V2Catholic.comDr Jesus Centre 187 Temple St Jordan
A
voice for the poor
by HK prison chaplain
胡頌恆神父
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I.
jdwomi@gmail.com
W/App +852 67095674
Imitating
Pope Francis
Tues Feb 21
Yesterday with another director of Voice
for Prisoners I attended a most interesting meeting at a consulate in HK
..... mainly discussing the drug trafficking situation in HK and overseas
Laudato
Si:
12. What is more, Saint Francis, faithful to
Scripture, invites us to see
nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse
of his infinite beauty and goodness.
"Through the greatness and the beauty of creatures one comes to know by
analogy their maker" indeed, "his eternal power and divinity have been
made known through his works since the creation of the world". For this
reason, Francis asked that part of the friary garden always be left untouched,
so that wild flowers and herbs could grow there, and those who saw them could
raise their minds to God, the Creator of such beauty. Rather than a problem
to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and
praise.
Pope
asking us to re-read main documents of Vatican 2.
My reflection on
Article 1
of Document on Revelation
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
4: Moses said to
God
"What if the people won't believe you sent me?"
God said "Throw your staff onto the ground."
When Moses threw his staff onto the ground,
it became a snake.
"Catch it by the tail" said God.
When Moses caught it by the tail,
it changed back into a staff.
Moses said to God "I'm a poor speaker."
God said "Aaron your older brother can be your mouthpiece.
Now go back to
Dear
God, God of Moses and Aaron, we praise you Lord
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
82-83: God says to corrupt officials:
"How long will you judge unjustly and mistreat the poor?
You should do justice for the weak and the orphan.
You should defend the afflicted and the needy.
You should rescue the weak and the poor.
You should set them free from the hand of the wicked". O God, please protect your people from
corruption and injustice.
Save us also from attack by other nations.
Let everyone know that you are the Lord of all the earth.
Lord, please stop corrupt
officials from hurting people
Listen
2
Corinthians 1.19-20:
The Son of God, Christ Jesus, was not
sometimes "Yes" and sometimes "No" in his words and
actions. He was always crystal clear "Yes" - you knew exactly
where he stood on every issue. That is why it is "through him" that
we pray and then answer "Amen" (= "yes")
Jesus, help me be a committed "Yes"
person - not someone
who "sits on the fence" about the important issues of life
Listen
John
16.7-33:
Jesus said to his disciples at the meal "I will leave you soon. After I go, I will send the New Friend to
you. The New Friend will teach you all about right and wrong. The New Friend will help you know the truth about everything.
You are sad now because I am leaving you. But I will see you again, and your hearts will be full of joy. No one will be able to take that joy from you.
I have told you all these things so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world
Jesus, thank you for your peace, your joy, and your Holy Spirit
Listen
Reflection: May we grow increasingly aware of the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our lives .... or rather ...the fact that we live in their presence, like a baby in its mother's womb
------------------------------
Yesterday I met a man named "Hosea" .... the
first Hosea I have ever met in my life. He said this beautiful Bible name was
given him by his Christian mother.
-------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 21st
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Afghanistan
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Feb 20
Many thanks to the people who attended 8.30am Mass at St Paul's Yau Ma Tei yesterday morning for my 50th anniversary. God bless all who came, especially Mother Teresa's sisters, and the St Vincent de Paul parish group. According to my record, that was Mass number 18,830 I have celebrated starting Feb 19, 1973. Photos here
Laudato
Si:
11. (Saint) Francis helps us to see that an integral ecology calls
for openness to categories which transcend the language of mathematics and
biology, and take us to the heart of what it is to be human. Just as happens
when we fall in love with someone, whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon
or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into
his praise. He communed with all creation, even preaching to the flowers,
inviting them "to praise the Lord, just as if they were endowed with
reason". His response to the world around him was so much more than
intellectual appreciation or economic calculus, for to him each and every
creature was a sister united to him by bonds of affection. That is why he felt
called to care for all that exists. His disciple Saint Bonaventure tells us
that, "from a reflection on the primary source of all things, filled with
even more abundant piety, he would call creatures, no matter how small, by the
name of 'brother' or 'sister'". Such a conviction cannot be written off as
naive romanticism, for it affects the choices which determine our behaviour. If
we approach nature and the environment without this openness to awe and wonder, if
we no longer speak the language of fraternity and beauty in our relationship
with the world, our attitude will be that of masters, consumers, ruthless
exploiters, unable to set limits on their immediate needs.
By contrast, if we feel intimately united with all that exists, then sobriety
and care will well up spontaneously. The poverty and austerity of Saint Francis
were no mere veneer of asceticism, but something much more radical: a refusal to
turn reality into an object simply to be used and controlled.
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
3:
The Israelites begged God to free them
from slavery in
Dear
God, God of life, God of Abraham, we praise you Lord.
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
81: Ring out your joy to God our
strength,
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Listen to the voice of the Lord: "I am the Lord your God
who brought you out from the land of Egypt. Let there be no foreign god among you,
no worship of a false god. O that my people would heed me,
that Israel would walk in my ways. At once I would subdue their foes.
But Israel I would feed with finest wheat and honey".
Lord, please help us to walk in
your ways
Listen
2
Corinthians 1.1-10: From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle
of Christ Jesus, and from Timothy, one of the brothers, to the church of
God at Corinth. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ,
a gentle Father and the God of all consolation. He comforts us in all our
sorrows so that we can comfort others in their sorrows. The recent persecutions I experienced made me
think I would not survive. This has taught me to rely not on myself but
only on God for help. God saved me from being killed. My hope is he
will continue to save me
Jesus, please help people who are in danger of
being killed today
Listen
John
15.18 - 16.1: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"If you belonged to the world, the world would be friendly to you.
But because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world is
unfriendly to you. Just as I am hated and persecuted, so you also
will be hated and persecuted. As the Scripture says 'They hated me
for no reason'. I am telling you these things now, so that when they happen, your
faith will not be shaken
Jesus, if people are
unfriendly because I am a Christian, please give me strength and courage
Listen
Reflection: Sometimes one type of unfriendliness is from people who should be friendly (... family etc)
-------------------------
Today one of the kittens at MercyHK's Temple Street centre is due
to have operation for broken leg. Jesus pls bless the operation!
--------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On
this 20th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sichuan
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 Sudan
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Feb 19
50 years ago today was a Monday .... some memos of that day ....with today's memo. THANK YOU JESUS!
Laudato
Si:
10. I do not want to write this Encyclical
without turning to that attractive and compelling figure, whose name I took as
my guide and inspiration when I was elected Bishop of Rome. I
believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the
vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically.
He is the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology, and he
is also much loved by non-Christians. He was particularly concerned for God’s
creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his
joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a
pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others,
with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is
between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and
interior peace.
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Readings for Sunday 7
Leviticus
19: God's words through
Moses: "Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. Honor your father and
mother. The Sabbath must be a holy day. When you collect from harvest or
vine, leave something for the poor and the stranger. Be just, honest and
truthful in your relationships. Do
not let hatred live in your heart".
Dear God, please help me live according to your sacred word
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
103: My soul, give thanks to the Lord. All
my being, bless his holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget
all his blessings. It
is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills. It
is he who fills your life with good things, renewing your youth like an eagle's
life. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. As the
heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who love him.
As far as the East is from the West, so far does he remove our sins. As a father
has compassion on his children, the Lord has pity on all who love and honor him.
Give thanks to the Lord, all his angels, who heed the voice of his word. Give
thanks to the Lord, everyone and everything. My soul, give thanks to the Lord!
Thank you, Lord, for your love and compassion
Recording
1
Corinthians 3.5-15: Apollos
and I are servants who brought the faith to you. I did the planting, Apollos did
the watering, but God made things grow. You are God's building. By God's grace,
I laid the foundation, the only foundation there can be: Jesus Christ. On
that foundation you can build a house with good or poor materials. At the
end of your life, your building will be judged by God.
Jesus, you are the foundation of my life. Help me build a house with good
material (= good deeds)
Listen
Matthew 5:
Reflection on the above readings:
61% of cancer patients have forgiveness issues - see this
one minute video
Reflection by Fr Peter: English Chinese
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
-------------------------------
Coming
soon ...like next week ... ASH WEDNESDAY!
------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 19th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Haiti
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Feb 18
At a MercyHK staff meeting two days ago the following statistics were provided:
Over the past 12 months, MercyHK has provided accommodation for 298 domestic
workers (50% of them Covid positive), 39 asylum seekers and about 50 local
people.... has provided rental assistance for about 30 people, food cards (daily
free meal) for about 100 people, helped about 30 people find jobs, helped 25
drug addicts to enter drug treatment centres, helped dozens of prisoners to take
study courses, attended many court hearings with prisoners, visited many dozens
of prisoners, arranged several funeral services for needy families, and arranged
weekly gatherings for drug addicts and other needy people. To which could be
added many other things like the distribution of food and medical items etc. For
all I which we say: THANK YOU JESUS!
Oblate
arrested and released in Congo
Laudato
Si:
9. At the same time, Bartholomew has drawn attention to the
ethical and spiritual roots of environmental problems, which require that
we look for solutions not only in technology but in a change of humanity;
otherwise we would be dealing merely with symptoms. He asks us to replace
consumption with sacrifice, greed with generosity, wastefulness with a spirit of
sharing, an asceticism which "entails learning to give, and not
simply to give up. It is a way of loving, of moving gradually away from what I
want to what God's world needs. It is liberation from fear, greed and
compulsion". As Christians, we are also called "to accept the
world as a sacrament of communion, as a way of sharing with God and our
neighbours on a global scale. It is our humble conviction that the divine and
the human meet in the slightest detail in the seamless garment of God’s
creation, in the last speck of dust of our planet".
Tomorrow, Sunday Feb 19, is my 50th anniversary of ordination. HK friends
are most welcome to join me for 8.30 Chinese Mass tomorrow morning at Yau Ma Tei
Catholic Primary School, 41 Tung Kun St, Yau Ma Tei. See new card here
and previous cards here
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
2: One Israelite mother hid her baby boy for three months.
When she could no longer hide him
she put him in a basket
and placed the basket among reeds near a river bank.
The basket was found by Pharaoh's daughter
when she went to bathe in the river.
She felt sorry for the baby and decided to keep it.
The baby's sister saw all this happen
and asked Pharaoh's daughter if she'd like a nurse for the baby.
Pharaoh's daughter agreed,
and so the baby's mother was paid by Pharaoh's daughter
to be the baby's nurse.
When the child was weaned, he was taken to Pharaoh's daughter
who treated him like her own son.
She named the baby Moses.
When Moses became a man,
he visited the Israelites and saw their hard life.
He saw an Egyptian hit one of the Israelites
so he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.
But people found out; and so did Pharaoh who decided to kill Moses.
Moses then fled to the land
of
Dear
God, please protect all new-born babies,
especially baby girls.
01
02
Psalms
79-80: O God, the nations have invaded your sacred
land,
they have profaned your holy temple.
They have made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. We have become the taunt of our
neighbours,
the mockery and scorn of those who surround us. How long, O Lord, will all this last?
How long will this sorrow keep going? Do not hold the guilt of our ancestors against
us.
If their guilt is somehow influencing our situation now
please give peace and healing to everyone and everything
in our history. Let the groans of the prisoners come before
you.
Let your strong arm reprieve those condemned to die. O Lord, our God, help us and save us.
Let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Lord, please heal any problems
in my family tree
Listen
1
Corinthians 16.5-24: I hope to visit you after I have been to
Macedonia.
I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,
because an important door
has opened for my work, despite
opposition. Be brave and strong. Let everything be done in
love. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you
Jesus, help me be brave and strong, like Paul
Listen
John
15.9-13: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love
by keeping my commandments, especially this commandment:
love one another, as I
have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay
down his life for his friends"
Jesus, thank you for loving us. Help us
to love one another as you have loved us
Listen
Reflection: "When humans truly discover the power of love, it will prove more important than the harnessing of fire" (Teilhard de Chardin)
------------
I have spent much time the past two days installing
programs on my upgraded laptop and new PC. Thank goodness my 2000 Front Page can
still be installed!
------------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 18th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Gambia
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Feb 17
On
this day in 1826 Pope Leo XII approved the Oblates of Mary Immaculate as an
international organisation. Special
message for today from O.M.I. Superior General Fr Luis - here
Yesterday
I joined MercyHK director Eddie Chan, MercyHK social workers Lucia Leung and
Agnes Kwan, and Fr Jun O.M.I. for a most encouraging and fruitful meeting with
Fr Stephen Ip who has recently become parish priest of Yau Ma Tei. Our meeting
was in two parts ... a meal at a local restaurant then an on-site visit to
MercyHK's new centre in nearby Nathan Road (a centre donated by an NGO which has
closed down). The new centre, "The MercyHK Centre", is already being
used by our social workers for gatherings with drug addicts and needy people ...
and towards the end of the year we hope it can be used as a Mass centre (under
the auspices of St Paul's Parish) for a weekly English Mass on Sunday afternoon
... and a weekly Mandarin Mass on Saturday night!
Sunday Feb 19 is my 50th anniversary of ordination. HK friends
are most welcome to join me for 8.30am Chinese Mass on Feb 19 at Yau Ma Tei
Catholic Primary School, 41 Tung Kun St, Yau Ma Tei. See new card here
and previous cards here
Laudato
Si:9.
At the same time, Bartholomew has drawn attention to the
ethical and spiritual roots of environmental problems,
which require that we look for solutions not only in technology but in a change
of humanity; otherwise we would be dealing merely with symptoms. He asks us to
replace consumption with sacrifice, greed with generosity, wastefulness with a
spirit of sharing, an asceticism which "entails learning to give, and not
simply to give up. It is a way of loving, of moving gradually away from what I
want to what God's world needs. It is liberation from fear, greed and
compulsion". As
Christians, we are also called "to accept the world as a sacrament of
communion, as a way of sharing with God and our neighbours on a global scale. It
is our humble conviction that the divine and the human meet in the slightest
detail in the seamless garment of God's creation, in the last speck of dust of
our planet".
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
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
Psalm
78: Listen, everyone, to my teaching.
I will recount the lessons of our history. The things our parents have told us,
we will not hide from our children,
but will pass them on to the next generation. We want the next generation to know all that the Lord has done for us in the past.
May the next generation in turn
pass on this knowledge to their own children,
so that they too will put their hope in God
and never forget all that God has done for us. May future generations not be like our
ancestors
who so often were unfaithful to God. Even though our ancestors had seen God part
the sea,
even though they had seen him provide food and water for them
in the desert, still they went on sinning. Yet he who is full of compassion forgave and
spared them.
He remembered they were only weak humans. Eventually he brought them to the promised
land
and gave a home to each of Israel's tribes. But still they sinned by building mountain
shrines
and serving idols. Then God raised up David to be their
leader.
God called him from looking after sheep to be the shepherd of his people.
Lord, help us not to forget all
you have done for us
01
02
1
Corinthians 15.54-58:
When this mortal nature has put on immortality, then
the words of Scripture will come true: "Death has been defeated.
Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?" Never give up, dear friends, never admit
defeat. Keep on working at the Lord's work always. Know that, in the Lord,
no work is in vain
Jesus, please give me more faith to "keep going"
Listen
John
15.1-8: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Each branch in me
that bears no fruit, he cuts off. Each branch that does bear fruit, he
prunes to make it bear even more fruit. As a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, but
must remain part of the vine, so you can't bear fruit unless you remain
in me. Cut off from me, you can do nothing. If you remain in me, and my words are alive in
your heart, you can ask for any good thing and you will get it. It is to the glory of my Father that you
should bear much fruit"
Jesus, please help me stay close to you. Help me bear
much fruit
Listen
Reflection: May Jesus' words be more "alive in our hearts"!
-------------------------
Meeting yesterday finished with a visit to nearby
McDonald's to sample the new green mocha ice cream on promotion for only HK$7!
-------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 17th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Shaanxi
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Ethiopia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Feb 16
Because Windows 8.1 is no longer supported by Microsoft, I went to the computer centre in Sham Shui Po yesterday and got my 8.1 laptop upgraded to Windows 10 ... and bought a new PC with Windows 11 (my old PC, with 8.1 and a number of other issues, needed replacing). Next job: to reinstall many programs in both computers! Meanwhile our social workers yesterday had their usual afternoon gathering for local drug addicts and evening gathering for Nepal drug addicts.
Laudato
Si:
8. Patriarch Bartholomew has spoken in
particular of the need for each
of us to repent of the ways we have harmed the planet,
for "inasmuch as we all generate small ecological damage", we are
called to acknowledge "our contribution, smaller or greater, to the
disfigurement and destruction of creation". He has repeatedly stated
this firmly and persuasively, challenging us to acknowledge our sins against
creation: "For human beings… to destroy the biological diversity of God's
creation; for human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing
changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests or
destroying its wetlands; for human beings to contaminate the earth's waters, its
land, its air, and its life - these are sins". For "to commit a
crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against
God".
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
-------------------------
The Book Blog: 4 readings + recordings
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
Psalms
73-77: Sometimes when I see how bad people prosper,
I wonder what's the use in trying to be good?
But then I realize that
everyone someday has to pay the bill
for any evil they have bought in the world. Sometimes when I see
our world and religion in ruins,
I wonder why has God abandoned us? Then I remember that
God has promised to break the power
of the wicked. He has promised to give strength to good
people. So may all people honor
the Lord our God and judge.
May the Lord give us his loving help.
Lord,
you are goodness itself. Please help us to be good
and to trust you always
Listen
1
Corinthians 15.20-22: Christ has been raised from the dead, the
first to rise of all who have died. Death came through one man, Adam, and rising
from the dead has come through one man, Jesus. Just as all people die because of Adam, so all
people can live because of Christ
Jesus, may all people have
eternal life
Listen
John
14.23-27: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"If you love me, you will put my words into practice, and my Father
will love you, and we shall make our home in your heart. The New Friend, the Holy
Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of
all I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my own peace I give
you, a peace the world cannot give"
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, please help me
understand how you live in my heart. Thank you for your peace
Listen
Reflection: Recently I came across a YouTube video claiming that the New Friend (Gospel) might be understood to be Mohammed. To which I posted a rather strong comment.
---------
UK
PM is of Indian background. Next
US President also?
--------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 16th of the month, Jesus please bless the people of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Malawi
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Feb 15
I spent most of yesterday at the desk ... continuing to work on a backlog of jobs that piled up while I was away.... and jobs associated with my recent trip. I hope to finish by the end of this month ... and be able to start visiting prisons again next month.
Sunday Feb 19 is my 50th anniversary of ordination. HK friends
are most welcome to join me for 8.30am Chinese Mass on Feb 19 at Yau Ma Tei
Catholic Primary School, 41 Tung Kun St, Yau Ma Tei. See new card here
and previous cards here
Laudato
Si:
7. These statements of the Popes echo the reflections of numerous
scientists, philosophers, theologians and civic groups, all of which have
enriched the Church's thinking on these questions. Outside the Catholic Church,
other Churches and Christian communities - and other religions as well - have
expressed deep concern and offered valuable reflections on issues which all of
us find disturbing. To give just
one striking example, I would mention the statements made by the beloved
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with whom we share the hope of full ecclesial
communion.
My
project to help street sleepers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
My
Clean Start Mercy Project to
help school-less children and jobless former prisoners in Africa
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
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
72: O Lord, please bless the king,
that he might serve your people with justice. May the mountains bring forth peace for the
people
and the hills, justice. The kings of Sheba and Seba bring him gifts.
All nations will serve him. He will save the poor when they cry for help
and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor. May every tribe be blessed in him.
May every nation bless his name.
May all the nations know and
love you, Lord
Listen
1
Corinthians 15.9-11: I am the least of the apostles. In fact, since
I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle. But by God's grace I am what I
am, and the
grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God
in my heart, have worked harder than any of the others, preaching the
same message that they preach
Jesus, may your grace in me be more fruitful
Listen
John
14.8-21: At the meal, Jesus said to his disciples
"To have seen me, is to have seen the Father. I am in the Father, and
the Father is in me. Whatever you ask for in my name, I will do it,
so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you love me, you
will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father and he will give you
another Friend to be always with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth
who will be living in your heart. If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and
my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home in his
heart"
Father, Jesus, Spirit of Truth - three
Persons, one God - thank you for living in
my heart
Listen
Reflection: A baby living in its mother's womb .... one person physically inside another ...we can understand. But what does "living in your heart" mean? It's a spiritual presence that our limited brains can only stagger to begin to understand. It's a closeness, a presence, that is mind-blowing.
---------------------------
One of the kittens ...now almost a cat .... at MercyHK's
centre in Temple Street, Jordan, recently broke a leg ... and needs an operation
... for which a kind friend has offered to pay. God bless the friend! (For the
record: the two cats have started catching mice, make that rats!)
-------------------------
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 one
part of the Mainland each day of the month:
On this 15th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liaoning
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 15th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Liberia
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
Jan 1, 2020: How cocaine trafficking is impacting West Africa
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
2017-09-27: 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)
2017-05-17: 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, 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
http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm
----------------------
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
---------------------
---------------------
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
prisoners:
Sun:
Lo Wu
Mon: C.I.C., Siu Lam, Tai
Lam
Tue: Stanley
Wed: Hei Ling Chau
Thu: Lantau
Fri: Lai Chi Kok
Sat: Hospitals, Pik Uk & other centres
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This website was launched in construction
mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ
the King.
The official launching
was
held on the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20,
2012.
Map and Flag Counter began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932.
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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
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