Malacca Johore Diocese News Update #196

Nov 01, 2024

Greetings dear friends of MJD.
On October 20, the Pope declared three 19th-century founders of religious orders and the 11 “Martyrs of Damascus” as saints to be venerated by the global Catholic Church, commending their lives of sacrifice, missionary zeal and service to the Church.

The new minimum wage of RM1,700 announced at the 2025 Budget tabling is not the starting salary for all employees, including graduates, says the human resources minister. Employers in Perlis, Kelantan and Sabah said that they were not ready to implement the minimum wage. The eradication of hardcore poverty is intended for everyone, regardless of ethnic background, says the government. The employers are frustrated when interviewing prospective job applicants, especially fresh graduates, by their lack of communication, innovation and leadership competencies.

Choon Guan Hainan Coffee 1956, outlets in Klang and Port Klang, is offering free meals to the needy that have been fully paid for by others. Sacrifices take many forms. If there is a will, there’s a way.

Sacrificing Times: Discounts for traffic offences. Discounts for crimes against the nation. Court sentences, Pardon Board reduces fines and prison terms. People struggle while the elected splurge. Perks and self-rewards replace sacrifice and service. Greed, ambition and corruption appear to thrive everywhere. Will we ever see selfless service?

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat,” said Winston Churchill, the iconic British statesman, as Prime Minister in 1940, at the height of the Second World War. The quote reflects Churchill’s commitment to sacrifice and hard work in the face of adversity. He encouraged individuals to approach challenges with resilience, determination, and a willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good.

The British people were rallied up to face Germany’s air raids, infiltration and designs to conquer Britain. They survived and revived. Eventual victory comes with sacrifices.

A Thought For The Week:
Smelly Potatoes
A kindergarten teacher asked each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag of potatoes, with the name of the person or persons he or she hates. That day, they brought the potatoes. Some had two, others had three and a few had five potatoes. They were told to carry them in plastic bags everywhere they went for one week. As the days passed, the children began to complain about the rotting smell; and a few, about the weighty burden. Finally, the one week was up, and the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game.

The lesson from the game: When you carry hatred for someone in your heart, the stench of hatred will contaminate your heart, and that stench will follow you everywhere. If one cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes, can one live with the stench of hatred the whole life?

Announcements for the Week:

1. Dedication ceremony of Pusat Kasih Caritas on Sunday, December 1 at 12 noon followed by lunch. It is located between SRJK (C) St Joseph and Church of the Immaculate Conception, JB. For more details, please contact Albert Tan at 016- 8492346.

2. Reclaiming Joy: Healing Childhood Wounds and Restoring Peace (Serenity) on Sunday November 24 from 9.00am - 5.00pm at MAJODI. The cost per person is RM80 (inclusive of lunch and two tea breaks). For more inquiries, please WhatApp Diana (013-7274147), Mary (012-7070750) or Michael (012- 2104116). This event is organised by the MJD Counselling Ministry.

QnQ? Q asks: We are capable of being or doing more. It is believed that there are miracle killers? Who or what are they?
Four internal conflicts that tend to show up most often and that we must overcome. (Hal Elrod, The Miracle Equation)

1. We have a brain that registers new opportunities as dangerous.

2. We reject the notion that we are deserving of all that we want and instead settle for mediocre effort and results in one, several or all areas of our lives.

3. We lose sight of our innate gifts and fail to see all that we can accomplish.

4. Finally, we allow the world to influence our thinking and define us, which usually leads us to believe that we are less capable than we actually are. We are the miracle. We are the miracle workers. We are there to aid others in seeing or being the miracle.

See The Holy Spirit @ Work: “In the inner stillness where meditation leads, the Spirit secretly anoints the soul and heals our deepest wounds.” St John of the Cross

Something To Tickle You: “Christ never was in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God.” --Mary Slessor

Bishop Bernard Paul