www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JULY 1, 2012
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Sorrow over abuse expressed at congress ‘Thankfulness and joy’ at Ireland’s ‘great history of faith and love have been shaken in an appalling way by the revelation of sins committed by priests and consecrated persons’. – Pope Benedict XVI in a video message
A Eucharistic procession during the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland, on June 13. Some 12,500 pilgrims from around the world attended the weeklong congress. CNS photo
providence, this gathering takes place here in Ireland. This is a country known for its natural beauty, its hospitality and its rich culture, but most especially for its long tra faith,� he said in his homily. A “healing stone� was unveiled
during as a means of acknowledging abuse of children in the Church. The stone is a large piece of granite engraved with a prayer composed by a survivor of clerical abuse. The prayer was originally featured in the Liturgy of Lament celebrated in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral in 2011.
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INTERNATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
It is through people’s sharing in the Eucharist that they come into communion with Christ and with each other. They also receive the pledge of eternal life to come, Pope Benedict XVI said in a video message released on the last day of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin, Ireland. “The Eucharist is the worship of the whole Church, but it also requires the full engagement of each individual Christian in the Church’s mission,� the pope said. “It contains a call to be the holy people of God, but also one to individual holiness.� The papal video message brought to a close the 50th International Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin, Ireland, from June 10-17. The theme of the congress was The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another. The event is an international gathering organised every four years, and aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church. The recent congress was held against a backdrop of anger over clerical abuse in Ireland as well as declining Mass attendance and a more aggressively secular society. According to the congress website, the June 10 opening ceremony drew a crowd of more than 12,500 pilgrims from various parts of the world. Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the pope’s representative to the congress and the head of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, celebrated the opening Mass at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) events venue.
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The pope, in his video message, had said that “thankfulness and joy� at Ireland’s “great history of faith and love have recently been shaken in an appalling way by the revelation of sins committed by priests and consecrated persons against people entrusted to their care�. He added that “evidently, their Christianity was no longer nourished by joyful encounter with Jesus Christ: it had become merely a matter of habit�. The pope said that the Eucharistic Congress, like Vatican Council II, aims to “overcome this form of Christianity and to rediscover the faith as a deep personal friendship with the goodness of Jesus Christ�. The theme of the second day was Exploring and Celebrating Our Communion through Baptism. Thousands of pilgrims attended morning Mass in their native languages at 34 host churches. Celebrating the value and central role of Communion in marriage and family life in the Church was the theme on June 12. „ Continued on page 11
HOME Charismatics converge in Singapore Leaders from 14 countries attend course „ Page 2
Camp bonds Mandarinspeaking kids Aims to raise leaders among them „ Page 5
‘Balloon rosary’ over St Anne’s camp’s novel idea „ Page 6
ASIA More US troops in Philippines? Christian leaders criticise possibility „ Page 10
FEATURE Couples for Christ marks 25 years A look at its various ministries „ Page 15
FOCUS ‘Personal prelature’ for St Pius X Society? Reconciliation talks with Vatican still ongoing „ Page 18