FEBRUARY 12, 2012, Vol 62, No 03

Page 1

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2012

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20

MICA (P) 043 / 01 / 2012

PPS 201/04/2012 (022727)

Christian divisions weaken common witness: pope

NO. 3

INSIDE HOME Charismatic leaders’ retreat Participants learn about leadership, service

VATICAN CITY – Divisions among

Christians, including on moral issues, weakens their credibility and their ability to respond to the spiritual yearning of many men and women today, Pope Benedict XVI said. While “there is more that unites us than divides usâ€? on the basic tenets of faith – belief in Christ, the son of God and saviour of humanity – “divisions remain and regard many practical and ethical questions, giving rise to confusion and mistrust, weakening our ability to transmit the saving word of Christâ€?, Pope Benedict said on Jan 18 at his weekly general audience. With about 8,000 pilgrims and visitors gathered in the Vatican audience hall, Pope Benedict spoke about the importance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held annually from Jan 18-25 around the world. The lack of a united voice and witness poses a huge obstacle to the new evangelisation, “which would be more fruitful if all Christians proclaimed together the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and gave a common response to the spiritual thirst of our ageâ€?, the pope said. During his talk, the pope did QRW PHQWLRQ VSHFLÂżF SUDFWLFDO RU moral issues dividing Christians WRGD\ EXW KH KDV GHÂżQHG DV REVWDcles to unity practices such as the ordination of women and different approaches to moral issues such as homosexuality. The Second Vatican Council placed the search for Christian unity “at the centre of the life and work of the Churchâ€?, the pope said, and it did so because it was Christ’s desire for His followers and because, practically speaking, it is essential for the full credibility of Christians. “The lack of unity among Christians impedes a more ef-

VOL 62

¾+RZ FDQ ZH „ Page 4 JLYH D FRQYLQFLQJ HOME ZLWQHVV LI ZH Approaching DUH GLYLGHG"œ

the new media

– Pope Benedict XVI on the importance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Professor talks about his recent book „ Page 8

Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury walking with Pope Benedict XVI at Lambeth Palace in London in September 2010, during the pope’s four-day visit to Britain. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

fective proclamation of Christ because it puts our credibility in danger,� the pope said. “How can we give a convincing witness if we are divided?� The key to Christian unity isn’t simply to have members of different denominations be nice to one another and work together occasionally, he stressed. “It requires that we reinforce our faith in God, the God of Jesus

Christ, who spoke to us and became one of us. It requires entering into a new life in Christ, who LV RXU WUXH DQG GHÂżQLWLYH YLFWRU\ “It means opening ourselves to each other, welcoming all the elements of unity that God has preserved for us and gives us constantly. It means feeling the urgency of witnessing to the men and women of our time the living God who has made himself known in

Christ,� Pope Benedict said. In a meeting with an ecumenical group of Catholic and Lutheran leaders from Finland on Jan 19, the pope said that differences among Christians regarding the “proper understanding of human nature and its dignity� had grown in recent years. He urged Christians to come together to reach “a profound agreement� on anthropological questions so that society and policy makers could be guided in their decisions regarding the important areas of human behaviour, the role of the family and sexuality. The pope told the group, an ecumenical delegation on their annual pilgrimage to Rome, that the common witness between Catholics and Lutherans should be reinforced to face the challenges posed by a world that “lacks true direction and longs to hear the message of salvation�. An ecumenical delegation sponsored by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland comes to Rome each year on the Feast of St Henrik, Finland’s patron saint. The pope said the annual visit was a testament to “the growth of communion among Christian traditions represented in your country� and that he hoped for deepening relations between Lutherans and Catholics in Finland. „ CNS „ Page 2: Put aside ‘petty quarrels’

HOME Six new principals commissioned Develop ‘listening heart’, archbishop tells educators „ Page 9

ASIA Guidelines for sex abuse cases Region’s bishops work on ‘protocol’ „ Page 11

WORLD Preparing for London Olympics A ‘chance’ to renew faith „ Page 13

ANALYSIS 50 years after Vatican II Debates still rage „ Page 15

2 HOME

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

Forget about ‘petty quarrels’ ... Lutheran bishop urges Christians of various denominations at ecumenical service By Darren Boon Put aside petty squabbles and competition to prepare for the coming of Christ. This was the message Lutheran Bishop Terry Kee had for Christians of different denominations who attended a Jan 16 prayer service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Christians should focus on what they have in common, such as Christ’s victory over death and resurrection, and their baptism and salvation in Christ, he told the 200-strong crowd gathered at the Lutheran Church of our Redeemer at Duke’s Road. Do not be caught up by “petty quarrels that we miss the exciting coming of the Lord and the preparation that the Lord” has called for, Bishop Kee urged the crowd, gathered for one of two prayer services to mark the special week. “To usher in the King of Glory,” said Bishop Kee, it is important that “those who have been saved in Him realise that in Him we are one”. Yet, Christians pick on “minor WKLQJV´ WR DUJXH DQG ¿JKW DERXW rather than “celebrating the things we have in common”. In doing so, Christians “miss the whole message … and the call God has for all of us”, the bishop said.

Do not be caught up by ‘petty quarrels that we miss the exciting coming of the Lord and the preparation that the Lord’ has called for. – Lutheran Bishop Terry Kee

Representatives of Christian Churches bless the congregation towards the end of the Jan 16 prayer service at the Lutheran Church of our Redeemer. In pulpit: Lutheran Bishop Terry Kee. Standing below him from left: Rev Richard Chiu, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer; Franciscan Friar Derrick Yap, Church of St Mary of the Angels; Rev David Wee Boon Hup, Barker Road Methodist Church; Rev Dr Matthew Lim, International Baptist Church Singapore; Catholic Vicar General Msgr Eugene Vaz; Rev Nick Singh, Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer; Jesuit Fr Philip Heng, Church of St Ignatius Church; Rev Susheel Cheriyan, Mar Thoma Syrian Church and Mr Lawrence Chong, Focolare Movement. Photo: WONG LEONG JEAM

He reminded those present of the brotherhood and sisterhood they share in Christ despite denominational differences and disagreements. The second service was held at the Catholic Church of St Mary of the Angels on Jan 19 and attended by about 300 people.

Parish priest Franciscan Friar John-Paul Tan said the evening’s service was a celebration of “the gift of life, the gift of creation, and the gift of faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. He urged Christians to proclaim the Good News through

“temperance, generosity and proper stewardship” and to “offer a message of healing and reconciliation”. Fr John-Paul also highlighted the symbolism of water in the Christian life. He invited those present to celebrate their common

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Feb 11 2.30pm

Church of St Bernadette: Mass – Ordination to the Diaconate of Samuel Lim and Joseph Zhang CDD Feb 12 11.00am Church of Our Lady of Lourdes: Mass – Feastday Feb 18 4.30pm Gift of Love Home: Mass – Opening of New Home Feb 19 11.00am Church of St Bernadette: Mass – Feastday

identity as Christians and the gift of life by approaching the baptismal font. Archbishop Nicholas Chia led the concluding prayer. 6RPH ¿UVW WLPHUV DW WKH VHUvices said the events helped boost ecumenism. Mr Ting Lik Ho, a Methodist, said the call for unity is in the Bible and that Christians should be more tolerant of each other’s differences. Mr John Chan, a catechumen from the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, concurred, saying he found Bishop Kee’s message relevant. Christians should “look more to [their] similarities than differences,” he said. The theme for this year’s Christian Unity Week was “We will all be Changed by the Victory of Our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15: 51-58). darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

HOME 3

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Feb 20 deadline for users of columbaria By now all those who already have the ashes of their loved ones at a parish columbarium, or who have booked a niche for future use, should have received a letter from their columbarium. This letter was accompanied by the ofÂżFLDO WH[W RI WKH QHZ 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV *RYHUQLQJ WKH 8VH RI $OO 3DULVK &ROXPEDUia in the Archdiocese of Singapore. The letWHU H[SODLQV KRZ WKH QHZ 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV DIIHFW \RXU XVH RI WKH &ROXPEDULXP You are kindly requested to sign the Reply Form DQG QRWLI\ \RXU &ROXPEDULum of your agreement. If for any reason you wish to termiQDWH \RXU XVH RI WKH &ROXPEDULXP \RX should indicate this in the Reply Form DQG UHWXUQ WKH VDPH WR \RXU &ROXPEDULum by 20 February 2012, failing which you shall be deemed to have agreed to the QHZ 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV 7KH QHZ 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV ZHUH formally approved by the Senate of 3ULHVWV DQG $UFKELVKRS 1LFKRODV &KLD on 24 November 2011 and promulgated as “particular lawâ€? of the Archdiocese for all parish columbaria – without any exception whatsoever – to observe. They will take effect on 1 March 2012. Therefore, if it should happen that you have not yet received the letter and the accompanying documents, PLEASE &217$&7 <285 &2/80%$5,80 immediately. If you have any queries relating to the OHWWHU RU WKH QHZ 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV please call the dedicated Hotline at Tel no. 6656-2428. Hotline hours are MonGD\V WR )ULGD\V DP WR SP H[FHSW SXElic holidays. The Hotline will run until 20 February 2012. NOTE: 7KH )UDQFLVFDQ &ROXPEDULXP ORFDWHG DW WKH &KXUFK RI 6W 0DU\ RI WKH $Qgels is not owned by a parish and does not belong to the Archdiocese. As such, it has LWV RZQ VHW RI 7HUPV DQG &RQGLWLRQV ZKLFK basically, are consistent with those in force for ALL parishes of the Archdiocese. „

Serangoon District holds youth conference More than 350 youths recently gathered IRU ZKDW KDV EHHQ ELOOHG DV WKH ÂżUVW HYHU 6HUDQJRRQ 'LVWULFW <RXWK &RQIHUHQFH The event, which had the theme Heart of Worship, focused on the Eucharist as the source and summit of worship. ,W ZDV KHOG DW &+,- 6HFRQGDU\ 7RD 3D\RK IURP -DQ DQG DWWUDFWHG young people aged 15-23 years from the Serangoon District parishes. The conference aimed at instilling a GHHS GHVLUH IRU -HVXV DPRQJ WKH \RXQJ participants, equipping them with spiritual tools and planting the seed of community within them, according to organisers. The event included talks, worship sessions, small group sharings, prayer breakout sessions and Mass. 2Q WKH ÂżUVW GD\ VSHDNHUV IURP WKH ,QVWLWXWH RI :RUOG (YDQJHOLVDWLRQ ,&3( VKDUHG IXQGDPHQWDO &DWKROLF WUXWKV ZLWK the crowd, such as the need to live their identity as children of God and surrenderLQJ WKHLU OLYHV WR -HVXV 7KH ÂżUVW GD\ FRQFOXGHG ZLWK D WLPH RI deep worship as archdiocesan youth chaplain Fr Brian D’Souza carried in the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. The second day saw participants reĂ€HFWLQJ RQ D IDPLOLDU OLQH IURP WKH 3URfession of Faith – “one, holy, catholic and DSRVWROLF &KXUFK´ 7KH \RXWKV UHFHLYHG D powerful message on the missionary naWXUH RI WKH &KXUFK DQG DOVR OHDUQW DERXW contemplative prayer, scriptural prayer and &KDULVPDWLF SUD\HU 'LRFHVDQ 6HPLQDULDQ -XGH 'DYLG UHminded them of the importance of being rooted in community and also gave a tesWLPRQ\ RI KLV H[SHULHQFHV LQ FRPPXQLW\ Participants said they found the conferHQFH D PRYLQJ H[SHULHQFH Âł,W ZDV KHDUWwarming to meet so many people devoted to God in this pragmatic world. And even if we’ve heard it before, it’s nice to hear declarations of God’s grace,â€? said 18-year-

The Serangoon District Youth Conference aimed at instilling a deep desire for Jesus among young people.

old Sara from the parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “I found the Ignatian prayer really KHOSIXO DV , FRXOG ÂżQG P\VHOI FRQQHFWing with God on a whole different level,â€? VDLG \HDU ROG )UHHPDQ &KLD IURP WKH 6W )UDQFLV ;DYLHU &KXUFK \RXWK PLQLVWU\ “The talk on community really opened my eyes about what community is about,

‘It was heartwarming to meet so many people devoted to God in this pragmatic world.’ – Sara, 18, from Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

and how everything is communitarian,â€? he said. “I know now that I have a better direction of where God is leading me to.â€? The idea to hold the conference was mooted last year and was the initiative of WKH 6HUDQJRRQ 'LVWULFW <RXWK &RXQFLO The district had held a day of prayer and fasting in March in which youth leadHUV IURP WKH ÂżYH SDULVKHV JDWKHUHG WR GLVcern the direction of God for the district. The leaders then decided to plan a programme to cater to the needs of the youths here. Using the feedback obtained from that day of prayer, the core team spent 10 months working on the conference. The Serangoon District parishes are St Francis Xavier, St Vincent de Paul, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Anne. „

4 HOME

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Charismatics learn about leadership, service

Charismatic group leaders at the recent SACCRE retreat. Photo: JANICE LOW

By Gerard Francisco Leaders of Charismatic groups in the archdiocese have attended a retreat aimed at addressing various aspects of leadership. More than 70 leaders from prayer groups, communities and PLQLVWULHV DIÂżOLDWHG WR 6$&&5( 6LQJDSRUH $UFKGLRFHVDQ &DWKROLF &KDULVPDWLF 5HQHZDO JDWKHUHG DW WKH 6W )UDQFLV ;DYLHU 0DMRU 6HPLQDU\ IURP -DQ 6$&&5( VSLULWXDO GLUHFWRU )U :LOOLDP *RK ZKR JDYH WKH WDONV GXULQJ WKH UHWUHDW VSRNH DERXW WKH qualities of a leader. $ OHDGHU QHHGV WR EH VKHSKHUG VHUYDQW DQG VWHZDUG KH VDLG +H JDYH WKH H[DPSOH RI .LQJ 6DXO ZKR DOWKRXJK KH KDG FHUWDLQ TXDOLWLHV ZDV ZHDN LQWHULRUO\ DEXVHG KLV position and caused people to suffer. /HDGHUV QHHG WR EH DEOH WR UHODWH WR RWKHU OHDGHUV DQG HPSRZHU HDFK RWKHU VDLG )U *RK $ JRRG OHDGHU LV RQH ZKR LQVSLUHV RWKHUV and prepares the next line of leadHUVKLS WR WDNH RYHU KH VDLG The priest also stressed that Charismatic group leaders need to have personal prayer time and GLVFHUQPHQW ZKLFK ZRXOG KHOS WR HVWDEOLVK D FOHDU YLVLRQ WKDW ZRXOG attract others to their groups. Leaders need to offer their serYLFHV LQ KXPLOLW\ HPSKDVLVHG )U Goh. 3UD\HU JURXSV PXVW DOVR ORRN DW QHZ ZD\V RI VHUYLFH JXLGHG E\ WKH +RO\ 6SLULW 3UD\HU PHHWLQJV should help participants experiHQFH -HVXV KH VDLG DGGLQJ WKDW there is also a need to pay attention to youths and their interests. 7KH ÂżUH LQ &KDULVPDWLF SUD\HU JURXSV FDQ RQO\ JURZ LI WKH\ EHDU ZLWQHVV WR WKH UHVXUUHFWLRQ DQG PDNH HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ WKHLU SULPDU\ goal, he stressed. ,Q KHU DGGUHVV 6$&&5(

Fr William Goh spoke about leadership qualities. File photo

FKDLUSHUVRQ -HVVLFD )UDQFLVFR noted that the organisation’s role LV RQH RI VHUYLFH RI HPSRZHULQJ prayer groups to serve parishes. 6$&&5( KDV WDNHQ WKLV GLUHFWLRQ RYHU WKH ODVW IHZ \HDUV VKH VDLG 0DQ\ SUD\HU JURXSV QRZ ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV FROODERUDWLQJ ZLWK other parish groups and participating more actively in parish events, she added. 5HWUHDWDQWV VDLG WKH\ IRXQG WKH retreat useful. “This retreat reminded us to EH &KULVW OLNH DQG &KULVW FHQWUHG´ in leading others, said Ms Gladys $QJ DGGLQJ WKDW WKH RQO\ ZD\ WR DWWDLQ WKLV LV WKURXJK REHGLHQFH DQG EXLOGLQJ LQWLPDF\ ZLWK *RG 0U -RVHSK 7DQ IURP WKH &KXUFK RI 6W )UDQFLV ;DYLHU VDLG KH OHDUQW that his role as shepherd leader can DOVR EH H[WHQGHG RXWVLGH KLV SUD\HU group and to his church at large. 7KH ODVW WLPH VXFK D 6$&&5( UHWUHDW ZDV KHOG ZDV LQ $ERXW SHRSOH DWWHQGHG WKH RQH GD\ SURJUDPPH ZKLFK DGGUHVVHG &KDUismatic group leaders’ response to VHUYLFH LQ WKH &KDULVPDWLF UHQHZDO )ROORZLQJ WKH UHFHQW UHWUHDW 6$&&5( LV ORRNLQJ WRZDUGV KDYLQJ D IROORZ XS UHWUHDW DW WKH HQG of this year. „

HOME 5

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Students credit caring teachers for good O Level results By Don Gurugay It was their teachers’ care and dedication that helped them achieve good results in the face of challenges, said two students from St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School. Chan Ying Ying and Mansura Begum both got 5 O Levels and TXDOLÂżHG IRU IXUWKHU HGXFDWLRQ DW D polytechnic. This, despite the fact that Chan faced family problems and had to stay at a shelter, and Begum is hearing-impaired. “I received a lot of support and encouragement from my teachers,â€? said Chan. “They stayed back to help me and they also encouraged me and spurred me on. I also had a special sponsor, a parent volunteer from my school, who helped get me accommodation.â€? She added that when she UDQ LQWR IDPLO\ GLIÂżFXOWLHV ÂłP\ teachers were always there to protect me ... The teachers are all caring; they don’t mind sacULÂżFLQJ WKHLU WLPH HYHQ RQ ZHHN-

the exams, ‘theBefore teachers actually stayed back at night to coach us ... They would really make sure you understand and they would even buy food for you at meal times.

’

– Mansura Begum &KDQ <LQJ <LQJ DQG 0DQVXUD %HJXP ERWK JRW 2 /HYHOV DQG TXDOL¿HG IRU further education at a polytechnic. Chan had faced family problems while Begum is hearing-impaired.

ends and sometimes staying till 10pm.� Chan said she was especially grateful to her principal, Ms Mel-

anie Ann Martens, for her help. Ms Sharon Yu, Chan’s teacher, said the girl also deserves credit for her good results.

They topped Sec 5 cohort By Don Gurugay Amanda Chia and Khoo Chit Hui had reason to be rejoice on Jan 9. That day, when the GCE O Level results were released, they found out that they were the two top scoring Sec 5 students in Singapore. Both scored four A1s and one A2. “It was mind blowing, it’s not something I expected,� Chia, from Holy Innocents’ High School, told CatholicNews. “It’s really God who helped me. I also have very supportive parents, they have always encouraged me to do my best and let God handle the rest; and that’s been my motto all this while,� said the Christian teenager. She added, “Most of my teachers throughout my secondary years were also very encouraging and supportive. I would also like to thank my church leaders who were constantly praying for me, encouraging me and telling me not to give up and believing in me that I could do well.� Khoo, from Montfort Secondary, said he thanked his “family and ... teachers� for his success. Overall, Catholic schools fared well in last year’s GCE O Levels with many producing better results than the previous year. CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School produced two of the three top students in Singapore. Both Zhong

Left: Amanda Chia seen here with her parents.

Below: Khoo Chit Hui.

Yingyi and Chai Yung Ci scored 10 A1s each. This is the fourth year running that the school has produced a top O Level student. „

“I’m very proud and happy for Ying Ying ... I’ve seen her through KHU GLIÂżFXOW FLUFXPVWDQFHV DQG she’s never, ever given up, and I think it’s also her faith in God and her hard work.â€?

Begum told CatholicNews, “I DLPHG WR MXVW JHW WR ,7( DW ÂżUVW EXW my mother and teachers encouraged me to go further. “What touched me the most is that before the exams, the teachers actually stayed back at night to coach us, even though they have their own lives to lead. It was very moving. She added, “I would say it’s because of them that we’ve come this far. They would really make sure you understand, then they will let you go and they will even buy food for you at meal times.â€? Mr He Junhao, Begum’s teacher said, “I’m very proud of Mansura for all the hard work that she put in, in spite of all the GLIÂżFXOWLHV DQG FKDOOHQJHV VKH faced. “She came to us as a Normal (Technical) student who was weak in her studies but she worked very, very hard and she got herself through all the way till Sec 5, and achieved this commendable result.â€? „

6 HOME

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Opus Dei priest’s 1st Mass in S’pore Fr Damien Lim, Singapore’s ¿UVW 2SXV Dei priest, celebrating KLV ¿UVW Mass at Blessed Sacrament &KXUFK

)U 'DPLHQ /LP WKH ¿UVW 6LQJDSRUHDQ PHPEHU RI 2SXV 'HL WR EH RUGDLQHG FHOHEUDWHG KLV ¿UVW 0DVV LQ 6LQJDSRUH RQ -DQ $ IHZ KXQGUHG RI KLV IULHQGV DQG UHODWLYHV DWWHQGHG WKH DP FHOHEUDWLRQ KHOG DW WKH %OHVVHG 6DFUDPHQW &KXUFK WKH SDULVK ZKHUH KH ZDV EDSWLVHG ZKHQ KH ZDV D XQLYHUVLW\ VWXGHQW )U 'DPLHQ ZKR LV LQ KLV HDUO\ V FHOHEUDWHG WKH 0DVV ZLWK VHYHUDO RWKHU SULHVWV 7KH\ LQFOXGHG )U $YHOLQR 0DULQ 9LFDU RI 2SXV 'HL LQ 6RXWKHDVW $VLD DQG )U $QWKRQ\ +XWMHV SDULVK SULHVW RI %OHVVHG 6DFUDPHQW &KXUFK 7RZDUGV WKH HQG RI WKH 0DVV )U 'DPLHQ VKDUHG VRPH UHÀHFWLRQV RQ KLV YRFDWLRQ ³$V D SULHVW , DP D µEUHDGZLQQHU¶ LQ WKH OLWHUDO VHQVH RI WKH ZRUG , KDYH WR JLYH EUHDG WR WKH FKLOGUHQ RI *RG ´ KH VDLG +H UHFDOOHG ZLWK DIIHFWLRQ KLV ODWH IDWKHU ZKR ZDV EDSWLVHG LQ

WKH ODVW IHZ GD\V RI KLV OLIH DQG DOVR WKDQNHG KLV PRWKHU DQG VLEOLQJV SUHVHQW LQ WKH FHUHPRQ\ WR ZKRP ³, RZH VR PXFK ´ Fr Damien concluded with a VSHFLDO SHWLWLRQ ³3OHDVH SUD\ WKDW ZH SULHVWV ZLOO QHYHU JHW DFFXVWRPHG WR FHOHEUDWH WKH +RO\ 0DVV ´ )U 'DPLHQ REWDLQHG KLV HQJLQHHULQJ GHJUHH LQ 6LQJDSRUH DQG KLV 0%$ LQ 6SDLQ EHIRUH OHDYLQJ IRU 7DLZDQ LQ 7KHUH KH GHYHORSHG KLV SURIHVVLRQDO VNLOOV DV DQ HQJLQHHU DQG FROODERUDWHG LQ WKH DSRVWRODWH RUJDQLVHG E\ 2SXV 'HL ,Q KH PRYHG WR 5RPH ZKHUH KH VWXGLHG WKHRORJ\ DW WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI WKH +RO\ &URVV +H ZDV RUGDLQHG WR WKH SULHVWKRRG LQ 0D\ LQ 5RPH DQG VSHQW D IHZ PRQWKV LQ %DUFHORQD 6SDLQ EHIRUH À\LQJ EDFN WR 6LQJDSRUH +H LV H[SHFWHG WR EH SRVWHG WR 7DLZDQ LQ WKH QHDU IXWXUH „

6LQJDSRUHDQ &DWKROLFV SRVH ZLWK &DPERGLDQV LQ 7DRP 7KH ZKHHOFKDLU WKH \RXQJ &DPERGLDQ LV XVLQJ ZDV GRQDWHG E\ 6LQJDSRUHDQV

S’poreans aid 1,200 Cambodian families By Fr Peter Wee, CSsr )RUW\ QLQH &DWKROLFV IURP 6LQJDSRUH VSHQW QLQH GD\V LQ &DPERGLD JLYLQJ PDWHULDO DLG WR QHHG\ &DPERGLDQV )URP 'HF WR -DQ WKH JURXS ZKLFK LQFOXGHG \RXWKV DQG DGXOWV IURP 1RYHQD &KXUFK WKUHH 5HGHPSWRULVWV FDWHFKLVWV DQG D FDWHFKXPHQ YLVLWHG SRRU YLOODJHUV LQ DQG DURXQG 6LHP 5HDS 0HPEHUV RI WKH 'LYLQH /RYH *URXS FRPSULVLQJ SHRSOH IURP

GLIIHUHQW SDULVKHV LQ 6LQJDSRUH FRRUGLQDWHG WKH WULS -HVXLW PLVVLRQDULHV LQ 6LHP 5HDS DOVR WRRN SDUW LQ WKH RXWUHDFK 7KH JURXS YLVLWHG WKUHH ODNH YLOODJHV ¿YH ODQG YLOODJHV D VFKRRO DQ RUSKDQDJH D SXEOLF KRVSLWDO DQG D SULVRQ 3ULRU WR WKH WULS WKH JURXS FROOHFWHG GRQDWLRQV LQ FDVK DQG NLQG IURP JHQHURXV 6LQJDSRUHDQV $ IRRW FRQWDLQHU ZHLJKLQJ WRQQHV ZDV DOVR RIIHUHG IRU WKH WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ RI WKH JRRGV WR 6LHP 5HDS 7KHUH WKH JURXS JDYH DZD\

LWHPV VXFK DV IRRG SDFNDJHV ZULWLQJ PDWHULDOV WR\V FORWKHV EODQNHWV WRZHOV VRXS ERZOV VFKRRO EDJV DQG WUDYHO EDJV ,Q WRWDO WKH JURXS IHG DQG FORWKHG FKLOGUHQ DQG IDPLOLHV ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR SURYLGLQJ PDWHULDO DVVLVWDQFH WKH JURXS DOVR IHG WKH FKLOGUHQ FXW WKHLU KDLU DQG SOD\HG JDPHV ZLWK WKH FRPPXQLWLHV WKHUH 7KH JURXS DOVR DWWHQGHG D 0DVV FHOHEUDWHG E\ 0VJU (QULTXH )LJDUHGR DSRVWROLF SUHIHFW RI %DWWDPEDQJ 7KH %DWWDPEDQJ SUHIHFWXUH LQFOXGHV 6LHP 5HDS „

7KH JURXS YLVLWHG orphans at a home in Siem 5HDS UXQ E\ WKH Missionaries RI &KDULW\ In addition WR SURYLGLQJ material assistance, the JURXS DOVR IHG poor children and FXW WKHLU KDLU

HOME 7

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

Charity walk raises funds for Hainan chapel

Parishioners of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour taking part in a 4-km walk to assist Catholics in a Chinese village.

A parish’s Charity Fun Walk raised about $10,000 for the construction of church facilities on Hainan Island, China. Parishioners of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour took part in the 4-km walk along East Coast Park on Jan 2 morning. They included youths and elderly, people in wheelchairs, children and even babies in the arms of their parents. The event was part of the parish’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which had the theme, One Church, One Family. Parish priest Fr Gregory Van Giang had appealed to parishioners to raise funds for the rebuilding of a chapel in Xian Gou village in Hainan Island. Planning started as early as last February 2011. Xian Gou Village has a population of 30,000 and is approximately 48 km from Haikou, capital city of Hainan Island. The

number of Catholics in this farming village is approximately 300. The church building here was built in 1627 by Jesuits but later demolished. Today, the site is occupied by an old double-storey parish house and a dilapidated single-storey apartment with wooden URR¿QJ DQG WKUHH VPDOO URRPV Organisers say the funds raised from the charity walk will go towards building a place of worship, a study venue for students, and a venue for community celebrations and other events. )U 9DQ *LDQJ ÀDJJHG RII WKH walk at 9.30 am after saying an opening prayer. Although the entire event lasted about two hours, participants said they did not feel tired. Most said it was a leisurely walk and offered them the opportunity to chat and enjoy each other’s company. A balloon artist was also present to entertain the children.

8 HOME

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Meeting Christ in the media A Catholic professor speaks about his book on approaching the new media By Darren Boon It was out of personal frustration that Singapore-born Eugene Gan began his research into what the Church has to say about the use of media. “I wanted to know how to use [the media] rightly ‌ I wanted to ÂżJXUH LW RXW IRU P\ RZQ XVH DV D media professional. I wanted to do great stuff with a computer. What does it mean to really engage people and bring them to something better ‌ to inspire,â€? said the professor at a Catholic university in the US. And with the prevalence of online pornography, video game violence and the abuse of online social networks, Dr Gan was concerned as a “media professional and parentâ€? of three boys that there were seemingly no guidelines. Dr Gan, who teaches interactive media and communication arts at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, spent DERXW ÂżYH \HDUV FRPELQJ WKURXJK Scripture and Church documents in search of an answer. The fruit RI KLV ODERXU LV WKH ERRN ,QÂżQLWH Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media, published in 2010. It is also the result of encouragement from his spiritual director and friends, who thought that such a book was necessary in today’s world. According to Dr Gan, the book is for parents, catechists, youth ministers, teachers, media students – all consumers and producers of media in fact – as it “gives a set of tools ‌ a guideline ‌ a framework,â€? said Dr Gan, 41. In the book, he extracts seven principles on how to approach

and use media, such as keeping a balance, attitude awareness, and a focus on the dignity of the human person. According to him, the book is a synthesis and summary of the media for the busy person, grounded on Scripture and the Church’s documents. He says he also includes his seven principles in his lessons and

The book aims to be a synthesis and summary of the media for the busy person.

teaches his students how to create good media for consumption. A leap of faith Dr Gan, the only child of Catholic parents, graduated in 1994 from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA, with a Bachelor of Science in electrical and computer engineering and a minor in art. Prior to working in Franciscan

University, he had held a full time job as a consultant/trainer developing multimedia devices and training people in the media industry. He said he believes it was God who led him to become a media professor at the Catholic university. Teaching then was not his ÂżUVW FKRLFH DQG SDVVLRQ DV KLV mother was a teacher herself, and he knew the demands of the trade, he told CatholicNews. But when a position later became available at Franciscan University, a nun whom he was close to advised him to take the job. He remembered praying hard to the Lord about the matter. “I kept saying, ‘If You really want me to go there, You’ve got to prepare my heart.’ After I prayed that prayer a number of times, there was an internal peace. It was a sense, knowing our Lord would take care of everything. All I had to do was to trust and take the next step.â€? So he took “a leap of faithâ€? and told the Lord he trusted that He would be lighting his path. Dr Gan added that he hopes people would be able to learn about the seven media principles he has LGHQWLÂżHG DQG XVH WKH PHGLD ZHOO Apart from lecturing, Dr Gan is also a Eucharistic minister in Steubenville. Dr Gan will give a talk on how to produce and consume media with a Catholic view at Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre, St Peter’s Auditorium, on Feb 9 at 7pm. The talk is free. Register at http://registration.catholic.org.sg His book is available at www. amazon.com „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Dr Eugene Gan seen here with his family. The Singapore-born professor teaches at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, USA.

HOME 9

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

Six new principals commissioned children or their parents after 15, 18 years is always a highlight.” Learning how well they are doing now, whether it is at school or work, “is so reassuring and inspiring”, she added.

By Don Gurugay Six new principals of Catholic schools were commissioned in a Jan 28 ceremony organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS). They were Mrs Tan Wai Lan (CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School), Mrs Daphne Sing (De La Salle School), Mr Adolphus Tan (St Patrick’s School), Mrs Denise Chelliah (St Francis Xavier Kindergarten), Mrs Mabel Leong (Assumption English School) and Mrs Catherine Chiang (St Gabriel’s Primary School). The commissioning, held in the Catholic Junior College Chapel, was part of the Principals’ Commissioning and Renewal of Commitment ceremony, which ACCS has been organising for the past eight years. The event brings educators of Catholic schools together and helps them realise that they are carrying out an important part of the Church’s mission, says ACCS. The principals and vice-principals present also renew their commitment to their vocation as education leaders in Catholic schools. In his homily during the Mass, Archbishop Nicholas Chia urged participants to develop a “listening heart” to hear God’s voice. He pointed out that “having a listening KHDUW DQG KDYLQJ D UHÀHFWLYH SUDFtice as educators are essential for our own well-being, our relationship with God and our neighbour”. He stressed that “our schools DUH IRXQGHG RQ WKH ¿UP IRXQGDtion of God’s love and we are sure WKDW *RG IXO¿OV +LV SURPLVH WR EH with us to the end. Our schools should be places of joy founded on truth and service.” Below is some information on the new principals: Mrs Daphne Sing, De La Salle School Mrs Sing taught in both primary and secondary schools for 16 years before becoming vice-principal at Singapore Chinese Girls’ School (Primary) and Bukit Panjang Primary School. After three years as vice-principal, she was posted to the Ministry of Education Headquarters and worked in the Staff Training Branch for two years, planning training courses for teachers, and developing and implementing training and development policies and frameworks. Her last posting was in the Curriculum Planning and Development Division as assistant director overseeing the development and implementation of the physi-

Mrs Mabel Leong, Assumption English School

New principals commissioned during a special ceremony (from left): Mrs Tan Wai Lan, CHIJ St Nicholas; Mrs Mabel Leong, Assumption English School; Mrs Denise Chelliah, St Francis Xavier Kindergarten; Mr Adolphus Tan, St Patrick’s School; Mrs Daphne Sing, De La Salle School; and Mrs Catherine Chiang, St Gabriel’s Primary School.

µ2XU VFKRROV DUH IRXQGHG RQ WKH ¿UP foundation of God’s love and ... should be places of joy founded on truth and service.’ – Archbishop Nicholas Chia to principals and vice-principals of Catholic schools during a Mass on Jan 28

cal education, health education, home economics, civics and moral education curricula in schools. Mr Adolphus Tan, St Patrick’s School Mr Tan began his teaching career as a physics teacher at National Junior College from 1987. He was posted to Hong Kah Secondary School in 1995 as head of department of science. After a year as vice-principal, he was appointed principal of St Gabriel’s Secondary School in 1999. Before taking up the leadership at St Patrick’s School, Mr Tan served as a senior quality assessor in the School Appraisal Branch,

Ministry of Education, followed by D ¿YH DQG D KDOI \HDU VWLQW DV SULQcipal of Shuqun Secondary School, which is known for catering to academically weaker students. Mrs Tan Wai Lan, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School Mrs Tan is an alumna of the school and says it is a privilege and honour to be back serving her alma mater. She has served in various capacities in schools and in the Ministry of Education. She was principal of Anderson Secondary School from 20022005, and was also Deputy Director of National Education/Planning

and Deputy Director of Psychological Services. Her last appointment before coming to St Nicholas Girls’ was Superintendent of East 4 Cluster. She said she looks forward to tapping on these experiences for her work at St Nicholas. Mrs Denise Chelliah, St Francis Xavier Kindergarten Mrs Chelliah has almost 20 years of early childhood experience with a private kindergarten. She said she got into early childhood education as she wanted to impart whatever she knew to young children. She said, “The more memoUDEOH H[SHULHQFHV KDYH GH¿QLWHO\ taken place with the children and there are too many to mention... However meeting some of these

Mrs Leong has 30 years of experience being a teacher, and has been principal of Changkat Changi Secondary School, Hua Yi Secondary and now Assumption English. She also served a three-year stint in the Ministry of Education’s schools division as a cluster superintendent. She said, “Coming back to school is to be on the ground and to be able to help our generation Z.” She noted that students face various “social changes and challenges” in the 21st century, and that they will eventually “take up the responsibility to make a difference to the community”. Mrs Catherine Chiang, St Gabriel’s Primary School Mrs Chiang was previously a viceprincipal at St Gabriel’s Primary School. Prior to that, she was at White Sands Primary for about a decade and held the position of head of department in information and communications technology. She was later promoted to vice principal. “I feel very blessed that I have been chosen to lead St Gabriel’s Primary School,” she said. “Having spent my formative years in a convent, it was a homecoming of sorts for me. I am certainly looking forward to leading SGPS as the ethos of a Catholic school is congruent with my beliefs, views and philosophy of education – to shape lives for service to God and nation.”

10 ASIA

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Church leaders hope for UHVROXWLRQ RI .DFKLQ FRQĂ LFW MANDALAY, MYANMAR – Church leaders in Myanmar’s Kachin state say they hope peace talks between the government and the ethnic opposition Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) will SHUPDQHQWO\ HQG ÂżJKWLQJ The unrest, that erupted last June, has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people. A government delegation last month met leaders of the KIO in Ruili, China, across the border from Kachin state. Talks are still ongoing as both sides discuss strategies for an end to hostilities. Peace must be secured for the sake of the ethnic region’s longterm security, said Bishop Raymond Sumlut Gam of Bamaw diocese. “We will be grateful if a good result comes out of the talks. But I can’t tell exactly how successfully they can negotiate for peace or how mutual trust can be established,â€? he said. During negotiations last month, the KIO repeated its call for further political discussions

with the government in the capital Naypyidaw. The KIO believes this will pave the way towards greater self-determination in Kachin state within the framework of a federal system, according to a press release from the opposition group reported in media. Fr Paul Aung Dang, director of Karuna Banmaw Social SerYLFHV VDLG WKDW WKRXJK ÂżJKWLQJ has stopped, much remains to be done to repatriate thousands of refugees who left their homes to escape the violence. “It will take time for the refugees to go back to their homes even if the peace talks bring a good result,â€? he said, adding that new refugees continue to arrive at churches and at makeshift camps near the Chinese border. 7KH SULHVW VDLG WKH FRQĂ€LFW LQ Kachin state was not just a local problem. “We need to pray not only for the refugees but for all people affected by past violence. The .DFKLQ FRQĂ€LFW LV QRW MXVW DQ LVVXH for Kachins. It concerns the whole nation.â€? „ UCANEWS.COM

Islamic court’s expulsion of Christians spark concern INDIA – Church leaders in India

have criticised an Islamic court’s GHFLVLRQ WR H[SHO ÂżYH &KULVWLDQV including a Catholic priest. A Shari’a court in Jammu and Kashmir state ordered the expulsion of Mill Hill Father Jim Borst, who has worked in the region since 1963, after accusing him of “spreading communal disaffectionâ€?. Shari’a courts have no legal standing in India. “We are really concerned over this,â€? Fr Babu Joseph, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, told Catholic News Service on Jan 20, the day after the ruling. He said personal laws of religious communities “should not be used against other faithsâ€?.

Fr Borst, a well-known retreat preacher, runs Good Shepherd School in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. The school was partially burned during the widespread protests against the desecration of the Qur’an in the United States in 2010. The court found the accused Christians, including a Church of North India pastor and his associate, of “luring� and “forcing� Muslims to Christianity. Catholic Bishop Peter Celestine Elampassery of Jammu-Srinagar Bishop Elampassery said he is meeting the federal Minority Commission to urge it to take up Christian concerns with the state government. „ CNS, UCANEWS. COM

Chinese Indonesians urged to give time, not just money BATAM, INDONESIA – Bishop

Hilarius Moa Nurak of Pangkalpinang has urged Chinese Indonesians in Bangka-Belitung province to free up some of their “busy time� and play a more active part in Church life. “Many Catholic Chinese Indonesians are business people with a ‘time is money’ way of thinking. As such they are often busy, which prevents them from being active in Church life, particularly in their own basic ecclesial communities,� he said during a Jan 23 Mass at St Peter Church in Lubuk Baja, Batam, to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The Mass was attended by 1,500 people, mostly of Chinese descent, and concelebrated by the parish priest and two assistant priests. “Some think they are taking part in Church life by donating money,� he said, adding that although the Church does need money it does not mean money can replace physical participation. According to the diocese, some 18,000 out of a total of 45,000 Catholics in the diocese are of Chinese descent. The rest are from various other ethnic groups. „ UCANEWS.COM

CHURCH IN CHINA

9DWLFDQ RIÀFLDO ZDQWV legal recourse for jailed Chinese priests VATICAN CITY – The Vatican’s

KLJKHVW UDQNLQJ &KLQHVH RIÂżFLDO has called on Beijing to release arrested Catholic bishops and priests, saying their continued detention “damages China’s international imageâ€?. Archbishop Savio Hon Taifai, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, made his remarks in an interview published last month by AsiaNews, a Rome-based missionary news agency. “We need to pray for these bishops and priests ... but we must also appeal to those who are holdingâ€? them, Archbishop Hon said, endorsing a public campaign recently launched by AsiaNews. At the time of the interview, eight of nine arrested clergy were members of the so-called “undergroundâ€? or clandestine Catholic community, whose leaders refuse to register with the Chinese government. Five more have since been arrested (see story below). The government’s refusal to acknowledge the detention shows that the priests and bishops “disappeared for religious reasonsâ€?, Archbishop Hon said. “If these people have done something wrong, please send them to court, not to prison or isolation.â€? Asked what the Vatican is doing to obtain their release, Archbishop

If these people have ‘done something wrong, please send them to court, not to prison or isolation. – Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples

Hon said that requests were being made through personal channels and diplomats from third countries. But he also noted that the “Holy See cannot publicise all the help it gives and its closeness to them�. Noting that the Vatican does not distinguish between Catholic communities that register or do not register with the government, the archbishop called for unity of the Church in China in spite of government persecution. “It is also important that the underground communities learn to forgive,� he said. “The martyr, like St Stephen, is also one who forgives.�

’

China requires bishops to register with the government, but many refuse, believing registration forces them to operate within certain limits. Those who, for decades, refused to register and suffered persecution at the hands of communist authorities have sometimes felt resentment towards those who opted to register and cooperate. A 2007 letter from Pope Benedict to Chinese Catholics “leaves the decision to the individual bishop�, having consulted his priests, “to weigh ... and to evaluate the possible consequences� of registering with the government. „ CNS

More ‘underground’ priests arrested HONG KONG – Five “under-

groundâ€? priests from Suiyuan diocese in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were “taken awayâ€? by police on Jan 30, according to Church sources. They were arrested in Erenhot, a city near the border with Mongolia. The sources said the priests, ZKR KDYH QR DIÂżOLDWLRQ ZLWK WKH government-sanctioned Catholic Church, were Fr Joseph Gao, the diocesan administrator; Fr Joseph Ban, the seminary rector; and three parish priests surnamed Ding, Wang and Zhao. They were apparently holding a meeting at a layperson’s home in the late afternoon to discuss the transfer of parish priests when about 30 policemen and governPHQW RIÂżFLDOV VWRUPHG WKH KRXVH and took them away. 7KH RIÂżFLDOV GLG QRW JLYH DQ\ explanation for the arrests and other priests and lay leaders have called for prayers for their safe return, the sources said. They described the incident

Catholics of Suiyuan diocese praying in a church. UCANEWS.COM photo

as “very unusual�, as the underground Church community in Suiyuan has led a peaceful existence in recent years, with about 30 priests living in laypeople’s homes and doing pastoral work secretly. The underground community continues to refer to itself as Suiyuan diocese, which covers the

vast central and southwestern part of Inner Mongolia. ,W ZDV RI¿FLDOO\ DEROLVKHG E\ China’s government-approved Church authority when it restructured diocesan territories to IRUP ¿YH GLRFHVHV LQ WKH DXWRQRmous region in the early 1980s. „ UCANEWS.COM

ASIA 11

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

Bishops working on sex abuse ‘protocol’ Vatican has asked all bishops’ conferences to come up with procedures for cases By Vincent D’Silva JOHOR BAHRU – The Catholic

Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei is working on a “protocol” for child sexual abuse, according to the head of the organisation. ³7KH ¿UVW GUDIW LV DOUHDG\ done,” Bishop Paul Tan of Melaka-Johor told CatholicNews. Bishop Tan was speaking on the sidelines of the conference’s 89th plenary session, held at Majodi Centre in Plentong, Johor, from Jan 9-13. Bishop Tan explained that the Vatican has asked all bishops’ conferences in the world to come up with a “protocol” for child sexual abuse. Explaining the term, Bishop Tan said, “If a member of the clergy is accused of sexual abuse of children, the steps and procedures we are to take will constitute the ‘protocol’.” Bishop Tan said the conference will come up with a second draft of its “protocol”, which will be sent to Rome for comments. $ ¿QDO GUDIW WDNLQJ LQWR FRQsideration Rome’s comments will then be sent to Rome for approval, he added. According to the conference programme, Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur spoke on sex education and human sexuality. Topics discussed included the care that Catholic educators must take when teaching children about sex, and respect for the sanctity of marriage. Archbishop Nicholas Chia of Singapore spoke on vocations to the priesthood and Religious life DJDLQVW D EDFNGURS RI ULVLQJ DIÀXence in the region, according to the meeting programme.

The lack of appropriate witnessing by clergy and the mediaPDJQL¿HG VH[XDO DEXVH VFDQGDOV have also not been helpful, the conference was told. Presently, Sabah is producing more vocations than other areas in the bishops’ conference, the conference learnt. The bishops’ conference also noted that vocation promoters from the various dioceses will attend a meeting to discuss how to address the vocation crisis. Commenting on the worldwide meeting of bishops, to be held in Rome in October, Bishop

‘If a member of the clergy is accused of sexual abuse of children, the steps and procedures we are to take will constitute the ‘protocol’.’

– Bishop Paul Tan, head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei

Tan told CatholicNews that some dioceses in the region have already sent their comments on the lineamenta, the text presenting the topics for discussion. The theme for the Synod of Bishops meeting is The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. Bishop Tan also delivered a paper on climate change. He had represented the regional bishops in Bangkok at a meeting on climate change last year, organised by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). Page 24: Special meeting in Rome

Participants at the 89th plenary session of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Seated from left: Archbishop Nicholas Chia (Singapore), Archbishop John Ha (Kuching), Bishop Paul Tan (Melaka-Johor), Msgr Marek Zalewski (First Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature in Singapore), Bishop Emeritus James Chan (Melaka-Johor). Standing from left: Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom (Sandakan), Bishop Cornelius Sim (Brunei), Bishop Anthony Lee (Miri), Bishop Joseph Hii (Sibu), Bishop Cornelius Piong (Keningau), Archbishop Murphy Pakiam (Kuala Lumpur), Coadjutor Archbishop John Wong (Kota Kinabalu), Archbishop John Lee (Kota Kinabalu) and Bishop Antony Selvanayagam (Penang).

12 WORLD

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

‘Neocatechumenal celebrations must lead to parish Mass’ Pope Benedict stresses importance of Church unity to Neocatechumenal Way members

Members of the Neocatechumenal Way pray with Pope Benedict XVI during his Jan 20 audience with them. CNS photo

VATICAN CITY – The aim of the

Neocatechumenal Way must be to encourage members to partake fully in the liturgical life of the parish, the pope told the movement recently. Pope Benedict XVI urged members to make sure always that their work was in “profound communion with the Apostolic See and the pastors of the local Church in which they’re inserted”. “Unity and harmony of the ecclesial body are an important witness to Christ and His Gospel in the world we live in,” he said during a Jan 20 audience with some 7,000 members of the Neocatechumenal Way, a parish-based faith formation programme. The pope also encouraged them to continue “to offer your original contribution to the cause of the Gospel”. A number of top Vatican of¿FLDOV DQG WKH 1HRFDWHFKXPHQDO Way’s Spanish founders, Kiko Arguello and Carmen Hernandez,

also attended the event in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall. That day, the Vatican released D GHFUHH DSSURYHG E\ WKH 3RQWL¿cal Council for the Laity, in which it “grants the approval of those celebrations contained in the Catechetical Directory of the Neocatechumenal Way, which, are not, by their nature, already regulated by the liturgical books of the Church”. The decree was dated Jan 8. The decree also mentioned the Vatican’s approval of the organisation’s statutes in 2008 and its catechetical directory in 2010. In his audience talk, the pope said that while the celebrations described in the directory had been approved, the celebrations “are not strictly liturgical, but are part of an itinerary of growth in the faith”. The celebrations are a kind of stepping stone to the parish Mass as a way to help form and re-introduce lapsed or ill-prepared Catholics into “the richness of sacramental life”, the pope said. For that reason “the neocatechumenates can celebrate the Sunday Eucharist in their small FRPPXQLWLHV DIWHU WKH ¿UVW 6XQGD\ vespers according to the arrangements of the diocesan bishop”, he said. But the pope re-emphasised

that every Eucharistic celebration “is ultimately directed by the bishop” and must be open to all Catholics, not just members of the Neocatechumenal Way. “The progressive maturation in the faith” of each member and small community “must favour their insertion in the life of the greater ecclesial community, which is found in the liturgical celebration of the parish”, he said. But during the neocatechumenate’s journey of formation, “it’s important not to be separated from the parish community, precisely in the Eucharistic celebration, which is the true place of unity for everyone, where the Lord embraces us in our different stages of spiritual maturity and unites us in the one bread that makes us one body”. The pope said the latest overVLJKW PHDVXUH UHÀHFWHG WKH ZD\ LQ which the Church “accompanies you with attention in a patient discernment, understands your richness, but looks, too, towards the communion and harmony of the whole ecclesial body”. The papal audience was an annual event in which the pope blesses families who, responding to the request of a local bishop, agree to go off as missionaries to assist with evangelisation efforts. CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

Pope stresses value of anointing of sick VATICAN CITY – Anointing of the sick is not a minor sacrament but one that “deserves greater consideration today” because of its spirLWXDO EHQH¿WV WR ERWK PLQLVWHU DQG recipient. Pope Benedict XVI made these comments in a message for the 2012 World Day of the Sick. The special day is celebrated on Feb 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The pope noted that the sacrament may be administered in “various human situations connected with illness, and not only when a person is at the end of his or her life”. Anointing with olive oil recalls the “double mystery of the Mount of Olives”, the pope said, as both the location of the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus confronted His passion, and the place where He ascended into heaven. Oil thus acts “as God’s medi-

Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, at the Olympic Park in London. CNS photo

London Olympics a ‘chance’ to renew faith MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Brit-

ish bishops plan to use the 2012 London Olympic Games to renew interest in the Catholic faith, with LQLWLDWLYHV UDQJLQJ IURP ¿JKWLQJ KXPDQ WUDI¿FNLQJ DQG KRPHOHVVness to promoting youth ministry and ecumenical dialogue. The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales is also preparing resources for liturgies and holy hours and will post them on the Internet before the July 27Aug 12 games. Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, president of the bishops’ conference, called the Olympics and Paralympics “a moment of great opportunity”. The sporting events “generate all sorts of good ideas and initiatives, particularly for young people, reminding all of us of the importance of good health, the dignity of our bodies, the care of our physical well-being and its spiritual meaning”, the archbishop said in a Jan 24 statement. “The example of many who are dedicated to training routines in preparation for these games reminds us of the need for good habits and routines in our own daily lives if we are to make the most of our God-given talents,” he said. The Catholic Church in Britain has been preparing for three years to seize the opportunity presented by the games to evangelise, said Mr James Parker, the Catholic executive coordinator for the games. Twenty-four chaplains have been trained for the occasion, and training is also being offered

to representatives of more than 5,000 Catholic churches who will organise parish events, such as street parties, during the games. In London, visitors will have access to two Catholic hospitality centres – one at Westminster Cathedral and the other at St Anthony Parish, the church closest to the XXX Olympiad Stadium. The Joshua Camp, a tented village for Catholic youths, will open near London’s Olympic Park, to offer catechesis and formation centred on sport themes. Mr Parker said the Church also will use the Olympics to draw attention to social issues such as homelessness, fair trade and care for the environment, and the bishops intend to promote Catholic teaching on the human body. He added that the Church will be involved in the 100 Days of Peace initiative, which encourages parishes and schools to promote peace in the 50 days before the Olympic opening ceremony and 50 days after the Paralympic closing ceremony. The initiative will aim to combat gang violence in particular. At a parish level, Catholics throughout the country will be encouraged to make their presence felt, especially on the route taken by the Olympic torch in the two months before the games begin. Parishes are being asked to offer refreshments at least to the people who will line the streets to watch the passage of the torch, which will travel within easy reach of 95 percent of the nation’s homes. CNS

cine ... offering strength and consolation, yet at the same time [pointing] beyond the moment of WKH LOOQHVV WRZDUGV WKH GH¿QLWLYH healing, the resurrection”. The pope said that anointing of the sick is one of the Church’s two “sacraments of healing”, together with the “medicine of confession” – penance. When a sick person confesses sins to a priest, “a time of suffering, in which one could be tempted to abandon oneself to discouragement and hopelessness, can thus be transformed into a time of grace”. Both penance and the sacrament of the sick “have their natural completion in eucharistic Communion”, Pope Benedict said. The pope said, parishes should ensure that the elderly and the sick enjoy the “possibility of frequently receiving Holy Communion”. CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

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: MRKQVRQ IHUQDQGH]#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: PHPRULDP#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christopher Khoo: FKULVWRSKHU NKRR#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: VXEVFULSWLRQV#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Darren Boon: GDUUHQ ERRQ#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: DGYHUWLVHPHQWV#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: PHGRQD ZDOWHU#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

EDITORIAL MATTERS AND QUERIES: FQHGLW#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

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

DESIGN / LAYOUT: Christopher Wong: GHVLJQ#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ Elaine Ong: HODLQH RQJ#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

LETTERS

Church canteens can go ‘green’ ,Q KLV &KULVWPDV PHVVDJH $UFKELVKRS 1LFKRODV &KLD SXEOLVKHG D most impressive commentary on how we, as a community can do RXU SDUW LQ FDULQJ IRU *RGÂśV FUHDtion. Among other things, he menWLRQHG WKDW ÂłZH FDQ DYRLG XVLQJ 6W\URIRDP ZKLFK LV D KD]DUG WR WKH HQYLURQPHQW´ &RLQFLGHQWDOO\ 6W\URIRDP LV XVHG LQ FKXUFK FDQWHHQV RQ ZHHNends. Many operators had started off serving food and hot beverages in recyclable utensils but, sadly, have replaced them with Styrofoam. Styrofoam is in fact an enviURQPHQWDO KD]DUG DQG LWV KDUPIXO SURSHUWLHV WDNH RU VR \HDUV WR FOHDU XS ,WÂśV WLPH WKDW ZH JR EDFN to basics and relearn the goodness of recycling. To all canteen operators, have \RXU EXON FRRNHG IRRG GLVSOD\HG in reusable containers. No more KXJH DQG EXON\ WLQ IRLOV SOHDVH

Canteen operators should avoid using foam utensils.

Serve your food selections on ceramic or a suitable serviceware that can be washed and reused. &XWOHU\ VKRXOG DOVR EH UHF\FOHG &DQ \RX LPDJLQH KRZ PXFK \RX will be saving on your operating FRVWV" 'ULQNLQJ KRW EHYHUDJH IURP 6W\URIRDP LV VR DQQR\LQJ LVQÂśW LW"

&RIIHH RU WHD LV EHVW GUXQN IURP D proper vessel made of ceramic or glass. It is safe, decent and does not get mixed with the harmful chemicals found in Styrofoam. We all need a cup of freshlyEUHZHG FRIIHH DIWHU 0DVV GRQÂśW ZH" )RU WKRVH ZKR KDYH EHHQ RIIHULQJ ÂłFRIIHH ZKLWH´ RU ÂłFRIIHH EODFN´ WR \RXU ZHHNHQG FURZG LWÂśV WLPH IRU D FKDQJH $YRLG WKUHH in-one premixed coffee sachets. 7KH\ DUH DUWLÂżFLDO DQG FRQWDLQ ORWV of chemicals. If there is any resistance to change, it is understandable. To overcome this, be positive and feel proud to accept this change for the better. *RLQJ EDFN WR ZDVKLQJ GLVKHV PXVW QHYHU EH WDNHQ DV H[WUD ZRUN or some form of burden. Together DV D FRPPXQLW\ ZH FDQ PDNH LW ULJKW IRU *RGÂśV FUHDWLRQ „ Thaddeus Loo Voon Sen Singapore 680134

Handle dress issue more gently :KHQ VRPHRQH DVNV \RX ³7KLQN DERXW ZKDW -HVXV ZRXOG GR ´ UHmember that a valid option is to IUHDN RXW DQG WXUQ RYHU WDEOHV FI 0DWWKHZ

Granted, money changers and merchants in the temple are more GLVUXSWLYH WKDQ D SDLU RI ÀLS ÀRSV but it should give us pause to reÀHFW WKDW WKH RQO\ WLPH RXU /RUG is recorded displaying His impressive anger in full force was in preserving the sanctity and sacredQHVV RI +LV )DWKHUœV +RXVH Those whom He had abruptly turned out probably felt outraged DQG KXPLOLDWHG +LV VKRFNLQJ even violent, actions may seem over the top. However, once we consider WKDW RXU &UHDWRU LV HYHU SUHVHQW LQ the tabernacle just for us and durLQJ WKH +RO\ 6DFUL¿FH RI WKH 0DVV and we are literally present at &KULVWœV VDFUL¿FH RQ &DOYDU\ &DWHFKLVP RI WKH &DWKROLF &KXUFK ZH VKRXOG EHJLQ WR DSSUHciate how carefully and reverently we must comport ourselves in the presence of this great mystery. St Pio, one of the few bearers

of the stigmata, was a sartorial enforcer – women who came to him IRU FRQIHVVLRQ KDG WR ZHDU VNLUWV DW OHDVW HLJKW LQFKHV EHORZ WKH NQHH In confession, we are also at the foot of the cross, and should bear ourselves accordingly, though we may allow for cultural differences ZLWK 3DGUH 3LRœV ODQG DQG WLPH There may be more gentle and effective ways to handle the issue of dressing than simply barring entry. Perhaps those who are lessthan-desirably dressed could be given a pamphlet explaining just how tremendous Holy Mass is, and suggestions on how to dress better. Furthermore, people may not be dressed up to standard for good reasons. For instance, my mother wears slippers because her toes are malformed by years of wearLQJ KHHOV WR ZRUN RQO\ ÀDW VOLSSHUV NHHS KHU WRHV DOLJQHG In another case a decade ago, my brother had to wear tinted glasses after a severe head injury, and one man scolded him for wearing sunglasses in church. Fraternal correction should be

done with love and understanding, with the ultimate good of the other in mind. It should also be accepted humbly, with appreciation, not defensiveness. As members of &KULVWœV %RG\ ZH VKRXOG EH FRQVLGHUDWH RI HDFK RWKHUœV IHHOLQJV Regarding Latin, it is the of¿FLDO ODQJXDJH RI +RO\ 0RWKHU &KXUFK DQG 9DWLFDQ ,, SURYLGHG that it should be preserved in the /DWLQ ULWHV 6DFURVDQFWXP &RQFLOLXP 3RSH %HQHGLFW XUJHG &DWKRlics worldwide to learn common prayers in Latin, so that we can pray and worship together as one XQLWHG 8QLYHUVDO &KXUFK LQVWHDG of segregating ourselves into various ethnic groups. I am studying in Australia, and it is so lovely to pray and sing in /DWLQ ZLWK &DWKROLFV IURP DOO FRQtinents, sharing one tongue with the saints down the ages. Maybe we can practise toJHWKHU OLNH ZH GR ZLWK XQIDPLOLDU hymns. „ Jean Elizabeth Seah Singapore 591301

Suffering and value IN HER novel, Final Payments, Mary Gordon articuODWHV DQ HTXDWLRQ WKDW KDV ORQJ LQĂ€XHQFHG &KULVWLDQ spirituality both for good and for bad. Her heroine, Isabel, is a young woman within ZKRP D VWURQJ &DWKROLF EDFNJURXQG DQ RYHUO\ VWULFW father and a natural depth of soul conspire together to OHDYH KHU RYHUO\ UHWLFHQW DQG RYHUO\ UHĂ€HFWLYH ORRNLQJ DW OLIH IURP WKH RXWVLGH WRR VHOI DZDUH DQG WRR UHĂ€HFtive in general to enter spontaneously into a dance or WUXVW DQ\ NLQG RI JDLHW\ One night, she goes to a party of college students but almost immediDWHO\ IHHOV RXW RI SODFH LQVLGH WKH JLGGLQHVV \RXWKIXO EUDYDGR GULQNLQJ and dancing. 6R VKH IDOOV EDFN LQWR DQ ROG KDELW Âł, ZRXOG ORRN DPRQJ WKH IDFHV RI WKH VWXGHQWV IRU D IDFH WKDW , FRXOG ORYH , ZRXOG ORRN IRU VRPHWKLQJ original, something attesting in the shape of the chin or the eyes, something that suggested the belief that there was residual pain that could not be touched by legislation. Âł%XW WKH\ DOO ORRNHG VR UHOHQWOHVVO\ KDSS\ DQG KHDOWK\ WKDW WKH\ GLG QRW LQWHUHVW PH , UHDOLVHG WKDW , ZDV ORRNLQJ IRU VRPHRQH ZKR ZDV VDG DQG , ZDV DQJU\ DW P\VHOI IRU PDNLQJ WKH HTXDWLRQ P\ IDWKHUÂśV HTXDWLRQ WKH &KXUFKÂśV HTXDWLRQ EHWZHHQ VXIIHULQJ DQG YDOXH ´ That equation between suffering and value has a long-standing histoU\ ZLWKLQ VSLULWXDOLW\ DQG KDV VWURQJO\ LQĂ€XHQFHG XV ERWK SRVLWLYHO\ DQG negatively. It has also, I must confess, generally been my own equation. /LNH 0DU\ *RUGRQÂśV ,VDEHO , WRR WHQG WR ORRN DURXQG WKH URRP DW D party for a sad face with the belief that sadness is a sign of depth, of substance, of weightiness. Occasionally, I have been right and a face carrying sadness did indeed issue forth from a deep interiority, but I have also often been wrong. Sometimes that sadness is merely an indication RI GHSUHVVLRQ WLPLGLW\ DQG XQDFNQRZOHGJHG DQJHU As well, I have also met people who were strongly extroverted in manifesting their happiness and joy and who, underneath, had real depth RI VRXO DQG ZHUH DQ\WKLQJ EXW VXSHUÂżFLDO %XW VWLOO WKH HTXDWLRQ KDXQWV PH DV LW KDV KDXQWHG &KULVWLDQ VSLUituality throughout the centuries. We have perennially tended to equate suffering and sadness with value and depth. I remember my novice master challenging us with the notion that there is no recorded incident in VFULSWXUH RI -HVXV ODXJKLQJ WKH LGHD EHLQJ WKDW DOO RI -HVXVÂś GHSWK WRRN its root inside His suffering. Laughter and lightness of heart are to be VHHQ DV VXSHUÂżFLDO That helped reinforce a notion that was deeply branded into me as a FKLOG JURZLQJ XS LQ DQ LPPLJUDQW &DWKROLF IDPLO\ DQG FRPPXQLW\ :H ZHUH YLUWXDOO\ FDWHFKLVHG ZLWK WKH H[SUHVVLRQ $IWHU WKH ODXJKWHU FRPH WKH WHDUV 7KH LGHD ZDV FOHDU /DXJKWHU LV VXSHUÂżFLDO DQG XOWLPDWHO\ RQO\ DQ DWWHPSW WR NHHS UHDOLW\ DQG VDGQHVV DW ED\ 6DGQHVV LV ZKDWÂśV UHDO VR GRQÂśW EH WRR WDNHQ LQ E\ SDUW\LQJ DQG ODXJKLQJ LW XS :KDWÂśV WR EH VDLG DERXW DOO RI WKLV" &OHDUO\ WKHUH LV WUXWK LQ WKH HTXDtion. Any good psychologist, spiritual director or mentor of soul, will tell you that, most often, real growth and maturity of soul are triggered by deep suffering and pain in our lives. ,WÂśV QRW VR PXFK WKDW *RG GRHVQÂśW VSHDN DV FOHDUO\ WR XV LQ RXU MR\V and successes, but we tend not to be listening in those moments. SufIHULQJ JHWV RXU DWWHQWLRQ $V & 6 /HZLV RQFH VDLG SDLQ LV *RGÂśV PLcrophone to a deaf world. There is, undeniably, a connection between suffering and depth of soul. %XW ZH PXVW EH FDUHIXO QRW WR UHDG WRR PXFK LQWR WKLV :KHQ ZH ORRN at Jesus, and many other wonderful people, we see that depth of soul is also connected to the joyous and celebratory moments of life. Jesus scandalised people equally in both his capacity to enter into suffering and renounce worldly joys and in his capacity to thoroughly enjoy the moment, as is evident in the incident where a woman anoints His feet with a very expensive perfume. His depth of soul arose both from His suffering and from His joy. And His gratitude, I suspect, arose more out of the latter than the former. ,Q KLV QRYHO 7KH 8QEHDUDEOH /LJKWQHVV RI %HLQJ WKH &]HFK ZULWHU 0LODQ .XQGHUD ZHLJKV WKH HTXDWLRQ :KDW LV RI PRUH YDOXH KHDYLQHVV RU OLJKWQHVV" +LV DQVZHU KHDYLQHVV FDQ FUXVK XV EXW OLJKWQHVV FDQ EH XQEHDUDEOH Âł7KH KHDYLHVW RI EXUGHQV FUXVKHV XV ZH VLQN EHQHDWK LW LW SLQV XV WR WKH JURXQG %XW WKH KHDYLHU WKH EXUGHQ WKH FORVHU RXU OLYHV FRPH WR WKH HDUWK WKH PRUH UHDO DQG WUXWKIXO WKH\ EHFRPH &RQYHUVHO\ WKH DEVRlute absence of a burden causes man to be lighter than air, to soar into the KHLJKWV WDNH OHDYH RI WKH HDUWK DQG KLV HDUWKO\ EHLQJ DQG EHFRPH RQO\ KDOI UHDO KLV PRYHPHQWV DV IUHH DV WKH\ DUH LQVLJQLÂżFDQW ´ :KDW WKHQ VKDOO ZH FKRRVH" :HLJKW RU OLJKWQHVV" 7KDW LV WKH TXHVWLRQ 7KH RQO\ FHUWDLQW\ LV WKH OLJKWQHVV ZHLJKW RSSRVLWLRQ LV WKH PRVW mysterious, most ambiguous of all. „

ANALYSIS 15

Sunday February 12, 2012 CatholicNews

Debates go on 50 years after Vatican II By Francis X Rocca VATICAN CITY – Fifty years ago

this October, Pope John XXIII and more than 2,500 bishops and heads of Religious orders from around the world gathered in St Peter’s Basilica for the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Over the next three years, Vatican II would issue 16 major “pronouncements” on such fundamental questions as the authority of the Church’s hierarchy, the interpretation of Scripture, and the proper roles of clergy and laity. Those documents, and the deliberations that produced them have transformed how the Catholic Church understands and presents itself within the context of modern secular culture and society. Because Vatican II was one of the monumental events in modern religious history, its golden anniversary will naturally be the occasion for numerous commemorative events, including liturgical celebrations, publications and academic conferences. At a Vatican II exhibition at Rome’s Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, which opened in late January and will run until November 2013, the displays include original handwritten pages from Pope John’s speech at the council’s opening session, and a Vatican passport issued at the time to a young Polish bishop, Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. Yet Vatican II is not merely of historical interest; it is very much a living issue in the Church today. Scholars still debate to what extent the council’s achievements, in such areas as interfaith dialogue and liturgical reform, were organic developments in the Church’s history or radical breaks with the past. And clergy and laity alike differ over how expansively to apply the council’s pronouncements, whether sticking closely to the letter of the documents or following a more broadly construed “spirit of Vatican II”. Pope Benedict XVI has rejected what he calls the “hermeneutics of discontinuity and rupture” in the present-day understanding of the council and has called instead for interpreting Vatican II as an instance of “renewal in continuity” with the Church’s 2,000 years of tradition. Exploring and promoting that idea will be a major goal of the Year of Faith that begins this Oct 11, exactly half a century to the day since Vatican II opened. A relatively small but highly vo-

Pope John XXIII signing an edict on Dec 25, 1961 convoking the Second Vatican Council. CNS photo

Scholars still debate to what extent Vatican II’s achievements, in such areas as interfaith dialogue and liturgical reform, were organic developments in the Church’s history or radical breaks with the past. cal number of Catholics reject the council altogether, charging among other things that subsequent changes to worship have undermined the solemnity of the Mass and that a growing openness to other religions FRQÀLFWV ZLWK WKH QHHG WR SURFODLP salvation through Jesus Christ alone. The most prominent such group, the Society of St Pius X, effectively broke with Rome in 1988, when its founder, the late French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, ordained four bishops without papal approval. Pope Benedict has made reconciliation with the traditionalist VRFLHW\ D SULRULW\ RI KLV SRQWL¿FDWH As a condition of reconciliation, though, the Vatican has asked the society to give its assent to a summary of certain non-negotiable doctrines. These have not been made public, but they presumably include the major teachings of Vatican II. In early December, the Vatican newspaper published an article by Msgr Fernando Ocariz, the secRQG KLJKHVW RI¿FLDO RI 2SXV 'HL and a participant in talks with the Society of St Pius X.

In the article, Msgr Ocariz insisted that all the teachings of Vatican II require nothing less than “religious submission of intellect and will”, and that even the council’s apparent innovations in doctrine are properly understood as in continuity with tradition. But he also said “there remains legitimate room for theological freedom” in interpreting them. The same month, Fr JeanMichel Gleize, a theologian who has represented the society in discussions with the Vatican, published a response. Perhaps the most striking part of his argument was his rejection of the hermeneutic of continuity as overly “subjective” and neglectful of the “unity of the truth” necessary in Church teaching. Reading such an exchange, it’s not easy to believe that the Year of Faith will end with anything like a consensus on Vatican II. But as someone well known to think in terms of centuries, Pope Benedict will surely be neither surprised nor discouraged by the continuing debate. CNS

16 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Thoughts for Valentine’s Day How couples can keep ‘I love you’ alive over the years By Bill and Monica Dodds “I LUH, luh, luh, love you.â€? As St Valentine’s Day pops up each year, many married couples remember when they reached that special point in their relationship. Whispering those WKUHH VPDOO ZRUGV IRU WKH ÂżUVW time was no small feat. EspeFLDOO\ LI \RX ZHUH WKH ÂżUVW WR VD\ them and there was a seemingly endless pause before you heard a reply. On the other hand, way back when, there seemed to be no problem showing how you felt. Your thoughtfulness, your concern and your little acts of kindness spoke volumes. As the years go by, the declaration and reply can become almost automatic and even abbreviated (“love yaâ€? and “yeah, me tooâ€?), and the actions shift, too. Day to GD\ LW LVQÂśW FDQG\ RU Ă€RZHUV WKDW convey the sentiment. For instance, when the honeymoon is a distant memory and the house has been “invadedâ€? by little people, “I love youâ€? can be: „ Getting up in the middle of the night with the baby when it isn’t your turn.

Way back, there seemed to be no problem showing how you felt for one other. As the years go by, ‘I love you’ can become almost automatic and even abbreviated. „ Not griping about going to parent-teacher meetings at night alone because your spouse is staying home after barely surviving a long, hard day at work. „ Making a point of sitting next to your spouse in a family room that’s crowded with ... family. And when those little ones (suddenly!) become teens, “I love you� can include: „ Presenting a united front

when it comes to laying down the law with those adolescents and enforcing the consequences when they break those rules. „ Volunteering to slide into the passenger seat next to your child who is learning to driver and help him or her practise. (An experience one parent we know always referred to as “the whiteNQXFNOH Ă€LJKW´

„ Continuing to set aside a “date night� with your spouse,

no matter how challenging it is to schedule. When young-adult children are off to college or work and the nest is empty. Then “I love youâ€? can be: „ Letting your spouse make WKH ÂżQDO GHFLVLRQ RQ KRZ WKH QRZ spare bedroom will be used (home RIÂżFH YV KXJH 79 RQ WKH IDU ZDOO and mammoth recliner, for example.) „ Taking the time, and spend-

ing the money, to go on that trip to Europe, the Bahamas or China. „ Eating sensibly and getting enough exercise (without grumbling about either) because you know it’s good for both of you. Later still, when your children have children and there’s no denying you’re beyond middle age, “I love youâ€? can be: „ Showing you see beyond the wrinkles, age spots, gray hair (or no hair) and are still dazzled by those familiar eyes, the ones that captivated you decades ago. „ )XOÂżOOLQJ WKH SOHGJH \RX made at your wedding about loving and helping your spouse “in sickness and in healthâ€?. „ Holding that familiar hand as one or the other of you prepares to leave this world, to leave each other’s side ... for a time. And through all the years, retelling the story, remembering the PRPHQW RI WKDW ÂżUVW Âł, ORYH \RX´ from so long ago. And saying it once again. „ Bill and Monica 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.

FAITH ALIVE! 17

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Difference between veneration and idolatry A reliquary containing Pope John Paul II’s blood being carried at the start of a thanksgiving Mass IRU KLV EHDWL¿FDWLRQ All veneration of relics are signs of love, honour and devotion to the persons with whom those relics are associated and, XOWLPDWHO\ WR *RG CNS photo

By Marcellino D’Ambrosio 7+( ¿UVW RI WKH 7HQ &RPPDQGPHQWV LV ¿UVW IRU D UHDVRQ ³+HDU 2 ,VUDHO WKH /RUG LV RXU *RG WKH /RUG DORQH ´ 'HXWHURQRP\ 7KH QHLJKERXULQJ QDWLRQV KDG PDQ\ JRGV %XW ,VUDHO ZDV QHYHU WR ZRUVKLS DQ\RQH RU DQ\WKLQJ HOVH EXW WKH /RUG 2. 7KH )LUVW &RPPDQGPHQW LV WR ZRUVKLS QR RQH HOVH %XW WKH )RXUWK &RPPDQGPHQW LV WR KRQRXU VRPHRQH HOVH RQH¶V SDUHQWV $QG WKLV KRQRXU LV GXH SUHFLVHO\ EHFDXVH *RG ZRUNV WKURXJK SDUHQWV WR JLYH XV OLIH ,Q IDFW ,VUDHO UHFRJQLVHG WKDW *RG ZRUNV WKURXJK RWKHU SHRSOH DQG WKLQJV DV ZHOO $QG LQVRIDU DV WKH\ DUH XVHG E\ *RG WKH\ GHVHUYH RXU UHVSHFW DQG YHQHUDWLRQ -XGDLVP DQG &DWKROLF &KULVWLDQLW\ DUH YHU\ SK\VLFDO $IWHU DOO WKH XQLYHUVH LV *RG¶V FUHDWLRQ +H FRPHV WR XV WKURXJK +LV FUHDWLRQ DQG ZH JLYH +LP ZRUVKLS ZLWK RXU ERGLHV ZH NQHHO DQG ERZ EHIRUH +LP %XW ZH DOVR XVH PDQ\ RI WKHVH VDPH JHVWXUHV WR VKRZ QRW DGRUDWLRQ EXW YHQHUDWLRQ IRU SHRSOH SODFHV DQG WKLQJV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK +LP ,VUDHOLWHV ERZHG EHIRUH WKH NLQJ *RG¶V DQRLQWHG .LQJV %XW WKH NLQJ DOVR ERZHG EHIRUH KLV PRWKHU .LQJV $OO ,VUDHOLWHV ERZHG EHIRUH WKH 7HPSOH DQG WKH $UN RI WKH &RYHQDQW *RG¶V IRRWVWRRO 3VDOPV 7KLV ELEOLFDO EDFNJURXQG LV QHFHVVDU\ WR XQGHUVWDQG ZK\ &DWKROLFV YHQHUDWH UHOLFV 7KH ZRUG ³UHOLF´ FRPHV IURP WKH ZRUG IRU ³UHPDLQV´ RU VRPHWKLQJ OHIW EHKLQG IURP D KRO\ SHUVRQ RU HYHQW 7KH ERQHV RI D PDUW\U WKH FORWKLQJ RI D VDLQW D EORRGVWDLQHG

FRUSRUDO IURP D (XFKDULVWLF PLUDFOH ± WKHVH DUH DOO UHOLFV 7KH RULJLQ RI SUHVHUYLQJ DQG YHQHUDWLQJ VXFK PHPHQWRHV LV QRW PHGLHYDO EXW ELEOLFDO 7KH WDEOHWV RI WKH 7HQ &RPPDQGPHQWV WKH PDQQD VDYHG LQ WKH $UN RI WKH &RYHQDQW (OLMDK¶V PDQWOH DQG HYHQ WKH ERQHV RI (OLVKD .LQJV DOO WKHVH ZHUH UHOLFV LPEXHG ZLWK *RG¶V SRZHU DQG WKHUHIRUH PHULWHG GXH UHYHUHQFH ,Q WKH 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW *RG¶V KHDOLQJ SRZHU ZDV WUDQVPLWWHG WR SHRSOH WKURXJK WKH /RUG¶V JDUPHQW /XNH DQG KDQGNHUFKLHIV WRXFKHG WR 6W 3DXO $FWV ,W LV QR ZRQGHU WKHQ WKDW WKH ERGLO\ UHPDLQV DV ZHOO DV FORWKLQJ WRXFKHG WR WKH ERGLHV RI VDLQWV WKURXJKRXW KLVWRU\ KDYH FRQWLQXHG WR EH YHQHUDWHG KROGLQJ D SURPLQHQW SODFH LQ WKH GHYRWLRQ RI *RG¶V SHRSOH %XW WKUHH WKLQJV PXVW EH NHSW LQ PLQG )LUVW WKHUH LV HVVHQWLDO GLIIHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKH ZRUVKLS DQG DGRUDWLRQ (latria) WKDW LV GXH WR *RG DORQH DQG WKH YHQHUDWLRQ (dulia) VKRZQ WR DOO WKDW LV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK +LP DQG +LV ZRUN 6HFRQG DOO YHQHUDWLRQ RI WDQJLEOH UHOLFV DUH VLJQV RI ORYH KRQRXU DQG GHYRWLRQ WR WKH SHUVRQV ZLWK ZKRP WKRVH UHOLFV DUH DVVRFLDWHG DQG XOWLPDWHO\ WR *RG $QG ¿QDOO\ D UHOLF LV QRW D PDJLF FKDUP WKDW FDQ EH FRXQWHG RQ WR IRUFH *RG WR JLYH XV ZKDW ZH ZDQW :KHQ ZH DUH ZLWKRXW WUXH IDLWK DQG RSSRVH WKH ZLOO RI *RG HYHQ PDUFKLQJ EHKLQG WKH $UN RI WKH &RYHQDQW ZLOO QRW DVVXUH YLFWRU\ LQ EDWWOH ± MXVW DVN WKH ,VUDHOLWHV 6DPXHO „ CNS D’Ambrosio is co-founder of Crossroads Productions (www.crossroadsinitiative.com), an apostolate of Catholic renewal and evangelisation.

18

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

19

20

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

By Joe Sarnicola

went with Jesus. Jesus continued along His same John had baptised Jesus, after which SDWK DQG IRXQG WZR PRUH ÂżVKHUPHQ Jesus went into the desert where He who were repairing their nets. They spent 40 days. While He was there were also brothers, named James He was tempted by Satan, but He and John. Jesus called them as well, and also was cared for by angels. After this time, Jesus returned WKH\ OHIW WKH ZRUN WKDW WKH\ ZHUH GRhome and learned that John had been ing in the hands of their father and arrested. Jesus then went to Galilee some of his hired men. When Jesus and His new aposwhere He declared, “This is the time RI IXOÂżOPHQW 7KH NLQJGRP RI *RG tles reached Capernaum, it was on is at hand. Repent, and believe in the the Sabbath day, so Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. The Gospel.â€? As Jesus was passing by the people who heard Him were amazed Sea of Galilee, He saw two broth- by His words, because He taught as ers named Simon and Andrew who if He had true authority and did not ZHUH FDVWLQJ WKHLU ÂżVKLQJ QHWV LQWR teach as the scribes did. While Jesus still was there, a the water. He said to them, “Come after me, man possessed by an unclean spirit DQG , ZLOO PDNH \RX ÂżVKHUV RI PHQ ´ approached Him. “What have you to do with us, JeWithout hesitation, both men stopped what they were doing and sus of Nazareth?â€? the man cried out.

Âł+DYH \RX FRPH WR GHVWUR\ XV" , NQRZ who you are – the Holy One of God!â€? -HVXV LPPHGLDWHO\ VSRNH WR WKH spirit: “Quiet! Come out of him!â€? The spirit drove the man into convulsions and came out of him with a shout. This, too, amazed the SHRSOH DV WKH\ DVNHG WKHPVHOYHV “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him.â€? From that moment, word of Jesus, His teachings and His actions began

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

WORDSEARCH:

St Mucian Mary Wiaux

JOHN

Bible Accent:

Q&A 1. What was the occupation of the four men Jesus called? 2. What did the people say about the way Jesus taught?

DESERT TEMPTED ANGELS GALILEE KINGDOM REPENT SIMON ANDREW CAPERNAUM SABBATH

PUZZLE: +RZ PDQ\ QDPHV RI WKH ÂżUVW 7ZHOYH $SRVWOHV FDQ \RX ÂżQG LQ WKH IROORZLQJ SKUDVH" 6HH 0DUN

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel.�

Answer for Wordsearch:

-HVXV FKRVH PHQ WR EHFRPH +LV ¿UVW apostles. Scholars have given symbolic meaning to certain numbers in the Bible. Seven is seen as representing perfection or FRPSOHWHQHVV VXFK DV WKH FUHDWLRQ WDNLQJ VHYHQ GD\V Three can mean unity, such as the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And 40 can mean a very long time, such as the 40 years Israel wandered in the desert. Twelve seems to represent government or order. Jacob had 12 sons, whose names later became the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. ,Q WKH %RRN RI 5HYHODWLRQ &KDSWHU -RKQ VDZ WKH FLW\ RI -Hrusalem encircled by a wall that had 12 gates protected by 12 angels. To maintain the completeness of the Twelve Apostles, in Acts 0DWWKLDV ZDV QDPHG WR WDNH WKH SODFH RI -XGDV ZKR KDG EHtrayed Jesus. „

Read more about it: Mark 1

BAPTIZED

Answer for Puzzle: Peter, Simon, Andrew, Philip, Matthew, Thomas.

0XFLDQ 0DU\ :LDX[ ZDV UHIHUUHG WR E\ 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO II as “the light of Belgium and the glory of his congregation�. This statement was the opposite of some of the things that the bishops of Mucian’s home country were saying. They believed that KLV OLIH KDG EHHQ SODLQ DQG XQUHPDUNDEOH He was raised by very religious parents, whose example led him to enter the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools congregation. He continued the rest of his education at the college at Malonne. $OWKRXJK KLV ELUWK QDPH ZDV /RXLV -RVHSK KH WRRN RQ WKH QDPH RI WKH IHOORZ PDUW\U DQG PLVVLRQDU\ FRPSDQLRQ RI 6W 0DUN Mucian became a teacher at the college and was admired for EHLQJ DEOH WR HQFRXUDJH HYHQ WKH SRRU VWXGHQWV WR PDNH WKHLU EHVW efforts. He also earned a reputation for being a man of prayer and KROLQHVV :H KRQRXU KLP RQ -DQ „

to spread everywhere across Galilee. Later that same day, even into the HDUO\ HYHQLQJ -HVXV KHDOHG WKH VLFN people who were brought to Him, and He cast out many unclean spirits. „

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of 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

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Wednesdays from February 8 RCIA@CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 8pm: At Church of Christ the King (2221 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8) T: 9671 4907; E: query.rcia@gmail.com. Saturdays from March 17 RCIY@CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS 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 Fridays CPS LUNCHTIME MASS@ SHENTON WAY 0DVVHV DW SP DQG SP H[FHSW second Friday of the month – talk by Fr Terence Pereira at 12.40pm followed by Mass at 1.20pm. For other Mass locations and times, visit W: http://www.cps.org.sg Saturdays February 4 to April 14 INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY OF THE BODY 7-9pm: A 10-week introductory course to The Theology of the Body, a biblical UHÀHFWLRQ RQ HPERGLPHQW VH[ ORYH PDUULDJH DQG VH[XDO GHVLUH ,W FRQFHUQV the entire Bible, the Gospel, the whole mission of Christ and is one of the EROGHVW UHFRQ¿JXUDWLRQV RI &DWKROLF theology based on general audience addresses by Pope John Paul II. Course uses the Christopher West DVD Series. By Apostolate for Catholic Truth. At International Plaza #29-03 (10 Anson Rd). T: 9649 3893 (Andrew), 9784 3682 (Nick) 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 (Holy Family Church). 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 February 8, 10 and 16 INTEGRAL PEDAGOGY – THE WAY FORWARD 2.30-6pm: An introduction to Integral Pedagogy for Catholic teachers, chaplains and parents. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Register T: 6858 7080; E: accs@catholic.org.sg February 9 MEDIA MAKAN – ORDERING WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU 7-8.30pm: Come and learn from media H[SHUW 'U (XJHQH *DQ WKH NH\V WR producing and consuming media with a Catholic view. Open to all ages. %\ $UFKGLRFHVH &RPPXQLFDWLRQV 2I¿FH At CAEC St Peter’s Auditorium 2nd Floor (2 Highland Rd). Register W: http://registration.catholic.org.sg February 10 CHILDREN’S EUCHARISTIC ADORATION 7.45-9pm: Come pray as a family. Session will be led by Fr Antoine Thomas CSJ. At Church of the Holy Spirit. T: 9362 5408 (Sr Angeline); E: childreneucharisticadora@gmail.com; W: www.adorejesus.com

February 10 FORMING KIDS FOR LIFE 8-9.30pm: Parenting kids the Catholic way and deepening one’s commitment to helping kids come closer to Jesus. For parents of secondary school children. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Register T: 6858 7080; E: accs@catholic.org.sg February 11 YOUR WORD IS A FIRE IN MY HEART DP SP 5HÀHFW RQ WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH of being called to teach and the challenge of bridging spirituality and work. For teachers and NIE students. Cost: $20. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Register T: 6858 708; E: accs@catholic.org.sg February 11 FORMING KIDS FOR LIFE 8-9.30pm: Parenting kids the Catholic way and deepening one’s commitment to helping kids come closer to Jesus. For parents of primary school children. By ACCS. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Register T: 6858 7080; E: accs@catholic.org.sg 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 NHHQ WR EULQJ WKH H[SHULHQFH RI -HVXV WR children, youth and young adults. Cost: $10. Register T: 9362 5408 (Sr Angeline); E: childreneucharisticadora@gmail.com; W: www.adorejesus.com Sunday February 12 FEAST DAY MASS OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES Masses at 7.30am, 9.30am (in Tamil), 11am and 6pm. At Church of Our Lady Lourdes Mondays February 13 to April 23 ALPHA@ST BERNADETTE CHURCH 7.45-9.30pm: 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 had always wanted to ask. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). T: 9798 7788 (Richard); E andy_lee_4health@yahoo.com Thursdays February 16 to March 29 CATHOLIC FAITH EXPLORATION SP ([SHULHQFH WKH MR\ RI 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 February 16 iADORE: EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUTHS AND YOUNG ADULTS 8.15-10pm: Fr Antoine, well-known for promoting Eucharistic adoration, will be our guest priest for iAdore. Youths and young adults welcome. At Church of the Holy Spirit (main church) T: 6453 6340 H[W ( LDGRUHWKHHMHVXV#JPDLO FRP Friday February 17 to Sunday February 19 GOD’S EXTRAVAGANT LOVE ([SHULHQFH *RGœV H[WUDYDJDQW ORYH from a Franciscan perspective. Love & Primacy of Christ, Creation & Humility of God, Dignity of the Human Person. Come see how much more there is to God’s plan than meets the eye. Cost: $100 (whole package), $20 for public lecture on Feb 17 at Church of St Mary of the Angels. Register T: 97560239 (Janet), 90080544 (Fred); E: franciscanfamily@ gmail.com; W: http://www.stmary.sg/ DQQRXQFHPHQW JRGV H[WUDYDJDQW ORYH February 18 FAITH IN THE FUTURE 2-5pm: Talk by Margaret Silf, a wellknown retreat director, author and speaker on Ignatian spirituality, on what it means to be a person of faith in the 21st century. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd (St ,JQDWLXV +DOO $QQH[H &RVW 5HJLVWHU 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 SUD\ ([SORUH VRPH ZD\V RI HQWHULQJ WKH stillness of 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 ,JQDWLXV +DOO $QQH[H &RVW 5HJLVWHU by Feb 11. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc.igevents@gmail.com Friday February 24 to Sunday February 26 LANDSCAPES FOR 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 might have to teach us about our relationship with God. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Cost: $270 (nonaircon), $320 (aircon). T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Friday February 24 to Sunday February 26 CHOICE WEEKEND 7.30pm (Fri) -6pm (Sun): The CHOICE Weekend programme gives single young adults an opportunity to look into the relationships that really matter to them. It also allows one to discover the conditions necessary for building successful relationships. At 47 Jurong West St 42. Cost: $70. T: 98803093 (Dawn), 90472297 (Albert); E: registration@choice.org.sg; W: http://www.choice.org.sg

Crossword Puzzle 1051 1

2

3

4

February 25 DEALING WITH CHANGE AND LOSS 2-5pm: Grief counsellor and art therapist Joyce Tan will lead this session of acknowledgement and healing through artPDNLQJ DQG FUHDWLYH H[SUHVVLRQ 7RJHWKHU ZLWK JXLGHG VHOI H[SORUDWLRQ OHDUQ ZD\V WR cope with changes and losses in life. Cost: $20 (with materials). By Clarity Singapore. At CWS Building Solomon Hall Level 9 (55 Waterloo St). T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org; W: http://www.clarity-singapore.org February 25 CATHOLIC SINGLES DINNER@ HANS 5.30-8.30pm: Meet Catholics from across Singapore for fellowship and friendship. Faith-based interactive games available after dinner. At Hans CafĂŠ Pickering St. Register E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com; FB: CatholicSinglesSingapore Monday February 27 to Wednesday February 29 FINDING A TRUE COURSE IN THE BEWILDERING WORLD 7pm (Mon)-5pm (Wed): Silent live-in UHWUHDW E\ 0DUJDUHW 6LOI ([SORUH VRPH ZD\V RI ÂżQGLQJ VROLG JURXQG DPLGVW WLPHV of unprecedented change and 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: cisc2664@gmail.com March 4 CONVERSION OF HEART: SUNDAY LENTEN RETREAT 9.30am-4pm: A day of prayer and recollection for those who want to deepen their relationship with God during Lent. Conducted by Fr Ponnudurai, SJ. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd 6W ,JQDWLXV +DOO $QQH[H &RVW T: 64676072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Saturday March 10 to Sunday March 11 LANDSCAPE CROSSING RETREAT For cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, with Sunday Mass. At Lifesprings Canossian Spirituality Centre (100 Jalan Merbok). T: 9012 4778 (Sr Margaret); E: srgohmargaret@yahoo.com.sg

6

7

8

9

10

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

February 24 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS SP 5RVDU\ 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

5

21 24 26 32

33

34

43

51

30

48

49

41 44

45 50

29

38

40

42

28 35

37

39

13

25

27

36

12

22

23

31

11

46

52

47

53

54

55

58

59

60

61

62

63

56

57

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Calais monastic 7H[DV VWXGHQW 10 He has his “earsâ€? on 14 Angelus time 15 It may be actual or sanctifying 16 Hello, from Jacques 17 A queen of Jordan 18 Spine-tingling 19 Herod offered this much of his kingdom to Herodias’ daughter (Mk 6:23) 20 Lawyer 22 Defamation 23 Moneylender 24 Apostle to the Gentiles 26 Not ordained 27 Touchy 31 One of the seven deadly sins 34 Topic 35 PBS funder 36 Author of Atlas Shrugged 37 Liturgical color 38 Woody Allen DQLPDWHG ÂżOP 39 ___ of reason 40 Like Esau 41 Soft and comfortable 42 Attacked

44 45 46 50 53

Biblical sea Musical staff sign A Gymnosperm Wife of Abram Semisweet white wine 54 “Take ___ leave‌â€? 55 Make _____ in 57 Number of choirs of angels 58 Son of Jacob 3DUR[\VP 60 Lining 61 Prime rating 62 Antelope 63 Greek goddess of strife

13 “I’m hysterical!â€? in netspeak 21 _____ to Emmaus 22 Third Gospel 24 Reverence 25 Cartoon company 27 Day on which Jesus rose 28 Taverns 29 Fourth man ,QGHÂżQLWH 31 Seize 32 Anger 33 Hydrocarbon VXIÂż[HV 34 Dismas, the Good _____ 37 Salary 38 A visit with the pope

40 Father of Joseph (Lk 3:23) 41 Coin 43 Greek island in the Aegean Sea 44 Defeated soundly 46 The ____ of saints 47 Brother 48 Boredom 49 Staggers 50 Structure for storing grain 51 “A dillar, a dollar, _____ o’clock scholar� 52 Wander 53 Vaccines 55 Consumed 56 Literary initials

DOWN 1 Father-in-law of Caiaphas (Jn 18:13) Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1050 2 Voting M A D E S E P T B E S S compartment A R E A E U R O D E V I L 3 Pillage A R E S O N E N O R E P S 4 Registered K N O T M O S S V E R S E 5 Bureau P E E K E D S A T E D 6 Language of the R A V E N S I R A Q New Testament N E A T D E C A N T A P B 7 Actor and convert M U E Z Z I N M O N T I N I Cooper T I N A D I P O R D E A L 8 Here, to Pierre S E E P B I S E C T 9 Loafer letters P L E A T S T H I R D 10 Catholic author B U O Y I N O R S T L E O of How the Irish C O A L S B L U E R A N I Saved Civilization A U D I S L A R A S I D E 11 Reveal indiscreetly B R Y N E R I S T R O D www.wordgamesforcatholics.com 12 She, in Paris

24 WORLD

Sunday February 12, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Ex-man United player studying to be priest LONDON – A former Manchester United footballer is training to become a priest. Phil Mulryne, who was once a teammate of Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, KDV HQUROOHG DW WKH 3RQWL¿FDO ,ULVK College in Rome. 7KH IRUPHU 1RUWKHUQ ,UHODQG LQWHUQDWLRQDO PLG¿HOGHU ZDV LQvited into the priesthood by Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor after leaving the sport and becoming involved in charitable activities. Mulryne, 34, began his career with the Manchester United youth team in 1994, but despite great talent found it hard WR ¿QG D ¿UVW WHDP place in one of the most famous English league sides of all times, with Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt all playing in similar positions. He joined Norwich in 1999 DQG HYHQWXDOO\ KDG VSHOOV ZLWK ,Sswich Town, Barnsley, Leyton Orient and Polish side Legia Warsaw. During his time as a footballer, Mulryne dated a model and was once sent home from the Northern ,UHODQG VTXDG LQ DIWHU EUHDNing a curfew to go drinking. His caUHHU ZDV FXW VKRUW LQ E\ LQMXU\

DQG KH GHFLGHG WR UHWXUQ WR ,UHODQG However since returning home and becoming involved in charity work, his life has apparently changed. Former Norwich teammate Paul McVeigh said he had visited his friend in Rome and was surprised. Âł, ZDV VWLOO LQ FRQWDFW ZLWK KLP and knew that he had turned his life around and was doing a lot of charitable work and helping the homeless on a weekly basis. Still, it was a complete shock that he felt this was his calling,â€? said McVeigh. Âł, NQRZ IRU D fact that this is not something he took lightly as the training to be ordained as a Catholic priest consists of a two-year philosophy degree, followed by a four-year theology degree and only after WKDW ZLOO KH ÂżQDOO\ EH TXDOLÂżHG DV a priest. Âł:KHQ , DUULYHG LQ 5RPH , ZDV PHW E\ D YHU\ FRQWHQWHG looking Phil who took me [to the college] where he was to be based for the next four years.â€? Mulryne’s mother Sally said the decision to follow his vocation was a “big decisionâ€?. „ CATHOLIC HERALD

US bishops tell &DWKROLFV WR ÀJKW birth control mandate WASHINGTON – US bishops are

PRELOLVLQJ &DWKROLFV WR ÂżJKW against a government decision on contraception and sterilisation. 2Q -DQ 0V .DWKOHHQ 6HEHlius, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, announced that religious organisations could delay but not RSW RXW RI D UHTXLUHPHQW WKDW DOO health plans cover contraception and sterilisation at no cost. Bishops across the country have released statements urging &DWKROLFV WR ÂżJKW WKH GHFLVLRQ Bishop David A Zubik of Pittsburgh, in a column, urged Catholics in his diocese to “do all possible to rescindâ€? the contraceptive mandate. They were urged to write to President Barack Obama, Ms Sebelius and their members of Congress about this “unprecedented federal interference in the right of Catholics to serve their community without violating their fundamental moral beliefsâ€?. Bishop Daniel R Jenky of 3HRULD ,OOLQRLV HQOLVWHG WKH DLG of St Michael the Archangel in ÂżJKWLQJ ÂłWKLV XQSUHFHGHQWHG JRYernmental assault upon the moral convictions of our faithâ€?. ,Q D -DQ OHWWHU WR 3HRULD Catholics, he asked that the prayer be recited “for the freedom of the Catholic Church in Americaâ€? during Sunday Masses at every parish, school, hospital and Religious house in the diocese. Âł, DP KRQHVWO\ KRUULÂżHG WKDW WKH QDWLRQ , KDYH DOZD\V ORYHG has come to this hateful and radical step in religious intolerance,â€? Bishop Jenky said in the letter. “We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law,â€? Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of 3KRHQL[ GHFODUHG LQ D -DQ OHWWHU

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius stands next to 3UHVLGHQW %DUDFN 2EDPD LQ WKLV ÂżOH SKRWR 86 ELVKRSV FRQWLQXH WR VODP WKH Obama administration for not heeding requests from religious bodies on UHYLVLQJ D KHDOWK SODQ

‘We cannot –

we will not – comply with this unjust law.

’

Âą %LVKRS 7KRPDV - 2OPVWHG of Phoenix

“Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God-given rights,� he said. The Catholic bishops of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, said in a joint statement that they “cannot stand by silently� in light of what they called “an unprecedented and untenable abrogation of religious freedom� in the country. “This is part of a pattern in the

United States that has degenerated from the recognition of religion as good and salutary in our society to religion being subjected to punitive discrimination,â€? said the statement. They urged the nearly two million Catholics in North Texas, along with “other people of good willâ€?, to join them “by speaking out for the protection of conscience rights and religious liberty that are ... in keeping with the basic human rights enshrined in our American way of lifeâ€?. Archbishop Allen H Vigneron RI 'HWURLW LQ D -DQ VWDWHPHQW called on lawmakers in Washington to “step up, step in, and protect the rights of their fellow citizens from a government mandate that is truly unconscionableâ€?. Âł7KLV ÂżJKW DJDLQVW WKH IHGHUDO government’s over-reaching exercise of its power is everybody’s ÂżJKW ´ KH DGGHG „ CNS

Rome conference on sex abuse ROME – Representatives of most

ELVKRSVÂś FRQIHUHQFHV DQG 5HOLgious orders are scheduled to launch an initiative aimed at stopping clerical sexual abuse and better protect children and vulnerable adults. They are expected to attend a conference, Toward Healing and Renewal, to be held Feb 6-9 at 5RPHÂśV 3RQWLÂżFDO *UHJRULDQ 8QLYHUVLW\ ,W LV EHLQJ VXSSRUWHG E\ the Vatican Secretariat of State DQG VHYHUDO RWKHU 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFHV US Cardinal William J Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which deals with priests accused of abuse, will give the opening address. Other speakers include a victim of abuse, mental health professionals who have worked in the areas of

prevention and treatment, and bishops from different parts of the world who will talk about responses to the abuse crisis in their countries. The conference is designed in part to help bishops’ conferences and superiors of Religious orders UHVSRQG WR D OHWWHU IURP WKH GRFWULQDO FRQJUHJDWLRQ UHTXLULQJ all dioceses in the world to develop guidelines on handling allegations of abuse. After the conference, the Gregorian University and other institutions will launch an e-learning centre – the Centre for the Protection of Children – which will offer RQOLQH UHVRXUFHV LQ ¿YH ODQJXDJHV The centre will be based in Munich, Germany, and is designed to help Church leaders respond

pastorally to the issue of sexual abuse in the Church and society as a whole. According to the conference programme, participants will have an opportunity to attend workshops in their own languages, including one designed for those who are not bishops or priests, “to UHĂ€HFW XSRQ DQG EULQJ IRUZDUG SHUspectives that can often be missed by ordained leaders due to their particular role within the Churchâ€?. Other workshops will focus on ÂłWKH ,QWHUQHW DQG SRUQRJUDSK\´ protecting vulnerable adults, best UHJLRQDO SUDFWLFHV DQG WKH ÂżQDQcial cost of the abuse crisis, which the programme says already has UHDFKHG ÂłPRUH WKDQ 86 ELOOLRQ in legal expenses.â€? „ CNS

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

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.