V2Catholic.com
A voice for the poor
by HK prison chaplain 胡頌恆神父Dr
Jesus Centre 187 Temple St Jordan
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I.
jdwomi@gmail.com
+852 67095674
Imitating
Pope Francis
Sun April 28
Student
protests sweep 40 campuses. God
bless the students!
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f.
readings for Easter 5:
Acts 9.20-31: After a few
days, Paul began preaching in the prayer halls that Jesus is the Son of God.
People were amazed at Paul's conversion. As time passed, the Jews planned to
kill Paul. Paul heard of this and decided to leave the city. The Jews kept watch
at the city gates to stop him leaving. Then one night he was able to escape: some
disciples lowered him in a basket from the city wall. He
went to Jerusalem and began preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. Soon
another plot was made to kill him. Therefore the disciples sent him to Tarsus.
After this the churches throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria were left in
peace. They steadily grew, strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, please strengthen me, as you strengthened Paul and the first
believers
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 22:
1
John 3.16-21: This has taught
us love: that Jesus gave up his life for us. We too should give up our lives for
others. If you see someone in need and refuse to help him, how can the love of
God be in you? Our
love must be put into practice, not be just words. Anyone who loves God
must also love other people
Jesus, help me put my love into practice by
helping people in need
Listen
John
15.1-8: At the meal, Jesus said to his
disciples "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Each branch
in me that bears no fruit, he cuts off. Each branch that does bear fruit, he
prunes to make it bear even more fruit. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
but must remain part of the vine, so you can't bear fruit unless you
remain in me. Cut off from me, you can do nothing. If you remain in me, and my
words are alive in your heart, you can ask for any good thing and you will get
it. It
is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit"
Jesus, please help me stay close to you. Help me
bear much fruit
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: "Fruit" (Gospel) means actions, not just words (I John)
Reflection by Fr Peter: English Chinese
-------------
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
(+
Cantonese audio)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.00
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
To
go with first reading:
Paul was a
basket case?
------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 28th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Ivory Coast
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat April 27
Another
video report of MercyHK's Easter Sunday activity in Temple Street
I spent most of yesterday at Lo Wu women's prison. Among the
inmates I visited were some Temple Street neighbours who recently became guests
of the government. (And see 
below!)
Chinese
satellites show that 60% of Gaza destroyed *** Why
US students are protesting
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings +
recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah
2: In the days to come, the mountain of the
Lord's Temple
will be specially blessed. All the nations will come to it and say:
"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths". When they learn the ways of the Lord,
then the nations will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war. O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord!
Lord, please help world leaders
do more for peace in our world
My
recording of this reading
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
1
Corinthians 15.20-22: Christ has been raised from the dead, the
first to rise of all who have died. Death came through one man, Adam, and rising
from the dead has come through one man, Jesus. Just as all people die because of Adam, so all
people can live because of Christ
Jesus, may all people have
eternal life
Listen
John
13.1-15: While Jesus and his disciples were eating a
meal just before the Passover, Jesus got up from the table, removed his
outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist as an
apron. He then poured water into a basin, and like a
slave, began to wash the disciples' feet, wiping them with the towel
he was wearing. After washing their feet he said to them
"You are right in calling me Master and Lord. If I, then, the
Lord and Master, have humbly served you, you should humbly serve one
another. I have given you an example so that you may
copy what I have done for you"
Jesus, please help us to serve other people
humbly,
just as you humbly served the disciples
Listen
Reflection: Isaiah would be sad to read the news from earlier this week: World spending record amount on "defence"
-----------------------
At Lo Wu prison yesterday some of the staff were
surprised that one of the sniffer dogs sniffed and then licked my hand .... but
showed no interest in the staff. One of them said "...must be because you
are a priest". Real reason: Not long before meeting the dog my hand had
been holding a tuna sandwich for lunch!
------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Tibet
And
praying for one of
the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 10th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Tanzania
And
praying for one Islam-related
intention each day
of the week:
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri April 26
Three years ago yesterday Bishop
Joseph Ha blessed the Dr Jesus Centre in Temple Street, Jordan .... the
anniversary being remembered yesterday at our usual Thursday afternoon gathering
for homeless people with 10 special guests who sleep "on the street"
ABC Four Corners report: Exposing
barons of Australia's meth trade
God bless the
US university students protesting against genocide in Gaza. I posted a
comment but it was rejected....it said: "Pro-Palestinian protests" is
an incorrect term, even a biased term...should be "anti-genocide
protests" since the students are protesting against the murder of 14,000
children and the same number of women.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Isaiah 1:
Listen, heaven and
earth,
for the Lord is speaking: "The ox knows its
owner and the donkey its master's crib.
But my people have rebelled against me. I am tired of your
hypocritical lives,
tired of offerings given with dirty hands. You are so greedy for
profit,
always looking for bribes. Take your wrong-doing
out of my sight.
Stop doing evil. Learn to do good.
Practise justice towards the poor.
Help the oppressed, the orphan and the widow. Then, though your sins
are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow."
Lord,
please help me "wash my hands" by doing good for poor people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
28: To you, O Lord, I call, my rock, hear me.
If you do not heed, I shall become like people in the grave. Lord, you are my strength and my shield.
In you my heart trusts. Thank you, Lord, for so often hearing my
prayer.
I will always thank and praise you. You are the strength of your people Israel.
Save your people. Be our shepherd and carry us for ever.
Lord, please help people who
are in big danger today
Listen
1
Corinthians 15.9-11: I am the least of the apostles. In fact, since
I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle. But by God's grace I am what I am, and the
grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God
in my heart, have worked harder than any of the others, preaching the
same message that they preach
Jesus, may your grace in me be more fruitful
Listen
John 12.42-46: Many people believed in Jesus, even some
important people,
but they did not admit it, through fear of being expelled from the prayer
hall. They put honor from people before the honor that comes from God. Jesus said openly "I, the light, have
come into the world, so that whoever believes in me, need not stay in the
dark any more"
Jesus, true Light of the world, please help me
put honor from you before honor from people
Listen
Reflection: Stopping Jesus from entering our lives means much darkness
------
A few days ago I saw something I haven't seen for decades:
a man using a hand pump to put air in the tyres of his bicycle!
-------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 26th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Xinjiang
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 26th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Madagascar
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu April 25
Today
is a holiday in Australia & New Zealand for Anzac
Day (my
2012 article)
Spanish
co-operative an example for the world ....started by a priest
Israel
killed and buried 300 Palestinians at Gaza hospital?
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
For today's Feast of St. Mark
Mark
14.48-52: Jesus said to them
"Am I a robber that you needed to capture me with swords and clubs? Day
after day I was openly teaching in the Temple". All the apostles then
deserted him and ran away. A
young man who followed
Jesus had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the
cloth in their hands and ran away naked.
My
recording of this reading
Acts
15.36-40: Some time after
this, Paul said to Barnabas "Let's revisit the towns where we preached the
word of the Lord". Barnabas suggested taking John
Mark with them, but
Paul opposed this, since John Mark had deserted them on the previous trip when
the situation became dangerous. After a violent argument, Paul and Barnabas
split up. Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus. Silas joined Paul for his next
journey.
Recording
Colossians
4.10: Aristarchus, who
is here in prison with me, sends his greetings, and so does Mark,
the cousin of Barnabas. If he comes to you give him a warm welcome.
Recording
1
Peter 5.13: Your
sister in Babylon sends you greetings; so does my son Mark
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: Mark in his youth was good at running ... running away from danger (Gospel and Acts, above). But his feet were eventually right in the danger zone that was Rome. We can also note that not all scholars agree that "Mark" in the above 4 readings is the same person. See Mark the Evangelist
-----------------
HK
park toilet saga
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Mon:
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid:
Sat:
Cent,
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless
the people of
And praying for one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 25th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 25th
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
----------------------------
Wed April 24
After the overnight O.M.I. meeting at St Paul's Retreat Centre in
Seung Shui finished with lunch yesterday, Fr Jun and I spent the afternoon at
nearby Lo Wu women's prison .... followed by a debriefing (?) at McDonald's at
Seung Shui MTR station.
Video
of flooding in Guangdong Province
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach 51: When I was young, before I became a
traveler,
I prayed for wisdom. Thanks to
wisdom, I have been successful in my
work.
And so I finish this book by praising the God who gave me wisdom:
I give thanks to you, Lord and King,
and praise you, God my savior. For by wisdom you have protected and supported
me,
and rescued me from so many troubles. I will praise you all my days
and gratefully sing your praises.
Lord, thank you for the
wisdom in this book.
Please give me wisdom for each day
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my
help, whom shall
I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, before whom shall I shrink? Though
an army encamp against me, even then would I trust. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this
I long:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek. Hide not
your face.
I am sure I will see your goodness in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
Lord, you are my light and my
help.
I will always praise you.
Listen
1
Corinthians 15.1-8: Let me remind you of
the basic facts of the
Good News:
Christ died for our sins. He was buried.
He was raised to life on the third day. He appeared to Peter, then to the other
apostles, then to more than 500 of the believers - most of whom are still
alive. Then he appeared to James and the other disciples. Last of all he appeared to me. I was like an
unexpected child
Jesus, I have not yet seen you, but I believe
in you and I love you
Listen
John 12.23-33: Jesus said to his apostles Andrew and Philip
"Now the time has come for me to be glorified.
Unless a wheat grain goes into the ground and dies, it remains only a
single grain. But if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Now sentence is being passed on this world.
Now Satan is to be defeated. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I
shall draw all people to myself". By these words, Jesus indicated the kind of
death he would die
Jesus, lifted up on the Cross, you are the
Saviour of the world
Listen
Reflection: All peoples of all nations are meant to gathered to Jesus
---------------------------
-------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 24th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Inner
Mongolia
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 24th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Djibouti
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues April 23
Yesterday afternoon I went to Lo Wu women's prison to hand in
items (... Bibles, dictionaries, glasses, IDD cards etc) ... before going to
nearby St Paul's retreat centre for the monthly O.M.I. overnight meeting. Today
after the meeting finishes at lunch time I hope to go back to the prison for a
few hours.
Many Temple Street arrests recently
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach
44-50: It is good to remember the famous people in
history
who had a special love for God. Remembering their faith and their love for God
will give us courage for our daily lives.
They were human and made mistakes,
yet they persevered in serving the Lord. People like Abraham, Moses, David.
Let us try to imitate their faith and courage.
Lord, please give me courage to
live each day as I should
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
24-26: The Lord's is the earth and all its peoples.
It is the Lord who is Creator of the
universe. May all hearts open their doors to the Lord.
Let him enter, the king of glory. Lord I hope in you all the day long.
Forgive my sins and help me walk in your truth.
God my savior, teach me your
way of truth
Listen
1
Corinthians 13.1-13: If I am the most brilliant speaker, but don't
have love, I am just a gong booming.
If I understand all mysteries, and if I have a faith that will move mountains, but don't
have love, I am nothing. Love is always patient and kind. It is never
jealous, never boastful, never conceited, never rude or selfish. Love does not take offence. It's not
resentful. Love delights in the truth.
Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to
hope and to endure whatever comes. Love is virtue Number One, greater than
faith or hope
Jesus, please help me love like you
Listen
John
12.12-19: People who had gone to Jerusalem for the
Passover,
heard that Jesus was coming down to Jerusalem from Bethany. They used palm branches as they went out
to meet him, shouting "Hosanna! Blessings on the King of Israel who
comes in the name of the Lord". Jesus rode a young donkey down the hill, just
as the Scriptures had predicted: "Daughter of Sion, behold! Your king is
coming, mounted on the colt of a donkey". Some religious leaders said to each other
"Look, there is nothing you can do. The whole world is running after
him"
Jesus, humbly entering Jerusalem on a donkey,
may you be known and welcomed and praised by the whole world
Listen
Reflection: "Love" in 1 Corinthians, above, is much more than physical/emotional love. In Greek there is a special word for it: "Agape"
------------------------------
Today at Lo Wu prison I'm hoping to see some of the
recently arrested Temple Street people
-------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 23rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guangxi
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 23rd of the month, Jesus please
bless the people of Togo
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon April 22
Very
sad letter from local
HK single mother of three ....how
financial desperation led her to get involved in drug trafficking .... the
tragic effects of this involvement on her family .... her warning to others not
to make the same mistakes.... in illustrated form: English Chinese
4
US drug mules arrested Melbourne Airport!
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Sirach
42-43: What an amazing world
we live in!
The Creator sure did a good job programming everything! Great is the Lord who
made the sun, the moon and stars.
What a beautiful creature is the rainbow! The seasons, the rain,
the snow, lightning and thunder:
all proclaim the glory of God. How great is God who
has made such an amazing universe.
How can we praise and honor him enough?
Dear God, thank you for
creating the world.
Please help us live the way you want us to live
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
23: The Lord is my
shepherd, there is nothing I
shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path. He is true
to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me
comfort. You have prepared a banquet for me in the
sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil. My cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever
and ever.
Thank you, Lord, for being my
good shepherd
Listen
1
Corinthians 12.12-30: A human body is made of many parts: arms,
legs, muscles, eyes etc.
Every part is important and needed for the body to be healthy. The church is like a
body. We are the body's
members. Some of us are apostles, some prophets, some teachers etc. The members of the church must care about
every member of the church. Everyone is important. The spiritual health of
each member affects the health of the whole body
Jesus, help me understand how your church is
like a human body
Listen
John
12.1-8: Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to
Bethany,
for a dinner at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Mary put expensive ointment on Jesus'
feet.
Then she wiped his feet with her hair. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who was going to
betray Jesus, said "Why wasn't this ointment sold and the money given
to the poor?" He said this not because he cared about the
poor, but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the moneybag and would
steal from it. Jesus replied "Leave her alone. She is
anticipating and honoring my burial. Besides, the poor will always be with
you. But I will soon be gone"
Jesus, please help people in charge of money
not to steal
Listen
Reflection: In these days after Good Shepherd Sunday, let's often use Psalm 23!
-------------------------
--------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On
this 22nd of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zhejiang
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Senegal
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
--------
----------------------------
Africa:
2020: My trip to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg
Jan 1, 2020: How cocaine trafficking is impacting West Africa
2017:
My trip to Southern Africa, Dubai (
The
Last Run)
2016:
My trip to Kenya, Uganda
2015: My trip to Tanzania, Malawi
----------------
Latin America:
2019-05-10: No More Mules Peru FB boost 199,000 views!
2019-01-20: Article in El Pais, Uruguay - 01 02
2018-09-18: No More Mules Facebook campaign - more than 300,000 people reached in Venezuela
2018: My trip to Latin America
----------------
South East Asia:
Aug 16, 2020: CNN - Indonesian women recruited to take drugs to Hong Kong
Oct 23, 2019: FM988 Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest
June 2019: My campaign featured in The Malaysia Drug Trade (6 written reports & documentary video)
2019-03-25: Eleven HK01 video and photo reports about Malaysian drug mules arrested in HK- here (one of the reports is about my anti-drug campaign).
Dec 2018 - My Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia
2018: My trip to Thailand and Cambodia
--------------------
Hong Kong:
July 2019: My warning to HK domestic helpers - published here in HK Filipino media
2018-09-22:
My
60 min video interview with Radio99,
in Cantonese, is here: 01 02
to help stop people going to prison
2018-07-29: SCMP- Beware drug lords luring domestic helpers, refugees into narcotics trade
2018-04-08: The Pearl Report on TVB - concerning HK's Long Term Sentencing Review Board and my anti-drug campaign
March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work
2017-09-27: SCMP Spirit of HK Awards (video starts after 20 secs)
2017-08-24: Cable TV video report on my anti-drug campaign and a Facebook report on the video report (click "translation" for English)
2017-05-17: SCMP - The prison chaplain who has stopped 150 drug mules reaching HK
2017-03-25: Oriental Daily report of case of South African woman given discount for help to my campaign *** May 14 updates: Oriental Daily, Sing Tao
Dec 1, 2016 - HK News: More women being recruited as drug mules
2016-10-13: HK01 report about campaign and about work for the poor
2016-09-11: Oriental Daily report about my campaign - and same day Editorial
2016-08-27: Oriental Daily article about court case and campaign
My
anti-drug campaign sites
(skillfully
managed by kind HK friends):
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomasmulas/
Facebook: Chinese no more mules page
http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm
----------------------
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
---------------------
---------------------
Gay marriage: Elephant in the room (by John W)
--------------------------------------------
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
prisoners:
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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This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
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Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++