LJCCC married men stand up to recite the Prayer of Consecration at the community general gathering at SHC Apr 10
By Agnes Chai
Apr 16 2022
FIFTY-TWO married men members, including the Elders, of the Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community made a courageous decision to consecrate themselves totally to Christ through St Joseph at the Community General Gathering Apr 10.
The bold move was witnessed by their spouses and members in the presence of parish priest, Fr Paul Lo at the invitation of the community.
After a 25-month hiatus, the Light of Jesus Christ Covenant Community (LJCCC) resumed its general gathering in hybrid mode, a first significant step towards embracing the endemic phase of the COVID pandemic.
“Getting back on ground makes one feel truly alive again. We need to come back to the physical,” enthused presiding elder Anthony Lim in his opening words to the community.
In the same breath, he pledged that the community would be very responsible to take precautions every step of the way to move the community back on ground.
Explaining the extraordinary journey taken on by the married men of the community, Lim underlined that they have recognized and accepted their brokenness, weakness and imperfection as husbands and fathers.
In fact, they have admitted that the practical living out of their vocation as husband and father, as an Icon of the Father in Heaven to be quite impossible on their own efforts.
However, the truth is “God does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the called”. In other words, the promise of God’s grace for the vocation He has called them to, is a total assurance – what they need is to develop that relationship with Him and let His grace fill them. This is where St Joseph is the perfect mentor for husbands and fathers striving to live out the call of their vocation.
The 33-day Preparation for fullness of Divine Sonship and Spiritual Fatherhood through St Joseph – known as CUSTOS – which in Latin means Guardian or Protector – was timely and God-sent. Attendance by Zoom has made it viable for many, far and near, to zealously complete the program.
LJCCC members have good reason to praise God for the privilege to gather physically after a 25-month hiatus
They discovered that the vocation of a husband and father is a divine call, and like St Joseph, who has found it a mission of self-sacrificial and self-giving love to live and die for Mary and Jesus, the married men were adamant that they would not be able to live out their vocation without the help and guidance of St Joseph.
Many of the men discovered many things that they did not know before. For example, the virtue of Joseph’s silence speaks profoundly of the effectiveness and essence of fatherhood.
Catholic Sabah spoke to some of the participants about which virtue of St Joseph in the CUSTOS retreat that they identified with the most.
Maurice Santani shared that he is moved by St Joseph’s holiness, and aspires to emulate him with his guidance and intercession as he continues on his path towards holiness.
Anthony Yen is drawn to St Joseph’s patience and humility as Jesus’ earthly father, and could count on St Joseph to help him grow in these virtues.
Sebastian Ku is convinced by St Joseph to make a daily intentional act of encouragement and affection for his wife.
Sergius Ramday shared “I recognized the many times I gave in to the temptation of being arrogant and reacting negatively when things do not go my way. I see in St Joseph his trust in God to let God have His way over his (St Joseph) own. I pray that I may grow to trust God as St Joseph did with his guidance and help.”
Fr Paul, too testified to the efficacy of St Joseph in guiding priests as spiritual fathers to their parish family. “We (priests) too need to learn to be a ‘father’ to the parish family. The family needs the father as a point of reference. Children look for their fathers to provide answers to their many questions. Far too often, families with absent fathers experience major problems within the family,” underscored the rector.
SHC rector Fr Paul Lo affirms his pastoral support by his presence
He thus commended the married men for their decision to learn the importance and the meaning of fatherhood by taking up the 33-days Consecration through St Joseph.
To the younger married men, he imparted wisdom “Prepare to establish your family by first forming yourself to be a “father” figure.”
The CUSTOS program has benefitted not only the LJCCC married men, but also 29 other married men from the covenant communities of the Marvellous Light of Jesus Christ Labuan (3), the Servants of Yahweh Kuala Lumpur (4) and Holy Trinity Sibu (22).
At the same gathering, the community also marked the first anniversary of the Morning Glory Marian Consecration with members renewing the act of consecration through Mother Mary.
The community embarked on the Marian Consecration last year on the Feast Day of the Annunciation of our Lord Mar 25, after acknowledging that they need Mary to lead and guide the community on the path towards holiness.
The community’s presiding elder summed up, in a nutshell, as a community we would do well to place ourselves in the care of the Holy Family!
