SEPTEMBER 14, 2003, vol 53, no 19

CM iolicN ew s

The Archdiocese of Singapore will celebrate the Year of the Rosary on Sunday October 12, 2003. With the approval of the Archbishop, the liturgical text for all Masses on this weekend will be the Mass of Our

SUNDAYS SEPTEMBER 14 AND SEPTEMBER 21.2003 SINGAPORE 50 CENTS/WEST MALAYSIA RM 1.20 M.I.T.A.(P) No.105/01/2003 PPS 201/4/2004 Vol 53 No.19|

The annual procession at Novena Church Sep 7 attracted an estimated 35,000 devotees.

Most were there long before 6 pm when the ceremony began.

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The large crowd and he: was too much for some. Sars, limoni Pereir; i CSsR teased the attend congregation, means â&#x20AC;&#x153;S; Rosary Singap

P h o t o s b y R a y m o n d T a n . T e x t b y P e t e r O o l.

Archbishop EImeritus Gregory Yong was the main celebrant at the solemn ouitdoor Mass. He \ crowned the i mage of Our Lady, -d

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003 □ C atholicNews

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Parish of St Vincent de Paul celebrates 40th year SINGAPORE -

The parish of St. Vincent de Paul, which was declared a distinct parish by Archbishop Mgr M. Olcomendy on 1 October 1, 1963, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

The highlight of the celebrations will be the observance of the feast day of its patron saint on September 27. This will be preceded by a nine- day novena with preachers speaking on the theme of Empowerment, a pictorial exhibition of the history of the church, and a food fair from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm September 21.

The celebrations will culminate in a gala dinner at the Orchid Country Club September 27 with Archbishop Nicholas Chia as the guest of honour. Guests can expect a sumptuous meal, at $40 a head, and entertainment by a wellknown local musician and live band. Parish talent has been lined up to add extra zest and hilarity to the occasion. □

FEAST DAY N0VENA MAIN THEME: “EMPOWERING THE LAITY” Date

Time

Theme and speaker

Sep 18, Thu 8.00pm Empowering Myselfby Fr Erbin Fernandez Sep 19, Fri

8.00pm Empowering the Family by Fr Terence Pereira

Sep 20, Sat 6.30pm Empowering the Church by Fr Michael Arro Sep 21, Sun 6.00pm Empowerment through Mary and the Communion ofSaints by Fr John Paul Tan Sep 22, Mon 8.00pm Empowerment through the Bible by Fr Ambrose Vaz Sep 23, Tue 8.00pm Empowerment through Prayer by Fr Michael D ’Cruz Sep 24, Wed 8.00pm Empowerment throughtheLiturgy by Fr Richards Ambrose Sep 25, Thu 8.00pm Empowerment in Times ofDifficulty by Fr Ignatius Yeo Sep 26, Fri

8.00pm Empowerment through Forgiveness by Fr Simon Pereira

Sep 27, Sat 6.30pm Empoweredfor Mission (Feast Day Mass)

by His Grace, Archbishop Nicholas Chia

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“Homosexuality: Views And Issues” Seminar held Saturday Aug 30 saw a full house of 300 participants with students, religious, Catholics and non-Christians filling up St Peter Auditorium at CAEC. Jointly organized by the Catholic Medical Guild, the Catholic Lawyers Guild and the Family Life Society, the three-hour seminar featured five panelists who covered the pastoral, legal, medical, personal and theological perspectives of the issue.

Opening the session was Brother Michael Broughton, an educator, who believes that there should be more dialogue between the church and homosexuals.

“Up to now, there’s no dialogue with homosexuals,” he said. “We talk about them. We say what’s wrong, but there’s no dialogue with them.” He suggested the formation of groups to listen and engage in dialogue with homosexuals to understand them better.

Presenting the session on medical findings as well as the health risks associated with homosexuality was Dr Ian Snodgrass. According to Dr Snodgrass, the consensus is that biological, family and social factors work together to set the stage for homosexuality. And we need to recognize that sometimes our genes or environment may be bad for us and so we must do whatever we can to overcome them.

Recent decisions in the highest

The panel of speakers. From left: Fr David Garcia, Thomas Aqbal, Leslie Lung, Dr Ian Snodgrass, Br Michael Broughton.

courts of the United States and Canada on issues involving homosexuality were the focus of lawyer Thomas Aqbal’s presentation. Citing the case of Ontario Appeals Court’s ruling permitting homosexual marriage, and the United States Supreme Court decision preventing state legislatures from enacting laws prohibiting oral and anal intercourse, he said that these decisions are overturning the laws based on centuries of religious, moral and legal traditions in their respective countries - all in the name of “liberty “ and “equality”. However, if we were to “think, talk and do something”, we could also play our part in affecting the impact of these decisions as “legal developments are also influenced by culture and the way you practice your religion”.

Also on the panel was Leslie

Lung, an ex-transsexual who read an extract from his tome entitled FOC (Freedom of Choice) - a collection of short stories of freedom from sexual bondage.

Finally moral theologian Fr David Garcia presented the church’s teachings on the subject. He said scripture, tradition and teachings of the church coincide consistently.

Church teachings condemn the sin; however, we should “respect homosexual persons on the basis of their human dignity”.

Dr John Hui, Master of the CMG, said the forum is the beginning of efforts to educate and promote public understanding of the topic. He said: “We need to go on from here and see what else we should do as part of our response to the issue, in society, in the church, and last but not least, in our homes.” □

CatholicN ews □

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003

VEHICLES WANTED tip

Transfers of priests Archbishop Nicholas Chia has announced the following transfers of priests to take effect from OCTOBER 15, 2003. □ FR JOHNSON FERNANDEZ To HOLY TRINITY as Parish Priest □ FR PETER KOH To CHRIST THE KING as Parish Priest □ FR EDWARD LIM To OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA as Parish Priest □ FR EDMOND CHONG To ST JOSEPH’S (Bukit Timah) as Assistant

ARCHBISHOP’S OFFICIAL DIARY

Sept 6 to 21 Rome - Bishops’ Renewal Course Sept 27 3.00 pm Church of St Ignatius - Confirmation 6.30 pm Church of St Vincent De Paul - Feastday Sept 28 9.30 am Church of St Michael - Feastday 1.00 pm Marymount Convent - Mass (Filipino) 3.00 pm Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - Mass (Migrants) Sept 29 6.00 pm Church of St Michael - SSVP - National Council Oct 01 8.30 am Church of St Teresa: CHU St Theresa’s Convent - 70th Ann. Oct 04 6.00 pm Church of St Francis of Assisi: Feastday Oct 05 10.30 am Church of the Blessed Sacrament: FMM- 50th Anniversary 6.00 pm Church of St Teresa - Feastday Oct 07 6.00 pm Cathedral of the Good Shepherd: Pro-Life Mass Oct 09 6.00 pm ChurchoftheNativityofBVM: DiamondJubilee-FrBarthoulotMEP Oct 10 5.00 pm St Joseph’s Home: Mass Oct 11 4.00 pm St Joseph’s Home &Hospice: Official Opening - 25th Ann. Oct 12 10.45 am Church of St Francis Xavier: Youth Confirmation 3.00 pm Church of St Michael: Confirmation - Chinese Group Oct 13-23 Rome Oct 25 8.30 am Conference: Couples for Christ 3.00 pm Church of St Vincent De Paul: Confirmation Oct 26 10.30 am Church of St Francis of Assisi: Confirmation 2.00 pm RELC Int’l Hotel Auditorium: CFC Singapore - 16th Ann. 5.00 pm Church of the Holy Spirit: Ordination - Deacon Peter Zhang Oct 28 7.30 pm Church of St Anne: MC Sisters - Blessed Mother Teresa Oct 29 3.30 pm Church of the Christ the King: 70th Ann. (St Nicholas’s School)

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It was a night for meeting old friends, reminiscing about the past, rejoicing in achievements and thanking God for his blessings.

Almost 1,000 teachers, students, alumnae, parents and friends of CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School gathered at the Raffles City Convention Centre on August 29 to celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary and Teachers’ Day. An uplifting performance by the school’s cheerleaders at the

growth and development, focusing on the varied styles of the school’s only three ethnic-Chinese principals, Sr Fran?oise Lee, U (1940-1971), Mrs Hwang-Lee Poh See (1972-2000) and Ms Choo (from 2001).

Guest-of-honour Olivia Lum, founderpresident and CEO of Hyflux Ltd, shared her own life story to highlight the importance and effectiveness of positive programming. Also present at the dinner were Archbishop Nicholas Chia, Fr Johnson Fernandez, as well as IJ sisters and members of the IJ Board of Management.

An interesting feature of the evening’s programme was the fusion menu - four dishes featuring a variety of cuisines served Chinese-dinner style and a dessert buffet to round it up. By this the alumnae, who organized the dinner, clearly demonstrated how to “think out of the box”! □

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School leaders and VIPs cut the 70th anniversary cake

start set the mood for an evening of celebration and joy.

And there certainly was much cause for that. In line with the theme of “Metamorphosis”, principal Helen Choo recounted how St Nicholas had transformed from a humble Chinese school with a handful of students to Singapore’s top Catholic school with sterling achievements in the academic, arts and sporting arenas.

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Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003 □ CatholicNews

ProljJe - J LibilUJTcLf lsj

DEMURE, petite, and very beautiful, Sr Leonora Pau hardly looked like the kind of young woman who would one day sneak out of a country under the cover of night on a mysterious ship but she did.

Sr Leonora smiled at the memory.

It was a long time ago - in a time before posh international airports facilitated travel throughout the world.

It was sometime in the late 1940s and Sr Leonora was one of a group of young sisters trying to leave China, which was at the time under the rule of the strict Communist regime. International travel was frowned upon then and the women found it impossible to leave for their missions elsewhere in the world.

But God had a plan.

Rome sent a battleship from America to help the nuns leave China — at least that was what a young Sr Leonora believed it was.

“I was so young. I didn’t know anything,” said Sr Leonora with a laugh, admitting she wasn’t quite sure what kind of a ship it really was.

Nevertheless, it took her from China, where she had completed her novitiate back to her homeland, Hong Kong.

When Sr Leonora left her home to answer God’s call in 1942, she had little idea of what he had in store for her. The last thing on her mind then was celebrating her Diamond Jubilee.

But that is exactly what she did in July.

She marked 60 years of

in 1997: “I was sent to the maternity ward to look after newborn babies, about 40 in number. These babies kept the nurse and myself very busy.

“Every four hours we had to carry the babies to and fro from their mothers. Followed by changing napkins, cleaning them up.

“One day, I was confronted by Mother Carla Elena (Vicar Provincial). ‘What are you thinking when you carry these babies?’ My answer was: ‘I would be very careful not to drop them.’

“Then Mother Vicar continued, ‘Remember this... in spirit, you are carrying the baby Jesus.’ From that day onwards, I felt the strength and courage to carry out my work through the six months.”

Conditions in the hospital then were squalid.

“Hygiene was terrible then,” said Sr Leonora with a grimace. It made the hard job of caring for Below: Sr Leonora Pau as a teenager (third from left) in an undated photograph taken in Hong Kong. From left are an aunt, her cousin, and her grandmother.

religious life on July 19 with a quiet celebration at Maris Stella Convent with her community and family. Archbishop Nicholas Chia added simple solemnity to the occasion, celebrating the Eucharist. He was surprised that it was not publicised.

But it was fittingly Sr Leonora’s style She said: “I never expected any praise or credit or celebration. When I entered the convent, I never thought about what would happen to me. I just left it in the hands of God.” Sr Leonora was bom on Christmas Day, the youngest daughter of a non-Catholic family in Hong Kong.

As a child, she fell ill and was warded in a hospital run by Catholic sisters.

It was there that God first touched her.

She was baptized while in

JUBILARIANS CATHOLICNEWS will be publishing in this and subsequent issues profiles of priests and religious sisters and brothers celebrating the jubilee of their ordination or profession in 2003.

This is a departure from previous years’ practice of publishing all jubilarians in one issue.

This format allows us to provide better coverage of these generous people who have devoted a lifetime to the service of God and humanity.

In this issue, we feature Sisters Leonara Pau and

Elizabeth Yeo. Following issues will feature: • • • • • • • • •

Sr Agnes Tan, FMDM Sr Angela Ng, Fdcc Sr Mary Tarcisus Leong, FMDM Br James Tham Br Joachim Heng Br Thomas Chia Fr Desmond Reid, SJ Fr Paul Tong Fr Pierre Barthoulot Articles on the above jubilarians will not appear in alphabethical order.

hospital, and her family subsequently gave her a Catholic education in a Canossian convent in Hong Kong.

As she grew up, Sr Leonora heard God’s call.

“I admired the nuns at the hospital,” she said. “I admired their service to the people and their love for them.”

So when the time came for her to choose a career, she chose nursing.

But God kept on calling.

Said Sr Lenora with a laugh: “God doesn’t just call me once and finish. God calls me every day.”

At that time, there was no novitiate in Hong Kong and she had to go to China. It was during the Japanese Occupation, but undeterred, Sr Leonora went ahead.

Upon finishing with her novitiate in 1946, she continued a mission at the Shanghai General Hospital for six months.

She wrote in an article after receiving the Singapore Public Services Award on National Day

the sick even harder, but still she persevered.

She later returned to Macau where she continued her nursing and religious formation. Her missions took her all over the world - from England to Rome, Egypt and eventually, Singapore.

Sr Leonora arrived here on Feb 2, 1954. She was aged 34.

What greeted her then was nothing like what we know today.

Singapore was a rural kampung village and Christ was not widely known among its villagers.

Wrote Sr Leonora: “During the past 25 years (1954 - 1980), we gave service to the rural areas, villages and within the compound of two Buddhist Temples, where Christ is least known.

“He is not known in such areas as the people in these areas were the isolated and poor. When we first went to the clinics, the children referred to us as ‘devils’.

After coming to know us, they started calling us ‘Jesus.’

“So we told them we were not Jesus, but we were bringing Jesus

to them.”

And this was Sr Leonora’s mission.

“Like Mary, we bring Jesus everywhere,” wrote Sr Leonora.

“Every day, morning or afternoon, we were literally overwhelmed by the sick and the poor who came to receive medical care, plus distribution of food, Milo drinks to the children from attap houses.

“It was moving to see them waiting patiently for the medical care and drinks. The number of sick increased each day. We had to run from one clinic (Yio Chu Kang) in the morning to the other (Hougang or Queenstown or Geylang......) in the afternoon by public transport. Truly the hand of the Lord was upon us as the life of the apostolate continued to advance.”

She spent many years helping out at the at the Apex Daycare Centre for the Elderly at Bukit Merah.There she earned the respect and affection of both patients and staff for her sensitive, caring and “willing to do anything ” attitude.

Her work at the centre attracted the attention of a senior land inspector at the Housing Development Board headquarters located nearby. He took to driving her to the centre and back to the convent daily. Sr Leonara’s character must have rubbed off on him for he eventually took up voluntary work too.

Looking at her now, one feels the 81-year-old sister could break in two any time - she looks so fragile - but Sr Leonora is a tower of strength and calm for her sisters and those she ministers to.

Better known to some as Sr. Jean P, Sr Leonora is an icon for the local FMMs and for many of the people she has served.

Many had met her as young girls during her visits to homes, bringing food, and in her service to the sick. She is mother, grandmother and great­ grandmother to so many who still visit her to let her know how grateful they are for her love.

Just living out her FMM charism joyfully and intensely, Sr Leonora continues, in the evening of her life, to be a sign of hope for her religious sisters. She continues to inspire young girls today to follow the footsteps of Jesus.

Her message to them: Listen to God’s voice if he calls you, and don’t be afraid to answer him.

“I think young people today are afraid that they will not be able to persevere, but they should just try and not leave the call.

They have to be courageous,” she said.

“God’s call is a gift. I’m no better than any other person. All this is a gift, a free gift from God.” To her FMM sisters celebrating 50 years of their foundation in SingaporeMalaysia, Sr Leonora is one of the early pioneers for whom they thank God! □

CatholicNew s □

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003

Profile - ubikricLm

■J

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In her own words £ £

(I WAS) bom a B Singaporean on February 6, 1925. My sister Elsie and I were adopted by my childless aunt. Educated at St. Anthony’s Convent School, I learnt about Jesus and I envied the Catholic girls who would go to Sunday Mass and attend Sunday school.

In December 1941, two of my classmates joined the Canossian Sisters, stirring my desire to become a Sister. My innocent request to become a Catholic angered my aunt so much that I dared not ask her again. In 1943, I joined the nursing school and searched for God. I followed my (non Catholic) Christian friends to church but found it different from the Catholic Church where I felt Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament would receive me. I had found my God, but how was I to become a Catholic?

My baptism My aunt wanted me to marry a rich Catholic man. I was not interested in marriage but saw the opportunity for baptism, so I agreed. When I told Mother Margaret, who catechized me, of my desire to become a nun, she advised me to make a retreat and discern God’s will. After the retreat, I told her that I wanted to follow Jesus. I was baptized on July 27,1946 and the young man wanted the wedding as soon as possible, but I asked him to wait.

My aunt soon grew suspicious so I had to tell her that I did not want to marry.

My religious life I continued working as a nurse till 1950 when Mother Margaret asked me if 1wanted to go to Italy with Mother Antonietta Novello, the Regional Superior of

C a th o lic P r is o n M in is tr

ilfe to m a rry a rich C atholic m an.

I was not interested in m arriag e but saw the opportunity fo r baptism , so I agreed.”

Later, I was transferred to Ainaro in East Timor to start a clinic to serve the poor. The Sisters there taught in the school and ran a boarding house for girls. In 1994, I was sent to the Provincial House in Becora, Dili, where I taught English and First Aid to the 20 Timorese novices. In 1998, I was transferred to Yogyakarta to care for the young Timorese Sisters studying in the University.

After my sabbatical in the Philippines and visit to Rome for the canonization of Josephine Bakhita in the Jubilee Year 2000,1 went to Jakarta for knee treatment in 2001. While in Jakarta the Lord prepared another surprise for me - accepting his cross. I underwent knee surgery on April 1 at St. Carolus Hospital. The operation did not have the desired result and so on May 13 I journeyed back to Singapore with my sister Elsie [who had come to be with me] for further treatment.

Unfortunately, further surgery was too risky. Today, I am still unable to walk but God’s will be done.

The Sisters welcomed me to St. Joseph’s Home where I am now. Here I am well taken — — care of by the nurses and * 8 loving Sisters. ^ ^

A note from Sr Elizabeth’s colleagues : Sr. Elizabeth helped found St. Joseph’s Home some 20 years ago. She was Superior of the Provincial in Jalan Merbok from 1969 - 1973. She established a community in Changi (Saik Kuan Road) from 1973 - 1976.

Today, Sr. Elizabeth moves about in a wheel chair and is still very much a missionary. We, the Canossian Sisters, are all greatly edified by her cheerfulness and deep spirit of prayer. □

Canossian Sisters. I said yes. I entered the Novitiate in Hong Kong on January 21, 1950 and took my First Vows on April 21, 1953. The following month I returned to Singapore.

My missionary life I was first assigned to Kluang, where for four years I worked in the morning as a teacher and afternoons I visited villages in a mobile clinic to serve the poor and the sick. During 1957 to 19581was called to our missionary novitiate in Vimercate. The 60s saw me back in Malaysia - Jinjang, to start a new foundation and a kindergarten in Kuala Lumpur.

During the 70s and 80s I was back in Singapore with various tasks.

In 1986, instead of going to Africa as I had been originally told, I was sent to work at the nunciature in Jakarta, acting as a link between East Timor and Europe and to start a foundation for the Sisters of East Timor.

The Catholic Prison Ministry - a team of lay men and women, priests, seminarians and religious sisters who respond to the simple and profound invitation of Jesus to visit those in prison.

We invite you to give your time and love to serve our prisoners and their families.

The prison authorities in Singapore regard us as their key partners in the rehabilitation of each prisoner. To quote from the Prisons Departm ent’s vision statement: “We will be instrumental in steering them towards being responsible citizens with the help of their families and the community.”

If you would like to serve in this Ministry, call Sharen 6299-3936, Sr Gerard rgs 9109-8990.

On 27 September at 8pm shar'd, ttic parish of St. Vincent De Paul will be celebrating its 40th Ani.n/eccary with a sumptiioir, dinner at' the Orchid Country Club Reverend Father Michael Sitaram irivitos all parishioners and their family* to participate in this occasion. Call Stephen (9815 7158) or Serene Ng (9789 729?Hor reservations.

Sundays September 14 and September 21,200 3 ■;

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Christians being persecuted WASHINGTON -

Rosaline Costa (right) displays photos from her home country of Bangladesh showing vandalism at a Catholic church and a man attacked reportedly because of his religious beliefs. Costa, recently in Washington, was urging the media, government officials and religious groups to pay attention to what she calls a systematic campaign to expel adherents of minority religions from Bangladesh.

She sees parallels between the treatment of religious minorities in Bangladesh and notorious genocides committed in Rwanda and Bosnia in the 1990s.

Costa, a former Sister of Charity who runs a human rights newsletter, Hotline Bangladesh, said Christians, Hindus and Buddhists are being systematically driven out of their country by those who want Bangladesh to become a Taliban-style Islamic state.

Costa points to violence against non-Muslims that goes unpunished - including rapes of whole families or villages of women - as evidence of a systematic campaign to squeeze minority religions out of the country.

Census figures show the population of minority religions has shrunk from about 30 percent in the 1940s, at the end of British rule of the region that was then a part of Pakistan, to less than 10 percent today. □ c n s

ULAN BAATOR -

IN BRITAIN, the government has admitted that Christians are being persecuted in Pakistan. This admission comes in the wake of a campaign by human rights activists and newspapers like the Catholic Herald who have fought for official recognition of the persecution in the handling of Pakistani Christian asylum seekers.

The government has been granting asylum, accommodation and benefits to former Taliban fighters while deporting Pakistani Christian asylum seekers.

Yet besides facing regular dubious accusations of blasphemy which can spell jail and even death under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws about 50 Christians have been murdered in the last five years and others, including children, have been raped and beaten because of their faith. □ t h e u n iv e r s e

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Indiacelebrates Mother Teresa NEW DELHI - Sister Nirmala Joshi, superior of the Missionaries of Charity, and others gather at the tomb of Mother Teresa in Calcutta (photo above) on what would have been her 93rd birthday Aug. 26.

India’s Catholic bishops have asked the country’s prime minister to declare a national holiday Oct. 19, the date of the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

Archbishop Vincent Concessao of New Delhi said the holiday was appropriate because “Mother Teresa was loved and respected by all Indians for her work among the poor.”

Archbishop Concessao said the

A bishop fo r M ongolia

bishops are still waiting for Prime Minister Vajpayee’s response as well as his authorization for the state-run television network to broadcast the beatification ceremony live from the Vatican.

The bishops encouraged the prime minister to send a government delegation to Rome for the ceremony “as this is a great occasion for every Indian,” and also asked the government “to celebrate the great event by instituting a national award for social workers in honour of Mother Teresa,” which would inspire others “to live a life dedicated to the poorest of the poor.”

According to the bishops, New Delhi already has decided to rename Willington Crescent Road in the capital as “Mother Teresa Road” and to erect a statue of the nun at one end of the street.

Archbishop Concessao said the central event in the archdiocese Oct. 19 would be a “fellowship meal with the poor and neglected of the capital.” □ c n s

Bishop Wenceslao Padilla (below) is congratulated by an unidentified priest after his installation as first bishop of Mongolia in Ulan Bator Aug 29. Pope John Paul II sent Vatican envoy Cardinal Crescenzio Sepeto install the new bishop and bless Mongolia’s first cathedral, the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul. Bishop Padilla, a Missionhurst missionary from the Philippines, has directed Catholic missionary activity in the former Soviet republic since 1992.

Mongolia has a Catholic population of less than 200. □

Rosary to drive C hina conversions HONG KONG - A huge new Catholic evangelisation programme for Hong Kong aims to attract 10,000 residents of the former British colony to the faith within 12 months.

The Year of Evangelisation begins in October when church groups will be reaching out beyond China’s culture of religious intolerance in an effort to encourage people to be baptised.

And the key to the initiative is the Chinese Church’s aim for 7 million rosaries to be said by the end of 2003.

Announcing the initiative, the Auxiliary Bishop of Hong Kong, John Tong, said his diocese hoped to meet its target by distributing rosary cards newly printed with the help of the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

ACN produced the card in an initiative supported by the charity’s UK office, and the product is ideal for newcomers to the rosary as it gives detailed instructions on how it is prayed.

On the front is an image of Our Lady of China, depicting Madonna and Child dressed in traditional Chinese costume.

Bishop Tong said the evangelisation plans were inspired by the massive growth of the Chinese Church, which is flourishing despite oppression. □

T H E U N IV E R S E

CatholicN ews □

7

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003

A wall of fear

NIGERIAN Amina Lawal (above) waits in an Islamic courtroom in Katsina in northern Nigeria Aug. 27.

She is appealing her sentence of death by stoning under the Shariah - or Islamic law - for having a child out of wedlock. A judgment on her appeal is expected in a month. Her case has caused international outrage and is a critical test for the Shariah, which sparked riots when it was extended from civil law to criminal law in 12 northern Nigerian states three years ago. Thousands died in violence between Christians from southern ethnic groups and Muslims in the North. □

A 1HKKR rides past a 25*foot ft wall that surrounds the W est Hank town o f Q alqilya. The Israeli-built wall separating Israel and the Palestinian territories "constitutes a ” i a \e obstacle” to peace in the M iddle Mast, said the heads o f C hristian churches in Jerusalem .

For both nations, the >\all «i l l result in a feeling o f isolation. M oreover, for many Palestinians it m eans the depravation o f land, livelihood, statehood and family life. O S

IRAQIS mourn at the coffin of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim Aug. 31 in Karbala, Iraq. The Shiite cleric was assassinated when a bomb exploded outside a mosque in Najaf, killing more that 80 people. Pope John Paul II sent condolences and said that terrorism should be condemned by all religions and people of good will.

MEANWHILE, the wife of Tariq Aziz, the former Iraqi deputy prime minister, said she has appealed to Pope John Paul II to help win her husband’s release from U.S. custody in Iraq.

Aziz, the leading Christian in Saddam Hussein’s regime, surrendered to U.S. forces in April. Since then his wife and other relatives have not been allowed to see him or speak with him. □ c n s

A SECURITY guard walks past a monument of the Ten Commandments at the Alabama Judicial Building Aug. 21 in Montgomery. The state’s Supreme Court judges ruled that the monument must be removed from the state court building to comply with a federal order, drawing protests from Christians who want it to stay. □ c n s

c n s p h o t o

Dead, millions dead A FIGURINE of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands among the skulls left as a reminder of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide at the Catholic church compound in Nyamata. Rwandans voted Aug. 25 in the country’s first presidential election since the genocide, when extremists from the Hutu majority attempted to wipe out the Tutsi minority.

Among the country’s thousands of victims - mostly Tutsis - were three bishops and about 25 percent of the clergy. □ c n s

MEANWHILE, the Italian Catholic relief agency Caritas has called upon African leaders to respect existing peace agreements, asked international leaders to increase diplomatic efforts and humanitarian services, and asked the media to foster greater public

awareness of the struggles in the Great Lakes - particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Caritas reported that the violence in the Great Lakes, which has swept through several different countries since 1998, has caused an astonishing 3 million deaths. That figure includes the deaths of many people who died from disease, malnutrition, and exposure after they were forced to flee from their homes, and lost access to food and health care because of the conflict. The violence in the Great Lakes is motivated largely by a struggle for control of enormous natural resources, Caritas said. Congo currently the center of the most violent fighting - has immense untapped sources of gold, diamonds, oil, cobalt, zinc, and timber. □ c a t h o l ic w o r l d n e w s f id e s

LOT QUICKER TURNING WAT INTO WINE. f Celebration

r 200 i

At the 40th Anniversary dinner of the parish of St. Vincent De Paul, specially hnltluil nd . conimermiiiitmrj On; m.i ision will be available for sale. Come join Reverend Father Michael Sitaram and Reverent I Alliort Ng at the Orclml Country Club on 27 September at 8pm to toast this joyous occasion. For reservations, callStephe: (‘1815 /1‘>8) or Seiene Ng 19789 7297) M Sp

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003 □ CatholicNews

Current Issues C o n tr a c e p tiv e s c a u s e g ra v e co n seq u en ces Signs of a disturbing degradation of some fundamental values are evident in the growing number of divorces, the scourge of abortion, the ever more frequent recourse to sterilization, the appearance of a truly contraceptive mentality.

Following is the last o f a six-part series on contraception.

By Fr. William P. Saunders

IN THE 1960s, the church faced increasing pressure regarding the use of contraceptive means with the marketing of the anovulant pill. In response, Vatican Council II stated in Gaudium et Spes, “In questions of birth regulation, the sons and daughters of the church, faithful to these principles, are forbidden to use methods disapproved of by the teaching authority of the church in its interpretation of the divine law (No.51).

However, Pope Paul VI had transferred the investigation of new questions concerning this matter to a special commission (originally established by Pope John XXIII in March, 1963) for the study of population, the family, and births. The Holy Father would then review their findings and render judgment. The commission included married couples and those of various competencies in this field. Select bishops were also asked for their views; other bishops voluntarily submitted them.

On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae, which upheld the consistent teaching of the church based on natural law as well as divine revelation: “Each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life” (No. 11).

Pope John Paul II has continually repeated the church’s teaching. In Familiaris Consortio, he lamented the signs of a “disturbing degradation of some fundamental values” evident in “the growing number of divorces, the scourge of abortion, the ever more frequent recourse to sterilization, the appearance of a truly contraceptive mentality” (No.6).

Interestingly, Pope Paul VI prophesied grave consequences from contraception: increased marital infidelity and a lowering of moral standards; increased lack of respect for women, including seeing a woman as a sex object and as an instrument to satisfy sexual pleasures rather than seeing her as a partner in marriage; and the danger of empowering public authorities to regulate the lives of others. Thirty years later, these warnings have become realities: U.S.statistics show the rapid increase of divorce, from a rate of

25 percent in 1965 to 50 percent in 1975 during the first five years of marriage. By the year 2000, 50 percent of American teenagers will have lived a significant part of their lives without a father figure. Moreover, Dr. Robert Michaels of Stanford University found a direct, positive correlation between the growing rate of divorce and the rate of contraception. (Interestingly, couples who use Natural Family Planning have a much lower divorce rate: 0.6 percent

students that they can have “safe sex,” thereby obfuscating any responsibility for a child, or any thought of disease or any other consequence. In the United States, 100 high schools have clinics which distribute condoms, and 300 high schools without clinics make condoms available through counselors, nurses, teachers, vending machines, or baskets (2002 The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy). 50 percent of current high school teens will lose their

\ ?■

& according to the Couple to Couple League, and 2-5 percent according to research conducted by California State University.)

Any person can attest to the deterioration of the moral quality of television and movies during this time, as evidenced by shows like “Friends” or “Sex in the City.” Pornography has become increasingly prevalent, with 630 million pornographic video rentals reported each year in the United States. The availability of pornography and sexual contacts through the Internet is alarming.

The separation of the unitive from the procreative aspects of marital love, and the removal of marital love from marriage itself has made “sexual love” simply recreational and promiscuous.

Many government-sponsored high schools in particular have inculcated the attitude among

W ith forecasts o f higher life expectancy, more elderly and less young, now the population planners are asking, “W ho will take care o f the elderly? W here will taxes com e from to support social program m es?” virginity during high school (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001). If statistics hold true, 840,000 teens will become pregnant this year (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997). In 1995, 32 percent of all newborns were bom to unmarried mothers (1995: Monthly Vital Statistics Report).

On the other hand, 98 percent of all abortions are performed for

elective, non-medical reasons, i.e. “the unplanned pregnancy” (Abortion: Some Medical Facts).

Are not all of these statistics correlated and together show the erosion of the sanctity of human sexuality, marriage, and marital love?

Crimes of rape continue to rise each year. The news is replete with cases alleging sexual harassment and sexual abuse, even among clergy. The rise of the “same sex marriage movement,” the adoption of children by homosexual couples, testifies to the loss of understanding of God’s design for marriage and the family.

Procedures involving in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, and surrogate motherhood are increasingly available. Moreover, research for cloning, including the cloning of a human being, continues.

The intrusion of government into family planning has become more prevalent. Some municipal or state governments have attempted to begin programs which pay women to use Norplant (the five-year contraceptive implanted in a woman’s arm) to control the pregnancies of teenagers and welfare recipients.

Foreign countries like Peru have introduced sterilization programs and compel poor citizens to be sterilized. Mexico’s National Commission for Human Rights on Dec 16, 2002 lamented that health organizations in all 31 of that country’s states have imposed contraceptive devices on the native population and peasants.

International policy set by the affluent Western nations to help developing Third World countries oftentimes include mandatory population control provisions, including artificial birth control and abortion.

Ironically, even the forecast of the future has changed. One generation ago, Paul Ehrlich in his book The Population Bomb warned that overpopulation would “kill the planet.” Contraceptives were hailed as the remedy for this pending doom, and Humanae Vitae was derided. Now we find ourselves in a different situation.

The Population Division of the United Nations published its report “World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision,” projecting a decline in world population: two years ago, the Population Division projected a world population of 9.3 billion people in 2050; now it projects 8.9. It also projects that the fertility levels in most developing countries will fall below the replacement rate of 2.1 children during this century, and by 2050, population levels in more developed countries will have already been declining for 20 years. For instance, the Population Division forecasts by mid-century

a 14 percent reduction in population in Japan, and 22 percent in Italy; moreover, the population in Europe will decline from 726 million people to 632 million. With forecasts of higher life expectancy, more elderly and less young, now the population planners are asking, “Who will take care of the elderly? Where will taxes come from to support social programs?” Now countries like France give tax incentives to families to have children to reverse their declining population.

Little wonder, Pope John Paul II declared Pope Paul Vi’s Humanae Vitae a “truly prophetic proclamation” (Familiaris Consortio, No.29). The time has come to return to the Lord and His truth regarding human sexuality, marriage, and marital love.

Interestingly, Dr. William May in 1968 signed a statement with numerous other theologians dissenting from Humane Vitae.

He has long since recanted. In 1988, on the 20th anniversary of the encyclical, he said, “I was beginning to see that if contraception is justifiable, then perhaps artificial insemination, test-tube reproduction, and similar modes of generating life outside the marital embrace are morally justifiable too.... I began to realize that the moral theology invented to justify contraception could be used to justify any kind of deed. I saw that it was a consequentialist, utilitarian kind of argument, that it was a theory which repudiated the notion of intrinsically evil acts. I began to realize how truly prophetic the pope had been, and how providential it was that he had been given the strength to resist the tremendous pressures brought to bear upon him” (Columbia).

Now 15 years later, articles concerning in vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood, and cloning appear regularly in the news media. One has to ask, “Where are we headed as a society?”

Pope Paul VI concluded Humanae Vitae with the statement that the church is to be “a sign of contradiction.” So indeed she is in upholding the sanctity of marriage and the error of contraception. Yes, the church is going against the popular culture of the age. Nevertheless, St. Paul’s words originally addressed to the Romans should resound in our own ears: “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, so that you may judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2). □ A R L IN G T O N C A T H O L IC H E R A L D .

[Father William Saunders is dean of the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College and pastor of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Sterling, Virginia. ]

CatholicN ews □

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003

i'DCLlo Cardinal James Francis Stafford speaks of the problems in Catholic parishes and the means of renewal.

lead us to a further exploration of a restoration of the “Ordo Poenitentium” - the Order of Penitents - that was present in the patristic church.

Many of the problems that we are experiencing in the priesthood, especially the sexual abuse (in America), are due to a long-term crisis in the parish. People do not really experience love within the parish; it is a place in which they really do not trust one another enough to be able to experience the forgiving love of Jesus as that forgiving love is mediated by the community.

A rediscovery of the “Ordo Poenitentium” would be an opportunity for priests and people to recognize their sinfulness, to surrender to the tough love of the community by making known their weakness, their sinfulness, and asking for a public penance.

That is key to the renewal of the parish: that the parish

a n d flic B O S T O N , M a s s a c h u s e tts -

Cardinal James Francis Stafford is president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the dicastery that assists the pope in all matters concerning the contributions the lay faithful make to the life and mission of the church. Cardinal Stafford was interviewed by Antonio Enrique, director of the Archdiocese of Boston’s weekly newspaper, The Pilot. This is an excerpt from that interview.

Q : How do you see the role of the laity in the wake of the sexual abuse crisis (in America)?

Cardinal Stafford: The most significant positive development since the Second Vatican Council has been the flourishing of lay movements within the church.

They have arisen to meet the needs of the laity first, for a deeper spirituality which they do not feel the parish has been able to meet and second, to evangelize the worlds of economics, politics, universities, unions.

They illustrate the desire of the laity for a greater commitment to the discipleship of Jesus in the world and in the church.

These lay movements assist lay people to live out their commitment to Christ made in baptism, confirmation and marriage.

They really live the vision that Jesus expressed in Matthew 18, where he speaks of the challenge of forgiveness within the Christian community. Peter asked, “How often are disciples to forgive one another? Seven times? And Jesus responded, “Seventy times seven times.” I sense that forgiveness, that love, to be present in the ecclesial movements. I don’t sense this as strongly in the parishes. Also, the vision of the early communities after the ascension of Jesus, as expressed in Acts 2 and 4, is better realized in the new lay movements than in most parishes.

So, the new lay movements are a commitment to a deeper “koinonia” [communion], a living out of community with one another and with the presbyterate

in a way that assists them in living and experiencing the meaning of the beatitudes in their lives, especially as married men and women.

Secondly, people experience great tension in living out the commitment to the Gospel in their daily life such as in work.

These new lay movements assist them again to live out the poverty of spirit that is the beginning of all discipleship.

Q : Would you describe how parishes should address the challenge of adult faith formation and the new evangelization?

Cardinal Stafford: One of the greatest gifts the Spirit has given to us from the Second Vatican Council is the renewal of the catechumenate.

The catechumenate has various stages. I would say that the most important aspect for parish renewal is post-baptismal catechesis, that is, a catechesis in the mysteries of Christ and of the church for all of the baptized, the part of the RCIA which is called the “mystagogia”.

This step [of the RCIA] attempts to deepen the understanding of the baptized in the mysteries of the faith, especially the sacraments, and to call them into a deeper sense of community within the Catholic Church, especially in the parish, and to call them to a faithful witness to Christ in the marketplace.

To meet that challenge requires that vision of the community that Jesus had in Matthew 18 - that the community life in the parish is lived as a community of love, as a community that is willing to forgive others, even when those others are perceived as sinners.

The parish is to be a community that calls others to a deeper conversion of life from sin to the light of Jesus. That should

becomes again a sign of God’s forgiving love for the sinner. That includes us all - priests, deacons, laity, bishops.

That’s not going to be an easy task.

Q : How useful can the Neocatechumenate be as a tool to bring that renewal in the parishes?

Cardinal Stafford: There are many lay movements within the church that have been called by the Spirit to bring about a renewal of parishes. They may not call it “mystagogia” but, nevertheless, it is a catechesis in the forgiving love of Jesus, a catechesis in which the parish learns to be a community of loving forgiveness.

In my judgment, and I’ve been a bishop now since 1976, the Neocatechumenate is one of the strongest expressions of that ability to create a forgiving community. □ z e n it

HAVE MORE THAN a JUST DINNER AT OU 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS. AFTER ALL, WHAT GOOD IS A FULL STO M ACp/H EN THE SOUlilS EMPTY

On 27 September, the 40th Anniversary of the parisiFdf St. Vincent De Paul, mass will be celebrated at 6pm sharp. Alter which, at 8pm, dinner shall be served at the Orchid Country Club. Reverend Father Michael Sitaram invites all parishioners and their families to participate in this joyous occasion. Call Stephen (9815 7158) or Serene Ng (9789 7297) for dinner reservations.

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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Numbers tell part of the story of how the Catholic Church has changed under Pope John Paul I I

By John Thavis VATICAN CITY -

Since Pope John Paul II was elected in 1978, the face of the church has changed in some aspects dramatically.

Numbers tell part of the story.

At the broadest level, the number of Catholics in the world has jumped more than 40 percent, from 757 million to 1.06 billion at the end of 2001, the last year for which official church statistics have been published.

OCTOBER 16,1978 C ardinal K arol W ojtyla greetin g the cro w d after h is e le c tio n as p op e.

b

Continent Diocesan Religious 5,507 11,419 Africa 66,084 54,187 Amercia Asia 13,863 13,837 Europe 174,175 76,323 2,720 Oceania 2,856

Total Diocesan Religious 17,582 10,406 16,926 120,271 75,766 45,381 18,137 27,700 26,309 250,498 144,215 62,546 5,576 2,576 2,149

World

420,971

405,067

2001

158,486

266,448

138,619

1.51

S E M IN A R IA N S

Number

Continent

1978

2001

Africa Amercia Asia Europe Oceania

5,636 22,011 11,536 23,915 784

20,994 37,166 27,265 25,908 911

World

63,882

112,244

Percentage of variation 1978-2001 272.50 68.85 136.35 8.33 16.20 75.71

Per one million Catholics 1978

2001

-12.54

-3.78

B IS H O P S

Per 100 priests 1978

?

categories under Pope John Paul, but a decrease among members of religious orders.

Overall, the “workforce for the church’s apostolate” has jumped to 2.8 million. The number of bishops in the world increased from 3,600 to more than 4,600 - and more than 70 percent of them have been appointed by Pope John Paul.

After declining for several years, the number of diocesan priests was up to 266,500 at the end of 2001, about 8,000 more than when the pope took office.

The number of religious priests has declined steadily, from about 158,000 to 139,000, and religious brothers are down from about 75,000 to 55,000. The

C A T H O L IC S

Percentage of variation 1978-2001 Total Total Diocesan Religious -8.87 65.36 27,988 219.27 -16.25 0.73 121,147 14.65 31.08 60.45 44,446 89.78 -17.46 206,761 -17.20 -18.05 -20.99 -15..26 4,725 -9.80

262,485

r s

More significant under this pontificate are the geographical areas of growth, which indicate a Third World shift. Catholics in Africa have increased nearly 150 percent and in Asia more than 80 percent. In Europe the increase has been only 5 percent, and the number of Catholics has actually gone down in recent years.

In the United States, the number of Catholics rose from 48 million to 64 million over the same period. That’s an increase of about 33 percent, 4 percentage points higher than the general U.S. population growth.

When it comes to those who work in a ministerial or teaching capacity for the church, there’s been an increase in most

P R IE S T S 1978

e

2001

102.92 154.75 60.04 70.38 182.58 252.06 89.78 92.33 139.60 109.50

33.30 18.30 41.65 9.55 14.06

75.01 30.68 61.34 12.53 19.28

84.44 105.81

15.17

27.71

Continent Africa Amercia Asia Europe Oceania World

Per 100 of the total

In thousands

Continent

1978

2001

1978

2001

54,759 Africa Amercia 366,614 63,183 Asia Europe 266,361 Oceania 5,616

135,660 7.24 528,103 48.46 108,168 8.35 280,589 35.21 8,320 0.74

12.79 49.78 10.20 26.45 0.78

12.37 62.22 2.53 40.53 25.30

16.77 62.71 2.89 39.96 26.77

756,533

1,060,840 100.00

100.00

17.99

17.30

1978

World

2001

R E L IG IO U S S IS T E R S

Number 2001 1978 616 432 1,743 1,416 665 519 1,500 1,253 125 94 3,714 4,649

Per 100 inhabitants

Percentage 1978 2001 1978-2001 Africa 35,473 52,695 48.55 300,489 230,049 -23.44 Amercia 91,585 140,826 53.77 Asia Europe 546,029 357,840 -34.47 Oceania 17,192 10,907 -36.56 World

990,768 792,317 -20.03

Continent

1978

5,248 Africa Amercia 23,747 Asia 6,508 37,104 Europe Oceania 3,195 World

Percentage ofvariation 2001 1978-2001 7,249 38.13 16,734 -29.53 7,972 22.50 21,258 -42.71 1,757 -45.01

Number

75,802 54,970

Source: Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2001

ARCHDIOCESE OF SING A CATHOLIC POPULATION

PARISHES

30

DIOCESAN PRIESTS

67

R oom to grow, w ork to do

151,655

0 The Catholic Church has a lot of room to grow. Take Mongolia, a country sandwiched between Russia and China, and only opened to full-scale evangelization in the 1990s. With no Christian presence since 13th century, the country became

RELIGIOUS PRIESTS 59 RELIGIOUS BROTHERS 49 216 RELIGIOUS SISTERS 13 SEMINARIANS BAPTISMS (7 YEARS AND ABOVE)

2,093

BAPTISMS (BELOW 7 YEARS)

1,141

MARRIAGES • BETWEEN CATHOLICS • CATHOLIC AND NON CATHOLIC KINDERGARTENS [10] PRIMARY SCHOOLS [19]

one of the last modem nations to hear the Gospel. There are only 177 Mongolian-born Catholics in a population of 2.7 million. The call to mission has drawn 25 nuns, 13 religious priests and one religious brother — all Hbreigners. A cathedral seating 1,000 has beenMilt and a bishop installed.

478 632

2429 STUDENTS 31,084 STUDENTS

SECONDARY SCHOOLS [15] 19,541 STUDENTS PRE-UN IVES ITY [2] 1,953 STUDENTS CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

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Statistics from 2003 Catholic Directoryand Ordo of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei

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40.22

R E L IG IO U S B R O T H E R S

Number

Continent

Percentage of variation 1978-2001 147.74 44.05 71.20 5.34 48.15

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sharpest drop has been in the number of women religious, which has gone from 985,000 to 792.000.

While the number of foreign missionary priests has declined in many parts of the world, the number of indigenous catechists has exploded. When Pope John Paul assumed the papacy, the church had 173,000 catechists; today there are more than 2.8 million.

The number of “lay missionaries” — not even a category when the pope was elected — has now reached 139.000, most of them in South America.

Permanent deacons have emerged as a pastoral force during this pope’s term: They numbered 5,500 in 1978 and are more than 28,000 today. Nearly half of them are in the United

States.

Despite what the Vatican considers as hopeful trends in priestly vocations, there are far fewer priests per Catholic today than when the pope came to office. In 1978 the worldwide ratio was 1,800 Catholics for every priest; today it is more than 2,600 Catholics per priest.

The church has bolstered its social and educational roles under Pope John Paul II. For example, there are more than 106,000 church-run health and welfare institutions today, compared to 64,000 in 1978. The figure includes clinics, homes for the elderly and disabled, orphanages and marriage counseling centers.

The number of church-run schools has gone way up, and enrollment has increased by 40 percent or more under Pope John

Catholic Growth

Paul. At the university level, the increase is more dramatic: Enrollment at Catholic higher institutes of learning has risen from about 2 million in 1978 to 4.6 million today.

At the Vatican, the pope has continued the internationalization of the Roman Curia. When he came to office, Italians controlled about half the Vatican’s top 20 departments. Today, Italians hold only four of those top spots.

The pope also has made a direct and strong impact on the makeup of the College of Cardinals, the institution that will elect his successor. He expanded the total number of cardinals to a record 184 in 2001. Of the 109 cardinals under the age of 80 at the end of August and eligible to vote in a conclave, the pope has appointed all but five. □

Since the start of John Paul ll's pontificate in 1978, the number of Catholics worldwide has increased by 42 percent, in line with total population growth.

However, Africa and Asia showed much greater growth than other areas.

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NUMBERS TO PONDER 1978-2001 □

C a th o lics g rew 40% to 1,061 m illio n , about the sa m e as w orld p o p u la tio n grow th.

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T h ere are 17 C a th o lics for e v e ry 100 p erson s on earth.

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P riests fe ll 4% to 4 0 5 ,0 6 7 .

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S em in arian s in crea sed 76% to 1 1 2 ,2 4 4 .

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H istorical data sh o w that i f there are 12.5 sem inarian s for ev e ry 100 priests, then the num ber o f priests w ill rem ain stable.

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P riests w ill therefore in crease as the presen t ratio is 2 7 .7 sem inarian s to 1 0 0 priests.

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C a th o lics per priest rose from 1 ,7 9 7 to 2 ,6 1 9 .

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W orld p op u lation per priest ro se from about 1 0 ,0 0 0 to 1 5 ,0 0 0 .

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R e lig io u s sisters fe ll 20% to 7 9 2 ,3 1 7 .

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R e lig io u s brothers fe ll 27% to 5 4 ,9 7 0 .

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P erm an en t d ea co n s ro se 425% to 2 9 ,2 0 4 .

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L ay ca te c h ists ro se from 1 7 3 ,0 0 0 to 2 .8 m illio n .

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L ay m issio n a rie s rose from in sig n ific a n t to 1 3 9 ,0 0 0 .

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SEPTEM B ER 3, 2003

Pope John Paul II spoke to an audience of 9,000 about the difficulties and serenity that accompanies old age. As age becomes heavier to deal with, “the spirit of one who prays will remain lively, happy I and effective,” he said.

The pope is 83 and will celebrate 25 years papacy in October. The numbers in this rep tell only part of the story of how the church has changed during his momentous 25For a more comprehensive Catholic News’ 8-page St October 12 and 19 issue?* h i

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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Fresh-air blessings for troubled times

By Father Eugene Hemrick

IT MAY help, in coping with the anxieties we all face these days, to draw upon the wisdom of the ancient Greeks. They believed that a sound body creates a sound mind. Once that is achieved, one can handle almost anything.

For me, a sound body translates into rising early in the morning and taking a leisurely

jog. Its benefits are incalculable.

Jogging is a breath of fresh air for me in more ways than one — first of all because there is no time in the day when the air is fresher than in the early morning. ( I understand that for many people, evening jogs are preferable and just as enjoyable because they have problems waking up in the mornings or because of work or school.)

Walk for peace - The Inter-Religious Organisation is organising a Walk for Peace and Harmony on Sunday September 21, 2003 at 7.15 a.m. at the East Coast Park. It is free and open to all. The starting point will be at MacDonald’s. Last year, the UN declared September 21 as Day for World Peace.The aim of this walk is to gather people of goodwill in Singapore who have committed themselves to the Declaration on Religious Harmony to express it in a more visible way by ‘walking our talk’. For more information contact: Sr. Theresa Seow - 97309322 SINGAPORE

This freshness is wonderful medicine. It helps to clear the mind and release tensions. Fresh air is like a therapeutic shock treatment; it jolts the mind, freeing us from confining, stifling thoughts and catapulting us into the contemplation of new horizons. Freshness connotes newness, and when we experience newness we tend to leave old thoughts and the worries that accompany them behind us.

When jogging, I have noticed that birds sing at their best early in the morning. Many beautiful varieties of music have been composed to soothe us, but none is more soothing and energizing than the music of nature herself.

Her music is far more comforting than the delights of an early warm shower and much more energizing than the caffeine boost our coffee gives us.

Jogging immerses a person in nature’s majestic colors. It is as if nature is calling out to me, telling me that as ugly as events in the world can be, it is time to refocus on her beauty. In doing so, nature enables me to carry on in difficult times.

My primary aim in jogging is to get into a rhythm with myself.

So often when I am upset my body tightens up, and I get out of sorts with myself. I find that a slow jog is like a massage that gently releases tightened muscles and restores balance and harmony to my body. When this happens, my thoughts are much more energetic, positive and hopeful.

Ah yes, the Greeks were so right in saying “sound body, sound mind.” This ancient wisdom is needed now as the tensions of our post-modern world threaten our composure and health. □ c n s

Bless the moms who stay at home For all the wear and tear on the family, a second income just might not be worth it.

Living a bit more simply may mean living a lot more sanely.

By Bill and Monica Dodds

SINCE the boom went bust, thousands of jobs have been eliminated and the asssesment for Singapore appears to be further erosion in the near term. Along the way, some families have discovered a second income wasn’t necessarily what it appeared to be.

In lush or lean times, stay-athome advocates continue to remind parents that combined incomes may bump the family into a higher tax bracket; that the cost of commuting and a car can be considerable. So, too, with work clothes - both purchasing and cleaning them.

And more money may go toward meals out - from lunches at work to take-out for the family dinner at the end of a busy day.

And, of course, there’s the cost of child care.

For all the wear and tear on the family, a second income just might not be worth it. Living a bit more simply may mean living

a lot more sanely.

Obviously, this isn’t meant to point a finger at families that need a combined income to survive. Or at single parents who have no choice. But, promoters say, some two-parent households may find it worthwhile to consider a new arrangement.

One veteran stay-at-home mom - now a great-grandmother - still bristles when anyone comments on “moms who don’t work.”

She’s quick to point out there is no such thing as a “nonworking mother.” Rather, some are also “employed outside the home.”

Pope John Paul II agrees. He once said; “Above all it is necessary to respect the right and duty of woman as mother to carry out her specific tasks in the family without being forced by need to take on an additional job.”

But that doesn’t mean women - moms - should be barred from the workplace. The pope went on to say: “The safeguarding of this basic good, however, cannot be an alibi with regard to the principle of equal opportunity for men and women also in work outside the family. Flexible and balanced solutions should be found which can harmonize the different needs.” Dews

Grow a plant and feel good

By Father Eugene Hemrick

AS I WAS leaving the Botanical Garden in Washington, I did a double take upon spotting a photo of Pope John Paul II incensing an altar. The caption under the photo read: “Frankincense plays an important role in religious observance.”

When I read the explanation adjacent to the pope’s picture, I learned that neither he nor the incense was the focus here.

Rather, plants, which among other things are sources of incense, were being lauded.

It said: “Plants are sources of machine oil, fuel oils, cosmetic bases, resins,gums, rubber, medicine, inks, dyes and insecticides. They give us flowers, fine fabrics, champagne, jewelry, toys and musical

instruments. They bless us with shade and hold up swings, treehouses and hammocks. They inspire artwork and gardens, scent our ceremonies and adom our bodies.”

It added: “For so many reasons, it is imperative we take extraordinary steps to preserve plants, the soil, air and water they need to grow.”

No doubt the pope would have applauded this respect for plants because of his love and concern for ecology. He may have added, “Blessed are they who walk this talk.”

How do we walk this talk?

If you don’t have any plants in your home, buy one or two and place them in a prominent place.

Don’t just set them down and forget them. Study them regularly. Note their unique

configurations and the fascinating patterns their leaves exhibit.

If the plants are only green in color, take note of how the color green differs from one plant to the other; ask yourself what shade of green you like most and why. I myself love light, vapor­ like green that has a certain transparency.

If your plants are filled with colorful flowers, sit back and marvel at how Mother Nature has arranged the colors to make them attractive. The more I study it, the more intriguing this combination of colors and patterns becomes, and the more they convince me that no human could create such beauty.

If you want to appreciate plant life in its fullness, buy seeds and grow the plants yourself.

Recently I bought some

Scripture repeatedly reminds us that we are to carry on the works of God on earth. One of those important works is stewardship of the earth’s plant life. I often wonder if the joy that arrives for us with new plant life really comes from a sense of co-partnering with God in his creation. □ c n s

N o m a tte r w h e r e w e liv e , p la n ts ca n b e c o m e an

flower seeds. As the budding flowers’ tiny leaves began to show and take on life, I felt a little extra spark of life touch me. It was one of those added joys that lend zest to the day.

When they finally blossomed in all their beauty, I felt awestruck and exhilarated.

i n t e g r a l p a r t o f o u r liv e s .

W h e n th e y d o , w e h a v e ta k e n a f i r s t s t e p t o w a r d r e s p e c tin g a n d c a r in g f o r th e e a r t h w ith a l l its G o d -g iv e n g o o d n e s s a n d b e a u ty .

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T H E PASSIO N M e l G ib s o n ’s P A S S IO N Is a v iv id d e p ic tio n o f th e la s t 12 h o u r s o f J e s u s C h r is t’s life. W ill it b e to o c o n tro v e rs ia l to sh o w in th e a te rs ?

Here is the Catholic Bestsellers List for September 2003, according to the Catholic Book Publishers Association.

Hardcover 1. “With Burning Hearts” Gift edition. Henri J.M. Nouwen (Orbis) 2. “I Once Was Blind.” Poirier & Kise (Thomas MoreS unCreek) 3. “Lord, Have Mercy.” Scott Hahn (Doubleday) 4. “Heroic Leadership.” Chris Lowney (Loyola) 5. “The Lamb’s Supper.” Scott Hahn (Doubleday) 6. “The Holy Longing.” Ronald Rolheiser (Doubleday) 7. “Riding the Dragon.” Robert Wicks (Ave Maria/Sorin) 8. “Flashlight Walking.” Cathy Peterson (Thomas MoreSunCreek) 9. “Go In Peace.” John Paul II (Loyola) 10. “Anti-Catholicism in America.”

Mark S. Massa (Crossroad)

By Mark Pattison

National Jewish leaders who attended a private screening of “The Passion” in Houston Aug. 8 voiced concerns about the content of the movie and its impact on Jews.

“We are deeply concerned that the film, if released in its present form, will fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate,” said Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, in an Aug. 11 statement from league headquarters in New York.

Rabbi A. James Rudin of the American Jewish Committee, who also saw the “Passion” screening in Houston, told Catholic News Service Aug. 12 that he, too, has concerns about the movie, and hoped to be able to address them privately with its director, actor Mel Gibson.

Paul Lauer, Gibson’s spokesman, said Gibson has edited the film to show Jewish characters who are more sympathetic to Jesus, and clearly labeled Simon of Cyrene as a Jew in the film. Lauer’s comments were reported by Religion News Service.

Anti-Defamation League spokesman Todd Gutnick told CNS Aug. 18 that the version seen by Rabbi Eugene Korn, the group’s director of interfaith affairs, differed from the script the group’s representatives had seen earlier this year. Gutnick could not say whether the changes described by Lauer would satisfy the league. “Well, we would have to see it to make that determination,” he said.

In a statement released after he viewed the film on behalf of the league, Rabbi Korn said, “Sadly, the film contains many of the dangerous teachings that Christians and Jews have worked for so many years to counter.”

Those concerns all revolve around the matter of deicide, or Jewish complicity in Jesus’ death.

Catholic Bestsellers

WASHINGTON -

A scene from the controversial film which for extra realism has all dialogue in Aramaic and Latin.

There are no sub-titles.

The Anti-Defamation League listed five issues it found objectionable in the movie: — The film portrayed Jewish authorities and the Jewish “mob” as forcing the decision to torture and execute Jesus and thus assuming responsibility for the crucifixion.

— It further portrayed Jews as bloodthirsty, sadistic and moneyhungry enemies of God lacking in compassion and humanity, a stereotype the league said has lingered since medieval times.

— The movie “relies on historical errors,” including its depiction of the Jewish high priest controlling Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

— It portrays Jews who adhere to their faith as enemies of God and “the locus of evil,” the Anti-Defamation League said.

— “The Passion” distorts New Testament interpretations by citing passages selectively to oversimplify history and be hostile to Jews and Judaism. The Anti-Defamation League said the film uses a book called “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ” by Sister Catherine Emmerich, a 19th-century German nun up for sainthood.

The league claims the nun was anti-Semitic.

“Many theologically informed Catholics and Protestants have expressed the same concerns regarding anti-Semitism, and that

this film may undermine Christian-Jewish dialogue and could turn back the clock on decades of positive progress in interfaith relations,” Rabbi Korn said.

“We hope that Mr. Gibson and Icon Productions will consider modifying ‘The Passion’ so that the film will be one that is historically accurate, theologically sound and free of any anti-Semitic message,” | Foxman said.

The day after the AntiDefamation League’s statement, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights blasted what it called the group’s “politicized attack” on the movie. The Catholic organization also said I the Jewish group “has yet to apologize” for its role in | assembling Catholic and Jewish | scholars to review an unauthorized advance copy of the I script - an action for which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ general counsel apologized in June.

“The movie is not antiSemitic and does not need to be changed,” said Catholic League president William Donohue.

“Revisionist history is dishonest history and must be resisted.”

Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago viewed a rough cut of “The Passion” at an invitationonly screening in July in Chicago.

While he withheld judgment on the movie because it was not yet complete, he told the Chicago Sun-Times that “it’s a very graphic presentation of the passion of Christ in the Gospels.”

He added, “For people who think that the Passion narratives are themselves anti-Semitic, well then, it’s a presentation of those narratives. For those of us who don’t believe they’re antiSemitic, that Christ died for our sins, all of us, and so therefore we all caused his death, it’s a way to portray, very graphically, the brutality of that execution in a Roman style.”

Cardinal George said, “I’ve read the Passion narratives of the Lord and contemplated them and prayed over them many, many times, and I’ve never thought of the crucifixion with the images that I received while watching this. I’ll never read the words the same way again.” □

Paperback 1. “Catechism of the Catholic Church.” (Doubleday and Our Sunday Visitor) 2. “RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict.” (Liturgical Press) 3. “Return of the Prodigal Son.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Crossroad) 4. “Francis of Assisi.” Adrian House (HiddenSpring) 5. “Good News About Sex & Marriage.” Christopher West (Servant) 6. “101 Inspirational Stories of the Rosary.” Patricia Proctor (Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare/Kaufer) 7. “Rosary Novenas to Our Lady.” Charles V. Lacey (ACTA) 8. “In the Name of Jesus.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Crossroad) 9. “We Believe ...” Oscar Lukefahr (Liguori) 10. “Life of the Beloved.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Crossroad)

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Latest example of Hollywood’s mindless cinematic junk

JUMBLED pastiche of a buddy-cop action movie in which two moonlighting Los Angeles detectives (Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett) juggle solving a quadruple murder in the hip-hop world while pursuing real estate deals and acting opportunities. Co-writerdirector Ron Shelton glosses over character development and coherent story line in a mad rush to highlight lame comic dialogue, drawn-out chases and extended shoot-’em-ups. Intermittent violence, implied casual affairs, a few racial epithets, frequent profanity and an instance of rough language. The US Catholic Conference of Bishops’Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. □ c n s

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Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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Choir members enjoying a photo session

Sharing the gift of music

By Charles Lim SINGAPORE - It is no surprise that Viachristus Choir, In-Tune choir and StereoRaw share a common passion for music. On their own, they have entertained many with beautiful sounds.

Now, these 30 plus youths have combined their musical talent to produce a concert in aid of the IJ Centres in Singapore.

The Viachristus Choir is from IHM, the In-Tune Choir is

from the NIE Choir alumni, and StereoRaw is a band formed by four former junior college mates.

Every week, for three months now, they have gathered to practise in a classroom in the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“Jesus taught us to share our gifts,’’Andre Wai, 22, a member of the group, said. They hope that by sharing these gifts, they can help the less fortunate in Singapore by increasing

awareness of their plight.

“Little support is given to these people. They are the ones who really need our help,” remarked Ajie Permana, 24, when he realised the plight of the various beneficiaries of the IJ Centres.

When the Sisters of the Infant Jesus came to Singapore to provide education for girls in 1854, they also cared for poor and handicapped girls . Many unwanted babies were left at the convent doorsteps.

Today, the IJ Sisters are running many schools and remain called to the service of the poor, especially children. They run a children’s centre in Clementi, the Galilee Centre in Ang Mo Kio and a home for women who were cared for by the sisters since early childhood.

The plight of these children, women and elderly has caused these talented youths to organise a concert titled “Songs of Innocence and Experience” at St Joseph’s Institution Performing Arts Centre December 13. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the IJ Centres in Singapore.

Tickets are on sale now at parishes. For more information, visit http://soiae.cjb.net, or email soiae@catholic.org. □

Finding 1 onIntern

By Margaret Plevak MILWAUKEE -Thanks to the Internet, Kathy and Brian Harris found each other, got married and (this has nothing to do with the Internet) went on to spend their honeymoon in Rome (right) where they attended a papal audience and received a nuptial blessing from the pope.

With Kathy working in a Milwaukee law firm and Brian studying for his doctorate in nuclear chemistry at the University of Idaho, the two would probably never have met had it not been for Ave Maria Singles, an Internet matchmaking service for Catholics, owned by TiberRiver.com, a Catholic Internet ministry.

According to its Web site, Ave Maria Singles has more than 7,000 members, and has produced 174 marriages and 32 engagements since it began five years ago.

Members pay a one-time fee of US$99, allowing them to review profiles of other single Catholics, and connect with them via e-mail.

Web sites designed to bring

people together aren’t new, but Anthony Buono, executive director of TiberRiver.com and Ave Maria Singles’ founder, sees his service as a resource for single Catholics.

Before she and Brian met two years ago, Kathy said, both of them, then 35, had nearly resigned themselves to being single.

For Brian, a California native who moved to Idaho when he was 11, finding a single Catholic woman was even harder in an area where much of the population is Mormon.

Signing up for the Ave Maria Singles service changed all that. □

CNS

DIVINE MERCY RALLY “Come and Experience The Mercy of God” by

Speakers: Sr. Caterina and Sr. Teresa Sisters from the Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy (St. Faustina’s Convent) Venue Address

: Church of St Anthony : 25 Woodlands Avenue 1, Woodlands New Town, Singapore 739064

Saturday, 20 September 2003, LOO pm to 5.30 pm Sunday, 21 September 2003, 12.30 pm to 5.30 pm (including Mass) All are welcome Bring your friends to celebrate God’s Mercy (Veneration o f St Faustina’s relic)

Parish Mission: Time

Church

Theme

Friday

19 Sept 7.30 pm St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre

Doing the will of God (Mass by Archbishop Emeritus)

Monday

22 Sept 7.30 pm Church of the Holy Spirit

Signs of our times - prepare for His 2nd coming

Tuesday

8.00 pm Church of Christ the King

Sacrifice and prayers - Divine Mercy in the life of the Church

Wednesday

8.00 pm Church of the Blessed Sacrament

Wisdom & training in the service of God

Thursday

7.30 pm Church of St Ignatius

Trust and Mercy

Friday

7.30 pm Church of St Francis of Assisi

Spiritual warfare

Saturday

27 Sept 2.00 pm Church of Ss Peter and Paul

Saturday

27 Sept 8.00 pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Mission of the lay faithful in the world

Sunday

28 Sept 2.30 pm Church of the Holy Cross

The Love of God is the flower, Mercy the fruit (Mandarin) Apostleship of Divine Mercy

Organised by the Archdiocesan Divine Mercy Core-Team

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C H ILD REN’S STORY: W hen Jesus was in Jerusalem, a crowd o f people gathered around to hear him teach.

Som e scribes and Pharisees w ho were there asked Jesus w hy som e o f the things his disci­ ples did were against the religious law s. Jesus

gave them a harsh answer.

“You disregard G od’s com m and­ ment but cling to human tradition.

You nullify the word o f God in favour o f your tradition that you have handed on.

And you do many such things.”

Jesus walked to a high spot o f ground so that everyone present could see and hear him. Then he said, “Hear m e, all o f you, and understand.

Nothing that enters one from the outside can defile that person; but the things that com e out from within are what defile.”

Jesus said nothing more after that, but he walked away through the crowd, follow ed by his disciples. He stopped when he cam e to the

PUZZLE:

district o f Tyre, where a wom an asked him to rid her daughter o f an evil spirit. Because o f her faith, Jesus healed the w om an’s daughter.

But then he left Tyre and travelled through Sidon until he reached the Sea o f G alilee.

Another crowd o f people had gathered to hear Jesus and to see him perform miracles.

Jesus wanted only to be alone with his disci­ ples, but he knew the people w ho cam e to him had so many needs. H is com passion com pelled him to help them.

One person w ho cam e to Jesus was a deaf man with a severe speech impediment. The m an’s friends asked that Jesus lay his hands on him. Their faith told them that w ould be enough to heal their friend. Jesus brought the man to a place they would not be seen or heard by the crowd o f people.

Jesus put his fingers in the m an’s ears. Then he touched the m an’s tongue and spit on the ground. Jesus looked up into heaven and said to the man, “B e opened!” Imm ediately the man could hear, and he could speak as w ell as any o f his friends.

Upon returning with the healed man, who w as rejoicing because he was healed, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what had happened.

But the man and his friends were just too excited and grateful. They told everyone.

“He has done all things w ell,” they said.

“He m akes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

R E A D M ORE A B O U T IT: Mark 7 1. W hy did so many people follow

H E A R T

Fill in the blanks to answer the questions. You’ll see that, taken in order, the first letters of the correct answers combine to form the word “Christian:”

is the quality that Jesus most often of in the Gospel? Find out by every other letter in the message

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Hie word of God THE LAST WORD

The triumph of grace over sin THE GOSPELS point out that, before his conversion, Zacchaeus was a short man, someone lacking in height, but that, after his conversion, the tall man gave back what the small man had stolen. Meeting Jesus, it seems, made Zacchaeus grow bigger in stature.

That’s what goodness does to us, it makes us grow taller. For example, a friend of mine shares this story: he has a neighbour who frequently drops round to drink coffee and chat. The neighbour is a good man from a wonderful family and has been blessed with lots of love and good example in his life. But, like the rest of us, he has his weaknesses; in his case, gossip and occasional pettiness. One day, as he was sitting with my friend he made a very racist remark. My friend, instead of accusing him of being a racist or shaming him with the inappropriateness of his remark, called him instead to his own essential goodness: “That comment surprises me,” he said, “coming from you.

Fve always considered you and your family big-hearted people, with class, never petty. Fve always envied your family for its goodness and understanding. That remark simply doesn’t sound like you!”

The man’s reaction was instant, positive. Immediately he apologised: “You’re right,” he said, “I don’t know why I sometimes say stupid things like that.” Like Zacchaeus, the taller man gave back what the smaller man had taken.

It’s interesting to note that the word “Gospel” means “good news”, not “good advice”. The gospels are not so much a spiritual and moral theology book which tell us what we should be doing, but more an account of what God has already done for us, is still doing for us, and the wonderful dignity that this bestows on us. Of course, the idea is that since we are gifted in this way our actions should reflect that dignity rather than what’s less lofty and more petty inside us.

Morality is not a command, it’s an invitation; not a threat, but a reminder of who we truly are. We become taller and less petty when we remember

By Fr Ronald Rolheiser what kind of family we ultimately come from.

In essence, we all have two souls, two hearts, and two minds.

Inside of each of us there’s a soul, heart, and mind that’s petty, that’s been hurt, that wants vengeance, that wants to protect itself, that’s frightened of what’s different, that’s prone to gossip, that’s racist, that perennially feels cheated. Seen in a certain light, all of us are as small in stature as the pre-converted Zacchaeus. But there’s also a tall, bighearted person inside each of us, someone who wants to warmly embrace the whole world, beyond personal hurt, selfishness, race, creed, and politics.

We are always both, grand and petty. The world isn’t divided up between big hearted and small-minded people. Rather our days are divided up between those moments when we are big-hearted, generous, warm, hospitable, unafraid, wanting to embrace everyone and those moments when we are petty, selfish, over-aware of the unfairness of life, frightened, and seeking only to protect ourselves and our own safety and interests. We are both tall and short at the same time, and either of these can manifest itself from minute to minute.

But, as we all know, we are most truly ourselves when what’s tall in us takes over and gives back to the world what the short, petty person wrongly takes. John of the Cross made this insight the centre­ piece of his theology of healing. For him, this is the way we heal: we heal not by confronting all of our wounds and selfishness head-on, which would overwhelm us and drown us in discouragement, but by growing to what he calls “our deepest centre”. For him, this centre is not first of all some deep place of solitude inside the soul, but rather the furthest place of growth that we can attain, the optimum of our potential. To grow to what our deepest DNA has destined us for is what makes us whole, makes us tall humanly, spiritually, and morally.

Thus, if John of the Cross were your spiritual director and you went to him with some moral flaw or character deficiency, his first counsel would be: what are you good at? What have you been blessed with? Where, in your life and work, does God’s goodness and beauty most shine through? If you can grow more and more towards that goodness, it will fan into an ever larger flame which eventually will become a fire that cauterises your faults. When you walk tall there will be less and less room for what’s small and petty to manifest itself.

But to walk tall means to walk within our God-given dignity.

Nothing else, ultimately, gives us as large an identity. That’s useful also to remember when we challenge each other: Gospel-challenge doesn’t shame ‘us with our pettiness, it invites us to what’s already best inside us. □ t h e c a t h o l ic h e r a l d

Sunday, September 14 □ Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-2,34-38; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17

The triumph of the Cross flood, it can wash all anger, fear, and despair from A VOLCANIC eruption rips open a mountain. A our hearts and minds. Like an avalanche, it can powerful avalanche rushes down a slope and levels shower down on us the love of God in a way that everything in its path. A raging flood runs through destroys any obstacle to his presence. This cross is a ravine at a furious pace. In each of these scenes our way of victory because it points to a new day, we see manifestations of incredible power. We see a new hope, a new joy. how nothing can stand in their way, how anything How about you? Have you seen a sin pattern that comes into contact with these forces is exploded as you’ve turned to the Lord for help? overrun. Today the church celebrates the triumph Have you seen a wounded relationship that seems of the cross. As volcanoes, avalanches, and raging beyond saving turn around floods are three of the m o s t _______________ over time? Then today is powerful natural forces we Tvhe’cross; of Jesusr your day to rejoice along know, so the cross of Jesus is with all the angels and the most powerful spiritual •Jisjhe moM powerful saints. Today is your day to force in the entire universe. ; I Spiritual foi'ce in be awed by the impact the Think about the power cross has had and will of the cross. Has any other tffe entire universe continue to have-on your single act in history won » s * life and the lives of those forgiveness for every sin you love. The cross of that has ever been Christ - radiant and committed? Has any other triumphant - can overcome event completely defeated every spiritual, physical, or the devil and all his minions emotional obstacle to in their attempt to control God’s love. □ our lives and move us away from God? Has any other “Jesus, I marvel at the event been powerful enough power o f your cross. 1 to rip the veil that separated believe that your death and heaven from earth and resurrection have won my reveal a new and living way complete redemption. With to the Father? joy, I celebrate the triumph Like dynamite, the cross o f your cross—even over of Jesus has the power to those situations where I blast away any deeply have yet to taste your ingrained pattern of sin in victory.” our lives. Like a mighty

Sunday, September 21Q Wisdom 2:12,17-20; Psalm 54:3-8; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

B e m o r e c h ild lik e

“Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

SOMETIMES we are just plain too grown-up.

Certainly we all need to mature in the world, yet at the same time Jesus exhorts us to become more childlike. In today’s reading, for instance, Jesus speaks of the blessings of receiving a child in his name. In other parts of Scripture he speaks of becoming like little children. Evidently, not only do children learn to be good Christians by our example, but we too can learn a lot by watching little children.

At the beginning of this passage, the apostles are discussing among themselves who among them was the greatest. Rather than acting childlike

and innocent, they were self-seeking and childish, or playing a spiritual version of “king of the hill.”

The root of the apostles’ actions was pride, and the cure - as always - was humility. And Jesus showed the way to that humility by stating: “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” The goal of the Christian life is not to seek the superior place among the prestigious, but to treasure the lowest place among the poor, the lonely, and the sick. It’s not a call to greatness, but to goodness, a summons to wash the feet of others in our concern and compassion for them.

In biblical Greek, the word for servant is diakonos, a word that is at the root of our English word deacon. In the New Testament, this word has different layers of meaning: from waiting at table to preaching the gospel (Acts 6:2-4). Whatever the situation, Jesus often spoke of serving other people and linked this service to the love of God. He taught that whenever we serve other people, we are really serving him (Matthew 25:40). Over and over again, Jesus stressed service over authority to the degree that in his eyes, anyone who had any authority in the church had to be a servant, not a ruler (Luke 22:25-27).

God calls all of us to a life of service that seeks only the growth of his kingdom. And the best part of this calling is that at every moment, he is with us, serving us through countless acts of love, encouragement, and mercy. □ “Jesus, make my heart like yours. Mold it so that I might find joy in serving others, just as you take great jo y in caring for me.”

CatholicNews □

17

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003

vypomts CatholicNews Fortnightly newspaper o f the Catholic Archdiocese o f Singapore M anag ing E d ito r

Fr Johnson Fernandez S ta ff correspondent

Ms. Mel Diamse-Lee C onsultant

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What revelation ?

The piece”What a revelation” on page 16 (CN Aug 31 and Sep 7) is inaccurate. Why the “revelation” is wrong can be found at http://www.snopes.com/ religion/center.htm Michael Ng, Singapore 268137

Misuse of church RECENTLY, I was watching a popular Chinese series on MediaCorp Channel 8 called ‘Holland V’. In a scene, a character from the series was protrayed as being married in a Catholic church. There was also an actor dressed in the vestments of a priest presiding over the ceremony. This is shocking as the characters in the show are protrayed as non-believers.

This is not the first time I have seen on TV where the Catholic church was used in a scene from a TV series where the characters were never protrayed as being Catholic or non Catholic Christians. Are our churches aware of the full portrayal of our church in the story line? They should be more careful or decline to have filming done in our churches.

This is giving our brothers and sisters from other faiths the wrong impressions.

Celestine Heng

Globalization and the culture of life FOR CATHOLIC theorists and other socially concerned persons, for whom what (morally) ought to be done (rather than merely what has been done or is being done) is the most important question, it is never economic efficiency which is to be the last word.

Hence whether at the level of individual acts or at the level of drafting public policies, one should never ever violate the ethical norm to promote human life and to absolutely forbid acts that directly kill the human person, no matter how temptingly attractive might be the consequences that will follow from such immoralities. A society that is attentive and guided by this norm will embrace what John Paul II calls the culture of life. And only in this kind of a climate of a culture of life can there be true friendship, which is concerned with promoting the life of persons irrespective of their use as means to anything else.

From this follows also the option to support in solidarity the causes of the poor and their well­

being and life, who in all natural developed and affluent parts of the world) not merely with our estimates will probably never be own lives and well being, but also useful to us in any significant way. As the world shrinks with rectifying economic and through globalization, the poor social structures that make who were formally impossibly inaccessible the medication, distant have now sanitation, clean come within reach; water and other goods so necessary their sufferings and privations also for a basic standard become more easily of health amongst noticeable. We the other poor, who cannot be blind to are now our them. As we stretch neighbours through out in authentic globalization. Here friendship to promote we recall the without arbitrary Lord’s command to preference the good love our neighbour of life - indeed the as ourselves. common good of life By Jude Chua Soo Meng In contrast, participate-able in all every single persons - the needs of the poor in violation of this norm absolutely this global village cannot be never to kill a human person, silenced and muffled in the whether in the destruction of interest of unrestricted self­ young embryonic stem cells for preference, at once unreasonable purposes of research or in those and contrary to the inclusivity of aged and terminally ill near the the natural law. In this way a term of their physical existence culture of life that results from (as is the case of euthanasia, so the prescriptions of the natural hypocritically called mercy law will ask that we concern killing) is another step in the long march towards a civilization of ourselves (especially those in the

death reminiscent of the Jewish holocausts and other killings of the “unproductive” in Nazi Germany. To resist this culture of death with vehemence must be the only logical responsibility of any sane human person. □ Jude Chua Soo Meng is president’s graduate fellow at NUS and visiting graduate fellow at the Center fo r Philosophy of Religion at the University o f Notre Dame, IN. A Novak Laureate, his work has appeared in American Journal of Jurisprudence, The Modern Schoolman and Journal of Markets and Morality.

This opinion is an excerpt from his report on The International Colloquium on “Globalization and the Culture of Life: Challenges and Directions (Care o f the Frail Elderly and Dying)”, sponsored by the Canadian Association o f the Order o f Malta and the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute) was held from July 29 to August 3 at the University o f Toronto in Canada this year.

Priests must give more time to confession IT IS WITH great interest that I read the letter “Right disposition for Communion” by Abel Goh (CN Aug.31 & Sep7). I must say that I fully endorse his views and appreciate his attempts to ferret out the relevant quotes pertaining to this article as well as illustrating examples of saints who have “recourse with great care to the cleansing of confession.”

With regard to the penultimate

paragraph of his article, I do share his sentiment of “seeing not many people going for confession except at the Novena Church”. Perhaps we should delve into the reasons for such a scenario. In most parish churches, we seldom find a priest in the confessional before Masses, especially during weekdays, even though it is stated in the church bulletin that confessions will be heard fifteen minutes before Mass.

Another important point is the brief period of time allocated to the hearing of confessions. Are fifteen minutes before Mass sufficient for a priest to attend to the spiritual needs of a queue of say, five or six penitents, including giving advice, explanation and exhortation? More often than not, we see the priest emerging from the confessional after fifteen minutes and apologising to the

great mysteries. One is God’s knowledge of all things, along with his unconditional and infinite love, his faithful, unfailing tenderness in our regard. The other is the mystery of free will, which means there is some way we work together with God in shaping our individual lives and destinies.

Our personal relationship with God includes sharing with him our joys and sorrows, our hopes and disappointments, our wonders and regrets, all of which is nothing else than prayer.

This is why Jesus urges us to pray perseveringly and why he himself prayed so frequently. He went so far as to encourage us to push God, harass God if you will, about our petitions (see Luke 18). What our heavenly

Father plans and what he does apparently depends, at least to some significant degree, on what we show is important to us in our prayers.

Many elements essential to our relationship with God are involved in prayer, not least of which is a genuine desire for the things God wants to give us, desires which must be in our hearts if we are to be able to receive his gifts.

This is not to say that we ought always to receive what we want, when we want, if only we pray hard enough. But prayer, and a prayerful attitude before God, affects us so deeply that we are not the same persons we would be if we did not pray — and that means prayer of petition and thanksgiving as well as praise.

remaining penitents that he cannot hear their confessions as Mass is about to begin.

In line with the hope of your writer that priests “set aside time to redeem souls for the Lord”, I firmly believe that the litmus test for priests is to spend more of their time in the confessionals. □ Theresa Yip Singapore 428963

W h y p ra y ?

Q. In a recent Bible study class we were discussing why we pray, since God already has a plan for everyone and everything. He knows what will happen, and we’re not going to change his mind.

Our conclusion was that prayer should be only to praise God, not to pray for things. Do you agree?

Father John Dietzen answers: A. Not entirely. First of all, it isn’t so much a matter of changing God’s mind, but rather of recognizing that his care for us includes his awareness of our prayers, our desires and our longings.

We’re dealing here with two

Because of his love, God always wants what is best for us.

But did it ever occur to you that what is best may be different if we are praying desperately for something than if we are not?

We are all different in our relationships with God and the world. Our humility before God, our trust in him, our conviction that something will be good for us and those we love, all this goes into determining what is really best for us in God’s eyes here and now.

Thus, if we pray, what is best for us will be different, too, in God’s view as well as our own.

We don’t know how it all works. But the Gospels and long Christian tradition tell us we’re missing something essential if prayer of all kinds is not a sustaining part of our lives. □ c n s

18

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21,2 0 0 3 □ C atholicNews

L u L o v ir i^ M e ir & ' YOUTH CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESAN YOUTH CENTRE’S STUDY ROOM Venue: 2 Lorong L o w K oon (form er N ativ ity Church Centre) Hours: 9am to 6 pm (M o n -F ri). Capacity: 20 persons.

Proper table & chair fo r each student, drinks on the house at our D I Y comer, cosy com er fo r relaxation in between studies & times o f prayer. Enquiries: Ivan or A m ilia (6285-257 1).

Exams Mass Venue: Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre, (2 Lorong L o w K oon) Date: Sept 20. 7.3 0 - 9.30 pm

TAIZE MEDITATION BASED ON SCRIPTURES Venue: St M a ry ’s o f the Angels Church Date: Oct 18, 8-9 pm

NEW RCIA C H U R C H O F ST F R A N C IS X A V IE R Date: Wednesday Sept 17 at 7.45 pm.

Registration form s are available at the Reception Office. Enquiries: M r Anthony G oh (6284-37IB, 9788-6401) or Mrs M onica Kwok (6288-9712 or 9682-7808).

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 31 Siglap H ill. Venue: Verbist H a ll, 4th F ir. Date: Sunday, Sept 21 at 7.3 0 pm. For those who are interested in the Catholic faith.

Registration forms are available at the church secretariat. Enquiries: Joanna W ong (6 339-886 8) or A m anda W oon (6 374-830 2).

SINGAPORE PASTORAL INSTITUTE CHRISTIANS IN DIALOGUE WITH OTHER RELIGIONS Understanding the Declaration on Religious Harmony. A talk on its background and development by Fr John Paul Tan, O F M . Date: W ed, Oct 1. Contribution by love offering

INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 5 sessions w ith Sr Theresa Seow, FdC C • The uniqueness o f Christ though the eyes o f a Christian • Proclaiming Jesus as God without compromising the faith • Distinguishing between religious experience and religions • W h at are the C hurch’s guidelines for the Christian in dialogue?

• W hat do we understand by “dialogue is the new w ay o f being Church”?

Contribution : $20.

Download from at www.catholic.org.sg/ S P I/ and indicate i f you are coming for the talk, course or both. Registration forms are available in your parish office.

OTHERS

CELEBRATING TEACHERS’ Date: Saturday Sept 13, 5 to 7.3 0 pm.

Venue: M arym ount Chapel, 20 M arym ount R d, Sunset Mass celebrated

by F r John Chua. Organised by Catholic Teachers’ M ovem ent.

Enquiries: Stella em ail: stellafemandez@ m oe.edu.sg.

I a m th e r e su r r e c tio n a n d th e life .

H e w h o b e lie v e s in m e s h a ll n e v e r d ie .

Fourth Anniversary

Eighth Anniversary

In loving memory of

In loving memory of

H IL D A KATHLEEN A NDREE

A U STIN W O O D R EW KESSLER

Called home peacefully to be with the Lord on Sept 16,1999 Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon her.

May her soul rest in peace.

Amen.

Remembered by loved ones.

: Sept 12,1995 The memory of you, dear, still casts gentle glow It braces our days and lights our paths wherever we may go.

Deeply missed by your loving wife Elizabeth (Girlie), children and grandchildren.

First Anniversary In lo v in g m em o ry o f

CHIJ ST THERESA’S CONVENT A ll Theresians, teachers and w ellwishers are invited to the 70th anniversaery mass, celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas C hia at Church o f St Teresa on Oct 1, 8.30 am. There w ill also be a D inner and Dance in Ochard Ballroom , Orchard H otel on N o v 28, 7 .3 0 pm at $8 0 per pax. Tickets are available at the school office (6270-305 0).

PROFESSION INTO THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER The profession o f M a ryC la ire Fan into the Secular Franciscan Order (S FO ) o f St. C lare’s Fraternity w ill be held on Sunday Sept 21 at 6pm mass in Church o f Risen. Celebrant: F r Gerard V icto r, O F M and Con-celebrant Fr John Lee. A ll welcome.

For those who have no one to pray for them - we pray to the Lord.

Seventeenth Anniversary

In loving memory of

Tenth Anniversary

In cherished memory of

Twelfth Anniversary

of

CHRISTINA PHANG SOW CHEE @ PANG YOKE CHEE D eparted: Sep 2 0 , 2 0 0 2 A ged: 66 A lw a y s rem em bered b y lo ved ones.

In everloving m emory o f our beloved parents and grand parents

Eleventh Anniversary In sweet memory of

CONSECRATION TO GOD THE FATHER E very 7th o f the month, 7.3 0 pm. Venue: Church o f O ur Lady Queen o f Peace, R m 3.3 House o f D avid

CARMELITES SECULAR ORDER 25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Date: Oct 2 and 3, 7 pm , Oct 4, 11 am.

Venue: Carm el o f Christ the King.

A ll are welcome for the Trid ium cum Mass.

MASS WITH HEALING SERVICE Venue: Church o f St. M ichael, 17 St. M ic h a e l’s Road, every 1st and 3rd Saturdays o f the month. Time: 6.45pm Rosary, Praise & W orship and 8pm Mass. A ll are welcome.

CATHOLIC MEDICAL GUILD AGM, DINNER CUM LECTURE N et proceeds raised from the dinner w ill be donated to the Canossian East T im o r Missions to help rebuild the healthcare facilities and services there.

Date: Oct 18, (Saturday). Place: The O riental H otel. Time: 4.30pm (A G M ), 6 pm (A nnual Dedication Mass), 7.30pm (D in ner & F r Edmund Dunne lecture. Speaker: P ro f Gabriel L o w Cheng H ock). Cost: $70 a person; donation tables at $1,000 a table. A ll healthcare personnel and their fam ily members are welcome. Enquiries: D r G abriel Seow 6364-9661 / 6 252-5 384 or D r John H u i at 6458-8 596 or e-m ail:cmgsingapore@yahoo.com.sg

8TH FAMILY ROSARY RALLY

CENACLE RETREAT: EXPLORATIONS OF WHOLENESS

T o celebrate the Y ear o f the Rosary, Barangay Christ the K ing , the Filipino comm unity o f Church o f Christ the K ing would like to reach out to as m any Filipin o communities, families and devotees to jo in the R ally. Date: Oct 5, 1.20 to 3.3 0 pm , Fam ily Rosary R ally and Mass, 3.30 to 5 pm, Fellowship. Venue : Church o f Christ the K ing. Theme : The Luminous M ystery in the Y ear o f the Rosary 21)02-2003. Mass Celebrant: F r A ngel Luciano, C IC M

A weekend fo r those who are in need o f integrating life experiences unto wholeness: • that provides a prayerful posture and disposition one takes to see/experience “ H o w God sees me as the beloved.”

• that takes into reflective consideration the reality o f brokenness in one’s life.

Date: Friday Oct 17 7.3 0 pm to Sunday O ct 19, 12 noon. Venue: Cenacle Sisters, 47 Jurong W est, St. 42. Tel: 6565-2895; Fax: 6565-3875 Em ail: cenacle@singnet.com.sg

WI LLS

G R A N T OF P R O B A T E & LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION G A N E S H & C O L IN ADVOCATES & SOLICITORS Lawyers C o lin K an g P re m c h a n d S o m a n

5 IB Tem p le Street Singapore 0 5 8 5 9 6 Tel: (6 5 ) 6 3 2 3 2 -5 6 5 Fax: (6 5 ) 6 3 2 3 2 -3 7 3

www.grck.com .sg law @ grck.com .sg

H IL A R Y W O O D FO R D LO U ISA D U L C IE C O N C E IC A O P ER E IR A

Departed: Sep 15, 1986 Peaceful be your rest, dear mother, It is sweet to breathe your name; As in life we loved you dearly, So in death we do the same.

Sadly missed and always remembered by children and grandchildren.

Departed: July 17,1971 Departed:Sep 18,1995

IR E N E LO W GECK M U I

Departed: Sep 21,1993 We cannot forget you Our loved one so dear; Your memory grows Sweeter year after year.

Always remembered by family and loved ones.

Ninth Anniversary

In loving memory of

Sixteenth Anniversary

In everloving memory of

T IL L Y W OODFORD

RAYM OND C H R IS T O P H E R D A N K ER

IN G R ID K A R IA M A R IE L U S C H W IT Z

Departed:Sep 24, 1991 Missed is the touch of your friendly hand, Gone is your kindness beyond recall; Gone to a world where peace and love Are given and gained by all.

Deeply missed by wife, sons, daughter and daughter-in-law.

Departed: Sep 28,1992 I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, even if he dies, shall live; and whoever lives and believes in me, shall never die.

Third Anniversary

“The night does not last forever it fades w ith the dawning o f the m om The rose does not last forever it withers w ith the fading o f spring B ut your memories w ill linger forever in the hearts o f all who love you Because love does last forever.”

Always remembered by Kathleen, Corinne, Denis, Daryl, Iris, Erin, Travis and Aidan.

(John 11:25-26) Dearly remembered by mother and all loved ones.

Second Anniversary

In loving memory o f

K.S. JOSEPH

R. PA RA N JO TY

Departed:Sep 19, 1987 Keep in mind that Jesus Christ has died for us and is risen from the dead.

He is our saving Lord, he is joy for all ages If we die with the Lord, we shall live with the Lord.

Mass at Church of St Teresa on Saturday Sept 20, at 6.00 pm.

Always with us in our lives and prayers.

Departed: Sept 13,1994 His smiling way and pleasant face Are a pleasure to recall; He had a kind word for 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.

Always remembered by loving wife, children and loved ones.

JOSEPH & COLLETTE NATHAN CARLUS R U D O LP H M A S C R IN H A S

M D M M A S C R IN H A S NEE PEREIRA M A R G A R ET

Departed: July 27,2000 Departed:Sep 17,2001 Just a thought o f sweet remembrance, Just a m em ory sad and true, Just the love and sweet devotion, O f one who thinks o f you.

Fondly remembered by: Frankie, Babu, Christy, Marites, Cassandra, grand­ children Jansy, Elizabeth and Ann.

In loving memory of T h ird Anniversary

In loving m em ory of

Departed: M a y 21, 20 00 Sept 19, 1993 The gates o f memories are never closed W e miss you more than anyone knows N o length o f tim e can dim the past For too many memories hold you fast W e miss you dearly m um and dad.

A lw ays remembered by your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all loved ones.

Second Anniversary In everloving m em ory o f

In loving memory of

JESPINE JOOSA

P A T R IC K BONG K H O Y SIP

Departed:Sep 23, 1995 Eight years have already passed since you left us to be with our Lord.

During these years, we missed you so much but we know that you are safe with our Heavenly Father.

You will always be remembered by your wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren.

Departed: Sep 12,1993 Her smiling way and pleasant face Are a pleasure to recall; She had a kind word for each And died beloved by all.

Some day we hope to meet her, Some day, we know not when, To clasp her hand in the better land, Never to part again.

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by beloved family and loved ones.

LEONARD ANDREW BEINS G E O R G E B O N N IE D ’S IL V A

Departed: Sep 20,2000 Rest in peace, dear loving father, Three long years have passed away, Y ou’re gone, but are still living In the hearts o f those who stay.

Tim e may heal the broken heart, Tim e m ay m ake the w ound less sore, But tim e can never stop the longing For the loved one gone before Forever in our hearts, Dorothy

Remy, Patricia, Am elia, Kingsley & Keith Charonne, Prakash, Daryl & Daphne M ariette & V ictor M arina, W ilfred & Annabelle Neri, Sharon, Sonia Marie & Sohan George.

B om : N o v 30, 1960 Departed: Sept 18, 2001 God took him home, it was H is w ill, But in our hearts w e love him still; H is m emory is as dear today As in the hour he passed away.

W e often sit and think o f him W hen w e are all alone; For m em ory is the only friend That g rief can call its own.

Sadly missed and always remembered

by Linda & Tanya Beins.

Masses w ill be celebrated at Church o f the H o ly T rin ity on every Sunday o f September at 12.30 pm and on 18 September 6 pm.

CatholicN ews □

Sundays Septem ber 14 and Septem ber 21, 2003

19

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O L IV E K O E K

Departed:Sept 18, 2000 Deep in our hearts a memory is kept.

To love, to treasure and never forget.

Deeply missed and remembered by your children, grandchildren, loved ones and someone very close.

Mass will be celebrated at Church o f St Ignatius, Singapore on Thursday Sept 25, 2003 at 6.00 pm.

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JO S E P H IN E T H ILA G A V A T H Y DORETT Age: 68 passed away peacefully on 18 August 2003 in London.

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Sadly missed by Husband: Michael Dorett Son: Daughter-in-law: Mark Jayaraj Dorett Claire Dorett Grandchildren: George Dorett Benjamin Dorett Sister, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephew and nieces to mourn her loss.

In our hearts you w ill always live Your love, your voice and your smile Are forever imprinted in our minds.

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Michael Dorett No. 1 Reynolds House Millbank Erasmus Street London - SWIP4HP Tel: 001-44-207-8349707 First Anniversary

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M asses will be celebrated at Church o f the Im maculate Heart o f Mary at 6.15 pm and Church o f St Teresa at ^ 6 p m o n R T d a y S e p te m b e r l9 ^ 2 0 0 3 .

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C A TH E R IN E JEN N Y TA N LE E K IA N

Departed: Sep 21,2002 One year has passed since you left us But the memory of you lives In our hearts and minds forever.

Daughters: Juliet Koh, Annie Koh Son-in-Law: Sunny Lim. Henry Sia Grandchildren: Terrence Lim, Cheryl Lim and Samuel Sia

Please turn to page 18 for more “In Memoriam” announcements and classified advertisements.

PETER VINCENT Departed: Sept 20, 1996 Some day we pray to meet you Some day, we know not when To clasp your hands in Heaven Never to part again.

Dearly missed and loved by family and friends.

Masses will be celebrated Sunday, September 14, 2003 at Church of Christ The King Saturday, September 20, 2003 at Novena Church Saturday, September 20, 2003 at Church of Christ The King

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20

Left: Mars is seen Aug. 26 from exposures taken by a camera on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

C N S p h o to

By Cindy Wooden CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy -

Whispers gave way to creaks, groans and loud rumbles as the dome slid open, the viewing platform rose and the telescope swung around at Pope John Paul II’s summer residence at Castel Gandolfo.

While the pope presumably was sleeping across the courtyard at 11 p.m. Aug. 27, the Jesuit administrator of the Vatican Observatory, based in the papal villa, was helping visitors participate in “Mars Mania 2003.”

“Shh, shh, I know this motor makes a lot of noise, but it is not as disturbing as voices are,” said Jesuit Father Sabino Maffeo, the observatory’s vice director for administration.

For weeks in late August, the Jesuit and his colleagues ushered a maximum of six or seven people every night to the fifth floor of the papal residence to take advantage of the unusual closeness of Mars and Earth.

After using a bit of muscle on the rope and pulley that open the roof over the telescope, getting his visitors onto the viewing platform, removing the cap from the telescope and getting it into position, he said, “Take a look.”

“Can you see it? You should see a dark stain in the shape of a ‘y’ on its side running across the middle and the white spot on the top, slightly to the left. That’s the southern polar ice cap,” he explained.

“What’s the southern cap doing on top?” his guests asked.

Mars mania A t pope’s sum m er residence, a room w ith a view The reply: “The telescope lenses turn the image upside down.”

It’s not exactly high science.

The particular alignment of the elliptical orbits of Mars and Earth in August brought the two planets within about 34.6 million miles of each other, the closest they have been in an estimated 60,000 years. A similar closeness is not expected before 2287.

Castel Gandolfo’s 1935 Carl Zeiss Jena telescope, with its 40centimeter aperture and 6-meter focal length, is no longer used for serious astronomy, but Italian school groups visit during the

year when the pope is not in residence, and friends are invited up quietly for special events.

The guestbook includes several recent entries by people with the last name Maffeo. The octogenarian Father Maffeo said they were relatives he only recently discovered he had.

The book lies on a counter under a framed copy of the signatures of the five popes who have paid official visits to the observatory since it moved to Castel Gandolfo in 1935 from the Vatican.

Pope John Paul is one of the few people at the papal residence

Galileo stories oversimplified

By John Thavis ROME - The Catholic Church erred when it pressured Galileo Galilei to repudiate his finding that the earth revolves around the sun, but it did not persecute or torture the 17th-century astronomer, a Vatican official said.

Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said it was an oversimplification to view Galileo as a symbol of human freedom and progress against a dogmatic and immobile church.

“The reality is very different from such far-fetched perceptions,” he said in an interview in midAugust with the Italian magazine Famiglia Cristiana.

Archbishop Amato made the comments in light of a letter

Below: Jesuit Father Richard Boyle, astronomer at the Vatican Observatory, peers through a telescope at Mars Aug. 27 at the observatory in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. That day the red planet was the closest to Earth than it had been in 60,000 years, c n s p h o t o

revealing that church officials acting on behalf of Pope Urban VIII wanted a speedy end to the Inquisition’s heresy trial because they were worried about Galileo’s poor health.

The letter was uncovered in 2001 by historian Francesco Beretta in the archives of the doctrinal congregation, but only recently attracted media attention in Italy. The doctrinal congregation was founded in the 16th century as the Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, and Galileo’s trial was held there.

Written by the Inquisition commissioner, Dominican Father Vincenzo Maculano da Firenzuola, to Cardinal Francesco Barberini April 22,1633, the letter expressed worry over

Painting of Galileo Galilei. Stories that he was tortured by the church are untrue.

Galileo’s poor health during his trial in Rome and suggested the process be wrapped up quickly.

At the same time, the letter confirmed the accusation against Galileo for professing the Copemican view of the solar system in light of his own investigations with the telescope.

who has not seen Mars through the telescope this summer; Father Maffeo said he is unable to climb the metal stairs up to the scope.

On their nights off, small groups of Swiss Guards have gone up to see Mars, as have the physician on night duty, several Vatican gendarmes and members of the Italian state police who patrol the perimeter of the Vatican and of the papal villa when the pope is staying there.

Such a view was “condemned by the church,” the letter said.

Archbishop Amato said that initial opposition to Galileo’s scientific findings came more from philosophical circles than religious ones.

“When Galileo published ‘Sidereus Nuncius’ (‘Starry Messenger’) in 1610, in which he professed that the sun was the center of the universe, he received the applause not only of the great astronomer (Johannes) Kepler, but also of the Jesuit (Christopher) Clavius, who devised the Gregorian calendar,” Archbishop Amato said.

Galileo’s discoveries prompted excitement “even among the Roman cardinals - in fact, they all wanted to examine the sky through his famous telescope,” the archbishop said.

Archbishop Amato said the church trial of Galileo was not centered on scientific aspects but on a question of faith. He pointed out that Pope John Paul II, after a long study, has said the church was mistaken in its treatment of Galileo.

Archbishop Amato said the members of the Inquisition’s

While seeing it so closely through the Vatican telescope was a once-in-a-lifetime privilege, they admitted they thought it would be bigger and much, much redder.

The Jesuits at the observatory also have had hands-on experience with the “red planet.”

In a ground-floor classroom , a display case houses lunar rocks and meteorite fragments.

The fragments include three that are believed to be from Mars, said Jesuit Father Richard Boyle, the Vatican observatory’s expert on star clusters in the Milky Way, who also took a turn looking at Mars Aug. 27.

The Jesuit in charge of the collection “let me touch one the other night,” Father Boyle said.

The three displayed fragments were found in France, Egypt and Libya.

The current hypothesis is that they were blasted from Mars following a major explosion caused by an asteroid hitting the Martian surface.

Father Boyle patiently recited a simplified version of the theory: “The asteroid is extremely hot.

There’s a splash of molten rock.

There is enough energy to knock the splash out of Mars’ orbit, and sooner or later a fragment is captured by Earth’s gravitational field.”

The fragment lands on Earth, and chemical analysis shows “it is not terrestrial,” he said.

While Mars-gazing from the papal villa may not be serious science, “These things tell us a lot about God, especially that God is immense, the universe he created is vast and our home, our solar system, is very small,” Father Maffeo said. □ c n s

tribunal were acting according to a precise and absolute hierarchy of values that, unlike modem values, did not offer much space for individual freedom.

At the same time, he said, Galileo agreed to publicly repudiate the Copemican system because he intended to obey the church, even if it was in error.

“Galileo did not want to be a heretic, he did not want to expose himself to eternal damnation and, therefore, he accepted this repudiation in order not to sin,” Archbishop Amato said.

The archbishop said, however, that popular legend about Galileo needs debunking, including the idea that “Galileo was incarcerated or even tortured in order to extract his repudiation.”

When Galileo stayed at the Vatican for 20 days, he was lodged in the apartment of one of the highest officials of the Inquisition and was served by the official’s servant, Archbishop Amato said.

During his remaining time in Rome, Galileo lived comfortably as a guest at the Florentine embassy, he said. □ c n s

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