College Diaries » Rector

The Seder Meal

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 02:40:34 +0000

The Passover meal is the most important meal in the year for the Jewish people. The families gather together in the evening and the meal begins after dark. They sing songs, say prayers and eat special food. The most important part of the meal comes when the father tells the story of how God(YHWH) saved the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt and led them to freedom in the Promised Land. On this night that the Jews escaped from slavery in Egypt, they observed the first Passover by sacrificing a lamb and sprinkling its blood on their doorways so that “the Lord would pass over their house and not kill their first-born child.” Since then, the Passover or Seder meal has been celebrated every year by the Jewish people in remembrance of God’s deliverance.

The main Passover celebration is known as “Seder”. The word “Seder” literally means “order” referring to the order of the ceremony as set up in ancient ritual books.

The Last Supper that Jesus had with his disciples is the Passover dinner. Jesus used the liturgy of this Passover meal to institute the sacrament of the Eucharist. As part of our preparations for Holy Week, we celebrated this event as a community to help us understand the situation of the Last Supper and to reflect on the meaning of the Mass.

Before the meal begins: The table is set

The food: unleavened bread, haroset, eggs, salad and bitter herbs

Elijah's place: The Jews normally leave a seat empty for Elijah

The presider's seat

The seder meal begins!!!!!!

Bishop lights the Paschal Candle

Listening to the Scriptures

Ablutions: The act of washing or cleansing, as a religious rite

The washing of feet: Fr. Gerard washes John's feet as Ringo (our dog) looks on...

Bishop washes the Rector's feet

"Blessed are You Lord, God of all creation......."

The breaking of bread

The roasted lamb!!!!!!!!!!!:P

It was indeed a beautiful experience for all us here in College General to celebrate this Passover together. May the Lord be praised now and forever!!!

Chap Goh Meh in College General

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:54:28 +0000

Chap Goh Meh represents the fifteenth and final day of the Lunar New Year period as celebrated by Chinese migrant communities. The term is from the Hokkien dialect and refers to the fifteenth day of the first month, which is the occasion of the first full moon of the (Chinese) New Year.

The occasion is marked by feasting and various festivities, including the consumption of tangyuan and Kue Keranjang. In traditional Chinese culture, it is also celebrated as the Lantern Festival or the Shang Yuan Festival.

We in College General celebrated this event as a community as part of our Chinese New Year celebrations!!! Our bishop, rector and seminarians were all dressed in red as we enjoyed ourselves and feasted on a hearty steamboat dinner!!!

Here are some pictures!

Before our meal

Mmmmmm... Steamboat.....

Father Edwin Paul’s farewell speech

admin — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:49:52 +0000

‘Mission Accomplished!’ that’s what I would say as I stand here today having completed my tenure here at CG after 12 blessed years. When I completed my seminary formation never did I imagine that I would be posted back to the seminary – what more to become the rector of this house of formation – which has such a rich history, which has saints among its alumni. I thought that I had neither brains nor qualities to be back here. Anyway God’s ways are amazing! His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

(photos taken by Lilian)

It’s been a privilege ministering here – pasturing the seminarians who have freely offered themselves to formation! It’s also been tough – having to discern what God wants of His church and of these men. Over the years I have discovered that my work of formation was more than just expanding the seminarians’ minds, or imparting skills or nurturing virtues, it is about forming future priests. It is a vision that entails enabling seminarians to grow to become servant-leaders not of today but of tomorrow – with hearts resembling that of Jesus Christ.

Yet, seminary formation it not a ‘jalan sehala ‘i.e. from the formators to the seminarians. Formation has a reciprocating effect. The seminarians, fellow formators, staff and friends of the seminary have given me so much back for my own formation. I used to jokingly say that I have been sent back to the seminary for rehabilitation. As I leave this sacred place, I realize that this has actually happened in more ways than I can imagine.

To this end, I record my appreciation and gratitude to all of you who have been part of the fabric of my life here at the seminary – the Bishops of peninsular Malaysia; formators – past and present; the seminary staff; friends of CG and my dear seminarians for searching and working together selflessly! It has been a real Deepening of Discipleship through the Spirituality of Communion. In thanking all of you I have not forgotten the unpleasant side of me and for the pain and hurts that I have caused I honestly ask your forgiveness. I have fallen short of expectations in some ways and I accept my limitations.

As College General looks forward to continue on its great mission I am confident that our new rector Fr Gerard Theraviam will lead it to greater heights – from our camaraderie I know that he will continue to be remarkable.

As I bid my farewell I would like to remind ourselves that our God who calls us into existence is a good and glorious God! He loves us tremendously! He is true to His promises. May the Holy Martyrs of College pray for us!

Invitation to : Feast of St. Philip Minh & Companions

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:12:08 +0000

**We are experiencing some technical errors and the bare design of this blog is only temporary.**

Dear Friends of College,

Greetings of peace to you!
We, the Fathers, seminarians and staff of College General would like to extend our invitation to you and your family/community to come and participate in our College Feast Day Mass. The details for the day are as follows:

Date: 19/06/06 (Friday)

Time: 6.00 p.m.
Venue: Chapel of Sacred Heart, Mariophile, College General

Main Celebrant: Fr Alan Pereira

Incidentally that day is also the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which our chapel is named after. Looking forward to your participation in the celebration which will be followed by refreshments for all.

Thank you

Rev. Edwin Paul

Rector

College General

BEC ROSARY GATHERING

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:56:10 +0000

The families of Zone 6 BEC in the vicinity of College General gathered here at the seminary for the BEC Rosary on Friday 22nd May.

At 8.00pm about forty of us, children, youth, parents, priests and seminarians and some elderly persons gathered in the foyer of the College where a statue of Mary and Jesus (PIETA) which had been repainted and decorated was blessed by Archbishop Emeritus Soter.

All of us participated in a gospel meditative recitation of the rosary which was led by the young and elderly. Hymns were sung in honour of Mary before and after the recitation of the rosary.

After that we celebrated our fellowship by enjoying the ‘pot luck’ in the refectory. The families were very generous in bringing a variety of food that satisfied different tastes.

(click on the photo for bigger image)

There was not only devotion to Mary that was expressed. The devotedness to one another experienced and demonstrated the heart of discipleship – giving self to bring the Lord’s presence to others, like Mary, the first Disciple of the Lord.

- ASF

Vocation-Stay-In Experience

admin — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:38:07 +0000

Click here for the enlarged poster

Looking for a glimpse into seminary life?

Come! Join us for our 4 days/3 nights Vocation-Stay-In Experience at College General beginning on Thursday 28 May 09 with dinner and ending on Sunday 31 May 09 noon.

Single young men with working experience, college/university students and school leavers 18 years and above, who are seriously considering and discerning their vocation to the diocesan priesthood are invited to register.

Kindly contact your respective parish priests or vocation directors for registration. (Fr Henry Rajoo – Penang Diocese: frhenryrajoo@gmail.com; Fr Joseph Heng – Melaka-Johor Diocese: stcmlk@streamyx.com; Fr Christopher Soosaipillai – Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese: cwsoosai@gmail.com ). Closing date for registration: 15 May 2009

Posted by : Fr Edwin Paul, Rector

Visitors from Thailand

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:31:17 +0000

Fr. Peter Komtuan, Fr. John Gaturong, together with three seminarians and Sr. Maria Noy and Sr. Anne Araya, Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from Betong, Thailand visited College General on the 12 and 3 of March 2009. It was a pleasant opportunity to get to know each other and discover each others experiences of church in the two different countries.