V2Catholic.com  A voice for the poor  Edited by HK prison chaplain 
Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I .
胡頌恆神父    jdwomi@gmail.com   

Links, Search & Archives     Imitating Pope Francis

         

This website's anti-drug campaign  saves people from going to prison in HK     See & share inmates' letters! 
HK   Indon   Kenya   Nigeria    Phil   S.A.   S.Amer   Thail   Tanz   Ug   EU
How campaign began
  HK:how long prison for  trafficking?   www.AsylumSeekerHK.com 

Tues Dec 19

6 days to Christmas.  Come Jesus, Flower of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: save us without delay

 

Both of these are good!
THE DIGITAL STORY OF THE NATIVITY
and A Facebook Christmas Story

 

Yesterday I spent more than 8 hours at Tai Lam women's prison....seeing inmates whose families I'm due to meet soon in South America ...and meeting inmates preparing for court trials. The number of inmates' families I'm due to meet is now 48, but that figure will probably be much higher after I visit Lo Wu women's prison tomorrow. The meetings will be in the form of lunch gatherings in Mexico City, Bogota, Caracas, Paramaribo, Lima, Santa Cruz, Asuncion, Ciudad del Este, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. (Q: how many countries are these 10 cities in? A: 9 ...Cidudad and Asuncion are both in Paraguay). I always did like geography at school ....so....I'm happy now to be learning much about South America!

 

10 people executed for drug crimes in China 
- executed immediately after being sentenced! No such thing as an appeal against sentence. No wonder HK people are frightened that HK will become just another Mainland city.

 

My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Winter Festival and Christmas. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here     
Readings are from Simple Bible

c.f. readings for Dec 19

Judges 12-13: Jephthah was judge in Israel for 6 years. For the following 25 years, Ibzan (7 years), Elon (10 years)  and Abdon  (8 years) were judges. After these judges, the Israelites again were unfaithful to the Lord and so they were oppressed by the Philistines for 40 years. It was then that the angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said to her: "You are barren and have had no child. But you will soon conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, for he shall be dedicated to the Lord from his mother's womb. It is he who will rescue Israel from the Philistines". The woman gave birth to a son and called him Samson. The child grew and the Lord blessed him.
Dear Lord, please bless all barren women

Recording of this reading

 

 

Psalm 71: In you, O Lord, I take refuge. Please hear me and help me. Be a rock where I can take refuge. Rescue me from people who want to hurt me. It is you, O Lord, who are my hope. In you I have trusted since I was young. From my mother's womb you have been my help. My hope has always been in you. Now that I am old, please do not forget me. Now that my strength fails, do not abandon me. Now that I am old and grey-headed, may I continue to trust in you and proclaim your help. To you I will sing with the harp. All day long my tongue will tell of your goodness to me. 
Lord, may all elderly people put their trust and hope in you

Recording
 


Alleluia, alleluia!
Root of Jesse, set up as a sign to the peoples, come to save us, and delay no more. Alleluia! 
Recording

 

Luke 1. 5-25: When Herod was king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth who were really good people, but they were childless. Once when they went to the Temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah entered the inner sanctuary to burn incense, while all the people prayed outside. An angel appeared and said "Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Your wife will have a son and you must name him John. He will prepare the way of the Lord". Not long after this, Elizabeth conceived, and for 5 months she kept to herself, thanking God for taking away her humiliation at not being able to have a baby.
Jesus, please help childless couples to have a baby

Recording

Reflection on the above readings:

The conceptions of Sampson and John the Baptist remind us that He who designed the womb can program pregnancies for special occasions ....preparing us for the conception of Jesus

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 This time last year when I went to St Paul's YMT for Sunday Mass, I noticed something about the Christmas stable: the cow statue was in the empty crib. An ox in the box! I evicted it and asked the donkey on the other side of the crib to keep an eye on things. 

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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 prisoners in one part of China each day of the month:
On this 19th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanxi

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, today, Tuesday, please pacify Boko Haram

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Mon Dec 18

7 days to Christmas.   O Come, Divine Messiah, our troubled world urgently needs your peace

(4 mins) Where's the line to see Jesus?

  Ivory will no longer be sold in China but battle to save elephants not over yet

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here     
Readings are from Simple Bible

c.f. Readings for Dec 18

 

Jeremiah 23: See, the days are coming, it is the Lord who speaks, when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practising honesty and integrity in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel dwell in confidence. And this is the name he will be called: The-Lord-our-integrity.
Jesus, Branch of David, may the coming Christmas celebration of your birth give more integrity to our world

Recording of this reading

 

 

Psalm 72: O God, give your judgement to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice, and your poor in right judgement. For he shall save the poor when they cry, and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak, and save the lives of the poor. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, who alone works wonders. Ever blessed his glorious name. Let his glory fill the earth. Amen! Amen! Jesus, save the lives of the poor!
Recording

 

 

Matthew 1.18-24 (a): This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins."
Recording


 

Matthew 1.18-24 (b): Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means "God-is-with-us." When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.
Jesus, Saviour, Emmanuel, we praise you Lord

Recording 

 

Reflection on the above readings:

The Gospel says how Jesus will be Emmanuel, "God with us". 
From "God be with you" came "Godbwye" which became "Godbye" which became "Goodbye".
Each time we say "bye bye" or  "bye" or "goodbye" to someone, let's remember the meaning "God be with you".

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10 years ago today:

Sihui - another happy visit to Chong Zheng Primary School - for Christmas English with P4, P6, P5 classes

Sihui - baby Ho now much better - Biliary Artresia in retreat

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 At last night's weekly gathering for the poor, a group of about 20 secondary students from Newman College served the poor and put on a music performance for them. The group were all volunteers ...with two teachers. In freezing cold weather (for HK). One elderly guest summed it up: "Thank you for warming our hearts"!

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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 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, today,
Monday, please pacify I.S.

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Dec 17: 3rd Sunday of Advent

7 days to Christmas:
Come Jesus, Wisdom of our God Most High, guiding creation with power and love: teach us to walk in the paths of knowledge

 

Has had 6,177,634 views:
Mary, Did You Know?

 

  Recommended by a reader in Australia:
(3 mins)
We don't charge for humanity

 

(42 mins) St Paul's Letter to the Philippians (David Pawson)
- with fascinating historical info re the city of Philippi

Jesus please bless Pope Francis on his 81st birthday today!

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here     
Readings are from Simple Bible

c.f. readings for Advent 3

Isaiah 61: The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, to comfort people who mourn,
to replace their sadness with praise. I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God, for as the earth makes plants to grow, and as a garden makes seeds spring up, so the Lord will make integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the nations.

Lord, please give comfort and courage to people who are sad

My recording of this reading

 

Luke 1.46-56: Mary said "My soul praises the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Starting from today, all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me". Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months and then went home. Elizabeth gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives shared her joy. When the child was circumcised on the 8th day, he was given the name John. 
Jesus, please bless all women who are having a baby today

Listen

 

1 Thessalonians 5.19-28: Let the Holy Spirit have a free reign in your life. Hold on to what is good. Avoid every form of evil. May the God of peace make you holy. May you be kept safe in spirit, soul and body, for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you. He will not fail you. Pray for us. Greet all the believers with the holy kiss. Read this letter to all the believers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Holy Spirit of Jesus, Holy Spirit of the Father, I open my life to you.  My heart is yours

Listen


John 1: John the Baptist was sent by God as a witness to the people about the presence of the Word among them. When religious leaders asked John "Who are you?", he replied "I am, as the prophet Isaiah prophesied, a voice crying out: make a straight way for the Lord". When Jesus came to the river Jordan where John was baptizing, John said "Look, there is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He is far more important than I am, because he existed (as the Word) before I was born. I saw the Holy Spirit come down on him like a dove. He will baptize people with the Holy Spirit.  He is the Chosen One of God"
Jesus, lamb of God, Chosen One of God, please baptize me with the Holy Spirit

Listen

 

Reflection on the above readings: 

Daniel Daring: Advent 3


Video commentary on today's readings - in Italian with English, Chinese and Spanish subtitles

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10 years ago today:

Hope Medical team at Marco Polo; Marco Polo's flags; more toys from Oliver and company; Christmas shops

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Hour of Love HK radio program 8.30 pm HK time tonight - with items about HK prison inmates

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  A minister of a city church enjoyed a few drinks, but his passion was for peach brandy. One of his congregants would make him a bottle each Christmas. One year, when the minister went to visit his friend, hoping for his usual Christmas present, he was not disappointed, but his friend told him that he had to thank him for the peach brandy from the pulpit the next Sunday. In his haste to get the bottle, the minister hurriedly agreed and left. So the next Sunday the minister suddenly remembered that he had to make a public announcement that he was being supplied alcohol from a member of the church. That morning, his friend sat in the church with a grin on his face, waiting to see the minister's embarrassment. The minister climbed into the pulpit and said, "Before we begin, I have an announcement. I would very much like to thank my friend, Joe, for his kind gift of peaches...and for the spirit in which they were given!"

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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 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, today, Sunday, please bless all Muslims in my country

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Sat Dec 16

If you're wondering why I'm behind in answering email etc, days like yesterday might help to explain. After Mass and breakfast, I packed for two prisons and left home at 8.30am for the long trip to Shek Pik men's prison on Lantau Island where I spent a couple of hours before making the long trip to Lai Chi Kok men's prison where I stayed till nearly 6pm....then going to meet the line of 100 poor people lining up for bi-monthly rice boxes near Yau Ma Tei clinic....getting home around 7.30pm....where a bundle of prisoners' letters awaited me. No trouble sleeping last night! (and see below)

 

Christmas remembers the birthday of the world's most famous ....prisoner

 

The child abuse commission didn't flinch. Can Australia show the same courage?

 

For HK readers: tomorrow 3pm St Paul's YMT - monthly prayer meeting for healing (early by one week this month because of Christmas). All welcome

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here     
Readings are from Simple Bible

Ecclesiastes 8-9: I see injustice in the world: good people are treated badly; bad people are treated well. I do know, however,
that good people are in the special care of God. We must try to be happy as much as we can. We must try to make the most of our lives. Spend your life with the woman you love. Whatever work you have to do, do it well.

Lord, please help me to be optimistic and cheerful

My recording of this reading

 

Ecclesiastes 10-11: Foolish people are lazy,  and careless in speech. Wise people are diligent, and careful in speech. Young people, rejoice in your youth. Young people, remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Let everyone remember: our life is short. Don't waste your life. Live life well. Our days pass quickly and old age is soon at the doorstep. Old age: when to go uphill is difficult and even walking is not easy. In all we do, let us love and honor the Lord our God. At the end of our lives on earth, it is to God we will have to give an account of the way we have lived. 
Lord, make us know the shortness of our life so that we may have more wisdom in living our lives

Listen

 

Revelation 12.7-14: Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought the dragon and his angels. Michael won. Satan and his followers were driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the serpent, known as the Devil or Satan, was hurled down to earth. His angels were hurled down with him. The dragon began to make war on the children of the woman - those who obey God and bear witness to Jesus.
Jesus, may your holy angels protect us from Satan

Listen



Mark 13.1-37: Jesus spoke to his disciples about the future: "On account of my name you will be hated, tortured and killed. But the Good News of the kingdom will spread to every nation before the end of the world. At the end of the world, the sun and moon will stop shining. Stars will fall from the sky. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky and all peoples will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and glory. He will send his angels with a loud trumpet to gather good people from all parts of the earth. Therefore you  should live a good life and you will have nothing to fear on your last day"
Jesus, please help me live and grow and die in your love ...and not be afraid of death

Listen

Reflection on the above readings:

Jesus' first coming at Bethlehem was noticed by only a small group of people. His Second Coming will be rather different....

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10 years ago today:

Christmas Card game at Yunfu

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 Inmates at both prisons I visited yesterday enjoyed seeing printed copy of this image:

Santa-in-prison.jpg (61171 bytes)

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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 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, today, Saturday, please pacify the Taliban

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Fri Dec 15

 

 As Christmas comes near we start to hear a voice in our hearts telling us to slow down .... and be with Mary as she awaits the birth of her Baby

 

A very kind friend in HK has lovingly made a Spanish audio version of the Cable TV report about my August trip to Guangzhou - here ...and also a Spanish version of a SCMP video about my anti-drug campaign - here

 

And another kind HK friend has found this amazing NGO in Brazil.
It has interactive videos - this one shows prisoners in an over-populated jail. You can interact with the video through 360 degrees ...click arrows at top left of video to move around the crowded cell. (Many prison cells around the world are like this ...sardine cans....HK prison cells very, very different)

 

George Monbiot:
We can't keep eating like this
This is the question everyone should be attending to - where is the food going to come from?

 

A few days ago a beloved retired assistant bishop of Brisbane - John Gerry - went home to Heaven. I knew him well. Two memories come to mind: once at the ordination of an O.M.I. priest, Bishop Gerry talking about the hands of a priest being "Eucharistic hands" ...saying they should also be "serving hands". Memory two: I heard him say that when he was on a national committee helping the poor, he once attended a meeting with then prime minister Malcolm Fraser...who sat at one end of a long table, with the committee members at the other ...a big space in between...so that the committee members were feeling most unwelcome. 

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here    
  Readings are from Simple Bible

Ecclesiastes 6-7: Even if a person studies wisdom, what use is it? Wise person and fool both must die. Yet wisdom gives protection and strength. And wisdom reminds us that all of us make mistakes. Therefore we should be slow to condemn others. 
Lord, may the memory of my own mistakes make me slow to judge other people

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

Listen

 

Revelation 12.1-6: A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, dressed in the sun, standing on the moon, crowned with 12 stars. She was giving birth to a child, and she cried out in the pain of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared: a huge red dragon, which wanted to eat the child. The woman gave birth to a son, the ruler of all nations. The son was taken straight up to heaven, to God on his throne. The woman escaped to safety in the desert, to a place prepared for her by God.
Jesus, protect us from Satan who goes round like a hungry lion wanting to eat us

Listen


 

Mark 12.41-44: Jesus sat down in the Temple area and noticed people putting money into a donation box to help the poor. Many rich people put in a lot of money. A poor widow put in two small coins. Jesus said to his disciples  "That poor widow has donated more than all the other people, for they put in money they had left over, but she put in the only money she had"
Jesus, please make me more generous in helping poor people

Listen

Reflection on the above Bible readings:

Today's reading from Ecclesiastes reminds us that only God sees what's under the surface in our lives ....as Jesus did in the Gospel

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10 years ago today:
Saturday night English Corner - thank you James, John, Dr Ellen, Dr Dean, Angela, Jack, Jody

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 Catechist to group of small children in front of Christmas crib a week before Christmas: 
Is Jesus in the crib?
Children: not yet.
Catechist: yes he is. He's already there.
Children: but we can't see him.
Catechist: you can't see him him yet, but he's already there.
One child: I get it ...inside his mother Mary!

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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 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, today, Friday, please bless all Muslims

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Thu Dec 14

Yesterday I was Stanley men's prison from 9.45am to 6.45pm ...9 hours ...not bad for an old fella...partly seeing inmates whose families I'm due to meet in South America soon and partly seeing others whose court cases are coming up soon. A tiring but happy day....finishing in the hospital section where two elderly South Americans who don't speak much English (one of them none at all) put my mini-Spanish to the test. But it's amazing what you can say with just a few words. e.g. for "when are you due to be released from prison?" (which according to Google translate is "cuando deberias ser liberado de la prision") I just said "cuando bye bye Hong Kong?" (as I used my arms in a flying motion)!  (and see below..)

 

'Drug smugglers now thinking outside the box'

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here    
  Readings are from Simple Bible

Ecclesiastes 4-5: So many things we do are motivated by jealousy. Two people working together can succeed. One person alone is easily defeated. It is better to be content with what you have, than to be greedy for wealth.
Lord, please help me not to be greedy

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

Listen

 

Revelation 8.1-11.18: I saw how punishment is coming for all evil doers on the earth I heard voices shouting: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. He will reign for ever and ever". The 24 elders worshipped God saying: "We give thanks to you, Almighty Lord God. The time has come for everyone to be judged. The time has come for good people to be rewarded and bad people to be punished"
Jesus, please help bad people stop being bad

Listen


Mark 12.38-40: Jesus told the people to beware of religious leaders who like to walk about in long robes, who like to be greeted obsequiously in the market places, who like to take the places of honor at prayer halls and banquets, who steal the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers
Jesus, help religious leaders to be good people

Listen

 

Reflection on the above Bible readings:

Followers of Jesus born in a stable should practise "stable spirituality" ...which is the opposite of the the spirituality practised by the leaders in today's Gospel 

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10 years ago today:

Zhaoqing Medical School and Jin Rong College volunteers at Ricci & Mazenod; Lily's brother; Genevieve; new slums at Assisi

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 Yesterday as I entered the isolation cell of an inmate at Stanley men's prison ....to check contact info for a meeting with his family in South America next month....I jokingly asked "do I need to take my shoes off". We both had a good laugh. Isolation cells are for naughty boys (chicos traviesos!). I also showed the same man a photo of my home (in the little booklet "Dr Jesus")...saying how my home was only twice the size of his cell! 

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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, Thursday, please bless the people of South East Asia

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, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda

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Wed Dec 13

What a relief it is to hear Christmas music in shopping centres, at metro stations, and in the media....it's like the sound of rain falling after a drought. Our sick world has so many problems.... Christmas offers hope. The darker the darkness, the brighter the candle shines

 

China's big brother - the AI revolution is upon us
(Maybe this will make tougher for the Drug Lords?!)

China building network of refugee camps along border with North Korea

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  Chris McDonnell 
An experience of hope
- with an Advent poem: The Coming
Advent is indeed a place called Hope

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The Book Blog:   4 readings + recordings 
Comments welcome here     
Readings are from Simple Bible

Ecclesiastes 3: There's a time and a season for everything: A time for giving birth, a time for dying. A time for tears and mourning, a time for laughter and dancing. A time for embracing, a time to refrain from embracing. A time for keeping silent, a time for speaking. 
Dear Lord, please help me to do the right thing at the right time

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

Listen

 

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

Listen


Mark 12.28-30: In Jerusalem a religious leader asked Jesus "Which is the most important commandment?" Jesus replied "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. And you must care as much about others as you care about yourself. These are the two most important commandments. All other commandments  depend on  these two."
Jesus, please help me love you with all my heart and care for others as much as I care about myself

  Listen

 

 Reflection on the above readings: 

May Christmas remind our troubled world that the meaning of life is to be found in love of our Creator and in care for fellow creatures

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 Last Sunday I sent emails to my OMI confreres in the Latin American countries I'm soon to visit. After they received my emails, some of them contacted our OMI headquarters in Rome to see if the messages really were from an OMI.....such is our world today with so many scams!

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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 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, today,
Wednesday, please pacify
Al-Shabaab 

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Please also join me in praying for the very many deformed and handicapped people from China who are on the streets of HK as beggars...as well as deformed people in China itself ...like Hung Chun Cai


    My Africa trips: 
2015: Tanzania, Malawi

2016: Kenya, Uganda

2017: Southern Africa, Dubai ( The Last Run)

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Australian Chinese for Families Association

Gay marriage: an elephant in the room (by John W)

Video: What "gay marriage" did to Massachusetts 
同志婚姻自2004年立法後,美國麻省的改變 ( 廣東話附字幕版)

  Frightening YouTube reports: LGBT radical impact on educational institutions (No. 5); LGBT infiltrating churches (No. 6); US corporations massively supporting LGBT agenda (No. 7). What has happened in the US is now starting to happen in other places. Some day our children will ask "why didn't you do more to stop this evil?"

 

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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 prison inmates: 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


On revolving map:

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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. Note: counter on this page + Map & Flag Counter record visits only to this main/index page. Visits to other pages and to Facebook page are not recorded. This site's 2017 statistics. Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and bloggers!                          counter for tumblr    

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 Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡 頌 恆 神 父   
 jdwomi@gmail.com  HK mobile  +852- 67095674
 China mobile +86-13828421861 -  (only when in China)
PO Box 74013 Kowloon Central Post Office, Hong Kong                      

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