Each of the lessons taught in today's Gospel passage could be expanded into an entire book. The core of them all, however, is in the heart.

Certainly, our exterior behavior must follow God's will. This is what Jesus means when he says, "Do not think I have come to abolish the law…"

But Jesus is trying to tell us that exterior behavior, that appearances, are not enough. For a true, faithful citizen of Christ's Kingdom, the attitudes and desires of the heart must also be in harmony with God's plan for our lives.

This is what Jesus means when he says: "I have come… to fulfill…" - to bring the Old Testament Law to its fulfillment.

Friendship with God (which is what Jesus offers) requires a union of hearts.

Christ is explaining the Law from this perspective when he explains the true meaning of sinful anger, lust, and lying.

If God "wills all men to be saved" (1Timothy 2:4), how can our friendship with him be complete when we harbor resentment or contempt towards some people, or tarnish their good name by spreading rumors about them or speaking ill of them?

How can I live in intimacy with a God who loves every man and woman as a father loves his children, when in my heart I desire to use some of them only as an object of pleasure and self-indulgence?

How can we be a true friend of God, when we make promises that we don't intend to keep?

Other people may be satisfied with merely exterior success, with a hefty "bottom line"; Christ, however, is interested in every line: he looks all the way in to our hearts.

Based on history, the act of genuflecting on one knee emanates from court etiquette and was also done while in the presence of a medieval king or noble. It was a sign of respect and also a pledge of service. Over time, Christians adopted this custom, and it became fully adopted into the liturgy of the Roman Rite by the 16th century.

Knowingly to the Jews and Christians, God has always been a king who is rich in mercy and boundless in love. In order to give honor to that "King of Love," Christians thought it fitting to pay homage and honor to him by genuflecting every time they enter his court.

Genuflection symbolizes our heart bowing before the Lord who is substantially and really present in the Eucharist. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is truly present, Body, Blood, soul and divinity in the Holy Eucharist and so when we genuflect, we do so because we are in the presence of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1378) affirms this teaching, "In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ under the species of bread and wine by, among other ways, genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord". St. Ambrose said, "The knee is made flexible by which the offense of the Lord is mitigated, wrath appeased, grace called forth," and Alcuin later added, "By such a posture of the body we show forth our humbleness of heart."

Following the same line of thought, kneeling also holds a special place in fostering a proper reverence. Going back to our Lord's time, the Jewish people often stood while praying; however, when the occasion was solemn, the petition urgent, or the prayer was offered with great fervor, then the person humbly knelt before his God to pray. For instance, when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, the gospel reads, He "went down on His knees and prayed…" (Luke 22:41).

Finally, we do these bodily actions because both our religion and our prayer, demands bodily expression. Because Jesus, the Risen One, gives himself in the Body, therefore, we have to respond in soul and body all the spiritual possibilities of our body are necessarily included in celebrating the Eucharist be it singing, speaking, keeping silence, sitting, standing and kneeling.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.

Usually when we think of poverty we think of the materially needy, but there are all kinds of poverty in the world today that we can help to address. Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty".

Being a light in the world is not just satisfying material needs, but something deeper. Saint Teresa also said, "There is more hunger in the world for love and appreciation in this world than for bread".

The true poverty against which we must struggle is a poverty of love. As she put it, "It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters". If you love, your actions will start to reflect it. This kind of "hunger" is everywhere, rich and poor. Seek to satisfy not only in what you do, but in how you do it.

Our Lord also reminds us in today's Gospel that Christianity is meant to be a light on a high place or a lamp stand: it is meant to shed light on many things, even things not directly considered Christian, because ultimately the Gospel is a message of truth and goodness that contributes to every level and sector of society, directly or indirectly.

There are ethical and philosophical truths that any reasonable person can consider, even if they don't believe any or some of the tenets of Christian faith, and those ethical and philosophical truths can open the door to their conversion. Instructing the ignorant is also a work of mercy. People are starved for love, but they're also starved for truth.

Charity begins at home. Feed yourself on true love and true knowledge so that you can share that love and knowledge with others. You need it and so do they.

Traditionally, we have placed fonts of Holy Water near the entrances of our Churches. We have fonts filled with Holy Water for blessings for three reasons: as a sign of repentance of sin, for protection from evil, and as a reminder of our Baptism.

The repentance of sin symbolized in the washing with water is reflected in Psalm 50. Remember, too, how St. John the Baptist called all to conversion used a ritual washing of water to signify the repentance of sin and purification.

These actions have been incorporated into our own Mass. In the Penitential Rite, one of the options is the Asperges, which includes the Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling with Holy Water. In all, each person again makes an act of repentance of sin.

Second, the Holy Water protects us against evil. In the prayer of blessing of water in the Sacramentary, priest pray: "Lord, God Almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless this water: as we use it in faith forgive our sins and save us from all illness and the power of evil. Lord, in your mercy give us living water, always springing up as a fountain of salvation; free us, body and soul, from every danger, and admit us to your presence in purity of heart."

Finally, Holy Water reminds us of our Baptism, when by the invocation of the Holy Trinity and the pouring of Holy Water, we were set free from Original Sin and all sin, infused with sanctifying grace, incorporated into the Church, and given the title Son or Daughter of God. In making the sign of the cross with the Holy Water, we are mindful that we are called to renew those baptismal promises of rejecting Satan, all His works, and all his empty promises, and to profess our credal faith. Once again, we repent of sin, so that we can offer our prayers and worship to God with pure and contrite hearts.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.

Happy Lunar New Year to all parishioners! May our Lord pour abundant grace for your family in this coming year. Here are some parish notices for the upcoming week.

1. Tuesday, January 28 - Church Closed: As it is a public holiday, the Church will be closed and there will be no Mass at 09:00, Adoration of Sacrament at 10:00 or Christian Meditation at 19:00.
2. St. Anne's New Whatsapp: Our church has a Whatsapp account with number 5589-0100. Please add this number to your contact list.
3. Coronavirus policy: Considering the new outbreak of the virus, the diocese of Hong Kong strongly suggest that parishioners do not take communion using the tongue. Please consider using the hand to take the communion.
4. Friday, January 31 (20:00-21:00) - Taizé Prayer: Brothers and sisters from both Chinese and English parishes are invited to come and pray together. Taizé (pronounced: tay-zay) is a prayerful form of music known for its simple, yet rich and meditative character. Taizé music often takes the structure of an ostinato (a simple melody that repeats over and over) and is meant to serve as a kind of musical centering prayer.
5. Regarding the Baptism Schedule 2020 for babies, the register form and guidance notes are posted on the Notice board.

Society is growing more and more casual. Most people put little thought into dressing for Mass - perhaps you have heard: "Come as you are! God doesn't care what clothes you wear. He just wants you!  Of course God loves you just as you are—that's the only "you" that exists!".

However, the more I reflect, the more sure I am that what you wear matters. This is the case in every other meaningful area of life. When you dress for a funeral you dress to show mourning. When you're going out on a date, you dress to impress someone.

In fact, it's hard to think of anything people will dress up for anymore. This bothers me because how we dress acts as a sign of how much respect we have for ourselves and for other people. If we don't dress up for anyone or anything, it's a sure sign that we don't respect anyone or anything.

Even if you don't think dressing sharp is worth it for every-day activities, there is one place you should never slum it: Holy Mass.

How you dress for mass matters. There are at least two reasons why. First, because of what it says to others. Dressing nicely communicates respect and honor. When you dress specially for Mass, you're telling God, "You are worth the effort; you deserve my best." It tells your fellow worshippers, "I take Mass seriously; it's not just one casual event among many for me."

Second, dressing respectfully changes your interior orientation. You've found that when you pull on a suit and tie, your thoughts, speech, and general approach to the world all change. You become more gentlemanly. You are more serious than silly. You are better able to focus, display reverence, and sink into prayer. That's why You are convinced dressing up is a spiritual discipline.

Fr. Antonius David Tristianto, O.Carm.

THE MUSIC MINISTRY NEEDS YOU!

We always welcome new members - singers, cantors, and accompanists.  Your time commitment does not need to be every week – we are quite flexible.  If you have an interest in music, please join us.  For more information, or to volunteer, you can contact Peggie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or just come talk with one of the choir members after mass.  For those who do not wish to join a choir, you can still help out.  Pick up a hymnal and sing with us!

Deacon William Li, who has served at St. Anne's Parish for many years, will be transferred to the Our Lady of Lourdes Church and begin his service there from February 2nd.

On behalf of all parishioners I wish all the best for his new assignment and ministry. Thank you for his great ministry in St. Anne's Church. May God always guide and bless him.

Fr. Paulus Waris Santoso, O.Carm 

​Today's readings teach us not only that we were born to serve and to shine, but that we were created for that purpose.

Isaiah in today's First Reading speaks of Israel's calling: to serve God for his glory as well as for their own. Israel is called to be the Lord's servant and to show God's glory. We were created to serve the Lord and he promises we'll be glorious in his sight and strengthened by him.

Paul in today's Second Reading underlines this lofty calling to serve and to shine. We serve and shine by seeking to do what the Lord asks of us and through striving to live a holy life. He reminds us as he reminds the Corinthians that they are "called to be holy."

John the Baptist in today's Gospel served the Lord as his prophet. He knew that part of his calling was to put the spotlight on Our Lord and his mission, not on himself: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world".

If John the Baptist shines in the fulfillment of his mission, he shines in order to light the way to Christ, the reason for his mission. John is not just called to serve, but to shine. He does not just recognize in Our Lord the signs that the Spirit had promised him; he testifies to them so that others would also get the message.

We may not become a captain of industry or achieve the highest echelons of power in business or politics, but by living our calling, we give glory to God and ourselves. If something is missing and we feel we are caught up in the rat race, it's time in prayer to consider our calling: what does the Lord want we to do with our life?

The precepts of the Church are the requirements of the church that are deemed necessary for you to fulfill upon pain of mortal sin. Mass is one of those requirements, but there are a few situations where you may be excused from Mass.

If you have a debilitating illness, you may be excused from Mass, or if there is extremely bad weather that would make your attempt to getting to Church unsafe, you are excused from attending. The bishop from some dioceses will announce a dispensation from attending on Sunday if travel conditions are unsafe. In some cases, priests may cancel Mass in order to preemptively protect parishioners from harm.

If you are traveling and you cannot find a Catholic Church nearby or cannot make it for a good reason, then you may be excused from attending Mass. You should check with your priest to make sure that your reason was valid and that you did not commit a mortal sin. You are required to be in a state of grace when you attend your next Mass and to participate in Holy Communion.

If your reason was not acceptable by the Church, you will require absolution by your priest. 

John was the last prophet. His job was to announce that the long-awaited Messiah, the Saviour, had finally arrived. His job was also to encourage people to repent, to turn their lives around. John used the ceremony of baptism to help that process of repentance. But Jesus had no sins. Jesus was the Savior. Jesus had no need to repent, and therefore no need to be baptized. And yet, he shows up by the river and gets in line anyway.

Why? Because Jesus wants to make sure that we know that he loves us. And so, when he saved us from sin, he did so from close by. By getting baptized, Jesus expressed his desire to take our place, to take the punishment for our sins upon himself, so as to free us from them.

Later, on the cross, he actually did take them on himself. This was why he came. This was his mission. And this is still his mission. He still wants to save us by coming close to us, to make sure that we know that he loves us. 

The Catholic Church teaches that we have an obligation to go to Mass every Sunday. Mass is a celebration of the Eucharist. Many people do not understand why the Church requires Mass every Sunday. The answer is found within the Ten Commandments passed on to Moses several millennia ago.

The Ten Commandments, which were the believed to be the laws and moral code handed down by God, tells believers in the Third Commandment to "Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day."For the Christians, the Sabbath was Sunday, which was the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. The Church says that you have an obligation to fulfill the Third Commandment by refraining from unnecessary work on Sunday and by participating in Mass, your chief form of worship as Christians.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labor." The obligation is binding every Sunday. It is a holy day of obligation, a day for you to grow in your faith, and you are required to attend to the extent that you are able to do so.

Private Worship is Not Enough.  From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have understood that being a Christian is not a private matter. You are called to be Christians together. While you should engage in the private worship of God throughout the week, your primary form of worship is public and communal, which is why Sunday Mass is so important. 

Fr. David

Please note that the Parish Council Meeting will be held on Monday, January 13^th at 7:45 PM in the Parish Hall. 

All are welcome to attend.  

 There is one thing that every human heart is absolutely starving for: someone to trust. Someone who not only will promise to never let you down, never judge you, never abandon you, but someone with enough goodness and enough power to keep that promise. That someone is God.

The coming of the Wise Men to adore the baby Jesus is one of the Bible's most beautiful proofs of God's faithfulness. The Wise Men came from the non-Jewish world; they represent the nations. By coming to Christ, they enter into the light of salvation bringing gifts.

This shows us that God is good - because he kept his promise. It also shows us that God is all-powerful - the ups and downs of history are under his control. All of God's goodness and power are ours, because we belong to Christ, and Christ is the incarnation of God's faithfulness. 

What does Catholic mean?Catholic means universal.Catholic comes from the Greek word "katholikos," which means "according to the whole."To be Catholic means that we have the whole Bible and we go out to the whole world. To be Catholic means that we have the fullness God revealed in Jesus Christ. The Bible says in Christ Jesus, the fullness of God dwells in bodily form. In Jesus, God himself dwells in our body. In Jesus is established His Church, his community gathered to worship God.

Jesus gave us everything –when Jesus was on the cross, when Jesus gave the Eucharist at the last supper. He give you and me the fullness of truth, the fullness of revelation. He handed that down through the apostles, and through his apostles and the other disciples, he gave us the whole the sacred scripture. Not only that, but in Matthew 28: 19, Jesus said: "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations."

Very, very early in the history of the church, a man named Ignatius of Antioch was captured by the Romans. He was in chains as a prisoner on the way to Rome, to be ground by the teeth of lions. To be killed for the faith. On his way he wrote letters to different churches or Christian communities. One of those letters was to the Christian community in Smyrna. He said: "Where Christ Jesus is there, there is the Catholic Church." People of Smyrna knew what he was talking about. So we know that the term Catholic Church was used for the church at least before 107 AD and led through the prayer of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, we can live in communion with Jesus.We want to not just take bits and pieces of the faith.We don't just want pick and choose the thing in the Bible that we like and throw out parts that we don't, but we want to be close to God.We know the whole thing, the genuine thing, and we want to go out to the whole world.

 On Monday 30 December, St Anne's was part of an international online meditation meeting with participants from the World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM).The meditation was led by Fr. Laurence Freeman is a Benedictine monk and Director of the World Community of Christian Meditation. He has been championing meditation for more than 40 years.

Meditators plugged into the meeting from Hong Kong, France, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Brazil, and Portugal.It was estimated about 70 people took part, including our Fr. Paulus and Fr. David. The meeting was to pray for peace in Hong Kong and how to bring about peace through meditation.

The second dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) Vaccine will be on Jan 12^th at the 18th Floor Diocesan Pastoral Care for Filipinos, Catholic Center at Grand Building, 15 - 18 Connaught Road Central.It will be from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.Please bring along with you your contract, passport and HK ID. Please remember that you need to submit photocopies of your HK ID and the visa sticker stuck on your passport and put together in one paper, like the last time.

For more information, please contact Lorenda G. Rafanan at 91079805 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or WhatsApp 6370-3640. 

Today the Church offers us the feast of the Holy Family. We celebrate and remember Mary and Joseph, who, with Jesus, give hope and inspiration to every family.

One element jumps out of today's gospel which is vital for every family. Listening.

Listening is an essential part of every happy family. There also three most important words in a family are "Please, Thank You, and I'm Sorry." All of these words imply listening.

And yet if people are going to truly listen to each other, there's a previous step. We have to listen to God. Today, Joseph offers an example of that.

God tells Joseph in a dream to take Jesus and Mary and go to Egypt. Joseph must have been used to listening to God, because it says that he arose and took them away by night. In other words, he didn't wait! He acted at once.

But God wasn't finished. Three times God changed Joseph's plans; three times Joseph listened and acted. He didn't argue with God. He didn't point out how inconvenient a trip to Egypt was at that moment.