MAY 25, 2003, vol 53, no 11 by CatholicNews

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SUNDAYS MAY 28 AND JUNE 1, 2003

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POPE: MEDIA MUST WORK FOR PEACE TO DAY’S journalists have unprecedented power to promote understanding and peace or hatred and violence, Pope John Paul II said. “The mass media have an inescapable responsibility in this sense, since they constitute the m odem arena in which ideas are shared and people can grow in mutual understanding and solidarity,” the pope said in his annual m essage for World Communications Day. The m essage was released Jan. 24 at the Vatican; the 2003 World Communications D a y will be marked June 1 in most dioceses. The theme for the 2003 celebration is “The Communications Media at the Service o f Authentic Peace in the Light o f ‘Pacem in Terris,”’ Pope

“My prayer on this year’s World Communications Day is that the men and women of the media will ever more wholly live up to the challenge of their calling: service of the universal common good. Their personal fulfilment and the peace and happiness of the world depend greatly on this.” John X X III’s 1963 encyclical on peace. W hile the Cold War divisions that marked Pope John’s era have faded, “peace, justice and stability are still lacking in many

Almost all Catholic kindergartens meet MOE requirements FOUR o f the five kindergartens shut down by MOE have received temporary licences. These are Our Lady o f Perpetual Succour Kindergarten in Siglap, St Francis o f A ssisi Kindergarten on Jurong West St 42, St Francis Xavier Play Centre on Upper Serangoon Road and St Francis Xavier Kindergarten in Serangoon Garden. They have met the requirements and have gone through all inspections. All documents are in order. The kindergarten must also prove that its teachers meet the qualifications o f the MOE and that hygiene and sanitation are observed. St Francis Xavier Kindergarten principal Emily Goh said the kindergarten will m ove into a new building in the church compound at the end o f the year. The kindergarten has been around for over 20 years. M eanwhile, Vicar General

Eugene Vaz, administrator o f the parish o f the Holy Trinity which runs the Holy Trinity Kindergarten said,”w e are follow ing the procedures to be registered and w e w ill take one stage at a tim e.” The 10-year old school failed to get a temporary license to operate. The five kindergartens were among more than 20 closed in mid-April by the MOE. According to the Ministry, the schools must seek building and safety clearance from the Building and Construction Authority (BC A ), Land Transport Authority (LTA), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Fire Safety and Shelter Bureau (FSSB), as w ell as health and hygiene clearance from MOE. The government said the closure o f non-registered kindergartens was to ensure safety and hygiene follow ing the Sars outbreak. □

COMMUNICATIONS IN THE INTERNET AGE

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parts o f the world,” Pope John Paul said. “Terrorism, conflict in the Middle East and other regions, threats and counterthreats, injustice, exploitation and assaults upon the dignity and sanctity o f human life both before and after birth are dismaying realities o f our times,” he said. The m edia’s power “is such that in a few short days they can create the positive or negative public reaction to events which suit their purposes,” the pope wrote. “Such enormous power calls for the highest standards of commitment to truth and goodness,” he said. Those who work in the media, even media affiliated with public or private interest groups, must not “set one group against another, for example, in the name o f class conflict, exaggerated nationalism, racial supremacy, ethnic cleansing and the like,” he said.

“Setting some against others in the name o f religion is a particularly serious failure against the truth and justice, as is discriminatory treatment o f religious beliefs, since these belong to the deepest realm o f the human person’s dignity and freedom,” the pope said. Journalists, he said, must “foster justice and solidarity in human relationships,” not by “glossing over grievances and divisions,” but by providing the background information needed to understand current problems. “The men and women o f the

media are especially bound to contribute to peace in all parts of the world by breaking down the barriers o f mistrust, fostering consideration o f the point o f view o f others, and striving always to bring peoples and nations together in mutual understanding and respect — and beyond understanding and respect, reconciliation and mercy,” he said. Pope John Paul’s statement condemned government control o f the media, but also said “purely commercial concerns” can spell the end o f freedom o f the press and o f expression. □

The people of Iraq are in desperate need of humanitarian need. Already struggling under the impact of sanctions, the war has brought increased suffering, with enormous disruption? to supplies of food, water and electricity. The second collection at all Masses on the weekend of May 24 and 25 will be for the reconstruction of Iraq. You may also donate directly by cheque made payable to TITULAR R.C. ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE

I wish to donate $ ........for work in the reconstruction of Iraq. Cheque made payable to: Titular R.C. Archbishop of Singapore Name:___________________________________________________ Address: Please send to: The Procurator, Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, 10 Yishun Street 2, Singapore 768579

Sundays May 25 and June l y 2003 Catholic News

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Help desks for migrant workers From June 1, migrant workers can get help from Hope Haven at Lucky Plaza and Kampong Kapor Methodist Church

Hope Haven help desks will be located at #04-19 Lucky Plaza and at the Kampong Kapor Methodist Church in Little India. Interested volunteers and needy migrant workers may call CMI (6280-5424) fo r more details. □

Comm ission, said the desks will be a big help to some 12,000 Sri Lankan domestic workers, some o f whom are not allowed to leave their em ployers’ homes on weekdays. On an average day the labour staff said she receives between eight to ten distress-calls and up to 25 on som e days. Mr Sa’Roni, an Indonesian Embassy official also said the help desks w ill benefit his countrymen. “The only thing is whether

By Mel Diamse-Lee IGRANT workers in Singapore w ill soon have more accessible places to go to if they want help. Hope Haven, a counselling service for migrants on work permit w ill have help desks at Lucky Plaza and Little India beginning June 1. The help desks, manned by qualified counsellors and trained volunteers, w ill operate on the first and third Sundays o f each month in both places. Hope Haven will offer help in areas like family and marital issues, employment matters, personal issues like depression and loneliness, peer conflict, medical problems, trauma as a result of abuse or torture, and others. The service was introduced to representatives o f em bassies and migrant communities on May 4 by the Archdiocesan Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People (CMI). Ms Tanya Juriansz, a staff of the Sri Lankan High

Mgr Francis Lau talks of Sars, love and God “GREATER love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). M onsignor Francis Lau was reminded o f this passage when he visited a hospital recently. The wards were deserted The only signs o f activity were o f doctors, nurses and ancillary hospital workers attending to their patients. They were working in an environment where the unseen deadly virus that causes Sars can strike anyone at any time. They were risking their lives so that others may have a fighting chance to live. So it is with Jesus who laid down his life for his friends, said Fr Lau in a talk on May 3 to some 80 members o f the Senior Parishioners’ Community o f the Church o f the Holy Cross, where he is parish priest. □

they w ill be able to get permission to leave their em ployers’ homes on Sunday,” he said, noting that many domestic workers from Indonesia do not enjoy a day off although their employment contract stipulates a rest day once a week. CMI chairman Bridget Lew also appealed for volunteers to help screen the various needs o f those who com e to the help desks. Likewise, there is a need for para-counsellors, qualified psychologists, psychotherapists and other professionals.

Foreign healthcare workers praised, urged to trust in God By Mel Diamse-Lee

precautions. But some people did all these things and still they got the Sars,” he noted. “But God wants us to give his care to the sick, nurse them, treat them. As health care workers, you are the healing hands of God,” he said. Instead, “you take the necessary precautions but ...trust in him,” he urged. The Mass organised by the Archdiocesan Comm ission for Migrants and Itinerant People was held at the Marymount Chapel on Thomson Road. Concelebrating with Fr Gino was Franciscan Friar Gerard Victor. Nurses and other health workers based in hospitals and old folks homes were joined by R eligious Sisters and laity. Follow ing the Mass, Fr Gino blessed the miraculous medal given to each o f the participants.

HEALTHCARE workers are the “healing hands o f God,” remarked Fr Gino Henriquez to some 40 foreign healthcare workers at a Mass dedicated to them on May 13. Being in the heal '.icare profession “is more than a job.” The next glorious calling is that o f healthcare workers who reach out to the sick - the physically and mentally sick, said the Redemptorist priest. Fr Gino acknowledged the fear o f the healthcare workers but urged them to believe in the promise o f Christ to be with them. “We are afraid o f the Sars epidemic because there is so much we don’t know about the virus. We are afraid so w e wear masks and take all sorts o f

□

‘For bachelors only* takes a bride 40 years to the hour they took their marriage vows at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Queen Street, on Saturday May 11, 1963, Kenneth and Elizabeth Rappa renewed their vows at the same Cathedral at a thanksgiving mass conducted by Fr Adrian Anthony. Celebrating with them were their children and grandsons, George Anthony and Quentin Cornelius. The above title was a caption in a Straits Times article published

after their wedding. Pictured below, the happy cou ple and their grandsons.

FATHER JOACHIM KANG

“I aminnocent” By Mel Diamse-Lee SPEAKING to Catholic N ew s after being bailed out on 29 April, a cheerful-looking Fr Joachim Kang said, “I am innocent”. Another five charges o f em bezzlement were brought against him that day, bringing the total charges to 19, according to his lawyer, Mr Peter Cuthbert Low. The priest who has served the Church for 29 years, added: “I know that my name has been dragged through the mud. A s a result, some people are confused. Their confidence is shaken”. He thanked parishioners, friends, fellow-priests, the religious communities and Archbishop Nicholas Chia for their prayers and support, urging that they “continue to pray for m e”. Fr Kang, 54, is alleged to have em bezzled a total o f $5.1 m illion from the Church o f St.

Teresa, where he was parish priest from December 1989 to February last year. His defence lawyers, Mr Peter Cuthbert Low and Mr George Lim, clarified to the courts that “apart from handling the church accounts, Fr Kang was also managing his family m onies and gifts received from well-wishers over a period o f 29 years”. “I had been in remand for 25 days. Although each day seemed like Good Friday, I felt very assured and encouraged to see so many people praying for me and giving their support to m e”, he added. One o f the blessings o f this crisis, he said, is that “the family members are so much more together now than they ever were before”. For 14 charges o f alleged embezzlement totalling $4.3 million, Fr Kang was released on bail at $1 million on 25 April after the High Court reduced the bail amount from $2 million. For

the April 29 charges involving $800,000 an additional bail of $200,000 was put up. A s all available assets have been frozen by the court, the $1.2 million bail was provided by family members and well-wishers, he said. Among the charges levelled against him are the transfer o f funds, ranging from $4,638 to $1 million. He is also alleged to own properties and unit trusts in Singapore, Malaysia and UK. His lawyers said before the court on 16 April that, according to Fr Kang, it has always been his intention to use the m onies and assets for the benefit o f the Church in Singapore. In February last year, follow ing a massive reassignment by Archbishop Chia, Fr Kang was posted to the Church o f the Holy Trinity. He was arrested on 1st April by the Commercial Affairs Department for alleged criminal breach o f trust, and was questioned and remanded until 25 April. □

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Archdiocese-wide Masses offered for Sars victims, healthcare workers ALL parishes in the archdiocese celebrated an 8pm Mass on May 13 for the victims of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), their families and caregivers. Archbishop Nicholas Chia announced that all collections at the M asses were to be donated to the Courage Fund. On May 10, the archbishop issued a letter to parishioners expressing his concern for the “social and spiritual aspects” o f the crisis. “H ow do w e cope with this virus as a Christian community. Can w e overcome our fear and live in compassion? ... How can we see this time o f trial as a meaningful part o f G od’s plan for us?” he asked.

What’s On L E A R N H O W T O E V A N G E L IZ E

The N ET School o f Evangelization invites you to their Open House at St Bernadette’s Church on A ug 30. Call 9324-0471 or email neteam @ pacific.net.sg for details. Y O U A R E T H E L IV IN G B O D Y O F C H R IS T . A trid u u m to b u ild up a

Eucharistic community, in celebration of the F east of Corpus Christi. K eynote speaker : Fr Gino Henriques; June 18, 19 and 20, 8 to 10pm; Blessed Sacram ent Church.

The archbishop noted that many would be asking why God allows such things to happen. “N o one can satisfy us with any answer except God. We turn our eyes to God’s answer:Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. God sent us His Son to be with us in all our suffering. He knows our pain...However, w e do not despair because we can draw hope from Christ’s promise to be with us always.” However, the archbishop said, the “danger o f SARS removes neither our ability nor our obligation to ‘love each other’ as Christ commanded. We do not stop being a loving community.” Although gathering together may not be prudent at this time, Christian solidarity can be expressed in many ways, he said. “A s individuals, fam ilies, groups and churches, pray for those who are affected...Offer help to those who are in need: neighbourhood groups can assist the quarantined in day to day needs like grocery shopping, or give support and encouragement through regular telephone calls, SMS or em ail,” he said. “A s a Christian family let us pray that with God’s grace, the skill o f the healthcare community and

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the preventive measures enforced by civil authorities here and throughout the world, we may tide over this epidemic with our dignity and integrity intact,” he added. The parish of Ss Peter and Paul has not been celebrating evening Masses for several months because of contruction work on the premises. But on that night, some 100 people attended the Mass. Ms Em ily Wong, 39, a parishioner o f the Church o f the Risen Christ said she attended the M ass “to pray for the victims and people looking after them.” She added: “I am scared o f SARS because it is beyond our control and for that reason it is important to pray. The victims and their fam ilies are helpless, I know what it’s like to suffer and feel helpless because I was once very sick m yself. The only way is to pray. Prayer is a way o f helping them.” Mrs Agatha Heng said,“The Mass is really special. It is one o f the ways the Church can show support to the victim s, their fam ilies and caregivers.” O f the donations to the Courage Fund, she said,“It is generous but a very small way to help the people suffering from the virus.” □

V O L U N T E E R S F O R SA G E

SAGE Counselling Centre helpline for the elderly needs volunteers to befriend the elderly. Candidates must be at least 28 years old, able to speak English/Chinese and a local dialect and m ust be available during o ffic e h o u rs. B a sic tr a in in g , sk ills enhancem ent and personal developm ent programmes provided. C all: 1800-3538633.

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY May 24

6.00 pm

N.E.T. Commissioning at St Bernadette’s Church

May 25

10.30 am

German Community: Confirmation at FMM, Holland Rd

May 31

10.30 am

St Francis of Assisi: Final Professional of Sr Joy, IJ

6.15 pm

St Gabriel’s School 150th Anniversary at IHM Francophone Community at Good Shepherd Convent

Jun 1

11.00 am 6.00 pm

Confirmation at Church of The Holy Family

ST A T H O N Y O F P A D U A F E A S T D A Y C E L E B R A T IO N Dates: June 10 to 15. Venue: Church of St

Jun 7

6.15 pm

Confirmation at Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

Jun 8

9.30 am

Confirmation at Church of St Michael

3.00 pm

Confirmationa t Risen Christ

8,00 pm

Pentecost Rally at IHM

11.45 am

Youth LISS at SFX Retreat Centre

6.30 pm

Confirmation at Church of St Francis of Assisi

Jun 15

12.30 pm

Confirmation at Church of The Holy Trinity

6.00 pm

Confirmation at Church of Christ the King

Jun 21

6.00 pm

Confirmation at Church of the Nativity

Jun 22

10.30 am

Confirmation at Church of Queen of Peace

6.00 pm

Ordination of Deacon Stanislaus Pang at Holy Spirit Church

A rc h b is h o p N ic h o la s C h ia w ill be celebrating a special Mass on World Refugee Day, June 20 at the Cathedral o f the Good Shepherd at 7 pm. O rganised by JRS.

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Anthony. Tue 10,8 pm - Penitential Service follow ed by M ass in Honour of St Anthony. Wed 11, 8 pm - M ass in Chinese. Thu 12,8 p m - M a s s in Tamil. Fri 13, 8 p m - M a s s in E n g lis h (M ain C e le b ra n t: A rc h b ish o p N icholas Chia). Sat 14, 6 pm - Mass in English. Sun 15,7.30 a m -M a s s in Chinese; 9 am, 11 am, 6 pm - M asses in English; 12.30 pm - M ass in T am il. N ote: St A nthony’s Bread will be distributed at all M asses on June 13, 14 and 15.

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Sundays May 25 and June 1, 2003 Catholic News

Feature

K N IG H T S T A K E O N M IS S IO N IM P O S S IB L E This story o f faith, resolve and networking to bring desperately needed m edical supplies to the beseiged Holy Fam ily Hospital in Bethlehem is told by Dr. Gabriel Oon. Dr Oon is a Hospitaller, Sovereign M ilitary H ospitaller Order o f M alta, and a consultant physician. HORTLY after our investiture to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order o f Malta on February 23, w e received several SOS m essages asking for medicinal and equipment aid from the besieged Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem in the Holy Land. This maternity and children’s hospital provides healthcare for women and children and is also involved in Outreach Programmes to surrounding areas. These urgent calls for help came via Fr. Guido o f the Pontifical Mission for Palestine and from pilgrims recently returned from the Holy Land, and were subsequently confirmed by Dr. Tabash, Director o f the Hospital. Vatican N ew s had meanwhile confirmed that an eightfoot high wall had been built to seal off the whole town; thus preventing aid personnel (such as the Red C ross) and medicines and equipment from getting through. The Holy Family Hospital, financed by the International Order o f Malta since 1892, was in dire need o f medicines and, in desperation, had resorted to making their own medicines, which were grossly inadequate. The Basilica o f Nativity had also been under siege a few months back, and in the fighting, many pregnant mothers and sick

children died because they could not reach the hospital.

From left: Damaris Lydia Nancy Tan, Dr Gabriel Oon.Timothy Lynes (International Committee of the Red Cross) and Lt. Col (Rtd) Lim Theam Poh (Singapore Red Cross)

ACED with this seem ingly im possible m ission, I prayed hard for G od’s (the Magen David Adom), but to intervention, and several scripture no avail. The Magen David Adom, passages came to mind: “Lord, not was the only non-Govemment my will, but your will”. . .if you agency which could bring aid into wish these medicines to get through Bethlehem. this blockade ; “Pray, Lord, for We stormed heaven with our more workers..” and “There is prayers, and help came in the nothing which God cannot do”. persons o f the Catholic At the same time, His Ambassadors to Singapore.They Excellency, Albretch von suggested we contact the Israeli Boeselager, Grand Hospitaller Ambassador to Singapore for who was in Singapore for the assistance (through our Foreign Investiture, advised me to make Office). We managed to make contact with Dr. Tabash in contact with the Israeli Bethlehem to establish the Ambassador who informed us that priority m edicines and equipment an Israeli Import Permit had first needed. The next task was to find to be obtained by the Minister of donors and to ensure that the Health o f the Palestine Authority much needed items were for Customs and VAT clearance transported safely to Bethlehem, from the Israeli Authorities. After through the siege and blockade. another round o f long distance Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Lim telephone calls, emails and Theam Poh from the Singapore facsimiles, we finally got through Red Cross contacted the to the Minister o f Health’s International Committee o f the Red (Palestine Authority) Personal Cross and the Israeli Red Cross Assistant at Nablus, to explain our

St Gabriel’s Schools celebrate 50years of blessings

mission o f mercy to bring urgent medicines and equipment to the Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem. They expressed their gratitude and gave us details of what would be required. The shipment to Bethlehem would include medicines, such as antibiotics and pain killers supplied by the Australian Order o f Malta through their Overseas Pharmaceutical Aid for Life (OPAL), infusion pumps and specialized antibiotics donated by the Singapore Order, and obstetrics medicines provided by Catholic and non Catholic donors. We still had to wait out the whole of April for news of the Import Permit. When confirmation finally came, it was like seeing the face of God smiling at us and saying," You asked, didn’t you?” The next question was whether w e could deliver these precious goods safely to Bethlehem. The Lord answered our prayers again and sent Mr. Hwang Teng Aun from Singapore Airlines - Cargo (and a parishioner from the Church of the Holy Cross), and Mr. Vincent Ngan (from Church o f Our Lady of Perpetual Succour) to assist us. They helped to finalise arrangements with DHL to deliver the combined cargo to Ben Gurion Airport. There, Dr. Tabash and his team took delivery of the cargo and brought it to Bethlehem. EFORE sending these parcels out from Singapore, w e had sprinkled them with Holy Water brought back from the Holy Land and said this special prayer, which had been approved by Archbishop Nicholas Chia, who is Chaplain o f the Order:

L o vin g and G lo rious F ather, in these times o f great suffering and sorrow,

We ask you to send y o u r H o ly S p irit, to give us the strength, wisdom and H e aling, to a ll those who believe in you and to those who do not believe In yo u ; to those who love and adore you, and to those who do not adore You. M a y you b rin g com fort to those who are in p a in , w ithou t hope, lonely and in grief. Strengthen the compassion and love o f those who are looking a fte r the stricken. P rotect and safeguard these medicines and equipment, which are going to yo u r children liv in g in the place o f b irth o f y o u r Son, O u r Saviour, Jesus C hrist. We ask this prayer, through y o u r Son and M o th e r M ary, Amen

ROM M ission Impossible to M ission Possible, the Hand o f God was seen to be at work countless times. A “m ission im possible to man, but not to God”. Count Raymond du Puy, led the first Crusading Knights to relieve the besieged Holy Land in 1099 and protected the sick, and the pilgrims journeying to Christiandom But on this M ission Impossible , God, our Father called forth Catholic senior diplomats, civil servants, ambassadors, CEOs, and donors who each contributed towards the success o f this m ission. PRAISE THE LORD! Praise Him for the mighty things which He has done. Praise His supreme greatness. It was also amazing that on the day the cargo left Singapore, the Gospel Reading o f the day was “..I know m y sheep, and they know m e..”. (Jn 10:11-16) □

Knights Dr. Peter Chew, Alphonsus Tan, Joe P illa y and Justin Taylor helped in this mission.

Life Goes On!

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A top-20 Value-Added School Top Value-Added All Boys’ School in Singapore

Old boys, teachers and well-wishers are invited for the Anniversary Mass to be celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia on May 31, 2003, 6.15 pm at Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 24 Highland Road.

Enjoy a grand Anniversary Dinner at $80 per person

on Friday, September 12, 2003 at the Neptune Theatre Restaurant from 7.30 pm.

“A tim e to R ejoice, A tim e to R em inisce For details check out our website at http://www.gabrielites.org OR send a cheque payable to “The Gabrielites” to St Gabriel’s Secondary School indicating whether you prefer Chinese, Halal or Vegetarian Food. (Address: 24 Serangoon Avenue 1, Singapore 556140. Tel: 62889470 Fax: 62898615)

S t P a t r i c k ’s S c h o o l 7 0 th A n n iv e r s a r y D in n e r M onday 9 June 2003, 7.00 pm Neptune Theatre Restaurant Guest-of-Honour BG (NS) George Yeo M in ister for T rade and In d u stry

Tickets priced at $100 each are still available. Please support the school’s fund raising effort. Call Rosalind at 6344-0929 Tickets purchased earlier are still valid for the event. Guests are requested to come early as there will be health screening.

Catholic News

Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003

News

VEHICLES WANTED

A vocations roadshow By Seminarian Lionel Thomas Y O U N G priests, seminarians and members o f the Archdiocesan Vocation Team put up a good show for the diocesan priesthood on Good Shepherd Sunday, May 11 at the Church o f Our Lady o f Perpetual Succour. Fifteen young men in white cassocks from different parts o f Asia were introduced to parishioners . The need for vocations was highlighted by the young priests during their hom ilies at all the M asses on May 10 and 11. This year, the fruits o f our prayers were three Singaporeans joining the seminary. At the road show, youths chatted with seminarians and young priests. Some parents made enquiries and a few openly shared their intention o f having at least one child dedicated to the priesthood. Some parents were afraid of

Friends thought I was joking By Yim j Fr Stephen i fU NO M A N w ill ever proclaim that he wants to be a priest. I remember that when I was in school there was for English com position : “What is my ambition?” or “What would I want to be in life?” N o one wrote that he wanted to be a priest. If he did, he could expect a lot o f jokes to com e his way. But if w e think that teenage boys are usually very selfconscious, you cannot expect otherwise o f men aged 29 either. It was at that age that I decided to enter the seminary. When I told m y former schoolmates that I was joining the seminary, I thought I would get some encouragement and support. But what I got initially were blank stares and “Come on lah, you ’re joking.” But I guess that for m ost o f us, the priesthood is not a joke. It is more o f a mystery in the sense that w e do not know much about it. And for that matter, if someone were to tell us he wanted to be a priest, w e might not really know what to say. Nonetheless, w e are reminded that we have to pray and promote vocations to the priesthood. The pope has said, “If the Church is lacking in priests, Jesus is lacking. A community poor in vocations impoverishes the Church. A community rich in vocations enriches the Church. We believe that God has already given us the seeds o f vocations. We need to sow these seeds to bear fruit for the _ priesthood and for the Church. /

losing their sons to the Lord. Others were trying to force their sons to aspire to be priests, forgetting that it is God who plants the seed o f a religious or priestly vocation. And a person who is aware o f this nurtures it with love with the help o f his parents, priest, friends and religious. This is a slow and gradual process, similar to vintage wine left to mature in the oak barrels. Our seminary gates are open 24 hours and the lifestyle is not to be likened to a “prison facility”. The diocese takes excellent care o f us. The intellectual formation helps

deepen our knowledge and the pastoral formation is full of challenges and this enriches our life and sharpens our pastoral skills. Our spiritual growth is o f prime importance here as from it flow s the grace that sees us through our journey. The priesthood formation is able to bring out potentials you never knew you had. The motto amongst us seminarians is to live one day at a time in the loving presence o f God. Nevertheless, God has called us and he w ill be our guide, definitely a shoulder to lean on. □

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Parishioners and seminarians view the vocation exhibition at Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour on May 10.

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Priesthood is a unique calling Bv Fr Luke Fong

C M A N Y people think o f a vocation as simply calling by God. A s if he really spoke in an audible voice telling us that he wants us to be his priests. The word calling is an invitation, a yearning, an inner desire or a gravitation towards holiness. But this call to holiness is a call to everybody. Not just those who eventually become priests or religious. I see it as our way o f concretizing our desire for holiness. What w e have received is a grace - the grace to respond wholeheartedly to G od’s constant invitation towards holiness. I never really set m y eyes on the priesthood. I wanted very much to be in the hospitality industry, either as a hotelier or a restaurateur. One o f my dreams was to open a 5-star French fine dining restaurant, called Chez Luc, which means house o f Luke. Complementing this dream was the hope o f driving a nice car, living in a big house, and having a whole host o f friends each Sunday to m y hom e to enjoy each other’s company, cooking a big meal for everyone. I think that God has a wacky sense o f humour. Looking back at my dream, and what I am doing now as a priest o f God, perhaps you w ill agree with me. I drive a 1 litre car which is not my own, I do live in a huge place - it’s about 3 acres I was told. It’s not called the house o f

Luke, but the house o f God, and each Sunday, I have lots o f friends turn up at St A nne’s where I celebrate something most wonderful - G od’s love. And we have a meal which the best iron chefs cannot match. We feast on the Bread o f Life, Jesus himself. How did I end up as a priest? Simply by the grace o f God to respond to his invitation to love and generosity. God works in strange ways. His invitation goes out to the m ost unlikely of candidates. He has called St Pio o f Petralcina, full o f holiness, and he as also called St Paul, som eone so bent on demolishing the Church. He may have given the grace to respond to St John Vianney, a picture o f dedication and holiness, and that same grace was also given to St Augustine,* the original playboy to priest. /

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BOOKS OF NUMBERS “Rogate” compares the numbers in 1978 and 2000 Numbers of seminarians rise even as ranks of priests fall. Women religious also decrease between 1978 -

2001

ROME - Over a 23-year period the number o f priests in the world decreased, while the number o f seminarians increased. This is the conclusion o f a study by Father Vito Magno of the vocational review Rogate. The study compared the data o f the Church’s Statistical Yearbook from 1978 with Decem ber 2001. In 1978, the total of diocesan and religious priests was 420,000; at the end o f 2001 their number had dropped to 405,067. The decrease is due above all to the reduced number o f religious-order priests, especially in Europe, North America

and Oceania, in w hose countries the average age o f priests has also increased. The decrease is in contrast to the increase in the number of priests in Africa, A sia and some Latin American countries. The number o f permanent deacons increased to 29,204 from 5,562. This ministry was re established in the Catholic Church with the Second Vatican Council. The decrease in the number o f priests is in contrast to the increase in the number o f

seminarians, which has almost doubled. In 1978, there were 63,882 candidates to the priesthood, compared with 112,244 at the end o f 2001. Over the past quarter-century, particularly in Africa, the number o f seminarians has multiplied by four and in A sia by five. In Europe, the number has increased to 25,908 at present from 23,915 in 1978. The study revealed a more complicated situation in regard to women religious. In 1978, they numbered 990,768; now they total 792,317. A s opposed to the case o f seminarians, there is no significant growth in the number o f wom en entering novitiates. In this case also, the m ost notable decrease has been registered in Europe, North America and Oceania. □ z e n it

“Global Catholicism” tracks dramatic demographic changes in church since 1900 WASHINGTON - “Global Catholicism ,” a new book by researchers at the Washingtonbased Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, tracks the dramatic shifts o f the past century that turned Roman Catholicism from an overwhelm ingly European institution a century ago to the world church it is today. Subtitled “Portrait o f a World Church,” the 287-page book says that nearly two-thirds o f the world’s 267 m illion Catholics in 1900 lived in Europe, but by 2000 European Catholics accounted for little more than one-fourth o f the billion-plus Catholics around the world. While Europe’s Catholic population increased by 55 percent over the century, growth elsewhere ranged from a sevenfold increase in the Americas to almost 70-fold in Africa. In 2000 there were 519 million Catholics in the Americas, 280 m illion in Europe, 130 m illion in Africa, 107 million in A sia and 8 million in Oceania, the church’s regional designation for Australia and the Pacific islands. A substantial portion o f the book on the world church is a 115-page appendix profiling the statistical state o f the church in each country around the world in the year 2000. Following a global overview chapter that compares church

data from 1900, 1950 and 2000, most o f the remainder o f the book, treating such data by region and country, focuses on church demographics, personnel and institutions in 2000 and how such data changed between 1950 and 2000 or betw een1975 and 2000. It notes, for example, that in 1950 Europe had 49 percent o f the world’s Catholics but 76 percent o f the church’s priests and 64 percent o f its seminarians. In 2000 Europe accounted for 27 percent o f Catholics and still had 52 percent o f the world’s priests, but only 24 percent o f the seminarians.

Worldwide, in 1950 there was one priest for every 1,203 Catholics; in 2000 that had dropped to one priest for every 2,579 Catholics. B y contrast, Africa, which had 3 percent o f the world’s Catholics, priests and seminarians in 1950, grew by 2000 to 7 percent o f the Catholics, 12 percent o f the priests and 18 percent o f the seminarians. Perennially priest-poor Latin America gained some ground statistically in a half-century but not enough to close its gap. In 1950 it had 33 percent o f the world’s Catholics but only 9 percent o f the priests and 11 percent o f the seminarians. In 2000 it had 42 percent o f the

Catholics, 15 percent o f the priests and 28 percent o f the seminarians. Catholics form only a small minority o f A sia ’s 3.7 billion people, but Catholic statistics have advanced more rapidly there in the past 50 years than in Europe or the Americas. In 1950 A sia had 6 percent o f the world’s Catholics and 5 percent o f the priests and seminarians. In 2000 it had 10 percent o f the Catholics and priests and 24 percent o f the seminarians. The United States and Canada — “North America” with M exico excluded as part o f Latin America — had 8 percent o f the Catholics, 6 percent o f the priests and 16 percent o f the seminarians in 1950. In 2000 it had 7 percent o f the Catholics and 15 percent o f the priests, but only 5 percent of the seminarians. W hile the total number of Catholics around the world more than doubled between 1950 and 2000 — from 437 m illion to 1.045 billion — the number of priests serving them grew only 11 percent, from about 364,000 to about 405,000. The size o f the average parish in Latin America in 2000 was nearly 15,000 Catholics — about triple the world average o f nearly 4,800 Catholics per parish. In the United States and Canada, the average parish in 2000 had to serve slightly more than 3,100 Catholics, and in Europe, fewer than 2,200 Catholics. □ c n s

Catholic News

Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003

Photo News

VIOLINISTS PLAY FOR POPE

Indian-bom Swiss sworn in to protect pope Indian-born Dhani Bachmann, a naturalized Swiss citizen, is sworn into the elite guard that protects the pope and Vatican. The pope welcomed 32 new recruits to the Swiss Guard during the May 6 ceremony.

Pope John Paul II listens as a group o f violinists p la f at the end o f his general audience May 7 in St P eter’s Square. The pontiff turned 83 years old M ay 18. He spent his birthday beatifying four saints.

John Paul II ordains 31 priests He calls them a “Gift for the church and world” - When ordaining 31 new priests in St. Peter’s Basilica, John Paul II referred to the priesthood as a “precious gift for the Church and the world.” Seventeen are Italian. The rest are from various other countries. In his homily, the pope summarized the m ission o f a priest as “man o f the Word” and “man o f the Eucharist.” Insofar as “man o f the Word,” the pope said that the priest has “the task to take the evangelical proclamation to the men and wom en o f his time.” ”He must do so with a profound sense o f responsibility, committing himself to be always in full harmony with the magisterium of the Church,” he stressed. Insofar as “man o f the Eucharist,” the priest “feels the need o f an ever more profound conformation with Jesus, Good Shepherd, Supreme and Eternal VATICAN C ITY

The pope ordains a new priest, c n s Photos

Priest,” the pope added. John Paul II, who has been a priest for 56 years, then gave the young priests his more personal advice. ’’Nourish yourselves, therefore, with the Word o f God; m eet Christ every day, really present in the Sacrament o f the Altar,” he said. “Let yourselves be touched by the infinite love o f his heart, make your eucharistic adoration longer in the important moments o f your life, those of difficult personal and pastoral decisions, at the beginning and at

the end o f your days.” ”1 can assure you, that I have experienced this, and I have drawn strength, consolation and support,” the Holy Father said. Lastly, the pontiff reminded the priests that they are “ministers o f divine mercy” through the administration o f the sacrament o f reconciliation. ”O f how many miracles and wonders realized by the mercy of God you w ill be witnesses in the confessional!” he told them. He also urged them to regularly seek divine forgiveness themselves in that sacrament. Later, when praying the Angelus, the pope asked the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square to thank God for the “precious gift to the Church and the world” o f the ordination o f the new priests, and asked for prayers for them and for all priests worldwide so that “they will be ever more like Christ. "5" zev/t

Priests cannot delegate all responsibility for catechesis — Although being a pastor includes dozens o f tasks, a priest’s obligation to preach the Gospel and teach the faith cannot be delegated to others, Pope John Paul II said. “Today the ministry o f the priest is continually stretching its boundaries in pastoral spheres which enrich the Christian community, but sometimes risk dispersing his activity in a thousand commitments and activities,” the pope said.

VATICAN CITY

Pope John Paul met May 8 with 70 bishops, priests and national catechetical directors from 34 European countries. Pope John Paul told the group that a priest’s involvem ent in religious education cannot be reduced to occasional meetings or greetings that have no impact on the formation o f religious educators. “Rather, follow ing the example o f the apostle Paul, he must feel a debt toward the whole

people o f God to transmit the Gospel and to do so with the most attentive theological and cultural preparation,” the pope said. The priest, esp ecially if he is pastor o f a parish, m ust dedicate h im self to carefully choosing and educating those w ho w ill teach others in the faith, he said. And all members o f the parish must support him in his dedication, the pope said. □ c n s

PRIESTS INVITED TO MEET II LOURDES TH IS OCTO - Aware o f a “strong and generalized desire to strengthen priestly identity,” the Congregation for Clergy has invited priests to attend a meeting in Lourdes from Oct. 11-15. The meeting is taking place in the wake o f John Paul II’s publication on Holy Thursday of the encyclical on the Eucharist. The Lourdes m eeting will also focus on the “missionary connotation o f pastoral ministry in face o f the challenges o f the tim es,” the prefect o f the Vatican congregation, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, explained in the letter o f invitation. The “historical circumstances”

VATICAN C ITY

encourage us to “put out into the deep,” to follow decidedly Peter’s invitation to “contemplate the face o f Christ in the school o f Mary,” the letter states. Cardinal Castrillon said that the Lourdes shrine in France represents for all Catholics a school o f prayer, which “has seen innumerable groups o f pilgrims arrive, seeking intimate communion with Jesus through Mary.” The Congregation for Clergy has periodically organized retreats and international meetings for priests, an initiative launched in preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000. □ z e n i t

Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003 Catholic News

SOCIAL C O M M U N IC A TIO I POPE JOHN PAUL II SPEAKS. The fundamental moral requirement of all communication is respect for and service of the truth. The mass media have an inescapable responsibility (to speak the truth) since they constitute the modern arena in which ideas are shared and people can grow in mutual a m understanding and solidarity. Their power is such that in a few short days they can create the positive or negative public reaction to events which suits their purposes. Reasonable people will realize that such enormous power calls for the highest standards of commitment to truth and goodness. X Only when people have free access to true and sufficient information can they pursue the common good and hold public authority accountable Reporters and commentators in particular have a grave duty to follow the demands of their moral conscience and to resist pressures to “adapt” the truth to satisfy the demands of wealth or political power. My prayer is that the men and women of the media will ever more wholly live up to the challenge of their calling: service of the universal common good. Their personal fulfilment and the peace and happiness of the world depend greatly on this.” □

INTER MIRIFICA - 40 YEARS ON BUT MORE RELEVANT THAN EVER! By Sr Wendy Ooi

ALL THE members of the Church should make a concerted effort to ensure that the means of communication are put at the service of the multiple forms of the apostolate without delay and as energetically as possible. Pastors of souls should be particularly zealous in this Field since it is closely linked with their task of preaching the Gospel. Laymen who work professionally in these media should endeavor to bear witness to Christ: first of all, by doing their work competently and in an apostolic spirit, secondly by collaborating directly in the pastoral activity of the Church, making a technical, economic, cultural or artistic contribution. (Art. 13, Inter Mirifica, Vatican II)) AS WE CELEBRATE the 37th World Communications Day on June 1, Pope John Paul II urges all media practitioners to use the communication media at the service o f authentic peace by breaking barriers o f mistrust, and instead, foster mutual understanding, respect, reconciliation and mercy. All o f us as baptized Christians are called to

be agents o f truth, justice, freedom and love but the men and women o f media by reason o f their profession have even greater influence today in carrying out this responsibility. A s the pope states in his message to mark this year’s W CD, “the power o f the media to shape human relationships and influence political and social life, both for the good and for ill, has enormously increased.” John Paul II cites Pope John XXIII’s encyclical (written during the days o f the Cold War) Pacem in Terris in the theme of his message. This year not only marks the 40th anniversary o f this encyclical but also that o f Inter Mirifica, Vatican Council II’s Decree on Social Communications, which though 40 years old, is ever more relevant today considering the progress of technology in shaping our present world into a multi-media oriented one. Fittingly this year also saw the beatification o f James Alberione (see article below), known as the apostle o f mass communications, and founder o f the Pauline Family o f religious congregations. Alberione’s lifework consisted in his efforts to translate the gospel into accessible language, anticipating, more than half a century earlier, the intuition o f John }OQII in calling the Second

Vatican Council (1962-65). Alberione’s beatification not only serves to affirm his holiness but also his work and the relevance o f the role o f social communication in the Church today.

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CDs is a fast and reliable means of evangelizing

Indeed the apostolate o f the media cannot be left merely to media practitioners but also undertaken by all pastors and those responsible for faith formation in the church. Consequently evangelization with the media must not be disregarded or set aside but recognized and embraced as a top priority in the church,

NEW MEDIA APOSTLE BEATIFIED Sr Grace Lee belongs to the Daughters of St Paul, whose founder was recently beatified. Sr Grace attended the event at the Vatican together with some 13,000 of her colleagues. She shares her experience with the Catholic News readers. AM IDST thunderous applause, jumping with joy and vigorous waving o f scarves, placards, banners and flags, Pope John Paul II proclaimed Father James A lberione, our Founder, a Blessed o f the church. Hesaid Father Alberione not only opened m odem pulpits o f social com m unication to evangelisation but he conceived his work as an organic action within the Church and at its service. It was estimated that our Pauline Family had 13,000 representatives from all over the world at the beatification. The newspapers reported that the

loudest shouts came from our groups. Our Pauline Family o f 10 religious institutes is spread over 50 countries. Before the Solemn Mass began, w e listened to some thoughts o f Blessed James Alberione: “The greatest saints a fio n g usrtoday would pick up the microphone to convey their m essage o f truth, justice and peace. It is im possible not to think o f the command o f Jesus Christ: preach the gospel to every creature. “The machine, the microphone, the screen are our pulpit. The printing press, the production, the projection and broadcasting studios are our church. Let us take St Paul’s words to heart ‘I do everything for the sake o f the Gospel. “M odem technical innovations accelerate and clarify the word with immense power and value.Thus the word o f the pope can be heard throughout the w hole world. “The press, motion pictures,

radio and TV today constitute the most urgent and most rapid and efficacious means o f Catholic apostolate. “Prayer first o f all and before anything else. Prayer is the life of everything. Leaving prayer out to do more work is foolhardy ruin. “The Bible is the book we must bring to everyone, either through the film or the printed word or with our voice at the radio, or through disc and minimedia. “The world needs Jesus Christ, Way, Truth and Life. Mary gives him through the Apostles and the apostolates which she raises, forms, supports and crowns with fruits and glory in heaven. “N o greater wealth can be granted this poor and proud world than Jesus Christ, whom Mary continues to offer throughout the centuries. “If St Paul were alive today, he would mount the highest pulpit and multiply his word with the current media o f press, film, radio, television.”

Pauline Sisters at the beatification The pope concluded his prayer for Fr Alberione in this way: “Father, through the work o f this venerable servant o f God, Fr James Alberione, you have endowed the church with the spirit o f St Paul and raised up a family o f new apostles. Grant through his intercession, that the varied means o f communication may everywhere irradiate the light o f your Word who is Way, Truth and Life, and that all people may receive him as the one Saviour of the world.” DURING those days o f the beatification I made some

personal reflections. By beatifying Fr Alberione whom the pope described as one o f the most outstanding apostles of the 20th century in proclaiming the love o f God through the media, the church is confirming that this apostolate is relevant today. In another instance the pope also said, “For the church, the new world o f cyberspace is a summons to the great adventure of using its potential to proclaim the Gospel message, This challenge is at the heart o f what it means at the beginning o f the millennium to follow the Lord’s command to put out into the deep.”

Catholic News

Sundays May 25 and June 1, 2003

S IN THE INTERNET A G E given its efficacious nature. With technology ever advancing, today’s world especially the youth - w ill not be contented with just books and catechesis which expound on facts and doctrine alone, and demand mere memorization but which eventually would lead to a “dead” and “dry” faith. Today’s world is made up increasingly o f a sensory people and their senses need to be touched, stimulated, and evoked. Today’s language is that o f sym bols, visuals and sounds. The Word o f God has to be made “alive” and inculturated through audio visuals and the latest technological developments, which touch the senses o f the people, their affectivity and their culture. To truly bring people to awareness and authentic faith in God, the media needs to be capitalized and utilized for m odem people to have a true reflection o f God and an experience o f faith. The Church has to actively respond to the “signs o f the times” and constantly keep abreast o f new developments. Today, more than ever, the means o f social communications (with not only the radio, television, videos and cinema, but with CDs, VCDs, DV Ds, CDRoms, and the Internet) are the fastest and most relevant means available for evangelization. We have to expand from the “hot media” o f the typographical culture (of amassing information and logical synthesis), to the “cool media” o f the electronic culture (media that

Fr James Alberione When I entered the Daughters of St Paul in 1960, w e were immediately educated into the apostolate o f media. Today w e are trying to use the new ways o f media together with our more familiar methods to preach the Good N ew s. I feel very grateful to God and to Blessed James Alberione for opening this form of religious life to me because there is no other way I would like to live it except this one. In fact, I left home to join the Sisters in another country and I spent 34 years outside o f Singapore before returning home to start our community here in 1994.

communicate by inviting personal participation, awareness, wholeness, immediacy and the thrill o f discovery). Besides the use o f the media to evangelize, it is also important to instruct audiences on how to discern critically the messages that com e from the media. Spiritual formation must also be provided to media practitioners to help them in their growth to be effective Christian communicators. It is reassuring to know that there is already a small group o f lay media professionals in Singapore known as the Catholic Media Group, who are willing to work hand in hand with the church. A s more seminaries and theological schools around the world include courses in social communications in their curriculum, it is hoped that our own archdiocese w ill also in the near future provide those in pastoral care and faith formation the opportunity to be trained as communicators, learn to appreciate the media apostolate, and grow in their understanding o f the role o f social communications in the Church. Only when communications becom e a vital aspect o f pastoral responsibility w ill the media, as Inter Mirifica concludes, be like salt and light, adding savour and light to the world and “the name o f the Lord w ill thus be glorified by these m odem inventions.” (Art 24, IM) □

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The agency has made it very easy for those interested in Catholic new s to be informed daily through an excellent email service that is free to those subscribing for personal use. You can subscribe to this free service at http://www.zenit.org/english/

subscribe.html For republication, each Zenit service has a price. However, the agency appears to have adopted a very helpful policy o f allowing for lower rates for media dedicated to evangelization and which might be unable to pay the normal price. Organisations may also send press releases, statements and other information to Zenit’s international news desk at:

news@zenit.org. □

A R C H D IO C E S A N W E B S IT E VERITAS, the Singapore Archdiocese’s web site, can be reached at http://www.catholic.org.sg. It aims to provide an effective medium for communication and dialogue within the Archdiocese.Veritas carries a directory o f parishes, priests, religious orders schools and related organisations and web links to many useful sites, especially “Catholic sites,” in Singapore. It now has a simple GPRS/WAP version for those who need information on the move. Anyone with a wap/gprs phone can access it at

wap.catholic.org.sg. Sr Wendy Ooi is a member o f the Daughters o f St Paul.

I am grateful to B lessed James Alberione for showing us the w ay to sanctity. His life experiences are really inspiring but even more I am grateful for the spiritual legacy he left us. His unique charism o f Pauline spirituality is based on integrating our whole person in the person o f Jesus to transform us into apostles who can give the world the Good N ew s through the m ost relevant and contemporary media o f communication. Then he gave us St Paul as patron, the apostle who truly incorporates intimate love for Christ and intense evangelisation to communicate that love to all people o f all time and all places. I had met him a few times when I was in Rome for my formation. He struck me as being so undistinguished, so frail physically and yet embodying what he taught us, that God chose the most unworthy to confound the great, the simple to confound the w ise o f this world. And this too is a great stimulus and encouragement for me. A s St Paul says, when I am weak then I am strong, if I allow Christ to live in me and I to live in Christ. □

Veritas,which is run by volunteers (right), also offers email services to priests, religious, full time church workers and people maintaining web pages on the Veritas Server. Web hosting is only available to registered church organizations. □

C H R IS T IA N A R T U N L IM IT E D Christus Rex et Redemptor Mundi I

http://christusrex.com/ THIS IS an excellent site from where one can explore Christianity in priceless works o f art. Take a walk in the Sistine Chapel and see M ichaelangelo’s Genesis and Last Judgement. Tour the Vatican Museums. Examine the works o f Rembrandt, Raphael, da Vinci and all the great Christian art masters. Marvel! Enjoy! This site has been on the Internet since December 8, 1994. It is operated by Christus Rex, Inc and M ichael Olteanu. Christus Rex, Inc is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination of information on works o f art preserved in churches, cathedrals and monasteries all over the world. One o f thir aims is to assemble a collection of images that w ill constitute a visual representation of the Bible “for the greater glory o f God!” They are also in the process o f building the data base for a world wide tour o f churches and monasteries, comprising in excess o f 10,000 images. A nyone interested to participate in this project, may do so by emailing colour photographs to Christus Rex at christusrex_inc@hotmail.com). Art is what makes Christus Rrex outstanding but the site is also a good take o ff place with its organised and comprehensive links to other related sites. □

Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003 Catholic News

The Word of God

T h e a n s w e r is lo v e Sunday June 1 Sixth Sunday of Easter 1 John 4:11-16 IT’S THE night before the big exam. You’ve studied until your eyes are red and you ’re nothing but a bundle o f nerves. You walk into the exam room ready for the worst, only to hear the teacher say, “This w ill be an open-book exam. N ot only that, but every question on the test has the same answer.” To add to your amazement, the teacher walks to your desk, opens your book, and shows you the answer. God wants us to know that he is like that teacher. He really wants us to pass the test, so much so that he has already given us the answer. And the answer is: love. W hat’s more, we don’t have to do this loving all by ourselves. By his Holy Spirit, Jesus supplies us with the love that w e are to give to others. Through baptism into Jesus’ death and resurrection, w e have received the same Spirit that enabled Jesus to perform miracles to w elcom e sinners, and love his enem ies. If w e want to live as Christ lived, our first priority should be to learn how to open ourselves to his Spirit. We don’t have to be perfect for the Spirit to work in us, just hungry for his touch. This sounds really good, but what steps can w e take to open ourselves to the Spirit? There are

VISITATION OF MARY TO HER COUSIN ELIZABETH

many ways, but perhaps the greatest way is at Mass. In the Eucharistic prayer, the priest asks the Father to send his Spirit upon

I t’s not only the bread and wine God wants to transform. As we receive Comm union, we too can be transformed.

the bread and wine “so that they may become for us the body and blood o f our Lord Jesus Christ.” But it’s not only the bread and wine God wants to transform. A s we receive Communion, we too can be transformed. We too can com e to share in the love John speaks o f in his letter - a love that has no limits. Since we have so generous a Father, let us be eager to seek his blessings! □ “ Father, I come before you as a child, know ing that you w ant to f i l l me to o ve r-flow ing w ith y o u r S p irit. Come, H o ly S p irit! I open my heart to yo u .”

This painting by Rembrandt depicts Christ’s ascension. The solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord celebrates the completion of Christ’s mission on earth and his entry into heaven. It is observed May 29 this year and is a holy day of obligation.

“Love makes the world go round” Sunday May 25 Seventh Sunday of Easter

but by the simplicity o f the ordinary dyings and risings of everyday life. How many o f us 1 John 4:7-10 are able to be social reformers? How many o f us have high WHAT MAKES the world go positions in the church or round? Speaking o f the physical government? How many w ill go universe, scientists tell us that it’s down in the history books? Not gravity. Artists would probably many. But that doesn’t mean we contend that it’s beauty that can’t make a m oves the world. For difference. philosophers, ideas Mother Teresa once In the end, love make the real was asked to suggest - even small difference. W hile all one simple way by acts o f love - IS which an ordinary o f these answers have som e truth to them, w hat will person can help others. the old song hits “By smiling at one transform the closer to the mark: another,” she said. world. “Love Makes the ________ ................ Sm iles and goodwill World Go Round.” In are contagious. In the end, love the life o f the Spirit, we know even small acts o f love - is what that love is at the center o f the w ill transform the world. universe and is the real driving Let us learn to love simply. If force behind every movem ent in we have to err, let us err toward the world. That’s why John thinking the best o f those around exhorted his readers: “Let us love us! Let’s replace our suspicion, one another, because love is of resentment, and envy with trust, God” (1 John 4:7). compassion, and joy over other “God is love” (I John 4:8). people’s good fortune. May we Not only is it a simple m essage, be like Mary, who led a simple but it can be practiced simply as life and said her simple “y es” to well. Notice, first o f all, that John the Lord. May the words o f didn’t say that “God is loving,” John’s letter ring true in our lives but that “God is love.” It’s not as w e learn to “love one another.” one o f his personality traits; it’s □ who he is - and it’s what h e’s called us to be. God knows we “Jesus, you who are love, I love are imperfect, but he calls us to you w ith this f r a il heart o f mine. do our best to reflect his love M ay I love you more and more, every day. How? Not by and may I fe e l yo u r love deep complicated or spectacular deeds, w ithin my heart day by day.”

O l By Father Eugene LaVerdiere, SSS

The visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth is depicted in a wall painting at the Church of the Visitation in Jerusalem. The feast of the Visitation is May 31 and celebrates Mary’s meeting with Elizabeth that took place between the Annunciation and the birth of John the Baptist.

FEW NEW Testament passages illustrate how Jesus was as a communicator as clearly as Jesus’ inaugural presentation in the Nazareth synagogue (Lk 4:1630). About 30 years old, Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath, according to his custom. There Jesus was among his own people with whom he identified. The people o f Nazareth knew Jesus w ell from his boyhood to his adulthood. They had heard o f his ministry. Jesus was a member o f the Nazareth synagogue. You might say he was at home. When Jesus stood to read and interpret the Scriptures, he communicated as a

member o f the synagogue assembly. Jesus presented the passage of Isaiah: “The Spirit o f the Lord ... has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery o f sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18-19; Isaiah 61:1-2). Jesus read the passage o f Isaiah as a summary o f his m ission and ministry. The biblical author frames Jesus’ scriptural reading with a number o f seemingly meaningless actions, which are described in precise detail. Jesus stood up slow ly to do the reading. The attendant handed to him the book o f the prophet Isaiah. Jesus unrolled the scroll. He found the passage where it was written (Lk 4:16b17). After the reading, the

seq u en ceis reversed (Lk 4:20a). These details indicate the care he took in his communication — his deliberateness. They arouse expectations and highlight the importance o f the moment. When Jesus sat down, all in the synagogue were united in spirit, looking intently at him (Lk 4:20b). With the same scriptural passage, Jesus challenged his ow n people — challenged them to bring the good new s to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year o f grace from the Lord. Listening to Luke’s story, we feel Jesus’ presence. Jesus challenges us also to serve others, to recognize their needs. The reading o f Isaiah and his

homily evoked wonder in the synagogue and raised the question o f Jesus’ identity. In the synagogue, Jesus penetrated into the human heart to reflect on his identity and ours. Now, Jesus is communicating with us. Jesus penetrates into our hearts to recognize our identity. What kind o f communicator was Jesus? The care he took in communicating, how he communicated as a community member, the sense o f his total presence, his concern for others and his concern to address people in their most profound identity were all seen in the Nazareth synagogue. □ F a th e r LaVerdiere, a Blessed Sacrament priest, is a Scripture scholar and senior ed ito r o f Emmanuel magazine.

Catholic News

Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003

Viewpoints CatholicNews EDITOR:

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Verbatim “The power o f the media to shape human relationships and influence political and social life, both fo r good and fo r ill, has enormously increased.” - Pope John Paul I I ,

speaking on World Com m unications Day

Should late comers and unsuitably dressed worshippers be refused Holy Communion? I TOTALLY agree with John Lim regarding the respect for G od’s house. I would like to mention that our priests have constantly reminded parishioners about proper dress but some parishioners refuse to listen. Parishioners too have been arriving late for Mass. I was told that an elderly priest who is very particular about proper dress and com ing in time for Mass once announced that late comers as w ell as those not appropriately dressed would not be given Holy Communion. Although this may be painful for those who are guilty, it will hopefully make them realise that the church is very concerned about their attitude towards dress code and punctuality.

Mildred Koh Singapore 425625

Church and families must get more involved I SEE a big gap between the church and Catholic families. The description o f Sunday Catholics holds true for many Catholics here. Then again, the church seem s to play only a Sunday church role also. This has to be arrested or the community may not understand in depth the practices and teachings o f the Christian faith. I suggest that the church fills this void by publishing a series o f books: on church doctrines, on understanding the Bible, and on Catholic living and guidance o f their

children by Catholic parents. Families should be encouraged to read a recommended chapter a week. Parents with children from six to 12 years old should read a chapter o f the last book. Members o f the fam ilies are to participate in discussions on the text. The Sunday Mass should be extended by 15 minutes for a priest or catechist to give his view s on the w eek’s text. Catholics o f seven years to 16 years old are now attending one-hour Sunday classes. How can the whole Catholic teaching be

A matter of right Have seperate lines for those and copyright receiving Communion on I W OULD like to bring up a matter that has been disturbing the tongue me for som e time. It seem s to me that many parishes in Singapore use hymnals that contain hymns for which permission to print may not have been obtained from the songwriters and no royalty paid to them. If true, this deprives those parties who are entitled to receive payment for the use o f their work from receiving it, infringes copyright law, and breaks the seventh commandment: “You shall not steal.” If we were a country with problems o f abject poverty, we might, perhaps, be excused. But Singaporeans cannot claim that w e are so poor that w e cannot do the right thing in this case and pay for authorised hymn books. One might argue that this is simply the culture and practice o f Singaporeans. But don’t our Christian morals require us to go against the tide, to challenge the culture? How can w e teach “You shall not steal” in our catechism classes if w e worship the Lord with the aid o f stolen intellectual property? What kind o f example are w e setting for the rest o f Singapore? I sincerely hope that w e can address this matter.

Augustine Chen

I REFER to the letter o f John Hui “N o more Communion on the tongue? Hope not.” May I suggest that Sars or not, w e establish a separate line at communion for those wishing to receive Communion on the tongue. I suggest that this be the center line in churches. Among Catholics, there are those who want to be cautious when receiving Communion and prefer not to com e after a person who has just received Communion on the tongue. The church should take this into consideration. It w ill be rude of us to step away when the person before us receives Communion on the tongue. We will also be placing the person behind us in an onerous position. There are other diseases about and more will come in the future. We are also an open society and people from many lands visit us and are welcom e to do so. We also have decent people in dangerous jobs who may unwittingly contact diseases as has happened in the Sars outbreak. We respect these people. However, it is w ise to take precautions .

CATHOLICNEWS Interactive has stopped for some time. Without the interactive I am unable to store articles that interest me for reference. Storing and retrieving from the hardcopy is neither efficient nor practical. But if stored in a computer system, I can retrieve articles to support my discussion on faith building with my peers, nonChristians, to correct the wrong concepts o f the Catholic faith by other Christian denominations and last but not least to evangelize with confidence. There are interesting articles in every issue o f the Catholic N ew s. In the current issue, the interesting topics are (1) Rev Fr Michael Arro, (2) Ordinary Catholics given insight into bioethics, (3) the letters on

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communion on the tongue, (4) the letters in general and (5) every week the reflection on the readings for the new two weeks. Interactive is the m odem method to spread the Good N ew s o f the Lord and allow s readers to store articles. Not to have this method seem s to be not catching up with technology. In the past when Interactive was available I used to communicate with one of the staff at CN. I hope that CN Interactive w ill be brought back. If for any reason CN decides that it is really not possible to reinstate the Interactive, is there any one in CN whom I can reach to give me the soft copy o f selected articles that appear in the fortnightly CN?

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taught in nine years at aproximately 40 hours a year after deducting holidays? Even if it is do-able, whatever that has been taught w ill not be clearly remembered. Both church and members must play more active roles. Learning and practising a faith is a lifetim e affair . We have to becom e a com m unity o f Christians not only in name but united in faith, learning and practice.

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Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003 Catholic News

News

Holy See invites Buddhists to work together for peace IHE HOLY SEE invited Buddhists to work together for world peace and to pray for this gift. The proposal was made by Archbishop M ichael Fitzgerald, president o f the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, in a m essage sent to Buddhists worldwide for the annual feast o f Vesak. In countries o f the Theravada Buddhist tradition (Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar), Vesakh, which commemorates important events in the life o f Gautama Buddha, is celebrated on May 14. Countries o f Mahayana Buddhist tradition (China, Japan and Korea) observe these events on other dates. The Vatican m essage, with the motto “Buddhists and Christians: Praying for Peace in the World,” is an invitation to “dear Buddhist friends,” to “join in prayer for the cause o f peace in the world.” ’’Observing the current international situation, we cannot but be aware o f the acuteness o f the question o f peace in our world,” the m essage states. “Since the beginning o f this new millennium, marked by the

Second Anniversary

“The Rosary for Catholics and the Mala for Buddhists are simple yet profound and meaningful prayer...these two prayers have in common a calming effect on those who pray them” see that the deep-rooted selfishness o f human hearts is overcome, so that people may be transformed into true artisans o f peace.” Archbishop Fitzgerald told Buddhists that this is a special year for Catholics, as John Paul II has proclaimed it the Year o f the Rosary o f the Virgin Mary, and has requested that this prayer be recited for peace. ”Is it not a wonderful coincidence that you also have a lengthy tradition o f using the

Mala for prayer?” the archbishop asks. “The rosary for Catholics and the Mala for Buddhists are simple yet profound and meaningful prayer, despite essential differences in their form and content, based on our distinct doctrines and practices. For Catholics, the rosary represents a m ost effective means o f fostering contemplation o f Jesus Christ. For Buddhists, the Mala is used to overcom e the 108 sinful desires in order to reach the state o f nirvana. ”By virtue o f their meditative character, these two prayers have in com m on a calming effect on those who pray them; they lead them to experience and to work for peace, and they produce fruits o f love. For Catholics, the repetition and meditation o f the holy names o f the Persons o f the Blessed Trinity and the Virgin Mary in the recitation o f the Rosary makes us more w illing to assimilate their love and com passion for others, especially for the poor and afflicted. In your Buddhist tradition, praying the Mala helps one to becom e a peacemaker.” Archbishop Fitzgerald concludes: “I am convinced that by persevering in prayer w e w ill contribute to advancing peace in the world both now and in the future. May this peace be with you and your fam ilies on the feast o f Vesak and at all tim es.”

□

Z E N IT

When faith and artistic creativity meet ROME - THE FIRST congress on “Poetry and Christianity,” which was held in Rome in early May, took a look at how faith and art have interacted throughout history. Included in that m ix is philosophy, cinema, storytelling and theology — which is why “Blade Runner,” the Bible and Dante Alighieri were som e o f the names that resounded at the congress, held at the University o f the Holy Cross. ’’Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra and John Ford, three o f the greatest film directors o f the 20th century, were practicing Catholics,” said professor William Park, o f Sarah Lawrence College o f Bronxville, N ew York, in response to those who maintain that Christianity has suppressed creativity. Professor Maria Antonia Labrada o f the University of Navarre distinguished between “the Greek myth, centered on nature, and Christian mythology, dedicated to action, the moral realm and history.” Professor Jose M iguel Ibanez o f the University o f the Andes, o f Santiago, Chile, talked about the presence o f God in contemporary

poetry. Ibanez spoke about how the religious theme is latent in the poetry o f our time. Focusing on the subjects o f the Incarnation and Nativity, the speaker recited some poem s and stressed that even the tradition o f “accursed poets or agonizing believers w ill give witness o f the Christian God by way o f anguished doubt or even o f curse and blasphemy.” For his part, Cesare Cavalleri, editor o f the Italian review Studi Cattolici, cautioned against the temptation to see a Catholic thinker in every artist or literary figure. “It is not enough for a poet to mention God or the guardian angel to recruit him among ‘our ow n.’” What is more, Cavalleri stressed, a bad “poem is bad even if written by a Catholic with the best intentions.” Franfois Livi o f the Sorbonne University in Paris explained that “it is worthwhile to recall how knowledge o f the Bible is the great code o f our culture, an indispensable key to understand

Departed: May 20,2001

Two years has passed Since the angels came But the pain of losing you still remains. Though your room is empty and bare your memories will always remain in there. Since heaven loved you more We had to let you go. God bless you mummy we love you so. Always remembered by children and loved ones.

B IR T H D A Y REMEMBRANCE

[n loving memory of

In loving memory of

dramatic events o f September 11, 2001, w e witness every day fresh scenes o f bloodshed, violence, confrontation and crisis in almost all parts o f the world.” ”In the midst o f this grave situation, we cannot lead our lives without committing ourselves to advancing the cause o f peace in the world,” Archbishop Fitzgerald writes. ”We Christians and Buddhists are convinced that the origin of all conflict is ultimately located in human hearts characterized by selfish desire, specifically by desire for power, domination and wealth often at the expense o f others,” he continues. “It is also our common conviction that peace must inhabit people’s hearts before it can become a social reality. ’’For us, therefore, the most fundamental and efficient way to advance peace is to do our best to

In Loving Memory

our literatures.” Paul Dumol o f the University o f A sia and the Pacific, in Manila, Philippines, explained

Alfred Hitchcock, one of the greatest film directors of the 20th century, was a practicing Catholic. that what “the Christian faith has offered and can offer literature is the Christian view o f the human being, life, society and history, indeed, o f reality.” ’’This reality is created, and

that is a source o f optimism — a deep optimism, as opposed to a superficial one, because the Christian faith is not blind to disasters, pain and death,” he said. ”In addition, the Christian view o f the human being is that he has been saved — a further source o f optimism and hope,” Dumol stressed. ’’Again this view is not superficial, but deep, because it includes the reality of sin — what the human being is saved from — and at its heart is the cross: suffering,” he continued. ’’There is nothing sentimental about the Christian faith, and the claim has been made that it is only Christians who truly understand what evil is,” he added. “At the same time, for the Christian faith the human being has a dimension o f mystery that can never be totally clarified. The Son o f God became man; what that im plies about human nature is something literature can explore endlessly.” □ z e n i t

C A T H E R IN E ESBRAN

Ninth Anniversary

In loving memory of

JOSEPH LO PE Z O L IV E R IL L E S IN G H E

Departed: Sep 6, 2001 Rest in peace, dear loving father, Twenty long months have passed away; You’re gone, but are still living In the hearts of those who stay. Lovingly remembered by wife and children.

THANKSGIVING Dearest St Jude, I would like to offer you my heartfelt thanks for your kind intercessions. Especially for blessing me with a healthy and beautiful baby. Please continue to pray for me and my family. Karlyn

Thank you Mother Mary, St Jude, St Anthony and Jesus for all prayers answered. Please continue to help us and pray for us. M aria Dearest St Jude, I would like to thank you for answering all my prayers. I am absolutely grateful to you. Veronica Dearest St Jude Thaddeaus, absolute gratitude to you for prayers answered. Also praise to our eternal Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, St Gerard Magella, Holy Spirit and guardian angels for your blessings, protection, intercessions and prayers answered.

Departed: May 28,1994 Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. Sadly missed and always remembered by wife, sons, daughter, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, grand-children and loved ones. O Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in times of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for me and all who invoke your aid. Humbly in need of your intercession. Amen. Thank you for answering my prayers. Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, Thou who make me see everything & 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 Marie confirm once more that I never want to be Thank you dearest separated from You no Heavenly Father, matter how great the Jesus, Holy Spirit material desires may for your mercy and be. I want to be with Mother Mary for your You and my loved ones intercession for my son in your perpetual glory. as his medical tests Amen. From: have shown Shashikant P. Shivial improvement. Holy Spirit, you who make Holy Spirit, thou who me see everything and make me see show me the way to everything & show me reach my ideal. You the way to reach my who give me the divine ideal. You who give gift to forgive and me the divine gift to forget the wrong that forgive and forget the is done to me and who wrong that is done to are in all instances of me and who are in all my life with me. I, in instances of my life this short dialogue with me. I, in this short want to thank you for dialogue want to thank everything and you for everything and confirm once more that confirm once more that I never want to be I never want to be separated from you no separated from you no matter how great the matter how great the material desires may material desires may be. I want to be with be. I want to be with you and my loved ones you and my loved ones in your perpetual in your perpetual glory. glory. Amen. Anne Amen. Damian

Catholic News

Sundays May 25 and June-1, 2003

In Loving Memory In ever loving memory of

First Anniversary

Fourth Anniversary

In loving memory of

RONALDO JOSEPH MORALES

Departed:Apr 9, 2003 In life, we loved you dearly. In death, we love you still. It broke our hearts to lose you. But you didn’t go alone. Part of us went with you. The day God took you home. Mass will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church, Victoria St on Wednesday May 28, 2003 at 6 pm. Dearly missed by your loving children, grandchildren and loved ones.

Departed:Jun 1, 2002 A good and loving father you were. Your helping hand was always there. Your words were wise and good. Dear Papa, In our hearts your memory lingers. Today, we recall that moment once again with great sadness. We lost you dearest papa. But we are comforted to know that you are happy and with the best. Dearly missed and forever cherished by wife Jenny, sons, daughters, grandchildren and loved ones.

In loving memory of

ANTHO NY R O Z A R IO M U T H U

Departed: June 1,1999 Sadly missed but I always remembered by wife, children and loved ones. May God grant him eternal rest. Memorial Mass at 8.00 am on June 1, at Church of St Ignatius.

Dearly Departed Six years ago on May 29, 1997 Lives in the hearts of his wife, children and loved ones who hold him dear in their prayers and fondly in their memories.

In everloving memory of

Second Anniversary

In loving memory of

SANDANA M A R Y D/O D A N IE L

Departed: May 30,1998 Dearest Mother, We miss you so much.

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In loving memory of

Bro Conleth Henry was called home by the Lord on 6 May 2003 at St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin. W e remember the good times, the inspiration and the guidance you gave us, and for showing us^ that “God does not make junk”. W e thank the Lord for blessing us with your life, your wisdom and your loving work. May you rest in His perfect peace and infinite love. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

JO Y C E J U L IA N A D ’R O Z A R IO

Departed: May 26,2001 j The depths of sorrow TERESA TA N we cannot tell, L E E SIAN Of the loss of one Departed: June 4, 1994 we love so well, And while she sleeps ! Eternal rest grant unto a peaceful sleep, her, O Lord and let your Her memory we shall perpetual light shine always keep. upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen Always remembered by husband, children, Sadly missed and grandchildren, in-laws always remembered and all loved ones. by loved ones. Mass will be celebrated at Church Dearest mother, of the Holy Cross, Ten years Singapore on June 4, The ‘80s Retreat Team, Singapore have passed by and 2003 at 6.30 pm. we miss you so much. Memories of your love and care for us speak beautifully of you. Always remembered by your children, grandchildren and * Professional services for Christians great-grandchildren. * Q ualified professional em balm ers Mass will be * Q uality local a n d im ported caskets celebrated at Church * Special p a c k a g e and discount price for Catholics of St Teresa, Kampong * Professional handling o f repatriations a n d im port Bahru on Sunday June 1 at 10.00 am. cases

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The love you gave us spoke beautifully of you. There is not a day, dear mother That we do not think of you. Mother you are always treasured in our hearts. Dearly missed and always remembered by loving children, grand children and loved ones. Mass will be celebrated at Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Singapore on Friday, May 30, 2003 at 6.30 pm.

In loving memory of

Departed: May 23,1983 He suffered patiently and long, His hope was bright, his faith was strong, The peace of Jesus filled his breast, And in His arms he sank to rest. Very dearly missed by wife, children, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, in-laws and loved ones.

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| Departed: May 31,1998 We see you happy ! and smiling ever so often in our dreams We feel the warmth of i you, still in our hearts We sense your presence among us always in our home! Sadly missed and always remembered by your daughter, grand-children, great-grandchildren, great-great-grand children and loved ones. | Mass will be celebrated on Saturday May 31 at 6 pm at Church of the Holy Family. Please turn to page 12 for more “In M em oriam ” announcem ents and classified advertisem ents.

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Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003 Catholic News

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ONE IN CHRIST: UNITY Come, Celebrate with us! Tuesday, June 10, 2 0 0 3 at 8 pm Penitential S ervice (F o llo w ed by M ass in H onour o f St A nthony) Saturday and Sunday: M ass in honour o f T he H oly Trinity 5-DAY CELEBRATION:

SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 2003

Food & Games Fair, 8 am-2 pm 7.30 am Mass in Mandarin June 12, 8 pm Mass in Tamil 9.00 am Mass in English 11.00 am Mass in English June 13, 8 pm Mass in English 12.30 pm Mass in Tamil Celebrant: A rchbishop Nicholas Chia 6.00 pm Mass in English 7.30 pm Feast Day Dinner June 14, 6 pm Mass in English

Wed June 11, 8 pm Mass in Chinese Thu Fri M ain

Sat

Venue: Church of St Anthony, 25 Woodlands Ave 1, Singapore 739064 Tel: 6368-3804; 6365-2363 Note: St Anthony’s Bread will be distributed at all M asses on June 13, 14 and 15. Tickets are on sale fo r the dinner @ $35 p e r head. Make cheque payable to Church o f St Anthony and indicate Feast D ay Dinner on reverse o f cheque. Closing date fo r sales o f Dinner Ticket is June 8, 2003.

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---------------------Family — --------------

Getting to the bottom of the communication problem at home By Frederic Flach, MD SUCCESSFUL communications at home don’t just happen. You have to work at them. You have to be willing to develop some basic skills. It’s a little like taking a course in journalism where you ’re taught to look for the “who, “what,” “where,” “when” and “why” o f every story. — With whom are you communicating and about what? — Where and when is this taking place? — What’s the point o f it? — Finally, how are you communicating, and how is what you are trying to express being heard? For example, I am speaking with my wife about money. We are doing dishes after dinner. I want to tell her our Visa bill arrived in the mail and that I think she’s gone overboard in her expenditures for the month — and that it isn ’t the first time. I anticipate she’ll be defensive. She is. What I hoped would be a calm, rational discussion quickly gets out o f hand. She accuses me o f being controlling. I shout back, something about her being a spendthrift. We aren’t talking about money anymore. W e’re engaged in mutual character assassination. Finally, she stalks out o f the room and goes upstairs to read in bed. I’m seething, feeling misunderstood. I try to calm down watching television. By the time I get upstairs, she is fast asleep. Could I have handled this differently? O f course. I could have chosen a better time, perhaps mid-morning on a Saturday, when we were well rested. Instead o f expressing m yself in a tone that easily made me sound like a martinet, I might have started with a query aimed at reviewing and reconsidering all the charges in the bill, not just hers. When I saw her initial reaction, I might have backed off, suggesting another time to talk about it. I might even have apologized, not for bringing up the subject, but for how I had approached it. Whether the people involved are husbands and wives or parents and children, whether the subject is sex, in-laws or a youngster’s performance in school, every important conversation is an opportunity for clarification, issue-resolution or

creative planning. And every important conversation carries the risk o f a communication breakdown and a disruption in a relationship. These may be shortlived. One hopes that the morning after our fight my wife and I have made up. Later we can return to the matter o f her being more careful

Families that communicate well use touches and gestures as effectively as words. about spending and perhaps my being a bit overzealous in my desire to contain it. But often the feelings stirred by arguments, and the issues too, are swept under the table. There they remain hidden, but nonetheless influential in slow ly corrupting future efforts to communicate with one another. Long-term communication problems are bom this way, by the repeated submersion of negative feelings and emotions: fear, rage, hurt pride and humiliation. Over time, people just say less and less to each other about anything that matters. Or every time a particular subject com es up, arguments ensue. Alienation gradually permeates

Communication among family members can be hard. It means sharing not only words and ideas, but feelings, hopes, disappointments. Respect and listening are required in situations involving people of different ages and sexes who often have different interests and immediate needs.

most aspects o f the relationship. The stage is set for events that could be even more threatening to family life: infidelity, as one partner or both seeks consolation and understanding with someone else; drug use and academic failure in an adolescent feeling disconnected from his parents and anger at their ineptitudes; an illegitimate pregnancy in a teen-ager drowning in a sea o f hostile verbiage from a mother who keeps calling her “cheap” and “a liar.” If only we could come to appreciate the importance o f language. If only we could learn to be truly comfortable with those we love, taking the time to understand not just what they communicate but how. And there are a myriad ways people communicate: with few words or many; rationally; with feeling; with a sm ile or through thoughtful behavior. If only we could look into ourselves and wean out those elements o f our past — especially the nature o f communications within our families of origin that may still be operative for us — that serve to distort how we perceive and react to those around us. A common cause o f long term communication difficulties is the transposition o f old, irrelevant expectations onto on e’s spouse and children. Your mother was controlling. She drank too much. She frequently criticized you and your father. Has this affected your attitudes toward your spouse? Has this rubbed off on your own way o f interacting? Or, more like your father, do you almost invite harsh words and suffer in silence? If only we could recognize these ghosts and rid ourselves o f them. Where does faith com e in? It’s a powerful motive to put in the time and effort to put domestic communication in good order. Consider adding healthy communications to your list o f things to pray for. Remember also that mutual respect in the context o f genuine faith is the life-blood o f human relationships. □ c n s F lach practices psych ia try in New York City. H e is a K n ig h t o f the Equestrian O rder o f the H o ly Sepulcher o f Jerusalem and author o f “ Resilience: The Pow er to Bounce Back When the G oing Gets Tough."

Catholic News

Sundays May 25 and June 1, 2003

Young Catholics LEST WE FO RGET... The war in Iraq may be over but peace has not been established and the Iraqis continue to suffer from lawlessness and inadequate essential facilities. Picture below shows Iraqi childen playing near open sewer.

St Ignatius youth celebrate Seder Meal By Andy Wee Sixty youths from the Church of St Ignatius gathered in the parish canteen in mid-April to participate in the Seder Meal, traditionally celebrated by the Jews on Passover to remember their freedom from slavery. In the Catholic context, the Seder Meal relates to Jesus becom ing the new sacrifice for our salvation, like the lamb that was slain and w hose blood was smeared on the door posts to protect the Israelites. The celebration by students from Secondary Two to university was filled with rituals and symbols such as salt water, parsley, matzot, lamb shank, wine (represented by grape juice), bitter

herbs and many other edible items. Several tables, each for six to seven people,were set upin the parish hall. Food and wine were laid out on the candle lit tables. Giving the youth some historical background was a video clip from the m ovie Prince o f Egypt showing the Israelites celebrating their Passover and smearing their door posts with the blood o f a lamb. A question and answer session enabled the youth to understand the celebration better. Fr Fr Leslie Raj led the event which was organised by the senior journey group o f SIMPLE PROject, Agape. It was an interesting and eye opening experience for the many participating youths. □

There are many other places of suffering. Left:Afghanistan children push their precious carge of water. Above: Homeless childen sleep on the steets in Calcutta. Right:A Palestinian child killed in an Israeli attack is carried away, c n s P h o to s

‘Festival of Life’ marks resurrection By Desiree Hwang

X2 put on a spectacular show 1 By Robert Doyle IHE second instalment of the adventures o f super hero team X-M en is the latest to mix an intelligent storyline with good acting and unbelievable special effects. Picking up where the previous film left off, the film tells o f the emergence o f a mutant gene in humanity that gives certain people special gifts, such as the ability to walk through walls or m ove objects with the mind. But although the mutants wish to live normal lives, they are feared and mistreated by the majority o f humankind and live in the shadows. Som e have joined Professor Charles X avier’s X-M en, a group dedicated to peaceful co existence with humans, while others have thrown their lot in with the professor’s old friend Magneto, who has enough o f hiding and wants mutants to take over the world. Meanwhile, there is a group o f humans who want the mutant “m enace” wiped out.

The choice for the mutants is simple: unite or die. X2 doesn’t disappoint when it com es to thrills, but what makes it more enjoyable than the usual no-brainer is its attention to story line and character development. It begins with a breath-taking sequence in which a supernatural assassin attempts to kill the American president at the White House, but is happy to then give them to more cerebral concepts,

Famke Janssen and Halle Berry star in a scene from “X2: X-Men United” such as fear o f the unknown, hatred o f minorities, and the necessity for the powerful to exercise self-control. What makes X 2 o f special interest to the Catholic film goer is the inclusion o f the world’s first Catholic super-hero, German circus freak Kurt Wagner, Aka

Nightcrawler. The demoniclooking teleporter has long been a popular feature o f the Marvel Com ics strip on which the film is based, because o f his deep faith and battles with sin and temptation. Fans o f the com ic will be delighted by Scotish actor Alan Cum m ing’s faithful portrayal o f the blue-skinned acrobat and the fact that director Bryan Singer has not ducked the issue of Nightcrawler’s devout, fanatical Catholicism. What a refreshing change to a have Catholic film character who is not an evil fundamentalist or wet-faced liberal. It is Nightcrawler’s trust in the power o f God that saves humanity from taking the mutants’ point o f view, a richly deserved destruction. X 2 features excellent performances. However, those o f a fainter disposition will find some o f the violence graphic. It should be approached with caution by younger filmgoers. The film is rated PG (Parental Guidance) in Singapore. □ t h e u n iv e r s e

SINGAPORE - Jesus’ resurrection was celebrated in a ‘Festival o f L ife’ by fam ilies and youths at the house o f the Verbum D ei M issionaries. Through a series o f personal sharings and songs sung by the choir, participants were taken on a “Walk to Em m aus”, the theme o f the festival. Through this, they came to a deeper understanding o f their own journey with Jesus; the many times they too, like Cleopas and his friend, had not seen Jesus standing there because they could not comprehend the significance o f Jesus’ resurrection. A s the evening cam e to a close, the m issionaries and participants gathered for a final feast to celebrate the joy o f Easter, taking hom e with them the joy o f having Jesus alive in their lives. On H oly Thursday a small group o f Catholics and nonCatholics gathered for a vigil, singing, preaching and prayer whence they were brought into a deep understanding o f the death o f Jesus. Instead o f the washing o f the feet, the participants wrote down certain traits they wanted to have washed away. In exchange, they were each given a paper which had on it a new characteristic that they would try to adopt. They also participated in a shortened version o f the Stations o f the Cross and a play to highlight the many tim es people deny Jesus, like Peter. The participants were able to reflect upon the tim es in their ow n lives when they too denied Jesus. For more information about Verbum Dei Missionaries contact 62740251; e-mail verbumdei@pacific.net.sg or visit civo.com/verbumdeisingapore.

Sundays May 25 and June 1,2003 Catholic News

-------------------------------------Backpage

“John Paul II, the world loves you” MADRID - An obviously aging Pope John Paul II made his fifth visit to Spain May 3-4, sharing his conviction that a life spent in the service o f God and o n e’s neighbors is the only type o f life worth living. In a May 3 evening m eeting with more than 700,000 Spanish young people and again at a Mass for the canonization o f five Spanish priests and religious the next day, the pope called on Spaniards to live their faith with courage, to sow harmony in their nation, to stand up for Christian values in the new Europe and to work for peace in the world. When the crowd launched the standard Spanish chant, “John Paul II, the world loves you,” he responded, “O f Spain, it’s true.” The pope, who w ill celebrate his 83rd birthday May 18, told young people at the evening rally that he was ordained at the age o f 26 and has been a priest for more than 56 years. “A hs,” laughter and cheers burst from the crowd when the pope flashed the youths a big grin and said, “N ow you can figure

out how old the pope is.” They chanted, “The pope is young.” “I am a youth o f 83 years,” he responded to more cheers and more chants. “Looking back and remembering those years o f my life, I can assure you that it is worth it to dedicate yourself to the cause o f Christ and, for love o f him, to consecrate yourself to serving humanity,” he told the young people, many o f whom were not even bom when he was elected pope in 1978. The pope told them to be like the saints he was about to canonize, unafraid of proclaiming the Gospel message to all. “It is everyone’s task,” he said. “Christ is the true answer to every question about the human person and his destiny.” Pope John Paul, who proclaimed 2002-03 the Year of the Rosary, encouraged the young people to use the Marian prayer to learn the art o f contemplation and discover the w ays they must put their faith

into practice. Arriving at the airport, the pope said the new Spanish saints were exam ples o f strong faith, love for one’s neighbors and a commitment to building a society based on peaceful co-existence. At the canonization Mass in the city’s Plaza de Colon, he encouraged Spanish Catholics to proudly continue their country’s history o f evangelization and be witnesses o f Jesus Christ throughout the world. An estimated 1 m illion people attended the Mass. The new saints, all died in the 20th century, They gave their lives to God and to serving others and today’s Catholics must do the same, the pope said at the Mass. “Other fruits o f holiness w ill be bom if church communities maintain their fidelity to the

G ospel,” he said. “N ew fruits o f holiness w ill be bom if the family remains united as an authentic sanctuary o f love and life. “Respond to blind violence and inhuman hatred with the fascinating power o f love,” he told them. “Defeat enmity with the power o f forgiveness. Keep

Young people cheer at the arrival of Pope John Paul II in his popemobile. The pope encouraged them to dedicated themselves to the cause of Christ and to the service of humanity, c n s Photo

yourselves away from every form o f exaggerated nationalism, racism and intolerance.” □ c n s

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