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Mr. Kana, from the Penang Nature Society shared with the College community the benefits and need to recycle and how we continue to pressure Mother Earth. He stressed that we, the human race, continue to exploit Mother Nature without realizing the harm done to ourselves and our future. He also emphasized that it is our responsibility as citizens of the world to care for the earth, understand it and learn to co-exist with nature. In order to care for the environment we have no choice but to go “Green” and to change our mindset. We need new attitudes on how we look at waste and to be always mindful of the end in view, “How will waste be disposed?” We can help by adhering to the 5R’s in our lifestyle where we need to Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle. Most of us would be familiar with the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) but not the other 2R’s (Refuse and Repair) and an example of it is refusing to buy or consume any goods that cannot be repaired. In doing so, we would be able to reduce and prolong the usable “waste” before it reaches the landfill. We are now more conscious and informed of what is happening to our environment which is so fundamental to the survival of the human race. Let us do our part in caring for the Earth because if we don’t who will? - Joachim Robert - Shalom and love of Abba Father be with all of you. As I take my step on a new chapter of my life, I would like to express my deep appreciation to College General for giving me this opportunity to share a few words on this page. It’s been 17 months of my journey in College General and I’m blessed to say that I’ve experienced a unity of ‘one big family’ of God. When I newly joined College General I was requested to write an article for the Annual College General, Sinaran Magazine 2008. I was drawn to this verse taken from Psalm 37:23 which says, ‘ The steps of a man is ordered by the Lord’. It is ironic that as I bid farewell this verse leaves a significant meaning in my life too. My journey to this ‘little corner of heaven’ was also paved by the Lord.
Personally for me, working in College General was an experience of life, journeying on a spiritual voyage. As I look back, it felt like a journey on a ship exploring the beauty and gifts of the Lord … the love of God personified. Whether rising with the crest or descending with the troughs, I am learning to grasp tightly with faith that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Regardless, the tide of waves in our lives, HE will bring us back safely to the shore. As I sailed along the vast sea, I embraced the love of God through Bishop Soter Fernandez, who shared his heart like a gentle ‘wheel’ which constantly steered the ship with love, comfort and reassurance. Your caring ways always brought to mind my safe journey to the shore. Thank you, Bishop for sharing the gift of God’s love. Fr. Edwin Paul, I would like to thank you for taking the role of a radiant ‘lighthouse’ during the voyage. You were like a ’sea guardian’, assuring us the Lord’s beacon of light . Your constant guidance and encouragement magnified the shoreline and the direction to safe harbour. Fr. Gerard Theraviam, thank you for all your support and encouragement. You were a great pillar of strength and you brought to mind the role of a majestic ‘mast’ for the ship. Thank you for believing in the sound of music and most of all you brought life to the sound of waves and winds throughout the journey.
My dear seminarians, you are like a box of precious jewels to me, constantly radiating God’s light and you shine in so many beautiful ways. Thank you for taking the role of the united ‘lines’ that holds the sail gently directing the ship according to the movements of the wind. Simon Anand, you are a constant reminder of the line of ‘courage’. Your perseverance gives you a greater understanding of the needs of the community. May HE guide you each step of the way. Gregory Chan, you hold together the line of wisdom. Your deep understanding of your journey opens the doors for community sharing and growing. May you continue to be a great instrument of God’s kingdom. Anthony Liew, you are the line of ’strength’. As you continue your journey may you be filled with inner strength to reach out and spread the Good News of our Lord. Your talents are God’s gift to you, and as you continue to share, it is your gift back to God. David Kathamuthu, you hold the line of leadership. May HE continue to give you the wisdom and understanding. Faith makes all things possible. Joachim Robert, you hold together the line of peace …. peace like a river. May HE bless you with divine peace so that you can continue to share it with one another. Peace is a reward of faith and trust. Kevin Eruthayanathan, you bring together the line of love. Your caring ways are a gesture of HIS love. May HE bless you with the kind of love that binds everything together in HIS precious name. James Pitchay, may you continue to hold the line of hope. As you rise above all, that on the wings of prayer, HE will be your constant strength. Louis Loi, may you hold on closely to the line of joy. As you share HIS joy with one another, may you continue to drop a splash of cheer and kindness to many bearing hope, joy and comfort on each dashing wave. Dear seminarians, your teamwork and community sharing are the ‘lines’ holding on tightly to the heart strings of the sail …. each needing the other to poise the strength of the sail. Sathiya A., thank you for taking the role of an ‘anchor’, strongly holding the ship in position. I admire your strength, zest and commitment towards your role. You have been a great support and I cherish my working moments with you. My sincere thanks to all formators, priests, staffs, lecturers and many more who added so much love and joy in this amazing voyage.
This journey has taught me to look beyond, to see the world from the mind of God in HIS abounding sea of love and mercy. Each day as I awaken to a new sunrise, sunset, each horizon and every rainbow … I realize that we are blessed to embrace a brand new day painted with splashes of colours from HIS loving hands. Always know that ‘when we are weak, we are strong, because then our strength can be made perfect in our weakness.’ I have learned that we can open our hearts to any voyage that God is calling us to. As we journey this intimate self-discovery with HIM, we will realize that by God’s sustaining grace, we can really endure, that we are really strong and that we really do have worth. Thank you, College General …… for being an instrument in bringing these words alive! God’s blessings be upon all of you. - By Evlyn Ambrose -
This was the theme of our silent retreat from 3rd to the 8th of August 2009. Moderated by Fr. Larry Tan, we were taken on a journey of self denial and then embracing who we actually are. The whole retreat was based on understanding and embracing the “Now”, and not clinging on the past nor hoping for the future Fr. Larry Tan lead us to understand on how to unload the old baggages and to move on from our false self to the true self by using the Lectio Divina method.
At the start of the retreat, we revisited the Lectio Divina method of praying,and we were asked to use it as a method of prayer throughout the whole retreat. It was truly and deeply inspiring. Relying wholly on the word of God for consolation, guidance, protection, love etc was new for some of us. For some it was a time of inner and spiritual healing. For some, it was a time of understanding who we are in a deeper manner rather merely scratching the surface. For others, the silence that we had for the five days managed to change their whole perspective of life which was always full of noises (both externally and internally).
Finally, the retreat taught us that something new happens when something bad happens. We have to learn to die to our false self in order to embrace our true self which is in Christ alone through the help of his Blessed Mother. - By Kevin Eruthayanathan - College General reopens for its second semester – and if you wish to study Epistemology, Anthropology, Exodus (Old Testament) or Luke & Acts (New Testament) or our new course ‘Religions: Phenomenology & Theology’ please get in touch with Evlyn on 8902002 in the mornings or email bookings@collegegeneral.org. Attached is our timetable. Classes begin this week 30-31 July followed by a 1 week retreat break and then resume on 10 August (last day of registration) Teaching in College General has been exciting, challenging, joyous and heart – breaking. It has also been a two-way traffic. I have been teaching English Language in College General for the past eight years. Some of the seminarians that I have taught have been ordained as priests. Some have left of their own accord; others have had to leave. The ages of the seminarians range anywhere from the early twenties to the late thirties. They are all adults with working experience so teaching them is nothing like teaching school children. While one has to impart knowledge to them and expect them to learn as one would of school children, one also has to constantly be aware that they are adults and should be treated as such. It is a delicate balance. In so far as the language is concerned, every one of them has made progress though rather unfortunately not to the level of proficiency as to enable all of them to continue pursuing their vocation to the priesthood. Herein, paradoxically, lie the joy and the heartache. Joy when they make headway and when they are allowed to continue studying in the College; sadness when they are told that they have to leave. Unlike in other institutions of learning, one does not feel any pressure to produce results. This does not mean that one is allowed to be lax; only that one works in a congenial environment where there is mutual respect and trust. In College General, it is not merely the dissemination of information or the impartation of language skills that matters; it is also the retrieval of values. I have benefited much from teaching in College General. I have grown spiritually and emotionally simply from observing and interacting with the priests of the College, the staff, the seminarians and my colleagues. The experience is reciprocal. Eustace Ulric Surin June 19th was a day of special blessing to sing praises unto the Lord when an overwhelming congregation of about 200 hundred people gathered to celebrate the Feasts of the College Martyrs and the Sacred Heart at the historic chapel up on Mariophille. The mass celebrated by Fr Alan Pereira which coincided with the launch of the Year of Priests saw a new face of College when a significant number of lay students, seminarians and staff of College worked together for the celebration. Joyful praise be unto the Lord for His great goodness! 35 aspirants from the 3 dioceses of Peninsular Malaysia came for a Vocation Stay-In Experience at College General from 28th to 31st May 2009 which aims at giving them a little taste of seminary life and help them discern their vocation in life. They came, they saw and they went. Perhaps what they saw and experienced will make some of them want to stay longer (much longer!) the next time round. (Please click on one photo and it will takes you to a larger image. Then, just click on the photo and you can browse through 38 photos.) In deep appreciation of Mr Lee Cheong Keat, who recently completed his term as a long serving member of the College General Finance Committee.
We say farewell to you with special and heartfelt thanks for all your generosity and kindness in building up the College General Finance Committee and for your constant promotion of the proper financial administration at College General!
Your links with College began with the Kelawai Road days when you taught seminarians parish book keeping. Mr Lee, you are indeed a reflection of God’s goodness and steadfast love.
May God’s promise continue to be with you. ‘The Lord will open to you His good treasure and bless all the work of your hand.’ Deuteronomy 28: 12 *Please click on the below thumbnails to get a bigger image.* **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! Date: 19/06/06 (Friday)Time: 6.00 p.m.
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