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 10
Last night at the Cathedral offices I attended a most encouraging sharing with a group of outstanding men who are preparing to be permanent deacons in the HK Diocese. God bless the group!
Long
wait for taxis at airport
Children too expensive in
China?
Dear Holy Spirit, please bless the
Synod in Rome!
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
3. This is a global social issue and one
intimately related to the dignity of human life. The Bishops of the United
States have expressed very well this social meaning of our concern about
climate change, which goes beyond a merely ecological approach, because "our
care for one another and our care for the earth are intimately bound together.
Climate change is one of the principal challenges facing society and the
global community. The effects of climate change are borne by the most
vulnerable people, whether at home or around the world". In a
few words, the Bishops assembled for the Synod for Amazonia said the same
thing: "Attacks on nature have
consequences for people's lives". And to express
bluntly that this is no longer a secondary or ideological question, but a
drama that harms us all, the African bishops stated that climate change makes
manifest "a tragic and striking example of structural sin".
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
2
Kings 6: The king of Aram was at war with Israel.
But each time he planned an attack,
Elisha warned the king of Israel
and the attack was foiled. The king of Aram therefore sent soldiers to
capture Elisha.
Elisha prayed to God for help and the soldiers were temporarily blinded. While they were blinded, Elisha led them to
the king of Israel.
The king of Israel asked Elisha "Shall I kill them?" Elisha told him not to kill them but to feed
them and let them go. After this there was peace for a time between
Aram and Israel.
Dear God, please bless our enemies,
and help us be kind to them
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
146: My soul, give
praise to the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my days. Put no trust in
princes,
in mortal men in whom there is no help. Take their breath, they
return to clay
and their plans that day come to nothing. They are happy who are
helped by Jacob's God,
whose hope is in the Lord our God, who alone made heaven
and earth,
the seas and all they contain. It is he who gives
bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free. It is the Lord who
gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down. It is the Lord who
protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan. It is the Lord who
loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked. The Lord will reign for
ever,
Zion's God, from age to age.
Lord, please increase my trust
and faith in you
Listen
Revelation
12.7-14:
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
Listen
Luke
2.15-20:
After the angels went away, the shepherds
said to one another
"Let's go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about".
So they quickly went and found Mary and
Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. People who heard the shepherds
talk about the angels were amazed. As for Mary, she treasured every moment of
what had happened
and pondered the whole event in her heart. The shepherds went back to their fields
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen
Jesus we adore you, Jesus we adore you, Jesus we
adore you, Christ the Lord
Listen
Reflection: Why was there a war in Heaven?
------------------------------
-------------------------------
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 10th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hubei
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 10th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Guinea
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon Oct 9
Report by W5 (Canada's Sixty Minutes): Canadian
grandmother released from HK prison after 9 months. Some of this report
was filmed at the Dr Jesus Centre in Temple Street, Jordan. This is part two.
Part one - Cocaine
Buttons - has had 2.5m views
Dear
Holy Spirit, please bless the Synod in
Rome!
Pope's
new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
2. Eight years have passed since I
published the Encyclical Letter Laudato
Si, when I wanted to share with all of you, my brothers and sisters of
our suffering planet, my heartfelt concerns about the care of our common home.
Yet, with the passage of time, I have realized that our responses have not
been adequate, while the world in
which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point. In
addition to this possibility, it is indubitable that the impact of climate
change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We
will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment,
access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
2 Kings
5:
Naaman was an army commander for the
king of Aram.
Naaman enjoyed success and favor, but he was a leper. He heard about Elisha and the king sent him to
Elisha
with gifts of gold, silver and garments to request healing. When Naaman reached Elisha's house,
Elisha sent him a message: "Bathe 7 times in the Jordan River." At first Naaman was angry at this message,
having expected Elisha to see and heal him personally. But then he humbly bathed 7 times in the
Jordan
and his flesh became clean once more. Elisha declined Naaman's gifts.
But after Naaman left Elisha, Elisha's servant Gehazi
caught up with Naaman and deceitfully obtained some silver. Elisha confronted Gehazi about this
and Gehazi became a leper.
Dear God, please heal everyone
who has leprosy
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
145: I will give you glory, O God my king.
I will bless your name day after day. The Lord is great, worthy of all praise.
His greatness cannot be measured. Age to age shall proclaim your works,
shall speak of your splendor and glory. The Lord is kind and full of
compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and tell all the world of your love. The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down. The eyes of all creatures look to you
and you give them their food each day. The Lord is close to all who call him,
who call on him from their hearts. Let the whole world bless the Lord's holy
name,
for ever, for ages unending.
Thank you, Lord, for your love.
Thank you for your love
Listen
Revelation
12.1-6: A great sign appeared in heaven:
a woman, dressed in the sun, standing on the moon,
crowned with 12 stars. She was giving birth to a
child,
and she cried out in the pain of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared:
a huge red dragon, which wanted to eat the child. The
woman gave birth to a son, the ruler of
all nations. The
son was taken straight up to heaven, to God on his throne.
The woman escaped to safety in the desert,
to a place prepared for her by God
Jesus, protect us from Satan
who goes round like a hungry lion wanting to eat us
Listen
Luke
2.9-14: Not far from where Mary had her baby, there
were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their
sheep during the night. An angel appeared to them and the glory of the
Lord shone around them. The angel said "Do not be afraid. I
bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by everyone. Today in the town of David, a savior has been
born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Look for a baby wrapped in swaddling
clothes and lying in a manger". Suddenly with the angel there were many other angels, praising God and singing "Glory to God in
heaven, and peace to people on earth"
"O come let us adore him, O come let us
adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord"
Listen
Reflection: "Giving birth" (Revelation) .... "A savior has been born to you" (Luke) - the same Baby, Christ the Lord
-------------------------
Typhoon Koinu
to score Signal 10?
--------------------
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 9th of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Henan
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 9th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Mozambique
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun Oct 8
One of the most moving letters by a prisoner I have ever read -
from a 35 year old local HK woman who has had a 20 year battle with drugs. Her
story in English
and Chinese
Pope's new
climate change letter "Laudate
Deum:
1. "Praise God for all his
creatures". This was the message that Saint Francis of Assisi proclaimed
by his life, his canticles and all his actions. In this way, he accepted the
invitation of the biblical Psalms and reflected the sensitivity of Jesus
before the creatures of his Father: "Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all
his glory was not clothed like one of these". "Are not five sparrows
sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight".
How can we not admire this tenderness
of Jesus for all the beings that accompany us along the way!
Voice Referendum on Oct 14. Two excellent articles by Archbishop
Mark Coleridge and another old friend Bob
Cullen
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Sunday 27
Isaiah
5: My friend
had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He planted choice vines in it and
expected it to produce good grapes. But it produced only sour grapes. That
vineyard is Israel. Its owner is the Lord. That chosen plant is the
people of Judah. The Lord expected the people of Israel to produce justice.
But those people have produced only bloodshed and injustice. Those people have
no time to think about the Lord. They have no interest in what he has done for
them. So they are consigning themselves to ruin. The vineyard will be trampled
on and become a waste. Invaders will attack Israel. The people of Israel will
be taken into exile. All because they rejected the Lord.
"I am the true vine. My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me
that bears no fruit he cuts away. Every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more" - Jesus (John 15.1-2)
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
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
Philippians
4.4-9: I
want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord. Let your tolerance be evident
to everyone. If there is anything you need, with prayer and thanksgiving ask
God for it. Fill
your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything
that is good and pure, everything that is worthwhile. Then the God of
peace will be with you.
Jesus, please fill
my mind with good things
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 on the above readings: The more we let Jesus influence our lives - by his teaching and example - the more fruit we will produce....just like the sun causes the moon (a piece of rock) to be beautiful
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
-------------------------------
Paris
exporting bedbugs to the world?
------------------------------
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 8th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Heilongjiang
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 8th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Sierra Leone
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat Oct 7
Over the past two years I have been posting sections of "Laudato
Si", the Pope's first letter on climate change. From tomorrow, no more
"Laudato Si". From tomorrow there will be posts from the
Pope's new climate change letter "Laudate
Deum"
Over the past week the Observatory has given the impression that typhoon Koinu
will weaken as it approaches HK. But it is not a baby typhoon. In
Taiwan it caused the world third strongest wind guest ever recorded ***
Latest from Observatory
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. readings for Feast of the Rosary
Genesis
3: A
creature hostile to God took the form of a snake and tempted the first man and
first woman. The snake tempted them to disobey God. When God asked them
why they disobeyed him, the man blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the
snake. God said to the snake: "You are the enemy of the human race. Someday
a member of the human race will defeat you." God said to the
man and woman: "From dust you came, and to dust you will return."
The first man's name was Adam (meaning
"man"). The first woman's name was Eve (meaning
"life").
Dear God, please help me
understand how evil in the world started when Adam and Eve disobeyed you
My
recording of this reading
Luke 1.46: My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her lowliness; henceforth all ages will call me blessed. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy his name! His mercy is from age to age, on those who fear him. He puts forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted. He casts the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty. He protects Israel, his servant, remembering his mercy, the mercy promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his sons for ever.
Acts
1.12: 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.
Recording
Luke
1.26: 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
Recording
Reflection on the above readings:
Many religions use beads to help pray. Beads help us to remember what we're doing. Beads help us to focus on praying ... even as we ride a bus or walk along the street. My own custom is to pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary at the start of each decade of the Rosary, and then for the 9 other beads to use words from the Bible readings of the day. So for today, the first decade might use a bead or two for each of these words: "the snake tempted them", "they disobeyed God", "Someday a member of the human race will defeat you", "from dust you came, to dust you will return", the first people were named "man" and "woman". Then the Glory be to the Father, then the "O my Jesus" prayer. Then to the next decade
------------
------------------------------
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 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hebei
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 7th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Burkina
Faso
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri Oct 6
Before going to Lai Chi Kok men's prison yesterday, I had an
egg sandwich and cup of coffee at a canteen near the prison ...during which
time I read this
most beautiful address by Pope Francis for the opening of the Synod ...
which gave me extra inspiration and motivation for the next 6 hours inside the
prison! And I also read this
equally powerful article from the Pope's about climate change
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
2 Kings 4:
A poor widow whose husband had been a
prophet asked Elisha for help when a creditor demanded her two sons
as slaves. All she had was a small pot of oil, not enough
to pay her debts.
Elisha told her to get many jars,
and start pouring oil from the pot into the jars. As she and her sons did this, the oil did not
run out.
Elisha told her to sell the oil to pay off her debts. At another time Elisha brought back to
life a dead child. He also once brought about a miraculous
multiplication of bread.
Dear God, you once worked
miracles by the prayers of Elisha.
Please let miracles be done in our day
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
144: Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who gives me strength for every situation. He is my love, my fortress.
He is my stronghold, my savior. To you, O God, will I sing a new song,
you who so often rescued David your servant. Happy the people whose God is the Lord.
Please continue to bless your people, Lord. Let our sons flourish like saplings
grown tall and strong from their youth;
our daughters graceful as columns,
adorned as though for a palace.
Let our crops and stock be blessed.
May there be no sound of weeping on our streets.
Lord, please help us love and
honor you every day.
Don't let us ever forget your love
Listen
Revelation
8.1 - 11.18: I saw how punishment
is coming for all evil
doers on the earth. I heard voices shouting: "The kingdom of
the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. He will reign
for ever and ever". The 24 elders worshipped God saying:
"We give thanks to you, Almighty Lord God.
The time has come for everyone to be judged.
The time has come for good people to be rewarded
and bad people to be punished"
Jesus, please help bad people stop being bad
Listen
Luke
2.1-8: The Emperor of Rome ordered that a census be
taken of the whole
Empire. Every man had to go to his home town to be registered. So Joseph set out from Nazareth in Galilee and
traveled to Judea,
to the town of David called Bethlehem, with his pregnant wife Mary. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came
for Mary to have her child. She gave birth to a son. She wrapped him in
swaddling clothes
and laid him in a feeding box for animals, because there was no room for
them at the local inn
Baby Jesus, born in Bethlehem,
please bless all babies born in the world today
Listen
Reflection: The Emperor had no idea he was arranging things to follow God's plan for the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem!
----------
Last night two special groups visited MercyHK's canteen
in Temple Street: 4 handicapped people from the Mainland in electric
wheelchairs, and a group of Maryknoll Sisters from various parts of Asia in HK
for a special meeting. God bless both groups!
-------------------------
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 6th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people 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 Mali
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
----------------------------
Thu Oct 5
Three
years ago yesterday, on Sunday Oct 4, 2020, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi
who cared for the poor and for creation, MercyHK's second hand shop was
blessed and opened at 191 Temple Street, Jordan. And the manager was Rosa Chan
whose birthday is ... Oct 4! Now 191 is MercyHK's canteen ... and last night I
had a meal there with Rosa .... also welcoming some of the many people who
came to the canteen yesterday. God bless everyone!
Dear Holy Spirit, please bless the
Synod which opened in Rome yesterday!
-------------------------
The Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
2 Kings 2-3:
The Lord revealed to Elisha and other
prophets
that Elijah would be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Elisha said to Elijah
"Let me inherit a double share of your spirit."
Then a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire,
and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
The spirit of Elijah then came to rest on Elisha
and he began to do miracles by the power of the Lord.
Holy Spirit of God, please
increase your influence in my life
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
140-143: Lord, save me from
people who do evil,
you who do justice for the needy. I have no way out of
this situation.
And no one wants to help me. Lord, I beg you tonight
to make haste and give me an answer,
for my spirit fails within me. In the morning let me know your love
for I put my trust in you.
Lord, please help people who
are in big trouble
Listen
Revelation
7.9-17: I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of
people from every nation, race, and language. They were standing in front of the
throne,
with palms in their hands.
They shouted: "Victory to our God,
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb". One of the elders told me who these people
are:
"These are the people who have been through the great persecution.
They now serve God day and night in his sanctuary. The Lamb is their
Shepherd. He leads them to springs of living water. God has wiped away all
tears from their eyes"
Jesus, please help sorrowing people who are
crying today
Listen
Luke
1.67-80: When John was named, his father Zechariah was
filled with the Holy Spirit
and said "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel. He has visited his
people.
And you, little child, you shall be called a prophet of the Most High. You
will go before the Lord to prepare a way for him". When John grew older, he lived in the
wilderness until the time came for him to begin his ministry
Jesus, please help me prepare your way
by helping people to know you
Listen
Reflection: Three prophets in today's readings - Elijah, Elisha and John the Baptist!
---
Laudato
Si:
219. Nevertheless, self-improvement on the
part of individuals will not by itself remedy the extremely complex situation
facing our world today. Isolated individuals can lose their ability and
freedom to escape the utilitarian mindset, and end up prey to an unethical
consumerism bereft of social or ecological awareness. Social
problems must be addressed by community networks and not simply by the sum of
individual good deeds. This
task "will make such tremendous demands of man that he could never
achieve it by individual initiative or even by the united effort of men bred
in an individualistic way. The work of dominating the world calls for a union
of skills and a unity of achievement that can only grow from quite a different
attitude". The ecological conversion needed to bring about lasting
change is also a community conversion.
---------
I was planning to go to Hei Ling Chau Island for a visit to
"18B" detention centre today. But because of the extremely hot
weather (and possible rough seas) caused by our latest typhoon, I now plan to
go to Lai Chi Kok men's prison which is totally under cover and only 30 mins
from my home in Jordan.
--------------------
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 5th 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 5th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of South
Sudan
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed Oct 4
Many people yesterday came to MercyHK's canteen in Temple
Street, including some Maryknoll sisters and a large group of parishioners
from Tai Po Parish .... with HK's newest priest, recently ordained Fr Henry
and his parents ...and also Sr Clement due to go overseas tomorrow.
I spent most of yesterday at the desk trying to catch up on mail and messages.
Another typhoon coming ...May the Good Lord again protect this part of the world from danger
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
readings + recordings
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Feast of St Francis of Assisi
Galatians 6: The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for each person to become an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God. I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
Francis was a stigmata
Psalm
16: Please protect me,
Lord, I take refuge in you. You
are the only source of all true happiness. I
bless you, Lord, who guide and lead me. Even at night you direct my heart. And
so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad. My body shall rest in safety now and
always. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your
presence, at your right hand, happiness for ever.
Recording
Francis is the patron saint of animals
Matthew
11.28: Jesus said
to the people: "Come to me, all you who are treated unfairly by unjust
religious laws. I will give you peace and justice. Learn from me, and
you will know peace, for I am gentle and humble of heart"
Recording
The Prayer of Saint Francis: Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
A beautiful song from
the movie about Francis: Brother
Sun Sister Moon
---------
Laudato
Si:
218.
In calling to mind the figure of Saint
Francis of Assisi, (Oct 4!!!) we come to realize that a healthy
relationship with creation is one dimension of overall personal conversion,
which entails the recognition of our errors, sins, faults and failures, and
leads to heartfelt repentance and desire to change. The Australian bishops
spoke of the importance of such conversion for achieving reconciliation with
creation: "To achieve such reconciliation, we must examine our lives and
acknowledge the ways in which we have harmed God's creation through our
actions and our failure to act. We need to experience a conversion, or change
of heart".
---------------------------
For Feast of St Francis:
A Dominican, a Jesuit, and a
Franciscan were stranded on a deserted island for many years. One day,
they found a lamp buried in the sand, and out popped a Genie. The genie said
to them, "Thank you so much for setting me free from my lamp! I will
grant each of you one wish to show my gratitude!"
The Jesuit spoke first: "I long to be back at the university where I
study and teach once more. Please, send me back, away from here!" Poof,
he was gone. The Dominican spoke next: "I long to be back with the
people, preaching the word of God in the streets and in the church. Please,
send me back, away from here!" Poof, he was gone. After thinking
long and hard, the Franciscan spoke last: "I kind of miss those guys. Can
you bring them back?"
-------------------------
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 4th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the people of Hubei
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 Guinea
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
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.
-------
----------------------
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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