The world needs compassion 世界需要怜悯心

People are forced to stoop to buy train tickets in China. It was strongly criticized.
在中国，人民被迫折腰购买车票，当局受到大力的谴责.

Brought a young man in Puchong to see a priest regarding his intended marriage at the end of the year.

Catholic must register with the priest of intended marriage one year in advance.


He is not fervent but attend Sunday Mass may be once a month. He has a few issues needed to be clarified, one of them is a unpleasant encounter with a priest more than a month ago regarding wedding in the church.

When he mentioned "marriage" to the parish clerk, the reply was:

"First you must have had attended marriage preparation course...."

"... I need to see the priest for advise first..."

The clerk highlighted: " you must make appointment ... the priest will tell you when to come .... Tuesday to Friday, office hours only " . She was holding an appointment book, very business-like and stern face. Don't pray pray ....heh heh heh ( italic wording added by me)

"subject matter: marriage ...or personal ....?"

The young man was quite at a loss ...

If she could have just said: " not to inconvenient yourself, it is advisable to make an appointment with the priest...". ... we would have felt better.

We know priests are busy people, parishioners are busy too ....but since in the vicinity, no harm to try mah...!

All the while, we were shouting at each other. We were not arguing but hard of hearing. We were seperated by a piece of glass and speaking through an tray-like opening, like the old bank teller counter，without voice holes above. The guest has to stoop down to shout at the "opening ".....

In fact I have requested : Let us inside to talk ... but understood its security implication, I did not pursue further and remained stooping ....

My young friend is awaiting for the priest to call ... when? God knows.... and being genuine, he will take a day off from his 27 hour-a-day construction company job (he said so) to attend this 30 minutes meeting .....

Good Catholics are not supposed to complain .....


今天带了一位住蒲种的年青教友去见神父，要谈谈他计划于年尾的婚事。

天主教徒预定要结婚，必须在一年前，向神父登记。

他不算是一位很虔诚的教徒，但每个月都尽量参加弥撒一次。他本身有数项事情要先释疑，其中一项是在个多月前，询问在教堂结婚的事，与一位神父的不愉快接触。

当他向办公室书记提出见神父关于结婚事宜，那位书记马上就说：

“ 你应当先参加了婚前辅导课程。。。”

“。。。但我想要先见神父，请示他的指导。。”

书记特地提醒：“见神父必须先预约 。。。 然后等神父答复 。。。只能够在星期二至星期五 。。。办公时间 。。。” 她手上捧着一本预约部，一板正经的 。。。。Don't pray pray, heh heh heh ..(这是我自己加上的英文形容词）

“我该写要见神父的原因是。。。结婚。。私事？!"

那个年轻人一脸茫然，不知如何答复。。。（见神父也有设限事项！？！）

假如那位书记说：“ 。。。为了避免你的不方便，我建议你先与神父约定。。。” 这听了也比较舒服。

我们都知道神父是很忙的，教友也是为工作忙，但既然在附近，试试也无妨。。。

整个交谈过程中，都是大声在喊的。不是在争吵，而是听不到！双方是被一块玻璃隔开，只能够通过一个“盘口”来交谈。这和以前旧式的银行柜台一样的设计，但没有说话的小洞口。我们都得折腰弯身的“喊话”。。。。

其实我有提出，好歹也让我们进去谈谈 。。。但知道这是保安的一种措施，就作罢了，还是折腰算了。

这位年轻的朋友，正等待着神父的回电，什么时候？只有天知道 。。。但因为是真诚的要在教堂结婚，他得从每天27小时的建筑公司差事里（他说的），拿一天的假期来赴这三十分钟的约会。

。。。。唔 。唔。唔。 天主教徒不应该埋怨！