KUALA LUMPUR — The Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur commenced a year of activities dedicated to the family, after the 10th World Meeting of Families which took place in Rome in June this year. These activities will last till July 2023.
To kick off the year, an inauguration Mass was held at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist on August 21, with Archbishop Julian Leow as the main presider. Concelebrating were Ecclesiastical Assistants for the Archdiocesan Family Life Commission, Fr Peter Anthoney and Fr Andrew Kooi; the cathedral’s parish priest Fr Gerard Theraviam, as well as priests from different parishes in the archdiocese. Archbishop Julian said that the family is where we learn to love, and where we first learn about relationships, especially in caring and sharing for one another.
“We can choose our friends, but we cannot choose our family. Our family has been put here by God for a purpose – to teach us how to get along and to be patient with each other, and to forgive. Let us continue to build and nurture the ones closest to us. The ones closest to us somehow hurt us the most and therefore we need reconciliation – we need to forgive.
“The Holy Father chose the theme, ‘Family Love: A Path to Holiness and Vocation’ because he knows the struggles and the tensions in family life. And it is through these tensions and conflicts that we grow to be holy and put the needs of others before our own.”
Archbishop Julian said that the archdiocese has come to realise the stress suffered by families during the early part of the pandemic when members had to cope with being together at home during the lockdown. “There were many challenges, and our families were perhaps torn, broken and stretched beyond their limits. Hence, with this year given to us by the Holy Father, we are dedicating these 12 months to the theme of family.” He added that with findings from the Synod of 2023 that were submitted to the Vatican recently, the archdiocese will plan on what aspect of family life to emphasise on in the next 12 months.
“I pray that our families may thrive so that society may continue to bloom and we will all be one in Christ,” said Archbishop Julian.
Fr Peter encouraged everyone to give importance to family life. He expressed hope that all parishes in the archdiocese will participate in the series of activities organised by the Family Life Commission. These activities include podcasts on topics discussed at the 10th World Meeting of Families, family worship of the Blessed Sacrament, family rosaries and pilgrimages, outreach to different component groups and an in-depth revisit of Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on love in the family.
