18November2008
World Aids Day Mass 2008
Posted by peter under: Community.
25October2008
God Calling by Two Listeners edited by AJ Russell
Posted by peter under: Community.
Are you afraid of Life, trying to cling on to straws to stay afloat while the waves of the world is drowning and choking you to death? The recent financial downturns, the failure of the banks, the loss of confidence, no job security - all these are hounding you.
Stay calm and keep a cool head? How? Try this time tested book of wisdom and gem - God Calling, it may help to you to calmer waters where you can rest and not feel overwhelmed.
February 1 - Another Start
Take courage. Do not fear. Start a new life tomorrow. Put the old mistakes away, and start anew. I give you a fresh start. Be not burdened. Be not anxious. If My forgiveness were for the righteous only, and those who had not sinned, where would be its need?
Remember as I said, “To whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much.”
Why do you fret and worry so? I wait to give you all that is lovely, but your lives are soiled with worry and fret. You would crush My treasures. I can only bless glad, thankful hearts.
You must be glad and joyful.
July 10 - Expect Many Miracles
My guardianship is so wonderful.
Expect not one miracle but many.
Each day’s happenings, if of My working, and under My control, are miracle-works.
Many of My disciples have had to stay on in the dark, alone and friendless.
They struggled on, singing as they went.
For you, too, there must be songs on the way. Should I plant your feet on an insecure ladder? Its supports may be out of your sight, hidden in my secret Place of the Most High, but if I have asked you to step on and up firmly — then surely have I secured your ladder.
22October2008
An Appeal to Create Awareness for Catholic Books
Posted by peter under: Community.
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| Dear Friends,We are appealing to you for help; to tell your friends, family members, Church friends, pashioners about Wellsprings Catholic Books and our collection of Catholic Books. We are facing some tough time in reaching out eversince we moved location to 239 Lavender Street from Goldhill Centre. We received many suggestions/complaints about our undesirable location. Rent is high, pushing us to this location.
Wellsprings has an excellent collection of Catholic books both physical and online. We must not let this resource go to waste; hence the appeal to TELL-YOUR-FRIENDS ABOUT WELLSPRINGS & OUR BOOKS. Started in 1993, we have access to 1 million titles and with an expressed courier service from the US to Singapore, we are able to get any title to Singapore within 10-14 days. A Wellsprings Online to serve you when you don’t want to visit the store. Free delivery within Singapore for purchases above S$50. Wellsprings Online allows download of digital contents. A wealth of knowledge on the Faith. Let us supply you with the books that you need for your spiritual growth. Call us at 62523390 for any titles. Please send this note to as many folks as possible to spread the message that we need help to create awareness for our Catholic books. Read and Grow in Our Faith. Your help is very much needed and appreciated! Thank You for your support & blessings all these 15 years. With peace and blessings! Peter Hong. |
| Wellsprings Catholic Books239 Lavender Street
Singapore 338783 Tel: 62523390 |
14October2008
Revised Standard Version Bible
Posted by peter under: Community.
The RSV Catholic Edition is the most accurate of all contemporary translations, and the most literal translation from the original texts. It has the advantage of the best biblical and linguistic scholarship of the 20th century, without any of the “political corrections” which now disfigure many later revisions and paraphrases of the Scripture. Although its language may not be as beautiful or poetic as the classic English of the Douay or King James Version, the accuracy of the RSV makes it indispensable for study, and it is the version most often recommended by reliable Scripture scholars. The RSV-Catholic Edition has also been approved by the Vatican for liturgical use.
10October2008
Better Dads, Stronger Sons by Rick Johnson (Book). Comments by Matt.
Posted by peter under: Community.
This can be found at www.wordjourney.com
We fathers have a lot cut out for ourselves these days.The world often says that you’re irrelevant or at least you’ll be consigned to a secondary role to the mother, but when it comes to children they really do need their fathers. Just check out our prison population — full of angry, young men who were raised without good male role models.
As a father of boys, I understand that I pattern much of the behavior that they’re seeking to follow, and for them I’m a real life specimen of what a man should be. Sometimes those ideas make me shudder!
Fathering In The Sight Of God
For Christian dads, we know that raising our boys in the sight of Jesus Christ is where its at, but we’re not always confident that we can take on this role all by ourselves (we can’t). We may find ourselves looking for practical ways to demonstrate to the young males in our lives character building habits that they can take with them when they’re grown and out on their own, but we can also doubt our abilities to lead.
Rick Johnson addressed many of these fatherly concerns in his book, “Better Dads, Stronger Sons,” which was published by Revell Books and available in Wellsprings. I just finished reading my copy and came away with some tips which can help me be a better father to my two young boys.
God’s Design For The Family
The sub-title of Johnson’s book is, “How Fathers Can Guide Boys to Become Men of Character,” a good primer of what the author has in store for readers of his twelve chapter study. Before he tackled what being a father is all about, Johnson discussed what manhood really is and why being a man is so important in upholding God’s design for the family.
Certainly, most feminists would cry “foul” when reading on page 19 that, “God created men to be the leaders in our families, homes, communities — the whole earth,” but a role assigned by God cannot be overturned, only forfeited (emphasis mine). Most Christian dads that I know understand the vital role that they are patterning for their children and are eager to embrace what God has shown them. Sure, manliness is risk taking and role modeling, but it goes beyond that — being a dad is truly dying to yourself!
Broken Homes, Broken Lives
Johnson’s experience as a dad isn’t one built on a wonderful childhood. In fact, he was raised in a home with a stepfather, along with other siblings, a man who was a real terror to the children. By the time the author grew up, he buried most of his feelings and was inadequately prepared to parent when he became a dad. In Johnson’s case he came to know the Lord a number of years after his son and daughter were born, having to unlearn a lot of negative behavior and learn much about what it means to be a dad.
Oftentimes, it is our past that dictates how we will be as fathers, and Johnson thoroughly covered those foundational principles in the third chapter of the book.
Treating Women With Respect
Some of the key points the author raised in his book was learning how to bond with your son and recognizing that you’ll make mistakes as you parent him. Key to the equation is how a man treats his wife — boys notice everything and they’ll quickly pick up patterns of behavior that they’ll bring into their relationships with women. Chapters discussing respect and sex, two powerful components of marriage were discussed, as was role modeling/mentoring and leaving a legacy.
As I was reading Johnson’s book certain aspects of my own relationship with my long-departed dad came up, underscoring to me several things that I missed as a boy. When you don’t connect to your father, you’ll connect to other things, poor substitutes for the vital role of fathering. Then again, I remembered my father having a similar weak relationship with his dad, something I don’t want to see carried to the next generation.
Building Confidence For The Future
Whether you’re confident about being a father or not, Johnson’s book provides the tools we can all use to be a better dad. With God’s help and by acknowledging our own humility, we can become the fathers our sons need, even if our boys are well on their way to becoming men.
The world may never embrace such concepts, but as Christian fathers we need to impart to our boys the tools he’ll need to stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
1October2008
Mother Teresa - Documentary to be screened at St Mary of the Angels
Posted by peter under: Community.
30September2008
Did You Hear About St Ignatius And His Spiritual Exercises?
Posted by peter under: Community.
I hope you have heard about this person, St Ignatius of Loyola. If you have not, perhaps you should read about him. He and his companions are the prime mover and pioneer in many fields, especially education and prayer. Throughout the world, the Society of Jesus (a religious order founded by St Ignatius and his companions) has established many excellent educational institutions. Ignatius of Loyola has also pioneered a set of prayer exercises known as the Spiritual Exercises. Many people across the centuries have used this form and benefited from it.
What is this Spiritual Exercises, you may wish to ask? What’s so good about it? Why did so many people get themselves trained to be spiritual directors? The Jesuits’ drive and motivation comes from this Spiritual Exercises.
Fr Vince Hurley SJ uses THE IGNATIAN WORKOUT book as a reference for all his directees when they see him for spiritual direction.
Start with the basic handbook, LANDMARKS by Margaret Silf if you wish to get started on your spiritual journey. Margaret makes simple the exercises for lay people to understand and pray. This is on many reading lists of Ignatian Spiritual Direction.
If you wish to do a silent retreat, you may wish to consider 7 Fountains in Chiang Mai, Thailand. You can a search on this blog for more details on 7 Fountains. The Jesuit Fathers in this retreat house are very friendly and approachable. Highly recommended!!
If you prefer somewhere nearer home in Singapore, the Cenacle Sisters may be a good start.
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All the featured books can be found or ordered from Wellsprings Catholic Books
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26September2008
Scott Hahn and His Books - Catholic For A Reason and Letter & Spirit Project
Posted by peter under: Community.
16September2008
Bro Christopher and the Norbertine community
Posted by peter under: Community.
Dear Wellsprings community,
I’ve been invited by Peter Hong to share about the Order I’m in and about our community here in Perth. I’m a Penangite simple professed Premonstratesnian Canons Regular who belongs to the Canonry of St Joseph here in Perth. I’m also simultaneously studying for the priesthood in the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle.
As Canons Regular we are a clerical Order who blends both monastic and pastoral elements in our life and we folllw the Rule of St Augustine. We were founded on Christmas day in 1120 by Sts Norbert and his companions in the valley of Premontre, North east of France. Premonstratensians were also the first in Church History as an Order to with double monasteries. However with many reasons and problems arising in history, this double aspect of one form of life is not possible anymore although we still have sister communties till today.
I think our life is best summed up in the introduction of the Agustinian rule where St Agustine exhorts those who come to live in our monastery as of “ONE HEART AND ONE SOUL ON THE WAY TO GOD!”
Taking the exhortation of Pope Benedcit XVI’s recent call to all youths at the closing mass of the World Youth day here in Sydney to be not afraid when Jesus calls you, I would like to invite you and also encourage any interested young men from Singapore, Malaysia or any country to contact us and come and give us a try.
Take care and look forward to hearing from you all.
Yours in Christ,
Bro Christopher and Norbertine community,
St Joseph’s Canonry,
135, Treasure Road, Queens Park,
6107, WA,
Australia
or at clim@norbert.wa.edu.au