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From The Holy SeeVolume 8 & 9 Jul & Aug 2015

St. Margaret Mary’s Church

On 18th June this year, Pope Francis issued his second Encyclical, named “Laudato Si (Be Praised), on the Care of Our Common Home”,

addressing not just Roman Catholics but people all over the world, to help protect the earth from global warming. The 192-page letter is the

highest level teaching document a pope can issue. The teaching is an initiative to start a multi-level dialogue covering social, economic and political life by addressing the issue at the educational, spiritual, political and theological levels.

The Pope writes about the impact of human activities on the planet: “ We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will… The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life... What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” He criticizes what he calls a “collective selfishness”, but says that there is still time to stop the damage, calling for an end to consumerism, waste and greed. The Pope wants to influence the debate on the environment before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in December. He is committed to acting as a catalyst for change by exercising his diplomatic influence on the world stage. In addition to the call for policies to reduce carbon emissions including replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy, the letter also highlights the loss of biodiversity in Amazonian rainforests and the melting of polar glaciers.

The questions we must ask ourselves: “What is the purpose of our life in this world? What is the goal of our work and all our efforts? What need does the earth have of us?” Pope Francis thinks mankind

must look into the deeper moral and existential issues, otherwise our concern for ecology will not produce significant results. He calls for

a radical change in behaviour to save the earth by urging the rich to change their lifestyles to avert the destruction of the ecosystem. The

wealthy countries clearly have a moral responsibility to stop further damage to the planet and help poor countries tackle climate change.

Finally, Pope Francis believes mankind can bring about changes as “Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common

home… Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start.”

Pope Francis’ call for action on Climate Change

Grace Lam

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One Faith One Body

This is a very special and unique journey: a challenge for me as a lone traveler this summer, meeting over fifty friends from fifteen different nations with one common aim. Rome at this time was very hot and the course condensed, yet we survived happily in the blessings of the Lord. The week from 28th June to 5th July was marked with serious study on diverse aspects on monasticism, earnest discussion, laughter, fellowship and the most fresh and delicious food prepared by the monks at St. Anselm. Each day follows the monastic schedule of the Divine Office together with the monks at the monastery, with daily Eucharist and four meditation sessions each day. Through meditation, we renounce `the richness of thoughts’, reaching `poverty’ through the unifying power of the prayer phrase, leading to knowledge of God.

We were happy to have met up with Fr. Laurence Freeman OSB, Director of the World Community for Christian Mediation among 9 other renowned speakers. Fr. Laurence described tradition as `a dynamic transmission process’, elaborating on the life and teachings of John Main who believed inside each person there is a monk who truly seeks God. Fr. Main was largely influenced by the 4th Century Desert Fathers, namely John Cassian and Germanus, the pioneers promoting contemplative prayer. John Main believed through meditation, one can pick up wave length in tune with the Spirt of Jesus; simply by repeating a

prayer phrase `Ma-ra-na-tha in silence and stillness, then forsaking one’s ego, one can link oneself up intimately with Christ as well as to the practice of monasticism.

Fr. Main was convinced that `Experience is the teacher’ and started teaching meditation to groups in the 70’s. Daily meditation is the daily regulating of mind, and through meditation we are led into the experience of Christ, thus becoming the Prayer of Jesus. This is indeed a personal transformative change, accompanied by an indescribable light and strengthened by the community spirit of the persevering individuals taking part in regular meditation groups, now becoming a global experience through the work of the World Community for Christian Meditation. One will find joy, peace and ultimately: ` a rebirth’.

Are you looking for renewal in yourself and in Christ? Do make sure you won’t miss two forthcoming open conferences. Fr Laurence will be speaking on `Contemplation in the modern World’ in celebration of the

1,400th Anniversary of the death of St. Columban at St Jude’s Church on 11th September (Friday) from 3 to 5 p.m. He will conclude his visit to Hong Kong by another open talk on 13th September at St. Benedict’s Church from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., he will be speaking on `Learning to meditate: Discovering the Prayer of the Heart and Christ in you.’

`The Kingdom of God is the centre of the human person and so waits to be revealed as the centre of all human expe-rience’ ~ Laurence Freeman OSB

Meditation in the Monastic Tradition

Lina Lee

A Grace-filled Conference in Rome

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Where Grace Abounds

The jubilee year will formally open 8th December with the opening of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The other holy doors of basilicas around the world will then be opened as a sign of God’s opening a new pathway to salvation.

Pope Francis announced the Holy Year of Mercy

More than a dozen individual jubilee celebrations will be scheduled in 2016, such as a jubilee on 2nd February to close the Year of Consecrated Life; a jubilee for the Roman Curia 22nd February; a jubilee on Divine Mercy Sunday 3rd April; a jubilee for “workers and volunteers of mercy” on Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata’s feast day 5th September; a jubilee for prisoners 6th November; and jubilees for teenagers; for deacons; priests; the sick and disabled; and catechists.

The motto, “Merciful Like the Father”, serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure.” The Holy Year logo features Jesus -- the Good Shepherd -- taking “upon his shoulders the lost soul, demonstrating that it is the love of Christ that brings to completion the mystery of his incarnation culminating in redemption.” The image also shows one of Jesus’ eyes merged with the man’s to show how “Christ sees with the eyes of Adam, and Adam with the eyes of Christ.”

The Pope will send “missionaries of mercy”, i.e. specially selected priests who have been granted “the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See”, throughout the world to forgive even the most serious of sins.

Christians are encouraged to live the Holy Year as “a true pilgrimage” with prayer and sacrifice. The pilgrims will make a journey on foot, preparing themselves to pass through the Holy Door – the Door of Mercy -- with devotion and faith in order to gain the plenary indulgence. As a sign of the Pope’s charitable love, effective measures will also be taken to meet real needs in the world that will express mercy through tangible assistance. The official website of the Holy Year of Mercy has already been launched in seven languages, with social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google Plus and Flickr.

Pope Francis announced during a Lenten penitential service in St. Peter’s Basilica on 11th April that he is convoking a jubilee year as a way for the church to “make more evident its mission to be a witness of mercy.” The Pope presented “Misericordiae Vultus” (“The Face

of Mercy”), the document officially proclaiming the Holy Year of Mercy

which will be celebrated from the Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8th December

to the Feast of Christ the King 20th November 2016.

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Wo r d s f r o m G o s p e l r e a d i n g s i n Au g u s t 2 0 1 5

Article Contributions Welcome

The newsletter is in many ways a ‘family letter’, facilitating the communication and shar-ing of ideas between different groups in our parish. Therefore you will be most welcome to share with us your spiritual life and insights, parish activities and pilgrimage experience, etc.

Text should be close to a full-A4 page length or half of it, with high resolution photos for print qual-ity where relevant. We also welcome a simpler photo journal format with titles for the photos and

may be a few lines to describe an event you have participated; it would be great to see different members of our family. Please send your contributions by email if possible; in case of handwritten manuscripts, please give it to the counter staff at the amenities building next to St. Margaret’s Church. Originals will not be returned so please make copies if necessary.

By post: St. Margaret’s Church (Newsletter) 2A Broadwood Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong.

Tel: 25762801 Fax: 25769764 Email: smc@catholic.org.hk

Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time John 6:41-51 Jesus answered and said to them, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.”

Decimonoveno Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario San Juan 6:41-51 Jesús les contestó: “Dejen de quejarse por lo que dije. Pues nadie puede venir a mí a menos que me lo traiga el Padre, que me envió, y yo lo resucitaré en el día final.”

Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time John 6:51-58 Jesus said to them, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.”

Vigésimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario San Juan 6:51-58 “Todo el que come mi carne y bebe mi sangre permanece en mí y yo en él. Yo vivo gracias al Padre viviente que me envió; de igual manera, todo el que se alimente de mí vivirá gracias a mí.”

Sunday of Ordinary Time John 6:60-69 Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Vigésimo primero Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario San Juan 6:60-69 Simón Pedro le contestó: —Señor, ¿a quién iríamos? Tú tienes las palabras que dan vida eterna. Nosotros creemos y sabemos que tú eres el Santo de Dios.

Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

Vigésimo primero Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario San Marco 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Luego Jesús llamó a la multitud para que se acercara y oyera. «Escuchen, todos ustedes, y traten de entender. Lo que entra en el cuerpo no es lo que los contamina; ustedes se contaminan por lo que sale de su corazón.»

Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time John 6:24-35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

Decimoctavo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario San Juan 6:24-35 Jesús les dijo: “Yo soy el pan de la vida; el que viene a Mí no tendrá hambre, y el que cree en Mí nunca tendrá sed.