Feast of Christ the King 2015

This weekend, we come to the end of the Church Liturgical year as we celebrate the 34th Sunday- the Last Sunday of the Year which is The Feast of Christ the King. 
Fr. Victor Louis, from Butterworth was with us on Friday to celebrate the week-end mass. (Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam was away for a Bishop Conference in Bangkok) 
Fr. Victor gave a very spirited homily, sharing with us the parable of the King and the Maiden by 19th Century Danish Philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. (The Parable is shared below:)

Fr. Victor Louis celebrating the Feast of Christ the King with us.

Fr. Victor raising the Book of Gospels, before the Gospel Reading

A large turn up of members of KCYS  for their first meeting under Campus Ministry coordinator, Dr. David Pereira.


MY SHARING

Today we celebrate the 34^th and Last Sunday of the Year which is the Feast of Christ the King. Blessings to each one of you on this Feast Day of Christ the King. 

       I would like to share a parable written by a Danish 19^th Century Philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard. (I heard this story last Friday from Fr. Victor Louis who came to celebrate mass for us)

       SOREN  has told a story about a king who fell in love with a peasant girl. The king knew that it was impossible for him to marry the girl, for kings only married royalty and never married peasants. 

       If he married the girl and stayed king, there would always be something missing in their relationship. The girl would always admire the king but she could never really love him. The gap between them would be too great. She would always be conscious of the fact that he was royalty and she was merely a lowly peasant. 

       So the king decided on another plan. He decided that he would resign his kingship and become a lowly peasant himself. Then he would offer his love to her as one lowly peasant to another. The king realized, of course, that if he did this, the situation could backfire. He could lose not only his kingship but the girl as well. She might reject him, especially if she thought him foolish for doing what he did. So, the king had a problem. What should he do? 

       The king finally decided that he loved the peasant girl so much that he would risk everything to make true love between them possible. Kierkegaard never told how the story ended, whether the girl accepted the king’s love or rejected it.

       The King in the parable is Jesus. The peasant girl represents each one of us. Let us reflect how we respond….This story has no ending. The ending is left to us. We must each write our own.

       This parable is such a beautiful reflection of how King Jesus has pursued your heart…has pursued mine.  Paul described it this way in his letter to the  Philippians 2:6-11)

[Jesus] who, being in very nature God,

Did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

But made himself nothing,

Taking the very nature of a servant,

Being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled himself

And became obedient to death –

Even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

And gave him the name that is above every name,

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

In heaven and on earth and under the earth,

And every tongue confess that

       Jesus Christ is Lord,

       To the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:6-11)

       Why would God do such a thing? Because He loves you and longs to have an intimate, personal relationship with you. It was a high price to pay, but Jesus’s love for us has no price.

       Jesus Christ is given the title, King of the Universe. King of Kings. He will come again a second time at the end of the world to judge the living and the dead.

       We must try out best to remain faithful to Him. Today there are more Christian martyrs than before. Christians are being tested. Keep watch. Pray for the strength to withstand any persecutions that come your way. Be prepared. The Day of the Lord will come when we least expect it.

       St. Paul tells us to be joyful and to give thanks always for God loves us, inspite of what pains we have encountered along the way.

       Let’s learn to share the love of Jesus with others whenever the opportunity arises.

Let’s Pray

Jesus, thank You for taking on the nature of a servant and being willing to be made in human likeness. Although you are the King of Kings and Lord of lords, thank You for humbling Yourself and becoming obedient even to death on a cross. I humble myself before You. I confess anew that You are my King and my Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

                 by  Joseph Wang  Sunday 22 Nov 2015

Cordial Visit to the Menteri Besar's Office

This morning, at 9.00 am, Bishop Sebastian Francis led a delegation of 5 from our Lady of Fatima Church for a cordial visit to the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, YAB Ustaz Dato' Hj Ahmad bin Yaakob. Unfortunately he was on leave, and we met the Deputy Menteri Besar, YB Dato' Mohd Amar bin Nik Abdullah and one of the State Exco member, YB Dato' Dr. Mohamed Fadzli bin Dato' Hj Hassan. Other members of the delegation were Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Sr. Jackie, fmm, Noel Clement and myself.

          They were quite surprised to learn that Fatima was the name of a place in Portugal, and not the daughter of Prophet Mohammad. The Deputy Menteri Besar had studied comparative religion as one of his courses in university, and were enlightened to learn more about the church and Christianity in general. Bishop Sebastian also brought up the matter of renovations to St. Joseph's Chapel, Kuala Krai being not approved by the Majlis Daerah Kuala Krai, and the Deputy Menteri Besar promised to look into the matter.It was a cordial visit to further strengthen the good relationship between the local church and the state government.

                                         (Text and Photos by Joseph Wang)

The Archbishop and Bishop outside the Menteri Besar's Office

Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, Bishop Sebastian Fancis, Noel Clement and Sr. Jackie

Members of the delegation being introduced to Menteri Besar's Representative.

Dato' Dr. Mohamed Fadzli,  State Exco  member, welcoming the delegation

YB Dato' Dr. Mohamed Fadzli  chatting with the Bishop and Archbishop

Sr. Jackie accepting a souvenir from the Deputy Menteri Besar, YB Dato'  Mohd Amar bin Nik Abdullah

Noel receiving a souvenir from the Deputy Menteri Besar

Members of our delegation in a group foto with the Administrative staff of the Menteri Besar's Office

Blessing of newly completed Fatima Columbarium

This morning, immediately after the weekend mass, His Grace, Most Rt. Rev. Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, solemnly blessed the newly completed Fatima Columbarium. Though small and simple but unique in design, the Fatima Columbarium has a peaceful atmosphere. The columbarium can accommodate up to more than a hundred niches for our beloved departed ones.. Designed and constructed by Noel Clement, the project took about 2 years. It was first mooted by Fr. Robert Daniel, approved by Bishop Sebastian Francis and undertaken by a committee led by Mr. Alex Poh, the former PPC Chairman. Parishioners now have a choice for their departed loved ones, either the Panji Christian Cemetery or the Fatima Columbarium.


                                                         (Photos and Text by Joseph Wang)

                                  Blessing the door of the Fatima Columbarium before entering

Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakian blessing the Columbarium

Archbishop Murphy Pakiam with Srs. Jackie and Sr. Mary Anne Fletcher

Parishioners witnessing the Blessing 

Praying the rosary together after the blessing of the Columbarium

Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, praying a decade of the Rosary with paishioners

The plaster ceiling with the Cross design by Noel

Sr. Mary Anne Fletcher, fmm beside the first 20 stainless steel niches at the Columbarium

All Saints and All Souls Day 2015

Former parishioners, Flora and Lawrence Nice and Teresa Lo were here to celebrate All Saint's Day and All Souls Day with us in Kota Bharu. At both masses, Archibishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam reminded us  that we are in communion with all the Saints and Holy Souls in Purgatory. and not to forget to pray for All souls in Purgatory.

Earlier on All Souls Day, the two cemetaries at Panji and Jalan Hamzah were blessed by his Grace.

A number of  parishioners prayed together for their relatives and friends who were buried there.

(Photos by Joseph Wang)

The 7.00 pm All Saints Day mass was well attended.

Reunion of former parishioners, Lawrence Nice, Teresa Lo and Flora Nice

Archbishop Emeritus, Murphy Pakiam celebrating the All Saints Day masses.

All Souls Day at 8.00 pm

Earlier, at 6.00 pm, the graves were blessed by the Archbishop.

Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam, leading the prayers at Jalan Hamzah cemetary.

The cemetary has been kept clean, thanks to the Kota Bharu Cemetary Committee.