In Remembrance of Joseph Giam

Dear All

We attended my godpa's wake yesterday. Today's his funeral. He's very blessed to have 2 priests to co-celebrate his funeral Mass - Fr Greg from OLPS and Fr Jose a Spanish priest from Opus Dei. We couldn't attend his funeral Mass. I guess I was afraid to break down and cry especially when I see his children cry.

I spoke to Juliana, his daughter. She couldn't have asked for more. He had received the Holy Eucharist on last Thur when the dr said he couldn't swallow anything! And his death was brief and relatively painless and peaceful. What's more, she said the day he passed away was Wed, the day of the week dedicated to St Joseph. And St Joseph died a peaceful death in the arms of Mary and Jesus.

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes

He went into CGH on boxing day when he was breathless, and even told his children he'll take the bus there himself. His motto was "No need to bother people". Till the very end, he lived up to his motto. When the dr couldn't do anything more for him as his brain was damaged due to lack of oxygen (he could ocassionally recognise his children and his name but most of the time looked dazed) because he had a series of minor heart attacks at home actually but everyone dismissed his tiredness to old-age, and wanted to discharge him, he quickly took a turn for the worse and passed away. Why? His daughter felt it was most likely not to burden them with the long-drawn process of finding a maid, getting a hospital bed etc for him.

This close-up photo of my god-pa (below):

They were hoping he'll pull through CNY like he did for the calendar New Year. His 2nd great-grand child and his 1st great-grand son is due in mid-Feb, so they hoped he'll pull through each mile-stone.

He looked so much aged than the last time I saw him which was the photo they used for the wake. All flesh turn to dust. But what lives on is the memory of a loving man, a doting father, grand father and great grand father, and a never nagging and wonderful god-father. And yes, they have received my CNY card. I felt it was so ironical. It must have arrived on the day he passed away. I didn't know he was in the hospital. I guess, they respected his motto to the very end..."No need to bother people".

I wish to share Fr Jose (pronounced as Ho-say in Spanish, but has the same name as my god-pa, which is Joseph) little mini sermonette after he prayed for godpa.

Fr Jose was at another funeral where the grandpa had passed away and 2 or 3 little grandchildren were playing around. When Fr asked the little ones where was grandpa, they told him with child-like faith "He's in heaven with Jesus".

Fr said we should have child-like faith. There's one part of the prayer that calls on the communion of saints to pray for us. He explained that that communion of saints are those in heaven and we, the believers on earth. We on earth are obliged to pray for the souls in Purgatory and so are the saints in Heaven obliged to pray for us on earth and for those in Purgatory. When the suffering souls in Purgatory go to heaven, they in turn will be praying for us.

Fr said that we are so blessed to be catholics and believers. There are many who do not believe in heaven and are afraid of death. Death is nothing but the departure of our soul from our body to move onto eternal life in heaven or hell. Those in Purgatory are already enroute to heaven but need to be purified before entering into the presence of God. So we have nothing to fear for we know our life here is only temporary and we should be preparing ourselves for eternal life.

I like his sermonette as his strong conviction as a priest called by God for his vocation is a testimony to me...I caught a glimpse of heaven through his sharing and belief.

Just to share with you his sermonette :)

Love Theresa