 
Archive : August 2004
47th NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE
As we celebrate Hari Kebangsaan, we are thankful to God for the progress and achievements of our nation since independence and for the blessings of peace, solidarity and harmony enjoyed by the various races and religions of our society. However, several happenings in the recent months, for instance, the issue of conversion and conflict of jurisdiction between the Courts, have caused some anxiety in certain quarters of our society. Our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has been attempting to allay the apprehensions of the people with his sound and rational statements. While we support his efforts, we must also do our part to build up 'our Malaysian family'. The majority of our people are relatively reasonable though 'silent' when it comes to make an affirmative response for the public good. Let us tap the goodwill of our communities in not only bringing about consciousness of our civic obligations but also in developing an enduring commitment in making sure that a few 'radicals’
do not dictate an agenda contrary to our country’s established vision and aspirations. It is important that we recognise the issues of religious radicalism and appeal for rational, compassionate and service-oriented attitudes. Let us take positive steps to build bridges with peoples of other faiths; hence, understanding their tenets is necessary. The Vatican II document, Nostra Aetate, provides us the basis for cordial dialogue with others and to promote fellowship among all human beings. I urge all Catholics in joining others to be at the service of the nation, especially in their neighbourhood visiting the sick and the homebound elderly, caring for the poor and marginalised and helping to eradicate anti-social behavior. I further exhort Catholics to be apostles of unity in the workplace; creating under-standing, dispelling suspicions and fostering a spirit of communion among fellow workers. The workplace is a God-given opportunity to become God's instruments of peace, harmony and goodwill.
On the occasion of our National Day, let us lift up ardent prayers and petitions for blessings upon our nation and its leaders. Let us pray also for enduring political stability, economic prosperity, social justice and inter-religious harmony and dialogue amongst its entire people.
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, DD
President,
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia
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COLLABORATE WITH OTHER PARISH MINISTRIES, SSVP TOLD
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Petaling Jaya : The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) has been urged to embrace parish bodies and organisations with common mission objectives and help them realise their mission goals. This call was made by Archbishop Murphy Pakiam when addressing the delegates of the National Council of the Society during their annual general meeting on Aug 8. The archbishop said that the SSVP which is well associated with being in communion with the poor in communities throughout the world, should collaborate with organisations in the Malaysian church’s Integral Human Development (IHD) ministry which is vested with the responsibility of addressing the growing dimensions of social needs in the communities. The archbishop believed that the Society could play a major role based on its experience and its internationality in the caring mission. "For a long time, the SSVP has been the charitable arm of the church and has been carrying out its mission meticulously in the spirit of the Scriptures.
I am appreciative of the work done by the conferences in the archdiocese and in the nation as a whole. "I commend the councils and conferences for the good work. There is however the need to address the 'new poor' represented by the growing number of migrant workers, the increasing number of HIV/AIDS victims, and the increase of problems stemming from the growing number of social situations. "The prison ministry is an example of one such activity where visiting inmates is a necessary Catholic action. Care and management of the families of the terminally ill is yet another area of need. The number of urban poor is on the rise and the church being in the midst must respond," said the archbishop. Archbishop Pakiam also expressed urgency for the need to address new concerns mushrooming in unexpected proportions and called on the SSVP not to feel "left out" with the church's proactive mission to extend its social commitment through new organisation sand ministries. He
urged the Society to welcome the new 'brothers and sisters' who have come forth to assist in the Church's mission and to work with them in a collaborative effort towards making the Catholic community more aware and to involve itself more in the social dimensions of the Church. "The IHD evolving from the National Office of Human Development (NOHD) is an essential dimension of Catholic life. It is integral in the life of the parish and in the life of the BECS. We need a bigger and more committed team of people to deal with issues of charity and justice. We need to commit more people to the service of the poor and socially crippled. We need a spiritual communion to address the common grounds of poverty and deprivation con-fronting the Church," said the archbishop. Citing the Jubilee Solidarity Fund, which has been distributed widely, including to non-Catholic institutions, the archbishop said that it is important to portray the church and the organisations within it
as being open in the spirit of giving. The archbishop concluded by calling for renewed strength and personal growth, which can be only found through collective retreats and formations. The elections for the new office bearers were also held during the meeting. -HERALD-
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MASS AT SUNWAY - MONASH
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Petaling Jaya : The Sunway College-Monash University Catholic Students had a Mass on campus on Aug 14. The Mass had the double objective of celebrating the Assumption of Mary into heaven; and inviting all the Catholic brothers and sisters in the Sunway-Monash campus to join the existing members in fellowship, worship and service. At this point in time, there is no official Catholic Students' Society in Sunway College-Monash University. However, permission has been given and the society will only be formed at the beginning of next year. Fr. Simon Yong Sj, from St. Francis Xavier's church presided over the Mass. There were about 90 persons present. Ten Members from the cell groups under Kurnia Kristus Chapel’s college & young Adults Ministry, Lifeline also attended. Preparing for this Mass enabled the organisers to have a great time getting to know one another better. Esther, as the overall coordinator for the Mass did a wonderful job in overseeing that all activities
preceded according to schedule. The choir, led by Joe Subianto and Rachella on keyboards and guitar encouraged everyone to worship in song. Those in the background: the commentator, the "equipment people" the cameraman, the slide projectionist, all did a good job. CKK also helped in providing the vessels and vestments. The altar boys were also from CKK. Ms. Charmaine Paramanathan from the Monash Student Services (and advisor for the soon-to-be established Catholic Society in Monash University) gave lots of encouragement to the students. She also helped to lay the foundation for the Catholic Society here. After the Mass, there was an icebreaker session with action songs led by Surya Wijaya and Farah. It was a wonderful fellowship after ‘a meaningful and enjoyable Mass! The Mass and fellowship were an opportunity to meet a lot of new friends. The organisers would like to, thank all who came and made the Mass a success through their presence, prayers, support and cooperation.
The organisers would like to invite all Catholic brothers and sisters studying at Sunway College-Monash University to join the Catholic fellowship in order to grow in knowledge and faith, and be changed in Christ together! -HEARLD-
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ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS VENDARGON WILL TURN 95 ON AUG 29
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Cheras : In the peaceful, tranquil surroundings of the St. Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly, sits an old man. Forgotten by many save a few, he is the first Archbishop of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese - Tan Sri Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Vendargon, PSM, DD. Archbishop Emeritus Vendargon, who will turn 95 on Aug 29, spends most of his time in songs and prayers. Sr. Josephine, his minder, shares, "It is very easy to look after His Grace. He never complains at all. He never com-plains of pain." His health is stable, and his memory is not too bad. Most of his visitors are members of his family and a few priests. Even at his advanced age, Archbishop Emeritus Vendargon is an early riser. He gets up at 6.00 am, has his bath and attends Mass. In the evenings, he some-times spends time in the chapel praying the rosary. The Archbishop also attends physiotherapy three times a week, to exercise his muscles. Sr. Josephine adds, "We pray the Angelus together and he blesses me at the end.
Before he goes to bed, I play a taped version of the rosary for him before wishing him good night." "I feel very privileged to look after him," she adds.-HERALD-
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FABC ON CHALLENGES FACING ASIAN FAMILIES
Kuala Lumpur : The family today is experiencing radical changes in the context of globalisation. The families, beginning with parents, are being made to change their priorities in life in order to keep up with market forces. This is the primary driving force and all others seem secondary. In one sense, there is the "commodificaton" of the family. As such, the family has to regain its fundamental unit for the spreading of the Good News of the Gospel. Family Life was the main thrust of the Eight Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Catholic Bishops' Conference (FABC), which commenced on Aug 17 in Daejeon, Korea. The theme for the assembly was The Asian Family Towards a Culture of Life. Among the topics discussed at the assembly which ends today (Aug 22) were:
• Overview and review of the reality of theAsian and Catholic Family (The PastoralSituation of the Family in Asia);
• The Vocation of the Asian and CatholicFamily (Theologico-Pastorat Reflection);and
• The Ministry with and to Families(Pastoral recommendations for the FamilyMinistry).
HERALD spoke to several Malaysian delegates prior to the assembly. -HERALD-
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CONCERT FOR PEACE TO BE HELD IN OCT
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Kuala Lumpur : The world Catholic Organisation for Communication (SIGNIS) will hold its Asian level Assembly in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 4 to 9. The theme for this assembly is Promoting a Culture of Peace.To commemorate this event a Concert for Peace will be held on Oct 8 at the Dewan Wawasan, PGRM in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. The concert, which will be presented with a local Malaysian cultural flavour, will feature professional local artistes like Francissca Peter and Leonard Tan. Others scheduled to perform are Aseana Percussion Unit, Anbu Kani Dancers, Suria Leaf Musicians and dancers from the Akademi Seni Kebangsaan choreographed by former TV and radio personality, Joseph Gonzales. The concert will predominantly feature songs on the theme of peace to bring about an awareness of the need for a peaceful approach to major problems in Asia. This is considered timely to address some of the
pressing realities that we face in Asia, including war and religious conflict. According to a member of the concert organising committee, the concert is also being held to raise funds to help finance the assembly and in particular to offer sponsorship to delegates from the poorer countries. Tickets for the concert are priced at RM 100, RM 50 and RM 30. For further enquiries please contact SIGNIS Malaysia Secretariat c/o Cahayasuara Communications Centre at 03-20780912 or 012-6209914. -HERALD-
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TAMPIN PARISHIONERS CELEBRATE FEAST DAY AND INSTALLATION OF NEW PARISH PRIEST
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Tampin : Fr. Dionysius Matthews was officially installed as the parish priest of the Church of St. John Vianney during the parish feast day celebration on Aug 7. The installation ceremony was officiated by Vicar General Mgsr. James Gnanapiragasam. Affectionately known as Fr. Danny, the former assistant priest of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes succeeds Fr. Paulino Miranda who is currently in Mumbai, India for a two-year study programme. Despite being in the parish for less than four months, Fr. Danny proudly extolled the community’s vibrant spirit. "This parish has all along been involved enthusiastically and with dedication in all its celebrations, festive days and special projects. The wonderful interaction always forges the communitarian spirit while making the parish so alive, self-giving and resourceful." The parish's traditional and warm spirit-filled
communitarian outlook was greatly evident among its vernacular groups, youths and senior citizens during the celebrations. Included in this year's celebration was a mini-exhibition depicting the life and times of St. John Vianney described as the 'Patron of Priests' and avocation talk in Bahasa Malaysia by Srs. Bibiana Densia and Elizaberth Jothy from the Daughters of St. Paul community in Petaling Jaya. Also present at the feast day celebration and installation were former parish priest, Fr. Phillip Muthu and seminarian Cyril Mannayagam. –HERALD-
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ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS VENDARGON WILL TURN 95 ON AUG 29
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Cheras : In the peaceful, tranquil surroundings of the St. Francis Xavier Home for the Elderly, sits an old man. Forgotten by many save a few, he is the first Archbishop of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese - Tan Sri Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Vendargon, PSM, DD. Archbishop Emeritus Vendargon, who will turn 95 on Aug 29, spends most of his time in songs and prayers. Sr. Josephine, his minder, shares, "It is very easy to look after His Grace. He never complains at all. He never com-plains of pain." His health is stable, and his memory is not too bad. Most of his visitors are members of his family and a few priests. Even at his advanced age, Archbishop Emeritus Vendargon is an early riser. He gets up at 6.00 am, has his bath and attends Mass. In the evenings, he some-times spends time in the chapel praying the rosary. The Archbishop also attends physiotherapy three times a week, to exercise his muscles. Sr. Josephine adds, "We pray the Angelus together and he blesses
me at the end. Before he goes to bed, I play a taped version of the rosary for him before wishing him good night." "I feel very privileged to look after him," she adds.-HERALD-
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SHAH ALAM CHURCH EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER
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Klang : The Church of the Divine Mercy is expected to be completed in mid October this year. The church is now approximately 70 per cent completed since construction commenced in mid-December last year. However, the new church will not be operational until the Certificate of Fitness is obtained from the relevant government authorities. The Shah Alam Church building committee is also very thankful for the overwhelming support, especially the fund raising efforts of not only the parishioners of the Church of the Holy Redeemer (HRC) in Kiang, who have somewhat been given the responsibility to build this new church but also the parishioners of the others churches in the Klang Valley. Under the guidance of HRC parish priest Fr. Raymond Pereira, many have come forward with not only financial support but also with 'sponsorship'. Fund raising events and activities are on going to meet the financial shortfall to complete the church. -HERALD-
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KLANG PARISH TO HOLD ITS BIGGEST EVER MERDEKA CARNIVAL
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Klang : In the spirit of the National Day celebrations, the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes is organising a carnival. An annual affair, this year's carnival is expected to be the biggest ever organised by the parish. The various BECs and ministries of the parish have been working hard for the past three months to organise the carnival. There will be many game stalls, food stalls and entertainment by many bands and famous radio personalities. The parish is expecting to raise about RM 150,000 from this carnival. This will be for the Church’s building fund. The construction of the building, which is estimated to cost about RM 6 million is expected to start at the end of this year. The fund currently stands at only RM 3 million. In addition to raising funds, the carnival is also aimed at promoting harmony and togetherness among the parishioners. The carnival will also be the last celebration of this magnitude on OLL's church grounds as the surrounding compound will be demolished to give way to
the up coming building. The carnival will be held on Sunday, Aug 29 from 8.30 am to 4 am. The clergy and laity of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes extend an invitation to all Christians and non-Christians to attend the carnival. For further details, please con-tact the parish office at: 03-33713053. -HERALD-
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PM’s SPEECH IN SYNC WITH THE HOLY FATHER
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Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur (pic) called the prime minister’s speech "timely". He pointed to Abdullah's opening affirmation that he spoke as a Muslim who wanted to initiate a dialogue with his Christian friends. This, the archbishop said, "widened the context of his subsequent appeal for interfaith dialogue to a wider extent than Malaysia, embracing the whole of the Islamic world, most especially since he is the president of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement". The prime minister said in his address: "Let us go beyond arguing over differences in theology and religious practice. A meaningful dialogue will not be possible if we do not respect each other’s freedom of worship. Islam enjoins pluralism and we are reminded of it in the Quranic verse, "To you your religion, to me my religion". Archbishop Pakiam said the prime minister's address "gives us a new impetus to work for cooperation in every level of our society, and perhaps this is what is
should be at the world level too - a renewed call shunning extremism and working toward dialogue". This call, he added, is "an awakening call to all extremist Christian groups who, in the name of evangelism are promoting a narrow and fundamental interpretation of evangelisation which pro-motes disharmony amongst peoples". The archbishop also said Abdullah's comments are "very much in sync with the sentiments of our Holy Father and his consistent call for dialogue with other faiths". -HERALD-
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PRESS STATEMENT
(Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia)
We the Catholic Archbishops and Bishops of the Catholic Church of Malaysia gathered here in Plentong, Johor for the Plenary Meeting wish to express our dismay with the decision of the High Court in the case of Shamala A/P Sathiyasecian vs. Jayaganesh A/L Mogarajah which dismissed Shamal’s application for a declaration that the conversion of her two infant children to Islam without her knowledge or consent was null and void. The High Court held that it had no jurisdiction to grant her the relief and advised her to seek the help of Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan adding that the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction to hear her case, as she is a non-Muslim. This decision evolves around Article 121 (IA) of the Constitution, which provides that the High Court shall not have jurisdiction where the Syariah Court has jurisdiction. Our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion (Article II) and parents' right to decide the religion of children (Article 12(4). It is not in the interest of the child that
one parent can unilaterally convert and change the religion of the child without the knowledge and consent of the other parent. In this case the wife is left without any recourse. We believe that it was never the intention of Parliament to deprive anyone of his rights enshrined in our Constitution when the Constitution was amended to include Article 121 (IA) and urge the Government and Parliament to enact laws to ensure that the High Court has the jurisdiction to uphold and protect the constitutional rights of freedom of religion and rights of parents. We reiterate our stand that when Malaya and then Malaysia was founded, there was a social contract among the different communities of the different races and religions which was then enshrined in our Constitution that while Islam is the religion of the nation, Malaysia is a secular state and freedom of religion Is guaranteed. Hence the fact that Islam is the religion of the Federation was never intended to extend the application of Syariah to the
sphere of public law. This social contract and constitutional guarantee is meaning-less without the protection of the High Court. We reject any government policy or statement that Malaysia is an Islamic State or country as such description would imply the application of Syariah to public law and government policies.
Sgd
Archbishop Murphy Pakiam
President
Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia
July 9, 2004
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WELCOME AND AU REVIOR
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Kuala Lumpur : The newly appointed parish priest of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Fr. Patrick Boudville received a warm welcome from the parish community and the retiring parish priest Fr. A. Henriot In welcoming his successor, Fr. Henriot reminded Fr. Boudville that he was still young in terms of age and also in the ministry, having just celebrated the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination on July 29. Referring to Fr. Boudville's tenure at College General Seminary in Penang, Fr. Henriot said that although the parish would not be same as the seminary, nevertheless Fr. Boudville would still have the opportunity to prepare some young people from the parish for the priesthood. "I have no doubts that you are the chosen one for the Good Shepherd parish and you are coming herewith an 'open heart'
to build up a strong communion of communities with the parishioners who will work hand-in-hand with you," said Fr. Henriot. Fr Henriot also took the opportunity to bid Aurevoir to the parishioners. "Au revoir means 'we'll meet again'. To say 'goodbye' is too strong for me because 'goodbye’ in French is adieu, which can imply 'We have no chance to meet again'. Recalling the past 13 years of journeying as one parish community, Fr. Henriot said that although it was not possible to remember every single activity, the transformation of the parish was evident via the BECs where month after month the community continued to come together as one. He urged the BECs to continue to work together to become better Christians and to remain united to make the parish a loving, sharing and caring one. -HERALD-
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HONORARY DOCTORATE FOR BATANG BERJUNTAI PARISHIONER
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Kuala Lumpur : Paul Sinnappan Savriamuthu (pie) was conferred an honorary doctorate from the Faith Bible University of Mass Media Gospel Mission, India on July 24. He was honoured for his involvement in poverty alleviation programmes in Malaysia. The service of conferment was held at the Zion Cathedral in Brickfields. On hand to present the conferment was Rev. Dr W. S. Vedha from India. Bro. Antony Rogers, FSC, the Director of the National Office for Human Development read out the citation. Dr. Sinnappan who hails from Batang Berjuntai experienced poverty in his family and neighbourhood. From his school days, helping the poor was Dr. Paul's passion. As an active church member, he used to organise tuition classes as well as catechism classes for the students. Recognising his potential, Fr. Y. C Caroff OMI began sending Dr. Paul on short courses to study cooperatives andself-help agricultural projects. Dr. Sinnappan was sent to the Philippines to do his Diploma on Rural Social Work. In the course
of his studies, Dr. Sinnappan gained more knowledge on the Church's social teachings. He also learned more about credit unions, co-operatives and income generation projects. Upon his return, he worked in the Church of St Paul the Hermit, Batang Berjuntai, as a social worker organizing the communities into credit unions. Through these unions, the plantation workers could address their problems collectively. In 1979, the National Office for Human Development (Catholic Welfare Services) recruited Dr. Sinnappan to coordinate the rural development desk and promote credit unions throughout Malaysia. He has been instrumental in helping Church organisations and NGOs to understand the concepts, philosophy and methodology of credit unions. The credit unions, which are now known as Micro Credit Programmes, have been organised for plantation workers, squatter communities, indigenous people and farmers in Malaysia. The success of this programme has attracted interest from the Malaysian Government and NGOS.
Dr. Sinnappan has also been invited to share his experiences in Asian countries like Vietnam, China, Mongolia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, India, Indonesia Philippines and Iran. Dr. Sinnapan has also been invited to international conferences held in Canada, USA, Ireland and France to speak on the Micro Credit Model. In his line of work Dr. Sinnappan has also carried out research on culture, religion and gender in the Tamil community. He has also written papers on Government policies, development trends and approaches. Besides this honorary doctorate, Dr. Paul has also been given the Best Alumni Award from St. Xavier University Agricultural Extension, on Rural Leadership, Philippines 1984 for work carried out in Asia on Rural Community Development. In 1993, he received the Silver Medal from the World Council of Credit Unions in Sacramento, California, for his contribution to credit unions in Asia. Presently, Dr. Sinnappan is the coordinator of Sustainable Agriculture Programme initiated by the Asia
Partnership of Human Development. He is involved in promoting organic farming and organising Fererations. -HERALD-
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FORUM ON MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY
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Kuala Lumpur : In an effort to share and debate the issues of the Malaysia media, Cahayasuara Communications Centre organized a panel discussion on Media and Democracy. Held on July 31, the panel discussion was moderated by Clarissa Lee, a research fellow at the Asian Centre for Media Studies. First to speak was Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Economics and Administration in Universiti Malaya. Speaking on Politics of the Media Business: The Press under the BN, Dr. Gomez gave an overview of the media in Malaysia from the 1960s until the present day. He traced the decline of the independent press and also drew attention to the drop in the quality of the media. Next to speak was Dr Mustafa Kamat Anuar, Associate Professor in the School of Communication in Universiti Sains Malaysia. Continuing from what Dr Gomez said, Dr Mustafa spoke on Media Education in Malaysia: The USM Experience. "Students in journalism encounter a number of problems,"
he said. "When producing a news-paper as part of their coursework, they have to get permission from the editor (who is a student), then from the lecturers, the dean and even sometimes the vice-chancellor." "These layers of control are intimidating that soon the students themselves start to self-sensor their work. This attitude of self-sensor-ing is then carried into the students' working lives," he added. The next speaker Premesh Chandran, CEO of Malaysiakini, Malaysia's only online newspaper. He touched on Print vs. Online Media: Seeking Balanced Reporting. Using aspects such as the speed of the information, access to the information, control of the media, the credibility as well the cost of that particular media, Mr. Chandran sought to show that both types of media served different needs. Fr. Michael Raymond OFM Cap, spoke on the Church's View on Malaysian Media. Touching first on the power of the media, Fr. Michael said that the media has affected our culture, politics, education,
economics and religion. "Every message of the media shapes the way we see ourselves, our lifestyles, our relationships. As such the media can be considered a most effective agent of change which can either lead humanity to life and growth or to disintegration and disruption," he said. Explaining that the Church has always been in the forefront in addressing issues in relations to media and communication, Fr. Michael referred to the Vatican document Communio et Progessio (1972) which categorically states that all social communications should meet the twin criteria of genuine unity and the authentic development of people. -HERALD-
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MIRRORING THE QUALITIES OF MARTHA AND MARY
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Sr. Brede Forde (one of the three last remaining lnfant Jesus (IJ) Irish missionaries) and Sr. Anna Deledate (the very last of our TJ French missionaries) were remembered with affection and gratitude by all past pupils, teachers, sisters and friends during a celebration recently. On July 29, many of them gathered at the TJ Convent Chapel in Cheras together with Archbishop Murphy Pakiam and the Capuchin Friars for a Eucharistic cele-bration commemorating the diamond and platiinum jubilee of the two nuns. In his homily, the archbishop recalled that both Sr. Brede and Sr. Anna had lived their IJ mission commitment to make God known and loved, mirroring the qualities of Martha and Mary, disciples of the Lord. Their concern and anxiety for those entrusted to their care in school was the attitude of Martha and their contemplative prayer life was the option of Mary at the feet of the Lord, listening. Sr. Brede had been sent tothe mission in Malaya at the tender age of 24. From lpoh to Kuala Lumpur,
Teluk Anson, Klang and Cheras ,she has spent a total of 66 years in the education of the young. Today, at 90 years of age, she is still actively involved in updating information in the archives of the IJ province, many of which are priceless documents written by hand dating back to 1852 when the sisters first came to Penang and later came to Singapore, Melaka, Seremban, Taiping and Kuala Lumpur…(Full story..see in Herald) -HERALD-
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PROTEST AS MEL GIBSON’S FILM SHOWN ONLY TO CHRISTIAN
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The Malaysian Film Censorship Board restricted the film Passion of the Christ to Christian audiences. The government explained that the permit was requested "only for Christians" and that the Board limited itself to authorising what had been requested. Apparently, it was a case of self-censorship on the part of the film distributor 20th Century Fox who, assuming the request would be denied, did not bother to ask permission for commercial viewing. The restriction does not please the Malaysian Christians who have to buy their tickets in churches linked to the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship. The Passion is expected to draw large crowds. National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) pastor, Rev Wong Kim Kong estimates that more than 200,000 would see it. The NECF is coordinating ticket sales through local churches in order to comply with the government's restrictions. Among those who have voiced their discontent is the Council of Churches of Malaysia general secretary Rev. Dr. Herinen Shastri,
who told the opening press conference at the WCC Faith and Order plenary commission that he disapproves of the restriction. If the film is considered inappropriate for Muslims there is no reason for them to stop members of other religions from seeing it such as Hindus or Buddhists, he said. "We are not in agreement that this should be restricted to Christians only," said Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri at the opening press conference at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order plenary commission, which is meeting in Kuala Lumpur from 28 July to 6 August, 2004. "This goes against the grain of fostering Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri. "We are not in agreement that the screening of this movies should be restricted to Christians only as this goes against the grain offering inter-religious understanding.' inter-religious understanding, a cornerstone of Malaysian social life since the independence of our country. We have expressed our displeasure and made our appeal," he added. To the suggestion that Muslims
might be offended by the depiction of Jesus, regarded by them as a prophet, Shastri said: "There are differences in doctrinal teachings between Islam and Christianity. But that doesn't mean that if one religious community disagrees with an interpretation, other religious communities such as Hindus and Buddhists shouldn't be free to watch the film." The decision not to allow it to be shown to Muslims has also been criticised in the Malaysian parliament and in the country's press. -HERALD-
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NEW CATECHETICAL SYLLABUS NEXT YEAR
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Petaling Jaya : The National Catechetical Office has a new syllabus for the Standard One and Form One students next year. The books will be in four languages- English, Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil and Chinese. Guidebooks are also available for the catechists. The books will be available in all the dioceses in December this year. The director for this catechetical series project is Dr. Steven Selvaraju, STD (Catecheties). Rev. Dr. Clarence Dass, Fr Gerard Theraviam and Fr. Ignatius Huan were among the panel of consultants for the catechetical series. The catechetical series is collaboration between the National Catechetical Office and the Malaysian Catechetical Commission. -HERALD-
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FEAST DAY ALSO LAUNCH OF JUBILEE CELEBRATION
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Port Klang : The annual feast of Saints Anne and Joachim began here on July 22. The flag raising ceremony marked the beginning of the feast day celebrations. This was followed by Mass. The parish also launched the Archdiocesan Golden Jubilee celebration. A rather large assembly was present on the very first day itself. They were all gathered outside the church to witness the ceremony. Representatives from the various BECs and ministries held their respective banners up high as Fr. Navarathnam, a visiting priest from India, raised the flag. The banners were then brought in procession into the church. The theme for the day, Quiet Presence of God, was highlighted very clearly in the sermon. Parish priest, Fr. V. A. Michael explained the presence of God around at all times. "For us Catholics, God is ever present where two or
three are gathered in his name. God is very much alive in this assembly, in the scripture, in the priest who plays the role of Christ and also the Eucharist." He then encouraged everyone to spend quality time alone, just adoring the Lord. A special prayer room was prepared for devotees to spend quiet time in prayer. The prayer room with the Blessed Sacrament was open daily before and after Mass. Fr V. A. Michael assured devotees attending the nine-day novena that their intentions would be fulfilled if they were to spend time in silent adoration daily. -HERALD-
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PRIMARY STUDENTS HAVE FUN WITH JESUS
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Cheras : The Primary One and Two students of St. Francis of Assisi Church held their annual camp on July 17 at the Friary Hall. Themed Fun with Jesus, the children and their teachers wasted no time in doing just that. They started with action songs followed by an imaginary bus trip to a 'church' where they had a story-telling session. This was followed by a puppet show on forgiveness and reconciliation performed by the Children's Liturgy team. After lunch, the children had a sing-along session followed by games, the most interesting of which was the Our Father. One of the teams produced a new version, hilarious but totally out. Asked what they thought of the camp, the children were all in agreement that they had a wonderful time, having fun with Jesus. The camp was organised by the teachers. -HERALD-
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SERVANTS OF YAHWEH HAVE RETREAT FOR WOMEN
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Genting Highlands : Excitement was at fever pitch as Zareen Chua was crowned Miss Woman in Full Bloom 2004. This drama was the culmination of the annual Women's Retreat held at Villa Dominic, Genting Highland recently that was organised by the Servants of Yahweh (SOY) Covenant Community. The SOY organises weekends for women themed A Woman in Full Bloom and each weekend has selected sub-themes. A Woman Designed for Blessings attracted almost 100 participants ,from KL, PJ, Seremban, KK Labuan. "A woman of real beauty smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress and grows brave by reflection and prayer" went the citation for Zareen who had survived a broken relationship, attended CANA weekends, found, solace and sustenance in the company of sisters in SOY and embraced Catholicism with her three young children. Ten years on she is still serving in the Music Ministry in church, SOY and at many outreaches
in the country. Thus Zareen is truly a woman in Full Bloom, a woman after God’s own heart ! The carefully designed ladies retreat was a wonderful tapestry of praise and worship meaningful and soul-searching talks, practical testimonies, prayer, an Emmaus Walk, meditation, games, fun and great fellowship in the dorms and at meal times. The four talks were titled, ‘Waiting in the Wings’, ‘Surviving Broken Relationships’, ‘Surrendering Your Dreams’ and ‘Finding God in Life's Transitions’. "People will not believe the Good News unless we our-selves become the Good News. Proclaim Christ in your limitations. God will certainly complete the work He has started in you this weekend," exhorted Fr. Christopher Wee SJ in his homily. Speaking in the same vein, Sr. Stella Michael IJ, a participant enthused about 'the power of women when they have God behind them'. This encapsulated the thrust of the weekend - A Woman in Full Bloom is Good News. -HERALD-
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CALL TO COSTLY ACCEPTANCE
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Kuala Lumpur : Paul's call to Christians to receive each, other is a call to move beyond the boundaries of oursecurity, according to a major presentation given on July 28 to the WCC Faith and Order Commission meeting. Addressing the meeting's theme Receive one another therefore, just as Christ has received you (Romans 15:7), Rev. Dr. Judith McKinley referred to the context in which the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, with Jewish Christians expelled from the city returning to find a church transformed by Gentile leadership. Quoting British scholar James Dunn, she said that the challenge facing them was "to recognise that God accepted people whose views and practices they regarded as unacceptable". Drawing on examples from the life of Christ, she said: "In Jesus we are seeing God the host, who offers hospitality to all who are open to receiving it”. Such hospitality, however, is costly.
Israel's history as God’s people contained examples of acceptance being problematic, she said, and there were New Testament tensions evident in the stories of Jesus and the Syrio-Phoenician woman and the centurion's servant. The issue, she said, was "Who is to be accepted into the new Gospel community?" Paul's letter to the Galatians" indicates that this same struggle of Christian identity and acceptance was present in the earliest Christian communities". Her conclusion was that "Once the fundamentals have been agreed upon, different interpretations, different practices and different ways of ordering are to be respected as we take each other along side in our Christian journey." Citing the fifth World Conference on Faith and Order in 1993, McKinlay concluded with a call to kenosis, a humble self-emptying which itself is "faithful to the ministry of vulnerability and death of Jesus". -HERALD-
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GOLDEN JUBILEE LOGO OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KUALA LUMPUR
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Kuala Lumpur : The official logo for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur was presented to the bishop and priest during the recent clergy recollection. Cahayasuara Communications Centre conceived the design and concept for the logo. The logo is depicted as a circle. The words Harmony Through Reconciliation and Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur form a semi-circle at the top and bottom of the circle respectively. Inside the circle are three emblems, a palm branch and the words 2005 Jubilee Year. The number 50 is placed partially outside and inside the circle. Cahayasuara also gave the rationale behind the concept and design for the logo. The three emblems at the top left are the coats of arms of the three archbishops who have administered the Archdiocese, from 1955 to the pre-sent.
On the right is the palm branch in rainbow colours. This represents the multi-ethnic and multicultural communities in the local church while the stem symbolises the church of Jesus Christ. The green colour used on the words Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur represents growth, while the red colour for the words Harmony Through Reconciliation represents sacrifice. These words in a circle holding the entire logo together represents the unity and harmony of the Archdiocese in her 50 years' journey and beyond. The background colour of the logo, which is gold, represents the Golden Jubilee year of the establishment of the Archdiocese. - HERALD
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PARISHIONERS URGED TO WORK TOGETHER AS ONE COMMUNITY
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Kuala Lumpur : We all must strive to work together for the optimum spiritual health of our faith community," said Msgr James Gnanapiragasam (pic), parish priest of the Cathedral of St. John during the Parish Pastoral Assembly. Msgr Gnanapiragasam who was addressing the participants of the Parish Pastoral Assembly said that as a parish comprising people of various communities, we need to be together and work together, moving towards a collaborative ministry for the growth of the parish. Close to 135 parish leaders and representatives from the Cathedral of St. John and the Chapel of Madonna Heights attended the pastoral assembly held on July 17. Touching on the theme of the assembly, Towards Harmony Through Reconciliation, Msgr Gnanapiragasam urged all to
search for ways to Centre their activities on 'reconciliation' as a preparation for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the archdiocese to be held in May next year. The three and a half-hour assembly started with an opening prayer led by assistant Parish Priest Fr. A. Amalanathan. In conjunction with the Golden Jubilee celebration of the archdiocese, representatives of the various BECs gave their account of what they have planned for the coming months. The participants were also invited to propose suggestions as to some of the activities to be held at parish level. Archbishop Murphy Pakiam who gave his address at the close of the assembly was impressed with the active involvement of all the participants. "The trust of the Peninsular Malaysia Church is building
a communion of communities. The Church is certainly alive in this parish and BECS," he stressed. The Archbishop expressed his thanks to the planning committee and to all pre-sent adding that 50 years ago, it was only the priests who made the decisions but that now the whole parish community works in collaboration with the priests. -HERALD
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PURPOSE OF EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION
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Kuala Lumpur : 'Extraordinary' or 'special' ministry of Holy Communion is a lay liturgical ministry which although officially dates back to January 25, 1973, is an old tradition from the early centuries of the Church. Fr Anthony Thomas said this while touching on the background of the ministry, during the session on 'Extraordinary' Ministers of Holy Communion. Fr Thomas also explained the difference between the 'Ordinary Minister' and the 'Extraordinary Minister'. Quoting Canon Law, he said that the 'Ordinary Minister' is the bishop, priest or deacon while the 'Extraordinary Minister' is an acolyte or another of Christ's faithful who has been deputised in accordance with the law. He also reminded the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion that what they do is a service and should not be seen as a personal honour or reward. "It is a service to the community, a service to the people of God, and how we carry ourselves in all aspects is important, "he said.
During the final session on Communion to the homebound, Fr Thomas emphasised on the importance of showing concern for the less fortunate, in particular the sick. The participants were given a leaflet which contained simple guidelines and prayers to be followed when distributing Holy Communion to the homebound. A Question and answer session was held after each presentation and while all attempts were made to answer the questions, Fr Thomas reminded the participants that some issues had to be dealt with on a case to case basis, using prudence. HERALD
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BE FULLY AWARE OF THE REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST
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Kuala Lumpur : Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) must be fully aware of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and have a proper attitude when handling and distributing Holy Communion at all times. This was highlighted during the Liturgy Session for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion held at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre on July 17. The theme for the session was Eucharistic Presence. "When we get overused to any kind of activity, it becomes more of a routine for us and it loses a sense of awareness. That is why all of us, including priests, need to go for regular retreats and formations," said Fr. Anthony Thomas, the chairperson of the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission. A total of 576 participants attended the session organised by the Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission. This was the first time such a session was being organised solely for the
EMOHCS. Three main topics were presented during the day-long session. Eucharistic Presence, 'Extraordinary' Ministers of Holy Communion and Communion to the home-bound. Fr. Thomas explained that Christ is the new Passover Meal. "Christ replaced the old Passover of the Old Testament. Christ takes the place of the lamb. The sessions were also conducted in Tamil, with Fr. Thomas and Mr. E. Pathinathan doing the translation while the sessions for the Mandarin-speaking participants were conducted by Fr Philip Tan, CDD. - HERALD
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SACRED HEART PARISH HOLDS JOGATHON TO RAISE FUNDS
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Kuala Lumpur : A jogathon was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart on July 11 to raise funds for a new parish community Centre. The present Community Centre cannot cater to the growing number of Catholics in the vicinity, especially for the Sunday School classes. The participants of the jogathon comprised those aged 4 and above, with the oldest being 64 years old. The participants and officials were treated to drinks and light snacks before the start of the 4.2 km run. The prize giving ceremony was held at the existing parish community Centre with parish priest Fr Anthony Thomas giving away the prizes to the winners.The jogathon is one of the many activities being organized by the parish. Some of the other activities include a breakfast sale, a carnival and a dinner and dance. The next project will be a raffles draw with the first prize being a Kancil car. HERALD
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CURIA OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF THE KUALA LUMPUR
REV. JEAN CLAUDE LOURDES has been appointed Parish Priest of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mentakab, Pahang.
REV. DIONYSIUS MATTHEWS has been appointed Parish Priest of the Church of St John Vianney, Tampin, Negeri Sembilan.
REV. PHILIP TAN, CDD has been appointed Parish Priest and REV MARTIN THEN, CDD, Assistant Priest of the Church of St Ignatius, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
REV. PATRICK BOUDVILLE has been appointed Parish Priest of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.
REV. ANTOINE HENRIOT, MEP takes up residence in the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Cheras.
REV. S. CHRISTOPHER WILVARAJ leaves for Cairo, Egypt for further studies.
REV. PAULINO MIRANDA is pursuing further studies in Mumbai, India.
REV. LEONARD JOHN leaves for a Sabbatical programme Perth, Australia.
Sgd.
Rev. Jestus Pereira
CHANCELLOR
July 27, 2004
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