MARCH 22, 2015, Vol 65, No 06

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SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2015

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VOL 65

NO. 06

Abandoning the elderly is a sin, pope says

ASIA

They are the depositories of the ‘wisdom of our people’

Person-to-person encounters needed

VATICAN CITY – Seeing the el-

derly only as a burden “is ugly. It’s a sin,â€? Pope Francis said at his weekly general audience. “We must reawaken our collective sense of gratitude, appreciation and hospitality, helping the elderly know they are a living part of their communitiesâ€? and sources of wisdom for the younger generations, the 78-year-old pope said on March 4 at his weekly general audience. Continuing a series of audience talks about the family, Pope Francis said he would dedicate two talks to the elderly, looking at how they are treated in modern societies and at their vocation within the family. “An elderly person is not an alien,â€? he said. “The elderly person is us. Soon, or many years from now – inevitably anyway – we will be old, even if we don’t think about it.â€? “If we do not learn to treat the elderly well,â€? the pope said, “we won’t be treated well eitherâ€? when the time comes. In a talk punctuated with references to his own family life, his grandmother and his experience visiting homes for the elderly in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis said HYHQ &KULVWLDQV DUH EHLQJ LQĂ€Xenced by cultures so focused on SURGXFWLRQ DQG SURÂżW WKDW WKH ELElical exhortations to respect the aged and draw upon their wisdom are being ignored. “We elderly are all a bit fragile,â€? the pope said, changing his prepared text to include himself among the aged. The elderly he visited in Buenos Aires, he said, would often tell him that they had many children and that their children visited them.

An elderly woman is greeted by Pope Francis during a general audience in St Peter’s Square. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

‘

While we are young, we are tempted to ignore old age... But when we become old, especially if we are poor, sick and alone, we experience the failures of a society SURJUDPPHG IRU HIĂ€FLHQF\

’

– Pope Francis

“And when was the last time they came?� the pope said he asked one woman. “She said, ‘Well, at Christmas.’ It was August.

Eight months without a visit from her children. Eight months of being abandoned. This is called a mortal sin. Understand?�

“It is so easy to put our consciences to sleep when there is no love,â€? he said. “While we are young, we are tempted to ignore old age as if it were an illness to hold at bay,â€? he said. “But when we become old, especially if we are poor, sick and alone, we experience the failures of a society programmed for efÂżFLHQF\ ZKLFK FRQVHTXHQWO\ LJnores the elderly.â€? The aged are the “reserve of the wisdom of our peopleâ€?, they have experienced and survived the struggles to raise a family and SURYLGH WKHP ZLWK D GLJQLÂżHG OLIH he said. Tossing them aside means tossing aside their experience and the way that experience can contribute to making life better today. A society that cannot show gratitude and affection to the elderly “is a perverse societyâ€?, the pope said. “The Church, faithful to the word of God, cannot tolerate such degeneration.â€? “Where the elderly are not honoured,â€? he said, “there is no future for the young.â€? Before the start of the audiHQFH 3RSH )UDQFLV PHW EULHĂ€\ with 60 bishops from 35 countries who were participating in a conference sponsored by the Focolare movement. Addressing the bishops from “the bloodstained lands of Syria, ,UDT DQG 8NUDLQH´ WKH SRSH DVsured them he is “united with themâ€? each day in the celebration of the Eucharist. “In the suffering you are experiencing along with your people, you experience the strength that comes from Jesus in the Eucharist, the strength to go forward united in faith and in hope.â€? „ CNS

INSIDE Cardinal: Church can reach out more to Asia „ Page 8

WORLD Marking anniversary of civil rights march Mass held in Selma, USA „ Page 10

St Therese's parents to be canonised Ceremony expected in October „ Page 11

Indian Jesuit recalls ordeal in captivity Hands and legs were chained „ Page 13

POPE FRANCIS On the Mass in the vernacular ‘We have to go forward’ „ Page 15

FOREIGN COMMUNITIES The Indian migrant Catholic community A look at the Tamil and Malayalee groups „ Pages 20-21

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Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Ex-CJC students tell Lorna O’Hara how they overcame obstacles to do well in A-levels

Visually-impaired boy’s Math A-level results came as a ‘surprise’ Eighteen-year-old Caleb Tay was born with low central vision and colour blindness. And he loathed Maths. “I couldn’t understand anything that the [Math] lecturers were saying and I was very discouraged,� said the Catholic Junior College alumnus on March 2. “I actually thought of dropping from H2 [Higher Level 2] to H1 [Higher Level 1],� he added. Thus, Tay was pleasantly surprised when he scored an A for his H2 Math. For his other H2 subjects, he scored Bs for Chemistry and Biology, whereas for his H1 subjects, he scored As for his General Paper and Project Work, and a B for Economics. “I have my Math teacher [Mr Lim Yoke Kuang] to thank,� said Tay. “He helped alleviate a lot of stress� by explaining Math concepts. Prior to the A-levels, Tay relied a lot on help from his mother and his teachers, and an iPad. “I studied for my A-levels mainly through audio,� said Tay. “My mum would read to me a lot, especially all the materials that the school gave.�

would read ‘toMymemum a lot, especially all the materials that the school gave.

’

– Caleb Tay

Caleb Tay with parents Christopher and Colleen.

Due to his condition, Tay sacULÂżFHG WLPH GXULQJ IUHH SHULRGV and recess to have “one-on-one sessionsâ€? with his teachers. “My teachers would some-

times draw stuff on the paper really big so that I could see the diagrams. They would also explain to me slowly so that I could catch up,� said Tay. “They would

constantly check on me to see if I could keep up with what was being taught in class.� Tay also shared that his Biology teacher, Mr Eugene Yeow, con-

Setting ‘priorities right’ From poly to JC Between January and May 2014, former &-& VWXGHQW /RXLV 7HR IDFHG ÂłGLIÂżFXOties juggling various leadership roles and studiesâ€?. He was a school house captain, an orientation group leader and a member of the school’s swimming/ biathlon team taking part in competitions every month. But after May 2014, he decided to drop “a few events and set my priorities rightâ€?. That decision paid off as Teo scored straight Bs for all his A-level H2 subjects – Chemistry, Economics, Geography and Maths. He also scored a B for his H1 General Paper. However, the hard work DOVR LQYROYHG VDFULÂżFH Âł2Q weekdays during my onehour breaks, I would have my lunch in about 10 minutes, then I would rush as much as I could to study,â€? said Teo. Âł2Q ZHHNHQGV , ZRXOG ZDNH XS DQG WKH ÂżUVW WKLQJ , do would be to study. I would utilise my whole weekends to study.â€? With regard to his nonacademic leadership duties, Teo said, “There were meetings everyday and right after school,

I had training. After training, I sometimes had to come back to school. By the time I reached home, it was 10 plusâ€? at night. Teo, a Malaysian, added that before the A-levels, he “didn’t go back to visit [his parents] in Johor Bahru for two months. My parents knew that I had to study so they didn’t mind,â€? he said. When asked whom he would like to thank for his good results, he mentioned former CJC teacher, Mr Issac Lim. “He was the best teacher in my whole life,â€? said Teo. He taught me so many lessons like responsibility and perseverance. It’s because of him that’s why I managed to achieve so much.â€? Teo, who said he will apply for a scholarship at NUS, gave this piece of advice: “Sports and studies complement each other very well, VR ÂżQG WKH WLPH WR H[FHO LQ bothâ€?. He hopes to be an entrepreneur in the future. „

Louis Teo realised he had to drop some of his co-curricular activities to concentrate on his A-levels.

His wasn’t the usual academic route. “My case was a little weird as usually, JC [junior college] students drop out of JC to go to poly,� said Wayne Wee, 21. Wee, however, dropped out of polytechnic after two years and joined CJC in 2013, as he felt that the course he was in was “very hands-on but not really brain stimulating�. “I liked theories and what I was doing [in poly] was the total opposite,� he said. Wee who is CJC’s 2014 valedictorian and former rugby captain, scored straight As for four of his H2 subjects – Economics, Maths, English Literature and Knowledge Inquiry; and a B for H1 Physics. He also scored a Merit for H3 [Higher Level 3] English Literature.

stantly “checked [to see] if I was doing well in my other subjects�. Apart from the occasional staying back after school to revise, Tay said that he would “slowly try and read� from an iPad the soft copy versions of school notes, answer schemes and worksheets provided by his teachers. For the A-levels, Tay completed his papers with the help of two people, a scribe and someone who would read out the questions to him. Tay, a Christian, said that he had God and his teachers at CJC to thank. “Everything I achieved was all by God’s grace ... It’s important to keep hope and remember that God is with you to see you through everything.� Tay is in the midst of deciding which course he would like to apply for at the National University of Singapore (NUS). „

Wayne Wee scored four As for his A-levels

The transition from polytechnic to junior college life was “a breeze� for Wee. This despite one of his polytechnic lecturers telling him that he “wouldn’t make it�. In the end, said Wee, he decided to stick “with my gut�. “I’m not here to prove anything to anyone. I am learning for my own learning sake,� said Wee. As for his secret to doing well for the A-levels, “the key is not to ‘mug’ but to understand,� he said. “There’s no point wasting your time memorising and vomiting things out. You’re only going to forget.� Wee said he hopes “to be a lecturer, writing academic papers for all the world to see�. „ lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Family Life Society turns 30 “Every family must pray. The family that prays together stays together.â€? These were some words of advice that Archbishop William Goh gave during a Mass to mark the Family Life Society’s (FLS) 30th anniversary. About 200 FLS volunteers, VWDII DIÂżOLDWH UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV DQG board members attended the Mass and dinner held at the Serangoon Gardens Country Club. Archbishop Goh, in his homily, gave some advice to parents on how they can cope with a new child in the family. He noted that some parents might devote more attention to the child, thereby neglecting their spouse. When there is no time for love and communication between couples, the relationship suffers, he said. Children are also sensitive to the words and actions of their parents, he added. When a child senses that a sibling is being favoured, that child might feel insecure, resulting in sibling rivalry and resentment towards the parents. Couples with differing values, traditions or religions may sometimes disagree on how to bring up a child. This confuses the child who may then turn to other sources of love and comfort, Archbishop Goh warned.

Strengthening families and marriages

Archbishop William Goh and FLS board chairman John Ooi blowing out the candles on the cake as (from left) counselling consultant Sue Richmond, board members Christopher Murugasu and John Lim, volunteer Rose Boon, and board member Alison Snodgrass look on. Photo: DOMINIC WONG

Some parents are too focused on their careers and do not spend VXIÂżFLHQW WLPH ZLWK WKHLU FKLOG thus neglecting the child’s wellbeing, he added. These children might then turn to friends for acceptance and love instead of their parents, and might fall into the wrong company. Archbishop Goh said his wish for FLS was for it to be a living witness of good families and beautiful marriages. “You cling

to Jesus as the cornerstone, the rock,� he stressed. Concelebrating the Mass were Msgr Ambrose Vaz, FLS spiritual director Fr David Garcia and Jesuit Fr Charles Sim. The Mass was followed by a dinner. FLS board chairman John Ooi, in his address, said that the family is under greater threat than ever before. FLS thus needs to brace itself for more challenges

and work ahead. He assured the crowd that FLS will constantly review its strategies to keep abreast of changing attitudes and strive to stay relevant to the needs of society. Three long-serving volunteers, each with more than 20 years of service to FLS, were honoured for their contributions and received specially-commissioned artworks. They were Dr John Lim, Ms Sue Richmond and Ms Rose Boon. „

Since its inception in 1985, FLS’ mission has been to empower families, strengthen marriages and uphold the dignity of human life. Today, its team of eight full-time staff and about 60 volunteers offer programmes and services such as marital and family therapies, para counselling service, education programmes, Pregnancy Crisis Service, Joyful Parenting and Rachel’s Vineyard, which ministers to those who have been involved with an abortion. )/6 KDV DI¿OLDWHV Beginning Experience, CHOICE, Catholic Engaged Encounter, Couples for Christ, Couple Empowerment Programme, Marriage Preparation Course, Marriage Encounter, Natural Family Planning, Marriage Retorno and Retrouvaille. „

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Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

3DUWLFLSDQWV RI WKH 6FKRRO RI :LWQHVV SRVH DQG 2IÂżFH IRU <RXQJ 3HRSOH VWDII IRU D SKRWR ZLWK $UFKELVKRS :LOOLDP *RK DQG IURQW IURP OHIW )UV 6DPXHO /LP -XGH 'DYLG %ULDQ 'Âś6RX]D DQG 7HUHQFH .HVDYDQ Photo: ALEXANDRIA NEOH and ANDRE THENG

Young Catholics commissioned to be evangelisers By Harold Foo “Truly a blessing.â€? This was what Mr Bryan Ong, 21, a participant at the recent Nox Gaudii (Night of Joy), said of the HYHQW RUJDQLVHG E\ WKH 2IÂżFH IRU Young People (OYP). Nox Gaudii is a monthly worship session for young Catholics, aiming to strengthen their faith as they come together to worship God, receive teaching and experience the fellowship of the Church community. The recent event, held on Feb 27 at OYP’s premises at Lorong Low Koon, was of exceptional VLJQLÂżFDQFH DV LW FRLQFLGHG ZLWK the commissioning of the graduates of the 2015 School of Witness (SOW). Mr Ong, from the Church of the Holy Spirit, was one of 32 people from 11 parishes who took part in the seven-week discipleship school that aims to form young Catholics as effective evangelisers and witnesses of Christ. “Only one reason keeps us alive, and that is love,â€? Archbishop William Goh told the 700 young people and their family members who attended the Nox Gaudii. “Life without love is meaningless,â€? he said, adding that very Catholic’s fundamental vocation is to love. To live fully is to love, surrendering “totally to the service of the Lord and humanityâ€?,

he said at the event, which had the theme, Come Alive. It is the encounter with the unconditional love of God that fuels the person’s love for others, he noted. Archbishop Goh shared that one’s ability to love is strengthened by a constant prayer life; a faith community, since “no one FDQ EH DORQH´ DQG D FRQÂżGDQWH “for when life is tough, we need someone to journey together with, even as Jesus Christ needed Simeon to help carry the crossâ€?. The culmination of the event

one reason ‘Only keeps us alive, and that is love.’

– Archbishop William Goh

was the commissioning of the SOW graduates by the archbishop. The evening also included Eucharistic adoration, praise and worship and evangelistic performances by SOW participants. The latter comprised a rap, mime, sign language performance and dance. A total of 181 young people have attended the seven Schools of Witness organised over the years. The next Nox Gaudii will be held on March 20 at 8 pm at OYP. For more information, visit www. R\S RUJ VJ RU OLNH ³2I¿FH IRU Young People� on Facebook. „

Sunday March 22, 2015 CatholicNews

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Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

SJI International Elementary gets high-level accreditation SJI International Elementary School has received International Primary Curriculum ,3& DFFUHGLWDWLRQ DW WKH highest level. The Catholic international VFKRRO UHFHLYHG LWV FHUWLÂżFDWH of IPC Mastering level accreditation on March 6 at a ceremony on Kuala Lumpur. According to the school, it joins a select group of only 11 schools worldwide to have achieved this status. The IPC is one of the fastest-growing curricula in the world today, in use in nearly 1,800 schools in 92 different countries. It is a skills-based curriculum with a focus on built-in personal learning goals and international mindedness. Learning with the IPC has

a global focus – helping children to connect their learning to where they are living now as well as looking at learning from the perspective of other people in other countries. The IPC has been designed to ensure rigorous learning but also to help teachers make all learning exciting, active and meaningful for children. SJI International Elementary School has used the IPC since it opened in 2008. “Achieving Mastering level accreditation is recognition of the excellence of our staff and their commitment to a forward thinking, skillsbased, child-centred curriculum,� said principal Kevin +DQQDK „

Bridging programme centre launched in east A new bridging programme centre has been launched for young persons aged 9-14 who have never received catechism, missed catechesis for several years, or need to prepare themselves for baptism. The East District Centre Bridging Programme, managed by the &DWHFKHWLFDO 2IÂżFH &2 VWDUWHG in January. Based at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, the one-year programme aims to serve the needs of the families living in the east, as many parHQWV ÂżQG LW GLIÂżFXOW WR VHQG WKHLU children to the main centre at the Catholic Archdiocesan Education &HQWUH &$(& DW +LJKODQG 5RDG The East District Centre currently has 17 children enrolled in its programme. 7KH &2 SURJUDPPH ZDV ÂżUVW launched at the CAEC in January 2014. Sessions are held here on Saturdays from 9.30am-11am for those in Pri 3, 5 and 6, and from 11.30am-1pm for those in Pri 4 and Sec 1. On Thursdays, the programme runs from 5pm-6.30 pm for those in Pri 4 and 5 and Sec 1. CO ensures that the catechists DUH TXDOLÂżHG WR UXQ WKH VHVVLRQV Previously when catechetical director Fr Erbin Fernandez and Ms Jane Lau, then coordinator of parish catechesis, visited parishes between 2010 and 2013, they found that parish catechetical teams faced a challenge in helping

Children at the East District Centre learn about the articles of the Mass.

children who had missed catechesis for years integrate back into existing sessions. For young persons aged between 7 and 15, the coordinators DOVR IDFHG WKH FKDOOHQJH RI ÂżQGLQJ catechists willing to volunteer for extra sessions to serve this group. Through the bridging centres, CO hopes to help parishes pool and share limited resources without compromising on meeting the needs of those who need adapted forms of catechesis, while ensuring that young people and their families are closely connected back to life in the parish communities and catechetical programmes. Seven parent formation sessions are also offered to help

them connect with what is being presented in the sessions, while a three-day retreat is offered for young people who had missed preparation for the sacraments RI 5HFRQFLOLDWLRQ DQG )LUVW +RO\ Communion. Ms Christina, a parent whose nine-year-old son Xavier is attending the programme at CAEC shared, “When I ask him to join me for an activity like jogging, he will refuse but when I ask him to go to Mass with me, even when he is busy doing his own things, he will drop everything and go with me�. For more information regarding the Bridging Programme, contact Geraldine Lim at geraldine@one.org.sg „

ASIA 7

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

CHANCERY NOTICE APPOINTMENTS 1. Fr Luke Fong has been appointed as Parish Assistant to Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for a term of three [3] years with effect from 1st March 2015. 2. Fr Joseph Zhang Liyong CDD has been given permission to pursue further studies in Biblical Theology at WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO *UHJRULDQ 8QLYHUVLW\ E\ WKH VXSHULRUV of his religious congregation. He will complete his pastoral appointment in mid-May 2015 to take on his studies in Rome. 'HDFRQ *UHJRU\ 7DQ 7KLDP +HQJ 6- KDV EHHQ JUDQWHG permission to exercise his ministry as a transitional GHDFRQ IURP 0DUFK Âą 6HSWHPEHU LQ WKH $UFKGLRFHVH RI 6LQJDSRUH 4. The following members have been appointed to the Archdiocesan Commission for the Family with effect from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2017: a. Dr John Hui Keem Peng Chairperson b. Mrs Thio Ying Ying Vice-Chair F 0U -RKQ 2RL 3HQJ /HH 6HFUHWDU\ d. Mrs Monica Lim Treasurer H 0U $OSKRQVXV *UHJRU\ %RDUG PHPEHU f. Dr Bernard Thio Board member g. Mrs Caroline Theseira Board member K 0UV &\ULQH *UHJRU\ %RDUG PHPEHU

i. j. N O

Mrs Joann Ooi Mr Mark Lim 0U 1LFKRODV *DEULHO /LP 0U 5RGHULFN *UHJRU\ 7KHVHLUD

Board member Board member %RDUG PHPEHU %RDUG PHPEHU

5. Prof. Denny T. T. Lie has been appointed to the Board of Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations (ABLE) for a term of two [2] years with effect from 1 February 2015. 6. The following have been appointed to the Archdiocesan Liturgy Commission for a term of two [2] years with effect from 1 February 2015: a. Mr Alex Dominic Wong – City District representative. E 0U *DEULHO +R ¹ (DVW 'LVWULFW UHSUHVHQWative. 7. The following have been appointed to the Committee for the Healthcare of Clergy and Religious. They will advise the Chancery and Archdiocese in the area of Clinical Care, Personal and Nursing Care and Care facilities. The appointment is for a term of two [2] years with effect from 1st March 2015. D 'U &KULVWRSKHU /LHQ ¹ &KDLU 6HQLRU &RQVXOWDQW *HULDWULF 0HGLFLQH

E 'U 'RQDOG 3RRQ Âą 0HGLFDO 'LUHFWRU 5DIĂ€HV &DQcer Centre)

3 March 2015

c. Dr Irwin Chung – (Consultant Home & Primary Care) G 'U -RKQ /LP ¹ 5HWLUHG *HQHUDO 3UDFWLWLRQHU

e. Dr Joseph Ong Yew Jin – Master of Catholic MediFDO *XLOG 6SHFLDOLVW 3DOOLDWLYH 0HGLFLQH

f. Ms Elizabeth Anne Phua – (Agency for Integrated Care) g. Ms Irene Chan – (Director, Corporate Planning KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital) K 0V -R\FHO\Q 2QJ ¹ ([HFXWLYH 'LUHFWRU 8%6 $*

OTHER MATTERS

Erratum 1. It was mistakenly reported that the term of appointment for Fr John Khoo as Parish Assistant was for six [6] years. As per the Archdiocesan policy, Fr John Khoo was appointed for three [3] years.

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

Nuns in Myanmar encourage female empowerment, end to inequality *RRG 6KHSKHUG 6U Lucy, gave a keynote prescommunity of women Reentation on the “12 critical ligious held a workshop areas of concernâ€? to womin Myanmar’s largest city en in Myanmar, discussing recently to mark Interpoverty, education, health, national Women’s Day, YLROHQFH DUPHG FRQĂ€LFW exploring sex inequality the economy, women in and women’s rights in the power and decision-maksoutheast Asian nation. ing, institutional mecha7KH 6LVWHUV RI WKH *RRG nisms for women’s ad6KHSKHUGÂśV ZRUNVKRS ZDV vancement, human rights, held on March 6-7 in Yanmedia, environment and gon, and focused on the children. ways in which forms of During group discusviolence against women sions, the participants threaten holistic human pointed out that women’s development and hinder Myanmar women. Good Shepherd Sisters held rights are violated at home, Myanmar’s growth. $FFRUGLQJ WR 6U (OL]D- a workshop in Yangon to celebrate International at work, and in society, and in many ways only a few EHWK -RVHSK WKH *RRG 6KHS- Women’s Day. are aware of their rights herd nuns took up the challenge of celebrating International of violence against women to be and the procedures of the legal Women’s Day “to empower wom- VWRSSHG ´ 6U (OL]DEHWK WROG &1$ system. Moreover, participants oben’s potentials under our care, and on March 7. to help them realise their dignity More than 65 women joined served the general subjugation and value, because women in Bur- the nuns at their convent in Yan- of women to men’s authority ma are oppressed in many waysâ€?. gon for the workshop, exploring in Myanmar, as well as women “We want to see our women the challenges faced by Myanmar being targeted for slave laas human beings with dignity, in- women at home and in the work- ERXU DQG KXPDQ WUDIÂżFNLQJ „ CNA stead of as victims; and all kind place. YANGON, MYANMAR – A

Priest runs to get Canada to clear toxic waste MANILA – A Filipino Catholic

priest led a protest run on March 9 to urge Canada to take back 50 shipping containers loaded with toxic waste that are sitting at the Port of Manila. The shipments arrived in batches from Canada in July and August of 2013, according to watchdogs. But it wasn’t until February 2014 that they were discovered to contain hazardous waste materials. “These toxic wastes are the worst form of expressing friendship between our two countries,�

said Fr Robert Reyes, who is known for his penchant to run for a cause. “We urge [Canadian] Prime 0LQLVWHU >6WHSKHQ@ +DUSHU WR WDNH immediate action,â€? the priest said. The run was held in Makati &LW\ WKH FRXQWU\ÂśV ÂżQDQFLDO GLVtrict, where the Canadian embassy is located. Joining the priest at the March 9 event were members of environmental groups BAN Toxics, EcoWaste Coalition and *UHHQSHDFH /DZ\HU 5LFKDUG *XWLHUUH] executive director of BAN Tox-

ics, said in a March 9 statement that the shipment, which contains a mixture of household and toxic wastes, should be re-exported in accordance with the Basel Convention, an international treaty that regulates toxic waste shipments. The convention, to which both Canada and the Philippines are signatories, prohibits illegal toxic waste trade and requires the exporting country to take back the illegally seized shipment and to pay the costs for the return. „ UCANEWS.COM

8 ASIA

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Philippines cardinal believes Church can better reach out to Asian cultures – Asia poses unique challenges to the spreading of the Catholic faith, and the Church must respond by evangelising through personal encounters, insisted the leading Filipino cardinal. “We have to admit, even up to now, in some parts of Asia Christianity is perceived as alien to Asian cultures,� Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila said at a March 2 lecture at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D C. “It is part of the mission of the Church in Asia to show the richness of the Gospel in its universally valid truths, values, open to all human beings. But this should happen in human interactions,� he continued. “Evangelisation can never neglect concrete men and women.� Cardinal Tagle delivered the annual Cardinal Dearden Lecture at Catholic University, speaking about Gaudium et Spes After 50 Years: an Asian Reception. That document, which translates as “Joy and Hope,� was one of the four main Apostolic Constitutions of Vatican II and focused on the Church and the modern world. The lecture honoured Cardinal Dearden of Detroit, USA, for his work in spreading the teachings of Vatican II. Pope Francis’ “culture of encounter� is crucial to Asia, where Christianity is a tiny minority and looked upon with suspicion by many, said Cardinal Tagle. Although Asia is the largest continent and holds two-thirds of the world’s population, Christianity makes up a meagre three percent of the populace, and half of that is in the Philippines, he said. Poverty is rampant. Asia is

WASHINGTON

Pope Francis is greeted by young people at a home for former street children in Manila. CNS photos

ÂżOOHG ZLWK ÂłWHHPLQJ PDVVHV RI the poorâ€? which include migrants, YLFWLPV RI KXPDQ WUDIÂżFNLQJ DQG VH[ WRXULVP DQG SHUVRQV VPXJgled for cheap labour, he added. “In some parts of Asia, you have refugee camps that no country claims, so you have stateless people. No country wants to protect them and their rights,â€? the cardinal said. This would include the massive Rohingya Muslim population in Western Burma, not recognised as citizens and thus not legally protected. An estimated 300,000 live in refugee camps in surrounding countries, according to the State Department.

Myanmar parish attacked DPLG HWKQLF FRQà LFW LASHIO, MYANMAR – A parish in

the Shan state of Myanmar was recently attacked when it was hit by small artilery shells. Kutkai Township, located between the cities of Lashio and Muse on the main overland trade route between Myanmar and China’s Yunnan province, has seen an LQÀX[ RI LQWHUQDOO\ GLVSODFHG SHUsons as clashes between Myanmar government forces and a number of ethnic armed groups operating LQ WKH UHJLRQ KDYH LQWHQVL¿HG ,W LV UDUH IRU WKH FRQÀLFW WR GLrectly impact the local Catholic Church, but Kutkai’s parish faced suspicion by the military following an incident on the night of Feb 24. Fr John Sau Luk, the parish priest, told ucanews.com that a bomb attack followed by a brief skirmish, took place close to the

front of the church’s compound that night. “When it happened, I crawled under the bed. My assistant parish priest was sleeping in his room and some shrapnel hit the window and smashed it.â€? Moreover, one of the windows on the facade of the church itself was also broken. Fr Luk said the shells were only about four inches long, but VHQW VPDOO SLHFHV RI PHWDO Ă€\LQJ in all directions. It was not clear who was reVSRQVLEOH IRU ÂżULQJ WKH VKHOOV The Myanmar military and a local government-backed militia JURXS ÂżJKWHUV RI WKH .DFKLQ ,Qdependence Army, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army and the Shan State Army-North are all known to be active in the area. „ UCANEWS.COM

Cardinal Tagle proposed an evangelisation that is a person-to-person encounter. Asian culture has been shaped by the “ancient religions�, many of which are older than Christianity itself, which is seen as “alien�, said Cardinal Tagle.

Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila at the Catholic University of America’s annual Cardinal Dearden Lecture on March 2.

Therefore, in light of Gaudium et Spes and its focus on the Church in the modern world, Cardinal Tagle proposed evangelisation

that above all is a person-to-person encounter. This is easier said than done, he admitted, in cultures that persecute Christianity. When a government enacts an DQWL &KULVWLDQ ODZ IRU H[DPSOH “Will we continue dialoguing?â€? he asked. Cardinal Tagle drew some inspiration from Pope Francis’ recent visit to the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Pope Francis “pays attention WR WKH UHDOLW\´ DQG WKLV LV H[pressed in his “attentiveness to KXPDQ EHLQJV´ WKH FDUGLQDO H[plained, sharing the story of Pope Francis listening to victims of a recent typhoon describe the loss of their loved ones or their own corporal suffering from the storm. Cardinal Tagle heard Pope Francis elicit small groans as he listened, a sign that he was actively sharing in their suffering and H[SUHVVLQJ VROLGDULW\ ZLWK WKHP “The poor have a wisdom unique to them,â€? the cardinal said, adding that if one is humble he will listen to and learn from the poor and the suffering. Sometimes the Church does not have an answer for suffering, but he quoted Pope Francis that sometimes tears are the only answer. One needs go no further than a shopping mall to see the poverty of loneliness in the modern world, he concluded, whether it occurs WKURXJK RQHÂśV ÂłH[FHVVLYH SURtection of privacyâ€? or a “lack of trustâ€? between persons. “We must create the conditions of trustâ€?, he insisted, of “fraternityâ€? and “sororityâ€?. „ CNA

Indian, Chinese Catholics join Pope Francis to pray for persecuted Christians MIAO, INDIA, AND ROME – Re-

sponding to Pope Francis’ call for solidarity and prayer against the violence against Christians in the Middle East, the diocese of Miao, India, and a few parishes in China prayed for persecuted Christians in the Middle East on March 1. Pope Pope Francis had called on all the faithful to offer prayers in the wake of the dramatic violence targeted at Christians in Syria and Iraq, during his recent Sunday Angelus. A “special candleight prayer service, denouncing the horrifying atrocities of despicable torture against the human race� was held At the Christ the Light 6KULQH LQ 0LDR VDLG )U )HOL[ Anthony, the Miao diocese’s head of communications on March 2. “Everyone present was deeply moved with tears to hear about the heinous cruelty committed against the Christians, and in-

voked God to stop these incessant, inhumane, and horrifying crimes,� said Fr Anthony. He said the faithful in the diocese of Miao, under the pastoral guidance of Bishop George Pallipparmabil, has also been praying fervently

A candlelight prayer service was held in Miao, India, while a parish in He Bei, China held a prayer vigil. for the protection of the pope, for his good health and his safety. “During the month of January, the children in the diocese recited 22,064,841 Hail Marys for the same intention,� the priest added. Meanwhile in China, a par-

ish in Shaan Zi, held a prayer vigil and Eucharistic adoration for all persecuted Christian in the world, especially for those in Syria and Iraq. According to the Fides news agency, a pastor of the parish of Nan Tang of the diocese of Xi An, in the province of Shaan Xi, H[SODLQHG WKH UHDVRQV IRU WKH YLJil and the situation of Christians in the Middle East. In addition to the solidarity of the universal Church, during the homily, the pastor invited those present to pray for the persecuted Christians, but also to love those who cause harm as they are God’s children. The pastor also called on the the faithful to pray for terrorists, for their conversion of heart. In Wu Jia Tang parish in He Bei province, there was also a vigil held whereby faithful prayed for world peace and an end to persecution.„ CNA, ZENIT

ASIA 9

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Three new priests for Church in Laos LAOS – The Catholics in Laos

are eagerly awaiting three ordinations to be held in December. “2015 will be a year of blessing for the little Church in Laos. Three priests will be ordained in the Vicariate of Luang Prabang: a sign of great hope,� said Msgr Tito Banchong Thopanhong, Apostolic Vicar of Luang Prabang.

Msgr Tito, 67, has just another priest in the whole vicariate to serve 2,600 faithful in the six existing parishes. The three future priests are: Paolo Lattana Sunthon, Agostino Saegna Sii Bunti and, Michele Kanthak Vilae Luong Di. “It will be a historic moment for Laos. It is really a moment of grace for all,� said Msgr Tito. Among other things, “we

are blessed by other vocations: HLJKW VHPLQDULDQV LQ 3DNVH ¿YH in Savannakhet and three in Luang Prabang�, the vicar reported. The three deacons who will be ordained have studied in the Seminary of Savannakhet and one of them spent a year of study in the Philippines. The four apostolic vicars of Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Savannakhet and

Yangon cardinal calls for dialogue between military and ethnic militias YANGON, MYANMAR – Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop RI <DQJRQ DQG WKH ÂżUVW FDUGLQDO in the history of the Church in Myanmar, has appealed to the leaders of the Armed Forces of Myanmar (Tatmadaw) and ethnic militias, urging them to resume peace negotiations. $UPHG FRQĂ€LFW EHWZHHQ WKH groups has raged for decades, caused thousands of deaths and wounded many. In the recent annual pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Nyaunglebin, Bago region, in southcentral Myanmar, the cardinal urged the military to reopen talks with armed groups, particularly the Kachin Independence Army and Kokang rebel militias in Shan State. He stressed the importance of meeting face-to-face, to end once and for all the conflicts that have divided the country. “People are suffering because of the war,â€? the cardinal said, “and it is up to Tatmadaw [the Armed Forces], as parents [of the nation], to lead the negotiations.â€? &DUGLQDO %R PHW IRU WKH ÂżUVW time as a new cardinal more than 50,000 faithful from different parts of Myanmar during the pilgrimage. Addressing the Catholic community, he renewed his commitment to peace and reconciliation between the different groups of Myanmar. He also announced that he would get personally involved in the work leading up to the esWDEOLVKPHQW RI RIÂżFLDO GLSORPDWLF relations between the Holy See and Myanmar. Myanmar is home to more than 135 ethnic groups who have struggled to live in a peaceful manner. In the past, the military junta XVHG DQ LURQ ÂżVW DJDLQVW WKH PRVW unruly groups, including the Shan and Kachin in their respective territories in the north of the country. Last August, the region’s bishops appealed for peace, hoping for a “lastingâ€? solution to the FRQĂ€LFWV „ ASIANEWS

Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, wears a garland as he greets nuns during a reception for new cardinals after a consistory at the Vatican on Feb 14. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

Pakse in Laos will invite the apostolic nuncio, who is based in Bangkok, and other Asian bishops for the event. Msgr Tito said that with regard to relations with the civil authorities, “the situation is calm and peaceful, and there are no obstacles to the activities of worship and pastoral activities of the Church.� This appears to be a sign of

a gradual, steady improvement of freedoms in the small country, still ruled by a communist party. Of about 6 million people, mostly Buddhists, Christians in Laos are about 1 percent including about 45,000 Catholics. Currently, in addition to the four apostolic vicars, the total Catholic priests in the country are just 14. „ AGENZIA FIDES

10 WORLD

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Respect for human dignity anchor of civil rights movement, says archbishop &16 SKRWR

SELMA, ALABAMA, USA – The

message of the civil rights movement has always been that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and that the dignity of all must be respected, said Mobile Archbishop Thomas J Rodi. He was the main celebrant and homilist at a Mass on March 8 at Queen of Peace Church in Selma, USA marking the 50th anniversary of the 1965 civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery. Respect for the dignity of all remains the challenge for today, Archbishop Rodi said, adding that he wondered what the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, who led the PDUFKHV DQG ZDV ³¿UVW DQG IRUHmost a religious leader,â€? would think about things today. “Do we respect the dignity of the elderly, the immigrant, the baby in womb? That continues to be the struggle for each of us,â€? Archbishop Rodi said in a homily that described the Catholic Church’s persistent presence in addressing both the spiritual and temporal needs of God’s people. He said that the media often leave out “Revâ€? in describing the civil rights giant, and in doing so they are omitting the spiritual and primary vehicle that carried his nonviolent quest forward – one anchored in the dignity of the human person. Concelebrants included three of the nation’s African-American Catholic bishops – Louisiana Bishop Shelton J Fabre of

Thousands of people march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, USA, on March 8 during a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, the state capital.

Houma-Thibodaux, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Martin D Holley and retired Bishop John H Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida. On March 7, 1965, led by Rev King and other civil rights ÂżJXUHV PDUFKHUV ULVNHG LPprisonment and injury to make a peaceful procession from Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Montgomery. They were protesting infringement of voting rights against AfricanAmericans in Selma and the

‘

'R ZH UHVSHFW WKH GLJQLW\ RI WKH HOGHUO\ WKH LPPLJUDQW WKH EDE\ LQ ZRPE" 7KDW FRQWLQXHV WR EH WKH VWUXJJOH IRU HDFK RI XV

’

– Archbishop Thomas J Rodi of Mobile, Alabama, USA

brutal murder of a demonstrator by a state trooper a month earlier. Through newspaper ac-

counts and television coverage, the world saw blacks and whites, men and women, clergy of all faiths, Catholic priests and nuns, walking arm-in-arm across the bridge in Selma and then scattering as police released tear gas and beat some of them over the heads with truncheons. That day came to be known as “Bloody Sunday.� Rev King galvanised marchers for a second march – March 9, 1965 – but he turned it around at the bridge, at the urging of mem-

bers of Congress who wanted federal protection for the demonstrators but had not yet secured it. A third march took place March 21, 1965, with federal protection for participants. On Aug 6, 1965, the federal Voting Rights Act was passed and it was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. This year on March 7 in Selma, President Barack Obama, ÂżUVW ODG\ 0LFKHOOH 2EDPD DQG the couple’s two daughters were joined by US Republican John Lewis, an Alabama native who walked with Rev King in 1965, in leading an estimated 40,000 people who came from all over the country to take part in a commemorative march on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. More than 100 members of Congress were in attendance, as was former President George W Bush, who signed the reauthorisation of the Voting Rights Act in 2006. “The march on Selma was part of a broader campaign that spanned generations, the leaders that day part of a long line of heroes,â€? Mr Obama said in his remarks. “We gather here to celebrate them. We gather here to honor the courage of ordinary Americans willing to endure billy clubs and the chastening rod; tear gas and the trampling hoof; men and women who despite the gush of blood and splintered bone would stay true to their North Star and keep marching toward justice,â€? he said. „ CNS

Church, activists welcome Sri Lankan decision on war crimes probe NEW DELHI – Church leaders and Christian activists welcomed the Sri Lankan government’s decision to seek “advice, technical support and assistance� from the international community for a probe into war crimes during the closing stage of the protracted ethnic war. “The Holy Father’s call for ‘truth, justice and reconciliation’ during the [January] visit has not gone in vain,� Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar, an advocate for the war victims, told Catholic News Service (CNS) on March 6 from Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told the UN Human Rights Council that the new government would cooperate with the international community to address reconciliation and accountability in the Indian Ocean island nation. “The last few years when Sri Lanka moved away from this co-

Sri Lankan soldiers stand guard near internally displaced ethnic Tamils at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka on Nov 21, 2009. Church leaders welcomed the government’s decision to look into war crimes during the civil war. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

operative approach was an aberration,� Mr Samaraweera told the council in Geneva on March 2. President Maithripala Sirise-

QD ZKR DVVXPHG RI¿FH IRXU GD\V ahead of Pope Francis’ Jan 13 arrival, has promised a probe into allegations that up to 40,000 eth-

nic Tamil civilians were killed by troops under the command of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. During his Jan 13-15 visit, Pope Francis told Sri Lankans: “The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity.â€? Bishop Joseph, part of the Tamil community, told CNS, “Certainly, the pope’s advice has had an impact on this government decision.â€? In 2014, after Bishops Joseph and Thomas Emmanuel of Jaffna met at the Jaffna bishop’s house with Mr Stephen J Rapp, US ambassador-at-large for war crimes ZLWK WKH 86 2IÂżFH RI *OREDO Criminal Justice, members of the former Sri Lankan government labelled the bishops traitors and demanded their arrest. „ CNS

WORLD 11

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Knights of Columbus send US bishops welcome KXPDQLWDULDQ DLG WR 8NUDLQH vote on ‘open’ Internet NEW HAVEN, CONNETICUT, USA – The Knights of Colum-

bus is providing US$400,000 (S$554,380) to relief programmes sponsored by the Catholic Church in Ukraine. 7KH YLROHQW FRQĂ€LFW LQ 8NUDLQH has created “an enormous humanitarian disaster in the freezing winter monthsâ€?, the US Catholic IUDWHUQDO EHQHÂżWV RUJDQLVDWLRQ said in announcing the aid. The organisation is headquartered in New Haven, Conneticut, USA. Gifts by the Knights of US$200,000 each to the Eastern and Latin-rite Catholic communities of Ukraine are being used for humanitarian relief, including projects that feed and aid homeless children and refugees living on the streets of the capital city of Kiev, it said. The Knights of Columbus sent the aid to Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, major archbishop of Kiev-Halych, and Archbishop Mieczyslaw Mokrzycki of Lviv, the leaders of the Ukraine’s Eastern and Latin churches, respectively. Âł7RR RIWHQ WKH FRQĂ€LFW LQ Ukraine is discussed purely in military or geopolitical terms, while the most vulnerable and marginalised – the young and old, the poor, the sick, and the increasing number of refugee families – are almost invisible to the outside world,â€? said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. “Our support is meant to further

A woman walks at her destroyed house in the village of Kominternovo, Ukraine, near the southern coastal town of Mariupol. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

enable the bishops of Ukraine as they help their people and further implement the Holy Father’s call to aid those most in need.â€? During their “ad liminaâ€? or ÂżYH \HDUO\ YLVLW WR WKH 9DWLFDQ LQ February, Pope Francis assured Ukraine’s Eastern- and Latin-rite bishops that “the Holy See is at your side,â€? and urged them “to be attentive and considerate to the poorâ€?. “Working in the midst of uncertainty, many of the Catholic efforts are designed to help provide a social safety net for the needy, especially orphans and children who are separated from their parents,â€? the Knights said in

the announcement on the group’s aid. The programmes are an effort to carry out “in a practical way the spiritual message of Pope Francisâ€?, the organisation added. According to AP news agency, WKH ÂżJKWLQJ LQ HDVWHUQ 8NUDLQH ZDV GLPLQLVKLQJ DV D FHDVH ÂżUH agreement reached on Feb 12 began to take hold. On March 2, WKH 2IÂżFH RI WKH 81 +LJK &RPmissioner for Human Rights said more than 6,000 people have died VLQFH ÂżJKWLQJ EHJDQ LQ $SULO 7KH 81 UHIXJHH RIÂżFH SXWV WKH number of Ukrainians displaced within their own country at close to 1 million. „ CNS

Bishops of Nigeria, Cameroon help UHIXJHHV à HHLQJ %RNR +DUDP VATICAN CITY – Together, the bishops’ conferences of Nigeria and Cameroon are working together to provide assistance to WKRXVDQGV RI 1LJHULDQV ZKR ÀHG WR &DPHURRQ WR ÀHH IURP %RNR Haram’s continued violence. According to Fides news agency, Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, president of the Episcopal Conference of Nigeria, revealed this during a press conference held at the end of the plenary assembly of the Bishops of Nigeria. The archbishop of Jos explained that Nigeria’s federal gov-

ernment has joined the efforts of the Catholic Church in assisting Nigerian refugees in Cameroon. 6SHFL¿FDOO\ KH QRWHG WKH DXthorities in Abuja have donated 50 million naira (S$348,203) to the Nigerian Bishops’ Conference, which will be used along with the Cameroonian counterpart to assist Nigerians welcomed in some refugee camps scattered throughout the country. The body of the Nigerian bishops, on its behalf, has collected another 10 million naira, bringing the total aid for refugees to 60 million niara.

On May 3, Archbishop Kaigama said, a delegation of Nigerian Bishops will travel to Cameroon to assess the needs of refugees. The Bishop of Maiduguri, Oliver Dashe Doeme, and the President of Caritas Nigeria, Bishop of Umuhia Lucius Ugorji will be part of the delegation. Archbishop Kaigama expressed the hope that government representatives will also join the delegation and has invited the faithful not to forget the sufferLQJ RI WKH GLVSODFHG ÀHHLQJ WKH violence of the Islamist State. „ ZENIT

WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) vote on Feb 26 to preserve an “open Internetâ€? and safeguard net neutrality was welcomed in many quarters of the country, including the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Communications. “The Internet is a critical medium for religious speech. Radio, broadcast television and cable television are, in large part, closed to non-commercial religious messages,â€? said a Feb 26 statement by Bishop John C Wester of Salt Lake City, USA. “From the inception of the Internet until the mid-2000s, Internet service providers were not permitted to discriminate or tamper with what was said over those Internet connections,â€? he added. “Today, the FCC restores this protection for speakers, protection particularly important to non-commercial religious speakers.â€? The issue had heated up sigQLÂżFDQWO\ RYHU WKH SDVW IRXU months, after President Barack Obama in November called on the FCC to preserve an open In-

ternet. Groups of all types and stripes bombarded the FCC with email messages and phone calls beseeching the agency to act decisively to prevent preferential treatment for some content providers and to keep the Internet from splitting off into “fast lanes� for those willing to pay. Among the groups advocating for net neutrality was an interfaith group, Faithful Internet. Ms Helen Osman, secretary of communications for the US bishops, recorded her own plea for an open Internet. “Pope Francis’ inspirational message of hope has inspired millions of people, Catholics and others,� Ms Osman said in the message. “This would not have been possible without an open Internet, in which faith content is provided alongside commercial content in an equal fashion. Let’s keep the Internet open and free for the common good.� The US bishops have long supported the concept of an open Internet. „ CNS

Pope to canonise St Therese’s parents VATICAN

CITY

–

Pope Francis is expected to canonise Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St Therese of Lisieux, during the world Synod of Bishops on the family in October. Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation Blessed Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, for Saints’ Causes, the parents of St Therese of Lisieux. CNS photo leading a conference on Feb 27 on the role of saints in LQIDQF\ 7KH ÂżYH ZKR VXUYLYHG Âą the life of the Church, announced including St Therese – all entered that “thanks be to God, in Oc- Religious life. Zelie Martin died tober two spouses, parents of of cancer in 1877, at the age of Saint Therese of Lisieux, will be 45; her husband died when he was 70 in 1894. canonised.â€? 7KH FRXSOH ZHUH EHDWLÂżHG LQ Blessed Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin were married in 2008. They are believed to be the 1858. The couple had nine chil- ÂżUVW SDUHQWV RI D VDLQW WR EH EHDWLdren, but four of them died in ÂżHG „ CNS

Homeless man given funeral, burial in Vatican City VATICAN CITY – A homeless man who faithfully attended Mass at a church inside Vatican City for decades was buried in a Vatican cemetery after it was discovered he had died. Willy Herteleer had collapsed on a December night and was brought to a nearby hospital. He died at the hospital on Dec 12. Herteleer was well-known by the Swiss Guards keeping watch

at St Anne’s Gate, by local business owners and a number of clergy who brought him food, took him to lunch or treated him to his morning cappuccino, according to news reports. “He attended 7 o’clock Mass every day for more than 25 years,� Fr Bruno Silvestrini, the pastor of the Vatican’s Church of St Anne, told Vatican Radio. Herteleer lived on the streets

with all of his belongings packed in a folding grocery cart, Fr Silvestrini said. “He spoke a lot with young people, he spoke to them of the Lord, he spoke about the pope,

Willy Herteleer would talk to passersby at St Peter’s Square about their faith.

he would invite them to the celebration of the Eucharist,� he said. Msgr Americo Ciani, a canon at St Peter’s Basilica and a friend of Herteleer told Vatican Radio that the elderly man – thought to be about 80 – would talk to passersby at St Peter’s Square about their faith. Msgr Ciani said, “Very often he would engage with someone, asking, ‘Do you go to confession every now and then? Look, going to con-

fession is necessary because if you don’t, you won’t go to heaven!’� Msgr Ciani led the funeral Mass in the chapel of the Vatican’s Teutonic cemetery on Jan 9. Permission was granted to have Herteleer, who was Flemish and Catholic, buried in the small Germanic cemetery where Swiss, German and Flemish nobility and Church benefactors had been laid to rest. „ CNS

12 WORLD

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Vatican security always on high alert, chief says after IS threats VATICAN CITY – The head of Vat-

Mr Giani, who worked in direct encounter with the greatican security said Islamic State the Italian secret service before est number of people possible. (IS) militants have threatened the moving to the Vatican, said he Even as pontiff, he has remained Vatican, but there are no indica- is in frequent contact with Ital- a priest who does not want to lose tions of any planned attack. ian and other government intel- FRQWDFW ZLWK KLV Ă€RFN ´ The Vatican gendarmes, ligence services, including some “Those of us entrusted with Swiss Guards and the Italian from predominantly Muslim his security must adapt to his state police that patrol the pe- countries. style and not the other way rimeter of Vatican City around,â€? he said. “We State are always on high must do everything possialert, said Mr Domenico ble so that he can continue Giani, the commander to carry out his ministry as of the gendarme and the he wants and believes is pope’s chief bodyguard. best.â€? “There are not only the Mr Giani said Pope threats of the Islamic State, Francis “is well aware of but also the risk of action the threatsâ€? against him, by individuals, which is “but his only concern is for more dangerous because it the faithfulâ€?. is unpredictable,â€? he said in The Apostolic Palace, an interview for the March where Pope Francis chose edition of Polizia ModQRW WR OLYH ÂłLV PRUH GLIÂżFXOW erna, the monthly magato accessâ€? than the Domus zine of the Italian state Sanctae Marthae, where police. he has taken up residence, For months, there have Mr Giani said. “But as I been rumours of threats said, the Holy Father has against the Vatican or Pope chosen a way of living and Francis by the IS militants does not intend to change who are attacking Chrisit because of a potential tians, other religious mirisk.â€? norities and Muslims they Mr Domenico Giani, commander of the Vatican In addition to his condo not agree with in Syria police force. CNS photo stant collaboration with the and Iraq. Swiss Guard and Italian Concern heightened in Feb“I can say that today the pon- police forces and his contact with ruary when militants claim- tiff is seen and respected by Mus- a variety of security services, Mr ing to be allied with the IS OLPV DV WKH PRVW LQĂ€XHQWLDO PRUDO Giani said the Vatican is aided group murdered 21 Christians authority in the world – and that by a high-tech operations centre in Libya, which is less than is on the part of both religious and and “thousands of security cam300 miles from the Italian main- civil leaders.â€? eras installedâ€? in Vatican City land. Asked how Pope Francis is and in Vatican buildings around “The threat exists,â€? Mr Giani living with the threat, Mr Giani Rome. said. “That is what has emerged responded: “The Holy Father $VNHG LI KLV RIÂżFH HYHU WDSV in meetings with my Italian and does not intend to abandon the telephones, he said, “it hapforeign colleagues. But the ex- VW\OH RI KLV SRQWLÂżFDWH ZKLFK LV pens sometimes,â€? but rarely. „ istence of a threat is one thing based on proximity, that is, on a CNS and planning an attack is another. At this time, we have not been informed of any plans to attack the Vatican or the Holy Father.â€?

Coptic pope meets families of martyred Christians 3UHVHQWV GHDWK FHUWLĂ€FDWHV FRQĂ€UPLQJ PDUW\UGRP

ROME – Coptic Pope Tawadros II met on March 3 with family members of the 21 Coptic Christians who were murdered by terrorists of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in February. According to Fides news agency, the meeting was held in the village of Samalot, located in the Egyptian province where most of the victims originated from. During the meeting, the Primate of the Coptic Church gave death FHUWLÂżFDWHV WR WKH IDPLOLHV RI WKH victims, certifying their savage execution. Militants loyal to IS released a message entitled “A Message Written in Blood to the Nation of the Crossâ€?, in which they beheaded the 21 men, many of whom could be seen invoking the name of Jesus before their death. The

Coptic Church recognised their martyrdom and added their names to the Coptic Synaxarium, the Latin Church’s equivalent to the Roman martyrology. On March 2, the Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church said that the martyrs of Libya “have enriched the Church with their bloodâ€? and with their martyrdom have confessed and tesWLÂżHG IDLWK LQ &KULVW EHIRUH WKH world. Pope Tawadros’ visit to the families comes as news of the beheading of another Egyptian Copt in Libya was received. The headless corpse of Mansour Saad Awad, who worked as a poultry farmer in Cyrenaica, was found abandoned in the outskirts of a town near the area where he lived. „ ZENIT

WORLD 13

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Britain legalises modifying JHUP OLQH WR ÀJKW GLVHDVH MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – Brit-

DLQ KDV EHFRPH WKH ÂżUVW FRXQWU\ LQ the world to legalise the genetic PRGLÂżFDWLRQ RI WKH KXPDQ JHUP OLQH LQ DQ DWWHPSW WR ÂżJKW LQKHULWHG GLVHDVHV EXW &DWKROLF RIÂżFLDOV RSpose the procedures. At the end of a four-hour debate on Feb 24, members of the House of Lords nodded through regulations permitting two methods of mitochondrial transfer in the hope of curing illnesses such as muscular dystrophy. They also rejected an amendment brought forward by a Catholic peer, Lord (John) Deben, to delay passing the legislation until research had been carried out to determine the safety of the proposed procedures. The House of Commons had already approved the regulations on Feb 3, so the legislation now needs only the formality of royal assent to become law. Following the vote in the House of Commons, the Catholic bishops of England, Wales and Scotland made clear their opposition to the procedures on ethical grounds. Scientists aiming to carry out WKH SURFHGXUHV ZHUH VR FRQÂżGHQW that Parliament would back the regulations that they placed newspaper advertisements offering women 500 pounds ($1,041) to do-

An illustration depicting an early stage human embryo following the union of an egg cell and a sperm cell. CNS photo

nate their ova some two weeks before the vote in the House of Lords. Lord (Frederick) Howe, an undersecretary in the Department of Health, told the House of Lords that affected families were eager to use the technologies. “It would be cruel and perverse in my judgment to deny them that opportunity for any longer than absolutely necessary,� he said. Speaking on Vatican Radio on Feb 25, Auxiliary Bishop John Sherrington of Westminster said the passage of the regulations re-

Kidnappers threatened to kill Jesuit priest if he returned to Afghanistan

vealed a “very utilitarian view of the human embryoâ€? and said that the Catholic view “is not adequately respected or understoodâ€?. He said he was “very disappointedâ€? by the outcome of the vote in the House of Lords and was also disappointed that the arguments against the regulations were not properly aired in both houses of Parliament. “The government will tell you WKDW WKHUH KDV EHHQ D ORW RI VFLHQWLÂżF consultation, but I read that many international scientists are very crit-

Fr Alexis Prem Kumar.

that he is not sure about the identity of his captors, though it is widely believed that the Taliban are responsible. While unsure regarding the reasons for his abduction or the parameters that secured his release, Fr Kumar expressed his thanks to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and embassy of¿FLDOV LQ $IJKDQLVWDQ IRU KHOSing him obtain his freedom. „ CNS

VATICAN CITY – After going to

confession, Catholics should perform a “corporal work of mercyâ€? by inviting someone else to receive the sacrament, said a top 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFLDO ZKR GHDOV ZLWK matters relating to conscience. Msgr Krzysztof Nykiel, regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary, said penitents can be “missionaries of divine mercyâ€? by encouraging others to “experience the greatness of the love of God in the sacrament of reconciliation. This truly would be a spiritual and corporal work of mercy.â€? The monsignor spoke to L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper on March 6 as the Apostolic Penitentiary was about to begin its annual weeklong course on confession for new priests and seminarians. He said more than 500 students had signed up. „ CNS &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

A priest hears confession from a young woman at the temporary confessional booths set up at Quinta da Boa Vista Park during the 2013 World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.

US Catholic media call for end to death penalty WASHINGTON – Four US Catho-

lic publications called for abolishing the death penalty in the United States in a jointly published editorial. America, National Catholic Register, National Catholic Reporter and Our Sunday Visitor urged their readers, the US Catholic community and people of faith to “stand with us and say, ‘Capital punishment must end’�, the editorial stated. The editorial was published online on March 5 by each publication and was to appear in the printed versions of each

ROME – Jesuit Fr Alexis Prem

Kumar revealed that prior to his release, those who held him hostage threatened to kill him if he ever returned. The Indian Jesuit priest worked in Afghanistan for three years as director of the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS). On June 2, 2014, Fr Kumar was kidnapped at gunpoint during a visit to a JRSsupported school in a village in Sohadat. At a press conference following his release, Fr Kumar recalled the horrors of his captivity, saying that his hands and legs were chained. He also said that he was allowed to go to the bathroom once every 12 hours and was always accompanied by an armed guard. “I had to drink less water to control [urine] output and things like this affected me and I had to battle health issues,� he said according to ZeeNews India. “I was always told by my abductors that I would be freed soon,� he said. The Indian Jesuit priest said

Auxiliary Bishop John Sherrington of Westminster said the passage of the regulations revealed a very utilitarian view of the human embryo and said that the Catholic view was not adequately respected or understood.

ical of this vote and this procedure, so therefore I am surprised that there hasn’t been more listening to the international voice of scientists and taking more time to move forward,� Bishop Sherrington said. “We don’t know what the long-term consequences of changing the human germ line will be and we are moving into very risky territory and therefore from the perspective of public safety I worry about this move,� he added. “I would have hoped that there would have been greater emphasis on caution and safety particularly as we are affecting the germ line.� Mitochondria are the biological power packs that give energy to nearly every cell of the body. If defective, cells can be starved of energy, causing muscle weakness, blindness, heart failure and death in extreme cases. The procedures covered by the regulations include “three-parent IVF� by which material is extracted from an ovum and inserted into a donor egg before it is fertilised by the father’s sperm. The second technique, pronuclear transfer, involves up to four parents creating two embryos, which are destroyed before the maternal embryo is cloned and repackaged with parts from the donated embryo. „ CNS

Encouraging someone to go to confession is act of mercy, RIĂ€FLDO VD\V

journal in the coming weeks. Dennis Coday, editor of National Catholic Reporter, said the effort evolved after the US Su-

preme Court agreed in January to hear arguments in an Oklahoma death penalty case. The case, Glossip v Gross, involves the use of a lethal-injection protocol widely used across the country that resulted in three botched executions in 2014. The Supreme Court is expected to decide the constitutionality of lethal-injection executions in Oklahoma by the end of its term in June. “Our hope is that [the court] will hasten the end of the death penalty in the United States,� the editorial said. „ CNS

Vatican pushes UN to end death penalty VATICAN CITY – The Catholic

&KXUFK ÂżUPO\ RSSRVHV WKH GHDWK penalty and urges all states to move toward its abolition, said the Vatican’s permanent observer to United Nations (UN) agencies in Geneva. “My delegation contends that bloodless means of defending the common good and upholding justice are possible and calls on states to adapt their penal system to demonstrate their adhesion to

a more humane form of punishment,â€? Archbishop Silvano Tomasi told the UN Human Rights Council on March 4 during a discussion on the death penalty. The archbishop said the Vatican “fully supports the efforts to abolishâ€? the death penalty and suggested two steps to reach this JRDO 7KH ÂżUVW LV WR ÂłVXVWDLQ WKH social reforms that would enable society to implement the abolition of the death penalty, and the sec-

ond is to improve prison conditions to ensure the human dignity of prisonersâ€?. &LWLQJ WKH SDVW WKUHH SRQWLÂżFDWHV $UFKELVKRS 7RPDVL EULHĂ€\ explained Church teaching on the issue, saying the “steady improvements in the organisation of the penal systemâ€? in most states makes it “evident nowadays that means, other than the death penDOW\´ DUH VXIÂżFLHQW WR SURWHFW SXElic safety against aggressors. „ CNS

14 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope gives tips on preparing for confession VATICAN CITY – As Catholics are

encouraged to make going to conIHVVLRQ D VLJQLÂżFDQW SDUW RI WKHLU OLYHV GXULQJ /HQW 3RSH )UDQFLV RIIHUHG VRPH TXLFN WLSV WR KHOS SHRSOH SUHSDUH IRU WKH 6DFUDPHQW of Penance. $IWHU D EULHI H[SODQDWLRQ RI ZK\ SHRSOH VKRXOG JR WR FRQIHVsion – “because we are all sinnersâ€? Âą WKH SRSH OLVWHG NH\ TXHVWLRQV WR UHĂ€HFW RQ DV SDUW RI PDNLQJ DQ examination of conscience and being able to “confess wellâ€?. 7KH JXLGH LV SDUW RI D SDJH booklet in Italian released by the 9DWLFDQ SXEOLVKLQJ KRXVH 3RSH )UDQFLV KDG IUHH FRSLHV GLVWULEXWHG WR SHRSOH DWWHQGLQJ KLV $QJHOXV DGGUHVV RQ )HE WKH ÂżUVW 6XQGD\ RI /HQW 7LWOHG 6DIHJXDUG <RXU +HDUW WKH ERRNOHW LV PHDQW WR KHOS WKH faithful become “courageousâ€? and SUHSDUHG WR EDWWOH DJDLQVW HYLO DQG choose the good. The title is based on a line IURP RQH RI WKH SRSHÂśV PRUQing Mass homilies in which he said Christians need to guard and SURWHFW WKHLU KHDUWV ÂłMXVW DV \RX SURWHFW \RXU KRPH Âą ZLWK D ORFN´ Âł+RZ RIWHQ GR EDG WKRXJKWV EDG LQWHQWLRQV MHDORXV\ HQY\ HQWHU"´ KH DVNHG Âł:KR RSHQHG WKH GRRU" +RZ GLG WKRVH WKLQJV JHW LQ"´ 7KH 2FW KRPLO\ ZKLFK LV H[FHUSWHG LQ WKH ERRNOHW VDLG WKH EHVW ZD\ WR JXDUG RQHÂśV KHDUW LV ZLWK WKH GDLO\ SUDFWLFH RI an “examination of conscienceâ€?.

Catholics wait in line for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Pope Francis has offered 30 key questions for an examination of conscience. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

The questions for this include: Do I only turn to God when ,ÂśP LQ QHHG" „ 'R , DWWHQG 0DVV RQ 6XQGD\V DQG KRO\ GD\V RI REOLJDWLRQ" „ Am I embarrassed to show WKDW , DP D &KULVWLDQ" „ $P , HQYLRXV KRW WHPSHUHG ELDVHG" „ Am I honest and fair with everyone or do I fuel the “throwaZD\ FXOWXUH´" „ In my marital and family UHODWLRQV GR , XSKROG PRUDOLW\ DV WDXJKW LQ WKH *RVSHOV" „ 'R , KRQRXU DQG UHVSHFW P\ SDUHQWV" „ +DYH , UHIXVHG QHZO\ FRQFHLYHG OLIH" +DYH , VQXIIHG RXW WKH JLIW RI OLIH" +DYH , KHOSHG GR VR" „ 'R , UHVSHFW WKH HQYLURQPHQW" „

„ Do I overdo it with eating, drinking, smoking and amusePHQWV" „ Am I overly concerned DERXW P\ SK\VLFDO ZHOO EHLQJ P\ SRVVHVVLRQV" „ +RZ GR , XVH P\ WLPH" $P , OD]\" „ 'R , ZDQW WR EH VHUYHG" „ Do I dream of revenge, hold JUXGJHV" „ Am I meek, humble and a EXLOGHU RI SHDFH" Confession is meant to be a sincere moment of conversion, ZURWH 3RSH )UDQFLV DQ RFFDVLRQ WR GHPRQVWUDWH WUXVW LQ *RGœV willingness to forgive his chilGUHQ DQG WR KHOS WKHP EDFN RQ WKH SDWK RI IROORZLQJ -HVXV „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 15

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Mass in vernacular helps people understand God, live the faith ROME – $OORZLQJ SULHVWV WR FHOHEUDWH 0DVV LQ WKH ODQJXDJH RI WKH ORFDO FRQJUHJDWLRQ UDWKHU WKDQ in Latin allows the faithful to unGHUVWDQG DQG EH HQFRXUDJHG E\ WKH word of God, Pope Francis said. “You cannot turn back, we KDYH WR DOZD\V JR IRUZDUG DOZD\V IRUZDUG DQG ZKR JRHV EDFN LV PDNLQJ D PLVWDNH ´ KH WROG SDULVKLRQHUV DIWHU FRPPHPRUDWLQJ WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI WKH ÂżUVW time a pope celebrated Mass in the YHUQDFXODU IROORZLQJ WKH 6HFRQG Vatican Council. Âł/HW XV JLYH WKDQNV WR WKH Lord for what He has done in His Church in these 50 years of liturJLFDO UHIRUP ,W ZDV UHDOO\ D FRXUDJHRXV PRYH E\ WKH &KXUFK WR JHW closer to the people of God so that they could understand well what it does, and this is important for us: to follow Mass like this,â€? he said as he left Rome’s Church of All 6DLQWV RQ 0DUFK On the same date in 1965, Blessed Paul VI publicly cele-

‘

You cannot turn back, we have to always go forward, always forward and who goes back is making a mistake.

’

– Pope Francis

A Chinese priest distributes Communion to Catholics in a makeshift chapel in the village of Bai Gu Tun, southeast of Beijing. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

EUDWHG 0DVV LQ ,WDOLDQ IRU WKH ÂżUVW time in accordance with the norms HVWDEOLVKHG E\ WKH 6HFRQG 9DWLFDQ Council. In his homily at the parish, Pope Francis said people need to

Pope thanks women who are witnesses to Gospel VATICAN CITY – On Internation-

0V /HVOH\ $QQH .QLJKW IRUPHU al Women’s Day, Pope Francis VHFUHWDU\ JHQHUDO RI &DULWDV ,QWHUthanked women, “who in thou- nationalis, said the “best and the sands of ways, witness to the Gos- EULJKWHVW ZRPHQ LQ WKH &KXUFK´ pel and work in the Churchâ€?. are found on the frontlines of deThe pope’s comments on IHQGLQJ WKH SRRU FDULQJ IRU WKH 0DUFK SUHFHGHG D ÂżYH KRXU VLFN HGXFDWLQJ FKLOGUHQ DQG DGYRcelebration in the Vatican of the FDWLQJ IRU SHDFH DQG MXVWLFH LQ WKH ways Christian women minis- world’s most troubled places. ter to their sisters who are poor, Ms Mukti Bosco from India sick, excluded from education, or spoke about how her faith helped YLFWLPV RI KXPDQ WUDIÂżFNLQJ DQG KHU VWDUW +HDOLQJ )LHOGV DQ RUexploitation. JDQLVDWLRQ WKDW RIIHUV KHDOWK FDUH The celebration, and education to called Voices of the poor. Ms Mary Faith, also included McFarland, interPope Francis a session in which director of offered special national participants – a theJesus Commons: RORJLDQ D SK\VLFLDQ greetings to the +LJKHU (GXFDWLRQ DW a journalist and an 0DUJLQV VSRNH world’s women, WKH ambassador – exabout her work in particularly, pressed their hopes KHOSLQJ UHIXJHHV and dreams for fulland others pursue women who HU LQYROYHPHQW RI D XQLYHUVLW\ HGXseek to build a cation, while Carwomen in Church GHFLVLRQ PDNLQJ PHOLWH 6U 0DUWKD society that is $IWHU UHFLWLQJ WKH Pelloni recounted more human $QJHOXV SUD\HU LQ 6W how the rape and 3HWHUÂśV 6TXDUH 3RSH and welcoming. PXUGHU RI D \RXQJ Francis offered spewoman unleashed FLDO JUHHWLQJV WR WKH KHU FRXUDJH WR world’s women, particularly, “all VWDQG XS WR RUJDQLVHG GUXJ DQG WKRVH ZRPHQ ZKR HYHU\GD\ VHHN KXPDQ WUDIÂżFNLQJ ULQJV LQ $UJHQto build a society that is more hu- tina. PDQ DQG ZHOFRPLQJ´ $W WKH HQG RI WKH HYHQW WZR Before the pope spoke, about RUJDQLVDWLRQV Âą &DULWDV ,QWHUQD100 women and a handful of tionalis and the Gotz Foundation PHQ JDWKHUHG IRU D 0DVV LQ WKH DZDUGHG WKH Âł:RPHQ 6RZHUV RI 9DWLFDQ JDUGHQV FRQFHOHEUDWHG 'HYHORSPHQW´ DZDUGV WR &DULWDV by Archbishop Anil Couto of 1LFDUDJXD IRU D SURJUDPPH WKDW Delhi, India, and Bishop Brian KHOSV ZRPHQ JURZ IRRG WR IHHG )DUUHOO VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO their families and to sell; and to &RXQFLO IRU 3URPRWLQJ &KULVWLDQ %DVPHK DQG =HLWRRQHK D JURXS Unity. KHOSLQJ UHIXJHH ZRPHQ LQ /HED,Q WKH 9RLFHV RI )DLWK HYHQW non. „ CNS

EH DEOH WR FRQQHFW WKH OLWXUJ\ WR WKHLU RZQ OLYHV ³7KH OLWXUJ\ LVQœW VRPHWKLQJ RGG RYHU WKHUH IDU DZD\´ WKDW KDV QR EHDULQJ RQ RQHœV HYHU\GD\ OLIH he said.

³7KH &KXUFK FDOOV XV WR KDYH DQG SURPRWH DQ DXWKHQWLF OLWXUJLcal life so that there can be harPRQ\ EHWZHHQ ZKDW WKH OLWXUJ\ FHOHEUDWHV DQG ZKDW ZH OLYH RXW´ ZLWK WKH DLP RI H[SUHVVLQJ LQ OLIH ZKDW KDV EHHQ UHFHLYHG LQ IDLWK +H VDLG WKH 6HFRQG 9DWLFDQ &RXQFLOœV &RQVWLWXWLRQ RQ WKH 6DFUHG /LWXUJ\ ³6DFURVDQFWXP &RQFLOLXP ´ GH¿QHG WKH OLWXUJ\ DV ³WKH primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to deULYH WKH WUXH &KULVWLDQ VSLULW ´ 3HRSOH JR WR FKXUFK ³WR HQFRXQWHU WKH /RUG DQG ¿QG LQ +LV

JUDFH DW ZRUN LQ WKH VDFUDPHQWV WKH VWUHQJWK WR WKLQN DQG DFW DFFRUGLQJ WR WKH *RVSHO´ KH VDLG “Therefore, we cannot fool RXUVHOYHV HQWHULQJ LQWR WKH /RUGÂśV house and, with prayers and deYRWLRQDO SUDFWLFHV ÂľFRYHULQJ XSÂś EHKDYLRXUV WKDW DUH FRQWUDU\ WR the demands of justice, honesty and charity toward others,â€? Pope Francis said. $XWKHQWLF ZRUVKLS DQG OLWXUJLcal celebrations should lead peoSOH WRZDUG ÂłD UHDO FRQYHUVLRQ´ RI KHDUW E\ OHWWLQJ WKHP KHDU ÂłWKH YRLFH RI WKH /RUG ZKR JXLGHV WKHP DORQJ WKH SDWK RI UHFWLWXGH and Christian perfectionâ€?. The pope said he hoped that FRPPHPRUDWLQJ WKH ÂżUVW SDSDO 0DVV LQ WKH YHUQDFXODU UDWKHU WKDQ Latin would remind people that the house of God is meant to be a VRXUFH RI VSLULWXDO VWUHQJWK ZKHUH they can hear His word and feel ÂłQRW OLNH IRUHLJQHUV EXW DV EURWKers and sistersâ€? who are united in WKHLU ORYH IRU &KULVW „ CNS

‘Help Christians who left faith’ CNS photo

VATICAN CITY – Catho-

WKDW *RG ORYHV XV DQG WKDW lics need to reach out to ORYH LV SRVVLEOH ´ KH VDLG “baptised non-Christiansâ€?, The pope told members WKRVH &KULVWLDQV ZKR KDYH of the Neocatechumenal IRUJRWWHQ RU ZDONHG DZD\ Way that he continues to from their faith, Pope Franinsist that the Church cancis said. QRW EH VDWLVÂżHG ZLWK D SDVThe pope met on March toral plan inspired mainly 6 with about 7,000 memE\ ÂłVLPSOH SUHVHUYDWLRQ´ bers of the NeocatechuRU WU\LQJ QRW WR ORVH DQ\ PHQDO :D\ ZKLFK JXLGHV more members, but must members in an itinerary EH ÂłGHFLVLYHO\ PLVVLRQDU\´ RI H[SORULQJ WKH PHDQLQJ Pope Francis talks with Mr Kiko Arguello, found“How many times withof their baptism and learn- er of the Neocatechumenal Way, as he arrives to in the Church do we keep LQJ WR OLYH DFFRUGLQJ WR LWV lead a special audience for members of the move- Jesus inside and don’t let promises. The pope blessed ment in Paul VI hall at the Vatican on March 6. +LP JR RXW +RZ PDQ\ 31 Neocatechumenal teams times!â€? he said. “This is the Âą SULHVWV DORQJ ZLWK FRX- SHULSKHULHV RI (XURSH DQG $PHU- PRVW LPSRUWDQW WKLQJ WR GR LI ZH ples and their 600 children – who ica, and in many cities of Asia!â€? GR QRW ZDQW WKH ZDWHUV WR VWDJQDWH Âł+XPDQLW\ JUHDWO\ QHHGV WR KHDU within the Church.â€? „ CNS DUH DERXW WR EHJLQ VHUYLFH DV PLVsionaries around the world. Pope Francis asked the team PHPEHUV IRUPHG RULJLQDOO\ ÂłWR HYDQJHOLVH QRQ &KULVWLDQV WKRVH ZKR KDYH QHYHU KHDUG DQ\RQH VSHDN RI -HVXV &KULVW´ WR IXOÂżO that task but also reach out to the many “baptised non-Christians ZKR KDYH IRUJRWWHQ WKHLU IDLWK POPE because of secularisation, worldFRANCIS liness and many other factors. ReAND awaken their faith!â€? MEMBERS (YHQ EHIRUH VSHDNLQJ WR DQ\OF THE one about faith, he said, “it is with ROMAN your witness of life that you demCURIA ON RQVWUDWH WKH KHDUW RI &KULVWÂśV UHYHODA LENTEN WLRQ WKDW *RG ORYHV XV WR WKH SRLQW SPIRITUAL RI KDQGLQJ +LPVHOI RYHU WR GHDWK RETREAT. IRU XV DQG WKDW +H ZDV UDLVHG DJDLQ Pope Francis E\ WKH )DWKHU WR JLYH XV WKH JUDFH RI reads the JLYLQJ RXU OLYHV IRU RWKHUV ´ Gospels during Pope Francis said people today the Feb 22-27 need to hear the Christian mesretreat in VDJH Âł+RZ PXFK VROLWXGH KRZ Ariccia, Italy. PXFK VXIIHULQJ KRZ PXFK GLVCNS photo tance from God exists in the many

16 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

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Pope Francis greets a disabled person during a general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. CNS photo

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Money is the ‘devil’s dung. When money becomes an idol, it dictates people’s choices.

’

– Pope Francis

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POPE FRANCIS 17

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Radical pope faces opposition in and out of Church: historian Never has a pope in recent history faced such challenges, says an expert on Vatican Council II EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA – Pope Francis is a radical reform-

er who is facing enemies – inside and outside of the Church – opposed to at least some parts of his agenda, said a prominent Church historian. Prof Massimo Faggioli, an expert on the Second Vatican Council and the author of several books, said the pope is not a liberal who exalts the individual as the centre of the world and who sees a minimal role for the Church in public life. Rather, he sees the Church as having a role in society and indeed, “in everything humans go throughâ€?, Prof Faggioli said at the annual Anthony Jordan Lectures Series on Feb 28 at St Joseph Seminary in Edmonton, Canada. “That is not a liberal thought; it’s a radical Christian thought.â€? Prof Faggioli is a theology professor at the University of St Thomas in St Paul, Minnesota, USA, and the author of several books, including Pope Francis: Tradition in Transition, which will be published in May. Pope Francis, Prof Faggioli said, sees himself as having two mandates for reform. 7KH ÂżUVW PDQGDWH KH UHFHLYHG from cardinals at the March 2013 conclave, which made him its surprise choice for pope. That mandate is to deal with the problems RI 9DWLFDQ ÂżQDQFHV FRUUXSWLRQ sexual abuse and curial reform, Prof Faggioli said. There is consensus on the need to carry out that type of reform, DQG WKH SRSH IDFHV QR VLJQLÂżFDQW opposition to implementing it, he said. “From the very beginning,

however, he made it clear that he had another mandate that was not coming from the conclave or the institution.â€? That is his “popular mandateâ€?, Prof Faggioli said, that arose out of his experience as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The popular mandate, Prof )DJJLROL VDLG LV GHÂżQHG E\ KLV comment, “Who am I to judge?â€? in reference to a gay person “who is seeking God, who is of goodwillâ€?. “This is the real challenge he is offering the Church. It’s where he’s making some enemies.â€?

Church, it was still within the Curia, he said. Instead, six of the nine members of the pope’s council are cardinals who head or have recently retired as head of dioceses. Some bishops at Vatican II in 1963 wanted to create a council similar to the one Pope Francis launched, but received a secret letter from the Vatican secretary of state telling them they had no right to propose such a thing, Prof Faggioli said. “Pope Francis has changed some things. It is a kind of change that has produced a remarkable

The creation of the nine-member Council of Cardinals to help the pope govern the Church “means basically telling the Roman Curia, Âľ<RX DUH ÂżUHG ϫ says Prof Massimo Faggioli.

‘Forgive and you will be forgiven’ VATICAN CITY – Opening one’s heart to God’s forgiveness means also being willing to forgive others, Pope Francis said. “If I am not capable of forgiving, I’m not capable of being forgiven,� he said on March 10 in the homily at his early morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he lives. The day’s Gospel reading, Mt 18:21-35, begins with Jesus telling his disciples they must forgive others “77 times�, which means “always�, the pope said. While God is all powerful, he explained, God stops at the “closed door� of a heart not truly interested in forgiveness. In the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus himself taught the disciples, people say, “Forgive us our tres-

It also includes dealing with new issues that have arisen since the Second Vatican Council, such as the role of women in the Church, the family and marriage, he said. It further includes his creation of the nine-member Council of Cardinals that meets every two months to help him govern the Church. The creation of the council, Prof Faggioli said, “means basically telling the Roman Curia, Âľ<RX DUH ÂżUHGϫ In the past, whenever something new was created in the

passes as we forgive those who trespass against us.� “That is what Jesus teaches us about forgiveness,� the pope said. “The forgiveness God will give you� calls for “the forgiveness that you grant others�. “God always forgives, always,� he said. “But He asks that I forgive. If I don’t forgive, in a certain sense I am closing the door to God’s forgiveness.� Pope Francis also said asking God’s forgiveness for having committed a sin is much more than the equivalent of saying, “Oops, I goofed.� “Sin is not just a simple mistake,� he said. “Sin is idolatry. It is adoring the idol, the idol of pride or vanity, money, myself or well-being – the many idols we have.� „ CNS

and disturbing series of reactions.â€? Some of that opposition has come from within the Curia, but the power of the new council is more “a myth than a real thingâ€?, said Prof Faggioli. “We project that they are powerful and they are not.â€? A cardinal saying he would resist the pope if the pope undermines Church unity is “something new; it’s unprecedentedâ€?, he said ZLWKRXW QDPLQJ VSHFLÂżF FDUGLQDOV The historian said he has never seen such opposition to the pope LQ DQ\ UHFHQW SRQWLÂżFDWH “This is something that worries me.â€? Typically, those opposing Pope Francis are those who “have been saying for decades that the most important thing about being Catholic is to obey the pope. But when they receive a pope they don’t like, they become liberal Catholics,â€? he said. In his talk, Prof Faggioli also spoke of opposition to the pope in Europe that comes from “the nonCatholic intellectual economic establishmentâ€? including corporate and media leaders. These people see Pope Francis as a liberation theologian who challenges “a certain way of understanding the world through the point of view of the Western establishmentâ€?, he said. Prof Faggioli predicted that Pope Francis will face certain key situations this year. His encyclical on the environment is due to be released, his September visit to the United States “will be the PRVW GHOLFDWH YLVLW RI WKH SRQWLÂżcate so farâ€?, and the world Synod of Bishops on the family will take place in October. „ CNS

Theologians, canon lawyers urged to focus on mercy VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

asked academics in every discipline of theology – including moral theology, spirituality and canon law – to focus on how their area of VWXG\ ÂłFDQ UHĂ€HFW WKH FHQWUDOLW\ RI mercyâ€? in the Gospel. “Without mercy, our theology, our law, our pastoral work run the risk of crumbling into bureaucratic pettiness or into an ideology that, by its nature, tries to domesticate mystery,â€? the pope said in a letter released on March 9. “To understand theology is to understand God, who is love.â€? Pope Francis made his request in a letter to his successor, Cardinal Mario Poli of Buenos Aires, grand chancellor of the Catholic

‘

Without mercy, our theology, our law, our pastoral work run the risk of crumbling into bureaucratic pettiness or into an ideology.

’

– Pope Francis

University of Argentina. The university’s theology school is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The university’s theology students, the pope said, should not be trained as “museum theologians who accumulate data and information about revelation without

really knowing what do to with itâ€?, nor should they be cold observers of human and Church history. “Good theologians, like good pastors, should have the smell of the people and the street,â€? the pope said, and the work in the varLRXV ÂżHOGV RI WKHRORJ\ VKRXOG JLYH them the balm needed to heal the wounds of the people with whom they will come into contact. They should not be “bureaucrats of the sacredâ€?, he said, but men and women who know, love and understand the Church and its teaching, but also know, love and understand the modern world and are capable of helping people make sense of both. „ CNS

18 OPINION

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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

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

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Christopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg Mel Diamse-Lee (Features): mel.lee@catholic.org.sg

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

STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Lorna O’Hara: lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg EDITORIAL MATTERS AND QUERIES: cnedit@catholic.org.sg

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

Please include your full name, address and phone no. for all DESIGN / LAYOUT: letters to the editor. All decisions on submissions rest with Christopher Wong: design@catholic.org.sg the CatholicNews. Published submissions will be edited. Elaine Ong: elaine.ong@catholic.org.sg The views or positions presented in articles in CatholicNews do not necessarily represent the views of the Church. Advertisements that appear in CatholicNews are not necessarily endorsed by the Church.

FEATURE

The Vatican’s role in the United Nations NEW YORK – One of the Church’s

roles in the United Nations is to EULQJ WKH ÂłOHDYHQ RI WKH *RVSHO´ to the global arena, says the Holy See’s permanent observer to the UN, Archbishop Bernardito Auza. As a non-voting member since 1964, the Vatican maintains toWDO QHXWUDOLW\ DQG HTXDO IULHQGship with all nations, says the Philippines-born archbishop. The Church tries to bring its “own experience of humanity to the complex reality of international relations and debates about the problems our world facesâ€?. Archbishop Auza, 55, was VSHDNLQJ WR WKH :DVKLQJWRQ EDVHG &DWKROLF 1HZV 6HUYLFH RQ 0DUFK 3, ahead of Pope Francis’ visit to the UN in New York in September. The pope is expected to focus on poverty and development. In the UN, the Vatican exercises the right to participate in the GHEDWH RI WKH *HQHUDO $VVHPEO\ the right to make interventions, the right of reply, the right to have its communications issued DQG FLUFXODWHG GLUHFWO\ DV RIÂżFLDO documents of the assembly, and the right to co-sponsor draft resolutions and decisions that make reference to the Holy See. It is a party to international agreements as diverse as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Treaty on the Non3UROLIHUDWLRQ RI 1XFOHDU :HDSRQV Archbishop Auza said the Vatican is a moral authority that can provide a voice to address “the root causes upon which international terrorism feedsâ€?. Âł0DQ\ RI WKH FDXVHV WKDW EUHHG terrorism are evident, like the gangrening situation of oppression and persecution, extreme poverty and the sociocultural alienation RI \RXQJ RU ÂżUVW JHQHUDWLRQ LPPLJUDQWV LQ :HVWHUQ FRXQWULHV ´ he said. The Catholic Church has “ the resources in these areasâ€?, Archbishop Auza said. These include collaboration with governmental and civil groups to enhance so-

A guard stands outside the United Nations in New York. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

The Church hope to bring ‘the leaven of the Gospel ... to the complex reality of international relations’. – Archbishop Auza (left), the Holy See permanent observer to the UN

ciocultural integration of immigrants, and condemnation of those who seek to detach faith from reaVRQ DQG XVH LW DV D MXVWLÂżFDWLRQ IRU violence and extremism, he said. The Vatican also is making a moral argument against the possession and use of nuclear weapons in the current discussion of WKH ÂłXQIXOÂżOOHG´ QRQSUROLIHUDWLRQ treaty, Archbishop Auza said. “The bargain is for nuclear weapons states to gradually disarm in exchange for non-nuclearweapon states, refraining from DFTXLULQJ QXFOHDU DUPV ´ KH VDLG but “not only have the nuclear weapons states not disarmed, they have modernised their weapons.â€? On international aid for countries devastated by natural disasters, the archbishop noted that “pledges by countries don’t trans-

late to money on the tableâ€?. Those who provide reconstruction and development aid often do it with their own people and supplies, so there is little “multiplier effectâ€? to create jobs and improve the local economy. At its most successful, international development entrusts aid WR ORFDO EHQHÂżFLDULHV LQYHVWV LQ people, human capital, education and health. It funds infrastructure improvements to help the country withstand future emergencies, he said. The archbishop said the Church offers its experience in serving humanity to the UN. It is also a challenge for the Church to ÂłFRQVLVWHQWO\ UHDIÂżUP WR D FKDQJing world the values of the Holy See on certain moral and social issuesâ€?, he said. „ CNS

God’s pleasure in our action FOR the past few months, while undergoing treatment for cancer, I was working on a reduced schedule. The medical treatments, while somewhat debilitating, left me still enough health and energy to carry on the administrative duties in my present ministry, but they didn’t allow me any extra energy to teach classes or to offer any lectures, workshops, or retreats at outside venues, something I normally do. I joked with my family and friends that I was “under house arrestâ€?; but I was so grateful for the energy that I still had, that being unable to teach and give lectures was not deemed D VDFULÂżFH , ZDV IRFXVHG RQ VWD\LQJ KHDOWK\ DQG WKH KHDOWK WKDW , ZDV given was appreciated as a great grace. Recently, the medical treatments ended and soon after, most of my normal energies returned and I resumed a normal schedule that included again teaching inside a classroom. Having been on the sidelines for about half a year left me a little nervous as I entered the classroom for P\ ÂżUVW WKUHH KRXU VHVVLRQ 0\ QHUYRXVQHVV SDVVHG TXLFNO\ DV WKH FODVV robustly engaged the topic and, after the three hours, I walked out of the class feeling a wonderful energy that I hadn’t felt for six months. Teaching (which I consider both my profession and my vocation) lifted both my heart and my body in a way that it hadn’t been lifted in months. It was the missing tonic. $W ÂżUVW , IHOW VRPH DQ[LHW\ DQG JXLOW DERXW WKLV :KDW UHDOO\ WULJJHUHG WKDW ZRQGHUIXO IHHOLQJ DQG EXUVW RI HQHUJ\" 1DUFLVVLVP" 3ULGH" :DV , basking in the capacity to demonstrate some cleverness and learning and then drink in the students’ admiration? Did I feel good because my ego JRW VWURNHG" :DV P\ WHDFKLQJ UHDOO\ DERXW IXUWKHULQJ *RGÂśV NLQJGRP RU about stoking my ego? , DP QRW DORQH ZLWK WKHVH TXHVWLRQV 7KHVH DUH YDOLG TXHVWLRQV IRU anyone who draws energy from his or her work, especially if, because of that work, he or she drinks in a fair amount of adulation. Our motivations are never completely pure. Indeed, if we are fully honest with ourselves, we have to admit that there is always some degree of selfserving in our service of others. But, mixed as our motives will always be, something else, something much more positive, needs to be factored LQWR WKLV QDPHO\ WKH IDFW WKDW *RG JDYH XV RXU YDULRXV WDOHQWV DQG WKDW *RG IHHOV JRRG DERXW XV XVLQJ WKHP Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner, whose story is featured in the OsFDU ZLQQLQJ PRYLH &KDULRWV RI )LUH RQFH PDGH WKLV FRPPHQW Âł:KHQ , UXQ , IHHO *RGÂśV SOHDVXUH ´ +H GLGQÂśW PDNH WKLV FRPPHQW OLJKWO\ $V KLV ELRJUDSK\ DQG &KDULRWV RI )LUH PDNH FOHDU (ULF /LGGHOO LQ KLV TXHVW to win an Olympic gold medal was motivated more by his faith than by KLV RZQ HJR +LV IDLWK KDG KLP EHOLHYH WKDW VLQFH *RG JDYH KLP WKLV XQLTXH WDOHQW *RG QRW XQOLNH DQ\ SURXG SDUHQW WRRN D JHQXLQH GHOLJKW LQ VHHLQJ KLP XVH WKDW JLIW ,Q KLV KHDUW KH VHQVHG WKDW *RG ZDV SOHDVHG ZKHQHYHU KH H[HUFLVHG WKDW WDOHQW WR LWV RSWLPXP 0RUHRYHU WKDW LQQHU VHQVH WKDW *RG ZDV KDSS\ ZLWK KLV XVH RI KLV WDOHQW ÂżOOHG KLP (ULF ZLWK a wonderful energy whenever he ran. Seen from that perspective, we see that the root and source of his motivation and pleasure in running was, ultimately, not his desire to win gold medals and popular adulation, though clearly no one is immune to WKHVH 5DWKHU KH ZDV PRWLYDWHG E\ DQ LQQHU VHQVH WKDW *RG KDG JLYHQ KLP D VSHFLDO JLIW WKDW *RG ZDQWHG KLP WR XVH WKDW JLIW WR LWV IXOOHVW DQG WKDW *RG ZDV KDSS\ ZKHQ KH RSWLPLVHG WKDW JLIW /LNH HYHU\RQH HOVH ZKR is human, he, no doubt, enjoyed the adulation he received for his successes, but he knew too that the deepest joy he felt in using his gift had LWV XOWLPDWH VRXUFH LQ *RG DQG QRW KLV RZQ HJR $QG WKLV , EHOLHYH LV WUXH IRU HYHU\ERG\ RI XV :KHQ DQ\RQH XVHV SURSHUO\ WKH JLIWV WKDW *RG JDYH KLP RU KHU *RG ZLOO WDNH SOHDVXUH LQ WKDW $IWHU DOO *RG JDYH XV that gift and that gift was given us for a reason. Not long after I felt that burst of pleasure and energy from again teaching inside a classroom, I was talking to a colleague, a very gifted young teacher just beginning his teaching career. He shared about how much he enjoys teaching but how he worries too that the pleasure he derives from it is somehow too much connected to his ego. I gave KLP WKH /LGGHOO TXRWH DVVXULQJ KLP WKDW Eric ZKHQHYHU KH WHDFKHV ZHOO *RG WDNHV Liddell running pleasure in it. He much appreciated Lida relay dell’s comment. $QG VR VKRXOG ZH DOO :H VKRXOGQÂśW at a meet held at feel guilty for exercising the gifts that Stamford *RG JDYH XV HYHQ WKRXJK RXU PRWLYDBridge, tions will never be completely pure. :KHQHYHU ZH XVH D *RG JLYHQ WDOHQW WR London GR VRPHWKLQJ ZHOO *RG WDNHV SOHDVXUH LQ on July 19, 1924. it... and so too should we. „

FOCUS 19

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

FEATURING RETREAT HOUSES IN SINGAPORE

Basking in God’s love at LifeSprings By Mel Diamse-Lee “Enjoy basking in the sunshine of God’s love,â€? says the website of LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre. As a retreatant steps into the expansive, serene and carefully tended space that is LifeSprings, KH RU VKH ZRXOG ÂżQG LW GLIÂżFXOW WR ignore such an invitation. Perched on a hilltop between Bukit Batok and Bukit Timah and Ă€DQNHG E\ D QDWXUH UHVHUYH RQ one side, the retreat centre offers ample opportunities to encounter God in nature. In the compound itself are quiet corners where one can spend hours in prayer. LifeSprings has been run by the Canossian congregation since 1999. Sr Louisa Lim, who heads the centre as well as the community of Sisters in Jalan Merbok, notes that most of the retreatants in the place, as much as 80 percent, are non-Catholic. “Perhaps because Catholics know other retreat centres while non-Catholics get to know this place through word of mouth,â€? VKH FODULÂżHV Âł7KRVH ZKR FRPH are very surprised and happy to see this place,â€? she adds with a chuckle.

5HWUHDWDQWV¡ SURĂ€OH Those who come to LifeSprings are young working adults, the oldest being below 40 years, says Sr Louisa. “It has always been like this. I think young people are searching deeply, they really want a deep experience with God.â€? In addition to those who want

When was the last time you had fun?

I love fun and games. At our Christmas gathering in 2014, we played a guessing game to identify the person to whom the clipped photo of only the eyes belonged. It was fun as it was not easy to identify the person from her eyes alone. Name an occasion you felt embarrassed/humiliated.

At one of my counselling sessions in school I felt drowsy and my pupil told me, “Sister, very soon you will fall off the chair.� Name an occasion when you felt God was far away.

When my mother had a massive heart attack and the medical team was treating her I stormed heaven for her recovery, but after an hour my siblings and I were called into the consultation room to be told there was no hope.

Left, LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre is ÀDQNHG E\ Bukit Batok Nature Reserve. Within the centre’s compound are plenty of shady spaces for quiet moments, such as the cabin on the right.

7KHUH LV QR SDUWLFXODU SUD\HU VW\OH XVHG LQ /LIH6SULQJV Âľ,W XVXDOO\ GHSHQGV RQ WKH QHHG DQG OHYHO RI FRPIRUW RI UHWUHDWDQWV Âś – Sr Louisa Lim, directress of LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre One of the prayer tools used is the ‘labyrinth’ (above).

Disposition

to deepen their prayer life, there are those who would like to discern about career, those who would like to have clarity about what is happening inside of them, and those who are suffering from depression. Usually, they describe a feeling of “something stirring in them, such as restlessness or unresolved issues,� says Sr Louisa.

One who would like to make an individually directed retreat puts aside routine work in order to create a space for God, states Sr Louisa. “A silent retreat is an invitation by God... It is only in silence that we can hear Him,� Sr Louisa says. However, there are people who

What do you like best about being a Religious/consecrated person?

How would you make vocations attractive to the youth of today?

I have a community of Sisters for support and I love my mission in reaching out to my students past and present to share Christ’s love with them.

Be a happy Religious and be welcoming and take an interest in the way young people see life.

What was one of the biggest challenges you have faced as a Religious and how did you deal with it?

Community life. Being in the company of the young and elderly and bringing joy to them.

My biggest challenge was to be sent abroad for mission in Bolivia living in Potosi, the highest city in the world, and I had to contend with high altitude which caused very bad headaches and to learn and communicate in a foreign language, Spanish. I was not afraid to be laughed at so I learned very fast and told my Spanish friends to not only laugh at my mistakes but to correct them.

How would you summarise your life today as a Religious/consecrated person?

What aspect of Religious life has brought you most joy?

I am happy and am ever ready, OLNH 0DU\ WR VD\ P\ ÂżDW DQG WR serve the IJ province and other ministries. What are the usual distractions in your prayer? What do you do about them?

My preoccupations, especially when I hear of tragedies of other

are not used to silent retreats and need the environment of sharing, songs and inputs to pray, she adds. “There have been some [retreatants] who left after two days of silence because they couldn’t take it,� she revealed. For beginners who would like a taste of an individually directed retreat, Sr Louisa recommends a two-day stay-in programme.

people. Usually I speak of them to the Lord and ask Him for light to look after the bereaved or injured persons.

Spiritual direction vs counselling A member of Life Direction Singapore, Sr Louisa is also a trained counsellor. To make her role clear to a retreatant, she spends time to ÂżQG RXW WKH SHUVRQÂśV QHHGV KDYing observed that some retreatants think that spiritual direction is the same as counselling. “Spiritual directors don’t give solutions,â€? she emphasised, adding that some individuals ask for advice for their concerns or problems instead of they themselves coming up with one that suits their particular circumstances. Retreatants are accompanied “based on where they are with *RG´ 6U /RXLVD FODULÂżHV For this reason, there is no particular prayer style used in LifeSprings. “It usually depends on the need and level of comfort of retreatants.â€? she adds. When a retreatant is deemed open and ready to use his or her imagination, a form of Ignatian Spiritual Exercise is introduced. Sometimes other simple methods of prayer are provided. One prayer tool that is offered at LifeSprings is the “labyrinthâ€?, an ancient form of meditation, which involves walking, and through which many people have experienced inner healing, said Sr Louisa. LifeSprings also conducts short workshops to promote healing of the inner self. 7R ÂżQG RXW PRUH DERXW /LIH6SULQJV &DQRVVLDQ 6SLULWXDOLW\ &HQWUH YLVLW KWWS ZZZ OLIHVSULQJVFDQRVVLDQ FRP 'HIDXOW DVS[ „ mel.lee@catholic.org.sg

pleasant, go for outings together and eat our favourite food, which my siblings can cook and I cannot. What do you usually do to relax?

Pope Francis calls for a Church for the poor, by the poor. How do you live that within your vocation?

I have always asked for slow learners in my class. I practise patience with them and I must say I reap rewards later in life when these students come back to share their work life. I spent 12 years with the materially poor in Potosi in a cold mountain environment. What do you like doing most when with your biological family?

Share news, pleasant and not Singaporean Sr Joan Tay Sisters of the Infant Jesus http://www.chij-sisters.org/

I read, listen to music and play board games. I also play spider solitaire. „

20 FOREIGN COMMUNITIES

Sunday March 22, 2015 CatholicNews

Getting to know more a Indian migrant Catholic

Left: Tamil migrant Catholics celebrate Pongal, a harvest festival, on Jan 18 this year and (right) re-enacting the Stations of the Cross during a Good Friday service at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes.

By Lorna O’Hara The Indian migrant Catholic community in Singapore has at least 6,000 members, according to its coordinators. About 4,000 are Tamils while the rest are Malayalees. CatholicNews spoke to the coRUGLQDWRUV IRU ERWK JURXSV WR ¿QG out more about them and the challenges they face.

Tamil migrant Catholic community “Currently, there’re no proper direction and spiritual growth for the [Tamil] migrant workers. They just go for Mass and nothing else,” said Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Sr Motcha, the secretary for the Commission for the Apostolate of Tamil-Speaking (CATS). She has been working closely with the Tamil Catholic migrant com-

munity for the past 14 months. “It’s hard for us to organise events for the migrant workers as most of the churches close their compounds straight away after the Tamil Mass”, which is usually held in the evenings after Sunday sunset Mass, she said. Mr S S A Suresh, a coordinator at Church of Christ the King, added that the workers who come to Singapore have “a lot of emotional and social problems”. Thus, counselling and spiritual fellowship are “very important”. He added that most workers are able to attend church activities only on Sunday evenings only after work. Sr Motcha added that the Tamil migrant community is now without a spiritual director as Fr Augustine Joseph is on sabbatical leave. “The archdiocese has not mentioned who the next spiritual director will be and Fr Anthony Raj”

who is assistant parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) has many other duties, said Sr Motcha. During the interview, various coordinators of the community said that the spiritual needs of many Tamil Catholic migrants are not being met. Thus, some leave the Catholic Church to join other Christian denominations.

Mr John Ken, another coordinator, said that in the past, retreats were held but now it is a challenge to bring in priests from India. There “is a lot of work settling the work passes and such. If we have resources here to help us communicate [with priests] abroad, it would be very useful,” he said. The welfare committee under

Tamil Masses There are Tamil Masses in seven parishes – OLOL at 9.30am and 6.30pm (every Sunday); Church of St Francis of Assisi at 7.30pm (every Sunday except on the fourth Sunday of the month); Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea at 6.30pm ¿UVW 6DWXUGD\ DQG VHFRQG 6XQday of the month); Church of

Coordinators from the Tamil migrant Catholic community seen here with Our Lady of Lourdes assistant parish priest Fr Anthony Raj (centre), and Sr Motcha (third from right).

6W $QWKRQ\ DW SP ¿UVW and second Saturdays of the month); Church of the Risen Christ at 4pm (second Sunday of the month); Blessed Sacrament Church at 7pm (third Sunday of the month), and at Church of Christ the King at 6.30pm (fourth Sunday of the month).

Left: Malayalee migrant Catholics posin

CATS’ Agape Ministry comprises 12 members. The group organises lessons in computer skills, English, sewing and music on Sundays at OLOL but these are primarily for women. There are also Bible sharing classes at OLOL every Sunday between 11.30am and 12.30pm. The community also celebrated the traditional Pongal festival (Feast of Good Harvest) which took place on Jan 18, and will celebrate on Sept 8 the Feast of Our Lady of Velankanni at OLOL, said Sr Motcha. For the upcoming Good Friday service, the Tamil migrant workers will re-enact the Stations of the Cross in the same parish. For more information about the Commission for the Apostolate of Tamil-Speaking, visit http://www. tamilcatholic.org.sg/

Representatives of the Malayalam migrant Catholic community pose for a photo with their spiritual director, Fr Salim Joseph (in habit).

LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICES 21

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

about the c community

ng for a photo during a Christmas carolling session in 2014 and (right) participating in a retreat in February this year.

Malayalam migrant Catholic community The Archdiocesan Commission for Malayalam Apostolate was formed in 2014 to cater to the Malayalam Catholic community which comprises the Latin-rite, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara groups. The commission chaplain, Franciscan Fr Salim Joseph said that “as far as the archdiocese is concerned, all three groups have to be under the Malayalam Commission but they have got their own individuality� in terms of rituals. The oldest group is the Latinrite group which was established here in 1971. Mr Wenslaus Silua, a coordinator for the group, said that it faces a challenge in getting youths to join as they are English-educated and “don’t see a need to go for Malayalam Mass�. “We still have old people like me here. A few still hang on,� added 86-year-old Llyod Fernandes who has been with the group from the start. Mr Fernandes shared that two secular establishments offer Malayalee language lessons – the Singapore Malayalee Association at Race Course Road and the

Masses The Latin-rite group holds Masses in Malayalee every Sunday in OLOL at 4pm ÂżUVW 6XQGD\ RI WKH PRQWK Blessed Sacrament Church at 7pm (second Sunday of the PRQWK &KXUFK RI 2XU /DG\ Star of the Sea at 6.30pm WKLUG 6XQGD\ RI WKH PRQWK Church of St Francis of Assisi at 7.30pm (fourth Sunday of the month), and at Church of Christ the King at 6pm ÂżIWK 6XQGD\ RI WKH PRQWK

Sri Narayana Mission at Sembawang but “few [youngsters] are coming forward to learn the language�. The Syro-Malabar Catholic group has been in existence in Singapore since 2000. Mr Jaison Manuel, a coordinator, said that since 2000, there have been more Syro-Malabar Catholics coming to Singapore from India. As such, they wanted a place “to have their own rituals�.

The Malayalam Catholic community comprises three groups – the Latin-rite group, the Syro-Malabar group and the Syro-Malankara group. However, there were times when they had to look elsewhere as local churches were often occupied said Mr Manuel. Mr Manuel said that the group is still in search “of a place [to hold] Masses in a particular area in the west�.

Masses Masses are held for the Syro-Malabar group on Saturdays at 7.30pm in three Catholic parishes in Singapore – Church of Divine 0HUF\ ÂżUVW 6DWXUGD\ RI WKH PRQWK &KXUFK RI 6W $QWKRQ\ WKLUG DQG ÂżIWK 6DWXUdays of the month), and St Anne’s Church (fourth Saturday of the month). “There are a handful of people who are part of the Syro-Malankaraâ€? group in Singapore. No more WKDQ ³¿YH RU VL[´ )U 6DOLP VDLG

To cater to the entire Malayalam migrant Catholic community, there is the Malayalam Charismatic Group (MCG). Mr E Jacob Jose, a coordinator for the group, shared that to meet the spiritual needs of the community, MCG has six ministries which meet up once a month – children’s ministry, teens ministry, intercession prayer group, praise and worship group, Bible sharing ministry and a healing ministry. Together with the commission, MCG also holds night vigil prayers every Friday at the Church of St Anthony from 9.30pm5.30am. Mr Jose shared that as MCG’s PLQLVWULHV DUH QRW FRQÂżQHG WR D VSHFLÂżF SDULVK 0&* IDFHV D FKDOOHQJH LQ ÂżQGLQJ D YHQXH IRU LWV DFtivities. The commission also organises activities such as stay-in retreats for Malayalees regardless of whichever group they belong to. Mr Basil Camoens, a coordinator from the Latin-rite group, said that for the retreats, love offerings collected go to the church. The group thus has to raise its own funds. Fr Salim added that as the spiritual director of the commission for eight months, he is unsure of who should pay for commission events and meetings. “It is still not clear if the diocese will pay or we will pay,â€? said Fr Salim. He is in the midst of organising a family day which will take place during Diwali, or Deepavali, on Nov 10 this year. Families will be invited to play different cultural sports, and children can show off their talents. For more information on the Malayalam Catholic community, visit https://www.facebook.com/ malayalamcommission „ lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg

CITY DISTRICT Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Under renovation/restoration. Church of Sts Peter & Paul No Penitential Service Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) Under reconstruction. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Sunday March 15 at 8.45am (Tamil) & 5.45pm (Tamil) Tuesday March 24 at 8pm (English) Church of the Sacred Heart Friday March 20 at 8pm Church of St Bernadette Monday March 23 at 8pm Church of St Michael Wednesday March 25 at 8pm Church of St Teresa Thursday March 26 at 8pm St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) Friday March 27 at 8pm EAST DISTRICT Church of the Holy Trinity Friday March 20 at 10.30am & 8pm Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Monday March 23 at 10.30am & 8pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Tuesday March 24 at 8pm Church of the Holy Family Wednesday March 25 at 10.30am & 8pm Church of St Stephen Thursday March 26 at 8pm Church of Divine Mercy Friday March 27 at 8pm

NORTH DISTRICT Church of Christ the King Friday March 20 at 10.30am and 8pm Church of the Risen Christ Monday March 23 at 10.30am & 8pm St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) Tuesday March 24 at 8pm Church of the Holy Spirit Wednesday March 25 at 10.30am & 8pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Thursday March 26 at 8pm Church of St Anthony Friday March 27 at 8pm SERANGOON DISTRICT Church of St Francis Xavier Monday March 23 at 8pm St Anne’s Church Tuesday March 24 at 8pm Church of the Nativity of the BVM Wednesday March 25 at 8pm Church of St Vincent de Paul Thursday March 26 at 8pm Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Monday March 30 at 8pm WEST DISTRICT Church of St Ignatius Monday March 23 at 8pm Church of the Holy Cross Tuesday March 24 at 8pm Blessed Sacrament Church Wednesday March 25 at 8pm Church of St Mary of the Angels Thursday March 26 at 8pm Church of St Francis of Assisi Friday March 27 at 8pm

Note: All information provided correct at press time. Please contact the individual parishes for updates.

22 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

%HLQJ D OLYLQJ VDFULĂ€FH GXULQJ /HQW By Marge Fenelon :H WKLQN D ORW DERXW VDFULÂżFH during Lent. Generally, we think of it in terms of giving up something. Then there are the days of fasting and abstinence, which can EH D GLIÂżFXOW WLPH IRU PDQ\ RI XV accustomed to a comfortable way of living. %XW WKHUHÂśV D NLQG RI VDFULÂżFH that we might not think about, DQG WKDWÂśV WKH VDFULÂżFH WKDW LV SDUW of giving of ourselves to God and to others. It’s a type of sacULÂżFH WKDW UHTXLUHV XV WR DEDQGRQ our will and seek to serve God’s will. St Paul speaks of self-sacriÂżFH LQ KLV OHWWHU WR WKH 5RPDQV “I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living VDFULÂżFH KRO\ DQG SOHDVLQJ WR God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and SOHDVLQJ DQG SHUIHFW´ 5RP 2). The apostle encouraged us to offer ourselves as a living sacriÂżFH ZKLFK PHDQV EHKDYLQJ LQ ways pleasing to God. Making of ourselves a living VDFULÂżFH UHTXLUHV SXWWLQJ DVLGH RXU VHOÂżVK GHVLUHV DQG KDELWV DQG allowing ourselves to be formed in Christ. The penances, fasting and almsgiving that we do during Lent help this process to

Children eating a free meal in a slum area in Manila, Philippines. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

a great degree. It helps shift the focus from the “me, me, meâ€? that can absorb us on a daily basis toward a way of being that helps us WKLQN ÂżUVW DQG IRUHPRVW Âł:KDW can I do for others and for the world?â€? Many of us can go through the season of Lent as if by a reĂ€H[ :H JLYH XS WKLQJV KHUH DQG there, year after year, but we do it more out of habit rather than hav-

ing this habit produce the fruit RI VHOÀHVVQHVV WKDW /HQW LV VXSposed to yield. More important than giving is the attitude with which we approach the act of giving. For example, we can choose to give up sweets or television or take an extra dollar out of our wallets at the offertory during Mass, but those actions won’t lead us closer to Christ if we do it

simply because we feel obligated to follow the Church’s guidelines for Lent or if we do it simply so that others will see our generosity D VHO¿VK DFW Truly giving and emptying ourselves will lead us closer to Christ when we do it consciously, when we don’t do it to call attention to ourselves or seek to be lauded for it. We have to be aware that we are called to-

6DFULĂ€FH DV D SDWK WR VWUHQJWK By Janelle Alberts Nothing has gotten me into more trouble in life than my mouth. That fact hit me particularly hard as I considered Lent and what it means to give up or to sacULÂżFH VRPHWKLQJ WR FRPPHPRUDWH the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan. I scanned Scripture and for some reason landed on the story of Zechariah, at the moment the angel appeared to Zechariah, telling him he’d lose his ability to speak because he doesn’t believe that his wife will bear him a son. “Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.’ And the angel said to him in reply, ‘I am Gabriel, who stand before God. I was sent to speak to you and to announce to you this good news. But now you will be speechless and unable to talk until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be IXOÂżOOHG DW WKHLU SURSHU WLPHϫ /N 1:18-20). The verses struck me in a new way because I hadn’t thought

I considered Lent and what it means to give up or to VDFULÂżFH VRPHWKLQJ to commemorate the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan.

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of talking too much as an extravagance – at least not in the manner that we consider during Lent. Voluntary self-denial, or sacULÂżFH DQG VSLULWXDO H[HUFLVHV VXFK DV ÂżQGLQJ PRUH TXLHW WLPH for prayer, are an intrinsic part of Lent. “These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of pen-

ance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing [charitable and missionary works],â€? says the Catechism of the Catholic Church of Lent. We do it, says the catechism, because “by the solemn 40 days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus LQ WKH GHVHUW´ 1R Connecting to Jesus’ experience during that time is a tall

RUGHU 1RW WR SXW WRR ÂżQH D SRLQW on the matter, but the time Jesus spent in the desert was rough. Satan was relentless. Jesus ate nothing and grew physically weary. +RZHYHU WKLV VDFULÂżFH OHG to strengthening rather than suffering. What strengthened Jesus DQG ZKDW FDQ VWUHQJWKHQ XV ZDV what led him into the desert in the ÂżUVW SODFH WKH 6SLULW When he came out of the desert, he was “in the power of the Spiritâ€?, we hear in Luke 4:14 . He went to the synagogue and, from the scroll of Isaiah, he read aloud, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poorâ€? /N Our journey is meant to receive the spirit, perceive the spirit and walk out in obedience. At the end of this Lenten season, will our walk through the desert strengthen us? Will it lead us to a place where we won’t wonder about God’s intentions for us? „ CNS Alberts is a freelance writer and media relations specialist. She lives in Chagrin, Ohio, USA.

ward the noble things of heaven, QRW WKH VXSHU¿FLDO UHZDUGV RI earth. As Christians, we are members of the mystical body of Christ, and in that regard, all that we do affects the rest of the body. When we live in the spirit of VDFUL¿FH RI GHQ\LQJ RXUVHOYHV we help to strengthen all others. :KHQ ZH OLYH VHO¿VKO\ ZH KHOS to weaken others. Lent is a remarkable, grace¿OOHG WLPH WR MRLQ RXU VDFUL¿FHV our suffering, to the suffering of Christ and also to the suffering of all members of the Church. Together, we can strengthen each other. It can change our perspective if we learn to see Lent as an opportunity to become a living sacUL¿FH WR PDNH HYHU\ PRPHQW RI every day a holy and pleasing offering to God. St Paul tells us that when we do that, our minds will be renewed in order to better discern God’s will. Along the way, we’ll develop not only an eye but a desire for all that is good, pleasing and perfect. Our Lent can be a half-heartHG HYHQ VXSHU¿FLDO JLYLQJ XS RI things, or it can be an instrument of transformation, an opportunity to become what God asks of us. „ Fenelon is a freelance writer from Milwaukee, USA, and author of Imitating Mary: Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT There’s a humorous card making the rounds on the Internet and it says: “Next year for Lent, I’m going to give up being so miserable about what I gave up for Lent.â€? 7KH SRLQW RI VDFULÂżFH during Lent isn’t to make us suffer, but to make us change. Giving up things for others isn’t meant to make us miserable. SacULÂżFH LV PHDQW WR PDNH XV better people, not just during 40 days but throughout life. “The Christian life consists in continuously scaling the mountain to meet God and then coming back down, bearing the love and strength drawn from Him, so as to serve our brothers and sisters with God’s own love,â€? said Pope Benedict XVI in his 2013 Lenten message. 7KH VDFULÂżFHV ZH PDNH during Lent and throughout life, may become someone else’s bounty, just as Jesus’ VDFULÂżFH EHQHÂżWHG XV DOO „

23

Sunday March 22, 2015 CatholicNews

By Joe Sarnicola Not all the kings who ruled over Israel served God with their hearts. Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin, both young men, followed their own ways and did evil things. God watched as king after king ruled His people and His land without following the laws of Moses and the prophets. He loved His people, even when they did not return His love. He watched and He waited, but He would not tolerate disobedience forever. Zedekiah was only 21 years old when he became king. He, too, did not obey the Lord’s commandments, and he did not show respect to Jeremiah, the Lord’s messenger. Zedekiah hardened his heart and chose not to listen to God. The princes, the priests and the

people also turned away from God. 7KH\ HYHQ GH¿OHG WKH WHPSOH LQ -Hrusalem, which had been consecrated and made a holy place. Still God did not turn away from His people. Instead He continued to show compassion to them and send His messengers to them. When the people heard the words of the messengers, they did not listen. They laughed at the messengers and the prophets, and they ridiculed God’s warnings. God saw that Israel had chosen not to listen to His words. He knew He would have to deal with them more harshly. Maybe they would understand force. The army of the Chaldeans attacked Israel and was victorious. They looted the treasures of the temple and the palace, and burned down the people’s homes. Those who were

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Enda Enda stayed at a monastery in Whithorn in Galloway, which is in present-day southwest Scotland, until he left to establish churches on both sides of the Boyne River. He also visited his sister’s husband, the king of Munster, and asked for ownership of a small island called Aran where he could found another religious building. The king wanted to give Enda what he thought was a better island but reluctantly agreed when Enda insisted on having Aran. He built a large monastery on one part of the island and 10 smaller houses on various other spots. He lived according to a very strict code, and he expected his disciples to follow his example. Enda is regarded as one of the men who brought organized monasticism to Ireland. He died in 530, and we remember him on March 21.

not killed or injured became captives. Although the people of Israel ignored the words of God, Cyrus, the king of Persia, had listened. He made a proclamation. “All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord, the God of heaven, has given to me, and He has also charged me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to

any part of His people, let Him go up, and may his God be with him!” Read more about it: 2 Chronicles 36

Q&A 1. How did the Israelites treat God’s messengers? 2. Who was the man who listened to God?

Wordsearch: EVIL

ARMY

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BIBLE TRIVIA: What are the names of the two sections of the Bible?

Bible Accent: Answer to Bible Trivia: the Old and New Testaments. Answer to puzzle: God so loved the world.

PUZZLE: Cross out the letters a, b, c, x, y and z, then form the remaining letters into words to reveal why God sent His son to Earth, as found in John 3: ABXTCHEY SYOGOZZZ DCXWOBRB LBDLAOV CEDXYZ

Answer to Wordsearch

The Books of Chronicles tell a narrative about the history of Israel. They record stories that were not written about in the Books of Samuel and Kings. Many people believe that the books that follow the Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah, may have part of the same record because they are so similar. However, scholars believe that not all of the information is historically accurate. Instead, the writers were more concerned about trying to demonstrate God’s work in and through the people of Israel. Some of the earlier books of the Scriptures are mentioned in the Chronicles, so they must have been used as references. There is also mention of books that no longer exist. 0XFK RI WKH ¿UVW VHFWLRQ RI &KURQLFOHV UHFRUGV JHnealogical lists, but then it moves into the story of David and his kingdom. 2 Chronicles tell us about the reign of King Solomon, David’s son.

24 WHAT’S ON 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.catholicnews.sg/whatson CATECHISM FOR THE ELDERLY Catechism classes for the elderly are held in English, Mandarin, Peranakan, Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese on Thursdays from 1pm-2.45pm at Holy Family Church and on Saturdays at St Joseph’s Church, Victoria Street, parish hall from 9.30am11.30am. Register T: 9115 5673 (Andrew). MARCH 3, 10 AND MARCH 17 THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST IGNATIUS AND THE SEASON OF LENT 9.30am-noon: For three Tuesday PRUQLQJV H[SORUH WKH /HQWHQ WKHPHV RI prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Facilitated by Jesuit Fr Leslie Raj. Fee: $30. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At 8 Victoria Park Road. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com. MARCH 14 MEDITATIVE PRAYER USING THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8pm-9.30pm: Join us for a meditative prayer using the songs of Taize. All are welcome. Organised by Singapore Taize Core Group. At The Armenian Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, 60 Hill Street. Enquiries T: 9837 7256; E: bennycah@gmail.com; W: www.taize.fr/en.

Sunday March 22, 2015 „ CatholicNews

MARCH 16 CATHOLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2015 DP SP ([SORUH WKH FKDUDFWHU RI &DWKROLF VFKRROV DQG H[FKDQJH LGHDV RQ forging Catholic ethos in them. Organised by Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools. At St Gabriel’s Secondary School, 24 Serangoon Avenue 1. Register E: katherine.manalang@catholic.org.sg; W: http://www.accs.sg/cec-2015/.

MARCH 21, 22 AND MARCH 28 BASIC CATECHIST COURSE LEVEL 1 – EVANGELISATION & MISSION 9am-9pm: This personal retreat will be a time of prayer, encounter with the Word, participation in the sacraments, and the paraliturgy to deepen one’s faith. 2UJDQLVHG E\ 2I¿FH IRU 7KH 1HZ Evangelisation. At CAEC, 2 Highland Road. Register T: 6858 7012 (Sylvia); E: sylvia@one.org.sg.

MARCH 27 STATIONS OF THE CROSS 8pm: Marriage Encounter invites all married couples to join us for a Lenten UHĂ€HFWLRQ 7KLV UHĂ€HFWLRQ ZLOO DOORZ FRXSOHV WR H[SHULHQFH WKH VLJQLÂżFDQFH RI WKH /RUGÂśV Passion in their marriages. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road. Register E: http://goo.gl/forms/ u1rFu6Rw3q; Enquiries E: patrick_nt_ tan@yahoo.com.sg. Register by March 22.

MARCH 20 LENTEN ALL NIGHT VIGIL – THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST 8pm-5am: Lent is a time that the Church UHÀHFWV RQ &KULVWœV SDVVLRQ DQG GHDWK LQ an intensely focused way. As we enter into the season of Lent, let us come together and prepare our hearts in this DOO QLJKW YLJLO E\ UHÀHFWLQJ DQG SUD\LQJ on the seven last words of Christ. Dinner, breakfast after Mass at dawn, and light refreshments throughout the night will be provided. Organised by Church of St Ignatius. At Church of St Ignatius, 120 King’s Road. Register T: 6466 0625; E: jennahkwek.stignatius@gmail.com.

MARCH 21 AND MARCH 28 EXPERIENCING ART – HEALING AND FORGIVENESS 10am-noon: Join us for two Saturdays for a time of drawing and painting. The sessions will be based on artworks by Seiger Koder, sharing of Bible stories in combination with Lectio and Visio Divino. 1R SULRU H[SHULHQFH QHHGHG $OO PDWHULDOV will be provided. Fee: $10. Organised by Clarity. At Block 854 Yishun Ring Road, #01-3511. Register T: 6757 7990; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org.

MARCH 27 TO MARCH 29 MARCH CHOICE WEEKEND 6pm: It takes one weekend that will inspire you for the rest of your life. Come away for a Choice Weekend. It is by the FKRLFHV ZH PDNH WKDW GHÂżQHV ZKDW RXU life is all about. Organised by Choice Singapore. At Choice Retreat House, 47 Jurong West, Street 42. Register T: 9790 0537 (Hillary) / 9424 2606 (Jacqueline).

MARCH 20 TO MARCH 22 BEAUTIFUL YET PRICKLY: A STAYIN LENTEN RETREAT 7pm (Friday)-5pm (Sunday): The Easter palm is both beautiful and prickly. It also lends itself to being bent into graceful shapes in our decorations for the season. We are like these palms. Will we allow the Lord to tame our prickles and bend us into His image so that we radiate both His Passion and Resurrection? Organised by Kingsmead spiritual directors. Fee (non-air con): $180; (with air con) $220. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com.

MARCH 14 UNDERSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS 10am-noon: Gain some perspectives on how to develop mature and responsible relationships. Fee: $20. Concession for THRIVE partners only. Organised by Clarity. At Theatrette, Nee Soon South CC, 30 Yishun Street 81. Register T: 6757 7990 / 9710 3733; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org.

MARCH 20 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8pm-9pm: Set in an atmosphere of silence and peace, this beautiful form of prayer, inspired by the monastic tradition in Taize (France), can help one invite God’s presence to penetrate one’s innermost being. Come join us in this ecumenical meditative prayer with the songs of Taize, every 3rd Friday of the month. Organised by Taize group at Good Shepherd Place. At Good Shepherd Place, 9 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, chapel. Enquiries E: a.quiet.time@gmail.com; W: www.taize.fr/en

MARCH 14 CENACLE LENTEN RECOLLECTION 9am-4pm: “Come back to me,� a familiar refrain during Lent from the prophet Hosea, reminds us that Lent is a call to deeper conversion. This one-day recollection will help us journey through the Lenten season with a deeper sense of coming back to the Lord. Organised by the Cenacle Sisters. At the Cenacle, 47 Jurong West St 42. Register: T: 6565 2895; E: cenaclesing@gmail.com.

MARCH 22 LENTEN BLOODMOBILE OUTREACH 9.30am-3.30pm: Give one bag of blood and save up to three lives! Donors must be aged between 16-60 years, and weigh above 45kg. Please bring along your NRIC or passport. Organised by Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 24 Highland Road. Register T: 9751 9906 (Maria); hopejoyasia@yahoo.com.sg. MARCH 22 TO MARCH 28 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER – PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE This will not be a stay-in retreat. Organised by Sojourners’ Companions from Church of St Francis of Assisi. Registration will be available on March 14-15 at the parish, or on the Sojourners’ Companions website at www.sojourners.com. Enquiries E: wogp@sojourners.sg. MARCH 26 MASS FOR INTERGENERATIONAL HEALING 8pm-9.30pm: Fr Tom Curran will celebrate Mass with a focus on intergenerational healing, followed by a time of individual prayer for healing. All are welcome. Organised by Praise@ Work. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul, 225A Queen Street. Register T: 9459 2450 (Marilyn); E: marilyn8sep@yahoo.com.

Crossword Puzzle 113 1 1

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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Land where Moses died 5 Possible Easter month 10 Partly open 14 Golden Fleece ship 15 Develop 16 Brass wind instrument 17 Writable storage PHGLD EULHĂ€\ 18 City in Ohio 19 Ever and ___ 20 Sport position

22 Good habit 24 The feast of the Guardian Angels is in this mon. 25 Digress 26 Ancient Greek god 30 Game of chance 31 The root of all evils is the love of this (1 Tim 6:10) 32 Jesus shared this with his apostles the night before he died 33 Ostrich’s cousin

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Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1139 B E A M

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MARCH 28 JOYFUL PARENTING Noon-5pm: Becoming a parent soon? Come join us at a Joyful Parenting workshop to learn the insights of a holistic approach on what essentials new parents have to think about when planning the delivery of their baby. Learn about the changes in your lifestyle and the role of both parents. Fee: $16 (for individuals) / $28 (for couples). Organised by Joyful Parenting and Family Life Society. At The Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, St Emma, Level 2. Register via SMS: 9271 3335 / T: 6488 0278 (Doris). MARCH 28 A SPECIAL NIGHT OF WAITING 10am-12.30pm: Why is Easter Vigil on Saturday night different from all other nights? La Salle Br Collin Wee will be JLYLQJ D WDON WR H[SODLQ WKH GLIIHUHQFHV Fee: $30. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road, Hall of the Pilgrim. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com. MARCH 28 PARENTING SKILLS THAT WORK WITH TEENS 9am-1pm: Learn some parenting skills that will help you understand your teen better. Learn how to communicate with him or her, and how to meet their emotional needs. Organised by Morning Star Community Services. At Morning Star Hougang Centre, 4 Lorong Low Koon. Register T: 6285 1377; E: programs@morningstar.org.sg. MARCH 28 CRUCIS SINGAPURA 2015 – UNIQUE WAY OF THE CROSS We invite all faithful to join us in an intercession event where we will pray while walking barefoot across Singapore. Participants will walk in pairs across 12 SUH GH¿QHG URXWHV ORQJHVW EHLQJ NP and shortest 2.3 km. Upon registration, \RX ZLOO UHFHLYH D FRQ¿UPDWLRQ HPDLO with route map and the Way of the Cross. Registration deadline: March 21. Organised by Jesus Youth Singapore. Register W: www.singapore.jesusyouth. org. Enquiries T: 9006 1884 (Fionne Lai). MARCH 30 TO JUNE 15 LANDINGS PROGRAMME FOR RETURNING CATHOLICS 8pm-10pm: Calling all who have left the faith, come for our 10-week Landings programme to rekindle your personal relationship with God. Organised by Landings. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248B Upper Thomson Road. Register T: 9369 2100 (Leonard) / 9863 1590

(Tricia); E: returning@landings.org.sg; W: http://www.landings.org.sg. WEDNESDAYS FROM APRIL 1 TO MAY 6 PRIEST, PROPHET, KING DP DP -RLQ XV IRU VL[ VHVVLRQV of a DVD-based Bible programme presented by Fr Robert Baron. Through this programme, you will have a better understanding of Jesus, become more familiar with Scripture and realise your priestly, prophetic and kingly mission. Organised by Bible Apostolate of the Church of the Holy Spirit. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road, #03-02. Fee for study manual (optional): $32; Registration fee: love offering. Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare); T: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com. WEDNESDAYS FROM APRIL 1 TO MAY 6 BCC LEVEL 1 – INTRO TO CATECHETICAL PEDAGOGY AND CETECHETICAL METHODS 7.30pm-10pm: This 6-session course will introduce participants to the method of teaching as proposed by the Universal Church. Organised by ONE. At CAEC, 2 Highland Road, #02-02. Register E: emily@one.org.sg; W: http://goo.gl/forms/6rcsu7gdsv. APRIL 2 CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER THROUGH CHANT 8pm-10pm: Fr Damien’s Youth Choir will be singing contemplative Taize chants. 7KH FKDQWV UHÀHFW WKH ORYH DQG VXIIHULQJ RI Jesus Christ. Come and join us in prayer and meditation through chant. Organised by Fr Damien’s Youth Choir from Blessed Sacrament Church. At Blessed Sacrament Church, 1 Commonwealth Drive. Enquiries T: 9105 7446 (Gerry Cordeiro); E: Gerrycordeiro@gmail.com. FRIDAYS FROM APRIL 3; SATURDAYS FROM APRIL 4 THE HEART AND PRACTICE OF USING ART IN COMMUNITY 2-5pm (for 8 Fridays) or 9am-noon (for 8 Saturdays): This 8-week art course combines WKH ¿HOGV RI DUW SV\FKRORJ\ FXOWXUH DQG spirituality. Learn and understand the creative process of art and image-making in a group setting. Organised by Heartspace. At Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street. Register E: jo@joannatan.com. APRIL 7 AND APRIL 14 WHAT IS CHRISTIAN MISSION? – TALK ON DISCIPLESHIP 7.30pm-9.30pm: Join us as we journey with Fr Gerard Louis, CSsR, Fr Terence Wee, CSsR and Sr Letitia Lopez, MVD, to learn and share about the Trinitarian nature of mission – the thrust of the very heart of Christian life – and how we can do so in a dynamic way. Organised by CHARIS. At 55 Waterloo Street, Catholic Centre Level 2. Register E: lilynne@charis-singapore.org. Enquiries T: 6337 4119 (Lilynne). APRIL 11 TOP FOUR ESSENTIALS FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH 2.30pm-4.30pm: Join us for a seminar by Dr Matthew Craig Westheimer, B.S. (USA), Doctor of Chiropractic (USA). All are welcome and admission is free. Organised by Life in the Vine Cancer Support Group at Church of the Holy Spirit. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road, Upper Room, Level 4 Attic. Register SMS: 8589 8572 (Eugenius) / 9630 0024 (Sharon); E: vine.csg@gmail.com.

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

WEDNESDAYS FEBRUARY 11 RCIA @ CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 8pm-10pm: 221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, RCIA Room 105. Register T: 8188 4141 (Benjamin Chan) / 8188 4242 (Gwen Lim); E: query.rcia@gmail.com. SATURDAYS FEBRUARY 28 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 4pm: 120 King’s Road. Enquiries T: 9762 6330 (Evelyn) / 9790 5251 (Ruth); E: rciy.ignatius@gmail.com; W: http://stignatius.org.sg/dvc/rciy.html. SUNDAYS MARCH 1 TO APRIL 3, 2016 RCIY @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER 10.15am-noon: At 63A Chartwell Drive. Register T: 9751 3448 (Mark) / 9002 9977 (Angela); E: angela.soh137@gmail.com. WEDNESDAYS MARCH 4 RCIA @ CHURCH OF HOLY FAMILY 7.30pm-9.30pm: 6 Chapel Road. Register

T: 9666 6542; E: rcia@holyfam@gmail.com. FRIDAYS MARCH 6 RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE 8pm-10pm: 4 Sandy Lane. Enquiries T: 9030 9527; E: admin@queenofpeace.sg / martinds52@gmail.com. SUNDAYS APRIL 12 RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 7.30pm-9.30pm: 31 Siglap Hill. Register T: 9630 3276 (Edward); E: jjwong5@yahoo.com.sg. FRIDAYS APRIL 17 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45pm-9pm: 510 Kampong Bahru Road, Parish House, Level 5. Register T: 6271 1184 (Joanna); E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg; W: www.stteresa.org.sg. TUESDAYS MAY 19 RCIA @ CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30pm-9.30pm: 225A Queen Street. Register T: 9753 6863 (Joanna Sng, coordinator); E: sng.joanna@gmail.com.

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Sunday March 22, 2015 CatholicNews

PUBLISHED BY THE CATHOLIC NEWS, 2 HIGHLAND ROAD #01-03, SINGAPORE 549102. PRINTED BY TIMES PRINTERS PRIVATE LIMITED, 16 TUAS AVENUE 5, SINGAPORE 639340.

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