APRIL 06, 2014, Vol 64, No 07

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SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2014

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KIEV – As the Russian president

signed a bill to annex Crimea on March 18, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the peninsula has been experiencing what a &KXUFK RI¿FLDO FDOOV ³WRWDO SHUVHcution�. ³$W WKLV PRPHQW DOO 8NUDLQLDQ Greek Catholic life in Crimea is paralysed,� Fr Volodymyr Zhdan, chancellor of the Stryi eparchy in western Ukraine, told CNA on March 18. Referring to the kidnapping of three Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests in Crimea by pro-Russian forces over the weekend, Fr Zhdan stressed that one such case could be called a mistake, but that ³PXOWLSOH NLGQDSSLQJV DUH QRW DQ accident�. On March 15, Fr Mykola Kvych, a naval chaplain stationed in Sevastopol was detained imPHGLDWHO\ DIWHU FHOHEUDWLQJ D ³SDUastas�, a memorial prayer service for the dead. The following day, Fr Bohdan Kosteskiy of Yevpatoria and Fr Ihor Gabryliv of Yalta were also reported missing. Later that night all three were said to be alive and safe, with Fr .Y\FK FRQ¿UPLQJ WKDW KH KDG HVcaped to the mainland of Ukraine with the help of parishioners. A referendum was held in the territory on March 16 regarding union with Russia. Crimean authorities claim that 97 percent of voters favour seceding from Ukraine and joining Russia, and on March 18 Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Crimean leaders signed a treaty declaring the territory absorbed by Russia. Western nations and the government in Kiev have condemned both the referendum and the annexation. Several other problems at Ukrainian Greek Catholic Churches throughout the country have been reported in recent days. According to the Religious Information Service of Ukraine, on March 15 a parish in Kolomyya was vandalised and another in Dora was burned to the ground,

VOL 64

NO. 7

INSIDE HOME IJ nuns mark 160 years Ex-students, teachers, principals gather for occasion „ Page 2

Pope Francis’ VW \HDU LQ RIÀFH Local Church holds Mass to celebrate „ Page 5

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Three priests were apparently detained while one parish was vandalised and another burned. reportedly from arson. Both damaged parishes are in the IvanoFrankivsk region, which borders Romania in the west of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church was heavily persecuted during the Soviet era; it was considered illegal, and operated completely underground until 1989. With the signing of the Russia-Crimea treaty, it is unclear what will happen to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the region. It is estimated there are roughly 5,000 Ukrainian Greek

ASIA

Taiwan foundation JLYHV ¿QDQFLDO KHOS „ Page 11

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Catholics on the peninsula. ³:KDW ZH VDZ WKLV ZHHNHQG was a disturbing signal of a future political direction,� Fr Zhdan concluded. Meanwhile, Pope Francis met privately at the Vatican with Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, head of the Eastern-rite Catholic Church in Ukraine, on

March 17, the day after pro-Russian voters on the Crimean peninsula voted to secede from Ukraine in a referendum the United States and European Union called illegal. Archbishop Shevchuk declined requests for interviews. „ CNA, CNS „ Page 14: Ukrainian Catholics ÀHH &ULPHD

English bishop urges respect, courtesy „ Page 15

)2&86 :KHQ SUD\HUV go ‘unanswered’ Fr Henry Siew gives his views on the matter „ Page 21

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

‘The IJ

community will continue to embrace the future with courage, zeal and steadfastness.

’

– IJ Provincial Sr Agnes Lee

Infant Jesus nuns, both local and foreign, pose for a photo with priests after the March 15 Mass.

IJ nuns mark 160 years in S’pore By Clara Lai Bond as one Infant Jesus family, be friends for life and keep the IJ spirit alive. This was one message Jesuit Msgr Philip Heng conveyed to some 1,000 people gathered at a Mass to celebrate 160 years of the Infant Jesus (IJ) Sisters’ presence in Singapore. Msgr Heng was the main celebrant at the March 15 thanksgiving Mass at St Joseph Church, Bukit Timah. Former and present CHIJ (Convent of the Infant Jesus) students, teachers, principals, as well as IJ Sisters from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Spain and France were among those at the event. In his homily, Msgr Heng gave a brief history of the journey of the IJ Sisters from France to Malaya and Singapore. He said that in September 1853, Mother Mathilde and three other nuns who were in Malaya were invited to come to Singapore. They learnt English and Malay DQG OLYHG LQ SRYHUW\ DW WKHLU ¿UVW

Mother Mathilde

convent at Victoria St, where the present CHIJMES now stands. 7KHUH WKH\ VHW XS WKH ÂżUVW CHIJ school in Singapore which was known as “Town Conventâ€?. Msgr Heng also revealed that he was educated by IJ Sisters, who taught him catechism, as

well as lessons from kindergarten to Primary 6, in his hometown in Cameron Highlands. He went “from IJ to SJ (Society of Jesus)�, he said, to chuckles from the audience. In closing, Msgr Heng urged the largely female crowd to “bond as one IJ family�, be friends for life and “keep the IJ spirit alive�. Towards the end of the Mass, IJ Provincial Sr Agnes Lee told those gathered that “160 years in itself is meaningful�, but what is more meaningful is that the IJ family is still “faithful to the ideals of our founder, embracing change with courage yet retaining the spirit of IJ�. She expressed gratitude to the early Sisters, who, under Mother Mathilde’s leadership, started the IJ community in Singapore; present Sisters for their dedication and hard work; and the many laypersons who worked alongside the Sisters. “The IJ community will continue to embrace the future with courage, zeal and steadfastness,� Sr Agnes added.

IJ nuns, teachers and students carrying items during the offertory, such as images of CHIJ schools founder Mother Mathilde and Blessed Nicolas Barre, founder of the Sisters of the Infant Jesus.

A video presentation chronicling the past 160 years was screened, showing how despite lack of funds, space and personnel, the early Sisters managed to set up schools, boarding houses and orphanages. Before the start of Mass, the president of the CHIJ Alumni Association, Ms Claire Ang, recited a poem she wrote in tribute to Mother Mathilde. Present and former IJ students said they were glad to be part of this historic celebration. Cai Pei Xuan, 16, a student in CHIJ Toa Payoh (Secondary), said her grandmother was an IJ girl too and “would share with me her experiences�.

Having been in an IJ school for the past 10 years, the IJ experience “is a big part of my life�, she told CatholicNews. Ms Geraldine Sim, 50, formerly from CHIJ Kellock Primary and Town Convent, said she felt “very happy and touched because everyone was thanking God� for the past 160 years. Mrs Hwang-Lee Poh See, former principal of CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, noted how the “IJ Sisters have touched many people�. Former “IJ students are now in all parts of the world shining their light and contributing their service�, she added. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

Founder of CHIJ schools honoured in women’s hall of fame By Clara Lai

Screen grab from the website.

Mother Mathilde, founder of the CHIJ schools in Singapore, has been honoured in a virtual hall of fame, together with 107 other ZRPHQ ZKR PDGH VLJQL¿FDQW FRQtributions to Singapore. The Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame was launched at a gala dinner on March 14. President Tony Tan was guest-of-honour, and was accompanied by his wife, Mary.

Mrs Tan is patron of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), which planned this hall of fame in conjunction with International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8. According to the SCWO, the hall of fame is a “celebration of the women who have made, or are making, an impact� on Singapore – the “boundary breakers and record holders, the risk-takers and change makers, the role

models and the standard setter�. IJ representatives at the dinner were CHIJ Schools Supervisor Sr Deirdre O’Loan, IJ Provincial team Srs Agnes Lee and Joan Tay, and Sr Maria Lau. French IJ Srs Colette Flourez and Elizabeth Sondag, as well as Japanese Sr Masako Fukohori, also attended. Other IJ representatives were IJ Homes and Children’s Centres chairman Francis Yip, IJ Board

of Management chairperson Vivienne Lim, CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) principal Karen Tay and vice-principal Mathews Shu Quo. Sr Agnes received a trophy in honour of Mother Mathilde. Each guest also received a hardcover book featuring the women in the hall of fame. The Hall of Fame can be viewed at www.swhf.sg.„ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

S’porean illustrates life of Pope Francis for comic book Photo courtesy of Sean Lam

CNS photo

By Darren Boon Many people draw inspiration from Pope Francis, but how many actually draw him? Singapore manga artist Sean Lam is the illustrator of the 48page paperback Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy, which was published last year by US company Manga Hero. Lam, 35, who has previously illustrated for other Catholicthemed manga such as Pope Benedict XVI, biblical characters such as Judith and St Paul, says that working on each manga brings him “closer to Godâ€? and deepens KLV IDLWK ,W DOVR UHDIÂżUPV UHDVsures and strengthens him of his decision to pursue his interest in manga illustration. Working on real life characters provides good life lessons such as how to deal with life and situations as there is a human dimension instead of fantasy, said Lam, who accompanies his Catholic parents to church. He listed several characteristics of Pope Francis one can learn from. “He [Pope Francis] helps anyone regardless of circumstances or any situations. [He is] down to earth, humble and helpful. These are good points you want to actually learn,â€? he said. He says such books are useful for teenagers. “Kids won’t pick up a novel on Pope Francis‌kids would pick up a manga...it is a good medium to reach out to youngsters easily,â€? Lam said. This 48-page paperback comic book portrays Pope Francis’ teen-

Lam’s works include a 48-page paperback that shows Pope Francis’ teenage years up to his election as pope (left), and a 32-page Pope Benedict XVI manga comic book, distributed during World Youth Day in Madrid.

won’t pick up a novel on Pope Francis... ‘Kids kids would pick up a manga... it is a good medium to reach out to youngsters easily.’

– Singapore manga artist Sean Lam

Singapore manga artist Sean Lam with a page from his comic book.

age years to his election as pope. The full book is still in the works, Lam said. It took about three months for this comic to be completed, and Lam said that a lot of research had to be done both by him and the writer, who is based in the US. Lam told CatholicNews that the story would actually come ÂżUVW DQG E\ WKH WLPH WKH VWRU\ LV

KDOI ZD\ WKURXJK WKH ÂżUVW DUWZRUN would be ready. While the priority goes to the story, Lam said that the “art and story have to go togetherâ€?. The art also helps the writer to visualise and develop the story further, Lam added. Thus, he spends a lot of time online liaising with the writer, going back and forth on the story

and artwork, and working on how WR Ă€HVK RXW D VFHQH Lam says that illustrating each pope is different as they are vastly distinctive in character. Pope Benedict, Lam notes, is rather reserved and quiet, and has an air of solemnity around him, while Pope Francis is seen as outgoing, approachable, smiles a lot, and looks happy most of the time. Lam read up about Pope Francis and his past and looked as his photos to “try to know as much of his characterâ€? so as to “portray him as realistically as possibleâ€?. Through his research, he discovered that Pope Francis is a “pretty easy guy, down to earth and ap-

proachable�. It was enjoyable illustrating Pope Francis, he added. Although Lam does illustrations for other publishers on nonreligious themed manga such as Ringworld, Lam, who is the main artist for Manga Hero, said he looks forward to continue his work on Catholic-theme manga. For more information on Lam’s works, visit the publisher’s website,www.mangahero.com. Pope Francis: I Believe in Mercy as well as a list of other Manga Hero’s publications are available for sale on amazon.com. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Two events were recently organised by the Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE), to coincide with a meeting of leaders from the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services’ Asia-Oceania sub-committee in Singapore.

Forum on Building Communities for New Evangelisation About 200 people from charismatic groups, renewal expressions and parish ministries gathered together with leaders from the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) and ICCRS Sub-committee for AsiaOceania (ISAO) for a forum on Building Communities for New Evangelisation. The forum, organised by the Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE), was held at the Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre on March 16. According to SACCRE chairperson Jessica Francisco, it was a follow-up to the forum on new evangelisation in November last year in which communities of disciples were emphasised. In the main address, ICCRS president Michelle Moran shared that in her many years of work in evangelisation, she has come to know friends from Charismatic communities who have been evangelising through different means such as parish cell group

systems, the media, the liturgy and working with politicians. She stressed that “evangelisation is not new for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, it’s in our DNA, it’s part of who we areâ€?. She also reiterated what she had said at a rally the previous night, that a Pentecost person is one “who refuses to stay in the room gathered in prayer but on the power and the anointing and the equipping of the Holy Spirit, go forth from that placeâ€?. ICCRS vice-president Cyril John spoke about the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in the Middle East where the Catholic Charismatic Renewal played a major role in bringing together the different communities of many nationalities through various conferences. He highlighted the vibrancy of the Church in the Middle East which has been a witness to the local populations despite WKH GLIÂżFXOWLHV WKH &KXUFK IDFHV ICCRS councillor, Kkottongnae Br James Shin from South Korea then gave a presentation of his Religious community’s mis-

ICCRS and ISAO leaders during the question and answer session. From left: Kkottongnae Br James Shin, Mr Cyril John, Mrs Michelle Moran and Mrs Ann Brereton.

Evangelisation is not ‘new for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, it’s in our DNA, it’s part of who we are.

’

– ICCRS president Michelle Moran

The audience at the March 16 forum at the Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre, which included Rev Dr Lorna Khoo from Aldersgate Methodist Church (front row, second from right). Photos: MIRLANI BUDISETIA

sion to the poor, abandoned and sick people in Korea and in about 10 branches at other countries. He WHVWLÂżHG WKDW WKH 5HOLJLRXV DQG ODity who took care of the poor were evangelised by them for in their GLIÂżFXOWLHV WKH SRRU NQHZ WKH VXIfering Christ. Another ICCRS councillor, Mrs Ann Brereton from Australia, explained how ISAO took the vision of reaching out to the ends

of the world and made contact ZLWK WKH 3DFLÂżF ,VODQGV ZKLFK was challenging because of their remoteness and lack of technology. She gave a testimony of how she was able to reach out to some islands because her husband had work projects there. At the question and answer session, the four ICCRS leaders elaborated on mission and community especially on how to discern

the concrete things to do in the communities. Fr Erbin Fernandez, Episcopal Vicar for New Evangelisation gave the homily at the Mass celebrated by Fr Jose Anchanickal from India, saying that catechesis cannot be the work of just a few but the responsibility of the entire parish community and exhorted the participants to play an active role. Ms Linda Law from the $Ă€DPH &KDULVPDWLF 3UD\HU Community said she learnt that “evangelisation starts from our own conversion and commitment to the Lord. If this takes place, the rest follows.â€? „

New Pentecost for New Evangelisation rally By Clara Lai The leaders and representatives at the meeting for the ICCRS Sub-committee for Asia-Oceania. Photo: MIRLANI BUDISETIA

Charismatic leaders from Asia-Oceania meet in Singapore ISAO, comprising representatives from the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, met in Singapore on March 15. The meeting was facilitated by ICCRS president Michelle Moran and vice-president Cyril John. It re-looked at existing strucWXUHV RI ,6$2 WR VHH LI LW ZDV VXI¿cient to serve the vision of ICCRS, and noted that events like the international Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) conferences held in Jakarta, Indonesia and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, together with other sub-regional conferences organised by ISAO over the last few years did help bring the countries closer to each other for mutual collaboration. The meeting also led to the decision to put more emphasis for CCR on youth ministries and leadership formation at all levels. Emphasis on community building and one’s role

in the parish were also discussed. All were reminded of their responsibility to help others live authentic Christian lives through personal prayer, intercessory prayer and living the word of God. ISAO works in collaboration with all renewal realities and expressions to help offer Charismatic spirituality to the Church. The next ISAO conference will be held in Qatar from Sept 23 to 26, 2015. Upcoming ICCRS programmes that were announced are: 1. Colloquim on deliverance prayer in Rome from April 3 to 6, 2014 2. International CCR Conference in Kampala, Uganda, from June 30 to July 6, 2014 3. International CCR Priest Retreat in Rome from June 10 to 14, 2015. „

“At the heart of Charismatic renewal is Pentecost, it is to live the life of Pentecost of the world and spread it,� Mrs Michelle Moran, president of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) said. She was speaking to a 400-strong crowd who attended the New Pentecost for New Evangelisation rally at the Church of the Risen Christ on March 15. The event was organised by the Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal. Mrs Moran, who comes from the United Kingdom, added, “Stop giving testimonies of what the Lord has done in your life in the past. Start giving testimonies of how He has touched your life this week.� Kkottongnae Br James Shin from South Korea also spoke during the event, as a council member of ICCRS and committee member of ICCRS Sub-committee for Asia-Oceania (ISAO). He shared his experiences in the medical profession before he became a volunteer doctor for

Participants at the March 15 rally at the Church of the Risen Christ.

three years and later joined the Congregation of Kkottongnae Brothers of Jesus as a Religious. “I have no wife, no children, no money, not even time to rest,� Br James said about the time when he was a volunteer doctor. “But I received the message from God – happy are those who are poor in spirit.� That means to “give everything until you cannot give anymore�, he added. Mr Cyril John from India in his talk informed the crowd of the many initiatives that are cur-

rently being planned, including a University of Holy Spirit in Rome “for people to come and specialise in Charismatic renewal�. There was also a healing service during the rally, as well as a praise and worship session at the start of the event. Rev Dr Lorna Khoo from Aldersgate Methodist Church was also present at the event. Church of Our Lady of Lourdes parishioner Mr Jayanath Perera, 53, said, “It was a very beautiful evening [and] Mrs Moran was very inspiring.� Mr Gerald Tan, 25, from the Church of the Risen Christ told CatholicNews that the rally was “very refreshing, [my] engine’s recharged to move forward with my life�. Mrs Liana Santoso, 48, from Church of St Bernadette said, “I loved it, am always looking forward to SACCRE events.� Church of St Stephen parishioner Mr Alphonsus Wee, 49, said he enjoyed the rally, adding that “there should be more new evangelisation events in the Church�. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Marking Pope Francis’ 1st year Photo: DOMINIC WONG

By Darren Boon Pope Francis, just like St Joseph, is a man of “fortitudeâ€? and “integrityâ€?, and a protector of the Church, Archbishop William Goh told some 1,000 people at a Mass WR PDUN WKH SRQWLIIÂśV ÂżUVW DQQLversary as leader of the Catholic Church. The Holy Father is a man who has both “pastoralâ€? and “personal authorityâ€?, said Archbishop Goh, and urged all to be in union with Pope Francis and his teachings. The archbishop, together with apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and seven priests, celebrated the special Mass on March 13 at St Joseph’s Church, Victoria St. It was part of the church’s triduum celebration for the feast of St Joseph. Among the crowd were knights and dames of the Order of Malta and several foreign delegates. Speaking during the celebration, which had the theme Patron of the Shepherds of the Church, Archbishop Goh noted that Pope Francis has taken seriously his responsibility to protect the Church from problems both internally and externally. He said that all members of the

Arcbishop William Goh and apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli distributing communion during the 0DUFK 0DVV DW 6W -RVHSKÂśV &KXUFK 9LFWRULD 6W 7KH 0DVV ZDV WR FHOHEUDWH 3RSH )UDQFLVÂś ÂżUVW \HDU LQ RIÂżFH

Church need to give “allegianceâ€? to the Holy Father’s teachings and be in union with the successor of St Peter. 7KH SDSDO RIÂżFH LV WR SUHVHUYH the unity of the Church, Archbishop Goh said, adding that Pope Francis has also been courageous in making changes in the face of opposition. The archbishop noted that the

pope is pastoral and missionary is his approach, and is in touch with the sufferings of people. Archbishop Goh urged those present to be as compassionate as Pope Francis. Before the end of the Mass, Archbishop Girelli told the crowd WKDW 3RSH )UDQFLVÂś ÂżUVW \HDU KDV been “extremely positiveâ€?. The pontiff has “impressed the world

by his simplicityâ€? and charity as well as his closeness to people, he added. Mr Gerard Fam, who was present at the evening’s Mass, told CatholicNews that his impression of Pope Francis is that “he is different‌he does things quite differentlyâ€?. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

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MOVIE REVIEW 7

Sunday April 6, 2014 CatholicNews

Left: Scene of Jesus (Diogo Morgado) being scourged in the movie, Son of God. $ERYH 3RUWUD\DO RI WKH PXOWLSOLFDWLRQ RI WKH ¿YH ORDYHV DQG WZR ¿VK

Jesus’ story creatively told in movie By Clara Lai How do you tell a story that has been told many times, make it interesting and yet not stray too far from the original version? Somehow, the upcoming movie Son of God (Twentieth Century Fox and Lightworkers Media) manages to do so with good acting, great soundtrack and impressive cinematography. The good news (pun intended) is that at the end of the 138-minute show, you will not be squirming to get out of your seat. The movie opens with an aged John the Apostle (Sebastian Knapp) reminiscing about Jesus. The audience is then taken through a brief biblical history, from Adam and Eve to Noah and the birth of Jesus. Fast forward and we see an adult Jesus (Diogo Morgado) taking in the view atop a mountain. Then He begins His journey. First at the sea of Galilee, Jesus meets Peter, whom He asks

WR EH D ¿VKHU RI PHQ 0RUJDGR¶V -HVXV H[XGHV FRQ¿GHQFH WKRXJK with a subtle humility. This stays throughout the movie even when -HVXV JHWV WHUUL¿HG RU DQJU\ Slowly, Jesus gains a small following, and when a paralysed man is carried to Him, He pulls him to his feet amid cheers. Jesus later reaches out to Matthew, the tax collector whom everyone shuns. He also meets the adulterous woman about to be stoned, and tells the men gathered that he would give His rock to anyone who has never sinned. Cue dramatic pause, as Jesus walks and stares each man in the eye, until each throws his rock to the ground. It must be said that the cine-

matography truly stands out, with much attention given to detail. As the rocks are thrown, a close-up shows the sand granules bouncing up on impact. The weeping ZRPDQ¶V HPRWLRQV DQG WHDUV DUH captured beautifully as Jesus then walks towards her. The Five Loaves and Two Fishes miracle has been recounted many times, but how does one portray that in a movie? No spoilers here, but I thought it was TXLWH FUHDWLYH KRZ WKH ¿OPPDNers managed to turn a bare basket RI ORDYHV DQG ¿VKHV LQWR D IHDVW that could feed 5,000. The movie takes on a faster pace from the Last Supper onwards. Look out for the amazing cinematic technique in which Je-

The movie, Son of God, is certainly useful in helping Christians appreciate WKHLU /HQWHQ VDFUL¿FHV DQG REVHUYDQFH of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

sus is brought out to the crowd and comes face-to-face, literally, with Peter (Darwin Shaw) who has just denied him three times. What is notable also is that 3RQWLXV 3LODWH¶V ZLIH /RXLVH 'Hlamere) has a more prominent role in this movie than can be recalled from what is usually heard at Mass readings. She has a prophetic dream about an innocent man who is killed by Pilate, and warns her husband that he will “live to regret” his decision to crucify Jesus. Flashbacks are common in movies but in Son of God, the occasional ones are impactful. For example, when Jesus is carrying His cross, He recalls entering Jerusalem on a donkey, welcomed by people waving palm leaves. 7KH FUXFL¿[LRQ VFHQH FDQ be extremely uncomfortable to watch. But its portrayal in this movie is, thankfully, less graphic FRPSDUHG WR 0HO *LEVRQ¶V 7KH Passion of The Christ (2004). The soundtrack by Oscar-

winning Hans Zimmer (Inception, The Dark Knight, The Lion King) also helps to create the dramatic, sad and anticipatory moments in WKH ¿OP The husband and wife producer duo of Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice) and Roma Downey, who plays Mary, did a good job of ensuring that the action is wellbalanced, with a distinct contrast between the violence of the auWKRULWLHV DQG -HVXV¶ VHUHQLW\ The movie is certainly useful in helping Christians appreFLDWH WKHLU /HQWHQ VDFUL¿FHV DQG observance of Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is also a good introduction to the Bible for nonChristians. Bring some tissue to sob into at heart-wrenching moments. 6RQ RI *RG LV VODWHG WR EH UHleased on April 17 exclusively at Golden Village cinemas. Rating to EH DGYLVHG clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

How some parishes observe Lent Picking a special ‘Lenten challenge’ and staging dramas are just a few examples. Clara Lai reports. Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (YHU\ \HDU WKH SDULVK HPEDUNV RQ D /HQWHQ 3URMHFW WKDW ODVWV IURP Ash Wednesday to Holy SaturGD\ )RU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH WKH SDULVK is organising a project called My /HQWHQ &KDOOHQJH LQ ZKLFK parishioners pick a “challengeâ€? from a box. Some of these challenges include fasting on water, meditating on Psalm 139, and waking up half an hour earlier to pray. )RU HYHU\ WK GD\ WKDW D SDrishioner successfully meets the challenge, he can place his thumb SULQW RQWR D ODUJH FDQYDV FURVV LQ the church’s foyer, in the following colours: 10th day – red, 20th day – blue, 30th day – green and WK GD\ Âą \HOORZ Church of St Vincent de Paul )RU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH SDULVK SULHVW )U Michael Sitaram will carry the cross in a Passion re-enactment with a cast of actors. This will be staged during the church’s Good )ULGD\ VHUYLFH DW SP

St Ignatius Church holds an Annual Lenten Fish Fry (left). Picking a ‘challenge’ at Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (right).

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

7KH SDULVK LV VWDJLQJ D /HQWHQ production titled #03-16 which LQFOXGHV GUDPD SUD\HU DQG UHĂ€HFtion. The shows will be on April 5 and 6, at 7.30pm and 2pm reVSHFWLYHO\ 7LFNHWV DUH IUHH EXW UHJLVWUDWLRQ LV UHTXLUHG 9LVLW QDWLYLW\OHQW HYHQWEULWH VJ

The parish has an ongoing proJUDPPH FDOOHG /HQWHQ 5HIOHFWLRQV ZKLFK LV KHOG HYHU\ )ULGD\ HYHQLQJ DW SP &RQGXFWHG E\ parish priest Fr Adrian Yeo, the series started on March 7 and will run for six weeks. Church of St Ignatius 7KH SDULVK KHOG LWV $QQXDO /HQWHQ )LVK )U\ RQ 0DUFK ZKLFK ZDV GLQQHU RI EDNHG DQG IULHG ¿VK RUganised by the parish’s Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) group. Food distribution for migrant ZRUNHUV DW /LWWOH ,QGLD E\ WKH 6RFLDO Mission Team started on March

21 and will run for four Fridays. $Q ,JQDWLDQ 'D\ RI 5HFROOHFWLRQ for Holy Week will be held on April ZKLOH D /HQWHQ 7ULGXXP ZLOO EH RUJDQLVHG IURP $SULO WR St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) The parish welcomes groups from other parishes who come to pray in front of the church’s distincWLYH RXWGRRU 6WDWLRQV RI WKH &URVV VWDWXHV GXULQJ /HQW 7KH FKXUFKœV RZQ SDULVKLRQHUV SUD\ HYHU\ )ULGD\ DW SP GXULQJ /HQW DOVR EXW all are welcome to join. Church of the Holy Spirit The parish will hold what it FDOOV D ³UHYHUVH 6WDWLRQV RI WKH

Cross� on Holy Saturday at 11 am. This is a prayerful experience of recalling Jesus’ journey from WKH SHUVSHFWLYH RI 0DU\ DQG -RKQ WKH DSRVWOH 5HÀHFWLRQV DUH UHDG from a booklet, and a young perVRQ ZLOO ODWHU JLYH KLV RU KHU RZQ SHUVRQDO UHÀHFWLRQ Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea The parish currently has a prayer and intercession programme for its Neighbourhood Christian Communities based on the Beatitudes. The programme commenced on March 12, and is held HYHU\ :HGQHVGD\ IURP SP WLOO $SULO „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

Where joy and sorrow meet By Brian Bartholomew Tan The place where joy and sorrow meet is a place of unknowing. It is the threshold where a paradox unfolds. Yet, it is precisely at this crossroads where people ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV DQG UHQHZ WKHLU friendship with Christ. On March 20, 21 and 23, a JURXS RI YRFDOLVWV DQG PXVLFLDQV FDOOLQJ WKHPVHOYHV &URVVFXOWXUH presented a meditation on the Passion of Christ titled Where Joy and Sorrow Meet. The meditation was conducted WKURXJK D ÂżFWLYH QDUUDWLYH RI D “childhood friendâ€? of Jesus, called Josiah (played by Gerald Cheng). Held at CANA at the Catholic Centre in Waterloo St, the show presented a personal journey of hope during the bleakest of life’s moments. This hope stems from the power of Christ’s cross and freedom that only His resurrection SURYLGHV In the journey undertaken by -RVLDK WKH DXGLHQFH ZHUH JLYHQ DQ insight to the poignant immensity of a man’s loneliness and emptiness.

A meditation on Christ’s Passion held at CANA.

Nonetheless, it is in this saFUHG VSDFH WKDW KRSH Ă€LFNHUV DQG one meets the joy that only Jesus FDQ JLYH Ms Chrestella Setiyadi, a member of the audience said, “We wantHG WR DWWHQG WKLV HYHQW EHFDXVH ZH thought it would aid our personal UHĂ€HFWLRQV WKLV /HQWHQ VHDVRQ 7KLV >HYHQW@ DOORZV XV WR HQFRXQWHU WKH Stations of the Cross in a new way.â€? &URVVFXOWXUH LV D JURXS RI YRcalists and musicians who met at a

church musical in 2009. They perform through storytelling, dramatised readings and melodic harmony. According to CANA, which KDV UHFHLYHG UHTXHVWV IRU DGGLtional shows, Crossculture will perform Where Joy and Sorrow Meet again at the Catholic Centre on April 13 at 8pm. For more information, call 63384080 or email canatheplacetobe2013@gmail. com. „

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

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Schools take on The Bard 19 schools took part in SJI’s Shakespeare Short Play Festival A Singlish version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and King Lear performed in the style of the TV game show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire? These were just two innovative 10-minute productions of Shakespeare’s works put on by VRPH VFKRROV DW 6KRUW 6KDNHV ¹ the Shakespeare Short Play FestiYDO RUJDQLVHG E\ 6W -RVHSKœV ,QVWLWXWLRQ 6-, 'UDPD &OXE

About 1,200 students and parents attended the three-day festival presented by 19 schools, including St Patrick’s School, St Stephen’s Primary School, Hai Sing CathoOLF 6FKRRO &+,- 6W 7KHUHVDœV Convent as well as both secondary and junior college students IURP 6-, DQG 6-, 6HQLRU 6FKRRO The event, in celebration of Shakespeare’s 450th birth anniYHUVDU\ ZDV KHOG DW WKH 6-,œV WHP-

Update on Archbishop Chia 7KH $UFKELVKRSÂśV 2IÂżFH UHOHDVHG WKH IROORZLQJ XSGDWH RQ 0DUFK

We are happy to bring you some encouraging news concerning Archbishop Emeritus’ medical condition. Praise the Lord, His Grace is now fairly conscious and uttered KLV ÂżUVW ZRUG \HVWHUGD\ Âą KH ZDV able to say “helloâ€? to his doctors! The large clot in his brain has since resolved, and the swelling in his head is subsiding. The right side of his body remains weak however, and will require physiotherapy. He will continue to remain in critical care at Mt Alvernia for the time being. His Grace, Archbishop Goh, has meantime convened a team of medical doctors to: i) prognosticate the extent of Archbishop Emeritus’ neurological and functional recovery and

ii) recommend his future care ¹ LQ WHUPV RI UHKDELOLWDWLRQ SK\VLR QXUVLQJ HWF The medical committee, which is scheduled to meet on 2nd April, consists of: 1. Dr Tang Kok Kee (NeuroVXUJHRQ ¹ 3ULPDU\ 'U 2. Dr James Tan (Neurosurgeon) 3. Dr Wong Sen Chow (General Surgeon) 4. Dr Thomas Seng (Family Medicine) 5. Dr Sharon Ong (AnaestheWLVW ,QWHQVLYLVW Until then, we will not be sending out further updates, unOHVV WKHUH DUH VLJQL¿FDQW GHYHORSPHQWV FKDQJHV WR $UFKELVKRS Emeritus’ condition. We thank you for your love and concern for Archbishop Emeritus Chia and urge you to continue to pray for his speedy recovery. „

porary campus at Bishan. 2Q WKH ¿UVW GD\ RI WKH IHVWLYDO 6-, 6HQLRU 6FKRRO SXW RQ D ULRWRXV Singlish version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. St Patrick’s School performed King Lear in the style of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and their rendition, titled Who Wants to be a King? won them the Audience Choice award on the second day of performances. During their performance on WKH ODVW GD\ RI WKH HYHQW &+,- 6W Theresa’s Convent staged Romeo and Juliet with a local slant, portraying two families, whose children just want to be friends, feuding over a pot of curry. Hai Sing Catholic School perform an avant garde interpretation of Macbeth, melding humour and pathos. St Stephen’s School also staged excerpts from Macbeth, ZKLOH 6-,œV GUDPD FOXE SURGXFHG D PXUGHU P\VWHU\ PXVLFDO ¹ D PDVK XS RI 5LFKDUG ,,, .LQJ Lear, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet.

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“The most important lessons of our lives are learnt through stories,� said festival director Alan Johnson, who is also an English /DQJXDJH WHDFKHU DW 6-, “This year we mark an anniversary of the birth of one of the greatest storytellers the world has known. May his stories be told in our voices, that they may echo through time.� A member of the audience, Mr

It was wonderful to watch the primary school ‘NLGV RI 6W 6WHSKHQÂśV FRQÂżGHQWO\ VWUXWWLQJ WKHLU stuff ... SJI’s hilarious mishmash, and St Theresa’s 0XWKXV DQG 7DQV DUJXLQJ DERXW FRRNLQJ FXUU\

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V Ravindran, 55, from Blessed Sacrament Church commented, “The concept for Short Shakes ZDV H[FHOOHQW Âą VFKRROV VWDJLQJ short sketches based on ShakeVSHDUHÂśV SOD\V ,W RSHQHG XS WKH world of Shakespeare to students who haven’t yet experienced his works, and it was an opportunity to be creative in presenting these works in a way that appealed to the current generation. +H DGGHG Âł,W ZDV ZRQGHUIXO WR watch the primary school kids of 6W 6WHSKHQÂśV FRQÂżGHQWO\ VWUXWWLQJ their stuff and spouting Shakespeare without missing a quote. 6-,ÂśV KLODULRXV PLVKPDVK DQG 6W Theresa’s Muthus and Tans arguLQJ DERXW FRRNLQJ FXUU\ GHÂżQLWHO\ spiced up the original scripts.â€? „

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

A mission trip to provide aid and interact with Philippine villagers 21-year-old Singaporean Catholic Darren Chan shares his experience of reaching out to the poor during a recent trip to Iloilo

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WENT on this mission trip with a group of 15 Catholics from Singapore from March WR DQG LW ZDV P\ ÂżUVW time also travelling to see the damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan which badly affected Capiz and Carles located at the northwest of Iloilo city. It struck me that the Filipinos are very Christian-centred people as 80 to 90 percent of Filipinos are Catholics and Bible verses are displayed in public places, showing their love for God. Fr Francis F Nicolasora is the parish priest of St Julian de Cuenca Church who hosted us during our trip shared with me his solidarity with the poor in Philippines and love for singing with the Church community. It was heartwarming that the parish is doing all it can for the poor in the country such as the gathering of used clothing, canned food, rice to be donated to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan. Fr Francis’s parish is initiating projects to help the poor and get them involved to earn a livelihood. One of the projects is the piglet project in Dabong where donors from Singapore buy the piglets for the poor who will then raise them and sell them once they are mature. With the money from the sale, they can buy another piglet and learn to support themselves. The other projects are the furniture shops, rice and pig-feed stores in Dabong where half of the money goes to the store owners who are the poor and to the church for their renovations. Villagers also save on transport as they do not need to drive to the nearest town which is a distance away to make a living. Fr Peter John who is the assistant priest at the same parish said, “I feel so blessed that the mission team has chosen to help the poor and bring them joy.â€? He also shared with me the difÂżFXOWLHV LQ JHWWLQJ \RXQJ SHRple involved in Church. He said, “Many young people have been secularised, they are drawn towards the secular lifestyle but the Church is engaging them in Catholic campus ministries in both private and public schools.â€? Fr Nathaniel Gentizon who is a priest from the Church of Our Lady Of Candles shared that during Lent, he sees many new faces in church because they want to pray for their sins and the youth ministry will act out the Way of the Cross in the form of a play through the different stations. There is also a yearly recollection where youths and parents can share their experiences with each other and focus on the word of God. I had the opportunity to attend

Darren Chan (extreme left) with some of the villagers that he met on the trip.

When I gave out the clothing to the children and adults; it was a touching moment to see the joy on the villagers’ faces. a Mass celebrated by Fr Jomil from the Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. He shared with me that “during Lent, our homilies incorporate the message of happiness and reconciliation and when there are natural disasters, the people of Philippines have no one to go to but they still believe in God as they cannot do anything without God’’. I also visited Capiz where I saw one of the schools, Maindang Elementary School, where their library and stage had been destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan. Mr Ramie Capuyan, a young adult who founded Project P.U.S.H (People, Unity, Service, and Hope) is helping the school to raise funds for the school in terms of re-building the library and stage. The school, which has a total of 352 students, has won numerous competitions in various subjects. Project P.U.S.H focuses on the development of schools and in giving every child an education and a future. Remnants of the typhoon still remained with destroyed houses and palm trees but visiting Gigantes Island off Carles which

One of the children in Dabong after receiving the lollipops bought for them (left), and the children of Gigantes Island queuing up to receive clothing.

was home to about 4,000 villagers was an eye-opener as it showed me that though people live in poverty, they are still happy. I also had the opportunity of giving out used clothing to the children and adults, and they were very grateful in receiving them, clutching them tightly in their hands. It was a touching moment to see the joy on the villagers’ faces when they received the clothes from us. The children especially enjoyed our interacting and playing games with them. They were all smiles and liked to take photographs with us as they hardly get visitors. Mr Alberto Mayorbomo who is the overall-in-charge of the island said, “There is no television, no electricity, no running water on the island, the only means of communication is our cell-phones and we rely on the spring water from the mountains for our daily needs.�

The mission team and I had the privilege of meeting with Archbishop Angel N Lagdameo of Iloilo at the Archdiocese of Jaro. With some churches being destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan, Archbishop Lagdameo told us that the main priority was not to repair the churches but to help WKRVH WKDW DUH LQ QHHG ÂżUVW “God inspires many to help the victims of natural disasters and it LV HQFRXUDJLQJ WR ÂżQG *RG PRYing in people,â€? he said. “It is a pity that several ancient churches have been destroyed and it is not possible to re-build them, however, the victims are more important and when their houses are restored, we are happy.â€? Through the meeting with $UFKELVKRS /DJGDPHR , ÂżQG WKDW it is a meaningful experience to be with the less fortunate and by being compassionate Catholics we can help rebuild their lives again. Fr Francis also brought us to visit Gawad Kalinga Village and

the Sibol Learning School which gives out free education to the children till Kindergarten 2. The children then go out of the village to further their studies and scholarships are also given out by the village to outstanding students. I also visited the St Vincent Ferrier Seminary where the seminarians are boys are from as young as 12 and they are already sitting for examinations to become future priests. This seminary helps those that aspire to be seminarians at a young age to build their foundation as a Catholic and to grow in their spiritual life. I am glad that many young people are considering the call to the Religious life. Overall, this mission trip has made me realise God’s love and mercy in providing for the poor through others. I hope that through such trips, as Catholics we can help bring change to their lives and rebuild their spirits which may have been crushed by the natural disasters. „

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Buddhists aid typhoon-hit parish TACLOBAN, PHILIPPINES – On a

recent Sunday morning, the congregation at Santo Nino Parish in Tacloban, Philippines crammed into a space one-third the true size of the church. The crowd spilled out onto the courtyard, which had two big gray tents bearing the logo of a Buddhist foundation. Msgr Alex Opiniano celebrated the Mass at an altar whose back wall consisted of plywood boards. Behind the boards the nave was bare of pews and had no real roof, just a metal frame and some ripped shingles. The top of the bell tower was the same, and the cross on its steeple hung down from the tip. The church, known as the centre of life in this city of 97 percent Catholics ,still bore the ravages of November’s Typhoon Haiyan. %XW WKH FKXUFK ZDV ÂżQDOO\ XQder rehabilitation thanks to a donation that could reach US$280,000 (S$356,000) from a Taiwan-based Buddhist foundation called Tzu Chi. After Mass, Msgr Opiniano told Catholic News Service he was heartened that people were “identifying, empathising with our situation, knowing that we are in a situation of want, and helpless with regard to fund generation, considering the fact that people have lost almost everythingâ€?. Tzu Chi’s Philippine country head, Mr Alfred Li, said the group’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, wanted to help the church. “She said ... Filipinos are Catholic and, especially at this time, they need spiritual guidance. They need spiritual support, and the church is the best that can do that,â€? Mr Li told CNS in a phone interview.

Tzu Chi, a Taiwanbased Buddhist foundation, is helping a Philippine parish with funds that could amount to $356,000.

6XQOLJKW VKLQHV WKURXJK WKH SDUWLDOO\ URRĂ€HVV 6DQWR 1LQR &KXUFK LQ 7DFOREDQ 3KLOLSSLQHV PRQWKV DIWHU 7\SKRRQ Haiyan struck the country. CNS photo

Since the typhoon, Li said, Tzu Chi has pumped US$22.7 million into the typhoon-stricken swathe of the country to help provide shelter, build new schools and get people back on their feet. “I was so impressed with Tzu Chi,� said Mr William Diaz, a 51year old driver who was born and raised in Tacloban. “They helped clear these roads with their ‘cash for work’ programme.� Mr Diaz, a Catholic, told CNS the foundation was a big motivator for residents like himself who lost their houses. Tzu Chi gave them US$11.35 per day to help clear the debris of their obliterated

homes. That’s nearly double the minimum wage of about US$6 per day in this part of the country. Mr Li said the Santo Nino Parish let Tzu Chi set up its cash-for-work station on church grounds until the daily crowds swelled to nearly DQG LW KDG WR ¿QG DQRWKHU location. He said the foundation wanted to give back to the church for helping it carry out its mission of service to those in dire need. After a chance meeting on a plane from Manila en route to Tacloban, Mr Li learned from Msgr Opiniano that the church needed US$280,000 to be completely rehabilitated. Mr Li ran this by Tzu

S Korean president meets with Church leaders to discuss pope’s visit SEOUL – The South Korean president told members of the preparatory commission for Pope Francis’ upcoming visit that she is “very thankful to hear that the Pope has prayed publicly for the peace of the Korean Peninsulaâ€?. “His visit is an opportunity for us all,â€? Ms Park Geun-hye said to the commission during a March RIÂżFLDO OXQFKHRQ DW WKH SUHVLdential residence in Seoul. ,W ZDV WKH ÂżUVW IRUPDO PHHWLQJ between Ms Park, elected more than a year ago, and representatives of the Catholic Church. 7KH +RO\ 6HH 3UHVV 2IÂżFH KDV FRQÂżUPHG WKDW 3RSH )UDQFLV ZLOO visit Korea from Aug 14-18 to participate in the Asian Youth Day DQG SUHVLGH RYHU WKH EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ ceremony of 124 Korean martyrs. Some local Church sources told AsiaNews that the pontiff will also preside over a Mass to pray for peace with North Korea, and may even a visit a special cathedral dedicated to the reconciliation of the two Koreas in Paju, on the border.

grateful ‘I amtoreally the pope for his interest in our situation.

’

– President Park Geun-hye (left)

The luncheon was attended by the Archbishop of Seoul, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo- jung; the Apostolic Nuncio to Korea, Archbishop Osvaldo Padilla; commission president Msgr Peter Kang U-il, who is also president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference; and the executive director of the

Commission, Msgr Cho Kyuman, Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul. During the meeting, PresiGHQW 3DUN VDLG Âł7KLV \HDU LV ÂżOOHG with Catholic occasions! I always hoped that our nation would have a new cardinal, and the appointment of Cardinal Yeom is a great joy not only for the Korean Church but for the whole country.â€? She added: “I am really grateful to the pope for his interest in our situation. I am grateful that he prayed in public for peace in Korea.â€? Cardinal Yeom said: “The visit of Francis is a great chance for all of us to learn once more how to love our neighbours and bring joy to the worldâ€?. „ ASIANEWS

Chi’s founder, who gave him the go-ahead to give the money, with one condition: The church had to be amenable to the donation. %XW FKXUFK RI¿FLDOV DOVR ZDQW-

ed parishioners to do their part, which was why the Tzu Chi foundation was not obligated to donate the entire US$280,000. At the end of every Mass, the parish has a second collection, and celebrants deliver this message each time, said Msgr Opiniano: “Give your share ... small or big, for as long as this comes straight from the heart, that would really be a great thing.� He added, “We are so happy that practically the whole world have come to our rescue to [help] rebuild the lives of the families, the communities in the typhoon-stricken area.� However, he noted that “we in the church, while working also on the same relief operations ... we have to focus on the greatest relief that we can give to our people, God himself.� „ CNS

Three convicted over rape of nun in 2008 NEW DELHI – A trial court in In-

dia has convicted three men for an August 2008 incident in which a nun was raped and paraded around semi-naked. Six of those charged in the incident were acquitted for lack of evidence. The nun, a member of the Congregation of Handmaids of Mary, described the verdict by the court in Cuttack as “a victory for the Church and the suffering peopleâ€?. “Yes, the [court] verdict has proved that it [rape] is true. Truth has been upheld,â€? she told Catholic News Service. Âł)RU PRUH WKDQ ÂżYH \HDUV , have been going to the court. I am happy the painful trial is over and fruitful. We have been craving for justice. We are happy,â€? she said. The widespread anti-Christian violence in which the incident occurred was triggered by the murder of a Hindu leader. The violence left more than 100 dead, nearly 300 churches desecrated and 6,000 Christian houses looted and plundered in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district. The nun, then 28, and Fr Thomas Chellan, director of the pastoral centre in Kandhamal, were pulled from a Hindu house where they had taken shelter. The nun was raped in a burned church building before both of them were paraded, semi-naked, along the road in presence of police. The court sentenced Mitu Patnaik, one of the accused, to 11

years’ imprisonment; Gajendra Digal and Saroj Badhei were given of sentences of 26 months each for outraging the victim’s modesty. Hindu nationalists initially demanded the arrest of the raped nun for “defaming Orissa police�. Two months later, she addressed a crowded news conference in New Delhi demanding impartial federal police investigation into the rape. CNS photo

The Indian nun who was raped addressing a press conference in 2008.

Fr Santhosh Digal, spokesman for the Archdiocese of CuttackBhubaneswar, which includes Kandhamal, told CNS, “We are happy that the truth has been upheld, but the conviction of three people is not enough. “Several people were behind the parading and rape of the nun in public. They, too, should be taken to task,� he said. „ CNS

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Wonder Girls singer to do mission work in Haiti SEOUL – One of South Korea’s best-loved music idols has decided to quit the limelight for a new life as a Christian missionary in Haiti, a land devastated by an earthquake in 2010 and still reeling from its effects. “During a short week that I spent volunteering in Haiti while living abroad, the direction of my life completely changed,â€? said Sunye, leader and founder of the Wonder Girls, a South Korean pop group with hundreds of thousands of young fans. “After much thought,â€? she ZURWH RQ KHU JURXSÂśV RIÂżFLDO IDQ website, “I have decided to live a second life devoted to missionary work.â€? The earthquake that hit Haiti was of magnitude 7.0. Its epicentre was located some 25 km west of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

The main tremor struck on Jan 12, 2010, killing about 222,000 people. However, according to the International Red Cross and the United Nations, more than three million people have been affected. Even now, many are still coping in WKH DIWHUPDWK ÂżJKWLQJ GLVHDVHV DV well as hardships due to the pace of reconstruction. In her announcement, Sunye said that she and her husband James Park, a Korean-Canadian missionary, plan to establish Global Whitestone, a non-governmental organisation, to raise money for Haitians. In view of this, she plans to UHPDLQ LQ +DLWL IRU ÂżYH \HDUV $V her life takes such a completely different turn, “all of my activities as a celebrity will be an extension of this goal as wellâ€?, she wrote. „ ASIANEWS.COM

Thousands bid farewell to late ‘underground’ bishop HONG KONG – About 5,000 people attended the funeral Mass of Bishop Joseph Fan Zhongliang, head of China’s “undergroundâ€? bishops’ conference, in Shanghai. The four-hour ceremony on March 22 was celebrated by Fr Zhu Yude, head of the “undergroundâ€? Catholic community in Shanghai, which is not approved by the government. Among the concelebrants were 61 priests from both the government-approved as well as “undergroundâ€? communities from various parts of China. Some priests from Shanghai’s government-approved Church community were banned from attending the funeral, said sources. In the past week, authorities warned them not to participate in any memorial services, although VRPH DSSDUHQWO\ GHÂżHG WKH ZDUQLQJ *RYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV DOVR warned Mass organisers to refer to Bishop Fan as “shepherdâ€? rather than “bishopâ€? during the Mass and on a booklet that was distributed at the ceremony. “The warning was ignored DQG WKH RIÂżFLDOV GLG QRW LQWHUvene,â€? said a layperson who was responsible for liturgy. The funeral Mass took place at a Shanghai funeral home. The

Bishop Joseph Fan Zhongliang died on March 16. UCANEWS.COM photo

Chinese government, which does not recognize Bishop Fan’s episcopacy, would not allow the ceremony to take place in a church. Surveillance on Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin of Shanghai, who has been under house arrest for more than a year, stepped up in the days following Bishop Fan’s death on March 16. A few hours after the funeral concluded, Bishop Ma posted a message to the Chinese microblogging site, Sina Weibo. A Church source told ucanews. com that “Bishop Ma had tears in his eyes when we went to inform

him of the death of Bishop Fan ... He thought for a while and then wrote a couplet to mourn the late bishop.� Bishop Ma has been under house arrest since he declared he would leave the governmentsanctioned Catholic Patriotic Association during his ordination Mass on July 7, 2012. The diocese, under government pressure, suspended his ministry for two years, during which he is not allowed to make public appearances. The suspension is set to end this July. Bishop Fan was born in 1918 and baptised at the age of 14. He joined the Jesuits in 1938 and was ordained a priest in 1951. In 1955, he and then-Bishop Ignatius Kung (Gong Pin-mei, who later became a cardinal) and a number of priests were imprisoned and accused of revolutionary crimes. The future Bishop Fan was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in Qinghai province. During that time it became his job to carry corpses to a cemetery. After his release, he became a high school teacher before being allowed to return to Shanghai. He was secretly ordained as coadjutor bishop of Shanghai in 1985 and succeeded Cardinal Kung when he died in 2000. „ UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Peace walk, Stations of Cross procession call for end to gang violence EAST PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA – Josue Barbosa Zamora died in a

drive-by shooting on Jan 13, about 90 metres from his front door, the latest young man to die violently in East Palo Alto. “Every day I ask myself if it was worth it. We escaped from Mexico because of the violence and poverty and now we found this,� said Ms Lorena Zamora, who left her husband behind 10 years ago to bring her three children to the US. Ms Zamora spoke in Spanish to photographer Jose Aguirre of Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper. Ms Lorena Zamora joined other grieving mothers, San Francisco Auxiliary Bishop William J Justice, community members, and parishioners and the priests of St Francis of Assisi to walk her neighbourhood for peace, praying the Stations of the Cross on March 8. In 2013, there were 16 homicides in San Mateo County, eight of those in East Palo Alto, a city with a population of fewer than 30,000 people. While the city’s murder rate is down from the 42 recorded in 1992 when it gained notoriety for the highest murder rate in the nation with a population then of 24,000, it continues to suffer from festering gang wars and the drug trade. Several hundred people prayed and sang in a procession to the street-side shrine near where 19-year-old Josue Zamora died. Several men parishioners also took turns carrying the heavy wooden cross, in imitation of Christ’s journey to Calvary. Bishop Justice led the group in praying the 14 Stations of the Cross. A group of Tongan men, the St

Several hundred people carrying crosses walk through their neighbourhood in California, on March 8 and pray the Stations of the Cross for an end to gang violence that is taking the lives of young people. CNS photo

We are here ‘ because we don’t want to be going to another funeral.

’

Francis Boys who play at two Sunday Masses, improvised an original song, “I Cry for Peace�. “In a moment of silence, let us remember those who have died, the youth of our city,� prayed Bishop Justice, as the mid-morning sun beat down. Parishioners of St Francis of Assisi traditionally enact the outdoor Stations of the Cross each Friday in Lent. This year, in collaboration with the archdiocesan restorative justice ministry led by Mr Julio Escobar, they began with a peace walk. “We are here because we don’t want to be going to another funeral,�

said Mr Escobar during a short rally in front of the Spanish-style white stucco church. “Gang members, drug dealers, God loves you. There is a different way to live your life.� “Lent is a time of joining with Christ in His suffering and death,� said Fr Lawrence Goode, pastor of St Francis of Assisi. Pre-teens and teens as well as adults carried 75 small white wooden crosses with the names of East Palo Alto homicide victims, while others held yellow signs on wooden sticks “Peace and Justice� and “Pax and Justicia� and red signs that declared “Alto a la Valencia� and “Stop the Violence�. East Palo Alto is plagued by gang violence stemming from the drug trade, and Fr Goode said there is so much fear that the perpetrators rarely are punished, and the “foot soldiers� not the drug users or big dealers are the only ones incarcerated or shot. „ CNS

Philippine Church leaders on rebels’ arrests MANILA – Church leaders warned on March 25 that the arrest of alleged top leaders of the underground Communist Party of the Philippines will prolong an impasse on peace talks. “[The peace talks] might even completely stop,â€? said Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. “The arrests will surely prolong the impasse.â€? Philippines security forces arrested Mr Benito Tiamzon, believed to be chairman of the Communist Party and its armed wing, the New People’s Army, and his wife, Ms Wilma Austria-Tiamzon, thought to be the party’s secretary-general, on March 22 in Cebu province. Ms Teresita Quintos Deles, the government’s peace adviser, was unable to voice optimism over the arUHVWV DW D SUHVV EULHÂżQJ RQ 0DUFK “Certainly it does not look

good that this process, which has been going on for far longer ... has delivered so little in terms of milestones in the peace process and has delivered nothing in terms of improving the lives of people on the ground,� she said. However, Ms Deles stressed that the government “would like peace talks to resume on the basis of a clear, doable and time-bound agenda�. In a statement released on March 23, the rebels described the arrest as an “outright� violation of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees signed by the rebels and government. Bishop Deogracias Iniguez of Kalookan told ucanews.com that there is a need to revisit the methods used by the government and rebels in their peace negotiations. “The impasse we are witness-

ing now shows the seriousness of the issues we have to look into more closely before we can achieve real peace in our country,â€? the bishop said. “They also need to evaluate their negotiating methods in achieving peace,â€? Bishop Iniguez said. Church leaders have played crucial roles in the peace process since talks to end the 45-year old DUPHG FRQĂ€LFW EHJDQ LQ RIten acting as facilitators. Last year, a Religious leaders’ summit in Mindanao issued an appeal to the government and rebels to “please continue the peace negotiationsâ€?. Bishop Antonio Ablon of the Philippine Independent Church said there is a need for the talks to continue as the “civil warâ€? has taken its toll on the people and prevented the countryside from developing. „ UCANEWS.COM

Counsellor from M’sian nunciature appointed nuncio to Zimbabwe KUALA LUMPUR – Msgr Marek

Zalewski (right), counsellor of the apostolic nunciature in Malaysia, has been appointed by Pope Francis on March 25 as apostolic nuncio to Zimbabwe. Following this announcement, Archbishop John Ha, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei congratulated Msgr Zalewski on his appointment, on behalf of the Conference. In his message, Archbishop Ha said, “His rich experience serving in different countries, including the three countries of our Conference, puts him in good stead to play his role as Nuncio. We thank him for the services he has rendered us in the region of our Conference and in particular for his tireless groundwork to set up the Nunciature in Malaysia. We wish him God’s choicest blessings as he takes up his new appointment.� Msgr Zalewski was born in 1963 and ordained a priest in Poland in 1989. He then entered the dip-

lomatic service of the Holy See in 1995, and had various postings, including in Singapore from 2011 to 2012, then Malaysia from 2012 to 2014. Archbishop Joseph Marino, apostolic nuncio to Malaysia, said in a press release on March 25, “I received with much joy the appointment of Monsignor Zalewski as Apostolic Nuncio to Zimbabwe. I am sure that he will bring to his mission there, as representative of Pope Francis, the same priestly and pastoral qualities of dedication and service that have characterised his ministry here.� „

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8NUDLQLDQ &DWKROLFV ÁHH &ULPHD WR HVFDSH WKUHDWV RI DUUHVW OXFORD, ENGLAND – Members

of the Ukrainian Catholic Church DUH ÀHHLQJ &ULPHD WR HVFDSH WKUHDWV RI DUUHVW DQG SURSHUW\ VHL]XUHV D SULHVW WROG &DWKROLF 1HZV 6HUYLFH MXVW IRXU GD\V DIWHU 5XVVLD ¿QDOLVHG WKH UHJLRQ¶V DQQH[DWLRQ ³7KH VLWXDWLRQ UHPDLQV YHU\ VHULRXV DQG ZH GRQ¶W NQRZ ZKDW ZLOO KDSSHQ ± WKH QHZ JRYHUQPHQW KHUH LV SRUWUD\LQJ XV DOO DV QDWLRQDOLVWV DQG H[WUHPLVWV ´ VDLG )U 0\NKDLOR 0LOFKDNRYVN\L D SDULVK UHFWRU DQG PLOLWDU\ FKDSODLQ IURP .HUFK &ULPHD +H VDLG RI¿FLDOV IURP 5XVVLD¶V )HGHUDO 6HFXULW\ 6HUYLFH RU )6% KDG FDOOHG KLP LQ IRU TXHVWLRQLQJ DERXW KLV FRPPXQLW\ DQG WR DVN ZKHWKHU KH ³UHFRJQLVHG WKH QHZ RUGHU´ )U 0LOFKDNRYVN\L WROG &16 WKDW KH DQG KLV IDPLO\ DQG DW OHDVW WZR WKLUGV RI KLV SDULVKLRQHUV KDG left Kerch for Ukrainian-conWUROOHG WHUULWRU\ RQ WKH DGYLFH RI 8NUDLQLDQ $UFKELVKRS 6YLDWRVODY 6KHYFKXN RI .LHY +DO\FK ³$OO P\ SDULVKLRQHUV DUH SDWULRWLF 8NUDLQLDQV ZKR ORYH WKHLU

All my parishioners ‘ are patriotic Ukrainians who love their Crimean homeland. But Russia is now seeking to drive us out.

Russian supporters pray near a Ukrainian military base on March 7. A priest said on March 25 that many Ukrainian Catholics fear for their future.

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– Fr Mykhailo Milchakovskyi, a parish rector and military chaplain from Crimea

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Abuse victim among members of new Vatican commission VATICAN CITY – Cardinal Sean P

O’Malley of Boston, four women – including a survivor of clerical sex abuse – two Jesuit priests and DQ ,WDOLDQ ODZ\HU DUH WKH ÂżUVW HLJKW PHPEHUV RI WKH QHZ 3RQWLÂżFDO Commission for the Protection of Minors. After Pope Francis established the commission in December and DQQRXQFHG WKH ÂżUVW PHPEHUV RQ March 22, the Vatican said they ZRXOG KHOS GHÂżQH WKH WDVNV DQG competencies of the commission. Cardinal O’Malley is also one of eight members of the Council of Cardinals advising Pope Francis on the reform of the Roman Curia and governance of the Church. He told reporters it would take a pastoral approach to helping victims and preventing abuse, given that much of the Vatican’s attention thus far had been on implementing policies and legal procedures for investigating allegations of abuse and punishing guilty priests. The cardinal said the commission would look at programmes to educate pastoral workers in signs of abuse, identify means of psychological testing and other ways of screening candidates for the priesthood, and make recommenGDWLRQV UHJDUGLQJ &KXUFK RIÂżFLDOVÂś “cooperation with the civil authorities, the reporting of crimesâ€?.

Irish abuse victim Marie Collins was nominated by Pope Francis to VLW RQ WKH QHZ 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU the Protection of Minors. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

7KH ¿UVW HLJKW PHPEHUV RI WKH commission include Ms Marie Collins, who was born in Dublin. At the age of 13, she was sexually abused by a Catholic priest who was a chaplain at a hospital where she was a patient. Addressing a major conference in Rome in 2012 on the protection of children, she said being abused led to depression, despair and deep loss of trust in the CathROLF &KXUFK ³7KRVH ¿QJHUV WKDW would abuse my body the night EHIRUH ZHUH WKH VDPH ¿QJHUV WKDW would give me holy Communion the following day,� she said. In 1997, the priest that had abused her – and other young girls over a period of three decades –

ZDV ÂżQDOO\ EURXJKW WR MXVWLFH Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the commission would take “a multipronged approach to promoting youth protection, including: education regarding the exploitation of children; discipline of offenders; civil and canonical duties and responsibilities; and the development of best practices as they have emerged in society at largeâ€?. “In this way, and with the help of God, this commission will contribute to the Holy Father’s mission of upholding the sacred responsibility of ensuring the safety of young people,â€? Fr Lombardi said. The other members are: Jesuit Fr Hans Zollner, a German psychologist and psychotherapist Jesuit Fr Humberto Yanez, director of the moral theology department at the Gregorian Ms Hanna Suchocka, former prime minister of Poland and Polish ambassador to the Vatican Ms Catherine Bonnet, a French child psychiatrist specialising in helping victims of incest Ms Baroness Sheila Hollins, a mental health specialist, and Ms Claudio Papale, an Italian who works in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is responsible for investigating allegations against priests. „ CNS

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Rare Vatican manuscripts to go online VATICAN CITY – Thousands of

rare manuscripts until now accessible only to scholars at the Vatican will go online over the next four years, thanks to help from a Japanese information technology company. 2I¿FLDOV RI 177 '$7$ &RUporation and the Vatican Library announced their joint project at a news conference on March 20. The library, founded by Pope Nicholas V in the 15th century, preserves some 82,000 manuscripts dating back to the early centuries of Christianity. Among its treasures are an illustrated edition of the works of the Roman poet Virgil, produced around the year 400, and illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy by the 15th-century Renaissance master Sandro Botticelli. The library has been scanning its collection for several years ZLWK KHOS IURP YDULRXV QRQSUR¿W groups, and has already digitally archived 6,800 manuscripts, said Msgr Cesare Pasini, the library’s prefect. But so far only some 300 documents are accessible on its website (vaticanlibrary.va). NTT DATA Corporation

A Japanese painting of a woman dancing is part of the manuscript collection of the Vatican Library. The Vatican announced on March 20 that a Japanese information technology corporation would be making a major contribution to its ongoing digitalisation process, with the goal of digitally archiving all 41 million pages in the library’s manuscript collection and making them accessible online. CNS photo

will supply the technicians and equipment necessary to produce KLJK GH¿QLWLRQ GLJLWDO UHFRUGV RI another 3,000 manuscripts and place them online over the next four years. The library will solicit donations to defray the estimated US$23 million (S$29 million) cost of the project, among other ways by allowing contributors to sponsor digitalisation of individual manuscripts. The library plans to offer a total of 15,000 manuscripts online, free of charge to all visitors, by 2018. Among the documents to be scanned by the Japanese company are some from the library’s Asian holdings, which include watercolours of Japanese dancers painted from the 16th through the 18th centuries, and an oath signed by Japanese Christians vowing to defend their missionaries to the death. The library plans eventually to offer online access to its entire manuscript collection, a total of 41 million pages. Msgr Pasini declined to estimate how long it would take to complete that project. „ CNS

English bishop: uncharitable use of social media a ‘grave matter’ MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – An English bishop asked Catholics to use Lent as a time to repent of sins committed on social media. Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth described the uncharitable use of blogs, Facebook and Twitter as a “grave matter�. Using social media for abuse or to attack the reputations of other people was a direct sin against the Eighth Commandment, forbidding people from “bearing false witness� against their neighbours, he said in a pastoral letter released on March 19. “We must exercise discretion, respect others and their privacy and not engage in slander, gossip and rash judgment,� the bishop wrote in the document that was distributed in parishes the weekend of March 22-23. “We must avoid calumny, that is, slurring and damaging people, and not spread abroad their sins and failings,� he said. The bishop encouraged the faithful to ask themselves “How do I use Facebook or Twitter? Am I charitable when blogging? Do I revel in other people’s failings? “All this is grave matter,� he said. “Yet when we think of our news media and TV, in which fallen celebrities are pilloried, reputations shredded and people’s sins exposed, it sometimes seems our popular culture thrives on breaking this commandment,� he added.

Bishop Egan invited parishioners to turn away from such sins by praying regularly and by participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The bishop’s comments came a week after Bishop Michael Campbell of Lancaster asked a deacon in his diocese “to voluntarily pause from placing new posts� on his Protect the Pope blog. Bishop Campbell also asked

The bishop encouraged asking, ‘How do I use Facebook or Twitter? Am I charitable when blogging? Do I revel in other people’s failings?’ Deacon Nick Donnelly “to enter into a period of prayer and UHĂ€HFWLRQ RQ WKH GXWLHV LQYROYHG for ordained bloggers/website administrators to truth, charity and unity in the Churchâ€?, according to a statement released by the Lancaster diocese in early March. The blog often was controversial because it was critical of the actions of Church leaders, accusing them of violating Church teaching. „ CNS

Australian bishops suggest restoring Friday abstinence PERTH, AUSTRALIA – Several Australian bishops said they would support re-establishment of year-round Friday abstinence in Australia, following the lead of England and Wales. Auxiliary Bishop Peter Elliott of Melbourne, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore and Bishop Michael Kennedy of Armidale are among prelates who said they support Friday abstinence from meat – without sanction of sin – almost 30 years after it became non-compulsory in Australia. In 2011, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales restored Friday abstinence. Friday penance regulations in England and Wales were relaxed in 1985, as they were in Australia, allowing Catholics to perform an alternative form of penance. US bishops ended obligatory abstinence in 1966. Looking back at the decision to end Friday abstinence in Australia, Bishop Elliott said it was a “big pastoral and spiritual mistake�. “I can understand why that happened, in the mood of that era, but I believe it failed to take into account human psychology,� he said. In 1985, the Australian bish-

ops declared that Friday penDQFH FRXOG EH IXOÂżOHG E\ SUD\HU self-denial or helping others. However, some of the bishops believe permitting Catholics to determine their own penance has failed. “Allowing people to work out some penance was idealistic and unrealistic,â€? Bishop Elliott said. Since the change, Bishop Elliott said, most Catholics are unaware of or have forgotten the obligation entirely. Having the Church decide what penance should be done would make it easier to remember and would promote stronger Catholic identity, he said. „ CNS

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Vatican, Anglicans, Muslims sign DFFRUG DJDLQVW KXPDQ WUDIĂ€FNLQJ CNS photo

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican, the

Anglican Communion and a leading Muslim institution signed a historic agreement to work toJHWKHU WR HQG KXPDQ WUDI¿FNLQJ worldwide by 2020. The new accord, signed during a Vatican news conference on March 17, launched the beginning of the Global Freedom Network, which hopes to expand to include all the world’s major faiths. In a joint statement, the accord’s signatories called human WUDI¿FNLQJ DQG VODYHU\ ³FULPHV against humanity� and called for urgent action by all faith commuQLWLHV WR MRLQ WKH HIIRUW WR ³VHW IUHH the most oppressed of our brothers and sisters�. ³2QO\ E\ DFWLYDWLQJ DOO RYHU the world, the ideals of faith and RI VKDUHG KXPDQ YDOXHV FDQ ZH marshal the spiritual power, the MRLQW HIIRUW DQG WKH OLEHUDWLQJ YLVLRQ WR HUDGLFDWH PRGHUQ VODYHU\ DQG KXPDQ WUDI¿FNLQJ IURP RXU world and for all time,� the joint statement said. ³7KLV HYLO LV PDQ PDGH DQG FDQ EH RYHUFRPH E\ IDLWK LQVSLUHG human will and human effort,� it said. Signing the agreement were: – Bishop Marcelo Sanchez SoURQGR FKDQFHOORU RI WKH 3RQWL¿FDO Academy of Sciences, representing Pope Francis, – Mahmoud Azab, represent-

This evil is ‘ man-made and can be overcome by faith-inspired human will and human effort.

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prayer, fasting and raising awareness. 2WKHU DLPV RI WKH DJUHHPHQW included: Getting faith communities WR HQVXUH WKHLU ³VXSSO\ FKDLQV´ DQG LQYHVWPHQWV DUH IUHH IURP XVLQJ RU SUR¿WLQJ IURP VODYH ODERXU *HWWLQJ JRYHUQPHQWV DQG EXVLQHVV ZRUOGZLGH DOVR WR ³VODYHU\ SURRI´ WKH JRRGV DQG VHUYLFHV they procure, produce or sell. Educating families, schools, worshippers and groups about how to detect and report possible LQVWDQFHV RI KXPDQ VODYHU\ DQG WUDI¿FNLQJ The Global Freedom Network took root during a June 2013 meeting between Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, when the two men looked for

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ing Ahmad el-Tayeb, the grand LPDP RI $O $]KDU 8QLYHUVLW\ Âą D leading Sunni Muslim institution in Cairo and Âą $QJOLFDQ $UFKELVKRS 'DYLG Moxon, the archbishop of CanterEXU\ÂśV UHSUHVHQWDWLYH LQ 5RPH

– Mr Andrew Forrest, founder of Walk Free Foundation – a major partner and organiser of the new network. In the agreement, all parties pledged to pursue concrete plans of action as well as moments for

ways to pursue concrete cooperation, Archbishop Moxon said. The idea for the network continued to GHYHORS GXULQJ VXEVHTXHQW DQWL WUDIÂżFNLQJ FRQIHUHQFHV DQG LQLWLDWLYHV KHOG DW WKH 9DWLFDQ 7KH QHWZRUN LV RQH RI WKH ÂżUVW JOREDO LQLWLDWLYHV ODXQFKHG E\ WKH Vatican, the Anglicans and the Muslims, organisers said. Mr Forrest said he began the Walk Free Foundation after his GDXJKWHU YROXQWHHUHG WR ZRUN DW an orphanage in Nepal and disFRYHUHG WKH LQVWLWXWLRQ ZDV LQ HVsence, a marketplace for selling Nepalese children to countries ÂłLQ ,QGLD WKH 0LGGOH (DVW DQG EHyondâ€?. Âł7KH RQO\ FKLOGUHQ ZKR ZHUH OHIW KDG EHHQ VHYHUHO\ GLVÂżJured or mentally handicapped so, WKHUHIRUH ZHUH GLIÂżFXOW WR VHOO WR be blunt,â€? he said. :KHQ KH YLVLWHG FKLOG YLFWLPV LQ 1HSDO UHFHLYLQJ FDUH DIWHU WKHLU DEGXFWLRQ KH VDLG WKH ÂłWHUURU DQG WKH GLVÂżJXUHPHQW DQG WKH JUHDW and long term mental harm was UDZ´ DQG HYLGHQW LQ WKH FKLOGUHQ Âł7KH UHYXOVLRQ DQG WKH IHDU WKDW MXVW DQ DSSURDFKLQJ PDQ JDYH them – the terror and the bloodcurdling scream when you just tried to comfort them,â€? he said, those were the moments that conYLQFHG KLP ÂłWR VSHQG D SDUW RI P\ life eliminating and extinguishing VODYHU\´ „ CNS

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

:RUOG 0HHWLQJ RI )DPLOLHV WR &DWKROLF RUJDQLVDWLRQV Ă€OH SURYLGH ÂśFKDQFH WR VSHDN¡ ZLWKRXW ODZVXLW WR EORFN 86 PDQGDWH SURPRWLQJ FRQĂ LFWLQJ YLHZV VATICAN CITY – 7KH :RUOG 0HHW-

LQJ RI )DPLOLHV LQ 3KLODGHOSKLD next year will be open to families and people of different faiths, including no faith at all, to engage the wider society in dialogue and to serve and strengthen all families, organisers said. The gathering on September WR ³LV PHDQW WR EH D JLIW QRW MXVW IRU &DWKROLFV LQ 3KLODdelphia, but for every person of good will in the Commonwealth RI 3HQQV\OYDQLD WKH VXUURXQGLQJ regions and the wider world�, said $UFKELVKRS &KDUOHV - &KDSXW RI 3KLODGHOSKLD RQ 0DUFK Archbishop Chaput visited WKH 9DWLFDQ ZLWK 3HQQV\OYDQLD *RYHQRU 7RP &RUEHWW DQG 3KLODGHOSKLD 0D\RU 0LFKDHO 1XWWHU DV part of a delegation of government, Religious and community leaders meeting with Vatican of¿FLDOV WR SODQ WKH LQWHUQDtional family gathering. The aim of the global gathering will be to help all families of the world and accompany them ³ZLWK DQ LQWHOOLJHQW FRXUDJHRXV and loving� pastoral approach, the Italian archbishop said. $UFKELVKRS 3DJOLD FDOOHG IRU intelligence in being able to read WKH FXUUHQW VLWXDWLRQ RI WRGD\œV IDPLOLHV ³FRXUDJH WR IDFH WKH complex and numerous problems; [and] love for trying to solve them, keeping ever present the Gospel of the family and life.� Vatican and Church organisers are looking for the widest participation and input possible, the two archbishops said, including from members and representatives of other Christian churches and communities, different religions and women and men who are not Religious,

The logo for the eighth World Meeting of Families. The international gathering, inaugurated by Blessed John Paul II in 1994, will be held in late September in 2015 in Philadelphia, USA. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

EXW DUH FRPPLWWHG WR ÂłEULQJLQJ peace and good will to our worldâ€?. When asked to what extent the gathering will open discussion up to the realities of single-parent homes, the divorced and same-sex couples, Archbishop Chaput said WKH &KXUFK ÂłDOZD\V HPEUDFHV SHRple who differ with the Church and , KRSH WKDWÂśV D VWDQFH ZH DOO WDNH´ Âł, WKLQN DOO RI XV KHUH KDYH VRPHone in our family who is divorced and maybe remarried again,â€? he VDLG RU ÂłKDYH IDPLO\ PHPEHUV ZKR are in a same-sex relationshipâ€?. These are the reality facing PDQ\ SHRSOH WRGD\ ÂłVR QRW WR deal with those kinds of issuesâ€? would be to ignore the situation many people live in, he said.

7KH PHHWLQJ ZLOO HPSKDVLVH &DWKROLF WHDFKLQJ DERXW WKH IDPLO\ DQG RSHQQHVV WR OLIH VDLG $UFKELVKRS &KDUOHV - &KDSXW RI 3KLODGHOSKLD

Âł%XW ZHÂśUH QRW JRLQJ WR VWDUW to focus on the problems and the FRQĂ€LFWV ´ $UFKELVKRS &KDSXW VDLG Âł:H FHUWDLQO\ ZDQW HYHU\RQH to have a chance to speak when those opportunities are provided, EXW ZHÂśUH QRW JRLQJ WR EH SURPRWing positions that are contrary to WKH &KXUFKÂśV H[SHFWDWLRQV DERXW family life either.â€? It is a Catholic gathering and it will emphasise Catholic teaching about the family and openness to life, he said. 7KH IDPLO\ LV ÂłVR LPSRUWDQW WR society and, particularly in this day and age, I think we see very much a greater need for greater emphasis RQ WKH IDPLO\´ 0U &RUEHWW VDLG 0U 1XWWHU VDLG PDNLQJ 3KLODdelphia the destination of a papal YLVLW ZRXOG KDYH ÂłJUHDW PHDQLQJ WR the millions of Catholics and other people of faithâ€? in the United States. 7KH SRSH ÂłLV D ZRUOG OHDGHU and so whether you are Catholic or not, people are paying attenWLRQ WR ZKDWÂśV JRLQJ RQ ZLWK 3RSH Francis, and certainly with the Catholic Churchâ€?, he said. „ CNS

WASHINGTON – A coalition of nearly 200 Catholic dioceses, agencies and businesses has asked a federal court in Oklahoma to block enforcement of a Department of Health and Human Services mandate that it says would force its members to violate their religious beliefs. Under the banner of the reFHQWO\ IRUPHG &DWKROLF %HQH¿WV Association, the entities contended in a class action lawsuit ¿OHG 0DUFK WKDW WKH PDQGDWHœV requirement that they provide health insurance coverage for contraceptive drugs, abortifacients, surgical sterilisations and related counselling is contrary WR WKH )LUVW $PHQGPHQWœV IUHH exercise, establishment and free speech clauses. The mandate – under rules issued by HHS – requires nearly all employers to provide such coverage for their employees in their company health plan. It includes a narrow exemption for some ReOLJLRXV HPSOR\HUV WKDW ¿W FHUWDLQ criteria. The lawsuit said the regulations under the Affordable Care Act are discriminatory because some Religious entities and ministries are exempt while others are not. 7KH ODZVXLW ¿OHG LQ WKH 86 District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma seeks a preliminary injunction to block the mandate as it applies to association members. 1DPHG DV GHIHQGDQWV ZHUH 0V Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secre-

WDU\ 0U 7KRPDV ( 3HUH] VHFUHtary of the Department of Labour; 0U -DFRE - /HZ VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH Department of the Treasury; and each of those departments. The array of plaintiffs are the &DWKROLF %HQHÂżW $VVRFLDWLRQ DQG its subsidiary, the Catholic Insurance Company, both incorporated in Oklahoma; the Archdiocese of

The US Department of Health and Human Services had issued revised regulations related to the contraception mandate. US bishops had lambasted the mandate as violating religious freedom. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

Oklahoma City; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City; All Saints Catholic School in Norman, Oklahoma; $UFKELVKRS :LOOLDP ( /RUL RI Baltimore; the Archdiocese of Baltimore; Villa St Francis Catholic Care Centre in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas; and Good :LOO 3XEOLVKHUV LQ *DVWRQLD 1RUWK Carolina. „ CNS

18 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

CNS photo

3RSH WR 0DÀD Turn away now from the road to hell ROME – Surrounded by survi-

Pope Francis wears a hard hat during a special audience with pilgrims from the Diocese of Terni, Italy, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on March 20.

Job creation promotes human dignity: pope VATICAN CITY – In making eco-

nomic policies and decisions, solidarity is too often treated as “a dirty wordâ€?, yet the only way RXW RI WKH JOREDO ÂżQDQFLDO FULVLV LV to put people – with their dignity DQG FUHDWLYLW\ Âą ÂżUVW 3RSH )UDQFLV said. Meeting on March 20 with DERXW RIÂżFLDOV HPSOR\HHV retirees and laid-off workers from a large steelworks in Terni, Italy, Pope Francis said each person ZLOO KDYH WR PDNH VRPH VDFULÂżFHV in order to help the entire community. “If everyone does his part, if they all put the human person and human dignity – not money – at the centre of their concern, if they can consolidate an attitude of solidarity and fraternal sharing inspired by the Gospel, then it will be possible to get out of the swamp of an economic and employment situation that has EHHQ KDUG DQG GLIÂżFXOW ´ WKH SRSH said. The workers from the Terni plant were joined by more than 5,000 family members and pilgrims from the Diocese of Terni, Amelia and Narni, including those

who work with Catholic charities to distribute food, clothing and other necessities to the unemployed and their children. The purpose of a job is not just to earn money; it is one of the key ways people exercise their intellect, creativity and physical energy in order to provide for their needs and those of their families, the pope said. “If there is no work, this dignity is wounded.� “Those who are unemployed or underemployed risk being placed on the margins of society and becoming victims of social exclusion,� he said. “Too often those without work – and I’m thinking particularly of young people without work today – slide into chronic discouragement or, worse, apathy.� Unfortunately, the pope said, the current economic system “no longer seems able to create jobs because it has put an idol called money at the centre of attention�. The solution, he said, must be creative and courageous choices by business owners, entrepreneurs and artisans combined with solidarity and generosity on the part of the entire society. „ CNS

Get a pocket Bible, read it during your commute, pope recommends ROME – If you get a seat on a

crowded bus, you should use your travel time to read a few lines from the Bible, Pope Francis told members of a suburban parish ¿OOHG ZLWK SHRSOH ZKR FRPPXWH to Rome for work. ³$ &KULVWLDQœV ¿UVW WDVN LV WR listen to the word of God, to listen to Jesus, because He speaks to us and saves us with His word,� the pope said on March 16 during a homily at the parish of Santa Maria dell’Orazione on the northeast outskirts of Rome. Everyone should carry a small Bible or pocket edition of the *RVSHOV DQG VKRXOG ¿QG DW OHDVW D few minutes every day to read the word of God, Pope Francis said.

The pope suggested a bus-ride reading of the Gospels, when possible, “because many times on the bus we’re packed in and have to maintain our balance and defend our pockets� from pickpockets, he said. “But when you have a seat� on the bus or a minute or so free somewhere else, “pick up the Gospel and read a few words�. „ CNS

vors of innocent people killed by WKH 0DÂżD 3RSH )UDQFLV PDGH DQ emotional appeal to Italian gangsters to give up their lives of crime and avoid eternal damnation. “Men and women of the MaÂżD SOHDVH FKDQJH \RXU OLYHV FRQvert, stop doing evil,â€? the pope said at a prayer vigil on March 21. “I ask on my knees and for your own good. “This life you have now, it will not give you pleasure, it will not give you joy, it will not give you happiness,â€? the pope said. “The power, the money you have now from so many dirty deals, from so PDQ\ 0DÂżD FULPHV EORRG VWDLQHG money, blood-stained power – you will not be able to take that with you to the other life.â€? “There is still time not to end up in hell, which awaits you if you continue on this road,â€? Pope Francis said. “You had a papa and a mamma. Think of them, weep a little and convert.â€? Every year since 1996, the ,WDOLDQ DQWL 0DÂżD JURXS /LEHUD KDV REVHUYHG 0DUFK WKH ÂżUVW full day of spring, in memory of innocent victims of organised crime. According to the group, the approximately 700 people gathered with Pope Francis in a Rome church this year represented the families of an estimated 15,000 such victims across Italy. In his greeting, Fr Luigi Ciotti, founder of Libera, denounced the 0DÂżD DV WKH ÂłDVVDVVLQ RI KRSH´ and recalled a range of its victims. The priest mentioned women FDXJKW XS LQ KXPDQ WUDIÂżFNLQJ people fallen ill owing to illegal disposal of toxic waste and even children, including Domenico Ga-

Pope Francis receives a stole that belonged to Fr Giuseppe Diana, who ZDV NLOOHG E\ WKH 0DÂżD IURP )U /XLJL &LRWWL GXULQJ D SUD\HU VHUYLFH ZLWK IDPLO\ PHPEHUV RI YLFWLPV RI RUJDQLVHG FULPH DW WKH &KXUFK RI 6W *UHJRU\ 9,, LQ 5RPH RQ 0DUFK )U &LRWWL LV WKH IRXQGHU RI /LEHUD DQ ,WDOLDQ DQWL 0DÂżD JURXS CNS photo

The blood-stained money, ‘ blood-stained power – you will not be able to take that with you to the other life.’

Âą 3RSH )UDQFLVÂś DSSHDO WR WKH 0DÂżD

briele, an 11-year-old shot to death while playing soccer in 2009, and Nicola Campolongo, a 3-year old murdered in January, reportedly to avenge an unpaid drug debt. Fr Ciotti thanked the pope for coming, saying, “We thought we had found a father, we have also found a brother.� The pope listened for about 45 minutes, head bowed and hands

folded in prayer, as members of the congregation stepped up to the lectern and recited, in some cases with breaking voices, the names of people killed by the 0DÂżD “Let us pray together to ask the strength to move ahead,â€? the pope said, “to be not discouraged but to continue to struggle against corruption.â€? „ CNS

The Holy Father’s words to fathers VATICAN CITY – On the feast of

St Joseph, patron saint of the universal Church and Jesus’ earthly father, Pope Francis urged all dads in the world to stick by their children’s side, teaching them, guiding them and loving them. “I ask that you have the grace to be very close to your children, letting them grow, but being by their side. They need you, your presence, to be there, your love!â€? the pope told fathers present in St Peter’s Square on March 19. The pope dedicated his catechesis to the role and example of St Joseph. March 19 also marks the celebration of Father’s 'D\ LQ ,WDO\ DV ZHOO DV WKH ÂżUVW anniversary of the formal inauguration of Pope Francis’ ministry

that you have ‘theI ask grace to be very close to your children, letting them grow, but being by their side.

’

– Pope Francis told fathers on March 19

as bishop of Rome and pope. St Joseph’s “great mission is to be a guardian�, the pope said. The saint is a model for all educators, whether they are teachers, catechists, parents, Religious or priests, “who are fathers, too, you know�! he said. Like an educator, St Joseph guided and accompanied Jesus

so he could grow in “wisdom and age and graceâ€?, Pope Francis said. This is the same thing all parents must do, and “it would be a serious mistake to think that a father and a mother can’t do anything to teach their children to grow in God’s graceâ€?, he said. Even though God was Jesus’ father, St Joseph lovingly took on the paternal role and taught the young Jesus various skills, the value of work, reverence for WKH /RUG DQG ÂżGHOLW\ DQG REHdience to God’s will, the pope said. He also had to keep his famLO\ VDIH GXULQJ WKH GLIÂżFXOW SHULRG of their exile to Egypt, he said, which makes the saint a special example for refugees and those facing persecution. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 19

Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Fight the urge to judge, recognise your sins: pope VATICAN CITY – Judging some-

one is always easier than to being merciful and understanding, Pope Francis said. 7KH GLIÂżFXOW\ LV ZK\ LW LV VR important to keep reminding oneself, “Who am I to judge?â€? the pope said on March 17 at his early morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he resides. The day’s Gospel reading was from St Luke: “Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.’â€? According to Vatican Radio’s report on the homily, Pope Francis told those gathered in the chapel WKDW WR ÂżJKW WKH QDWXUDO LQFOLQDWLRQ to judge others, one must recognise that “we are sinnersâ€?, be ashamed of one’s sins and ask the grace of God’s mercy and forgiveness. In the face of repentance, he said, “the justice of God is transformed into mercy and forgivenessâ€?. Pope Francis told his small congregation, “It’s true that none of us has killed anyone, but we have done many little things, many daily sins every day,â€? and when one realises that every sin is a sin against God, it’s a cause for shame. “It is simple,â€? he said, “but very GLIÂżFXOW WR VD\ Âľ, KDYH VLQQHG ϫ Yet once someone admits their

Pope Francis said that people should resist the urge to judge others, even though it is easier than being merciful and understanding. CNS photo

sinfulness and asks God’s forgiveness, the pope said, they become more capable of showing mercy to others. It takes exercise and discipline, he said, but as a Christian one must “enlarge your heart�. “The Lord says, ‘stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and you will receive.’ This is generosity of heart,� the pope said. “If you have a big, large heart, you will receive more.�

“Who am I to judge?� is a question that should come naturally to anyone who recognises that he or she has sinned and been forgiven by God’s mercy, he said. “If all of us – all peoples, individuals, families, neighbourhoods – had this attitude, think how much peace there would be in the world, how much peace there would be in our hearts,� Pope Francis said. “Mercy brings us peace. Always remember, ‘Who am I to judge?’ feel shame and enlarge your heart. May the Lord grant us this grace.� „ CNS

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20 OPINION

Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

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FEATURE

Smartphones, social media lend ‘cool’ touch to Lent

Screengrab of the Lentsanity app produced by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students in the US. CNS photo WASHINGTON – This is not your

parents’ Lent. That’s pretty clear when smartphone alerts ring at mealtimes on Fridays along with text messages offering reminders such as: “Hey, it’s Friday, drop the cheeseburger!� The Friday no-meat reminder comes through the Lentsanity app produced by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students in the US. By the third day of Lent, the app – which also offers plenty of Lenten resources – already had more than 10,000 downloads. Mr Jonathan Teixeira and Mr Kevin Cotter, the brains behind the programme, work at the group’s headquarters just outside Denver. They told Catholic News Service that they began working on the project a few months ago. “Lent is a great opportunity for people to get into their faith, to try something for 40 days, and we wanted to provide something for people and how to do it,� said Mr Teixeira. He said the app shows how the Church is relevant in the modern world and has something to say, especially during Lent. The whole idea of giving something up for Lent is hard in a culture that binge watches television shows and where people eat

whatever they want, he said. “Part of our culture realises we do too much,â€? he said, adding that “a physical fast helps people reĂ€HFW RQ WKHLU VSLULWXDO LQWHULRU :H can empty ourselves physically to spiritually prepare the way for Christ.â€? Mr Teixeira said even a sim-

We’ve all been ‘ there, where we’re halfway through a cheeseburger and think, ‘Oh no, it’s a Friday in Lent!’

’

– Jonathan Teixeira, a creator of the Lentsanity app, which reminds people about Friday abstinence, among other Lenten practices

ple reminder not to eat meat on Fridays is helpful. “We’ve all been there, where we’re halfway through a cheeseburger and think, ‘Oh no, it’s a Friday in Lent!’� The idea of online spiritual support is something Ms Christina Mead, web content editor with the US-based LifeTeen site (lifeteen. com), also has witnessed.

She posted a list of creative things to give up during Lent on the LifeTeen blog – which was “likedâ€? more than 50,000 times on Facebook a week after Lent began. The list includes suggestions such as cutting down on TV time, baby-sitting for free on weekends, DQG ZHDULQJ WKH VDPH IRXU RXWÂżWV during Lent. The modern world “celebrates mediocrity and self-centrednessâ€? so to ask teenagers to step outside that and do something in bold ways – such as giving something up for 40 days – is very counter cultural, yet also appealing, she said. “They just really come alive with that idea and latch onto it.â€? Young adult Catholics also are in the Lent-social media mix. The Paulists’ Busted Halo website (bustedhalo.com) features a fast, pray, give daily Lenten calendar. The calendar’s introduction urges those following it – about 30,000 according to Facebook “likesâ€? as of March 12 – to think about Lenten practices in a broader context. It suggests fasting from dependence on electronic devices, praying for the 1.6 billion people in the world who have no access to electricity and spending the extra time saved in serving others. „ CNS

Facing our Maker today SOME day you will have to face your Maker! We’ve all heard that phrase. The hour will come when we will stand alone before God with no place to hide, no room to rationalise, and no excuses to offer for our weaknesses and sin. We will stand in a searing light, naked and exposed, and all we ever did, good and bad, will stand with us in that light. That prospect, however vaguely felt, makes for a dark corner in every person’s mind. But we can go through our daily lives with that prospect mostly consigned to the back of our minds. We know that someday we will have to face it all, but that day is a long way off and, for now, we can peacefully accommodate ourselves to our procrastinations and weaknesses. The time to radically face ourselves and our Maker, to stand in the searing light of full judgment, will only come at the time of death. But, why wait until death? Why live with so much unnecessary fear? Why hide from God’s judgment? Why delay throwing ourselves into God’s mercy and peace? Searing judgment of our souls is meant to be a daily occurrence, not a single traumatic moment at the end of our lives. We are meant to bring ourselves, with all our complexities and weaknesses, into God’s full light every day. How? There are many ways to do this, though all of them are predicated on the same thing, namely, on bringing ourselves before God in searing honesty. In essence, we face the light of God’s full judgment every time we pray in real honesty. Genuine prayer brings us into that searing light. And, in the great prayer traditions, one particular form of prayer, contemplative prayer, is singled out as being most helpful in doing this, that is, prayer without words, without images, the prayer of quiet, centering prayer. There are various methods for praying in this way. From the Desert Fathers, through the author of the Cloud of Unknowing, through American Catholic writer Thomas Merton, through Roman Catholic priest Fr John Main, through Trappist monk and priest Fr Thomas Keating, through Catholic priest Fr Laurence Freeman, among others, we have been invited to supplement our other methods of prayer with contemplative prayer, that is, prayer without images, without words, without concentrating on holy thoughts, and without looking for affective, faith¿OOHG IHHOLQJV LQ RXU SUD\HU How do we pray in this way? We pray in this way by wordlessly bringing ourselves into God’s presence in a way that we hide nothing of ourselves. Perhaps a description of how this kind of prayer differs from other kinds of prayer might best serve us here. Normal, meditative types of prayer essentially work this way: You VHW RII WR SUD\ ¿QG D TXLHW SODFH VLW RU NQHHO GRZQ PDNH D FRQVFLRXV act to centre yourself in prayer, focus on an inspiring text or thought, begin to meditate on those words, try to hear what is being said inside you, articulate the challenge or insight that is making itself heard there, and then connect this all to your relationship to God, through gratitude, love, praise, or petition. In this kind of prayer, your focus is on an inspiring word or insight, the response this creates in you, and your own response to God in the light of that. But, and this is its shortcoming, the words, images, and feelings in WKDW NLQG RI SUD\HU IRU DOO WKHLU JRRGQHVV FDQ VWLOO DFW DV D FDPRXÀDJH that protects you from being fully exposed and naked before God, akin to what we can do in a conversation with another person when we can talk about all kinds of things, good things, but avoid talking about what is really at issue. Contemplative prayer, by way of contrast, is prayer without words RU LPDJHV ,W ZRUNV WKLV ZD\ <RX VHW RII WR SUD\ ¿QG D TXLHW SODFH VLW or kneel, and make a conscious act to simply place yourself before God. Then you simply stay there, naked and unprotected by any words, images, conversations, rationalisations, or even by any holy feelings about Jesus, His Mother, some saint, some icon, or inspirational idea. All of these, good as they are, can help you avoid having to be there naked before God. Contemplative prayer brings you into God’s presence without protection, with no possibility of hiding anything. The silence and absence of prayerful conversation is what leaves you naked and exposed, like a plant sitting in the sun, silently drinking in its rays. We are meant to face God like this every day of our lives, not just at the moment of our death. So, each day, we should set aside some time to put ourselves into God’s presence without words and without images, where, naked, stripped of everything, silent, exposed, hiding nothing, completely vulnerable, we simply sit, full face, before God’s judgment and mercy. By doing this, we will preempt any traumatic encounter at the time of our death and, more importantly, we will begin, already here and now, to enjoy more fully God’s empathic embrace. „

FOCUS 21

Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Fr Henry Siew delves into the issue and the whole meaning of prayer &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

T

HERE are many needs in life and we desire to satisfy them all. And when we are confronted ZLWK GLIÂżFXOWLHV DQG SUREOHPV we spontaneously turn to God, asking for His assistance, hopLQJ WKDW WKH SUREOHPV FDQ EH UHsolved. However, we do not always get what we ask for. Were there instances when people prayed IRU WKH VHHPLQJO\ LPSRVVLEOH DQG PLUDFOHV KDSSHQHG" <HV EXW QRW often. Why not? Why does God not always help those who have recourse to Him? Why does He grant the petitions of some and disregard others? Does He really care? On the contrary, if God answers positively every single SUD\HU ZRXOG HYHU\RQH EH KDSS\" :LOO WKH ZRUOG EH D EHWWHU place? Those people who demand an answer are normally quite selfcentred. Imagine if 10 million people pray to strike the $10-million lottery and everyone has his or her prayer answered, how much would each one get? A driver is rushing for time and prays that he gets the green light all the way, and if he gets what he wants, will it not inconvenience other road users who SUHIHU WKHLU VLGH WR EH JUHHQ WRR" A world where everyone has his SUD\HU UHTXHVW DIÂżUPDWLYHO\ DQVZHUHG LV OLNHO\ WR EH D FKDRWLF world. You may exclaim that God could have ignored the prayers RI VHOÂżVK SHRSOH DQG DQVZHU IDYRXUDEO\ RQO\ WKRVH ZKR SUD\ for “good thingsâ€?, such as farmers who pray for rain. But then, what is good for the farmers

If God answers positively every single prayer, would everyone be happy? Will the world be a better place?

PD\ QRW EH JRRG IRU VSRUWVPHQ So should we still insist on what we want in prayer? How long should we persevere in praying for a particular need to EH IXO¿OOHG EHIRUH ZH JLYH XS" Who is God to you? If you feel disappointed with unanswered prayers, it means your expectations are not realised. What views of God and His nature are your expectations EDVHG RQ" +RZ GR \RX SHUFHLYH His relationship with you and the world? How do you understand the dynamics of the world and how they affect natural and human affairs? Do you expect things to follow your way or God’s way?

The fact is, if you do not have a correct appreciation of God and the world He created, you are likely to pray for the wrong things and do the wrong things. The ancient Israelites perceived God as a warring general and asked for His leadership and intervention at wars. Wrong! They thought that they could win *RGÂśV IDYRXU E\ RIIHULQJ +LP VDFULÂżFHV :URQJ 7KH\ WKRXJKW that God had commanded them to keep strings of laws and were REVHVVHG LQ NHHSLQJ WKH OHWWHU RI the law; and they expected material rewards for keeping those laws. Wrong! Many of us today do not really know God. We treat Him like D EXVLQHVVPDQ DQG H[SHFW +LP to deliver the goods we ordered

Lenten Reconciliation Services CITY DISTRICT Church of St Bernadette Friday, April 4: 8.00pm Church of St Teresa Monday, April 7: 8.00pm Church of Sts Peter & Paul Tuesday, April 8: 8.00pm Church of St Michael Wednesday, April 9: 8.00pm Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) Thursday, April 10: 8.00pm Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Friday, April 11: 8.00pm EAST DISTRICT Church of St Stephen Friday, April 4: 8.00pm Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Monday, April 7: 10.30am & 8.00pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Tuesday, April 8: 8.00pm Church of the Holy Trinity Wednesday, April 9: 10.30am & 8.00pm

Church of the Holy Family Thursday, April 10: 10.30am & 8.00pm Church of the Divine Mercy Friday, April 11: 8.00pm NORTH DISTRICT Church of the Holy Spirit Friday, April 4: 10.30am & 8.00pm Church of St Anthony Monday, April 7: 7.30pm

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Tuesday, April 8: 8.00pm St Anne’s Church Wednesday, April 9: 8.00pm Church of St Francis Xavier Thursday, April 10: 8.00pm Church of St Vincent De Paul Monday, April 14: 8.30pm WEST DISTRICT

Church of the Risen Christ Tuesday, April 8: 10.30am & 8.00pm

Church of St Mary of the Angels Wednesday, April 2: 8.00pm

St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) Wednesday, April 9: 8.00pm

Church of St Ignatius Thursday, April 3: 8.00pm

Church of Christ the King Thursday, April 10: 10.30am & 8.00pm

Church of St Francis of Assisi Monday, April 7: 8.00pm

Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Friday, April 11: 7.45pm

Church Of The Holy Cross Tuesday, April 8: 8.00pm

SERANGOON DISTRICT Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Monday, April 7: 8.00pm

Blessed Sacrament Church Wednesday, April 9: 8.00pm All information provided correct at press time. Please contact the individual parishes for updates.

since we had already paid the SULFH E\ VD\LQJ ORWV RI SUD\HUV Wrong! We treat Him like an authoritative parent and try to SOHDVH +LP E\ EHKDYLQJ ZHOO and expect Him to reward us for RXU JRRG EHKDYLRXU :URQJ Jesus reveals to us that God is our loving Father who cares and provides for us. If He looks after WKH ELUGV RI WKH DLU DQG WKH ÀRZers in the wild, will He not much more look after us? He tells us that if we who are imperfect know how to give good things to our children, how much more will He give what is good to us! When we trust that God is our creator and Heavenly )DWKHU ZKR NQRZV EHVW WKHQ ZH DUH PRVW ZLOOLQJ WR VXEPLW RXUselves to Him and pray that His ZLOO EH GRQH UDWKHU WKDQ RXU ZLOO EH GRQH The essence of prayer Prayer expresses and strengthens my relationship with God. The way I relate with Him will determine how I pray and what I pray for. When I am close to God, I cannot not pray! Prayer reveals my trust, love and hope in God.

Jesus teaches His disciples to SUD\ E\ DGGUHVVLQJ *RG DV +HDYenly Father; it reveals the intimacy of the relationship. On this EDVLV RXU SUD\HU GHYHORSV 7KHUH LV QR REOLJDWLRQ WR KDYH D VSHFLDO place or a special time to pray. As long as my heart is open to God, SUD\HU EHFRPHV VSRQWDQHRXV DQG HDV\ , DP QRW DIUDLG WR EH KRQHVW ZLWK +LP DERXW KXPDQO\ VHQVLtive topics, for I trust that He is non-judgmental and always loving. There is no restriction as to what I can communicate with God. When I recognise my inadequacy, I seek his help; when I am KDSS\ ZLWK WKH EOHVVLQJV LQ OLIH I give thanks to Him; when I am confused and lost, I seek His wisdom; when I have sinned, I ask for His mercy and forgiveness. All my experiences of joy, DQJHU VDGQHVV DQG IHDU FDQ EH the motivation and content of my prayers. At times, I listen to His promptings in the stillness of my heart. At other times, I simply stay in silence in His presence, EHLQJ DVVXUHG RI +LV FORVHQHVV and unconditional acceptance. What do I get out of prayer? I DP QRW SDUWLFXODUO\ ZRUULHG DERXW LW VLQFH , GR QRW VHHN VSHFL¿F UHsults from my prayer. I simply HQMR\ WKH SURFHVV RI EHLQJ ZLWK the Lord and I know only good things will emerge from prayer. I trust in the Heavenly Father who cares and loves me. I am not preoccupied with the issues at hand, for I focus on my relationship with Him. I seek the life JLYHU DQG , EHOLHYH +H ZLOO JUDQW OLIH DEXQGDQW WR PH This is the essence of prayer: that I know, appreciate and love Him more and more! „

22 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Lenten lessons to help us throughout life +RZ GRHV RQH ÀQG PHDQLQJ GXULQJ WKH SHULRG RI /HQW DQG EHFRPH VRPHRQH QHZ" By Fr David O’Rourke

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HE Lenten Gospels take us through a bleak and dry landscape. To some, this bleakness signals death. To others, it signals a death of the old self and a transformation to a new self. Yes, the end of yet another Lenten period can seem tiring, but, remember, that as bleak and dry as these weeks can feel, this period – put to good use by praying, learning, ultimately changing – can help us prepare for tough moments to come. You can think of this time as your own place, a time away from normal daily pressures, where retreat has helped you to think and WR ¿QG D SODFH WR VRUW WKLQJV RXW I used to think that way, too. No more. First of all, because I ¿QDOO\ KDG WR DGPLW WKDW D SDVWRU can’t get away from his responsibilities. Wherever I go, they go with me, especially in these days of cellphones and the Internet. These weeks of Lent should help us to see that our location, the landscape around us, the lack of light, perhaps, is not as important as the lens through which we look at what happens to us – wherever, whenever – and our response to GLI¿FXOWLHV The reality, if we think about it, is that the ground always feels like it is changing under our feet. There are stages in life – childhood, young years, middle age,

old age – and these stages are real and they are very different. What makes them so different is that they each have their own life agendas. There are things you have to do at one stage that you would never do at another. But they all have one thing in common – they all are tough. And so they always require a period of UHÀHFWLRQ D PRPHQW WR ORRN EDFN WR ¿QG ZD\V WR FKDQJH IRU WKH EHWter as we move forward through each stage of life. Young people have to set things up, get going, make life choices. Then, a dozen years later, as the stress and demands of adult life start crowding in, they have to face personal limits. Spiritually, they may have to face up to the pain they now realise they caused RWKHUV LQ WKH SDVW DV WKH\ ÀH[HG their youthful wings. They may have to make amends and that is almost as tough as having to admit to ourselves that there are amends we really ought to make. Then, as the years move us into old age, we begin to realise that in our careers, we have probably gone as far as we’re going to go. In the United States, we connect success to our careers. They give us personal value and selfesteem. So facing those limits can be very sobering. But sobriety can bring moments of wisdom. The season of Lent teaches us that as we move through these tough periods, these deserts in

Volunteers of a humanitarian group carry trash out of the Arizona desert on Sept 5 after leaving water and food at a drop-off point for immigrants illegally entering the United States. Lent can seem like a desert experience, but remember that as bleak and dry as these weeks can feel, this period – put to good use by praying, learning, ultimately changing – can help us prepare for tough moments to come. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

life, if you will, we can also clamp down, discard what we don’t need, perfect new habits and transform into a better version of ourselves. Yes, this landscape can feel bleak while we work to break from what hurts us and we try to change into a new way of being. It teaches us that life, and its stages, is not a battle to be won. Life is not

a problem to be solved. It is to be lived in relationship with the lives and circumstances around us. Life’s years are brief but they are good, to be loved on their own terms, accepted for the privilege they are. The years we are given, the bad and bleak, are not meant to be conquered but appreciated.

What we receive may not be a lot, but at some point, through SUD\HU SDWLHQFH DQG UHÀHFWLRQ ZH learn to see the light, we learn to change and to know that it’s probably enough. „ CNS Dominican Fr O’Rourke is a senior fellow at Santa Fe Institute in Berkeley, California, USA.

The dying of old habits and the transformation to a new self By Fr Lawrence Mick A FRIEND of mine with several children once told me about trying to teach his children to use Lent to give up habits of sin, rather than just giving up candy or desserts. One of his sons had decided to JLYH XS ÂżJKWLQJ ZLWK KLV EURWKHU Halfway through Lent, my friend asked each child how it was going, and his son said he was doing pretty well, “but,â€? he added, “I just can’t wait until Easter!â€? He had understood the challenge of self-control during Lent, but he had missed the point that the discipline of this season is intended to help us make longterm changes in our behaviour, not just changes that last for 40 days. Like the child who gives up candy but stores it all up to gorge herself at Easter, this boy was VWRULQJ XS UHDVRQV WR ÂżJKW ZLWK KLV brother when Easter came.

A priest baptises a catechumen. The newly baptised this Easter are called to learn to live fully in Christ. For the rest of us, the challenge is similar. If we have given up a sinful habit during Lent, we should transform as new creatures, now in the light of the risen Christ. CNS photo

The challenge of Lent is a challenge to conversion, to a transformation of sorts. It is a time for the “elect� who will be baptised to

root out whatever is keeping them from following Christ fully and to strengthen their virtues so that they can live up to the commit-

ments they will make in baptism. For those of us already baptised, Lent should also lead to deeper conversion, a transformation toward attitudes and behaviours that will persist long after Easter Sunday. In his letter to the Romans, St Paul reminds us of the radical change that is intended for us, the conversion that is part of our baptism. “Or are you unaware that we who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? We were indeed buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.� It’s important to note that by this transformation that takes place during Lent, through prayer and fasting, our sins are called to die, and we can begin anew. It doesn’t mean that we will return to old habits that prevent us from becoming a better Christian, or

from serving our brothers and sisters better. “We know that our old self was FUXFLÂżHG ZLWK +LP VR WKDW RXU sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Himâ€? (Rom 6:6-8). The newly baptised are called in the upcoming 50 days of the Easter season to grow into new life. Having been freed from sin, they must leave their old lives behind and learn to live fully in Christ. For the rest of us, the challenge is similar. If we have given up a sinful habit during Lent, we should transform as new creatures, now in the light of the risen Christ. „ CNS Fr Mick is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, USA and a freelance writer.

Sunday April 6, 2014 CatholicNews

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23

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Sunday April 6, 2014 „ CatholicNews

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Lubin Lubin was the son of poor peasants in the country near Poitiers, France. He spent many hours every day working in the IDUP ¿HOGV +H SRVVHVVHG D VWURQJ GHVLUH WR OHDUQ DQG HYHQWXally convinced the monks at a nearby monastery to take him in. He performed many menial tasks around the monastery during WKH GD\ DQG KH VWXGLHG DW QLJKW XQWLO WKH PRQNV ¿QDOO\ DFFHSWHG him as a true student of God’s word. $IWHU WUDQVIHUULQJ WR DQ DEEH\ KH WKRXJKW KH ¿QDOO\ KDG gained a peaceful place to work, study and pray. During a war, the abbey was raided by men looking for any valuable possesVLRQ WKDW PD\ KDYH EHHQ KLGGHQ LQ LW 0RVW RI WKH PRQNV ÀHG WR safety, but Lubin and an old man were left behind. Lubin was severely beaten and left to die because he did not divulge the information, but he recovered and retired at the monastery of St Avitus. He rose to the position of bishop of Chartres, France. We honour him on March 14, the day he died around 558 AD. „

said: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.� When everyone was in front of the tomb, Jesus said, “Take away the stone.� “Lord,� said Martha, “by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.� “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?� The stone was moved so that the entrance to the tomb no longer was blocked. Jesus looked toward heaven and

Read more about it: John 11

Q&A 1. What did Mary and Martha say to Jesus? 2. What did Jesus do before he healed Lazarus?

PUZZLE:

Wordsearch: „ STONE

„ MESSIAH

„ MESSAGE

„ FAMILY

„ DIES

„ HEAVEN

„ BROTHER

„ DEATH

„ SICK

„ DEAD

„ TOMB

„ TEARS

Match the husbands and wives by writing their names in the spaces below. Bible references have been provided as hints: Husbands: Joseph, David, Ahasuerus, Abraham Wives: Elizabeth, Eve, Rebekah 1. Adam and _____ (Genesis 3) 2. _____ and Sarah (Genesis 11) 3. _____ and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12)

4. Zechariah and _____ (Luke 1) 5. _____ and Mary (Matthew 1) 6. Isaac and _____ (Genesis 24) 7. _____ and Esther (Esther 2)

Bible Accent: What is the difference between a town and a village? During Old Testament times, a village was a settlement or community with no wall around it, but a town was encircled by a wall that had several gates, and it was probably on top of a hill or other high ground and was near a supply of fresh water, such as a river or lake. Several villages may have been within a few miles of the towns. People lived in small houses with small rooms, and as many as 200 houses would have been inside a town. Eventually some of the towns developed into larger cities that included government buildings and temples. ,Q 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW FLWLHV WKH LQÀXHQFH RI *UHHN DQG Roman engineers provided beautiful buildings, paved VWUHHWV HI¿FLHQW ZDWHUZD\V DQG EXV\ PDUNHW DUHDV „

said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.� Then He said with a loud commanding voice, “Lazarus, come out!� And Lazarus came out, alive and well. „

KIDS’ CLUB: Why do you think Jesus performed miracles?

Answer to Wordsearch

THEIR brother Lazarus was very sick, so Mary and Martha, his sisters, sent word to Jesus and asked for His help. When Jesus heard the message, He said, “This illness is not to end in death but is for the glory of God.� Though Jesus loved Mary and her family very much, he did not leave until two days had passed. He said to His disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.� But the disciples answered, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?� “Lazarus has died,� said Jesus. “And I am glad for you that I was not there that you may believe. Let us go to him.� When Jesus and the disciples arrived, they learned that Lazarus had been in his tomb for four days. Martha went out to meet Jesus, but Mary stayed home with the people

who had come to comfort them after their brother’s death. When Martha saw Jesus, she said: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.� “Your brother will rise,� Jesus said to her. “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.� “I am the resurrection and the life,� Jesus said. “Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Do you believe this?� “Yes, Lord,� I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.� Martha went to bring her sister back to see Jesus. The visitors at the house came along with her. When Mary saw Jesus she said with tears in her eyes the same thing her sister had

Answers to Puzzle: 1. Eve, 2. Abraham, 3. David, 4. Elizabeth, 5. Joseph, 6. Rebekah, 7. Ahasuerus.

By Joe Sarnicola

WHAT’S ON 25

Sunday April 6, 2014 „ 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

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. ONGOING RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA $W <LVKXQ 6W E: rcia.olss@gmail.com

WEDNESDAYS APRIL 2 TO JUNE 3 PERSONAL MORAL COMPASS MODULE 2 7.30-9.30pm: The Personal Moral Compass Course is a one-year-long systematic course in Moral Theology consisting of 6 individual modules. It is a course for all interested in formation in the foundations of Ethics and Moral Theology. The second module is Becoming Persons. By Caritas Singapore. At 55 Waterloo St. Register E: formation@caritas-singapore. org; W: http://caritas-singapore.org

WEDNESDAYS MARCH 19 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY 7.30-9.30pm: At 6 Chapel Road. From May, sessions will also be held on Sundays. T: 9666 6542; E: Rciaholyfam@gmail.com THURSDAYS MAY 8 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN 8-9.30pm: At 30 Sallim Road. Register T: 91076862 (Peter Thien); E:peter3562@yahoo.com.sg

FRIDAY APRIL 4 TO SUNDAY APRIL 6 BUILDING YOUTH COMMUNITIES 7.30pm (Fri)-1pm (Sun): Experience a stay-in weekend in the life of a catholic youth community in the parish, a heart of prayer, sharings, life-giving relationships, accountability to each other and true discipleship. For 18-35 years old. %\ 2IÂżFH IRU <RXQJ 3HRSOH DQG &KXUFK of St Francis Xavier. Registration E: events@cayconline.org; W: www.oyp. com.sg or e-mail events@cayconline.org

THURSDAYS MAY 8 RCIA @ BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 7.30-9.15pm: At 1 Commonwealth Drive. Register T: 96571847 (Susan); E: rcia@bsc.org.sg WEDNESDAYS APRIL 9 TO MAY 28 GALATIANS: A DVD BASED PROGRAMME BY JEFF CAVINS 9.30-11.30am: Learn in this study how to live one’s faith by working in love. Cost: $28. At Church of the Holy Spirit. Register: 8228 8220 (Clare); Email: HSBibleApostolate@gmail.com

SATURDAYS APRIL 5 TO APRIL 26 COMMON SENSE PARENTING WORKSHOP 9am-1pm: The programme equips parents in nurturing a responsible child, through discovery and practice of a practical approach to managing behaviour. It is for parents who aspire to be effective parents of children aged 5-16, want a solution to keeping calm in upsetting situations, and care about their children making appropriate choices, CSP helps parents gain FRQÂżGHQFH LQ JXLGLQJ DQG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ their children. By Morning Star Community Services. At Blk 261B Sengkang East Way #01-400, S(542261)]. Register T: 6285 1377; E: programs@morningstar.org.sg

FRIDAY APRIL 11 TO SUNDAY APRIL 13 PRAYER EXPERIENCE RETREAT 8.30am (Fri)-7pm (Sun): The programme is designed to help individuals build up their prayer life and to deepen their prayer experience. It is especially recommended for CER retreatants, following their conversion experience. The PER incorporates praise and worship, prayers, talks, testimonies, healing and counselling. Facilitated by Fr Andrew Wong and Fr Jacob Ong. By Catholic Spirituality Centre. Registration starts March 29. T: 6288 7901/6858 2716

APRIL 5 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS: A LABYRINTH WALK 10am-1pm or 2-5pm: The labyrinth is a metaphor of one’s spiritual journey. This ZDONLQJ PHGLWDWLRQ ZLOO KHOS RQH WR UHÀHFW on one’s relationship with God and how one can follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Socks are recommended as the walk is on a canvas labyrinth. Facilitated by Roselie Chia and Diana Tan. Cost: $30. By CISC. Sacred Heart Hall Annexe, St Ignatius Church. Register by March 28. T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

APRIL 12 CRUCIS SINGAPURA 7am-5pm: A unique Way of the Cross prayed while walking barefoot across the island marking the sign of the cross. Pilgrims will walk in pairs across 13 SUH GHÂżQHG URXWHV ORQJHVW EHLQJ 21.6 km and shortest 3.3 km. Travel kit with route map, Way of the Cross prayer and other info will be provided. %\ -HVXV <RXWK 6LQJDSRUH T: 9006 1884 (Fionne); Register W: www.singapore.jesusyouth.org/news/ crucis-singapura-2014

APRIL 5 SJI CARNIVAL 2014: HOME 9am-3pm: Carnival tickets available on site. At SJI (21 Bishan St 14). W: http://www.sji.edu.sg/

APRIL 12 MASS FOR FRIENDS IN NEED 2pm: A special Mass to pray and remember the poor and needy in Singapore. By Society of St Vincent de Paul. At Church of St Stephen (30 Sallim Rd). E: svdp88@gmail.com APRIL 12 DIY COUNSELLING WORKSHOP 2-5pm: Too expensive or awkward to see a counsellor? Learn a simple yet effective skill and process you can use to manage life issues or confusions. Cost: $60. By LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre. At 100 Jalan Merbok. Register T: 6466 2178 (Brenda). E: lifesprings@singnet.com.sg APRIL 12 SJI OPEN HOUSE FOR 2015 SEC ONE ADMISSION 9.30am-12.30pm: Find out how SJI as a Catholic boys’ school enables youths to learn how to learn and to learn how to live, empowering them to become persons of integrity and persons for others. With information talks, trial classes, school tour. curriculum and CCA exhibitions. At SJI (21 Bishan St 14). Register W: http://www.sji.edu.sg/ APRIL 12 INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION ON LENT THROUGH ART AND MUSIC SP 3DLQW \RXU /HQWHQ UHÀHFWLRQ accompanied by live music. Cost: $40. By Clarity Singapore. At 55 Waterloo St The Catholic Centre )ORUD +DOO /HYHO <LVKXQ 5LQJ 5RDG Register T: 6757 7990; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org APRIL 13 BILLINGS OVULATION METHOD 11am: The couple will learn how to use the knowledge of their fertility to make decisions whether to achieve or to space out pregnancy during their marital life, in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Classes will RQO\ FRPPHQFH LI WKHUH DUH VXI¿FLHQW registrants. By Natural Family Planning. At Church of the Holy Cross. Register E: bern.and.matt@gmail.com APRIL 17 CHRISM MASS 10.30am: At Church of St Ignatius (120 King’s Rd). Please carpool or use public transport if you want to attend to avoid congestion. Nearest MRT is Farrer Road. Buses services: 48, 93, 153, 165, 174, 186, 855, 961 (Stop at the Empress Market or opposite Empress Market). APRIL 20 8TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIVINE MERCY PRAYERS IN TAMIL 6.30pm: St Joseph Tamil Prayer Group will be celebrating its 8th anniversary of Divine Mercy prayers in Tamil with Mass. All are welcome. At Blessed Sacrament Church. T: 6474 5249/ 9678 3855 (Margaret)

THURSDAY APRIL 24 TO SUNDAY APRIL 27 A PILGRIMAGE TO BROKEN PLACES 7pm (Thu)-5pm (Sun): The retreat is for WKRVH ZKR ZLVK WR VHHN DQG ÂżQG *RG LQ various broken places of their spiritual life. The experience includes inputs, personal prayer, and opportunities for group sharing and individual spiritual direction. Retreat Master: Fr Christopher Soh. Cost: $270 (non-aircon), $330 (aircon). By CISC. At Kingsmead Centre (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register by April 14. T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com; W: www.catholic.org.sg/cisc

MONDAYS MAY 12 TO MAY 26 THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EARLY CHURCH IN CORINTH 10am-12pm: Discover how St Paul challenges the Early Church in Corinth in their spiritual walk, in their VDQFWL¿FDWLRQ DV WKH\ ZHUH DEXVLQJ their liberty in Christ. This talk is about the progressive walk of the believers. Speaker: Mr Philip Kok. Cost: $10. By Novena Bible Apostolate. At Novena Church (Peter Donders Room – Level 2). T: 9626 3824/6743 8831 (Bob); E: bible.novena@gmail.com MAY 24 FINDING GOD IN YOUR WRITING 9.30am-5pm: A full-day writing workshop designed to help you write your sacred story. Through writing exercises and other activities you will explore and express your inmost thoughts and feelings and gain a deeper understanding of self and your relationship with others and with God. No prior writing experience is required. Facilitated by: Roselie Chia (trained writing group leader). Cost: $100 (with lunch and refreshments). By CISC. At Kingsmead Centre (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register by May 14. T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com; W: www.catholic.org.sg/cisc

APRIL 27 EASTER FAIR AT ST JOSEPH’S HOME 10am-5pm: Join in the Easter celebrations with food, games, rides for kids, car-boot sale and more. At St Joseph’s Home (921 Jurong Rd). TUESDAYS APRIL 29 TO JUNE 10 CHRISTIAN MEDITATION FOR CAREGIVERS 8.30-9.30am: A six session introduction to Christian meditation. By Clarity Singapore and WCCM Singapore. $W %ORFN <LVKXQ 5LQJ Road. Register T: 6757 7990; E: lyn.pereira@clarity-singapore.org

MAY 31 DANZA QUEENS – CANOSSIANS CONNECT 2014 6.30-10.30pm: Calling all Canossian ex-pupils! The alumni dinner of the year is happening again - this time, we’ll DANCE! 2014 celebrates the 120th year of Canossian Sisters in Singapore as they continue with the mission of our Foundress. This eight-course dinner is also dedicated to the PRIME fundraising project for Canossa Convent Primary School. Tickets are at $88 per person; $800 per table. $1200 for a donation table. At Copthorne King’s Hotel (Havelock Road). Register T: 9039 2130 (Catherine); E: info@canossianalumni.com

WEDNESDAYS APRIL 30 TO JUNE 18 A BIBLICAL WALK THROUGH THE MASS 7.45-10pm: Discover the rich meanings behind what we say & do during Mass. At Church of The Holy Spirit Rm A2-01. Cost $26. Register T: 94793120 (Alexander); E: hsbibleapostolate.pm@gmail.com FRIDAY MAY 2 TO SUNDAY MAY 4 MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND 6pm (Fri)-6pm (Sun): A live-in marriage enrichment programme for happily married couples. A once in a lifetime experience. By Worldwide Marriage Encounter. At 201-B Punggol 17th Avenue. Register T: 9670 5390 (Vincent/Julyn); E: register@marriage-encounter-sg.org

FRIDAY MAY 30 TO SUNDAY JUNE 1 DISCOVERING AND LIVING THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE 7pm (Fri)-5pm (Sun): Each of us has a special way of giving and receiving love and life that is unique and XQUHSHDWDEOH DV RXU ¿QJHUSULQW Once we know our unique purpose in life, we can choose what’s congruent with it and drop what isn’t. We become fully alive, have energy to overcome obstacles, resolve midlife crises and burnout, and can dream new dreams. Retreat director: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Cost: $280 (non-aircon), $330 (aircon). By CISC. At Kingsmead Centre (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register by May 20. T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com; W: www.catholic.org.sg/cisc

WEDNESDAYS MAY 7 TO JULY 31 CPS LUNCHTIME MASS AT CHANGI 12.15pm: By Catholic Prayer Society. At UE Convention Centre, 4 Changi Business Park Ave 1, Meeting Room 2, Level 1. Register T: 9649 6517/9690 2712; E: irenetuazon@gmail.com or Tel 96496517/96902712 MAY 10 MEDITATIVE PRAYER USING THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8-9.30pm: At The Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator (60 Hill Street). Register T: 9837 7256; E: bennycah@gmail.com

Crossword Puzzle 1107 1

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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Palms are burned to make these 6 Parody 10 Symbol of the Holy Spirit 14 Tree branch 15 Conceal 16 Augury 17 Small tuned drum 18 Jai ____ 19 â€œâ€Ś____ and female he created them.â€? (Gen 1:27) 20 Spellbind 22 Scottish nobility 24 And others (abbr.) 25 At that time 26 Australian marsupial 28 Member of a Jewish group at the time of Jesus 32 Easter treat 33 This “On the Waterfrontâ€? character is based on real-life priest, Fr. Corridan 34 Witty remark 35 Minerals <LHOGHG 37 Indifferent

38 Abbr. at the top of a column 39 Chicago airport 40 Language of the Church 41 Lengthen 43 Fabric woven from Ă€D[ \DUQV 44 Sea eagles 45 Something that is owed 46 3.26 light years 49 Greek god of the sea 1HVW HJJV EULHĂ€\ 54 Cyberauction site 56 “I will ____ up for David a righteous Branchâ€? (Jer 23:5) 57 301, to Cato 58 Trundle 59 Patron saint of young girls 60 â€œâ€Śthe Lord is with ____.â€? 61 Connecticut university 62 Misplaces DOWN 1 Calais monastic 2 Before long 3 Catholic actress, Bonnie, of “Cheaper by the Dozenâ€? fame

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Intellectuals Soon Commandment word What we are forbidden to do by the ÂżIWK FRPPDQGPHQW 8 Mrs. McKinley 9 Jesuit who took part in the discovery of the Peking Man 10 Anno ____ 11 “Rubaiyatâ€? name 12 Open country of Africa +\GURFDUERQ VXIÂż[HV 21 Road service org. 23 Bird’s nest 25 Number of disciples who witnessed the 7UDQVÂżJXUDWLRQ /N 9:29–36) 26 John Paul II’s given name 27 Terse bridge bid 28 ____ Pio 29 Destroyed, in the Douay 30 Reddish dye 31 English public school 32 “____ let us adore him‌â€?

33 Defeats $GPLQLVWUDWLYH RIÂżFH of a diocese 37 Pilgrimage site, ____ de Compostela 39 Barbarous person 40 Open-minded 42 Monster’s moniker 43 French “theseâ€? 45 Catholic creator of Sherlock Holmes

46 One of St Columba’s converts 47 Diocese or bishop starter ³, KDYH ¿QLVKHG WKH ____� (2 Tim 4:7) 49 Altar linen 50 Noises 51 Hosea, formerly 52 Promontory 55 Fur scarf

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1106 J A I R

O N C E

C L A Y

U E L E

E B B E D

T A L L Y

S N A P

H S U A I O S E N E L S U B S R T S I E O T N O T A D U L A S T C O L E R N A L N I S T E R A O B I R L E A N A D

R O T C S T E A L

F L O O R E L B O W

R I N O N T E

S P I R N E N C L E L A R O T G E S S A N V E D E A R R E S A S M S S

E C L A T

S I E V E

T A M E S

N E B O

O X E N

A T E E

L U A U

I T I M

C O M O

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

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Sunday April 6, 2014 CatholicNews

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

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