The Religious are an essential part of the Archdiocese

Feb 15, 2019

By Bro Augustine Julian FSC
“You belong to the Archdiocese; you are an essential component of the Archdiocese,” said Archbishop Julian Leow at the conclusion of the Sunset Mass for the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time on February 2. This date also celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It is also the 23rd World Day for Consecrated Life (WDCL) in the Universal Church instituted by St. John Paul II in 1997.

More than 50 Religious, women and men, representing the 15 Religious Congregations in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur gathered to celebrate this special day with the faithful of the parish of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

Archbishop Leow paid tribute to the Religious for their unswerving love, dedication and commitment in living out their special charisms in the pastoral care of the people in the Archdiocese.

He challenged the congregation to consider whether they had really fallen in love with the Lord.

He stressed the importance of having the theological virtue of love that has God as the motive and object of all evangelising activities. It is the central driving force for all our actions. If one had not experienced the joy and sorrow of being in love, then all the sacrifices made in one’s chosen work would be meaningless and without merit.

“How real is your love for God and humanity?” asked the Archbishop then.
He explained that it is to strive for the perfect love of the Father; the love that is shown in compassion and mercy to humanity, especially the least, the most vulnerable, the defenceless and those in need where God’s very image is found.

He further acknowledged that the Religious are the sign of God’s love in the world. In the same vein, he emphasised that all are called to holiness and that this is capable of filling our life and service to the evangelising efforts, so that every moment can be an expression of self-sacrificing love in the Lord’s eyes.

In conclusion, Archbishop Leow thanked the Religious for the immense contribution they are continuing to give the people in the fields of education, health-care and numerous social services in the Archdiocese.

Prior to the celebration of the Mass, the Religious had assembled for an afternoon of reflection on the Beatitudes. The reflection was based on a number of videos that depicted the Beatitudes being lived out in varied situations of the developed and underdeveloped worlds in the 21st century.

Bro Raja Manikam SG of the Gabrielite Brothers skilfully led the emotion-filled thematic reflection on the Beatitudes as expressed in the first and third world countries in the world. He allowed each ten-minute video to vividly speak the gospel message. The response of particular personalities to the pathetic situations they had encountered exemplified clearly on how the Religious can live the Beatitudes in the modern world that cares very little for the B40 (Bottom 40 per cent) of humanity.

The central theme of love, mercy and determination was vividly presented in the varied human situations of pain, exclusion, depravation and loss of human dignity, showing the several victims who had fallen by the way side in the race for economic growth and worldly prosperity.

At the end of an emotion-packed two-hour presentation, the Religious left the meeting room to celebrate the Mass for the World Day for Consecrated Life.

The evening ended with a sumptuous dinner, in a rare show of Unity in the Church among the parishioners, the assembled Religious and the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur. Appreciation and thanks are due to the Capuchin Friars and their parishioners for hosting this year’s celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life. Deo Gratias.