By Percy D’Cruz
“What is expected as a consequence of the Year of Faith which is about to end? What is to be expected of this St Theresa’s Youth Day which is also about to end? As Pope Francis at the closing of the World Youth Day in Brazil said, ‘I want a mess, I want trouble in the diocese’. Likewise, dear young friends, please make trouble in the Diocese of Melaka-Johor. Please ask the Holy Spirit for a radical and crazy faith that is not satisfied with comfort but desire to ‘set the world on fire with the love of God’. Go forth and make disciples of all nations,” were Bishop Paul Tan’s closing remarks in his homily.
The five hundred youths at St Paul’s Hill at the closing Eucharistic Celebration were all ears, but seemed puzzled over the ‘rebel rousing’ clarion call as prescribed by His Lordship whose homily was read out by Deacon Adrian Ng.
At the onset of the ‘preaching’ His Lordship remarked that the young Deacon would be a better presenter as he could relate to the young people present rather than from a 73 year old bishop.This remark drew laughter and cheering.
eacon Ng explained what His Lordship meant. “Young friends, please make ‘spiritual trouble’ in the Melaka-Johore Diocese by asking the Holy Spirit for a ‘radical and crazy faith’ to set the world on fire with the love of God. In other words, “Go forth and make disciples of all nations”. Bishop Tan also commented, “As we stand on this holy ground here on top of St Paul’s Hill, we recall Francis Xavier. Some five hundred years ago, his family wanted him to become a bishop in Europe because he was very intelligent. At that time, this meant riches, servants at one’s beck and call, good food and comfortable living. However, young Francis Xavier had a conversion and turned his back on all these niceties to become the first missionary to bring the gospel to South East Asia.
“He faced danger at sea, he faced hostile people who spoke foreign languages, he faced loneliness without friends and family. Yet, he came to this part of the world. Why? Simply because he believed that the people in Asia needed to know Jesus.
“Likewise, Jesus brings forgiveness and relationship with God. Jesus brings the strength to overcome problems and to live a life of love pleasing to God. Jesus assures us that death is not the end because God is a Father who welcomes us into his heavenly home. St Francis came to set the world on fire with the love of God.
“Young friends, youth is a time that is full of options. People will tell you that you have to aim for money, nice house, big and fast cars. These are the symbols of success. But friends, your life at most will be ninety years long, for some it may be shorter and then you will face eternity. You cannot take your money, house or cars with you when you die as the standards of heavenly living are quite different. Have you seen how big is your ‘house’ in heaven? Are you rich in what matters in heaven? Pope Benedict once said ‘The world offers you comfort but you were made for greatness’.”
Fr. Peter Ng, commenting on his parish youth day celebration said, “Overall the energy generated by the organisers and the participants was not only of their joy and enthusiasm, but the aspect of attentiveness, which is the true spirit of openess.
“I had also noticed their desire to hear, to listen and to share a catechesis and a deepening of their understanding of the faith. Their readiness to receive the challenges of faith was also prominent. My hope for the future is that the renewed commitment of young parishioners will increase in rediscovering the faith that was sometimes lost in the generation before them.
“I am confident that these young people will have a clear lead within the setting of their families to help them to rediscover the wonder of that faith again.”
P.o. Box 356, 89808 Beaufort, Sabah. E-mel : gstj_laboi@yahoo.com Tel : 087 812 890
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Pope Francis Discuss Syria crisis with King Jordan
VATICAN: Dialogue is and remains the only solution to the Syrian crisis. Pope Francis and King Abdullah II of Jordan both oppose the idea of international military intervention against the Bashar al Assad regime.
Together with Iraq, Jordan is one of the countries that is facing the consequences of the Iraq war directly. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled to the Hashemite Kingdom and given shelter in immense refugee camps, with thousands of new arrivals every day.
King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan said it was a “pleasure and an honour” to meet Francis for the first time. They met Benedict XVI when he visited Jordan in 2009. “I have an immense respect for what you and the Catholic Church are doing,” the King said at the start of their meeting, before journalists and assistants were escorted out of the papal library.
During the twenty-or-so-minute private meeting, King Abdullah and Pope Francis talked above all about the Middle East and how to promote “peace and stability” in this troubled region. The resumption of talks between Israel and Palestine is an important step in this direction.
But the bilateral communiqué issued at the end of the meeting underlines that the two also discussed the thorny issue of Jerusalem, just as the Vatican appears to be one step away from signing a financial agreement with Israel. Disagreements over the status of some holy sites has prevented this from happening for years. Palestinians claim Eastern Jerusalem as the capital of their future State, a request which Israel does not seem prepared to grant.
Together with Iraq, Jordan is one of the countries that is facing the consequences of the Iraq war directly. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled to the Hashemite Kingdom and given shelter in immense refugee camps, with thousands of new arrivals every day.
King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan said it was a “pleasure and an honour” to meet Francis for the first time. They met Benedict XVI when he visited Jordan in 2009. “I have an immense respect for what you and the Catholic Church are doing,” the King said at the start of their meeting, before journalists and assistants were escorted out of the papal library.
During the twenty-or-so-minute private meeting, King Abdullah and Pope Francis talked above all about the Middle East and how to promote “peace and stability” in this troubled region. The resumption of talks between Israel and Palestine is an important step in this direction.
But the bilateral communiqué issued at the end of the meeting underlines that the two also discussed the thorny issue of Jerusalem, just as the Vatican appears to be one step away from signing a financial agreement with Israel. Disagreements over the status of some holy sites has prevented this from happening for years. Palestinians claim Eastern Jerusalem as the capital of their future State, a request which Israel does not seem prepared to grant.
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