Sharing in the three- fold mission of Christ

Apr 02, 2014

By Charmaine Amanda
Good Shepherd Church (GSC) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with a multitude of activities and celebrations to commemorate this milestone. Fr VA Michael, parish priest of GSC aims to emphasize the priestly, prophetic and kingly dignity of his parishioners through activities planned out throughout the year. “It is my honour and joy to invite you to celebrate, not only the 50 years of our Catholic faith since the dedication of our church in 1964, but the entire history of faith that has made our parish. This special anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate the past history of faith, and to make history ourselves. I urge you to prayerfully reflect and decide on how you can share in the threefold mission of Jesus Christ and make a difference this year,” he urged the Golden Jubilee Committee members of GSC.

Lumen Gentium states that in collaboration with their bishops and clergy, “the faithful, who by Baptism are incorporated into Christ, in their own way share the priestly, prophetic and kingly office of Christ.” The participation of the lay faithful in the threefold mission of Christ as priest, prophet and king finds its source in the anointing of Baptism, its further development in Confirmation and its realization and dynamic sustenance in the Holy Eucharist. It is a participation given to each member of the lay faithful as St Peter clearly teaches when he defines the baptized as “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people” (1 Pt 2:9).

To assist the lay faithful in exercising their prophetic role, the committee is currently screening Rev Fr Robert Barron’s DVD on Catholicism every Friday. A Bible study for the various language groups, introduction to Theology of the Body for youths, intercessory prayer for our country and the universal church and a spiritually uplifting retreat for the parish leaders are among the programmes in the pipeline for this year.

The committee has come up with many projects to raise funds for the poor to exemplify our kingly service and mission. Among them are the setting up of recycling bins in the church compound, breakfast sales by BECs, family day, walkathon, Inter BEC games and year-end gala dinner in November. Proceeds from these activities will be used to support various underprivileged organizations. GSC BECs and Zones too are lighting up the lives of the communities surrounding them via collaboration with other ministries as well as their own efforts. The BECs often reach out to neighbouring orphanages, Orang Asli villages and raise funds for the needy. The PIHD, who are already confronting poverty are seeing an increase in the number of volunteers coming from the BECs.

The chairman of the Golden Jubilee Committee, Noel Chua, expressed his hope that all the parishioners will participate in full force to enrich themselves and the lives of the community surrounding them in this jubilee year. “We offer to Him all of our priestly, prophetic and kingly activities so that He might sanctify them in the Holy Spirit, endow them with His truth and order them according to the will of His Father,” he said.