CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY - cdm.my · A story is told of a French missionary who worked among the Eskimos in the North Pole in the early decades of the 20th century. He lived with them.

A story is told of a French missionary

who worked among the Eskimos in the North Pole in the early decades of the 20th century. He lived with them. He learned their language in order to communicate Jesus' message to them. He traveled by dog–sled from village to village to be with them. He also joined them in hunting and ice-fishing which are their only means of livelihood. In short, he did everything to make converts of them. He even used a gimmick by inviting them at night for tea in his igloo during which occasions he talked to them about God becoming man. He was laughed at for such a ridiculous and stupid idea. But he persisted. Later, he became depressed because his teaching did not have any impact on the Eskimos. One evening, an idea struck him. He wrote a letter to a friend in France asking for some soil from the grave of St. Therese of Lisieux. When the soil arrived, the missionary again invited the Eskimos for tea. As they were leaving his igloo, he sprin-kled tiny amounts of soil from the grave of St. Therese on each of them. Sometime thereafter, one Eskimo came to him for instruction and later, asked to be baptized. Many others followed and before long, the entire village was converted. He went to other villages and did the same. The result was the same. Today, among the Eskimos, there is already a native church complete with native priest, brothers, sisters and lay leaders. All these happened because of the intervention of St. Therese of Lisieux. Today, we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Infant-King to the Gentiles through the Magi from the East. Through this event, God shows us that His plan of salvation is for all, and not just for the Jews, that His Son is indeed the Light of the Nations. How did God invite the Magi, pagans who looked at the stars for the interpretation and pro-jection of events happening in the world? Through a star. When the Magi returned to their home country, they told people on the way and in their own coun-try about the Infant born in a manger in Jerusalem; how they were led to Him by a star and how they worshipped Him as King.

Then, they did not know Christ's teachings yet. But they had prepared the groundwork in their own country by being the Infant King's first missionaries. Thus, when the early Christian missionaries later went to the East, they were surprised to know that the people had already heard about the Infant Jesus. The Feast of the Epiphany reminds us of three things: 1. As Christians, we are to reflect Jesus, the Light of the

Nations. Do we proclaim our faith in Him through our words and deeds?

2. Today, when we talk about the missions, we general-ly mean going to groups of people in the interiors who have not yet heard about Jesus. True, there are still many such groups. But one of the biggest mis-sionary effort of the Church today is to bring back to the faith those who have embraced the new religion of secularism and consumerism whose primary prin-ciple in life is pleasure now. We can be missionaries at home for their re–conversion by offering our pray-ers and sufferings out of love for God as St. Therese did for the missions and for missionaries.

3. Today the Church is in great need for missionaries. When we talk about vocations, let us not expect to be called through a star as the Magi were. God may be calling us or our children through a soft inner voice. Like the father of St. Therese, parents should encourage their children when they show signs of a vocation.

On today's Feast of the Epiphany, let us pray to God in a special way to give us the grace to en-flesh in our lives the message of the Light of the Nations. Let us also pray for the missions and missionaries so that more people will accept Jesus as the Light of the Nations and live His teachings.

T MASS & PRAYER TIMES DAY DESCRIPTION

DM Chaplet

Mass

DM Chaplet

Mass

8.30am

9.00am

5.30pm

6.00pm

SUN 6 Jan

Epiphany of the Lord Is 60: 1-6 Eph 3: 2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2: 1-12

No Mass DM Chaplet

MON 7 Jan

St Raymond of Penyafort, Priest

3.00pm

Lauds Mass

DM Chaplet

6.20am 6.45am

3.00pm

TUE 8 Jan

WED 9 Jan

Lauds Mass

DM Chaplet

6.20am 6.45am

3.00pm

Lauds Mass

DM Chaplet

6.20am 6.45am

3.00pm

THU 10 Jan

DM Chaplet

Rosary followed by Grotto Mass

3.00pm

8.00pm

FRI 11 Jan

Lauds Mass

Novena to OMPH Mass

6.20am 6.45am*

5.15pm 5.30pm

SAT 12 Jan

DM Chaplet

Mass

DM Chaplet

Mass

8.30am

9.00am

5.30pm

6.00pm

SUN 13 Jan

Baptism of the Lord Is 40: 1-5, 9-11 Tit 2: 11-14—3: 4-7 Lk 3: 15-16, 21-22

FROM THE PARISH OFFICE

2019 THEME - BAPTISED AND SENT JANUARY THEME: BAPTISM—UNITES US IN CHRIST

PARISH PRIEST SPEAKS …..

CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY

PARISH PRIEST:

Rev. Fr. Martin Arlando

Address: 117, Jalan Kenari, Sungai Ara, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang

Tel: 04-646 6881 |Fax : 04-646 6885 |Email: [email protected]

Website: www.cdm.my | Facebook: Church of Divine Mercy Sg Ara

Parish Bulletin 6 January 2019

Mass Collections (Week Ended 30 Dec ) 1st Collection: RM 3,786.50

Publication (Herald): N/A ~ God Bless Your Generosity~

CDM E-Bulletin Subscription

Email to: [email protected]

FORMED.org Access Code abb755

Daily Reflection on Word of God (Lectio Divina) Downloadable copy available from the website at http://cdm.my/bec-reflection/

STOP & PRAY @ 8.05pm everyday wherever you are.

POST & PRAY for all intentions on the Wall of Prayer.

READ & SHARE the Word of God daily

CDM compound is a Non Smoking Zone

PARISH ACTIVITIES

PARISH ACTIVITIES

PARISH UPCOMING EVENTS

FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES

*Breakfast fellowship after Mass

Parish Office Opening Hours: Close on Mondays. Tue - Fri (9am - 5pm); Sat (9am - 12.30pm); Sun (9am - 12.30pm, 4.30pm - 7pm)

Companions for Life Recovery

Inviting anyone to walk the humble path of mercy and

compassion with the sick and those in need of a

companion. Encouraging those who have gone through

serious illness, have passion and perseverance to walk

with the sick and can communicate with sick children.

First meeting on 25 Jan, Fri @ 8pm.

God’s Word & Daily Gospel 2019

Last call to get your daily readings and reflections for

2019 at the D’Vine Gift Shop.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

Intercessory Prayer 9 Jan, Wed @ 8.30pm

Christian Meditation 9 Jan, Wed @ 8.30pm

12 Jan, Sat @ 4.15pm

Traditional Medicine Consultation 13 Jan, Sun @ 2pm

Catechism 13, 20, 27 Jan @ 10.45am

Free Math Tuition 20 & 27 Jan, Sun

1.00pm—2.30pm (1st floor classroom)

Infant Baptism 3 Feb, Sun @ 11.00am

Bank Account Details Those who wish contribute

through bank or online transfer, the detail as follows:

Bank:- Maybank

Account No: 507394101643 (Church of Divine Mercy).

Please pass / email the copy of the bank-in slip to the

parish office for receipt issuance.

~ UPDATE ON FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES ~ Opening balance (23/12/18): RM 1,118,000.00*

Activities of the week (including pledges): RM2,788

Closing balance (30/12/18): RM 1,120,788.00*

* all numbers rounded up to nearest RM

Living Spring 8 Jan, Tue @ 9.30am (RCIA Room)

BEC Leaders & Team 8 Jan, Tue @ 8.30pm

CDM Feast Day Organising Committee 10 Jan @ 8.30pm

Seminar Penguatan & Pemantapan Iman

Tarikh/Masa: 12 Jan (Sabtu) 8.30pg—4.30ptg.

Yuran pendaftaran RM10. Makan minum disediakan.

Terbuka kepada semua umat. Sila daftar di anjung gereja

selepas misa.

Acts 29 Welcoming Dinner (Pot-bless)

The Acts 29 Ministry (formally known as the Single

Young Adults Ministry) will be having a Welcoming Pot-

bless Dinner for all young adults. Join for the food, fun,

and fellowship. Date/Time: 12 Jan, Sat from 7pm—

10pm. Venue: CDM Basement

Ponggal Celebration (Harvest Festival)

Will be celebrated on 19 & 20 Jan. Program as follows:

19 Jan (Sat): 3.45pm - Ponggal (boiling over of milk &

rice); 5.30pm - Mass followed by light refreshment

20 Jan (Sun): 11.00am - Cultural games (after 9am

Mass) followed by light refreshment.

*Best dressed Indian cultural dressing competition on

both days. Volunteers welcomed to assist in the event.