Holy Redeemer Church Bangkok

DAYS TO REMEMBER:

May 13: Our Lady of Fatima. Mary’s appearance to the 3 children of Fatima began on this date & continued through October 13 of the same year. Devotion to Mary under this title is known world-wide and needs little explanation. In the calendar of the Church it is listed as an “Optional Feast/’ Celebrate it as a special feast.

May 14: Mathias, the apostle chosen to replace Judas. A “substitute” off the bench is not necessarily a “second rate” athlete. Nor was Mathias a “second rate” choice. As an Apostle he fulfilled his calling as did the other eleven. His holiness is found in his acceptance and fidelity to this “calling.”

SECOND SUNDAY ….belongs to the OUTREACH PROGRAM of our church. This group faithfully provides food for the poor of the city. Refugees to Thailand are counted among this number. In a recent ^;tBible Sharing” group a strong empha­sis was placed on helping the poor according to the thoughts of our new leader, Pope Francis I. We are a generous church. The poor know this and need us.

CCD SCHEDULE: Preparation for the reception of Holy Communion and Con­firmation was begun Saturday, May 4, with a special retreat for First Communi­cants followed by a similar retreat held yesterday, May 11 for students preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. The dates and times for reception of these 2 Sacraments are Sunday, May 19 (Holy Communion) and Sunday, May 26 (Con­firmation). Mass on both days is set for 2 p.m.

REDEEMER HALL COFFEE CORNER: Don’t miss your chance to have coffee and snacks at the recently opened coffee shop, organized by Fr. May tee and the Youth Group of Holy Redeemer Church. Tables, chairs and breakfast snacks await you each Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds will be used for expenses of the Group, such as retreats, social gatherings, Christmas activities, etc. Drop in SOON!

ASCENSION THURSDAY (SUNDAY): Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus returned to heaven to give place to the Holy Spirit in God’s plan for our salvation. This is also a reminder that an ascension to heaven should be an important plan in the lives of each of us. We must believe that “God has prepared a place for each of us.”

LECTORS, May 18/19: 5:30 (Sat) Sabrina; 8:30 (Sun) Rowena & Richard; 9:45 (Sun ) Shineth & Joan; 11:00 (Sun ) Norah & Rolly; 5:30 (Sun ) Ivory & Hyde.

PURCHASING FLOWERS EACH SUNDAY IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR PASTORAL CENTER.

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 / Rv 21:10-14, 22-23/Jn 14:23-29

Some experiences you can have only when living with someone. You have a regular dinner companion, someone to share household responsibilities with, someone to share your day’s experiences with. No matter what the relation­ship, it can be fantastic.

But sometimes it’s not. Your parent snores loudly enough to wake the neighbors. Your roommate prefers the floor for clothes storage as opposed to a closet. Your spouse can’t write “laundry detergent” or “olive oil” on the well- displayed grocery list (not that my husband is guilty of any of these…).

That’s why I did a double-take when reading today’s Gospel. Jesus, in his farewell discourse from John, declares that he and the Father will “make our dwelling” with those who keep God’s word. The Greek word for “dwelling” is mone. It indicates that this is not temporary—it’s not an overnight camping trip or a two-week can-I-crash-on-your- couch situation. Mone intends a permanent home for God with us—not over us or next to us or down the street. With us, within our very selves.

But hasn’t God learned about roommates? Doesn’t God know about the snoring? about our sins and our brokenness? our unworthiness and our doubts?

I certainly can’t explain God’s choices. I can only rejoice that God has decided to dwell with us in spite of our many flaws, foibles, quirks, and outright sin.

It’s the best experience of “living with someone” I can imagine.

Janel Esker

AN ADDED THOUGHT: Living with or for someone demands “sharing” ….not on a 60/40 basis, but rather a 50/50 basis when possible. “Effort” is the key word…avoiding temptation on the part of the penitent, frequent reception by the communicant, an equal sharing in marriage. God may be satisfied with 40 on our part, but we should prefer to give 50.

Let us show reverence to God by wearing the proper attire in the church (Mt:22.12)

IMPORTANT FEAST(S) : This Sixth Week of Easter gives us the feast of the Ascension of the Lord to heaven. However, in Thailand the celebration is moved to the following Sunday, May 12. One other feast is commemorated in memory of Peter Damien, the famous Belgian priest who worked with the victims of Hansen’s disease (leprosy) in Molokai. As a member of 4 priests assigned to this work Damien quickly volunteered to take this position on a per­manent basis, caring for the people’s physical, medical and spiritual needs. Initially he was their pastor and friend. Later, when he contacted the disease, he became their “brother”, living and dying as one of them. He is honored by his country and Hawaii but, more import­antly, by his God and Church. The date is Friday, May 10.

MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH

Youth takes over as one of our three youngest priests greets us as our May Missionary. Or­dained May 28, 2011 in Minburi, together with two classmates, Father Joseph Jetana Kit charoen has spent two years as a Redemptorist, working in the Northeast and Bangkok. Like all; newly ordained priests, Father spent 3 months “learning the ropes” in Holy Redeem­er, Bangkok. From January to September, 2012 Father worked with Father Shea in Samelli House, Nongkhai, caring for abandoned children and young victims of AIDS. From there he Moved to our “Mission” Band and in August 2012 he was appointed Assistant Director of our International School (RIS), which position he holds currently. Welcome, Father Jetana!

LMAG SUNDAY

Our Sundays (LMAG, AIC & OUTREACH) roll around with such regularity that we look forward to each of them, knowing that they are valuable to our parish as means of helping the poor and needy. They, too, have something to offer to us with their variety of food, clothing, odds and ends and Feeding Program for the poor. Today, visit the tables of the Ladies Miss­ion Group for what you need for a pleasant family breakfast. Buy a lot!

CCD FIRST COMMUNION: May is Mary’s Month, but it is also Children’s Month as our CCD students prepare to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time. What they learn for the first time can be “re-learned” by all of us: walk to and from the altar with folded hands, say “Amen” to the priest’s greeting, step to the side to consume the Host; spend some time in thanksgiving following reception. These few minutes of closeness to Christ can be the most important moments of our lives. Sunday, May 19^th, is “First Communion day!”

REMEMBER: “Ascension Thursday”, May 9^lh is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation as in many other countries. Christmas, a moveable feast, is the only Day of Obligation. The celebration is moved to Sunday, May 12.

REMEMBER in your prayers Mr. Alexander Decha Sadissarat, for whom a Prayer Service and funeral Mass were celebrated this past week.

LECTORS, May 11/12: 5:30 (Sat) Faye & Teresita; 8:30 (Sun) Fua & Jennifer; 9:45 (Sun) Edward & Nino; 11:00 (Sun) Jhonna & Maida; 5:30 (Sun) Joe & Nancy.

PURCHASING FLOWERS EACH SUNDAY IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR PASTORAL CENTER.

Let us show reverence to God by wearing the proper attire in the church (Mt:22.12)

SAINTS OF THE WEEK:

April 29: Catherine of Siena, Virgin & Doctor. She could easily be called “Adviser to the Papacy” for the helpful advice given to the Popes of her time. God worked through her for The good of the Church.

May 1: Joseph the Worker. As a carpenter he supported Mary and the Child, Jesus. In the same way he inspires fathers to support their wives and children. Patron of workingmen.

May 2: Athanasius, Bishop & Doctor. He gave the Church the “Athanasian Creed”, the foundation of our Faith in God and the teachings of our Church.

May 3: Philip & James, Apostles. Philip is a disciple of John Baptist and James is a cousin of Christ. Philip was gently reminded by Christ that “to see Christ was to see the Father.”

MAY, A BUSY MONTH: Mary’s special month ( daily recitation of the rosary is a very fitting gift), graduation of our RIS students (congratulations!), First Communion and Con­firmation Sundays for our CCD students (God’s blessings!) and “back to school” for our Holy Redeemer Thai School students (our sympathies!).

A WARM WELCOME to Father Richard Thiele, CSSR. Father Thiele is currently in Thai­land to renew his visa. As an American missionary to Thailand, he spent 36 years in various parts of this country before being assigned in 1992 as Novice Master to Redemptorist stu­dents in Nigeria. He may eventually return as Missionary to Thailand. Welcome back!

MARRIAGE BANNS (No. 2): 1). Anil Gill & Sunita Joseph; 2). Adcel Emmanuel & Bram Awan; 3). Larryson D’Souza & Mchwish Daniel; 4). Hamid Riaz & Norcen Manzoor; 5). Junaid John & Rceta Nazir. If anyone knows why these marriages should not be permitted, please inform the Pastor.

REMEMBER ST. VINCENT DE PAUL & OUTREACH PROGRAM, two charitable Organizations constantly alert to caring for the poor. Emphasis is placed on helping refugees in Thailand.

MASS REQUESTS. Our system is simple. 33 Masses are celebrated weekly in our Church with remaining intentions sent to churches in the North and Northeast of Thailand. Requests for Mass on a daily basis for a month arc not easily arranged. Also, requests involving many names and intentions are sometimes difficult to arrange. Please print your requests clearly.

LECTORS, May 4/5: 5:30 (Sat) Richard & Rowena; 8:30 (Sun) Joan & Shineth; 9:45 (Sun) Rolly & Norah; 11:00 (Sun) Hyde & Ivory; 5:30 (Sun) Sabrina.

PURCHASING FLOWERS EACH SUNDAY IS THE EASIEST WAY TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR PASTORAL CENTER