THE MARRIAGE VOWS RENEWAL

Our Parish invites couples who have been married for more than five years to renew their marriage vows. The event will be held during Mass on December 29, 2024, during the Feast of Holy Family. Please register with our parish secretary.

NO TAGALOG MASS ON DECEMBER 29

There will be no Tagalog Mass on the fifth Sunday, December 29. The Tagalog Mass will resume in March 2025. Thank you for being so understanding.

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Chinese Choir will perform The Christmas Carol in front of the Church on December 22 at 12:30 PM. All brothers and sisters are welcome to participate and celebrate the birth of our Savior by singing together. The English Choir will do the Christmas Carol on December 24 before the Mass.

TAIZE PRAYER

Anne's Monthly Taizé Prayer will resume on December 27 at 8:00 PM. The event will be broadcast online on St. Anne's YouTube channel and Facebook account. Another Taizé Prayer will be held on December 31 at 8:00 PM after Thanksgiving Mass. All are welcome to join.

CONFESSION BEFORE CHRISTMAS

For those who want to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Christmas, the church has arranged a special schedule starting at 7:00 PM on Monday, 23 December 2024.

CHINESE NEW YEAR BIG BOWL FEAST

Our parish will be hosting a Chinese New Year Big Bowl Feast on 12 January 2024 at 12:30 p.m. in the kindergarten complex. Tickets are now on sale: Adults $140, Helpers $110, and 5-14-year-old youngsters $110. Join in the fun, and please purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

Fr. Albertus Magnus Herwanta, O.Carm

Now, we can hardly live without information and messages. Every second of our lives is connected to a message, and we are easily anxious when we cannot find it. For example, those who profit from the stock exchange constantly have to watch its changes. There are so many other messages people are attracted to.

The Fourth Sunday's readings are rich with profound messages. One such message is the One the Virgin Mary brought to her relative, Elizabeth. "In those days, Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Luke 1:39).

She came not to bring a message regarding financial gain and political victory but a message of faith. She shared her faith experience of being chosen to be the mother of the Lord.

She came to bring Jesus to Elizabeth and her family. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, exclaimed, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Luke 1:42). Then Elizabeth called Mary a faithful person, "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord" (Luke 1:45).

The Virgin Mary, filled with the Holy Spirit, brought Jesus to her relatives. This brings some important messages to us. First, those filled with the Holy Spirit cannot keep the power of the Spirit for themselves. Second, those who have received Jesus are called to preach about him.

Mother Mary, the first missionary, left her house to proclaim Jesus. She shared Jesus among her relatives and introduced him to people at the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11).

As we prepare to welcome Jesus Christ, the Church reminds us of our baptism and its profound responsibilities. Being baptized means that we are united with the Lord Jesus. Like Mother Mary, we are to bring Jesus to others.

Second, we are called to be missionaries who proclaim Jesus in our lives. As Mother Mary leaves her house in Nazareth to bring Jesus to her relatives, we are called to preach Jesus to those who have not known Jesus yet, especially those living near us.

Third, good missionaries let their lives be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's power works in the missionaries. The Holy Spirit opens the way and equips his missionaries with all the graces they need.

Finally, we are called to be the missionaries of Jesus, proclaiming the most important message from heaven, Jesus Christ, the One who will come on Christmas. Are we ready to be the missionaries of Jesus, following the example of Mother Mary and bringing the message to our present -world?🎄 (*)

Fr. Albertus Magnus Herwanta, O.Carm

In a world wounded by crimes, conflicts, wars, and violence, is it possible to proclaim joy? Despite all these troubles, the Catholic Church is faithful in bringing joy. On November 24, 2013, Pope Francis signed his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (EG).

At the beginning of his exhortation, he wrote, "The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness, and loneliness" (EG no. 1).

This indicates that the Church keeps proclaiming the Gospel and walking together with the world's citizens, especially those who lose hope and joy. She teaches them, "With Christ, joy is constantly born anew" (EG no. 1).

Through her liturgy, the Church also shares her belief that God, the source of joy, is in the midst of the people. On the Third Sunday of Advent, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, which invites us to rejoice. Saint Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4).

How can we rejoice in the midst of natural disasters, wars, crimes, injustice, hatred, poverty, violence, and political strife? This is a challenge and an opportunity to reflect on the importance of joy.

What is joy? Trusting God's love and promises creates a more profound sense of peace and gratitude. Joy depends on our relationship with God, not on our circumstances. God has established a relationship with his people through Jesus Christ, whose birth we await. We must believe that Jesus is our source of joy and that a man is defined by joy.

From the beginning until the end of his life, he proclaims joy. Angels announced his birth as "good news of great joy" (Luke 2:10). He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:21) and promised to make our joy complete. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). Finally, it was the joy of Jesus that led him to endure the suffering of the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

The Church is the body of Christ and always brings his joy. The words of God on the third Sunday of Advent give us a reason to rejoice. The prophet Zephaniah proclaims, "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgment against you; he has cleared away your enemies" (Zephaniah 3:14-15).

So, let us shout for joy because Jesus, the source of our joy, is coming among us. We are called to share joy with those who live in sadness, sorrow, and pain so that they may experience the joy of God because "God made us for joy" (Henri J.M. Nouwen). (*)

To celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025, His Eminence Cardinal Stephen Chow will bless an oil lamp, "The Light of Hope" at the Jubilee Opening Eucharistic Ce-lebration on 29 December 2024.

The Oil Lamp will then be passed to each parish, starting from St. Anne's Church, the earliest parish established, for a two-week period, from 29 December 2024 until 11 January 2025. To know more about the jubilee Year 2025, please see the link below.

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/13/240513f.html

The Jubilee places of pilgrimage in the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong are as follows:

Hong Kong Island:

Cathedral (Central District and Mid-Levels), St. Anne's Church (Stanley)

Kowloon:

St. Andrew's Church (Tseung Kwan O), St. Francis of Assisi Church (Sham Shui Po)

New Territories and Outlying Islands:

St. Joseph's Church (Fanling), St. Joseph's Church (Vim Tin Tsai Village), St. Thomas the Apostle Church (Tsing Vi), Our Lady of Joy Abbey (Lantau Island) 

Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O.Carm

Life always moves forward and requires us to prepare for our future. Malcolm Max said, "The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." Our Chris-tian life is also meant to reach the future promised by God. Hence, we need to prepare for it.

The Advent Season reminds us to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Savior. The story of John the Baptist, who lived in a desert, inspires us about how our preparation should look.

The desert is a place where one can spend time alone with God. In solitude and silence, John listened to God's words and proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

"Make his paths straight prepare the way of the Lord," exclaimed John (Luke 3:4). In what manner should we get ready? The new Israel must prepare in a spiritual desert to receive the Savior, just as the Israelites did when they walked in the desert, getting ready to enter the Promised Land.

People can stay together with God in the desert, listening to his words and purifying their hearts. This does not necessarily mean that we have to leave our daily lives and stay in a retreat house. However, we might journey into our hearts, the inner desert. We will meet God there and can stay together with him.

Saint Teresa of Avila teaches us that we can meet God, who dwells in our hearts. Entering our hearts leads to our encoun-ter with Him. Understanding our sinful nature and the boundless mercy of God should stir in us a deep sense of repentance.

This requires a great effort on our part:

1. We humbly acknowledge our sinfulness.
2. We believe in a merciful and forgiving God.
3. We take a real action to repent, asking for forgiveness.

Are we willing to prepare the way of the Lord in our pure hearts, welcoming him who will visit us? Remember, "The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him" (Lamentations 3:25). His good-ness is our hope and reassurance. (*) 

"Now the time has come for a new Jubilee, when once more the Holy Door will be flung open to invite everyone to an intense experience of the love of God" (Spes non confundit, 6).

In the Bull announcing the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, at a mo-ment in history in which "heed-less of the horrors of the past, humanity is confronting yet another ordeal, as many peoples are prey to brutality and violence" (Spes non confundit, 8), the Holy Father calls on all Christians to become pilgrims of hope.

This is a virtue which must be sourced above all in the grace of God and in the fullness of His mercy. It is to be rediscovered in the signs of the times, which, encompassing "the yearning of human hearts in need of God's saving presence, ought to become signs of hope" (Spes non confundit, 7).

Previously, in the Bull announcing the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015, Pope Francis underlined how the Indulgence acquired "an even more impor-tant meaning" in that context (Misericordiae vultus, 22), since God's mercy becomes the "indulgence on the part of the Father who, through the Bride of Christ, his Church, reaches the pardoned sinner and frees him or her from every residue left by the consequences of sin" (ibid.).

Similarly, now the Holy Father declares that the gift of the Indulgence "is a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God's mercy. Not by chance, for the ancients, the terms 'mercy' and 'indulgence' were inter-changeable, as expressions of the fullness of God's forgive-ness, which knows no bounds" (Spes non confundit, 23). The Indulgence, therefore, is a Jubilee grace.

During the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, all others Indulgences previously granted remain in force. All the faithful, who are truly repentant and free from any affection for sin, who are moved by a spirit of charity and who, during the Holy Year, purified through the sacrament of penance and refreshed by Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, will be able to obtain from the treasury of the Church a plenary indulgence, with remission and forgiveness of all their sins, which can be applied in suffrage to the souls in Purgatory in the following ways:

I.- Pilgrimages

The faithful, pilgrims of hope, will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence granted by the Holy Father if they undertake a pious pilgrimage:

to any sacred Jubilee site: by devoutly participating in Holy Mass; a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation or the Anointing of the Sick; or any of the following: a celebration of the Word of God; the Liturgy of the Hours; the Via Crucis; the Marian Rosary; the recitation of the Akathist hymn; a penitential celebration, which ends with the individual confessions of the penitents, as established in the Rite of Penance;

in Rome: by visiting at least one of the four Major Papal Basilicas: St. Peter's in the Vatican, the Archbasilica of the Holy Saviour (St John Lateran's), Saint Mary Major's, and St. Paul's Outside the Walls.

in the Holy Land: by visiting at least one of the three basilicas: the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, or the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth;

in other ecclesiastical areas: by visiting the Cathedral or other church or sacred place designa-ed by the local Ordinary. Bishops will take into account the needs of the faithful as well as the opportunity to reinforce the concept of pilgrimage with all its symbolic significance, so as to manifest the great need for conversion and reconciliation.

II.- Pious visits to sacred places

Likewise, the faithful can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, individually or in a group, they devoutly visit any Jubilee site and there, for a suitable period of time, engage in Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations to Mary, the Mother of God, so that in this Holy Year everyone "will come to know the closeness of Mary, the most affectionate of mothers, who never abandons her children" (Spes non confundit, 24).

During the Jubilee Year, in addition to the aforementioned places of pilgrimage, the following sacred places may also be visited under the same conditions:

in Rome: the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, the Basilica of St Lawrence at the Verano, the Basilica of St Sebastian, (the traditional visit to "the seven Churches of Rome", so close to the heart of St Philip Neri is also highly recommended), the Sanctuary of Divine Love (the 'Divino Amore'), the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sassia, the Church of St Paul at the Tre Fontane, (the site of the Martyrdom of the Apostle), the Roman Catacombs; the church-es of the Jubilee Pathways dedicated respectively to the Iter Europaeum and to the Female Patrons of Europe and Doctors of the Church (the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, and the churches of St Brigid at Campo de' Fiori, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Trinità dei Monti, the Basilica of Saint Cecilia in Trastevere, and the Basilica of Saint Augustine in Campo Marzio);

in other places in the world: the two Minor Papal Basilicas in Assisi – those of St Francis and Our Lady of the Angels; the Pontifical Basilicas of Our Lady of Loreto, Our Lady of Pompeii, and St Anthony in Padua; any minor basilica, cathedral church, co-cathedral church, Marian sanctuary, any disting-uished collegiate church or sanctuary designated by the diocesan bishop or Eparchy for the benefit of the faithful, and national or international sanctuaries, "sacred places of welcome and privileged spaces for the rebirth of hope" (Spes non confundit, 24), as indicated by Episcopal Conferences.

The faithful who are truly repentant of sin but who cannot participate in the various solemn celebrations, pilgrimages and pious visits for serious reasons, can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence, under the same conditions if, united in spirit with the faithful taking part in person, they recite the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any approved form, and other prayers in conformity with the objectives of the Holy Year, in their homes or where-ver they are confined offering up their sufferings or the hard-ships of their lives.

III.-Works of mercy and penance

In addition, the faithful will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, with a devout spirit, they participate in popu-lar missions, spiritual exercises, or formation activities on the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, held in a church or other suitable place, according to the mind of the Holy Father.

Despite the rule that only one plenary indulgence can be obtained per day, the faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in Purgatory, if they receive Holy Communion a second time that day, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day, applicable only to the deceased (this must take place within a Eucharistic celebration).

In a special way "during the Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind" (Spes non confundit, 10). Therefore, the Indulgence is also linked to certain works of mercy and penance, which bear witness to the conversion undertaken.

The faithful, following the example and mandate of Christ, are encouraged to carry out works of charity or mercy more frequently, especially in the service of those brothers and sisters who are burdened by various needs.

In this way, the faithful will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if they visit, for an appropriate amount of time, their brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty (the sick, prisoners, lonely elderly people, disabled people...), in a sense making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them.

The Jubilee Plenary Indulgence can also be obtained through initiatives that put into practice, in a concrete and generous way, the spirit of penance which is, in a sense, the soul of the Jubilee.

In particular the penitential nature of Friday can be rediscovered through abstaining, in a spirit of penance, at least for one day of the week from futile distractions, from superfluous consumption, as well as by donating a proportionate sum of money to the poor; by supporting works of a religious or social nature, especially in support of the defence and protection of life in all its phases, but also by supporting the quality of life of abandoned children, young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people, or migrants from various countries "who leave their homelands behind in search of a better life for themselves and for their families".

All diocesan bishops and eparchs and those who are equivalent to them in law, on the most appropriate day of this jubilee period, on the occasion of the main celebra-tion in the cathedral and in the individual jubilee churches, may impart the Papal Blessing with the attached plenary indulgence, obtainable by all the faithful who receive this Blessing under the usual conditions.

In order to facilitate access to the sacrament of Penance and the obtaining of divine forgive-ness through the 'Power of the Keys', local Ordinaries are invited to grant to the Canons and Priests, who in the Cathedrals and Churches specially designated for the Holy Year, hear the confessions of the faithful, the faculties limited to the internal forum for the faithful of the Eastern Church-es.

In this regard, this Penitentiary urges all priests to offer gene-rous availability and self-dedication to allow the greatest possible opportunity for the faithful to benefit from the means of salvation, by adopting and publishing time slots for confessions, in agreement with parish priests or rectors of neighbouring churches, by making time to be available in the confessional, planning penitential celebrations on a fixed and frequent basis, and also making the widest possible use of retired priests who do not have other defined pastoral roles. Depending on the possibilities, priests should remember, in accordance with the Motu proprio Misericordia Dei, the pastoral opportunity that also exists in hearing Confessions during the celebration of Holy Mass.

This Decree is valid for the entire Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.

Given in Rome, from the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary, on 13 May 2024.

For more detail, please see the link below.

https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/13/240513f.html

The Jubilee places of pilgrimage in the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong are as follows:

Hong Kong Island:

Cathedral (Central District and Mid-Levels), St. Anne's Church (Stanley)

Kowloon:

St. Andrew's Church (Tseung Kwan O), St. Francis of Assisi Church (Sham Shui Po)

New Territories and Outlying Islands:

St. Joseph's Church (Fanling), St. Joseph's Church (Vim Tin Tsai Village), St. Thomas the Apostle Church (Tsing Vi), Our Lady of Joy Abbey (Lantau Island) 

Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O.Carm

The readings of the first Advent Sunday invite us to pay attention to the hope God has promised. "The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah" (Jeremiah 33:14). We believe that God has fulfilled his promise in Jesus Christ, Son of David.

The people of Israel wait for the Messiah, an ideal descendant of King David. He will bring security, peace, and justice to them. Unlike the people of Israel, we wait for the second coming of Jesus. Now he lives among us and accompanies our life journey towards the end of the earth.

In today's gospel, Jesus prophesies the signs and portents that will accompany his second coming and encourages us to be expectant, optimistic, vigilant, and well-prepared. "When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand" (Luke 21:28). Jesus wants us to stand firm and face the future with confidence in God's providence.

As God has fulfilled his promise to the people of Israel in Jesus Christ, the Messiah, so Jesus Christ will fulfill what he promised. Therefore, we are to prepare ourselves in the best way in accordance with his instruction.

How can we do that? First and foremost, by allowing Jesus to be reborn daily in our lives. The Advent season gives us a special opportunity to make it happen. Saint Paul invites us to conduct ourselves to please God (1 Thessalonians 4:1) and live in holiness.

Advent is not only a time where we prepare for Christmas celebrations, but it is also a preparation to welcome him on his second coming, where he will completely fulfill his prophecy. He is trustworthy, and we can always rely on him, especially in the midst of uncertainty in our daily lives.

"The Lord is coming, always coming. When you have ears to hear and eyes to see, you will recognize him at any moment of your life. Life is Advent; life is recognizing the coming of the Lord." (Henri Nouwen). Do we believe? (*)

The last part of today's gospel indicates that Jesus is a king (John 18:37). What kind of king is he? We probably can find the answer in the same gospel. After saying that he is a king, Jesus said, "For this I was born, and for this I came to the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice" (John 18:37). Moreover, he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). This indicates that Jesus is the truth, not only a witness to it.

We may call Jesus the King of truth. How do we understand his kingship of the truth, then? First, he is the king of truth with regard to his identity, for he always says the truth. That's why he does not receive a testimony from man (John 5:34). He is in control of his own destiny and trustworthy.

Second, he is not scared of any external or worldly force that might harm his kingdom since he knows everything and his kingdom is the kingdom of truth. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews" (John 18:36). Truth is the cornerstone of his dominion, and his followers are obligated to uphold it.

Ultimately, everything is covered and owed by the truth. So, his kingdom includes all things and times. He is beyond the worldly border. "I am the Alpha and Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). His kingdom lasts forever, and he is from all eternity (Psalm 93:2).

We are called to live in accordance with the truth of Christ, the King of Truth. Do we prioritize seeking his truth? Are we prepared to face the challenge that may accompany his truth and accept it? (Fr. Albert, O.Carm) 

A World In Need of a True King

One hundred years ago, around 1925, the world was dark. The Pope in Rome, Pius XI, was worried. A handful of problems caused the darkness of the world.

At that time, World War I had recently ended with untold bloodshed. That war was fought between nations that were predominantly Christian. Christians were now fighting other Christians out of allegiance to their nationality.

The political landscape was tense, and it did not seem like peace could last long. A gro-wing secularism fueled by atheistic regimes was sweeping parts of the world, pushing Christ out of the public square.

These problems brought about today's feast day!

Pope Pius XI realized that if "the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives" and "individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savi-or, there would be no hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations." (Quas Primas 6)

Therefore, according to the Pope, peace could only be had by restoring the Empire of Our Lord. Christ needed to be pro-claimed throughout the world as presented in the Bible: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And this is the reason for the feast day!

However, we may also need to purify our understanding of the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdoms of this world. Jesus is a different kind of King than we are used to. He is not like other kings. Rather than use his King-ship for his benefit, Christ uses his reign for our good.

The Catechism no. 786 says:

[Christ] exercises his Kingship by drawing all men to himself through his death and Resurrection. Christ, King and Lord of the universe made himself the servant of all, for he came "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

This is why the Church offers us two readings that show different sides of his Kingship. One reflects Jesus' servant Kingship (the Gospel), and the other reflects his divine rule over all the earth (the Book of Revelation).

In this last book of the Bible, Jesus is twice referred to as the King of Kings; this name is inscribed on his thigh.

Jesus is the mysterious Rider on a White Horse that begins Chapter 19. We can summarize Revelation 19:11-16 by saying:

The white Rider comes to judge the earth and to make war. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God.

The armies of heaven follow him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword to strike down the nations. On his robe and his thigh, he has a name inscribed, "King of kings and Lord of lords."

However, today, the Church also has us read from John's Gospel about Christ's passion. Our King is being crucified!

Somehow, we must, like the first disciples of Our Lord, begin to understand Jesus Christ differently. Jesus is a new kind of King.

Jesus does not need the externals of Kingship, such as pomp and ceremony, armies, and castles. The petty kings of the earth need these trappings.

As Christians today, we are invited to celebrate the King of all kings. This is like what the Catechism says in 450: From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord."

Ultimately, whether one is French, English, German, Russian, or American, that is less important than being Christian.

The feast of Christ the King is the Church's proclamation to the political world. We know that in the end, only a kingdom built on Christ will be ever-lasting. This solemnity reminds us that while nations rise and fall, Christ reigns as King forever.(*) 

St. Anne's Church has a new member, Brother FX. Edo Valentino O. Carm. He is a young Carmelite friar. Brother Edo was born on June 7, 1999, and has a younger sister. After graduating from Junior High School in 2014, he attended St. Paul Minor Seminary in Palem-bang, Indonesia.

Then, in 2018, Edo joined the Carmelites Order. He chose to enter Carmel because of Carmel's profound charism of contemplation. This charism, emphasizing silent prayer and deep reflection, resonated with Brother Edo's spiritual journey, as he felt the need to live in silence amid the noisy world.

After finishing his novitiate in 2020, he started his Philosophy Education. For him, life as a friar should be balanced regar-ding the depth of spiritual life, physical health, social frater-nity, and intellectual insight.

So, in addition to studying Philosophy, he filled his free time with gardening, which he sees as a way to connect with God's creation, doing sports, which he believes is essential for maintaining physical health, and sometimes making rosaries, a meditative activity that contributes to his spiritual life. These activities, along with his studies, make his life balanced.

Brother Edo, a recent graduate from the School of Philosophy in July 2024, was sent by his superiors to Hong Kong, to St. Anne's Parish, to experience parish life.

This was a valuable experience and a significant challenge for him. However, he embraced it with the exact obedience and determination he embodies as a Carmelite.

Brother Edo believes joy is crucial in following the path of vocation as a Carmelite. He acknowledges that challenges, such as the demands of his studies and the adjustment to a new culture in Hong Kong, are ever-present.

Through prayer, he finds the strength to overcome these challenges, strengthening his faith and heart to persevere.

He likes Saint Therese of Lisieux's motto: "My vocation is Love." This motto affirms that in her whole life of vocation, she has learned to love many things, starting from small things and significant responsi-bilities.

Brother Edo's commitment to his vocation as a Carmelite is unwavering. His determination to serve as a priest candidate with a spirit of prayer, brother-hood, and humility inspires us all. We can be confident in his abilities and steadfast dedica-tion to his calling. On the other hand, we need to support him with prayer. (*) 

 The Light of the Believer

Our lives will reach an end. Some people prepare for the end of their lives with courage. Others are scared when they approach their death. Why are some people afraid of the end of life? For them, death is darkness because no one knows anything beyond death. At the end of life, everyone closed their eyes. Thus, apparently all is dark.

The end of the world is depicted in Mark's gospel in a terrifying way. "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers of heavens will be shaken" (Mark 13:24). Darkness.

Is it true that the end of the earth is darkness? It depends on each person's choice. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). He is the Light of the believer and will appear at the end of time and grant salvation to those who follow Him.

"At that time the people will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens" (Mark 13:26–27). In addition, the Book of Daniel proclaims, "But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendour of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall like the stars forever" (Daniel 12:3).

Our whole life is a preparation for our personal "End of the World," and there we will encounter judgment. Where will we end up? Again, it depends on our choice. If during this life we choose to follow light, we will enjoy eternal light. However, whoever follows darkness will enter eternal darkness. [Fr. Albert]

We Do Not Need to Know When the End Will Come

These words of our Lord were spoken at the very end of his earthly life, just a few days before his crucifixion.

His main point is that with his death and resurrection, the Old Covenant will end, and the New Covenant, the age of the Church, will begin.

This will be the last period of salvation history. In this period, God's saving grace will gradually spread throughout the world, and the powers of evil will desperately and unsuccessfully battle against it. And at the end of the age of the Church, Christ will return to bring all human history to its culmination.

Exactly when that will happen is shrouded in mystery; no one but the Father knows.

Jesus wants his Apostles to understand that it will occur and be ready for it at all times.

He finishes the discourse by saying: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come."

We do not know, because we do not need to know. God has seen fit to assure us that history has a purpose and will come to an end and that we should always keep this in mind.

Through the ages, many Christians have become obsessed with how and when this will occur, often neglecting the whole point of this datum of revelation.

It is enough for us to know that we are part of a story that has meaning and will come to a definitive end, such that the sun, moon, and stars will be darkened – the whole order of creation will be transformed.

Last Sunday readings reminded us of the greatest commandment (Mark 12:28b-34). It is a bit difficult to find the real example of how to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. We cannot carry it out without faith.

The readings on the thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time B teach about dependence and faith. We find it in the widows mentioned in the first reading (1 Kings 17:10-16) and the Gospel (Mark 12:41-44).

The first one gave the Prophet Elijah the bread that she and her son needed. Even what was left is only a handful of flour and a little oil (1 Kings 17:12). She believed in what Elijah said: God would provide her needs (1 Kings 17:14). And it happened as Elijah said (1 Kings 17:16).

The gospel tells us about a poor widow who put two small copper coins into the offering box (Mark 12:42). It means that she gave almost nothing. However, she contributed from all she had (Mark 12:44). Nothing left for herself. She believed that God would take care of her.

Both widows portray faithful persons who rely on God. They did not keep their possessions for themselves. Instead, they sacrifice them to God and his prophets. As a result, God help them. Those who depend on God will experience his presence and help.

Now we live in an era of freedom that enjoys independence. Many think that being dependent is a bad attitude and worthless. In such a society, Christianity, which teaches about faith in God, seems to be the enemy. Dependent on God is a sign of weakness.

Many depend on their own independence. Did people find satisfaction there? Only a few find it, and the rest do not. The reason is that what they have and do cannot satisfy their needs. People need to depend on God.

The two widows give us an example of how to believe in and rely on God. This is a true dependence. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). [Fr. Albert] 

A Search for the Meaning of Life

Fr. Albertus Magnus Herwanta, O. Carm is a Carmelite priest. He was born on November 19, 1958. His father and mother were elementary school headmasters. He has five brothers and one sister.

After graduating from junior high school in 1973, he attended Saint Peter Canisius Minor Seminary and graduated in 1979. Before attending the major seminary, Albertus considered becoming a Trappist monk or a diocesan priest.

However, after much discernment, he decided to join the Carmelite Order, which, in his opinion, stood between those two choices. Albertus chooses an Order that combines prayer and service.

He was ordained in 1987 and then was assigned as a teacher at Saint Albert of Trapani High School in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. After three years of teaching, he pursued a Master's degree in education in the United States of America and graduated from The Catholic University, D.C., in 1993.

From 1994 to 2007, Abertus was assigned to different Carmelite High Schools in Indonesia. From 1994 to 1997, he taught at Saint Paul High School in Jember, after which he was appointed headmaster.

In 2002, Albertus was transferred to Saint Albert of Trapani High School as a headmaster, where he carried his duty until 2007.

From 2007 to 2013, Albertus worked at the Carmelite International Office in Rome, Italy, assisting Father Prior General as the General Councillor for Asia-Australia-Oceania. He was also appointed as chairman of the Justice and Peace Commission.

Upon returning to Indonesia, Albertus was asked to be the president of Widya Karya Catholic University. He finished his duty in 2020. In December 2020, Albertus arrived in Hong Kong, starting a new mission.

When he is asked about his life journey, he says: "I find that it has been a search for the meaning of life. I am very grateful that God has called me to Carmel, which facilitates my search for the meaning of life. Carmel has called me to climb Mount Carmel and reach its top, Jesus Christ." (*) 

Fr. Albertus Magnus Herwanta, O.Carm

Introduction

God created man in his image. Since he is holy, each man takes part in his holiness. Even deeper, all is called to be holy. "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy" (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16). Holiness has a similar meaning to wholeness and perfection.

The Catholic Church believes that everyone is called to holiness or perfection. "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity." All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2013).

How do I reach holiness?

The only way to reach holiness is to do God's will. What does God want us to do? We are to listen to Him and observe his commandments. Here is God's commandment: "Hear, O Israel! The LORD, our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:4).

We read it in the first reading of our thirty-first Sunday liturgy of the word. Jesus calls it the first and greatest commandments. However, he adds the second commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31).

The teaching of love includes three parties: God, neighbor, and self. Our love for God is strongly connected to our love for our neighbor and ourselves. Saint John reminds us that those who do not love their visible brothers cannot love the invisible God (1 Yohanes 4:20). In order to love God, someone has to love his neighbor.

Challenges to love

The challenges to loving God often come from the fact that we have to love our neighbor. It is much easier to love those who are far away. But it is not the case when we love those who live together with us. How many complaints and sighs do we have when we have to do it?

As long as we rely on our own, this appears very difficult and almost impossible. That's why we need God's grace so that we can love. Here, it is obvious that the first most important thing is God. We can love God and our neighbor because God has already loved us (1 Yohanes 4:19).

Although this commandment seems difficult, it is possible to practice it. Our Jesus Christ has given a real example. He showed his unconditional love and self-sacrifice on the cross. He had to battle against his own will in order to do His Father's will. In other words, there is no love without the cross.

The Catholic Church teaches about it. "The way to perfection passes by way of the cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2015).

In progress towards holiness

Nobody is perfect. The gospel reminds us of our call to perfection. Each one of us is still in progress towards perfection. Every day we are called to take steps to move closer to perfection. Catholic saints give us examples of how to persevere in this way. Through their struggle and the grace of God, they reach perfection. We find it very clearly in the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux. She finally found that her vocation is love. She gives us a real example that God helps us in our weaknesses so that we can reach holiness. 

"All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purifycation, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven." (CCC 1030)

"This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: 'Therefore Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.'" (CCC 1032)

"From the beginning, the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God. The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

"Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them." (CCC 1032) 

Let us die with Christ, to live with Christ

From St Ambrose's book on the death of his brother Satyrus