[EN] Lesson from Thanksgiving Service of Stephen Cardinal Byers (13-6-2013)

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, the doctor of the Roman Catholic Church. Jesus, in the gospel of Matthew, explained we should become the salt of the earth, and the light of the world. Jesus also mention the importance of evangelise – how others can truly understand the teaching from Jesus, and as a christian how do we help them to know more about our beliefs.

The gospel we heard today is a continuation of the Eight Beatitudes in the previous chapter. St. Gregory of Nyssa, described beatitude as “a possession of all things held to be good, from which nothing is absent that a good desire may want.” Our lord would like to extend the spirit of the Eight Beatitudes with the following parables: salt and light.

Salt, in definition, is a kind of seasoning which gave us a delicacy taste. In the apostolic age, salt was a very expensive preservative which symbolizes longevity and lasting. Jesus explained, “If salt lose its favour, how shall it be seasoned?” It symbolised our faith, if we lose our faith, the consequence is just like those people trampled those salt on the ground. In my past experiences, I saw a lot of catholic communties tried their best to hold daily prayers in their churches and evangelise others, which is a good sign. Unfortunately, after my return on April this year, I saw something different: more communities were closed down, people who are catholic does not will to show their devotion with numerous reasons. I believe that the major issue is we do not understand the needs of the people in Secondlife. When they enter into such virtual world, they do not know how to find their track, their faith thus become hinder. As a citizen of god, we must do something. We must ensure that we remain in a strong faith, which we are willing to help them, not only in religious beliefs, but in any needs that they would like us to help with.

According to the Genesis, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that light was good, and God divided light from darkness. However, Jesus explained the term of light does not based on the atmosphere, it based on us – the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, why the term “light” is important to our christian faith? Faith always come from our soul, which god granted us to live in the atmosphere of world. Jesus would like to elaborate an important part regarding to our soul and evangelise – we have to “light” ourselves – prepare ourselves: pray all the time, read bible, attend mass and daily office, etc. Indeed, the major thing is we live because we would like people to understand the basic belief in the catechism – the salvation of our soul. I refer to a quote from St. Anthony of Padua, “The life of the body is the soul; the life of the soul is God,” We evangelise to others because we are hoping there are more people entering into the eternal heaven. The duty of evangelise is not an honour, but it is a kind of grace granted by god, which we must treasure it in our own hearts. “Illuminate YOURSELF, Illuminate OTHERS” is the message what Jesus want to tell us, we should continue to evangelise others about our belief, in a more sensible way, especially for the needs of our souls.

I actually made an intention to this liturgy for the peace in Secondlife. It is a platform for the continuing Evangelisation, which benefit for those who wishes to understand our faith. I look forward that Secondlife will remain peaceful in the bright future and the christians communities will remain peaceful.

+Stephen

Stephen Byers – Thanksgiving Liturgy on the 13th June

Events in Marigot : June 2013

*Note: The events are subject to change, please check the group notice for the latest information.

Name of the event:	Date of the event:	Time:
Prayer to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus	Every Sunday of June	After the liturgy
S. Anthony of Padua-Thanksgiving liturgy of Stephen Byers in the 5th years of ministry in Secondlife	13th June, 2013 (Thursday)	1:45pm SLT
Birth of St. John the Baptist – Liturgy	24th June, 2013 (Monday)	1:45pm SLT

The above events will be held in Our Lady of Peace Cathedral, Moila Vale (137,161,24).

Events in Marigot : May 2013

*Note: The events are subject to change, please check the group notice for the latest information.

Name of the event:	Date of the event:	Time:
Rosary (Glorious Mysteries- once per Sunday)	Every Sunday of May	After the liturgy
Pentecost -1st Vespers	18th May, 2013 (Saturday)	7:45am SLT
Pentecost – Pontifical High Liturgy	19th May, 2013 (Sunday)	1:45pm SLT
Mary Help of Christians – Adoration of Blessed Sacraments for the Day of Prayer for the Church in China	24th May, 2013 (Friday)	24 Hours
Corpus Christi- Pontifical High Liturgy and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament	30th May, 2013 (Thursday)	1:45pm SLT

The above events will be held in Our Lady of Peace Cathedral, Moila Vale (137,161,24).

[FR] Homélie du Ascension du Seigneur (9-5-2013)

Biens chers freres et soeurs,

Au jour de l’Ascension, les anges ont dit aux Apôtres :“Hommes de Galilée, pourquoi restez-vous là à regarder verts le ciel ? Jésus, qui a été enlevé du milieu de vous, reviendra de la même manière que vous l’avez vu s’en aller au ciel”, alléluia ! Tels sont les mots que nous décrit l’antienne d’ouverture de la messe de ce jour.

Aujourd’hui, en ce jour de l’Ascension, l’Eglise fête le retour glorieux de Jésus au Ciel, où Dieu réside dans la gloire. C’est le jour de son triomphe. L’Eglise fête en même temps le triomphe de l’humanité, qui, unie dans à la souffrance du Christ, sera unie à sa gloire. Mais elle écoute aussi les dernières consignes de son maître :“en attendant que je revienne vous cherchez, soyez mes témoins”. ette fête de l’Ascension démontre trois aspects fondamentaux, à savoir; Le triomphe du Christ, le triomphe de l’humanité et le fait que Notre-Seigneur reviendra nous chercher.

Voyons rapidement ces trois points : La joie pascale arrive à son sommet. Le Christ est, depuis le jour de Pâques, vainqueur de la mort et du pêché. Aujourd’hui, victorieux, il rentre dans le ciel. Ses disciples l’ayant vu s’élever au-dessus de la création et disparaître dans la nuée, il siège dès à présent à la droite de Dieu. C’est d’un trône royal que le Christ prend possession : c’est le Triomphe du Christ.  L’humanité acclame le triomphateur, et elle l’escorte. Elle est son butin, le peuple qu’il ramène dans la terre promise après l’avoir délivré du péché et de la mort. “Le Christ monte, entraînant avec lui les hommes captifs de la mort…il entre au Ciel et fait siéger dans la gloire, à la droite du Père, notre nature corruptible qu’il s’était unie.” – C’est le triomphe de l’humanité. Unis à Jésus dans le mystère de l’Ascension, nous ne l’accompagnons pas immédiatement. Il a quitté la terre. On éteint aujourd’hui le cierge pascal qui symbolisait sa présence visible. Mais n’attendons pas que le Paradis s’ouvre dès maintenant pour nous. A la fin des temps, Jésus reviendra nous chercher. Comme les anges l’ont dit aux Apôtres, “Hommes de Galilée, pourquoi restez là les yeux fixés vers le Ciel ? Jésus que vous venez de voir monter aux cieux, reviendra de la même façon.” Nous vivons désormais dans l’attente de ce retour et nous devons aider l’humanité a s’y préparer.

Mes biens chers frères, ne restons pas immobiles, nous avons comme mission de prolonger la présence et l’action du Christ sur la terre. Alors, allons témoigner, ici dans notre royaume mais bien au delà, de notre foi afin d’augmenter le nombre des croyants.  Telles sont bien les dernières instructions que nous a laissé le Christ !

+Guillaume

[EN] Lesson from the Requiem Service of Bishop Aloysius Jin (3-5-2013)

Today, we are sadly to farewell our beloved RL Bishop, His Excellency Aloysius Jin Luxian. He is a great humble servant, which affect the development of the Catholic Church in the 21st Century.

Bishop Aloysius is a very talent pastor. During his reign as coadjutor bishop (or bishop proclaimed by the CPA), he tried to reclaim the properties which originally belonged to the Diocese of Shanghai. The number of parishioners of the diocese, according to the data given in 2007, is about 150,000, such huge number of parishioners recorded is because he keen to rebuild congregations. On the other hand, in 2007 there are 90 priests in the diocese, which indicate that he maintained a better environment for the training of priesthood.

An interview with Bishop Aloysius was done in 2007. The interviewer asked him about his opinion of the Catholic Church in China in the future, Bishop Aloysius said,

“The church is now faced with many urgent matters. We must protect our priests, seminarians and nuns from the pollution of the outside world so that they be true witnesses of Christ: this is the most important thing, we must concentrate all our energy on this point…I hope that the ten million Catholics do not assume an isolated position regarding this great multitude of people, I hope that they do not sing out of tune, with the result of finding themselves emarginated in the future. I pray you to implore God for us. I hope that those who can will use their influence to guide our Church in China to internal harmony, to the harmony of the whole Church in China with the universal Church, so that here also we can be members in communion with the same body.“ (30Giorni)

The first point I would like to say is Bishop Aloysius said he is hoping the truth of Christian unity – the merge of the Patriotic Church and the Underground church – would be happen in the future. He is very humble as he really understand the situation regarding the church matters nowadays in China, but he would not criticized in public, rather keep himself a secret position that he would try his best to solve the problem.

The second point I would like to express is his attitude towards the leadership of the church, on the same interview, he said,

“Bishop Joseph Xing (auxiliary bishop) was nominated by Rome. He works very well. His main responsibility is the pastoral work of the diocese. We have 140 churches and 150 thousand faithful. At first we hoped that the underground communities would acknowledge him, because he was nominated by Rome. But reality is not so simple. The underground bishop has already lost his memory. The Vatican representative in Hong Kong has named a vicar general for the underground community. Therefore they think here that Rome is not really hoping to allow the underground communities to emerge from the underground.” (30Giorni)

Some resources said Bishop Aloysius love the church very much, but in order to save the Catholics in Shanghai, he chose to cooperate with the Patriotic Association, and I am very sure he got a lot of pressure when speaking out to public. Such a human sacrifice to god is that we can learn from him.

I remember Bishop Aloysius said one thing – “I’m not a ‘patriotic bishop’; I’m just a Catholic bishop.”, (Ignatius Press, 2010) he is fulfilled one of the eight beatitudes: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” He justified himself as a humble servant of god, who does not get controlled by the Patriotic Association, but willing to protect the church in hands.

Then, how should we do to pray for the soul of Bishop Aloysius and the whole catholic church in China? We must always hope, as what Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died: but now also I know that whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give Thee.” We are hoping, not only Bishop Aloysius’s soul, is the whole Catholic Church in China, to god. My brethren, pray more rosary, attend RL mass, especially for the intention of the Catholic Church in China. We hope that god would hear our gracious prayer, and we are seeking for the emerging between the underground and the official church into one family, one faith, one god- the truth Christian unity that we are hoping for, in a great future.

+Stephen

Requiem Service of Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian (3-5-2013)

-Notice-

The requiem service for RL Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxuan of Shanghai would be held at 7:30am SLT, on the 3rd May in Our Lady of Peace Cathedral, Moila Vale.

“Requiem Aeternam dona eis, Domine
et lux perpetua luceat eis:
Requiescant in pace. Amen.”

 

Corpus Christi

 “Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world. They said therefore unto him: Lord, give us always this bread. And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall not hunger: and he that believeth in me shall never thirst. But I said unto you that you also have seen me, and you believe not.”  – John 6:32-36

 

Tomorrow

6:30 AM SLT Pontifical Liturgy and Procession

7:00 PM SLT Non-denominational Liturgy and Procession

God Bless!

 

Corpus Christi – Special Events in Marigot

[FR] Homélie du dimanche de la Pentecôte (27-5-2012)

Le jour de la Pentecôte, vers 9 heures du matin, l’Eprit de Dieu promis par Jésus descend sur la maison où sont réunis les disciples.

Aujourd’hui, donc, Dieu nous envoie son Esprit dans le monde.
Il fait de l’Humanité son temple vivant.
Il est pour nous la lumière qui fait voir et comprendre ; le feu de la charité qui enflamme et unit ; l’eau de le grâce qui s’infiltre par les sacrements et porte partout la vie nouvelle ; le souffle créateur par lequel le monde est porté à sa perfection.

L’Esprit, en effet c’est la vie même de Dieu. « Souffle nouveau », « Souffle » créateur », « Souffle de vérité », Souffle de vie », comme un vent de tempête, il remplit la maison et le monde entier.

La maison des Apôtres, dont nous parle l’Epître d’aujourd’hui, est l’Eglise, à partir de ce jour où l’Esprit l’envahit.
Les Apôtres reçoivent le don de se faire entendre de tous ceux qui, dans le monde entier, cherchent Dieu, en cela les disciples se mirent à parler toutes les langues afin de répartir à travers tout toute l’humanité la parole de Dieu et chanter ses louanges.

La Trinité habitera en tout homme capable d’aimer ; et l’Esprit Saint nous fera comprendre les paroles du Christ.
Mais, la descente de l’Esprit sur la Terre ne peut être féconde que si nos cœurs s’ouvrent à lui.

Alors, demandons à Dieu, d’ouvrir nos cœurs, de les remplir de son Esprit qui « crée » aujourd’hui l’Eglise, est celui qui au commencement des temps a crée le monde.
Demandons à Dieu, comme nous le dit l’Alléluia de cette célébration de la Pentecôte :
« Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium et tui amoris in eis ignem accende »
« Venez, Esprit Saint, remplir le cœur de vos fidèles et allumer en eux le feu de votre amour » afin que tous les peuples, toutes les Nations et tous les Royaumes de la Terre, chantent Dieu et célèbrent le Seigneur ; ce qui est l’EGLISE

+Guillaume