Today's Catholic Vol.28 No.9 December 2016

CATHOLIC today’s

A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak

Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

Vol 28 No 9 December 2016

Inside...

Lebih 100 menerima Sakramen Penguatan

P27

Rebuilding Carmelite monastery

The adoration of the Magi is depicted in a 14th-century painting by Giotto di Bondone.

(Photo: CNS/Bridgeman Images) Website: http://www.todayscatholic.com.my

Jas 5:8

今日教友

P3

Let the Lord enter, He is THE KING OF Psalm 24

“Make your hearts firm because the coming of the Lord is at hand.’”

第十六至二十二頁

GLORY

Christmas Message from Archbishop John Ha see P4

Contact us at 082-231164 (Tel), 082-425724 (Fax), todaycat@gmail.com (E-mail), P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching (Post)

NEWS

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EDITORIAL

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Looking back and forward

We began December with the official blessing Looking forward… Christmas! The season that and opening of our Archdiocesan History Gallery forms the basis of all missionary endeavours! But on the 3rd. Located in the room behind the library before that, we wait… in joyful hope. of St Joseph’s Cathedral at the Archdiocesan Curia Happy Advent everyone! and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC), it houses Stella Chin artifacts, written accounts and photographs dating back to the time of the Brooke administration.

The History Gallery aims to tell the story of our salvation history in Sarawak, looking back with gratitude for the innumerable sacrifices by the missionaries and at the same time inspiring new Sarawakian labourers for the Lord’s vineyard.

CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM PUBLISHER The Archbishop of Kuching ADVISOR Fr Felix Au EDITOR Stella Chin ASSOCIATE EDITOR (Chinese) Magdalene Yeo EDITORIAL TEAM Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (English) Victoria J Lim

(English Children’s Section) James Lo (Chinese) Margaret Bong

(Chinese Children’s Section) STAFF Audrey Yu

Diocese of Miri celebrates 40th anniversary

1. A 6000 strong crowd attending Mass at Miri Indoor Stadium.

2. Archbishop Marino presenting the momento from Pope Francis to Bishop Richard Ng. 3. Fr Robert Muyang (centre) representing his team for a game during the Family Day. MIRI — Miri recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary of being a diocese on 3 October. The anniversary celebration started off with a Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Richard Ng of Miri, concelebrated by 26 local and invited priests. Also present at the celebration Mass were Archbishop Joseph Marino, Apostolic Nuncio of Malaysia and Bishop Emeritus Anthony Lee. The Mass was held at the Indoor Stadium, which was packed with about 6000 parishioners from all parishes across the Miri Diocese namely St Joseph’s Cathedral, St Dominic’s Church, Good Shepherd Church Marudi, St Michael’s Church Batu Niah, St Paul’s Church Long San, Gereja Yesus Tuhan Lapok, St Anthony’s Church Bintulu, St Peter’s Church Tatau, St George’s Church Sebauh, St Edmund’s Church Limbang and St Francis Xavier’s Church Belaga.

The Catholic Church of

Miri began as the Apostolic Vicariate of Miri, erected in 1959. On 31 May 1976, Pope Paul VI raised Miri Vicariate to the Diocese of Miri, with Bishop Anthony Denis Galvin, MHM as its first bishop. He died on 5 September 1976. He was then succeeded by Bishop Anthony Lee on 30 May 1977, who led the diocese for 36 years.

Upon the retirement of Bishop Anthony Lee, Bishop Richard Ng took over the helm on 30 October 2013.

During his homily, Bishop Richard invited the parishioners to look back at those 40 years, and be thankful for all the efforts done by the past bishops, Mill Hill Fathers, local priests, Franciscan sisters and Carmelite nuns, catechists, parish councils and lay leaders in shaping Miri as she is today. He then urged the parishioners to also look forward, challenging them to ponder on what type of church they would want in the future, to be more bold and confident, what type of Christian they should be, and what their distinguishing

mark as a local church in the society would be. Relating to the Gospel reading of the day, the prelate encouraged the parishioners to be like the image of the Good Samaritan, who was always going out of his way for a person in need.

In his speech, Archbishop Joseph Marino congratulated the Miri Diocese on their 40th Anniversary. He also lovingly reminded the parishioners of the teaching of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, about the mercy of God, which is the beating heart of the Gospel, and the true identity of knowing who God’s children are. Concluding his speech, he quoted Pope Francis to the parishioners that they cannot passively and calmly wait in their church building, but to go out and actively do something.

Bishop Richard Ng in his speech thanked especially Bishop Emeritus Anthony Lee, who was instrumental in shaping the charismatic renewal of the Diocese which resulted in a lot of conversions. In addition, he also

thanked the State Government for helping the Miri Diocese financially and with other means in supporting the diocese’s mission. Representing the State Government were Miri’s local Assisting Minister of Land and Air Transportation and Safety; YB Lee Kim Shin, Piasau State Assemblyman; Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri City Mayor Adam Yii and former mayor Lawrence Lai. Also present was the Mill Hill Missionaries represented by the local Superior, Fr Terry Burke. Currently, Miri has three Mill Hill priests working in the Diocese.

Bishop Richard Ng further thanked the organizing committee for the 40th Anniversary event led by Fr Guido Gockel and volunteers for making the event a successful

and memorable one.

The Bishop did not forget to promote vocation to the priesthood. He added that 40 years ago, the Catholic population in Miri was about 22000, with 26 priests. Today, the Miri Diocese has about 80000 to 90000 Catholics but only 21 priests. He took the opportunity to challenge the parishioners especially parents to give up their sons as priests. He also encouraged all young men to be generous with their lives for Christ and to have courage in taking up this vocation.

After the Mass, the celebration ended with a Family Day event held at the nearby outdoor stadium with priests and lay people participating.

Genevieve Chai

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

NEWS

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Rebuilding of Carmelite monastery begins

A NEW MONASTERY ... (Left) Signing of contract between the contractor and Bishop Simon Poh, witnessed by Sr Mary John, OCD; (Right) A model of the new concrete Carmelite monastery KUCHING — 6 prayer service. He said in most For the Carmelite nuns who are rendered towards the rebuilding has now begun.

November marked the blessing construction sites, a “site altar” cloistered in the monastery, it of the new monastery. She As of November, the and ground breaking for the would be set up. However, it was their first time witnessing hoped that the construction work donation received for the new Carmelite Monastery, is not needed there, as there is such an event. Sr Mary John, would be completed within the rebuilding project stands at Kuching.

The ceremony a tabernacle in the Carmelite OCD did the ground breaking 16 month stipulated period so RM1,132,954.00 which falls began with a prayer service Chapel, which is just adjacent to with excitement and joy that all that the nuns could return to short of RM867,046.00 of presided over by Auxiliary the construction site. Jesus, who present burst into laughter. their monastery sooner. the RM2 million needed. The Bishop Simon Poh at the is present in the tabernacle, will The signing of the contract The Carmelite nuns are Carmelite nuns appeal for Choir of the old monastery oversee the safety of the workers documents then followed at the now staying temporarily at 28, the outstanding amount still building. Present to witness and the smooth running of the Choir between the contractor Deshon Road since July while required to meet the cost. the event were four Carmelite rebuilding of the monastery. The and the Archbishop of Kuching awaiting the completion of the In anticipation of generous nuns, three Franciscan sisters, bishop then led the procession represented by Bishop Simon new monastery. and unfailing support and a Secular Carmelite, two from the Choir through the Poh, witnessed by the Carmelite The old Carmelite Monastery contributions, cheques are staff of Carmelite Chapel, Cloister to bless the old building Prioress, Sr Mary John. site has been officially handed payable to “Archbishop the contractor and his family while everyone followed along Prior to the signing of over to the Contractor for of Kuching - Carmelite members and staff. and prayed the Rosary. the documents, the Prioress rebuilding effective on 7 Monastery” or addressed to: Bishop Simon Poh After the blessing, everyone extended her gratitude to Bishop November. The dismantling Mother Prioress, PO Box 940, stressed on the significance adjourned to the construction site Simon, the contractors and work of the present monastery 93718 Kuching. of site blessing after the for ground breaking ceremony. benefactors for the assistance building and construction work Catherine Sim

The first ever history gallery of the Archdiocese launched

KUCHING — At last, three years of meticulous planning and labour intensive work on the History Gallery was an excellent payoff. The History Gallery located at Level One of the Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC) bears testimony.

It was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop John Ha on 3 December.

The History Gallery project leader, Fr Felix Au, in his welcoming address, thanked the Archbishop, Bishop Simon Poh, priests, donors, contributors, volunteers and the project team members for their generous support and assistance in making the project a great success. He added that the History Gallery

aspires to document, preserve and display the history and growth of the Catholic Church in Sarawak in order to inform and inspire the local community.

Archbishop John Ha in his short message on the visitor’s record book expressed his joy that the gallery is ready. “I hope and pray that all visitors will be inspired and motivated to continue the Church’s mission of proclaiming Christ to Sarawak and beyond,” he wrote.

In the Gallery, the local history is professionally presented and impressively displayed in the print format, photographs, video and artefacts.

The information presented is extensive to cover the history of Southeast Asia before the arrival of Christianity, on early mission

in Borneo, on the Church and the White Rajahs, on the early years of Mission work, on the Church during the Second World War, on Vatican II, on the important colonial and Federal legislation that affected mission schools, on the growth of Catholic Mission Schools, to name but a few. The showcasing of the Liturgy of the Church is equally impressive.

In addition, hundreds of digital photographs are conveniently screened and displayed on an electronic screen. At the same time, there is also a multimedia kiosk that provides access to the history of the local Church and other subjects in the video format.

The History Gallery is open for visitors from 1.00 - 8.00 pm on weekdays, and from 10.00 am - 6.00 pm on weekends. It is closed on Mondays and public holidays and the Church’s Holy Days of Obligation.

Johnny Kuek

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING ... 26 seminarians from St Peter’s College Major Seminary, Kuching visited the Masjid Jamek Negeri Sarawak on 21 October. It was part of their course on the Understanding of Islam organised for the seminary by the Islamic Information Centre, Kuching to run from June till December. This module is part of the comparative study of major religions in the seminary’s academic course.

SOLDIERS OF CHRIST ... 6 November saw 90 candidates receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Mukah. The Bishop of Sibu, Bishop Joseph Hii presided at the Mass with Fr Joseph Sebastian concelebrating.

The Bishop urged the new confirmants to stand firm and be the witnesses of their faith.

NEWS

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Christmas Message 2016 from Archbishop John Ha

In May this year, we marked the fortieth anniversary of the institution of the Archdiocese of Kuching with the theme: “Celebrating God’s Steadfast Love And Mercy”. Then in November, we closed the Extraordinary Year of Jubilee which bore the theme: “Merciful Like The Father.” With our experience of God’s mercy, we were called to be like Him by reflecting His mercy in our lives as individuals and as Church.

I hope and pray that both events have immersed us in the ocean of God’s love and mercy and fired us up to be a “sign and instrument” of His grace to whomever we meet. A genuine experience of God’s grace necessarily propels a person to share it with others. That was the case with the Blessed Virgin Mary. On receiving the news from Angel Gabriel that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Son of God made man, she hastened to visit and help her old relative, Elizabeth, who was in her sixth month of pregnancy (cf. Lk 1:26-45). The shepherds too hastened to see the infant Jesus whose birth an angel had announced to them.

When they had reached the manger and seen Him, “they made known what had been told them about this child” (Lk 2:17).

A genuine experience of God’s grace unfailingly fills us with joy. In that joy we feel the urge to share it with our friends. Genuine friends will be delighted to hear our story and share in our joy. But something more may happen: they may be so drawn by our experience that they will want to have it too. This desire opens them to the working of God’s grace in their own lives.

Mary hastened to visit Elizabeth to share her own joy with her relative as well as also share in the joy of the latter. The shepherds watching their flock in the fields by night were told by the

angel: “Do not be afraid; behold, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people” (Lk 2:10). They were drawn by their desire to have this joy; so they hastened to the manger.

Those who heard their story “were amazed” (Lk 2:18). It was natural for this “amazement” to include an element of joy.

Looking back at the double event – the fortieth anniversary of the Archdiocese of Kuching and the Jubilee Year of Mercy – we are led to honestly evaluate their impact on us.

Have we been fired up to share with others our experience of God’s love and mercy for us?

Have we felt joy in this experience and has our joy led us to share it with others?

If there has been no impact, then Christmas is another occasion of grace for us. For indeed, Christmas celebrates the Incarnation – the Son of God made Man and born of the Virgin Mary. The Incarnation is truly the mystery of God’s love and mercy for us. Indeed, it was because He loved us and was merciful to us that the Son of God chose to empty Himself of His divinity to become like one of us (cf. Phil.

2:6-11) to give us life (cf. Jn 3:16-17). Let us open our hearts to hear the angel tell us: “I am bringing you good news of great joy: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Lk 2:10-11).

If we have experienced joy and been fired up in this double occasion, let this Christmas be an added occasion of grace and further charge us to be a “sign and instrument” of the Lord’s love and mercy for others.

In the love and joy of Christmas, I wish all readers: “A blessed Christmas filled with the Lord’s love and mercy, peace and joy.”

Family Bloc Rosary: 50 years in existence and still growing

KUCHING — The St Joseph’s Cathedral Parish Family Bloc Rosary (FBR) celebrated its 50th anniversary with a dinner reception held at the Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC) on 29 October. Fr Jerome Juleng, rector of the parish and the FBR spiritual director, graced the occasion.

The chairman of the Bloc Rosary, Ambrose Cheng in his speech gave at length an account of the history of the organisation since its inception 50 years ago.

“The Family Bloc Rosary started at end of September 1966. Before that Rosary prayers were recited at individual homes among family members.

Occasionally, prayers were led

by Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Cathedral parish,” he recounted.

The Rosary community was officially formed by Fr Harry van Erp, MHM, parish priest of St Joseph's Cathedral at that time and the first Spiritual Director.

The groups, made up of a few pioneer Catholic families from different housing estates, started praying the Rosary together at the Cathedral. Only later it was

EVERY REASON TO CELEBRATE ... Everyone joining Fr Jerome Juleng and Fr Felix Au in the cutting of the anniversary cake done at their homes. that more and more new FBR “Over the years the FBR groups were being formed received a lot of encouragement at new housing areas such as and support from bishops and RPR Batu Kawa, Field Force priests in the parish namely Camp Batu Kawa, Police Bishop Peter Chung (now Brigade Quarters Jln Astana/ Archbishop Emeritus), Fr Siol Kandis, housing areas Dominic Su (now Bishop along Batu Lintang road, to Emeritus of Sibu), Fr John Ha name but a few. In the early (now Archbishop of Kuching) 80’s there were more than and parish priests. That saw the 20 established FBR groups formation of many new groups within the parish. Rosary at various housing estates prayers were regularly recited and areas within the Parish,” from home to home within the Ambrose said. various groups.

He was very happy to note Continued on p5

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

CLASSIFIED

PAGE 5 4TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

PATRICK CHUNG KIM SENG who was called back by Our Lord on Christmas Day 25 December 2012 Fondly remembered and greatly missed by all loved ones at home and abroad.

6TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

ANNOUNCEMENT Pope Francis will deliver his Christmas Message and Blessing Urbi et Orbi on 25 December at about 6.30 pm Malaysian time.

The link to the live broadcast will be provided in www.kuchingcatholic. org nearer the time. All are encouraged to watch the broadcast.

Pope Francis also grants a plenary indulgence to those who devoutly receive the papal blessing by radio, television and new communications media (the internet).

Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving the others with God’s own love and concern.

St Teresa of Calcutta

In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone HENRY GARAN

- St John of the Cross, OCD

MMS since 1981

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Block E, No 32-34 (1st Floor), Taman Sri Sarawak Mall Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (Opposite Hilton Kuching) 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: +6082-246 795 / +6012-808 5112 / +6016-823 9112 +6016-870 6112 Fax: +6082-428636 Email: market@mms.com.my

Departed: 19 December 2010 Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Always remembered and dearly missed by wife, daughter, son, son-in-law and daughter-in-law, grand-daughters, grandsons and all loved ones.

13TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory Mary, you left us beautiful memories, Your love is still our guide, Tho’ we cannot see you, You’re always at our side.

You are loved beyond words & missed beyond measure.

Rest in peace, Mary.

9TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of AIDA AUSTIN DRUCE (26.5.1931 – 18.12.2007) “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live even though she dies.” John 11:25

Nine years have gone by without you in our lives, but sweet memories that you shared still linger on and always remain in our hearts forever.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul rest in peace.

MARY DOMINIC ATONG

Sadly missed by all loved ones.

Born: 17 May 1955 Departed: 14 December 2003

IN EVER-LOVING MEMORY 41TH ANNIVERSARY 4TH ANNIVERSARY 13TH ANNIVERSARY

Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday, unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.

Deeply loved and missed by sons, daughter, daughters-in-law, great grandchildren, grandchildren & all loved ones.

Tomb Maker

7TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

Simon Sim See Huat 15 Nanas Road 93150 Kuching, Sarawak Tel: 082-617616 / 0138117616 Fax: 082-627616 Specialise in: Construction & Cleaning of Grave Monuments Manufacturing Gravestones imported from China, Italy

JERRY SIMON OSWALD MARTIN Departed: 17 April 1976

ANN MARTHA TAN TANG HIANG Departed: 1 January 2013

FERNANDO ALEXANDER MARTIN Departed: 23 February 2004

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

Light shines in the darkness for good men, for those who are merciful, kind and just; happy is the person who is generous with his friendship and love. A good person will never fail, he will always be remembered.

DORIS YEO CHOON ENG who was called by the Lord on 22 December 2009

Forever in our hearts, minds and prayers.

Deeply missed, cherished and lovingly remembered by husband, children, grandchildren and all loved ones.

Gone is the face we loved so dear, Silent is the voice we loved to hear, Too far away from sight and speech, But not too far from our thoughts to reach, Gone from our sight, gone from our home, Gone to the Father’s home above, Days brought sorrow, months brought sorrow, Years brought the loving memories which no heart can speak.

Forever in our hearts and minds: Loving children, brothers, sisters, relatives & all loved ones “And know that I am with you always ...” Mt 28:20

Requiem Mass will be offered on 6 January 2017 at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching at 5.30 pm.

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Pope Francis’ Prayer intentions for December UNIVERSAL End to Child-Soldiers That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over.

EVANGELISATION Europe That the peoples of Europe may rediscover the beauty, goodness, and truth of the Gospel which gives joy and hope to life.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Healing seminar by Holy Cross Ministry acclaimed

KUCHING — 25 November saw the Holy Cross Ministry of Deliverance and Healing having its second and final seminar in Kuching for the year at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre.

About 600 participants, including non-Christians attended the seminar.

Surprisingly, four participants flew all the way to Kuching from the Philippines to attend.

The seminar, entitled “The Good News of Jesus’ Love and Power” was conducted

by Stephen Bong, who gave a teaching in relation to spiritual growth, before proceeding to conduct the deliverance and healing session.

According to Stephen, a participant who attended the last seminar in May had this to testify. The participant had been suffering from a skin condition

FULL HOUSE ... Participants filling the hall to its capacity at the healing seminar for over ten years. Doctors and out to the front of the hall to specialists failed to improve “check out” their conditions. the condition. However, after Most amazingly, about nine the last healing session the out of every ten of these participant is no longer suffering participants found that there from the ailment. was less pain, no more pain, or During the course of the that the condition of their legs healing session, many who had had noticeably improved and problems with their legs, due they found it easier to stand or to aches and pains or difficulty walk. in standing and walking, went Augustine Tan

How to deal with strategic planning and reviews

KUCHING — A session on “Principles and tools for strategic planning and review” was held on the morning of 2 October at the Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC).

This programme was opened to all parish councillors and leaders of the lay organisations of St Joseph’s Cathedral parish, with the objective of guiding the participants with the necessary tools in the preparation for the review of the ACTS of the Congress which will be held in year 2017.

It was presented by two experienced speakers, the husband and wife team Lim Fung Ming and Eileen Leong.

They guided the participants through the role and importance of strategic planning and

advised them on the necessity of reviewing and monitoring the progress of plans which have been established.

After that, the participants were asked to spend time to review the plans laid down by their organisations during the ACTS of Congress, and to evaluate what further actions were needed to move forward to achieve the objectives of the ACTS. At the end of the session, the participants gave some feedback: “I think the seminar was helpful in many ways as it guides one through the different steps of planning in working out a suitable strategy to be exercised so as to achieve a particular mission. Consequently, I can now reflect on how I could make

some improvement in the ministry I am undertaking in the church.” - Sheila Khoo “(The session) helped me to understand how strategic planning is applicable and useful within a church setting.

(It) was interesting too when the speaker related biblical examples of planning and the roles of planners.” - Andrea Sim “This talk made a great impression on me when Stephen League’s six ‘P’s: ‘Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance’ was quoted.

How very appropriate. Our favourite phrase ‘No time’ is taboo. We need to make time by relegating duties.” - Susie Kong Charmaine Foong

Family Bloc Rosary: 50 years in existence and still growing

19TH ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

CECILIA KUEH

Departed on 15 December 1997 Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Dearly missed and always remembered by family and friends.

Continued from p4 In the early 90’s, there were more than 30 registered FBR groups in the Parish. In that period the Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Iban and Bidayuh-speaking groups came in being. From the year 2000 onwards the FBR groups increased to over 80 in the housing estates within the Parish, said the FBR chairman.

Ambrose said the 80-strong group FBR is working towards making the Rosary devotion a factor to create a closely-knitted family of faithful who focus on the word of the Bible and share

the spirit of togetherness.

The FBR is a body registered under the Registrar of Societies and has its own approved Rules and Regulations as a Lay Organisation in the Parish to ensure its proper management as an organisation.

The Spiritual Directors of FBR have traditionally been the parish priests of St Joseph’s Cathedral Parish. FBR as a lay organisation consists of elected office bearers and Area Coordinator/Assistants as Central Committee members, Bloc leaders/Assistants (individual group) and each

family as members of FBR. For easier management the areas are divided into 18 zones to extend from Matang to Semariang to the city proper to Batu Kawa and to areas below Mile-6 along the KuchingPenrissen Road. Each area is looked after by a coordinator and an assistant elected from among the members in the respective areas.

Fr Felix Au and Superior General of Sisters of St Francis, Sr Flora Tingang were present at the dinner.

Family Bloc Rosary St Joseph’s Cathedral

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

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Three ways to obtain an indulgence for the 100-year Fatima anniversary

FATIMA, Portugal — For the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, Pope Francis has decided to grant a plenary indulgence opportunity throughout the entire anniversary year, which began on 27 November 2016, and will end on 26 November 2017.

The rector of the Fatima Shrine in Portugal, André Pereira, explained to CNA that the plenary indulgence can be obtained during the entire Jubilee Year. There are three ways of obtaining the indulgence, detailed in a statement on the shrine's website.

To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions: go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

1. Make a pilgrimage to the shrine The first way is for “the faithful to make a pilgrimage

to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration or prayer dedicated to the Virgin.”

In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed, and invoke the Mother of God. 2. Pray before any statue of Our Lady of Fatima The second way applies to “the pious faithful who visit with devotion a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October (2017), and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honour of the Virgin

Mary.”

Regarding this second way, the rector of the Fatima Shrine told CNA that the visit to the statue of the Virgin, “does not necessarily have to be only at Fatima or exclusively in Portugal,” but can be done anywhere in the world.

Those seeking an indulgence must also pray an Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima.

3. The elderly and infirm The third way to obtain a plenary indulgence applies to people who, because of age, illness or other serious cause, are unable to get around.

These individuals can pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and must spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month, between May and October 2017.

They also must “offer to merciful God with confidence, through Mary, their prayers and sufferings or the sacrifices they make in their own lives.”

CNA/EWTN News

Pope Francis’ busy Christmas schedule

VATICAN CITY — As a towering spruce tree was erected in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ liturgy schedule for Advent, Christmas and the month of January.

The 82-feet-tall Christmas tree arrived in the square on 24 November.

According to the papal calendar released by the Vatican the same day: – Pope Francis will celebrate an evening Mass on 12 December, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Mass will include ancient liturgical hymns composed in indigenous languages, including Nahuatl, Quechua, Mapuche and Guarani.

The Sistine Chapel Choir be will joined the Latin American Choir under the direction of conductor Eduardo Notrica.

– The Pope will celebrate Christmas Mass at 9.30 pm on 24 December in St Peter's Basilica.

– Pope Francis will give his Christmas blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) at

noon on 25 December from the central balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square.

– On 31 December in St Peter’s Basilica, the Pope will preside over evening prayer and the singing of the “Te Deum” in thanksgiving for the year that is ending.

– The Pope will celebrate a Morning Mass in St Peter’s Basilica 1 January, the World Day of Prayer for Peace and the feast of Mary, Mother of God. – On 6 January, the feast of the Epiphany, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in St Peter’s Basilica.

– On the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, 8 January, the Pope will celebrate Mass in the Sistine Chapel and baptise several babies.

– Pope Francis will preside over an ecumenical evening prayer service on 25 January, the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. The service concludes the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. — CNS

Month of the Rosary closes with love

Prayer Workshop on the Humanity of Christ KUCHING — Carmel Missionaries of Prayer (CMP) concluded a Prayer Workshop themed “Meditation on the Humanity of Christ” on 12 November. It was part of CMP’s “LOVE. PEACE. HEALING” series of Prayer Workshops.

In this workshop, participants learnt about the essentials of prayer and acquired experiential knowledge of meditation on the Humanity of Christ led by facilitator Cynthia Lim, a Carmelite.

CMP will be organising more prayer workshops in the near future. Interested persons who would like to be in CMP broadcast / contact list for any announcement of future Prayer Workshops may get in touch with Cynthia at 0168604860 without any obligations.

Contributed

FAITH IN ACTION ... Procession in progress

IMMERSED ... Prayer Workshop participants in meditation What the participants say: “An awareness of God’s presence.” - Malcolm Liew “I find the preparation for Recollection was very good because I felt peaceful and I was able to concentrate on my prayer.” - Anna Su “It was a great programme and it helped Catholics know more about what we need to do and practise in life. It has also

helped me to know more clearly about prayer which was made easy to share with others too.”

- Rosalind Jacklyn “This workshop helped me to pray properly and I gained more knowledge about relationship with Jesus.” - Elizabeth Connie “Prayer is not just about asking, it is about building a relationship with God.” - Rossana Rachel Likiam

MUKAH — About 500 parishioners from Kpg Teh, St Peter & St Paul Church and other chapels attended the closing of the rosary month at St Thomas Chapel on 31 October.

The auspicious and religious evening commenced with Rosary recitation at the community hall. Parishioners joined in the procession of the statue of Our Blessed Mother Mary, carried by the youths of St Thomas Chapel, from the Community Hall into the Chapel.

The Rosary recitation

4TH ANNIVERSARY

1ST ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of

In ever loving memory of

(SJN 1099762)

AUGUSTINE ANAK PATRICK BUJANG

who was called home by the Lord on 5 December 2010 Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon him May he rest in peace. Amen.

Deeply missed by wife Minahsiah Binti Bah Sugep, daughters and son (in Kapar, Perak); parents, sisters, brother, and brothersin-law (in Kuching).

AGNES CHONG @ AGNES AK RUMUOY 3 January 1946 - 10 December 2015 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me ~ Ps 23:4 Dearly missed, cherished and lovingly remembered by husband, children, grandchildren, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and all loved ones

continued in the Chapel and followed by the Mass presided over by Fr Joseph Sebastian.

The event ended with a fellowship gathering at the community hall.

The chairman of St Thomas Chapel committee, Robert Tiru thanked the parishioners for their support. Also present were the chairman of St Peter & St Paul Parish Pastoral Council (PPC), Dominic Aseng Edal and PPC members and committee members of the chapels.

Harapi Charles

NEED HELP? Catholic Counselling Service Please call for enquiry and appointment Michael Junim 013-8081467 Michael Law 019-8893789

PAGE 8

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Pope calls new cardinals to be agents of unity in divided world VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church’s 17 new cardinals must dedicate their lives to being ministers of forgiveness and reconciliation in a world – and sometimes a church – often marked by hostility and division, Pope Francis said.

Even Catholics are not immune from “the virus of polarisation and animosity,” the Pope told the new cardinals, and “we need to take care lest such attitudes find a place in our hearts”.

Creating 17 new cardinals from 14 nations on 19 November, the Pope said the College of Cardinals – and the Catholic Church itself – must be a sign for the world that differences of nationality, skin colour, language and social class do not make people enemies, but brothers and sisters with different gifts to offer.

Three of the new cardinals created during the prayer service in St Peter's Basilica were from the United States: Cardinals Blase J Cupich of Chicago; Kevin J Farrell, prefect of the new Vatican office for laity, family and life; and Joseph W Tobin, whom the Pope asked to move from being archbishop of Indianapolis to archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

Only 16 of the new cardinals were present for the ceremony. The Vatican said 87-year-old Cardinal Sebastian Koto Khoarai, the retired bishop of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho, was created a cardinal although he was unable to travel to Rome.

Pope Francis places a red biretta on new Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez of Kuala Lumpur during a consistory in St Peter’s Basilica (Photo: The Malay Mail)

After reciting the Creed and taking an oath of fidelity to Pope Francis and his successors, each cardinal went up to Pope Francis and knelt before him. The Pope gave them each a cardinal’s ring, a threecornered red hat and a scroll attesting to their appointment as cardinals and containing their “titular church” in Rome.

The assignment of a church is a sign they now are members of the clergy of the Pope’s diocese.

As the Year of Mercy was ending, Pope Francis called on the new cardinals – and everyone present in the basilica – to continue to proclaim “the Gospel of mercy,” going out to where people live, giving them hope and helping them become signs of reconciliation.

After the consistory, Pope Francis and

Archbishop Marino to Cardinal Soter: the red hat is for the people of God “... remember that the hat is for them, the entire People of God in Malaysia who ... profess their belief in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic faith.”

KUALA LUMPUR — Archbishop Joseph Marino, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, hosted a dinner in honour of His Grace Anthony Soter Fernandez, Cardinal-designate at the Apostolic Nunciature on 1 November.

“Pope Francis, when he announced the list of new Cardinals on 9 October, in which your name was included, defined this office very clearly when he said: ‘The addition of the new Cardinals in the diocese of Rome manifests the inseparable connection between the See of Peter and the local Churches spread throughout the world’ and, as such, you ‘assist me in my ministry as Bishop of Rome’ and as ‘a permanent and visible sign of unity of faith and communion,” shared Archbishop Marino to the cardinal-designate.

“Therefore, when you receive the Cardinal’s ring, the Holy Father will remind you that it is ‘a sign of the dignity, pastoral care and the most solid communion with the See of Peter’ and when you receive the biretta, you will be reminded that it is ‘a sign of the dignity of the office of Cardinal, signifying that you are ready to act with fortitude, even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the People of God, for freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.’

“You, along with the others

announced on that day, were chosen, and these are the words of His Holiness, because you ‘have distinguished yourself with your pastoral service and, as a priest, you have offered a clear Christian witness.’

“Yes, Pope Francis knows you, because he knows the Church in Malaysia whom you represent, the Bishops, priests, religious and laity. You could say, as a result of their daily dedicated ministry and their deep commitment to the Catholic faith, you received a most precious vote from them. They brought you to the eyes and heart of the Holy Father.

“Consequently, when the Pope places the red hat on you on 19 November, which we will all watch with pride, remember that the hat is for them, the entire People of God in Malaysia who, even in challenging moments, profess their belief in the one, holy, Catholic and apostolic faith.

“Your Grace, we all congratulate you with prayerful best wishes, asking the Good Lord to bless you and, through your ministry as Cardinal, may the faith of the people and their commitment to Christ our Saviour be strengthened and made stronger,” said Archbishop Marino.

All the Archbishops and Bishops from Malaysia were present for the auspicious occasion.

Herald Malaysia

the new cardinals hopped in vans for a short ride to visit retired Pope Benedict XVI in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, his residence in the Vatican gardens.

The retired pope greeted each cardinal, thanked them for stopping by and assured them, “My prayers will accompany you always”.

Cardinal Mario Zenari, the Pope’s ambassador to Syria, spoke on behalf of the new cardinals, promising Pope Francis that they and the entire church would continue to be envoys of God’s mercy, bending down to help those “left half dead on the side of the road, wounded in body and spirit”.

In addition to the three American cardinals elevated during the consistory, others of voting age include: Archbishop

Mario Zenari, who is and will remain apostolic nuncio to the “beloved and martyred” Syria; Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga of Bangui; Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Madrid; Archbishop Sergio da Rocha of Brazil; Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario of Dakha, Bangladesh; Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo of Merida, Venezuela; Archbishop Joseph de Kesel of Malines Brussels; Bishop Maurice Piat of Port-Louis, Mauritius Island; Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Tlalnepantla, Mexico and Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

In addition to the 13 new electoral cardinals, Pope Francis has nominated four others who are of non-voting age due to their notable service to the Church: Anthony Soter Fernandez, Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Renato Corti, Archbishop Emeritus of Novara and Sebastian Koto Khoarai, OMI, Bishop Emeritus of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho.

Additionally, he nominated Fr Ernest Simoni, an Albanian priest from the diocese of Shkodra, whose testimony of the persecution of the Albanian Church under the communist regime the Pope cried at during his 2014 daytrip to the country.

At the end of the consistory, the College of Cardinals had 228 members, 121 of whom are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a pope.

Adapted from CNS / CNA

The titular church of Cardinal Soter Fernandez

Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez (3rd from right) taking possession of the Church of Sant’Alberto Magno in Italy Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez is a cardinal-priest of the Titular Church of Sant’Alberto Magno. It was established on 19 November, the same day as the consistory.

At the consistory for creating new cardinals, Pope Francis gave each of the 16 a scroll with the “title” to a church or parish in Rome.

A Cardinal-priest is a metropolitan, or archbishop of a major diocese. Most cardinals are of this order of cardinals.

Each cardinal will visit his titular church as its pastor whenever he visits Rome.

The name and coat of arms of the cardinal are inscribed on plaques in the church.

Cardinal Fernandez took possession of his church on 22 November.

Cardinals possess no power of governance nor are they to intervene, in any way, in matters which pertain to the administration of goods, discipline, or the service of their titular churches.

They are allowed to celebrate Mass, hear confessions and lead visits and pilgrimages to their titular churches, in coordination with the staff of the church.

They often support their churches monetarily, and many Cardinals do keep in contact with the pastoral staff of their titular churches.

Herald Malaysia

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

SPECIAL

PAGE 9

KNOW OUR FIRST MALAYSIAN CARDINAL

AN INTERVIEW

Cardinal nicknamed ‘No. 33’: ‘Trust in God never will let you down’

Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez ‘Everything is the Holy Spirit’s work’ …

‘The peace of mind of trust in God can never let you down.’ …

‘Trust in him, like your own father. If there is some challenge, be assured that he sees something good in it…’

These words of wisdom were given to ZENIT in an exclusive interview with Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez with whose nomination, history was made: Malaysia had been given its first cardinal.

Pope Francis announced the prelate would be receiving his red hat, along with 16 others, during his 9 October Angelus Address.

Cardinal Fernandez is one of the four new cardinals over 80 who are being honoured for their long service to the Church.

The Archbishop Emeritus of Kuala Lumpur shared with us what he has learned over the years.

He spent a few hours speaking with ZENIT in the Pope’s residence, Casa Santa Marta, and was so kind to ask if the correspondent had already eaten breakfast. Though she had, an offer of an espresso afterward on Via della Conciliazione was happily accepted.

At the beginning of our encounter, the cardinal wanted to specifically discuss passages from Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium that have really ‘moved’ him.

“The bishops nicknamed me ‘33’”, the Asian prelate shared, because he impresses upon everyone this passage which reads: “Pastoral ministry in a missionary key seeks to abandon the complacent attitude that says: ‘We have always done it this way.’ I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelisation in their respective communities. A proposal of goals without an adequate communal search for the means of achieving them will inevitably prove illusory.

I encourage everyone to apply the guidelines found in this document generously and courageously, without inhibitions or fear. The important thing is to not walk alone, but to rely on each other as brothers and sisters, and especially under the leadership of the bishops, in a wise and realistic pastoral discernment.”

After the consistory, the Cardinal informally spoke again with ZENIT and

shared how the Holy Father encouraged him in his promoting ‘Number 33’ and in serving the poor.

Ordained a priest on 10 December 1966, the Malaysian cardinal celebrates the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination next month (December).

On 17 February 1978, he was ordained Bishop for the Diocese of Panang, and on 10 November 1983, was installed Archbishop of Kuala Lumpar. He led the archdiocese for 20 years before stepping down at age 71 for health reasons.

Even after ‘retiring’, he still served his archdiocese. He later was assigned as a spiritual father to College General, Major Seminary in Panang.

Cardinal Soter Fernandez still serves as the president of the bishops conference of Malaysia, and as chaplain at the Saint Xavier Home for the Elderly in Cheras.

While technically he retired from serving his archdiocese in 2003, his assistant Fr Pereira travelling with him in Rome argues that the new cardinal’s definition of ‘retired’ is relative.

When ZENIT asked what was his reaction to the nomination, he smiled, responding: “It wasn’t something I wished for or desired, but trust always the will of God. Also, having been sick, I realise he gives me strength to do all.”

In the interview, Cardinal Soter also reminisced about his first encounter with Pope Francis, which took place after the General Audience. “He told me in English, ‘Please pray for me,’ and I assured him I would.” He noted this is something very important.

Asked what most strikes him about Francis, the Cardinal discussed his simplicity, his commitment to dialogue, and how he channels mercy.

The Cardinal also told us that in 1978, when appointed Bishop of Panang, he

chose an episcopal coat of arms with ‘Justice and Peace’ as his motto. He noted that today even more so than before, justice and peace have such an important role to play, especially in the social and political spheres of his multi-cultural and multi-religious nation.

He also pointed out how he appreciates Pope Francis’ realness. “He didn’t want to wear those [red] shoes,” and “he is his own person.”

Your brother… God walked with a Saint The Malaysian prelate also spoke about his affection for St John Paul II. He noted how after being ordained bishop, he was able to meet him for the first time at the ad limina visit, which takes place every five years. “The first thing I thought, Thank God this Pope speaks English because I didn’t study Latin,” he said smiling.

“So many times I came and I saw him,” he noted, recalling in particular their exchange after he had been appointed archbishop: “I told Pope John Paul II: ‘Holy Father, I want to thank you for the confidence you have in me, appointing me as the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’ and he embraced me and said ‘I am your brother.’”

He recounted: In 2001, I was archbishop and president of the bishops’ conference, and I remember in particular this encounter with him… It was at a point in which he was giving us rosaries. I said to him “In addition to a rosary for me, could I have a rosary for my mother?’… Then he jokingly, loudly announces, very sweetly: ‘He wants a rosary for his mama… give him one.’”

Reflecting on his moments with John Paul II, Cardinal Soter Fernandez said: “God walked with a saint.”

He also told us what St Pope John Paul II had written him in a personal letter for the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination in 2003: “Your ardent commitment to duty not only benefitted the flock entrusted to you, but was manifestly clear to all in Asia.”

“Your role with the Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia-SingaporeBrunei, shines forth as well as in your strenuous efforts to give direction and purpose to the Church in West Malaysia,” the Polish Pontiff highlighted.

We invite On what his retired life looks like as cardinal, he confirmed he still stays active, still helping his people, still committed to dialogue.

Coat of Arms with motto “Justice and Peace” Speaking on initiatives in his country aimed at fostering interreligious dialogue, he noted how there is a tradition of having Christians come together to have a Christmas party, and for this year’s gathering, Muslims and people of other faiths will be invited.

He also applauded the Pope’s, at times, surprising choices of new cardinals from the peripheries, “as a sign that the Pontiff is committed to helping the universal Church.”

The challenges The Cardinal also spoke on some pastoral challenges faced by his multicultural, multi-religious nation.

“Mixed marriages,” he told us are “a classic example of this, a lovely Catholic girl, she insists he must be Catholic and says he’ll convert to Catholicism. Then the day they get married, he says: ‘That’s it. You are my wife. No Catholic business. Thank God she didn’t consummate the marriage. It took years for the annulment to come.

So many things are happening like that unfortunately.”

When asked how he describes the situation of Catholics, he noted, “still the basic ecclesial communities come together, actually all the races come together. Territorial parishes come together. Where the Lord is placed, all come together.”

“In our country, there is diversity… the races are many, there are many Muslims.” When responding to whether the fact that Malaysia is a largely Muslim country affects the Catholics, he noted there are efforts for dialogue and everyone co-exists.

Asian Pontiff Asked if Pope Francis’ choice of Cardinals has opened the door for an Asian Pontiff, he said: “You never know.”

“Latin America has come…This is a complete change. It takes courage. He doesn’t want to take the cars, but would prefer to get on a bus and go…,” he said, noting things change and we don’t know what could happen next.

When asked if he had advice for young priests, Cardinal Soter Fernandez urged them to talk to God less, and “start listening to him…” — Zenit.org

PAGE 10

FEATURE

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

ON APOLOGETICS

Do Christians worship three Gods?

by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek, OFS

In the previous article, I began explaining the Christian belief in the Trinitarian God by first demonstrating from the Old Testament and the New Testament how both Jews and Christians have from the very beginning emphatically affirmed the Oneness of God. However, there is more to this Oneness that needs to be explained.

2. The Bible affirms three distinct but equal persons who are God. There are those who reject the dogma of the Trinity just because the word “Trinity” is not found in the Bible. To be sure, there are no passages in Christian Scripture that says “God is three Persons” or “God is Trinity”. Whilst this may be true, the absence of such self-evident statements does not automatically mean that God is therefore not Trinity. There are many other words used by Christians that are not found in the Bible either. One typical example of such is the word “Bible” itself; surely no one can find the word “Bible” in the Bible!

The Bible is not a theological treatise that spells out Christian doctrines in systematic fashion. At the same time, when we read the Bible seriously, we do find that it contains some important assertions regarding the Trinity.

Firstly, it asserts that the Father is God. In the New Testament, the Father is acknowledged numerous times as God. St Paul, for example, writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merciful Father and the God who gives every possible encouragement…” (2 Corinthians 1:3, New Jerusalem Bible).

Elsewhere, he says, “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all” (Ephesians 4:5, 6; New Jerusalem Bible).

Secondly, the Bible also asserts that the Son is God. The Gospel of John states, “In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God… The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14; New Jerusalem Bible).

Thirdly, the Bible asserts that the Holy Spirit is also God. In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit is seen to be a divine entity, a Person, who speaks: “One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2, New Jerusalem Bible). In Acts 5:3-4, the Holy Spirit is also shown to be a Person who can be lied to at the occasion when the Apostle Peter rebukes Ananias for lying about the proceeds he had received from the sale of a piece of land. In so doing, St Peter pronounced that Ananias had been lying “not to men, but to God”.

Fourthly, the Bible brings the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together in such as a way as to assert the Trinitarian nature of God. The following three passages from the New Testament are merely a summary of the multiple passages from Christian Scripture that imply God is Trinity.

“Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”

(Matthew 28:19, New Jerusalem Bible) “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:13, New Jerusalem Bible) “Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, to all those living as aliens in the Dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen, in the foresight of God the Father, to be made holy by the Spirit, obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

(1 Peter 1:1-2, New Jerusalem Bible) Note that these are merely a sampling of a variety of other similar passages found in the Bible. For the purpose of brevity, the words of other passages such as Romans 14:17-18, 15:16; 1 Corinthians 2:2-5, 6:11, 12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 2:18-22, 3:14-19, 4:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 1:3-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:1314; and Titus 3:4-6 are not included above. But if one were to take the trouble to read through these passages from the Bible, it becomes immediately apparent that the writers of Scripture make mention of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit whenever they make reference to God. 3. The Church Fathers defended Trinitarian belief in consistency with Scripture.

Because the dogma of the Trinity had been so strongly embedded in the understanding of the Early Church as reflected in Christian Scripture, the Church Fathers were always strong defenders of this belief.

We will prove that we worship him reasonably; for we have learned that he is the Son of the true God himself, that he holds a second place, and the Spirit of prophecy a third. For this they accuse us of madness, saying that we attribute to a crucified man a place second to the unchangeable and eternal God, the Creator of all things; but they are ignorant of the mystery which lies therein.

(Justin Martyr, First Apology 13:5-6, 151 AD) For the Church, although dispersed throughout the whole world even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and from their disciples the faith in one God, the Father Almighty…and in one Jesus Christ, the Son of

(Part III)

God, who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit.

(Irenaeus, Against Heresies 1:10:1, 189 AD) We do indeed believe that there is only one God, but we believe that under this dispensation, or, as we say, oikonomia, there is also a Son of this one only God, his Word, who proceeded from him and through whom all things were made and without whom nothing was made…We believe he was sent down by the Father, in accord with his own promise, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, the sanctifier of the faith of those who believe in the Father and the Son, and in the Holy Spirit…This rule of faith has been present since the beginning of the gospel, before even the earlier heretics.

(Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2, 216 AD) And at the same time the mystery of the oikonomia is safeguarded, for the unity is distributed in a Trinity. Placed in order, the three are the Father, Son, and Spirit. They are three, however, not in condition, but in degree; not in being, but in form; not in power, but in kind; of one being, however, and one condition and one power, because he is one God of whom degrees and forms and kinds are taken into account in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2, 216 AD) Keep always in mind the rule of faith which I profess and by which I bear witness that the Father and the Son and the Spirit are inseparable from each other, and then you will understand what is meant by it. Observe now that I say the Father is other [distinct], the Son is other, and the Spirit is other. This statement is wrongly understood by every uneducated or perversely disposed individual, as if it meant diversity and implied by that diversity a separation of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2, 216 AD) Thus the connection of the Father in the Son, and of the Son in the Paraclete, produces three coherent persons, who are yet distinct one from another. These three are, one essence, not one person, as it is said, ‘I and my Father are one’ [John 10:30], in respect of unity of being not singularity of number.

(Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2, 216 AD) All the Catholic interpreters of the divine books of the Old and New Testaments whom I have been able to read, who wrote before me about the Trinity, which is God, intended to teach in accord with the Scriptures that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are of one and the same substance constituting a divine unity with an inseparable equality; and therefore there are not three gods but one God, although the Father begot the Son, and therefore he who is the Son is not the Father; and the Holy Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son but only the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, himself, too, coequal to the Father and to the Son and belonging to the unity of the Trinity.

(Augustine of Hippo, The Trinity 1:4:7, 408 AD) These Church Fathers lived at a time when it would have been easier to deny or ignore the dogma of the Trinity. The Christian faith would have been much more marketable had they chosen to dismiss its centrality in the faith system of the Church.

The fact that they chose to defend it with their lives points to either their collective stupidity, or else, to the indispensability of this dogma.

Thus, it is demonstrated in this article that not only does Scripture affirm that God is One, but it also goes on to assert that there are three Persons who are members of this One Godhead. Confounding though this truth may be, the Fathers of the Church defended it against various heresies that arose in the Early Church, which we will examine in the coming article on this same topic.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

FEATURE

Meditation on a mosaic

On the wall behind the altar in our seminary chapel is a beautiful mosaic of large multi-coloured, multi-designed stars blazing out against the deep blue background of the night sky. It represents the promise made to Abraham in Gen 15:5 “Look up at the night sky and count the number of the stars, if you can – such shall be the number of your descendants.” To Abraham, this was the promise of life in the only terms he could understand, for the people of his time thought they lived on after their death only through their children – so to have that many children meant that his name would live forever. This same Promise of life has been made by God again and again over the centuries – to the whole of mankind and to each one of us personally. It is this promise that is the starting point of our life of love and friendship with God in Christ and when I sit in our chapel in the dark of the morning, before the sun has risen, and look up at the illuminated mosaic, I seem to hear the voice of Christ quietly whispering to me that same promise: “I came that you might have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10).

The stars in the mosaic are all different from one another; some are large and made up of bright and intricate patterns, whereas others are smaller and much quieter in both colour and design, but in all of them the colours and the patterns are drawn together in such a way that the Cross of Christ can be seen standing at the heart of each star. The Cross draws its form from the various shapes and colours of each star, just as the compassionate love of God takes on different forms as it flows through us, giving life and hope to those around us – each in his/her own unique way - and in so doing draws us ever deeper into his life.

I was aware of this recently at two funerals I attended. The first was that of Father Richard, a priest who ministered at a spiritual healing centre and to whom many went seeking life and hope. At

Q&A

Q

his funeral, the Cathedral was packed with priests and people who had seen the Cross of Christ drawn large in the star of his life. The following day, I attended another funeral, a much smaller one – that of Teresa, the sister of our seminary cook, Sister Pat – but apart from some Religious Sisters and the students and staff of the seminary, there were only few people present. However, the Cross of Christ was also drawn in the life of Teresa for those who had the eyes to see it, for Teresa had died of cancer but, while she was receiving chemotherapy, she had sometimes stayed with us at the seminary and we noticed the quiet dignity with which she bore her sickness and her shy smile when she greeted us, a smile which revealed the face of Christ – the One who brings life and peace, even in the midst of suffering.

Christ invites us to share in his mercy and care for others – to let his love flow through us, carried by both the whole and the broken parts of our lives. At the beginning of our spiritual journey, when we take our first tentative step into his friendship, we find it difficult to see how God could want our broken and spoiled parts and so much of our spiritual energy is used up in struggling – and failing – to overcome our weaknesses and in so

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PADI SEEDS

doing we often drown out the words he is whispering to us: “But it is ‘you’ whom I love – not some perfect person”. Only when we finally give up and allow the Lord to love us as we are, can the Cross begin to be seen in the wonder and brokenness of our lives; only when we give ourselves, as we are, into the arms of the Lord, can his face begin to appear in us to those around us.The great mystery of our Faith is that Christ is the “Wounded Healer” and we are called to share in that mission, above all, through the wounded parts of ourselves. The mosaic stars in the Chapel reveal this, for when you come close to them you can see that they are made up of some good small mosaic pieces, but also many other bits and pieces picked up off the beach, including many shards of broken bottles, but all these are moulded together to give colour and texture to the many different stars. The mosaic thus teaches us that our God loves all that he has made and treasures everyone no matter how broken we may be, for he moulds our very brokenness into stars of wondrous beauty, stars which reveal Christ.

The “Great Star” of Bethlehem, guided the Three Kings from distant lands to the stable of Bethlehem and so helped them to recognise Jesus even though they

Fr Terry Burke is a Mill Hill Missionary, who has served in Sarawak, Indonesia, India and England.

Currently, he is a resident lecturer at St Peter’s College and also assigned to do formation work in the Archdiocese.

Today’s Catholic thanks him for sharing his rich pastoral reflections in his column ‘Padi Seeds’.

He sends out a blog each week.

If you would like to receive it, please email him at terrylburke@gmail.com. found him in the brokenness and poverty of the stable home of Joseph and Mary.

In that stable of Bethlehem, they and we learn that when we are stripped of all earthly dignity, the Love, which holds the world together, shines through for those who have the eyes to it. God’s Glory was thus seen at Bethlehem, and would be seen again in the brokenness and desolation of Calvary – and it is also to be seen in the brokenness of our lives, moulded by God’s love and mercy into something wonderfully new. The Star of Bethlehem reminds us that we are “the Children of Abraham”, called to be the “stars”, who reveal the promise of life, first offered so long ago, and stars, who guide people, through our lives, to the Lord of All – so that they too might have life, and have it to the full!

May God bless you and your families this Christmas!

Where is heaven?

By Fr Kenneth Doyle

I am 91 years old and I am wondering just where heaven is. I have heard priests say that it is here on earth, the same as hell and purgatory.

But when I pray the Apostles’ Creed I say, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.”

We all want to go to heaven and see Jesus, but I would like to have some idea of where it is. Can you help me?

[God] transcends everything we can conceive of. (CCC 2794)

A

In addition to the words to which you refer in the Apostles’ Creed, there are multiple scriptural quotations that might lead one to believe that heaven is “up.” In the account of Christ’s ascension, for example, the angels say to the apostles: “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way” (Acts 1:11).

In the Gospel of John, Christ tells Nicodemus; “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man” (Jn 3:13). And Psalm 14 says, “The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men” (Ps 14:2).

The reality, though, is that God does not occupy some remote geographic corner of the physical universe, and no MapQuest search can determine exactly where heaven is. The difficulty comes in trying to express transcendent ideas in human language; time and space are finite concepts, and God is not limited by them.

Far better to be guided by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which tells us that the expression “who art in heaven” in the Lord’s Prayer “does not mean a place

(‘space’), but a way of being; it does not mean that God is distant, but majestic.

Our Father is not ‘elsewhere’: He transcends everything we can conceive of” (No. 2794). Or, as St John Paul II said in a Wednesday audience on 21 July 1999, heaven is “neither an abstraction nor a physical place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship with the Holy Trinity.”

After death we will experience fully that unity with the divine, to our everlasting and perfect joy. Just how that will happen, what it will look and feel like, is not yet ours to know. But, as Billy Graham once said, “The only GPS that can give you flawless direction is the ‘Gospel plan of salvation.’” — CNS

FEATURE TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016 At Christmas, respond to God’s gifts with love, not guilt

PAGE 12

by Carolyn Woo Last month, I went on a weeklong silent retreat to address a nagging concern. I felt heavy guilt for how I could be enjoying my life when there are profound deprivations and unspeakable suffering.

Catholic Relief Services serves people who do not have enough nutrition, sometimes no decent shelter nor water, very little access to proper medical care and, often times, crippling insecurity from violent conflicts and lost livelihood.

From these interactions, I get to go home to hot showers, cook with spices that cost more than these individuals' daily incomes, have appointments with dentists, enjoy vacations, plan home improvements, and you can imagine the rest. For these, I feel like I should apologise that I am not giving my all to God or his people.

My spiritual director focused me on the concept of gift. What is a gift? Why do we give gifts? What do we hope for from the recipients?

Recently, I had to choose a present for a little boy of 2. Reaching into fond memories of how much our son enjoyed “Thomas the Tank Engine” at that age, I selected a Thomas book that included a mat of train tracks and little replicas of Thomas and his coterie of engine friends.

It was a great success. The little boy loved the book, studied each page and carefully lifted the trains from their packaging. He clutched the book so tightly that he would barely free one arm at a time for his mom to put on his coat. I got much pleasure watching this.

Reflecting on my spiritual director’s questions about gifts, I wanted the boy’s family to know that we value and welcome this little one. The only hope, not even expectation, was that the gift would be used and enjoyed.

This exercise was an invitation for me to think about God, the giver of all gifts.

Why does God endow us with blessings?

What does he want for us, not from us, in his generosity? How should we, the intended beneficiaries, receive?

Scriptures from Genesis to the New Testament tell us that God gives out of his profound love for us, that he wants us to flourish and to live life fully and that all his creation reflects him and his generosity. Simply, God takes delight in us.

We, the blessed, are to recognise him in and as the source of this bounty, to give thanks, glory and honour, and to imitate his goodness and generosity in the way we engage the rest of his family. Never in Jesus’ parables did he ask for guilt, but for trust, persistence, recognition of the gift, gratitude and a new way of being.

Christmas is the season of gifts. For all our preoccupation with shopping and giving, we may have underinvested in our preparation of ourselves as receivers of the divine gift: God himself comes into our world to live our lives and frailties, to teach us how to be truly human and to be with us on our journeys.

Our response is not hard nor particularly complicated. We are to pay attention as we should with all gifts, to engage the giver in recognition of the love behind the act of giving, to let that gift become part of us, thus warming and

God gives out of profound love for us...

He takes delight in us.

Photo: CNS

changing us in the knowledge that we are loved beyond human limit. In all this, we are to bask in God’s delight in us.

And on my list of Christmas wishes

to God, I ask that his gift of himself helps me become more openhanded, openhearted, joyful, loving and retire the other “g” word.— CNS

Promote peace this Advent Why is Advent needed more than ever this year?

The answer is found in the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.

“Men,” it states “should take heed not to entrust themselves only to the efforts of some, while not caring about their own attitudes. For government officials who must at one and the same time guarantee the good of their own people and promote the universal good are very greatly dependent on public opinion and feeling.

“It does them no good to work for peace as long as feelings of hostility, contempt and distrust, as well as racial hatred and unbending ideologies, continue to divide men and place them in opposing camps. ...

“Those who are dedicated to the work of education, particularly of the young, or who mould public opinion, should consider it their most weighty task to instruct all in fresh sentiments of peace” (No. 82).

More than ever, safeguarding peace, and the unity it generates, is at stake. Much of today’s divisiveness is reducing us to second-rate citizens by proliferating cynicism and disunity to the detriment of trust and harmony.

by Fr Eugene Hemrick

[The sacredness of words we employ] can make all the difference between achieving unity and peace or promoting division and enmity

Photo: CNS

Inspiration is best when we are at our best and no better time exists than celebrating peace and its harmony on earth at Christ’s coming. What, then, should we practise in particular this season?

Two excellent exercises Lent and Advent encourage are undertaking acts of supererogation and self-denial. In today’s world this translates into being, more than ever, well-disposed to life, government, church and friends and to sedulously avoid whatever diminishes a healthy spirituality.

This Advent, we should especially focus on the sacredness of words we employ. This can make all the difference between achieving unity and peace or promoting division and enmity. Here we might begin the day dedicating ourselves to the careful selection of words that generate courtesy and peacefulness.

Another good Advent exercise might be self-denial that encourages us to shun the divisiveness and indignities that fill the internet networks we use: to avoid the barrage of indecencies reducing us to second-class citizens.

Advent is a special opportunity for becoming the first-rate people God intended us to be.— CNS

CHILDREN

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

PAGE 13

Colouring Contest Hi Kids!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a child is given.

That child is Jesus! He was born to save us! Let us rejoice and be glad as we celebrate the birth of the greatest person ever known to mankind!

Aunty Jo

Be prepared!

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Matthew 24:44 Read Matthew 24:42-44.

Complete this crossword puzzle.

ACROSS 1. The time of day when it is dark 4. To keep an eye on; to guard 7. The person who has something such as property 8. A particular moment in the day, such as eight o’clock time know

DOWN 2. A period of 60 minutes 3. A period of 24 hours 5. The place where a person or family lives 6. To have information about something; to be

aware of something

owner house

watch day

hour night

Ready for the Christ of Christmas

Colour this Christmas picture and send your entries to: (Sila kemukakan ke:) Today’s Catholic, P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching, Sarawak Closing date: (Tarikh tutup:) 30 December 2016 Name/Nama: _____________________________________________________

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Matthew 3:1-2

Age/Umur: (12 and below) _____________________________________________________ Tel No:

Read Matthew 3:1-12.

Find the words of the passage in the wordsearch puzzle below.

_____________________________________________________ Address/Alamat: _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

LORD BAPTIZE REPENT

PREPARE STRAIGHT LOCUSTS

KINGDOM PATHS HONEY

JOHN PREACHING CAMEL

HAIR WILD BELT

Q: How do you make Holy Water?

A. Get regular water and boil the devil out of it.

Q. How long did Cain hate his brother?

A. As long as he was Abel.

Q. What kind of man was Boaz Q. At what time of the day was Adam created? before he married Ruth?

A. A little before Eve. A. He was Ruthless.

Q. What do they call pastors in Q: When was meat first mentioned in the Bible?

Germany?

A. When Noah took Ham into the ark.

A. German Shepherds.

Q. Why didn’t they play cards on the Ark? A. Because Noah was standing on the deck.

YOUTH

PAGE 14

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Br Ghislain (inset) at a prayer session KUCHING — Brother Ghislain from Taizé community in France visited Kuching from 19 - 23 November. This time round, the Taizé prayer sessions he conducted carried the theme “A Pilgrimage of trust on earth - the courage of Mercy”.

During his visit, some youths of St Stephen’s Parish, Bau had the opportunity to meet him. Approximately 60 people joined the Taizé Prayer session there. Br Ghislain gave a short explanation about Taizé and shared his vocation.

Br Ghislain also met Kuching Young Christian Students (KYCS) carollers to share his experiences in Taizé community and what Taizé prayer is. During the session held at St Rose room, ACCPC, he showed a video on how young people from different continents live in Taizé

and introduced the icon of mercy that they have been using throughout the Year of Mercy. The session concluded with Taizé Prayer.

On his final evening in Kuching, a prayer session was held at ACCPC. The turnout was overwhelming, with 90 catechumens including youth and parents. Before the prayer, Br Ghislain invited Sr Catherine Uming SSFS, Georgina and Monica Lisa to share their significant experiences in Taizé.

The evening ended with a final blessing by Bishop Simon Poh who also attended the prayer session.

It was indeed a fruitful and a wonderful experience for some attendees especially the youth as it was their second encounter with Br Ghislain. His last visit to Kuching was in 2011. — Dina Firuana

Campus LOGOUT satukan mahasiswa dari pelbagai kampus

KUCHING – Pada 9 Oktober lalu, Kuching Campus Ministry (KCM) dengan jayanya menganjurkan Campus LOGOUT di Pusat Pastoral Katedral dan Kuria Keuskupan Agung (ACCPC) , Katedral St Joseph, Kuching.

Penganjuran sulung Campus LOGOUT itu mendapat sambutan seramai 120 orang mahasiswa atau penuntut universiti dan kolej sekitar Kuching.

Antara kampus yang mengambil bahagian adalah UNIMAS, (UiTM, KKAK, KSKB, Swinburne, Politeknik, TCS, PPKS, UNITAR dan IPGK Batu Lintang.

Penganjuran seumpama itu bertujuan mengenali rakan seiman mahasiswa Katolik dari pelbagai institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) mahupun swasta (IPTS) sekitar Kuching, selain menyatukan mahasiswa sesama Katolik dan mewujudkan rasa sepunya dalam komuniti Katolik di kampus.

Program dimulakan dengan doa pembukaan dan disusuli sesi ‘ice breaking’. Berikutnya, sesi puji dan sembah telah dikendalikan oleh kumpulan penuntut dari UNIMAS.

Penganjuran Campus LOGOUT buat kali pertama ini dipenuhi pengisian informatif berkaitan organisasi pelayanan kampus yang disampaikan oleh Erickson Desik dalam slot pengenalan kepada Kuching Campus Ministry (KCM).

Pengisian slot itu antara lainnya menghendaki setiap wakil kampus berbincang dan berkongsi tentang masalah atau ancaman yang dihadapi dalam kampus dari sudut pandangan seorang mahawiswa Katolik.

Program diakhiri dengan doa penutupan dan sesi bergambar.

Campus LOGOUT diadakan secara bulanan iaitu pada minggu pertama setiap bulan sejurus selesai Misa Ketiga di Katedral St Joseph.

Jika anda seorang mahasiswa yang sedang menuntut di universiti atau kolej sekitar Kuching, kami sangat mengalualukan kedatangan anda ke program Campus LOGOUT seterusnya! - Austein Harry Dward

PAGE 22

FOKUS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

MENGENAI APOLOGETIK

Adakah Orang Kristian menyembah tiga tuhan?

Oleh Diakon Dr Sherman Kuek, OFS

Dalam artikel sebelum ini, saya mula menjelaskan tentang kepercayaan Kristianiti terhadap Allah Tritunggal dengan mendemonstrasikan dari Perjanjian Lama ke Perjanjian Baru tentang bagaimana orang-orang Yahudi dan Kristian sejak dari awal lagi nyatakan dengan tegas mengesahkan ke-Esa-an Allah. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat lebih lagi tentang ke-Esa-an ini yang perlu diperjelaskan.

2. Alkitab mengesahkan tiga peribadi yang berbeza tetapi setara sebagai Tuhan.

Segelintir individu menolak dogma Triniti hanya kerana perkataan “Triniti” tidak dijumpai di dalam Alkitab. Untuk lebih pasti, tiada petikan di Kitab Suci Kristian mengatakan “Allah adalah tiga Peribadi” atau “Tuhan adalah Triniti”. Walaupun ini mungkin benar, jika tiada pernyataan jelas itu tidak secara automatik bermakna bahawa Allah bukanlah Tritunggal. Terdapat banyak perkataan lain yang digunakaan oleh orang Kristian yang tidak terdapat dalam Alkitab juga. Satu contoh yang biasa yang seperti itu adalah perkataan “Alkitab” itu sendiri; sesungguhnya tiada siapa yang dapat menemui perkataan “Alkitab” di dalam Alkitab!

Alkitab bukanlah sebuah karangan teologi yang menjelaskan doktrin Kristian dalam gubahan yang sistematik. Pada masa yang sama, apabila kita membaca Alkitab dengan serius, kita mendapati bahawa ia mengandungi beberapa kenyataan penting mengenai Triniti.

Pertama, ia menegaskan bahawa Bapa adalah Tuhan. Dalam Perjanjian Baru, Bapa diakui dengan banyak kali sebagai Allah. Santo Paulus, sebagai contoh, menulis, “Marilah kita bersyukur kepada Allah, Bapa Tuhan kita Yesus Kristus. Dia Bapa yang berbelas kasihan dan Dia Allah yang sentiasa menolong kita.” (2 Korintus 1:3). Di tempat lain, dia berkata pula, “Hanya ada satu Tuhan, satu iman, satu baptisan, dan satu Allah, Bapa semua orang. Dialah Tuhan semua orang, yang bekerja melalui semua orang, dan tinggal di dalam semua orang.”(Efesus 4:5, 6).

Keduanya, Alkitab juga menegaskan bahawa Puteranya adalah Allah. Injil Yohanes menyatakan, “Sebelum dunia ini diciptakan, Firman sudah ada. Firman itu bersamasama Allah, dan Firman itu sama dengan Allah… Firman itu sudah menjadi manusia dan tinggal antara kita. Kita nampak kemuliaan-Nya, kemuliaan yang diterima-Nya sebagai anak tunggal Bapa. Melalui Dia, kasih Allah dan Allah sendiri ditunjukkan kepada kita.” (Yohanes 1:1, 14).

Ketiga, Alkitab menegaskan bahawa Roh Kudus juga adalah Tuhan. Dalam Kisah Para Rasul, Roh Kudus dilihat sebagai sebuah entiti ilahi, Seseorang, yang berkatakata: “Sementara mereka beribadat kepada Tuhan dan berpuasa, Roh Allah berkata kepada mereka, ‘Pilihlah Barnabas dan Saulus khas untuk-Ku, supaya mereka menjalankan tugas yang sudah Aku tetapkan bagi mereka.’” (Kisah Para Rasul 13:2).

Dalam Kisah Para Rasul 5:3-4, Roh Kudus juga dilihat sebagai seorang Peribadi yang boleh didustai ketika Rasul Petrus menegur Ananias kerana berbohong tentang hasil yang diterima beliau daripada penjualan sebidang tanah. Dengan berbuat demikian, Santo Petrus mengisytiharkan bahawa Ananias telah berbohong “tidak kepada manusia, tetapi kepada Allah”.

Keempat, Alkitab juga membawa Bapa, Putera, dan Roh Kudus bersama-sama sebegini sebagai satu cara untuk menegaskan sifat Tritunggal Allah. Berikut hanyalah ringkasan tiga petikan Perjanjian Baru daripada pelbagai petikan dalam Kitab Suci Kristian yang menggambarkan Allah adalah Tritunggal.

“Pergilah kepada semua bangsa di seluruh dunia dan jadikanlah mereka pengikut-Ku. Baptislah mereka dalam nama Bapa, Putera, dan Roh Allah.”

(Matius 28:19) “Tuhan Yesus Kristus memberkati kamu, Allah mengasihi kamu, dan Roh Allah menyertai kamu semua.” (2 Korintus 13:13) “Surat ini daripada Petrus, rasul Yesus Kristus dan ditujukan kepada umat pilihan Allah, yang tinggal sebagai orang pelarian yang tercerai-cerai di seluruh daerah Pontus, Galatia, Kapadokia, Asia, dan Bitinia. Kamu dipilih sesuai dengan rancangan Allah Bapa, dan dijadikan umat-Nya yang suci oleh Roh Allah, supaya kamu taat kepada Yesus Kristus dan disucikan oleh darah-Nya. Semoga Allah mengurniai kamu berkat dan kesejahteraan dengan berlimpah-limpah.” (1 Petrus 1:1-2) Perlu diambil perhatian bahawa ini hanyalah sekadar contoh daripada pelbagai petikan lain yang serupa yang terdapat dalam Alkitab. Untuk tujuan keringkasan, petikan-petikan yang lain seperti Roma 14:17-18, 15:16; 1 Korintus 2:2-5, 6:11, 12:46; 2 Korintus 1:21-22; Galatia 4:6; Efesus 2:18-22, 3:14-19, 4:4-6; 1 Tesalonika 1:35; 2 Tesalonika 2:13-14; dan Titus 3:4-6 tidak termasuk. Tetapi jika seseorang itu mengambil kesungguhan untuk membaca petikan-petikan ini dari Alkitab, ia akan menjadi amat jelas kelihatan bahawa penulis-penulis Kitab menyebutkan Bapa, Puteranya, dan Roh Kudus apabila mereka merujuk kepada Tuhan.

3. Bapa Gereja mempertahankan kepercayaan Trinitarian secara konsisten dengan Kitab Suci.

Oleh kerana dogma Triniti sudah begitu kuat tertanam di dalam pemahaman Jemaat Gereja Awal seperti yang digambarkan dalam Kitab Suci, Bapa-bapa Gereja

(Bahagian III)

sentiasa menjadi pembela kuat kepercayaan ini.

Kita akan membuktikan bahawa kita menyembah Dia secara munasabah; bagi kami, kami tahu bahawa dia adalah Putera Allah yang benar, bahawa dia memegang tempat kedua, dan Roh nubuat adalah yang ketiga. Kerana ini mereka menuduh kita sudah gila, dengan mengatakan bahawa kita menyifatkan seorang yang disalibkan ditempat kedua kepada Tuhan yang tidak boleh diubah dan kekal, yang menciptakan tiap-tiap sesuatu; tetapi mereka tidak mengetahui rahsia itu yang terletak di dalamnya.

(Martir Justinus, Apologi Pertama 13:5-6, 151 Masihi) Bagi Gereja, walaupun tersebar luas diseluruh dunia malah ke hujung bumi, mulai daripada para rasul dan daripada pengikut mereka pun telah menerima kepercayaan terhadap satu Tuhan, Bapa Yang Maha Kuasa...dan dalam Yesus Kristus yang tunggal, Anak Allah, yang menjadi daging untuk keselamatan kita; dan di dalam Roh Kudus. (Irenaeus, Menentang Bidaah 1:10:1, 189 Masihi) Sesungguhnya kita percaya bahwasanya hanya ada satu Tuhan, tetapi kami percaya bahawa di bawah pengagihan pengurusan keagamaan, atau, seperti yang kita katakan, oikonomia, terdapat juga seorang Putera daripada Allah yang Esa ini, Firman-Nya, yang terbit daripada Dia, dan oleh-Nya segala sesuatu telah dijadikannya dan tanpanya tiada apa-apa yang akan diciptakan...Kita percaya bahawa dia dihantar oleh Bapa, sesuai dengan janji-Nya sendiri, Roh Kudus, Penghibur, yang menguduskan keimanan orang yang beriman kepada Bapa dan Putera, dan Roh Kudus...Hukum iman ini telah hadir sejak bermulanya injil, meskipun sebelum bidaah ajaran sesat yang terawal.

(Tertulian, Menentang Praxeas 2, 216 Masihi) Dan pada masa yang sama misteri oikonomia ini juga dilindungi, kesatuan itu diagihkan di dalam Tritunggal. Diletakkan dalam susunan, ketiga-tiga itu adalah Bapa, Putera, dan Roh. Mereka adalah tiga, namun, bukan dari segi keadaan, tetapi dalam darjat; bukan pada zahir, tetapi di dalam bentuk; bukan dalam kekuasaan, tetapi dalam jenis; sebagai satu kewujudan, bagaimanapun, dan satu keadaan dan satu kuasa, kerana dia adalah Tuhan yang satu di mana darjat, bentuk dan jenisnya diambil kira dalam nama Bapa, dan Putera, dan Roh Kudus.

(Tertullian, Menentang Praxeas 2, 216 Masihi) Pastikan sentiasa dalam ingatan akan ketetapan keimanan yang saya lafazkan dan yang mana saya bersaksi bahawa Bapa dan Putera dan Roh tidak dapat dipisahkan daripada satu sama lain, dan kemudian anda akan memahami apa yang dimaksudkan olehnya. Perhatikan sekarang bahawa saya mengatakan Bapa adalah peribadi lain [berbeza], Putera adalah lain, dan Roh adalah lain. Kenyataan ini telah disalahfahami oleh segelintir individu yang tidak berpendidikan ataupun yang sanggup melakukan sesuatu dengan berlawan, seolah-olah ia bermaksud kepelbagaian dan secara tersirat bermaksud bahawa kepelbagaian itu adalah pemisahan oleh Bapa, Putera dan Roh Kudus.

(Tertullian, Menentang Praxeas 2, 216 Masihi) Oleh itu hubungan antara Bapa kepada Putera, dan Putera dalam Penghibur, menghasilkan tiga peribadi yang boleh diterima akal, yang mana berbeza daripada satu sama yang lain. Ketiga-tiga ini adalah, satu pada dasarnya, bukan peribadi tunggal, kerana ia berkata, ‘Aku dan Bapa-Ku adalah satu’ [Yoh 10:30], ia berkenaan dengan kesatuan pada hakikat dan bukan ketunggalan dari segi angka. (Tertullian, Menentang Praxeas 2, 216 Masihi) Semua penterjemah Katolik daripada buku-buku ilahi Perjanjian Lama dan Baru yang telah saya baca, yang pernah menulis berhadapan dengan saya tentang Triniti, iaitu Tuhan, bertujuan untuk mengajar sesuai dengan Kitab Suci bahawa Bapa dan Putera dan Roh Kudus adalah satu unsur yang sama dan membentuk suatu kesatuan ilahi dengan persamaan yang tidak dapat dipisahkan; dan oleh itu tidak ada tiga tuhan tetapi satu Tuhan, walaupun Bapa memperanakkan Puteranya, maka dia yang Putera bukanlah Bapanya; dan Roh Kudus bukanlah Bapa mahupun Anak, tetapi hanya Roh Bapa dan Puteranya, dan juga dirinya sendiri, adalah sama kedudukannya dengan Bapa dan Putera dan kepunyaan kesatuan di dalam Tritunggal. (Augustinus dari Hippo, Triniti 1:4:7, 408 Masihi) Bapa-bapa Gereja hidup pada masa ketika ia adalah mudah untuk menafikan atau mengabaikan dogma Triniti. Iman Kristian akan menjadi lebih laku jika mereka memilih untuk menolak keutamaannya sebagai pusat dalam sistem iman Gereja.

Hakikatnya mereka memilih untuk mempertahankannya dengan nyawa mereka yang mana menunjukkan sama ada kebodohan kolektif mereka, jika tidak, dogma ini adalah begitu penting sekali.

Oleh itu, ia menunjukkan dalam artikel ini yang bukan sahaja Kitab menegaskan bahawa Allah adalah Satu, tetapi ia juga seterusnya menegaskan bahawa terdapat tiga Peribadi yang merupakan anggota kepada Ketuhanan tunggal ini. Walaupun kebenaran ini mungkin membaurkan, Bapa-bapa Gereja mempertahankannya terhadap pelbagai bidaah ajaran sesat yang timbul semasa Jemaat Awal Gereja, yang mana akan kita kaji dalam artikel yang akan datang mengenai topik yang sama.

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

IMAN DAN HIDUP

PAGE 23

Pada waktu Krismas, sambut hadiah Tuhan dengan kasih, bukan rasa bersalah Pada bulan lepas, saya mengadakan retreat senyap selama seminggu untuk menangani satu kebimbangan yang mengganggu saya. Saya rasa sangat bersalah dengan keseronokan hidup yang saya nikmati sedangkan terdapat kekurangan yang begitu mendalam dan penderitaan yang tidak terkata di dunia.

Catholic Relief Services atau Khidmat Bantuan Katolik berkhidmat kepada orang yang tidak menerima nutrisi yang mencukupi, kadangkadang tidak ada air atau tempat pelindungan yang baik, tidak ada akses kepada penjagaan perubatan yang elok dan, kerap kali, keadaan tidak selamat yang melumpuhkan akibat daripada konflik ganas dan kehilangan punca pendapatan.

Dari interaksi ini, saya dapat pulang untuk mandi dengan air panas, memasak dengan rempah-ratus yang berharga lebih daripada pendapatan harian individu-individu tersebut, mengadakan temujanji dengan doktor pergigian, menikmati percutian, merancang penambahbaikan bagi rumah, dan anda dapat bayangkan yang lain.

Untuk semua ini, saya rasa seakanakan saya harus memohon maaf kerana saya tidak memberikan segalanya kepada Allah atau umatNya. Pengarah rohani saya menumpukan fokus saya kepada konsep pemberian atau hadiah. Apakah pemberian?

Kenapakah kita memberi hadiah?

Apakah yang kita harapkan dari penerimanya?

Baru-baru ini, saya terpaksa memilih sebuah hadiah untuk seorang kanak-

Oleh Effie Caldarola

kemuliaan dan penghormatan, selain mencontohi kebaikan dan kemurahan hatiNya dalam cara kita berhubung dengan anggota lain dalam keluargaNya. Dalam perumpamaanNya, Yesus tidak pernah meminta rasa bersalah, tetapi kepercayaan, kecekalan, pengiktirafan bagi hadiah yang diberi, rasa syukur dan cara hidup yang baharu.

Krismas adalah musim pemberian.

Walaupun kita begitu sibuk membelibelah dan memberi, kita mungkin kurang melabur dalam persiapan kita untuk diri sendiri sebagai penerima pemberian ilahi: Allah sendiri datang ke dalam dunia untuk menjalani kehidupan kanak kecil berusia dua tahun. Dengan jangkaan pun, ialah agar hadiah ini akan dan kelemahan kita, mengajar kita mengembalikan memori indah bagaimana digunakan dan dinikmati dengan seronok. bagaimana untuk menjadi manusia anak lelaki saya amat suka sekali dengan Perkara ini adalah satu pelawaan sebenar, dan menyertai kita dalam ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ pada usia kepada saya untuk berfikir mengenai perjalanan kita.

Reaksi kita tidak susah mahupun tersebut, saya memilih senaskhah buku Allah, pemberi segala hadiah atau khususnya rumit. Kita harus memberi Thomas yang terdiri daripada landasan anugerah atau pemberian. kereta api dan replika kecil Thomas dan Kenapakah Allah memberi keberkatan perhatian sewajarnya dengan semua rakan-rakan enjinnya. kepada kita? Apakah yang Ia mahukan hadiah, untuk berhubung dengan si Ia amat berjaya sekali. Kanak- bagi kita, bukan dari kita, dalam pemberi sebagai mengiktiraf kasih kanak itu amat menyukai buku tersebut, kemurahan hatiNya? Bagaimanakah di sebalik pemberian itu, menjadikan meneliti setiap muka surat dan berhati- kita, penerima yang dimaksudkan, harus hadiah ituu sebahagian daripada kita, sekali gus menghangatkan dan hati mengeluarkan kereta api dari menerimanya? bungkusannya.

Kitab-kitab dari Kitab Kejadian mengubah kita dalam kesedaran bahawa Dia memeluk buku itu dengan begitu hingga ke Perjanjian Baharu memberitahu kita disayangi melangkaui batasan ketat sekali sehinggakan dia tidak dapat kita Allah memberi kerana kasihNya manusia.

Dalam semua ini, kita harus melepaskan sebelah tangan pun untuk yang begitu besar bagi kita, bahawa Ia membolehkan ibunya mengenakan mahu kita berkembang dan menjalani menikmati kegembiraan Allah terhadap kot padanya. saya amat seronok sekali kehidupan sepenuhnya, dan semua kita.

Dalam senarai kehendak Kismas melihat ini. ciptaanNya mencerminkanNya dan Merenungkan soalam pengarah kemurahan hatiNya. Dalam erti kata yang saya kepada Allah, saya memohon agar pemberian diriNya membantu rohami saya mengenai pemberian atau mudah, Allah amat gembira dengan kita. hadiah, saya mahu keluarga kanak-kanak Kita yang diberkati dituntut untuk saya menjadi lebih murah hati, berhati itu bahawa kita menghargai dan menerima mengenaliNya di dalam dan sebagai terbuka, sukacita, penyayang dan tidak si cilik ini. Satu-satunya harapan, bukan sumber kekayaan ini, memanjatkan doa, lagi rasa bersalah. - CNS (Terjemahan) telah mengamalkan keempatempat tema musim Adven.

Sesungguhnya Adven adalah masa untuk kita melihat kembali ‘pencapaian’ kita pada tahun-tahun yang lepas samada kita betul-betul bersedia untuk menyambut kedatangan Tuhan. Sekiranya Tuhan tidak datang pada Adven adalah masa untuk kita saat yang kita nantikan, kita melihat kembali ‘pencapaian’ kita patutlah bersyukur kerana pada tahun-tahun yang lepas diberi peluang untuk sekurangdari pena penulis jemputan, samada kita betul-betul bersedia kurangnya memperingati untuk menyambut kedatangan Tuhan kedatangan-Nya yang pertama yang dirayakan melalui Tahun liturgi kita bermula menyaksikan peristiwa tersebut yang dilakukannya gagal untuk kasih, kegembiraan dan damai Perayaan Krismas. “Dalam dengan musim Adven. berlaku di beberapa tempat menarik perhatian orang Farisi kepada seluruh bangsa. Itulah perayaan Krismas, Gereja pada perayaan ingin mengungkapkan imannya Perkataan Adven berasal dari namun sehingga ke saat ini dan ketua-ketua imam. Dia tema-tema kelahiran Yesus bahasa Latin “Adventus” dunia masih lagi utuh. Teori dihakimi dan dihukum atas musim Adven. Setiap batang bahawa yang bermaksud kedatangan. atau pendapat yang berdasarkan alasan tersebut. Kedatangannya lilin Adven membawa tema merupakan saat terpenuhinya yang kedua telah yang berbeza. janji keselamatan Allah Pada musim Adven kita pengetahuan tertentu tidak dapat kali Semasa di padang gurun kepada umat manusia” (Buku menantikan kedatangan Tuhan membongkar misteri pemikiran diumumkan oleh Yesus sendiri Pembaptis telah Misa Hari Minggu dan Hari kali yang kedua iaitu pada Tuhan. Yesus sendiri telahpun namun tiada tanda, tarikh dan Yohanes kewujudan masa dinyatakan. Oleh yang menyeru orang ramai supaya Raya). akhir zaman. Bilakah dan meramalkan Yesus berpesan, mempersiapkan dan meluruskan Dalam keghairah kita bagaimanakah akhir zaman nabi-nabi palsu yang boleh demikian untuk menyambut membuat persiapan untuk akan berlaku? Hanya Tuhan memesongkan tumpuan kita “Berjaga-jagalah kerana kamu jalan kepada-Nya (Mat. 24:24). tidak mengetahui waktunya kedatangan Tuhan. Pada musim menyambut kedatangan Tuhan yang mengetahuinya.

Kedatangan-Nya yang Tuhan kamu akan datang. Adven ini, Yohanes Pembaptis kali yang kedua, janganlah pula Bercakap tentang akhir zaman, sesetangah orang telah pertama telah ‘mengelirukan’ Ingatlah hal ini!” (Mat. 24:42). memanggil kita untuk membuat kita lupa tentang kehadiranmembuat ramalan bahawa ramai orang terutama mereka Kita juga telah dimaklumkan perkara yang sama agar kita Nya di dalam sakramen dan untuk menyambut kehidupan orang lain. Sukacita ianya akan berlaku pada yang mengetahui Taurat Musa bahawa Dia akan bertindak layak tarikh dan masa tertentu yang sehingga ada yang bercanggah sebagai hakim untuk yang hidup kedatangan Tuhan dengan hati yang sebenar ialah apabila ditandai dengan bencana alam pendapat tentang keilahian- dan yang mati. Penghakiman yang suci. Kesucian hati bukan kita dapat melihat Kristus yang dashyat dan keadaan Nya. Nubuat para nabi tentang Tuhan sangat adil. Dia datang hanya dinilai dari segi ibadat pada sakramen dan kehidupan yang huru hara. Kita telah kelahiran-Nya dan mukjizat untuk membawa harapan, belas kita tetapi juga sejauh mana kita orang lain.

Hati ke hati...

Fr Lazarus Swinie

PAGE 24

BERITA

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

KENALI KARDINAL KITA YANG PERTAMA DARI MALAYSIA

WAWANCARA

Kardinal digelar ‘No. 33’:

‘Kepercayaan Kepada Allah Tidak Pernah Mengecewakan Kita’

‘Segalanya adalah karya Roh Kudus.’ …

‘Ketenangan fikiran daripada kepercayaan kepada Allah tidak pernah mengecewakan kita. ...’

‘Percaya kepadaNya, seperti bapa anda sendiri. Jika ada cabaran, yakinilah bahawa Dia melihat sesuatu yang baik di dalamnya...’

Kata-kata bijaksana ini diberikan kepada ZENIT dalam satu wawancara eksklusif oleh Kardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez yang telah mencipta sejarah dengan pencalonan beliau: Malaysia telah memperolehi kardinal pertamanya.

Pope Francis mengumumkan prelat itu akan menerima topi merah beliau, bersama 16 prelat lain, dalam Ucapan Angelus beliau pada 9 Oktober lalu.

Kardinal Fernandez merupakan seorang daripada empat orang kardinal baharu berusia lebih 80 tahun yang telah diberi penghormatan di atas khidmat mereka sekian lama kepada Gereja.

Uskup Agung Emeritus Kuala Lumpur itu bercerita dengan kami tentang apa yang beliau pelajari selama ini.

Beliau meluangkan masa beberapa jam untuk bercakap dengan ZENIT di kediaman Paus, Casa Santa Marta, dan begitu prihatin sekali untuk bertanya sama ada wartawan ini sudah bersarapan atau belum.

Walaupun sudah bersarapan, tawaran untuk minum espresso kemudian di Via della Conciliazione telah diterima dengan gembira.

Pada permulaan wawancara kami, kardinal itu mahu khususnya bercakap mengenai beberapa petikan dari Amanat Apostolik Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, yang benar-benar ‘menyentuh’ beliau.

“Uskup-uskup menggelar saya ‘33’,” kata prelat Asia itu, kerana beliau menekankan kepada semua orang petikan ini yang menyebut: “Pelayanan pastoral dalam kunci mubaligh cuba meninggalkan sikap sambil lewa yang menyebut: ‘Kita selama ini melakukannya dengan cara ini.’ Saya mempelawa semua orang untuk menjadi berani dan kreatif dalam tugasan memikirkan semula matlamat, struktur, stail dan kaedah penginjilan ini dalam jemaat masing-masing.

Cadangan matlamat tanpa pencarian umum yang secukupnya bagi kaedah untuk mencapainya akan ternyata satu khayalan pada akhirnya. Saya menggalakkan semua untuk menggunapakai garis panduan yang ada dalam dokumen ini dengan kerap dan berani, tanpa rasa ragu-ragu atau takut. Perkara

penting adalah untuk tidak berjalan bersendirian, tetapi bergantung kepada satu sama lain sebagai saudara-saudari, dan terutamanya di bawah kepimpinan uskup-uskup, dalam penilaian pastoral yang bijaksana dan realistik.”

Selepas konsistori, kardinal itu secara tidak rasmi bercakap sekali lagi dengan ZENIT dan bercerita bagaimana Bapa Suci memberi galakan kepada beliau dalam usaha beliau untuk mempromosikan ‘Nombor 33’ dan memberi khidmat kepada orang miskin.

Ditahbis sebagai paderi pada 10 Disember 1966, kardinal Malaysia itu meraikan ulang tahun pentahbisan kepaderian beliau yang ke-50 pada bulan ini (Disember).

Pada 17 Februari 1978, beliau ditahbis menjadi Uskup Diosis Pulau Pinang, dan pada 10 November 1983, ditabal untuk menjadi Uskup Agung Kuala Lumpur.

Beliau memimpin keuskupan agung tersebut selama 20 tahun sebelum beliau berundur pada usia 71 tahun atas sebab kesihatan. Walaupun sudah ‘bersara’, beliau masih memberi khidmat kepada keuskupan agung beliau.

Beliau kemudian ditugaskan sebagai bapa rohani kepada Kolej Umum, Seminari Utama di Pulau Pinang.

Kardinal Soter Fernandez masih berkhidmat sebagai presiden Persidangan Uskup-uskup Malaysia, dan sebagai chaplain di Rumah Warga Emas Saint Xavier, Cheras.

Walaupun dari segi teknikal, beliau sudah bersara daripada memberi khidmat kepada keuskupan agung pada 2003, pembantu beliau Father Pereira yang mengiringinya di Rom berkata definisi kardinal baharu itu bagi ‘bersara’ adalah relatif.

Apabila ZENIT bertanya tentang reaksi beliau kepada pencalonan itu, beliau menjawab dengan senyuman: “Ia bukan sesuatu yang saya inginkan atau harapkan, tetapi sentiasa percaya kepada kehendak Allah. Selain itu, selepas uzur, saya menyedari Dia memberi kekuatan kepada saya untuk melakukan segalanya.”

Dalam wawancara itu, Kardinal Soter turut menceritakan tentang pertemuan pertama beliau dengan Pope Francis, yang berlangsung selepas Perjumpaan Umum.

“Beliau memberitahu saya dalam Bahasa Inggeris, ‘Tolong berdoa untuk saya’, dan memberi jaminan kepada beliau bahawa saya akan berdoa untuk beliau.”

Beliau berkata ini adalah sesuatu yang sangat penting.

Ditanya perkara yang paling menyentuh beliau tentang Francis, kardinal itu bercakap mengenai kesederhanaan beliau, komitmen beliau kepada dialog, dan bagaimana beliau menyalurkan belaskasihan.

Kardinal itu juga memberitahu kami, iaitu pada 1978, ketika beliau dilantik untuk menjadi Uskup Pulau Pinang, beliau memilih jata keuskupan dengan

cogan kata ‘Keadilan dan Keamanan’.

Beliau berkata hari ini lebih lagi daripada dahulu, keadilan dan kemanan memainkan peranan yang begitu penting, terutamanya dalam lingkungan politik dan sosial di negara beliau yang mempunyai pelbagai budaya dan agama.

Beliau turut menyatakan bagaimana beliau menghargai ketulenan Pope Francis.

“Beliau tidak mahu memakai kasut (merah) itu” dan “beliau adalah diri beliau sendiri”.

Saudara Anda ... Allah Berjalan Dengan Orang Kudus Prelat Malaysia itu turut bercakap mengenai kasih beliau terhadap St John Paul II. Beliau menceritakan bagaimana selepas beliau ditahbis menjadi uskup, beliau dapat berjumpa dengan orang kudus itu buat pertama kalinya di lawatan ad limina, yang berlangsung sekali setiap lima tahun.

“Perkara pertama yang saya fikirkan: syukur kepada Allah, Paus ini bercakap dalam Bahasa Inggeris kerana saya tidak belajar Bahasa Latin,” kata beliau sambil tersenyum.

“Banyak kali saya datang dan saya berjumpa dengannya,” katanya, dan mengingati khususnya perbincangan mereka selepas beliau dilantik untuk menjadi uskup agung: “Saya memberitahu Pope John Paul II: ‘Bapa Suci, saya mahu mengucapkan terima kasih kepada anda di atas keyakinan anda terhadap saya, dan melantik saya menjadi Uskup Agung Kuala Lumpur’ dan beliau memeluk saya dan berkata ‘Saya adalah saudara anda’.”

Beliau mengimbau: “Pada 2001, saya adalah uskup agung dan presiden persidangan uskup-uskup, dan saya khususnya ingat pengalaman ini dengan beliau. Ia adalah pada waktu beliau memberi rosari kepada kami. Saya berkata kepada beliau ‘Selain rosari untuk saya, boleh saya minta rosari untuk ibu saya?’ Beliau dengan bergurau lalu mengumumkan dengan suara nyaring dan sangat halus: ‘Beliau mahukan rosari untuk mama beliau. Beri satu kepada beliau.’

Merenungkan momen beliau bersama John Paul II, Kardinal Soter Fernandez berkata: “Allah berjalan bersama orang kudus (santo dan santa).”

Beliau juga memberitahu kami apa yang ditulis oleh St Pope John Paul II kepada beliau dalam sepucuk surat peribadi sempena ulang tahun ke-25 pentahbisan keuskupan beliau pada 2003: “Komitmen anda yang kuat kepada kewajipan bukan sahaja memanfaatkan jemaat yang diamanahkan kepada anda, tetapi ditunjukkan dengan jelas kepada semua di Asia.”

“Peranan anda bersama Persidangan Uskup-uskup Katolik MalaysiaSingapura-Brunei, bersinar termasuk dalam usaha anda yang bersungguhsungguh untuk memberi hala tuju dan matlamat kepada Gereja di Malaysia Barat,” kata Paus dari Poland itu.

Kami mempelawa Mengenai kehidupan bersara beliau sebagai kardinal, beliau mengesahkan beliau masih aktif, masih membantu jemaat beliau, masih komited kepada dialog.

Bercakap mengenai inisiatif di negara beliau untuk memupuk dialog antara agama, beliau menyebut tentang tradisi di mana jemaat Kristian berhimpun untuk mengadakan keramaian Krismas, dan untuk perhimpunan pada tahun ini, orang Islam dan penganut agama lain akan dipelawa.

Beliau turut memuji pilihan kardinal baharu oleh Paus, yang kadang-kadang mengejutkan, dari tempat terpinggir, “sebagai tanda bahawa Paus komited untuk membantu Gereja sejagat”.

Cabaran-cabaran Kardinal itu juga bercakap mengenai beberapa cabaran yang dihadapi di negara beliau yang mempunyai pelbagai kaum dan budaya.

“Kahwin campur,” kata beliau kepada kami, adalah “satu contoh klasik bagi cabaran ini, seorang garis Katolik yang cantik, dia menegaskan teman lelakinya mestilah Katolik dan berkata teman lelakinya akan memeluk agama Katolik. Kemudian pada hari mereka berkahwin, si suami berkata: ‘Sudah. Anda adalah isteri saya. Tiada urusan Katolik.’ Syukur kepada Allah kerana si gadis tidak menyempurnakan perkahwinan dengan hubungan kelamin. Ia memakan masa bertahuntahun untuk membatalkan perkahwinan.

Malangnya begitu banyak perkara yang berlaku seperti itu.”

Apabila ditanya bagaimana beliau menggambarkan situasi orang Katolik, beliau berkata, “Komuniti eklesia asas masih berkumpul, sebenarnya semua kaum berkumpul. Paroki wilayah berkumpul. Di mana sahaja Tuhan ditempatkan, semua berkumpul”.

“Di negara kami, ada kepelbagaian, ada banyak kaum, ada ramai orang Islam,” kata beliau.

Bila ditanya sama ada hakikat bahawa Malaysia adalah sebuah negara majoriti Islam menjejaskan orang Katolik atau tidak, beliau berkata usaha sedang dijalankan untuk berdialog dan semua orang hidup bersama. bersambung di ms 25

BERITA

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Dari meja pengarang

PAGE 25

Melihat ke belakang dan ke hadapan

Kita memulakan Disember dengan perasmian dan pemberkatan rasmi Galeri Sejarah Keuskupan Agung pada 3 Disember lalu.

Terletak dalam bilik di belakang perpustakaan ACCPC Katedral St Joseph, ia menempatkan artifak, laporan bertulis dan gambar yang wujud sejak zaman pentadbiran Brooke lagi.

Tujuan Galeri Sejarah ini adalah untuk menceritakan kisah sejarah penyelamatan kita di Sarawak, melihat ke belakang dengan rasa syukur di atas pengorbanan mubaligh yang tidak terkira

dan pada waktu yang sama memberi inspirasi kepada hamba-hamba baharu yang bekerja di kebun anggur Tuhan di Sarawak.

Melihat ke hadapan... Krismas! Musim yang membentuk asas bagi semua usaha mubaligh!

Namun sebelum itu, kita tunggu dengan harapan yang penuh sukacita.

Selamat menyambut Advent kepada semua!

Stella Chin (Terjemahan)

CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM PENERBIT Uskup Agung Kuching PENASIHAT Fr Felix Au EDITOR Stella Chin EDITOR BERSEKUTU (B Cina) Magdalene Yeo SIDANG EDITOR Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (B Inggeris) Victoria J Lim (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Inggeris) James Lo (B Cina) Margaret Bong (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Cina) STAF Audrey Yu

Seminar Kerahiman Dalam Keluarga Kumpulan Blok Rosari Maria SERIAN — Sempena Tahun Kerahiman, Divine Mercy Apostolate atau Kerasulan Kerahiman Ilahi (KKI) dan Jawatankuasa Sekolah Minggu Peringkat Kampung (JSMPK) telah sama-sama menganjurkan Seminar Kerahiman Dalam Keluarga di Dewan Tayung Langui, Kpg Pichin dari 21-23 Oktober lalu.

Kerana keinginan untuk mendalami lagi pengetahuan tentang mesej-mesej Kerahiman Ilahi yang telah disampaikan kepada Santa Faustina, maka Tim Kerasulan Kerahiman Ilahi dari Dekenat Jakarta Barat, Indonesia, telah dijemput untuk maksud yang suci itu.

Mereka terdiri daripada Father Johannes Subagio PR, Bapa Henricus Haryanto Tjenderasa, Ibu Patricia Esterina AD dan Bapa Charles Sugiarto.

Komuniti Kerasulan Kerahiman Ilahi ini sudah lama wujud dan membuat kerja kerasulan di merata tempat di Indonesia, Sarawak, Brunei dan Sabah. Mereka menyampaikan yang terbaik berhubung mesej-mesej yang terkandung di dalam Diari St

Bintang Syurga raikan ulang tahun kedua

AMALKAN BELASKASIHAN ... Fr Johannes (gambar sisipan) mendesak jemaat untuk berdoa selalu Fausina.

Di antaranya, Fr Johannes bertanya, “Apakah resolusi (azam) kita selepas seminar ini?”

Soalan ini telah membuat peserta berfikir tentang resolusi masing-masing.

Dalam usaha untuk hidup dalam Kerahiman Ilahi, Fr Johannes seterusnya menyatakan “kita tak mungkin berjalan ke tujuan yang baik, dan sepanjang jalan berbuat jahat; kerana Kerahiman Ilahi adalah Kasih yang sabar dan setia.

Sebaliknya, secara kita sedari

atau tidak sedari, kita membuat dosa setiap minit di dalam hati kita, fikiran kita, mata kita dan salah laku kita”.

Berdoalah, agar Yesus membebaskan kita daripada dibelenggu sifat angkuh, tetapi dengan kerendahan hati, kita mampu dan berani meminta maaf di atas kesilapan yang kita lakukan, demi melahirkan dan mengekalkan suasana hidup yang berkomuniti, harmoni dan sejahtera, kata beliau.

Kira-kira 300 orang Katolik memeriahkan seminar selama tiga hari itu. - Jenner Menggu

BATU KAWA — Pada 24 September lalu, Kumpulan Blok Rosari Maria Bintang Syurga dari Skim Penempatan Semula Stapok, Batu Kawa, telah meraikan Ulang Tahun Kedua penubuhan kumpulan mereka.

Majlis ulang tahun tersebut diadakan di rumah ketua mereka, Maurice Edward Dumut, dan dihadiri 50-60 orang ahli kumpulan.

Turut hadir beberapa orang tetamu jemputan dari kawasan perumahan RPR Batu Kawa Fasa 2 dan Father Sylvester Ding, seorang paderi dari Keusukupan Miri yang telah diberi penghormatan untuk memberkati beberapa buah rumah ahli-ahli kumpulan selain merayakan Misa pada petang yang sama.

Dalam homilinya, Fr

Sylvester memuji kumpulan itu kerana berjaya mengadakan majlis yang sungguh bermakna, di mana ahli-ahli kumpuladan tetamu jemputan berkesempatan untuk berkumpul dan mengeratkan silaturahim di antara mereka.

Beliau juga menyeru agar ibu bapa dalam kumpulan tersebut memainkan peranan yang aktif untuk mendidik dan membentuk anak-anak mereka dalam hal-hal kerohanian kerana ia amat penting bagi menyediakan mereka menghadapi masa depan yang penuh dengan pelbagai cabaran.

Majlis tamat pada jam 9.30 malam dan diakhiri dengan ucapan terima kasih dari Maurice Edward Dumut.

Lendik Edmond Mawin

bersambung dari ms 24

Kaunseling Krisis Kehamilan Kumpulan Pro-Life menyediakan: + Kaunseling Krisis Kehamilan - Secara peribadi atau melalui telefon - Sulit dan rahsia + Maklumat berkenaan kehamilan dan jahat pengguguran + Tempat berteduh + Sokongan satu dengan satu semasa dan selepas kehamilan + Bantu mengatur pengambilan anak angkat sebagai satu alternatif kepada pengguguran Hubungan kami Telefon: 082-413454

E-mel: kprolife@gmail.com

Atau datang ke Pejabat Pro-Life: Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre, 1st Floor, Lot 2500, Jalan Stampin, 93350 Kuching | Laman web: http://www.prolifegroupkuching.org

Kardinal Fernandez menduduki Gereja Titular beliau, Gereja Sant’Alberto Magno pada 22 November.

Paus Asia Ditanya sama ada pilihan kardinal yang dibuat oleh Pope Francis telah membuka pintu atau tidak bagi seorang Paus dari Asia, beliau berkata: “Kita tidak tahu.”

“Amerika Latin sudah datang.

Ini adalah satu perubahan sepenuhnya. Ia menuntut keberanian. Beliau tidak mahu menaiki kereta tetapi lebih suka menggunakan bas

dan pergi,” kata beliau, yang menambah keadaan berubah dan kita tidak tahu apa yang akan berlaku seterusnya.

Apabila ditanya sama ada beliau ada nasihat untuk paderi muda atau tidak, Kardinal Soter Fernandez menasihatkan mereka untuk kurangkan bercakap kepada Allah, dan “mula mendengarNya”.

Zenit.org (Terjemahan)

BERITA

PAGE 26

Meditasi mengenai sebuah mozek Pada dinding di belakang altar dalam chapel seminari kita ada sebuah mozek indah yang menunjukkan bintangbintang besar pelbagai warna dan reka bentuk yang bersinar berlatarbelakangkan langit malam yang begitu biru.

Ia melambangkan janji yang dibuat oleh Abraham dalam Kitab Kejadian Fasal 15: “Lihatlah langit malam dan kira jumlah bintang, jika kamu dapat – demikianlah jumlah keturunan kamu nanti.”

Bagi Abraham, ini adalah janji kehidupan dalam ungkapan yang beliau dapat fahami, kerana orang pada zaman beliau berpendapat mereka akan hidup selepas kematian menerusi anak-anak mereka – maka itu, untuk melahirkan anak seramai itu bermakna nama beliau akan hidup selama-lamanya.

Janji Kehidupan yang sama ini telah dibuat oleh Allah berkali-kali selama berabadabad – kepada seluruh umat manusia dan kepada setiap daripada kita secara peribadi.

Janji ini merupakan titik permulaan bagi kehidupan kasih dan persahabatan kita dengan Allah dalam Kristus dan apabila kita duduk dalam chapel kita dalam kegelapan pagi, sebelum matahari terbit, dan melihat mozek yang bersinar, saya seakan-akan mendengar suara Kristus yang dengan senyap membisikkan kepada saya janji yang sama: “Aku datang agar kamu dapat memperolehi kehidupan dan memperolehinya sepenuhnya.”

(Yohanes 10:10) Semua bintang dalam mozek itu berlainan daripada satu sama lain; ada yang besar dan diperbuat daripada corak-corak yang terang dan rumit, manakala ada juga yang lebih kecil dan tidak begitu menonjol dari segi warna dan reka bentuk, tetapi pada kesemuanya, warna dan corak dilakar sedemikian rupa untuk

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

BENIH-BENIH PADI Fr Terry Burke ialah seorang mubaligh Mill Hill yang pernah berkhidmat di Sarawak, Indonesia, India dan England. Buat masa sekarang, beliau adalah pensyarah di Kolej St Peter selain ditugaskan kepada kerja pembentukan di Keuskupan Kuching.

Today’s Catholic ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Fr Burke kerana membahagikan renungan dan pengalaman pastoral yang kaya di dalam ruangan ini yang bertajuk Benihbenih Padi.

memperlihatkan Salib Kristus di tengah setiap bintang.

Salib itu mendapat bentuknya daripada pelbagai bentuk dan warna setiap bintang, sama seperti kasih Allah Maha Rahim muncul dalam pelbagai bentuk apabila ia mengalir menerusi kita, untuk memberi kehidupan dan harapan kepada orang di sekeliling kita – masing-masing dalam caranya yang unik dan tersendiri – dan dengan demikian, membawa kita semakin dalam ke dalam kehidupanNya. Saya menyedari perkara ini baru-baru ini di dua upacara pengebumian yang saya hadiri.

Upacara pertama adalah pengebumian Father Richard, seorang paderi yang berkhidmat di sebuah pusat pemulihan rohani dan dikunjungi ramai orang yang mencari kehidupan dan harapan.

Di upacara pengebumian beliau, katedral penuh dengan paderi dan orang yang telah melihat Salib Kristus dilukis dengan besar dalam bintang kehidupan beliau.

Pada hari berikutnya, saya menghadiri satu lagi upacara pengebumian, yang jauh lebih sederhana – iaitu pengebumian Teresa, saudari tukang masak kita di seminari, Sister Pat – tetapi selain beberapa Rohaniwati (Religious Sisters) dan pelajar serta kakitangan seminari, hanya segelintir sahaja orang yang hadir.

Bagaimanapun Salib Kristus

turut dilukis dalam kehidupan Teresa bagi mereka yang ada mata untuk melihatnya, kerana Teresa meninggal dunia akibat barah tetapi, ketika beliau menerima rawatan kemoterapi, beliau kadang-kadang tinggal bersama kita di seminari dan kita memerhatikan bahawa beliau menanggung penyakit beliau dengan kehormatan diri yang senyap dan dengan senyuman yang sipu-sipu apabila beliau menyapa kita, satu senyuman yang menunjukkan wajah Kristus – Dia yang membawa kehidupan dan kedamaian, walaupun di tengah-tengah penderitaan.

Kristus mempelawa kita untuk sama-sama merasai belaskasihan dan keprihatinanNya bagi orang lain – untuk membiarkan kasihNya mengalir menerusi kita, dibawa oleh kedua-dua bahagian dalam kehidupan kita yang sempurna dan yang retak.

Pada permulaan perjalanan rohani kita, apabila kita mengambil langkah pertama yang tidak menentu ke dalam persahabatanNya, kita mendapati ia sukar untuk melihat bagaimana Allah dapat menginginkan bahagian kita yang rosak dan retak, dan begitu banyak tenaga rohani kita digunakan dalam usaha yang sukar untuk mengatasi kelemahan kita – dan gagal – dan dengan berbuat demikian, kita sering menenggelamkan kata-kata yang Ia bisikan kepada

kita: “Tetapi ia adalah ‘kamu’ yang saya kasihi – bukan orang yang sempurna.”

Hanya apabila kita akhirnya berhenti dan membenarkan Tuhan untuk mengasihi kita seadanya, baharulah Salib mula kelihatan dalam keajaiban dan keretakan hidup kita; hanya apabila kita menyerah diri kita seadanya ke dalam tangan Tuhan, baharulah wajahNya mula muncul di dalam kita kepada orang di sekeliling kita.

Misteri agung dalam Kepercayaan kita ialah Kristus adalah ‘Penyembuh Yang Luka’ (Wounded Healer) dan kita dipanggil untuk sama-sama menjalani misi itu, terutama sekali, menerusi bahagian diri kita yang terluka.

Bintang mozek di chapel menunjukkan ini, kerana apabila kita mendekatinya, kita dapat melihat bahawa ia terdiri daripada beberapa kepingan mozek kecil yang bagus, tetapi juga banyak cebisan dan kepingan lain yang dikutip dari pantai, termasuk banyak serpihan kaca botol, tetapi semua ini dibentuk bersama untuk memberi warna dan tekstur kepada pelbagai bintang yang begitu banyak.

Maka itu mozek itu mengajar kita bahawa Allah kita mengasihi semua yang Ia telah cipta dan menghargai semua orang tidak kira betapa rosaknya kita, kerana Ia membentuk kerosakan kita untuk menjadi bintang yang begitu indah sekali, bintang yang menunjukkan Kristus.

‘Bintang Agung’ Betlehem,

membimbing Tiga Raja dari bumi jauh untuk pergi ke kandang di Betlehem dan dengan demikian membantu mereka mengenali Yesus walaupun mereka menjumpaiNya dalam keretakan dan kemiskinan rumah Yosef dan Maria di kandang tersebut.

Dalam kandang di Betlehem itu, mereka dan kita belajar bahawa apabila kita dilucutkan semua kehormatan duniawi, Kasih, yang menyatukan dunia, akan bersinar terang bagi mereka yang ada mata untuk melihatnya.

Maka itu Kemuliaan Allah kelihatan di Betlehem, dan akan kelihatan lagi dalam kehancuran dan kesepian di Kalvari – dan ia juga kelihatan dalam kehancuran hidup kita, dibentuk oleh kasih dan kerahiman Allah untuk menjadi sesuatu yang baharu dan indah.

Bintang Betlehem mengingatkan kita bahawa kita adalah ‘Anak-anak Abraham’, dipanggil untuk menjadi ‘bintang-bintang’, yang menunjukkan janji kehidupan, yang mula-mula diberikan pada masa silam, dan bintangbintang, yang membimbing orang, menerusi kehidupan kita, kepada Tuhan Segalanya – supaya mereka juga dapat memperolehi Kehidupan, dan memperolehinya sepenuhnya!

Semoga Allah memberkati anda dan keluarga anda pada musim Krismas ini!

Fr Terry Burke

Kem kanak-kanak bertemakan kerahiman ilahi LUNDU — Pelayanan Belia Paroki (PBP) Roh Kudus Lundu telah menganjurkan program KIDS CAMP 2016 di paroki mereka.

Program ini berlangsung pada 19 November lalu dengan tema ‘Seorang sahabat mengasihi sepanjang masa (Amsal 17:17)’ selari dengan sambutan Tahun Jubli Kerahiman.

Seramai 203 orang kanak-kanak berumur antara tujuh hingga 12

tahun dari seluruh kampung di bawah Paroki Roh Kudus menyertai program ini.

Program KIDS CAMP adalah salah satu program tahunan PBP. Sepanjang sesi berlangsung, Paderi Paroki Father Lazarus Swinie telah memberi perkongsian dengan tema ‘Anak Yang Hilang’ (Lukas 15:11-32).

Sesi disambung dengan perkongsian oleh Katekis Louis Joph tentang ‘Kasih Keluarga’.

Beberapa aktiviti

kumpulan diadakan di mana keseluruhan program adalah berdasarkan maksud Kerahiman Ilahi.

Program berakhir dengan Misa Kudus yang dirayakan oleh Fr Lazarus dan dihadiri peserta dan ibu bapa mereka.

Sesuai dengan tema ‘Berbelaskasihan Seperti Bapa’, Fr Lazarus dalam homili beliau menekankan tentang kasih antara sesama yang penting dalam keluarga dan kehidupan.

Grace Amy

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

BERITA

Galeri sejarah sulung Keuskupan Agung dilancarkan

PAGE 27

Keselamatan penghuni ‘Home of Peace’ diutamakan Jerome Lim berkata langkah tambahan perlu dilaksanakan ekoran penambahan jumlah penghuni dan pelawat ke Rumah tersebut.

KUCHING ‑— Perancangan teliti dan kerja buruh yang intensif selama tiga tahun untuk membina Galeri Sejarah akhirnya membuahkan hasil yang amat baik.

Galeri Sejarah yang terletak di Aras Satu Pusat Pastoral Katedral dan Kuria Keuskupan Agung (ACCPC) adalah kesaksiannya.

Ia dibuka secara rasmi dan diberkati Uskup Agung John Ha pada 3 Disember lepas.

Dalam ucapan alu-aluan beliau, ketua projek Galeri Sejarah Father Felix Au mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Uskup Agung, Uskup Simon Poh, paderi, penderma, penyumbang, sukarelawan dan anggota pasukan projek di atas sokong dan bantuan mereka yang murah hati untuk menjayakan projek tersebut.

Beliau menambah, Galeri Sejarah bertujuan untuk mendokumen, memelihara dan mempamerkan sejarah dan

perkembangan Gereja Katolik di Sarawak bagi memberi maklumat dan inspirasi kepada jemaat tempatan.

Uskup Agung John Ha dalam mesej pendek beliau dalam buku rekod pelawat menyuarakan sukacita beliau kerana galeri itu kini sudah siap.

“Saya berharap dan berdoa agar semua pelawat mendapat inspirasi dan motivasi untuk meneruskan misi Gereja mewartakan Kristus kepada Sarawak dan lebih jauh lagi,” beliau menulis.

Dalam Geleri itu, sejarah tempatan disampaikan secara profesional dan dipamerkan dengan mengagumkan dalam format cetak, gambar, video dan artifak.

Maklumat yang disampaikan adalah meluas dan meliputi sejarah Asia Tenggara sebelum ketibaan agama Kristian, mengenai misi awal di Borneo, Gereja dan Raja Putih, tahuntahun awal kerja Misi, Gereja pada waktu Perang Dunia

Kedua, Majlis Vatikan Kedua, undang-undang penjajah dan persekutuan berhubung sekolah mubaligh, perkembangan Sekolah Mubaligh Katolik, dan banyak lagi.

Pameran Liturgi Gereja tidak kurang mengagumkan.

Selain itu, ratusan gambar digital ditayangkan dan dipamerkan dengan menyenangkan di atas skrin elektronik.

Pada waktu yang sama, sebuah kiosk multimedia turut disediakan untuk memberi akses kepada sejarah Gereja tempatan dan subjek lain dalam format video.

Sejarah Galeri dibuka kepada pelawat dari jam 1.00 - 8.00 pm pada hari biasa, dan dari jam 10.00 am - 6.00 pm pada hujung minggu. Ia ditutup pada Isnin dan cuti umum selain Hari-hari Suci Wajib Gereja.

Johnny Kuek (Terjemahan)

Lebih seratus calon menerima Sakramen Penguatan

KOTA PADAWAN — Pada 13 November lalu, Uskup Simon Poh dari Keuskupan Agung Kuching telah menyempurnakan Sakramen Penguatan ke atas 147 orang calon dalam Misa Penguatan di Dewan Teng Bukap Gereja St Michael bermula jam 9 pagi bagi Zon Teng Bukap, Zon Simpok dan Zon Siburan.

Turut hadir adalah Rektor Paroki St Ann, Friar Gerard Victor OFM dan Diakon Oliver Tham OFM. Kira-kira 1,300 anggota jemaat dari kampungkampung di bawah naungan Zon Teng Bukap menghadiri Misa tersebut.

Kedatangan Uskup Simon disambut dengan penuh meriah mengikut tradisi Bidayuh.

Dalam homili beliau, Uskup Simon meluahkan rasa gembiranya dan mengimbas kembali masa beliau melayani jemaat Katolik di St Michael,

UNTUK KENANGAN ... Jemaat paroki yang baharu menerima Sakramen Penguatan bergambar bersama Uskup Simon dan Friar Gerard.

Teng Bukap pada awal tahun bersiap-sedia serta komited 90an, sambil sesekali beliau untuk melayani di ladang Tuhan.

Friar Gerard turut bertutur dalam dialek Penyewa.

Beliau turut mengingatkan mengingatkan calon yang baharu calon penerima Sakramen menerima Sakramen Penguatan Penguatan agar senantiasa taat untuk terus melayani jemaat di kepada Yesus dan rajin belajar chapel masing-masing.

Selepas Misa, jamuan untuk berjaya.

Dengan pengurapan Roh persaudaraan diadakan bersama Kudus, penerima Sakramen Uskup Simon dan semua hadirin.

Kevin Jindes Penguatan mesti yakin dan

BERSYUKUR ... Jerome Lim bersyukur di atas kerusi mandi keselamatan yang disumbangkan kepada Rumah Aman (Home of Peace).

KUCHING — Bagi memastikan dan meningkatkan kesejahteraan penghuninya, langkah keselamatan telah diambil di ‘Home of Peace’ (Rumah Aman).

Pengurus Rumah Aman, Jerome Lim berkata langkah tambahan perlu dilaksanakan ekoran penambahan jumlah penghuni dan pelawat ke Rumah tersebut.

“Langkah ini mungkin memberi tanggapan bahawa kami tidak suka menerima orang tetapi kita mesti ingat keutamaan kami adalah keselamatan penghuni di sini,” katanya.

Langkah yang diambil termasuk pemasangan sistem pagar masuk utama automatik, pendaftaran pelawat, dan pelawat perlu diiringi sekitar premis.

Sistem pagar disumbang oleh sekumpulan orang awam yang bimbang mengenai keselamatan penghuni. Sebuah lagi kumpulan menyumbang sistem kamera litar tertutup (CCTV) yang akan dipasang di Rumah itu dalam masa terdekat.

Jerome berkata beberapa penghuni mengalami demensia dan mereka cenderung berkeliaran bersendirian.

Pelawat perlu mendaftar diri di kaunter pendaftaran dalam dewan aktiviti utama bagi tujuan rekod. Mereka yang ingin melihat sekitar premis akan diiringi kakitangan.

“Kami selalu mengalualukan pelawat ke Rumah ini.

Mereka boleh menghubungi atau menulis kepada kami jika mereka datang dalam kumpulan,” tambah Jerome.

Selain itu Jerome ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada penderma baik hati yang telah menyumbang enam kerusi mandi keselamatan dalam bilik mandi untuk memastikan penghuni tidak tergelincir atau terjatuh apabila mereka duduk untuk mandi.

“Rumah kami begitu diberkati dengan kemurahan hati begitu ramai orang yang mengambil berat tentang penghuni kami.

Kami bergantung sepenuhnya kepada orang ramai bagi dana untuk mengurus Rumah ini,” katanya.

Rumah Aman merupakan sebuah rumah Katolik di Jalan Landeh, Batu 10 Jalan Kuching-Serian, yang ditubuhkan oleh Catholic Welfare Services Sarawak (Khidmat Kebajikan Katolik Sarawak) bagi golongan warga emas dan gelandangan.

Buat masa sekarang, rumah tersebut mempunyai 18 orang penghuni.

Mereka yang ingin melawat Rumah Aman atau menderma wang dan barang boleh menghubungi Jerome di talian 012-8885999 atau emel manager.hopekuching@gmail. com; atau Matron Sister Ursula di talian 014-3942425 atau pejabat Rumah di talian 082381262.

CWS (Terjemahan)

PAGE 28

BERITA

TODAY’S CATHOLIC DECEMBER 2016

Perutusan Krismas 2016 daripada Archbishop John Ha Pada Mei tahun ini, kita telah meraikan ulang tahun ke-40 penubuhan Keuskupan Agung Kuching dengan tema: ‘Meraikan Kasih dan Kerahiman Allah Yang Teguh’. Kemudian pada November lalu, kita menutup Tahun Jubli Luar Biasa yang membawa tema: ‘Berbelaskasihan Seperti Bapa’.

Selepas mengalami kerahiman Allah, kita dipanggil untuk menjadi sepertiNya dengan merenungkan kerahimanNya dalam kehidupan kita sebagai individu dan sebagai Gereja.

Saya berharap dan berdoa agar kedua-dua peristiwa itu telah merendam kita dalam lautan kasih dan kerahiman Allah serta mendorong kita untuk menjadi “tanda dan alat” bagi rahmatNya kepada sesiapa sahaja yang kita jumpa. Pengalaman tulen dengan rahmat Allah hendaknya mendorong seseorang itu untuk membahagikannya dengan orang lain. Itulah apa yang berlaku dengan Bonda Perawan Maria.

Selepas bonda menerima berita dari Malaikat Gabriel bahawa bonda telah dipilih untuk menjadi bonda Putera Allah yang menjadi manusia, bonda bergegas untuk melawat dan membantu sepupu bonda, Elisabet, yang sudah hamil enam bulan (cf. Lukas 1:26-45). Gembala turut bergegas untuk melihat si bayi Yesus selepas malaikat mengumumkan kelahiranNya kepada mereka. Apabila mereka sampai ke palungan dan melihatnya,

Foto: Hobart Kho

“mereka memaklumkan apa yang telah diberitahukan kepada mereka mengenai anak ini” (Lukas 2:27).

Pengalaman tulen dengan rahmat Allah pasti memenuhi kita dengan sukacita. Dalam sukacita itu, kita merasai dorongan untuk membahagikannya dengan rakan-rakan kita. Rakan-rakan tulen pasti gembira untuk mendengar cerita kita dan sama-sama merasai sukacita kita. Namun perkara lain mungkin berlaku: mereka mungkin begitu tertarik dengan pengalaman kita sehinggakan mereka juga mahu mengalaminya. Keinginan ini membuka mereka kepada gerakan rahmat Allah dalam kehidupan mereka sendiri. Maria bergegas untuk melawat Elisabet dan memberitahu tentang sukacita bonda sendiri kepada sepupu bonda selain turut merasai sukacita sepupu bonda itu. Gembala yang menjaga domba di

kawasan lapangan pada waktu malam diberitahu oleh malaikat: “Jangan takut; sesungguhnya aku membawa kepada kamu berita baik yang amat sukacita bagi semua bangsa” (Lukas 2:10).

Mereka ditarik oleh keinginan mereka untuk menikmati sukacita ini; lalu mereka bergegas ke palungan. Mereka yang mendengar cerita mereka “rasa takjub” (Lukas 2:18). Ia sememangnya semula jadi bagi “ketakjuban” ini untuk meliputi elemen sukacita.

Merenung semula dua peristiwa tadi – ulang tahun ke-40 Keuskupan Agung Kuching serta Tahun Jubli Kerahiman – kita dibimbing untuk menilai dengan jujur impaknya ke atas kita. Adakah kita bersemangat untuk membahagikan pengalaman kita mengenai kasih dan kerahiman Allah bagi kita kepada orang lain? Adakah kita rasa sukacita dalam pengalaman ini, dan adakah

sukacita kita mendorong kita untuk membahagikannya kepada orang lain?

Jika tidak ada sebarang impak, maka Krismas adalah satu lagi perayaan rahmat bagi kita. Kerana Sesungguhnya, Krismas meraikan Inkarnasi – Putera Allah menjadi Manusia dan dilahirkan oleh Perawan Maria.

Inkarnasi ternyata misteri kasih dan kerahiman Allah bagi kita. Sememangnya ia adalah kerana Dia menyayangi dan mengasihi kitalah Putera Allah memilih untuk mengosongkan Diri daripada keilahianNya dan menjadi seperti salah seorang daripada kita (cf. Filipi 2:6-11) untuk memberi kehidupan kepada kita (cf. Yohanes 3:16-17).

Marilah kita membuka hati kita untuk mendengar malaikat memberitahu kita: “Aku membawa kepada kamu berita baik yang amat sukacita: kepada kamu dilahirkan pada hari ini di kota Daud seorang Penyelamat, iaitu Mesias, Tuhan” (Lukas 2:10-11).

Jika kita mengalami sukacita dan mendapat semangat daripada dua peristiwa ini, biarlah Krismas ini menjadi perayaan rahmat tambahan selain mendorong kita seterusnya untuk menjadi “tanda dan alat” kasih dan kerahiman Tuhan bagi orang lain.

Dalam kasih dan sukacita Krismas, saya mendoakan semua pembaca: “Krismas yang berkat dan penuh dengan kedamaian dan sukacita, kasih dan kerahiman Tuhan.”

Uskup Agung Marino kepada Kardinal Soter: topi merah itu adalah untuk jemaat Tuhan di Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR — Nunsio Apostolik (Wakil Kepausan) ke Malaysia, Uskup Agung Joseph Marino menganjurkan majlis makan malam bagi meraikan His Grace Anthony Soter Fernandez, yang telah dilantik untuk menjadi Kardinal, di Nunsiatur Apostolik (Kedutaan Kepausan) pada 1 November lalu.

“Ketika Pope Francis mengumumkan senarai kardinal baharu pada 9 Oktober lalu, di mana nama anda telah dimasukkan, beliau menerangkan jawatan ini dengan sangat jelas apabila beliau berkata: ‘Penambahan kardinal baharu dalam keuskupan Rom menunjukkan hubungan yang tidak dapat dipisahkan di antara Takhta Peter dan gereja-gereja tempatan yang tersebar di seluruh dunia’ dan, oleh yang demikian, anda ‘membantu saya dalam pelayanan saya sebagai Uskup Rom’ dan sebagai ‘tanda kepaduan kepercayaan dan komuni (kesatuan) yang kekal dan nyata’,” kata Uskup Agung Marino kepada kardinal baharu tersebut.

“Maka itu, apabila anda menerima cincin kardinal, Bapa Suci akan mengingatkan anda bahawa ia adalah ‘tanda martabat, penjagaan pastoral dan komuni (kesatuan) paling kukuh dengan Takhta Peter’ dan apabila anda menerima biretta (topi merah kardinal), anda akan diingatkan bahawa ia adalah

“Pope Francis mengenali anda, kerana beliau mengenali Gereja di Malaysia yang anda wakili, uskup, paderi, religius dan jemaat awam.”

- Nuncio kepada Kardinal Soter

Pope Francismeletakkan topi merah (biretta) di atas kepala Kardinal baharu Anthony Soter Fernandez dari Kuala Lumpur semasa konsistori di Basilika St Peter (Foto: The Malay Mail) ‘tanda martabat jawatan Kardinal, anda ‘telah menunjukkan kecemerlangan yang menandakan anda bersedia untuk anda dengan khidmat pastoral anda bertindak dengan hati teguh, malah hingga dan, sebagai seorang paderi, anda telah ke tahap menumpahkan darah anda demi mempamerkan kesaksian Kristian yang meningkatkan kepercayaan Kristian, jelas’. demi keamanan dan keharmonian di “Ya, Pope Francis mengenali anda, kalangan Umat Allah, demi kebebasan kerana beliau mengenali Gereja di dan perkembangan Gereja Roman Malaysia yang anda wakili, uskup, Katolik Yang Kudus’. paderi, religius dan jemaat awam.

“Anda, bersama kardinal lain yang Kita boleh katakan, disebabkan oleh diumumkan pada hari itu, telah dipilih, pelayanan harian mereka yang dedikasi dan ini adalah kata-kata Bapa Suci, kerana serta komitmen mereka yang mendalam

kepada kepercayaan Katolik, anda menerima undi yang tak ternilai sekali dari mereka. Mereka membawa anda kepada mata dan hati Bapa Suci.

“Seterusnya, apabila Paus meletakkan topi merah itu di atas anda pada 19 November lalu, yang semua kita akan saksikan dengan bangga, ingatlah bahawa topi itu adalah untuk mereka, seluruh Jemaat Allah di Malaysia yang mengakui kepercayaan kepada kepercayaan yang satu, suci, katolik dan apostolik, walaupun pada waktu yang mencabar.

“Yang Amat Berbahagia, semua kami mengucapkan tahniah kepada anda dengan ucapan doa terbaik, memohon agar Tuhan Yang Baik memberkati anda dan, menerusi pelayanan anda sebagai Kardinal, semoga kepercayaan jemaat dan komitmen mereka kepada Kristus, Penyelamat kita, diperkukuhkan dan menjadi semakin mantap,” kata Uskup Agung Marino.

Semua uskup agung dan uskup dari Malaysia hadir di majlis yang bersejarah itu. - Herald Malaysia (Terjemahan)

Published by: The Archbishop of Kuching, Batu 1, Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching. Printed by: Bahagia Press Sdn Bhd (86546-K), Lot 225, Section 49, Jalan Padungan Utara, 93100 Kuching. Tel: 082-238900