Friday, 23 May 2025Good morning everyone. In every November, the Caritas holds charity bazaars on Sundays in different districts to raise money for the needy. We had some teachers and students participated in this event yesterday. It is really appreciated that so many of you chose to spend your Sunday on social service. It was hot and a bit tiring, but what I could see from everyone was a smiling face. Not just from the kids or the neighbor who bought nice products at a good price, but also from our student helpers. Some of you were cheering for the children who played the game, some of you were satisfied and excited as you sold the goods successfully. Sometimes people are resistant to volunteer work as they may think it’s a waste of time, or is a thankless task as we get used to putting ourselves in priority. Especially nowadays, we focus a lot on pursuing material life, so that we always think about how much we can get from others, but we seldomly think about how much we can give. It doesn’t mean that we need to do grand gestures, but a small action is enough to spread the love and warmth to others, just like the story Ms Poon shared with you last Friday. Sometimes a word of encouragement or a friendly smile could make someone’s day.
When it comes to helping people, we may always think about elderly, disabled people or the poor. However, helping others does not actually stop there, one of them are those who passed away and now in the purgatory. November is not just a month for Caritas Bazaar, but it’s designated as the Month of Souls in Purgatory. The Church commemorates the people who have departed from this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. St. Augustine once taught that before the soul is allowed to ascend to heaven, it needs to be purified by refining fire for the sins it has committed. The refining souls could do nothing to save themselves but suffer great pain in the purgatory. The only way they can reduce their sentences is through the reparations offered to them by the living. The greatest commandment of the Lord is to love the lord our God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. He wants us to love each other and help each other. Let us sincerely pray for the dead with love and help those who are not yet perfect in life to reach heaven, so that they can reunite with God and enjoy eternal life.
Ms. CYJ Chan