"Same-sex marriage" file

Islam File    The New Translation

136. On the other hand, it is troubling that, when some ecological movements defend the integrity of the environment, rightly demanding that certain limits be imposed on scientific research, they sometimes fail to apply those same principles to human life. 

There is a tendency to justify transgressing all boundaries when experimentation is carried out on living human embryos. 

We forget that the inalienable worth of a human being transcends his or her degree of development.

In the same way, when technology disregards the great ethical principles, it ends up considering any practice whatsoever as licit. As we have seen in this chapter, a technology severed from ethics will not easily be able to limit its own power.   

Gideon 8

After Gideon defeated all the enemies of the Israelites, the Israelites asked him to be their ruler.

He replied: "It is not I who shall rule over you, nor my son; The Lord must be your ruler".

After Gideon's death, the people of Israel again began to worship the local idols.  They no longer remembered the Lord who had so often rescued them.

The people were also ungrateful to Gideon's family despite all the good deeds that family had done for Israel.

Dear Lord, please don't let me ever become an ungrateful person 

Psalm 19 
(sun + law = "sun-in-law" psalm)

The heavens proclaim the glory of God, the starry skies are the work of his hands.

The stars can't speak, but they are  God's handwriting. The sun is God's love shining on  the whole world.

The universe is a masterpiece, and so is God's law which shines in our hearts.

The precepts of the Lord enlighten our lives each day. The law of the Lord gives joy and wisdom to our hearts.

The decrees of the Lord are to be desired more than gold, they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

But  often we are unaware of  our errors. Lord, please protect us from making mistakes.

Lord, may the words of my mouth
and the thoughts of my heart  be pleasing to you

Recording

Acts 19.23 -20.1

In Ephesus there was a silversmith who employed many craftsmen making shrines of the local idol, Diana. The silversmith called a meeting of the city's silversmiths and said to them "Not just here in Ephesus, but in many parts of the region, this man Paul has converted many people with his argument that gods made by hand are not gods at all. This is a threat to our trade"

A mob was formed and dragged two of Paul's companions to a local theatre. The town clerk eventually calmed the mob and dismissed them

By now Paul had decided to leave Ephesus. He went to Greece and spent three months there

Jesus, please help people give up the worship of idols made by human hands

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

 Luke 3.15-22

John the Baptist said to the people "I baptize you with water, but someone more powerful than I will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. I am not fit to undo the strap of the powerful one's sandals"

Jesus then came and was baptized by John. While Jesus was praying after his baptism, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the shape of a dove.

And a voice came from heaven "You are my Son, the Beloved. My favor rests on you"

Jesus, Beloved Son, please baptize me with your Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, please increase your influence in my life

Recording

Elderly people bussed to polling stations during Hong Kong's District Council elections

Coaches and cars out in force to ferry elderly voters to polling stations as speculation runs rampant that the pro-Beijing camp arranged free rides for elderly residents of homes for the aged and rural villages while telling them who to back in the district council elections.

“It is a pity that Francis does not have a Muslim counterpart who could partner him on his missions of peace and reconciliation among religions”

Pope Francis sends video message to Kenya, Uganda
(No mention of Central African Republic ...trip in doubt?)

170. Although it sounds obvious, spiritual accompaniment must lead others ever closer to God, in whom we attain true freedom.

 Some people think they are free if they can avoid God; they fail to see that they remain existentially orphaned, helpless, homeless. They cease being pilgrims and become drifters, flitting around themselves and never getting anywhere.

To accompany them would be counterproductive if it became a sort of therapy supporting their self-absorption and ceased to be a pilgrimage with Christ to the Father

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North 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 24th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners 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 Zambia

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Boko Haram 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

"Same-sex marriage" file

Islam File    The New Translation

135. Certainly, these issues require constant attention and a concern for their ethical implications. A broad, responsible scientific and social debate needs to take place, one capable of considering all the available information and of calling things by their name.

It sometimes happens that complete information is not put on the table; a selection is made on the basis of particular interests, be they politico-economic or ideological. This makes it difficult to reach a balanced and prudent judgement on different questions, one which takes into account all the pertinent variables. 

Discussions are needed in which all those directly or indirectly affected (farmers, consumers, civil authorities, scientists, seed producers, people living near fumigated fields, and others) can make known their problems and concerns, and have access to adequate and reliable information in order to make decisions for the common good, present and future.

This is a complex environmental issue; it calls for a comprehensive approach which would require, at the very least, greater efforts to finance various lines of independent, interdisciplinary research capable of shedding new light on the problem.

Judges 7

Gideon prepared to go to war with the Midianites. But God told him to reduce his number of soldiers.

The army was told "Let anyone who is frightened or fearful go home".

22,000 men went home; 10,000 stayed.

The Lord said there were still too many. "So many men might cause Israel to claim that a victory had nothing to do with the Lord".

So Gideon got the men to go to the river to drink.

All those who lapped the water, like a dog, he put on one side.
These numbered 300.

The rest knelt down and used their hands to drink. These were sent home.

My recording of this reading

Judges 7

Gideon divided his 300 men into 3 groups, surrounding the Midianite camp.

To each man he gave a horn and an empty water container, with a torch inside each container.

In the middle of the night, they attacked. They sounded their horns and smashed their containers, holding a horn in their right hand and a torch in their left.

The Midianites woke in terror,
thinking that the Israelites had a huge number of men.

In their panic, the Midianites attacked each other as they fled the camp.

The Israelites drove the Midianites from the Israelite homeland.

Dear God, thank you for the courage and leadership of Gideon

Recording

Acts 19.11-20

So remarkable were the miracles worked by God through Paul, that even handkerchiefs which had touched him, were taken to the sick, and they were healed and evil spirits came out of them

Some believers admitted how they had practised magic. They collected their expensive books on magic and burnt them in public

Things like these helped the word of the Lord to continue spreading

Jesus, what can I do to help your message spread?

Recording

Luke 3.10-14

People asked John the Baptist how they should reform their lives. He replied:

"If anyone has extra clothing, share with people who have none.
If anyone has plenty to eat, share with people who have nothing"

Tax collectors asked John what they should do. He replied "Don't cheat anyone"

Soldiers asked him "What about us? What must we do?" He replied "No bullying. No extortion. Be content with your pay"

Jesus, what about me? What should I do?

Recording

Are the Right People at the Vatican?

Perhaps there's a vacant office at the Vatican!

Homeless Singaporean finally on her way home

c.f. Night time 'McRefugees' of Hong Kong

Recommended 
by a reader

PBS Documentary 9/11: Explosive Evidence - Experts Speak Out

169. In a culture paradoxically suffering from anonymity and at the same time obsessed with the details of other people’s lives, shamelessly given over to morbid curiosity, the Church must look more closely and sympathetically at others whenever necessary. 

In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze. The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.

 The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life. 

An out-of-towner accidentally drives his car into a deep ditch on the side of a country road. Luckily a farmer happened by with his big old horse named Benny. The man asked for help. The farmer said Benny could pull his car out. So he backed Benny up and hitched Benny to the man's car bumper. Then he yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull." Benny didn't move. Then he yelled, "Come on, pull Ranger." Still, Benny didn't move. Then he yelled really loud, "Now pull, Fred, pull hard." Benny just stood. Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Okay, Benny, pull." Benny pulled the car out of the ditch. The man was very appreciative but curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, "Oh, Benny is blind, and if he thought he was the only one pulling he wouldn't even try."

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North 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 23rd of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners 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 Djibouti

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify ISIS 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

"Same-sex marriage" file

Islam File    The New Translation

131. Here I would recall the balanced position of Saint John Paul II, who stressed the benefits of scientific and technological progress as evidence of “the nobility of the human vocation to participate responsibly in God’s creative action”, while also noting that “we cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention to the consequences of such interference in other areas”.[109]

He made it clear that the Church values the benefits which result “from the study and applications of molecular biology, supplemented by other disciplines such as genetics, and its technological application in agriculture and industry”.[110]

But he also pointed out that this should not lead to “indiscriminate genetic manipulation”[111] which ignores the negative effects of such interventions. 

Human creativity cannot be suppressed. If an artist cannot be stopped from using his or her creativity, neither should those who possess particular gifts for the advancement of science and technology be prevented from using their God-given talents for the service of others. We need constantly to rethink the goals, effects, overall context and ethical limits of this human activity, which is a form of power involving considerable risks.

Yesterday on my way to Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution, I stopped as usual at the Catholic Centre Chapel in Central for a bit of  prayer and to collect unsold copies of the diocesan papers to give to inmates.

As I knelt before the tabernacle in the chapel, I couldn't help thinking "this is what we need to do more of at this troubled time in our world"

"Troubled" as in:
- IS causing havoc in the world.
- injustice breeding terror like IS.
- the attack on marriage.
- the attack on HK's freedoms by Beijing.
- the growing poverty gap in most places.
- climate change.
- opposition to Pope Francis.
- the Drug Trade juggernaut.

Judges 3 (a)

Some of the Israelites forgot the Lord their God and worshipped false gods.

As a result, they were enslaved by the king of Edom for 8 years.

They cried to God for help and God raised up Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, to lead and rescue them.

Then the land enjoyed peace for 40 years.

But when Othniel died, the Israelites again began to do what displeases the Lord, and were again enslaved, this time by Eglon king of Moab, for 18 years.

My recording of this reading

Judges 3 (b) 

Once more they cried to the Lord for help and he raised up Ehud, a left-hander.

As Ehud presented tribute to Eglon, he said to Eglon:
"I have a secret message for you".

When they were alone, Eglon thought he was safe, because Ehud's knife was on his right thigh.

Ehud then used his left-hand to grab the knife unexpectedly
and killed Eglon.

Ehud escaped from the king's quarters before the king's attendants knew Eglon was dead.

Ehud then roused the Israelites to fight and defeat the Moabites,
after which the land enjoyed peace for 80 years

Lord, please raise up good leaders in every country

Recording

Mark 16.9-20 (a)

After he rose from the dead, Jesus appeared first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had cast out 7 devils. 

Next  he appeared to two of his disciples while they were on a journey

Then he appeared to the 11 apostles. He said to them "Go everywhere in the world. Proclaim the Good News to all creation. Anyone who believes and is baptized, will be saved.
Anyone who refuses to believe, will be condemned

Recording

    

Mark 16.9-20 (b)

These are the signs that will be associated with believers:
- in my name they will cast out devils
- they will have the gift of tongues
- they will pick up snakes in their hands
- they will be unharmed if they drink poison
- they will lay their hands on the sick, who will be healed"

And so, the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up to heaven, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming their message by the miracles that accompanied the message

Lord Jesus, may more and more people all over the world believe in you

Recording

Some time ago, a friend of mine compared the amount of the Scripture used at Mass to that used in an Evangelical Protestant service. The Catholic Mass was almost 30 percent Scripture. When my friend checked the content of his local Bible-based Evangelical church, he was surprised to discover that the total amount of Scripture read took just 3 percent of the service

166. Another aspect of catechesis which has developed in recent decades is mystagogic initiation. This basically has to do with two things: a progressive experience of formation involving the entire community and a renewed appreciation of the liturgical signs of Christian initiation. 

Many manuals and programs have not yet taken sufficiently into account the need for a mystagogical renewal, one which would assume very different forms based on each educational community’s discernment. 

Catechesis is a proclamation of the word and is always centred on that word, yet it also demands a suitable environment and an attractive presentation, the use of eloquent symbols, insertion into a broader growth process and the integration of every dimension of the person within a communal journey of hearing and response.

Yesterday at Hei Ling Chau Correctional Institution, when I visited the kitchen, I was saddened to see some left-over buns being put into a rubbish bin. But then one of the inmates, a Chinese guy, said in Cantonese "they will be used to feed the sheep". I thought I must have misunderstood his Cantonese, but then he explained how the prison's mini-zoo now has sheep ...and the sheep...eat buns! 

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North America 
  
Jesus, today, Thursday,  please bless the people of S.E. Asia & Pacific

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shagxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sudan

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Qaeda

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

 "Same-sex marriage" file

Islam File    The New Translation

130. In the philosophical and theological vision of the human being and of creation which I have presented, it is clear that the human person, endowed with reason and knowledge, is not an external factor to be excluded. 

While human intervention on plants and animals is permissible when it pertains to the necessities of human life, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that experimentation on animals is morally acceptable only “if it remains within reasonable limits [and] contributes to caring for or saving human lives”.[106]

The Catechism firmly states that human power has limits and that “it is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly”.[107] All such use and experimentation “requires a religious respect for the integrity of creation”.[108]

Paris massacre  - the best articles I've seen so far:

To dehumanise another is to dehumanise oneself  How can this cruelty, hatred and violence be stopped? How can human dignity be restored across the globe? What can each of us do to build societies of respect, tolerance, understanding and peace?
-  Sister Clare Condon

Saudi Arabia ducks responsibility again - Laila Lalami

Judges 1-2

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites continued their campaign to occupy all parts of the land of Canaan.

But as time went on, the Israelites began to forget the Lord their God.

As a result, things went wrong for the Israelites.

To help them, the Lord appointed judges to lead them. For a while the people followed the judges.

But as soon as a judge died, the people again lapsed into idolatry.

Dear God, please don't let me forget you. Please help me pray to you and love you every day.

Psalm 16

Please protect me, Lord, I take refuge in you. You are the only source of all true happiness.

I bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me. Even at night you direct my heart.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad. My body shall rest in safety now and always.

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand, happiness for ever.

Thank you, Lord, for the little joys you give us each day .... and the big joy you've prepared for us in Heaven.

Recording

Acts 18.5-11

In Corinth, Paul was rejected by the Jews, so he spent his time preaching to non-Jewish people. Many Corinthians became believers and were baptized

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced. I am with you"

So Paul stayed in Corinth for 18 months preaching the word of God 

Jesus, give Christians more courage to speak your message

Recording

Mark 16.1-8 

Jesus died on Friday afternoon.
Early on Sunday morning, Mary of Magdala and two other women went to Jesus' tomb to anoint his body with spices

They had been wondering how they would roll away the large stone, but when they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away

When they went into the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe and they were full of awe. But he said to them  "Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen from the dead. Go and tell his disciples he  will see them in Galilee"

Jesus, when life seems hopeless, like a dead body in a tomb, please help us remember how you rose from the dead .... and you can help us "rise" from any "hopeless" situation

Recording

Chris McDonnell (Wed UK blogger) 

Change ain’t easy

By the time John Paul and Benedict occupied the See of Rome, the energy of the Council was in decline. During those decades, there was a concerted attempt to apply the brakes, to look back and seek the holy comfort zone of history as a place for refuge

The dragging of the nation’s Catholic Bishops before an Anti-Discrimination Commission for distributing a benign pastoral letter on marriage is a deeply disturbing development for free speech and religious freedom in Australia.

It is a day that we at ACL hoped would not come. But we have been warning about it for years as political storm clouds of intolerance towards the message of Jesus in Australia have brewed.

Commissioner Robin Banks ruled on Friday that not just Porteous, but the entire Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has a case to answer.

They have 21 days to respond and it is highly like the matter will proceed to court.

The gay lobby itself has spent years telling Australians that legalising same-sex marriage will not affect anyone else.

Sensing that this untruth may be exposed, media outlets campaigning for same-sex marriage, such as Fairfax’s The Age and Sydney Morning Herald ((and also some Catholic (?) media)),  have been silent about the case.   Read more

165 (b): The centrality of the kerygma calls for stressing those elements which are most needed today: it has to express God’s saving love which precedes any moral and religious obligation on our part; it should not impose the truth but appeal to freedom; it should be marked by joy, encouragement, liveliness and a harmonious balance which will not reduce preaching to a few doctrines which are at times more philosophical than evangelical.

 All this demands on the part of the evangelizer certain attitudes which foster openness to the message: approachability, readiness for dialogue, patience, a warmth and welcome which is non-judgmental. 

Well done Hong Kong in football against China last night!

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North 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 18th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shandong

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 18th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ivory Coast

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Al-Shabaab 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)

   "Same-sex marriage" file

Islam File    The New Translation

129 (b): Civil authorities have the right and duty to adopt clear and firm measures in support of small producers and differentiated production. 

To ensure economic freedom from which all can effectively benefit, restraints occasionally have to be imposed on those possessing greater resources and financial power.

To claim economic freedom while real conditions bar many people from actual access to it, and while possibilities for employment continue to shrink, is to practise a doublespeak which brings politics into disrepute.

Business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving our world. It can be a fruitful source of prosperity for the areas in which it operates, especially if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential part of its service to the common good.

The Paris tragedy makes us try to deepen our understanding of IS: how and why did it start? What keeps it going? How can it be stopped?

c.f. this talk by former UN Secretary General : Kofi Annan blames US invasion of Iraq for rise of ISIS

“The folly of that fateful decision was compounded by post-invasion decisions. The disbandment of the security forces poured hundreds of thousands of trained and disgruntled soldiers and policemen onto the streets. 

The ensuing chaos has proved an ideal breeding ground for the Sunni radical groups that have coalesced around the Islamic State label” 

Ruth 1 (a)

In the days of the judges, there was famine in the land. Because of the famine, a man from Bethlehem named Elimelech moved to Moab.

Elimelech took with him his wife Naomi and his two sons.

Elimelech died. The two sons married Moabite women: Orpah and Ruth. But then the two sons also died.

Ruth 1 (b)

Naomi was heart-broken. She had lost her husband and two sons.

She decided to return to Bethlehem, and told her daughters-in-law to go back to their own homes.

Orpah went back to her people.
But Ruth with great loyalty and love chose to go with Naomi.

Ruth said: "Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people. Your God shall be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried."

Dear God,  in time of trouble, 
please help people to be loyal and kind to each other

Recording

Acts 18.1-4

Paul left Athens and went to the city of Corinth. He met a Jewish couple who had recently left Italy when the Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome

The couple were tentmakers, like Paul himself. Paul stayed with them and they worked together

Each Sabbath Paul preached in the prayer halls, trying to convert Jews as well as non-Jewish people

Jesus, thank you for the example of Paul who worked to support himself and didn't live off others

Recording

Recommended: check these readings early morning, think about them during the day, check them again at night. This habit gives us extra energy, courage, motivation, peace and compassion for each day

Mark 15.42-47

Joseph from Arimathaea was a rich man who had become a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus died on Friday, he asked Governor Pilate for Jesus' body.

Joseph wrapped the body in a clean burial cloth and put it in a tomb in a rock cave. He then put a large stone at the cave's entrance.

Mary of Magdala and another woman watched Joseph as he put Jesus' body in the tomb

Jesus in the tomb, please give eternal life to everyone who dies today

Recording

165 (a): We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more “solid” formation. Nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation. 

All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply into the kerygma, which is reflected in and constantly illumines, the work of catechesis, thereby enabling us to understand more fully the significance of every subject which the latter treats.  It is the message capable of responding to the desire for the infinite which abides in every human heart. 

My regular article in today's Ming Pao newspaper
with the topic: Sexual Orientation Discrimination Ordinance (SODO)
is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK".
Free access to article with recording today from about noon to 8pm HK time. Text without recording

Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:

Sun: Africa        Mon: Europe & Russia     Tues: South Asia      Wed: East Asia  
Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific       Frid: South America       Sat: Central & North 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 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shaanxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Malawi

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please pacify Boko Haram 

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from Tanzanian inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's South America file 
(stopping South Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters  from South American inmates  in Hong Kong prisons

This website's HK Asylum Seekers' File
(stopping South Asians from being "people smuggled" to HK)