Church of St Michael (1890)
24 Church Road, 30300 Ipoh, Perak
T: 05-2540176
F: 05-2415437
email: smcipoh@gmail.com
Parish Priest : Msgr Stephen Liew
Assistant Parish Priest: Rev Anthony Chong
Sat. Sunset Mass : 7.00 pm (English)
Sunday Masses :
8.00 am English
10.00 am Mandarin
5.30 pm English
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God’s favourite word is “Come” |
| Posted by Diocese of Penang (pgdiocese) on Mar 29 2011 |
28 March 2011
IPOH: Some 160 Catholics from different parishes in Ipoh went through a Lenten retreat conducted by Martin Jalleh from Mar 12-13 at St Michael’s Church. Many retreatants came with a mixture of feelings — excitement, self-consciousness and awareness — that it would probably be a long weekend of bible study.
Instead it was refreshing to learn more about a God who calls us constantly to “Come” to Him in a variety of ways, whether through being still and listening to God, in service or prayer through the Word of God. “When people come together there can be synergy. God can do extraordinary things with ordinary people, so we should not look down on ourselves.
God empowers us to help others; even the old have a role to play in service to the church,” he said. Jalleh used passages from Scripture to drive home the point in showing us a God who desires to know us, so we can see the world from His viewpoint. “God’s favourite word is ‘Come’.
The greatest temptation is to doubt God in times of crises, and to doubt that we are sons and daughters of God. The beauty of our God is that he searches for us, all the time,” he added. Jalleh also led Catholics to a better understanding of how to apply God’s Word to our everyday life situations.
Many people feel a spiritual dryness, or even indifference to the Word of God, because they are unable to connect between the past events and present-day life.
Giving key lessons from his life and that of others, he helped participants understand the difficulties of relationships. He even delved into areas which are seldom discussed but which we know very well - that most of us are quite insecure when it comes to our Christian lives and bible knowledge. “So often we reject a call to serve with the excuse that we are not worthy or suitable.
“But we should know God and trust in His promise to give us the graces we need. “Then we become unafraid to experiment and explore new ways of service and ministry to the community, hence building up the church,” he pointed out. God trains us in all sorts of ways in our faith and it is up to us to decide how near or far we want to walk in our faith.
We have to learn new ways of listening to God as well, he said. Another follow-up session on the retreat will be held at SMC on April 19. Participants have to register at the parish office so that meals can be provided for them. Martin Jalleh, who is a fulltime church speaker, also conducts motivational talks for students, school staff and teachers, corporations and camps for youth. He can be contacted at jallehmartin@ yahoo.com or 016-4430856.
Last changed: Mar 29 2011 at 9:33 AM
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