 in the Gregorian Calendar, which is the official civil calendar in most countries. On this day, Western Christians commemorate principally the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the child Jesus, i.e., his manifestation to the Gentiles; Eastern Christians commemorate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, seen as his manifestation to the world as the Son of God. It is also called Theophany, especially by Eastern Christians.

History
The observance had its origins in the early Christian Church, and was a general celebration of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. It included the commemoration of: his birth; the visit of the Magi ("Wise Men", as Magi were Persian priests) to Bethlehem; all of Jesus' childhood events, up to and including his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist; and even the miracle at the Wedding of Cana in Galilee. It seems fairly clear that the Baptism was the primary event being commemorated.

Christians fixed the date of the feast on January 6 quite early in their history. Ancient liturgies noted Illuminatio, Manifestatio, Declaratio (Illumination, Manifestation, Declaration); cf. Matthew 3:13–17; Luke 3:22; and John 2:1–11; where the Baptism and the Marriage at Cana were dwelt upon. Western Christians have traditionally emphasized the "Revelation to the Gentiles" mentioned in Luke, where the term Gentile means all non-Jewish peoples. The Biblical Magi, who represented the non-Jewish peoples of the world, paid homage to the infant Jesus in stark contrast to Herod the Great (King of Judea), who sought to kill him.

The earliest reference to Epiphany as a Christian feast was in A.D. 361, by Ammianus Marcellinus. St. Epiphanius says that January 6 is hemera genethlion toutestin epiphanion (Christ's "Birthday; that is, His Epiphany"). He also asserts that the Miracle at Cana occurred on the same calendar day.

In 385, the pilgrim Egeria (also known as Silvia) described a celebration in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which she called "Epiphany" (epiphania) that commemorated the Nativity of Christ. Even at this early date, there was an octave associated with the feast.

In a sermon delivered on December 25, 380, St. Gregory of Nazianzus referred to the day as ta theophania ("the Theophany", an alternative name for Epiphany), saying expressly that it is a day commemorating he hagia tou Christou gennesis ("the holy nativity of Christ") and told his listeners that they would soon be celebrating the baptism of Christ. Then, on January 6 and 7, he preached two more sermons, wherein he declared that the celebration of the birth of Christ and the visitation of the Magi had already taken place, and that they would now commemorate his Baptism. At this time, celebration of the two events was beginning to be observed on separate occasions, at least in Cappadocia.

Saint John Cassian says that even in his time (beginning of the 5th century), the Egyptian monasteries celebrated the Nativity and Baptism together on January 6. The Armenian Apostolic Church continues to celebrate January 6 as the only commemoration of the Nativity.

Epiphany in different Christian traditions

Epiphany is celebrated by both the Eastern and Western Churches, but a major difference between them is precisely which events the feast commemorates. For Western Christians, the feast primarily commemorates the coming of the Magi; Eastern churches celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan. In both traditions, the essence of the feast is the same: the manifestation of Christ to the world (whether as an infant or in the Jordan), and the Mystery of the Incarnation.

Western Christian Churches

Even before the year 354, the Western Church had separated the celebration of the Nativity of Christ as the feast of Christmas and set its date as December 25; it reserved January 6 as a commemoration of the manifestation of Christ, especially to the Magi, but also at his baptism and at the wedding feast of Cana.

In parts of the Eastern Church, January 6 continued for some time as a composite feast that included the Nativity of Jesus: though Constantinople adopted December 25 to commemorate Jesus' birth in the fourth century, in other parts the Nativity of Jesus continued to be celebrated on January 6, a date later devoted exclusively to commemorating his Baptism.[13]

The West historically observed a twelve-day festival, starting on December 25, and ending on January 5, known as Christmastide or the Twelve Days of Christmas. Some Christian cultures, especially those of Latin America and some in Europe, extend the season to as many as forty days, ending on Candlemas (February 2).

On the Feast of the Epiphany, the priest, wearing white vestments, will bless the Epiphany water, frankincense, gold, and chalk. Chalk is used to write the initials of the three magi over the doors of churches and homes. The letters stand for the initials of the Magi (traditionally named Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar), and also the phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates as "may Christ bless the house".

According to ancient custom, the priest announced the date of Easter on the feast of Epiphany. This tradition dated from a time when calendars were not readily available, and the church needed to publicize the date of Easter, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on it. The proclamation may be sung or proclaimed at the ambo by a deacon, cantor, or reader either after the reading of the Gospel or after the postcommunion prayer.

Prior to the reform of 1955, when Pope Pius XII abolished all but three liturgical octaves, the Roman Catholic Church celebrated Epiphany as an eight-day feast beginning on January 6 and ending on January 13, known as the Octave of Epiphany. They celebrated the feast of the Holy Family on the Sunday within the octave, and the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus on the Sunday between January 2 and January 5 or, if there were no such Sunday, on January 2. They calculated Christmastide as the twelve days ending on January 5, followed by Epiphany time, consisting of the feast and its octave.

In the 1970 revision of the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6 for countries where the feast is a Holy Day of Obligation. In other countries, it is celebrated on the Sunday after January 1. Christmastide ends with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is always on the Sunday after Epiphany (unless, where Epiphany is not a holy day of obligation, Epiphany is celebrated on January 7 or 8, in which case Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the following Monday).

The Roman Missal provides a formula with appropriate chant (in the tone of the Exsultet) for proclaiming on Epiphany, wherever it is customary to do so, the dates in the calendar for the celebration of Ash Wednesday, Easter Sunday, Ascension of Jesus Christ, Pentecost, the Body and Blood of Christ, and the First Sunday of Advent in the following Liturgical Year.

Eastern Christian Churches

Usually called the Feast of Theophany (Greek: Θεοφάνεια, "God shining forth" or "divine manifestation"), it is one of the Great Feasts of the liturgical year, being third in rank, behind only Pascha (Easter) and Pentecost in importance. Orthodox Christians that follow the Gregorian Calendar celebrate Epiphany on January 6, while those who follow the Julian Calendar celebrate it on January 19.

The earliest reference to the feast in the Eastern Church is a remark by St. Clement of Alexandria in Stromateis.

Today in Eastern Orthodox churches, the emphasis at this feast is on the shining forth and revelation of Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Second Person of the Trinity at the time of his baptism. It is also celebrated because, according to tradition, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist marked one of only two occasions when all three Persons of the Trinity manifested themselves simultaneously to humanity: God the Father by speaking through the clouds, God the Son being baptized in the river, and God the Holy Spirit in the shape of a dove descending from heaven (the other occasion was the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor). Thus the holy day is considered to be a Trinitarian feast.

The Orthodox consider Jesus' Baptism to be the first step towards the Crucifixion, and there are some parallels in the hymnography used on this day and the hymns chanted on Good Friday.

The liturgical Forefeast of Theophany begins on January 1, and concludes with the Paramony on January 5. The Eve of the Feast is called Paramony (Greek: παραμονή, Slavonic: navechérie). Paramony is observed as a strict fast day. On this day the Royal Hours are celebrated, thus tying together the feasts of Nativity and Good Friday. The Royal Hours are followed by the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil which combines Vespers with the Divine Liturgy. During the Vespers, fifteen Old Testament lections which foreshadow the Baptism of Christ are read, and special antiphons are chanted.

The Orthodox Churches perform the Great Blessing of Waters on Theophany. The blessing is normally done twice: once on the Eve of the Feast—usually at a Baptismal font inside the church—and then again on the day of the feast, outdoors at a body of water. Following the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and people go in a Crucession (procession with the cross) to the nearest body of water, be it a beach, harbor, quay, river, lake, swimming pool, water depot, etc. (ideally, it should be a body of "living water"). At the end of the ceremony the priest will bless the waters. In the Greek practice, he does this by casting a cross into the water.

Theophany is a traditional day for performing Baptisms, and this is reflected in the Divine Liturgy by singing the baptismal hymn, "As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia," in place of the Trisagion.

A Star is Born

2010-01-02T17:27:00.000+08:00

Have you ever dreamt of being a movie star? Have you ever wished you could be a famous singer, or at least a famous karaoke singer? Even if you didn’t have these ambitions, there must be some time in your life when you wanted to be the center of attention. You wanted to be a star. For example, young children often cry or act naughty to get the attention of their parents. Adults are no different. We sulk and we throw tantrums in order to get attention. We feel jealous whenever other’s get the attention.

Today’s gospel is also about stars – many different stars but only one true Star. We have the bright star shining in the sky indicating to the wise men of the East the place where the Messiah was to be born. Was this the Star, the one true Star? No. This star only showed the way. Then we have the wise men. On the feast of the Epiphany, we usually place the statues of the three kings in the crib to indicate the visit of the wise men, who were not actually kings. Many people often think that these kings or wise men are the stars of today’s celebration. But they’re not the stars of the day. They were searching and making their way to the true star. Then there is King Herod. King Herod had great ambitions. He wanted to be the greatest king of his dynasty. He wanted to rival King David and Solomon. It is true that he controlled the largest territory in his dynastic line. But, he was still an insignificant vassal ruler in the massive Roman empire. King Herod wanted to be a star. He wanted to be THE Star but fell far short of it. When you are insecure and frightened of losing your position and power, you will make sure that there are no other rivals. This is the reason why Herod wanted to know the location of the Messiah so that he could get rid of his rival. Herod felt that there can only be one star and it had to be Herod himself.

King Herod was partly right. There has to be only one Star. One star which lights the way. One star that brightens the darkness. One star that points the way to salvation. One star where we can place all our hopes and aspirations. Jesus is that Star. Today’s feast is precisely about Jesus. It is not Herod, nor the wise men, nor even the star which should the way to find Jesus. Today’s feast about Jesus, the star which brightens the darkness of our lives and shows the way to salvation for all mankind. If Jesus is the Star of our lives, we cannot have other stars. Power, money, riches, feng shui, idols, charms – these can no longer be ‘stars’ in our lives. There is only one Star and he must be Jesus.

Three things are revealed about Jesus in today’s gospel. The three gifts are symbolic of this revelation. The gift of gold symbolizes the kingship of Christ. Jesus Christ is a king, but not like any other kings. His kingdom is not of this world. It is the kingdom of justice, peace and love. It is the kingdom which is established in the hearts of every man or woman who open themselves to God and allow God to be the Lord of their lives. It is the kingdom of humble service rather than of power. The second gift is the gift of frankincense. Incense is used in worship This gift symbolizes the divinity of Christ. Christ is no mere human person. He is God. He is God made man. He is God with us. Finally, we have the gift of myrrh which is used for burial. This last gift points to the passion of Christ. Christ must suffer and die in order for the world to be saved. This is his destiny. We as his followers must also be prepared to follow his way of living and even follow him on the way to the cross.

Today, we too pay homage to the greatest Star that was ever born. He is not any famous singer or actor. He isn’t a great king or a philosopher. He is so much more than all these things. He is Jesus. He is our Lord. He is our Saviour. He is our King.

Interview with Fr. Lawrence Andrew, Editor of The Herald

2010-01-01T17:52:00.002+08:00

Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, January 1

2010-01-01T08:42:00.000+08:00

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is a liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church on 1 January, the Octave Day of Christmas.

Mother of God - Theotokos

Theotokos (Greek: Θεοτόκος, translit. Theotókos) is the Greek title of Mary, the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches. Its literal English translations include God-bearer and the one who gives birth to God. Less literal translations include Mother of God. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants use the title Mother of God more often than Theotokos. The Council of Ephesus decreed in 431 that Mary is Theotokos because her son Jesus is one person who is both God and man, divine and human.

Theotokos specifically excludes the understanding of Mary as Mother of God in the eternal sense. Christians believe that God is the cause of all, with neither origin nor source, and is therefore "without a mother."

On the other hand, most Christians believe God the Son is begotten of God the Father "from all eternity", but is born "in time" of Mary. Theotokos thus refers to the Incarnation, when the Second Person of the Holy Trinity took on human nature in addition to his pre-existing divine nature, this being made possible through the cooperation of Mary.

Since mainstream Christians understand Jesus Christ as both fully God and fully human, they call Mary Theotokos to affirm the fullness of God's incarnation. The Council of Ephesus decreed, in opposition to those who denied Mary the title Theotokos ("the one who gives birth to God") but called her Christotokos ("the one who gives birth to Christ"), that Mary is Theotokos because her son Jesus is one person who is both God and man, divine and human. As Cyril of Alexandria wrote, "I am amazed that there are some who are entirely in doubt as to whether the holy Virgin should be called Theotokos or not. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, how is the holy Virgin who gave [Him] birth, not [Theotokos]?" (Epistle 1, to the monks of Egypt; PG 77:13B). Thus the significance of Theotokos lies more in what it says about Jesus than any declaration about Mary.

Within the Orthodox and Catholic doctrinal teaching on the economy of salvation, Mary's identity, role, and status as Theotokos is acknowledged as indispensable, and is for this reason formally defined as official dogma.

History of the Feast

The feast was celebrated in the east before the west, but by the 5th century it was celebrated in France and Spain on the Sunday before Christmas. In Rome, even before the 7th century, 1 January was used as a celebration of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ had come to replace the Marian feast on 1 January. The celebration of the Feast of the Circumcision on 1 January was expanded to the entire Roman Catholic Church in 1570 when Pope Pius V promulgated the Roman Missal. In 1914, the feast of the "Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" was established in Portugal, occurring on 11 October. In 1931, this feast was extended to the entire Roman Catholic Church by Pope Pius XI and maintained on 11 October. Following the Second Vatican Council in 1974, Pope Paul VI removed the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ from the liturgical calendar, and replaced it with the feast of the "Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God."[1] Traditionalist Catholics continue to celebrate this feast day with the old name "The Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary" on 11 October.[2]

The feast is a celebration of Mary's motherhood of Jesus. The title “Mother of God” is a western derivation from the (Greek: Theotokos, the God-bearer). The term “Theotokos” was adopted at the Council of Ephesus as a way to assert the Divinity of Christ, from which it follows that what is predicated of Christ is predicated of God. So, if Mary is the mother of Jesus, she is the Mother of God. Therefore, the title “Mother of God” and the “Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God”, which celebrates her under this title, are at once Mariological and Christological.

"If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation"

2010-01-01T07:51:00.000+08:00

Papal Message for World Peace Day

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 15, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the message Benedict XVI wrote for the Jan. 1 World Day of Peace. The letter was released today and is titled: "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation."

* * *

1. At the beginning of this New Year, I wish to offer heartfelt greetings of peace to all Christian communities, international leaders, and people of good will throughout the world. For this XLIII World Day of Peace I have chosen the theme: If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation. Respect for creation is of immense consequence, not least because "creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God's works",[1] and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind. Man's inhumanity to man has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to authentic and integral human development -- wars, international and regional conflicts, acts of terrorism, and violations of human rights. Yet no less troubling are the threats arising from the neglect -- if not downright misuse -- of the earth and the natural goods that God has given us. For this reason, it is imperative that mankind renew and strengthen "that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying".[2]

2. In my Encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," I noted that integral human development is closely linked to the obligations which flow from man's relationship with the natural environment. The environment must be seen as God's gift to all people, and the use we make of it entails a shared responsibility for all humanity, especially the poor and future generations. I also observed that whenever nature, and human beings in particular, are seen merely as products of chance or an evolutionary determinism, our overall sense of responsibility wanes.[3] On the other hand, seeing creation as God's gift to humanity helps us understand our vocation and worth as human beings. With the Psalmist, we can exclaim with wonder: "When I look at your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you have established; what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?" (Ps 8:4-5). Contemplating the beauty of creation inspires us to recognize the love of the Creator, that Love which "moves the sun and the other stars".[4]

3. Twenty years ago, Pope John Paul II devoted his Message for the World Day of Peace to the theme: Peace with God the Creator, Peace with All of Creation. He emphasized our relationship, as God's creatures, with the universe all around us. "In our day", he wrote, "there is a growing awareness that world peace is threatened ... also by a lack of due respect for nature". He added that "ecological awareness, rather than being downplayed, needs to be helped to develop and mature, and find fitting expression in concrete programmes and initiatives".[5]

Previous Popes had spoken of the relationship between human beings and the environment. In 1971, for example, on the eightieth anniversary of Leo XIII's Encyclical "Rerum Novarum," Paul VI pointed out that "by an ill-considered exploitation of nature (man) risks destroying it and becoming in his turn the victim of this degradation". He added that "not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace - pollution and refuse, new illnesses and absolute destructive capacity - but the human framework is no longer under man's control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow which may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family".[6]

4. Without entering into the merit of specific technical solutions, the Church is nonetheless concerned, as an "expert in humanity", to call attention to the relationship between the Creator, human beings and the created order. In 1990 John Paul II had spoken of an "ecological crisis" and, in highlighting its primarily ethical character, pointed to the "urgent moral need for a new solidarity".[7] His appeal is all the more pressing today, in the face of signs of a growing crisis which it would be irresponsible not to take seriously. Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of "environmental refugees", people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it -- and often their possessions as well -- in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources? All these are issues with a profound impact on the exercise of human rights, such as the right to life, food, health and development.

5. It should be evident that the ecological crisis cannot be viewed in isolation from other related questions, since it is closely linked to the notion of development itself and our understanding of man in his relationship to others and to the rest of creation. Prudence would thus dictate a profound, long-term review of our model of development, one which would take into consideration the meaning of the economy and its goals with an eye to correcting its malfunctions and misapplications. The ecological health of the planet calls for this, but it is also demanded by the cultural and moral crisis of humanity whose symptoms have for some time been evident in every part of the world.[8] Humanity needs a profound cultural renewal; it needs to rediscover those values which can serve as the solid basis for building a brighter future for all. Our present crises - be they economic, food-related, environmental or social - are ultimately also moral crises, and all of them are interrelated. They require us to rethink the path which we are travelling together. Specifically, they call for a lifestyle marked by sobriety and solidarity, with new rules and forms of engagement, one which focuses confidently and courageously on strategies that actually work, while decisively rejecting those that have failed. Only in this way can the current crisis become an opportunity for discernment and new strategic planning.

6. Is it not true that what we call "nature" in a cosmic sense has its origin in "a plan of love and truth"? The world "is not the product of any necessity whatsoever, nor of blind fate or chance... The world proceeds from the free will of God; he wanted to make his creatures share in his being, in his intelligence, and in his goodness".[9] The Book of Genesis, in its very first pages, points to the wise design of the cosmos: it comes forth from God's mind and finds its culmination in man and woman, made in the image and likeness of the Creator to "fill the earth" and to "have dominion over" it as "stewards" of God himself (cf. Gen 1:28). The harmony between the Creator, mankind and the created world, as described by Sacred Scripture, was disrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve, by man and woman, who wanted to take the place of God and refused to acknowledge that they were his creatures. As a result, the work of "exercising dominion" over the earth, "tilling it and keeping it", was also disrupted, and conflict arose within and between mankind and the rest of creation (cf. Gen 3:17-19). Human beings let themselves be mastered by selfishness; they misunderstood the meaning of God's command and exploited creation out of a desire to exercise absolute domination over it. But the true meaning of God's original command, as the Book of Genesis clearly shows, was not a simple conferral of authority, but rather a summons to responsibility. The wisdom of the ancients had recognized that nature is not at our disposal as "a heap of scattered refuse".[10] Biblical Revelation made us see that nature is a gift of the Creator, who gave it an inbuilt order and enabled man to draw from it the principles needed to "till it and keep it" (cf. Gen. 2:15).[11] Everything that exists belongs to God, who has entrusted it to man, albeit not for his arbitrary use. Once man, instead of acting as God's co-worker, sets himself up in place of God, he ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature, "which is more tyrannized than governed by him".[12] Man thus has a duty to exercise responsible stewardship over creation, to care for it and to cultivate it.[13]

7. Sad to say, it is all too evident that large numbers of people in different countries and areas of our planet are experiencing increased hardship because of the negligence or refusal of many others to exercise responsible stewardship over the environment. The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council reminded us that "God has destined the earth and everything it contains for all peoples and nations".[14] The goods of creation belong to humanity as a whole. Yet the current pace of environmental exploitation is seriously endangering the supply of certain natural resources not only for the present generation, but above all for generations yet to come.[15] It is not hard to see that environmental degradation is often due to the lack of far-sighted official policies or to the pursuit of myopic economic interests, which then, tragically, become a serious threat to creation. To combat this phenomenon, economic activity needs to consider the fact that "every economic decision has a moral consequence" [16] and thus show increased respect for the environment. When making use of natural resources, we should be concerned for their protection and consider the cost entailed -- environmentally and socially -- as an essential part of the overall expenses incurred. The international community and national governments are responsible for sending the right signals in order to combat effectively the misuse of the environment. To protect the environment, and to safeguard natural resources and the climate, there is a need to act in accordance with clearly-defined rules, also from the juridical and economic standpoint, while at the same time taking into due account the solidarity we owe to those living in the poorer areas of our world and to future generations.

8. A greater sense of intergenerational solidarity is urgently needed. Future generations cannot be saddled with the cost of our use of common environmental resources. "We have inherited from past generations, and we have benefited from the work of our contemporaries; for this reason we have obligations towards all, and we cannot refuse to interest ourselves in those who will come after us, to enlarge the human family. Universal solidarity represents a benefit as well as a duty. This is a responsibility that present generations have towards those of the future, a responsibility that also concerns individual States and the international community".[17] Natural resources should be used in such a way that immediate benefits do not have a negative impact on living creatures, human and not, present and future; that the protection of private property does not conflict with the universal destination of goods;[18] that human activity does not compromise the fruitfulness of the earth, for the benefit of people now and in the future. In addition to a fairer sense of intergenerational solidarity there is also an urgent moral need for a renewed sense of intragenerational solidarity, especially in relationships between developing countries and highly industrialized countries: "the international community has an urgent duty to find institutional means of regulating the exploitation of non-renewable resources, involving poor countries in the process, in order to plan together for the future".[19] The ecological crisis shows the urgency of a solidarity which embraces time and space. It is important to acknowledge that among the causes of the present ecological crisis is the historical responsibility of the industrialized countries. Yet the less developed countries, and emerging countries in particular, are not exempt from their own responsibilities with regard to creation, for the duty of gradually adopting effective environmental measures and policies is incumbent upon all. This would be accomplished more easily if self-interest played a lesser role in the granting of aid and the sharing of knowledge and cleaner technologies.

9. To be sure, among the basic problems which the international community has to address is that of energy resources and the development of joint and sustainable strategies to satisfy the energy needs of the present and future generations. This means that technologically advanced societies must be prepared to encourage more sober lifestyles, while reducing their energy consumption and improving its efficiency. At the same time there is a need to encourage research into, and utilization of, forms of energy with lower impact on the environment and "a world-wide redistribution of energy resources, so that countries lacking those resources can have access to them".[20] The ecological crisis offers an historic opportunity to develop a common plan of action aimed at orienting the model of global development towards greater respect for creation and for an integral human development inspired by the values proper to charity in truth. I would advocate the adoption of a model of development based on the centrality of the human person, on the promotion and sharing of the common good, on responsibility, on a realization of our need for a changed life-style, and on prudence, the virtue which tells us what needs to be done today in view of what might happen tomorrow.[21]

10. A sustainable comprehensive management of the environment and the resources of the planet demands that human intelligence be directed to technological and scientific research and its practical applications. The "new solidarity" for which John Paul II called in his Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace [22] and the "global solidarity" for which I myself appealed in my Message for the 2009 World Day of Peace [23] are essential attitudes in shaping our efforts to protect creation through a better internationally-coordinated management of the earth's resources, particularly today, when there is an increasingly clear link between combatting environmental degradation and promoting an integral human development. These two realities are inseparable, since "the integral development of individuals necessarily entails a joint effort for the development of humanity as a whole".[24] At present there are a number of scientific developments and innovative approaches which promise to provide satisfactory and balanced solutions to the problem of our relationship to the environment.

Encouragement needs to be given, for example, to research into effective ways of exploiting the immense potential of solar energy. Similar attention also needs to be paid to the world-wide problem of water and to the global water cycle system, which is of prime importance for life on earth and whose stability could be seriously jeopardized by climate change. Suitable strategies for rural development centred on small farmers and their families should be explored, as well as the implementation of appropriate policies for the management of forests, for waste disposal and for strengthening the linkage between combatting climate change and overcoming poverty. Ambitious national policies are required, together with a necessary international commitment which will offer important benefits especially in the medium and long term. There is a need, in effect, to move beyond a purely consumerist mentality in order to promote forms of agricultural and industrial production capable of respecting creation and satisfying the primary needs of all. The ecological problem must be dealt with not only because of the chilling prospects of environmental degradation on the horizon; the real motivation must be the quest for authentic world-wide solidarity inspired by the values of charity, justice and the common good. For that matter, as I have stated elsewhere, "technology is never merely technology. It reveals man and his aspirations towards development; it expresses the inner tension that impels him gradually to overcome material limitations. Technology in this sense is a response to God's command to till and keep the land (cf. Gen 2:15) that he has entrusted to humanity, and it must serve to reinforce the covenant between human beings and the environment, a covenant that should mirror God's creative love".[25]

11. It is becoming more and more evident that the issue of environmental degradation challenges us to examine our life-style and the prevailing models of consumption and production, which are often unsustainable from a social, environmental and even economic point of view. We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-styles, "in which the quest for truth, beauty, goodness and communion with others for the sake of common growth are the factors which determine consumer choices, savings and investments".[26] Education for peace must increasingly begin with far-reaching decisions on the part of individuals, families, communities and states. We are all responsible for the protection and care of the environment. This responsibility knows no boundaries. In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity it is important for everyone to be committed at his or her proper level, working to overcome the prevalence of particular interests. A special role in raising awareness and in formation belongs to the different groups present in civil society and to the non-governmental organizations which work with determination and generosity for the spread of ecological responsibility, responsibility which should be ever more deeply anchored in respect for "human ecology". The media also have a responsibility in this regard to offer positive and inspiring models. In a word, concern for the environment calls for a broad global vision of the world; a responsible common effort to move beyond approaches based on selfish nationalistic interests towards a vision constantly open to the needs of all peoples. We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening around us, for the deterioration of any one part of the planet affects us all. Relationships between individuals, social groups and states, like those between human beings and the environment, must be marked by respect and "charity in truth". In this broader context one can only encourage the efforts of the international community to ensure progressive disarmament and a world free of nuclear weapons, whose presence alone threatens the life of the planet and the ongoing integral development of the present generation and of generations yet to come.

12. The Church has a responsibility towards creation, and she considers it her duty to exercise that responsibility in public life, in order to protect earth, water and air as gifts of God the Creator meant for everyone, and above all to save mankind from the danger of self-destruction. The degradation of nature is closely linked to the cultural models shaping human coexistence: consequently, "when ‘human ecology' is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits".[27] Young people cannot be asked to respect the environment if they are not helped, within families and society as a whole, to respect themselves. The book of nature is one and indivisible; it includes not only the environment but also individual, family and social ethics.[28] Our duties towards the environment flow from our duties towards the person, considered both individually and in relation to others.

Hence I readily encourage efforts to promote a greater sense of ecological responsibility which, as I indicated in my Encyclical "Caritas in Veritate," would safeguard an authentic "human ecology" and thus forcefully reaffirm the inviolability of human life at every stage and in every condition, the dignity of the person and the unique mission of the family, where one is trained in love of neighbour and respect for nature.[29] There is a need to safeguard the human patrimony of society. This patrimony of values originates in and is part of the natural moral law, which is the foundation of respect for the human person and creation.

13. Nor must we forget the very significant fact that many people experience peace and tranquillity, renewal and reinvigoration, when they come into close contact with the beauty and harmony of nature. There exists a certain reciprocity: as we care for creation, we realize that God, through creation, cares for us. On the other hand, a correct understanding of the relationship between man and the environment will not end by absolutizing nature or by considering it more important than the human person. If the Church's magisterium expresses grave misgivings about notions of the environment inspired by ecocentrism and biocentrism, it is because such notions eliminate the difference of identity and worth between the human person and other living things. In the name of a supposedly egalitarian vision of the "dignity" of all living creatures, such notions end up abolishing the distinctiveness and superior role of human beings. They also open the way to a new pantheism tinged with neo-paganism, which would see the source of man's salvation in nature alone, understood in purely naturalistic terms. The Church, for her part, is concerned that the question be approached in a balanced way, with respect for the "grammar" which the Creator has inscribed in his handiwork by giving man the role of a steward and administrator with responsibility over creation, a role which man must certainly not abuse, but also one which he may not abdicate. In the same way, the opposite position, which would absolutize technology and human power, results in a grave assault not only on nature, but also on human dignity itself.[30]

14. If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. The quest for peace by people of good will surely would become easier if all acknowledge the indivisible relationship between God, human beings and the whole of creation. In the light of divine Revelation and in fidelity to the Church's Tradition, Christians have their own contribution to make. They contemplate the cosmos and its marvels in light of the creative work of the Father and the redemptive work of Christ, who by his death and resurrection has reconciled with God "all things, whether on earth or in heaven" (Col 1:20). Christ, crucified and risen, has bestowed his Spirit of holiness upon mankind, to guide the course of history in anticipation of that day when, with the glorious return of the Saviour, there will be "new heavens and a new earth" (2 Pet 3:13), in which justice and peace will dwell for ever. Protecting the natural environment in order to build a world of peace is thus a duty incumbent upon each and all. It is an urgent challenge, one to be faced with renewed and concerted commitment; it is also a providential opportunity to hand down to coming generations the prospect of a better future for all. May this be clear to world leaders and to those at every level who are concerned for the future of humanity: the protection of creation and peacemaking are profoundly linked! For this reason, I invite all believers to raise a fervent prayer to God, the all-powerful Creator and the Father of mercies, so that all men and women may take to heart the urgent appeal: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.

From the Vatican, 8 December 2009

BENEDICTUS PP. XVI

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Notes

[1] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 198.

[2] Benedict XVI, Message for the 2008 World Day of Peace, 7.

[3] Cf. No.48.

[4] Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy, Paradiso, XXXIII, 145.

[5] Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 1.

[6] Apostolic Letter "Octogesima Adveniens," 21.

[7] Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 10.

[8] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 32.

[9] Catechism of the Catholic Church, 295.

[10] Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 535 - c. 475 B.C.), Fragment 22B124, in H. Diels-W. Kranz, Die Fragmente der Vorsokratiker, Weidmann, Berlin,1952, 6th ed.

[11] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 48.

[12] John Paul II, Encyclical Letter "Centesimus Annus," 37.

[13] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 50.

[14] Pastoral Constitution "Gaudium et Spes," 69.

[15] Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter "Sollicitudo Rei Socialis," 34.

[16] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 37.

[17] Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 467; cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter "Populorum Progressio," 17.

[18] Cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter "Centesimus Annus," 30-31, 43

[19] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 49.

[20] Ibid.

[21] Cf. Saint Thomas Aquinas, S. Th., II-II, q. 49, 5.

[22] Cf. No. 9.

[23] Cf. No. 8.

[24] Paul VI, Encyclical Letter "Populorum Progressio," 43.

[25] Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 69.

[26] John Paul II, Encyclical Letter "Centesimus Annus," 36.

[27] Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 51.

[28] Cf. ibid., 15, 51.

[29] Cf. ibid., 28, 51, 61; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter "Centesimus Annus," 38, 39.

[30] Cf. Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter "Caritas in Veritate," 70.

© Copyright 2009 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Malaysian court rules Christians can use 'Allah'

2009-12-31T19:57:00.000+08:00

By EILEEN NG
The Associated Press
Thursday, December 31, 2009; 6:27 AM

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- A Malaysian court ruled Thursday that Christians have the constitutional right to use the word Allah to refer to God, striking down a government ban as illegal.

The landmark ruling appeared to be a victory for freedom of religion in the Muslim-majority country, where the ban had become a symbol of what minorities say is institutionalized religious discrimination.

Government lawyers said they will consult with the Home Ministry before deciding whether to appeal Judge Lau Bee Lan's verdict in a higher court, where the ban could still be reinstated. They have one month to appeal.

Lau said in her judgment that Christians have the "constitutional right to use Allah" and that the Home Ministry is "not empowered" to impose the ban.

She was ruling on a lawsuit filed in late 2007 by the Herald, the Malaysian Roman Catholic Church's main publication, after the government blocked non-Muslims from translating God as Allah in their literature.

"This is indeed a landmark case for our nation," the Herald's editor, the Rev. Lawrence Andrew, said in a statement. He said the verdict upholds constitutional liberties of freedom of speech, expression and religion.

Authorities have insisted that Allah is an Islamic word that should be used exclusively by Muslims, and its use by other religions would be misleading.

The ban had affected the Malay-language edition of the Herald, which is read mostly by indigenous tribes who converted to Christianity decades ago. The Mandarin, English and Tamil editions do not use the word Allah.

About 60 percent of Malaysia's 27 million people are Muslim Malays. A third of the population is ethnic Chinese and Indian, and many practice Christianity.

Thursday's verdict means "that the Bahasa Malaysia-speaking community of the Christian faith can now continue to freely use the word Allah, a word that has been in their worships and instructions in the faith without any interference from the authorities," Andrew said.

The government had argued that the Herald's online edition can be easily accessed by Muslims. Although the government has not said it explicitly, the fear among authorities is that Muslims might be tempted to convert to Christianity by reading Christian literature.

Lau said the government argument is outdated. She said the Herald's readership is largely limited to followers of Christianity and "that is a sufficient safeguard."

Minorities have often said their constitutional right to practice religion freely has come under threat from the Malay Muslim-dominated government. The government denies any discrimination.

Recently, the government confiscated 10,000 copies of Bahasa Malaysia-language Bibles because they contained the word Allah.

The National Union of Malaysia Muslim Students urged the Home Ministry to appeal the decision.

In the Malaysian context, "the word Allah is exclusive and only refers to the concept of God that is understood by Muslims," it said in a statement. It warned that allowing the Herald to use Allah could cause confusion among Muslims who may leave their faith.

Treasure all things and ponder them in your heart

2009-12-31T19:45:00.002+08:00

Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
New Year's Day

The great philosopher, Socrates, once wrote: “An unreflected life is not worth living.” A person who does not pause once in a while to evaluate his life, to ponder on where he is going and where is God leading him, would soon find life burdensome.

Today, as we start a new year, we are given the example of Mary, Mother of God, who “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The New Year is often celebrated with parties and activities. Everyone is so busy having fun that they sometimes forget to follow the example of Mary to treasure and give thanks for all the things they received in the past year and to ponder on where God is leading them.

Today, let us take some time to reflect over the past year. We are called to remember not only the good things that happen to us. If we remember these good experiences, let us thank God for them. But if we also remember painful and sad experiences, we should also thank God. God has been given you the strength to go through these experiences. The fact that you are here today means that God has not abandoned you inspite of the many difficulties which you have experienced.

One needs to reflect on one’s life because it is only through reflection and prayer that we will understand God’s plan for us. Perhaps, we are not able to see clearly at this point of time. Perhaps, there are many uncertainties that lay in the future. But we believe that God is our constant guide. He continually speaks to us through the events of our lives. If we do not take time to pray and reflect, we will find ourselves moving from one activity to another, aimless and without purpose. It is only with prayer and reflect that we can come to recognize the presence of God even in our painful and difficult experiences.

As we begin a new year, let us put off our old selves, our old bad habits, our old selfish ways. Let us begin this new year with renewed faith in God as Mary did. We the priests of this parish also pray that you will continue to receive God’s blessings throughout this year. This is our prayer for you, the prayer of Moses:
“May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.”

God at the Centre: The Holy Family

2009-12-26T20:33:00.000+08:00

Holy Family Year C

Which is the greatest school of life? Is it the primary school where you attended classes from Standards 1 to 6? Is it the secondary school or for some of you the university where you continued your studies? Not one of these is the greatest school of life. Not even the Church where we receive our faith education and catechism. The family is the greatest school of life. It is in the family where we learn what it means to be a person, to be a citizen, to be a Christian, and to God’s children.

The family is the place where we learn to trust in and depend on others. The family is the place where we are loved and we learn to love. Today, the family as the school of life is under threat. We see so many broken families; families where husbands and wives are not communicating to each other; families where children are not communicating with their parents. The rate of divorce is on the increase. When people are not able to find happiness in their own marriage, they look for other partners. Many are sending their elderly parents into homes for the aged because it is too inconvenient to care for them. Children see more of their maids and babysitters than their own parents. There is so much pain, anger and frustration in our families. Parents give up on educating their own children especially when they become teenagers and often leave it others, to the school and the church, to deal with their problems. Do all of these sound sad and hopeless? Well, today’s feast of the Holy Family reminds us that all is not hopeless. All is not hopeless when we are prepared to make God and our faith the center of our lives again.

The Holy Family was not a perfect family. They too had their problems. For example, we hear of one incident in today’s gospel where Jesus’ goes missing. Joseph and Mary must have been both worried as well as angry. Any ordinary parent would? It’s not wrong to be angry especially when wrong things are done. It’s not wrong to discipline our children. In fact, it is the responsibility of parents to discipline their children and teach them the right values. Mary in today’s gospel also reprimanded Jesus: “My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.” The Holy Family is just like any other ordinary family – we remember them as the ‘holy’ family and not as the ‘perfect’ family. It is most likely that they had their disagreements and arguments, just like all other families. They may have experience disappointment and tension, just like all other families. But, what sets them apart from other families is their faith in God. They understood that a family is never truly a family unless God is made the center of it.

When God becomes the center of the family, we become to treat each other with true love because God is Love. How can there be love in a family if God is absent? No family can survive without love. The love of God reminds us that our children are not our possession, they belong to God. The love of God reminds us that our husbands and our wives are not our property, they belong to God. The love God reminds us that love is primarily about giving, even when one doesn’t seem to receive anything in return.

If we make God the center of our lives and the lives of our family, does this mean that all our problems will be solved? No. We will continue to have problems, but we believe that the God will not abandon us. He is ever faithful. If we remain faithful to him, he will remain faithful to us. And it is the faithfulness of God that will help you to overcome every obstacle and problem that you may face as a family.

My dear parents, today, I ask you to recommit yourselves again to one another as husbands and wives. Remember the promises you’ve made to one another on the day of your wedding. Today, I also want you to recommit yourselves to your children as parents. I hope you remembered the promise you made to God and his church on the day of your child’s baptism – the promise to bring them up according to the Catholic Faith. This calls for you to live up to your identity as Catholics. This calls for you to deepen your faith so that you can be an example of faith to your children. This calls for you to pray as a family. So many problems arise in today’s family when they stop praying together as a family. If you have failed to allow God to be center of your lives, if you have failed to remember him especially in your relationships to one another as a family, ask God for forgiveness and the strength to recommit yourselves to family life.

My dear children, the Lord reminds you today to listen and honour your parents. But more importantly, you must constantly listen to God. Make God the center of your lives. One day, you too will become parents and start your own family. I hope that God would also be the center of your family life.

The Day After ... "Boxing" or "Stoning" Day?

2009-12-26T11:50:00.000+08:00

December 26, the day after Christmas Day has often been shrouded with some strange traditions and festivals. The secular world knows it as "Boxing Day" but the Church's Liturgical Calendar commemorates the Feast of St. Stephen, Proto-Martyr (or the First Christian Martyr).

Boxing Day
The name is not derived from the custom of clearing the empty boxes that had contained Christmas presents opened the day before. But the name is derived from the English tradition of opening the "Christmas Box."

The Christmas box was a wooden or clay container where people placed gifts, originally meant for the poor.

During the Age of Exploration, when great sailing ships were setting off to discover new land, a Christmas Box was used as a good luck device. It was a small container placed on each ship while it was still in port. It was put there by a priest, and those crewmen who wanted to ensure a safe return would drop money into the box. It was then sealed up and kept on board for the entire voyage. If the ship came home safely, the box was handed over to the priest in the exchange for the saying of a Mass of thanks for the success of the voyage. The Priest would keep the box sealed until Christmas when he would open it to share the contents with the poor.

Subsequently, an 'Alms Box' was placed in every church on Christmas Day, into which worshippers placed a gift for the poor of the parish. These boxes were always opened the day after Christmas, which is why that day became know as Boxing Day.

Many poorly paid workers were required to work on Christmas Day and took the following day off to visit their families. As they prepared to leave, their employers would present them with Christmas boxes.

During the late 18th century, Lords and Ladies of the manor would "box up" their leftover food, or sometimes gifts and distribute them the day after Christmas to tenants who lived and worked on their lands.

Therefore, in spite of its secular connotations, the name "Boxing Day" had roots in Christian tradition of alms-giving.

Feast of St. Stephen
For the Church, December 26th is always celebrated as the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. Stephen was one of the deacons appointed by the apostles to care for the poor, especially the widows.

Acts of the Apostles tells the story of how Stephen was tried by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy against Moses and God (Acts 6:11) and speaking against the Temple and the Law (Acts 6:13-14). He was stoned to death (c. A.D. 34–35) by an infuriated mob and witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, the future St. Paul, the Apostle.

Saint Stephen's name is simply derived from the Greek Stephanos, meaning "crown", which translated into Aramaic as Kelil. Traditionally, Saint Stephen is invested with a crown of martyrdom for Christianity; he is often depicted in art with three stones and the martyrs' palm. In Eastern Christian iconography, he is shown as a young beardless man with a tonsure, wearing a deacon's vestments, and often holding a miniature church building or a censer.

Why is the seemingly sober feast which commemorates the death of a martyr juxtaposed with the joyous feast of the birth of Saviour? It seems like some sick morbid joke. But the wisdom of the Church is expressed in depth of the liturgical catechesis found in the sermon of Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe for the feast of St. Stephen.

"Yesterday we celebrated the birth in time of our eternal King. Today we celebrate the triumphant suffering of his soldier.

Yesterday our king, clothed in his robe of flesh, left his place in the virgin’s womb and graciously visited the world. Today his soldier leaves the tabernacle of his body and goes triumphantly to heaven.

Our king, despite his exalted majesty, came in humility for our sake; yet he did not come empty-handed. He brought his soldiers a great gift that not only enriched them but also made them unconquerable in battle, for it was the gift of love, which was to bring men to share in his divinity. He gave of his bounty, yet without any loss to himself. In a marvellous way he changed into wealth the poverty of his faithful followers while remaining in full possession of his own inexhaustible riches.

And so the love that brought Christ from heaven to earth raised Stephen from earth to heaven; shown first in the king, it later shone forth in his soldier. Love was Stephen’s weapon by which he gained every battle, and so won the crown signified by his name. His love of God kept him from yielding to the ferocious mob; his love for his neighbor made him pray for those who were stoning him. Love inspired him to reprove those who erred, to make them amend; love led him to pray for those who stoned him, to save them from punishment. Strengthened by the power of his love, he overcame the raging cruelty of Saul and won his persecutor on earth as his companion in heaven. In his holy and tireless love he longed to gain by prayer those whom he could not convert by admonition."

Word made flesh

2009-12-25T01:50:00.000+08:00

Christmas Day

Throughout your life you may have heard these words many times: “I love you.” We hear it from our parents. We hear it from our brothers and sisters. We hear it from our friends. We hear it from our wives and husbands. Sometimes, some its difficult to say these words; “I love you.” Many Asian parents find it difficult to tell their children that they love them. My parents found it hard to tell me. But they know how to show those same words through action. Although my parents seldom say those words to me, but I know they really love me because of the many sacrifices which they have made for me. Therefore, love can be expressed through both words and actions. But actions are always more powerful than words although it would be nice to hear those words once in a while.

Today, we celebrate Christmas. It is the day God tells us that He loves us. He loved us so much that he was prepared to send his only Son to become one of us. Jesus, the Word of God, is not just an empty promise or mere words. This Word took flesh and became man. This Word spoke and performed miracles to demonstrate the love of God for us. But finally, this Word was made real on the cross. This Word died on the cross so that we may live. We can no longer doubt that God loves us. He died on the cross for us. That’s the greatest proof of his love for us. We don’t have to ask for any further proof. Jesus is proof enough of God’s love.

Today, Jesus has been born to us. He is the Word of God. He is the promise of salvation. He is the word of love, the love letter which God has written to each and everyone of us. We are given a choice - to accept him or to reject him. He has promised us that those who accept him “he gave power to become children of God” (gospel). If we have received the Word of God, we must now share it for others. A word unless it is shared is of no use. Words are meant for communication and for building communion.

Therefore, Christmas is not only a time to receive presents, sing carols and put up Christmas decorations. It is a time where we are asked to share the Word of God that we have received. We must share Jesus with others. This is the greatest gift that we can offer to one another. Let us continue to share him with everyone we meet so that “all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”

Wishing friends, parishioners and loved ones, "a Blessed and Joyous Christmas"!

A Politically Correct Seasons Greeting

2009-12-24T08:18:00.002+08:00

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010 , but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great. Not to imply our country is greater than any other in the world Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.

For those who are politically incorrect and unenlightened:
"Merry Christmas"

Today, a Saviour has been born to us!

2009-12-23T18:40:00.000+08:00

Christmas Midnight Mass

Many of you have come home for the holidays. Many of you have come home to celebrate Christmas with your family. Many of you are present here because of your loved ones. Tonight is a night that no one wants to be alone. It’s a night we want to be with our loved ones, our family members and friends. It’s a night we want to feel welcomed and a place to belong.

Today, if you are here with your family, friends and loved ones, you are very lucky. It’s not always the same for everyone. It wasn’t like this on the first Christmas night for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. They too returned to Joseph’s hometown, Bethlehem. But instead of experiencing hospitality and a warm welcome from friends, family and the town’s people, they were turned away. They had no place to call home. They had no friends or relatives to welcome them. They were lonely, tired, hungry, cold and unwelcome on the night the Saviour was born. Jesus was born into a world that did not recognize him or wanted him. Everybody was too busy with their own problems and affairs. No one had time to think about the greatest event in the history of man – the day God became man and was born into this world.

Today, we may also have forgotten about the main reason of our celebration. We may be so caught up with our own needs and desires. We may have been so busy preparing for Christmas by cooking, putting up decorations, caroling, shopping and buying presents that we have forgotten the main reason for today’s celebration. It is Jesus. Are we going to make the same mistake again as the inhabitants of Bethlehem on that first night of Christmas? Have we been so caught up with the darkness of worldly pleasures, the pursuit of riches and fulfillment of our ambitions that we have failed to see the great light of Christ’s coming? Have we been so blind that we do not recognize that Jesus continues to come to us in the form of the poor, the homeless, the elderly, the lonely, the mentally ill, the sick and the weak?

The psalmist calls us to wake up to this beautiful truth: “Today a saviour has been born to us; he is Christ the Lord.” As the Prophet Isaiah foretold long ago: “For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him; Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Today, if you are feeling lonely because your family and friends are not present with you at this mass or at home, rejoice and be glad. Stay close to Jesus. Accompany him on this night. He and his parents too experienced loneliness and rejection. Today, if you feel trapped by your problems and things have not been going so well for you, rejoice and be glad. Jesus, the light of the world, has broken into our darkness. He is our salvation and our liberation. Today, if you feel that you are poor and that you have nothing much to celebrate, rejoice and be glad. Jesus, the Saviour of the World, was also born in a poor manger among animals who were his guardians. His visitors were not the great kings of the earth but poor shepherds who had to work even on such a night. Today, if you are weighed down by sorrow, rejoice and be glad. For our saviour has broken “the yoke that was weighing on (us), the bar across (our) shoulders and the rod of the oppressors.”

Tonight, we are also asked to think not only of ourselves and our own needs. Tonight, we are invited by Christ to think of others, especially those who are poor, the homeless, the elderly, the lonely and the sick. Let us bring this good news today, the good news announced by the angels: “Glory to God in the highest heave, and peace to men who enjoy his favour.” Wishing you all a happy Christmas.

The "O Antiphons" of Advent

2009-12-21T07:10:00.000+08:00

Adapted from an article by Fr. William Saunders

The “O Antiphons” refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours. They cover the special period of Advent preparation known as the Octave before Christmas, Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil.

The exact origin of the “O Antiphons” is not known. Boethius (c. 480-524) made a slight reference to them, thereby suggesting their presence at that time. At the Benedictine abbey of Fleury (now Saint-Benoit-sur-Loire), these antiphons were recited by the abbot and other abbey leaders in descending rank, and then a gift was given to each member of the community. By the eighth century, they are in use in the liturgical celebrations in Rome. The usage of the “O Antiphons” was so prevalent in monasteries that the phrases, “Keep your O” and “The Great O Antiphons” were common parlance. One may thereby conclude that in some fashion the “O Antiphons” have been part of our liturgical tradition since the very early Church.

The importance of “O Antiphons” is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah. This is the sequence in which they are sung/recited:

* December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
* December 18: O Adonai (O Adonai)
* December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
* December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
* December 21: O Oriens (O Sunrise)
* December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
* December 23: O Emmanuel (O Emmanuel)

According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one - Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia - the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion.

Most of us are unaware that we do sing the "O Antiphons". The hymn O come, O come, Emmanuel (in Latin, Veni Emmanuel) is a lyrical paraphrase of these antiphons.

Christmas Party for Children - December 20

2009-12-21T06:50:00.003+08:00

Parents and children enjoy a morning of fun and games

By Aileen Anthony

Nilai (Dec 20, 2009): Over 50 children, ages between 2-14) turned up for the Children's party held at the Chapel premise. The wonderful weather held up until the afternoon and everyone left with presents and a full stomach. Most of all the kids, had a wonderful time and the rest of the parish turned up in full force to help and support. To further spread the festive spirits the carollers visited over 20 homes on the 18th-19th. Many thanks to the university and college students who supported this initiative.. Merry Christmas Everybody & a Happy New Year!

Bulletin Announcements - December 20

2009-12-20T16:22:00.003+08:00

Christmas Greetings
Frs. Michael Chua and George Packiasamy and the members of the Chapel Committee would like to wish all parishioners a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Party and Carolling
The Children's Party and Carolling went on smoothly. A big thanks to the organising committee, sponsors and participants.

Guitarist/Keyboardist
The chapel is in need of Guitarist / Keyboardist. Those who have the ability to play the guitar or keyboard, kindly render your service. Contact person: Mr. Anthony Chia (016-3569168)

Sunday School Catechists
The chapel is seeking volunteers to teach catechism. Those who could assist, please contact Ms. Mary at 06-7997450

2010 Liturgical Calendar (English & Bahasa) for sale at RM5.00 each.
The Tamil Liturgical Calendars will be available by the first week of December 2009.

Infant Baptism - Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Contact Persons :- Mr. Maurice (Eng.) - 017-3962977
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712
Ms. Mary (Tamil) - 06-7997450

RCIA: Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng) - 016-3569168
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712

Home Stay/ Foster Programme
As you are aware, we have many college students in our midst. Some of whom will not be able to return for the holidays. We hope that some parishioners will be able to open their homes to these students for the duration of the holidays. If interested, please give your names and contact numbers to Mr. Stanly. Students who wish to have home stay may also register.

College Students Representatives
If you're new in this Chapel and looking for a place to belong, we welcome you to join one of the Catholic Students Fellowships in the various colleges in and around Nilai, or join the Central CSS at this chapel.

Please contact the following persons:

Colleges
MIAT and Central CSS (Chapel): Shaun Mirandah (017-7256657)
Inti: Clare (016-9373179)
Nilai: Kevin Mirandah (017-7774816)
KTT: Ricky (014-3727513)

How the Christmas Tree Evangelizes

2009-12-19T13:05:00.003+08:00

Pope Reflects on Symbolic Significance of Decoration

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 18, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Christmas tree -- with its journey from a dark forest to the brilliance of decorative lights -- represents every Christian, called to share the message that the Light of the world has become man.

This was a comparison made by Benedict XVI today when he addressed a delegation from Belgium, which provided the Christmas tree for St. Peter's Square this year.

"In the forest," the Holy Father said, "the trees are close together and each one of them contributes to making the forest a shadowy, sometimes dark, place."

"But here," he continued, "chosen from among this multitude, the majestic tree that you offered us is today lit up and covered with brilliant decorations that are like so many marvelous fruits."

"Leaving aside its dark garments for a brilliant explosion, it has been transfigured, becoming a beacon of light that is not its own, but rather gives testimony to the true Light that comes to this world," the Pope suggested.

He compared the tree's destiny with that of the shepherds, who "keeping watch in the darkness of the night, are illumined by the message of the angels."

"The luck of this tree is also comparable to our own, we who are called to give good fruits to manifest that the world has truly been visited and rescued by the Lord," the Pontiff continued.

Child-God

Benedict XVI said the Christmas tree, in its spot beside the Nativity scene, "shows in its own way the presence of the great mystery present in the simple and poor site of Bethlehem."

"To the inhabitants of Rome, to all the pilgrims, to all who will go to St. Peter's Square by way of the televisions of the whole world, it proclaims the coming of the Son of God."

"Through it," he told the Belgian pilgrims, "the sun of your lands and the faith of the Christian communities of your region greet the Child-God, he who has come to make new all things and to call all creatures, from the smallest to the greatest, to enter into the mystery of Redemption and be united to it."

The tree is decorated in gold and white -- the colors of the Vatican.

It is a fir from the Ardennes forest of Belgium. The 30-meter (about 100-foot) tree is 100 years old, has a 7-meter (22-foot) diameter and weighs 14 tons.

The tree was to be felled, along with others of the same forest, to allow for the growth of other nearby trees and plants.

Hospitality and Peace

2009-12-17T17:36:00.001+08:00

Fourth Sunday of Advent Year C

One of the greatest desires of every person is that of peace. We constantly hear this all the time. We realize that money cannot always buy happiness. We experience that conflicts and misunderstandings are part and parcel of life. But there is one thing we always hope for is peace. Firstly, it is peace for ourselves and then peace for others – our family, our society and the world.

But in world that is so filled with violence, hatred and wars, where we see conflicts occurring not only in society but also in our own families, we may start to think that peace is only a dream. It is easy to be disillusioned and to feel that peace can never be attained. The problem lies with our incorrect understanding of what peace really means. Peace is not to absence or the cessation of violence and conflict. Peace is possible even in the midst of conflict. Peace is not only an external reality but something that must take root in our hearts. If there is no peace in our hearts, we can never experience peace outside of ourselves.

A great deal of unrest is caused by the unrest in our hearts. There can be no rest in our hearts as long as we constantly want to have things according to our ways. The problem with wanting things according to our ways is that we are never in control of the situation. We want our children to grow up and be successful. We want them to marry good wives and husbands. But we are not in control of these things. When we don’t get things our way, we will not be happy. We won’t have peace in our hearts. The only way in which we can find peace is to allow God to take control of our lives. In the second reading, we are given the example of Christ, who came to obey the will of God the Father. When we are prepared to allow God have his ways and not our ways, then we will have peace in our hearts. It is only when we have peace in our hearts that we can become peacemakers.

It doesn’t take much to be a peacemaker. Today’s gospel gives us one simple way of making peace – hospitality. When we offer hospitality to one another just like Mary and Elizabeth offered hospitality and friendship to one another, peace takes place. It is when we refuse to offer hospitality to another person or when we refuse the hospitality given by another person that causes the lack of peace. We don’t have to begin by trying to solve all the problems of the world. We don’t have to wait till countries stop producing weapons of war. We don’t have to wait for violence to end. Peace can be a possibility today. All it takes is a simple word of encouragement, a kind act, a loving offer of help. Peace begins when we believe we can make a difference, beginning with ourselves.

A little baby that was born 2000 years ago to a poor family made a difference. In the face of so much opposition and where so much hate and violent exists, one man who spoke of peace made a difference. When so many people were unable to forgive one another for the injury that they have done to one another, a single man on a cross was able to make a difference by forgiving his executors. That man is Jesus. He is the Prince of Peace. Jesus was able to change the course of history, world events and lives of so many people without lifting a gun, starting a war or ruling a country. If today you feel that you are just one person, don’t worry. You too can make a difference. Start by allowing God to take control of your lives. Surrender your life to him and you will find peace, peace even in the midst of problems and difficulties.

That Catholic Show - I Confess

2009-12-12T20:50:00.001+08:00

As our chapel will be having its penitential service tomorrow at 5.00 pm, it would be good to reflect on the significance of this sacrament.

The Joy of Giving

2009-12-11T07:42:00.001+08:00

Third Sunday of Advent Year C

The Third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. The theme of joy is more pronounced this week. For many of us, we too are feeling the joy of the season as we approach Christmas. We are joyful not because all our problems have been solved. We are joyful not because life is perfect. We are joyful not because we think that Santa Claus is coming to give us a big present. No. Our joy is based on the fact that the Lord is very near; our salvation is near. St. Paul exhorts us to be happy in the second reading for this very reason: “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near.”

Waiting for the coming of the Lord does not mean that we should just sit down and wait for death. This expectation calls for action and conversion. In today’s gospel, three groups of people ask John the Baptist what must they do. John exhorts them to share with those who are needy, be just and fair in our dealings; to refrain from intimidation and extortion to acquire what we want and finally to be satisfied with what we have. In other words, as we await the coming of Christ, we should not be selfish or greedy and think only of our own needs and wants. On the contrary, as Christians we are called to put others first before ourselves.

Many people find it hard to be generous. It is much easier to be selfish than to share our belongings with someone else. The most likely reason for this is that we are worried that what we have is not enough if it is shared between two or more persons. Again, St. Paul reminds us “that there is no need for worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.”

Therefore it is hard to be happy and joyful when you are greedy and ambitious. When you are never satisfied with what you have, when you are always afraid of losing what you have, when you are jealous of other’s prosperity – it’s really hard to be happy. It is only the man who has discovered God as fulfilling his every heart’s desire who will be happy. Only God can fill the emptiness in our hearts. Only God can satisfy our deepest longings. Only God can be the source of everlasting joy.

Let us then welcome our Lord and God. As the prophet Zephaniah tells us in the first reading, our God is “a victorious warrior. He will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival.” When we allow the God of joy to fill our lives with his love, joy and peace, nothing can take away these things. Life need not be perfect and our problems may not be solved, but with God as the Lord and center of our lives, nothing can take away the joy of being his son and daughter.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - December 8

2009-12-08T00:49:00.000+08:00

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is, according to Roman Catholic Dogma, the conception of the Virgin Mary without any stain (macula in Latin) of original sin. It is one of the four dogmas in Roman Catholic Mariology.

The dogma states that, from the first moment of her existence (conception in St. Anne's womb), she was preserved by God from the lack of sanctifying grace that afflicts mankind, and that she was instead filled with divine grace. We Catholics also believe that she lived a life completely free from sin. Her immaculate conception in the womb of her mother, through sexual intercourse, should not be confused with the doctrine of the virginal conception of her son Jesus, known as the Annunciation, and followed by the Virgin Birth.

The Dogma

"We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which asserts that the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God, and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, was preserved free from every stain of original sin is a doctrine revealed by God and, for this reason, must be firmly and constantly believed by all the faithful."

With these words, spoken in 1854, Pope Pius IX, in the Papal Bull ineffabilis Dei, declared Mary's Immaculate Conception to be dogma. Pius did not invent the concept. Rather, he was affirming a belief held by many Christians that came before him, from East and West, that Mary was conceived free of the stain of original sin, on account of Christ's work. God caused this immaculate conception in order to render Mary a pure vessel to bear God-made-flesh.

Mary, the one who is "full of grace" and the one whom "all generations will called 'blessed'" has been viewed as unique since the earliest days of the Christian faith. Just as Christ has been called the "new Adam," the Church Fathers, especially Saints Justin (AD 150) and Irenaeus (AD 180), saw Mary as the "new Eve," who humbly obeyed God, even though Eve disobeyed. The Church Fathers also called Mary the "new ark of the covenant" and theotokos, God-bearer. It is from these titles that the doctrine of Mary's Immaculate Conception and sinlessness unfolded. Thus St. Ephrem the Syrian (d. AD 373) spoke of Mary as without stain or blemish, calling her "all-pure, all-immaculate, all-stainless, all-undefiled, all-incorrupt, all-inviolate" (see Nisibine Hymns, and "Precationes ad Deiparam"). St. Ambrose (d. AD 397) wrote "lift me up not from Sarah, but from Mary, a Virgin not only undefiled, but a Virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin" (Commentary on Psalm 118). Augustine left open the possibility of Mary's sinlessness, even using language similar to the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception:

We must except the holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the subject of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin (On Nature and Grace, 42).

Later Fathers, such as St. John of Damascus (d. AD 755) and St. Andrew of Crete (d. AD 740) continued this emphasis on Mary's sinlessness as bearer of God. John of Damascus wrote:

The Father's...sanctifying power overshadowed her, cleansed and made her holy, and, as it were, predestined her. Then Thou, Word of the Father...didst take flesh of the Blessed Virgin, vivified by a reasoning soul, having first abided in her undefiled and immaculate womb...(Sermon I: On the Assumption)

John also spoke of Mary's "holy, undefiled, and stainless soul" (Sermon II: On the Assumption). However, there was no official dogma of the Immaculate Conception as of this period. Most Church Fathers agreed that Mary was sinless at the time she gave birth to Christ. They disagreed as to whether Mary was made sinless at conception, birth, or when she said "yes" to God's call. Even some prominent medieval Western theologians (notably St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas Aquinas*) denied Mary's Immaculate Conception, although not her sinlessness. Even today, Catholic and Orthodox theologians agree that Mary is the all-holy, blameless, "new ark"; the debate is not about Mary being sinless, but about when Mary was made sinless. Part of this disagreement is because the East does not believe in original sin as the Western Church defines it. Orthodox theologian John Myendorff, in Byzantine Theology, has suggested the East would likely accept the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception if they had a Western understanding of Original Sin. The East and West nonetheless seem to be getting at the same "mystery": Mary's sinlessness and holiness in her role as theotokos.

St. Thomas believed, like most at the time, in the entire personal sinlessness of Mary, and believed that Mary was made immaculate before her birth; His writings place this sanctification somewhere between conception and birth, at the time when her soul and body were joined, an event some medieval theologians believed occurred a short time after conception.

History of the Feast

The Feast of Mary's Conception is clearly known as early as the 7th century in the East, and may even date to as early as the 5th century in the Churches of Syria. The feast spread to the West, at least by the 9th century. The feast and doctrine initially were opposed by the Dominicans, while the Franciscans argued in favor of the Immaculate Conception and its feast. For awhile, a great debate raged about the doctrine, even up until the 19th century. The Council of Basle in 1439 affirmed that the Immaculate Conception was a pious belief in accord with the Catholic faith. In 1476 Pope Sixtus IV approved the feast with its own Mass and Office, and in 1708, Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church, making it a holy day of obligation. In 1847, Pope Pius IX proclaimed Mary as patroness of the United States, under the title of her immaculate conception. Thus, to this day, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is the patronal feast of the United States.

The Orthodox and many Eastern Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Conception of Mary on December 9. This places Mary's conception 9 months, minus a day, from her birth (celebrated September 8). This apparently symbolizes that while Christ had a perfect humanity, even though Mary was the Mother of God, she did not (since Christ spent 9 full months in the womb, from March 25-December 25). However, the Orthodox do not celebrate Mary's immaculate conception on December 9 as Eastern Catholics do. The West observes the feast on December 8. While this dogma took centuries to develop and unfold, as did the dogma of the Trinity, the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is certainly fitting for one whom the Eastern Christians call panagia, i.e. "all-holy," and who bore God-Made-Man, Jesus Christ.

Congratulations to the New Chapel Committee 2010-2011

2009-12-06T21:50:00.003+08:00

Bulletin Announcements - December 6

2009-12-06T00:04:00.002+08:00

Election/ Appointment of New Chapel Main Council 2010
There will be a meeting immediately after mass this evening to form the 2010 Chapel Main Committee. It is compulsory for all chapel committee members to attend. Parishioners who wish to attend this meeting are most welcomed.

Confession & Anointing for the Home-bound, Elderly and Sick.
Please inform Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng), Mr. George (BM) or Mr. Pakianathan (T) by 6 December 2009

Penitential Service for Chapel of Nilai
Date: 13th December 2009
Time: 5.00 pm (before evening mass)

Gotong Royong (18/12/2009)
There will be Gotong Royong on the 18/12/2009 at 9:00am to clean the chapel grounds in preparation for the Children's Party and Christmas.

Children's Party and Carolling Committee (20/12/2009)
Children's Party for children between 2 and 12 years old will be held on 20/12/2009 at 8:30am in the Chapel grounds. Kindly register at the chapel entrance. Closing date: 13/12/2009

Carolling 18, 19 & 20 Dec. 2009
Those who wish to invite the carollers to your homes, please register at the chapel entrance. Closing date: 13/12/2009

2010 Liturgical Calendar (English & Bahasa) for sale at RM5.00 each.
The Tamil Liturgical Calendars will be available by the first week of December 2009.

Infant Baptism - Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Contact Persons :- Mr. Maurice (Eng.) - 017-3962977
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712
Ms. Mary (Tamil) - 06-7997450

RCIA: Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng) - 016-3569168
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712

Home Stay/ Foster Programme
As you are aware, we have many college students in our midst. Some of whom will not be able to return for the holidays. We hope that some parishioners will be able to open their homes to these students for the duration of the holidays. If interested, please give your names and contact numbers to Mr. Stanly. Students who wish to have home stay may also register.

College Students Representatives
If you're new in this Chapel and looking for a place to belong, we welcome you to join one of the Catholic Students Fellowships in the various colleges in and around Nilai, or join the Central CSS at this chapel.

Please contact the following persons:

Colleges
MIAT and Central CSS (Chapel): Shaun Mirandah (017-7256657)
Inti: Clare (016-9373179)
Nilai: Kevin Mirandah (017-7774816)
KTT: Ricky (014-3727513)

Spreading Christ's Love Through Facebook

2009-12-05T10:29:00.002+08:00

Church in Australia Suggests Getting Involved, Being Careful

SYDNEY, Australia, DEC. 4, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The Church in Australia is affirming its desire to take advantage of social networking sites as a way to communicate the love of Jesus Christ, though it is recommending caution in certain respects.

A social networking protocol was approved by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) during its Nov. 23-27 plenary meeting in Sydney.

The bishops cite Benedict XVI in observing that communication technologies have "extraordinary potential" and can be considered "truly a gift to humanity."

But in taking advantage of social networking opportunities, the bishops affirmed that representatives of the Church "need to be aware of appropriate boundaries and activities when communicating in the name of the Church in an online environment."

Being friends

The ACBC protocol makes the clear affirmation that on or offline, respect for human dignity must be priority.

The prelates then list a series of observations to help everyone from bishops to youth ministers to exercise proper caution.

For example, the protocol notes the dilemma of having a public or personal profile on MySpace or Facebook. It observes that with a personal profile, there can be "a way of controlling who appears on the person’s page as a 'friend'"; whereas with a public profile, there is no control over "who appears as a 'fan' on your page, but it has the advantage of people understanding that 'fans' are different to 'friends' and that no acceptance or rejection of 'fans' is implied."

The episcopal conference stipulated that there should be permission from the bishop for a Church worker to set up a personal profile where those to whom he is ministering are his "friends."

"It is advisable that people exercise great care and judgment in accepting 'friend' requests from people to whom they minister, especially young people," the protocol recommends. "In this way, appropriate boundaries can be maintained."

"Moderation of official Church social networking activities is crucial," the bishops further affirm. "Comments which are rude, disrespectful or even bullying in nature should be immediately removed."

Left out

Finally, the ACBC points out an issue that can sometimes be lost in the discussion, which they titled "the digital divide."

The prelates said it is important for all Church entities, and particularly those involved in youth ministry, "not to rely exclusively on social networking as a means of communication."

The protocol explained: "To do this could be to exclude the poor -- those who cannot afford a computer, who live in remote localities with poor Internet connectivity, who struggle with illiteracy or who face other challenges which place them outside of the online world.

"Going to Church and hearing others talk about their social networking experiences can be profoundly isolating for those unable to take part. Social networking should only ever be one of a range of communication methods that we use to invite people into closer relationship with Jesus Christ."

For full text: www.catholic.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=936&ItemId=158

The Spirituality of Advent - Waiting

2009-12-05T08:21:00.002+08:00

Fr. Barron's video explaining the Spirituality of Advent

Give us Joy over Happiness

2009-12-03T13:47:00.004+08:00

Second Sunday of Advent Year C

Is there a difference between Christian joy and the feeling of happiness? Certainly. A big difference. Happiness is no guarantee of joy, whereas one can still experience joy in the midst of sorrow. There is a story told about St. Francis. One day, one of the brothers asked St. Francis: What is perfect joy? St. Francis gave this answer: Once, I thought that perfect joy meant that all the kings and queens of Europe would be converted to Christ and live exemplary good Christian lives. I thought that was perfect joy. But now I know that if this really happened, it would still not be perfect joy. Then, I thought that if the Great Caliph and all the Mohammedans accept Christ and were baptized, then I would experience perfect joy. But now I realize that this was not so. There was also a time when I had wished that all the Christians of the world joined my congregation and became Fransiscans. I thought that would be perfect joy. But now I realize that that too will not be perfect joy. Finally, I realize the answer. I can imagine one day coming home to one of my religious houses, tired, hungry, thirsty, hoping to find shelter and welcome among my brothers. But instead of welcome, they do not recognize me and I’m thrown out of the house. If I can remain joyful throughout this experience without complaining to God or curse my brothers, then that would be perfect joy!!

This then is perfect joy. It is the knowledge that God “who began this good work in you will see that it is finished when the Day of Christ Jesus comes.” It is a joy based on what God can do rather than what we can achieve. This is the joy of the apostles and the saints, even when they experienced persecution, rejection and met their death at the hands of their enemies. These were definitely not happy occasions. Happiness and sorrow are feelings. Feelings are always beyond our control. But Christian joy is a choice. It is decision based on faith and hope. Christian joy is based on the knowledge that God will not abandon us, no matter what happens. God did not promise us an easy life, free from sorrows, pain, illness, obstacles, problems or even death. But God promised us that he will be with us throughout all these experiences. And God is faithful to what he has promised. In today’s gospel reading, we read the fulfillment of one such prophecy. St. Luke quotes the words of the prophet Isaiah: “All mankind shall see the salvation of God.” It is Jesus who is the salvation of God. It is Jesus who is our salvation, promised from of old. He is the source of our joy and our hope.

With such a joy, we should no longer live lives as if we are defeated. We should no longer live as if we are victims of tragedy. Yes, we may have undergone failure. Yes, we may have experienced pain, disappointment and encountered many problems. But our joy lies in knowing that God has already won the victory for us. We may not see the signs of God’s victory at this point of time but it is there. This is God’s promise. God will be faithful to it. We may experience all these obstacles, but nothing can take away the love of God for each and everyone of us.

What must we do to experience this joy? We must prepare a way for the Lord. In other words, we must experience conversion in our lives. We must reject sin and our old selfish ways. My prayer for you and our prayer for each other must be like the prayer of St. Paul in the second reading. He prays that “your love for each other may increase more and more and never stop improving your knowledge and deepening your perception so that you can always recognize what is best. This will help you to become pure and blameless, and prepare you for the Day of Christ, when you will reach the perfect goodness which Jesus Christ produces in us for the glory and praise of God.”

Pope Invites Catholics to Confession

2009-12-03T13:46:00.001+08:00

Notes 25 Years Since John Paul II's Document on Sacrament

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI today encouraged the faithful -- and particularly priests -- to trust in God's goodness and approach the sacrament of confession.

The Pope spoke of this sacrament today as he concluded the general audience in St. Peter's Square. In his customary greeting to youth, the sick and newlyweds, he observed that today marks the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's apostolic exhortation, "Reconciliatio et paenitentia."

The document "called attention to the importance of the sacrament of penance in the life of the Church," the Holy Father said. And he pointed to some "extraordinary 'apostles of the confessional,' tireless dispensers of divine mercy: Sts. John Mary Vianney, Joseph Cafasso, Leopold Mandic, Pio of Pietrelcina."

Turning to youth, he expressed his hope that the witness of these saints would be an encouragement "to flee from sin and to plan your future as a generous service to God and neighbor."

The Holy Father continued: "May it help you, dear sick people, to experience in suffering the mercy of Christ crucified. And may it solicit you, dear newlyweds, to create in the family a climate of faith and of mutual understanding."

Finally, the Pontiff expressed his wish that these saints -- "assiduous and faithful ministers of divine forgiveness" -- would be for priests especially and for all Christians "an invitation to always have confidence in God's goodness, approaching and celebrating with trust the sacrament of reconciliation."

Note:
Time of Penitential Services:
Church of Visitation, Seremban December 16th, 7.00 pm
Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai December 13th, 5.00 pm
Gereja Maria Bonda, Kg Tekir December 13th, 3.00 pm

Talk to KTT Christian Fellowship: Christian Hope is not false optimism

2009-12-03T13:05:00.005+08:00

The Christian Fellowship of Kolej Teknologi Timur (KTT), Nilai, invited Fr. Michael Chua, Parish Priest of the Church of Visitation, Seremban and the Administrator of the Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai, to speak to them on the issue of coping with discouragements and disappointments in the face of Christian Hope, yesterday, December 2. Fr. Michael gave a scriptural exposition of hope that spanned the entire Bible. He spoke of the Bible being a book that strung together stories of people who encountered discouragement, failure, disappointment, setback, and opposition narrated juxtaposed against a backdrop of God's loving and faithful presence and guidance. "Hope is found where hopelessness is experienced."

In the Old Testament hope is closely related to the character of God. "God is Truth! God never lies!" Those who hope in God, trust God and his promises. This patient hope is firmly anchored in the history and narrative of Scriptures. The God who has fulfilled his promises to Israel in the past will continue to be faithful in the present and future.

Hope in New Testament is rooted in the Old Testament. But the situation of the Christian who hopes is decisively different from that of the OT. Christian hope rests on God’s act of salvation in Christ. Christian hope therefore holds together tension of living in the present and yet journeying towards the future, towards the perfect realisation of God's salvation when Christ comes again. This tension is thus experienced in moments of difficulty, suffering and pain. Fr. Chua reassured them from his exposition of Rom 5:1-5, that Christian hope is based on reality and on three signs: namely the reality of Christ's victory over death and sin by his own death and resurrection, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the tribulation that would be experienced by his followers.

Finally, Fr. Chua used Moses as the model of hope in face of disappointments. Moses suffered setbacks and disappointments throughout his life in the form of an identity crisis, rejection by his own people and his own adopted family, complaints and criticisms from the people he led and finally experiencing the greatest disappointment of all, the unrealised dream of entering the Promised Land. For Moses, hope ultimately meant not placing hope in either persons or circumstances but in God who never disappoints. Hope is not false optimism, it is not based on the false belief that things will get better. In fact, things may get worse before they even improve. Hope is ultimately believing that God will be faithful to his promises and that He will be with us in both moments of joy and sorrow, success and failure, achievements and disappointments, life and death.

The Christian Fellowship of KTT is a community of Christians from various churches and denominations,including Catholics. They meet every Wednesday at 8.00 pm. For further information please contact Ricky 014-3727513 or Maegyvear (President) 014-5554668.

More photos on Facebook.

Pope: Jesus is Hope for All

2009-12-02T01:24:00.000+08:00

The Advent Wreath Carol

2009-11-29T19:06:00.000+08:00

Bulletin Announcements - November 29

2009-11-29T17:07:00.004+08:00

Election/ Appointment of New Chapel Main Council 2010
Chapel Main Committee Members are to identify suitable candidates to form the 2010 Chapel Main Committee. The Chapel Main Committee will meet on the 6 December 2009 immediately after mass. Committee members are to furnish the names during the meeting.

No Holy Hour for December
The will be no Holy Hour for the month of December 2009 as the Priests are busy with Penitential Service.

Confession & Anointing for the Home-bound, Elderly and Sick.
Please inform Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng), Mr. George (BM) or Mr. Pakianathan (T) by 6 December 2009

Penitential Service for Chapel of Nilai
Date: 13th December 2009
Time: 5.00 pm (before evening mass)

Children's Party and Carolling Committee
There will be a meeting immediately after mass (29/11/2009) to discuss the Children's Party and Carolling. Those who have volunteered to assist please attend this meeting and those who wish to assist, you are also most welcomed to attend the meeting.

2010 Liturgical Calendar (English & Bahasa) for sale at RM5.00 each.
The Tamil Liturgical Calendars will be available by the first week of December 2009.

The Church of Our Lady of Fatima, Banting is organising a retreat in Tamil titled "Jesus Christ Ideal Priest and Priesthood of the Laity"
Date 20/12/09
Time: 9.30 am to 5.00 pm
Those interested please register with Fatima (016-2355114).

Infant Baptism - Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Contact Persons :- Mr. Maurice (Eng.) - 017-3962977
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712
Ms. Mary (Tamil) - 06-7997450

RCIA: Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng) - 016-3569168
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712

Home Stay/ Foster Programme
As you are aware, we have many college students in our midst. Some of whom will not be able to return for the holidays. We hope that some parishioners will be able to open their homes to these students for the duration of the holidays. If interested, please give your names and contact numbers to Mr. Stanly. Students who wish to have home stay may also register.

College Students Representatives
If you're new in this Chapel and looking for a place to belong, we welcome you to join one of the Catholic Students Fellowships in the various colleges in and around Nilai, or join the Central CSS at this chapel.

Please contact the following persons:

Colleges
MIAT and Central CSS (Chapel): Shaun Mirandah (017-7256657)
Inti: Clare (016-9373179)
Nilai: Kevin Mirandah (017-7774816)
KTT: Ricky (014-3727513)

The Advent Wreath Candles

2009-11-28T18:56:00.002+08:00

"Customarily the Advent Wreath is constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which are inserted four candles. According to tradition, three of the candles are violet and the fourth is rose. However, four violet or white candles may also be used” (Book of Blessings 1510).

The rose candle is lit the third Sunday of Advent, for this color anticipates and symbolizes the Christmas joy announced in the first word of the Entrance Antiphon: "Rejoice" (Latin, Gaudete). For this reason the Third Sunday is also called Gaudete Sunday, and rose color vestments are permitted.

The Advent Wreath represents the long time when people lived in spiritual darkness, waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the Light of the world. Each year in Advent people wait once again in darkness for the coming of the Lord, His historical coming in the mystery of Bethlehem, His final coming at the end of time, and His special coming in every moment of grace.

During Advent, family and friends can gather around the Advent Wreath lighting the appropriate candle(s), read from the daily Advent meditation and sing songs.

Here's a video that explains the origins of the Advent wreath and candles.

The Season of Advent: Season of Anticipation and Hope

2009-11-27T18:33:00.000+08:00

Advent is the beginning of the Church's Liturgical Calendar Year. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30 (The Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle), and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). If Christmas Eve is a Sunday, it is counted as the fourth Sunday of Advent, with Christmas Eve proper beginning at sundown.

This year, Advent begins at sundown on November 28 (which coincides with the second day of the Islamic Feast of Aidil Adha).

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life.

In this double focus on past and future, Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and a congregation, as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power. That acknowledgment provides a basis for Kingdom ethics, for holy living arising from a profound sense that we live "between the times" and are called to be faithful stewards of what is entrusted to us as God’s people. So, as the church celebrates God’s inbreaking into history in the Incarnation, and anticipates a future consummation to that history for which "all creation is groaning awaiting its redemption," it also confesses its own responsibility as a people commissioned to "love the Lord your God with all your heart" and to "love your neighbor as yourself."

The Colors of Advent

Historically, the primary sanctuary color of Advent is Purple. This is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. The purple of Advent is also the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week. This points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion. The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh" and dwelling among us, is to reveal God and His grace to the world through Jesus’ life and teaching, but also through his suffering, death, and resurrection. To reflect this emphasis, originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the Season of Lent and so shared the color of Lent.

In the four weeks of Advent the third Sunday came to be a time of rejoicing that the fasting was almost over (in some traditions it is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin word for "rejoice"). The shift from the purple of the Season to pink or rose for the third Sunday Advent candles reflected this lessening emphasis on penitence as attention turned more to celebration of the season.

The Spirit of Advent

Advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing. There is a yearning for deliverance from the evils of the world, first expressed by Israelite slaves in Egypt as they cried out from their bitter oppression. It is the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under the curse of sin, and yet who have hope of deliverance by a God who has heard the cries of oppressed slaves and brought deliverance!

It is that hope, however faint at times, and that God, however distant He sometimes seems, which brings to the world the anticipation of a King who will rule with truth and justice and righteousness over His people and in His creation. It is that hope that once anticipated, and now anticipates anew, the reign of an Anointed One, a Messiah, who will bring peace and justice and righteousness to the world.

Part of the expectation also anticipates a judgment on sin and a calling of the world to accountability before God. We long for God to come and set the world right! Yet, as the prophet Amos warned, the expectation of a coming judgment at the "Day of the Lord" may not be the day of light that we might want, because the penetrating light of God’s judgment on sin will shine just as brightly on God’s people.

So, we celebrate with gladness the great promise in the Advent, yet knowing that there is also a somber tone as the theme of threat is added to the theme of promise. This is reflected in some of the Scripture readings for Advent, in which there is a strong prophetic tone of accountability and judgment on sin. But this is also faithful to the role of the Coming King who comes to rule, save, and judge the world.

Because of the dual themes of threat and promise, Advent is a time of preparation that is marked by prayer. While Lent is characterized by fasting and a spirit of penitence, Advent’s prayers are prayers of humble devotion and commitment, prayers of submission, prayers for deliverance, prayers from those walking in darkness who are awaiting and anticipating a great light (Isa 9)!

The spirit of Advent is expressed well in the parable of the bridesmaids who are anxiously awaiting the coming of the Bridegroom (Matt 25:1-13). There is profound joy at the Bridegroom’s expected coming. And yet a warning of the need for preparation echoes through the parable. But even then, the prayer of Advent is still:

Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel!

The End is Near! What shall we do?!

2009-11-26T12:56:00.001+08:00

First Sunday of Advent Year C

Today the Church begins a new liturgical year. In many cultures and traditions, we often find their new year celebration as an opportunity to remember and give thanks to God for all the blessings of the past year. More importantly it is a time to pray for a good year ahead. We Christians have a slightly different way of celebrating our liturgical new year. We celebrate this event not by looking to the past or to the following year but we are asked to focus on the end of time – the end of the world. This may seem extremely strange especially when we often regard the end of the world as something frightening.

The first part of today’s gospel does present a frightening picture of the end of the world – “There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.” Natural calamities, like earthquakes, tsunami, typhoon, floods etc. often bring about this experience of fear and anxiety. On the other hand, science tells us that these natural calamities are the result of an earth which is growing and evolving. It is signs of life rather than of death. Planets that no longer have such natural calamities – no earthquakes, no storms, no volcanoes – also have no life. Nothing can live on such planets. They are dead planets.

So, Jesus very often uses the image of natural calamities to describe the end of the world in order to show that something new is about to be born. These are birth pangs. These are not signs of death but rather of life. If we begin to view the end of the world in this perspective, then today’s celebration and this season of Advent will become a celebration of hope rather than a celebration of fear.

We should not ask the question: “When will all of these happen?” When and how is not important. The question that we should be asking is this: What shall we do as we await this final day. Today’s scriptures are full of lessons for us.

First of all, even if there is a lot of confusion, things are not going according to our plans, nobody should lose heart. Jesus tells us: “When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.” We must not be anxious because Jesus is coming. This is certain. He is our saviour. Today, we face many problems – family problems, financial problems. Many feel like giving up. Jesus reminds us – do not lose heart – stand erect and hold your heads high because your liberation is near at hand.

Secondly, when faced with obstacles and so much evil in the world, we are often tempted to run away or to look for excuses or fake solutions. Some people turn to alcohol while others to sex in order to find some satisfaction. Jesus reminds us: “Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap.” Remember that no one can escape judgment. Everyone will be asked to give an account of their action. Jesus assures us of this: “For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth.”

Thirdly, we must “stay awake and pray”. This does not mean that we should be hiding in the church 24 hours a day. On the contrary, true prayer leads us closer to God and to others. Through prayer, the Lord will increase our love and make us love one another and the whole human race as St. Paul writes in the second reading. Staying awake means that we must take our spiritual development seriously. If our faith is still at the level of a primary school child, we will not be ready when the time comes for us to meet God face to face. St. Paul urges each and every one of us to continue growing in our faith life.

The Liturgical Year

2009-11-24T20:23:00.001+08:00

As we come to the end of the liturgical year and prepare to begin a new year with the First Sunday of Advent (November 29), it would be good to reflect on the significance of the liturgical year.

Lay People need Religious to inspire them

2009-11-20T07:26:00.000+08:00

HUA HIN, Thailand (UCAN) -- Men and women Religious are needed in Asia today to inspire laypeople and be a powerful a sign of God's presence in their economically driven societies.

This was the message a lay Church worker gave to leading Asian Religious gathered for a Federation of Asian Bishops' (FABC) meeting in Hua Hin, Thailand.

Religious must live the consecrated life not only for themselves but as an inspiration for laypeople, who face the pressures of modern living, Sherman Kuek told some 60 nuns, brothers, priests and bishops at the Nov. 16-21 FABC symposium. The meeting had the theme, "The Impact of Today's Culture on the Church, especially as regards Consecrated Life in Asia Today."

Kuek, 33, is director of the Melaka-Johor Diocesan Pastoral Institute in Malaysia and was the only lay speaker at the symposium. Religious must live radical antithetical lives that inspire and excite laypeople to emulate them, albeit in their lay state of life, he said.

He noted that laypeople live in a culture that urges them to "work more, earn more, spend more," and which is "at odds with the Gospel."

He said that laypeople have inevitably reinterpreted, redefined and compartmentalized religion. From being at the center of their lives, it is now relegated to a corner. They faithfully perform religious duties and obligations but otherwise they are busy engaging with a culture that advocates consumption and the acquiring of wealth.

In modern Asian societies such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, laypeople "choose both God and mammon," Kuek asserted.

Now the Church in Asia is challenged to answer a prophetic call to authentic discipleship, Kuek continued, explaining that this call is for Religious to make a stand for the sake of the laity.

"The Church can shout and shout" in condemning materialism and urging charity but laypeople do not necessarily listen because they have to survive in the modern world, he stressed.

Many Religious said on the sidelines that his call to them was a powerful challenge.

Filipina Sister Julma Neo noted that after Vatican Council II, many Religious not only "adapted" to the world, as was intended, but also "adopted" the ways of the world.

The former general councilor for Asia of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul agreed that for the consecrated life to make sense, it must be mystical, prophetic and counter-cultural.

(Published in UCAN News, November 19)
Dr. Sherman Kuek was Pastoral Associate of Formation and Youth Ministry in the Church of Visitation, Seremban and Chapel of St. Theresa, Nilai from 2008-2009. He now serves as Director of the Pastoral Institute of the Melaka-Johor Diocese.

Don't Expect a Certificate!

2009-11-19T10:45:00.001+08:00

Christ the King Year B

At the end of a course, we usually expect a certificate to proof that we have completed the course. The certificate would also sometimes include a record of our performance. For example, at the end of our studies in school, we get a certificate to show the grades we received in our final exam. Today is the last day of the Church’s liturgical year. Perhaps, we would also be expecting some form of certificate to proof that we have been living good lives according to the teachings of the Church. If our performance has not been so well, if we feel that we have not live as good Catholics, we may feel a bit embarrassed about this certificate.

I’m sorry to disappoint you because the values of God are not the same as the values of the world. Jesus reminds us of this in today’s gospel. In answer to Pilate’s question about whether he is the king of the Jews, Jesus replies: “Mine is not a kingdom of this world.” But Jesus is king, though of a different kind. He says: “Yes, I am a king, I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.”

Just say that if we were to receive a certificate from Jesus, what would be points that would really matter to him and God. Well, the certificate would not be a record of our successes – how well we have done this or that. What matters is not success but faithfulness – have we been faithful to God? Have we been faithful to Jesus’ call to be his disciples? Have we been faithful to all that Jesus has taught us?

Secondly, the certificate would not be concerned with our status or position. Power and status have no place in the kingdom of God. It is only service that matters. Jesus is King but not a king who lords it over others. He is a Servant king. Have we served our brothers and sisters, especially those who are weak and the poor? Have we given them our time and our assistance without expecting anything in return?

Thirdly, the certificate would not record the number of times we pray or attend masses or formations. These things are important. But more important than these is the conversion that must take place within our lives. As we look back this entire year, do we see changes within ourselves? Have we become more committed Christians? Have we been able to overcome some area of sin which we were struggling with before this?

Today, as we celebrate this Feast of Christ the King, let us echo the words found in today’s second reading taken from the book of the Apocalypse: “Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the First-Born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever.” Let us be witnesses of Christ the King by allowing him to be king and lord of our lives.

Reverend Know it All on the Kind of Priests we Want

2009-11-18T09:31:00.002+08:00

Dear Rev. Know-It-All,

Is there an Encyclical or a Papal Teaching on how the lay person is required to respect their priests? We have someone in our lay community, who does not like the way her pastor gives homilies and is constantly criticizing him. We know this is wrong, but we don't know how to correct her without hurting her. Especially now, in the Year of the Priest, I would think there would be something from Rome.

Please help.

Clara Qalysm

Answer

Dear Clara,

First, the simple answer to your question: Yes. There is something recently written, Pope Benedict’s letter of June 16 inaugurating the Year of the Priest. That said, I am delighted to hear that some one is upset by the sermons in your parish. Hopefully, she is upset for the right reasons.

Somehow we have gotten the impression, (I think it started somewhere in the 1950's) that we are supposed to like priests. What an odd assumption. If a priest is doing his job, he should make us feel at least a little nervous, if not downright uncomfortable. We assume that Mass should be entertaining and that sermons should be enjoyable. The job of the priest is not to entertain. It is to do what Jesus did. Certainly you don’t believe that Jesus was crucified because He was such a nice fellow. It seems they didn’t have to look far to find a mob that was willing to shout “Crucify Him!” He must have irritated a few people. The job of the priest is to continue the work that Jesus did. Certainly, preaching and teaching were part of it, but so were healing the sick and casting out demons. However, Jesus’ ultimate work was to offer Himself as a sacrifice in reparation for the sins of the world.

When I was a young priest many years ago, I was given a new assignment as an assistant pastor. Shortly before I arrived to take up my new duties, St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, came to me in a dream and told me that I would have to pray a lot in this new assignment.

When I arrived at my new rectory, I noticed a beautiful wood carving of St John on the mantelpiece in the front room.

A few weeks later, I noticed that the statue of St. John was gone, and in his place was a mechanical monkey.

It seems the pastor had taken his vacation in Las Vegas, where he had won the little wind up monkey in a game of chance. When he needed a refill at the bar, he just switched on the monkey who banged a little pair of cymbals and the bar maid would fill his glass, and he would switch the monkey off, until pressed into service once again.

Thus, it was that the patron saint of priests was replaced with a mechanical monkey.

In the 20th century, we became accustomed to the priest as headman of the immigrant community. That changed into a kind of social director which has developed in our times to “pious bureaucrat.” The priest goes to meetings, conducts programs, fills out forms, visits the school, and glad hands everybody in the vestibule. He does weddings for young couples who have been living in sin for the past two years, then goes to the banquet where he gives the blessings at the beginning and end, thus giving the whole thing a veneer of sanctity. He conducts funerals, reassuring us that perhaps there is life after death and, doubtless, God, who is merciful, will overlook Uncle Mortimer’s gun running business and countless adulteries. After all, Old Mort had a kind heart.

A priest should be good with young and old, but not too good with young. He should be kind and pastoral and never critical he should preach a nice, though brief, sermon. He should go to all the events, the wakes the weddings, the men’s club, the women’s club, the youth group, and having done all that he should be a man of prayer, or at least appear to be. He must have the wisdom of age and the energy of youth, and be ready to rush to the hospital in the middle of the night to give the “last sacraments” to some reprobate who has not darkened the door of the church since his First (and last) Communion.

Above all, the priest makes sure that the fund raising is on schedule and the buildings are in good repair. Keep banging the cymbals, Father. At least keeping up the buildings has something to do with the ministry of Jesus. He was, after all, in the building trades for about 18 years.

In his letter of June 16th, on the year of the priest, it doesn’t seem that the Holy Father is urging people to celebrate the priesthood as much as he is urging priest to remember their calling. The letter is mostly a meditation on the life of my old friend, St. John Vianney. He was the Curé (the Pastor) of Ars, a small town in the south of France. After the French Revolution, the faith in France was in terrible shape, almost as bad as it is now. St John was to this little village of perhaps 250 souls, few of whom practiced their faith. He was not well received. In fact, they hated him.

For years, a group of women offered a special Mass intention. After a while, Fr. Vianney asked what they were praying for. They told him, “For a new pastor.” He went right on praying for their special intention. When he arrived in the parish, he prayed “Lord, grant me the conversion of my parish; I am willing to suffer whatever you wish, for my entire life!” He then went around for a month meeting his parishioners, getting to know the life of his little village, then he went to the pulpit and denounced their sins, especially their dances, which were nothing more than seduction.

As the pastor of Ars, Father Vianney realized that the Revolution's aftermath resulted in religious ignorance, due to many years of the destruction of the Catholic Church in France. At the time, Sundays in rural areas were spent in the fields working, or spent dancing and drinking in taverns. In modern America we work, run errands, go to sporting events and watch soft core pornography on our televisions. Vianney reminded his parishioners that Sundays were meant for the worship of God. Father Vianney began by giving sermons referring to the tavern as "the devil's own shop, the market where souls are bartered, where the harmony of families are broken up, where quarrels start and murders are done." No wonder they hated him.

I wonder what he would have to say about the way people come dressed when they bother to come to church at all. I bet he would have a few thing to say about video games and television programming as well. We live in an age when the Catholic Church is being systematically attacked from without and within. The ignorance of children regarding the faith and the sacraments is appalling. The torrent of pornography to which children are exposed is unfathomable, and that’s just prime time TV.

Our entertainments have corroded our sense of right and wrong just as they did in Ars 150 years ago. I am genuinely shocked when young people come to arrange a marriage and they are not living together. No one thinks twice about what in a former time would be called adultery or perversion, in fact it is celebrated. Parents are at a loss, unable and sometimes unwilling to do anything. God forbid the priest should fail to be in step with the times. We priests have been so in step that many of us have been swept away in the same river of filth and narcissism that is currently engulfing the world.

The problem then, as I see it, is not that someone in your parish is critical of the priest, but that only one person is critical of the priest. People want to love their priests because they are such nice fellows and give such nice homilies. This is a mistake. The priest is to be valued because he absolves sins and offers the sacrifice of Calvary, the only sacrifice which can make up for the barbarities of the age. In his own life, the priest is called to offer the sacrifice of the Mass as an expiation for his sins and the sins of his congregation, even if the congregation believes itself sinless, and worse still if the priest refuses to acknowledge his own weakness and sinfulness. The priest is supposed to be the one who leads his people to repentance, having himself wholeheartedly repented.

Allow me to quote from the Pope’s letter as he quotes St. John “The great misfortune for us parish priests – (St. John Vianney) lamented - is that our souls grow tepid"; meaning by this that a pastor can grow dangerously inured to the state of sin or of indifference in which so many of his flock are living. He himself kept a tight rein on his body, with vigils and fasts, lest it rebel against his priestly soul. Nor did he (St. John) avoid self-mortification for the good of the souls in his care and as a help to expiating the many sins he heard in confession. To a priestly confrere he explained: "I will tell you my recipe: I give sinners a small penance and the rest I do in their place". Aside from the actual penances which the Cure’ of Ars practiced, the core of his teaching remains valid for each of us: souls have been won at the price of Jesus' own blood, and a priest cannot devote himself to their salvation if he refuses to share personally in the "precious cost" of redemption.

We want to like the priest for the same reason we like the softball coach, the scout leader and Santa Claus. Again quoting St. John Vianney, the priest is to be valued for a quite different service, “Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put Him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of your life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for its journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest, always the priest. And if this soul should happen to die [as a result of sin], who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again, the priest. ... After God, the priest is everything! ... Only in heaven will he fully realize what he is. 'O, how great is the priest! ... If he realized what he is, he would die.' (St. John Mary Vianney)

If only a few more priests would take these words to heart and forget what their congregations thought of them.

Rev. Know-It-All

Bulletin Annoucements - November 15

2009-11-14T23:24:00.002+08:00

Chapel Committee for 2010
Chapel Main Committee Members are requested to meet in your subcommittees and identify suitable candidates to form the 2010 Chapel Main Committee . The Chapel Main Committee will meet on the 6th of December 2009 immediately after mass. Committee members are to furnish the names during the meeting.

2010 Liturgical Calendars on Sale
The English calendars are on sale at the entrance of the Chapel at RM5.00 per copy. The Tamil and Bahasa Liturgical Calendars will be available by the end of November 2009.

Advent Events
Christmas Party and Carolling
Volunteers are needed to organise and run the Christmas Party and Caroling. Your support and assistance is highly appreciated as this will kindle the Christmas spirit among the parishioners . Those interested please see the commentator after mass.

Organists/ Musicians for Chapel
Keyboardist / Guitarist urgently needed. Those who could assist please contact Mr. Stanly (012-2277 799)

District Altar Servers Camp
22nd (evening) to 24th (after lunch) November 2009
(3 Language Groups)
Venue: Catholic Centre
Compulsory for All Altar Servers
Please register with Mr. Stanly

Infant Baptism - Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Contact Persons :- Mr. Maurice (Eng.) - 017-3962977
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712
Ms. Mary (Tamil) - 06-7997450

RCIA: Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng) - 016-3569168
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712

Home Stay/ Foster Programme
As you are aware, we have many college students in our midst. Some of whom will not be able to return for the holidays. We hope that some parishioners will be able to open their homes to these students for the duration of the holidays. If interested, please give your names and contact numbers to Mr. Stanly. Students who wish to have home stay may also register.

College Students Representatives
If you're new in this Chapel and looking for a place to belong, we welcome you to join one of the Catholic Students Fellowships in the various colleges in and around Nilai, or join the Central CSS at this chapel.

Please contact the following persons:

Colleges
MIAT and Central CSS (Chapel): Shaun Mirandah (017-7256657)
Inti: Clare (016-9373179)
Nilai: Kevin Mirandah (017-7774816)
KTT: Ricky (014-3727513)

Facebook, Wikipedia, and Youtube in the Vatican

2009-11-14T22:16:00.003+08:00

Preachers of Truth Meet Sellers of "My Own Truth"

By Jesús Colina

ROME, NOV. 13, 2009 (Zenit.org).- There are not a few voices in the Church calling for the message of the Gospel to make better use of the Internet -- Benedict XVI's is among them.

And yet, when representatives of some of the most successful Internet initiatives met in Rome today with the European bishops' Commission for the Media, a great difference in mentality became obvious, even if there was also evidence of a genuine desire for mutual understanding.

The chamber of the former hall of the synod of bishops -- which the producers of "Angels and Demons" rented for millions of euros -- witnessed two views of reality: On one hand, an institution, the Church, founded for 2,000 years on the proclamation of Truth; and on the other, exponents of successful business initiatives, which arose a few years ago, based on giving everyone the chance to express "his own truth."

The meeting occurred in the context of a four-day conference that began Thursday in the Vatican, promoted by the Commission for the Media of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE).

Networking prelates

The meeting began with a survey among the bishops and representatives of the episcopal commission.

Moderator Jim McDonnell of the Signis World Catholic Association of Communication asked the bishops, priests and some lay experts in communication -- just under 100 in total -- how many had a profile on Facebook. More than one fourth raised their hand.

Nearly everyone in the group was familiar with Wikipedia and about 10% had collaborated in editing one of its entries.

Almost everyone had also viewed videos on YouTube and about 15% had used the site to post one of their own.

Approximately 10% had used or followed Twitter.

The networkers

Then came the presentations from the Internet representatives. Christophe Muller, director of YouTube alliances in Southern and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, illustrated the philosophy that gave origin and life to Google.

In particular, he praised the Holy See's decision to make a place for itself on YouTube. And he presented a promotional video showing how the great of the world -- from Barack Obama to the Queen of England -- use this platform. Among them is Benedict XVI.

Delphine Ménard, treasurer of Wikipedia, France, explained how the collaborative encyclopedia does not seek to give a view of truth, but rather aims for all points of view to be represented.

For his part, Christian Hernandez, in charge of the commercial development of Facebook, showed how Christian initiatives have arisen in the Facebook world that range from a Shrine of Lourdes profile, to "Jesus Daily," a profile that offers phrases from the Gospel, and has more than one million followers.

Among these initiatives, he also presented Benedict XVI's profile. What he did not say is that this profile was created by an unknown individual who has fraudulently taken the Pope's identity.

In a subsequent conversation with ZENIT, Hernandez said that today, this issue was brought to his attention at the Vatican.

He said that Facebook has blocked a Vatican profile page, but for the fraudulent Benedict XVI profile, he was unable to offer a solution.

Apples and oranges

As the meeting moved to the questions-and-answers stage, it was evident that there was clear difficulty in understanding.

On one hand, the prelates acknowledged the limits of the Catholic Church, which seeks to dialogue on the Internet, but by and large uses basic pages: About 70% of Catholic institutional sites have not introduced interactive elements of Web 2.0.

Then as well -- contrary to what they expected -- the bishops did not find themselves in a meeting with communication experts, but rather with representatives of enterprises with a very specific business model. This model is their primary interest and leaves aside humanistic considerations.

"Can one still speak of truth on social networks based on the idea that each user has his truth?" one of the prelates' working groups asked the Internet representatives.

The representatives of the three enterprises agreed that "power" has now gone to the users; users "control" the media -- but they will be able to seek truth more effectively knowing how to use the media.

The Consequence of Our Lives

2009-11-12T13:25:00.001+08:00

Thirty Third Ordinary Sunday Year B

There are consequences to the way we live. Every action of ours has a consequence. Sometimes we see the consequences of our actions in our present life. For example, when we drink and smoke without restraint, we see these habits have an effect on our health. If we have not paid our attention to our studies when we were young we would most likely have to struggle on a low pay for the rest of our lives. When we steal and cheat, we would soon be exposing ourselves to the law.

But there are some consequences that we may not see in this life. Some people are able to live rich and comfortable lives in spite of their sinful lifestyle. Others seem to get away with the crimes they have committed without being caught by the police. Still many others go through life without thinking of God or placing him last on our list of priorities. But that doesn’t mean that our actions have no consequences. In fact, we are reminded by the readings today that it is to these actions that we must pay special attention. Ultimately we will be called to account for our every action or omission. If not now, then on Judgment Day.

The problem that we often face is this: because we don’t see the consequences of our negative actions in our present life, we may erroneously believe that there are no consequences. Many people live their lives with this misconception. Unless we wake up to the truth that we shall be accountable for our every action, we will die without the opportunity to mend our ways. All will be judged on the Last Day. All our actions, our mistakes, our good deeds, our sins, our failures, our successes would be made clear on that day. In spite of the mercy of God, no one can escape judgment.

The first reading from the prophet Daniel reminds us that “of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace. The learned will shine brightly as the vault of heaven, and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity.” Let us hope and pray that on the Last Day we will rise to everlasting life and glory and be able to shine as bright stars in heaven for all eternity. But we are also reminded that unless we take our faith seriously, unless we begin to live up to our identity as Christians, another fate may await us – we may wake up to shame and everlasting disgrace.

We are approaching the end of the year. There is still time to amend our ways now. Don’t wait till tomorrow or next month or next year. As Jesus reminds us in the gospel today: “but as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.” For some of us the Day of Judgment will come sooner than others. Be ready to give an account of your life when you called to meet the Lord.

The History of the Crucifix

2009-11-10T08:30:00.001+08:00

In the light of the controversial decision by the European Court of Justice to ban crucifixes from schools in Italy, it would be opportune to reflect on the significance of the crucifix for Christians and Catholics. Below is a video from Catholic News Agency giving a brief history and explaining the significance of the crucifix.

The Gift

2009-11-06T13:04:00.002+08:00

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'

有一位瞎女很討厭自己因為眼睛瞎了。她也討厭每個人，唯一不討厭的是她的男朋友，因為他都常守在她身旁。於是她對她的男朋友說：「如果能讓我看到這個世界，我愿意嫁給你！」

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

有一天，有人捐了一對眼精給她。當紗布解開時，她能夠看到一切，包括她的男朋友。

He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

男朋友問她：「現在你可以看到這世界，你愿意嫁給我嗎？」那女孩看了男朋友是個瞎子，他那對蓋上眼皮的眼睛嚇到了她，這是她無法想像。她想：要我嫁給他而一生對着他這個樣子，我無法接受。

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'

於是，她的男朋友很傷心的離開她，幾天後寫了字條給她：「親愛的，請你好好照顧你的眼睛，因為它不是屬於你的之前，它是屬於我的。」

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

這也是人的腦會如何做當情況有所變動。只有少許人會記得他或她之前的生活及誰會在身旁當他或她處在困境的時候

How much are we prepared to give?

2009-11-05T13:27:00.000+08:00

Thirty Second Ordinary Sunday Year B

How much are we prepared to give to God? Here’s a story that may help us to understand. One day, three clerics, a Protestant minister, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi were having a discussion on who gave the most to God. The Protestant minister proudly said that he only took ten per cent of the Sunday collection. The rest of the money was used for the Church’s work and mission. The Catholic minister didn’t want to be outdone. He said that the entire collection was given to God and his Church while he only took RM10.00 as his stipend. The Jewish rabbi turned to the both of them and laughed. “You men of little faith”, he exclaimed, “I on the other hand give everything to God. At the end of every Sabbath I take the whole collection and throw it up as an offering to God and whatever God allows to fall back down is mine!”

How much are we prepared to give to God? I don’t think that any of us are ready to give even 10% of whatever we earn. At least we see among the Protestants this willingness to contribute 10% of their earnings to the mission and work of the Church. Perhaps our Sunday offering may just be a dollar, which is less than one percent of what we earn. And yet, we often forget that all that we have is a gift from God. God has given us everything that we need and yet we often find it so hard to give back to him. We give back to God not only by our monetary contributions to the Church. We give back to God also through helping the poor, through our sacrifice of time and effort to further the Church’s mission. How much are we prepared to give to God?

The challenge given in today’s readings is really great. God is challenging us to give our all, to give our best and to give our lives to him. We have two stories to illustrate this. In the first reading, we have the story of the non-Jewish widow who is asked to share her last meal with the prophet Elijah. The prophet and God rewards her generosity by performing a miracle allowing her food to never be totally spent. In the gospel, Jesus takes the example of another poor widow to illustrate this need for total self-giving. This poor widow puts in only two small coins, which is nothing compared to big sums donated by the rich. And yet Jesus praises her action because “she from the little she had has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.”

In the second reading, Jesus himself is given as an example for giving. It is not money or material goods that is being given here. Jesus gives his own life as a sacrifice in order that we may be saved. Jesus has given his 100%, he has held nothing back.

Back to the question that I’ve been asking from the start: How much are we prepared to give to God? Are we very calculative? Are we trying to hold back many things because they give us security? Are we forgetting that Jesus has given himself entirely to us? Have we forgotten that God has given us everything we need? How much are we prepared to give to God?

Today, let us reflect over our own willingness or unwillingness to make sacrifices for God. How much time have we given to him? How much have we contributed to the Church through our talents? Or have we only been coming here to beg favours from God as if we were beggars? Today, let us pray that we will be able to give back to God what God has given to us everyday of our lives.

All Souls Day - November 2

2009-11-01T22:22:00.004+08:00

All Soul's Day (sometimes called the "Day of the Dead", "Feast of All Souls," or "Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed") is always November 2 (November 3rd if the 2nd falls on a Sunday).

The day purposely follows All Saint's Day in order to shift the focus from those in heaven to those in purgatory. It is celebrated with masses and festivities in honor of the dead. While the Feast of All Saints is a day to remember the glories of Heaven and those there, the Feast of All Souls reminds us of our obligations to live holy lives and that there will be purification of the souls of those destined for Heaven.

The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, alms deeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass.

The traditions of the Feast of All Souls began independently of the Feast of All Saints. In the early days of Christianity the names of the departed brethren were entered in the diptychs. The Feast of All Souls owes its beginning to seventh century monks who decided to offer the mass on the day after Pentecost for their deceased community members.

In Spain there was such a day on Saturday before Sexagesima or before Pentecost, at the time of St. Isidore (d. 636). In Germany there existed (according to the testimony of Widukind, Abbot of Corvey, c. 980) a time-honoured ceremony of praying to the dead on 1 October. This was accepted and sanctified by the Church.

In the late tenth century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny chose to move their mass for their dead to November 2, the day after the Feast of all Saints. St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) ordered the commemoration of all the faithful departed to be held annually in the monasteries of his congregation. Thence it spread among the other congregations of the Benedictines and among the Carthusians.

Of the dioceses, Liège was the first to adopt it under Bishop Notger (d. 1008). It is then found in the martyrology of St. Protadius of Besançon (1053-66). Bishop Otricus (1120-25) introduced it into Milan for the 15 October. In Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, priests on this day say three Masses. A similar concession for the entire world was asked of Pope Leo XIII. He would not grant the favour but ordered a special Requiem on Sunday, 30 September, 1888.

Bulletin Annoucements - 2nd November

2009-11-01T16:11:00.002+08:00

Book of Remembrance
Feel free to write down the names of your departed loved ones in the Book of Rememberance which is placed at the Chapel entrance.

All Souls Day - 2nd November (Monday)
Mass at 6.45 am (English) in Church of Visitation. No mass in Chapel

Holy Hour (First Friday) 6/11/09 at 8.00 pm

Second Collection 1/11/09
There will be a second collection this evening for the maintenance of the chapel. Do be generous.

Organists/ Musicians for Chapel
Keyboardist / Guitarist urgently needed. Those who could assist please contact Mr. Stanly (012-2277 799)

District Altar Servers Camp
22nd (evening) to 24th (after lunch) November 2009
(3 Language Groups)
Venue: Catholic Centre
Compulsory for All Altar Servers
Please register with Mr. Stanly

Infant Baptism - Every 3rd Sunday of the Month
Contact Persons :- Mr. Maurice (Eng.) - 017-3962977
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712
Ms. Mary (Tamil) - 06-7997450

RCIA: Mr. Anthony Chia (Eng) - 016-3569168
Mr. George Mool (BM) - 016-2871712

Home Stay/ Foster Programme
As you are aware, we have many college students in our midst. Some of whom will not be able to return for the holidays. We hope that some parishioners will be able to open their homes to these students for the duration of the holidays. If interested, please give your names and contact numbers to Mr. Stanly. Students who wish to have home stay may also register.

College Students Representatives
If you're new in this Chapel and looking for a place to belong, we welcome you to join one of the Catholic Students Fellowships in the various colleges in and around Nilai, or join the Central CSS at this chapel.

Please contact the following persons:

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Saints in various religious traditions

2009-10-31T18:52:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow, Christians (mainly Roman Catholics) celebrate the Feast of All Saints. Below is a brief comparative survey of 'sainthood' in the various religious traditions.

Christianity
Roman Catholic Church

There are more than 10,000 canonized Roman Catholic saints. The Roman Catholic Church teaches that it does not, in fact, make anyone a saint. Rather, it recognizes a saint. In the Church, the title of Saint — with a capital 'S' — refers to a person who has been formally canonized (officially recognised) by the Roman Catholic Church, and is therefore believed by this church to be in Heaven.

Also, by this definition there are many Roman Catholics believed to be in Heaven who have not been formally declared as Saints (most typically due to their obscurity and the involved process of formal canonization) but who may nevertheless generically be referred to as saints (lowercase 's'). All in Heaven are, in the technical sense, saints, since they are believed to be completely purified and holy. Unofficial devotions to uncanonized individuals take place in certain regions. Sometimes the word "saint" is used to refer to Roman Catholics still sojourning here on earth.

In his book, Saint of the Day, editor Leonard Foley, OFM, says this of saints: "[Saints'] surrender to God's love was so generous an approach to the total surrender of Jesus that the Church recognizes them as heroes and heroines worthy to be held up for our inspiration. They remind us that the Church is holy, can never stop being holy and is called to show the holiness of God by living the life of Christ."

The veneration of saints, in Latin, cultus, or the "cult of the saints", describes a particular popular devotion to the saints. Although the term "worship" is often used, it is intended in the old-sense meaning to honor or give respect (dulia). Divine Worship is properly reserved only for God (latria) and never to the Saints. They can be asked to intercede or pray for those still on earth, just as one can ask someone on earth to pray for them.

A saint may be designated as a patron saint of particular causes or professions, or invoked against specific illnesses or disasters, sometimes by popular custom and sometimes by official statements of the Magisterium. They are not thought to have power of their own, but only that granted by God. Relics of saints are respected in a similar manner to holy images and icons. The practices of past centuries in venerating relics of saints for healing is taken from the early Church.

According to the Catholic Church, to be deemed a miracle, "a medical recovery must be instantaneous, not attributable to treatment, disappear for good."

Once a person has been declared a saint, the body of the saint is considered holy. The remains of saints are called holy relics and are usually used in churches. The saints' personal belongings may also be used as relics. Some of the saints have a symbol that represents their life.

In Church tradition, a person that is seen as exceptionally holy can be declared a saint by a formal process, called canonization. Formal canonization is a lengthy process often taking many years, even centuries.

The first step in this process is an investigation of the candidate's life, undertaken by an expert. After this, the report on the candidate is given to the bishop of the area and more studying is done. It is then sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.

If the application is approved, the person may be granted the title of "Venerable". Further investigations may lead to the candidate's beatification and given title of "Blessed." At a minimum, two important miracles are required to be formally declared a saint. At least one of the miracles must be posthumous. Finally, when all of this is done the Pope canonizes the saint.

Eastern Orthodoxy

In the Eastern Orthodox Church a Saint is defined as anyone who is in Heaven, whether recognized here on earth, or not. By this definition, Adam and Eve, Moses, the various Prophets, the Angels and Archangels are all given the title of "Saint". Sainthood in the Orthodox Church does not necessarily reflect a moral model, but the communion with God: there are countless examples of people who lived in great sin and became saints by humility and repentance, such as Mary of Egypt, Moses the Ethiopian, James the Righteous, and of course Dysmas, the repentant thief on the Cross. Therefore, a more complete definition of what a saint is, has to do with the way that saints, through their humility and their love of humankind, saved inside them the entire Church, and loved all people.

Orthodox belief considers that God reveals his Saints through answered prayers and other miracles. Saints are usually recognized by a local community, often by people who directly knew them. As their popularity grows they are often then recognized by the entire church. The formal process of recognition involves deliberation by a synod of Bishops. If successful, this is followed by a service of Glorification in which the Saint is given a day on the church calendar to be celebrated by the entire church. This does not however make the person a saint; the person already was a saint and the Church ultimately recognized it.

It is believed that one of the ways the holiness (sanctity) of a person is revealed, is through the condition of their relics (remains). In some Orthodox countries (such as Greece, but not in Russia) graves are often reused after 3 to 5 years because of limited space. Bones are washed and placed in an ossuary, often with the person's name written on the skull. Occasionally when a body is exhumed something miraculous is reported as having occurred; exhumed bones are claimed to have given off a fragrance, like flowers, or a body is reported as having remained free of decay, despite not having been embalmed (traditionally the Orthodox do not embalm the dead) and having been buried for some years in the earth.

The reason relics are considered sacred is because, for the Orthodox, the separation of body and soul is unnatural. Body and soul both comprise the person, and in the end, body and soul will be reunited; therefore, the body of a saint shares in the “Holiness” of the soul of the saint. As a general rule only clergy will touch relics in order to move them or carry them in procession, however, in veneration the faithful will kiss the relic to show love and respect toward the saint. Every altar in every Orthodox church contains relics, usually of martyrs. Church interiors are covered with the Icons of saints.

Because the Church shows no true distinction between the living and the dead (the Saints are considered to be alive in Heaven), saints are referred to as if they were still alive. Saints are venerated but not worshipped. They are believed to be able to intercede for salvation and help mankind either through direct communion with God, or by personal intervention.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the titles "Όσιος" for men and "Οσία" for women are also used. This is a title attributed to saints who had lived a monastic or eremitic life, and it is equal to the more usual title of "Saint".

Anglicanism

In the Anglican Church, the title of Saint — with a capital 'S' — refers to a person who has been elevated by popular opinion as a pious and holy person. The saints are seen as models of holiness to be imitated, and as a 'cloud of witnesses' that strengthen and encourage the believer during his or her spiritual journey (Hebrews 12:1). The saints are seen as elder brothers and sisters in Christ. Official Anglican creeds recognise the existence of the saints in heaven.

So far as saintly intercession is concerned, Article XXII of Church of England's Articles of Religion "Of Purgatory" condemns "the Romish Doctrine concerning...(the) Invocation of Saints" as "a fond thing vainly invented, and grounded upon no warranty of Scripture, but rather repugnant to the Word of God". However, each of the 44 member churches in the Anglican Communion are free to adopt and authorise their own official documents, and the Articles are not officially normative in all of them (e.g., The Episcopal Church USA, which relegates them to "Historical Documents"). Anglo-Catholics in Anglican provinces using the Articles often make a distinction between a "Romish" and a "Patristic" doctrine concerning the invocation of saints, permitting the latter.

In high-church contexts, such as Anglo-Catholicism, a Saint is generally one to whom has been attributed (and who has generally demonstrated) a high level of holiness and sanctity. In this use, a saint is therefore not a believer, but one who has been transformed by virtue. In Roman Catholicism, a saint is a special sign of God's activity. The veneration of saints is sometimes misunderstood to be worship, in which case it is derisively termed "hagiolatry".

Some Anglicans and Anglican churches, particularly Anglo-Catholics, personally ask prayers of the saints. However, such a practice is seldom found in any official Anglican liturgy. Unusual examples of it are found in The Korean Liturgy 1938, the liturgy of the Diocese of Guiana 1959 and The Melanesian English Prayer Book.

Anglicans believe that the only effective Mediator between the believer and the God the Father is God the Son, Jesus Christ. But those who pray to saints make a distinction between "mediator" and "intercessor," and claim that asking for the prayers of the saints is no different in kind than asking for the prayers of living Christians. Anglican Catholics understand sainthood in a more Roman Catholic or Orthodox way, often praying for intercessions from the saints and celebrating their feast days.

According to the Church of England, a saint is one who is sanctified, as it translates in the Authorised King James Version (1611) 2 Chronicles 6:41

Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

Protestantism

"Scripture does not teach calling on the saints or pleading for help from them. For it sets before us Christ alone as mediator, atoning sacrifice, high priest, and intercessor."—A.C. Article XXI.[22]

In many Protestant churches, the word "Saint" is used more generally to refer to anyone who is a Christian. This is similar in usage to Paul's numerous references in the New Testament of the Bible. In this sense, anyone who is within the Body of Christ (i.e., a professing Christian) is a 'saint' because of their relationship with Christ Jesus. Because of this, many Protestants consider prayers to the saints to be idolatry or even necromancy. Dead Christians are awaiting resurrection, and are not able to do anything for the living saint.

Within some Protestant traditions, saint is also used to refer to any born-again Christian. Many emphasise the traditional New Testament meaning of the word, preferring to write saint (lower case) to refer to any believer, in continuity with the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.

Methodism

While Methodists as a whole do not practice the patronage or veneration of saints, they do honor and admire them. Methodists believe that all Christians are saints, but mainly use the term to refer to bibilical people, Christian leaders, and martyrs of the faith. Many Methodist churches are named after Saints, such as the Twelve Apostles, John Wesley, etc. Although, most are named after geographical locations associated with an early circuit or prominent location. Some Methodist congregations observe All Saints Day if they follow the liturgical calender. Many encourage the study of saints, that is, the biography of holy people. The 14th Article of Religion in the United Methodist Discipline states, "The Romish doctrine concerning purgatory, pardon, worshiping, and adoration, as well of images as of relics, and also invocation of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, but repugnant to the Word of God." John Wesley, the theological father of world Methodism, did not practice or permit Roman Catholic practices associated with the veneration of the the Virgin Mary or prayers to the Saints.

Lutheranism

In the Lutheran Church, according to the Augsburg Confession the term "Saint" is used in manner as the Roman Catholic Church only insofar as denoting a person who received exceptional grace, were sustained by faith and whose good works are to be and example to any christian. The Augsburg Confession does explicitly state that "it cannot be proved from the Scriptures that we are to invoke saints or seek help from them." 1 Timothy 2:5[25] is cited as reason for this statement. The Confession continues to say "Moreover, according to the Scriptures, the highest form of divine service is sincerely to seek and call upon this same Jesus Christ in every time of need.

Restorationism

There are some groups which are generally classified as Protestants who do not accept the idea of the communion of saints. These groups, which are often more specifically referred to as Restorationists, do not believe in the efficacy of the intercession of saints. This is primarily due to two distinct, but opposing beliefs found within the various "Restorationists". Some believe all of the departed are in soul sleep until the final resurrection on Judgment Day. Others believe that the departed go to either Paradise or Tartarus, to await the day in which the living and the dead are judged.

Latter-day Saints

The beliefs of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Mormons with regard to saints are similar to the Protestant tradition described above. In the New Testament the saints are all those who have entered into the Christian covenant. The qualification "Latter-day" Saints refers to the doctrine that members are living in the "latter days" before the second coming of Jesus Christ, and is used to distinguish the modern church from the ancient Christian church. Therefore members refer to themselves as "Latter-day Saints", or simply "Saints", most often among themselves.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Refers to "Those who are clean, particularly in a spiritual or moral sense; it also denotes persons set apart for the service of God, in heaven or on earth." The term Saints means Holy Ones and there are several references made in the Bible to those that were sanctified to Almighty God Jehovah. The term would also apply to those that were anointed with Holy Spirit after the death of Jesus Christ. The Bible gives a specific number of those Holy Ones that would rule with Jesus Christ in Heaven as being 144,000 (Revelation 5:10, 20:6.) The anointed Holy Ones are to rule as Kings and Priests over the Heavens and the Earth. Jehovah's Witnesses do not use the term saints nor have them in worship.

Other religions

The use of the term saint is not exclusive to Christianity. In many religions, there are people who have been recognised within their tradition as having fulfilled the highest aspirations of religious teaching. In English, the term saint is often used to translate this idea from many world religions.

Judaism

Judaism speaks of a class of unidentified individuals known as Tzadikkim.

Hinduism

There are individuals who have been described as being Hindu saints, most of whom have also been more specifically identified by the terms Mahatma, Paramahamsa, or Swami, or with the titles Sri or Srila. Some Indian Saints avoided titles and fame such as Neem Karoli Baba. Buddhists hold the Arhats and Arahants in special esteem. Some groups of Islam hold the Hadrat (literally, Presence, a title of Sufi Saints) in similar esteem.

The concept of sant or bhagat found in North Indian religious tradition, is unrelated and a false cognate of "saint". Figures such as Kabir, Ravidas, Nanak, and others are widely regarded as belonging to the Sant tradition. Some of their mystical compositions are incorporated in the Guru Granth Sahib. The term "Sant" is still sometimes loosely applied to living individuals in the Sikh and related communities.

Sufism

Anthropologists have also noted the parallels between the regard for some Sufi figures in popular Muslim observance and Christian ideas of sainthood. In some Muslim countries there are shrines at the tombs of Sufi "saints", with the observation of festival days on the anniversary of death, and a tradition of miracle-working. In some cases, the rites are observed according to the solar calendar, rather than the normal Islamic lunar calendar.

Hazrat Babajan (c. 1806 - September 18, 1931) was a Baloch Muslim saint considered by her followers to be a sadguru or qutub.

Below is a picture of a shrine dedicated to a Sufi Saint in Georgetown, Penang.

Santeria (Voodoo)

The veneration of Catholic saints forms the basis of the Cuban Santería religion. In Santería, however, saints are syncretised with Yoruban deities, and are equally worshipped in churches (where they appear as saints) and in Santería religious festivities, where they appear as deities (orishas); however, this practice is condemned vehemently by the Catholic Church as sacrilegious and contrary to true Catholic practice.

Santeria, Haitian Vodou, Brazilian Umbanda and Candomble and other similar religions adopted the Catholic Saints, or at least the images of the saints, and applied their own spirits/deities to them, or 'Orishas' in Santeria, "Orixás" in Umbanda and Candomblé and 'Lwa' in Vodoun. The adoption of Catholic Saints was fairly common in the religions that were adapted by the slaves in the New World. It can be understood as an example of faux-Catholicism.