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| Jl. Kelapa Hijau - Bukit Indah Sukajadi - Batam 29642 | SEARCH:
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| SVD Batam | SOVERDIA (Awam SVD) | Pelayanan Kitab Suci | Pelayananan Internasional | Liturgi dan Devosi | Tirta Wacana |
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"Janganlah kamu takut terhadap mereka, karena tidak ada sesuatu pun yang tertutup yang tidak akan dibuka dan tidak ada sesuatu pun yang tersembunyi yang tidak akan diketahui. Apa yang Kukatakan kepadamu dalam gelap, katakanlah itu dalam terang; dan apa yang dibisikkan ke telingamu, beritakanlah itu dari atas atap rumah." |
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| Ash Wednesday 2014: The virtue of Fasting and Abstinence |
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THE BEGINING OF LENT SEASON of 2014 is marked by the Ash Wednesday service at the Bible Centre, March 5, 2014, which raises the topic of The Virtue of Fasting and Abstinence for Christians. The small church of Bible Centre is packed with faithful, joining the service, presided by the Chaplain of the International Pastoral Community of Batam, Fr. Aurelius Pati Soge, SVD. Characteristically international community, many people from different nationalities, mainly foreign workers in Batam, present at the service. The virtue of fasting and abstinence In his homily, Fr. Pati Soge emphasises the necesity to understand the virtue of fasting and abstinence that are commonly practiced within the Catholic Church. It is important to avoid these practices as nothing more but ancient tradition, as it has deeper meaning and values for spiritual growth of the faithful. First of all, fasting and abstinence are not the price a Catholic has to pay for his or her sinfulness, instead it is a spiritual self-discipline that one freely decide to exercise in order to maintain his worthiness before God. |
 Some parishioners are being cross-marked with ash on their foreheads: a symbol of repentance |
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As fasting and abstinence should be certain type of self-sacrifice, it is required that one should choose certain form of fasting and abstinence, which in doing so he or she would experience some scale of sacrifice. Take the example of abstinence. For people who do not eat meat regularly, choosing meatless day as a form of abstinence would be senseless, as there is no real sacrifice. They should find something else that will demand some self denial. Time for repentance and conversion The small church of Bible Centre is packed with people from different nations. Some Filipino sailors among the participants, who specially asked permission from their captains and mates to leave their post for a few hours in order to be in the service. Some even just come for the first time, after being directed by some Catholics when they were seeking for Enlgish service. Many Indonesians also attend the service due to their working schedulle. Apart from different agenda hat lays behind, the notion of repentance is very stroing. "I am not a regular church goer", says Billy, an American who for several years has been in Batam and Singapore, "but today I have to be here. It is Ash Wednesday after all." (ap) |
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All stories by TIRTA WACANA Team except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved. | design: (c) aurelius pati soge |
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