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
MercyHK
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?
Name
& shame
JesusTower
GoodNewsForPoor
Dr
Jesus
China8
SimpleBible
MatteoRicci
Tues May 25
Yesterday morning I had my second
BioNTech vaccine. No side effects thank Goodness. From the vaccine centre I went
to the nearby home of Camay for a prayer with her and her family as she
courageously continues her battle against stage four lung cancer. Her
FB page has latest updates. Before going to the vaccine centre in Mei Foo I
went to nearby Lai Chi Kok men's prison to hand in some books for prisoners I
visited last Wednesday.
The man
who seized power in Burma - Jesus, please zap him as you zapped Saul on the
way to Damascus!
In this week after Pentecost, please join me in praying the Sequence of Pentecost each day
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi: Pride of heart leads us astray.
See how they are listless, those whose souls are not at peace
Lord, I have heard of all your wonderful deeds in the past. Do them again in our day, Lord!
Even when everything seems hopeless, I trust in you Lord, I praise you Lord.
Seek the Lord, all you humble people. Seek integrity, seek humility.
In the days to come, people will say "We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you".
Rejoice heart and soul, people of Jerusalem. See, your king comes to you. He is humble and riding on a donkey.
Dear God, thank you for all the
beautiful teachings and stories in "The Old Testament", ("The First
Testament"). I now look forward to your message in "The New Testament"
("The Second Testament")
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
35-37: O Lord, please save me from people who slander
me,
you who rescue the weak from the strong, you whose love is so precious,
you in whose light we see light. We believe that if we find our delight in you,
you will grant our heart's desire. And so we commit our lives to you,
confident you will help us in time of trouble.
Lord, please deepen our trust
in you,
especially in time of trouble
Listen
Revelation
1.9-17:
I, John, share your sufferings. I was on the
island of Patmos, imprisoned for having preached about Jesus. One Sunday the
Spirit possessed me. I heard a
voice shouting
"Write down all you see, and send it to the seven churches of
Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea".
I turned to see who had spoken to me, and I
saw Jesus,
full of glory. His face was like the sun shining with all its force. He said to me "Do not be afraid. It is I,
the First and the Last. I am the Living One"
Jesus, Living One, we praise and adore you,
Lord
Listen
Luke
1.5-25:
When Herod was king of Judea, there was a
priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth who were really good people,
but they were childless.
Once when they went to the Temple in Jerusalem, Zechariah entered the
inner sanctuary to burn incense, while all the people prayed outside. An
angel appeared and said "Zechariah, your prayer has been heard. Your
wife will have a son and you must name him John.
He will prepare the way of the Lord". Not
long after this, Elizabeth conceived, and for 5 months she kept to
herself, thanking God for taking away her humiliation at not being able to
have a baby
Jesus, please help childless couples to have a baby
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: The seven churches of Revelation are in geographical order ...as you travel to them along the road!
------------------------------
More than once over the past week I have searched for my
mask before leaving various venues .... only to find that my mask is already on
my face!
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon May 24
I had a long but happy day yesterday for Pentecost Sunday.... had meetings with a number of special groups and people from after 10am Mass until 8pm.
Some
HK prisons are like a sauna in this extremely hot weather
In this week after Pentecost, please join me in praying the Sequence of Pentecost each day
Helping MercyHK rent rooms for
homeless people - Carousell:
Shop 1
Shop
2 (updated lists)
187: Everyone - especially people fighting cancer - welcome to come to Dr Jesus Centre 2.30pm - 3.30pm each Saturday for prayer for healing, at M/F, 187 Temple Street, Jordan (not far from Jordan MTR Exit A) ... next to MercyHK second hand shop at 191 Temple Street.
My article in today's Ming Pao newspaper has the topic: I'm having my second jab today! It's on Ming Pao website - click "Australian in HK". Text without recording
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Micah
5-7: Bethlehem, you are the least important town
in Judah,
but Israel's future ruler will come from you. He will shepherd our people with the power
of God.
He himself will be our source of peace. My people, remember what God has done for you.
Remember how God wants you to live. This is what God asks of you:
act justly, love tenderly,
and walk humbly with your God.
Lord, please help me act
justly, love tenderly,
and walk humbly with you
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
34:
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast,
the humble shall hear and be glad. Glorify the Lord with me, together let us
praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me.
From all my terrors he set me free. The angel of the Lord is encamped around those
who revere the Lord, to rescue them. Taste and see that the Lord is
good.
They are happy who seek refuge in him. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted.
Those whose spirits are crushed he will save.
Lord, by our Bible reading and
prayer, may we taste and see your goodness each day
Listen
Revelation
1.4-8: From John, to the seven churches of Asia
province:
grace and peace to you
from him who is, who was, and who is to come,
from the seven spirits at his throne,
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the First-born from the dead,
the Ruler of the kings of the earth. Jesus Christ loves us and has washed away our
sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings
and priests to serve his
God and Father. It is he who will come on the clouds.
Everyone, in every part of the world, will see him.
All hearts will be moved by his coming. "I am the beginning and the end",
says the Lord God.
"I am the originator and goal of all things"
Jesus, please help more and more people know
who you are
01
02
Luke
1.1-4: Dear
Friend of God, there are already many reports written about
Jesus.
These reports come from people who were the earliest
eyewitnesses and ministers of the Good News.
After checking the whole story, I also have decided to write a report, so
that you may see for yourself the truth and accuracy of the Good News
Jesus, help me understand
your Good News
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: In this week after Pentecost we pray: Dear Holy Spirit, please increase my love for the Bible!
-------------------------
Yesterday
was the hottest May day in HK since records began! (... good news for
street sleepers ... government shelters are open!)
--------------------
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 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, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
May 23
P E N T E C O S T S U N D A Y
Wishing all dear readers a Happy Pentecost!
COME HOLY SPIRIT! FALL AFRESH ON OUR WORLD!
Especially
today let's ask the Holy Spirit to give wisdom and courage to world leaders to
deal with Covid-19
Chinese
meat workers in Australia treated like slaves
Bible Study: Luke 12
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for Pentecost
Acts
2.1-4: About ten days after
Jesus' ascension to heaven, was the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus'
12 apostles, his mother, several other women, and his brothers were together in
one room. Suddenly
they heard what sounded like a powerful wind. Tongues of fire appeared and came
to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit,
and began to speak foreign languages
Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me. Fall afresh on our world
My
recording of this reading
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.
Lord, send forth your Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth
Recording
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...)
Recording
John
15-16: Jesus
said to his disciples: "When the
Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth
who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. When
the Spirit of truth comes, he
will lead you to the complete truth. He
will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything
the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All
he tells you will
be taken from what is mine"
O Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth, fall afresh on our world!
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
The
Day of Pentecost (good!)
Hudson Taylor: "Since the days of Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that the Spirit's power might be manifested? We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power."
My 2013 article: The forgotten Paraclete
Video
commentary on today's readings - in Italian, Chinese, English, and
Spanish
(+
Cantonese audio)
-------------------------------
Hour
of Love HK radio program 8.30
pm HK time tonight
- with items about HK prison inmates
-------------------------------
For
Pentecost Sunday:
Once
when
Pope John XXIII went to visit the Hospital of the Holy Spirit in Rome, a nun
answering the door said: "Holy Father, I'm the mother superior of the Holy
Spirit." He replied: "Lucky you! What a job! I'm just the 'servant of
the servants of God.' "
------------------------------
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 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, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat May 22
Tomorrow
is Pentecost
Sunday
Come Holy Spirit!
A
simple little song to the Holy Spirit - to the tune of "The
Stabat Mater" - listen to it here:
Flowing
from the heart of Jesus,
Living River, Holy Spirit,
Fill our hearts and flow through us
-based on today's Gospel, below!
Yesterday I attended morning Mass at St Eugene de Mazenod Oblate Primary School (for the anniversary feastday of St Eugene de Mazenod). Then I had lunch at the Dr Jesus Centre in Temple Street with four young mothers from China ( ... let the reader understand ..). Then at 3pm, also at the Dr Jesus Centre, with social work assistant Simon, animated a gathering for about 15 homeless people (... we hope this gathering can be every Friday). Then last night, one more time at the Dr Jesus Centre, I had a meeting with Eddie Chan (A director of MercyHK), Monica (MercyHK recorder), Lucia (in charge of new centre for women on Cheung Chau Island) and Ruth (recorder for Cheung Chau). A busy day for the Dr Jesus Centre!
Coffee
with God! - daily readings
and reflections
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Vigil of Pentecost
Joel
1-4: My country has
been invaded. Joy has disappeared from the land. Priests, put on sackcloth, and
lament. Proclaim a fast to pray for our nation. Turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion. Call out to the Lord for help.
"Spare your people, Lord!" The Lord replies: "I will save and
rescue you. I
will pour out my spirit on all peoples. Everyone will prophesy and see visions. You
will learn that I am the Lord your God. Jerusalem will be a holy place."
Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit on all nations
My
recording of this reading
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!
Recording
Romans
8.14-21: Everyone
moved by the Spirit is a child of God. The Spirit lets us use children's
language to speak to God tenderly as "Abba, Father". Since
we are God's children, we are also his heirs, coheirs with Jesus, sharing his
suffering so as to share his glory. What we suffer in this life can never be
compared with the glorious life we will have in heaven. The whole of creation
looks forward to sharing the same glory, to sharing immortality.
Holy Spirit, please help us pray!
Recording
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
Recording
Reflection
on the above readings: One
of my favorite songs: Everyone
moved by the Spirit
---------------------------
So many good things happened yesterday, with cream
on the cake being the
win last night by my team the Brisbane Lions over last year's premiers Richmond
------------------------------
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 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, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri May 21
On
this day in 1861, in Marseilles, a French bishop died at the age of 78. He had
been born into an aristocratic family which was forced to flee from the French
Revolution. His family went to Italy as refugees. His parents had an unhappy
marriage and eventually divorced. In Italy the young Eugene de Mazenod had an
overpowering experience of the love of Jesus on the Cross. Eugene became a
priest and dedicated himself to serving the poorest parts of French society such
as prisoners and domestic servants. To further his work he joined with other
priests to form a new congregation in the Church. The group came to be known as the Oblates
of Mary Immaculate.
Today the Oblates have around 4,000 members working for the poor in most
countries of the world. Saint
Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us!
To help me in my anti-drug campaign, I need a volunteer research
assistant for a number of jobs ...e.g. using social media to obtain information ....can work from home.
Please email me for more info: jdwomi@gmail.com
Lessons
for other countries here: Five
ways India's government needs to improve (...also ... 117
priests died of Covid between April 10 & May 14 in India)
To
prepare for
Pentecostst (May
31) lelet's
reflect on the Holy Spirit:
The dove: At
the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to Baptism, a dove released
by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the
earth was again habitable. When
Jesus comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove,
comes down upon him and remains with him. The Spirit comes down and remains in
the purified hearts of the baptized. In
some churches, the Eucharist is reserved in a metal receptacle in the form of a dove (columbarium)
suspended above the altar. Christian
iconography traditionally uses a dove to
suggest the Spirit. - CCC
701
In this week before Pentecost, let's
often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
Chris
McDonnell
Prophecy
in our times
On many occasions strangers listen to us when those closest to us turn away
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Micah 1-4: In the future, the mountain of the Temple of
the Lord
will be the most important place in the world. All nations will come to this place.
They will say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord
so that he may teach us his ways
and we may walk in his paths. Nations will not lift sword against
nation.
There will be no more training for war.
Yes
please, Lord, stop nations fighting each other. Please give peace to our world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
33: Ring out your joy to the Lord, all good
people,
for praise is fitting for loyal hearts. For the Lord loves justice and right;
he fills the earth with his love. By his word the heavens were made,
he spoke and the universe came into being. They are happy, whose God is the
Lord,
he is the source of all true joy. May your love be upon us, O Lord,
since we place all our trust in you.
Lord, we trust in your precious
love
Listen
Jude:
From Jude, servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
to those who are dear to God the Father and kept safe,
wishing you mercy and peace and love I write with urgency to appeal to you:
stand up for the faith that has been entrusted to us. Some false teachers have infiltrated our ranks.
They reject the teaching of our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
They say "anything goes" in the area of morality. Such teaching, such people, must be opposed.
Be kind to such people, but with great caution. To God who saves us through Jesus Christ our Lord,
be glory and all honor, now and forever
Jesus, please protect your church from false
teachers
Listen
John
21.15-17: After they had eaten, Jesus said to Peter
"Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter answered "Yes
Lord, you know I love you". Jesus said to him "Feed my
lambs". A second time Jesus asked him "Simon, son
of John, do you love me?" He replied "Yes Lord, you know I love
you".
Jesus said to him "Look after my sheep". Then he asked a third time "Simon, son of
John, do you love me?" An unhappy Peter replied "Lord, you know
everything. You know I love you". Jesus said "Feed my
sheep"
Jesus, you know I love you. Increase my
love
My reflection on today's Gospel
-------------------------
Yesterday afternoon's weekly Thursday gathering for
homeless people at the Ginkgo restaurant in the Alhambra Building was, as usual,
a very happy occasion. From today there will be a similar gathering for the same
group each Friday at the Dr Jesus Centre ... with the hope that people don't get
the locations and days mixed 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: 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 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, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu May 20
After morning Mass at St Paul's Parish Yau Ma Tei yesterday
morning, I went to Lai Chi Kok men's prison .... grateful for the energy to keep
going for about 7 hours .... not bad for an old fellow on a very hot day. But I
came away sad after reflecting on the fact that really good people who have used
nothing but peaceful means all their lives to serve HK ... are now locked up as
criminals. A Higher Court awaits those responsible for this great
injustice.
Everything's a miracle!
The
miracle of speech!
To
prepare for Pentecost (May 23) let's reflect on the Holy Spirit:
The
finger is
another symbol of the Holy Spirit. It was by the
finger of God that Jesus cast
out demons. If God's law was written on tablets of stone "by the
finger of God," then the "letter from
Christ" entrusted to the care of the apostles, is written "with the
Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human
hearts." The hymn Veni Creator
Spiritus invokes the Holy Spirit as " the finger of
the Father's right hand." - CCC
700
In this week before Pentecost, let's
often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Jonah 2-4: God arranged for a big fish to swallow Jonah.
Jonah was in the fish for 3 days. Inside the fish, Jonah prayed to God for help.
God heard Jonah's prayer and got the fish to vomit Jonah on the shore. Again God told Jonah to preach repentance in
Nineveh.
This time Jonah did as God requested.
"Forty days and Nineveh will be destroyed" he proclaimed. The people of Nineveh believed God's message.
They put on sackcloth and ashes. They fasted and prayed.
They repented of their evil behavior. God saw their change of heart and spared
Nineveh.
Jonah complained to God:
"Your change of mind will cause me a big loss of face." God said to Jonah:
"Do I not have the right to show compassion to my people?"
Lord, please help me repent of
bad behavior
Recording
Psalm 32: Happy is the person whose sin is
forgiven. For a while I refused to ask for forgiveness,
and my body paid the penalty. But then I said "Lord, forgive me"
and my spirit and body revived.
Lord, when I do wrong, please give me the grace to say sorry and ask forgiveness
Recording
3 John: From the Elder to my dear friend
Gaius.
People have told me of your faithfulness to the
truth. It is always a great joy for me
when I hear that my children are living according to the truth.
Thank you for your hospitality to believers who travel to spread the
Good News. Such people deserve whatever support we can give them
Jesus, please bless people who travel to
spread the Good News
Listen
John 17.20-26:
Reflection on the above Bible readings: In this week before Pentecost, Christians around the world pray for Christian Unity ... just as Jesus prayed in today's Gospel ... "May they all be one"
---------------
To
survive in the heat at Lai Chi Kok men's prison yesterday I had a small
carton/packet of cold chocolate milk (from a machine in the prison) around 11am,
then another one around 1.30 and a third around 3.30. After leaving the prison
just before 5pm I went to a nearby Subway for a lovely tuna salad roll with a
large lemonade .... followed by an ice cream from McDonald's on arrival back in
Jordan! (Oh no! I just found this!)
--------------------
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 20th 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 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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed May 19
Yesterday at the Dr Jesus Centre in Temple Street I attended a
lunch meeting with members of my NGO Voice
for Prisoners. Having received a grant from the government Beat
Drugs Fund (providing 50% funding) we are in the process of employing two
part-time helpers to work for our anti-drug campaign.
Today, a public holiday in HK for the Birthday of Buddha, I'm hoping to spend some time at Lai Chi Kok men's prison ... having not paid a lengthy visit for some time
To prepare for Pentecost (May 23) let's reflect on the Holy Spirit - today: The
Hand
The hand is
another symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus heals the sick and blesses little
children by laying hands on
them. In his name the apostles will do the same. It is by the Apostles'
imposition of hands that
the Holy Spirit is given. The
Church has kept this sign of the all-powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit by
having the priest at Mass extend his hands over
the bread and wine as he says "Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to
make them holy" CCC
699
In
this week before Pentecost, let's
often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Jonah 1: God said to Jonah: "Go to the city of
Nineveh and preach repentance." Jonah was afraid to go to
Nineveh. He ran away.
He boarded a ship for Tarshish.
When the ship was at sea, a great storm hit the ship. The sailors drew lots to see who was
responsible for this bad luck.
The lot chose Jonah who admitted his guilt in disobeying God. The sailors then threw Jonah overboard.
The sea immediately became calm again.
Lord,
please help me agree to do anything you ask me to do
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
31: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in
distress.
My eyes are full of tears, my heart full of sorrow. Everyone makes fun of me. My friends don't want to know me.
Save me, Lord, from this mess. I praise you Lord, for you protect those who trust you.
You keep them safe from slander and lies. Be strong, let your heart take
courage,
all you who trust in the Lord
I trust in you, Lord. My life
is in your hands
Listen
2
John: In our life of truth and love,
we have grace, mercy and peace from God the Father
and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. I write not to give you any new commandment,
but the one we were given at the beginning:
let us love one another; let us live a life of love. Keep to what Jesus
taught.
Don't follow anyone who changes what Jesus taught
Jesus, please protect me from people who distort
your message
Listen
John
17.1-21:
After saying many things to his disciples at the meal, Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed "Father, my time has come. Give eternal life to everyone you have entrusted to
me.
Eternal life is this: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have
sent.
I have glorified you on earth, and finished the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with the glory I had with you before the world existed.
Protect those you have given me. Protect them from Satan. Consecrate them in the
truth.
As you sent me into the world, so I am sending them into the world. May all my followers be united, so that the world will believe it was you who sent me".
Jesus, please protect our world from lies and
deception. Please bless people who witness to the truth in difficult
situations
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: In this week before Pentecost, Christians around the world pray for Christian Unity ... just as Jesus prayed in today's Gospel ... "May they be one"
---------------------------
For yesterday's lunch meeting at the Dr Jesus Centre I
served my specialty: Club Sandwiches and soup (from nearby canteen). Delicious!
-------------------------
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 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, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues May 18
Yesterday morning I went to nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital to
help 2 African prisoners apply for medical reports .... before they soon leave
HK after finishing their long sentences.
Office work took up most of the rest of the day ... one job being to transfer a
small donation to the Sikh Temple in HK for their India Covid appeal (following
the good example of my local district councillor Frank Ho who promoted the
appeal through W/App)
Update
from Camay who is making a remarkable recovery from stage 4 lung cancer
To
prepare for Pentecost (May
23) let's reflect on the Holy Spirit each day this week:
The seal is
a symbol close to that of anointing. "The Father has set his seal"
on Christ and also seals us
in him. Because this seal indicates
the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, the image of the seal (sphragis)
has been used in some theological traditions to express the indelible
"character" imprinted by these three unrepeatable sacraments. CCC
698
In this week before Pentecost let's often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Amos
1-9: It was God who formed the mountains
and created the wind.
The Lord is his name. He says to the House of Israel: Seek me and you shall live.
Do not go to the places of idol worship. Seek good and not evil, so that you may live.
Hate evil and love good. Injustice and swindling, exploitation of the
poor,
this is the reason for earthquakes and disaster.
Lord,
please help me to do good and avoid evil
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
29-30: The Lord gives us strength, the Lord blesses
us with peace.
Thank you, Lord, for so often helping and healing me.
I cried to you when sickness surrounded me, and you healed me. You changed my mourning into dancing.
So I will thank you always.
Thank you, Lord, for all the
times you have healed me
Listen
1
John 4.20 - 5.13:
Anyone who says "I love God"
but hates his brother, is a liar. A man who does not love the brother he can see
cannot love God whom he has never seen. Who can overcome the world?
Only the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his Son. You who believe in the Son of God
have eternal life. Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God
Listen
Mark
16.9-20:
After he rose from the dead, Jesus appeared
first to Mary of Magdala, from whom he had cast out 7 devils. Next
he appeared to two of his disciples while they were on a journey. Then he appeared to the 11 apostles. He said
to them "Go everywhere in the world. Proclaim the Good News to all
creation.
Anyone who believes and is baptized, will be saved.
Anyone who refuses to believe, will be condemned.
These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils,
they will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands, they will be unharmed if they drink poison,
they will lay their hands on the sick, who will be healed".
And so, the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to
them, was taken up to heaven, while they, going out, preached everywhere,
the Lord working with them and confirming their message by the miracles that
accompanied the message
Lord Jesus, may more and more
people all over the world believe in you
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Healing by prayer features in today's Gospel and today's psalms ... not just something from long ago but something today... as in FB page of Camay, above
------------------------------
When I was half way home from a visit to the 5/F chapel at
Yau Ma Tei early last night, I realised I had left my rosary beads behind. So I
walked back to the chapel and sure enough my trusty wooden beads (which I can
take into prisons with me) were waiting for me on the seat I had used. Old
age?!?
-------------------------------
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 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, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
------------------------
========
Africa:
2020: My trip to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg
2017:
My trip to Southern Africa, Dubai (
The
Last Run)
2016:
My trip to Kenya, Uganda
2015: My trip to Tanzania, Malawi
----------------
Latin America:
2019-05-10: No More Mules Peru FB boost 199,000 views!
2019-01-20: Article in El Pais, Uruguay - 01 02
2018-09-18: No More Mules Facebook campaign - more than 300,000 people reached in Venezuela
2018: My trip to Latin America
----------------
South East Asia:
Aug 16, 2020: CNN - Indonesian women recruited to take drugs to Hong Kong
Oct 23, 2019: FM988 Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest
June 2019: My campaign featured in The Malaysia Drug Trade (6 written reports & documentary video)
2019-03-25: Eleven HK01 video and photo reports about Malaysian drug mules arrested in HK- here (one of the reports is about my anti-drug campaign).
Dec 2018 - My Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia
2018: My trip to Thailand and Cambodia
--------------------
Hong Kong:
July 2019: My warning to HK domestic helpers - published here in HK Filipino media
2018-09-22:
My
60 min video interview with Radio99,
in Cantonese, is here: 01 02
to help stop people going to prison
2018-07-29: SCMP- Beware drug lords luring domestic helpers, refugees into narcotics trade
2018-04-08: The Pearl Report on TVB - concerning HK's Long Term Sentencing Review Board and my anti-drug campaign
March 18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work
2017-12-01: Report in Chinese in Ming Pao Magazine
2017-09-27: SCMP Spirit of HK Awards (video starts after 20 secs)
2017-08-24: Cable TV video report on my anti-drug campaign and a Facebook report on the video report (click "translation" for English)
2027-05-18: SCMP - The prison chaplain who has stopped 150 drug mules reaching HK
2017-03-25: Oriental
Daily
report of case of South African woman given discount for help to my campaign
*** May
14 updates:
Oriental
Daily, Apple
Daily, Sing
Tao
Dec 1, 2016 - HK News: More women being recruited as drug mules
2016-10-13: HK01 report about campaign and about work for the poor
2016-09-11: Oriental Daily report about my campaign - and same day Editorial
2016-08-27: Oriental Daily article about court case and campaign
My
anti-drug campaign sites
(skillfully
managed by kind HK friends):
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomasmulas/
Facebook: Chinese no more mules page
((Facebook: AddisAbabaDrugTrade; KenyaDrugTrade; TanzaniaDrugTrade; JohannesburgDrugTrade; SaoPauloDrugTrade; MalaysiaDrugTrade; ThailandDrugTrade; HongKongDrugTrade; CambodiaDrugTrade; IndonesiaDrugTrade)) (blocked by FB Oct 2020)
http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm
----------------------
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
---------------------
---------------------
Australian Chinese for
Families Association
Gay marriage: Elephant in the room (by John W)
--------------------------------------------
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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .