KUCHING — After completing the five-part session on THE MASS: A Biblical Walk Through the Mass; Understanding What We Say and Do in the Liturgy by Edward Sri, EMPOWERED Ministry organised an IG Live Session on 6 August 2021 to discuss the many questions posed by participants. The guest speakers for the evening were Fr Galvin Richard Ngumbang and Deacon Mark Bonchol along with hosts Ann Marie and Francis Davin to discuss on The Mass and Catholicism.
The session began with a short prayer and a series of Q&A’s from the audience and host. Below are the questions answered by Fr Galvin and Deacon Mark:
Why should I still join virtual mass when I cannot receive the Eucharist? Won’t it be better not to join than to join incomplete (“alang-alang”)?
Fr Galvin: Even though we are not able to receive the Eucharist during this time, our hunger for the Eucharist is always present. Archbishop Simon Poh has announced that the people of Sarawak are exempted or obsolete from receiving the Eucharist because of the current situation. This is why we also pray the prayer of the Spiritual Communion during mass. The desire of communion is not a compensation for the Eucharist.
Why do we still need to pray to God when He knows our needs?
Deacon Mark: We must first understand the meaning of Prayer. A prayer is a journey with God. We must also discover who God is in our life. Is He your friend? Is He your teacher? Your Guardian? By recognising and establishing a relationship with God, a prayer becomes a daily conversation with a friend instead of a chore. A prayer’s purpose is to align our will with the will of God. Hence, prayer is still important to establish a relationship with God.
Is eating the Body of Christ considered “cannibalism”?
Deacon Mark: It’s not cannibalism. It is more like a symbol. You are not actually eating the flesh and body of Christ but you eat it in a symbolic way. Eating the Body of Christ has an underlying meaning. It is the invocation of the Holy Spirit and its essence that makes the bread and wine transformed into the Blood and Body of Christ in communion.
Why are lambs used as reference as a sacrificial animal in the bible? Why not other animals?
Fr Galvin: It is mainly due to the culture. Jesus was born in a Jewish culture. The Jewish people back in the days were mostly into the agricultural industry. Therefore, a lamb is mostly used as a symbol of sacrifice. In Exodus 12, there is a whole story on the marking of the house using the blood of the lamb. It signifies the Salvation of the Israelites.
Our Youth is in danger of embracing gender ideology and pro LGBTQ content that is propagated by social media. What is the church stand on this?
Deacon Mark: The Church has its own standing. The church cannot force beliefs into youths. Youths need to discern and have their own “balance & check” between the beliefs of the church and self-beliefs. It is how you perceive it and what will you do about it (moral stance).
Fr Galvin: The Church understands and shares the struggles of those in the LGBTQIA community. The Church also has teachings where these acts are intrinsically evil. Intrinsically evil can be defined as human acts that cannot be morally justified. It is against human nature. But then again, St Augustine teaches us to ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’. There is a need for us to distinguish between the person from the act. We shouldn’t shun and judge people of the community. Instead, we should show mercy, love and compassion towards them as God does. Pope Francis once said towards this issue, “who am I to judge people of this community?”
What are the church efforts into guiding back the people that walk away from the church (not necessarily God but within the church)?
Fr Galvin: First and foremost, we must respect and understand why the person left. Whether they face problems within the church or within themselves, we must always respect a person’s decision. If they are experiencing internal issues within themselves (e.g., feel ashamed of going back to church because they feel like their sins are too heavy) then the church is always open for them to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We mainly give space and time for the person to sit and discern with their decision, nonetheless, the church welcomes everyone regardless of their past.
After discussing the questions, Fr Galvin ended the evening with a simple prayer with the online viewers.
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