The Art of Meditation & Centering Prayer

 Fr. Robert Daniel introduced the art of meditation and Centering Prayer to about 20 parishioners who turned up for the monthly Holy Hour this evening from 8.00 - 9.00 pm.

Christian Meditation was pioneered by John Main and Lawrence Freeman taught Centering Prayer as a way of approaching God. It appears a simple way of praying but it can be the hardest thing to do in life.
Lawrence Freeman, a Benedictine Monk,  introduced 3 basic things we must have in meditation:
     (1) Attentiveness 
     (2) Mindfulness 
     (3) Awareness - to allow presence of God to come into our lives

The Art of Meditation:   How to practise the art of meditation.
     (1) Close your eyes. Be comfortable. Feel free to adopt any posture or position.
     (2) It is best to sit with your back straight. Not too relaxed as the mind will wonder away. Attentiveness.
     (3) Begin with a mantra. The early Christians used to pray in Aramaic this Mantra : "Maranatha" which              translated in English, "Come Lord Jesus"
     With eyes closed, keep repeating this mantra and allow the word to vibrated in mind, heart and body.
      If the mind wanders, bring back the word/mantra "Come Lord Jesus"

The basis of Centering Prayer is to come back to the center whenever our mind wanders by repeating the mantra, "Come Lord Jesus".  Don't worry about your mind wandering (it's only natural to be distracted during meditation). What's more important is  you return to the center every time you wander. It's simple but hard to do.  It is a challenge to us to allow God to come into our lives.

Be slow in Meditation. Mindfulness means that we are aware of  and we feel our physical movements, pain etc, but we deliberately slow down our movements/reactions until we are able to reach a point of nothingness a state of total 'silence' within us i.e. when we experience the 'Presence of God" - when God will make Himself present to us.

Fr. Robert encouraged all  to practice the art of Meditation, starting with at least 10 minutes daily. We will feel the effects of meditation in our lives and will able to overcome worries, tension and stress. Most important, we will come closer to God as we get to know our true selves. As St. Augustine said, "Know Thyself".

Ballroom and Latin Dancing class begins

Dr. David  Pereira assisted by his petite assistant, Dr. Choy Tsee Leng, took time off to conduct a Ballroom and Latin Dancing class for interested parishioners yesterday, Monday 24th Feb 2014. About 15-16 participants were taught basic steps in Ballroom dancing such as the Rhumba and Latin dances such as Jiving. The class starts at 7.30 pm on Mondays. All those interested can join the class and learn to dance or 'exercise' with rhythmic dance music.
(Dr. David is a Lecturer with USM and was involved in Ballroom and Latin Dancing for 5 years in Sydney when he was doing his PhD.)

Lenten Campaign Formation 2014

This morning after mass, . the POHD (Penang Office for Human Development) team conducted formation sessions for children and youth+adults on the Lenten Campaign 2014. The theme chosen by the Penang Diocese this year is "Charity, The Light of Faith". The team included Kevin Eruthayanathan (Campus Ministry) James Amalaraj (Tamil speaking Youth) and Dennis Hew (Photographer).  Tomorrow, the POHD team will be in Kem Desa Pahlawan to conduct Formation sessions for mothers, youth and the children.
Thank you POHD team for your hard work at your last station for the Lenten Formation!

Kevin with the Lenten Campaign theme 

The youths comprising of campus students and parish youth

The youth waiting for the session to begin

Kevin, James and Dennis in action

Kevin Eruthayanathan, introducing himself before the session

The Lenten Campaign 2014 Poster showing this year's theme.

Fr. Mark Michael's Catechetical Session

Rev. Fr. Mark Michael, Head of the Penang Diocese Catechetical Commission was here for 2 days to give 2 sessions on Catechetics. On Thursday night, He gave a session on YOUCAT (Youth Catechism) to the youth and on Friday (today) He gave another session to the whole parish from 10.30 am - 12.00 noon.

The first segment was Initiating the Process of Thinking and Learning. To help us to reflect, we need to ask ourselves 5 questions:
          1) What new thing did I learn today?
          2) What did I find interesting?
          3) How is it relevant to life?
          4) How is it relevant to catechetics?
          5) What I didn't understand.

Next, a video on 'Who is the Church?' was shown and participants had to review what they learnt using the above 5 questions. We learnt that the majority of people in the world have not heard of Jesus Christ, even in Western Countries, Christianity is not practised.  Jesus came to ask us to repent. The word repent means to change direction in the midst of what is going on. Change is our responsibility.

The 3rd segment was on the CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) which was first written in 1992 (22 years ago!) Fr. Mark pointed out that it is the first time a complete catechism of the Catholic Church was produced to be used as a reference for all Catholics to help us in our faith and to state the official position of the Catholic Church on all faith issues.

The participants were then asked to share their experience of God in their lives with their neighbour. A song entitled "Tell Me Why" by Deelan Gabraith,  a small boy, with a gusty voice. inspired us to try to find answers to our questions on faith.
Another video was shown, where a girl gave a testimony on how she became a Christian through her friends who continued to show love even when she rejected them initially.

We are all called to be Jesus' disciples - to go forth to share the Good News of Jesus - as  the next slide presentation entitled: 'Reforming Generation' - from Abraham, Moses, Esteher, David, Lincoln..showed.
The Session ended with an uplifting and inspiring song "To Believe' sung by 12 year-old Jacky Evanko.

As today was Chap Goh Meh ( or 15th Night of CNY) lunch with a variety of Chinese cookies and delicacies was served to participants.

On sale was the YOUCAT which was snapped up within 15 minutes and 3 other books: Understanding and Experience Faith through the Sacraments, The Basics of the Bible and Catechist Handbook written by Fr. Mark and published by the Penang Diocese Catechetical Commission.

Thank Fr. Mark for coming all the way to help us and our youths in our Catechetical formation.

All the participants pose for a group foto with Fr. Mark after the Session

Fr. Mark Michael giving his introduction

The participants waiting excitedly for the session to begin

Fr. Mark's  session was lively and inspiring

Fr. Mark saying the closing prayer at the end of the session

Participants and parishioners join in the Chap Goh Meh buffet lunch

Putting Fr. Mark's advice to husbands and wives to share their food today which is also  St. Valentine's Day !