APRIL 10, 2011, vol 61 no 07

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www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY APRIL 10, 2011

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VOL 61

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INSIDE HOME Home Alpha at St Mary's Smaller groups make for easier discussions „ Page 6

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VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI has appealed for a stop WR ÂżJKWLQJ LQ /LE\D DQG WKH immediate start of a serious dialogue aimed at restoring peace to the North African country. Speaking at his weekly EOHVVLQJ RQ 0DUFK WKH SRSH said he was increasingly concerned DERXW WKH VLWXDWLRQ ZKHUH UHEHOV VXSSRUWHG E\ 86 DQG (XURSHDQ DLUVWULNHV KDYH EDWWOHG WKH IRUFHV RI /LE\DQ OHDGHU 0XDPPDU *DGGDÂż Âł0\ IHDU IRU WKH VDIHW\ DQG ZHOO EHLQJ RI WKH FLYLOLDQ SRSXODWLRQ LV JURZLQJ DV LV my apprehension over how the situation is developing with the XVH RI DUPV ´ WKH SRSH VDLG “To international agencies and to those with political and PLOLWDU\ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ , PDNH D heartfelt appeal for the immediate start of a dialogue that will VXVSHQG WKH XVH RI DUPV ´ (FKRLQJ WKH SRQWLIIÂśV FDOO ZHUH WKH ELVKRSV RI QRUWKHUQ $IULFD UHSUHVHQWLQJ WKH &KXUFK LQ 0RURFFR $OJHULD 7XQLVLD DQG /LE\D ,Q D VWDWHPHQW VHQW WR )LGHV the Vatican’s Congregation for WKH (YDQJHOLVDWLRQ RI 3HRSOHV RQ 0DUFK WKH ELVKRSV LVVXHG DQ ÂłXUJHQW DSSHDO WR ÂżQG DQ HQG WR WKLV SDLQIXO FRQĂ€LFW MXVW DQG GLJQLÂżHG IRU DOO´ 7KH VWDWHPHQW VLJQHG E\ $UFKELVKRS 9LQFHQW /DQGHO RI 5DEDW 0RURFFR SUHVLGHQW RI &(51$ WKH UHJLRQDO ELVKRSVÂś FRQIHUHQFH RI 1RUWK $IULFD VDLG WKH ELVKRSV UHFRJQLVHG WKH ÂłOHJLWLPDWH FODLP IRU IUHHGRP MXVWLFH DQG GLJQLW\´ WKDW SHRSOH VHHN “This demand translates LQWR D GHVLUH WR EH UHFRJQLVHG DV UHVSRQVLEOH FLWL]HQV ZLWK WKH

Laypeople launch political party „ Page 10

WORLD Church wants to monitor Korean nuclear plant Intends to inspect its safety record „ Page 11

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WORLD Vatican launches ‘Courtyard of the Gentiles’ Aims to dialogue with atheists „ Page 12

FOCUS Haven for South Asian migrants Our Lady of Lourdes Church is ‘home’ to many „ Page 17

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Lenten penitential services „ Page 18

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Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

Catholic communities in Singapore reached out to victims of recent

In solidarity with the suffering By Darren Boon About 500 people attended a special Mass at the Church of St Ignatius to pray for victims of recent natural calamities and political unrest. Parish priest, Jesuit Fr Philip Heng, said there was a great need for prayers because of the “urgent” issues faced by people in those countries. The March 24 Mass, planned only a few days before, was held for disaster victims in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and China’s Yunnan as well as for peace in the Middle East and North Africa. The evening began with a VKRUW UHÀHFWLRQ IROORZHG E\ Mass celebrated by Fr Heng. The congregation lit candles GXULQJ WKH UHÀHFWLRQ LQ VROLGDULW\ with those who have suffered tremendous loss. In his homily, Fr Heng said the outpouring of help in the recent tragedies shows that “there is goodness buried in our hearts deeper than our sufferings and pain in life”. Quoting from Pope Benedict XVI, Fr Heng said that “what makes suffering worse in today’s world is the secular nature of the culture which we live”. He added that because of a lack of the Gospel values, “most people live without hope”.

‘I was so moved … many Singapore Christians prayed for the victims of the disaster.’ – Ms Noriko Suzuki, a member of the Japanese Catholic community

Candelit prayers and a special Mass were held at the Church of St Ignatius.

Fr Heng, quoting the pope, said that “God is still fully alive and present in the midst of suffering. We need the eyes of faith to see that.” He added that “God has conquered everything. He’s still present and we can still feel His love in the brokenness of this world. … In the midst of suffering, the hope of eternal life is assured … evil will be vanquished”. Present at the Mass were

members of the Japanese Catholic community who sang during the celebration and prayed during the Prayers of the Faithful. Together with their children, community members gave out 1,000 paper cranes to the congregation. The origami cranes represent healing and hope in GLI¿FXOW WLPHV Mrs Motoko Ihara said she is really appreciative of the efforts and prayers of the local Church.

³7KLV LV D GLI¿FXOW VLWXDWLRQ for us,” she said. Coming together to pray for her countrymen made her feel better, she added. Ms Noriko Suzuki said, “I was so moved … many Singapore Christians prayed for the victims of the disaster.” This shows how people can be united across nationalities, she said. Mr Michael Wee from the Church of the Holy Spirit, who

attended the Mass, said it was PHDQLQJIXO WR UHÀHFW RQ VXIIHULQJ which is part of the Catholic faith, especially during Lent. “It is beautiful to think that in the midst of suffering, God’s love is there.” Meanwhile, parishioners of the Church of St Mary of Angels collected donations and sold food to raise money for victims of the Japanese disasters during the weekend of March 19-20. Mrs Eiko Tan, a Japanese who helped out in the parish’s fundraising efforts, said she is “thankful and touched” by the parishioners’ response. The parish raised $32,000. darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

Praying for their countrymen By Darren Boon “Because we are so far from our country, what we can do is very little,” says Mrs Mikiko Takahashi. “Just pray and donate money,” says the member of the Japanese Catholic community in Singapore. Speaking to CatholicNews after their recent weekly Tuesday meeting at the Church of St Ignatius, members voiced their pride at the resilience and calm their countrymen have displayed in the face of catastrophe. 7KH\ VDLG WKH\ DUH FRQ¿GHQW their country would be able to weather the severe crisis and rebuild itself. Mrs Akiko Holmes says she is praying for the health of survivors, aid workers and those working to solve the problems in the nuclear plants, as well as a speedy

Members of the Japanese Catholic community handing out paper cranes after the March 24 Mass. The origami cranes symbolise healing and hope.

restoration of affected towns. Mrs Takahashi also urged the local Catholic community to keep praying for her country. Japanese Catholics here have

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Apr 03 10.00am Cathedral of the Good Shepherd: Mass – Nuncio Apr 21 10.00am Church of the Holy Spirit : Chrism Mass 6.30pm Cathedral of the Good Shepherd: Last Supper Mass

been gathering to pray in their families and as a community even as they tried to contact relatives back home after news of the disaster broke. Some of them have also donated money to the Red Cross while others have helped out at the Church of St Mary of the Angels’ fundraising drive for Japan. darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

calamities in various ways. We highlight some of their efforts.

Choral concert raises funds

Japanese mums teaching elementary students how to make paper cranes.

SJII kids get into action Students of SJI International Elementary School ran a mini-fair, did chores at home and donated their pocket money to raise funds for Japan’s disaster victims. The school organised a special day for the children on March 17 in which they could wear ordinary clothing instead of uniforms. For this privilege, they were charged a fee. However, the eight- to 12-year-olds, on their own initiative, organised a mini-fair

which included apple bobbing and balloon throwing contests and the sale of second hand books to raise additional funds. Japanese mothers also worked with the students to create 1,000 origami cranes, each carrying a message of compassion. They will be strung together and sent to a school in Japan. The total amount raised by the school was more than $10,000, which will be sent to Save the Children international charity. „

St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) hosted a choral concert on March 26 to raise funds for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan. The event, titled Ubi Caritas Et Amor, Deus Ibi Est – Where Charity And Love Are, God Is There, featured choirs from various schools and was held at the Beurel, the school library. A crowd of approximately 260 turned up for the event with each person donating a minimum sum of $10 for admission. All donations went to Mercy Relief. The concert featured choirs under choral director Toh Ban Sheng’s batonship – St Joseph’s Institution Vocal Ensemble, Dunman Secondary School Choir, Catholic Junior College Choir, 5DIĂ€HV &KRUDOH 5DIĂ€HV 9RLFHV DQG 5DIĂ€HV 9RLFHV $OXPQL Franciscan Friar Michael D’Cruz led the opening prayer in which three people involved in the concert lighted three candles which represented the victims, the mourners and those offering aid. “This concert serves to remind us that no matter how hard the adversity is, it can always be overcome if the

The St Joseph’s Institution Vocal Ensemble performing in the Ubi Caritas Et Amor, Deus Ibi Est concert.

community comes together,� said Sebastian Timbul, an SJI choir member. Ms Adeline Tan, the teacher in charge of the SJI Vocal Ensemble said, “More than an experience, it is also a learning point for our students that the practice of the arts holds much deeper meaning. It is ultimately an expression of humanity; that our talents are to be shared, to reach out to others and to bind people together.� „

‘No matter how hard the adversity is, it can always be overcome if the community comes together.’ – Sebastian Timbul, an SJI choir member

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Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CALLED TO THE LORD

Former Sts Peter & Paul priest dies in France Fr Claude Barreteau, MEP, was called home to the Lord on March 22. His funeral was held in Montbeton, France, on March 24. The French-born priest was born on July 7, 1929, and ordained in May 1955. He arrived in Singapore in 1959. After a few months serving at the Church of the Holy Family, he spent 18 months in Kuala Lumpur learning Cantonese. He then took care of the Chinese FRPPXQLW\ RI .OXDQJ IRU ¿YH \HDUV DQG EHFDPH WKH ¿UVW resident priest of Labis. He built the church there and stayed there for eight years. He returned to Singapore in DQG VHUYHG ¿UVW LQ WKH SDULVK of St Michael and later at St Joseph (Bukit Timah) where he built the parish house and centre. He became parish priest of Sts Peter and Paul in 1993, where he contributed greatly. As the more than centuryold church building was rapidly deteriorating, he immediately initiated a major renovation. The church was repainted and D QHZ VWHHSOH DQG QHZ URR¿QJ constructed. The public address system was replaced. He also oversaw the church’s 125th anniversary celebrations.

Fr Claude Barreteau, MEP, passed away on March 24.

He was the only priest working in the parish and tirelessly ministered to both English and Chinese-speaking parishioners. Towards the end of his tenure, KH UDLVHG VXI¿FLHQW IXQGV IRU the church and laid plans for the construction of the present parochial building. Fr Barreteau retired in 1998 due to ill health. After a short home leave, he returned to Singapore and was posted to St Theresa’s Home for the elderly as its chaplain. He returned to France in 2008. He died at the age of 81 after serving the Church in Asia for 49 years „

Late priest known for his writings on Jesuits By Fr Gerry Keane, SJ Jesuit Father Frank Doyle, who died on March 17 at the age of 79, was one of the very few Irish Jesuits still operating in this part of the world until the day of his departure for a better world. His work took him to countries as varied as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and beyond, giving him plenty of scope to exercise his many talents. Whether by appointment or choice, Fr Frank was a man of thorough dedication to his appointed mission. He was a Jesuit through and through who appeared to have no concern in life but the advancement of God’s kingdom and the welfare of people. Everywhere seemed to be his milieu. Among his many activities, all performed with seriousness and competence, were writing, publishing, teaching, lecturing, attending meetings of VLJQL¿FDQFH VSLULWXDO GLUHFWLRQ and giving retreats. Of these, pride of place must go to his writings which included a voluminous history of the Jesuits in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. He also edited the Catholic News while living in Singapore. For all his giftedness, Fr

Jesuit Father Frank Doyle died on March 17.

Frank was a very shy person. His VHOI DVVXUDQFH DQG FRQ¿GHQFH in himself were betrayed by a nervous laugh which frequently punctuated his conversation. Besides, his continued travelling made it hard to identify him with a community to which he truly belonged. Despite such limitations, or rather because of them, Fr Frank was not without heroism. We have lost a worthy companion. The Jesuit community here in Singapore sends its sympathy to all those dear to Fr Frank. May he rest in deserved peace. „

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Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

100 percent passes for ELL cohort CJC’s 1st English Language and Linguistics students score in 2010 A Levels By Darren Boon Catholic Junior College’s pioneer batch of English Language and Linguistics (ELL) students have achieved 100 percent passes and 42.4 percent distinctions in the 2010 GCE A Levels. The results are better than the national average of 99.3 percent passes and 38.7 distinctions. CJC is one of three centres to teach ELL, the others being Anglo Chinese Junior College DQG 5DIĂ€HV ,QVWLWXWLRQ ELL develops “students’ understanding and appreciation of the English language through an investigation of the nature of the language and some contemporary language issuesâ€?, according to the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) website. CJC’s former ELL student ,VDEHOOH /HRQJ VDLG WKH OHVVRQV were “interestingâ€? with the use of multimedia. Students were given a lot of information about the various areas of linguistics and asked to conduct their own research, said Leong, the top Arts stream student with seven distinctions. The ex-Crescent Girls’ School student said she decided to study in CJC after her O Levels because of the college’s “strong arts and humanities reputationâ€? and the ELL programme. She added that the Arts and Humanities department had invested in the students’ academic growth and organised supplementary programmes which she enjoyed such as the Literature Film Night and Literary Evening. Another top student, Kevin

ELL student Isabelle Leong is one of the top students of the college

Students who scored six or more distinctions in the A Levels pose for a photo with principal Christine Kong.

Wong, who took ELL, said, “Being in a Catholic environment helped me personally. Being able to go for morning Mass really helped me start my day well and centre myself. Studying alone and feeling God’s presence around me was also a great gift, and a great way of calming myself ZKHQ , IHOW IUXVWUDWHG RU DQQR\HG with a particular topic.� According to Mrs Sng Mee Lian, an ELL teacher, the lessons are carried out in the school’s language laboratory with the use of technology to allow for interactivity. Students are constantly challenged in the application of their thinking skills and linguistic knowledge, she said. They analyse websites and a wide range of text types such as blogs, newspaper and magazine articles, press releases, advertisements

DQG FRPLF VWULSV ,Q DGGLWLRQ students worked on a research project, recording and analysing conversations in various settings. Apart from academic studies, the ELL graduates had participated in a work attachment programme to gain experiential learning. They were attached to 13 companies and government

CJC is one of three centres to teach ELL, the others being Anglo Chinese Junior College and 5afÀes Institution.

ministries such as MediaCorp, Singapore Press Holdings and the Ministry of Education. The college also organises an annual English Language and Linguistics Symposium to “provide students with a deeper understanding of various linguistic issues from the exchange of perspectives offered by various academics and discourse practitioners who are H[SHUWV LQ WKHLU ÂżHOGV´ DFFRUGLQJ to CJC. The college also did well in Literature with 57.5 percent distinctions, Knowledge DQG ,QTXLU\ ZLWK SHUFHQW distinctions, and History with 47.4 percent distinctions. CJC also saw 91.2 percent of students achieving at least three

H2 passes with a pass in General Paper and Knowledge and ,QTXLU\ RYHU WKH QDWLRQDO VWDQGDUG of 90.8 percent. Four students scored the maximum number of seven distinctions. The college also saw a 30 percent increase in the number of students scoring at least three distinctions compared to 2009. Twelve subjects saw an increase in pass and distinction rates. Apart from academic training, the school’s nurturing environment is also a plus factor for some students. Wong, who was vice president of CJC’s Student Council and who headed the college’s Catholic Activities Wing said he chose to study here because of his Catholic background as well as for the school’s religious and family-oriented environment. „ darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

Home Alpha sessions make for ‘more comfortable’ sharing

A Church of St Mary of the Angels home Alpha session in progress.

By Darren Boon Small groups meeting in parishioners’ homes certainly help people share better, say participants of a parish Alpha programme. The experience could also be a stepping stone for participants to join or form Small Christian Communities (SCCs), say organisers. The St Mary of the Angels parish started its home Alpha programme in January. There are presently 25 participants, 10 of whom are not Catholics. Organisers and participants say the more intimate home environment helps people feel more comfortable with one another. The smaller group size certainly helps, says Mr Christopher Chan, a Catholic. In a larger group, one might be more reluctant to speak up, he added. Mrs Janet Ker, a nonCatholic, agrees. “We can share better. We’re not so shy because we meet every week,” says Mrs Ker, a non-Catholic, who attends the

home sessions with her Catholic husband, Danny. Each of the four groups meets either on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday evenings or on Monday mornings. The proposed group size is about 12 people comprising the hosts, two facilitators and about eight participants. Each session begins with a video presentation by Rev Nicky Gumble, the Anglican pastor who developed the Alpha programme, followed by group sharing. Ms Katy Morrison, the parish’s home Alpha coordinator, notes that participants are hesitant to speak up and ask questions in larger groups. However, they feel “safe and welcomed” in parishioners’ homes, she says. The parish hopes that after the programme, the non-Catholics would join the Rite of Christian Initiation or one of the SCCs, to be part of a faith community. For the Catholics, it is hoped they would be able to join an existing SCC. The Alpha group could become an SCC as well. There are other programmes

and courses the parish is looking into, said Ms Morrison, but added that the parish would also need to discuss with participants their options after the Alpha programme. One of the host couples, Tim and Pat de Souza, said they found this home initiative worth supporting. They are also involved with SCCs and see Alpha as a way to bring people to SCCs. Mrs de Souza said that allowing non-Catholics to experience SCCs will help them grasp Catholicism better as they hear how the baptised community live the faith in daily life. Meanwhile, parish priest Franciscan Friar John-Paul Tan says he sees Alpha as “one way by which the SCCs can share their faith with their neighbours”. The Alpha programme consists of weekly sessions of talks on video covering topics on Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, the Bible, prayer and healing. It was developed in the late 1970s by the Anglican Church in the United Kingdom as a means of presenting the basic principles of the Christian faith to new Christians in a relaxed and informal setting. It was later adapted for non-Christians as a practical introduction to the faith. darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

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(Accounts & Training Centre).

Send your CV to general@acmi.org.sg

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Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Legion of Mary draws the young More than 100 youths from schools and parishes attended a special event recently By Andrea Michelle Lim About 120 young members of the Legion of Mary gathered at the chapel of SJI International (SJII) to pledge their love and devotion to Mother Mary on March 26. This annual event, known as the Acies, was organised by the Legion’s Junior Curia in Singapore. The Junior Curia oversees all the Junior Praesidia units in Catholic schools and some parishes here where Legionaries are aged below 18. The Acies is the “great central annual function of the Legion, hence it is necessary to stress the importance of attendance on the part of every member�, says the Legion of Mary handbook. The highlight of the ceremony was the consecration to Our Lady when members recited the following words with reverence: “I am all yours, my Queen, my Mother, and all that I have is yours.� During the Mass, celebrated by Opus Dei priest, Fr Joe Lopez Carpio, students lined up in pairs to make their consecration to Mary.

Fr Joe Lopez Carpio celebrates Mass for the youths.

Junior Legionaries pose for a photo during their recent Acies meeting.

Fifteen-year-old Marcella 7D\ IURP 2XU /DG\ RI *UDFHV praesidium (CHIJ Toa Payoh), has been a member of her school’s Legion of Mary for three and a half years. She said, “I joined the Legion of Mary because I wanted to JHW FORVHU WR *RG DQG ZDQWHG to pray more and meet new people.� Lucas Tang, also 15 years old, from Queen of All Saints

praesidium (SJII), joined the Legion of Mary for a different reason. He said, “I was inspired by my seniors to learn about *RG ´ Audrey Pranadi, 14, from the Mary Sanctuary of Divine Love praesidium (SJII), and who has been in the Legion for three months, said, “My grandmother inspired me to join and the EHQHÂżW RI LW ZDV OHDUQLQJ WR pray the Rosary which is a very

powerful prayer.� Even those who have left their secondary schools returned to attend the Acies. Joshua Kim Kwan, Jerome Lim and Michael Yeow, all 17 and alumni of St Patrick’s School, agreed that after joining the Legion in their alma mater, they found a tremendous improvement in their prayer lives and found attending Mass more meaningful.

The praesidium to which they belonged, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, has been in existence since the 1980s. Mr Christopher Ong, a WHDFKHU DW 6-,, DQG DQ RIÂżFHU RI the Junior Curia was one of its members 26 years ago. “Being in the Legion of Mary as a teen helped to cultivate in me self-discipline in praying and in devotion to Our Lady,â€? he said. He added that being part of the Legion “as a teenager was similar to having a seed being SODQWHG LQ PH WR GR *RGÂśV ZRUN´ „

Youth Lenten project helps Caritas urges help for local charities SHRSOH UHà HFW RQ *RVSHO Even as Catholics respond to the needs of disaster victims in Japan, they should also not forget local Catholic charities who depend on the annual Charities Week collection to fund their programmes, says Caritas Singapore Community Council. These charities and organisations serve a wide spectrum of needs in Singapore – the poor, elderly, disabled, mentally challenged, families, children, migrants, ex-prisoners and people with HIV/ AIDs, says Caritas Singapore in a press release. Donations towards Charities :HHN ZLOO IXQG &DULWDV WKH RI¿FLDO social and community arm of the archdiocese, and 12 other Catholic organisations that do work for the

By Darren Boon The youths of Church of the Holy Trinity are getting parishioners WR UHĂ€HFW RQ WKH *RVSHO SDVVDJHV during Lent through the use of WDNH KRPH UHĂ€HFWLRQ FDUGV DQG the decoration of murals. The youths hope to raise awareness among the parishioners “that Lent is a period where D ORW RI VHOI UHĂ€HFWLRQ DQG especially prayer takes place as we prepare for Christ’s death and resurrectionâ€?, said Leonard Neo, one of those involved in the project. The murals portray a key image from each Sunday’s *RVSHO UHDGLQJ WR UHPLQG SHRSOH RI WKH *RVSHO PHVVDJH Parishioners stick coloured paper to form the images as a means “to promote unity and participation in the same journeyâ€? that the entire congregation, young or old, should be undertaking during Lent, said Neo. “It is something where people of any age can participate and they can feel a sense of belonging to the church and to the beautiful pictures they have created with their combined effort,â€? he added. Parishioners also receive a

Young parishioners of the Church of the Holy Trinity stick coloured paper to form Lent-related murals.

WDNH KRPH UHĂ€HFWLRQ FDUG ZLWK DQ H[FHUSW RI WKH *RVSHO SDVVDJH DV ZHOO DV UHĂ€HFWLRQ TXHVWLRQV which they are encouraged to ÂżOO XS DQG UHWXUQ WKH IROORZLQJ week. This “helps them think of their shortcomings and things

that they might like to change during this period�, said Neo. “It is for them to do some selfsearching and personal prayer along with writing down what they feel.� „ darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

poor and needy in Singapore. Donations to Charities Week can qualify for the 250 percent tax deduction, says Caritas. To donate to Charities Week, pick up a Charities Week 2011 appeal envelope from your parish. Cash donation: Drop the appeal envelope in your parish offertory box. Cheque donation: Write a

cheque to “Caritas Singapore� and mail it to 55 Waterloo Street, #09-03, Singapore 187954. If you would like a tax deduction on your donation, please indicate and provide your NRIC number. Please note that the Charities Week collections support charitable causes in Singapore and cannot be directed to crisis and disaster victims outside of Singapore. „

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Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Myanmar quake-hit areas get Church help

A large crack in a road is seen in Tarlay, Myanmar. CNS photo YANGON – A Church charitable

agency is providing medical check-ups, distributing items and collecting data in remote villages in northeastern Myanmar recently affected by an earthquake. A team of 20 staff from Karuna Kengtung Social Services (KKSS), the Church’s charitable agency in the Diocese of Kengtung, and some 30 volunteers are now working to alleviate the situation in these areas. Mr U Win Myat, coordinator of the health sector in KKSS, told ucanews.com by phone on March 27 that a mobile clinic team was giving out medication in the villages. A referral group is helping seriously injured victims and organising transport for them to hospitals.

Until now they have referred about 20 serious victims to the hospitals in Tachileik and Kyaingtong, he said. ..66 KDV RSHQHG WZR RI¿FHV in the parishes of Mong Lin and Thiri, the worst-hit areas, and is coordinating the teams to respond to the quake victims. Seven Catholic churches including those in Mong Lin and Thiri parishes were completely destroyed, according to Mr U Win Myat. Two staff from Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS) in Yangon went to Tachileik on March 27 to assist the KKSS teams. Dr Soe Moe Aung from KMSS said that he went with an emergency aid group and distributed food and drinking water. „ UCANEWS.COM

M’sian religious leaders slam ‘obscene politics’ BANGKOK – Malaysian religious

leaders have condemned a 21-minute “sex video� allegedly featuring opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, calling those who revealed it “despicable� and “unscrupulous�. The Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism expressed “great disgust and disbelief� regarding the video in a statement on March 28. The council “wishes to register its utter horror and sheer disgust at the despicable methodology devised by the unscrupulous and disgruntled� people aiming to publicly humiliate Anwar, said the statement which was signed by council president, Reverend Thomas Philips of the Mar Thoma Church. This story being played up in the local media over the last few days “does not inspire the younger generation to trust in the political process nor to observe cultural, religious, social and moral norms�, the statement said. “The violation of basic decency and privacy is abhorrent and despicable.�

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was allegedly featured in a ‘sex video’.

The council urges “the government to take swift and ÂżUP DFWLRQ DJDLQVW DOO WKRVH behind this scandal and begin determinedly to usher in a new era of self-respect, pride, trust and hope for the general wellbeing of all citizensâ€?, it said. 2Q 0DUFK LQĂ€XHQWLDO Muslim cleric, Asri Zainul Abidin called for the rejection of “obscene politicsâ€? and the “dirty and ugly culture among politicians and the media in the countryâ€?. „ UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Vietnam retreat hosts Some Chinese Catholics say Catholics who forsook they support sperm donation Church teaching DAN SA, VIETNAM –

Redemptorists running a retreat in a northern Vietnamese parish KDYH ZHOFRPHG EDFN IRUPHU &DWKROLFV ZKR WXUQHG WKHLU EDFNV on Church teachings to serve the Communist Party. Eight Redemptorists from Ho Chi Minh City recently held preaching, teaching, counselling, liturgical and sacramental celebrations for 3,600 Catholics at Dan Sa Church in Quang Binh province. Ms Agnes Dang Thi Xuan admitted she was a member of the Communist Party, had undergone an abortion and was using contraception. Between 1987 and 1997, as a YLOODJH RIÂżFLDO VKH DGYLVHG Catholics to have coils inserted and handed out 1,000 condoms to local men, she added. “I felt guilty about what I did and I was banned from receiving Communion for years,â€? said Ms Xuan, 55, who quit her job in 2007. “Now I am happy to be a real Catholic again after Redemptorists visited my home, listened to me and heard my confession,â€? the mother of two said. A local Catholic man, who abandoned the Church for the Communist Party in 1965, said a visit by Redemptorists inviting him to attend services at the local church has made him very happy. The 70-year-old, who requested anonymity, said DQRWKHU ORFDO SHRSOH OLNH him “go to confession and have returned to the Churchâ€?. 7KH PDQ ZKR ZRUNHG IRU D village authority, admitted he had ÂżQHG &DWKROLFV RU FRQÂżVFDWHG

farmland because they violated the government’s two-child policy. During the March 12-19 retreat, local Catholics carried statues of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, held processions around their villages, attended daily Masses and Eucharistic adoration, and went to confession. The Redemptorists visited, offered prayers and gave Marian SLFWXUHV DQG ERRNV WR ORFDO households. They also blessed many people’s homes.

Vietnamese Catholics attending the retreat at Dan Sa Church.

Fr Anthony Dau Thanh Minh, who started serving the parish in 2008, said out of 700 Catholic women who were forced to wear coils, 100 were Communist Party members who ceased to practise their faith. The priest said during the parish retreat that many of these women, including the Communist Party members, changed their minds after visits from the Redemptorists and decided to remove their coils and go to confession. „ UCANEWS.COM

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Chinese FROOHJH VWXGHQWV DUH ÀRFNLQJ to become sperm donors with many young Catholics supporting the process in apparent contradiction of their Church’s teachings. Some say they do not NQRZ WKH &KXUFKœV SRVLWLRQ RQ reproductive techniques or even abortion. ³, GRQœW NQRZ WKH &KXUFKœV position, but I won’t oppose� an act that helps infertile couples and improve social development, said Mr Joseph Wen from Guangzhou. He said he believes that morality changes as society progresses. A sperm donor can receive up to 3,000 yuan (S$576) in VXEVLGLHV LI KH ¿QLVKHV WKH ZKROH

process of 10 donations over three months. That is equivalent to an average yearly scholarship for an outstanding student. Guangdong province’s RIÂżFLDO VSHUP EDQN UHFHLYHG more than 900 donations last year, about twice the number of previous years. But the Catholic Church is opposed to sperm or egg donation as well as surrogacy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that “these techniques ... infringe the child’s right to be born of D IDWKHU DQG PRWKHU NQRZQ WR him and bound to each other by marriageâ€?. Some young Catholics, however, believe sperm donation is a positive thing. It is “a charitable act to

VDFULÂżFH RQHVHOI WR KHOS RWKHUV´ said Mr Paul Zhuang, who believes it should be encouraged. One woman, Teresa, said, “If I were a man, I would become a donor immediately. I can get not only the money, but DOVR D IUHH FKHFNXS :KDW D JRRG thing!â€? Many Catholics lay the blame for young people’s enthusiasm for sperm donation on priests who do not tell them about the Church teaching on the subject. The parish priest “never PHQWLRQHG LW MXVW OLNH VFKRRO teachers never teach sex educationâ€?, and most laypeople GR QRW NQRZ WKH\ FDQQRW XVH DUWLÂżFLDO FRQWUDFHSWLRQ RU KDYH abortions, said Mr Zhuang. „ UCANEWS.COM

10 ASIA

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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WORLD 11

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Parish online donations could be wave of the future CNS graphic

WASHINGTON – Within a decade,

church collection baskets may be collecting more dust than cash as more Catholics switch to electronic giving. With the chequebook gradually becoming obsolete and more people shopping online, the Catholic Church and its related charities are learning about spending habits, says Mr Michael Murphy, executive director of the Washington-based International Catholic Stewardship Council. “I think it is an exciting new way for people to give to the Church,â€? he says. His council provides educational resources, networks and information to promote Catholic philanthropy and advance the ministry of stewardship in parishes and dioceses. Online giving has increased GRQDWLRQV IRU PDQ\ QRQ SURÂżW organisations in the US. According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a study of 600 charities that used such a system showed that 79 percent of them raised more in 2010 than they did in 2009, while 21 percent raised less. “I believe we are on the verge of this growing tremendously in the next decade,â€? Mr Murphy told Catholic News Service. Faith Direct, a US company that describes itself as a “leading eGiving providerâ€? for Catholic FKXUFKHV DQG QRQ SURÂżW organisations across the country, recently celebrated a milestone. It processed 1 million transactions for Catholic parishes across the US in 2010. The programme works directly with the client’s bank making all transactions electronically. Faith Direct also provides “offertory cardsâ€? for parishioners to place in the Sunday collection basket as a visible sign of their electronic donation. Currently, the programme is in 45 dioceses across the country and continues to grow. “It has been my belief since Day One, up to 80 percent of

With the chequebook gradually becoming obsolete and more people shopping online, the Catholic Church and its related charities are learning about spending habits. – Mr Michael Murphy of the Washington-based International Catholic Stewardship Council

the offerings will be processed electronically by 2015,� said Mr Brian Walsh, founder and president of the online giving programme since 2003. Offertory Solutions, a division of Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), an Indiana-based publisher, produces more than 800 million offertory envelopes a year, offers stewardship services and recently launched its own online giving programme. At Holy Spirit Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Mr 'DYLG %UHPHU WKH SDULVKœV RI¿FH and communications manager, said parishioners have embraced online giving. Mr Walsh said he remembers being told electronic giving would never work, but he noted people’s habits and reliance on technology have changed drastically. Those between the ages of 20 and 30 have little knowledge

of how to use a chequebook, he said, and added that with retirees UHFHLYLQJ 6RFLDO 6HFXULW\ EHQH¿WV through direct deposit to their bank accounts, they, too, are using cheques less and less. He noted that one-third of clients using Faith Direct’s electronic programme are between 50 and 55 years old. „ CNS

Church wants to monitor Korean nuclear plant KWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA – Kwangju archdiocese’s

Committee for Justice and Peace says it wants to monitor one of the country’s largest nuclear power plants as scientists said radioactive particles had been found in the atmosphere over several areas of South Korea. The committee announced on March 28 that it had sent a letter to Yonggwang nuclear power plant in Jeollanam-do province, requesting its cooperation in monitoring the safety of the plant, which is located in the archdiocesan area. The letter said the committee would like to inspect the plant’s safety and accident history since its opening in 1978, the safety procedures manual for emergencies and the regular exercises to evacuate residents. The Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety said recently that radioactive iodine has been detected in 12 areas including Seoul. Reports claimed the particles of iodine-131 might have come from the Japanese nuclear power plant at Fukushima that was damaged in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The radioactive concentrations were being analysed but were probably too

low to pose any threat to people’s health or the environment, the institute was reported as saying. $XWKRULWLHV FRQ¿UPHG on March 28 that small concentrations of radioactive xenon-133 had also been found in South Korea’s northeast. Mr Augustine Kim Yang-rae, vice president of the committee, said fear and concern among residents neighbouring the power plant have been increasing, so his committee resolved that monitoring of the plant is urgent during its meeting on March 15. He said that their longer-term action plan will be drawn up in the light of the plant authorities’ cooperation in revealing safety information during their visit. The Yonggwang plant, one of the largest nuclear plants in the country, has been operating six reactors since 1978. The Kwangju Church committee led the protest against building the most recent four of the plant’s total of six reactors since 1992, during which priests of the committee were arrested and brought to trial. Korea, the world’s sixth largest nuclear power producer, is now operating 21 nuclear power plants commercially. „ UCANEWS. COM

12 WORLD

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Vatican’s ‘Courtyard of the Gentiles’ ‘Hasty operation’ slammed PARIS – Pope Benedict XVI

called for a greater sense of brotherhood in the world as the Vatican’s forum for dialogue between Christians and atheists ZDV LQDXJXUDWHG LQ 3DULV “Religions cannot be afraid of a just secularism, a secularism that is open and allows individuals to live according to what they believe in their own FRQVFLHQFHV ´ KH VDLG “If we are to build a world of freedom, equality and fraternity, believers and non-believers should feel themselves to be free, with equal rights to live their individual and community lives in accordance with their own convictions; and they must be EURWKHUV WR RQH DQRWKHU ´ 7KH 9DWLFDQÂśV ÂżUVW HYHU “Courtyard of the Gentilesâ€? event ZDV KHOG IURP 0DUFK 7KH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU &XOWXUH led by its president, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, organised the two-day discussion between Christians and atheists or nonbelievers at historically important

Catholics and atheists examined themes of enlightenment, religion and shared reason during gatherings in Paris. FXOWXUDO VLWHV LQ WKH )UHQFK FDSLWDO The Courtyard was formed by the Vatican’s culture department after the pope hoped for such a forum to foster dialogue on UHOLJLRQ LQ Catholics and atheists examined themes of enlightenment, religion and shared reason during gatherings DW WKH RI¿FHV RI WKH 81(6&2 WKH 6RUERQQH 8QLYHUVLW\ DQG WKH )UHQFK $FDGHP\ The evening of the second day was capped off with a

large gathering at the Cathedral RI 1RWUH 'DPH 7KH 7DL]H community held a prayer service inside the church as people gathered for music and mixed in WKH VTXDUH RXWVLGH $ OLJKW VKRZ beamed onto the cathedral facade ZDV SDUW RI WKH IHVWLYLWLHV In a pre-recorded message addressed to youth in the square, Pope Benedict XVI said that the “question of Godâ€? must not be absent from contemporary GLVFXVVLRQ +H FDOOHG DOO \RXQJ people to “rediscover the path of GLDORJXH´ LQ (XURSH Dialogue, he said, will help people overcome fears of the XQNQRZQ He told the youth not to be DIUDLG Âł2Q \RXU MRXUQH\ WRJHWKHU towards a new world, seek the absolute, seek God, even those of you for whom he is an unknown *RG ´ Similar sessions are being planned for other cities around the world, including in Quebec in 2012 and in Chicago and :DVKLQJWRQ LQ „ CNA, CNS

A Libyan walks near a naval military facility destroyed by coalition forces.

„ From page 1 said that in moments of great international tension, there was more urgency for diplomatic efforts that take advantage of “even the weakest sign of openness to reconciliationâ€? DPRQJ WKH SDUWLHV LQ FRQĂ€LFW Solutions should be “peaceful DQG ODVWLQJ´ KH VDLG The pope offered a prayer for “the return of harmony in Libyaâ€? DQG WKURXJKRXW 1RUWK $IULFD He also expressed concern about the entire region of the Middle East, where episodes of violence and civil unrest were WDNLQJ SODFH GDLO\ “My thoughts go to the authorities and citizens of the 0LGGOH (DVW 7KHUH WRR WKH SDWK

of dialogue and reconciliation should be chosen for a just and EURWKHUO\ FRH[LVWHQFH ´ KH VDLG Earlier in the week, the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, criticised what it described as “great confusionâ€? among the coalition that was carrying out airstrikes in support RI WKH /LE\DQ UHEHOV The newspaper said France had undertaken the military operation “in haste and without any coordinationâ€? with other key members of the international FRPPXQLW\ Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the Vatican would send an observer to the international conference on Libya scheduled for March 29 in /RQGRQ „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

WYD organisers expect more than 1m in Madrid VATICAN CITY – With more than 1 million youths expected to converge on Madrid for World Youth Day (WYD) in August, organisers are busy making ¿QDO SUHSDUDWLRQV DQG HQVXULQJ minimum environmental damage. The traditional bond between the faith and art will be highlighted, especially during the Stations of the Cross, Mr Yago de la Cierva, executive director of WYD 2011, told reporters at the Vatican on March 15. And “there will be many events late at night. We Spaniards eat dinner at about 10 [pm] and we don’t go to bed before midnight”, he said. “Obviously, the catechesis in the morning will begin later” than was usual at World Youth Day in other cities. Organisers are also encouraging pilgrims to walk, ride bikes or take public transportation to events to minimise impact on the environment. Electricitygenerating bicycles will also be provided at selected events so

Teens from the Chicago archdiocese sign on a World Youth Day cross in late February. CNS photo

participants can pedal to recharge their mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices. In previous World Youth Days, the number of people who signed XS WR SDUWLFLSDWH RI¿FLDOO\ LQ WKH full programme represented only about 25 percent of the total who came for the main events with the

pope, said Mr de la Cierva. So WYD Madrid should draw well over one million people, he added. WYD will be celebrated in Madrid from Aug 16-21. Organisers said more than 290,000 people have enrolled. CNS

‘Parishes are places for prayer, learning, charity’ ROME – A parish church is a place

for people to get to know God better, to worship Him together and to learn how to take the message of His love to the neighbourhood and the world, Pope Benedict XVI said at the dedication of a new church in Rome. “Grow in the knowledge and love of Christ as individuals and as a parish community and encounter Him in the Eucharist, in listening to His word, in prayer and in charity,” the pope told parishioners at the new St Corbinian Church on March 20. Pope Benedict said church buildings and parish communities are essential for Christian life and worship. “In every neighbourhood where people live and work, the Church wants to be present with the evangelical witness of coherent and faithful Christians,

Doves are released after the pope dedicates a new church in Rome.

but also with buildings where they can gather for prayer and the sacraments, for Christian formation and to establish relationships of friendship and brotherhood and where children, youths, families and the aged can grow in that spirit of community that Christ taught us and that the world needs so badly,” he said. CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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

Tsunami comments don’t quite make sense I refer to the letter, Japan’s Monster Tsunami a Wake-up Call to People (CN March 27) from Mr Fernando. The writer has used the earthquake and tsunami to push his agenda for peace and religious tolerance. His personal aims are not in question but his concatenation of what has happened to the non-observance of equity etc, is. Would he explain by what interpolation his views have the required nexus to the natural phenomenon of a tsunami? Before one can build such a bridge there must be understanding of what constitutes the nature of a VFLHQWL¿F WKHRU\ A theory is a good theory if LW VDWLV¿HV WZR UHTXLUHPHQWV ,W must accurately describe a large class of observations on the basis

of a model containing only a few arbitrary elements and, a fortiori, LW PXVW PDNH GH¿QLWH SUHGLFWLRQV about the results of future observations. For example, Aristotle believed Empedocle’s theory of the four elements of earth, DLU ¿UH DQG ZDWHU 7KLV ZDV VLPSOH EXW GLG QRW PDNH GH¿QLWH predictions. In antithesis, Newton’s theory of gravity was also a simple model where bodies attracted each other with a force proportional to their mass and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This took its strength from the fact that it correctly predicted the motions of the sun, the moon, and the planets to a high degree of accuracy. The whole of Mr Fernando’s

letter was on the mishandling of the Earth due to human frailty and the vicissitudes of human character. Nowhere was there future predictions as those of Newton’s and Einstein’s general theory of relativity to support by observation what was said. Mr Fernando’s letter would please religious sodalities as it advocates the doing of good. The sine qua non however is not the good it advocates but the use of the tsunami without any JRRG VFLHQWL¿F WKHRU\ WR XSKROG the link he equates of bad with natural disasters. In other words, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and other natural occurring disasters are being linked to the doing of bad. This cannot be accepted as it belongs to the realm of a religious sermon to believers without any proof of reality. We should remember the polemic between Galileo, Nicholas Copernicus, a Polish priest, and the Catholic Church over the Earth being at the centre and the sun orbiting around it. Mr Fernando’s letter carries a redolence of such a repetition. Dudley Au Singapore 160095

Splitting the moral atom WE ARE saved by the death of Jesus! All Christians believe this. This is a central tenet within the Christian faith and the centre of almost all Christian iconography. Jesus’ death on a cross changed history forever. Indeed, we measure time by it. The effect of His death so marked the world that, not long after He died, the world began to measure time by him. We are in the year 2011 since Jesus was born. But how does this work? How can one person’s death ricochet through history, going backwards and forwards in time, being somehow beyond time, so as to affect past, present, and future all at the same time, as if that death was forever happening at the present moment? Is this simply some mystery and metaphysics inside of the Godhead that isn’t meant to be understood within any of our normal categories? Too often, I believe, the answer we were given was simply this: It’s a mystery. Believe it. You don’t have to understand it. And there’s wisdom in that. How we are washed clean in the blood of Christ is something we understand more in the gut than in the head. We know its truth, even when we don’t understand it. Indeed we know its truth so deeply that we risk our whole lives on it. I wouldn’t be a minister of the Gospel and a priest today if I didn’t believe that we are saved through the death of Jesus. But how to explain it? In my quest as a theologian and simply in my search to integrate my Christian faith, I have searched for concepts, imaginative constructs, and a language within which to understand and explain this: How can one man’s death 2,000 years ago be an act that saves us today? One of the things that helped me in that quest was a counsel from Edward Schillebeeckx who, in his ground-breaking book on Jesus as the Sacrament of God, stated simply that we have no metaphysics within which to explain this. C H Dodd, whom I will quote below, simply states, “There was more here than could be accounted for upon the historical or human level. God was in it.â€? Part of this is mystery. But, with those limits being admitted, I want to offer here two passages, one from Thomas Keating and the other from Dodd that, for me at least, have been helpful in trying to understand something which is for a large part ineffable. Keating’s insight is more mystical and poetic, but wonderfully stunning; Dodd’s is more phenomenological, but equally helpful: Thomas Keating offers his comment in response to a question: Have we ever really understood how we are saved by Jesus’ death more than two millennia ago? Scripture provides examples of persons who actually had an insight into this – for instance, Mary of Bethany, anointing Jesus at Simon the leper’s house. By breaking the alabaster jar of very expensive perfume RYHU WKH ZKROH ERG\ RI -HVXV DQG ÂżOOLQJ WKH KRXVH ZLWK WKDW JRUJHRXV scent, she seems to have intuited what Jesus was about to do on the cross. The authorities were set on killing Him. What her lavish gesture symbolised was the deepest meaning of Jesus’ passion and death. The body of Christ is the jar containing the most precious perfume of all time, namely, the Holy Spirit. It was about to be broken open so that the Holy Spirit could be poured out over the whole of humanity – past, present, and to come – with boundless generosity. Until that body had been broken on the cross, the full extent of the gift of God in Christ and its transforming possibilities for the human race could not be known or remotely foreseen. Dodd describes how Jesus’ death ricochets through history in these words: There was more here than could be accounted for upon the historical or human level. God was in it. The creative purpose of God is everlastingly at work in this world of His. It meets resistance from the recalcitrant wills of men. If at any point human history should become entirely non-resistant to God, perfectly transparent to His design – then from that point the creative purpose would work with unprecedented power. That is just what the perfect obedience of Jesus affected. Within human nature and human history, He established a point of complete non-resistance to the will of God, and complete transparency to His design. As we revert to that moment, it becomes contemporary and we are laid open to the creative energy perpetually working to make man after the image of God. The obedience of Christ is the release of creative power for the perfecting of human life. A decision taken by a great man or woman can alter every aspect of life, for the present and for all that comes after. Our moral actions all leave a trace, and sometimes if that moral act is equivalent to splitting the atom, that effect lasts forever. Jesus’ death split the moral atom. „

LETTERS/OPINION 15

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

‘Airport encounter left me shaken’ Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York shares an incident of how the clergy sex abuse scandal has impacted priests and laypeople IT WAS only the third time it had happened to me in my nearly 35 happy years as a priest, all three times over the last nine-and-a-half years. Other priests tell me it has happened to them a lot more. Three is enough. Each time has left me so shaken I was near nausea. It happened recently. I had just arrived at Denver Airport to speak at their popular annual Living Our Catholic Faith conference. As I was waiting with the others for the electronic train to take me to the terminal, a man, maybe in his mid-40s, waiting as well, came closer to me. “Are you a Catholic priest?� he kindly asked. “Sure am. Nice to meet you,� says I, as I offered my hand. He ignored it. “I was raised a Catholic,� he replied, almost always a hint of a cut to come, but I was not prepared for the razor sharpness of the stiletto, as he went on, “and now, as a father of two boys, I can’t look at you or any other priest without thinking of a sexual abuser�. What to respond? Yell at him? Cuss him out? Apologise? Deck him? Express understanding? I must admit all such

Archbishop Dolan. CNS Âżle photo

reactions came to mind as I staggered with shame and anger from the damage of the ZRXQG KH KDG LQĂ€LFWHG ZLWK WKRVH VWLQJLQJ words. “Well,â€? I recovered enough to remark, “I’m sure sorry you feel that way. But, let me ask you, do you automatically presume a sexual abuser when you see a Rabbi or Protestant minister?â€? “Not at all,â€? he came back through gritted teeth as we both boarded the train. “How about when you see a coach, or a boy scout leader, or a foster parent, or a counsellor, or physician?â€? I continued. “Of course not!â€? he came back. “What’s all that got to do with it?â€?

“A lot,� I stayed with him, “because each of those professions have as high a percentage of sexual abuse, if not even higher, than that of priests.� “Well, that may be,� he retorted. “But the Church is the only group that knew it was going on, did nothing about it, and kept transferring the perverts around.� “You obviously never heard the stats on public school teachers,� I observed. “In my home town of New York City alone, experts say the rate of sexual abuse among public school teachers is 10 times higher than that of priests, and these abusers just get transferred around.� (Had I known at that time the news in the New York Times about the high rate of abuse of the most helpless in state supervised homes, with reported abusers simply transferred to another home, I would have mentioned that, too.) To that he said nothing, so I went in for a further charge. “Pardon me for being so blunt, but you sure were with me, so, let me ask: When you look at yourself in a mirror, do you see a sex abuser?� Now he was as taken aback as I had been two minutes before. “What the hell are you talking about?� “Sadly,� I answered, “studies tell us that most children sexually abused are victims of their own fathers or other family members.� Enough of the debate, I concluded, as I saw him dazed. So I tried to calm it down. “So, I tell you what: when I look at you, I won’t see a sex abuser, and I would

appreciate the same consideration from you.â€? The train had arrived at baggage claim, and we both exited together. “Well then, why do we only hear this garbage about you priests,â€? he inquired, as he got a bit more pensive. “We priests wonder the same thing. I’ve got a few reasons if you’re interested.â€? He nodded his head as we slowly walked to the carousel. “For one,â€? I continued, “we priests deserve the more intense scrutiny, because people trust us more as we dare claim to represent God, so, when one of us does it – even if only a tiny minority of us ever have – it is more disgusting.â€? “Two, I’m afraid there are many out there who have no love for the Church, and are itching to ruin us. This is the issue they love to endlessly scourge us with.â€? “And, three, I hate to say it,â€? as I wrapped it up, “there’s a lot of money to be made in suing the Catholic Church, while it’s hardly worth suing any of the other groups I mentioned before.â€? We both by then had our luggage, and headed for the door. He then put his hand RXW WKH KDQG KH KDG QRW H[WHQGHG ÂżYH minutes earlier. We shook. “Thanks. Glad I met you.â€? We both laughed and separated. Notwithstanding the happy ending, I was still trembling... as I had to confront again the horror this whole mess has been to victims and their families, our Catholic people like the man I had just met...and to us priests. „ CNA

16 FOCUS

Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

7ZR QXQV ZKR PDGH WKHLU ÀQDO SURIHVVLRQV UHFHQWO\ VKDUH WKHLU IDLWK MRXUQH\V ZLWK 'DUUHQ %RRQ Photos: RICHARD KOH

‘Being a Verdum Dei missionary is to help form the hearts of people. This is how I want to live the rest of my life.’ — Sr Sandra Seow

2nd child in family to join congregation It was at a retreat with the Verdum Dei missionaries in 1998 that the seeds of a religious vocation were sown in Sr Sandra Seow’s life. On March 4 at Blessed Sacrament Church, the 34-year-old became the second person in her IDPLO\ WR PDNH KHU ¿QDO SURIHVVLRQ in the same congregation. Her elder sister, Elaine, had made hers about three years ago. Both had attended the same retreat in 1998. While Sandra was actively involved in church activities, she said she was in search of her own identity and direction in life then. During that retreat, she experienced God’s unconditional love for her, despite some of the “crazy things” she had done, through the preaching of the missionaries and through prayer. She added that she felt God inviting her to witness to His love through preaching His Word of God through talks, retreats and recollections. “I think God touched us [sisters]” in the different situations “we were facing then. He made us see and experience His love personally,” said Sr Sandra. “It was an experience of ‘God knows’,” recalled Sr Elaine. “God knows my deepest needs. He knows what can satisfy the heart of each person.”

The sisters shared that they somehow knew the other’s thoughts. “We’re sisters, we know each other,” said Sr Sandra. They said they journeyed together, shared their struggles and encouraged each other and that this made their journey easier.

6U (ODLQH 6HRZ PDGH KHU ¿QDO profession three years ago

One of the struggles they faced was gaining the acceptance RI WKHLU SDUHQWV 7KLV ZDV GLI¿FXOW as they were the only two children in the family. Sr Sandra said she remembers her father crying and asking: “Why

Lord? ... Why my daughters?” She later learnt that after Elaine had joined the congregation, her mother prayed that God would allow Sandra to care for them in their old age. For Sr Sandra, the missionaries provided her with “a place to cry … a place to vent my frustration” during a time when she faced challenges both at work and in her family. She would visit the Verdum Dei chapel after work and beg God for strength. She had her doubts too, and was crying at one point when she felt Jesus in the Eucharist telling her “to take care of His people while He will take care of hers”. Both parents eventually accepted their daughters’ decision. Sr Sandra says she hopes to be faithful to her vocation, “to who I am for God and who He is for me. And once I’m faithful to that, that’s where the joy comes in … that’s where I radiate the joy … I don’t need to have good clothes or a car. I don’t need to have a lot of money. I have God. I’m His. That’s important.” She added, “Being a Verdum Dei missionary is to help form the hearts of people. This is how I want to live the rest of my life.” Sr Sandra will serve in Singapore while Sr Elaine is currently serving in Taiwan.

‘Living my life as a missionary wherever I am’ When Danielle Pang visited the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary’s (FMM) prayer room in Kovan Road, she did not expect to become a Religious herself one day. Speaking to CatholicNews, the convert to Catholicism said she was happy in her sales and marketing job which required her to travel, and Friday was “happy hour” to her. Despite all this, the 47-year-old felt there was “more” to life. After her baptism, she decided to quit her job to develop her spiritual life. On March 19, she made her ¿QDO SURIHVVLRQ DV DQ )00 6LVWHU at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Recalling her vocational journey, she said, “I was very hungry to learn to pray.” She would visit the FMM’s St Clare Cottage’s adoration room often but realised that she needed to learn to listen to God in her prayer time. Sr Assunta Leong, the novice mistress at that time, then taught her contemplative prayer. That was when Sr Danielle

deepened her acquaintanceship with the FMM Sisters. She said she was attracted to the simplicity of the nuns, and during a discernment retreat, had a vision of a large group comprising people of all walks RI OLIH 6KH DGGHG WKDW WKLV ¿WWHG in well with the FMM Sisters’ charism – simplicity, mission and the Eucharist. Her mission exposure has taken her to Kota Bahru, Malaysia, where she worked in a kindergarten. She also spent time in India for theology studies. A memorable experience in a village in Bangalore where the community were mostly not Catholics. During Christmas, Sr Danielle together with other Religious, a priest and a handful of Catholics went carolling, and they were eventually joined by villagers. “They have this reverence even though they were nonCatholics,” she said. Life was simple in India – some places had no taps – and Sr Danielle had to go to the well to fetch water. Electricity was sometimes unavailable in the day.

‘If I have to be in a house here, I’m a missionary here ... For me, being a missionary does not mean I have to travel far.’ Sr Danielle Pang (second from left), seen with her family members and $UFKELVKRS 1LFKRODV &KLD DIWHU KHU ¿QDO SURIHVVLRQ DV DQ )00 6LVWHU

— Sr Danielle Pang

Photo: MARIAN BENNY

Looking back on her spiritual journey, Sr Danielle says her challenges included “letting go of the self”, having joined the congregation after years of working life. She had also faced objections from her mother, who did not give her a hug when she left for her initial formation. However, her mum eventually gave her

blessing, encouraged her to be a “good Religious” and told her not to give “half-hearted” service. 5HÀHFWLQJ RQ ZKDW LW PHDQV to be a missionary, Sr Danielle says such a person has to exercise his or her charism wherever he or she is. “If I have to be in a house here, I’m a missionary here ... For me, being a missionary does not mean I have to travel far. It

means wherever I am, I live my life as an FMM ... giving life, giving Christ.” On where she may be posted in the future, Sr Danielle says this depends on the needs of the FMM province. Her life, she says, “is in the hands of God and where God directs, I will go”. darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

FOCUS 17

Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

Parish haven for South Asian migrants Two priests serving migrants at Our Lady of Lourdes Church tell Darren Boon the spiritual and emotional support the parish offers

D

AYS of recollection, get-togethers and counselling sessions are just some of the services that Indian and Sri Lankan workers enjoy when they visit the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes at Ophir Road. The church, which has been serving Tamil- and Sinhalesespeaking migrants for decades, now has two South Asian priests helping to look after their spiritual, emotional and material needs. The main challenge these migrants face is adapting to their new social environment, says Fr Jacob from Chennai in India’s Tamil Nadu state. Sometimes these people are at a loss when their companies close and they are left unemployed, says the assistant priest, who has been serving Tamil-speaking migrants since last May. Many also risk damaging their health as they strive to earn as much overtime pay as possible. Sometimes the Catholics DPRQJ WKHP ¿QG LW GLI¿FXOW WR even attend Sunday Mass, says Fr Jacob, whose full name is P Yagappa Raja Rethinam. Franciscan Friar Julian Mariaratnam, who serves the Sinhalese-speaking migrants, says most of the issues the migrants complain about are work-related. “Some we can solve and some we cannot. So it is a matter of just listening to them and being there for them,” he says. The Sri Lankan priest has been working with the migrants here since 2008. Hundreds of Tamil- and Sinhalese-speaking migrants descend on Our Lady of Lourdes Church on weekends. About 400-500 Tamilspeaking migrants, mostly in the construction industry, attend the 6.30pm Sunday Mass. A free dinner for them, provided by some generous people, then follows. Friar Julian estimates that between 50 and 75 Sri Lankan Catholics, including domestic workers, skilled and non-skilled migrants, students and those who have settled down in Singapore, attend the Sunday 12.30pm Sinhalese Mass. This is followed by a fellowship session and prayer service at 3.30pm. The migrants come to Our Lady of Lourdes Church “trusting God will do something”

Franciscan Friar Julian Mariaratnam presides over the Christmas Mass for Sri Lankan migrants last year.

for them, says Fr Jacob. Separated from their families, it is here that they “feel comfort and consolation”, are able to meet with their countrymen, and receive encouragement from a priest whom they regard “as a guide and father”. Fr Jacob says he counsels the Tamil migrant workers who experience “disappointments”. Sometimes he would visit their

dormitories, chat with them and have meals with them. The parish also organises Charismatic prayer session and retreats for them. Other activities include a cultural night twice a year and a full-day outing or picnic thrice a year. The most recent one, in March, was to Changi Village. The parish also runs courses on personal grooming, workplace

safety and the playing of musical instruments.

F

RIAR JULIAN says the Sri Lankan community has grown over the years. There is now a newly-formed youth group, a 10-member choir, as well as a group that takes charge of the Liturgy and Eucharist.

‘Some we can solve and some we cannot. So it is a matter of just listening to them and being there for them.’ – Friar Julian, who serves Sinhalese-speaking migrants, on the problems that they raise Tamil migrants enjoying a recent outing at Changi.

A day of prayer, organised by a group from Sri Lanka, is held twice a year, while a Day of Recollection is held during Lent followed by the Stations of the Cross at St Joseph’s Church in Bukit Timah. During Christmas, there are carolling sessions and gettogethers even as the community participates in the parish’s festive celebrations. A Games Day is held in April to celebrate the Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. “We are accepted and welcomed with so much love and care” from the parish, says Friar Julian. “We do not feel alienated. It is like home for us.” The Sri Lankan community had in the last two years seen 10 adults baptised and received into the Church, and there are presently two volunteers who provide formation for those who want to embrace the Catholic faith. Two community members are also now on the Parish Pastoral Council.

F

RIAR JULIAN says he is also happy to see the workers helping each other out. Sometimes it is the “poor migrants” who pool their resources to help fellow migrants when they are cheated or abandoned by agents, he says. “These experiences make you feel proud of them and I am proud to be their minister.” He notes that while most migrants are treated well in Singapore, there are always instances when they have not been given their basic rights, Sometimes, these culprits are Catholics. He gives an example of a maid, working for a supposedly practising Catholic family, who was not given one day off per month, and not even allowed to attend Mass on Christmas Day. “There are many who have to beg for their off days,” says Friar Julian. “I hope this season of Lent will help [employers] change their ways to treat the workers as their brothers and sisters. This is what Christ wants us to do.”

The Church of Our Lady of Lourdes can be contacted at 6294 0624, website: http://www.lourdes.sg darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

18 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

Parish Reconciliation Services CITY Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Thu April 07: 8:00pm, Sun April 10: 9:00am (T), 5:30pm (T) Church of St Michael Fri April 08: 8:00pm Church of St Bernadette Mon April 11: 8:00pm Church of St. Alphonsus (Novena Church) Tue April 12: 8:00pm Church of St Teresa Wed April 13: 8:00pm Church of Sts Peter and Paul Thu April 14: 8:00pm, Sat April 16: 1:30pm (M)

EAST Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Mon April 11: 10:30am, 8:00pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Tue April 12: 8:00pm Church of the Holy Family Wed April 13: 10:30am, 8:00pm Church of Divine Mercy Thu April 14, 8:00pm Church of the Holy Trinity Fri April 15: 10:30am, 8:00pm Church of St Stephen Mon April 18: 8:00pm

NORTH Church of the Holy Spirit Mon April 11: 10:30am, 8:00pm St Joseph Church (BT) Tue April 12: 8:00pm

Church of Christ the King Wed April 13: 10:30am, 8:00pm Church of the Risen Christ Thu April 14: 10:30am, 8:00pm Church of St Anthony Fri April 15: 7:30pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Mon April 18: 8:00pm

SERANGOON Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mon April 11: 8:00pm Church of St Vincent de Paul Tue April 12: 8:00pm Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Wed April 13: 8:00pm Church of St Francis Xavier Thu April 14: 8:00pm St Anne’s Church Fri April 15: 8:00pm

WEST Church of St Ignatius Mon April 11: 8:00pm Church of the Holy Cross Tue April 12: 8:00pm Blessed Sacrament Church Wed April 13: 8:00pm Church of St Mary of the Angels Thu April 14: 8:00pm Church of St Francis of Assisi Fri April 15: 8:00pm (M) : Mandarin (T): Tamil

Reconciliation as a way of life for God’s followers CNS FILE PHOTO

By David Gibson

Y

OU could come up with an entirely new kind of Christianity simply by removing reconciliation from it. However, it would be unrecognisable. That seems to be a central tenet of many Catholic thinkers today. A concern is that if we overlook the importance of reconciliation, we forget one of Christianity’s basics – namely, that God is a reconciler who heals the wounds that divide people from him, divide them within themselves and divide them from each other. I should note at this article’s outset that three points underlie all that follows: 1. For Catholics, reconciliation is both a sacrament and a way of life. 2. The reconciliation experienced sacramentally can give rise to a reconciling way of life. 3. Both as a sacrament and a way of life, reconciliation is founded on convictions about God – that God is compassionate, loving and merciful, that God is not vengeful. In and of itself, the Sacrament of Reconciliation makes a clear statement that God is a merciful reconciler. Pope John Paul II discussed this in a letter to the world’s priests. God mercifully seeks people out to forgive and be reconciled with them, the late pope said. We do not cause God to become merciful. “We must not think that it is the sinner, through his own independent journey of conversion, who earns mercy,” Pope John Paul wrote. Rather, “it is mercy that impels him along the path of conversion”. Confession VLJQL¿HV ³*RG¶V DUULYDO DW D person’s home”, the pope said. But something quite interesting happens next. According to the pope, the sacrament can give birth to a life of reconciliation. How? In Pope John Paul’s view, receiving divine mercy freshens our awareness of God as a Father and prompts us – precisely as God’s family members – to rediscover our connections to our “brothers and sisters”. Mercy “warms” us to the idea of loving our neighbour. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles made a similar point in a pastoral letter he wrote when he was Archbishop of San Antonio, Texas. The reconciliation “the entire world longs for begins in the confessional”, Archbishop Gomez said. For many saints and martyrs, he observed, the

The reconciliation ‘the entire world longs for begins in the confessional’. – US Archbishop Jose Gomez in a pastoral letter

Sacrament of Reconciliation was “the great school of mercy” in which they “learned and received the strength to love their enemies and forgive their persecutors”. The archbishop urged people to take home with them the mercy received in the sacrament since “love and mercy must begin in the family”. He wrote: “Let us make time to listen, to spend time together and to try to understand one another. Let us begin to practise forgiveness in all our relationships – as husbands and wives, parents and children, as neighbours and citizens.” But not only should one’s reborn instinct for reconciliation be taken home, it should be taken into the world at large too. “In a world that is angry and violent, in a culture of blame and revenge”, it is possible to become “apostles of reconciliation” by “living as children of the Father, who is rich in mercy”, the archbishop said.

Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans has also spoken about the need for mercy and reconciliation. Observing that “violence and revenge and hatred have become acceptable parts of our society today”, he noted that there are “families, parishioners and priests who have not spoken to one another for years”. Revenge was judged “easier and more popular than forgiveness”, the archbishop said. “In many ways in our society we are not tolerant with people. We are certainly not patient and sometimes not even civil.” It is “countercultural” today to encourage forgiveness and reconciliation, he added, but “we must forgive because we have been forgiven” and “we must be reconcilers because Jesus reconciled and healed”. Gibson served on Catholic News Service’s editorial staff for 37 years.

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

19

20

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

people quarrelled with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord in our midst or not?� „ Read more about it: Exodus 17 Q&A 1. Why were the people angry with Moses? 2. How did God provide water for Israel?

WORDSEARCH to go with some of the hymns and chants of the monastery. King Charles knew of Tutilo’s talents and regretted that such a genius spent all of his time in the monastery. Tutilo did not like publicity and did not like to hear compliments about his work or his musical performances. He was a shy man who dedicated his life and his talents to the Lord. We honour him on March 28. „

BIBLE ACCENT: 0RVHV LV RQH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQW ¿JXUHV of the Old Testament. His mother, in order to prevent him from being killed E\ 3KDUDRK VHW KLP DÀRDW LQ D EDVNHW KRSLQJ WKDW VRPHRQH ZRXOG ¿QG KLP 7KDW someone turned out to be Pharaoh’s own daughter, and Moses’ mother was asked to be his nursemaid. Later, God spoke to him from a burning bush, and the ministry of Moses began. He went before Pharaoh and asked for the release of the Israelites from slavery. Pharaoh refused, so God sent a series of plagues on Egypt until Pharaoh gave up. The Israelites left Egypt and wandered for 40 years in the ZLOGHUQHVV XQWLO WKH\ ¿QDOO\ UHDFKHG WKH ODQG WKDW *RG KDG SURPLVHG would become their homeland. The Book of Exodus is full of exciting stories and miraculous events. „

These 12 words are found in the story above. ISRAELITES WATER QUARREL MOSES MASSAH SLAVERY EGYPT STAFF STRIKE DRINK ROCK HOREB

PUZZLE Using the code numbers on the blanks, write in the correct words to solve the sentence: A1 _______ B2 _______ the C4 _______ to D2 _______ . A1 Moses

A2 Abraham A3 Jacob

B1 conquered B2 led

B3 visited

A4 Isaac B4 watched

BIBLE TRIVIA:

C1 Ephesians C2 Egyptians C3 Galileans C4 Israelites

Who was Moses’ brother?

D1 victory

D2 safety

D3 danger

D4 hunger

Answer to Wordsearch:

St Tutilo

Answer to Bible Trivia: Aaron

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

Tutilo (850-915) received a quality education in a respected monastery in St Gall in Switzerland. Two of his classmates also became monks and remained in the monastery. Tutilo was appointed head of the cloister school. He excelled LQ PDQ\ ÂżHOGV RI VWXG\ DQG ZDV skilled in poetry, public speaking, architecture and several artistic disciplines. Music, though, was his deepest love, and he wrote music

then he hit the rock with his staff. Just as the Lord said it would happen, the rock broke open and immediately water began to pour out of it, more than enough for everyone to drink and to be able to feed the livestock. After this new miracle that God had performed for them, they named this place Massah and Meribah, because this is a place where the

Answer to Puzzle: Moses led the Israelites to safety.

The Israelites had been wandering for a very long time since the Lord allowed them to escape the slavery of Egypt. They had complained to Moses that they were hungry, so God provided manna from heaven for them to eat. But they were still QRW VDWLVÂżHG DQG WKH\ FRPSODLQHG to Moses again, because there was not enough water. They said to him, “Give us water to drink.â€? Moses answered them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to a test?â€? The people of Israel gave Moses a reply that surprised and frightened him: “Why did you ever make us leave Egypt? Was it just to have us die here of thirst with our children and our livestock?â€?

Moses said that he would take their petitions to the Lord. He found a quiet place away from everyone and talked to God. “What shall I do with this people?â€? he asked. “A little more and they will stone me!â€? The Lord gave Moses instructions about what to do in order to meet the needs of the Israelites: “Go over there in front of the people, along with some of the elders of Israel, holding in your hand, as you go, the staff with which you struck the river. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. Strike the URFN DQG WKH ZDWHU ZLOO Ă€RZ IURP it for the people to drink.â€? So Moses returned to the people and called them together, along with some of the elders, as God had commanded him. He brought them to the rock in Horeb in order to obey the Lord. He said a prayer, and

Can you make up any new sentences on your own?

By Joe Sarnicola

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday April 10, 2011 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www.catholic.sg/webevent_form.php MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE 2011 Session for May 1 now open for registration. Other dates: July 10 and Oct 9. It is recommended that couples intending to get married attend MPC sessions at least 6 months prior to their weddings. Allocation RI SODFHV RQ D ¿UVW FRPH ¿UVW VHUYHG basis. T: 9114 2862; E: mpcsingapore@ gmail.com; W: www.catholic.org.sg/mpc Every Friday LUNCH TIME MASS @JURONG EAST 12.15pm: By Catholic Prayer Society. Venue details T: 9831 6307, 9376 9897, 8217 9699 Saturday April 2 to Friday April 8 CARMEL’S SIEGE OF JERICHO Sat 6.30am-Fri 6.30am: 144 hours of continuous Eucharistic adoration and prayers comprising daily Mass, Liturgy RI WKH +RXUV 'LYLQH 2I¿FH (XFKDULVWLF contemplation, rosary. Prayers will recommence at the start of every hour and will be continuous throughout the 144 hours. Join in at any hour. By Carmelite Sisters and Friars and the Society of the Infant Jesus. At Carmelite Monastery (98 Bt Teresa Rd) Tuesdays April 5 to June 7 LETTER OF JAMES: PEARLS FOR WISE LIVING 8-9.30pm: A 10-week DVD presentation on the Letter of James by Jeff Cavins on how to live a Christian life in a secular world. Cost: $30 (study guide) At Blessed Sacrament Church (Damien Hall). T: 9106 3168 (Andrew); E: andrew.neo@bsc.org.sg April 6 CHRISTOPHER WALKER WORKSHOP – MUSIC FOR

CHILDREN’S LITURGY 7.30-9.30pm: For parents and catechists. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Registration T: 6858 7085 (Louis); E: louis_Oo@catholic.org.sg April 7 CHRISTOPHER WALKER WORKSHOP – MUSIC FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN 3-7pm: For Catholic pre-school teachers and catechists working with 4-7 yearolds. Cost: $15. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Registration T: 6858 7085 (Louis); E: louis_Oo@catholic.org.sg

April 11 CHRISTOPEHR WALKER WORKSHOP – CREATING GOOD WORSHIP IN THE HOME 7.30-9.30pm: For parents and smallcommunity leaders to learn how to facilitate good prayer and shape conducive prayer spaces where you live. By SPI. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org

April 8 CHRISTOPHER WALKER WORKSHOP – LEADING YOUTH IN PRAYER THROUGH MUSIC 3-7pm: For Catholic student choir members (secondary schools and youth from parishes) and choir conductors. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Registration T: 6858 7085 (Louis); E: louis_Oo@catholic.org.sg

April 12 CHRISTOPEHR WALKER WORKSHOP – CELEBRATING THE RITE OF ACCEPTANCE 7.30-9.30pm: For parish RCIA teams and priests to gain insights in preparing and doing the Rite of Acceptance. By SPI. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org

April 9 GRAN MILAN CANOSSIAN CONNECT 2011 6.30pm: Inviting former students of Canossa Convent and St Anthony's Pri and Sec Canossian School. Cost: $88 (a ticket), $880 (table of 10), $1,500 (donation table for 10). At Ban Heng Pavilion Restaurant.

RCIY / RCIA A journey in faith for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Wednesdays RCIA@CHURCH OF HOLY FAMILY Every Wednesday 7.30-9.30pm. From June onwards, on Wednesdays (same time) and Sundays 11am-12.30pm. T: 9666 6542 Saturdays from April 2 RCIY@ ST MARY’S 3.30pm: For youths 13-20 years old. Registration E: andNdrew@hotmail.com; T: 9100 4382 (Andrew), 6567 3866 (Charlene) Fridays from May 6 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45pm: At St Paul Room (Level 4, Parish House). Registration forms available from 3DULVK 2I¿FH RU SULHVWV RI WKH SDULVK 7 6271 1184; E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg

April 10 to April 16 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER Learn to pray using Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina. Own prayer time. Meet prayer guide in church from Monday to Friday. Closing session on Saturday. At Church of St Stephen. Register E: sojourners@catholic.org.sg; W: http:// www.catholic.org.sg/sojourners

Friday April 8 to Sunday April 10 POLY CAMP Fri 7pm-Sun 10pm: Deepen your relationship with Christ and your polytechnic friends. Cost: $30. At Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre. Register T: 9298 4018 (Ranson), 9274 9707 (Nicholas); E: polycamp2011@ gmail.com; W: http://www.cayconline.org

April 9 ENNEAGRAM AND PRAYER 9am-4.30pm: An Introduction to Enneagram & Prayer by Sr Christina Yeo, fdcc. Cost: $50 (with lunch). At Lifesprings Spirituality Centre (100 Jln Merbok). T: 6466 2178 (Brenda); E: lifesprng@singnet.com.sg

Thursdays from May 15 RCIA@BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 7.30-9pm: Every Thursday evening. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Dr). T: 9147 8890 (Dominic), E: rcia@bsc.org.sg Tuesdays from May 24 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST BERNADETTE 8-9.30pm: Every Tuesday evening. At Church of St Bernadette (Mt Tabor Room) (12 Zion Rd). T: 9060 0789 (Janice), E: st.bern_rcia@yahoo.com.sg; UHJLVWUDWLRQ IRUPV DW SDULVK RIÂżFH RU : http://www.stbernadette.org.sg Wednesdays from June 26 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY 7.45pm: Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Hall A/B) (24 Highland Rd). T: 9627 3835 (Nancy); E: rcia@ ihm.sg; W: http://www.ihm.sg/rcia

April 17 FRANCISCANS FRIARS’ ASPIRANTS EVENING 5.30pm: Come for an evening of brotherhood and sharing. E: johnderrick@stmary.sg (Friar Derrick).

(1 Maritime Square #04-01 Harbourfront Centre). T: 9366 1132 (Daisy); 9835 9846 (Valerie); E: Agnes.psalm23@gmail.com; W: http://www.canossianalumni.com

April 21 CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER THROUGH SONG 8.30-10pm: Prayer and meditation led by Fr Damien’s Youth Choir with contemplative Taize hymns. At Blessed Sacrament Church. T: 9105 7446 (Gerry); E: gerry_cord@yahoo.com Thursday April 21 to Sunday April 24 EASTER TRIDUM SEMI-DIRECTED RETREAT: PASSION AND RESSURECTION OF CHRIST Thu 4pm-Sun 5pm: A residential semidirected silent retreat by CISC spiritual GLUHFWRUV IRU WKRVH ZKR ZDQW WR H[SHULHQFH the Paschal Mystery of Christ through mental prayer and liturgy. Cost: $105 (non-aircon), $180 (aircon). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Friday April 22 to Sunday April 24 HEARTSPACE@ST MARY’S Fri 10am-3.30pm, Sat and Sun (10am3.30pm): Spend time in prayer and UHÀHFWLRQ XVLQJ WKH SURFHVVV RI LPDJH PDNLQJ DQG VHOI H[SUHVVLRQ (DFK GD\ LV a stand-alone retreat but participants are encouraged to attend all 3 days. Cost: $50 (per day with meals and materials). Payment to be made to Church of St Mary of the Angels by Apr 15. At Church of St Mary of the Angels. Registration needed. E: jo@joannatan.com

Sunday April 17 to Sunday April 24 MALAYALAM HOLY WEEK PROGRAMME In Malayalam unless stated. Palm Sunday Mass at Church of St Stephen (3.30pm). Three-day retreat with confession from Monday to Wednesday (Wednesday in English) at Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (7.30pm) by Fr Justin Judin from Kerala. Holy Thursday celebration at Church of St Francis of Assisi (8pm). Good Friday service at Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (10am). Easter Vigil at Church of St Francis of Assisi (8.30pm). Easter Sunday Masses at Church of St Stephen (3pm), Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (4pm) and Church of St Francis of Assisi (7.30pm). T: 9421 4727 (Joseph), 9368 6557 (Pathrose).

Wednesdays April 27 to May 25 INTRODUCTION TO THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES 8-9.30pm: A series of 5 seminars for those who want to learn Ignatian Spirituality through the Spiritual ([HUFLVHV RI 6W ,JQDWLXV DQG ODWHU WR PDNH UHWUHDWV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH ([HUFLVHV Presented by Fr Ponnudurai, SJ. Cost: $50. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality

and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Wednesdays April 27 to November 2 THE GREAT ADVENTURE – BIBLE TIMELINE 9.30-11.30am: A Bible foundational course that covers 14 books from Genesis to Acts of the Apostles. By Bible Apostolate Team. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Rm A2-01). T: 9815 4098 (Genevieve), 8228 8220 (Clare), 9320 0640 (Teresa); E: HSBibleApostolate@gmail.com April 28 CBN CHARITY DINNER 6-11pm: A thanksgiving and fund-raising event for St Theresa’s Home and Infant Jesus Homes & Children’s Centres (IJHCC). At Orchid Country Club. T: 6337 2711 (Vincent); E: cbn.vincent@gmail.com April 29 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS SP (YHQLQJ RI SUD\HU DQG UHÀHFWLRQ on what it means to be an Easter people. At St Francis Xavier Chapel (Kingsmead Hall, Church of St Ignatius). By Generation CHRIST! Ministry. E: gen.christ.ministry@gmail.com April 30 LIVING LIFE AS VOCATION 10am-4pm: Vocation retreat for women between 26 and 40 years who desire to live their lives as a vocation. With scriptural reading and discussion, quiet time and UHÀHFWLRQ LQSXW DQG VKDULQJ /XQFK provided. At Good Shepherd Restful Waters (25 Nallur Rd). T: 6242 2925 (Lucy/Melina). Saturdays May 7 to May 21 ART FOR SELF-DISCOVERY 2-5pm: A 3-session art therapy programme IRU DGXOWV ZKR ZDQW WR H[SORUH FUHDWLYLW\ LQ DUW DV D PHDQV RI VHOI H[SUHVVLRQ DQG VHOI GLVFRYHU\ 1R DUW H[SHULHQFH QHHGHG Conducted by Joanna Tan, a registered art psychotherapist. Cost: $180 (art materials). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

Crossword Puzzle 1030 1

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ACROSS 1 Poverty, chastity and obedience 5 Pivotal 10 Apartments (slang) 14 Hip bones 15 Long-continued practice 16 Potpourri 17 About (abbr.) 18 â€œâ€Śand you _______ the face of the earth.â€? (Ps 104:30) 19 Encounter 20 Calculated a grade 22 Chinese calculating device 24 Live 25 Goad 26 Sorrowful 27 Straightens the mess 31 Jesus said if you have this the size of a mustard seed you can

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21 One of the wives of Lamech in Gn 4:19 23 Woods, to Jacques 16 25 Hinge 27 First Catholic United 19 States Supreme Court Chief Justice 22 23 28 Withered 29 Atop 25 30 Gone by 31 Noteworthy 27 28 29 30 achievement 32 St. _____ de Beaupre 35 33 “Terribleâ€? ruler of Russia 38 34 Russian negatives 37 Grifter 41 38 The ______ Son 40 Scrutinize 44 41 Stratum 43 Is of use 46 47 48 49 44 Wading birds 47 Garden tempter 53 54 5HOD[HV 49 What we receive on the 58 ÂżUVW :HGQHVGD\ RI /HQW 50 â€œâ€Ś______ lema 61 sabachthani?â€? (Mk 15:34) 64 51 Kind of car +RUVH RI PL[HG FRORU www.wordgamesforcatholics.com 53 Off-Broadway theater award 60 Captivity of the Jews 10 Scented ointment 54 The father prepared a in Babylon 11 Catholic actor, Sir fatted one of these for 61 A tropical tree ______ Guinness 38D 62 Charged particles 12 Prie-_______ (kneeler) 57 Some people have this 63 Some of these are coral 13 Drunkards to grind 64 Sometimes this is more

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move a mountain 34 Church sections 35 Gov’t agency 36 One of the seven deadly sins 37 Church council 38 Career golfers &HUWDLQ VXI¿[ 40 Fragrant 41 Reformation-era Church council 42 Perseverance 44 AFL-___ 45 Passenger vehicles ([RGXV ERG\ RI ZDWHU 50 Delivery trip 53 Certain musical instruments 55 Fifth century pope 56 Brother of Rebekah 58 Deep wound 59 Gemstone

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Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1029 DOWN 1 The pope is the _____ of Christ 2 Type of oil the woman used to anoint Jesus 3 Transmits 4 Room for sacred vessels and vestments 5 Cleaned out 6 Hosea, formerly 7 The Holy ____ 8 “His mercy is from _____ to‌â€? 0DJQLÂżFDW

9 Recompensed

N A H U M A G A P E M O N S T R H O P E N N A M U N I O N M A N S E S A C N E G H S T Y C L A S H R O U D H O O V E R E A V E A C B R E R H A D D S

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Sunday April 10, 2011 CatholicNews

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

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