JULY 15, 2012, Vol 62, No 14

Page 1

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JULY 15, 2012

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20

MICA (P) 043 / 01 / 2012

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

Vatican unveils Year of Faith plans They include logo, prayer cards, worldwide Eucharistic adoration VATICAN CITY – With a hymn and a

prayer, Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella presented the Vatican’s initial calendar of events for the Year of Faith, which begins with a Mass on Oct 11 in St Peter’s Square. Archbishop Fisichella, presiGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU Promoting New Evangelisation, said the pope has invited as concelebrants bishops and theologians who, like the pontiff, served as members or experts at the 1962 6HFRQG 9DWLFDQ &RXQFLO The archbishop said he hoped about 35 “council fathersâ€? would be able to join the presidents of national bishops’ conferences and bishops participating in the world Synod of Bishops in concelebrating the opening Mass. During a news conference at the Vatican on June 21, Archbishop Fisichella unveiled the VKHHW PXVLF IRU WKH RIÂżFLDO K\PQ IRU WKH <HDU RI )DLWK WLWOHG &UHGR Domine, Adauge Nobis Fidem (I believe, Lord, increase our faith). He also distributed copies of WKH RIÂżFLDO <HDU RI )DLWK ORJR DQG prayer card, which features a moVDLF LPDJH RI &KULVW IURP WKH FDWKHGUDO LQ &HIDOX ,WDO\ 7KH 1LFHQH &UHHG LV SULQWHG on the back of the cards, with the idea that the profession of faith would become “a daily prayer, learned by heart, as it was in the ÂżUVW FHQWXULHV RI &KULVWLDQLW\´ WKH archbishop said. He also announced that the &RQJUHJDWLRQ IRU 'LYLQH :RUVKLS and the Sacraments had just approved prayer texts in Latin and Italian for a special “Mass for New Evangelisationâ€?. 7KH DUFKELVKRSÂśV RIÂżFH LV WUDQVlating the Latin text into English, Spanish and other languages and

Pope Benedict XVI called for the Year of Faith to strengthen Catholics’ faith and reach out to those searching for meaning in life. CNS photos

Left: The logo features a boat, a traditional symbol for the Church. Its main mast is the cross and, with the sails, forms the initials IHS, the ‘Christogram’ standing for Jesus. Behind the IHS, the sun evokes a Eucharistic host. Right: A website has also been launched.

hopes to have the congregation’s approval of the translations by the time the Year of Faith opens, he said. The pope called for the special \HDU WR VWUHQJWKHQ &DWKROLFV ZKR DWtend church, reach out to those who have left but still yearn for God in their lives, offer a response to those who are searching for meaning and help those who think they do not

need God, the archbishop said. Pope Benedict had announced the Year of Faith in Porta Fidei (The Door of Faith), an apostolic letter released on Oct 17, 2011. “We are not hiding the fact that there is a crisis of faith, but it is only when one becomes completely aware of a crisis that RQH FDQ ÂżQG ZD\V WR UHPHG\ LW ´

said Archbishop Fisichella. He said the pope decided it was right to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second 9DWLFDQ &RXQFLO DQG WKH WK DQniversary of the publication of the &DWHFKLVP RI WKH &DWKROLF &KXUFK with a year dedicated to encouragLQJ &DWKROLFV WR VWXG\ SURIHVV DQG demonstrate their faith. The Vatican has also launched D ZHEVLWH ZZZ DQQXVÂżGHL va/content/novaevangelizatio/ en.html) containing information about the Year of Faith. Many of the pope’s traditional appointments, like the Jan 25 celebration marking the end of the Week RI 3UD\HU IRU &KULVWLDQ 8QLW\ DQG WKH Feb 2 prayer with Religious, will be incorporated into the Year of Faith. But other events have been added, including an April 28 celebration during which the pope ZLOO FRQÂżUP D JURXS RI \RXQJ people and meet with others who recently have been or are about to EH FRQÂżUPHG LQ WKHLU FRXQWULHV On June 2, the feast of the %RG\ DQG %ORRG RI &KULVW LQ PRVW countries, the pope will lead adoration of the Eucharist and is asking every cathedral and parish to have an hour of silent contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament at exactly the same hour, Archbishop Fisichella said. On June 16, Pope Benedict will preside over a celebration of WKH &KXUFKÂśV ZLWQHVV WR WKH GLJQLty and value of every human life. On July 7, 2013, he will meet with seminarians and Religious-order novices, who will make a pilgrimage to Rome to demonstrate “the joy of their decision to follow the /RUG LQ VHUYLQJ +LV &KXUFK´ The Year of Faith is scheduled to end on Nov 24, 2013. „ CNS

VOL 62

NO. 14

INSIDE HOME St Anthony’s relic comes to S’pore Prayers, blessed bread distributed at St Stephen’s „ Page 2

Visiting quarry workers in Bangalore Young adults learn of plight of underprivileged „ Page 4

ASIA Illicit Chinese bishop ordains priests Bishops’ ordinations postponed „ Page 9

Church aid to North Korea Rome group asked to help alleviate food shortage „ Page 10

WORLD Vatican’s guidelines for priestly vocations Advises against taking in men with ‘fragile personalities’ „ Page 13

BIBLE SUNDAY MESSAGE The Bible and God’s covenant „ Pages 16-17

2 HOME

Sunday July 15, 2012 CatholicNews

St Anthony’s relic packs in crowd Prayers, distribution of blessed bread as relic comes to St Stephen’s Church By Martin See

Friar Mario Conte stands beside the relic of St Anthony of Padua, placed within a statue of the saint. He conducted a programme of prayers at the Church of St Stephen.

A 900-strong crowd comprising Catholics from various parishes packed the Church of St Stephen recently to venerate a relic of St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231). Conventual Franciscan Friar Mario Conte, upon the invitation of parish priest Fr John Khoo, had brought the relic to the church during his stopover here on June 23. Fr Khoo had known Fr Mario when the former was parish priest of the Church of St Anthony. In 1996, two of the saint’s relics were brought to that church for veneration. During the June 23 afternoon programme – a piece of the saint’s skin placed within a gold-col-

oured statue of St Anthony carrying the child Jesus – was put on a stand beside the altar. The relic belongs to the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua, Italy, where Fr Mario is based. The programme began with devotional prayers to St Anthony, followed by Fr Mario blessing what is known as St Anthony’s Bread. The bread – small loaves wrapped in plastic – was later distributed to the crowd.

People Bread.

receiving

St

Anthony’s

Fr Mario told CatholicNews that the tradition of St Anthony’s Bread originated from a miracle that occurred soon after the saint’s death. A little boy had drowned and his mother prayed to St Anthony for help, promising she would donate the child’s weight in grain for the poor if the boy was restored to life. “The boy arose while the mother was praying. This miracle gave rise to giving alms to the

poor, particularly in the form of bread,” said Fr Mario. He added that venerating a relic is like establishing a connection with the saint and “not an act of superstition or magic”. “When someone we love passes on, we keep an item belonging to them as a remembrance of our love for them just like how we have St Anthony’s relic,” he said. In his talk to the crowd, Fr Mario said that being a saint is not about having “super powers”. Rather all people are called to be saints, like St Anthony who led a simple and quiet life and remains popular 800 years after his death, he said. Many in the crowd later went up close to the statue and prayed in front of the relic. The afternoon’s programme ended in the evening Mass and the blessing and distribution of St Anthony’s medals to children. Mr Zavier Paul, who attends Mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, told CatholicNews: “Today’s event was special for me because I’m grateful for the many intercessions St Anthony has done for my family. We turn to him for prayers and have devotions to him especially when we need help.” Ms Juliana Pathy-Gabriel, from the Church of St Vincent De Paul, shared: “During the dif¿FXOW WLPHV LQ WKH HFRQRP\ ZKHQ I asked St Anthony for prayers, I found a good job in spite of the downturn. I had an illness but now it’s all under control.” martin.see@catholic.org.sg

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY July 08 12 noon Church of St Ignatius: Mass – Prisons Week 3.00pm Church of the Nativity of the BVM: Mass – Bible Sunday (Mandarin) July 09 - 13 St Francis Xavier Major Seminary: Priests’ Annual Retreat July 23 - 27 Majodi Centre, Johore: Catholic Bishops’ Conference July 29 11.00am Church of St Anne: Mass – Feastday July 31 9.30am Changi Prison: Mass

HOME 3

Sunday July 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Talks help Catholics prepare for Year of Faith By Darren Boon Catholics working in the Central Business District have been preparing themselves for the Year of Faith by attending a series of talks by Vicar General Msgr Eugene Vaz. The Catholic Prayer Society (CPS) has been holding these talks, based on Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter Porta Fidei (The Door of Faith), on the fourth Fridays of each month at the Singapore Conference Hall. The talks are conducted during lunch time and so far two talks have already been held in April and June, with two more scheduled for July and August. In his talks, Msgr Vaz dealt with the content of the pope’s document, which explains the pope’s reasons for launching the special year and

his desire for the renewal and reevangelisation of the Church. The special year is to be launched on Oct 11. In the June 22 talk, Msgr Vaz cited passages from the Bible and explained that the “door of faith is God’s work”. “God is always keeping the door open for people to enter,” he said, “giving people opportunities … to announce the message and proclaim the mystery of Christ”. It is possible to cross this “spiritual threshold” when the “Word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace”, he said. He stressed that the pope wants “everybody to rediscover the journey of faith”. Msgr Vaz also exhorted the 40-strong crowd to be “the face

Catholics attending a Year of Faith talk, given by Msgr Eugene Vaz, at the Singapore Conference Hall on June 22.

‘God is always keeping the door open for people to enter.’ – Msgr Eugene Vaz

of Christ” in their workplace and help others to know God. The CPS Shenton Way branch usually organises talks on the second and fourth Fridays of the month and, after consulting with Msgr Vaz, felt it would be useful to pre-

pare Catholics for the Year of Faith, said Ms May Yip, a CPS facilitator. There are plans for more formation talks when the special year kicks off in October, she added. Attendees said they found 0VJU 9D]¶V WDONV EHQH¿FLDO

Ms Jocelyn Low said they helped her to understand the special year better. Speaking to CatholicNews, Msgr Vaz said it would be ideal if attendees read the pope’s document, issued last year, before coming for the talks. An online version of the document is at http://www.vatican. va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/ motu_proprio/documents/hf_benxvi_motu-proprio_20111011_porWD ¿GHLBHQ KWPO The next two talks are scheduled for 12.30pm on July 27 and Aug 24. For more information, visit http://cps.org.sg darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

4 HOME

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Archbishop Chia drops in on Choice participants

The archbishop poses for a photo with participants of the June/July Choice weekend.

By Kelvin Tan Participants for the June/July 2012 Choice weekend had a pleasant surprise when Archbishop Nicholas Chia paid them a surprise visit on July 1. They were having a hearty Sunday breakfast at the Choice Retreat House in Jurong West when the archbishop joined them. Archbishop Chia then observed a Choice session and addressed the 21 participants. He stressed his support for the programme and stated that although Choice has been conducted in Singapore for a good 31 years, it still remains very relevant for today’s young adults. He reminded participants that they are the future of the Church and to always anchor their faith on fertile soil. He also emphasised that Catholics must build not only

Singaporean volunteers play with children at Planet Hope, a project of the Sacred Heart Brothers in Bangalore.

relationships between themselves and God but it is also crucial to develop relationships with family, friends and the community. These are values which are very much reinforced during Choice weekends. Choice was founded by Fr Tom Morrow in the USA and introduced in Singapore in 1981. It is part of the Family Life Society and is for those aged 18 WR FKDOOHQJH WKHP WR UHÀHFW on their beliefs and live a lifestyle based on Gospel values. Each stay-in weekend is run by a team comprising a priest, Religious, lay couples and singles. The next Choice weekend, from July 27-29, will be in Bahasa Indonesia. The English weekends for the rest of the year are on Aug 24-26, Oct 26-28 and Nov 23-25. For more information, visit www.choice.org.sg. „

Witnessing plight of oppressed in India An Indian boy, no more than 12 years old, sat hunched in the scorching sun over a piece of large granite. With a chisel and hammer, he broke the rock into tiny pieces. The fragments were then collected by hand and dumped onto a waiting lorry in the quarry. This was one scene which several young adults from Singapore witnessed during a mission exposure trip to Bangalore recently. A total of 25 people took part in the Redemptorists Overseas Mission Exposure (R.O.M.E.) to the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka from June 8-16. This annual mission trip, led by Fr Simon Pereira, aims to expose young adults to situations of poverty and oppression. During the trip, participants visited the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus home for children who are HIV-positive, and saw for themselves the situations faced by workers in quarries, some of whom were children. Participants saw how these workers were not given helmets, goggles, masks, gloves or boots and were required to work for long hours in the heat and dust. As a result, many suffer from respiratory diseases, loss of limbs due to falling rocks and blindness from rocks that hit them in the eye. Their living quarters were tiny huts held together by mud and

Living conditions of quarry workers

OHDYHV %DUHO\ DEOH WR ÂżW PRUH than two adults, families of more than four live in them. During the trip, several participants travelled with the Sacred Heart Brothers who run the Brothers Integrated Rural Development Society or BIRDS. One of their projects is Planet Hope, a place that provides a safe haven for children rescued from hard labour at quarries. One such child was 11-yearold Anita, who performed a Bollywood dance number for the Singapore visitors. When asked if she wanted to be a movie star when she grew up, she replied that she had her heart set on becoming a doctor. BIRDS runs schools, day care centres and clinics and also provides LQIRUPDWLRQ RQ WRSLFV VXFK DV ÂżQDQ-

cial independence and family planning to women in remote villages. In their nightly sharings after Mass, the Singapore visitors expressed anger over the way workers were treated at the quarry and helplessness at not being able to do more for the children. On their last day, they pledged to spread the word about the situation in the hope that the quarry owners would improve the welfare of staff. “Having met and witnessed the lives of the underprivileged, the one thing I saw was love,� said Trisha, 27, one of the participants. “I saw the love in every child’s smile, in their eyes and in their touch. In exchange for an education and shelter, these children have to be separated from their parents and we take our loved ones for granted.� „

Deaf-blind priest to give sessions By Patrick Anthony Fr Cyril Axelrod, a deaf-blind Redemptorist priest based in London, is scheduled to give several sessions to the Catholic deaf community later this month. The sessions are to be held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels (SMOTA) at 5 Bukit Batok East Avenue 2 and the Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (CAEC) at 2 Highland Road. The 70-year-old priest has served in various deaf groups in the world for 37 years of his priesthood and understands at least eight languages. He travels to Hong Kong, South Africa, Malta and Ethiopia to offer Masses for deaf communities and also promotes a training programme to families and students on how to communicate and guide a deaf-blind person. Fr Axelrod had also visited the Singapore Catholic Deaf Community between 1985 and 1992 and

held religious classes, retreats and Masses. “It is important to see how the deaf community are brought to understand the meaning of the faith in their daily lives,� he said in an email. Fr Axelrod is also honorary consultant to a few organisations for the deaf, blind and other disabled people. His programme in Singapore is as follows: July 18, 7.30-8.30 pm (SMOTA): Living Passover from Darkness to Light of Jesus Christ. July 19, 7-8 pm (CAEC): Living in Friendship with Jesus Christ. July 20, 7-8 pm (CAEC): Crisis vs Hope in Jesus Christ. July 21, 2-6 pm (SMOTA): Recollection. July 22, 11am-4pm (CAEC): Signed Eucharist celebration, question-and-answer session. For more information, email scdeafc@yahoo. com.sg „

HOME 5

Sunday July 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Fun outing bonds kids, teenagers By Darren Boon A children’s outing, organised by teenagers from the Church of the Risen Christ, turned out to be equally fun and meaningful for both groups. The teenagers were caring and whenever “we needed help, they were always there”, said Regine Tan, 10, one of some 30 children who attended the event. She also got to know the teenagers better, she said, adding that the June 20 outing was “fun”. The teenage organisers are part of the Risen Christ Children’s League which aims to bring God’s love and Good News to the parish’s children through activities such as praise and worship and pastoral service. The group organises activities for children regularly. The recent activity, held in the church compound and at Bishan Park, included praise and worship and games. It was to build friendships among the kids as well as between them and the teenagers, said Rebecca Yeo, who was in charge of the programme. The praise and worship also aimed at strengthening the children’s faith, she added.

Teenagers from the Church of the Risen Christ organised an outing for the parish’s children at Bishan Park recently. The programme was to build friendships and strengthen faith.

James Chan, 10, said he had fun mixing with children of his age. He added that the organisers were patient with them and did not scold them. Many of the organisers said WKH HYHQW EHQH¿WHG WKHP DV ZHOO Alexander Sun, 17, said he picked up organisational skills and learnt how to look after children. Organising the activities turned out easier than expected and he also enjoyed himself, he

told CatholicNews. All the hard work spent planning the programme was worth it as the children had a good time, he added. The teenagers planned the activities without the help of adults, said Michelle Choo, 17, president of the Risen Christ Children’s League. “It is nice to see the children being touched by God through us. I can’t ask for anything more,” she added. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

6 HOME

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Former Portuguese-mission St Joseph’s Church in Victoria Street celebrated its centenary recently. A 1,000-strong crowd attended the centennial Eucharistic celebration of St Joseph’s Church in Victoria Street on June 30. Archbishop Nicholas Chia, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, rector Fr Michael Teo, together with other priests, concelebrated the Mass at the historic church. 7KH ¿UVW 6W -RVHSKœV &KXUFK EXLOGLQJ ZDV RI¿FLDOO\ EOHVVHG and opened in 1853. In 1906, this church was demolished to make way for a new building. In 1912, the present church was completed and blessed by the Bishop of Macau. In his homily during the recent celebration, Archbishop Chia traced the roots of the former Portuguese-mission church, which was handed over to the Singapore archdiocese in 1981, and highlighted the milestones in the church’s history. In his talk, he urged practising Catholics to take a proactive approach in encouraging lapsed Catholics to return to their faith. Archbishop Chia also urged all Catholics to live their faith by practising it in their daily lives. Towards the end of the Mass, Dr James Boss, chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council, told the congregation that the Preservation of Monuments Board has granted the church $532,000 for the restoration of its stained glass windows.

Archbishop Chia signing a copy of the book, The Portugese Mission in Singapore (1825-1999).

We call the stained ‘ glass windows the jewel of St Joseph’s Church. ’

– Dr James Boss, chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council

A Mass marking the church’s centenary was held on June 30, celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, rector Fr Michael Teo and other priests.

Work is expected to begin this month. “We call the stained glass windows the jewel of St Joseph’s Church,� he said, adding that the designs “amount to more than

4,000 sq feet (370 sq m) which is the largest stained glass collection in Singapore�. The church, which has had many Eurasian Catholics among its members, was gazetted as a na-

tional monument in 2005. Members of the diplomatic corps were also present at the celebration. They included Mr Afonso Henriques de Azeredo Malheiro, Head of Mission of the Portuguese

embassy; Timor Leste ambassador Roberto Sarmento de Oliveira Soares; and Singapore’s ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Barry Desker. Copies of a book written by Dr Boss, titled The Portuguese Mission in Singapore (1825 – 1999) St Joseph’s Church, was presented to the crowd at the end of the Mass. „

History of church goes way back to 1853 ‡ In 1825, Fr Francisco da Silva Pinto e Maia of the Congregation of the Mission came from Macau and founded the Portuguese Mission in Singapore. He requested and obtained ecclesiastical jurisdiction from the Archbishop of Goa over the Catholics in Singapore. That year, he obtained 12 plots of land between Victoria and Queen Streets. He bought six plots and the other six were granted gratis to the Mission. ‡ In 1848, Fr Maia became very ill and started a fund for building a church. He bequeathed the 12 plots of land to the Portuguese Mission. ‡ 2Q 'HF WKH ¿UVW foundation stone of St Joseph’s Church was laid by the vicar, Fr Vincente de Santa Catarina, who succeeded Fr Maia when he passed away on Feb 17, 1850. ‡ In 1853, St Joseph’s Church ZDV RI¿FLDOO\ EOHVVHG DQG RSHQHG ‡ In 1886, a concordat signed between Pope Leo XIII and King Dom Louis of Portugal stated that jurisdiction over the Portuguese Mission in Singapore and Malacca was transferred from the Archbish-

op of Goa to the Bishop of Macau. ‡ In 1906, St Joseph’s Church was demolished and work started on building a new church. ‡ On June 30, 1912, the present St Joseph’s Church was completed and blessed by the Bishop of Macau, Dom Joao Paulino de Azevedo e Castro. ‡ On July 26, 1977, an agreement was made between the Archbishop of Singapore Gregory Yong and the Rt Rev Arquiminio Rodrigues da Costa, Bishop of Macau, that the church would come under the ordinary jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Singapore. ‡ 7KH +RO\ 6HH UDWL¿HG DOO points of agreement and on July 1, 1981, the church’s jurisdiction was transferred to the Archdiocese of Singapore. It ceased being a Portuguese parish and became a church of devotion. Fr Francisco Bata, who served in the church from 1962-1981, of¿FLDOO\ UHWLUHG DV WKH ODVW SDULVK priest. ‡ On Dec 31, 1999, Fr Benito de Souza concluded his term as rector, closing the chapter of St Joseph’s Church 174-year associa-

Apostolic delegate, Bishop Giovanni Moretti (in black suit), Archbishop Gregory Yong of Singapore (third from left) and Rt Rev Arquiminio Rodrigues da Costa, Bishop of Macau, (fourth from right) pose with priests who took part in the discussion, in 1977, that the church would come under the local archdiocese.

tion with the Portuguese Mission in Singapore. ‡ On Jan 14, 2005, St Joseph’s Church was gazetted as a national monument by the Preservation of Monuments Board. Sources: St Joseph’s Church website and ‘Going Forth’ „

7KH ÂżUVW 6W -RVHSKÂśV &KXUFK EXLOW in 1853.

On July 26, 1977, the Archbishop of Singapore and the Bishop of Macau agreed that the church come under the ordinary jurisdiction of the local archbishop.

HOME 7

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

church marks 100 years Martin See reports on the event and speaks to longtime church members.

Grandpa donated bell Centuries-old ties “One of the three bells in this church was donated by my maternal grandfather, Mr L L de Rosario,� said Mr Derek Scully, 52, who has been a warden since 18. He shared that his uncles and father had also served as wardens. The annual Good Friday procession has always been a big event for the church, he said, adding that until the 1970s the church doors would be opened till the next morning after the evening procession. “This church was the mainstay of the Eurasian community for many years till the 1980s,� he recalled. “Before that during the Portuguese mission, Eurasians attended Mass at this church no matter how far away they stayed,� he said. “However, due to the dwindling number of Eurasians, fondly remembered traditions like the Christmas party – where church members celebrated on the church grounds with food, drinks and music – had stopped,� he added. Mr Scully also recalled the kindness of the Canossian nuns who had their convent beside the church in the 1950s. “Back in those days, the nuns took in female babies and young girls who were abandoned by their families or left at the convent doorstep,� he said. “The sash I’m wearing is over

“My family for many generations had been a part of the Portuguese Mission,â€? said Singapore Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Barry Desker, 65. “I was baptised here, had my )LUVW +RO\ &RPPXQLRQ &RQÂżUPDtion and got married hereâ€?. Mr Desker said the church holds many fond memories for him EHFDXVH RI KLV IDPLO\ DIÂżOLDWLRQV Mr Derek Scully

60 years old and it was handsewn by the Canossian nuns,� said Mr Scully with a wide smile. „

The present St Joseph’s Church, built in 1912.

Mr Barry Desker, Singapore Ambassador to the Holy See.

Good Friday procession “I served in this church for about 45 years, and in the past 20 years as a lector. Prior to that I helped put together the weekly bulletin,� said Ms Teresa Ng. “The most ... popular event in this church is the Good Friday procession which I can recall since the 1960s,� she shared. “The highlight of the event is the taking down of the life-size statue of our Lord on the cross.� She recalled that in the 1960s, “my family and I were one of the

Mr Scully’s grandfather donated one of the church bells.

with the church which go back to the 19th century. “My family have always attended all major feast days or days of obligation at this church,� he said. “I’m very pleased that the restoration of the stained glass is taking place soon and it will be preserved, because for many this church represents a history of the Catholic faith in Singapore.� „

few Chinese here. Nonetheless, we got on very amicably with the Eurasian community who made us feel welcome in church�. Ms Ng also remembers a publication called The Rally, which was produced to promote the Catholic Young Men’s Association of the church. “It was called The Rally so as to rally members into the association, promote the faith and encourage healthy recreation,� she said. „

Ms Teresa Ng

8 HOME

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

OBITUARY

IJ Sister called to the Lord Infant Jesus Sr Rosario Egan passed DQG DUWHIDFWV GDWLQJ IURP away on June 26 at the age of 95. She was gifted with a keen 2Q ¿UVW PHHWLQJ KHU IHZ SHRSOH PLQG VRPHWKLQJ VKH FRQWLQXHG IDLO WR UHFRJQLVH WKH LQQHU VWUHQJWK WR FXOWLYDWH ULJKW LQWR ROG DJH VKH UDGLDWHG 7KH VRXUFH RI WKLV DQG VHW D ¿QH H[DPSOH RI NHHSLQJ VWUHQJWK FDPH IURP D GHHS IDLWK OLIH PHQWDOO\ DFWLYH LQ VSLWH RI SK\VLsustained by prayer over the years. FDO OLPLWDWLRQV 3HRSOH ZKR FURVVHG KHU SDWK 'XULQJ KHU \HDUV LQ 6W 7KHUHVD¶V SDUWLFXODUO\ WKRVH FDUU\LQJ KHDY\ +RPH VKH ZRQ WKH DGPLUDWLRQ RI EXUGHQV IRXQG LQ KHU D SHUVRQ the nursing staff who observed her ZKR XQGHUVWRRG OLIH¶V UHDGLQJ ZLGHO\ SOD\LQJ hardships. Thanks to 6FUDEEOH DQG HQJDJLQJ KHU SUDFWLFDO LQWHULQ FURVVZRUG SX]]OHV YHQWLRQ UHPDUNDEOH and Sudoku right up to UHVRXUFHIXOQHVV DQG KHU ¿QDO GD\V RQ HDUWK FDSDFLW\ WR JLYH KRSH 6KH ZDV EOHVVHG WR PDQ\ ZHUH KHOSHG WR H[SHULHQFH WKURXJKRXW PRYH IRUZDUG LQ OLIH KHU ODVW \HDUV LQ WKH Sr Rosario was a KRPH WKH NLQGQHVV RI ZRPDQ RI PDQ\ WDO- Sr Rosario Egan, WKH GLUHFWRU WKH %URWKHQWV DQ RXWVWDQGLQJ 1917-2012 HUV RI 0HUF\ DQG WKH WHDFKHU RI PDWKHPDWQXUVLQJ DQG SDVWRUDO LFV DQG VFLHQFH WR KHU VWXGHQWV RI VWDII ZKR ORYHG WR MRNH ZLWK KHU Town Convent and Katong ConThe Infant Jesus Sisters reYHQW DQG D WDOHQWHG FRRN ZKRVH PHPEHU ZLWK JUDWLWXGH 6U 5RFDNHV ZHUH ZLGHO\ DSSUHFLDWHG VDULR¶V XQIDLOLQJ OR\DOW\ KHU 6KH ZDV DOVR DQ DEOH PDQDJHU ZLOOLQJQHVV WR VHUYH LQ ZKDWHYHU ZLWK D NHHQ JUDVS RI ORJLVWLFV ZKR FDSDFLW\ VKH FRXOG DQG KHU VWURQJ RYHUVDZ WKH PRYH IURP &+,- 9LF- IDLWK ZKLFK LQVSLUHG KRSH LQ PDQ\ WRULD 6WUHHW QR VPDOO IHDW FRQVLGHU- when the road was rough. „ CONLQJ WKH DFFXPXODWLRQ RI IXUQLWXUH TRIBUTED BY THE IJ SISTERS

Young people display talents at Bible festival

Children depict the Last Supper at the BibleFest 2012 organised by the Malayalam Charismatic Group.

By Asha Bijay and Mary Geemon 0RUH WKDQ FKLOGUHQ IURP WKH 0DOD\DODP &DWKROLF FRPPXQLW\ SDUWLFLSDWHG LQ D RQH GD\ %LEOH EDVHG SURJUDPPH IRU NLGV DJHG three to those in their teens. 7KH &KLOGUHQ¶V 0LQLVWU\ RI WKH 0DOD\DODP &KDULVPDWLF *URXS 0&* 6LQJDSRUH KHOG WKH %LEOH)HVW DW $VVXPSWLRQ (QJOLVK 6FKRRO RQ -XQH )U 'RPLQLF 6DYLR 0&* VSLULWXDO GLUHFWRU DQG FKDSODLQ WR WKH 0DOD\DODP &DWKROLF FRPPXQLW\ ODXQFKHG WKH SURJUDPPH ZLWK WKH OLJKWLQJ RI D WUDGLWLRQDO RLO ODPS V\PEROLVLQJ &KULVW¶V SUHVHQFH $FFRUGLQJ WR RUJDQLVHUV WKH HYHQW ± ZKLFK LQFOXGHG SVDOP UHFLWDOV DV ZHOO DV VWRU\ WHOOLQJ VSHHFKHV DQG D TXL] DQG GHEDWH RQ ELEOLFDO WKHPHV ± ZDV WR KHOS WKH FKLOGUHQ XVH WKHLU WDOHQWV WR JORULI\ *RG 3DUWLFLSDQWV ZHUH GLYLGHG LQWR VHYHUDO DJH JURXSV ± WKUHH WR VL[ VHYHQ WR QLQH WR DQG WHHQV 7KH HYHQW VDZ FKLOGUHQ DJHG WZR WR ¿YH UHFLWH YDULRXV %LEOH YHUVHV E\ KHDUW 2WKHU SDUWLFLSDQWV VSRNH RQ

A teenage debater shares her views.

WKH WRSLF -HVXV DQG /LWWOH &KLOGUHQ 6HYHQ \HDU ROG 1RHO -RPRQ ZKR ZRQ WKLV FRPSHWLWLRQ WROG KLV DXGLHQFH WKDW -HVXV ZHOFRPHV DOO FKLOGUHQ QR PDWWHU ZKDW WKHLU FRORXU UDFH RU EDFNJURXQG LV &KLOGUHQ DUH SUHFLRXV DQG HDFK RQH RI XV LV FDOOHG WR EH FKLOGOLNH KH VDLG 3DUWLFLSDQWV RI WKH %LEOH TXL] EDVHG RQ WKH *RVSHO RI -RKQ GLG ZHOO GHVSLWH WKH WRXJK TXHVWLRQV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH MXGJHV &ODUD 7RP\ DQG 5HXEHQ -RVK\ ZKR ZRQ WKH TXL] QRWHG WKDW TXHVWLRQV VXFK DV ³ZKLFK ERRN RI WKH %LEOH FRQWDLQV WKH SURSKHF\ WKDW -HVXV ZLOO EH ERUQ LQ %HWKOHKHP"´ DQG ³ZKLFK YHUVH FRUUHVSRQGV WR

-RKQ "´ ZHUH FKDOOHQJLQJ $QQ -HQQLQJV ZRQ WKH WRS SUL]H LQ WKH HVVD\ ZULWLQJ FRQWHVW IRU WHHQV ZKLFK KDG WKH WRSLF (YDQJHOLVDWLRQ LQ WKH 0RGHUQ :RUOG 6KH SRLQWHG RXW WKDW HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ GRHV QRW QHFHVVDULO\ PHDQ SUHDFKLQJ RQ D ODUJH VFDOH )DLWK VKDULQJ VKRXOG VWDUW ZLWK RQH¶V IDPLO\ DQG WKHQ EURDGHQ RXW WR IULHQGV DQG WKH ZLGHU VRFLHW\ VKH ZURWH 2QH KLJKOLJKW RI WKH HYHQW ZDV D GHEDWH IRU WHHQV RQ WKH WRSLF 6RFLDO 1HWZRUNLQJ $QG 0HGLD 'R 0RUH +DUP 7KDQ *RRG 7KH WHDPV KDG DQ KRXU WR SUHSDUH 7KH SURSRVLWLRQ HPSKDVLVHG WKH KDUPIXO HIIHFWV RI PHGLD RQ WKH PRUDOV RI \RXWK ZKLOH WKH RSSRVLWLRQ DUJXHG WKDW PHGLD DQG QHWZRUNLQJ FRXOG EH XVHG DV FKDQQHOV RI HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ )LIWHHQ \HDU ROG 'HHSX -RVH won the best speaker award. 7KH GD\¶V SURJUDPPH FORVHG ZLWK VRPH FKLOGUHQ SXWWLQJ RQ D PXVLF DQG GUDPD SHUIRUPDQFH GHSLFWLQJ VFHQHV IURP WKH OLIH RI -HVXV 3DUWLFLSDQWV VDLG WKH\ IRXQG the event inspiring. $QMDOL *HRUJH VDLG VKH ORRNHG IRUZDUG WR PRUH RI VXFK HYHQWV ZKLOH 6QHKD 6XVDQ 7KRPDV DJHG ¿YH DQG &DURO *HHPRQ DQG /LDQD 0DUWLQ ERWK DJHG IRXU VDLG WKH\ HQMR\HG WKH GD\ HVSHFLDOO\ WKH DFWLRQ VRQJV 0U -DLVRQ -RVHSK FRRUGLQDWRU RI %LEOH)HVW VDLG WKDW WKHUH ZLOO EH PRUH VXFK VSLULWXDO SURJUDPPHV IRU FKLOGUHQ LQ WKH QHDU IXWXUH 7KH 0&* &KLOGUHQ¶V 0LQLVWU\ RUJDQLVHV DFWLYLWLHV VXFK DV UHWUHDWV SUD\HU JDWKHULQJV /HQWHQ UHFROOHFWLRQV DQG )LUVW +RO\ &RPPXQLRQ SUHSDUDWLRQ „ The Malayalam Charismatic Group can be contacted at mcgsingapore@gmail.com

ASIA 9

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Illicit bishop ordains four priests in China LESHAN, CHINA – 7ZR UHFHQWO\

VFKHGXOHG HSLVFRSDO RUGLQDWLRQV LQ &KLQD RQH ZLWKRXW SDSDO DSSURYDO KDYH EHHQ SRVWSRQHG VD\ &KXUFK VRXUFHV %XW WKH RUGLQDWLRQ RI IRXU SULHVWV E\ DQ LOOLFLW ELVKRS KDV JRQH DKHDG LQ &KLQDœV southwestern Leshan diocese. %LVKRS 3DXO /HL 6KL\LQ RI Leshan ordained the four priests RQ -XQH WKH ¿UVW DQQLYHUVDU\ of his own ordination which was FRQGXFWHG ZLWKRXW D SDSDO PDQGDWH DQG UHVXOWHG LQ KLV DXWRPDWLF H[FRPPXQLFDWLRQ 7KH FHUHPRQ\ DOVR IHOO RQ WKH 6ROHPQLW\ RI 6WV 3HWHU DQG 3DXO RQH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW IHDVW GD\V RI WKH &DWKROLF &KXUFK which venerates the martyrdom in 5RPH RI WKH WZR JUHDW DSRVWOHV $FFRUGLQJ WR ORFDO &KXUFK VRXUFHV ¿YH GHDFRQV ZHUH VXSSRVHG WR EH RUGDLQHG LQ /HVKDQ EXW RQH UHIXVHG WR EH RUGDLQHG E\ WKH H[FRPPXQLFDWHG ELVKRS The other four deacons DJUHHG WR EH RUGDLQHG DIWHU WKH GLRFHVH DOOHJHGO\ SURPLVHG WKHP a car and money worth an estmatHG \XDQ 6 WKH sources said. (OVHZKHUH HSLVFRSDO RUGLQDWLRQV LQ +DUELQ DQG 6KDQJKDL ZKLFK ZHUH VFKHGXOHG WR WDNH SODFH UHFHQWO\ KDYH EHHQ SRVWponed. %RWK ELVKRS FDQGLGDWHV )UV -RVHSK <XH )XVKHQJ DQG 7KDGGHXV 0D 'DTLQ EHORQJ WR WKH JRYHUQPHQW VDQFWLRQHG ³RSHQ´ &KXUFK FRPPXQLW\ DQG KROG SRVWV LQ WKH ORFDO DQG QDWLRQDO &DWKROLF 3DWULRWLF $VVRFLDWLRQV The reasons for the post-

SRQHPHQWV DUH QRW FOHDU WR PRVW &DWKROLFV LQ WKH WZR GLRFHVHV EXW VRXUFHV VDLG WKH RUGLQDWLRQV ZLOO JR DKHDG QR ODWHU WKDQ PLG -XO\ Researchers who asked not to EH QDPHG VXJJHVWHG WKDW DXWKRULWLHV KDYH GHOD\HG WKH RUGLQDWLRQV to avoid more protests in Hong

File photo of Bishop Paul Lei Shiyin as a priest. UCANEWS.COM

.RQJ ZKHUH SUHVVXUH KDV EHHQ PRXQWLQJ GXULQJ 3UHVLGHQW +X -LQWDRœV WKUHH GD\ YLVLW WKDW VWDUWHG RQ -XQH )U <XH KDG EHHQ ZDUQHG E\ WKH +RO\ 6HH QRW WR EH RUGDLQHG DV KH GRHV QRW KDYH D SDSDO PDQGDWH %XW WKH VRXUFHV VD\ WKH\ EHOLHYH &KLQHVH DXWKRULWLHV ZLOO SUHVV ahead with the ordination anyway. „ UCANEWS

Chapel in Vietnam the target of repeated attacks BANGKOK – A priest from Nghe An province in Vietnam has said WKDW VHFXULW\ RIÂżFLDOV EDUUHG DFFHVV WR D ORFDO FKDSHO RQ -XO\ DQG EHDW SDULVKLRQHUV DWWHPSWLQJ to attend Mass. )U -RKQ %DSWLVW 1JX\HQ 'LQK 7KXF VDLG VRPH RIÂżFLDOV PRVW RI WKHP QRW LQ XQLIRUP FRQYHUJHG RQ WKH &RQ &XRQJ FKDSHO LQ <HQ .KH YLOODJH DQG WULHG WR stop him from saying Mass. “When I arrived there at 2:30 SP RIÂżFLDOV SUHYHQWHG PH IURP HQWHULQJ WKH FKDSHO DQG KLW PH ´ KH VDLG DGGLQJ WKDW DERXW SDrishioners who tried to protect KLP ZHUH DOVR EDGO\ EHDWHQ +XQGUHGV RI ORFDO &DWKROLFV DQG WKRVH IURP QHLJKERXULQJ DUeas intervened to rescue the vicWLPV DQG GULYH RII WKHLU DWWDFNHUV the priest said. $W SP KH UHWXUQHG WR WKH FKDSHO DQG KHOG 0DVV ZKLOH DQ

HVWLPDWHG ORFDO YLOODJHUV VWRRG JXDUG DQG VHFXULW\ RIÂżFLDOV watched from a distance. Âł, ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR YLVLW >WKH FKDSHO@ DQG FRQGXFW SDVWRUDO DFWLYLWLHV IRU ORFDO SHRSOH QH[W ZHHNHQG IRU WKH VDNH RI ORFDO &DWKROLFV ´ VDLG )U 7KXF 7KH FKDSHO ZDV EXLOW LQ DQG VHUYHV ORFDO SDULVKLRQHUV /RFDO DXWKRULWLHV KDYH KRZHYHU EDQQHG UHOLJLRXV DFWLYLWLHV LQ WKH area. Church sources have said that in recent weeks authorities have DVNHG ORFDO &DWKROLFV QRW WR DWWHQG FKDSHO VHUYLFHV 7KH FKDSHO KDV EHHQ WKH WDUJHW RI SUHYLRXV DWWDFNV E\ DXWKRULWLHV who made threats against parishLRQHUV DQG DWWHPSWHG WR FXW HOHFWULFLW\ OLQHV WKH VRXUFHV VDLG ,Q 1RYHPEHU D KRPH PDGH ERPE GDPDJHG WKH FKDSHOÂśV URRI ZLQGRZV DQG Ă€RRULQJ „ UCANEWS

10 ASIA

Peace groups urge president to disarm TAIPEI – Three Catholic peace 7KH RSHQ OHWWHU LV WKH ¿UVW SHDFH groups have urged President Ma initiative made by Pax Christi InYing-jeou of Taiwan to cancel the ternational together with the Justice government’s weapon purchasing and Peace desks of Caritas Taiwan programme and disarm. and the Religious Major AssociaTheir call comes ahead of a WLRQ RI 7DLZDQ VDLG )U :LOO\ 2OJuly 2 – 27 UN Conference on OHYLHU WKH FRQYHQHU RI WKH -XVWLFH the arms trade. &16 ¿OH SKRWR and Peace desk of Major Since Mr Ma took ofSuperiors in Taiwan. ¿FH LQ 7DLZDQ KDV The local Catholic DJUHHG WR EX\ 86 Church plans to invite ELOOLRQ 6 ELOOLRQ

other religions to parworth of weapons from ticipate in a joint action WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV WKH WR FDOO IRU GLVDUPDPHQW groups said. Mr Ma beVDLG )U 2OOHYLHU gan a second four-year The president’s ofterm in May. ÂżFH UHVSRQGHG E\ OHWWHU “We should remember thanking the groups for Taiwan’s President the lessons of war. It never their advice and promisMa Ying-jeou brings peace but brings ing to take it under conKXUW SDLQ DQG VDFULÂżFH WR WKH OLYHV VLGHUDWLRQ )U 2OOHYLHU VDLG RI PLOOLRQV RI LQQRFHQW SHRSOH ´ WKH Taiwan’s US$6 billion arms groups said in an open letter in June. GHDO LQ ZDV WKH ÂżUVW DUPV “Why not become a leader SXUFKDVH IURP WKH 86 LQ \HDUV ZKR LQYHVWV WHFKQRORJ\ KXPDQ adversely affecting US-China resources and money into helping diplomatic relations. A second SRRU FRXQWULHV"´ WKH\ DVNHG DGG- US$6 billion deal was struck in ing that they hope Mr Ma could ZKLOH D WKLUG ZDV VLJQHG LQ EHFRPH D ÂłSHDFHPDNHU´ September last year. „ UCANEWS

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Catholic group delivers food aid to North Korea VATICAN CITY – A Catholic group

from Rome was invited to North Korea recently to deliver 25 WRQQHV RI IRRG DLG LQ D UDUH PRYH for the reclusive socialist republic that has no formal ties to the Vatican or to the Catholic Church. 7KH JURXS WKH &RPPXQLW\ RI 6DQWÂś(JLGLR KDV EHHQ LQYROYHG IRU decades in international aid and cooperation initiatives. Nicknamed Âł7UDVWHYHUHÂśV 8QLWHG 1DWLRQV´ DIWHU the Rome neighbourhood where it LV KHDGTXDUWHUHG RQH RI LWV PDLQ accomplishments was brokering the 1992 peace agreement that put an end to Mozambique’s civil war. Sant’Egidio representative Mr Mauro Garofalo travelled to 1RUWK .RUHD IURP 0D\ WR RYHUVHH WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ RI ULFH EHDQV VXJDU DQG RLO WR WZR LQVWLtutions for elderly people and one RUSKDQDJH LQ D GLVWULFW DURXQG NP VRXWK RI 3\RQJ\DQJ The food aid programme was set up at the request of North KoUHDÂśV IRUPHU DPEDVVDGRU WR 5RPH Mr Han Tae-Song. “[North] Korean diplomats had often visited Sant’Egidio asking for help for their distressed SRSXODWLRQ ´ 0U *DURIDOR WROG ucanews after his return. The population is “suffering IURP GURXJKW DQG EDG KDUYHVWV ´ while still reeling from devastatLQJ Ă€RRGV RQO\ WZR \HDUV DJR 0U *DURIDOR ZKR ZDV FORVHO\ PRQLWRUHG WKURXJKRXW KLV VWD\ OLNH DOO YLVLWRUV WR 1RUWK .RUHD VDLG KH was allowed to oversee the arrival

7KH &RPPXQLW\ RI 6DQWÂś(JLGLR ZDV LQYLWHG WR 1RUWK .RUHD UHFHQWO\ WR GHOLYHU WRQQHV RI IRRG DLG DW WKH UHTXHVW RI 1RUWK .RUHDÂśV IRUPHU DPEDVVDGRU WR 5RPH 0U +DQ 7DH 6RQJ A caretaker holds a malnourished infant at an orphange in North Korea. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation warned that North Korea faces severe food insecurity because of the worst drought in a century. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

and effective distribution of the aid shipments. He also had “corGLDO PHHWLQJV´ ZLWK DLG RIÂżFLDOV and with representatives from the )RUHLJQ 0LQLVWU\ LQ 3\RQJ\DQJ “We have been asked to intensiI\ RXU HIIRUWV WR DLG WKH SRSXODWLRQ ´ A second aid mission is being planned and should leave before \HDUÂśV HQG KH DGGHG $FFRUGLQJ WR 0U *DURIDOR “North Korea’s population lacks DOPRVW HYHU\WKLQJ ÂżUVW RI DOO more and more nutritive food. But we could also see that they need

GHWHUJHQWV GLVLQIHFWDQWV GUXJV DQG PHGLFDO GHYLFHV ´ KH VDLG “Political considerations notZLWKVWDQGLQJ WKH FRXQWU\ÂśV SURductive system has been severely put to test by the international HPEDUJR HVSHFLDOO\ DV D FRQVHTXHQFH RI IXHO VFDUFLW\ ´ ,Q DQ RIÂżFLDO OHWWHU WKH &HQWUDO &RPPLWWHH RI WKH .RUHDQ )HGeration for the Care of the Aged thanked Sant’Egidio’s “humaniWDULDQ ORIW\ DLG´ DGGLQJ WKDW IXUWKHU ÂłDFWLYH DQG FRQWLQXRXV DLG´ was expected. 7KH 81 )RRG DQG $JULFXOWXUH 2UJDQLVDWLRQ ZDUQHG UHFHQWO\ WKDW North Korea faces severe food insecurity because of the worst drought in a century. It further urged the international community to work with local representatives to supply aid to the country. „ UCANEWS

WORLD 11

Sunday July 15, 2012 CatholicNews

US rally calls for religious freedom

American Catholics say the Pledge of Allegiance during a gathering organised by the Archdiocese of Washington on June 24 as part of the local Church’s ‘fortnight for freedom’. CNS photo WASHINGTON – In prayerful cel-

ebration, more than 2,000 Catholics from all regions of the Archdiocese of Washington gathered on June 24 as part of the local Church’s “fortnight for freedom” campaign in support of religious liberty in the United States. Foremost among the US bishops’ concerns is the US Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate that employers, including most religious ones, provide insurance coverage for contraception, sterilisation and abortion-inducing drugs, which Catholic teaching considers “morally objectionable”. The US bishops dedicated June 21 to July 4 as days to encourage Catholics nationwide to focus on prayer, education and action in defence of religious freedom. For the rally, held at George Washington University’s Smith Centre, Cardinal Donald W Wuerl of Washington was joined by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the apostolic nuncio to the United States,

Washington Auxiliary Bishop Barry C Knestout, and dozens of priests, Religious Sisters and laity. The event, which included prayers, patriotic and religious hymns, as well as videos highlighting the nation’s strong Catholic heritage, concluded with a benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Throughout the service, a choir led the congregation in rousing renditions of some of the country’s most beloved anthems, My Country ‘Tis of Thee and The Battle Hymn of the Republic, as well religious hymns such as I’ve Come This Far By Faith. Videos highlighted the Catholic Church’s deep roots of religious freedom, its history and impact in the United States from the nation’s earliest days to the present. Cardinal Wuerl told the crowd, “Today there are things that should mean enough to all of us, including our religious liberty, that we simply need to stand – to stand up for what is right”. CNS

12 WORLD

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Archbishop Sheen a step closer to sainthood VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI has approved the heroic virtues of US Archbishop Fulton J Sheen, the Vatican announced on June 28, clearing the way for the advancement of his sainthood cause. Among the others honoured in decrees announced the same day ZHUH WKH ÂżUVW SUHODWH RI 2SXV 'HL the Canadian and Irish-American founders of two orders of Religious women, a priest murdered by WKH 6LFLOLDQ 0DÂżD DQG PDUW\UV killed during the Spanish Civil War. Archbishop Sheen heroically lived Christian virtues and should be considered “venerableâ€?, said a decree issued by the Congregation for Saints’ Causes and signed by Pope Benedict. Before the archbishop can be EHDWLÂżHG WKH 9DWLFDQ PXVW UHFRJnise that a miracle has occurred through his intercession. The decree came just more WKDQ PRQWKV DIWHU %LVKRS 'DQiel R Jenky of Peoria, Illinois, presented Pope Benedict with two thick volumes about the life of Archbishop Sheen, whose home diocese was Peoria. Archbishop Sheen, who was ERUQ LQ ,OOLQRLV LQ DQG GLHG LQ 1HZ <RUN LQ ZDV DQ Emmy-winning televangelist. His programme, Life is Worth Living, aired in the United States from WR Last September, a tribunal of inquiry was sworn in to investigate the allegedly miraculous healing of a newborn whose parents had prayed for the archbishop’s intercession. The Vatican also announced papal decrees approving the beatiÂżFDWLRQ RI PHQ DQG ZRPHQ

LQFOXGLQJ PDUW\UV DOO EXW WZR of them Spaniards, killed during WKHLU FRXQWU\ÂśV &LYLO :DU Fr Giuseppe Puglisi, a Sicilian priest and activist against organised crime who was killed by the 0DÂżD LQ ZDV DQRWKHU RI WKH martyrs recognised. Martyrs do not need a miracle attributed to their intercession in order WR EH EHDWLÂżHG +RZHYHU PLUDFOHV must be recognised by the Vatican in order for martyrs to be canonised. CNS photo

The pope has approved the heroic virtues of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, declaring him ‘venerable’.

2WKHU GHFUHHV UHFRJQLVHG WKH heroic virtues of eight men and women, including: ‡ Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, WKH ¿UVW SUHODWH RI 2SXV 'HL ‡ Mother Marie-Josephte Fitzbach, founder of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec. ‡ Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, the Irish-born founder of the Carmelite Sisters IRU WKH $JHG DQG ,Q¿UP ZKR GLHG LQ 1HZ <RUN VWDWH LQ „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Vatican releases guidelines on priestly vocations Document based on responses to questionnaire VATICAN CITY – In an effort to re-

spond to a “clear and pressingâ€? need for priests, the Vatican released a set of guidelines to help bishops and Church communities promote, recruit and educate a new generation of men for the priesthood. The Church needs “suitableâ€? candidates and must avoid men who “show signs of being profoundly fragile personalitiesâ€?, while helping others heal from any possible “individual deviationsâ€? from their vocations, the document said. Based on responses to a questionnaire sent to bishops’ conferences and directors of national voFDWLRQV RIÂżFHV DURXQG WKH ZRUOG LQ 2008, the Congregation for Catholic Education sought to address a widespread demand for pastoral guidelines for fostering vocations “based on clear and well-founded theology of vocation and of the identity of the ministerial priesthoodâ€?. Titled Pastoral Guidelines for Fostering Vocations to Priestly Ministry, the 29-page document was released on June 25. It also marked the 70th anniversary of the inauguUDWLRQ RI WKH FRQJUHJDWLRQÂśV 3RQWLÂżcal Work for Priestly Vocations. The challenge of attracting men to the priesthood is made more difÂżFXOW E\ GHFOLQLQJ ELUWKUDWHV LQ WKH developed world and a materialist, secular culture in which people are less likely to make “courageous and demanding Gospel choicesâ€? in their lives, the document said. “In the West, there is a prevailing culture of indifference to the Christian faith, a culture unable to understand the value of vocations to a special consecration,â€? it said. Key to turning things around isn’t just setting up new programmes and initiatives, but building a vibrant, active and dedicated community of Catholics, united in prayer and with Christ, it said. Some reasons men say “noâ€? to or ignore a call to the priesthood, it said, include: ‡ Having parents who are reluctant about their son’s choice because they have different hopes for their child’s future; ‡ Living in a society that marginalises priests and considers them irrelevant; ‡ Misunderstanding the gift of celibacy; ‡ Being disillusioned by the scandal of priests who abused minors; ‡ Seeing priests who are too overwhelmed by their pastoral duties to the detriment of their spiritual life. Vocations are fostered when boys and young men have a trans-

Priests pray during the closing World Youth Day Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Madrid last year. CNS photo

formative Christian experience, the document said. That experience can be found in family life, at school, in the parish, as an altar boy, in Catholic groups and associations, or in volunteer work. During a Vatican news conference presenting the guidelines, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the education congregation, said that, paradoxically, “experience teaches us that the strongest candidates grow in hostile environments�. In places where there is open hostility to the Church, he said,

Vatican document says Church needs ‘suitable’ candidates and must avoid men who ‘show signs of being profoundly fragile personalities’. vocations are “very healthy, very strong and [priests are] very aware that we have a missionâ€?. Msgr Vincenzo Zani, undersecretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, said the aftermath of the sex abuse crisis in the United States has had some posiWLYH UHVXOWV VSHFLÂżFDOO\ LQ %RVWRQ ZKHUH WKH VHPLQDU\ LV QRZ ÂżOOHG thanks to an aggressive effort, led by the archbishop, to search for serious vocations. While dioceses and seminaries bear most of the responsibility of determining the suitability of a canGLGDWH YRFDWLRQV RIÂżFHV WRR PXVW be consistent in attracting and forming people who display a healthy “integration and maturing of the affectionsâ€?, the document said. Men who “show signs of being profoundly fragile personali-

tiesâ€? should not be encouraged to consider a vocation, it said. The educational setting must support a candidate’s authentic reasons to be a priest and contribute “to healing any possible individual deviations from his vocationâ€?. “We are looking for a person who is responsible, someone who can be trusted, a person who can control himselfâ€? and his impulses, he added. “A more serious, mature judgment should come in the seminary, where in speaking and observing a candidate, his maturity can be better determined,â€? the cardinal said. All Catholics, including parents, coaches, catechists and group leaders, should help their young charges see the priestly vocation as a gift, the document said. Boys and young men should be taught the value of prayer and meditation on God’s word, it said, so that they learn to hear what God is calling them to do with their lives. The congregation’s guidelines also called for diocesan vocation RIÂżFHV WR RUJDQLVH D VR FDOOHG ÂłLQvisible monasteryâ€? where large numbers of people are dedicated to providing non-stop prayer for priestly vocations. „ CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday July 15, 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 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.

WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: medona.walter@catholic.org.sg DESIGN / LAYOUT: Christopher Wong: design@catholic.org.sg Elaine Ong: elaine.ong@catholic.org.sg

Archbishop on dressing for Mass $UFKELVKRS 1LFKRODV &KLD KDV sent a document to all priests on the topic of dressing in church. “Rather than proposing a ‘dress code’,â€? said the archbishop in an accompanying letter, the document “aims at giving a description of the spirit conducive to worship, providing a welcoming note, and avoiding any prohibitive languageâ€?. In his letter, dated June 25, he urged priests to remove “without delayâ€? all “prohibitive posters ‌ since they give the impression of the Church being unwelcomingâ€?. The document, approved by WKH 6HQDWH RI 3ULHVWV LQ $SULO LV DV IROORZV Dressing for Church Lately there has been much discussion about what is appropriate dressing for Mass. This statement is not comprehensive and aims purely to put the right spirit into the sometimes acrimonious discussions that have unfortunately infected what should be a level headed discourse. The Catholic Church is a universal Church embracing all peoples, cultures and nations. The Catholic community is an inclusive and welcoming comPXQLW\ ORYLQJ *RG DQG QHLJKERXU DQG VWULYLQJ WR RIIHU *RG ÂżWWLQJ ZRUVKLS DW ZKDW LV RXU most precious gift from Our

wanting ‘toWithout legislate for the minute details of attire, we encourage every Catholic to reconsider how he or she dresses for the Sunday Eucharist.

’

– Archbishop Chia

Lord, the Sunday Eucharist. Recent episodes make a timely reminder for us to reexamine our approach to how to dress appropriately for an event that is central to our Christian life; the Sunday Eucharist.

How we choose to dress may express our own understanding and values about how we approach the Eucharist. How we dress also affects those around us as we belong to a community and worship as a community, and there is a level of decorum that is expected of everyone who would like to participate at such great a mystery that has been handed down to us as a lasting heritage of the Christian faith. We live in a society of diverse religious beliefs and we also observe favourably how people of other faiths dress and behave when they are in their places of worship. This corporate behaviour is uplifting to the observer and encourages one to recognise the respect that they accord to their worship. Without wanting to legislate for the minute details of attire at our Sunday worship, we encourage every Catholic to reconsider how he or she dresses for the Sunday Eucharist. Let the sole criteria be that it is our response to being present at a sacred celebration where Our Lord is present; nourishing and sustaining us at the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist. May we enter into worship with our hearts and minds fully engaged in this moment of adoration with our fellow brothers and sisters. „

Pope to meet Muslims in Lebanon VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI will present a papal document addressing the Church’s concerns in the Middle East, meet with representatives of local Christian and Muslim communities, and address political and cultural leaders on a three-day visit to Lebanon. Pope Benedict’s primary task during the Sept 14-16 trip will be to present the apostolic exhortation based on the deliberations of

a special meeting of bishops held at the Vatican in 2009. That two-week meeting, which was attended by 185 bishops, most of them from the 22 Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with the Holy See, focused on the precarious circumstances of 5.7 million Catholics in 16 Middle Eastern countries. $ GRFXPHQW UHOHDVHG E\ SDUticipants at the end of the meeting, or synod, called for “religious

freedom and freedom of conscience� in Muslim lands, a theme Pope Benedict is likely to address on his visit. Planning for the pope’s trip to Lebanon occurs against the backdrop of unrest in neighbouring Syria, where soldiers have been battling forces seeking an end to the rule of President %DVKDU $VVDG OHDYLQJ WKRXVDQGV of civilians dead since March 2011. „ CNS

The mystically driven life MYSTICISM is an exotic word. Few of us connect mysticism with ordinary experience, especially with our own experience. Mysticism is generally seen as an exotic thing, a paranormal thing, a special kind of consciousness given only to the most elite within the spiritual life, something for spiritual athletes, or for the weird, visions and altered states of consciousness, snakes and ladders in the spiritual life. But mysticism isn’t extraordinary, paranormal, or weird, but an important, ordinary experience given to us all. What is mysticism? The British Carmelite, Sr Ruth Burrows, deÂżQHV LW WKLV ZD\ 0\VWLFLVP LV EHLQJ WRXFKHG E\ *RG LQ D ZD\ WKDW LV deeper than language, thought, imagination, and feeling. It’s knowLQJ *RG DQG RXUVHOYHV EH\RQG H[SOLFLW WKRXJKW DQG IHHOLQJ But how is this possible? How do we know something beyond our capacity to speak about it, imagine it, or even clearly feel it? Perhaps a description of a life-changing experience from her life by Sr Ruth Burrows can be helpful here. ,Q KHU DXWRELRJUDSK\ %HIRUH WKH /LYLQJ *RG VKH VKDUHV WKLV LQFLGHQW $V D \RXQJ ZRPDQ LQ KHU ODWH WHHQV VKH ZDV VLWWLQJ LQ FKDSHO one day. She wasn’t there for a particularly prayerful purpose, but had been consigned there as a punishment for acting out at a class UHWUHDW $V VKH VDW DORQH LQ WKDW FKDSHO VKH KDG D P\VWLFDO H[SHULHQFH not that an angel appeared to her or that she has some special vision or some altered state of consciousness. 7KH RSSRVLWH 6LWWLQJ LQ WKDW FKDSHO VKH KDG D PRPHQW RI UDUH simple, and privileged clarity, a deep grounding in herself and in reality, where, for that moment, she was in touch with what was deepest and most true inside her and with what is deepest and most true LQVLGH RI UHDOLW\ $QG LQ WKDW VKH NQHZ EH\RQG WKH H[SOLFLWQHVV RI ZRUGV LPDJLQDWLRQ DQG IHHOLQJ VRPHWKLQJ RI WKH UHDOLW\ RI *RG DQG something of her own truest being. The experience changed her life. In that moment, she knew what she had to do and, against much of her own temperament, she became a contemplative nun – and eventually, of course, a woman whose spiritual insight has helped mentor many of us. CS Lewis, sharing about his own conversion to Christianity, describes something similar, though in his case the experience was a longer, protracted one which crystallised in a moment of privileged clarity that had him, for that moment, in touch with what was deepest and most true inside of him and inside of reality itself. Describing in his autobiography, Surprised by Joy, the moment ZKHQ KH ÂżUVW NQHOW GRZQ LQ WKH DFFHSWDQFH RI &KULVWLDQLW\ KH VKDUHV that, for him, the moment was far from ecstatic. Rather, he knelt down as “the most reluctant convert in the history of Christendom.â€? %XW KH NQHOW EHFDXVH DV KH GHVFULEHV LW Âł, KDG FRPH WR UHDOLVH WKDW WKH KDUVKQHVV RI *RG LV NLQGHU WKDQ WKH VRIWQHVV RI PDQ DQG *RGÂśV compulsion is our liberation.â€? +RZ GRHV /HZLV XQGHUVWDQG *RGÂśV FRPSXOVLRQ" ,Q PXFK WKH same way the same way as Sr Ruth Burrows understands her mystical experience, namely, as a moment of simple clarity within which one touches and comes to realise what is deepest and truest inside of oneself and inside of reality itself and, in that clarity, knows what one has to do – as opposed to what one’s intellect might think it wise to do or what one’s heart affectively wants to do. Lewis became a Christian because he was in touch with this experience inside his mystical centre and it told him what he had to do. $QG ZKDW PDNHV XS RXU P\VWLFDO FHQWUH" 7KH ODWH -HVXLW SULHVW )U %HUQDUG /RQHUJDQ FDOOHG LW WKH EUDQG RI WKH ÂżUVW SULQFLSOHV Âą RQHQHVV truth, goodness, and beauty – inside the human soul. )U +HQUL 1RXZHQ FDOOHG LW ³¿UVW ORYH´ QDPHO\ WKH GDUN PHPRU\ of once having been loved and caressed by hands far gentler than any we have ever met in this world, the unconscious memory of having EHHQ ZLWK *RG EHIRUH ZH ZHUH ERUQ 6RPH P\VWLFV FDOO LW WKH LQFKRDWH PHPRU\ RI *RGÂśV NLVV DV +H SXWV RXU VRXOV LQWR RXU ERGLHV Most of us don’t have a name for this, but we speak of something as “ringing trueâ€? or as “not ringing trueâ€? to us. But to what does something ring true or false? Do we carry some kind of “bellâ€? inside of us? In fact we do. We can call it our conscience, our deepest centre, our moral centre, the centre that tells us what we have to do, or that place inside us where we long for a soulmate, but we all know that there is a place inside of us, one that we touch in our most VLQFHUH PRPHQWV ZKHUH ZH NQRZ WKH EUDQG RI WKH ÂżUVW SULQFLSOHV LQFKRDWHO\ UHPHPEHU *RGÂśV NLVV DQG NQRZ ZKDW ZH QHHG WR GR WR EH true to who we are. When we are in touch with this deep centre and act out of its nudges and imperatives we, like Sr Ruth Burrows and CS Lewis, are living a mystically-driven life. „

FEATURES 15

Sunday July 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Experiencing the Eucharistic Congress Anthony Gabriel from Singapore’s Legion of Mary shares his group’s experience of the event held in Dublin

‘

I went to Dublin with 13 members of the Legion of Mary Singapore Senatus and seven non-members to attend the 50th International Eucharistic Congress and to visit the Legion of Mary headquarters. We also took the opportunity to have a pilgrimage in Ireland: to the Marian Shrine of Knock, some places associated with St Patrick, and other religious places with a Dublin priest, Fr Michael Kane. The congress was held in Dublin from June 10-17. We attended the congress from June 14-16 at the Royal Dublin Society and the closing Statio Orbis Mass on June 17 at Croke Park Stadium. Each day was centred around the Mass celebrated by a cardinal or bishop and had a theme based on the main theme, The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with One Another. The Mass was preceded by a catechesis, also given by a cardinal or bishop, and a testimony by a layperson. Morning prayers, talks, concerts DQG H[KLELWLRQV ¿OOHG WKH UHVW RI each day. There was also a pilgrim walk to six Dublin churches and St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, the cathedral of Dublin archdiocese, which we enthusiastically took part in. The walk involved visiting the churches and getting a “passport” stamped. With the document, we UHFHLYHG D SLOJULP¶V FHUWL¿FDWH DW the Pro-Cathedral. One testimony by Mr Richard Moore on June 14, on the theme of Reconciliation in Our Communion, was particularly moving for me. Mr Moore was blinded at the DJH RI E\ D UXEEHU EXOOHW ¿UHG between his eyes by a British soldier in Derry, Northern Ireland. He managed to complete his schooling and graduated from university with the support of his family and community. He had also forgiven WKH VROGLHU IRU WKH KXUW LQÀLFWHG RQ him and his family. In 2006, he met the soldier and told him he held no hatred for him. Mr Moore also founded Children LQ &URVV¿UH WR DVVLVW FKLOGUHQ XQder eight who suffer from poverty. Our group also welcomed the catechesis given by Archbishop Antonio Tagle of Manila on the theme Communion in the Word through Mary on June 16. Bishop Tagle described “communion” as people’s relationships

The priests of the archdiocese will be on retreat from July 9-13, 2012. Here is a schedule of Masses and communion services during these days. For updates, please check with your parish.

CITY DISTRICT

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Mass: 7.00am, 1.15pm St Joseph’s Church Tel: 63383167 for more details Church of Sts Peter & Paul Mass: 7.20am, 5.30pm Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Mass: 12.30pm, 6.30pm

The Singapore group comprised 13 members of the Legion of Mary Singapore Senatus and seven non-members.

Church of the Sacred Heart Communion Service: 5.30pm Church of St Teresa Communion Service: 6.00pm Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) Mass: 6.30am, 12.15pm, 6.30pm Church of St Bernadette Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.00pm Church of St Michael Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.00pm EAST DISTRICT

Church of the Holy Family Mass July 9: 6.15am Communion Service July 10-13: 6.15am, 9th - 13th July 6.15pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.30pm

June 14 Mass at the Royal Dublin Society.

Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.00pm

’

Church of St Vincent De Paul Mass July 9: 7.00am Communion Service July 9: 6.00pm Communion Service July 10-13: 7.00am, 6.00pm WEST DISTRICT

Church of St Ignatius Mass: 7.00am, 6.00pm Blessed Sacrament Church Mass July 9: 7.00am and 8.30am, Communion Service July 9: 6.00pm Com. Service July 10: 7.00am, 6.00pm Com. Service July 11: 8.30am, 6.00pm Com. Service July 12: 7.00am, 6.00pm Com. Service July 13: 8.30am, 6.00pm Church of St Mary of the Angels Mass 6.55am, 6.30pm Church of St Francis of Assisi Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.30pm Church of the Holy Cross Mass July 9: 6.30am. Com. Service July 10-13: 6.30am Com. Service July 9-12: 6.15pm

Church of the Divine Mercy Mass: 6.15pm

URGENT PASTORAL CARE DURING PRIESTS’ RETREAT

St Joseph Church Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.30pm

with us and with the Legion banner that we brought to the stadium. During the Mass, the papal representative, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, encouraged us to share our faith, while Pope Benedict XVI, in a video message, reminded us to treasure the Eucharist. It was a moving experience to see a such a huge gathering of people from around the world. The theme for the closing Mass was Become What You Receive, something I will remember every time I receive Holy Communion.

St Anne’s Church Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.15pm

Church of the Holy Trinity Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.00pm

NORTH DISTRICT

with one another, and condemned practices such as corruption, cheating, oppression and slavery. He said Mary is a model of Catholics’ communion with Christ and one another. During the closing Mass, the Singapore group sat near legionaries from Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon and some Little Sisters of the Poor, one or two of whom had served in Singapore The Palestinian and Jordanian legionaries were very excited when they realised we were legionaries too. They took pictures

Church of St Francis Xavier Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.30pm

Catholic Prayer Society (weekday-workplace Masses) July 10 (Suntec 12.15pm, 1.15pm), July 11 (SGH 12.15pm, China Square Central 11.30am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm) July 13 (Shenton Way 12.40pm & 1.20pm, Jurong East 12.15pm, Orchard 12.40pm & 1.20pm).

Church of St Stephen Mass July 9: 6.30am Communion Service July 10: 8.00pm

Crowd at the closing Mass.

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Communion Service: 6.15am, 6.15pm

Church of St Anthony Mass: 6.30am, Communion Service: 6.30pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Mass: 6.45am, Communion Service: 6.30pm Church of the Holy Spirit Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.00pm Church of the Risen Christ Communion Service: 6.30 am, 6.00 pm Church of Christ the King Communion Service: 6.30am, 6.15pm SERANGOON DISTRICT

Church of the Nativity of the BVM Communion Services: 6.30am, 6.00pm

Franciscan Community Contact: 65673866 (Church of St Mary of the Angels), 68961050 (St Anthony Friary) Jesuit Community Contact: 64663225 (SJ community); or 64660625 (St Ignatius Church); or 64676072 (Centre for Ignatian spirituality & counseling) (Note: Jesuit Priests are on Retreat from July 2-11, but available from July 12 & 13)

Carmelite Fathers Order of Carmelites, Discalced Contact: Fr John Chua: 96815926 Priests of the Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei July 9-13 Fr Avelino Marin: 96405804 July 9-12 Fr Mario Ruiz: 84997142 July 9-10 Fr Joe Lopez: 98908195 July 9-10 Fr Michael Chan: 91173166

(Editor: The above information is published with the permission of the respective Religious Communities. For the Redemptorist Community, please refer to their website at www.cssr.org.sg)

16 BIBLE SUNDAY

POPE BENEDICT XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation after the XII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God (Oct 5-26, 2008) was published on Sept 30, 2010. Entitled Verbum Domini [VD] (The Word of the Lord), it gives a theology of the Word of God and goes into the relevance and importance of the Word for the Church’s life and ministry and for her mission to the world as well. At its meeting in February 2011, the Regional Biblical Commission (RBC) decided to dedicate the annual Bible Sunday message to this document. Because of its richness, the RBC would spread its coverage of the document over the next few years. So for its Bible Sunday Message last year the RBC highlighted the primacy of God’s word to man in different forms culminating in Jesus Christ, the Word of God. That Word invites all men and women to covenant with God. This year’s message continues WKH UHÀHFWLRQ E\ KLJKOLJKWLQJ WKH UHsponse of men and women to God’s call to covenantal life with Him.

The Covenant with God “In this vision every man and woman appears as someone to whom the Word speaks, challenges, and calls to enter this dialogue of love through a free response. Each of us is thus enabled by God to hear and respond to His Word. “We were created in the word and we live in the word; we cannot understand ourselves unless we are open to this dialogue. The :RUG RI *RG GLVFORVHV WKH ¿OLDO and relational nature of human existence. We are indeed called by grace to be conformed to Christ, the Son of the Father, and, in Him, to be transformed.” (VD 22)

Covenant as relationship At the heart of God revealing Himself is His deep desire that all men and women live in relationship with Him and with one another. This is the heart of God’s word. This is the heart of God’s action. Right from the stories of Creation and Paradise in Gen 1-3, the Word of God has revealed that God, who lovingly created the world and entrusted it to men and women, wants all of them to live in Joy – a joy that they will experience not beFDXVH WKH\ DUH ¿OOHG ZLWK DOO VRUWV RI PDWHULDO EHQH¿WV EXW EHFDXVH RI WKHLU relationship of faithfulness and obe-

Sunday July 15, 2012 CatholicNews

Sinaitic Covenant was to be their way of life in the land (Jos 24). Those of Israel’s historians, who were guided by the Book of Deuteronomy, viewed the successive stages of Israel’s history from within the perspective of the Sinaitic Covenant. Victories in war were won when the people were faithful to the Covenantal way of life, and losses were suffered when they were not.

The Davidic Covenant:

dience to Him, and because of their concern and care for one another. God’s plan was that men and women experience and express this joy in their prayer, worship, and life lived in family, community and society. God’s Word and action all through the ages is most beautifully portrayed in the Covenants of the Old and New Testaments. The entire Bible is the story of Covenant. In and through the Covenants God reveals this deep desire that all men and women live in harmony with Him, with one another, and with nature (the environment).

The Sinaitic Covenant: On Mount Sinai God entered into Covenantal relationship with the people of Israel (Ex 19:1 – 20:21). He proposed that He be their God and that they be His people. They agreed. He gave them the Ten Words to guide them in their relationship with Him and with one another. They accepted His Word. That was the fundamental religious experience of Israel. The people became a religion – i.e. they became bonded with God and with one another and with creation.

Unfolding of the covenant in the Bible Within this fundamental religious experience – the Sinaitic Covenant – Israel viewed its entire history as right from the time of

creation and especially from the time of Abraham.

The Covenant with Adam:

When God created Adam and Eve He entered into covenant with them and invited them to live in faithful obedience to Him. They were to enjoy the entire creation and be masters and stewards of it to make it grow and develop for the glory of God (Gen 1:28-30). When Adam and Eve broke that relationship and committed sin, God promised them one born of woman who would crush the head of the devil and all wickedness. And so Israel awaited the Promised One – the Messiah – the saviour (Gen 3:15).

The Covenant with Noah:

As the world turned more and more sinful, the people of Israel recognised in the Great Flood not only that wickedness and sinfulness lead to punishment, disaster and destruction, but also that in such a horrible situation God is still loving and merciful and true to His Word and promise to save. The Covenant with Noah and the earth (Gen 6:18; 9:9-17) was for Israel a sign of God’s saving word and action. The rainbow was God’s commitment to look after the earth and not to destroy it.

The Covenant with Abraham: The people of Israel saw

WKLV ¿UP GHVLUH RI *RG WDNH VKDSH in the call of Abraham and the promises He made to him (Gen

12:1-3) and renewed with his son (Isaac) and grandson (Jacob). With Abraham started the recorded history of the people of Israel and their covenantal relationship with God. The Covenant God made with Abraham (Gen 15 and 17) became the basis of God’s faithful expression of love and mercy for Israel and the whole world. God would always remember this covenant with Abraham. The people of Israel gradually discovered that in the unfolding of their history, God’s word and acWLRQV ZHUH DQ RQJRLQJ IXO¿OPHQW of His covenant with Abraham. They were descendents of Abraham and so they realised that all the promises God made to AbraKDP ZHUH JRLQJ WR EH IXO¿OOHG LQ them and in their ongoing history. When the children of Jacob fell into oppression and slavery in Egypt (Ex 1), God remembered His covenant with Abraham. Through His servant Moses, God worked great signs and portents in Egypt (Ex 7:1 – 13:16) and liberated the people from their slavery in the marvel of the Exodus (Ex 13:17 – 14:31). God led the people through the desert into the Promised land of Canaan – the land God swore to Abraham He would give him and his descendents (Jos 3:1 – 6:21; cf Gen 12:7).

Covenantal Life in the Land: When the people entered

the Promised Land of Canaan, the

When Israel became a Kingdom (1 Sam 8-12), the role of the King was not only to defend the people in time of war and to provide for their material well-being but also to rule the country in the spirit and way of God’s Covenant with the nation. David was the king par excellence in the whole history of Israelite Monarchy. God made a very important Covenant with David (2 Sam 7:11-17). He promised David that his throne would last forever. The Messiah would come from the House of David. The people remembered this Davidic Covenant and looked forward to that successor of David who would rule forever.

The Prophets and the Covenant: But most of the other

Kings in Israel were not faithful to the Covenant. Through the years of the Kingdom there was a lot of immorality and injustice. In this situation God sent the Prophets to the people of Israel. The Prophets were individuals deeply rooted in the Covenant and they kept on pointing the people to the Covenant, urging them to return to the Lord their Covenantal God. They warned them that if they did not give up their immoral and unjust ways the whole country would be destroyed. The people did not heed the voice of the prophets. They kept on defying God and violating His sacred Covenant with them. The Northern Kingdom of Israel suffered defeat at the hands of the Assyrians in 721 BC, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken into Exile by the Babylonians in 587 BC. The Word of God makes it clear that when people do not live in harmony with God and with one another they bring disaster upon themselves.

Promise of a New Covenant: But God never forgot

His Covenant with His people. Through Jeremiah He let them Continued on page 17

BIBLE SUNDAY 17

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

The rainbow was God’s commitment to look after the earth and not destroy it.

„ From page 16

know that in days to come He would make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and the people of Judah (Jer 31:31-33), not a covenant written on stone tablets but on their hearts. He would remove their heart of stone and give them a KHDUW RI ÀHVK

Jesus the New Covenant That promise of Jeremiah was fulÂżOOHG E\ -HVXV 6W 3DXO WHOOV XV WKDW when the appointed time came God VHQW +LV 6RQ ERUQ RI D ZRPDQ ERUQ under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons (Gal 4:4). Jesus sealed the new Covenant with His blood on the cross. At the /DVW 6XSSHU ZKHQ -HVXV LQVWLWXWHG the Eucharist, he took bread and wine and said, “This is my body which is given for you. This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my bloodâ€? (Lk 22:19-20; see also Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Hb 12:24). Our Eucharistic celebration today is the celebration of this great new covenant Jesus has gifted us through his paschal mystery (suffering, death, resurrection and ascension). Jesus brought the Covenantal /DZ WR IXOÂżOPHQW LQ WKH QHZ FRPmandment He gave His disciples DW WKH /DVW 6XSSHU +H WROG WKHP WR love one another as He loves them (Jn 15:12, 17). By this love they have for one another they would reconstitute that harmony God intended from the very beginning (Gen 1-2). In that love they would build the new heaven and the new earth where righteousness would once again dwell among people and be WKHLU ZD\ RI OLIH 3W 5HY 21). This love of Jesus’ disciples would transform and renew the whole universe.

Covenant, Communion The spirit of Covenant understandably still directs the life of the Church today, and this is particularly so in the Eucharist. 7KH 6HFRQG 9DWLFDQ &RXQFLO UHĂ€HFWLQJ RQ WKH QDWXUH RI WKH Church, describes the Church as the light of the nations. What light does the Church have but Jesus himself, the Light of the world? It is in the light of Jesus that the Church recognises itself as “Communioâ€? (Communion) – a very powerful way of describing Covenant. The Trinitarian life must be and become more and more our way of life today. %OHVVHG -RKQ 3DXO ,, VWUHVVHG Âą DQG 3RSH %HQHGLFW ;9O KDV UHLWHUated it – that for this to happen we need to have and develop a “spirituality of communionâ€?, which is essentially living the biblical experience of Covenant. The Word of God that comes to us through the Bible and through the teaching of the Church challenges us to be that kind of Church: a people of deep communion, living out, in our everyday life, actions, and relationships, the spirituality of communion. We are and always PXVW EH D (XFKDULVWLF 3HRSOH „ )RU UHĂ€HFWLRQ DQG GLVFXVVLRQ :KDW GR WKH %LEOLFDO &RYHQDQWV PHDQ WR \RX" +RZ GR \RX WKLQN WKLV PHDQLQJ ZLOO KHOS \RX UHDG WKH %LEOH IUXLWIXOO\" 7KURXJK RXU (XFKDULVWLF FHOHEUDWLRQ DQG UHFHSWLRQ RI +RO\ &RPPXQLRQ KRZ FDQ ZH JURZ GHHSHU HYHU\GD\ LQ WKH VSLULWXDOLW\ RI FRPPXQLRQ Âą LQ RXU PDUULDJH IDPLO\ OLIH DQG OLIH RI RXU QHLJKERXUKRRG &KULVWLDQ FRPPXQLW\ DQG VRFLHW\" +RZ FDQ ZH FRQWULEXWH WRZDUGV WKH EXLOGLQJ RI WKH ÂłQHZ KHDYHQV DQG WKH QHZ HDUWK´ L H WUDQVIRUP RXU ZRUOG LQ WKH VSLULW RI -HVXV"

18

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

By Joe Sarnicola

Read more about it: Ezekiel 1-3

Q&A 1. What was Ezekiel’s position in Israel? :KDW GLG WKH ¿JXUH WHOO (]HNLHO WR eat?

„ EZEKIEL

„ PRIEST

„ ISRAEL

„ BABYLON

„ VISIONS

„ THRONE

„ SAPPHIRE

„ FIRE

„ RAINBOW

„ COMMANDED „ ISRAELITIES „ ANCESTORS

Bible Accent:

Using the letters in the list below, can you spell the names of 11 prophets whose books are part of the Old Testament? Not all of the letters will be used, and the letters provided may be used more than once. wedoxamilnjshfzkrct 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Kid’s Club: Share your thoughts on this week’s Bible story with family and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: :KDW UROH GLG WKH SURSKHWV SOD\ LQ RXU IDLWK KLVWRU\"

Hosea, Jeremiah, Amos,

When King Nebuchadnezzar captured the city of Jerusalem, he ordered many of its most important DQG LQÀXHQWLDO PHQ LQWR H[LOH LQ %DE\lon. One of those men was a priest named Ezekiel. While in this time of exile, Ezekiel was called by God to be a prophet. God told Ezekiel to deliver messages to the people of Israel, whether they wanted to hear them or not. $W ¿UVW (]HNLHO ZDV VR QHUYRXV DERXW WKH UHVSRQVLbility he had just been given that he stayed with the other exiles for seven days before obeying the Lord. After WKHVH ¿UVW VHYHQ GD\V WKH /RUG DJDLQ VSRNH WR (]HNLHO and brought him out into the plains away from the city. There, Ezekiel said that he saw the glory of the Lord. We can read his messages in the Book of Ezekiel in the Old Testament. „

PUZZLE:

Answer to Wordsearch

Nicholas Pieck and a small group of his religious companions (d. 1572) in the convent in Gorkum, Holland, were captured by Calvinist soldiers and brought before the admiral for questioning. The men were treated horribly by their captors, and they were mocked because of their religion. The soldiers wanted the religious men to give up their faith and also reveal the hiding places of the valuable church vessels. Two of Nicholas’ brothers tried to speak for him, so that the soldiers would not kill him, but they were unsuccessful in changing the admiral’s mind, because the men refused to renounce their faith. All of the men were hanged and their bodies were thrown disrespectfully into a ditch as a mass grave. These brave men were declared martyrs and canonised in 1867. We honour them on July 9. „

man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them. ... Son of man, take into your heart all my words that I speak to you; hear them well.� „

WORDSEARCH:

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Nicholas Pieck

was unrolled and on it was written, “Lamentation, wailing, woe!â€? “Son of man, ... eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.â€? So Ezekiel opened his mouth and he ate the scroll that had been given to him. He was surprised, because he thought it would be dry and brittle DQG GLIÂżFXOW WR FKHZ EXW LW WDVWHG DV sweet as honey, and he ate it. When Ezekiel had eaten the entire scroll, the voice said to him, “Son of

Answer to Puzzle: Daniel, Ezekiel, Jonah, Isaiah, Joel, Micah, Zechariah, Malachi.

to this very day. Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart – Ezekiel was a priest during the time to them I am sending you.â€? Ezekiel remained quiet as the when the people of Israel had been exiled in the land of Babylon. While voice continued speaking to him. he was there, the Lord appeared to “You shall say to them: Thus says him and showed him many visions. the Lord God. And whether they One of his visions was of a majes- hear or resist – they are a rebelWLF ÂżJXUH VLWWLQJ RQ D WKURQH PDGH lious house – they shall know that a RI VDSSKLUH DQG VXUURXQGHG E\ ÂżUH prophet has been among them.â€? 7KH ÂżJXUH WROG (]HNLHO QRW WR EH and above him was a bright rainbow. (]HNLHO ERZHG GRZQ EHIRUH WKLV ÂżJ- afraid, even if the people hearing his message appeared as frightening as ure and then it spoke to him. “Son of man, stand up!â€? the voice scorpions or if their words seemed commanded. “I wish to speak to you.â€? DV VKDUS DV WKRUQV 7KH ÂżJXUH WROG Feeling the power of the spirit Ezekiel he would be safe as long as RI WKH ÂżJXUH (]HNLHO VWRRG XS Âł6RQ he, too, did not rebel as Israel had of man,â€? the voice said again. “I rebelled against God. 7KHQ WKH ÂżJXUH VDLG Âł2SHQ \RXU am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled mouth and eat what I am giving you.â€? against me; they and their ances- Ezekiel saw a hand stretch forward, tors have been in revolt against me and it was holding a scroll. The scroll

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

19

20

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday July 15, 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 CHANGE OF MASS TIMINGS (IHM CHURCH) With immediate effect, the Sunday 11am Mass at Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is now changed to11.15am. Wednesdays July 4 to November 28 GOD’S COVENANTAL LOVE THROUGH THE AGES 7.45-9.45pm: How the Bible tells the story of God the Father’s love for His children and His plan for people to be one family. By SPI. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Register T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org: Tuesdays July 10 to October 30 THE GREAT ADVENTURE – A JOURNEYTHROUGH THE BIBLE 7.30-9.30pm: Learn how God’s loving plan unfolds, resulting in a greater love for God and a deeper appreciation for one’s faith. By F.R.E.E Ministry. At Church of the Risen Christ Parish Hall. E: free.risenchrist@gmail.com; W: http:// home.catholicweb.com/freeatrisenchrist Thursdays July 12 to August 23 THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 7.30-9.30pm: This module addresses topics such as economics, consumerism, money, politics, the environment and our Catholic understanding of stewardship for the common good. Cost: $80. By SPI and Wonderfully Made! At CAEC St John’s Room (2 Highland Rd). Register E: janice@catholicspi.org July 14 MANAGING FATHER-TEEN/ PRE-TEEN CONFLICTS 2-4.30pm: The talk will be conducted by Br Collin Wee, FSC and is intended for fathers with teens/ pre-teens. At Church of the Holy Spirit Attic. T: 9828 0605 (Dominic), 9456 7778 (Simon); E: dominic.limky@gmail.com July 14 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8-9.30pm: At the Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator (60 Hill St). T: 9837 7256 (Benny); E: bennycah@gmail.com July 16 FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF MT CARMEL English Masses at 6.30am, 4.30pm and 6.30pm. Mandarin Mass at 2.30pm. At Carmelite Monastery (98 Bukit Teresa Rd) July 19 MASS FOR VOCATIONS Celebrant: Fr Aloysius Ong. Topic: My Vocation Story. At Church of the Holy Family Function Room (4th Floor). Saturdays July 21 to October 6 CATHOLICISM 3-5pm: A 10-DVD Session presented by Fr Robert Barron. This series reveals the truth, beauty and richness of the faith in an unprecedented way. Cost: $45 (study guide and workbook). By Apostolate for Catholic Truth. At Blessed Sacrament Church Damien Hall. Register E: andrew.neo@bsc.org.sg

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Wednesdays from July 4 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER 8-10pm: At Church of St Francis Xavier (63A Chartwell Drive). Register T: 9225 0713/6280 6076 (Gladys); E: gladyslimtedja@gmail.com Fridays from July 6 RCIA@CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 8-10pm: At Church of Christ the King Room 105 (2221 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8). E: query.rcia@gmail.com Fridays from July 13 RCIY@CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST 8-9.30pm: For 15-25 years old. At Church of the Risen Christ St Matthew Room (91 Toa Payoh Central). T: 9228 1158 (Jasmine), 9489 8086 (Jeremy); E: rciyrisenchrist@gmail.com

Saturday July 21 to Sunday July 22 THEOLOGY OF THE BODY CRASH COURSE 9am-5pm: Over 14 hours of training over 2 days on Blessed Pope John Paul II’s approach to human love in the divine plan. By Apostolate for Catholic Truth. At 10 Anson Rd International Plaza 2903. Register T: 9649 3893 (Andrew); E: andrew.kong@catholic.org.sg Thursdays from July 26 to November 29 GUIDED TOUR OF THE BIBLE 8-10pm: A series of 15 lectures from Genesis to Revelation. Presented by Sundaresh Menon. By Church of St Ignatius Bible Apostolate. At Church of St Ignatius Annexe Hall Level 2. E: henrywu@lucas.com.sg Fridays July 27 and August 24 PREPARING FOR THE YEAR OF FAITH 12.30-1.10pm: Msgr Eugene Vaz will deliver talks based on Pope Benedict XVl’s document, The Door of Faith. By Catholic Prayer Society. At Singapore Conference Hall (7 Shenton Way Level 2). E: cps.contactus@gmail.com; W: http://www.cps.org.sg Friday July 27 to Sunday July 29 CHOICE WEEKEND (BAHASA INDONESIA) Fri (7pm)-Sun (6.30pm): Lost and in need of direction? Sign up for a Choice weekend. In Bahasa Indonesia. By Choice Singapore. At 47 Jurong West St 42. Register T: 9880 3093 (Dawn); E: registration@choice.org.sg July 28 STEPS TO HAPPINESS – POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 9.30am-12pm: Dr Christopher Cheok will focus on tools that can help people change their happiness level through

simple changes in lifestyles. Cost: $20. By Clarity Singapore. At National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) MPH #04-88 at The Central (6 Eu Tong Sen St). Register T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org July 28 CHOICE THEORY (MANDARIN) 2-5pm: Conducted by Sr Louisa Lim. Cost: $25 (with tea). By Lifesprings Canossian Spirituality Centre. At 100 Jalan Merbok. Register T: 6466 2178 (Brenda); E: lifesprings@singnet.com.sg July 29 FOOD AND FAITH – IS THERE MORE TO LIFE? 3.30-6.30pm: An event for non-Catholic young adults from the ages of 20 to 35. Catholics are welcome to join their invited non-Catholic friends for an afternoon to discover more of what life has to offer. Tea and snacks provided. By Verdum Dei. At 73 Tamah Mas Merah. Register T: 6274 0251/9793 2605; E: verbumdeispore@yahoo.com.sg Wednesdays August 1 to November 14 GOSPEL OF JOHN 9.30-11.30am: DVD-based programme. By Church of the Holy Spirit Bible Apostolate. At Church of the Holy Spirit Room A2-01. T: 8228 8220 (Clare), 9815 4098 (Genevieve); E: HSbiblespostolate@gmail.com Wednesdays August 1 to October 10 THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 7.45-9.45pm: Learn about the history of the early Church and how we are also to witness for Christ presented by Fr Ambrose Vaz. Cost: $30. At Church of the Holy Spirit Attic. T: 9833 4623 (Andrew) E: andrew_loo_ts@yahoo.com.sg

Thursdays August 2 to October 25 ACTS OF THE APOSTLES 8-10pm: Conducted by Fr Ambrose Vaz. By Church of Christ the King Bible Apostolate Team. At the church’s basement chapel. Register T: 9832 1538 (Lene); E: ctkbat@hotmail.com

Saturday August 18 to Monday August 20 JESUIT VOCATION CAMP Fri (8.30pm)-Sun (5pm): For men 18-40 years old who are discerning a Religious vocation, especially with the Jesuits. Limited enrolment. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register T: 9711 9717; E: mas-vocations@jesuits.net; W: http://www.mas-jesuits.org

Saturday August 4 to Sunday August 5 WHERE DOES YOUR NEEDLE POINT TO? For young adults 18-35 years old. Discover one’s life in the footsteps of St Francis Xavier. Cost: to be advised. By Verdum Dei Missionaries. At Good Shepherd Seminary Malacca. Register T: 6274 0251/9793 2605 (Sr Sandra); E: verdumdeispore@yahoo.com.sg

Friday August 24 to Sunday August 26 COUPLE SPIRITUALITY WEEKEND Fri (8.30pm)-Sun (5pm): Couple prayer is the centre of married life. Experience a unique weekend with married couples. Cost: $250 (per couple) including lodging and all meals. By Marriage Retorno. At ME House (201B Punggol 17th Avenue). Register by Jul 30. T: 9655 3708 (Susie), 9011 2795 (Esme), 9819 1883 (Stanley)

August 4 BEING AND BECOMING THROUGH ART JOURNALING 2-5pm: Be more into congruence on how one is created to be. Facilitated by Joanna Tan. Cost: $80 (with materials). By Centre of Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Register by Jul 28. T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.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 1062 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

14

15

16

17

18

19

21

20 23

25

24

34

31

32

50

51

43 46

45 57

48

49

55

54

56

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

57

30

40

42

53

13

37

39

44

12

27

36

35

41

52

26

29

38

11

22

28 33

10

58

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Vocation 5 Top-sider 9 Algonquin woman 14 Put down 15 Certain keys 16 Kid leather *HRPHWULF ÂżJXUHV 18 Hydrocarbon VXIÂż[HV 19 Graf rival 20 King of France 21 Our ___ of Fatima 22 Of the highest quality 23 Involves 25 ______ will 28 Suppositions 29 Shrill 33 One of a couple receiving a sacrament 36 Inward feeling 37 â€œâ€Ś____ thousand times‌â€? 38 Supernatural force 39 Carriage 40 Rich soil 41 ______ roll 42 The Feast of the Annunciation is the 25th of this month 43 Wash 44 Ecclesiastical belt 46 Pol. donkey party 47 Unattractive 48 Serving 52 Jubilee entry 55 The Mass is both D VDFULÂżFH DQG D _______

56 Ms. Farrow 57 Convocation of witches 59 Burden 60 The Diocese of Honolulu is here 61 Best of a group 62 British nobleman 63 Not fer 64 Roadside lodge 7ULDO ÂżJ 66 Thick fabric

27 Before, to Byron 45 Parish priest 29 Fruit of the Holy 46 Describes some Spirit sins 30 Playing an extra 48 “By the mercy of SHULRG EULHĂ€\ God, we do not lose ________â€? 31 He survived the (2 Cor 4:1) Ă€RRG 32 Favourite food of 49 “Let us make man in our ____â€? Isaac (Gen 25:28) (Gen 1:26) 33 Univer. hot shot 50 _____ obstat 34 Wife of a rajah 51 Haggard 35 “_____ ideal 52 Hold as an world‌â€? opinion 36 Act of Contrition DOWN 53 Nobel Institute word 1 Friend of St. city 39 Lining Francis of Assisi 54 End piece? 40 “Thy word is a 2 He could speak _____ to my feetâ€? 55 Ancient defense well (Ex 4:14) (Ps 119:105) 58 Letterhead abbr. 3 Lawful 42 Appt. calendar *UD]LQJ ÂżHOG 4 Joseph Smith’s note 60 Clod denom. 5 Breaks the seventh 43 Angelus call commandment 6 Laying on of ____ Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1061 7 Comply H U M A N I C E D B R A D 8 Winding shape L O V E L O S E 9 Evidence of a leak A S I D E N U K E S I N A N O A H U 10 St. John Baptiste T E A S I N D E X D R E is this province’s patron S Y D N E Y E L A N D 11 River in Africa U R E C A B R E T T A 12 Summer drinks T W I N S P R I C E H E B G U A R D T I N A O A F S 13 Direction from the Jordan to S O R T S H A S N T M C S Bethlehem J O B B O O K C A S E 21 â€œâ€Śthe Lord, the N O T E D A S S E N T giver of _____â€? L E I A T O R G R E E T 24 Operatic slave girl O O N A Q U I Z N E H R U 25 Small songbird R I F E N O O S E L A I D 26 20th letter of the S E E K A S S E S D M D S Hebrew alphabet www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

24 WORLD

Sunday July 15, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Theologian, Islam expert appointed to Vatican bodies

New communications adviser for Holy See Fox News journalist hired in wake of Vatileaks case VATICAN CITY – The Vatican Sec-

Archbishop Gerhard L Muller, new head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation. VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI has appointed Archbishop Gerhard L Muller as the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Fr Miguel Ayuso Guixot, an expert in Islam, to the VHFRQG KLJKHVW SRVW DW WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Archbishop Muller of Regensburg, Germany, an expert in dogmatic theology and ecumenism who has co-authored a work on liberation theology, replaced US Cardinal William J Levada, who retired at 76. As head of the doctrinal congregation, the 64-year-old archbishop also assumes the roles of president RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RPPLVVLRQ Âł(FFOHVLD 'HL´ WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO %LEOLFDO Commission and the International Theological Commission. Fr Miguel Ayuso Guixot, 60, was appointed on June 30 to replace Italian Archbishop Pier Luigi &HODWD DV VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Fr Ayuso, a professor of Islamic studies, had served as direcWRU RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO ,QVWLWXWH IRU Arabic and Islamic Studies, based in Rome, since 2006. +H LV WKH ÂżUVW H[SHUW LQ ,VODP to be named to the top level of the council since the former council president, Archbishop Michael L Fitzgerald, was named nuncio to (J\SW DQG WKH 9DWLFDQÂśV GHOHJDWH to the Arab League in 2006.„ CNS

retariat of State has appointed an American, Mr Greg Burke, 52, as a communications adviser. Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, as the director of the Vatican SUHVV RI¿FH ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR EH WKH RI¿FLDO VSRNHVPDQ IRU WKH Church, according to Zenit news agency. 0U %XUNHœV WDVN ZLOO EH WR GHvelop a strategy to improve the communications policy of the Holy See. It is a new role for the VatiFDQœV FRPPXQLFDWLRQV HIIRUWV DQG FRPHV DIWHU WKH UHFHQW ³9DWLOHDNV case�, which involved the publication of private documents, eventually leading to the arrest RI 0U 3DROR *DEULHOH WKH SRSHœV butler. Mr Burke will also help develop and strengthen lines of communication among the Holy 6HHœV QXPHURXV FRPPXQLFDWLRQV outlets, which include TV, radio, a newspaper, a book publishing KRXVH DQG D SUHVV RI¿FH He will work with Archbishop Angelo Becciu, the number three RI¿FLDO DW WKH 9DWLFDQ 6HFUHWDULDW of State, and US Msgr Peter B Wells, assessor for general affairs. Mr Burke, a graduate of CoOXPELD 8QLYHUVLW\œV VFKRRO RI journalism, spent the past 24 years based in Rome as a journalist – with the National Catholic Register, Time magazine and, for the past 10 years, the Fox News network. While he is not an expert in PR or communications, he said his experience covering events in the 9DWLFDQ (XURSH DQG WKH 0LGGOH (DVW PHDQV ³, NQRZ ZKDW MRXUQDOists are looking for and what they need, and I know how things will play out in the media.� Mr Burke said he has been

Mr Greg Burke has spent the past 24 years based in Rome as a journalist – with the National Catholic Register, Time magazine and, for the past 10 years, with Fox News network. CNS photo

covering the Vatican long enough ÂłWR NQRZ WKDW QR RQH ZDONV LQ and changes thingsâ€? overnight. %XW KH VDLG KH KRSHV ÂłWKLV SRVW LV a step in the right directionâ€? and that he will be able to alert the right people in advance of any potential message mix-ups. A lifelong Catholic and numerary member of Opus Dei, %XUNH VDLG KH ZRXOGQÂśW KDYH WDNHQ WKH MRE LI KH GLGQÂśW SXW DOO KLV faith and trust in God. Numeraries are celibate and contribute a large part of their salaries to the prelature. :KHQ KH ZDV ÂżUVW DSSURDFKHG about the new position, Burke declined, but then over the course of D ZHHN KH ZHQW ZLWK ÂłD JXW IHHOLQJ´ WR ÂżQDOO\ DFFHSW WKH MRE „ CNS

Religious Freedom Trouble Spots Governments that have engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom, according to the latest report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN

COUNTRIES ON THE WATCH LIST

Myanmar China Eritrea Iran North Korea Saudi Arabia

Afghanistan Belarus Cuba India Indonesia Laos

Sudan Uzbekistan Egypt Iraq Nigeria Pakistan

Source: U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 2012 Annual Report

Tajikistan Turkey Turkmenistan Vietnam

Russia Somalia Venezuela

Š2012 CNS

Pope seeks advice from cardinals on scandal VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI has asked some of his closest advisers for guidance on how WR UHVWRUH WUXVW DQG FRQÂżGHQFH LQ WKH &DWKROLF &KXUFKÂśV OHDGHUVKLS amid a scandal over leaks of conÂżGHQWLDO 9DWLFDQ SDSHUV Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the pope called two extraordinary meetings RQ -XQH WR ÂłGHHSHQ KLV UHĂ€HFtionsâ€? over the leaks and their consequences. 0U 3DROR *DEULHOH WKH SRSHÂśV personal butler, was arrested on 0D\ DIWHU FRQÂżGHQWLDO OHWWHUV and documents addressed to the pope and others within the Vatican administration were allegedly found in his Vatican apartment. Many of the documents were published in Italian media over the past several months and in a recently released best-selling book by an Italian journalist. Mr Gabriele is being held in a cell on Vatican grounds on charges of aggravated theft. He is the only person charged so far in the scandal the Italian media has FDOOHG Âł9DWL/HDNV´ 7KH ÂżUVW RI WKH SRSHÂśV PHHWLQJV was with cardinals heading the various congregations and councils that make up the Roman Curia, the central government of the church. Although the pope meets these men periodically, the mornLQJ HQFRXQWHU ZDV ÂłSDUWLFXODUO\

Cover of Your Holiness, a book released by an Italian journalist, purportedly a collection of private letters to Pope Benedict XVI and RWKHU FRQÂżGHQWLDO 9DWLFDQ FRUUHspondence and reports. CNS photo

important and urgent to effectively demonstrate the unity of spirit that guides it�, Fr Lombardi said. The second meeting was with ¿YH FDUGLQDOV ZKR )U /RPEDUGL said had been chosen for their experience both in Rome and in the worldwide church. They were Cardinal George Pell of Sydney; Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops; Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the 3RQWL¿FDO &RXQVHO IRU ,QWHUUHOLJLRXV Dialogue; Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general emeritus of Rome; and Cardinal Jozef Tomko, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for WKH (YDQJHOLVDWLRQ RI 3HRSOHV „ CNS

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

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

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