The Barefoot Journey Home

 Let's be honest. All of us seek happiness. The world encourages us to do so. In fact, for many of us, as we get older, we care less about what others think. We buy into the mentality that those who mind don't matter and that those who matter don't mind. I must admit, I personally buy into that mindset.  It's true that self-care is important, and that we should seek to be happy. It's also true that those who are our true friends will support us in every decision that we make, even if it means giving us the space to allow us to live and learn. However, I do wonder if whether or not, in the pursuit of personal happiness, we might be compromising on the message of the gospel.  The problem with many of us is that in our pursuit of happiness, while we are right to say that we should not care too much about what others have to say (as we live in a world where no matter what we do, there'll always be somebody with something to say), but we sometimes can get a little ca...

 "If it's not appropriate at the Foot of the Cross, it doesn't belong at Mass" This is often cited by more than a few Catholics who wish to speak out against liturgical abuse. To many of such people, things such as the guitar, the piano, and even the drums in some parishes have been a cause of liturgical abuse. Many of us feel that there is a need for the restoration of the Pipe Organ and Chant, so as to restore the holiness which should be found in the Liturgy.  It's definitely true that the GIRM calls for an emphasis on Chant, and for the Pipe Organ to be held in high esteem. Quite frankly, I do feel that we should put a bit more of an emphasis on these things during the celebration of the Liturgy, so as to remind our Catholics that what is being celebrated is indeed sacred. However, does this really mean that the guitar, the piano, and the drums do not have a place in the Liturgy? Is the music from the composers really a cause of Liturgical Abuse?  While it...

 Chinese New Year is around the corner. Some of us have been shopping in Chinatown during the last couple of days, in preparation for our Reunion Dinners this weekend. Others have already started cleaning and decorating their homes. Many of us have already put in our orders for YuSheng. And most of us are looking forward to a weekend filled with family gatherings (according to the safety regulations of course), red packets, bakkwa and pineapple tarts. It is a wonderful time for many of us.  Catholics also look forward to Chinese New Year every year, regardless of whether or not they come from Chinese backgrounds. If not for the fact that the world is currently in the midst of a pandemic, many Catholics would make it a point to celebrate the Eucharist in Church on the first day of Chinese New Year. In fact, in a few parishes, those who attend Mass on the first day of the New Year would be treated to a Lion Dance performance outside the Church, when the Mass ends. Some parishes ...

It's no secret that the life of a Catholic Priest is not easy. The role of the clergy is onerous, and we often do not see how hard most of our clergy actually work, to build the kingdom of God. Our priests have generously given of their lives to the service of the people of God. It is a 24/7 role.  I've written recently about how more than a few of us are to blame for the fact that a number of our priests have grown jaded and tired from their ministry. I've also written about how some of us are at fault for the fact that many of our priests are not in the best health, both physically and mentally. However, after two incidents that I've witnessed this week, I felt compelled to remind my readers once again, that we need to be more loving towards our priests. While I am certainly not trying to play the blaming game here, it would be morally repugnant for me to sit back and remain silent on such issues. Our priests are human beings, and we ought to treat them with love and ...