“In the humble signs of bread and wine changed into his body and blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey and he enables us to become for everyone witnesses of hope.” - Pope John Paul 0
SUNDAYS JUNE 22 AND JUNE 29, 2003 SINGAPORE 50 CENTS/ WEST MALAYSIA RM 1.20 M.l T.A.(P) N o,105/01/2003 PPS 201/4/2004 VOL 53 No, 13
My dear People of God,
“The Eucharist is the greatest gift Christ left the Church” - Pope John Paul II
On June 22 this year we will be celebrating the Feast of Corpus Christi. It’s a day when the whole Church pays special homage to Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. The Holy Eucharist holds a central place in the life of all Catholics. On Holy Thursday this year His Holiness Pope John Paul II issued the encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” (Church of the Eucharist). This is the 14,hencyclical by the pope in the 25thyear of his papacy. In it the Holy Father wrote: “The Eucharist is the greatest gift Christ left the Church”. He reiterates what was proclaimed by the Second Vatican Council that the Eucharistic Sacrifice is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (L.G. 11). The Holy Eucharist contains the Church’s entire spiritual wealth, Christ Himself, our Passover and Living Bread. The Real Presence Christ, before his Ascension, promised: “I shall be with you always, to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20). Christ manifests himself in various ways, e.g. in the poor: “I was hungry, I was thirsty...” (Mt 25), but above all he manifests himself in the living Sacrament of his Body and Blood. “I am the bread of life” (Jn 6:35), “The bread that I will give is my flesh (Jn 6:51), “My flesh is the real food; my blood is the real drink" (Jn 6:55). How deep is our faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist? How do we show our love for the Eucharist? Necessity of the Eucharist Christ categorically said: “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in yourselves. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day” (Jn 6:53.54). How often do we receive the Eucharist? Union with Christ and with the faithful "The cup we use in the Lord’s Supper... we are sharing in the blood of Christ. And the bread we break... we are sharing in the body of Christ. Because there is the one loaf of bread, all of us though many are one body, for we all share the same loaf' (1 Cor 10:16.17). Do we truly unite ourselves with Christ each time we receive Holy Communion? Are we united with our fellow-worshippers who share the same table as us? The self-giving love of Jesus in the Eucharist invites and challenges us to be self-giving - to reach out in love and service to the members of our families, our community and society at large.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him to life on the last day” (Jn 6:53.54)
Necessary dispositions “If anyone eats the Lord’s bread or drinks from his cup in a way that dishonours him he is guilty of sin against the Lord’s body and blood” (1 Cor 11:27). “If he does not recognise the meaning of the Lord’s body when he eats the bread and drinks from the cup, he brings judgement on himself.” (1 Cor 11:29). How disposed are we when we approach the Altar of the Lord? An interior disposition of devotion is necessary for the reception of the Eucharist. The Lord makes himself available to us daily at the Sacrifice of the Mass. He is present in the tabernacle to reach out to us to heal us, to nourish and strengthen us and to transform us into his likeness so that we can reflect him to others. Let us reach out to him in love and gratitude and not take his availability for granted. On the occasion of the Feast of Corpus Christi, let us renew our love and devotion to our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist. Frequent Communion with the proper dispositions will strengthen us spiritually. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament will keep us in touch with the Lord. In some of our churches the Blessed Sacrament is exposed for several hours daily. In the St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre, 1261 Upper Serangoon Road, we have our Archdiocesan Perpetual Adoration Chapel - the Eucharist is exposed 24 hours daily for adoration by the faithful. To celebrate the First Anniversary of its opening there will be a special celebration on Saturday, June21, 2003 from 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm. The main reason for the celebration is to show our love, devotion and gratitude to Christ present in the Eucharist. I conclude with these beautiful words of our Holy Father in his encyclical: “In the humble signs of bread and wine changed into his body and blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey and he enables us to become for everyone witnesses of hope. If, in the presence of this mystery, reason experiences its limits, the heart enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, clearly sees the response that is demanded, and bows low in adoration and unbounded love.” “Hail our Saviour’s glorious Body, Which his Virgin Mother bore’ Hail the Blood which shed for sinners, Did a broken world restore; Hail the sacrament most holy, Flesh and Blood of Christ adore!” Yours devotedly in Christ, Archbishop Nicholas Chia
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Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003 Catholic News
News
“CO M E, PRAY W ITH M E” A VIGIL FOR VOCATIONS By Jacqueline See
My dear People o f God, Greetings in the Lord! On May 13, Masses were held in all our parishes to pray fo r those affected by Sars. A collection fo r the Courage Fund was made and $57,544.90 raised. This has been transfered to the relevant authority. Thank you fo r your prayers and generous offering. May the good Lord bless you fo r your care and concern. Yours devotedly in Christ, Archbishop Nicholas Chia
MIIGRANTS HELP DESK AT LUCKY PLAZA OPENS Hope Haven, the latest project of the Archdiocesan Commission for Migrants and Itinerant People (CMI) was launched June 1 at Lucky Plaza to reach out to Filipino and Indonesian migrant workers right where they congregate.
The help desk is manned by trained volunteers who help migrant workers address problems including those related to employment, finance and marriage. Among the volunteers are Religious Sisters and seminarians, trained counsellors and para-counsellors and other professionals from Indonesia, India, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka. The help desk is open every Sunday from 11am2pm. Those who need help but are not able to go out on Sunday are encouraged to call CMI at 62805424. □
HTT WAS TRULY a Spirit-filled I time when some 200 JLparishioners gathered at the Church of the Holy Cross May 30 for an all-night Vigil for Vocations. The evening started off slowly but soon more chairs had to be added as the congregation grew. It was heartening to see so many sacrificing a night’s sleep to pray that the Lord sends more vocations to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Singapore. Father Stephen Yim, Spiritual Director of the parish vocation team, spoke about the need for priests so that the Church does not lose its all-important sacramental character. As Pope John Paul II puts it, “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 whole Church.” It was a poignant moment when Fr. Yim, Fr Anthony Ho (Rector of the St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary) and Fr. Henry Siew (Dean of Studies at the seminary) together offered to the Lord a prayer of gratitude for the gift of priesthood. What higher calling can God bestow on men, than to call him to be his priestson? The Vocation Promotion Team prayed for the gift of unfailing faith and Fr Anthony Ho shared his vocation story. The community was reminded of the need to pray for priests in a
Powerpoint presentation titled “One Life to Live, One Life to Give” followed by a half-hour of praise and worship before breaking for supper. The Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration throughout the vigil. Seven different teams, each leading for 45 minutes, drew from their different talents to lead the community in varied forms of prayer through the night.The altar servers led in prayers for the gift of humility. The NUS Catholic Students’ Society shared what a life of prayer is about through charismatic songs. Taize chants featured strongly in the session led by the NUS Indonesian Catholic Community as they implored God to bless both our priests and ourselves with the gift of sincerity in upholding the truth of God. At 3am in the morning, which is also the Divine Mercy hour, the Friends of the Vocation Promotion Team offered up the Divine Mercy chaplet for the gift of obedience. Brother Michael Lim, a seminarian, shared on
Fromleft: Fr. HenrySiew,Fr. AnthonyHo andFr. StephenYim offeringaprayerofgratitudefor thegiftofpriesthood. what obedience meant to him. The NUS Filipino Catholic Community led in the prayers for the gift of knowing and choosing the will of God. They animated the scripture readings and sang in great harmony. The last and final session led by the Friends of the Sacred Heart of Jesus chanted the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the Lord to bless his priest-sons with the gift of holy purity. The vigil started at 9pm and ended at 6.15am the next morning, followed by a Thanksgiving Mass. But time flew by all too soon! It was a very uplifting spiritual experience. Although tired, many had a glow on their faces, knowing that the Lord had heard their prayers and will fulfil them in his time. More importantly, for those present, it was an intimate experience of Christ as we encountered God in prayer. □
IHM CHURCH CELEBRATES GOLDEN JUBILEE By Christian Kwan
HE CHURCH of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrating its Golden Jubilee June 28, 2003, its Feast Day. The Jubilee Programme includes a Mini-Food Fair, Praise Fest Triduum, Jubilee Mass and Dinner, Jubilee Magazine with video cd, and a specially 800. In 1999, a parish assembly commissioned statue of the convened by the new parish Immaculate Heart of Mary. priest, Fr James Yeo, approved The first IHM Church was built the building of a new church, in 1953. Msgr Michael Bonamy retreat house and parish hall. from the Cathedral was Construction was completed in instrumental in building the church. May last year at a cost of $ 11.9 Archbishop Emeritus Gregory million. Yong, then a young priest, helped These facilities enable the in the fund raising together with Fr parish to host a wide range of Messonier. The contractor was the activities like seminars, talks, late Celestine Anthony, father of Fr camps, and retreats in addition to Adrian Anthony. its own group meetings and By the late 1990s, the nearly catechism classes. New life has 50-year-old building was too been infused into the parish. small for the Catholic population Organist Helen Chong is still despite two extensions that nostalgic for the old church increased its seating capacity to through which the breeze flowed
T
Left: Theold buildingwas breezybut too small. Below:The newbuildingis column-free anduser friendly.
freely. But she observes that the new buildings have attracted higher attendance at church services and parish activities. She hopes for a more vibrant parish as more people are drawn into active participation. Warden and Communion
Minister Paul Tan notes that the new team of priests have brought a new vigour. Parishioners stay on after Sunday Masses to socialise. There are more spiritual programmes. He also feels the new column-free church is visually more pleasant and user friendly. Car parking is adequate. The Altar Servers’ Society president Seishen Ratnagopal says that much has been done to involve youths in ministry and parish activities but more still needs to be done. The priests say that with the bricks and mortar in place the need now is for spiritual development and a more participatory church. Fr James Yeo thinks that IHM can establish missionary projects such as links with overseas mission stations to promote mission awareness and participation. After 50 golden years, IHM is poised to put a new heart and a new mind into its parish life. □
Catholic News
Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003
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What’s On T H E F E A S T D A Y O F T H E B IR T H O F S T J O H N T H E B A P T IS T
The O rder o f M alta will be celebrating the Feast day o f the birth o f their Patron Saint, St.John the Baptist, on Tues June 24, with M ass at the Franciscan M issionaries o f Mary, 49D Holland Rd, at 6 pm. Celebrant; Archbishop N icholas Chia, Chaplain o f the Order. There will be a sm all cerem ony with the Knights and Dame in their robes, the carrying o f the Cross, the Banner o f the Order, and the Sword o f Chivalry o f the O rder o f Malta. Please be there by 5.45pm.
A R C H B IS H O P ’S O FFIC IA L D IA R Y Jun 22
7.30 pm
World Day Santification of Priests at Holy Family Church
Jun 26
7.30 pm
Opus Dei - Feastday at Church of the Holy Cross
Jun 28
6.15 pm
P R A IS E V E R T IC O !
To Unite Youths from the Northern District Parishes o f Singapore. Date: June 2 8 ,7.30pm. Venue: Church o f St Anthony. Event is co-organized by the Singapore Polytechnic. Enquiries: Ang Jam ie K evin (9740-7064).
Jun 30 July 20
Golden Jubilee at Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary 10.30 am Feastday at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul 5.30 pm Ordination of Deacon Aloysius Ong at St Bernadette Church 8.00 pm In honour of Blessed James Alberione (Founder of Daughters of St Paul) at the Church of the Holy Cross 6.00 pm Confirmation at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea
July 27
......
od
10.30 am Feastday at Church of St Anne 6.00 pm Diamond Jubilee of Fr Reid SJ at Church of St Ignatius July 28 to August 1 Bishops’ Conference in Johore
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S A L V A T IO N H IS T O R Y
C O U N TR Y AND W ESTERN F A M IL Y N IT E
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A rchbishop Chia to c e le b ra te Thanksgiving M ass fo r Opus Dei found er’s can on izatio n By Eric Valles ARCHBISHOP Nicholas Chia will be the main celebrant at a Thanksgiving Mass for the canonization of Opus Dei’s founder, St. Josemaria Escriva, at the Church of the Holy Cross at 7.30 pm. June 26. St Josemaria is renowned for preaching the universal call to holiness. Pope John Paul II canonized him at St. Peter’s Square October 6, 2002 before tens of thousands of people from
Singapore and more than 80 countries. The pope said St. Josemaria was chosen by the Lord to proclaim ... that everyday life, its customary activities, are a path towards holiness. It could be said that he was the saint of the ordinary. The Opus Dei Prelature’s apostolate in Singapore began in 1982. There are four local Opus Dei centres, two for women and two for men. The Prelature’s spiritual activities comprise retreats, confessions, recollections, talks, meditations,
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doctrinal classes and spiritual direction. Its members, mostly lay and married, also organize youth clubs, informal academic classes, professional gettogethers and family enrichment seminars. Frs. Michael Chan, Conor Donnelly and Joe Lopez are priests of the Prelature based in Singapore.
For inquiries about Opus Dei, call 6775-45-13 (for women) and 6779-06-52 (for men). □
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REGISTRATION FOR 2N D SEMESTER CLOSES O N JULY 18. 20 0 3 M M /'A IIB P P P TERM; JULY 28 TO NOVEMBER 28 2003
/ .1 I U K \ r \ 3RD QUARTER: JULY 28 TO SEPTEMBER 23. 2003 fcWWW V V V IlW U V 4TH QUARTER : SEPTEMBER 29 TO NOVEMBER 28 2003
Courses for the 3,d Quarter
Courses for the 3rd & 4th Quarter
• Catholic Social Teachings by Fr James Yeo Tuesday 11.00am - 12.50pm Thursday 9.00am - 10.50am
• Scripture - Wisdom Literature by Fr Ambrose Vaz Tuesday 9.00am - 10.50am & alternate Friday 11.00am-12.50pm
• Question of God by Fr William Goh Wednesday 9.00am -10.50 pm Thursday 11,00am - 1 2.50pm
• Scripture - Genesis & Exodus by Fr Lawrence Yeo Wednesday 9.00am - 10.50am & alternate Friday 9.00am- 10.50am
• Introduction to Sociology by Sr Maria Lau IJ Tuesday 8, Thursday 9.00am - 10.50pm
• Theology of Marriage by Fr Michael Arro MEP Wednesday 11.00am - 1 2.50pm
• Liturgy of Anointing & Funeral by Fr Tom O'Neill SJ Friday 9.00am- 10.50pm
• Canon Law on Marriage by Mgr Francis Lau Monday 11.00am - 1 2.50pm
• History of Philosophy - Medieval by Fr Noel Chin Wednesday 11.00am - 1 2.50pm
Courses for the 4th Quarter
• History of Philosophy - Contemporary by Fr Henry Siew Wednesday 11.00am - 12.50pm
• Spiritual Direction and Discernment Fr Paul Goh SJ Thursday 9.00am - 10.50am • The Holy Trinity by Fr William Goh Wednesday 9.00am -10.50 pm Thursday 11.00am - 12.50pm
• Comparative Religion by Sr Theresa Seow Thursday 11.00am - 1 2.50pm
• Philosophical Taoism by Fr Henry Siew Tuesday 9.00am - 10.50am Friday 11.00am- 12.50pm
• Introduction to Spirituality by Fr John Chua CDD Tuesday 11.00am - 12.50pm
• Christian Liturgy by FrTom O’Neill SJ Friday 9.00am - 10.50am • Group Dynamics by Mr Augustine Tan Thursday 11.00am - 1 2.50pm
1 Courses are open to religious and laity. For enquiries, call Rebecca Aw ] Tel: 6 3 8 6 - 7 1 4 0 F a x : 6 3 8 6 - 1 3 4 2 E m a il: s fx m s @ p a c ific .n e t.s g
Sundays June 22 and June 29,2003 Catholic News
4
Feature
Church friends make Sars ordeal bearable Support and encouragement from fellow church wardens helped two Catholic families through a crisis caused by Sars. By Mel Diamse-Lee
T
h e ir p r o b l e m
began in early March. Mrs Lola Phua was warded at Tan Tock Seng Hospital for dengue fever. Unknown to her and the hospital, she contracted the virus that causes Sars from a roommate. Five people who visited Mrs Phua also got infected — her two daughters,Eliza and Lidia, her sister and two fellow wardens from the Church of St Francis Xavier in Serangoon Gardens. Neither she nor her friends knew anything about the deadly virus then. This happened when nothing much was known about Sars or how it was transmitted. Mrs Phua, 49, was discharged from hospital on March 15. The next day she attended the sunset Mass to assume her warden’s duty. She was having fever and
the woman friend who had visited her in hospital was complaining of body aches. Soon after, her daughters, Eliza, 22, and Lidia, 18, started having fever. On March 21, the Phuas were admitted as suspected Sars patients and placed together in an isolated room at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Three persons who had visited her earlier were also admitted, as well as three of their children. Even then, the Phuas did not know why they were in hospital, except that they were having fever, breathlessness and body aches. No one spoke to them about their illness. Lidia said,“Our taste buds changed. Each breath we took produced a gurgling sound. Just walking from our room to the toilet made us breathless. We also had to go for blood tests every day and chest x-rays every so often. I was frightened of my fits of vomiting. In the afternoon and evening we had very high fever and for several days suffered from body aches.” Among the children patients was Mr Timothy Lim’s youngest child, 11-year-old Andrea. “We were blessed because she had no
chest symptoms, only high fever for 10 days,” said Mr Lim. The condition of the isolation ward was stark. “No visitors were allowed; we did not see the nurses except during mealtimes and when we had to take
medicine,” Lydia remembered. There was no television, no airconditioning. The only way they could communicate with the outside world was through their own hand phones. However, “We trusted the hospital staff because they were very professional,’’Mrs Phua stressed. “ They were patient with
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us. We asked for many things to make us comfortable and they were provided to us.” “It was a very stressful period but I had to appear cheerful (to Andrea),” said Mr Lim, 48. He often told Bible stories to encourage his daughter. As a non-patient, he had to be gowned, masked and gloved all day and night, even during his sleep. It was only in the bathroom that he was allowed to take off the paraphernalia. Sometimes, due .to fatigue, he wore the mask
upside down. “I was blessed because I did not contract the virus (in spite of this.),” he remarked. Added Mrs. Phua, “We practically did nothing but sleep because of the medication.” The encouragement of fellow wardens gave them strength, she said. “I often received messages from our warden’s group in church. They were encouraging us to hang on, saying “Don’t worry, we are praying for you.” The same group also encouraged Mr Phua, who was on home quarantine. A fellow warden, Mr Stephen Goh, acted as the runner for the families, buying food and leaving it with the hospital guard to pass to the patients and groceryshopping for those on home quarantine. They also received support from Fr Michael Sitaram, the parish priest of the Church of St Vincent de Paul. He used to reside at St Francis Xavier parish and often socialised with the group. When he heard of the families’ plight, he asked his parishioners to pray for them. During that period “nobody in our group ever prayed so hard,’’noted Mr Lim, who consoled himself by reading the Bible. “I could feel that God was there. The Bible verses actually spoke to me. I got a lot of encouragement from reading the Word of God,” he said. He found inspiration from the Exodus story of Moses lifting the staff until the enemy was defeated. “The message for me was to keep praying until the battle was won. When we could not do anything we just kept on praying. That was the only way we could help.”
His wife’s colleagues in the Catholic Prayer Society also prayed for the families. Their case was also announced at the Novena Church, where the congregation observed a minute of silent prayer. In his own office, Protestant friends prayed as did his Catholic friends in Australia. Their wardens’ group and other friends synchronised their prayer time. “Because of you all, I recovered so fast,” Mrs Phua said to Mr Lim. “Initially I was angry with God,” she admitted. “Why is it that friends who came to visit me contracted the virus? Out of goodwill they visited me and they suffered seriously while I got off easily.” Mrs Phua was the last member of her family to leave the hospital. Her sister and two co-wardens developed serious Sars symptoms; one warden eventually died. Mr Lim added, “God chose to take him away. The only thing I could think of in his case is Romans 8, ‘In all things God works for the good of those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose.’ I do not know the purpose but he was called back.” Mrs Phua said, “Because of the crisis all of us in the group became more prayerful. My family’s faith was strengthened. We grew closer to each other and to God. We eventually were able to put things into proper perspective although of course we do not want to go through the trial again.” After her home quarantine ended, she resumed her duties in church. “I was so surprised that people approached me. I was touched that some came to me to say, ‘Welcome back, Lola.’ Some even shook my hand.” Mr Lim said, “For the people affected, there was a good side to the crisis,” Noting the coronavirus is a very tiny organism, he added, ”If even the little things in life we cannot control, why then do we say we are in control of our life?” “While we were going through it, it was a big issue but looking back, it now looks like a small thing. It shows how little we trusted God. Although it strengthened our faith, we realised how weak our faith really was.” He expressed regret that their parish let slip “an opportunity to pray together. It could have been a chance for everybody to be in solidarity.” Noting that some members of the parish attended Sunday Mass elsewhere during that period, he added, “The loss is on the people who did not take part in the prayer because they could not claim that they did their part as a family of God.” He added wistfully, “It would be good if those confined could speak to Religious and priests.” □ ' - . :
Catholic News
June 22 and June 29,2003
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News S tu d en ts learn ab o u t s c ie n c e and religion relatio n sh ip SINGAPORE - Some 400 pupils of St Nicholas Girls’ Secondary School attended a talk May 17 by Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, director and chief executive of Singapore Science Centre, on the relationship between science and religion, the history of various religions and the life stories of great scientists like Charles Darwin, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Galileo Galilei. Dr Chew helped the students to better understand evolution, the Big Bang Theory and the many sensitive areas where religion and science co-exist. He also tried to provide some clarifications to challenging questions such as “Who created the Creator if there is a Creator of the universe? The students found the talk interesting and beneficial. □
Y o u th m ust e v a lu a te m edia in flu en ce By Luke Ashwin
MALAYSIA - Young people should evaluate the strong influence of the media when they buy a product or service. This point was highlighted in a debate and discussed frequently at a Youth Media Camp at the Cameron Highlands themed Moviri into Media organised by Catholic Students Society (CSS) of La Salle Secondary School, Pataling Jaya, and conducted by Cahayasuara Communications Centre. Thirty-one students from Forms one to six participated in the 3 - 6 June camp held at the Barre IJ Centre. One speaker said that “our faith and parental role models are a critical influence in the decision to buy a product.” Some participants had earlier given “fashion, style, and popularity” as reasons for buying products such as handphones and shoes. All camp activities had underlying reasons and moral values. Participants learned how MTVs are made and youth attracted, and the influence of advertising. Values portrayed in the movies Ice Age and Matrix Reloaded were discussed. In the session on Media & Values, Fr. Jean-Claude Lourdes, spiritual
adviser of Cahayasuara, showed movie clips and explained that movies often portray violence in a way that is “enjoyable and acceptable,” thus “desensitising” us of its negative value. The Camp also included a Reconciliation Prayer Experience, called The Web by Sr. Gertrude Tan, IJ. Participants held the strings of the ‘web’ and affirmed each other and asked for forgiveness. The camp ended with a Thanksgiving Mass . □
H aze leave s archbishop in d ilem m a INDONESIA - The archbishop of Pontianak, Indonesia, says the thick haze covering parts of the country due to fires traditionally set to clear land for cultivation poses a dilemma. Capuchin Archbishop Hieronymus Bumbun told UCA News June 2 that though the haze has been an annual problem for the last decade, leading the government to prohibit open burning, people need to farm. “On one hand we encourage people to engage in farming, but on the other hand, when farmers bum their cultivated land during the dry season, people become restless because of the haze,” the prelate said. Traditional farmers as well as large plantation and forestry companies use fire to clear land for planting. Following the start of the dry season in late May, thick haze has forced many people to stay indoors in Pontianak, capital of West Kalimantan province, 700 kilometers north of Jakarta. Many flights have also been delayed or cancelled. The haze has caused breathing difficulties. As of end of May, Pontianak’s hospitals and local government clinics registered 7,000 patients with respiratory problems. . Archbishop Bumbun advised those who decide they must bum their land anyway, “Don’t bum as you wish, but look for the best time to set fire.” □ u c a n
Pope’s trip to M ongolia depends on his health MONGOLIA — A proposed papal trip to Mongolia in August is still under consideration but mainly depends on the health of
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R elatio n s b e tw e e n Holy S ee, China ‘a t s ta n d s till’ CHINA - Relations between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China are “at a standstill,” and there is “no change,” says Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state. As present, he continued, “the Christian community in China lives in the midst of difficulties — one goes into prison, another comes out,” but “the seminaries are full.” He concluded by saying, “Perhaps one day this great nation will come to understand it has nothing to fear from freedom.” China broke diplomatic relations with the Holy See and expelled the apostolic nuncio to China in 1951, but Church contacts with China continued until the late 1950s. For some years before 2000, the Holy See engaged in indirect but steady — and sometimes substantive —contacts with China. Relations soured, however, after Jan. 6, 2000, when China hastily ordained five bishops in Beijing without papal mandate, despite some signs of progress in bilateral understanding. China closed all dialogue with the Holy See after Pope John Paul canonized 120 Chinese Martyrs that year on Oct. 1, China’s national day. □ u c a n
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the 83-year-old pontiff, the Vatican’s secretary of state said June 5. Cardinal Angelo Sodano noted that a trip to Mongolia, a country with only about 100 Catholics, was a long flight and would be a difficult journey for the elderly pontiff, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease and no longer walks in public. “One cannot ask (the pope) to make such a great sacrifice if there is not a good reason. I would be very happy (if he went), but really, it is a community that is still being bom. There isn’t even a bishop — he’s only a superior,” Cardinal Sodano said. The cardinal also noted that Mongolia faced a threat of Sars.
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E cological irresp o n sib ility is a m oral problem , says pope - Pope John Paul II warns of the inevitable repercussions suffered “when man turns his back on the Creator’s plan.” The pope made that observation in a message sent to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, in the context of the 5th Symposium on the Environment, organized by the Orthodox patriarchate. In his message to the patriarch, John Paul II emphasized the importance of understanding the nature of the ecological crisis. “The relationship between individuals or communities and the environment can never be detached from their relationship with God,” the pope said. “Ecological irresponsibility is at heart a moral problem which arises when man forgets that his ability to transform the world must always respect God’s design of creation,” he cautioned. The symposium is taking place aboard a ship which will sail to many of the port towns on the Baltic Sea. This “ is itself a powerful reminder that the effects of ecological irresponsibility often transcend the borders of individual nations,” he said. “Similarly, solutions to this problem will necessarily involve acts of solidarity which transcend political divisions or unnecessarily narrow industrial self-interests,” the pope continued. John Paul II said that “Christians must always be ready to assume in unison their responsibility within the divine design for creation, a responsibility which leads to a vast field of ecumenical and interreligious cooperation.” The solution to the ecological challenges requires “an inner change of heart which leads to the rejection of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production,” as well as “an ethical behavior which respects the principles of universal solidarity, social justice and responsibility” he said. □ z e n i t
VATICAN
K eeping C ath o lic churches open all night
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Cardinal Christoph Schonbom is all for keeping churches open at night. ’’The Night of Mercy” is how the archbishop of Vienna describes the initiative to keep churches open round the clock so that the “faithful will have available at any time a place of
silence and prayer.” Cardinal Schonbom said he decided to implement the initiative, together with the archbishops of Paris, Lisbon and Brussels, noting that “the big cities is where man feels most the need of the Gospel and the search for God.” ’’European capitals should take advantage of the treasure implied in so many beautiful churches full of history,” the Vienna archbishop said. “To leave their doors open at night for the enjoyment of a place of silence and prayer might make possible an amazing experience.” These “nights of mercy” are a form of evangelization in the large cities, and they give priests the possibility to speak openly about the faith with the citizens, Cardinal Schonbom explained. ’’The Church thus opens its heart to the wounded hearts of the people of today,” he added. These moments “produce a great number of conversions.” □ z e n i t
N e w book on Pope John Paul II
- “John Paul II: A Light for the World” will be published in October by Sheed & Ward in cooperation with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to mark the pontiff’s 25th anniversary as pope. The book features 150 photographs by Vatican photographers, reflections by U.S. cardinals and a foreword by Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations. □ c n s
WASHINGTON
Church offering co o rd in ated aid to rebuild Iraq - Pope John Paul’s special envoy to Iraq, Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, has said that Catholic relief groups worldwide will offer a coordinated contribution to the country’s reconstruction. Archbishop Cordes is also president of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”whose objective is to promote and coordinate the work of Catholic charitable organizations worldwide. He made the statement after a five day visit to Iraq in early June. The areas of greatest need are food, housing, health and
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education, he stressed. The archbishop said that he went to Iraq to express, above all, the pope’s “spiritual closeness” to “those who have gone through sorrowful consequences of the war in these past months.” ”Cor Unum” sources told ZENIT that the archbishop took along to Iraq a substantial donation from the pope for the country’s reconstruction. □ z e n t t
Bishops com m ission n ew B ible tra n s la tio n LONDON - Scripture readings at Masses in England and Wales should no longer be taken from the Jerusalem Bible.This was decided at a meeting of bishops last month. The bishops gave permission for work to begin on a new English translation of the Lectionary using the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translation. The Lectionary contains the Scripture readings, including the Gospels, that are required for Mass, for the celebration of sacraments and for other ritual occasions, such as the dedication of a church. Fr Allen Morris, of the liturgy office of the bishops’conference of England and Wales, said the new Lectionary was likely to appear in 2005 at the same time as the new, English translation of the Roman Missal, the book containing the prayers for the celebration of Mass in the Roman Rite. He said: “The existing Lectionary uses the Jerusalem Bible version. But the New Revised Standard Version is considered to be the most accurate English translation of the Scriptures.” Since the 1970s, Mass readings in England and Wales have come from either the Jerusalem Bible or the Revised Standard Version. But in recent years Biblical scholars have criticised both translations. They argue that the Jerusalem version paraphrases the Scriptures and deals inadequately with the writings of St Paul, while the Revised Standard Version uses archaic English. Vatican officials have indicated to the bishops’conference of England and Wales that the NSRV will provide a good basis for a new translation of the Lectionary.
Note: In Singapore and Malaysia the current scripture readings at Mass are from the Jerusalem Bible, the same as that of the Church in England and Wales . However,i it is understood that when the proposed change takes place there in 2005, the Church in Singapore and Malaysia will follow suit. □
Catholic News Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003
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PhotoNews THE CRUCIFIX THAT LIES ON TOP OF THE WORLD By Michael Morissey
THE CONQUEST of Mount Everest first took place 50 years ago and the celebration of the anniversary, May 29, was a very special day for Fr Martin Haigh. Fr Haigh, a Benedictine monk then based at Ampleforth Abbey, North Yorkshire, recalled how he sent, a small crucifix given to him by Pope Pius XII - to the British expedition before the historic climb. He asked Sir John Hunt, leader of the expedition, to make sure the cross was placed at the summit if the climbers succeeded in their bid. Sir John replied to Fr High: “I have been very moved by your letter, and the enclosure, I feel, like you, this venture has a deeper inspiration than most of us openly admit to and that we shall succeed only if we keep that basic motive uppermost in our minds. It will indeed be a privilege to carry your cross to the highest point we can reach, perhaps tot he summit itself.”
Edmund Hillary, who was later knighted for his feat, carried the crucifix as instructed and when he saw his Sherpa colleague Tensing Norgay at the summit performing Buddhist rites of prayer, it reminded him of the crucifix that he was carrying. “He then buried it in the snow at this highest point on the earth’s surface,” said Fr High, 82, who is now based at the parish of St Mary’s in Leyland, Lancaster. He said the placing of the crucifix on Everest had a “deep religious significance,” and recalled that when he had asked his abbot for permission to send the crucifix to the expedition, he replied: “Good idea, but explain why.” He said he had told Sir John Hunt it would be “a symbol of God’s eventual triumph and a rededication of the world to his service.” Fr High told The Universe: “I will be celebrating on Thursday what I believe God will be celebrating - that a little cross from the pope was placed on the summit of Everest as a sign of our faith.” □ t h e u n i v e r s e
ENCARTA PHO TO
CAUSE BEG INS FOR POPE JO H N PAUL I Left: The Congregation for Sainthood Causes has given its consent to begin the canonical process on the holiness of Pope John Paul I —“the smiling pope.” ”1 am happy,” said Edoardo Luciani, the late pope’s brother. “At my age, 8 6 ,1 can only wait for the result with confidence. God’s will be done.” Albino Luciani was named patriarch of Venice in 1969. He was elected pope August 26, 1978. He died September 28, a month later. □ z e n i t
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U.S. SEC RETA R Y OF STA TE V IS IT S POPE Above: Pope John Paul II discusses the reconstruction of Iraq and offers continued assistance on humanitarian issues with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell during a private audience at the Vatican June 2. The pontiff had campaigned against the U.S.-led war. They also discussed the U.S. “road map” for peace in the Middle East and epidemic diseases in Africa. The commitment of the United States to the peace process in the Holy Land was praised. The
Vatican has constantly stressed the need to define the Palestinian borders , stated that Palestinian refugees “have the right to return to their homes or, if this is not possible, to receive indemnification” and the need to establish an “internationally guaranteed status for the holy places of Jerusalem.” To achieve a long-awaited peace, “all will have to make sacrifices ... in the interest of two peoples, financially bled by military expenditure.” □
C A R D IN A L CELEBRATES T R ID E N T IN E MASS A T ROME B A S ILIC A Left: Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy, celebrates the Tridentine Mass at the Basilica of St. Mary Major May 24. This was the first time since the revised Roman Missal was promulgated in 1969 that a pope had authorized a cardinal to celebrate the pre-Vatican II rite in one of Rome’s patriarchal basilicas. Coupled with the news that the Vatican was allowing priests to discreetly use the Tridentine rite in a chapel of St. Peter’s Basilica, it seemed to some like the liturgical clock was being turned back. The celebration was designed to tell followers of the late schismatic Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre that they have a home in the modem church, and that they don’t necessarily have to give up their affection for the old Latin Mass. In other words, if a Vatican cardinal can celebrate the Tridentine rite in Rome, how can breakaway bishops keep their liturgical grievance alive? □
C H IN A LEADERS HOLD PRAYER S E R VIC E FOR SARS V IC T IM S Above: Bishop Joseph Zen Zekiun of Hong Kong, Confucian Academy president Dr. Tong Yun Kai, Ven Kok-kwong of the Hong Kong Buddhist Association and Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa attend a joint prayer service in Hong Kong June 2. Religious leaders held the service to honor the victims of Sars. □ c n s
Sundays June 22 and June 29,2003 Catholic News
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HERE the rosary’s joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries call w us to meditate upon the great things God has done for our salvation in the incarnation, passion, death and resurrection of Christ, the mysteries of light (proposed by Pope John Paul II when he inaugurated the Year of the Rosary) call us to attend to how God is actively illuminating and transforming the apparent ordinariness of our everyday lives. Christ’s institution of the Eucharist is the fifth mystery of light. Vatican Council II teaches that the Eucharist is the “source and summit” of faith. —It is the source because Christ is the author of the Church’s faith. It is Christ who comes to us, bestowing on us the fullness of his life. The communion between Christ and the Church is so intimate that Christ is the very power by which the Church “lives and moves and has its being.” —The Eucharist is the summit of faith precisely because through our participation in it we are transformed ever more fully into the very image and likeness of Christ himself. What does this mean for us, practically speaking? First, it is often the case that we make a sharp distinction between our religious practice and our secular lives. This type of spiritual schizophrenia, however, clashes with what we profess to believe. The incarnation tells us
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WAS RECEIVED into the Church at the age of 50, after a long pilgrimage, which drew me from the earnest and biblically zealous world of Protestant evangelicalism, and thence to the Anglican church and finally
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faith. It mirrors Christ’s own amen of faith, by which he disposed his entire life to doing the Father’s will. Our “little amen,” confessed upon receiving the Eucharist individually, is linked to the Great Amen of Christ and the Church. By it we surrender ourselves in faith and love to Christ the same way Christ surrendered himself to the Father. The implications of this should be clear. The life of faith begun at our baptism is brought to perfection in the Eucharist. Our willingness to surrender ourselves more fully to Christ in the
that no aspect of our existence stands outside God’s providence. —Just as our entire lives have been wounded by original sin, so they have been redeemed wholly in Christ. —Just as there is no division between Christ’s humanity and divinity, there can be no real division between the sacred and secular spheres of our lives. Second, this spiritual schizophrenia further contradicts what we practice in our reception of the Eucharist. The Great Amen sung in the Mass is the Church’s great act of obedience to Christ in
Protestant convert to Catholicism, Thomas Howard, describes the role o f the sacrament in his life and the life o f the Church. Howard is the author o f “Evangelical is N ot Enough” and “On Being Catholic.”
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home, to full obedience to the apostolic Church. To say that the Eucharist “played an important part” in my pilgrimage would be to falsify things. It did not play a part at all: It was there, and insofar as I came to the Church, I came to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is not a component part of the Church, along with any number of other items. It is the centre, and all of the Church’s disciplines, teaching, piety and hierarchy draw us to this centre. As an Anglican, I had become accustomed to the idea of sacrament, and of the liturgy. In fact, the particular sector of Anglicanism where my wife and I had located ourselves was the socalled catholic wing of that
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church. Hence, we were accustomed to the vocabulary of “the Mass” and “the Blessed Virgin,” and also to the practices of confession, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the liturgical year — all of which are quite unknown in plain Protestantism. So, in making my obedience to Rome, I was already “catholic” in many ways, at least in appearance. B u t... The morning after I was received at the Easter Vigil, I began assisting at Mass in the Catholic Church, and I made it my habit to do so daily, from then on. The liturgy was a simple matter — a “Low Mass” (although that term is no longer used), held in a tiny chapel in the rectory of my parish. There was a
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Marshall is associate professor of theology at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
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perfection the work of grace begun in us. Through participation in the Eucharist we are conformed more fully to Christ’s image. And just as the Light of the World infuses us with his light, making us luminous in his grace, so in our daily activity we bear his light into the world. Through our involvement in everyday things, we sanctify the world with the same light that sanctifies us. □ c n s
Eucharist means that we allow Christ to transform every aspect of our lives into a living witness of his compassion and grace. Thus, everything we do, from the most mundane activity of taking out the trash to the most exalted activity of making love with our spouses, becomes a doxology of praise testifying to the Father’s glory and goodness in Christ. The mystery of the institution of the Eucharist reveals Christ’s love and concern for us. The Eucharist itself stands as his pledge to be with us and bring to
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peculiar sense in which I found that I had to climb down — from the great pomp, elegance and high ceremonial of the Anglican High Mass to which I was accustomed. But this “climbing down” brought me home. It was rather like arriving at Bethlehem, from a great, bustling, glittering city. Bethlehem: so small, so unobtrusive, so quiet: But God is there. I felt like one of the shepherds. Here is Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the very flesh and blood. “How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given....” When I find myself in the little chapel at the rectory in our parish, in the minutes before Mass begins, it sometimes strikes
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t me that my situation is not altogether unlike a death. That would seem, at first glance, to be a very strange idea — surely the Eucharist is, if it is anything at all, life for us? How can we possibly liken it to a death? When we approach the “altare Dei,” we are summoned into the very Divine Presence. We meet Our Lord face to face. In another way, to be sure, but nevertheless just as truly, at our death we will find ourselves in his presence. The Church has always prayed, “From sudden death, Good Lord, deliver us.” Why? Because we all hope, most earnestly, that we will have time to collect ourselves, examine ourselves, repent, make a good
Catholic News Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003
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N DEALING with the dignity of the surroundings and decorum of the eucharistic celebration, the encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” takes its cue from several Gospel texts which complement and enhance our understanding of the simple, yet solemn moment of the sacrament’s institution. Thus, the accounts of the anointing at Bethany (Matthew 26:8; Mark 14:4; John 12:4) “anticipate the honor which his body will continue to merit even
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after his death, indissolubly bound as it is to the mystery of his person” The “careful” preparation of the Upper Room which would serve as a venue for the Last Supper (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12) also throws light on the care with which the early Church celebrated the Holy Sacrifice. From this basis Pope John Paul II boldly states that the “Church has feared no ’extravagance’” in attending to all that surrounds the eucharistic celebration. “No less than the first disciples charged with preparing the Targe upper room,’
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she has felt the need, down the centuries and in her encounters with different cultures, to celebrate the Eucharist in a setting worthy of so great a mystery”. From this John Paul II moves to a consideration of the priority of the Eucharist’s sacrificial aspect over other aspects such as that of the Eucharist as a banquet, and only afterward returns to the outward forms of expressing this mystery in architecture, art and music. At first sight the interjection of a theological reflection on the priority of the Eucharist as sacrifice in the midst of a consideration on liturgical architecture, art and sacred music might appear to be out of place. And yet, I would say that the Holy Father’s profound intuition is that theology is the key to understanding the purpose of the art and music surrounding the Eucharist, just as theology is at the heart of almost all questions regarding the human condition. When the greatness of the eucharistic mystery is grasped in its vertical aspect as Christ’s gift to man, then it necessarily
Left: Catholicskneel during MassinreverenceofChrist’s real presenceintheEucharist. Middle: TheBlessed Sacrament isexposedfor adoration. Right: Thebaldacchino designedbyGianLorenzo Bernini inside St. Peter’sBasilicanot only honourstheapostleburied below,but alsohighlightsthe artist’sdevotiontothe Eucharist asthecontinuing sacrificeofChrist, c n s p h o to s
confession, and be forgiven. Or, even more, that we will have time to amend our ways, and live the rest of our time here in sobriety, godliness and charity. Well, surely this is an attitude most appropriate for us as we approach the altar of God? That altar which is also a table, to which Our Lord invites us, as he invited his disciples on that Thursday evening in the week of his passion. Who of us will wish to be found having rushed in, heedlessly and carelessly, distracted and preoccupied, full of ourselves, and stained with all the venial sins of the day before? If we have a difficult time finding any such sins in ourselves, we might try using St. Paul’s litmus-
test in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful; ... it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes.” Alas! How do I show up under that burning light — and it is the Light of the Divine Charity. How shall I dispose myself, so that I may say with joy and confidence, “Et introibo ad altare Dei”? Well again: the Lord to whom we come in the Eucharist is the one who said to us all, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And, through his apostle John, “If we confess our
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sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” The sacrament of reconciliation? Yes. Indeed. As often as is practicable for us. But on those mornings “between times,” must I come in fear and guilt? No. The Lord who welcomed those disciples on that Thursday evening is the same one who welcomes me. Ah. So. I may come to him with joy, and pray, also with joy, “Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.” And now, 18 years later, with my wife, who was received eight years ago, I find myself day by day at this altar, this table, at which the faithful have gathered ever since that Holy Thursday evening 2,000 years ago. □ z e n i t
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inspires an art, architecture and music which soars in response to the mystery. If, on the other hand, theological priority is given to horizontal concepts such as the Eucharist as shared meal, the artistic results are often flat, mediocre expressions in search of an illusory egalitarianism foreign to authentic Christianity. This said, the encyclical, while extolling the artistic and musical splendours of earlier ages, does not endorse any particular style, nor does it recommend a revival of Gothic, Baroque or any other artistic school, and even contemplates the possibility of adaptation to different cultures. It insists, however, that we recover the sense of mystery that brought these earlier masterpieces into existence.
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known to exist, many were well intentioned, but musically and literarily poor and, like their authors, have been mercifully forgotten. In all probability a similar fate awaits much of what has been produced in recent years. This should not deter composers from seeking to express the mystery of salvation in a true spirit of service to divine worship, in the hope that at least some will eventually be numbered among the brightest and the best. The Holy Father is open to new forms of sacred art and architecture in areas of recent evangelization such as Asia and Africa. The eucharistic mystery however, is the treasure of the whole Church and thus the development of new styles cannot be dissociated from the Church’s tradition, and must be carried out OTHING in modem with great care and in architecture prevents it communion with the Holy See. from equaling, and The liturgical books already indeed with the possibilities of provide ample scope for modem materials and building adaptation in some areas such as techniques, even surpassing the liturgical colors and language, works of earlier generations. but relatively little is prescribed The axiom of modem in the universal law in the area of architecture, “form follows music and the arts. Thus the local function,” also applies to building Church acting in concert with the and embellishing churches, Holy See is more than a mere provided “function” is not limited juridical requirement but to the practical aspects of expresses a genuine desire of movability, restrooms and fire finding its own voice, yet in doors, but rightly understood as harmony with the Church providing a worthy and splendid universal. setting for the inestimable gift of Finally, the pope reminds the Eucharist. Thus it would priests that it is incumbent on appear that only an architect and them to uphold the dignity and an artist who is also a firm honour of the Eucharist. He believer can truly do justice to the laments the multiple abuses and mystery. inappropriate innovations carried If many modem church out by many priests in the years designs do not inspire, and much following the Second Vatican modem church artwork and Council, and appeals for a furnishings leave us cold, then renewed fidelity in celebrating the reasons are first and foremost the Eucharist according to to be found in faulty theology, or Church norms. no theology at all. This fidelity is not a legalistic Another factor is perhaps a or formalistic prescription but a managerial mentality that ’’concrete expression of the emphasizes the ’’bottom line” and authentically ecclesial nature of forgets that “the Church has the Eucharist” through which feared no ‘extravagance.’” priests “eloquently demonstrate Yet, even a look at the recent their love of the Church”. past shows us how many splendid In order to underscore the churches have been built with the deeper value of liturgical norms, pennies and perspiration of poor the pope then announces a future, immigrants and farm laborers more juridical, document which who, while lacking education, will give concrete expression to grasped the mystery that is the his concerns. While this future Eucharist and understood that document will be useful and Christ deserved the best. necessary, it is to be hoped that The same can be said for the depth of the Holy Father’s liturgical music. The Church meditation on the eucharistic continues to recommend mystery will render that Gregorian chant and classic document moot for many priests polyphonic works as eminently and faithful, leading them to suitable for the Eucharist. At the approach the Holy Sacrifice with same time, the liturgical reform renewed reverence and fidelity. has created a real need for new Z E N IT compositions capable of elevating the soul and witnessing Legionary Father Edward to the faith. McNamara is a professor of Of the thousands of medieval liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum Latin musical compositions Pontifical Athenaeum in Rome.
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Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003 Catholic News
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The Word Of God
T A K E ; T H IS IS M Y B O D Y ’ marm\ THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST h m m m RI
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ESUS, you surrender yourself so totally! Yet how can any human being be worthy to receive you, the Lord of heaven and earth? Apart from your mercy, who would dare approach the Eucharist? It would be far easier if we were simply eating bread, but you yourself told us that this is your very body. It is too much for human understanding! This is a challenging teaching, Lord, more than we can comprehend. Still, we will accept it with humble faith and gratitude. You nourish us with your own flesh so that we can be strengthened to love and serve you. Help us to enter into the immensity of this great gift and to understand more clearly its meaning for our lives. With the help of your grace, may we embrace more fully the transformation that you offer us in this precious sacrament. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:24). Jesus, in the Old Covenant, your people were sanctified by being sprinkled with the blood of sacrificial animals. But now, instead of our offering sacrificial blood to you, you offer us your blood poured out in sacrifice. And this offer comes with a great promise: “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through
| MARK 14:12-16,22-26
renew our minds so that we can fulfill the purposes for which you made us. With your blood coursing through us, may every breath we take strengthen us to know and live the life you won for us.
“Jesus, I am amazed that you would call me to your table to receive your own Body and Blood. This sacrament of love poured out draws me to worship, even as it strengthens my confidence in you. As I eat and drink, Lord, may I become what I receive.” □
Anapostleleansoverthebread heldbyChrist inthispaintingof theLast Supper byMariottodi Nardo. the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14). Lord, you are not content that we simply be sprinkled with your blood. You want it to become a fountain flowing through us, both physically and spiritually. Jesus, invigorate us by this love! As we drink from the cup of salvation, enliven us and lift us up to heaven. May the blood we receive captivate our hearts and
OutsideSt. Peter’s Basilica, theapostle Peteris depictedin astatue holdinga large goldenkey, identifying himasthe gatekeeper toheaven.
SUNDAY, JUNE 29 | STS. PETER AND PAUL |
2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8,17-18
WE ARE CALLED TO BE SAINTS
failures that left them humbled. As a result of God’s dealings with them, they became more aware of their need for him and were captivated by his love-the most compelling love the world will ever know. Paul was a brilliant man who excelled in everything he did (see Philippians 3:4-6). Yet, through the circumstances of his life, God brought Paul to the point where OD gives us the saints to he wanted nothing more than to encourage us. As we look be like Jesus. Peter, too, was a at their example of loving man full of passion. He loved service to Jesus and his people, Jesus dearly, yet he tended to our hearts are stirred to imitate trust his own wisdom. Jesus them. Yet we must avoid the allowed him to see the real state mistake of giving the saints a of his heart, and the result was “Superman” kind of status. In not despair but an experience of fact, the saints are no different the love and mercy of a Savior from us. They are men and who would never forsake him. women who, in their brokenness, This brought Peter to a greater turned to God and received his grace. It is possible for any one of and greater love for Jesus. We are all called to be saints, us to do the same. each in our own way. But this Peter and Paul are will happen only as we allow wonderful examples of Jesus to form us. As we let his God’s ability to take firm but gentle and loving hand flawed individuals and break our outer shell of selfturn them into sufficiency, we will be like a powerful witnesses to fragrant perfume poured out, the gospel. Neither of refreshing our families, our these men parishes, our neighbourhoods, our accomplished what places of work, and all those who they did simply by come into contact with us. virtue of hard work, creativity, and “Jesus, I dedicate my life to you. excellent Make me the saint that you want administrative abilities. me to be. Help me to keep my Both Peter and Paul eyes on your love and not on the were formed in the fire joys and sorrows of this life.” I ] of difficulties and
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Other dimensions of sin Gen 4:1 - 6:4 Gen 4:1-2 : with the help of the Lord” : Despite the misdeeds of the man and the woman, humanity experiences the providence of God, witnessed in Gen 3:20-21, and continues to grow; pasture and agriculture are part of this inheritance.
1. How aware and thankful am I for the many blessings I receive from God, despite my many misdeeds?
UNDERSTANDING T H E BIBLE
BY REV AMBROSE VAZ SSL Professor of Sacred Scripture St Francis Xavier Major Seminary
Gen 4:3-5*: No reason is given as to why God rejected Cain’s offering. Indeed, no reason needs to be given; rather, what is of primary concern is that God approves of one and disapproves of another! 2. How insistent am 1 on understanding the logic of God before
submitting to his w ill? Do I accept that “Faith precedes Understanding" ? Gen 4:5b-7 : “If you do w e ll,... and if you do not do w ell...” ; Cain’s disappointment and envy leads to disconsolate anger which in turn reflects his “sin” : an unwillingness to accept God’s preference. God compares Cain’s temptation to a beast crouched in hiding, waiting to spring and devour its prey - a vivid image of the potential destructive power of envy and anger. Humanity has been created to rule the world (Gen 1:28), but how effective and beneficial that rule will be depends on our decision to first rule ourselves rather than give in to envy and rage.
3. How much do I indulge in envy and anger... even to the extent o f causing further hurt to others? How do 1 plan to overcome this?
Gen 4:8-16 : The first death recorded in the Bible comes not from natural causes but through human hands! Anger leads to murder ... Abel departs from this life, Cain departs from the land ... to a life of “wandering.” Even so, what is prominent is the Lord’s concern for and protection of Cain! God heard the cry of Abel and also responded to the plea of Cain. No matter what our situation may be, we remain within hearing distance of the Lord!
4. How enthusiastic and confident am 1 in turning to God in prayer? Gen 4:17-26 : The span from Cain to Lamech reflects the continuous development of sin marked by a descent into cruelty and violence, even as God gives humans a variety of talents and abilities. Lamech, the descendant of Cain, boasts of the very crime against which God had protected Cain : blood vengeance! It shows the irrationality of revenge, for if what Lamech did to his enemies was what was done to Cain, Lamech would never have even existed! “At that time people began to invoke the name o f the Lord” (Gen 4:26b) : - Distinct from those who show indifference to sin and evil, this marks the people who call upon the Lord. Seth takes Adam’s place as leader of a line of God’s faithful people. Gen 5:1 - 6:4 : A genealogy tracing ten generations of human beings from Adam (5:1-32) is now contrasted with the desire of the people to refuse their creaturehood, reflected in the references to divine beings and giants (6:1-4). □
N e x t: The collapse of creation
Catholic News Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003
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Viewpoints
CathoilcNews Make “no holding hands” permanent Msgr Eugene Vaz M ANAGER:
Rev. Fr. Johnson Fernandez STA FF C O RR ESPO N D EN T:
Ms. Mel Diamse-Lee
For administrativematters: 2 Highland Road #01-03 Singapore 549102 Tel: 6-858-3055 Fax: 6-858-2055 Email: cathnews@catholic.org.sg
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M o b ile p h o n e s in c h u rc h : D e te rre n c e needed I REFER to “Blessed are those who turn off mobile phones in church” (Catholic News, June 8 & 15). What Michael Alexander said typifies the culture that has permeated all strata of society. With this miracle of modem communications has also come misuse; misuse bom not of malice but Pavlovian conditioning. It seems we now react to a signal with unthinking movement. If so, why not switch off the mobile phone in church? Some do. But for others, there appears to be a psychological block. This is evident in the number of mobile phones that ring during Mass at the Church of St. Bernadette. Some ring more than once or twice. In contrast, mobile phones and pagers do not ring in the Subordinate Courts. There, all phones and pagers are switched off because of the fine imposed. Our church imposes no penalty and the axiom “give an inch...” becomes a painful reality. Economists have this theory that if you increase the cost of something (deterrent), less of it will be consumed (the rings). Dudley Au Singapore 248238
FURTHER to the letters published in the Catholic News pertaining to receiving Communion, I would like to comment on a related matter— the holding of hands as a community when we sing the “Our Father” during Sunday Masses and holy days of obligation. Since the Sars crisis, the Church has instructed churchgoers not to hold hands or
shake hands during services. I, and I am sure there are many others, are hoping that this ruling stays even though Singapore has been taken off the WHO list. I agree with John Hui in his letter to CN when he said, “Our hands are not as clean as we would like to imagine them to be. It is likely that one would have touched our hair, face, nose.” Some people even cough in their bare hands and so by
CN has stagnated, not meeting needs of young Catholics I AGREE with Mr Christopher Yeo Jer Siong’s opinion (“I dream of a different Catholic News”, CN May 11-May 18) that if the Catholic News (CN) remains in its present form, there is a great risk of it becoming irrelevant. A fortnightly tabloid size newspaper of 16 pages is insufficient to counter the secular, non-Christian influences of other newspapers, TV, movies, radio, and the Internet. Furthermore, the media preference of the young has changed. They have latched on to all sorts of new media like the Internet. I would not be at all surprised if the majority of CN readers are working adults and older while the youth don’t see anything in CN for them. Mr Yeo’s suggestion of different publications for different types of Catholics deserves consideration. Over the years, the local church has been growing steadily. But Singapore’s media industry has also grown - more and thicker newspapers, more TV channels, more cineplexes, more
local magazines. Yet, CN has remained in its current format for more years than I can even remember! CN has not grown with us. It has not progressed, but stagnated. The Singapore church has expanded, diversified and matured. New apostolates have sprung up. There are many stories to tell, but little space to tell them in and not enough “storytellers”. How can CN serve the needs of the local church adequately? Some letters published in CN show that there is a hunger for more comprehensive coverage of our local church. We live in a media-saturated society and our nation aspires to be a media hub. The church must invest more in the media fot the purpose of evangelization and catechisis. This is a matter of great urgency. If it does not do this, it should not be surprised to see Catholics that are mediasavvy but faith-illiterate and secular. Augustine Chen
holding each other’s hands, even the common flu might be passed on to the next person. I think that holding hands during the “Our Father” began as a community bonding measure. However, with so many diseases breaking out these days, I think the Church should permanently ban this holding and shaking of hands during the “Our Father” and Sign of Peace. Raising our own hands and
advocates cruelty to animals.” DJ Rod Monteiro glibly advocated the following: 1) Drowning cats en masse 2) Shipping cats to Peru to be eaten. One of the DJs even proudly announced that he had an unsterilised dog— like this was a sign of virility vs sentimentality of the welfarists. (Incidentally, all this animal talk came about due to the recent culling of stray cats by the AVA.) A lady, who had been taking in stray animals, had called in to the Morning Show. She was extremely upset and worried. The FD and Glenn Ong, the
other DJ on the show pretended to be nice to her and asked about the number of animals she had. She replied that she had ten. After she had rung off they said to each other “What a lunatic”! Is this how DJs portray themselves, “promoting” animal abuse and making sick jokes out of people’s sentiments, laughing behind people’s backs and calling them names? If this is how they behave on AIR, I shudder to think what they are discussing in private. Imagine my surprise and disbelief, when I read that they had been “praised” in the CN by Jillian Cheng for their “good
Carmel De Souza Singapore 530463
ON RECEIVING COMMUNION L eav e c h o ic e to u s ALLOW me a say in the interesting ongoing debate between “Communion on the tongue” and “Communion on the hand”. I contend that we should be given the choice of the two methods currently in practice. There is no need for separate queues or to give Communion first to those preferring to receive it on the hand, as some of your correspondents have suggested. Otherwise, there would be chaos in what is a holy, solemn and peaceful ritual. There are two schools of thought here. Those who object to receiving Communion on the tongue say the method may transmit to you a disease which a communicant ahead of you may be having, or at least the saliva of that person. The fear is real, and hence the preference of many to use their hands, like me. Those who object to the other method say that our hands may be dirty. Well,we are all human beings. Can we, even the pope, be “clean” enough to touch the Holy Host? I think not. To stretch the argument further, even receiving Communion on the tongue is not
Praise Rod Monteiro and the Flying Dutchman? No way! I READ with interest Jillian Cheng’s “In Praise of Rod Monteiro and the Flying Dutchman” where the latter were praised for standing up for their Catholic viewpoints on the “Morning Show” of Class 95 on June 2, 2003. Contrary to what was written about Rod Monteiro and the FD in the Catholic News I wish to point out that their behaviour and character on their “Morning Show” on May 27, 2003 belies what was presented in your article. I had received an e-mail on the afternoon of May 27 which stated that “Class 95 FM
nodding or bowing to others during the Sign of Peace would be sufficient to show our Christlike peace and love for our fellow Catholics. In addition, a smile or hello to someone we are not familiar with, after Mass would be a good start to Christian community bonding. □
examples” and to “keep up the good work”. Was their attitude and behaviour on the May 27 Morning Show in keeping with what was written in your article on “doing their daily work well and responsibly”? I don’t think so!!!!! I don’t think they deserve the praise and commendation given so generously by Jillian Cheng. Rather I would say, “Shame on you, Rod Monteiro and FD”! Rest assured, my friends and I will never tune in to Class 95 again. □ Rosalind Ong Singapore 529773
an entirely clean way. Our tongues, mouths and bodies may be diseased with cancer and other ailments. Should we then deny such sick people Communion? But God surely understands perfectly our imperfections and I don’t think he minds our physical shortcomings. After all, the Lord can’t be infected by dirt or disease. What is imperative is that we are in a state of grace and that we show the utmost reverence when receiving the Most Sacred Body of Jesus. That is why the prayer before Communion goes: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” We don’t say, “Lord, clean my mouth or my hands...” To our Heavenly Father, the state of the soul is the most important thing. Using the tongue or the hand is but a means of getting him to live with us. □ Anthony Oei Singapore 575146
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A rc h b is h o p THERE should be no controversy over whether the Eucharist should be received on the palm or on the tongue. The most important fact when receiving Holy Communion is that we are receiving the Body of Christ. And the Body of Christ if received in sincere belief and with a pure heart will make inert every microbe that could be present on the Communicant’s tongue or palm or the priest’s or Communion Minister’s thumb and index finger. We should not be concerned about the externals but be most conscious of the presence of Christ’s Body. As Catholics, we should just accept instructions from the Archbishop who is undoubtedly guided by the Holy Spirit. □ Edith Tay Singapore 678795
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Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003 Catholic News
Viewpoints
Live according to your needs, not your wants
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The world is even less safe after the Iraqi war ALTHOUGH the war in Iraq was shorter than expected and resulted in the fall of Saddanm Hussein, Vatican officials remain convinced they were right to oppose the war and say it has weakened, not improved, global security. In interviews, editorial commentaries and speeches, officials from Pope John Paul II down have contended that “unilateral” action is not the way to stop terrorism, and that the United Nations must be strengthened in the wake of the invasion of Iraq. Vatican officials say that the easy military victory and the subsequent failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq demonstrates that there was no real reason to go to war. While the fall of a tyrant opens the prospects of new freedom in Iraq, they believe that the war also unleashed a power struggle among opposing factions - with Muslim fundamentalists the likely winners. Last week, the pope took issue with the Bush administration’s oft-stated willingness to go it alone in the “war on terrorism.” The pontiff said that when a single country decides to wage this battle alone, it weakens the whole international order. He said that the role of the UN should be to help prevent “unilateral action which risks leading
AVE you ever asked than our “wants”. yourself why we need 99 It’s amazing how small actions can have big varieties of toothpaste in our superstores, or three acres consequences, of and a wholesale obscure breakfast cereals, or 101 commitment to reducing our variations on a string of spaghetti purchase of luxury goods, a or 210 types of refrigerator? commitment to ethically The answer - apparently - is produced products, and a serious “consumer choice”, it’s you and look at the real, human and me who insist that all these environmental cost of the items invaluable food and mineral in our weekly shopping basket resources are relentlessly pillaged could have such positive and reprocessed into ever-more consequences for the long-term obscure and expensive luxuries. future of the human family. Of course, we didn’t demand Add to that an unconditional anything - so-called consumer redistribution of surplus choice is a smokescreen for big resources and you have the industry’s insatiable need to keep beginnings of equality - equality workers occupied, machines of survival, equality of comfort running and market shares and equality of opportunity. expanding. Unfortunately the signs are This may be lining the that, far from working towards pockets of a small number of fat the eradication of global poverty, cats very nicely, but it’s having a the G8 nations are just cashing in devastating effect on the rest of on the desperation of the poorest the world - from the stripping of countries in a bid to lock them the planet’s finite resources, to into the consumerism trap in the exploitaion in the third world, very same way that they’ve and relentless servile imprisoned us. □ t h e u n i \ ' e r s e employment in the affluent west which is necessary for the purchasing power to chase after all these luxuries. A m o n s t e r i d e a t h a t Understandably, there was an angry reaction to the G8 leaders recently in Switzerland, as they wheeled out the same old r o c k t h e C h u r c h ! platitudes on the eradication of world poverty. By Dan Morris Pieces of Metal They Find in a When are we going to wake Garbage Heap”? But title it up to the fact that these people “Junkyard Wars!”, and there you rHY DIDN’T we in the have such an investment in the go! Catholic community — commercial exploitation of the I have friends who actually who have been developing world that action on set their VCRs to record bemoaning the graying of church global poverty is a pure pipe“Junkyard Wars” and we all membership — think of this dream? gather at one place to eat massive sooner? But perhaps we shouldn’t just amounts of potato chips and If we want to attract more blame the industrialists, after all suggest ways the contestants youth to the Church, we should they are using the faqt of our could have made their machines be using words like “war” and insatiable demands to fuel their better. “monster” in our publicexploitation of resources, of Of course, if you have not relations efforts a whole lot labor, and of the human soul. seen “Junkyard Wars” you have more. Also, loads more It’s an old-fashioned word but no idea what I am talking about, exclamation marks. perhaps the best protest we can but for sure you would not have Think about it. Who is going make is the exercise of watched it if it had been titled to be intrigued by a TV program “frugality-of living more “Watch People W eld...” titled “Watch People Weld Old according to our needs” rather Young people who never personally have visited a junkyard are watching shows like these. Another example? Who is going to be interested in “Tools That Make Lots of Sparks”? But W I L L S try calling it “Monster Garage!!!” (Note the extra exclamation marks!!!) Yet another example? No appeal: “So, Like, What About Men and Women?” More appeal: “Men vs. Women”. Mass appeal: G A N E S H & C O L I N 5 I B T em p le S tre et “War of the Sexes!” Better yet: S in g a p o re 0 5 8 5 9 6 A D V O C A T E S & S O L IC IT O R S “Monster War of the Sexes!!!” Tel: (6 5 ) 6 3 2 3 2 -5 6 5 L aw y ers F ax : (6 5 ) 6 3 2 3 2 -3 7 3 I am not aware of a program C o lin K a n g , www.grck.com .sg with this name, but I bet there P re m c h a n d S o m an law @ grck.com .sg will be one. And I know people
Wi
GRANT OF PROBAT E & LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION
to an impoverishment of international law and to weakening the pact existing among nations”. Clearly, the outcome of the conflict did not change the mind of the pope, who preached against unilateral military action for months during the build-up to the war. Manyof his warnings were prophetic: the deaths and injuries suffered by civilians, the destruction of Iraq’s social and economic infrastructure, the political emergence of radical Shi’ite Muslims and the resurgence of terrorism aimed at Western targets. Before the war, the moral case against use of force in Iraq was argued m ost comprehensively by the Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, whose contents are approved prior to publication by the Vatican’s Secretariat of State. In an editorial this week, the magazine said that an increase in terrorism is another likely result of the war.“The conflict in Iraq did not end with the military victory of Anglo-American forces, but will probably continue to feed hatred against the West and a desire for revenge and vendetta that could be translated into acts of terrorism.” Sadly, the suicide bombings and the terrible carnage of the last weeks have shown that fear to be fully justified. □ t h e u n i v e r s e
Childrenwereamongvictimsof suicidecar bombingsinRiyadh, SaudiArabia, May13that left34 deadandscoresinjured.
j T hank you Father,
and Holy Spirit THANKSGIVING | Jesus Mother Mary, Saints
c
o
u
l d
— youngish ones — will tune in. Monster trucks. Monsters Inc. Monster mania. Monster is in. Same with “war.” So, then, why not “Monster Homily”? Or “Youth Discernment Weekend Wars”? Or maybe “Monster Retreat Weekend”? Field test it yourself. Grab a young person the next time you are near the horror-film section of the video store and ask him or her, “Would you rather go to church to hear something titled ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ or ‘Monster Jesus Teachings That Rock’?” Oh, and that’s a verb we have to start using soon too - rock, rocks, rocked - before it wears out and is replaced by another one. You might want to just mention this to your bishop in the event you bump into him at the grocery store or something. Say, “Bishop dude, I have a monster idea for you that rocks.”
□
CNS
Dan Morris writes comedy pieces. Comments are welcome. E-mail Uncle Dan at cnsuncleOl @yahoo.com.
Michael, Jude, Joseph, Many thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ and Anthony, Pio, Theresa, St Jude Thaddeus for I A nne, P hilom ena, Winifred, Francis of answered prayers. A ssisi, F ran cis of May you always be Padua for miraculously honoured. Agnes M . helping my son pass his Ong examination. p j
In Loving Memory Eighth Anniversary
In loving memory of
A N N A ANG G E O K BEE
Departed: June 23,1995
Upright and just in all her ways, Loyal and true through all her days, Silently suffered, patiently bore, God took her home to suffer no more. Sadly missed and fondly remembered by children, grand-children, great-grand-children and all loved ones.
In loving memory of
AUGUSTINENGHONGKHIM Was called to his reward on June 22,1977
His smiling way and pleasant face Are a pleasure to recall; He had a kind wordfor each And died beloved by all. Some day we hope to meet him, Some day, we know not when. To clasp his hand in the better land, Never to part again. Fondly remembered by _______ family and friends._______
Catholic News Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003
13
In Loving Memory
Trinity Casket Pte Ltd
MemorialMasswillbeoffered atthefollowingchurches Malaysia: June 21, 2003 at 5.00 pm
In loving memory of
Your Right Choice.... For: • Complete & dignified funeral arrangements by professional and caring staff.
Church of the Holy Rosary Jalan Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur (Reception at Parish Hall)
• Catholic male & female specialist embalmers.
Singapore: June 28, 2003 at 6.00 pm
Note: Female embalmer will attend to all female deceased.
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Ophir Road Singapore (Reception at Parish Hall)
• Affordable air-conditioned memorial chapels with microphone, electronic organ & appropriate furnishing & lighting.
Australia: June 22, 2003 at 7.30 am
Church of The Queen of Apostles Perth, Western Australia (Lunch at 65, Collins Rd, Willetton, WA)
MRV.GOMEZLAWRENCE
• All other funeral-related services including import & repatriation of human remains.
India: June 21, 2003 at 5.30 am
Bom: Mar 11, 1922 Departed: June 22,2002
• No overtime charges.
Church of Fatima Matha Kochuthop, Trivandrum
• Special discount for Catholics.
Papa You held our hands when we were young June 21, 2003 at 6.30 am Now and forever you hold our hearts Church of Mary Magdelena, Always remembered by your loved ones. Palithura, Trivandrum.
• Catholic guidance counsellor Ms Olivia Stravens Pg: 9524-9940
India:
Fifth Anniversary
Our dearest Mom/ grandmother
O p e n 2 4 H o u rs
Second Anniversary j
In loving memory of
Blk 38, #01-527/531, Sin M ing Drive, Singapore 575712 Tel: 6 4 5 1 - 4 4 9 6
CASKET FAIRPRICE CISSIE G W E N D O L IN E ISAAC
LEONARD BERNARD EDWARDS
M D M LU C Y T E O SOON K IM
d: June 23,1998 I Called home to be Take her in Thy arms, with the Lord dear Lord, on June 27, 2001 And ever let her be What would I give I A messenger of love to clasp his hand, Between our hearts His happy face to see. and Thee. To hear his voice Sadly missed and and see his smile, cherished by all That meant so much loved ones. to me. In loving memory of Lovingly remembered by sisters, brother, nephews, nieces and all loved ones. Second ’ Anniversary
of Eternal Life
KENNY J O L IV E IR O
Departed: June 20, 1998 Our thoughts are always with you, Our hearts are sore with pain; | This world would be like heaven !If you were here again. : Always remembered by wife, children, grandchildren and loved ones.
JOSEPH LEE
Called home on June 21, 2001 In our hearts your memory lingers, Sweetly tender, fond and true, There is not a day, ; In loving memory of i dear Pa, That we do not think of you. Fondly remembered and forever cherished by daughter, grandson, relatives and friends. Memorial Mass on Saturday, June 21, at 6 pm at the Church of the § £ Holy Family. N O E L A R TH U R PER EIR A
i Departed June 29,1995 I His life was earnest, his actions kind., A generous hand and an active mind, Anxious to please, loath to offend, A loving husband, father and faithful friend. Sadly missed and I fondly remembered | by family and friends.
In Memoriam Rates Cost of a memoriam insertion is S$55. An insertion exceeding a ten-cm column will have an additional charge of $6 per cm.
Tel: 6 4 5 5 - 9 9 0 9 M ARGARET TEO H PIT T YOON
26.9.1908-28.6.1997 Gone from our lives | Departed: June 26, 1998 One so dear We loved you then, But in our hearts we love you still, Forever near. forget you, darling mum, we never will. Sadly missed by We prayed to the Evelyn, Brian, Lord to let you live, Ivor and loved ones. But He whispered In loving memory of j “I only lend, I do not give.” So put your arms around her, Lord, Tend her with your loving care, Make up for all she suffered, And all that seemed unfair. They say there is a reason, They say time will heal, W IL H E L M IN A But neither time nor ZU Z A R T E reason, Departed: June 29,1982 Will change the way Take her in Thy arms, we feel. dear Lord, For you’re so And ever let her be wonderful to think of, | A messenger of love j But so very hard to be Between our hearts without. and Thee. Loving and missing | Always remembered I you always. by family Husband, children and loved ones. and grandchildren.
C om plete one-stop funeral arrangem ents A ffordable air-con funeral parlours with facilities SIN G A P O R E F U N E R A L S E R V IC E S s f s
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^>~1 S F S VALUE PACK $ 3 9 8 8 /= T ^ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Christian Half-glass casket Christian classic set-up Professional artist make-up Refreshments services Photo enlargement
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6. Parlour / Tentage 7. Expert Embalming 8. Floral arrangement 9. Catering buffet 10. 1 air-con bus
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ASIA CASKET __ Tel: 6455-5288,6456-5288,9691.3229 Professional services for Christians Qualified professional em balm ers Q uality lo ca l a n d im ported caskets Special p a c k a g e and discount price for Catholics Professional handling o f repatriations a n d im port cases p.
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J
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( C O M P L E T E F U N E R A L S E R V IC E S ) ________
In everloving m em ory o f our beloved Grandm other Father
All funeral-related services including colum barium works, exhum ation, international repatriation of hum an rem ains etc Quality service affirm ed by fam ilies which w e had the honour to serve T ra n s p a re n t & reaso n ab le genuine discounts
pricing with
No overtim e charges, no hidden cost C h eck out our prices at our w ebsite ww w .casketfairprice.com M e m b e r of the Association of Funeral Directors (S ingapore)
VISA
Blk 37 Sin Ming Drive #01-569/571 Singapore 575711 W eb site w w w . c a s k e t f a i r p r ic e . c o m
Ml
24 HOURS A DAY, IN RAIN OR SHINE (The Bereavement Service Co. catering solely to Christian & Catholic communities)
M A R IA M A L ROZAM AL
FRANCIS TH A R M A R A JO O
Departed:June 28, 1989 Departed:June 23, 1989 The years m ay wipe out many things But this they’ll wipe out never; The m emory of those happy days W hich we have spent together. Dearly m issed by sons, daughters loving wife daughters-in-law , children and sons-in-law grandchildren grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
CASKET COMPANY EMBALMING & FUNERAL SERVICES PTE LTD 24-HOURS COMPLETE SERVICES
Please turn to page 12 for more “In Memoriam”
• • • • •
announcements and classified advertisements.
Directors: Philip Tan mbie, Charles Wan mbie
Christian and non-Christian funerals - local / export. Qualified Embalmers. Columbarium work, exhumation, photo enlargement etc. Air-con, non air-con Parlours, tentage etc. Good Discount on Casket price!! Blk 37, Sin Ming Drive, #01-575 Singapore 575711
Tel: 6454-8167, 6456-7423 Fax: 6458-2151
MISSION STATEMENT: Our company continuously seeks to provide dedicated, quality, professional, personalized, dignified, yet affordable bereavement services to fellow Christians who have been called home to be with the Lord. As a ministry partner, we seek tofulfill the Great Commission, ministering to the needs o f bereaved family members, while reaching out to the unsaved.
O U R S E R V IC E S ■ P r o v id e s c o u n s e l f o r s u it a b le f u n e r a l a r r a n g e m e n t s ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
A f f o r d a b le p a c k a g e to s u it b u d g e t c o n s t r a in t s C e r tifie d e m b a lm e r s C o lu m b a r iu m a n d to m b s t o n e s , e t c E x h u m a t io n w o r k , r e p a t r ia t io n c a s e s T e n t a g e , c h a ir s , lig h t in g s , f a n s , e t c S o u n d s y s te m , f lo r a l a r r a n g e m e n t s , f o o d a n d b e v e r a g e s p a ll b e a r e r s P h o to E n la r g e m e n t s P a s t o r s & P r ie s t s a r r a n g e m e n t f o r f u n e r a l s e r v ic e s A ir c o n d it io n e d b u s t r a n s p o r t a t io n , h e a r s e a n d A r r a n g e m e n t f o r p a r lo r s , c r e m a t io n , b u r ia ls , c lo t h in g , e t c
A D D R E S S : 1 5 0 S o u th B r id g e R d , # 0 2 - 0 5 F o o k H a i B u ild in g S in g a p o r e 0 5 8 7 2 7 T e l: (65) 6533-17 8 7 F a x : (65) 6533-17 2 9
Website: httpj/www. therestingplace. com. sg Email: resting@singnet.com.sg C O N T A C T S : Tan Song Poh 9 0 0 3 -4 4 9 4 ( M a n a g in g D ir e c to r )
Raymond Roy Gabriel 9 7 6 4 -5 1 0 5 ____________ ( L ia is o n fo r C a th o lic s )
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In your moments of need
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®
Dedicated Funeral Directors since 1920
• • • • • • • •
Complete services for Christians and non-Christians. Air-con. parlours, open 24 hours. Qualified professional embalmers. Imported US and quality finished caskets. Photo enlargement. Florist service. Funeral supplies all under one roof. Professional handling o f repatriations and im port cases. • Columbarium & Tombstone services.
All Church Members Are Entitled To Discount *Cater within your means* 131 Lavender Street, Singapore 338737. Internationally linked worldwide with established Funeral Directors
Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003 Catholic News
14
Bulletin of the Family Life Society, Archdiocese of Singapore
FLS & AFFILIATE ACTIVITIES ^ l e e U n y s y f i t a m / a m ' ‘I f ^
Choice Weekend - 27 to 29 June 2003. A weekend program for single adults to discover self and the importance of family relationships. For registration or enquiries, call 9307 7752 / 9671 0767.
D e a r F r ie n d s o f F a m il y L if e , W e ’ re h a p p y t o b e b a c k a g a in w ith o u r
“Family LifeLine” p a g e a f t e r a n a b s e n c e o f 6 m o n t h s , a n d w e 'd li k e t o t h a n k t h e C a t h o l ic N e w s f o r t h e p r iv ile g e o f p r o m o t in g t h e f a m il y a p o s t o l a t e t h r o u g h t h i s m e d i u m . T h e P o p e in h i s W o r l d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s D a y m e s s a g e e m p h a s iz e s t h e v it a l r o le o f t h e m e d i a in e v a n g e l is a t i o n . W e i n t e n d t o m a k e u s e o f a ll o p p o r t u n i t i e s a v a i la b le t o u s , e s p e c i a ll y in o u r o w n o f f i c i a l C a t h o l ic N e w s p a p e r , t o b r in g y o u in fo r m a tio n th a t w ill h e lp p r o m o t e a d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g
I f lin e d a n c in g is y o u r t y p e o f t a n g o , c o m e jo in
“ B e s t D r e s s e d F a m il y C o n t e s t ” , a “ C ir c le o f
u s f o r o u r F a m il y L in e D a n c e a t h o n o r g a n is e d
F a m e ” c o m p e t i t i o n a n d a lu c k y d r a w .
b y F a m ily L if e S o c ie t y . T h e e v e n t is a li n e -
A ll t h e f u n w ill a l s o b e f o r a g o o d c a u s e
d a n c e ja m b o r e e w h i c h w ill b e h e ld f r o m
a s t h e e v e n t is t o r a i s e f u n d s f o r
5 p m t o 1 1 p m o n S a t u r d a y , 5 J u ly
F a m ily L if e S o c ie t y . P r io r t o t h e
2003.
e v e n t , lin e d a n c e r s a s w e l l a s
T h e e v e n t , w h i c h w ill h a v e M r
b e e n is s u e d p l e d g e c a r d s t o
P r im e M i n i s t e r 's O f f i c e a n d
c o lle c t d o n a tio n s fr o m
M in is tr y o f C o m m u n ity
th e ir fr ie n d s a n d
h u m a n li f e a n d w h a t o u r 1 4 p r o g r a m s ,
D e v e lo p m e n t a n d S p o r t s
f a m il ie s .
s e r v i c e s a n d a f f ili a t e s a r e d o in g t o f u lf il l t h e
(M C D S ) a s G u e s t-o f-
C h u r c h ' s r o l e f o r u s . P le a s e v i s i t u s a t
H o n o u r w ill b e h e ld in t h e
T h e f u n d s w ill c o n tin u e t o s u p p o r t th e
w w w . f a m ily li f e . o r g . s g f o r m o r e in f o r m a t i o n
a i r - c o n d i t io n e d c o m f o r t o f
w o rk o f o u r p ro g ra m s a n d
o n t h e S o c ie t y , a n d d r o p u s a lin e w i t h a n y
t h e A n g lo - C h in e s e S c h o o l
s e r v ic e s , w h ic h a r e
c o m m e n t s y o u m a y h a v e t o h e lp u s s e r v e
H a ll a t B a r k e r R o a d .
a v a ila b le t o a ll f a m il ie s a n d
G o d b le s s .
H o s t e d b y B r ia n
in d iv id u a l s r e g a r d le s s o f
R ic h m o n d , it w ill h a v e s o m e 6 0 0
r a c e , a g e o r r e l ig i o n . T h e s e
p a r t i c i p a n t s g r o o v in g t o a r e p e r t o ir e o f P o p
James Wong Executive Director
Legal Aid - 7 July 2003 (Monday). Free legal counsel on family related issues given by experienced lawyers from 7 pm to 9 pm every first Monday of the month, at Family Life Society, 2 Highland Road. No appointment required.
F L S s t a f f a n d v o lu n t e e r s h a v e
C h a n S o o S e n , M in is te r o f S ta te ,
a n d r e v e r e n c e f o r m a r r ia g e , f a m i l y a n d
y o u b e tte r. T h a n k y o u fo r y o u r s u p p o r t a n d
Marriage Encounter Weekend - 4 to 6 July 2003. A weekend marriage enrichment program for couples to deepen their relationship. For registration or enquiries, please call 6289 5349.
a n d C o u n try tu n e s a n d d a n c e s .
p r o g r a m s a n d s e r v i c e s in c l u d e f a m i l y a n d m a r it a l c o u n s e lin g , a p r e g n a n c y c r is is s e n / ic e ,
G a m e s a n d c o n t e s t s f o r t h e f a m il y in c l u d e a “ Y o u n g e s t / O ld e s t L i n e D a n c e r C o n t e s t ” , a
a h e lp h o t lin e f o r y o u t h s a n d f r e e le g a l c o u n s e l o n fa m ily m a tte r s .
Joyful Parenting Now Has Catholic Mums’ Support Group
Marriage Preparation Course - Starting 6 July 2003. A six-weekend program for couples preparing for marriage. For registration and enquiries, please call 6288 3427. Retrouvaille Weekend - 11 to 13 July 2003. A weekend program for couples facing difficulty in their marriage. For registration or enquiries, call 6749 8861. 10th Human Life International Asia-Pacific Congress on Love, Life and Family - 6 to 9 November 2003. A distinguished panel of overseas and local speakers will be making presentations on love, human life and family issues. The Congress is organised by Family Life Society with the approval of the Archdiocese of Singapore, and sponsored by Human Life International. For more details, please call Family Life Society at 6488 0278.
Need advice on personal or fam ily m atters? Have questions on fam ily and pro-life issues? Then send us your queries by email at fls@ veritas.org.sg or w rite to us at
Family Life Society, 2 Highland Road, #LG-01, Singapore 549102. F o r m o t h e r s w h o w o u l d li k e h e lp in r a i s i n g t h e i r k i d s in t h e C a t h o l ic f a it h , J o y f u l P a r e n t i n g ’ s ( J P ) n e w C a th o lic M o th e r s ’ S u p p o r t G r o u p m a y ju s t b e th e a n s w e r t o y o u r p ra y e rs . W it h t h i s n e w g r o u p , J o y f u l P a r e n t i n g , w h i c h is a p r o g r a m o f t h e F a m il y L i f e S o c ie t y , a i m s t o h e lp m o t h e r s b r in g u p t h e ir c h ild r e n in t h e C a t h o lic f a it h . It a l s o s e e k s t o h e lp m o t h e r s g r o w a n d
Catholic mums and kids - (from left) Pamela Lim and Gabriel; Maureen Liew and Isabelle and Theresa Theen and Natalie. C u r r e n t ly , t h e g r o u p m e e t s f o r a b o u t a n
d e v e lo p th e ir o w n s p ir itu a lity a n d c r e a te
h o u r e v e ry fir s t S u n d a y o f th e m o n th a t th e
o p p o r tu n itie s f o r b o n d in g a n d s h a r in g th e ir
C h u r c h o f C h r i s t t h e K in g , f o r a c t i v i t i e s s u c h
p a r e n t in g e x p e r ie n c e s w i t h o n e a n o t h e r .
a s p r a is e a n d w o r s h ip , p r a y e r a n d in t e r c e s s io n ,
T h e C a t h o l i c M o t h e r s ’ S u p p o r t G r o u p is th e b r a in c h ild o f P a m e la L im - P r o g r a m
B ib le - s h a r in g , r e c i t a t i o n o f t h e R o s a r y o r S t a t io n s o f t h e C r o s s . T h e y a l s o h o ld
C o o r d i n a t o r o f J o y f u l P a r e n t in g , a n d A d r i e n n e
d i s c u s s i o n s o n t o p i c s s u c h a s “ C e l e b r a t in g
L im , a w o r k i n g m o t h e r , b o t h o f w h o m a r e
t h e M a s s w it h Y o u r C h i ld ” , “ A M o t h e r 's P r a y e r
p a r is h io n e r s o f C h r i s t t h e K in g C h u r c h .
L i f e ” , “ F a it h D e v e l o p m e n t ” a n d “ S a c r a m e n t s
P a m e la , a m o t h e r o f a t w o - y e a r - o l d b o y ,
f u t u r e in c l u d e f a m il y o u t in g s a n d c h a r i t y w o r k
s t e m m e d f r o m h e r o w n d i f f i c u l t y in f i n d i n g a
f o r f a m il ie s . P a m e l a s a id , “ W e h o p e t o in s p ir e
p r a y e r g r o u p f o r h e r s e lf , “ W e f e l t t h a t m o t h e r s
m o r e m o t h e r s f r o m o t h e r p a r is h e s t o s h a r e in
n e e d e d a g r o u p in t e r m s o f s p i r i t u a l g r o w t h .
th is fa n ta s tic a n d e x c itin g m in is tr y th r o u g h
W e t r i e d jo in i n g p a r is h g r o u p s b u t d i d n o t f i t
p u b l ic i t y , w o r d o f m o u t h a n d e s p e c i a ll y b y t h e
in b e c a u s e c h i l d r e n w e r e n o t a l l o w e d a t t h e
g ra c e o f G o d .”
m e e tin g s .” W it h t h e b l e s s in g o f t h e i r p a r is h p r i e s t , F r J o h n s o n F e rn a n d e z , th e y s p re a d n e w s a b o u t th e g r o u p th ro u g h w o r d o f m o u th , p o s te rs a n d n o t i c e s in t h e c h u r c h b u lle t in s . A t t h e i r f i r s t m e e t in g in J u ly la s t y e a r a t t h e C h u r c h o f C h r is t t h e K in g , 1 2 m o t h e r s a t t e n d e d , s e v e r a l w it h t h e i r c h il d r e n in t o w . T o d a y , t h e r e a r e 1 8 m o t h e r s in t h e g r o u p . M e e t i n g s a r e n o t e x c l u s iv e t o t h e m u m s a s t h e i r k id s a r e a l s o a l lo w e d a t t h e i r g a t h e r in g s . “ B e i n g m o t h e r s , w e a r e t o l e r a n t o f n o is e , ” e x p l a in e d P a m e la . “ In f a c t , w e e n c o u r a g e m o t h e r s t o b r i n g t h e i r c h il d r e n a s w e w a n t t h e m t o le a r n t o p r a y . W e a ls o h a v e h u s b a n d s w h o c o m e t o h e lp c h i l d - s i t d u r i n g o u r m e e tin g s .”
Q: Is it alright then to use NFP to have a small family or to remain childless? It is morally wrong to use NFP to remain childless. If NFP is used only to prevent conception, it is being used as a contraceptive and is as evil as contraception. The Code of
f o r t h e H o m e ” . P la n s a n d a c t i v i t i e s f o r t h e
G a b r ie l, s a id t h e id e a t o s t a r t a s u p p o r t g r o u p
A Catholic Mothers’ Retreat “Sharing Mary’s Motherhood” by Sr Florence Wong J o y f u l P a r e n t in g ’ s C a t h o l ic M o t h e r s S u p p o r t G r o u p w ill b e o r g a n is in g a r e t r e a t e n t it le d “ S h a r in g M a r y ’ s M o t h e r h o o d ” o n S u n d a y 1 3 J u ly 2 0 0 3 . L e d b y S r F lo r e n c e W o n g , t h e r e tr e a t is f o r a ll m o t h e r s . T h e d e t a ils a r e a s f o llo w s :
Date: S u n d a y , 1 3 J u ly 2 0 0 3 Time: 1 . 3 0 p m t o 5 . 3 0 p m . Place: R o o m 1 0 9 , C h u r c h o f C h r is t t h e K in g (2 2 2 1 A n g M o K io A v e
R e g is tra tio n is re q u ire d a s p la c e s a re lim ited . To register, p le a s e c a ll J o y fu l P a re n tin g a t 6 4 8 8 0 2 8 6 o r e -m a iljo y fu lp a re n tin g @ h o tm a il.c o m .
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Canon Law states, “The primary end of marriage is the procreation and the education of children” and a marriage contracted with the intention of remaining childless is held invalid by the Church.
Q: How is NFP any different from using a condom? Using NFP (Natural Family Planning), as advocated by the Church, and using a condom, are entirely different acts. NFP is a form of family planning based on a woman’s fertility cycle. So NFP uses God’s design while the condom and all other contraceptives rupture it and are evil for that reason alone, no matter what good intentions or results we may have. The act must first be judged independently of these reasons. This is because you can never do moral evil even for worthy goals or consequences.
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Take a few moments together and ask yourselves the questions below. • Do you feel anxious about your marriage relationship? • Do you feel alone or distant from your partner? • Do you feel disillusioned or bored in your marriage?
Family Life Society Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre 2 Highland Road, #LG-01, Singapore 549102 Tel: 6488 0278 www.familylife.org.sg
The Pope however appealed for us to be generous in raising a large family and, although marriage is not only for procreation, said that “children are really the supreme gift of marriage and contribute very substantially to the welfare of their parents.”
Replies by Dr Ian Snodgrass, Program Coordinator for Natural Family Planning
'I f O n ly 1 M a r r ia g e ?
“If only you’d communicate; talk to me; show some affection; spend some time with me and the kids... If only you'd change then I would be happier; more responsive; more loving." “But I can't change who I am.” We can however, change how we are.... Together. After all it’s our marriage!
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The Church does not state the number of children we should have. Factors that might influence this, such as the imbalance between the world’s population and available resources, economic and educational difficulties and changing responsibilities for women in society were recognised in passing by Pope Paul VI in Humanae Vitae (on Human Life) in 1968 and in Gaudiumet Spes (on the Church in the modern world) which he wrote in 1965.
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Do you have the time or the desire to communicate with each other? Are you experiencing coldness or conflict? Are you feeling frustrated, hurt or angry with your partner? Do you know how to improve or change your marriage situation? Who is responsible for your marriage? Should we enquire about a Retrouvaille program?
If you want to do something positive about your marriage, call Retrouvaille at 6749 8861. Or sign up for our next Retrouvaille Weekend on 18 to 20 July 2003.
After all it’s your marriage and onlyyou can do something about it together.
Our Programs and Affiliates: Family and Marital Counselling; Pregnancy Crisis Service; Youth Life-Line; Joyful Parenting; Catholic Legal Aid; Celebration of Life; Marriage Encounter; Engaged Encounter; Couples for Christ; Marriage Preparation Course; Natural Family Planning; Hope, Retrouvaille and Choice.
Catholic News Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003
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Young Catholics avourites
FRANCIS OF ASSISI INSPIRES IJ SISTER By Noel Tan
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HIS is the location of Catholic Online, a portal for the Catholic community. Catholic Online gives easy access to comprehensive, educational and timely information about Catholicism, and provides a range of easy methods to integrate faith into daily life. Catholic Online says its mission is to accurately represent the Catholic religion: its past and present, and has been doing so for ten years. It claims to have the largest Catholic presence on the Internet with over five million pages of content including the largest online historical and biblical database about the Catholic Church. In the last issue of CN, we wrote about the archival information of over 7,000 Catholic saints. Surfers will find Catholic Online’s search engine more focused than the com m ercial search engines when searching for Catholic material.The site also hosts forums, and news and feature articles. These benefits attract over 100 thousand users from 120 countries, up to 10 million page impressions and 50 million hits a day, according to Catholic Online. Its email facility offering 20 MB of free storage space is more than given by most popular free email providers. Go for it. □
(HRISTINA JOY chose to ? join J' the Infant Jesus (IJ) 'Sisters though her faith S was influenced by St. formation Francis of Assisi. “I don’t know why I didn’t consider the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary or the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood,’’she said. “ I suppose (I chose) the IJs because of their simplicity. They didn’t wear a habit. They immersed themselves among the people. I think that was more important for me.” Sr. Christina Joy Eruthyanathan, now 34, joined the IJ sisters in 1995 and made her final profession at her home parish, St. Francis of Assisi, June 1.
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FORMER PROJECT ENGINEER “INTRIGUED” BY LITURGY EACON Stanley Pang, confessed to eing “intrigued” by the celebration of D th liturgy and the the sacraments. “We have to be very concrete to help the people understand what is going on. At the same time, the concrete action must point to the divine, must show the awe, that is why the celebration is important in all aspects - the homily, the proclamation, the actions, the gestures, the hymns.” Soon, the 43 year- old deacon will be presiding at the Eucharist and administering the other sacraments. He will be ordained June 22 at the Church of the Holy Sprit. Asked how he will live out his priesthood, he said, “Simply to be holy. The holiness is for people to see me as a sign to Christ. I will walk with anybody who wants to seek God and at the end of the journey, to hand the person to God... that’s my mission.” His vision is “ to strengthen and build up the people of God to serve the world so that they are perceived by other people as real Christians, not just in name, and be not afraid to communicate Christian values.” Before joining St Francis Xavier Major Seminary in 1995, Stanley worked for nine years as a project engineer with multi national corporations. Seven years into his work, he started thinking about the priesthood. Three factors were uppermost in his mind at that time, he recalled. “The first was the strange thought of singlehood as a gift from God. The second was the desire to strengthen my involvement in the Church, and
St. Francis of Assisi’s influence on her began at a play staged in her parish. “ He came across as a happy religious in spite of the sufferings he went through. There was always this joy in whatever he did,” she said. The life of St. Francis gave her a new perception of religious life. Growing up in a convent school environment, Sr. Christina Joy said the Sisters who
Sister ChristinaJoywithayoung chargeat theGalileeCentre. instructed her were more often seen as “strict and stem”. Another attraction to the IJ vocation was ministering to the poor . She said, “They were living with the poor, and that sort of gave me the confirmation that this was how I want to be for the
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the third was the desire to further my studies, to take up something new.” he said. “I discerned for two years on my own and the more I prayed the more the thought of priesthood got stronger.” He joined the seminary in 1995, shortly after coming back from the World Youth Day celebration held in Manila. “By then the only thing clear to me was joining the priesthood,” he added. Stanley went through seven years of formation “as an elderly” junior student at the seminary. The demands of community life were a constant challenge, he said. “I had to learn how to integrate my personal interest with the community interest. This always called for sacrifice. The community must always come first.” However, he said, as time passed, he wondered whether he was short-changing himself and others if he only said nice things even when there was anger inside. “This was where skills in communication came in, where I learned to express my views carefully. This way we helped each other grow.”
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rest of my live. Being with the poor. It was not so much the doing but the being that attracted me.” Before entering the religious life, Sr. Christina Joy taught at a primary school for five years. Even in the non-Christian environment she was in, she said that she saw God very much in the presence of the children she was teaching, which further influenced her decision to become a religious. Despite initial opposition, Sr. Christina Joy said that her family was a great source of support in her vocation. “Now, they are proud that I am a religious and they are happy for me,” she said. Sr. Christina Joy currently works at the Galilee Centre in Ang Mo Kio as a coordinator for the different programmes offered to children and youth. She also works closely with primary school children and parents. □
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DeaconStanleyPangwithhis parents, bothdevout Catholics Deacon Stanley also had to train himself not to take his fellow seminarians for granted. “We knew each other so well that when one opened his mouth, we assumed to know what he would say, but if I did not listen and he said something different, I would have missed that.” The practice of being attentive all the time is useful in the priestly ministry because “we may work with other people for a long time,” he added. Reminiscing about his growing up years, he said, “I was very familiar with all the priests in the archdiocese, I could name which priest was in what parish. I come from a very devout Catholic family. My parents were regular Sunday Mass goers and devotees of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.” “We were all involved in Church,” said the former member of the parish choir and the eldest of three boys. Following his ordination, he will be assistant priest at the Church of St Anne. □
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j h u m ay find th e ansu/ers
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a t th e next Alpha program m e! Church o f the B lessed Sacram ent, D am ien Hall C om m encing July 3, 7.15-9.55pm (10 Thursday nursaay sessions) sessions; For registration form s call the C hurch office 6G7W582 or e-mail 0 Victor Leong @ vicleong7@ yahoo.com
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Sundays June 22 and June 29, 2003 Catholic News
Backpage PopeJohnPaul IIyawnsin hispopemobilewhile enteringOsijek, Croatia, June7 . Thepontiff celebratedanopenair Massfor200,000ina swelteringheat that contributedtothedeathsof twopeople, andsent hundredstoseekreliefin emergencytents. Thepope wasinCroatia- his100th tripoutofItalyaspope- to beatifySisterMaria Petkovic, founderofthe DaughtersofMercy.
M E M O R IE S & MAGICAL MOMENTS
from 25 years of papal travel By John Thavis
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S POPE John Paul II embarked on the 100th foreign trip of his pontificate in early June, reporters and papal aides — and perhaps the pontiff himself — were f reminiscing about the places conference. they’ve seen in 25 years of travel. Since then, the trips have The pope has visited 129 yielded many memories and countries, spending more than magical moments — postcards 570 days outside of Italy and the from an era of papal travel. Vatican. Along the way, he’s taken the papacy to locations most popes only dreamed of, from exotic islands of the South Pacific to the Great Plains of North America. His odometer began ticking three months after his election in 1978, with a trip to the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the Bahamas. Journalists were awed when the pope strolled to the back of the plane and started fielding questions, inaugurating the first airborne papal press
During the 1980 visit to Brazil, children in a Rio de Janeiro shantytown await his arrival with a sign that reads, “Welcome John of God.” When the pope saw the poverty of the slum, he gave his gold papal ring to the local parish for charity purposes, kwa A few years later, he stood next to Mother Teresa in a crowded intersection in downtown Calcutta, India, and sang the praises of the diminutive nun, to the delight of cheering Indians. The pope goes where l # P he’s invited, and that
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Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary 2 4 H ig h la n d R o a d , S in g a p o r e 5 4 9 1 1 5 . T e l / F a x : 6 2 8 8 - 9 1 4 0
'Ihe S p irit of the £orb litis been $Wen to me... to procUint the y e a r o f the Jubilee. £i,kc HIS We invite you to join the H e a l J e s u s
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S p eaker: Fr C orsie Legaspi (well-known healer and speaker) V en u e : Church of th e Im m acu late H eart of M ary Date Topics 2 5 Ju n e (W ed ) : “To fre e those w ho a re in Prison” 2 6 Ju ne (Thurs): “To give sight to the Bline” 2 7 Ju n e (Fri) : “To heal th e broken h e a rte d ” P r o g r a m m e a t - P r a is e & W o r s h ip 8 p m n ig h tly G e n e r a l H e a lin g C e le b r a t io n o f M a s s H o m i l y o n t h e d a y ’s t o p i c T e s tim o n ie s a f t e r C o m m u n io n End
GOLDEN JUBILEE HIG H MASS Concelebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia 28 June (Saturday) at 6.15 pm. Followed by dinner in the Church Hall.
29 June(Sunday) 7 am: Fr Gerard W eerakoon, 8 .3 0 am: Fr Richards Ambrose, 10.45 am: Fr Adrian Anthony and 6.15 pm: Fr David Thexeira
means he’s been hosted by a number of dictatorial regimes. Sometimes they’re sorry he showed up. Leaving Haiti in 1983, he denounced the regime of Jean Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier as the dictator stood by helplessly. A few years later, Duvalier fled into exile. Visiting Cuba in 1998, the pope again saved the best for last. During a closing Mass in Havana’s Plaza of the Revolution, he quoted from the Gospel about “setting at liberty those who are oppressed,” then paused strategically to let the crowd chant its support — a rare moment of free expression, with President Fidel Castro seated in the front row. But while the TV cameras often were turned on the pope and his political hosts, some of the more memorable moments came during “lesser” events. Along a dusty road in GuineaBissau, the pope once stopped his motorcade and walked into a
P U B LIS H E D BY A R C H B IS H O P N IC H O L A S CHIA , 2 H IG H L A N D R O AD #01-03, S IN G A P O R E 549102.
village of clay huts. He went inside one home and visited with the poor family who lived there, conversing quietly until an aide said it was time to get going. On another occasion, the pope visited a Thai Buddhist patriarch in his temple, before a golden statue of Buddha. For five minutes, not a word was spoken as both men sat and looked at each other in silence; it was perhaps the subtlest form of interreligious dialogue ever witnessed. The pope has enjoyed and sometimes endured local folklore on his journeys. He’s worn a Mexican sombrero and sipped a Fiji tribal libation from a coconut shell. In Brisbane, Australia, a koala clung to the pope as he addressed journalists. And he’s tested out his linguistic proficiency, often studying for weeks ahead of time so he can pronounce a few phrases in the local tongue. Papal liturgies can be a showcase for indigenous culture, and the pope has seen it all, including tribal praise-singers, bird-feather headdresses and dancers in grass skirts. In Uganda, the book of the Gospels was carried by a man standing astride the shoulders of another, and in Papua New Guinea a bare breasted woman read on the altar. At times he crossed paths with local customs. In Swaziland, the king caused a stir when he arrived late for a papal Mass — along with two of his four wives. The pope was preaching against polygamy during his stop in the African country. Some liturgies have been interrupted by political demonstrations. At a Mass in Nicaragua, a visibly angered pontiff tried to deliver a sermon above the political chants of proSandinista youths. In Chile in 1987, tear gas wafted across the papal altar and scores of injured were carried away when police and demonstrators clashed 160 yards away. At the close of the Mass, the pope pronounced to the crowd a short but longremembered phrase: “Love is
stronger than hatred.” The trips have offered the world an unprecedented window on the more personal side of Pope John Paul. At the Vatican, the pope is in the public eye only a few hours a week. But on the road, nearly every event is televised. In Australia, the pope subjected himself to a Q-and-A session with a classroom of fourth graders. They elicited the disclosure from the pontiff that he liked contemporary music and even “what is it — rock?” His trips to his Polish homeland began with a series of politically charged visits under communism, when a word or a phrase from the pope’s lips could ignite crowds of more than a million people, eager to express their discontent with the government. After the fall of communism, the pope’s homecomings took on a more relaxed air. In 1999 he sat in the main square of Wadowice, his hometown, and reminisced about buying cream cakes as a boy in the shop down the street. Those who followed the pope during his seven visits to the United States have their favorite moments. For many it came in Los Angeles in 1987, when the pope hugged Tony Melendez after hearing the armless guitarist play with his feet.
For the pope, one of the most deeply moving trips was his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2000, when he walked in the footsteps of Christ and the Apostles. The following year he stood outside the gates of Damascus, where St. Paul was blinded by the light. But it always seems his favorite journey is the one he happens to be on. As he said before setting out on his first trip, his main purpose in traveling is to meet the people of the world — “get to know them, embrace them and tell them a ll... that God loves them.” □ c n s . c n s p h o to s
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