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 July 6
Yesterday morning I was at the High Court for two cases of drug
trafficking .... both involving women who were pregnant when they arrived at HK
airport .... and whose babies have been born in HK (not at prison but in local
hospital). Babies are allowed to stay with mothers until they are 3 years
old.
Yesterday afternoon my social work assistant, Simon and I welcomed a group of students and teachers from Notre Dame O.M.I. College in Ma Tau Wei. ... for a visit to the MercyHK second hand shop and Dr Jesus Centre in Temple Street, Jordan, then a visit to some homeless people in rooms provided by MercyHK at the nearby Alhambra Building in Yau Ma Tei. Turns out the group has been involved for some time in the Friday night O.M.I. distribution of rice boxes to street sleepers in the Tokwawan area.
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
43: The famine continued
and so Jacob sent his sons back to Egypt to buy more grain.
This time Benjamin went with them,
even though Jacob worried greatly about his safety.
When the brothers arrived in Egypt
Joseph invited them to his home for a meal.
Simeon was allowed to join them.
The brothers still didn't recognize Joseph.
Joseph was moved when he saw Benjamin, his full blood brother.
Joseph left the company and cried for quite some time.
When Joseph rejoined the meal
he gave the brothers a hearty meal which they all enjoyed.
Joseph arranged that Benjamin's portion was extra large.
Dear God, please bless all
missing persons
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
95: Come ring out our joy to the Lord.
Hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him giving thanks.
With songs let us praise the Lord.
A mighty God is the Lord,
a great king above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth.
The heights of the mountains are his. To him belongs the sea, for he made it,
and the dry land shaped by his hands. Come in, let us bow and bend low.
Let us kneel before the God who made us.
For he is our God and we are the people who belong to his pasture.
Lord, you are our Creator. Our
life comes from you. We praise and love you, Lord
Listen
Acts
2.11-18:
When people heard the apostles' group
speaking in many different languages, some said the apostles were drunk. Peter stood up with the Eleven and said to the
crowd:
These people are not drunk. It's only 9am .... too early to drink.
What is happening is what God said through the prophet Joel: 'I, the Lord, will pour out my spirit on all
peoples. They will prophesy and see visions. I will pour out my spirit on
everyone'
Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on all peoples,
all nations
Listen
Luke
7.11-17:
Jesus and his disciples went to a town called
Nain. Many other people went with them. As they reached the town, a
dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and
she was a widow. When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her.
"Do not cry" he said. Then he said "Young man, I tell you
to get up". The dead man sat up and began to talk, and
Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God
saying "A great prophet has appeared among us. God has visited his
people".
Jesus, please give me the faith to pray that
dead people will come back to life - you who once told your disciples
"to raise the dead"
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Jesus "spoilt" every funeral he went to ... including his own!
------------------------------
When the Notre Dame group came to the Dr Jesus Centre
yesterday for a visit (see above), I shared with them that I lived and worked at
Notre Dame before any of them (including a teacher ... and my social work
assistant Simon) were born!
-------------------------------
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
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon July 5
After Mass at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei yesterday morning I joined an elderly woman and her family for a Yum Cha ... to offer encouragement after the sudden death of her son on June 27 .... the third son who has gone ahead of her to the next life. Her strong faith is giving her great strength at this terrible time.
Update
by Camay as she continues to courageously fight stage four lung cancer (..
click "translation" for English)
A very important article: The
influence of Liang Qi Chao on Xi Jin Ping
Helping MercyHK rent rooms for
homeless people - Carousell:
Shop 1
Shop
2 (updated lists) ***
Updated financial report for MercyHK is here
187: Everyone - especially people fighting cancer - welcome to come to Dr Jesus Centre 3pm - 4pm each Saturday for prayer for healing, at M/F, 187 Temple Street, Jordan (not far from Jordan MTR Exit A) ... next to MercyHK's second hand shop at 191 Temple Street.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis
42: In Joseph's home
country of Canaan,
the famine was very severe.
Joseph's father Jacob said to his sons
"I hear there is grain for sale in Egypt.
Go to Egypt and buy grain
for our families
so that we will not die".
All Joseph's brothers, except Benjamin, went to Egypt
and arrived at the place where Joseph was selling grain.
The brothers had not seen Joseph for about 20 years
and they didn't recognize him. But Joseph recognized
them.
Joseph put them to the test: he said they were spies,
and he told them to bring Benjamin to Egypt
to prove they were not spies.
He kept Simeon in prison until they returned with Benjamin.
Dear God, please help any
places in the world which are suffering from famine
My
recording of this reading
Psalm 94: O Lord, Judge of the earth,
how long will the wicked crush the poor? The wicked say "God does not hear".
But can he who made the ear, not hear? Blessed are those whom the Lord teaches.
The Lord gives them peace in troubled times. When cares increase in my heart,
God's consolation calms my soul.
Lord, when cares and troubles
increase, please help us to trust in you.
Listen
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
Listen
Luke
7.1-10: Jesus went to the town of Capernaum. In the
town there was a Roman soldier, a centurion, who had a dear servant who
has sick and close to death. Having heard about Jesus, the centurion sent
some Jewish friends to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. The Jewish friends said to Jesus "He
deserves this of you. He is friendly to our people. He is the one who
built our prayer hall". Jesus went with them, but before they
reached the house the centurion sent some servants with the message
"Sir, I am not worthy to receive you into my house. This is why I
didn't come to you personally. Just say a word, and my servant will
be healed". When Jesus heard these words, he said to the
crowd following him
"I have not found faith as great as this man's". When the messengers got back to the house,
they saw that the servant was healed and in perfect health.
"Jesus, I am not worthy to receive
you. Say but the word and I shall be healed" (prayer
from Communion service)
Reflection on the above readings: Not always, but nearly always, when Jesus healed people, he was answering a prayer of faith.
-------------------------
IQ
Question: What colour is energy?
(A: green ... and grey!)
...since "energy" contains "green" and "grey"!
--------------------
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.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun July 4
Yesterday morning after Mass at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei I attended a 9am-11am Voice for Prisoners meeting at the Dr Jesus Centre in Temple Street. Then a 11am to 12.00 meeting at the same centre with members of Narcotics Anonymous. Both meetings concerned with drugs. The first concerned with drug trafficking. The second with drug taking.
In the afternoon, again at the Dr Jesus Centre, I joined several special friends for the weekly prayer meeting to pray for healing, especially healing from cancer.
Today's Bible readings have special relevance to people in HK
.... where speaking the truth can be a health hazard, so to speak
Bible Study: John 6
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 14
Ezekiel
1-3: About
5 years after the first group of Jews were exiled to Babylon, Ezekiel received a
vision while he was with the exiles in Babylon. Ezekiel saw the glory of the
Lord and he heard a voice saying: "I
am choosing you to speak my message to the people. Whether the people
listen to you or not, you must keep on proclaiming my message. You are to be a
sentry to the House of Israel, a lookout who warns them of danger
coming."
Lord, please help people listen to your message and obey it
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
123: To you have I lifted up my
eyes, you who dwell in the heavens. My eyes, like the eyes of slaves on the hand
of their lords. Like the eyes of a servant on the hand of her mistress, so our
eyes are on the Lord our God till he show us mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have
mercy. We are filled with contempt.
Indeed all too full is our soul with the scorn of the rich, with the proud man's
disdain.
Lord, please protect poor people from being exploited by rich people
Listen
2
Corinthians 12: In
view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to
stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel
of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have
pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, "My
grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness." So I shall
be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ
may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and
with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ's
sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong
Listen
Mark
6.1-6: Jesus and his
disciples went to his home town of Nazareth. On the Sabbath he went to the
prayer hall and began teaching. People in the prayer hall were astonished at his
teaching. "Who does he think he is?" they asked. "He is just a
carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, Joset, Jude and Simon. His
sisters also are here." And they
would not accept him. So Jesus said to them "A prophet is despised
only in his own country". Because of their lack of faith, Jesus cured only
a few sick people there. He was amazed at the lack of faith in Nazareth.
Jesus, please help me be happy about your gifts to others
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Prophets are sometimes/often not welcome ... and sometimes/often experience weakness/contempt
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
-------------------------------
One
week ago a new MTR line opened (the Tsuen Ma line) which means I can travel from
my home in Jordan to Notre Dame College in Kowloon City by MTR (using
Austin and Sung Wong Toi stations) for Saturday night O.M.I. prayer/meal. But
last night I still caught the bus to Notre Dame ....because I was thoroughly
distracted by this
game of football and remembered the train only after I was on the bus! Got
train home!
------------------------------
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
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat July 3rd
Yesterday Simon, my social work assistant and I had our usual Friday lunch at the Dr Jesus Centre with a group of 5 women who work on Temple Street (... let the reader understand ...) ... all of them young mothers except for one who is a grandmother! After which we were joined by Sr Louise and Michael (MercyHK consultant) for the usual Friday afternoon gathering for homeless people. Two most meaningful gatherings.
Yesterday morning I spent time in communication with legal teams about several cases coming soon to the High Court .... and time also on the application of an African woman for refugee status in HK after she finishes her prison sentence. Such applications these days are rare and only possible when much evidence is available.
Coffee
with God! - daily readings
and reflections
Chris
McDonnell
Beads of Prayer
Beads can help us pray
-------------
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
For Feast
of St Thomas
Ephesians 2.19-22: In
God's Church you are not foreigners. You are citizens. You
are part of a building that has the
apostles and
prophets for its base. Christ Jesus himself is the foundation stone. You
are being built into a house where God lives
Jesus, be the foundation stone of my life
Recording
Psalm
117: O Praise the
Lord, all you nations. Acclaim
him, all you peoples! Strong is his love for us. He is
faithful for ever.
May all the nations love and praise you, Lord
Recording
John
20.21-29 (a): That
same Sunday evening, the doors were locked in the room where the disciples had
gathered, for fear of the religious leaders. But Jesus appeared and stood before
them, saying "Peace be with you". He showed them his hands and his
side and said "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you". Then he
breathed on them, saying "Receive the Holy Spirit". Thomas,
one of the 12 apostles, was not there that night. When the other disciples said
they had seen the Lord, he replied "Unless I see and touch his wounded
body, I refuse to believe"
Recording
John
20.21-29 (b): Eight
days later, the group was again in the same house, with the doors locked. This
time Thomas was
with them. Jesus
again appeared and stood before them saying "Peace be with you". Then
he said to Thomas "Put your hand into my side. Doubt no longer, but
believe". Thomas replied "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said
"You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen me
and yet believe"
Jesus, my Lord and my God, I believe in you. Help me live and grow and die in
your friendship
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: Pope Francis has said that each time we help a poor person, we lovingly touch Jesus' wounded side ... like Thomas
-------------------------
For
feast of St Thomas:
.jpg)
------------------------------
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 Burindi
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri July 2
Yesterday after morning Mass at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei, I went to
Lai Chi Kok men's prison, beginning with a visit to a nearby Subway branch when
they opened at 10am (public holiday) for a bacon and egg roll with Cappuccino,
and almost 7 hours later at the same Subway for a lovely Tuna roll with Sprite
(... very, very thirsty after a long hot day). At LCK I visited many day rooms
(each with around 30 men) as well as the hospital section and other areas ...
and spent the last hour at the welfare office putting numbers on around 100
booklets and Bibles which prisoners had requested. A long but most worthwhile
day. And 
see below!
July: month of the Precious Blood of Jesus
An
amazing story: The
singing of a London tramp, made into a moving recording: 
Jesus'
Blood Never Failed Me Yet (need
to turn volume up ...and wait for sound to begin at about 28 seconds...then
music at 4 mins). Words: Jesus'
blood never failed me yet, Never failed me yet, Jesus' blood never failed me
yet, There's one thing I know, For he loves me so (and
see comments!)
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 41: Two years later
Pharaoh had a dream:
he was standing by the river Nile
and saw 7 healthy cows feeding on the riverside.
Then he saw 7 sickly cows which ate the 7 healthy cows.
Pharaoh woke,
then had a second dream when he went back to sleep:
7 rich ears of corn on one stalk, followed by 7 withered ears
which ate the 7 rich ears.
None of Pharaoh's wise men could interpret the dreams.
Then the cup-bearer told Pharaoh
how Joseph could understand dreams.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph
and Joseph told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams:
the 7 healthy cows and 7 rich ears meant 7 good years for Egypt;
the 7 sickly cows and 7 withered ears meant 7 years of famine.
Joseph also told Pharaoh what to do:
use a tax to collect one fifth of all grain in the 7 good years;
then during the 7 years of famine use the collected grain to feed Egypt.
Pharaoh and his ministers were so impressed by Joseph's wisdom
that Pharaoh made Joseph governor of the whole of Egypt,
second only to Pharaoh himself.
Pharaoh gave Joseph Asenath, a priest's daughter, as his wife.
Joseph was now 30 years old, having spent more than 10 years in Egypt.
For the next 7 years Joseph traveled all over Egypt,
supervising the collection of grain.
Before the famine began,
Joseph and Asenath had two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.
When the famine began, Pharaoh told the Egyptians
"Go to Joseph and do what he tells you".
People from all over Egypt and from other countries
went to Joseph to buy grain during the famine.
Dear
God, thank you for turning things around in Joseph's life
01
02
Psalm
93: The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed,
he has girded himself with power. The world you made firm, not to be moved.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are. The oceans and coastlines of the world
are majestic and powerful. But greater than the roar of mighty waters,
more glorious than the surging of the sea
is the Lord on high.
Such a Lord, such a Creator, such a God.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house
O Lord, always and everywhere.
We praise you, Lord, our
Creator
Listen
Acts
1.15-26:
During these days, Peter spoke to a group of about 120 disciples:
"As you know, Judas hanged himself after betraying Jesus. We must now
choose someone to take Judas' place, someone who has been with us since
the time when John was baptizing". Two men were nominated, Joseph and Matthias.
After prayer was offered, Matthias was chosen. He was listed as one of the
12 apostles
Jesus, please protect your church from
betrayal and disloyalty
Listen
Luke
6.46-49: In his teaching, Jesus said "Why do you call
me 'Lord', yet do not do what I ask you to do? Anyone who comes to me and listens to my words
and puts them into practice is like a man who built his house on a solid
foundation. That house was so well
built that even floods could not damage it. But anyone who listens and does not put my
words into practice is like a man who built his house without a
foundation. As soon as floods came, the house collapsed".
Jesus, please help me put your words into
practice; help me apply them in my daily life
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: One of my favourite movies is Joseph, King of Dreams - about Joseph in today's first reading. I have seen the movie many dozens of times ... in English classes with students.
-------------------------
In one of the dayrooms I visited yesterday morning at Lai
Chi Kok men's prison, one of the guards mentioned how he sometimes sees me in
the Jordan - Yau Ma Tei area. Last night when I got back to Temple Street about
6.30 I met the same guard, in ordinary dress, near MercyHK's second hand shop in
Temple Street. After checking the shop he also paid a visit to the next door Dr
Jesus Centre!
-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: 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 Niger
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 Fujian
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu July 1
On yesterday's menu, below, I mentioned the case of an African lady in prison in HK who is asking help to pay for her children's education. Well, four kind readers contacted me yesterday.... for which I am most grateful. Also, yesterday I forgot to put link to woman's story, illustrated as part of my anti-drug campaign
HK
a year after start of National Security Law ***
HK
judiciary should carry out Beijing's will
Cheerful
update from Camay who is continuing her battle against stage four lung
cancer
Everything's a miracle!
Sleep is the all round miracle
cure
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Genesis 40: Even in jail, God
protected Joseph.
When two of Pharaoh's officials,
his cup-bearer and his baker
also were put in jail,
Joseph was able to interpret dreams they had.
The cup-bearer dreamt he picked grapes
and made wine for Pharaoh's cup.
Joseph told him the meaning of his dream:
in three days he'd be free
and back at work as Pharaoh's cup-bearer.
The baker dreamt that birds ate bread from a tray on top of his head.
Joseph told him:
"In three days you'll be hanged, and birds will eat your flesh."
And so it happened as Joseph had said:
on the third day
the cup-bearer went back to work in Pharaoh's palace
while the baker was hanged.
Joseph asked the cup-bearer to help him get out of jail,
but when the cup-bearer was free, he forgot about Joseph.
Dear God, please
bless everyone who has ever helped me
Recording
Psalm 92: It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning,
and your truth right through the night. Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad.
For the work of your hands, I shout with joy. To me you give the wild ox's strength.
You anoint me with the purest oil. May we love and praise you right through our
lives,
right till the end of our days. May we keep on proclaiming your goodness,
proclaiming that in you, our rock, there is only goodness.
Lord, it is right and fitting
to love and praise you
Recording
Acts 1.12-14: After Jesus went up to heaven from the Mount
of Olives, the apostles went back down to Jerusalem, a walk of about half
a kilometer. They gathered in an upstairs room which they used as
a meeting place. The 11 apostles were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip,
Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon and Jude. They spent a long time praying. With them were
several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and also Jesus'
brothers.
Jesus, your apostles' group spent
special time in prayer preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit. I now
ask them in heaven to pray that the Holy Spirit will increase his
influence in my life
Listen
Luke 6.41-45: In his teaching, Jesus said "Why do you
notice the splinter in someone else's eye, but don't notice the plank in
your own eye? Deal with your own faults before you start correcting
other people. A good tree does not produce bad fruit. A bad
tree does not produce good fruit. The fruit tells you what sort of tree it
came from. So with people: their words and actions tell
you what their heart is like - good or bad
Jesus, please help me be a good person,
producing good fruit
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Concerning the reading from Acts, Hudson Taylor wrote: “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.”
---------------
Australians are famous for betting on anything. These days, when Covid-19 is causing
football locations to be changed at short notice, maybe they can start
betting not on the result of a game, but on where the game will be played!
--------------------
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
----------------------------
Wed June 30
Yesterday after the monthly overnight O.M.I. retreat at Sheung
Shui finished at midday, I went to nearby Lo Wu women's prison for 4 hours where
I met dozens of prisoners including a very special one from Africa who was not
long ago sentenced for drug trafficking ... a mother of 5 children .... sick
husband .... unable to pay medical and school bills ....a vulnerable target for
Drug Lord recruiters .... now facing another 5 years in prison (already two
years). She had sent me a most beautiful thank you letter for writing a
mitigation letter for when she was sentenced. Her letter was most unusual: it
did not ask for anything (as most letters do).
So I made a point of visiting her to say thank
you for such a letter. I then asked her if she would like some help to do a
study course ... to which she used words that really moved me: "If you can
spare some money to help me study, don't give it to me, please send it to my
husband to help our children study, since 2 of them have had to leave school
because school fees could not be paid". I don't usually get involved in
such help for families .... help one and 50 others will ask why not help them
also ... where to get such funds? But in this very special case I will try to
help. I cannot use MercyHK funds (... only allowed to be used to help poor
people inside HK ...). I will try to find some money. If anyone would like to
help: jdwomi@gmail.com (.. and see
below!)
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Genesis 39: The slave traders took
Joseph to Egypt
and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's top officials.
God was with Joseph.
God blessed everything Joseph did.
Because Joseph did everything so well
Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household and all his possessions.
Because of Joseph, God blessed Potiphar and all his interests.
Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph who was very handsome.
But day after day Joseph refused to sleep with her.
Then one day when Joseph again refused her,
she tore his clothes and started screaming.
She claimed Joseph had tried to seduce her.
Potiphar believed his wife and he put Joseph in jail.
Dear God, please
don't let me cause other people to do wrong
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
91: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
says to the Lord "you are my refuge in whom I trust". The Lord will hide you and protect you.
Under his wings you will find refuge. You will not fear any night time terror,
nor any attack during the day. Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels
to keep you safe in all your ways.
Dear God, thank you for your
protection day and night
Listen
Acts
1.6-11: On the day he was taken up to heaven, Jesus
said to his apostles "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in every part of the
world". As he said this, he was lifted up while they
watched.
A cloud took him from their sight. Then two angels appeared to them and said
"Jesus who has been taken up from you, will come back some day in the
same way as you have seen him leave".
Jesus, help me be your witness by the way I
think and speak and live
Listen
Luke
6.27-38: Jesus said to the people
"Love your enemies. Do good to people who hate you. Pray for people
who are unkind to you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
Be compassionate as your heavenly Father is
compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn,
and you will not be condemned. Grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give,
and there will be gifts for you. The amount you measure out is the amount
you will be given back"
Jesus, bless ....(name)....who was
unkind to me
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: Not easy, but good (make that necessary!) for good health: forgiveness of those who are unkind to us!
---------------------------
True story: 2 or 3 years ago at Lo Wu women's prison, a
woman whose first language is not English ... in front of 2 women staff officers
and several other prisoners .... asked me if I would like a big
kiss. I wasn't sure what was going on but to go along with the joke (?) I
said "no problem" .... at which she gave me a small packet of biscuits!
Well, yesterday, after I'd be visiting many workshops and day rooms for nearly 3
hours on an empty stomach (I had skipped lunch at retreat centre in order to
have more time at the prison) ....after I'd seen around 30 prisoners ... just as
I entered another workshop one prisoner came for a chat ...it was the
"biscuit" lady. And just as we were joking as usual about the biscuit
story, the workshop's lady officer went to the door because a lady welfare
officer (knowing I hadn't had any lunch) kindly gave the officer something to
give me: a packet of biscuits!!! What timing! Heaven has a sense of humour! The
biscuit lady and I had a great laugh... as did the officer when she heard about
the story!
-------------------------
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 30th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanghai
& Tianjin
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Haiti
& Nepal
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
----------------------------
========
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
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This website was launched in construction
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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
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .