Pope Francis

Pope's Pentecost homily: Newness, harmony, mission

(see: need to cancel "archive" in some search results) V2Catholic.com - A voice for the poor Edited by Hong Kong prison chaplain Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡頌恆神父 DV A new menu 7 days a week to encourage people who are trying to follow the example of Pope Francis by concern for issues like these

DG - Since August 3, 2013, this website has saved dozens of Africans from going to prison in HK.
See "Drugs", below

V2Catholic is now on Facebook.
God bless the kind FB editor in Australia!

Imitating Pope Francis Francis

Tuesday November 26

God bless the 30-40 kind readers who check this Bible Blog each day of the week.
May this Bible Blog give us extra hope, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for our daily lives
Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- not illegal doesn't mean ok
- doing bad makes us sad
- Christians should be people of encouragement
- Jesus' love like that of a mother hen

"A poor Church for the poor"	People who have contact with the poor are enriched. People who have no contact with the poor are impoverished	Vatican II & Renewal (1) 16 Documents of Vatican II A Call to Action Assn Catholic Priests Ireland Bp Pat Power Bp Geoff Robinson Bruce Duncan Catalyst for Renewal Catholica Catholics for Ministry Catholics for Renewal STANDUP4VATICAN2 The Swag VII - Voice of the Church We Are Church Excellent articles on Mission Hugh McMahon SSC

	An item on this website last week mentioned how the team from Israel was the first overseas team to arrive at Tacloban. Last night someone explained why Israel has top friendship for the Philippines: because the Philippines welcomed homeless Jews in the days before Israel was established ...and...at the UN vote to admit Israel to membership, the Philippine vote was the crucial one that helped pass the motion. Which is why Filipinos don't need a visa to travel to Israel

	Iran nuclear deal shows US is now prepared to act independently of allies

Today, Pope Francis' first encyclical due to be released. Details on this website tomorrow

	God may have created man before woman, but there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece

	Australia: Students recruited to import illegal drugs from China through the post This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity	(holiday today)

John W mini-Blog	Yesterday, last night and today ...at overnight meeting...and having computer problems with Notebook....so not too much on today's menu

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Tuesday, please bless the people of South Asia On this 26th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Xinjiang Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Monday November 25

Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- love of God and care for others .... not just a theory
- courage for present and future from remembering God's past help
- Near Death Experience support for St Paul
- freed from pain after 18 years

	A Hong Kong Christmas Carol Maybe reading/watching Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol is a good way of softening hearts to combat the growing trend of a "globalisation of indifference"	This website's kind bloggers (past and present) with archives of articles: Bakhita Hazel C Daniel Daring Inigo Joachim Brian Lewis Judith Lynch Martin Mallon Chris McDonnell Bill Mulcahy Des O'Donnell Darlene Starrs TASMAD David Timbs Peter Wilkinson Harry Winter John Wotherspoon Weekly Archive of main page menus Previous archives 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 John W: Previous Daily Blogs

	In yesterday's Mass for the Feast of Christ the King, the Preface has these words addressed to God the Father: "You anointed Jesus Christ, your only Son, with the oil of gladness". But Jesus, as far as we know, was never anointed with oil. So what does "the oil of gladness" mean? It means the Holy Spirit! - as explained in this article

	Questions from a Ewe: "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church..." c.f. The primacy of Peter and Was Peter in Rome? This Wikipedia article is a good summary of the Peter-Rome topic. A wish: someday the Pope will be based not in Rome but in the City of Peace, the world's most important city, Jerusalem, and we will not be called "Roman Catholics" or "Catholics", but "Christians", as will all followers of Jesus

	Interactive Bible Quiz - First Corinthians Based on the actual words of the Bible. How many times you can get 3/3 ?!

St Peter joke to go with items above re Peter: Recently a teacher, a garbage collector, and a lawyer wound up together at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter informed them that in order to get into Heaven, they would each have to answer one question. St. Peter addressed the teacher and asked, "What was the name of the ship that crashed into the iceberg? They just made a movie about it." The teacher answered quickly, "That would be the Titanic." St. Peter let him through the gate. St. Peter turned to the garbage man and, figuring Heaven didn't really need all the odors that this guy would bring with him, decided to make the question a little harder: "How many people died on the ship?" Fortunately for him, the trash man had just seen the movie. "1,228," he answered. "That's right! You may enter." St. Peter turned to the lawyer. "Name them."

	This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity	Vatican II Reflection 280 May there be more lay people like Frederick Ozanam

John W mini-Blog	About a month ago I asked prayers for a 21 year old man who tried to take his life. Same man is now recovering in hospital, but his badly damaged hip needs a lot of healing. Jesus, thank you for sparing A-Lam's life, please bless the doctors' efforts to repair his hip, and please help him get back to normal life soon

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Monday, please bless the people of Europe & North Asia On this 25th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Ningxia Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Feast of Christ the King Sunday November 24 The readings of today's Mass for Christ the King

YouTube (Taize): Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom

As they died they called out "Long live Christ the King!" 1927: Fr Miguel Pro SJ 1936: OMI Spanish Martyrs

Reflection on today's Mass readings by Daniel Daring: Proclaiming Jesus as our Savior - Christ, the King
When the Roman Empire Public Relations branch coined a poem about the divinity of the Emperor, Christians responded with a beautiful hymn sung in praise of Jesus. The PR poem was designed to spread the cult of Caesar and stated:
He [the Emperor] is the image of God; he is the first born and he is given the first place; he is equal to the beginnings of all things; he restores order and is the beginning of life and vitality. Therefore, he is god manifest. He is the savior who has put the end to war.
The Christians took that poem, did some editing, and totally changed its message

Poland: Christ the King - the world's tallest statue of Jesus (YouTube)

Pope Francis:
Thank you Holy Spirit

Inspiring photos:


cf


cf		report 01 02

Engagements of Pope Francis

Many thanks for checking
this website each day

Unspeakable horrors in a country on the verge of genocide

Militias in the Central African Republic are slitting children's throats, razing villages and throwing young men to the crocodiles. What needs to happen before the world intervenes?
34,000 sheltering at Catholic cathedral compound

CAR Bishops: “There is anarchy across the country, outside intervention is needed”

UN to send African and French troops? (Please God!)

Click to
enlarge shoes!

Pope Francis Inspires Questions about Clergy Lifestyles

Not just clergy ....Pope's life style is
a challenge to all Christians to "downsize"

A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. Suddenly, the man realized that the next day, he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight. Not wanting to be the first to break the silence (and LOSE), he wrote on a piece of paper, 'Please wake me at 5:00 AM.' He left it where he knew she would find it.
The next morning, the man woke up, only to discover it was 9:00 AM and he had missed his flight
Furious, he was about to go and see why his wife hadn't wakened him, when he noticed a piece of paper by the bed. The paper said, 'It is 5:00 AM . Wake up.' Men are not equipped for these kinds of contests

India: Tanzaian "mule" dies from drug capsules in body

This website's Tanzania File
(stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons

South America file
(stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK)
- letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons

Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity

Vatican II Reflection 279

The laity: real responsibility in the Church?

John W mini-Blog

May the stories on today's menu about the Central African Republic move us to pray each day this week for the international community, through the United Nations, to intervene in that troubled country ....heading the bishops' plea: "intervention is needed"

Sun: Africa           Mon: Europe & Russia          Tues: South Asia          Wed: East Asia
      Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific        Frid: South America           Sat: Central & North America
    Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday, please bless the people of Africa

On this 24th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Inner Mongolia
Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Saturday November 23

A good custom:
check these readings in the morning, think about them during the day, look at them again at night
Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- sex during menstruation ok?
- training ourselves to notice birds, flowers etc
- Gandhi and self-improvement
- conscientious Christianity

	Pope speaks out against Mafia’s cancer-causing toxic dump The World's Toxic Waste Dump: Choking on Chemicals in China (situation worse now than when this article was written in 2005)	Bishop Geoff Robinson and Bishop Bill Morris: Petition to Pope Francis to stop sexual abuse and to reform Church - & calling for a new Ecumenical Council ! (John W has signed petition) ----------------------- Please encourage more people to see 1-10 re Bishop Bill Morris: 1: Judge's conclusions 2: Canon lawyer's report 3: Radio interview with judge 4: "The Age" file of letters 5: Summary re Rome 6: Frank Brennan's update 7: ABC radio Fr Frank Brennan 8. Update from Frank Brennan 9. Vatileaks & Bp Bill Morris 10: Tablet letter - Frank Brennan After reading 1-10, check the "Pravda" report of CNA Google "Morris" at top of this page for many articles re Bishop BM, the most recent being talk of March 26, 2013: Reclaiming the Spirit of Vatican II

	Vatican warns of growing trend of fishing industry exploiting workers c.f. Africans fleeing from Europe’s legacy in Africa The fishing communities on Africa’s western coast have long experienced Europe not as a distant dream-like region, but as the place of origin of the massive ships that have trawled away much of the fishing stock in their home waters and left them with little in the way of catches

	China donates 20 motorcycles to support education drive of Tanzania media

	Women in the Church: how far can we go?

Clergy problems	Knowing the unknowns of clerical sexual misconduct Don't ignore clergy in effects of pornography

Brendan Hoban	Some Irish media commentators love their Church ‘not wisely but too well’

	Are tradition and growth mutually exclusive? (Pope wants Latin church to use synods like Eastern churches)

	The government has let the two power companies off lightly re charges and profits (HK newspaper editorial) "He would always find some area of his life that needed improving" was mistyped as "He would always find some area of his wife that needed improving" Motorcycles donated to support education drive....

	This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity	Vatican II Reflection 278 50 years after Vatican II, the main difficulty facing many priests is .... the Vatican

John W mini-Blog	At yesterday's weekly English prayer service for inmates at Lai Chi Kok Detention Centre, there were 40 inmates: 14 from Africa, 13 from South America and 13 from other places (Philippines, Sub-Continent, Romania). HK's prisons have an ON ("overseas national") population of about 1,000 (out of a total population of about 10,000). This website will continue its efforts to reduce those figures by alerting people in Africa, South America and other places about the danger of imprisonment in HK. Thank you for a prayer for this intention

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Saturday, please bless the people of Central & North America On this 23rd of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Guangxi Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Friday November 22

50th anniversary of the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy

Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- where the word "scapegoat" comes from
- one of the most beautiful "thank you" prayers ever written
- we can grown in height, weight, knowledge ....and in love
- how a sparrow can remind us of God

	Reflection for the 50th Anniversry of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy (Fr Harry Winter OMI) A president for peace (this article a real "eye-opener") JFK and the Unspeakable: Why He Died and Why It Matters Podcast with James W. Douglass (author of above book and above article) Last Rites For JFK Remembered By Catholic Priest (Video & photos)	Liturgy - New Translation 1998 ICEL Sacramentary Misguided Missal The new translation Ghastly process/result Ron Schmit: 1962 Mass a condemnation of Vatican II PrayTell ------------------------------------------ Spirituality Sacred Space Daily prayer online. Available in 19 languages Jackie Evancho - To Believe Pray-as-you-go.org Daily prayer with beautiful music Whole text of 1966 Jerusalem Bible Previous Smiles file

	Two-thirds of global warming emissions made by just 90 companies Combating climate change is the biggest challenge ever faced by humanity. It is nothing less than re-engineering the world economy by taking on its greatest corporations

	Hong Kong domestic helpers being treated as slaves (I knew the situation was bad, but didn't know it was a bad as this)

	MSF update from Tacloban In Tacloban, on Leyte island, the MSF team is working around the clock to set up a 50-bed inflatable hospital in the grounds of Bethany hospital Oxfam update - aiming to help 500,000 people


	UK Anglican church and women bishops - note image of dinosaur and electric fence (..applies to Catholic Church?) c.f. Are 240 AD Vatican frescoes about women priests?

Joseph Girzone	Reflection after a Chinese funeral in the USA

	Another reminder that The Tablet is free online for the time being

	China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group: Submission to UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Ex-co member of CHRLCG, Emily Lau, attended the meeting and called for the immediate discontinuation of harassment against the children of rights lawyers and activists by the Chinese government.
	For Chinese readers: A moving story about Church in China The third story (girl kneeling)

	This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


To go with "scapegoat" in today's Bible Blog	The devout cowboy lost his favorite Bible while he was mending fences out on the range. Three weeks later, a goat walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The cowboy couldn't believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the goat's mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, "It's a miracle!" "Not really," said the goat. "Your name is written inside the cover."

Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity	Vatican II Reflection 277 Protecting the Sunday collection from theft!

John W mini-Blog	Re appeal for donations to "Dook Hoi" project (see Nov. 20 mini-blog), one more Good New email received: Fr John, Just deposited $3,000 into your bank account in support of your work. Please feel free to use it to cover the printing cost for the book “Dook Hoi”. (Thank you R. & God bless!) Target: HK$40,000; Pledged/received: HK$36,000 ....almost there DG!

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Friday, please bless the people of South America On this 22nd of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Zhejiang Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Thursday November 21

God bless the devoted group of very-ill readers who are using this Bible Blog each day as a source of encouragement and strength. May the Blog's emphasis on healing give you hope and courage ....and good health! You are on my special prayer list
Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- practical medicine of 3,000 years ago
- "hang in there" prayer ...that gives strength to hang in!
- the Good News: not an abstract theory, but a source of power
- greedy rich person's thinking: in Bible and in Hong Kong

	Cost of climate change adaptation could destabilise African countries, UN warns One billion Africans may be in harm's way if countries fail to prepare for projected temperature rises, says report Imaginative connections between Haiyan and climate change	This site's full statistics for October 2013 To publish an article on this site please contact Fr John Wotherspoon omi: jdwomi@gmail.com If you find a broken link in this website, please contact: jdwomi@gmail.com Why I collect rubbish for Pope Taking a stand Navigation Aids Standing up to bullies Too Western/European Abortion - a true story "Same-sex marriage": two elephants in the men's room Near Death Experiences Globalisation of Indifference Tale of Two Brains John's other sites: www.doctorjesus.org www.riccicenter.com www.simplebible.info www.china8.org www.jesustower.com www.oneminuteenglish.com `China Library - essential reading for anyone interested in China's Christian history`

	Disfigured man describes moment he met Pope Francis “I’m not contagious, but (the Pope) didn’t know that. But he did it: He caressed my whole face and while he was doing it, I felt only love,” he said (recommended by a HK reader): My weekend with Pope Francis Australian international lawyer who recently attended Vatican conference on human trafficking, reflects on the Pope's leadership

	Netanyahu invites Abbas to Knesset ‘for sake of peace’ In front of French President Francoise Hollande, prime minister calls for two-state solution, Palestinian recognition of Jewish state. (Jesus, please let this happen. Please let this happen!) Netanyahu to meet Francis on 2 December (Come Holy Spirit!)

	Saint Peter's bones: Vatican exhumes old argument with plan to show 'relics'

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, 'You should do it because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee. The husband said, 'You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.' Wife replies, 'No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.' Husband replies, 'I can't believe that, show me.' So she fetched the Bible, and showed him on many pages, that it indeed says ... 'HEBREWS'

	Uruguay's likely cannabis law - war on drugs in Latin America This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity	Vatican II Reflection 276 The priesthood can be a business, a way to get money for yourself or your family

John W mini-Blog Re appeal for donations to "Dook Hoi" project (see yesterday's mini-blog): Three more Good News emails received when I got home from Hei Ling Chau drug addiction centre last night: 1: Hi Father. I would to donate HK$10,000 (Thank you J. and God bless!) 2: Dear Father John, I have been following your blog for quite some months and have learnt so much from the different readings which have given me hope, strength and courage in my daily life. I enjoy all the stories and the 'smiles' and have shared them with my family. Your selfless devotion to working for drug addicts and prisoners has touched my heart and I really want to make a small contribution of HK$10,000 to give thanks for all the blessings I've received from reading your blog. (Thank you C. and God bless!) 3: from printer: price for 1,000 copies has gone down! (to support work for prisoners and other poor). Not HK$50,000 but now HK$40,000! (Thank you Printer and God bless!) Target: HK$40,000 Pledged/received: HK$33,000 (Anyone else like to help hit the target?!...if by chance there's extra, it will be used to get copies of a similar book "Chasing the Dragon" for the addict inmates)

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Thursday, please bless the people of South East Asia On this 21st of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Yunnan Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Wednesday November 20

This website was launched in construction mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011
- the Feast of Christ the King.
Happy Second Birthday today! DG!

Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- external cleanliness
- a blameless (clean) heart
- who first planted the Good News in my heart?
- religious leaders should have clean hearts

		This story (as of Tuesday night Nov 19) has not yet made major media, but surely it's the best news since the election of Pope Francis: Netanyahu makes offer to Palestinians This is like a dream come true. DG!	Vatican II - Renewal (2) Hans Küng: Letter to bishops Revolution to stop authoritarianism Fr Joseph Ratzinger: Writings on Vat II (link gone...anyone able to find it?) Robert Mickens: Vatican Implosion Nicholas Lash: Vatican II: Of Happy Memory - and Hope? Robert McNally: Crisis & Criticism in the Church Priests 9 Masses a day - need to ordain married men The evil of compulsory celibacy Link between compulsory celibacy and sexual abuse Why are women not being ordained to priesthood?

		Why even atheists should be praying for Pope Francis The pope may have no army, no battalions or divisions, but he has a pulpit – and right now he is using it to be the world's loudest and clearest voice against the status quo

		Beautiful story: nuns in Australia helping Sudan refugees

		Our role disentangling society from fossil fuels Mount St Benedict College at Pennant Hills, NSW is nearly carbon neutral in its operations, in large part because of an enormous array of solar panels on the roof of the school hall. If you have an account with the “big four” banks, a significant amount of your money is being used to fund fossil fuel mining and export

		Video: Cardinal Zen:Vatican must speak more clearly on China

		A long article, but a very important one. Applies to many parts of the world, if people are honest enough to admit the real situation: Disenchanted evenings? The mood of Irish diocesan clergy And if the above article hasn't completely depressed you, try this one: Congregation walk out of bishop's Mass Background: priest's book on homosexual bullying in priesthood


	George Monbiot	Oh no: another depressant! Double Erasure "A shocking case of denial highlights the problem that Catholics – and Pope Francis – have with history". The story of Junípero Serra certainly is disturbing

		And two more! 'Untrusting' German Catholics rush to leave church Has China given birth to a monster?


Judith Lynch		Remembering our family saints (thank Goodness for a happy article!) Each person’s life story doesn’t just begin at conception and end at death, but starts before they are born and goes on into eternity

		A man said to his wife one day, 'I don't know how you can be so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time. 'The wife responded, 'Allow me to explain. God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me; God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you!

		FACTSHEET: Sentences for drug trafficking (cocaine and heroin) This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity		Vatican II Reflection 275 Priests - love for reading/study?

Click to enlarge		Over the past three years, thanks to kind benefactors, I have given prison inmates more than 600 copies of "Dook Hoi", the story of how Ben Keung Bing Yu came off drugs by Jesus' power. Last Sunday, Ben joined me for two gatherings at Hei Ling Chau addiction treatment centre where more than 400 men heard him share how he was twice sitting where they were (20 and 18 years ago) but now helps others break the power of drugs ....for which he received a top award from the HK government some years ago Ben's book "Dook Hoi" is now out of print. Ben's publisher has said I can have a special deal to print 1,000 copies at almost half price. That means HK$50,000. If any kind readers would like to be part of this project to rescue people from drugs, please email me: jdwomi@gmail.com The printing can start as soon as around $30,000 has been raised. (So far received: $6,000)
John W mini-Blog

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Wednesday, please bless the people of East Asia On this 20th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Tuesday November 19

God bless the 30-40 kind readers who check this Bible Blog each day of the week.
May this Bible Blog give us extra hope, wisdom, compassion, courage and peace for our daily lives
Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- problem priests
- service with a smile
- words or power?
- definition of a practising Christian

	On site report from Philippines by Jo, one of the Hong Kong St Egidio team who help run our Sunday night gathering for the poor. Jo's report includes many photos ...and info that the first overseas team of helpers to arrive was the team from Israel Filipinos in Tacloban renew faith in God after Typhoon	Vatican II & Renewal (1) 16 Documents of Vatican II A Call to Action Assn Catholic Priests Ireland Bp Pat Power Bp Geoff Robinson Bruce Duncan Catalyst for Renewal Catholica Catholics for Ministry Catholics for Renewal STANDUP4VATICAN2 The Swag VII - Voice of the Church We Are Church Excellent articles on Mission Hugh McMahon SSC

	Qatar 2022 World Cup workers 'treated like cattle'

No concert in Vatican for end of "Year of Faith" - not Pope Francis' cup of tea President of the Philippines vows to remain in typhoon-ravaged area Maybe he read this comment on menu of Nov 15: (see menu of Nov 15, below, for large print) Leaders of the Philippines have been criticised for being so slow to act after the recent typhoon. Same criticism is often heard in other countries at times of emergency (e.g. USA ....President Bush too slow to act re New Orleans typhoon). World leaders need to follow the example of former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo. When emergencies struck, he headed straight to the affected place. On one occasion (the Sichuan earthquake), he was on a plane within two hours of receiving news of the tragedy. And his presence made a difference. I think it was at Sichuan where he slammed the phone down on a general who was taking too long to get moving .... causing the general to get his act together. This shows that if a top leader can arrive earlier rather than later, he can cut a lot of red tape and get things done more quickly than would otherwise happen. Wen also inspired by example ...e.g. at Sichuan refusing medical help when he fell over, saying something like "look after emergency cases ....they need help more than I do". c.f. This New York Times article re Wen Jiabo and Sichuan earthquake....which also raises the point: without getting in the road, church leaders can also be a source of encouragement and help if they are "on site" ....not just commenting from afar. "On site" appealing for help is more effective than "from afar" appealing ....as is "on site" encouragement. (Comments welcome here) Suggestion from a Filipino in HK: When a typhoon is likely to cause tidal waves - issue people with life jackets!

	A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day - 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, 'The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men. The husband then turned to his wife and asked, 'What?'

	Last Sunday at a women's prison in Hong Kong, I met an inmate from Mexico who is serving 27 years for trafficking (27 as in 27, no reduction), and an inmate from Vietnam who is serving 24 years for trafficking (no reduction)....... Don't bring drugs to HK! This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from S. American inmates in HK prisons


Francis wishes to release Vatican II's bold vision from captivity	Vatican II Reflection 274 Priests losing interest in spiritual life

John W mini-Blog	My weekly article for today's HK Ming Pao newspaper (On MP website) Today's topic: How a school principal saved a whole town during recent typhoon in Philippines (short version of this article published Nov 12)

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Tuesday, please bless the people of South Asia On this 19th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shanxi Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

Monday November 18

Today's Bible Blog: a four-course menu
- saying sorry is part of life
- Aaron, Moses and Samuel: prayer not useless for them
- use friendly conversation with people who are not Christians
- "prayer is useless" vs "ask and you will receive"

	It is said that Pope Francis will visit Asian countries in 2014 ....India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines. Surely someone should tell Francis that a visit to Sri Lanka is not a good idea ... just ask British Prime Minister David Cameron (see menu of yesterday, below). Seems that Sri Lanka's extremely conservative Cardinal Ranjith has the Pope's ear and has lobbied for a Sri Lanka visit. Same cardinal is a good friend of Sri Lankan president accused of war crimes. (Comments welcome here)	This website's kind bloggers (past and present) with archives of articles: Bakhita Hazel C Daniel Daring Inigo Joachim Brian Lewis Judith Lynch Martin Mallon Chris McDonnell Bill Mulcahy Des O'Donnell Darlene Starrs TASMAD David Timbs Peter Wilkinson Harry Winter John Wotherspoon Weekly Archive of main page menus Previous archives 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 John W: Previous Daily Blogs

	We must stay the distance after typhoon Haiyan (Tim Costello) Online volunteers map Philippines after typhoon Haiyan

	Questions from a Ewe "Don't Surround Yourself with Yourself..." Having a “poor church for the poor” requires understanding poverty and the church. .....To determine if one is doing enough for the poor, the place to begin is by talking with and listening to the poor rather than the wealthy

	Interactive Bible Quiz - Romans Based on the actual words of the Bible. How many times you can get 3/3 ?!

A lawyer and a senior citizen are sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer is thinking that seniors are so dumb that he could get one over on them easily.So, the lawyer asks if the senior would like to play a fun game.The senior is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks.The lawyer persists, saying that the game is a lot of fun..."I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5.00. Then you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.00," he says. This catches the senior's attention and, to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game. The lawyer asks the first question. "What's the distance from the Earth to the Moon?" The senior doesn't say a word, but reaches into his pocket, pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer. Now, it's the senior's turn. He asks the lawyer, "What goes up a hill with three legs, and comes down with four?" The lawyer uses his laptop to search all references he can find on the Net. He sends E-mails to all the smart friends he knows; all to no avail. After an hour of searching, he finally gives up.He wakes the senior and hands him $500.00. The senior pockets the $500.00 and goes right back to sleep. The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer. He wakes the senior up and asks, "Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?" The senior reaches into his pocket, hands the lawyer $5.00, and goes back to sleep.

	A new letter (in Swahili) from a Tanzanian inmate in a Hong Kong prison This website's Tanzania File (stopping Africans from coming to HK) - with links to all letters from Tanzanian inmates in Hong Kong prisons South America file (stopping S. Americans from being tricked into bringing drugs to HK) - letters from South American inmates in HK prisons


	Vatican II Reflection 273 This article suggests each priest ask himself: when was the last time I had a poor person for a meal in my home?

John W mini-Blog	A moving experience yesterday at a Hong Kong prison: an inmate who is only at the end of the first year of a twenty-four (24) year sentence (...no reduction, 24 means 24) told the welfare officer to transfer some of the inmate's salary and give it to the appeal for the Philippines typhoon people

Sun: Africa Mon: Europe & Russia Tues: South Asia Wed: East Asia Thurs: S.E. Asia & Pacific Frid: South America Sat: Central & North America Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day of the week: Jesus, today, Monday, please bless the people of Europe & North Asia On this 18th of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shandong Please join me in praying for prisoners in one part of China each day of the month

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This website was launched in construction mode in Hong Kong on November 20, 2011   - the Feast of Christ the King.
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	`Fr John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡頌恆神父` Email: jdwomi@gmail.com Hong Kong mobile (852) 6709 5674 China mobile 13030213703 - out of action for the time being Mail address: PO Box 74013 Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon , Hong Kong

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