CATHOLIC today’s
A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak
Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)
Vol 31 No 11 February 2020
Inside... Catholic lawyers attend Red Mass
Seminar on Nation Building
P2
P8
In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.
Mt 5:16
Ch in e s e N e w Y e a r Message from Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh
Archbishop Simon Poh greets a parishioner “Happy Chinese New Year” Chinese New Year (CNY) is a time of reunion for family, relatives, friends and old classmates. The CNY visiting and open houses, lion dances and gift appreciations and angpows create circles of friendships, strengthen family bonds, build inter-racial harmony among friends of various faiths when we visit one another. CNY is a time to talk, listen and encounter each other as friends. Such person-to-person friendship is the foundation of mutual respect, acceptance and harmony in families and society. This year, I received a WhatsApp video showing scenes of a CNY reunion dinner when the mother of the house goes around the table, holding a basket in her hand, demanding and confiscating handphones from everyone. The message is simple: Put aside the gadgets and talk to each other. I believe that this should also apply to families and friends throughout the year 2020. • Every day, find time to eat a meal together as a family • Put the handphones away from the table • Look at each other in the face and talk to one another 2020 will be a financially challenging time, with the poor economy, compounded with the global Wuhan outbreak. CNY is a celebration
AFTER THE LION DANCE... Archbishop Simon Poh holding the offerings
of God’s providence and as Christians, let us always remember to share the blessing with those in need. Let us reach out in compassion to give and support the poor in almsgiving, “remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35) In facing this health threat, we are to trust in the Lord. Though we may be far from the epicentre of the outbreak, as Christians, we are called to do what we can to help contain this outbreak by following the necessary health precautions. As people of faith, we have the responsibility to pray, to allay fear, by bringing comfort and peace of Christ. “Blessed are the merciful…. Blessed are the pure in heart…. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Read the Beatitudes from Matthew 5:1-11) Let us use the social media responsibly. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us…. Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39) I take this opportunity to wish everyone a Blessed New Year, praying and invoking the Lord’s blessings on all people of goodwill for this whole year 2020.
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Most Rev Simon Poh The Archbishop of Kuching Contact us at 082-231164 (Tel), 082-230196 (Fax), todaycat@gmail.com (E-mail), P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching (Post)