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!
How
campaign began
HK
Indon
Kenya
Malaysia
Nigeria 
Ph 
SA 
S.Amer
Thai
Tz
Ug
EU
HK:how
long prison for trafficking?
.AsylumSeekerHK
Name
& shame
JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
Dr
Jesus
China8
SimpleBible
MatteoRicci
South
Africa 6 hours behind HK. I am due back HK Feb 4 Please God
Tues Jan 28
Hello again from Johannesburg in South Africa .... from whose
very-poor security airport over the past two years 20 mules departed with drugs
for Hong Kong where they were arrested on arrival at HK airport. Twenty in HK
and many dozens of others in other countries. Like Sao Paulo, Kuala Lumpur,
Addis Ababa .... airport lack of security is a major reason for becoming a drug
hub.
Yesterday there was another lunch gathering for families of prisoners in HK ... joined by tireless prisoner advocate Patricia Gerber and local NGO leader Glory (who next week is due to speak at a UN conference in Geneva). Today I am due to speak to older students at 2 high schools in Soweto.
Speaking of schools/students, the Australian academic year usually begins about
this time. May the Holy Spirit bless all students and staff. Not forgetting HK
and Macau where classes are on hold because of the Wuhan virus.
A big concern: tens
(hundreds?) of thousands of people from China will soon be returning to Africa
for work or study after the Lunar New Year holiday, but there is little if any
Wuhan virus monitoring here for arrivals from China.
Drug
mules taking bigger risks swallowing capsules of cocaine
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
1: After about 300 years, when the Israelites had grown to a huge number,
the Egyptians began to see the Israelites as a danger to Egypt.
So they forced the Israelites into slavery
and made their life miserable.
The Egyptians forced the Israelites to make bricks
and build cities.
But the more the Israelites were oppressed,
the more they increased in number.
So the Egyptian king told the Israelite midwives
to kill all new-born boys.
But the midwives let the baby boys live,
and God was pleased with the midwives and blessed them.
Pharaoh then ordered all Israelite baby boys
to be drowned in the river.
Dear
God, please stop people, especially children, from being used as slaves
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
109-110: O God whom I praise,
do not be silent,
for people are bombarding me with words of hate. They speak to me with
lying tongues
and attack me without cause. They repay me evil for
good.
While I pray for them, they show me hatred. I have become an object
of scorn.
Help me, Lord my God.
Lord,
when people are unkind to me, please give me the grace to pray for them
Listen
2
Timothy 3.2-5:
For sure, some people will be self-centered
and greedy; disobedient and ungrateful to parents; heartless, difficult
to get along with; slanderers, profligates and enemies of everything that
is good. They will keep up the outward appearance of
religion,
but will have rejected its inner power. Have nothing to do with people like that
Jesus, may my faith be real, not
just something external
Listen
Matthew
27.32-44:
As Jesus was taken to the place of
crucifixion,
a man name Simon, from Cyrene, was made to carry Jesus' cross. Jesus was then nailed to the
cross and hung on the cross.
Two robbers were crucified with him,
one on his right and one on his left.
Above Jesus' head was a sign with the charge against him:
"This is Jesus, the King of the Jews". People passing by that place made
fun of Jesus.
So did the religious leaders. They mocked and taunted
him.
Jesus on the Cross,
thank you for suffering so much for the salvation of the world
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus would have remembered the words of Psalms 109-110 as he was ridiculed on the Cross
-----------------------------
My motel here in Johannesburg has a lovely little swimming
pool where I've had a quick swim the past two afternoons. I say quick because
the water is cooooool!
-------------------------------
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 28th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Beijing
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 28th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Lesotho
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Jan 27
Hello again from Johannesburg in South Africa. Yesterday there
was a lunchtime gathering here for the families of 7 prisoners in HK, joined by
a former prisoner who was in detention in HK for 9 years. During the meal there
was a live chat with Bruce Aitken on his HK "Hour of Love" radio
program to which many prisoners in HK listen. And photos of each family group
were sent immediately by W/App to a kind friend in HK who is helping my work. He
will print and post the photos to the prisoners ....much faster than waiting for
me to return to HK, then print and post. Prisoners can then write to him at his
special post office box and he will W/App their letters to their families. Thank
you "Mr Li"! Tomorrow there will be another family gathering.
Yesterday afternoon, well-know prisoners'
advocate Patricia Gerber arrived in Johannesburg to join Sean Christie (South
African investigative journalist) and myself in doing publicity to stop people
being lured into drug trafficking ... and to lobby S.A. govt for prisoner
transfer agreement legislation. Patricia's website Locked
Up In A Foreign Country has a mine of information about South African
prisoners in detention in foreign countries.
Johannesburg is Nelson Mandela country. One of
his great sayings:
I
NEVER LOSE. I EITHER WIN OR LEARN!
Wuhan
authorities missed chance to contain virus (Guardian) ***
A
concern: hundreds of thousands of people from Mainland China who went
back to the Mainland for the Lunar New Year holidays ... will soon be returning
to Africa and many other countries where they work/study. For their own sake and
that of the countries they are going back to, they need to be extra vigilant and
transparent about health issues ***
5
million residents left Wuhan before lockdown
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
50: After mourning their father for 70 days
Joseph and his brothers went to Canaan and buried Jacob there.
Many of Pharaoh's officials went with Joseph to Canaan.
When the group returned to Egypt,
Joseph's brothers again asked him to forgive them
for selling him as a slave.
Joseph replied "God has turned this evil into
good,
and through me has helped many people.
So do not be afraid.
I will provide for you and your families".
Joseph lived to see his children's children.
Before he died, he asked that his bones one day
be taken back to Canaan.
Dear God, thank you for the
beautiful story of Joseph
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
2
Timothy 2.14-25: Remind everyone to
avoid useless debates and discussions.
These cause scandal and loss of faith. Be available for the Master to use you for any
good work. Focus on goodness, faith, love and peace.
Avoid futile speculations which only lead to quarrels. A servant of the Lord is not to engage in
quarrels, but should be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient.
Be gentle with anyone you have to correct
Jesus, please help me avoid useless
discussions and arguments
Listen
Matthew
27.27-31: After the Roman soldiers scourged Jesus,
they
made fun of him: they put a red cloak on him, they made a crown out of
thorns, they put a reed in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him
saying "Hail, king of the Jews".
They spat on him.
They took the reed and hit him with it.
When they had finished making fun of him,
they dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.
Jesus, please don't let me hurt other people by
making fun of them
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Imagine how a mother or father would feel if they were spat on by a son or daughter ...
-------------------------
Amazing: Oscar
the skateboard dog!
--------------------
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 27th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Tibet
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 27th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Uganda
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
I
wish all dear readers, especially friends in troubled HK, a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sun Jan 26
Hello from Johannesburg in South Africa where my S.A.
investigative journalist bodyguard Sean Christie and I arrived last night. Our
5 days in Dar es Salaam went so quickly. Same agenda here in JB as in Dar and
in Nairobi: meet families of prisoners in HK, do publicity to warn people about
the danger of drug trafficking to HK, and meet with authorities to try to stop
the people who are recruiting drug mules. Thank you for a prayer.
One reason why most people get involved in drug trafficking is to get money for their families who are often struggling to avoid poverty .... especially when employment can't be found. As one Tanzanian wife of a prisoner in HK said to me yesterday in Dar: "It's a terrible feeling to wake up in the morning and realise you don't have a job to go to" (... I've never heard it put that way ...her words really struck me)
Wuhan virus - HK updates here
Pope Francis has asked us to observe today as "Sunday of the
Word of God". Summary of Pope's message for today is here.
Full text is here
(... choice of "Third Sunday of the Year" not a good one for East Asia
... clashes with Lunar New Year .... I doubt if it will get even a mention at
most churches in East Asia today. Vatican needs more Asians on its
decision-making board)
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 3 (but in HK special readings for LNY)
Isaiah
8.23 - 9.1: In days past the Lord humbled the
land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side
of Jordan, province of the nations. The people that walked in darkness has
seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has
shone.
Jesus,
help me understand how these words are about you
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, you are my light and my
help.
I will always praise you.
Recording
1
Corinthians 1.1-10: I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle,
send greetings to the church of God in Corinth. May God our Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. I never stop thanking God for all the graces
you have received through Jesus Christ. The witness to Christ has been strong among
you. God shares with us the life of his Son, Jesus.
God helps us to be faithful as followers of Jesus. I appeal to you to be united in belief and
practice.
Put an end to the differences between you
Jesus, Son of God, thank you for all the
graces I have received
Recording
Matthew
4.12-17: Hearing that John (the
Baptist) had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee,
and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the
borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.
In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled: "Land
of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on
the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in
darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of
death a light has dawned." From
that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, "Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is close at hand."
Jesus,
you are the Light of the World!
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: All periods of history and all peoples experience darkness. 2020 is no exception. All nations are in need of light to overcome darkness - the darkness of corruption, the darkness of addiction, the darkness of selfishness, the darkness of injustice, the darkness of indifference to the suffering of others. So we often pray: Come Lord Jesus! Come and give light to our world!
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
Daniel Daring: Repent (with Chinese text below English text)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
When
I arrived at Dar es Salaam's beautiful new airport on the night of January 20, I
was pleasantly surprised to hear "Silent Night" and other Christmas
songs on the P.A. system. When I left the same beautiful airport yesterday
afternoon, the same songs were being played. I learnt two weeks ago that
Ethiopia follows the Julian Calendar and celebrates Christmas about two weeks
after the Gregorian Calendar. I'm not sure what calendar Tanzania follows!
------------------------------
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 26th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 26h of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Togo
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Tanzania
5 hours behind HK
I
wish all dear readers, especially friends in troubled HK, a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sat Jan 24 (LNY)
Hello one last time from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania where last
night there were fireworks over the harbour for Lunar New Year! Yesterday
afternoon in the restaurant of my hotel there was a gathering for families which
went from 12 noon to 8.30pm and included two former HK prisoners ... and
also included two kind journalists who are helping to spread the message:
Don't Take Drugs to HK.
Today Sean Christie and I are due to go to Johannesburg for the fourth and final
leg of my Africa trip. Jesus please bless all the
people I've met these past 5 days in Tanzania!
Several
million people heard my anti-drug campaign message on Jan 22 when I was a
guest at Clouds Media "Big Breakfast" program. Report here
(click "translation" for English)
Wuhan illness has caused HK diocese to take these
strict precautions
On
this day in 1816 in France was born the group that became the
Oblates of Mary Immaculate
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Lunar New Year's Day
Genesis
1-2: God
made the world. God made the sun, the moon and the stars....the whole
universe. God said "Let there be light" and there was light. God
made the earth with all its plants and trees and animals and fish and birds. God
made the first people.....the first man and first woman. God made them in
his own image and said to them "Be fruitful, multiply and fill the
earth." God saw all that he had made, and all
of it was good, very good.
Dear God, thank you for making such a
beautiful world!
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
100: Cry
out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy. Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us, we
belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his flock. Go within his gates,
giving thanks. Enter his temple with songs of praise. Give thanks to him and
bless his name. Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is
faithful from age to age.
Dear Lord, please help us to serve you with gladness
Listen
John 1.1-14: From all eternity the Word
existed. The Word was with God the Father. The Word was God the Son. The
Word was the source of life for all creatures. The Word became a man, and
lived among us. We saw his glory, full of grace and truth. Many people did not
recognize and did not accept the Word. But to everyone who did accept him, he
gave power to become children of God.
Jesus, please help me understand how you are the
Word-made-flesh
Listen
("In the beginning was the Word")
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Lunar New Year is like Christmas - a time for family gatherings... remembering our parents .... and remembering where all life came from, from our Heavenly Father
---------------
Today is the first day of the Year of the Rat
....so....yesterday I bought something that my faithful Toshiba laptop has needed for
some time: a new MOUSE!
------------------------------
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 25th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Ningxia
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 25th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Comoros
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
I
wish all dear readers, especially friends in troubled HK, a HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Fri Jan 24 (LNY Eve)
Hello
again from Tanzania. Yesterday was another day I won't easily forget: I was up
at 4.30 am, said Mass in my hotel room, left with Sean Christie (my
investigative journalist guardian angel ... he is on 9/F... I am on 3/F) at
5.30am for Clouds Media studios where, just like 5 years ago, I took part in a 2
and half hour live Breakfast Show (with Barbara, Masood and Cesar ... and
others) from 7am to 9.30am, then a 15 min TV interview (with Babee). Aim: to
warn people about the danger of drug trafficking to HK and to try to stop the
local recruiters of drug mules. I'll try to post some photos of yesterday when
the world slows down.
In the afternoon Sean and I spent time with a local journalist whose newspaper
will publish a story, as they did in 2015. I had much to
say thank you for when I visited the cathedral 10 mins walk from my hotel late
yesterday afternoon.
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 47-49: Pharaoh met Jacob and
Joseph's brothers
and welcomed them to be shepherds in the land of Goshen.
Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh humbly received Jacob's blessing.
Joseph provided food for his family during the famine.
As the famine got worse
the Egyptians sold their livestock and their farms to Joseph
in return for grain.
Joseph made the Egyptians promise that when the famine was over
they would give one fifth of their produce to Pharaoh.
Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen more years
before he died in Joseph's arms.
Before his death,
Jacob blessed all his sons.
Jacob adopted and also blessed Joseph's two sons
Ephraim and Manasseh.
Dear God, please bless Egypt
and Israel, and help them be friends
My
recording of this reading
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. 01
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. 02
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. 03
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.
Thank
you Lord, for your rescuing love
04
2
Timothy 2.2-9: You have heard
everything I teach in public. Hand it on to reliable people so that they
in turn will be able to teach others. Put up with your share
of difficulties like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, like an athlete who
keeps all the rules, like a hard-working farmer. Remember the Good News
that I carry: "Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race
of David". On account of this Good
News I am chained up like a criminal.
But no-one can chain up the Good News
Jesus, help people who
are in prison on account of the Good News
Listen
Matthew
27.1-26: Early in the morning, the religious leaders
had Jesus bound with ropes.They then took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
The leaders accused
Jesus of many crimes.
To the governor's amazement, Jesus remained silent. The leaders persuaded
the crowd to demand
the execution of Jesus. They called out to Pilate "Crucify him".
Pilate asked "Why? What has
he done wrong?"
The crowd shouted all the louder "Crucify him. Crucify him". Pilate then washed his hands in
front of the crowd and said
"I am innocent of this man's blood".
The crowd shouted "His blood be on us and on our children". Pilate then ordered Jesus to be
scourged and crucified.
Jesus, help people who are condemned to death
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Paul and Jesus both in prison. Paul also on several occasions was lashed.
-------------------------
This time, just like 5 years ago when I was here, my hotel
registration form had a place for "Tribe". So, just like 5 years ago,
for "Tribe" I put .... O.M.I.!
-------------------------
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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Jan 23
Hello again from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. This morning was
spent with a journalist from The Citizen,
the country's no. 1 English paper, a sister paper of the country's no. 1 Swahili
paper, Mwanachi. Over the past 5 years the
two papers have given enormous support to my anti-drug campaign.
This morning at 6.30 I am due to take part in a breakfast program which hosted
me also this time five years ago - photos here.
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 46: Jacob and his whole
family, about 70 people,
took all their possessions and moved to Egypt.
God said to Jacob "I myself will go down to Egypt with you".
Joseph was ready for their arrival in Egypt.
As soon as his father appeared, Joseph ran to greet
him.
Joseph threw his arms around his father
and cried for a long time on his father's shoulder.
Jacob said to Joseph
"Now that I have seen you again,
I can die in peace".
Dear God, please help separated
family members to be re-united
Recording
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
Recording
2 Timothy 1.6-8:
I remind you to fan into a flame the gift that
God gave you
when I prayed over you with the laying on of hands. God's gift was not a spirit of timidity, but
the Spirit of power,
and love and self-control. Never be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord.
Like me and with me, put up with hardships for the sake of the Good News
Jesus, help me put up with hardships for the
sake of the Good News
Listen
Matthew
26.69-75: Peter went to the place where the religious
leaders had Jesus on trial.
A young woman in the courtyard of the place said to him
"You are a friend of the Galilean". In front of the woman and people
around her
Peter said "I don't know what you're talking about". Peter went to the gateway of the
place, where another woman said to people around her "This man is a
friend of the Galilean".
Peter replied strongly "I don't know the man". Not long after this a group of
people said to Peter
"You are his friend. We can tell by your Galilean accent". Then Peter even more strongly
replied "I do not know the man". At that very moment, a rooster
crowed.
Peter remembered Jesus' words "Before the rooster crows, you will
deny me three times". Peter went outside and wept loudly.
Jesus, please help me not to deny you. Give me courage to say "I am a Christian"
Listen
---------------
One of my favourites at the hotel where I am staying: fruit salad with ice
cream! It's like a meal ....and good for health!
--------------------
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 23rd 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 23rd
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Djibouti
Leone
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Jan 22
Hello
from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania where Sean Christie (investigative journalist
from South Africa) and I arrived around 10.15 pm on Monday night after our
flight from Nairobi was re-re-re-re-scheduled from 2pm to 6.15pm to 8.30pm to
9.05pm. Apparently this is a common game played by Kenya Airways.
On arrival in Dar I thought we had landed at the wrong place. No one had told me
to expect to see one of the most beautiful airports in the world ....opened last
year....built by a Middle East group. I was expecting to see the terrible mess
that was Dar airport when I was here 5 years ago. Well done Tanzania!
Despite a very late night, Sean and I hit the road running yesterday morning
with a most encouraging 9.30am visit to the Commissioner General (and his
Deputy) of the (National) Drug Control and Enforcement Agency (DCEA). CG once
studied at Griffith University in my home state of Queensland .... very pleasing
to see a Griffith graduate in one of the top jobs of his nation ....and he
shared many fond memories of the Gold Coast!
As Sean and I walked the short journey to the DCEA, our trip providentially took
us past St Joseph's Cathedral so I popped in for a quick prayer to ask a
blessing on these few days in Dar. Late afternoon I went back to the cathedral
for another visit ... to the chapel where they have 24 hour adoration. Following
my dear mother's tradition, I like to stay/live in a place near a church.
------------------------------
Chris McDonnell
Many
years on
It
is to Dimbley's credit that he stood his ground and his terrible story was
told.
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
45: When Joseph realized his older brothers
were sorry for having sold him as a slave
he was overcome and started crying loudly.
He told his brothers "I am your brother Joseph
whom you sold into Egypt.
God sent me here to provide food for you".
He hugged all his brothers and talked with them.
Joseph told his brothers to bring their father
and their families to Egypt since the famine would last for five more years.
Pharaoh was pleased that Joseph's brothers had come
and warmly invited them to live in Egypt.
The brothers returned to Canaan.
They told their father that Joseph was alive.
Their father Jacob was overcome with joy.
Dear God, please help separated
family members to be re-united
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
2
Timothy 1.1-5: From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle
of Christ Jesus, to Timothy, dear child of mine in the faith, wishing you
grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
I always remember your sincere faith. It came
first to live in your grandmother
Lois, then in your mother Eunice, and now
in yourself
Jesus, thank you for parents who pass on the
faith to their children
Listen
Matthew
26.47-56: While Jesus was still speaking, Judas
arrived.
Judas had with him a large crowd of men with swords and clubs,
sent by the religious leaders. Judas had told these men
"The one I kiss is the man. Take him". So Judas went up to Jesus, said "Greetings, Master" and kissed
him.
The men then seized Jesus.
Jesus said to them "Am I a robber that you needed to capture me
with swords and clubs? Day after day I was openly teaching in the
Temple".
All of Jesus' apostles then deserted him and ran away
Jesus, when I feel I am being
treated unfairly by other people,
may your arrest give me strength
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus can understand the terrible anxiety and sadness of everyone who has ever been arrested
---------------------------
On arrival at Dar es Salaam airport late on Monday night I
joined a queue and waited a long time (45 mins?) at the Vodafone shop to buy a
sim card ..... unsuccesfully ....since at midnight Vodafone's system was
changing to a finger recognition system ... and the system was terribly
overloaded with last minute applications. So yesterday morning I bought an
Airtel sim card from a street seller ... no finger recognition required.
-------------------------
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 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, 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
Dec 2018 - Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia
June 2019: my anti-drug campaign featured in The Malaysia Drug Trade
Oct 23, 2019: FM988 Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest
--------------------
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,
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Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com
HK
mobile +852- 67095674
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