An archbishop from Malaysia has urged Catholics to simplify their lives and make space for God’s grace during the Lenten season and beyond.
In his message for the 𝐋𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur said, “As we embark on this Lenten journey, we are blessed to be celebrating a Jubilee Year—a time of renewal, grace, and forgiveness. This year, we walk as Pilgrims of Hope, trusting in God’s boundless mercy as we move toward a future filled with His promises.”
He called on to fan the flame of hope.
“… help others to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart, and far-sighted vision,” said the prelate. “As Pilgrims of Hope ourselves, we can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”
“Through prayer, we deepen our connection to God. Through fasting, we simplify our lives and make space for God’s grace. And through almsgiving, we recognize God’s endless blessings and share them with those in need,” he said.
During Lent, he urged the faithful to pay “attention to the needs of the Orang Asli in our community and take time to listen to their concerns and the unseen challenges in their day-to-day living. Their struggle compels us to take steps to bring about real changes in their lives and make a difference in society.”
The indigenous people of Peninsular Malaysia are the Orang Asli. Comprising many ethnic groups, they are the oldest occupants of the area.
Among the several difficulties they must overcome are land rights: Defining their traditional land rights presents challenges for the Orang Asli. Many Orang Asli children drop out of school rather often. Regarding health, they lag; their socioeconomic level is low.
Since the 1970s, the Malaysian government has assisted the Orang Asli through the Department for Orang Asli Development (JAKOA).
Three main ethnic groups comprise the Orang Asli: Negritos, Proto-Malays, and Senois. They reside in far-off locations. First, the impacts on Orang Asli are the deterioration of forests.
To markets in China, India, and the Middle East, the Orang Asli were the main providers of forest goods in the first millennium AD.
“May we journey together as Pilgrims of Hope, allowing Christ to renew our spirit and lead us towards the Risen Christ, to be bearers of light and hope to ourselves and others,” said Archbishop Kim.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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