Help Needed!

*UPDATED*

I shall keep this at the top of my other posts until August or after we've received enough information of how to go about this. Please scroll down to read new posts. Thank you!

Calling the attention of contemporary christian music lovers, choirmasters / choirmistress, choir members, and anybody who simply sings or performs for the church! (You still can read this post even if you're not those mentioned above! *chuckled*)

We the Youth Ministry of Blessed Sacrament Parish of the Kuching Archdiocese need a little help to obtain approval and permission of copyright for the reproduction of some contemporary christian praise and worship songs (listed below).

To keep the long story short, here are some details of the purpose for reproducing the songs:

• For what? Fund-raising.


• What are we going to use the money for? To build extra classrooms as there have been limited spaces to accommodate the children who come to Blessed Sacrament Parish for Catechism class.


• What exactly are we going to do? The youths will produce a recording of a compilation of songs (listed below), the album / CD will be sold locally and the money of the sales will go to the building of classes.


• Okay. Then what kind of help do we need? We've been trying to contact the producers and the recording/publishing companies but are in vain. We did send emails to some of the companies, but they either never replied us or asked us to contact another office without giving us the person-in-charge, the email and business addresses and the phone numbers. So if anyone of you know who exactly we can get hold of for this matter, please kindly let us know, and don't forget to leave us their Names, E-mail address, contact numbers, and/or Mailing addresses.

We accept feedbacks, suggestions and advice of how to go about with this, which you can send directly to Stella S., our youth leader at stellvic05[at]gmail[dot]com or you can leave your messages in the combox below.

Listed here are the songs we will be reproducing (the links will bring you to the lyrics/streaming):

1. You Are My King (Amazing Love)
   Words & Music by Billy James Foote; Administered by EMI Christian Music Publishing
   
   
2. Be Still My Soul
   Words & Music by Kim Noblitt, Integrity's Hosanna Music
   
   
3. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in Song
   
   
4. I Could Sing of Your Love Forever
   Music & Words by Martin Smith; Administered by EMI Christian Music Group
   
   
5. When I Look Into Your Holiness
   Words & Music by Wayne & Cathy Perrin; Administered by Integrity Music
   
   
6. Only By Grace
   Integrity's Hosanna Music
   
   
7. Power of Your Love
   Words & Music by Geoff Bullock; Administered by Maranatha Music
   
   
8. Still
   Words & Music by Reuben Morgan
   
   
9. Think About His Love
   Words & Music by Walt Harrah; Administered by Integrity Music
   
   
10. We Remember
    
    
11. Kau Yang Terindah
    (Produced in Indonesia)
    

Please if you do know something, someone who knows how to go about this and has actually done this before (applying for copyright permission), kindly let me and my friend, Stella know. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for any kind of help you would render.

Invitation for Malaysian Catholics!

... and of course, for all non-Catholics who are interested, you are also welcome!

I received this invitation from the Seremban Carmelite Sisters in my mailbox. Unfortunately, I won't be able to be present as I live very very far away from Seremban.

If you're living or staying somewhere in or near Seremban, do pay them a visit and join the Carmelite Sisters in the Eucharistic celebration for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The time and venue are shown in the invitation card above.

I will be joining the Carmelite Sisters in Kuching for the Feast. Anybody from Kuching, feel free to keep in touch with me if you're interested to know more.

God bless you all for your kind support.

Our Lady's Message from Medjugorje

The Message of June 25, 2007 (The 26th Anniversary of the Apparitions!)

"Dear children! Also today, with great joy in my heart, I call you to conversion. Little children, do not forget that you are all important in this great plan, which God leads through Medjugorje. God desires to convert the entire world and to call it to salvation and to the way towards Himself, who is the beginning and the end of every being. In a special way, little children, from the depth of my heart, I call you all to open yourselves to this great grace that God gives you through my presence here. I desire to thank each of you for the sacrifices and prayers. I am with you and I bless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Source: Children of Medjugorje


My thoughts:
This particular message of Our Lady seems to correspond with the request for prayers for the conversion of Germany. I was confused initially. Why Fatima, Medjugorje, and now Marpingen? What differences are there between the 3 places? Fr. Dominique explained that the common message of this 3 places of apparitions is a call to conversion of hearts and repentance. That is why we should all pray with one accord for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.

All for the Triumph of The Immaculate Heart of Mary...

... and Glory to God in the Highest Heaven!!

As mentioned in the previous post, I will be telling you a little bit about Marpingen, Germany, the place where Our Lady appeared.

I have to admit that I've never heard of this place of apparitions before, as I'm more familiar with Fatima and Medjugorje, until I met a priest online and I spoke to him and even saw him on webcam in Skype. To make the long story short, he asked us to help him spread this message/letter of his, which is a request for prayer. Here's what he has to say:

><><>< ><><><
Apostolat Im dienst der Göttl. Barmherzigkeit

Nalbacher str.135
D- 66763 Dillingen Saarland - Tel+Fax: +49683178207

I am Father Dominique and I collaborate with The Movement Apostolate of the Divine Mercy in Saarland, Germany.

I would like to inform you that on the 16th of August 2007, a great day of prayers will take place in Marpingen*, Germany for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in this nation and in the whole world. This intention and subsequent triumph is in light of Our Lady of Fatima, who said, "...at the end, my Immaculate heart will triumph!" Pope Benedict XVI said this prophecy is the great message of Hope, given at Fatima**.

I would like you to spread this message to your local Catholic communities or associations, etc. so that more people around the world will pray for this intention on this special day.

The triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary has already been conceived, but it must grow and the key to open the door of this triumph, will consist of being united in prayer around the world, especially praying the Holy Rosary meditated with love in our hearts, and offering Communions of reparation.

It is very important because as you may know many countries of Europe and the world have become very far from God, over the years they have liberalised many immoral issues, e.g., abortion, gay marriages, euthanasia, atheism etc, which are directed against the Law of God, and they are in the process of spreading them throughout the world.

"...my Immaculate Heart will triumph”. What does this mean? The Heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind. The fiat of Mary, the word of her heart, has changed the history of the world..."***

This International day of prayer will give the power to Our Lady to make a turn towards the good and allow Our Lady (star of the new evangelisation) to continue the process of the triumph of her Immaculate Heart in this nation and the whole world. I inform you also that many people around Germany already offer the 13th of every month for this intention. This is done by offering their work, sufferings, and joys of this day, with all the prayers for this purpose. On that very day we also make a special Rosary for this intention. On that occasion we recommend that you invite many people to your homes. The lists of people involved in this initiative are put at the feet of the Altar of Our Lady during the monthly celebration of the Holy Mass.

God bless you, and I thank in anticipation all those who will join this initiative of prayer. In this way we will become missionaries for the native country of our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, and help him save this nation so much loved by him.

May the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary protect and bless you all, now and forever!



Father Dominique
Apostolate of the Divine Mercy

(You can also write me at the above address)


*Marpingen has been recognized as an official place of prayer by the Church of Germany in December 2005. …some traditionally Christian areas which are in need of re-evangelization…Redemptoris Missio 32. …Among the forms of sharing, first place goes to spiritual cooperation through prayer, sacrifice… idem 78 The association of the Divine Mercy in Saarland together with me has received a written authorisation from the local Bishop (a letter addressed in my name) to organize the monthly day of prayer in Marpingen.
**Commentary of the Pope on the book of Cardinal Bertone on the memories of Sister Lucia of Fatima.
***Congregation for the doctrine of Faith: "the message of Fatima" (last part of the document.)

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If you've got any queries or is interested, feel free to write to Fr. Dominique at the address above. Or you may also write to me, and I will forward it to Father. I can be reached at aud_shark [at] hotmail [dot] com. Or you can leave a message for me in the combox and Chatbox on the Sidebar.

I thank you on Fr. Dominique's behalf for reading this and praying for the Lord's intentions.

Here are some websites on Marpingen which you can read up on:

1. Fr. Gerhard Writes: Marpingen.
2. Marpingen: Our Lady's Messages.
3. Marpingen (in German).


Note: The apparitions in Marpingen has not been approved by Vatican.

*UPDATED*
A copy of Letter and recommended prayers (in 3 languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese) are available here. Click here to select and download.

Beauty of the Creator

... a glimpse of His Glory.

I believe most people must have seen this natural phenomenon, the 22 degree sun halo, which is quite common in the temperate regions. But over here in Malaysia, one can only witness such a beautiful halo formation if that person is lucky enough. I had never seen this phenomenon with my own eyes till this day, but I've read it in the newspapers before and if I'm not mistaken, this is the 2nd time the halo appeared in Kuching.

My colleagues and I had the opportunity to see this great sight and capture a lot of photos on the 22 June 07. The whole office was actually in a chaos... thank God our boss wasn't around then, else he must be furious if he saw us leaving our work just to watch the halo!

A Fengshui master commented in the newspapers the next day, that this halo was a bad omen of more bad weather and a bad economy in Kuching. Oh well, that's what people who believe in Fengshui and those who always look for bad signs would say.

For me, it meant something else. Something like an assurance. Hey, how could a beautiful, unusual natural happenings like this be bad? I stopped my work like everybody else, and stared into the blue sky to watch the halo. It was just... amazing! Suddenly I felt a surge of tremendous fear of the Lord... I saw a tiny glimpse of His Glory!

I saw and felt the Glory of the Great Creator in His beautiful Creation!

I was supposed to give a short sharing on the apparitions of Our Lady in Marpingen*, Germany to a few of my Catholic colleagues 1 hour from the sighting of the sun halo. You know, I never liked sharing or even chairing a meeting; talking in front of so many people really freaks me out! And so I was actually getting very nervous until I saw the beautiful sun halo. It was just like an assurance from the Lord and Our Lady... that they would be with me as I talk about the apparitions.

I was nervous still. Plus fear. But much assured that I would be doing all right. A wonderful experience, indeed.

Have you ever tried to imagine how God's glory looks like? I only know that His Glory is way too much for our human eyes to behold. Perhaps, that sun halo (and many other natural phenomena, rainbows, the bright sun being partially covered by the clouds creating rays of lights from the clouds, etc.) is a reflection of His wonderful Glory.

Photo source: Edwin Lay

*Please refer my next post for more information on Our Lady's Apparitions in Marpingen, or you can visit the website.