My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper with the topic: 
Memo to Immigration Dept
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 

My 70th birthday on Oct 16 was celebrated at the usual Sunday night gathering for the poor at St Paul's, Yau Ma Tei, and at nearby restaurant meal for the Sunday night volunteers with 60 very special guests: homeless people, drug addicts, ex-inmates, asylum seekers, one blind man, several street women, a number of handicapped people, people fighting big illnesses. Photos Here

To celebrate one's birthday with one's religious community/family/friends is a happy occasion. But a celebration which involves poor people is even happier ...  just as Pope Francis says in "The Joy of Love" (183):

For their part, open and caring families find a place for the poor and build friendships with those less fortunate than themselves.

Remembering Jesus' words: "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed” . You will be blessed! Here is the secret to a happy family

Feast of Saint Luke  ("Luke"/"Acts")

Luke 1: 

Dear Friend of God, there are  already many  reports written about Jesus.

These reports come from  people who were the earliest eyewitnesses and ministers of the Good News.

After checking the whole story, I also have decided to write a report, so that you may see for yourself the truth and accuracy of the Good News

Jesus, help me understand your Good News

 
Recording of this reading

Acts 1:

Dear Friend of God, in my first book (the Gospel of Luke) I wrote about everything Jesus did until the day he was taken up to heaven

For 40 days after his death, he appeared to his apostles many times, and taught them about the kingdom of God

He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for what the Father had promised: "You will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit"

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

Recording

Colossians 4.14:

(St Paul writing from prison in Rome)

Greetings from my dear friend Luke, the doctor

Recording

St Paul in prison

2 Timothy 4.11:

(St Paul writing from prison in Rome)

Only Luke is with me
 

Recording

St Luke with St Paul in prison

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

What's special about Luke's Gospel and his Acts of the Apostles?  An emphasis on women (especially Mary the mother of Jesus), an emphasis on the Holy Spirit, an emphasis on prayer, an emphasis on living simply, an emphasis on helping the poor, an emphasis on healing (..what we'd expect from a medical doctor).  May the reading of Luke help us on all these topics. St Luke, pray for us!

Street sleepers intimidated by armed men two months before fire destroyed homeless camp, says NGO

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

192: Recording

Saint John Paul II asked us to be attentive to the role of the elderly in our families, because there are cultures which, “especially in the wake of disordered industrial and urban development, have both in the past and in the present set the elderly aside in unacceptable ways”.

The elderly help us to appreciate “the continuity of the generations”, by their “charism of bridging the gap”.

Very often it is grandparents who ensure that the most important values are passed down to their grandchildren, and “many people can testify that they owe their initiation into the Christian life to their grandparents”.

Their words, their affection or simply their presence help children to realize that history did not begin with them, that they are now part of an age-old pilgrimage and that they need to respect all that came before them.

Those who would break all ties with the past will surely find it difficult to build stable relationships and to realize that reality is bigger than they are. 

“Attention to the elderly makes the difference in a society. Does a society show concern for the elderly? Does it make room for the elderly? Such a society will move forward if it respects the wisdom of the elderly”.217

182: Recording

An assessment of the environmental impact of business ventures and projects, demands transparent political processes involving a free exchange of views.

On the other hand, the forms of corruption which conceal the actual environmental impact of a given project, in exchange for favours, usually produce specious agreements which fail to inform adequately and to allow for full debate

Riding the southern wilds- the horsemen of Lesotho – in pictures

181a: Recording 

The kingdom, already present and growing in our midst, engages us at every level of our being and reminds us of the principle of discernment which Pope Paul VI applied to true development: it must be directed to “all people and the whole person”

 We know that “evangelization would not be complete if it did not take account of the unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of our concrete life, both personal and social”.

 This is the principle of universality intrinsic to the Gospel, for the Father desires the salvation of every man and woman, and his saving plan consists in “gathering up all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth”. 

Photo of Oct 16 dog - see link at top of this menu! 

At last Sunday night's meal for the poor, one elderly lady attending (like many others that night) has been sleeping at McDonald's for a year (God bless McDonald's for doing what government should do...). Lady has a chiwawa which she stores/hides/keeps in a leather bag when they are in McDonald's. 
Last Sunday morning on my way to Mass I passed her McDonald's and saw her there. So I popped in to invite her to the meal that night. 
But a problem. I had spoken with her before. She often comes to our Sunday night gathering for the poor. So the dog recognized my voice and stuck its head up to see me.
Nearly let the cat out of the bag?!

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 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 Boko Haram 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

"When you have a party, invite the poor" said Jesus. So, for my birthday meal last night there were about 90 people at a local restaurant, most of them street sleepers, ex-inmates, handicapped, one blind man, several street women, several people fighting big illnesses, asylum seekers. 
The rest were volunteers of the usual Sunday night gathering for the poor, and other friends who work with the poor.
Thank you Lord for a happy night! Please bless the kind people who arranged the night and paid the bill!

This is good - three inspiring stories, including that of a rich businessman (!) who was beatified yesterday:

Argentine saints-to-be reveal Pope’s thinking on priests, nuns, and laity

Yesterday I mentioned how a Malaysian Drug Lord (targeted by this website) was arrested recently in Malaysia.

Further news: his boss, a Nigerian (...surprise...) also arrested. Nigerian may be the one whose photo is Here

Daniel 8-12

Daniel received many visions from God, usually after a special time of prayer and fasting.

Daniel was given glimpses of the future, the rise and fall of nations.

He also was given to understand what happens after this life:

"The dead will rise from the grave, some to everlasting life,
some to everlasting shame.

Those who have instructed others in virtue, will shine like stars for all eternity."

Lord, please help everyone get to Heaven

My recording of this reading

Psalm 85

I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace.

Peace for his people and his friends and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who love him and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met.
Justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice shall look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps

Lord, please give more peace to our world

Recording 

Revelation 7.9-17

I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, and language

They were standing in front of the throne, with palms in their hands.

They shouted: "Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb"

One of the elders told me who these people are: "These are the people who have been through the great persecution. They now serve God day and night in his sanctuary. The Lamb is their Shepherd. He leads them to springs of living water. God has wiped away all tears from their eyes"

Jesus, please help sorrowing people who are crying today

Recording 

Mark 2.23-28

One Sabbath day Jesus and his disciples were walking through a cornfield.  The disciples were hungry. They picked some ears of corn and ate them.

Picking corn on the Sabbath was regarded as unlawful by the Pharisees.  So the Pharisees said to Jesus "Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath law".

Jesus replied "Don't you remember what King David and his followers once did when they were hungry? They ate the Temple bread which only the priests were allowed to eat.

Go and learn the meaning  of these words 'What I want is mercy, not superficial external offerings'.

I am Master of the Sabbath."

Jesus,  please help me understand that love is more important than law
Recording 

Did Jesus have a sense of humor? Sure did! As in today's Gospel. He knew darn well that going for a walk on the Sabbath was against the rule according to the hypocritical legal eagles of his time. Such a Sabbath stroll was sure to stir up the Pharisees and Sadducees. He must have had a mischievous smile as he said to Peter and Co. "let's go for a walk". And he knew that if they went through a cornfield, his hungry heroes would be sure to take and nibble ....another "No, No".  So ... taking his gang for a Sabbath walk through a cornfield was like Gandhi on his salt march ... an act of confronting injustice and ridiculous laws. In fact, in this case, corny humor!

Feast day today

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family     Full English text

191: Recording

The elderly

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent” (Ps 71:9).

This is the plea of the elderly, who fear being forgotten and rejected. 

Just as God asks us to be his means of hearing the cry of the poor, so too he wants us to hear the cry of the elderly.

This represents a challenge to families and communities, since “the Church cannot and does not want to conform to a mentality of impatience, and much less of indifference and contempt, towards old age. We must reawaken the collective sense of gratitude, of appreciation, of hospitality, which makes the elderly feel like a living part of the community. Our elderly are men and women, fathers and mothers, who came before us on our own road, in our own house, in our daily battle for a worthy life”.

Indeed, “how I would like a Church that challenges the throw-away culture by the overflowing joy of a new embrace between young and old!”

181: Recording

Here, continuity is essential, because policies related to climate change and environmental protection cannot be altered with every change of government. Results take time and demand immediate outlays which may not produce tangible effects within any one government’s term.

 That is why, in the absence of pressure from the public and from civic institutions, political authorities will always be reluctant to intervene, all the more when urgent needs must be met. To take up these responsibilities and the costs they entail, politicians will inevitably clash with the mindset of short-term gain and results which dominates present-day economics and politics. 

But if they are courageous, they will attest to their God-given dignity and leave behind a testimony of selfless responsibility. A healthy politics is sorely needed, capable of reforming and coordinating institutions, promoting best practices and overcoming undue pressure and bureaucratic inertia.

It should be added, though, that even the best mechanisms can break down when there are no worthy goals and values, or a genuine and profound humanism to serve as the basis of a noble and generous society

180: Recording

Reading the Scriptures also makes it clear that the Gospel is not merely about our personal relationship with God. Nor should our loving response to God be seen simply as an accumulation of small personal gestures to individuals in need, a kind of “charity à la carte”, or a series of acts aimed solely at easing our conscience. 

The Gospel is about the kingdom of God ; it is about loving God who reigns in our world. To the extent that he reigns within us, the life of society will be a setting for universal fraternity, justice, peace and dignity.

 Both Christian preaching and life, then, are meant to have an impact on society. We are seeking God’s kingdom: “Seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.

 Jesus’ mission is to inaugurate the kingdom of his Father; he commands his disciples to proclaim the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.

Doesn't seem right?

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 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 ISIS 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Islam File    The New Translation

"Same-sex marriage" file

San Paulo Nigerian Drug Lord has horrifying dream !

I spent most of yesterday at my  desk, preparing High Court support letters for inmates, doing anti-drug campaign jobs (like the article at left), catching up on mail and email etc.

Article at left has been put on a prominent blog in Nigeria ....and has had about 100 views in the first 8 hours

News from Malaysia, to be confirmed, is that a big Drug Lord who has been the subject of concern by this website's anti-drug campaign, was arrested about a week ago on a drug charge. Hope he has long holiday in prison, but not the death penalty.

c.f. Readings for "Sunday 29"

Exodus 17

In another place the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites.

Moses prayed while Joshua led the people in battle.

As long as Moses kept his arms raised up in prayer, the Israelites were winning.

But when Moses let his arms down, the Amalekites started winning.

So Aaron and Hur got Moses to sit on a rock and they supported his hands until sunset.

Joshua and the people then won the battle.

Dear God, please help us understand the power of prayer

My recording of this reading 

Psalms 120 & 121

I call to the Lord in the hour of my distress: "Lord save me from people who speak with lying lips".

Long enough have I been dwelling with those who hate peace. I am for peace, but they are for fighting.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where shall come my help?

My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

The Lord is our guard and our shade. Day and night we shall not be afraid.

The Lord will guard our going and coming both now and forever.

Lord, please protect us from danger, day and night

Recording 

2 Timothy 3.12-16

Anyone who tries to live a sincere Christian life will be persecuted

Stay faithful to what you have been taught and know to be true.
Remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you have known the Scriptures

From the Scriptures you can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus

All Scripture is inspired by God and can be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be holy

Jesus, please give all Christians, especially pastors, a passion for the Scriptures

Recording  

Luke 18.1-7

Jesus told his disciples a story about the need to pray continually and never lose heart:

There was a judge who had neither fear of God nor respect for people. In the same town there was a widow who kept asking the judge for justice against someone who had wronged her

For a long time the judge refused to help her, but at last he said to himself "I must give this widow her rights or she will pester me to death"

Even more so God will  see that justice is done for those who cry out to him for help day and night, even if he delays to help them

Jesus, please give me the perseverance to pray each day

Recording  

There are several types of prayer: petition, praise, worship etc. Today's readings are about petition prayer...it does make a difference (Exodus) but sometimes may not be answered immediately ...so .... if at first we don't succeed, try, try again (Luke) .... like St Monica who kept on praying for her son Augustine for many long years until he became a Christian. 
We can also remember that sometimes the Good Lord doesn't immediately answer our prayers because what we're asking for maybe not be good for us just now ....time is not right ....like 5 year old asking for a bicycle to ride on the street.

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

190: Recording

There is, however, another side to the coin. As the word of God tells us, “a man leaves his father and his mother” (Gen 2:24).

This does not always happen, and a marriage is hampered by the failure to make this necessary sacrifice and surrender.

Parents must not be abandoned or ignored, but marriage itself demands that they be “left”, so that the new home will be a true hearth, a place of security, hope and future plans, and the couple can truly become “one flesh”. 

In some marriages, one spouse keeps secrets from the other, confiding them instead to his or her parents. As a result, the opinions of their parents become more important than the feelings and opinions of their spouse.

This situation cannot go on for long, and even if it takes time, both spouses need to make the effort to grow in trust and communication.

Marriage challenges husbands and wives to find new ways of being sons and daughters.

 Tanzania Cardinal Pengo’s health getting ‘worse’

180: Recording

There are no uniform recipes, because each country or region has its own problems and limitations. It is also true that political realism may call for transitional measures and technologies, so long as these are accompanied by the gradual framing and acceptance of binding commitments. 

At the same time, on the national and local levels, much still needs to be done, such as promoting ways of conserving energy. These would include favouring forms of industrial production with maximum energy efficiency and diminished use of raw materials, removing from the market products which are less energy efficient or more polluting, improving transport systems, and encouraging the construction and repair of buildings aimed at reducing their energy consumption and levels of pollution. 

Political activity on the local level could also be directed to modifying consumption, developing an economy of waste disposal and recycling, protecting certain species and planning a diversified agriculture and the rotation of crops. Agriculture in poorer regions can be improved through investment in rural infrastructures, a better organization of local or national markets, systems of irrigation, and the development of techniques of sustainable agriculture. New forms of cooperation and community organization can be encouraged in order to defend the interests of small producers and preserve local ecosystems from destruction. Truly, much can be done!

179b: Recording

God’s word teaches that our brothers and sisters are the prolongation of the incarnation for each of us: “As you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me”. The way we treat others has a transcendent dimension: “The measure you give will be the measure you get”.

 It corresponds to the mercy which God has shown us: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you… For the measure you give will be the measure you get back”. 

What these passages make clear is the absolute priority of “going forth from ourselves towards our brothers and sisters” as one of the two great commandments which ground every moral norm and as the clearest sign for discerning spiritual growth in response to God’s completely free gift.

 For this reason, “the service of charity is also a constituent element of the Church’s mission and an indispensable expression of her very being”.  By her very nature the Church is missionary; she abounds in effective charity and a compassion which understands, assists and promotes. 

10 years ago
 today

2006-10-16,17  HK St Benedict friends, HK Notre Dame friends, Joe in Guangzhou, bus/station/metro

On this day in 1946 
Thank you Dear God for all your blessings. Please bless the whole family!

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, Sunday, please bless the people of Africa

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 16th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Qinghai

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 16th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Afghanistan

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, please bless all Muslims in my own country 

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Two days ago a Kenyan inmate told me there was recently some news in Kenya about a prisoner transfer agreement. I was unable to find such news with Google, but I did come across yet another article about this website's anti-drug campaign!

Horrifying stories from Kenyans jailed in Hong Kong for drug trafficking 

Universe has 2 trillion galaxies - astronomers

Clinton campaign emails  smear Catholics, religions and women

Dear Holy Spirit, please help USA produce better candidates in future!

Chris McDonnell (UK)

The tax-collector

 c.f. Hurricane Matthew

Daniel 7

Once when Daniel was asleep, he had a vision of heaven:

"Thrones were put in place and one of great age took his seat.

His robe was white as snow, his hair as pure as wool.

A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

Then coming on the clouds of heaven was one like a son of man.

On him was conferred  glory and kingship, and people of all nations became his servants.

His kingship is eternal. His empire will never be destroyed."

Jesus, please help me understand that you are the "Son of Man"
 whose kingship is eternal

My recording of this reading

Psalm 84

How lovely is your sacred temple, Lord. My heart is longing to spend time in your holy dwelling.

Even sparrows and swallows are your temple guests. They build homes for their young near your altar.

Blessed are the people who live and work in your temple. And blessed, too, are people who keep the memory of your temple in their hearts.

As they go through the troubles of life, you give them strength to face the trials of each day.

Lord, one day within your temple
is better than a thousand anywhere else.

Dear God, thank you for special places of prayer

Recording  

Revelation 5.11-14

I heard the sound of an immense number of angels gathered around God's throne. There were 10,000 times 10,000 of them, shouting:

"The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy  to be given power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing"

I heard all living things in creation - angels, people, animals - crying out: "To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb, be all praise, honor, glory and power for ever and ever"

"Thou are worthy, Thou art worthy, Thou are worthy O Lord,
to receive glory, glory and honor, glory and honor and power"

Recording   

Beware of angels as you click this!

Mark 2.13-17

Jesus went again to the Sea of Galilee. Many people came to him and he taught them there by the sea.

Near the sea he saw a tax collector Levi (Matthew) working at the customs house. Jesus said to him "Follow me". He got up and followed him.

Levi gave a dinner in his house for Jesus. Sitting with Jesus were some tax collectors and "sinners".
In fact Jesus' followers included many tax collectors and "sinners".

Some religious leaders asked Jesus' disciples "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"

Jesus himself answered them: "It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners."

Jesus, thank you for being a friend of people who are rejected and despised

Recording  

Daniel and Revelation  are describing the same scene. Some day, Please God, we also will see the same scene .... be part of the same scene.... with Daniel and John the Apostle ... using the O So appropriate words of Psalm 84! .... enjoying an eternal banquet with Him who enjoyed the company of tax collects and "sinners" (Mark)

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

189: Recording

Hence, “the fourth commandment asks children… to honour their father and mother (cf. Ex 20:12). 

This commandment comes immediately after those dealing with God himself. Indeed, it has to do with something sacred, something divine, something at the basis of every other kind of human respect. 

The biblical formulation of the fourth commandment goes on to say: ‘that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you’. 

The virtuous bond between generations is the guarantee of the future, and is the guarantee of a truly humane society.

A society with children who do not honour parents is a society without honour… It is a society destined to be filled with surly and greedy young people”.

Meet the Brisbane couple helping to feed and educate a village in Africa

179: Recording 

In some places, cooperatives are being developed to exploit renewable sources of energy which ensure local self-sufficiency and even the sale of surplus energy. This simple example shows that, while the existing world order proves powerless to assume its responsibilities, local individuals and groups can make a real difference.

They are able to instil a greater sense of responsibility, a strong sense of community, a readiness to protect others, a spirit of creativity and a deep love for the land. They are also concerned about what they will eventually leave to their children and grandchildren. These values are deeply rooted in indigenous peoples. 

Because the enforcement of laws is at times inadequate due to corruption, public pressure has to be exerted in order to bring about decisive political action. Society, through non-governmental organizations and intermediate groups, must put pressure on governments to develop more rigorous regulations, procedures and controls.

Unless citizens control political power – national, regional and municipal – it will not be possible to control damage to the environment. Local legislation can be more effective, too, if agreements exist between neighbouring communities to support the same environmental policies.

179a: Recording

This inseparable bond between our acceptance of the message of salvation and genuine fraternal love appears in several scriptural texts which we would do well to meditate upon, in order to appreciate all their consequences. 

The message is one which we often take for granted, and can repeat almost mechanically, without necessarily ensuring that it has a real effect on our lives and in our communities.

 How dangerous and harmful this is, for it makes us lose our amazement, our excitement and our zeal for living the Gospel of fraternity and justice! 

10 years ago
 on this day

As I attended two cases at the High Court yesterday morning, I had an interesting thought: if you're sick, you go and see a doctor personally. You don't sit out in the waiting room and send someone else in to see the doctor for you. Yet in a law court, a defendant is largely silent, sometimes uttering only "guilty" or "not guilty" and a few times "yes" or "no" to simple questions ("Do you understand the charge?"). Imagine having to hire a lawyer to help you see a doctor!

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, Saturday, please bless the people of Central & North America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Liaoning

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Zimbabwe

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

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Correctional Services Department instructor arranged jail visits for bogus relatives and friends, Hong Kong court hears

In the city with the highest number of Rolls-Royces per person, tycoons splurge HK$100 million on a wedding without batting an eyelid, or millions more on diamonds to name after their children, while some 300,000 kids can’t get three square meals a day.

Hong Kong’s appalling wealth gap is a burning fuse for revolution

Tanzania's great statesman Julius Nyerere died on this day in 1999, so today is called Nyerere Day

Google "nyerere canonisation" for many articles about the possible canonisation of Julius Nyerere

Daniel 4-6

Some of the king's officials were jealous of Daniel, so they had him arrested on a false charge and condemned to death.

One evening, Daniel was put into a cave of lions. The mouth of the cave was sealed with a great stone.

In the cave Daniel prayed to God for help, and God protected Daniel.

The next morning the stone was removed. Daniel walked out unharmed.

The king then ordered Daniel's accusers to be put into the cave.
The lions immediately ate them.

Thank you, Lord, for protecting Daniel. Thank you, Lord, for so often protecting me

My recording of this reading

Psalms 82-83

God says to corrupt officials:

"How long will you judge unjustly and mistreat the poor?
You should do justice for the weak and the orphan.

You should defend the afflicted and the needy. You should rescue the weak and the poor. You should set them free from the hand of the wicked".

O God, please protect your people from corruption and injustice. Save us also from attack by other nations.

Let everyone know that you are the Lord of all the earth.

Lord, please stop corrupt officials from hurting people

Recording  

Mark 2.1-12 (a)

After some time Jesus returned to Capernaum. Crowds quickly gathered at the house where he was staying.

While he was preaching inside the house,
four men carried a paralytic on a stretcher to the front door.

They couldn't get in, because of the crowd, so they went up on the roof, took off some of the roof covering, and lowered the stretcher in front of Jesus.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic "Your sins are forgiven". 

Recording

Mark 2.1-12 (b)

Some religious leaders present in the crowd  thought to themselves "Who does this man think he is? Only God can forgive sins".

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them "Which is easier? To say 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up and walk'?

But to show you that I have authority to forgive sins I now say: get up, pick up your stretcher and go home."

The man got up, picked up his stretcher and walked out in front of everyone. The crowd said "We have never seen anything like this".

Recording  

So many poor countries are afflicted by corruption. Tackling poverty is such countries means tackling corruption. Corruption is one of the main causes of poverty in many countries. My heart thinks especially of Africa. Google "africa corruption" for much info on this. True, corruption is found in every country. But in Africa it's spelt with a capital "C".  Let's often pray the words of Psalms 82-83 "Lord, please protect your people from corruption and injustice"

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

188: Recording

Being sons and daughters

First, let us think of our parents. Jesus told the Pharisees that abandoning one’s parents is contrary to God’s law (cf. Mk 7:8-13). 

We do well to remember that each of us is a son or daughter. “Even if one becomes an adult, or an elderly person, even if one becomes a parent, if one occupies a position of responsibility, underneath all of this is still the identity of a child. 

We are all sons and daughters. And this always brings us back to the fact that we did not give ourselves life but that we received it. The great gift of life is the first gift that we received”.

178: Recording

A politics concerned with immediate results, supported by consumerist sectors of the population, is driven to produce short-term growth. 

In response to electoral interests, governments are reluctant to upset the public with measures which could affect the level of consumption or create risks for foreign investment. 

The myopia of power politics delays the inclusion of a far-sighted environmental agenda within the overall agenda of governments. Thus we forget that “time is greater than space”,[130] that we are always more effective when we generate processes rather than holding on to positions of power. 

True statecraft is manifest when, in difficult times, we uphold high principles and think of the long-term common good. Political powers do not find it easy to assume this duty in the work of nation-building.

178d: Recording

The very mystery of the Trinity reminds us that we have been created in the image of that divine communion, and so we cannot achieve fulfilment or salvation purely by our own efforts.

 From the heart of the Gospel we see the profound connection between evangelization and human advancement, which must necessarily find expression and develop in every work of evangelization.

 Accepting the first proclamation, which invites us to receive God’s love and to love him in return with the very love which is his gift, brings forth in our lives and actions a primary and fundamental response: to desire, seek and protect the good of others.

Kind Australian volunteer in HK this month - visiting prisoners - was amused a few days ago at the destination name of a fully crowded HK bus: "Pak Tin"  ("packed in"!)

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, Friday, please bless the people of South America

And praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jilin

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 14th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Ethiopia

And praying for one Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, on this Muslim day of prayer, please bless all Muslims!

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Shock as 300 Kenyans beg President to order their killing

- has photos of Kenyan prisons

Letter from a Filipina in detention in HK for drug trafficking, after being "tricked" into carrying something for a friend - Here (Oct 5)

New article in HK media -"01"- about this website's anti-drug campaign & my work for the poor in HK: Here (in Chinese, with several photos)

Letter from a Ugandan man in prison in HK for drug trafficking .... the last Ugandan to be arrested at HK airport - Here (Sep 19)

Letter in Portuguese from a Brasilian man in prison in HK for drug trafficking - Here (Oct 4)

Daniel 2-3

The king of Babylon had a dream
which none of his wise men could interpret.

God enabled Daniel to understand the dream. The king then promoted Daniel and his friends to important jobs.

Some time after this, the king built a golden statue and everyone was commanded to adore it.

The Jewish exiles, including Daniel and his friends, refused to adore the statue.

Daniel and his friends were condemned to be burnt to death
in a big furnace.

But God protected the four young  men and they walked around unhurt in the flames.

They praised God for his wonderful protection and called on all creatures to adore the one true God.

When the king saw this miracle take place he cancelled the law for Jews to be killed.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.  Let everyone praise the Lord for his love is everlasting

My recording of this reading

Psalm 81

Ring out your joy to God our strength, shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

Listen to the voice of the Lord:

"I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt.

Let there be no foreign god among you, no worship of a false god.

O that my people would heed me, that Israel would walk in my ways.

At once I would subdue their foes. But Israel I would feed with finest wheat and honey".

Lord, please help us to walk in your ways

Recording

Revelation 5.1-10

I saw a sealed scroll that no one could open. Then I saw a Lamb, which seemed to have been sacrificed

The Lamb took the scroll, and the 24 elders sang a new song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals because you were sacrificed, and by your blood you ransomed us for God
out of every race, language, people and nation"

Jesus,  Lamb of God in heaven. We praise you Lord

Recording

“The Holy Spirit can be said to possess an infinite creativity, proper to the divine mind, which knows how to loosen the knots of human affairs, even the most complex and inscrutable” - 178, below

Mark 1.40-45

A leper came to Jesus and on his knees pleaded "If you want to, you can heal me".

Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said "Of course I want to heal you. Be healed!"

The leprosy left him at that moment and he was healed.

Jesus told the man not to tell people what had happened (in case people misunderstood Jesus' spiritual mission and tried to use him politically).  But the man told everyone.

Soon Jesus could not go openly into any town (for fear the crowds would become unruly) so he stayed in remote places.

Even so, people from all around the district would come to him.

Jesus, please heal people who are lepers

Recording

There are two law-breakers in today's Gospel. Leper's were not supposed to go near people, they were supposed to stay in remote places. The leper broke the law by approaching Jesus. 
And people were not supposed to touch lepers (with good reason ...contagion). But Jesus touched the leper. 
From which we learn: sometimes it's ok to break the law!

Rebel HK politicians defy China at chaotic swearing-in ceremony

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family      Full English text

187: Recording

The nuclear family needs to interact with the wider family made up of parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and even neighbours. 

This greater family may have members who require assistance, or at least companionship and affection, or consolation amid suffering.

The individualism so prevalent today can lead to creating small nests of security, where others are perceived as bothersome or a threat. 

Such isolation, however, cannot offer greater peace or happiness; rather, it straitens the heart of a family and makes its life all the more narrow.

177: Recording 

Given the real potential for a misuse of human abilities, individual states can no longer ignore their responsibility for planning, coordination, oversight and enforcement within their respective borders. 

How can a society plan and protect its future amid constantly developing technological innovations? One authoritative source of oversight and coordination is the law, which lays down rules for admissible conduct in the light of the common good. 

The limits which a healthy, mature and sovereign society must impose are those related to foresight and security, regulatory norms, timely enforcement, the elimination of corruption, effective responses to undesired side-effects of production processes, and appropriate intervention where potential or uncertain risks are involved. 

There is a growing jurisprudence dealing with the reduction of pollution by business activities. But political and institutional frameworks do not exist simply to avoid bad practice, but also to promote best practice, to stimulate creativity in seeking new solutions and to encourage individual or group initiatives

178c: Recording

To believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in everyone means realizing that he seeks to penetrate every human situation and all social bonds: “The Holy Spirit can be said to possess an infinite creativity, proper to the divine mind, which knows how to loosen the knots of human affairs, even the most complex and inscrutable”.  Evangelization is meant to cooperate with this liberating work of the Spirit. 

The very mystery of the Trinity reminds us that we have been created in the image of that divine communion, and so we cannot achieve fulfilment or salvation purely by our own efforts.

Yesterday I stayed home the whole day, except for one hour late in the afternoon for a bit of shopping and exercise..... trying to catch up on mail and email and desk jobs concerned with prison inmates and the anti-drug campaign. A day at the desk is like a day in solitary confinement in a prison .. where inmates are allowed out for one hour to walk around in an exercise area!

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 13th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangxi

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 13th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mali

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

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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

Letter from an Iranian asylum seeker in detention in HK
- Here

Like all letters from people in detention which are published by this site, this one has the express permission - even request - of its author

From a recent article in a HK Catholic paper I learnt that the "Father of Genetics" was an Austrian Catholic priest Gregor Mendel

c.f. Children resemble their parents

HK's wealth gap widened dramatically - Oxfam

The collective wealth of the city's 18 richest people amounted to HK$1.39 trillion – more than the government's reserves of HK$1.38 trillion

Chris McDonnell   (UK blogger)

Dates we remember…

It is in the life of Jesus that we find a truth to live by in the turmoil of a modern world

Daniel 1

There were many Israelite exiles in Babylon. The king of Babylon wanted some of them to work in his palace.

The king told his officials to select 4 young men and train them in local customs and culture.

The 4 selected were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.

God blessed these 4 with great wisdom. God also blessed Daniel with the gift of understanding dreams.

When the 4 began work for the king, they were much wiser than all the local officials.

Lord, please give us the gift of wisdom, as you gave it to Daniel and his friends

Psalms 79-80

O God, the nations have invaded your sacred land, they have profaned your holy temple. They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.

We have become the taunt of our neighbours, the mockery and scorn of those who surround us.

How long, O Lord, will all this last? How long will this sorrow keep going?

Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against us. If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now, please give peace and healing to everyone and everything in our  history.

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you. Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die.

O Lord, our God, help us and save us. Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

Lord, please heal any problems in my family tree

Recording   

Revelation 4.1-11

In my vision I saw a door open in heaven. The same voice as before said to me "Come up here. I will show you what is to come in the future"

I saw God in all his glory, being worshipped by the angels who sang:

"Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty"

And I saw 24 elders around the throne. They were praising God saying

"You are our Lord and our God.
You are worthy of glory and honor and power because you are the Creator of the universe"

"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, Almighty. Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee"

Recording 

Mark 1.35-39

The next morning, long before dawn, Jesus left the house and went off to a lonely place to pray.

When Simon and the other fishermen found him, they said
"Everyone is looking for you".

Jesus replied "We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came".

Jesus went all through Galilee,
preaching in the prayer halls and casting out devils.

Jesus, may every town on earth welcome you and hear your message

Recording 

For many Christians in today's world, the words of Psalms 79-80 (above) are sadly true: "We have become the taunt of our neighbours, the mockery and scorn of those who surround us." 

The same is true for so many prisoners - as they experience the criticism and ridicule of society and even some family members.

Although Jesus experienced praise and popularity (Mark) he knew that mockery and scorn also awaited him. 

To strengthen his followers as they experienced mockery and scorn, Jesus instructed John (Revelation) to encourage people to think about the Place where there won't be any mockery and scorn - ever, eternally

And ...sometimes....the Cross of mockery and scorn give way to Resurrection even in this life!
Twice sentenced to death, Albanian priest is now a cardinal

The Joy of Love - Pope Francis' letter - on love in the family     Full English text

186: Recording

The Eucharist demands that we be members of the one body of the Church. 

Those who approach the Body and Blood of Christ may not wound that same Body by creating scandalous distinctions and divisions among its members. 

This is what it means to “discern” the body of the Lord, to acknowledge it with faith and charity both in the sacramental signs and in the community; those who fail to do so eat and drink judgement against themselves (cf. v. 29). 

The celebration of the Eucharist thus becomes a constant summons for everyone “to examine himself or herself ” (v. 28), to open the doors of the family to greater fellowship with the underprivileged, and in this way to receive the sacrament of that eucharistic love which makes us one body. 

We must not forget that “the ‘mysticism’ of the sacrament has a social character”. When those who receive it turn a blind eye to the poor and suffering, or consent to various forms of division, contempt and inequality, the Eucharist is received unworthily. On the other hand, families who are properly disposed and receive the Eucharist regularly, reinforce their desire for fraternity, their social consciousness and their commitment to those in need.

Games as in these photos

When I was teaching English some years ago, I put together a number of games:  word games, bingo games etc - which I no longer need. If any Hong Kong school or group would like these items, please let me know: jdwomi@gmail.com

176: Recording 

There are not just winners and losers among countries, but also within poorer countries themselves. 

Hence different responsibilities need to be identified. 

Questions related to the environment and economic development can no longer be approached only from the standpoint of differences between countries; they also call for greater attention to policies on the national and local levels.

178b: Recording

Our redemption has a social dimension because “God, in Christ, redeems not only the individual person, but also the social relations existing between people”. 

10 years ago today

What put a smile on my face yesterday? The news that another asylum seeker at Castle Peak Immigration Centre (which I visited yesterday) was recently released back into the community to be with his wife and children - one of a group of family men whose release I've been lobbying for. Deo Gratias!

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 12th of the month,  Jesus please bless the prisoners of Jiangsu

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 12th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Guinea-Bissau

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

Letters from (mainly African) inmates in Hong Kong prisons - and other drug trafficking items:   2016

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