Tuesday, December 27, 2011

LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD...



It is just five days to the New Year -2012!  These past few weeks, I have been spending time nights in prayer remembering all the blessed moments when I felt Jesus so close to me this year.  It must be the season but I always start really looking deep into my life as New Year approaches and the choices I had made - and what did it all mean?

Every New Year, we get a chance to renew or to make a firm commitment to joyfully live for Christ. I have been most thankful to all of you, Friends of Divine, who have shared my journey in Divine all these years. It makes me realize that I cannot journey to heaven in isolation - it is when together, as a family in Christ, we choose to make God's Kingdom of Heaven here on earth until eternity - that we truly live our Christian mission. Divine Charitable Trust's efforts to care for 3000 of the "least of our brethren" on a long-term basis and to proclaim God 's Word to the world could not happen without each of you as well as many loving benefactors'  prayers and financial support. Divine's charitable and evangelization works are totally dependent on God's Providence through caring individuals like our Friends of Divine! Should any of you ever feel inspired to lend a helping hand at any time in the future, you will find the Divine's 2012 Funding Needs section on this blog helpful.

Rev. Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C.
Spearhead of Divine-Potta Ministry

No one I know will say living our Christiam mission with full zeal, faith and joy is an easy journey. But God will give us His GRACE to do so! In fact, I have found that it is much easier to just do what the world seems to think is right. If we were to listen to what the world says, I am sure there will be no priests, religious or lay missiomaries in the world. What's more for everyone who so generously serve in church ministries and in supporting mission works will also just get on with their own lives! It is hard to imagine Divine-Potta ministry surviving these past 21 years and bearing so much fruit! 

Why is that not so? For me, I know it is because in the midst of all the human voices giving me logical and rational reasons of how I should view my future and my life, there is a much more persistent and piercing voice deep in my heart - the Voice of God. Choosing to serve God in any capacity is never easy - there are so many reasons to choose the path that gives us material security, comforts and most of all success. Serving God often seems a thankless vocation - it is hard to explain even to loved ones. 

Well, all of us need to live meaningful and not superficial lives. What's more - each of us HAVE to make our own choice. The only peace we can achieve in life is training our hearts to listen to Jesus. It is not that He remains silent but rather if we are listening with our heart rather than with our mind. The only guarantee we will get is God's Promise - "Do not be afraid - I am with you!" (Isaiah 43:5)

In the midst of doubts and anxiety that comes when I think logically of what I should do, I always rediscover a beautiful aspect of my relationship with Jesus. it is when Jesus speaks to my heart and it is affirmed through the Word of God. It is very difficult to describe but when He speaks, it is a deep spiritual peace and faith that Jesus gives. His gentle, piercing crystal clear Voice from deep within my heart will drown out ALL the chattering voices of the world that clutter my mind. 


As we look forward to a Blessed New Year in 2012, my prayer is for all of us to embrace wholeheartedly God's Call to each of us. Let us draw others to Christ not through fear but through His Love, Peace and Joy! "For God's Kingdom is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of the righteousness, peace and joy which the Holy Spirit gives. And when someone serves Christ in this way, he pleases God and is approved by others." (Romans 14:17-18)  This can only happen when our own lives are put right with God.  This point reverberates in my heart whenever I hear it during the weekly retreat's homily. The Kingdom of Heaven begins here - I do not have to die to experience it! In fact, I witness it so often seeing/hearing the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical healings that take place in the weekly retreats here in Divine Retreat Centre. Nearly everyone leaves this centre with joy shining on their faces - the miracle of Jesus' Healing Love!

At the end, only one thing truly matters - "Is my heart at peace in answering Jesus' Call? " No one can answer this question for me or for you. It is ultimately only between Jesus and each of us re our response to His Call. It is not just a matter of what we can do but what are we WILLING to do? 

The Youtube music video above is VOICE OF TRUTH by Casting Crowns. 
  


May God bless you and all your loved ones this NEW YEAR 2012 
with the Fullness of His Grace and Love! 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

SHARING OUR DIVINE CHRISTMAS JOY!





My dearest Friends in Christ

The Season of Christmas is a time when love and joy abounds amongst all people of goodwill. Every one of us like the shepherds on the Night of Christmas can tangibly experience the message of the Angel “Behold! I Proclaim To You Good News of Great Joy!” (Luke 2:10) – it is when HOPE enters into our lives for Our Saviour – Jesus Christ – was born on Christmas Day to bring us Salvation!

Let us not miss the great call that God is placing in our hearts this blessed season – that we too need to proclaim that Jesus our “Emmanuel’ is living amongst us to build up His Kingdom of Heaven – a Kingdom of “Righteousness, Peace & Joy” here on earth all the way unto eternity. When our life is put right with God, we become His righteous people and thus our lives will be filled with His Peace & Joy.

Our Christian mission is to live God’s Word AND to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth so that no person in trouble, sick, lonely and in despair will feel hopelessness and rejection.

At Divine, we stand at the end of this year to thank God for the 'Amazing Grace' that has upheld us right through the year. It has been a year of great openings in the proclamation of the Good News.



Our greatest joy and celebration has been the growing strength of Divine Vision. On 20 November 2011, the Divine Vision telecast in India was launched. After years of waiting and hoping, we got the licence this year to telecast our programs through the Goodness Satellite Channel. When our hope is in the Lord, we can never be disappointed!



We are having a growing audience in North America, UK, Europe and the  Gulf countries. And this for us is the affirmation of the thirst of God to reach His people and God's seal of approval on our efforts. The costs are daunting. To obtain telecast of the programs in every region, we have to pay colossal figures.



This Christmas marks the third Anniversary of Divine Television as a 24-hour Gospel Channel telecasting programs to most of the Northen continents. And if this has been possible, it is purely your openness to trust in us, pray for us and to support us.




There has been a growing attendance in our retreats too including many coming from different parts of the world. It is a blessing to witness so many going back determined to live for Christ and doing so! 

On behalf of the Vincentian Fathers of Divine Retreat Centre, I thank all of you for your prayers and loving support of our charitable and evangelization works. Through our Friends of Divine in Singapore, with much joy, I am happy to advise that we are finally able to purchase the new ambulance! It is greatly needed by the Divine Care Centre for the Mentally Ill and St. Vincent's AIDS Home residents for their hospital visits and the English campus too. We hope to have this new ambulance by the beginning of 2012.


There was much kindness and support for Divine's Hong Kong mission needs recently in November  by our caring Hong Kong Friends of Divine. 


I truly thank our committed long-term Friends of Divine in SIngapore and Hong Kong who never hesitate to lend us a helping hand willingly when Divine is most in need. You have made a real loving difference in helping our Divine-Potta ministry to rise up to the challenges God places in our hearts. 

My personal Christmas prayer for each of you is that you will always step forth with courage to live your Christian faith – to never tire of doing good, to be generous at all times, and to be active partners in  “spreading the Gospel”. I will remember each of you in a special way as we celebrate Christmas in Divine with our 3000 member Divine Family - the elderly, the orphans, the widows, the dying, the AIDS and cancer patients, the Mentally III patients, those being rehabilitated from various addictions and many of the volunteers in our retreat centre. 

Our world needs each of us to do our part – to be the JOY of our Lord by sharing His Love with every one in need. True love Is not a feeling – it is a commitment. This Christmas, let us commit our hearts to live for Jesus – not just this Christmas season – but every day of our lives! For this is the commandment that the Lord has given us: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles so that all the world may be saved.” (Acts 13:47)

With grateful hearts, above is a YouTube video "Sharing Our Divine Christmas Joy" of joyful memories with some of our Friends of Divine from Singapore and Hong Kong and of Christmas here in Divine. 


Wishing you and your loved ones a Most Blessed & Joyous Christmas 2011
and may the New Year of 2012 be with  filled with Love, Hope & Peace!



Yours Lovingly in Christ
Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.


Saturday, October 22, 2011

STAYING ROOTED IN CHRIST By Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C.




Tomorrow 23 October 2011 is WORLD MISSION SUNDAY - a day we need to reflect on whether we are actually responding to God's mission for our lives.


How do we live our Catholic faith? Do we just  compartmentalize our lives to only have time for Jesus at Sunday Mass? It is not enough to live our faith part-time. God created us for a mission. Do not  miss this heart-provoking video by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapillly V.C.  - Staying Rooted in Christ - Streams of Grace (Episode 8 - Eng) available on DVN Online' TV's Video-On-Demand section.

To live our faith, our lives must be built on the firm foundation of Jesus our Lord.  Find out how you can lead a true Christian life based on the pillars of our faith!

The Word of God is awaiting to reach your heart and is now just at your fingertips - to be viewed anywhere in the world at your own convenience on the Internet. DVN Online TV has more videos-on-demand  to help you be empowered by God!


Monday, October 17, 2011

DIVINE RETREAT IN HONG KONG ON 09-11 NOVEMBER 2011

Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ

The Grace of Our Lord be upon you!

I am pleased to advise you that a Divine Retreat conducted by Rev. Fr. Michael Payyapilly V.C., Assistant Director of Divine Retreat Centre and  the team of Joseph Panackal, Glen and Teresa La Rive, will be in Hong Kong from 9-14November 2011.

The full Hong Kong mission programme details have been sent to you through the October Divine Monthly Message that was emailed to you on 16 October 2011. I urge all of you to forward it to your friends and family members in Hong Kong to spend  a few days refreshing and renewing all your spiritual lives in the Presence of our Lord. Just as our bodies need food to be strengthened, our souls need the Word of God and the infilling of the Holy Spirit to empower us!

Make the commitment with Jesus to attend the 3-Day Divine Retreat to be held in John Paul II Formation Centre, Hong Kong from 9-11 November 2011. The full details of the retreat are in the poster below and available in the Divine Update section of our website www.drcm.org




Fr. Michael and our Divine team are very much looking forward for your joyful participation in all the events to be held on this Divine mission trip.

May God's Spirit lead and guide each of you to live for Him wholeheartedly!

Yours lovingly in Christ
Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

Monday, September 26, 2011

MEMORIES OF POWER 2011 - "MORE THAN CONQUERORS" (Romans 8:37)

July 26-30, 2011 was a truly a week when Divine Retreat Centre was filled with the Presence and Joy of Our Lord! It was Divine's International Family Renewal Week. POWER 2011 themed "MORE THAN CONQUERORS" (Romans 8:37) was a truly anointed and vibrant spiritual renewal for the 3000 Youths and Couples from all over India and across the globe who attended the 6th International Youth Conference and Couples Retreat here in Divine. There were also retreats for Children and Tiny Tots - every one present felt the transforming Power of the Holy Spirit.

Along  with the YouTube pictorial memories of POWER 2011,  please do read the touching personal testimonies of two Youths from Sandakan, Malaysia, who share the powerful Touch and transforming Love of Jesus that they experienced in their lives at POWER 2011.




POWER 2011 – A Personal Testimony by Crispus Mosinoh, Sandakan, Malaysia


Peace and all good!
To begin with, I would like to thank Mr. Joseph Roosevelt Pereira, Mr Henry Solibun and my anonymous sponsor for giving me the opportunity to experience and discover God’s real Presence and love in India. May God bless your good deeds!

It started off when I received a call from Mr. Henry Solibun, asking me if I can take 5 days working leave to attend the 6th Youth International Conference at the Divine Retreat Centre in Kerala, India. Imagining myself asking my strict and assertive Madam Principal, I thought it was impossible. Being a novice teacher, I was advised that it is not recommended for us (newbies) to demand or do something that might affect our confirmation status. I still remember my Principal once said that NOBODY can get 5 straight days leave except for those (teachers) who are getting married or someone close to you passed away.   “With God all things are possible." - [Matthew 19:26] I thought to myself, I should give it a try! I sent her a text message asking permission to take the leave and within few minutes, she replied, "Yes, with copy of the calling letter." I was extremely surprised and excited at the same time! I believe in the saying that "If God leads you to it, He will lead you through it." And yes, He just did!  :)
One of the highlights for me during the conference was when Fr. Michael gave each one of us the Communion Bread and asked us to put it on our palm and reflect upon it. At that time, the video of my life started playing in my mind. It flashed back all the things I have done that could have hurt His feelings and that moment was the most remorseful moment I ever had in my life! All this while, I have opened my hand and stretch out my palm to receive and welcome Jesus into my 'house' every week but i seldom 'clean' and 'tidy up' my house. From that moment on, I can never see the Host the same way again. Thank you Lord!
Crispus (L) and Caroline (R) at Divine Hut for Infant Children
God is so ever-loving that He showed Compassion and Love to me through the counselling session. I was fortunate to have Bro. Trevor as my counsellor. He reminded me that our God is a forgiving God! All we need to do is just to walk in the Light of the world! And I was very fortunate to have met Susan, a Malaysian volunteer, in the retreat centre. She brought us to several shelter homes under the care of Divine Charitable Trust which provides shelter to the poor, the abandoned woman, the orphaned children, the AIDS patients and the mentally ill people. What really struck my heart was this little girl, a HIV positive, who sang a song for us joyfully and purely innocent without really knowing what is going on with her right now. She is such a young little girl who should have a bright future ahead and yet she has shown me HOPE! God, bless these people and keep them close to You!
I will never regret attending the POWER 2011 as it leaves a big impact on me! Throughout the 6 days, I made a lot of new friends from many parts of India and the world. I consider myself lucky to have the chance to experience eating the real local Indian food on the first night. I also met a few amazing and outstanding lay and ordained preachers.  But most importantly, I met God! His Presence was so real that I felt His Peace and Love overflowing within me until today! Thank you Jesus!

Pax Et Bonum,
Crispus Mosinoh,(Sandakan, Malaysia)



POWER 2011 – A Personal Testimony by Caroline Tai, Sandakan, Malaysia

When the opportunity was offered to me to attend POWER 2011 International Youth Conference in Divine Retreat Centre, India, I had no clue at all what it would be all about. I was thinking, “What shall I do in this Divine International Youth Conference? What is going to be discussed for 6 days for this event?” Furthermore, India is a country which is in the bottom of the list of the places I want to visit in my life!

As such, I began with a very negative mindset – of not wanting to go for POWER 2011. Nevertheless, I decided to seek my godmother’s advice as I usually do.  She wisely told me, God chose you - so if it is granted, you should accept.” The next morning, she told me, “You should go.” Listening to her advice, and to respond to our Lord’s surprising and unexpected invite, I decided to take the opportunity to go to Divine in India.

While I arrived in Divine with a somewhat closed mind and heart, from the moment the POWER 2011 started, I began to experience and hunger more and more for Jesus in my life throughout the retreat. All the talks made a huge impact upon my life especially as I was deeply searching to find out what was God’s Will for me right now.  I knew that Jesus is always with us and He is always waiting for us in the Mass and to share His Word and Love with us in the sermon and in the Holy Eucharist.  But I never ever realized He is alive in the Eucharist!

“When I come to a human heart in Holy Communion, my hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul, but souls do not even pay attention to me. They leave me to myself and busy themselves with other things…They treat me as a dead object” (St. Faustina, Diary, 1385

This is the most valuable treasure I obtained in POWER 2011! Now the Holy Mass is very important in my life – I have since started to attend daily Mass. I want to unite myself with Jesus with every piece of the Host He allows me to receive and I shall follow Him wherever He wants me to serve Him.

Day by day, this amazing POWER 2011 International Youth Conference made me so in love with Jesus through all of the retreat sessions especially the celebration of the Holy Mass each day.

When the first day began, we were surprised as men and women were seated separately - we do not practice this in my country, Malaysia. From there, I began to learn the beauty of sitting separately and to honour God in this way. And in the same day, the talk by a fellow Malaysian lay preacher Jude Antoine on the topic “Surrender” impacted me so much.  I had been telling God all these while that I want to surrender everything to Him and follow Him BUT now I realized that I did not know how to and what the meaning of surrendering to Jesus really meant – that is until I heard this talk! We were all asked to burn a note on which we were asked to list all the things we wanted to surrender in our life. 

My career has been my life and it is so important for me - my ambition is to achieve high recognition in the corporate world. I had worked as an expatriate overseas in 2004 and my goal was to be able to do so again – yet the reality was totally opposite. Even before I came to POWER 2011, I was still hoping my application to work in Hong Kong will be successful (I had applied in April, 2011). When we were asked to surrender whatever was blocking us to receive God’s Grace and Mercy, the first thing that I wrote on the paper to be burnt was to surrender my career ambition in the corporate world.

As we were asked to write it down, a realization struck me deeply in my heart.  If God allows me to work for Him, I am already working in the most high-recognition company where not everyone will get employed easily. This company also guaranteed to give me all His Promises. And now, I surrender to God all of my undertakings. God is my everything - God is my boss!

After the talk, there was an Adoration service before the Holy Mass began.  My name was the second name called out by the priest - “Carol, God is blessing you right now. Receive the blessing.  I felt the Mercy of God and the deep joy in my heart is unexplainable! I felt so blessed. I felt so incredible - out of the three thousand people gathered in the hall, my name had been called out aloud! I can never forget this special grace-filled moment of mine at POWER 2011!

During my Confession, I confessed to the priest my problem of unforgiveness. I thought there was no one I hated or could not forgive. I just had this one problem - I cannot look and talk with the people whom I dislike. I was so impressed with the priest’s discernment. He asked me if anyone in my home was not going to Church. In my heart, I really wondered, “How could Father know about it?” It is true as my brother had not been attending weekly mass for the past two years. We all wondered why. My parents and I were praying for his reunion with God. I had even purposely organized some prayer activities at home in the hope that he will join us but he just kept away. The priest advised me not to give up and not to be disappointed. As we pray, God will do His part. I never knew my problem with unforgiveness is due to this reason.  After my Confession, I felt very assured that God is guiding me.

On the day of the Inner Healing service, I prayed for the mighty Presence of the Holy Spirit in me. Before the session began, I sent a message back home to my parents. I asked them to forgive me for everything that I had done where I had hurt them and disappointed them so much. I said to them, “I want total forgiveness from our Lord” and for the first time in my life, I said “I love you, Dad and Mom.”  They replied to my message and this was what they said to me – “We totally forgive you and love you too and please forgive us also, After tonight, you will be a very beautiful lady - full of love, peace, happiness, joy, hope and a kind lady. God Bless you.” I could not help weeping when I received my parents’ message. My tears kept falling! That night, I received the deep inner peace I was always longing for. I could sense the Holy Spirit in me - the warm and cold sensation from inside/ out of my body and the Lord’s Comfort which I truly felt that night.

Crispus (L) and Caroline (C) at Samaritan Home For Junior Girls
On the final day of POWER 2011 which would end with the Anointing of Holy Spirit, the morning was very cold; it was raining throughout the night. Yet, I was so hot and perspiring profusely! Right from the moment the Praise and Worship began, I could not stop weeping - in fact I wept almost throughout every Mass during POWER 2011!  I just felt so hot.  When I had to pray for the person next to me, I received the gift of praying in tongues.  I had been waiting for so long to receive the gift of tongues and God granted it to me at the end of this amazing retreat! Praise the Lord!

I still find it so amazing. The lyrics of the hymns “Jesus, I Worship You with All My Heart” and “How Great Is Our God” is still alive in my heart until today - this very moment!

This retreat is leading me to another stage of knowing Jesus, my Lord, in a deeper and more intimate way. All the incidents that I experienced during the retreat and during my entire stay at Divine Retreat Centre in Kerala, India are leading me to the direction of serving our Lord. I have the feeling and I may say it is a “calling” - to become a lay missionary in evangelization. But I am waiting to discern God’s Plan for me.  I pray for God to reveal what is His Will for me.  It is all I want to do - to serve God.

“Lord, May Your Kingdom Come, May You Will Be Done. Amen"



Blessing,
Caroline Tai (Sandakan, Malaysia)

                                 _______________________________________________

Friday, September 2, 2011

THE HEALING LOVE OF JESUS


Do you feel tired, overburdened by the demands and stresses of your  work, studies and family life? Do you feel that no one understands or cares?  Give it all to Jesus!

Reach out to Him and be filled with His Love. Jesus is always  with you! 

Be enriched by this spiritually uplifting video - "The Healing Love of Jesus" by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.

Divine TV's English Programmes begin from 0900-1230hrs (SGT/HKT) and repeated at 0200-0530hrs.  

Living Waters - the inspirational sharing of God's Word by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. is telecast from 1000-1030hrs (SGT/HKT), and rebroadcast at 0300-0330hrs daily.

For full details, please do download Divine TV's Weekly Programme Schedule.

The Word is God is our Comfort and Hope! DVN Online TV can be viewed anywhere in the world at your own convenience on the Internet. DVN Online TV also has videos-on-demand to help you be empowered by God whenever you need Him!

Please do share with your friends and loved one’s the Wonder of Jesus Healing Love!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

GOD IS THERE FOR US!

The Word of God is now just at your fingertips - to be viewed anywhere in the world at your own convenience on the Internet. DVN Online TV has videos-on-demand to help you be empowered by God!



Do you feel that you do trust in God and yet find many areas of your life difficult?  Is your mind filled with sadness and you wonder where God is?

Fr. Augustine reminds us that the Hand of God is behind everything that happens in our lives  - He will bring good out of all the troubles and sufferings we go through. For Jesus has promised us - "And behold, I am with you always, till the end of the age."  (Matthew 28:20) 
  

Be strengthened by this spiritually uplifting video - "God Is There For Us!" –   Streams of Grace  (Episode 19 - Eng) by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran  V.C.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Divine TV English Programmes on DVNOnline TV


Divine TV's English Programmes begin from 0900-1230hrs (SGT/HKT) and repeated at 0200-0530hrs.  

Living Waters - the inspirational sharing of God's Word by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C., Director- Divine Retreat Centre, is telecast daily from 1000-1030hrs (SGT/HKT) and rebroadcast at 0300-0330hrs.


Divine TV is available on the Internet worldwide. The Word of God is at your fingertips - just a mouse-click away  on DVNOnline TV at www.dvnonline.org 

Full programming details of Divine TV’s Weekly Programme Schedule  can also be also downloaded from the Divine website.



""For God who said,"Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of [Jesus] Christ."
(2 Corinthians 4:6) 

Friday, April 29, 2011

LET THY GLORY BE OVER ALL THE EARTH! (PSALM 57:5)

My Dear Friends in Christ

I am sure you have all experienced the Greatest Love of all during the recent Holy Week celebrations - of Jesus loving each of us unconditionally that He died so that we may live with Him eternally!

We are called to be an EASTER people - not just during Easter celebration but every day that we live here on earth. We need to live radical lives of love for Jesus. The words of St. James  should be proclaimed in our daily lives  - "I will show you my faith by my actions." (James 2:18) 

At Divine Charitable Trust, we continue to place our trust in God to touch hearts so that we can continue to share His Love and Comfort with everyone who comes to us in need especially the 3000 members of our Divine Family - most of whom would otherwise be in abject despair and hopelessness.



With a joyful heart, I am happy to welcome Divine's caring friends in Hong Kong! A number of them have come forward to help coordinate a network of "Friends of Divine" in Hong Kong too.

To all our "Friends of Divine" in Singapore and Hong Kong, be assured of our Lord's Promise - "Give your help to the poor, and the Lord will give you His perfect blessing." (Sirach 7:32)


 In God's Love,
Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C.
Director - Divine Retreat Centre