V2Catholic.com
A voice for the poor
by HK prison chaplain
胡頌恆神父
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I.
Dr
Jesus Centre 187 Temple St Jordan
jdwomi@gmail.com
+852 67095674
Imitating
Pope Francis
Tues Oct 3
Yesterday's public holiday hike to Big Wave Bay near Sai Kung
included a visit to the pool area near West Beach (as in this
video of O.M.I. hike a few years ago) and speed boat trip from West Beach
to Sai Kung ... as in this
video from same O.M.I. hike ... with one big difference ....see 
below!
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
2
Kings 1: Ahaziah, king of Israel, was seriously ill
after a fall.
He tried to send messengers to the temple of a false god
to ask about his future. But the Lord sent Elijah the prophet to
intercept the messengers
and tell them that the king would die. The king sent 50 soldiers to arrest Elijah
but as they approached Elijah, fire from heaven destroyed them. The king sent another 50 soldiers.
They too were destroyed by fire from heaven. A third group of 50 was sent.
They begged
Elijah to spare them.
The Lord told Elijah to go with them to the king. Elijah then told the king to his face that he
would soon die
because he had tried to ask a false god about his future.
Not long after this, Ahaziah died.
Dear Lord, please don't let us
ever get involved
with false religion
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
139: O Lord, you search me and you know me.
You know my resting and my rising. You know exactly what's going on in my life,
all my ways are an open book to you. Before ever a word is on my tongue,
you know, O Lord, what I'm going to say. Your knowledge is beyond my understanding,
too high, beyond my reach. It was you who created my being,
knit me together in my mother's womb. I thank you for the wonder of my life,
for the wonders of all your creation.
Lord, thank you for the gift of
life. Please help me follow the path to eternal life
Listen
Revelation
5.11-14: I heard the sound of an immense number of
angels gathered around God's throne. There were 10,000 times 10,000 of
them, shouting:
"The Lamb that was sacrificed is worthy to be given power,
riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing". I heard all living things in creation -
angels, people, animals - crying out: "To the One sitting on the
throne and to the Lamb, be all praise, honor, glory and power for ever and
ever"
"Thou are worthy, Thou art worthy, Thou
are worthy O Lord,
to receive glory, glory and honor, glory and honor and power"
Listen
Luke
1.46-56: Mary said "My soul praises the
greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior. Starting
from today, all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has
done great things for me". Mary stayed with Elizabeth about 3 months and
then went home.
Elizabeth gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives shared her joy.
When the child was circumcised on the 8th day, he was given the name John
Jesus, please bless all women who are having a
baby today
Listen
Reflection: Always good to hear about people who are happy to have a baby .... like Collingwood coach Craig McRae in Melbourne ... joyful at birth of his third child last Saturday morning .... before Collingwood won the Grand Final on Saturday afternoon!
Laudato
Si:
217. "The external deserts in the
world are growing, because the internal deserts have become so
vast". For this reason, the ecological crisis is also a summons to
profound interior conversion. It must be said that some committed and
prayerful Christians, with the excuse of realism and pragmatism, tend to
ridicule expressions of concern for the environment. Others are passive; they
choose not to change their habits and thus become inconsistent. So
what they all need is an "ecological conversion",
whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in
their relationship with the world around them. Living our vocation to be
protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an
optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.
------------------------------
Yesterday's speed boat trip from West Beach to Sai Kung
was a terrifying experience ... seriously ...waves were too big for such a
trip .... boat company should not be allowed to operate in such dangerous
conditions. In fact, the trip was so rough ... boat going up and down so
violently, that one member of our hike group at one stage had to pick up their
three false teeth from the floor of the boat!!!
-------------------------------
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 3rd
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Chad
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Oct 2
During this long weekend, 1,000,000
HK people have gone to the Mainland, and 600,000 people from the Mainland have
come to HK!
Letter from a 35 year old local HK
woman, illustrated by Voice
for Prisoners team, describing
how she got into drug taking ... and the devastating effects this had on her
health and her family. Here
Yesterday I was again pleasantly surprised by the number of
people from other churches in HK who came for a meal at MercyHK's canteen in
Temple Street. "We heard about it on social media" was a common
theme. And people from Mainland China are coming also ...including a lovely
family from Shanghai yesterday afternoon.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Feast of the Guardian Angels
Exodus
23: The Lord says
this: "I myself will
send an angel before
you to guard you as you go and to bring you to the
place that I have prepared. Give him reverence and listen to all that he says.
Offer him no defiance; he would not pardon such a fault, for my name is in
him. If you listen carefully to his voice and do all that I say, I shall
be enemy to your enemies, foe to your foes. My angel will go before you."
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.
Recording
Acts
12: When
Peter was rescued from prison, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John
Mark where people were praying for him, thinking he was still in prison. A
servant girl opened the door when Peter knocked. She ran inside to tell the
group that Peter was at the door. The group did not believe Peter was
there. One of them said "it
must be his angel".
Eventually they opened the door and Peter described how an angel had rescued
him from prison.
Recording
Matthew 18.1: The disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, "I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven."
Reflection
on the above readings: I
recommend this little prayer which I've said each morning and night for 60
years:
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's
love commits me here. Ever this day (night) be at my side, to light and guard,
to rule and guide. Amen
Laudato
Si:
216. The rich heritage of Christian spirituality, the fruit of
twenty centuries of personal and communal experience, has a precious
contribution to make to the renewal of humanity. Here, I
would like to offer Christians a few suggestions for an ecological
spirituality grounded in the convictions of our faith, since the
teachings of the Gospel have direct consequences for our way of thinking,
feeling and living. More than in ideas or concepts as such, I am interested in
how such a spirituality can motivate us to a more passionate concern for the
protection of our world. A commitment this lofty cannot be sustained by
doctrine alone, without a spirituality capable of inspiring us, without an
"interior impulse which encourages, motivates, nourishes and gives
meaning to our individual and communal activity". Admittedly,
Christians have not always appropriated and developed the spiritual treasures
bestowed by God upon the Church, where the life of the spirit is not
dissociated from the body or from nature or from worldly realities, but lived
in and with them, in communion with all that surrounds us.
-------------------------
For
today's feast of the Guardian Angels:
Small
child thought her angel lived among the plants and flowers ... she mixed up
"guardian" and "garden"
--------------------
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 2nd of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Fujian
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 Central
African Republic
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
----------------------
Sun Oct 1
Tomorrow,
Monday Oct 2, a public holiday, I
will be going to Big Wave Bay near Sai Kung. I will take 8.30am ferry from Ma
Liu Shui pier (near University MTR station) ... to Chek
Keng Pier (a trip of about 2 hours) ... then hike for
about 90 mins to Big Wave Bay .....for swim and lunch ...then speed boat to
Sai Kung. I will leave from Jordan MTR Station (inside station, near
start of Exit A) at 7.15am sharp, then take MTR to University Station Exit B,
then at 8am get bus 272K from University Station to Ma Liu Shui pier. Everyone
most welcome ... need to be able to walk for about 2 hours on a very hot day! Photos
of previous
hike to Big Wave Bay
Since it opened on Sep 18, MercyHK's canteen in Temple Street
has welcomed many visitors from all parts of HK society. Very pleasing is the
number of people from other churches and from Mainland China who are having
meals at the canteen. They are especially welcome!
HK
O.M.I. school group at O.M.I. General House in Rome
Laudato
Si:215.
In this regard, "the relationship between a good aesthetic education and
the maintenance of a healthy environment cannot be overlooked". By
learning to see and appreciate beauty, we learn to reject self-interested
pragmatism. If someone has not learned to stop and admire something
beautiful, we should not be surprised if he or she treats everything as an
object to be used and abused without scruple. If we want to bring about deep
change, we need to realize that certain mindsets really do influence our
behaviour. Our efforts at education will be inadequate and ineffectual unless
we strive to promote a new way of thinking about human beings, life, society
and our relationship with nature. Otherwise, the paradigm of consumerism will
continue to advance, with the help of the media and the highly effective
workings of the market.
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 26
Ezekiel
12-18: Ezekiel spoke
God's message for the false prophets: "You have misled my people. You
have not bothered to protect my people". Ezekiel also
called on the people to stop their idolatry. He reminded them how to follow
the Lord: A
good person is law-abiding and honest; a good person oppresses no one,
never steals; a good person gives food and clothing to the poor. "God
takes no delight in the death of a sinner. God hopes the sinner will renounce
wickedness and live."
Lord, please help me to avoid evil ..... and do more good
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
24-26: The Lord's is the
earth and all its peoples. It is the Lord who is Creator of the universe. May
all hearts open their doors to the Lord. Let him enter, the king of glory.
Lord I hope in you all the day long. Forgive
my sins and help me walk in your truth.
God my savior, teach me your way of truth
Listen
Philippians
1.27 - 2.4: Avoid
anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the Good News of
Christ. Be united in your convictions, and united in your love. There
must be no competition among you, no conceit. Everyone should be
self-effacing. Always regard others as better than yourself. Put others
interests before your own.
Jesus, help me say "no" to anything unworthy of your Good News
Listen
Matthew
21.28-32: Jesus
said to the chief priests and elders of the people, "What is your
opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, "My boy, you
go and work in the vineyard today." He answered, "I will not
go," but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and
said the same thing to the second who answered, "Certainly, sir,"
but did not go. Which of the two did the father's will?' 'The first' they
said. Jesus said to them, 'I tell you solemnly, tax
collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before
you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did
not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after
seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.'
Listen
Reflection on above readings: Jesus in today's Gospel tells us something that is not recorded in the Gospels: tax collectors and prostitutes listened to and believed in the teaching of John the Baptist
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
-------------------------------
Well
done Collingwood! Next year Brisbane?
------------------------------
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 1st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Anhui
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 Niger
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Sep 30
Hong
Kong Economic Times report about MercyHK Canteen
Yesterday morning I was at West Kowloon Court for a bail case
"mention". In the afternoon I took part in a media interview which
Please God will help MercyHK's canteen in Temple Street, Jordan.
Live
broadcast from 3.45pm HK time today of Mass in Rome where HK's Bishop
Stephen Chow S.J. will become a cardinal
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1
Kings 22:
Some false prophets encouraged the king of
Israel
and the king of Judah to go to war. Micah, a true prophet of the
Lord,
warned the kings not to go to war. The men of Israel and Judah were
defeated in the war.
Ahab, the king of Israel, died in the war.
Dear Lord, please don't let false prophets
deceive the world
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
137: By the rivers of Babylon we sat and cried,
remembering Zion.
On the poplars that grew there we hung up our harps. For it was there that they asked us, our
captors, for songs.
"Sing to us", they said, "one of Zion's songs". O how could we sing the song of the Lord on
alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand wither. O let my tongue cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not, Jerusalem, above all my joys.
Lord, please help people
who have been exiled from their homeland
Listen
Revelation
5.1-10: I saw a sealed scroll that no one could open.
Then I saw a Lamb, which seemed to have been sacrificed.
The Lamb took the scroll, and the 24 elders
sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and break its seals
because you were sacrificed, and by your blood
you ransomed us for God
out of every race, language, people and nation"
Jesus, Lamb of God in heaven. We praise
you Lord
Listen
Luke
1.39-45: As soon as she could and as quickly as she
could, Mary went to Elizabeth's home in the hills near Jerusalem.
As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in Elizabeth's womb
jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth said to Mary "Of all women, you
are the most blessed,
and blessed is the baby in your womb. Why should I be honored with a
visit from the mother of my Lord? Blessed are you for believing
God's promise"
Mary, blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus
Listen
Reflection: The Baby in Mary's womb honoured by Elizabeth is the Lamb in Heaven honoured by 24 elders
---------
Laudato
Si:
214.
Political institutions and various other social groups are also entrusted with
helping to raise people's awareness. So too is the Church. All
Christian communities have an important role to play in ecological education.
It is my hope that our seminaries and houses of formation will provide an
education in responsible simplicity of life, in grateful contemplation of
God's world, and in concern for the needs of the poor and the protection of
the environment. Because the stakes are so high, we need institutions
empowered to impose penalties for damage inflicted on the environment. But we
also need the personal qualities of self-control and willingness to learn from
one another.
------------
12.30 pm today I have a
very serious engagement
------------------------------
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 30th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Rwanda
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
HAPPY
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL!
May the Moon shine brightly on you tonight!
Fri Sep 29
I spent yesterday getting to/from and at Hei
Ling Chau Drug Treatment Centre ("18A") on Hei Ling Chau Island.
I chatted during the day with about 100 inmates ... telling them about the
possibility of a job at MercyHK's canteen in Temple Street when they are
released ... with a special invitation to inmates working in the centre's
kitchens!
Yesterday afternoon Lucia and Fr Jun animated the usual
Thursday gathering for single mothers at MerchHK's Nathan Road Centre ... and
our other social workers Simon, Raymond, Patrick and Agnes, with Eddie,
animated a Mid-Autumn gathering for needy people at the Vietnamese Restaurant
in the Alhambra Building in Yau Ma Tei
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Readings for Feast of Michael,
Gabriel, Raphael
Tobit
12 (Raphael): When
Tobit's banquet was finished, Tobit wanted to thank Raphael for
all his help. Only then did Raphael tell Tobit and Tobias that he was an angel
sent by God to help them. "I am Raphael, one of the 7 angels who stand
ever ready to enter the presence of the glory of the Lord. Never tire of
giving God thanks. And never tire of helping the poor." Raphael
farewelled them, rose in the air, and left them. They praised and thanked God
for all he had done for them.
Dear God, thank you for all your love, all your blessings
My recording of this reading
Psalm 138: I
thank you, Lord, with all my heart. You have heard the words of my mouth. With the
angels I will bless
you. I will adore you in your holy temple. I thank you for your faithfulness
and love which are far above what we can understand. On the day I called you
answered. You increased the strength of my soul. All earth's kings shall thank
you when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the Lord's
ways: "How great is the glory of the Lord!"
Lord, when we remember how much you love us
and help us, every day of the year is a Thanksgiving Day
Recording
Revelation 12 (Michael): Then
war broke out in heaven. Michael and
his angels fought the dragon and his angels. Michael
won. Satan and his followers were driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the
serpent, known as the Devil or Satan, was hurled down to earth. His angels
were hurled down with him. The dragon began to make war on the children of the
Woman - those who obey God and bear witness to Jesus.
Jesus, may your holy angels protect
us from Satan
Recording
Luke
1 (Gabriel): In
the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to
the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary who was betrothed to a
man named Joseph. The
angel said to her "Mary, Rejoice! You have been greatly blessed by God.
You are to conceive and have a son whom you must name Jesus. He will be great
and will be called the Son of God". Mary said to the angel, "How can
this happen since I am a virgin?" The
angel replied "The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the
Most High will specially bless you. Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth has,
in her old age, conceived a son, and is now in her sixth month".
"I am the handmaid of the Lord", said Mary, "let what you have
said, be done for me". And the angel left her.
God the Son, thank you
for becoming a baby in Mary's womb
Recording
Reflection on the above Bible readings:
Notice
how the names Raphael, Michael and
Gabriel all end in "el"
which means "God"!
When we are sick we can ask Raphael ("Medicine
of God") to pray for us. When we are in danger, we can ask Michael ("Who
is like God?") to pray for us. When we feel powerless and weak, we can
ask Gabriel ("God
is my strength) to pray for us.
----------
Laudato
Si:213.
Ecological education can take place in a variety of settings: at school, in
families, in the media, in catechesis and elsewhere. Good education plants
seeds when we are young, and these continue to bear fruit throughout life.
Here, though, I would stress the great importance of the family, which is
"the place in which life - the gift of God - can be properly welcomed and
protected against the many attacks to which it is exposed, and can develop in
accordance with what constitutes authentic human growth. In the face of the
so-called culture of death, the family is the heart of the culture of
life". In
the family we first learn how to show love and respect for life; we are taught
the proper use of things, order and cleanliness, respect for the local
ecosystem and care for all creatures. In the family we receive an integral
education, which enables us to grow harmoniously in personal maturity. In the
family we learn to ask without demanding, to say "thank you" as an
expression of genuine gratitude for what we have been given, to control our
aggressivity and greed, and to ask forgiveness when we have caused harm. These
simple gestures of heartfelt courtesy help to create a culture of shared life
and respect for our surroundings.
-------------------------
To
go with today's feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael: the
nicest cake in HK, from Maxims, is .... Angel
cake!
It really is "heavenly"!
-------------------------
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 29th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Chongqing
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 29th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Nigeria
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Sep 28
Two
media teams came to MercyHK's new canteen yesterday for interviews. One in the
morning, one in the afternoon. Please God the publicity will greatly assist
our little canteen's business and effectiveness!
Last night a lovely family group from Hangzhou
also came to the canteen. Our hope is that many more visitors from the
Mainland will have meals at the canteen.
Illustrated
letter
of 21
year old local HK man in
prison for drug trafficking: ... as a
warning and hope that other families are not devastated by drugs. The man's
mother is also in prison in HK for drug trafficking - English
***
Chinese
Today I'm due to visit a prison. I'm trying to get back to my
routine of spending one day each week in prison!
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Kings 20-21:
King Ahab wanted the vineyard of Naboth,
but Naboth refused to sell his ancestral inheritance. Ahab's wife Jezebel then had
Naboth murdered
and Ahab took the vineyard. The prophet Elijah
confronted Ahab for his crime.
Ahab then repented of his crime.
Dear God, please help us respect other people's
property
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
136: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his great love is without end. It was his wisdom which made the skies,
for his great love is without end. It was he who made the sun, moon and stars,
for his great love is without end. It was he who rescued and protected his people
Israel, for his great love is without
end. He gives food to all living things,
for his great love is without end. To the God of heaven give thanks,
for his great love is without end.
We praise you, Lord, for your
great love is without end
Listen
Revelation
4.1-11: In my vision I saw a door open in
heaven.
The same voice as before said to me
"Come up here. I will show you what is to come in the future". I saw God in all his glory,
being worshipped by the angels who sang: "Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God, the Almighty". And I saw 24 elders around the throne.
They were praising God saying
"You are our Lord and our God.
You are worthy of glory and honor and power
because you are the Creator of the universe"
"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, Almighty.
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee"
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: Why did God make the universe? See Psalm 136, above!
---
Laudato
Si:
212. We must not think that these efforts
are not going to change the world. They
benefit society, often unbeknown to us, for they call forth a goodness which,
albeit unseen, inevitably tends to spread.
Furthermore, such actions can restore our sense of self-esteem; they can
enable us to live more fully and to feel that life on earth is worthwhile.
---------
I used to be called "The Temple Street Priest".
Because of MercyHK's new canteen, my new name now is "The Dumpling
Priest"
--------------------
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 28th 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 28th
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, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Sep 27
Letter
(in Chinese)
of a 21
year old local HK man in
prison for drug trafficking: how his family got caught up in drugs ... as a
warning and hope that other families are not devastated by drugs. The man's
mother is also in prison in HK for drug trafficking - here
(Aug 29)
One of my favourite saints - his feast day today: St Vincent de Paul *** St Vincent de Paul Society
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
1 Kings 19:
Elijah once spent a night in a cave.
The Lord then told him to stand at the mouth of the cave. Then there was a mighty wind that
shattered trees and rocks.
But the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake.
But the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then there was a gentle breeze.
And the Lord was in the breeze. Not long after this
Elijah called Elisha to become his follower.
Dear Lord, please help us
be aware of your presence in our lives
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
135: Praise the name of the Lord,
praise him, servants of the Lord. Praise the Lord for he is good.
Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving. I know the Lord is great. He does whatever he
wills
in heaven, on earth, in the seas. Pagan idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths but they cannot speak.
They have eyes but they cannot see. Sons of Israel, do not trust in useless idols.
Sons of Aaron, trust only in our Creator and Lord.
Dear Lord, please help people
who worship idols to know and love you
Listen
Revelation
3.14-17: He gave me this message for the church in
Laodicea: "You are neither cold nor
hot. I wish you
were one or the other.
But since you are lukewarm, you are cutting yourself off from me. You are rich in this word's goods, but you are
spiritually poor. Listen to this message and repent"
Jesus, please don't ever let me become a
lukewarm Christian
Listen
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: Luke was a doctor and an historian .... his report is extra trustworthy
-------
Laudato
Si:
211.
Yet this education, aimed at creating an "ecological citizenship",
is at times limited to providing information, and fails to instil good habits.
The existence of laws and regulations is insufficient in the long run to curb
bad conduct, even when effective means of enforcement are present. If the laws
are to bring about significant, long-lasting effects, the majority of the
members of society must be adequately motivated to accept them, and personally
transformed to respond. Only by cultivating sound virtues will people be able
to make a selfless ecological commitment. A
person who could afford to spend and consume more but regularly uses less
heating and wears warmer clothes, shows the kind of convictions and attitudes
which help to protect the environment.
There is a nobility in the duty to care for creation through little daily
actions, and it is wonderful how education can bring about real changes in
lifestyle. Education in environmental responsibility can encourage ways of
acting which directly and significantly affect the world around us, such as avoiding
the use of plastic and paper, reducing water consumption, separating refuse,
cooking only what can reasonably be consumed, showing care for other living
beings, using public transport or car-pooling, planting trees, turning off
unnecessary lights, or any
number of other practices. All of these reflect a generous and worthy
creativity which brings out the best in human beings. Reusing something
instead of immediately discarding it, when done for the right reasons, can be
an act of love which expresses our own dignity.
---------------------------
Speech
by Brownlow Medal winner Lachie Neale of the Brisbane Lions
-------------------------
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 27th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Tibet
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 27th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Tanzania
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.
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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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