Whenever a dea- con, priest, bishop or even the Pope talk openly and frankly about the just distribuon of wealth, a wave of protests and false accusaons usually follow. St. Pope John Paul II menoned to the Nave Americans and poor farmers in Mexico during one of his visits that “the Church defends, yes, the legimate right to private property, but it teaches with the same clarity that private property always brings with it a social re- sponsibility.” Actually, this admirable thought summariz- es the teachings of Christ which form the basis of the social doctrine of the Church. The Church reminds us that owning private property is not a crime nor is it con- trary to the Gospel. The Church concedes that it is a legimate need. But the Church also tells us that it is not an absolute necessity. All ownership of property should be for the common good. Wealth is not bad, per se, if we know how to share it but it can lead to sins of injusce, into a powerful force for enslaving others, if those who have the wealth do not use it for the good of all. The rich man encountered Jesus in a casual seng when he ran up, at the last moment, and asked the queson that was worrying him the most, which is also, without a doubt, the queson that profoundly worries each of us, “Master, what needs to be done for me to reach eternal life?” Inially we feel moved by the sincerity and trust that this good and honorable man displays. Jesus first gives him the “textbook” answer - obey the command- ments. The man says he does that already and has done so since he was very young. Then Christ looks lovingly at the man and says, “You only have one thing leſt to do. Go, sell everything you have and give the proceeds to the poor. Then you will surely have gained a treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” The man then sadly goes away because he does not want to part with his riches. What had started as a happy event turned suddenly sad. The gospel writer does not even give the man a name. Had the man’s reacon been different it would have been a turn- ing point in his life, a joyous upliſting of a sad life. But this was not to be. He turns out to be just one more person who has failed to listen to the call of God, a po- tenal saint, a could-have-been example of how to fol- low Jesus. What the Lord tells us in the Gospel Reading is that if we truly want to follow him there is a dimension to Chrisanity that is oſtenmes overlooked - the gener- osity to which Christ calls us. The Gospel message is a challenge to take part in an especially difficult vocaon that cannot be followed just by obeying the command- ments, although that is an important thing to do. Chris- anity possesses a social dimension that is oſtenmes ignored when we limit ourselves simply to pious acts, when we believe simply by going to Mass on Sunday and praying a lile every day we are doing all that we must do as Chrisans. Today we should ask ourselves truthful- ly, “How did I gain all of my belongings and my property and how am I using them?” We should remember that economic injusce can come from the origin as well as the use of money and property. Jesus had used what are probably some of the truest, yet harshest, words in the gospels, “How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter into the Kingdom of God.” That rich man walked away sadly from Christ’s side because he cared more about his riches. He wasn’t an evil person. He obeyed the commandments religiously. He wanted to enter into the Kingdom of God but he had become a slave of his own possessions. Our Lord wants us to be free, to learn how to share and how to give. He does not want us to be ed to material things that pass away. Today, with all sinceri- ty, let us ask ourselves, “Do I live out a spirit of generosi- ty? Do I know how to share with others the material blessings that I have?” Let’s learn to live as the first Chrisans did, in spirit at least. They did not consider anything as their own. Everything they owned was used for the good of the community. When we let go of the need to possess things, we will feel INNER JOY. Only then can we say that we are on the road to the Kingdom of God. Only then will we feel true peace in our hearts. T MASS & PRAYER TIMES DAY DESCRIPTION Rosary Mass Rosary Mass 8.30am 9.00am 5.30pm 6.00pm SUN 14 Oct 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time Wis 7: 7-11 Hebr 4: 12-13 Mk 10: 17-30 No Mass DM Chaplet MON 15 Oct St Teresa of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor 3.00pm Lauds Mass DM Chaplet 6.20am 6.45am 3.00pm TUE 16 Oct St Hedwig, Religious St Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin WED 17 Oct St Ignaus of Anoch, Bishop & Martyr No Mass DM Chaplet 3.00pm Lauds Mass DM Chaplet 6.20am 6.45am 3.00pm THU 18 Oct St Luke, Evangelist Lunch Hour Mass DM Chaplet 12.30pm 3.00pm 8.30pm FRI 19 Oct Ss John de Brebeuf & Isaac Jogues, Priests & Compan- ions, Martyrs St Paul of the Cross, Priest Lauds Mass Novena to OMPH BM Mass 6.20am 6.45am* 5.15pm 5.30pm SAT 20 Oct Saturday Mass of Our Lady Rosary Mass Rosary followed by Mass (Tagalog) Rosary Mass 8.30am 9.00am 12.00pm 5.30pm 6.00pm SUN 21 Oct 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Is 53: 10-11 Hebr 4: 14-16 Mk 10: 35-45 or 10: 42-45 PARISH ACTIVITIES FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES 2018 THEME - BE DISCIPLES OF HOPE OCTOBER THEME: HOPE - I AM CROSSING FRONTIERS & JOURNEYING IN CHRIST PARISH PRIEST SPEAKS ….. CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY PARISH PRIEST Rev. Fr. Marn 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 Office Opening Hours: Close on Mondays. Tue - Fri (9am - 5pm); Sat (9am - 12.30pm); Sun (9am - 12.30pm, 4.30pm - 7pm) Parish Bullen 14 October 2018 WEDDING BANNS Tan Chee Wei & Clare Wong Bing Yun Wedding Service at Church of Divine Mercy, Sg Ara on 20 October 2018 (12.30pm) Christopher Noel & Lau Pei Ping Wedding Service at Church of Divine Mercy, Sg Ara on 27 October 2018 (11.00am) “If anyone knows of any canonical impediments to the proposals of marriage stated above, please contact the parish priest.” Mass Collecon (Week Ended 7 Oct) 1st Collecon RM4628.25 2nd Collecon RM4202.65 Publicaon (Herald) RM46.00 ~ God Bless Your Generosity~ CDM E-Bullen Subscripon Email to: [email protected] FORMED.org Parish Access Code: ADC7Q4 Daily Reflecon on Word of God (Leco Divina) Downloadable copy available from the website at hp://cdm.my/bec-reflecon/ Catechism 14, 21, 28 Oct (Sun) @ 10.45am Free Tuion Classes 21 Oct (Sun) (1st floor classroom) 1pm - 2.30pm (Math) Chrisan Meditaon 17 Oct (Wed) @ 8.30pm 20 Oct (Sat) @ 4.15pm (F. Hall) Infant Bapsm 4 Nov (Sun) @ 11am STOP & PRAY @ 8.05pm everyday wherever you are. POST & PRAY for all intenons on the Wall of Prayer. READ & SHARE the Word of God daily CDM compound is a Non Smoking Zone PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS BEC Coffee Mornings Thank you for your generous support during the recent Coffee Mornings by BECs. Zone N (16 Sep) - RM796.00 BEC O4 (30 Sep) - RM1150.00 BEC O1 (7 Oct) - RM1305.00 BEC O3 (7 Oct) - RM555.00 Thank You from the Chinese Apostolate A sum of RM2420 was raised from the recent mooncake sale. Many thanks for the support. Coffee Morning by Zone R will take place on 14 Oct aſter 9am Mass. Please do come and support. 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 (30/9/18): RM1,017,686.00* Acvies this week (including pledges): RM555.00 Closing balance (7/10/18): RM1,018,241.00* *all numbers rounded up to nearest RM FROM THE PARISH OFFICE BEC Day *Breakfast fellowship aſter Mass Please refer to aachment for venue Migrant Sunday The Migrant Ministry would like to extend our hearelt gratude to all who contributed in cash and kind to the successful celebraon of Migrant Sunday. Earthquake & Tsunami in Sulawesi, Indonesia In solidarity with the vicms of the recent catastrophe in Sulawesi, the Diocese of Penang through the Penang Office of Human Development (POHD) will forward a sum of RM50,000 for the relief efforts. Individuals intending to contribute financially may issue cheque payable to “Penang Office of Human Development” latest by 31 Oct. Plz indicate behind the cheque for “Disaster Relief”. First Holy Communion