For the last 21 years, Lighthouse Feeding Centre: A Place of Hope has been helping the underprivileged and marginalized communities in Penang, Malaysia.
Archbishop Simon Poh's call to "bring love to society" and avoid contributing to global conflicts was delivered during the Ecumenical Prayer Service at the Christian Ecumenical Center in Jalan Stampin, as part of the Sarawak Day celebrations.
The Episcopal Commission for Creation Justice of Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei launched an ecological campaign focused on reducing the use of wood and paper.
The Saint Anne Recycling Management Committee, in collaboration with the CJM, holds annual meetings to plan the program’s recycling schedule and educate parishioners about the best recycling practices.
“The focus of both celebrations is different. CNY is about Thanksgiving and family reunions, while Lent calls us to the discipline of fasting, abstinence, sacrifice, prayer, and almsgiving,” Archbishop Simon Poh said.
“We want to thank God for the sacrifices of all Asians who keep the planet young with [the] precious gift of children,” said Cardinal Sebastian Francis.
The Penang Catholic Diocese in Malaysia celebrated the creation of Bishop Sebastian Francis as a Cardinal by the Vatican with a Thanksgiving Eucharist on January 14.
“Alas, we also see that the pursuits for money and power have seen rampant explorations of oil without regard to the pollution and harm caused to our natural ecosystem," said Bishop Joseph Hii.
“The pro-life and pro-family advocacy in the Philippines is weakening. The culture of death is making inroads in this country,” said Fr. Shannen Boquet
The report explored religious and ethnic identity and attitudes towards other religions; and different patterns of religious belief and practice across religious communities and countries.
An Asian bishop said that “triple dialogue,” which revolves around religions, cultures, and the poor, is the “lifeblood” of the Catholic Church in Malaysia.
