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
Singapore police video - true story: how Nigerian boyfriend tricked Singapore girl to be drug mule
Tues July 24
Yesterday ... heavy rain in HK .... usual story of flooded footpaths/walkways/playgrounds etc. I had to go out in such weather yesterday afternoon....feeling sorry for the poor people having their shoes/feet unnecessarily drenched. I keep on hoping HK's brilliant engineers will one day discover ... the law of gravity - as in my article here
This is the sort of thing that causes HK people to worry about
being just another city of China:
Censors act over China's latest vaccine scandal
Biker nun on
mission to free Tanzania from HIV
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
99. For Christians, this involves a constant
and healthy unease. Even if helping one person alone could justify all our
efforts, it would not be enough. The bishops of Canada made this clear when they
noted, for example, that the biblical understanding of the jubilee year was
about more than simply performing certain good works. It also meant seeking
social change: "For later generations to also be released, clearly the goal
has to be the restoration of just social and economic systems, so there can no
longer be exclusion".[83]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 37: Jacob loved Joseph more
than his other sons
because Joseph was the son of his old age.
Jacob had a special coat of many colors made for Joseph.
Joseph's older brothers were jealous of Joseph and hated him.
Joseph had a dream: he became a famous person.
This made his brothers hate him all the more.
One day, when the brothers were looking after their sheep
in a distant place,
Jacob sent Joseph to see how they were.
When the brothers saw Joseph coming
some of them wanted to kill him.
Eventually they sold Joseph to some slave traders
for 20 silver pieces.
The slave traders took Joseph to Egypt and re-sold him there.
The brothers told Jacob that a wild animal had killed Joseph.
Jacob was heart broken and mourned Joseph all the time.
Dear God, please
help me not to be jealous of other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
108: My heart is ready, O God. I will sing, sing
your praise.
Awake, lyre and harp. I will awake the dawn. I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
praise you among the nations, for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies. O Lord, come and deliver us today.
Help us with your right hand. Give us help in difficult situations.
With your help we shall be brave.
Lord, we need your help every
day
Listen
1
Corinthians
15.20-22:
Christ has been raised from the dead, the
first to rise of all who have died. Death came through one man, Adam, and rising
from the dead has come through one man, Jesus. Just as all people die because of Adam, so all
people can live because of Christ
Jesus, may all people have
eternal life
Listen
John
8.1-11:
While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, the
religious leaders brought to him a women who had been caught committing
adultery. The leaders said to Jesus "According to
the Law of Moses, this woman should be stoned to death. What do you
say?" They said this to test him, looking for something
to use against him. Jesus bent down and started writing on the
ground with his finger. Since they kept up their questioning, he looked up
and said to them "If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him
be the first to cast a stone". Then he kept writing on the ground. The leaders went away, beginning with the
eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman. Jesus said to her
"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? "No one, sir", she replied.
"Neither do I condemn you", said Jesus. "Go and don't sin
any more".
Jesus, what did you write on the ground? The
leaders' sins? "If you, O Lord, should write a record of our sins, who could
claim innocence?"
(Psalm 130)
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: Until
only one scribe remained
--------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Thank you HK, Lam Tin - Ivy, Jack & Rose - for visiting poor areas
and running holiday activities for children
------------------------------------------
Last night after dinner I went for a walk in the local area
... and paid a visit to some homeless friends who live here.
I asked them if they'd had an evening meal, and just as they said
"No", a young guy with a large bag of rice boxes arrived. I
asked the folk where the boxes came from: government? an NGO? a church? a
charitable organisation? No, no, no, no. Not from any of these but from a nearby
..... Mahjong Centre!
--------------------------------------
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 24th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Inner
Mongolia
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 24th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Zambia
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mon July 23
Photo of Yum Cha yesterday after 8.30am Yau Ma Tei Mass - here
Last night's regular Sunday gathering for the poor was blessed with around 60 volunteers who entertained and served the 270 happy guests. Among the 60 were two special visitors from Australia who most willingly followed the usual process: visitors quickly become volunteers and get caught up in the most meaningful activity of helping others.
Bangladeshi
drug addicts get new lease of life
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
In fidelity to the Master
98. If I
encounter a person sleeping outdoors on a cold night, I can view him or
her as an annoyance, an idler, an obstacle in my path, a troubling sight, a
problem for politicians to sort out, or even a piece of refuse cluttering a
public space. Or I can respond with faith and charity, and see in this person a
human being with a dignity identical to my own, a creature infinitely loved by
the Father, an image of God, a brother or sister redeemed by Jesus Christ. That
is what it is to be a Christian! Can holiness somehow be understood apart from
this lively recognition of the dignity of each human being?[82]
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Psalm
107: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His great love is without end. Let them say this, those the Lord has helped,
people from east and west, north and south. Some people wandered in the
desert, lost and unable to find their way to safety.
In their hunger and thirst they cried to the
Lord for help.
He rescued them and showed them the way to safety. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for he fills the hungry with good things.
Listen
Some people were prisoners in misery and
chains,
living in darkness and gloom. In their distress they cried to the Lord for
help.
He rescued them and restored their freedom. Let them thank the Lord for his goodness,
for he shatters the iron bars of prisons.
Listen
Some people were sick on account of their
sins,
unable to eat, and close to death. They cried to the Lord in their need.
He healed them and saved them from the grave. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us.
Listen
Some people sailed to the sea in ships
and were caught in terrifying storms.
They cried to the Lord in their need
and he calmed the sea and wind. Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for us. Whoever is wise should meditate on these
things
and reflect on the love of the Lord. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His great love is without end. Let them say this, those the Lord has helped,
people from east and west, north and south.
Thank
you Lord, for your rescuing love
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: All of our problems are summed up in the above psalm: wandering/lost, physical/emotional prisons, sickness, storms of life ... through/from all of which the Lord rescues and saves us!
--------------------------------------------------------
10
years ago: HK volunteers Carol, Gertrude, Maria, and Teresa + HK Margaret &
former CAS teacher Louis omi
------------------------------------------
New
government sign in Yau Ma Tei:
--------------------------------------
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 23rd of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangxi
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 23rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Djibouti
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sun July 22
Over the past few weeks I've spent much time on my name
and shame file which at its top has the reasons for its existence. I hope to
finish it in the next week or so. Hopefully it will do a bit of good both in HK
and elsewhere.
Sr
Beatrice Leung Kit-fun:
How
can Catholics rewrite China's bloody history?
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
In fidelity to the Master
96. Holiness, then, is not about swooning in
mystic rapture. As Saint John
Paul II said: "If we truly start out anew from the contemplation of
Christ, we must learn to see him especially in the faces of those with whom he
himself wished to be identified".[79]
The text of Matthew 25:35-36 is "not a simple invitation to charity: it is
a page of Christology which sheds a ray of light on the mystery of Christ".[80]
In this call to recognize him in the
poor and the suffering, we see revealed the very heart of Christ, his
deepest feelings and choices, which every saint seeks to imitate.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 16
Jeremiah 21-23: Jerusalem was under siege by the
Chaldaeans.
The Lord told Jeremiah to tell the leaders of Jerusalem to surrender. But the leaders of Jerusalem did not obey Jeremiah's words.
So the Lord got Jeremiah to say these words:
"Woe to the shepherds who allow my sheep to be scattered and killed.
You have not taken care of my sheep. Therefore I will raise up a leader who will be wise and just.
He will be a good shepherd of my people."
Lord, please help our leaders
to be good shepherds
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
23: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I
shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path. He is true
to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me
comfort. You have prepared a banquet for me in the
sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil. My cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life. In the Lord's own house shall I dwell for ever
and ever.
Thank you, Lord, for being my
good shepherd
Listen
Ephesians
2.11-14:
You non-Jews were once without hope and
without God.
But now by the blood of Christ,
you who had nothing in common with us Jews,
have been united with us into one family. Christ is the peace between us.
He has broken down the barrier which used to keep us apart
Jesus, break down barriers of misunderstanding which divide the peoples of the world
Listen
Mark
6.30-34: The
apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said
to them, "You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and
rest for a while"; for there were so many coming and going that the
apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place
where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could
guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and
reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he
took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set
himself to teach them at some length.
Reflection
on the above readings:
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: The Lord is my Shepherd (Chinese text)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
Yesterday
morning a media team from LKF TV spent
a couple of hours at my home for an interview. Neighbours are now well used to
reporters and cameras! Team's report will do much to support the anti-drug
campaign.
--------------------------------------
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 22nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 22nd of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Rwanda
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sat July 21
Yesterday at Lai Chi Kok men's prison I was sad to meet two new drug mules from
Malaysia ... and hear of a third in another prison. A media team in Kuala Lumpur
is preparing a lengthy report about the recent large group of Malaysians
arrested at HK airport .... I just hope the report is published soon and helps
stop others from experiencing prison in HK.
The more research done, the more the Bible is shown to be a
genuine document. Not so with Islam and the Quran:
Latest historical research
on Islam and Quran (Over the past week I have watched
this during breakfast .... has the very latest info)
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad": THE
GREAT CRITERION
95. In the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew's Gospel (vv. 31-46), Jesus expands
on the Beatitude that calls the merciful blessed. If we seek the holiness
pleasing to God's eyes, this text offers us one
clear criterion on which we will be judged. "I was hungry and you
gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you took care of me,
I was in prison and you visited me" (vv. 35-36).
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
35-36: God said to Jacob
"Go to Bethel and live there."
So Jacob moved to the area of Bethel.
Not long after this,
Rachel conceived another baby.
But Rachel died in childbirth.
Jacob named the baby boy Benjamin.
In all, Jacob had 12 sons:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun
- their mother being Leah;
Joseph and Benjamin
- their mother being Rachel;
Dan and Naphtali
- their mother being Bilhah;
Gad and Asher
- their mother being Zilpah.
Jacob and his family
stayed in the land of Canaan,
the land of his father Isaac.
Esau and his family moved to the land of Edom.
Dear God, please
bless and protect my brothers and sisters
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
106: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good.
His great love is without end. They are happy who do what is right,
who at all times remember what is just. When our ancestors came out of Egypt,
they forgot the greatness of God's love. Each time they strayed, God forgave them.
But still they continued to forget God who was their saviour,
God who had done such great things for them in Egypt.
O Lord, our God, please don't
let us forget your love
Listen
1
Corinthians
15.9-11:
I am the least of the apostles. In fact, since
I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle. But by God's grace I am what I am, and the
grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God
in my heart, have worked harder than any of the others, preaching the
same message that they preach.
Jesus, may your grace in me be more fruitful
Listen
John
7: The religious leaders sent the Temple police
to arrest Jesus. When the police returned to the leaders
without Jesus,
the leaders asked "Why didn't you arrest him?" The police replied
"There has never been anyone who has spoken like him". Jesus, in the history of the world, there has
never been anyone who has spoken about goodness and truth like you
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: History's greatest speakers .... Churchill, Obama etc .... but far above them in a totally different class: Jesus
-------------------------------------
One person who certainly will never make the list of the
world's greatest speakers .... the guy who currently occupies the Washington
White House!
--------------------------------------
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 21st
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Yunnan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 21st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Benin
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fri July 20
Last night at the usual Thursday night meal for about 12 homeless people who sleep at McDonald's on in parks, just as our meal was beginning one of the waiters went through the canteen calling out in a loud voice "Don't smoke! Don't smoke!" I didn't know why he was doing this .... rarely does anyone smoke in the canteen .... until I saw 8 (!) food hygiene officers in uniform with notebooks in hand marching through the canteen ... looking for smokers!
Letter
in English from a 40 year old Argentinian man in prison for drug trafficking - here
(July 11) ... money lender forced him to carry drugs
45 year old Sri Lankan man, in HK for 13 years, approved
by UNHCR as a genuine refugee (one of only a handful so approved in HK)
continues to dream of finding a resettlement country to take him ... but single
men are at bottom of UNHCR list ... unless perhaps he could find a sponsoring
group in some other country. Also a factor: his health is not strong. In the
meantime, he is allowed to work in HK (the very first refugee to be given such
permission by the totally compassionate HK government) ... and he's looking for
a one-year contract (to be approved by gracious government). Able to do light
work, but not heavy work. Please contact me for more info: jdwomi@gmail.com
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
94. Persecutions are not a reality of the
past, for today too we experience them, whether by the shedding of blood, as is
the case with so many contemporary martyrs, or by more subtle means, by slander
and lies. Jesus calls us blessed when people "utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account" (Mt 5:11). At other times,
persecution can take the form of gibes that try to caricature our faith and make
us seem ridiculous. Accepting daily the
path of the Gospel, even though it may cause us problems: that is holiness.
July: month
of the Precious Blood of Jesus
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 33-34: When Esau and Jacob
met, Esau was friendly and kind to Jacob.
Esau accepted all the gifts of animals that Jacob gave him.
But Jacob continued to be wary of Esau.
Jacob moved to Shechem.
One of the men of Shechem raped
and then wanted to marry Jacob's daughter, Dinah.
Jacob and his sons craftily said they would agree to the marriage
if all of the men of Shechem were circumcised.
The men agreed. But on the third day
while the Shechem men were still in a lot of pain
Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi took matters into their own hands.
They killed all the Shechem men,
because their sister Dinah had been
raped. Jacob did not approve of the killings.
Dear God, please
help women who have been raped
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
105: Give thanks to the Lord, make known his deeds among all the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise.
Tell all his wonderful works. Be proud of his holy name.
Let hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Consider the Lord and his strength.
Constantly seek his face. Never forget how the Lord has helped us in the
past,
how he has protected Israel from its beginning till now.
Dear
God, please help me understand how you have been loving and protecting me
since the beginning of my life
Listen
1
Corinthians 15.1-8:
Let me remind you of the basic facts of the
Good News:
Christ died for our sins. He was buried.
He was raised to life on the third day. He appeared to Peter, then to the other
apostles, then to more than 500 of the believers - most of whom are still
alive. Then he appeared to James and the other disciples. Last of all he appeared to me. I was like an
unexpected child
Jesus, I have not yet seen you, but I believe
in you and I love you
Listen
John
7.37-39: During the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem,
Jesus called out loudly in the Temple "If anyone is thirsty,
come to me.
Anyone who believes in me, come and drink!" As Scripture says "From his heart will
flow fountains of living water". Jesus was speaking of the Holy Spirit, which
people who believed in him were to receive. The Spirit had not yet been
given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified
Holy Spirit, flowing from the heart of Jesus,
please increase your influence in my life
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: A lovely prayer - "Flowing from the heart of Jesus, Living River Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and flow through us"
----------------------------------------------
Yesterday morning when I went to McDonald's for a
mid-morning Green Tea, the fire alarm sounded. My first time to hear a fire
alarm at McDonald's. No one got fired up .... it
made not the slightest difference. HK people are used to false alarms,
especially when the weather is hot and unsettled.
--------------------------------------
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 20th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 20th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Gambia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Thu July 19
Early yesterday afternoon I went
to the custodial section of the High Court in Admiralty to visit an inmate for
whom I might be a witness in the coming days. Also had brief
meeting with inmate's legal team.
After which I walked to Central
for a 2 hour meeting with a reporter who is doing a story on the anti-drug
campaign. I hope the report will help vulnerable people in HK (domestic workers
and asylum seekers) avoid the trap of being recruited/tricked to become drug
mules. And see
"smile" below!
-------
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
93.
Here we are speaking about
inevitable persecution, not the kind of persecution we might bring upon
ourselves by our mistreatment of others. The saints
are not odd and aloof, unbearable because of their vanity, negativity and
bitterness. The Apostles of Christ were not like that. The Book of Acts
states repeatedly that they enjoyed favour
"with all the people" (
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 32: As
Jacob returned to his own
Dear God, please help
me to be kind and clever
Recording
Psalm 104: Bless
the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are.
You make the clouds your chariot. You walk on the
wings of the wind. You make springs gush forth in the valleys. They give drink
to all the animals of the field. You make grass grow for the cattle and plants
to provide food for people. You give us wine to cheer our hearts and oil to
make our faces shine. You made the moon to mark the months. The sun knows the
time for its setting. How many are your works, O Lord. In wisdom you have made
them all. The earth is full of your riches and the sea is swarming with life.
All things, great and small, look to you for food. You open your hand, they have
their fill. You send forth your spirit, and life is created. You renew the face
of the earth. I will sing to the Lord all my life. May my thoughts be pleasing
to him
Bless the Lord, my soul!
01
02
1 Corinthians 13.1-13: If
I am the most brilliant speaker, but don't have love, I am just a gong booming.
If I understand all mysteries, and if I have a faith that will move mountains,
but don't have love, I am nothing. Love is always patient and kind. It is never
jealous, never boastful, never conceited, never rude or selfish. Love does not
take offence. It's not resentful. Love delights in the truth. Love is always
ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure
whatever comes. Love is virtue Number One, greater than faith or hope.
Jesus, please help me
love like you
Listen
John 7.1-13: Jesus
now stayed in
Jesus, people were scared to
talk about you, your brothers didn't believe in you, and the leaders wanted to
kill you. How small my problems are compared
with yours
Listen
Reflection
on the above Bible readings: When
we think we have a few problems, let's remember the situation Jesus was facing.
His problems were gigantic compared with ours. May his
courage to keep going give us strength and courage to keep going also. We
ask this blessing especially for people in dangerous situations.
-----------------------------
At
yesterday afternoon's meeting with a reporter at a prominent eating place in
Central, the only thing I had was a cup of green tea ... the most expensive cup
I've ever had in my whole life - HK$75! I only agreed to it when the reporter
said the newspaper company was paying the bill. And I guess the bill covered two
hours sitting in a quiet place in Central
--------------------------------------
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 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, Thursday,
please pacify Al-Qaeda
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wed July 18
Happy 100th Birthday today Nelson Mandela!
Mandela Day
When priest went to sacristy to prepare for a wedding, he was
surprised to find that another priest was there who took over the job. Who
was the other priest?!
Thank you Jesus for this good news:
Ethiopia and Eritrea end decades of conflict
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
92. Whatever weariness and pain we may
experience in living the commandment of love and following the way of justice, the
cross remains the source of our growth and sanctification. We must never
forget that when the New Testament tells us that we will have to endure
suffering for the Gospel's sake, it speaks precisely of persecution (cf. Acts
5:41; Phil 1:29; Col 1:24; 2 Tim 1:12; 1 Pet 2:20,
4:14-16; Rev 2:10).
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Fifty
years on and still a disputed question
It is hard to argue the case for responsible conjugal love with those whose
experience is, by and large, that of the celibate looking-on
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 31: Jacob said to Rachel and Leah.
"You know how hard I have worked for your father,
yet he has treated me unfairly - ten times he changed my wages.
Now God has told me to go back to my own land.
So, get ready, we are going."
Jacob took his wives, children and livestock and left - without telling
Laban.
Only after three days did Laban find out
that Jacob had outsmarted him.
Laban chased Jacob, but God told Laban not to hurt Jacob.
So Laban made a treaty with Jacob and let him go on his way.
Dear God, please
help us to treat everyone fairly
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
103: My soul, give thanks to the Lord.
All my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings. It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills. It is he who fills your life with good things,
renewing your youth like an eagle's life. The Lord is compassion and love,
slow to anger and rich in mercy. As the heavens are high above the earth
so strong is his love for those who love him. As far as the East is from the West,
so far does he remove our sins. As a father has compassion on his
children,
the Lord has pity on all who love and honor him. Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels,
who heed the voice of his word. Give thanks to the Lord, everyone and
everything.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord!
Thank you, Lord, for your love
and compassion
Listen
1
Corinthians
12.12-30: A human body is made of many parts: arms,
legs, muscles, eyes etc.
Every part is important and needed for the body to be healthy. The church is like a body. We are the body's
members. Some of us are apostles, some prophets, some teachers etc. The members of the church must care about
every member of the church. Everyone is important. The spiritual health of
each member affects the health of the whole body.
Jesus, help me understand how your church is
like a human body
Listen
John
6.59-69: After hearing what Jesus said about his flesh
and blood, many of his disciples said "How can anyone believe in such
crazy ideas?" Many disciples then stopped following Jesus. Jesus said to the 12 apostles "What about
you? Are you also going to leave me?" Peter replied "Lord, who shall we go to?
You have the message of eternal life. We believe you are the Holy One of
God".
Jesus, please don't ever let me stop following
you
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Sometimes, when certain situations get to the point of "enough" it's ok to take unusual action ... like Jacob in today's first reading. Like Jesus clearing the money changers out of the Temple.
-------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday morning I attended a meeting at which the
chairman of a HK foundation kindly agreed to help sponsor the Sunday night radio
program "Hour of Love" to which many prisoners listen. Then I went
with the program host Bruce Aitken to a Filipino restaurant for lunch ... where
many people recognised him and in the usual Filipino tradition addressed him as
"Brother Bruce". Bruce has a special place in his heart for the
prisoners, his ... captive audience
--------------------------------------
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 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, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
Tues July 17
Politicians lose touch with their citizens; parents lose touch with their children; pastors lose touch with their people. Why? Because they don't stay down to earth ... they tend to move in the world of theory rather than practice ... and they don't practise what they preach....so that their words have less and less relevance. Not so Mandela, Gandhi, St Paul, Jesus. As Pope Paul VI said many decades ago, the world no longer listens to anyone ... unless they practise what they preach. The only real authority is moral authority, coming from a life of practice rather than theory.
Archbishop
Wilson: - fair cop or foul?
Laudato
Si and urgency of present moment
Pope's new letter -
"Rejoice and Be Glad":
91. In living the Gospel, we cannot expect
that everything will be easy, for the thirst for power and worldly interests
often stands in our way. Saint John Paul II noted that "a society is
alienated if its forms of social organization, production and consumption make
it more difficult to offer this gift of self and to establish this solidarity
between people".[78]
In such a society, politics, mass
communications and economic, cultural and even religious institutions become so
entangled as to become an obstacle to authentic human and social development.
As a result, the Beatitudes are not easy to live out; any attempt to do so will
be viewed negatively, regarded with suspicion, and met with ridicule.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 30: Leah gave birth to
four sons - Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah.
Rachel had no children and was jealous of her sister Leah.
Rachel gave her servant girl Bilhah to Jacob
and Bilhah gave birth to two sons - Dan and Naphtali.
Leah then gave her servant girl Zilpah to Jacob
and Zilpah gave birth to two sons - Gad and Asher.
Leah herself had two more sons - Issachar and Zebulun
and a daughter - Dinah.
Finally Rachel had a baby, a son whom she named Joseph.
For many long years Jacob worked for Laban
but Laban would not let Jacob return to his own land.
Dear God, please bless
everyone in my family
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
102: O Lord, listen to my
prayer in my distress.
Do not hide your face from me. For my days are
vanishing like smoke,
my bones burn away like a fire. I forget to eat my
bread.
My skin clings to my bones. All day long my foes
revile me.
Those who hate me use my name as a curse. But you, O Lord, will
endure for ever.
You will arise and have mercy on Sion. You will hear the
groans of the prisoners
and free those condemned to die. I pray to you: "Do
not take me away before my time has come,
you whose days last from age to age.
Lord, please help people who
are in great distress
Listen
1
Corinthians
12.4-10:
The Holy Spirit gives us many different gifts. Some people have the gift of wise preaching.
Some people have the gift of an extra strong faith.
Some people have the gift of healing sick people.
Some people have other gifts like the power of miracles, prophecy,
recognizing spirits, and the ability to speak in tongues.
Holy Spirit, please increase your influence in
my life.
Please give me the gift of (..name...)
Listen
John
6.52-58:
The people said among themselves
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus replied "If you refuse to eat
my flesh , and drink my blood, you will not have life in
you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is
real drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and
I live in them. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself
draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me. This is the bread come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever"
Jesus, thank you for the gift of your Body and
Blood
in Holy Communion
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: From ordinary food we get strength and energy ... life. From Jesus' Body and Blood we get spiritual strength and energy ... spiritual life
-------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: New classrooms; Kevin & Louis; July
18 activity; new baby for Mr & Mrs Ren; new power line; new cats
------------------------------------------
Seems that the majority of HK people were supporting
Croatia. Why not France? Maybe HK people still have some UK DNA in them?! (...
making them dislike England's traditional rival, France)
--------------------------------------
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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
--------------------
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?"
--------------------------------------------
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
|
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!
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)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .