SEPTEMBER 23, 2012, Vol 62, No 19

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www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

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Conference highlights support for needy Participants at Caritas event discuss ways to reach out to disadvantaged

VOL 62

NO. 19

INSIDE HOME A life behind walls Cloistered Carmelites on their spiritual journeys „ Page 7

By Martin See Partnering the poor means reaching out to them, “creating opportunities and motivating them towards helping themselves�, Archbishop Nicholas Chia told some 400 people gathered for the Social Mission Conference on Sept 1. “While previously we focused on the needs [of the disadvantaged], today we aspire to concentrate our efforts towards ‘helping them help themselves,’� he said. “How can we create opportunities and motivation for self-help dignity and self-respect of the poor?� he asked. Archbishop Chia was speaking to social workers, volunteers and Religious during the conference organised by Caritas Singapore every two years. The event, which targeted those interested in Catholic social teaching and those involved in social mission, was held at Catholic Junior College. It had the theme Partnering the Poor, Living our Faith. During the conference, a Jesuit ing out to the disadvantaged, a panel of speakers shared the work their organisations were doing for such people, and participants broke into groups to discuss the plight of various disadvantaged groups. Groups discussing the issue of families in distress highlighted matters such as gender inequality, widening wage gaps and the problems faced by the “sandwiched middle class� in society. Participants discussing the plight of marginalised people such as ex-offenders, single mothers and people with disabilities, noted that they face stereotyping

ASIA Canonisation of Blessed Calungsod Thousands of Filipinos request visas to attend event „ Page 10

WORLD Fighting money laundering Panellists at the Social Mission Conference: (from left) Ms Cecilia Chua (HopeHouse shelter), Ms Helen Lim (Chatter@Silver Spring cafe), Ms Leona Leong (Aii social enterprise), Mr Gerard Ee (Beyond Social Services) and Mr Laurence Lien, Nominated Member of Parliament and CEO, National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia: Help disadvantaged help themselves.

Fr Mark Raper: You can’t love without giving.

and discrimination by potential employers. In discussions on youth-atrisk, participants highlighted the breakdown of family structures and stressed that the education system needs to better address students’ pastoral needs apart from focusing on academic achievement. Groups discussing the plight of low-wage workers noted how

society tends to look down on these people. They stressed the need for a “liveable wage� and cient training and investment in low-wage jobs at present. Jesuit Fr Mark Raper told participants, “You can give without loving but you can’t love without giving.� The president of the Jesuit

! superior of the Jesuit Missions in Timor Leste and Myanmar urged the crowd to consider the wider factors of poverty such as forced migration, natural disasters, crises. “Is economics to make people’s lives better or are people at the service of economics?� he asked, referring to the effects of globalisation. A panel of speakers then shared how their organisations reach out to the disadvantaged. Ms Cecilia Chua, chairperson of HopeHouse, spoke about how HopeHouse is a residential shelter for at-risk youths. Nominated Member of Parliament Laurence Lien, CEO of National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, shared his “prompting to help others� in his work after being in the government sector for many years. „ Continued on page 3

Vatican hires expert to comply with norms „ Page 12

Church ‘200 years behind time’ Late cardinal makes scathing remarks before his death „ Page 14

OPINION Of heart, hope and home National Day Rally Speech „ Page 17

FEATURE ‘I want to go for catechism!’ How archdiocesan catechesis has been undergoing renewal „ Page 18

2 HOME ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Sep 16 Sep 23 Sep 27 Sep 29

11.30am 11.30am 6.00pm 5.00pm

Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea: Mass – Feastday Church of Our Lady of Lourdes: Mass – Feast of St Pio Church of St Ignatius: Mass – Feast of St Vincent De Paul Church of St Vincent De Paul: Mass – Feastday

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Nuncio presides at annual Novena Church procession

Above: The crowd, many wearing special blue shirts for the event, at the procession on Sept 2. Left: Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli (far left) and priests at the procession.

Archbishop congratulates Methodist bishop-elect Archbishop Nicholas Chia has sent support joint initiatives to proa congratulatory message to the mote Christian Unity such as the newly elected bishop of the Meth- Week of Christian Unity, and the odist Church in Singapore, Rev Dr Night of Songs,� he added. Wee Boon Hup. Rev Dr Wee was “Together with the Methodist elected on Sept 3. community, we would In his message, " Archbishop Chia said mitment to spreading our he looked forward to universal Christian mesworking with Rev Dr sage of love, faith and Wee “towards greater hope. Together, we reafecumenism�. # “For more than 40 Christ who is the Way, years after Vatican II, Rev Dr Wee Boon the Truth and the Life.� Methodists and Catho- Hup Archbishop Chia lics have held regular said the Catholic comdialogues in the search for greater munity looks forward to working reconciliation and an ‘exchange of with Rev Dr Wee “not only for gifts’ of shared Christian beliefs, in greater inter-religious understandthe world-wide ecumenical move- ing and harmony, but also Christment,� Archbishop Chia said. like charity toward the poor and “Today, Methodists and Cath- needy in our multi-religious and olics in Singapore continue to multi-racial society�. „

Twelve thousand devotees thronged the grounds of Novena Church on Sept 2 for the Annual Novena Procession and Mass to honour Mother Mary. Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli presided at the event, the 59th such celebration held at 300, Thomson Road. This year’s celebration had the theme, Building the Body of Christ. For nine Saturdays, from July-Sept 1, the Redemptorist the fruits of the Holy Spirit in line with the theme. A special Triduum of Masses in honour of Mary was also held from Aug 29-31. About 1,500 people attended each night. Novena Church, wellknown for its Saturday devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, is presently working on redeveloping and rebuilding its premises. The estimated cost is $45 million. Fundraising efforts are now underway and the church has collected about $12 million to date. The church needs to raise at least 80 percent of the estimated cost before groundwork can begin, say organisers. „

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Caritas to build special centre „ From page 1

Coming up: Agape Village

Mr Gerard Ee, executive director of Beyond Social Services, spoke about how his organisation helps disadvantaged youths in low-income neighbourhoods through community support and other programmes. Ms Leona Leong, founder of social enterprise Aii, talked about she employs the hearing impaired in her business while Ms Helen Lim of Chatters@Silver Spring shared how her cafĂŠ employs those above 55. Mr Kwek Mean Luck, chairman of Caritas’ Community Strategy Committee then gave a talk on providing care to the disadvantaged. “We are all jointly responsible for the vulnerable in our community,â€? he said. Caritas executive director Bernadette Lau introduced her organisation’s vision to build a hub, called Agape Village, to provide holistic integrated services to help the poor and disadvantaged escape from the poverty cycle. Agape Village was commissioned by Archbishop Chia, she said, and would be built on 30,000 sq ft of land at Lorong 8, Toa Payoh. The government had given the land in exchange for Church land the former had acquired at Thomson Road. Agape Village is expected to cost $1215 million (see other story). Ms Lau said the hub aims to provide Catholics and the community at large an opportunity to participate in the Church’s social mission. It is expected to have social enterprises that will create sustainable work, as well as train and hire people for such work.

Agape Village will be a one-stop centre where the poor and disadvantaged ' they need help and support�, says Caritas Singapore in a statement to CatholicNews. It will serve the poor and disadvantaged regardless of race, language or religion, says Caritas. The village will have facilities such as training and counselling rooms, and may also house social enterprises such as cafes and retail shops, and accounting and secretarial support. These could provide employment for the unemployed or to the marginalised such as ex-offenders, and people with physical or mental disabilities, says Caritas. A steering committee has been formed to oversee the project. ' ing architects and engineers�, says Caritas. The committee is also exploring the operating model for Agape Village to ensure its sustainability. Two consultation workshops with Caritas’ member organisations were conducted on how they could collaborate on the project. Caritas has also presented the concept to the Senate of Priests and plans to present it to priests from the various districts in September and October to get their feedback. The centre is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2014. „

Participants broke into small groups to discuss issues such as families in distress, the marginalised, youths-at-risk and low-wage workers.

She also appealed to the crowd to help Caritas in areas such as: % Para-counselling for families in need at parishes % Support groups to provide care giving, befriending and mentoring services % Cyber-counselling for youths % Social enterprise projects to provide employment opportunities to the marginalised Participants said they found the conference enriching. “I found [the conference] thought pro-

voking as it made me think deeper about the social issues I read about,� said Ms Joyce Tan, 22, from the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “I’m interested in Catholic social teaching and issues related to poverty and that’s why I’m here.� Ms Serene Soh, 24, from the Church of Holy Family, said “I came here to be more involved and seek the opportunity to participate in Catholic community organisations.� „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Church of the Risen Christ parishioners in a small-group discussion during their day of recollection.

Loving God, neighbour, self Do you really love God, Gabrielite Br Emmanuel asked 240 Church of the Risen Christ parishioners. The initial feeble response appeared to perturb him. He posed the question to them again, and beamed when this time, it was a resounding “yes�. Br Emmanuel was conducting the parish’s day of recollection on Aug 20 and spoke on Loving God, Loving Our Neighbours and Loving Oneself – talks which were punctuated with humour and personal anecdotes. He noted that one’s love for * may be obstacles to deepening this love because of sins such as addictions to gambling or pornography, hatred and unforgiveness. However, these can be overcome through practices such as attending Mass, going for Confession, praying the rosary and spending time in Eucharistic adoration, said Br Emmanuel, who is in his late 70s. Do not be afraid to commit yourself to God; do not give up trying to grow in holiness, he stressed. He added that participants were called to be Christians not for themselves but for others. Give back to God what you have received from him – His love – by loving one’s neighbour, and teaching them to love God and others, he said.

In his talk, Loving Our Neighbours, Br Emmanuel asked participants how they have responded to God’s invitation to bring hope and joy to the needy. “What have I done for the Church?� and “What can I do more?� were questions participants had to ponder on. For those who were not in any active ministry, Br Emmanuel suggested they take up the silent ministry of prayer for the Church and for their neighbours.

Br Emmanuel punctuated his talks with humour and anecdotes.

In the talk, Loving Oneself, French-speaking Br Emmanuel shared about his years with the Gabrielite Brothers, his efforts at learning English, and his attempts at following Christ’s command to “go ye into the world to teach�. + Br Emmanuel, who is from Canada, said he was able to take on tasks he was not formally qual / < Act, Trust). Such tasks included being made Boys’ Town director at the age of 26, overseeing the education of all Gabrielite schools although he had = > Q tion, and sharing his experience with other educators in Singapore Q + Participants said they enjoyed the day of recollection. One parishioner said he found it enriching and motivating. Another participant said he learn that he has to forget about his ego in order to serve others. „

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

I feel ‘proud to be in a church with so much history.

’

– Ms Amanda Soh, 23, a Teochew whose grandparents were also parishioners Priests of the parish and members of the parish pastoral council making a toast during the anniversary dinner on Sept 9.

Joy, festivity as Nativity Church marks 160th year By Darren Boon The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary marked its 160th anniversary with an outdoor Mass, procession and consecration to Our Lady on Sept 9. Look to Mary as an example of how Catholics can “live our vocation as disciples of the Lord�, Archbishop Nicholas Chia said during the Mass. He urged the 1,200-strong crowd to remember what she said at the wedding in Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.� He also encouraged them to “enlighten people with the Gospel of love�, and thanked God for Mary’s inspiration and guidance to priests, Religious and laity in building up the historic church. Archbishop Chia also reminded those present about the upcoming Year of Faith and encouraged them to focus on the new evangelisation. The evening’s celebration marked the climax of anniversary celebrations. These included a community golf event in February, a Family Fun Walk in May, a Marriage Blessing Mass in July

and a feast day carnival on Sept 2. A range of souvenirs was also released such as a commemorative coin, rosary and book, and a model of the church. The parish will continue to mark its 160th anniversary with a two-day seminar and a parish assembly and retreat later in the year. Parishioners told CatholicNews of their emotional ties to the church. “I feel proud to be in a church with so much history,� said Ms Amanda Soh, 23, a Teochew whose grandparents were also parishioners. Ms Soh, who admires the church architecture, said she remembered playing in the church youth camps of her teenage years, which fostered lasting friendships. Mrs Teresa Tan, 87, who was married in the church and whose children were baptised there, told CatholicNews that she appreciates the friendliness of parishioners. At one time, men and women sat on different sides of the church, she recalled. Mr Charles Teo, 60, said he is very attached to the church and

The original church was an attap chapel.

even when he moved away from the area, he would still visit the church. History The present church serves about 1,600 families or about 5,400 parishioners. It traces its origins to Fr Ambrose Maistre, a Paris Foreign Missions priest, who built a church in the area after he arrived in 1852, after procuring a 40-acre (162,000 sq km) piece of land from the British East India Company. According to the parish’s 160th anniversary book, the church was initially an attap chapel named Church of St Mary, which was later replaced by a brick building. Fr Maistre also built a small presbytery and a school.

The church building in 1901.

Fr Maistre reached out to the Teochew-speaking community in the area, some of whom had already converted to Catholicism back in China. The church on Christmas 1853. Today, a Teochew Sunset Mass is held at 4 pm weekly. About 500 people attend. / church was laid in August 1898. Then parish priest Fr Casimir Jean Saleilles wanted a new building to cater to the growing church population. Another priest, Fr Charles P Nain, designed the building in a Neo Gothic style. With support from parishioners, the building was completed. It was blessed in December 1901. By 1933, under Fr Edouard

Becharas, the church building was extended to include side transepts, the sanctuary and sacristy, which doubled the size of the building. Parishioners donated three large bells that were installed in the belfry during the expansion. Statues of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus were also placed in the prayer chapels within the church. The building was gazetted as a national monument in 2005. The parish has produced 51 Religious and 27 priests, including Archbishop Nicholas Chia. Its former parish priest, Fr Francis Chan (1946-1955), later became the Bishop of Penang. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

The present building.

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Playing St Therese helped actress return to church Eva Hernandez, who portrayed the famous saint here recently, shares her remarkable conversion story By Martin See “Little by little when I played St Therese, I felt the Lord calling me back. It was through my work that I understood there was a conversion.� So shared French actress Eva Hernandez, who plays St Therese of Lisieux in an hour-and-a-half dramatic monologue, staged in three local churches recently. The award-winning actress portrayed the famous Carmelite saint in Story of a Soul, held at the Church of Divine Mercy, Church of Holy Spirit and Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour from Sept 7-9. Hernandez, a Catholic, told CatholicNews that there was one period in her life when she stopped practising her faith. “When I was 11 years old, my friends used to go for catechism classes and one of them invited me to go along, so I attended catechism and was baptised at 13,� said the 30-year-old actress. She shared that she used to struggle with her faith, and “between 17 and 27 years old, I lived without God in my life�. All that changed when she was approached by director and

playwright Michel Pascal at a supermarket in Paris about three and a half years ago. The two did not know each other then. “Michel asked me, ‘What do you do in life?’� and she said she was an actress. Immediately, Pascal started talking to her about a project he was working on about the life of St Therese.

Director and playwright Michel Pascal approached Hernandez for the role.

“At that time I hadn’t heard of� St Therese, Hernandez recalled. It was through her chats with Pascal and their working together on the play that conversion took place in her life. “It was about a year after playing St Therese that I realised

I was more drawn to God,� she shared. The actress said a sentence from the saint’s autobiography, Story of a Soul, struck her. It was: “When I love a person and when I think about it, it’s already a prayer.� “Before, when I saw someone pray, I didn’t understand the act. However, after reading what St Therese wrote, I could see beyond the act,� she said. She recalled being very touched when she saw 20 nuns praying together at the Sacred Heart Basilica in Paris as it made her feel the “oneness with God�. “Before, even though I was baptised, I was blind. But through my work, I felt God calling me back to Him,� she said. Hernandez has since played the famous nun in Europe and Israel. Her recent performances + “We hope to have the play done in Spanish and Italian in the future and perhaps even a movie with Michel directing,� she said. According to Hernandez, she is the only Catholic in her family. “The new evangelisation is also done by artistes,� Pascal told CatholicNews. “This is a powerful performance because it even touches people who don’t believe in God.� (See review on right) „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

Eva Hernandez switched personas effortlessly in Story of a Soul. After playing St Therese of Lisieux for a year, she started feeling drawn to God, she said. Photo: SANDRA LOW

REVIEW

Stellar one-woman show enthralls audience By Martin See Dressed in a Carmelite habit and using only a wooden chair as a prop, actress Eva Hernandez brought St Therese of Liseux to life with her convincing, animated portrayal of the famous nun. The 450-strong audience at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Sept 8 watched in rapt attention as Hernandez switched personas effortlessly – at various moments playing the saint’s parents, sisters, other nuns and even the pope. Portraying St Therese as a child at the start of the monologue, Hernandez mimicked a child’s voice and mannerisms, saying “At seven, I work towards seeing beyond appearances to get closer to God.� She then took the audience on a journey of the saint’s life – from her childhood years to her joining the Carmelites at the age of 15 and right to her death at the tender age of 24. Playing St Therese in the convent, Hernandez said, “Carmel is not a prison, it’s a desert which is empty and silent.� “What good are our silences if we’re not good at listening to one another?� the actress asked in her performance. “In Carmel, we try to love without judging.�

She spoke in guttural tones and walked with a hunch when playing an old nun in the convent. And in portraying St Therese’s suffering from tuberculosis and eventual death, the actress sang a song about eternal life in heaven based on a poem the saint wrote called The Song of Today. The play is adapted from the saint’s autobiography of the same title. I had read the book before watching the play and felt that Hernandez gave a stellar performance highlighting the book’s dramatic moments. Personally, I found her act true to the spirit of the book. Several members of the audience were also captivated by the performance. “She was so convincing that for a moment I thought that she could be the real St Therese,� said Mr David Cheong. Ms Chan Mei Leng said she found the performance “engaging�. St Therese “speaks from the grave and encourages us to grow in faith�, she said. The play was organised by CANA The Catholic Centre to mark the Church’s Year of Faith which begins on Oct 11 this year. „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Cloistered Carmelites share their faith journeys Five Carmelite Sisters marked their 25th-70th anniversaries recently. Darren Boon brings you their stories. Archbishop Nicholas Chia and priests celebrated a Mass to mark

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Sr Joanne: inspired by Charismatics

From left: Sr Joanne of the Cross, Sr John Mary of the Cross, Sr Agnes of the Holy Family, Sr Patricia of St Therese of the Child Jesus and Sr Josephine of Mary.

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I wanted to be a ‘Carmelite because I love an enclosed and hidden life. I like to pray and make

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– Sr Patricia of St Therese of the Child Jesus

/ nate there had been no obstacles X = \ ligious life and is thankful for guide in the form of the late Paris } ^ + > = + ' X = ‚ + > #

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ing a Charismatic prayer meeting at the Church of Our Lady ‰ ' ‰ ‚+ > > ‹ ! > ciety and the prayer group at the = ' ” ‚+ “We had a great time praying ‰ ‚ + ƒ +

Sr Patricia: Mother Mary played a big role A Catholic classmate had bought = =

! ˆ = = # > } = + = ‰ = ” ence and both sisters started pray = =+ > ! > /

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and her sister praying the rosary or their desire to join the Reli + ‘ ‰ =

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= + — = ‰ = + ' + " = " ‚ > ! said of her decision to become a + ' and learnt more about Our Mother > / and her desire for us to pray for = = ‚ + „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

8 ASIA

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

St Joseph’s fun walk raises $80,000

Caritas Pakistan assesses LAHORE, PAKISTAN – As rains

Five hundred people took part in the Family Day and Fun Walk organised by St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah). SINGAPORE – About 500 parish-

ioners and well-wishers of St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) came together for a Family Day and Fun Walk to raise funds for the church’s recent renovations. The Sept 1 event also aimed to strengthen community and family bonding. The event started at 8 am with Fr Christopher Lee, assistant parish priest, welcoming participants. After his prayer of blessing for a safe and enjoyable event, Fr Alex Chua, priest-in-residence,

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Participants walked from the church, and along Upper Bukit Timah Road, Dairy Farm Road, Petir Road, Chestnut Avenue, Chestnut Drive before heading back to the church. Art activities for children were held at the parish community hall while the walk took place. After the walk, breakfast was prepared and served by the neighbourhood and canteen operator groups. / ‡`+™` with a lucky dip for participants. According to Fr Lee, the event raised about $80,000. „

ing Pakistan, Caritas Pakistan workers have entered the worst areas to assess damage and determine what type of aid was immediately needed. A month of monsoon rains has devastated several communities, claiming at least 78 lives, injuring dozens more and damaging or destroying 1,600 homes, the National Disaster Management Authority reported on Sept 10. “Our teams are already in the + ‘ heavy monsoon for a month and feared more damage,� Mr Amjad Gulzar, executive secretary of Caritas Pakistan, told the Asian Church news agency UCA News. — in Hyderabad and Multan dioceses and Quetta apostolic vicariate. Many of those displaced in the most to return to the communities they = + Staff from US-based Catholic Relief Services also joined the assessment effort, visiting communities in southern Pakistan, including Sindh province and the Baluchistan region of Balochistan province, according to an agency spokeswoman. Monsoon rains have come late

claiming at least 78 lives. CNS photo

and are heavier than expected, CRS reported. “Initial reports from affected communities and government agencies indicate that there are a number of homes that are de = agricultural lands,� CRS said. Flooding also damaged Our Lady of Fatima Church in Fatimapur, Punjab province. “About 20 Christian families, most of them labourers and peasants, have had their ceilings col-

lapse. A Catholic school is inundated with water from neighbouring villages and has been closed,� said Fr Ishaq Ghulam from the parish. In Sindh province, Fr Samson Shukardin, vicar general of Hyderabad diocese said Church lead = and schools. “We are getting information about damaged houses in Christian slums in at least four districts,� he said. „ CNS

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Korean govt cancels plans for over-the-counter contraceptive SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – The

Korean government has cancelled a plan to offer an overthe-counter morning-after contraceptive pill despite previously indicating it would reform existing laws. In an announcement on Aug 30 that had been expected to traceptive would be permitted without prescription, Mr Kim Won-jong, director for medical policy at the Ministry of Health, would remain unchanged. “The pill will not be switched from prescription to over-thecounter,� he said during a news conference according to Asian Church news agency UCA News. The decision – much debated in South Korea – comes after the Korea Food and Drug Administration announced in June

Easily available contraceptives could encourage irresponsible sex, especially among teenagers. – The Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

that the morning-after pill would be available without prescription by the end of the year as part = all medicines sold in South Korea. Catholic leaders welcomed the decision, while women and pharmacists denounced it.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea reiterated that “the pill is an abortive medicine killing life�. Korean Womenlink, which promotes women’s rights, said “the government’s decision does not protect women’s right to selfdetermination�. The Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists had opposed the proposed deregulation, saying easily available contraceptives could encourage “irresponsible sex, especially among teenagers�. It argued that the pills should be taken under medical doctors’ supervision. The Korean Pharmaceutical Association had welcomed the deregulation, saying it would decrease the number of illegal abortions. „ CNS

Bangladeshi doctors tackle lack of medical care DHAKA, BANGLADES – Catholic doctors organised a free medical clinic in Dhaka on Sept 5 to mark the fourth anniversary of the Church-based Association of Bangladesh Catholic Doctors (ABCD). More than 130 patients received free medical check-ups and prescriptions at the Churchrun Bottomley Homes Orphanage in the city’s Tejgaon district. “In overpopulated Bangladesh it is really tough for the government to offer medical services to everyone,� said ABCD secretary, Dr Edward Pallab Rozario. “Private doctors need to vices.� According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the country’s medical practitioners are capable of serving only 54 percent of the country’s more than 152 million people.

There are 0.28 registered doctors per 1,000 people in Bangladesh, according to the ABCD. “I feel every doctor, government or private, should have some social responsibility,� Dr Rozario said. “The government spends so much money in the making of a doctor. Besides professional services, they need to pay back the debt by helping the government.� ABCD was set up in 2008 with support from the Catholic Bishops’ Episcopal Commission for Health Care. It has 85 members. ABCD organises free medical camps and distributes free medicine to poor and destitute people across the country throughout the year. „ UCANEWS.COM

10 ASIA

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

A painting of Blessed Pedro Calungsod shows him holding a palm frond. The young missionary catechist from Cebu, Philippines, was martyred in 1672 in Guam. He will become the second Philippine saint when he is canonised on Oct 21. CNS photo

Calungsod canonisation sparks visa requests MANILA – At least 3,000 people have asked for an endorsement from Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu to get a visa to Italy and attend the canonisation of Blessed Pedro Calungsod on Oct 21 this year. Archbishop Palma, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said he has signed so many endorsements, the Italian embassy in Manila has contacted him. “They said, ‘Archbishop you are signing too many endorsements,’� he said. “I said to them, ‘It’s my duty to sign, it’s your duty to screen.’� Archbishop Palma said he is not surprised that thousands of people want to attend the ceremony. “Over in Cebu, we usually say sainthood is ‘relative’. If you become a saint, you discover that you have many relatives.� He cited an 85-year-old man in Cebu who said he wanted to go to Rome, but his children told him he was too weak. But the man insisted that Blessed Calungsod is

a relative. “So now his children have to accompany him,� said Archbishop Palma. Historical records, however, do not mention Blessed Calungsod’s exact place of origin. He is = ^ = refers to a native of Borneo. state that the future saint may have come from one of several places: Ginatilan in Cebu, Hinunangan and Hinundayan in Southern Leyte, the Molo district of Iloilo, or Loboc in Bohol. The Cebu prelate said the Filipino faithful who cannot get to Rome can attend a national celebration in Cebu on Nov 30. “That day, as a nation, we will thank the Lord for this new saint,� Archbishop Palma said. Blessed Calungsod was born in 1654. He was doing missionary work in Guam in 1672 when " + in 2000 and will be proclaimed a saint in the Vatican. „ UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Priest doubts Developments in HK govt’s stance blasphemy case ‘will on education boost public trust’

+ /* / 4 5 ; # <

# # Photo: UCANEWS.COM HONG KONG – A Franciscan priest

has warned that a statement from the Hong Kong chief executive on a national education course was potentially misleading. “It’s merely an adjustment to the timetable rather than a policy change,� Fr Stephen Chan, ecclesiastical adviser to the Hong Kong diocese Justice and Peace Commission, told ucanews.com on Sept 10. The Hong Kong government on Sept 8 said it was scrapping its three-year deadline for local schools to introduce a new Moral and National Education course. The announcement led to the ‡` = led protest against the subject’s introduction. The protesters say the content of the course is excessively nationalistic and presents a sanitised version of Chinese history. Government Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told a press conference that schools and schoolsponsoring bodies would have full

autonomy to decide when and how to introduce the subject, if at all. Fr Chan said he believed the government would lobby schools and their sponsors to launch the subject using threats and incentives, and advised protesters to prepare for a long campaign. About 286,000 people took part in the 10-day sit-in outside the government headquarters, with numbers reaching an estimated peak of 120,000 on Sept 7. Wearing black T-shirts, the crowd shouted slogans and crossed their arms to symbolise their rejection of the education plan. Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired bishop of Hong Kong, joined the protest on Sept 7 and conveyed his support to 14 students and others who had gone on hunger strike. “I hope the young people will remain calm and not escalate their action,� he said. “If the government wants to use a delaying tactic, then we have no choice but to prolong [the protest],� he said. „ UCANEWS.COM

VATICAN CITY – The recent turn of events surrounding a blasphemy case against a Christian Pakistani girl “will boost public trust in the judiciary of this country� said her lawyer. '/ accuser has been arrested. We thank clerics, media and the nation for supporting the cause,� said Mr Tahir Naveed Chaudhry who is representing Rimsha Masih. She was granted bail on Sept 7 after three weeks in police custody. Investigations continue both into accusations that Rimsha burned pages of the Qur’an – a violation of Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws – as well as into the actions of Muslim cleric Jadoon Chishti, who was taken into police custody on Sept 2 after being accused of planting the pages of the Qur’an and burned pieces of paper in the girl’s bag. The case has led to more calls, including from mainstream Muslim clerics and scholars, to at least add “safeguards against the abuse of the blasphemy laws�, Mr Peter Jacob, executive secretary of the Pakistani bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace, told Vatican Radio. Rimsha had been in police custody since Aug 18. Her parents said she is 11 years old and has Down syndrome. A court appointed physician reported she was about 14 and is developmentally delayed. The girl was released on Sept 9. Mr Jacob said the bail was high by Pakistan’s standards and certainly beyond the means of Rimsha’s family, but donations

! " # $ % ' ! # * ! CNS photo

were expected to cover it. Granting bail was “not a charitable gesture� on the part of the court, he said, and the simple fact that “for three weeks a child was kept in custody� raised questions about the Pakistani justice system, he said.

The case has led to more calls, including from mainstream Muslim clerics and scholars, to at least add ‘safeguards against the abuse of the blasphemy laws’,

The judge, who ordered the girl’s release on a bail of about US$5,282 (S$6,525), said there X tify continuing to hold Rimsha Masih in jail. However, the case against her was not dismissed. A central executive committee member of the All Pakistan Minority Alliance, a Christian political party, said there were still fears for Rimsha’s safety. “An accused usually leaves the city after being charged with such serious allegations [especially ones] which deal with religious sentiments,� he said. “Even judges and lawyers face threats. Likewise, we shall move the family to a safe location.� „ CNS

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

to comply with global norms VATICAN CITY – In an effort to comply more fully with interna cial criminal activity, the Vatican has hired an expert in combating = terrorism. } \ ^ ’` = old Swiss international lawyer, started working as a consultant to the Vatican in September on “all matters related to anti-money laun ‚ Vatican Radio reported on Sept 11. Mr Brulhart’s “role is to assist the Holy See in strengthening " crimes�, the broadcast reported. Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said in a written statement that the hire is “a powerful sign of [the Vatican’s] commitment to work in this direction�. = experts released in July said the ‹ X

= transparent and compliant with international norms. But the report by Moneyval – the Council of Europe’s Committee

of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism – said there were still critical loopholes that needed tightening and other “important issues� to be addressed. For example, the committee ‹  oversight agency, the Financial Information Authority, lacked adequate legal powers and the independence necessary to monitor, inspect and sanction all Vatican agencies and foundations based in Vatican City State that have transactions. Mr Brulhart is vice-chair of the global Egmont Group network, which brings together national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) that collect and analyse information on suspicious or unu = = then be passed on to law enforce + He is also head of the Liechtenstein delegation to Moneyval and coordinator of the Liechtenstein Task Force on Countering the Financing of Terrorism. „ CNS

Pope is 1st in line to sign up for World Youth Day 2013 VATICAN CITY – Germans are

known for being punctual, so perhaps it should be no surprise that ! ^ œ‹ person who signed up for World Youth Day 2013. \ = on Aug 28, and, according to or be registered for the event, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro from July 23-28 next year. Organisers said that more than 220 groups of young people €’ registration opened. Pilgrims from the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Aruba and the United Arab Emirates were among

= + Groups of up to 50 people are encouraged to book early, organisers said. Registration should be done ‘•Œ \ 2013 website, www.rio2013.com. The missionary outreach of young people is set to be a key focus of next year’s gathering, as the theme is from the Gospel of St Matthew, “Go and make disciples of all nations!� The opening Mass, the papal welcoming ceremony and the Way of the Cross celebration will be held at Copacabana beach, according to organisers. The youth vigil and closing Mass will be held at the city’s Santa Cruz military air base. „ CNS

US courts urged not to dismiss lawsuits against contraceptive mandate WASHINGTON – In a dozen courts around the country, attorneys rep ’` briefs arguing against the federal government’s call to dismiss lawsuits against its contraceptive mandate. The Catholic entities are seeking to overturn a requirement that most religious employers provide contraceptives and sterilisation to their employees. / Aug 27 were in response to an Aug 6 brief in which the Obama administration asked the courts to summarily dismiss the suits, saying they were premature and that the plaintiffs had no standing to challenge the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) mandate. “This case is about important rights to religious freedom protected by our founders under the First Amendment, assured by Congress under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but trampled by Defendants under haphazard rule-making,� says the ™| the University of Notre Dame. Forty-three Catholic dioceses, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other institutions = on May 21 to stop three government agencies from implementing a mandate that would require them to cover contraceptives and sterilisation in their health plans. The Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, and Catholic Charities of Chicago X + Catholic organisations have X mandate since it was announced on Aug 1, 2011, by Ms Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary. Unless

Ms Mary Diglio of St Dominic Parish in Oyster Bay, New York, holds a sign while participating in a Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally in New York on March 23. Catholic dioceses and institutions in the US are now seeking to overturn a requirement that most religious employers provide contraceptives and sterilisation to their employees. CNS photo

= X gious exemption or have a grandfathered health plan, employers will be required to pay for sterilisations and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, as part of their health coverage. = # Œ = € ’``

= continents, the dioceses and Catholic institutions rebut arguments that the courts should not hear the cases because a “temporary enforcement safe harbour� protects them from immediate government action against them if they fail to comply with the mandate. In addition, the government ar date will likely be amended before it takes effect in August 2013. The University of Notre Dame argues in its brief that the federal government’s “plans to make

= ment to the US government mandate does not deprive Notre Dame of its ability to challenge the law as it exists now, particularly where, as here, it is imposing both imminent and current harms�. ‘ ’ ~`` employees, the university could face approximately US$9 million <>�‡‡ { = } # " * ”ecutive vice president of the univeristy. The school has already placed US$1 million in reserve

= with the mandate, he said. In a similar brief, the Archdiocese of Washington said it could = —>�‡’~ million a year, “simply for practising our faith�, or could be forced

’ ``` =ees and their dependents. „ CNS

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Pope laments Mid-East crisis ahead of Lebanon trip VATICAN CITY – Less than a week before travelling to Lebanon > ‡’ ! ^ œ‹ voiced solidarity with victims of war in the Middle East and called for continuing efforts to bring peace to the region. ' the many Middle Eastern people who are every day immersed in sufferings of every kind,� the pope said on Sept 9, after praying the Angelus with pilgrims at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo, southeast of Rome. The pope expressed concern = ' search of a peaceful place, leave their family and professional life and experience the precariousness of being exiles�. “We must not resign ourselves to the violence and aggravation of tensions,� the pope said. “Commitment to dialogue and reconciliation should be a priority for all the parties involved, and should be supported by the international community.� Pope Benedict was scheduled to visit Lebanon from Sept 14-16

tions on the 2010 special Synod of Bishops, which was dedicated to Christians in the Middle East. He is also expected to meet with rep-

resentatives of local Christian and Muslim communities, and address political and cultural leaders. The visit occurs against the backdrop of unrest in neighbouring Syria, where soldiers have been battling forces seeking an end to the rule of President Bashar Assad, leaving thousands

I understand the ‘ anguish of the many Middle Eastern people who are every day immersed in sufferings of every kind.

’

– Pope Benedict XVI after praying the Angelus with pilgrims at the papal summer villa ' > " # Q

of civilians dead and displacing hundreds of thousands of refugees since March 2011. The pope’s remarks in Lebanon are likely to mention, or at least allude to, other regional con + Recently, the Lebanon-based leader of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church released his prepared

'[ # \ ]^ " # _ # # 4 # # # " # `_/`j { ! CNS photo

welcoming remarks for the pope, including a call for the Vatican to use its “moral and diplomatic leadership� in support of “international recognition of the Palestinian state�. According to the remarks by

! * ognition “would be the most precious good that could be won for the Arab world in all its Christian and Muslim denominations�. The Vatican maintains dip-

lomatic relations with the Palestine Liberation Organisation and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state as part of a com ! + „ CNS

‘Religion in Arab Spring should promote dignity’ VATICAN CITY – Religious com-

munities can assist the North African and Middle Eastern prodemocracy movements by upholding human dignity and not trying to claim power for one religion or one movement within a ‹ said. Comboni Fr Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, secretary of the ! gious Dialogue, represented the ‹ on Sept 7-8 on The Arab Awakening and Peace in the New Middle East: Muslim and Christian Perspectives. He told participants at the conference, sponsored by Mar — = democracy presumes respect for human rights, including the right to freedom of religion and worship. ' able democracy to take hold in the fabric of society in the Arab world, the hope is that it will lead to greater consideration of these basic rights,� Fr Ayuso said. A hopeful sign, he said, was the publication in January of a “bill of rights of basic liberties� by Muslim scholars at Al-Azhar

In the growing ‘efforts to enable democracy to take hold in the Arab world, the hope is that it will lead to greater consideration of basic rights.

’

= + % * > ? * ' for Interreligious Dialogue

Syrian refugees walk through the Za’atri refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq on Aug 30. The Vatican’s diplomatic efforts are focused on # # Syria’s multiethnic and multireligious character. CNS photo

University in Cairo. The document encouraged recognition of the freedoms of worship, opin and creative expression in new constitutions throughout the Arab world. The 2011 Arab Spring movements led to democratic elections in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt

parties won the most votes. The risk with democracy, Fr Ayuso said, is that it “potentially could be used to legitimate extremist and fundamentalist ideologies�, " not only for the Christian minorities, but also for moderate Muslims. The role of religion, he said, is to nourish an atmosphere of

respect for all men and women created by God and endowed with equal dignity, rights and responsibilities. Fr Ayuso also spoke about the ongoing violence in Syria in his interview with Vatican Radio and at the conference. The Vatican’s diplomatic efforts in that case are focused on negotiated settlement, preserving Syria’s multiethnic and multireligious character and getting the Syrian government to recognise the international community’s le

a potential source of instability to the entire region, he told Vatican Radio. He told the conference that Syrian Christians want to live in peace and harmony with their fellow citizens, but they are “naturally fearful that the growing violence, destruction and displacement, the continuing loss of life, endangers not just Christians, but all Syrians, regardless of their ethnicity or religion�. Concerns over a future of peace for Christians in the region sage for the international prayer for peace gathering sponsored by the Rome-based Community of Sant’Egidio in Sarajevo, BosniaHerzegovina, on Sept 9-11. Writing in the name of Pope ^ œ‹ / sio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, said, “The threat of terrorism continues, many wars bloody the earth, violence against one’s brothers and sisters seems to have no end.� The pope’s “hope is that those lands, and all lands needing reconciliation and tranquility, will Q " = ” stability and respect for human rights�. „ CNS

14 WORLD

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Church ‘200 years behind time’: late cardinal VATICAN CITY – An eminent biblical scholar and former archbishop of Milan gave a scathing critique of the Church before his death. In a newspaper interview granted less than a month before his death on Aug 31, Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini lamented that the Church was “200 years behind� the times, with an “aged� culture enervated by its material wealth in Europe and America. He told the Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera that the Church was attached to “pompous� rites and externals, while suffering a lack of vocations and of “heroes� such as the late Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador. The paper published the interview the following weekend. Asked what the Church could do to overcome these problems, the cardinal suggested Pope Benedict XVI make unconventional appointments – “men close to the poorest people and surrounded by young people and who experience new

things� – to key leadership posts in the Vatican. The cardinal also said the clerical sex abuse scandal should lead the pope and hierarchy to take up a “radical path of change�, includ " ments of the Church’s teaching on sexual morality, which the cardinal suggested now falls largely on deaf ears. He stressed the importance of ordinary Catholics knowing the Bible. And he argued for relaxing strictures against divorced and

remarried persons receiving the Eucharist. The interview made headlines around the world. Although Catholics would differ over the cardinal’s thinking, what is clear – from Pope Benedict XVI and other dignitaries, as well nal’s body at the rate of 6,000 an ˜ manded love and respect. In a message read at Cardinal Martini’s funeral on Sept 3 in Milan’s cathedral, the pope praised him as a “generous and faithful pastor of the Church� who not only studied the Bible “but loved it intensely and made it the light of his life�. The mourners inside the cathedral included dozens of cardinals and bishops, hundreds of priests, and representatives of Orthodox and other Christian Churches, as well as the Jewish and Muslim communities. The former Archbishop of Milan was known to be a very care-

Italian Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini gave an interview to a Milan newspaper before his death. The much-respected churchman was an advocate of wider discussion on some delicate Church issues.

ful, thoughtful advocate of wider discussion on some delicate and controversial Church positions. At times, he expressed openness to the possibility of allowing married Latin-rite priests under certain circumstances, ordaining women as deacons and allowing Communion for some divorced Catholics in subsequent marriages not approved by the Church. During a special Synod of Bishops for Europe in 1999, he made waves when he proposed a new Church-wide council or assembly to unravel “doctrinal and disciplinary knots� such as the shortage of priests, the role of women, the role of laity and the discipline of marriage. His carefully worded remarks ” cise of collegiality or the shared

responsibility of bishops for the governance of the Church. In a 2008 book-length interview titled Nighttime Conversations in Jerusalem, Cardinal Martini said Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life), trol was morally wrong, led many Catholics to distance themselves from the Church and from listening to and being challenged by the Catholic vision of human sexuality. ‘ = ing the morality of contraception, the cardinal said the Church needed to take a more pastoral approach to questions of sexuality. “The Church should always treat questions of sexuality and the family in such a way that a leading and decisive role is up to the responsibility of the person who loves,� he said. „ CNS

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Don’t take a vacation from protecting environment: Vatican

VATICAN CITY – Going on vaca-

tion must not be an occasion to relax one’s commitment to saving energy and protecting the environment, the Vatican said. Tourism can have “a serious environmental impact owing, among other factors, to the immoderate consumption of energy resources� and an increase in pollution and waste, said a message ! Migrants and Travellers. The message, released by the Vatican on July 25, was written in preparation for the observance of World Tourism Day on Sept 27, an event promoted by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and supported by the Vatican. The theme is Tourism & Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. While acknowledging that people are becoming more aware of their responsibility to care for the earth, the message said it is also true that people risk setting aside their ecological sensitivities while on vacation “in a search for certain comforts to which we believe we are entitled, without always re Q ‚+ “It is necessary to cultivate the ethics of responsibility and prudence and to ask ourselves about

Tourists climb onto a glacier in Peru. The Vatican has urged support for tour # * 5 | [ *

Q our actions,� the message said. / the importance of tourism for global economic health and development, saying the World Tourism Organisation estimates that one billion people will travel internationally in 2012 and that the number of international travellers is likely to double by 2030. With so many people on the move around the globe, the council said, each tourist must show con-

cern for his or her impact on the environment and on the Earth’s future. / ‹ support of tourist programmes

= least environmental impact possible, and favour the use of renewable energy sources. “In this regard, it is fundamental for the ecclesial tourism structures and vacation proposals promoted = among other things, by their respect for the environment,� it said. „ CNS

16 OPINION/COMMENTARY

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

The importance of faithfulness vs fruitfulness

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: ¢ + +

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

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

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

! = + all letters to the editor. Published submissions will be edited.

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

COMMENTARY

‘US politics should be transformed by faith’ Carl Anderson, of the Knights of Columbus, suggests how to bring the new evangelisation to the American public arena CNS photo

/ • = " + ” = = = ˜ = = political discourse, too often marred = = + In this effort, two themes from Pope Benedict’s message announc • + = „ ' = + =

" + +++ = act, also demands social responsi = +‚ Second, he called on Catho lics to redouble their commitment

=„ ' = ‚ + > " =

= + Often, we see that commenta tors and politicians don’t see the + / = = + The result is an almost endless =

" = + X = ˜ " = = ˜  + – ˆ } ‡` = = ' ‚ + Q = the problem is getting worse, and X = harming our political process. But we need not accept this Q ' ‚+ Now numbering one in four =Â

% * ; < % % * session of the Republican National Convention in Florida on Aug 30. Mr Ryan is a Catholic and a six-term congressman from Wisconsin.

+ = ˜ = + this reason, the Knights of Colum = ica petition, asking politicians and the media to focus on debates on issues and policies rather than on personal attacks. / = ÂŒ ÂŁ ƒ • "¤ " dential candidates and their run ning mates to sign it, joining the more than one million members of the Knights of Columbus and €~ ``` cans supporting it. Such a project is consistent with the best of Catholic thought. / = * >

'‰ = mind, that among her enemies lie hidden those who are destined to ¥ = think it a fruitless labour to bear what

= = +‚ We are called to public wit ness in all circumstances. = = tion, when St Paul preached to the „

+ /

„ = = = + ‘ Œ = = \ Œ descendant of the apostles is once again bringing Christ’s message into the halls of power. / = ˜ = ˜ is endless. In what is becoming an = = ˜ =

" ˜ = + ^= = = Œ Q > ! + ^= = = = attainable. „ the Columbia magazine of the Knights of Columbus.

MOST of us are good at grumbling. Whether the subject be the weather, the performance of Team GB (Great Britain) or the foibles of our nearest =

= + — = = + > + ” + = + By Sr Catherine – = Wybourne = + ‰

# = # =

X = + ” = + / saints know how to deal with that kind of temptation; the rest of us don’t. / – =

= failure. When Team GB athletes won a bronze medal, one BBC in

= =  + = = + / " " = = ” = + " = " =+ * X " Q =+ intelligent, successful in her job, etc, etc. / =  = = + / " " his life perfect. The idea of his entering into her plans did not seem to feature. = = = Q = + =

Â&#x; + ‹ = = Â&#x; X = = + / Â

„

= + = = " = =  + – =+ But what about failure, how do we cope with that? When we ' = ‚ Â

" – = ” </ *^ { <ƒ  ' ‚ ŒX " +{ /

= " + ‘ ™`` = " Q = < = { X " ÂĄ ing contest. ƒ = + " =Š

+ # * = = Q = = = + ƒ # = + ^ = = = + / = + = =

+ = = + " + — =  =   „

OPINION 17

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

LISTENING to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally Speech on Aug 26, I was really struck by his assertion that Singapore would need to seize opportunities and reinvent itself to progress in the next 20 years. Pope Benedict in his Apostolic Exhortation Porta Fidei (the Door of Faith) for the Year of Faith (October 2012-November 2013) makes the opposite assertion for the Church: that we are not so much creating a new identity for the Church as we are to “rediscover�, “re-invigorate�, and “repropose� an authentic Christian faith, especially to itself as well as to the world. It seems both Church and civil authority are in need of a refocusing to what is truly a worthy goal to live for. One wonders whether the Church can offer Singapore some crucial insights to the serious issues that she faces. The Prime Minister went on to invite Singaporeans to build a more gracious and inclusive Singapore using three key themes – hope, home and heart. From a Christian perspective these three realities are very rich in biblical + They are realities that all of us yearn for in daily life; they spring from the human heart and yet we insist as Christians that their origin and goal is of God. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), states that the desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only * happiness he never stops searching for. (CCC n. 27) If we take this statement seriously then the Prime Minister’s vision of a Singapore where we can foster hope for a home that really has heart cannot be a merely human project that can be achieved through material innovations. As the Prime Minister himself has said before, it’s not just hardware we need, we need software too! So that the machine can work! The national conversation on Singapore in the next lap should become an invitation to all persons of goodwill (Christian and { deeply on what makes life truly human and worth living for. For instance our dreams of a more inclusive and accepting Singapore must be consistent with our laws and policies. While we appeal to Singaporeans to have more children and welcome the migrants must we not also advocate a repealing of the legalisation of abortion? It is not consistent that we on one hand claim that we cherish family life and foreigners but on the other reject the children that God sends. Pragmatism has failed us be-

sometimes wonder ‘Iwhether we in the Church have hardened our hearts to the simple needs of people in favour of complex theological ideas.

’

– Fr Erbin Fernandez

cause it does not take into account the complex reality that is the human person. Pragmatism impoverishes and reduces the needs of the human person to the physical. Pragmatism does try to answer the question of the human spirit but in = Š peals to the emotions or the will at best (civic-mindedness). Whether one is Christian or not, we all have a heart that needs to be attended to in a more con + / the “dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place ‘to which I withdraw’. “The heart is our hidden centre, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.� (CCC n. 2563) I sometimes wonder whether we in the Catholic Church have hardened our hearts to the simple needs of people in daily life in favour of complex theological ideas, liturgical rubricism and disembodied spirituality. Indeed in the recent document on the Synod for the New made about what Christianity is:

| " # !

# # * * €

“The Christian faith is not simply teachings, wise sayings, a code of morality or a tradition. The Christian faith is a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ.� (Instrumentum laboris, n. 18)

Singaporeans can also learn to hope and trust in others, especially non-Singaporeans, because none of us is perfect and we all need one another to build a true home.

As a Church we need to rediscover a more integrated Christianity that helps persons live joyfully in the world – a faith that allows us to embrace the trials of life with = " Christian martyrs. Our homilies need not only appeal to the mind alone but must also move the heart of a person to give them an authentic sense of hope. / ' theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit�. (CCC n. 1817) How can a non-Christian appreciate the theological virtue of hope? I have experienced how agnostics who are dealing with serious addictions profess belief in a Higher Power (a God of their own understanding) just so that they can admit that they are powerless over their lives and need to hand over their will and life to Another. This other could be their regular fellowship of recovering ad + / = = to rely on others for help. Day by day they learn humility, acceptance and surrender. They learn to live +

The CCC describes the Church as a home for “the great number of single persons who, because of the particular circumstances in which they have to live – often not of their choosing – are especially close to Jesus’ heart and therefore deserve the special affection and active solicitude of the Church, especially of pastors. “Many remain without a human family often due to conditions of poverty. Some live their situation in the spirit of the Beatitudes, serving God and neighbour in exemplary fashion. The doors of homes, the ‘domestic churches’, and of the great family which is the Church must be open to all of them. ‘No one is without a family in this world: the Church is a home and family for everyone, especially those who ‘labour and are heavy laden’. � (CCC n. 1658) Again in Singapore, the home we want to create is not merely a space where there is absence of truly dialogue with our diversity that leads to authentic communion. I begin to wonder whether we as a Church have failed to be really witnesses to what authentic community is. Have we too become victims of the pragmatic mind-set that we have reduced our Christianity to civil religion? Indeed, the Year of

Faith invites the Church to a profound self-examination of conscience on this point. Again the document on the New Evangelisation asks a very pertinent question: “Whether the lack of effects in evangelisation today, as well as in catechesis in modern times, is primarily the result of ecclesial and spiritual factors. This concerns the Church’s ability to live as a real community, as a true brotherhood and as a Living Body and not simply a human establishment.� (Instrumentum laboris n. 39) Do we really live an authentic Christian life in our communities? Is there genuine conversion taking place that helps people realise there is more to life than just work? Singaporeans are always looking for authentic experiences of community where they can relax and feel their humanity again. If the Church is not a “home and family for everyone� then persons will once again turn to material reality in order to quench

happiness. We need to think how we can create simple moments of encounter between Church and society that enrich our lives. As we enter this Year of Faith, let us be less concentrated on ourselves inwardly as a Church in the midst of the rapid changes already taking place in society and more engaged in proclaiming the faith to others in simple ways that they can understand and appreciate. „ Fr Erbin Fernandez is archdiocesan catechetical director

18 CATECHETICAL FEATURE

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

‘I want to go for catechism!’ Catechesis in the archdiocese has been undergoing renewal over the years By Jane Lau “MUMMY, I want to go for catechism!� After years of children complaining about catechism being boring, what has changed in some parishes? Over the last three years, catechesis has been undergoing a process of renewal in the archdiocese. Twelve parishes have started using the new primary curricu – at the Singapore Pastoral Institute (SPI). Another nine churches will start the new syllabus in 2013. Feedback from catechists using the new programme is that children are now “excited and engaged� and “show a keen interest during sessions�. A new Secondary One (Level 7) programme will also be used in nine parishes next year. To help catechists, SPI has introduced: % Training courses for catechetical coordinators % Basic catechist Course Lev ‡ ˜ > ‰ urgy and Catechetical Methodology % Basic catechist Course ‰ < – €`‡€{ ˜ Catholic Social Teachings, Theology of the Body, Church History, Scripture II and Evangelisation and Mission. % Retreats, workshops, annual Day of Recollection / – also taken on the running of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd training since last year. –

CATECHISTS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS

Signs and symbols

A catechist presents the Parable of the Good Shepherd.

archdiocesan-wide Catechetical Awareness weekend on Sept 22 and 23. The aim of this weekend is to update parents and other parishioners of the changes in catechesis as well as recruit potential catechists. This weekend was chosen as it is close to the Feast of Blessed Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert and Blessed Jacques-HonorĂŠ Chastan, French missionaries who taught at the College General seminary in Malaysia from 1820-1830. They were martyred in Korea. We remember these men who helped bring the faith to so many in our region and take them as an example of catechesis and Christian discipleship.

‘ – rolled out an ambitious plan to renew the way catechesis was = be trained. We were introduced to many new terms and concepts. There was a paradigm shift in our direction and our role as a catechist. First, our focus was to let the children have an intimate lasting relationship with the Lord, to fall in love with God! The catechists are the facilitators of this encounter as we have only one Teacher, Jesus Himself. The classroom would be transformed into a prayer space. Each lesson would be called a session. We would also re-introduce the signs and symbols of our faith to the young people, using presentations and para-liturgies to “break open� the Word of God. Catechists would also ask “won-

der questions� to allow the young answers for themselves. It has been almost two years since we introduced these changes. It was really an uphill task at the beginning with the greatest put together the session plans. The whole curriculum now level to the next. I feel this new curriculum is also more suitable to our local context and addresses issues that were missing before. At the end of the day, we want to create memories for the young people, to allow them to fall in love with God, to have a close and personal encounter with Him, thus building a lasting relationship in their faith journey in life. Rosaline Chang Church of Divine Mercy

Letting go, letting God

A pre-schooler working with catechetical materials.

Amidst of all these changes, we catch up with three catechists < other stories). „ The writer is the coordinator for parish catechesis.

Through our courses with the Singapore Pastoral Institute, my fellow catechists and I (re)discovered two key sources for catechet ˜ > Church’s language of signs. Readings from the Bible have become the core of our sessions. We also draw richly from the signs which Jesus used during His time ˜ * Shepherd, and many more. Our = and discover for themselves what these biblical signs represent. While I was inspired by the shift in catechetical focus, there

was some degree of fear and uncertainty. Will our youths be able to connect with the presentations? ‘ = posefully? Are the sessions relevant to them? Let go and let God. That was the most important lesson I learnt. The initial signs are encouraging. Some of our young people have shared how catechetical sessions on God’s love for them. What greater joy can a catechist have than to see our youth fall in love with God! Charlene Chua Church of St Vincent De Paul

Kids’ religious potential The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) course opened my eyes to the fact that children as young as three (or perhaps even younger), already have an enormous “religious potential� for faith formation. CGS changed my perception of what I was supposed to “teach� my children. There was a lot of un-learning involved. Initially thinking I would be the teacher in a catechism session, CGS has shown me that only Christ is the teacher, and that I listen to Him together with the children. I discovered with great delight that the young pre-schoolers had a lot more to share with me about God then what I had to impart to them. Their joyous response to the

Good Shepherd made me realise what it means to be childlike and totally dependent on my Creator. This form of catechesis also focuses on the Liturgy, guiding the child to the full appreciation of what we celebrate by explaining the signs and symbols of what we see at the Eucharist. As many of the materials need to be hand-made, CGS has even helped me discover the joy of working with my hands: sandpapering, sewing, sculpting clay, painting, papier-mache. All these foster concentration, silence and contemplation, aspects we encourage in the atrium, the prepared environment where catechesis takes place. ! " # "

To enquire about the courses offered by the Catechetical

TALKING POINT 19

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Was she saintly or simply foolish? CatholicNews recently posted on its Facebook page the following article published in the British Catholic publication, Catholic Herald. We invited readers to comment on this story (condensed here due to space) written by a lay member of the Dominican Order and Emeritus Professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy at the University of Bristol: Ms Chiara Petrillo was a 28-year-old Italian mother who apparently refused life-saving cancer treatment that would have damaged or destroyed her baby. Her baby, Francesco, was born perfectly well. Chiara died. Chiara’s funeral took place a few days ago in Rome. But =+ } womb to be terribly disabled. Chiara and her husband Enrico refused repeated advice to abort Maria. The baby lived for 30 minutes, and was baptised, loved and mourned. Chiara and Enrico’s next baby, David, was found in the womb to have no legs. Further complications followed and once more he died soon after birth. Then Chiara became pregnant with Franc + month to have cancer, but she would not accept any treatment that would harm her baby. Sometimes love is like that. But in terms of Catholic moral theory Chiara was not obliged to refuse life-saving treatment. If treatment is given with the intention of saving the life of a mother, where the completely unintended result may nevertheless be to kill her unborn baby, it is morally acceptable. This is utterly different from killing the baby in order to save the mother. In the latter case one actually intends to kill the baby in order that the mother should live. Catholic moral theory, based on Natural Law, holds that it is never morally acceptable to kill an innocent person in order to help another. So if Chiara had un-

Catholic News’ Facebook post

dergone life-saving treatment and Francesco had unintentionally died in the womb, Chiara would not have been morally culpable. Of course, she would never have actually intended to kill her baby, even to save her own life. She would not have preferred that her baby die rather than she did herself, and accepted it as right under the circumstances, “the lesser of two evils�. But Chiara could have received treatment without at all intending to harm her baby. She could have done this without blame even if she knew that there was a good chance her baby would – barring a miracle – be killed as a result. So much for Catholic moral theory. And it seems to me in all of this it is correct and perfectly defensible. Yet it has to be admitted that other non-Catholic philosophers

Ms Chiara Petrillo was a 28-year-old Italian mother who apparently refused life-saving cancer treatment that would have damaged or destroyed her baby

have found something distinctly iffy about this reasoning. And if it is felt to be iffy then perhaps the iffyness lies not in its logic but in its psychology. If a mother knows she is pregnant, and if she is so full of love that she loves her unborn baby to the maximum, then psychologically even though in receiving life-saving treatment she might not intend the baby’s death still, knowing that the baby may be harmed or may die as a result of that treatment, her love may not let her do it. Still, can we – I mean we in “the modern world� – really approve of what Chiara did? We might admire her. But perhaps deep down we think she was a bit unwise, maybe even foolish. It seems to me that for a certain sort of Christian, too, Chiara probably made the wrong decision. For it is doing good that is the important thing for us, not dying. No, it is only for a particular type of Christian that Chiara’s story is one of supremely inspiring triumph. That Christian is the one who has a non-negotiable trust in God and who has complete moral certainty, a Christian who knows what they need to do and who submits themselves to it. Such a Christian sees nothing intrinsically frightening in death. „

Some of our Facebook users had this to say This lady is made of something else. No one would fault her if she undertook the treatment. Most of us would and I’d probably advise my wife to take as well, but she went above and beyond the call of duty and gave up her life so that her child would have the best chance of survival. She’s enjoying her reward in heaven now. Truly a saint in the making. Darren Tan Love by its very nature desires the good of another before self. And a mother who chooses to love her child with Christian heroism is beyond the judgment of anyone who " the comfortable safety of their own lives... The majority of people live

and love their Christian faith with the bare minimum of scrupulosity, doing just enough to get along. Saints love and live their Christian faith with heroic virtue, always seeking the greater good, indeed to give greater glory to God. While we do all we can to cling to our own lives, saints die to themselves so that they bring forth new life. That is why the Church holds them up as shining examples of generous love. Thomas Tan ^ cult as it is, let alone having lost not one but two babies. She has been through the pain twice of not being able to hold her baby and for the third time, when the test was at its peak and the baby is

healthy... God bless your soul for I think you have made the right choice for you are truly a saint! Pru Fyfe Perhaps more comparable is St Maximilian Kolbe, who did not have to give his life [but gave it anyway] in exchange for that of his fellow Auschwitz prisoner sentenced to starvation. But true love always goes beyond the bare minimum required of us by the moral law. Truly what the Church proclaims him to be: a Martyr of Charity. Michael Cyssel Wee To view and comment on our Facebook page go to: http://www. facebook.com/TheCatholicNews/ posts/405887359468087

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Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

me, receives not me but the One who sent me.� Then John asked Jesus a quesWhen Jesus was traveling with His apostles to Capernaum, He heard tion. “Teacher, we saw someone them talking and getting angry with driving out demons in your name, each other. When they arrived at their and we tried to prevent him because destination, Jesus asked them “What he does not follow us.� Jesus answered, “Do not prevent were you arguing about on the way?� him. There is no one who performs They did not answer, but Jesus knew they had been arguing about which a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. of them was the most important. So Jesus told His friends to sit For whoever is not against us is for down next to Him and He said, “If us. Anyone who gives you a cup of = water to drink because you belong the last of all and the servant of all.� to Christ, amen, I say to you, will Since they were guests in a house surely not lose his reward.� Then Jesus added a warning that had children in it, Jesus asked one of the children to come over to about what might happen to those Him. He put His arms around the who were not kind to children. child and said, “Whoever receives “Whoever causes one of these litone child such as this in my name, tle ones who believe (in me) to sin, receives me; and whoever receives it would be better for him if a great By Joe Sarnicola

millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.� After leaving Capernaum, Jesus and His apostles went into Judea and across the Jordan River. As was often the case, many people gathered around Jesus in order to hear Him preach or to be healed by Him. When some of the people tried to bring their children to Jesus for a blessing, the apostles tried to stop them. This made Jesus angry. “Let the children come to me,� He

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

WORDSEARCH:

St Gerard Sagredo

„ APOSTLES „ ARGUING „ FIRST „ CHILDREN

Read more about it: Mark 9 and 10

Q&A 1. Why were the disciples arguing? 2. Who did Jesus say the kingdom of God belongs to?

„ JESUS „ FRIENDS „ SERVANT

Share your thoughts on this week’s Bible story with family and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: Why do you think the Bible readings are such an important part of Mass?

BIBLE TRIVIA: How many men did $ ! apostles?

Bible Accent:

Answers to Bible Trivia: 12 Answers to Puzzle: Matthew, Luke, James, Peter, Jude

‘ # ers, He could have gone to the temple and chosen some of the high priests or other religious leaders or even some of the scribes. Instead He sought out common workers, ” + When Jesus invited these men to join Him, they did not hesitate. They left what they were doing and immediately went with Him. Peter is certainly one of the most well-known of these + ‘ about him in the Book of Acts and also the books that bear his name. When Matthew, who was the tax collector, was called, the Pharisees wanted to know why Jesus would associate with “tax collectors and sinners�. Jesus replied it was the sinners He came to call. See Matthew 9. „

Kids Club:

PUZZLE: Put an X next to the names of books that are from the New Testament.

„ Matthew „ Isaiah „ Paul „ Luke „ Amos „ James „ Malachi „ Peter „ David „ Jude

Answers to Crossword Puzzle

Gerard Sagredo (980-1046) joined a Benedictine monastery when he was a young man because he knew from an early age he wanted to serve the Lord with a ministry of some kind. While on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem he befriended Stephen, the king of Hungary, and became the tutor of the king’s son. Stephen established an episcopal see in Csanad, * + Even though most of the people in the area did not believe in God, Gerard’s preaching brought many of them into the church. However, after the death of King Stephen, the country fell back on its heathen roots and Christians were persecuted. Gerard himself was a target of the anti-Christian movement, and he died a brave martyr’s death. We honour him on Sept 24. „

„ CAPERNAUM „ IMPORTANT „ LAST

said. “Do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.� Then Jesus prayed over the children. „

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday September 23 2012 „ CatholicNews

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

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Tuesdays RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA 7.45-9.45pm: At Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea (10 Yishun St 22). E: rcia.olss@gmail.com Saturdays MANDARIN RCIA@NOVENA CHURCH 3.45-5.45pm: At Novena Church Peter Donders Room (300 Thomson Rd). Conducted by Sr Assunta Cheng. T: 9626 8546 (Alphonsus); E: alphs_cool@singnet.com.sg Sept 16 HOLY CROSS NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASS

11am: Married couples will learn how to use knowledge of their fertility to make decisions on whether to achieve or space out pregnancies, in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church via the Billings Ovulation Method. At Church of the Holy Cross. Register E: bern.and.matt@gmail.com Mondays Sept 17 to Nov 25 LANDINGS

adults aged 20-35 who are keen to understand more about their identity and deepen their understanding of self. Catholics are most welcome to attend along with their invited non-Christian friends. Tea and snacks will be provided by Verbum Dei Missionaries. At 73 Taman Mas Merah. Register T: 6274 0251, 9793 2605; E: verbumdeispore@yahoo.com.sg; W: http://www.verdumdeisingapore.org Oct 4 to Nov 8 COMMON SENSE PARENTING WORKSHOP

7.30-9.30pm: Developed by Boystown USA, this 6-session workshop will equip parents with effective techniques to address and improve their child’s behaviour as well as build good parentchild relationships. Cost: $150 (per person), $240 (couple). By Morning Star Community Services. At 4 Lor Low Koon. Register T: 6315 8812 (Shuba); E: programs@morningstar.org.sg Friday Oct 5 to Sunday Oct 7 MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Fri (8pm)-Sun (6pm): Rediscover and rejuvenate your marriage. By ME Singapore. At ME House. Register W: http://www.mesingapore.org Mondays Oct 8 to Dec 17 ALPHA COURSE

7.45-9.45pm: Relax, eat and share real-life stories. For everyone interested in discovering what Christianity means, deepening their relationship with Jesus, or exploring the meaning of life. At Church of St Bernadette AV Room 2nd Floor (12 Zion Rd). Register T: 9798 7788 (Richard), 8322 3536 (Andy); E: andy_lee_4health@yahoo.com

Friday Oct 12 to Sunday Oct 14 INDIVIDUAL GUIDED RETREAT

MEMORIAM | */ Anniversary In everlasting memory of

Fri (7pm)-Sun (4pm): A silent retreat to enable one to become more attentive to the presence of God in one’s life. Cost: $110 (non air-con room), $160 (air-con room). By Centre of Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Register by Oct 2 T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Saturday Nov 10 to Saturday Nov 17 MISSION AWARENESS PROGRAMME IN CHIANGMAI

Focus is on exploring a deeper understanding of mission and its relevance to oneself as a child of God, as well as personal spiritual + „ �_~` < lodging and meals). By Mission Awareness Group ACMA. Register by Oct 10 T: Aaron 9838 0123 (Aaron), 9757 3373 (Lyn) E: aarontns@gmail. com, chelailin@yahoo.com.sg; W: http://www.acma.sg Nov 29 to Dec 29 or Dec 2 to Dec 8 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 Wednesday December 5 to December 9 FAMILY MISSION TRIP

For young families with children aged 5-12. Spread joy and share Jesus with the in Tagaytay, Philippines. By Verbum Dei Singapore. Register T: 6274 0251; E: verbumdeispore@yahoo.com.sg

MARY THERESA PEREIRA R. PARANJOTY Departed: Sep 19, 1987 Departed: Aug 20, 1982 Softly within the Lord, at your passion shadows love did conquer fear, God gave a gentle call Now share With farewells left that triumph unspoken with his soul so dear Mum, you silently Banish his sorrow, left us all let your light shine Our hearts still ache O grant him pardon, with sadness and Jesus Saviour blest > And give his spirit light and endless rest. For what it means to love and miss you, Mass at Church of Mum St Teresa on No one will ever know. Sept 15 at 6.00pm. Sadly missed by Always with us in our hearts and prayers. daughter Ogin, sister Mary and loved ones.

8-10pm: For older teens and adults who > + 8 sessions. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Green House). Register T: 6280 0980; E: nativitysg@yahoo.com.sg

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8pm: Topic: My Vocation Story. Celebrant: Fr Donatien Davaine. At Church of the Holy Family Function Room (4th Floor) Friday Sept 28 to Sunday Sept 30 RETROUVAILLE

Fri (7.30pm)-Sun (5.30pm): If you are serious about making your marriage work, this programme is for you. By Retrouvaille Singapore. At ME House (201B Punggol 17th Avenue). Register T: 6749 8861; W: http://helpourmarriage.sg Sept 28 CHILDREN’S EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

7.45-9pm: For children, parents, catechists, adults who are keen to pray with children. By Archdiocesan CEA Ministry. At Church of the Holy Spirit. T: 9362 5408; E: childreneucharisticadora@gmail.com Sept 28 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS

8-9.30pm: Gather in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. With rosary, benediction. By Generation CHRIST! Ministry. At Church of St Ignatius St Francis Xavier Chapel Kingsmead Hall. E: gen.christ.ministry@gmail.com Saturdays Sept 29 to Nov 24 STAY CONNECTED – LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR

2.30-5.30pm: With stay-in weekend retreat from Nov 2-4. Cost: $40 (exclude retreat). By Praise@Work Community. Register T: 9750 5006 (Cat), 8344 2492 (Diane); E: pawliss2012@yahoo.com Sept 30 FOOD AND FAITH: WHO AM I?

1.30-4.30pm: An afternoon of discovery for non-Christian young

CLASSIFIED THANKSGIVING Thank you with all my heart Lord Jesus for answering my prayers and thank you Mother Mary and St Jude for your intercession. Please continue to bless my sister with a total and permanent healing. I humbly pray. Most in need of your mercy. Your ever grateful child.

I humbly thank you again, St Jude for interceding for me. My prayers are answered, I thank you deeply from my heart. Praise be to you and our Lord Jesus Christ! H Tham Dear St Jude, thank you for prayers of the dramatic, a sense of humour and a touch of the miraculous.

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ACROSS 1 “Whatever you ______ on earth will be bound in heaven‌â€? 5 The priest’s are anointed during ordination 10 Tiny climbers 14 Prime rating 15 Eleve’s place 16 Sulk 17 Draft picks 18 Gum 19 Liver hors d’oeuvre 20 Last letter in Paris 21 Wind direction 22 Book of the Bible 23 Former Russian rulers 26 Apostle to the Gentiles 28 Catholic activist, Dorothy _____ 29 What Mary was 33 “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor _____ nor gather into barns‌â€? (Mt 6:26) 35 Repasts 37 Org. concerned with leaks 38 Deborah sat under this tree (Judg 4:4–5) 39 An ocean (abbr.) 40 CC less than M 41 Former DRE 42 Leave quickly

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Sept 20 MASS FOR VOCATIONS

PATRICK BONG KHOY SIP Departed: Sep 23, 1995

Crossword Puzzle 1067

7.45-10pm: A process for lapsed Catholics to regain a personal conviction of their Catholic faith and to explore returning to the Church. By Landings. At Church of the Holy Spirit. Register T: 9688 0920 (Tony); E: returning@landings.org.sg Tuesdays Sept 18 to Nov 6 CONFIRMATION CLASS FOR ADULTS

Seventeen years have already passed since you left us to be with our Lord. During these years, we missed you so much but we know that you are safe with our Heavenly Father. You will always be remembered by your wife, daughters sons-in-law and grandchildren.

Seventeenth Anniversary In loving memory of

Thirtieth Anniversary In loving memory of

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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

44 Catholic bandleader, Lawrence ___ 45 Incomplete 47 Moo _____ pork 48 Luke has these with his Beatitudes 49 Sat 52 Phase 55 _____ Rho 57 “Gloria in excelsis _____� 59 Native American 60 Impassive 62 Ike’s ex 63 Leave out 64 Chicago Eight defendant 65 Arguing 66 Periscope part 67 Bulb numbers 68 Units of electrical resistance

22 They take solemn vows 24 Rib-giver 25 Knock vigorously 26 Old Testament hymn 27 To be unwell 30 OT book 31 Sacrament of the _____ 32 Pouch 33 Tiered shelves 34 She, in Paris 35 Magdalene and the sister of Martha 36 Airport letters 38 Letter letters 40 God, in ancient Rome 42 Carnegie, by birth 43 Cuban revolutionary

44 Catechism question: _____ made me? 46 140 character posts 47 The women brought these to anoint Jesus’ body 50 St. ___ Stein 51 Fabric of jeans 52 He says there is no God (Ps 53:1) 53 “Hey, don’t look _____!â€? 54 Parable of the §§§§§ 55 Joseph had a multi-colored one 56 Sword handle 58 Cereal food 60 Wind dir. 61 Time to eat 62 Lao-Tzu’s “wayâ€?

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1066 DOWN 1 Husband of Ruth 2 Bay 3 Of necessity 4 “_____ Kapital� 5 False teaching | / = 7 Facial feature 8 CCL + CCCI 9 Madrid mister (abbr.) ‡` / 11 Genesis skipper 12 Ballerina wear 13 Halt

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24 WORLD

Sunday September 23, 2012 „ CatholicNews

US Catholics post banners, hold prayers CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, USA – The Catholic dio-

cese of Charlotte posted two larger-than-life messages about the sanctity of life, marriage and religious liberty mere steps away from the site of the Sept 3-6 Democratic National Convention. The diocese suspended two banners on property at St Peter Catholic Church in Charlotte: one on St Peter’s administrative building and another on a large brick wall adjoining the church. A huge banner hung from St Peter’s administrative building, stating: “A Message from the Catholic Church: Religious Liberty, The Soul of Democracy.� Another banner posted on a large brick wall behind the church reads: “A Message from the Catholic Church: Protect the Unborn, Defend Marriage, Safeguard Religious Liberty.� The banners were meant to provoke dialogue and encourage said, during a time when the national spotlight would shine on Charlotte like never before – and where attention would especially be drawn near St Peter Church, the oldest Catholic church in the diocese and located in the heart of the convention area. Bishop Peter J Jugis of Charlotte was personally involved in the planning for the banners,

# " ' ' ' ‡ ' ˆ" ‰ [ ‡ ' CNS photo

# / [ { Š # * * ' ‡ ' ˆ" " # ` CNS photo

Cable Arena in Charlotte on Aug 31 for what was intended to be a peaceful, prayerful vigil in support of the right to life for the unborn and in memory of the 3,300 lives lost daily through abortion in the US.

They were met by a handful of people who wanted to keep abortion legal and who tried to drown out the prayer vigil with their shouts. / several pro-life demonstrations

along with diocesan pro-life director Maggi Nadol, diocesan spokesman David Hains and St Peter’s pastor, Jesuit Fr Pat Earl. “This is a wonderful opportunity for evangelisation,� Bishop Jugis said. Ms Nadol said she is excited about the banners and what impact they might have on visitors to Charlotte. Meanwhile, pro-life supporters gathered near Time Warner

wonderful opportunity ‘This isfora evangelisation. ’

= \ # 4 4 ' ‡ ' ˆ"

planned before and during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. More than 40 people gathered to pray the rosary at the beginning of the ecumenical vigil in front of the location where the convention was held. The twoand-a-half hour event was hosted by the Charlotte-based grassroots organisation America, Defend Life! and the Washington-based Christian Defense Coalition. “We are humbled to be able to offer a visual and symbolic expression of the damage caused by abortion in our country every day. At the same time, we are praying for the women and their children who have been bruised,� said Ms ^ * " America, Defend Life! The vigil participants were met by a handful of protesters carrying signs reading “Abortion on Demand and Without Apology� and shouting statements such as “Abortion is not murder! A foetus is not a baby until it is born!� The vigil participants, who were wearing “America, Defend Life!� T-shirts and holding rosaries and pro-life signs, prayed more loudly and spread out a bit more along the sidewalk so that their voices could be heard and their signs read by passersby. „ CNS

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

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