<基信团工作坊>

A Workshop on methods, process and spirituality for Small Christian Communities

"Trust the Process! Trust the Process! I believe this phrase must be ringing loud and clear in the ears of the 80 odd-participants making up of 20 priests from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines with Archbishop Nichols Chia, the Religious and Laity, at the end of the first day Workshop organized by the Singapore Pastoral Institute from 12-14 November 2008.

For me it did. It is not preaching and teaching that will be for us this 3-day workshop but that each one of us, man, woman, religious or clergy will be fully involved in this Workshop processes. This 3-day workshop led by the Resource team making up of Fr Jose Marins from Brazil with over 35 years of experience delivering training and workshops for (CELAM) the Episcopal conference of Latin America and who is one of the leading experts of Basic Christian Communities (SCC: Small Christian Communities/BEC) throughout the world. In the team with him were the very candid, serious yet engaging, Fr Gerry Proctor from England, a SCC/BEC doctoral research student at Liverpool Hope University and one who is trained in the LUMKO methodologies of SCC/BEC building.

Though this way of community building and sharing experiences in BECs is not totally new to me, there was a freshness and richness in its methodology and pedagogy. The fact of being engaged in the different steps starting with a short personal reflection of our past, our present undertakings and our future dreams and aspirations leading on to how Jesus, his disciples and the people of his time live and act in his lifetime, we were truly connected with one another. Finally like how the early Christians like St Paul, St Peter and the rest of the great early Christian personalities like Timothy and Aquila and Priscilla live their faith, call us to enter into their lives and footsteps. What truly engaged us further is how we were led by these different early Christians models of faith to interact with one another in our small groups and plenary sharing.

With each of the 5 marks of being Church and similarly being small Christian communities like 1. Community, 2. Worship, 3. Word of God, 4. Service and 5. Mission explained and led in a process and then evaluated, we became better aware of how we can live more fully ourselves as a BEC member in our neighborhood. Indeed as it is exhorted ardently and more understood since the Second Vatican Council, the Church is the people of God and it is what is meant by being a church. A church of Small Christian Communities where we share our faith, pray, support one another, continue to learn what it means to be Christian, and help one another in whatever way we can.



By Maria Yan

<圣保禄讲习会>

Living the Gospel
St Paul’s call to match words with action in First Corinthians

Kuala Lumpur: API organized a week-end seminar on 8 and 9th November 2008 presented by Dr Jeffery and Angelina Goh.

The lucky people who managed to attend this week-end seminar found First Corinthians unpacked in little easily digestable packages, organized into the 10 problems faced by the young Corinthian church.

Dr Goh distilled the best from his teachers and many years experience in the service of the church and explains how the masters (e.g. Raymond Collins) analysed each problem:
• What was the problem?
• Why was it a problem?
• How was Paul feeling when he wrote the letter?
• What was his solution?
• What was Paul’s spirituality?
• How does it apply to us, today?

Dr Jeffery used art to illustrate his points in so doing also taught religious art appreciation.
In the midst of analogies:
• The curry puffs in Kuching (did you know they are puffed full of air but little substance?) which is what we could become if we are not careful.
• Ever noticed the Microsoft ‘i’ as soon as you type it becomes ‘I’?

Many of us found the problems of the Corinthians still occur today. The spirituality of logs they are dead just going with the flow of the river is present and we have to take care not to become a log.

As participant, Robert Tan put it, too long we sing “We stand for God and for His glory …” but remain seated.

The Gohs, are taking time off from St Peter’s College, Kuching and will be available for seminars and retreats. We wish them all the best.


Note: Dr Jeffery Goh gave up his career was a Barrister-at-Law. He holds a STD/Ph.D in Sacred Theology and JCL in Canon Law from Catholic University in Laouvain, Belgium where his wife Angelina also has a STB degree in Sacred Theology and a MA in Religious Studies. They have written a book in the Living the Christian life series every year for the last 9 years. The books are available from good Catholic book-shops or contact the Kuching Diocese book-shop.

<12月份牧民活动>

1) 1-3日 Province Study Days on FdCC Statutes (Kluang)

2) 3日 Ordination of Bro. Alvin Ho, S.J (SFX, PJ)

3) 6日 降临期培训( 加影圣家堂)

4) 7日 牧民培训(巴生救主堂)

5) 8日 足迹：信仰分享，拜访病人

6) 12日 Seminar: Empowerment of Women (WIM)

7) 13-14日 圣依纳爵堂领袖避静(PJ)

8) 15日 Love and Life Camp (Vocation Sharing, Cheras)

9) 18日 Office Christmas Gathering (APC)

10)25日 圣诞节，修女聚会，家庭拜访

11)31日- 2009年1月3日 新加坡 (4位修女修道金庆)

<华文教务促进会会议>

欢迎新任理事第一次会议

<圣婴修道院>

走过Bras Basah Road, 到了Victoria Street，一边是新加坡天主教会的主教座堂，善牧堂。对面是百年老修院，属于圣婴修女会。被政府搬迁对换其他地点。我们几个人到里面看看。
之前的小教堂成了宴会厅与舞厅，任何舞会、婚礼都在此进行。之前的课室成了个别的餐厅，环绕着小教堂，布置的富丽堂皇，夜幕低垂，灯光点燃，更是加深她神秘面纱，小教堂高高的墙上漂亮的彩绘玻璃仍然不失其特质。她的名字已从C.H.I.J.(Convent of Holy Infant Jesus)改成C.H.I.J.M.E.S，我们很好奇她的名字意义，却无人可以告诉我们。


大铁门写着：天使之城






离开前，看到墙角这排字，大意：我们圣婴会修女与平信徒继续为那些生命受到威胁的小孩服务及联络处。

<文化城>

百年老修院成了戏曲学院！

上个星期在新加坡参加一个工作坊培训，就住在 Waterloo Street,隔条街就是文化街，到了Middle Road去看看 St. Anthony Canossian Convent的前生,只见到高高墙上挂着“戏曲学院”百年老修院，如今成了戏曲学院，只盼她培育出一批批反映、刻划人生百态的戏曲学生，通过戏曲感化人心。


我们的住宿对面就是“新加坡聚舞坊”很多活动在此进行。也上百年的建筑物吧。




向左走去，到了文化街，路过，看到这些铜像：Coolies“苦力”的译音，当年吃苦耐劳的先人。http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8B%A6%E5%8A%9B

<瓶子树>

BOTTLE TREE


在新加坡，弟弟，弟媳，侄女及多年老朋友寥医生到Sembawang去享用晚餐。除了气氛好，又是靠海，弟弟要我去看来自澳洲的瓶子树。很特别，算是正常、自然的树？

<圣经与手机>

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!

Trust in the Lord and *ASAP (Always Say A Prayer)

Sender: unknown

<什么阻止我?>

"... If you want to identify me, ask me not where I live, or what I like to eat, or how I comb my hair, but ask me what I am living for, in detail, and ask me what I think is keeping me from living fully for the thing I want to live for." (Thomas Merton)

(1915 - 1968)


"...... 如果你想认出我，请别问我住在那里，或者我喜欢吃什么，或是我如何梳头，但是很详细的问我，我为什么而生存，并请问我是什么阻止我完全活出我为他而生存的事。"(神修大师：多默慕尔顿)

几天前发现他的话，使我反复默思。
我是谁？
我到底是谁？
我在谁内才是我？
我到底到那里才是真正的我？

我，那么近，却又好遥远！
我，那么熟悉，却又好陌生！
我，那么真，却又很假！
我，那么清楚，却又很模糊！

直到那一天......


看到一条鱼，从湖里跳出来！
鱼，离开了水，就不再是鱼！
鱼，离开了水，就是一条死鱼！



我，离开了天主，就不再是我！
我，离开了天主， 就是一个死我！

我，停止是我，就不再是我！
我，只能是我，因为我是我！

<天主与你同在>

素沁姐，
谢谢你允许我如此称呼你。欢迎你回到平凡的人群里！你风采依旧，充满气质！你重获自由令许多马来西亚人民欢呼雀跃！我更以你为荣；为你的勇气感到骄傲！你分享了主耶稣的苦；一个无辜的受害者，受苦者的苦是充满救恩成份！

听到你获得释放，我们在用餐的同事都举手欢呼！我又想到他们对待耶稣那一刻：他们在耶稣身上查不出任何的罪状来！

义人的灵魂在天主手里, 痛苦不能伤害他们 ……。

2008年9月12日晚上11点多，我身在槟城老家；无意中在电视新闻里听到你在内安法令下被逮捕，心中除了惊讶，更多是不满与愤怒！我立刻想到你在重演当年耶稣受逮捕的那一幕 ……。当然我马上就收到很多短讯通知有关此事；我们也就立刻为你，为你的家人祈祷 ……。想到Mother Teresa 是你的圣人主保，我告诉她一定要为你转祷；还有我们的非洲修女，St. Josephine Bakhita，曾经是个被贩卖多次的奴隶，最终成了圣人；我想她们听到了马来西亚人民的祷声！我们很高兴在危险处境你希望有圣经在手，给你亮光，给你智慧，给你力量与勇气。我相信大众都很好奇，你一位娇小的女人那来如此的勇气？我们修女每天不断为你祈祷，更谈到你相似当年的保禄，在监狱里还给不同地方的信友写了很多鼓励与教导的信件。

9月16日，我们有3为修女随同神父到你家探望你双亲；看到你母亲为你所受的苦感到痛苦 ……。无论如何，这次经验上方为你打造了英雄形象，反而让人民看到他们更丑陋的一面，你的经验让我看到了黑暗不能战胜光明。

我常浏览你的网页。在你的发布会上很高兴看到你说在牢房里，你要吃饱饱，让自己有力气为前路奋斗，我正为你这决定而喝采欢呼！是的，你选择了积极看待现况！

There are many Scriptural passages came to my mind as I reflect on your recent experience.
Prophet Isaiah: "God's Spirit is in my heart, He has sent me and set me apart, this is what I have to do….."
Letter to the Romans: "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction? Fear? Pain? Suffering? Sword? Persecution? ……?"

I am very proud of you and we as community decided to pray for you and your family daily as you serve the people with justice and truth, with love and compassion! May God bless and protect you with good health, courage and wisdom! When you not sure what to say or how to respond, just whisper: COME! HOLY SPIRIT COME!

Sorry for the delay!

in Christ,
Lina
22 Sept. 2008

<天父给你的情信>

在看信之前,我想告诉你 ...... 阿爸，天父真的很爱你。即使你未曾出生, 祂已爱了你, 为你写下祂对你的情书。请细心看每一个字, 求父在当中向你说话!



我的孩子，

你或许不认识我，我却认识你的一切。 你坐下，你起来，我都晓得，我也深知你一切所行的；就是你的头发也都被数过了。你是照着我的形象所造的，你生活，动作，存留，都在乎我，你也是我所生的。甚至在你尚未成形以先，我已晓得你， 在创立世界之前，我已拣选了你。

你不是个错误 ，你所有的年日子都写在我的册上，我定准你的年岁和所住的强界，你的受造，是极其奇妙可畏！我在你母腹中塑造你，领你由母腹中出来。 我被不认识我的人所误传，我并非冷漠而愤怒，乃是完全的爱。我愿在你身上挥霍我的爱，只因为你是我的孩子，我是你的父亲。 我能给予你的，远超过地上的父亲所能给予的，因为我是完全的父 。 你所领受各样美善的恩赐，都是从我来的，因为我是你的供应者，我必供应你需的一切。

我向你所怀的意念是要叫你未后有指望，因为我以永远的爱爱你。 我向你的意念其数比海沙更多，我因你欢欣喜乐，我决不停止施恩与你，因你是我珍贵的产业。

我全心全意栽培你于此地，我要将伟大奥秘的事指示你，如果你一心一意寻找我，就必寻见。 以我为乐，我就把你心里所求的赐给你，因为是我在你心里动工，使你心里能立志行事。我能为你成就一切，远超过你所求所想的。

我是你最佳的鼓励者，也是在一切患难中安慰你的父亲。你伤心的时候，我靠近你 ，如同牧人怀抱羊羔，我怀抱你在我胸前，有一天，我要擦去你一切的眼泪并带走你在世上的一切苦楚。 我是你的父，我爱你如同我爱我的儿子──耶稣一样，因为在耶稣里，就显明我对你的爱，祂是神本体的真像，祂来是表明我要帮助你，不是敌对你，并告诉你：我不追究你的过犯。

耶稣受死，使你可与我和好，祂的死，是我爱你最极致的表达，我为你舍弃了我所爱的一切，使我或许能得着你的爱。你若接受了这份礼物，我的儿子耶稣，你就接受了我。 无论任何事都不能叫我的爱与你隔绝。

我在等着你！

爱你的阿爸
20082008

作者：阿爸父

<和好的真福>

The Beatitudes of Reconciliation
和好的真福



BLESSED are those who are willing to enter into the process of being healed,
for they shall become healers.
乐于进入治愈过程的人是有福的，
因为他们将成为疗伤者。

BLESSED are those who recognize their own inner violence,
for they will come to know non-violence.
承认自己内在暴力的人是有福的，
因为他们将认识非暴力。

BLESSED are those who forgive self,
for they will be forgivers.
那些宽恕自己的人是有福的，
因为他们将成为宽恕者。

BLESSED are those who are willing to let go of selfishness and self-centredness,
for they will become a healing presence.
那些乐于放弃自私与自我中心的人是有福的，
因为他们将是治疗的临在。

BLESSED are those who are willing to enter into conflict,
for they will find resolutions.
乐于参与冲突的人是有福的，
因为他们将会找到解决方法。

BLESSED are those who know their interdependence with all of creation,
for they will become unifiers.
那些知道自己与受造物是彼此依靠党人是有福的，
因为他们将是融化者。

BLESSED are those who live a contemplative stance,
for they will find God in all things.
那些默观生活者是有福的，
因为他们在一切事上找到天主。

BLESSED are those who strive to live these beatitudes,
for they will become reconcilers.
那些努力活出真福的人是有福的， 因为他们将成为修和者。

作者：佚名

<灵修假期>

MARANATHA: Come, O Lord!

JANDA BAIK

2008年10月27日，天还未晓，我踏着晨雾朝向松林。
一路羊肠小径，路上山回路转，几经寻觅才达到目的地。



迎向我的是一片青绿松林。我将在此渡过7天6夜。
在此，死亡带来重生！我选择了活跃的小径；我选了少人行走的小路。我在此留下脚印。



走出松林，我的生活是全新的；未走过的是野林，留下足迹的是小径，多人走过小径才走出大路来。
人，走路不该只是留下足迹，而是改变小径，走出大路，给人到达目的地。

我并不孤独，我们共有15人参加这个避静；4位天主教徒，其他是基督教姐妹们。而我们的灵修导师是来自英国的 Margaret Silf 女士。她于2000年时辞去高薪职位，全职专注在带领避静与神操。



正门


住处








耶稣欢迎你


祈祷室




地下室




树林


独处














to be continued...

<11月份牧民活动>

1) 10月27日- 11月2日 常年退省(Janda Baik)

2) 8 - 9日 Pauline Seminar (Dr. Jeffrey Goh) (API)

3) 9日总教区华文教务促进会会议（玫瑰堂〕

4) 9日甲洞耶稣圣爱堂晚宴

5) 12 - 14日 Workshop on BCC (新加坡牧民学院)

6) 15日 Arhdiocesan Pastoral Council Meeting (APC)

7) 16日 Post PMPC III (Good Shepherd Church, Setapak)

8) 22日 圣母军避静(怡保圣米高堂)

9) 23日 Post PMPC III (玫瑰堂)

10)27日 爱加倍小学生生活营 (圣依纳爵堂,PJ)

11)29 - 30日 彭亨区域促进会避静(文冬)

12)30日 吉安分享会(仰望理想的蓝天)