APRIL 08, 2012, Vol 62, No 07

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www.catholicnews.sg

NO. 7 VOL 62 PPS 201/04/2012 (022727) MICA (P) 043 / 01 / 2012 SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20 SUNDAY APRIL 8, 2012

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Protecting minors from abuse Priests, laypeople learn how to foster a ‘safe environment’ in Church

Priests and lay Church workers at the March 19 seminar.

By Darren Boon Some 200 Church workers and miliarise themselves with two documents that aim to protect sexual abuse and harassment within the Church. The talk-cum-question-andanswer session was held at the diocese’s National Committee on ! " # $" #% & ' ( & !

! ' Communion deals with princi )

( The documents, compiled by " # ' Church’s employees and volunteers. & * + * / " # was not created in response to ) “to improve awareness and put in ! 1( " # 3 1 with incidents should they occur. 3 1 * 4 ! 3 ! 1 ( * " #(

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY < ?@ ?(B? / ! EF G J K(B? L G J + < ?K M(B? L G L 5 ! < ?O (?? L G J F < ?P (B? ' G J < Q M(?? > G J J R 4

Mr Kwek Mean Luck, from the archdiocese’s National Committee on Safe Environment, speaking at the seminar.

Complainants would be asked do, the Church would allow the criminal justice system to run its course. The Church may also de ! ( & * " # consultative panel which includes independent and respected mem ( is also a review panel chaired by a very senior lawyer who is not a Catholic. These structures help to unbiased. 5 5 6 7" " # 3 1 ! ) persons.

8 ! ! ( # ! * * ) persons. Another way is to install CCTVs in areas such as the sac that are isolated and quiet. 9 * : 7 7 " # * with parishes to discuss and share

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( Church workers later told CatholicNews they intend to act

( “I think we need to sit down and talk about what we have heard 1 DeSouza, youth ministry coordinator with the Catholic Archdioc ; $ <; %( < <; 9 = 3 ! 1( < + 8 5 * 7 active measures. He said that he would discuss with his parish priest about what needs to be done. 6 5 " 8 > ! ) " " ( „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

ARCHBISHOP’S EASTER MESSAGE

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Archbishop Nicholas Chia

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CJC students spread joy to migrant workers By Don Gurugay Catholic Junior College students packed 1,180 food-and-toiletries parcels for migrant construction workers recently. The project, coordinated by Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI), saw 33 students packing these items on March 16, and distributing them two days later. Each package consisted of a tin of sardines, a tin of curry chicken, two bars of soap, a tube of toothpaste, a packet of rice, instant noodles and a bottle of shampoo. On March 16, the students unpacked the cartons of provisions and then put them into plastic bags which were then sealed in large containers for easy transportation to the workers’ quarters in Yishun.

“It was tiring but it’s a chance to help the underprivileged. There’s meaning to what I do and I don’t mind spending some time and effort,� said student Nguyen Huy Anh. His classmate Petrina Chia added, “It’s meaningful as in daily life you don’t get to help them.� On March 18, the students went to the workers’ quarters in Yishun to personally hand out the packages to them. In some cases they helped to carry the parcels up ! ( Migrant workers Selvaraja Arumungam from India and Khan Nasir from Bangladesh said “happy� and “thank you� as they smiled and received the packages. After the distribution, the students had an opportunity to see the workers’ living conditions. Student Carlene Hilos said, “It

CJC students distributing packages of food and toiletries to migrant workers at their dormitories in Yishun.

was eye opening. I didn’t expect what I saw. They live in simple conditions. They looked happy and jubilant to receive the parcels.� Another student Loh Pui Ying added, “It was a meaningful experience for us, we could see how they lived. Most Singaporeans don’t see these conditions.� The students were also briefed by the camp manager, Mr Jimmy Yeo, of the set up of the workers’ quarters, and the rules and regulations here. Teacher-in-charge Charlene Lin said, “I think it’s an invaluable experience as not many would come into contact with these workers on their own. When it comes to community service, most students will think of working with children or the elderly but few will think of migrant workers.� The project, dubbed the Bread Basket project by ACMI,

Students take a look at the migrants’ cooking area.

came about because of a chance encounter between the school principal, Ms Christine Kong, and ACMI Senior Executive # = (

projects with the college this year. A special function has also been scheduled in August in which the workers will be brought to the school for lunch and enjoy some fun activities. „

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

ACTS expands to Philippines A Call To Share to serve the Aeta tribal community in Pampanga ACTS, a multi-parish group which has been doing mission work in Cambodia, is now reaching out to the Philippines. From March 4-11, the ACTS (A Call To Share) core team vis " ! ise plans to serve the Aeta tribal community there this December. About 60 people from the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS) Family Life Ministry are expected to visit about 150 families living in Calumpang, Mabalacat. The Aetas, an indigenous people regarded as the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, live in scattered mountainous regions. They are nomadic and live in temporary shelters made of sticks covered with banana leaves. ACTS says it has plans to fund the development of a multipurpose hall for Aeta community activities, and is also discussing with Catholic doctors in the Philippines about providing regular medical services to the tribe. During the recent trip, the ACTS team had to take a 30-minute drive from Clark Air Base, northwest of Metro Manila, cross the Sacobia

Above: Aeta children ACTS members (in blue T-shirts) serving food to the Aeta community.

river, and drive on an unpaved road before hiking up a hill to the community. There they were welcomed with songs and dances by the Aeta children. The team then distributed gifts to the villagers. Preparation for outreach work began in August and December last year, during which an ACTS

team explored the possibility of mission projects with the help of the Salesian nuns there. During the December trip, the team packed goodie bags for a few ! nancial support for snacks for 130 children for the 2012 school year. The team also provided medical

checkups for poor students in a vocational school. In addition to serving the Aeta community, ACTS is also planning an outreach programme to the urban poor in Manila in December. Besides the new initiatives in Philippines, ACTS has also been invited to expand its programme

to countries such as Vietnam and Myanmar. ACTS is a year-round initiative supporting the outreach programme of the Catholic Church in Cambodia. The group has helped to provide sustenance to thousands of children, medical and dental services, as well as computers. It has also enhanced and rebuilt schools and dormitories for girls at risk. „ For more information on ACTS, visit www.acts-singapore.com

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Lenten sessions boost fellowship, faith By Darren Boon A group of young adults say that + tions has not only strengthened their faith but also helped them get to know other singles. The group, called Catholic Mingle, has been organising Thursday evening sessions at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul since Feb 23. They use the Singapore Pastoral Institute’s Lenten booklet, Through the Door of Faith. Coming together as a community helps to strengthen one’s faith so that one does not feel alone in one’s Lenten journey, said Ms Joyce Loh, who started the group. She estimates that there are some 100 members on the group’s Facebook page. She hopes more singles will come forward to “learn to balance their work and life better� rather than hide behind Facebook as a result of work.

“There is more to life than just work,� she said. < + tions, Catholic Mingle also organises outdoor activities such as nature walks, cycling events and dinner gatherings. It had earlier organised a Lunar New Year lo hei celebration in conjunction with Catholic Connection, another group for single Catholics. A day trip to Johor Bahru to celebrate Easter is being planned together with Catholic Connection. Ms Loh said Catholic Mingle is open to working with other groups serving single Catholics to organise events. “We welcome singles to join us in the activities that they will R ( > will be happy for you, if not, not to worry, we can journey together in our singlehood, to give one another support and encouragement

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in life and strengthen our faith in Him,� said Ms Loh. Ms Michelle Nah, who has attended a few activities, told CatholicNews that they allowed her to get to know Catholics from different parishes.

As for the Lenten sharings, Mr Simon Goh said they helped participants to get to know each

other personally as well as grow spiritually. 0 % # ' 122+++ ( " 2 234567845496 % % ' 122 : 2 2 „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

FAREWELL, SR JOSEPHINE: Friends of the late IJ Sr Josephine Healy signing a condolence book before the memorial Mass for her on March 17. “Sr Jo has been for many the resurrection and the life and she was so much in love with life, she was able to pass it on to others,� said Fr Michael Arro during the Mass. Many of Sr Josephine’s former pupils gave eulogies during the Mass. The popular nun died in December last year.

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Verbum Dei marks 50th year

Verbum Dei Missionaries in Singapore (from left) Sr Sandra Seow, Sr Maria Jose M Egido and Sr Grace Gonzales.

The Verbum Dei Missionaries in Singapore launched their worldwide congregation’s 50th anniversary celebrations with a Mass at Church of St Teresa Church. The March 24 Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerson Ortiz, a Philippines-based Verbum Dei priest, and Friar Antonio Gonzalez, a Dominican priest based in Singapore. “As missionaries, our mission is to share with others the joy of the Gospel,� Fr Ortiz said during the Mass. “When God is at the centre of our lives, we experience fullness of life.� The priest noted that “all the followers of Jesus have these experiences of deep joy�. 3> > realised how beautiful life with God is and that the most precious L live with Him.� Fr Ortiz, a Venezuelan, also recounted how the congregation’s founder Fr Jaime Bonet played an active role in leading him to discern and answer God’s call. A skit depicting Fr Bonet and the congregation’s history was also presented before Mass. The Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity started in Singapore in September 1997 in a three-room ( ! porean female missionaries and

Verbum Dei priest Fr Gerson Ortiz celebrating the March 24 Mass.

two Singaporean priests, most of whom are based overseas. Three Verbum Dei Missionaries are based here – Sr Maria Jose M Egido, Sr Grace Gonzales and Sr Sandra Seow, the only Singaporean. The community conducts weekly prayer sessions at their house in Taman Mas Merah, where young adults gather to pray with the Word of God. There is also weekly formation for the core team made up of singles and couples, called Verbum Dei Disciples. Many other activities are also held for people of various ages and states of life. The missionaries help parish camps as well as talks and formation programme for parish groups. Over the years, mission trips

to places like Timor Leste, the Philippines, China and Taiwan have also been organised. Ms Nicole Jegathesan, who has been attending regular prayer and formation sessions with her 3X Verbum Dei activities the heart, the essence of our Christian calling, both as an individual and as a couple. The charism of prayer and preaching through the witnessing of our lives answers to that deep desire we have to lead meaningful and joyful lives with others around us.� Verbum Dei was founded in Jan 17, 1963, by Fr Bonet, from Majorca, Spain. For information on the Verbum Dei community, visit http:// www.verbumdeisingapore.org/ „

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Youths take part in overnight Lenten Vigil at East Coast Madam Halimah Yacob being shown around HopeHouse by home mentor, De La Salle Br Collin Wee (left), and caseworker Franciscan Friar Vernon Chua (behind him).

Minister of State visits HopeHouse Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports Halimah Yacob visited HopeHouse at St Patrick’s School on March 22. The visit was part of Madam Halimah’s effort to familiarise herself with the homes supported by her ministry and to keep in touch with the people directly involved in the running of the homes. HopeHouse, a joint project of the De La Salle Brothers and a group of lay people, was set up to help at-risk male youths who have committed legal offences. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) refers such youths to the home which aims to give these youths a second chance. According to LaSalle Br Collin Wee, the home presently shelters seven youths aged 16-21. During Madam Halimah’s

visit, HopeHouse staff briefed the programmes and activities for them, and the reasons for their admission and discharge. She agreed that the home should be kept small so that individual attention can be given to each youth and, as far as possible, their families. “In the work that we do, it is not just about the numbers,� she said. Madam Halimah was also given a tour of the premises. “The work we do at HopeHouse is secular in nature and yet it is a natural extension of the Lasallian Spirituality of teaching minds, touching hearts and transforming lives of the last, lost and the least,� said Br Collin. HopeHouse is a registered charity and received its status as an approved Institution of a Public Character (IPC) on June 1, 2011. „

Youths from the East District parishes participated in a vigil that lasted till dawn at East Coast Park.

By Darren Boon About 70 youths from the six East District parishes took part in an overnight Lenten vigil at East Coast Park. The event started with a Christian Passover Celebration, or Seder Meal, on March 16 evening at the Church of the Holy Family and ended at dawn the next day at the beach. The vigil was organised by the 8 5 ; # from the parish pastoral council and East district youth representatives. The event was to help the youth “encounter Christ through a journey�, said Mr Andrew Lin, youth coordinator at Holy Family Church. As such, after the Seder Meal in church, each parish’s facilitator led

the youths in a walk to East Coast Park to commemorate Moses leading his people out of Egypt. The youths, aged 12 to 28, took part in prayers and sharings ) 6 sus’ disciples at Gethsemane. They also prayed the Stations of the Cross and watched a skit portraying Peter’s denial of Jesus. The vigil ended with the youths renewing their baptismal promises by the sea at dawn. This was followed by breakfast in which par 6 4 pearance to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias after His resurrection. Participants said they found the experience enriching. Stephanie Lee said she was able to enter more deeply into Jesus’ 8 ing in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The experience has also taught her to be more open to God’s love, she added. She told CatholicNews that the renewal of baptismal promises helped her to appreciate her baptism more as she had been baptised as an infant. Oliver Yong said the highlight of the event for him were the sharings among the participants, adding that he enjoyed the fellowship. The East District youth Lenten ! ! aiming “to create a vibrant and united youth scene within the district through building relationships across the parishes�, Mr Lin told CatholicNews. He added that more district events are being planned this year. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Nativity Church’s outdoor Stations of the Cross

One of the Stations of the Cross outside Nativity Church. The parish took three months to build the structures.

By Darren Boon Church of the Holy Trinity wardens pose with children from the Minh Hung community during a recent mission trip.

Holy Trinity wardens serve Vietnamese mums, kids Wardens from the Church of the Holy Trinity reached out to marginalised Vietnamese women and children during their most recent mission trip to the country. Twelve male and female wardens, aged 12 to 68, visited places such as Tan Binh and Cu Chi in and around Ho Chi Minh City, and the Minh Hung community near the Cambodian border. The March 12-18 trip was the latest in a series of outreach programmes to the country since warden Paul Handidjaja initiated the project in 2007, after he made contact with the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions there. During the recent trip, the wardens visited Than Tam house in Tan Binh. The house functions as a shelter for unwed mothers and teenage mothers-to-be. The nuns and lay workers here look after the residents as well as abandoned babies from the hospital. Here, the visitors gave toys to the children as well as clothes to both mothers and their babies. The wardens also visited a newly built dormitory for 50 poor hill-tribe children in the Minh Hung community as well as a kindergarten for about 100

children run by the nuns. The wardens installed solar panels and lighting in the classrooms, dining area and playground. They also got the children to take part in games, as well as art and craft, cooking and singing activities. In Cu Chi, the Singapore team

‘Our presence

to those kids was overwhelming, as they don’t experience much love or care from their parents.

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– Youth warden Mario Tay

visited a school run by the nuns. Two teachers here educate about 110 poor children for free. The visitors painted six classrooms, and installed four solar panels and lighting. They also organised activities such as cooking for the older children and art and craft for the younger ones. The team also re-polished and

re-varnished classroom desks and chairs. Of the 12 wardens who went ! ( One of them, Mario Tay, shared: “Our presence to those kids was overwhelming, as they don’t experience much love or care from their parents whom they see only once a year. I have experienced something that is inde Œ exposure.� Another youth warden, Isabel Ang, said that she felt inspired by the children. Although their lives 3 smile on their faces�. “Over here in Singapore, we may think we’re underprivileged,� shared Rachel Lee, another youth warden. “But when we look back at our experiences in Vietnam we cannot even compare. Through this trip we should learn to cherish the things we have and be thankful for them�. „

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has constructed outdoor Stations of the Cross. The project took three months to complete and also involved the building of concrete pathways and cement slabs, says parish priest Fr Henry Siew. The images were bought from Vietnam. All the Stations are of the same design, except for Station 12, which is incorporated into the existing outdoor altar, said Fr Siew. The cost of the project is estimated at $125,000 according to the parish bulletin. The Stations are meant to “enhance the spirituality of the faithful�, said Fr Siew, adding that when people contemplate Christ’s passion, “they learn to accept and confront suffering in life�. “Even outside the season of +

this devotion,� he added. Fr Siew encouraged the Catholic community to make use of the outdoor structures. No booking is

7 7 7 ! ( If there are many small groups using the Stations at the same time, they may consider coming together to form a bigger group, he said. Mr Ian Heng, a parishioner, told CatholicNews he intends to make use of the Stations during this Lenten season. Hopefully, more parishioners would make use of them, he said. Another parishioner Mr Augustine Chua, who had prayed the Stations of the Cross in a group, said the outdoor structures are a “blessing�. it a moving experience, walking and praying from one station to the next. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

KL archdiocese urges improvement in education system Lenten signature campaign launched KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Lumpur

archdiocese has launched a Lenten signature campaign to petition the prime minister to improve the country’s education system. The signatures, which are collected online as well as on paper, will be sent to the Prime Minister’s Department by July 9, according to a letter sent out to parishes from Fr Simon Labrooy, ecclesiastical assistant to the Catholic Teachers’ Association, Malaysia. In his letter dated Feb 15, Fr Labrooy said: “We are in danger, when political interests, capitalism and racism get mixed up into the education policies. We have seen this happen repeatedly in Malaysia.� He noted in the letter, titled What Is Happening To Our Children’s Education, that “there are racial and religious polarisations

in our schools. But how do we build national unity when history is re-written and there are disputable facts in the textbooks?� He also noted that “mission schools were built by Christians but today Church authorities have to seek approval to use the facilities of these schools to conduct catechism, Bible Knowledge

‘How do we

build national unity when history is re-written and there are disputable facts in the textbooks?’

– Letter to parishes

or other religious classes�. “As the government continues to give out licences for private businesses to set up schools and colleges, how is it that religious groups are not given similar licences or even allowed to have a say in the running of their own schools?� he asked. “Proper education policies must be in place to ensure that our children are provided with the right information and nurtured in the right atmosphere of values, so as to prepare them to be responsible, caring and honest citizens,� he wrote. He also noted that in Malaysia, “children without birth cer mented migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers have no legal status and cannot attend school�. The petition letter to Prime

A Facebook page created in support of the campaign.

Minister Najib Razak urges him to take action to: Respect the identity and management of mission schools as well as those of all denominations and religions. Work towards national unity. The letter proposes the setting up of a national commission comprising concerned parties to discuss how to foster integration in schools. Respect the rights of all children to education, and to provide access to education for the poor, the Orang Asli and the children of

“ “

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migrant workers and refugees. Promote transparency in the appointment of teachers and school heads based on merit, allow ways for all children to study their respective religions in school, teach history objectively and acknowledge the contributions of all people and races. Allow the option of teaching science and mathematics in English to equip Malaysian children for the globalised future. A Facebook page has also been set up in support of the signature campaign. „

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

#

HONG KONG – R E

Peter Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou 5 " 6 Sunian, were taken into custody

! 7 March to attend “learning class 1 <

š < / ( E Q by the Holy See to lead Wenzhou’s unregistered, or underground, M??O not recognised by the government. E 5 6 * ( > E 5 6 “intelligent enough in their learning�, they will be allowed back soon; if not, they will be detained : ! ( “This implies their release depends on whether they accept the government’s religious policies,� š < / ( Sources also said a few of Wenzhou diocese’s 17 underground priests were summoned in mid-March. Some were told to remain behind while others were allowed to return home the same day, the sources added. > 6 E 6 X Ruowang of Tianshui was taken away for “learning classes� at an

Coadjutor Bishop Peter Shao Zhumin (right) and Fr Paul Jiang Sunian of Wenzhou. UCAN File Photo

6 ( < ! *

4 gious policy is “moving backward� with the 30 Tibetan monks and nuns who have self-immolated in ( In Hong Kong, Mr Patrick Poon, a member of the diocesan R š < / *ers were especially vulnerable to

detention without charge under

! 4 Procedure Law. “Police tend to guesthouses or force them to take the so-called learning class for a prolonged period of time without giving any reason,� he said. Recent revisions that obliged authorities to notify family members of such detentions “do not deal with

what is the disciplinary treatment for ! 1 š < / ( „ CNS

Bishop Anthony Lee Bishop Paul Tan of Melaka-Johor diocese (centre) at the Chrism Mass. With him were permanent deacons Leslie Petrus (extreme left) and Anthony Chua (extreme right). The others are altar servers. Photo: FRANCIS GOPAL

By Vincent D’silva JOHOR BAHRU – Bishop Paul

* 76 6 sus’s prayer before suffering His passion. 6 R 5 ther and He are one, so that the world may believe, said Bishop Tan at the Mass held at the Sacred 8 6 E March 20. 3 priests and permanent deacons is to unite all the people of God through their ministries.� said Bishop Tan. “At this Mass my permanent deacons and priests renew their or-

dination promises to be obedient to their bishop and work with him in unity as a family to look after the people of God,� said Bishop Tan. The bishop also took the opportunity during the Mass to thank all priests, permanent deacons and lay collaborators for the work they were doing for the people of God in his diocese.

one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the bishop’s priest of the priests with him. < J * J blessed, is usually held on Maundy Thursday. „

!" By Thomas Seo BINTULU, MALAYSIA – On March

20, Bishop Anthony Lee of Miri O@ K?? ioners gathered at St Anthony’s E ( Among those present were 11 archbishops and bishops from the E 4 Singapore, Brunei, and several diocesan priests. O@ ! ! special moment for a bishop as he : ! tarily submit his resignation to the Holy Father. This year is also the bishop’s B@

! QK tion anniversary. „

BANGKOK – A Vatican delegation

scheduled to evaluate the cause for

Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan has been refused entry to Vietnam. Fr Peter Nguyen Huu Giai, pastor of the An Bang parish of Hue diocese, said the delegation, which planned to interview witnesses in < 1-3, has been denied visas. “I have been told that the Vatican delegation could not visit the country because they were refused entry visas by the government.� Fr Giai, 70, and nine other clerics, Religious and laypeople had been assigned to provide testimony to the three delegates from the Pon 6 " ( He said he believed the refusal of entry visas was the result of ! ! ! ( B in prison, nine of them in solitary 8 R < R ! days before South Vietnam fell to O@( 35 ! • R tor archbishop], made one week before their arrival in Saigon on B? < O@ conspiracy between the Vatican — 4 1 Thuan had explained during a religious conference in Los Angeles shortly before his death in 2002. -

ew of Ngo Dinh Diem, president of South Vietnam who was assas KB( “I have prepared documents in English and French to present the delegation, but it is regretted that I could not meet them,� Fr Giai said. “I look forward with optimism 4 process because the Holy See has the right to beatify him [regardless of] the government.� 8 ! MB ! 6 8 uled to give testimony to the delegation. 8 < O MP( 8 ! as rector of the local minor seminary and vicar general of the archdiocese before being named bishop / KO( „

See related story on Page 26

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

POPE IN CUBA

The crowd cheers before Pope Benedict XVI’s arrival to celebrate Mass in Antonio Maceo Revolution Square in Santiago de Cuba.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, CUBA –

Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the struggles of Cuba’s Catholics after half a century of communism as he celebrated Mass on his ( The pope spoke on March 26 in Antonio Maceo Revolution Square, in Cuba’s second-largest ( 8 ! a few hours earlier, after spending three days in Mexico (see story on %( The Vatican had said the square would hold 200,000 people and it was full; several thousands : ( " ' ( Tens of thousands of those at the Mass, which celebrated the feast of the Annunciation, wore white T-shirts welcoming the 3 1( Before the pope arrived, the original statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba’s patroness, was driven atop a white * ( The statue then was enthroned

( In his homily, Pope Benedict recognised the “effort, daring and 7 1 : Catholics “in the concrete circumstances of your country and at this 1( more tolerant of religious practice than in earlier decades, the communist state continues to prevent the construction of new churches and strictly limits Catholic access ( In a possible allusion to reports that the regime had prevented political opponents from attending

the Mass, Pope Benedict extended his customary mention of those absent for reasons of age or health to include people who, “for other ! R 1( Before the pope arrived, a man in the crowd shouted an anti-communist slogan and was immedi * ( The pope painted a dire pic ( “Apart from God, we are alienated from ourselves and are ! ( # God is what opens the doors of the world to the truth, to salvation,� ( !

with peace, ‘Armed forgiveness and understanding ... strive to build a renewed and open society.

’

– Pope Benedict XVI pope’s homily was on the sanctity of the family as the “fundamental cell of society and an authentic 1( “You, dear husbands and wives, are called to be, especially for your children, a real and visible sign of the love of Christ for 1 ( 3 unity, your capacity to welcome human life, especially that of the * (1 According to the Centre for Demographic Studies at the University 8 ! 4 ! almost tripled in four decades, ris-

ing from 22 divorces per 100 mar O? KQ M?? ( country’s parliament is scheduled later this year to consider the legal 7 ) ( Pope Benedict concluded his homily by repeating an earlier call for patience with the Catholic Church’s policy of dialogue and cooperation with the communist regime, a process initiated by Blessed John Paul II during his P ! ( “May we accept with patience and faith whatever oppo 1 ( “Armed with peace, forgiveness ((( ! build a renewed and open society, a better society, one more worthy of humanity, and which better re L (1 9 > to Mexico, the pope had said that “Marxist ideology as it was conceived no longer responds to the truth today, we can no longer respond this way to construct a so 1( Cuba’s foreign minister had apparently responded by saying, “We are looking forward to an ex (1 A 30-year-old woman in a

self only as Xichel said she and about 100 others travelled more ?? * ( “I came to see the pope because I am Catholic and he is the succes " 1 she said, adding that she saw Bless 6 " P( She expressed pride that a member of her parish was chosen ( „ CNS

A girl receives Communion from the pope during Mass.

The pope prays in front of the statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.

Prayers for Cubans at Marian shrine EL COBRE, CUBA – For 400 years, Cubans have brought their sorrows and joys before the statue of Our Lady of Char ( When Pope Benedict visited the shrine on March 27, he echoed their prayers for a future marked by less poverty and ( “I have entrusted to the mother of God the future of your country, advancing along the ways of renewal and hope, for the greater good of all Cu 1 ( At the shrine, he lit a candle and stood in silent prayer for sev ( Leaving the shrine, the pope stood on the steps and told the

crowd outside that he prayed “for the needs of all who suffer, of those who are deprived of freedom, for those who are separated from their loved ones or who are 1( 8 4 young people that “they may be authentic friends of Christ and not succumb to things which

* 1( 8 who live their faith and transmit it to their children and, especially, for the families “who offer their homes as mission centres for the celebration of Mass� in a country where the government restricts the building of new churches and where there is a ! ( „ CNS

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Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

POPE IN MEXICO

Young men cheer as they wait for the pope to arrive for Mass in Silao, Mexico.

SILAO, MEXICO – Pope Benedict

XVI told Mexicans suffering from poverty, corruption and violence, to trust in God and the intercession of Mary to help them bring about a “more just and fraternal society�, during Mass. “When addressing the deeper dimension of personal and community life, human strategies will

! 1 said in his homily during the outdoor Mass at Guanajuato Bicentennial Park in Silao on March 25. It was the pope’s second full day of his second papal visit to Latin America. “We must have recourse to the one who alone can give life in its fullness, because He is the essence of life and its author.� The pope referred to the monument to Christ the King visible atop a nearby hill and observed that Christ’s “kingdom does not stand on the power of His armies subduing others through force or violence. It rests on a higher power that wins over hearts�.

That message was consistent with Pope Benedict’s frequently stated objections to strategies for social progress that blend Christian social doctrine with Marxism or other secular ideologies. “The Church is not a political power, it is not a party,� the pope )ico on March 23. “It is a moral reality, a moral power.� In his Silao homily, the pope of Latin America’s current social problems, but after praying the Angelus following the Mass, he recited a litany of ills plaguing Mexico and other countries in the region: “So many families are separated or forced to emigrate ... so many are suffering due to poverty, corruption, domestic vio * of values and increased crime�. Speaking in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, which was a stronghold of the 1920s Cristero Rebellion against an anti-clerical national regime, Pope Benedict recited the invocation

Pope greets a gathering of youths at Peace Square in Guanajuato.

Pope arrives to celebrate Mass on March 25.

‘So many families

are separated or forced to emigrate. So many are suffering due to poverty, corruption, domestic violence.

’

– Pope Benedict XVI

that served as the Cristeros’ rallying cry: “Long live Christ the King and Mary of Guadalupe.� E nonviolence, the pope prayed that 4 3 fraternity, setting aside futile acts of revenge and banishing all divisive hatred�. The presidential candidates from Mexico’s three main po-

pope’s meeting with young people in Guanajuato.

litical parties attended the Mass, along with President Felipe Calderon and his family. The Vatican said 640,000 people attended the Mass. Some Mexicans took long trips just to " E to the country since being elected in 2005. 3 1 quipped Mr Jose Trinidad Borja, 81, a retired hardware store owner from Queretaro who boasts of having participated in the annual eight-day diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City for 65 straight years. “With [Pope] Benedict, I feel something indescribable,� said Guadalupe Nambo Gutierrez, a retired secretary from Guanajuato City, who saw the pope in the colonial town on March 24 and attended the Mass the following day. The previous evening at Guanajuato’s Peace Square, the pope spoke about the suffering of many children in this country, plagued

! and violence. He said he prays especially for those who bear the burden of abandonment, violence or hunger which has been on the increase in some drought ridden regions. The pope called on “everyone to protect and care for children, so that nothing may extinguish their smile, but that they may live in peace and look to the future with 1( Later the pope greeted a group that included eight people who have lost relatives to violence, much of it drug-related, which has killed nearly 50,000 Mexicans ! ! ( On March 24, sex abuse victims of the late Fr Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, held a press conference to present a new book criticising the Vatican’s failure to act against Fr Maciel, whom Pope Benedict eventually disciplined and posthumously repudiated. „ CNS, VATICAN RADIO

14 WORLD

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Thousands rally in US against contraceptive coverage mandate CNS photo

WASHINGTON – Thousands gath-

ered in front of US courthouses, state capitols and historic sites to protest a federal mandate requiring most religious employers to provide contraceptive coverage, even it is contrary to their beliefs. All of the events, held at noon local time in 143 cities on March 23, were part of a nationwide Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally organised by the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, based in Michigan. About 55,000 people participated. In Washington, a rally was held in front of the Washington headquarters of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Rev Patrick Mahoney, a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church who is director of the Christian Defence Coalition, opened it with a prayer. “We are here not with clenched L 1 he said, urging the crowd of about 2,000 to kneel on the paved area in front of the HHS building. “We are here because the faith community cannot be silent when it comes to human rights and we will never comply with an unjust order that violates our faith.� In Philadelphia, the rally took place outside of Independence Hall, the birthplace of American liberty. Ms Kathryn Slaats, who came with a busload of people from her parish, spoke for her group, saying: “We want to tell the government not to tread on our religious freedoms. We must organise, con L to do so.� Across the country in San

Young adults kneel in prayer with other participants at a rally outside the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington on March 23.

‘We will never comply with

an unjust order that violates our faith.’

– Rev Patrick Mahoney, a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, speaking at a rally in Washington

Francisco, Bishop Salvatore J Cordileone of Oakland, California, led the lineup of speakers who addressed close to 500 people outside the federal courthouse. M??( “Yes, get the government out of our Church,� the bishop said to loud cheers. “How dare the government tell us our religion requires we only serve people of our faith.� “This time it’s Catholics, but it won’t stop there,� he added. In Portland, Oregon, Mr Jim Stair, 68, a member of Clackamas Bible Church, was among 300 who rallied in front of the federal courthouse.

“The president needs to reread the Constitution,� he told the Catholic Sentinel, Portland’s archdiocesan newspaper. “The First Amendment provides freedom of religion. Anything the government does to violate that is unconstitutional.� “We do not want the hands of the government on our bodies, our consciences or our souls,� retired Auxiliary Bishop Kenneth D Steiner told the gathering. “Our religious liberty is about being able to practise our beliefs in daily life,� the bishop told cheering protesters. “We are lovebased organisations.� „ CNS

Church to cooperate over castration claims OXFORD, ENGLAND – The Dutch

Church has pledged to fully cooperate with investigations into reported claims that Catholic institutions castrated boys and young men in their care to rid them of homosexuality. Mr Bert Elbertse, spokesman for the Dutch Catholic bishops’ conference, said the bishops found the reports “shocking and appalling� and that they “condemn and regret such practices in the strongest possible terms�. “Our Church has been badly damaged by accusations of sexual abuse. The fact that people were unsurprised by these latest claims suggests our image couldn’t get any worse,� he said. His comments followed a

March 17 report by the NRC Handelsblad daily that as many as 11 boys were castrated at Church-run schools and psychiatric institutions in the 1950s after being suspected of homosexuality. “We knew there were castrations in the 1950s and 1960s, but we didn’t know the Church had any connection,� Mr Elbertse told Catholic News Service on March 22. Since 2010, the Catholic Church in the Netherlands has been shaken by allegations of abuse by clergy, most dating from the 1960s and 1970s. In December, a Church-ap that tens of thousands of children

800 perpetrators of sexual crimes in the Church between 1945 and 2010. The Dutch legislature scheduled a hearing with Mr Wim Deetman, who chaired the commission investigating Church abuse, to learn why the castration allegations were not included in his 2011 report. In a March 17 statement, the commission said it had not pub cause it had “too few leads for further investigation�. Mr Elbertse told CNS that Dutch Church leaders would await Mr Deetman’s response to the legislature and would cooperate with any investigation. „ CNS

WORLD 15

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Pope Benedict offers condolences on death of Coptic pope VATICAN CITY – Praising the ecumenical commitment of the late Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria, Pope Benedict XVI offered his condolences to Orthodox Christians in Egypt on the death of their patriarch. Pope Shenouda, who served as patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church for 41 years, died on March 17 at the age of 88. In a message released at the Vatican the next day, Pope Benedict said he wanted to express his condolences and “brotherly compassion� to the bishops, priests and faithful of the Coptic Orthodox Church, which includes about 10 percent of Egypt’s population of 82 million people. The vast majority of Christians in Egypt belong to Pope Shenouda’s Church and his four decades as patriarch often involved standing up for the rights of the country’s Christian minority and working with the Muslim majority to promote human rights and the common good. “The Catholic Church as a the Orthodox Copts,� Pope Benedict said, and Catholics pray that “the God of all mercy may receive Pope Shenouda in His joy, His peace and light�. Archbishop Paul Sayah, vicar general of the Maronite Patriar-

Priest lights candle in front of photo of late Coptic Orthodox Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria. CNS photo

chate in Lebanon said that Pope Shenouda “exercised very strong leadership in the Coptic Church in particular and for the Christians of Egypt in general. In a crisis situation, he never made a rushed decision but instead would withdraw to his monastery to pray and consult before deciding�. “Amid the wave of attacks on the Coptic Christians recently, he took a strong stand and yet kept the doors for dialogue open. He showed both wisdom and moderation while not appearing to be weak and helpless,� Archbishop Sayah said.

Pope Benedict highlighted Pope Shenouda’s 1973 visit to the Vatican where he and Pope Paul VI formally signed an agreement on Christ’s humanity and divinity, ending more than 1,500 years of disputes on the issue, and clearing the way for the formal Roman Catholic-Oriental Orthodox theological dialogue. The World Council of Churches’ general secretary said Pope Shenouda will be remembered for his ecumenical leadership and as “a strong believer in Christian-Muslim conviviality.� „ CNS

Anglican archbishop to step down MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – The

leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion has announced his resignation. Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury said in a March 16 statement that he would step down at the end of December. The archbishop, leader of the Church of England, plans to take a job as master of Magdalene College at the University of Cambridge,

England, beginning in January. in the years ahead,� he added. The statement released by the Archbishop Vincent Nichols of 4 < - Westminster, president of the Cathop Williams’ intentions had been olic Bishops’ Conference of Engconveyed to Queen Elizabeth II, land and Wales, said in a March 16 the supreme governor statement that he had of the Church of Enggrown to appreciate land who has the ultiArchbishop Williams’ mate responsibility of 3 : 1( appointing archbishHe praised the Anops of Canterbury. glican leader’s “kind“It has been an ness, his sharp intelimmense privilege to lect, his dedication to serve as archbishop of striving for harmony Canterbury over the between peoples, espepast decade, and mov- Archbishop Williams re- cially within the Chrising on has not been an tires after leading Angli- tian family, his courage easy decision,� Arch- cans for 10 years. and his friendship�. bishop Williams, 61, Archbishop Nichsaid in his statement. ols recalled in particular the “warm “I look forward, with that welcome� Archbishop Williams ofsame support and inspiration, to fered to Pope Benedict XVI at Lamcontinuing to serve the Church’s beth Palace, London, during the pamission and witness as best I can pal visit of September 2010. „ CNS

Patrist founder dies PERTH,

AUSTRALIA – Archside they turned around to disbishop James Barry Hickey said cover he had disappeared. he had no reason to suspect foul “The most logical explanation play in the death of Perth priest Fr seems to be that Fr Rowe had a Douglas Rowe, 69, whose body heart attack as he entered the strong ! current,� the archbishop said. the Philippine island of Cebu on According to reports in the Jan 16. Philippine newspaper Photo: from Patrists website The Perth Arch bishop was responding Rosendo Binondo statto media speculation ed: “We have not seen suggesting there were any visible injuries on suspicious circumthe body or any sign of stances surrounding his commotion or struggle death. in the area, but we are Fr Rowe, founder waiting for the result of the Patrist Socieof the autopsy.� ties of the Sons and Fr Rowe was a Daughters of God the Fr Douglas Rowe former Jesuit priest in Father, was in Cebu India. He left in order inspecting land with community to respond to a special call to promember, Sr Jan Rebutaso, and a mote the worship of God as Father. real estate agent. To this end, he founded the Patrist Archbishop Hickey said Society of men and women to that Fr Rowe had sent the other spread this message. two across the river before him, He was also once based in Sinhowever upon reaching the other gapore. „ THE RECORD

16 WORLD

Sunday April 8, 2012 CatholicNews

St Vincent De Paul society is now member of UN body By Martin See The International Confederation of the Society of St Vincent De Paul (SSVP) is now an NGO member of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council. The society gained its Special Consultative Status – with no voting rights – in ECOSOC in late January, SSVP’S president general Michael Thio told CatholicNews. ECOSOC makes policy recommendations on economic, social and environmental challenges faced by academics, business people and NGOs. In a letter to all Vincentians, Dr Thio, a Singaporean, said the

The society now has Special Consultative Status in the Economic and Social Council. special status provides NGOs with access to ECOSOC and many other subsidiary bodies, as well as to UN human rights mechanisms. The special status also allows NGOs to attend UN conferences as well as events organised by the President of the General Assembly.

The process to gain admission started in 2010, Dr Thio told CatholicNews. SSVP’s entry into ECOSOC unites it with its three other Vincentian branches who had previously been admitted as NGO members – the (Vincentian Fathers) Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity and Association of International Charities. SSVP’s entry will help “the Vincentian family speak in one united voice and add weight to its presence in the UN”, said Dr Thio. Through conferences, forums and submission of working papers to the UN, SSVP hopes to alleviate the plight of the poor and marginalised with UN’s poverty programmes and initiatives, Dr Thio explained. SSVP also hopes to expand its reach to include human rights, social justice, discrimination against women, famine, health care and fair employment issues, Dr Thio said. The special status will also help SSVP raise funds for the poor, he added. martin.see@catholic.org.sg

Dr Michael Thio, president general of the International Confederation of the Society of St Vincent De Paul. He is a Singaporean.

WORLD 17

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

French Church leaders condemn school attack

A teacher comforts a child as they observe a minute of silence, for those killed by a gunman, outside Ozar Hatorah Jewish school. CNS photo

TOULOUSE, FRANCE – French

Church leaders have condemned the March 19 attack outside a Jewish school in Toulouse. “Our region was overcome once more by horror this morn 1 < ' + Gall of Toulouse. “To the families affected by this outrage, we express our sentiments of deep com (1 The archbishop issued the statement after a gunman on a motorcycle killed a rabbi, his two sons and a schoolgirl at Ozar Hatorah school, a junior high and high school. Msgr Antoine Herouard, secretary-general of the bishops’ conference, led a special vespers service for the victims at Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral. Msgr Bernard Podvin, spokesman for the French bishops’ conference, called it an “odiously * 1 Catholics would feel “strong in 1 3 ! 1( News that a gun from the

school shooting was used by an attacker on a motorbike in earlier attacks fuelled concern that a serial killer was targeting not only Jews but also French minorities. Four African and Caribbean soldiers were killed in the March 12 attacks that also took place in Toulouse and nearby Montauban. President Nicolas Sarkozy visited the school, and government 3 ! 1 in France in response to the attack. 5 rorism alert to its highest level in southern France. Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, said the shooting in Toulouse was “a horrible 1 ! 3 *1( Expressing the “condemnation 1 F said the incident was particularly awful because of “the age and innocence of the victims and because it occurred in a peaceful Jewish 1( „ CNS

$$%&

'

VATICAN CITY – The Congregation

for the Doctrine of the Faith, with the approval of Pope Benedict žF> 3 1 the position of the traditionalist Society of St Pius X on certain basic doctrinal principles and criteria for interpreting Church teaching. Cardinal William J Levada, head of the doctrinal congregation, met with Bishop Bernard Fellay, the society’s superior, on March 16, to explain the Vatican’s evaluation, said Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi. The society’s leaders were asked

to further clarify their response to a 3 1 F asked them to study last September. 3< the society is expected by mid< 1 5 + ( ciety has been given “more time 1( In late November, Bishop Fellay had said, “This doctrinal preamble cannot receive our endorsement, although leeway has been allowed for a ‘legitimate discussion’ about certain points of the • F  (1 „ CNS

18 OPINION

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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OPINION

)

Lenten hope ! ON ASH WEDNESDAY, I joined my fellow Catholics in giving public witness to my faith, becoming, literally, a marked man. Ashes on the forehead cause a change in outlook and disposition, in the way I walk out and face the world. When they see the black smudge, some people stare and wonder, others show a spark of recognition or look as though they recall something from days long past. Most don’t notice or studiously ignore the man with the black mark. We wear ashes not to show off and say how holy and superior we are as Catholics. We wear ashes to remind us and others: From dust we are made, and to dust we shall return. The ash should not proclaim to the world, “Better than you!� but rather, “Sinner like me!� This is not an easy theme to teach my two boys in primary school, who are active and competitive. They want to be better than their peers, come out on top and stand out in a crowd. A simple walk to the car turns : * 4 ( They pick up a rock and want to see who can throw it the farthest. “Made you look,� “You can’t 1 3 1 their heads more than the mea culpa of the Mass. That is why, as a father, I love Lent. The ashes, the fasting, the Friday abstinence from meat all send a visual, visceral message to my boys that these days are different, this time is set apart for special religious purposes. When I got home from work on Ash Wednesday, my seven-yearold ran to see if I had a black cross on my forehead as he did, and was thrilled that we shared this mark. Still competitive, he told me that his ashes were staying on better than his older brother’s, but it was a harmless form of one-upmanship.

A woman prepares a simple, meatless meal for Lent.

# \ ( + ( and abstinence rules, but I tell them that " ' + " + My 11-year-old is at the stage where he’s not quite sure if wearing ashes in public is cool, but when I asked to see his forehead, he couldn’t hide a child’s smile that said he was still thrilled to be part of this Catholic tradition. My sons are not yet required to follow the fast and abstinence rules, but I tell them that they are not too young to make little 5 ! a sweet or cutting back on time spent with their digital gadgets. This request becomes a little less burdensome when they see their mother giving up chocolate for 40 days and their dad foregoing his favourite rice pudding dessert. We also add a bedtime rosary in which our boys take the lead ( X a family, and each member has something to contribute.

As a father who wonders at times whether his sons are picking up the religious message and who hopes that they will remain close to the Church even as they grow away from their parents, the traditional practices of Catholicism provide a great amount of solace. To watch my boys light a can before the tabernacle, make the sign of the cross when passing a church and ask the meaning of each Station of the Cross gives me a sense that their faith goes below the surface. If repeated enough times, these outward acts are bound to inscribe that deeper meaning on their hearts and minds, and bring my boys closer to God. „ % ( ( + ' ( ( Z ' ( ( [ ( %

( #

then feast CELEBRATION is a paradoxical thing, created by a the ordinary and the special, work and play. Life and love must be celebrated within a certain 7 ( low seasons of work, seasons of consummation are heightened by seasons of longing, and seasons of intimacy grow out of seasons of solitude. Presence depends upon absence, intimacy upon solitude, play upon work. Even God rested after working for six days! X ( hasn’t been a previous fast. In times past, there was generally a long fast leading up to a feast, and then a joyous celebration followed. Today, we’ve reversed that. There is a long celebration leading up to the feast and a fast afterwards. Take Christmas for example: The season of Advent, in effect, kicks off the Christmas celebration. The parties start, the decorations and lights go up, and the Christmas music begins to play. When Christmas ! tired, saturated with the things of Christmas, ready to move on. By Christmas Day, we’re ready to go back to ordinary life. The Christmas season used to last until February. Now, realistically, it’s over on Dec 25. That hasn’t always been the case. Traditionally, the build-up was ( the fast comes after. We are poorer for that. Without a previous fast there isn’t much sublimity in the feast. A colleague of mine likes to say that our society knows how to anticipate an event, but not how to sustain it. That’s only partially true. It’s not so much that we do not know how to sustain something; we don’t know how to properly anticipate it. X ) ! !ing towards resolving it. Longing and fasting are not our strong points; neither is feasting. Because we can’t build properly towards a feast, we can’t celebrate it properly either. ! ! )G G ! ¢ ! 4 ( When fasting, inconsummation, and the ordinary rhythm of life are short-circuited, fatigue of the spirit, boredom, and disappointment replace celebration and we are invariably left with the empty feeling: “That’s all?â€? But that’s because we have short-circuited a process. ( I am old enough to have known another time. Like our own, that time too had its faults, but it also had some strengths. One of its strengths was its belief, a lived belief, that feasting depends upon prior fasting and that the sublime demands a prior sublimation. I have clear memories of the Lenten seasons of my childhood. How strict that season was then! Fast and renunciation: no weddings, no dances, few parties, few drinks, desserts only on Sundays, and generally less of everything that constitutes specialness and celebration. Churches were draped in purple. The colours were dark and the mood was penitential, but the feast that followed, Easter, was indeed special! Perhaps this is mostly nostalgia speaking; after all, I was young then, naive and deprived, and able to meet Easter and other celebrations with a hungrier spirit. That may be, but the specialness that surrounded feasts has died for another reason, namely, we do not anticipate them properly anymore. We short-circuit fasting, inconsummation, and the prerequisite longing. Simply put, how can Christmas be special when we arrive at Dec 25 exhausted from weeks of Christmas parties? How can Easter be special when we’ve treated Lent just like any other season? How, indeed, can anything be sublime when we have lost our capacity for sublimation? Today, the absence of genuine specialness and enjoyment within our lives is due in a large part to the breakdown of this rhythm. In a word, Christmas is no longer special because we’ve celebrated it during Advent, weddings are no longer special because we’ve already slept with ) * ) us because we had them prematurely. Premature experience is bad simply because it is premature, no other reason. To celebrate Christmas during Advent, to celebrate Easter with 7 * the bride before the wedding, a fault in chastity. All premature experience has the effect of draining us of great enthusiasm and great expectations (which can only be built up through sublimation, tension and painful waiting). It’s Lent. If we use this season to fast, to intensify longing, to raise our psychic temperatures, and to learn what kinds of gestation can develop within the crucible of chastity, then the feast that follows will have a chance of being sublime. „

FEATURE 19

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews %&

CONCERT REVIEW

" # $ % $ " $ & " ! # ! '*+8

Take time to revisit Vatican II documents: scholar GARRISON, NEW YORK, USA –

The 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council is an opportunity to revisit the clear teaching of its documents and reject distortions and false interpretations that have gained ground in the Catholic Church, says a council scholar. Alan Schreck, professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, spoke at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison on March 13 on Vatican II: World Church or Church of the Little Flock? Vatican II is still a sure compass for the Church today, he said, and each pope since the council 3L 4 teachings in our time�. Nonetheless, there has been confusion as the postconciliar Church sought to understand what the council meant and how to implement it. Prof Schreck said extreme responses vary from those who thought the council did not go far enough to create a democratic Church to those who thought it wrought too many changes and opened the door to secularism and modernist heresy. 3 F II are among the great unread documents of our time,� said Prof Schreck, a theologian, author and ( 3< things that are blamed on Vatican II are not in the documents.� Vatican II consisted of four sessions, each approximately three months long, in the years 1962-65. Although the Catholic Church was clearly present worldwide long before Vatican II, Prof Schreck said the council promot 3 1 which he described as a mentality ( 3' ) tians to simply return to the Cath-

4 attitude of reconciliation and reunion, where the Catholic Church joins with other Christians seeking that unity for which Christ prayed,� he said. 3> Church to other religions, there is a focus on what we have in common and what causes we can promote to overcome the obstacles ! 1 ( 3X church teaches respect for other paths to God.� # tion of the documents held that non-Christians would win salvation solely through the goodness and truth of their religions and

‘

The documents of Vatican II are among the great unread documents of our time. A lot of things that are blamed on Vatican II are not in the documents.

’

6 " * ( 3" * —> non-Christians can be saved, why L U41 3> church, people began to see things in the documents that were not there,� he said. The magisterium 3 6 ! of the world�, Prof Schreck said. This does not exclude nonChristians and non-believers from ! 6 ! ( 3> ! 4 the grace of Christ, even if they do not know Him.� 3 as portrayed by the Second Vati-

can council is a Church that is truly Catholic, truly universal, reaching out to include all people through the proclamation of the Gospel, willing to adapt the practice of the faith to other cultures besides Western ones, respecting all people, defending human life and dignity, even those who do not yet believe in Christ or who consider themselves enemies of the Church and Christ,� Prof Schreck said. He said the rights and dignity of all people were articulated in the council documents. These voice of non-European bishops within the church and the option of celebrating liturgy in the ver the richness of individual cultures. They also were included in the 4 4 mission to care for the poor and 6 ( In contrast to the world church, Schreck said Vatican II documents also include an image of the peo L * may appear as a small, illegal, per ( 3X of secularism and irreligion, the Catholic Church may appear as a * seed of hope and salvation for the whole human race,� he said. He said the Catholic Church might correctly be seen as out of step with the modern world as it seeks to be faithful to its charism. 3 F >> to experience what it means to be a minority, the Church of the little * 1 " * ( 3> be an easy mistake for Catholics to retreat and withdraw, but that is not * F >>4 engagement with the culture.� 3X ! new Christians, he said.� „ CNS

# "

;< Photo: CANDICE CHAN

Catholics and non-Catholics alike * of the Angels on March 23 for

4 > 4 E Life concert. May is a Singapore-born and bred Catholic singer-songwriter who is currently based in Los Angeles. Of the 13 songs presented that

? 4 album, Crooked Lines. During the concert, she shared her inspirations for her songs. She * + how it is about prioritising and spending quality time with family and friends, before performing 24 Hours, my personal favourite from her new album. The line that stands out the ! : G 3> > MQ hours to live, what would I do?� Indeed, if it were your last 24 hours, what would you want to do? This song struck a chord in > her recorded version, and hearing it live was indeed a whole new experience altogether. The song that followed was Sight of Love, which had the 3X ! and back to love we will return, someday�. It was another song that touched my heart. Halfway through the concert, May introduced her band, which included her husband and keyboardist Kavin Hoo. If audience reaction was any indication, songs from her previous albums were the popular choice at this concert – such as Five Loaves and Two Fishes from E ( I felt that May should have mentioned the title of each new song that she was performing, as most of the audience seemed unfamiliar with her new album.

The microphone also seemed to be too soft and her voice sound * ( I also felt she could have moved around a bit as she was stage and switching between the guitar and piano. However, she made a good attempt at lightening the atmosphere by sharing a few witty jokes, and occasionally showing concern for the crowd seated outside the main church, who could only watch the concert on a screen. The evening started to come to a close when she taught the crowd an audience-participation song. Everyone got to sing at certain parts as she performed one of my favourite songs, the upbeat num 6 X > + * 5 ( The audience wanted more, and ! E # the Side of Me, from previous albums. The former was dedicated to 4 ( Having listened to Corrinne 4 5 < > that her latest, Crooked Lines, is the most meaningful yet, because her young daughter, Claire, sings in one of the songs. The other songs and album design also draw inspiration from this addition to the family. > 4 still revolve around her Catholic faith because this is what makes her music so special. 4 but donations were collected for the restoration of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd. „ Corrinne May’s latest album, Crooked Lines, is now on sale at music stores islandwide. The writer is a Mass Communications student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.

20 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

By William Thorn

T

HE passion of Christ – rife with betrayal, humiliation, torture, mockery and death – is the ultimate tale of suffering. It appears in all four Gospels (Mt 26-27, Mk 14-15, Lk 22-23 and Jn 12-19) as the climax of Jesus’ tale, setting the stage for resurrection. It begins with the conspiracy against Jesus and ends with

) ( It is not without bright moments – Jesus dines with His beloved, washes their feet and sings. He heals and converts soldiers. He impresses Pilate. The physical abuse begins with Pilate. The governor has Jesus ( And once condemned, the world’s best soldiers – a cohort of 600 Romans – strip Him, beat Him, dress Him up, beat Him again, strip Him again and crown Him with thorns. “They spat in His face and struck Him, while some slapped Him, saying, ‘Prophesy for us, Messiah: who is it that struck you?’� (Mt 26:66-67). On the road to Golgotha, an exhausted and bloodied Jesus stumbles and falls, weary and spent. ) J and suffocation – is intentionally gruesome; a dishonourable death, of indignity and disgrace. Not only does Jesus suffer on the cross, He’s robbed while hanging there and stabbed after He dies. In tragic juxtaposition, He suffers at the hands of nearly everyone He has taught, healed and touched. From His chosen ranks, there is Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and Peter’s denial. John’s Gospel portrays ignorant and weak disciples who misunderstand Jesus. The rest argue about washing, debate who is greatest and get distracted by swords. “If the world hates you, re ( ((( > they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. ... They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God� (Jn 15:18, 20; 16:2). In Gethsemane, following His 3 8 1 (Mk 14:50). And still there is no doubt Jesus mourned the suicide of Judas Iscariot. The ungrateful masses fare no

$ = % > ? @ ! !

( 8 Passover meal – demanding things,

6 ments with His disciples – deny Him in Pilate’s court. Jesus taught, fed, led, healed and forgave them. They demand Barabbas. The power hierarchy gladly humiliates Jesus. He is arrested with spears, clubs and torches, like a common thief or wild animal. In bondage, He is lied about, slandered and mistried, repeatedly. “The chief priests and entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus ... but they found none. Many gave false witness against Him, but their testimony did not agree� (Mk 14:5556). “They brought charges against Him, saying, ‘We found this man misleading our people; He opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that He is the Messiah, a king. ... He is inciting the

people throughout all Judea’� (Lk 23:2-5). In Herod’s court “the chief priests and scribes meanwhile stood by accusing Him harshly. (Even) Herod and his soldiers

“He was in such agony and prayed so fervently that His sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground� (Lk 22:4245). Meanwhile, His disciples slept.

If the world hates you, ‘ ^ If they persecuted me, + (Jn 15:18) treated Him contemptuously and mocked Him� (Lk 23:10-11). 6 despair and fear in the agony in the garden. “Troubled and distressed ... he said, ‘My soul is sorrowful even to death’ (Mk 14:33-34).

’

8 are directed to His father. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?� (Mt 27:46). Jesus suffers further abuse while on the cross. “Those passing by reviled Him,

shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, [and] come down from the cross!’� (Mt 27:39-40). “The rulers, meanwhile, sneered at Him and said, ‘He saved others, let him save himself.’ Even the soldiers jeered at Him. ... One of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us’� (Lk 23:35-36). Worse still, all this happened before the very eyes of His most beloved, the only people who didn’t betray, desert, deny or persecute him. Christ’s passion includes suffering of all types, suffering from all sides – relentless, human suffering. Would the worst suffering be to foresee and anticipate it all? And who but God could do so and still go through with it? „ CNS

FAITH ALIVE 21

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Much of the richness of the Easter experience is due to the powerful symbols that mark this celebration.

Painting depicting Jesus’ resurrection

Symbols of life beyond death By Fr Lawerence E. Mick

H

AVE you ever gathered with your parish to celebrate the Easter Vigil? If you haven’t, you should try it. If you have, you know what a marvellous celebration it is, symbols. Much of the richness of the experience is due to the powerful symbols that mark this celebration. The liturgy begins when we light the paschal candle, a light shared with all who are present as the assembly processes into the church. After the singing of a song of praise to the candle and to Christ whom it represents, the assembly settles down to listen to a number of readings from the Old and New Testament, concluding with

the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ’s resurrection. Just before that Gospel, the alleluia is welcomed back with a triple proclamation and then interspersed with Psalm 118. After the homily, the assembly welcomes new members through the waters of baptism, anointing and sharing with them the Easter Eucharist. In his homily for the Easter Vigil in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI lifted up three of the Easter symbols. J this light enlightens us to recognise light from darkness, good from evil, and guides us in the way of truth. The second symbol that Pope Benedict lifted up was water. Another element of creation recounted in the reading from Genesis, water is central to the celebration of bap-

tism at the Easter Vigil. The Holy Father noted that water can be seen as negative and positive, bringing death and new life. Pope Benedict also recalled the ancient view that the water and the

Christ were symbols of baptism and Eucharist. The third symbol that the Holy Father discussed is a bit different, for it is a word we sing rather than an element we use: the word “alleluia�. Pope Benedict linked it to the song the Israelites sang after they passed through the sea during the Exodus. That was a song of joy for the freedom they had been given, and he said the alleluia is “the song of thanksgiving of the saved�. „ CNS Fr Lawrence E. Mick is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, USA.

22 FOCUS

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

Vatican investigates ‘Vatileaks’ documents VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has established a commission to investigate a series of leaks of letters exchanged among Vati ( Archbishop Angelo Becciu, Vatican substitute secretary of state, said on March 16 that the 3 1( < F * into taking legal action against those ! ers, and the Vatican Secretariat of ! ! ! F ( While some of the leaked letters are gossipy, others include al ( The leaks being investigated by F 6 Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano 7 L ! 4 # F (

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* ( Later leaks included a letter F : ing the current reform of the Vati 4 Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, and Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi of Milan arguing ! ( Archbishop Vigano called those * 3 1 3 1 ( F nounced on March 17 that experts from the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of * ! visited the Vatican from March 14-16 for talks about the Vatican’s ( The experts’ report is scheduled to be presented to Moneyval’s 6 ( „ CNS

Holy Week and Easter schedule No morning Masses on Holy Thursday Apr 5 and Holy Saturday Apr 7 Holy Thursday: Apr 5, Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday: Apr 6, Service. No Mass

Easter Sunday: O(B? $ ÂĽ%

E (B? ¢ (?? ¤ K(?? CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Holy Thursday: @(?? ¤ O(??

Easter Saturday: April 7, Evening Easter Vigil

adoration till midnight

Easter Sunday: Apr 8, 2012

Good Friday: X

CITY DISTRICT CATHEDRAL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Holy Thursday: K(B? Good Friday: M(B? ¤ @(B? Holy Saturday: (?? Easter Sunday: P(?? ?(?? ¤ K(?? ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH Holy Thursday: K(B?

midnight

! G O(B? $ ¼% ?(B? M(?? @(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? E Easter Sunday: O(?? $ ¼% P(Q@ ?(B? M( @ ¤ K(?? B(?? $ 4 % CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN Holy Thursday: K(B?

midnight Good Friday: ?(B? $ ÂĽ% B(??

Good Friday: X G (?? ¢ ! G K(Q@ Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: P(B? ?(B? ¤ @(??

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CHURCH OF STS PETER & PAUL Holy Thursday: O(?? $ ¼% Good Friday: $ ¼% B(?? Holy Saturday: O(?? $ ¼% ?(?? Easter Sunday: P(B? $ ¼% (?? ¤

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Holy Thursday: K(?? P(?? Good Friday: P(?? $ ÂĽ% (??

Q(M? CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES Holy Thursday: K(B? $ ¤ % Good Friday: X G M(B?

@(B? ¢ ! G B(?? K(B? $ ¼% Holy Saturday: (?? $ ¤ % Easter Sunday: O(B? (?? $ ¼% (?? M(B? $ + * % K(B? $ ¼% CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART Holy Thursday: K(?? Good Friday: X

! G ?(?? $ ¼% M(B? ¤ @(B? Holy Saturday: O( @ $ ¼% ?(?? Easter Sunday: P(?? (?? ?(B? M(?? ¤ @(B? CHURCH OF ST TERESA Holy Thursday: @G?? ¤ OG?? Good Friday: X

! G ?(?? ¤ M(B? " ! G ?(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: P(B? ?(B? M(B? ¤ K(?? CHURCH OF ST ALPHONSUS (NOVENA CHURCH) Holy Thursday: O(?? Good Friday: " ¤ "

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$> % ¤ B(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: P(?? $ ¼% (B? (?? (?? $ ¼% ¤ B(B? $> % ¤ @(B? CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL Holy Thursday: P(?? Good Friday: X

! G P(?? $ ¼% (?? ¤ M(B? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: OGB? $ ¼% E (B? ¤ K(?? EAST DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY Holy Thursday: O(??

midnight Good Friday: X G P(B? ¢

! G (?? ¢ M(?? B(?? ¤ @(B? $ ¼% Holy Saturday: P(?? E Easter Sunday: O( @ ¢ ( @ ( @ ¤ K(?? $ ¼%

Holy Saturday: (?? Easter Sunday: O(B? $ ÂĽ% (??

?(B? B(B? $ ¼% ¤ @(B?

B(?? ¤ K(?? Holy Saturday: O(B? E Easter Sunday: K(Q@ (B? ( @ ¤ K(?? B(?? E $ ¼% CHURCH OF THE DIVINE MERCY Holy Thursday: O(??

midnight Good Friday: (?? (B? ¤ B(?? (

4 ! $ % (B? ¤ B(?? Holy Saturday: O(B? E Easter Sunday: O(?? (?? (B? > E ¤ @(B? NORTH DISTRICT ST JOSEPH CHURCH Holy Thursday: O(?? Good Friday: (?? $ ¼% (?? B(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: O(B? $ ¼%

E (?? (?? ¤ @(B? CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY Holy Thursday: (?? Good Friday: ! G (?? M(??

$ ¼ ¤ ¼% B(?? X G (B? $ ¼% Holy Saturday: O(B? Easter Sunday: O(B? $ ¼% ( @ ( @ ¤ K(?? CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA Holy Thursday: K(B? ¤ (?? Good Friday: (?? $ ¼% X

$ ¼% (?? ¤ B(?? @(?? $ ¼% Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: P(?? $ ¼% ?(?? (B? ¤ @(?? CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Holy Thursday: O(?? Good Friday: ?(?? ¤ B(?? ?(??

$ + % Holy Saturday: O(?? Easter Sunday: O(?? (?? (?? ¤ @(B? CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST Holy Thursday: Q(?? K(?? Good Friday: P(?? $ ¼% ?(B?

M(B? @(?? Holy Saturday: O(B? Easter Sunday: O(?? P( @ $ ÂĽ% (Q@ (B? K(?? CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING Holy Thursday: K(B? Good Friday: O(B? ?(?? $ 4

% M(B? $ ¼% B(?? $ 4 % ¤ @(B? Holy Saturday: O(B? E Easter Sunday: O(B? $ ¼% E (Q@ (B? ¤ @(B?

SERANGOON DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Holy Thursday: K(B? Good Friday: P(B? (?? $ ÂĽ%

(?? B(?? ¤ @(?? ¢ X G ?(B? Holy Saturday: O(?? $ ¼% ? Easter Sunday: O(B? ( @ (?? ¤ @(B? CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Holy Thursday: K( @ Good Friday: X G (B? ¢

! G ?(?? B(?? Holy Saturday: O(B? E Easter Sunday: O(?? P(B? (?? ¤ K( @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER Holy Thursday: K(B? Good Friday: (?? (B? B(?? ¢

X G K(B? Holy Saturday: O(B? Easter Sunday: O(?? (?? (?? ¤ @(B? ST ANNE’S CHURCH Holy Thursday: O(?? Good Friday: P(?? ¢ (?? ¤ B(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: O( @ ¢ (?? ¢ (??

¤ K(?? CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Holy Thursday: P(??

( Good Friday: X

! G B(?? ¤ @(B? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: O(?? (?? (?? ¤ K(?? WEST DISTRICT CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS Holy Thursday: O(B?

midnight Good Friday: X G (??

?(?? $ %¢ ! G M(?? B(?? K(?? Holy Saturday: P(B? Easter Sunday: K(Q@ P( @ M(?? ¤ K(?? BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH Holy Thursday: O(?? Good Friday: ?(?? M(B? $ ¼%

¤ B(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? Easter Sunday: O(B? (?? $ ¼% ?(Q@ ¤ @(B? CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS Holy Thursday: K(B? ¤ P(B? ( Good Friday: (?? (?? $ ¼%

B(?? @(?? $ X ¤ / " % Holy Saturday: (?? Easter Sunday: O(B? $ ¼% $ 4 % ?(Q@ M(B? @(B? ¤ O( @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI Holy Thursday: O(B? Good Friday: O(B? $ ¼% ?(??

B(?? $ ¼% ¤ @(?? Holy Saturday: K(?? $ ¼% P(B? $E E % Easter Sunday: O(B? (?? (?? ¤ K(?? $ ¼% CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS Holy Thursday: K(?? ¤ P(?? Good Friday: O(B? ?(?? M(B?

B(?? X K(?? $ ÂĽ% Holy Saturday: O(B? Easter Sunday: O(B? (B? ( @ (?? $ ÂĽ%

CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE Holy Thursday: K(B? $ ÂĽ%

( Good Friday: (?? $ ¼% ¤ B(?? Holy Saturday: P(?? E

Note: In English unless indicated. (M*) Mandarin, (T*) Tamil, (Tg*) Tagalog, (EM*) Bilingual: English & Mandarin, (Mylm*) Malayalam All information provided correct at press time. Please contact the individual parishes for updates.

23

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

* and their destination was so near, When Jesus and His disciples had Jesus answered, “So that what had reached Bethpage, on the Mount of * Olives, they did not have much far- G —E ther to go before they would come * * to Jerusalem. Jesus put His hands on * the shoulders of two of His friends of a beast of burden.’� The disciples nodded in underand said: “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will standing of what Jesus had told them, * * with her. Untie them and bring them colt. They returned after a short time * * here to me.� Jesus could tell that the two men * 6 ( As often was the case when the * man named Jesus was approaching * 8 what to do if there were a problem. “If : * ( < anyone should say anything to you, gathered to see Him. Many hoped reply, ‘The master has need of them.’ for a miracle, others just wanted to see Him with their own eyes. Then he will send them at once.� There were many, many people X * were being sent to fetch the animals who came from Jerusalem. Some By Joe Sarnicola

* front of Jesus. When someone cut down a few palm branches and put them in the road, many other people did the same until the entire route that Jesus rode into Jerusalem was ! * ! ( The people followed behind Jesus as he rode into the city and chanted, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.� When Jesus entered the city, eve-

ryone there was amazed and some * 3X U1 < the people who had followed Jesus shouted in reply, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee!� „ Read more about it: Matthew 21

Q&A 1. What did Jesus tell the disciples to do? 2. How did the people greet Jesus?

Bible Accent:

Kids’ Club:

The palm tree has deep tap roots to thrive even in the hot, dry climate of ancient Israel and the surrounding areas. The tall, leafy plant lives for a long time and produces a chewy fruit called a date. The term scientists used to name the palm tree was “phoenix�, after the ancient Middle Eastern country of Phoenicia. The palm tree was useful for more than its ( < * sap, and the leaves could be used to weave everything * ( People waved palm leaves and laid them on the road in front of Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem, as if He were * ( E this, we call the Sunday before Easter “Palm Sunday�. „

Share your thoughts on this week’s Bible story with family and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: What can we do to show love and compassion to other people the way Jesus did?

PUZZLE: Circle the words from the list that are hidden in the puzzle box. They may run in any direction. Can you ! ] word that is not listed? Saint Miracle Lent Easter Bible Feast Glory Savior

S S S S S A M

A F A B E I H

I T E V R F G

N N C A I G L

T E C D S O O

E L B I B T R

E A S T E R Y

24

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

WHAT’S ON 25

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www.catholic.sg/webevent_form.php Sunday April 1 to April 8 HOLY WEEK MALAYALAM SCHEDULE Apr 1 (4pm): Palm Sunday Mass at Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. Celebrant: Fr Michael. Apr 5 (8pm) Holy Thursday Mass at Church of St Francis of Assisi. Celebrant: Fr Kurian. Apr 6 (10.30am) Good Friday Service at Church of St Stephen (Sallim Rd). Apr 7 (8.30pm) Easter Vigil. At Church of St Francis of Assisi. Celebrant: Fr Kurian. Apr 8 (3.30pm) Easter Sunday Mass. At Church of St Stephen. Celebrants: Frs Kurian and Michael Monday April 2 to Wednesday April 4 HOLY WEEK TRIDUUM 8-9pm: Passion of Christ guided contemplation on Jesus’ agony in the garden, His betrayal, scourging ) ( Led by Fr Philip Heng, SJ using scenes from The Passion of the Christ movie. All welcome. At Church of St Ignatius (120 King’s Rd). April 5 CHRISM MASS AT NATIVITY CHURCH 10.30am: Churchgoers are advised to park their cars at the neighbouring HDB carparks or at the Catholic Spirituality Centre just across the road. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. April 5 HOLY THURSDAY TAIZE 8.30-10pm: Children’s choir to sing TaizÊ hymns. After Mass of the Lord’s Supper with prayers in song, meditation and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Dr). April 6 TAGALOG GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE 11am: Tagalog Good Friday Service with Stations of the Cross. At Church of St Vincent de Paul (310 Yio Chu Kang Rd). T: 6482 0959. Tuesday April 10 to Thursday April 12 PAINTING MY WAY TO GOD 10am-1pm (morning workshop). 7.30-9.30pm (talk). Fr John Quigley OFM, will combine morning creative time with an evening talk on mysticism and art. Through art creation and shared ) their spiritual journeys in a creative manner. No art skills necessary. At Church of St Mary of the Angels (5 Bt Batok East Ave 2). Cost: $60 (per day inclusive of basic art materials) or $20 (for evening talk only). Register E: heartspace.stmary@gmail.com Wednesdays April 11 to May 9 BASIC CATECHIST COURSE LITURGY 1 9.30am-12.30pm: A 4-session course on the Liturgy and Liturgical Catechesis for catechists and faith formators. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 7019; E: sylvia@catholicspi.org.

Thursdays April 12 to May 24 PERSONAL COMPASS: NAVIGATING ETHICAL AMBIGUITY, THE CHRISTIAN LIFE 7.30-9.30pm: Join Fr David Garcia, OP, to learn more about Christian virtues. By SPI and Wonderfully Made! Cost: $80. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 7012 (Janice); E: janice@catholicspi.org

April 20 CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY FUND-RAISING GOLF EVENT 11.30am-9.30pm: The parish is hosting a golf charity to raise funds for its new church building. Guest of Honour: Dr Tan Cheng Bock. At Warren Golf & Country Club. T: 9748 8308 (Louise); E: register@st-anthonygolfday.com

Fridays April 13 to April 27 INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL 8-10pm: 2012 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Find out what this much heardabout council was about. By SPI. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org

April 21 STEPS TO HAPPINESS – POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 9.30am-12pm: Modern day living produces stress in people. This talk focuses on Positive Psychology tools that can help people improve their happiness level through simple lifestyle changes. The speaker, Dr Christopher Cheok, is currently Head of the Department of Psychological Medicine at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Cost: $20. By Clarity Singapore. At National Voluntary & Philanthropy Centre (The Central #04-88, 6 Eu Tong Sen St). Register T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org

Friday April 13 to Sunday April 15 YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYES 7pm (Fri)-4pm (Sun): Cell group retreat in Indonesian by Ferdie Soetiono and Maria Tjumenat. Cost: $40 (adult), $30 (student). By Cell Group Amoredio, KKIS. At Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre. T: 9426 7547 (Mitha), 9005 6795 (Yutta), 9699 9045 (Verani); W: http://amoredio.org E: bianca.baverina@gmail.com; April 14 FAMILY KITE FLYING EVENT 1.30-3.30pm: This Easter, gain an insight into Familiaris Consortio and discover God’s plan for marriage and the family * 7 ! (E Family Life Society. At Nativity Church. Cost: $40 (kite and refreshments for 3). Advanced payment required. Registration 7 7 7 ! Apr 4. T: 6488 0278 (Veronica); E: veronica@familylife.sg April 14 FINDING GOD IN YOUR WRITING 9.30am-5pm: Learn to write your sacred story. Through writing exercises and other activities, explore and express your inmost thoughts and feelings, and gain a deeper understanding of self and your relationship with others and with God. No prior writing experience required. Facilitated by Roselie Chia (trained writing group leader). Cost: $80 (including lunch). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com April 15 6TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIVINE MERCY PRAYERS IN TAMIL 6.30pm: St Joseph Tamil Prayer Group will celebrate its 6th anniversary of Divine Mercy Prayers in Tamil. With Mass at 7pm. All welcome. At Blessed Sacrament Church. Wednesdays April 18 to May 23 BOOK OF DANIEL 9.30am-11.30pm: By Church of the Holy Spirit Bible Apostolate. At Church of the Holy Spirit Room A2-01. Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare), 9815 4098 (Genevieve), E: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com April 18 THE WHYS OF HUMAN SUFFERING AND OVERSEAS HUMANITARIAN WORK 7-9pm: Fr David Garcia, OP, will explore the theological and spiritual aspects of these and other related questions: Why is there human suffering? Are natural disasters a chastisement by God? What does it truly mean to help the needy? Why go overseas to perform humanitarian work? By CHARIS. At Church of the Holy Spirit Room 03-02 (248 Upp Thomson Rd). Register T: 6338 0182 (Albert); E: info@charis-singapore.org

Wednesday April 25 to Saturday April 28 PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL TALKS 7pm (daily): Talks by Fr Michele Vezzoli on Enneagram and Spiritual Growth, Transactional Analysis and Relationship with God, Stages of Spiritual Growth, Prayer in the Modern World. By LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre. At Canossa Convent Primary School (1 Sallim Rd). Register T: 6466 2178; E: lifesprings@singnet.com.sg; W: http://www.lifespringscanossian.com April 27 CONTEMPORARY JESUIT HYMNS: THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF LITURGICAL MUSIC 7.30-9.30pm: Liturgical music is properly a theological enterprise, expressing in aesthetic form the faith of the contemporary Church. Explore salient theological aspects of Jesuit Liturgical Music in this talk. At CANA The Catholic Centre (55 Waterloo St Level 2). Register T: 6336 4815, 6336 4467; E: cana@catholiccentre.com.sg Monday April 30 to Thursday May 3 SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY TRAINING 9.30am-1pm: 3-day training course for new members of School Chaplaincy Teams by Dr Michael Downey. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 7085 (Louis). E: louis.oo@catholic.org.sg Wednesdays May 2 to May 16 FINDING GOD IN YOUR READING 8-9.30pm: Based on Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith and through Ignatian ! the environment and their relationships with the Divine. A teacher, a mother, and a medical doctor will share their ( " faiths welcome. Kindly read the book beforehand. Facilitated by Fr Leslie Raj, SJ. Love offering. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com Fridays May 4 to June 8 CaFE: SAINTS – HELPING US TODAY P7 (B? G < ! * location in the homelands of saints. Learn how the saints’ teachings can give us practical help in our lives today. By ACPT. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). Register with name, age and contact no. SMS 9007 0987; E: acptcafe@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.

Fridays from April 27 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45-9.15pm: At Church of St Teresa (St Paul Room Level 4 Parish House). T: 6271 1184; E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg

Tuesdays from May 29 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 8-10pm: At Church of St Ignatius Hall (120 King’s Rd). T: 6466 0625 ext 10 (Angela) E: church@stignatius.org.sg

Wednesdays from April 18 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI 7.30-9.30pm: At Church of St Francis of Assisi (200 Boon Lay Ave). T: 9765 1315 (Carol); E: rciasfa@gmail.com

Saturdays from May 12 RCIY@CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 4-6pm: At Church of St Ignatius (120 King’s Rd). E: rciy.ignatius@gmail.com

Thursdays from May 31 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 8-10pm: At Church of the Holy Spirit (248 Upper Thomson Rd). T: 9010 2829, E: kim_f_ho@yahoo.com.sg

Thursdays from April 26 RCIA@BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 7.30-9pm: At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 6474 0582, E: rcia@bsc.org.sg. Registration forms available at parish : (

Sundays from May 27 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR (MANDARIN) 9-10.30am: At Church of the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (31 Siglap Rd). T: 9625 3897 (Molly), 9687 6021 (Zheng Ying); E: clairemollyong@gmail.com

Tuesdays from June 12 RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30pm: At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (225A Queen St). T: 9753 6863 (Joanna); E: sng.joanna@gmail.com. Registration ! (

Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

May 6 BILINGUAL PERANAKAN MASS AT BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 10.45am: In English and Peranakan. Celebrated by Fr Alfred Chan. All welcome. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Dr).

June 27 PRAYING WITH ANOTHER FOR HEALING 7.30-10pm: Participants will pray in silence for each other and experience how God heals them. By Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Cost: $20. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling at St Ignatius Charismatic Prayer Group. At St Ignatius Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register T: 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@ gmail.com; W: http://catholic.org.sg/cisc

Saturdays May 12 to May 19 BEING & BECOMING THROUGH ART JOURNALING 2-5pm: Be in congruence with the person you are created to be. Learn how to begin and move through the art-journaling process. Be introduced to the language of design to help you focus, express, respond and connect with your inner world. Facilitated by Joanna Tan (artist, art therapist). Cost: $160. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

June 30 THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE: TURNING STRESS INTO STRENGTH 10am-5pm: This full-day seminar will look at whatever is making us irritable, anxious or depressed and how to transform it into an experience that endows us with new strength and gifts to care for God, others and ourselves. Cost: $80 (with lunch). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register T: 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com; W: http:// catholic.org.sg/cisc

Friday June 8 to Sunday June 10 THE BREAD OF LIFE: A DIRECTED RETREAT 7pm (Fri)-5pm (Sun): A silent retreat 8 Communion and Christian commitment. Facilitated by CISC spiritual directors. Cost: $110 (non-air con), $160 (air-con). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and

Crossword Puzzle 1055 1

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ACROSS 1 Eternal _____ 5 Winner 10 Frat letters 14 Big rabbit features 15 Egyptian handmaiden 16 Teen scourge 17 Muslim titles of honor 18 Blow on the cheek delivered by the bishop at

19 Bank contents 20 Hilton or Trump 22 Biblical mount 24 Some 25 Church spire 26 Meetings of bishops 30 Judge who had thirty sons who rode thirty asses (Judg 10:4) 31 Not hesitant 32 Baby powder 33 Small secluded valley 37 Record 38 Compel 39 _____ of Christian Initiation 40 Cries of discovery 41 Vex 42 Jewish month of Passover 43 Taxis 44 Nun’s headdress

45 Offense 49 OT prophetic book 50 Enthusiastic 51 Not for the dry cleaner 56 Vigor 57 Notre Dame nickname, “The Fighting _____� 59 Sign on again 60 It’s in the dictionary now 61 Nick of “Cape Fear� 62 Game of chance 63 Henpecks 64 Patron saint of hermits 65 Former JFK arrivals

12 Big name in chips 13 Chicago Eight defendant 21 Our ______ of Lourdes 23 Air (comb.) 25 “______ Regina� 26 Mlle. across the Pyrenees 27 Okay 28 Soft lambskin leather 29 Lyric poems 30 Alcatraz, and others 32 Reuben or Gad, for example 33 Harsh 34 Speech defect 35 And others (abbr.)

DOWN 1 Her eyes were described in the Bible (Gen 29:17) 2 The villain in Othello 3 Campus org. 4 Being (Lt.) 5 August 1, Feast of St. Peter in _____ 6 Catholic actor of “The Wizard of Oz� fame 7 Culture medium 8 Chart 9 Custom 10 _______ Pio 11 Rascal

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1054 P I E T Y

A L B E E

L I B R A

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36 38 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 51 52 53 54 55 58

Hawaiian goose Hauling Near Metal container Does the laundry Pope (II) who called for the Crusades Saint Goretti Come with Tumults Speed “Thy ________ be done‌â€? Holy holders Busy ones Fontanne’s theater partner Epic poetry King of France

S A A C E R R A A C E R H A M D S E E O L A G O T R A W H E R A S E R S D R A H T A S O N P A R T E R C Y

W I S M E E A D L E A D A A G U R A N T

A G A R

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D R E D

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G O F E R

E R A S E

D A R T S

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26 NEWS

Cardinal Francis Xavier Van Thuan HUE – The Vietnamese Church is

working to gather evidence rele! Vietnamese Cardinal Francis Xavier Van Thuan, promoted by the " 6 Peace, of which he was president. As reported to Fides from local sources in the diocese of Hue, Central Vietnam, among the testimonies gathered by the Church of Hue, there are two women – a nun and a lay person – who claim to have been healed through the late cardinal’s intercession. Sr Marie Thi Lan, of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, said that in 2009 she had to undergo delicate eye surgery. “I prayed to the cardinal and my eyes were healed without surgery,� said the nun. Also in the diocese of Hue, a woman of the parish of Thach Han, Mrs Mary Le Thi Than, aged 70, was bedridden for over 40 years because of a severe form of neuralgia. She prayed to Cardinal Van Thuan and was recently healed, resuming normal daily activities, which for decades she was unable to do. The late cardinal was imprisoned by the communists for 13 years. Hue is the place where Cardinal Van Thuan was born, grew up and was ordained a priest. „ FIDES

CLASSIFIED THANKSGIVING O Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in times of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg you, to whom God has given such great power, to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude, pray for me and all who honour and invoke your aid. Humbly in need of your intercession. Amen Thank you for answering my prayers.

O Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor for all who invoke your special patronage in time of need; to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg you, to whom God has given such great power, to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude, pray for us and all who honour and invoke your aid. My heartfelt gratitude to Jesus, Mother Mary, St Jude, St Anthony, St Joseph and St Rose for your kind intercession and for answering my prayers miraculously. Rosa Koh

IN MEMORIAM

Sunday April 8, 2012 „ CatholicNews

28

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Sunday April 8, 2012 CatholicNews

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

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