Whenever a dea-con, priest, bishop or even the Pope

talk openly and frankly about the just distribution of wealth, a wave of protests and false accusations usually follow. St. Pope John Paul II mentioned to the Native Americans and poor farmers in Mexico during one of his visits that “the Church defends, yes, the legitimate right to private property, but it teaches with the same clarity that private property always brings with it a social re-sponsibility.” Actually, this admirable thought summariz-es the teachings of Christ which form the basis of the social doctrine of the Church. The Church reminds us that owning private property is not a crime nor is it con-trary to the Gospel. The Church concedes that it is a legitimate need. But the Church also tells us that it is not an absolute necessity. All ownership of property should be for the common good. Wealth is not bad, per se, if we know how to share it but it can lead to sins of injustice, into a powerful force for enslaving others, if those who have the wealth do not use it for the good of all. The rich man encountered Jesus in a casual setting when he ran up, at the last moment, and asked the question that was worrying him the most, which is also, without a doubt, the question that profoundly worries each of us, “Master, what needs to be done for me to reach eternal life?” Initially we feel moved by the sincerity and trust that this good and honorable man displays. Jesus first gives him the “textbook” answer - obey the command-ments. The man says he does that already and has done so since he was very young. Then Christ looks lovingly at the man and says, “You only have one thing left to do. Go, sell everything you have and give the proceeds to the poor. Then you will surely have gained a treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

The man then sadly goes away because he does not want to part with his riches. What had started as a happy event turned suddenly sad. The gospel writer does not even give the man a name. Had the

man’s reaction been different it would have been a turn-ing point in his life, a joyous uplifting of a sad life. But this was not to be. He turns out to be just one more person who has failed to listen to the call of God, a po-tential saint, a could-have-been example of how to fol-

low Jesus. What the Lord tells us in the Gospel Reading is that if we truly want to follow him there is a dimension to Christianity that is oftentimes overlooked - the gener-osity to which Christ calls us. The Gospel message is a challenge to take part in an especially difficult vocation that cannot be followed just by obeying the command-ments, although that is an important thing to do. Christi-anity possesses a social dimension that is oftentimes ignored when we limit ourselves simply to pious acts, when we believe simply by going to Mass on Sunday and praying a little every day we are doing all that we must do as Christians. Today we should ask ourselves truthful-ly, “How did I gain all of my belongings and my property and how am I using them?” We should remember that economic injustice can come from the origin as well as the use of money and property. Jesus had used what are probably some of the truest, yet harshest, words in the gospels, “How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter into the Kingdom of God.” That rich man walked away sadly from Christ’s side because he cared more about his riches. He wasn’t an evil person. He obeyed the commandments religiously. He wanted to enter into the Kingdom of God but he had become a slave of his own possessions. Our Lord wants us to be free, to learn how to share and how to give. He does not want us to be tied to material things that pass away. Today, with all sinceri-ty, let us ask ourselves, “Do I live out a spirit of generosi-ty? Do I know how to share with others the material blessings that I have?” Let’s learn to live as the first Christians did, in spirit at least. They did not consider anything as their own. Everything they owned was used for the good of the community. When we let go of the need to possess things, we will feel INNER JOY. Only then can we say that we are on the road to the Kingdom of God. Only then will we feel true peace in our hearts.

T MASS & PRAYER TIMES DAY DESCRIPTION

Rosary

Mass

Rosary

Mass

8.30am

9.00am

5.30pm

6.00pm

SUN 14 Oct

28th Sunday of Ordinary Time Wis 7: 7-11 Hebr 4: 12-13 Mk 10: 17-30

No Mass

DM Chaplet

MON 15 Oct

St Teresa of Jesus, Virgin & Doctor

3.00pm

Lauds

Mass

DM Chaplet

6.20am

6.45am

3.00pm

TUE 16 Oct

St Hedwig, Religious

St Margaret Mary

Alacoque, Virgin

WED 17 Oct

St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr

No Mass

DM Chaplet

3.00pm

Lauds

Mass

DM Chaplet

6.20am

6.45am

3.00pm

THU 18 Oct

St Luke, Evangelist

Lunch Hour Mass

DM Chaplet

12.30pm

3.00pm

8.30pm

FRI 19 Oct

Ss John de Brebeuf

& Isaac Jogues,

Priests & Compan-

ions, Martyrs

St Paul of the Cross,

Priest

Lauds Mass

Novena to OMPH BM Mass

6.20am 6.45am*

5.15pm 5.30pm

SAT 20 Oct

Saturday Mass of

Our Lady

Rosary

Mass

Rosary followed by

Mass (Tagalog)

Rosary

Mass

8.30am

9.00am

12.00pm

5.30pm

6.00pm

SUN 21 Oct

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time Is 53: 10-11 Hebr 4: 14-16 Mk 10: 35-45 or 10: 42-45

PARISH ACTIVITIES

FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES

2018 THEME - BE DISCIPLES OF HOPE OCTOBER THEME: HOPE - I AM CROSSING FRONTIERS & JOURNEYING IN CHRIST

PARISH PRIEST SPEAKS …..

CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY

PARISH PRIEST

Rev. Fr. Martin Arlando

Address: 117, Jalan Kenari, Sungai Ara, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang

Tel: 04-646 6881 |Fax : 04-646 6885 |Email: divinemercypg@yahoo.com

Website: www.cdm.my | Facebook: Church of Divine Mercy Sg Ara

Parish Office Opening Hours: Close on Mondays. Tue - Fri (9am - 5pm);

Sat (9am - 12.30pm); Sun (9am - 12.30pm, 4.30pm - 7pm)

Parish Bulletin 14 October 2018

WEDDING BANNS

Tan Chee Wei & Clare Wong Bing Yun Wedding Service at Church of Divine Mercy, Sg Ara

on 20 October 2018 (12.30pm)

Christopher Noel & Lau Pei Ping Wedding Service at Church of Divine Mercy, Sg Ara

on 27 October 2018 (11.00am)

“If anyone knows of any canonical impediments to the proposals of marriage stated above, please contact the

parish priest.”

Mass Collection (Week Ended 7 Oct)

1st Collection RM4628.25 2nd Collection RM4202.65

Publication (Herald) RM46.00

~ God Bless Your Generosity~

CDM E-Bulletin Subscription

Email to: cdmbulletin@gmail.com

FORMED.org Parish Access Code: ADC7Q4

Daily Reflection on Word of God (Lectio Divina)

Downloadable copy available from the website at

http://cdm.my/bec-reflection/

Catechism 14, 21, 28 Oct (Sun) @ 10.45am

Free Tuition Classes 21 Oct (Sun)

(1st floor classroom) 1pm - 2.30pm (Math)

Christian Meditation 17 Oct (Wed) @ 8.30pm

20 Oct (Sat) @ 4.15pm (F. Hall)

Infant Baptism 4 Nov (Sun) @ 11am

STOP & PRAY @ 8.05pm everyday wherever you are.

POST & PRAY for all intentions on the Wall of Prayer.

READ & SHARE the Word of God daily CDM compound is a Non Smoking Zone

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

BEC Coffee Mornings Thank you for your generous

support during the recent Coffee Mornings by BECs.

Zone N (16 Sep) - RM796.00

BEC O4 (30 Sep) - RM1150.00

BEC O1 (7 Oct) - RM1305.00

BEC O3 (7 Oct) - RM555.00

Thank You from the Chinese Apostolate A sum of

RM2420 was raised from the recent mooncake sale.

Many thanks for the support.

Coffee Morning by Zone R will take place on 14 Oct

after 9am Mass. Please do come and support.

Bank Account Details

Those who wish contribute through bank or online

transfer, the detail as follows:

Bank:- Maybank

Account No: 507394101643 (Church of Divine Mercy).

Please pass / email the copy of the bank-in slip to the

parish office for receipt issuance.

~UPDATE ON FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES~

Opening balance (30/9/18): RM1,017,686.00*

Activities this week (including pledges): RM555.00

Closing balance (7/10/18): RM1,018,241.00*

*all numbers rounded up to nearest RM

FROM THE PARISH OFFICE

BEC Day

*Breakfast fellowship after Mass

Please refer to attachment for venue

Migrant Sunday The Migrant Ministry would like to

extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed in

cash and kind to the successful celebration of Migrant

Sunday.

Earthquake & Tsunami in Sulawesi, Indonesia

In solidarity with the victims of the recent catastrophe in

Sulawesi, the Diocese of Penang through the Penang

Office of Human Development (POHD) will forward a

sum of RM50,000 for the relief efforts. Individuals

intending to contribute financially may issue cheque

payable to “Penang Office of Human Development”

latest by 31 Oct. Plz indicate behind the cheque for

“Disaster Relief”.

First Holy Communion