Archbishop asks Catholics to give to those in need

Image by badjonni via Flickr

"The Church gives us this period during Lent to encourage every Catholic to take time to reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Archbishop Chia advised. “We are called to focus on charitable deeds to help us draw closer to God and our neighbours. It is therefore important that we set aside time for prayer and spiritual reflection through the use of the Lenten booklet,” he said. “We should re-examine our ‘treasures’ in life since these determine the priorities and attitudes of our heart.”

Jesus is concerned that we build treasures that do not decrease in value and that Jesus connected giving to the poor with laying up treasure in heaven. “He Himself cared for those in need by feeding the hungry,”

In reading the above from the Bishop's message and the various readings in the past week, there is a questions that keeps popping up - are you truely converted in your heart?

A true Christian is one that is converted in their hearts....to one that is full of love. Not one that preaches hatred and anti this or that.

I have seen many so called Christians that are a shame to our faith. Are you one one of them?

Or are you one who truly live a life of what the Bible preach i.e. to love your neighbour? Do you care for those who are in need?

Why we need to support Catholic charities ?

Image by Lawrence OP via Flickr

Regardless of one’s religious beliefs, the act of donating money or giving time and energy to a charitable cause is often hailed as something laudable.

What about us as Catholics? Do our social teachings have something special to say about giving money, time or talent to charitable causes?

First, though, it might be helpful to see what charitable giving is not. Charitable giving is not about gaining publicity or personal credit. Nor is charitable giving a means to compensate for wrongdoing, a way to help us to “score points for heaven”! Most importantly, charitable giving is not a way to escape from our responsibility for the well-being of others the whole year long.

In Scripture, we see the early disciples being “one in heart and soul”: “None of their members was ever in want, as all those who owned land or houses would sell them, and bring the money from the sale of them, to present it to the apostles; it was then distributed to any who might be in need” (Acts 4:34). What a beautiful description of a community!

Every Lent, Catholics in Singapore have an avenue to share our resources with those in need through the Charities Week collection. Proceeds go to organisations serving the needy in the name of the Church.

This is a good way of showing our solidarity with the less fortunate. But is there any special significance to channelling our resources, time and talent through Catholic charitable organisations?

Yes, there is. In his encyclical Deus Caritas Est (“God is Love”), Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that as a community of disciples proclaiming the Gospel of Love in a broken world, the Church also needs to have organised charitable works that Christians undertake as one body in the name of Christ. “For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being.” (Deus Caritas Est, 25a).

So even though each of us can give individually to other religious or secular charitable organisations (and this is an important sign of our solidarity with them), there is a special significance in supporting Catholic charities. Catholic charities represent the organised charitable works of the Church.

In Singapore, our Catholic social organisations serve a wide range of needs, from helping the poor, the sick and the aged, to championing the causes of refugees and migrants. The Church’s social action work also includes those in which not many other organisations are involved.

As part of her tradition, the Church has always had a preferential option for the poor, serving those most neglected by society and this is something we can be proud of. The Charities Week programme is an important channel for us to act as One Body by supporting the Church’s social organisations.

In giving with our whole heart, we pray that we might also be open to how else God is moving us to respond.

Source : Catholic News.

A Triumph Over Death

Image via Wikipedia

In the 4th week of lent, the reading are as follows:
[2 Chronicles 36:14-17, 19-23] [Ephesians 2:4-10] [John 3:14-21]

In this week's reading, we see that faith tells us that the cross is neither tragedy nor defeat but a glorious triumph over death because “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

We already share in that triumph because God’s great love for us has brought us to life in Christ. God has also reserved a place for us in heaven that he might display the great wealth of his favour toward us.

Death has been robbed of its power, because in Christ, death leads to eternal life.en transformed into the Church. The Church becomes a place of worship when Christ gathers together his people, to join him in the worship of God the Father.

Blair stresses importance of interfaith dialogue

Image via Wikipedia

Former British prime minister Tony Blair is in Singapore for a visit. In a speech to some 600 people from around Asia, his key message was the importance of interfaith dialogue.

The Israeli-Palestinian issue is one that galvanises many Muslims across the world. Mr Blair believes this religious issue is often exploited for political reasons.

"I think the Israel-Palestine question is so important to resolve because if you resolve it, it's a huge statement to peaceful coexistence. If you don't, that is the single issue that can be most exploited by reactionary and extreme people in order to stir up hatred between Islam and the West," said Mr Blair.

Mrs Blair is a Catholic and Mr Blair has been attending Catholic Mass and converted to Catholicism upon leaving office.

Read the full story here.

"Bare Your Sole 2009"

Image via Wikipedia

For the first time in Singapore, a massive barefoot walk is being planned for June to help raise funds to build shelters for needy people around the world.

You can support "Bare Your Sole 2009" by giving cash donations and shoes. For every pair of shoes donated, shoe manufacturer Crocs will sponsor a pair of shoes for children in third world countries. The donated shoes can be placed in bins situated at the SMU concourse.

Some 100 students gave up their shoes to walk barefoot around the Singapore Management University (SMU) to attend classes on Thursday.

Some interesting news during this season of lent and something we as Christians can help to contribute to.

More details are available at http://www.habitat.org.sg/bys09.

Amutha Valli ordered to pay S$372,000 in costs in exorcism case

Madam Amutha Valli Krishnan who lost her exorcism law suit against the Novena Church has been ordered to pay costs and disbursements amounting to some S$372,000.

Madam Amutha Valli Krishnan will have to pay the six churchgoers she tried to sue unsuccessfully, more than S$300,000 in lawyers fees and disbursements. She will also have to pay over S$72,000 in disbursements to the Church and the two defendant priests, Father Simon Tan and Father Jacob Ong.

She should thank God that the 2 defence lawyers did not asked for their legal fees. If they (Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim and Mr Tito Isaac) had done so, their fees alone will amount to between S$500,000 and S$1 million!

Beside she still has to wait for the Supreme Court registrar to decide if the disbursement and another sum of over S$92,000 - comprising largely of costs to get psychiatrists to testify for the defence being claimed are reasonable.

Good luck Madam Amutha Valli Krishnan.

Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up

Image via Wikipedia

This week's readings are as follows:
[Exodus 20:1-17] [1 Corinthians 1:22-25] [John 2:13-25

On this 3rd Sunday of Lent, we hear Jesus saying in the Gospel: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” to the shock and disbelief of the Jews. How can that be done when it took a period of forty six years to build the temple!

Through the teaching of St. John in the Gospel we know that Jesus was speaking of his body. That is why he said “I will raise it up” and not “I will rebuild it”. His prophecy was fulfilled in his resurrection.

All that Jesus said of his body as the temple applies to us now since we have become part of him through baptism. Through Jesus, we are lifted out from the grave of sins to live a life of fullness by His grace.

So, we should realize that we have been transformed into the Church. During this season of lent, let us reflect on what is stopping us from being closer to God. Let us ask God to help us repent and change our hearts and help us get closer to God.

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes awarded grants under the National Monuments Fund

Image via Wikipedia

Three religious landmarks are the first to be

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at Ophir Road is one of the first 3 religious landmarks here awarded grants for urgent repair works under the National Monuments Fund. The Church will receive S$449,000 for urgent roof and structural repairs to the belfry and roof. This Church is build since 1888 and is the first Tamil Catholic church in Singapore. Its design is modelled after the original church at Lourdes, France.

You can find more information about the Church here.

Fig tree?

We read about the fig tree in the bible....is this the same fig tree?

1035 to join the Catholic Church at Easter

Image via Wikipedia

The Rite of Election was held over the weekend of Feb 28 and Mar 1. This year, 1035 will join the Catholic Church in Singapore during Easter.

Let's pray for these elects and candidates as they continue their RCIA journey towards Easter Vigil when they will become Catholics.

What makes Catholic Charities different?

Image via Wikipedia

For Catholics, the fundamental reason for giving is to respond to Christ’s commandment to “love one another as I have loved you”. Apart from this important rationale, there are exterior differences between Catholic and non-Catholic charities. Based on an informal poll of Catholics involved with both Catholic and non-Catholic causes, there are four main practical differences between the two.

Read all about it here.

Transfiguration of Jesus Christ

Image via Wikipedia

This week is the 2nd Sunday of Lent and the readings are as follows:
[Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18] [Romans 8:31-34] [Mark 9:2-10]

Jesus explained to his apostles in the midst of his public ministry that he is to suffer and die and then be raised up. Six days later he transfigured before Peter, James and John. This was a visualization of the meaning of the Paschal Mystery.

The Paschal Mystery is there when birth pangs give way to joy, when health overcomes sickness and reconciliation after repentance. As Christians our first sacramental experience of the Paschal Mystery is our baptism.

We were immersed in the darkness of the death of Christ and raised with him to newness of life. It enlightens us with a faith that “Christ had first to suffer and so come to the glory of the resurrection”.

Eventually our own physical death is the ultimate sharing of the Paschal Mystery which brings us to enjoy the fruit of the resurrection and everlasting life and that God the Father includes us in his plan of the Paschal Mystery.

The Paschal Mystery which fills our minds and hearts especially during the season Lent gives light to our darkest days and eases the burden of our greatest suffering.

It is Darkest Before the Dawn.

Journey with Christ

Image by harry07 via Flickr

This is the first Sunday of Lent and the readings are as follows:

[Genesis 9: 8-15] [1 Peter 3: 18-22] [Mark 1: 12-15]

In the Gospel this week, we heard the Lord telling us :” ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel.’

Why repent?

Before the New Year, we are in the habit of doing spring cleaning when we clean and clear up our home to prepare and celebrate the New Year – symbolic of starting afresh for the New Year. We not only clean up our house from the dirt and dust but also get rid of things that we do not need.

Lent is a time like spring cleaning when we are called to respond (once again) to God. It is a time when we reflect on our life, repent by prayer, fasting and abstinence.

Lent is like the time when Jesus was lead into the desert to fast for 40 days....and we too, should fast, pray and reflect on our life in preparation to celebrate Easter when we remember Jesus who die on the Cross to save us.

Most of us though converted to Christianity is not always responding to God. We make perhaps some changes in order to avoid really big sins, but we are often not cooperative in giving over every aspect of our lives to God. This pattern happens throughout all of Scripture where we see people sin against God and turning away from Him time and again.

Sure, we tell God that we love Him and want to do His will but we go on leading more or less the same life that we did before.

During this season of Lent, may we come to respond to God consistently. Make God in Jesus Christ be the whole meaning of our life. May our prayer, fasting and abstinence help us change deeply so that we can be truly “Christ Like”

May we be truly converted in our heart and live to listen to Him and doing His will by giving over every aspect of our lives to God.