Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Fr. Mathews in Kajang 玛窦斯神父在加影

It is getting more difficult for me to update my blog.

I have lost much of the enthusiasm in writing ... Facebook has made things easier by just loading pictures with a few words. And the interaction is instant -  I can see my friends writing comments and feedback, clicking LIKE. My recent posting of a picture on Mother's Day saw almost 300 likes and nearly 70 comments.

It is not how many LIKE that matters but I found Facebook is more lively and interactive.

However, blogging is still very much in my heart and I would not allow my Blog to be abandoned.

Since returning from Japan, I was down from a bout of flu which saw myself resting for more than 10 days.

The cold weather in Hokone (night time 1 degree C) floored me.

And for the past one week, I was hosting Fr. Mathews Olili, a Kenyan Mill Hill missionary who is serving in Sibu Diocese in Sarawak for the past 4 years.

Fr. Mathews (left) with Fr. George, the Parish Priest of Holy Family Kajang

He needed a Visa to go to United Kingdow for his Chapter's General Meeting. Visa is required for Kenya citizens even thought it is a member of Commonwealth. 

Fr. Mathew flew in to KLIA on May 4 and submitted his application next day (May 5) to VFS in Wisma MCA, Ampang Road, Kuala Lumpur. He has to wait for the approval of  Visa and more importantly, the return of his passport to go back to Sibu, Sarawak.

His application was sent to the Philippines for processing and was expected to take 3 to 5 working days through priority service.

(VFS Global is the world's largest and most experienced Outsourcing and Technology Service Specialist for Diplomatic Missions and Governments Worldwide.)

While waiting, he was staying with us and continue to discharge his priestly duties.

Besides English and his own Swahili, Fr. Mathews is also fluent in Iban language. He has learned also French, Arabic, Latin and now is concentrating on Mandarin which he is practising at his present parish, the Mary Immaculate Conception Church in Kapit, an interior town can be accessed only by boat. It takes 3 hours passenger boat ride from Sibu to Kapit.

Father Mathews collected his Visa on Monday, May 11 and returned to Sarawak on May 12 morning. 

See pictures in Facebook to know more.

1. UK to UK in HFK

2. Another day in Kajang

3. Caritas , Kepong

4. Jalan Jalan Negri Sembilan 

5. Sunset Mass @ Holy Family Kajang

6. Morning Mass @ Mantin 

7. Sunday @ Holy Family Church

8. A man of many hats


最近我很少上载帖子到我的部落格。

我已经失去了那种热火,因为脸上更加方便。它只需上载照片,加上简单说明就行了。更令我喜欢的是脸书上的互动是及时的。例如最近母亲节我上载了一张照片及感言,马上就有将近300位朋友的喜欢(赞)及超过70位给予回复及评语。

固然不是多少人赞,而是我觉得脸上会比较活跃及积极的互动。

不过,写部落格仍然在我心中占了一个很重要的部分,所以绝对不会让我的部落格荒废。

从日本回来后,我得了严重的感冒,需要休息将近十天时间才复原。箱根的晚上一度,对我来说是很冷的。

在过去的一个星期,我接待了来自沙劳越诗巫教区的玛窦斯神父。他是一位来自英国米喜传教修院的神父,来自非洲的肯亚。

玛窦斯神父在诗巫已经服务了近四年。他在五月四日(星期一)来到加影,隔天到吉隆坡安邦路马华大厦的VFS 公司呈上去英国的签证申请。他将在六月头到英国修会总部参加一个会议。

肯亚虽然是英联邦的成员,但人民到英国去,仍然需要申请签证。

VFS 是全球最大的外包公司,专门为世界好多的国家负责处理外交签证及技术提供事务。

他的申请需要交上正本护照,然后送到菲律宾处理。特快服务也许3至5工作天。所以在这段时间,玛窦斯神父只好等,因为他没有护照回到诗巫去。

在等待的数天里,神父的职责必须执行。所以他联络上来本堂神父,帮忙庆祝平日及主日弥撒。

玛窦斯神父处理流利的英语之外,他也能够说的一口流利的伊班语及马来于。除此之外,他还曾学过法语、阿拉伯语、拉丁语。目前他专注在学习华语之上。

神父目前是被派往内陆的一个名为加帛的小镇服务。诗巫到加帛没有公路连贯,所以需要乘搭三个小时的快艇方能抵达。

神父在星期一(11/5)领取了他的护照及签证,而在隔天星期二,回到沙劳越。

请观看脸书照片了解故事。

1. UK to UK in HFK

2. Another day in Kajang

3. Caritas , Kepong 甲洞圣爱

4. Jalan Jalan Negri Sembilan 

5. Sunset Mass @ Holy Family Kajang

6. Morning Mass @ Mantin 

7. Sunday @ Holy Family Church

8. A man of many hats 


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