COMMUNICARE VOL.4 by Matthew Kang

JAN - JUN 2017 / VOL. 4

www.splendourproject.com

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR PILGRIMAGE TO SOUTH KOREA! pg40

A Splendour Project Newsletter COMMUNICARE (pronounced “communi-car-ray”) is a digital publication for the friends of The Splendour Project. All rights reserved. EXECUTIVE EDITOR Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs CREATIVE DIRECTOR Matthew Kang EDITOR Jennifer Chong THE SPLENDOUR PROJECT We are a community of friends – clergy and laity – responding to the call of the Holy Catholic Church for a New Evangelisation through the proclamation of Truth, Beauty and Goodness. Convened by the Rev. Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS in 2012, we came together to string together a series of apostolate activities to effectively transmit the Holy Gospel as proclaimed by the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. We transmit the Gospel and the teachings of the Church through live conferences and formation events, publication and distribution of formation resources and formation-based pilgrimages organised to various sacred sites around the world. CONNECT www.splendourproject.com www.facebook.com/splendourproject www.youtube.com/splendourproject twitter.com/splendourproject PUBLISHED BY

CONTACT (+6)016-443 2783 admin@splendourproject.com 2 | Communicare

All the good stuff! COMMUNITY 04 FRESH FOLKS Meet our newest collaborators! Seems like we can’t stop expanding! MEDIA 08 REDEFINING MEDIA All the new goodies we have to offer. While stocks last! 18 WEBSITE REVAMP Have you seen our new website?! We promise you’ll be surprised! 24 SPLENDOUR SPEAKS Featuring our new video series to help you understand your faith better! EVENTS 28 HAPPENINGS What have we been up to since the beginning of 2017? All here. 32 THE CHRISTIAN TRUTH Is Jesus Christ the Son of God? Read about the captivating session! 34 DIALOGUE OF SALVATION Sessions done in Johor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur and even Brunei! 36 THEOLOGY OF THE BODY Our formator Raymond deals with the youth on this one! 38 FUTURE EVENTS Catch us on the next half of the year! PILGRIMAGES 40 A STORY OF VICTORY Annyeong haseyo! A pilgrimage to Korea? Find out why! 58 UPCOMING TRIPS Be part of our life-changing trips. The most basic info here.

Have something nice to say to us? Write in to us now! admin@splendourproject.com Communicare | 3

SPLENDOUR TEAM

Hello! MEET THE FRESHEST FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY

We are a team of diversified talents that tightly harmonise as a whole - an ever-expanding family of theologians, missionaries, media communicators, intercessors and liaison officers. We are ordinary people who have dedicated our lives to spreading the Joy of the Gospel more effectively. Introducing the fresh faces of the team from around the region!

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Denis Tsen

SPLENDOUR TEAM

SPEAKER

denis@splendourproject.com Mr Denis Tsen is a Senior Tax Consultant by profession, but first of all, a fervent Catholic who loves his faith. Specialising in Apologetics, he helps young people to make logical sense of the Catholic faith. He expounds the teachings of the Church by demonstrating the compatibility of faith and reason. He also strives to help young people to reflect on their faith in a deeper way beyond mere superficial emotion or sensationalism. Denis holds a bachelors degree in Accounting from Swinburne University (Australia) and resides in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Jennifer Chong CREATIVE ASSISTANT jennifer@splendourproject.com

Miss Jennifer Chong is a chemical engineer by training, but outside of her professional life, she demonstrates a strong inclination in the artistic field. She is inclined to music and language. Being someone who writes well and creatively, she is a member of our media team and serves in the area of newscasting and editing, besides other aspects. But more than that, she also plays the piano and sings very well. Jennifer holds a masters degree (Hons) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sheffield, UK. She resides in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Audrey Yu

LIAISON OFFICER (KUCHING) audrey@splendourproject.com

Miss Audrey Yu works as a media assistant for the social communications office of the Archdiocese of Kuching in Sarawak, where she is responsible for the publication of the Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Catholic paper. She is a Secular Carmelite and is currently also doing a formal course of study on Carmelite Spirituality. Audrey graduated from the University of Malaysia of Sarawak (UNIMAS) with a bachelors degree in Environmental Sciences and Management. She serves with the Splendour Project as our Liaison Officer in Kuching.

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SPLENDOUR TEAM

Felicity Chan

LIAISON OFFICER (BRUNEI) felicity@splendourproject.com

Felicity Chan serves on the Splendour Project as our Liaison Officer in Brunei. Her tertiary training was in the field of Business Computing, and she works as Assistant Manager in the Enterprise Programmes Department of Darussalam Enterprise (DARe). Being committed to her faith and parish life, Fel assists the Splendour Project in our work among the Catholics in Brunei.

Martin & Rose Kang LIAISON OFFICERS (PENANG) martin.rose@splendourproject.com

Martin and Rose collaborate with the Splendour Project as our Liaison Officers based in Penang Island. They are both very active parishioners especially in the areas of marriage and family. They are both equally gifted in coordinating events and as new grandparents. Martin has retired from the workforce but Rose works as a Logistics Manager corporately. When not working, they devote their free time to prayer, church activities and family.

“Jesus doesn’t ask you to be successful but he says be fruitful.” - Henri Nouwen

Do visit our website at www.splendourproject.com to get to know the other awesome folks !

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NOTICE ON FORMATION MATERIALS

With effect from May 2017, Splendour Project acts as publisher and sole distributor of our own formation materials. For enquiries on our materials, please contact us directly: T: (+6)016.443.2783 (Matthew) E: admin@splendourproject.com W: www.splendourproject.com Bulk purchases will be given very significant discounts. Contact us for more information.

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Exploring OTHER MEDIA

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LATEST MEDIA

We produce our own media. Learning about your faith can come in many forms and our objective is to reach people through various forms of media. So far weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve produced media in the form of CDs, DVDs and in print publications. You can now purchase these formation materials right off from our website www. splendourproject.com. However, The Splendour Project also recognises that media need not necessarily be something of electronic format. Ancient forms of media such as icons, rosaries, prayer ropes, and the likes, continue to be central to the Catholic faith and can be of great catechetical value. During our travels, we often collect such unique items from around the world to be made available to people at our events. Now we are making them available to you.

From olive wood rosaries made in the Holy Land to tapestry icons made in Italy and hand-knotted rosaries by prison inmates, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been fans of these potential sacramentals since we laid eyes on them. Not only do they excite your faith and come in handy as items of prayer and contemplation, the proceeds from the sales of these items are also for a good cause. Purchasing is simple. You can make your orders at our website at www.splendourproject.com or just contact us at C: (+6)016-4432783 E: admin@splendourproject.com

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LATEST MEDIA > 1. The Nativity 2. Christ Pantokrator 3. The Annunciation 4. The Holy Trinity 5. Divine Mercy 6. The Resurrection (Anastasis) 7. The Crucifixion 8. Sacred Heart of Jesus 9. The Holy Family

ICON TAPESTRY Icons are often called â&#x20AC;&#x153;windows to heavenâ&#x20AC;? because they offer us a glimpse of what awaits us in eternity with Christ. With art inspired by Eastern Christians, these images help us to reflect deeper as we gaze upon the holy figures represented in the icons. These tapestry icons are originally from Rome and scenes available are classics including The Annunciation, The Holy Family, and Divine Mercy, to name a few. We recommend that these fragile tapestry artworks be displayed in a frame. MYR380 per piece

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HAND-KNOTTED FABRIC ROSARY The rosary is developed from the tradition of prayer ropes from the Eastern Christian habit. Prayer ropes had beads tied in knots with a tassel at the end of the cross and were used to count the number of times one has prayed the Jesus Prayer. Much like this tradition, these rosaries are handknotted by prison inmates from the Philippines. Available in 6 different colours, proceeds are in aid of the prison inmates. RM50 per piece 12 | Communicare

LATEST MEDIA

< 1. 2. 3. 4.

Blueberry muffin Green tea cake Chocolate cookie Butterscotch bread

Across the page - Red velvet cupcake Communicare | 13

LATEST MEDIA

TRANSCENDENTAL WRISTBANDS In our aim to be holy Christians, we need to live a life of dialogue with the people around us. Dialogue always requires a conversation, an exchange of ideas, and exchange of responses. To truly reflect Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love, our responses need to be transcendental â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that of truth, beauty and goodness. These transcendental wristbands help remind us to incorporate these values in our thoughts and actions in our everyday lives. Bright and earthy colours available. RM5 per piece

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For a complete catalogue of all our available media, visit our website at www.splendourproject.com

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OLIVE WOOD ROSARY Olive-wood is simple in its appearance but significant in Sacred Scripture from the Old Testament through the Gospels. It became a symbol of peace when the dove brought the olive branch to Noah, and is the wood used to make the cross of crucifixion for Jesus. â&#x20AC;&#x2039; ream-brown in colour with C unique grain patterns and moderate natural luster, olive-wood is also known for its high quality of durability and endurance. These wooden bead rosaries are crafted from olive tree originally from the Holy Land itself. Proceeds are in aid of persecuted Palestinian Christian families. RM25 per piece Communicare | 17

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WWW

PRESENTING OUR NEWLY DESIGNED WEBSITE

www.splendourproject.com

Our team is dedicated to constant improvement and aim to put ourselves through a rigorous vetting process, polishing and streamlining our skills that we may never tire in spreading the Joy of the Gospel. In light of this vision, one of our recent

projects was the revamping of our website. Aside from the fresh look and a more user-friendly interface, some of the content was retained and new content like the blog has been added. Read on to see what our new website has to offer!

ome n s for ips o r ove ing t ! p i l F uver ite s b e ne ma our w

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LATEST UPDATE

VISITING OUR WEBSITE ON YOUR COMPUTER Just hover your mouse over the tabs so you can toggle between tabs to check out what you are interested to see further. Whether it is the home page to get to know the team members or the pilgrimages page to see our itinerary, we’ve got them all centralised. It’s that easy!

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LATEST UPDATE

Compact menu on mobile devices

x Just click on the three lines to re veal the menu!

VISITING OUR WEBSITE ON MOBILE DEVICES You can expand the menu like the tabs if you are on your computer. Just click on the three lines like in the image above! Depending on your mobile device, you may need to pinch out to maximise the menu button. Enjoy exploring the website!

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LATEST UPDATE

CATALOGUE

OUR STORY

Read about the transcendentals of truth, beauty and goodness that we strive for in all our works. Also, how our recent popes have drawn our attention towards these virtues in calling for a New Evangelisation. We also included the story on how the Splendour Team came about. OUR VALUES

Discover the values that we share that brought us together to share the Gospel of Jesus. These values guide us in various aspects of our lives including in community, communion, collaboration, competence, communication, continuity, and creativity. OUR COMMUNITY

Get to know the people who make the team! We consist of clerics and laity who are deeply committed to the mission of the Church and in her evangelising works. You might even be surprised at some details - like the various fields of University Degrees the different team members hold. 22 | Communicare

We produce various catechetical materials including audio CDs, DVDs, and print publications. We also have other forms of media central to the Catholic faith collected from around the world. These include olive wood rosaries made in the Holy Land, tapestry icons made in Italy and handknotted rosaries by prison inmates. Head on over to check out our catalogue! PRODUCTION

Check out the Splendour Speaks series by our in-house speakers engaging on discourse with topics like Theology of the Body, The Assumption of Mary and many more. Clips in English, Bahasa Malaysia, and Mandarin are available. We also collaborate with people from various ministries, apostolates and parishes to produce videos that display the splendour of the Catholic faith in our daily lives. We are inspired by the lives of these people and are excited to share them with you. DOWNLOADS

Visit our current and past Communicare newsletter issues here!

PILGRIMAGES

Detailed information on the respective pilgrimages and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions are found here. Being the only formation-based pilgrimage in Malaysia, we aim to help pilgrims optimise the benefits they are supposed to receive through being administered sacraments by a priest and given daily systematic faith formation by Deacon Sherman Kuek.

LATEST UPDATE

the to catch t e g r fo â&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blog! Also, don d on our e t s o p s w latest ne

EVENTS

Check out where we would be around the region for the year here. Bookmark the dates and we will see you there! FAITH FAQs

Got questions about our Faith? Pop by to see if your questions are here. We have carefully searched for reliable sources to answer these questions. Drop us a message if your question is not being addressed on this page as we do update and expand the list!

YOUTH

Find out about how we are giving special care and attention to youth as part of our continuous evangelising efforts. Learn more about our Renovatio, a mentoring program for young people seeking for direction in life and the English Language Programme run in Penang for immigrant families in Malaysia. Communicare | 23

SPLENDOUR

SPEAKS Words by Matthew Kang Pics by Sylvester Lee

Remy, our Bahasa Malaysia speaker, shares how our bodies were made for God and in that how solitude was part of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original plans.

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ince its conception, the Splendour Project has always been about evangelisation disseminating information about the Catholic faith in more ways than one. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been toying with different titles and ideas and today, we are proud to present to you our latest series of short talks, known as Splendour Speaks (because weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all about the alliteration), purely intended for your faith formation from the comforts of your home, or anywhere you like for that matter. Kicking off with some exhortation by Deacon Sherman Kuek, Splendour Speaks features our line of reputable speakers like Raymond Hew presenting in English, Remy Martin speaking in Bahasa Malaysia and Matthew Lo addressing his audience in Mandarin. The topics of discussion include Theology of the Body, the Eucharist and many more. Splendour Speaks is available on our YouTube channel (www.youtube. com/splendourproject) and is also accessible through our website (www.splendourproject.com). We also regularly share these on our Facebook page and via WhatsApp.

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LATEST PRODUCTIONS

We receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Find out if Catholics are really cannibals in this video by Raymond.

For this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Easter season, Deacon Sherman delivers a message that resonates with the lives of many.

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LATEST PRODUCTIONS

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What is â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;evangelisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; according to Catholic understanding? Matthew tackles the subject here in Mandarin and shares how living our everyday lives could itself be a form of evangelisation.

Try clicking o

n the pictur

es!

Do visit us at www.splendourproject.com or www.youtube.com/splendourproject for more content like these!

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RECENT EVENTS

PAST EVENTS January - June 2017

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RECENT EVENTS

January

February

8 JAN “The Eucharist” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at St Francis Xavier, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - Malaysia

3 - 5 FEB “The Differences between Catholics and Protestants” (BM) by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs at The Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Bahasa Malaysia Apostolate Held in Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre

13 -15 JAN “What’s the Difference? Catholics, Orthodox & Protestants” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness St Peter’s Church, Melaka Malaysia

6 FEB Workshop for Main Leaders of the Parish by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs at Church of the Holy Family, Kajang

15 JAN “Sacrament of Holy Orders” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at St Francis Xavier, Petaling Jaya, Selangor - Malaysia

11 - 12 FEB “Dialogue of Salvation”: Catholics Called to Evangelise by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Held in Sacred Heart Cathedral Johor Bahru - Malaysia

20 - 28 JAN Catholic Student Group – UMS by Remy Martin Belia Missionari Masuk KampungBmmk aktiviti to 3 villages at Kg. Bolokoton, Kg Mandalipau, Kg Bisuang

18 FEB Apologetics by Raymond Hew Organised by PDYN - Single Young Adults Held at Penang Diocesan Pastoral Institute

20 FEB Bible Reading Class (Mandarin) Date (Mon): 20 Feb, 13 Mar, 24 Apr, 1 May, 12 Jun | by Matthew Lo Organised by Sacred Heart Cathedral Held in SHC Parish Hall, Room B1 24 - 26 FEB Formation and Leadership Training by Remy Martin Sibu Diocese Youth Commission Held in St Mary of Divine Mercy, Sibu, Sarawak

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RECENT EVENTS

March

April

May

10 -20 MAR Formation-based Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

29 - 30 APR “The Divine Conspiracy”: Knowing God’s Will and How You Fit In by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Organised by the Secular Franciscan Order in Johor A retreat module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Held in St Pio Friary, Ulu Tiram, Johor - Malaysia

1 - 8 MAY Formation-based Pilgrimage to South Korea

28 MAR “Divine Liturgy” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs St Peter’s Church, Melaka 31 MAR - 2 APR “The Christian Truth: Why We Believe in the Son of God” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Organised by the Lifeline Ministry KK & KK Archdiocesan Pastoral Resource Team Held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - Malaysia

13 - 14 MAY “Dialogue of Salvation”: Catholics Called to Evangelise by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Held in Holy Family Church, Kajang - Malaysia 19 - 21 MAY “Dialogue of Salvation”: Catholics Called to Evangelise by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Held in Jesus Caritas Church, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia 27 - 28 MAY “Dialogue of Salvation”: Christians Called to Evangelise (Mandarin) by Matthew Lo A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Held in St Joseph Church, Plentong, Johor - Malaysia 29 MAY “Dialogue of Salvation”: Christians Called to Evangelise (Mandarin)

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RECENT EVENTS Do visit us at www.splendourproject.com or follow us on www.fb.com/splendourproject to get updates of our journeys!

June by Matthew Lo A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Church of Christ the King, Kulai 30 MAY “Dialogue of Salvation”: Christians Called to Evangelise (Mandarin) by Matthew Lo A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Church of St. Louis, Kluang 31 MAY “Dialogue of Salvation”: Christians Called to Evangelise (Mandarin) by Matthew Lo A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Church of St. Henry, Batu Pahat

3 - 4 JUN Theology of the Body by Raymond Hew Organised by Church of the Immaculate Conception Formation Team Held at Penang Catholic Diocese Centre 4 JUN “Dialogue of Salvation”: Christians Called to Evangelise (Mandarin) by Matthew Lo A module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness Held in Church of St. Mary, Ayer Salak 4 - 7 JUN “Dialogue of Salvation: Catholics Called to Evangelise” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Saint John’s Church, Kuala Belait Brunei

8 - 11 JUN “Dialogue of Salvation: Catholics Called to Evangelise” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, Bandar Sri Bagawan Brunei 23-25 JUN “What’s the Difference? Catholics, Orthodox & Protestants” by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Organised by the Legion of Mary Kuching Comitium Held in Holy Trinity Church, Kenyalang Park, Kuching, Sarawak - Malaysia 26 -27 JUN A retreat for Intercessors by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Bread of Life Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community

5 - 10 JUN Theology of the Body by Remy Martin Sibu Diocesan Youth Day (360 participants) Held in Pastoral Center Sibu, Sarawak Communicare | 31

RECENT EVENTS

THE CHRISTIAN TRUTH Words by Jennifer Chong Pic by Matthew Kang

“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth.” This excerpt from Pope John Paul II’s Encyclical Letter, Fides Et Ratio, says it well. Often when faced with questions challenging what we believe in, many of us turn to the popular answer: “We just need to have faith” or “It is a mystery”. The Christian Truth seminar which was recently held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu from 1-2 April seeks to provide logical and evidential explanations to the most fundamental beliefs of the Christian faith. Rev. Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek approached some of these questions including “Has the Christian Bible been corrupted?”, 32 | Communicare

“Is Jesus really divine?” and “Do Christians worship three gods?”. It is not surprising that many Catholics, even the most devout ones, struggle to give substantial reasoning to these questions. And yet, apologetics is most important in our demanding times of literacy and intellect. There is a misconception that apologetics is about engaging in arguments with people of different opinion. Apologetics is primarily about clarifying false perception about our faith using reason, logic and relating stories of faith encounter.

dissolve into secularism. The feedbacks from the seminar affirm the important role of formation in helping us to be confident in the Catholic Faith.

There is never a more crucial time than now to be clear on why we believe in the Son of God and to be able to dialogue with people about it. Apathy towards this matter will only see our future generation

This seminar was co-organised by the KK Lifeline Community, the KK Archdiocesan Pastoral Resource Team and the Splendour Project. This article was also published on Catholic Sabah (7th May 2017). Read some of the feedback from the participants on the next page! More feedback can be found on the blog of our website too!

This seminar will be held again in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu on 29-30 July in Bahasa Malaysia. Please contact any of the following for more information: Matthew (0195805126), Denis (0168435133), Joanna (0165095583)

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

It was an excellent seminar, one that not only gives you the facts and truth about our faith but also encourages you to respect and understand the perceptions of non-Catholics of the Catholic Church. While we may not agree with views from friends of other religions about our faith we can try to understand where the misconceptions come from and thus, identify how and where to defend our faith. And by that, doing so in a nonconfrontational and respectful manner. Praise God! - Durie

â&#x20AC;?

At times, we may know something about our faith, but do we know it thoroughly? The speaker, Rev. Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek, has effectively connected the dots between the biblical knowledge and the aspects of life in a dynamic and witty way. - Kher Ching

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Salvation DIALOGUE OF

Words by Jennifer Chong Pic by Matthew Kang

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”

RECENT EVENTS

No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples. - Pope St John Paul II

History tells us that the world is ever-changing in its way of living, its culture, and its beliefs. Yet, the Catholic truth has stood steadfast in its teachings. Although the Christian message tackles the most foundational problems in every generation, new ardour and methods are needed to bring this important truth forward to the people. It is no wonder Pope Paul VI read the signs of the times and emphasised a “New Evangelisation” in his encyclical, Evangelisation in the Modern World. Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have also made evangelisation a focus during their respective pontificates. The Dialogue of Salvation seminar by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek approaches the essential aspects of evangelisation and seeks to help the lay faithful to understand their roles in evangelising through dialogue and in the way we live our lives. The seminars were held at Holy Family Church (Kajang) and Jesus Caritas Church (Kepong) during 13th to 14th May and 20th to 21st May respectively in Malaysia. This

seminar was also held in Brunei from 4th to 11th June. One of Deacon Sherman’s emphasis in all his formation events is that we need to share the Good News in its entirety and in all clarity. It is our Christian obligation to share our faith with the rest of the world by virtue of our baptismal promise. St John Paul II says it clearly in his encyclical, Redemptoris Missio, that “No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples”. Some of the key ways highlighted by the Church in evangelising through dialogue include first understanding the people and their struggles. Evangelisation occurs most effectively when the Church engages the culture of those she evangelises. But first and foremost, all evangelisation must always be centred on Christ and His Gospel. It is also important to understand that the sharing of the Gospel is not a task assigned to just the religious. The lay faithful are equally

important in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Who else can meet the people in your workplace? To share our faith with the people in a personal way, we need to be genuine. Authenticity in the way we live our Catholic life is absolutely important, which becomes the most powerful way of proposing our way of life to others. The Splendour Project sees secularism in the modern world as an urgent issue to discuss and our in-house speaker, Matthew Lo or better known among the Mandarinspeaking community as 罗楠毅 has been travelling around Southwest of Peninsula Malaysia to give the Mandarin version of our focal seminar of the year in Mandarin, also known as 救世的交谈. He has been to Church of Christ the King, Kulai, Church of St. Louis, Kluang, Church of St. Henry, Batu Pahat, and also headed a bit north to Melaka at Church of St Mary, Ayer Salak to share this topic as a module of the Malacca Johore School of Witness.

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RECENT EVENTS

Words by Jennifer Chong Pics by Edmund Kang

THEOLOGY OF THE

Body It is clear how the secular world sees relationship with one another. We often hear and are guilty ourselves, of thinking that we are being kind when we say “I will give the benefit of the doubt to the person so that I would be happier”. It is as if the person has, out of our mercy, gained this benefit from us. This notion of “protecting ourselves first” in a bid to avoid getting hurt emotionally is actually a self-seeking attitude. In retrospect, if it is selfless love, we would embark on finding the truth instead of dwelling on a doubt in the first place. This selfseeking attitude is strongly reflected in our daily lives in various ways, especially, when it comes to the human body. Everything we do in life revolves around the body. Birth, death, eating, sleeping, dancing, walking, smelling, hearing, and trips to the bathroom. Yet, we find the most confusing and troubling part of our 36 | Communicare

embodiment to be the longing for union and communion. Pope St John Paul II’s first major teaching during his pontificate, Theology of the Body, centralises on understanding that the human body includes, right from the very beginning, the capacity to express love – that love in which the person becomes a gift. And in being this gift, it fulfils the meaning of our being and existence. This was the very message that Raymond Hew, our in-house speaker on this topic, wanted to get across to a group of youth at the Penang Catholic Diocese Centre from 3-4 June 2017. “If we want to know what is most sacred in this world, all we need to do is look for what is most violently profaned”, these words from Christopher West, one of the most profound advocates on Theology of the Body speaks of the reason

why the human body has been confused for self-seeking reasons in our society. Yet the beauty of the body is that God chose to make His invisible mystery visible to us through the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh – the embrace of God in man. God is love. For love to be love, it has to be given, it has to be received and it has to bear fruit. This is the mystery of the Trinity which our bodies make visible in the world, this living, life-giving communion of love. How then did the “man of lust” take the place of the “man of original innocence”? During the original sin and the fall of man, Adam and Eve questioned the gift and love of God. They believed in Satan’s lies that God does not want them to be like Him, God does not want them to have freedom, and God wants to keep them from what they really want. And if they really

want freedom, they would have to take it for themselves. It is like a child wanting to grab a cookie that the father wants to give him. This is the problem with us all; we do not trust our Father’s love enough that we attempt to create our own happiness. This trust issue was illustrated in a game where the youths formed a ‘net’ for their friend to fall on. If we were the one standing there, chances were, we would not fully trust our friends to catch us. We would do something to help ourselves in case the person does not catch us e.g. stiffening our bodies or bending our legs. Pope St John Paul II beautifully described love which is self-giving: “For love is not merely a feeling, it is an act of will that consists of preferring, in a constant manner, the good of others to the good of oneself ”. How do we know that our

love is truly self-giving and is like Christ’s love for us? The hallmarks include in being free, total, faithful and fruitful. Jesus came into the world to become man, he gave Himself on the cross, he was faithful in His mission to God the Father even unto accepting death on the cross, and His life and love was fruitful – giving us a new life, a new freedom, a life capable of pure love. In other words, Christ came as a bridegroom, to give up His body for His bride, the Church. And who better as the ultimate example of this love than the perfect disciple of Jesus, Mother Mary. She freely said yes to God to be the mother of Christ, gave Herself totally to God – dedicated Her life to holiness and in being sinless, Her faithfulness in never turning away from God’s will, and was fruitful in being the mother of God who gave birth to the author of life, Jesus Christ.

RECENT EVENTS This brings us to the reflection of how we could implement the virtues of a self-giving love in our own lives. Have we been caring for one another freely, or are we setting conditions on our relationships and friendships? Have we been giving to those in need or only when it is convenient? Have we been faithful to the truth or have we resorted to lies for the sake of protecting our reputation? Have we been fruitful in sharing God’s love to all we meet? Other important points which were shared include how we are called to love as a man and a woman, and dating with purpose and purity. An exercise was to build an upsidedown pyramid with small toy cups which is quite an impossible task to achieve. This was used to illustrate that there is an ideal order to dating and courting.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Clear your calendars! Jun

Jul

Aug

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UPCOMING EVENTS “Dialogue of Salvation”: Catholics Called to Evangelise (Mandarin) 30 Jun - 2 July | by Matthew Lo Jesus Caritas Church, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia Contact: 019-2701438 (王先贵)

“What’s the Difference? Catholics, Orthodox & Protestants” (BM) 7 - 9 Jul (Fri - Sun) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Organised by Kateketikal, Blessed Sacrament Church, Labuan Held in Blessed Sacrament Church, Labuan, Sabah - Malaysia Contact: 019-8221970 (Damian Marcus) “The Christian Truth: Why We Believe in the Son of God” (BM) 29 - 30 Jul (Sat - Sun) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Held in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - Malaysia Contact: TBC

“What’s the Difference? Catholics, Orthodox & Protestants” (BM) 18 - 20 Aug (Fri - Sun) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Held in St Theresa’s Church, Serian, Sarawak - Malaysia Contact: 019-8190996 (Lainus Lichok)

“What’s the Difference? Catholics, Orthodox & Protestants” (BM) 22 - 24 Aug (Tue - Thu) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Held in St Anne’s Church, Kota Padawan, Sarawak - Malaysia Contact: 019-8190996 (Lainus Lichok)

A retreat for Intercessors 26 - 27 Aug (Sat - Sun) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Legion of Mary Kuching Comitium Venue to be confirmed

Sep

Oct

Nov

Evangelisation (Mandarin) 1 - 3 Sep (Fri - Sun) | by Matthew Lo Organised by Chinese Communities of SHC Held in Archdiocese of K.K Contact : TBC

UPCOMING EVENTS

A retreat for Nurses’ Guild 14 - 15 Sep (Thu - Fri) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Nurses’ Guild Venue to be confirmed in Labuan Contact: --

Marian Spirituality 15 - 17 Sep (Fri - Sun) | by Matthew Lo Held in Diocese of Sandakan Contact : TBC

“What’s the Difference? Catholics, Orthodox & Protestants” 16 - 18 Sep (Sat - Mon) | by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek ofs Organised by Kateketikal, Blessed Sacrament Church, Labuan Held in Blessed Sacrament Church, Labuan, Sabah - Malaysia Contact: 019-8221970 (Damian Marcus) Formation-based Pilgrimage to Rome & Eastern Europe 24 Sep - 11 Oct (Sun - Wed) Registration is open Contact: 016-4432783 (Matthew)

Formation-based Pilgrimage to Greece & Turkey 23 Oct - 9 Nov (Mon - Thu) Registration is open Contact: 016-4432783 (Matthew)

Formation-based Pilgrimage to Holy Land 27 Nov - 7 Dec (Mon - Thu) Fully booked Contact: 016-4432783 (Matthew)

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RECENT TRIP

AN ASIAN CHURCH SERIES

Words by Jennifer Chong & pics by Matthew Kang

S outh Korea – the land of rich traditional culture, refreshing Kimchi, addictive seaweed, and home to one of my favourite shows, Running Man. I was first exposed to anything Korean back in Winter Sonata days where its sentimental piano music drifts you away into melancholy. So when I found out about the pilgrimage to South Korea, it was an easy yes and I was all in. To immerse myself in Korean culture and go on a faith-learning experience? What have I got to lose? But I had not the faintest idea why South Korea could be a place for pilgrimage. I have often heard of Holy Land and Rome being places for pilgrimages. But South Korea? I had no clue. Yet it was one of the most lifechanging moments for me.

swung his sword. It lacked precision and left Jeong’s head decapitated halfway. Jeong assured the executer that it was better to kill him swiftly and that action pursued.

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”, these words from Tertullian reflect the growth of the Church thanks to the beauty of martyrdom. In God’s mysterious providence, the unique history of Catholicism in Korea began with the local lay faithful rather than with foreign cleric or religious missionaries. Many of these lay faithful were martyred for their faith during the 100-year persecution in the 18th and 19th centuries. These martyrs, by being witnesses to the power of God’s love, bore a victory that continues to bear fruit today in Korea, to which the Church received growth from their sacrifice. This was highlighted by Pope Francis in his homily during the 6th Asian Youth Day and was also the very intention of starting the Asian Church Series organised by the Splendour Team.

The persecutions in 1801, 1839, 1846 and 1866 led to the death of about 10,000 martyrs. Among those who died martyrs were a considerable number of outstanding lay leaders. Pope Francis, in his homily during the 6th Asian Youth Day says it beautifully: “This history tells us much about the importance, the dignity and the beauty of the vocation of the laity.” Korea now boasts the 4th largest number of saints in the Catholic Church and currently 10% of the country’s population are Catholics (about 5.1 million recorded in 2010!).

What made Catholicism thrive even under grave persecution for a prolonged period? What inspired these people to so willingly embrace the Faith especially at the face of torture and death? One such story that struck me was when we were at Chon Jin Am, the birthplace of Catholicism in Korea. The priest who hosted us, related a story of one of the martyrs, Jeong Yak Jong (Augustinus) while we were before the tombs of a few martyrs. When Augustinus/ Jeong was about to be beheaded, he said “I’d rather die looking up at the sky than to die looking down at the ground.” He had a peaceful face waiting for the execution. Out of guilt, the executer closed his eyes and 42 | Communicare

This was the nature of the Catholics in Korea. Their fervour in the Christian faith is as such that they would not renounce their Faith even at times of great oppression. More so, they would die for the Faith looking forward to the kingdom of heaven. Saint Kim Tae-gon Andrew made a farewell sermon before his beheading saying “My eternal life is beginning now,” and he calmly and courageously received from God the glorious crown of martyrdom.

To say that this pilgrimage is impactful is an understatement. It was life-changing. Often, we may think that the religious have more effect and influence in transmitting our Faith. But the history of Catholicism in Korea proves otherwise. The Laity are equally important in shaping the life of the Church. Who else could go to your own workplace to be a witness of God’s love? Our priests surely cannot do that. We as the Laity need to begin by discovering what the Gospel demands of us by virtue of our baptism and confirmation. The life of martyrdom by death may not be for everyone, but discipleship comes at a cost that requires martyrdom by life. To be a martyr, in a more general sense, simply means being a witness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe I speak on behalf of the pilgrims to say that we are inspired to live our lives intentionally as effective and sacrificial witnesses of the Christian faith.

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On previous page: The Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus statue at Gusan Shrine, Gyeonggi-do Above left: Celebrating Mass at Pungsuwon Holy Site Above right: Memorial plaque marking the visit of Pope St John Paul II at Chon Jin Am, the birthplace of Catholicism in South Korea Right page: Catholic Church modelled after Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark at Baeron Holy Ground, where the first Catholic (St Joseph Seminary) seminary started in Korea 44 | Communicare

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Above: The fully wooden interior of the chapel at Gusan Shrine, Gyeonggi-do Next page: A moment of prayer at the Cathedral of Daegu, a predominantly Catholic district in South Korea 46 | Communicare

Following spread: 1. The main apse of Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul 2. Catholic Korean Sisters we met on our hike in Chon Jin Am 3. Mass celebrated in the open at Seongmodang Mother Mary Shrine, modeled after the Massabielle Cave at Lourdes Communicare | 47

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RECENT TRIP

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The main chapel for campus students of Daegu Catholic University Yusutino Campus in Daegu

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Left: Chapel at Oryundae Korean Martyrs Museum, Busan Above left: Articles and historical pieces collected at the Catholic Heritage Museum in Eonyang Catholic Church Above right: Picture of St Choe Kyang-Hwan Francis at Baeron Communicare | 53

Above: Group picture with the pilgrims at Seongmodang Mother Mary Grotto, Daegu Next page: Group photo at Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul

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Following spread: 1. Relic of St Choe Kyang-Hwan Francis for veneration 2. Religious articles used by Christians during the times of persecution, saved and displayed in a museum at Pungsuwon Catholic Site 3. Friendly Sisters of the Sisters of the Blessed Korean Martyrs in Busan 4. A typical start of the day with faith-formation with Deacon Sherman before our daily journey on our trips Communicare | 55

RECENT TRIP

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RECENT TRIP

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“Pilgrimages evoke our earthly journey toward heaven and are traditionally very special occasions for renewal in prayer. “ - CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH #2691

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FORMATIONBASED PILGRIMAGES 2017/2018

nfo i e or join m for and r ove rips ! p i l t ow F r u o us n on

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UPCOMING TRIPS

ROME & EASTERN EUROPE

ITALY BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA CROATIA HUNGARY POLAND CZECH REPUBLIC

^ Marvel in awe at the grandest church on the face of the earth, St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica in the Vatican

< Explore the UNESCO World Heritage coast city of Dubrovnik where St Blase is fervently held as the patron saint of the locals 60 | Communicare

UPCOMING TRIPS Visit the tallest building in Croatia and a marvellous Gothic style building which is the Cathedral of the Assumption in Zagreb

^ If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able, hike up the Apparition Hill in Medjugorje where the alleged Marian apparitions took place v Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out the Eszertergom Basilica in Budapest, a basilica that appears in the bank notes of Hungary

Step foot into St Vitus Cathedral where the seat of the Archbishop of Prague is

^ Spend an afternoon about 400ft underground exploring the Salt Mines near Krakow and see how miners lived out their faith here Communicare | 61

UPCOMING TRIPS

ENCOUNTER MOTHER CHURCH & THE HOLY SAINTS IN

ROME & EASTERN EUROPE Dates 24 Sep - 11 Oct 2017

Accompanying Priest Fr John Yoew

Formation Content Primacy of the Roman See, apostolic succession, church architecture, devotion to our Lady, veneration of the Saints, veneration of relics, public and private revelation and more

Formation Director Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS

Contact Matthew (+6)016-4432783 pilgrimages@splendourproject.com www.splendourproject.com

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Price RM17,990 NETT per person (twin accommodation; for single accommodation, please enquire)

UPCOMING TRIPS

What’s Included • Round-trip airfare from KLIA • All airport taxes & fuel surcharges • Strategically located 4 or 5 star hotels (or similar) • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (unless specified) • Assistance of a professional local guide(s) • Transfers as per itinerary • Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary • Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction • Teachings given daily by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek to ensure your knowledge and understanding • Daily Sacraments given by accompanying priest/bishop & other spiritual activities • A well-researched booklet (with pictures) for personal reference • A professionally produced fulllength video footage of each trip for every pilgrim • Safety and security, and also your maximum benefit in every pilgrimage • Tips to your tour guides and driver • Travel insurance (for Malaysian passport holders)

Spiritual Experience • Daily faith formation by Deacon Sherman Kuek • Daily Sacraments and spiritual guidance given by accompanying priest / bishop • Visit the historic places in Rome, where many important events took place in the history of the Church • Witness how the holy lives of the Saints inspired entire towns and cities towards holiness • Experience how our Blessed Virgin Mary has always been there as a pillar of strength for suffering Christians everywhere • Witness how Christianity has suffered and thrived in the midst of persecution and oppression for centuries • Witness the life of St John Paul II and withness the impact of his life in his own home country

What’s Not Included • Items of personal nature

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UPCOMING TRIPS

GREECE & TURKEY

PHILIPPI THESSALONIKI ATHENS ISLAND OF PATMOS EPHESUS 7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION CAPPADOCIA ISTANBUL

Monasteries perched on rock pinnacles in Meteora, a place of solitude for hermits and monks of the Eastern Christian tradition

^ Inside Hagios Demetrios, an Eastern Orthodox Church in Thessaloniki > Library of Celsus at the archaelogical site of Ephesus, one of the Seven Churches in Revelation 64 | Communicare

Ruins at the ancient city of Corinth where St Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla and subequently wrote letters to the Corinthians

Mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary flanked by Byzantinian Emperors, whom were regarded as ‘saints’ during the time

Mosaic depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ at the Benaki Museum in Athens

Main apse in St Polycarp Church in Izmir, representing ancient Smyrna’s role as one of the Seven Churches of Revelation

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UPCOMING TRIPS

ENCOUNTER THE EARLY CHURCH & THE EVANGELISTS IN

GREECE & TURKEY

Dates 23 Oct - 9 Nov 2017

Accompanying Bishop Bishop Cornelius Sim

Formation Content Scripture from Acts of the Apostles to Revelation, the missionary journeys of St Paul, church history, ecumenism, etc.

Formation Director Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS

Contact Matthew (+6)016-4432783 pilgrimages@splendourproject.com www.splendourproject.com

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Price RM15,590 NETT per person (twin accommodation; for single accommodation, please enquire)Â

UPCOMING TRIPS

Spiritual Experience • Daily faith formation by Deacon Sherman covers the New Testament from Acts of the Apostles to Revelation • Daily Sacraments and spiritual guidance given by accompanying priest / bishop • Visit the island of Patmos where St John received the vision of Revelation • Witness the missionary fervour of our early Apostles • Visit the cities of Greece in the exact chronological order that St Paul visited them • Visit the sites of the earliest ecumenical councils in Nicaea, Ephesus and Constantinople • Visit the Hagia Sophia, the grandest Church on the face of the earth before St Peter’s Basilica was built

What’s Not Included • Items of personal nature

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UPCOMING TRIPS

THE HOLY LAND

^ View of the Old City of Jerusalem from Mt of Olives V Inside the Church of the Transfiguration atop of Mt Tabor > Beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee 68 | Communicare

GALILEE CAPERNAUM MT OF BEATITUDES MT OF OLIVES OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM BETHLEHEM JORDAN RIVER

At the peak of Mt Nebo, get a commanding view of the surrounding lands and directions of biblical locations. This was also what the prophet Moses saw before he died, never entering the Promised Land.

The dome of the Basilica of the Annunciation is an inverted lily, an ode to the title of the Blessed Virign Mary.

At the centre of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre stands the Edicule which houses the tomb where Christ was buried in and resurrected from. It recently made headlines in National Geographic when it was put up for repair works. Communicare | 69

UPCOMING TRIPS

ENCOUNTER JESUS CHRIST & HIS APOSTLES IN

THE HOLY LAND

Dates 28 Jan - 7 Feb 2018

Accompanying Priest TBA

Formation Content Scripture from the Four Gospels, New Testament background, apostolic succession and papal primacy, marriage and family, nature of the Church, the mission of the Church, etc.

Formation Director Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS

Contact Matthew (+6)016-4432783 pilgrimages@splendourproject.com www.splendourproject.com

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Price RM12,500 NETT per person (twin accommodation; for single accommodation, please enquire)Â Discount RM300 discount per person for all registrations before 31 July 2017

UPCOMING TRIPS What’s Included • Round-trip airfare from KLIA • All airport taxes & fuel surcharges • Strategically located 4 or 5 star hotels (or similar) • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily (unless specified) • Assistance of a professional local guide(s) • Transfers as per itinerary • Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary • Catholic Priest available for Spiritual Direction • Teachings given daily by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek to ensure your knowledge and understanding • Daily Sacraments given by accompanying priest/bishop & other spiritual activities • A well-researched booklet (with pictures) for personal reference • A professionally produced fulllength video footage of each trip for every pilgrim • Safety and security, and also your maximum benefit in every pilgrimage • Tips to your tour guides and driver • Travel insurance (for Malaysian passport holders)

Spiritual Experience • Daily faith formation by Deacon Sherman covers Four Gospels and the New Testament • Daily Sacraments and spiritual guidance given by accompanying priest / bishop • Visit the places of Jesus’ birth, ministry, crucifixion, death and resurrection • Follow the footsteps of the disciples who followed Jesus • Understand the Gospels in a way that you’ve never known before • Witness the life of those who lived and journeyed with Jesus

What’s Not Included • Items of personal nature • Optional extension to Petra for 2 extra nights at RM2,900 per person (twin sharing)

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UPCOMING TRIPS

SOUTH KOREA

SEOUL GYEONGGI-DO GANGWAN-DO GYEONGSANGBUK-DO DAEGU BUSAN

Myeongdong Cathedral, located in the heart of Seoul, houses the remains of a number of Korean saints and martyrs

Chon-Jin Am, where Koreans started practising Catholicism without guidance

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Statue of Mary and Child Jesus welcoming visitors to the Oryundae Martyrs Museum in Busan

What St Joseph Seminary started out as, a hut for 10 seminarians when it started as the first Catholic seminary before the persecution destroyed it

Details in the window pane of the right apse of Myeongdong Cathedral, Seoul

^ Daegu Cathedral, in the Catholic town of Namsan-dong ^ Seongmodang (Mother Mary Shrine) designed after the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes where Mass is celebrated in the open Communicare | 73

UPCOMING TRIPS

ENCOUNTER THE ASIAN SAINTS & MARTYRS IN

SOUTH KOREA

Dates 07 - 14 March 2018

Accompanying Bishop Bishop Cornelius Sim

Formation Content History of persecution, sainthood and martyrdom, veneration of relics

Formation Director Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek OFS

Contact Matthew (+6)016-4432783 pilgrimages@splendourproject.com www.splendourproject.com

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Price RM7,850 NETT per person (twin accommodation; for single accommodation, please enquire)Â

UPCOMING TRIPS

Spiritual Experience • Daily faith formation covers history of persecution, sainthood, relics • Understand how the Catholic faith strengthened in Korea amidst painful persecution • Experience the footsteps of the martyrs of Korea • Visit the places where the Catholic faith originated and spread in Korea • Witness the lives of those who died for their faith in Christ • Witness how the Catholic faith has taken root in Korea over the centuries

What’s Not Included • Items of personal nature

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