KAMI KUDUS! Your heart is the Holy Ground

Jul 17, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: The Archdiocesan Single Adult and Youth Office (ASAYO) KL held a virtual prayer conference for young people, KAMI KUDUS! themed Your heart should be considered “holy ground” (Christus Vivit, 67) on June 26 and 27. It was an opportunity for 273 young people to come together in prayer and community.

KAMI KUDUS! was held to remind the young people of their value, worth and dignity amidst the uncertainty of these times - and to highlight that their hearts, minds, and bodies are holy ground. We also wanted to emphasise that they are still innately good despite circumstances around them, and highlight that ultimately, the Church recognises this goodness in them. We invited them to also recognise this same goodness in others - to remove their sandals and enter onto sacred ground. KAMI KUDUS opened with a live-streamed Mass celebrated by Most Rev Julian Leow Beng Kim on Saturday morning via tv.ArchKL. org. In his homily, Archbishop Leow reminded the young people that “We can journey together, the young, the Church, the old, and be co-responsible, so that no one will be excluded. KITA JAGA KITA.”

The conference featured various collaborators, ministries, animators, and carers of young people engaging attendees through prayer, sharing of life experiences, and dialogue. There was space after every session for attendees to ask for support too, if necessary.

ASAYO director, Fr Gregory Chan, spoke about young people being The NOW of God, highlighting the necessity of allowing young people to explore possibilities and take risks.

In the session, The Maze Runner, Fr Simon Lau, ASAYO’s assistant director, spoke of the many outstanding people in the Church who encountered various twists and turns in life, and shared some pointers on having clarity.

Fr Sylvester Ngau, of the Diocese of Miri, in his session Tanggalkan kasutmu!, began with prayer and ministering on the guitar, calling young people to examine their lives. The young people were invited to reflect and share on the things in life that prevent them from recognising God’s presence in their lives.

In Here I am, send me, Alicia and Lavinia Antoine shared the importance of a personal encounter with Jesus and how that moves one forward as His disciple. MOVE Youth, in iFlame, shared with the young people how Scripture reveals ways for us to draw closer to the holiness within.

In This is Holy Ground, Psalm 33, an ecumenical worship group led the young people through a holistic way of worshipping God. They shared collective insights, tips, and tricks as well as testimonies of prayer and worship in various contexts.

Youth and campus ministries, notably the Catholic Varsity Students of the Church of the Divine Mercy (CDM) and Belia HFK (Holy Family Kajang), held prayer and dialogue sessions.

The Catholic Varsity Students of CDM, in Faith from Home, spoke about rootedness in faith even when away from home, and the importance of putting Christ as the centre of life. Belia HFK talked about how, although our faith may be shaken sometimes, we should never forget that God’s mercy is abundant and how powerful the sacrament of reconciliation is.

Belia HFK, in Digoyahkan, Bukan Dipatahkan, shared about fragility and facilitated a space for young people to pray for one another.

The youth workers from the Malacca Johore Young People Network, in The Navigator, spoke about discerning the many pathways we are presented with as young people and being sensitive to that voice of Truth.

Empowered Ministry from Kuching, in One Christ, One Body, shared with young people another expression of worship through movement and dancing. They also shared about the importance of being in a community where everyone can support each other in their faith journey.

Trinity Spiritual Team conducted a session for Mandarin-speaking young people exploring Scripture and Prayer Through Art.

The Tamil-speaking young people had a dedicated space to address their mental health needs with prayer and self -reflection facilitated by Josephine Mary, a guidance counsellor from SMK, Tenom, in Shaken, Not Broken. Thereafter, they were guided through practical approaches to prayer and reliance on the word of God by Daniel Dass from the Chapel of Christ the King. He facilitated a discussion centred on The Word of God and its daily applications in life.

The KAMI KUDUS virtual prayer conference for young people closed with a Eucharistic Celebration. Fr Simon Lau presided over the celebration, with Fr Gregory Chan concelebrating. It was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart and streamed using the Google Meet platform.

Before the celebrations concluded, an opportunity was given to young witnesses to share their experiences of faith.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the young people who joined us for KAMI KUDUS, and we look forward to accompanying you on your journey. Above all, we would like to invite young people in need of any form of support to contact us via [email protected]