A Blessed Season of Advent
An Advent Reflection :Returning to Essentials
Hospitality is
the practice that keeps the church from becoming a club, a members-only
society. —Diana Butler Bass
Practical,
practice-based Christianity has been avoided, denied, minimised, ignored,
delayed, and sidelined for too many centuries, by too many Christians who were
never told Christianity was anything more than a belonging or belief system.
Now we know that there is no Methodist or Catholic way of loving. There is no
Orthodox or Presbyterian way of living a simple and nonviolent life. There is
no Lutheran or Evangelical way of showing mercy. There is no Baptist or
Episcopalian way of visiting the imprisoned. If there is, we are invariably
emphasising the accidentals, which distract us from the very “marrow of the
Gospel,” as St. Francis called it.
We have made this mistake for too long. We
cannot keep avoiding what Jesus actually emphasised and mandated. In this most
urgent time, “it is the very love of Christ that now urges us” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Pastor
Philip Gulley superbly summarises how we must rebuild spirituality from the
bottom up in his book, "If the Church Were Christian". Here I take
the liberty of using my own words to restate his message, which offers a rather
excellent description of Emerging Christianity:
Jesus is a model
for living more than an object of worship.
Affirming
people’s potential is more important than reminding them of their brokenness.
The work of
reconciliation should be valued over making judgments.
Gracious
behaviour is more important than right belief.
Inviting
questions is more valuable than supplying answers.
Encouraging the
personal search is more important than group uniformity.
Meeting actual
needs is more important than maintaining institutions.
Peacemaking is
more important than power.
We should care
more about love and less about sex.
Life in this
world is more important than the afterlife (eternity is God’s work anyway).
If this makes
sense to you, you are already inside of Emerging Christianity.
Gateway to
Silence:
Rooted and growing in Love.
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Fr. Marquez helps in Mui Wo
Fr. Jose Ruiz Marquez, a Claretian Missionary based in the Philippines was in Epiphany Parish, Mui Wo for over a month helping in the parish. While two of the priests from the parish were away on studies and vacation, Fr. Marquez made himself available to serve the English community.
Epiphany parishioners had the opportunity to listen to a series of classes on liturgy and Bible as Fr. Marquez is a Professor of Theology and a priest with wide reading. During his Bible Study classes in Mui Wo and Pengchau, he challenged the enabled the parishioners to look beyond the traditional understanding of devotions and practices of faith, in order to make the scriptures more relevant and meaningful in our daily life.
Claretian Family reach out - Candle Light----------------------------
In the past couple of years, the Claretian lay associates - "Candle Light"- from Hong Kong and Macau have been making huge strides in their reach-out programme for the needy: leprosy affected people in the Mainland China and for the educational aid for the children in Nepal. All this was possible with the help of generous assistance from our friends and well wishers.  |
| Candle Light volunteers participating in the Caritas Charity Sale in St. Benedict Parish, Shatin |
Over the past year, the Parishioners of Epiphany parish, Mui Wo have been sending used clothes, toys and house appliances to help the informal settlers in the Philippines.
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| Fr. Lito CMF, the parish priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, UP Village, Metro Manila distributing utensils and rice for the fire tragedy victims |
Recently there was a fire accident in one of the informal settlers area where in over 150 houses went up in flames. Many of them belonged to the Claretian Parish in Quezon City.
Hearing the news of the fire tragedy, a group of our friends from Macau - "Grace Educare" - made some generous contributions to provide immediate relief for the affected families. Relief materials were distributed by Fr. Lito, the parish priest of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Quezon City.
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| Fr. Lito, CMF with the volunteers of the Claret Urban Poor Apostolate (CUPA)after distributing the basic necessities for the fire tragedy victim |
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| The generous help from numerous well wishers in Macau and Hong Kong for the surgery and medical help for the Children has gone a long way! |
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| Waiting for the Vice President Ms. Leni Robredo at Saklay Centre |
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| Fr. Arnold with the Vice President of the Philippines, Ms. Leni Robredo at Saklay |
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| "Boodle Fight" at Saklay! |
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| The Volunteers and staff at Saklay |
We missionaries are greatly indebted to all our friends and benefactors who joyfully responded to share in this ministry. We pray for the heaven's choicest blessings on all of you!
If you wish to be part of this ministry to the needy, please contact us through email:
josecheru@gmail.com
or visit the Claretian Volunteer's facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/CANDLELIGHTCMF/posts/?ref=page_internal
josecheru@gmail.com
or visit the Claretian Volunteer's facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/CANDLELIGHTCMF/posts/?ref=page_internal
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Pastoral Renewal and Leadership for Mission
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| The Participants in EAPI this time were from 21 Countries |
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| With Fr. Bruno, who's visit to the Philippines was a pleasant surprise |
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| Certification on completion of the Course in EAPI by Fr. Peter Pujol, the Director of EAPI |
That's what I aspire for! But for the time, thanks to my Community in Hong Kong for sparing me for the past six months and thanks to EAPI for accommodating me for the past four months!
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Claretian Day Celebration in Taiwan
21st October 2017 marked a unique day in the life and mission of Claretian Missionaries in Taiwan. The Claretian Community in Taiwan ventured herself into dedicating the whole of this year (2017) for helping the recipients of our missionary service know more about the Claretian Congregation, its founder-St. Anthony Mary Claret, its various missions and missionary initiatives around the globe etc.
Thus, beginning from the month of
May until October, we dedicated each month for various themes and programs,
such as, prayer of initiation, pilgrimage, Power-Point Presentation on the
Congregation and her mission, Claretian movies, Marian Spirituality etc.
As a
culmination of the whole celebration, on 21st October 2017, we had a
joined Claretian Mission Day Celebration at Keelung Assumption Church, with a
distinct participation of nearly 150 of our well-wishes from all the missions
and parishes we are rendering our services-such as, Keelung, Ruifang, Qidu,
Wulai and Zhonghe Aboriginal Pastoral Centre. The final day celebration
enormously made an impact on everyone to know mutually and particularly our
missionary commitment in this region.
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2nd International Choral Festival, Macau
The
second edition of Cantata Macau will be plugged in on December-6, 2017. Eight
choirs from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Mexico and Philippines, will flood the
Cathedral and Saint Lawrence vaults with their distilled musical extravaganza
for 4 days in a row. The highlight of the event is the Grand Concert on 8th
December at 7.30 pm in the Cineteatro,
Macau.
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The
Cantata Macau, the International Music Festival Macau started last year with an
intention to offer an alternative signification to Macau, which is known to the
world as a land of casinos.
Paradoxically, the negative synonyms showered on
this city do not suit the natives of Macau who generally, cherish their
religious identity and enjoy what is holy. The Music Festival is an attempt to
redeem this sublime past of Macau.
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