V2Catholic.com
A voice for the poor
by HK prison chaplain 胡頌恆神父
Fr John Wotherspoon
O.M.I.
jdwomi@gmail.com
+852 67095674
Imitating
Pope Francis
Thu May 21
On
this day in 1861, in Marseilles, a French bishop died at the age of 78. He had
been born into an aristocratic family which was forced to flee from the French
Revolution. His family went to Italy as refugees. His parents had an unhappy
marriage and eventually divorced. In Italy the young Eugene de Mazenod had an
overpowering experience of the love of Jesus on the Cross. Eugene became a
priest and dedicated himself to serving the poorest parts of French society such
as prisoners and domestic servants. To further his work he joined with other
priests to form a new congregation in the Church. The group came to be known as the Oblates
of Mary Immaculate.
Today the Oblates have around 3,000 members working for the poor in more than 60
countries around the world. Saint
Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us!
Has
had 30k views: Corruption
at Canadian airport exposed by Avery Haines
(who has 3 times made reports from Dr Jesus Centre in Jordan)
To
prepare for
Pentecostst (May
24) lelet's
reflect on the Holy Spirit:
The dove: At
the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to Baptism, a dove released
by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the
earth was again habitable. When
Jesus comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove,
comes down upon him and remains with him. The Spirit comes down and remains in
the purified hearts of the baptized. In
some churches, the Eucharist is reserved in a metal receptacle in the form of a dove (columbarium)
suspended above the altar. Christian
iconography traditionally uses a dove to
suggest the Spirit. - CCC
701
In this week before Pentecost, let's
often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
And ...on Pentecost Sunday ... let's wear: RED!
Matrology:
Mothers of the Church
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Sister of Irish
president among those illegally arrested by Israel in international waters
-------------------------
In this week before Pentecost, let's use the
readings of the day
Reflection on the above readings: COME HOLY SPIRIT!
---------------
Not seen for 2 or 3 years at St Paul's retreat centre, but seen
yesterday - a family of squirrels! The sight of them gives joy to the
heart!
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Mon:
Tues:
Wed:
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid:
Sat:
Cent,
Jesus,
today, Thursday,
please bless
the people of
And praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 21st of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 21st
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Yunnan
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the
week:
Jesus, today, Thursday, please pacify Al-Qaeda
----------------------------
Wed May 20
To prepare for Pentecost (May 24) let's reflect on the Holy Spirit - today: The
Hand
The hand is
another symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus heals the sick and blesses little
children by laying hands on
them. In his name the apostles will do the same. It is by the Apostles'
imposition of hands that
the Holy Spirit is given. The
Church has kept this sign of the all-powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit by
having the priest at Mass extend his hands over
the bread and wine as he says "Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to
make them holy" CCC
699
In
this week before Pentecost, let's
often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Israel
illegally intercepting boats
-----------------------------
The
Book Blog:
In this week before Pentecost, let's use the
readings of the day
Reflection on the above readings: COME HOLY SPIRIT!
---------------------------
Some
time ago at Lai Chi Kok men's prison I saw one of the guards had a brown and
white Beagle drug-sniffing
dog. I asked the guard what was the dog's name and with a big smile he told me
"Doughnut"!
-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E.Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Wednesday,
please bless the people of East
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 20th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Sichuan
And praying for one of
the world's poorest
countries each day of the month:
On this 20th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Sudan
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Wednesday,
please pacify Al-Shabaab
--------------------------------
-------------------------------
Tues May 19
Hello again from the annual O.M.I. retreat at Seung Shui .... a district notorious for internet problems. Makes me relalise how blessed I am to live in Jordan!
This short video
posted by a kind visitor to MercyHK's canteen in Jordan attracted many people to
visit the canteen. God bless the kind visitor!
To prepare for Pentecost (May
24) let's reflect on the Holy Spirit each day this week:
The seal is
a symbol close to that of anointing. "The Father has set his seal"
on Christ and also seals us
in him. Because this seal indicates
the indelible effect of the anointing with the Holy Spirit in the sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, the image of the seal (sphragis)
has been used in some theological traditions to express the indelible
"character" imprinted by these three unrepeatable sacraments. CCC
698
In this week before Pentecost let's often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon: Israeli
settlers run over sheep in West Bank
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
In this week before Pentecost, let's use the
readings of the day
Reflection on the above readings: COME HOLY SPIRIT!
------------------------------
A Pastor is preaching on Loving Your Enemies.
Every hand in the congregation goes up except for one
The pastor sees that it is a little old lady in the front row
He asks the woman "Why can't you love your enemies?"
The little old lady says "Pastor, I can honestly say I have no enemies"
The pastor says "That's incredible, may I ask how old you are?"
"96"
The pastor says "96 years old and no enemies? That's incredible. Would you mind sharing how you have achieved this?
The little old lady totters to the front of the church, turns around to the congregation and says "I outlived all those snakes"
-------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent, N America
Jesus,
today, Tuesday,
please bless the people of
South
Asia
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 19th
of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shangxi
And praying for one of
the world's poorest countries
each day of the month:
On this 19th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Haiti
And praying for one
Islam-related intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Tuesday,
please pacify Boko
Haram
----------------------------
----------------------------
Mon May 18
Hello from annual O.M.I. retreat at St. Paul's Retreat Centre,
Sheung Shui. A beautiful week to be on retreat ...between Ascension and
Pentecost!
To prepare for Pentecost (May 24), let's reflect on the Holy Spirit each day
this week:
Cloud and
light. These two images occur together
in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. In the theophanies of the Old
Testament, the cloud,
now obscure, now luminous, reveals the living and saving God, while veiling the
transcendence of his glory - with Moses on Mount Sinai, at the tent of meeting,
and during the wandering in the desert, and with Solomon at the dedication of
the Temple. In the Holy Spirit, Christ fulfills these figures. The Spirit comes
upon the Virgin Mary and "overshadows"
her, so that she might conceive and give birth to Jesus. On the mountain of
Transfiguration, the Spirit in the "cloud came
and overshadowed" Jesus, Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John, and
"a voice came out of the
cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!' Finally, the
cloud took Jesus out of the sight of the disciples. (CCC
697)
In this week before Pentecost let's often pray each day: Come
Holy Spirit, fall afresh on our world!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Israel's
image crisis (video)
------------------------
The
Book Blog:
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
In this week before Pentecost, let's use the readings of the day
Reflection on the above readings: COME HOLY SPIRIT!
-------------------------
A recent vistor to MercyHK's canteen a 191 Temple Street kindly
posted a report on FB which has led to a big jump in customers over the past
week or so. God bless that visitor. Because of internet problems here at the
retreat I am unable to link that FB report. Will link when internet
improves.
--------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Frid: South America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Monday,
please bless the people of Europe
& Russia
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On
this 18th of
the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shandong
And
praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 18th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Gambia
And praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Monday,
please pacify I.S.
-----------------------
----------------------
Sun May 17
The
Ascension of Jesus
.
From tonight until midday Friday, I'm due to be at the annual
O.M.I. retreat at St Paul's Retreat Centre, Sheung Shui. A beautiful week to be
on retreat ...between Ascension and Pentecost ....in prayer like the apostolic
group of long ago.
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Palestinians
forced to demolish own homes
------------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
c.f. Feast of the Ascension
Acts
1.6-11: On
the day he was taken up to heaven, Jesus said to his apostles "You will
receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses
in every part of the world". As he said this, he
was lifted up while they watched. A cloud took him from their sight. Then
two angels appeared to them and said "Jesus who has been taken up from you,
will come back some day in the same way as you have seen him leave".
Jesus,
help me be your witness by the way I think and speak and live
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
47-48: All
peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy. For the Lord,
our Creator, we must love and honor, great king over all the earth. Especially
in his holy city is the Lord worthy to be praised. Praise is fitting in Mount
Sion, our earth's most sacred site. O God, as we pray in your temple, our hearts
meditate on your love. May peoples and rulers everywhere acknowledge and love
you as Creator of the Universe
Let all the peoples praise you, Lord. Let
all the peoples praise you
Recording
Ephesians
1.16-18: I
never fail to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you. May the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you more and more wisdom and
knowledge to see ever more clearly his great love for you. May he enlighten your
mind to hope
for the glorious life he has prepared for us in heaven.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, may I see you more
clearly, love you more dearly, follow you more nearly, day by day
Recording
Matthew
28.16-20: The
11 apostles went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet
them. When they saw him they fell down before him in worship. Jesus said to them
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore,
and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to understand and live
according to my words. And
know that I am with you always, yes, to the end of time".
Jesus,
"God-with-us", please help us live our lives according to your
teaching ....and thank you, Matthew, for this beautiful Gospel Report
Recording
Reflection on the above readings: God the Son became a baby in Mary's womb when the Holy Spirit "overshadowed" Mary .... "shadow" ... cloud. Jesus went back to Heaven "when a cloud took him from their sight". Not Cathay Pacific or Qantas ... Jesus travelled by Holy Spirit Airways!
-------------------------------
Joke about Heaven for Feast of the Ascension:
Elderly man told by doctor he would depart this life soon. Devoted wife, determined to save her husband, concocts special bran muffins ...which husband has as his only food .... 3 times a day .... and his condition improves ....and he doesn't die ....but lives for another 15 years. But then the couple are involved in a fatal traffic accident and leave this life together. On arrival at the pearly gates they meet Saint Peter, who says "Let me show you around" He points to a mansion and says "That will be your house, located next to the country club." The old man asks, "and how much will that cost?" St Peter replies, "oh there's no charge, it's free, you're in heaven". He adds, "the country club has no fees or costs either" The old man is really happy by now and asks about food. St Peter says, "Although you don't need to eat, we do have the finest buffets with every possible type of food". The old man asks, "Aren't those bad for our health?" St Peter assures him, "You're in heaven now, there is no need to worry about your health." The old man turns to his wife and angrily says to her "If it wasn't for you and your bran muffins, we could have been here 15 years ago!"
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia,
Pacific
Fri: South America
Sat: Cent., N America
Jesus,
today, Sunday,
please bless the people of
Africa
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 17th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Shaanxi
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the month:
On this 17th of the month, Jesus
please bless the people of Ethiopia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Sunday,
please bless all Muslims in my country
-----------------------
----------------------
Sat May 16
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Israeli
Nationalists Jerusalem march *** New
York Times exposure of Israeli torture of Palestinian prisoners (these
evil people might escape punishment in this world, but The HighEST Court awaits
them in the next world)
---------------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from
Simple Bible
Exodus
7:
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh again
and showed him Aaron's staff changing into a snake.
When Pharaoh's magicians were able to do the same thing
Aaron's staff swallowed up the magicians' staffs.
But Pharaoh's heart stayed stubborn
and he wouldn't listen to Moses and Aaron.
So God told Moses and Aaron to go to the river the next morning.
When they saw Pharaoh there
Aaron struck the river with his staff
and the river and all water throughout Egypt
turned into blood.
But Pharaoh still would not let the Israelites go.
Dear
God, please soften stubborn hearts that make life difficult for other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalm
31: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in
distress.
My eyes are full of tears, my heart full of sorrow. Everyone makes fun of me. My friends don't want to know me.
Save me, Lord, from this mess. I praise you Lord, for you protect those who trust you.
You keep them safe from slander and lies. Be strong, let your heart take courage,
all you who trust in the Lord
I trust in you, Lord. My life
is in your hands
Listen
1 Timothy
5.19-23: Never accept an accusation brought against a
church elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. If an elder
is at fault, reprimand him publicly as a warning to others. Be fair to everyone and never be influenced by
favoritism. As regards your frequent illnesses, I suggest
you give up drinking only water, and have a little wine for the sake of
your digestion
Jesus, help church
workers to be fair
and impartial
Listen
John
8: 42, 46, 56-58: Jesus said to the people "If God were your father, you would
love me, since I have come from God and I speak the truth. You avoid the
truth, because your father is the father of lies, the Devil. Abraham rejoiced at the thought of my coming. He saw it in the
future and was glad". The people said "You are not yet 50 years old. How could you
have seen Abraham?" Jesus replied "I tell you, before Abraham
ever was, I Am". The people then picked up stones to throw at Jesus for claiming to
be God. But Jesus safely left the Temple
Jesus, you who existed as God the Son from all
eternity, please increase my love for the truth, and help me avoid lies
Listen
Reflection on the above readings: When Moses asked God his name, God said to call him "I AM". Jesus is clearly claiming to be God.
---------------------------
------------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun:
Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: South
America
Sat: Cent. & N
America
Jesus,
today, Saturday,
please bless the people of Central
& North America
And
praying for prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Qinghai
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 16th
of the month, Jesus please bless the people of Malawi
And
praying for one Islam-related intention
each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Saturday,
please pacify the
Taliban
------------------------
------------------------
Fri May 15
Yesterday
morning I went to Fanling Magistracy for a "hearing" of two Mainland
people for whom I am bail surety. To my surprise the kind magistrate
released me from my bail surety, without request. And the surprise continued ...
there were two other Mainland people in the same case ....both in detention ....
one was granted bail (with relatives being bail/surety) and the other was freed
(the charge dropped). Thank you Jesus!
US-sponsored
Israeli genocide in Gaza: ...and attack on Iran & Lebanon:
Jeus, please give peace to the Middle East!
-------------------
The
Book Blog:
4 readings + recordings
Comments welcome here
Readings are from Simple
Bible
Exodus 5 & 6:
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said
'God says: let my people go into the desert to worship me".'
Pharaoh not only refused to let them go;
he also made their life more difficult
by forcing them to gather their own straw for making bricks.
The people complained to Moses and Aaron
for having made their life more difficult.
So Moses prayed to God for help
and God said he would force Pharaoh to let the people go.
Dear
God, please don't let me make life difficult for other people
My
recording of this reading
Psalms
29 & 30: The Lord gives us strength, the Lord blesses
us with peace.
Thank you, Lord, for so often helping and healing me.
I cried to you when sickness surrounded me, and you healed me. You changed my mourning into dancing.
So I will thank you always.
Thank you, Lord, for all the
times you have healed me
Listen
1
Timothy 5.1-14: Do not speak harshly to
a man older than yourself, but advise him as you would your own father. Treat
younger men
as brothers.
Treat older women as you would your mother. Treat
younger women with
propriety, as if they were your sisters. Be considerate to widows. If a widow wishes to
be enrolled as a church worker, she must be at least 60 years old, the
wife of one husband. As regards young widows, it's best if
they re-marry
Jesus, help church workers to be
kind and caring
Listen
John
8:12, 31,32: Jesus said to the people "I am the light
of the world. Those who follow me will not walk in the dark. They will
have the light of life. If you take my words to heart, you will be my
disciples.
You will learn the truth, and the truth will set you free".
Jesus, give light to my life. Increase my love for your teaching. Help me learn more about truth
Listen
Reflection on the above Bible readings: Jesus' words enable us to learn the truth
-------------------------
My
number one Queensland team the Brisbane Lions were
badly beaten by Geelong last night
-------------------------
Please join me in praying for one part of the world each day:
Sun: Africa
Mon: Europe,
Russia
Tues: South
Asia
Wed: East
Asia
Thurs: S.E. Asia, Pacific
Frid: S.
America
Sat: Cent, N. America
Jesus,
today, Friday,
please bless the people of South
America
And praying for
prisoners in one
part of China each day of the month:
On this 15th
of the month, Jesus please bless the prisoners of Liaoning
And praying for one of the
world's poorest countries each day of the
month:
On this 15th of the month, Jesus please bless the
people of Liberia
And praying for one Islam-related
intention each day of the week:
Jesus, today, Friday,
please bless all Muslims
----------------------------
-----------------------
----------------------
Anti-drug
campaign trips: 2020:
My trip to Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Dar es
Salaam, Johannesburg Jan
1, 2020: How cocaine trafficking is impacting West Africa 2017:
My trip to Southern Africa, Dubai ( 2016:
My trip to Kenya, Uganda
---------------- 2019-05-10:
No More Mules
Peru FB boost 199,000 views! 2019-01-20: Article
in El Pais, Uruguay
- 01 02 2018-09-18:
No
More Mules Facebook campaign
- more than 300,000 people reached in Venezuela
2018:
My trip to Latin America ---------------- South East Asia: Aug 16, 2020: CNN
- Indonesian women recruited to take drugs to Hong Kong Oct
23, 2019: FM988
Breakfast program in Kuala Lumpur at which I was a guest June
2019: My
campaign featured in The
Malaysia Drug Trade (6 written reports & documentary
video) 2019-03-25: Eleven
HK01 video and photo reports about Malaysian drug mules arrested in HK- here (one
of the reports is about my anti-drug campaign). Dec
2018 - My Jan 2019 trip to Malaysia 2018:
My trip to Thailand and Cambodia -------------------- Hong
Kong: July
2019: My warning to HK domestic helpers - published
here in HK Filipino media 2018-07-29:
SCMP- Beware
drug lords luring domestic helpers, refugees into narcotics trade 2018-04-08:
The
Pearl
Report on
TVB
- concerning HK's Long Term Sentencing Review Board and my anti-drug campaign March
18, 2018: South China Morning Post report on my work 2017-09-27: SCMP
Spirit of HK Awards (video starts
after 20 secs) 2017-08-24:
Cable
TV video report on my anti-drug campaign and a
Facebook report on the video report (click
"translation" for English) 2017-05-17:
SCMP - The prison chaplain who has stopped 150 drug mules reaching HK 2017-03-25: Oriental
Daily
report of case of South African woman given discount for help to my campaign
*** May
14 updates: Oriental
Daily, Sing
Tao Dec
1, 2016 - HK News: More women being recruited as drug mules 2016-10-13: HK01
report about campaign and about work for the poor 2016-09-11: Oriental
Daily
report about my campaign - and same day
Editorial 2016-08-27: Oriental
Daily
article about court case and campaign My
anti-drug campaign sites Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomasmulas/ Facebook: Chinese
no more mules page http://hkdrugblog.org/name-and-shame/index.htm ---------------------- --------------------- --------------------- Left
click this table of flags for details of hits on this main page This website
was launched in construction mode in Hong Kong on November
20, 2011 - the Feast of Christ the King. The
official launching was held on
the Gold Coast, Australia, on January 20, 2012. Map and Flag Counter
began Feb 11, 2012. Previous visits 4,932. Note: counter on this
page + Map & Flag Counter record visits only to this main/index
page. Visits to other pages and to Facebook page are not recorded.
This site's 2017 statistics.
Thank you for checking this website each day. God bless all readers and
bloggers! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .
Europe:
Many reports of 2026 trip here
(Jan 6 - Feb 7)
Africa: 
The
Last Run)
2015: My trip to Tanzania, Malawi
Latin America:
2018-09-22:
My
60 min video interview with Radio99,
in Cantonese, is here: 01 02
to help stop people going to prison
(skillfully
managed by kind HK friends):
Photos
from my time in China 2001-20008
Table shows location of readers:
HK 33%; Australia 19%; UK 11%; US
12%; Canada 4% ; Tanzania 4%
Fr
John Wotherspoon O.M.I. 胡
頌 恆 神 父
jdwomi@gmail.com HK
mobile +852- 67095674
