KUCHING — The Religious Orders in the Archdiocese of Kuching gathered together for a Solemn Day of prayer, reflection, and thanksgiving on 2 February at the Carmelite Chapel to celebrate the 22nd World Day of Consecrated Life.
The celebration was organised by the Sisters of St Francis of Sarawak (SSFS), and was jointly celebrated with the members from the Carmelite Order (OCD Nuns and the OCDS Seculars), Franciscan Friars (OFM), Society of Jesus (SJ), Claretians (CMF), Marist Brothers’ Community (FMS), and the Salesians (SDB).
The half-day programme included Taize Prayer led by the youth from St Mark’s Church, a Gospel reflection by Fr Francis Lim SJ, the blessing of candles and candlelight procession, and Eucharistic Celebration (concelebrated by all the priests present). This was followed by lunch and fellowship at the Parlour of the Carmelite Monastery with the Carmelite nuns and all present.
Those who are called to live the Consecrated Life (which is a stable form of Christian Living), follow Jesus Christ by professing to live the Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience faithfully, in their lives.
Fr Francis Lim gave a reflection on the Gospel passage of “Mary and Martha” (Lk 10:38-42), the analogy representing Prayer and Active Ministries respectively.
Fr Francis cautioned the living of each lifestyle to the extreme and stressed on the importance of achieving a healthy balance of a life of prayer and active ministries, and that in fact, both are intertwined.
He also pointed out that in order to do God’s will better, it is important to be attentive to God’s direction in our lives and not to remain in status quo when change is needed.
Cynthia Lim
