ASIA/MALAYSIA - Prayer of the Bishops for the protection of all families on the occasion of the Lunar New Year

Friday, 12 February 2021 evangelization pandemic bishops

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Kuching (Agenzia Fides) - Send a Greeting Message for the Lunar New Year - in February 12, 2021 - and pray for the protection of all families, such is the initiative taken by the Bishops of Malaysia who see in this occasion an opportunity to renew the faith, hope and charity.
As communicated to Fides, the Archbishop of Kuching, Simon Poh, the Archbishops emeritus Peter Chung and John Ha, together with the priests and religious, sent a special message of greetings to all Catholics. The Lunar Year of the Bull 2021 will be remembered by Catholics as a year in which they had to renounce the tradition of participating in a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Lunar New Year and the usual blessing at the beginning of the year. With the exception of Masses visible on the Internet live, all celebrations at the church were suspended as of January 13 on the basis of health protocols in force in the state because of the Covid-19. The Bishops impart the blessing in the special message: "May the Lord bless and protect you and your family. May He make his face shine upon you and show you His mercy. May He turn His face towards you and give you His peace", we read.
Church leaders wish "prosperity and happiness for all peoples and continued protection in the face of the current pandemic", wishing that the year can be "prosperous in good works of all kinds and in the practice of Christian values". The message invites families to pray at home over dinner as people celebrate Chinese New Year.
Archbishop John Wong, of Kota Kinabalu, also states in a message sent to Fides that "as people celebrate the Lunar New Year, may they have hope, peace and good health". "It is customary for people of Chinese language and culture to greet each other with good wishes at the beginning of the New Year, in the hope that these wishes will help us prevent any adversity in the days to come", he wrote.
Archbishop Wong continues: "As a Chinese saying goes: Men do not always prosper, and flowers do not bloom forever. However, in our life, good wishes do not stop all adversities. Let us not live by denying the evil, but let us remain rooted in the good while we face and courageously accept all that is to come", he added, inviting us to "always trust in God the merciful Father".
"The pandemic brings us back to the truth of humility and fragility of human beings. As another significant Chinese proverb says: those who obey God will prosper, while those who rebel will die", Archbishop Wong writes, urging everyone to "be reconciled with God and take care of the Earth".
The text concludes by inviting us to remember in prayer "our frontline workers - doctors, nurses, police officers and various service personnel, for their dedication and sacrifices. Let us strictly follow the procedures to protect ourselves and all people", in the certainty that good always triumphs over darkness and that the future will be bright. (SD-PA) (Agenzia Fides, 12/2/2021)