Church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
19-21 Jalan La Salle, Ipoh Garden, 31400 Ipoh, Perak
T: 05-5458220 (O)
F: 05-5468495
T: 05-5468611 (Community)
Parish Priest : Rev. Eugene Fernadez, CSsR
Assistant Parish Priest: Rev Joseph Stephen, CSsR
Sat. Novena Devotion : 9.00 am & 6.00 pm
Sat. Sunset Mas : 7.00 pm English
Sunday Mass:
8.30 am English
10.00 am Tamil
11.30 am Mandarin
Chapels:
St. Mary's Chapel, Kg. Tersusun
Sunday Mass in Tamil : 5.00 pm
Rangers's Camp Chapel
8.00 am Mass in B.M.
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Charismatic group celebrates 31 years |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Nov 15 2010 |
14 November 2010
IPOH: Transformation in faith life comes about only if we work at giving more of ourselves and making God present in the changing landscape of our lives. Fr Joseph Stephen CSsR, said this during his homily at the 31st Anniversary Mass of the charismatic prayer group of the Church of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, on Oct 27.
For those who are willing, there would be an outpouring of God’s graces, and “heartsight”, enabling us to hear inwardly what God wants us to do to spread his kingdom. Yet there are those who have calloused hearts, with pride, prejudices, hatred and jealousy within. “We must have open and receptive hearts to give generously of ourselves whom God is choosing to bless. Pray for this. Today, so many things take precedence and God comes last,” he said.
God’s generosity is shown as He wants to scatter His Word to all. God is not stingy but we are stingy or sparing in our giving, he added. “There are parasites in our lives, such as obsessions and addictions, and we are feeding them. They tend to grow into us and sap our energy, distracting us from what God wants or calls us to do. “That is why the Spirit of God is not working in us because we have allowed these parasites to grow in our lives.
“We let hatred and jealousy grow making us people with ‘blocked’ and hardened hearts,” he said. He said some might think the 31 years of the charismatic group is a long time, and it is time to put down working for God. “But we hear God telling us to go further, like Peter and the disciples who fished all night and did not catch anything.
Yet when Jesus instructed them to put out their nets, they pulled in a vast catch. “Could it be that the greatest mystery is yet to unfold? Is God unleashing his power in great generosity? “We ask ourselves if we can be the generous giver. Our prayer should not be about petitions, but about transforming us to be disciples of Jesus Christ. “Are we stagnant or moving, or is there newness in life? We thank God for his blessings and guidance and pray that we can collaborate with God,” he said.
After communion, 22-yearold Kenneth D’ Cruz gave a moving and powerful testimony of how God saved his life not once but three times. He thanked Fr Joseph Stephen as well as the OMPH charismatic prayer group for their visits and prayers. Having met with a car accident in Petaling Jaya last April, he was in critical condition, and prayers were offered for his recovery. He recovered enough but was again faced with a life-threatening infection, and again God saved him. “I am ever grateful to have God in my life, and those whom he sends to me,” he said.
OMPH charismatic leader Annie Jeya thanked Fr Joe for all his support and encouragement to the prayer group over the years. “Most of all we are thankful to God and Mother Mary for her intercessions, and the people who have come in support,” she said. After Mass, there was a small fellowship at St Gerard’s café
Last changed: Nov 15 2010 at 11:51 AM
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