AUGUST 28, 2011, vol 61, no 17

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www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY AUGUST 28, 2011

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Nuns help Londoners made homeless by riots LONDON – Catholic nuns who live near London neighbourhoods hit by riots are working with local authorities to help and even counsel homeless victims. The Sisters of Marie Auxiliatrice, a French-based community, made their decision after attending an ecumenical prayer vigil amid smouldering ruins and husks of burned-out vehicles in the British capital’s Tottenham district. Dublin-born Sister Sylvia McCarthy told Catholic News Service on Aug 10, “The shops were burned out completely, and many people lived over those shops, and they had very little time to get out of their apartments. “The people were in an awful state,â€? she said. “They are short of everything.â€? Sr Sylvia said she felt very sorry for the victims of the violence, which she described as “aimlessâ€?. “I have been here over 20 years and I have seen the improvement LQ 7RWWHQKDP VLQFH , ÂżUVW DUULYHG ´ she said. “They built up lovely shops, and those shops are now just shells. They are burned to the ground.â€? Many residents took with them only the clothes they wore, in some cases pyjamas, then watched as their homes burned, shocked by the reality of becoming suddenly homeless and losing nearly all their possessions. Sr Margarita Foley, a native of Ireland’s County Cork, offered to counsel anyone suffering from trauma. The trained counsellor VDLG KHU ÂżUVW LQVWLQFW ZDV WR OLVWHQ to people’s stories in an attempt to discern the true cause of the problem. “There is a new generation now and they never seem to have enough,â€? she said. “I look at the rest of the world, at areas where they have very little, and I say to myself ‘What is it with us that we

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INSIDE HOME Christian college students visit Risen Christ Learn about Catholic liturgy „ Page 4

HOME Shelter for at-risk youths LaSalle Brothers launch project for young offenders „ Page 6

HOME Archbishop’s Hari Raya Puasa message ‘Acting together as witnesses’ „ Page 7

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never have enough no matter what is provided?’ The nuns also offered their help to the social services department of Haringey Council, the local authority, and collected clothing for some 45 families. The riots, mostly involving gangs of hooded Afro-Caribbean and white youths, were condemned as “shocking� by Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster, which includes Tottenham and some of the other affected areas of London. He said the riots represented a “callous disregard for the common good of our society and show how easily basic principles of respect and honesty are cast aside�. “I ask that Catholics pray especially for those directly affected by the violence, for those facing danger on our streets, for those

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whose livelihood has been ruined, for those marked by fear, for those whose parents are worried about the behaviour of their youngsters and for those who, at this time, are

being tempted into the ways of violence and theft,� said Archbishop Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. In Birmingham, where three Muslim men were killed on Aug 9 by a hit-and-run driver as they tried to defend properties from looters, Fr Gerry Breen, dean of St Chad’s Catholic Cathedral, urged Catholics to pray to Blessed John Henry Newman to intercede “for our city and our people�. British journalist and author, Melanie Phillips, attempted to explain the violence in her blog. Family breakdown, toleration of “grossly inadequate parenting�, educational collapse, welfare dependency and the collapse of authority in the criminal justice system were among the factors contributing to the rioting, she said. „ CNS

WORLD Copter crash in Afghanistan Reminder of ‘tragedy of war’ „ Page 15

OPINION Keep homilies to 8 mins? Priests urged to improve preaching skills „ Page 18

COMMENTARY Dying young needlessly 5HÀHFWLQJ RQ $P\ Winehouse’s death „ Page 20

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WORLD YOUTH DAY, HERE WE COME! Some of the 200 Singapore youths now at WYD share their excitement at attending the Church celebration prior to their departure

Youths from the Church of St Francis of Assisi.

By Darren Boon Singapore pilgrims to the World Youth Day (WYD) in Madrid say they are excited about experiencing a faith renewal at the massive international event. About 200 young people from various contingents in the archdiocese are right now at the Aug 16-21 celebration. CatholicNews caught up with some of them at Changi Airport just before their departure.

Ms Mariana Wijayanti, a youth worker with the archdiocHVDQ <RXWK 0LQLVWU\ 2IÂżFH VDLG she hopes participants would not only enjoy the convivial and welcoming atmosphere but also experience the universality of the Church at WYD. Speaking to CatholicNews, she said she hopes the pilgrims would develop a “deeper love for the Church and for Christâ€?. Mr Leonard Chia’s original in-

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tention of joining WYD was to visit Spain. But the 26-year-old soon realised that this trip is “a spiritual journey and not a holidayâ€?. He told CatholicNews he hopes to know more about God through the event and to deepen his trust in Him. He too said he looked forward to experiencing the universality of the Church. 7KH <RXWK 0LQLVWU\ 2IÂżFH with a group of 33 youths from parishes across Singapore, embarked on their two-week journey on Aug 9. As part of their preparation prior to the actual celebration, the group visited historical sites, museums and basilicas in Rome. 3UD\HU DQG UHĂ€HFWLRQV ZHUH OHG by the youth chaplain and the group’s spiritual director Fr Brian D’Souza. Eighteen youths from the parish of Christ the King started their pilgrimage in Barcelona. The group, calling itself W4 Pilgrims (Word of God, Worship, Works of Mercy and World Youth Day), participated in the Days in the Diocese programme in Seville before heading to Madrid. Members said they were “excited and eager to meet whatever

Participants from the Church of Christ the King.

I’m planning to let ‘God surprise me!’

Mr Fritz Ng

is in store� for them and intend to go with an open mind. Two of them, Ms Joanna Lee and Mr Edward Gunalan, both 25, said they hope the experience would help them gain a deeper understanding of their

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Aug 21 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28

Church of Divine Mercy: Mass – Catholic Nurses’ Guild NUS: Mass – NUS CSS (Commissioning) SJI International: Mass – Teachers’ Day Mass Church of Sts Peter and Paul: Mass – Ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Ferninand Suharto Purnomo OCD

Catholic identity and faith. Another contingent of 22 youths, led by Sr Leticia of the Verbum Dei Missionaries, joined other Verdum Dei youths from various countries as part of their preparation. The group’s pilgrimage will end with a visit to Barcelona and Montserrat after WYD. Nineteen youths from the Church of St Francis of Assisi, who had each forked out about $2,600 for the trip, will also head to Rome after WYD. Mr Fritz Ng, 25, perhaps sums up the feelings of the excited youths, saying that he knows that there are “great things ahead�. “I’m planning to let God surprise me!� he said with a smile. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg „ Page 13: WYD opening Mass

Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

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Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

Christian college students visit Risen Christ church Trinity Theological College students engage in discussion with priests and church ministry leaders Forty-four adult students from a Christian theological institute visited the Church of the Risen Christ recently to learn more about the church’s liturgy, faith formation and ministries. The visitors were from the Trinity Theological College, located at Upper Bukit Timah Road. The college trains pastors, missionaries, church workers, and theological educators for Chris-

tian Churches in Asia. The visitors were divided into two groups during the July 31 visit – the Mandarin-speaking group, which consisted of 14 students, and the English-speaking group, which had 30 students. The Mandarin group attended the 8.15 am Mandarin Mass after which they were treated to breakfast. Parish priest Fr John Sim and

Rev Dr Simon Chan (left, in grey longsleeve shirt) and students from Trinity Theological College attending a Mass at the Church of the Risen Christ on July 31.

members of the Mandarin Lay Apostolate Committee answered their questions on how one becomes a priest, the length of priestly formation, liturgical procedures and the parish’s various ministries. The visitors were then taken on a tour of the church and also spent several minutes praying in the Adoration Room. The English-speaking group,

led by Rev Dr Simon Chan, a lecturer at the college, attended the 9.45 am English Mass. They too had a discussion session with Fr Sim, assistant priest Fr Kamelus Kamus and leaders of parish ministries. Mr John Bosco, vice chairman of the parish executive committee, explained the roles and activities of the various parish ministries.

The visitors also asked about WKH GHPRJUDSKLF SUR¿OH RI SDrishioners, how the growth in the number of parishioners is monitored, the Charismatic prayer ministry and the church’s evangelisation programmes. Rev Dr Chan then thanked the priests and ministry leaders for the interactive session, which lasted for about one and a half hours.

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Dominicans launch lay fraternity Five Singaporeans made history RQ $XJ E\ EHFRPLQJ WKH ¿UVW solemnly professed Lay Dominicans in the country. This act establishes the Fraternity of St Francis de Capillas, named after the Dominican friar ZKR ZDV WKH ¿UVW PDUW\U RI &KLQD Called to live the Dominican charism of prayer, study and preaching as laypeople, their mission is to share God’s love and Christian truth in the secular world. The promise by Mr Francis Nyan, Mrs Chris Yeo, Ms Anna Low, Ms Priscilla Huang and Ms Estella Young to live by the rule of the Lay Dominicans until death was a long time coming. Though some had been studying Scripture with the Dominican friars since the latter entered Singapore in 2000, previous efforts to start a lay fraternity had failed due to a lack of numbers. Finally, a small group met at a Serangoon Gardens sarabat stall in May 2006 and pledged to spend a year discerning whether to try again. After studying Dominican spirituality and Church teachings on the lay vocation, eight Catholics became novices of the provisional fraternity erected in August 2007 with the approval of the Dominican Order. A year later, they made a temporary profession (for three years). ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR WKH ¿YH VROHPQO\ SURfessed members, the group – which now comprises four men and seven women – has four temporarily professed, and two novices. Most are professionals in their 30s. Mr Nyan, 39, a banker on the archdiocese’s Liturgical Music Committee, said he was elated

Lay Dominicans pose for a photo with Dominican Fr David Garcia (fourth from left). From left: Mr Michael Yip (temporarily professed), Prof Richard Davis (novice), Ms Karen Seet (made temporary profession in 2009), Mr Francis Nyan (solemnly professed), Mrs Chris Yeo (solemnly professed), Mr Jason Koh (novice), Dr Sally Ho (temporarily professed), Ms Estella Young (solemnly professed), Ms Anna Low (solemnly professed), Dr Tan Hsien-Li (made temporary profession in 2010). Not in the photo: Ms Priscilla Huang (solemnly professed).

to be a Dominican, having admired its dedication to truth since meeting its friars and studying St Thomas Aquinas’ theology at Oxford University. Mrs Yeo, an accountant in her 50s, said the Dominican meetings had helped her be a better catechist by exploring how the Church’s rules were rooted in truth and love. Real estate agent Anna Low, 44, a convert to Catholicism, said studying with the Dominicans showed her how reason was an essential part of faith. “I look forward to giving more of myself to this community and to God,” she said.

Dominican Fr David Garcia, who celebrated the Mass where the professions were made, said in his homily that he felt “very happy but a little scared, like a father bringing his newborn home from the hospital”. This was because he had guided the group over the last decade, but now the fraternity could chart its own path. The Dominican rule emphasises prayer, study, preaching and fraternal love. Each lay member lives these according to his state of life but does not live communally or take the vows of poverty DQG FHOLEDF\ )RXU RI WKH ¿YH ZKR made their solemn professions

are married with children. Many are also parish catechists or support the Church at the diocesan level. The fraternity meets twice monthly to deepen their spiritual lives. Meetings are open to all. Fraternity members lead discussions on a wide range of topics, such as inter-religious dialogue, bioethics, IT and education. Dr Sally Ho, Master of the Catholic Medical Guild, was one of two who made their temporary professions also on Aug 7. The Dominicans “helped me get to the roots of my faith and understand what I believed”, she said.

The other who made a temporary profession was Mr Michael Yip, 33, a logistics executive. University professor Richard Davis, 39, one of the two men who entered the novitiate in Easter, said he had been drawn to the Dominicans’ intellectual curiosity since becoming Catholic in 2002 because he liked people “who took their faith seriously but didn’t follow it blindly”. To contact the Lay Dominicans, email LayDominicans@gmail.com or phone 9437-6178 (Estella).

Priest transfers Fr Damian de Wind will be transferred to the Church of the Holy Family on Sept 1. Fr Erbin Fernandez will be transferred to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sept 1. Fr Adrian Yeo will be transferred to Church of St Teresa on Sept 1. Deacon Clement Chen will be transferred to the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour on Sept 19

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Hope for ‘at-risk’ youths LaSalle Brothers’ project aids young offenders, homeless boys By Darren Boon Henry (not his real name) was a homeless youth living at a rubbish centre. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) then referred him to LaSalle Br Collin Wee where he was given a place to stay. Even though Henry could be UXGH DQG GLIÂżFXOW WKURXJK FRXQselling, Br Collin helped Henry turn his life around. The young man would one day return to give Br Collin $200 to help other “youths at riskâ€?. Another homeless youth had been living at a sleazy hotel before Br Collin gave him shelter in what would later become Hopehouse, a joint project by the LaSalle Brothers and a group of lay people, supported by MCYS. “They were in a stuck situation. Some of them really saw that there was no hope ‌ so eventually what we give them is hope,â€? said Br Collin who is the House Mentor. “When they leave this place, they can see that ‌ there’s a meaningâ€? to life, he added. The charity received its approved charity status in Nov 2010 and aims to provide a home for

boys, aged 16-21, who have committed legal offences. These youths are put on probation and some have family problems which make their home environment unconducive for rehabilitation. Hopehouse also accepts homeless boys, those who have been abandoned and those without a family. The project is open to people of all races and religious backgrounds, and includes guidance, and counselling. It is located within the grounds of St Patrick’s School in East Coast Road, with premises provided by the LaSalle Brothers. The home currently has eight residents with a capacity for 16. One of them, Adam (not his real name), said the community service the home provides as well as activities, such as baking, help foster a family spirit and teamwork among residents. Adam was left homeless after his mother went to work overseas. He was preparing for his A Levels then and Br Collin’s help meant that he had a conducive study environment. The 22 year-old national serviceman said he likes the home’s

Br Collin Wee gives a haircut to a resident of Hopehouse, located at St Patrick’s School.

family atmosphere and regards the other boys as his own family members. Staying in the home has also helped “broaden his mind�, learn how to “give and take� and appreciate people of different backgrounds better, he added. Although Adam knows that he would one day leave Hopehouse, he said he would like to return to help out. Br Collin said that he, together with a few laypeople, saw a need

for a shelter for youths 16 years old and above who lack a family and a home. These people are not legally protected under the Children and Young Persons Act. The act stipulates care and protection for persons below 16. Br Collin describes the youths he serves as “in limbo� as they are neither children nor adults. Some boys have no home to return to and some do not have enough money to rent accommodation, he said. Even National

Service would not solve their problems as they have no place to return to during the weekends. That is when the boys may get into trouble and possibly join gangs. At Hopehouse, staff provide counselling and therapy to both residents and their families with the aim of integrating residents back into family life. Rehabilitation is also offered to offenders. MCYS too, has also been supportive and works with Hopehouse in monitoring referral cases, said Br Collin. Over at the home, residents learn to be independent and responsible for their own lives. There is no curfew except for those on probation. Residents are put in charge of various household chores and are taught life skills such as cooking. They are also taught to contribute to society. The Hopehouse programme involves them in community service projects such as serving the mostly foreign manual workers at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. Hopehouse is 90 percent funded by MCYS. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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‘Catholics join Muslims in prayer, service’ Dear Muslim Friends, I join in prayer with you on the occasion of your joyful feast, Id al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer. As Muslims in Singapore and around the world celebrate this feast with renewed strength for their personal, family and social existence, the Catholic community joins in prayer with you, acting together as witnesses to our religious beliefs in conformity with the Creator’s plan, which encourages us to serve our brothers and sisters and work together for the common good. We deeply value the work we have done, in conjunction with representatives from the Muslim community and other religions in the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony, to promote peace and harmony among all peoples.

In the troubled times in which we are living, religious believers are increasingly striving to work together in favour of peace, respecting the religious practices of all individuals and communities. In Singapore, respect for different religions is a cornerstone of our society. Therefore, it is important that we continue to join together in our efforts to spread peace, working hand-in-hand to alleviate the sufferings of those around us. My dear Muslim friends, on behalf of the Archdiocese of Singapore, I pray that your celebration of Id al-Fitr will be a source of joy and happiness for you and your families. „ Yours sincerely,

Archbishop Nicholas Chia

Priest discusses morality of cosmetic surgery By Darren Boon Cosmetic surgery is ethically jusWL¿HG LI XVHG WR UHVWRUH RU DFTXLUH a normal appearance for one’s JHQGHU DQG DJH WKDW EHQH¿WV QRUmal social interaction. However, if it is done out of vanity, it is considered immoral, Fr David Garcia told participants at an ethics and moral theology course on Aug 2. The Dominican priest was speaking on the topic of cosmetic surgery as part of a moral theology programme titled The Personal Compass: Navigating Ethical Ambiguity. The yearlong course is organised by the Wonderfully Made! ministry and Singapore Pastoral Institute. Highlighting examples such as the French woman who had a face transplant after being mauled by a dog, and those with cleft lips, Fr Garcia said that undergoing FRVPHWLF VXUJHU\ WR ¿[ VRPHWKLQJ EURNHQ WR ¿W FXOWXUDOO\ ZLWKLQ D certain society and to allow for VRFLDO LQWHUDFWLRQ LV ¿QH Responding to CatholicNews TXHULHV WKH PRUDO WKHRORJLDQ DOVR said that cosmetic surgery could EH MXVWL¿HG LQ FHUWDLQ SURIHVVLRQV where looks are important, such

Having such surgery out of vanity ‘is unethical,’ said Fr David Garcia. as in the entertainment industry. However, the priest cautioned that such surgery done out of vanity, such as the enhancement of sexual attractiveness or the concealment of normal aging, is considered immoral and a vice. Âł,I LW >FRVPHWLF VXUJHU\@ Âż[HV something that is wrong, it is

good, if it is an act of vanity, vanity is a sin, it is something unethical,� he said. During the evening’s session, Fr Garcia also touched on the topic of sex reassignment surgery. He highlighted that sexual identity is about how one sees oneself and comprises many dimensions: chromosomal, genetic, physiological, anatomical, hormonal, psychological, sociological and cultural. The problem of sexual identity might be psychological when a person does not accept his or her own sexual identity as male or female even though the person is anatomically normal. In this situation, Fr Garcia VDLG WKDW RQH GRHV QRW ¿[ WKH SV\FKRORJLFDO SUREOHP E\ ¿[LQJ WKH body. Changing the sexual organs is not the solution. The ethical problem arises for those who have ambiguous genitalia. Sex reassignment surgery LV RQO\ HWKLFDO ZKHQ WKH EHQH¿WV outweigh the risks. Fr Garcia also noted that there have been cases in which people have been unhappy with the result after such an operation. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Journeying with ex-offenders The Roman Catholic Prison Ministry needs more volunteers for its aftercare programme By Darren Boon The Roman Catholic Prison Ministry (RCPM) has seen a good response from volunteers who have signed up to serve in the ministry’s aftercare programme for exoffenders. However, RCPM says it needs more male volunteers 35 years and older to volunteer for the “befriendingâ€? service as many of the ex-offenders are male. The Walk-with-You aftercare programme provides ex-offenders with befriending, counselling, HPSOR\PHQW DQG WHPSRUDU\ ÂżQDQcial assistance services. Each client’s needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Most of those who seek help from RCPM have already attended the ministry’s activities, such as religious counselling, during their incarceration. Fifteen people participated in a workshop on July 19 where they were advised on the dos and don’ts of being a befriender. One volunteer who attended the workshop was Madam Maureen Bernard who found the training and guidelines useful. While Madam Bernard, 57, who was volunteering in the ministry’s in-care programme for offenders did not initially intend to become a befriender, she was later inspired to do so after journeying and helping a female ex-offender turn her life around. The woman later converted to Catholicism. Madam Bernard has been

non-judgemental, patient, empathetic and not impose one’s views on others. Patience required

counselling the woman during the in-care programme and she took the initiative to contact Madam Bernard for help after being released from prison.

If we just stop at the prison level ‘then the mission is incomplete. ’

– RCPM aftercare coordinator Rachel Sng

Importance of aftercare Aftercare is important to RCPM. “If we just stop at the prison level then the mission is incomplete,� said RCPM aftercare coordinator Rachel Sng. Ms Sng told CatholicNews that not all ex-offenders who turn to RCPM for help are keen on taking up the befriending service as

they have more pressing concerns, VXFK DV ÂżQDQFLDO QHHGV DQG ÂżQGing employment. RCPM wants to go beyond ÂżQDQFLDO DLG DV WKH EHIULHQGLQJ service would help ex-offenders re-integrate into society. However, those who have the support of their families would not need the befriending service. Ms Sng added that RCPM does not put pressure on anyone to use its counselling or befriending services. RCPM will however keep the invitation open to ex-

RIIHQGHUV ZKR PXVW ÂżUVW LQGLFDWH that they want the service. “I respect their choice.. I always give them a choice. So when they are ready, they come,â€? she said. Madam Bernard added that the client must be open to the befriender. Volunteers should also ideally commit to the journey for at least six months and contact the client regularly. Volunteers should also possess a good prayer life, be genuine,

For Madam Bernard, the service comes to an end when the client is able to stand on his or her own feet. One must not lose one’s temper even though the client can be TXLWH GLIÂżFXOW DW WLPHV 0DGDP Bernard said. Also, one cannot brush the client aside, even when one is busy, when the client requests for help . Otherwise the client would feel abandoned. What Madam Bernard does is to gently tell the client that she needs a minute to attend to the task at hand. She also makes it clear that she would not provide the client with money, or her home number or address, though buying a meal IRU WKH FOLHQW LV ÂżQH IRU KHU While Madam Bernard describes the work as “challengingâ€?, she said she has learnt to be “patient and humbleâ€? with ex-offenders. She added that she has also learnt much from the ex-offenders themselves. From their stories and experience, she is able to help others. Ambassador programme RCPM also runs an RCPM Ambassador Programme. The RCPM Ambassador is the contact point for ex-offenders wanting to attend Mass and be integrated into church and parish life. There are currently ambassadors at the Church of Divine Mercy, Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. RCPM hopes to have one ambassador in each of the church districts in Singapore. Ms Sng said that the ambassador can help familiarise clients with the activities in the parish, and also attend Mass with them initially. Those interested in the Walkwith-You programme may email rachel.sng@rcpm.org.sg „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

CORRECTION In the July 17 issue of CatholicNews, we reported that Carmelite Fr Anselm Phang would be based in the Carmelites’ formation house in Punggol. This is incorrect. )U 3KDQJ KDV FODUL¿HG WKDW KH would be departing to Taiwan for a two-year study course, and would be studying in Fu Jen Catholic University.

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Priests, laypeople learn about new Roman missal

Above: About 200 people attended a workshop during which they learnt about the rationale behind the new English translation of the Roman Missal. Inset: The DVD, Become One Body One Spirit in Christ, delves into the meaning of the missal’s texts.

By Darren Boon SINGAPORE – Singapore Catho-

lics will be able to use the Order RI WKH 0DVV ERRNOHWV FRQWDLQLQJ the new English translation of WKH 5RPDQ 0LVVDO IURP WKH ÂżUVW ZHHNHQG RI 6HSWHPEHU This is to help them become faPLOLDU ZLWK FKDQJHV LQ WKH WH[WV DQG UHVSRQVHV EHIRUH WKH RIÂżFLDO LPSOHmentation of the new missal on Nov 27, the First Sunday of Advent. However, there will be no singLQJ RU FKDQWLQJ RI WKH WH[WV IRU about a month. Instead, the conJUHJDWLRQ ZLOO UHFLWH WKH WH[W WR help them become familiar with it. The Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission made these anQRXQFHPHQWV DW D ZRUNVKRS IRU priests, seminarians and laypeople at the Church of the Immaculate +HDUW RI 0DU\ RQ $XJ DQG Training for various district choirs on the chants for the new missal will begin from end of August until September. The purpose of using the chants is to allow for a more unifying repertoire and response on both the parish and archdiocesan levels, said the commission. The commission said it recommends using the chants from the new missal for a year before choirs are free to use or write their own music. Meanwhile, individual parishes will conduct their own catechesis for parishioners. Liturgical PLQLVWULHV DUH H[SHFWHG WR KDYH completed their formation by end of September while the rest of the laypeople should receive their formation from October to November.

About 200 people attended the $XJ ZRUNVKRS ZKHUH WKH\ watched a DVD, Become One Body One Spirit in Christ. The video delves into the meaning of WKH OLWXUJLFDO WH[WV RI WKH 5RPDQ Missal. Topics covered included an H[SORUDWLRQ RI WKH 0DVV DQG LWV OLQN WR VFULSWXUH D ORRN DW WKH QHZ missal through the principles of translation, and a commentary on WH[W FKDQJHV Ms Jennifer Anthoney from the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea said she found the sessions “enriching�. The choir member said it is important for laypeople to be catechised on the process behind the new missal. Fr Stephen Yim of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, who is providing formation for parishioners, told CatholicNews there would be some initial unfamiliarLW\ ZLWK WKH WH[W %XW WKH\ ZRXOG soon get used to it. He said it is important to understand the rationale behind the QHZ WUDQVODWLRQ DQG WKH ZRUNVKRS provided just that. He added that new translation is a return to “the spirituality of the words� where it is about prayer, not just verbal articulation. Copies of Become One Body One Spirit in Christ are now on sale. The DVD also includes other UHVRXUFHV VXFK DV HVVD\V E\ H[perts on sacramental theology and liturgy. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg „ Page 22: Young people and the new missal

Released Chinese priest ‘urged to join govt-approved Church’ BEIJING – A young priest in Chi-

na’s northern Hebei province was released to his hometown after more than three months in detention, Church sources said. Fr Joseph Chen Hailong of Xuanhua, who has served in Yanqin parish near Beijing since his 2009 ordination, had been detained since he was seized by plainclothes police on April 9, reported the Asian Church news agency UCA News. In recent years, government RI¿FLDOV LQ WKH =KDQJMLDNRX DUHD KDYH FUDFNHG GRZQ RQ SULHVWV ZKR DUH QRW DI¿OLDWHG ZLWK WKH JRYHUQment-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Two young Catholics who ZHUH WDNHQ DZD\ ZLWK )U &KHQ were released two days later. Local Church sources said authorities held Fr Chen to question him about the whereabouts RI %LVKRS 7KRPDV =KDR .H[XQ RI Xuanhua, who is in hiding from the government. &KLQHVH RI¿FLDOV GR QRW UHFognise Xuanhua diocese. Bishop =KDR ZKR LV LQ KLV V KDV KHDGed the diocese since 2007 but has remained underground throughout much of his tenure. Fr Chen was held in isolation for nearly two months, during which time he suffered malnutrition, sources told UCA News. In addition to questions about WKH ZKHUHDERXWV RI %LVKRS =KDR authorities also repeatedly urged Fr Chen to accept the principle

of a Church independent from Rome, to receive a “priest cardâ€? issued by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, and concelebrate Mass with other priests ZKR DUH SDUW RI WKH RIÂżFLDOO\ UHFognised church. Fr Chen repeatedly refused the demands, the sources said, and

Fr Joseph Chen Hailong of Xuanhua. Photo: UCANEWS.COM

KH ZDV ODWHU WDNHQ WR PHHW D IRUmer underground bishop who has VLQFH MRLQHG WKH RI¿FLDOO\ UHFRJnised Church. 7KH XQLGHQWL¿HG SUHODWH WULHG to persuade the priest to accept WKH RI¿FLDOVœ GHPDQGV WKH VRXUFHV said. $XWKRULWLHV ¿QDOO\ UHOHDVHG )U Chen on July 23. „ CNS

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Christians slam claims that minister was killed by relative LAHORE, PAKISTAN – Some Pakistani Christians have rejected claims by police that assassinated PLQRULWLHVœ DIIDLUV PLQLVWHU 6KDKED] %KDWWL ZDV NLOOHG E\ D UHODWLYH and not by religious extremists. A joint investigation team believes the murder of the Catholic PLQLVWHU ZDV OLQNHG WR D ELWWHU SURSHUW\ GLVSXWH ZLWK UHODWLYHV LQ )DLVDODEDG LQ 3XQMDE SURYLQFH Police investigators have conFOXGHG WKDW LW ZDV QRW D UHOLJLRXVly-motivated murder and that the NLOOHUV D IHZ RI ZKRP KDYH QRZ FRQYHUWHG WR ,VODP DUH FXUUHQWO\ in Dubai or Kuala Lumpur. %KDWWL ZKR VXSSRUWHG FKDQJes to the country’s controversial EODVSKHP\ ODZV ZDV JXQQHG GRZQ RQ 0DUFK LQ ,VODPDEDG Supporters of al-Qaeda and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU WKH NLOOLQJ 7ZR of his brothers moved to Europe in the aftermath of the assassina-

Catholic minorities’ affairs minister Shahbaz Bhatti had wanted changes to blasphemy laws.

tion for security reasons. 0U 3DXO %KDWWL DGYLVRU WR WKH prime minister on minorities’ affairs and brother of the slain minLVWHU VDLG KH QRZ SODQV WR DVN WKH premier to set up a judicial com-

mission to investigate the murder. 7KH NLOOLQJ FDPH WZR PRQWKV after a police bodyguard assassinated Punjab provincial governor Salman Taseer for opposing the EODVSKHP\ ODZV $UFKELVKRS (PHULWXV /DZrence Saldanha of Lahore called WKH SROLFH ÂżQGLQJV UHJDUGLQJ %KDWWLÂśV GHDWK ÂłULGLFXORXV´ “This is a dirty game by auWKRULWLHV ZKR DUH QRW LQWHUHVWHG LQ punishing the killers. The police NQRZ ZKR WKH FULPLQDOV DUH EXW WKH\ DUH XVLQJ DQ DJH ROG WDFWLF ´ said the prelate. The All Pakistan Minority AlOLDQFH $30$ DOVR VWURQJO\ FRQdemned police claims. “It is an attempt to make the investigation more complicated. Our leader died in the struggle DJDLQVW GLVFULPLQDWRU\ ODZV ´ VDLG 0U .KDOLG *LOO FKLHI RUJDQLVHU of the Christian political party. „ UCANEWS.COM

Apology for 2009 attacks welcomed GOJRA, PAKISTAN – 7ZR 0XVlims have apologised for an antiChristian rampage in the Punjab FLW\ RI *RMUD WZR \HDUV DJR WKDW OHIW &DWKROLFV GHDG At an interfaith seminar at Sacred Heart Church in Gojra on Aug PDUNLQJ WKH VHFRQG DQQLYHUVDU\ RI WKH LQFLGHQW WZR 6XÂż PDVWHUV H[SUHVVHG UHJUHW IRU WKH YLROHQFH VD\LQJ LW ZHQW DJDLQVW WKH ÂłVSLULW RI ,VODP´ UHSRUWHG WKH $VLDQ &KXUFK QHZV DJHQF\ 8&$ 1HZV ,Q $XJXVW KXQGUHGV RI Muslims rioted in Gojra and a QHDUE\ YLOODJH WRUFKLQJ EXLOGLQJV and attacking inhabitants. AuthorLWLHV VDLG WKH YLROHQFH ZDV IXHOOHG by a false rumour that a Qur’an had been desecrated. The anti-terrorism court in )DLVDODEDG LQ -XQH DFTXLWWHG DOO SHRSOH DUUHVWHG LQ FRQQHFWLRQ ZLWK WKH DWWDFNV )U $IWDE -DPHV 3DXO GLUHFWRU of Faisalabad diocese’s Commission for Interfaith Dialogue and (FXPHQLVP GHVFULEHG WKH DSRO-

A Christian woman sorts through burned religious books in her house in Gojra in 2009 after it was attacked by Muslims. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

RJ\ DV ³KXJHO\ VLJQL¿FDQW´ ,Q DQ LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK WKH &DWKROLF FKDULW\ $LG WR WKH &KXUFK LQ 1HHG KH VDLG ³(YHQ WKRXJK WKH\ ZHUHQœW LQ DQ\ ZD\ LQYROYHG LQ ZKDW KDSSHQHG WKDW GD\ WKH SHHU 6X¿V >6X¿ masters] described Islam as a religion that does not condone killing DQG FRQGHPQHG WKH PDVVDFUH ´ 6X¿VP WR LWV DGKHUHQWV LV WKH LQQHU P\VWLFDO GLPHQVLRQ RI ,VODP

The priest said the bereaved FRPPXQLW\ ZHOFRPHG WKH UHPDUNV 1HYHUWKHOHVV DQJHU VWLOO UXQV KLJK 0U 1DYHHG 0DVLK VSHQW more than four months in prison IRU ÂżJKWLQJ WKH DWWDFNHUV 7KH IRUPHU ER[HU QRZ VHOOV OLTXRU WR HDUQ a living. “It affected my career. :H ZHUH DWWDFNHG E\ WHUURULVWV DQG DUUHVWHG E\ DXWKRULWLHV ´ KH said. „ CNS

Myanmar Church increases Kachin aid YANGON – The Catholic Church

in Myanmar is trying to help an increasing number of refugees Ă€HHLQJ RQJRLQJ FODVKHV EHWZHHQ rebel and government forces. It has also voiced concern for WKH ORQJ WHUP ZHOO EHLQJ RI GLVSODFHG SHRSOH ZKR KDYH EHHQ XQDEOH WR UHWXUQ KRPH DIWHU ÂżJKWLQJ EHWZHHQ JRYHUQPHQW WURRSV DQG the Kachin Independence Army broke out on June 9. “These people have not been able to earn a living since they UDQ DZD\ IURP WKH ÂżJKWLQJ ´ VDLG RQH &KXUFK RIÂżFLDO LQ %DQPDZ

ZKR UHTXHVWHG DQRQ\PLW\ Their continued displacement is also affecting their children’s HGXFDWLRQ KH DGGHG $ &KXUFK RI¿FLDO LQ 0\LWN\LQD ZKR DOVR ZLVKHG WR UHPDLQ DQRQ\PRXV VDLG PDQ\ UHIXJHHV LQ KLV DUHD DUH VWLOO ZLWKRXW VKHOWHU DQG VKRUW RI IRRG DQG WKHLU QXPEHUV DUH VZHOOLQJ HDFK GD\ 7KHUH ZHUH KRSHV RI D FHDVH¿UH DJUHHPHQW EHLQJ UHDFKHG UHFHQWO\ WR HQG FODVKHV EXW D VHries of ambushes on government forces has increased the air of uncertainty.

“We are trying to help as many SHRSOH DV ZH FDQ ´ VDLG WKH %DQPDZ RIÂżFLDO 7KH &KXUFK LV FROlecting food from other villages and looking to provide more shelWHUV IRU IDPLOLHV LQ QHHG KH DGGHG 0HDQZKLOH D 0DQGDOD\ DUFKdiocese appeal has seen parishioners donate generously to help ease the plight of Kachin refugees. “We’ve collected about 86 6 ZRUWK RI VXSplies so far and sent them already WR 0\LWN\LQD DQG %DQPDZ GLRFHVHV ´ VDLG WKH SURFXUDWRU RI 0DQGDlay archdiocese. „ UCANEWS.COM

Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

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12 WORLD

Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Christian leaders concerned over Aquino-rebel talks MANILA – A “secret� meeting

between Philippine President Benigno Aquino and Moro rebel leaders has not gone down well among Christian leaders, who say transparency and consultation is the way to lasting peace in the FRXQWU\ Mr Aquino met Al Haj Murad Ibrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), in Tokyo on Aug 4 to discuss peace HIIRUWV LQ 0LQGDQDR Mr Abdulrahman Palcarey, Muslim convenor of the MuslimChristian Alliance for Justice and Peace in the Philippines, hailed the meeting as a “big step forward in achieving peaceâ€?, but his Christian counterpart Gerry De GuzPDQ YRLFHG UHVHUYDWLRQV “Though we welcome the meeting, we should be watchful and urge both sides to be transparent with regard to the public on the details, terms and conditions VHW IRUWK LQ WKH WDONV ´ KH VDLG In his response to the meeting, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz today told Mr Aquino to “act as a SUHVLGHQW DQG QRW DV D FLYLOLDQ´ He said the meeting was “the ÂżUVW WLPH , KDYH VHHQ D SUHVLGHQW sneak out of the country without LQIRUPLQJ WKH SHRSOH´ Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ National Secretariat for Social Action, said Mr Aquino must reveal what he discussed with the Moro rebel leadHUVKLS “Genuine peace negotiations must involve stakeholders like the Lumads [indigenous people] and

the Muslim and Christian communities because they are the ones who will be affected,� Bishop Pabillo said, adding that full transSDUHQF\ ZDV QHHGHG Meanwhile, Mr Marvic Leonen, head of the government’s peace panel, denied that a secret GHDO ZDV UHDFKHG E\ 0U $TXLQR “There was no secret deal,� Mr Leonen said, adding that the meeting was intended to “jump-

Philippine President Aquino (above) met with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ibrahim.

start the peace negotiations into coming up with fundamental DJUHHPHQWV´ Ms Abigail Valte, Mr Aquino’s spokesperson, urged critics of the meeting to look at the big picture, which is the importance of the SHDFH SURFHVV She said many on both sides have welcomed the historic move, which was only the second time that a sitting president has met ZLWK D UHEHO OHDGHU „ UCANEWS.COM

Confusion as bishop stops Neocat activities KATHMANDU – Bishop Anthony

Sharma has suspended the activities of the Neocatechumenal Way in Kathmandu, seven years after the organisation, which is dedicated to the Christian formation RI DGXOWV ÂżUVW FDPH WR 1HSDO According to Church authorities, the Catholic group, which started in Madrid in 1964, was never formally invited to Nepal, EXW ÂłFDPH E\ WKHPVHOYHV´ A short announcement on the notice board of Kathmandu’s Assumption Church said the suspension came into effect on $XJ Several Neocatechumenal Way members, who are also parishioners of Assumption Church, said they still do not know why WKHLU DFWLYLWLHV ZHUH VXVSHQGHG “We will obey our bishop’s decision, but continue to pray that he

UHFRQVLGHUV ´ VDLG 0U 7HUHQFH /HH “We have about two dozen regular members who were involved in only two regular weekly activities – the celebration of the :RUG DQG WKH (XFKDULVW 0DQ\ were active in other parish activities such as the choir and we will FRQWLQXH WR EH ´ KH VDLG “Church movements add colour and enthusiasm to a parish, and I feel we have encouraged Catholics to return to church for 0DVV ´ KH DGGHG Assumption Church’s English choir leader Patrick Wilson regretted that Church authorities had not discussed their concerns ZLWK WKH PRYHPHQW “Some members say they have become closer to the Lord through this movement and are feeling KXUW ULJKW QRZ ´ KH VDLG „ UCANEWS. COM

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

‘THESE WILL BE DAYS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!’ ... Vatican cardinal tells hundreds of thousands of youths at World Youth Day opening Mass

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3LOJULPV ÂżOO 0DGULGÂśV 3OD]D GH &LEHOHV IRU WKH RSHQLQJ 0DVV CNS photos MADRID – “It’s nothing I’ve ever seen before,â€? said 16-year-old Morgan Simon of Sydney. “The representations of all the countries around the world – it’s mind-blowing. Everyone’s happy and cheerful. They all want to talk to each other and get to know you and where you’re from and trade things. It’s one of the most amazing things ever.â€? Walking down a street in Madrid arm-in-arm with fellow pilgrims from Bogota, Colombia, Catalina Bamargo said she could not believe that she was living the World Youth Day (WYD) experience with 3,000 pilgrims from her country and with hundreds of thousands more from around the globe. “This is wonderful, we’re excited!â€? she said. “The Church lives!â€? Simon and Barmargo are just two of the many young people gathered for the WYD opening Mass on Aug 16. A cloudless blue sky turned to inky night as they participated in the celebration led by Madrid Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela in the Plaza de Cibeles. Protected from the heat by white umbrellas and streams of soft mists, dozens of bishops and priests gathered on and around the makeshift altar to celebrate the Mass for pilgrims representing WKHLU KRPHODQG ZLWK Ă€DJV VSHFLDO hats, T-shirts and banners. In his homily, Cardinal Rouco said WYD is inseparable from Blessed John Paul II, “the pope of the youngâ€?, whose memory they celebrated with the Mass. The relationship Blessed John Paul had with the young was “unprecedentedâ€?, he said, “a hitherto unknown

relationship between the Church and her young: direct, immediate ... imbued with a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, enthusiastic, hopeful, joyful, contagiousâ€?. This tradition has continued with Pope Benedict XVI, he said, who did not hesitate to highlight Blessed John Paul’s love of the young in his homily for his predeFHVVRUÂśV EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ LQ 0D\ WYD inspires a new encounter with the Lord, the cardinal said: “He is the only one who can understand you and lead you to the truth giving life that never ends, to give you happiness, true love.â€? Young people are looking for Christ, he said.

“Letting oneself be found by Him is the key to the success of any World Youth Day,â€? he said. “It will be your success. Youths of the 21st century need, even more WKDQ SUHYLRXV JHQHUDWLRQV WR ÂżQG the Lord through the only path that has proven effective spiritually: the humble and simple pilgrim seeking His face.â€? In comments following the Mass, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQcil for the Laity, welcomed the crowd by telling them the event for which they had been waiting DQG SUHSDULQJ KDG ÂżQDOO\ DUULYHG “These will be days you will never forget,â€? he said, “days of

This is wonderful, we’re excited! ‘The Church lives! ’

– WYD pilgrim Catalina Bamargo from Bogota, Colombia

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important discoveries and decisions that will be decisive for your future.â€? 5HĂ€HFWLQJ RQ WKH ZRUGV RI 6W Paul that form the theme of this year’s WYD: “Planted and built up LQ -HVXV &KULVW ÂżUP LQ WKH IDLWK &RO 2:7),â€? the cardinal acknowledged the challenge of living out this call. “This is very demanding beFDXVH LW FRQWDLQV D GHÂżQLWH OLIH plan for each one of us,â€? he said. “Faith is like a root that is nourished by the lifeblood of the word of God and the sacraments,â€? he added. “It is the foundation, the rock on which life is built, the dependable compass that guides our choices and gives clear direction to our lives.â€? In a world where so many people reject God, Cardinal Rylko said, WYD shows that the Catholic faith lives. “You have come to say aloud to the whole world – and in par-

ticular to Europe, which is showing signs of being very lost – your unwavering ‘Yes!’â€? he said. “Yes, faith is possible. It is, in fact, a wonderful adventure that allows us to discover the magnitude and beauty of our lives.â€? For hours before the Mass, pilgrims lined the street. Many played cards, read, wrote in their journals or even napped, waiting for the event to begin. Oblate Fr Richard Hall, pastor of San Juan de los Lagos Parish in San Antonio, USA, said the opening Mass, which united all the pilJULPV DWWHQGLQJ :<' IRU WKH ÂżUVW time, was what he and his group of pilgrims had been waiting for. “To be here, beginning the experience with Mass [is what is] so wonderful about our church,â€?he said. “No matter where you’re at, you’re able to celebrate the liturgy in whatever language [you speak] or country you’re from.â€? „ CNS

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Special indulgence given for WYD VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has authorised a special indulgence for World Youth Day (WYD). To help encourage prayers for a spiritually fruitful celebration in Madrid, the Vatican announced on Aug 11 that the pope has authorised the indulgence for anyone who, “with a contrite spirit�, raises a “prayer to God, the Holy Spirit, so that young people are drawn to charity and given the strength to proclaim the Gospel with their life�. The Vatican decree included the offer of a plenary, or full, indulgence to all the young people who will gather with the pope in Madrid. WYD runs from Aug 16-21 in the Spanish capital; the pope arrives on Aug 18. An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven. The

conditions necessary for receiving a plenary indulgence include having recently gone to confession, receiving the Eucharist and offering prayers for the pope’s intentions. Pope Benedict decreed that WYD participants can receive a plenary indulgence if they participate with prayerful devotion in any sacred event or “pious

exercise� as well as attend the closing Mass, receive the sacraments of reconciliation and the Eucharist, and offer prayers for his intentions. The decree, signed by Cardinal Fortunato Baldelli, head RI WKH 9DWLFDQ RI¿FH WKDW GHDOV with indulgences, said a partial indulgence also is available to all Catholics who are contrite for their sins and offer their prayers with the pope for young Catholics. The cardinal also asked priests around the world to make themselves available to hear the confessions of those who want to gain the indulgence and to encourage public prayers for the success of WYD. In central Madrid’s Buen Retiro Park, 200 portable confessionals will be set up. Priests start hearing confessions on Aug 14 while the pope will hear confessions here on Aug 20. „ CNS

New guidelines restrict conscience rights of British pharmacists MANCHESTER,

ENGLAND

–

Catholic pharmacists in the United Kingdom are concerned that new guidelines from an industry regulator will force them to act against their consciences. They also are troubled that guidelines issued in late July by the General Pharmaceutical Council could lead to dismissal of Christian pharmacists and even could prevent them from entering WKH ÂżHOG LI WKH\ DFW RQ WKHLU EHOLHIV by refusing to distribute the morning-after pill. The abortifacient drug prevents a fertilised ovum from implanting into the womb. “Catholic pharmacists have the obligation to respect the fact that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death by not supplying, or participating in the supply of, drugs for abortion or euthanasia,â€? said Ms Anna Sweeting-Hempsall, a Catholic hospital pharmacist from England, and a member of the US-based Pharmacists for Life. “Until now, the conscience clause gave Catholic pharmacists the right not to compromise their beliefs, and provided invaluable protection against unethical employers who might have tried to force pharmacists to act against their conscience and supply these drugs,â€? she said. The new Guidance on the Provision of Pharmacy Services Affected by Religious and Moral Beliefs governs pharmacists in England, Scotland and Wales.

Pharmacist at work. Under new guidelines, pharmacists refusing to distribute the morningafter pill could be penalised. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

The guidelines place new restrictions on conscience protections and will require pharmacists who do not want to distribute the morning-after pill to refer customers to a named pharmacist who will give them the pills. Pharmacists also must check ahead to ensure the product is in stock. Other requirements compel pharmacists to dispense drugs for in vitro fertilisation, which often results in destruction of embryos. The document also informs SKDUPDFLVWV IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH WKDW their right to conscientious objection is secondary to the contractual demands of their employers. The revised guidelines come as the government is placing pharmacists under increasing pressure to make the morning-after pill easily available, even to children, to reduce Britain’s teenage pregnancy rate, which is among the highest in Europe.

The pharmaceutical council said in an Aug. 5 statement to CNS that the guidelines were not binding, however. “Our guidance is advice for pharmacy professionals and explains how our standards might be met,� the statement said. “The requirements of our guidance are not mandatory.� However, Catholic lawyer Neil Addison, said “What many people do not seem to grasp is ... that if you are refusing to do something because it is morally objectionable you cannot be obliged to recommend someone else.� Mr John Smeaton, director of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, told CNS, “What they are stipulating runs directly contrary to the fundamental right of conscientious objection, of having absolutely nothing to do with drugs which may kill an early developing human embryo.� „ CNS

Pope calls for prayers for Syria and Libya CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY –

Pope Benedict XVI appealed for reconciliation and respect for human rights in Syria and Libya where the governments have used force to try to end pro-democracy protests. “With deep concern, I am following the dramatic and growing episodes of violence in Syria,â€? the pope said on Aug 7 at the end of his Angelus address to visitors gathered in the courtyard of the papal villa in Castel Gandolfo. The United Nations has said “around 2,000 people are reported to have been killed in clashes in Syria since protesters took to the streets in mid-March demanding greater civil liberties. The violent crackdown by the authorities has received widespread condemnation from the UN, including the 6HFXULW\ &RXQFLO DQG WRS RIÂżFLDOV as well as world leadersâ€?. Pope Benedict also used his Angelus address to call attention “to Libya where the power of weapons has not resolved the situationâ€?. The pope asked “Catholic faithful to pray that an effort for reconciliation would prevail over division and angerâ€? in Syria and that the international community, which has been supporting protesters in Libya with NATO air strikes, would make a new atWHPSW WR ÂżQG ÂłD SHDFH SODQ IRU WKH country through negotiation and constructive dialogueâ€?. Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus, Syria, told Vatican Radio that he thanked the pope for his call for prayers and for his love of the Middle East. “We have invited all our Christians to pray in the churches each

day for peace and reconciliation, including with our Muslim brothers and sisters, in order to face this situation,� he said. “With God’s love for us, Christians and Muslims can overcome this crisis and this tragic situation in the Arab world and continue together – Christians, Muslims and Arabs – on the path to peace, progress, freedom and democracy,� he said.

A Syrian girl holds a candle during a demonstration in Beirut showing solidarity with Syria’s anti-government protesters. &16 SKRWR

Archbishop Mario Zenari, the nuncio in Syria, said on Vatican Radio that Syria has and continues to be “an exemplary country from the point of view of harmony among religious confessions and for mutual respect between the Muslim majority and Christian minorityâ€?. “We hope this climate will continue and we pray that a way will EH IRXQG ÂżUVW RI DOO WR VWRS WKH bloodshed,â€? the nuncio said. „ CNS

‘Don’t write off US economy’: Vatican banker ROME – The US is not necessar-

ily “a nation in decline or struck to the coreâ€?, says the head of the Vatican Bank. “The US remains the most technologically advanced country in the world, with the highest GDP, surpassing one and a half times that of Europe, four times that of China, and 10 times that of Italy,â€? wrote Mr Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, president of the Vatican Bank, in the Vatican’s newspaper L’Osservatore Romano. His Aug 9 comments came in the middle of a week of global ÂżQDQFLDO XQFHUWDLQW\ DIWHU FUHGLW ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has marked down the US’ credit UDWLQJ IRU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH LQ LWV KLVtory amid fears over the country’s ability to pay its debts. “The fact that it has been deFODVVLÂżHG GRHV QRW Ă€DWWHQ LW WR WKH ground, but probably will cause it to be more humble and open to collaborating with Europe,â€? said Mr Gotti Tedeschi. ,Q DQ DWWHPSW WR ÂżQG D VROXWLRQ

to the present crisis, Mr Gotti Tedeschi proposed a global summit recognising that all economies are FXUUHQWO\ LQ WKH VDPH ÂżVFDO ERDW “Attempts at individual solutions can aggravate the communal situation and favour speculation,â€? he said. “Only a period of austerity, managed in a integral way, can be the real key for returning to growth.â€? He recommended encouraging families to save and then investing part of those savings in smallto-medium size businesses. “This strategy would guarantee new resources for investments which today banks and funds are not able to obtain; it would produce more aggressive programmes of growth, reinforce employment and even offer greater guarantees to the EDQNV IRU WKHLU ÂżQDQFLQJ ´ KH VDLG He suggested that governments that do not have permanent economic advisory boards, consisting of academics and industrialists, should now think of creating such a body. „ CNA

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Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

Helicopter crash reminder of ‘tragedy of war’ WASHINGTON – The deaths of 30 US service members and eight Afghans in the crash of a US military helicopter in Afghanistan are another “reminder of the terrible tragedy of war and its toll on all people”, said the head of the US Archdiocese for the Military Services. “No person of good will is left unmoved by this loss,” Archbishop Timothy P Broglio said in an Aug 8 statement. The service members, who included about 20 Navy SEALs, along with seven Afghan soldiers and an interpreter, were killed as insurgents shot down a NATO Chinook transport helicopter early on Aug 6. It is the single deadliest loss for US troops in the 10-year-old war. “I express my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the valiant members of the armed forces and the Afghan citizens who perished in the helicopter FUDVK DQG WKH UHFHQW ¿JKWLQJ LQ WKH Tangi province of Afghanistan,” Archbishop Broglio said. He issued the statement on behalf of the archdiocese and its

auxiliary bishops, priests, and the Catholic communities the archdiocese serves. “As we pray for the repose of their souls and the consolation of their families, we also raise our hearts and minds to Almighty God and beg for the elusive gift of peace on earth and harmony among all people,” the archbishop said. A military spokesman said a rocket-launched grenade brought down the helicopter that was carrying the group on a night mission. The crash remained under investigation but the spokesman said there was nothing to indicate ³DQ\WKLQJ RWKHU WKDQ PLOLWDQW ¿UH´ brought the helicopter down. The US military archdiocese is responsible for the spiritual, pastoral and sacramental care of the 375,000 Catholic active-duty US military personnel and their 800,000 family members; 200,000 Catholics in the Reserves and National Guard; 30,000 Catholic patients in 172 Veterans Affairs hospitals; and 66,000 Catholics in government service overseas in 134 countries. CNS

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Jesuits sell historic book to raise funds CNS photos

LONDON – The Jesuits have sold

the historic St Cuthbert Gospel – believed to be the oldest intact book produced in Europe – to the British Library for US$14.7 million (S$17.9 million). The British Province of the Society of Jesus agreed to sell the late seventh-century Anglo-Saxon manuscript to raise funds to restore a historic church and pay for educational work in London and Glasgow, Scotland. The book, a pocket-size Latin translation of the Gospel of St -RKQ ZDV IRXQG LQVLGH WKH FRIÂżQ of St Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarne, when the saint’s grave was opened in 1104. Experts believe the manuscript was placed inside the casket within 10 years of the hermit’s death in 687. Jesuit Fr Kevin Fox, spokesman for the British Province of the Society of Jesus, announced the sale of the Gospel in a statement in July. “It has been our privilege to possess this book for nearly 250 years,â€? he said. “Now, in order to answer more of the many demands on our resources, the province trustees have decided to sell.â€? He said the British Library would ensure the manuscript was available for people from around the world to view either directly or online. “People will be able

Left: The Jesuits have sold the seventh-century St Cuthbert Gospel, believed to be Europe’s oldest intact book, to the British Library. Right: A page from the book.

to see the Gospel set among the library’s other treasures of the Christian faith and of Anglo-Saxon and Celtic art,� Fr Fox said. The statement said that the Gospel was produced by monks of Wearmouth-Jarrow in northeast England. Funds from the sale, concluded in conjunction with the auction house Christie’s, will be used to help fund Jesuit schools in London and Glasgow. The money will also pay for a new school to be founded in Africa and the restoration of the 19th century Church of St Peter, Stonyhurst, the parish that serves Stonyhurst

College in Lancashire, England. The St Cuthbert Gospel was described by the British Library in a July press statement as having “beautifully-worked original red leather binding in excellent conditionâ€?. The library said it is “the only surviving high-status manuscript from this crucial period in British history to retain its original appearance, both inside and out.â€? The book has been on loan to the British Library since 1979. The Jesuits approached the library LQ ZLWK DQ RIIHU RI WKH ÂżUVW option to acquire the Gospel for the public. „ CNS

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

The Crystal Cathedral. The US Diocese of Orange, which does not have a cathedral, has made a bid for the building, which is made up of more than 10,000 panes of glass. CNS photos

US diocese bids for megachurch’s ‘glass cathedral’ ORANGE, CALIFORNIA – A US

diocese has made a formal bid of US$50 (S$60.7 million) million to buy a cathedral complex, which was once the home church of a Christian TV preacher. The Diocese of Orange announced that it has presented its bid to the Crystal Cathedral Ministries board of directors and the organisation’s counsel. The 2,900-seat Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove opened in 1980, and was one of the nation’s ÂżUVW PHJDFKXUFKHV ,W LV PDGH XS of more than 10,000 panes of glass and served as home to a non-denominational Christian community. The cathedral property was put up for auction earlier this year as part of the cathedral ministries’ bankruptcy proceedings. Crystal Cathedral Ministries, founded by Rev Robert Schuller, QRZ UHWLUHG ÂżOHG IRU EDQNUXSWF\ ODVW 2FWREHU ,W ZDV IDFLQJ GHEW DPRXQWing to more than US$50 million. The cathedral “underscores the vitality of faith in our modern society and with our offer we will enable this beacon of faith to continue WR LQĂ€XHQFH RWKHUV DV DQ LPSRUWDQW place of worshipâ€?, Orange Bishop Tod D Brown said in a statement. Orange diocese does not currently have a cathedral to serve its 1.2 million Catholics. Based on the size of its Catholic population, Orange is the 11th largest diocese in the nation. The diocese covers all of Orange County, which has a total population of 3 million. ,I DFFHSWHG E\ DOO SDUWLHV %LVKop Brown said, purchase of the caWKHGUDO FRPSOH[ FRXOG EH ÂżQDOLVHG

by the end of the year. The diocese will have to consecrate the buildings and property for use as a Catholic cathedral and worship site. News reports have put cost estimates for building a new cathedral for the Orange Diocese at US$100 million. ³:KHQ , ¿UVW KHDUG RI WKHLU ¿QDQFLDO GLI¿FXOWLHV , ZDV GLVtressed,� Bishop Brown said in

A woman prays inside the Crystal Cathedral.

his statement. “Crystal Cathedral Ministries has been a valued religious resource for many, many years in Orange County,â€? The bishop added that Rev Schuller built up his ministry “from the humble roof of a drivein snack stand, and that constant IDLWK LQ *RGÂśV SURYLGHQFH , EHlieve, will sustain their community through these current trialsâ€?. „ CNS

18 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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Homilists urged to get to the point in 8 mins NEW ORLEANS, USA – For eight days at Loyola University New Orleans, three American priests DQG ÂżYH GHDFRQV DEVRUEHG WKH cool mathematics and internal symmetry of good preaching. -XVW DV 0RVHV GHVFHQGHG IURP 0RXQW 6LQDL ZLWK 7HQ &RPPDQGments chiselled on two stone tablets, the rules laid out by Fr Roy 6KHOO\ DQG 0V 'HERUDK :LOKHOP RI WKH 'LRFHVH RI 0RQWHUH\ &DOLfornia, while not etched in permanent marker, are boundaries worthy of respect: six to eight minutes IRU D 6XQGD\ KRPLO\ WKUHH WR ÂżYH minutes for a weekday sermon. “The idea is not so much ‘brevity’ as it is not taking longer than you need,â€? said Ms Wilhelm, a doctoral student with a focus on preaching at the Aquinas Institute of Theology. Improving the quality and spiritual depth of preaching has EHHQ D SDVVLRQ IRU )U 6KHOO\ ZKR is director of vocations and oversees homiletics training for the permanent diaconate in his diocese. If priests and deacons do not take seriously their vocational call and the preparation needed to SUHDFK WKH *RVSHO )U 6KHOO\ VDLG the resulting communication will EH Ă€DW DQG SRVVLEO\ HYHQ DQ REVWDcle to worship. “The Pew Foundation looked at why young adults are leaving WKH &KXUFK DQG WKH ÂżUVW UHDVRQ the study gave was poor preachLQJ ´ )U 6KHOO\ VDLG Âł,Q WKH 'LRcese of Monterey, we only recently renewed the diaconate. The mandate that came from the presbyteral council was that deacons should be effective preachers – and we should also hold the presbyterate to the same standards. This post-Vatican II generation expects more from us.â€? Over the course of a week earlier, three priests from the Archdiocese of New Orleans – Frs &KULV 'H/HUQR .HYLQ 'H/HUQR DQG 0DUWLQ 6PXOOHQ Âą MRLQHG ÂżYH deacons in preparing two homilies

A priest giving a homily. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

‘The worst thing is to try to say everything. Focus on one thing.’ – Fr Roy Shelly, who oversees homiletics training for the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Monterey, California

each, which were videotaped and then critiqued by the group. 6SLULWXDO SUHSDUDWLRQ LV FULWLFDO )U 6KHOO\ VDLG DQG WKH PHWKodology employed involves lectio divina Âą UHDGLQJ UHĂ€HFWLQJ DQG SUD\LQJ RYHU WKH 6FULSWXUH SDVsage. Âł$UFKELVKRS )XOWRQ 6KHHQ said, ‘If you want me to speak for an hour, I’m ready. If you want me to speak for 10 minutes, I’ll need a ZHHN ϫ )U 6KHOO\ VDLG “This is a very deliberate process. We encourage people to focus in on one idea and also to realise that this is not the only time in the lives of these people that they will hear this text preached on. The worst thing is to try to say everything. Focus on one thing.â€? ,Q WUDLQLQJ SUHDFKHUV )U 6KHOO\

asks them to write down one sentence that encapsulates the homily they are about to give. Then members of the congregation are asked to write down in one sentence the theme of the homily they have just heard. “We have index cards and pencils, and we collect all the cards,â€? )U 6KHOO\ VDLG Âł7KHQ WKH SUHVLGHU sits down with the preacher and goes over the cards.â€? Great preaching is a balancing act, he said. While the homily should be “personal, it should not be about ‘you’â€?. “You want to make it personal – a revelation of your own faith life – and place that in service to the people, but it should not beFRPH QDUFLVVLVWLF ´ )U 6KHOO\ VDLG „ CNS

Fitting God to our needs FEW people have ever written as penetrating a critique of faith and religion as have Friedrich Nietzsche and Ludwig Feuerbach. “God is dead,â€? Nietzsche declared, “and we are his murderers!â€? And we murder God, he contends, in subtle ways to which we are entirely blind. ,Q D YDVW RYHU VLPSOLÂżFDWLRQ WKHLU FULWLTXH might read as follows: Faith and religion are, in the end, human projections. We believe in God because we need to, pure and simple. We create God to serve our own needs. We need to believe in God because without a belief in God we cannot deal with the pain, brokenness, inadequacy and limits within our own lives. We lack the vision and the courage to live without a god; thus the opium of faith and religion. God and religion are drugs we create for ourselves to get us through the pain of life and give us hope for something beyond. But this accusation is not their major challenge. More challenging is their assertion that we create God because we need to rationalise our choices by putting them under a divine cloak. God isn’t just the great opium we ingest to numb our pains and disappointments, God is especially the great rationalisation, the great MXVWLÂżFDWLRQ WKH JUHDW VDFUHG SHUPLVVLRQ ZH QHHG LQ RUGHU WR VHUYH RXUselves and still be under the illusion that we are serving a higher, sacred cause. It doesn’t take much looking around to see why they say this. Everywhere, it seems, we are manipulating faith and religion for our own EHQHÂżW 6RPHRQH RQFH TXLSSHG WKDW *RG PDGH XV LQ +LV RZQ LPDJH and likeness and we have never stopped returning the favour. Faith and religion rarely work purely. Invariably some human element is very evident within them. One only has to look at the role religion has played in history to see overwhelming evidence for this. Today, for example, we see every IRUP RI YLROHQFH EHLQJ MXVWLÂżHG LQ *RGÂśV QDPH PRVW HYLGHQW RI FRXUVH in extremist Islam, but hardly limited to that. And we see the same thing everywhere within our private histories. All of us tend to somehow manage to have God on our own terms, in ways mostly advantageous to us, and in ways that let us rationalise our decisions and have God and religion give their stamp of approval. 6R ZKDWÂśV WR EH VDLG DERXW DOO RI WKLV" -RKQ RI WKH &URVV , VXVSHFW would say that Nietzsche and Feuerbach are 98 percent correct. Most of the time, we are manipulating God and religion to suit our own needs. But ... and this makes all the difference ... Nietzsche and FeuHUEDFK DUH SHUFHQW ZURQJ DQG LQ WKDW SHUFHQW *RG FDQ ÂżQG WKH VSDFH WR Ă€RZ SXUHO\ LQWR RXU OLYHV DQG UHOLJLRQ FDQ ÂżQG WKH VSDFH WR PHGLDWH God’s presence and truth in purity. Admittedly, human nature being what it is, we are forever unconVFLRXVO\ WU\LQJ WR ÂżW *RG WR RXU RZQ QHHGV :H GRQÂśW HDVLO\ RU QDWXrally let God put a rope around us and take us where we would rather not go. We want God, religion and truth, but on our own terms. &KXUFKZLVH ZH KDYH WKH VDPH SURFOLYLW\ &KXUFKHV WRR ÂżQG LW KDUG to let God put a rope around them and take them to places where they ZRXOG UDWKHU QRW JR +RZHYHU DW D FHUWDLQ WLPH *RG SXWV DQG HQG WR WKDW E\ SOXQJLQJ XV LQGLYLGXDOO\ DQG VRPHWLPHV DV ZKROH &KXUFK FRPmunities, into what the mystics call a “dark night of a soulâ€?. :KDW LV WKLV" What happens in a “dark night of the soulâ€? is that both our imaginations and our hearts are emptied and dried of all meaningful thoughts and feelings about God. We are driven to our knees in helplessness DQG ÂżQG RXUVHOYHV LQ D VWDWH ZKHUH DOO RXU HIIRUWV WR FDSWXUH *RG LQ RXU imaginations and in our feelings are futile. Try as we might, all of our former thoughts, feelings and securities about God, even our feelings about God’s very existence, are now empty and dry and no longer able to serve us. We are left, at the level of thought and affectivity, feeling like an atheist or an agnostic. %XW DV *HUPDQ 5HIRUPHG WKHRORJLDQ -XUJHQ 0ROWPDQQ SXWV LW RXU faith begins at the exact point where atheists think it must end, in the taste of nothingness, in emptiness, in darkness, and in the complete powerless to imagine God’s existence or affectively sense God’s presence. ,Q WKDW HPSWLQHVV DQG SRZHUOHVVQHVV *RG FDQ ÂżQDOO\ EHJLQ WR Ă€RZ into our lives purely, untainted, unaffected by our own needs, expectations, and imaginative constructs. Our very emptiness, dryness, and imaginative and affective impotence are what render us incapable of PDQLSXODWLQJ *RG :H DUH WRR ZHDN WR WDLQW WKH LQĂ€RZ RI *RG LQWR RXU lives. Real faith and real religion begin there. When we are completely down-and-out in terms of our own faith DQG UHOLJLRXV VHFXULWLHV *RG FDQ ÂżQDOO\ EHJLQ WR PRXOG XV LQ +LV LPDJH DQG OLNHQHVV DQG Ă€RZ LQWR RXU OLYHV SXUH DQG XQWDLQWHG „

COMMENTARY 19

Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

Obama ‘dismays’ US Catholics Editorial in Nashville diocese’s newspaper accuses US administration of hostility to Catholic values AFTER President Barack Obama was elected in 2008, the Catholic bishops of the United States applauded the historic nature of the HOHFWLRQ RI WKH ¿UVW $IULFDQ $PHUican as president while at the same time expressing fear that the new president would pursue an aggressive pro-abortion agenda as part of efforts to reform the nation’s health care system. Despite protestations from the president and his administration, it’s becoming ever clearer that that is exactly what is happening. But it’s not just on life issues that the president is so out of step with Catholic teaching. On immigration reform, protecting the poor and vulnerable from carrying the burden of the recently enacted budget cuts, and defending the integrity of marriage, the president has done little to nothing. For all those Catholics who convinced themselves to vote for Obama despite his aggressive pro-choice positions because they believed that on balance he would pursue policies that would protect the poor, improve access to health care for all, bring sanity to the country’s immigration system, WKH ¿UVW WKUHH \HDUV RI WKLV DGPLQistration must be more than disappointing. Viewed through the lens of the full breadth of Catholic social teaching, this administration must be seen as a disaster. In fact, its positions have been openly and aggressively hostile to our values. Funding abortion Choices that the administration made during the health care reform debate forced the bishops to oppose an initiative – making the health care system more fair,

&16 ¿OH SKRWR

On immigration ‘reform, protecting the poor and defending the integrity of marriage, the president has done little to nothing.

’

PRUH MXVW DQG PRUH HI¿FLHQW ± WKDW they had been working toward for decades. Instead, they felt compelled to speak against a bill that forced American taxpayers to pay for health insurance policies that will fund abortions and other procedures that violate the dignity of life. Some argued that the bishops had it all wrong, but recent developments have made it abundantly clear the bishops’ concerns were more than legitimate. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), as part of the health reform act, has implemented rules requiring that all insurance policies must provide coverage for a variety of preventive services, at no cost to the patient, including contraceptives and surgical sterilisation. ++6 RI¿FLDOV SRLQWHG WR FODXVes in their mandate that would provide conscience protections for religious agencies who believe such services are immoral. But a closer look at the conscience protections reveal they

DUH VR QDUURZO\ GH¿QHG WKDW WKH\ would not apply to Catholic hospitals, schools and social service agencies. “Under the new rule our institutions would be free to act in accord with Catholic teaching on life and procreation only if they were to stop hiring and serving non-Catholics,” said Cardinal Daniel N DiNardo of GalvestonHouston, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “Could the federal government possibly intend to pressure Catholic institutions to cease providing health care, education and charitable services to the gen-

eral public?” Cardinal DiNardo asked. Apparently, the answer is a resounding yes. Poor hit hard In the recent budget and debt-ceiling debates, the bishops urged the president and Congress not to pass budget cuts that would hit hardest the poorest and most vulnerable. But, eager to make a deal, the president and the majority of Congress ignored the bishops’ pleas and passed a plan that will lead to cuts in programmes that help those who need it most. Even some in the president’s own party objected to the deal as inadequate and unfair.

On same-sex marriage, the president has stood silent while courts and state legislatures renGHU WKH GH¿QLWLRQ RI PDUULDJH meaningless. There have been promises of needed reforms to the immigration system; something the Catholic Church has vigorously supported for years, yet no action. The Obama administration has turned on the spigot of federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research, again ignoring the sanctity of life by engaging in research WKDW VDFUL¿FHV OLYHV XQQHFHVVDULO\ and immorally. Some might argue that the president’s political opposition has blocked his efforts to pursue some of the legislation and policies that hew more closely to Church teachings. But others might ask where has the president’s soaring rhetoric been when it comes to so many issues that are vital not only to the Church but to the entire country? Is it that he has lost his renowned power of persuasion or that he KDV QR LQWHUHVW LQ ¿JKWLQJ IRU WKH things Catholics believe are so important? If he has no interest, then those Catholic voters who ignored his clear position on life issues and put faith in the rhetoric of his campaign trail stump speech were simply duped. CNS

20 COMMENTARY

B

Y NOW, you’ve probably heard about the death of British soul singer Amy Winehouse. Winehouse’s second album, Back to Black, captured the attention of everyone who listened to it because of its originality and WKH VKHHU WHFKQLFDO SUR¿FLHQF\ RI Winehouse’s singing. Outside of music, though, Winehouse’s life was a raucous, downward spiral as she made attempt after attempt to get off drugs and alcohol. Winehouse tried rehabilitation, but, in the end, she always ran back to the bottle, making tabloid headlines about her destructive habits, her run-ins with the law, and performances where she could hardly stand. It’s a horrible, sad story to lose someone with such incredible potential at such a young age and for such a stupid reason. Police suspect that Winehouse’s death was “violent or suspicious”. An investigation into her death is being closed until Oct 26. Toxicology test results are expected by the end of August. With her death at 27, Winehouse joins the list of performers who succumbed to drug and alcohol addiction at a young age. Among them: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain. Each had D PDMRU LQÀXHQFH RQ PRGHUQ URFN Looking back on these artistes, you’d have to wonder what kind of music they would have made at 30 or even 40. Some teens talk about the “recreational” consumption of drugs and alcohol as if it’s something that can be stopped as easily as quitting playing soccer or driving to the shopping mall.

Winehouse’s life – and death – is proof that it’s not. Doing drugs and drinking alcohol is a serious matter. Many addicts intend to stop, but the addiction is soon out of their control. The substances alter their brain chemistry, causing users to crave cocaine, meth or liquor like they crave food and water. Still, you may look at Amy Winehouse and say, “That will never happen to me.” But it can. Perhaps you’ll start small. You’ll have a beer or two at a party, then it becomes four beers, ¿YH DQG <RXU JUDGHV DQG IDPily life will be affected. And throughout all of this, you’ll think that it can’t happen to you – when it will be happening to you already. You don’t have to be a famous rock star to end up dead from substance abuse. As many as 5,000 SHRSOH XQGHU WKH DJH RI GLH from alcohol-related circumstances every year, according to the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Recent MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) done by California researchers on teens who drank showed less brain activity. Drinking alcohol seriously affected young drinkers’ ability to concentrate, remember facts, play sports and even use a road map. How many have to die young before people realise that indulgence in drugs and excessive alcohol consumption just isn’t worth it? How many more talented future singers, engineers, architects and athletes are going to be permanently harmed by drugs and alcohol? How many more times are people going to have to wonder what might have been? Will people wonder this about you? CNS

Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

FAITH ALIVE! 21

Sunday August 28, 2011 CatholicNews

Making visible the invisible By Anne Lim Have you ever awakened to the call of birdsong? It is certainly a lot more pleasant than the insistent ringing of an alarm clock. Birds sing at daybreak because trees give off oxygen just before dawn, and this wakes up the birds and makes them sing! And naturally, of course, the sun appears with its great gift of light and warmth to give us all a wakeup call. If only more people paid attention to the signs of Creation. Instead, we live in a society that is like the proverbial “blissfully ignorant” frog, is content to sit in a pot of water, oblivious to WKH IDFW WKDW EHQHDWK LW LV D ÀDPH heating up the pot ever so slowly until it reaches boiling point, when it is too late. There is hope however, if we remember another frog proverb: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives.” Which frog do we want to be? The choice is a no-brainer.

Within milliseconds, the trigger sends a “get-out-of-my-way!” signal and the threat is perceived. What about the signs of climate change? How is it we are quick only to adopt the attitude that “what we don’t see and don’t know does not matter”? Unless we get hit by a tsunami or have our island disappear under our feet, we are so like the frog in the pot! Unfortunately, “ecological changes that signal impending danger are too subtle to register in our sensory systems at all”, says Goleman. The author quotes Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert saying that changes that happen gradually are barely noticed. Hence, “we accept things we would not allow if they happened suddenly”. “The impurity of our air, our water, our food, has increased dramatically in our lifetimes, but it happened one day at a time, transforming our world into an ecological nightmare that our grandparents never would have tolerated.”

impurity ‘ofThe our air, our water, our food, has increased dramatically in our lifetimes, but it happened one day at a time.

’

Sadly, old habits die hard. For example, some people refuse to change their unhealthy diet and lifestyle until illness strikes. Even when confronted with overwhelming symptoms and signs – such as high blood pressure and shortness of breath, HDUWKTXDNHV DQG ÀRRGV ± ZH KXmans tend to ignore, and even deny that such problems exist and need to be dealt with. In his book, Ecological Intelligence, Daniel Goleman (who also wrote about Emotional Intelligence) explains that our human brain is not particularly wired to respond to ecological dangers. “Our brain has been exquisitely tuned to notice changes in light, sound, pressure, and the like within a narrow range – the zone of perception that tigers and reckless drivers come in.” In other words, if a tiger appears or a reckless driver cuts into our path, our brains will immediately sense danger and respond.

Goleman adds to survive today, “we must perceive threats that are beyond our thresholds for perception. We must make the invisible visible”. As consumers, we have become indifferent to the consequences of our actions – what we buy and what we do. It is time now to ditch our unexamined habits of consumption. We can no longer pretend not to know that 80 percent of the world’s resources are consumed by 20 percent of the world’s population. For us Christians, the way of Christ, the Word incarnate, is our only way. To live more simply and more naturally, to hunger less for the excessive comforts of modern existence, and to do so out of love for the poor and respect for Creation is to know true peace in all our relationships – with God, Man, and all of Creation. The writer is a parishioner of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a special interest in Creation Spirituality.

22 FEATURE

Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Teens likely to adapt quickly to new missal, say catechists &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

By Carol Zimmermann

Âľ7HHQV DUH QRW DV ZHGGHG WR WUDGLWLRQ ,Q WRGD\ÂśV FXOWXUH HYHU\WKLQJ LV DOZD\V FKDQJLQJ 1HZ LV QRW VRPHWKLQJ WKH\ÂśUH DIUDLG RI Âś

WASHINGTON – Although the

phrase “consubstantial with the Fatherâ€? might not roll off the tongues RI &DWKROLF \RXWKV &KXUFK RIÂżcials and catechists hope its meaning will sink in when it is said in the Nicene Creed later this year. “Consubstantialâ€?, which means “of the same essenceâ€?, is closer to the creed’s original Latin and Greek text and basically holds more theological punch than “one in being with the Fatherâ€?, the phrase it replaces. It is one of several changes in Mass responses that are part of the revised edition of the Roman Missal to be implemented in Catholic churches on Nov 27. Âł&RQVXEVWDQWLDO´ UHĂ€HFWV WKH “language of theology, the language the ancient Church Fathers carefully constructedâ€? to explain “the P\VWHU\ RI &KULVWÂśV GLYLQLW\´ 86 priest Father John Terry explained LQ D -XO\ 6XQGD\ EXOOHWLQ That sense of mystery and transcendence of God – or recognising that God is beyond human perception – is something children and teens should pick up from the revised missal said Ms Maureen Kelly, who has written books on the Mass changes for children and teens. The wording in the new missal “brings in more of a sense of transcendence, which young people haven’t experiencedâ€?, she said. The American author said children and teenagers already get the sense that God is close to them and a part of their personal lives,

– Fr Richard Hilgartner, executive director of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat on Divine Worship

which catechists describe as God’s immanence. “The challenge is to achieve the balance of immanence and transcendence,â€? she said. In her books and in workshops she leads, preparing catechists to teach the new missal, she stresses that young people need to understand the scriptural context for the new responses in the Mass. Fr Richard Hilgartner, execuWLYH GLUHFWRU RI WKH 86 &RQIHUHQFH RI &DWKROLF %LVKRSVÂś 6HFUHWDULDW on Divine Worship, is convinced the new words would not be a problem for teenagers and suspects they will catch on faster than

the rest of the Catholic population. He frequently tells parish leaders that young people “hold one of the keys to helping implement this. For one thing, they are not as wedded to tradition. In today’s culture everything is always changing. New is not something they’re afraid ofâ€?. But just picking up new expressions is one thing; getting the new rhythm of the Mass responses is another challenge and a particular one for young people, he said, EHFDXVH LW GRHV QRW Ă€RZ ZLWK WKHLU natural way of communicating. Teenagers are accustomed to

everything in shorthand, like abbreviated text messages and 140-character tweets, he said, which is completely different from the communication and language of prayer. “Prayer is not just about getting a message across in as few words as possible. Prayer is about creating a relationship,� he said. And the liturgy itself has its own language: “one where catechesis helps people understand� what is happening. That’s where religious education classes and parish workshops come in. Ms Kelly said the new missal has provided an opportune

teaching moment because it gives people of all ages the chance to review the whole Mass. Ms Lisa Garcia, resource director for Life Teen, the Arizonabased national programme for Catholic teenagers, agreed. 6KH WKLQNV WHHQDJHUV ZLOO QRW have a problem with the changes, noting that “change isn’t as dramatic� for them and that they will likely appreciate how the new missal links them with the Universal Church. The key is explaining the “why behind it�, helping teens FRQQHFW 6FULSWXUHV DQG WKH 0DVV responses, and also getting them to understand that “words we say matter and words we say collectively have power�. If that message gets across, she said, then “come November 27, they might be the ones who know it and can lead the way�. „ CNS

Introducing new Mass text to young US adults WASHINGTON – Mr Todd WilOLDPVRQ GLUHFWRU RI WKH 2IÂżFH IRU Divine Worship in Chicago archdiocese, has a pretty tight schedule from now until Nov 27. He’s making sure Chicago Catholics are prepared for the new responses to be used in the Mass HIIHFWLYH IURP WKH ÂżUVW 6XQGD\ RI Advent, when the third edition of the Roman Missal is implemented in Catholic parishes in Englishspeaking countries. Lately he has been introducing the new missal to Chicago’s Catholic young adults in the relaxed setting of sessions called Theology on Tap. The informal gatherings are primarily held in parish halls, and food is often served. The age group has reacted to the upcoming changes much like the overall Catholic population, Mr Williamson said, noting that their response “runs the gamutâ€? of those who understand and agree completely with the upcoming

changes and others who think the new missal will only make people feel more distant from the Church. Despite the mixed reaction, Mr Williamson keeps on an even keel. “This is just me,â€? he said, “but I have trouble believing this will drive people away. I have more faith that Catholics aren’t that shallow; plus if they see it and get the context that helps,â€? he told &DWKROLF 1HZV 6HUYLFH He likens some of the missal anxiety to the Y2K fears that ended up being unfounded. But he also knows there are hurdles to get over in the initial awkwardness in reciting unfamiliar responses. Young adult Catholics in particular are somewhat at a disadvantage, he said, because they have never faced major changes to the Mass. Previous generations have “a starting pointâ€? with the 6HFRQG 9DWLFDQ &RXQFLOÂśV GUDPDW-

The new English translation of the Roman Missal

ic changes to Mass – going from Latin to English, he said. This age group, just like eveU\RQH HOVH KH VDLG ZLOO EHQHÂżW from getting the context of these changes, especially those that are FORVHO\ OLQNHG WR WKH 6FULSWXUHV Just “breaking open the texts,â€? as he puts it, is a perfect teaching moment where he hopes to help people make connections between WKH 6FULSWXUHV DQG WKHLU RZQ OLYHV He uses the example of the

familiar response, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed,â€? which will be changed to “Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healedâ€?, which more FOHDUO\ UHĂ€HFWV -HVXVÂś HQFRXQWHU with the centurion in Matthew’s Gospel. He is sure that Catholics will be able to say that response along

with “and with your spiritâ€? instead of “and also with youâ€?, and also understand that the revised phrases hold deeper meaning. As he explains these changes to all age groups he emphasises the need to be receptive to this transition. In a blog entry for the Chicago archdiocese, he said a “balanced perspective on the English translation is vital to its reception and implementation. Being able to see what it is, and to understand how it FDPH WR EH DQG KRZ LW ÂżWV LQ ZLWK the liturgical renewal of the last 45plus years has been tremendously helpful for those who seek to understand the context of the third edition of the Roman Missalâ€?. He said this approach certainly will not “cure any and all anxieties or concernsâ€? but should help Catholics understand why these changes are taking place, which he said is “probably the biggest hurdle to overcomeâ€?. „ CNS

Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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Sunday August 28, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

St Aidan

St Aidan (d. 651) is believed to have been a disciple of St Senan on Scattery Island, off the coast of Ireland, and he later became a monk. Little more than that is known of his childhood or youth. He made a good impression on King Oswald, who rewarded him with an episcopal seat on the small island of Lindisfarne. Even though Aidan was given valuable gifts by the king and other rich patrons of his religious work, he did not want them for himself. Instead, he gave them to the poor. When he was invited to dinner with the king, he brought other monks with him and left as soon as he could without seeming rude, in order to return to his vocational work. Aidan worked very hard to care for slaves and poor children throughout his lifetime. He died in an old castle that he used as a mission centre. We honour him Aug. 31. „

Bible Accent: THE Bible is the most important spiritual record that we have. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s body�. To venerate means to show a deep respect and reverence for someone or something, in this case, the Bible. Although the books of the Bible were written and put in a particular order by men, the catechism tells us that the Scriptures were “written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit�. The Bible is an important part of our Mass as well. At every service we hear readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and one of the Gospels. Often parts of the Psalms are included as chants or refrains. We can show that we understand the importance of the Bible by reading it every day. „

but as human beings do.â€? Then Jesus said to all of His disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my VDNH ZLOO ÂżQG LW ´ „ Read more about it: Matthew 16 Q&A 1. Who did Peter say Jesus was? 2. What did Jesus say would happen to him in Jerusalem?

WORDSEARCH z Disciples z Forgotten z Leaven z Pharisees z Sadducees z Faith z Bread z Teaching z Caesarea z Philippi z Blessed z Simon z Messiah

Bible Trivia: :KLFK DSRVWOH LV FRQVLGHUHG WR EH WKH ÂżUVW SRSH RI WKH FKXUFK" PUZZLE Using the words from the list, write the letter that describes the relationship of the people in the questions. 1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)

a. sisters

2. Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)

b. enemies

3. Nun and Joshua (Joshua 6)

c. husband and wife

4. David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

d. father and son

5. Peter and Judas (Matthew 10)

e. missionaries

6. Saul (Paul) and Barnabas (Acts 12) f. brothers 7. Mary and Martha (Luke 10)

g. apostles

Answers to Wordsearch:

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

salem. He would be brought before the elders, the chief priests and the scribes. Then He would be killed by them but He would rise again on the third day after. Peter was upset about the new things that Jesus was saying. “God forbid, Lord!� he said to Jesus privately. “No such thing shall ever happen to you.� But Jesus was angry with Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does,

Answer for Bible Trivia: Peter.

Jesus was alone with his disciples when they realised they had forgotten to bring any bread with them. When they told this to Jesus, He said, “Look out, and beware the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.� The disciples did not understand what Jesus meant, so they thought He had said it because they had forgotten the bread. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “You of little faith, why do you conclude among yourselves that it is because you have no bread? ... How do you not comprehend that I was not speaking to you about bread?� Then His disciples realised he was referring to the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Later, when Jesus was with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi when He asked them, “Who do people say

that the Son of Man is?â€? And they answered Him, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.â€? “But who do you say that I am?â€? Jesus asked. Peter quickly said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.â€? “Blessed are you, Simon son of -RQDK ´ -HVXV VDLG WR KLP Âł)RU Ă€HVK and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.â€? Jesus also directed His disciples not tell anyone else he was the Messiah. After that discussion with His friends, Jesus started telling them that soon He would have to go through a time of suffering in Jeru-

Answers to Puzzle: 1.c, 2.f, 3.d, 4.b, 5.g, 6.e, 7.a.

By Joe Sarnicola

WHAT’S ON 25

Sunday August 28, 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 EVERY FRIDAY – MY FAITH 7.30-8.30pm: Go beyond RCIA. In-depth Catholic teachings. Sessions with Victor and Vivienne Wee. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room 03-02) Tuesdays, August 16 to November 22 JOHN’S GOSPEL & EPISTLES 9.30am-11.30am or 7.45pm-9.45pm: By Fr Ambrose Vaz. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Rd). Register T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org Mondays August 22 to October 24 REBUILDING AND DISCOVERY SUPPORT GROUP 7-9pm: The group aims to empower hurt individuals to move on after experiencing a relationship break-up or loss. Open to members and non-members. A meeting with our counsellor is necessary for nonmembers. Cost: $50 (members), $120 (non-members). At Blessed Sacrament Church Damien Centre Level 3(1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org Tuesdays August 23 to November 7 LANDINGS 8-10pm: 10-week welcoming programme for “returningâ€? Catholics as well as for those who wish to renew and share their faith experience. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 9750 3998 (Steven), 9668 2391 (Lilian); E: landings@bsc.org.sg August 26 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS 8-9.30pm: From the tabernacle, Jesus says, “Come, stay with Me.â€? With rosary, VFULSWXUDO UHĂ€HFWLRQ DGRUDWLRQ DQG Benediction. By Generation CHRIST! Ministry. At Church of St Ignatius (St Francis Xavier, Kingsmead Hall). E: gen.christ.ministry@gmail.com August 26 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR CHILDREN 7.45-8.45pm: Dedicated to helping children live in the spirit of adoration and leading them into the mystery of Jesus’ real presence in the Blessed Sacrament. If the child wishes to play a musical instrument during adoration, please play for the Lord. All children, parents, catechists are welcome. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room A3-02). E: childreneucharisticadora@gmail.com August 27 to September 17 DISTRICT TRAINING FOR MUSIC OF THE NEW ROMAN MISSAL Aug 27: 10am-noon for West District (at Church of Sts Peter and Paul). Sep 3: 10 am-noon for City and East Districts (at Church of Sts Peter and Paul). Sep 9: 8-10pm for Serangoon District (at Church of St Francis Xavier). Sep 17: 10am-noon for North District (at Church of the Holy Spirit). Training meant for anyone involved in making music for the Mass. Choirs are free to bring all their members for these sessions. They may go for any of the four sessions. By Liturgical Music Committee. E: jennifer.anthoney@gmail.com August 27 TEACHERS’ DAY CELEBRATION 3-6pm: Eucharistic celebration followed by reception. By Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools. At SJI International (490 Thomson Rd). T: 6858 7080; E: accs@catholic.org.sg August 27 EAST DISTRICT YOUTH RALLY: ROOTED IN CHRIST 6.30-10pm: Biennial East District Youth Day 2011. Theme: Rooted in Christ. Join the East District youth ministries in the celebration of Mass. Ages 15-35 welcome. Open to non-East District Catholics too. At Church of Divine Mercy (19 Pasir Ris St 72). E: contact@edyd. org; W: http://www.edyd.org/register.html August 28 CATHOLIC SINGLES MEET UP FOR MASS AND LUNCH 10am: Meet at church canteen at St Joseph Church (Victoria St) for Mass followed by fellowship over a Penang lunch. E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com Tuesdays, September 1 to October 11 THE PERSONAL COMPASS: NAVIGATING ETHICAL AMBIGUITY 7.30-9.30pm: Module: The Ethics of

RCIY/RCIA

Vincent de Paul. Register E: sojourners@ catholic.org.sg; W: http://www.catholic. org.sg/sojourners

A journey in faith for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors.

September 12 to 16 SYNOPTICS & JOHN’S GOSPELS IN SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP 7-9.30pm: Discover through the Gospels, how Jesus, the master spiritual director, journeyed with others. By Fr Anto Vattachuzy, CMI. At Good Shepherd Oasis (790 Thomson Rd). E: ldt@gsosingapore.org

Fridays from September 2 MANDARIN RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER & PAUL 7.30-9.30pm: At 225A Queen St. T: 6337 2585 Social Justice and the Environment by Fr David Garcia. By Wonderfully Made. Cost: $80, $70 (register by Aug 23). At CWS Auditorium (55 Waterloo St 8th Floor). T: 6858 7012 (Janice); E: janice@catholicspi.org , W: http://www. wonderfully-made.org/PCC4.pdf September 3 to 11 EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS: FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE 6-10pm (Weekdays), 9am-8pm (Weekends): The artists from Heartspace @St.Mary’s invite you to share their faith journeys through their paintings which they have created in the Open Studio in the church. Proceeds from sale of artworks go to the church maintenance fund. At Church of St Mary of the Angels St Clare Hall (Level 2). E: jo@joannatan.com September 14 CHRISTIAN MEDITATION FOR THE BUSY EXECTUVIE 6.30-9.30pm: Join us for an evening of meditation by Peter Ng Kok Song, National Co-ordinator for Singapore, The World Community for Christian Meditation. By Catholic Business Network. At SCWO Centre Training Room 1 (96 Waterloo St). Register T: 9686 2107 (Terry); E: ed@cbn-singapore.com September 2 to 8 DISCIPLESHIP AS EXPERIENCED IN LUKE’S GOSPEL Live-in retreat by Fr Anto Vattachuzy, CMI. At Good Shepherd Oasis (790 Thomson Rd). E: ldt@gsosingapore.org September 8 to 11 PARISH RENEWAL EXPERIENCE Sep 8-9 7.30-10pm, Sep 10-11 1.30-10pm: Rediscover what it means to be a Catholic. Feel the power of the weekend conversion experience. Recharge, reinvigorate your spiritual life. At Church of the Risen Christ. Register T: 9843 6494 (John Bosco); E: jbosco160860@yahoo.com September 9 to 11 BEGINNING EXPERIENCE (BE) WEEKEND A weekend away for a lifetime of change for the widowed, divorced or separated. Work through the grief and put the past EHKLQG EH KHDOHG ¿QG QHZ KRSH LQ life, and be free to love oneself, God and others. At Lifesprings Spirituality Centre (100 Jalan Merbok). T: 9661 8089 (Joseph), 9828 5162 (Jean), 9647 9122 (Sue); E: josephchew@ippfa.com September 10 CATHOLIC SINGLES’ JB DAY TRIP 9am-6pm: JB one day shopping and food trip. For fellowship and friendship. Meeting point at Woodlands MRT McDonalds. E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com September 10 HUMANITARIAN FORUM & FAIR 2011 3-9.30pm: Eager to learn about Catholic humanitarian work abroad? Meet leaders of international Catholic NGOs and Singapore Catholic groups volunteering overseas. Find out how you can get involved. Dinner features cuisine from 9 Asian countries. Cost: $25 (adults), $10 (students). By CHARIS. At CJC Performing Arts Centre. T: 6338 0182; E: hff@charis-singapore.org; W: http://www.charis-singapore.org/hff/ September 10 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8-9.30pm: All welcome. At Armenian Church of St Gregory (60 Hill Street). For information on Taize visit http://www. taize.fr/en_article9687.html. E: bennycah@gmail.com Sunday September 11 to Saturday September 17 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER@ CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Learn to listen to God through Scriptures. Taster afternoon on Sunday to introduce Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina prayer methods and to meet prayer guide. 30 minutes personal prayer time and 30 minutes meeting with prayer guide from Monday to Friday in church. Closing session on Saturday. At Church of St

September 16 to 18 CONTEMPLATION TO ATTAIN DIVINE LOVE: A DIRECTED RETREAT 8pm (Fri) – 6pm (Sun): Delve prayerfully into the great gifts you have received from God: creation, redemption, and personal gifts, and wonder at how God works in them. By CISC spiritual directors. Cost: $70 (non-aircon); $120(aircon). At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 64676072; F: 64687584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com September 24 UNDERSTANDING PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA 9am-12.30pm: Psychological trauma can affect a person for years. Following events such as violence, accidents and betrayals, the human mind reacts in a way to protect the person. Dr Christopher Cheok will discuss the nature of traumatic memories, post traumatic stress disorder and how to overcome them. Cost: $10. By Clarity Singapore. At National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, MPH 1 (6 Eu Tong Sen Street #04-88 The Central). T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org September 24 NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP 10am-4pm: Non-violent communication workshop by Sr Rosalia Yeo, FDCC. At Lifesprings Spirituality Centre (100 Jalan Merbok). T: 6466 2178; E: lifsprng@ singnet.com.sg September 24 CATHOLIC REVIVAL: BE ROOTED AND CONTINUALLY BUILT UP IN JESUS 5-9pm: Praise & worship, adoration, and teaching by Rev Benny Phang O’Carm. Helping young Catholics live a life inspired by Jesus’ teaching and commandments. By Indonesia Charismatic Prayer Group. At Catholic Junior College (129 Whitley Rd). T: 9389 7245 (Ronald), 8112 1457 (Ira) September 30 to October 2 DIRECTED RETREAT FOR MEN 8pm (Fri) – 6pm (Sun): Live-in retreat for men to experience God through meditation/contemplation on masculine holy models in the Bible, such as God the Father, Jesus Christ, Abraham, and St Joseph. Retreat directors: Jesuit Frs Paul Goh, Ponnudurai and Leslie Raj. Cost: $70 (non-aircon); $120 (aircon). At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 64676072; F: 64687584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com September 30 ST ANTHONY CONVENT CLASS OF 1961 50TH ANNIVERSARY 12-2.30pm: Lunch buffet celebration. At Fairmont Hotel Plaza Market Place. T: 9843 2845 (Linda); E: chewkhajee@hotmail.com October 1 FINDING GOD IN YOUR WRITING 9.30am-5pm: Full-day workshop to help you write your sacred story. Through writing exercises and other activities, you will explore and express your inmost thoughts and feelings, and gain a deeper understanding of self, relationship with others and with God. No writing experience required. Facilitated by Roselie Chia, trained writing group leader. Cost: $80 (with lunch). At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com October 7 to 9 VOCATION WEEKEND RETREAT 6pm (Fri) – 6pm (Sun): Live-in retreat for young men. What are you in search of? Is the Lord inviting you to consider the Jesuits? Come and see. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 64676072; F: 64687584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com October 14-17 SERVANT LEADERSHIP SEMINAR 9.30am-4.30pm Come and learn from Sr Inigo, a Franciscan Sister from India on what it takes to be a “servant� leader. Organised by Secular Franciscan Order. Cost: $120. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Rd). Register by Sep 15. T: 9397 2487 (Mona); E: sfo_maryclaire@hotmail.com

YOUNG MAN TRIES ON WORLD YOUTH DAY T-SHIRT: World Youth Day pilgrim Michael Rybar from Slovakia sizes his T-shirt on Aug 15 during check-in for the international Catholic youth gathering in Madrid. CNS photo

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Sunday August 28, 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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