V2Catholic.com A voice for the
poor Edited
by HK prison chaplain
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I . 胡頌恆神父
jdwomi@gmail.com
Links, Search
& Archives Imitating
Pope
Francis
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters!
HK
Indon
Kenya
Malaysia Nigeria
Ph
SA S.Amer
Thai
Tz
Ug
EU
How campaign began
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Tues July 3
This is a most important article:
HK's harsh sentences for drug crimes are doing more harm than good
Letters in Spanish with English translation from two Venezuelan women in prison in HK for drug trafficking. Here (scroll down to May 6 and April 25)
Letter in Chinese from a local HK woman facing a big sentence for
drug trafficking. Here
(May 31)
If anyone has any ideas that might help the woman, please email me: jdwomi@gmail.com
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
76. A person who sees things as they truly
are and sympathizes with pain and sorrow is capable of touching life's depths
and finding authentic happiness.[70]
He or she is consoled, not by the world but by Jesus. Such persons are unafraid
to share in the suffering of others; they do not flee from painful situations.
They discover the meaning of life by coming to the aid of those who suffer,
understanding their anguish and bringing relief. They sense that the other is
flesh of our flesh, and are not afraid to draw near, even to touch their wounds.
They feel compassion for others in such a way that all distance vanishes. In
this way they can embrace Saint Paul's exhortation: "Weep with those who
weep" (Rom 12:15). Knowing how to mourn with others: that is
holiness.
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 14-15: In the land of Canaan
there were many kings.
Sometimes they went to war against each other.
Melchizedek, king of Salem, was also a priest of God.
Abraham gave Melchizedek 10% of all his possessions.
Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine.
Melchizedek asked God to give Abraham a special blessing.
God said to Abraham, "This land of Canaan is yours; I give it to you and your descendants."
Dear God, please help all the kings and leaders in the world to be friends
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
91: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
says to the Lord "you are my refuge in whom I trust". The Lord will hide you and protect you.
Under his wings you will find refuge. You will not fear any night time terror,
nor any attack during the day. Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels
to keep you safe in all your ways.
Dear God, thank you for your
protection day and night
Listen
Romans
15.4-13:
Learn hope from the Scriptures, from the
example of people who did not give up,
and were helped by God. May the God of hope bring you such joy and
peace in your faith, that the power of the Holy Spirit will remove all
bounds to hope
Holy Spirit of God, help me understand that no
situation in this life is ever hopeless,
that you can enlighten even the
darkest place
Listen
John
3.25-36:
Some of John the Baptist's disciples told
John that many of his disciples were leaving him and following Jesus. John replied "I am not the Christ. I am
the one who was sent to prepare his way. The bride is only for the
bridegroom. But the bridegroom's friend is happy when he hears the
bridegroom's voice. This is the happiness I now feel. He must become more and more important.
I must become less and less important. Anyone who believes in the Son has eternal
life. But anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will not have eternal
life".
Jesus, be more and more important
in my life
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: May our self-consciousness be increasingly replaced by our consciousness of Jesus ... this is the fastest way to let Jesus increase and ourselves decrease
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10 years ago: USA Fr David omi and Fr Tom omi + thank you HK Peter for guitar classes
------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 3rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 3rd of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Burundi
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon July 2
Pope's surprise visit to new cardinal's dinner for the poor
After yesterday morning's Chinese Mass at Yau Ma Tei, I packed up for an English Mass at Lo Wu women's prison ... then headed back to YMT for the usual Sunday gathering for the poor which was attended by seven O.M.I. priests from various parts of the world ... in HK for a meeting. Then a happy meal with visitors and volunteers. One thing that everyone - local HK people, prisoners, visitors - has in common: great interest in the World Cup!
In HK cocaine sells for HK$1,000 per gram:
Customs make largest cocaine haul in five years
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted"
75. The world tells us exactly the opposite:
entertainment, pleasure, diversion and escape make for the good life. The
worldly person ignores problems of sickness or sorrow in the family or all
around him; he averts his gaze. The
world has no desire to mourn; it would rather disregard painful situations,
cover them up or hide them. Much energy is expended on fleeing from
situations of suffering in the belief that reality can be concealed. But the
cross can never be absent.
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
12-13: God said to a man in
the land of Haran named Abraham,
"Leave your own country and go to a new land I will give you.
I will make you into a great nation."
So Abraham and his family left the land of Haran
and moved to the land of Canaan.
God said to Abraham,
"I will make your descendants as many
as the number of dust particles on the ground .... an uncountable
number."
Even though Abraham and his wife Sarah were old and had no children,
Abraham believed God's promise to give them many descendants.
Dear God, please help me to
trust you like Abraham
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
90: O Lord you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
Before the earth or the world
existed,
you are God, without beginning or end. For you, a thousand years are
like yesterday, come and gone so quickly. We humans have a short life,
our life is over like a sigh. Our span is 70 years,
or 80 for those who are strong. Make us know the shortness of our
life,
that we may gain wisdom of heart. In the morning, fill us with your
love.
Give success to the work of our hands.
Lord,
help us realize the shortness of our life, that we may live our lives more wisely
Romans
14-15: The life and death of each of us, has its
influence on others.
If we live, we live for the Lord. If we die, we die for the Lord.
Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord. Never pass judgment on other people.
Never treat other people with contempt. The kingdom of God is not about eating special
food.
The kingdom of God is about friendship with God,
and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Do whatever you can to help other people
become stronger Christians.
Jesus, please help me be a good Christian
Listen
(sorry, mistake, Thomas is July 3)
John
20.21-29: (for
Feast of St Thomas) That same Sunday evening, the doors were
locked in the room where the disciples had gathered, for fear of the
religious leaders. But Jesus appeared and stood before them,
saying "Peace be with you". He showed them his hands and his
side and said "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he breathed on them, saying "Receive the
Holy Spirit". Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, was not there
that night. When the other disciples said they had seen the Lord, he
replied "Unless I see and touch his wounded body, I refuse to
believe". Eight days later, the group was again in the
same house, with the doors locked. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus again appeared and stood before them
saying "Peace be with you". Then he said to Thomas "Put
your hand into my side. Doubt no longer, but believe". Thomas
replied "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said "You believe because you can
see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe"Jesus, my
Lord and my God, I believe in you.
Help me live and grow and die in your friendship
01
02
Reflection on the above readings: Abraham, a person of strong faith ... "our father in faith"; Thomas, a person of weak faith ... "doubting Thomas"
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10
years ago: Visit to poor areas and centers by
HK Caritas group
------------------------------------------
For
feast of St Thomas:
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Monday,
please bless the people of Europe
& Russia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On
this 2nd of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 2nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Niger
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun July 1
As we begin the second half of the year today, I look back and just say "where did it go?" Seems that time is speeding up! The days and months seem to be going more quickly. At least that's the case in Hong Kong which is one of the busiest places in the world and where so many people seem to be in a hurry much of the time. As one Australian man said years ago - he was a regular traveller to HK, a lay-back type of fellow - "as soon as I arrive at HK airport my whole metabolism speeds up!" Thank you Lord for all the blessings of 2018 part one; your blessing and protection please on everyone for part two.
July: month of the Precious Blood of Jesus
An amazing story: The singing of a London tramp, made into a moving recording: Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet (need to turn volume up ...and wait for sound to begin at about 28 seconds...then music at 4 mins). Words: Jesus' blood never failed me yet, Never failed me yet, Jesus' blood never failed me yet, There's one thing I know, For he loves me so
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
73. Paul speaks of meekness as one of the
fruits of the Holy Spirit (cf. Gal 5:23). He suggests that, if a wrongful
action of one of our brothers or sisters troubles us, we should try to correct
them, but "with a spirit of meekness", since "you too could be
tempted" (Gal 6:1). Even when we defend our faith and convictions,
we are to do so "with meekness" (cf. 1 Pet 3:16). Our enemies
too are to be treated "with meekness" (2 Tim 2:25). In the
Church we have often erred by not embracing this demand of God's word.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 13
Psalms
29-30: The Lord gives us strength, the Lord blesses
us with peace.
Thank you, Lord, for so often helping and healing me.
I cried to you when sickness surrounded me, and you healed me. You changed my mourning into dancing.
So I will thank you always.
Thank you, Lord, for all the
times you have healed me
Listen
2
Corinthians 8-9:
Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was.
He was rich, but he became poor for our sake, to make us rich. So we also should help people who are poor. If
we have extra,
we should help people who don't have enough. Maybe some day, the same poor people will be
rich,
and we will be poor, and they will help us. And don't forget, God loves a cheerful giver
Jesus, help me do more to help poor
people
Listen
Mark
5.21-43: A prayer hall official,
Jairus, fell at
Jesus' feet and pleaded "My little daughter is dying. Please come and
lay your hands on her and save her life". While Jesus was on the way to
Jairus' home,
people arrived and told Jairus "Your daughter is dead. No need
to trouble the Master any further". Jesus heard this and said to Jairus "Do
not be afraid. Just have faith". Jesus allowed only Peter, James and
John to go with him. At Jairus' home, everyone was weeping and
wailing.
Jesus said to them "Why all this crying? The child is not dead, but
asleep". Everyone laughed at him.
So he got them all to leave. Then taking the girl's parents and his 3
companions, he went to the place where the child was lying. Taking the girl by the hand he said to her
"Little girl, I tell you to get up". The little girl got up at
once. She was 12 years old.
Jesus, please give us more
faith to pray for the sick
....even for children who have died!
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings:
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and
Spanish subtitles
Daniel Daring: God created us for immortality
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10 years ago today: Thank you HK Olivier & your Guangzhou factory for another donation of items to help China8's work for the poor + Mr Ma from Sichuan
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Hour of Love HK radio program 8.30 pm HK time tonight - with items about HK prison inmates
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At Tai Lam women's prison last Wednesday, an inmate from South America asked if I could help pay for her to take a university course subject. When I asked what subject, I was surprised to hear her say "massage". But in fact she already had an undergraduate degree and was saying "masters"!
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Fri: South America
Sat: Cent., N America
Jesus,
today, Sunday,
please bless the people of
Africa
And praying for
prisoners in one part
of China each day of the month:
On this 1st
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Anhui
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Congo
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
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Sat June 30
In one of yesterday's readings, an angel rescued Peter from prison. So, yesterday was a good day for helping someone get out of prison ... on bail. Before going to Lai Chi Kok men's prison, I went to Tuen Mun Law Court to pay bail (with money from man's family) for an overseas prisoner at LCK facing a very minor charge (not drugs) ... then took "get out of prison" letter to LCK ... and man was released a few hours later.
Prisoners yesterday confirmed what is public knowledge on the street: one of HK's biggest Nigerian Drug Lords, a Customs and police informer, several weeks ago arrested for drug trafficking 1kg of ice, a week ago was granted bail. Normal people with 1kg of drugs don't get bail. Something's not right ....
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
72. Christ says: "Learn from me; for I
am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Mt
11:29). If we are constantly upset and impatient with others, we will end up
drained and weary. But if we regard the faults and limitations of others with
tenderness and meekness, without an air of superiority, we can actually help
them and stop wasting our energy on useless complaining. Saint Therese of
Lisieux tells us that "perfect
charity consists in putting up with others' mistakes, and not being
scandalized by their faults".[69]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
9-11: Noah's descendants
spread to many lands.
They started speaking new languages.
They discovered how to make bricks.
In one place, Babel, they tried to build a very high tower.
But God was not pleased with them.
God scattered the people of Babel to many places.
Dear God, the human family uses
so many different languages.
Please help us to live peacefully together on this earth
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
89: I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever.
The heavens proclaim your wonders, O Lord.
The heavens are yours, the world is yours. Blessed the people who find joy in you,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face.
Thank you, Lord, for our
beautiful world
Listen
Romans
13.12-14:
Let us stop our bad behavior of the past:
drunken orgies, immorality, quarreling, jealousy. Let us live good lives. Let the Lord Jesus
protect and help us.
Jesus, please help me give up bad behavior
Listen
John
3.13-17: Jesus said to the religious leader:
"The Son of Man must be lifted up on a cross, as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so that everyone who
believes may have eternal life in him". God loved the world so much, that he gave his
only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but may
have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to
condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
Jesus, only Son of God the Father, thank you
for coming into this world. Please help more and more people believe in
you
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The "John 3.16 man"
-------------------------------------
10
years ago: Thank you Ling & Peter and HK Ken for a new arm for Mr
Tien ... and for supporting Joe in his rahabilitation
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To go with story at top of menu:
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent. & N
America
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please bless the people of Central
& North America
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai
& Tianjin
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti
& Nepal
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri June 29
Feast
of Peter & Paul
In the World Cup, Australia failed against Peru. But I'm happy to point out that the "No More Mules" FB team was more successful: 76,200 viewers in Peru reached over the past few weeks!
Yesterday morning I took part in a video interview with an impressive group of Primary 6 students at the Oblate Primary School in Tokwawan. Then I spent a couple of hours at Lai King prison for women under 21. Then the usual Thursday night canteen meal for homeless people ... with a cold beer to finish a long, hot day!
Unless ordinary people speak up and take action, this is what
will happen to us in the near future:
Dissolution of a
nation
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the
earth"
71. These are strong words in a world that
from the beginning has been a place of conflict, disputes and enmity on all
sides, where we constantly pigeonhole others on the basis of their ideas, their
customs and even their way of speaking or dressing. Ultimately, it is the reign
of pride and vanity, where each person thinks he or she has the right to
dominate others. Nonetheless, impossible
as it may seem, Jesus proposes a different way of doing things: the way of
meekness. This is what we see him doing with his disciples. It is what we
contemplate on his entrance to Jerusalem: "Behold, your king is coming to
you, humble, and mounted on a donkey" (Mt 21:5; Zech 9:9).
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. readings for Feast of Peter & Paul
Acts
12.1-17: About this time, King Herod began
persecuting the church. He beheaded the apostle James, brother of John. He
arrested Peter during Passover time. He put Peter in prison and planned to have
him put on trial and killed after Passover. Each day Peter was in prison, the
believers stormed heaven praying for him. On the night before he was to be put
on trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with chains, with
more soldiers at the prison entrance. Suddenly Peter's cell was filled with
light, and an angel
told him to get up. The chains fell from his hands. The angel led Peter out of
the prison, without the guards knowing what was happening. Peter then left for
another place. Herod was unable to find him.
Jesus, please help Christians who are in prison for their faith
My recording of this reading
Psalm
34: I will bless the Lord at all times, his
praise always on my lips. In the Lord my soul shall make its boast, the humble
shall hear and be glad. Glorify the Lord with me, together let us praise his
name. I sought the Lord and he answered me. From all my terrors he set me free. The
angel of the Lord is encamped around those who
revere the Lord, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is good. They are
happy who seek refuge in him. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted. Those
whose spirits are crushed he will save.
Lord, by our Bible reading and prayer, may we taste and see your goodness
each day
Recording
2 Timothy 4.6-8: As for me, my life of service
to the Lord is nearly over. I have fought the good fight to the end. I have
run the race to the finish. I have kept the faith. The Lord will soon give me
the best of all prizes: eternal life in heaven. He will give it not only to
me, but to everyone who has loved him sincerely in this life.
Jesus, help me keep running to the finish line
Recording
Matthew 16.13-20: One
day Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
The disciples replied "Some people say you are one of the famous
prophets". Jesus then asked them "And what about you. Who do you
say I am?" Peter answered "You are the Christ, the Son of the living
God". Jesus then said to Peter "Blessed are you, for my Father in
heaven has revealed this to you. So I now say to you: you are Peter ('the rock')
and on this rock I will build my church. I will give you the keys of the
kingdom."
Jesus, Son of God, please help the church to continue your work on
earth
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Jesus recruits imperfect people ... and his recruits sometimes go to prison
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10 years ago today: Happy Birthday Gloria & Ricci School, on a rainy day in the wettest June on record
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Peter was a fisherman. Paul was a tentmaker. What's the difference between a fish and a tent? One goes inside you, the other you go inside. What have a fish and a tent got in common: they both have a .... flap!
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: S.
America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Friday,
please bless the people of South
America
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 29th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Chongqing
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Mauritania
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu June 28
Yesterday I spent 8 hours at Tai Lam women's prison and was sad
to meet two new drug mules arrested at HK airport: one from Peru and one from
Indonesia. The anti-drug campaign must be kept up.
The drug mules arrested at HK airport for brining in around 1kg of cocaine each are only sardines compared with the whales coming by sea
An incredible amount of waste - China's eerie ghost cities
French president meets Pope for twice as long as Trump - and gets double kiss
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
68. Wealth ensures nothing. Indeed, once we
think we are rich, we can become so self-satisfied that we leave no room for God's
word, for the love of our brothers and sisters, or for the enjoyment of the most
important things in life. In this way, we miss out on the greatest treasure of
all. That is why Jesus calls blessed those who are poor in spirit, those who
have a poor heart, for there the Lord can enter with his perennial newness.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis
7-8:
Noah's family and many animals went into the big
boat, the "ark".
Then for about 40 days there was heavy rain which caused a great flood.
The ark floated on the water.
The people and animals inside the ark were safe
but people and animals outside the ark died.
When the rain and flood stopped
Noah and his family and the animals went out of the ark.
God made a special agreement (covenant) with Noah
to bless Noah and his
family.
God told Noah that the rainbow would be a sign of their agreement.
Dear God, thank you
for making the rainbow so beautiful
Recording
Psalm
88: Lord my God, day and night I call to you for
help.
Please turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is filled with evils.
My life is on the brink of the grave. I am reckoned as one in the tomb.
I have reached the end of my strength. Will your love be told in the grave?
Will your wonders be known in the dark? Fear surrounds me like a flood. All my friends have deserted me.
My only companion is darkness.
Lord, please help people who
are in despair
Recording
Romans 13.8-9: Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of
love we owe each other.
Love other people as you should, and you will keep all the commandments. All the commandments concerning other people -
You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal etc
- are summed up in the words "You must care about your neighbor as
much as you care about yourself"
Jesus, help me care about others as much
as I care about myself
Listen
John
3.1-5: A religious leader said to Jesus "you
are a teacher who comes from God, for no one could perform the signs that
you do unless God were with him". Jesus replied "Unless you are born
through water and the Spirit,
you cannot enter God's kingdom"
Jesus, please help more people be baptized
through water and the Spirit
Listen
Reflection
on the above Bible readings: Maybe
when God designed/programmed the rainbow he was in a playful mood ... to produce
something so beautifully unusual?
-----------------------------
10 years ago: Thank you Macau Clara and A-Chung for running activities at Marco Polo Center & at Ricci School
------------------------------------------
To go with reading from Genesis:
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless the people of
South East Asia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 28th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Beijing
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 28th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Lesotho
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed June 27
Yesterday was another day spent at the desk, catching up on mail from prison inmates, and preparing for prison visits over the next few days. Last night I joined another Oblate priest for dinner with a lovely group of students from Notre Dame University in Perth, Western Australia. After the meal we toured the poor areas of Yau Ma Tei and met many local people.
Risking
one's life to become a priest in Mexico.
Attacking a priest imposes terror and culture of silence
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
59. Once we believe that
everything depends on human effort as channelled by ecclesial rules and
structures, we unconsciously complicate
the Gospel and become enslaved to a blueprint that leaves few openings for the
working of grace. Saint Thomas Aquinas reminded us that the precepts
added to the Gospel by the Church should be imposed with moderation "lest
the conduct of the faithful become burdensome", for then our religion would
become a form of servitude.[64]
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Chris McDonnell
Take, eat and drink
'Of course the Church was corrupt but that was no reason to leave it.'
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The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 5-6:
Among Adam and Eve's
descendants were Seth, Enosh, Kenan and Enoch.
Enoch was a special friend of God.
Enoch walked with God.
Another good man who walked with God was Noah.
In Noah's time, most people had forgotten God. Most people did bad things.
So God decided to cleanse the earth by a great flood.
To save Noah and his family from the flood,
God got Noah to build a huge boat for his family
and for two animals of every kind.
Even though most people forgot God,
Noah believed in God and trusted God.
Dear God, please
help me to remember you, to walk with you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
87: On the holy mountain is Jerusalem,
the Lord's cherished city. Of you are told glorious things, O city of
God. All nations are called to serve and love the
Lord.
And Jerusalem shall be called their spiritual mother,
for all shall be her children. In Jerusalem everyone will be welcome and find
a home.
Lord, may Jerusalem be a place
of peace and prayer for all peoples
Listen
Romans
13.1-7: Be a good citizen. Respect all civil
authorities.
Authority comes from God and is answerable to God. Don't break laws. Live honestly.
Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes.
Jesus, please help me be a good citizen
Listen
John
2.13-22: Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus went up
to Jerusalem. In the Temple he saw people selling cattle and sheep and
pigeons, with money changers sitting at their counting tables. Jesus made a whip out of some cord, then drove
the sellers out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well. He scattered the
money changers' coins, knocked their tables over, and said to the pigeon
sellers "Take all of this out of here and stop turning my Father's house
into a market". Some religious leaders asked him "What
sign can you show us to justify what you have done?" Jesus answered "Destroy this sanctuary,
and in three days I will raise it up". The leaders replied
"It has taken 46 years to build this sanctuary".
But Jesus was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when he
rose from the dead, his disciples remembered his words.
Jesus, please don't let churches and prayer
centers become centers of commerce
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Noah collected animals (into the ark); Jesus dispersed animals (from the Temple). Not that Jesus did not like animals .... he loved them (e.g. "birds of the air") .... but the Temple was not meant to be a place for animal trafficking.
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10 years ago today: Regular Wednesday meal at Marco Polo for families with handicapped children, with GDTV & Zhaoqing University College visitors
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Yesterday when I had a morning drink at McDonald's I noticed that some of the overnight guests were still there .... and one of them was ...snoring! (13 McSleeper photos here). God bless McDs for allowing the homeless to stay overnight.
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Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E.Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Wednesday,
please bless the people of East
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 27th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tibet
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 27th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Uganda
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
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My Africa trips:
2015: Tanzania, Malawi
2016:
Kenya, Uganda
2017:
Southern Africa, Dubai (
The
Last Run)
2018: My trip to Latin America
March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work
--------------------
Australian Chinese for Families Association
Gay marriage: an elephant in the room (by John W)
Video:
What "gay
marriage" did to Massachusetts
同志婚姻自2004年立法後,美國麻省的改變
( 廣東話附字幕版)
Frightening YouTube reports: LGBT radical impact on educational institutions (No. 5); LGBT infiltrating churches (No. 6); US corporations massively supporting LGBT agenda (No. 7). What has happened in the US is now starting to happen in other places. Some day our children will ask "why didn't you do more to stop this evil?"
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Pope's surprise visit to drug treatment centre
Pope is practising what he preaches: "get out and mix with the poor"
HK
readers might like to join me in praying each day for one group of HK
prison inmates: Sun:
Lo Wu; Mon: C.I.C., Siu Lam, Tai Lam; Tue: Stanley
Wed: Hei Ling Chau Thu: Lantau
Fri: Lai Chi Kok
Sat: Hospitals, Pik Uk & other centres
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Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
China
mobile +86-13828421861 - (only
when in China)
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