MARCH 23, 2014, Vol 64, No 06

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SUNDAY MARCH 23, 2014

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VOL 64

NO. 6

Pope urges prayers for Ukraine amid tensions

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VATICAN CITY – As uncertainty

Decision made at world council meeting

reigned in Ukraine and Russian troops appeared to have control of the Crimean peninsula, Pope Francis asked the world’s Christians to pray for Ukraine and urged the parties involved to engage in dialogue. “While I hope that all sectors of the country will endeavour to overcome misunderstandings and build the future of the nation together,â€? the pope said, “I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to support every initiative in favour of dialogue and harmony.â€? Speaking to tens of thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square for the recitation of the Angelus on March 2, he urged people to “pray for Ukraine, which is in a very delicate situationâ€?. After Russian troops entered Crimea, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, issued a statement saying, “We must stand up for our country, to be ready – if necessary Âą WR VDFULÂżFH RXU OLYHV LQ RUGHU WR protect the sovereign, free, indeSHQGHQW DQG XQLÂżHG VWDWH ´ A planned March 16 referendum on joining the Russian Federation, organised by pro-Russian authorities in Crimea, has sparked international condemnation. Meanwhile, Catholic clergy in Crimea have defended Ukraine’s right to self-determination. Bishops called for prayers for peace, but a priest in the naval port of Sevastopol said the families of Catholic troops serving with Ukrainian and Russian forces were “deeply confused and worriedâ€? about the military confrontation. Fr Jerzy Ziminski, rector of the St Clement, Pope and Martyr Parish in Sevastopol, told Catholic News Service that he had had no contacts with Russian commanders in the city, but said he had been “treated politelyâ€? and allowed

INSIDE S’pore couple leads Worldwide Marriage Encounter „ Page 5

Scoring in A Levels despite ADHD CJC student shares how he coped „ Page 6

ASIA ‘My pilgrimage to Indonesia’ Young Catholic shares his trip amidst erupting volcano „ Page 11

WORLD The joy of vocation Orthodox clergymen pray next to armed servicemen in Crimea on March 1. CNS photo

through by occupying Russian units when he visited Ukrainian troops on March 3 in their local barracks. Bishop Bronislaw Bernacki of Odessa-Simferopol, whose diocese includes the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, said Catholics believed “every nation has a right to decide about its own future� and were asking Christians worldwide to “fast and pray for peace�. Auxiliary Bishop Jacek Pyl, in a statement released by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, said, “We pray that the people, who for tens of years live in peace – do

QRW VWDUW ÂżJKWLQJ WRGD\ DQG WKDW WKH bloodshed of the kind we have seen in Kiev Maidan may be avoided here,â€? he added, referring to violence in Kiev’s Independence Square that led to the ouster of Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Oblate Fr Marcin Wrzos told Poland’s Catholic information agency, KAI, on March 5 that 5XVVLDQ Ă€DJV ZHUH Ă€\LQJ RQ PRVW municipal buildings in Crimea, although Ukrainian administrative RIÂżFHV ZHUH VWLOO IXQFWLRQLQJ QRUmally. He said he believed local inhabitants were generally “not

‘:H PXVW EH UHDG\ Âą LI QHFHVVDU\ Âą WR VDFULÂżFH our lives in order to protect the sovereign, IUHH LQGHSHQGHQW DQG XQLÂżHG VWDWH ’ – Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church

very interested� whether Crimea belonged to Ukraine or Russia. The priest said parish life was continuing normally, although more people had attended Mass and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation since the Russian intervention. After Russian troops entered Crimea, Major Archbishop Shevchuk appealed to European Union leaders and international Church bodies to show solidarity against Russia’s “invasion of Ukraine’s sovereign territory in violation of all agreements�, and warned that the disruption of peace and stability in his country could “destabilise the whole global security system�. He added that the “deep and sincere wish� of Ukrainians was for “fraternal and friendly relations with Russia�, and said he counted on foreign Churches not to “be indifferent�. „ CNS

Vatican issues letter for Year of Consecrated Life „ Page 15

POPE FRANCIS Pontiff gives yet another press interview Touches on sensitive issues „ Page 19

COMMENTARY Reaching out to those in failed marriages Church can do better in this area, says writer „ Page 21

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Young Catholics walk, pray for more vocations By Andrew Chng A sizable number of young people gathered at the doorstep of St Francis Xavier Major Seminary at 6am on March 1. Though their faces were covered with sweat and their feet in blisters, each one of them had a proud smile plastered on their face, triumphant at the challenge they had overcome. The 110 young people, aged 13 to 28, were participants of the Emmaus Walk, an event organised by the priests of the North District parishes. Starting from the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea at 11pm on Feb 28, the walk aimed to get participants to pray for vocations. Along the way, activities were carried out to help them understand the need for Christ in their lives, and they also prayed for the various kinds of vocations. However, the walk was not all about prayer and solemn silence. The participants were encouraged to use the opportunity to get to know one another, especially across the different parishes. Fr Emmanuel Danjoux, the youth spiritual director from the Church of Christ the King who also

joined in the walk, said that the “idea stemmed from wanting something different for our youths� and “to give them the experience of having time together as fellow Christians�. Led by North District youth spiritual director Fr Terence Pereira, the participants travelled in groups across Yishun, through Se-

HV VHL]HG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR ÂżQG out more about the different youth scenes. Through group activities, prayer, well as individual sharings during the walk, each participant was able to form new friendships with other young Catholics. Noelle Chan, 16, from the Church of Christ the King, said

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letar and Punggol, and ended their journey at the major seminary. They then had an exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for one another to continue their zeal for the Lord and to hear His call. The participants, many of whom never had the chance to interact with those from other parish-

that through the walk, “I understand this is how great our God is, His love makes us all one body.� Ariel Koh, 15, from the Church of St Anthony felt that “it was fun making new friends with youths from other parishes and knowing more about what they do in their own church�. „

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CHANCERY NOTICE February 28, 2014

APPOINTMENTS 1. Fr Gerard Weerakoon has been reappointed as a serving Member of the Board of Visitors for the SAF Detention Barracks for a 3-year term from 1st July 2014-30 June 2017. 2. Fr Terence Kesavan has been appointed Spiritual Director for the Christian Family and Social Movement for a term of two years with effect from 25th February 2014. 3. Approval has been granted to Fr James Yeo to oversee the development of a Centre for the Theological Study of Faith and Culture under the auspices of the Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore. In accordance with can. 117, the proposed constitutions have been given “ad experimentum” status for one year from 18th February 2014. 4. Approval has been granted to Fr James Yeo to oversee the establishment of a Catholic Theological Network in accordance with the norms of can. 298ff. The group acquires the status of “ad experimentum” for a period of one year with effect from 18th February 2014. In accordance with can. 300, no association can call itself “Catholic” except with the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority. 5. The Archdiocesan Commission for the Family has been established by the senate on 27th February 2014 with competence on family issues with Msgr Ambrose Vaz ,VG, as Spiritual Director. 6. The Archdiocesan Commission for Diocesan-Reli-

gious Partnership has been established by the senate on 27th February 2014 with competence for fostering relations between the Archdiocese and Religious Institutes with Msgr Philip Heng, SJ, as Spiritual Director. 7. The Archdiocesan Commission for Malayalam Apostolate has been established by the senate on 27th February 2014 with competence for coordinating all Malayalam apostolates in the Archdiocese with Fr Terence Pereira as Spiritual Director. OTHER MATTERS Please be reminded of the safe environment policy that the Archdiocese has in place for ALL clerics who are not incardinated in the Archdiocese of Singapore and when they are visiting Singapore and intend to celebrate or concelebrate a public Mass, or participate in any other public engagement as a cleric. They are required to furnish a ‘Statement of Suitability’ to the Chancery for relevant approvals. Visiting priests have also to produce a valid “celebret” to the parish priest or Rector of the church at which they intend to celebrate a public Mass. Lay individuals who are engaged in overseas talks may seek endorsement letters from their respective Spiritual Directors of church organizations to which they belong. Lay individuals who are not part of any organisation will need to seek endorsement letters from their parish priest. Religious will continue to receive endorsement letters from their competent superiors. Priests of the Archdiocese may request necessary papers from the Chancery.

Fr John-Paul Tan, OFM, JCL, Chancellor, Chancery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore #07-01 Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187954 Email: chancery@catholic.org.sg

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Learning about the Bible through art By Clara Lai “It’s really what we call a masterpiece, to juggle light and darkness in this painting that depicts the burial of Jesus,â€? said Fr Emmanuel Danjoux. Âł<RXÂśOO ÂżQG WKDW LW LV LQYLWLQJ ZKRHYHU LV ORRNLQJ DW WKH SDLQWLQJ WR IRFXV RQ WKH JUDYH VWRQH below.â€? Paris Foreign Missions priest, Fr Danjoux, was highlighting the subtle aspects of Italian artLVW (O &DUDYDJJLRÂśV SDLQWLQJ 7KH Burial, to about 60 participants on March 7. 7KH ÂżUVW LQ WKH VHULHV RI %LEOH RYHU &RIIHH VHVVLRQV ZDV KHOG DW the Church of Christ the King on March 7. 7KH WZR KRXU VHVVLRQ VDZ WKH French priest projecting famous religious paintings on a screen to explain parts of the Bible. 5HIHUULQJ WR 7KH %XULDO )U (PPDQXHO VDLG WKH JUDYH VWRQH LV drawn to look “like the stone used to make the altarsâ€?, and because -HVXVÂś ERG\ LV KHOG DERYH LW WKHUH is a “beautiful harmony in this painting that is similar to when we say, ‘Behold the Lamb of God,’â€? said Fr Emmanuel. Organised by the parish’s BibOLFDO $SRVWRODWH 7HDP WKH WKHPH RI WKH ÂżYH VHVVLRQ VHULHV LV 7KH Women in the Gospels. 7KH ÂżUVW VHVVLRQ VDZ )U (P-

El Caravaggio’s The Burial

manuel focusing on Jesus’ cruci¿[LRQ DQG UHVXUUHFWLRQ DV ZHOO DV on the original sin of Adam and (YH He also showed other paintings including those by French artists Maurice Denis and Hugues 0HUOH ,WDOLDQ DUWLVWV $OYLVH 9LYDULQL DQG )UD $QJHOLFR DQG *HUman artist Lucas Cranach. Fr Emmanuel also spoke about the role of women in the Bible, such as how Mary of Magdala and Mary, mother of James, Joset and Salome, were present during JeVXVœ FUXFL¿[LRQ Fr Emmanuel explained to CatholicNews that he chose to use

The crowd at the Bible over Coffee session on March 7.

Fr Emmanuel Danjoux

paintings because “when you go through the Bibleâ€? there are “a lot RI ZRUGV´ 5HOLJLRXV DUW KRZHYHU

SURYLGHV ÂłYLVXDO VXSSRUW´ DQG FDQ be helpful to understanding the Bible, he said. During the half-hour break that followed, participants were GLYLGHG LQWR VPDOO JURXSV DQG RYHU FRIIHH VKDUHG RQ TXHVWLRQV JLYHQ WR WKHP VXFK DV WKH UROH RI women in the Church. Being “nurturingâ€?, “supportLYH´ DQG ÂłPRWLYDWLQJ´ ZHUH VRPH of the roles that they highlighted. A participant, Church of St 9LQFHQW GH 3DXO SDULVKLRQHU Catherine Chua, 52, said she found the session “beautifulâ€?, DQG WKDW LW ZDV WKH ÂżUVW WLPH VKH ZDV DWWHQGLQJ DQ HYHQW ÂłWKDW WHOOV

about the Bible through artâ€?. 0U )UHGHULF 9D\VVLHUHV from the Church of Christ the King said Fr Emmanuel “managed to translate the spiritualityâ€? behind the masterpieces to the group. 7KH HYHQW ZDV WKH ÂżUVW RI ÂżYH VHVVLRQV WR EH KHOG RQ WKH ÂżUVW DQG third Fridays of March, April and 0D\ 7KH QH[W VHVVLRQ RQ 0DUFK 21, will focus on the Samaritan Woman. For more information, contact Lene Lee at 9832-1538 or ctkbat@hotmail.com. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

S’pore couple to lead Worldwide Marriage Encounter By Clara Lai $ 6LQJDSRUH FRXSOH ZKR KDYH EHHQ LQYROYHG LQ 0DUULDJH (Qcounter for more than 20 years KDYH EHHQ VHOHFWHG WR OHDG WKH ZRUOGZLGH PRYHPHQW Daniel Ee and Shelley Ee, together with Filipino priest, Fr Nathanial B Gomez, were selectHG WR EH PRYHPHQWœV QHZ ,QWHUQDWLRQDO (FFOHVLDO 7HDP 7KH GHFLVLRQ ZDV PDGH GXULQJ

Daniel and Shelley Ee, seen here with Filipino priest, Fr Nathanial B Gomez.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s (WWME) World Council Meeting in South Africa on Feb 27. 7KH (HV DUH EHOLHYHG WR EH WKH ¿UVW $VLDQ FRXSOH WR WDNH RQ WKLV role. 7KH\ KDYH EHHQ LQYROYHG in the Marriage Encounter proJUDPPH VLQFH DQG KDYH OHG the national ecclesial team in Singapore from 2007-2010. 7KH\ WRJHWKHU ZLWK )U *RPH] from the Diocese of Dumaguete,

were the Asia ecclesial team from 2011-2013. 7KH WKUHH RI WKHP ZLOO QRZ FKDLU WKH PRYHPHQWÂśV ZRUOG FRXQcil comprising members from North America, Latin America, AfULFD 3DFLÂżF (XURSH DQG $VLD IRU D WHUP RI ÂżYH \HDUV $V WKH RIÂżFLDO leadership of the council, they will QRZ VSHDN DV UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV RI WKH PRYHPHQW WR WKH 8QLYHUVDO &KXUFK ,Q DQ HPDLO LQWHUYLHZ 0UV (H told CatholicNews that when she heard the news, “I was surprised and speechless.â€? She recognised that “it is a

role which calls for the three of XV WR OLVWHQ WR *RGÂśV YRLFH GLVFHUQ wisely together with the council members what is His Will for the PRYHPHQW´ DQG KDYH WKH ÂłFRXUage to address pressing issues like a shortageâ€? priests who could present ME programmes. Mr Ee also explained that in their new roles, they will work with the Marriage Encounter World Council to: ‡ Chart the way forward for WWME to be a beacon of hope for lasting and strong marriages. ‡ Ensure that WWME pro-

grammes continue to be reIUHVKHG DQG NHSW UHOHYDQW ZLWK changing times. ‡ Look for workable solutions to issues that might constrain efforts to reach out to more couples, priests and Religious, and ‡ 'HYHORS OHDGHUV DQG QXUWXUH VXFFHVVLYH JHQHUDWLRQV RI OHDGHUV WR WDNH WKH PRYHPHQW IRUward. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

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ADHD didn’t stop him from scoring in GCE A Levels By Clara Lai Joshua Jared Gan from Catholic Junior College (CJC) was disFRYHUHG WR KDYH $WWHQWLRQ 'HÂżFLW Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when he was only in Primary 2. Despite his struggle to concentrate in school and an addiction to computer games, Gan sat for his GCE A Levels last year and when results were released on March 3, he had scored a University Entrance Score of 90 points. Every Higher 1 subject offered at the GCE A Levels is worth 10 points for an A grade, while the same grade for a Higher 2 subject is counted as 20 points. Gan had scored 3As each for both for Higher 1 and Higher 2 subject. The Humanities student shared with CatholicNews that he used to be a “crazy kid, running around doing stupid stuff all the timeâ€?. In addition, he had a gaming

addiction, which he admitted was the biggest challenge he faced, because he would “crave the fast pace of games� and did not like “how slow reality is�. He also had a “bit more trouble paying attention [and] during exams would space out a bit�, but fortunately he “had extra time to make up for it�. Previously from Rosyth Primary School and St Gabriel’s Secondary School, he eventually chose CJC because he “really liked the culture when I went for the open house�. Looking back at his two years in CJC, he said his ADHD “only hit me during exams� when he would “space out sometimes� and he occasionally found “lectures a bit hard to follow�. He would then “read the study notes on my own time to catch up with what was being taught�, to the extent that he would even help

Gan shared that the school’s IGNITE programme was ‘quite a blessing’, because this framework comprised mainly tutorials and very few lectures so he found it easier to cope.

Joshua Jared Gan from Catholic Junior College has had $WWHQWLRQ 'HÂżFLW Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) since he was in Primary 2, but managed to score 3As each for both Higher 1 and 2 subjects at the GCE A Levels. He is now in National Service.

his classmates “who weren’t doing so wellâ€?. He also counted the school’s IGNITE programme as “quite a blessingâ€?, because this framework comprised mainly tutorials and very few lectures so he found it easier to cope. Mr Marc Lim, Gan’s Literature teacher, told CatholicNews, “He did strike me as a warm, cheerful student but did appear, in local discourse, the ‘blur’ sort. I ‌ only learned formally from another teacher that he had this condition some time in Term 2 [of his JC1 year]â€?. However, his work, “especially that in JC2, saw a great

improvement. I could see that he was picking up the structures and applying assiduously what he learned into his work,� he said. Mr Lim added, “While he doesn’t immediately strike you as a very diligent student, I came to know that he would try his best to revise and review his work outside of class.� Regarding his academic achievement at the GCE A Levels, Gan told CatholicNews, “I would attribute it to the caring teachers, they’re all very passionate about what they do and that sort of rubbed off on me I guess.� They “saw me as an ordinary student� and the “best thing they

did was not treat me specially, but when I needed an extra nudge they would give it�, he said. He said his teachers didn’t give him excessive special treatment. “But I must say, they are some of the best teachers in my life. They inspired me in their own ways to work hard and to focus,� he added. Gan plans to pursue further studies after he completes National Service: in the National University of Singapore’s Law faculty, study Business in the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, or go to Harvard University. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

Young people testify to joy of Gospel By Kenneth Low He was a cradle Catholic who was struggling to live the faith that he had inherited from his parents. )XOÂżOOLQJ UHOLJLRXV REOLJDWLRQV IHOW like a burden, and he felt pressurised to know this “Sunday Godâ€?. David de Souza, 17, was sharing with the 750-strong crowd at this year’s Testify to Love rally, held at Catholic Junior College (CJC) on March 8. He was among 32 young Catholics aged 17-34 who planned the rally following their experience at the annual School of Witness, which is now in its sixth year. “It was through this [SOW programme] that I felt the need to surrender my life to be part and parcel of Jesus‌Now I ask Jesus what He has planned [for me] for that week, that month, that year,â€? he said. The School of Witness is a nine-week formation programme that helps participants to deepen their relationship with God and discover their call for evangelisation. This year’s rally, themed The Joy of the Gospel, comprised a series of skits, mimes, testimonies and worship sessions that showcased not only the diverse talents of the young people, but also their stories about how they conquered

many problems and barriers to renew their relationship with God. One of the skits that wowed the audience revolved around a scientist’s discovery that factors such as riches, power, friendship, relationships and careers could not compare to the importance of Jesus as a means of building a

Keynote speaker Archbishop Goh addresses the audience.

strong foundation that can weather the storms of life. The theme about searching for happiness also resonated in Archbishop William Goh’s keynote address to the audience at the rally. 5HÀHFWLQJ RQ WKH *RVSHO VWRU\ of Jesus’ encounter with the rich

young man, Archbishop Goh cautioned the audience against living a life of security based on just observing commandments and on wealth. “Life must be about adventure. Don’t be like the rich young man; he was safe, but too safe. Take risks! If you have a call, take the risk. Don’t be afraid,â€? he added. This year’s rally and SOW were organised by the newly-reIRUPHG $UFKGLRFHVDQ \RXWK RIÂżFH WKH 2IÂżFH RI <RXQJ 3HRSOH 2<3 Fr Jude David, who co-chapODLQV 2<3 ZLWK )U %ULDQ 'Âś6RX]D said, “I am very impressed by the enthusiasm, idealism and the energy of the young people. We aim to synergise our efforts and empower them in the work of evangelisation.â€? The SOW participants’ zeal and passion for the rally had a powerful effect on the audience. Ms Pearlyn Neo, 22, said, “The skits and the mimes really spoke to me because I could relate to the characters in them and their struggles with God.â€? Agreeing with her, Mr Melvyn Foo, 25, from the Church of St Francis Xavier added, “I was impressed by the variety of performances. I haven’t seen such an emphasis on creativity and using of gifts for building the kingdom of God before.â€? „

The School of Witness participants put on performances and gave testimonies during the annual Testify to Love rally.

The 750-strong crowd in the worship segment of the rally, held at Catholic Junior College on March 8.

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1,200 set to join Church this Easter Archbishop Goh urges candidates and catechumens to continue their faith journey after baptism. Darren Boon reports.

Archbishop Goh holding up the Book of Elect at St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah).

Catechumens writing their names in the Book of Elect.

Joy, excitement and a sense of anticipation at their upcoming baptism. These were the feelings that some people, preparing to become Catholics this Easter, shared following their recent Rite of Election. Ms Ng Hui Yin, from the Church of Christ the King, said she looks forward to her life being transformed. She said she intends to “be very prayerful” and engage LQ VHULRXV UHÀHFWLRQ GXULQJ WKLV Lenten season. Ms Ng was speaking to CatholicNews at St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) after the Rite of Election held on March 8 for the North and West districts and for Novena Church. Another Rite of Election was held on March 9 for the City, East and Serangoon districts. The Mandarin Rite of Election is scheduled for March 16 at the Church of St Francis of Assisi.

A total of 1,217 people are set to join the Catholic Church this Easter. A total of 1,118 catechumens (non-Christians seeking baptism) are expected to be enrolled in the Book of Elect. This year, the catechumens came up in groups to enrol their names in the book, which was in the form of a long scroll, as each person’s godparent placed a hand on his or her shoulder. Ninety-nine candidates (baptised Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church) also joined in the service and participated in a rite called the Call to Continuing Conversion. The candidates and catechumens have been preparing for a year or more to receive or complete the Sacraments of Initiation since joining the various parishes’ RCIA or RCIY (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults/Youths) programmes. Mr Llyod Lim described his

A Catholic who is alone, ‘ without brothers and sisters… he will not last.’

– Archbishop William Goh at the Rite of Election on March 8

enrolment as a “sacred moment”. He said that it helped him feel connected to the Church community and a “step closer to our Lord”. Daphne Chua, from the RCIY programme at the Church of St Anthony, said the enrolment made her feel “very accepted” in the Church. Addressing the catechumens and candidates in his homily, Archbishop Goh told them that as God has chosen them, their task now is to “follow the way of Jesus” and to depend on Him.

He explained that this means to “have a relationship” with Him and to have a prayer life based on the Word of God. He recommended that they spend at least half an hour in prayer each day. Archbishop Goh also assured the catechumens and candidates of the love of the Catholic community, and encouraged them to carry on their ongoing faith journey after baptism. He urged them to be active members of the Church community through participation in min-

istries and Church groups, otherwise they could lose their faith. “A Catholic who is alone, without brothers and sisters…he will not last,” Archbishop Goh said. The Rite of Election refers to an understanding that God continues to choose people through the covenant of baptism, just as He established a covenant with Israel. The rite provides an opportunity for their names to be formally enrolled among God’s chosen people. The Elect will now undergo the rite of Scrutinies during the Lenten season to help them examine their lives. The community will also pray that the Elect be freed from temptations and be protected as they continue their journey towards baptism. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

ASIA 9

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

George Yeo appointed to new council to study Holy See practices VATICAN CITY – Former Singapore cabinet minister George Yeo has been appointed to the Vatican’s new Council for the Economy together with six other laypeople and eight cardinals. The new council was established on Feb 24 by Pope Francis to study the policies and practices of the Holy See and devise appropriate policies and best practices. Its members were announced on March 8. The laypeople in the group are DOO H[SHUWV LQ WKH ÂżHOGV RI EXVLQHVV PDQDJHPHQW DQG ÂżQDQFH The council is an independent “authority for policy decisions and not merely an advisory organâ€? to the new Secretariat for the Economy, which will have authority over all economic and administrative activities within the Holy See and Vatican City State, the Vatican announcement said. The secretariat implements the policies determined by the council and answers directly to the pope. The council “is a key step toward the consolidation of the current management structures of the Holy See, with the aim of improving coordination and oversight of economic and administrative matters,â€? said Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. When contacted by CatholicNews, Mr Yeo, a parishioner of the Church of the Holy Family, said his appointment “is a great honour and a heavy responsibilityâ€?. “The main task will be to help implement the new administrative DQG ÂżQDQFLDO VWUXFWXUH DQG SURFHVVHV of the Vatican,â€? he said in an email. 0U <HR LV DPRQJ ÂżYH RI WKH

Mr Yeo: appointment ‘a great honour’.

Fr Lombardi: council aims to improve coordination.

seven lay members of the council who are also members of the PonWLÂżFDO &RPPLVVLRQ IRU 5HIHUHQFH on the Economic-Administrative Structure of the Holy See. Pope Francis established this eight-person commission in July 2013 to study accounting practicHV DPRQJ DOO 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFHV DQG GHYLVH VWUDWHJLHV IRU JUHDWHU ÂżVFDO responsibility and transparency. The head of the new council is 60-year-old German Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany. The other cardinals are: US Cardinal Daniel N DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, South African Cardinal Wilfrid F Napier of Durban, Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City, Peruvian Cardinal Juan Cipriani Thorne of Lima, French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux, Cardinal John Tong Hon of Hong Kong and Italian Cardi-

nal Agostino Vallini, papal vicar for Rome. The other six lay members are: Mr Joseph Zahra, a Maltese business consultant and former director of the Central Bank of Malta; Mr Jean-Baptiste de Franssu, a French expert in business administration and asset management; Mr John F Kyle, a retired vicepresident and treasurer of ExxonMobil’s Imperial Oil company in Canada; Mr Enrique Llano Cueto, a Spanish economist, accountant and business consultant; Mr Jochen Messemer, a German manager with experience in the health FDUH LQVXUDQFH DQG ÂżQDQFLDO VHUvice industries; and Mr Francesco Vermiglio, an Italian expert in acFRXQWLQJ DQG FRUSRUDWH ÂżQDQFH Each member is appointed to VHUYH D ÂżYH \HDU WHUP 7KH 9DWLcan said the council would begin its work “immediatelyâ€? and hold LWV ÂżUVW PHHWLQJ LQ 0D\ „ CNS

Italian-speaking Catholic community in S’pore By Darren Boon It was about three years ago that the Italian-speaking Catholic comPXQLW\ FDPH WRJHWKHU RI¿FLDOO\ WR attend Sunday Mass together, said its chaplain Fr Timothy Yeo. The priest celebrates Mass with the community on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary’s Maris Stella Chapel on Holland Road. The number of Mass attendees varies between 20 and 40, Fr Yeo told CatholicNews. Sometimes the Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, celebrates Mass with the community, said Fr Yeo, assistant priest at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace. The community also gathers to celebrate Christmas with a Mass followed by potluck.

Screen grab from the community’s website.

Meanwhile, children and teenagers attend catechism in parishes such as Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and Church of St Ignatius. Fr Yeo also conducts confession and weddings for the community upon request. He has also conducted a funeral Mass for a

member of the community. For information on the Italian Catholic community in Singapore, visit http://www.messasingapore.org. This is an occasional series highlighting foreign communities.„ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

3RSH FRQÀUPHG YLVLWLQJ South Korea, will meet young Asians VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

will travel to South Korea in August for Asian Youth Day and DOVR SUHVLGH RYHU WKH EHDWLÂżFDtion of a large group of Korean martyrs, the Vatican spokesman said. The pope will leave Rome on $XJ DQG Ă€\ WR 6RXWK .RUHD staying in the country from Aug 14-18, according to Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi. He said no other countries would be on the itinerary. The main point of the trip, Fr Lombardi said, is to participate in the Aug 13-17 youth gathering in Daejeon. The theme of Asian Youth Day is: Asian Youth, Wake Up! The Glory of the Martyrs Shines on You. Sponsored by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, the gathering is expected to draw delegates from 30 countries. Fr Lombardi said Pope Francis will also visit South Korea’s capital, Seoul, and meet President Park Geun-hye. According to The Korea HerDOG QHZVSDSHU 0V 3DUNÂśV RIÂżFH issued a statement saying, “The upcoming visit by Pope Francis, D V\PEROLF ÂżJXUH RI >VRPHRQH who has lived] a poor but honHVW OLIH DQG >XSKHOG@ QHLJKERXUliness, will be an opportunity to deliver the message of love and peace to the northeast Asian region.â€? In February, Pope Francis signed a decree recognising the martyrdom of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 companions, clearing the ZD\ IRU WKHLU EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ 7KH

martyrs were among an estimated 10,000 Catholics in Korea killed for their faith between 1785 and 1888. Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soojung of Seoul said the people of South Korea appreciate the pope’s willingness to “travel so far to be with Asian youth and Korean Catholics�, according to the Korean news agency Yonhap. The trip will be a “big pleasure� and

Cardinal Andrew Yeom: Papal trip is a ‘blessing’ for the nation.

“blessingâ€? for the nation, he added. The news service quoted Bishop Peter Kang U-il of Cheju, president of the bishops’ conference, as saying the pope’s decision to visit “the divided Korean Peninsula as the destination of KLV ÂżUVW $VLDQ WULS´ ZDV PRWLvated in part by a desire to pray for peace and reconciliation. „ CNS

Caritas Bangladesh opens new facility for typhoon victims DHAKA – Caritas Bangladesh is continuing to assist victims of Cyclone Mahasen, which struck the country last year, as well as those who might suffer from future typhoons. The Catholic organisation has opened a new shelter for displaced people in the village of Chalitabonia, Patuakhali, which will operate as a short-term typhoon rescue shelter as well as a long-term emergency facility. Caritas now runs about 250 shelters in Bangladesh’s coastal areas, providing refuge to displaced people as well as hot meals and education for children. Some of the shelters are equipped with medical facilities. Barisal Division Assistant 6HFUHWDU\ 1XUXO $PLQ RI¿FLDOO\ opened the shelter, called the Dhankhali Board Government Primary School Cyclone Shelter, on March 6. ,Q KLV DGGUHVV WKH RI¿FLDO thanked Catholics for their work.

“It is a beautiful and excellent building, suitable especially for women, children and the disabled, that can be used as a school as well ... I call on local residents to treat it with the utmost care.â€? Among the people attending the ceremony were local political leaders, teachers and 1,550 students. The facility costs about US$120,000 (S$152,000), which was raised by Caritas France, and is equipped with solar panels and a water tank. Cyclone Mahasen hit Bangladesh and Myanmar in May 2013, killing 110 people and causing damage estimated at around US$6 PLOOLRQ &RDVWDO ÂżVKLQJ DQG IDUPing villages were the most affected. The government responded ZLWK ÂżQDQFLDO DLG DQG HPHUJHQF\ programmes. However, more than 50,000 people are still displaced. „ ASIANEWS

10 ASIA

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Postpone Maundy Thursday polls, Goa’s Christians urge INDIA – The Catholic Church in Goa, India, has requested a fresh date for parliamentary elections as the schedule of the nine-phased polls in the state falls on Maundy Thursday. Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman sent a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting a postponement of the April 17 poll. Social activists and some political parties in Goa too have submitted similar petitions for a change in voting date. The archbishop said that Maundy Thursday was one of the most solemn days in the Catholic liturgical year and the election dates ZRXOG FDXVH VHULRXV FRQÀLFW between religious and constitutional duties, especially since

GOA,

over 30 percent of voters were Christians, who may not be able to attend Maundy Thursday service. The fifth phase of the general elections scheduled for Maundy Thursday covers several other significant Christian areas spread over the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. The spacing out of polls is done taking into account the availability of paramilitary forces to prevent rigging; but several other events such as school exams, religious festivals and climatic conditions are also factored in. The petition presented by the organisations also called on the authorities to respect the special days of all religious communities. „ AGENZIA FIDES

Parishes distribute piggy banks for Lenten saving DHAKA – To emphasise the im-

SRUWDQFH RI VDFULÂżFH GXULQJ Lent, Bangladesh parishes once again distributed terracotta piggy banks to Catholics at Ash Wednesday Masses, urging them to save and “use the money raised for charitable and social activitiesâ€?. This has become an established custom among Catholics LQ %DQJODGHVK RYHU WKH SDVW ÂżYH years. Fr Ajit Costa, parish priest of De Mazenod Church in Dhaka, told AsiaNews: “We have given a piggy bank to each family, so that Catholics could save money together. This year we have distributed 1,500, compared to 1,200 last year. “In 2013 we raised approximately US$2,150 (S$2,700). All

of the money is used for social and spiritual development of the community.â€? Last year, said Fr Costa, the proceeds went to St Thomas Church in the Diocese of Sylhet, “which needed urgent repair. But part also went to a Christian cooperative to build houses. This year we hope to collect enough to plan for a new church.â€? One Catholic, Mr Nirmal Gomes, also shared that during Lent, Bangladeshi Catholics do not eat meat and many of them are content with only one full meal a day. “From the beginning, we eat less and thus save a lot compared to the normal daily expenses. It is also a good way to teach our children the value and the meanLQJ RI VDFULÂżFH ´ „ ASIANEWS

Indonesian Church urges citizens to vote in upcoming polls &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

A priest celebrates Mass on the Indonesian island of Java. Elections in the country are scheduled for April and July. JAKARTA – As Indonesians head

for the polls later this year, the Church here is preparing its members to choose their future leaders conscientiously. The general elections of the Lower House are scheduled for April 9 while the presidential vote is set for July 9. The parish of the Sacred Heart of Kroya in the Diocese of Purwokerto, central Java, has organised a meeting aimed particularly at over 50 poor farmers and labourers. The idea is promoted by Fr Kristian Handy, president of the Diocesan Commission for the Laity. Catholic activists also do not limit themselves to outlining the candidates for parliament and the presidency or their various positions and political ideas. They also teach voters about their country in geographical,

political, and strategic terms, describing the natural resources available in the archipelago and its hidden potentials. Priests have also appealed to Catholics, urging them to exercise their right to vote as the only way to chart the future of the nation. Every single vote, Fr Agustinus Dwiyantoro, pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart, told AsiaNews, will “change� the face of the country, this is why it is important to “pay attention to the names of the candidates, selecting them according to one’s conscience and heart�. The Archdiocese of Jakarta is also holding similar initiatives, explained Ms Vero W Sulistyo, president of a Catholic organisation. “We are active in various parishes [in the capital], promoting debate and discussions on the

most pressing issues and current electoral landscape,� she said. However, she added, the primary goal is to “encourage the vote�, because it is “vital to the future of the nation and even our Church�. Fr Guido Suprapto, executive director of the Commission for the Laity of the Episcopal Conference of Indonesia, explains that the participation of Christians in the life of the nation and its institutions is important. Political apathy, abstention and blank votes – a growing phenomenon particularly among young people – are “threats� to democratic life, he said. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim nation with 86 percent professing Islam. Christians make up 5.7 percent with Catholics forming just over 3 percent. „ ASIANEWS

Vietnamese parish offers food, listening ear to cancer patients

A Vietnamese woman in Ho Chi Minh City donates money to charity. A programme called Mother Teresa’s Cup of Soup, organised by a parish in the city to aid cancer patients, has been offered since 2011. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

HO CHI MINH CITY – For years, Caritas and volunteers from the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City have sponsored programmes for cancer patients in southern Vietnam. One such programme is called Mother Teresa’s Cup of Soup. It has been offered since July 2011 by the Association of Catholic Mothers in Thanh Dja Parish, and it involves providing soup and other meals to patients and their families. The women involved in the association are a godsend, said Thanh Dja Parish Committee chief Joseph Thi, as they do cruFLDO ZRUN LQ D GLI¿FXOW VRFLDO DQG health care context. In less than three years, the association has handed out food

to 17,400 people at a total cost of US$15,560 (S$19,700). Initially, the programme involved two hot meals a month, given to about 200 people. Today, more than 500 patients receive regular assistance from Catholic volunteers, and the food offered includes noodles, bread and milk. A Buddhist woman, whose father is suffering from cancer, said she is grateful for the parish’s assistance. In addition to food, they also receive “encouragement to HQGXUH RXU IDWKHUÂśV ÂżQDO GD\V´ she said. There are about 150,000 new cases of cancer each year in Vietnam with 75,000 deaths. Among men, lung cancer is the main form of cancer, followed by liver and colon cancer. Among women,

breast cancer tops the list, followed by stomach and uterine cancer. In 80 percent of the cases, external factors, such as tobacco, are the main cause of the disease. Poor eating habits, a high fat and ORZ ¿EUH GLHW DQG ODFN RI H[HUFLVH are other factors. Contaminated products, especially food, from China, are another factor. Out of Vietnam’s 87 million people, 48 percent are Buddhists, more than 7 percent are Catholics, 5.6 percent follow syncretistic religions and 20 percent are atheist. $V D VPDOO DOEHLW VLJQL¿FDQW minority, the Christian community is particularly active in education, health and social affairs. „ ASIANEWS

ASIA 11

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

I saw, I learnt, I experienced on my pilgrimage to Indonesia 21-year-old Singaporean Catholic Darren Chan shares his journey of experiencing God and the strengthening of his faith in Yogyakarta, especially near a volcano that erupted recently.

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The Ganjuran orphans with the Sisters who are their pillars of support and love.

Through this pilgrimage, I have learnt to treasure the small things in life, to pray more for God’s guidance through life’s challenges and to have more faith as a Catholic. The children from Papua New Guinea feeding the sheep which they help to look after with the Sisters’ supervision.

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12 ASIA

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Pope confers knighthood on Malaysian Catholic By Canute Januarius ROME – Pope Francis has conferred

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the title of Knight of St Sylvester on a Malaysian Catholic for his contributions to social communication. Mr Augustine Loorthusamy, the outgoing president of Signis (World Catholic Association for Communication), is believed to be WKH ÂżUVW 0DOD\VLDQ WR UHFHLYH WKLV award from the pope. Archbishop Claudio Celli, SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO for Social Communications, who bestowed the knighthood on behalf of the pope on Feb 27, said it was a “gesture of appreciationâ€?. “The Holy Father is bestowing such a recognition on people in order to appreciate their works for the good of the people and the Church,â€? said Archbishop Celli, after awarding Sir Loorthusamy at the closing ceremony of the Signis World Congress 2014 in Rome.

He said it is good that the Holy Father is giving the honour for Sir Loorthusamy’s dedication and leadership of Signis, which has members in more than 100 countries worldwide. “This is a gesture to show the benevolence of the Holy Father, to say how much he appreciates what he has done for Signis. “The service of Signis in the ÂżHOG RI VRFLDO FRPPXQLFDWLRQ UDdio, press, cinema and media production has played a major role in people’s lives; I am talking about digital technology as well,â€? the archbishop said. Sir Loorthusamy also expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for recognising the works and contributions of Signis in the development of communications. Sir Loorthusamy, who served two terms from 2005 as Signis president, is a parishioner of Kristus Aman Chapel in Kuala Lumpur. „

ASIA 13

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Sri Lankan clergy wants accountability for war crimes COLOMBO – More than two hun-

$ OD\ PLQLVWHU DQG QXQ XVH DVKHV WR PDUN D FURVV RQ WKH IRUHKHDG RI FKXUFKJRHUV GXULQJ $VK :HGQHVGD\ 0DVV RXWVLGH D FKXUFK LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV CNS photo

Philippine cardinal warns against hypocrisy in Lent MANILA – Cardinal Luis Antonio

Tagle of Manila says it is hypocritical of Catholics to engage in “religious activitiesâ€? like fasting and charitable acts in order to benHÂżW RQHVHOI In his Ash Wednesday homily to mark the beginning of Lent, Cardinal Tagle said “engaging in religious activities not in order to return to God but to be full of self LV QRW KROLQHVV 7KDW LV GHÂżQLWHly not a way to return to God. That is hypocrisy,â€? he said. He cited politicians, without naming names, who perform acts of charity with the intention of promoting themselves and soliciting votes. The cardinal also criticised those who fast during Lent only to lose weight. “Before Ash Wednesday, 130 pounds [59kg]. After

Lent, 90 pounds [41kg]. Wow! What a joy! There is no need for whatever beauty tips, only fasting,� Cardinal Tagle said. He said Catholics should make use of the Lenten season to truly return to God by way of almsgiving, fasting, and prayer that are “not just exterior practices�. Tagle urged the faithful to support the Church’s Fast2Feed programme, by fasting during Lent and donating the money they save to feed children. “I deny myself of food, I become poor so that a malnourished child could be enriched by my love,� he said. In a “pastoral exhortation� released on March 2, Archbishop Socrates Villegas of LingayenDagupan, president of the Philip-

pines bishops’ conference, drew attention to the Philippines poverty rate, which stands at more than 20 percent. “Clearly, many people see themselves as being excluded from opportunities to live a decent life ... To have such a huge segment of our population living in such abject poverty is an unacceptable scandal,� Archbishop Villegas said. He urged Filipino Catholics to do works of “mercy and justice� that help the poor. “We are to exercise moral poverty by strengthening our resolve to practice solidarity with the neglected and to denounce injustice and all forms of radical inequality,� Archbishop Villegas said. „ UCANEWS.COM „ 6HH DOVR VWRU\ RQ 3DJH

dred Tamil Catholic clergy submitted a letter on March 3 to the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling for an international investigation into the county’s alleged war crimes and human rights violations. A total of 204 clergy signed the peititon, which was drafted to coincide with the commencement of the rights council’s 25th session on March 3 in Geneva, where Sri Lanka faces the third US-led resolution in as many years targeting Colombo for its failure to look into alleged war crimes. “There has been no genuine political process to address the URRW FDXVHV RI WKH FRQĂ€LFW ZKLFK are being aggravated and there is a need for the international comPXQLW\ WKURXJK WKH 81 WR ÂżQG creative ways of assisting Tamils to live in dignity as a nation,â€? the letter said. “Disappearances, sexual abuse, arrests, detention and torture, restrictions and attacks on freedom of assembly, expression, association and movement continue.â€? The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly rejected calls for an international investigation and UHDIÂżUPHG LWV FRPPLWPHQW WR KDQdling all inquiries domestically. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, the President’s Special Envoy for Human Rights, said in a press conference earlier that Sri /DQND KDG VKRZQ VLJQLÂżFDQW LPprovements in social, economic and political stability since the war came to an end.

“The government is ready to face any challenge at UNHCR,� he said. In July 1983, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) wanted to establish a Tamil state in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, and thus launched an independence struggle against the Sinhalese-led government.

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14 ASIA

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Philippine priest’s ministry helps kids overcome trauma of living on the streets BUSTOS, PHILIPPINES – A group

of young boys scurried about their cottage completing household chores, all part of the normal daily routine at the House and Treasure of St Martin de Porres. 7KHLU GRUPLWRU\ LV DPRQJ ÂżYH wood and stone houses painted in bright colours where more than 100 boys and girls – many from the streets of metropolitan Manila – live on an expansive 10.9 hectare campus. The youngsters are a long way IURP WKH KLJKO\ SROOXWHG WUDIÂżF laden streets of the Philippine capital. Many of the boys were counted among the thousands of children in bedraggled clothes dodging moving vehicles and then tapping on drivers’ side windows at stop lights to beg for money. “They were forced to stay on the streets for reasons like abandonment, physical abuse ... poverty or [having] dysfunctional families,â€? explained Fr Florentino Concepcion. “They are orphans, foundlings. We have a number of them.â€? Fr Concepcion, or Fr “Boyetâ€? as he is known, founded this self-contained community for indigent children 10 years ago. It is staffed with volunteers including seminarians, paid social workers and a psychologist. There is a school with music, arts and sports. Everyone has the chance to raise livestock, grow rice and tend rows of organic vegetables. The campus is part of a network of three St Martin’s locations that provide services for poor children.

‘

These children are toughy-toughy. But when you bring them to the chapel they get transformed.

’

– Fr Florentino Concepcion, founder of House and Treasure of St Martin de Porres

A priest of the Malolos diocese for more than 30 years, Fr Concepcion’s vocation has been dedicated to people living in poverty. “The poor cannot be left alone. ... You have to ... journey with them. Especially these children ZKHQ \RX JHW WKHP WKH ÂżUVW KXUGOH that we have to undertake is for them to get out of their traumas,â€? he told Catholic News Service. Fr Concepcion described the work as a taxing, painstaking, gradual process in which progress cannot easily be measured in terms of grade levels at school. “These children are toughytoughy,â€? he said. “But when you bring them to the chapel they get transformed. Then they get out and [become] their old selves again. ... Slowly, slowly, patiently you reform them and I think it’s [the work of] the [Holy] Spirit.â€? One 12-year-old girl, Crystal, whose name has been changed, came to St Martin de Porres a year ago. She told CNS a nun brought her to the mission after the nun no-

Pope Benedict: ‘absurd’ to question resignation VATICAN CITY – In a letter to an Ital-

ian journalist, retired Pope Benedict XVI said questions about the validity of his resignation are “absurd�. “There is absolutely no doubt regarding the validity of my renunciation of the Petrine ministry,� the retired pope wrote in a letter to Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican correspondent for the newspaper La Stampa and the website Vatican Insider. Tornielli said he wrote to the retired pope on Feb 14 after reading articles questioning the canonical validity of his announcement on Feb 11, 2013, that he was stepping down. In the letter, Pope Benedict described as “simply absurd� doubts about how he had formulated his announcement to cardinals gathered for a meeting about canonisation causes. According to the Church’s Code of Canon Law, “the only condition for validity of my resignation is the complete freedom of my decision�, he wrote to Tornielli. Solemnly, in Latin, Pope Benedict had told the cardinals present: “Well aware of the seriousness of

this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of St Peter, entrusted to me by the cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of St Peter, will be vacant and a conclave to elect the new supreme pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.â€? Tornielli also had asked Pope Benedict why he continues wearLQJ D ZKLWH FDVVRFN Âą D VLPSOLÂżHG version of what he wore as pope – and why he did not go back to using his given name, Joseph Ratzinger. “I continue to wear the white cassock and kept the name Benedict for purely practical reasons,â€? he said. “At the moment of my resignation, there were no other clothes available. In any case, I wear the white cassock in a visibly different way to how the pope wears it. This is another case of completely unfounded speculations being made.â€? The retired pope said his only task in the Church today is to support Pope Francis with his prayers. „ CNS

Two boys help with chores after lunch at the main dining hall of the House and Treasure of St Martin de Porres campus for indigent children on Feb 16 in Bustos, Philippines. Household responsibilities are a major component of character building for children, many of whom once lived on the streets of Manila. CNS photo

ticed that she was thin. Crystal said her parents agreed that she could come to the mission. A volunteer explained that the girl had tuberculosis and had been physically abused and was forced to work. “We didn’t eat much, just sometimes,� said Crystal, who doesn’t know the exact address of where her family lived except that it was under a bridge in Manila. “When we ate, it was sardines or salt and

water with rice – but not every day.� She took care of four younger siblings, was responsible cleaning at their dwelling and worked alongside her parents picking through garbage bags for anything to recycle. Crystal who had never been to school before going to St Martin’s was reading, writing and counting DW WKH ¿UVW JUDGH OHYHO 6KH VDLG VKH PLVVHG KHU PRWKHU DW ¿UVW DQG GLG not say whether she liked her new

home but she said she would stick LW RXW XQWLO VKH ÂżQLVKHG FROOHJH VR she could become a teacher. Mr Kenneth Silva was on his way to doing just that. He was a second year education major at Bulacan State University. Mr Silva told CNS he stole and begged to help raise his two younger siblings. His mother died when he was nine and that’s when he lost hope and started living on the streets of Manila, smoking and taking drugs. Mr Silva said his father was a drinker whose income from carpentry always fell short. He said he and his siblings joined the St Martin mission house when it opened in 2003. Two years later, their father died. “Even if we lost our parents, even if we were having a hard time, I never lost faith in God,â€? said Mr Silva, 22. “I leaned on Him and He became my way and His help for me was constant. If I ever lost faith in Him I would grow very weak.â€? He said living at St Martin’s restored his hope in the future. As one of the older members of the community, Mr Silva has given back to the younger residents, serving as a music teacher and mentor to them. Fr Concepcion said on very rare occasions a handful of children ran away from the programme. But more often than not, it was the mission house that placed kids who could be harmful to others in another facility. Ten years after the House and Treasure of St Martin de Porres opened, Fr Concepcion said a number of the older residents are ÂżQLVKLQJ FROOHJH “The ‘house’ is where they OLYH ZKHUH WKH\ ÂżQG ORYH WKDWÂśV their house ... and they are the treasure. We value them. It gives me so much joy to see them happy,â€? he said. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS ON RETREAT: The pope, in white, attends a weeklong Lenten retreat with senior members of the Roman Curia in Ariccia, Italy, on March 9. CNS photo

WORLD 15

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

0LVVLRQDULHV RI &KDULW\ QXQV VPLOH GXULQJ D 0DVV 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFLDOV KDYH XUJHG 5HOLJLRXV WR UHPHPEHU WKH MR\ RI WKHLU YRFDWLRQ &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

Vatican issues letter for Year of Consecrated Life VATICAN CITY – Preparing for the Year for Consecrated Life, members of Religious orders, secular institutes and consecrated virgins are asked to spend a considerable amount of time remembering the MR\ WKH\ IHOW ZKHQ WKH\ ÂżUVW UHDOised God was calling them. “Pope Francis has asked us to let our hearts dwell on a freezeframe of the joy of ‘the moment when Jesus looked at me,’â€? said Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz and Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. In a letter titled Rejoice, released on Feb 26 only in Italian, the two drew on the teaching of Pope Francis to propose ways consecrated men and women could prepare for the Year for Consecrated Life, which will begin on Nov 30. Scheduled to close just over 14 months later, on Feb 2, 2016, the year will include an ecumenical meeting with Religious orders of other Christian Churches, as well as special gatherings for young Religious men and women and for consecrated virgins. By remembering the joy of be-

ing loved by God and rekindling the joy of following Him, Cardinal Aviz and Archbishop Rodriguez Carballo said, consecrated men and women also will be better evangelisers and better promoters of new vocations. Âł7KH ZRUOG RIWHQ KDV D GHÂżFLW of joy,â€? the letter said. “We are not called to make epic gestures nor to proclaim pompous words, but rather to witness to the joy that comes from the certainty of feeling loved DQG WKH FRQÂżGHQFH RI EHLQJ VDYHG ´ To be an effective missionary,

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’

one must be humble and remember how God reached out to him or her personally, they said. The crisis of vocations and the crisis many Religious are experiencing today, they said, represent a crisis of memory that renders many consecrated men and women incapable of experiencing true joy in being faithful. “A daily personal and fraternal journey marked by discontent, bit-

terness that closes us up in regret and an almost permanent state of longing for unexplored paths and XQIXOÂżOOHG GUHDPV EHFRPHV D VROLtary journey,â€? the letter said. No one is pretending the Christian journey is only sweetness and light, they said. But a Christian’s witness becomes strongest in the PLGVW RI GLIÂżFXOW\ WKH\ DGGHG “In a world that lives not trusting, discouraged and depressed, in a culture in which men and women let themselves be overcome by their fragility and weakness, by individualism and self-interest, we are asked to introduce trust in the possibility of true happiness and a hope that isn’t based only on one’s talents, qualities and knowledge, but on God,â€? they said. Even for consecrated people who are not part of Religious communities, they said, the path RI ÂżGHOLW\ WR &KULVW SDVVHV WKURXJK community life and one’s relationship with others. In a world where relationships seem increasingly fragile DQG FRQĂ€LFW UHLJQV WKH OHWWHU VDLG consecrated people are called to be witnesses of “the communion of spirits and heartsâ€? of those who gather around Jesus. „ CNS

16 WORLD

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Cardinal calls to maintain, yet reinterpret, doctrine to help families The Church must ‘ explain in a new way

VATICAN CITY – In its approach

to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, the Catholic Church QHHGV WR ÂżQG D PLGGOH JURXQG that does not destroy or abandon doctrine, but offers a “renewedâ€? LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI &KXUFK WHDFKLQJ in order to help those whose marULDJHV KDYH IDLOHG &DUGLQDO :DOter Kasper said. Âł, SURSRVH D SDWK WKDW JRHV beyond strictness and leniency,â€? the German cardinal and theoORJLDQ WROG 9DWLFDQ 5DGLR RQ March 10. An approach that avoids the WZR H[WUHPHV ÂłLVQÂśW DJDLQVW PRUDOLW\ LW LVQÂśW DJDLQVW GRFWULQH EXW rather, [is meant] to support a realistic application of doctrine to WKH FXUUHQW VLWXDWLRQ RI WKH JUHDW majority of people and to contribute to people’s happinessâ€?, he VDLG VSHDNLQJ LQ ,WDOLDQ 7KH FDUGLQDO ZDV UHIHUULQJ WR D OHQJWK\ WDON KH KDG JLYHQ to introduce a Feb 20-21 discusVLRQ E\ WKH &ROOHJH RI &DUGLQDOV on family life. The talk, titled Gospel of the Family, was to be published in March in German DQG ,WDOLDQ E\ SULYDWH SXEOLVKLQJ houses. &DUGLQDO .DVSHU WROG 9DWLFDQ 5DGLR WKDW WKH UHVSRQVHV WR D ZLGHO\ GLVWULEXWHG 9DWLFDQ questionnaire about Catholics’ family life – drawn up in preparation for October’s Synod of Bishops on the family – showed ÂłWKHUH LV D GLIÂżFXOW\ DQ DE\VV´

what family and matrimony are in order to help people and at the same time remain faithful to the Gospel.

’

– Cardinal Walter Kasper

German Cardinal Walter Kasper in St Peter’s Square on March 4, after the ¿UVW GD\ WKH &ROOHJH RI &DUGLQDOV PHW WR EHJLQ WKH SURFHVV RI HOHFWLQJ D QHZ pope. CNS photo

EHWZHHQ &KXUFK WHDFKLQJ DQG the actual situation of many people. ³7KH &KXUFK KDV WR EULGJH WKLV DE\VV ´ KH VDLG VSHDNLQJ LQ (QJOLVK EXW WKDW ³GRHV QRW PHDQ pure appeasement policies, but

the Church must explain in a new way what family and matrimony are in order to help people and at the same time remain faithful to the Gospel�. The cardinal said a similar SURFHVV PLJKW EH VHHQ LQ KRZ WKH

Church developed its current approach to ecumenism. “There were doctrines of the +RO\ 2IÂżFH >&RQJUHJDWLRQ IRU the Doctrine of the Faith] before WKH >6HFRQG 9DWLFDQ@ &RXQFLO DJDLQVW HFXPHQLVP \HW WKH FRXQcil found a way not to destroy RU QHJDWH WKH GRFWULQH EXW IRXQG ways to interpret it in an adequate way,â€? he said. “I ask myself why it could not be possible also with other doctrines,â€? he said. He said he wouldn’t call such FKDQJHV ÂłD UHYROXWLRQ DV PXFK DV D GHHSHQLQJ DQG D GHYHORSment because the doctrine of the Church is a river that develops and also the doctrine of matrimony has developed like thisâ€?. Âł,WÂśV QRW DERXW VRPHWKLQJ QHZ as much as a renewal of Church practice, which is always necessary and possible,â€? he said. The primary purpose of his speech to the cardinals, he said,

“was not to speak about divorced and remarried people, but to speak about the Gospel of the familyâ€? and to foster “a new, betWHU PRUH GHHS XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI family lifeâ€? as God intended – built on a faithful, exclusive and OLIHORQJ XQLRQ EHWZHHQ RQH PDQ and one woman. Âł, WKLQN WKH PDMRULW\ RI \RXQJ people want stable relationships, want to live in a family... and therefore, the Church has to help them,â€? he said. Âł:H KDYH WR RQFH DJDLQ VWUHQJWKHQ´ WKH VDFUDPHQWDO DQG LQGLVVROXEOH ERQG RI PDUULDJH especially as families today DUH IDFLQJ D QXPEHU RI FULVHV LQFOXGLQJ VHYHUH HFRQRPLF GLIÂżFXOWLHV The Church must also take into account the many situations of Catholics who have failed PDUULDJHV KH VDLG DGGLQJ WKDW “the Church has to be close to them, to help, support and enFRXUDJH WKHP´ Âł, PDLQWDLQ WKH IXOO WHDFKLQJ of the Church, but the teachLQJ KDV WR EH DSSOLHG WR FRQFUHWH situations, as Jesus did it and as Pope Francis does very often,â€? he said. “The doctrine of the Church is QRW DQ LGHRORJ\ LQ WKH FORXGV EXW God wants to be present, close to His people,â€? he said. „ CNS „ See related stories on Pages 18 and 21

&DWKROLF RIĂ€FLDOV 5HOHDVH RI NLGQDSSHG QXQV ZDV DQVZHU WR SUD\HUV BEIRUT – The release of at least 12 Greek Orthodox nuns who were abducted in Syria in December was an answer to prayers, said UHJLRQDO &DWKROLF RIÂżFLDOV 0HONLWH 3DWULDUFK *UHJRLUH ,,, Laham said on March 10 that he IHOW ÂłD ZDYH RI MR\´ DORQJ ZLWK “thousands and thousandsâ€? of other people when he heard the nuns had been freed a day earlier. Islamist rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction of the nuns in December from Syria’s ancient town of Maaloula, where Aramaic, the ODQJXDJH RI -HVXV LV VWLOO VSRNHQ Two Orthodox bishops and WKUHH SULHVWV LQFOXGLQJ DQ $UPHnian Catholic and Italian Jesuit, also have been abducted in Syria DQG UHPDLQ PLVVLQJ “I hope the initiative to release the Sisters will be a door for more efforts to liberate the two bishops and also the priests,â€? Patriarch Laham told Catholic News Service IURP KLV SDWULDUFKDWH LQ 5DEZHK Lebanon. The papal nuncio to Syria, Archbishop Mario Zenari, told 9DWLFDQ 5DGLR Âł,W ZDV QHZV ZH ZHUH ZDLWLQJ IRU :H SUD\HG IRU the liberation of these nuns who

ZHUH WDNHQ KRVWDJH DW WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI 'HFHPEHU ´ In Damascus on March 10, &KULVWLDQV JDWKHUHG DW WKH *UHHN Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross IRU D SUD\HU VHUYLFH RI WKDQNVJLYLQJ 5HSRUWV WKH QXQV KDG EHHQ OLEerated coincided with the release of a new Save the Children report VKRZLQJ 6\ULDÂśV RQJRLQJ FLYLO ZDU ZDV WDNLQJ DQ HYHQ ODUJHU WROO RQ WKH FRXQWU\ÂśV \RXQJ WKDQ SUHYLRXVO\ WKRXJKW 7KH UHSRUW $ 'HYDVWDWLQJ Toll, said that in addition to the HVWLPDWHG \RXQJ ZKR KDYH already perished in the three-yearold civil war, thousands of Syria’s FKLOGUHQ ZHUH G\LQJ GXH WR WKHLU country’s destroyed health care system. “It is not just the bullets and WKH VKHOOV WKDW DUH NLOOLQJ DQG PDLPLQJ FKLOGUHQ 7KH\ DUH DOVR G\LQJ IURP WKH ODFN RI EDVLF PHGLcal care. Syria’s health system has been devastated,â€? said the report. $V D UHVXOW LW VDLG LQFUHDVLQJ numbers of Syria’s children were VXIIHULQJ DQG G\LQJ IURP GLVHDVHV that would have previously either been treated, or prevented altoJHWKHU „ CNS

0RWKHU 3ODJLD 6D\\DI RI 0DU 7KHFOD PRQDVWHU\ LQ 0DDORXOD 6\ULD ÂżUVW URZ OHIW ZKR DORQJ ZLWK DW OHDVW RWKHU QXQV ZDV IUHHG DIWHU WKUHH PRQWKV DWWHQGV D SUD\HU VHUYLFH DW WKH *UHHN 2UWKRGR[ &KXUFK RI WKH +RO\ &URVV LQ Damascus on March 10. CNS photo

POPE FRANCIS 17

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Religious urged to be careful in use of money CITY – The world by the Congregation for Institutes doesn’t need a lesson in “theo- of Consecrated Life and Societies retical povertyâ€? from Catholic of Apostolic Life on March 8-9. priests, Brothers and nuns, but it Religious orders “always have needs a living example of how to been a prophetic voice and a vibe careful with money, live sim- vacious witness of the newness ply and share with others, Pope found in Christ and of conformity Francis said. to Him who made Himself poor Every Christian is called to to enrich us with His povertyâ€?, be a wise steward of the pope said. resources and gen“This loving The Religious erous in helping othpoverty is solidarity, ers, but with their and charvow of poverty sharing vow of poverty and ity,â€? Pope Francis is to be their pledge to put told the Religious. God and their brothhappy with just The vow of poverty HUV DQG VLVWHUV ÂżUVW must be “expressed the essentials, members of Reliin simplicity, in the gious orders must be search for justiceâ€? said the pope. especially attentive and in being happy to what they do with with just the essenmoney, the pope said in a mes- tials in order “to guard against the sage to the treasurers of Religious material idols that obscure the auorders. thentic meaning of lifeâ€?. The goods of a Religious or“There is no need for a theoder must be “administered with retical poverty, but for the poverty care and transparencyâ€?, and Reli- RQH OHDUQV IURP WRXFKLQJ WKH Ă€HVK gious “cannot tolerate wasteâ€?, he of the poor Christ in the humble, said in the message to Religious the poor, the sick and children,â€? attending a symposium organised he said. „ CNS

VATICAN

Bishops applaud a newly-installed bishop in Pennsylvania, USA, on Oct 1. Pope Francis has told bishops to be KXPEOH DQG PDNH VDFUL¿FHV IRU WKHLU ÀRFN &16 ¿OH SKRWR

Pontiff: bishops should evangelise, be men of prayer VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis said

bishops should act not like ambitious corporate executives, but humble evangelists and men of prayer. “We don’t need a manager, the CEO of a business, nor someone who shares our pettiness or low aspirations,â€? the pope said on Feb 27. “We need someone who knows how to rise to the height from which God sees us, in order to guide us to Him.â€? Pope Francis was speaking to the Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican body that advises him on the appointment of bishops around the world. He stressed the importance of VHOI VDFULÂżFH LQ D ELVKRSÂśV PLQLVtry.

“The courage to die, the generosity to offer one’s own life and H[KDXVW RQHÂśV VHOI IRU WKH Ă€RFN are inscribed in the episcopate’s DNA,â€? he said. “The episcopate is not for itself but for the Church, IRU WKH Ă€RFN IRU RWKHUV DERYH DOO for those whom the world considers only worth throwing away.â€? Pope Francis said potential bishops should have a “capacity for healthy, balanced relationshipsâ€?, “upright behaviourâ€?, “orWKRGR[\ DQG ÂżGHOLW\´ WR &KXUFK doctrine; and “transparency and detachment in administrating the goods of the communityâ€?. In preaching the Gospel, bishops should uphold Church teaching “not in order to measure how far the world falls short of the

truth it contains, but to fascinate the world, enchant it with the beauty of love, seduce it by offering the freedom of the Gospelâ€?. “The Church doesn’t need apologists for their own causes, nor crusaders for their own battles, but humble sowers who trust in the truth ... bishops who know that even when night falls and the day’s toil leaves them tired, the VHHGV LQ WKH ÂżHOG ZLOO EH VSURXWing.â€? Pope Francis cited Abraham and Moses, who argued with God to dissuade Him from destroying their sinful people. “A man who lacks the courage to argue with God on behalf of his people cannot be a bishop,â€? he said. „ CNS

Pope on nature of true fasting VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

criticised those who practise fasting as a mere ritual, rather than as D VDFULÂżFH UHSUHVHQWDWLYH RI D UHOLgion of love. The pope made his remarks on 0DUFK WKH ÂżUVW )ULGD\ RI /HQW in his homily at morning Mass in the Vatican guesthouse, where he lives. “These hypocritical people are good persons,â€? he said, referring to the Pharisees who criticised Jesus and His followers for not fasting as required by Jewish law. “They do all they should do. They seem good. But they are ethicists without goodness because they have lost the sense of belonging to a people.â€? True fasting entails sharing goods with the needy, Pope Francis said, according to a report by Vatican Radio. “This is the charity or fasting that our Lord wants,â€? he said. “This is the mystery of the body and blood of Christ. It means

3HRSOH UHFHLYH IRRG UDWLRQV DW D FRPPXQLW\ NLWFKHQ LQ $UJHQWLQD RQ )HE 3RSH )UDQFLV VD\V WKH EHVW ZD\ RI IDVWLQJ LV FDULQJ IRU WKH QHHG\ CNS photo

sharing our bread with the hungry, taking care of the sick, the elderly, those who can’t give us anything in return: This is not beLQJ DVKDPHG RI WKH Ă€HVK ´ The pope called on Christians to follow the example of the good Samaritan, drawing close to the EHQHÂżFLDULHV RI WKHLU FKDULW\ LQ DQ act of true fraternity. “When I give alms, do I look

into the eyes of my brother, my sister?� he asked. “Am I capable of giving a caress or a hug to the sick, the elderly, the children, or have I lost sight of the meaning of a caress? “These hypocrites were unable to give a caress,� the pope said. “We will be judged by the way we behave toward this brother, this sister.� „ CNS

18 POPE FRANCIS

Anointing the sick brings Jesus, not bad luck, says pontiff VATICAN CITY – Never hesitate

to call a priest to bless and anoint sick or elderly family members, Pope Francis said. Some people worry receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick “brings bad luck” and “the hearse will come next”. the pope said. “This is not true!” The sacrament brings Jesus closer to those in need, strengthening their faith and hope, he said on Feb 26 during his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square. Formerly known as extreme unction or “the last rites”, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick had once been seen as a ritual only for those who were in danger of or at the point of death. A more expanded use to provide spiritual strength and healing for the sick and elderly was promoted by the Second Vatican Council. The pope said the sacrament “permits us to touch with our hands God’s compassion for humanity” and bring God’s healing presence to those who suffer. “However, this mustn’t let us fall into an obsessive search for a miracle or the presumption of always and in every case being able to be healed,” he said. The sacrament “is the assurance of Jesus being close to the sick and the elderly”, he said, adding that “everyone over the age of 65 can receive this sacrament”. Oftentimes when people think about whether they should call a priest to come to the bedside of someone seriously sick or suffering, he said, there might be objections and concerns that it could frighten the person who is ill. “Why? Because there’s this idea that when someone is ill and

Sunday March 23, 2014 CatholicNews

Shed apathy to poverty, violence in Lent: pope VATICAN CITY – Lent is a time to

the priest comes, after him, the hearse will come next,” the pope said to applause. This is not true, the pope said; when the priest goes to the sick person, “it is Jesus who comes to bring comfort, to give strength, to give hope and help, also to forgive sins and this is very beautiful”. “Do not think this is taboo” to call the priest over, he said, “because it is always beautiful know-

A US bishop anoints an elderly patient. CNS photo

shed lazy, un-Christian habits and snap out of one’s apathy towards people harmed by violence, poverty and not having God in their lives, Pope Francis said. Lent is time to “change course, to recover the ability to respond to the reality of evil that always challenges us,” he said during his weekly general audience on Ash Wednesday. “All of us need to improve,” he said, and “Lent helps us. And that way we get out of our tired routine and the lazy addiction to evil that tempts us.” Lent “invites us to not get used to the situations of degradation and misery that we encounter as we walk along the streets of our cities and towns. “There’s the risk of passively accepting certain behaviours and to not be astonished by the sad situations around us,” he said. “We get used to violence, as if it were everyday news taken for granted; we get used to our brothers and sisters who sleep on the streets, who don’t have a roof over their heads. We get used to refugees seeking

freedom and dignity who aren’t welcomed as they should be.” People also get too used to living in a culture or society that pretends it can do without God, and where parents, grandparents and adults no longer teach children how to pray, he said. “I want to ask: Your children, your kids, do they know how to make the sign of the cross?” he

said to the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. “Do they know how to pray the Our Father, to pray to Our Lady with the Hail Mary?” He asked that people “think about it and answer in your heart”. Christians need to overcome their indifference, “this addiction to unChristian and easy-way-out behaviours that drug our hearts”, he said. CNS

Sympathy urged for those in failed marriages VATICAN CITY – Those who rec-

ing that in moments of pain and sickness we are not alone.” “The priest and those who are present during the anointing of the sick, in fact, represent the whole Christian community, who, as one body with Jesus, embrace the person who is suffering and his or her family members,” providing them with strength and hope and sustaining them with their prayers and love, Pope Francis said. CNS

Pope Francis places ashes on the head of Slovakian Cardinal Jozef Tomko during an Ash Wednesday Mass in Rome. CNS photo

ognise marriage as a sacrament, a GLYLQH EOHVVLQJ DQG D UHÀHFWLRQ RI God’s love for humanity should have even greater sympathy for husbands and wives whose relationships have failed, Pope Francis said. “See how beautiful this love is, how beautiful marriage is, how beautiful the family is and how much love and closeness we must have for our brothers and sisters who have experienced the calamity

of a failure in love,” the pope said on Feb 28 at his morning Mass. In the day’s Gospel reading, Mark 10:1-12, Jesus tells His disciples that “what God has joined together, no human being must separate”. According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis’ homily focused on marriage as part of God’s plan for PDQ DQG ZRPDQ DQG DV D UHÀHFtion of God’s faithful love. He repeated the Gospel passage, “For

this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become RQH ÀHVK ´ But, the pope said, “when this love fails – because many times it fails – we must feel the pain of the failure and accompany those who have failed in their love. Not condemn them! Walk alongside them.” CNS See commentary on Page 21

POPE FRANCIS 19

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Pope suggests Church could tolerate some civil unions Pope Francis touches on a wide range of sensitive topics in yet another interview with a secular paper. VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

suggested the Catholic Church could tolerate some types of nonmarital civil unions as a practical measure to guarantee property rights and health care. He also said the Church would not change LWV WHDFKLQJ DJDLQVW DUWLÂżFLDO ELUWK FRQWURO EXW VKRXOG WDNH FDUH WR DSply it with “much mercyâ€?. Pope Francis’ comments apSHDUHG LQ DQ LQWHUYLHZ SXEOLVKHG on March 5 in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera. In the wide-ranging conversation with the paper’s editor-inchief, Ferruccio de Bortoli, the pope defended the Church’s reVSRQVH WR FOHULFDO VH[ DEXVH DQG lamented that popular mythology KDV WXUQHG KLP LQWR D NLQG RI SDpal superhero. He also addressed the role of retired Pope Benedict XVI and the Church’s relations with China. Âł0DWULPRQ\ LV EHWZHHQ D PDQ DQG D ZRPDQ ´ WKH SRSH VDLG EXW moves to “regulate diverse situaWLRQV RI FRKDELWDWLRQ >DUH@ GULYHQ E\ WKH QHHG WR UHJXODWH HFRQRPLF aspects among persons, as for instance to assure medical careâ€?. $VNHG WR ZKDW H[WHQW WKH Church could understand this trend, he replied: “It is necessary WR ORRN DW WKH GLYHUVH FDVHV DQG evaluate them in their variety.â€? Bishops around the world have differed in their responses to civil recognition of non-marital unions. The president of the 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU WKH )DPLO\ VDLG LQ )HEUXDU\ WKDW VRPH OHJDO DUUDQJHPHQWV DUH MXVWLÂżDEOH to protect the inheritance rights of these couples. But until now, no pope has indicated even tentative acceptance of civil unions.

In the interview, Pope Francis SUDLVHG 3RSH 3DXO 9,ÂśV HQcyclical Humanae Vitae, which SURKLELWHG WKH XVH RI FRQWUDFHStion. But he also noted that Pope Paul had instructed confessors to interpret his encyclical with “much mercy, attention to concrete situationsâ€?. “The question is not whether WR FKDQJH WKH GRFWULQH EXW WR JR GHHSHU DQG PDNH VXUH WKDW SDVWRUDO FDUH WDNHV DFFRXQW RI VLWXDWLRQV DQG RI ZKDW HDFK SHUVRQ LV DEOH WR do,â€? Pope Francis said. 7KH SRSH VDLG ELUWK FRQWURO OLNH WKH SUHGLFDPHQW RI GLYRUFHG and civilly remarried Catholics, ZRXOG EH D WRSLF RI GLVFXVVLRQ DW LQ 2FWREHU GXULQJ D V\QRG RU VSHFLDO PHHWLQJ RI ELVKRSV RQ WKH family. He said the synod would apSURDFK DOO VXFK SUREOHPV ÂłLQ WKH OLJKW RI SURIRXQG UHĂ€HFWLRQ´ rather than casuistry, which he deVFULEHG DV D VXSHUÂżFLDO SKDULVDLcal theology focused exclusively on particular cases. The pope said he had welcomed the “intense discussionâ€? at D )HEUXDU\ JDWKHULQJ RI FDUGLQDOV

where German Cardinal Walter .DVSHU JDYH D WDON VXJJHVWLQJ divorced and civilly remarried &DWKROLFV PLJKW VRPHWLPHV EH allowed to receive Communion even without an annulment of WKHLU ÂżUVW VDFUDPHQWDO PDUULDJHV “Fraternal and open confrontations foster the growth of theological and pastoral thought,â€? he said. “I’m not afraid of this; on the FRQWUDU\ , VHHN LW ´ $VNHG LI WKH &KXUFKÂśV WHDFKings on sexual and medical ethics UHSUHVHQWHG ÂłQRQ QHJRWLDEOH YDOXHV´ D IRUPXODWLRQ XVHG E\ 3RSH Benedict, Pope Francis said he had “never understood the expresVLRQ ÂľQRQ QHJRWLDEOH YDOXHVϫ “Values are values, period,â€? he said. “I cannot say that, among the ÂżQJHUV RI D KDQG WKHUH LV RQH less useful than another. That is why I cannot understand in what sense there could EH QHJRWLDEOH YDOXHV ´ Pope Francis said FDVHV RI VH[ DEXVH E\ SULHVWV KDG OHIW “very profound ZRXQGV´ EXW WKDW starting with the

Fraternal and open ‘confrontations foster the growth of theological and pastoral thought. I’m not afraid of this; on the contrary, I seek it. – Pope Francis

’

SRQWLÂżFDWH RI 3RSH %HQHGLFW ;9, the Church has done “perhaps more than anyoneâ€? to solve the SUREOHP 5HĂ€HFWLQJ RQ KLV RZQ SRSXlarity, the pope criticised “ideological interpretations, a certain mythology of Pope Francis. When it is said, for instance, that he leaves the Vatican at night to go feed the tramps on Via Ottaviano. That never even occurred to me.â€? Âł7R SRUWUD\ WKH SRSH DV D NLQG RI VXSHUPDQ D W\SH RI VWDU VWULNHV me as offensive,â€? he said. “The pope is a man who laughs, weeps, sleeps soundly and has friends OLNH HYHU\ERG\ HOVH $ QRUPDO person.â€?

+H DFNQRZOHGJHG WKDW KH KDV continued his longtime practice of phoning people who write to him ZLWK WKHLU SUREOHPV LQFOXGLQJ DQ \HDU ROG ZLGRZ ZKR ORVW KHU son, whom he calls once a month. Pope Francis said he has sought out his predecessor Pope Benedict for advice and encouraged him to “go out and participate in the life of the Churchâ€?, PRVW UHFHQWO\ E\ DSSHDULQJ DW D )HE FHUHPRQ\ ZLWK WKH &ROOHJH of Cardinals in St Peter’s Basilica. “The pope emeritus is not a statue in a museum,â€? Pope FranFLV VDLG 1RWLQJ WKDW ELVKRSV QHYHU retired until after the Second VatiFDQ &RXQFLO EXW WKDW WKH SUDFWLFH KDV VLQFH EHFRPH WKH QRUP Pope Francis said the “same thing should happen with the pope HPHULWXV %HQHGLFW LV WKH ÂżUVW DQG PD\EH WKHUH ZLOO EH RWKHUV :H GRQÂśW NQRZ ´ $VNHG DERXW WKH 9DWLFDQÂśV ODFN RI GLSORPDWLF UHODWLRQV with China, whose government requires Catholics to register with a state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association and punishes PHPEHUV RI WKH FODQGHVWLQH “undergroundâ€? Church, Pope Francis said he had written to Chinese President Xi Jinping “when he was elected, three days after me. And he answered me. There are some relations.â€? „ CNS

20 OPINION

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

2 Highland Road, #01-03 Singapore 549102. Telephone: 6858 3055. Fax: 6858 2055. Website: www.catholicnews.sg Facebook: www.facebook.com/catholicnews MANAGING EDITOR: Father Richards Ambrose: ra@catholic.org.sg

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ANALYSIS

A ‘Pope Francis effect’? Perhaps too early to tell CNS photo

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON – Pope Francis’

popularity began immediately after his March 13, 2013, election. His appeal has been on a fast track ever since, causing many to speculate of a possible “Francis effectâ€? of increased numbers of Catholics going to church. Although there has been anecdotal evidence of a resurgence of interest in the Church since the pope’s election, it may still be too early to see if this relates to new or returning members to the Church. A report from the US-based Pew Research Center, released on March 6, reiterates what most people likely realise: Pope Francis is immensely popular among US Catholics – so much so that eight in 10 have a favourable view of him. But according to the poll’s results, this has not brought more people to Mass or the sacraments. The polling – conducted from Feb 14-23 among 1,821 adults nationwide that included 351 Catholics – found no change in the number of Americans – 22 percent – who identify themselves as Catholic now and those who did prior to the election of Pope Francis. The data also found no change in self-reported rates of weekly Mass attendance among Catholics, which the report said remains at 40 percent. 7KH VXUYH\ DOVR GLG QRW ÂżQG evidence that Catholics are volunteering or going to confession more often now than in the previRXV \HDU EXW LW GLG ÂżQG WKDW VHYHQ in 10 US Catholics see Pope Francis representing a major change in direction for the Church. It also showed that during the past year, 26 percent of Catholics have become “more excitedâ€? about their Catholic faith and 40

A survey found no change in self-reported rates of weekly Mass attendance in the US. However, seven in 10 US Catholics see Pope Francis as representing a major change in Church direction. percent of Catholics have been praying more often. The poll, conducted by landline and cellphones, has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points. Some observers told Catholic News Service that the pope’s impact shouldn’t be measured in returning Catholics, but in the restored image of the Catholic Church since Pope Francis was elected and the number of Catholics who feel proud of their faith again. Others say the measurement of the pope’s impact will take at least another year, and might be more noticeable after the bishops’ meeting on the family in October. However, even as local parish OHDGHUV DQG SROOVWHUV WU\ WR ¿JXUH out what the pope’s appeal means, Church leaders don’t deny that they have seen a ripple effect from the pope’s example, which they say should ultimately point to God.

Bishop Rodolfo Wirz Kraemer of Maldonado, president of the Uruguayan bishops’ conference, told Catholic News Service (CNS) there has not been an automatic or immediate increase in Mass attendance since the pope’s election. “There is a growth but it is a slow process.â€? “What I have seen is a renewal ... a greater interest of the people for the gospel, for the Church ... for Christ,â€? he added. Bishop Guilherme Werlang of Ipameri, president of the Brazilian bishops’ commission for justice and peace, had a similar reaction. “I think it’s too early to state that there has been an increase in participation. What we can say LV WKDW DW WKLV ÂżUVW PRPHQW RI HQthusiasm, there has been a greater number of people at Masses ... but we want people to return to the Church because of Christ not because of the pope.â€? „ CNS

Religious coinage in His temple NO ONE, be that an individual or an institution, controls access to God. Jesus makes this abundantly clear. We see this, for example, in the story of Jesus cleansing the temple by overturning the money-tables. This incident is often used to justify anger and violence in *RGÂśV QDPH ,QYDULDEO\ ZKHQ VRPHRQH DIÂżUPV WKDW God is non-violent, he or she is met with the reaction: “What about Jesus driving the money-changers out of the temple?â€? “What about Jesus losing His temper and displaying anger?â€? Whatever the legitimacy of those questions, the story of Jesus cleansing the temple has a deeper intent. This is particularly clear in John’s Gospel where this incident is set within a context wherein Jesus is replacing a series of former religious customs with a new Christian way of doing things. For example, immediately prior to this incident of cleansing the temple, Jesus, at the Wedding Feast of Cana, replaces a former religious FXVWRP XSRQ HQWHULQJ D -HZLVK KRXVH \RX SXULÂżHG \RXUVHOI ZLWK D QXPber of ritual ablutions before you could sit at the table) with the new Christian way of purifying yourself for a seat at the heavenly table (for Christians, the wine of Christian community, the wine of the Eucharist, now cleanses you so that you can sit at the table). The cleansing of the temple needs to be understood in this context: Jesus is replacing a former religious practice with the Christian way of doing things, and He is revealing something very important about God as He does this. To state it metaphorically: Jesus is replacing a former religious coinage with a new religious coinage. Here are both the metaphor and the lesson: We’re all familiar with the incident: Jesus comes into the temple area where the money-changers have set up their tables, overturns their tables, and drives out the money-changers with the words: “Take all of this out of here and stop using my Father’s house as a market.â€? But this has to be carefully understood. On the surface, the text appears brutally clear, but beneath its surface it is subtly symbolic (even if rather brutal in its meaning). How do we begin to unpack its meaning? It’s important to recognise that those moneychangers performed a needed function. People came to Jerusalem from many different countries to worship at the temple. But they carried the coins of their own countries and, upon arriving at the temple, had to exchange their own currency for Jewish currency so as to be able to buy the animals (doves, VKHHS FDWWOH WKH\ QHHGHG RI RIIHU VDFULÂżFH 7KH PRQH\FKDQJHUV IXOÂżOOHG WKDW IXQFWLRQ OLNH EDQNLQJ NLRVNV GR today when you step off an airplane in a foreign country and you need to exchange some of your coinage for the coinage of that country. Now, of course, some of these moneychangers were less-than-honest, but that wasn’t the real reason why Jesus reacted so strongly. Nor was He unduly scandalised because commerce was happening in a holy place. When Jesus says, “Take all of this out of here and stop using my Father’s house as a market,â€? He is teaching something beyond the need to be honest and beyond the need to not be buying and selling on Church property. More deeply, not turning the Father’s house into a market might be translated as: “You don’t need to exchange your own currency for any other currency when it comes to worshipping God. You can worship God in your own currency, with your own coinage. Nobody, no individual, no temple, no Church, no institution, ultimately sits between you and God and can say: ‘You need to go through us’!â€? That’s a strong teaching that doesn’t sit well with many of us. It immediately posits the question: “What about the Church? Isn’t it necessary for salvation?â€? That question is even more poignant today in an age wherein many sincere people already take for granted that they have no need of the Church: “I’m spiritual, but not religious.â€? *UDQWHG WKHUHÂśV D GDQJHU LQ DIÂżUPLQJ DQG HPSKDVLVLQJ WKLV WHDFKLQJ of Jesus, but, and this is the point, this teaching was not directed towards those in Jesus’ time who said: “I am spiritual, but not religious.â€? Rather it was addressed to religious individuals and at a religious institution that believed that the way to God had to go through a very particular channel (over which they had control). All religious coinage had to be transferred into their particular coinage, since in their belief, they controlled access to God. Jesus tries to cleanse us of any attitude or practice that would enshrine that belief. This does not deny either the legitimacy or necessity of the Church nor of those who do ministry in its name. God does work through the Church and its ministers. But this does deny all legitimacy to the claim that the Church and those who minister in its name control access to God. No one controls access to God, and if God ever loses His temper it’s because sometimes we believe we do. „

COMMENTARY 21

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Reaching out to those whose marriages have failed The Church can do a better job in this area, says Stephen Kent

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What can be accomplished is accommodating to modern times without VDFULÂżFLQJ WKH WUXWK :H FDQ ÂżQG ways to adapt to the times without changing doctrine.

A couple hold hands on their wedding day. The Church has to assist those suffering the pain of failed marriages, not condemn them, says writer Stephen Kent.

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FLDWH ZKDW LW PHDQV WR EH PDUULHG XQWLO ÂłGHDWK XV SDUW´ 7KH &KXUFK FDQ SODQ WR GR D better job in this area in the future. Meanwhile, it has to assist those ZKR QHHG VSLULWXDO FDUH QRW FRQGHPQ WKHP We can learn from Pope Francis taking the pastoral approach. “When this love fails – for it RIWHQ IDLOV Âą ZH QHHG WR IHHO WKH SDLQ RI WKH IDLOXUH ´ KH VDLG DQG ZH GRQÂśW QHHG WR FRQGHPQ ÂłEXW WR walk with them.â€? He also speaks of “how much ORYH DQG ZKDW JUHDW FORVHQHVV ZH VKRXOG DOVR KDYH IRU RXU EURWKHUV DQG VLVWHUV ZKR LQ WKHLU OLYHV KDYH KDG WKH PLVIRUWXQH RI D IDLOHG ORYH´ Acting pastorally, seeking soOXWLRQV OHWÂśV WKLQN RI RQH JRRG UHDVRQ ZK\ LW FDQ EH GRQH „ CNS

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22 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

We need discipline to be disciples During Lent, we may need extra HIIRUW WR DGKHUH WR RXU VDFULĂ€FHV %\ 'DQLHO 6 0XOKDOO In his First Letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul encouraged the Church at Corinth to think of their faith as an athlete thinks of a competition: run to win. “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; , GR QRW ÂżJKW DV LI , ZHUH VKDGRZboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should EH GLVTXDOLÂżHG´ &RU As Paul notes, athletes drive their bodies hard, training them to accomplish great things. They discipline their bodies and minds so that when the race starts, they can strive to do their very best. For us, as Christians, the race is how we live our faith. Each day is a competition, and the only chance that we have of winning is preparing for the contest that lies before us. To be successful we must be willing to train. To train successfully, we must bring discipline into our lives. The joke goes like this: How does a musician get to Carnegie Hall? The answer: Practice, practice, practice. We are all born with innate gifts and talents, but for us to use those gifts and talents well, we must use them repeatedly. Research made popular by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers indicates that 10,000

hours of practice are needed to hone those gifts and talents so that ZH FDQ XVH WKHP SURÂżFLHQWO\ Historically, Lent was a time RI VDFULÂżFH &KULVWLDQV ZHUH H[pected to fast and abstain from eating meat. People gave up something they liked, such as candy or soft drinks, to deny themselves this pleasure. Since the Second Vatican Council the Catholic understanding of Lent has changed. What had once been underVWRRG DV D SHULRG RI PRUWLÂżFDWLRQ and penance can now be better understood as a period of preparation and training. During Lent we develop the discipline we need to control our wants and needs. This control over our behaviour and cravings helps us prepare to live the life of discipleship. The word “disciplineâ€? primarily describes the training done to SURGXFH D VSHFLÂżF RXWFRPH 6R if I want to be a mathematician, I would need to study the discipline of mathematics. If I want to be a musician, I would study the discipline of music. And if I want to learn to be a Christian, I would have to study the discipline of Christianity. I would then become a disciple of Christ and what He taught. Throughout history humans have learned that certain practices promote discipline. These practices, which are considered virtues, are necessary for healthy, wholesome and holy lives. For example, being able to control our desires has long been considered essential for strength of character.

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Self-control requires will power, and controlling the mind and body requires self-discipline – doing what we should do even when we are tempted to abandon our efforts. Only by developing self-discipline and self-control do we gain power over our lives. 5HVHDUFK KDV VKRZQ VFLHQWL¿F FRQ¿UPDWLRQ RI WKH YDOXH RI WKHVH character strengths and virtues, which, along with grit – the determination to see tasks through to completion – are the key ingredient to success. Learning to delay JUDWL¿FDWLRQ KDV SURYHQ WR EH DQ

important discipline as well. $ VWXG\ FRQGXFWHG LQ WKH V DQG V DW 6WDQIRUG 8QLYHUVLW\ by psychologist Walter Mischel showed that children who could control their immediate desires in order to achieve later rewards were far more successful later in life than those who couldn’t. The challenge for us is to determine how we can best use the period of Lent to prepare our minds and bodies to follow Jesus. Start by setting a goal and then doing what it takes to accomplish it. The idea is to go into Lent intent on becoming

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a better person and a more mature Christian. Decide what changes you want to make and what you need to do to accomplish those changes. Next, establish a daily plan for accomplishing your goal. Let’s say you want to grow closer to God in prayer. Consider setting aside time each day to pray. For motivation, why not pray during lunch time and give the money you save to feed the hungry. Now you have two worthy goals to motivate you, and you will learn the discipline of prayer. Whatever discipline you practice, take these words of St Paul to heart: “I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus� 3KLO „ CNS Mulhall is a writer and catechist who OLYHV LQ /DXUHO 0DU\ODQG 86$

Discipline shouldn’t be punishment By Rhina Guidos Among “10 Things to Remember for Lentâ€?, Bishop David L Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA, lists “disciplineâ€? as one of the habits to work on. “The 40 days of Lent are also a good, set time to work on personal discipline in general,â€? he writes. “Instead of giving something up, it can be doing something positive. ‘I’m going to exercise more. I’m going to pray more. I’m going to be nicer to my family, friends and co-workers.’â€? Included among these 10 things to remember are: praying more, fasting, not doing too much, being patient with oneself, showing more charity, learning to love like Christ. If you think about it, discipline may be the most central of these, since most of them involve a great degree of discipline. It’s easy to argue that without discipline, none of these are possible. Years ago, my team at work FRQVWDQWO\ IDFHG FRQĂ€LFWV DULVLQJ

from a colleague whom we found terribly annoying. We put up with him but privately complained about his behaviour to one another. It was terribly uncharitable behaviour on our part. For Lent that year, another colleague of mine decided that in the spirit of “giving something upâ€? for Lent, I should give up complaining about him. Every time I wanted to complain, I had to say his name and then, “He is my brother and I love him.â€? To be truthful, it began as a joke. 7KH ÂżUVW IHZ GD\V , ZRXOG UHpeat the mantra in my head every time he said or did something I found annoying in a meeting. As the days of Lent wore on, it became easier and easier to stop complaining about him, but now and then I would fall off the wagon, so to speak. By then, I was shocked to catch myself complaining. When he stepped out of line, I would have a civil discussion with him about what was annoying me. We didn’t become friends, but we weren’t enemies.

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The repetition helped me correct this bad habit and helped me see the path we’re called to walk. Proverbs 20:13 tells us, “For the command is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and a way to life

are the reproofs that discipline.� The goal of this or any discipline during Lent is not punishment. It is doing something repeatedly so that it will change us into better people. Hebrews 12:5 tells us that just

like a parent who loves and wants his child to succeed, God calls us to walk a path that will make our lives better: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by Him; for whom the Lord loves, He disciplines; He scourges every son he acknowledges.� In the same passage we’re told to “endure your trials as discipline; God treats you as sons. For what ‘son’ is there whom his father does not discipline?� „ CNS Guidos is an editor at Catholic News Service.

Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

23

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Sunday March 23, 2014 „ CatholicNews

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Guy of Pomposa Guy of Pomposa (d. 1046) always dressed very well, because he believed that would be pleasing to his parents. During a celebration of the feast of St Apollinaris, he realised this was a form of vanity, so he decided to change his attitude in an attempt to improve his life spiritually. +H JDYH KLV ¿QH FORWKLQJ WR the poor and began to wear the clothes of a poor man. He then spent three years under the spiritual guidance of a hermit, and this time of learning led to him being a member and later abbot of a monastery that was under the direction of the hermit. Guy spent many hours a day alone, praying and fasting. The monks under him admired him, and his example of holiness inspired many men to join the monastery. We honour him on March 31. „

strate the power of God to the pharaoh of Egypt. When Moses had touched the water of the Nile River with it, the ZDWHU WXUQHG WR EORRG WKH ¿VK LQ LW GLHG DQG WKH ZDWHU EHFDPH XQ¿W WR GULQN When Moses and the tribal elders who were with him reached the rock at Horeb, Moses raised the staff and struck the rock with it. Immediately the rock EURNH RSHQ DQG IUHVK ZDWHU ÀRZHG RXW from it. Because this was a place where the people of Israel quarrelled with the

Lord and tested Him, by asking, “Is the Lord in our midst or not?� it was called Massah and Meribah, words that meant “to quarrel� and “to test�. „ Read more about it: Exodus 17

Q&A 1. Why did the people complain to Moses at the camp? 2. What happened when Moses struck the rock?

PUZZLE:

Wordsearch: „ FRESH

„ STONE

„ SAFELY

„ ANSWER

„ ISRAEL

„ ROCK

„ THIRST

„ OBEYED

„ WATER

1. s e s m o _______________

2. o a r n a _______________

K R K D U D S _______________

J H W S \ _______________

5. d r e

a s e (two words)

___________

____________

6. t m u o n s a i n i (two words) ___________

____________

7. w s i d s n e r l e ___________

Bible Accent:

Answers to Puzzle: 1. Moses, 2. Aaron, 3. Pharaoh, 4. Egypt, 5. Red Sea 6. Mount Sinai, 7. wilderness

An exodus is a leaving or moving of a large number of people. The exodus of the Bible is the story of how God led the people of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt into the promised land of Canaan. God appeared to Moses in a burning bush and said that He had heard the prayers and complaints of His people, and that He had chosen Moses to be their leader. Moses went before Pharaoh and asked that the Israelites be set free. Pharaoh refused, so God sent several plagues on Egypt unWLO 3KDUDRK ¿QDOO\ OHW WKH ,VUDHOLWHV JR 7KH QH[W \HDUV ZHUH ¿OOHG ZLWK KDUGVKLSV DQG PLUDFOHV XQWLO WKH SHRSOH RI ,VUDHO ¿QDOO\ UHDFKHG &DQDDQ 7KH story continues in the Book of Joshua, named for the man who was given the responsibility of leading the people into Canaan after the death of Moses. „

Unscramble the names of the folORZLQJ SHRSOH RU SODFHV that were part of the Exodus story.

BIBLE TRIVIA: :KR IRXQG EDE\ 0RVHV ÀRDWLQJ LQ D EDVNHW" (Exodus 2)

Answer to Wordsearch

AFTER the Lord had led them safely out of the land of Egypt, the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for many years, knowing that one day they would reach the land that God had promised would be theirs. Along the way were many hardships. When they had reached the Red Sea, they thought they would not be able to cross it, but the Lord parted the waters and they crossed on dry land. When food was scarce, God had sent manna from heaven and quail for them to eat. When they reached an area called the wilderness of Sin, the Israelites made a camp in a place called Rephidim, as the Lord had directed them. But there was a problem with the campsite that upset the people. There was no fresh water. They went to Moses and said, “Give us wa-

ter to drink.� Moses answered, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to a test?� But the people did quarrel with Moses. They said, “Why then did you bring us out of Egypt? To have us die of thirst with our children and our livestock?� Moses went before the Lord with the complaints that had been brought to him. “What shall I do with this people?� he asked. “A little more and they will stone me!� The Lord gave an answer to Moses. “Go on ahead of the people, and take along with you some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the Nile. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb.� Moses obeyed the Lord. He brought his staff with him. This was the same staff that Moses used to demon-

Answers to Bible Trivi Pharoah’s daughter

By Joe Sarnicola

28

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Sunday March 23, 2014 CatholicNews

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