JANUARY 15, 2012, Vol 62, No 1

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www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JANUARY 15, 2012

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Educating young people in justice and peace SHRSOH UHFRJQLVH WKH GLJQLW\ DQG EHDXW\ RI HYHU\ KXPDQ OLIH LQFOXGLQJ WKHLU RZQ DQG DUH VXSSRUWHG LQ WKHLU QDWXUDO GHVLUH WR PDNH WKH ZRUOG D EHWWHU SODFH WKH\ EHFRPH DJHQWV RI MXVWLFH DQG SHDFH LQ WKH ZRUOG 3RSH %HQHGLFW ;9, VDLG 3HDFH DQG MXVWLFH DUH EXLOW RQ ³D SURIRXQG UHVSHFW IRU HYHU\ KXPDQ EHLQJ DQG KHOSLQJ RWKHUV WR OLYH D OLIH FRQVRQDQW ZLWK WKLV VXSUHPH GLJQLW\´ WKH SRSH VDLG LQ KLV PHVVDJH IRU WKH :RUOG 'D\ RI 3HDFH 7KH &DWKROLF &KXUFK FHOHEUDWHV :RUOG 3HDFH 'D\ RQ -DQ 7KH SRSH¶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³WR EH SDWLHQW DQG SHUVHYHULQJ LQ VHHNLQJ MXVWLFH DQG SHDFH LQ FXOWLYDWLQJ WKH WDVWH IRU ZKDW LV MXVW DQG WUXH HYHQ ZKHQ LW LQYROYHV VDFUL¿FH DQG VZLPPLQJ DJDLQVW WKH WLGH´ $GXOWV KDYH D VHULRXV UHVSRQVLELOLW\ WR KHOS WKH \RXQJ IXO¿O WKHLU SRWHQWLDO QRW MXVW E\ VKDULQJ LQIRUPDWLRQ ZLWK WKHP EXW E\ EHLQJ H[DPSOHV RI ZKDW LW PHDQV

Young Americans carry a replica of the World Youth Day cross in preparation for the celebration last year. CNS photo

The pope urged young people to be ‘persevering in seeking justice and peace, in cultivating the taste for what is just and true, HYHQ ZKHQ LW LQYROYHV VDFUL¿FH¶ WR OLYH OLYHV PDUNHG E\ WKH MR\ RI IDLWK FKDULW\ DQG UHVSHFW IRU RWKHUV KH VDLG ³7RGD\ PRUH WKDQ HYHU ZH QHHG DXWKHQWLF ZLWQHVVHV DQG QRW VLPSO\ SHRSOH ZKR SDUFHO RXW UXOHV DQG IDFWV :H QHHG ZLWQHVVHV FDSDEOH RI VHHLQJ IDUWKHU WKDQ RWKHUV EHFDXVH WKHLU OLIH LV VR PXFK EURDGHU ´ WKH SRSH VDLG (GXFDWLQJ SHRSOH LQ MXVWLFH DQG SHDFH EHJLQV LQ WKH IDPLO\ ZKHUH WKH\ OHDUQ WR YDOXH WKH JLIW RI OLIH VROLGDULW\ UHVSHFW IRU UXOHV IRUJLYHQHVV DQG KRVSLWDOLW\ KH VDLG 7RR PDQ\ \RXQJ SHRSOH WRGD\ DUH PLVVLQJ WKDW EDVLF KXPDQ IRUPDWLRQ EHFDXVH ³ZH DUH OLYLQJ LQ D

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NO. 1

INSIDE

POPE’S WORLD DAY OF PEACE MESSAGE 2012

VATICAN CITY – :KHQ \RXQJ

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Page 17: Young hopes for 2012

S’poreans’

HOME Movie on dads inspires viewers ÀRFN WR &RXUDJHRXV SUHPLHUH „ Page 8

ASIA Floods in Philippines %LVKRSV EODPH JRYW „ Page 10

ASIA N Korea regime change sparks hopes $Q RSSRUWXQLW\ IRU UHXQL¿FDWLRQ" „ Page 11

WORLD 2.18 billion Christians worldwide 5HVHDUFK FHQWUH UHOHDVHV ¿QGLQJV „ Page 12

WORLD Pope looks back on 2012 3RLQWV RXW OHVVRQV IRU &KXUFK „ Page 13

FAITH ALIVE! New year’s resolutions for the caregiver /HDUQLQJ WR UHFKDUJH \RXU EDWWHULHV „ Page 16

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

St Theresa’s Convent returns to former site

A bhangra dance was part of the Christmas Day concert held at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Special concert for Indian migrants More than 1,000 Indian Catholic migrants as well as migrants from other Asian countries attended a special Christmas concert organised for them at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. Migrants from Indian states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala, together with others from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, packed the church premises for the Dec 25 event. The concert, hosted by MediaCorp artiste Patpanaban Ramesh, included performances from popular artistes Abdul Rahman and Malarvizli, a bhangra dance, and a show by Singapore illusionist, Amazing Bosco. The migrant community also put on their own performances

Part of the 1,000-strong crowd.

that evening. The Lourdes Migrants Committee organised the event, which was initiated by parish priest Fr Augustine Joseph. The concert aimed to promote a sense of belonging within the largely South Asian migrant community the parish serves and to help them experience joy, hope, love and peace. Many said they thoroughly enjoyed the concert. “We are all far away from home and we miss our families back home,� said Mr Sugintharan from Sri Lanka. “This Christmas concert uplifted our spirits during this season.� “We had a wonderful and unforgettable Christmas,� said Mr Somasundaram from India. „

The refurbished St Theresa’s Convent at Lower Delta Road now has a new block for classrooms and a full-size hockey pitch.

By Don Gurugay In the early morning of Dec 29, four school girls were seen running along Lower Delta waving D EOXH ÀDJ $V WKH\ DSSURDFKHG the school on a hill, a loud cheer from hundreds of school girls and teachers rang out. Thus began celebrations marking the return of CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent to its former premises. The school moved from its former site two years ago as a result of the Education Ministry’s Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing Schools (PRIME). 7KH VLJQL¿FDQW LPSURYHPHQWV the school gained were an air conditioned multi-purpose hall, an indoor sports hall, a new block housing classrooms and a full-size hockey pitch.

The Home Run celebration on Dec 29.

As part of the celebrations, a “Home Run� was held and this involved various stakeholders running from the school’s temporary premises at Queensway to the original site at Lower Delta Road.

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Jan 08 2.00pm Jan 09-13

Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre Catechetical Launch Majodi, Johore Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Archbishop Nicholas Chia and seven priests from neighbouring parishes then held a blessing ceremony. The theme for the ceremony and the 2012 school year was Let Your Light Shine, from Matthew 5:16. “CHIJ St Theresa has been traditionally called the ‘light on the hill’ for the ‌ school building had been in its early days the sole source of light for the kampongs in the vicinity,â€? said school principal Pauline Wong. “The school has held onto this symbolism over the decades, and worked at nurturing young women of character who will be little lights in their families and the larger communities that they are part of.â€? She added, “We’ve had to PDNH VDFULÂżFHV LQ RUGHU WR DFFRPmodate the renovations. For example, we’ve had to do away with our ‘lighthouse’, an area where students could relax, and relocate it to D KLJKHU Ă€RRU DQG ZH KDG WR ORVH our 200-m running rack in order to have the hockey pitch, which is our school’s niche development.â€? Sec Four pupil Rachel Ashton Lim, president of the student council, shared her feelings about her school: “You always feel that you’re part of a family. The campus itself is made warm by the SHRSOH WKHUH :KHQ , ÂżUVW FDPH WR this school I felt really lost, but my older ‘sisters’, then the seniors, were nice, kind and generous.â€? Ms Donna Koh, a Sec One teacher and former pupil of the school said, “What I like about the new campus are the facilities such as the multi-purpose hall and the new classroom block. Everything is much bigger, I feel that all this will contribute to a better learning environment for the students as well as give them a more holistic experience of school.â€? „

PRIEST

TRANSFERS:

Fr Christopher Lee has been posted to St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) as of Jan 1.

Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Food, cheer for Reaching out to Karimun residents needy kids in Pattaya Left: Food rations donated by Singapore Catholics. Below: Indonesian students carolling at people’s homes.

Singaporean Catholics play with children at a school for the deaf in Pattaya.

By Edwin Yeow

By Audrey Tan and Gerald Tock 7R HYDQJHOLVH WKH SRRU DQG EH HYDQJHOLVHG E\ WKHP 7KLV ZDV WKH JRDO RI WKH 5HGHPSWRULVW 2YHUVHDV 0LVVLRQ 7ULS 5 2 0 ( WR Pattaya, Thailand, that took place IURP 'HF /HG E\ )U 6LPRQ 3HUHLUD 5 2 0 ( EURXJKW WRJHWKHU WZR VHPLQDULDQV DQG OD\SHRSOH LQcluding parents, young adults and \RXWKV IURP SDULVKHV DQG PLVVLRQ VFKRROV DOO RYHU 6LQJDSRUH 7KH RXWUHDFK ZDV WR VHUYH poor and abandoned people supported by the Father Ray FoundaWLRQ D &DWKROLF RUJDQLVDWLRQ 7KH JURXS YLVLWHG DQ RUSKDQage, where the youths played with

Taking visually handicapped children to the beach.

and cared for the young children WKHUH )RU PDQ\ WKLV ZDV WKHLU ÂżUVW WLPH ORRNLQJ DIWHU D FKLOG The group also acted as guides for children at a school for the

CORRECTION: In the story, Bible Retreatants Trek Up Mt Ophir (CN, Dec 25), there was an editing error in the second paragraph, which should read: Of the 24 who took part in the Dec 2-4 Bible-Centred ReWUHDW LQ -RKRU OHG E\ )U $OEHUW 1J WKH ÂżWWHVW ZKR SOHGJHG WR FOLPE WKH VXPPLW VORZHG GRZQ IRU WKH ZHDULHG DQG WKH\ DV D WHDP UHDFKHG KDOIZD\ XS WKH VXPPLW RU P 7KH DVFHQW OHIW SURYHG WRXJK LQ VRPH SDUWV DQG FOLPEHUV KDG WR JUDE RQWR WUHHV DQG URSHV

EOLQG WDNLQJ WKHP RXW IRU D GD\ DW WKH EHDFK 7KH\ ZDONHG WKURXJK Pattaya’s red light district to understand the plight of teenage prostitutes and also worked in a SDOP RLO SODQWDWLRQ KDFNLQJ DW weeds and planting crops During the trip, participants were encouraged to draw parallels OLQNLQJ WKHLU DFWLYLWLHV ZLWK WKHLU RZQ OLYHV )RU H[DPSOH D VLPSOH DFW RI ZHHGLQJ DQG SODQWLQJ EHFDPH DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ WR UHĂ€HFW RQ ULGGLQJ RQHVHOI RI QHJDWLYLW\ DQG VLQ DQG WR ask the Lord to plant the fruits and JLIWV RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW LQ RQHÂśV OLIH It was at this point that the spiritual aspect of the trip took on QHZ PHDQLQJ %\ WKH HQG RI WKH RXWUHDFK PDQ\ IHOW WKHLU OLYHV KDG EHHQ WRXFKHG LQ D VSHFLDO ZD\ One participant wrote in a reĂ€HFWLRQ EHIRUH OHDYLQJ 3DWWD\D Âł, NQRZ WKDW ZKHQ *RG OHDGV PH back into the workplace or wherHYHU KH SODFHV PH , ZLOO VHH WKLQJV with different eyes and feel with D GLIIHUHQW KHDUW , DP VWDUWLQJ WR OHDUQ HPSDWK\ DQG FRPSDVVLRQ´ „

0HPEHUV RI WZR 6LQJDSRUH SDULVKHV GHOLYHUHG IRRG WR UHVLGHQWV RI ,QGRQHVLDœV .DULPXQ LVODQG DQG WRRN SDUW LQ D FDUROOLQJ SURJUDPPH IRU WKHP RYHU D UHFHQW ZHHNHQG )RUW\ QLQH &DWKROLFV IURP WKH &KXUFK RI WKH ,PPDFXODWH +HDUW RI 0DU\ DQG WKH &KXUFK RI 1DWLYLW\ YLVLWHG QHHG\ IDPLOLHV OLYLQJ LQ wooden and zinc houses on Dec HYHQLQJ $ WRWDO RI IDPLOLHV HDFK UHFHLYHG D NJ VDFN RI ULFH GU\ noodles and another bag of food, SDLG IRU IURP FKXUFK GRQDWLRQV DQG SDUWLFLSDQW FRQWULEXWLRQV 6WXGHQWV IURP D VFKRRO OHG by nuns, also took part in the SURJUDPPH 7KH\ VDQJ FDUROV LQ (QJOLVK DQG %DKDVD ,QGRQHVLD DW UHVLGHQWVœ KRPHV MRLQHG E\ WKH 6LQJDSRUHDQV 7KH KRPHV WKH JURXS YLVLWHG were scattered about and a few ZHUH TXLWH IDU DSDUW 7KRXJK WKHUH ZDV VRPH PRRQOLJKW participants had to use torches DORQJ WUDFNV ÀDQNHG E\ lallang. Often, they had to walk in single

¿OH RQ XQHYHQ JURXQG $SDUW IURP YLVLWLQJ IDPLOLHV WKH 6LQJDSRUH JURXS DOVR YLVLWHG the Church of the Sacred Heart, EXLOW LQ $XJXVW ZLWK GRQDWLRQV IURP 6LQJDSRUH &DWKROLFV 7KHUH DUH PRUH WKDQ Catholics on the island, according WR D &DWKROLF VRXUFH Many participants in this outUHDFK DUH IURP WKH (SLSKDQ\ 3DULVK 0LVVLRQ *URXS DW ,PPDFXODWH +HDUW RI 0DU\ &KXUFK 7KH JURXS KDV EHHQ WHDFKLQJ (QJOLVK WR FKLOdren on the Indonesian islands of 5HPSDQJ DQG %LQWDQ RQ D IRUWQLJKWO\ EDVLV VLQFH .DULPXQ LV OHVV WKDQ WZR KRXUVœ IHUU\ ULGH IURP 6LQJDSRUH „

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Meeting Cambodians’ health needs Photos: ADRIEL GOH

By Joanne Luo Eighteen students from the NUS Catholic Medical Society provided medical care and conducted health education in Cambodia recently. The inaugural student-run mission to Battambang, from Dec 10-16, also saw the participation of four doctors from the Catholic Medical Guild and Mr Malcolm Wong, assistant principal of St Joseph’s Institution. The team, dubbed Mission Srolanh (srolanh means “loveâ€? in Khmer), was conceived as a result of a request for medical aid from Msgr Enrique Figaredo, apostolic prefect of Battambang. During their trip, the Singaporeans worked with the clergy there, the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco and several lay volunteers, complementing existing outreach efforts of various missionaries. The team provided medical care and conducted health education lessons at four centres and also for 600 local people in four villages. The centres cater respectively to 50 landmine victims and teenDJHUV DIĂ€LFWHG ZLWK SROLRP\HOLWLV 80 girls undergoing vocational studies, 50 adolescent students,

Left: NUS Catholic Medical Society members (in dark blue) pose for a photo with the ACTS team (in light blue) at the Don Bosco vocational school for girls in Battambang. Right: A Singapore medical student dispenses medication to Cambodians.

and 30 destitute young children. In addition to addressing fundamental health issues such as basic hygiene, the team also conducted medical screening and health education programmes for each group. For example, at the Don Bosco vocational school for girls, the team addressed women’s health issues. At the Arrupe Welcome Centre for the disabled, the team focused on care for prostheses. The Singapore group also collected data to study medical

demographics such as the prevalence of anaemia, malnutrition, hypertension and hair lice problems. With the information gathered, they hope to evaluate and further advance their efforts for the Cambodians, committing to an ideology for sustainable and long-term aid. One concrete measure they look forward to taking is sponsoring select Cambodian students through medical school. Hopefully, they will become resident

physicians at the centres the Singaporeans visited upon graduation. Additionally, the Singapore team also looks forward to working with local healthcare institutions such as the Petyieychee Health Centre, Battambang Provincial Hospital, a medical laboratory and a pharmacy to promote cohesive and seamless healthcare for local people. “We recognise that periodic visits to Cambodia cannot be a sustainable solution and therefore

see the need to invest in improving existing healthcare facilities,� said Mr Christopher Chua, 22, head of the team’s development committee. Organisers say the group may also minister to the psychological well-being of the girls at the Don Bosco school in the future. Mission Srolanh was also a collaboration with A Call To Share (ACTS), an initiative of the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Singapore, which serves needy Cambodians. „

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

&KRLU ÀOOV &+,-0(6 ZLWK FKHHU The former CHIJMES chapel came to life on Dec 18 when the Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ presented its annual Christmas concert to a small but distinguished audience. The choir, led by its founder director, Sir Peter Low, performed to a crowd that included Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam, the ambassadors of Belgium, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Peru, Ukraine, the Vatican, and the High Commissioners of Canada, India, South Africa and the United Kingdom. 7KH ¿UVW KDOI RI WKH HYHQLQJœV programme was a more serious paraliturgical presentation of hymns, carols and six short readings from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hebrews and Luke, foretelling the birth of the Messiah. Fr Ignatius Yeo then carried an icon of the Infant Jesus in solemn procession to the strains of Puer Natus Est Nobis and the PXFK ORYHG 6LOHQW 1LJKW VXQJ in German and English. The traditional decorating of WKH &KULVWPDV WUHH E\ HQYR\V ZDV

The Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ performed its Christmas concert at the CHIJMES chapel to a crowd that included envoys of various countries.

replaced by a Ceremony of Light this year. 7KH GLJQLWDULHV ZHUH LQYLWHG to light special candles, each em-

ERVVHG ZLWK WKH ÀDJ RI WKH QDtion they represent, on a Tree of Lights, a specially made wroughtiron sculpture. The candles represented the FRPPRQ GHVLUH IRU ORYH DQG SHDFH ZKLFK DUH DW WKH KHDUW RI &KULVWœV teaching. Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli lighted a candle

Singapore’s Foreign Minister K Shanmugam lights a candle for peace.

on behalf of Vatican City State while Mr Shanmugam lighted a candle for Singapore. Archbishop Nicholas Chia then blessed the Tree of Lights. The theme of celebration was the key element of the second half of the concert as the choir focused RQ WKH UHDO UHDVRQ IRU WKH IHVWLYH celebration – Christ.

The choir sang a medley of rarely heard foreign carols in the original languages of composition including Polish, Italian, Japanese DQG HYHQ =XOX 7KH\ HYHQ VDQJ D Korean carol, Krismas sun mool, K-pop style. 7KH HYHQLQJ HQGHG ZLWK WKH majestic Hallelujah chorus from +DQGHOœV 0HVVLDK „

Christian Unity Week brought forward The celebration of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been brought forward in Singapore because of the Lunar New Year holidays. The special week is usually REVHUYHG IURP -DQ Because of the upcoming holidays, the Committee for EcuPHQLFDO 0RYHPHQW &(0 RI Singapore archdiocese requested permission from Archbishop Nicholas Chia and from Rome to bring it forward to Jan 15-22. The theme for the 2012 Week of Prayer is “We will all be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus &KULVW´ &RU

Detail of poster

7ZR HYHQLQJV RI SUD\HU UHĂ€HFtions, songs and fellowship will be held in two different churches.

7KH ¿UVW ZLOO EH KHOG DW WKH Lutheran Church of Our ReGHHPHU 'XNHœV 5RDG RQ -DQ DW SP 7KH SUD\HU DQG ZRUVKLS VHUYLFH ZLOO VHH UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV IURP YDULRXV &KULVWLDQ traditions leading some of the prayers. The second will be held at the Catholic Church of St Mary of the Angels, 5 Bukit Batok East $YHQXH RQ -DQ DW SP 7KH VHUYLFH ZLOO IROORZ D VLPLODU IRUmat. Archbishop Nicholas Chia ZLOO JLYH WKH FRQFOXGLQJ EOHVVLQJ All are welcome to attend the HFXPHQLFDO VHUYLFHV „

Courses for domestic workers to begin Registration is now open for foreign domestic workers of all naWLRQDOLWLHV HDJHU WR OHDUQ YDULRXV skills. FILODEP (Filipino OngoLQJ 'HYHORSPHQW 3URJUDPPH founded by the Franciscan MisVLRQDULHV RI 0DU\ )00 DQG D former Philippine ambassador, starts registration for its 2012 courses in January. The courses are in baking, dress-making, facial aromatherapy, massage, guitar, hair styling, handicraft, cooking, Mandarin, English and taekwondo. The courses, which last for eight months, will begin on

A FILODEP cooking course

Feb 5. Courses are offered twice D PRQWK RQ HLWKHU ÂżUVW DQG WKLUG Sundays, or second and fourth Sundays.

Participants pay $80 per course and there may be extra charges for some courses. &RXUVH UHJLVWUDWLRQ LV RQ HYHU\ Sunday in January, from Jan 8 to Jan 29, from 9am-2pm at the FMM House of Prayer and Formation, 49 Holland Road, Singapore 258849. FILODEP celebrated its 23rd DQQLYHUVDU\ RQ 1RY ZLWK 0DVV games, dancing and a meal. Many former course participants also joined in the celebration, said FILODEP coordinator Sr Rosalind Chan. „ For more information on FILODEP, call 8182-3591.

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Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

St Mary’s begins ministry to Chinese migrants

A Chinese migrant looks at a mini Christmas tree he received and decorated during a Christmas party held by the Church of St Mary of the Angels.

By Darren Boon The Church of St Mary of the Angels has launched a ministry called The Angelic Inn to reach out to Chinese migrants. The parish began the ministry on Dec 11 with a Christmas party attended by about 70 migrant workers. Organisers chartered a bus to ferry some of them from their dormitories in the Jurong Road and Jurong West areas to the church, while others made their own way to the venue. Canossian Sr Josephine Ng, parish pastoral worker for the Mandarin-speaking community, shared with the guests the meaning of Christmas for Christians – the gift of Christ to the world. The workers received gifts such as a mini Christmas tree as well as decorations to adorn their own trees. They also received three booklets on how to cope with life’s challenges printed by Commission for Apostolate of Mandarin-speaking in Singapore (CAMS). The day’s activities also included carolling by the parish’s Mandarin-speaking choir. Sr Josephine told CatholicNews that the parish’s Mandarinspeaking community wants to reach out to migrant workers, students and new immigrants from China “to show our care and concern, [to] befriend them, and make them feel accepted in our society and ... part of our community in God’s big family”. As such, the The Angelic Inn ministry would be organising monthly gatherings for migrants. The ministry hopes to help them meet fellow countrymen and exchange news from their home

towns. It also aims to offer them a place where they can be “recharged and have the courage to face the challenges that each day brings”, said Sr Josephine. There are plans to offer lessons in English, music, and art and craft. Community bonding activities such as sing-along sessions, video viewing, and reading are also being planned. Through these activities, it is hoped that “some will get to encounter the presence of God”, said Sr Josephine. Meanwhile she described the 'HF HYHQW DV IXQ ¿OOHG DQG noted that the guests appeared to look forward to the next gathering on Jan 8. The nun is also appealing to members of the Church community to help in conducting lessons in basic English, art or music; to help with the logistics of the gatherings; or simply assisting at gatherings. “Generous hearts and hands are needed in all areas. We invite you to come and be the witnesses of Christ and be a friend to our brothers and sisters,” she aid. Other parishes that have ministries for Chinese migrants include Church of St Michael and Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mandarin Masses at 8pm on WKH ¿UVW 6XQGD\ RI WKH PRQWK DQG on the third Sunday of the month are available at Church of Sts Peter and Paul and Church of St Vincent de Paul respectively. To contact the St Mary of the Angels group, email smotachinese@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page at “SMOTA Chinese community”. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

9LHZHUV ÀQG PRYLH on dads inspiring CNS photo

Must-see movie for fathers

By Darren Boon

By Darren Boon

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darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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ASIA 9

Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Vatican moves Filipino closer towards sainthood CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES – The

Vatican has announced the authentication of miracles attributed to Blessed Pedro Calungsod of the Philippines, though no date for canonisation has been set. Pope Benedict XVI “received in audience Cardinal Angelo Amato SBD, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, and authorised the promulgation of decrees [for sainthood],” said a statement from the Vatican issued on Dec 19. Six other Catholic martyrs ZHUH DOVR FRQ¿UPHG IRU VDLQWKRRG during the audience. “Let us pray that the Holy Father will tell us when would be the canonisation,” said Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu, chairman of the committee on preparations for Blessed Calungsod’s sainthood. Msgr Ildebrando Leyson, vice-postulator for the cause of Blessed Calungsod’s canonisation, said a copy of his biography would be sent to all cardinals and their reply “would still be needed before the date of the canonisation is announced by the pope”. Calungsod, a 17th-century Filipino lay catechist, would be the

Portrait of Blessed Pedro Calungsod. He was martyred in 1672.

¿UVW 9LVD\DQ VDLQW DQG VHFRQG )LOLpino saint in history following St Lorenzo Ruiz, who was canonised in Rome in 1988. Calungsod was martyred in

Guam in 1672 with a Spanish Jesuit priest, now St Diego Luis de San Vitores. Blessed John Paul EHDWL¿HG &DOXQJVRG LQ UCANEWS.COM

CHURCH IN SOUTH KOREA

Church activists slam nuclear plan SEOUL – The Church in South Korea renewed calls on Dec 26 for the government to scrap nuclear energy after a state enterprise named the sites it wants for two new power plants. Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) announced on December 23 that it had chosen Samcheok city and Yeongdeokgun county, both on the east coast, as the sites of the plants. After an environmental evaluation this year, KHNP will submit an application to the government IRU D ¿QDO GHFLVLRQ The announcement was immediately condemned by the Church and anti-nuclear activists in Samcheok, who took to the streets of the city in protest on Dec 26. The No Nukes Samcheok Coalition said a growing number

The disaster ‘ at the Fukushima nuclear power plant has turned Koreans against nuclear power.

’

– Fr Paul Park Hong-pyo

of people are opposed to the plan and people’s opinions were not UHÀHFWHG LQ WKH VHOHFWLRQ SURFHVV Fr Paul Park Hong-pyo, a coalition spokesman, said: “The disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant last March in Japan has turned people against nuclear power.”

More than half the population are now against the plan since the Fukushima incident. “I think three quarters of them are against the idea,” he said. Wonju diocese’s Committee for Justice and Peace also called on the government to reject the application. The diocese, which covers Samcheok, called the KHNP decision a “unilateral” action and is nothing more than “violence by the state against the people”. The committee also said the government’s aim to increase the number of nuclear power plants goes against growing global opposition to nuclear energy. South Korea has 21 nuclear reactors and is building or planning 11 more, according to KHNP. UCANEWS.COM

Social media ‘OK during elections’ SEOUL – Church representatives have welcomed a court ruling that social media cannot be prohibited during an election campaign. The constitutional court ruled on Dec 29 that it would be illegal to ban the use of social media such as Twitter or blogs during a campaign. “The Internet is an effective political space that can prevent economic disparity among candi-

dates,” the court said, adding that election campaigns must be carried out on the principle of freedom. Fr Ignatius Kim Min-soo, secretary of the Korean bishops’ Committee for Social Communications, said the ruling would allow voters to get more information about candidates. He said it was “anachronistic” to suppress information and discussion on social media.

He said the election commission had previously restricted the people’s right to information, and WKDW WKH FRXUW UXOLQJ ZRXOG LQÀXence elections positively in the future, he said. Jesuit Fr Albert Cho In-young, Jesuit provincial assistant for communication, said the constitutional court has recognised the value and effectiveness of social media. UCANEWS.COM

10 ASIA

Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Bishops blame govt IRU 3KLOLSSLQH ÁRRGV MANILA – A bishop in Manila said WKDW JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV ZKR have allowed illegal logging and mining should be held accountDEOH IRU ÀRRGLQJ WKDW KDV NLOOHG more than 1,000 people in the southern Philippines. Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Commission on Social Action, Justice and Peace, said there was a link between environmental degradation and ÀRRGLQJ WKDW KDV GHYDVWDWHG SDUWV of the country. “The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, QDWLRQDO DQG ORFDO RI¿FLDOV ZKR issued permits for mining and logging activities should be held accountable,” he said on Dec 30. “May this serve as a lesson for us to take good care of our environment,” he said. “There is a socalled log ban but the cutting of trees is still rampant in the Sierra Madre mountains.” Tropical storm Washi ravaged 789 villages in 13 provinces on Dec 16, leaving more than 1,000 people dead, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. Archbishop Angel Lagdameo of Jaro described the tragedy as a “man-made disaster” aggravated by “lack of political will”. “We have enough laws but we don’t have political will. We only look DW WKH LPPHGLDWH JDLQ DQG SUR¿W ´

Police search for missing people in Iligan City in the southern Philippines DIWHU ÀDVK ÀRRGV ZUHDNHG KDYRF CNS photo

More than 80,000 families are in need of relief assistance. Among them, almost 11,000 families are in evacuation centres. Bishop Elenito Galido of Iligan said aside from food, there is an immediate need to prevent diseases. “Affected families needed ‘portalets’ [mobile toilets] for sanitation, and water tablets to purify water. This will help prevent water-borne diseases,” he said. Caritas Manila, Church-run Radio Veritas and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ national social action secretariat have appealed for relief supplies, clothing and money from dioceses across the country. In Manila, Archbishop Luis

Antonio Tagle directed parishes to take up collections at Masses through Christmas for survivors. Meanwhile, support has poured in from around the world. Pope Benedict XVI on Dec 18 said he wanted to assure the people of the Philippines of his prayers. After the “violent tropical storm”, he said, “I pray for the victims – many of whom are children – for the homeless and the numerous people who are missing.” Caritas Australia also announced the opening of an appeal IRU ÀRRG YLFWLPV 86 3UHVLGHQW Barack Obama offered condolences to the country and said the 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ZDV SUHSDUHG WR DVsist in recovery efforts. CNS

Dispute over principal resolved By Vincent D’Silva JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA – A controversy over the Ministry of Education’s appointment of a Muslim principal to a Catholic school has been resolved after she was replaced with a Catholic one. The dispute arose when Ms Zavirah Mohd Shaari was appointed to take over as principal of the Convent Bukit Nanas (CBN) in Kuala Lumpur. The former principal, Ms Ann Khoo, retired in November. Ms Zavirah’s arrival at the school on Dec 7 surprised the school’s owners – the Infant Jesus (IJ) Sisters Provincialate and the school’s board of governors. According to the IJ Provincialate, Ms Zavirah’s name was not on the list of names submitted to the education ministry. Normally, the selection of principals of Catholic mission schools is based on consultation between the school’s owners, the board of governors and the education ministry, said IJ Provincial Sr Rosalind Tan. The appointment drew criticism from Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur, past pupils and the IJ Sisters. In a press statement, Archbishop Pakiam expressed his disappointment over

The Convent Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur.

the matter which he said contradicts the government’s policy of maximum consultation. He was quoted in the Malaysian Catholic weekly, Herald, as saying, “The appointment of the CBN principal ... has also given the impression that it is the government’s strategy to take over mission schools in total disregard for the status, ethos and special character of these schools, especially CBN.” He had since appealed to the Director-General of Education to reconsider this decision and appoint a principal nominated by the school’s owners. The matter was resolved after the school board’s preferred candidate, Ms Mysterical Rose Fernandes, a Catholic and former convent pupil, was appointed the new principal.

Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong was quoted in the media as saying that what happened was “very unfortunate”. He added that the problem arose because there was no consultation with the school board. Currently there are over 400 Christian mission schools in Malaysia of which 250 are founded by Catholics. Christians constitute a little over nine percent of Malaysia’s population of 27.5 million. At 927,000, Catholics are the largest group in this minority. &KULVWLDQV KDYH EHHQ ¿QGLQJ themselves increasingly beleaguered in the country amidst accusations, largely unsubstantiated, that they are proselytising among poor Muslims who receive aid from Christian charities.

ASIA 11

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

N Korea regime change sparks hopes, concerns Late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (extreme right) and his son Kim Jong Un (second from left) at a military parade in Pyongyang last year.

Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli visiting Hmong villagers in Vietnam’s Hung Hoa diocese in his most recent trip to the communist country.

CNS photo/ KCNA via Reuters

VATICAN CITY – The death of

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has opened a window of opportunity for renewed dialogue and posVLEOH UHXQLÂżFDWLRQ RI WKH SHQLQVXla, said two South Korean bishops. Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Cheju, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, said the leader’s death on Dec 17 “may be the beginning of a turning point for the path of the reuniÂżFDWLRQ RI WKH .RUHDV´ “We hope that the Lord gives the light and strength to the North Korean brothers so that there is a return for a policy focused on dialogue, peace and reconciliation,â€? he said in a Dec 19 interview with Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency. Bishop Lazzaro You HeungVLN RI 'DHMHRQ 6RXWK .RUHD WROG the Rome-based AsiaNews on Dec 19 that “we must focus on dialogue for peace but remain alertâ€?. He said he feared the leader’s death would prompt “a period of great confusionâ€?. “Inside the regime, there will [be] a clash between the party and the army. The young age of the heir will not help a smooth transition,â€? said Bishop You.

Vatican envoy’s Vietnam visits ‘strengthen unity’

Kim’s youngest son, 27-yearold Kim Jong Un, was declared the country’s next leader. The late Kim, who suffered D VWURNH LQ KDG UXOHG WKH reclusive communist state since 1994, following the death of his father Kim Il-sung. Bishop You said the new leadHU ODFNV WKH SROLWLFDO H[SHULHQFH

Kim Jong Il’s death ‘may be the turning point IRU WKH UHXQLÂżFDWLRQ of the Koreas’. – Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Cheju, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea

needed to guide the country’s relations with the United States, South Korea and China. He expressed concerns that the transition would not be smooth DQG WKDW ³D KDUVK FRQÀLFW ZLOO EUHDN RXW QRZ EHWZHHQ WKH SDUW\ which is in the hands of the heir’s uncle, and the military that are answerable to Kim Jong Un�. Too much political wrangling

would mean the citizens of North Korea end up paying the price with continued poverty and deaths from hunger, he said. “We must do our utmost to start sending humanitarian aid again and prevent more deaths from the situation. It is too soon to say what will happen on the Korean PeninVXOD EXW ZH PXVW SUD\ DQG ZRUN so that peace wins,� he added. “We need to focus on dialogue now that a certain window of opportunity has opened up.� Fr Baptist John Kim Hun-il, executive secretary of the Korean bishops’ Subcommittee for Aid to North Korea, expressed hope that the late Kim’s death would not plunge North Korea into further chaos, the Asian Church news agency UCA News reported. He also said that the bishops want to continue the committee’s aid programme to the North and that there might be the possibility of more openness within the secretive state that could lead to progress in reconciliation efforts. „ CNS

HANOI – Vietnam Church leaders say that extended visits by the FRXQWU\ÂśV QRQ UHVLGHQW SRQWLÂżFDO representative have strengthened solidarity among the faithful and increased understanding between the local Church and Rome. Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli ZDV QDPHG QRQ UHVLGHQW SRQWLÂżcal representative in January and KDV VLQFH SDLG ÂżYH WZR ZHHN YLVits to the country, travelling to all 26 dioceses. In his latest trip, from Nov 25-Dec 10, he visited the dioceses of Hung Hoa, Phat Diem, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa and Vinh, as well as Ha Noi archdiocese. “At each diocese, Archbishop Girelli united all Catholics and strengthened solidarity among WKHP ´ VDLG RQH ELVKRS ZKR DVNHG not to be named. The bishop, from a southern diocese, said the papal representative was warmly received by thousands of Catholics who have been hoping for a papal visit for many years. “The Vatican envoy is really a spiritual gift,â€? the bishop said. In addition to visiting local priests, laypeople and Church-run healthcare facilities, the envoy DOVR PHW JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV “I am sure that Archbishop Girelli [has seen] the faith life of the local Church, and understands

WKH VLWXDWLRQV ZLVKHV GLI¿FXOWLHV and challenges local Catholics face,� the bishop said. He added that Archbishop Girelli would give useful advice to VatiFDQ RI¿FLDOV ZKR ZRXOG RIIHU SDVtoral guidelines to the local Church. Fr Francis Xavier Nguyen Xuan Truong, secretary of Bac Ninh Bishop’s House, said the archbishop also visited the staterun Qua Cam leprosarium. The priest said Archbishop Girelli showed his appreciation of the cooperation between the diocese and government in providing health care for these patients. Fr Peter Pham Thanh Binh, pastor of Sa Pa parish that serves ethnic Hmong Catholics, said he hopes Archbishop Girelli’s visit to his parish last November would help ease restrictions on religious activities in northwestern provinces. Fr Binh is also in charge of giving pastoral care to Catholic communities in the provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Son La where religious activities have been curbed for half a century. The priest said he hopes next year Archbishop Girelli will visit Catholic communities here and ZRUN ZLWK WKH JRYHUQPHQW WR DWtain greater religious freedom for them. „ UCANEWS.COM

12 WORLD

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

2.18 billion Christians in the world: study WASHINGTON – According to

a new study, there are currently 2.18 billion Christians in more than 200 countries around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 6.9 billion global population in 2010. The study, conducted by the US-based Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life, found Christians to be so geographically widespread that no single continent or region can indisputably claim to be the centre of global Christianity. The study, Global Christianity: A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World’s Christian Population, cites that 100 years ago, two-thirds of the world’s Christians lived in Europe but today only about a quarter of all Christians live there. More than one-third of Christians live in the Americas; about a quarter live in sub-Saharan Africa and 13 percent live in Asia and the 3DFL¿F

The data indicates that during the past 100 years, the number of Christians around the world has more than tripled from historical estimates of approximately 600 million in 1910 to more than 2 billion today. But the world’s overall population has also risen rapidly, from an estimated 1.8 billion in 1910 to 6.9 billion in 2010. As a result, Christians make up about the same portion of the world’s population in 2010 (32 percent) as they did a century ago (35 percent). The study also reveals that although Europe and the Americas are still home to a majority (63 percent) of the world’s Christians, that share is much lower than it was in 1910 when it was 93 percent. In the past 100 years, the number of Christians JUHZ VLJQL¿FDQWO\ LQ VXE 6DKDUDQ $IULFD DQG WKH $VLD 3DFL¿F UHJLRQ The study also breaks down where Catholics – numbering 1.1 billion worldwide and half of the

global Christian population – reside. Brazil, with 134 million Catholics, has the world’s largest Catholic population, which totals more

than the number of Catholics in Italy, France and Spain combined. Other countries with the highest percentages of Catholic populations include: Mexico, the Phil-

ippines and the United States. The 10 countries with the largest number of Catholics contain more than half of the world’s Catholics. „ CNS

Bombings were ‘declaration of war’

Teach kids to pray: pope tells parents

LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Nigerian

bishops’ conference described church bombings on Christmas Day as the equivalent of war and declared Dec 31 a day of fasting and prayer to ask God’s forgiveness for the acts. “Pray for Nigeria in distress and pray for peace in our nation and pray for good governance,â€? said the Dec 30 statement signed by Archbishop Felix Alaba Job of Ibadan, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria. The Islamic extremist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bombings that left more than 40 people dead. “This group has apparently declared war on Nigeria and, at times of war, nations are calling on their reserves. It is apparent that, if we depend only on our available active security agents, we shall not make much progress,â€? the bishops’ statement said. It asked Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan “to recall the retired experts in criminology and employ foreign experts in this ÂżHOG WR DVVLVW WKH DFWLYH VHFXULW\

A priest and security forces look over the scene of a car bomb explosion at St Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, just outside Nigeria’s capital Abuja. CNS photo

agents to put an immediate end to the Boko Haram menace.� One of the churches targeted was St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla. On Dec 28, six children and an adult were injured in the bombing of an Islamic school in Sapele. No one has claimed responsibility for that

attack, in which a homemade bomb was lobbed from a passing vehicle. After the incidents, individual bishops urged the government to get control of security. Nigeria’s population is almost evenly divided between Christians and Muslims, with Christians dominant in the South and

Muslims in the North. Mr Jonathan has met with Muslim and Christian leaders in an attempt to restore calm. The Christian Association of Nigeria, which includes Catholics, said in an open letter to Mr Jonathan that the Christmas bombings were “a declaration of war on Christians and Nigeria as an entity.â€? One of the country’s leading Muslim clerics, the sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said after his Dec 27 meeting with Mr Jonathan that the violence was not religious in nature. Âł,W LV D FRQĂ€LFW EHWZHHQ HYLO people and good people,â€? he said, adding that “the good people must come together to defeat the evil onesâ€?. Catholic Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto urged governments at all levels to rise to the security challenge. He said if religious and government leaders did not act quickly, “this threat will no doubt continue to divide us, as those perpetrators of this act are already thinking of breaking the countryâ€?. „ CNS

VATICAN CITY – If children do not

learn to pray from their parents, it ZLOO EH GLIÂżFXOW IRU WKHP WR HYHU learn to communicate with God naturally, simply and deeply, Pope Benedict XVI said. “In the family, children from the tenderest age can learn to perceive the sense of God, thanks to the teaching and example their parents give of living in the presence of God,â€? the pope said at his general audience on Dec 28. Continuing a series of audience talks on prayer, Pope Benedict looked at the Holy Family as a model of family life marked by faith, work and regular moments of prayer together. “The Holy Family is the icon of the domestic church called to pray together. The family is the domestic church and must be the ÂżUVW VFKRRO RI SUD\HU ´ KH VDLG While the Gospels do not give many details about Jesus’ childhood, he said, the Bible is clear that Mary and Joseph were observant Jews, which means they prayed at regular times throughout the day and before meals. They went to Jerusalem to present Jesus in the temple when he was 40 days old and journeyed to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. “If one does not learn to pray LQ WKH IDPLO\ LW ZLOO EH GLIÂżFXOW WR ÂżOO WKLV YRLG VR , ZDQW WR LQvite you to rediscover the beauty of praying together as a family in the school of the Holy Family of Nazareth and, in that way, to become truly one heart and one soul, a true family,â€? the pope said. „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Pope looks back on 2011 The pope said the World Youth Day in August was a ‘remedy against faith fatigue and one that held lessons for the Church’. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

VATICAN CITY – Knowing one is

loved by God gives life meaning and gives one the energy to live ZLWK MR\ HYHQ LQ GLI¿FXOW VLWXDWLRQV 3RSH %HQHGLFW ;9, WROG WRS 9DWLFDQ RI¿FLDOV Meeting members of the RoPDQ &XULD RQ 'HF IRU KLV DQQXDO H[FKDQJH RI &KULVWPDV greetings, the pope said the “faith IDWLJXH´ VHHQ LQ YDULRXV DUHDV RI &KXUFK OLIH FRQWUDVWV VKDUSO\ ZLWK the faith and joy he witnessed at :RUOG <RXWK 'D\ LQ 0DGULG DQG GXULQJ KLV 1RYHPEHU WULS WR %HQLQ LQ $IULFD The two trips, he said, hold OHVVRQV IRU WKH &KXUFK ,Q ZKDW XVXDOO\ DPRXQWV WR D review of the past year, the pope’s VSHHFK LQFOXGHG DFNQRZOHGJPHQW RI WKH JOREDO ¿QDQFLDO FULVLV SDUWLFXODUO\ LQ (XURSH DV ZHOO DV RI WKH GZLQGOLQJ QXPEHU RI SUDFWLVLQJ &DWKROLFV DQG WKH SULHVW VKRUWDJH RQ WKH FRQWLQHQW 7KH &KXUFK¶V FRPPLWPHQW WR D QHZ HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ SXVK FDQ KHOS ERWK VLWXDWLRQV KH VDLG As he has said many times, 3RSH %HQHGLFW WROG WKH &XULD PHPEHUV WKDW WKH HFRQRPLF FULVLV LV XOWLPDWHO\ DQ HWKLFDO FULVLV WKDW FRQWLQXHV LQ SDUW EHFDXVH ³WKH PRWLYDWLRQ LV RIWHQ ODFNLQJ IRU LQGLYLGXDOV DQG ODUJH VHFWRUV RI VRFLHW\ WR SUDFWLVH UHQXQFLDWLRQ DQG PDNH VDFUL¿FHV´ /RRNLQJ LQVLGH WKH &KXUFK KH said the general aging and diminLVKLQJ QXPEHU RI DFWLYH &DWKROLFV DQG WKH ³VWDJQDWLQJ´ RI QHZ YRFDWLRQV WR WKH SULHVWKRRG LQ (XURSH DUH LQGLFDWLRQV RI ³D FULVLV RI IDLWK´ ³,I ZH ¿QG QR DQVZHU WR WKLV LI IDLWK GRHV QRW WDNH RQ QHZ OLIH GHHS FRQYLFWLRQ DQG UHDO VWUHQJWK IURP WKH HQFRXQWHU ZLWK -HVXV Christ, then all other reforms [of WKH &KXUFK@ ZLOO UHPDLQ LQHIIHFWLYH ´ KH VDLG ,Q %HQLQ WKH SRSH VDLG KH VDZ ³QRQH RI WKH IDLWK IDWLJXH WKDW is so prevalent here, none of the RIW HQFRXQWHUHG VHQVH RI KDYLQJ KDG HQRXJK RI &KULVWLDQLW\´ 7KH SRSH VDLG :RUOG <RXWK 'D\ LQ 0DGULG LQ $XJXVW ZDV ³D IXUWKHU UHPHG\ DJDLQVW IDLWK ID-

WLJXH´ DQG RQH WKDW KHOG VHYHUDO OHVVRQV IRU WKH &KXUFK LQ JHQHUDO DV LW WULHV WR VWUHQJWKHQ DFWLYH &DWKROLFV EULQJ EDFN WKRVH ZKR GR QRW JR WR &KXUFK DQG UHDFK RXW WR SHRSOH ZKR KDYH QRW VHULRXVO\ FRQVLGHUHG WKH &KULVWLDQ PHVVDJH 3RSH %HQHGLFW VDLG WKH OHVVRQV WKH &KXUFK FDQ OHDUQ DUH „ $ QHHG IRU DQ ³H[SHULHQFH RI FDWKROLFLW\ RI WKH &KXUFK¶V XQLYHUVDOLW\´ VR WKDW SHRSOH XQGHUVWDQG WKDW GHVSLWH GLIIHUHQFHV RI DJH ODQJXDJH DQG FXOWXUH ³ZH NQRZ RQH DQRWKHU´ DQG DUH XQLWHG LQ IDLWK DQG LQ WKH H[SHULHQFH RI EHLQJ FKLOGUHQ RI *RG „ /HDUQLQJ WKURXJK YROXQWHHU ZRUN ³D QHZ ZD\ RI OLYLQJ RXU KXPDQLW\´ 7KH <RXWK 'D\ YROXQWHHUV ³ZHUH YLVLEO\ DQG WDQJLEO\ ¿OOHG ZLWK D JUHDW VHQVH RI KDSSLQHVV´ EHFDXVH WKH\ JDYH RI WKHPVHOYHV „ &XOWLYDWLQJ D VSLULWXDOLW\ EDVHG RQ (XFKDULVWLF DGRUDWLRQ ³DQ DFW RI IDLWK´ WKDW VD\V RQH UHFRJQLVHV *RG LV SUHVHQW „ 5HWXUQLQJ WR WKH 6DFUDPHQW RI &RQIHVVLRQ UHFRJQLVLQJ ³ZH need forgiveness over and over again, and that forgiveness brings UHVSRQVLELOLW\´ „ 6KRZLQJ RWKHUV WKH MR\ WKDW FRPHV IURP NQRZLQJ ³, DP ZDQWHG , KDYH D WDVN , DP DFFHSWHG , DP ORYHG´ The pope said that if people do QRW EHOLHYH LQ *RG DQG H[SHULHQFH *RG¶V ORYH LW LV GLI¿FXOW IRU WKHP WR ORYH WKHPVHOYHV DQG RWKHUV ³2QO\ LI *RG DFFHSWV PH DQG , EHFRPH FRQYLQFHG RI WKLV GR , NQRZ GH¿QLWLYHO\ ,W LV JRRG WKDW , H[LVW ,W LV JRRG WR EH D KXPDQ EHLQJ ´ KH VDLG ³:KHUH GRXEW RYHU *RG EHFRPHV SUHYDOHQW WKHQ GRXEW RYHU KXPDQLW\ IROORZV LQHYLWDEO\ ´ *URZLQJ GRXEW DERXW *RG¶V H[LVWHQFH DQG +LV ORYH FDQ EH seen “in the joylessness, in the inQHU VDGQHVV WKDW FDQ EH UHDG RQ VR PDQ\ KXPDQ IDFHV WRGD\´ 7KH SRSH VDLG WKH ZRUOG 6\Qod of Bishops on new evangelisation and the beginning of the speFLDO <HDU RI )DLWK ERWK LQ 2FWREHU ZLOO EH PRPHQWV IRU WKH &KXUFK WR ODXQFK D VWURQJ UHVSRQVH „ CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Commandments for the new year

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

2 Highland Road, #01-03 Singapore 549102. Telephone: 6858 3055. Fax: 6858 2055. Website: www.catholicnews.sg MANAGING EDITOR: Father Johnson Fernandez: johnson.fernandez@catholic.org.sg

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: memoriam@catholic.org.sg

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: subscriptions@catholic.org.sg

STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Darren Boon: darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: DGYHUWLVHPHQWV#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: medona.walter@catholic.org.sg

EDITORIAL MATTERS AND QUERIES: cnedit@catholic.org.sg

Please include your full name, address and phone no. for all letters to the editor. Published submissions will be edited.

DESIGN / LAYOUT: Christopher Wong: design@catholic.org.sg Elaine Ong: elaine.ong@catholic.org.sg

LETTERS

Going to church and getting back to basics :KHQ , ¿UVW UHDG $OR\VLXV &KHRQJœV OHWWHU 2I )OLS )ORSV Latin and Kneeling at Mass (CN, 'HF H[SUHVVLQJ GLVDSSRLQWment at the church’s treatment of KLV ZLIH , PXVW DGPLW WKDW P\ ¿UVW reaction was to take the side of the warden and the church administration which set out the rules. After all, restaurant diners do not complain if they are told of a dress code in a restaurant and would duly adhere to the code. Be that as it may, it was pointed out to me subsequently that in Africa, parishioners go to church barefoot and I was forced to rethink this issue. While it is tempting to take sides, either with Mr Cheong or the church, it is too simple a dichotomy to make. What we need to do is to go back to the fundamentals. ,W PLJKW EH XVHIXO WR H[DPLQH why we go to church. If Christ is the focus, then I would like WR VXJJHVW WKDW FKDULW\ DQG ORYH DERYH DOO SUHYDLO DQG VKRXOG EH the central focus. The rules are a guide and should remain so, met-

CN, Dec 25

HG RXW ZLWK WKH XWPRVW ORYH DQG charity in which Christ taught His disciples to do. 7KH SHUIHFW H[DPSOH LV WKH RQH WKDW -HVXV JDYH ZKHQ +H VKRZHG +LV ORYH DQG FRPSDVVLRQ WRZDUGV WKH SURVWLWXWHV DQG WD[ FROOHFWRUV who sought Jesus out. In turn, as disciples and followers of Christ, the Lord urges XV WR ORRN EH\RQG RXUVHOYHV WR step away from our pettiness and EUXLVHG HJRV DQG UHĂ€HFW PRUH deeply about how Christ wants us

WR UHVSRQG WR +LV JUHDW VDFUL¿FH RI ORYH ZKLFK ZH OLYH GDLO\ DW WKH celebration of the Holy Eucharist. :RXOG ZH IRU WKH ORYH RI RXU Lord, not want to show our appreciation by doing all things well for Him, including paying attention WR WKH ZD\ ZH GUHVV DQG EHKDYH DGRULQJ +LP ZLWK FRPSOHWH UHYHUence by kneeling during the consecration? „ Geraldine Cheong Singapore 129199

You don’t dress sloppily for weddings I read with dismay Mr Aloysius &KHRQJÂśV OHWWHU 2I )OLS )ORSV Latin and Kneeling at Mass. I may not be the best Catholic, QRU GR , FODLP WR EH D YHU\ JRRG one. In fact, I may be what many FDOO D Âł6XQGD\ &DWKROLF´ %XW DW least I know that when one goes to *RGÂśV KRXVH RQH GUHVVHV WKH EHVW he or she can. You don’t go sloppily dressed to a funeral, wedding or any other function that requires a dress code. You don’t disrespect the host of the function by dressing down, you dress up. 0U &KHRQJÂśV FULWLFLVP RYHU Latin is unfounded. Many murmur not because they are insincere in reciting the Lord’s Prayer, but because they are unIDPLOLDU ZLWK WKH WH[W ZKLFK LV LQ

a different language. 2YHU WLPH DV WKH FRQJUHJDWLRQ EHFRPHV XVHG WR LW , EHOLHYH that people will be more willing to UHFLWH LW ORXGO\ 6D\LQJ WKDW PXUPXULQJ DQG WKH WH[W EHLQJ LQ D different language make one less sincere in worshipping the Lord is actually quite worrying. (YHQ LI WKH ZKROH 0DVV ZHUH to be conducted in a different language, one should not feel distant from the Lord. Honouring and ZRUVKLSSLQJ *RG VLQFHUHO\ VKRXOG be done in any language. Finally, I am most outraged at the words that not kneeling should EH ³WKHLU RZQ DFFRXQW ZLWK *RG´ We might as well not try and inVWUXFW SHRSOH ZKDW WR GR 7KDWœV D slippery slope that we face. ,I WKH &KXUFK GRHV QRW JLYH

GLUHFWLRQV RQ KRZ WR KRQRXU *RG how to dress properly when attending Church, how to respect the rules and canon law, we might as well say why be Catholic in the ¿UVW SODFH" There is no element of force, but there is always the need to be respectful of how one should beKDYH LQ &KXUFK I see no wrong in the priest compelling the congregation to kneel. The shepherd guides the ÀRFN DQG EULQJV WKHP EDFN WR WKH fold when they wander. The shepKHUG GLUHFWV WKH ÀRFN Why should the priest not then show the congregation the right ZD\ WR EHKDYH DW 0DVV" „ Ben Chen Singapore 308957

AMERICAN Jesuit Fr Daniel Berrigan once wrote a wonderful little book entitled, Ten Commandments for the Long Haul. It was intended as spiritual sustenance for those who walk the lonely, long URDG RI IDLWK DQG RIWHQ ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV GLVFRXUDJHG and running out of gas. 7KH SULHVW ZKR LV DOVR D SHDFH DFWLYLVW DQG SRHW GRHVQÂśW RIIHU D TXLFN Âż[ EXW SRLQWV RXW WKH ULJKW direction within which we should be walking and where, at key junctures, if we cast our eyes at the ULJKW VSRW ZH PLJKW ÂżQG (OLMDKÂśV MXJ *RGÂśV IRRG IRU WKH MRXUQH\ $V ZH EHJLQ D QHZ \HDU ÂżOOHG ZLWK QHZ KRSH DQG QHZ UHVROXWLRQV KHUH DUH VXFK FRPPDQGPHQWV WKDW PLJKW VHUYH XV ZHOO DV ZH ZDON the long road: 1. Acknowledge your contingency, your helplessness. <RX DUH QRW *RG EXW D FUHDWXUH 2QO\ *RG LV ipsum esse subsistens, VHOI VXIÂżFLHQW EHLQJ /LNH DOO FUHDWXUHV \RXÂśUH GHSHQGHQW DQG LQWHUGHpendent. Life works when you acknowledge this, when you accept that \RX FDQÂśW JLYH \RXUVHOI OLIH $OO LV JLIW ,I \RX WU\ WR OLYH WKH LOOXVLRQ RI VHOI VXIÂżFLHQF\ DQG WU\ to guarantee your own immortality, you mimic the sin of Adam and (YH FRPSOHWH ZLWK DOO WKH IXWLOLW\ RI HIIRUW WKH ORUGLQJ LW RYHU DQG WKH DOLHQDWLRQ IURP QDWXUH WKDW HQVXHV 3URSHU OLYLQJ EHJLQV ZLWK WKH ZRUGV Âł, DP QRW *RG ´ 2. Pray prayers of helplessness, gratitude, and praise. 3UD\ DOZD\V $OVR SUD\ IRUPDOO\ HDFK GD\ %\ \RXU EDSWLVP \RXÂśUH D SULHVW 3UD\ DV D SULHVW +ROG WKH ZRUOG XS HDFK GD\ WR *RG +ROG XS ERWK LWV ZRQGHUV DQG LWV SDLQ 3UD\ LQ JUDWLWXGH WKDQNLQJ *RG QRW MXVW IRU ÂłWKLV RU WKDW´ EXW IRU OLIH LWVHOI IRU OLJKW IRU WKLV HDUWK IRU WKRVH ZKR ORYH \RX Pray from your weaknesses and helplessness: “Lord, hang on to me OHVW , VOLS DZD\ IURP \RX 'R IRU PH ZKDW , FDQQRW GR IRU P\VHOI ´ 3. Welcome and accept the present moment. Life is what happens to you while you’re planning your life. Don’t let the busyness, pressures, and heartaches of life steal the present moPHQW IURP \RX 2QO\ WKH SUHVHQW PRPHQW LV UHDO 'ULQN LW LQ ZLWK DOO LW FDUULHV ,WÂśV WKH RQO\ SODFH \RX ZLOO H[SHULHQFH ORYH DQG MR\ ,I QRW QRZ when? If not with these people, with whom? If not here, where? 4. Give yourself permission to be inadequate. %RWK *RG DQG QDWXUH JLYH \RX SHUPLVVLRQ QRW WR EH SHUIHFW 'RQÂśW EH WRR KDUG RQ \RXUVHOI DQG HVSHFLDOO\ RQ RWKHUV (YHU\RQH IDOOV VKRUW *RG GRHVQÂśW NHHS \RX IURP IDOOLQJ DQG IDLOLQJ EXW UHGHHPV \RX ZKHQ \RX GR IDOO <RXÂśUH ORYHG DV \RX DUH )HDU QRW \RX DUH LQDGHTXDWH %H VXIÂżFLHQWO\ ORYLQJ DQG FULWLFDO DW WKH VDPH WLPH ,I \RXÂśUH FULWLFDO ZLWKRXW EHLQJ ORYLQJ \RXÂśUH GHVWUXFWLYH ,I \RXÂśUH ORYLQJ ZLWKRXW EHLQJ FULWLFDO \RXÂśUH ZHDN <RXU ORYHG RQHV \RXU FKXUFK DQG \RXU FRPPXQLW\ QHHG \RX WR EH ORYLQJ DQG FULWLFDO ERWK DW the same time. Don’t blackmail community by constantly threatening \RXU ZLWKGUDZDO /RYH EH FULWLFDO DQG VWD\ 3XOO IURP \RXU EDJ WKH QHZ as well as the old. 6. Be post-ideological, post personal-history, post-conservative, post-liberal, post-naive and post-sophisticated. %H QRQ FODVVLÂżDEOH +DYH DQ XQOLVWHG QXPEHU DV UHJDUGV EHLQJ OLEHUDO RU FRQVHUYDWLYH $GPLW WKDW WKH ULJKW DQG OHIW KDYH ERWK UXQ RXW RI LPDJLQDWLRQ DQG WKDW WKHLU V\PSDWKLHV DUH KLJKO\ VHOHFWLYH 'RQÂśW EH QDLYH EXW GRQÂśW EH VRSKLVWLFDWHG HLWKHU 6HH ERWK DV SKDVHV WR SDVV WKURXJK )RUJLYH \RXU SDVW 7. Bless what’s good and beautiful, even as you stand where the cross of Christ is erected. %OHVV ZKDWÂśV JRRG LQ WKH ZRUOG 1HYHU IRU WKH VDNH RI FDXVH RUWKRGR[\ RU MXVWLFH GHQLJUDWH EHDXW\ $OO WKDWÂśV JRRG DQG EHDXWLIXO KDV *RG as author. Honour it before speaking any word of challenge to the world. Imitate Christ: First bless the world and its goodness and, only then, JR VWDQG ZKHUH WKH FURVV LV SHUHQQLDOO\ HUHFWHG ZKHUH WKH H[FOXGHG RQHV LQ WKH FXOWXUH ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV 8. Be shockingly “Catholicâ€? – earthy and wine-drinking. %DVN LQ WKH JRRGQHVV RI OLIH :H KDYH GLYLQH SHUPLVVLRQ WR EH KDSS\ *RG LQYHQWHG ZLQH -HVXV VFDQGDOLVHG SHRSOH ZLWK +LV FDSDFLW\ WR HQMR\ life. He drank wine and let His heart be warmed by friends. Don’t confuse John the Baptist with Jesus. John was the ascetic, not Jesus. 9. Accept aging. Rely more on the paschal mystery than on cosmetics. All that dies EULQJV ULFK QHZ OLIH HYHQ RXU RZQ ERGLHV 3DVFKDO ZLVGRP ZLOO GR PRUH IRU \RXU MR\ WKDQ D IDFHOLIW $JLQJ QHHGV WR EH GHÂżQHG DHVWKHWLFDOO\ <RXU VRXO PXVW EH SURSHUO\ DJHG EHIRUH LW OHDYHV DQG \RXU ERG\ OLNH DQ ROG wine-barrel, takes on a different function and beauty as you age. Aging is an art form. 10. Serve the right God! *RG DV -XOLDQ RI 1RUZLFK DVVXUHV XV ÂłLV FRPSOHWHO\ UHOD[HG DQG courteous, Himself the happiness and peace of His dear friends, His EHDXWLIXO IDFH UDGLDWLQJ PHDVXUHOHVV ORYH OLNH D PDUYHOORXV V\PSKRQ\´ 'RQÂśW VHUYH DQ\ RWKHU *RG WKDQ WKLV 2QH 'RQÂśW ERZ WR DQ\ PROWHQ FDOI created in the image and likeness of our own tensions and bitterness. „

LETTERS 15

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Are we bankrupt of hospitality? Well done, Mr Aloysius Cheong (CN, Dec 25). I am so glad that you have had the faith, the courage, the honesty and the good sense to express your feelings DQG WKRXJKWV DERXW IRRWZHDU Ă€LS Ă€RSV IRUHLJQ ODQJXDJH /DWLQ and enforced postures (kneeling) during the Eucharistic celebration. As a Religious and Catholic priest, I am often saddened to hear how some fellow priests and a few of their high-handed ministers have become more like canonical “gate-keepersâ€? and sartorial enforcers of the Church than VHUYDQWV RI WKH /RUG Yes, we all try our best to dress appropriately for any occasion and even more so when we come to celebrate the Eucharist. But, surely there is nothing in all the Scriptures, the Tradition of the &KXUFK WKH &RGH RI &DQRQ /DZ and in the mores of our local cultural heritage to suggest that the KXPEOH Ă€LS Ă€RSV DQG WKH SRVK FitFlops) are inappropriate footwear when we come around the /RUGÂśV 7DEOH Why impose a dress code to turn people away just because their toes are exposed? Was Jesus ever embarrassed to bare His feet and even allow the woman to wash them with her tears and dry WKHP ZLWK KHU KDLU" :DV RXU /RUG and Master bothered in the least when he went down on his knees to wash the smelly, dusty toes and soles of the disciples.? That was for Him an integral part of His Supper and His communion with the ones He loved. In the language of the Kingdom, “ministersâ€? are always servants. Perhaps it is no coincidence that in the Church (and especially in the parish referred to in Mr &KHRQJÂśV OHWWHU ZH KDYH FRPH WR use this moniker – “wardensâ€? – to describe the role, function and behaviour of those who stand at the door to turn parishioners out rather than welcome them in and show them to a place to sit and be comfortable in the house of God. Have we become so bankrupt of hospitality, wanting in spirituality and lacking in humility that we have to resort to these penal

and reformatory ways and then use the name of our good religion to impose such measures on the faithful? Religion comes from the root word which means “to be reconnectedâ€?. Religious rituals, words and celebrations ought to help us be reconnected with God and with one another. However, when we are (mis)using a “foreignâ€? language in prayer that some, if not most, are unfamiliar with, then we are doing a disservice to the celebration and the people who have come to participate in it. /DWLQ PD\ EH D EHDXWLIXO VROHPQ SRHWLF Ă€RZHU\ ODQJXDJH EXW OHWÂśV QRW IRUJHW LW ZDV DOVR WKH ODQguage of the “oppressorsâ€?. May

As a priest, I am often saddened to hear how some fellow priests and a few of their high-handed ministers have become more like canonical ‘gate-keepers’ and sartorial enforcers of the Church than servants of the Lord. we not fall into that same category by imposing it on the faithful ZKRVH ÂżUVW ODQJXDJH PD\ EH 0DQdarin, Tamil, Tagalog or Singlish. When it comes to a public, FRPPXQDO FHOHEUDWLRQ LVQÂśW LW right and just for all of us to pray in one voice, with one heart and in one easy, common and familiar language? Thank you, too, Mr Cheong for reminding us (priests and presiders) that our tone of voice is important when we are giving instructions or invitations. I wonder how I would have responded if I was “instructedâ€? to kneel when I was standing at the back without a kneeler to help cushion my knee-caps? Or if I am

at all able to kneel because of an injury or some ache that I have in my knee joints? Standing, sitting, kneeling are good postures in worship but OHWÂśV QRW PDNH RQH PRUH ÂłKRO\´ or more “reverentâ€? than others. Besides, presiders ought to be focused on their own postures and gestures (and tone of voice) rather than on what the congregation is doing. If the presider prays reverently and creates a holy atmosphere through his words of wisdom drawn from the Scriptures, then the people, too, will be taken up in that same spirit. May this poem by George Herbert help us all remember who LW LV WKDWÂśV WKH +RVW DW RXU (XFKDristic celebration and who are the ones especially invited to sit and eat at His Table: Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back, guilty of dust and sin. But, quick ey’d Love, observing me grow slack IURP P\ ÂżUVW HQWUDQFH LQ drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning if I lack’d anything. ‘A guest,’ I answered, ‘worthy to be here’, Love said, ‘You shall be he.’ ‘I, the unkind, the ungrateful? Ah my dear I cannot look on thee.’ Love took my hand and smiling did reply, ‘Who made the eyes-but I? ‘Truth, Lord, but I have marr’d them Let my shame go where it doth deserve.’ ‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘who bore the blame?’ ‘My dear, then I will serve.’ ‘You must sit down,’ says Love ‘and taste my meat.’ So I did sit and eat. Fr Clement Lee, CSsR Novena Church, Singapore 307653

16 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Caring for the caregiver in the new year Why scheduling time to recharge your batteries is important By Bill and Monica Dodds A NEW YEAR and a new calendar can be a bit startling if you’re a caregiver. Maybe you realise just how long you’ve been helping your loved one. Maybe you grieve a little when you recall that it was only a year or two ago that your care-receiver was healthier and more able. Maybe you’re tired and you know that – soon – your calendar ZLOO EHJLQ WR ¿OO ZLWK DSSRLQWments and errands and other responsibilities associated with helping your spouse, parent or child with special needs. And, maybe hardest of all, there can be that tiny shadow in the back of your mind, that little fear in the pit of your stomach as you wonder if your loved one will make it through this new year. It could be, it might very well be, that the new calendar brings up a mix of those four reactions and more. How can that new calendar help you? Now, with so many blank spaces and blank days, you can pencil in some time for yourself on a regular basis. 7KLV LVQ¶W EHLQJ VHO¿VK Lunch with friends, a morning walk, dinner out with your spouse or sibling, an overnight “minivacation”, have a cumulative effect. They help you become and remain the kind of caregiver you want to be – the kind that’s best for your loved one.

Bringing someone in to be with your loved one on a regular basis can make a tremendous difference in your ability to provide care. You’re a human being, and God knows that human beings need to take breaks! That’s why it’s a very good idea also to look into respite care if you’re not already using that. Bringing someone in to be with your loved one on a regular basis (maybe a few hours once a week) can make a tremendous difference in your ability to provide care. This isn’t a sign of weakness. It shows wisdom. On the Web: A Caregiver’s Prayer: (This is on one of our websites, www.YourAgingParent.com, and on our YouTube channel: http:// www.youtube.com/user/JohnTheCaregiver): Heavenly Father, help me better understand and believe I can do what you ask me to do. Forgive me for the times, even now, when I question your judgment. As I go about the many daily tasks of caregiving, give me energy. As I watch my loved one ohso-slowly walk across the room, give me strength. As I answer his/her repeated question just one more time, give me patience. As I look for solutions to

whatever is the most recent concern, give me wisdom. As I reminisce with him/her about the “good old days”, give me a moment of laughter. As I get to know my loved one in a new way, seeing both his/her strength and frailty, give me joy. As I sit beside my loved one’s bed, waiting for his/her pain medication to take effect, give me comfort. Lighten my burden, answer my prayer, and give me the strength to do what so often seems impossible. Give me a quiet place to rest when I need it and a quieting of my anxieties when I’m there. Change my attitude from a tired, frustrated and angry caregiver to the loving and compassionate one I want to be. Remain my constant companion as I face the challenges of caregiving, and when my job is through and it’s time for me to let go, help me remember he/she is leaving my loving arms to enter your eternal embrace. Amen. CNS The Dodds are the founders of the Friends of St John the Caregiver and editors of My Daily Visitor magazine. Their website is www.FSJC.org.

YOUTH 17

Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

The effective use of social media can certainly help the Church better engage teenagers/young adults as this group spends a substantial amount of time on Facebook, Twitter and email. Some parishes have started a Facebook fan page, but that is QRW VXI¿FLHQW 7KH FKXUFK VKRXOG actively encourage parishioners to check for updates on Facebook and post interesting updates on parish happenings to keep teenagers and young adults interested. My perception of serving in the Church is that it is very time consuming and demands a high level of commitment. Perhaps the Church can look at engaging teenagers and young adults through short-term or ad hoc involvements, such as helping out at the canteen, serving with the wardens or helping to clean the church once a month.

My dream is to witness more participation and involvement from the youths in our Church, starting from the time they are in Sunday FODVV XQWLO DIWHU &RQ¿UPDWLRQ When they are still attending Sunday school, maybe churches in a certain district could come together and organise activities such as car washes for charity, music/art/ dance gig/performances cum mini funfairs, baking/cooking/dance/ music lessons to create bonding. I think it is important the Church connects with the youth via things that interest them. As the youths feel more connected with the Church, it is also important to bring in the spirituality aspect through cell groups and sharing, so that they feel the sense of belonging in community.

This will encourage those with a busy lifestyle to get involved and serve the Church. Community bonding activities such as bowling or movie nights are good ways to get parishioners acquainted with each other. I hope the Church can get more actively involved in serving the homeless and those in need. It

My wish for the Church is that everyone grows together and no one gets left behind. Bianca Teo, 26, Church of The Holy Trinity Serving in Catholic Spirituality Centre (St Jude’s Music Ministry)

If there’s one thing that I think the Church can help people like myself, it is to probably pray for us... and to also do more outreach. Perhaps church group members can personally invite someone to their group and get them started on it. My hope for 2012 is to be more involved in church so that I can use my talents to serve God (whatever those talents may be). I hope to focus more on God in my life and not to be “all over the place”, to put my full trust in Him so that everything else will fall in place. Amanda Yap, 26, Church of St Vincent De Paul

will be good if more homes can be built by the Catholic Church in Singapore to take care of the homeless or to provide food and medical treatment for the needy, regardless of religion. I hope to be able to share with people of different religions that our Church is a Church that helps those in need, regardless of race, language, religion and nationality. If there are activities like visits to old-age home or fundraising for charity, I will provide my services. On a more regular basis, I’ll be joining a choir in a parish community that serves during Masses on public holidays and monthly Holy Hour sessions. The choir provides a smaller, closely knitted support group, and helps me to keep my faith going. Cassandra Seow, 24, St Anne’s Church

For many of us, being 20-something is to start a phase of life marked by great changes and new beginnings, such as in career and relationships. As Catholics, I believe that one of our challenges lies in remaining “at home” with Christ even as we try to build our material homes. It is often easy to be led astray by today’s secular culture of careerism and material pursuits, being young people with many aspirations. Among my community, it is a constant struggle not to be drawn by our generation’s byword of “success”, and to recognise instead where our true treasure lies, so that we might not forget our

The Church can better engage and involve youths by harnessing the power of social media. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools can reach out to our technologically savvy youths. Also, by providing interesting Catholic quotes and insights on social media, youths will become more interested in the Church, the faith and the love of Christ. Programmes such as overseas mission trips can help to foster community bonding among youths. Such trips will not only help the youths see how fortunate

I personally hope that the youth of our Church can be more rooted in prayer. I hope that more among us would hold more dearly the divine power of prayers. Praying is usually seen as “boring” and “a chore”; an act that is “reserved only for the retired”. We pray when we need something from God; others feel obligated to pray. Prayer sometimes appears to be unnecessary because we fail to realise the power of prayers. Prayer is an important aspect of our faith because it allows us to build a relationship with God. I hope that in the coming year and beyond, we will be more exposed to the many different kind of prayers. It is akin to maintaining our relationship with our loved ones. To nurture a particular relationship with someone, we need to talk to the person, send text messages etc. In the same way,

setting aside quiet time gives us an opportunity for God to speak to us and vice versa. My prayer for our Church’s youths is that we heed God’s calling to be a prayerful community. Alvan Raphael Mar, 25, Church of Christ The King Serving in RCIA Novena

we may grow in a true and beautiful way through being rooted in Christ. But what of the great many of our peers who are without such a Catholic community? For the year 2012, I pray that the Church may be a “home” to many of these young adults as they journey through life. I pray for the blossoming of young adult communities and support groups for professionals, and for the success of programmes such as Christ@Work and Couples for Christ to name a few. Catholic identity. By receiving God’s grace through our home in His Church,

Daryl Gomes, 23, Church of The Immaculate Heart of Mary Serving in NUS Catholic Students’ Society

Providence for their necessities and food. I hope the direction the Church takes in 2012 is one that will actively promote the liturgy of the Eucharist. The Mass being the source and summit of our Catholic faith should be better appreciated by Catholics, both young and old. 6R , KRSH WKH &KXUFK FDQ ¿QG ways to help us appreciate the Mass better and help us to grow in faith through the sacrament of the Eucharist. we are in Singapore but also see how the poor truly rely on Divine

Joyce Lim, 23, St Anne’s Church Serving in Catholic Spirituality Centre (St Jude’s Music Ministry)

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

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Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Adrian Adrian (d. 710), who had been born in Africa, rose to the position of DEERW RI 1HULGD QHDU 1DSOHV ,WDO\ After the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England, Pope St Vitalian wanted Adrian to become archbishop, but he said no. He said that St Theodore should become archbishop, and Adrian agreed to be Theodore’s assistant and adviser. Theodore made Adrian abbot of the monastery of Sts Peter and Paul in Canterbury, where he taught languages and set an example of a holy life. Adrian’s reputation as a man of God and as a teacher DWWUDFWHG VRPH RI WKH ¿QHVW VWXGHQWV IURP WKH (XURSHDQ FRQWLQHQW We honour him on Jan 9. „

KIDS’ CLUB: Share your thoughts on this week’s Bible story with family and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: What do you think is the most important part of the Mass?

Bible Accent: The readings from the Scriptures during Mass are planned over three years, called cycles A, B and C. Over these three years, much of the Bible is read. There are readings from the Old TesWDPHQW WKH 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW DQG RQH RI WKH *RVSHOV DQG YHU\ RIWHQ a psalm. The Gospel is read by either a priest or a deacon, and the other Scriptures are usually read by a volunteer called a lector. The Church year is the basis of the readings and is planned around the celebration or remembrance of important events in the life of Jesus Christ, and divided into periods of time called seasons. These seasons are Advent (leading up to Christmas), Christmas, Lent (leading up to Easter), the Easter triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday), Easter and Ordinary Time. The year begins with Advent and the last Sunday of the year is the feast of Christ the King. „

appeared to him and said, “Rise, WDNH WKH FKLOG DQG +LV PRWKHU Ă€HH to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy Him.â€? Joseph woke up Mary and they escaped under the cover of night and headed for Egypt. They remained there until they learned of the death RI +HURG ZKLFK IXOÂżOOHG DQRWKHU prophecy of the Scriptures: “Out of Egypt I called my son.â€? An angel once again appeared to

Joseph and said to him, “Rise, take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.� And Joseph did as the angel had instructed him. „ Read more about it: Matthew 2 Q&A 1. What three gifts did the Magi give to Jesus? 2. Why did Joseph take Mary and Jesus to Egypt?

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AFTER Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, during the reign of King Herod, the Magi from the East arrived. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?� they asked. “We saw His star at its rising and have come to do him homage.� Because the Magi were seeking a newborn king, word eventually reached Herod, and he was very angry. He had no newborn son, and he wondered who this newborn king might be. He called his chief priests and scribes together and asked them where the Messiah had been prophesied to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,� they answered, “for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of

Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’â€? So Herod invited the Magi to visit him, and he asked them when WKH\ KDG ÂżUVW VHHQ WKH VWDU WKDW KDG led them to Bethlehem. “Go and search diligently for the child,â€? he told them. “When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.â€? The Magi left the court of Herod and followed the star in the sky until it led them to where they found Jesus. When they found Jesus with His mother, they prostrated themselves and honoured him. Then they gave Him presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh. After this they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned home by a different route. Joseph also received a warning in one of his dreams when an angel

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By Joe Sarnicola

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information on events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www.catholic.sg/webevent_form.php

CHINESE CATECHISM 2012 @NATIVITY CHURCH 5.45-6.45pm: Nativity Church has catechism in Chinese for children from nursery level to Sec FRQÂżUPDWLRQ HYHU\ 6DWXUGD\ Details and registration T: 6280 0980 SDULVK RIÂżFH /LOLDQJ

Mondays February 13 April 23 ALPHA@ST BERNADETTE CHURCH 7.45-930pm: An opportunity to get to know each other from church and make new friends. ALPHA is a programme which creates and facilitates an opportunity to ask questions that we mostly never thought of asking, or always wanted to ask. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). T: 9798 7788 (Richard); E andy_lee_4health@ yahoo.com

Tuesdays January 3 to May 22 BOOK OF PROPHET JEREMIAH 9.30-11.30am or 7.45-9.45pm. 17 sessions by Msgr Eugene Vaz on the prophet Jeremiah. By SPI. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Cost: $95. T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org Wednesdays January 4 2012 to March 21 WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? 8pm: Gain deeper knowledge of Jesus through 12 evening sessions reading Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 1, praying, and sharing experiences and insights. Facilitated by Fr Christopher Soh, SJ. Cost: $60. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Cost: $40. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Wednesdays January 4 to July 18 THE BIBLE TIMELINE 7.45-9.45pm: The Bible Timeline is basic enough to suit those who haven’t studied the Bible before. It offers ways to go deeper for the Bible-study veteran. Salvation history covered from its beginning in Genesis through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church. Cost: $48 (for materials). At Church of the Holy Spirit Room A2-01. T: 9833 4623 (Andrew), E: andrew_loo_ts@yahoo.com.sg Thursdays January 5 to February 16 PERSONAL COMPASS: NAVIGATING ETHICAL AMBIGUITY 7.45-9.45pm: Year-long systematic course in Moral Theology by Fr David Garcia, OP, starting with Module One: Foundations in Moral Theology. Cost: $80 (per module), $400 (6 modules). By SPI & Wonderfully Made! At CWS Building Level 8 (55 Waterloo St). T: 6858 7012 (Janice), E: janice@catholicspi.org January 12 MY MISSIONARY EXPERIENCE WITH MUSLIMS: CROSSING BOUNDARIES OF FAITH 7.45pm: Fr Kamelus Kamus, CICM, will share his missionary experience with Muslims. At Church of the Risen Christ (91 Toa Payoh Central). January 14 TRANSITIONS THROUGH MIDLIFE CRISIS 9-11am: Feeling lost, and having self-doubts and a strong desire to make VLJQL¿FDQW FKDQJHV WR OLIH DUH FRPPRQ LQ the midlife passage. Sr Linda Lizada, MA, will deal with how to negotiate WKLV GLI¿FXOW SHULRG %\ &ODULW\ Singapore. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul Level 2, Room 8 (225 Queen St). Cost: $15. T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org; W: http://www.clarity-singapore.org

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Sundays from January 8 RCIY@IHM 3pm: For youths aged 14-21 years. At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (24 Highland Rd). T: 9875 1235 (Daniel), 9710 8145 (Seishen); E: rciyihm@gmail.com; W: http://rciy.ihm.sg Sundays from February 5 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 7.30-9.30pm: At Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. With welcome night on Jan 30. T: 9671 8216 (Christina), 9630 3276 (Edward), 9760 0038 (Bob). Forms available at church secretariat. Saturdays from March 17 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 3.30-6.30pm: For youths aged 13-20 years. At Church of St Mary of the Angels. T: 9100 4382 (Andrew), E: andNdrew@hotmail.com

January 14 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8-9.30pm: All welcome. At Armenian Church of St Gregory (60 Hill Street). For information on Taize visit http://www. taize.fr/en_article9687.html, taize_sg@ yahoogroups.com; E: bennycah@gmail.com Sunday January 15 to Saturday January 21 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER @HOLY TRINITY CHURCH Learn to listen to God through Scripture. Taster afternoon on Sunday to introduce Ignatian Contemplation & Lectio Divina prayer methods and to meet prayer guide. 30 minutes personal prayer time and 30 minutes meeting with prayer guide from Monday to Friday in church. Closing session on Saturday. At Church of the Holy Trinity. Register E: sojourners@ catholic.org.sg; W: http://www.catholic. org.sg/sojourners January 16 and 19 WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 8-10pm: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2012 – We Will All Be Changed By The Victory Of Our Lord Jesus Christ. An invitation to all Christians to join in SUD\HU UHÀHFWLRQV VRQJV DQG IHOORZVKLS First Service: Traditional Lutheran Service on Jan 16 at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer (30 Duke’s Rd). Second service on Jan 19 at Church of St Mary of the Angels (5 Bukit Batok East Ave 2) Saturday January 21 to Tuesday January 24 RETREAT IN MALAYALAM 9am (Sat) – 6pm (Tues): Rediscover yourself through the Word of God. These sessions will be held concurrently: adults’ retreat (Malayalam) by Jerusalem Retreat Centre, Kerala, led by Fr Davis Pattath; children’s retreat (4-12 years old) by Christeen, Kerala; teens’ retreat in English (13-19 years old) by Jesus Youth. By Malayalam Charismatic Group, Singapore. T: 9186 7456 (Milen), 9820 6084 (Nibu) for adults’ retreat; 9790 3482 (Joby), 9149 3328 (Beena) for children’s retreat; 9022 4690 (Ajith), 8401 4006 (Shibu) for teens’ retreat.

January 29 CATHOLIC SINGLES MEET-UP FOR MASS AND LUNCH 10am: Join in for fellowship and friendship. Starting with Sunday Mass at St Joseph Church Victoria St followed by lunch at Marina Square. Meet at church canteen. Register E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com Wednesdays February 1 to April 11 THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER 9.30-11.30am: Experience the transforming power of the responsorial psalms in the Mass and see how the psalms can empower your prayer to become an honest dialogue with God in this 11-part DVD-based programme by Jeff Cavins. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room A02-01). T:9815 4098 (Genevieve), 8228 8220 (Clare); E: HSBibleApostolate@gmail.com. Thursdays February 2 to April 26 JAMES – PEARLS FOR WISE LIVING 8-10pm: 11-part DVD study on James, one of the most practical books of the Bible, a collection of teachings on issues faced by ordinary Christians. These teachings speak to all who feel torn between the demands of the world and their faith. By Bible Apostolate Team (Church of Christ the King). Cost: $30 (for materials). At Church of the Christ the King (St Mary’s Room). Register by Jan 15. E: ctkbat@hotmail.com Alternate Fridays February 3 to May 18 BIBLE OVER COFFEE WITH FR EMMANUEL 9.30am-12pm: Looking for a place of spiritual growth? Come share God’s Word over a cup of coffee. All welcome. By Bible Apostolate Team. Cost: $30 (for materials). At Church of the Christ the King (function hall). Mondays February 6 to April 30 THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 7.45-9.45pm: John’s Gospel prayerfully UHÀHFWV -HVXV DQG +LV HWHUQDO UHODWLRQVKLS to the Creator. This study invites you to meditate on God’s overwhelming love. By Bible Apostolate Team. Cost: $20. At Church of the Holy Family (RCIA Room). E: hfcbat@yahoo.com Wednesdays February 8 to May 16 THE GOSPEL OF MARK 7.30-9.30pm: A structured Bible study programme from Little Rock Scripture Study. By SPP Bible Study Group. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (Level 3 Chapel). Cost: $25 (for commentary/workbook). Register. E: henrywu@lucas.com.sg Thursday February 9 to Sunday February 12 HEALING & FORGIVENESS: A LIVE-IN SILENT RETREAT 7pm (Fri) –1pm (Sun): Silent livein retreat for those who want to communicate with God through biblical passages, mental exercises and spiritual direction to obtain God’s graces of forgiveness and healing. Retreat director: Fr Paul Goh, SJ. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Cost: $165 (nonaircon), $240 (aircon). T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Saturday February 11 to Sunday February 12 COME LET US ADORE HIM 9.30am-4.30pm: A retreat by Fr. Antoine Thomas CSJ for catechists, parents, youth coordinators and all who are keen to bring the experience of Jesus to children, youth and young adults. Cost: $10. Register: T: 9362 5408 (Sr Angeline); E: childreneucharisticadora@gmail.com; W: www.adorejesus.com

January 27 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS 8-9.30pm: Join in for a special evening RI URVDU\ VFULSWXUDO UHĂ€HFWLRQ Eucharistic adoration and benediction. All welcome. By Generation CHRIST! Ministry. At Church of St Ignatius Kingsmead Hall (St Francis Xavier Chapel). E: gen.christ.ministry@gmail.com

Thursdays February 16 to 29 March 2012 CATHOLIC FAITH EXPLORATION (CaFE) 7.45-9.30 pm. Come experience the joy of knowing God and making your faith come alive through a 7-part DVD series, Knowing God Better. At Church of Christ the King (Room 105). Register T: 9350 4737, E: ctkcafe@gmail.com

January 27 CHILDREN’S EUCHARISTIC ADORATION 7.45-9pm: Come and pray as a family with your children. For children, parents and catechists At Church of the Holy Spirit (main church). T: 9362 5408 (Sr Angeline); E: childreneucharisticadora@ gmail.com ; W: www.adorejesus.com

February 16 iADORE: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUTHS AND YOUNG ADULTS 8.15-10pm: Fr Antoine, a well-known priest for Eucharistic adoration, will be guest priest for iAdore. Youths and young adults welcome. At Church of the Holy Spirit (main church) T: 6453 6340 (ext 7) E: iadoretheejesus@gmail.com

Friday February 24 to Sunday February 26 LANDSCAPES OF PRAYER 7pm (Fri) -1pm (Sun): Silent live-in retreat by Margaret Silf. Visit some familiar landscapes – the garden, the desert, the cave, the urban jungle – to discover what they have to teach about relating to God. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Cost: $270 (non-aircon), $320 (aircon). T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc.igevents@gmail.com

February 18 FAITH IN THE FUTURE 2-5pm: Talk by Margaret Silf, a wellknown retreat director, author and speaker on Ignatian spirituality on what does it mean to be a person of faith in the 21st century. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd St Ignatius Hall Annexe Cost: $20. Register by Feb 11. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc.igevents@gmail.com February 19 PRAYER FOR THE BEWILDERED 2-5pm Talk by Margaret Silf on how to pray when we no longer know how to pray. Explore some ways of entering the stillness of the heart from which prayer can take shape, and some approaches to help prayer become a reality in our daily lives. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd St Ignatius Hall Annexe Cost: $20. Register by Feb 11. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc.igevents@gmail.com

Monday February 27 to Wednesday February 29 FINDING A TRUE COURSE IN THE BEWILDERING WORLD 7pm (Mon)-5pm (Wed): Silent live-in retreat by Margaret Silf. Explore some ZD\V RI ÂżQGLQJ VROLG JURXQG DPLGVW WLPHV of uncertainty. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Cost: $270 (non-aircon), $320 (aircon). T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc.igevents@gmail.com

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38 Architect Mies 1 Title of address van der _____ 58 Narrow inlet for a friar or monk 39 Coll. course 59 Letter letters 2 Greek goddess of 41 Pats gently 60 Alkali the dawn 3 From, in Bonn 4 Alphabet string Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1048 5 Teapot contents? V I N C E A R C H F A S T 6 Type of sin L A L A I S T O E N O L A 7 Earth S C O U R L I O N S T U D 8 Words at the end T A K E N O N U S H I N D of the aisle S E P T D O H E R T Y 9 Authorizations D U T Y M A R A P B 10 Author of The J I L T B I A S I M A C C Models of the A L O H A N H L R E R U M Church G O I T N E R D X E B E C 11 Spicy concoction O R A O N E A A E R G N U S S U S P E N D 12 Draws near A N T H S I N S G A B L E 13 Amulet L I R A L E A H U B O A T 18 Buddy A T E N E G G O S E R V E 22 Attention getter D E W Y M O S T T R E E S www.wordgamesforcatholics.com 23 Sports spot

22 NEWS

At least 26 Church workers killed in 2011 VATICAN CITY – At least 26 Catholic pastoral workers were killed in mission lands or among society’s most disadvantaged communities, although they were more often the victims of violent crimes than persecution for their faith, said a VatiFDQ QHZV DJHQF\ Each year, Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, publishes a list of pastoral workers ZKR GLHG YLROHQWO\ 7KH OLVW ZDV UHOHDVHG RQ 'HF The agency said that over the course of the year, it registered the deaths of 18 priests, four Religious ZRPHQ DQG IRXU OD\SHRSOH 7ZHQW\ ÂżYH FKXUFK ZRUNHUV ZHUH NLOOHG LQ D ÂżJXUH GRZQ from an unusually high number of ZRUNHUV PXUGHUHG LQ For the third consecutive year, the Americas, particularly Latin America, registered the most murders with the death of 13 priests and two laypeople: seven in CoORPELD ÂżYH LQ 0H[LFR DQG RQH each in Brazil, Paraguay and NicaUDJXD 6L[ SDVWRUDO ZRUNHUV ZHUH killed in Africa, four in Asia and RQH SULHVW ZDV NLOOHG LQ (XURSH In their commitment to serving the needs of others, the men and women made their own safety their ODVW SULRULW\ )LGHV VDLG Like other years, “many were killed in an attempted robbery or kidnapping that ended badly, caught in their homes by bandits in VHDUFK RI LPDJLQDU\ ULFKHV 2WKHUV were killed in the name of Christ by those opposing love with hatred, hope with despair, dialogue with violent opposition, the right WR SHUSHWUDWH DEXVH´ LW VDLG Those killed included: „ $ QXQ LGHQWLÂżHG RQO\ DV 6U Angelina, who was killed by militants of the Ugandan guerilla movement, the Lord’s Resistance Army, while she was taking medical assisWDQFH WR UHIXJHHV LQ 6RXWK 6XGDQ „ Maria Elizabeth Macias Castro, a member of the Scalabrinian Lay Movement in Nuevo Laredo, 0H[LFR ZKR DVVLVWHG PLJUDQWV DQG was kidnapped and murdered by GUXJ GHDOHUV „ Sr Valsha John of the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary was killed in her home in northern InGLD 6KH KHOSHG SURWHFW LQGLJHQRXV communities from being driven from their lands by coal mining FRPSDQLHV 6KH KDG EHHQ UHSHDWedly threatened by criminals who had warned her not to interfere, but government authorities reportedly ignored her requests for help, said )LGHV Fides said its provisional list only includes pastoral care workers, not the many other Catholics who died for their faith such as the late Pakistan minister of minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, and those killed in the bombings of churches LQ 1LJHULD RQ &KULVWPDV „ CNS

IN MEMORIAM

Sunday January 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

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Sunday January 15, 2012 CatholicNews

PUBLISHED BY ARCHBISHOP NICHOLAS CHIA, 2 HIGHLAND ROAD #01-03, SINGAPORE 549102. PRINTED BY TIMESPRINTERS, 16 TUAS AVE 5, SINGAPORE 639340.

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