Prayer (June 2014)

1 June, Sunday

Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr Joachim Chang
Location: Church of our Lady Queen of Peace
Comments: Can't really remember much... mass at QOP is always not conducive for me :`|.

8 June, Sunday

Activity: Sacrament of Reconciliation
Celebrant: Fr Peter Zhang
Location: Church of the Holy Cross
Comments: Confessed about my unkindness, anger and impatience... priest mentioned God's love and mercy, and said that for penance, I've to engage more at mass. 

Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr Peter Zhang
Location: Church of the Holy Cross
Comments: His sermon was powerful. About how this father and son had a terrible relationship and the son left home. The father went to a priest who asked him, 'how long have you been cursing your son?'. The father was enraged, but the priest explained that to speak ill of someone is to curse someone. The priest adviced him to pray blessings upon his son the next time he and his wife think about their son. 8 days later, his son called him and said, 'I don't know why I'm calling but I just wanted to find out how are you'. Father and son spoke for an hour on the phone. The father asked him in closing, 'what do you think of coming home this Saturday for lunch?'. The son said it was a good idea. Saturday came around, and the son came with shaggy hair and dirty clothes and this time around, instead of judging his son, his father blessed him in his mind/ heart, and throughout the lunch, asked him questions and sought to listen to him attentively. At the end of lunch, the son asked his father. 'can I stay in my room just for one night?'. The father agreed. The next morning, the father walked slowly to the son's room, sat down on his bed and told his son, 'Would you forgive me for all the hurts I've caused you throughout your life?'. From then on, their relationship improved. 

This story touched me, given the difficult period I'm facing in my long-distance relationship, and I teared one drop or two. This story is beautiful and God is good :). 

15 June, Sunday

Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr Jovita Ho
Location: Church of the Holy Cross
Comments: 

A priest shared during today's sermon, how his father was often overseas and hardly present during his formative years. His parents eventually divorced, but instead of being bitter and ending up a street kid, he focuses on cherishing the good - albeit limited - memories of his father, believing in an all-loving and generous God who provides for him, and in so doing, chooses Life over Death. Timely reminder to be Life-giving, in word and in deed!

Ended up going for Blessed Sacrament's fun fair and the kids had a ball of a time. The satay and the food was generally good, thankfully!

22 June, Sunday

Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr Anthony Ho 
Location: Church of the holy cross
Comments: Was too tired to follow... 

29 June, Sunday

Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Unknown
Location: Church of Saint Francis Xavier, Malaysia
Comments: It was the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as the Padi Festival, so there were people dancing in costumes, and songs in Malay. A fine example of syncretism or acculturation, which blends culture with religion. Interesting to observe, front row, for a Catholic sociologist :).