Activity: Stations of the Cross
Organizer: Church of the Holy Cross
Location: Holy Cross church
Comments: Went through one of the most trying weeks, so the prayers during stations really spoke to me and pierced my soul. Thursday was a rough day, and by Friday, by God's grace, I felt miraculously better, even though the situation remained, and I was just grateful for Jesus as friend and savior at stations, and I'm reminded to take up my cross and follow Him :).
6 April, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Confessor: Fr Jovita Ho
Location: Holy Cross Church
Comments: Told Father my sins and he asked me about my prayer life and I answered, could be better. He told me that he's glad I answered as such (I think given my sins :P) and encouraged me to contemplate on Christ's love for us by dying on the cross. The next time I encounter such a scenario, to remember that my starting point should be Jesus' ending point, and to remember to start at the same point as my loved ones.
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr Richards Ambrose
Location: Holy Cross Church
Comments: Lengthy sermon.
8 April, Tuesday
This song was playing in my head when I prayed in the morning :).
Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
Vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours
Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me
Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are
I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours
10 April, Thursday
Activity: Young Adults Prayer
Organizer: Verbum Dei Missionaries
Location: Verbum Dei House
Comments: Mark was the preacher. Truth be told, I was very distracted by yet another development in the work situation. However, felt better after exercise, and definitely needed the prayer and reflection time :). Felt more at peace and encouraged after that.
13 April, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Confessor: Fr Timothy
Location: Church of our lady queen of peace
Comments: Palm Sunday... here's a pretty picture from Marta, who shared with Cheryl and I how the Polish celebrate palm Sunday, with handmade palms!
The Passion account really struck me. My first thought was, 80 slides! But as the account/ slides progressed, I felt a deeper connection to the reading and could feel the pain and suffering that Jesus went through, being betrayed, and mocked, and scourged. How could He love sinful me so much, that he willingly accepted death on the Cross? Felt really moved, and thus begins holy week.
17 April, Thursday
Activity: Maundy Thursday Mass and Stations of the Cross
Celebrant: Fr Peter Zhang
Location: Church of the Holy Cross
Comments: Michaela, Clayton and I were a few minutes late for mass, and we squeezed into a pew meant for two. Discomfort aside, it was quite heart wrenching when they stripped the sacristy bare, which was followed by benediction. It was at benediction when I was 16 that I received my gift of tongues. Will never forget that moment in my life.
Down in adoration falling,
This great Sacrament we hail;
Over ancient forms of worship
Newer rites of grace prevail;
Faith will tell us Christ is present,
When our human senses fail.
To the everlasting Father,
And the Son who made us free,
And the Spirit, God proceeding
From them Each eternally,
Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen.
We covered six churches in the west: Holy Cross, Blessed Sacrament (where Clayton bought his bandung by following an old lady all the way to a van at the back of church), St. Teresa's (where we picked up Amanda, Laura's sister, Angie's friend), St. Mary of the Angels (where we met Pearl and friend. Michaela and Clayton were very taken by the architecture/ ambeince), St. Francis of Assisi and St. Ignatius (two young diligent altar servers were kneeling in the adoration room).
18 April, Friday
Activity: Good Friday
Celebrant: Unknown
Location: Church of St. Mary of the Angels
Comments: Very bare, and was a little disappointed that I couldn't head to Holy Cross, but during communion as I prayed, I felt the strong sense of the holy spirit as this song was being played. Been awhile since I felt so, touched.
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life.
1. God is my shepherd, so nothing I shall want,
I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,
I walk by the quiet waters of peace.
2. Gently you raise me and heal my weary soul,
you lead me by pathways of righteousness and truth,
my spirit shall sing the music of your Name.
3. Though I should wander the valley of death,
I fear no evil, for you are at my side,
your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope.
4. You have set me a banquet of love in the face of hatred,
crowning me with love beyond my pow'r to hold.
5. Surely your kindness and mercy follow me all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of my God forevermore.
20 April, Sunday
Activity: Easter Sunday
Celebrant: Unknown
Location: Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace
Comments: Didn't know two songs that the choir was singing. Easter brunch was nice as I finally got to catch up with my prayer buddy, who gifted me with bunny ears for a car! There are 50 days of Easter (Eastertide which culminates in Pentecost), so must remember to be Easter people/bunnies and spread the Easter joy!
27 April, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Confessor: Joachim Chang
Location: Holy Cross Church
Comments: Gave a really good sermon, about needing to spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration room. As I'm typing this, I suddenly recall my days as a lost, wandering youth, and how I often spent time at the Adoration room, my comforting space :). He also advocated going for retreats, and related his own experience. His point was that one cannot be a Catholic without a personal relationship with the Father.
