MAY 03, 2015, Vol 65, No 09

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SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015

SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

MCI (P) 005/08/2014

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

‘God’s justice is His mercy’

NO. 09

INSIDE HOME Sts Peter and Paul restoration Hopes for completion in December Page 6

Pope Francis outlines his vision for the Holy Year of Mercy VATICAN CITY – Mercy is what

makes God perfect and all-powerful, Pope Francis said in his GRFXPHQW RI¿FLDOO\ SURFODLPLQJ the 2015-2016 extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy. “If God limited Himself to only justice, He would cease to be God, and would instead be like human beings who ask merely that the law be respected,” the pope wrote in Misericordiae Vultus, (The Face of Mercy), the papal document or “bull of indiction” calling for a Holy Year to begin on Dec 8. Standing in front of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica April 11, Pope Francis handed copies of the document to the archpriests of the major basilicas of Rome and WR 9DWLFDQ RI¿FLDOV UHSUHVHQWLQJ Catholics around the world. Portions of the 9,300-word proclamation were read aloud before Pope Francis and his aides entered St Peter’s Basilica to celHEUDWH WKH ¿UVW YHVSHUV RI 'LYLQH Mercy Sunday. In his homily at vespers, the pope said he proclaimed the Year of Mercy because “it is the favourable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and reconciliation”. The boundless nature of God’s mercy – His willingness always to forgive anything – has been a constant subject of Pope Francis’ preaching and is explained in detail in the document, which outOLQHV VRPH RI WKH VSHFL¿F SURMHFWV the pope has in mind for the year.

VOL 65

the balm ‘ofMay mercy reach

He served Church and state Tributes pour in for the late Bernard Chen Page 10

everyone, both believers and ASIA Sewol tragedy those far away, as a sign that the one year on Church leaders urge kingdom of God is probe into disaster Page 11 already present in our midst. WORLD

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God,” he wrote. “May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the kingdom of God is already present in our midst.” Nothing in the Church’s preaching or witness, he said, can be lacking in mercy. He highlighted the following for the special year: Pope Francis hears confession during a Lenten penitential service. In his document, Misericordiae Vultus, (The Face of Mercy), the pope says that the Church is credible only when she becomes a ‘convincing herald of mercy’, a mercy that ‘knows no bounds and extends to everyone without exception’. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

The Old Testament stories of how God repeatedly offered mercy to His unfaithful people and the New Testament stories of Jesus’ compassion, healing and mercy demonstrate, the pope said, that “the mercy of God is not an abstract idea, but a concrete real-

ity through which He reveals His love,” just like mothers and fathers love their children. “How much I desire that the year to come will be steeped in mercy, so that we can go out to every man and woman, bringing the goodness and tenderness of

All dioceses around the world are asked to designate a “Door of Mercy” at their cathedral or another special church or shrine, and to implement the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative on the Friday and

Saturday before the fourth week of Lent. In Rome the last two years, the pope opened the celebration with a penitential service in St Peter’s Basilica and churches around the city were open for the next 24 hours for confessions and Eucharistic adoration. Continued on Page 31

No to death penalty for Boston bomber Family of victims issue statement Page 12

POPE FRANCIS ‘A Church of martyrs’ Pope slams killing of Christians Page 14

VOCATION SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT Pages 19-30

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

A Mass at the indoor stadium, prayers, and meals for the poor are being organised Catholics in Singapore will join the entire nation to celebrate Singapore’s golden jubilee in a sigQLÂżFDQW DQG PHDQLQJIXO ZD\ 7KH KLJKOLJKW RI WKH FHOHEUDtions will be a big SG50 Thanksgiving Mass to be held at the 6LQJDSRUH ,QGRRU 6WDGLXP 7KH GDWH LV VWLOO EHLQJ ÂżQDOLVHG EXW LV H[SHFWHG WR EH HLWKHU LQ -XO\ RU $XJXVW 7KH WZR DQG D KDOI KRXU HYHQW ZLOO VHH PRUH WKDQ &DWKROLFV IURP DOO ZDONV RI OLIH FRQJUHJDWLQJ DW WKH VWDGLXP LQ SUD\HU VRQJ DQG FHOHEUDWLRQ WR FRPPHPRUDWH WKH QDWLRQÂśV \HDUV RI LQGHSHQGHQFH Âł6* LV D PRPHQWRXV HYHQW LQ WKH KLVWRU\ RI 6LQJDSRUH ´ VDLG $UFKELVKRS :LOOLDP *RK Âł,W LV D FHOHEUDWLRQ RI D SHRSOH ZKR EDWWOHG WKH RGGV WR IRXQG D QDWLRQ GLIIHUHQW DQFHVWU\ GLYHUVH FXOWXUHV DQG YDULHG IDLWKV QRWZLWKVWDQGLQJ $OO WKDW XQLWHG WKHP ZDV D FRPPRQ YLVLRQ Âą WR EXLOG D EHWWHU WRPRUURZ Âł7KLV LV DQ RFFDVLRQ IRU XV DV 6LQJDSRUHDQV WR JLYH WKDQNV WR *RG IRU \HDUV RI EOHVVLQJV RI SHDFH DQG SURVSHULW\ RI IUHHGRP WR SUDFWLVH RXU IDLWK DQG WKH XQLW\ DQG KDUPRQ\ ZH HQMR\ DPRQJ RXU SHRSOHV UHJDUGOHVV RI UDFH ODQJXDJH RU UHOLJLRQ ´ 7KH WKHPH IRU WKH DUFKGLRFHVHÂśV FHOHEUDWLRQV LV VLPSO\ -R\ Explained Franciscan Friar 'HUULFN <DS FKDLUPDQ RI WKH RUJDQLVLQJ FRPPLWWHH Âł-R\ FDSWXUHV DOO WKH G\QDPLFV RI WKH RFFDVLRQ DV we celebrate the nation’s 50th anniYHUVDU\ ,QWHUQDOO\ DV D &KXUFK LW LV DOVR DQ HYHQW IRU UHMXYHQDWLRQ UHV-

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The design rationale: 1. The word, “Joy� is an expression of celebration. 2. Joy is a key Christian word, one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 3. The three letters are in progressive perspective, denoting that the word starts with J (Jesus, the source) and ends with Y (You, the recipient). The three letters are conjoined to project the Church’s participation in fellowship with the nation (represented by the iconic SG50 logo).

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Archbishop William Goh

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Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

Hai Sing Pao marks 60 years

Archbishop William Goh and Fr Henry Siew, director of Carlo Catholic Society which publishes Hai Sing Pao, the Chinese Catholic newspaper, hold up an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis. Photo: DOMINIC WONG

By Christopher Khoo When Hai Sing Pao, the archdiocesan Chinese newspaper, was set up 60 years ago, “I was not even born!” remarked Archbishop William Goh. “We cannot but thank our forefathers who initiated this project for the archdiocese, which was then part of Malacca.” Archbishop Goh was speaking at a special Mass at the Church of St Bernadette on April 18 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Catholic paper. The event was concelebrated by about 10 priests and attended by hundreds. In his homily delivered in Mandarin, Archbishop Goh commended Hai Sing Pao (which means “Star of the Sea” in Chinese) and its staff. “For 60 years, our Chinese speaking faithful have within their means to remain connected to their faith and the Catholic community as well,” he said, adding that “the power of the written

word cannot be underestimated”. However, the advancements in mass communications mean that “all the more, we need to strengthen our tools of communicating the Good News in an attractive manner to the younger generation beyond the traditional means of newsprint”. These include using social media such as Facebook and Twitter, he said. “With more migrants from China, we need to market the Good News to them via the modern tools of communication,” he added. Participants later attended a lunch held at a Chinese restaurant at HarbourFront Centre.

History 1953: Scheut Missions Bishop Carlo van Melckebeke was appointed Apostolic Visitor for South-east Asia, and met with local Chinese Catholics for missionary and faith formation work.

Blowing out the candles on the anniversary cake (from left): editor Patricia Chia, consultant Fr Paul Tong, Archbishop Goh and Fr Henry.

April 3, 1955: 7KH ¿UVW LVVXH RI Hai Sing Pao was published. The paper aimed to be a means of communication among the overseas Chinese community, providing its readers with news about the Universal Church. 1970: Fr Paul Tong was appointed chief editor. He became its consultant in 2004. 2004 onwards: A survey was conducted to solicit readers’ feedback and changes to the paper’s look and content were made. Colour was introduced and more faith-sharing articles by laypeople included. 2006: The paper collaborated with the Church in West Malaysia, and increased its pages from eight to 12. 2009: The paper’s website was launched (http://www.carlo.org. sg). christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg

Some of the pioneer teachers of Canossian schools posing for a photo at the AFRICANA dinner.

Pioneer teachers at Canosssian schools’ dinner Thirty pioneer teachers of Canossian schools were the guests of honour at AFRICANA, the annual dinner of the Canossian Alumni Association. The April 18 event saw the former teachers of Canossa Convent Primary and St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools mingling with close to 300 ex-students, teachers and guests. AFRICANA, the theme, was in memory of St

Josephine Margaret Bakhita, a slave girl from Sudan who was canonised 15 years ago by St John Paul II. The evening programme included an Inter-school Waka-Waka Dance-Off Competition led by the pioneer teachers and Canossian Sisters, song performances by former and current students, and a bestdressed contest. See also story on Page 7

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

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Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

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Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

Scaffolding seen inside the Church of Sts Peter and Paul.

People attending Sunday morning Mass in the tent.

Hopes for church restoration works to be completed by year end By Lorna O’Hara Carmelite Fr John Chua, parish priest of the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, hopes that the restoration works on the 146-year-old church “will be completed by end of this year”. The process is about “30 percent completed”, he added. Fr Chua shared this information with CatholicNews on April 13, while giving a tour of the grounds.

Meanwhile, parishioners will continue to attend Masses in a tent in front of the church building. They have been doing so since late June last year, he said. “It can be a bit inconvenient when it rains, but to shelter parishioners we draw the plastic curtains. But then it’ll be quite stuffy,” he added. “During Mass, we also try to stop [the restoration] work,” or if there is urgent work to complete,

Mr Fasoli Roberto helping to restore the stained glass of the church.

the team keeps the noise level to the minimum, he said. Restoration works began last November. According to Fr Chua, his team aims to restore the church to its original “neo-Gothic style”. The restoration team comprises 34 people including two

stained glass experts from Milan, Italy. The team sometimes works “till 7 pm, and sometimes till 9 pm depending on the urgency of the work”, said Fr Chua. The Carmelite priest also said that the team has also been liaising with the Preservation of Sites & Monuments authority, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and the Building and Construction Authority throughout the project. Among the myriad of things to be restored are: A “complete change in the roof”, which was previously in bad shape Re-varnishing of pews 5HVWRUDWLRQ RI ¿YH ODQFH shaped stained glass panels as well as two rose windows at the right and left sides of the church Replacing of the windows and the spiral staircase Reinstating the Peranakan ÀRRU WLOHV Relocating the baptismal font to its original place near the left entrance of the church

Relocating the grotto Reinstating the choir area to the right transept There will also be a new front altar, an electronic pipe organ ÀRZQ IURP WKH 86 DQG DLU conditioning. The restoration will cost $8 million “but it could be higher” if there are delays, said Fr Chua. During one Sunday morning Mass there, CatholicNews saw some parishioners wearing sunglasses while others were fanning themselves. “It’s hot under the tent but I know Father has done his best to make us feel comfortable. It’s only for a while,” said an 82-yearold female parishioner who declined to be named. “Of late, the weather has been quite challenging so it’s hard to concentrate during Mass. The sun’s glare can be very strong,” said Ms Stella Lau, 45. One parishioner also suggested installing air-conditioner units in the tent. lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg

A photo of the sanctuary and high altar in the early 1970s.

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Canossian nuns and schools mark anniversaries through song

Canossian Sisters performing a few numbers at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St).

The Canossian Sisters, together with four Canossian schools held a choral festival to celebrate the 180th anniversary of St Magdalene of Canossa’s passing (foundress of the Canossians) and the 15th anniversary of the canonisation of Canossian St Josephine Bakhita. Titled One Heart, One Voice, the choral performance was held at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) on April 10, and was attended by about 800 people including apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, Ca-

nossian Sisters, benefactors of the Canossian family, parents of the students, pioneers of the schools and well-wishers. The participating schools were Canossa Convent Primary School, St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools, as well as Canossian School for the hearing impaired. The festival began with a message from Sr Theresa Seow, Canossian provincial leader, who spoke about the importance of love and sharing. She commended the efforts of the schools, staff

7KH FRPELQHG &DQRVVLDQ VFKRROVÂś FKRLU VLQJLQJ WRJHWKHU GXULQJ WKH ÂżQDOH

and Sisters who had dedicated many hours to the festival, and hoped for it to “foster a great love for our Canossian saints and the bonds amongst the Canossians – young, old, Religious and the lay� people. She also urged the Canossian community to continue to make Jesus known and loved through this gift of voices and to strengthen their desire to build up the Canossian sense of mission. When the performance began, St Joseph’s Church came alive with each song sung by

the different schools evoking emotions of love and hope. The combined choir of Canossa Convent Primary School and St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School sang All Things Bright and Beautiful. Canossian School for the hearing impaired joined in for a performance of You Are Mine. St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School’s performance of Ubi Caritas and Look At The World, a piece accompanied by woodwind instruments, followed. St Anthony’s Canossian Sec-

ondary School’s performance was an a cappella rendition of Examine Me and Chi Vuol Veder (Who Wants to See). The combined schools’ choir and the Canossian Sisters also dedicated a hymn to St Bakhita depicting her life. As April 10 was also the death anniversary of the Canossians Mother Foundress, St Magdalene, the combined schools’ choir dedicated the hymn In Verona to her. )RU WKH ¿QDOH WKH IRXU VFKRROV performed Let There be Peace on Earth. „

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Priests tell of God’s call in their lives in vocation booklet At least a dozen diocesan and Religious priests serving in Singapore will share how they came to recognise God’s call to the priesthood in a series of vocation booklets being published by CatholicNews. 7KH ÂżUVW LQ WKH VHULHV FDOOHG 0DQ RI *RG 0DQ IRU 2WKHUV DERYH ZLOO EH UHOHDVHG RQ *RRG 6KHSKHUG 6XQGD\ WKH VDPH GD\ that the Church observes World Day of Prayer for Vocations. ,Q LW 9LFDU *HQHUDO 3DVWRUDO Msgr Ambrose Vaz recalls how he was attracted to the priestly ministry as a young altar server and observing the life of his then SDULVK SULHVW WKH ODWH 3DULV )RUHLJQ 0LVVLRQDU\ )U /RXLV $PLotte. “The priest who said Mass and the priest who helped people. That ZKROH LGHQWLW\ ZDV ZKDW , OLNHG ´ he said. )DPLOLHV DUH HQFRXUDJHG WR bring home a copy and use the prayers at the back of the booklet to pray for priestly and Religious vocations as well as for priests. They may also use it to talk about how God calls everyone to different vocations or careers. „

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Catholics and Protestants get together for Taize songs, prayers By Sr Veronica de Roza, FMM Members of various Christian Churches got together for an evening of prayer and songs on April 16. 7KH HFXPHQLFDO 7DL]H VHUYLFH WLWOHG 2I 2QH +HDUW DQG 0LQG drew about 280 participants. It was held at the St Andrew’s &DWKHGUDO H[WHQVLRQ FDOOHG &Dthedral New Sanctuary. The event at the Anglican cathedral was organised by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue with assistance from a core group of TaizÊ participants in Singapore. 9HQHUDEOH :RQJ 7DN 0HQJ Archdeacon of the Anglican &KXUFK LQ KLV RSHQLQJ DGGUHVV thanked the TaizÊ core group who created a prayerful ambience with the use of icons and tea light candles. +H VDLG WKDW WKH VHUYLFH ZDV not only for participants to enjoy the music of TaizÊ but also IRU WKHP WR H[SHULHQFH *RG ZKR gathers people from different traditions and countries and draws out their respective gifts. %U $QGUHDV IURP WKH 7DL]p FRPPXQLW\ LQ )UDQFH DWWHQGHG the service and helped with the singing practice before the event. Representatives from Trinity Theological College (TTC) together with members of the /HJLRQ RI 0DU\ IURP 1DQ\DQJ 7HFKQRORJLFDO 8QLYHUVLW\ &DULWDV Young Adults and the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant

Ministers who participated in the service from left: Rev Dr Lorna Khoo (Aldersgate Methodist Church); Fr Paul Staes, CICM; Rev Chan Mei Ming (Leng Kwang Baptist Church); Rev Jacob Johnson (Church of South India Congregation); Rev Martin Jungnickels (St John’s-St Margaret’s Anglican Church); Msgr Philip Heng (Vicar General of Ecumenical Relations) and Rev Fr Greger R Kollanoor (St Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Cathedral).

‘

It was a very beautiful experience of prayer and unity.

’

– Mr Willy Lau from the Presbyterian Church in Singapore

3HRSOH $&0, KHOSHG E\ XVKHUing and welcoming participants. 'XULQJ WKH VHUYLFH WKHUH ZHUH readings from Scripture and the intercessory prayers were conGXFWHG LQ (QJOLVK 0DQGDULQ DQG Malay. These were led by representatives from various Churches –

Rev Chan Mei Ming from the /HQJ .ZDQJ %DSWLVW &KXUFK 0V &KULVWLQH 7DQ IURP WKH .DPSRQJ .DSRU 0HWKRGLVW &KXUFK )U *UHJHU .ROODQRRU IURP WKH 6W 0DU\œV -DFRELWH 6\ULDQ 2UWKRGR[ &DWKHGUDO 0V (VWKHU 7]HU :RQJ from TCA College (a Christian theological college) and representatives from TTC. The concluding prayer was OHG E\ )U -DFRE -RKQVRQ IURP WKH Church of South India Immanuel &RQJUHJDWLRQ DQG WKH ¿QDO EOHVVing was given by Rev Martin Jungnickels from St John’s-St 0DUJDUHWœV &KXUFK DQ $QJOLFDQ FKXUFK +H ZDV MRLQHG E\

the ministers from the different Churches present. Participants said they found the ecumenical experience uplifting. “It was an experience RI SUD\LQJ EH\RQG ZRUGV ´ VDLG Ms Grace Yap from the Catholic &KXUFK RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW “It was a very beautiful exSHULHQFH RI SUD\HU DQG XQLW\ ´ FRPPHQWHG 0U :LOO\ /DX IURP the Presbyterian Church in Singapore. “I treasure all that brings us together as one people of *RG ´ 5HY &KDQ IURP WKH /HQJ .ZDQJ %DSWLVW &KXUFK VDLG LW ZDV ÂłDQ RDVLV RI SUD\HU´ „

Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

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Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

Bernard Chen dedicated time and effort to state and Church By Lorna O’Hara The Singapore Catholic Church mourned the loss of Mr Benard Chen, who dedicated much of his time and effort to the archdiocese and the state. He passed away on April 8 at age 72. During his funeral Mass on April 13, Redemptorist Fr Simon Tan spoke about how Mr Chen willingly took up the post of chairman of the Novena Church redevelopment project in 2010. “I was touched by his faith and conviction,” said Fr Simon in his homily at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St), the church which Mr Chen requested to have his funeral at. “Up to his last days, he was still very passionate about the building,” said Fr Simon. When Mr Chen was struck with cancer in November last year, he “expressed his sadness that he could not see the completion of” the church restoration but he assured Fr Simon that “everything will be OK”. Mr Chen wore many hats within the archdiocese, as well as in Singapore’s public and private sectors. He was chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools from 2004-2011, as well as chairman of Catholic Junior College’s Management Committee

Mr Bernard Chen (1942-2015)

from 1995-2008. He also served on the Board of Mount Alvernia Hospital and on the committee for the restoration of the stained glass at St Joseph’s Church. Fr Simon also described Mr Chen as a man who “served the country”. He was a Member of Parliament of the People’s Action Party from 1977-2001, and the Minister of State for Defence from 19771981. He was chairman of the board of directors of NTUC Income from 1977-1990. In the private sector, he was on the board of several companies including Fraser & Neave, DBS Bank, and Certis Cisco. Even though Mr Chen “looked very stern”, Fr Simon recalled that “he had a great sense of humour.” “On behalf of the Redemptorists, we want to thank you for sharing Bernard with us,” he said, speaking to Mr Chen’s family.

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TRIBUTES TO THE LATE MR CHEN

‘

Bernard was a good and upright man. He loved God deeply. He was a devout Catholic... He lived for his family, his country and his Church... The Church is blessed to have a son like him who by his life has given glory to God.

’

– Archbishop William Goh to Mr Chen’s family

strove to build CJC into ‘a Hefamily, of not necessarily Catholics, but of people who

share our mission and live it through the years... The CJC family indeed mourns the loss of an exemplary leader, a kind and dedicated benefactor, and a true man of God.

’

– Catholic Junior College

whenever he came by... ACCS thanks God for the wonderful gift of Mr Bernard Chen to the Catholic education here in Singapore.

’

– Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS)

saw the need for the Cath- ‘He was always available ‘olicHe schools to work together to help the Church. He was a as one system... rather than as competitors. The staff of ACCS remember him as one who af¿UPHG WKHP E\ H[SUHVVLQJ KLV appreciation for their work

man for God and a man for others... A very well-loved person.

’

– Sr Maria Lau, IJ

lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg

ASIA 11

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Church leaders call for probe into Korean ferry disaster SEOUL – Korean Church leaders

have called for “properâ€? investigations into the sinking of the Sewol ferry as the nation marked the ÂżUVW DQQLYHUVDU\ RI WKH GLVDVWHU “We not only have lost loved ones, but we have lost our best values, our consideration for others, our national pride, and – most importantly – our faith in others and in society,â€? said Cardinal AnGUHZ <HRP 6RR MXQJ “The government should conduct a national investigation to ÂżQG WKH FXOSULWV DQG WKH FDXVHV that led to the tragedy,â€? said the cardinal in a homily during a memorial Mass to mark the tragedy RI $SULO ODVW \HDU “We need immediate political action to solve the problems that arose and dispel the confusion surrounding the issue,â€? said Cardinal Yeom, the Archbishop of 6HRXO +H DGGHG Âł:H PXVW UHĂ€HFW RQ VXFK IDLOXUHV DQG UHSHQW $QG this does not mean to be lenient WRZDUGV WKRVH ZKR GLG ZURQJ ´ More than 300 people died in the disaster, mostly high school VWXGHQWV <HW GHVSLWH ZLGHVSUHDG demands, the government has not \HW DJUHHG WR DQ RIÂżFLDO LQTXLU\ LQWR WKH GLVDVWHU Several analysts and sources told AsiaNews that this is due to fears that investigations might reveal business and political ties between the Sewol owner and the JRYHUQPHQW In the trial against the ship’s captain and members of the crew in November 2014, the court convicted 15 defendants, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from WR \HDUV +RZHYHU WKH FRP-

pany that owned the Sewol was QRW KHOG UHVSRQVLEOH %LVKRS /D]]DUR <RX +HXQJ sik, from the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace, FRQFXUUHG ZLWK WKH FDUGLQDO Âł:H need a proper investigation into what happened,â€? he said in a mesVDJH WR WKH FRXQWU\ÂśV &DWKROLFV “Because without it we cannot move forward on a path of true IRUJLYHQHVV DQG UHFRQFLOLDWLRQ 7KH VWDWH VWLOO KDV WR GR LWV SDUW 7KHUH LV JURZLQJ GLVWUXVW LQ WKH JRYHUQPHQW :H QHHG KRQHVW\ DQG VLQFHULW\ ´

Cardinal Yeom: We have lost our faith in society.

In a speech commemorating the incident, President Park Geunhye said she would take “the necessary steps to salvage the ship at WKH HDUOLHVW SRVVLEOH GDWH´ Meanwhile, the families of the victims have refused a compensation package proposed by the government and held a protest in 6HRXOÂśV *ZDQJKZDPXQ 3OD]D ,Q a statement, they said, “We will not give up until investigators get WR WKH ERWWRP RI WKH GLVDVWHU ´ These families had also met with Pope Francis when he visited WKH QDWLRQ ODVW $XJXVW „ ASIANEWS

Family members of the 304 South Korean ferry victims send Pope Francis a message from Seoul last August ahead of his trip to the country. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Indian police arrest 16 after attack on Christian schools NEW DELHI – Police have arrested

sionaries as they surged into her 16 people after roughly 60 slogan- RIÂżFH shouting Hindu hardliners barged She said the unruly mob threw into two Catholic schools in east- FKDLUV DURXQG WKH RIÂżFH DQG GHern India on April 21. manded that she close the school. Christian leaders say the attack In a “violent and threatening toneâ€?, is evidence of a mounting funda- some asked why the school had mentalist campaign against mis- not erected pictures of Saraswati, sionary-run schools in Jharkhand the Hindu goddess of learning, and state. of Prime Minister Police in Narendra Modi. Christian leaders Hazaribagh city, Christian leadwhere the attacks ers say Jharkhand say Jharkhand occurred, said a state, ruled by Mr state, ruled by group from Akhil Modi’s Hindu-naBharatiya VidMr Modi’s Hindu- tionalist BJP, has yarthi Parishad been witnessing a nationalist BJP, (ABVP), the stucampaign against dent wing of India’s Christians ever has been ruling Bharatiya since the BJP came witnessing a Janata Party (BJP), to power in New campaign against Delhi a year ago. were trying to close down the two Fr PJ James, Christians ever schools. principal of St Xasince the BJP The young men vier’s school, said “broke open the the mob reached came to power gate and jumped the gates of his in New Delhi off the boundary school after leaving wall to get inside Holy Cross, but poa year ago. one school. Police lice arrived in time arrived on time and to intercept them. there was not much damage,â€? Mr He told ucanews.com that Arvind Kumar Singh, deputy su- WKH SROLFH WRRN ÂżYH PHPEHUV perintendent of police in Hazarib- from the group to meet with him. agh, told ucanews.com. “They wanted me to close down Mr Singh said police arrested the school, saying that we have 16 people in connection with the commercialised education. It was attacks for forcefully entering a no point in reasoning with them,â€? school and disturbing students. he said, adding that a Muslim-run Sr Clerita De Mello, principal school was similarly harassed. of the Holy Cross School, told +RZHYHU %-3 RIÂżFLDOV KDYH ucanews.com the attackers carried denied any religious connota$%93 Ă€DJV DQG DOVR VKRXWHG VOR- tions were involved on April 21. gans against Christians and mis- „ UCANEWS.COM

Voters’ education programme launched in Philippines MANILA – A Philippine Catholic

group on April 16 launched a voters’ education programme aimed at ensuring “clean and honest elections� in the country next year. Ms Henrietta de Villa, chairwoman of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), said the programme called One Good Vote aims to strengthen the “personal and social consciences� of the people. The PPCRV is a Church-based poll watchdog, which has been accredited by the Commission on Elections as its “citizens arm� for the May 2016 elections. The One Good Vote campaign “is specialised, it is people-driven, and it is community-conscience based�, Ms de Villa said in an interview. The main proponents of the programme are villagers, especially the youth, because “they are the most affected victims of bad elections and bad electoral habits�, she said. The PPCRV will select one village in every province of the country as pilot areas for the campaign, which will call on voters to assess candidates according

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila

to “character, skill, and honesty�. At the launching of the programme, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, archbishop of Manila, issued an appeal to candidates in next year’s national elections “not to take advantage of the poor who are suffering�. “That is trampling on their dignity,� Cardinal Tagle said, adding that many politicians “capitalise on the need of somebody in order to manipulate�. The prelate said the poor “are already vulnerable yet [politicians] still take advantage�. „ UCANEWS.COM

Parents of slain child RSSRVH GHDWK SHQDOW\ IRU Boston Marathon bomber BOSTON, USA – The parents of

Martin Richard, the youngest victim killed in the Boston Marathon bombings two years ago, are asking that the death penalty be taken “off the tableâ€? for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. On April 8, Tsarnaev was found guilty on all 30 counts related to the attack that killed three people and severely injured 260 RWKHUV DW WKH ÂżQLVK OLQH RI WKH 2013 marathon. The penalty phase of the trial began on April 21 at the US District Court in Boston and was expected to last about four weeks. Jurors will decide between sentencing Tsarnaev to death or to life without parole. In a letter published in the Boston Globe on April 17 titled “To end the anguish, drop the death penalty,â€? Bill and Denise Richard asked that the Department of Justice bring the case to a close. “We are in favour of and would support the Department of Justice in taking the death penalty off the table in exchange for the defendant spending the rest of his life in prison without any possibility of release and waiving all of his rights to appeal,â€? they wrote. “We understand all too well the heinousness and brutality of the crimes committed. We were there. We lived it. The defendant murdered our 8-year-old son, maimed our 7-year-old daughter, and stole part of our soul,â€? they wrote. Their son Martin died in the attack just shy of his ninth birthday. “We know that the government has its reasons for seeking the death penalty, but the continued pursuit of that punishment could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives. We hope our two remaining children do not have to grow up with the lingering, pain-

The family of Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard seen during a ceremony on the second anniversary of the attack. CNS photos

A family handout photo of Martin Richard.

ful reminder of what the defendant took from them, which years of appeals would undoubtedly bring.� The couple acknowledged their decision is a “deeply personal issue� and that they can only speak for themselves but they state their belief that “now

is the time to turn the page, end the anguish, and look toward a better future – for us, for Boston, and for the country.� As Tsarnaev’s trial was concluding, the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts released a statement reiterating the Church’s teaching on the death penalty: The Catholic Church opposes capital punishment except “if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives�, but says such circumstances are very rare if nonexistent. The Richards belong to St Ann Parish in Dorchester, Massachusetts. During the bomb explosion at the 2013 marathon, Mr Bill Richard, Martin’s father, received shrapnel wounds and burns and suffered hearing loss; Martin’s mother, Denise, suffered a head injury and lost vision in an eye. Martin’s sister, Jane, lost a leg; his older brother, Henry, was unharmed. „ CNS

<HPHQL &KULVWLDQV NHHS ORZ SURĂ€OH DQG SUD\ VATICAN CITY – The few Christians remaining in war-torn Yemen gather for liturgies and prayer meetings in the basement of a villa in the city of Sanaa where they remain “invisibleâ€? in order to stay safe, Bishop Paul Hinder told Vatican Radio on April 13. Bishop Hinder, the apostolic vicar of southern Arabia, said that LW LV QRW VSHFLÂżFDOO\ &KULVWLDQV ZKR DUH DW ULVN LQ WKH FRQĂ€LFW EXW foreigners who have been told to leave the country. All of the country’s Catholics are foreigners, mostly foreign

workers from India, he said. As more civilians are killed in WKH FURVVÂżUH RI ÂżJKWLQJ EHWZHHQ the government and armed rebel forces, even humanitarian organisations have called on their aid workers to leave the area for their own safety. The United Nations has called for at least a temporary ceaseÂżUH WR JLYH IRUHLJQHUV D FKDQFH to leave, but Bishop Hinder said he is not convinced the warring sides will agree. “We have celebrated only a few days back the mystery of the death and resurrection of our

Lord,� he said, “and I think in that message itself is the encouragement for the Christians that we should never give up.� “There is someone stronger than every political power, and that is the strength of the risen Lord,� Bishop Hinder said he told the Christians of Yemen. “I can only tell them you are not alone, there are many, many in the whole world who are caring for you, but of course our means are limited except the incredible means we have in the prayer and in the solidarity of our faith.� „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

‘God will bring home abducted girls’ Cardinal comments on kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls a year after the incident LAGOS, NIGERIA – A year after more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped, Lagos Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie said he believed that “God will answer our prayers” for their return. In an interview with Catholic News Service on April 14, the cardinal also said President-elect Muhammadu Buhari must make the rescue of the girls a top priorLW\ ZKHQ KH WDNHV RI¿FH About 276 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in northeastern Borno state, were abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents around midnight on April 14, 2014. Fifty-seven girls managed to escape. Cardinal Okogie, retired archbishop of Lagos, said it was a pity the Borno government could “not hit the iron on the head when it was still hot”. “If I were in charge at the federal level, I would have dealt with the state government and the governor for being weak. How can several lorries convey those girls away, and no security personnel saw them throughout the period the operation lasted?’’ he asked.

He said incoming governments at the federal and state levels must do all within their powers to rescue the girls. “Some of the girls will have, by now, been maltreated by their abductors, some will be carrying illegitimate babies for their abductors, some will have been sold into slavery in other countries, while some may still be wandering in Sambisa Forest and in villages in the region,” he said. He noted that once rescued, the girls would need help with rehabilitation from the trauma. Archbishop Matthew Manoso Ndagoso of Kaduna, former bishop of Maiduguri, expressed sadness over the continued hostage situation. “I hope and pray that they are still alive and one day they will be rescued by the security agencies and be reunited with their parents,” he said. He also expressed concern about the mental and psychological trauma experienced by the girls and their parents. “I think about their parents every time, and I cannot imagine myself being in their positions,” he said. CNS

Women holding signs take part in a protest in Lagos, Nigeria, last year to demand the release of schoolgirls abducted by the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

14 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope: The Church is a Church of martyrs VATICAN CITY – With so many women and men being killed because of their faith in Christ, the Church today is a Church of martyrs, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. And, in a message to the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, he also urged the world’s leaders to hear the cry of all the Christians who are victims of violence, cruelty and killings. “The blood of our Christian brothers and sisters is a testimony which cries out to be heard by everyone who can still distinguish between good and evil. All the more this cry must be heard by those who have the destiny of peoples in their hands,� the pope told Patriarch Mathias of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in a message sent on April 20. Pope Francis sent his condolences to the patriarch for the execution of more than 20 Ethiopian Christians at the hands of Islamic State militants in Libya. A video of the killings was released on April 19. “With great distress and sadness I learn of the further shocking violence perpetrated against innocent Christians in Libya,� the pope wrote.

He assured the patriarch of his “closeness in prayer at the continuing martyrdom being so cruelly LQĂ€LFWHG RQ &KULVWLDQV LQ $IULFD the Middle East and some parts of Asia. It makes no difference whether the victims are Catholic, Copt, Orthodox or Protestant. Their blood is one and the same in their confession of Christ.â€?

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’

– Pope Francis

Pope Francis highlighted the fate of the martyred Christians on April 21 at his early morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, as the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles (7:51-8:1) described the stoning and killing of St SteSKHQ Âą WKH &KXUFKÂśV ÂżUVW PDUW\U “How many Stephens there are in the world these days. We think

of our brothers whose throats were slit on the beach in Libya; we think of that young boy burnt alive by his fellow citizens because he was Christian; we think about those migrants who were thrown into the high seas by others, and many others whom we don’t know about, who suffer in prisons because they are Christians,� he said. “Today the Church is a Church of martyrs: They suffer, they give their life and we receive God’s blessings for their witness,� the pope said, according to Vatican Radio. Those who judged and persecuted St Stephen could not bear to hear his condemnation of their sins and their opposition to the Holy Spirit, he said. That’s because “the word of God always displeases certain hearts. The word of God irritates when your heart is hardened, when you have a pagan heart because the word of God asks you to go further, searching and feeding you with that bread Jesus spoke of� that comes from God, he said. Those who persecuted St Stephen and the prophets believed that they were acting on God’s behalf, “to give glory to God, they believed that [by doing] this they were faith-

File photo of Pope Francis speaking to journalists. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

ful to God’s doctrine,� the pope said. However, he said, their hearts were corrupt and hardened to the work of the Holy Spirit. “Let us unite ourselves with

so many brothers and sisters who suffer the martyrdom of persecution, slander and murder in order to be faithful to the only bread that satiates – Jesus,� he said. „ CNS

Children are ‘never a mistake’ &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

VATICAN CITY – Children are nev-

HU D ÂłPLVWDNH´ DQG QR VDFULÂżFH LV too great for an adult to make so that children can feel their worth, Pope Francis said. During his weekly general audience in a chilly, but sunny St Peter’s Square on April 8, the pope continued his series of talks about the family, dedicating a second catechesis to children. He described the great suffering and difÂżFXOWLHV PDQ\ FKLOGUHQ DURXQG WKH world experience as “a Passionâ€?. Children are the greatest blessing God has bestowed upon men and women, he said. Yet, many children are “rejected, abandoned, A boy feeds his sister in a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan.

robbed of their childhood and of their future�, the pope noted, adding that it is “shameful� when people say it is “a mistake� to bring a child into the world. “Please, let’s not unload our faults on children,� he said. “Children are never ‘a mistake’.� The hunger, poverty, fragility and ignorance of some children “are not mistakes� but “only reasons for us to love them even more, with more generosity,� he said. Pope Francis wondered aloud about the value of international declarations of human and children’s rights if children are then punished for the mistakes of adults. “All adults are responsible for

children and for doing what we can to change this situation,â€? he said. “Every marginalised and abandoned child, who lives by begging on the street for every little thing, without schooling or healthcare, is a cry to God,â€? he said. Their suffering is the result of a social system, created by adults, he added. “The Church places her maternal care at the service of children and their families,â€? he added. “It brings God’s blessing to the parents and children of this world, PDWHUQDO WHQGHUQHVV ÂżUP UHSULmand and strong condemnation. Brothers and sisters, think carefully: You don’t mess with the lives of children.â€? „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 15

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope urges those guilty of attack in Kenya to ‘come to their senses’ VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis mourned the deaths of all those killed in extremist and ethnic violence in Kenya, and admonished the perpetrators to “come to their senses and seek mercyâ€?. Meeting the Kenyan bishops RQ $SULO GXULQJ WKHLU ÂżYH yearly “ad liminaâ€? visits to the Vatican, the pope urged the bishops to step up efforts with other Christians and other faiths to promote peace, dialogue and justice. The bishops’ meeting at the Vatican to report on the state of their dioceses came after an attack by the Somalia-based alShabab militants on Garissa UniYHUVLW\ &ROOHJH OHIW QHDUO\ people dead. Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Alessandro of Garissa said the university is so close to the cathedral that “I could hear everything: the gunshots, the ambulances, the police, the military,â€? and everyone rushing the victims to the hospital right in front of the cathedral. 7KH DWWDFN RQ $SULO +RO\

I could hear ‘everything: the gunshots, the ambulances, the police, the military.

’

– Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Alessandro of Garissa, recounting the incident

People attend a memorial vigil in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 7, for the 147 people killed in an attack on Garissa University College. CNS photo

Thursday, led to heightened security and people being told to stay at home during Holy Week, he said. “But on Easter Sunday, it was

Obedience to God means openness to dialogue and change, pope says

a surprise even for me because the cathedral was full,� he said, with many parents bringing their babies and other children for baptism. With help from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Alessandro said they launched a project of face-to-

‘

’

CNS

Pontiff leads prayers for victims of capsized boat

VATICAN CITY – An inability to

of Israel, the revelation of God, dialogue and to accept that God they knew everything, they were may be doing new things are signs doctors – and yet they were incaof disobedience to God, Pope pable of recognising God’s salvaFrancis said. tion.â€? Obedience often leads people Their “anger and desire to sito a path for their life that is not lence those who were preaching the one they planned on taking, the newness of God – that is, that he said. To obey is “to have the Jesus was risenâ€? – was the clearcourage to change paths when the est sign that they were “not open Lord asks this of usâ€?. to the Lord’s voice Celebrating Mass and to the signs of the on April 16 in the Lord in the midst of Dialogue chapel of his resihis peopleâ€?. is what you dence, Pope Francis People are not told the small congreborn hard hearted, he do with gation that because it said; they’ve pracGod and was the 88th birthday tised “closing in on of retired Pope Benthemselvesâ€? and rewith your edict XVI, he wanted to dialogue or brothers and fusing to offer the Mass for listen to others. sisters. him. “I invite you to Their only key for pray for him, that the interpreting the law, – Pope Francis Lord might sustain Pope Francis said, him and grant him was “to make it more much joy and happiness.â€? precise. But they were closed In his homily, Pope Francis to the signs of God in history looked at the story in the day’s and were closed to his people, ÂżUVW 6FULSWXUH UHDGLQJ $FWV their people. They were closed, 33, about Jewish leaders ordering closed.â€? the disciples to stop preaching The tragedy of the doctors of about Jesus. the law, “these theologians of the The Jewish leaders, the pope people of God,â€? he said, was that said, “were doctors – they had “they did not know who to listen studied the history of the peo- and they didn’t know how to diaple, they studied the prophecies, logue. Dialogue is what you do they studied the law, they knew with God and with your brothers the whole theology of the people and sisters.â€? „ CNS

IDFH GLVFXVVLRQV ZLWK LQĂ€XHQWLDO Muslim and Christian religious OHDGHUV WR VKDUH LQVLJKWV DQG ÂżQG solutions when trouble seemed to be brewing. Christian and Muslim women also have come together, he said, and, in one instance, successfully NHSW JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV DFcountable. The women found out “there was going to be a clash between two clansâ€?, he said, and they “went to the governor and the FRXQFLO RIÂżFH WHOOLQJ WKHP ZKDW was being planned and they kept them responsible if something KDSSHQHG´ 7KH JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżcials called in the clan leaders and “managed to calm down the situ-

ation� before anything happened. Interfaith projects for youth include sports initiatives and school programmes, the bishop said, so the Church is helping the community’s youngest generations “live together, grow together and realise that there is not so much difference humanly speaking between Muslims and Christians�. Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa, told Catholic News Service that in the wake of the attacks, the Kenyan bishops “quickly pulled together� leaders of the Muslim, Protestant and Catholic communities to see what could be done and urge them to denounce the atrocities. Archbishop Kivuva said Pope Francis expressed his great sorrow over the killings and said he was praying that those who cause so much fear and insecurity would have a change of heart. He said that people can get paralysed by “so much misery, it’s very depressing. But we have to pick up the courage and take up hope, we cannot just sit back and watch and say we are losing hope. We have hope.� „

A child is carried by a rescue worker as migrants arrive on a boat at the Sicilian harbour of Pozzallo on April 19. CNS photo

ROME – Following his Regina Coeli address, Pope Francis led thousands in praying the Hail Mary for those who died after a ÂżVKLQJ ERDW FDUU\LQJ DQ HVWLPDWHG 700 migrants capsized off the Libyan coast. An estimated 700 people are feared dead in what may be the worst disaster in the Mediterranean. “I express my deepest sorrow in the face of such a tragedy and I assure for those lost and their families my remembrance in prayer,â€? the pope said on April 19.

The Holy Father also called on the international community to act “decisively and promptlyâ€? to prevent such tragedies from occurring again. “They are men and women like us!â€? he exclaimed. “Our brothers and sisters who are looking for a better life: hungry, persecuted wounded, exploited, victims of war. They were looking for a better life. They were looking for happiness. I invite you to pray in siOHQFH ÂżUVW DQG WKHQ DOO WRJHWKHU for these brothers and sisters.â€? „ ZENIT

Don’t seek humiliation but imitate Jesus VATICAN CITY – Christians are not masochists who

go looking for martyrdom, but when faced with persecution, humiliation or even just the daily annoyance of a person who makes them angry, what they must seek is to react like Jesus would, Pope Francis said. Celebrating Mass on April 17 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis said the grace of imitating Christ has been given to modern martyrs, as well as to “many men and women who suffer humiliation every day�, but for the good of their families. When someone does you wrong, he said, there

are two possible paths: “that of closing down, which leads to hatred, anger and wanting to kill the other; or openness to God on the path of Jesus, which makes you take humiliation – even strong humiliation – with interior joy because you are certain you are on Jesus’ path�. With the little daily humiliations of people being annoying, Pope Francis said, “give time to time�. “Time puts things in harmony and helps us see clearly,� he said. “If you react immediately in the heat of the moment, it is certain you will be wrong.� „ CNS

16 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope comments on gender theory VATICAN CITY – Eradicating male

and female identities does nothing to solve the problem of unfair or disrespectful treatment based on people’s gender, Pope Francis said. The right way to solve conĂ€LFWV LQ PDOH IHPDOH UHODWLRQV LV to have men and women “talk to each other more, listen to each other more, know each other better, care more for each otherâ€?, said the pope on April 15 during his general audience in St Peter’s Square. Pope Francis said that when God created humanity in his image, he did so for man and woman together, “as a coupleâ€?, in a state

of sharing and harmony. Sexual differentiation, thereIRUH H[LVWV QRW IRU FUHDWLQJ FRQĂ€LFW or a situation of subordination, but for reciprocity and fruitfulness – “for communion and generation, always in the image and likeness of Godâ€?, the pope said. “We can say that without mutual enrichment in this relationship – in thinking and action, in feelings and work, even in faith – the two can’t even understand fully what it means to be a man and woman.â€? Modern culture has done much to open up a new and deeper understanding of men and women, “but it also has introduced many doubts and much scepticismâ€?, he said. “For example, I wonder if the so-called gender theory may not also be an expression of frustration and resignation that aims to erase sexual differentiation because it no longer knows how to come to terms with it,â€? the pope said. With gender theory, which argues that male and female characteristics are largely malleable so-

I wonder if the ‘so-called gender

Newly married couples wait to greet Pope Francis during a general audience in St Peter’s Square. The pope said that sexual differentiation exists for reciprocity and fruitfulness. CNS photo

cial constructs, he said, “we risk going backward�. “God entrusted the earth to the covenant between man and woman: its failure drains the world of affection and obscures the heavens of hope,� he said. There are many “worrying� signs of the failure to live out God’s original plan of reciprocity

and harmony, he said, as he pointed out two things that “I think we have to commit ourselves to with greater urgencyâ€?. Âł7KH ÂżUVW ,W LV EH\RQG TXHVtion that we have to do much more in favour of women,â€? such as making sure “that women not only are listened to more, but that their voice carries real weightâ€?, he said to applause. “We still have not grasped fully the things that the feminine genius can give us, what society and we can be given by women who know how to see things with another pair of eyes that complement men’s ideas. It is a path to take with more creativity and audacity,â€? he said to more applause. The second thing that needs urgent attention is to see “if the

theory may not also be an expression of frustration and resignation that aims to erase sexual differentiation because it no longer knows how to come to terms with it.

’

collective crisis of faith in God ... may not be linked to this crisis of the covenant between men and womenâ€?. In fact, it is said that “comPXQLRQ ZLWK *RG LV UHĂ€HFWHG LQ the communion of the human couple and that the loss of faith in the heavenly Father generates GLYLVLRQ DQG FRQĂ€LFW EHWZHHQ PHQ and womenâ€?. At the end of the audience, Pope Francis personally greeted the husband and a daughter of Ms Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death in 2010 under Pakistan’s controversial laws against blaspheming Islam. Ms Bibi’s family came to Rome as part of a campaign to rally international support for her release. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 17

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope: atrocities of Armenian ‘genocide’ and the past have to be recognised, not hidden CNS photo

VATICAN CITY – Commemorat-

ing the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, Pope Francis said atrocities from the past have to be recognised – not hidden or denied – for true reconciliation and healing to come to the world. However, Turkey’s top govHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV FULWLFLVHG WKH pope’s use of the term “genocideâ€? – citing a 2001 joint statement by St John Paul II and the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church – in reference to the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during their forced evacuation by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18. Before concelebrating the Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis greeted the many Armenian faithful who were present, including Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. The pope lamented the continued forced expulsions and atrocious killings of Christians in the world saying, “Today, too, we are experiencing a kind of genocide created by general and collective indifferenceâ€? and “complicit silenceâ€?. Humanity has lived through “three massive and unprecedented tragedies the past century: the ÂżUVW ZKLFK LV JHQHUDOO\ FRQVLGHUHG ÂľWKH ÂżUVW JHQRFLGH RI WKH WK century’â€?, struck the Armenian people, he said, quoting a joint declaration signed in 2001 by St John Paul and Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The other two 20th-century tragedies were those “perpetrated by Nazism and Stalinismâ€?, while more recently “other mass exterminationsâ€? have been seen in Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi and Bosnia, Pope Francis said. “It seems that the human family refuses to learn from its mistakes caused by the law of terror, so that there are still today those

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who try to eliminate their own kind with the help of some and with the complicit silence of others who act as bystanders,� he said. Addressing Armenian Christians, the pope said that recalling “that tragic event, that immense and senseless slaughter, which your forebears cruelly endured�, was necessary and “indeed a duty� to honour

or denying ‘Concealing evil is like letting a wound keep bleeding without treating it.

’

– Pope Francis

their memory “because wherever memory does not exist, it means that evil still keeps the wound open�. “Concealing or denying evil is like letting a wound keep bleeding without treating it,� he said. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the pope used “inappropriate� and “one-sided� language by describing the deaths of

Armenians during World War I as genocide. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a written statement that Pope Francis’ references to events from 1915 as genocide “contradict historical and legal facts� and it claimed the Mass was “instrumentalised for political aims�. Meanwhile, Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, who concelebrated the Mass with Pope Francis, said the pope’s remarks were not a provocation against Turkey or Muslims, nor was the pope taking sides. “His vision embraces the world; he expresses the sense of humanity that we all have to share� as caring for one another, he told the Vatican’s Fides news agency. At the end of the Mass, Pope Francis also handed a signed written message to the Armenian Catholic and Orthodox leaders and to President Sargsyan asking that “the path of reconciliation between the Armenian and Turkish people� be taken up again. „ CNS

Armenian Catholics and Orthodox seek unity their martyrs enjoy VATICAN CITY – While Catholic and Armenian Orthodox theologians continue discussions aimed at full unity, Pope Francis and Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, commemorated the alreadyachieved unity of Armenian Catholic and Orthodox martyrs in heaven. Pope Francis concelebrated Mass on April 12 with Armenian Catholic Patriarch Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni in the presence of Catholicos Karekin and thousands of Armenian Catholic and Orthodox faithful. While the Mass marked the 100th anniversary of the genocide, Pope Francis also used the occasion to encourage ecumenical relations and to declare St Gregory of Narek a doctor of the Church. The 10th-century Armenian monk is venerated by both Catholics and Orthodox. At the end of the Mass, Pope Francis handed a message to Catholicos Karekin expressing

his hopes that the centennial of the genocide would be “a time of deep prayer� for Catholics and Orthodox. The fact that those who died in 1915-18 were Christians, both Orthodox and Catholic, is a sign of “the ecumenism of blood�, a unity that exists through common suffering, the pope said. Commemorating their deaths together, he said, “reflects on earth the perfect communion that exists between the blessed souls in heaven�. Speaking at the Mass, Catholicos Karekin prayed that “the martyrs would unite us as children and servants of the one Lord Jesus Christ so that we would learn and commit ourselves to establishing love, justice and peace in the world.� The Armenian Apostolic Church has more than 6 million members today. While based at Etchmiadzin, near Armenia’s capital, the devastation of the genocide, World War I and decades of Soviet domination led to widespread emigration. „ CNS

Armenian clergy at the April 12 Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica. CNS photo

18 OPINION

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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FEATURE

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A woman carries her son as they watch children playing on a swing at a slum on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan. CNS photo

is a historic moment for us because it now ‘This is possible to end extreme poverty by 2030. ’

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VOCATIONS 19

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

April 26 is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Francis, in his message, explains what it means to be called to the priestly or Religious life. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Fourth Sunday of Easter offers us the ¿JXUH RI WKH *RRG 6KHSKHUG ZKR NQRZV +LV VKHHS +H FDOOV WKHP +H IHHGV WKHP DQG +H JXLGHV WKHP )RU RYHU ¿IW\ \HDUV WKH XQLYHUVDO &KXUFK KDV FHOHEUDWHG WKLV 6XQGD\ DV WKH :RUOG 'D\ RI 3UD\HU IRU 9RFDWLRQV ,Q WKLV ZD\ VKH UHPLQGV XV RI RXU QHHG WR SUD\ DV -HVXV +LPVHOI WROG +LV GLVFLSOHV VR WKDW ³WKH /RUG RI WKH KDUYHVW PD\ VHQG RXW ODERXUHUV LQWR KLV KDUYHVW´ /N -HVXV FRPPDQG FDPH LQ WKH FRQWH[W RI +LV VHQGLQJ RXW PLVVLRQDULHV +H FDOOHG QRW RQO\ WKH WZHOYH $SRVWOHV EXW DQRWKHU VHYHQW\ WZR GLVFLSOHV ZKRP +H WKHQ VHQW RXW WZR E\ WZR IRU WKH PLVVLRQ FI /N 6LQFH WKH &KXUFK ³LV E\ KHU YHU\ QDWXUH PLVVLRQDU\´ $G *HQWHV WKH &KULVWLDQ YRFDWLRQ LV QHFHVVDULO\ ERUQ RI WKH H[SHULHQFH RI PLVVLRQ +HDULQJ DQG IROORZLQJ WKH YRLFH RI &KULVW WKH *RRG 6KHSKHUG PHDQV OHWWLQJ RXUVHOYHV EH DWWUDFWHG DQG JXLGHG E\ +LP LQ FRQVHFUDWLRQ WR +LP LW PHDQV DOORZLQJ WKH +RO\ 6SLULW WR GUDZ XV LQWR WKLV PLVVLRQDU\ G\QDPLVP DZDNHQLQJ ZLWKLQ XV WKH GHVLUH WKH MR\ DQG WKH FRXUDJH WR RIIHU RXU RZQ OLYHV LQ WKH VHUYLFH RI WKH .LQJGRP RI *RG 7R RIIHU RQH¶V OLIH LQ PLVVLRQ LV SRVVLEOH RQO\ LI ZH DUH DEOH WR OHDYH RXUVHOYHV EHKLQG 2Q WKLV QG :RUOG 'D\ RI 3UD\HU IRU 9RFDWLRQV , ZRXOG OLNH UHÀHFW RQ WKDW SDUWLFXODU ³H[RGXV´ ZKLFK LV WKH KHDUW RI YRFDWLRQ RU EHWWHU \HW RI RXU UHVSRQVH WR WKH YRFDWLRQ *RG JLYHV XV :KHQ ZH KHDU WKH ZRUG ³H[RGXV´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³H[RGXV´ LW LV WKH MRXUQH\ RI HDFK &KULVWLDQ VRXO DQG WKH HQWLUH &KXUFK WKH GHFLVLYH WXUQLQJ RI RXU OLYHV WRZDUGV WKH )DWKHU $W WKH URRW RI HYHU\ &KULVWLDQ YRFDWLRQ ZH ¿QG WKLV EDVLF PRYHPHQW ZKLFK LV SDUW RI WKH H[SHULHQFH RI IDLWK %HOLHI PHDQV WUDQVFHQGLQJ RXUVHOYHV OHDYLQJ EHKLQG RXU FRPIRUW DQG WKH LQÀH[LELOLW\ RI RXU HJR LQ RUGHU WR FHQWUH RXU OLIH LQ -HVXV &KULVW ,W PHDQV OHDYLQJ OLNH $EUDKDP RXU QDWLYH SODFH DQG JRLQJ IRUZDUG ZLWK WUXVW NQRZLQJ WKDW *RG ZLOO VKRZ XV WKH ZD\ WR D QHZ ODQG 7KLV ³JRLQJ IRUZDUG´ LV QRW WR EH YLHZHG DV D VLJQ RI FRQWHPSW IRU RQH¶V OLIH RQH¶V IHHOLQJV RQH¶V RZQ KXPDQLW\

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to God’s call, then, means allowing Him to help us leave ourselves and our false security behind, and to strike out on the path which leads to Jesus Christ, the origin and destiny of our life and our happiness. Stained glass image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

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VOCATIONS

Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

VOCATIONS 21

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Reaching out to cancer-stricken kids By Mel Diamse-Lee Sisters in brown veils and skirts are a common sight at Mount Alvernia Hospital and Assisi Hospice. They are often seen mingling with children and adult patients there. But in a secular children’s centre? For Sr Carmen Francis, who belongs to the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, it’s a calling. She said, “After Arc started, I visited and felt, once again, called to work with children with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.â€? $ QRQ SURÂżW RUJDQLVDWLRQ $UF Children’s Centre supports kids with cancer and other life-threatening conditions, who are unable to attend mainstream schools due to their health issues. It provides a holistic programme to both the patients and their siblings. Sr Carmen, who has been trained as a pastoral/clinical/grief counsellor, got involved there two years ago, having worked with the co-founders, Ms Geraldine Lee and Ms Ronita Paul, previously. She has also been trained to minister to special needs children and has worked with young adults for 10 years in Singapore. “I would say that children in both groups mentioned are very close to my heart,â€? Sr Carmen said. She also felt that the secular

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A great opportunity for a Religious to reach out to more people in a non-religious setting.

’

Celebrating life. Sr Carmen (centre, in brown veil) with the children, their families and Arc Children’s Centre staff and volunteers after a party.

setting is “a great opportunity for a Religious to reach out to more people in a non- religious setting�. She has many stories to tell about friendship with the children. “I assist one of the teachers of three- and four-year-old kids. When a boy, aged four, went home, his grandmother asked, ‘Did Aunty Carmen teach you today?’ The child replied, ‘Grandma, not Aunty Carmen. Must call Sr Carmen, because of the brown cloth on the head!’ “I’m not sure who gave the child this explanation. His mum, who related the story to me then told it to others, which brought

great laughter to all of us at Arc!� Sr Carmen journeys with the children and their families as they try to cope with the children’s various needs. She goes to the centre four times a week. “I have been very touched by the sharing of the parents who have to, day in and day out, be with their child who is sick with cancer. The worries and fears that they face are tremendous.� When asked how she explains the loss of a child to his or her non-Christian parents, Sr Carmen, who has been a Religious for 43 years, replied with another story.

– Sr Carmen Francis, FMDM, on her involvement in Arc Children’s Centre

“When a child of seven, was dying, Ronita and I visited the mother at one of the hospitals. We sat close to her and at that point, she did not need ‘words’ but just our quiet presence, touch and nods. The child passed away shortly after his father returned from overseas to say his farewell.� She said that the toughest part of her role is “to see children, at such a young age, having to cope with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses; parents having to divide their time between the child who is sick and the one who is not; and parents needing time for themselves.�

The kids too have lessons to teach the adults, she added. “The children who are sick do not focus on their illness, they enjoy all the activities and enrichment programmes and are delightful to be with!� She told of an eight-year-old whose attitude towards death helped his mother to let go. The mother was angry with God as she was not ready to give up her only child. “But eventually, the child’s peaceful acceptance of his illness and desire not to have any further treatment – he shared his desire to go to heaven to be with Jesus – convinced her to stop treatment and have quality time with him.� Shortly after his birthday bash, the boy passed away. The centre also helps with funeral arrangements, said Sr Carmen. “Then within that week, I will make appointments separately for the parents and the siblings, for grief counselling.� Apart from her role at Arc, Sr Carmen takes charge of her congregation’s St Francis Convent library and computer room. At the regional level, she handles the immigration matters for nonSingaporean Sisters. She is also on the pastoral care team at the Church of St Vincent de Paul and the Landings community. „ mel.lee@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Jesuit moneyman in the delta At Kanyintabin village, a community nestled on the bank of the vast Pyamalaw River in Myanmar, Jesuit Scholastic Cyril Nay Myo Htet, better known as Phocho, sat down with a group of farmers on a hot December afternoon, to discuss their loan instalments after the harvest. Since May 2013, Scholastic Phocho has been working with the Arrupe Resource Centre Myanmar (ARCM), a Jesuit ministry, to help locals maintain cash ÀRZ DQG IUHH WKHPVHOYHV IURP loan sharks through a microcredit programme. They have also been helping to build rice barns that can serve as shelters during storms. In May 2008, these villagers bore the brunt of Cyclone Nargis. More than 120,000 people, mostly in the Irrawaddy Delta, died. Since then the survivors have been trying to pick themselves up with the help of non-governmental organisations and governments. Kanyintabin is one of 10 villages in the area that received help from what is now ARCM, following Cyclone Nargis. In the past two years ARCM has been KHOSLQJ WKH IDUPHUV DQG ¿VKHUPHQ back on their feet with various programmes, but recovery and reconstruction have been slow in the delta. Scholastic Phocho never

Scholastic Phocho at Pyamalaw River in Myanmar. Photo: FR BENNY HARI JULIAWAN, SJ

thought he would be a small EDQNHU WR IDUPHUV DQG ÂżVKHUPHQ All he had learnt prior to his regency was spirituality and philosophy, which he studied in Jakarta, Indonesia. “My role model was Fr Clay Pareira (an Indonesian missionDU\ WKH ÂżUVW -HVXLW , PHW KHUH ´ said Scholastic Phocho. “He VHHPHG VR FRQÂżGHQW DQG IXOO RI

OLIH , ZDQWHG WR EH OLNH KLP ´ 7KLV wish brought him to the candidacy house in Yangon and afterwards the novitiate in Taunggyi, Southern Shan State. “It has been a steep learning curve for sure because I am learnLQJ ZKLOH GRLQJ ´ VDLG 6FKRODVWLF Phocho. “My joy is seeing the farmers being able to save from the fruits of their labour because it

means they do not have to borrow from loan sharks. It feels like my VDFULÂżFHV KDYH SDLG RII ´ His modesty belies the fact that he is now in charge of a development budget upwards of $140,000 per year. As a regent doing pastoral work, Scholastic Phocho spends most of his time away from the Canisius Jesuit community in Yangon, where he is based. But he regularly returns to do the books and write reports, a big responsibility for a young scholastic who KDV MXVW ÂżQLVKHG WKH ÂżUVW F\FOH RI studies. “I am happy doing the work I am doing now. I see a lot of optimism with the opening of Myanmar but at the same time , KDYH ZRUULHV ´ VDLG 6FKRODVWLF Phocho. The opening of Myanmar has JHQHUDWHG FRQÂżGHQFH DQG GRXEW joy and worry, success and failure in equal measures. The fragile nature of its democratisation process is likely to determine not only the fate of the Jesuits in the country but also the people they serve. For now, Scholastic Phocho chooses to hone his skills and be a prudent moneyman for the farmHUV DQG ÂżVKHUPHQ LQ WKH GHOWD „ Published with permission from the -HVXLW &RQIHUHQFH RI $VLD 3DFLÂżF

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Growing a vocations ministry What started out as a blog, at a time when few people knew about blogs and hardly anyone was familiar with Twitter, now is a living and growing ministry run by two women Religious, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Srs Julie Vieira and Maxine Kollasch oversee their website, A Nun’s Life from Toledo, Ohio, which is a quick drive from their order’s motherhouse in Monroe, Michigan, in the United States. Soon they will be joined by a third Sister because the Internet ministry continues to expand. Blogs have been joined by podcasts and heart-to-heart questionand-answer message boards for women – and men – discerning about Religious life. Early this year, A Nun’s Life, found online at anunslife.org, launched a redesigned website tailored to be more user-friendly, particularly for smartphone users. In a Catholic News Service interview, Sr Julie said she and Sr 0D[LQH ERWK SURIHVVHG ÂżQDO YRZV with their order in 2006, and A Nun’s Life has been their ministry ever since. In thinking of the missionary Sisters “of today and yesterday, and all the things they had to do Âą EXLOG D KRXVH ÂżQG ZDWHU´ Âą LW seems that what they are doing with A Nun’s Life is not all that different, she said.

CNS Photo

Through A Nun’s Life, Sr Julie’s congregation – and many others besides ¹ FRXOG EHQH¿W IURP an online presence.

Technically savvy Sr Julie Vieira has been running the vocations website, A Nun’s Life, since 2006.

She and Sr Maxine were ÂłERWK WHFKQLFDOO\ VDYY\ ´ VKH added. “We were looking (online) for stuff on nuns, Sisters, Religious life. All we found were caricatures. It was very problematic... No one was out there deÂżQLQJ ZKR ZH DUH DV &DWKROLF 6LVWHUV ´ A Nun’s Life came from a joint realisation by Srs Julie and Maxine along with their Religious superiors that the order’s newest members had some knowhow in

the online world, and that their own order – and many others beVLGHV Âą FRXOG EHQHÂżW IURP DQ RQline presence. “Facebook was just growing LQ 7ZLWWHU VWDUWHG LQ ´ Sr Julie said. “We started small, very small, with a free WordPress EORJ ´ A Nun’s Life was “asking, ‘What’s it like to be a Sister?’ DQG EXVW>LQJ@ VRPH VWHUHRW\SHV ´ Sr Julie said. “Then it became, ‘What’s it like to pray when God LVQÂśW WKHUH"Âś ´ She added that her favourite story from A Nun’s Life is that of a young man who took vows as a Dominican novice in the Netherlands. He gave much of the credit to A Nun’s Life for aiding his discernment. “You’re the ones who helped me, let me ask all the GXPE TXHVWLRQV ´ VKH VDLG KH WROG A Nun’s Life. “You let me see that Religious are people, and now I DP RQH WRR ´ „ CNS

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How did you know you were called to Religious life?

“Take your love out of the freezer and share your big heart with many others!� These words jolted me out of my daily routine. They were spoken in 1979 by my younger sister who was a young, temporary professed Religious of the Good Shepherd Sister. She told me stories of the mission of the congregation and I felt moved within me. Can you share what was meaningful for you?

especially in the face of challenges/ changes?

My faith in God. I believe that God is moulding me to grow through the challenges. I have experienced how God has provided for me in my limitations, with the right people at the right time. I always remember the words of my PRWKHU ZKR LV D IDLWK ¿OOHG ZRPDQ ³'RQœW ZDOORZ LQ GLI¿FXOWLHV ´ Such faith, values and principles drawn from my family, enable me to pick myself up and move on in the face of challenges.

I think ‘ one of the

How would you make

vocations attractive to In these 30 years, I youth of today? have worked in variplaces where the How about asking it ous ministries of the vocations another way – how Good Shepherd, incan youth be attracted cluding being a misare sown to Religious vocation sionary in the Czech and nurtured as a way of life? I Republic for eight think one of the placyears. is in the es where vocations As a trained family. are sown and nurcounsellor, my mintured is in the family. istries were mostly The foundress of the Good in accompanying women, teenagers and children who were ex- Shepherd Sisters, St Mary Eucluded or living in poverty or in SKUDVLD 3HOOHWLHU ZDV LQĂ€XHQFHG abused situations – welcoming by the example of her parents them in an environment with the helping the poor and needy. I saw my parents helping three possibility of a second chance in life, doing ordinary activities children to have an education even with them, being with them dur- though we were poor ourselves. LQJ GLIÂżFXOW PRPHQWV DQG VHHLQJ They brought many other youngthem grow to be more hopeful sters and elderly into our house to stay temporarily or have a meal. and positive about their lives. My father said to us, “If we all eat one spoonful less of rice, we can How do you think Religious Life feed someone who has nothing to has changed you? I am by nature timid and shy. eat.â€? And so it was that our home However, when I saw the needs of always had “room for one moreâ€?. those in our ministries I felt compelled to grow out of my shell. Slowly, I learnt to be more selfFRQÂżGHQW DQG WR ÂżQG UHVRXUFHV with the help of others so as to be creative in my approach to help those in our shelters. Even though I still feel fearful at times, I am more able to step out of my comfort zone so as to be more effective in responding to the needs.

’

What has sustained your life as a Religious,

Sr Lucy’s clay moulding of a woman holding a sheep.

How would you summarise your life today as a Religious?

My call to Good Shepherd Religious life is to follow Jesus who has called me to continue “His redemptive mission in the Church� (Constitution of the Good Shepherd Sisters, Article 2). Everywhere He went, He touched lives. I need to be awakened to the presence and love of God within me so as to listen more attentively to the call of the Spirit daily. Religious life is about turning towards God and letting God change my heart to be more compassionate to the needs of others. I am called as a Religious for others, not for myself, with the aim of making a positive difference in the lives of all whom I have the opportunity to meet. How does your art speak to you about your Religious vocation?

I sometimes use art to express my prayer experiences. My best works are usually created during my annual retreat and on special days like my renewal of vows. Singaporean Sr Lucy Chia, 30 years as a Religious of the Good Shepherd Sister, seen here with her artwork in the background.

How does your art enable you to reach out to others, especially women and children in need?

I use clay moulding and drawing (with crayons and watercolours) in my counselling and prayer accompaniment sessions. They are helpful for people to express what’s on their minds and in their hearts. Often, programme participants tell me that they have not done clay moulding before. You can see that they are anxious, yet ex-

cited at the same time. When they hold the clay in their hands, they automatically begin to squeeze it, VTXDVK LW UROO LW RU ÀDWWHQ LW *UDGually they begin to feel very comfortable with the lump of clay and you begin to see a shape forming. The completed piece expresses their feelings in a non-verbal way. I would add that for me, art includes many various forms. Cooking for me is also a form of art, as is the way we plate and present the food. „

26 VOCATIONS

Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

From cameram

American priest speaks of how his par On a movie set in Hollywood, Scott Borgman was hooking a camera to the bottom of a vintage car when he told a fellow key-grip about his decision to go to France and enter the seminary. “He stopped what he was doing, put the tools down, and said, ‘Scott, I think that is the greatest idea I have ever heard.’â€? Thirteen years later, Fr Borgman is the coordinating secretary DW WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO $FDGHP\ IRU /LIH ZKLFK OLNH RWKHU SRQWLÂżFDO DFDGHmies, essentially operates as a Vatican think tank; its members are biomedical experts – academics, doctors, scientists, philosophers and theologians – from all over the world. Fr Borgman described the academy as a “consulting armâ€? for 3RSH )UDQFLV ÂłD VFLHQWLÂżF RUJDQism for the Holy See.â€? “We deal with everything from the beginning [of life] to the end. Over the last two years, our workshops have dealt with end of life care,â€? he told Catholic News SerYLFH Âł2XU ÂżJKW LV DJDLQVW WKH LGHD of a relativistic culture, one that wants to throw away human lives.â€? Telling his personal story, Fr Borgman repeatedly quoted Scripture passages and used saints’

dad taught ‘myMysiblings and I that God loved us, WKDW KH KDG D VSHFLÂżF plan for our lives.

’

stories to illustrate his points. He attributed that style of speaking to growing up in the Ivory Coast with his parents, Protestant missionaries who used to offer him and his siblings chocolate and ice cream to remember Bible verses. “My dad taught my siblings and I that God loved us, that he had a VSHFLÂżF SODQ IRU RXU OLYHV DQG WKDW we would understand that plan better through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and a knowledge of the Scriptures,â€? he said. $IWHU PRYLQJ WR &DOLIRUQLD with his family at 17, he studied FRPPXQLFDWLRQV DW DQ $VVHPEOLHV RI *RG DIÂżOLDWHG XQLYHUVLW\ +H then worked on movie sets as a rigging and lighting specialist, for about eight years. Eventually, Fr Borgman said, “I started looking for meaning, „ Continued on Page 27

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man to Vatican expert

rents brought him up learning the Bible

)U %RUJPDQ LV D PHPEHU RI WKH 3RQWL¿FDO $FDGHP\ IRU /LIH D 9DWLFDQ WKLQN WDQN CNS photo „ From Page 26

and I felt that God was calling me to something different.� He looked for it in Jackson, Mississippi, where a pastor mentored him, and again when he moved back to Southern California. As he was searching, his parents joined the Catholic Church, which made him curious. Soon after he began attending Mass. “I didn’t know what was going on at the altar at the beginning, or

what the priest was saying or why he was dressed that way. But little by little, after about two years of attending Mass every day, I realised that what was happening at the altar was exactly what I had learned in the Scriptures as a young boy growing up.� Fr Borgman continued his journey. “One saint said, ‘If you want to be happy, be holy. If you want to be very happy, be very holy.’ It’s that holiness which God calls us to that makes us effective in our lives

DQG ÂżQG *RGÂśV ZLOO IRU XV ZKLFK LV our deepest joy,â€? he said. Eventually, his parents moved to France and met a bishop. They introduced him to Bishop Dominique Rey of Frejus-Toulon, who provided guidance and eventually ordained Fr Borgman to the priesthood; he is incardinated in the French diocese. “The bishop has an incredible energy in terms of the new evangelisation,â€? Fr Borgman said. In January 2014, Fr Borgman travelled to California with Bishop Rey to meet with Rick Warren, founder of Saddleback Community Church, one of the largest Protestant churches in the United States, to “look at innovative parishesâ€? and “talk about outreach in today’s society – how to reach the young,â€? he said. Following in the bishop’s footsteps, Fr Borgman engages in pastoral work in addition to his duties DW WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO $FDGHP\ IRU /LIH He serves as a chaplain to studyabroad students from four Catholic universities in four American states. The students, he said, are “well-formed morally, trying to deepen their interior life and invest in their studies. This is the future of the Churchâ€?. „ CNS

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Combining the medical an At Johns Hopkins University Children’s Center, in Baltimore, the United States, Mercy Sr Karen Schneider – a physician and an assistant professor of paediatric emergency medicine – is occasionally asked if she is a nun. That may be because of the silver cross she wears over her scrubs or because word has gotten around that “there’s a Sister at Hopkinsâ€?. If she tells patients she is a Sister of Mercy, they give her a blank look. “They think it’s a band JURXS ´ VKH VDLG ,I VKH FODULÂżHV WR say, “I’m a Roman Catholic Sister,â€? the blank looks remain. But for Sr Karen, being both a doctor and a woman Religious makes perfect sense. “It all comes together,â€? she said, noting that she is a “paediatrician – which is my work, my ministry which I loveâ€? and also is a Sister of Mercy, she told Catholic News Service. 6U .DUHQÂśV RIÂżFH ZDOOV DQG ERRNVKHOYHV GLVSOD\ FHUWLÂżFDWHV photos of family members and children she’s cared for from Samburu tribes in Kenya. The wall that you don’t see until you are comSOHWHO\ LQ WKH RIÂżFH VKH FDOOV KHU “Sister of Mercy wallâ€?. It has a simple cross over the door, a list of spiritual and corporal works of

Mercy Sr Karen Schneider, who is a paediatrician, talks with the mother of a child in the emergency room at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, United States. CNS photo

mercy and quotes of Mother Catherine McAuley, founder of congregation. Floor space is stacked with piles of towels, baby formula and supplies for a medical trip she was planning the following week to Kenya. For the past several years, she has taken teams of medical students on four trips a year to Guyana, Haiti, Kenya or Nigeria as

part of a Johns Hopkins University course she teaches called Paediatric Tropical Medicine. These trips began when Sr Karen was a medical student and volunteered in Guyana in the midst of a malaria epidemic. She has since worked in Haiti immediately after an earthquake and also after a hurricane. „ Continued on Page 29

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d spiritual worlds I can’t think of ‘ anything better to do that than to be a physician, helping the poor and being with the sick.

’

– Mercy Sr Karen Schneider on her fourth vow to serve the poor, sick and ignorant From Page 28

She said bringing free medical care to people who have had little or no contact with doctors has been “profound and life changing”. On a practical level, the trips give medical students an experience “of what medicine is like outside of Hopkins” on dirt roads, without electricity, running water, CT scans or X-ray machines. “Plus, we’re a workforce, taking care of hundreds of patients a day.” When she’s not travelling, the 51-year-old Sister says morning prayers with the Sister she lives with when their schedules allow. “I get up and go to work and she goes to work,” she said, pointing out that it is different that she works at a hospital and not a

school or church, seen as more of a traditional role for women Religious. She said Sisters of Mercy “take a fourth vow to serve poor, sick and ignorant and we can basically GR DQ\ PLQLVWU\ WKDW ZLOO IXO¿O WKDW fourth vow”. “I can’t think of anything better to do that than to be a physician, helping the poor and being with the sick,” she said, adding that she also does a fair amount of teaching, not just with medical students but also giving parents and caretakers advice. Sr Karen came to her vocational calling after joining a parish youth group in high school – praying with them and doing good works together. When she told people she thought it seemed like a great idea to live in community and pray with people and do good works with them, everyone assumed she wanted to be a woman Religious. Her response was: “No way, I’m too normal.” But then she began volunteering at a soup kitchen run by Sisters of Mercy and admired what they were doing. “Maybe I do want to be a nun!” she said, surprising herself before she “tried it out for one year and then another” and now she’s been a Sister for 31 years. CNS

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YEAR OF MERCY 31

Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

Keeping Vatican Council II alive From Page 1

is not opposed to justice, ‘butMercy rather expresses God’s way of

The pope said he will designate and send out “Missionaries of Mercy” to preach about mercy. They will

reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert and believe.

be given special authority, he said, “to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See”. Under Church law, those sins involve: a man who directly participated in an abortion and later wants to enter the priesthood; priests who have broken the seal of confession; priests who have offered sacramental absolution to their own sexual partners; desecrating the Eucharist; and making an attempt on the life of the pope. Usually, the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court, handles these cases.

’

The pope also urged all Catholics to spend more time practising what traditionally have been called the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works are:

feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, giving drink to the thirsty and burying the dead. The spiritual works are: converting sinners, instructing the ignorant, advising the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries and praying for the living and dead. The date the pope chose to open the year – Dec 8 – is the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. Both dates, he wrote, are related to the Year of Mercy. Mercy, he said, is “the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sins”. That bridge was made concrete when God chose Mary to be the mother of His son. The Year of Mercy, Pope Francis wrote, is also a way to keep the Second Vatican Council alive. “The

Pope Francis stands in front of the Holy Door in St Peter’s Basilica prior WR ¿UVW YHVSHUV RI 'LYLQH 0HUF\ 6XQGD\ CNS photo

walls which too long had made the Church a kind of fortress were torn down and the time had come to proclaim the Gospel in a new way,” he said. The council recognised “a responsibility to be a living sign of the Father’s love in the world”. The life and action of the Church, he said, “is authentic and credible only when she becomes a convincing herald of mercy”, a mercy that “knows no bounds and extends to everyone without exception”. While some people try to argue that mercy, even God’s mercy, is limited by the demands of justice, Pope Francis said mercy

and justice are “two dimensions of a single reality that unfolds progressively until it culminates in the fullness of love”. Preaching mercy, he said, is not the same as ignoring sin or withholding correction. Instead, mercy invites repentance and conversion and ensures the sinner that once God forgives a sin, He forgets it. The pope addressed direct appeals in the document to members RI WKH PD¿D DQG RWKHU FULPLQDO RUJDQLVDWLRQV DV ZHOO DV WR RI¿FLDOV and others involved in corruption. “For their own good, I beg them to change their lives,” he wrote. “I ask them this in the name of the

Son of God who, though rejecting sin, never rejected the sinner.” ³9LROHQFH LQÀLFWHG IRU WKH sake of amassing riches soaked in blood makes one neither powerful nor immortal,” he continued. “Everyone, sooner or later, will be subject to God’s judgment, from which no one can escape.” At the same time, Pope Francis wrote, many of those who inVLVW ¿UVW RQ *RG¶V MXVWLFH DUH OLNH the Pharisees who thought they could save themselves by following the letter of the law, but ended up simply placing “burdens on the shoulders of others and undermined the Father’s mercy”. “God’s justice is His mercy,” the pope said. “Mercy is not opposed to justice, but rather expresses God’s way of reaching out to the sinner,

offering him a new chance to look at himself, convert and believe.” Recognising that they have been treated with mercy by God, he said, Christians are obliged to treat others with mercy. In fact, the Gospel says that Christians will be judged by the mercy they show others. “At times how hard it seems to forgive,” he said. “And yet pardon is the instrument placed into our fragile hands to attain serenity of heart. To let go of anger, wrath, violence and revenge are necessary conditions to living joyfully.” Pope Francis also noted that God’s mercy is an important theme in Judaism and Islam, and he urged efforts during the Year of Mercy to increase interreligious dialogue and mutual understanding with followers of both faiths. CNS

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

By Jennifer Ficcaglia Every day, a man who was crippled since birth would beg for money outside the Jerusalem temple’s Beautiful Gate. One afternoon, Peter and John went to the temple to pray and walked past the man on their way through the gate. The man asked Peter and John for money. Instead, Peter said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, [rise and] walk.� Peter took the man by the hand and helped him up. The man began walking and jumping and praising God. When others at the temple heard him, they gathered around. They recognised the man as the crippled beggar and were shocked. “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power

or piety?â€? Peter asked the people. He explained that it was through Jesus, the resurrected Messiah, that the man was healed. As Peter was talking, he and John were seized by the priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees. The next day, Peter and John were questioned by the members of the Sanhedrin, who demanded to know by what power or name the man was healed. “All of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean ZKRP \RX FUXFLÂżHG ZKRP *RG UDLVHG from the dead,â€? Peter answered with help from the Holy Spirit. “He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’â€? The Sanhedrin sent Peter and John away and talked among themselves. They were worried more peo-

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Richard Pampuri St Richard Pampuri was born Erminio Filippo in Italy in 1897. In 1915, he attended medical school and became a doctor. He worked in Milan, where his love for his patients matched his love for his faith. In 1927, he joined the Religious order of St John of God. It was then that he took the name Richard. He moved to Brescia and worked in the order’s hospital, where he became famous for his sanctity. Mothers would bring their babies to be touched and blessed by him. As time went on, his health became bad. He had lung problems that were made worse by an illness he had suffered during military service in World War I. In 1930, he was taken to Milan for treatment, but died at his order’s hospital there. We remember him on May 1. „

ple would listen to Peter and John and believe in Jesus. They called Peter and John back and ordered them to stop teaching and speaking in Jesus’ name. Peter and John refused. “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard,â€? they said. 7KH 6DQKHGULQ ÂżQDOO\ UHOHDVHG

Peter and John because they found no way to stop them or to punish them, because all the people were praising God over the crippled man’s healing. „ Read more about it: Acts 3 and 4

Q&A 1. Whom did Peter heal? 2. What did the Sanhedrin want Peter and John to stop doing?

Wordsearch: „ SPEAK

„ GATE

„ MAN

„ HAND

„ POWER „ RAISED

„ TEMPLE „ SIGHT

„ PUNISH „ PRAY

„ MONEY

BIBLE TRIVIA: Question: What is the Sanhedrin? (Acts 4:5)

Bible Accent: Answer to puzzle: 1. T; 2. F; 3. F;

4. T

Answer to Bible Trivia: The leaders, elders, scribes, high priests that made up the ruling body of Israel at the time of Jesus.

PUZZLE: Put a T next to the sentences that are true, and an F next to the ones that are false. Hints have been provided. 1. Peter said there is only salvation through Jesus. (Acts 4:12) 2. Jesus’ followers asked for the Holy Spirit to make the Sanhedrin stop picking on them. (Acts 4:29-30) 3. Peter gave the crippled man some money before healing him. (Acts 3:6) 4. Jesus’ followers took care of one another by sharing their possessions. (Acts 4:32-37) ..

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Answer to Wordsearch

,W ZDV YHU\ KDUG EHLQJ WKH ¿UVW &KULVWLDQV 7KH apostles were always in danger of being put in jail or brought before the Sanhedrin. But that didn’t stop them from teaching and healing in Jesus’ name. When Peter DQG -RKQ ZHUH ¿UVW WROG WR VWRS GRLQJ WKLQJV LQ -HVXVœ QDPH they went back to the group of people who believed in Jesus, and they all prayed together for help from the Holy Spirit. As the Christian community began to grow, the aposWOHV UHDOLVHG WKH\ QHHGHG PRUH KHOS 6HYHUDO VSLULW ¿OOHG men with good reputations were chosen. Among them was a man named Stephen. Stephen worked many wonders as he preached about Jesus. What he said angered some people, so they told lies about what he was saying. This made many others mad at Stephen, so much so that he was brought before the Sanhedrin. When Stephen stood up for Jesus before the Sanhedrin, everyone who heard him became even angrier. They took him outside of Jerusalem and stoned him to death, and 6WHSKHQ EHFDPH WKH ¿UVW &KULVWLDQ PDUW\U „

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Sunday May 3, 2015 „ CatholicNews

RCIA/RCIY

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A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. SUNDAYS APRIL 12 RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 7.30pm-9.30pm: 31 Siglap Hill. Register T: 9630 3276 (Edward); E: jjwong5@yahoo.com.sg.

CATECHISM FOR THE ELDERLY Catechism classes for the elderly are held in English, Mandarin, Peranakan, Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese on Thursdays from 1pm-2.45pm at Church of the Holy Family and on Saturdays at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street), parish hall from 9.30am11.30am. Register T: 9115 5673 (Andrew). APRIL 25 SSVP MASS FOR FRIENDS-IN-NEED 2pm: Join us to remember and pray for the Society of St Vincent de Paul conferences’ Friends-in-Need, as well as all the poor and needy in Singapore. Archbishop William Goh will be the main celebrant. Open to all. Organised by Society of St Vincent de Paul. At Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary, 24 Highland Road. APRIL 25 CHARITY GOSPEL CONCERT – THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL 7.30pm-9.30pm: This concert will celebrate Gospel music and spread joy that our Lord has given to us. Ticket fee: $15/$20. All ticket sales will go to charity. Organised by Vox Cordis Chorus, a choir based in Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. At Church of the Risen Christ, 91 Toa Payoh Central. To purchase tickets, T: 8158 1772 (Maike)/ 8457 7397 (Monika). Enquiries E: voxcordis.chorus@gmail.com.

FRIDAYS APRIL 17 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45pm-9pm: 510 Kampong Bahru Road, Parish House, Level 5. Register T: 6271 1184 (Joanna); E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg; W: www.stteresa.org.sg. TUESDAYS MAY 19 RCIA @ CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30pm-9.30pm: 225A Queen Street. Register T: 9753 6863 (Joanna Sng, coordinator); E: sng.joanna@gmail.com. SATURDAYS JUNE 6 TO APRIL 2, 2016 CHINESE RCIA @ SJI JUNIOR WHILE CHURCH OF ALPHONSUS (NOVENA CHURCH) IS UNDER RENOVATION 1.30pm-3.15pm: SJI Junior, 3 Essex Road. Led by Sr Assunta Cheng. All are welcomed. Register T: 9626 8546 (Alphonsus); E: alphs_cool@singnet.com.sg. FRIDAYS JUNE 9 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY 7.45pm-9.45pm: 20 Tampines Street 11. Register T: 8444 5505 (Gregory); E: rciaht@gmail.com.

APRIL 28 SPECIAL NEEDS WORKSHOP 1 – ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) 7.30pm-10pm: Calling all catechists, assistant catechists, parent support groups, sponsors, and general congregation, join us for a workshop which aims to create public DZDUHQHVV RI $WWHQWLRQ 'H¿FLW 'LVRUGHU DQG $WWHQWLRQ 'H¿FLW +\SHUDFWLYLW\ 'LVRUGHU Speaker: Ms Bella Chin, president of SPARK. Organised by ONE (Catechetical 2I¿FH $W &$(& +LJKODQG 5RDG )HH $30. Register E: admin@one.org.sg / cecilia@one.org.sg before April 21. APRIL 30 TALK OF THE TOWN WITH GABRIELITE BROTHERS AND CENACLE SISTERS 7.00pm: As we celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life, come and hear the stories of the Gabrielite Brothers and Cenacle Sisters. Find out more about their orders, themselves, their hopes and dreams. Organised by CANA. Fee (inclusive of dinner): $25. Register E: canatheplacetobe2013@gmail.com. MAY 1 TO MAY 3 LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR Yield and experience Jesus’s gentle and outpouring love through the Holy Spirit.

FRIDAYS JULY 24 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART 7.30pm-9.15pm: 111 Tank Road. Register T: 6737 9285; E: sacredheartchurch@catholic.org.sg. Seminar dates and timings are as follows: May 1 (9am-9pm); May 2 (9am-9:30pm) May 3 (9am-5:30pm followed by Mass). Organised by Charismatic Prayer community, Church of Holy Trinity. At Church of Holy Trinity, 20 Tampines St 11, chapel. Register T: 9692 0186 (Jeremy) / 9877 7021 (Janice); E: jlck_07@yahoo.co.uk. MAY 1 TO MAY 3 A SPIRITUALITY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE – PART 1: THE MIDLIFE TRANSITION 8pm (Friday)-1pm (Sunday): This stay-in retreat will deal with the experience of transition that moves us into midlife, a stage in growth and human development. Participants will work with material on the Crisis of Limits through input, personal UHÀHFWLRQ SUD\HU DQG VKDULQJ 7KH\ ZLOO also be invited to experience negotiating the passage into midlife as a movement from Problem to Promise. Participants should be at least 40 years old. Organised by Cenacle Sisters. At Choice Retreat House, 47 Jurong West Street 42. Register T: 6565 2895 / 97223148; E:cenaclesing@gmail.com

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MAY 2 THERE IS A SEASON FOR EVERYTHING – A TIME FOR MOURNING 9.30am-noon: For those experiencing the loss of someone or something in life, join us for a session with Fr Leslie Raj, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road, Hall of the Pilgrim. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com. MAY 9 INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE LEARNING TRIPS 2015 – 2ND IN A SERIES 3pm-5.30pm: To appreciate more deeply Catholic perspectives on interreligious dialogue, join us on a visit to the Singapore Jain Religious Society. As preparation, all participants must attend a 2-hour orientation and formation session on April 28, 7.45pm, at the Church of St Ignatius. A debrief right after the visit proper will be done to help process one’s experience. Organised by ACCIRD. At 18 Jalan Yasin. Register (1) name (2) parish (3) handphone number by April 26 with Gerald: gerald@accird.org.sg. MAY 13 THE GIFT OF CARING 9.30am-5pm: What does it mean to care for oneself, for others and for those we encounter? It is caring that makes us human. This one-day retreat with time for quiet prayer, small group sharing and SUHVHQWDWLRQV ZLOO FHQWUH DURXQG WKH ¿OP The Untouchables. Fr Monty Williams, SJ, will facilitate the retreat. Fee: $100. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road, Hall of the Pilgrim. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com. WEDNESDAYS FROM MAY 13 TO MAY 20 BOOK OF RUTH 9.30am-11.30am: A DVD-based Bible programme by Fr Scott Coutney. Though it is a simple story of love and loyalty, the Book of Ruth has other major themes. Organised by Bible Apostolate of the Church of the Holy Spirit. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road, #03-02. Fee for study manual (optional): $16; Registration fee: love offering. Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare); E: HSBibleApostolate@gmail.com. MAY 15 TO MAY 17 A LOVER’S DIALOGUE WITH GOD 9.30am-5pm daily: Join us for a 3-day non-stay-in retreat for spiritual directors. The theme will centre around spiritual GLVFHUQPHQW $Q DZDUG ZLQQLQJ ¿OP Like Father, Like Son will be shown. There will also be presentations, time for prayer and group sharing. Retreat Director: Fr Monty Williams, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park, Hall of the Pilgrim. Fee: $300. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com.

ACROSS 1 Jesus is the _____ of God 5 The “Velvet Fog� 10 Certain corner 14 On the ocean 15 German submarine 16 Hollow cylinder 17 “I’m hysterical!� in netspeak 18 Lustrous 19 Career golfers 20 Bread and Wine 22 The _____ of Christ the King 23 Shawls 24 Ostrich’s cousin 26 _____ Aviv 27 Companion of Daniel 31 A knife is named after this Catholic defender of the Alamo 34 Rapiers 35 King of France 36 Auricular 37 Sinai 38 Pelt 39 Earthlink rival 40 Pope St Pius X’s surname

MAY 15 NOX GAUDII (NIGHT OF JOY) 7:45pm-10:30pm. Calling all young people in Singapore! Join us for a night of praise and worship, preaching, Eucharistic adoration, Sacrament of Reconciliation and fellowship. Bring your friends along! Enquiries W: www.oyp.org.sg / E: info.oyp@catholic.org.sg. MAY 16 REVIEW OF LIFE (ROL) WORKSHOP 10am-4pm: How do we respond to the changing needs of our ministry members? How can we better analyse the situation and respond in a way that God is asking us to? This workshop will provide an introduction to the ROL method, followed by an exercise using the three steps in the ROL – See, -XGJH $FW WR DQDO\VH DQG UHĂ€HFW RQ DQ actual situation. Organised by Caritas Singapore. At Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, Level 2. Register E: formation@caritas-singapore.org. MAY 19 NOT SEVEN TIMES, BUT SEVENTYSEVEN TIMES 7.30pm-9.30pm: Join us for this evening session to discover how we are invited to forgive. Speaker: Fr Monty Williams SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park, Hall of the Pilgrim. Fee: $30. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com. MAY 22 TO MAY 23 LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME – FOLLOWING JESUS: A CALL TO SERVE 9am-5pm (on both days): This programme will look closely at what Jesus did in growing His ministry and KRZ +H LQĂ€XHQFHG DQG WUDQVIRUPHG His team. Participants will be able to UHĂ€HFW RQ WKHLU OHDGHUVKLS FDSDELOLW\ grow and help one another develop as leaders and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. There will be 4 follow-up sessions. Organised by Caritas Singapore. At IJ Village, 503 Ang Mo Kio Street 13. Register W: www.caritas-singapore.org; E: formation@caritas-singapore.org. MAY 21 TO MAY 24 FORGIVENESS 10am (Thursday)-5pm (Sunday): Join us for a 4-day live-in retreat. Forgiveness is more than saying “sorryâ€?. How do we forgive ourselves, others, God, and how do we allow ourselves to be forgiven? This silent retreat will include presentations, time for prayer, small group sharings, spiritual direction and daily Eucharist. Facilitators: Fr Monty Williams SJ, assisted by Kingsmead spiritual directors. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road. Fee: $420 (non-aircon); $500 (aircon). Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com.

41 Contraction 42 Mind reader 44 Mary ____ Killop, saintly founder of the Sisters of St Joseph 45 Military force 46 First bishop of America 50 Muppet Miss 53 Burrito 54 Son of Adam 55 Valued mushrooms 57 Narrow strip of wood 58 Sneaky fellow 59 Shade of brown 60 â€œâ€Śand a ____ for every matter under heavenâ€? (Eccl 3:1) 61 Muslim titles of honour 62 50’s Catholic televangelist-bishop 63 In the _____ of the Lord DOWN 1 Merchandise 2 “_____ Mioâ€? 3 Point out (with “toâ€?) 4 Outer vestment worn by a deacon 5 Underground passage

6 Newspaper items (abbr.) 7 Decays 8 Printemps period 9 Airport letters 10 Show up 11 Sorvino of “At First Sightâ€? 12 Epic poetry 13 Make a home 21 It’s heavier than 34A 22 Elliot Ness, et al. 24 Serengeti lumberer 25 Cease moving 27 Direction from Nazareth to Jerusalem 28 Holy holders 29 Parable of the _____ LQ WKH ÂżVK 30 Clue 31 Transport for Peter and Andrew 32 Native American 33 Free _____ 34 Number of years the Israelites wandered in the desert 37 Sir’s complement 38 Room for sacred vessels and vestments in a church

MAY 22 TO MAY 24 MAY 2015 CHOICE WEEKEND 6pm (May 22)-6pm (May 24): It takes that one weekend that will inspire you for the rest of your life. Come away for a Choice weekend. It is by the choices we PDNH WKDW ZLOO GH¿QH ZKDW RXU OLIH LV DOO about. Register T: 9790 0537 (Hillary)/ 9424 2606 (Jacqueline); registration@ choice.org.sg; W: www.choice.org.sg/ registration.htm. MAY 23 AND MAY 31 FOOD & FAITH Calling all non-Catholic young adults between the ages of 20 and 40! Discover more of what life has to offer us. There will be two sessions and light dinner, snacks and drinks will be provided. The ¿UVW VHVVLRQ ZLOO WDNH SODFH RQ 0D\ (4-8pm) and its focus will be on: Is your life a journey? The second session will take place on May 31 (2-6pm) and it will focus on: Who is your companion on life’s journey? Fee per session: $10. Organised by Verbum Dei Missionaries. At 4 Sommerville Road. Register T: 6274 0251/ 9793 2605 (Sr Sandra Seow); E: verbumdeispore@yahoo.com.sg. MAY 23 JOYFUL PARENTING WORKSHOP – THE GENTLE BIRTH 12pm-5pm: Calling all new parents-tobe! The Gentle Birth workshop aims to debunk myths, break stereotypes and correct misinformation surrounding childbirth, breastfeeding and parenting. Organised by Family Life Society and Joyful Parenting. At The Catholic Centre, St Emma Level 2, 55 Waterloo StreetSingapore 187954. Register via SMS: 9271 3335. For credit card payment, Register T: 6488 0278 (Doris). MAY 27 THE EUCHARIST 9.30am-11.30am: A DVD-based programme presented by Fr Robert Baron. This fresh look at the Eucharist brings to light its reality as a sacred meal, the VDFUL¿FH QHFHVVDU\ IRU FRPPXQLRQ ZLWK God, and the real presence of Christ. The programme will offer inspiring insights into the mystery of Christ’s presence in our lives and the centrality of the Eucharist as an important part of that presence. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road, #03-02. Registration fee: love offering. Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare); E: HSBibleApostolate@gmail.com. MAY 30 CHARIS HUMANITARIAN FORUM AND FAIR 1-8.30pm: Have you ever wanted to do overseas volunteer work but never knew where to start? Or have you thought about going on a mission trip but never found the time? Come learn more about overseas humanitarian work during our fair and forum. Organised by CHARIS. Register W: www.charis-singapore. org. Enquiries W: www.facebook.com/ CHARISHFF.

40 Agile 41 She appeared in “Where the Boys Areâ€? before becoming a nun 43 “I will raise you up on ____ wings‌â€? 44 Pertaining to the Blessed Mother 46 Catholic news reporter Roberts 47 Stan’s partner

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Sunday May 3, 2015 CatholicNews

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

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