Sunday, December 30, 2007

Feast of the Holy Family (A)

Sir 3:2-7, 12-14
Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Col 3:12-21 or Col 3:12-17
Mt 2, 13-15, 19-23

This Sunday we celebrate the Holy Family as well as our own families. All the scriptures at Mass give us instruction on how to be a holy family.

The first reading tells children (young and old) to "honor" and "revere" their parents, to be considerate of them when they get old and feeble and to be kind to them even if they fail to love us well. It does NOT say that children have to obey their parents ALL the time. This scripture never uses the word "obey".

We are to only obey God, and if a parent instructs us to do what God wants us to do (as in the responsorial Psalm), then by obeying Mom or Dad, we're obeying God, but if a parent disobeys God, we are not to follow him or her into sin. We can honor and revere our parents by respecting their personhood even while refusing to cooperate with their sins.

The second reading instructs us to "put on love, the bond of perfection", and to make sure that the peace of Christ controls our hearts. How? Saint Francis de Sales said, "Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."

Verse 18 is NOT saying that wives should do this by obeying their husbands as if in a child-father relationship. To understand the message here, replace the word "subordinate" or "submit" with "respect". God has put the husband in charge of providing protection for the family (which is why in the Gospel reading it's Joseph, not Mary, who was given the dream) — including spiritual protection (teaching holiness and leading the family to heaven). When a wife respects her husband's personhood (the man God created him to be), she's placing herself (subordinating herself) into his protection, which is also God's protection.

And the husband is commanded to love his wife. Why isn't the wife told to love her husband? Because by nature she's a nurturer and a care-giver. But the man, created to protect, is by nature a warrior. To be holy, the husband must overcome his innate urge to protect himself so that he can make sacrifices for his family, just like Jesus.

Questions for Personal Reflection:

Which family relationships need to become holier? What can you do this week to improve these by (choose the ones that fit your situation) honoring your parents, teaching your children, and showing respect and love for your spouse (or ex-spouse) in imitation of Christ?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:

Husbands (and ex-husbands and widowers), explain how important it is to feel respected. Wives (and ex-wives and widows), share how respect for husbands is effective in nurturing the marital relationship. How does the husband's protective nature imitate Christ? How does his love also imitate Christ? How is this similarly played out in a priest's relationship with his parish?

Published by Jacob Soo
Credits to Good News Ministries

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Message from the Archbishop

Greetings all,

His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia has written a special christmas message to all Altar Servers. Below is the transcript of his message.

Dear Altar Servers of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi,

Christmas is a very special feast for all of us and I would like to extend my prayer and blessing to you all on this glorious feast.

When we celebrate Christmas we are reminded of Christ's birth in Bethlehem to be the light of the world to dispel the darkness of sin and evil.

To celebrate Christmas we must invite Christ into our hearts so that we can radiate his light to those around us.

To invite Christ into our hearts we must be filled with love. "Where there is love there is God" as St John says.

As Altar Servers, you show your love by your dedicated services at the altar and contribute towards the meaningful celebration of the liturgy. Apart from your dedicated services at the altar you make Christ present to others by your kindness and friendliness, reaching out especially to the poor and lonely.

I pray that Christmas will truly be CHRISTmas for you all. May Christ dwell in your hearts during this season and all the days of your life.

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS to you all.


God bless

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, D.D., STL

Christmas (A)

Is 52:7-10
Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6
Heb 1:1-6
Jn 1:1-18 or Jn 1:1-5, 9-14

Merry Christmas! The Lord has come!

"A light will shine on us this day: the Lord is born for us" (from the responsorial Psalm). Let the joy of "THE LORD HAS COME!" shine from you. But how, when troubles make the world seem dark?

It’s only possible when we keep our eyes on Jesus. Don't focus on what destroys your joy, for nothing can destroy the coming of the Lord. The absence of joy is merely a blank area in your view of what God is doing.

Look at the love that Jesus has for you! Jesus was born not only to save you from the darkness of sin; he was born because he loves you – he loves you! Even if you had never sinned, he would have come into the world so that he could love you on your level, human-to-human.

Sometimes, great things come in surprising packages that do not seem to be great at all. The Eucharist – in the form of a little wafer of bread – does not look like it contains the full presence of Jesus with all of his humanity and his divinity. The baby Jesus – a tiny, helpless child – does not look like the conqueror of evil. But he is! And so is Jesus in the Eucharist; he is here for you.

And you! You might not seem to be a great person, but you contain Jesus. You contain greatness beyond imagining! This greatness does not dwell only in you; it comes out from you in the form of love.

We can know for sure that we have Jesus within us because of the love that we give to others. We know for sure that we can be victorious over evil when Christ's love extends outward to others from within us. It is Christ's love in the world – through us – that defeats the darkness of hardships and troubles.

Jesus comes to us, not to be served, but to serve our needs. He even laid down his life for you!

To be a follower of Jesus means we learn to imitate him. Christians are not here to be served by those who treat us poorly. We are here to serve them, and in this goodness evil is defeated. In this goodness, the greatness of Jesus extends outward from us.

Each time we give love to others, whether they deserve it or not, we give them the gift of Jesus. We are like Mary, giving birth to love himself, making every day a Christmas day.

And when the giving gets tiring, we need to return to the Eucharist to be nourished and healed and restored by Jesus himself, for his love is our Christmas gift from God.

Have a Very Blessed Christmas
in the gifts that the Lord
has given!

On this day the Church focuses especially on the newborn Child, God become human, who embodies for us all the hope and peace we seek. We need no other special saint today to lead us to Christ in the manger, although his mother Mary and Joseph, caring for his foster-Son, help round out the scene.

But if we were to select a patron for today, perhaps it might be appropriate for us to imagine an anonymous shepherd, summoned to the birthplace by a wondrous and even disturbing vision in the night, a summons from an angelic choir, promising peace and goodwill. A shepherd willing to seek out something that might just be too unbelievable to chase after, and yet compelling enough to leave behind the flocks in the field and search for a mystery.

On the day of the Lord’s birth, let’s let an unnamed, “un-celebrity” at the edge of the crowd model for us the way to discover Christ in our own hearts—somewhere between skepticism and wonder, between mystery and faith. And, like Mary and the shepherds, let us treasure that discovery in our hearts.

Comment:

The precise dating in this passage sounds like a textbook on creationism. If we focus on the time frame, however, we miss the point. It lays out the story of a love affair: creation, the deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt, the rise of Israel under David. It climaxes with the birth of Jesus. From the beginning, some scholars insist, God intended to enter the world as one of us, the beloved people. Praise God!


Published by Jacob Soo
Credits to Amercan Catholic.org

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Padre David Thexeira

Our Spiritual Director, Padre David Thexeira was laid to rest today at Choa Chu Kang cemetery after being called home to receive his eternal reward.

His sudden departure has shocked and sadden many of us, who appreciated his love, support and company during this tenure at Saint Francis of Assisi parish.

We will always hold dear to our hearts and reminisce,the moments and experiences that we have spent with him.

Padre David, we love you.

Thank you for everything that you have done for us; the love, care and concern that you so generously give to us, your humble Altar Servers.

We will definitely miss you.

Until we meet again in the heavenly kingdom, Rest in peace.


Padre David Thexeira
6.11.1956 - 13.12.2007
Aged 51

Always loved, cherished and remembered in our hearts...

Gethsemaus 07 Conclusion

Gethsemaus 07 camp has come to a fruitful and successful end after 5 days 5 nights of games and spiritual inputs.

We sincerely hope that the participants have enjoyed themselves during the camp and leaving it having learnt and attained memorable experiences.

The organisers would like to thank everyone for their participation and support in making this camp a successful one especially when we have just lost our Spiritual Director; Father David Thexeira who loved, supported and walked with us during his time with us here in Saint Francis of Assisi.

Thank you and God Bless!

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Itinerary for Gethesemaus 07 -- updated

In view of the passing of our beloved Spiritual Director, Father David Thexeira, there will be some changes to our camp itinerary to accomadate for his funeral preparations.
Any queries can be directed to the organisers.
Thank you.


Day 1 (141207)


- Report at IJ @ 1600hrs; Jeremy and Jacob will be on scene to receive all participants
- Camp briefing/Bag check will be carried at IJ centre.
- Settling down in sleeping quarters at IJ centre.
- Dinner will then be served.
- After dinner, participants will travel via public transport to the funeral wake of Father David Thexeira at Church of the Holy Spirit.
- Travel via public transport back to IJ centre after the performance.
- Wash up and Lights out upon return to IJ Centre.

Day 2 (151207)

- Reville @ 0715hrs and wash up.
- Breakfast will then be served at IJ centre
- Spiritual Activity at IJ centre.
- Lunch will then be served.
- Travel to SFA Church for games.
- Games time at SFA Church.
- Games end and travel back to IJ centre for wash up
- Preparation for Novena and Sunset Mass
- Travel to SFA Church for Novena and Sunset Mass
- Novena and Sunset Mass
- Travel back to IJ centre after Novena and Sunset Mass
- Dinner
- Spiritual Activity II
- Supper
- Wash up and Lights Out

Day 3 (161207)

- Reville @ 0730hrs and preparation for respective masses at SFA Church.
- Lunch at IJ centre at 1200hrs.
- Briefing for Superstars.
- Superstars begins at 1430hrs at various locations islandwide

Day 4 (171207)

- Superstars end at IJ centre @ 1430hrs.
- De-brief for Superstars at IJ centre.
- Wash up at IJ centre .
- Siesta or personal time at IJ centre.
- Dinner at IJ centre.

- Father David's funeral mass rehearsal at Church of the Holy Spirit (1900hrs to 2100hrs)
- Back to IJ centre, supper and wash up
- Lights Out

Day 5 (181207)

- Reville @ 0600hrs, breakfast.
- Pack up and check out of Choice Retreat House
- Travel to SFA Church to prepare for Father David's Funeral mass.

- Travel to Church of Holy Spirit for Father David's funeral mass via chartered bus.
- Serve/attend funeral mass.
- Proceed after mass to Choa Chu Kang cemetery for Father David's burial via chartered bus.
- Travel back to SFA Church via charted bus.
- Games at SFA Church.
- Dinner with parents and priests/ prize presentation at SFA Church.
- Break camp @ 2100hrs.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Padre David has gone home...

Dear Servers,

Our Spiritual Director Padre David Thexeira was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, 13th December 2007 at 2340hrs.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Let us pray for Padre David's soul and for comfort and peace to be upon the family.

Thank you and God Bless.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

1 more day to Gethsemaus 07

hohoho! 1 more day to our servers camp; Gethsemaus 07!

See you all @ 1600hrs at Choice Retreat House, 47, Jurong West Street 42.

Brief Itinerary for Gethsemaus 07

Greetings all, here is the brief itinerary for Gethsemaus 07

Day 1 (141207)

- Report at IJ @ 1600hrs; Jeremy and Jacob will be on scene to receive all participants
- Camp briefing/Bag check will be carried at IJ centre.
- Settling down in sleeping quarters at IJ centre.
- Dinner will then be served.
- After dinner, participants will travel via public transport to Esplanade for a performance; "Pedal & Pipes: The Magic of Christmas".
- Travel via public transport back to IJ centre after the performance.
- Wash up and Lights out upon return to IJ Centre.

Day 2 (151207)

- Reville @ 0715hrs and wash up.
- Breakfast will then be served at IJ centre
- Spiritual Activity at IJ centre.
- Lunch will then be served.
- Travel to SFA Church for games.
- Games time at SFA Church.
- Games end and travel back to IJ centre for wash up
- Preparation for Novena and Sunset Mass
- Travel to SFA Church for Novena and Sunset Mass
- Novena and Sunset Mass
- Travel back to IJ centre after Novena and Sunset Mass
- Dinner
- Spiritual Activity II
- Supper
- Wash up and Lights Out

Day 3 (161207)

- Reville @ 0730hrs and preparation for respective masses at SFA Church.
- Lunch at IJ centre at 1200hrs.
- Briefing for Superstars.
- Superstars begins at 1430hrs at various locations islandwide

Day 4 (171207)

- Superstars end at IJ centre @ 1430hrs.
- De-brief for Superstars at IJ centre.
- Afternoon tea and wash up at IJ centre .
- Siesta or personal time at IJ centre.
- Spiritual Activity III at IJ centre.

- Dinner at IJ centre.
- Spiritual Activity III continues at IJ centre.
- Supper and wash up
- Lights Out

Day 5 (181207)

- Reville @ 0800hrs, breakfast.
- Spiritual Activity IV at IJ centre.
- Lunch.
- Travel to SFA Church for games.
- Games at SFA Church.
- Travel back to IJ centre for wash up.
- Wash up and pack up.
- Camp de-briefing.
- Travel to SFA Church.
- Evening Mass at SFA Church.
- Dinner with parents and priests/ prize presentation at SFA Church.
- Break camp @ 2100hrs.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Information about the Feast:

A feast called the Conception of Mary arose in the Eastern Church in the seventh century. It came to the West in the eighth century. In the eleventh century it received its present name, the Immaculate Conception. In the eighteenth century it became a feast of the universal Church.

In 1854 Pius IX gave the infallible statement: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin.”

It took a long time for this doctrine to develop. While many Fathers and Doctors of the Church considered Mary the greatest and holiest of the saints, they often had difficulty in seeing Mary as sinless—either at her conception or throughout her life. This is one of the Church teachings that arose more from the piety of the faithful than from the insights of brilliant theologians. Even such champions of Mary as Bernard and Thomas Aquinas could not see theological justification for this teaching.

Two Franciscans, William of Ware and Blessed John Duns Scotus, helped develop the theology. They point out that Mary’s Immaculate Conception enhances Jesus’ redemptive work. Other members of the human race are cleansed from original sin after birth. In Mary, Jesus’ work was so powerful as to prevent original sin at the outset.

Comment:

In Luke 1:28 the angel Gabriel, speaking on God’s behalf, addresses Mary as “full of grace” (or “highly favored”). In that context this phrase means that Mary is receiving all the special divine help necessary for the task ahead. However, the Church grows in understanding with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led the Church, especially non-theologians, to the insight that Mary had to be the most perfect work of God next to the Incarnation. Or rather, Mary’s intimate association with the Incarnation called for the special involvement of God in Mary’s whole life. The logic of piety helped God’s people to believe that Mary was full of grace and free of sin from the first moment of her existence. Moreover, this great privilege of Mary is the highlight of all that God has done in Jesus. Rightly understood, the incomparable holiness of Mary shows forth the incomparable goodness of God.

Quote:

“[Mary] gave to the world the Life that renews all things, and she was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.

“It is no wonder, then, that the usage prevailed among the holy Fathers whereby they called the mother of God entirely holy and free from all stain of sin, fashioned by the Holy Spirit into a kind of new substance and new creature. Adorned from the first instant of her conception with the splendors of an entirely unique holiness, the Virgin of Nazareth is, on God’s command, greeted by an angel messenger as ‘full of grace’ (cf. Luke 1:28). To the heavenly messenger she replies: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word’ (Luke 1:38)” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 56).


Published by Jacob Soo
Credits to American Catholic.org

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Advent

The Church begins a new liturgical year this weekend with the season of Advent. Most of us would probably relate Advent as a countdown to Christmas.

Is Advent merely a ticking timer for us to celebrate Christmas? What is the actual purpose of this season of waiting? Ever wondered what the liturgical year cycle is about?

Read on for more insights......

The Meaning and Purpose of Advent

The season of Advent is one of particular importance. It is a sacred season. As the Holy Spirit says, it is the time of the Lord's favour, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation. The patriarchs and prophets longed and prayed with all their hearts for this time. That just as the man Simeon at long last saw this time and his joy was boundless.


The Church has always kept this season in a special way. So, we too must continue to celebrate it fittingly, giving praise and thanks to the eternal Father for the mercy he has shown us in this mystery of the coming of his Only-begotten Son.

The Father sent His Son out of His immeasurable love for us sinners. He sent him to free us from the tyrannical power of the devil, to invite us to heaven and lead us into its innermost sanctuary. He was sent to show us truth itself, to teach us how we should live, to share with us the source of all goodness, to enrich us with the treasures of his grace. Finally, he was sent to make us sons of the Father and heirs to eternal life.

The Church calls this mystery to mind each year to stir us to renew constantly our memory of the great love God has shown us. This commemoration teaches us that our Saviour came not only for the benefit of the people of his time. His goodness is still there for us to share in. On our part, through faith and the sacraments we must lay hold on the grace he won for us and live by it in obedience to him.

The Church wants us to understand that there are three distinct accents to the liturgy of the Advent season, which are defined by the three comings of the Lord:

Yesterday, at Bethlehem, when the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary;

Today, in our world, where He is ready to come to us again at any minute or hour, to make His home spiritually within us in all His grace;

Tomorrow, when He returns in glory.

Like a devoted mother, keenly concerned for our salvation, the Church uses the rites of this season, its hymns, songs and other promptings of the Holy Spirit to teach us a lesson. She shows us how to receive this great gift of God with thankfulness and how to be enriched by its possession. She teaches us that our hearts should be as prepared now for the coming of Christ our Lord as if he were still to come into the world.

In addition, we can find other meanings in Advent. In the structure of Christianity it can be taken as indicating the deepest level. Christianity is the religion of the coming of God, of his breaking through into human history and life - an aspect which makes it stand out from other religions.

Such is the rich meaning of Advent. From this beginning of the liturgical year, we celebrate the whole panorama of the mystery: from the beginning, when God created heaven and earth, until its fulfillment at the end of time, passing through the times of preparation-through the Scriptures-nearer and nearer to the approaching realization of "today in our world."

The Liturgical Year

The liturgical year sets forth "the whole mystery of Christ from the Incarnation and Nativity to the Ascension, to Pentecost and the expectation of the blessed hope of the coming of the Lord."

Typically, "the liturgical year" calls to mind only the Christian calendar of Sundays and feasts that, instead of beginning on January 1 and ending December 31, begins instead from the first Sunday of Advent to the Saturday at the end of the Thirty-Fourth week of Ordinary Time. This deviation from the common secular calendar does not create a real problem. Christmas is the only date one needs to know in order to determine the date of the first of the four Sundays of Advent. However, this first, superficial picture of a simple, annual schedule of Christian celebrations is not enough to fully appreciate the profound reality of the liturgical year and all it values. We must begin, therefore, with a certain understanding of time.

In pagan religions, historical time is sacred only insofar as particular events reproduce the primordial time of the Gods. In the Bible, there is no history that predates the creation by God of the universe and of humankind. History is sacred because in it is unfolded the plan of God that, after the sin of Adam and Eve, comes the sacred history of redemption.
This sacred history is marked by interventions of God:

- He reveals himself;

- He appeals to the responsibility of men and women that they might choose to enter freely into his plan and turn back to him when they have sinned;

- He guides events toward the fulfillment of his plan of redemption.

This history moves toward an end: the full realization of the desire of God for the salvation of each and every person by the coming of the Messiah, the Saviour.

The liturgical year demands that one enter into its mystical, sacramental perspective. This requires a "full, active, and conscious" participation which, in turn, depends on our progress, and that of the whole Church, towards the Day of the Lord and the full realization of the plan of salvation that God accomplishes in time.

The liturgical year develops, therefore, a spirituality of responsibility, of acting to bring about the reign of God, its peace, justice, and joy in a world that is never without meaning, into our own historical time. It opens the pathways of our creative imagination; enlightened and stimulated by the Word of God.

A Happy and Blessed Christmas in advance to all.


Written by Rev. Fr David Thexeira
Published by Jacob Soo

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Christ the King (C)

This Weekend's readings:

2 Sm 5:1-3

Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5

Col 1:12-20

Lk 23:35-43



Food for thought:

It's the least likely place to find a king: beaten, bloody, dying upon the horrific Roman instrument of crucifixion, in the midst of two common criminals. That's the scene selected by the Church to portray Christ our King, today.

One of the criminals hanging next to Jesus on the cross represents us. Jesus is our king and we want to spend eternity with him in his kingdom. As long as we have this attitude, there is no reason to doubt that when we die we will join Jesus in Paradise.

The scene sums up so much of the Gospel of Luke. At the beginning of Luke's account, Jesus is placed in a manger: another unlikely setting for a king. In his infancy stories, Luke wants us to recall Israel's great King David, and then tells us what true kingship is all about.

As the king of heaven, Jesus has the right and the authority to choose who is allowed into his kingdom. And as this Good Friday thief shows us, Jesus says, "Yes, come in, welcome!" to anyone who recognizes his authority.

With these portraits of our King comes an understanding of the reign of God which he proclaims. That heavenly reign is populated by those who seek it in humility; by the poor and those rejected by society, by those who imitate their crucified King in love, forgiveness and reconciliation, even as he hangs on the cross.

Let's look at what the authority of Jesus is like. At the Last Supper, when he washed the feet of his disciples, he made it clear that the heavenly king exerts his authority by serving those who belong to his kingdom.

The next day, he took a crown of thorns instead of a crown of gold and gems, because the glory of his kingship is not represented by earthly treasures but by riches that are given to others, the personal sacrifices that are motivated by love, even for those who don't deserve it.

After his resurrection, although he'd been healed from the destruction of death, his five crucifixion wounds were not healed. To this day, he still bears those wounds as a continual reminder that he does not use his authority for his own benefit, but for ours. Earthly kings wear expensive rings on their hands; our heavenly king wears the marks of sacrifice.

We know that we belong to God's kingdom because of how lovingly we serve others with Christ. When we understand the glory of giving to others, of making personal sacrifices, and of loving those who don't deserve our love, we are in God's kingdom.

When we offer to Jesus our sufferings because we realize that they have value, we wear the five wounds of Jesus in our souls, and we are in God's kingdom.

We live in a world with a lot less royalty than in past centuries. And yet we still can be tempted by our own brand of royalty and a love for the trappings of wealth and power. The voice of our crucified King, inviting us to Paradise along with the repentant thief, cuts through all that is shallow and cannot truly satisfy. Will we hear it today and be united with him in paradise?


Points for Reflection:
  • Why is a shepherd a good image of King David and of Christ?

  • How are you like the criminal asking Christ to save you?

  • How is Christ like an alternative king and different from an earthly ruler in the first century or now?

  • What would you say to Jesus as he hangs near death, on the cross?
  • Reflect on a time when you submitted yourself to Christ's authority by obeying a difficult teaching of the Church or by doing something Christ-like that you didn't want to do. Did you feel loved by God? Did you feel served?

  • What will you do to become more aware of his service to you?

  • What are you holding onto today that does not belong to his kingdom?

  • What will you do this week to allow Jesus to be your king in every area of your life?

  • Name some of the ways that Jesus serves us. Does he do it more often one-on-one with you or through the people of his kingdom?

  • When you serve others, how is this a recognition of the kingship and authority of Christ?


Words of Wisdom:



“Oh God,” I said and that was all. But what are the prayers of the whole universe more than expressions of that one cry? It is not what God can give us, but God that we want.


~ George MacDonald


The Gospel passage captures the great mystery of how the Son of God, as Saviour of humankind is cruelly mocked and condemned as a criminal. This mystery shows God's infinite mercy and love for us. Ponder on this truth and beg God for the gift of repentance and the grace to renew our love and commitment to him.


~ Rev. Fr Philip Heng , S.J



Published by Jacob Soo

Credits to
American Catholic.org and Good News Ministries

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Reminder !!!

Gethsemaus 07 information session will be held this coming Sunday.

Details can be found here

Friday, November 23, 2007

Why do we worship on Sunday rather than Saturday?

Ever wondered why is there sunset mass when church is supposed to be on Sundays?

Read on for more insights...


Question:

Some of my non catholic friends have a serious problem with the Sunday worship schedule. They say the Bible points to a Saturday Sabbath established by God from the very beginning. I’ve looked into it myself and can find no definitive Biblical change from the Saturday “day of worship” to Sunday. Does any of this matter?

Answer:

Your friends are right. In the story of creation, the day of rest is Saturday. At the end of the work week, we take a day of rest, just as the Lord took a day of rest after creating the universe. Resting reminds us that no matter how important are the things that we might be doing, just as God was able to rest, we too need to rest.

So why the change from Saturday to Sunday? The resurrection! That’s why! Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week; Sunday. For Christians, there is no event that is more important, so we gather on the first day of the week to remember this important event; the resurrection.

The Jewish understanding of a day is from sunset to sunset. Because of this, the Church has allowed us to fulfill our obligation of Sunday Mass by attending church on Saturday evening.

The important thing for us to remember is that Sunday is a day of resting in the Lord. Part of this is going to church, but the whole day is dedicated to the Lord, so Sunday needs to be different. It is time that should be spent with the family and resting.


Written by Rev. Father Patrick Keyes, C.Ss.R (adapted from the Dear Padre :Questions Catholics Ask)

Published by Jacob Soo

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI Q&A session with the youth in Lorento, Italy

Greetings all,

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI had a Q&A session with the youth in Lorento , Italy. During the session, the youths posed questions to the Pope with regards to living the faith today.

Below is the transcript of the Q&A session for any interested people to reflect upon.

Source taken from Zenit



"The Pope Is Close to You, He Shares Your Joys and Your Pain"

Question posed by Piero Tisti and Giovanna Di Mucci:

"Many of us young people in the suburbs do not have a centre, a place or people with whom we can identify. Often we are without a history, a perspective or even a future. It seems that what we really wait for never happens. From this come the experience of solitude and at times, an improper dependence on others. Your Holiness, is there someone or something by means of which we can become important? How is it possible to hope when reality negates every dream of happiness, every project of life?".

Response of the Holy Father:

Thank you for this question and for your very realistic presentation of the situation. It is not always easy to respond concerning the peripheries of this world with great problems and we do not want to live an easy optimism; but on the other hand, we must have the courage to go forward.

I will therefore anticipate the essence of my answer: Yes, there is hope today too; each one of you is important because each is known and desired by God and God has his plan for each one. It is our task to discover and respond to it, so that despite these precarious and marginalized situations, we will be able to put into practice God's plan for us.

However, to go into detail, you have realistically presented to us the situation of a society: in the outskirts it seems hard to move ahead, to change the world for the better. Everything seems concentrated in the great centres of economic and political power, the great bureaucracies dominate, and those in the outskirts truly seem excluded from this life.

Then, one aspect of this situation of marginalization that affects so many people is that the important cells of social life that can also build centres on the fringes are fragmented: the family, which should be the place where generations meet - from great grandfather to grandchild -, should not only be a place where generations meet but also where they learn to live, learn the essential virtues, and this is in danger.

Thus, all the more should we do our utmost to ensure that the family survives, that today too, it is the vital cell, the centre in the periphery.

Therefore, the parish, the living cell of the Church, must also really be a place of inspiration, life and solidarity which helps people build together centres in the periphery. And I must say here, there is often talk about the Church in the suburbs and in the centre, which would be Rome, but in fact in the Church there are no suburbs because where Christ is, the whole centre is there.

Wherever the Eucharist is celebrated, wherever the Tabernacle stands, there is Christ; hence, there is the centre and we must do all we can to ensure that these living centres are effective, present and truly a force that counters this marginalization.

The living Church, the Church of the little communities, the parish Church, the movements, must form as many centres in the outskirts and thus help to overcome the difficulties that the leading politics obviously cannot manage to resolve, and at the same time, we must also think that despite the great focuses of power, contemporary society itself is in need of solidarity, of a sense of lawfulness, of the initiative and creativity of all.

I know that this is easier said than done, but I see here people who are working to increase the number of centres in the peripheries, to increase hope, and thus it seems to me that we should take up the initiative. The Church must be present precisely in the suburbs; Christ must be present, the centre of the world must be present.

We have seen and we see today in the Gospel that for God there are no peripheries. In the vast context of the Roman Empire, the Holy Land was situated on the fringe; Nazareth was on the margins, an unknown town. Yet that very situation was, de facto, to become the centre that changed the world!

And thus, we must form centres of faith, hope, love and solidarity, centres of a sense of justice and lawfulness and of cooperation. Only in this way will modern society be able to survive. It needs this courage, it needs to create centres even if, obviously, hope does not seem to exist. We must counter this desperation, we must collaborate with great solidarity in doing our best to increase hope, so that men and women may collaborate and live.

The world -- we see it -- must be changed, but it is precisely the mission of young people to change it! We cannot change it with our own strength alone but in communion of faith and in journeying on together. In communion with Mary, with all the Saints, in communion with Christ, we can do something essential, and I encourage you and invite you to trust in Christ, to trust in God.

Being in the great company of the Saints and moving forward with them can change the world, creating centres in the outskirts, so that the company of Saints may truly become visible and thus the hope of all may become realistic, and every one may say: "I am important in the totality of history. The Lord will help us". Thank you.

Question posed by Sara Simonetta :

"I believe in the God who has touched my heart, but I have many insecurities, questions and fears that I carry within. It is not easy to speak about God with my friends; many of them see the Church as a reality that judges youth, that opposes their desire for happiness and love. Faced with this refusal, I feel all of my solitude as human and I want to feel near God. Your Holiness, in this silence, where is God?".

Response of the Holy Father:

Yes, even though we are believers, we all know God's silence. In the Psalm we have just recited, there is this almost despairing cry: "Make haste to answer me, O Lord... Do not hide your face!", and a little while ago a book of the spiritual experiences of Mother Teresa was published and what we already all knew was a little more clearly shown: with all her charity and the power of her faith, Mother Teresa suffered from God's silence.

On the one hand, we must also bear God's silence in order to understand our brothers who do not know God.

On the other, with the Psalm we can always cry to God once again: "Answer us, show your face!".

And without a doubt, in our life, if our hearts are open, we can find the important moments when God's presence really becomes tangible even for us.

I now remember a little story that John Paul II told at the Spiritual Exercises he preached in the Vatican when he was not yet Pope. He recounted that after the war he was visited by a Russian official who was a scientist and who said to him as a scientist: "I am certain that God does not exist. Yet, if I am in the mountains, surrounded by his majestic beauty, by his grandeur, I am equally sure that the Creator does exist and that God exists".

The beauty of creation is one of the sources where we can truly touch God's beauty, we can see that the Creator exists and is good, which is true as Sacred Scripture says in the Creation Narrative, that is, that God conceived of this world and made it with his heart, his will and his reason, and he found it good.

We too must be good in order to have an open heart and to perceive God's true presence.

Then, hearing the Word of God in the solemn liturgical celebrations, in celebrations of faith, in the great music of faith, we feel this presence. I remember at this moment another little story which a Bishop on his ad limina visit told me a little while ago.

There was a very intelligent woman who was not a Christian. She began to listen to the great music of Bach, Handel and Mozart. She was fascinated and said one day: "I must find the source of this beauty", and the woman converted to Christianity, to the Catholic faith, because she had discovered that this beauty has a source, and the source is the presence of Christ in hearts, it is the revelation of Christ in this world.

Hence, great feasts of faith, of liturgical celebration, but also personal dialogue with Christ: he does not always respond, but there are times when he really responds. Then there is the friendship, the company of faith.

Now, gathered here in Loreto, we see that faith unites, friendship creates a company of travelling companions. And we sense that all this does not derive from nothing but truly has a source, that the silent God is also a God who speaks, that he reveals himself and above all, that we ourselves can be witnesses of his presence, and from our faith a light truly shines also for others.

Thus, I would say on the one hand, we must accept that God is silent in this world, but we must not be deaf to his words or blind to his appearance on so many occasions. We see the Lord's presence, especially in creation, in the beautiful liturgy, in friendship within the Church, and full of his presence, we can also give light to others.

Thus, I come to the second part, or rather, the first part of your question: it is difficult to speak to friends today about God and perhaps even more difficult to talk about the Church, because they see in God only the limit of our freedom, a God of commandments, of prohibitions, and the Church as an institution that limits our freedom, that imposes prohibitions upon us.

Nonetheless, we must try to make the living Church visible to them, not this idea of a centre of power in the Church with these labels, but the community of companions where, in spite of all life's problems that exist for everyone, is born our joy of living.

Here, a third memory springs to mind. I was in Brazil, in Fazenda da Esperança, this great community where drug addicts are treated and rediscover hope, the joy of living in this world; and they witnessed what the actual discovery that God exists meant for their recovery from despair.

They thus understood that their life has meaning and they rediscovered the joy of being in this world, the joy of facing the problems of human life.

Therefore, in every human heart, despite all the problems that exist, is a thirst for God, and when God disappears, the sun that gives light and joy also disappears.

This thirst for the infinite that is in our hearts is also demonstrated even in the reality of drugs: the human being wants to extend the quality of life, to have more than life, to have the infinite, but drugs are a lie, they are a fraud, because they do not extend life but destroy it.

The great thirst that speaks to us of God and sets us on the path that leads to him is true, but we must help one another. Christ came to create a network of communion in the world, where all together we might carry one another, and thus help one another together to find the ways that lead to life and to understand that the Commandments of God are not limits to our freedom but the paths that guide us to the other, toward the fullness of life.

Let us pray to the Lord to help us understand his presence, to be full of his Revelation, his joy, to help one another to go forward in the company of faith and with Christ to increasingly find the true Face of God, and hence, true life.


Published by Jacob Soo

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Masturbation

Hello all,

With our Gethsemaus 07 camp drawing near, one of the topics which will be discussed is that of sexuality.


In the context of sexuality, the topic of masturbation will definitely be discussed at some point. This subject would definitely be intriguing for the youths as many of them would most probably be at adolescent stage now whereby the human sexuality senses are awaken.


We might have read or heard the many medical or psychological explanations with regards to masturbation. What then, is the Church teachings in this area? Is it viewed as a mortal sin or venial sin? Could it prevent us from getting into heaven?


Read on for a brief insight into this subject...


What the Church teaches about masturbation

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an act of masturbation in itself is serious matter for sin.

The teaching authority of the Church in the 1992 Catechism of the Catholic Church says masturbation is an “intrinsically and gravely disordered action.”

The Catechism states, “‘The deliberate use of the sexual faculty for whatever reason outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.’ For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of ‘the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved’” (#2352).

Whatever the motive, solitary sex in itself contradicts the meaning of human sexuality, which is meant by God to be shared between a man and a woman in marriage.

Using one’s sexual powers outside of intercourse within marriage is disordered. It is self-love rather than love for a spouse and the fruit of married love.

Is masturbation then is viewed as a mortal or venial sin?

For a sin to be mortal, it requires two other elements. They are sufficient freedom (willfulness and consent) and knowledge or awareness. It is not always easy to judge how much freedom and consent—or awareness—are present in an act.

What it means basically is for it to be mortal sin, it would have to be done deliberately, knowing that it is not what God wishes for us and without any regard for that.

In order to judge the morality of a human act, certain conditions have to be considered.

How much sense of sin does this sinner have? Has anger or passion of another sort blotted out reason or swept the person away? How much obsession or compulsion has been present in an act of masturbation, how much ability to resist?

The Church recognizes, for example, that in the practice of masturbation, psychological factors including adolescent immaturity, lack of psychological balance, and even ingrained habit can influence a person’s behavior, and this could lessen or even eliminate moral responsibility.

Sometimes, even a confessor (i.e. a priest) will have much difficulty evaluating those things. Sometimes the individual himself or herself will be asking whether he or she fully intended such an act, acted with full freedom.

A condition that many persons claim for their innocence regarding masturbation is habit, and it certainly known that difficult habits are to break. It must keep in mind; however, that habit does not completely destroy the voluntary nature of our acts.

As Christians who are going to be held accountable for our actions, one must strive to unite ourselves to the Lord and, therefore, do all one can to curb or eliminate all habits that detach us from Him. As with any sin, he or she needs to struggle and attempt to resist the temptation. Hence, a person may not simply proceed to self-stimulate, saying it is compulsive or a habit that is hard to break.

Hence, if a person is masturbating and knows fully that it is wrong, and does it willingly without doing anything to resist, then he or she is guilty of grave sin.

Could it prevent us from getting into heaven?

Theologians and psychologists may differ about how compulsive an action may have been. In such cases a person should confess the act and circumstances to a confessor (i.e. a priest) and put them in God’s hands and to God’s mercy.

After listening to all of the circumstances and conditions surrounding an individual’s actions, the confessor will make a judgment and give the proper guidance.

Sometimes, professional help will have to be sought. But caution will have to be exercised with this because some professionals will actually encourage masturbation, and this would be wrong.

God knows that we will sometimes fail, but He does expect us to do our best to live according to His ways. He knows when we have done all we can to resist sin. If we have done that and have acknowledged and confessed our sin, then we can rest in the knowledge that we have done our best, and that He will forgive us.


Cleared for publication by Rev Fr. David Thexeira
Published by Jacob Soo

Feast of the Presentation of Mary

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in. Here are some reflections for any interested people to meditate upon.

Today's Readings:

2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31
Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8b, 15
Luke 19:11-28
http://www.usccb.org/nab/112107.shtml

History of the Feast:

Mary’s presentation was celebrated in Jerusalem in the sixth century. A church was built there in honor of this mystery. The Eastern Church was more interested in the feast, but it does appear in the West in the 11th century. Although the feast at times disappeared from the calendar, in the 16th century it became a feast of the universal Church.

As with Mary’s birth, we read of Mary’s presentation in the temple only in apocryphal literature. In what is recognized as an unhistorical account, the Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was three years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless.

Though it cannot be proven historically, Mary’s presentation has an important theological purpose. It continues the impact of the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and of the birth of Mary. It emphasizes that the holiness conferred on Mary from the beginning of her life on earth continued through her early childhood and beyond.

Comment:

It is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to appreciate a feast like this. The Eastern Church, however, was quite open to this feast and even somewhat insistent about celebrating it. Even though the feast has no basis in history, it stresses an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God. She herself became a greater temple than any made by hands. God came to dwell in her in a marvelous manner and sanctified her for her unique role in God's saving work. At the same time, the magnificence of Mary redounds upon her children. They, too, are temples of God and sanctified in order that they might enjoy and share in God's saving work.

Quote:

"Hail, holy throne of God, divine sanctuary, house of glory, jewel most fair, chosen treasure house, and mercy seat for the whole world, heaven showing forth the glory of God. Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise, sanctuary dedicated to God and raised above all human condition, virgin soil, unplowed field, flourishing vine, fountain pouring out waters, virgin bearing a child, mother without knowing man, hidden treasure of innocence, ornament of sanctity, by your most acceptable prayers, strong with the authority of motherhood, to our Lord and God, Creator of all, your Son who was born of you without a father, steer the ship of the Church and bring it to a quiet harbor" (adapted from a homily by St. Germanus on the Presentation of the Mother of God).

Food for Thought:

Use it or lose it

Ancient and sacred Christian tradition recalls that the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary dedicated her to the service of God when she was three years old. In the temple, she joined other girls in prayer, reading the scriptures, and assisting the temple priests. Because Mary's holiness was very evident and her desire to serve so pure, the priest in charge of her believed that God had great plans for her.

God has great plans for all of us — yes, even you! Since Jesus ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to earth, God ministers to the world through us, first in our homes, then extending his love into our parishes and work-places and play-places. Today's Gospel reading reminds us how very important it is to use, to the best of our ability for the benefit of his kingdom, every gift that God has given to us, every talent he created us to have, every bit of time we've got and every breath that we breathe, our financial resources, and every unique facet of our personalities. It should all be offered for the glory of God. What we don't use for God's purposes, we eventually lose — maybe in the near future, but definitely when we die.

Ministry is nothing more and nothing less than putting to good use whatever we have gained from experiences, training, hardships, and blessings of the Lord. That means we're doing ministry when we benefit others in any way. We should never separate the activities of daily life from ministry. Even scrubbing your kitchen floor, when offered to God as a gift for those who will walk on that floor, is a ministry. Oh, except when it's an excuse to avoid a more important mission. When we do "good" while hiding other talents that could be used for a greater good, we're no better than the wicked servant who stored the gold coin in a handkerchief.

Our talents and abilities come from God, because we're made in his image. When we place ourselves at the service of others to help Christ in his work and ministry today, he shares with us his talents and his abilities, even the supernatural ones when necessary.

God has invested in you. Now it's your turn. Invest what he's given to you, not with mediocrity but with full effort in a spirit of success. Watch how he multiplies the investment into great profit, great goodness, and even great healing.

Where you've failed in the past to invest what God's given to you, look again at Jesus and see the hand that will gladly share from his abundance. He will give you another opportunity to use your gifts. And for the good you've already been doing, God is saying: "Well done, good servant! You have been faithful in this small matter; I am going to do even more good through you."

Words of Wisdom:

"Let not your heart be disturbed.
Do not fear that sickness nor any other sickness or anguish
Am I not here, Who is your Mother?"

~ Our Lady to Juan Diego at Guadalupe


Published by Jacob Soo
Credits to American Catholic.org and Good News Ministries



Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Talk on Advent and Christmas

Greetings everyone!

The parish has invited Father Ignatius Huan from the St. Francis Xavier Seminary to give 2 talks centered on the topic of Advent and Christmas.

Details are as follows:

Day / Date

Friday, 23/11/2007 and 30/11/2007

Time

2000hrs to 2200hrs

Venue

Church of St. Francis of Assisi

Cost

Free of charge!

The talks are open for all to attend. It is hoped that everyone will make an effort to come and attend the talks.

Let us do something beneficial for our faith this coming holiday season. How many of us actually know the purpose and meaning of Advent?

Christmas in the world today has become too commercialised. The treasures and festive lights of the secular world are not eternal and will fade one day.

May God the Almighty, open our senses to appreciate the true treasures and hold the light of Christ in our hearts; a light that will never be extinguished.


_____________________________________________


"As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down." ~ Luke 6:21

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ Matthew 6:19-21


"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." ~ John 8:12


Published by Jacob Soo

Gethsemaus 07 -- Information Session

Greetings all!

There will be an information session for the parents/adult participants of the participants of Gethsemaus 07 camp.

The details are as follows:

Day/Date

Sunday, 25th November 2007


Time

1200hrs to 1330hrs


Location

Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Peter's Room @ level 4 of the Parish Community Building (the building where the canteen is located).


Who needs to attend

Parents whose participating child's age is below 21 years. (Regardless Altar Server or Non-Server)

Adult Participants (Participants aged 21 years and above will fall into this category)



Adult participants will not require any parental presence for the session.

During the session, the camp organisers will be releasing details of our camp (i.e. confirmed dates/times, venue, itinerary details and etc). Time will also be allocated for parents/adult participants to clarify any doubts that might exist.

It is important that parents/adult participants attend this session as the administration for the camp (i.e. signing of consent forms, deposit payments and etc) will be done during this session.

Should any parents/adult participant be unable to attend the information session, please drop us an email or contact Jeremy Lee @ 9792 3067 to arrange for a camp prospectus to be delivered.


Published by Jacob Soo

Monday, November 19, 2007

New Blog Feature

Greetings all,

The administrators have added a new feature in this blog.

Under the section "Coming up on our calendar", viewers will be able to see the Ministry's Calendar of Events. Clicking on the events will bring up a calendar which will show more details.

We hope this feature will be useful to our fellow servers and their parents in keeping updated with our activities.


Published by Jacob Soo

November 2007 Special Masses / Services Roster

The Special Masses / Services Roster for the month of November will be not be published online as the events in the roster have since lapsed.

November 2007 St. Joseph's Home Roster

This roster is effective from Monday, 5/11/2007 to Sunday, 02/12/2007.

St. Joseph's Home Morning Mass

  • Duty Server is to be ready with the necessary serving items by 0830hrs in the lounge.
  • Backup Server is to be physically on standby in the lounge at 0830hrs.
  • Duty Server should inform the Backup Server if he knows in advance that he is unable to fulfill this roster duty for that particular slot.
  • Any changes made to this roster must be authorized by the Mass Leader and the Vice-President kept informed.
Mass Leader is Stefan Jude

1st Sunday (11/11/2007): Kenneth Koh (Main), Gabriel Lim (Backup)

2nd Sunday (18/11/2007): Glenn De Cruz (Main), Terrence Giam (Backup)

3rd Sunday (25/11/2007): Douglas Lim (Main), Stanley Joseph (Backup)

4th Sunday (02/12/2007): Jacob Soo (Main), Stefan Jude (Backup)


Any clarifications can be directed to the Vice-President.

Published by Jacob Soo (Vice-President)

November 2007 Weekday Mass Roster

This roster is effective from Monday, 5/11/2007 to Sunday, 02/12/2007.

Weekday Evening Mass
  • Duty Server is to be ready with the necessary serving items by 1820hrs in the lounge.
  • Duty Server should arrange for a replacement Server in an event whereby he is unable to fulfill his roster duty for that particular day.
  • The Mass Leader for weekday mass is any Duty Server for that particular day.
  • Any changes made to this roster must be authorized by the Vice-President.

Mass Leader is the duty server of the day:

Monday: Andrew Tan

Tuesday: Andrew Tan

Wednesday: Glenn De Cruz, Carl Anthony

Thursday: Stanley Joseph, Divian Jeremy


Friday: Colin Bolton


Any clarifications can be directed to the Vice-President.


Published by Jacob Soo (Vice-President)

November 2007 Weekend Masses and Novena Roster

This roster is effective from Monday, 5/11/2007 to Sunday, 02/12/2007.

Saturday Sunset Mass (1830hrs):

Gabriel Lim

Gerard E.

Majellan E.

Michael Angelo

Glenn De Cruz (ML)

Carl Anthony (AML)








Sunday Masses:

0730hrs:

Carl Anthony

Glenn De Cruz

Kenneth Koh

Shaun Tan

Simon Chye

Andrew Tan (ML)

Colin Bolton (AML)







0900hrs:

Gabriel Lim

Douglas Lim

Kenneath Tan

Terrence Giam

Terence Tay

Stefan Jude (ML)

Stanley Joseph (AML)




1030hrs:

Cass Ng

Clement Bey

Divian Jeremy

Jethro Gee

Michael Angelo

Patrick Paul

Vincent Leslie

Jeremy Lee (ML)

Jacob Soo (AML)






Saturday Novena Service (1745hrs):

1st Week (10/11/2007 | 17/11/2007)

1830hrs

0730hrs

0900hrs

1030hrs

Glenn De Cruz

Andrew Tan

Gabriel Lim

Patrick Paul


2nd Week ( 24/11/2007 | 01/12/2007)

1830hrs

0730hrs

0900hrs

1030hrs

Gerard E.

Colin Bolton

Stanley Joseph

Jethro Gee


Legend:

ML (Mass Leader)

AML (Assistant Mass Leader)


Any clarifications can be directed to the Vice-President.

Published by Jacob Soo (Vice-President)

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Reflections

Some wise words said by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the youth during his visit to Brazil. Hopefully anyone who reads this will take some time and reflect upon it; especially the youth!

“My appeal to you today, young people . . . is this: do not waste
your youth. Do not seek to escape from it. Live it intensely. . . .
You, young people, are not just the future of the Church and of
humanity, as if we could somehow run away from the present. . . .
The Church needs you, as young people, to manifest to the world
the face of Jesus Christ, visible in the Christian community.
Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured.”

~ Pope Benedict XVI to Youth in Brazil

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Announcement

Due to misuse of the tag board feature in this blog, the administrators have decided that it is in everyone's best interest that this feature be no longer available.

The administrators condemn the action of misuse that has occurred in the tag board.

Hence, the tag board in this blog will cease its operations with immediate effect.

The administrators would like to urge all users to exercise prudence and wisdom while using the Internet. Let us not just call ourselves Christians only in name but show it in our thoughts, words and deeds.

May the Holy Spirit through the generosity of God the Almighty, guide all users and enable us to be his useful instruments in making his Gospel known.

_____________________________________________

"Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." ~ Psalm 34:13

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." ~ 1 John 3:18

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." ~ Matthew 12:36-37

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Gethsemaus 07 - Details Update

Greetings all!

Please note that there is an update on our camp details. The camp timing has been removed until further notice. This is due to some changes in our camp itinerary.

We will require some time to confirm our new itinerary before we can release the new official timings of our camp.

Until then, the timing for our camp is officially "to be confirmed".

Here's the link to see the updated camp details (click here)

Published by Jacob Soo

Friday, November 9, 2007

Dedication of St. John Lateran (Dedication of Lateran Basilica)

Today is the Feast of the Dedication of Lateran Basilica in Rome. Here are some reflections for any interested people to meditate upon.


Readings of the Day:

Ezek 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9
1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
John 2:13-22
http://www.usccb.org/nab/110907.shtml

History of the Feast:

Most Catholics think of St. Peter’s as the pope’s main church, but they are wrong. St. John Lateran is the pope’s church, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides.

The first basilica on the site was built in the fourth century when Constantine donated land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family. That structure and its successors suffered fire, earthquake and the ravages of war, but the Lateran remained the church where popes were consecrated until the popes returned from Avignon in the 14th century to find the church and the adjoining palace in ruins.

Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646. One of Rome’s most imposing churches, the Lateran’s towering facade is crowned with 15 colossal statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and 12 doctors of the Church. Beneath its high altar rest the remains of the small wooden table on which tradition holds St. Peter himself celebrated Mass.

Comment:

Unlike the commemorations of other Roman churches (St. Mary Major, Sts. Peter and Paul), this anniversary is a feast. The dedication of a church is a feast for all its parishioners. St. John Lateran is, in a sense, the parish church of all Catholics, for it is the pope's parish, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome. This church is the spiritual home of the people who are the Church.

Quote:

"What was done here, as these walls were rising, is reproduced when we bring together those who believe in Christ. For, by believing they are hewn out, as it were, from mountains and forests, like stones and timber; but by catechizing, baptism and instruction they are, as it were, shaped, squared and planed by the hands of the workers and artisans. Nevertheless, they do not make a house for the Lord until they are fitted together through love" (St. Augustine, Sermon 36).

Food for Thought:

The heart of the temple

You are God's building, says today's second reading, because Jesus Christ is your foundation. However, when we build our daily life upon this foundation without the bricks and tools that are from God, our faith cracks, weakens, and even collapses.

You are God's temple, because the Holy Spirit dwells in you. In the Old Testament days, the temple was made of stone and mortar, and people visited it on pilgrimages. God's Spirit dwelled in the heart of this structure, a room called the holy of holies into which no human could enter except the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement when a blood offering was made for the sins of the people.

Jesus became the High Priest and transformed the Day of Atonement into Good Friday (he speaks of this in today's Gospel reading) and because the Holy Spirit dwelled perfectly and completely in the human temple of his body, we who are now the Body of Christ on earth are also temples of the Holy Spirit. But the door to the holy of holies within our hearts is not always open. When we close our hearts to others, we deny them the opportunity to experience the Holy Spirit working through us.

In the first reading, we see that much good comes from God's temple. Since we are temples of the Holy Spirit, goodness flows out into the world from God through us. Water in Ezekiel's vision represents the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life. Look at what happens when the Holy Spirit flows outward from our hearts: Instead tasting like salty water that kills those who try to drink it, we do good deeds that bring nourishment and life to others.

To be life-giving, we must first nourish our own hearts by soaking up the refreshing waters of the Holy Spirit. Desiring to be holy and wanting to do good is not enough. It's easy to fall back into the old reactions and limitations of our sinful human nature. We're weak and we quickly succumb to the temptations of worldly, unholy ways of dealing with stress and difficulties and relationships. Holiness requires great effort — more effort than we can muster by ourselves

We soak up the life of the Spirit whenever we purify our hearts by receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, and by repenting of our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and then by additionally taking time to pray and to listen for his quiet voice within. God's Spirit refreshes us when we read and reflect on scripture, discuss our problems with faith-filled companions, or take action in the ministry of Christ.

As human temples built on Christ, we rely upon and give to others what the Holy Spirit gives to us. By imitating Jesus in ministering to the people around us, we build our lives with bricks and mortar that will last forever.

Published by Jacob Soo
Credits to American Catholic.org and Good News Ministries