“To give my life to God is not to deprive myself of anything. In fact I have received much more than I’ve ever wanted in my life”
- Rev. Father David Thexeira
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Reflections...
It seems unreal, everything that has happened and yet it is real. Life goes on, people are caught up in their daily routine and we must move on.....it is not easy.
Yesterday, we celebrated a memorial mass at Holy Trinity with Fr Timothy Yeo who was David's best buddy from St Bernadette days. It was good to have this final passage so to speak, we will have to come to terms with our loss sooner or later, but it is hard to come to terms with this because our brother was larger than life.
He kept us from going adrift, he was our anchor and he was the one who was supposed to look after us, all of us, he was our Saviour. So much burden on one person.....it's ok brother dearest, you rest now, it's our turn.
The following is another article that David wrote for 'Dovetail', it gives meaning to our suffering...so appropriate..thank you my dearest David you keep answering my prayers everyday..read and enjoy.
"Humanity is called to joy and a happy life, but everyday we experience many forms of pain, and illness is the most common expression of human suffering."
In the face of it all we spontaneously wonder: Why do we suffer? Can physical or moral pain be a positive experience?
Suffering cannot be transformed by external grace, but from within and often this internal rocess varies. Christ does not answer us directly or in the abstract. In order to hear His saving answer, the one who suffers needs to gradually also share in Christ's sufferings.
The answer that comes through this sharing is a call, "Follow me! Come! Take part through your suffering in this work of saving the world, a salvation achieved through my suffering, through my Cross!"
This is why when faced with the enigma of suffering, as Christians we can proclaim, "Your will be done, Lord" and repeat with Jesus, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matt 26:39)
Seen in this way, illness and the darker moments of life acquire a profound dimension, even one of Hope. We are never alone with our suffering. Christ, who gives meaning to Life is always with us. With Christ everything has meaning. Without Him, nothing can be fully explained, not even the legitimate pleasures God has joined to the various moments of human life.
With these thoughts, I wish to inspire in each of you, the sentiments that enable us to undergo our present trials, seeing them as an opportunity to discover God among the shadows and doubts and to glimpse the broad horizons that can only be seen from the height of our daily crosses.
May the Lords peace be yours always, Fr David.
He was always with David when he collapsed in Bangkok, when he was at death's door for 11 days, when he took that fateful flight back home in the air ambulance and when he passed away,
he was not alone, He was with him...we can take comfort in that.
God bless everyone of you and please continue to lift our David in prayer.
Yesterday, we celebrated a memorial mass at Holy Trinity with Fr Timothy Yeo who was David's best buddy from St Bernadette days. It was good to have this final passage so to speak, we will have to come to terms with our loss sooner or later, but it is hard to come to terms with this because our brother was larger than life.
He kept us from going adrift, he was our anchor and he was the one who was supposed to look after us, all of us, he was our Saviour. So much burden on one person.....it's ok brother dearest, you rest now, it's our turn.
The following is another article that David wrote for 'Dovetail', it gives meaning to our suffering...so appropriate..thank you my dearest David you keep answering my prayers everyday..read and enjoy.
"Humanity is called to joy and a happy life, but everyday we experience many forms of pain, and illness is the most common expression of human suffering."
In the face of it all we spontaneously wonder: Why do we suffer? Can physical or moral pain be a positive experience?
Suffering cannot be transformed by external grace, but from within and often this internal rocess varies. Christ does not answer us directly or in the abstract. In order to hear His saving answer, the one who suffers needs to gradually also share in Christ's sufferings.
The answer that comes through this sharing is a call, "Follow me! Come! Take part through your suffering in this work of saving the world, a salvation achieved through my suffering, through my Cross!"
This is why when faced with the enigma of suffering, as Christians we can proclaim, "Your will be done, Lord" and repeat with Jesus, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matt 26:39)
Seen in this way, illness and the darker moments of life acquire a profound dimension, even one of Hope. We are never alone with our suffering. Christ, who gives meaning to Life is always with us. With Christ everything has meaning. Without Him, nothing can be fully explained, not even the legitimate pleasures God has joined to the various moments of human life.
With these thoughts, I wish to inspire in each of you, the sentiments that enable us to undergo our present trials, seeing them as an opportunity to discover God among the shadows and doubts and to glimpse the broad horizons that can only be seen from the height of our daily crosses.
May the Lords peace be yours always, Fr David.
He was always with David when he collapsed in Bangkok, when he was at death's door for 11 days, when he took that fateful flight back home in the air ambulance and when he passed away,
he was not alone, He was with him...we can take comfort in that.
God bless everyone of you and please continue to lift our David in prayer.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Poem by Helen Steiner Rice
I read this last night to try to fine some solace, some meaning in all of this and still I can't. But praying has helped ease some of the pain and sense of disbelief that David is gone. It is so final when you say that.
Growing up, he was the one who always was not around. Be it on his sailing days, then his trips when he went on holiday while working in Sats, then when he joined the seminary he was away for 11 years.
We really hardly saw him, but when we did it was quality time, either it was birthdays or occasions especially Mother's Day, it was tradition in our family that only the ladies would go out on Mother's Day without the men and children but somehow we could not do it without David around, it has been like that for the last few years since he came back. I treasure those times that we spent together and it is locked away in my heart forever. I just wish we had more time together.....
When life has lost it's lustre
and it's filled with dull routine
When you long to run away from it
seeking pastures new and green
Remember, no one runs away from life
without finding when they do
You can't escape the thoughts you think
that are pressing down on you
For though the scenery may be different
it's the same old heart and mind
And the same old restless longings
that you tried to leave behind.
So when your heart is heavy
and your day is dull with care
Instead of trying to escape
why not withdraw to prayer
For in prayer there is renewal
of the spirit, mind and heart
For everything is lifted up
in which God has a part.
This Sunday is David's 1 month anniversary since he left us. Fr Timothy will be celebrating mass for David at Holy Trinity Church in Tampines at 12.30pm.
Please take this as an invitation from the family to come and celebrate mass and lift my brother in prayer. This will be followed by fellowship and lunch in the parish hall.
God bless every single one of you for your prayers.
The Thexeira Family
Growing up, he was the one who always was not around. Be it on his sailing days, then his trips when he went on holiday while working in Sats, then when he joined the seminary he was away for 11 years.
We really hardly saw him, but when we did it was quality time, either it was birthdays or occasions especially Mother's Day, it was tradition in our family that only the ladies would go out on Mother's Day without the men and children but somehow we could not do it without David around, it has been like that for the last few years since he came back. I treasure those times that we spent together and it is locked away in my heart forever. I just wish we had more time together.....
When life has lost it's lustre
and it's filled with dull routine
When you long to run away from it
seeking pastures new and green
Remember, no one runs away from life
without finding when they do
You can't escape the thoughts you think
that are pressing down on you
For though the scenery may be different
it's the same old heart and mind
And the same old restless longings
that you tried to leave behind.
So when your heart is heavy
and your day is dull with care
Instead of trying to escape
why not withdraw to prayer
For in prayer there is renewal
of the spirit, mind and heart
For everything is lifted up
in which God has a part.
This Sunday is David's 1 month anniversary since he left us. Fr Timothy will be celebrating mass for David at Holy Trinity Church in Tampines at 12.30pm.
Please take this as an invitation from the family to come and celebrate mass and lift my brother in prayer. This will be followed by fellowship and lunch in the parish hall.
God bless every single one of you for your prayers.
The Thexeira Family
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
A New Year's reflection...
Wishing all a Happy New Year 2008!
As we ponder on some key events of 2007, we all have much to thank God for, regardless of the pains, disappointments, joys and happiness that we had experienced during the year. Without God, our lives would not only be worse; but also would be empty of its meaning, purpose and joy.
Let us ponder on the truth of this insight and at the same time, humbly ask the Lord to shower us with his blessings and necessary graces in this new year.
May the Holy Spirit guide our lives so that we might be salt of the earth; proclaiming and bringing God's love to the people around us.
As we ponder on some key events of 2007, we all have much to thank God for, regardless of the pains, disappointments, joys and happiness that we had experienced during the year. Without God, our lives would not only be worse; but also would be empty of its meaning, purpose and joy.
Let us ponder on the truth of this insight and at the same time, humbly ask the Lord to shower us with his blessings and necessary graces in this new year.
May the Holy Spirit guide our lives so that we might be salt of the earth; proclaiming and bringing God's love to the people around us.
A Blessed 2008 to all
Time flies and it is almost a month since David has gone.
From the family we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all whom we have had the privilege of meeting during the time when our dearest brother first took ill and the subsequent days in hospital followed by the wake, funeral and till today we still get letters and calls from wonderful people who knew our David and loved him as a priest, as a friend and just for being the special person that we know and love.
We visited SFA last Sunday and it felt good to be there in the church my brother served for 11 months and the impact is so evident and we are indeed blessed by him.
Take care all, family, friends, new and old, and may 2008 bring you all peace, happiness, good health and above all a new appreciation of the people around you. That much I have learnt from
my brother and I know his legacy will live on.
God bless,
Christine & Family
From the family we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all whom we have had the privilege of meeting during the time when our dearest brother first took ill and the subsequent days in hospital followed by the wake, funeral and till today we still get letters and calls from wonderful people who knew our David and loved him as a priest, as a friend and just for being the special person that we know and love.
We visited SFA last Sunday and it felt good to be there in the church my brother served for 11 months and the impact is so evident and we are indeed blessed by him.
Take care all, family, friends, new and old, and may 2008 bring you all peace, happiness, good health and above all a new appreciation of the people around you. That much I have learnt from
my brother and I know his legacy will live on.
God bless,
Christine & Family
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