Recent events

These few weekends have been busy, going to the parishes for book display and at the same time promoting 366 Days with the Lord. It is such a joy when people came forward to get this Liturgical Diary, expressing their desire to be more in touch with the word of God daily. Many have been getting this for the past few years. We just hope that many more people will feel this thirst.

Last Sunday, I also had the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to give a little presentation to a small group of young working adults in Christ the King Church. They were producing a magazine for the parish, which looks very impressive, well lay-out, with nice, wide contents about the life in the parish. I touch on the Spirituality of being a Christian Communicator, emphasising each baptized Catholic's role and duty to share in the mission of Jesus, being sent out to proclaim the Good News to all people, and the need of a deepening personal relationship with Jesus, who is our model and the Perfect Communicator. I do not know how much I brought across the message but trust that the Holy Spirit is the one to touch they hearts and give them the encouragement to persevere in this great mission which they had begun.

Today, I was in a convent school for book display and was amazed to see that many students have at least 2 or more badges on them besides their own names--prefect, prefect buddy, librarian, PE monitor, sports leader, most helpful student..... What surprised me was 2 students were having a button with Toilet Ambassador. What do they do? I still couldn't find out because the student concerned just smile at us when we showed interest. For whatever reason or motivation, we just hope that this is a form of encouragement for each student.

Lk 12:39-48

"The servant who knew his master’s will

but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will

shall be beaten severely;

and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will

but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating

shall be beaten only lightly.

Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,

and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more."

This part of today's gospel reading struck me and keep me pondering. In fact, I was rather preoccupied and even a bit fearful with these words of Jesus. The priest at Mass mentioned: we all know the will of God, but are we acting according to His will?

How much preparation did I make? How often do I act in accord with His will, but instead with my own will? Am I ignorant to His will especially in my daily living as a religious?

On the consoling side, just when I was reflecting these in chapel, I came upon these words:

There is nothing to be afraid, let us not leave space to angiush or distrust. Resort to Mary, the "faithful servant" of the Lord: the Queen of Heaven is ready to support us in this earthly pilgrimage.

Non c'è da aver paura, non lasciamo spazio all'angoscia o alla sfiducia. Ricorriamo a Maria, la "serva fedele" del Signore: la Regina del Cielo è pronta a sostenerci in questo pellegrinaggio terreno. (Messa Meditazione)

366 DAYS WITH THE LORD 2008

Liturgical Biblical Diary

Every year around this time, our community will begin the annual promotion of the Liturgical Biblical Diary, known as 366 Days with the Lord (hey, it's the leap year in 2008). As the name suggests, it is not an ordinary diary and at the same time, it is not a Bible by itself. Following the Church's liturgy, it contains the daily gospel reading, accompanied by reflection done by Fr. Harold Buetow, a diocesan priest in Brooklyn. He has a number of books on homelies and pastoral talks. As this is a good way to encourage people to get in touch with the Word of God daily, we the Daughters of St. Paul in Singapore has make this an annual project and it is a great joy to see that each year, there is an increasing number of people asking for this diary as this shows the hunger for the Word of God.