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   Malaysia Nigeria    Ph  SA S.Amer  Thai  Tz  Ug EU

How campaign began
  HK:how long prison for  trafficking?   www.AsylumSeekerHK.com 

Tues April 17 

I came away sad after a 6 hour visit to Lai Chi Kok men's prison yesterday....mainly because so many new inmates - around a dozen - told me their stories about being set-up by the police or Customs. This issue is not a new concern for me - see this article from one year ago. And hence my comments in the SCMP of March 18. What can be done? My hope is that there will soon be some sort of inquiry ....to bring about much-needed change. 

 

New Amnesty report says that abortion laws in South America are violence against women. I would have thought that abortion is violence against the baby who is murdered. I used to make regular donations to Amnesty but have stopped for the time being  

 

My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: The story of Ali. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording

Pope's new letter - "Rejoice and Be Glad":
3.
The Letter to the Hebrews presents a number of testimonies that encourage us to "run with perseverance the race that is set before us" (12:1). It speaks of Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Gideon and others (cf. 11:1-12:3). Above all, it invites us to realize that "a great cloud of witnesses" (12:1) impels us to advance constantly towards the goal. These witnesses may include our own mothers, grandmothers or other loved ones (cf. 2 Tim 1:5). Their lives may not always have been perfect, yet even amid their faults and failings they kept moving forward and proved pleasing to the Lord.

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

Isaiah 56: Foreigners who love and serve the Lord - these I will bring to my holy mountain, says the Lord. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.
Lord, please help all peoples of the world know that you are their loving Creator

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 144: Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who gives me strength for every situation. He is my love, my fortress. He is my stronghold, my savior. To you, O God, will I sing a new song, you who so often rescued David your servant. Happy the people whose God is the Lord. Please continue to bless your people, Lord. Let our sons flourish like saplings grown tall and strong from their youth; our daughters graceful as columns, adorned as though for a palace. Let our crops and stock be blessed. May there be no sound of weeping on our streets. 
Lord, please help us love and honor you every day. Don't let us ever forget your love

Listen

 

Acts 16.25-37: Late that night in prison, Paul and Silas were praying and singing God's praises, while the other prisoners listened to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison. All the doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners. The main jailer drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted to him "Don't hurt yourself. We are all still here". Trembling, the jailer threw himself at the feet of Paul and Silas. Then he escorted them out of the prison asking "What must I do to be saved?" They said "Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and both you and your household will be saved" They explained the word of God to him and his family. He washed their wounds and then they "washed his wounds" by baptizing him and all his household. They had a meal together in the jailer's home, to celebrate the family's conversion to belief in God.
Jesus, let more people know the joy of conversion

Listen


Luke 10.1-9: Jesus appointed 72 disciples to go ahead of him in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them "The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to his harvest. When you go into a town, cure those in it who are sick, and say:  'The kingdom of God is very near to you'"
Jesus, please inspire more people to make the spreading of the Good News their life's work

Listen

Reflection on the above readings: Who were the 72 disciples?

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 Yesterday at Lai Chi Kok men's prison I had my first game this year ....of Table Tennis....just a hit for 5 minutes to see if the old coordination was still active. All good!

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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 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, Tuesday, please pacify Boko Haram

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Mon April 16

Yum Cha yesterday after 8.30am Mass at St Paul's Mass Centre YMT - with Mika and Justina (Melbourne), Mrs and Mr Chan, Rose, jw, Kirby (Melbourne)

 

This is "cool"! A 3 min video PR for Pope's new letter!
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
2.
What follows is not meant to be a treatise on holiness, containing definitions and distinctions helpful for understanding this important subject, or a discussion of the various means of sanctification. My modest goal is to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities. For the Lord has chosen each one of us "to be holy and blameless before him in love" (Eph 1:4).

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

Isaiah 54-55: Though the mountains may fall and the hills turn to dust, the love of the Lord will never cease. O come to the water, all you are thirsty, though you have no money, come. Why spend your money on what is useless, your wages on what fails to satisfy? Seek the Lord while he is to be found. Call to him while he is near.
Lord,  please help us give more time to things that are important ....and less time to things that are not so important.

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 140-143: Lord, save me from people who do evil, you who do justice for the needy. I have no way out of this situation.
And no one wants to help me.
Lord, I beg you tonight to make haste and give me an answer, for my spirit fails within me. In the morning let me know your love for I put my trust in you. 
Lord, please help people who are in big trouble

Listen

 

Acts 16.16-24: One day we met a slave girl  who made a lot of money for her owners by telling fortunes. The girl followed us each day shouting "These are the servants of God". Paul said to the spirit possessing her "I order you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to leave her". The spirit immediately left her, but her owners were angry that she could no longer tell fortunes. The owners seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to court, saying to the magistrate "These people are causing a disturbance in our city". A crowd supported the owners in calling for their punishment. They were given many lashes and put into prison with their feet in irons.
Jesus, please help Christians who are suffering in prison because they announced your message

Listen


Luke 9.51-58: When the time came for Jesus to finish his life on earth, he resolutely took the road to Jerusalem. As Jesus and his disciples traveled along, they met a man who said to him "I will follow you wherever you go". Jesus replied "Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but I have nowhere to lay my head"
Jesus, give me  courage to do what I should do

Listen

Reflection on the above readings:

Though the mountains may fall

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10 years ago: Wed afternoon at Marco Polo + Angel & Zhaoqing government team + HK Ling & Peter + Iris & group from Sihui + Macau Stella & Vinsa + Zhaoqing University students ....& Martha

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  Visitor from Melbourne - Kirby - attended 8.30 Mass at Yau Ma Tei yesterday morning ....and was blown away to meet his former primary school teacher Ms Leung (who is a Reader at the Mass). They had not seen each other for around 20 years!

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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 16th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hainan

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,
Monday, please pacify I.S.

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Sun April 15

Yesterday morning at Wah Yan College, Kowloon, Fr Slawek O.M.I. and I were privileged to represent the Oblates at the funeral of Fr Joseph Mallin SJ (whose nephew Fr Ray Warren O.M.I. is Oblate provincial in Ireland). Mass was attended by relatives from Ireland and Australia, by the Irish Consul General of HK and by hundreds of Fr Mallin's former students (including former HK Chief Executive Donald Tsang and Democratic Party founder Martin Lee) and many parishioners of St Paul's Mass Centre, Yau Ma Tei where Fr Mallin said weekend Mass for 40 (!) years. Fr Mallin died on Easter Sunday (!) at the age of 104! Lovely memento from yesterday - here

 

The Filipina for whom I've bought two lots of anti-cancer tablets in recent months was released from detention yesterday and is due to return to the Philippines today or tomorrow....with the good news that her cancer has shrunk from 10cm to 2cm! Thank you Jesus!

 

Pope's new letter - "Rejoice and Be Glad":
1. "REJOICE AND BE GLAD" (Mt 5:12), Jesus tells those persecuted or humiliated for his sake. The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence. The call to holiness is present in various ways from the very first pages of the Bible. We see it expressed in the Lord's words to Abraham: "Walk before me, and be blameless" (Gen 17:1).

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

c.f. readings for Easter 3

Acts 3.9-16: When people saw the former crippled man walking, they couldn't believe their eyes. So Peter said to them "Why are you so surprised? Do you think John and I made this cripple walk? It is by our faith in Jesus that this man has been restored to health. Jesus is the Holy One, the Just One, the Prince of Life whom you handed over to Pilate for crucifixion. But God raised him from the dead. 
Jesus, Prince of Life, please increase my faith in you. Please give me a faith that can bring your  healing to handicapped people

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 4: At the end of this day I praise you, Lord, for all your love and help. O people of the world, how long will you close your hearts to God? How long you will keep on chasing false goals? Lord, you have put into my heart a joy that cannot be obtained by big meals and plenty of wine. I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for you, Lord, make me dwell in safety and peace. 
Thank you, Lord, for your love and help right through today

Listen

 

1 John 2.3-6: We can be sure we know God only by keeping his commandments. Anyone who says "I know him" and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, refusing to admit the truth. We can be sure we are in God only if we are living the same kind of life as Christ lived. 
Jesus, please help me live like you, live for you

Listen


 

Luke 24.36-49: The disciples were still talking about what had happened when suddenly Jesus himself stood among them. At first they were terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said "Look at my hands and feet. Yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves. A ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have". Their fear turned to joy but they still couldn't believe what they were seeing. So he asked them for something to eat, and they gave him some grilled fish which he ate in front of them. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and he said "So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. And that in his name repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations. Soon I will send down to you what the Father promised (the Holy Spirit). Stay in Jerusalem until you are clothed with this power from on high". 
Jesus,  increase my faith in your resurrection, and open my mind to understand the Bible better

Listen: 01 02

 

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

 

Daniel Daring: Preaching Repentance in His Name

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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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  Brain goes missing at hospital

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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 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, Sunday, please bless all Muslims in my country

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Sat April 14

As a result of the recent SCMP article about my anti-drug campaign, a most important meeting was held yesterday morning ... which please God will do a lot of good in HK. God bless the kind people at yesterday's meeting!

 

Letter in Chinese from a second young Chinese Malaysian man in prison in HK for drug trafficking - here

 

Letter in Spanish from a Peruvian man in prison in HK for drug trafficking - here (March 20)

 

Here in full at V2 - with kind permission - the full English text of Jesus: An Historical Approximation by Jose Antonio Pagola

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

Isaiah 52-53: See, my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up and exalted. As the crowds were appalled on seeing him - so disfigured did he look - so will the crowds be astonished at him, for they will see something that has never happened before. Without beauty, without majesty, we saw him. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering. He was despised and we took no account of him. And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried. He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, and the Lord burdened him with our sins. Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly, never opening his mouth. He let himself be taken for a sinner, and all the time he was suffering and praying for sinners.
Jesus, these words refer to you. Thank you for all you suffered to redeem the world.

My recording of this reading

 

Psalm 139: O Lord, you search me and you know me. You know my resting and my rising. You know exactly what's going on in my life, all my ways are an open book to you. Before ever a word is on my tongue, you know, O Lord, what I'm going to say. Your knowledge is beyond my understanding, too high, beyond my reach. It was you who created my being, knit me together in my mother's womb. I thank you for the wonder of my life, for the wonders of all your creation. 
Lord, thank you for the gift of life. Please help me follow the path to eternal life

Listen

 

Acts 16.11-15: We went to a number of towns in Macedonia. In Philippi, the Jews had no prayer hall. They met on the river bank. We went there one Sabbath and preached to the women who were meeting there. One of these women was Lydia. The Lord opened her heart to what Paul was saying. She and her whole household were baptized. 
Jesus, open the hearts of more people to accept your word

Listen


Luke 9.28-36: One day Jesus took his disciples Peter, James and John up a high mountain to pray. On the mountain, while Jesus was praying, his whole appearance changed. His clothes became brilliant as lightning. The prophets Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus "Lord, how good it is for us to be here!" Then a bright cloud covered them with its shadow. From the cloud came a voice: "This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him". When the voice had finished speaking, the disciples saw only Jesus in his normal appearance. 
Jesus, Beloved Son of God, how good it is to spend time with you in prayer.
Listen

Reflection on the above readings: One of my favorite songs - Transfiguration by Carey Landry

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 A few days ago I put a post on a Nigerian blog - about the Nigerians in Sao Paulo. One comment:
 eh? These ones still dey? 

(= those guys still there?)

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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 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, Saturday, please pacify the Taliban

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Fri April 13

Notice a new flag above? Click Malaysia for letter in Chinese from a young Chinese Malaysian in prison in HK for drug trafficking. One of many in the past 6 months. Let's hope a bit of publicity can stop others from the same fate. See also the FB link at same site. Stop Press: 4 more arrested in past few days

 


Yesterday morning I went to the custodial ward of QE hospital and collected a prescription for a Filipina in Lo Wu prison with advanced cancer. Woman due to be released tomorrow. Philippine Consulate in HK has arranged for her to be flown back to Philippines immediately. I took prescription to "R" block, paid the bill and then went to Pharmacy in Main Block...where medicine was ready when I arrived (computer from "R" to "Pharmacy" is super-efficient!). Then I took medicine back to custodial ward whose CSD staff will arrange for medicine to be delivered to Lo Wu today. God bless the kind CSD staff at QE and at Lo Wu for the special care they have shown to the Filipina....and God bless the HK friends whose kind donations enabled my Hang Seng EPS card to pay the bill (HK$12,779)! I'm just a messenger boy...using other people's money to help those in need.

 

Pope admits 'grave error' in discrediting Chilean church sexual abuse victims

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

Isaiah 51-52: Pay attention to me, you peoples. Listen to me, you nations. The islands put their hope in the Lord. They put their trust in his strength. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace and salvation, and tells Zion "Your God is king!" Break into shouts of joy, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord is redeeming his people. All the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. 
Lord, may more and more people in more and more countries know you and love you.

My recording of this reading

 

 

Psalm 138: I thank you, Lord, with all my heart. You have heard the words of my mouth. With the angels I will bless you. I will adore you in your holy temple. I thank you for your faithfulness and love which are far above what we can understand. On the day I called you answered. You increased the strength of my soul. All earth's kings shall thank you when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the Lord's ways: "How great is the glory of the Lord!" Though I walk in the midst of affliction you give me life and frustrate my foes. Your love, O Lord, is eternal. Do not abandon us whom you have made.  
Lord, when we remember how much you love us and help us, every day of the year is a Thanksgiving Day

Listen

 

 

Acts 16.1-10: In the town of Lystra,  Paul recruited Timothy, whose mother was a Jewish Christian and whose father was Greek. As they visited one town after another, they announced the decisions taken in Jerusalem about what Jewish practices to follow. The local churches continued to grow strong in faith as well as grow in numbers. One night Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared and said "Come across to Macedonia and help us". We immediately crossed the sea to Macedonia (Luke was now with Paul)
Jesus, if someone asks me for help, may I say yes

Listen


Luke 9.22-25: Jesus now began explaining to his disciples how he would suffer, die and rise from the dead. He also said "If you want to be my disciple, you must deny yourself, take up your own cross, and follow me. Selfishness will ruin your life. Self-sacrificing will bless your life. What use is it to have everything in this world yet miss out on Heaven?"
Jesus, please help me find my life by losing it in service of others

Listen

 

Reflection on the above Bible readings: Jesus' words are so true: selfishness brings destruction; self-sacrificing brings blessings

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 Yesterday's medicine trip at QE hospital was my second for the same inmate. I made a similar trip two months ago. First time I wasn't sure where to go in "R" block, nor where to line up in Pharmacy. But yesterday I was able to act like "an old hand" and knew where I was going and what I had to do. Nothing like a teacher called "Experience"!

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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 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, Friday, please bless all Muslims

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Thu April 12

Yesterday at Tai Lam women's prison I was pleased to learn that there still has not been even one woman drug mule from the whole of Latin America arrested at HK airport this year....but....an old trick is becoming more common: import simple Latin American women (and some men) into HK as drug manufacturers....and after they have been here for a time, sacrifice (= set up) some of them occasionally to get police/Customs protection for the Big Fish.

 

Photos from the past week:

April 8: Yum Cha after 8.30am Mass at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei - with three teachers! Alice, Ignatius and Thomas

April 5, and April 8: two wonderful groups of young people, one from Bejing and one from Melbourne - mixing with each other and together serving the poor people of the usual Sunday night gathering for the poor at Yau Ma Tei Catholic Primary School

April 9: A happy afternoon and evening - group of students from Mazenod College in Melbourne with HK OMI's on visit to Mercy Centre for the poor on Cheung Chau Island

 

 

BBC report about Anna Chennault (Chen Xiangmei) a fascinating woman who did a great deal of symbolic bridge building: Anna Chennault: "Steel butterfly" who charmed US and China

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

Isaiah 50: The Lord has opened my ear to hear his message. The Lord has given me words to proclaim his message. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard. I did not protect my face from insult and spittle. I set my face like flint. The Lord will help me. 
Recording


Psalm 137: By the rivers of Babylon we sat and cried, remembering Zion. On the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps. For it was there that they asked us, our captors, for songs. "Sing to us", they said, "one of Zion's songs". O how could we sing the song of the Lord on alien soil? If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither. O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not, Jerusalem, above all my joys.
Lord, please help  people who have been exiled from their homeland

Recording

 

 

Acts 15.36-40: Some time after this, Paul said to Barnabas "Let's revisit the towns where we preached the word of the Lord". Barnabas suggested taking John Mark with them, but Paul opposed this, since John Mark had deserted them on the previous trip when the situation became dangerous. After a violent argument, Paul and Barnabas split up. Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus. Silas joined Paul for his next journey. 
Jesus, at your Last Supper  you prayed  for the unity of your followers.  Help us avoid arguments

Listen

 

 

Luke 9.18-21: One day Jesus asked his disciples "Who do people say I am?" The disciples replied "Some people say you are one of the famous prophets come back to life". Jesus then asked them "And what about you. Who do you say I am?" Peter answered
"You are the Anointed One of God" 

Jesus, please help more and more people know you and love you

Listen

 


Reflection on the above Bible readings: One of my favorite songs - based on today's Psalm 137: By the Rivers of Babylon

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 A new fear: with the noticeable decline in the number of drug mules from Africa and Latin America, there has been a most noticeable decline in court cases involving such mules....which means the legal profession is suffering from my anti-drug campaign!

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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 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, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda

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Wed April 11

The Pearl Report on TVB last Monday night featured issues concerning HK's Long Term Sentencing Review Board and my anti-drug campaign. Report is on line here

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  Chris McDonnell 
Walk with me

We have lost the significance of the action of breaking, the physical distribution of the one loaf, the sharing, one with another, of the Eucharistic Christ

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

Isaiah 46-49: The Lord called me before I was born. From my mother's womb he knew my name. While I was thinking that I had toiled in vain, all the while my cause was with the Lord. The Lord who formed me in the womb and assigned me to rescue his people, that same Lord  said to me: 'I will make you the light of the nations, so that my salvation will reach to the ends of the earth'. The Lord also says to his people: "Does a woman forget her baby, or a mother the child within her womb? Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you". 
Lord, please help me understand how you loved me even before I was born.

My recording of this reading

 

 

Psalm 136: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his great love is without end. It was his wisdom which made the skies,
for his great love is without end. It was he who made the sun, moon and stars, for his great love is without end. It was he who rescued and protected his people Israel, for his great love is without end. He gives food to all living things, for his great love is without end. To the God of heaven give thanks, for his great love is without end. 

We praise you, Lord, for your great love is without end

Listen

 

 

Acts 15.1-29: Some Jewish Christians came to Syrian Antioch from Judea and said that non-Jewish Christians should be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas argued against such an idea, and decided to go to Jerusalem to discuss this issue with the apostles there. During a long meeting, Peter reminded everyone how the Holy Spirit had been poured out on non-circumcised people. James  spoke of how all peoples are meant to be consecrated to the Lord. James then issued a teaching for non-Jewish believers: "All we ask you to do is to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood from the meat of strangled animals and  from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right"
Jesus, please don't let me make unreasonable demands on other people

Listen

 

Luke 9.10-17: Once after Jesus had been healing and teaching all afternoon,  his disciples said to him "It's getting late and the people need to go and eat". Jesus answered "They don't need to go. You feed them". The disciples replied "We have only 5 loaves and 2 fish". Jesus got the people to sit on the grass. There were about 20,000 of them. Then he blessed the loaves and fish. He handed the loaves and fish to his disciples. His disciples gave them to the crowd. Everyone had plenty to eat. They even had 12 baskets of leftovers. 
Jesus, please make leaders do more to help the starving people of the world

  Listen

 

Reflection on the above readings: When I saw the words of today's reading from Isaiah - Does a woman forget her baby, or a mother the child within her womb? - my mind started thinking about Ireland where a referendum is due to be held next month on the question of allowing the abortion of first trimester babies. Nations whose laws protect the life of unborn babies bring a blessing on themselves; nations whose laws allow the killing of unborn babies bring a curse on themselves

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10 years ago today: Happy Birthday Peter; Medical College volunteers; Marco Polo steam rollers & Simone; Stella, Thomas, Vinsa; Lina update; primary one girl hit by father

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  In preparation for coming High Court cases, yesterday afternoon I signed two affidavits - one in Tsim Sha Tsui and one in Wanchai. Maybe my name should change from John David to Affa David?

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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 11th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Hunan

And praying for one of the world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 11th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Eritrea

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)

 

2018: My trip to Latin America

March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work

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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:

Left click bottom right silver button

Left click country

Left click state/province

....till you find your city/town !

 

Left click this table of flags for details of hits on this main page 

free counters          
Table shows location of readers:
HK 25%;  Australia 21%;  UK 14%;  US  12%;  Canada 5% ; Tanzania 4%


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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