This blog is written each night before I go to bed. Blog is written in the past tense, talking about "yesterday".

April 5,  2012                      Daily Blog                  John W                   Previous 2012 blogs

Update - a few hours after writing material below:

After I uploaded the lines below, I thought my work for the day/night was finished. But then...a phone call from an ex-inmate...local Chinese man aged 34.....former (?) drug addict....."no where to stay, spent last night in park, have lost job, my girlfriend has just gone into detention, I don't feel like living any more". 
So we met up...had a simple canteen meal near my home....then a quick visit to my home for a prayer + collect books...then I went with him to the place where he was staying...."room" available...more like a broom closet (10 double bunks, divided by partitions, share toilet for 20 people), but at least a roof over his head ...rainy season not far away. He's a good cook ..."won't be hard to find another job"...but I've lost the will to live since girlfriend went to detention....the two of them had been living in the closet....a literal closet life.

HK Diocese has kindly given me a budget (from annual Lenten collection) to help people in this situation...so...I paid his rent for a month (HK$1,200.....much cheaper than finding a night-by-night solution)...took him to grocery store to get a few supplies....gave him a bit of "get-off drug" material to read....invited him to come to Sunday night gathering and keep in touch.

His home (room for 20) is run by a former inmate and his wife (also a former inmate) ...both recognized me....as did most of the residents in the place....most are ex-inmates....can't find work....living in ghastly situation.
"Your man" is typical: parents died when he was young....and he soon got into trouble....and has been trying to stay out of trouble ever since. Been in detention three times. 
I hope to go back to that place. If any HK friends would like to join me for a very, very pastoral visit - please contact me:
jdwomi@gmail.com  or  6709 5674

Dear Friends

Hello from Hong Kong on Holy Thursday

This afternoon I'm due to go to Peng Chau Island for Mass and services tonight, tomorrow afternoon (Good Friday),
Holy Saturday night, and Easter Sunday morning. I'm due to stay at Peng Chau tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night (with my trusty Toshiba Netbook)

On Friday and Saturday mornings I hope to go to Hei Ling Chau Island Detention Centre to visit the inmates there.
Hei Ling Chau island is close to Peng Chau island. Every Wednesday I usually get ferry from Central on HK Island 
to Peng Chau, then another ferry from PC to HLC.  Didn't go yesterday, because I hope to do a two-day visit on Friday and Saturday

As Summer approaches, so do typhoons....and travel by ferry becomes a special challenge.
If Typhoon Signal No. 3 is hoisted, all ferry services stop. Bad luck if you're on an island and need to leave.
So....need to keep an eye on the weather

Many years ago in Australia, I recorded a Holy Thursday talk on ABC Radio: "Reflections on the Passion" by the Rev. Austen Williams of London  (on ABC Radio program "By the Way").   Yesterday I tried to find same recording on internet, but no success.  It's a talk I've never forgotten....about how Jesus went back on his word:  having taught (in his final week) about the sheep and the goats being judged on the Last Day....and how the goats would go to Hell....Jesus then, on the Cross, prayed for .....the goats. I'll try to put my copy of the talk on internet, after Easter. 

What I did find through Google:  Obituary: Rev Austen Williams (1912 -2001) (worth a read)....and .....St Martin in the Fields parish website (where AW worked for many years)

Calendar for coming week:
April 5 Holy Thursday: 8pm Mass (bilingual) at  Peng Chau Island 
April 6 Good Friday:  am visit to Hei Ling Chau Detention Centre; 3pm Liturgy (bilingual) at Peng Chau Island
April 7 Holy Saturday:  am visit to Hei Ling Chau Detention Centre; 8pm Liturgy (bilingual) at Peng Chau Island
April 8 Easter Sunday:  10.30am Chinese Mass at Peng Chau Island
Also April 8 - at St Paul's Church, Yau Ma Tei:  3pm Healing Prayer gathering + 6pm gathering for special guests 
April 9:  7.15am Chinese Mass at St Paul's YMT  + 4pm Requiem Mass at St Margaret's Happy Valley (for Petrina, died 27/3)
April 10: 7.15am Chinese Mass at St Paul's YMT + afternoon visit to Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre
April 11: 7.15am Chinese Mass at St Paul's YMT +  visit to Hei Ling Chau Detention Centre
April 12: 7.15am Chinese Mass at St Paul's YMT

See Recent HK photos, below, for some new photos, including these, taken yesteday!

My  Bible Plan for today = the Readings for Holy Thursday

May today, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday 
be a special time in our lives

Thank you for a prayer

God bless!

John W

Also tonight....a major distraction....Lions playing Blues in Brisbane. After Lions played so well against Melbourne last week,
I'm hoping for another upset win against Blues!