JANUARY 13, 2013, Vol 63, No 01

Page 1

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JANUARY 13, 2013

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20

MCI (P) 023/01/2013

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

VOL 63

NO. 1

INSIDE HOME Filipino tradition a boon for many Simbang Gabi helps many feel a sense of home

Msgr William Goh, who has been appointed coadjutor archbishop, shares his dreams By Darren Boon “I feel humbled ‌ to assume this after it was announced that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed him Coadjutor Archbishop of Singapore. However, the rector of the St Francis Xavier Major Semi

has considered him “worthy to be an instrument to renew the faith of the people in Singapore, to give life, to give hope to The Vatican made the announcement of Msgr Goh’s appointment on Dec 29. As of press time, no date has yet been set for his episcopal ordination. A coadjutor archbishop assists the archbishop in the administration of the archdiocese, and has the right to succession upon the latter’s retirement, resignation or death. Under Canon Law, diocesan bishops are required to tender their resignation when they reach 75 years of age. Archbishop Nicholas Chia turns 75 in April. Msgr Goh told CatholicNews that as coadjutor archbishop, he would assist Archbishop Chia and “take whatever responsibilities he He also plans to take the time to study the issues involved in the administration of the archdiocese so that he would have concrete plans when he becomes archbishop. He is well aware of the enormous task before him. “I can say there’s a feeling of trepidation of the challenges ahead because I know the Church

This is due to increasing secularisation and relativism of the world, he explained. He shared that he took up the appointment because of “obedi “If God has chosen me, “I believe God knows what is best. He knows my limitations, my inadequacies, my imperfections but God will see me Msgr Goh, 55, said he looks forward to sharing with the faithful the charisms he feels he has been blessed with, such as min-

‘

God knows my limitations, my inadequacies, my imperfections, but He will see me through.

’

– Msgr William Goh

istering, teaching, preaching and organising. He also hopes to be a bishop who is “pastoral minded, to reach Msgr Goh said he plans to

spend the next few months understanding “the sentiments of !

Empowering and renewing the spiritual life of priests is important, and there needs to be greater unity among priests and Religious as they are the leaders of the Church, Msgr Goh pointed out. He also stressed the need to share in the responsibilities of teaching and evangelisation. His major area of concern is the new evangelisation, which is “what I think the Church really „ Continued on Page 8

Photo: CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY CENTRE/ DOMINIC WONG

„ Page 2

Prayers for US shooting victims IRO holds condolence event „ Page 3

Serving needy in neighbouring countries ACTS visits Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines „ Page 6

ASIA Chinese govt Standoff between Church, authorities in Hubei „ Page 8

Divorce to be legal in Philippines? Bill on the issue expected on Congress’ agenda „ Page 10

FAITH ALIVE! What the Magi tell us about Jesus „ Page 16

2 HOME

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Filipino tradition gives sense of home

The crowd which packed the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea on Dec 17.

By Martin See Thousands of Filipino Catho " # $ ! ! Masses held in 27 churches here in preparation for Christmas. These Masses, popular in the % # ! $

& ! ! ' ( nine days, starting on Dec 16 and ending on Christmas Eve. Here in Singapore, churches held these Masses in the evenings. ) * " + pino Catholics eager to practise their tradition in a foreign land. St Anne’s Church and the

Church of Our Lady Star of the $ # ises since 7 pm, an hour ahead of ! Ms Quesa Siano from the Church of Our Lady Star of $ / ; < =$ ! ! > % ? # %

* !

+ Christmas tradition, she said.

& $ !

@ !

K ! * completes the series of nine days, ! ? /

# at times although she has lived in $ * & ! * of unity among Filipinos ‌ it gives

‘The celebration gives a feeling of unity among Filipinos.’

The theme of this year’s Sim ! & K Y

Z !ute to the various titles of Our Lady on each night. & [ Masses on only one night, starting \ Masses on all nine nights. &

]

& ^ ! $ ! ! $ Anne’s Church, shared that af $ ! !

_ `(

z * The konting salo-salo, as the

&

K

#

/

Scheut Mission Fr Angel C Lu

$ ! !

/ ; others through the pilgrimage to !

* „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

– Ms Mary Joy Castillo, a Filipina

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Jan 13 11.00am Church of Sts Peter and Paul: Mass – Ordination to the Diaconate of Friar Bernard Wee OCD Jan 14 11.00am St Francis Xavier Major Seminary: Academic Opening Mass Jan 14-18 Johore, Majodi Centre: Catholic Bishops’ Conference

HOME 3

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Religious leaders pray for US school shooting victims By Darren Boon Why do the righteous suffer? Why do bad things happen to good people? US Ambassador to Singapore David Isaac Adelman asked these questions during an interfaith prayer cum condolence event for those affected by the shooting tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “Each religion represented here struggles with that very question,� said Mr Adelman, in his address during the Dec 21 event organised by the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) Singapore. Quoting from the Book of Job, he noted that at the end, Job was “rewarded for his unbroken faith and understanding that even in all of suffering, there is a greater lesson ultimately, a greater strength delivered in faith in God and religion�. “It is that strength and that faith that you all bring here today in support of all the children of the world and standing with Americans who are suffering especially those in that small town,� he said. Representatives of 10 religions – Hinduism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism and the Baha’i faith – attended the event. They held a minute of silence and prayed for the deceased and their families. Canossian Sr Theresa Seow and other Catholic Religious also participated in the event. Mr Adelman thanked the IRO for its efforts “in bringing us together today and continuing to bring us together as a community here in Singapore with interreligious and multi-faith communities all over the world�. The ceremony saw four primary school pupils from CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel present drawings

IRO president Sr Maria Lau speaking at the event.

US Ambassador David Isaac Adelman (back row, fourth from right) poses for a photo with religious representatives and CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel students at the end of the IRO condolence event.

to Mr Adelman as a form of condolence and support. Mr Adelman said he would have them passed to the affected community of Newtown. IRO president, Infant Jesus Sr Maria Lau, said in her address that in the face of the US school trag-

edy, “we turn to Almighty God, the Master of life and beg of Him to reach out in compassion to each bereaved family, to each pupil of the school and to the people of America especially�. “We beg in faith that He may

We turn to Almighty God and beg of Him to ‘ reach out in compassion to each bereaved family, to each pupil and to the people of America.’

– IRO president Sr Maria Lau

give them peace and comfort in this great loss. We pray too for the victims of this tragedy that they may rest in peace.� Sr Maria commended the ! * their lives to protect the children and invoked God’s blessings on them. “Such heroism inspires us. They embody the true human spirit,� she said. The nun also reiterated that reli-

gion is a force for good. “As people of religion, we constantly strive for peace. Recognising that there are people who make choices that may have a detrimental effect on others, it is imperative that the work to promote harmony and peaceful ways in society never ceases.� # " Y Masagos Mohamad, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the event. The Dec 14 shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, left 20 children and six teachers dead. The gunman’s mother was also shot and killed prior to the massacre. The gunman, Adam Lanza, later turned the weapon on himself. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

4 HOME

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Hong Kong singer shares faith story at concert Frances Yip sings selection of songs from her new Christian album at Queen of Peace Church By Darren Boon Hong Kong singer Frances Yip performed songs from her newly released Christian album and shared her Catholic faith with 800 people who packed the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace recently. The special concert, organised by Warner Music Singapore and Love Entertainment Group, was to coincide with the launch of ‹ < /

[

album, Grace and Glory Psalm 84. In between the nine songs she sang that evening, Yip, a breast cancer survivor, shared how angry she had felt towards God and others when she was diagnosed with the disease decades ago. She had asked God why she was stricken with it but was un ! $ later made a full recovery. Yip shared that it was through the trauma that she realised how she had never fully appreciated her blessings from God whenever she won accolades or awards. The experience helped her to reorganise her priorities in life, said the 65-year-old singer. She also shared that through prayer, her grandson, George, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour as an infant, was able to pull back from the brink of death. Yip, who has performed in Sin

`Œ�‡ cert with the popular hymn Christ Be Our Light, one of seven songs she sang from her new album. She also sang a number written by a relative for the singer’s grandson, as well as her hit song, Shanghai Beach, from the popular Hong Kong TV drama of the same name to passionate cheers and applause from the audience. After singing what was supposed to be her last song, O Holy Night, the enthusiastic audience

urged her back onstage for an encore. Mr Lim Seck, a member of the audience, told CatholicNews he found Yip’s sharing moving. “It’s a wonderful thing to do a Christian album,� he said, adding that it is something very much needed in the world. Another member of the audience, Ms Claudine Lee, said she enjoyed the concert tremendously. Grace and Glory Psalm 84 `‘ #

popular songs such as Amazing Grace, The Servant Song, You Are Mine, Canticle of the Sun, Ave Maria and Hail Redeemer King Divine.

Yip, a breast cancer survivor, shared that the trauma helped her to realise how she had not fully appreciated her blessings from God. _ � According to Warner Music Singapore’s press release, the songs were written by different `ˆ across six Christian denominations. The songs “embrace the whole saving message of God’s love for humankind and our faith and hope in Him�, says the release. Opening the evening’s concert was singer-songwriter Sarah Cheng-De Winne, a Christian, who performed four songs. Grace and Glory Psalm 84 is available at all good music stores. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Frances Yip sang numbers from her album, Grace and Glory Psalm 84, as well as her signature song, Shanghai Beach. Photo: ALAN LEE

Using her voice to ‘spread the word’ and to ‘comfort’ By Darren Boon Grace and Glory Psalm 84 is an expression of gratitude towards God, Hong Kong singer Frances Yip told CatholicNews in a phone interview. Her best friend from school days had asked for her help in a fundraising project to rebuild a school in the former’s parish in Vancouver. The friend had suggested Yip record a Christian album, something the singer had not done in her 40-year long career. “And I felt the timing was right because

* ties and God was very generous in helping

me to overcome [them] so I felt that it is time for an expression of gratitude,� Yip said. Yip was overjoyed at the birth of her ‡ˆˆ\ ‰ * later, her husband underwent two spinal operations and became immobile. He required therapy to walk again. & ‡ˆ`ˆ ! was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was not expected to survive. However, through prayers, the boy has survived to this day, said Yip. The songstress told CatholicNews that she and her friend chose the songs in the album themselves. Her favourite song in

the CD, which she produced, is Blessings as she could identify with it, said Yip. However, Yip admitted to having to do many takes when recording the track Ave Maria. “I’m not a soprano and that is quite

In the end, she opted for a more a contemporary approach. Yip, who was baptised as a Catholic at a young age, said her faith deepened when she attended a convent school. “My religious faith has always been a big comfort in times of some distress or when I feel lost,� she said. “I would pray and then when things go right, I would always pray and I would

thank God. So now I am grateful because <* 'Š nitely have got a gift – my voice. So I use that now to spread the word, give comfort to people.� Yip, who is currently based in Sydney, Australia, sings in a church choir there. She says she gets involved in Hong Kong diocese’s activities if she is invited to perform there. According to Yip, her Catholic faith gives her guidance. “And I think I am a happier and calmer person because of my faith.� „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

HOME 5

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

St Francis Xavier Youth Choir stages concert for Year of Faith By Darren Boon The Church of St Francis Xavier Youth Choir staged a choral concert on Dec 21 at SJI International School Chapel to celebrate the Year of Faith. Titled Heartbeat, the choir chose songs in line with the concert’s theme. & * < gramme focused on three aspects of the faith – Darkness to Light, Pain to Meaningful Acceptance, and Darkness to Life. Pieces such as Through the Darkness and The Prayer highlighted to the audience the light of Christ, while Antonio K < / ’ ‰ < Credo encouraged the audience to carry their crosses and persevere in the faith. Robert Delgado’s Prayer of St Francis and popular song, When You Believe, from the movie The Prince of Egypt, invited the audience to establish a deep faith. The second half of the concert focused on the infant Jesus. Christmas carols such as O Come O Come Emmanuel, Silent Night and Angels We Have Heard on High were picked to coincide with the Christmas season. The 200-strong audience also joined the choir in the carols. The choir which marked its 25th anniversary last year received a blessing from Archbishop Nicholas Chia who was in the audience. Its members are between 12 and 35 years old. The choir has won several awards in

from left), Archbishop Nicholas Chia and choirmaster Denis Leong (beside Archbishop Chia).

international competitions such as three Gold awards at the 4th World Choir Festival at St Petersburg, Russia, in 2010, emerging category winner in three categories. It also clinched a Gold award at the 2003 21st Century International Choral Festival – Voyage of Songs in Genting, Malaysia. It also performed at the 25th anniversary jubilee dinner of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore

and the Holy See and during the Memorial Mass for the seventh president of the International Olympic Committee during the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Meanwhile, the choir plans to use the money raised from the evening’s concert for an upcoming pilgrimage cum competition trip. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Two services to mark Week of Prayer for Christian Unity By Darren Boon There will be two services to mark this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which is celebrated from Jan 18 to 25. This year’s theme is What does God Require of Us? An international ecumenical service will be held on Jan 18 at 8 pm at Blessed Sacrament Church located in Commonwealth Drive. It will include praise and thanksgiving, a Liturgy of the Word followed by a homily, the recitation of the Nicene Creed, intercessory prayers and the Lord’s Prayer. The second service will be held in the Wesleyan Tradition on Jan 24 at 8 pm in Barker Road Methodist Church at 48 Barker Road. Rev Malcolm Tan, Pastor-in-Charge, told CatholicNews that the service will have a “Wesleyan twist by including Methodist hymns, relevant quotations from John Wesley and some historical references to enrich the programme already being followed by all�. Wesley was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. He is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, for founding the Methodist movement. Rev Tan added: “It will be a great opportunity to celebrate our common unity in Christ and learn about the Methodist tradition at the same time. Together, we will thank God for Jesus and for each other.� All are welcome to participate in both services. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

6 HOME

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

ACTS provides medical, educational services to needy Ms Mildred Longue, 89, has helped to pack CatholicNews for distribution for at least 40 years.

They served CatholicNews for decades By Martin See CatholicNews will miss the services of two of its longest serving volunteers, both in their 80s, who have been helping to pack the paper for distribution over at least four decades. Due to their advanced age, Ms Mildred Longue, 89, and another volunteer, who declined to be interviewed, will take a break from their service to the archdiocesan newspaper starting this month. They are both part of a team who have been faithfully coming to the Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (CAEC) to pack the paper every fortnight. Ms Longue, from the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, started her volunteer work with CatholicNews (CN) at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. She later helped pack the paper in a building beside the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, where CN was formerly located, before coming to the CAEC in 2000 when CN moved to the building on Highland Road. Ms Longue has also been helping to sell the paper at Novena Church with another team of volunteers on Saturdays from 7-11.30 am. CN volunteers sell the paper at the church in three shifts – in the

morning, afternoon and evening. Ms Longue, a mother of four, told CN she was baptised as an infant in St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St). She helped out in the canteen for about 10 years and presently attends monthly prayer group meetings at the church. She is also a choir member at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul and a member of its Funeral Fund Society. “I’m happy working for God ! * mind,� said Ms Longue. z #ing for CatholicNews as it keeps me busy. However I’m a bit sad now that I won’t be helping as I’ve been so used to it,� she added. CN’s managing editor Fr Johnson Fernandez said, “Several of them were helping in packing the ! z CatholicNews in the mid-80s. Some of them were doing this as part of the work of the Legion of Mary. “All these years I see their commitment and dedication. We have been truly blessed by their contribution,� he said, adding that he was “sad to see them go due to their age�. “For me they are the unsung heroes of our local media.� „ martin.see@catholic.org.sg

Ms Longue has also helped to sell CatholicNews with Novena Church volunteers (above) on Saturdays.

A member of missionary group A Call to Share (ACTS) interacts with kindergarten children in Battambang, Cambodia.

Members of missionary group A Call to Share (ACTS) visited Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines in November and December to serve the needy in these countries. From Dec 9-16, an ACTS team visited the Infant Jesus (IJ) Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, and three homes run by Salesian nuns at Pyin Oo Lwin, Anisakan and Chanthagon. The IJ Centre conducts courses for trainee teachers while the homes provide shelter and education to girls of various age groups. Apart from academic studies, the nuns also provide religious education and values formation to the girls, who come from poor families in various states. During their visit, the ACTS team conducted Catechesis of the Good Shepherd sessions and art activities for the teacher trainees and girls. Donations were also given to the homes. The team also met with the Catholic Medical Commission of Yangon to explore possibilities for future mission involvement. From Dec 8-16, 350 ACTS members visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and reached out to students at Don Bosco mission schools and needy people in an outlying village. The ACTS team comprised medical and dental students, trained doctors and dentists, students from the University of Western Australia, and parishioners from several Singapore churches. They tended to HIV patients,

z # from kindergarten to vocational

Singapore dentists providing dental treatment in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

level, packed gifts, and conducted restoration and painting work. A team of seven participants had earlier spent a week in Battambang, Cambodia, from Nov 11-17. The team of three Catholics and four non-Catholics shared motivational stories with the Cambodians, gave away goodie bags, taught modern dance and sang with kindergarten kids. The team also witnessed the blessing of a grotto by Msgr Enrique Figaredo, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang. The grotto was funded by a Singaporean couple and designed and supervised by four other Singaporeans. From Dec 2-9, 37 ACTS members visited Pampanga, north of Manila, to work with the indigenous Aetas villagers. While one group helped to paint a 180 sq-m community hall,

another group played games with students, and told stories and taught handicraft to elementary classes from the Aetas school. Food items, old clothing, used handbags, stationery and table lamps were given to families. In another trip to the Philippines, from Dec 11-14, 10 ACTS members conducted classes for business and electronics students from the Laura Vicuna Technological Centre in Manila and helped paint the school. ACTS is an initiative of the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Singapore. It began in 2007 when a group of parishioners z /

mas with others less fortunate. ACTS aims to share its experience of Christ and its skills and resources with needy people overseas. „

Sunday January 13, 2013 CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

7

8 ASIA

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

‘A brother to priests, father to laity’ BIODATA Msgr William Goh, who will turn 56 in June, attended Montfort School. He completed his seminary studies at the College General in Penang, Malaysia, and at St Francis Xavier Major Seminary (SFXMS) in Singapore. He was ordained on May 1, 1985, at the Church of the Holy Family. He was assistant priest at Church of the Holy Cross from 19851989 and parish priest of St Anne’s Church from 19921993. Msgr Goh studied in Rome from 1990-1992 and attained a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from goriana. Since 1992, Msgr Goh has been teaching Systematic Theology at SFXMS and has held different position there, such as Initiation Year Director, Dean of Studies, and Procurator. He became seminary rector in 2005. Msgr Goh was a member of the Theological Advisory Commission of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences from 1995-1999. His present appointments also include being a member in the Senate of Priests, a member in the Council of Consultors, and ! " "# Archdiocesan Vocation Team. He is also spiritual director of the Catholic Spirituality Centre (CSC), Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE), Jesus Youth and Amplify Ministry. At the time of interview, Msgr Goh said he still holds his current appointments until further advised by Archbishop Chia. „

Photo: CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY CENTRE

„ From Page 1

“We really need to re-evange

/

ing that many are lukewarm in their faith. ideas and zest of young people to help the Church grow and added that he intends to explore ways to evangelise through the media. In addition to examining more effective ways of catechising dren to help them have a personal /

he said.

importance of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. “What I hope for in my episcopacy is to be a brother to my priests and to be a father to the

! * ! [ evangelising Church. He also praised Archbishop Chia for his contributions to and initiatives for the archdiocese. “We are always building on the strengths and achievements ... * A statement released by the Archdiocese Communications — assist Archbishop Chia “in the entire governance of the diocese

Archbishop Nicholas Chia and Msgr William Goh at a reception at the Catholic Spirituality Centre.

and take his place if he is absent will succeed Archbishop Chia as Archbishop of Singapore when ! “We offer our fervent prayers # z

for having chosen Msgr William # accepting the responsibility of Coadjutor Archbishop of our Arch ) !

/ ? & * $)//’] “$ ) / /

’ • / ;

# ! ! Catholic faith.

$)//Â’]<

! derstanding and works well with & „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

WUHAN, CHINA – The provincial * ‰ ! / replaced two priests from Wuhan diocese with a government-selected management committee amid an escalating standoff between authorities and the Church in the province. During a confrontational _ `Š `( several nuns were escorted to the * ’ ) Y "

!

+ ? $ < was temporarily in charge of Wuhan diocese and who has de # together with another priest were dismissed from the governmentsanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association. The Board of Diocesan Con

! es said. The two priests were replaced ! * [ ! committee led by Fr Francis Cui ^ @

! the government. “No priests and nuns except Fr Cui were allowed to speak /

David. & _ `Š " ! authorities effectively overrules Church leaders in Wuhan who

Authorities overrule Wuhan Church leaders who wanted to allocate priests to parishes themselves. want to decide on the allocation of priests to parishes themselves. — ; * ‡Œ `Œ ‡Š priests in Wuhan held a meeting and drew up their own list of assignments and transfers between parishes. Some of the attending priests later received warnings from gov Church sources. & + $

!

plause from the congregation. Authorities again tried to ! #

by summoning priests to meetings individually in which they were told not to leave their parishes and head to their new appointments. + +

proceeded to Boquan church _ Π# ! *

Church sources said. They added that he was insulted and threatened. “Fr Wu had no choice but to return to [his previous posting at] the cathedral while his predeces + ? ‰ ˜ was not allowed to leave his par

_ * „ UCANEWS.COM

Pakistan campaign for violence victims KARACHI, PAKISTAN – The Archdiocese of Karachi during Christmas distributed relief funds to families whose principal breadwinners were killed during one of the city’s most violent years. The modest relief efforts ben * * ! (ˆ ˆˆˆ

“$”‘‡‘•

a larger programme that aims to provide jobs and education for families of victims. “It is very depressing that about 10 to 12 people die here on a daily basis [due to terrorism and sectarian violence]. “The Catholic Church will

continue helping the victims’ families in getting jobs and in school

) !

? / – the distribution of funds. ` �ˆˆ # to local media reports. „ UCANEWS.COM

Sunday January 13, 2013 CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

9

10 ASIA

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Divorce to be legal in Philippines? MANILA – Following the passage

of the controversial Reproductive Health Bill in the Philippines, its Congress is expected to rile the Catholic Church again with a divorce bill next on the agenda. Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr said on Dec 18 that the bill – which he said he supports – would be tackled this year, most likely after Congress reopens following the June elections. Aside from Vatican City, the Philippines is the only nation in the world not to have legalised divorce after Malta passed legislation in 2011. “Reality tells us that there are

Newly married couples kiss during a mass wedding ceremony at a church in Manila. A bill allowing divorce is expected to be on Congress’ agenda this year.

violence, but legally the husband and wife remain married and cannot remarry. The two women say that many couples, especially from marginalised sectors who have no access to the courts, simply end up separating !

Representative Rufus Rodriguez of the populist opposition party, Force of the Filipino Masses, an opponent of the Reproductive Health Bill, warned that the divorce proposal would further erode family values in the Philippines. “If we opposed the Reproductive Health Bill, we’re going

The government ‘has never been for the welfare of the family, women and children’. – Fr Melvin Castro, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life (right)

many failed, unhappy marriages across all Filipino classes,� say Ms Luzvviminda Ilagan and Ms Emerenciana de Jesus, the proponents of the bill. The only two elected members ! < % the bill in August 2010 as an amendment to the Family Code but it has since been stalled at committee stage by constitutional amendments. & ! * divorce including irreconcilable differences, de facto separation * for at least two years. Separation is permitted in the Philippines for reasons including

to oppose the divorce bill even more,� he said. Fr Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said the house speaker’s vocal support for the divorce bill showed “the true face� of the government. “It has never been for the welfare of the family, women and children,� said the priest. “I don’t wish to say we told you so but that very statement itself reveals that [the bill] is just the beginning of an entire series of anti-family and anti-life legislation.� „ UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 11

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Bishop urges White House to negotiate with Iran to prevent war WASHINGTON – The chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace called on the White House’s national security adviser to pursue negotiations with Iran on its nuclear research to head off the possibility of war. Bishop Richard E Pates of Des Moines, Iowa, called for “bold steps� to be considered “to counter this unfortunate and continually rising ride of aggressive posturing between our own nation and Iran� in a letter on Dec 18 to Mr Thomas E Donilon. Citing Pope Benedict XVI’s insistence on the need for dialogue and joint solutions to the Iranian situation, Bishop Pates urged Mr Donilon to undertake diplomacy rather than a preventive military strike that would likely lead to ! " dle East. “Preventing military action is paramount�, the bishop wrote. “A negotiated solution could provide a framework for resolving tensions.� Bishop Pates also cited paragraph 501 of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which explains that “engaging in preventive war without clear proof that an attack is imminent cannot fail to raise serious moral and juridical questions�. “A peaceful resolution will require direct, sustained negotiations over a considerable period

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (second from left) attends a ceremony unveiling new nuclear projects in Tehran last year. CNS photo

of time. It is the opinion of our committee that direct talks between the United States and Iran must begin soon, so as to prevent further escalation,� the letter said. The text of his letter was re ! !

< — Media Relations on Dec 19. Bishop Pates explained that any right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes in exchange for Iran’s commitment to limit such research “convincingly short of weaponsgrade potential� and must be con ! * ! He also said credible assuranc-

es must be provided to Iran by the international community, and the š$ action will be taken as long as Iran complies with treaty obligations. Finally, he said, Iran should be assured of access to international nuclear fuel-cycle services at market rates. “A diplomatic solution is preferable to military action which could have unpredictable and dramatic repercussions for the region. Such a solution would be highly advantageous to all and should be pursued with good faith and vigour,� the letter said. „

Church leaders want action in response to Newtown tragedy WASHINGTON – The chairmen of

three committees of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a joint statement on Dec 21 stressing the need for gun control, improved services for the mentally ill and a critical examination of the violence in today’s movies, videos and television shows. The statement was released in response to the Dec 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, that left 20 children, the principal and * The signatories were Bishop Stephen E Blaire of Stockton, California, Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Bishop John C Wester of Salt Lake City, Committee on Communications; and Bishop Kevin C Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. They noted that “guns are too easily accessible� and cited a 2006 ! Z < % Council for Justice and Peace that stressed the importance of enacting concrete controls on handguns and noted that “limiting the purchase of such arms would certainly not infringe on the rights of anyone�. They also reiterated some of what the US bishops said in a

2000 statement on “Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice�. The statement urged US legislators to support measures that arms and make guns safer. They also called on sensible regulations of handguns and limited access to assault weapons. The bishops also said legislators should confront the pervasive role of addiction and mental illness in crime. In responding to the Newtown tragedy, the bishops also urged ducers and video game creators, to recognise the extent of violence in movies, television programmes and video games, which they said have “desensitised all of us�. “We need to admit that the viewing and use of these products has negative emotional, psychological and spiritual effects on people,� they added, stressing that parents, guardians and youths need resources to “evaluate entertainment products intelligently�. The bishops said the tragic shooting also points to the need for society to “provide health services and support to those who have mental illnesses and to their families and caregivers�. „ CNS

Pope advances sainthood cause of Pope Paul VI VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI advanced the sainthood cause of Pope Paul VI by recognising the Italian pope as having lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way. During a meeting on Dec 20 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, the pope signed the decree approving the heroic virtues of Pope Paul VI, making him “venerable�. Before Pope % ! ! Z must recognise that a miracle has occurred through his intercession. Born Giovanni Battista Mon-

Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini) is pictured in an undated portrait from the Vatican. CNS photo

tini in 1897 in the northern Italian province of Brescia, Pope Paul VI is probably best remembered for seeing the Second Vatican Council through to its end and helping implement its far-reaching reforms. He is also well remembered as the author of Humanae Vitae,

`Œ‘\ / cial birth control is intrinsically

wrong, which became a focus of controversy and dissent. Amid the strains and pressures following Vatican II, he received the nickname the “Hamlet pope�, for his reportedly anguished decision-making and his evident suffering over problems of the Church. However, he was also remembered as a strong leader who decisively guided the Church through a time of crisis. „ CNS

Young people play music outside the funeral Mass for a shooting victim on Dec 21. CNS photo

12 WORLD

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Pope highlights ‘crimes against life’ in message Religious freedom, euthanasia, rich-poor gap dealt with in Pope Benedict XVI’s annual World Day of Peace message VATICAN CITY – True peacemakers defend

human life at every stage of its existence and promote the common good through their economic policies and activities, Pope Benedict XVI said. In his annual message for the World Day of Peace on Jan 1, Pope Benedict said attacks on human dignity and human rights – from abortion and euthanasia to limits on religious freedom, and from religious fanaticism to

œ mine efforts to bring peace to the world. The pope’s message was released on Dec 14 at a Vatican news conference led by Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the % / ? % While reiterating Catholic teaching about the sacredness of every human life and about the dangers of an unregulated free-market economy, the pope’s message explained those teachings as logical, natural principles needed for a life marked by dignity and peaceful coexistence. In fact, he said, some people may not even realise they are promoting a “false

* ing “the clever use of ambiguous expressions aimed at promoting a supposed right !

True peacemakers, the pope said, “are those who love, defend and promote human

“Anyone who loves peace cannot toler # Pope Benedict also said peacemakers need to take a new look at the importance of the traditional family in handing on the values that promote peace and in resolving problems and tensions that undermine peace. “The family is one of the indispensable social subjects for the achievement of a cul As part of his discussion on religious freedom, he insisted that governments recognise and uphold “the right to invoke the principle of conscientious objection in the face of laws or government measures that offend against human dignity, such as abor

$ * long-standing Christian tradition, instances of religious intolerance are becoming more numerous, especially in relation to Christianity and those who simply wear identify

In all people of good will, the pope said, the New Year brings hope for a better and more peaceful world. Yet, he said, “it is alarming to see hot-

who loves peace cannot tolerate ‘Anyone attacks and crimes against life.’

– Pope Benedict XVI

!

" ! ing instances of inequality between rich and ! * *

Pope Benedict said true peacemakers

must work to counter the increasingly popular notion that “economic growth should be pursued even to the detriment of the

<

! The right to have a steady job is “one of the social rights and duties most under

promoting free markets, the right and need to work is too often treated simply as a market variable, he added.

man dignity and economic, social and political factors demand that we continue to prioritise the goal of access to steady em * As the global economic crisis continues to be felt around the world, he said, people need to “promote life by fostering human creativity in order to draw from the crisis itself an opportunity for discernment and for The current model, the one that led to

!

individualistic approach, the pope said. “In economic activity, peacemakers are those who establish bonds of fairness and reciprocity with their colleagues, workers, “The creation of ethical structures for #

! added. “These must be stabilised and better coordinated and controlled so as not to * * Pope Benedict said peacemakers must pay attention to “the food crisis, which

*

According to the UN’s World Food Programme, some 870 million people in the kills more people each year than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. “The issue of food security is once more central to the international political agenda as a result of interrelated crises, including sudden shifts in the price of basic foodstuffs, irresponsible behaviour by some the part of governments and the internation Peace isn’t simply a feeling or a passive awareness that things are going well, the pope said. Peace implies “activity, compas

* At the end of the message, which the Vatican sends to heads of state around the world, Pope Benedict prayed that God would enlighten them so that they may secure for their „ CNS The pope’s full message can be accessed at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_ xvi/messages/peace/documents/hf_ben-xvi_ mes_20121208_xlvi-world-day-peace_en.html

Pray for peace, pope says in Christmas service VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI urged

people to think seriously about their faith at Christmas, and he asked them to recognise the connection between believing in God and helping others through acts of charity and by praying and working for peace. The birth of Jesus is a source of hope for the world, “a hope in which we can trust, *

Dec 25 before giving his solemn blessing ! ! “ ’ world). With the birth of Jesus, God “has done

! › ‰ " pope told tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square for the blessing. Pope Benedict prayed for the people of $ * ! " * ‰

a dialogue that would bring a political solution to the crisis that began in March 2011. During his Christmas Day address, he also repeated his prayers for peace throughout the Middle East, for peace in the Holy Land and for the people of Egypt as they continue to struggle to build a new democracy.

He also prayed that China’s Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and the other new leaders of China’s government would respect the contribution that religions want to make to the country. Support for Latin American migrants " gious tensions in Mali, Nigeria, Congo and Kenya also were among the pope’s Christmas Day prayers. „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Pope pardons butler, may do same for technician VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI visited his former butler, Paolo Gabriele, in his cell in the Vatican police barracks, personally telling the butler he was forgiven and was being pardoned. Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the

forgiveness and to inform him personally of his acceptance of Mr Gabriele’s request for pardon�. The Vatican described the pope’s Dec 22 visit and the pardon as “a paternal gesture toward a person with whom the pope shared a relationship of daily familiarity for many years�. Gabriele has been in the cell for almost two months after being found guilty of aggravated theft for stealing and leaking private Vatican documents and papal correspondence. Sentenced to 18 months in jail, Gabriele began serving the sentence on Oct 25. The 46-year-old Gabriele, who worked in the papal apartments from 2006 until his arrest in May, has been barred from further employment at the Vatican. He, his wife and three young children have been living in a Vatican apartment, but will have to move now that he is no longer employed by the Vatican, Fr Lombardi said.

Computer technician Claudio Sciarpelletti has returned to work in the Vatican Secretariat of State.

Pope Benedict XVI talks with former papal butler Paolo Gabriele on Dec 22. Gabriele was convicted of stealing and leaking sensitive documents from the Holy See. CNS photo

Gabriele’s lawyer had told an Italian newspaper in July that Gabriele had written “a asking for his forgiveness and telling the pope he had acted alone. Fr Lombardi also told reporters that Claudio Sciarpelletti, a

computer technician in the Vatican Secretariat of State who was found guilty of obstructing the Gabriele investigation and given a suspended sentence, has returned to work in the Secretariat of State. A full pardon also is expected for him, Fr Lombardi said. „ CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: memoriam@catholic.org.sg

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: subscriptions@catholic.org.sg ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: advertisements@catholic.org.sg

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

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

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

Please include your full name, address and phone no. for all letters to the editor. Published submissions will be edited.

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

LETTERS

Non-biblical traditions? In the letter, About Halloween and Christmas (CN Dec 30), Ms Ellen Tan refuted criticism of Halloween by claiming it was based on the Feast of All Saints, and said that Christmas celebrations also contain elements “not mentioned in the Bible� like Christmas trees, gift-giving and the Three Kings. But what was condemned was secular society’s distortion of Halloween. The quaint custom of children dressing up to “trick or treat� neighbours has turned into a horror show. Adults dress as zombies or mutilated corpses – the bloodier, the better. This idea that the dead are terrifyingly evil is diametrically opposed to the Christian belief that the Holy Souls in Purgatory are our brethren who need our prayers. The rituals of any celebration should be judged by how well they express the meaning of the feast. The way Halloween is celebrated nowadays clearly obscures its Christian roots. As for the “non-biblical� Christmas traditions Ms Tan cites, CatholicNews ran articles in the same issue explaining the Scrip-

CN Dec 30

tural basis for the Christmas tree (Christmas Trees ‘Remind Believers Of Christ’s Light’) and gift-giving (Making Christmas Meaningful Despite Commercialisation). These developed organically from the Church’s living tradition. Their validity does not depend on whether they were explicitly “mentioned in the Bible�. She wrote, “The Church sings We Three Kings when there is no mention in the Bible that there were three, and they weren’t even kings.� The Church never declared that there were three kings. The liturgical texts for Epiphany speak only & " popular piety based on Scripture

œ ‡›`` # ‘ˆ›Š œ than Church teaching proper. Ms Tan’s claim that “Chinese New Year [CNY] has also been adopted into the liturgical calendar of Singapore� also needs CNY, a secular festival, is not part of the liturgical year. The CNY Mass is a votive Mass offered for a special intention, like nuptial and funeral Masses. We also have the National Day Mass, but this does not mean National Day is part of the Church’s liturgical calendar either. „ Estella Young Singapore 457266

Not rooted in pagan celebration Ms Ellen Tan’s assertion in her letter, About Halloween and Christmas (CN Dec 30), that the Dec 25 celebration of Jesus’ birth “has its roots as a pagan celebration of the Sun God� is historically inaccurate. The early Christian communities, as recorded by Clement of Alexandria, began celebrating Jesus’ birth sometime around 200 AD. Though the date varied by community, the two dates which became most common were Dec 25 and Jan 6 (the Feast of the Epiphany, which became in the Eastern Churches a more prominent feast than Christmas); in fact, he notes the Basilidians celebrating the Epiphany on January 6. It should also be understood that the celebration of the birth of saints etc. was developed over time, and was not initially practised; hence, the slow development of Christmas. The pagan Romans did not cel-

ebrate the feast of the Sun God on Dec 25 until 274 AD, when Emperor Aurelian dedicated a temple to Sol Invictus (the Unconquered Sun) and named him the premier deity of the empire. Prior to this, the Sun God (Mithras) had only been a minor Roman deity worshipped by soldiers, whose feast was celebrated on the solstice. The early Christian tradition that Jesus was born on Dec 25 stemmed from the Jewish belief that prophets died on the anniversary of their conception. $ ? Nisan 14 (equivalent to March 25), according to the Gospel of St. John, this implied that He had been conceived on March 25 (hence the Feast of the Annunciation) and born on Dec 25. As to the uniformity of the

date, one must consider that Christians could not freely meet until the time of Emperor Constantine. In fact, it is known that in Rome by 354 AD on the calendar for venerated martyrs is seen “natus Christus in Betleem IudeĂŚâ€?. There is simply no evidence in any of the writings of the early Church Fathers that Christmas was assigned to Dec 25 to subvert pagan worship to the Sun God. In fact, they demonstrate a disdain of pagan festivities and discourage associating Jesus Christ with the Sun God. The Dec 25 feast of Sol Invictus appears to have been the Romans’ attempt to paganise a Christian festival, rather than the other way around. „ Louis F Figueroa Singapore 760866

Honouring life’s complexity IN A lecture recently, I made the point that Jesus shocked people equally in both His capacity to thoroughly enjoy His life and in His capacity to renounce it and give it up. It was one and the same Jesus who, at a lavish supper with a woman at His feet bathing Him in perfume and affection, could tell His uncomfortable hosts that He was thoroughly enjoying the moment without a trace of guilt and who could tell the same people that the deepest secret of life is to * [ After the lecture, a young man came up to me and questioned ! › ‰ ? * ‰ * # z ž › %

! the other part, His capacity to renounce. One relies on the other, like the two wings on an airplane. Jesus had a shocking capacity to enjoy life because He had an equally shocking capacity to give it up. That is also true of many ? <

› ‰

! *

Â&#x; ! ‰

* ‰ # them in His love of those outside their circle; and He could walk in the greatest freedom anyone has ever known, even as He acknowledged that He did nothing on His own. And that kind of complexity, that kind of capacity to hold near opposites together in a healthy tension, is one of the marks of great

K › Dorothy Day, an American Catholic peace activist and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement, soon to be canonised a saint,

› ! [ ! Gospel-demand for social justice as well as the non-negotiable Gospel-demand for proper morals and proper religious practice. She was radical and pious. Usually we do not see the same person leading both the peace march and the rosary. Dorothy did both. Most of us can’t. We can do one or the other. French Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s writings continue to inspire people across every type of divide for the same reason. He had the capacity to hold together, at one and the same time, two seemingly competing loves. He was born, he says, with two incur ! *

* › * world that he could never betray and an equal love for this physical world and its facticity and beauty. Both were undeniably real to him, both took his breath away, and he tried to live in a way so as to not betray either of them, despite the tension this created in his life. It gave his writings a rare depth. Most other writing, secular or religious, honours only one of those poles to the denigration of the other. We see the same kind of complexity in the writings of St Therese of Lisieux. On the one hand, her focus is radically otherworldly, the *

" little value. Yet, at the same time, she shows herself as almost unhealthily attached to the good things of this world, the love of family, of nature, of beauty. St Therese could write eloquently about wanting * !

< * * from her family. And she saw no contradiction here because there isn’t any. Both are healthy, when they are held together. St Augustine offers another example. He wrote more than 6,000 pages and, within those pages, he said things that have helped trigger anything from negative feelings about sex to forced religious conversions; but he also said things that laid the roots of most orthodox Western theology for the past 1,700 years. He was able to hold a lot of things in tension. Sadly, we are not his equal and instead pick and choose pieces of his thought to the detriment of his overall vision. Carlo Carretto, the Italian spiritual writer who died recently, also stood out for his capacity to hold seemingly contrasting truths in tension. It is rare to see in the same person his particular combination of

/

criticism of it. For him, the two depended upon each other. One is healthy only because the other is also there. Great minds and great persons properly honour complexity. Nowhere is this clearer than in Jesus. He carried all truth, in all its complexity. Unfortunately, we, His followers, are not up to the master. That’s why there are hundreds of different Christian denominations today. That’s also why there are liberals and conservatives both in /

es of the truth than to carry the tension of being loyal to its bigger picture. But simplicity and clarity aren’t always our friends. „

FOCUS 15

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

ARCHBISHOP’S MESSAGE FOR CATECHETICAL SUNDAY

Catechists as agents of New Evangelisation Introduction – the Year of Faith The theme of Catechetical Sunday 2013, which will be celebrated on Jan 13, is Catechists as Agents of the New Evangelisation. This theme draws its inspiration from the Year of Faith which was launched on Oct 11, 2012, and which will conclude on Nov 24, 2013. In this Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI has invited all Christians to renew their understanding of the Christian faith and also to re-propose the faith to a new generation of Christians. This reproposal of faith is new, not in its content but rather in its inner thrust; new in its methods that must correspond to the times; and new because it is necessary to proclaim the Gospel to those who have already heard it. Pope Benedict XVI calls the Church to evangelise by entering into dialogue with modern culture and confronting the cultural crisis brought on by secularisation. I want to highlight what I see as some of the key implications of the New Evangelisation for all those who engage in the ministry of the Word, especially parish catechists and RCIA teams. It is found in the Laborem Instrumentum (working document) that guided the discussion of the Bishop’s Synod in October 2012 on the New Evangelisation and the Transmission of the Christian Faith. Christian faith as encounter with a person – Jesus Christ Paragraph 18 of the document states that: “The Christian faith is not simply teachings, wise sayings, a code of morality or a tradition. The Christian faith is a true encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ. Transmitting the faith means to create in every place and time the conditions which lead to this encounter between the person and Jesus Christ.� In other words, if the content of faith is not merely theoretical knowledge but more of an encounter with the One Teacher Jesus Christ – it then requires us to re-think the way we plan and execute our catechetical sessions. How can we remain with a purely didactic style of teaching the faith? I am glad that here in our archdiocese, we have already begun to renew the way we catechise over the last two years. I want to encourage the entire parish community to get involved in this

process which will now involve other essential and enriching elements like parents, peers, church ministries and the sacred liturgy; in short the gifts of the entire parish community. Transmission of faith – a communal event Paragraph 39 of the document seems

A catechist presenting the Parable of the Good Shepherd to a child.

to reinforce this notion of the involvement of the entire parish community for effective evangelisation: “The need to transmit the faith is essentially an ecclesial, communal event and not singly or done alone. It should not result from seeking effective communication strategies or in choosing a certain group of recipients – for example, young people – but must look to who is entrusted with this spiritual work. “The Church must question herself in this matter. This allows the problem to be approached not in an extrinsic manner but from within, involving the entire life and being of the Church.� My dear catechists, together with the bishops of the world, I invite you to consider this statement: “Whether the lack of effects in evangelisation today, as well as in catechesis in modern times, is primarily the result of ecclesial and spiritual factors. This really concerns the (our) Church’s ability to live as a real community, as a true brotherhood and as a Living Body and not simply a human establishment.� In effect what I am asking all of us to consider as Christians is whether our Christianity is really a way of life or is it just something we “teach� on Sundays? Creating a culture of witness Here then are some very important points that I want all those engaged in the Ministry of the Word (as well as the parish community) to take note of: How can we create a “culture of witness� in our parishes? „ Where we not merely run programmes to “convert persons� but rather we live as a “Living Body� of Christ

that initiates and assimilates people of a variety of ages into a single community that gathers around the Eucharist. The New Evangelisation does not seek to invite people to experience only one moment of conversion but rather to experience the gradual and lifelong process of conversion: to draw all people into a deeper relationship with God, to participate in the sacramental life of the Church, to develop a mature conscience, to sustain one’s faith through ongoing catechesis, and to integrate one’s faith into all aspects of one’s life. The process of conversion and evangelisation that accomplishes the objectives above must include the witness of the Church through her members in the everyday living out of the Gospel. „ To create a culture of witness, we must live explicit lives of discipleship through apprenticeship. Apprenticeship links an experienced Christian believer, or mentor, with one who seeks a deeper relationship with Christ and the Church. In parish ministries as well as in the neighbourhood Christian communities, faith communities must be intentionally planned and grown that gradually become schools of communion and evangelisation. „ The prayers, popular devotions, and liturgies of the Church must be given priority in pastoral planning as they form the basis of “Catholic culture�; they allow for the community to pray together in a common language and nourish one’s continuing faith development. „ A culture of witness that grows in the parish has its roots in and through marriage and the family. It is through the example of mothers and fathers, grandparents, siblings, and extended family

members that one most concretely witnesses how to live a daily Christian life. Family members learn about the Christian life by observing each other’s strengths or weaknesses. Their shared wisdom and experience often constitute a compelling Christian witness. It is vital that multiple generations, including grandparents, are engaged with the informal moments of faith formation of younger family members. It is through the family that one journeying back to the faith can be awakened to, af ! * and mercy of Christ. „ A culture of witness also implies that we become a Church that is engaged in the works of charity and justice as well as the promotion of solidarity, justice, peace and stewardship of creation to build up the Kingdom of God. Increasingly, we recognise that generosity of spirit and commitment to charity and justice are vehicles to bring people into relationship with Jesus and His Church. Social justice and direct service opportunities provide powerful experiences with the person of Jesus, especially for adolescents and young adults. Service, when understood as serving Christ in others and as a means to share the Gospel, has the ability to bring the server and the one being served closer to Christ. Conclusion – mustard seed growth In this Year of Faith, my brothers and sisters, we are all being radically called to the work of evangelisation and catechesis not just for the spiritual well-being of a certain group of young people in our parish but rather for the very existence of our entire Church in a society that is hurtling towards an increasing secularity. Parish priests and their parish pastoral councils are going to have to intentionally build communities of faith that grow out of a planned vision of communion where all ministries work together and lead people to and from the Sunday Eucharist. I invoke the Holy Spirit upon such a great work that of its very nature will be slow (and sometimes inconsequential) like a mustard seed but we pray that in years to come, it will become a large sturdy tree of faith that our future generations can make their home in! Let us not be afraid to venture out into the deep for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are with us on this great adventure of faith! Please be assured of my prayers and God bless you all!

Archbishop Nicholas Chia

16 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

What the Magi have to tell us about Jesus ! "

# ! By Marcellino D’Ambrosio UP UNTIL now, all has been quite humble: a donkey ride to a dusty town south of Jerusalem, hotel rooms all booked up, giving birth in a stable and the baby resting in an animal’s feed trough instead of a cosy cradle. Into this scene of obscure poverty suddenly bursts an exotic entourage from a faroff land. Dignitaries in dress uniform lavish the newborn with expensive gifts that seem out of place in the humble surroundings. &

*

corded its own feast in the Roman liturgy, celebrated traditionally on Jan 6, immediately after the 12 days of Christmas. This solemn feast is called Epiphany, a word that means “manifestation� or “appearance�. + " be no more than another crying baby of an indigent family “appears� for who He really is: the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The gifts He is given, prophesied in ‘ˆ›‘ › # incense for the worship of God, and myrrh – bitter yet precious – for the hero who will lay down His life for His people. There are several important things to note about these prestigious visitors. They are gentiles, not Jews. From the very beginning of His human existence, Jesus is clearly not just the Jewish Messiah who has come to deliver the people of Israel from foreign oppression. He is the universal king, the ruler of all, who has come to tear down the hostile wall dividing Jew from gentile, nation from nation. Something else is to be noted about these illustrious visitors. As gentiles, they

are pagans. It was not in the Bible that they normally looked for wisdom (otherwise they would have known to go straight to Bethlehem). But in reward for their ardent search for truth, God led them to Christ in His great mercy. Throughout history, God has shown people that pagans can be mysteriously drawn to Him and used by Him. If you go to the Sistine Chapel and study Michelangelo’s work, you can see evidence of this in a row of sybils, the prophetesses of the ancient world, in whose oracles were

From the very start of His human existence, Jesus is clearly seen as the universal king who has come to tear down the wall dividing Jew from gentile, nation from nation. discovered shadowy allusions to a future saviour-king. One of Michelangelo’s sybils has her mouth agape with astonishment, her eyes

/

the back of the chapel. Indeed, the deepest desires of all people, the elements of truth found in all their religions and philoso /

St Justin said that there are “seeds of the Word� scattered throughout the world. Seeds are meant to sprout, grow and bear fruit.

All people have a right to this fullness. It is our obligation to share it. „ CNS D’Ambrosio is co-founder of Crossroads Productions, an apostolate of Catholic renewal and evangelisation.

An artistic representation of the three kings, or Magi, in a church window. The celebration of Epiphany, which falls on Jan 6 this year, focuses on the adoration of the newborn Jesus by the Magi. CNS photo

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Reading God’s signs In a homily for Mass on the feast of the Epiphany in early 2012, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the Wise Men from the East, the ones who sought Christ and opened up a path for the rest of us to take. “We may well look to these

pathway to Christ,� the pope said. He emphasised the qualities of the Wise Men: “watchful men, capable of reading God’s signs�. Though they were gentiles and pagans, they were able to read the most important sign of all, that of the birth of the Messiah, and they did so even at the expense of mockery. “For them it mattered little what

* " ential and clever people thought and said about them,� the pope said. Much like the Wise Men, / / ourselves in the position to lead others towards Christ, but Pope Benedict emphasised what those leading this path possess: humble courage that enables us, like the Wise Men, to kneel “before the child of poor people and to recognise in Him the promised King�. „ CNS

YEAR OF FAITH 17

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

What Vatican II stated about Christian education A look at the Vatican II document, Declaration on Christian Education, in this Year of Faith

The Church has the obligation to establish schools in which the child can develop in a Gospel environment, says the document.

By Bishop Joseph McFadden The Second Vatican Council spoke to the entire world and council document Gravissimum Educationis (The Importance of Education) made that clear in the “Declaration on Christian Education�. Published on Oct 28, 1965, the brief declaration came during the

Z can II. It addressed education in general but focused primarily on Christian education. Three of its themes hold critical importance today. 1. Christian education is to help a person get to heaven. The Council Fathers wrote that “true education aims at the formation of the human person in the pursuit of his ultimate end and of the good of the societies of which, as man, he is a member, and in whose obligations, as an adult, he will share� (GE, 1). Living a good Christian life, the Fathers noted, enhances order, natural democratic virtues, and the common good but, more importantly, by grace, it is a path to live a holy life. Today when technology and media bombard the senses with positive and negative images, sounds and words, the need for sound Christian education that teaches intelligent discernment in a pluralistic world is critical. 2. % tors of their children and have the duty and fundamental right to choose an education in keeping with their beliefs.

The declaration recognises the fundamental role of parents and thus of the family in our society. &

social virtues that every society needs� (GE, 3), the Fathers said. Children meet God, neighbour and community through the family. Through the family they learn the elements of social justice, sharing with the less fortunate and experiencing how to give of themselves. “Since parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most serious obligation to educate their offspring and therefore

Church and state should support parents in their exercise as primary educators of their children. must be recognised as the primary and principal educators� (GE, 3). The Fathers pointed out that “among all educational instruments the school has special importance. It is designed not only to develop with special care the intellectual faculties but also to form the ability to judge rightly, to hand on the cultural legacy of previous generations, to foster a sense of values, to prepare for professional life� (GE, 5). ) * the option of providing an education that supports the positive values of family life and their beliefs.

3. Through the principle of subsidiarity, the Church and state should support parents in their exercise as primary educators of their children. It is critically im from civil society and the Church

mental right and duty. The Church has the obligation to establish schools that provide for a Christian education by which the whole child – body, mind and soul – develops in a Gospel environment. Financial support for Catholic education is an increasing concern; and it is important for the entire Church to support its educational mission to the young. The Fathers also pointed out that civil society has an obligation to provide a proper education for all children to promote the welfare of its citizens. These two obligations, of the Church and state, do not need to ! " ) nition on the part of both creates a setting in which education for "

Both the Church and civil society must work together to provide educational options for the young and the options should include Christian schools. Fifty years ago the Church began a dialogue about the proper role of education. Times have changed but the need for the dialogue has not. „ USCCB Bishop McFadden of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, chairs the US bishops’ Committee on Education.

18

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

19

20

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

By Joe Sarnicola AFTER Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, during the reign of King Herod, the Magi from the East arrived. “Where is the newborn king of the Jews?� they asked. “We saw His star at its rising and have come to do Him homage.� Because the Magi were seeking a newborn king, word eventually reached Herod, and he was very angry. He had no newborn son, and he wondered who this newborn king might be. He called his chief priests and scribes together and asked them where the Messiah had been prophesied to be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,� they answered, “for thus it has been written through the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means

least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.’� So Herod invited the Magi to visit him, and he asked them when led them to Bethlehem. “Go and search diligently for the child,� he told them. “When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do Him homage.� The Magi left the court of Herod and followed the star in the sky until it led them to where they found Jesus. When they found Jesus with His mother, they prostrated themselves and honoured Him. Then they gave Him presents of gold, frankincense and myrrh. After this they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so they returned home by a different route. Joseph also received a warning

in one of his dreams when an angel appeared to him and said, “Rise, # ‰

" to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy Him.� Joseph woke up Mary and they escaped under the cover of night and headed for Egypt. They remained there until they learned of the death ‰ prophecy of the Scriptures: “Out of Egypt I called my son.� An angel once again appeared

to Joseph and said to him, “Rise, take the child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.� And Joseph did as the angel had instructed him. „ Read more about it: Matthew 2

Q&A 1. What three gifts did the Magi give to Jesus? 2. Why did Joseph take Mary and Jesus to Egypt?

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Adrian Adrian (d. 710), who had been born in Africa, rose to the position of abbot of Nerida, near Naples, Italy. After the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England, Pope St Vitalian wanted Adrian to become archbishop, but he said no. He said that St Theodore should become archbishop, and Adrian agreed to be Theodore’s assistant and adviser. Theodore made Adrian abbot of the monastery of Sts Peter and Paul in Canterbury, where he taught languages and set an example of a holy life. Adrian’s reputation as a students from the European continent. We honour him on Jan 9. „

Bible Accent:

PUZZLE: Circle the name or word that makes the following statements true. Some hints have been provided: $% # & ' " % * + ; <% ' "# = % * ; >% @

% " *

; Z% [ # % = "* = "\ ] & <; ^% ] # & _=` " % + =

* q ; {% | =[ % * \ + $; }% = # [ ` % " * ` ;

KIDS’ CLUB: Share your thoughts on this &@ #= [ " =[ and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: What do you think is the most important part of the Mass? Answers to Puzzle: ` ‡ Š 4. Bethlehem, 5. Malachi, 6. Joseph, 7. Judas.

The readings from the Scriptures during Mass are planned over three years, called cycles A, B and C. Over these three years, much of the Bible is read. There are readings from the Old Testament, the New Testament and one of the Gospels, and very often a psalm. The Gospel is read by either a priest or a deacon, and the other Scriptures are usually read by a volunteer called a lector. The Church year is the basis of the readings and is planned around the celebration or remembrance of important events in the life of Jesus Christ, and divided into periods of time called seasons. These seasons are Advent (leading up to Christmas), Christmas, Lent (leading up to Easter), the Easter triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday), Easter and Ordinary Time. The year begins with Advent and the last Sunday of the year is the feast of Christ the King. „

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday January 13, 2013 „ 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

JAN 10 MY JOURNEY SERIES ‘ '([ÂŒ `( › ) * and networking. Sharing by Catholic business leader, Janet Ang, managing Y $ / › $10 (non CBN members), free (CBN members). By Catholic Business Network. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul “+ Â’ • &› Œ‘\‘ ‡`ˆÂ? “& •Â&#x; ]› ÂŚ ! [

SATURDAYS FEB 23 RCIY@ST MARY OF THE ANGELS Š Šˆ[‘ '( › + `Š[`\ At Church of St Mary of the Angels. &› ÂŒÂ?'‘ '('\ “? •Â&#x; ]› z ÂŚ

JAN 12 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH TAIZE \[ÂŒ Šˆ › ) ) / $ Gregory the Illuminator (60 Hill Street). ]› ! ÂŚ Â&#x; &› ÂŒ\ŠÂ?Â?‡(‘ “Y / •

FRIDAYS JAN 4 TO JAN 25 INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL \[Œ Šˆ › +

parishioners, visitors and anybody interested to deepen your understanding of the Year of Faith. Talks presented by Arthur Goh. At Church of Our Lady % $ “Z !

‰ • ]› Š'‡\Œ

TUESDAYS JAN 8 TO APRIL 21 THE CREED \[`ˆ › `‡ _Z_ Š sharing of the Creed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Presented by Dr Sean Innerst, St John Vianney Theological Seminary, USA. At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Retreat House). At Highland Road. Â’

]› ! Œ “/

ŠK •

MONDAYS JAN 7 TO MARCH 18 ALPHA PARENTING OF TEENAGERS `‡ Šˆ[` Šˆ › K # By Catholic Prayer Society. At 206/208 & # ) $ ’

&› ÂŒÂ?‘` ‡(ˆ'Â&#x; ]› ÂŚ

WEDNESDAYS JAN 9 TO 12 JUNE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES \[`ˆ › _Z_[! ! Jeff Cavins on the Acts of the Apostles, which provides a historic framework for understanding the rest of the New

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

14

15

16

17

18

19

21

20 23 27 33

24

25

42

44

45

51

JAN 19 YEAR OF FAITH TALK: GAUDIUM ET SPES '[( Šˆ › + # this Year of Faith on the four constitutions Z / & #

$ œ % Constitution on the Church in the Modern

43 46 48

52

IN MEMORIAM

49

53

54

57

58

59

61

62

63

64

65

66

WEDNESDAYS JAN 16 TO JULY 17 THE BIBLE TIMELINE \[`ˆ › ) ‡'[

_Z_ / › ”'\ “ #! #• At Blessed Sacrament Church (Damien / $ ) ’ • ’

$ $› \`(\ ‡Š\\Â&#x; ]› @ ! ÂŚ

32

40

47 50

31

37

39

MONDAYS JAN 14 THE ROAD TO EMMAUS � '([Œ Šˆ › ) Y ! designed to help participants break the Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word. Programme

› sharing, wrap-up lecture and fellowship. At Church of St Ignatius Annexe Hall K * ‡ &› ÂŒÂ?Š` \'Š‡ “’ • Œˆˆ` ÂŒ\‡\ “‰ •Â&#x; ]› ÂŚ

JAN 18 CHILDREN’S EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Â? '([\ '( › + catechists, adults who are keen to pray with children. By Archdiocesan Children Eucharistic Adoration Ministry. ) / ‰ $ &› ŒŠ‘‡ ('ˆ\Â&#x; ]›

ÂŚ 30

36

35

41

13

26

29

38

12

22

28 34

11

SUNDAY JAN 13 TO SATURDAY JAN 19 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER Pray with Scripture using Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina. One-on-one meeting with a prayer [+ / › ”Šˆ By Sojourners’ Companions. At Church of St Mary of the Angels. Register › ›ŠŠ Š z

THURSDAYS JAN 17 TO MARCH 21 THE LETTER OF ST PAUL TO THE ROMANS \[`ˆ › ) ÂŒ ! Fr Ambrose Vaz. At Church of St Ignatius Annexe Hall Level 2. + ]› ÂŚ

Crossword Puzzle 1075 1

& / › ”'ˆ ) / Holy Spirit (Room A2-01). ’

ÂŒ'Â?ÂŒ Š`‡ˆ “) •Â&#x; ]› # ÂŚ

55

56

60

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 One of the Gospels 5 Intense light beam 10 Soft pulpy mass 14 Hershisher of the diamond 15 Kukla’s pal 16 Malarial fever 17 Standard 18 Holds back `ÂŒ < ¤ in netspeak 20 Hawaiian acacia 21 Retained 22 Easter _______ 23 Direction from Jerusalem to Nazareth 25 Something to cop 28 Padre ______ ‡Œ ) ‰ house 30 250, to Caesar 33 Georgetown team 36 The common people 38 Spoken 39 Parlor game 40 “Behold the ____ “? `›Š‘• 41 Harass 43 Name on a check 44 Turf '( ] " 46 Ark passenger 'Â? _

48 Version of the Bible 50 _____ infallibility

53 Score 54 Samuel anointed Saul with this 57 Having wings 58 “The bombs ! ÂĽÂĽÂĽÂĽÂĽÂŁ 60 Killer dog of movies 61 Hayes of “The $@ 62 Judas’ blood money bought it “ ‡Â?›‘œ\• 63 Fixing grub for GI’s 64 Will Hunting’s forte 65 Remains 66 Rubberneck DOWN 1 He lives in a monastery 2 Buck ender 3 Showed over 4 Airline 5 Our Lady, for the Air Force 6 First letter of the Hebrew alphabet 7 Split 8 One, in Berlin 9 Matter of law `ˆ )* ÂĽÂĽÂĽÂĽÂĽ 11 Highly excited 12 Member of mystical Muslim sect 13 Satan’s realm 21 _____ Kringle

22 The power to reject 24 Gemstones 25 Leonine sin? 26 Drinks (as a cat) 27 Cuts up 29 Number of days Jesus spent in the desert 30 Feet in the image beheld by Nebuchadnezzar 31 “____ Holy Spirit, ÂŁ 32 Defamation 34 Treat that can be divided 35 Unit of linear measure 36 Single stem 37 South American ruminant

39 202, in ancient Rome 42 Israel’s airline 43 He wrote most of the epistles 46 Accumulates 47 Possible Easter month 48 Lace mat 49 Jeremiah’s description of himself 50 Lenten foliage 51 Inter _______ 52 Breathe hard 53 Greek goddess of the earth 55 Alphabet string 56 Easy stride 58 Suppositions 59 Kind of picking 60 Dove sound

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1074 J E S S E

P A P A L

I R A T E

S S T S

A U B E

T E D S

C L A Y

C O D E

I L I A

I N N

N E P A H C T E P E W A N B S R O S I O H A K I L S O S H S

I L I A D W A Y N E L O W

B S I E N T S H H O O V Y E A L S H B O A N B O A R

O P E D H I D D E N

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

N E S S S A T E E X T R A

CLASSIFIED THANKSGIVING Thank you Lord for answering our prayers. Thank you Mother Mary and St Jude for interceding our prayers. Please continue to help us all. Joan Thank you so much, St Jude for my p r a y e r ’s / p e t i t i o n granted. A.Z. Deepest thanks to St Jude, for your intercession through God, and answering my prayers again. H Tham

‰ $ Â&#x; make me see everything and show me the way to reach my ideal. You who give me the divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me and who are in all instances of my life with me. I, in this short dialogue, want to thank you for eve once more that I never want to be separated from you no matter how great the material desires may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in your perpetual glory. Amen. Please continue to watch over my husband, Christ and me. Most gratefully, Christabell

World. Learn about the Church’s teachings on its relationship to modern society. By the Legion of Mary. At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall “‡' ‰ ’ • ’

&› ÂŒÂ?'‡ ÂŒ\Â?` “’ ! •Â&#x; ]› # #ÂŚ JAN 20 CATHOLIC SINGLES MASS AND LUNCH `ˆ [‡ › ) and friendship among single Catholics across Singapore. Meet up for Mass at 10am at church canteen followed by lunch at Marina Square. At St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St). Â’

]› / $ ÂŚ FRIDAY JAN 25 TO SUNDAY JAN 27 INDIVIDUALLY GUIDED RETREAT + “Â? •[$ “( •› ) spend quiet time with God. This silent retreat will enable one to become more attentive to the presence of God in one’s / › ”`'ˆ “ [ • ”`\ˆ (air-con room). By CISC. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Register by Jan 11. &› ‘'‘Â? ‘ˆÂ?‡Â&#x; ]›

‡‘‘'Œ FEB 1 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR CONSECRATED LIFE ‘[� › & /

* remember with gratitude the women and men who have dedicated their lives in service to the mission of Jesus. Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia. ) / $ & &› ŒŠ‘‡ ('ˆ\Â&#x; ]› * ÂŚ FRIDAYS FEB 15 TO MARCH 22 YEAR OF FAITH Â? Šˆ[ÂŒ Šˆ › ‘

/ rediscover their faith and become joy

Y )/%&

At Church of St Bernadette AVA Room. Â’

! + ! \ $ $› \'‘Â? ‘`‘` \'‘Â? ‘Š‘ŠÂ&#x; ]› ÂŚ THURSDAYS FEB 21 TO MAY 9 ALPHA COURSE Â? `([`ˆ › & )

people have a basic understanding of their Christian faith. All are welcome. At Church of Blessed Sacrament “_ ‰ • ’

&› Œ‡ŠŒ ((‘‡Â&#x; ]› ! ÂŚ FEB 24 TO APR 7 MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE For couples intending to get married. — [ [ * !

^ ‡ ) ‡\ ? ‡ &› ÂŒ\ŠŒ ÂŒ\'ˆ “’ Š •Â&#x; ]›

ÂŚ Â&#x; Â’

› ›ŠŠ Š MONDAYS FEB 25 TO MAY 6 ALPHA COURSE Â? '([ÂŒ '( › & ) / * an opportunity for anyone to deepen their Christian faith or to explore it in a relaxed and informal environment. It is designed to let people think and talk about the Christian faith at their own pace. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). Register &› ÂŒÂ?ÂŒ\ Â?Â?\\ “’ • \Š‡‡ (Š(‘ “) •Â&#x; ]› ÂĽ ÂĽ' ÂŚ FRIDAY MARCH 8 TO SUNDAY MARCH 10 BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND + “‘ •[$ “' •› + * separated, or who have experienced the death of a spouse. Work through one’s grief and put one’s past behind, to be healed Â’

&› 9647 9122 (Sue), 9828 5162 (Jean), 9661 \ˆ\Œ“? •Â&#x; ]› z ÂŚ

24

ADVERTISEMENT

Sunday January 13, 2013 CatholicNews

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

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.