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 www.familyhk.org
This
website's anti-drug campaign saves people from going to prison in HK
See & share inmates'
letters! How campaign began
HK
Indon
Kenya 
Malaysia 
Nigeria 
Ph 
SA 
S.Amer
Thai 
Tz 
Ug 
EU
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
www.AsylumSeekerHK.com
Name
& shame
JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
Dr
Jesus FamilyHK
Tues Nov 6
Yesterday I spent 8 hours at Tai Lam women's prison ... and was sad to meet two
new drug mules from Peru, arrested a couple
of weeks ago at HK airport. Which is why the anti-drug campaign must keep going.
Possible connection? .... Peru was the only country on my January trip to South America where I
was unable to do some media publicity. Of this year's seven arrivals from South
America, 3 are from Peru.
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: Divali ... and the Melbourne Cup!. It is on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 32:
Excessive centralization, rather than proving
helpful, complicates the Church's life and her missionary outreach
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Deuteronomy 1: After wandering in the desert for 40 years,
the Israelites reached the land of Canaan.
Moses then assembled the people
and recalled all that had happened over the past 40 years: "When God first told us to take this land,
I said to you: Do not be afraid. God goes ahead of you
and will be fighting on your side, as he did in Egypt.
I also said how God carried you, as a man carries his child,
all along the road you travelled to this place.
But you did not trust God
and God closed the door to Canaan for 40 years,
causing us to wander in the desert until now."
Dear God, please help me to
trust you a bit more
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
79-80: O God, the nations have invaded your sacred
land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. We have become the taunt of our
neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us. How long, O Lord, will all this last?
How long will this sorrow keep going? Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against
us.
If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now
please give peace and healing to everyone and everything
in our history. Let the groans of the prisoners come before
you.
Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. O Lord, our God, help us and save us.
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord, please heal any problems
in my family tree
Listen
2
Thessalonians 3.10-16:
We gave you a rule when we were with you:
not to let anyone have any food if he refused to do any work. Yet we hear that some of you are living in
idleness, doing no work themselves but interfering with everyone else's
work. In the Lord Jesus Christ, we order and call on
such people
to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat. Never grow tired of doing what is right.
May the Lord of peace give you peace always
and everywhere.
Jesus, don't let me interfere in other
people's business
Listen
Matthew
14.1-12:
Not long after Jesus began traveling and teaching,
King Herod arrested John the Baptist and put him in prison. This was because John had told Herod he was breaking the Law
by living with Herodias, his brother's wife. During a birthday party for Herod,
the daughter of Herodias danced. Her dancing so pleased Herod
that he said he would give her anything she wanted. Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a dish.
Herod then had John beheaded. John's disciples came and buried the body.
Jesus, please give the world
good leaders, and protect people from bad leaders like Herod
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: John the Baptist died in defence of the sacredness of marriage.
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My tip for today's Melbourne Cup is the only lady in the
race: Youngstar!
--------------------------------------
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 6th
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 6th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Liberia
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
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Mon Nov 5
Plea to
release Filipino who has been in prison in HK for 25 years!
28kg of ice in hydraulic cylinders
Letter
from a Colombian man arrested for drug
trafficking while living in HK, in Spanish and English - here
(Oct 22)
Pope Francis - The Joy of the Gospel No. 32: The papacy and the central structures of the universal Church also need to hear the call to pastoral conversion
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
34-35: God gave the land of
Canaan to the Israelites
and Moses allocated a section of the land to the eleven tribes.
The tribe of Levi received some towns and pasture land from each of
the eleven tribes.
Cities of refuge were established, where people could find safety
if they had accidentally caused someone's death
and the dead person's relatives wanted to take revenge.
In cases of homicide, more than one witness was required to convict
someone of murder.
A final law: the inheritance of each tribe was not to be transferred to
another tribe
Dear God, please bless my
family with a sense of history and togetherness
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
78: Listen, everyone, to my teaching.
I will recount the lessons of our history. The things our parents have told us,
we will not hide from our children,
but will pass them on to the next generation. We want the next generation to know all that the Lord has done for us in the past.
May the next generation in turn
pass on this knowledge to their own children,
so that they too will put their hope in God
and never forget all that God has done for us. May future generations not be like our
ancestors
who so often were unfaithful to God. Even though our ancestors had seen God part
the sea,
even though they had seen him provide food and water for them
in the desert, still they went on sinning. Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and
spared them.
He remembered they were only weak humans. Eventually he brought them to the promised
land
and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes. But still they sinned by building mountain
shrines
and serving idols. Then God raised up David to be their
leader. God called him from looking after sheep to be the shepherd of his people.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
01
02
2
Thessalonians 3.1-5: Pray that the Lord's message may spread
quickly,
and be received with honor as it was by yourselves. Pray that we may be protected from the
interference of bigoted people. May your hearts focus on the love of God our
Father
and the fortitude of Christ
Jesus, don't let bigoted people
influence me
Listen
Matthew
13.53-58: One day Jesus went to Nazareth, his home
town.
In the prayer hall there he taught the local people. But the local people would not accept
him. They said
"Where did he get such wisdom and miraculous power?
He is just a carpenter's son. His mother is that woman called Mary.
His brothers are James, Joseph, Simon and Jude.
His sisters are here, too. He's nobody special." Jesus said to them
"A prophet is despised only in his own country and his own house".
And he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Jesus, please give me more
faith in you
.... and don't let me reject people
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The brothers and sisters of Jesus
--------------------------------------------------------
Tomorrow is Melbourne Cup Day. A loyal reader has recommended
checking one of the most famous of all Melbourne Cups - that of 1983, won
by Kiwi after coming from last position!
--------------------------------------
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 5th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guizhou
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chad
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
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Sun Nov 4
Pope Francis has often said we should celebrate our Baptism ... so yesterday I
often thought of my Baptism on Nov 3, 1946, at St Mary's, South Brisbane ....and
another anniversary: a baptism of fire .... being expelled from China ten years
ago yesterday (... now allowed back in ...)
Last Friday at Lo Wu women's prison I met an African lady who couldn't remember
her (HK) home phone and so could not contact her family to let them know where
she was. Yesterday I was able to find the family ... from an incomplete
address... and family will visit the lady next week.
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 32:
Since I am called to put into practice what I ask of others, I
too must think about a conversion of the papacy. It is my duty, as the
Bishop of Rome, to be open to suggestions which can help make the exercise of my
ministry more faithful to the meaning which Jesus Christ wished to give it and
to the present needs of evangelization.
-----------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 31
Deuteronomy 6: Moses continued his
speech to the people:
"Listen Israel. You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength.
Let these words I urge on you today
be written on your heart.
You shall repeat them to your children and say them
when you are resting in your house or going for a walk,
when you are lying down and when you get up.
You shall fasten them on your hand as a sign
and on your forehead as a circlet.
You shall write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates."
Dear
Lord, please help us to love you with all our hearts
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
17-18: Lord, when trouble breaks out on every
side,
please protect and help me. For you are my strength, my rock, my fortress,
my savior.
I love you, Lord who save me because you love me. Lord, you are my lamp who lightens my life.
I will praise you among the nations.
Lord, you are worthy of
all praise
Listen
Hebrews
7.1-28:
Melchizedek was king of Salem and a priest of
God. He blessed Abraham. Abraham gave Melchizedek 10% of all
he had. Melchizedek's priesthood continued down
the ages in people dedicated to the service of God. It reached its
perfection in the Son of God, the Eternal High Priest. The Son of God, our Lord, did not come from
the priestly tribe of Levi. Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah.
This is because he established a new
priesthood, coming not from Levi, but from Melchizedek. This is why the
prophecy was made of him "You are a priest of the order of
Melchizedek, for ever". Jesus' priestly power to save us is utterly
certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God
through him
Jesus, Eternal High Priest, please help all
pastors and priests be more like you every day
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: FATHER MAY WE LIVE
AND GROW AND DIE
IN YOUR LOVE. JESUS MAY WE LIVE
AND GROW AND DIE
IN YOUR LOVE. SPIRIT MAY WE LIVE
AND GROW AND DIE
IN YOUR LOVE.
Listen to these words in
this song
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: Not yet in the Kingdom of God (Chinese text)
--------------------------------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------------------
To
go with today's Gospel: notice there's only one letter difference between
"evil" and "love". Too much of oneself ("I") can
spoil "love"
--------------------------------------
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 4th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangdong
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 4th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Mozambique
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 Nov 3
Yesterday at Lo Wu women's prison where I spent most of the day I
had a happy chat with an inmate who is due to return to her own country next
week, after being a guest of the HK government for the past 8 years. Inmate says
she will do what she can to support the "No More Mules" campaign to
stop people bringing drugs to HK. During her time in detention she obtained
a university degree, by correspondence. If people in her own country ask her
"What did you do in HK?" she can reply "I was at
university"!
HK to test system that detects suspicious behaviour by prisoners
(check the comments!)
Beijing's
spin on Xinjiang camps not fooling anyone
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 28:
We must admit that the call to review and renew our parishes has not yet
sufficed to bring them nearer to people, to make them environments of living
communion and participation, and to make them completely mission-oriented.
--------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers
30-33: The
Israelites waged war against the Midianites and claimed their land and the land of Canaan.
To the sons of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh
were given the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites
and the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan.
The land of Canaan was divided by lot among the Israelite clans
Dear God, please give
peace to the people of the Middle East
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
73-77: Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper,
I wonder what's the use in trying to be good? But then I realize that
everyone someday has to pay the bill
for any evil they have bought in the world. Sometimes when I see
our world and religion in ruins,
I wonder why has God abandoned us? Then I remember that
God has promised to break the power
of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good people. So may all people honor
the Lord our God and judge.
May the Lord give us his loving help.
Lord,
you are goodness itself. Please help us to be good
and to trust you always
Listen
2
Thessalonians 2.1-17:
Regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ,
don't be deceived by wild speculation. Stand firm in your faith and avoid speculation.
Keep the traditions we taught you, whether by
word of mouth or by letter. May God strengthen you in everything good you
do or say
Jesus,
stop people
spreading false information
Listen
Matthew
13.31-50: Jesus said to the people:
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed.
It's the smallest of all seeds.
But it becomes a big bush, then a big tree that the birds live in. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast which
leavens flour. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
in a field.
Someone finds it, then sells all they have to buy the field. The kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net
that catches all sorts of fish. Good fish are put in a basket. Useless
fish are thrown away.
So at the end of time, bad people will be thrown into hell.
Jesus, may your kingdom come,
your will be done
Listen
Reflection
on the above readings: 
-------------------------------------
Recently a "first" for me: I received an email
from a prison inmate in detention, in the UK. All legal ... using the prison
library where inmates are allowed to send emails. Inmate had been in HK. In my
wildest dreams I can't imagine HK prisons allowing inmates to use email.
--------------------------------------
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 3rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Gansu
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 3rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burundi
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
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Fri Nov 2 All Souls Day
At last night's regular Thursday meal for homeless people, when I noticed a man
on my left quickly devouring his meal, I asked him if he had had any lunch. No.
Had he had any breakfast? No. Was this his first meal today? Yes.
Over the past two years there have been more drug mules from Malaysia
arrested at HK airport than the combined total number from the whole of Africa
and the whole of South America. Which is why a top media group in Malaysia is
currently preparing a report which hopefully will slow down the flow from
Malaysia.
'Extremely concerned' UK confirms reports of China's mass detention of Uighurs
and China's
detention camps seen from space (an
awesome photo report)
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 28:
In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be
evangelizers. It
is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in
the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach.
-------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. Readings for All Souls Day
Isaiah 25: On
Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the Lord will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich
food, a banquet of fine wines. On
this mountain he will delete Death. The Lord will wipe away the tears from every
cheek. Lord, you are my God, I extol you, I praise your name. You, Lord, are a
refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in distress.
Lord, please give hope and courage to people who are sad and troubled in the
world today
My recording of this reading
Psalm 27: The
Lord is my light and my help, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of
my life, before whom shall I shrink? Though an army encamp against me, even then
would I trust. There is one thing I
ask of the Lord, for this I long: to live in the house of the Lord all the days
of my life. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek. Hide not your face. I am sure
I will see your goodness in the land of the living. Hope in the Lord, hold firm
and take heart. Hope in the Lord!
Lord, please increase my remembering, my longing and my hope
Recording
Philippians 3.20-41: Our
homeland is in heaven. We wait for the Savior from heaven who will transfigure
these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do this
by the same power he has as C.E.O. of the universe. So, do not stop running but
remain faithful in the Lord.
Jesus, please increase my longing for heaven
Recording
Mark 16.1-8: Jesus
died on Friday afternoon. Early on Sunday morning, Mary of Magdala and two other
women went to Jesus' tomb to anoint his body with
spices. They had been wondering how they would roll away the large stone, but
when they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away. When they went into
the tomb, they saw a young man in a white robe and they were full of awe. But he
said to them "Do not be afraid. You are looking for Jesus who was
crucified. He is not here. He has risen from the dead. Go and tell his disciples
he will see them in Galilee"
Jesus, when life seems hopeless, like a dead body in a tomb, please help us
remember how you rose from the dead .... and you can help us "rise"
from any "hopeless" situation
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
One thing that nearly all cultures share: an instinct to remember the dead, to pray for the dead, to honor the dead.
----------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: Visit to Marco Polo Center by members of Rotary Club of Taipa, Macau
------------------------------------------
At the post office yesterday when I asked about using Speed
Post to send some urgent letters to inmates, I realised that Speed Post was not
practical to use for prisons .... because it requires the recipient to sign a
form saying a letter has been received .... and it is highly unlikely that
prison authorities would allow a prisoner to go to the front entrance to so
sign!
--------------------------------------
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 2nd
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Fujian
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 2nd of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Niger
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
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Thu Nov 1 All Saints Day
A
Japanese man, recently arrested, has no one in HK to visit him. If a kind HK
friend who speaks Japanese could please visit him, I'd be most grateful. Pls
contact me: jdwomi@gmail.com
I was at Lai Chi Kok men's prison for 4 hours yesterday afternoon, and as usual
came away with many jobs to do, like the little one above. LCK is once again
over-crowded. I feel sorry for both inmates and staff. Apparently the government
has plans to expand LCK to take an extra 400 inmates, giving it a
"normal" capacity of about 1,800 places. But that will some years
away.
Quashing of
Bibi's Pakistan blasphemy charge will not end her suffering
200 years ago
today Eugene de Mazenod and companions made their first vows. Superior
General is
asking for a special day of prayer today, Nov 1, 2018
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 28:
The parish is the presence of the
Church in a given territory, an
environment for hearing God's word, for
growth in the Christian life, for
dialogue, proclamation, charitable
outreach, worship and celebration.
--------------------------------------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
c.f. Readings for All Saints Day
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
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 24: The
Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he
who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Who shall climb the
mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? People with clean
hands and pure hearts, who desire not worthless things. They shall receive
blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves them. Such are the
people who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
God, by living a good life, help me to seek your face
1 John
3.1-3: Think of the love that the
Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God's children. And God's love
has even more in store for us in the future: we shall be like him because we
shall see him as he really is. This is why we must try to live good lives. We
must try to be as good as Christ.
Jesus, please help me be more like you
Matthew 5.1-12: Jesus
said to the crowds: Blessed are poor and simple of heart people. They belong to
the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are people who are going through great sorrow.
Their hearts will be filled with peace. Blessed are people who lead just and
honest lives. They will see the victory of goodness. Blessed are people who show
mercy to others. God will be merciful to them. Blessed are people who have a
clean heart. They will see God. Blessed are people who are peacemakers. They are
God's children. Blessed are people who are persecuted for the cause of right.
They will receive a great reward in heaven.
Jesus, please help me be merciful and
kind and just
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
All you Saints in Heaven, great and small, pray
for us!
-----------------------------
When the Saints Go Marching
In
--------------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Mon:
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid:
Sat:
Cent,
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless
the people of
And praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 1st of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 1st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Congo
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
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Wed Oct 31
Yesterday morning
I attended 3 drug trafficking cases at the High Court. Case 1 - a local couple
had their case adjourned until December. Case 2 - A Mainland woman on the second
last day of her trial ... final summing up by prosecution and defence. Case 3 -
An Indonesian domestic helper-become-asylum seeker lost her trial 6-1 ...another
victim of the "please help me collect a parcel from the post office"
scam.
Concerning Case 1, above, a prime missing suspect is a South
Asian man using the name "Andy" who is missing one ear! An(d)y info:
jdwomi@gmail.com
Yesterday afternoon I attended a 3-hour meeting at the Diocesan Centre on the
theme of "The Epidemic of Pornography" where I learnt that the biggest
group of internet porn users are teenagers. One of the two speakers, Dr Peter
Kleponis, a counsellor in the US, has much info on his
website. In question time today he shared how he and his whole family
counter pornography by using a filter program called Covenant
Eyes (one of the most popular accountability
programs in US). And see 
below!
Pope Francis - The
Joy of the Gospel No. 28:
This presumes that it (the parish) really is in contact with the homes and the
lives of its people, and does not become a
useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a
chosen few.
--------------------------------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
The voice of courage
Many people have
paid a high price for their honesty in speaking out
Abraham's Children (Pittsburgh synagogue shooting)
-------------------------------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Numbers 28-29: Times for the Israelites
to offer sacrifices to God:
- daily
- the Sabbath
- the feast of the New Moon of each month
- the feast of Unleavened Bread (14th day of 1st month)
- the feast of Weeks
- the feast of Acclamations (1st day of 7th month)
- the day of Atonement (10th day of 7th month)
- the feast of Tabernacles (15th day of 7th month)
Dear God, thank you for
special days and seasons to honor you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
72: O Lord, please bless the king,
that he might serve your people with justice. May the mountains bring forth peace for the
people
and the hills, justice. The kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts.
All nations will serve him. He will save the poor when they cry for help
and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor. May every tribe be blessed in him.
May every nation bless his name.
May all the nations know and
love you, Lord
Listen
2 Thessalonians
1.1-5: From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to the Church
in Thessalonika:
grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We take special pride in you because of your
perseverance,
despite persecutions and other troubles you have to face. People who refuse to accept the Good News are
facing an eternal penalty: to be excluded forever from the presence of the
Lord. So we pray that God will help you be the sort of
people he wants you to be. In this way our Lord Jesus Christ will be
glorified in you
Jesus, help me "keep going"
when trials come
Listen
Matthew 13.24-43: Jesus told the people another story:
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
An enemy came and sowed weeds in the same field. When the good seed sprouted, so did the weeds.
The man's servants asked if they should get rid of the weeds. "No", said the man, "you might
damage the good seed if you do that.
Let them both grow till harvest time. Then burn the weeds." Then Jesus explained his story:
"I am the sower. The field is the world.
The good seed stands for people of good will.
The weeds stand for people of bad will. The enemy is Satan. At the end of the world,
I will
send my angels
to sort out the good and the bad people.
Bad people will go to hell. Good people will go to heaven".
Jesus, please protect good
people from bad people
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: An evangelizing community is always concerned with fruit, because the Lord wants her to be fruitful. It cares for the grain and does not grow impatient at the weeds. The sower, when he sees weeds sprouting among the grain does not grumble or overreact. He or she finds a way to let the word take flesh in a particular situation and bear fruits of new life, however imperfect or incomplete these may appear. (Pope Francis, Joy of Gospel, 24)
-------------------------------------------------------
10 years ago today: & 2008-11-01 Parents' meeting at MP; Sat English Club; new baby
for Mr & Mrs Hu; children locked in
------------------------------------------
At yesterday's talk on "The Epidemic of
Pornography" organised by a Diocesan organisation, the first speaker, a US
counsellor, began by asking the audience of about 100 (including dozens of nuns
and priests) "Please raise your hand if you have never seen
pornography". Not even one hand went up!
--------------------------------------
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 31st
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tinjian
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 31st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Nepal
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
---------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
My Africa trips:
2015: Tanzania, Malawi
2016:
Kenya, Uganda
2017:
Southern Africa, Dubai (
The
Last Run)
2018:
My trip to Latin America
2018: My trip to Thailand and Cambodia
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
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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.
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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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .