JUNE 03, 2012, Vol 62, No 11

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JUNE 3, 2012

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VOL 62

NO. 11

INSIDE

Obama’s support for same-sex unions slammed

HOME Social Mission Conference 2012

Church leaders react sharply to US president’s remarks

To deepen awareness of the poor „ Page 3

WASHINGTON – Catholic lead-

ers rejected US President Barack Obama’s May 9 declaration in a TV interview that “personally it is important for me to go ahead

couples should be able to get married.� “President Obama’s words today are not surprising since they follow upon various actions already taken by his administration that erode or ignore the unique meaning of marriage,� said Cardinal Timothy M Dolan of New York, head of the US bishops’ conference, in a May 9 statement. “We cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society,� Cardinal Dolan added. “The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better.�

On May 6, Vice President Joe Biden, a Catholic, said he was “absolutely comfortable� with

couples receive.

The Catholic Church upholds marriage as being only between one man and one woman, and

outside of marriage is sinful.

Archdiocese of Washington

of marriage based on the clear understanding that the complementarity of man and woman is intrinsic to the meaning of mar !!! "

#

they are not marriage.�

The archdiocese said it would support efforts undertaken by those who uphold the traditional meaning of marriage.�

One such effort is a petition drive in Maryland state to overturn a law passed earlier this year to al-

Award recipients say faith inspires their work 3 Catholic nurses among recipients of Healthcare Humanity Award „ Page 7

ASIA Catholics call for Lady Gaga ban Philippines bishops call authorities to cancel concerts „ Page 8

US President Barack Obama, in an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America at the White House on April 9, said he believes same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. CNS photo

$

!

On May 8, North Carolina voters approved a constitutional

a union between one man and one woman by a three-two margin.

Obama’s remarks, Bishop W Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Delaware, wrote a letter to Catholics in the diocese reiterating the Church’s teaching against

is shared by many other Christian denominations and “millions of people� who are not Christian or have no religious faith. “The discussion of marriage

riage in the United States is being framed in terms of human civil rights. There is no question that all of us are endowed by our creator with human rights and dignity. But marriage cannot be

‘

We cannot be silent in the face of words that would undermine the institution of marriage.

’

– Cardinal Timothy Dolan, US bishops’ conference head

rights,� the bishop said. “Marriage has two purposes: the good of the spouses and procreation of children. The Church teaches that marriage is both unitive and procreative and that it is inseparably both,� he said.

Across the country, however, the views of many Catholics appear to be heading towards sup !

A March poll conducted

jointly by the Public Religion %

% News Service found overall Catholic support for such unions to be 59 percent, with 36 percent of Catholics opposed. Support by Americans overall is at 52 percent, with 44 percent opposed.

The demographic groups that showed majority opposition

$ spondents age 65 and up, white evangelicals, Republicans, African-Americans, and those with a high school education or less.

According to polls conducted

# & lup, ABC-The Washington Post, NBC-The Wall Street Journal, CNN-Opinion Research Center and the Pew Research Center, '

marriage has risen from 40 percent in 2006 to majority support today. „ CNS

WORLD Be faithful to the Church: pope A world day of prayer for the Church in China „ Page 9

Vatican II and Judaism Second Vatican Council teachings are binding on Catholics „ Page 12

FEATURE Making of an icon „ Page 15

PENTECOST Discerning the Holy Spirit’s action „ Page 16

2 HOME

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Reaching out to the young in today’s society Hundreds of catechists attended their annual day of recollection recently " ( )

" held its Annual Day of Recollection for catechists of the archdiocese.

The theme of the recollection was The Spirituality of Imperfection based on 2 Corinthians 12:10 (“for whenever I am weak, then I am strong�). / )

" laborated with the Ignatian Spirituality Team for this recollection.

The day saw about 260 catechists coming together at the Catholic Spirituality Centre to ; $ & $ through the wounded humanity of the Christian.

Catechists were invited to re;

$

own fragile humanity through a

; #

rector Fr Erbin Fernandez on the Serenity Prayer. / # $ & grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.�

The recollection also included small group sharing and a practice of the Examination of Consciousness, led by the Ignatian Spirituality team.

At the start of the recollection, Fr Erbin noted that one of the challenges catechists face is to help the young person make sense of his or her Christian faith in the context of an increasingly secularised society.

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY May 27 11.00am 5.30pm June 02 5.00pm June 03 6.00pm

Church of the Holy Spirit: Mass – Feastday Church of Christ the King: Mass – Pentecost Rally St Francis Xavier Major Seminary: Mass – Catechist Church of the Holy Trinity: Mass – Feastday

This, in turn, would mean that catechists themselves need to make sense of their own life experiences.

Fr Erbin encouraged the catechists to become more aware of their own way of living in the world, and to nurture a spirituality which would help them constantly make positive choices in spite of

!

Catechists were later led through the Examination of Consciousness (Examen) as a simple yet powerful spiritual practice that could enable them to sense pres & = $

lives.

Ms Josephine Leow, a catechist from the Church of the Holy Spirit, said she came away from the recollection “with a better insight into my role as a catechist�. “More than anything, I knew that I was being confronted by the question of my own relevance as a catechist. How do I treat my role?

Have I the passion required of me to

Catechetical director Fr Erbin Fernandez speaking at the catechists’ day of recollection on May 6.

bring others to Christ?� she shared.

She added that the sharing of the facilitators and her own group of catechists helped her “look forward with optimism to help initiate and lead our young to the & > ! „

Catechists learnt that one challenge they face is helping the young person make sense of his or her faith in an increasingly secularised society.

HOME 3

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Social Mission Conference 2012 September conference aims to deepen awareness of the poor A vulnerable teen is approached by a gang. A child eats plain rice for a meal. A low-wage earner faces the last of his salary before the month is up.

These are part of the real-life scenarios in Singapore, which will be presented at an upcoming conference asking participants: How do Catholics respond to the poor in their midst?

The Social Mission Conference 2012, to be held on Saturday, Sept 1, aims to help Catholics live out their faith by working with the poor in a different way.

The conference hopes to provide some food for thought: Society’s general mindset towards helping the poor needs to change and people need to go beyond giving to charity, and move towards partnering the poor.

While donating money to aid the poor is good, perhaps people could give of themselves by volunteering time and energy.

The biennial series of Social Mission Conferences, which started in 2008, is organised by Caritas Singapore Community Council (CSCC), better known as ) > ! / ; project of the organisation aims

to deepen awareness of Catholic social teaching, which includes the principle of the dignity of each and every human person, a key theme that resonates in this year’s conference, where Archbishop Nicholas Chia will give an address as guest-of-honour. @

the conference will introduce an

;

of a mini-retreat, featuring si ;

discussion in small groups.

To optimise these group discussions, the number of conference participants will be capped at 400 persons.

Topics to be examined include the perhaps unrecognised, invisible struggles that ex-offenders and other marginalised persons might face, the root causes of entrapment in the poverty cycle, and what kind of concerted efforts there are in addressing poverty in Singapore.

Jesuit Fr Mark Raper, an Aus-

employs hearing-impaired persons.

There will also be sharing on Caritas Singapore’s “holistic, integrated and upstream� strategy in helping the poor by Mr Kwek Mean Luck, chairman of its Community Strategy Committee.

Here, “upstream� connotes a preventive approach to social issues such as how to ensure there

to provide jobs for the disadvantaged in the coming years. „

Conference details When: Saturday, Sept 1 Time: 8.30 am to 5 pm The Social Mission Conference in 2010.

tralian who is the president of the G ) ' Q and the superior of Jesuit Missions in Timor Leste and Myanmar, will

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component of the conference.

Another section of the conference, titled Find Your Own Cal-

The conference aims to help Catholics live out their faith by working with the poor in a different way.

cutta, takes its inspiration from a saying by Blessed Mother Teresa, who left her homeland of Albania to work with the poorest of the poor in India.

Conference speakers include Ms Cecilia Chua, chairperson of HopeHouse, a residential shelter for at-risk youths; Nominated Member of Parliament Laurence Lien, the CEO of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre; and Ms Leona Leong, founder of the social enterprise, Aii, which

Who should attend: All who are interested in Catholic social teachings, church community leaders, people involved in church ministries and/or engaged in social mission work Rate: $40 per person (discounted rate of $20 per person for students, senior citizens and Caritas’ member organisations) How: Registration forms are # or visit www.caritas-singapore. org For more information, call Ms Gail Ng on 6337 3711.

4 HOME

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Thumbs up for IB programme Sec 4 SJI students say they look forward to the programme when the school starts pre-university classes next year

By Don Gurugay Sec Four St Joseph’s Institution students say they are looking forward to the International Baccalaureate diploma programme when the school starts pre-university classes next year. “I’ve been waiting for this,� said Sec Four student Joseph Paul Shutler. “The academic style and the topics it covers are more interesting for me.�

Other Sec Four students voiced the same views although some had reservations. “There’re a lot of ways people #

] ^

national Baccalaureate] and I feel it is a more broad based educa ] & !

creativity, action and service aspect of IB to be in line with the ethos of SJI.�

Soh Kian Peng, on the other hand, said his views were divided on the issue, but he feels the IB assessment scheme is much fairer as “it comprises a series of assessments over two years whereas the A levels is a one-time assessment�. “I don’t think it’s fair to have

your fate decided by that one exam,� he said.

Tay Hong Yi, on the other hand, said he was not considering the IB programme as he is not $ # # ; ish� in such a system. “I’m taking the more conservative approach although the IB is appealing,� he said.

Starting next year, SJI will start pre-university classes offering the IB programme. IB is more-broad based than the A levels and has smaller class sizes of 10 to 20 students.

The programme will also be open to students from other schools, including girls.

Along with IB, the school will also introduce a four-year Integrated Programme (IP) to secondary students next year, which will prepare them for the two-year IB programme, said assistant principal Malcolm Wong.

The IP is more-broad based than the O levels, although that will still be offered in SJI. Mr Wong said that for the fourth year of the IP, there are plans to organise an overseas residential programme which

Sec 4 SJI students who could take up the IB programme next year: (from left) Soh Kian Peng, Tay Hong Yi, Bryan Goh, Joseph Paul Shutler and Ernest Chin.

would see students living and serving communities across Asia.

There could also be a stint in an advanced industrialised country. “As we move towards the new IP and IB programme, we’re very clear that we are going to keep the programme centred on our values and vision,� said Mr Wong. “We

want to produce persons of integrity and persons of ideas.�

He added that with the introduction of the IB scheme, Sec Four students who want to continue their education in a Catholic school will now have a choice of whether to take the IB diploma at SJI or the A levels at Catholic Junior College. „

‘The academic

style and the topics it covers are more interesting for me.

’

– Sec Four student Joseph Paul Shutler on the IB programme

HOME 5

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Alumni singing their school rally with gusto during the May 12 dinner.

Performance by the SJI pipe band.

That old Josephian spirit!

SJI old boy Martin See describes the atmosphere at his alma mater’s 160th anniversary dinner On May 12, around 2,200 old boys of St Joseph’s Institution, their teachers and De La Salle Brothers gathered at the Malcolm Road campus to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the school’s founding.

This event also commemorated the feast day of St John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Brothers’ congregation.

I was covering the story for CatholicNews and being an old boy, the celebration meant something special to me.

I was awe-struck to witness so many old boys gathered there, ranging from those who had graduated as far back as 1957 to those who graduated just last year. From table to table, one could see old friends laughing, exchanging stories and snapping photos.

Almost immediately emotions of camaraderie, friendships and the famous “Josephian

mer classmates, schoolmates and teachers who had taught me.

I chatted with my graduating class of 1993, a diversity of old boys from various faiths and backgrounds who are currently working in different professions.

All of us felt that we had acquired a holistic education at SJI. We talked about the teachers we had, joked about our school days and updated each other on our lives. Some classmates are parents now and some are enjoying successful careers.

One classmate even shared that he had donated $50,000 to the SJI Campus Development Project. / #

kicked off with the march-in of the SJI pipe band. Everyone stood

up straight and sang the school rally, followed by the song, St Joseph’s Call. Moving around with my camera, I took photos of smiling Josephians honouring their alma mater.

The eight-course meal that followed was blessed by Franciscan Friar Michael D’Cruz. A moment of silence was then observed for the passing of an old boy a few days earlier, and also in remembrance of other old boys and teachers who had passed on.

We were then entertained by the school band and another band, Force Majeure, that played music from the 1960s and 1970s. The MCs were Mark Richmond, William Xavier and Leslie Pillay, all Josephians.

During the dinner, many bought beer and wine and drank heartily. This was for a good cause as proceeds would go to the Teachers’ Welfare Fund. The fund helps defray medical expenses of retired SJI teachers and provide

$ need help.

It will also be used in the professional development of current teachers.

One of the oldest alumni present, 72-year-old Maurice Peter Anthony, shared with me, “When I had problems in school, I used to consult Br Ignatius and Br Byrnes, and they always showed me concern and gave me wise counsel.�

He said that he and his former classmates make an effort to “meet once a month�. “But this anniversary is special for us because we get to meet other Josephians as well.�

Deputy Prime Minister Teo

I was awe-struck to witness so many old boys gathered there, ranging from those who had graduated as far back as 1957 to those who graduated just last year.

Mr Maurice Peter Anthony from the class of 1957.

Graduated last year: Peter Daniel (left) and Benjamin Soh.

Chee Hean, who was also present at the event, told me that he comes “from a family of three generations with SJI�. “SJI has always been very open to people from all walks of life. I think that is the strength of the school,� he shared.

Peter Daniel, 17, who graduated last year, said that “SJI taught

me to care for others and also helped me excel in my studies�.

His friend, Benjamin Soh, from the same cohort, shared, “Being the youngest batch of the old boys I’m inspired to see that there are many older boys here to keep the spirit of SJI alive.�

This 160th anniversary celebration has been for me and, I

believe, for fellow Josephians a wonderful walk down memory lane and an opportunity to reconnect with classmates, schoolmates and teachers.

It was an evening in which those present felt the old Josephian spirit come alive once more! „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

6 HOME

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Better facilities, more resources St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools’ students look forward to brand new school buildings next year Students at St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools can look forward to better facilities and more educational resources when they start the school term next year.

Both institutions are presently undergoing PRIME, the Education Ministry’s Programme for Rebuilding and Improving Existing Schools, and are now at different temporary locations.

The schools are expected to move into their new buildings, at their original site in Bedok North Avenue 4, at the end of the year.

The upgraded St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School will # rooms. / $ #

blocks which include a chapel, an indoor sports hall, a multi-purpose hall, a double-storey library, a dance studio, a band room and an outdoor experiential learning trail.

Pupils will also enjoy more sheltered playing areas and physical education lessons on a syn

! “Our newly upgraded school will further enhance the learning experience of our pupils. More special rooms will also ensure teachers can carry out lessons in a much more conducive environment,� said the principal, Mrs Eugenie Tan. Resources and facilities in the pipeline for St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School include two dance studios, two music studios, a black box theatre and two rehearsal rooms.

These are to support the school in its niche area in the performing arts. The school’s Performing Arts Education Programme (PAE)

Artist’s impression of the new schools with central courtyard.

is offered to all students in lower secondary as a core curriculum to develop the critical, creative and empathetic capacities of the girls.

The school also introduced its O Level Music Programme in 2012 and the O Level Drama Programme in 2006 to create more opportunities for students with various artistic talents to develop their potential.

Another programme, the Foundress Signature Programme, aims to stretch students’ talents in the school’s various academies, namely the Language Arts Academy, The Maths and Science Academy and The Leader ' ! >

The primary school

of bigger classrooms.

In the pipeline for the secondary school are dance studios and a black box theatre. with exceptional talent in a particular area will be invited to join the programme.

The school is also the only Catholic secondary school that offers a comprehensive inclusive curriculum for hearing-impaired students endorsed by the Ministry of Education. These students take part in the full life of the school and are active in a wide range of co-curricular activities such as

Secondary school students putting on a performance.

the concert and angklung bands, dance and the Digital Media Club. “We consider it a privilege to be given the chance to journey with all God’s children as they discover how good they can really be!� said principal Melanie Martens.

St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools will

hold a fundraising gala dinner on June 30 at Marina Mandarin Hotel. Proceeds will go to the schools’ upgrading projects.

For enquiries, contact Ms Cecilia Nathen at 6449 0616 or email prime@canossian.edu.sg.

Details of the dinner can also be found on the schools’ websites. „

Primary school students pose for the camera.

HOME 7

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Award recipients say faith inspires their work Left to right: Ms Nirmala Nair, Ms Stephanie Yeap and Ms Catherine Sandra Paul.

By Martin See Three Catholic nurses who were among the 61 recipients of this year’s Healthcare Humanity Award attribute their faith for their accomplishments.

They are Ms Nirmala Nair, Ms Stephanie Yeap and Ms Catherine Sandra Paul.

The three nurses received the awards from President Tony Tan on May 15.

Working with cancer patients

Q $ been in the oncology ward in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital since 1990. Thus, she draws on the rosary to provide her with “a remarkable source of comfort and

solace from the trials and obstacles� in her work.

When she prays, all her “worries seem to fade in the hope of God’s light. Especially when hope is most important for cancer patients�, she said.

She has supported grieving families through home visits and attending funerals as well being steadfast with follow-up calls which “make all the difference in bringing light to their lives�, she added.

Ms Paul started her career in Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 1985 and was part of the pioneer trainee batch to be specialised in oncology nursing.

Ms Nirmala, another recipi-

ent, said, “Being Catholic forms who I am, for the Lord said to care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked. There are so many opportunities in my work to do that and the challenges of life draws me to God’s love

!

Lord for without Him I am nothing.�

Ms Nirmala, a Senior Nurse Manager at Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic, is part of an informal group of volunteers called Family Affair comprising family and friends.

The volunteers travel to various parts of India to work with the less privileged through educational and social activities. She had worked with HIV-positive chil-

dren and teenagers in an orphanage in Mumbai.

Ms Nirmala is the treasurer of the Catholic Nurses Guild. She has been in the profession for 32 years and has served in the old Woodbridge Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, National University Hospital, and National Kidney Foundation.

Ms Yeap, the other Catholic recipient, told CatholicNews that her faith is the guiding principle to her work and she tries her best to imitate Christ through her duties as a nurse.

Ms Susan Loh, Senior Nurse Manager of Singapore General Hospital, who nominated Ms Yeap said, “She deserves this award be-

cause she has all along gone the extra mile to care for the patients.

She would be available on her days off and stand in for others to work on her personal time, visit patients at home and participate in the stroke nurses volunteer programme at SGH and the Catholic Nurses Guild.�

The annual Healthcare Humanity Award which was inaugurated in 2004 honours outstanding healthcare workers who are inspirational role models that exemplify the values of courage, dedica ;

ethics as well as compassion and humanity in patient care. „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

8 ASIA

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Catholics call for Lady Gaga ban MANILA – Catholic bishops on May 18 led calls for the authorities to cancel concerts by Lady Gaga in Manila with religious groups claiming the pop singer’s lyrics are “blasphemous�.

A group of about 70 young Christians marched on Pasay City Hall on May 18 urging the mayor to cancel permits for two concerts to be held on May 21 and May 22 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila.

They carried placards that read “our master is not a monster� and “we’re pro-Jesus not pro-Judas�, the latter in opposition to the Lady Gaga song Judas.

Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon, a member of the Permanent Council of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, joined calls on May 18 to bar the US singer from performing. “[Lady Gaga’s] attitude seems to promote godlessness, [it’s] of-

fensive to any religion,� he said. “Christians must exercise selfcensorship to avoid shows that are harmful to their faith.�

Speaking on Church-run Radyo Veritas on May 18, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged the government to follow the example of other countries in the region that have #

& Award winner from performing dates on her sell-out Born this Way Ball Tour. “We should protest that.

Indonesia and South Korea did not allow that concert because their governments saw that she

;

it will be the same here,� he said.

Ms Henrietta de Villa, head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting added that Lady Gaga’s “insults to our faith�

were not appropriate in a majority Catholic country.

A joint statement by religious groups including the Intercessors for the Philippines, the Philippines for Jesus Movement and the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches described the concert as “grossly blasphemous, immoral, lewd, obscene� with “demonic and occultist undertones that is an insult to our God and is a direct attack against our Christian faith�. “It greatly endangers the hearts and minds of our young people as it overtly promotes satanic worship and sexual perversity,� it added. |

religious groups, Lady Gaga has proven a hit in the Philippines, prompting concert organisers to arrange a second performance on May 22 due to high demand for tickets. „ UCANEWS.COM

Catholic students stand trial for anti-govt activities

VIETNAM – Four Catholic college

students charged with anti-government activities were expected to go on trial recently.

Mr Anthony Chu Manh Son, Mr Peter Tran Huu Duc, Mr Anthony Dau Van Duong and MrJohn Baptist Hoang Phong were due in court in Vinh City on May 24, for spreading anti-government propaganda, local sources said.

The sources said they are being detained in Nghi Kim prison in Nghe An province.

Mr Son, Mr Duc and Mr Duong, all 23, were arrested in August 2011, while Mr Phong, 24, has been held since December 2011.

Church sources said they were all active in Church-run activities.

They collected aborted foetuses and buried them in cemeteries, made blood donations and did other charity work.

Mr Chu Van Nghiem, Mr Son’s father, was quoted as saying his son was picked off the street and that in September 2011, he was told his son had been disseminating anti-government propaganda.

Nuns hold candles while taking part in the opening ceremony of the holy year celebration outside a Catholic church near Hanoi, Vietnam, Nov 23 2009.

“My son has never been involved in anti-government work.

All he has done is donate blood and help abandoned children,� he said.

However, the student’s defence lawyer Mr Le Dang Tung, has reportedly said the students have admitted to having given

;

party system, criticising communist party policies and rejecting the results of national assem-

bly’s election held in 2011.

Church sources said the relatives are looking for another lawyer to replace Mr Tung.

Meanwhile, on May 20 evening, around 3,000 Catholics attended a candlelit vigil at the Redemptorist-run Thai Ha in Hanoi.

Fr Joseph Nguyen Van Phuong, the parish priest, urged them to pray for justice and truth and for a fair trial for the students. „ UCANEWS.COM

Church attacked with stones, urine: pastor JAKARTA – A leader of the Batak

Society Christian Church (HKBP) of Philadelphia in West Java has urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take action against religious intolerance after radical Muslims were accused of throwing stones and urine at a church congregation.

Rev Palti Panjaitan said almost 100 Protestants were subjected to hate speeches and murder threats on May 17 during a service to celebrate Ascension Day at a half-built church in Bekasi district.

More than 400 police and military personnel deployed to secure

the service had asked church-goers to worship at a governmentdesignated building 10 km from the site to avoid a standoff with a crowd of 300 Muslim protestors. “That was the time when the group threw stones, bags of urine and ditchwater at us,� said Rev Panjaitan, adding that the congregation had to halt the service because of the incident.

Rev Andreas Anangguru Yewangoe, chairman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, accused President Yudhoyono of failing to address the problem. “It is inhumane. We are tired of facing such incidents,� he said.

“If we want this state to be united, the only way is to maintain religious freedom.�

HKBP Philadelphia has been $

permission to build a church in Bekasi district after submitting an application in 2007.

In December 2009, the district administration issued a letter banning congregations from worshiping on the site but in July last year the Supreme Court overruled the decision, saying the church was eligible for a permit.

HKBP Philadelphia says the permit has still not been issued. „ UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 9

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHINESE CATHOLICS

Be faithful to the Church: pope

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI called on Chinese Catholics to be faithful to the pope following the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer with those gathered in St Peter’s Square on May 20.

Pope Benedict recalled the Church’s May 24 celebration of the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, which he established as a world day of prayer for the Church in China.

Mentioning Chinese Catholics’ devotion to Mary at the Sheshan Marian shrine in Shanghai, he asked that all Catholics in China proclaim Christ “with humility and joy, be faithful to their Church and to the successor of Peter, and live their lives in accordance with the faith they profess�.

The pope prayed for Mary to

help China’s Catholics and to help members of the universal Church grow in their love and concern for the Church in China.

The pope also asked that mass media worldwide promote mutual respect and dialogue, and prayed for those hit by a deadly earthquake near Bologna and a school bombing in Brindisi.

A bomb was detonated outside the Brindisi school gates early in the morning as teenagers were arriving for classes. One girl was killed and 10 others injured – one seriously. Police said they suspected the attack was the work of a lone individual unrelated to

} crime ring.

The pope prayed for the victims and lamented the death of the

Chinese pilgrims pose for a photo before papal audience at Vatican.

girl, saying she was an “innocent victim of brutal violence�.

The pope also prayed for those

First Ricci exhibition centre opens

hit by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake that struck near Bologna in the pre-dawn hours of May 20. At

least four people were killed as a result of the quake and its aftershocks. “I am spiritually close to those hit by this calamity,� the pope said.

Pope Benedict also highlighted Silence and Word: Path of Evangelisation, the theme of World Communications Day, marked in most dioceses May 20. “Silence is an integral part of communication; it is a privileged place for encountering the Word of God and our brothers and sisters,� the pope said.

The pope asked that all forms of communication work to establish between people authentic dialogue, “founded on mutual respect, listening and sharing�. „ CNS

Chinese Catholics look to heal rifts

ZHAOQING, CHINA – ) }

exhibition centre dedicated to Fr Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) has opened in Zhaoqing, the place $

set foot on the mainland.

Acting director of the Paris %

Guangdong provincial cultural bureau and Zhaoqing city attended the opening ceremony on May 13.

The new Matteo Ricci Cultural Exchange Exhibition Centre details the life of the Jesuit priest, known as Li Madou to Chinese people, through an array of exhibits and written accounts.

The centre is located near the

G

house that Fr Ricci and his confrere Fr Michele Ruggieri were allowed to build after they arrived in China in 1583. The church, called “Xianhua Temple� out of respect for Buddhist custom, was dedicated to the Blessed Mother.

At that time Zhaoqing was the capital of Guangdong province.

The location of the church was next to a 500-year-old Buddhist pagoda on the banks of the Xijiang (West) River, from where the two missioners arrived by boat.

Fr Gabriel Li Jiafang of Jiangmen, who attended the opening, hoped the exhibition, which is designed to boost tourism, would make more people aware of the missionary and the Catholic faith. “The local Church has provided historical material such as books and written records for the Ricci exhibition centre which is managed by the city museum. A replica of a Ricci statue owned by the parish is also erected there,� the priest of Zhaoqing’s Immaculate Conception Church said.

The statue of Jesuit Fr Matteo Ricci outside a cathedral in Beijing. The 17th-century missionary to China is well-known by the country’s Catholics.

Other exhibits include Fr Ricci’s writings, items of cloth

astronomical data, to help visitors understand his background, his six years in Zhaoqing (until 1589)

and his contribution to cultural exchanges between East and West.

A special feature, around 30 clocks made in Europe between the 17th and 20th centuries, impressed Fr Li. „ UCANEWS.COM

PRATO, ITALY – Italy’s small Chinese Catholic community met over the May 5-6 weekend in Prato, an industrial city not far from Firenze, to discuss a growing rift between Italians and immigrants

#

tential “bridge� between Chinese and Italians.

There are an estimated 1,000 Chinese Catholics in Italy. Almost half of them live in Prato, where over the years a large Chinese

€ ‚‚‚ strong but estimates say that there might be as many as 50,000 in the city, accounting for almost a quarter of its population – has established a thriving textile industry.

Economic success has come at a price: Italian entrepreneurs say they have all but been driven out of business by the low-cost

) that a once prosperous district has mostly disappeared. “The situation remains tense and relations [between the two

ƒ

Fr Francesco Saverio Wang, priest at the parish of the Ascension and chaplain to Prato’s Chinese community.

At the same time, the priest stressed that there is prejudice towards Chinese immigrants in Italy, who are often accused of crimes – such as not paying their taxes in full – which the natives themselves are often guilty of.

During the two-day-meeting, Chinese Catholics from all over Italy discussed how to improve relations with Italians and improve integration in their host country.

One key issue is still knowledge of the Italian language. „

;

Way of the Lord, that life is not all about making money. Many Chinese don’t abide by Italian laws and are not interested in learning about Italian culture. We must educate them.� said Fr Wang.

In this respect, participants to the meeting said that Chinese Catholics, while being a “minority within a minority�, could play an important role. “We can be a bridge, start by changing ourselves.�

The Chinese Catholics gath Q ;

how to bring their faith to the wider Chinese community.

On May 5, a group of nuns, seminarians and lay people went into the city’s Chinatown, along the Via Pistoiese, to witness their

; #

the Catholic community.

But in general, the Chinese remain suspicious of the Catholic minority. Some shopkeepers refused to talk to those who spoke to them and incidents have been reported in Prato’s Chinese community that Catholic workers have # #

taking part in Church activities such as pilgrimages.

Engagement in parish life re $ expected to work 12 or 15 hours a day in some cases.

During Sunday Mass in Prato’s Cathedral, the local bishop, Gastone Simoni, said that Chinese and Italians should stop saying “us� and “them� and realise that, as Christians, they both belong to the same “we�.

The yearly gathering of Italy’s Chinese Catholics started in 2007 when the pope called for a day of prayer for the Church in China. „ UCANEWS.COM

10 WORLD

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Pilgrim walk as part of Eucharistic Congress

VATICAN CITY – The Italian television journalist who set off the “VatiLeaks� controversy by releasing private letters to Pope Benedict XVI and between Vati # collection of leaked documents in a new book called Your Holiness.

In a May 19 statement, Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, called the publication of the letters for commercial gain a “criminal act� and said the Vatican would take legal action. “The latest publication of documents of the Holy See and private documents of the Holy Father can no longer be considered a questionable – and objectively defamatory – journalistic initiative, but clearly assumes the character of a criminal act,� Fr Lombardi said.

The spokesman said the publication of the letters violates the right to privacy and the “freedom

DUBLIN, IRELAND – A new city

centre “Camino�, or pilgrim walk, has been launched in Dublin as part of the celebrations surrounding the International Eucharistic Congress set for June 10-17.

The walk, involving prayerful visits to seven of Dublin’s most historic Catholic and Anglican churches, is partly inspired by the famous pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain and partly inspired by the traditional Dublin devotion of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday.

Unlike the pilgrimage across Spain to the burial place of St James, which takes weeks to complete, the Dublin walk can be completed in about four hours.

In typical Irish fashion, the Dublin pilgrimage has no set route; visitors can make their own path to the churches in any order desired.

The pilgrim walk will operate June 2-16. Participants will be given a “Pilgrim Passport� that can be stamped at each church, which will be open 8am to 8pm daily.

Mass will be celebrated at 5.45pm daily at St Mary’s ProCathedral, where people who

$

of the pilgrimage.

The seven churches involved

Vatican says publication of ‘VatiLeaks’ letters is ‘criminal act’

Anglican Archbishop Michael Jackson and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Ireland, lead an ecumenical Good Friday procession in Dublin from Christ Church Cathedral to the Pro-Cathedral where a prayer service was held April 6.

– St James; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; John’s Lane; St Ann’s, Dawson Street; St Mary of the Angels; St Michan’s, Halston Street; and St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral – are each notable in their own right.

Opened in 1854, St James’ Church creates a link between

the Dublin’s Camino and Spain’s El Camino de Santiago where it stands near the site of St James’s Gate. The site today is occupied by the St James’s Gate Brewery, home of Guinness, where a visitor centre offers refreshment to thirsty pilgrims. „ CNS

of correspondence� of Pope Benedict, the letter writers and some of the pope’s closest collaborators.

The letters include accusations

management in the Vatican, and focus heavily on internal Italian church matters or Vatican-Italian relations; Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, is particularly presented in an unfavorable light.

Fr Lombardi said, “The Holy See will continue to explore the different implications of these acts of violation of the privacy and dignity of the Holy Father and will take appropriate steps so that the authors of the theft, those who received stolen property and those $ mation, using illegally obtained private documents for commercial use, answer for their acts before the law.� „ CNS

Priest ‘ready for jail’ in parking dispute A priest has vowed to go to jail rather than pay a parking ticket handed out to his church ambulance.

Fr Frank Daly, of St Peter’s in Hinckley, Leicestershire, is refusing

$ $ at the annual Churches Together Good Friday ecumenical service.

The vehicle was being used to transport disabled people home

from the event. The county council has said the ticket stands, as the ambulance was parked in a loading bay.

But Fr Daly said: “I am prepared to go to jail over this. As the

plies to me and I can say that I have no intention whatsoever of paying it, no matter what the consequences of this may be.� „ THE CATHOLIC HERALD

WORLD 11

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Vatican, Benetton reach out-of-court settlement over kissing-pope ad VATICAN CITY – The Vatican and

the Italian fashion house Benetton reached an out-of-court settlement after the Vatican took legal action against an ad campaign that depicted Pope Benedict XVI kissing a Muslim leader.

The settlement included the fashion company making an un

)

charity and a promise to stop the image from being used by third parties, including being displayed on the internet, according to a Vatican statement on May 15.

The campaign, titled Unhate, was unveiled on Nov 16 last year, and featured doctored images of supposedly antagonistic world leaders in kissing scenes.

One of the images was of Pope Benedict embracing Sheik Ahmad el-Tayeb, president of al'† ‡ ) $ had announced the suspension of dialogue with the Vatican in 2011.

A large poster of the image had been hung not far from the Vatican,

# ) > }' !

The Vatican issued a strong protest the same day, condemning the “completely unacceptable use of the image of the Holy Father, manipulated and exploited in the context of a publicity campaign for commercial ends�.

Shortly afterward, the com-

pany withdrew the image from circulation and the website of the Unhate Foundation.

The Vatican then took legal action against the Benetton Group

#

} continued circulation, including in the mass media, in Italy and in other countries.

The case was concluded in

The Holy See didn’t ‘

’

– Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman

mid-May, the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, said in a written statement May 15. / = > } $

but instead wished to obtain moral

# Š]

‹ ognising the harm caused and to assert its determination to protect, even though legal means, the image of the pope,� Fr Lombardi said.

Bishops express ‘conscientious objection’ to condom policy RABAUL, PAPUA NEW GUINEA –

/ ‰ ) Q ua New Guinea has announced a “conscientious objection� to a new policy that condoms are to be distributed to school children, $

)

would not follow the ruling.

The Ministry of Education had ordered for condoms to be distributed to secondary school students as part of a new policy to combat AIDS and HIV while providing a type of sexual education for school children, following a new state law on sexual education. “Even if the document issued by the Ministry of Education has many positive points, we cannot be forced to follow a policy which contradicts with our philosophy of education,� said Archbishop @ Q ' # of Rabaul and the Vice President

‰ ) ) ‰ ! ' # Q

) spond in court, if the state were to

) } legally.

The archbishop said that the distribution of condoms sends students a wrong signal by encouraging them to further attitudes of sexual freedom before and outside marriage, which can lead to the spread of HIV and AIDS. The Ministry of Education has recorded a higher rate of HIV-infection within the school population. “If a school gives a ballpoint pen and a book to a student, the basic message is simple: to study.

But if you give condoms, the message for students will be: go and feel free to do what you want, it is an invitation to irresponsibility,� explained Mr James Ume, a principal at De La Salle Secondary School.

Fr Paul Jennings of St Joseph

) ]

) ) also emphasises how a course of

AIDS “should do more to maintain a partnership with parents� and not impose directives in the education of their children. „ FIDES

He added that while the Vatican

]

ˆ } request to make a “limited but ef

)

) } # $ !

Benetton issued an apology May 11, reiterating its dismay for having “upset the feelings of His Holiness Benedict XVI and the faithful�.

The company promised that all photographic images of the pope have been withdrawn from company publications and circulation, that it will “not use any images of the pope in the future without prior authorisation from the Holy See� and that it will use “its good

altered photo by third parties on internet sites or elsewhere�.

The Vatican said the legal matter was now closed and that it was hoped a lesson could be learned from this “most unpleasant incident� about the importance of “the due respect for the image of the pope, likewise of every other person, and for the feelings of the faithful�.

Other images in the campaign portray US President Barack "# ) = Jintao and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embracing Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. „ CNS

Cardinal Dolan beats Obama in Time poll

) / | Š # ‹ beaten Lady Gaga and US President Barack Obama in a vote for Time † } Q Œ !

Following an online poll, open to members of the public, the cardinal received 42,000 votes, leaving # & ) ey trailing behind him. Journalists and editors at Time will now decide who should be crowned the # } Q Π!

As president of the US Bish } )

took a leading role in opposing Q "# }

earlier this year, which were criti # ) ' for infringing rights to freedom of conscience. „ THE CATHOLIC HERALD

12 WORLD

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Catholics must accept Vatican II, including teaching on Judaism, cardinal says ROME – The Catholic Church’s re-

lationship to Judaism as taught by the Second Vatican Council and the interpretations and developments of that teaching by subsequent popes, “are binding on a Catholic�,

ˆ # for relations with the Jews.

Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch,

Q ) mission for Religious Relations with the Jews and a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, spoke to reporters May 16 after delivering a speech on Catholic-Jewish relations in light of Vatican II’s declaration “Nostra Aetate� on the Church’s relations with non-Christian religions.

The afternoon speech followed Cardinal Koch’s participation in a meeting of the doctrinal congregation to examine the latest progress in the Vatican’s reconciliation talks with the traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX). “There are questions to clarify in discussions with this community. I can’t say more than that,� he said, echoing a Vatican statement saying the reconciliation talks are ongoing.

In addition to the highly publicised position of Bishop Richard Williamson, an SSPX bishop who denies the Holocaust, public statements by the society’s superior general, Bishop Bernard Fellay, leave in doubt whether the society as a whole accepts the entirety of Nostra Aetate, including its condemnations of anti-Semitism and of the idea that the Jews were to blame for the death of Jesus. “All the doctrinal decisions of the Church are binding on a Catholic, including the Second

Pope Benedict XVI (left), Lord Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth (middle), and Swiss Cardinal

with the Jews (right), are pictured in 2011 at the Vatican.

Vatican Council and all its texts,�

Cardinal Koch said when asked if the SSPX would be expected to accept all the teachings of Vatican II. “The Nostra Aetate declaration of the Second Vatican Council is a clear decree and is important for every Catholic,� he added.

At the same time, Cardinal Koch said, “It is very necessary to make clear the difference between the position of the Society of St Pius X and the negation of the Shoah (the Holocaust), which is a position that has no place in the Catholic Church. It is very clear.�

SSPX leaders had issued a statement saying Bishop William } $ ;

the views of the society. “The Holy Father has spoken clearly about this position of Williamson, that it’s not possible, there is no

place for deniers in the Catholic Church,� said Cardinal Koch.

Cardinal Koch had said at % } Q ‡

St Thomas Aquinas that Nostra Aetate is “the ‘foundation document’ and the ‘Magna Carta’ of the dialogue of the Roman Catholic Church with Judaism�.

The declaration highlighted the Jewish roots of Christianity and took “an unambiguous position against every form of antiSemitism�, he said.

The Church’s theological re;

G $ $ as on the relationship between God’s covenant with the Jewish people and the new covenant instituted by Christ have been developed further and authoritatively by Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, he said. „ CNS

Save Syria, urges Melkite patriarch of Damascus BEIRUT – Syria’s 2.5 million Christians are being pushed into an exodus from the country out of fear of chaos and crime, said Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus.

In a report from the Melkite Archdiocese of Homs, Syria, distributed by the patriarchate, the patriarch urged the international community to “save Syria�. “Save Syria’s exemplary coexistence of Muslims and Christians,� Patriarch Laham said in the report. “To the ones who care, I cry out: Save the presence of the Christians in Syria.�

Armed gangs are kidnapping Syrian people and demanding ransom, according to the report, An Experience of Current Life in Syria.

Ransoms demanded are typi ‡>‘ ‚ ‚‚‚ Š>‘ ’ “”‚‹

‘•‚ ‚‚‚ Š>‘’‚ ”’‚‹ ) ‡>‘€ ‚‚‚ Š>‘€  (‚‹

‡>‘’ ‚‚‚ Š>‘( “‚‚‹ !

The report recounted the May 11 attack on a Melkite priest in Qara, southeast of Damascus.

Two armed, masked men came into the priest’s residence, demanding his keys.

He refused, fearing the intruders would enter the church. The men then tied up the priest, struck his head and slashed it with a broken glass bottle.

One of the attackers reportedly said to the priest, “We carved a cross in your head.�

They then beat the priest, tied him to a toilet seat and began to strangle him with a pipe.

Abruptly, the assailants left, taking the priest’s keys, computer and phone. The priest freed himself two hours later. “Such an incident was unthinkable only a few months ago.

In Syria, Christians were formerly

Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus. CNS photo

respected along with all minorities,� the report said. “We see that blind acts of violence are everywhere and we have nowhere to take refuge. The mutilations, bombings, and threats have a psychological aim: to bring the population to its knees.

At every moment we are in total insecurity,� it said.

The report quoted Patriarch Laham as saying: “The Syrian government is tied up and swept away by the international politics. Without any serious investigation, they claim the government perpetrates massacres and bombs civilians. Meanwhile, the barbarous acts by the insurgents pass by without a word.� “There is a legitimate government who must govern,� the patriarch said. “If it is destroyed, there $ #

! ‡ fortunately, we see that the international community aims to make the situation worse, divide Syria ; ! ] and supporting forces that are out of control we are pushing the country towards more violence, terror and bloodshed.� “I address the international community: save Syria,� he said. „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

!"# $ % &

&

&

' # CNS photo

Church helps earthquake victims BOLOGNA, ITALY – Church agencies stepped up efforts to support local parishes providing assistance to nearly 5,000 people left homeless by a magnitude six earthquake in northern Italy.

Caritas Italy, part of the Catholic Church’s international

$ $

agencies to respond May 20 by sending staff to the affected communities about 22 miles north of Bologna.

The Italian government was assessing damage May 21 and considered declaring a state of emergency.

At least seven people were killed in the disaster, which struck one of Italy’s most historic areas.

Two of the people died in a factory, which collapsed as workers arrived for the early morning shift.

Mr Francesco Soddu, director of Caritas Italy, traveled to the region hours after the earthquake caused homes and buildings to collapse in the pre-dawn hours, according to a posting on the agency’s website. “We’re close to the people in prayer and to particular the families of the victims. We will support the local Church in providing aid,� he said.

Mr Soddu discussed the agency’s response with local Caritas staff, including the directors of Caritas Emilia-Romagna, Modena and Bologna and Archbishop Paolo Rabitti of Ferrara-Comacchio. Local Caritas staff members were prepared to provide shelter

!

Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the victims after reciting the

“Regina Coeli� prayer with those gathered in St Peter’s Square May 20. “I am spiritually close to those hit by this calamity,� the pope said.

The earthquake was the worst in Italy since the L’Aquila tremour killed nearly 300 people in central Italy in 2009.

Culture Minister Lorenzo Ornaghi told reporters it was too early to give a full assessment of damage, but that a list of heritage sites affected in the Emilia Romagna region was being compiled. La Rocca Castle in San Felice sul Panaro and a 14th-century clock tower in Finale Emilia were destroyed.

Several historic churches also were destroyed or seriously damaged. „ CNS

14 LETTERS

Sunday June 3, 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: johnson.fernandez@catholic.org.sg

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

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: subscriptions@catholic.org.sg ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: advertisements@catholic.org.sg

STAFF CORRESPONDENTS: Darren Boon: darren.boon@catholic.org.sg Martin See: martin.see@catholic.org.sg

WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: medona.walter@catholic.org.sg

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

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

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

LETTERS

Strong marriages foster vocations I found Fr David Garcia’s comments in FamilyLife Society’s bulletin page on the crisis in marriage and the family enlightening (CN, May 20, 2012).

I cannot but agree with him that there seems indeed a link between the perceived crisis in marriage and that of vocations today. After all, what are the qualities that we would associate with priests or Religious for that matter?

Some qualities would include, #

lowing: being generous, having a listening ear and being sensitive to the needs of others, and having

for the good of others.

We know for a fact that values are caught and not taught. Thus, it would seem that the cradle of such character education lies in none other than the family, where parents are, as Blessed John Paul II mentioned in Familiaris Consortio, the “primary educators�of their children.

The example of their parents allows individuals to learn

$

a close relationship with God,what it means to listen and to make the effort to understand another, what it means to put aside one’s own self interest at times when the

CN, May 20, 2012

needs of “the other� in the family

$

when one makes a“sincere gift� of oneself to others. @

well in this aspect of character education, the marital relationship of the parents must be strong.

When spouses make the constant decision to love and make

other, their children who see this played out in real life on a daily basis will appreciate more fully the following exhortation of the Second Vatican Council that !!!

except through a sincere gift of himself� (Gaudium et Spes 24).

And when they do, the chances of them responding to the call of service in the priesthood and religious vocation will be that much higher.

In other words, it would seem that if we are to encourage more vocations to the priesthood and % $

foremost defend, promote andstrengthen the institution of marriage today.

John Hui Singapore 560157

Against Lady Gaga’s concert We wish that the authorities lay some ground rules about the upcoming Lady Gaga's performances in Singapore on May 28, 29 and 31 that the entertainer does not trample on our religious sensitivities.

Lady Gaga displays lewdness, perversion, occultism, nudity, licentiousness, and homosexuality in her videos and songs.

We believe the entertainer tears down everything that God has spoken in His Word and brings

about a breakdown of spiritual and moral values in our youths.

It is heartening to see that the authorities in South Korea, Indonesia and Philippines have been very united about their displeasure against Lady Gaga's blatant disregard for the sensitivities of those who believe in God and His moral laws.

The media will no doubt exalt and highlight Lady Gaga when she comes to Singapore. However, we hope that the faithful in

our little red dot will not be compromised.

There is still a silent majority who do not agree with this kind of bad role models which affects our youths and society.

It is not just about religious

# ; ence her shows bring upon our society that we disagree with.

Mr and Mrs W.K. Lee „ See Page 8 for related story

The new evangelisation Recently a new expression has made its way into our theological and ecclesial vocabulary. There’s a lot of talk today about the new evangelisation. Indeed the pope has called for a synod to meet this year for a month in Rome to try to articulate a vision and strategy for such an endeavour.

What is meant by new evangelisation? In simple terms: Millions of people, particularly in the Western world, are Christian in name, come from Christian backgrounds, are familiar with Christianity, believe that they know and understand Christianity, but no longer practise that faith in a meaningful way. They’ve heard of Christ and the gospel, even though they may be overrating themselves in their belief that they know and understand what these mean. No matter. Whatever their shortcomings in understanding a faith they no longer practise, they believe that they’ve already been evangelised and that their non-practice is an examined decision. Their attitude toward Christianity, in essence, is: I know what it is. I’ve tried it. And it’s not for me!

And so it no longer makes sense to speak of trying to evangelise such persons in the same way as we intend that term when we are

!

} accurate precisely to speak of a new evangelisation, of an attempt to take the gospel to individuals and to a culture that have already largely been shaped by it, are in a sense over-familiar with it, but haven’t really in fact examined it. The new evangelisation tries to take the gospel to persons who are already Christian but are no longer practising as Christians.

How to do that? How do we make the gospel fresh for those for whom it has become stale? How do we, as G. K. Chesterton put it, help people to look at the familiar until it looks unfamiliar again? How do we try to Christianise someone who is already Christian?

There are no simple answers. It’s not as if we haven’t already been trying to do that for more than a generation. Anxious parents have been trying to do this with their children. Anxious priests have been trying to do that with their parishioners. Anxious bishops have been trying to do that with their dioceses. Anxious spiritual writers, including this one, have been trying to do that with their readership. And an anxious Church as a whole has been trying to do that with the world. What more might we be doing?

My own view is that we are in for a long, uphill struggle, one that demands faith in the power and truth of what we believe in and a long,

! )

) $ ! / always do. The stone always eventually rolls away from the tomb and Christ always eventually re-emerges, but we too must do our parts.

What are those parts?

The vision we need as we try to reach out to evangelise the already evangelised will, I believe, need to include these principles: 1. We need to clearly name this task, recognise its urgency, and

G } — &

$ $ make disciples.  ! „ $

;

! „ # #

; theological imagination, but we’ve struggled mightily to get people to fall in love with the faith.

3. We need to emphasise both catechesis and theology. We need to focus both on those who are trying to learn the essentials of their faith and those who are trying to make intellectual sense of their faith.

4. We need a multiplicity of approaches. No one approach reaches everyone. People go where they are fed.

5. We need to appeal to the idealism of people, particularly that of the young. We need to win people over by linking the gospel to all that’s best inside them, to let the beauty of the gospel speak to the beauty inside of people.

6. We need to evangelise beyond any ideology of the right or the left. We need to move beyond the categories of liberal and conservative to the categories of love, beauty, and truth.

7. We need to remain widely “Catholic� in our approach. We are not trying to get people to join some small, lean, purist, sectarian group, but to enter a house with many rooms.

8. We need to preach both the freedom of the gospel and its call for an adult maturity. We need to resist preaching a gospel that threatens or belittles, even as we preach a gospel that asks for free and mature obedience.

9. We need today, in an age of instability and too-frequent betrayal,

$

!

10. We need, today more than ever, to bear down on the essentials

! ) ˜

!

We need to work at winning over hearts, not hardening them. „

FEATURE 15

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Making an icon is a pilgrimage of faith ROME – The Philadelphia-born

artist priest slowly inhaled, opened his mouth wide over an

long, belly-deep breath. ' @ % ) $ $

from animal hide and a drizzle of honey that had been painted in the shape of a halo on a wooden pan ! =

 “

! “I breathe three times so that I want to get my breath moist� $

enough for the thin gold leaf to

!

}

he said, when God breathed life

'

' # '

! “God formed humanity out #

! / resents the spirit of God that’s en

!

Surrounded by powdered pigments, paintbrushes and gesso # $ # @ )

$

% ] †

tradition.

He had just wrapped up a two$ $

headquarters of the Augustinians in Rome, just steps from St Peter’s Square. /  Â

˜ ;

)

)

› $ > ' € ! / $ $

› } of salvation and the wood of the

) $ ! / $

the egg tempera represent life and baptism. „

} blessed by a priest and rubbed $

;

)

! @ ) $

studio art at Villanova University ““ #

)

€“ ! /

## ‰

$ display his latest mixed media art

> shrines. ' $

;

& ! @ )

ures in the United States. “One thing people are going to

$

#

along the halo’s outer edge.

Left to right from top: Augustinian Fr Richard Cannuli creates the outline for an icon of Augustine, brushes off carbon after tracing a design while creating an icon, breathes to adhere gold to clay as he creates an icon and holds an egg yolk to be used to make tempera paints, paints the icon of St Augustine during a demonstration about how to create an icon in Rome in April 12.

... making an icon ‘“has nothing to do with the individual painter,� but is more about a person’s ability to let God be in control.

’

– Fr Richard Cannuli

There is a lot of waiting time between painting with handmixed egg-based tempera and letting the medium thoroughly ! " # €Â

•‚

€’

!

While waiting for a layer to

�„

do next?’ I usually say pray, read, #

$ !

œ ;

leads many students, even non-

)

$ ! „ $ $ $

@ )

# ordained into the priesthood in € ! „ } $ $

}

# $ the prototype of the image that you’re painting,� he said.

He said one Russian master

pray to the person being portrayed

$

$

}

! / ] )

$ then all of a sudden everything was turned upside down�.

Over the next six years, he $ $

# ! = nothing to do with the individual painter,� but is more about a per } #

& # trol.

} $ ing and now all of a sudden I let

& !

#

the paint must be pooled on the # #

$ ture� of the painter, he said. Only

! /

$ $

œ the same order, and using images

}

#

!

$

not worshipped, are believed to

!

)

the Mother of God, a saint or

$

least one ear prominently exposed toward the viewer, he said, “so

hear your prayers and bring them to the Father in heaven�. @ )

been held and handled for so many years in prayer. “You don’t worry about them

} ! /

}

be, you just have to let it go,� he said. „ CNS

16 PENTECOST FEATURE

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

The obligation to discern the Holy Spirit’s action

By Fr John Catoir

!

‘ ’

L

"›& # = Spirit was fully under

article of the Creed, he was a “living force� in the primitive Church’s experience. This same Spirit continues to act in the life of the Church to this very day.

I had the good fortune of knowing the late Belgian Cardinal Leo Jozef Suenens, $ $

= >

/ = >

– Life-Breath of the Church (Fiat Association, Belgium, 2001). = $ — “Easter and Pentecost make up a single reality. In the light of their mutual interpenetration, we should look upon Pentecost as the culmination of the paschal mystery and open our

= Spirit. ... “Indeed, renewal means an awareness of the ever active presence of God among us. The = > # ence the immediacy of God in the heart of everyone. The Church in all its dimensions obeys one and the same Spirit. “As a visible reality of this world, the Church must have its laws and mechanisms. It cannot dispense with a code of law or with legislation, but it must carefully steer clear of legalism

– the late Belgian Cardinal Leo Jozef Suenens

The Holy Spirit window in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. CNS photo

and a mechanical view of its own life. “Canon law must always

= >

# #

= ! ... The Gospel is, in the highest sense, the supreme law of the Church. The word of God and

the Spirit of Jesus are the ultimate authority in the Church, and all of the hierarchy is at their service.�

Down through the ages many churchmen have paid lip service

= > } ence in the Church. Many became legalists, placing protocol above truth.

They neglected their duty to

= > #

observers of bureaucratic niceties, fearing ecclesiastical disap

= > ! / = >

#ing not only to Roman Catholics but to all Christians. Cardinal Suenens quoted the late Patriarch Athenagoras of the Orthodox Church, who spoke at the Second Vatican Council. Athenagoras put everyone on guard against the

— “We have made the Church an organisation like any other.

We invested all our efforts in making it able to stand by itself, and now these efforts are expended by getting it to func-

tion. It goes, more or less, really mostly less, but it goes like a machine, not like something alive.�

The Church is a living entity # = >

constantly is active in it. It is the duty of all the bishops to discern the Spirit’s presence in the rumble-tumble of everyday life, $ =

through them. Granted, this isn’t easy.

Spiritual directors have the same duty in trying to discern how the person before them is being called to holiness.

Discernment is key. All of us must pray for the grace to dis = > } ence.

St Paul said, “To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for a good purpose� (1 Cor € —”‹!

No one is excluded from receiving the gifts of the Spirit.

All are called to holiness, even the greatest sinners among us. „ CNS

My experience of the Spirit working behind the scenes

By Jeff Hedglen JUST the other day, I received a message via Facebook from a person I met in 1982 but had not spoken with since then.

In our exchange of messages I learned that over the years and as the internet progressed, Paul had

! = me out to thank me.

I was, to say the least, surprised. We had met at a regional Catholic youth conference and spent two days together. We were from different dioceses and somehow met and became quick friends.

I remember that he hung out with the group from my diocese a lot that weekend. After the conference, we exchanged a couple of

letters and that was about it.

Paul said he wanted to thank me because I had made a huge

! = with me that the time of the conference was a very low point in ! =

$ spent together and the friendship we shared, along with some other ;

towards self-improvement.

As I read his story and his thankfulness, after all these years,

$ ; ! $ 17-year-old, crazy teen having a great weekend of faith and friends, and somehow this made a difference. What could I have done or said that could have impacted him?

The answer to my question came when I read the story of Pentecost and the power of the = > !

They express the inescapable truth that the Spirit is given to us for one another and that each person is given gifts, not so much for $ #

lift up others.

There is a famous phrase attributed to St Francis that says,

“Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary.� I think this is impossible to do without the power of the Spirit.

I had no idea that I was having an impact on my new friend.

I was just being me, having fun and making friends. Little did I know behind the scenes that the power of the Spirit was at work.

There certainly are times when we are called to speak the Gospel, but every moment of every day we are called to live it. ) = >

hearts of your faithful and enkin ! > forth your Spirit and we shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth.� „ CNS

Each person is given gifts, not so much for his or her own

FAITH ALIVE! 17

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Integrating one’s faith and work What does one do if work forces one to compromise one’s beliefs and values, asks Daniel S Mulhall HOW does one strike a balance between faith and work?

I recently talked to other Catholics about this topic.

One of them, from Villa Hills, Kentucky, USA, is retired. He did not want to give his name but said he wished he had been able to strike a better balance. “I’m not sure I balanced faith and work very well,� he said. “My attitude was, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.’ “I believed that you were to work when you were at work and limit interruptions from anything else, although that wasn’t always easy to do. “Now, if by faith you mean our beliefs in how God wants us to live, there should be no compromise in how we live our lives just because we are at work. I was lucky in that I wasn’t asked to compromise my beliefs in my work life.�

Perhaps that is the most that

$ $ actually faced with that choice.

The only way we can learn to

uations is by making them. That’s why soldiers drill so much and participate in so many war games and manoeuvres. It’s so they will be able to act without fear or hesitation when faced with a crisis.

The same is true for learning to make moral decisions: We have to practise making them on a daily basis, starting with simple decisions and questions of ourselves, such as “do I always contribute to the coffee fund� or “did I take my turn in cleaning up the break room?� and then move to the

our livelihoods.

We can’t expect to make good

ations unless we have practised making the small ones.

Another Catholic, Ms Sue Von Handorf, also from Kentucky, offers a perspective that is help-

What would we do if we were asked to lie or cheat for our employer, or if we knew a product we were asked to make or sell was defective? we can hope: that the work we do doesn’t force us to compromise our beliefs and values. Hopefully, few of us will ever be faced with making a workplace decision that would be a major violation of our faith. But how many times each day are we asked to compromise a basic belief or principle, to bend the rules, to skirt the edges?

What would we do if we found ourselves in a situation where we were asked to lie or cheat for our employer? What would we do if we knew a product we were asked to make or sell was defective and could cause harm to others or to the environment? Would we have the courage to say no, to walk away from our jobs, our source of income and health insurance, and for many people the one thing in their lives that gives them meaning and purpose?

We think we would do the right thing and walk away. But none of us know how we would respond. It is easy to be faithful when there is little temptation. It

ful. She says that the question shouldn’t be about balancing faith and work but about the integration of faith into one’s work.

Balancing suggests that we $

work separately, keeping them as independent parts of our lives, while integration implies that everything we do in our work should ; $ $ # !

What can we do to integrate our faith into our work so that our $ ;

ž What would it be like if we began each day with prayer?

And at the end of your work day, take a moment to prayerfully ;

!

How was your faith tested during the day? Where was it ignored? Where did you make a decision or act in a certain way because of your faith?

It’s only by intentionally and honestly thinking about these issues that we can improve the ways in which we integrate our faith into our work. „ CNS

18 FOCUS

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

A survey released in 2009 by the Pew Research Centre in the US found that a quarter of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 surveyed said they were atheists, agnostics or had no religion.

However, this percentage decreased as respondents grew older. Only seven percent of those 65 years and older said they were atheists, agnostics or had no religion.

The Pew Research Center provides information on issues, attitudes and trends shaping the US and the world. „

19

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

Jews from all over the world were in Jerusalem at the time of After Jesus had risen from the dead Pentecost. They were attracted to but before He had ascended into the noise coming from the building heaven, He told His apostles to wait where the apostles were praying. in Jerusalem for “the promise of the They wanted to know what was hapFather about which you have heard pening. And they were amazed by me speak; for John baptised with what they heard when they got closer.

Many of them said to each other, water, but in a few days you will be “Are not all these people ... Galileans? baptised with the Holy Spirit.�

The apostles obeyed, and they Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are waited in Jerusalem.

On the day of celebration of Parthians, Medes and Elamites, inPentecost the disciples were together habitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and praying. Out of a calm sky there was Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia a loud noise, as if a powerful wind and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts $ # $ ! / $ of Libya near Cyrene, as well as trav ! / ellers from Rome, both Jews and conin the air above the heads of every- verts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,

! / $ $ yet we hear them speaking in our own Holy Spirit, and they began to speak tongues of the mighty acts of God.�

Others asked, “What does this in other languages, praising God and rejoicing as the Spirit led them. mean?�

By Joe Sarnicola

Vincent of Lerins (d. 455) was described by St Eucherius as a man who was “pre-eminent in eloquence and learning�.

He served as a soldier before he became a monk and a priest at the abbey of Lerins, which is an island off the coast of France. He wrote a book called “Commonitorium�. It was an expansion of some of his personal study notes, which earned him a reputation as a scholar and a theologian.

His main point was to be able to tell the difference between Christian truth and falsehoods. Some people believe this book was a criticism of the theory of predestination that some Religious were teaching at the time.

We honour him on May 24. „

Q&A 1. Who told the apostles to wait in Jerusalem?

2. Why were so many people in Jerusalem?

WORDSEARCH: „ PENTECOST „ JERUSALEM „ OBEYED „ WIND „ NATIVE

„ ASCENDED „ PROMISE „ WAITED „ LANGUAGES

„ HEAVEN „ HOLY SPIRIT „ POWERFUL „ FIRE

PUZZLE: The Bible mentions a number of different spirits that help us in our daily lives. Fill in the blanks with the spirit that matches the Bible reference: adoption, truth, glory, grace, holiness, revelation, wisdom.

1. Romans 8:15 _________.

2. Ephesians 1:17 _________ and ___________.

3. John 14:17 ___________.

4. 1 Peter 4:14 __________.

5. Zechariah 12:10 _______.

Bible Accent:

6. Romans 1:4 ___________.

Answer to Wordsearch

The day of Pentecost, where the = >

apostles in Jerusalem, has its origins ! /

Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after the Passover, when God was delivering the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt. It also was referred to as the Feast of Weeks, because it took place seven weeks after the Passover.

Jesus told His apostles to wait in Jerusalem until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would come down from heaven after Jesus had ascended into heaven to be with His Father.

Not only were the apostles touched by the power of God’s spirit, but many of the visitors who were in Jerusalem were amazed, and the Bible tells us many people came to believe in God and were baptised. „

Read more about it: Acts 1 and 2

Bible Trivia: Who are the three persons of the Holy Trinity?

Answer to Bible Trivia: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

St Vincent of Lerins

prophecies of Joel, when he wrote that God said, “It will come to pass in the lasts days ... that I will pour out a por

; !!! it shall be that everyone shall be saved who calls on the name of the Lord.�. „

Answers to Puzzle: 1. adoption, 2. wisdom and revelation, 3. truth, 4. glory, 5. grace, 6. holiness

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

And some, who did not believe in spite of what they heard, said, “They have had too much new wine.�

At a certain time, Peter stood up along with the other 11 apostles and spoke to the crowd that had gathered: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.�

Then Peter said that they were

20

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday June 3, 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 Fourth Fridays from June to August PREPARING FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH 12.40-1.10pm: Msgr Eugene Vaz will

@ of each month based on Pope Benedict XVl’s document, The Door of Faith. Talks followed by Mass. By Catholic Prayer Society At Singapore Conference Hall (7 Shenton Way Level 2). E: cps.contactus@ gmail.com; W: http://www.cps.org.sg Tuesdays May 29 to August 7 LANDINGS 8-10pm: For “returning� Catholics and those who wish to renew and share their faith experience. At Blessed Sacrament

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith.

Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors.

Tuesdays from May 22 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY 7.45pm: At Church of the Holy Trinity (20 Tampines St 11). T: 8444 5505 (Gregory) E: rciaht@gmail.com Fridays from May 25 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE At Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace (4 Sandy Lane). T: 9030 9527 (Martin) E: rcia.qop@gmail.com Fridays from May 25 RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL (CANTONESE) 8pm: At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (225A Queen St) T: 6337 2585 (church ‹ ”€ ‚•’ Š] ‹£ ‰— ! ¤ ! !

Sundays from May 27 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR (MANDARIN) 9-10.30am: At Church of the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (31 Siglap Hill).

T: 9625 3897 (Molly), 9687 6021 (Zheng Ying); E: clairemollyong@gmail.com Tuesdays from May 29 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 8-10pm: At Church of St Ignatius Hall (120 King’s Rd). T: 6466 0625 ext 10 (Angela) E: church@stignatius.org.sg Thursdays from May 31 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 8-10pm: At Church of the Holy Spirit (248 Upper Thomson Rd). T: 9010 2829, E: kim_f_ho@yahoo.com.sg Tuesdays from June 12 RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30pm: At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (225A Queen St). T: 9753 6863 (Joanna); E: sng.joanna@gmail.com. Registration # !

Wednesdays from June 13 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY 7.30pm: From September, meetings will also be held every Sunday from 9-10.30am. At Church of the Holy Family (6 Chapel Rd). T: 6344 0046 Š ‹ ((( (’• £ E: rciaholy@gmail.com.

Fridays from June 15 RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL (MANDARIN) 7.30pm: At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (225A Queen St). T: 9177 5689 (Corina); Registration forms available from parish !

Saturdays from June 16 RCIY@CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 3-5pm: At Church of the Holy Spirit (248 Upper Thomson Rd). T: 9656 7587 (Jude), E: holyspiritrciy@gmail.com (Leonard); E: rciy@divinemercy.sg Saturdays from June 23 RCIY@CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY 2.30pm: For youth age 14-21 years old.

At Church of Divine Mercy (19 Pasir Ris St 72). T: 8133 3078 (Leonard); E: rciy@divinemercy.sg Sundays from July 1 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES (TAMIL) 4pm: At Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (50 Ophir Rd). T: 6294 0624. Register by G  •! %

!

Church (1 Commonwealth Drive).

T: 9750 3998 (Steven), 9668 2391(Lilian); E: landings@bsc.org.sg May 30 – 31 TALKS ON EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE (EFT) 7-9.30pm, May 30: Understanding and releasing anger and depression through EFT. 7-9.30pm, May 31: Opening to forgiveness and love through the energy of EFT by Fr Michael McGuire. At Canossa Convent Primary School (1 Sallim Rd). Register T: 64662178 (Brenda) E: lifesprings@singnet. com.sg W: www.lifespringscanossian.com June 2 I AM SPECIAL I AM ME 9.30am-5.30pm (children); 1.30-5.30pm (parents): Help children understand themselves better. By Morning Star Community Services. At Block 261B Sengkang East Way #01-400.

Register W: http://www.morningstar.org. sg/events_upcoming.html June 7 FINAL PROFESSIONAL OF REDEMPTORIST BROTHERS 7pm: Final Profession of Redemptorists Br Eugene Lee CSsR and Br Terence Wee CSsR. At Novena Church (300 Thomson Rd).

June 8-10 THE BREAD OF LIFE: A DIRECTED RETREAT Fri (7pm)-Sun (5pm): Stay in silent

= Communion and Christian commitment.

By CISC spiritual directors. Cost: $110 (non-aircon), $160 (aircon). At Centre of Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com June 8-10 CAMS CAMP FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN (MANDARIN) Fri (9am)-Sun (12pm): Annual June Camp

organised for Primary School children conducted solely in Mandarin.

With games and spiritual activities with Deacon Joseph Zhang. By Commission for Apostolate of Mandarin-speaking in Singapore. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Register by May 31. T: 9113 6598 (Nicholas); W: http:// www.cams.org.sg June 9 ARCHBISHOP CUP’S CHALLENGE 7am-6pm: Altar servers across Singapore $

Â’

soccer in three age categories.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia will grace the event. At Jurong Outdoor Futsal Centre (4 Fourth Chin Bee Rd).

Wednesdays from June 13 to June 27 SOURCE AND SUMMIT 8-10pm: Fr Michael Arro shares on the Eucharist and why it is the source and summit of our whole Christian life.

By Church of St Mary of the Angels (5 Bt Batok East Ave 2).

Register E: aff@stmary.sg; W: http://www.stmary.sg/vatican2 Friday June 15 to Sunday June 17 ROMAN CATHOLICISM 201 Fri (7.20-10pm), Sat (10am-5pm), Sun (1-5pm): A three day apologetics seminar exploring compelling Catholic answers to questions frequently asked.

By Apostolate for Catholic Truth.

At Blessed Sacrament Church Damien Hall (1 Commonwealth Dr).

T: 9649 3893 (Andrew); E: andrew.neo@bsc.org.sg June 16 ICCRS/SACCRE ABLAZE RALLY 7.45-10pm: Praise & worship, dance ministry, talk and healing service by Michelle Moran and Jim Murphy Theme:

#

(Lk 12:49). At Church of the Holy Spirit.

T: 9139 5518; E: gerard_jess@singnet. com.sg

June 16 CATHOLIC SINGLES DINNER 5.30pm: Meet Catholic singles from across Singapore. Faith based interactive activities after dinner. At Hans Cafe@ Pickering St. E: CatholicSingle@gmail. com; FB: CatholicSinglesSingapore

fashion all people into one holy family. By SPI. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Register T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org:

Friday June 22 to Sunday June 24 WORKING WITH OUR DREAMS Fri (7.30pm)-Sun (1pm): Sr Linda Lizada, %) $ $ $ }

to help one understand their symbolic language, listen, and experience them in a way the Divine can speak to us. By Cenacle Sisters. At 47 Jurong West St 42. T: 6565 2895; E: cenaclesisters@yahoo.com.sg Wednesdays June 27 to July 25 THE BEATITUDES 9.30-11.30am: Come and discover the qualities needed in the Christian life as described in the Sermon on the Mount.

By Church of the Holy Spirit Bible Apostolate Team (At 248 Upper Thomson Rd Rm A2-01). T: 8228 8220 (Clare), 9815 4098 (Genevieve); E: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com Wednesdays July 4 to November 28 GOD’S COVENANTAL LOVE THROUGH THE AGES 7.45pm-9.45pm: An understanding of how the Bible tells the story of God the Father’s love for His children and His plan to

July 8 PRISONS’ WEEK MASS 12pm: Roman Catholic Prison Ministry celebrates Prisons Week and 35th Anniversary. Gather to pray for prisoners, ex-offenders, victims of crime, and the many people who are involved in this ministry. Main celebrant: Archbishop Nicholas Chia. At Church of St Ignatius.

Friday August 3 to Monday August 12 MISSION TRIP TO CAMBODIA FOR YOUNG ADULTS Mission trip to Cambodia for young adults from 18-35 years of age. Focused on faith and personal growth. Pre/post trip preparation sessions from May to September.

By Loveworks (Church of St Mary of the Angels). T: 9878 3213 (Basil), 9641 3830 (Celeste), E: loveworks.smota@gmail.com; W: http://simplyloveworks.wordpress.com QUIETING THE SOUL – CHIANGMAI RETREAT Five (Dec 2 to Dec 8) or eight days (Nov 29 to Dec 8) retreat in Chiangmai, Thailand. Dates include travel. With orientation day and recollection on Nov 3 at 2pm. By Cenacle Sisters and Team.

Register by Oct 15. T: 6565 2895; E: cenaclesisters@yahoo.com.sg

Crossword Puzzle 1059 1

2

3

4

5

14

15

17

18

20

6

7

27

10

13

33

34

35

51

52

53

24

28

29 31

36

37

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40

32 38 41

42 45

12

22

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44

11

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26

9

16

23 25

8

43

46

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50 56

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62 www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Eve’s second 5 What the game was, according to Holmes 10 Retrievers, for short 14 Northern European 15 Hotelier Helmsley 16 Inter _____ 17 Medieval Spanish chest 18 Small separate building or part of the church 20 Humility 22 Scottish nobility 23 Scrap of food 24 Indicates a direction 25 Nihil _____ 29 Coil 30 Chow holder 31 The Lord appeared to Moses in this (Ex 3:2) 32 Abbreviation, abbreviated 36 Bank contents 37 Changed the dÊcor of 38 King mackerel 39 Mob follower?

40 Type of sch.

41 The pharaoh had one about fat cows and lean cows • > $ ¥ 43 Patron saint of England

44 47 48 49

Mary, Ever-____ Spanish Mrs. Straight Companion of Daniel 54 Mary, at Guadalupe ’( & } 57 Sign on again 58 Jewish month of Passover 59 Litigious type 60 Skills 61 Merrily ( ¢

21 He took the animals two by two 24 The Feast of Lots is also called this (Esth 9:24–28) 25 Auto innovator 26 “They shall _____ their swords into plowshares‌â€?

(Isa 2:4) 27 Surfeit 28 Former Russian ruler 29 Apple juice 31 Criminal 32 Height (comb.)

33 Ale 34 Boast 35 The pope is the bishop of _____ 37 Shy

41 â€œâ€Ścome to judge the living and the ______â€?

42 Culture medium 43 Mommy’s mommy 44 Venomous snake 45 Data entered 46 Harvests 47 Shallow water 48 Julie’s “Doctor Zhivago� role 49 Enthusiastic okay, in Seville 50 Peruvian saint 51 Together, musically 52 Parisian heaven 53 Possessive pronoun 55 Madre’s hermana

DOWN 1 Husband of Eve 2 â€œâ€Śand the secret of his heart will be laid ______â€?

(1 Cor 14:25) Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1058 3 Differ ending 4 Pipe problem W O R L D A D A M A S I F 5 Catholic sovereign A T E A R R O B E R A N I of Monaco (with II) L O U S E M I N X C A G E 6 Solemn holy day K E P T A T N E I G H B O R 7 Exclamation of E D I T R C A S T Y mild dismay A C A D E M I A O R A 8 MI neighbor B O B D E B I T B I B L E 9 Fitted E M A G D E M I T M E O W 10 Rite in the Church L O S E R T A T E R D I E in the West N O V T U N E L E S S 11 On one’s toes S T S O I L S O L O 12 â€œâ€Śthe _____ of R E S C U E

C H I L D R E N of the sea‌�

G A E L A S H E R A R E O 13 Speaks M E G A I S S O S E A L S 19 Mizzen or N E S T E S T E E P E E N www.wordgamesforcatholics.com moonraker

22 NEWS

IN MEMORIAM

World’s oldest bishop dies at age 106 VATICAN CITY – The

world’s oldest Catholic bishop, Vietnamese Bishop Antoine Nguyen Van Thien, died on May 13 in France two months after his 106th birthday, the Vatican newspaper reported.

The former bishop of Vinh Long, Vietnam, celebrated the 80th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood in February. He was ordained a bishop in 1961 and he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council in 1962-65.

The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, said that after seven years as bishop of

Vinh Long, in 1968 at the age of 62, he was allowed to resign after “a serious illness�.

He lived in Nice, France, since 1985.

The website catholic-hierarchy.org lists the next oldest bishop as Francis Hong Yongho of Pyongyang, North Korea.

The Vatican yearbook still lists him as the diocese’s bishop, but says he has “disappeared�. He was arrested by the communists in 1949. If he is alive, he would be 105.

Retired Bishop Gery Leuliet of Amiens, France, is next at 102. „ CNS

Catholic creates special rosary for United States PHOENIX, USA – As Mr Manny Yrique prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, his heart was burdened with concerns about the United States and the level of animosity in American discourse. “I knelt down to pray and I was overwhelmed by the feeling that Our Lord wanted me to pray a rosary,� he said. “I felt Him telling me, ‘Take it to my mother.’�

He pulled out his rosary beads and as he began to pray, he was struck by the realisation that each of the 50 Hail Mary prayers of the rosary could be offered for one of the 50 United States.

Mr Yrique said he’s always had a strong devotion to Mary. He remembers being eight years old, kneeling with his sister to pray the rosary while their mother was undergoing surgery.

Mr Yrique said he designed the Rosary for the United States of America through prayer, often waking in the middle of the night to compose the intentions.

He has already given away or sold 3,000 of the red, white and blue rosary beads and has

ordered another 2,000.

He has a website, www. magnalitecatholic.com/ usa_rosary.html. Along with the rosary, people can order a prayer booklet or prayer card that lists all the intentions as well as the names of the 50 states.

Each decade has a designated intention. /

ades are prayed for the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. The fourth decade is dedicated to state and local governments as well as police

! /

decade is devoted to US military personnel.

The “Rosary for the USA� is not a political statement, Mr Yrique said. He’s not praying for a particular candidate to win the upcoming election or for any political party’s success.

He’s simply praying for the United States – its leaders and populace.

Mr Yrique said it’s important for the 30 million Catholics in the United States to pray for their leaders, regardless of political persuasion. “God will bless America when Americans remember to bless God,� he said. „ CNS

In loving memory of

MR JOHN Departed: Jun 9, 2009 The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall fear.

Always remembered and cherished by Mum, sisters and loved ones.

Twentieth Anniversary In loving memory of

Sunday June 3, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Tenth Anniversary In loving memory of

RONALDO JOSEPH MORALES Departed: Jun 1, 2002 Time changes many things; but not the memory this day brings Pa, you’re still in our mind and hearts.

Lovingly remembered and forever cherished by sons, daughters, grandchildren and loved ones.

Fifteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

NICHOLAS GOH EU ANN Departed: June 5, 1992 ANTHONY His smiling way ROZARIO MUTHU and pleasant face Are a pleasure to recall; Departed: May 29, 1997 He had a kind word The years may wipe for each out many things, And died beloved by all. But this they’ll wipe Some day we hope out never, to meet him, The memory of those Some day, happy days we know not when Which we had To clasp his hand spent together. in the better land, Fondly remembered Never to part again. by his wife, children Dearly missed by and loved ones. loved ones.

In loving memory of

ERNEST REGINALD MONTEIRO Feb 9, 1974

LUCY ISABELLA MONTEIRO Departed May 26, 2002

Seventh Anniversary In ever loving memory of

PHILIP JOSEPH MONTEIRO Sep 11, 1978

Each day we think about you And realise you have gone, We can’t explain the emptiness That life has now become, They say that time is a healer But we are not too sure For everytime we think of you We miss you more and more.

Fondly missed by Julian, Christopher and loved ones.

Third Anniversary In loving memory of

FRANCIS ADRIAN MUTHU Departed: May 21, 2009 We think of you in silence No eyes can see us weep But still within our aching hearts Your memory we keep.

Fondly remembered by loved ones.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.�

Psalm 23

Thirteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

SEBASTIAN QUEK SWEE HOW Departed: June 7, 1999 His smiling way and pleasant face Are pleasures to recall; He had a kind word for each And died beloved by all.

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

Always remembered by Rosaline, Philip, Annabelle, Victoria, Rebecca and Antonia.

Third Anniversary In loving memory of

In loving memory of

MARIA WANG SUNG KENG Mother of Sarah Wong (deceased) Departed: May 31, 2009 We remember and cherish the happy times together Remembering them today and forever.

Always remembered by children, in-laws, grandchildren and loved ones.

JOSEPH PAUL Departed: June 1, 2005 Remembering you is easy We do it every day Missing you is the hardest part As it never goes away To hear your voice.

To see your smile To sit with you and talk for awhile Would be our greatest wish Today, tomorrow, our whole life through We shall always love and remember you.

Always remembered and cherished by your loving wife, children, grandchildren and godchildren.

CLASSIFIED

Fifth Anniversary In loving memory of

THANKSGIVING O Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in times of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you, to whom God has given such great power, to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for me and all who invoke your aid. Humbly in need of your intercession.

Amen. Thank you for answering my prayers.

ANTOINE SOOSAY Departed: May 30, 2005 I have lost my soul’s companion, A life linked with my own; And day by day, I miss him more, As the years pass on, As I walk through life alone.

Always loved and remembered by wife Mary, daughters Anita, Flora, Angeline, sons-in-law, grandchildren, family and friends.

In loving remembrance of

Fifth Anniversary In loving memory of

JAMES ANTHONY MICHAEL Departed: June 5, 2007 Our Lord Jesus knew what was best He took you home for eternal rest We wiped our tears and tried not to be sad and remember the precious times we had.

Dearly remembered by family and loved ones.

Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Tuesday June 5 at 6.00pm.

GILBERT S/O V. S. FERNANDEZ Born on Nov 25, 1948 He was called home to our Lord on: Jun 8, 2007 The angels came to take you home And you left us all alone We know you keep watching us from above As we still pray for the one we love.

Fondly remembered by loved ones.

JOSEPH NEO GIM GUAN Departed: June 3, 2002 Softly and silently your last petal fell, It was time for God to claim you.

Our home had lost a beautiful lustre, While God’s garden glowed anew. ' €‚ ; $ # Our eyes are still not dry, Our hearts have not been quietened; We still cannot say goodbye.

Yet in our pain of loss we know We cannot keep you here.

If you had lived, we’d burn inside For we knew of your suffering so clear.

So in our saddest moments We continue to sincerely pray That God will grant you eternal rest Each and everyday.

All our love, Your beloved family

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Sunday June 3, 2012 CatholicNews

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