Malacca Johore Diocese News Update #179

Jul 05, 2024

Greetings dear friends of MJD,
What’s happening around us? Mass coral bleaching is threatening marine life here. Singapore President Tharman meets with Pope Francis. First ever Apple Store opens at TRX KL. BRICS currency, led by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, plans to challenge the USD. The athletes around the world are aspiring to compete at the Paris Olympics. Pope Francis reminded students: “Always hold true to your convictions.... and even if you are tempted to live a lukewarm faith because others torment you, hold true to your identity and stay strong like the Christian martyrs who were persecuted”.

The AI is a powerful technological advancement which must be used ethically to serve humanity and its inherent risks must be made less harmful, says the Church.

“Turning Things Around” Times: Fear of others. Fear of takeover of country, religion and economy. Fear-mongering to remain in power and enslave the unthinking. Fear cripples. The FMT reports that the nation has lost its competitiveness, and dropped in economic performance, government efficiency and business efficiency. Can structural changes alone turn things around? Again a conversion or cultural revolution or renaissance is needed. Slogans are not enough. Where’s the will, the enforcement and the visionmission? The Church also sees the need for a spiritual conversion, an interior transformation, to achieve lasting effects. The Pope hopes that synodality may endure as a permanent mode of working within the Church, at all levels, permeating the hearts of all, pastors and faithful alike, until it becomes a shared “ecclesial style”. Programmes and plannings must be accompanied with a change of mindsets. The people must come to the truth and the truth will set them free.

A Thought for the Week:
The Annoyed Turtle
Gloria Steinem, the famous feminist was on a geology field trip when she saw a large turtle heading towards the road. Fearful for the turtle, she tried to turn it around, pushing and shoving a now very angry turtle.

Her geology professor saw this and told her: She’s coming from the river, exhausted from the climb, nearing the nesting spot. She is annoyed. Always ask the turtle!

A lesson from the professor: Always ask the turtle. Don’t presume! Don’t think that you know what is best for others. Always ask before you decide for them.

Announcements for the Week:

1. The MJD congratulates Msgr Peter Ng and Fr Thomas Chong who will be celebrating their Silver Jubilee (25 years as priests) and Fr Anthony Ng and Fr Lucas Ho will be Golden Jubilarians (50 years) this year. More info next.

2. The Regional Pastoral Assembly 2024 or popularly known as PMPC 5 draws near. Delegates from the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Diocese of Penang and MJD numbering 500 are expected at Majodi from August 25-27, 2024. It continues to be a time to listen, learn and be led by the Holy Spirit.

3. The Mangrove Planting Project initiated by Caritas-CJC MJD with the Nature Society, will see 49 participants sponsoring and planting 450 saplings at Kukup.

4. Katholikos on July 6 and 7 is gathering of the of the parish young people leaders and advisors of the Diocese of Malacca Johore for a time of formation and commissioning. Here the young people are gathered, formed and commissioned as we launch the “Road to the MJDYPD 2024” to begin the journey of the young people towards the Malacca Johore Diocese Young People Day 2024 on November 22-23, the weekend of the Solemnity of Christ the King.

This week’s QnQ? Q asks:
Have you heard about the 3 I’s for good leaders?
Warren Buffet talks about INTELLIGENCE, INITIATIVE and INTEGRITY for leaders of people. He says that we look for intelligence, we look for initiative or energy, and we look for integrity. And if they don't have the latter ie integrity, the first two will kill us. To have a lazy and dumb leader would be better than employing one without integrity. Senior leaders have encountered managers without integrity, who turn out to be self-centred, and who manipulate others for personal gain, fail to be team players and do not serve the organisation’s mission. What do we look for in our team, ministry, church or political leaders?

Pope Francis added: It is now, more than ever, necessary that all leaders be outstanding for honesty, integrity and commitment to the common good. Thus will they be able to marshal the moral resources needed to face the demands of the present, and to pass on to coming generations a society of authentic justice, solidarity and peace.

See the Holy Spirit @ work: Trying to do the Lord’s work on your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you. - Corrie Ten Boom

Something to tickle you: “It is not the trials in your life that develop or destroy you, but rather, your response to those hardships.” – Charles Stanley

Bishop Bernard Paul