Ash Wednesday 2023

 

Source: CatholicLink

Today is the beginning of the Lent season for the year 2023. I have felt so lost these past few days because I was trying to find available funding to be applied for me to pursue my degree. However, I met a dead end. I no longer see it will be possible for me to go this coming June. However, I must put my trust in the Lord that He will provide. Let His will be done and not mine. Let my desire align with His will for me. Therefore, I will try my very best to put my total trust in the Lord.  

As I open my Spotify web player this morning, this podcast shows in my podcast playlist. Thank you Dr Edward Sri for this beautiful sharing. Do you trust the Father?

Then, I saw this video on my YouTube channel notifications. This young priest has a pearl of great wisdom and I think this one is meant for me too. Thank you, Lord, for all this talk and sermon. 

He will help you. 

May you have a blessed Lent these coming months.

God bless. 

Self Reminder: I am Enough

 

I feel really down last night until I have to keep reminding myself that I am okay. 

It has been a while I did not not feel like that.

Fighting that such negativity that clouded my mind.

As if it stuck there telling me that I am not worthy.

Not worthy of love.

Not worthy to be loved.

Not good enough for being me. 

Not capable of doing anything. 

It is just telling me that I am not good enough! 

Trying to overcome such a thought until I fell asleep.

Thank God I can sleep this time. 

So, I am trying hard to remind myself again that, 

It is okay not to be okay, sometime,

It is okay to cry it out loud and let it go,

It is okay feel alone but never lonely,

I am enough

I am loved

I am kind

I am smart

I am capable of doing things

I am not alone...

Feeling this emotions inside me like this.. 

I am not alone.. 

Our Lady of Good Success, 

pray for us. 

 Prayer to Saint Dymphna (patron saint for mentally ill)

Lord, our God, you graciously chose St. Dymphna as patroness of those afflicted with mental and nervous disorders. She is thus an inspiration and a symbol of charity to the thousands who ask her intercession.

Please grant, Lord, through the prayers of this pure youthful martyr, relief and consolation to all suffering such trials, and especially those for whom we pray.

 

(Mention those for whom you wish to pray).

We beg you, Lord, to hear the prayers of St. Dymphna on our behalf. Grant all those for whom we pray patience in their sufferings and resignation to your divine will. Please fill them with hope, and grant them the relief and cure they so much desire.

We ask this through Christ our Lord who suffered agony in the garden. Amen

Day 7: Movement Control Order

It has been a week of MCO. However, the number of infected people is not decreasing but there is still new cases detected. Day two of a new week!

I am thinking to myself, how am i able to pass another 7 days of MCO with so much stress and bad news from all around me. Even though i lock myself at home but with this technologies, i receive new updates frequently, every hours there will be new cases reported. Our ministers will  make a press conferences at certain hours to keep us updated on the current status and measures taken to prevent the spreading of this infections.

I am fully understand that it is important for me to keep myself updated and aware of things happening outside there. However, the negativity remarks from netizens and condemning each others is not going to help us staying positive on fighting this outbreak. I need a break from all that negativity so i can keep giving words of encouragement to my sisters and friends that work as a frontliners. 

Frontliners, you are our soldiers at this time. I will continue to pray for all of you and may God intervention came in various ways and give you His grace to face your days. 

I make a decision to deactivate my Facebook account once again today. I deactivate my account on Ash Wednesday because i want to reduce my time on social media and replace it with readings and reflections this Lent. When the MCO announced, i am kind of out of place because i don't know what is happening around me and i was told masses will be closed, churches also closed for visitors. So, with these reasons, i decided to reactivate my account.

Bad habits returned. I figure out, i can not control myself from spending hours scrolling through the newsfeed and reading or watch videos. Overwhelming by the stories shared and of course comments section give me bad vibes and i can say i increase my anxiety these past few days just by keep scrolling my FB newsfeed a few hours a day. This did not give me any good. I have to stop.

I will continue with my personal prayers even though i will not be able to follow the live stream via Facebook page of our Archdiocese or other dioceses. I need to keep my feet on the ground and keep my faith firm on the promise of my Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Have mercy on us all, o Lord. 

Day 6: Movement Control Order

It's a new week! My heart broke, i am in tears whenever i received or read news updated on my Facebook, Telegram, Twitter and WhatsApp. But, life must goes on. Fighting!

Around 3.30pm today, I went to my friend's pharmacy, Willy Pharmacy at Tabuan Jaya shopping centre to pick up some supplies that i ordered from him. When i met him at the pharmacy, he look tired even though i only can see his eyes because we are using face masks. His staffs also doing their work and served us with smile behind the face masks. Hang on there my friend, this will pass.

Then, i continue to refill my tank at Shell Tabuan Tranquility before i went for a McDonald's drive thru. I return home, check my car's engine, enter my house and taking shower and wash my clothes. Cleanliness is priority at this time. Having my double cheese burger with iced coffee latte is never like before. I hope all the people i encounter today at the pharmacy, Shell station and McDonald restaurant will be protected and console by our God. May they still have joy in their heart.

God have mercy on us all.

Day 5: Movement Control Order

Staying home is the best choice for everyone which is not in need to go to the office during this outbreak crisis. Oh, it's Sunday!

We have a lot of live streaming mass services from different dioceses in Malaysia. So, i decide to 'attend' my Sunday mass from our own church, the Archdiocese of Kuching. The mass was celebrated by Msgr William Sabang and concelebrated by Fr Francis Dakun.

Even though we celebrate our mass from home, i know my God, my Living God is presence in the midst of us. The longing for the Eucharist is never fade but the desire become stronger. I am grateful to God that our churches still be able to make this mass live stream, thank you to the technologies.

I pray that we, all of us around the world will persevere in our prayers and keep our faith in God during this trials. May the good Lord have mercy on us and keep us under His protection.

Day 3: Movement Control Order (MCO)

I feel much better today even though the numbers of positive cases still adding up. I am not going outside since day 1 because my essentials need is still enough but planning to go out tomorrow. I need to buy a few things to bring back home. I received news from my parents's home that they are running out of a few things. Especially for my dad because he is bed ridden and we have to home care him.

I figure out that this MCO makes me more thoughtful of others need and asking if they need any help. This is the time of personal reflections on how i live my life so far. How i can be a better version of myself if i can get through this crisis?

I pray this time will pass and everyone's life will return to normal. God, have mercy on us all.

Dilemma Again...!

Photo credit to Google Image Search

I am in this position again whether to choose right or left. Whether it is good for me, for others around me or the other way round. Making decision is always tough because there is always a sacrifice to make. Will it be good for the future or just for the present time? Will it give impacts to the people i love, will it give impacts to the people i am with now or future? What about the relationships with the people where i am now and what about the future? Will this be a long term or only a short term? But one thing i know is that, FUTURE is UNKNOWN and it is a risks to take. Future at the current place or at the other place is both unknown. Only God knows my future, because He is the writer of my life story. Whatever decision i will make, i know for sure, God is always with me... If i make a wrong decisions not according to His plan, or i make the right decision and follow His plan, i know i am Blessed in all ways. Thank you Lord for the gift of FAITH. 

Photo of Rajang River taken by myself on 25.11.2015

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Walking with Faith,

Little Rose

Wordless Tuesday ~ I Need You Jesus

Photo taken at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Sibu, Sarawak

 

 

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Little Flower of Jesus,

Rossa



Karate Class Improvement & Feast Day of Our Lady of The Rosary

I feel much better today. Maybe because I sweat out toxic from my body during my Karate class after work yesterday. It was refreshing to be able to do some work out through that martial arts class. I was joining this class after a month I join my current employer. It is good that the company have this martial arts class as one of their Sports and Recreation activities. I enjoy the class very much yesterday because I can feel there is an improvements of each movements especially the basics such as punch, stand and kick. I did my combination 1 and 2 perfectly with slight mistake with my stand. But I did well! Yey!!

I didn’t attend any formal class of any martial arts after my high school. During my high school I took Karate Do as my extra-curricular activities but only for one year so I didn’t upgrade my level and only learn basics which is very tough for me. However, I admire my seniors when I saw them doing formation and fighting. It is so awesome! So, it was always in the back of my mind that I will learn again and my wish granted that I was able to join my company Karate Club. I start all over again with my white belt!!

After the class I went to the floral shop to buy a rose flower. This month is a month dedicated to Mama Mary so I was excited to decorate my flower vase with alive roses flowers to put up on my mini altar where I put Mama Mary statue at home. So, I bought three different colours which is pink, red and light purple. It looks so nice but no roses smell. I wish I have my own flower garden, so I think I should consider of planting flowers joining my sister’s hobby.

Here is my roses flower dedicate to Mama Mary which is higher and taller than my favourite Mama Mary statue. Somehow, I love the flower and I am sure Mama Mary love it too.

Today is Feast Day of Our Lady of The Holy Rosary, Happy Feast Day! Mama Mary pray for us and we too must pray the Rosary everyday without fail.

 

Have a Blessed Day ahead!

 

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Be Blessed,

Rossa

Pilgrimage to Medan ~ Day 1

I am excited! For sure i am excited because this is my first time travel to Indonesia. Deep inside my heart i pray to God that i will experienced something interesting and the most important one is FINDING HIM while i am on this trip. Actually this is not an ordinary trip but a pilgrimage trip with almost 70 other participants from different parts of Sabah; Kudat, Kota Marudu, Sipitang, Keningau, Tambunan and Penampang. It was planned a year ago and praise be to God that we made it on 7th until 11th September. This trip was organized by D' Seven Travel and Tours and we were assisted by two spiritual director, Fr. Boni and Fr. Bona from Keningau Diocese.

Aerial photo of Medan town. The airport. 

We use two different flights from KK to KL and then from KL to Medan. As we arrived at Medan Airport, hmmm... it not that big though. I think it is just as big as Terminal 2 KKIA. There was a funny thing happen at the immigration when the officer look at my face a few times trying to compare my face in my passport and the one that standing in front of him. Maybe he get confused because photo inside my passport is different from how i look like that time. I left him with a smile and a thank you.

Medan Airport

There were two "parawisata" bus waiting for us and a Javanese tourist guide, assist us to our bus. We were check in to our hotel for that night, Hotel Garuda Plaza, Medan before we leaving to the church for our first mass in Medan. I double excited even though i am not sure how the church will be look alike. But still i am super duper excited. 

Graha Bonda Maria Annai Velangkanni, Tanjung Selamat, Medan

Ain't you amazed by the look of this church? Me? My heart is full of joy when we were there. I can not really explain and describe it in words but i feel the presence of Jesus anywhere we walk around that church that evening. We were lucky to be there because actually at 6.30pm that day is the Holy Mass for the Birthday Celebration of Mother Mary. Please visit the church blog to find more info about this beautiful church: Marian Shrine of Annai Velangkanni. 

Here is more of the Church photos that i took:

The close up of the entrance to the church.

Shrine Rector Fr. James Bharataputra SJ share with us about the church.

The Bible that did not burnt during the fire. 

Lowering the flag after the Holy Mass.

Blessing and burning the petition at the end of the celebration for the day.

My prayer to Mother Mary that she help me to pray to
her son to answer my prayer and me become a better
daughter to her and mothers in this world. Amen. 

~ To be Continue to Day 2

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Blessed Child,

Little Rose

RoseRagai Rosario Project 2012

Do what you love. So, i did this because i love making Rosaries. Here is my collection and most of it already have its owner. May all of them be blessed and they use this Rosary to pray to Mother Mary our mother.

Red #001 -- already with Sr. Angela.

Brown #001 -- booked by my friend Nory. 

Purple #002 -- already with my friend Mary.

Light Purple #001 -- Aunt Elizabeth asked me to make
this for her. She provide me with beads, cross and
center piece. 

Light Green #001 -- This is also Aunt's.

Green Cat'sEye #001 -- Booked by my friend Nory. 

I made some more and actually there are two more rosaries in need to make. My friend asked me to make for them. I also teach  my friends that interested to make on their own. Am i happy? Yes of course. This is what i did when i am at home, when nothing else i can do.

--
Little Rose 

Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi

On the same day Oct 4, 2010 i posted about St. Francis of Assisi too. So, at this same day too, i want to wish everyone of this feast especially for the community of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Sabah.

Lets say Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi together:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.


O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen


God bless and lets show love to one another! 


With Love,
Little Rose


P/s: St. Francis of Assisi is one of my favorite saints. (^___^)