OCTOBER 12, 2003, vol 53, no 21 by CatholicNews

CalholicN ews |SUNDAYS OCTOBER 12 AND OCTOBER 19, 2003 SINGAPORE 50 CENTS/WEST MALAYSIA RM 1.20 M.I.T.A.(P) No.105/01/2003 PPS 201/4/2004 Vol 53 No.21

POPE JOHN PAUL II

YEARS |

PAGE 7

Preach more by example than words, pope tells bishops and the Americas. They were participating in a two-week formation course organized by the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Pope John Paul II told the bishops to increase efforts to spread the Gospel, with an emphasis more on preaching by

CASTEL GANDALFO, Italy -

Archbishop Nicholas Chia visited Pope John Paul II at Castel Gandalfo, the pope’s summer residence outside Rome Sept. 19. He was among a group of about 170 English-speaking bishops from more than three dozen countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania

personal example than by words. He reminded the bishops to root their lives in “intense and constant prayer” and told them to be confident that “God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity” in the third millennium. The pope reminded the

bishops of the primary importance of their own efforts for holiness, and he encouraged them to draw from the example of local saints, who make “the love of Christ visible and, we could even say, almost physically tangible.” Archbishop Chia will be in

Rome again during Oct. 13 - 23 to join in the celebrations marking the 25th year of John Paul H’s election as pope and the beatification of Mother Teresa. He will also be attending meetings related to the Liturgy organized by the Congregation of Divine Cult and Discipline of Sacraments. □

A SMILING Archbishop N icholas Chia greets Pope John Paul II at C astel Gandalfo.This was the third time that Archbishop Chia had m et the pope. The first occasion was in Rome in 1986 with a Bible Study Group and then in 2001 with the bishops o f M alaysia and Brunei fo r their periodic ad limina visit. Although the C astel Gandalfo meeting was b rief - there were many others in the queue to greet the po p e “it's a wonderful feeling to m eet the Vicar o f C hrist,” Archbishop Chia said. While the pope looked fra il, “he was very a lert”described the archbishop.

i t ’s a wonderful feeling to meet the Vicar of Christ.” - A rchbishop N icholas Chia

TWoyears On Oct. 7, Nicholas Chia had been Archbishop of Singapore for two years. How was it? SINGAPORE -The

man parishioners of Holy Cross call “the people’s priest” for his caring and approachable attitude appears to have transited smoothly to become “the people’s archbishop.” The heavy workload and big responsibilities of an archbishop have not changed his demeanour. He smiles freely, is cheerful and optimistic and, like the good shepherd that he is, works constantly to make better Catholics of those in his care. He remains the kindly, cooperative and responsive person that he was known to be making time, taking the effort to see and listen to people who need to talk to him. When a scheduled meeting

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with a CatholicNews correspondent did not materialise, he emailed an apology - he’s a senior and busy citizen, aged 65, who seems comfortable with new technology - and followed up with a late evening phone call. These may be simple acts, but not necessarily convenient to someone with his hectic schedule of liturgical celebrations, meetings, religious and public functions, speech-preparation (“have to think of what to say, quite hard sometimes,” he laughs), planning and praying. HOW is life as an archbishop, we asked him. “Very different from that of a parish priest in terms of responsibility and activities,” he replied. “As a parish priest, you are responsible for a couple of priests and a few thousand parishioners (8,000 at Holy Cross, according to the Catholic Directory 2003).” As archbishop, he is responsible for 27 parishes, more

Archbishop Chia

than 120 priests and over 150,000 functions is to render legal assistance to the church. He Catholics. There are also the intends to continue seeking and religious orders, the commissions encouraging talented lay people and the societies, and the schools to share their talent - and getting - yes, the schools. them organised and motivated “There is a lack of religious to serve the church. brothers and sisters in Catholic “Every Catholic must be schools, and there is a need to made to realise that he has a help lay principals to keep up the charisms of the ______ _ _ _ _ _ responsibility to be involved, to schools,” he N icholas Chia contribute,” he commented. has transited stressed. To get this To address the educational and challenges that sm oothly from motivational process Catholic schools in being “the going, programmes Singapore face, the p eople’s priest” such as Bible study archbishop earlier this year commissioned the to “the p eople’s courses have been implemented. Catholic Education archbishop.” Regarding young Council to advise and Catholics - the segment represent him on that most observers describe as matters related to education. “most dificult” - “a Youth Centre has been set up at the Nativity THIS involvement of lay Centre in Upper Serangoon Catholics in the life and work of Road,” the archbishop noted. the church is a vision Archbishop A major project he wants to Chia has been working at. activate is an Archdiocesan He is pleased to have initiated Pastoral Council. This council the formation of the Catholic was proposed in the mid-1990s Lawyers Guild, one of whose

but there was insufficient followup and it did not materialise. WHEN he was ordained as archbishop in 2001, he said he wanted to maintain a close relationship with the priests - the heart of parish communities. “ I have visited all the parishes to talk to the priests, and get to know them better,” he said. “And many of the religious orders too.” “The purpose of these visits is to foster closer collaboration,” Archbishop Chia explained. He sees many challenges ahead. “We have to keep things moving. Changes are necessary.” One of the changes he has been making is the transfer of priests to different parishes. “It is important - it’s a renewal process. Otherwise, people become too comfortable and things stagnate.” “There may be initial unease in some cases but eventually the priests and parishes benefit from new ideas and energy,” he concluded. □

Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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SJI teams win Bible Quiz By Patricia Ang

- St Joseph’s Institution won the first and second prizes in the annual Archbishop Nicholas Chia InterSchool Bible Quiz. The quiz was held Sept. 6 at St Joseph’s Institution. Eleven Catholic secondary schools took part, with some schools fielding more than one team. The quiz was based on the Gospel of Mark. The students were asked textual questions as well as higher level questions pertaining to the author’s original intent and the context of the writing. Participants were tested on individual, group and speed rounds. Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Katong), St Patrick’s SINGAPORE

BIBLE quiz participants enjoying their triumph with Brother Michael Broughton and Ms Rosa Lau.

School and two teams from St Joseph’s Institution qualified for the finals. The first and second prizes went to St Joseph’s Institution, followed by St Patrick’s School and CHIJ (Katong). Members of the winning team include Mark Ooi, Thomas Wong, Gideon Sim, Matthew Chua and Matthew Hui (reserve). Second runners-up are Navin

Brian Ramakrishna, Richard Low, Shaun Nathan, Jonathan Sim and Edmond Lo (reserve). “It was great winning again for the second consecutive time,” said Mark Ooi of the winning team. □

A walk for peace and harmony SINGAPORE -

Some one thousand people of many faiths participated in a three km walk along the East Coast Park jogging path Sept. 21. Catholic nuns in their habit stood among Muslim women in tudung and Sikhs in turbans. Venerable Shi Ming Yi, who abseiled down Suntec Tower for charity earlier this year, was spotted among monks in grey robes. Prayers were said by leaders of eight different faiths. Sr. Theresa Seow, president of the IRO, said that this was the first time in Singapore the phrase “inter religious” was used in place of the usual “inter-racial” in a public event - a result of the Declaration on Religious Harmony drafted by the inter-religious harmony committee and accepted by the government. At the end point, breakfast was served to all the participants. The vegetarian burgers given out by the Singapore Buddhist Federation were absolutely delicious. □

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7.30 pm Church of St Anne: MC Sisters - Blessed Mother Teresa

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Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003

Role models New saints highlight church’s missionary expansion in Africa, Asia - To underline the church’s universal mission, Pope John Paul II is preparing to canonize three 19th-century priests who helped launch evangelization programs in Africa and Asia. The Oct. 5 liturgy in St. Peter’s Square highlighted the lives of people who took radical and sometimes risky steps in order to spread the Gospel in new geographic areas. The pope declared the following as saints: Blessed Daniel Comboni, who founded the Comboni missionary order and evangelized parts of Africa; Blessed Arnold Janssen, who founded the Divine Word order and began a missionary program in Asia; and Blessed Joseph Freinademetz, who dedicated his life to evangelizing in China.

VATICAN CITY

Witness to Christ with Mary POPE JOHN PAUL II’s MESSAGE FOR WORLD MISSION SUNDAY 2003 D ear Brothers and Sisters,

Already in my first Encyclical Redemptor hominis, I wrote that only in an atmosphere of fervent prayer are we able “to receive the Holy Spirit coming upon us and thus become Christ’s witnesses ‘to the ends of the earth’, like those who went forth from the Upper Room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Mary and the mission of the Church in the Year o f the Rosary

I would like the Year of the Rosary to be a favourable occasion for believers on all the continents to deepen the meaning of their Christian vocation. At the school of the Blessed Virgin and following her example, every community will be better able to have its own “contemplative” and “missionary” activity emerge. Frequent meditation on the Word of God forms us to live “in living communion with Jesus through - we might say - the heart of his Mother”. A more contem plative Church: the face of Christ contemplated

Cum Maria contemplemur Christi vultum! These

words often come to mind: contemplate the “face” of Christ with Mary. Indeed, Mary makes herself our teacher and our guide. Under the action of the Holy Spirit, she helps us acquire that “serene boldness” which enables believers to pass on to others their experience of Jesus and the hope that motivates them. A holier Church: the face o f Christ imitated and loved

In Redemptoris missio I recalled, “Every member of the faithful is called to holiness and to mission”. In contemplating the mysteries of the Rosary, the believer is encouraged to follow Christ and to share his life so that he can say with St Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2,20).

A m ore m issionary Church: the Face o f C hrist proclaimed

At no other time has the Church had so many possibilities of proclaiming Jesus, thanks to the development of the means of social communication. For this reason, the Church today is called to make the Face of her Bridegroom shine forth with her more radiant holiness. In this far from easy effort, she knows she is sustained by Mary. From Mary she “learns” to be a “virgin”, totally dedicated to her Spouse, Jesus Christ, and a “mother” of many children whom she brings forth to eternal life. Under the watchful gaze of her Mother, the ecclesial community flourishes like a family revived by the powerful outpouring of the Spirit, and, accepting the challenges of the new evangelization, contemplates the merciful face of Jesus in the brothers and sisters, especially the poor and needy, in those far from the faith and the Gospel. In particular, the Church is not afraid to cry to the world that Christ is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn 14,6). She is not afraid to proclaim joyfully that “good news, which has as its heart and POPE John Paul its whole content the person of II kneels in prayer Jesus Christ, the Word made at St. P eter’s flesh, the one Saviour of the Basilica Sept. 27. world”. It is necessary to prepare capable and holy evangelisers. The fervour of the apostles must not be allowed to weaken, especially in regard to the mission ad gentes. The Rosary, if it is fully rediscovered and appreciated, is an ordinary yet fruitful pedagogical and spiritual tool to form the People of God to work in the vast field of apostolic action.

MISSIONARIES o f Charity Sister Trishita feeds and comforts a resident o f the order’s House of Peace in the West Bank town of Nablus Sept. 22. C N S P h o to s

Missionaries carry on M other Teresa’s work in West Bank city NABLUS, West Bank - Just a few minutes’ walk from the heart of Old Nablus with its bombed-out buildings and bullet-riddled windows, six Missionaries of Charity nuns carry on the spirit of Mother Teresa’s work. In a sparse, but sparkling clean and airy two-story building, the sisters care for 14 elderly women and 14 severely handicapped children in their House of Peace. In the crumbling city of Nablus - which, as one of the centers of Palestinian extremism, has been the scene of IsraeliPalestinian battles — the home is an oasis of tranquility, with a shaded patio and a neatly tended garden. “We are trying our best to carry on (Mother Teresa’s) work, although here there is always war. Even though it is very difficult, we are happy to spread Mother’s spirit in the Holy Land,” said Missionaries of Charity Sister Jeremy. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India, who is scheduled to be beatified Oct. 19 in Rome, founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 to help the poorest of the poor. Now the order has sisters in 132 countries. □

A precise mandate

With Mary, we can obtain everything from her Son Jesus. Supported by Mary, we will not hesitate to devote ourselves generously to taking the proclamation of the Good News to the ends of the earth. With these sentiments, I cordially bless all of you. □ His Holiness, Pope John Paul II

Where to go for Mass in Phnom Penh? VISITORS to Cambodia may have difficulty finding a Sunday Mass that is celebrated in English. The Masses at the Cathedral, Phnom Penh, are in Khmer. Well, don’t worry. Fr Ashley Evans, SJ says that Mass in English is held at 5pm Saturday evenings at the Russian Cultural Centre, Norodom Blvd. Fr Evans has lived for 10 years in Cambodia where he has been responsible for a parish and a student hostel. He also taught at the university. The MEP Fathers from France used to be the main missionary

FATHER Ashley Evans, SJ when he was in Singapore recently

congregation in Cambodia. Today, there are four main religious orders: the Jesuits, the Salesians (Don Bosco Foundation), the Maryknolls, and the Missionaries of Charity. Members of the Hong Kong Lay Missionary Association and Australian Catholic Relief

help out too. All have NGO status. The Jesuits run a technical school for the handicapped and provide technical training for both men and women. The Don Bosco Foundation run schools for the poor, including street children. When asked about the type of lay missionaries Singapore could contribute to Cambodia. Fr Ashley, who was in Singapore recently, advised that those with medical and educational backgrounds would be very much in demand. For instance, professional teachers can teach English in the June/July summer school of the university. □

World Mission Sunday 19 October 2003 2.30-4.00pm Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for Missionary Activity (ACMA)

Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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Who our “armchair missionaries”

SINCE October 2002, the following projects have received support through ACMA: § Spirituality Centre, Sivagangai, India § Extension of Middle School, Sivagangai, India § St Peter’s Community Hall, Kerala, India § Airfare to Ethiopia mission for Teresa Lee & Theresa Gsodl § Community Centre, Mannar, Sri Lanka § Construction of village church, Andhra Pradesh, India § Renovate Presbytery roof, Luweero, Uganda, Africa § Rebuild Church, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam § Renovate church, Elangar, India § Construct kitchen extensions, Kalaymo, Myanmar. § Replace elementary school, Andhra Pradesh, India § Replace current community hall, Karur, India

ON THE THIRD Sunday of January each year, the church makes a collection for missionary projects that need financial assistance. These funds are administered by ACMA. Mission stations may write to the Archdiocese of Singapore to request financial assistance for their projects. If the requests are missionary in thrust, the letters are forwarded to ACMA. ACMA checks on the authenticity of the request with the local archbishop or religious superior. It will then ascertain whether the mission station has recourse to other funding agencies, determine the financial profile of the area in question, and then recommend an amount of financial assistance. CARE o f the old and destitute at the Santhi Ashram, Bhoothapandy, India, includes giving them some personal care such as hair cuts. PARISHIONERS of Nakasongola parish, Luweero, Uganda, gather before the presbytery which now has a new roof.

Replace badly worn-out vehicle, Papua New Guinea Board, Lodging and Education for 60 boys, Sivagangai, India Construction of station church, Flores, Indonesia Santhi Ashram for Aged & Destitute, Bhoothapandy, India Candle-making facilities for mentally retarded children, Tiruchirappalli, India Financial support for 6 aged brothers of religious order, Pathein, Myanmar Rehabilitation home for young kids and displaced women, Sri Lanka Rebuild flood-destroyed substation church, Andra Pradesh, India Construction of Village Mission Station in Sivagangi, India Reroofing and renovation of Convent Building Chenai, India Water scheme for drinking water, Kanyakumari, India □

THE MISSION base at Kanyakumari district, India now has proper drinking water.

SOME members o f the new NET Exco with Chairman Sally Sng (seated left)

An introduction to Christian living ACMA is evangelising to nonChristians via a series of booklets which tackle some vital questions of life: Stress, Poor Self-Worth & Loneliness, Mystery of Suffering, Breakdown in Family Life, Despair & Suicide, Death, and Christian Joy. Each booklet features examples of Christian living, a scriptural passage and how Christians draw strength from the Word and Faith. The series begins with the first booklet which is in fullcolour, entitled “The Catholic Church-Who Are We?” Interested parties can request

this booklet. They may then apply for the whole series of seven booklets . Finally, they will receive a book entitled “Walking with God” which contains more reflections on the meaning of life. Possibly by this stage, the enquirer may be ready to join a Christian community, such as the RCIA programme, or the Alpha programme. This is the best gift of life you can give to another. Is there someone you know who is searching? There is absolutely no charge for the booklets. Materials are mailed in a plain envelope. What are you waiting for? □

Do you have a non-Christian relative, friend or colleague w ho is curious about w h a t Christians believe ?

Give them the ACMA series of booklets “Introduction to Christian Living” This is the best gift of life you can give to another. Ring or fax 64749184 or email acma_sg@pacific.net.sg (The booklets are for non-Christians)

Formation This year, a three-night Triduum to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi contained a powerful missionary theme. Fr Gino Henriques, the keynote speaker for all three nights, spoke to hundreds of people, of the evangelical power of the Eucharist. Catholics were reminded that like Jesus, we, who are fed at His Table, are to be broken and shared for others. The Eucharist sustains us as we take Jesus out into the world and bring the world back to the Table.

More ACMA activities Parish Missionary Groups

Parish Group System

They exist in three parishes Blessed Sacrament, Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Joseph (Bukit Timah). These groups reach out to the unchurched and to non-Christians through doorto-door visits, distributions of tracts, prayer campaigns, the Alpha programme, film shows and other non-threatening parish activities. They also support some overseas mission bases.

These exist in three parishes Immaculate Heart of Mary, St Teresa and Our Lady Queen of Peace. At their cell meetings there is formation either through the Word or from videos or cassettes followed by sharing on the input and on evangelical opportunities in their lives.

Inter-Religious Dialogue

World Mission Sunday

ACMA was invited to share the beliefs of the Catholic Church with a group of young Muslims in March 2003. The event, organised by Muslim students at NTU, was part of their Islamic Awareness Programme. Fr Renckens, Chairman of ACMA, was the keynote speaker for the Catholics at this inter-religious dialogue which was held at the Darul Arqam Auditorium. Ustaz Bani Ali then shared on the basic beliefs of Islam.

This takes place on the third Sunday in October. ACMA encourages Catholics in Singapore to join the worldwide Church to celebrate mission on that day and to participate in some form of missionary/ evangelical activity. This year, the emphasis is on the power of prayer in evangelization and all Catholics are invited to join in a special prayer rally at the Cathedral on 19 October, 2.304.00pm.

New Evangelization Team The main activity of this group is the School of Evangelization and the 16th School has just started. Formation is held at St Bernadette’s Church. Other activities of NET are the Alpha programme, catechesis to the housebound elderly in dialect and English, and giving talks and mini-courses on evangelization and discipleship. Recently, NET has been taking some groups of non-Christians around Catholic churches to explain the significance of the sanctuary, statues and other sacramentals found in our churches. □

CatholicN ews □

Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003

M Envoys to Ethiopia TERESA Lee and Theresa Gsodl have brought a lot of joy to a mission station in Ethiopia. These two veteran lay

missionaries spent 45 days in Ethiopia where they collaborated with the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in their works of evangelization and help for the less fortunate, old and young. Teresa Lee brought new ideas and teaching methods to the daycare centre. The children

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enjoyed the sessions on arts and crafts while the trainers found new ways to animate the children. Theresa Gsodl brought Dr Maria Redermannn, a dermatologist from Germany, who provided valuable advice and medication to the many needy. Theresa also taught the elderly ladies and staff reflexology and massage. Her prayerful approach to physical exercises was appreciated. The long-distance adoption programme for the orphans of the Salesians received a new lease of life because of Theresa and Teresa’s visit. Sr Carmelita of the mission base said “these two are surely missionaries that you can be proud of.” □ TERESA teaching the childen a new song.

Did you know...? There are 66 Singaporean m issionaries in many com ers o f the world. We ask you to pray for all o f them ...

Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood : Sr Jacinta Kow (Zambia, Africa); Sr Catherine Tay (Victoria, Australia); Sr Mary Grace Sebastian (Zambia, Africa); Sr Clare Koh & Sr Elizabeth Lim (Surrey, UK); Sr Mary Eucharia Tan (Nigeria, Africa). Good Shepherd Sisters : Sr Margaret Mary Lee (Kenya, Africa); Sr Mary Juliana Lee (Macau); Sr Mary Julia Queck (Hong Kong). Missionaries of Charity : Sr Lee Fong (New York, USA); Sr Shin Lei (New South Wales, Australia); Sr Carmel & Sr Jovier (Bangladesh);

Sr Francesca (Manila, Philippines); Sr Karol (Taiwan); Sr Longinus, Sr Maria Toni, Sr Pei Ling & Sr Tarcicius (West Bengal, India); Sr Marie of the Cross (Karachi, Pakistan).

Sr Bridget Foo (Northern Territory, Australia); Sr Calista Ponnudorai (Malawi, Africa);

Discalced Carmelites : Sr Marie of the Lamb (Uganda, Africa); and Sr Teresa of B1 Augustine (Christchurch, New Zealand).

At the time of writing which was just before the closure of the Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged on Thomson Road, the following were on ACMA’s registers :

Franciscan Missionaries of Mary : Sr Elizabeth Tan (Maurice); Sr Maria Ng & Sr Veronica de Rosa (Rome, Italy); Sr Agnes Poon (Taipei, Taiwan). Canossian Daughters of Charity : Sr Marie de Roza & Sr Geraldine Lim (Philippines); Sr Nataliha Biffi, Sr Angela Garavaglia, Sr Dorothy Lim, Sr Marilyn Lim, Sr Mary Wong & Sr Margaret Syn (Rome, Italy); Sr Joy Shelly (Victoria, Australia); Sr Catherine Wu (Hong Kong);

Infant Jesus Sisters : Sr Joan Tay (Bolivia, S.America) and Neriza Nicolasora (Nigeria, Africa)

Sr Gertrude du Precieus Sang & Sr Elizabeth Veronica (Taiwan); Sr Lucie de St Pierre, Sr Reginald Marie de St Esprit & Teresa de St Paul (Colombo, Sri Lanka); Sr Marie Damien de Sacre Coeur (Batticaloa, Sri Lanka); Sr Xavier de’ Assumption (England); Sr Marie Fatima de Jesus & Marie Fatima de St Jean (Rome, Italy); Sr Margaret Louise (Penang, Malaysia); Sr Lucy Maria, Sr Juliana & Sr Anne Paul (Hong Kong);

Sr Marie Monique de Sacre Coeur; Sr Paul de Sainte Madeleine, Sr Marie Dolores de St Francois, Sr Bernard de la Sainte Famille, Sr Regina de Ste Cecile, Sr Xavier de St Eugene, Sr Francis Xavier de Sacre Coeur, Sr Veronique de St Eugene & Dorothy Mary (France). Scheut Missions (CICM ): Rev Anthony Lim and Rev Peter Koh (Zambia, Africa); Br Anthony Lee (Manila, Philippines) Marist Brothers: Brother Maurice Chang (Hong Kong) In addition to praying fo r them, you may wish to subscribe to Catholic News fo r them. Just write to the ACMA office at 49 Holland Road, Singapore 258849 or email acma_sg@pacific.net.sg. The office will check and inform you o f the subscription rates and notify you o f the name o f the missionary you are supporting. □

Missionary options for everyone Sim ple things you, your family, friends or church group can do to help.

CELEBRATING a “big birthday” like the big 40 or 60 ... or an anniversary? Two lay persons who turned 40 and 60 years recently asked their friends to give them ang-pows instead of gifts or big dinners. One matched the gifts dollar for dollar. Both were able to send around US$2,000 to mission bases in Thailand and Cambodia. ACMA sometimes receives simple requests for help : e.g. mosquito nets for the children at a mission base, or feed street children for as little as US$12 per month. A lay missionary who went to India to help the Good Shepherd Sisters with the street children has set up a

library for them. If you would like to help in a small way, or if your parish group would like to “adopt” a project, contact the ACMA office at 49 Holland Road, Singapore 258849 or ring/fax 64749184 or email to acma_sg@pacific.net.sg. They will be able to refer you to some worrthwhile projects. □ MARIA with students in the Good Shepherd home in Chennai. She goes during the long school holidays to help teach the children.

Children can be missionaries too CAN CHILDREN be missionaries? Most certainly! Children are by nature, generous, and without prejudices. So who better to be our emissaries of God’s love than our children? Since its inception, ACMA has had some kind of mission for children. Back in the ’70s and 1 ’80s, ACMA encouraged children to correspond with those in mission lands. Children’s art competitions with missionary themes were also organised. More recently, ACMA has been encouraging parishes to get their primary school catechism children to participate in a project called “Mission for Children” in tandem with the annual World Mission Sunday celebrations. The project is already in its third year. Initial efforts saw four parishes participating in 2001. The number grew to 11 parishes in 2002. This year, with the help of Christina Ying of the Catechetical Commission, 15 parishes have formally incorporated the project as part of their catechism activities. This year’s Children’s Mission 2003 is based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The project hopes to create awareness among our young

children that they can be missionaries through their care, kindness, generosity, prayer and certain activities. They are encouraged always to remember to look to Jesus as their reference: what would Jesus do in such circumstances? J JJ m

party

Sr Sabine Fernandez, who has spearheaded the committee for the past two years, said : “Children’s Mission creates mission awareness not only in children but through them, the parents and catechists as well as other adults come to discover their responsibility to make Christ known and loved.” □

Sundays October 12 and O ctober 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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Are you calling me, God? The fifth Mission Orientation Programme organized by ACMA saw 23 lay people spending eight days in Pattaya to find out more about mission. June Wan, one of the participants, shares her thoughts and insights).

how it was such a wonderful experience and oh those poor children, oh the poverty and yada yada yada. You get the drift. But surely there had to be more to mission than that? You don’t just go to a place for half a month and - voila! - become a missionary. That’s like going to the States for a weeklong holiday and coming back with a fake accent. Being a missionary had to involve much more and I wanted to know what. Appropriately for Thailand, I got much more than I had bargained for.

ACK, all of four feet tall and skinny as a newborn cat in his faded Spiderman T-shirt, was easy to love. It wasn’t just the huge doe eyes or the sweet rosebud pout of a mouth into which he had stuffed two dripping ice creams in surprisingly quick succession. It was the way he made everyone his own personal friend, just by leaning comfortably into your hip. How, like a ‘manja’ pet, he’d rub the back of his head then point to you to suggest ‘now you scratch the back of my head for me’. How he’d grab your arm and pull you towards something he wanted you to see. He’d be a heart breaker when he gets older. IF he gets older. You never know. You see, Jack has Aids. On the day we visited, a 14year-old girl had just been informed of her mother’s death. Her father had died in the same centre four months earlier. The Mission, impossible? girl, who had escaped the disease, was putting herself through Our group, consisting of 18 school with part-time jobs. Her newbies and six ex-MOPpers, future is anyone’s guess. found ourselves at the Likewise, it was anyone’s guess Redemptorist Centre of Pattaya. what my experience in Pattaya A typical day ran thus: morning was going to be. prayer at 7am, breakfast, lecture on mission, Life in the Spirit morning tea break, lecture, lunch, lecture/ The Mission Orientation sharing (with Programme (MOP) conducted enthusiastic hymn from August 30 to September 6, singing), afternoon tea 2003, seemed like the perfect break, continuation of way to kill several birds with one lecture/sharing, mass, stone. Eight days in tropical dinner, and evening beach resort Pattaya, an prayer/sharing (more opportunity to get away from singing). work, hopefully do some cheap The lectures were shopping, and, oh yeah, find out basically informal talks about missionary work! by Fr Larry Radice about the I wasn’t sure what to expect. concept of missiology and how it At the pre-trip talk, we were told had developed since Vatican II, that we would be visiting some the different forms of homes and listening to talks on evangelisation, mission mission led by a Maryknoll priest spirituality, discernment and and a lay missionary. I felt I reflection on scripture as well as severely lacked the “holy” spirit discussions on topics like “what that the other participants all does it mean to be a missionary?” seemed to have. I did want to find out more The real thing about mission though. It had been glamourised in the media, with One of the people who helped us published accounts of people to understand the concept of who had quit their jobs and gone being a lay missionary was Raul to some third world country for Sarceda who, along with his wife two weeks to build houses or Hedy, decided to be a lifelong toilets or chapels - not always in missionary. They uprooted that order - and come back themselves and their three spouting UN-standard quotes on children from the Philippines to

work in a village called Udon Thani in northeast Thailand. Together with the exMOPpers, Raul and Fr Larry turned what could have been just a bunch of seminars into a retreatcum-leaming experience. Now, mission work is an eye opening experience in itself, but learning about mission is just as crucial. There is no point launching oneself like a missile into a mission, only to discover that you’ve completely misjudged your target and end up having to be “missioned to” instead.

MISSION Orientation Programme No. 5 at the Camillian Aids Centre, Pay ong (above) and the Pattaya Redemptorist Retreat Center (below).

Missiology demystified So what did we learn? Well, for starters, did you know that the study of mission is called missiology ? That by virtue of baptism you already are a missionary? And that lay people are the next big force in church mission? We, the potential next big things in church mission, soon had an opportunity to see real life mission work in action when we visited three mission houses in Pattaya. The first was the Redemptorist Vocational School for the Disabled, which was founded by the late

Redemptorist Father Raymond A. Brennan. Here, disabled students are taught skills such as computer graphics, programming and electronic repair as well as English. Recognized by the UN as one of the best such schools in all Asia, all previous graduates have secured employment, many with prestigious Thai and multinational companies. And taking a leaf from their missionary founder, the students have also helped other disabled people in Thailand. They

volleyed for - and got - more disabled-friendly facilities to be installed in Bangkok’s inner city rail system. But as Raul taught, mission is “walking with Christ”, not simply doing an activity. What differentiates mission from mere social action is how we are imbued by Christ’s teaching and spirit when we are doing it. Social value and contribution to society may exist, but it is not a mission if Christ is not there. We saw this exemplified in the work of the Good Shepherd Sisters at the Fountain of Life Centres. When they first arrived in Pattaya, the Sisters found that the neediest people there were the women and children. Working on the belief that “the value of one person is more than the whole world”, the Sisters, with the help of volunteers, set up two centres to take care of the 150 children and 250 women who rely on them. Today, the children are taught lessons in a childcare environment while the women are taught English and German and learn craftwork or hairdressing in order to help

them kick-start their own businesses. Like Jesus, the Sisters too, consort with people from all levels of society and minister to them, often going into bars and clubs to mission to the women working there - enduring catcalls from men who mistake them for social escorts. So w hat is a missionary? On to the million-dollar question: What is a missionary? Well, first of all, a missionary is a disciple. One who has an ongoing learning relationship with Christ and walks in the power of the Holy Spirit. An example of this is Father Giovanni Contarin, an Italian priest of the Camillian order who looks like Santa Claus. He has lived in Thailand for the past 17 years and heads the Camillian Social Centre in Rayong, a province that has a population of approximately 470,000, with over 2,500 of its citizens diagnosed as being full-blown Aids cases. The Centre provides Aids relief, care and an educationcum-prevention project support for people with Aids. Currently, there are 87 people living there: 33 children, 21 women and 33 men. Father Giovanni and his people have led Aids awareness missions, educating lay people in seven Thai provinces about the disease and its prevention. Back to reality I started out as a casual observer, but as the days passed, I felt something stirring in me. At times, I felt seduced by the glory of mission. I was tempted to renounce my life back home, take a vow of austerity and dedicate my entire being to the people of Pattaya. I wanted to walk in the footsteps of the Lord. Maybe, just maybe, I would be able to make a difference. I was brought back to earth quite fast. As Raul cautioned, it’s easy to get all fired up and passionate about mission while on a programme like this; especially when you are ingesting the meaning of mission and seeing it in action every day. Once you get back to real life, he warned, it’s a different thing altogether. He was right. I don’t know if I can give up my life here in Singapore that readily to take up the mission that Christ has bestowed upon us by virtue of baptism. However, the eight days in Pattaya have definitely sown a seed of mission in the minds and hearts of all who went. And maybe one day, I hope to be able to pick up this cross and follow Him. Yes, even to the ends of the earth. □

CatholicN ews □

Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003

YEARS O C TO B ER 16,1978 - 2003

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Sundays October 12 and O ctober 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

25 YEARS

At a glance Pope John Paul II has shaped events, inspired millions in 25 years. By John Thavis AS POPE John Paul II celebrates 25 years in office, the world is taking stock of a pontificate that has helped shape political events, set new directions for the Catholic Church and offered spiritual inspiration to millions of people around the globe. By any measure, this is a papacy for the ages. Since his election Oct. 16, 1978 - the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years Pope John Paul has delivered more speeches, met with more world leaders, canonized more saints and kissed more babies than any previous pontiff. Visiting 129 countries - from the steppes of Asia to the Rocky Mountains - he has implemented the church’s own form of globalization. And in more than 50 major documents, on themes ranging from economics to the rosary, he has brought the Gospel and church teachings to bear on nearly every

aspect of modem life. Everyone agrees this pope already has left a moral legacy, inside and outside the church. But the pope also has weathered his share of disappointments in recent years, including the U.S. clerical sex abuse scandal, the ecumenical rupture with Orthodox leaders, legislative defeats on pro-life issues in many countries and the frustration of not being able to visit Russia and China. As the analyses and accolades rolled in ahead of the 25th anniversary celebration, the pope was busy keeping a low profile. He purposely upstaged himself by scheduling the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta for Oct. 19 - a Sunday that falls between the anniversary of his election and his inaugural Mass. Whether for Mother Teresa or Pope John Paul, tens of thousands of Catholics are planning to converge on Rome and join in the festivities. □

D ialogue w ith the w o rld POPE John Paul had to face the great question left by the Second Vatican Council: How can the church dialogue with the world without losing its own identity? He could either close the church off in a type of Catholic ghetto and build it up, or throw the church into dialogue at every level and risk losing its identity. “The incredible thing is that this papacy has done both things together. It has strengthened the church’s identity precisely in order to conduct a dialogue without limits,” Navaro-Vails said. Thus Pope John Paul can travel to Asia and defend the right of the Christian minority to preach the Gospel and the right of any believer to embrace it. But at

the same time, the pope expresses his deep respect for other religious traditions and their immense contributions to the spiritual life of Asian people. He has reached out in ways that were once considered impossible or even heretical. In 1986 he visited a Jewish synagogue in Rome, then in 2000 prayed at the Western Wall in Jerusalem . In Syria, he became the first pope to visit a mosque, and in Morocco he spoke to thousands of cheering Muslim youths. Twice he convened leaders of other religions and other churches for prayer meetings in Assisi, where participants denounced all acts of war and terrorism carried out in the name of religion. □

POPE John Paul II is flanked by Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Israel Meir Lau and Muslim cleric Taysir al-Tamimi as representatives o f the three monotheistic religions meet at Notre Dame Institute in Jerusalem March 23, 2000.

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A great Christian witness THE POLISH pope’s support o f the Solidarity trade union in Poland led to the collapse of communism in Poland.Many political observers believe this had a signifiant influence on the subsequent fa ll of communism in the form er Soviet Union and all eastern Europe.

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PALESTINIAN leader Yasser Arafat greets Pope John Paul II at the end of Mass in Bethlehem’s Manger Square March 22,2000. The pope was visiting Israel, the Palestinian West Bank and Jordan. He told thousands gathered in the square, “Bethlehem is the heart o f my jubilee pilgrim age.” The pope has worked tireleslyfor peace in the Middle East, Iraq and other trouble SpOtS.

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PAPAL biographer George Weigel says the pope has had tremendous impact on the world and the church precisely because “he’s been the great Christian witness of our time, the man who has most persuasively embodied the liberating power of Christian faith.” “That had concrete, measurable political results in east central Europe in the revolution of 1989; but it has also had an immeasurable impact on innumerable lives throughout the world,” Weigel told CNS. □ c n s

Ecum enism : Distance yet to go THE POPE’S record on ecumenism contains a long list of agreements, joint declarations and mutual gestures of good will, especially with some ancient Eastern churches. But there are many remaining obstacles . The Vatican’s clear injunction against shared Eucharist with Protestant churches is a painful reminder of the distance yet to travel in ecumenical dialogue.

In recent years, relations with the Russian Orthodox Church have sharply deteriorated as a result of the pope’s determination to rebuild Catholic communities in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe. Surely one of the pope’s biggest disappointments after 25 years has been the failure to visit Moscow, which he would undertake only with the Orthodox Church’s blessing. □

ANGLICAN Archbishop George Carey, left, and Orthodox Metropolitan Athanasios kneel with Pope John Paul II before the open Holy Door at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome Jan. 18. 2000. Representatives o f 22 Christian denominations joined in the prayer service with the pope.

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O nly global leader w ith spiritual agenda POPE John Paul II is still preaching tough moral truths in a way that resonates with millions of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world, said one of his closest advisers. “The pope continues to open people up to the transcendent, telling them that we’re more than genetics, we’re more than

psychology, we’re more than DNA,” said Joaquin NavarroValls, the Vatican spokesman. “He is the only global leader who is worried about the spiritual well-being of today’s men and women, as opposed to their material well-being. He asks, ‘Who are you?’ instead of ‘What do you want to do?’ or ‘What do

you want to buy?’ And people understand this and respond to it,” he said. “Even in huge crowds, he’s able to reach individuals. People say to themselves, ‘This pope is concerned about what’s inside me,’ and it makes them stop and think,” Navarro-Vails said. □ c n s

CatholicN ews □

Sundays October 12 and O ctober 19, 2003

2003

ST PETER’S Square

1,061 m illion C atholics DURING his papacy, the church has expanded greatly in Africa and made significant advances in Asia and Oceania. This distinctly Third World tilt has been spotlighted during the pope’s more than 100 foreign trips, when he has used local customs in his liturgies, spoken the native language and praised indigenous writers and thinkers. □ c n s

is the gathering place o f many Catholics. The w orld’s Catholic population increased by 40.2% from 1978 to 2001, the same rate as world population growth. There are 17 Catholics fo r every 100 persons on earth, p h o to s

NUNS smile as Pope John Paul II offers a blessing. Their numbers have been falling. But the smaller number of religious sisters and brothers is offset by enormous increases in lay catechists and lay missionaries and permanent deacons.

405,067 priests D uring Pope John P au l’s papacy:

Teaching the flock

“Catechism of the Catholic Church” is his longest document and will no doubt be seen as one of the great accomplishments of this pontificate. The pope brooks no dissent among the faithful, and in a 1998 document he invoked penalties against Catholics who reject the church’s wide range of “definitive” positions, including those on human sexuality. While supporting Vatican II’s promotion of the laity in the church, the pope has warned against confusing the roles of lay Catholics and ordained priests. □

WITHIN the church, the pope has been no less dynamic. He has disciplined dissenting theologians and self-styled “traditionalists,” promulgated a new Code of Canon Law, issued new directives calling for clearer Catholic identity in church universities, and defended with the full weight of his authority the church’s all-male priesthood. As a teacher of the faith, the pope has been exhaustive, demanding and authoritative. The

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R eligious sisters dow n 20% to 792,317 R eligious brothers dow n 27% to 54,970 P erm anent deacons up 425% to 29,204 L ay catechists up by 1618% to

2.8 m illion Lay m issionaries up from insignificant to 139,000

Bishops & cardinals BISHOPS wait their turn to greet Pope John Paul II during a meeting at the Vatican May 20,2003. He has named more than three- fourths o f the world’s active bishops-increasing the total number o f bishops from 3,714 to 4,649. There will be 194 cardinals following the recent naming o f 30 new cardinals, o f whom 135 are below 80 years old and can elect the pope’s successor. O f these 135,130 have been appointed by Pope John Paul II.

Engaging m odern culture industry, the role of the mass media and the impact of the Internet. Through all these pronouncements runs a central theme: that human freedom becomes destructive when people forget they are created in God’s image. Whether an unborn child, an impoverished African or an elderly shut-in, the pope says, every human being has a value that goes beyond earthly advantages and accomplishments. While pushing Catholic teaching into virtually every area of modem life, the pope also has taken the measure of the church’s past mistakes. At his insistence, the church acknowledged historical errors in condemning 16th-century astronomer Galileo Galilei, in participating in European religious wars, and even in its missionary approach in some New World territories. Against considerable resistance within his own Vatican hierarchy, the pope commissioned critical studies on the church’s role in the Inquisition and the Crusades and on the failings of Christians during the Holocaust. □

Sem inarians up 76% to 112,244

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POPE John Paul II declared early on that the Second Vatican Council had set his agenda. In particular, his global ministry quickly focused on Vatican II’s engagement of modem culture. At the teaching level, the pope has penned three major encyclicals on economic and social justice issues and has addressed the rich-poor imbalance continent-by-continent in post-synodal documents. Over the last 10 years, he also has authored three other encyclicals that strongly challenge what he sees as a prevailing moral relativism in post-modern society. “Veritatis Splendor” spoke of the truth of the church’s moral teachings, “Evangelium Vitae” defended the inviolability of human life against what the pope calls a “culture of death,” and “Fides et Ratio” argued that human reason cannot be detached from faith in God. Meanwhile, under his guidance, Vatican agencies have issued important instructions on such specific questions as foreign debt, in vitro fertilization, the arms

Priests down 4% to 405,067

F ra il b u t s till effective WITH the help of young people, Pope John Paul II moves along on a rolling platform as he arrives to celebrate the final Mass at the 2002 World Youth Day in Toronto.

AT 83, he is frail and hobbled by Parkinson’s disease and other ailments. He no longer walks in public; instead, he sits and rides on a variety of newfangled mechanisms that allow him to keep celebrating liturgies and meeting with groups. But, thanks in part to a new regime of therapy, he has regained strength in his voice and seems to breathe easier than he did a year ago. Many at the Vatican believe the pope’s infirmities have added a new dimension to his message. “When the Mass is celebrated by someone in his condition, the sacrifice of Christ becomes even more evident,” Cardinal Jozef Tomko, a longtime friend and retired Vatican official said. “What comes through is a deep spirituality and the acceptance of his limitations. I think in these conditions he is winning even more people to Christ than before,” Cardinal Tomko said. □ c n s

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POPE John Paul leans his head against his hand during the celebration o f Mass in Bratislava Sept. 14. The pontiff’s four-day trip to Slovakia taxed his fading physical strength. It can be jarring fo r visitors to see the pope struggling to read his homily or raising the host when celebrating the Eucharist. But they are relieved when they see him break into a smile and embrace a young child held up to him, as happened at the end o f his Sunday blessing in the courtyard o f the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo in Italy Sept. 7.

Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

2 5 YEARS FATHER A lbert Renckens greets the p o p e as Archbishop G regory Yong, F r R obert B alhetchet and others smile. The p o p e visited Singapore N ov 28, 1986. O ver 60,000 Catholics w elcom ed and p ra y ed with the p o p e at the N ational Stadium in pouring rain.

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CHEERING crow d surrounds P ope John P aul II as he rides in his popem obile to M ass in Bydgoszcz, Poland, June 7 ,1 9 9 9 .

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m u s t v is it m y

TRAVELS Pope’s trips attract massive media coverage and much o f the world has come to know the global dimensions o f the Catholic Church through these travels.

By John Thavis

IN PAST centuries, Catholics went to Rome to see the pope. Pope John Paul II has reversed the practice, in order to meet people where they live, work and worship. Many observers count that as the most revolutionary change implemented during the first 25 years of Pope John Paul’s papacy.

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From behind the Vatican walls, a supreme pontiff came into the streets, factories, refugee camps, presidential palaces and churches of the modem world. Logging more than 700,000 miles, the pope has spent 6.5 percent of his papacy outside of Italy and more than 10 percent of his papacy outside of Rome. Along the way, he has encountered young Catholic communities in Africa, walked through slum neighborhoods in Latin America, addressed world powers at the United Nations and preached the Gospel on six continents. Because his trips attract massive media coverage, much of the world has come to know the global dimensions of the Catholic Church through these travels. And the pope’s presence has often brought international attention to the struggles of Third World nations.

POPE John P aul II greets a throng o f p eo p le gathered f o r M ass near the C aracas airport in Venezuela in 1996. P a p a l M asses usually attract huge numbers o f Catholics as many as fo u r million to fiv e million in M anila and Warsaw.

His trips have an evangelizing purpose that can give him the appearance of a modern-day apostle. Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls sees the pope’s globe-trotting as an essential part of his overall mission: presenting Christ to all people - whether they are Catholics, non-Christians or even non-believers. While the pope began his pontificate by visiting heavily Catholic countries like Mexico and Poland, his trips in recent years have taken him to places like Azerbaijan, Kazakstan and

India, where Christians are a small minority. Typically, the pope preps for his foreign visits by learning some of the local language, reading native literature and studying key chapters of the host country’s history. Often, the pope is visibly moved by the moral significance of a place. For example, he spent a long time meditating at the port of Goree, Senegal, because it was a point of departure for African slaves on their way to the New World. WHEN it comes to papal travel, Pope John Paul has set records in virtually every category: he’s made 102 trips outside Italy visiting more than 600 cities and giving more than 2,400 speeches during his foreign sojourns. His longest trip, in 1986, lasted almost two weeks and took him 30,000 miles across six countries in Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean. His seven trips to Africa have brought encouragement and attention to local churches at a time when Catholicism was experiencing explosive growth on the continent. The pope has visited the

PEOPLE gather around P ope John Paul II near the O axaca cathedral in February 1979. The newly installed p o p e visited M exico and the D om inican R epublic on his fir s t p a p a l trip, cns Photos

The trips have enormous missionary objectives. While respectful o f the non-Catholic or nonChristian majorities along his itinerary, the pope has always presented the figure o f Christ and the Gospel message to any and all o f his listeners.

United States seven times — more often than any country except his native Poland. From his first foreign trip in 1979, the pope has taken a traveling press corps aboard his chartered jet. Until his health declined in the mid-1990s, he treated them to airborne press conferences that sometimes lasted 30 minutes or longer. He also travels with a 25person staff of Vatican officials and technical experts, who handle everything from security to lastminute changes in papal texts. All of them have their favorite memories from 25 years of papal travel: his electrifying speeches to Solidarity activists in communist Poland, his moving prayer at Jerusalem’s Western Wall, an impromptu chat with African villagers or his meditative moments on the Sea of Galilee. There are critics who say the pope spends too much time globe-trotting. The pope says: “I must visit my people.” Last June, the pope compared his trips to those of the Apostles, who visited and encouraged local churches. He added that such travels now constitute “an integral part of the ministry of the successor of Peter” - signaling to his eventual successor that he’d better keep his passport handy. □

CatholicNews □

Sundays October 12 and October 19, 2003

I 2003

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n r POPE smiles as he greets a group o f singers during his weekly general audience at C astel Gandolfo in Italy Aug. 7, 2002. O ver the years, the p ope also has recognized that gestures as w ell as speechmaking can have a huge impact on his young audiences. H e has held hands and danced with them on stage, answered their questions in a classroom, invited them fo r lunch, listened to their personal testimonials and accepted their gifts including a hockey stick, which he gam ely swung once or twice.

w in n in g w a y w it h th e y o u n g YOUTHS

By John Thavis WHEN HE slurs a line in a speech or fails to stifle a yawn, Pope John Paul II shows his age. But put him among young people, and watch the years fall away. His eyes light up. His voice gets stronger and more emphatic. He extemporizes and might even sing a song. And a smile - that telltale barometer of papal humour - returns to his face. At 83, the pope has learned that young people are often the best medicine. But it’s not only that they rejuvenate him: He reaches them in a special way, too. “It’s almost like a direct link to God, that goodness, and you feel connected to that. You can see that he thrives on young people and wants to bring them back,” said Clair Sweeney, a young Scottish woman, after hearing the pope during World Youth Day celebrations in Rome in 2000.

The pope’s affinity for young people began early. After his election in 1978, he made young people a priority. In 1984, he instituted World Youth Day, which brings hundreds of thousands of Catholic young people to a different city every two or three years. At World Youth Day, Pope John Paul is definitely the star attraction, but the cheers and chants that erupt from the crowds are only part of the story. Perhaps more than any other audience, young people listen closely to his words. At one level, the pope’s message to young people is simple. At Toronto in 2002, for example, he asked them to get to know Jesus and accept him as “the faithful friend who never lets us down.” But he also explores the challenges that flow from the Gospel, asking young people to be more honest, more giving, less materialistic and more chaste than much of contemporary society.

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“He demands from young people what no one else has the courage to demand.” - Joaquin Navarro-Vails

PAPAL biographer George Weigel said the pope has had a great impact on younger generations precisely because he holds “the bar of expectation high” when it comes to questions of faith and morals. Joaquin Navarro-Vails, the Vatican spokesman, said he thinks the pope strikes a chord of

authenticity that appeals to young listeners. “He demands from young people what no one else has the courage to demand. But he does more than make demands - he gives them reasons for what he says,” the spokesman said. Pope John Paul often appeals to young people’s sense of justice

and generosity, as well as their optimism. At a recent conference in Rome anticipating the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul’s election, a Congolese seminarian, Gabriel Mukekwa, sat in the audience. He said he decided to become a priest after the pope visited his city in 1985 and asked young people to consider a | j ? | priestly vocation. Today he counts himself among the “John Paul II “We have a sense he is generation” - young Catholics speaking the truth to us.” who grew up under this pope, Polish girl at a who share his vision of the church recent youth day event. and who are determined to live it in the decades to come. □ cns

INDIAN President

K.R. N arayanan (left) and Prim e M inister A ta l Behari Vajpayee talk to P ope John Paul II at the presidential pa la ce in N ew D elhi Nov. 6 ,1 9 9 9 . The p o n tiff received a subdued welcom e when he landed in N ew D elhi the previous day. This contrasts with his visit to India in 1986 when he was w elcom ed as a “white holy m an” by 2 million p eo p le on the beach o f M adras.

H o ly M a n to m illio n s

EVANGELIZER By John Thavis IT WAS a warm summer evening in Casablanca, and at the local soccer stadium 80,000 young Moroccans were giving Pope John Paul II a rousing welcome. Slovak Cardinal Jozef Tomko, who stood behind the pontiff in the tribute of honor, listened to the pope’s French-language speech and watched the crowd. He noticed an amazing thing: These Muslim youths were not just clapping out of excitement or out of respect for the man dressed in white. They were hanging on every word. “This was not preordained applause. They were responding to what he said. As I witnessed this, I was struck by the pope’s great talent for entering into the minds of ,

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“The pope pleases because he loves every single person he encounters - and people understand this.” - Cardinal Jozef Tomko

his listeners,” Cardinal Tomko recalled in a recent interview. In Cardinal Tomko’s view, the Morocco encounter in 1985 showed Pope John Paul doing what he does best: evangelizing in a way that respects the sensibilities of others. To his non-Christian audience, the pope spoke not only about belief in God, but also about the Christian conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all. He acknowledged that was a deep difference in their faiths and said, “God will enlighten us about it one day, I am sure.” The pope addressed the sensitive topic of religious freedom and highlighted the many beliefs and hopes shared by Muslims and Christians as they try to build a better world. “It was very interesting. The pope knew how to speak about all these things in a way that moved these young people to applaud,” Cardinal Tomko said.

CARDINAL Tomko, a longtime papal confidante who headed the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples from 1985 to 2001, said he’s witnessed similar scenes on other

“His purpose is to propose the message of Christ, in a spirit not of conquest but respect.” - Cardinal Jozef Totnko

continents, as the pope has taken the church’s message to people of every race and every belief. With few exceptions, the pope has made a positive impression, the cardinal said. Although crowds of more than a million people have cheered him, the pope’s success as an evangelizer is not something that can always be measured by the size of his audience, he said. “The approval of the masses

is not his main purpose,” Cardinal Tomko said. Even where the crowds are huge, the pope succeeds in touching individuals, Cardinal Tomko said. Pope John Paul has been a model evangelizer in many other ways, too, Cardinal Tomko said. He cited the pope’s parish visits in Rome, his weekly audience talks aimed at the church and the world, papal documents that reach out to specific groups and, above all, the 1991 encyclical on the church’s missionary mandate, “Redemptoris Missio” (“The Mission of the Redeemer”). During much of Pope John Paul’s pontificate, the church has experienced a tension between proclaiming the Gospel and holding a dialogue with non-

Christians. Some may see a conflict here, but Cardinal Tomko does not. “Evangelization is a rich and complex reality. It includes personal witness, dialogue, human promotion, inculturation and especially proclamation,” he said. But while proclaiming Christ is the apex of evangelization, it is not necessarily the first step, Cardinal Tomko said. He said that from the beginning of his pontificate the pope has made this clear and has also stressed that the church “proposes Christ, does not impose anything, and respects the conscience of every individual.” Cardinal Tomko said that explains why even in places like India, where religious conversion is a highly sensitive topic, he was welcomed as a “white holy man” □ CNS

Sundays O ctober 12 and October 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

2 5 YEAR S

MARY By John Norton

LAST YEAR, Pope John Paul II publicly entrusted himself and the church to the Virgin Mary, again displaying a lifelong personal devotion that he sees as fundamental to his ministry. “I place everything into her hands so that with the love of a mother she will present it to her son,” the pope said in St. Peter’s Square in October 2002. “I also entrust my future to her.” He underscored his message by releasing an apostolic letter on the Marian devotion of the rosary, calling it his “favorite prayer.” The letter proposed the addition of new contemplative themes to the centuries-old prayer and announced a “year of the rosary” to help Catholics rediscover its spiritual richness. Throughout his pontificate, the pope has shown a devotion to Mary that seamlessly integrates

popular piety, theological scholarship and the expression of a personal, human relationship with the mother of God. As a young boy in Poland, the future pontiff - whose mother died when he was 9 - prayed daily to Mary in his parish church and first donned the brown scapular, which he wears even today under his white pontifical robes. As a theologian, he wrote about Mary as a mother figure who could unite all people. As a bishop and later as pope, he chose as his motto “Totus Tuus,” Latin for “completely yours,” and addressed it to Mary.

WHEN elected pope in 1978, he spoke of Mary in his first speech, saying he had accepted the office o f the papacy in a spirit of humility to Christ and in “complete trust in his most holy mother, the Madonna.” As pope, he dedicated the

POPE John Paul II p ra ys at the shrine o f Fatima in Portugal M ay 1 3 ,2 0 0 0 follow in g the beatification o f tw o o f the Fatima children whose visions o f M ary in 1917 included the three secrets.

WHEN he was a teen, K arol Wojtyla, the future P ope John P aul II, ded ica ted his life to M ary during a visit to the M arian shrine a t Jasna G ora in C zestochow a, Poland. The image o f Our L ady o f C zestochow a that is housed a t the shrine is a sym bol o f P olish nationalism an d religious liberty. CNSPhotos world to Mary during a specially proclaimed Marian year, traveled to Marian shrines around the globe, and wrote an encyclical exalting Mary’s place in the church. He began leading the rosary on the first Saturday of each month at the Vatican. During a jubilee year ceremony in 2000 with bishops from around the globe, he renewed his entrustment of the world to Mary’s care. In 2002, he went to Mexico to canonize Juan Diego, the visionary of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The pope has called Marian shrines worldwide a “geography of the faith,” and he’s made an effort to visit them in each of his foreign travels.

Rarely does a day of public activities go by in which the pope does not mention Mary or her role in the church. In 1995, he began a series of weekly audience talks on the Virgin; it lasted more than two years. Marianist Father Johann G. Roten, director of the International Marian Research Institute at the University of Dayton, Ohio, said the pope’s personal devotion to Mary also has helped spark a church-wide grassroots revival of classical devotions that fell out of favor in the immediate aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. “He somehow lends his authority as a pope, but also as a human being, to the value and importance of those devotional practices,” said Father Roten, who said he receives hundreds of emails a month expressing interest in traditional Marian devotions. “We see this pope who has written books, has been a teacher of philosophy and theology, and at the same time has a very simple, straightforward, almost youthful piety,” he said. Father Roten said the pope’s 1987 encyclical, “Redemptoris Mater” (“Mother of the Redeemer”), has had “quite an impact” on Marian theological studies, particularly because of its emphasis on the human and maternal presence of Mary in the church. In contrast to some past interpretations of Mary as a more abstract “mirror image o f Christ,” the encyclical describes her as a fellow believer “who reacts to Jesus Christ in loving obedience” and thus is a “model of faith” for all believers, Father Roten said. □ CNS

T h e T h ir d

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o f F a t im a FATIMA

AFTER he was shot and seriously wounded May 13,1981 - the feast of Our Lady of Fatima - he thanked Mary for having guided the bullet and saved his life. His certainty that he owed his life to Mary became clearer when he ordered the third secret of Fatima published in 2000; it spoke of a “bishop in white” falling down in a hail of gunfire. Cardinal Angelo Sodano said the pope believes it refers to the attempt on his life and the church’s struggle against communism. HI cns

visionary Carm elite Sister Lucia dos Santos kisses the hand o f Pope John Paul II during his M ay 2000 visit to Fatima, Portugal. The Vatican released June 26 the third secret o f Fatima, written by Sister Lucia in 1 9 4 4 - 2 7 yea rs after she and her two cousins received visions o f Mary.

CNSPhotos

THEOLOGY By Cindy Wooden

THEOLOGICAL debate during the first 25 years of Pope John Paul’s leadership of the church often took place in fairly public forums, reaching the masses through the news media, popular books and the Internet. The Vatican’s reaction to those who dissented from church teaching usually made headlines in the same public way. Jesuit Father Gerald O’Collins, a professor emeritus at Rome’s Gregorian University said that in the past 25 years the Vatican sometimes has reacted too quickly to theological developments that raised the concern of bishops. Theological ideas, he said, need time and space to develop and mature. Dominican Father Georges Cottier, theologian of the papal household and secretary of the International Theological Commission, said it is “not a fair assessment” to say Pope John Paul has restricted theological investigation. Dominican Father J. Augustine Di Noia, undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the “phenomenon of dissent” that began gathering steam during the pontificate of Pope Paul VI “was up and running” when Pope John Paul was elected in 1978. “John Paul II encountered a situation that was unprecedented in the history of the church: A fair number of theologians had identified themselves as being in conflict with the church on significant issues and he - and Cardinal (Joseph) Ratzinger

A c k n o w l e d g i n g s a in t s i n r e c o r d n u m b e r s SAINTS By Cindy Wooden Sts. Maximilian Kolbe, Padre Pio and Faustina Kowalska are just a handful of the record 474 men and women Pope John Paul II has canonized during his pontificate, and he plans to canonize three more in midOctober.

ONE o f the fir s t causes to take advantage o f the reforms that offered a fa ste r track to sainthood — that o f St. Josem aria E scriva de Balaguer, founder o f Opus D ei — drew sharp criticism f o r its speed.

- over the last 20 years have tried to chart a course to address that new problem,” he said.

THE THREE priests agreed that, while Pope John Paul has set clear limits on what are acceptable positions on some issues, his

Between 1588, when the canonization process was centralized and careful record keeping began, and the 1978 end of the pontificate of Pope Paul VI, the total number of saints canonized was 296. Critics have complained the Vatican has turned into a “saint factory” during Pope John Paul’s tenure and have lamented that becoming a saint is not as special as it once was. That is precisely the point of so many canonizations and beatifications, explained Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins. “Holiness is not the luxury of some, but a binding obligation for all,” said the cardinal, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. “The church and the world today have a great need of saints.”

the person, Father Di Noia said. Father Cottier said, “This is one of the great aspects of the teaching of Pope John Paul II, his morality is the morality of the Beatitudes, of what is necessary for happiness and goodness, a reaffirmation of the importance of virtue.”

Pope John Paul’s recordmaking run did not begin immediately after his election in 1978; in fact, he did not celebrate his first canonization Mass until June 1982. He then reformed the entire process in 1983. Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be beatified Oct. 19, just six years and one month after her death. The beatification of the founder of the Missionaries of Charity will bring to 1,319 the number o f men and women recognized as “blessed” during this pontificate. Whether martyrs or mystics, founders of religious orders or lay catechists, Pope John Paul uses the ceremonies to highlight the ways in which the saints dedicated their lives to loving and serving God and others.

IN THE list of popes who have systematically applied Catholic ethical considerations to modem social problems, Pope John Paul probably will be listed second only to Pope Leo XIII, usually credited with being the founder of Catholic social teaching. “He has built massively on what the popes from Leo XIII on have done,” particularly strengthening the church’s opposition to the death penalty and “to war, more or less under any circumstance,” said Father O’Collins. The area of interreligious dialogue and the ways God is at work outside the visible boundaries 8 ' ' i f ’ of the church is one area all three theologians agree has been opened up t by Pope John Paul. Father O’Collins said, “Pope John Paul has pushed the idea of the Holy Spirit active, distributing gifts, in other cultures and religions.” Father Cottier said Pope John Paul knows the church needs theologians because it can make pronouncements only after a long, in-depth reflection. The challenges of biomedical technology, terrorism and modem warfare and the role of the world’s great religions in God’s plan for salvation are “real problems. The problems of humanity are the problems of the church, and theologians must address them,” Father Cottier said. □ cns

P o p e le a v e s ro o m

leaching also has pointed out new avenues for theological investigation as well as new approaches to old questions. All three pointed to the pope’s 1993 encyclical “Veritatis Splendor” as one of his most important documents, an attempt p meet Vatican II’s call to make poral theology more pastoral. ‘What he does is challenge the vhole law-centered, legalistic ipproach to moral theology and ocuses again on becoming good,” xplaining that if the church aches something is forbidden it oes so because it is harmful to

fo r

RABBI M ichael M elchior looks on as P ope John P aul pra ys at the Western Wall, the holy site o f Judaism, in Jerusalem March 2 6 ,2 0 0 0 . The p o p e ’s gesture won the hearts o f many Jews worldw ide. A ll o f his im portant gestures and words, including his recognition o f the Jew s as “our elder brothers and sisters in the fa ith ,” have p u t a new em phasis on and given a new stimulus to a Catholic theology o f Israel.

In the pope’s mind, and in the mind of the church, there are as many ways of living a holy life as there are individuals created by God and called to holiness. The record number of saints canonized by Pope John Paul is due partially to the fact that the list includes large numbers of individual martyrs canonized as a group: for example, he canonized 103 Korean martyrs in 1984 and 117 Vietnamese martyrs in 1988. But the growing roll of saints officially recognized by the Catholic Church over the past 25 years also reflects Pope John Paul’s attention to offering Catholics in individual countries examples of how someone who lived and died in their own nations lived the call to holiness.

Pope John Paul slowly has chipped away at European dominance of the list of those officially canonized and beatified. As Cardinal Saraiva Martins said in 2000, “holiness knows no geographical or cultural boundaries and has no racial prejudices.” The founders of religious orders still have a lion’s share of the inscriptions in the universal calendar of saints’ feasts, but Pope John Paul’s beatifications of lay men and women have set the stage for more variety in the future. “Contemporary men and women need saints capable of translating into today’s language the life and words of Christ,” Cardinal Saraiva Martins said in May. □ cns

/O E T R Y O F

MEDIA

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JOHN PAUL II

g re a t

c o m m u n i By John Thavis POPE John Paul II has been called a great communicator and he’s earned the reputation. From the Internet to recorded prayers, this pope has employed a variety of modem media to reach people in every comer of the globe. A former actor, his TV presence was apparent even on the night of his election, when he gave a short but stirring speech that spelled out the overriding goals of his papacy and his own sense of inspiration. In the months and years that followed, he has exploited other channels of communication to offer personal reflections, diplomatic counsel and doctrinal pronouncements. He is the only pope to have published a book of poetry, recorded his own rosary CD or sent an apostolic letter to bishops via e-mail. “He’s remarkable. He recognizes that the church has to be in the media. For example, he was the one who established the Vatican Television Center in 1983,” said Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He also gave the go ahead for the Vatican Internet website Vatican.va. The pope has given thousands of speeches and issued hundreds

ENGLISH version o f P ope John P aul II’s book o f p o etry w as published recently after being released in Polish earlier in the year. “Roman Triptych” includes his person al m editations on the w o rld and its future and is inspired by M ichaelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine Chapel.

of documents ranging from booklength encyclicals to more personal letters addressed to the world’s elderly, women, children and priests. His “complete teachings” to date fill 46 thick volumes, far more than any of his predecessors. After 25 years, the pope’s major teaching and pastoral documents include 14 encyclicals, 13 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, 42 apostolic letters and 28 documents issued “motu proprio” (on his own initiative). The pope has given myriad press conferences and he’s also given several book-length interviews. The most popular, “Crossing the Threshold of Hope,” became a best seller in 1994. □ cns

Sundays October 12 and O ctober 19, 2003 □ CatholicNews

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2 5 YEAR S

2003

PAPACY

T h e b o d y ’s a ilin g , b u t t h e s p ir it ’s s tr o n g HEALTH By John Thavis

WHEN he was elected at age 58, Pope John Paul II impressed the world as one of the youngest and most energetic pontiffs in modem times, an outdoorsman who hiked mountains, skied the slopes and liked to swim. Twenty-five years later, the pope can barely stand on his wobbly legs and has to celebrate Mass seated on a hydraulic chair. His stamina has been eroded by illness and six major surgeries. He trembles, slurs his words and tires easily. Unlike in centuries past, however, this pope’s physical deterioration has not been hidden away behind the Vatican’s walls. He has aged and weakened in public, under the scrutiny of the mass media. When the pope was diagnosed with a disease believed to be Parkinson’s in the mid-1990s, many at the Vatican feared a sharp cutback in papal activities and a withdrawal from public ministry. The illness causes progressive degeneration of the nervous system and decreasing mobility, and many who suffer from the disease must give up normal activities. Instead, the pope manages to keep up with a daily stream of visitors, who in recent months have included U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.N.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He meets with new ambassadors to the Vatican, religious groups of every stripe and batches of bishops on their “ad limina” visits from various parts of the world. At virtually every audience, the pope continues to receive long lines of well-wishers and greets them personally. Seated on his throne, he sometimes has to rest his head against his left hand while tracing a blessing on foreheads with his right. The pope’s voice began to weaken several years ago, making him hard to understand. But for much of the last year, his voice was stronger and clearer, an improvement attributed by Vatican sources to a combination of drugs and physical therapy.

THE POPE faced his first major health problem when he was shot by a Turkish assailant in St. Peter’s Square May 13,1981. Doctors operated for five hours and repaired his intestines, saving the pope’s life; he later was hospitalized for a blood disease contracted from transfusions during the initial surgery. The pope has been in and out of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital

POPE John P aul II relaxes in the mountains near L es Com bes, Italy, July 1 9 ,2 0 0 1 . A s a bishop in P oland, he lo ved to lea d groups o f youths on hiking and canoe trips, discussing religious an d m oral questions around a cam pfire, cns Photos

several times - for removal of an intestinal tumor and gall bladder in 1992, for a separated and fractured shoulder in 1993, for a broken thigh bone in 1994 and for removal of his appendix in 1996. While the surgeries may be considered routine by modem medical standards, they were exceptional moments in papal history. No modem pontiff had ever gone to a hospital; as late as 1967, when Pope Paul VI needed prostate surgery, the doctors performed it inside the Vatican. Polish sources close to the “inner circle” said nearly a decade ago that the pope had not ruled out retirement if he became truly incapacitated. The pope has not publicly addressed the question, but on several occasions as on his 83rd birthday in May - he has asked Catholics to pray “so that God helps me to faithfully carry out the mission he entrusted to me.” If there’s one thing the pope has demonstrated, it’s that speculation about his demise is hazardous. The English newspaper The Guardian ran a long piece on potential successors to Pope John Paul, saying of the current pope that the “intimations of mortality are everywhere.” The article ran nearly 10 years ago. □ cns

L o o k s l i k e i t ’ s g o in g t o b e a b u s y y e a r 2 6 FUTURE By John Thavis

AS AIDES prepared 25thanniversary celebrations for midOctober, Pope John Paul II was already looking ahead to year 26. The pace of the pontificate has clearly slowed, and the pope’s fragility means that fewer big projects are on the calendar. But there’s enough in the pipeline to keep the 83-year-old pontiff busier than many men half his age. The pope has invitations to visit several countries. It is likely he will accept part of them,

POPE John P aul II arrives f o r a m em orial M ass to com m em orate his tw o Italian predecessors - P aul VI and John P a u li - i n St. P e te r’s B asilica Sept. 27, 2003. The follow ing day the pon tiff nam ed 30 new cardinals and said he w as keeping the name o f another cardinal secret.

according to Navarro-Valls. The important thing, papal advisers say, is for people to realize that the end of papal travel - whenever it comes - does not mean the end of the pontificate. “The pope has certainly not exhausted the themes of his pontificate, and he will keep finding ways to develop these themes and express them. His pastoral creativity is still intact,”

Navarro-Valls said. The papal spokesman said he sees the pope returning to basic questions about the church’s structure in coming months, focusing in a particular way on the hierarchy and the role of the bishop. For one thing, the pope is expected to publish a major document summarizing and reflecting on the 2001 Synod of

Bishops, which had as its theme the role of the bishop in the church. Much of the pope’s liturgical and speech-giving activity is preordained these days. He has dozens of annual appointments with ambassadors, church groups and bishops from around the world, and he presides at more than 20 annual liturgical ceremonies at the Vatican and in Rome. The pontiff named 30 new cardinals Sept. 28 and said he was preserving the name of another cardinal “in pectore” or in his heart. In the past, such cardinals have served in places where public knowledge of their appointment might provoke hostility against the church. The pope will induct the cardinals in a consistory at the Vatican Oct. 21, adding a major event to an already heavy programme of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the pope’s election. Despite speculation about his health, the 26th year looks like it’s going to be a busy time for the pope. □ cns

C lo s in g in o n 3 r d POPE John P aul II’s pon tificate is the fourthlongest in church history and is closing in on No. 3.

NEXT M arch, John Paul's p a p a cy w ill surpass the p a p a cy o f P ope Leo XIII, who ruled fo r 25 yea rs and fiv e months, 1878-1903.

POPE P ius IX ’s p a p a cy was second-longest: 31 years, seven months and three weeks, from 1846 to 1878. P ope John Paul w ou ld surpass that in M ay 2 0 1 0 — shortly after his 90th birthday.

BY TRADITION, the church’s longest pontificate w as that o f St. Peter, the fir s t pope. H istorians have established no official dates o f his papacy, but he is believed to have reigned between 34 and 3 7 years.

“(Pray for m e) so that G od helps m e to faithfully carry out the m ission he entrusted to m e.” - Pope John Paul II, asking Catholics to pray for him.

CatholicNews □

Sundays O ctober 12 and O ctober 19, 2003

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By Jacqueline See

“O N E LIFE to L ive, One L ife to G ive” was the them e o f the D iocesan Vocation W eekend held at the Church o f the H oly Cross Septem ber 20 and 21. The w eekend increased our awareness o f the need for more priests in Singapore and gave us a glim pse into the lives o f our priests and seminarians. It was organised by the Church o f the H oly Cross and the A rchdiocesan Vocation Team and attracted a large audience.

AMONG those at the Forum on the evening of September 20 were: (from left) Msgr Francis Lau, Mr & Mrs Peter Yim (parents of Fr. Stephen Yim), Mr & Mrs Stephen Yeo (parents of Fr. Ignatius Yeo), Fr. Ignatius Yeo and Fr. Stephen Yim) Father Anthony Ho, the Rector of the St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary, gave a brief background on each of his 12 seminarians and what led them to the seminary. Only six of the 12 seminarians are Singaporeans.The rest are from Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia. Each has a unique story but all share one common bond - they could not resist Jesus’ call to the priesthood and this still binds them together. One of the seminarians, Brother Randall, shared his vocation story. The parishioners were then shown a 10-minute video entitled “Called to do the Extraordinary" and were delighted to see a familiar face - Father Stephen Yim’s. The video, produced by the organising committee, gave an insight into a typical day in the life of a diocesan priest, his many duties and responsibilities. O

Questions on the criteria for entering the seminary, what seminarians do on weekends, how to break the news that one wants to become a priest to one’s parents when one is the only son and other questions related to joining the seminary were asked and answered. One seminarian touched many hearts when he candidly shared how - with prayers - he overcame the objections of his parents, who are nonCatholics, to join the seminary.

"Jesus

A QUESTION and answer session followed the Forum. The moderator was Caroline Wong (extreme left) with (from left) Fr. Ignatius Yeo, Fr. Stephen Yim, Msgr Francis Lau, Fr Anthony Ho, and Brother Michael Lim forming the panel. Questions on the djscemment process, such as how one would know if one is being called, were thrown at the panel. Even the parents of Father 'Mim and Father Yeo were not spared the questions. They were sporting and gave very candid answers, and even let slip a few childhood secrets about our two priests! John Lim, a parishioner with two young sons, said, “The Forum was very enlightening and I was touched by the priests’ sharing about what the Diocesan priesthood is all about.” He also added that he would be very happy if one of his two sons were to become a priest. All Forum guests left with a candle as a reminder to do a 9-day novena for more vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood. □

Give” was screened. All in all, it was a very fruitful weekend where many doubts were cleared and questions answered. Raymond Chew, who attended both the Saturday and Sunday sessions, said,“The sessions were very good and useful. I’m glad the seminarians were here to answer the questions themselves as there is nothing better than hearing it

to b e a p r ie s t

MOSTLY young men attended a Dialogue Session with Father Ho (centre in photo) and seminarians (from left) Brother Damian de Wind, Brother Edgar Wong, Brother Lionel Thomas and Brother Michael Lim . The attendees were curious about the priesthood and wanted to find out more about it. Some came with their buddies, others with their parents. Brother Lionel Thomas and Brother Edgar Ng shared their powerful vocation stories. Brother Michael Lim, through a PowerPoint presentation and a short sharing, gave us a glimpse into what life in the Major Seminary is like.

g i t fe u s m ore p r ie s ts " THE SECOND day of the Diocesan Vocation Weekend was packed with many activities. The day started early. The seminarians participated in the Youth Liturgy and Brother Christopher Lee shared the Word of God with the youths. After meeting the youths, the seminarians encountered the “little people of God” in the Liturgy of the Word for Children and did a cartoon presentation of the day’s Gospel Reading, which the children enjoyed thoroughly.

FATHER Ho was the homilist at all the weekend’s Masses and certainly did a good job of “selling” the priesthood. The candid and humorous way he treated the serious and sometimes difficult subject was appreciated. After each Mass, the Diocesan Vocation Video “One Life to Live, One Life to

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The sharings by the seminarians showed that with God all things are possible no matter how difficult the situations may be. □

W a tc h out for the special report on M O TH ER TER ESA ’S BEATIFICATION in the next issue o f CatholicNews

The highlight for the children was definitely the balloons. Brother Lionel Thomas & Brother Christopher Lee (above) and other seminarians gave away white balloons with the words “Jesus, Give Us More Priests” in purple, to get the children and their parents to remember to pray for more priests. And that’s what parishioners, Terence and Stephanie Ng with their two young children - Matthew and Natalie, assured us they would be doing. □

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those who have hurt us, share our goods with those less fortunate, avoid the sinful ways of the world, and honour God in all things. That’s quite a list! Granted, we do have the grace and mercy of God, but we also have to do battle with our fallen nature and stay clear of the allurements of the world. Jesus knows all of this, and he promises that he will be with us always. But that doesn’t mean he’ll make our problems or the demands of the gospel go away. What it m eans is that whenever we feel weak, we can find our strength in him. The keysomething the rich young man couldn’t accept but that Peter and the other apostles discovered-is to learn how to surrender control of our lives to God. So the next tim e you find yo u rself challenged by Jesus’ call, be courageous and take Jesus at his word: “W ith men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27). □

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ON CONFIRMATION Day, the teenage candidates waited nervously for the questions the bishop would ask before anointing them with chrism. To their surprise he only asked them to remember one thing: “In regard to the truths of your Catholic faith, which you have learned during your preparation for this sacrament, the most important thing is not knowing these things but in living them out.” He repeated this over and over in various ways: “It’s not in the knowing but in the living it out.” In his own way, the bishop was repeating the message that Jesus gave the rich young man. The young man knew the moral laws and was always careful to obey them. But Jesus challenged him to go further. “Sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Mark 10:2 1). We (ff can just imagine how difficult ■k it must have been to hear these words. Mark tells us that the man “went away grieving” after he experienced Jesus looking at him with great love (10:21-22). Jesus understands that what he asks his followers to do will be demanding. Discipleship is not always easy. We are called to love the unloving, forgive

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T h e s la v e o f a l l IF YOU had one wish, what would you ask for? Good health and long life? Wealth? Power? The conversion of loved ones? Honour and praise from others? How about meaningful work with a lot of suffering and few external rewards? When James and John asked for seats of honour and authority in Jesus’ kingdom, the other apostles became indignant, apparently jealous of being passed over. But Jesus gently asked these two men whether they were prepared to follow him down the only road to his kingdom, which is the way of the cross. Baptized into his death, all The less Christians will reign with him. But how do we live out the you have, reality of that union? Jesus tells the more us we won’t find good models in secular society, where leaders free “lord it over” those they are you are. called to lead. For this, we have to look to Jesus, who came as “the slave of all,” and to the men and women who imitated him. One such wom an was Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who will be beatified today in Rome. For more than fifty years, Mother Teresa dedicated herself to serving the poorest of the poor throughout the world. Along with the sisters who joined her religious order, she didn’t just help the poor; she lived among them, embracing a life of poverty in imitation of Jesus, who also became poor so that we could become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). And as she did, she discovered the same truth about material goods that Jesus sought to teach James and John about prestige and worldly respect: “The more you have, the more you are occupied, and the less you give. But the less you have, the more free you are. Poverty for us is a freedom.” Because she wanted to be filled only with Christ, Mother Teresa was able to give generously, both of herself and of Jesus, love. Often, the work was

MOTHER TERESA holds the hand o f an ailing man a t the M issionaries o f C harity home in C alcutta in this undated file photo.

exhausting and thankless. But it also generated laughter, hope, and glimpses of the glory of God. As we celebrate Mother Teresa’s beatification today, let’s follow her example. Let’s fix our eyes on Jesus and ask him to help us serve as fully as he - and she - did. □ “H oly Spirit, you upheld Jesus throughout his life. G rant me eyes o f faith to see you and the heart o f com passion to share you with others. M ake me a living witness to the love that can transform the w o rld .”

CatholicN ews □

Sundays O ctober 12 and O ctober 19, 2003

17 m e m b e r of

V ie w p o in t

CatholicNews Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore M anaging E d ito r

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“ N o o f f d a y ” m a id s IT INTERESTS me to see the article “Give our maids a rest day” by Sr. Theresa Seow fdcc,(CN Sept. 28/Oct. 5). It would interest Sr. Theresa to know that, every day, quite a few employment agencies advertise that they have maids who work with “No off days”!

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A r tic le s o n s e x u a lity THE MALAYSIAN Catholic weekly newpaper “Herald” appears to be publishing a series on sexuality. A question is asked, and a reply is given. The reply is concise, easy to understand and, in a nutshell, gives the teaching of the Catholic Church on the

question asked. Could we not approach the author and ask permission to have the same articles appear in our Singapore CatholicNews?

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W h u iW YO UTH T A IZ E M E D IT A T IO N B A S E D O N S C R IP T U R E S V enue: Church of the St Mary of the Angels. D ate: Oct 18, 8-9 pm

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A weekend for those who are in need of integrating life experiences unto wholeness: • that provides a prayerful posture and disposition one takes to see/experience “How God sees me as the beloved.” • that takes into reflective consideration the reality of brokenness in one’s life. D ate : Friday Oct 17, 7.30 pm to Sunday Oct 19, 12 noon. V enu e: Cenacle Sisters, 47 Jurong West. St. 42. Tel: 6565-2895; Fax: 6565-3875. Email: cenacle@singnet.com.sg C A T H O L IC M E D I C A L G U IL D A G M , D IN N E R C U M L E C T U R E D ate: Oct 18 (Sat.) T im e 4.30pm (AGM

followed by Mass, dinner & Fr Edmund Dunne lecture). Place: The Oriental Hotel. Speaker: Prof Gabriel Low Cheng Hock). C o s t: $70 a person/$ 1,000 a table. E n q u iries: Dr Gabriel Seow 6364-9661 / 6252-5384 or Dr John Hui at 6458-8596 or e-mail:cmgsingapore@yahoo.com.sg

L is t o f n e w THE COMPLETE list of new cardinals named by Pope John Paul II included the following Vatican officials, in the order in which they were named: — French Archbishop JeanLouis Tauran, 60, the Secretariat of State official who deals with foreign affairs. The honor appeared to signal an imminent job change for the cardinaldesignate. — Italian Archbishop Renato Martino, 70, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. — Italian Archbishop Francesco Marchisano, 74, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Peter. — Spanish Archbishop Julian Herranz, 73, president of the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts. — Mexican Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, 70, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. — Japanese Archbishop

P R A Y E R F O R E V A N G E L I Z A T IO N

To commemorate World Mission Sunday and to invoke the power of the Spirit for Evangelization. D ate: Sunday Oct 19, 2 - 4.30 pm. V enue: Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. All Catholics are invited to join in this prayer rally. H O LY H O U R TO PRAY F O R V O C A T IO N S

Conducted by Fr Philip Heng,S.J. and the Jesuit novices. D ate: Oct 24,8pm to 9pm. Venue: Centre for Ignatian Spirituality (behind Church of St Ignatius). E n q u iry : 6467-2790. All Are Invited M A S S W I T H A N O IN T IN G D ate : Sat., Oct 25 at 6 pm. C e le b ra n t:

Archbishop Emeritus Gregory Yong. Concelebrant: Fr John Khoo. Venue: Church of St. Stephen, 30 Sallim Rd. E n q u iries: 6747-1433. Welcome sick, homebound and elders. MASS O F TH E F A IT H F U L D E P A R T E D D ate : Nov 2 at 7 am, 8.30 am

and 10 am. Two masses followed by blessing of the columbaria: 12.30pm and 6pm by archbishop Nicholas Chia. V enu e: Church of St Teresa. No 8 pm Mass.

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— Brazilian Archbishop

Eusebio Scheid of Rio de Janeiro, 70, a member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. — Italian Archbishop Ennio Antonelli of Florence, 66. — Italian Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone of Genoa, a 68-year-old Salesian. — Ghanian Archbishop Peter Turkson of Cape Coast, 54. — Indian Archbishop Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, 63. — Australian Archbishop Pell of Sydney, 62. — Croatian Archbishop Josip Bozanic of Zagreb, 54. — Vietnamese Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Ho Chi Minh City, whom the Vatican lists as bom in 1934. — Guatemalan Archbishop Rodolfo Quezada Toruno of Guatemala City, 71. — French Archbishop Philippe Barbarin of Lyons, 52. — Hungarian Archbishop Peter Erdo of EsztergomBudapest, 51.

1VJAY T H E Y

Sixth Anniversary Fourth Anniversary

— Italian Archbishop Attilio Nicora, 66, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See. The complete list of residential archbishops, in the order named: — Italian Archbishop Angelo Scola, 61, the patriarch of Venice. — Nigerian Archbishop Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of Lagos, 67. — French Archbishop Bernard Panafieu of Marseilles, 72. — Sudanese Archbishop Gabriel Zubeir Wako of Khartoum, 62. — Spanish Archbishop Carlos Amigo Vallejo of Seville, a 69year-old Franciscan. — Archbishop Rigali of Philadelphia. — Scottish Archbishop O’Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, 65.

b y p o p e — Archbishop Ouellet of Quebec. Four elderly priests, all with close personal connections to the pope, were also named cardinals — Swiss Dominican Father Georges Cottier, 81, has been “theologian of the pontifical household” since 1989. He is known for his expertise on social ethics. — Belgian Msgr. Gustaaf Joos, an 80-year-old moral theologian, was a classmate of the pope’s at the Belgian College in the 1940s, and the two kept close ties afterward. — Czech Jesuit Father Tomas Spidlik, 83, an expert in Eastern spirituality, led the pope’s Lenten retreat in 1995. — Polish Father Stanislas Nagy, an 81-year-old Dehonian theologian, taught with the pope at Lublin University in Poland, was named by the pope to the International Theological Commission and served as an adviser to two synods of bishops, t f v ' ■' ' *

U j- y m ^ iV fe m o r y

T H A N K S G IV IN G

1T 1E S T Once again, thank you Thank you dearest holy apostle St Jude for Jesus, Mary and St In loving memory of unfailingly answering Joseph, St Jude and St my prayers each time. Joseph of Cupertino Also gratefult thanks for our answered Infant Jesus of Prague, prayers. Please Our Lady of Perpetual continue to shower Help, Sts Anne, your blessings on our j Anthony, Joseph, children and protect Gerard and the Holy us always. Thank you ; Angels and Saints for very much. S.K. their favours, protection and prayers answered for me and Advertising my family in times of rates desperate need. Please FRANCIS continue to protect and Classified G ILBERT GOMEZ guide us always. SC Departed: Oct 10,1991 advertisement The years may wipe Minimum S$28 for Special thanks and out many things. gratitude to Our Father, the first 25 words. But this they’ll wipe Additional words: Holy Spirit, Sacred out never, Heart of Jesus, Mother The memory of those 500 a word. Mary, Our Lady of happy days Hyphenated words Perpetual Help, Infant Which we had spent are considered Jesus of Prague, Sts together. Anne, Anthony, Joseph as two words. Always remembered and all the Holy by wife Celine, Angels, and Saints for children, sons-in-law, In Memoriam the countless daughters-in-law and intercessions, miracles Minimum $60 grandchildren. and prayers answered for an insertion during most difficult not exceeding a and troubled times. Second Anniversary Sincerely appreciate ten-centimetre In loving memory of the blessings, column. guidance, protection rendered to me and my Additional space: $6.50 per loved ones. Please continue to pray and one-centimetre intercede for us. SC column.

In loving memory o f

M A C E In loving memory of

' ....... ROSALIN NG HENG YONG TAN PAUL Departed:Mar 3,1997 Departed:Oct 20,1999 PETER S. MURUGASAN Departed: Oct 15,1994 Only the memory’s left, Of the happiness we knew, But the love that kindled memory’s torch Will feed my whole life through. Always remembered by wife, children and loved ones.

THE LORD IS M Y SHEPHERD. In everloving remembrance of

Sixteenth Anniversary In loving memory of MDM ELIZABETH L EE YAM IMM Departed:Oct 16, 1985 Time has healed our sorrow and grief, Time has lessened our pain.

If we really trust in Jesus, We should not cry again. 18 years have passed us by, Still we cherish in our hearts Fond memories of our life together, Never thinking so soon w e’d part. In our prayers we humbly still say, “Grace and peace and eternal rest. Grant to her what You will, O Lord We know that You know best.”. Love always, Your family

In loving memory of

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RONALD LEE KENG HWEE Departed: Oct 12.2001 We cannot forget you Our loved one so dear. Your memory grows Sweeter year after year. Always and fondly remembered by Wife: Irene Wee Sister: Susan Lee Son: Andrew Lee Daughter: Belinda Lee Son-in-law: Eric Koh Granddaughter: Sarah Koh Grandson: Marcus Koh and all loved ones.

IRIS THERESA DANKER Who returned to the Lord on Oct 11, 1987 It was His will that she should die. His will that we should let her go; And we must ever bow to it. But oh, dear God, we miss her so! Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen. Forever in the hearts of your loved ones.

Tenth Anniversary In loving memory of

Ten years have passed and loving memories of you continue to linger in our minds and in our hearts. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Sadly missed by sons, daughters-in-law, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, SIMON LEE great-grandchildren YONG HEE and all loved ones. Departed: Oct 23,1993

In loving memory of

SANDANAM RAYAR Departed:Oct 20,1985

FRANCIS PHILOMINA Wife of late Mr Sandanam Rayar Departed:Sep 12, 1999

M um and Dad, There is not one day that passes that we don’t think about you, You are and will always be in our hearts No m atter where life takes us, you walk a journey of blissful love, serenity and tranquility We love you and miss you so much. Fondly remembered by family, relatives and friends.

JOSEPH TAY MARIA HENG GEK KOW GUAN HIANG Departed: Dec 4, 1977 Departed: Oct 17, 1997

RAYAR AROKIANATHAN

Just a thought of sweet remembrance, Just a memory sad and true, Just the love and sweet devotion, O f those who thinks of you. Always remembered by family and loved ones.

Departed: Oct 1st, 1992 God took you home, it was His will But in our hearts we love and miss you. Fondly remembered by wife Lovene Devi, daughter Jaslyn Shalini, family, relatives and friends.

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In our hearts your memory lingers, Sweetly tender, fond and true, There is not a day. That we do not think of you. Always missed by husband, children, grand-children and loved ones.

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VINCENT ER YONG JOO Departed: October 27, 1997 In our home he is fondly remembered, Sweet memories cling to his name; Those who loved him in life sincerely, Still love him in death just the same. Dearly missed and remembered by beloved wife Molly Tay Cheng Sek, son William Er, daughter-in-law Judy Er. daughter Helen Stanger, son-in-law Adam Stanger and grandchildren: Ryan, Richelle, Renfred and Kalea.

KOH HOU SEN MARY TAN LIM KEE Departed:Oct 13, 1991 Departed: Nov 14.1995

Time may heal the broken heart, Time may make the wound less sore, But time can never stop the longing For our very loved ones gone before. W e often sit and think o f them, The memories o f those happy days. Always rem embered by loving children, sons-in-law, daughters-inlaw and grandchildren.

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Departed: Oct 25, 1991 He had a smile, a pleasant way, A helping hand to all he knew, He was kind, generous and true, On earth he nobly did his best; Grant him, Jesus, heavenly rest. Lovingly remembered by wife, children and grandchildren. Mass will be celebrated at Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, Singapore on Saturday, Oct 25 at 6 pm.

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P o p e n am es 3 0 n e w By John Thavis VATICAN CITY - Pope John Paul

II named 30 new cardinals enlarging and further internationalizing the group that will one day elect his successor. The pope will induct the cardinals in a consistory at the Vatican Oct. 21, adding a major event to an already heavy program of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the pope’s election. “The candidates ... come from various parts of the world and carry out diverse duties in the service of the people of God,” the pope said in announcing the names from his window above St. Peter’s Square Sept. 28. “As a group, they well respect the universality of the church and the multiplicity of its ministries,” he said. The new cardinals represent 18 countries from all six continents. Seven are Vatican officials, 19 are heads of archdioceses around the world and four are priests over 80 years old being honored for their service to the church. The pope also said he was preserving the name of one new

cardinal “in pectore,” or in his heart. In the past, such cardinals have served in places where public knowledge of their

VIETNAMESE Cardinaldesignate Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man speaks to reporters in the garden o f the H anoi C athedral before leaving f o r a meeting on religious affairs with governm ent officials Oct. 1 in Hanoi.

c a r d in a ls appointment might provoke hostility against the church. The appointments will bring the total number in the College of Cardinals to 194, a record high number of cardinals from 69 countries. After the last consistory of 2001, there were 184 cardinals. As he has done previously, the pope waived the maximum of 120 cardinal-electors, those under age 80 and thus eligible to vote in a conclave. When they accept their “red hats” at the consistory, the total number of cardinalelectors will be 135 - matching the record high number of 2001. All but five of the 135 have been named by Pope John Paul. The new voting-age cardinals include 14 Europeans; three each from Africa, Asia and North America; two from South America and one from Australia. The consistory will be held immediately after a six-day program of liturgies, meetings and festivities to mark the 25th anniversary of the pope’s election Oct. 16, 1978. It will come just two days after the beatification of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. All the cardinals had been invited to the anniversary events,

and Vatican sources said that was one factor in deciding to call a consistory for October, instead of waiting until early next year. The consistory events typically span two days, with formal induction into the College of Cardinals on the first day and Mass with the pope on the second. If the pope celebrates Mass with the new cardinals Oct. 22, the liturgy would fall on the 25th anniversary of his first Mass as pope. □ cns

INDIAN Archbishop Telesphore Toppo beats a traditional drum in the eastern Indian state o f Ranchi Sept. 29 to celebrate being nam ed a cardinal by P ope John P aul II. Cardinaldesignate Toppo said the honor is a "mark o f distinction f o r the tribal church in In dia.” H e is a m em ber o f the

Kuruk tribe. CNSPhotos • See page 18 for list of new cardinals. CICM

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