FEBRUARY 16, 2003, vol 53, no 4

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The p e o p te

M.I.T.A. (P) No. 105/01/2003 PPS 201/4/2003

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THE SACRED CONGREGATIODN FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

political life

Doctrinal Note on some questions reaardinna "The Participation of Catholics in Political Life" The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, heiaving received the opinion of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, has decided that it would be appropriate to ; publish the present Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in politicaal life.

This Note is directed to the Bishops of the Catholcilic Church and, in a particular way, to Catholic politicians and all lay members of the faithful called to particicipate in the political life of democratic societies.

Local

I. A constant teaching R e g io n a l NEWS

-------- 6, 7,11 V IE W P O IN T

Faith in Life 8

FORMATION

Children's Corner ---------10

The Fam ily

1. The commitment of Christians in the world has found a variety of expressions in ti the course of the past 2000 years.

One such expression has been Christian involvement in political life: Christians, as s one Early Church writer stated, «play their full role as citizens*. Among the saints, the Church venerates many meien and women who served God through their generous commitment to politics and government. Among these,a, Saint Thomas More, who was proclaimed Patron of Statesmen and Politicians, gave witness by his martyrdoiom to «the inalienable dignity of the human conscience®. Though subjected to various forms of psychologigical pressure, Saint Thomas More refused to compromise, never forsaking the «constant fidelity to legitjitimate authority and institutions® which distinguished him; he taught by his life and his death that «man o cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality».

It is commendable that in today’s democratic societies, in a climate of true freedtdom, everyone is made a participant in directing the body politic. Such societies call for ti new and fuller forms of participation in public life by Christian and non-Christian citizens alik&e.

Indeed, all can contribute, by voting in elections for lawmakers and government officials, and in other ways as well, to the development of political solutions and legislative choices which, in their opinion, will benefit the common good. The life of >f a democracy could not be productive without the active, responsible and generous involvement of everyone, «albeit in a diversity and complementarity of forms, levels, tasks, and responsibilities®.

II. Central points in the current cultural and political debate

2. Civil society today is undergoing a complex cultural process as the end of an era brings with it a time of uncertainty in the face of something new. The great strides made in our time give evidence of humanity's progress in attaining conditions of life which are more in keeping with human dignity. The growth in the sense of responsibility towards countries still on the path of development is without doubt an important sign, illustrative of a greater sensitivity to the common good. At the same time, however, one cannot close one’s eyes to the real dangers which certain tendencies in society are promoting through legislation, nor can one ignore the effects this will have on future generations.

Vatican II

By fulfilling their civic duties, «guided by a Christian conscience®, in conformity with its values, the lay faithful exercise their proper task of infusing the temporal order with Christian values, all the while respecting the nature and rightful autonomy of that order, and cooperating with other citizens according to their particular competence and responsibility. The consequence of this fundamental teaching of the Second Vatican Council is that «the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in 'public life’, that is, in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally Cultutural relativism the common good®. This would include the promotion and A kind of if cultural relativism exists today, evident in the conceptualization and defence of goods such as defence of ff an ethical pluralism, which sanctions the decadence and public order and peace, disintegration n of reason and the principles of the natural moral law. It is not freedom and equality, unusual to heartr the opinion expressed in the public sphere that such ethical respect for human life pluralism is the verery condition for democracy. As a result, citizens claim complete and for the autonomy with regarard to their moral choices, and lawmakers maintain that they are environment, justice respecting this freedomm of choice by enacting laws which ignore the principles of natural and solidarity. ethics and yield to ephemmeral cultural and moral trends, as if every possible outlook on life were of equal value. At the e same time, the value of tolerance is disingenuously invoked when a large number of citizens, Caththolics among them, are asked not to base their contribution to society and political life - through the leiegitimate means available to everyone in a democracy - on their particular understanding of the humrnan person and the common good. The history of the twentieth century demonstrates that those citiZizens were right who recognized the falsehood of relativism, and with it, the notion that there is no moral law jv rooted in the nature of the human person, which must govern our understanding of man, the common good>d and the state.

--------1 4 ,1 5 Political freedom

Bible Reflections - Unity --------15 C a th o lic s in P o litic a l L ife

--------16

3. Such relativism, of course, has nothing to do with h the legitimate freedom of Catholic citizens to choose among the various political opinions that are compatible with faith h and the natural moral law, and to select, according to their own criteria, what best corresponds to the needs of the commmon good. Political freedom is not - and cannot be - based upon the relativistic idea that all conceptions of the human person’s o good have the same value and truth, but rather, on the fact that politics are concerned with very concrete realizations of the tr true human and social good in given historical, geographic, economic, technological and cultural contexts. From the specificity of the tatask at hand and the variety of circumstances, a plurality of morally acceptable policies and solutions arises. It is NOT the Church’s tatask to set forth specific political solutions - and even less to propose a single solution as the acceptable one - to temporal questions that rt God has left to the free and responsible judgment of each person. It is, however, the Church’s right and duty to provide a moral judgment o on temporal matters when this is required by faith or the moral law. If Christians must «recognize the legitimacy of differing points of view abounut the organization of worldly affairs®, they are also called to reject, as injurious to democratic life, a conception of pluralism that reflects moral rl relativism. Democracy must be based on the true and solid foundation of non-negotiable ethical principles, which are the underpinning ofaf life in society.

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Ecumenical Outreach

Holy Father's Address -

CATECHESIS of our Holy Father

Feast of the Presentation - 2 Feb.

1 The gift of Unity The Lord founded one and only one church: That is what we profess in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: I believe in One, Holy , Catholic and Apostolic Church." “Indeed — Vatican II reminds us — many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided."

Unity is a great gift, a gift, however, which we carry in fragile and breakable clay pots. How true this is, has been demonstrated by the viccissitudes of the Christian Community down through the centuries.

With the strength of the faith that we share, each of us Christians, according to his own vocation, is bound to re-establish the full communion, the precious treasure that has been bequeathed to us by Christ. With pure and sincere hearts we have to dedicate ourselves without tiring to this evangelical task.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminds us of this fundamental duty and gives us the opportunity to pray together in various Churches and Ecclesial communities, and also together in assemblies between Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants, to beg, with one united voice and one undivided heart, for this precious gift of full unity

2

We have this treasure in vessels o f day (2 Cor, 4,7)

St. Paul says this specifically of the apostolic ministry, which consists in making the splendour of the Gospel shine forth among men and observes: "we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, for you, we are servants for the love o f Jesus. He is aware of the burden and the difficulty of evangelization as well as our human frailty; he reminds us that the treasure of the content of the Christian message is contained in a clay pot and is to be transmitted through fragile instalments so that "it will be clear that the extraordinary power comes from God and not from us."

No enemy will ever succeed to suppress the announcement of the Gospel, nor will it ever succeed to silence the voice o f the Apostle: "We are attacked on every side but never crushed. WE believe - and because o f that, we speak. . .”

3

Jesus' prayer for unity

During the Last Supper, Jesus prayer for his Apostles “so that they be one, as You, Father are in Me, and I in you.” (Jn. 17:20-21) Unity, therefore, is a gift which has been given to them. It is a gift which bears two characteristics: on the one hand, unity implies fidelity to the Gospel, on the other hand, as the Lord himself has indicated, it is the condition for all to believe that it was the Father who sent him.

Unity of the Christian community is therefore oriented to evangelization of all peoples.

Despite the sublimity and the splendour of this gift, human weakness has caused it not to be heard and valued completely. In the past, the relations between Christians were largely characterized by opposition and in some instances even by mutual hatred. It is precisely this, which Vatican II remarks, has been the cause of scandal to the world and damage to the preaching of the Gospel.

Vatican Press Reports

reflection on the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, who is precisely constituted as the perpetual and visible principle of unity." (Light o f the Nations, 23) so that "the request made of me to find a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation. (That they may be One, 95). May the Holy Spirit enlighten the pastors and theologians of our Churches in the patient and surely fruitful dialogue.

Turning our gaze to the whole ecumenical panorama, I feel we need to give thanks to The Lord for the road we have travelled until now, not only in terms of the level of the fraternal relations that have been achieved between the various Communities, as well as for the results that have been achieved through theological dialogue, in terms of substance and level.

We can say that Christians today are more united, even if the road to unity is still long and strewn with obstacles and difficulties. As we travel the road shown us by the Lord, we must move forward with faith and bust, because, like the disciples of Emmaus, we are accompanied by the Lord as we travel towards the goal o f foil ecclesial communion, which will bring us to the common “breaking of Bread*.

6

Yes, the gift o f unity is contained in "clay vessels" which can be broken, and it is why the greatest care is necessary. It is necessary to cultivate among Christians a love that is capable o f overcoming the differences: it is necessary to strive to overcome every obstacle with unceasing prayer, with persevering dialogue and with brotherly and concrete co-operation in favour o f the poor and the needy.

The yearning for unity needs to come from the Churches and ecclesial communities but also from individuals members o f the faithful, in this regard, I think it useful to propose a common

6. Dearest Brothers and sisters, St. Paul invites us to vigilance, to perseverance, to trust indispensable dimensions of the ecumenical work. To this end, let us turn together to the Lord in this "Week o f Prayer” with the prayer

W e c o n fid e th e m lip1 t h e c c tr e

Space Tragedy

5 Progress achieved

4 Care is necessary

Rev. Fr. Claude Barreteau, MEP Rev. Fr. Felix Brygier, MEP Rev. Fr. Balthazar Chang, CICM Rev. Fr. Francois Dufay, MEP Rev. Fr. Edmund Dunne, CSsR Rev. Fr. James Wallace, CSsR Rev. Bro. Casimir, CSsR Rev. Fr. Gerard Keane, SJ Rev. Fr. Alfred 1 Rev. Fr. i

Today, in Italy, we celebrate the "Day for Life’ with the theme: "With Life, there can be no commercialising". While this principle is theoretically recognized, unfortunately it is not always respected.

There are situations in which the human person has become an instrument for economic, political and scientific interests, above all when it is the case of the weak who have no power to defend themselves.

Moreover, a certain commercial logic, fuelled by modern technology, can in many cases profit from human desires, which in themselves are good, as in the case of motherhood and fatherhood, to desire a child "at all costs". In reality, human life must never become an "object": from conception till natural death, human existence is the subject of inviolable rights, in the face of which, freedom must know how to stop. It is absolutely essential that governments formulate, in such complex situations, clear laws, founded on a solid ethical base, to safeguard the inestimable value of human life.

For ten years now, the Day of Life has become, in the Diocese of Rome, a special "Week for Life and the Family". It is on this theme that the diocesan congress this coming June will be focused.

I renew to the families of Rome, the message that resounded in the recently concluded World Congress of the Family in Manila. Dear Christian families, you must be the "Good News” for our City.

Sustained by the grace of the Sacrament of Matrimony, remain united in the face of the various situations of life and contribute to the maintenance of the fabric of society.

Perseverance and prayer

Holy Father, despite our weakness, you have charged us to be witnesses of hope, faithful disciples of your Son. We carry this treasure m vessels of day and we are afraid that we w® fail in the face of suffering and evil. There are times when we even doubt the power of the words of Jesus who said "that they may be one.* Awaken in us the awareness of that gtary which shines in the face of Christ so that in aH our actions, in our work and in the whole of our lives we may proclaim to the world that He is alive and is working through us. Amen. jOiiginai text ItaSan]

Catholic shuttle pilot Navy Cmdr. William McCool, 41 was an adult convert. - CNS

A deep emotion has arisen in the hearts of all by the sad news of the tragic explosion of the United States space craft "Columbus", during its re-entry into the atmosphere. I invite all to join in prayer for the victims of this tragedy, who have perished in the carrying out of an international scientific mission. In this moment of difficult trial, I am spiritually close to the families, and I assure them of a remembrance in my prayers.

Lunar New Year The 1st February was the first day of the Lunar New Year for many millions of people - particularly the Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean - who will be spending this day of celebration in the intimacy of their families. For all of them, I renew the wishes that I formulated during my Message for the World Day of Peace: may this New Year be a period of peace, founded on "precisely the four needs of the human spirit: truth, justice, love and liberty". It is my wish that my affectionate greetings may touch the hearts of each one of them. My prayers accompany them every day.

[Original text: Italian]

W o r ld

D a y

o f th e

S ic k

The Pope appointed His Excellency Monsgr. Javier Lozano Barrag£n, President of the Pontifical Council for Health, as his Special Envoy to the celebration of the 11th World Day of the Sick which took place in Washington D.C (USA) on 11 February 2003.

Condolences Our Holy Father sent a telegram of condolence to the victims of the earthquake which hit the states of Colima and Jalisco in Western Mexico. The message was sent through Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State, to Cardinal Guiseppe Bertello, Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico.

Holy Lambs On the Feast of St. Agnes, 21 January, our Holy Father blessed two lambs presented by the Lateran Chapter. The wool of these lambs will be used to make the sacred Palliums.

The Pallium is the liturgical symbol of honour and jurisdiction that is used by the Pope and Metropolitan Archbishops in their churches and those of their provinces.

It consists of a band of white wool on which are sewn 6 crosses in black silk.

The Pope will bless the new Palliums on June 29, Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

[Original text: Italian]

A resident o f Colima, Mexico, stands in the rubble o f her home after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit western Mexico Jan. 21. Pope John Paul II offered prayers and condolences for the more than 20 people who died and the hun­ dreds left homeless by the quake.

(CNS photo from Reuters)

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Investiture Ceremony for the Order of Malta

by Dr Gabriel Oon

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The Order of Malta is a distinguished and noble ancient Catholic Order of Chivalry, known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes, and of Malta. The investiture which will take place at High Mass, will be a colourful and solemn ceremony to be held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on Sunday 23rd February, 2003 at 10.00am. His Grace, Most Reverend Archbishop, Nicholas Chia, is the Honorary Conventual Chaplain of the Order of Malta in Singapore. Knighthood will be conferred on ten gentlemen and one lady, who are among the prominent practising Catholic laity who devotedly live, promote, defend the Catholic faith, and care for the sick.

The Order has its origin as a monastic community in AD1050, whose members were monastic knights from the noble families of Europe. In the early days, it was closely related to the Benedictines. Inspired by St.John the Baptist, their Patron Saint, they professed the three vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty, and they cared for sick pilgrims traveling to various parts of Christendom, and the Holy Land. In AD1113, Pope Pascal II conferred upon it a religious Order, and the Pontiffs nominate a Cardinal from the Church to the Order.

As they protected the sick pilgrims on their dangerous journeys, they were also given military status. Today, this status is no more. Instead the Order spends its energies on Hospitaller activities.

They run ambulance services, dispensaries, and hospitals in natural disaster areas and war torn zones such as Macedonia and Kosovo. In Bethlehem, they also operate a world class Holy Family Maternity Hospital, not only for Christians

but for all races and religions. The Order also has humanitarian Missions all over the world such as Vietnam, Cambodia, East Timor, Thailand, and many countries in Africa and South America.

In Singapore, the Order was recently involved in expediting very urgent placental membranes and special medical aid (not available from relief organizations), to care for the severely burnt local Balinese population during the recent Bali disaster last October.

There are two basic types of membership, the priestly group that profess the three vows mentioned, and a laity layer that profess their allegiance to God and their country. At the investiture, they would take these holy vows.

There will be a Vigil, the night before the investiture when they would pray before the Blessed Sacrament, for God’s Spirit to give them the courage and wisdom to serve and do His work. They practice the eight Beatitudes.

The Order, under international law, has status as a Sovereign state but without territory or population. It has diplomatic relations with 87 states, and sits in the United Nations as an Observer, and at UNICEF and many UN agencies. Its headquarters and governing body is in Rome. Membership is by invitation, and today there are over 10,000 Knights and Dames throughout the world.

Those to be invested are: Mr. Michael Khoo Kah-Lip, Mr. Jimmy Yim, Dr. Gabriel Oon ChongJin, Mdm Elizabeth Soh, Dr. Peter Chew CheeTong, Mr. Joseph Y. Pillay, Mr.Simon Grenfell, Mr. Andrew Kwok Wai-Mun, Mr. Alphonsus Tan Chok-Kian, Mr. Anthony Tan Ju-Seng and Mr. Justin Michael Taylor.

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New Beginnings....... A New Chapter A day in the life of a Parish' Priest

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by Fr Michael Sitaram

2 b 8 Grr...ring ... my alarm clock went off. I opened one eye and peeked at the alarm clock. It showed 6.00 am. I still had an hour before the 7.00am Mass at the Church of St Vincent De Paul.

As I let my thoughts roam through memory lane, I realised that 15 January was an unforgettable day of my life since my first massive heart attack last year and now a year later on the same date it was to be another memorable day. I wondered what God had planned for me today and the days to follow. I decided to be contented and let the God of surprises unfold His plans for me and jumped out of bed .....

Morning - A new day dawned - for me it was a New Beginning - A new Chapter in my life as a priest. I braced myself to meet the challenges of the first day in the life of the new Parish priest of the parish of St Vincent De Paul. Let me share with you the happenings of this day which is so typical in the life of a Parish priest.

TWA - A group of people gather after breakfast - it is a time to eat together and have fellowship with a purpose - to discuss the physiotherapy service that they were providing for the elderly. They were excited because they had just been given two houses in which to run these services. What TWA means - come for Mass at SVDP and I’ll tell you.

Soon after this the day was filled with meeting up with parishioners who strolled into my office. I met many who had problems and needed a listening ear - there were some who faced financial problems because of the present economic situation and there were some who had relationship problems.

The day ensued with many meetings - each with the members of the various group members serving in the various ministries in the Parish.

Lunch was hastily gulped down. There seemed to be so many nitty gritty things to be taken care of and to familiarise myself.

In the evening, I was especially pleased to meet the members of the Children’s Liturgy group which was made up of Youth who were from secondary one onwards. They were helping the young kids in the primary classes to understand the Gospel message of the Sunday through skits and plays, music and song. Wow, it was heartwarming to meet Youth so full of zeal in reaching out to share the love of God with others. I prayed that their zeal may continue to grow. I gave them the challenge to do a skit of the Gospel on a Sunday Mass...They said “YES!” - they were ready for it.

The time just flew and it was already time for the meeting with Parish Pastoral Council meeting. The members were so enthusiastic about focussing on spiritual growth this year. I felt overwhelmed when request for plans to have four retreats a year for committee members were unfolded to me and a formation programme for the year onwards beginning with the Bible.

It was almost time when after a hectic schedule it was time to call it a day. Before retiring to bed. I lifted all my parishioners (in particular those I had met during the day) to our heavenly Father and then asked Him for His continued guidance and help in looking after His people. I then hit the pillow to be re-energised to meet another day in the service of the Lord......

Grr..ring....... Oops, the alarm is ringing again at 6.00 am

U p p e r

T h o m s o n

S in g a p o r e

R o a d

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VIEW PO INT ED ITO R

Dr. (Rev.) Robert R Balhetchet

The Role of the Laity

M AN A G ER R ev. Fr. J o h n s o n F e rn a n d e z STAFF CORRESPONDENT M s. M el D ia m se -L e e

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fro m

THE PEWS

The Doctrinal Note on the Participation of Catholics in Political Life from the Sacred Congregation for Doctrine of the Faith is a most timely reminder of the real role of the laity. One could easily miss the significance of the paragraph that prefaces the Note. The Congregation says that it has "received the opinion of the Pontifical Council for the Laity" on this matter of participation of Catholics in political life.

The Note then goes on to emphasize that guided by a Christian conscience, in conformity with its values, the lay faithful, exercise their proper task of infusing the temporal order with Christian values, all the w hile respecting fro n t the nature and rightful T he E ditor autonomy of that order, and c o -o p e ra tin g w ith o th e r Dr (Rev) Robert P. Balhetchet citizens according to their p a rtic u la r co m petence and re s p o n sib ility. The consequence of this fundamental teaching of the Second Vatican Council is that ”the lay faithful are never to relinquish their participation in ‘public life’". It is precisely this which has been emphasized in the Second Vatican Council in its Dogmatic Constitution on the Church "Lumen Gentium" (Light o f the Nations).

Unfortunately, somewhere down the line, many, not only from among the laity, seem to have gotten the notion that the role of the Laity is to assist the priest in the priestly ministry and the administration of the Parish. Yet Vatican II says very cle a rly:” What specifically characterizes the laity is their secular nature. ... the laity, by their very vocation, seek the kingdom o f God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them according to the plan of God. They

live in the world, that is, in each and in all o f the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances o f family and social life, from which the very web o f their existence is woven. They are called THERE bv God that by exercising their proper function and led by the spirit o f the Gospel they m ay work for the sanctification o f the world from within as a leaven.

In this way they may make Christ known to others, especially by the testim ony o f a life resplendent in faith, hope and charity. Therefore, since they are tightly bound up in all types o f tem poral affairs it is their special task to order and to throw light upon these affairs in such a way that they m ay come into being and then continually increase according to Christ to the praise o f the Creator and the Redeemer." It is this proper function and special task of the laity that the Doctrinal Note is calling attention to.

What must also be noted in the Doctrinal Note is that it is not referring specifically to Catholic politicians as such. The term "politicallife"is used in its etymological sense as: life of the "city" or "public life” or "civic life", or "life in Society". It obviously does not rule out the more common meaning of the term "politics" and offers guidance to Catholic politicians as well.

The Note points out that the laity have to be conscious of this fundamental and proper duty of theirs to bring their faith to bear in matters that concern personal and societal life. This is eminently possible in truly democratic societies, and is not restricted to the "ballot box", but extends to all the means of dialogue and expression of Public Opinion that exist in the various forms and mechanisms of consultation in civic life. Herein lies the specific role of the laity.

Responses are fro m the Editor.

Even more scandal!

Under the editorial viewpoint of CN Jan. 19, 2003 with the heading The Greatest Scandal’, I cannot help but find scandal in the views presented.

First of all, unity can only be found among those who hold to the True Faith. Now if those whom you call Christians don’t even hold to the same Faith, how is it possible to lump them all together? Being a former Protestant who has been to various Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, AOG, and many other churches, I would not have bothered to convert to Catholicism if I weren’t convinced that only the Catholic Church contains the fullness of the True Religion.

I don’t think it is likely that this letter gets published in it’s entirety, or even at all, perhaps due to the politically-incorrect words used. Nevertheless, I still hope that a Catholic newspaper can live up to its name.

C.Y.

Thank you for your views, though I am rather dismayed that you appear, from what you write, to consider that referring to a whole lot o f people who don't profess exactly the same faith, and "lumping them all together" as Christians is "scandal"!

I was always under the impression that the name "Christian" refers to those who claim to follow Christ. Actually, you make a very interesting distinction in your next sentence, which makes it even more difficult to comprehend your perceived scandal!

My apologies for disappointing you in publishing at least a part of your letter. The reason why I didn't publish the rest o f it is because you intersperse phrases attributed to quotations from two persons, one o f whom is no less than the President o f the Pontifical Council for InterReligious Dialogue, with what appear to be your personal observations.

I can't be sure that you have not taken their words out o f context!

Finally, I am not too sure what opinion you hold! I begin to wonder whether it is the attempts at achieving unity which you consider scandalous or is the disunity itself scandalous. I also cannot help wondering whether you consider Our Holy Father's call to the representatives o f the various religions to Assisi and his prayer and meal with them, utterly scandalous!

Outreach or Out of reach?

Christians and Catholics so as to be spurred I write this in the context of the Week o f Prayer for Christian into greater outreach and growth, but also Unity which was also the focus of the Catholic News (Jan. that the Ecumenical cause has not suc­ 19-26, 2003). ceeded as much as it set out to do and hopes I feel that Christian Unity is especially relevant in our to achieve. troubled times—where wars are waged in the name of In addition, I feel that there is a great religion—and locally too, the stress on multi-racialism and need to be responsible and discerning in our multi-culturalism as a result of the heightened threat of evangelism with our fellow Christian brethren. terrorism—that there is a need, not just to learn about and Such anti-Catholic sentiments in a Bible appreciate the facts and ways of the other religions in reflection booklet speaks ill of the particular Singapore, but to do the same with our Christian commu­ Christian community, and it reflects a disre­ nities. Hence, I am in support of the Pontifical Council for gard for the beliefs of other Christian commu­ Christian Unity which has been an ongoing event for nities. years now.

Lastly, if such books holding such antiHowever, there are two issues I would like to draw our Catholic stance abound in Singapore, is our readers attention to, in addition to what The Editor has outreach during this week of Christian Unity, already mentioned on the “Viewpoint” page. as well as our Singaporean endeavour to live First, is the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity a in gracious harmony in our multi-religious Catholic initiative, and if so, how pervasive and wellcommunity, merely a farce? received is this worthy cause within the various Christian DKSS communities?

Second, derived from the first point: are our attitudes Ecumenical outreach as well as dialogue and outlook—the way we treat our fellow-Christian and with other religions is fraught with Catholic brethren, the types of “religious” books and other difficulties, as Our Holy Father himself has forms of media we peruse— in concordance with the recently pointed out. (see pg 2). He also mission and message preached during the annual expressed the view that there has been Christian Unity week?

I raise these issues because of a personal encounter I progress made, and efforts must continue.

We hold a treasure in clay pots, fragile had encountered only recently. (Editor - Here, the author o f instruments that we are, with our human the letter recounts, with the name o f a writer, quotations nature. Prejudice and bigotry will always which are very anti-Catholic, found in a certain periodical in exist in the minds o f some, even in the circulation in Singapore, ) Catholic Church! We cannot, though, He continues .... I am certain that the author's antirelinquish the quest for unity. To address Catholic views are his own, and perhaps not shared by all your first issue, we set out on pg.5, the our Christian communities, not least his own flock. two Councils in the Church that are However, I have chosen to bring this issue to the readers involved in this effort. With regard to the because his reflection/commentary are current—they second issue, we recommend to all the appear in the current issue of the publication. series o f reflections appearing on pg. 14, in There is, I feel, a need to represent not just the rosy our last issue, and continuing ... picture—that Ecumenical action is embraced by all

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DIALOGUE

IN TER -FA ITH The Pontifical Council FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN UNITY ( PCPCU)

The Pontifical Council FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE ( PCID ) NATURE AND GOALS

PURPOSE The Council exercises a double role.

1) the promotion, within the Catholic Church, of an authentic ecumenical spirit according to Vat, II 2) to develop dialogue and collaboration with the other Churches and World Communions.

Since its creation, it has also established a cordial cooperation with the World Council of Churches (WCC), whose headquarters are in Geneva. From 1968, twelve Catholic theologians have been members of the “Faith and Order” Commission, the theological department of the WCC. Similarly, it is the task of the PCPCU to name Catholic observers at various ecumenical gatherings and in its turn to invite observers or “fraternal delegates” of other Churches or ecclesial Communities to major events of the Catholic Church.

At present, the PCPCU is engaged in an international theological dialogue with each of the following Churches and World Communions: U1 U1 U1 ft ■fr ■fr

■fr ■fr ■fr ■fr ■fr

The Orthodox Church The Coptic Orthodox Church The Malankara Churches The Anglican Communion The Lutheran World Federation The World Alliance of Reformed Churches The World Methodist Council The Baptist World Alliance The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Some Pentecostal groups.

Seeks to promote meetings with Evangelicals.

To make known its work the PCPCU publishes a journal called Information Service four times a year, in English and French.

The PCID is the central office of the Catholic Church for the promotion of inter-religious dialogue in accordance with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. It has the following responsibilities: 1) to promote mutual understanding, respect and collaboration between Catholics and the followers of other religious traditions; 2) to encourage the study of religions; 3) to promote the formation of persons dedicated to dialogue.

N.B. The PCID does not have responsibility for Christian-Jewish relations. These come under the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

Methodology 1) Dialogue is a two-way communication. It implies speaking and listening, giving and receiving, for mutual growth and enrichment. It includes witness to one’s own faith as well as an openness to that of the other. It is not a betrayal of mission of the Church, nor is it a new method of conversion to Christianity. (Pope John Paul II: “Mission o f the Redeemer"). This view is developed in the two documents : The Attitude of the Catholic Church towards the Followers of Other Religious Traditions: reflections on Dialogue and Mission (1984), and Dialogue and Proclamation (1991).

2) The PCID is the central office for dialogue in the Catholic Church, mainly carried out in and through the Local Churches. Many Local Churches have dialogue commissions. The PCID encourages their formation where they do not yet exist.

3) The ecumenical dimension of inter-religious dialogue is kept in mind. The PCID has an ongoing relationship with the corresponding office in the World Council of Churches.

4) The PCID restricts itself to religious questions.

Its brief does not extend to socio-political issues.

Structure The Pontifical Council is under the direction of the Cardinal President. He is assisted by a Secretary, a Joint Secretary and an Under-Secretary. The relations with other Churches and ecclesial Communities are divided into two sections: • The Eastern section deals with Orthodox Churches of Byzantine tradition and the Oriental Orthodox Churches (Coptic, Syrian, Armenian, Ethiopian and Malankara), as well as the Assyrian Church of the East; • The Western section is responsible for the different Churches and ecclesial Communities of the West and for the World Council of Churches.

Collaboration for the Diffusion o f the Bible The Council is entrusted with promoting ecumenical collaboration for the translation and diffusion of Holy Scripture (The Word o f God, n. 22). In this context, it encouraged the formation of the Catholic Biblical Federation. Together with the United Bible Societies it published the Guidelines for Inter-confessional Co­ operation in Translating the Bible (1968; new revised edition 1987).

Relations with the Jews On 22nd October 1974, Pope Paul VI established a Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews as an office, distinct from but closely linked with the PCPCU. In fact, the Cardinal President of the PCPCU presides over this Commission; the Secretary of the PCPCU is its Vice-President.

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Activities 1) The PCID receives many visits from religious leaders to dialogue with staff members. Audiences are arranged with H.H. the Pope.

2) The President and the Secretary visit local Churches and leaders of other religions and different institutions in order to promote better understanding and collaboration.

3) The Council organizes dialogue meetings, or more often participates in such meetings organized by other bodies.

4) Publications: on different aspects of inter­ religious dialogue.

Commission for religious relations with Muslims This special commission engages in studies on different aspects of Christian-Muslim relations.

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Structure 1) Decision-making body: composed of the Members of the Council, about 30 Cardinals and Bishops, from different parts of the world.

2) Advisory body: about 50 Consultors, specialists in religious studies or in the practice of interreligious dialogue, residing in all continents.

3) Executive body: the permanent staff in Rome, made up of President, Secretary, Under-Secretary, and staff members.

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REGIONAL

Family Congress - Keynote Opening Addresses PHILIPPINES, Pasay City (UCAN) — Church leaders opening the Fourth World Meeting of Families near Manila have affirmed that the Christian family remains “good news” despite contemporary challenges and negative influences.

Families - Become what you are!

Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila, Archbishop of Manila, opened proceedings with an address, “Calling All Families, Become What You Are!” He said the family remains “good news for the new millennium,” despite divorce, broken relationships, same-sex unions, infidelity, domestic violence and lack of communication among relatives.

“To be truly good news, it has to be a Christian family,” Cardinal Sin told the assembly. To achieve that goal, he explained, the family must “repossess itself and recover its original Christian character.”

“Let us go back to the embrace of the Father and align our vision to that of the Father, for our task is not to decide but rather discover the truth of God's original plan for the human family,” the cardinal said. “This will be the aim of the Fourth World Meeting of Families.”

Responsible Parenthood Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, reportedly kept by bad weather in the southern Philippines, sent her executive secretary, Alberto Romulo, to read her speech. In it, she acknowledged the government role in “strengthening the basic unity of our society” by promoting responsible parenthood values.

“By responsible parenthood,” Arroyo wrote, “we mean that each family has the right and duty to determine the desired number of children they might have and when they might have those children.”

Arroyo also affirmed the government must uphold couples’ right to determine family size and “always remind” them to plan this as “there is a direct link among poverty, family size and the quality of life of children and parents.” The whole world, she said, is in a way one extended family. “There is no more fitting moment than this time to unite and become one family

of nations, helping one another keep the flame of peace and harmony alive in our hearts.”

capable of rock solid love because it is founded on the rock of a faith that does not fear being overcome."

The Gospel o f the Family and of Life

Families - Protagonists o f "family politics"

Cardinal Trujillo, Papal Legate opened the theological congress with a keynote address, “The Gospel of the Family and the Gospel of Life in the New Evangelization.” He noted how modern technology has made the world smaller but also ushered in lifestyles, attitudes and ideas that are destructive to families.

The cardinal stressed “the need to orient and correct the communications media particularly television, which enters families like an intruder and jeopardizes the parent’s right to educate.” He also warned against a “radical and widespread crisis” of families, because marriage, as a relationship between a man and a woman, is a total bond that is indissoluble.

“Our hardness of heart,” the cardinal said, has obscured the sacredness of marriage. He bid participating families to seek new ways and discover the “many successful experiences” of various parishes and dioceses that help strengthen families and stimulate family life in the service of the Gospel.

Cardinal Trujillo also said that “a definite Christian culture” allowing “a spontaneous, serene integration of faith and life” could combat “neo-paganism” existing in today’s secularized world.

The first day of the congress was focused on the sub-theme “The Christian Family Today: Evangelization in a Multi-Cultural and Multi-Religious World of the Third Millennium."

Carl Anderson, Vice-President of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America in Washington, raised questions on how motherhood is undermined by government policies that promote population control as a means to economic development.

“Programmes that rely upon sterilization, intra-uterine devices and abortifacients cannot be consistent with respect for motherhood and family life," Anderson said.

“This is especially the case with government programs that combine elaborate systems of financial and other incentives with inadequate information regarding the risks associated with sterilization and abortifacients.”

He also emphasized that families in developing countries “need farming assistance and basic health care, not population control.” Echoing Pope John Paul’s exhortation On Family Life, 1981, he called on families to become protagonists of so-called family politics, “and assume the responsibility for transforming society.”

Family - mystery and sacrament Bishop Salvatore Fisichella, Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome spoke on marriage and family in a changing cultural environment. Citing Biblical verses, he explained that “the family is certainly a ‘mystery’ of love, but this mystery reveals itself as ‘sacrament’ so as to draw together a greater and deeper love.”

“The world is waiting for the testimony of the Christian family," he said. “We are singled out as being

Family - the Struggle for Justice Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. In his talk on “The Family and the Struggle for Justice,” he acknowledged factors that threaten the integrity of the family, such as: slavish attachment to television, the Internet and other forms of communication media; migration of workers; and the rise of sexual crimes within the family.

The Constitution of the Philippines, he pointed out, is one of the few legal documents containing provisions for the family. However, he stressed, “Laws alone will not guarantee that our children and their children will live their lives by the values that have guided and moulded their forebears.”

Empathy and charity for others, according to the chief justice, are foremost values to be fostered in the family, and if the family is faithful to its calling of loving one another, then “it becomes the frontier for the world's struggle for justice.”

After the presentations, a panel o f four couples from Argentina, Ireland, Indonesia and Australia offered their reactions and feedback, and shared their own experiences in their respective countries.

C ATHO LICS and PO LITIC S IV. Considerations regarding particular aspects 7. In recent years, there have been cases within some organizations founded on Catholic principles, in which support has been given to political forces or movements with positions contrary to the moral and social teaching of the Church on fundamental ethical questions. Such activities, in contradiction to basic principles of Christian conscience, are not compatible with membership in organizations or associations which define themselves as Catholic. Similarly, some Catholic periodicals in certain countries have expressed perspectives on political choices that have been ambiguous or incorrect, by misinterpreting the idea of the political autonomy enjoyed

by Catholics and by not taking into consideration the principles mentioned above.

Faith in Jesus Christ, who is «the way, the truth, and the life» (Jn 14:6), calls Christians to exert a greater effort in building a culture which, inspired by the Gospel, will reclaim the values and contents of the Catholic Tradition. The presentation of the fruits of the spiritual, intellectual and moral heritage of Catholicism in terms understandable to modern culture is a task of great urgency today, in order to avoid also a kind of Catholic cultural 'diaspora'. Furthermore, the cultural achievements and mature experience of Catholics in political life in various countries, especially since the Second World War, do not permit any kind of ‘inferiority complex' in comparison with political programmes which recent history has revealed to be weak or totally ruinous. It is insufficient and reductive to think that the commitment of Catholics in society can be limited to a simple transformation of structures, because if at the basic level there is no culture capable of receiving, justifying and putting into practice positions deriving from faith and morals, the changes will always

rest on a weak foundation.

Christian faith has never presumed to impose a rigid framework on social and political questions, conscious that the historical dimension requires men and women to live in imperfect situations, which are also susceptible to rapid change. For this reason, Christians must reject political positions and activities inspired by a utopian perspective which, turning the tradition of Biblical faith into a kind of prophetic vision without God, makes ill use of religion by directing consciences towards a hope which is merely earthly and which empties or reinterprets the Christian striving towards eternal life.

At the same time, the Church teaches that authentic freedom does not exist without the truth. «Truth and freedom either go together hand in hand or together they perish in misery®. In a society in which truth is neither mentioned nor sought, every form of authentic exercise of freedom will be weakened, opening the way to libertine and individualistic distortions and undermining the protection of the good of the human person and of the entire society.

8.

In this regard, it is helpful to recall a truth which today is often not perceived or formulated correctly in public opinion: the right to freedom of conscience and, in a special way, to religious freedom, taught in the Declaration Human Dignity of the Second Vatican Council, is based on the ontological dignity of the human person and not on a non-existent equality among religions or cultural systems of human creation. Reflecting on this question, Paul VI taught that «in no way does the Council base this right to religious freedom on the fact that all religions and all teachings, including those that are erroneous, would have more or less equal value; it is based rather on the dignity of the human person, which demands that he not be subjected to external limitations which tend to constrain the conscience in its search for

the true religion or in adhering to it». The teaching on freedom of conscience and on religious freedom does not therefore contradict the condemnation of indifferentism and religious relativism by Catholic doctrine; on the contrary, it is fully in accord with it.

V. Conclusion 9. The principles contained in the present Note are intended to shed light on one of the most important aspects of the unity of Christian life: coherence between faith and life, Gospel and culture, as recalled by the Second Vatican Council. The Council exhorted Christians «to fulfil their duties faithfully in the spirit of the Gospel. It is a mistake to think that, because we have here no lasting city, but seek the city which is to come, we are entitled to shirk our earthly responsibilities; this is to forget that by our faith we are bound all the more to fulfil these responsibilities according to the vocation of each. May Christians be proud of the opportunity to carry out their earthly activity in such a way as to integrate human, domestic, professional, scientific and technical enterprises with religious values, under whose supreme direction all things are ordered to the glory of God».

The Sovereign Pontiff John Paul II, in the Audience o f November 21, 2002, approved the present Note, adopted in the Plenary Session o f this Congregation, and ordered its publication.

Rome, from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, November 24, 2002, the Solemnity of Christ the King. ^Joseph Card. RATZINGER, Prefect *

Tarcisio BERTONE, S.D.B., Secretary

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REGIONAL

World Congress of Families

Cardinal Jaime Sin, Archbishop o f Manila, Philippines, speaking at the opening o f the Fourth World Meeting o f Families and accompanying congresses in Manila.

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, President o f the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Bishop Karl Josef Romer, Secretary o f the council.

The 4th World Congress of Families was held at Manila in the Philippines from 22 to 26 January. It followed three other such congresses held in Rome (1994), Rio de Janeiro (1997) and in Rome again for Jubilee Year 2000, The theme, "The Christian Family: Good News of the Third Millennium" was chosen by our Holy Father himself. The event was promoted by the Pontifical Council for the Family, under the Presidency of His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal L6pez Trujillo, who presided in Manila as Pontifical Legate. The logistic organization was entrusted to the Archdiocese of Manila, under the guidance of its Archbishop, His Eminence Jaime Cardinal L. Sin. Present at the Congress were 6 Cardinals and hundreds of Bishops and priests.

Some 6,000 delegates from 75 countries of all the five continents were present for the event, with a massive participation from the Philippines.

From 22 to 24 January an International theologico-pastoral Congress was held on the theme of the Congress featuring speakers of international renown. Participants were couples delegated by Episcopal Conferences and Bishops involved in the pastoral care of Families as well as representatives of Family Associations. Simultaneously with this gathering another congress of "Sons and Daughters" took place, involving some 1,100 participants, subdivided into age groups.

In the morning of Saturday 25, Eucharistic celebrations were held in 16 churches in Manila, for the various language groups.

The highlight of the Congress was on Saturday afternoon when participants gathered

(CNS photos from Reuters)

for testimoniaies and the Feast of the Families. It was at this gathering that our Holy Father was p present through direct telecast from the Vatican, listening to the testimonies a and delivering his message and Apostolic Blessing to the participants.

On Sundday 26 January, the Pontifical Legate His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal Lopez Trujillolo presided at the grand concluding celebration of the Eucharist with a congregation n of about 500,000 in the "Quirino Grand Stand” in Manila which was also the site 4 for the World Youth Day in 1995.

Also presfsent at the Congress were Bishop Vincentiu Ploiesteanu, representa­ tive of the PPatriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Teoctist and a Russiaian delegation of the Orthodox Diocese of Ivanovo.

Taking plalace also in Manila, during this time, were congresses of a few great movements ft for the Family: the Charismatics, the Neo-catechumenate Way, New Families (Foocolari Movement), and Human Life International.

T h e C losing M ass Manila, (UCAN) A vigil that followed the satellite link with the Vatican helped prepare for a closing Mass early the next morning at Luneta Park in downtown Manila.

The Pontifical Legate to the world meeting, His Eminence Alfonso Cardinal L6pez Trujillo, preached at the Mass, which coincided with the Feast of the Santo Nino (Holy Child).

He called on families to protect their children and surround them with tenderness. “Poverty, against which we have to fight courageously in the midst of widespread injustice in this world, becomes a bitter tragedy when children are abandoned, or become victims and made to pay for the irresponsibility of parents who have promised to love one another until death,” the cardinal said.

He also urged governments to respect life and oppose abortion, which he said destroys families. ‘‘There is no better investment for the government, for legislators," he said, "than to favour the families, strengthen their unity, support them, and not to obstruct the mission and rights of spouses.”

The Cardinal also urged doctors not to be “accomplices in assaults against the human person” by performing abortions, and instead truly work against disease and pain. In an apparent reference to human cloning, he said, “Seduced by science and technology, many presume that they are arbiters of life, in all kinds of dangerous manipulation that can even become nightmares to humanity.” Speakers at the theological pastoral congress discussed cloning and other technology related to fertility medicine and birth control.

Speaking in various languages, he thanked families for their participation and said, “See you in Valencia, Spain,” the site of the 2006 world meeting of families that the Pope had announced the evening before, during the live telecast.

Cardinal Trujillo also reminded families of their mission to evangelize and proclaim to the world “the mercies of God, the permanent miracle of his love in your marriage, in your community of life and love, in the family.”

The same call was echoed in the statement “The Christian Family is Good News for the Third Millennium!” that was prepared by the theological pastoral congress and read at its closing on January 24. (The statement remains "provisional" until it is approved by the Holy Father).

Philippines Vice-President Teofisto Guingona and former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos, a Protestant, attended the Mass at Luneta Park. Methodists Geoff and Betty Key from the United Kingdom and Romanian Orthodox Archbishop Nifon Nicolae Mihaita of Targovistei were among leaders of other Churches who also were at the meeting.

[ Vatican Reports: original text: Italian]

POPE JO H N PAUL ll ’S M IS S IO N A R Y IN T E N T IO N FEBRUARY 2 0 0 3 THAT THE CHURCH IN MALAYSIA, SINGAPORE AND BRUNEI, WHILE REMAINING OPEN TO DIALOGUE WITH THE FOLLOWERS OF THE OTHER RELIGIONS, MAY BE FAITHFUL TO ITS OWN EXACTING EVANGELISING MISSION. The Pontifical Mission Societies, Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei Suite 05-06, Wisma Maria, Jalan Ngee Heng 80100 Johor Baru, Johor, Malaysia Tel: 07-2261796 Fax 07-2261797 Email: pmsjap@tm.net.my; pms_msb@time.net.my Specifically & Urgently needed for this Missionary Intention that concerns US: Prayers, Sacrifices, Charitable Works, and Love Offerings to be addressed to the above address.

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FA ITH IN LIFE

Outcasts SUNDA Y 16 February 2003

6 ORDINARY

Nl THE.'

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TEXTS FIRST READING Mai. 3: 1-4 RESPONSORIAL Ps.23 SECOND READING Heb 2:14-18 GOSPEL Luke 22:22-40

First Reading: from the Old Testament, we read in the Book of Leviticus what the law was like concerning lepers. They were completely ostracised.

Even in our modern times they are not much better treated, though in many countries today, the disease is practically non­ existent, Responsorial: An acknowledgement of sinfulness on the part of man, but the readiness of God to forgive the repentant sinner. " But now I have acknowledged m y sin, my guilt I did not hide. I said: "I will confess my offence to the Lord." And you Lord, have forgiven the guilt o f my sin.

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Second Reading: St. Paul encourages his flock to imitate Christ and consequently to love. He says: “Take me for your model, as I take Christ.”

Alleluia: A prayer for enlightenment so that we may keep in mind the glory that awaits us.

Gospel: The leper violated the law of isolation by approaching Jesus in the first place. Jesus himself violated the law even more by touching him, which would have made him unclean, too, under the law. Brushing all prejudice aside, we are told that Jesus, "feeling sorry for him, stretched out his hand and touched him." Of course, he healed the leper as well.

Application in Life

Misfortunes of any kind were usually seen in ancient times as punishments or "scourges" from God for misdeeds committed, and consequently were always associated with sin. As such, Illnesses and leprosy in particular, was a frequent analogy for sin. The prescriptions of the Old Testament should come as no surprise, since up to rather recently, lepers were still considered complete outcasts - now they are replaced by AIDS victims.

While the readings retain their application to sin, we could well see beyond the allegory to take in "outcasts" of all categories.

Protests would be very vigorous, towards the use and application of the word, but the reality still remains.

There are many outcasts even in our modem society. Of course, we don’t refer to them as such - we call them *marginalized”! It helps to make us feel less guilty! But coining new terms does not change the reality! It certainly does not change attitudes either! It simply serves to attempt to salve the conscience of society and its members. There will always be the destitute, the less well educated, the dropouts, even the handicapped, the criminals, the drug addicts, even the migrants, the unemployed or unemployable, or those in what we derogatorily term "menial jobs".

We claim to be followers of Christ. St. Paul has something to say to us about that in the brief Second Reading. He says: "Never do anything offensive to anyone. “Take me for your model, as I take Christ. ’’ We see in the Gospel that Christ felt sorry for this outcast. But he didn't just feel sorry, he did something about it. He cured the man! We too could start by feeling sorry for the marginalized and then, hopefully, we might begin to do something about them!

OUR HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS for FEBRUARY OUR HOLY FATHER'S PRAYER INTENTIONS for MARCH

General: Bread and Water for all the world. - That all Christians, sensitive to the distressing condition of the peoples who are still suffering from hunger and thirst, may be moved to greater solidarity towards their brothers and sisters.

General : The Sacrament Of Reconciliation. -That each one of the People of God and their Pastors, may grow in their realization of the importance of the sacrament of Reconciliation, the gift of God's merciful love.

Mission : The Church in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. That the Church in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, while remaining open to dialogue with the followers of the other religions, may remain faithful to its own exacting evangelizing mission.

Mission : The local Churches of Africa.- That the local Churches of Africa, in the midst of the difficult situationsof the present moment, may feel the urgency of announcing the Gospel coherently and courageously.

GRAPHICS: COPYRIGHT - THE ORDER OF ST BENEDICT

Forgiveness of Sin SUNDA Y 23 February 2003

TEXTS FIRST READING Job 7:1-4. 6-7 RESPONSORIAL Ps. 146 SECOND READING 1 Cor. 9:16-19. 22-23 GOSPEL Mark 1:29-39 CELEBRATIONS OFTHE WEEK

Mon 24; Ordinary week 7 Tues 25: Ordinary week 7 Wed 26; Ordinary week 7 Thur 27; Ordinary week 7 Fri 28: Ordinary week 7 S a il MAR: Ordinary week 7 NB. ASH WEDNESDAY fast & Abstinence next week - Wed. 5 March

GREEN Green te the liturgical colour used for the 'Ordinary Time* o f the year which has 33 Sundays, covering most o f the year. How­ ever, a number o f Sundays are big feasts or Solemnities and the colour for them would be Gold, Green is the colour for "Hope* the hope o f eternal life.

7 ORDINARY The theme of this Sunday focuses on the forgiveness that we can obtain from God for the sins that we unfortunately commit despite our protestations of love for Him, ,

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Responsorial : The forgiveness of God has a necessary condition attached to it. We have to genuinely repent of our sins. We must make ours the words of the Psalm: “As for me, I said: “Lord have mercy on me, heal my soul for I have sinned against you.” If we genuinely repent we can be

confident of God's mercy, Second Reading: We can have complete and total confidence in the promises of God because he is completely faithful: "Jesus is never Yes and No; with him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him".

Acclamation: The condition is dear:, * to all who did accept him, he gave power to become children o f God." Gospel: In the passage today we have a healing - yet another, but with a difference. There appears to be a very deliberate purpose in the way Jesus handles the whole incident, He had healed often enough, but this time he says: "My child your sins are f o r g i v e n almost, as if to provoke the scribes, Jesus is not disappointed. They are provoked .."Who can forgive sins but God?" Jesus then explicitly proves that he has the power to forgive sin; 'To prove to you that the Son o f Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins”, he said to the paralytic “I order y o u ; get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home."

Application in Life

We all know very well that we are sinners in the sight of God. If we are in any doubt, we had better recall the incident when Jesus said: "He who is without sin, let him throw the first stone."

And if we happen to suffer from a "holier-than-thou" attitude, we might do well to recall the other incident when Jesus said: "Remove the plank from your own eye first, then you will be able to see more clearly to remove the speck in your brother's eye."

When we think about it, it ought to produce a very humbling feeling. No matter how hard we try, we are going to remain sinners in God’s sight. As such we are always going to be in need of God’s mercy and love. It is also very reassuring that God is ready to forgive us whenever we repent. This realization must not, of course, lead us to sin even more, even though God is certainly prepared to forgive us again and again.

We must remember, however, that there is a condition - an essential condition - attached to God’s forgiveness. That condition is genuine repentance on our part. Genuine repentance, in its turn, does not consist in mere words and empty promises. We have to DO something about that repentance. Essentially, but broadly speaking, it means CHANGE - genuine effort to take steps to change. Empty promises without a genuine effort to change would not be worth even making.

Success in our efforts to change is another matter again. We will certainly not succeed in completely eliminating sin from our lives, but if we are really serious in our efforts, some change for the better is certainly achievable.

We might want to give "a positive twist" to this change. Instead of trying so hard NOT to do "bad" things, we might want to try to DO some "good" things. Actually, we would find that it is easier to do the latter. That would show change far more easily and effectively.

iT H p S E VVH9 TRESp\SS 1 AGAINST US ‘

First Reading: God, through the Prophet Isaiah says to us; “No need to recall the past, no need to recall what was done before. I it Is, / it is who must blot out everything and not remember your sins." A wonderful way for God to express his willingness to forgive us.

TEXTS: COPYRIGHT - DR. (REV) ROBERT P.

TH E C A TH O LIC NEWS - 9

F o r tn ig h t ly : S u n . F e b . 1 6 a n d S u n . F e b . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3

F O R M A T IO N TEACHES

GENESIS - - The Story of CREATION Gen 2:4tJ - 3:26 6 : The “J" (Yahwist) Creation Account

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T H E OLD TESTA M EN T BIBLICAL PRIMEVAL HISTORY

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Gen 1 - 1 1 recounts events that ranged from creation to around 1850 BC. • • •

Not a detailed history.

Not a history of mankind.

Primary objective - theological

By Rev. Ambrose Vaz, SSL

Gen 2:4b- 2 5 : The Creation of Man and Womanan That this is likely a different tradition from Gen >en V.1 - 2:3 is evidenced by the flowing style and the differfferent order of events of creation. Verse 4b when the le Lord God made earth and the heavens” - is a transiticition clause linking Gen 1 with what follows; it summarises=>ss aWot the first chapter. This transitional clause also reveasveals how a narrative of the creation of the worid has bet been linked with a narrative of the creation of the human ran race.

2:7 - “then the Lord God formed man (Hebrvmvw: adam) from the dust o f the ground (Hebrew: adamamah) and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; anand the man became a living being” : The word-play on ‘ariarfam (man) and 'adamah (earth, ground, soil), introduceices a motif characteristic of this early tradition: the re relation of humankind to the soil from which it was fornormed, as a potter molds clay (cf. Jer 18:6; Job 10:8). [Someime scholars propose the translation ‘earth creature’ rather thar than ‘man’ , to emphasise that its origin is from the earth arth and that sexual differentiation does not appear until the i the creation of woman in Gen 2:22.]

As described in this account of creationon, human nature is not a duality of body and soul; ratftither, God s breath animates the dust and it becomes a a psycho­ physical self (cf. Ps*l 04:29 - ‘When you hide ie yo ur face, they are dismayed; when you take away ththeir breath,* they die and return to their dust.” Cf: also Jo Job 34.1415). God’s creation is man in the totality of bf his being.

Therefore God is concerned not only with the ie ‘soul’, but

equally with the body!

2:8-15 : The Creation of the Human Race in its Relationships : In the biblical Creation narrative, hum anity is considered to be God’s creation in all its relationships.

Integral to the creation of man is his environment (the garden - v.8), his (bod (the fruits of the garden - v.9), his work (in the garden ... to till it and keep it —v.15), his community (... particularly, his “partner” : v. 18-24), and in all these relationships, his relationship to his Creator!

Our usual, idealistic concept of “Paradise” does not come from the biblical Creation narrative! Rather, feod puts man in the garden “to till It and keep I t ’ At his creation, the man is assigned a task. Human life, without such a task which depends on him, would not be full human existence. Work here takes on a significance that does not depend on human values or opinion. It is a commission received from the Creator!

The Hebrew word translated as refers primarily to agriculture, but its meaning includes every kind of “work" - all human labour. All human endeavour is seen here as ‘cultivation’ or ‘culture’ (from Latin, colerei; no distinction is made between physical and intellectual work.

The word pair t o till It and keep V majces it clear that tilling without keeping (or watching over) does not fulfill the commission humanity has received from its Creator.

N e x t; The Garden o f Eden

Professor of Sacred Scripture St Francis Xavier’s Major Seminary

TEXTS: Copyright - Rev. Ambrose Vaz and Dr. (Rev.) Robert P Balhetchet

TEACHES

Chapter 1 - ' The Mystery of the Church Article 8 - The Chhurch - “Corporate Image” and REALITY Vatican II described for us the natur&sxe ol the Church as Mystery and Sacrament of salvation in Christ through whom the plan of God’s salvsalvation is revealed and effected. The Council then draws the conclusion that the Church must refloeflect in its life and work, the life and work of Christ. We cannot do better than to quote the Council itselfself in article 8, at the conclusion of Chapter 1 of "Light o f the Nations”, the Dogmatic Constituion on on the Church.

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Having considered the vanous images and analogies of the Church, the Council, by way of conclusion indicates the conse­ quence, as it were, of the analogies of the "Mystical Body’ and the *Incarnate W ord’. These two are more than just images or analogies - they are sacramental realities which explain the general sacramentality of the Church as such.

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By Dr. (Rev) Robert P Balhetchet, Ph.D. (Theol.)

JUST AS ...

Christ carried out the work o f red redemption in poverty and oppression

SO the Church is called to follow the same path if she is to communicate the fruits of salvation to men.

Christ Jesus, ‘though he was by by nature God ... emptied himself, taking the me nature of a slave' (Phil. 2:6, 7), and ‘being rich, rich, became poor’ (2 Cor. 8:9) for our sake.

LIKEWISE, the Church, although she needs human resources to carry out her mission, is not set up to seek earthly glory, but to proclaim, and this, by her own example, humility and self-denial.

Christ was sent by the Father ‘ta ‘to bring good news to the poor . . . to heal the contrite o f heart’ (Lk.4_k.4:18), ‘to seek and to save what was lost’ (Lk(Lk,19: 10).

SIMILARLY the Church encompasses with her love all those who are afflicted by human misery and she recognizes in those who are poor and who suffer, the image of her poor and suffering founder. She does all in her power to relieve their need and in them she strives to serve Christ.

Christ, ‘holy, innocent and M7<sfe;ndefiled’ (Heb. 7:26), knew nothing o f sin (2 1 (2 Cor. 5:21), but came to expiate only the 3he sins of the people (cf. Heb. 2:17),

The Church, embracing sinners in her bosom, at the same time holy and always in need of purification, follows continuously the way of penance and renewal.

The parallel that the Council draws irs is very important for the life and mission of the Church as a whole, and also for all o f us in the Ce Church. Each of us has to examine our lives as Christians to see how well our lives reflect the person son and mission of Christ himself. We, as individuals, have to be “sacraments’ of salvation, visible sign signs of the invisible grace of salvation. Only then can the whole Church fulfil the definition of being Thg THE Sacrament of Salvation in Christ and THE revelation of God’s loving plan of salvation.

1 0 - T H E C A T H O L IC NEW S

F o r tn ig h t ly : S u n . F e b . 1 6 a n d S u n . F e b . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3

C H ILD R EN ’S CORNER CROSSWORD O

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CONTEST

No 2 0 - Crossing th e W a te r

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3. Now they were free.

6. The army of Egypt was still in the , and they were all drowned and so the People were safe.

7. God ordered Moses to stretch out h is ____ over the water.

a

Children, you must follow these RULES 1

This contest for children preparing to receive Holy Communion and attending classes at their Parishes.

2

It has tobe the children's own effort and parents asked to use this opportunity to teach the children value of honesty.

3

Prizes will be awarded to the first three correct entries to reach the Editor, AFTER midnight Wed/Thur 19/20 February 2003, by e-mail to steeple<5)sinanet.com.sa.

The first three correct entries will be based on the date and time as recorded in the "Inbox".

The Editor's decision is final.

Created by Catholic News with EclipseCrossword ©2000-2002by Green Eclipse Software

4

To send the answers, just use the numbers of clues and give the answer for each clue.

18 Moses

5

You must give your full name, address, and the Com­ munion Class you are attending at your Parish.

9. All the people ran through th e ____ to the other side.

10. But when all of them were on th e ____ side, God told Moses to stretch his arm out again over the water.

11. Close behind them came the soldiers and th e ir____ and chariots.

12. The people w ere_____ because a great lake was in their path and they could not cross it.

14. But then the King of Egypt changed h is ______ .

Closing Date: midnight. Fri/Sat 21/22 February 2003.

1. The began to catch up with them.

2. So it was that the People of Israel were finally 4. The w aters______ and left a dry path for the people of Israel to cross.

5. The people were s o ______ by all this.

8. This time the waters rushed back a n d ______ the pathway.

1 Moses is a very very important man in the Old Testament.

6 2 He was born in Egypt where the people of Israel were living.

3 There was a cruel king in Egypt who was afraid because the 4 5

13. He sent h is______ after the People of Israel 6

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9 Hi there, children!

10

How was the celebration of Lunar New Year? Got a lot of "Hongbao"? Hope you didn't eat too much, though - all those "goodies” are not very "goody" for your health!

Now that all the celebrations of Christmas and the two New Years are over you will be having to get down to hard work in school. Never mind, there is a time for everything - a time to relax and celebrate, but also a time to work. THE important thing to remember is to keep a "balance" between everything - you can't just work all the time or play all the time!

Do try to remember, though, that life is not just work and play. There's family also, but above all there is God! Somehow, children, he tends to get left out and forgotten - oh, yes, except when exams come around! Then we all remember God! It shouldn't be like that, though. God must come first in our lives. We must all make time for God. Remember, in the lesson at the bottom of the page, we said that God calls all of us, but we have to listen for his call, and listen to what he has to say to us. We won't be able to know what he is saying and what he is calling us to, if we don't listen. That's where the trouble is for all of us. WE are SO BUSY, doing our own things, that we don't stop to listen to God. Praying is listening - it should be - it's a conversation - it's speaking WITH (not just TO) God. WE speak, but we must also stop in silence and LISTEN. Too, often we just go on blabbering away and don't give a chance to God to speak to us. Try to remember this, children. Pray - "Speak Lord, your little one is listening" - and really listen in the silence of your heart!

God love you all.

are the

11 12 13

14 15

people of Israel were getting to be too many.

So the king ordered every male child born, to be killed.

At that time an Israelite woman gave birth to a baby boy, but she didn’t want him to be killed so she hid him.

She put the little baby in a basket and hid him near a river.

The king’s daughter used to go to the river to bathe.

The mother of the little baby knew this and also knew that the king’s daughter did not have a child of her own.

True enough, the king’s daughter came along and found the basket with the beautiful little baby in it.

She guessed that it must be an Israelite baby, but as she had no child and the baby was so beautiful, she decided to keep it as her own.

She called the baby Moses.

So Moses grew up in the palace of the king.

He never forgot that he was an man of Israel and it made him very sad and angry to see his people being badly treated.

One day he saw an Egyptian man beating a man o f Israel, and he hit and killed him.

Moses knew that the king would be very angry with him and so he ran away from Egypt.

Winners, for the first three correct entries, (according to the "Inbox") and the Consolation prizes will be an­ nounced in the following issue of the Catholic News.

THE W I N N E R S For No. 18 - MOSES $5.00 vo u ch e r

1

2

$4.00

$3.00 vo u ch e r

1 Kimberly Lim - Holy Cross 2 Alexander Tan Yong Meng - Holy Family 3 Mary Ann Lim Hui Ming - St Francis Xaviour

8

9 10 11 12 13

Fr. Bob. 14

$ 2.00 i \ v o u c h e r;

Consolation Prizes

4 Cherylanne Theseira - Holy Cross 5 Emmanuelle Chow Hui Nee - Holy Family

19 MOSES - Freedom Moses ran away from Egypt and went to live in a land called Midian.

One day he saw a strange thing. A bush seemed to be on fire, but was not getting burnt up.

He went closer to look at it.

Then a voice said to him: “Stand back. Take off your shoes.

This is holy ground.”

Moses was very afraid. Then the voice said: “I am God. I have seen my people of Israel suffer in Egypt.

Go and ask the king to set them free.”

Moses replied, “I can’t speak well.

Please send someone else.”

God said, “No, I have chosen you. Take your brother, Aaron.

He will speak for you. I will give you power to work wonders.”

So Moses went with Aaron and asked the King of Egypt to set the people of Israel free.

Moses worked many wonders, but the king refused.

Nine times Moses made terrible things happen to the Egyptians, but the king always refused to let the people go.

The tenth time, when the eldest sons in every Egyptian family died, the King finally let the people of Israel go free.

No one died in the families of the Israelite people.

God told them to kill a lamb and roast it and eat it together as a family, but ready to go on a journey.

They had to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on their doors so that death would not come to their home.

the

For No. 19 - MOSES - Freedom 1 2

$5.00 vo u ch e r

$4.00

\ vou che r

**

$3.00 voucher

Sorry again, children, but we can't publish the winners in this issue because the paper was printed earlier, this time, because of Hari Raya holidays.

We'll announce the winners of no. 19 and 20 in the NEXT issue.

Consolation Prizes

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$ 2.00 ^voucher

COLLECTION OF PRIZES Please contact Catholic News Office 2 Highland Rd. #01-03, S 549102 (next to Immaculate Heart Church) TEL: 6-858-3055, FAX: 6-858-2055 e-mail: cathnews<3)catholic.ora.sa.

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Lessons from “MOSES - Freedom” As we saw, Moses seemed to be someone rather special! But one day he got into big trouble. So he ran away to another country called Midian.

One day he saw something strange - a bush that seemed to be on fire but didn't get burnt up. So he went closer to have a look. Then he hears this voice which turns out to be God. Moses must have been quite startled. Anyway, God told him that he had to go back to Egypt and ask the King to let his people, the Israelites go free and leave, (remember? They were slaves in Egypt!). Can you imagine what Moses thought of this plan? He had just run away from the King, because he was scared o f him. Now here is God telling him, not just to go back there, but to ask the King to let his people go free. Moses must have

said to himself; "What a crazy idea! NO WAY am I going to go back there!" So he says to God: "I can't speak very well! I think you better send someone else there!" God of course, expected this, so he tells Moses to go along with his brother Aaron and that he would give him wonderful powers. And as they say: "The rest is (Bible) history!" Well, you can read about it in your Bible.

What’s important to learn from this story is that God chooses each of us personally — you can call that a 'vocation'' or a "calling". Wait a minute! Many people think a "vocation" is a calling to be a priest or a Brother or a Sister in a convent. Sure, these also are vocations, because God calls them. But he calls all of us. Each and every one of us has a vocation. Each of

you, children, is also being called by God. No one is too young to be called by God. In the Old Testament, there is a beautiful story of a little boy, Samuel, who was called by God, too. But what are we called for? I can't tell you, nor can Daddy or Mummy tell you, either. Only God can tell you, and he will! But you need to listen you need to ask him to tell you. The little boy, Samuel, when he heard God calling him, answered: Speak Lord, your servant is listening/* You won't hear a voice, children! But you will know when God is calling you provided you LISTEN. This is terribly important. He calls each of us differently and for different things. Try adding that little prayer to your night prayer before you sleep: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening! Happy listening, children!

T H E C A T H O L IC NEW S - 11

F o rtn ig h tly : S u n . F e b . 1 6 a n d S u n . F e b . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3

Franciscan Father Pascal Nguyen Ngoc Tinh, who coordinates the Ho Chi Minh City group, gave him a compact disk containing Vietnamese translations of the Gospels and Psalms.

Phong is in charge of Thien An Home, whose 10 blind children include two Catholics. He said the children helped him check the spelling, trim the books and perform other tasks.

Besides translating sections of the Scriptures, Phong has also produced Braille versions of English, physics, chemistry and music textbooks.

He said that this year he plans to develop Braille versions of the Scriptural readings used at Mass as well as some catechism books.

Sister Anna Le Thi Van Nga, a Lovers of the Holy Cross nun who works at Nhat Hong Home, told UCA News that her students are using the Gospels and Psalms in Braille in their daily evening prayers. This home for the visually impaired was founded in 1995 and now has 52 students, of whom more than half are nonCatholics. Forty of them can now read Braille.

The Braille system, invented in the 19th century by blind Frenchman Louis Braille, was introduced into Vietnam in 1898, and first taught in a school for Vietnam’s visually impaired in 1903.

In the Braille system, every alphabetic letter or other symbol is assigned a number of raised dots in a rectangular six-dot cell. There are up to 63 combinations of the dots, which are embossed by hand or machine onto thick paper and read with fingers moving over the top of the dots.

Melbourne U Group

by Adrian Fann Increasing numbers of students leave for overseas institutions to further their studies, with Australia as one of their most popular destinations. Many Singaporean students find it assuring that there is a large population of Singaporean as well as international students on campus.

It doesn’t take much effort to go easy and forget about God when settling in and mixing with the diverse range of people in the university.

However, in the University of Melbourne, there is a group of international students who call themselves COSDU, an acronym for the Catholic Overseas Students Down Under. This group is mainly Asian, but any student In Melbourne, is welcome to join. Started by Blessed Sacrament Sister, Carol Hogan, COSDU has since grown in numbers and faith. Now led by Sr. Theresa Ryan FMDM, COSDU aims to provide a ‘family away from home, growing together in Christ’.

COSDU arranges for the Eucharist to be celebrated every first Friday of the month, and sessions are held on the other Fridays. Apart from these, there are opportunities for members to carry out charity work, and help the destitute, the downtrodden, and the poor. There are also social events, such as barbeques (barbies), dinners, movie nights, a tennis tournament and sports day to help everyone to get to know each other better.

One of the highlights of the year is the annual Easter Camp. Held during the Easter break, it aims to allow members to get away from study commitments, and the distractions from city life, so as to grow in Christian faith and love. Past members have said that the camp not only gave

them an opportunity to reflect on their relationship with God, it also resulted in many friends being made.

As one’s faith matures into an adult faith, it is important to have a firm grounding and support from other members of the Christian community.

COSDU has tried to play this role. Sr. Theresa is always available to students for counselling, instructions, and even just an afternoon chat. The Chaplaincy is where everyone gathers from time to time, some dropping by to have lunch, and some to have a hot drink during winter. Gospel sharing sessions will commence this year, twice weekly in the afternoons. Members meet regularly for Sunday Mass at the different parishes around the University.

Those planning to study in Melbourne are invited to attend the Clubs and Society days (2728 Feb 2003) at the University of Melbourne. Look out for the COSDU table and there will be members to answer your questions and register you in our mailing list. The first official event of the year will be the Welcome Mass and dinner held on 7 March 2003, at 6.30 pm in St. Mary’s Chapel, St. Mary’s College.

For those who wish to find out more, contact: Adrian +65 98365217, email: adrianfann@yahoo.com Alison +65 94388113, email: alisonjoannelee@hotmail.com.

Sr. Theresa, +61 3 83444825, e-mail: trryan@unimelb.edu.au. office: The University of Melbourne, 786 Swanston Street, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.

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B ra ille G o s p e l s VIETNAM, Ho Chi Minh City (UCAN) —- Visually impaired Catholics can finally “read" the Gospels in Vietnamese Braille, thanks to a blind Catholic man.

Antoine Nguyen Quoc Phong, the man behind the Gospels in Braille said that he tried to write parts of the Bible in Braille because “I wanted to read the Bible by myself.” An accident in 1991 caused his blindness.

The former Salesian student, 45, said he finished the Gospels in Braille version in 2001, and by this last Christmas also the Psalms and “Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish” by the late Vietnamese Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan.

The Braille version of the four Gospels is 718 pages thick, and the three Psalms 516 pages.

Each copy of the book is 30 centimeters by 31 centimeters and every line has 40 raised characters.

Phong has already produced 160 copies of the Gospels, Psalms and “Five Loaves of Bread and Two Fish.” It is costly to produce a book in Braille.

Eighty copies of the Gospels, for example, would cost 16 million dong (US$1,038).

The Liturgy of the Hours Translating Group, based in Ho Chi Minh City, and the United Kingdom-based United Bible Societies, an international organization sponsoring the distribution of the Bible, provided him with money and data.

College students helped write a computer programme to transfer the Vietnamese data into Vietnamese Braille, Phong recalled. He said that

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201 Goldhill Centre, Thomson Road, Singapore 307637.

Tel: 6252-3390 email: wellsp@singnet.com.sg web: www.wellsprings.com.sg

s k ille d p e rso n s, in v e s to rs a n d e n tre p re n e u rs For full details, please contact

TEH YIP W ONG & TAN

B ooks, CDs, C an d les, In c e n s e , S ta tu e s ...

Tel: (65) 6438 6909 (Singapore) Email: enquiries@tywtlaw.com

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D e a li n g in u s e d C a rs , In s u ra n c e a n d F in a n c e “ W e a ls o o f f e r b e s t p r ic e s f o r y o u r o l d c a r s . ” A lfre d Koh

Thomson / Tagore Used Car Centre Lot 19 (81-T, Tagore Lane) Singapore 787520 Tel: 6455-0822 (5 Lines) Fax: 6455-7204

DID: 6552-5550 H/P: 9456-7818

W h a t ’s Your A genda in L i f e Love? Career? Family? God? Be Empowered to Choose

Carmelite Sister Mary Rose of the Holy Spirit called to the Lord Date of birth: Jan 8, 1915 Deceased: Jan 19, 2003 CARMELITE Sister Mary Rose of the Holy Spirit was born in Ipoh, West Malaysia on Jan 8, 1915, the 10th of 12 siblings.

As a young girl, she helped her physician brother to dispense medicine in his clinic in Ipoh and teach catechism and organize games and concerts for her parish’s little children in her free time.

After serving the parish for many years, God called her into the Carmelite monastery in Singapore, making her solemn profession on Feb 2, 1949.

Sr Mary Rose worked for the Monastery by sewing for the Sisters.

After planning the construction of the Monastery’s laundry she took pains to ensure it was always spick and span.

Her talent in composing, acting,

COM ING UP

Sr Mary Rose died on Jan 19. She was 88. singing and writing scripture-based plays entertained the Sisters.

In the 1970s Sr Mary Rose developed breast cancer. After the operation her health gradually weakened. A few years later, her knees underwent surgery too, following which her legs became

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE In loving m em ory of

weekends 2003 2/3 A p r il 25 - 27

I W Lm m fo r Young Adults For information: Victor & Annabelle 9307-7752 / Jennifer 6345-3256 Website registration: www.choice.org.sg

CONSECRATION TO GOD THE FATHER - THE FATHER OF ALL MANKIND You are welcome to join in the monthly devotion on 7th of every month at 7.30 pm at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Rm 3.3 House of David.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE CAMP A training camp on faith fundamentals, Christian morality and human sexuality.

Highly recommended for catechists, educators, social workers, counselors, and all who would like to deepen their general knowledge. Date: Feb 21, 22 & 23 FriSun Tentative venue: Changi Conference Centre (Salvation Army). Organised by the Family Life Society. To register or make enquiries visit 'vww.prolife.org.sg or Andrew (6488-0287).

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DISCOVERING ONE’S DIRECTION IN LIFE THROUGH IGNATIAN DISCERNMENT METHODS 4 Sessions conducted by Fr Philip Heng, S.J. for young men and women. Dates: Fridays, Feb 14, 28, Mar 7, 14, 8 pm to 10 pm Venue: Centre of Ignatian Spirituality & Councelling, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Enquiries: Fr Philip Heng 6467-2790 or Email: philipheng@pacific.net.sg

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We need funds to continue our mission of care and comfort of adults and children stricken with cancer. Come make our carnival a success and you’ll be helping cancer patients regardless of their financial status, age, race or religion.

VEHICLES WANTED Any model, anyyear commercial or used cars.

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Carnival tickets (a) £10 available from Assisi Home & Hospice, 820 Thomson Road Tel: 6347 6446 E-mail: geraldine@mtalvernia-hospital.org or ronita_paul(a)mta lvernia-hospital.org O R G A N IS E D B Y:

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I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, even if he dies, shall live, and w hoever lives and believes in me, shall never die.

F irst A n n iv e rsary In loving m em ory of

CHARLES JO S E PH

De£aited^e^0J98^

Sadly m issed and alw ays rem em bered by children, grandchildren and all loved ones.

M ass will be celebrated at C hurch o f St T e re sa, K am pong Baru on Saturday, Feb 22,2003 at 6.30pm.

T h ird A n n iv e rsary In loving m em ory of

L O U IS L O W Y A T ON Departed: Feb 22, 2000 Fondly rem em bered by wife, children, grandchildren and all loved ones.

THANKSGIVING T h an k sg iv in g to H oly S p irit Holy Spirit, you who make me see every­ thing and show me the way to reach my ideal.

You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances o f my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no m atter how great the material desires may be.

I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory.

Amen. Thank you very much for helping me.

Please continue to bless me. C hristabell M any thanks and deepest gratitude to St Jude for prayers answ ered. Please continue to bless my family and answ er my prayers. D oreen G rrio la T his is a long overdue thanksgiving for all the tim es that I turn to you for help, and never once, did you let me dow n. Thank you very much. Y o u r loving d a u g h te r

Bom: Sept 10, 1921 Departed: Feb 16,2002 Age: 81 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

(John 11:25-26)

CALLING ALL OLD GIRLS OF CHIJ PONGGOL CONVENT AND SJC PRIMARY TO JOIN THE SCHOOL ALUMNAE! Date: Thurs Mar 13, 6.30 pm.

Venue: new school premises at Church of Nativity of the BVM. Enquiries: Li Li (6385-2455), Crescentia (9151-6758) or email olnalum@yahoo.com.sg RSVP by Mar 11.

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too weak to walk. She then spent most of her time as a hermit interceding for the Church.

In 1998, Sr Mary Rose became very anaemic and developed chest in fe ctio n often . T his fu rth e r weakened her, forcing her to be confined to bed. She was in and out of the hospital for many years.

A few months ago a doctor diagnosed her with advanced cancer but due to her age and weakness no treatm ent was given. She was hospitalised on Jan 15 for water retention. In the morning of Jan 19 she slipped peacefully into the Lord’s heavenly embrace. She was 88 years old.

The Carmelite Sisters thank God for the gift of Sr Mary Rose and for giving her the grace to serve the Church whom she had always loved and treasured.

K A N A G A SA B A I M A R IA D A SS

Deeply m issed by beloved wife, sons, daughters, grandchildren and all loved ones.

F irst A n n iv e rsary In everloving memory of

T w e n ty -first A n n iv e rsary In loving m em ory of

LO U RD ES NATHAN (C M PERIASAM Y) Departed: Feb 19, 2002 W e often think o f bygone days W hen we were together; Though you have left us to be w ith the Lord O ur m em ories will live for ever.

T U P A Z R IC H A R D ROM ALDO Departed: Feb 27,1982 Dearest papa, Tw enty one years have passed.

Y et the memory o f you still rem ains as vivid as ever, W e shall always treasure and cherish the happy m om ents when you were with us.

G R A C E C H E L L IA H Departed: Feb 24,1992 In memory o f a loving mother From: H er children, grandchildren and all loved ones.

Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for the graces and blessings which you have given us and especially the long term social visit pass you have given to Magdalene through the powerful prayers o f our Mother of Perpetual Help and Holy St Jude. We also thank our Holy Mother Mary and St Jude for their intercessions. Please continue to intercede for us. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Holy Mary and St Jude be praised, honoured and invoked always. M a rk and M agdelene P ra y e r to the Holy S p irit Holy Spirit; you who make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for everything and confirm once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be.

I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory.

Amen For prayers and favours answered.

G e raldine

D eeply m issed and alw ays rem em bered by w ife K atherine, children and grandchildren.

Fondly rem em bered by daughter M ay and all your loved ones.

O B IT U A R Y Peacefully sleeping, resting at last, The world's weary troubles and trials are past.

In silence he suffered, in patience he bore, Till God called him home to suffer no more.

RO NALD W. M INJOOT (RONNIE) AGE: 80 passed away peacefully on Jan 7, 2003 leaving behind Beloved Wife: Doris Children: - Royston, - Jude, - Penelope, - Christopher, - Brian In-laws and grandchildren.

The family thank all relatives and friends, priest o f OLPS Church Dr James Low and staff of Wd 12, Alexandra Hospital for their kindness during our bereavement.

F o r tn ig h t ly : S u n . F e b . 1 6 a n d S u n . F e b . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3 "I am the resurrection and the life s who believes in me shall never die."

In loving m em ory o f

Eleventh A n n iv ersary In loving memory o f

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E ig h th A n n iv e rsary In loving memory o f

T H E C A T H O L IC N E W S - 1 3

lU IE IM ir t D V IVI c IVI U K Y In loving memory of

For all those who havtve no one to pray for them - we pravay to the Lord.

T h ird A nniv ersary

I am the Resurrection and the Life.

Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me, will never die.

(John 11: 25)

In loving memory o f

M A U R IC E JO S E P H C H E L L IA H Departed: Feb 24,1992 Only the memory o f bygone days A nd a sigh for a face unseen; A constant feeling that G od alone Knows best what should have been.

Fondly remembered by family and loved ones.

ARTHUR LEFO RT Bom: O ct 19, 1920 Departed: Feb 16,1995 In our hearts your memory lingers, Sweetly tender, fond and true, There is not a day, dear father, That we do not think o f you.

Sadly m issed by wife, children, grandchildren and loved ones.

D A V ID G E R R A R D P E R E IR A W ho left us twenty-six years ago on Feb 20, 1977 Sweet are the memories silently kept.

O f one we loved dearly and never forget.

Sadly missed by family and friends.

T w elfth A nniversary In loving memory of

F irs t A n n iv e rsary In loving memory of

T h irty -fifth A n n iv e rsary In everloving m em ory of

M D M L IL Y TH ERESA Departed: Feb 7, 2000 W hat is home without a mother?

All things this world may send, But when I lost my darling mother, I lost my dearest friend.

Her memory we shall always keep.

Fondly remembered by loved ones.

T h irty -first A nniversary In loving memory of

JO S E PH W ONG POH HONG Departed: Feb 21,2001 His memory is as dear today, As in the hour he passed away.

Always remembered by loved ones

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Second A nn iv ersary k In loving memory of G REGORY CHEOK PO H SEO NG Departed: Feb 17,1999 I have lost my so u l’s companiion, A life linked with my own; And day by day I miss him more, As I w alk through life alone.

Cecilia and Vincent.

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S eventh A nn iv ersary In loving memory of

• Catholic male & female specialist embalmers.

Note: Female embalmer will attend to all female deceased.

*7 ST E W A R T T E O C H Y E SO O N Departed: Feb 19,1996 It may have been seven years since you left us but the m em ories of your love and care remain. We still miss having you in our lives Pa and always will D early remembered by family - Lilian, Elaine, Jimmy, Lenna and Jaramy.

M ass will be celebrated at the Church o f the Imm aculate Heart o f M ary on W ednesday, Feb 19, 2003 at 6.15 pm.

• Affordable air-conditioned memorial chapels with microphone, electronic organ & appropriate furnishing & lighting.

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S eventh AiAnniversarv In memory of a la loving husband, father, father-in-la-law and grandpa V IN C E N T C H E N G TSU PIN Bom: Feb 20, 1971 Departed: Jan 21, 2000 Take him in Thy arms, dear Lord, And ever let him be A m essenger o f love Between our hearts and Thee.

Dearly missed and always loved by family and loved ones.

F irst A n n iv e rsary In loving memory o f

B EL SIA N M A R T IN FE R N A N D O Departed: Feb .14,1968 Rest in peace, dear loving father, Thirty-five long years have passed away; Y ou’re gone, but are still living In the hearts o f those who stay.

Lovingly remembered by wife, children and loved ones.

F irst A n n iv e rsary In loving memory of

E D M U N D FO O C H EE LEO N G Departed: Feb 22, 2002 Holding on meant prolonging your pain But letting go we endure our pain So my dearest son, till we meet again These precious memories o f you will remain You had too little but you gave your all In our hearts y o u ’ll always stand tall.

D earest brother, ’tis our prayer That God keep you in His loving Care C herished forever by mum, Rena and Bernard.

L IL Y L IM H O N G DAVID Called home to be with the Lord on 14 February 2002 (Church of St Francis Xavier, St Francis X avier J5) Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!.

Dearly missed and cherished by children and loved ones.

T w enty-E ighth A nniversary In loving memory o f

M A R Y TAN Departed: Feb 19,1991 Tw elve years since you left us, Mama dearest; W hen God took you, it was His will, But in our hearts, we love you still.

M issing you, Yes, we always do, But in our heaven, we believe, it’s true, Looking and sm iling down at us, are you.

In Jesus ’ arms you have always prayed to be.

This is the memory o f you, in our hearts within.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Amen.

Fondly remembered by loved ones.

In loving memory of

In our hearts Your memory lingers, sweetly tender, fond and true, there is not a day, dear mama, that we do not think o f you.

Dearly loved and deeply missed by your husband Lawrence, children, in-laws and grandchildren.

-S .

L ife’s labour done; as sinks the clay, Light from its load the spirit flies, W hile heaven and earth com bine to say, “How blest the righteous when he dies!”

Death is not a period It’s only a comma.

Always remembered by wife, daughters and loved ones.

Please turn to page 12 for more “In Memoriam” announcements and classified advertisements.

A N T O IN E T T E M A R IE Z E H N D E R Called to be with the Lord on Feb 22, 1972 Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace.

Lovingly remembered by daughter Valerie, sons Patrick, Desmond, Barry, grandchildren, great grandchildren and loved ones.

PETER ANG V YONG MONG Departed: FeFeb 15,1996 In our home he is fofondly remembered.

Sweet memories ej cling to his name; Those who loved hihim in life sincerely, Still love him in daieath just the same.

Always rememberered and sadly missed by wife Teresa a and loved ones.

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M R S P. T H O M A S N E E L A N K A V IL PA U L R O SE Nee N E E L A N K A V II. Born: Feb 17, 1912 MARY Called to Born: Oct 2, 1921 eternal rest on Called to the Lord on Feb 17, 1997 Feb 15,1997 in Singapore in Singapore

Rest in peace.

Always remembered by loved ones.

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Blk 3 T o a P a y o h Lor 8 # 0 1 - 1 3 4 7 JO H N D A NAM Called home on Feb 28,1975

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M RS T H E R E S A R O D R IG U E S Called to be with the Lord on Feb 25, 2002

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OUR SERVICES ■ Provides counsel for suitable funeral al arrangements ■ Affordable package to suit budget consnstraints * Certified embalmers ■ Columbarium and tombstones, etc ■ Exhumation work, repatriation cases s ■ Tentage, chairs, lightings, fans, etc ■ Sound system, floral arrangements, focood and beverages pall bearers ■ Photo Enlargements ■ Pastors & Priests arrangement for funaneral services ■ Air conditioned bus transportation, hesearse and » Arrangement for parlors, cremation, bimurials, clothing, etc ADDRESS : 150 South Bridge Rd, #02-0515 Fook Hai Building Singapore re 058727 Tel: (65) 6533-1787 Fax'. ^S5) 6533-1729 Website: http://www.therestimgplace. com. sg Email: resting@singnet.comt.sg CONTACTS: Peter Wang 9 8 2 2 - 6 8 4 5 Tan Song Poh 9 0 0 3 - 4 4 9 4 Raymond Roy Gabriel 9 7 6 4 - 5 1 0 5

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1 4 - T H E C A T H O L IC N E W S

FA M ILY Reflection Theme 2 - The Christian FAMILY : WITNESS to the Paschal Covenant - Pontifical Council for the Family Opening Hymn Recitation o f the Our Father Biblical reading « Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing o f water with the word, that he might present the Church to himself in splendour, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife, loves himself.

For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the Church, because we are members o f his body.

“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ” This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church; however, let each one o f you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husbands (Eph. 5:25-33).

Reflection Particularly today, the Christian family has a special vocation to witness to the paschal covenant of Christ by constantly radiating the joy of love and the certainty of the hope for which it must give an account: the Christian family loudly proclaims both the present virtues of the Kingdom of God and the hope of a blessed life to come.

A Sign of the Paschal Covenant The Church professes that Marriage, as the Sacrament of the covenant between husband and wife, is a «great mystery», because it expresses the spousal love o f Christ for his Church.

Saint Paul writes: «Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing

of water with the word» (Eph. 5:25-26). The Apostle is speaking here about Baptism, which he discusses at length in the Letter to the Romans, where he presents it as a sharing in the death of Christ leading to a sharing in his life (cf. Rom. 6:3-4). In this Sacrament the believer is born as a new man, for Baptism has the power to communicate new life, the very life of God. The mystery of the God-man is in some way recapitulated in the event of Baptism. As Saint Irenaeus would later say, along with many other Fathers of the Church of both East and West: «Christ Jesus, our Lord, the Son of God, became the son of man so that man could become a son of God» (cf. Adversus haereses, III, 10, 2: PG 7, 873).

Christ, the Bridegroom of the Church There is unquestionably a new presentation of the eternal truth about marriage and the family in the light of the New Covenant.

Christ has revealed this truth in the Gospel by his presence at Cana in Galilee, by the sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacraments of his Church.

Husbands and wives thus discover in Christ the point o f reference for their spousal love. In speaking of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, Saint Paul uses the analogy of spousal love, referring back to the Book of Genesis: «A man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh» (Gen. 2:24).

This is the «great mystery» of that eternal love already present in creation, revealed in Christ and entrusted to the Church. «This mystery is a profound one», the Apostle repeats, «and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the Church» (Eph. 5:32).

The Church cannot therefore be understood as the Mystical Body of Christ, as the sign of man’s Covenant with God in Christ, or as the universal sacrament of salvation, unless we keep in mind the «great mystery» involved in the creation of man as male and female and the vocation of both to conjugal love, to fatherhood and to motherhood.

The «great mystery®, which is the Church and humanity in Christ, does not exist apart from the «great mystery» expressed in the «one flesh» (cf. Gen 2:24; Eph 5:31-32), that is, in the reality of marriage and the family.

The Family: A Great Mystery The family itself is the great mystery of God. As the «domestic church», it is the bride o f Christ. The universal Church, and every particular Church in her, is most immediately revealed as the bride of Christ in the «domestic church» and in its experience of love: conjugal love, paternal and maternal love, fraternal love, the love of a community of persons and of generations. Could we even imagine human love without the Bridegroom and the love with which he first loved to the end?

Only if husbands and wives share in that love and in that «great mystery» can they love «to the end». Unless they share in it, they do not know «to the end» what love truly is and how radical are its demands.

Reflections of the priest or leader Discussion 1 Why do the spouses give witness in conjugal life to the mystery of the paschal covenant between Christ and His Church?

2 How is a loving response to Christ manifested in our family?

Commitments Hail Mary Queen o f the Family: pray for us Praver for the Family Final Hymn

Bible T h em es fo r re flec tio n - U N IT Y DAY 3 So that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies (2 Cor 4:10)

population from being accorded human dignity, above all in the case of migrants. For those same elements which divide people and nations are to be found in the sin which divides churches and prevents their true witness.

Moreover, unity between believers cannot be separated from the struggle to overcome the barriers dividing society.

IN THE IMAGE OF CHRIST

Prayer

Gen 1: 26-27

God of love, Powerful Creator of all life, encourage us to discern in ourselves and in each of our brothers and sisters, Your image and resemblance. Give us the strength necessary to obey the imperative of your allembracing love.

God of love, we pray that our witness will lead to the unity of the churches; and that with one voice we may call upon all humanity to be responsible for creation and for our neighbour. Amen.

In the image o f God he created them, male and female Ps 45 (44) Your God has anointed you 1 Tim 6: 11-16 Keep the commandments without spot or blame Mt 5: 14-15 You are the light o f the world Commentary The human person carries in him - or her - self the image of and resemblance to God. It is the sign of an integrity which nothing - neither weakness, sin nor oppression - can destroy. This mysterious truth constitutes a lasting call to spiritual growth in order to reach the measure of Christ.

Christ himself lives within the Christian, within the Christian’s very body, mind and soul. The Christian, woman and man must make plain, in real-life situations, the life of Christ which is within them. They are called to stand firm in obedience to the demands of the gospel until the Lord's coming again.

This witness involves the believer’s whole being, including the body. Over the ages, members of different churches have suffered (and still suffer) martyrdom, giving faithful witness in making the supreme act of obedience to Christ. Often the cause of martyrdom is to be found in the origins of exile. The Christian is thus called to be transformed in likeness to Christ, revealing Christ’s life within his own. «l am the light of the world»; «You are the light of the world*. This light must shine forth through works of justice, charity, compassion, in such a way that it becomes a revelation of the saving grace of God. Men and women are thus enabled to glorify the Father who desires salvation for us all.

As the church, we are called upon to change cultural practices which prevent a great part of the world’s

DAY 4 That the life of Jesus may be openly shown (2 Cor 4:11)

Christ invites us to take up the challenge of living in a way that meets the demands of his kingdom. His presence among his people marks each one of us. The power of his resurrection delivers us from all deathdealing temptation. If we are aware of his presence among us - risen, but bearing the traces of the despised, rejected or excluded - we can understand the importance of the least among us. If we had believed that simple fishermen were less capable of teaching than the doctors of religion, we would never have heard the message of the apostles, nor that of a carpenter from Nazareth.

That is why we must encourage each other to question the kind of society which excludes people and neglects their material and spiritual needs.

In this struggle at the heart of the societies in which we live, we may be tempted to give up, believing that we are all alone. But we must not lose courage, for others among God’s children are also working to maintain the dignity of human life and are thus making visible the life of Jesus within our mortal existence.

The church is called to reveal this light shining in the darkness. Confronted with a divided world our quest for unity is vital. It is our common calling to show the power of the resurrection in order that the world might believe. Faced with war and with distress of all kinds, surrounded by struggles for temporal power and by discord, we must not attempt to escape together but, guided by Christ, commit ourselves to help the world change course.

DIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE

Prayer

Ezra 1 :1 -4

O God, we commit ourselves to you as we have confidence only in your strength. Quieten our bodies and our minds, Come into our hearts, And in our daily tasks help us to appreciate the power of renewal which you offer us.

O God, open up for us the road to unity. Lead us by the hand along the way of your kingdom to be witnesses of hope. May we not succumb to despair for through his own resurrection Christ has overcome death.

O God, in whom we hope, give us your Spirit of truth, courage and strength that we may go forward together towards the full, visible unity of the church.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Ps 50 (49) Rm 6: 6-14 Mk 9: 33-37

Any o f those among you who are o f his people - may their God go with them!

The heavens declare his righteousness Dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus Whoever wants to be first must be last o f all and servant o f all

Commentary Many aspects of life are hard. The most degrading conditions are imposed on people. For many, their very existence is something rather to be endured, and they are sunk in despair and terror.

F o r tn ig h t ly : S u n . F e b . 1 6 a n d S u n . F e b . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3

T H E C A T H O L IC N E W S - 1 5

FA M ILY

Make your families a page of the Gospel written for our time!

25 January 2003 (5pm Manila) - Our Holy Father's LIVE TELECAST ADDRESS from the Clementine Hall at the Vatican Palace

4. The grace which you received in marriage remains with you through the years. Its source is in the pierced heart of the Redeemer, who sacrificed himself on the altar of the Cross for the sake of the Church, his Spouse, accepting death for the salvation of the world.

This grace remains ever close to that source: it is the grace of a self-sacrificing love, a love which both gives and forgives. It is the grace of a selfless love which forgets the hurt it has suffered, a love faithful unto death, a love bursting with new life. It is the grace of a generous love, which believes all things, bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things, a love which has no end, a love which is greater than all else (cf. 1 Cor 13:7-8).

Such a love is not always easy. Daily life is full of pitfalls, tensions, suffering and even fatigue. But on this journey vou are not alone. Jesus is always present at your side, just as he was for the newlyweds at Cana in Galilee during a moment of difficulty. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the Saviour remains close to Christian couples and offers them help, so that, just as he loved the Church and gave himself up for her, they too might always love each other faithfully and with constant mutual concern (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 48).

LIVE TELECAST At 11.00 am (Rome time 5pm Manila) Our Holy Father, in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Palace was linked by live telecast to Manila on the occasion of the 4th International Congress of the Family.

After the greeting by the Pontifical Legate, His Eminence Alfonso Cardianal Lopez Trujillo, testimonies were presented from families of the five continents of the world.

This was followed at 6.00pm -(Manila) by a greeting from His Eminence Jaime Cardinal L. Sin, Archbishop of Manila.

After that Our Holy Father delivered his address.

[Original text: Italian]

CNS Photo shows Our Holy Father in the Vatican during the live telecast

A R C H D IO C ES A N YO UTH C H A P L A IN C Y

Archbishop Nicholas Chia Archdiocesan Youth Co-ordinator Rev Frederick Quek City District: Rev Albert Ng Rev Cary Chan North District: Rev Adrian Yeo & Rev Andrew Wong

1. My thoughts and prayers are with you, dear families of the Philippines and from throughout the world, as you gather in Manila for your Fourth World Meeting. With great affection I greet all o f you in the name of the Lord!

On this occasion I also offer a prayerful greeting to all the families of the world which you represent: “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord" (1 Tim 1:2).

I thank the Papal Legate, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, for the kind words which he addressed to me on your behalf. To him and to the staff of the Pontifical Council for the Family I express my gratitude for the time and effort spent in preparing this Meeting. I am likewise grateful to Cardinal Jaime Sin, the Archbishop of Manila, who is generously hosting you during these days.

2. in the theological-pastoral session just concluded you discussed the theme: T h e Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium". I chose these words with your World Meeting in mind, in order to highlight the sublime mission o f the family. By embracing the Gospel and walking in its light, families are given the demanding responsibility of bearing witness to its message.

Dear Christian families, proclaim joyfully to the whole world the wonderful treasure which you, as domestic churches, possess!

Christian couples, in your communion of life and love, in your mutual self-giving and in your generous openness to children, become, in Christ, the light of the world. The Lord asks you daily to be like a lamp which does not remain hidden, but is put “on a stand, and ... gives light to ail in the house’ . (Mt 5:15).

3. Above all, be “good news’ for the third millennium by remaining faithful to your vocation. Whether you were married recently or many years ago, the Sacrament o f Matrimony continues to be your own special wav of being disdoies of Jesus, contributing to the spread of the Kingdom of God and growing in the holiness to which all Christians are called. As the Second Vatican Council noted, Christian couples, in She fulfilment o f their marital and family responsibilities, "increasingly advance their own perfection and their mutual sanctification". {Joy and Hope, 48).

Accept fully and without reserve the love which, in the Sacrament o f Matrimony, God first gave to you, and through which he enables you to love others in turn (cf. 1 Jn 4:19). Stand firm in the one conviction which rain give meaning, strength and joy to your life: Christ’s tove will never abandon you, his covenant of peace with you w il never fail (cf. Is 54:10). God s gifts and call are irrevocable (cf.

Rom 11:2S). He has written your name on the palm o f his hand. (cf.

Is 49:16).

5. Christian couples, be “good news for the third millennium’ by bearing convincing and consistent witness to the truth about the family.

The family founded on marriage is a patrimony of humanity, a great good of priceless value, necessary for the life, development and the future of peoples. According to the plan of creation established in the beginning (cf. Mt 19: 4,8), the family is the setting in which the human person, made in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:26), is conceived and bom, grows and matures. The family, as the primary school in which the human person is formed (cf. The Family, 19-27), is indispensable for a true “human ecology" (The Hundreth Year, 39).

I am grateful for the testimonies which you have given this evening, and which I have carefully followed. They bring to mind my own experiences as a priest, as Archbishop of Krakow and in the nearly twenty-five years of my papacy. As-1 have often said, the future of humanity passes bv wav of the family (cf. The Family, 86).

I urge you, dear Christian families, to show by your daily lives that despite numerous difficulties and obstacles marriage is able to be fully iiyed out as a meaningful experience and as “good news” for the men and women o f today. Be leaders in the Church and in the world: this is a responsibility flowing from your celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony, from your being a domestic church, and from the marital mission which is yours as the primary cells of society (cf. Apostolic Activity, 11).

6. Finally, dear Christian couples, if you wish to be “good news for the third millennium”, do not forget that family praver is a sure way to remain united in a way of life in harmony with God’s will.

When i proclaimed the Year of the Rosary several months ago, I recommended this Marian devotion as a prayer OF the family and FOR the family. By reciting the Rosary, families "place Jesus at the centre, they share his joys and sorrows, they place their needs and their plans in his hands, they draw from him the hope and the strength to go on* (Rosary o f the Virgin Mary, 42).

I entrust all o f you to Mary, Queen o f the Family; may she accompany and sustain your life as families. I am also pleased to announce that the Fourth World Meeting of Families will be held in Valencia, Spain, in 2006.

As I now impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing, I leave you with a final charge: with God’s help, make the Gospel the ouidino principle of your families, and make vour families a page of the Gospel written for our time!

[O rig in a l text : E n g lis h ]

Serangoon District: Rev Brian D'Souza, Rev Frederick Quek Rev Luke Fong West District: Rev Colin Tan, Rev Ignatius Yeo, Rev John-Paul Tan East District: Rev Alex Chua Rev Erbin Fernandez Vine & Branches: Bro Celestine Toh

PRAYER FOR TH E FAMILY Lord God, from you every family in heaven and on earth takes its name.

Father, vou are Love and Life.

Through your Son, Jesus Christ, born of woman, and through the Holy Spirit, fountain of divine charity, grant that every family on earth may become for each successive generation a true shrine of life and love.

Grant that your grace may guide the thoughts and actions of husbands and wives for the good of their families and of all the families in the world.

Grant that the young may find in the family solid support for their human dignity

and for their growth in truth and love.

Grant that love, strengthened by the grace of the sacrament of marriage. may prove mightier than all the weakness and trials through which our families sometimes pass.

Through the intercession of the Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that the Church may fruitfully carry out her worldwide mission in the family and through the family.

Through Christ our Lord, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life for ever and ever. Amen.

- John Paul II

1 6 - T H E C A T H O L IC N E W S

F o r tn ig h t ly : S u n . F e b . 1 6 a n d S u n . F e b . 2 3 , 2 0 0 3

WORLD

Catholics in Political Life Concrete political action On the level of concrete political action, there can generally be a plurality of political parties in which Catholics may exercise - especially through legislative assemblies - their right and duty to contribute to the public life of their country. This arises because of the contingent nature of certain choices regarding the ordering of society, the variety of strategies available for accomplishing or guaranteeing the same fundamental value, the possibility of different interpretations of the basic principles of political theory, and the technical complexity of many political problems. It should not be confused, however, with an ambiguous pluralism in the choice of moral principles or essential values. The legitimate plurality of temporal options is at the origin of the commitment of Catholics to politics and relates directly to Christian moral and social teaching. It is in the light of this teaching that lay Catholics must assess their participation in political life so as to be sure that it is marked by a coherent responsibility for temporal reality.

Correct understanding o f the human person.

The Church recognizes that while democracy is the best expression of the direct participation of citizens in political choices, it succeeds only to the extent that it is based on a correct understanding of the human person.

Catholic involvement in political life cannot compromise on this principle, for otherwise the witness of the Christian faith in the world, as well as the unity and interior coherence of the faithful, would be non-existent.

The democratic structures on which the modern state is based would be quite fragile were its foundation not the centrality of the human person. It is respect for the person that makes democratic participation possible. As the Second Vatican Council teaches, the protection of «the rights of the person is, indeed, a necessary condition for citizens, individually and collectively, to play an active part in public life and administration®.

The human person and scientific advances 4. The complex array of today’s problems branches out from here, including some never faced by past generations. Scientific progress has resulted in advances that are unsettling for the consciences of men and women and call for solutions that respect ethical principles in a coherent and fundamental way. At the same time, legislative proposals are put forward which, heedless of the consequences for the existence and future of human beings with regard to the formation of culture and social behaviour, attack the very inviolability of human life. Catholics, in this difficult situation, have the right and the duty to recall society to a deeper understanding of human life and to the responsibility of everyone in this regard. John Paul II, continuing the constant teaching of the Church, has reiterated many times that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a «grave and clear obligation to oppose» any law that attacks human life. For them, as for every Catholic, it is impossible to promote such laws or to vote for them. As John Paul II has taught in his Encyclical Letter The Gospel o f Life regarding the situation in which it is not possible to overturn or completely repeal a law allowing abortion which is already in force or coming up for a vote, «an elected official, whose absolute personal opposition to procured abortion was well known, could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality®.

The Christian conscience In this context, it must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political programme or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine. A political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the Church's social doctrine does not exhaust one’s responsibility towards the common good. Nor can a Catholic think of delegating his Christian responsibility to others; rather, the Gospel of Jesus Christ gives him this task, so that the truth about man and the world might be proclaimed and put into action.

Application In some current issues When political activity comes up against moral principles

that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility. In the face of fundamental and inalienable ethical demands, Christians must recognize that what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which concerns the integral good of the human person. This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo.

Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce: in no way can other forms of cohabitation [same sex "marriages"] be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such. The same is true for the freedom of parents regarding the education of their children; it is an inalienable right recognized also by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. In the same way, one must consider society’s protection of minors and freedom from modern forms o f slavery (drug abuse and prostitution, for example). In addition, there is the right to religious freedom and the development of an economy that is at the service of the human person and of the common good, with respect for social justice, the principles of human solidarity and subsidiarity, according to which «the rights of all individuals, families, and organizations and their practical implementation must be acknowledged®. Finally, the question of peace must be mentioned. Certain pacifistic and ideological visions tend at times to secularize the value of peace, while, in other cases, there is the problem of summary ethical judgments which forget the complexity of the issues involved. Peace is always «the work of justice and the effect of charity®. It demands the absolute and radical rejection of violence and terrorism and requires a constant and vigilant commitment on the part of all political leaders.

a question of public order. The recognition of civil and political rights, as well as the allocation of public services may not be made dependent upon citizens’ religious convictions or activities.

The right and duty of Catholics and all citizens to seek the truth with sincerity and to promote and defend, by legitimate means, moral truths concerning society, justice, freedom, respect for human life and the other rights of the person, is something quite different. The fact that some of these truths may also be taught by the Church does not lessen the political legitimacy or the rightful «autonomy» of the contribution of those citizens who are committed to them, irrespective of the role that reasoned inquiry or confirmation by the Christian faith may have played in recognizing such truths. Such «autonomy» refers first of all to the attitude of the person who respects the truths that derive from natural knowledge regarding man’s life in society, even if such truths may also be taught by a specific religion, because truth is one. It would be a mistake to confuse the proper autonomy exercised by Catholics in political life with the claim of a principle that prescinds from the moral and social teaching of the Church.

Duty of the teaching Magisterium o f the Church

5. While a plurality of methodologies reflective of different sensibilities and cultures can be legitimate in approaching such questions, no Catholic can appeal to the principle of pluralism or to the autonomy of lay involvement in political life to support policies affecting the common good which compromise or undermine fundamental ethical requirements. This is not a question of «confessional values® per se, because such ethical precepts are rooted in human nature itself and belong to the natural moral law. They do not require from those who defend them the profession of the Christian faith, although the Church’s teaching confirms and defends them always and everywhere as part of her service to the truth about man and about the common good of civil society. Moreover, it cannot be denied that politics must refer to principles of absolute value precisely because these are at the service of the dignity of the human person and of true human progress.

By its interventions in this area, the Church’s Magisterium does not wish to exercise political power or eliminate the freedom of opinion of Catholics regarding contingent questions. Instead, it intends — as is its proper function - to instruct and illuminate the consciences of the faithful, particularly those involved in political life, so that their actions may always serve the integral promotion of the human person and the common good. The social doctrine of the Church is not an intrusion into the government of individual countries.

It is a question of the lay Catholic’s duty to be morally coherent, found within one’s conscience, which is one and indivisible. «There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the one hand, the so-called ‘spiritual life', with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called ‘secular* life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social responsibilities, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture. The branch, engrafted to the vine which is Christ, bears its fruit in every sphere of existence and activity. In fact, every area of the lay faithful’s lives, as different as they are, enters into the plan of God, who desires that these very areas be the ‘places in time’ where the love of Christ is revealed and realized for both the glory of the Father and service of others. Every activity, every situation, every precise responsibility - as, for example, skill and solidarity in work, love and dedication in the family and the education of children, service to society and public life and the promotion of truth in the area of culture - are the occasions ordained by providence for a ‘continuous exercise of faith, hope and charity' (Apostolic Activity). Living and acting in conformity with one’s own conscience on questions of politics is not slavish acceptance of positions alien to politics or some kind of confessionalism, but rather the way in which Christians offer their concrete contribution so that, through political life, society will become more just and more consistent with the dignity of the human person.

Rightful autonomy of the political or civil sphere

Intolerant secularism

6. The appeal often made to «the rightful autonomy o f the participation o f lay Catholics» in politics needs to be clarified. Promoting the common good of society, according to one’s conscience, has nothing to do with «confessionalism» or religious intolerance. For Catholic moral doctrine, the rightful autonomy of the political or civil sphere from that of religion and the Church - BUT NOT FROM THAT OF MORALITY - is a value that has been attained and recognized by the Catholic Church and belongs to inheritance of contemporary civilization.

John Paul II has warned many times of the dangers which follow from confusion between the religious and political spheres. «Extremely sensitive situations arise when a specifically religious norm becomes or tends to become the law of a state without due consideration for the distinction between the domains proper to religion and to political society. In practice, the identification of religious law with civil law can stifle religious freedom, even going so far as to restrict or deny other inalienable human rights®. All the faithful are well aware that specifically religious activities (such as the profession of faith, worship, administration of sacraments, theological doctrines, interchange between religious authorities and the members of religions) are outside the state's responsibility. The state must not interfere, nor in any way require or prohibit these activities, except when it is

In democratic societies, all proposals are freely discussed and examined. Those who, on the basis of respect for individual conscience, would view the moral duty of Christians to act according to their conscience as something that disqualifies them from political life, denying the legitimacy of their political involvement following from their convictions about the common good, would be guilty of a form of intolerant secularism. Such a position would seek to deny not only any engagement of Christianity in public or political life, but even the possibility of natural ethics itself. Were this the case, the road would be open to moral anarchy, which would be anything but legitimate pluralism. The oppression of the weak by the strong would be the obvious consequence.

The marginalization of Christianity, moreover, would not bode well for the future of society or for consensus among peoples; indeed, it would threaten the very spiritual and cultural foundations of civilization.

III. Principles of Catholic doctrine on the autonomy of the temporal order and on pluralism.

Conclusion : Considerations regarding particular aspects see page 6.

[subittles in italics are our own - Ed.]