First reading Acts 15:22-31

It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by us not to burden you beyond these essentials

The apostles and elders decided to choose delegates to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; the whole church concurred with this. They chose Judas known as Barsabbas and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them:
‘The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of pagan birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some of our members have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds. They acted without any authority from us; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with Barnabas and Paul, men we highly respect who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written in this letter. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols; from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.’
The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and delivered the letter. The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.

Responsorial Psalm 56(57):8-12

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples.

My heart is ready, O God,
my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise.
Awake, my soul,
awake, lyre and harp,
I will awake the dawn.

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you
for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies.
O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth!

Gospel John 15:12-17

What I command you is to love one another

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends,
if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know
his master’s business;
I call you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me:
no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you
to go out and to bear fruit,
fruit that will last;
and then the Father will give you
anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you is to love one another.’

____________________________________________

Friends of Jesus

Jesus calls us to love one another as He loves us. This is not merely an option or something we do only when we feel like it; rather, it is a commandment that requires us to choose to love others. This means we must deliberately decide to love. It seems hard for us to love people with whom we struggle to get along. The good news is that Jesus will never ask us to do anything that is beyond our ability. When we stay connected to Jesus, His love flows through us.

That is why we must always remember that Jesus tells us, “I call you friends.” This is who we are. He calls us to be His friends, embracing His way of loving, forgiving as He forgives and serving as He serves. To be called a friend of Jesus is both a gift and a calling. It means we are personally known and entrusted with His mission. Today, He draws us close, not to control us, but to walk alongside us.

Reflective question:
In what area of my life is Jesus inviting me to live out His command to love more concretely?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

Herald Malaysia

THEY said “Amen” — and then many disappeared. Why do young Catholics drift away after Confirmation, and what will it take to walk with them again?

She stood before the altar, clothed in white, radiating a quiet confidence that only youth can carry. The bishop traced the sign of the cross on her forehead with holy oil and spoke the ancient words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” She answered, “Amen.” Her family smiled, her godparents beamed, and the parish community rejoiced. Then, slowly and quietly, she disappeared.

This is not the story of one individual, but of many.

Catechists, youth ministers, parents, and parish leaders will recognise this pattern. Young people who were once present at Mass and active in parish life gradually drift away after Confirmation. One missed Sunday becomes many, and before long, the pew remains empty.

Where did they go, and why did they leave?

One young adult, Eric, shared his experience with honesty. He spoke of hearing about love, grace, and humility on Sundays, yet encountered judgment, gossip, and pride during the week. Over time, the gap between what was preached and what was lived became too painful to ignore.

Stepping away did not mean abandoning faith. He continued to believe in love and truth. What he sought was a healthier space in which to encounter them.

His story is not unique. For many young people, the struggle is not with God, but with how faith is lived. A Church that proclaims mercy may struggle to embody it. A community meant to feel like home can, instead, feel distant. Many leave not in rebellion, but in quiet weariness.

Too often, Confirmation is treated like a graduation. Years of catechism seem to culminate in an endpoint rather than a beginning. Yet faith is not a syllabus to be completed. It is a relationship to be lived.

Perhaps the question is not only why they leave, but whether we have walked with them beyond the sacrament. We call them the future of the Church, yet often, struggle to make space for them in the present.

They are growing up in a world shaped by pressure, comparison, and uncertainty about identity and purpose. In Malaysia, this is often compounded by academic expectations and family pressures. They are not primarily searching for rules, but for authenticity, belonging, and meaning. At times, they find this more readily elsewhere.

This is not an accusation, but a lament. The Church has so much to offer.

We are a Church of beauty and mystery, shaped by saints, martyrs, and communities that share life together. We believe in a God who enters into human suffering — becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

Yet if this is never experienced beyond textbooks, if liturgy feels distant, or if questions are dismissed, young people will drift.

But not every story ends in drifting.

Joel Jeremiah, now a junior apprentice with the Missionary Community of St Paul the Apostle in Kenya, recalls how his journey began with a simple question: “Have you ever thought about being a priest?”

There was no pressure, only conversation and time. Over a simple cup of cappuccino and sirap bandung ais, a new chapter began to unfold.

Joel did not fully understand what he was saying yes to, but that small “yes” became a turning point. Through formation and mission work, he encountered a deep peace. He met people with almost nothing, yet full of hope, and in them he saw God’s love made real.

Serving the poor transformed his understanding of happiness. He realised that love is not about giving things, but about giving oneself.

Joel speaks honestly about doubt and weakness. Yet again and again, he encountered grace.

His message to those who have drifted away is simple: he understands. Like the Prodigal Son, he wandered in search of meaning. When he whispered a small “yes” to Christ, he did not encounter judgment, but embrace.

This is the heart of our faith — a God who invites, waits, and welcomes.

Perhaps young people today do not have less faith, but are growing up in a world that makes it harder to notice God.

The question, then, is not simply why they left, but how we welcome them home.

We are called to respond not with guilt, but with listening; not with expectations, but with accompaniment; and not with programmes alone, but with authentic relationships.

This calls for mentoring, for spaces where young people can speak honestly, and for communities that walk with them beyond Confirmation. The Church is not whole without them.

They once said “Amen.” The journey was never meant to end there. Now it is our turn to walk with them.

If we dare to live our faith with humility and joy, many may rediscover that they were never truly lost.

They are only waiting to come home. – Herald Malaysia

By Ivy Chai

KUCHING — The UNIFOR COMPLEX at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee stands out as another landmark for the people in Kuching. Built on a 3.19-acre site, it was officially opened on Apr 26 2026 by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who is also the minister in charge of UNIFOR and chairman of the Unifor Charitable Trust, said the architecture of the complex building “embodies the concept of unity”, and the timely completion “a testament of our unique Sarawak values of harmony, tolerance and shared prosperity.”

The 10-storey UNIFOR COMPLEX building costs RM75.633 million and has a banquet hall that can accommodate 1000 people, 9-storey office tower, eight levels of office space of 6,932 square feet each, one level of executive lounge and two function rooms, as well as a scenic rooftop garden.

Nine retail outlets will be open for business soon. Parking space is limited as there are only 286 parking bays. There are plans to build a multi-storey parking area.

According to the deputy premier, the Unifor complex will serve as a “vibrant platform where different houses of worship come together, interact and foster dialogue in deepening mutual understanding and strengthening the bond of respect among our diverse communities.” Hence, the ninth floor with two function rooms and the rooftop garden on the tenth floor will be made available for their use … for free.

UNIFOR (Unit for Other Religions) through the Sarawak Unit for Other Religions Charitable Trust (SUCT) which was formed “to facilitate and undertake the economic and social development and well-being of the non-Muslim community in the state” has been allocated RM30 million this year to assist 155 mission schools, mostly in rural areas, in their performance-achievement programs, including granting financial assistance or loans to non-Muslim individuals for education purposes.

In concluding his welcome speech, Datuk Amar Douglas reminded everyone of their commitment to “preserve peace and unity that makes Sarawak truly unique.”

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, before initiating the official opening ceremony with the aid of an AI robot, spoke on the importance of human resource development and the need to live in harmony through mutual respect, irrespective of race or religion.

Sarawak is the only state that has pledged free tertiary education to all “anak Sarawak”, believing in “social inclusivity” and that everyone “is equal”.

Also present at the official opening of the UNIFOR COMPLEX were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Unifor Director Datuk Georgina Apphia Ngau, Charitable Trust CEO John Kennedy Janang, and Interfaith leaders in the state. – Today’s Catholic

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“The Church is the pilgrim people of God on earth who, drawing precisely on the final promise, reads and interprets the dynamics of history through the Gospel, denouncing evil in all its forms and proclaiming, in word and deed, the salvation that Christ wishes to bring about for all humanity and His Kingdom…”

Pope Leo XIV stressed this at his weekly General Audience on Wednesday morning in the Vatican as he continued to reflect on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium, reflecting this week on the eschatological dimension discussed in Chapter VII.

READ POPE LEO’S FULL ADDRESS

The Holy Father reminded the faithful that the Church journeys through earthly history always looking towards Her final destination, which is the heavenly homeland, yet lamented that we often overlook or downplay this essential dimension.

He said this tends to happen “because we are too focused on what is immediately visible and on the more concrete dynamics of the life of the Christian community.”

The Kingdom of God, he underscored, is the purpose of all Her action.

“The Church,” he said, “does not proclaim herself; on the contrary, everything within Her must point to salvation in Christ.”

Speaking clearly to reject everything that mortifies life

“As the guardian of a hope that enlightens the path,” Pope Leo recalled, “the Church is also invested with the mission of speaking clearly to reject everything that mortifies life and prevents its development, and to take a position in favour of the poor, the exploited, the victims of violence and war, and all those who suffer in body and in spirit.”

“From this perspective,” Pope Leo stressed, “the Church is called to recognize humbly the human fragility and transience of Her own institutions which, despite being at the service of the Kingdom of God, bear the fleeting image of this world.”

“No ecclesial institution,” the Pope said, “can be treated as absolute; indeed, since they exist within history and time, they are called to continual conversion, to the renewal of forms and the reform of structures, to the continual regeneration of relationships, so that they may truly fulfil their mission.”

Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom

“Jesus initiated the Church precisely by proclaiming this Kingdom of love, justice and peace,” and therefore, the Pope said, “We are therefore called to consider the community and cosmic dimension of salvation in Christ and to turn our eyes to this final horizon, to measure and evaluate everything from this perspective.”

Since the Church lives in history in the service of the coming of the Kingdom of God in the world, Pope Leo explained that accordingly, “She proclaims the words of this promise to all and always,” “receives a pledge of it in the celebration of the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist,” and “puts its logic into practice.”

Furthermore, he added that the Church knows She is “the place and the means where union with Christ is realized ‘more closely,’ whilst at the same time recognizing that salvation can be bestowed by God in the Holy Spirit even beyond Her visible boundaries.”

The fullness of life and peace promoted by God

In this regard, the Pope said, Lumen gentium makes an important statement, namely, “the Church is the ‘universal sacrament of salvation,’ that is, the sign and instrument of that fullness of life and peace promoted by God.”

This means, Pope Leo explained, that She “does not identify perfectly with the Kingdom of God, but is its seed and beginning,” for its fulfilment will be granted to humanity and the cosmos only at the end.

“Believers in Christ, therefore,” the Pope encouraged, “walk through this earthly history, marked by the maturation of good but also by injustices and sufferings, without being either deluded or despairing; they live guided by the promise received from the One who will ‘make all things new.’”

In this context, the Pope emphasized that the Church realizes her mission between the “already” of the beginning of the Kingdom of God in Jesus, and the “not yet” of the promised and anticipated fulfilment.

‘All Christians form a single Church’

Pope Leo also urged the faithful to understand the relationship between the Christians who are carrying out their mission today, and those who have already completed their earthly existence and are in a state of purification or beatitude.

“Lumen gentium, in fact,” the Holy Father reiterated, “affirms that all Christians form a single Church, that there is communion and sharing of spiritual goods founded on the union with Christ of all believers, a fraterna sollicitudo between the earthly Church and the heavenly Church: that communion of saints that is experienced in particular in the liturgy.”

“By praying for the departed and following in the footsteps of those who have already lived as disciples of Jesus, we too,” the Pope reminded, “are sustained on our journey and strengthen our worship of God: marked by the one Spirit and united in the one liturgy, together with those who have gone before us in faith, we praise and give glory to the Most Holy Trinity.”

Pope Leo concluded by saying “Let us be grateful to the Council Fathers for reminding us of this most important and beautiful aspect of being Christian, and may we strive to cultivate it in our lives.” – Vatican News

First reading Acts 15:7-21

I rule that we do not make things more difficult for the pagans who turn to God

After the discussion had gone on a long time, Peter stood up and addressed the apostles and the elders.
‘My brothers,’ he said ‘you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the pagans were to learn the Good News from me and so become believers. In fact God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith. It would only provoke God’s anger now, surely, if you imposed on the disciples the very burden that neither we nor our ancestors were strong enough to support? Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.’
This silenced the entire assembly, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans.
When they had finished it was James who spoke. ‘My brothers,’ he said ‘listen to me. Simeon has described how God first arranged to enlist a people for his name out of the pagans. This is entirely in harmony with the words of the prophets, since the scriptures say:

After that I shall return
and rebuild the fallen House of David;
I shall rebuild it from its ruins
and restore it.
Then the rest of mankind,
all the pagans who are consecrated to my name,
will look for the Lord,
says the Lord who made this known so long ago.

‘I rule, then, that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has always had his preachers in every town, and is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath.’

Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1-3,10

Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
sing to the Lord all the earth.
O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim his help day by day,
tell among the nations his glory
and his wonders among all the peoples.

Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
The world he made firm in its place;
he will judge the peoples in fairness.

Gospel John 15:9-11

Remain in my love

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.’

__________________________________________

Abide in love

Today, Jesus addresses these words to us: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; remain in my love.” This is the truth that Jesus wants us to root ourselves in: we are loved by Him in the very same way the
Father loves Him. This love is not a distant love, but a faithful and personal love. He continues, “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love.” It may seem demanding at first, but this is about being in a relationship, not just following rules. When we love someone, we naturally want to live in a way that brings us closer to them, making obedience an expression of love rather than a burden.

Jesus, at the end, tells us, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” The joy that Jesus speaks of is the quiet certainty of being deeply loved by God. Having joy does not mean life becomes easy, but it means that even when we face challenges, we know we are never alone because our lives are in God’s embrace.

Reflective question:
What situation is Jesus inviting me to accept His joy, even if things are difficult right now?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

KUALA LUMPUR – The Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) has reaffirmed that while the separation of Church and State remains an important safeguard, it does not require silence from people of faith, particularly those in spiritual leadership.

In a statement dated Apr 20, CFM stressed that religious leaders carry a “sacred responsibility” to speak truth, even when it challenges those in authority. The federation underscored that the distinction between religious and civil spheres should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from moral engagement in public life.

Drawing on Scripture, CFM pointed to the long tradition of prophetic witness, where figures such as Nathan, Elijah and John the Baptist confronted rulers and called them to account. These examples, it said, demonstrate that fidelity to God demands courage in the face of power.

“This calling is not rooted in political ambition, but in obedience to divine justice,” the statement said, adding that the biblical image of the watchman in Ezekiel highlights the moral responsibility to warn against wrongdoing.

CFM emphasised that Church leaders are not only permitted but obligated to speak out when injustice occurs, particularly when the vulnerable are oppressed or when leaders depart from what is right. In doing so, they fulfil their role as moral voices anchored in truth rather than influenced by power.

The federation also cited German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, noting his assertion that “silence in the face of evil is itself evil.” It said remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing constitutes a failure to uphold the responsibilities entrusted to those in spiritual leadership.

“At every age, the integrity of faith demands a voice that does not bend to power,” the statement noted, calling for both courage and humility in addressing issues of justice and governance.

CFM reiterated its commitment to continue speaking on matters affecting national and religious freedom. It said it would do so both independently and in collaboration with other faith groups, including through the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST).

The statement reflects CFM’s ongoing role as a collective voice for the Christian community in Malaysia, particularly in addressing issues at the intersection of faith, ethics and public life. – Herald Malaysia

Vatican News

Before he returned to Rome from Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday evening, Pope Leo XIV spoke briefly to reporters and responded to the latest critical remarks made about him by US President Donald Trump.

“The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” he said. “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

Speaking outside Villa Barberini, his residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo recalled that the Church has consistently spoken against nuclear weapons.

“For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point,” the Pope said, responding to President Trump’s claim that the Pope considers it acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, thereby placing all Catholics at risk.

“I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of the word of God,” Pope Leo XIV stressed, reiterating that he has spoken clearly “from the first moment I was elected, and now we are close to the anniversary. I said: ‘Peace be with you’.”

Regarding his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, scheduled for Thursday, May 7, the Pope expressed his hope that it would be “a good dialogue,” approached “with trust and openness,” so as “to understand one another well.”

“I think the issues he is coming for are not today’s issues. We shall see,” Pope Leo added, again referring to the comments made by the US President. – Vatican News

By Joseph Tek Choon Yee

They say university is where minds are stretched, faith is tested and nasi lemak becomes a food group. For me, it was also where God became personal not through lightning or visions, but through the hum of ceiling fans and the strumming of guitars in a small lecture room at Bangi.

Room 506, FSKK: The Chapel That Wasn’t

It began in Room 506 of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSKK), where members of the Catholic Students Society (CSS) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia met every Friday evening. We arrived armed not with laptops or laser pointers, but with notebooks (the real ones), guitars, and hearts in need of grace.

In the 1980s, “technology” meant a coinbox phone, a fountain pen, and a calculator the size of a sandwich. There were no handphones, no laptops, and certainly no PowerPoint. The word cloud referred to something that threatened to rain on your field trip, not somewhere to store your assignments.

To call home, we queued at the hostel coinbox clutching coins, praying the line wouldn’t cut off before Mum answered, “Hello, siapa ni?” Computers were hulking machines with dot-matrix printers that screamed like cicadas in distress. Notes were handwritten, transparencies were state-of-the-art, and correction Tipp-Ex fluid was our ‘Holy Spirit’ of second chances. Yet somehow, without Wi-Fi or WhatsApp, everything still worked – perhaps because friendship in Christ never needed a signal bar to connect.

Room 506 wasn’t much to look at: whitewashed walls, squeaky centralised air-conditioning, and fluorescent lights that buzzed like over-enthusiastic bees. But for many of us far from home, it was sanctuary.

There we were, students from every state and background in Malaysia, drawn not by intellect or ambition, but by a shared hunger for meaning. We prayed, sang, shared and sometimes laughed until tears rolled. Someone would offer a reflection, another a heartbreak; someone would whisper, “Let’s pray over him,” and you’d feel something stir, not emotion, but presence.

It was there that I first understood what Church in campus really meant. Not a building, not a Sunday obligation, but a living fellowship, fragile yet faithful, imperfect yet inspiring.

The Fellowship That Formed Us

Our CSSUKM community was small (<100) but spirited. We didn’t have microphones or budgets, but we had hearts that beat in rhythm with hope.

There were the Sabahans on guitars, turning every hymn into a campfire anthem; the sisters-in-Christ, whose radiant smiles and stares could outshine the fluorescent bulbs; and committee team members who took meeting minutes as though they were chronicling the Acts of the Apostles. We were a motley bunch: engineers of laughter, theologians of instant noodles, and missionaries of midnight reflection.

Campus life in those days was tightly regulated – “disciplined,” as the authorities called it – and intellectual pride often shadowed spiritual thirst. Yet in that modest classroom we found space to breathe, to be, and to believe. Through CSS I discovered something that textbooks never taught: faith grows best in friendship.

When one stumbled, others helped him up. When one doubted, another lent her belief. We learnt to pray with and for one another. And in those moments – sitting shoulder to shoulder after long days of lectures – we tasted what the early Christians must have felt: the quiet power of unity in the Spirit.

Retreats, Realisations & Renewal

Once or twice a year we escaped for our beloved CSS camps and retreats – to Cameron Highlands, Batu Arang, Port Dickson, Cheras or Penang. We returned mosquito-bitten but soul-refreshed. Those weekends were equal parts reflection and ridiculousness: praise and worship punctuated by burnt sausages and theological debates over Milo.

I still remember one retreat night vividly – the bonfire flickering, the smell of damp socks and mosquito coils, a guitar softly strumming “Be Not Afraid.” We were asked to share our deepest fear.

When my turn came, I said quietly, “That my life won’t make a difference.”

The facilitator, a man with more wisdom than sleep, leaned over and said, “Maybe it’s not about making a difference, Joe. It’s about being faithful where you are.”

At that moment, I was struggling. I had just missed the quota to pursue medicine after my first year in Sains Hayat, edged out by a few cleverer classmates. So, I stayed on – and ended up doing Botany.

Yes, Botany! That word that made relatives nod politely and say, “Oh… plants, ah?” while mentally recalculating my prospects. My friends proudly declared Engineering, Law or Business. I mumbled “Botany,” and could almost hear the unspoken “Sayang seribu kali sayang.”

But I stayed. I chose green over greed, leaves over legal briefs. I fell in love with plants – with the scent of rain on field trips, the wonder of photosynthesis, the quiet miracle of growth unseen. Perhaps that’s what faith is too: silent, steady, transforming light into life.

By graduation, I had earned the department’s first First-Class Honours. It wasn’t the course I had wanted, but it was the one God had written for me. Looking back, I see now that God doesn’t always open doors; sometimes He reroutes us to better fields.

That night by the bonfire planted a truth that has never left me: faithfulness often precedes greatness. Years later, trudging through the plantations of Sabah – under rain, heat and deadlines – that same lesson echoed: stay faithful in the small things, and God will handle the rest.

Since then, I’ve learnt to walk the extra mile, not to prove myself, but because gratitude compels it. Once you’ve seen how God can turn a missed quota into a meaningful calling, you stop chasing titles and start cultivating trust.

Intercampus Networking and Chaplaincy

There were intercampus gatherings too – CSSUKM in Bangi and CSSUPM in Serdang were practically next-door neighbours, separated only by jungle and youthful energy. Friendships sprouted like morning glory; we exchanged ideas, laughter and sometimes, borrowed guitars.

Those meet-ups were more than socials. They were mini-Pentecosts – bursts of faith and fellowship that reminded us Catholic life didn’t end at our campus gates. We learnt the universality of the Church before we could spell ecumenism.

Guiding us were the chaplains and the Archdiocesan Campus Ministry team – shepherds who walked quietly beside us, never imposing, always inviting. Their presence was vital. Campus life is that strange in-between phase – too old to be spoon-fed, too young to be sure. Faith can flicker under the pressure of deadlines, homesickness and identity crises.

That’s why chaplaincy matters. They were the steady hands on our shoulders, reminding us that faith isn’t an extracurricular activity; it’s a compass. They offered direction when we were lost, friendship when we were lonely, and patience when we were impossible.

And in a climate where religious sensitivities occasionally simmered beneath the surface, their quiet guidance taught us to live our faith not with fear, but with respect, humility and joy.

First reading Acts 15:1-6

They were to go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders

Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders.
All the members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an account of all that God had done with them.
But certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected, insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders met to look into the matter.

Responsorial Psalm 121(122):1-5

I rejoiced when I heard them say: ‘Let us go to God’s house.’

I rejoiced when I heard them say:
‘Let us go to God’s house.’
And now our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is built as a city
strongly compact.
It is there that the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord.

For Israel’s law it is,
there to praise the Lord’s name.
There were set the thrones of judgement
of the house of David.

Gospel John 15:1-8

I am the vine, you are the branches

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit
he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine,
neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers;
these branches are collected and thrown on the fire,
and they are burnt.
If you remain in me
and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will
and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit,
and then you will be my disciples.’

___________________________________________

Remaining in the True Vine

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals a deeply intimate truth: “I am the vine, you are the branches”, which speaks of dependence and connection. A branch has no life on its own. It only flourishes when it remains attached to the vine.

Sometimes, we may feel dry, unproductive, or distant. However, Jesus invites us to draw near to Him through prayer, listening to His Word, and allowing His love to dwell within us. When we remain in Him, we will bear the fruits of love, patience, forgiveness, and compassion, which are signs that His life is truly flowing within us. Our lives then become a witness, not of our own strength, but of His presence in us.

Reflective Question:
What is one concrete way I can stay more deeply connected to Jesus, my true vine, today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD