Blog of Fr. Peter Leung

Please pray for the health of the mother of Louis Seto (CMCC) who is now in the hospital in Toronto.

Fr Leung

Film’s Lead Actor Considered Catholic Role Model

HOLLYWOOD, California, OCT. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The film “Bella” is destined to have an extraordinary impact on people’s lives, said the chairman of the U.S bishops’ conference committee on pro-life activities.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, said the film, released today in the United States, “has a message that is so connected to life: to the problems of life, the challenges of life, the value of life.” The cardinal wrote to his fellow bishops encouraging them to host advanced screenings of “Bella” with the hope of spreading the film’s message.

The film won the 2006 People’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

“Bella” is a story about a young pregnant woman who loses her job, and a man who is unable to recover from a tragic accident in his past. Their friendship changes their lives and brings new hope to both.

The film features actors Eduardo Verástegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manual Pérez and Ali Landry.

Verástegui, a teen heartthrob during his years as a professional musician and actor, is now known as a Catholic role model. After a spiritual conversion that brought him back to Catholicism, he is now an outspoken defender of the right to life, chastity and his faith.

In a Spanish-language interview with the Eternal Word Television Network in July, Verástegui noted that he has clear “the purpose of my life, of our lives — I was not called or born to be an actor, nor created to be famous, nor rich, nor an engineer, a doctor, a success. I was called to be a saint.”

Alejandro Monteverde directed and co-wrote “Bella,” produced by Metanoia Films. Steve McEveety, producer of “Braveheart” and “The Passion of the Christ,” was the executive producer.

To locate a theater showing “Bella,” see www.bellathemovie.com.

————————————————-

This article is from the ZENIT news agency.

Remembered by Chiara Lubich and by the youth

“Fr. Jesus Castellano, a true son of St. Theresa and St. John of the Cross, was one of the leading experts in Spiritual Theology, Mystical Life and Liturgy and consultant of various pontifical offices. His broad knowledge of the history of mysticism gave him the capacity to understand the novelty of the charism of unity, which he put into practice in his life with great purity and the simplicity of a child of the Gospel. Fr. Castellano possessed extraordinary openness: to society, to the challenges of the modern era, and to dialogue at all levels. We thank God for the gift of having known him.”

With these words, Chiara Lubich announced to the Movement all over the world the sudden conclusion of Carmelite Fr. Jesus Castellano’s earthly sojourn on June 15, 2006. He was 65 years old.

Many articles are now being published: biographical notes, conferences, books and articles which will formulate the Church’s gratitude for his life-long, selfless dedication.

The youth, too, would like to be heard. Some students of the summer course of the Focolare Higher Institute of Culture, who had had Fr. Jesus for their professor, highlight the fact that “he was a special person who, in every lesson, offered ‘precious pearls’.” Whoever met him in the sacrament of reconciliation felt “God’s loving gaze” through him. His simple way of sharing his vast knowledge helped others to better understand even such great realities as the Eucharist.

One of his students wrote: “I well remember a lesson Fr. Jesus gave us on the history of charisms (in the Church). He transmitted such great hope and love for the Church through his words, but even more so, through his way of being!”

10-07-2006

From Focolare Moment

四根蠟燭正在慢慢的點燃著。
靜悄悄的四周讓我們聽得見牠們在對話。

第一根說:「我是和平！可是，無人能使我繼續點燃。 我相信我快要熄滅。」
牠的燈火迅速縮小並且完全煙沒。

第二根說：「我是信心！大概，我已經不再是必須的了。既然如此 。我繼續點燃下去也不再有意思。」話畢，一陣微風柔和的將牠吹滅。
第三根蠟燭傷心地跟著說:「我是愛心！ 我得不到力量繼續點燃。人們總是將我掉在一旁，並不曉得我的重要。他們甚至忘卻去愛最近他們的人。」等了不久，牠便熄滅。

忽然‧‧‧一名孩童進到室內，並且眼見三根蠟燭不再燃燒。
「為何你們不再燃燒？
你們應該可以繼續點燃，直到末了。」說話之際，孩童開始哭起來了。
第四根蠟燭隨著說：「不要怕，只要我仍然燃燒， 我們是可以重燃其他蠟燭的。
我是 盼望！」
孩童雙眼閃出光彩，拿起那盼望的蠟燭燃亮其他蠟燭。盼望之火從來不會在你的生命中止息。‧‧‧

因此，我們每一個都可以常存 盼望、信心、和平及愛心！
我們又藉著祂，因信得進入現在所站的這恩典中，並且歡歡喜喜盼望神的榮耀。
不但如此，就是在患難中，也是歡歡喜喜的，因為知道患難生忍耐，忍耐生老練，老練生盼望，盼望不至於羞恥；因為所賜給我們的聖靈，將神的愛澆灌在我們心裏。J ~ 羅 5:2-5 ~

和平 信心 愛心 盼望

恭讀聖路加福音12:54-59

那時候，耶穌向群眾說：「幾時你們看見雲彩由西方升起，立刻就說，要下大雨了；果然是這樣。幾時南風吹來，就說，天氣會熱了；果然是這樣。假善人哪！你們知道觀察地上及天上的氣象，怎麼不能觀察這個時機呢？你們為什麼不能由自己來辨別正義的事呢？當你同你的對頭去見官長時，尚在路上，你得設法與他了結，怕他拉你到法官前，判官把你交給刑役，而刑役把你押在獄中。我告訴你：非等你還清最後的一分錢，斷不能從那裏出來。」

—上主的話。

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

 

 Homily - 29th in Ordinary Time (Fri. Oct 26, 2007) [6:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (882)

親愛的子女﹕
由於天主的大愛，祂邀請我來到你們中間，教導你們走向救恩的道路。你們不少的人已打開心扉去接納我的訊息，但亦有許多人已失去方向，已不再全心相信這充滿愛的天主。因此，我請求你們在黑暗和罪惡的地方，生活出「愛」和「光」。
我常常和你們在一起，並祝福你們、多謝你們回應我的召叫。(零七年十月) - 梁達材神父恭譯

“Dear children! God sent me among you out of love that I may lead you towards the way of salvation. Many of you opened your hearts and accepted my messages, but many have become lost on this way and have never come to know the God of love with the fullness of heart. Therefore, I call you to be love and light where there is darkness and sin. I am with you and bless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call.” 10/2007

President Invites Pope for a Visit

VATICAN CITY, OCT. 25, 2007 (Zenit.org).- With a ceremony of ratification today in the Vatican, the Basic Agreement and the Additional Protocol between the Holy See and Bosnia and Herzegovina entered into effect.

Moments before Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope’s secretary of state, and President Zeljko Komsic ratified the agreement, Benedict XVI received in audience the Bosnian leader, who officially invited the Pontiff to visit his country.

The Vatican press office reported that during the meeting with the Pope, “consideration was given to questions concerning the implementation of the agreement itself, and in particular to the Church’s commitment in the fields of education, social and charitable activities, and pastoral assistance to the Catholic faithful.”

“The Catholic community’s contribution for the peaceful coexistence of the various ethnic and religious groups in the country was also stressed,” it said.

Historical

In the Apostolic Palace, Cardinal Bertone, and Komsic — each accompanied by their respective delegations — exchanged the instruments of ratification of the agreement and its additional protocol, signed last April 19 and Sept. 29, respectively.

Both documents have thus entered into effect today, leading Cardinal Bertone to affirm during his discourse, “Today is a historic day […] marking the end of one stage and the beginning of another characterized, we hope, by a long and fruitful collaboration.”

With the agreement, elements of the life and activity of the Catholic community in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be clarified, such as “the recognition of the juridical status of the Catholic Church and its institutions in civil society, its independence in worship and in apostolate, and of its specific contribution in the cultural, educational, pastoral, military, aid and charity fields, and in the press,” Cardinal Bertone said.

In effect, he continued, “The exercise of the religious liberty of each citizen and the religious communities in a legal framework is part of the undeniable presuppositions in today’s Western culture, and it is an indispensable condition for the protection of human rights in all parts of the planet.”

In a multiethnic and plurireligious society such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, “the current agreement becomes the best juridical guarantee to ensure an ordered development of religious life, especially in its public implications,” the cardinal said. And the application of the agreement, he added, “will contribute to overcoming the grave problems inherited from the past and constructing a better future.”

—————————————————–

This article is from the ZENIT news agency.

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.

The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?

That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.”

“For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.”

Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaw…But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.

You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

To all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers, on your side of the path.

Take the time to send this message to all your friends Who have a cracked side…

And God knows how many we are!!!

Once there was a man who asked God for a flower…. ….and a butterfly.

But instead God gave him a cactus…. ….and a caterpillar.

The man was sad, he didn’t understand why his request was mistaken.

Then he thought: Oh well, God has too many people to care for… And decided not to question. After some time, the man went to check up on his request that he had left forgotten. To his surprise, from the thorny & ugly cactus a beautiful flower had grown.

And the unsightly carterpillar had been transformed into the most beautiful butterfly.

GOD always does things right! His way is ALWAYS the best way, even if to us it seems all wrong. If you asked God for one thing & received another, TRUST. You can be sure that He will always give you what you need at the appropriate time. What you want… ….is not always what you need! God never fails to grant our petitions, so keep on going for Him without doubting or murmuring. Today’s THORN… Is tomorrow’s FLOWER!

GOD GIVES THE VERY BEST TO THOSE WHO LEAVE THE CHOICES UP TO HIM!

GOD BLESS YOU!

恭讀聖路加福音12:39-48

那時候，耶穌對門徒說：「你們應該明白這一點：如果家主知道盜賊何時要來，【他必要醒寤】，決不容許自己的房屋被挖穿。你們也應當準備，因為在你們料想不到的時辰，人子就來了。」 伯多祿說：「主！你講的這個比喻，是為我們呢？還是為眾人？」主說：「究竟誰是那忠信及精明的管家？主人派他管理自己的家僕，按時配給食糧。主人來時，看見他如此行事，那僕人才是有福的。我實在告訴你們：主人必要委派他，管理自己的一切財產。如果那個僕人心裏說：我的主人必然遲來；他便開始拷打僕婢，也吃也喝也醉酒。在他想不到的日子，不知覺的時刻，那僕人的主人就會來到，必要剷除他，使他與不信者遭受同樣的命運。那知道主人的旨意，而偏不準備，或竟不奉行他旨意的僕人，必然要多受拷打；那不知道而做了應受拷打之事的，要少受挨打。給誰的多，向誰要的也多；交託誰的多，向誰索取的也格外多。」

—上主的話。

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

 

 Homily - 29th in Ordinary Time (Wed. Oct 24, 2007) [7:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1013)

The one who takes your hand but touches your heart is a true Friend.

We seldom think of what we have, but always think of what we miss.

Don’t cry because it’s over now, laugh because it happened. The more precisely you plan, the harder destiny will hit you.

What happens, happens for a reason.

Don’t make an effort, because the best things happen, when you least expect them.

The greatest events aren’t the loudest, but the most quiet hours.

The most difficult lesson to learn is: Which bridge in life to use or which on to break off. Everybody sees how you seem, however, only some know who you are.

He who would like to have something he never had, will have to do something well, that he hasn’t done yet. Perhaps God would want you to become acquainted with many different people in the course of your life, so that when you meet the right ones, you can appreciate and be grateful for them.

Plan for tomorrow but LIVE for today. Love doesn’t require two people look at each other, but that they look together in the same direction. (Antoine de Saint Exupery)

Life is drawing without an eraser.

I wish you always: Air to breath, Fire to warm you, Water to drink and The earth to live in.

I hope you enjoyed it and have a great DAY !

☆ 有一位花販告訴我： 幾乎是所有的白花都很香，愈是顏色豔麗的花愈是缺乏芬芳。」
他的結論是： 「人也是一樣，愈樸素單純的人，愈有內在的芳香。」

☆ 有一位花販告訴我： 「夜來香其實白天也很香，但是很少聞得到。」
他的結論是： 「因為白天人的心太浮了，聞不到夜來香的香氣。如果一個人白天的心也很沉靜，就會發現夜來香、桂花、七里香，連酷熱的中午也是香的。」

☆ 有一位花販告訴我： 「清晨買蓮花一定要挑那些盛開的。」
他的結論是： 「早上是蓮花開放最好的時間，如果一朵蓮花早上不開，可能中午和晚上都不開了。我們看人也是一樣，一個人在年輕的時候沒有志氣，中年或晚年就更難有志氣了。」

☆ 有一位花販告訴我： 「愈是昂貴的花愈容易凋謝」
他的結論是： 「那是為了要向買花的人說明：『要珍惜青春呀，因為青春是最名貴的花，最容易凋謝』。」

☆ 有一位花販告訴我： 「每一株玫瑰都有刺。」
他的結論是： 「正如每一個人的性格中，都有你不能容忍的部份。只能學習如何不被它的刺刺傷，還有，如何不讓自己的刺，刺傷心愛的人。」

恭讀聖路加福音12:13-21

那時候，人群中有一個人向耶穌說：「師傅，請吩咐我的兄弟與我分家吧！」耶穌對他說：「人哪！誰立了我做你們的判官，為你們分家呢？」遂對他們說：「你們要謹慎，躲避一切貪婪，因為一個人縱然富裕，他的生命並不在於他的資產。」

耶穌對他們設了一個比喻說：「有一個富翁，他的田地出產豐富。他心裏想道：我可怎麼辦呢？因為我已沒有地方收藏我的物產。他遂說：我要這樣做：我要拆毀我的倉房，另建更大的，好在那裏收藏我的一切穀類及財物。以後，我要對我的靈魂說：靈魂哪！你存有大量的財物，足夠多年之用，你休息吧！吃喝宴樂吧！天主卻對他說：糊塗人哪！今夜就要索回你的靈魂，你所儲備的，將歸誰呢？那為自己厚積財產而不在天主面前致富的，也是如此。」

—上主的話。

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

 

 Homily - 29th in Ordinary Time (Mon. Oct 22, 2007) [10:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (900)

恭讀聖若望福音17: 11; 17-23

那時候，耶穌舉目向天禱告﹕「聖父啊! 求你因你的名，保全那些你所賜給我的人，使他們合而為一，如同我們一樣。 袮的話就是真理，求袮以真理聖化他們。袮怎樣派遣我到世上來，我也照樣派遣他們到世上去。
「我為了他們而聖化自己，使他們以真理而聖化。我不但為他們祈求，也為那些因他們的話而信從我的人祈求。願眾人都合為一體! 父啊! 願他們在我們內合而為一，如同你在我內，我在你內一樣，使世人相信是袮派遣了我。我將你賜給我的光榮賜給了他們，使他們合為一體，就如我們原是一體一樣。
我在他們內，你在我內，使他們完全合而為一，這樣世人便知道是你派遣了我，並且知道你愛他們，如同愛我一樣。」
—上主的話。

A Reading from the Gospel of John 17:11, 17-23

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.
“Consecrate them in truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.

—The Gospel of the Lord.

往神父講道目錄

 

 Homily - 29th in Ordinary Time - Mission Sunday (Chinese) - Sun. Oct 21, 2007 [17:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (941)

Click HERE for English version.

網上福傳

我寫「神父片語」這一欄，開始於一九八八年，當時我擔任聖瑪加利大堂的主任司鐸。其後，在柴灣海星堂及多倫多中華殉道聖人堂，都以「神父片語」作為牧者心聲。其後，結集出版了「志向前行」及「志向前行 - 加國之旅」。

我曾說過，寫作不是我的天份，文筆不算流暢，不過，我有一位好的中文老師給我改正。

回港後，一位朋友說﹕「你離開香港那麼多年，中文沒有退步，可說是異數。」老實說，這是我向自己挑戰的成果。假若有神來之筆的話，聖神便是功臣。

回港前的一個月左右，建立了個人的網頁，把過去的文章放進去，好能把「神父片語」繼續下去。現時聖母領報堂暫沒有定期出版堂區通訊，但我仍然每星期在網上登出「神父片語」，以作互勵互勉之用。

到現時這刻，已有5612人士瀏覽過我的網頁。我希望藉這媒介，能把主的訊息，進入「有心人」的心中。

請你閱讀這篇文章後，給我一點回應，因為我不知道究竟有多少人閱讀「神父片語」這一欄。無論如何，算是給我一點鼓勵罷﹗

梁達材神父

Click HERE for English version.

「你怎樣派遣我到世上來，我也照樣派遣他們 到世上去。」(若17﹕18)

耶穌所到之處，並非大開方便之門，反之是處處受到掣肘。到最後時刻，祂仍要堅忍到底。「父啊﹗求你免去我的苦爵!」

「誰願意跟隨我，便要每天背負自己的十字架!」

福音雖然是和平的訊息，但其效果卻是帶來分裂。因為只有在天主聖三的生命內，我們才可享有真正的合一。當我們人類只有半點為自己而生活，已不是在天主內生活。

我們需要這份特恩。耶穌已為我們這樣而求﹕「父啊﹗願他們在我們內合而為一，如同你在我內，我在你內一樣，使世人相信是你派遣了我。」

為能分享這份特恩，我們絕不能袖手旁觀﹐但也不需過份操心，只要努力於生活出天主聖意便已足夠。「你們不要為明天過份擔憂，因為今天的十字架為你已夠受。」

耶穌在世時，工作有時，休息有時，祈禱有時。我們也照樣去做罷!

梁達材神父

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 17:11, 17-23

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.
“Consecrate them in truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.
— The Gospel of the Lord.

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 Homily - 29th in Ordinary Time - Mission Sunday (English) [16:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (942)

The Diocese of Hong Kong this year celebrates its Mission Sunday (21st Oct) in a separate way in all eight Deaneries. The South-west NT Deanery celebrates it in a public sport field in Kwai-Chung on the 19th October. It was kind of funfare for school children and adults. More than a thousand people attended. It started at noon time and ended at 4 p.m. Fr Dominic Chan, V.G. was the guest of honour.

Click HERE to view more photos:

(From right to left: Fr J. Yim, Fr Ng , myself)