By Sandra Ann Inbaraj
A call to obedience, simplicity, humility and total reliance on God defined the triple celebration held at the Church of St Francis of Assisi (SFA), Feb 2. It marked the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the World Day for Consecrated Life, and the official launching of the Franciscan Jubilee Year.
The Mass was presided over by Archbishop Julian Leow. Concelebrating were Custos, Fr Gilbert James OFM Cap, parish priest, Fr Paul Cheong OFM Cap, and Fr David Reegon OFM Cap.
Reflecting on the readings, Archbishop Julian drew attention to the humility of Jesus and Mary who, though sinless, freely subjected themselves to the Law of Moses. Jesus, the Son of God, was presented in the Temple, and Mary underwent the ritual of purification after childbirth — not out of necessity, but out of obedience and faithfulness to God’s law.
“Jesus could have said, ‘I am God, I am sinless, I do not need purification or suffering,’” he reflected. “Yet in both of them we see obedience, humility, and faithfulness — living as good Jews, fully subject to the law.”
He highlighted the offering of two pigeons, the sacrifice of the poor, as a sign of the Holy Family’s poverty and simplicity, reminding the faithful that all they possess is not personal achievement, but God’s gift.
“Nothing we have can be attributed to ourselves,” he emphasised. “It is God who gives, God who provides, and God who sustains.”
Linking this spirit of simplicity to the wider Church, the archbishop noted that following the Jubilee of Hope, Pope Leo XIV has now proclaimed the Franciscan Jubilee Year, calling the Church to a renewed Franciscan spirit — a life detached from power, wealth, status and ego, and rooted instead in humility, poverty of spirit, and total dependence on God.
Like St Francis of Assisi, who was called to “rebuild My Church,” the faithful are invited not merely to turn away from sin, but also from attachments to riches, power and human opinion, and to return to the Gospel as the foundation of Christian life.
The celebration also coincided with the World Day for Consecrated Life, during which special prayers were offered for religious men and women who live the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These vows were presented as prophetic signs to the Church, reminding all the faithful that this world is not our permanent home.
Archbishop Julian reflected that hell is not merely a place, but the absence of God, and that God does not send anyone there — rather, it is the result of human choices to live separated from Him.
“The decisions we make today determine where we end up tomorrow,” he said. “To refuse reconciliation, forgiveness and communion with God is to choose separation from Him.”
At the conclusion of Mass, Archbishop Julian and Fr Paul unveiled two banners to officially open the Franciscan Jubilee Year at SFA.
Following this, Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) chairperson Danny Nesan presented the parish’s yearlong Franciscan initiatives, which include:
• Pilgrimages focused on Franciscan spirituality
• Weekly spotlight on a Franciscan saint
• Lent: Franciscan Way of the Cross
• 45-minute sessions on Franciscan spirituality by Fr Paul Cheong OFM Cap
• Canticle of the Creatures outdoor prayer experience
• Mandarin showcase on St Francis (June)
• Feast of St Francis – nine-day novena centred on Franciscan spirituality
• Musical on the life of St Francis of Assisi (October)
• Greccio Mass
In his address, Fr Paul shared his pastoral desire for parishioners to grow deeper in spirituality rather than becoming activity-driven. He cautioned against vainglory, egocentred faith, and spiritual fragmentation, urging the community to return to the essentials of Christian discipleship.
“St Francis calls us back to the basics — back to the Gospel,” he said. “It is not about doing many activities, but about conversion of heart.
He noted that the Franciscan Jubilee Year at SFA is guided by the theme Rebuild My Church: From Gospel to Life, anchored in the pillars of Holiness, Participation, Communion and Mission.
The celebration concluded with a prayer that this Year of Grace will lead the parish community into deeper spirituality, authentic conversion, and faithful service — living the Franciscan charism not merely through program, but through transformed lives rooted in the Gospel. – Herald Malaysia
