JUNE 01, 2014, Vol 64, No 11

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SUNDAY JUNE 1, 2014

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20

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VOL 64

NO. 11

INSIDE ASIA Anti-China violence in Vietnam Church urged to offer protection „ Page 10

VATICAN CITY – Like the good Samaritan,

who stopped on the road to help a person in need, travellers along today’s communication highways should offer support to those they encounter there, Pope Francis said. “The digital world can be an environment rich in humanity; a network not of wires but of people,â€? he said in his message for World Communications Day. Modern means of communication, especially the Internet, offer “immense possibilities for encounter and solidarityâ€?, he said. Because of that, he said, the Internet is “a gift from Godâ€?. Communication at the Service of an Authentic Culture of Encounter is the theme of this year’s World Communications Day, which most dioceses mark on June 1, the Sunday before Pentecost. “Good communication helps us grow closer, to know one another better, and ultimately to grow in unity,â€? the pope said. “The walls which divide us can be broken down only if we are prepared to listen and learn from one another,â€? he said. “A culture of encounter demands that we be ready not only to give, but also to receive.â€? Good communicators must take the time necessary to listen to others and, more than just tolerate, truly accept them, he said. “Engaging in dialogue does not mean renouncing our own ideas and traditions, but the claim that they alone are valid or absolute,â€? the pope said in his message. Archbishop Claudio Celli, president of the 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU 6RFLDO &RPPXQLFDWLRQV told reporters that the pope is not proposing “a relativismâ€? of the faith but is continuing his predecessors’ calls for the Church to engage with a multi-cultural and multi-religious world. “I can’t have an outlook of being the only one and the absolute,â€? Archbishop Celli said. “I am just a concrete incarnation of that truth that is Jesus Christ and His Gospel,â€? which people live out in myriad ways in different cultures and traditions across the world. Pope Francis, in his message, quoted Pope Benedict XVI’s 2013 World Communications Day text, which says effective Christian witness is “about our willingness to be available to others ‘by patiently and respectfully engaging their questions and their doubts as they

WORLD Kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls Church groups hold prayer sessions „ Page 11

Guidelines on interfaith dialogue New Vatican document lists the do’s and don’ts „ Page 13

POPE FRANCIS Pontiff on what a priest shouldn’t be <RXQJ SHRSOH WDNH D ¾VHO¿Hœ ZLWK 3RSH )UDQFLV LQ 6W 3HWHUœV %DVLOLFD 7KH GLJLWDO ZRUOG FDQ EH DQ HQYLURQPHQW ULFK LQ KXPDQLW\ VD\V WKH SRSH CNS photo

advance in their search for the truth and the meaning of human existence’� – not by “bombarding people with religious messages�. Pope Francis said genuinely paying attention to others’ experiences helps one appreciate the various gifts and richness in other cultures and traditions. A culture of encounter, listening and dialogue will help everyone see and “appreciate more fully the important values inspired by

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The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge.

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– Pope Francis

Christianity, such as the vision of the human person, the nature of marriage and the family, the proper distinction between the religious and the political spheres, the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity and many others�, he said. Though there are drawbacks and risks with an accelerated and sometimes isolating means of communication, “they do not justify rejecting social media�, he said. Technology should serve humanity, helping it “grow in humanity and mutual understanding�. The pope called for an attitude of “neighbourliness� in communication to promote closeness and community. The good Samaritan is a model for how to approach and interact with others on today’s digital highways, taking responsibility for the hurt and lost there, the pope said. „ Continued on Page 15

He is not a ‘prince’ or a businessman „ Page 15

FOREIGN COMMUNITIES A look at the Hong Kong Catholic community Its activities and challenges „ Page 19

ASCENSION OF THE LORD MASS TIMES „ Page 17

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Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Catholics visit mosque, learn about Islam from imam Imam Habib Hassan of Ba’alwie Mosque shares his faith with his guests. By Michelle Scully

Catholic visitors to the Ba’alwie Mosque pose for a photo with Imam Habib Hassan (second row, third from left) and prominent members of the mosque.

It was a valuable interfaith experience for a group of Catholics when they visited the Ba’alwie Mosque to learn more about Islam. The Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD) organised the May 10 visit to the mosque, located at 2 Lewis Road. Days prior to the visit, the 14 participants attended a formation and orientation session on the Church’s teachings on interreligious dialogue. Upon arrival at the mosque, the visitors removed their footwear while the women donned headscarves as a mark of respect. They were warmly welcomed by Syed Hassan Al-Attas, imam and head of the mosque; his son, Syed Ahmed Al-Attas; and several friends. Syed Hassan Al-Attas, also known as Imam Habib Hassan, then opened the dialogue session by sharing how he grew up with Catholics – such as Fr Adrian Yeo – as his neighbours, and so is familiar with Catholicism. He then patiently answered questions from the visitors such as the difference between Sunnis DQG 6KLœLWHV ZKDW VX¿VP LV DQG how one becomes an imam. He also explained how Muslims must prepare themselves to be physically and spiritually clean before entering a mosque to pray, and shared how Muslims use 99 prayer beads, which look similar to the Catholic rosary. The Catholics were then shown around the interior of the mosque including the wall niche which indicated the Qiblah – the direction Muslims face to pray – and the women’s section of the mosque. The imam also showed his visitors collections of printed Qur’ans from various countries. Other parts of the mosque also held collections such as incense holders and musical instruments from various parts of the world. Guests were then led to a small air-conditioned room containing holy books in glass cases. The room houses what is probably the largest collection of handwritten Qur’anic manuscripts in Singapore, written on materials like sheep skin and mul-

berry leaves, from different parts of the world. A highlight of the trip was the mosque’s glass case of antique Bibles, the oldest being a French Bible from 1665. There were also Bibles written in Javanese, French, Latin, English and Welsh. The imam shared that Islam regards Christians as “People of the Book� and that the Qur’an contains books similar to the Bible’s, such as the psalms of David and teachings of Moses. The visit closed with Imam Habib Hassan expressing how he strongly believes that “religion unites the heart� and emphasised that Islam does not advocate terrorism. The Catholic visitors said they learnt much from their interfaith encounter. “Before this, I did not know much about Islam and would avoid talking about faith with my

Islam regards Christians as ‘People of the Book’ and the Qur’an contains books similar to the Bible’s, the imam told his visitors. Muslim friends,� said Ms Joy Tan, 40, from the Church of the Risen Christ. “Now, I feel more comfortable engaging in discussion.� Ms Aleksandra Kruz from the Church of St Bernadette remarked, “It was a unique opportunity to meet such a friendly imam who answered our questions, and witness a prayer session in the mosque�. Ms Clara Mok, 64, from the Church of the Holy Spirit said, “It was very important to hear how Islam is strongly against terrorism and stands for peace and harmony.� Mr Chin Wah Seng, 71, from the Church of St Michael agreed, saying the imam “helped to clarify any wrong impressions of the religion we may form� from media reports. For those interested in future interreligious dialogue activities/ events, email Gerald Kong at gerald@accird.org.sg. „

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Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Let kids discern vocation, parents urged Photos: DOMINIC WONG

By Br Simon Ho The current number of Singaporean men joining the seminary is LQVXI¿FLHQW WR UHSODFH SULHVWV ZKR OHDYH DFWLYH VHUYLFH GXH WR ROG DJH RU VLFNQHVV <HW WKH QHHG IRU SULHVWV in Singapore is great because it is through them that Christ comforts DQG JXLGHV +LV SHRSOH WKURXJK WKH :RUG DQG VDFUDPHQWV 9LFDU *HQHUDO 0VJU $PEURVH 9D] PDGH WKLV SRLQW GXULQJ D 0DVV WR PDUN WKH :RUOG 'D\ RI 3UD\HU IRU 9RFDWLRQV RQ 0D\ 6SHDNLQJ WR WKH FURZG JDWKHUHG DW WKH &KXUFK RI WKH 1DWLYLW\ RI WKH %OHVVHG 9LUJLQ 0DU\ 0VJU 9D] H[SUHVVHG FRQYLFWLRQ WKDW WKH /RUG FRQWLQXHV WR FDOO \RXQJ SHRSOH IURP 6LQJDSRUH WR ZRUN LQ KLV KDUYHVW EXW PDQ\ ¿QG LW GLI¿FXOW WR OLVWHQ WR DQG UHVSRQG WR WKH LQYLWDWLRQ 0VJU 9D] ZKR LV DOVR UHFWRU RI WKH 6W )UDQFLV ;DYLHU 0DMRU 6HPLQDU\ H[SODLQHG WKDW 6LQJDSRUHDQ &DWKROLFV QHHG WR EXLOG D FXOWXUH WKDW HQFRXUDJHV YRFDWLRQV +H DFNQRZOHGJHG WKDW WKLV FRXOG EH GLI¿FXOW DV WKH QRWLRQ RI DVNLQJ *RG ZKDW +H ZDQWV RQH WR GR ZLWK RQH¶V OLIH UXQV FRXQWHU WR WKH ORFDO PDWHULDOLVWLF DQG VHFXODU FXOWXUH ZKLFK HQFRXUDJHV VHOI IXO¿OPHQW 0VJU 9D] H[SODLQHG WKDW &DWKROLF SDUHQWV KDYH D GXW\ WR VHW DQ H[DPSOH RI VHHNLQJ *RG¶V ZLOO

Above: Msgr Ambrose Vaz speaking at the World Day of Prayer for Vocations Mass. Right: Priests and seminarians join laypeople in praying for vocations during Holy Hour.

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Learning about the connection between work and marriage By Reno Antony “There is a need for a paradigm shift. At the heart of marriage and work is the human person.â€? Fr Eugene Vaz made this point during the fourth in a series of talks called Bridging Your Life with Christ, held at the Church of the Holy Cross on May 10. Speaking on the topic of work and marriage, Fr Vaz told the crowd that man and woman were Fr Eugene Vaz speaking at the Church of the told to be fruitful and Holy Cross. multiply, and were given lordship over the entire creation, the aspect of work in which man making them stewards of creation. uses work for his growth in God’s Thus through marriage and image is lost. work, humans are called to form Neglecting this aspect and ema community of love and service. phasising the externals leads to He noted that by one’s work, competition, greed and manipuman partakes in partnering with lation, whose ugly consequences God in the ongoing development affects one’s family and marriage, DQG EHDXWLÂżFDWLRQ RI +LV FUHDWLRQ he said. The very meaning of God’s callBy moving away from a maing to work must be seen within terialistic and solely economic vithe nature and purpose of the hu- sion of human labour and embracman person who is made in the ing the view that each person is image and likeness of God. made in God’s image and likeness, So if one’s work doesn’t help the very purpose of work becomes one to realise this, then there is a a service to humanity, he said. mistake in the work that one does, Fr Terence Pereira will speak said Fr Vaz. on Work and Church in the next He noted that when one is DQG ÂżQDO LQVWDOPHQW LQ WKLV VHULHV caught up in the external aspects to be held on Aug 2 at the Church RI D MRE VXFK DV SURÂżW PDNLQJ of the Holy Cross. „

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

M’sia, S’pore, Brunei delegates meet to discuss migrant issues

Participants of a recent regional conference on migrants and itinerant people, held at Montfort Centre, pose for a photo.

By Don Gurugay A recent regional meeting for Catholics serving migrants has been a useful learning experience, say participants. The sixth annual conference of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral care of Migrants & Itinerant People (EMI) allowed “us to meet our counterparts in Malaysia (including Sabah and Sarawak) and Brunei�, said Mr Timothy Karl. The executive director of Singapore’s Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI) said “it is interesting to see how the various dioceses with different

VLWXDWLRQV DQG SURÂżOHV UHDFK RXW to their migrant populations. In church work, we learn from one another.â€? Twenty-one participants, including clergy and laypeople, attended the May 8-11 conference held at the Montfort Centre off Upper Bukit Timah Road. EMI comes under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Bishop Paul Tan, from the Diocese of Melaka-Johor and current EMI president noted that “all dioceses have improved in some way or anotherâ€? in serving migrants. He added that he found the talks during the conference “very goodâ€?. These were: „ Migrant Families Left Behind delivered by Jesuit Fr Nilo E Tanalega, director of the Philippines-based UGAT Foundation which concerns itself with the pastoral care of families left behind by overseas foreign workers. He spoke about the impact of migration and stressed the need for communication hubs for migrants to keep in touch with their families back home. „ 7UDIÂżFNLQJ LQ 3HUVRQV D

Catholic Perspective by ACMI chairman Mark Goh. „ FMM Experiences on Anti7UDI¿FNLQJ LQ 6LQJDSRUH E\ 6U Sylvia Ng. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary nun shared her experiences of her work in a red-light area in Singapore and explained the need to defend life, justice and human dignity. „ Church Migrant Advocacy by Mr Joachim Xavier, a Malaysian advocate and solicitor, who spoke on advocacy methods and the Church’s view of advocacy. EMI chairman Sudhagaran Stanley from Penang said the organisation’s main focus will now be to make more people aware of migrant issues and the challenges these people face. During the conference, participants also visited ACMI’s training centre for foreign domestic workers in Hougang. EMI holds meetings in various dioceses in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei during which delegates share their experiences and participate in formation talks. The next EMI conference is scheduled for May 2015 in Kuala Lumpur. „

Sunday June 1, 2014 CatholicNews

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Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Opus Dei head visits Singapore

%LVKRS -DYLHU (FKHYDUUtD VSHDNLQJ WR VRPH SHRSOH DW WKH 5DIĂ€HV &LW\ Convention Centre on May 17.

You can be saints in your ordinary lives just by doing God’s will daily. This was a message that Bishop Javier EchevarrĂ­a, head of the worldwide Opus Dei organisation, told about 1,000 people JDWKHUHG DW WKH 5DIĂ€HV &LW\ &RQvention Centre on May 17. Bishop Javier, who was on a three-day visit, told the 1,000 people present – Catholics and non-Catholics from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Hong Kong – never to be indifferent when they encounter people in need of help. He asked them to imitate Opus Dei founder, St JosemarĂ­a EscrivĂĄ, in having a large heart capable of loving people of every nation. Bishop Javier said that the life of a Christian was not simply one of joy. God also blesses Christians with pain and sorrow, but always gives them the graces to recover the joy that is lost. The Opus Dei prelate reminded his listeners of the core message of Opus Dei: that they can be saints in their ordinary lives. “Do not go looking for extraordinary adventures. This is the great adventure: to do God’s will in your daily lives,â€? he said. During his recent trip here, Bishop Javier also visited Archbishop William Goh, apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, and Bishop Paul Tan of Melaka-Johor. Bishop Javier’s last visit to Singapore was in 2008. „

CHANCERY NOTICE May 14, 2014

APPOINTMENTS 1. Fr Agustinus Tanudjaja, SJ, has been appointed as assistant parish priest at Church of St Ignatius on presentation [can. 147], for a term of three (3) years with effect from 17th April 2014. 2. Fr Romeo Yu Chang, CICM, has been appointed as Spiritual Advisor to Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations (ABLE) for a term of two years (2) with effect from 16th April 2014. 3. The following persons have been appointed by Archbishop William Goh, DD, as shareholders, representing the Archdiocese in Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations (ABLE) for a term of two (2) years with effect from 16th April 2014: a. Fr Romeo Yu Chang, CICM b. Fr Colin Tan Chin Hock, SJ 4. Fr Derrick Yap, OFM, has been appointed as the Spiritual Director of the West District Legion of Mary (Mandarin speaking) for a term of two years with effect from 24th April 2014. 5. Fr Valerian Cheong on returning from his studies in Rome will be appointed to St Francis Xavier Major Seminary for his residence and as a lecturer with effect from 1st June 2014.

6. Fr Aloysius Ong will be posted to the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace with effect from 1st June 2014 as assistant priest. 7. Fr Ignatius Yeo has been appointed Executive Secretary to the Board of Consultors and at the same time relinquishing his appointment as Executive Secretary to the Archbishop with effect from 21st April 2014. OTHER MATTERS The Senate of Priests has reiterated the current practice that weddings of Catholics shall continue to be celebrated in parish Churches. The Catholic Research Centre has been formally closed down and de-registered as it no longer serves the purpose of the Archdiocese. All appointments and enquiries regarding available dates of the Archbishop can be made through the Personal Assistant to the Archbishop (Ms Magdalene Lee) at the ArchELVKRSÂśV RIÂżFH The “Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore Directory 2014â€? is available at all Catholic bookshops and parishes. For further enquiries, please contact Wellsprings Catholic Books at tel: 6252 3390.

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

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Sunday June 1, 2014 CatholicNews

Commissioned: Poly Catholic societies’ exec committees

Above: Aircrew, ground staff and their friends attend a Mass celebrated by Fr Lionel Thomas. Left: Tealights form ‘MH370’. The newly commissioned executive committees of the polytechnics’ Catholic student societies pose for a photo with Archbishop William Goh and their chaplain, Fr Alex Chua. Photo: DAVE WONG

By Stefanie Yeo In order to be good Christian leaders, one must have “friendship with Jesus, and an intimacy with God”, said Archbishop William Goh during the annual Combined Polytechnics Commissioning Mass. “We cannot live a meaningful life unless we live it in passion,” he told the young students gathered for the May 14 celebration at the Singapore Polytechnic. He encouraged those present – members of the polytechnic Catholic students societies – to use their gifts from God and to ¿QG WKHLU YRFDWLRQV LQ OLIH The Commissioning Mass is

held annually to induct the incoming Executive Committees (ExCo) of the various societies. This year, 11 ExCo members were commissioned, two in absentia, from Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic.

Praying for MH370 By Augustine Lenny More than 20 pilots, cabin crew, ground staff and their friends come together in prayer for the ill-fated 0DOD\VLD $LUOLQHV ÀLJKW 0+ RQ 0D\ Fr Lionel Thomas, a former cabin crew member

from Johor Bahru, celebrated the Mass which was held at the SIA Sports Group Club. “Pray my dear friends, pray for closure,” said Fr Thomas in his homily during the Mass, which saw participants praying for the crew of the missing Boeing 777 airliner, and its passengers and next-of-kin.

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Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

<RXQJ SHRSOH¡V RIĂ€FH ODXQFKHV QHZ DFWLYLWLHV A School of Christian Leadership, a Night of Joy and a Kickstart event for freshmen are part of its efforts to reach out to young Catholics. By Timothy Soo Pedestrians walking along the intersection of Lorong Low Koon and Upper Serangoon Road recently would have noticed a new signboard proudly proclaiming WKH SUHVHQFH RI WKH 2IÂżFH IRU Young People (OYP) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore. This development coincided ZLWK D ZHHN RI PDQ\ ÂżUVWV IRU 2<3 Âą LWV ÂżUVW 6FKRRO RI &KULVWLDQ /HDGHUVKLS LWV ÂżUVW 1R[ *DXGLL 1LJKW RI -R\ DQG LWV ÂżUVW .LFNstart event for university freshmen, all conducted on its very own premises. Students from the various uniYHUVLWLHV -&8 178 186 <DOH 186 &ROOHJH 6,0 6,7 608 SUTD) spent a week at the School of Christian Leadership so as to begin “Leading With the Shepherd’s Heartâ€?, as the programme was themed. 2<3 FR FKDSODLQ )U -XGH 'Dvid, in his opening address, noted WKDW WKH 0D\ SURJUDPPH EHJDQ RQ *RRG 6KHSKHUG 6XQGD\ The 39 participants were immersed in an environment of prayer and community living as WKH\ ZHUH H[SRVHG WR YDULRXV WRSics such as the Father Heart of *RG 6LQ DQG 6DOYDWLRQ WKH +RO\ 6SLULW 6HUYDQW /HDGHUVKLS *URZing as a Community of Disciples and Dreams and Visions. 7KH\ DOVR DWWHQGHG GDLO\ 0DVV celebrated by the chaplains of the various university Catholic communities, including Fr ChrisWRSKHU 6RK 178 &DWKROLF 6WXdents’ Apostolate), Fr Samuel /LP 608 )LGHV DQG )U -RYLWD +R 186 &DWKROLF 6WXGHQWVÂś 6Rciety). 2QH SDUWLFLSDQW 0V *ODG\V Seah, 22, from the Church of St %HUQDGHWWH FRPPHQWHG Âł0\ ELJJHVW WDNHDZD\ LV WKDW , ZDV DIÂżUPHG RI *RGÂśV ORYH IRU PH 3UHYLRXVO\ , FRXOG RQO\ DFFHSW WKDW message in my head but not in my KHDUW , WKLQN WKLV QHZ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI *RGÂśV UDGLFDO ORYH GHÂżQLWHly equips me to love myself and others better, which translates into an increased desire to serve Him through the people in my communities.â€? The young participants were also tasked to reach out to others GXULQJ 2<3ÂśV LQDXJXUDO 1R[ *DXGLL 1LJKW RI -R\ RQ 0D\ The event attracted about 400 young people and included praise and worship, preaching, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and ministering through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, ending in fellowship over light snacks.

Participants of the School of Christian Leadership pose form a photo with Frs Samuel Lim and Jude David. On the ground are clay works made by the SDUWLFLSDQWV GXULQJ WKHLU WLPH RI UHĂ€HFWLRQ Photos: BRANDON NG, CHRISTINA CHUA, KELVIN LIM and NICHOLAS TAN

Praise and worship during the Nox Gaudii event.

Preaching from the account in (]HNLHO RI GU\ ERQHV EHLQJ FRYHUHG E\ Ă€HVK DQG VXEVHTXHQWO\ EHLQJ JLYHQ OLIH E\ *RG )U -XGH 'DYLG H[KRUWHG WKH \RXQJ people to identify their own “dry bonesâ€? and to allow the resurrected Christ to raise them to new life, to rise up from their “gravesâ€? and to live life to the full. Commenting on the event, 0U 1LFKRODV /RR IURP WKH

&KXUFK RI 6W ,JQDWLXV VDLG ³,WœV DQ H[FLWLQJ WLPH IRU WKH \RXWK scene in Singapore – everything [is] coming together at the same WLPH , IHHO WKDW WKLV LV D JUHDW DYHQXH IRU \RXWK WR H[SUHVV WKHLU ORYH for Christ.� The School of Christian Leadership concluded with Kickstart, a combined freshmen gathering organised by OYP in collaboration with the student leaders of the

It’s an exciting time for the ‘youth scene in Singapore.’

– Mr Nicholas Loo, 21

University seniors preparing welcome tags for Kickstart participants.

university Catholic communities. The atmosphere was warm and lively as seniors mingled with freshmen during an afternoon of games and sharings over life on campus and the spiritual support they can receive there. 'XULQJ WKH VXQVHW 0DVV WKH students were reminded that they are one body through Christ, reJDUGOHVV RI XQLYHUVLW\ DIÂżOLDWLRQ The evening ended on a fun note with a buffet dinner and live band performances. 0U 6DPXHO /DX DQ 186 Freshman from St. Anne’s Church shared, “The event brought people together and it was comforting to

know that we are not alone in this journey of faith.� According to OYP, the organisation seeks to “raise up a generation of young people passionDWHO\ LQ ORYH ZLWK -HVXV DQG +LV Church; committed to a lifestyle of discipleship and communion whilst being animated by the Spirit to use their gifts and charisms in the mission of evangelisation�. Nox Gaudii will be held every third Friday of the month. Fr Erbin Fernandez will be preaching at the next one, which falls on June 20. For more information on OYP, visit www.oyp.com.sg or call 6285-2571. „

Sunday June 1, 2014 CatholicNews

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10 ASIA

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Vietnam Church urged to offer protection to Taiwanese people TAIPEI – The Archbishop of Taipei has appealed to Archbishop Bui Van Doc of Ho Chi Minh City for Church protection to Taiwanese people in Vietnam as violent anti-China protests swept through Vietnam over a South China Sea territorial dispute. Archbishop John Hung Shanchuan called Archbishop Doc, seeking his approval to “open Church premises as temporary shelters for Taiwan merchants and their families� and to call on Vietnamese Catholics to safeguard the security of Taiwan residents there. “Taiwan people invest in Vietnam because they love the country and the people there just as Taiwan people love the Vietnamese who come to work or marry in Taiwan,� he told the Vietnamese archbishop. “The Vietnam and Taiwan Catholic Church are on good terms,� Archbishop Hung told ucanews.com, noting that Archbishop Bui has visited Taiwan and that there are more than 30 Vietnamese priests, nuns and seminarians in the Taipei archdiocese alone. Fr Pham Ngoc Ngon, chancellor of the Taipei archdiocese, told ucanews.com that Archbishop Doc stressed that “the riot was just a small group of people while most of the Vietnamese people are peaceful. He also asked Taiwan Catholics to pray that peace could be restored soon.�

Anti-Chinese violence erupted in Binh Duong province on May 13 with 175 Taiwanese-owned businesses attacked and damaged. An additional 50 Taiwaneseowned businesses elsewhere in Vietnam were damaged, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance.

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– Taipei archbishop to Vietnamese archbishop in wake of anti-China attacks

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security said on May 18 that two Chinese people were killed and about 200 injured when enraged mobs torched or otherwise damaged hundreds of foreign-owned businesses in protest of China’s deployment of a drilling rig in the contested waters. Authorities deployed hundreds of security personnel to quell the violence and more than 300 suspected perpetrators are being prosecuted, Vietnamese of¿FLDOV VDLG 3KRWRV SRVWHG RQ WKH RI¿FLDO news site of the Ministry of Information showed what appeared to be extensive damage to a Taiwanese factory that was apparently mistaken for Chinese-owned premises. „ UCANEWS.COM

Pope to visit Sri Lanka in January: bishop MANNAR, SRI LANKA – Pope

Francis is scheduled to visit Sri Lanka from Jan 13-15 next year, according to Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar. “His Holiness ... has already promised that he wants to come to Sri Lanka next year,â€? said the bishop, who was in Rome on May 0D\ IRU DQ DG OLPLQD RU ÂżYH yearly, visit together with 13 other Sri Lankan bishops. “With His Holiness, we discussed what worries us about our country, about religion and conditions of life,â€? he explained. Pope Francis spoke about a possible visit to Sri Lanka at the World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro last year, on his way back to Italy, when he said, “I will have to go to Asiaâ€?. Bishop Joseph told AsiaNews that the visit was discussed within the bishops’ conference and with Pope Francis. “He is scheduled to arrive on Jan 13. In the afternoon, he will meet with the country’s leaders.

A woman casts her vote in a polling centre.

Open Church premises as temporary shelters.

The next day, he will celebrate High Mass with Sri Lanka Catholics.â€? In the afternoon, “he could visit the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, in our diocese of Mannar,â€? the bishop said. “Here in the north, many communities have suffered a lot because of the war, and His Holiness is very concerned about those who lived and still live in situations of FRQĂ€LFW ´ Madhu is one of the most famous Marian shrines in Sri Lanka. Every year on Aug 15, almost 600,000 people from all over the country make a pilgrimage there. “We are not yet sure whether he will visit Madhu, but if he does hundreds of thousands of people would be there to welcome him,â€? the bishop said. As for the rest of the papal schedule, the prelate said that on “15 January he might already be on his way to other countries. Perhaps the Philippinesâ€?. „ ASIANEWS

CNS photo

Indian Church not ‘unduly concerned’ over poll results THRISSUR, INDIA – Amid Hin-

du nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) landslide victory in Indian elections, the secretarygeneral of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India said “the Church should not be unduly concerned�. “We should not be alarmed or be scared,� Archbishop Albert D’Souza of Agra told Catholic News Service after votes were counted on May 16. The BJP won a clear majority of 284 seats from the 543 parliament seats at stake, while the National Democratic Alliance it heads with other parties totalled 334 seats. Polling occurred in nine phases from April 7 to May 12. On the other hand, the Congress party, which has ruled India for a decade, claimed only 47

challenge before ‘The the Church is to... ensure that the sanctity of the constitution is upheld.

’

– Archbishop Albert D’Souza

seats compared to the 206 seats it had won in the 2009 election. “This result shows the maturity of the Indian electorate. The people have given a decisive verdict for a change,� Archbishop D’Souza said. Explaining that the Church has a “prophetic role� to play, the archbishop added that “the challenge before the Church is to take

a stand and remain alert to ensure that the sanctity of the constitution is upheld�. Mr John Dayal, a Catholic human rights activist, told CNS that BJP’s overwhelming victory “comes as no surprise�. But he added that “the crushing rout of the Congress [party] perhaps was not expected, not in this measure�. While congratulating BJP party leader Narendra Modi, Mr Dayal expressed optimism that he “would articulate, in words and in policies and programmes, measures to allay the apprehensions of religious minorities�. During the protracted election campaign, a prominent BJP leader, Mr Giriraj Singh, had said that all those who are opposed to Mr Modi should go to Pakistan. „ CNS

Asian meet stresses value of family MANILA Âą 7KH ÂżUVW $VLDQ &RQIHUence on the Family closed with a message from the 551 attendees emphasising that the family is precious to God and must be “highly valuedâ€? by everyone. Retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Jr of Novaliches in northern metro Manila read from a declaration adopted on May 16 by conference attendees. “Because the family is so valuable and because God wants the future of humanity to pass through the human family, we must safeguard, foster, protect and promote the family,â€? he said at the conclusion of the four-day conference. “We, each one of us, all of us, must individually and together, do this, for what is at stake is the future of humanity.â€? The conference explored the challenges that traditional families face with the growing acceptance worldwide of same-sex marriage and the ready availability of con-

Participants at the Asian Conference on the Family in Manila. CNS photo

traceptives and legalized abortion. Hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, the gathering gave participants the opportunity to discuss the Charter of Rights of the Family and its impact on Asia 30 years after its promulgation

by the Vatican in 1983. Young adults, including a Philippine basketball star, also weighed in on what they value about their families and shared the positive contributions they have made to help keep a “happy home�. „ CNS

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Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Nigerian church groups organise prayers for missing schoolgirls CNS photo

Women hold signs during a May 5 protest in Lagos, Nigeria, to demand the release of abducted high school girls. LAGOS, NIGERIA – Church groups

GHÂżQHG OHDGHUVKLS DQG VWUXFWXUH in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno took credit for the mid-April kidstate have organised prayer ses- napping. For years the group has sions and other activities to support attacked Christians and Muslims the rescue of kidnapped schoolgirls. in Nigeria, leaving an estimated But Ms Hassanah Moham- SHRSOH GHDG LQ WKH ÂżUVW WKUHH med, a resident of the state capital, months of this year alone. Maiduguri, told Catholic News The lack of progress in rescuService that groups have been ing the girls led to an international avoiding night-time vigils for fear campaign, Bring Back Our Girls, of additional attacks. as well as statements from gov“Chibok town and Borno state ernment and Church leaders. are now on the world map, and we In Maiduguri, Ms Josephine pray that God will touch the hearts Mohammed said most of the of the Boko Haram insurgents and mothers in her church group had release those innocent girls safely been fasting from 6 am to noon to their parents,’’ she said on May for the safe release of the girls. 8. She added that after about 200 The Ladies of St Mulumba, a villagers were Catholic charitakilled in the state ble group, conearlier in the demned the kidWe are sure the week, groups had as “a insurgents will not nappings increased their shameful act by like their own little a shameless and prayers. In an overfaceless groupâ€?. girls, sisters, nieces aTheir night attack in statement and wives to be mid-April, armed urged the kidnapgunmen abducted pers to pity the treated this way. girls at Chibok abducted girls, – Statement by the Government Girls their parents and Ladies of St Mulumba, Secondary School relatives. a Catholic charitable group and took them into “We are sure the forest. Girls the insurgents who escaped said the men identi- will not like their own little girls, ÂżHG WKHPVHOYHV DV JRYHUQPHQW VRO- sisters, nieces and wives to be diers who had come to rescue them treated this way,â€? it said. DIWHU JXQVKRWV ZHUH ÂżUHG QHDUE\ Pope Francis on May 10 By May 8, more than 250 girls Tweeted his concern: “Let us all remained missing; two had died join in prayer for the immediate reof snakebites and about two dozen lease of the schoolgirls kidnapped were sick, reported The Associ- in Nigeria.â€? The Tweet included ated Press (AP), which was deal- the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. ing with an intermediary. AP also At the Vatican on May 8, Jesreported that on May 5, 11 more uit Fr Federico Lombardi, Vatican girls, ages 12-15, were taken from spokesman, said Boko Haram is other villages in Borno. known for “horrible forms of vioBoko Haram, an Islamist mili- lenceâ€?. tant group with a somewhat un“The denial of any kind of re-

‘

’

spect for life and for the dignity of the human person – even the most innocent, vulnerable and defenceless – calls for the strongest condemnation, arouses the most heartfelt feelings of compassion for the victims and horror for the physical and spiritual suffering and incrediEOH KXPLOLDWLRQV LQĂ€LFWHG RQ WKHP ´ “We join the multitude of appeals for their liberation and return to normal life,â€? he said. “We pray that Nigeria, with the commitment RI DOO ZKR FDQ FRQWULEXWH ÂżQGV D way to put an end this situation RI FRQĂ€LFW DQG KDWHIXO WHUURULVP which is a source of incalculable suffering.â€? „ CNS

12 WORLD

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Thousands take part in procession and Holy Hour in response to planned ‘black mass’ in US

About 2,000 people attended Holy Hour at St Paul Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, in reaction to plans for a satanic ritual ‘black mass’ to be held on the Harvard University campus. CNS photo CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, USA – A Harvard University stu-

dent group’s plan to conduct a satanic ritual “black massâ€? on May 12 on its campus in the US brought a public outcry, leading to its formal cancellation and an apparently impromptu off-campus version of the event, as well as a well-attended alternative Catholic Holy Hour. The planned event had drawn wide criticism from religious leaders as well as students, alumni and faculty at Harvard. As the organisers of the black PDVV VFUDPEOHG WR ÂżQG DQ RII FDPpus venue for their event, an estimated 2,000 Catholics and others gathered at the nearby Massachusetts Institute of Technology before a Eucharistic procession down Massachusetts Avenue to join the Holy Hour at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Fr Michael E Drea, the senior Catholic chaplain at Harvard, thanked the participants in the Holy Hour, saying the light of Christ, represented by an Easter candle on the altar, invited believers to joy and peace in union with God. “And that, my friends, is why

we are here tonight praying, with trust and worship, in the presence of our risen Saviour under the appearance of bread,â€? Fr Drea said. A threat to the Eucharist in an act of sacrilege “demands our prayerIXO DQG ÂżUP UHVSRQVH´ KH VDLG Harvard University President Drew Faust had said earlier that she would attend the Holy Hour “to join

A threat to the Eucharist in an act of sacrilege ‘demands our prayerful and ÂżUP UHVSRQVHÂś VDLG the senior Catholic chaplain at Harvard. RWKHUV LQ UHDIÂżUPLQJ RXU UHVSHFW IRU the Catholic faith at Harvardâ€?. Afterward, she told The Pilot, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, that she felt welcomed at the Holy Hour, and that she saw it as an important moment for the community to be together. Boston Cardinal Sean P O’Malley told reporters that the

archdiocese and the Catholic community took offence at the planned black mass but that “we have no way to prevent it other than to try and explain to people how evil this isâ€?, he said. The cardinal said one could ÂżQG RXW ZK\ LW RIIHQGV &DWKROLFV simply by looking up the phrase “black massâ€? on Wikipedia. “A Black Mass is a Satanic ritual which mocks the Roman &DWKROLF &KXUFKÂśV +RO\ 6DFULÂżFH RI WKH 0DVV ´ WKH ÂżUVW VHQWHQFH RI the Wikipedia entry reads. Harvard’s student newspaper, The Crimson, reported late on May 12 that the Harvard Extension School Cultural Studies Club dropped its sponsorship of the re-enactment of the satanic ritual shortly before it was scheduled to take place in the on-campus Cambridge Queens Head Pub. The club ÂżUVW DQQRXQFHG WKDW DIWHUQRRQ WKDW the event would be held off campus, then that it was cancelled altogether. The newspaper said that the 50 or so people who had gathered for the event then organised a scaleddown version at a nearby restaurant and lounge. „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

9DWLFDQ UHOHDVHV JXLGHOLQHV RQ LQWHUIDLWK GLDORJXH

3RSH )UDQFLV PHHWV ZLWK UHOLJLRXV SROLWLFDO DQG FXOWXUDO OHDGHUV IURP DURXQG WKH ZRUOG ODVW 6HSWHPEHU 7KH 3RQWL¿cal Council for Interreligious Dialogue has released a document on interreligious dialogue. &16 ¿OH SKRWR VATICAN CITY – :KHQ &DWKROLFV

engage in interreligious dialogue, their aim is not to convert their dialogue partners, but they should not exclude that possibility, say new Vatican guidelines on interUHOLJLRXV GLDORJXH The document also cautions &DWKROLFV DJDLQVW MRLQLQJ LQ FRPmon prayer with followers of other religions because of important differences in their understanding RI *RG “In encounters with people of other religions and indeed all KXPDQ EHLQJV &KULVWLDQV PXVW DOZD\V PDNH -HVXV &KULVW EHWWHU known, recognised and loved,â€? say the guidelines published by WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU ,QWHUUHOLJLRXV 'LDORJXH 'LDORJXH LQ 7UXWK DQG &KDULW\ Pastoral Orientations for Interreligious Dialogue was published on May 19 in conjunction with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the council’s establishment E\ 3RSH 3DXO 9, “Interreligious dialogue, in itVHOI GRHV QRW DLP DW FRQYHUVLRQ Nevertheless, it does not exclude that it might be an occasion of FRQYHUVLRQ ´ WKH GRFXPHQW VD\V For a true dialogue to occur, it VD\V ERWK WKH &KULVWLDQ DQG KLV RU her dialogue partner must know DQG SUDFWLVH WKHLU RZQ IDLWK Âł:LWK an attitude of respect and friendship,â€? it says, they share with each other their religion’s teachings and challenge one another to grow deeper in faithfulness and in unGHUVWDQGLQJ WKH WUXWK DERXW *RG Quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s address to the council’s 2008 pleQDU\ WKH JXLGHOLQHV VD\ WKH &KXUFK ÂłHQFRXUDJHV &KULVWLDQ SDUWQHUV in dialogue with the followers of other religions to propose, but not

LPSRVH IDLWK LQ &KULVW ZKR LV WKH ZD\ WKH WUXWK DQG WKH OLIH ´ 7KH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU Interreligious Dialogue also cautions about dialogue partners SUD\LQJ WRJHWKHU “Often in the context of interreligious relationships, there comes a desire to pray together for a particular need of the sociHW\ ´ WKH JXLGHOLQHV VD\ Âł,W LV LPportant, however, to understand that being able to pray in common requires a shared understanding of ZKR *RG LV 6LQFH UHOLJLRQV GLIIHU in their understanding of God, ‘interreligious prayer’, meaning the joining together in common

,QWHUUHOLJLRXV ‘ GLDORJXH LQ LWVHOI GRHV QRW DLP DW FRQYHUVLRQ 1HYHUWKHOHVV LW GRHV QRW H[FOXGH WKDW LW PLJKW EH DQ RFFDVLRQ RI FRQYHUVLRQ

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prayer by followers of various reOLJLRQV LV WR EH DYRLGHG ´ On some occasions, the document says, it would be appropriate for believers of different religions to pray in each other’s presence, but it should be clear to all that parWLFLSDQWV DUH QRW SUD\LQJ WRJHWKHU The document also includes a discussion of “proselytismâ€? and HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ “Proselytism in the biblical sense of bringing people to conversion is good,â€? it says, but in many circles today it is used to refer to efforts to convert another using coercion, psychological presVXUH WKUHDWV IUDXG RU HQWLFHPHQWV

Promoting respect for freedom of conscience, human dignity and the right of all people to follow a religion, to change religious DIÂżOLDWLRQ RU WR QRW EHOLHYH LV something followers of different religions can and should be doing WRJHWKHU WKH GRFXPHQW VD\V ,W QRWHV WKDW &DWKROLFV EHOLHYH WKDW -HVXV DQG +LV &KXUFK DUH necessary for salvation, although exactly how that occurs in all situations may not be immediDWHO\ DSSDUHQW Âł:KRHYHU LV VDYHG by God is without doubt linked to, and in relationship with, the &KXUFK DOWKRXJK DW WLPHV QRW LQ an outwardly apparent manner,â€? WKH GRFXPHQW VD\V “A person who does not appreciate the positive elements in other religions – as monuments for the human search for God – is clearly an inappropriate interlocutor for interreligious dialogue,â€? WKH JXLGHOLQHV VD\ The obstacles to true dialogue listed by the document include: a lack of enthusiasm for witnessing WR &KULVW ZKLFK LV HVVHQWLDO IRU D &KULVWLDQ D WHPSWDWLRQ WR WKLQN DOO UHOLJLRQV DUH HTXDOO\ YDOLG V\QFUHtism, or a blending of elements from GLIIHUHQW UHOLJLRQV LJQRULQJ UHDO differences, which in effect downplays the importance of a religion’s WHDFKLQJ D ZHDN IDLWK RU NQRZOHGJH RI RQHÂśV RZQ IDLWK LQVXIÂżFLHQW knowledge or misunderstanding of WKH EHOLHIV RI WKH GLDORJXH SDUWQHU D lack of appreciation for the positive HOHPHQWV LQ WKH RWKHUÂśV UHOLJLRQ DQG using dialogue for personal, politiFDO RU HFRQRPLF JDLQ „ CNS 7KH IXOO GRFXPHQW LV DW KWWS ZZZ SFLQWHUUHOLJLRXV RUJ XSORDGV SGIV ',$/2*8(B,1B7587+B$1'B&+$5,7<BZHEVLWH SGI

'HVSLWH YLROHQFH 8NUDLQH¡V SROOV PXVW JR RQ ELVKRSV LVIV, UKRAINE – 8NUDLQLDQ &DWK-

olic bishops said their country’s May 25 presidential election must proceed despite any efforts to deUDLO LW Postponement would threaten “the existence of an independent Ukrainian stateâ€?, said a May 5 message from the Synod of BishRSV VLJQHG E\ 8NUDLQLDQ &DWKROLF Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk RI .LHY +DO\FK “It’s no secret that many actions in the near future will be aimed at disrupting or postponing the presidential election,â€? said the ELVKRSV Âł7KDW LV ZK\ ZH QHHG more than ever to unite all healthy VRFLDO IRUFHV DQG LQVWLWXWLRQV (YHryone who lives in the Ukrainian land and cherishes freedom should protect their own state, as well as their right to live in a free DQG IDLU 8NUDLQH ´ The bishops said the vote ZRXOG ÂłEH KHOG LQ GLIÂżFXOW VRFLR

SROLWLFDO FLUFXPVWDQFHV RFFXSDWLRQ RI &ULPHD FRQWLQXLQJ H[WHUnal aggression, an unprecedented information war, sabotage and SURYRFDWLRQV´ However, they said the election would “determine our children’s future and whether we support the values for which our countrymen in the distant and recent past gave their lives: freedom, justice, dignity and every FLWL]HQ´ Âł:H XUJH RXU &KXUFKÂśV IDLWKful and all Ukrainian citizens to contribute actively to these crucial elections and take part faithfully LQ WKHP ´ WKH ELVKRSV VDLG The bishops also asked candidates “to act honestly, transparently and responsibly, not to use loud, empty and deceptive slogans, and offer truthful, practicable and necessary reforms for the moral, social, political and ecoQRPLF UHQHZDO RI RXU VWDWH´ „ CNS

&KXUFK RIĂ€FLDO RSSRVHV automated weapons systems VATICAN CITY – No matter how sophisticatedly programmed a drone or other machine is to make FDOFXODWLRQV EHIRUH ÂżULQJ RQ D target, autonomous weapons systems could never comply with international human rights law, a 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFLDO VDLG “Meaningful human involvement is absolutely essential in decisions affecting the life and death of human beings,â€? Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican observer to UN agencies in Geneva, told experts meeting to discuss lethal DXWRQRPRXV ZHDSRQV V\VWHPV Archbishop Tomasi said during the May 13-16 meeting that it was essential “to recognise that autonomous weapon systems can never replace the human capacity for moral reasoning, including in WKH FRQWH[W RI ZDU´ He said technology obviously KDV PDQ\ EHQHÂżFLDO XVHV DQG even the idea of a nation keeping its soldiers out of harm’s way is praiseworthy, but when nations are using or considering the use of technology to target and kill human beings, they are obliged to weigh decisions in a way only a KXPDQ EHLQJ FDQ

Launching of a US drone combat aircraft. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

“Taking humans ‘out of the ORRSÂś SUHVHQWV VLJQLÂżFDQW HWKLFDO questions, primarily because of the absence of meaningful human involvement in lethal decisionPDNLQJ ´ KH VDLG Âł&DQ PDFKLQHV – well-programmed with highly sophisticated algorithms to make GHFLVLRQV RQ WKH EDWWOHÂżHOG LQ compliance with international human rights law – truly replace humans in decisions over life and GHDWK" 7KH DQVZHU LV QR ´ „ CNS

Archbishop Romero’s sainthood SAN SALVADOR – Francis assured the bishops of El Salvador that the sainthood cause of slain Archbishop Oscar Romero was proceeding well, and the bishops asked him to come to El Salvador to preside personally over the archbishop’s KRSHG IRU EHDWL¿FDWLRQ Archbishop Jose Escobar Alas told reporters on May 18 that he and three other Salvadoran bishops met the pope at the Vatican on May 9 to discuss the cause of Archbishop Romero, who was

shot and killed on March 24, 1980, as he celebrated Mass in a KRVSLWDO LQ 6DQ 6DOYDGRU “We ask the Lord for the VSHHG\ EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ RI $UFKbishop Romero and that the pope come hereâ€? to celebrate the cerHPRQ\ $UFKELVKRS (VFREDU VDLG The pope told the Salvadoran bishops that he was pleased the process was moving ahead, but he gave no indication of when it would be completed, the archbishRS WROG UHSRUWHUV „ CNS

14 POPE FRANCIS

%HZDUH RI UHGXFLQJ UHOLJLRQ WR WKH LQWHOOHFW SRSH ZDUQV VATICAN CITY – Christians who

are too serious and gloomy have the Holy Spirit missing from their lives, Pope Francis said. Be meek and open to the Spirit and don’t fight the joy and unexpected newness he brings, the pope said May 13 during his early morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. People who think they can and do know everything won’t be able to understand God, he said in his homily, according to a report by Vatican Radio. Jesus always had trouble with the kind of religious intellectuals who “believed that religion was only about texts and laws,â€? the pope said. For them, all that was QHFHVVDU\ ZDV ÂłWR IXOÂżO WKH FRPmandments and nothing more. They didn’t imagine the Holy Spirit existed.â€? As a result, all they did was demand explanations from Jesus, he said. “They wanted to debate. Everything was in the head, everything was about the intellect,â€? and there was no “heart, no love, no beauty, no harmony.â€? “When there is lots of serious-

ness, there is no Spirit of God,� he said. It never mattered what Jesus said and did, he said. Even raising Lazarus from the dead “right in front of them� could not convince them because they refused to “open their heart to the Holy Spirit.�

Jesus had trouble with religious intellectuals who ‘believed that religion was only about texts and laws’, said the pope. Belief for them was based on “ideas, their own ideas. They are full of pride. They think they know it all,� he said. Pope Francis asked people to pray for the grace of being open to the Holy Spirit so that they can move forward, “being creative, being joyous.� „ CNS

3RSH RQ EXUHDXFUDF\ LQ &KXUFK VATICAN CITY – Too often Cath-

olics turn the Church into “a company that manufactures impedimentsâ€? to faith, rather than a community that patiently helps people come to believe in Jesus, Pope Francis said. “Grace is more important than bureaucracy,â€? the pope said on May 8 in a homily at his early morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where he lives. According to Vatican Radio, Pope Francis focused his KRPLO\ RQ WKH GD\ÂśV ÂżUVW UHDGing from the Acts of the Apostles (8:26-40), which details how the apostle Philip led

the Ethiopian to faith and baptism. 7KH ÂżUVW WKLQJ WKH DFFRXQW shows, the pope said, is Philip’s willingness to obey the Lord’s call to leave what he was doing and set out. “Without this docility to the voice of God, no one can evangelise.â€? Second, the Bible explains how Philip walked with the Ethiopian, listening to his concerns, respecting his sensibilities and offering explanations. “You cannot evangelise without dialogue. You just can’t because you must begin where the person is,â€? the pope said. “This is very important.â€? „ CNS

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

&KULVWLDQ XQLW\ KRQRXUV FRPPRQ ZLWQHVV RI PDUW\UGRP VD\V SRQWLII VATICAN CITY – To honour the

VDFULÂżFH RI WKRVH NLOOHG IRU WKHLU faith in the 20th century, Christians today must renew their commitment to reconciliation and full Christian unity, Pope Francis said. “Just as in the ancient Church, the blood of the martyrs became the seed of new Christians, so in our day the blood of many Christians has become the seed of unity,â€? the pope told Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Pope Francis welcomed the catholicos to the Vatican on May SD\LQJ KRPDJH WR WKH ÂżGHOLW\ DQG VDFULÂżFH RI $UPHQLDQ &KULVtians during decades of persecution and oppression. He also praised the Armenian Apostolic Church’s commitment to ecumenical dialogue. “The number of disciples who have shed their blood for Christ in the tragic events of the last century is certainly greater than the QXPEHU RI PDUW\UV LQ WKH ÂżUVW FHQturiesâ€? of Christianity, the pope said. “In this martyrology, sons and daughters of the Armenian nation have a place of honour.â€? Pope Francis did not use the term “genocideâ€? although his re-

in any other situation, “problems cannot be resolved by pretending they don’t existâ€?, Pope Francis said. “Confronting one another, discussing and praying – that is how FRQĂ€LFWV LQ WKH &KXUFK DUH UHsolved,â€? the pope said on May 18 before praying the Regina Coeli with visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square. He focused his remarks on the day’s first reading, Acts 6:1-7, which describes how

the early Christian community, as it grew to include people from different groups, began to experience internal tensions, and how those tensions were resolved at a meeting of the disciples. Facing the problem, discussing solutions and praying about the tensions, he said, the disciples found harmony and an end to a situation in which there was “discontent, complaints, accusations of favouritism and inequality�. „ CNS

&RQĂ€UPHG 3DXO 9,¡V EHDWLĂ€FDWLRQ VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will

beatify Pope Paul VI on Oct 19 during the closing Mass of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family. Pope Francis signed a decree on May 9 recognising a miracle

attributed to the intercession of Pope Paul, who led the Church from 1963 to 1978, and authorised publication of the Oct 19 EHDWL¿FDWLRQ GDWH DFFRUGLQJ WR a May 10 Vatican statement. „ CNS

CNS photo

marks were an obvious reference to the estimated 1.5 million Armenians – more than half the Armenian population at the time – who died in a forced evacuation by Ottoman Turks in 1915-18. The suffering of Christians from every Church and denomination under the Nazis, the communists and various dictatorships in the 1900s has made “an invalu-

able contribution to the cause of unity among Christ’s disciples�, the pope said. The unity of Christians in “suffering and martyrdom and blood�, he said, “is a powerful call to continue walking the path of reconciliation among Churches with decisiveness and trusting abandonment to the work of the Spirit.� „ CNS

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%RDUG WR KHDU DSSHDOV RI VH[ DEXVHUV VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has

Catholics praying before the start of Mass.

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Pope Francis embraces Catholicos Karekin II of Etchmiadzin, patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church, at the Vatican.

&16 ÂżOH SKRWR

VATICAN CITY – Being a Christian

means belonging to the Church, remembering with others all God’s saving actions and celebrating the covenant between God and His people by participating in Mass, Pope Francis said. “A Christian without the Church is a pure idea, it is not real,â€? the pope said on May 15 during his early morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he lives. “It would be like something made in D ODERUDWRU\ VRPHWKLQJ DUWLÂżFLDO something that could not give life.â€? &RPPHQWLQJ RQ WKH GD\ÂśV ÂżUVW reading, Acts 13:13-25, in which St Paul explains that the newly formed Christian community traces its history to the people of Israel, the pope said the idea of one Christian alone, without connection to a community

and its history, makes no sense. Understanding who Jesus was requires recognising that He, too, was born into the people of Israel and kept alive the memory of what God had done for his people. “Jesus Christ did not fall from heaven like a hero who comes to save us,� the pope said, according to a report by Vatican Radio. “No, Jesus Christ had a history.� As a follower of Jesus, a Christian must be mindful of the community’s history, which is the history of all God has done in order to save humanity, the pope said. He encouraged those at his Mass to pray each day for “the grace of memory�, “the grace of hope� and “the grace of renewing each day the covenant to which the Lord has called us�. „ CNS

indicated that Pope Francis is establishing a commission under the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to examine the appeals of priests punished for sexual abuse of minors and other very serious crimes. In a brief note on May 19, the 9DWLFDQ SUHVV RIÂżFH DQQRXQFHG that the pope had nominated Argentine Archbishop Jose Luis Mollaghan of Rosario to be a member of the congregation “in the commission being established to examine the appeals of clergy for ‘delicta graviora’â€?, the Vatican term for sexual abuse of minors and serious sins against the sacraments. The Vatican did not provide further details about the commission, when it would be established or what the extent of its mandate would be. It did not mention what Archbishop Mollaghan’s position on the commission would be. In indicating that the archbishop has headed the Archdiocese of Rosario “until nowâ€?, the announcement signalled that being part of the commission would be a full-time job in Rome. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 15

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Priests are not ‘princes’ or businessmen: pope VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis told seminarians not to become “orphan priestsâ€? who are motherless without Mary, “businessman priestsâ€? who are after money or “prince priestsâ€? who are aloof from the people. He also warned them not to give “boring homilies,â€? saying WKHLU UHĂ€HFWLRQV VKRXOG EH EULHI powerful and address the concerns people face. In a May 12 private audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall with thousands of seminarians and priests from around the world who are studying in Rome, the pope answered the questions of eight pre-selected participants. The men were from the US, China, Lebanon, Cameroon, Mexico, Philippines and Poland. In response to a Mexican student’s question about remaining faithful to one’s priestly vocation, the pope said the only way WR ÂżQG SHDFH GXULQJ WLPHV RI SHUsonal “turbulenceâ€? is to turn to Mary for help and to “seek refuge under the mantleâ€? of the Mother of God. “Some of you will say, ‘But Father, in this era of so many PRGHUQ EHQHÂżWV LQ SV\FKLDWU\ in psychology, I think it would it would be better during these times of turbulence to go to a psychiatrist to help me.’ “I’m not eliminating that [possibility], but go to the mother ÂżUVW EHIRUH DQ\WKLQJ HOVH ´ When a priest forgets Mary or does not have a good relationship with her, “something is missing. He is an orphan priest,â€? said the pope. He later warned against becoming a “businessman priestâ€? or a “prince priestâ€? in response to a question from a Filipino student about the qualities needed to best

Pope Francis uses incense to bless new priests before their ordination Mass in St Peter’s Basilica on May 11. CNS photo

Parishioners are usually very forgiving of a priest’s missteps, except when they are sins of greed and vanity, said the pope. lead the people of God. Parishioners are usually very forgiving of a priest’s missteps, except when they are sins of greed and vanity, the pope said. The people of God “don’t forgive you if you are a pastor who is attached to money, if you’re vain and don’t treat people nicely because the conceited don’t treat people nicelyâ€?. Instead, “humility must be the weapon of the priestâ€? who is close to his people and lives a life RI VDFULÂżFH SRYHUW\ DQG VHUYLFH “There is only one path to leadership: service. There is no other

way,â€? the pope said. When asked about the “new evangelisation,â€? Pope Francis said it requires “going out of one’s selfâ€? and “getting closer to the people, to everyoneâ€?. “You can’t evangelise without being closeâ€? to others, which means being “cordialâ€? as well as being physically present and aware of what others are going through. A reason why there are so many “boring homiliesâ€? is because priests aren’t “closeâ€? to their people, he said. The measure of how close a priest is to his parishioners is his homily, he added. Homilies should not be “about abstract things,â€? he added. While it expresses “the truth of faith,â€? a homily shouldn’t be a classroom lesson, a conference RU DQ DFDGHPLF UHĂ€HFWLRQ EXW EH “something elseâ€? that borders on the sacramental, and is “brief and powerfulâ€?, he said. „ CNS

‘Respond to the challenge with fresh energy’ „ From Page 1

“Whenever communication is primarily aimed at promoting consumption or manipulating others, we are dealing with a form of violent aggression like that suffered by the man in the parable,� beaten by robbers and abandoned on the road, he said. “There is a danger that certain media so condition our responses that we fail to see our real neighbour,� the pope said. Information overload or over-exposure to injustices like poverty can make us “so accustomed to these things that they no longer unsettle us�. Good communicators bring beauty, goodness and truth to people, something no snappy or sophisticated media strategy can do, he said. “Let our communication be

a balm which relieves pain and a ÂżQH ZLQH ZKLFK JODGGHQV KHDUWV ´ the pope said. “May the light we bring to others not be the result of cosmetics or special effects, but rather of our being loving and merciful ‘neighbours’ to those wounded and left of the side of the road.â€? Pope Francis said impartiality in the media is an illusion since only by going out into the world and taking the risk of being truly oneself can communicators become a trusted and “true point of referenceâ€?. “Personal engagement is the basis of the trustworthiness of a communicator,â€? he said. The pope said he prefers “a bruised Church which goes out to the streetsâ€? and helps people encounter Christ to “a Church suffering from self-absorptionâ€?, with

its doors and digital spaces closed to outsiders. “We are called to show that the Church is the home of all,� he said, where people, “whatever their situation in life, can enter�. “Let us boldly become citizens of the digital world,� the pope urged. “The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge; may we respond to that challenge with fresh energy and imagination as we seek to share with others the beauty of God,� he concluded. „ CNS The full text of the pope’s message is at http://www.vatican.va/ holy_father/francesco/messages/ communications/documents/papafrancesco_20140124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali_en.html

16 OPINION

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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OPINION

Taking time out from non-stop communication By Maureen Pratt ,WÂśV EHFRPLQJ LQFUHDVLQJO\ GLIÂżcult to put up necessary boundaries when there are so many ways others can reach us these days. From email inboxes full of requests to “friendâ€?, connect and network, to smartphones that DFFRPSDQ\ XV HYHU\ZKHUH LWÂśV nearly impossible to disengage. However, with planning, resolve, good communication and lots of patience, it is possible to build boundaries and leave some space so that others can reach us when that contact is needed and wanted. Establishing boundaries is not the same as rejecting others. 5DWKHU LWÂśV D ZD\ WR PDNH JRRG effective use of your available WLPH DQG LQWHUDFWLRQV ,WÂśV D ZD\ for both sides to ask and show UHVSHFW IRU D SHUVRQÂśV WLPH 1RW HYHQ 6XSHU 0XP RU 6XSHU 'DG can respond to everyone, every time without temper, energy level or health breaking down eventually. If you live with a chronic illness, you have to establish a KDELW RI GHÂżQLQJ DQG NHHSLQJ boundaries. To wear yourself thin invites detriment to health and other complications. Tools such as separate email inboxes for work and for personal contact can help you manDJH WKH LQĂ€RZ RI LQIRUPDWLRQ DQG demands. Never underestimate the power of the delete button. I SURPLVH \RX ZRQÂśW IDOO RII D FOLII LI \RX GRQÂśW IRUZDUG RU VKDUH something on Facebook. 6HYHUDO WLPHV LQ WKH *RVSHOV Jesus goes off by Himself to pray, despite the crowds clamouring for His attention. Today, a sign on a door, much like those used in hotels, that VD\V IRU H[DPSOH Âł0XPÂśV 7DNing a Timeoutâ€?, can convey presence and the need for a temporary removal from general household activity.

,WœV GLI¿FXOW WKHVH GD\V WR GLVHQJDJH IURP WKH LQFHVVDQW ÀRZ RI LQIRUPDWLRQ ZKHWKHU LW LV HPDLO VRFLDO PHGLD RU SKRQH FDOOV

Establishing boundaries is not the same as rejecting others. Rather, it’s a way to make effective use of your available time and interactions. Establishing a place – a room, corner, piece of furniture – that VLJQLÂżHV ÂłP\ TXLHW SODFH´ FDQ also be helpful in letting others know not to disturb. Placing time boundaries on phone calls of any kind is another way to manage space, especially if you have a serious illness. I limit calls before 10 am and after SP ,I ,ÂśP DW D SDUWLFXODUO\ ORZ ebb of energy, I limit the time I spend on particular calls. As for driving while talking RQ D FHOOSKRQH , GRQÂśW GR LW QRW even hands-free. I pay better attention to the road and, afterward, WR WKH SHUVRQ *RRG IULHQGV SHR-

ple who care, will understand. &RQYHUVDWLRQDO ERXQGDULHV also help our ability to be hopeIXO (DVWHU ÂżOOHG SHRSOH 7HOOLQJ those who dwell on the negative or who are bent on criticising RWKHUV WKDW ZH GRQÂśW FDUH WR GLVcuss such things is a good way to keep darkness from taking up too much of our precious time. &RPPXQLFDWLQJ RXU ERXQGDries can be tricky, especially with people who might not completely understand. But taking a position of “I care, but I need time to myselfâ€?, or “I want to be able to devote my full attention to you, but during these times or in these places, I cannotâ€?, can get your point across without making the other person feel rejected. $W WLPHV ZH ZRQÂśW KDYH FRQtrol over the situation, however. The phone will ring, the call you ZHUHQÂśW H[SHFWLQJ ZLOO FRPH forth, and your walls will come tumbling down. But the more you SUDFWLFH WKH EHWWHU \RXÂśOO EHFRPH at building boundaries that allow others in but also allow you time to breathe. „ CNS

Pilgrimage through nature, desire, soul NATURE, desire, and soul – we rarely integrate these well. Yet they are so inextricably linked that how we relate to one deeply colours the others; and, indeed, VSLULWXDOLW\ LWVHOI PLJKW EH GHÂżQHG DV ZKDW ZH HDFK GR in terms of integrating these three in our lives. More recently notable spiritual authors such as Annie Dillard, Kathleen Norris, Bill Plotkin, and Belden Lane have argued persuasively that physical nature profoundly affects the soul, just as how we manage RXU SULYDWH GHVLUHV GHHSO\ LQĂ€XHQFHV KRZ ZH WUHDW QDWXUH 6SLULWXDOLW\ is naĂŻve when it is divorced from nature and desire. In a book just released, The Road Is How: A Prairie Pilgrimage through Nature, Desire DQG 6RXO &DQDGLDQ ZULWHU 7UHYRU +HUULRW MRLQV WKHVH YRLFHV LQ FDOOLQJ for a better integration between nature, desire, and soul. 7KH Ă€RZ RI WKH ERRN IROORZV LWV WLWOH +HUULRW GRHV D ZDONLQJ SLOJULPDJH DFURVV SDUW RI 6DVNDWFKHZDQÂśV SUDLULHV D ODQG URDPHG IRU FHQturies by the buffalo, and lets nature and desire speak to his soul as he GRHV WKLV SUDLULH &DPLQR 7KH UHVXOW LV D UHPDUNDEOH FKURQLFOH D GHHSO\ moral book. As a naturalist, Herriot is involved in various conservation projects from saving grassland birds to preserving the historic grass upon which WKH EXIIDOR RQFH URDPHG 7KXV LWÂśV QR VXUSULVH WKDW RQH RI KLV FHQWUDO themes is the connection he intuits between nature and spirit: “I worry about what happens when we separate spirituality from bodily life and culture, both of which are profoundly connected to soil, climate, and the other givens of place.â€? And we should worry too: “These days, we watch truckloads of grain pass by and sense that something in us and in the earth is harmed when food is grown and consumed with little intimacy, care, and respect. The local and slow food movements are showing us that the way we grow, distribute, prepare, and eat food is important for the health of our body-to-earth exchanges. The next step may be to realise that the energy that brings pollen to ovary and grows the grain, once it enters our bodies, also needs to be husbanded. The way we respond to our desire to merge, connect, and be fruitful – stirrings felt so deeply, but often so shallowly expressed – determines the quality of our body-to-body exchanges.â€? )URP WKHUH LWÂśV D VKRUW VWHS WR KLV UHĂ€HFWLRQV RQ VH[ DQG GHVLUH Herriot submits that “there is a sadness that comes of misappropriating sexual energy, a kind of functional despair that hums away in the background for most men if they stop long enough to listen to itâ€?. In brief, for him, how we treat our bodies, our spouses, and the other gender greatly helps determine how we treat nature. And the reverse is just as true; how we treat nature will help determine how we treat our own bodies, our spouses, our lovers, and the other gender: In a world bathed in industrial and impersonal sex, where real connection and tenderness are rare, will we sense also that something in us and in the earth is being harmed from the same absence of intimacy, care, and respect? Will we learn that any given expression of our erotic energies either connects us to or divides us from the world around us and our souls? We are discovering that we must steward the energies captured by nature in the hydrocarbons or in living plants and animals, and thereby improve the ways we receive the fruits of the earth, but we struggle to see the primary responsibility we bear for the small but cumulatively VLJQLÂżFDQW H[SORVLRQV RI HQHUJ\ ZH DFFHVV DQG WUDQVPLW DV ZH UHVSRQG to our own longings to connect, merge, and be fruitful. Learning how to steward the way we bear fruit ourselves as spiritual/sexual beings with a full set of animal desires and angelic ambitions may be more important to the human journey than we fully understand. This is not a ODQJXDJH WKDWÂśV HDVLO\ GLJHVWHG E\ HLWKHU WKH ULJKW RU WKH OHIW /LNH $OODQ %ORRPÂśV ERRN D JHQHUDWLRQ DJR 7KH &ORVLQJ RI WKH $PHULFDQ 0LQG +HUULRWÂśV ERRN LV SRLVHG WR KDYH HTXDOO\ VWURQJ FULWLFV on both sides of the religious and ideological spectrum. Religious conservatives will be upset about some of his views on sexuality, but I fear that many secular liberals will be just as upset by those views as their ULJKW ZLQJ FRXQWHUSDUWV 7KH VDPH KROGV WUXH IRU VRPH RI +HUULRWÂśV YLHZV RQ VRXO &KXUFK KLVWRULFDO &KULVWLDQLW\ SDWULDUFK\ IHPLQLVP JHQGHU KRPRVH[XDOLW\ DQG JOREDO ZDUPLQJ &RQVHUYDWLYH &KULVWLDQV ZLOO ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV VWUHWFKHG LQ ZD\V WKDW WKH\ ZRXOG SUHIHU WR QRW WKLQN DERXW DQG VWULGHQW VHFXODULVWV ZLOO ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV FRQVWDQWO\ LQcredulous that someone like Herriot, whom they consider an ally, will speak of soul, spirituality, lust, and chastity in ways that they have long-considered naĂŻve; but holding very complex truths often creates precisely this kind of tension. American psychologist James Hillman used to quip: “A symptom VXIIHUV PRVW ZKHQ LW GRHVQÂśW NQRZ ZKHUH LW EHORQJV ´ 7KH 5RDG ,V How tells us where many, many of our symptoms belong.„

FOCUS 17

Sunday June 1, 2014 CatholicNews

CITY St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) May 28: 6.30pm May 29: 1.15pm, 6.30pm & 7.45pm Church of Sts Peter & Paul May 28: 5.30pm May 29: 7.20am, 6.00pm & 8.00pm (Mandarin) Church of Our Lady of Lourdes May 28: 6.30pm May 29: 12.30pm, 6.30pm & 8.00pm (Tamil) Church of the Sacred Heart May 28: 5.30pm May 29: 7.00am & 5.30pm

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.15am, 6.15pm & 8.00pm

Don’t just recite memorised prayers, pray from heart: pope

Church of St Francis Xavier May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.00pm

VATICAN CITY – Never forget to

St Anne’s Church May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 6.15pm & 8.00pm Church of St Vincent De Paul May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 7.00am, 6.00pm & 8.00pm WEST

Church of St Teresa May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 12.30pm & 8.00pm

Church of St Ignatius May 28: 6.00pm May 29: 7.00am, 6.00pm & 8.00pm

Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) May 28: 7.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 12.15pm & 7.00pm

Blessed Sacrament Church May 28: 7.30pm May 29: 7.00am, 8.30am, 6.00pm & 7.30pm

Church of St Bernadette May 28: 6.00pm May 29: 6.30am & 7.00pm Church of St Michael May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am & 8.00pm EAST Church of the Holy Family May 28: 7.30pm May 29: 6.15am, 1.00pm & 7.30pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace May 28: 6.30pm May 29: 6.30am & 7.00pm Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour May 28: 6.15pm May 29: 6.30am, 12.30pm, 6.00pm & 8.00pm Church of St Stephen May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am & 8.00pm

Church of St Mary of the Angels May 28: 7.30pm May 29: 6.55am, 1.15pm, 6.30pm & 8.15pm Church of St Francis of Assisi May 28: 7.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 7.00pm (Mandarin) & 8.15pm Church of the Holy Cross May 28: 6.00pm (Mandarin), 7.30pm May 29: 6.15am, 6.00pm & 7.30pm CATHOLIC PRAYER SOCIETY All Masses below are on Thursday May 29

Suntec City: Venue: Room F Level 7 Suntec Convention Centre (take lift or escalator to Level 6, enter through Hall 605 to get to Level 7 - look for signages)

Time: 12.15pm & 1.15pm

Church of the Holy Trinity May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 6.00pm & 8.00pm

5DIÀHV 3ODFH Venue: The Third Space, 18 Cross Street #B1-05 Time: 11.15am, 12.15pm & 1.15pm

Church of the Divine Mercy May 28: 7.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 1.00pm & 7.00pm & 8.30pm

Orchard: Venue: The Brix, Grand Hyatt Hotel Time: 12.40pm and 1.20pm

NORTH

Shenton: Venue: Singapore Conference Hall

St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am & 8.00pm

(Shenton Way, opp DBS Bldg 1, Sectional Practice Room, Level 2)

Church of St Anthony May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am & 8.00pm

Jurong East:

Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea May 28: 6.30pm May 29: 6.45am, 12.15pm, 6.30pm & 8.00pm Church of the Holy Spirit May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 6.00pm & 7.30pm Church of the Risen Christ May 28: 7.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 12.15pm, 6.00pm & 8.00pm Church of Christ the King May 28: 8.00pm May 29: 6.30am, 1.00pm, 6.15pm & 8.00pm SERANGOON Church of the Nativity of the BVM May 28: 6.30pm, 8.00pm (Mandarin) May 29: 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.00pm

Time: 12.20pm & 1.20pm Please refer - www.cps.org.sg

Contact: Eunice Lincoln: 93769897 or Cecilia Loke: 98316307 Outram: Venue: SGH Campus, Alumni Medical Level 2 Center, 2 College Rd (Outram Road junction with AYE Entrance Slip Road)

Time: 12.15pm Changi Business Park Venue: Auditorium Level 1 (opposite Fairprice) UE Convention Centre, 4 Changi Business Park Ave 1 Time: 12.15pm Contact: 9690 2712/9649 6517 SCIENCE PARK Venue: “Science Hub” 87 Science Park Drive (Off Ayer Rajah Rd), Singapore118260 Time: 12.30pm Mass times correct at time of printing. Please check with parishes for updates.

pray, even while commuting, taking a walk or when waiting in line, Pope Francis said. And don’t just stick to prayers memorized from childhood, but include heartfelt requests and pleas for help, advice and guidance, he said. During his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square on May 7, the pope continued a series of audience talks on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. Looking at the gift of counsel, Pope Francis said people know how important it is to go to the right person – to “people who are wise and who love us” – to get the best advice, especially concerning GLI¿FXOW RU ³WKRUQ\´ VLWXDWLRQV But how can people make sure God is the one speaking to them and not their own biases, fears, limitations and ambitions? he asked. The right counsel comes through prayer, he said. “We have to give room to the Holy Spirit so that He can counsel us. And giving him room means praying, praying that He come and always help us.” “Prayer is very important,” he said, and “never forget to pray, never!” “Nobody can tell when we are praying on the bus, on the road, we pray in silence, with the heart, so let’s take advantage of these opportunities to pray.” Don’t just recite the prayers “that we all know from childhood, but also pray with our own words,

Pray with ‘ our own words, pray to the Lord: ‘Lord, help me, advise me, help me right now.’

’

pray to the Lord: ‘Lord, help me, advise me, help me right now, let me know what we should do.’” This gift of counsel can also come through other men and women of faith, who can help those in need recognise God’s will, he said. The pope gave an example of an event, before he was pope, when he was hearing confessions at the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lujan in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. “There was a huge line,” he said, and up next was “a big guy, all modern with an earring, tattoos, the whole nine yards, and he came to tell me something

that had happened.” The pope said the man had been going through something very serious and had asked his mother for help. “That humble, simple woman gave her son the best advice that was spot-on,” the pope said, because she told her son to turn to Mary, who would tell him what to do. The mother “had the gift of counsel”, he said, because she didn’t try to steer him with her own opinions, but pointed him in “the right direction”. The man explained how he had prayed to Our Lady, who told him exactly what to do. “I didn’t have to say a word,” the pope said. “It was all the mother, Our Lady and the boy. This is the gift of counsel.” CNS

18 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

Parishes: Places where people should feel welcomed ‘A family that prays together, stays together.’ How should we then work towards making our parish communities like one big family? By David Gibson My wife and I participate in the same parish community today that we joined 41 years ago. To be sure, 41 years is a long time. Not surprisingly, our parish is important to us. Our three children were baptised here. We celebrated all their weddings here too. One reason we value this community highly is because of the support received from others. A period of more than four decades encompasses many moments of wonderful celebration and some moments of real-life challenges. The life of a parish is important to so many Catholics and for so many reasons. If you doubt that, just read the Sunday bulletin distributed by a parish of average size today and consider the astonishing range of events on its agenda for the week ahead. These events pull together individuals, parents and families, groups with special shared interests and needs, and young adults, to mention just a few. However, statistics suggest WKDW D VLJQLÂżFDQW SHUFHQWDJH RI baptised Catholics do not consider parish life essential in their lives, at least for the time being. Some tell of not feeling welcome in a parish, others speak of not feeling understood by the Church. Yet others say they neither felt recognised nor respected in their parish; no one spoke to them.

In a real home, families gather to celebrate together, but this also mandates them to care for one another. Parish life should be like this.

Parishioners pray together during Mass. Just like in the homes of every family, there should be a sense of belonging, welcome and support in parishes. CNS photo

In a homily on the second +RO\ 7KXUVGD\ RI KLV SRQWLÂżFDWH Pope Francis pointed out that all the people of a parish – the sick, the poor, family members, the young – make up “the living &KXUFK´ DQG KDYH ÂłD ÂżUVW QDPH and a last nameâ€?. Many people who experience a sense of belonging, welcome and support in their parish think of it as something like a home. That is as it should be, the newly-canonised St John Paul II suggested in his 1988 apostolic exhortation on the laity’s vocation. “The par-

ish is not principally a structure, a territory or a building,� the pope wrote. Rather, it is God’s family DQG D ZHOFRPLQJ KRPH &KULVWL¿deles Laici, 26). In a real home, though, no one remains anonymous. Families gather to celebrate their lives and enjoy time together, but home life also mandates family members to do what they can to pull each other out of loneliness, to hear each other and to recognise each other’s gifts. Parish life is like this. A parish is a place where people assemble to celebrate faith,

above all the Eucharist. It is a place, too, where they are mandated to welcome others, to do their part in making the parish a home by helping to lift others out of anonymity. This mandate is not always HDV\ WR IXOÂżO /LNH VR PDQ\ RWKer parishioners, I am not always certain how to welcome people I do not know or am seeing for WKH ÂżUVW WLPH LQ RXU SDULVK %XW it sure helps to smile, say hello and ask “How are you?â€? Perhaps a conversation will ensue and the opportunity to learn each other’s

names will arise. Perhaps a seminar or retreat group invites parishioners to grow spiritually. Perhaps they discover how enriching it can be to collaborate with others on projects serving teens in the parish, or preparing engaged couples for marriage, RU ¿QGLQJ QHZ ZD\V WR PDNH WKH poor a priority. In the parish, they discover how true it is that we grow by giving to others. The parish is a Eucharistic gathering place that marks every moment in the Church’s worship year, focusing the community’s attention on what is most important about life and faith. The roles of a community such as this extend from helping to renew hope among people who suffer to clarifying the presence and action of God in the daily lives of ordinary people – people who often feel they barely have time to think, let alone pray. „ CNS Gibson served on Catholic News Service’s editorial staff for 37 years.

Memories of growing up in a parish By Fr John Catoir I consider growing up in a Catholic parish to have been one of the great blessings in my life. When I look back on it, I realise that it nourished the faith my parents gave me. Being surrounded by a lot of wonderful people – those I worshipped with and those who facili-

tated our worship – helped me to ¿QG SXUSRVH DQG GLUHFWLRQ LQ P\ life. I grew up attending a church which was part of the Brooklyn diocese in the US. The diocese had a Catholic Guild for the Blind and the local bishop enlisted our parish to host a monthly hobby club for the blind people in a nearby county.

As a teenager I remember our committee taking blind people bowling. They used a guide rail, of course, and they would jump for joy whenever they heard the ball smashing into the pins. It didn’t matter how many went down, they cheered anyway. It was an activity that gave an opportunity to people who were involved in the parish a way to learn more about our roles as Christians that went beyond Scripture. The activities of the parish put Scripture into action. Each parish is called to be a sign of God’s kingdom on earth. The Lord challenges us to come together in these communities of faith in order to offer ourselves in service to one another. It is an extraordinary calling. Even though we are ordinary people, we are not discouraged by our human weakness. Parish communities have within them subgroups based on the needs and common interests of the parishioners.

For example, parishes have prayer groups, rosary societies, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, ministries for those who grieve and the like – all have the purpose of helping and thereby showing love to one’s neighbour. Juggling this complex human interaction

Being surrounded by a lot of wonderful people – those I worshipped with and those who facilitated our worship – helped PH WR ¿QG SXUSRVH DQG direction in my life. UHTXLUHV OHDGHUVKLS DQG JUHDW ÀH[ibility. This brings up the relationship between the diocese and the parish. The local bishop is the CEO of the diocese, including all the parishes. He has the power to cre-

ate new parishes and appoint pastors. The local pastor is usually a priest who helps coordinate the life of a community of faith, or parish. One of the great gifts Jesus gave His Church was the gift we have in one another. Human beings have a natural instinct for enjoying some form of community life, whether that be with family or friends. Today we are living in a society that emphasises unbridled individualism. Our faith is tested as never before, and opposition from the secular world tends to weaken our fervour. If we worship in community, however, we can pray for one another, support one another and lend help in various forms, HVSHFLDOO\ WR WKRVH WU\LQJ WR ¿QG their way in a troubled world. „ CNS

Fr Catoir is a columnist for Catholic News Service and a founder of multimedia organisation The Christophers.

19

Sunday June 1, 2014 CatholicNews

Hong Kong Catholic community welcomes all who speak Cantonese The Sacred Heart Cantonese Basic Christian Community opens its doors to everyone who speaks the dialect. By Clara Lai The Hong Kong Catholics in Singapore have been a growing community since 1994. Known as the Sacred Heart Cantonese Basic Christian Community (SHCBCC), the group has grown from about 20 people to its current number of 120. In 2005, the community moved to the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, and they now have weekly Cantonese Masses in the chapel at 2pm every Sunday. According to its coordinator, Mr Alfred Cheung, 65, there are about 40 Singaporean Cantonese who join in the Mass. “Any Cantonese-speaking Catholic is welcome to join in,” Mr Cheung said, adding that “there are also Hong Kong nonCatholics who have not converted but also join in the activities”. The community’s chaplain, Carmelite Fr Daniel Lim has been in Singapore for about 12 years, and has been with the group since 2011. Different groups in the community Fr Daniel said, “In the beginning stage, this SHBCC group was established for the migrants from Hong Kong. Gradually, they grew from three groups to six groups spread throughout Singapore.” These cell groups usually have fortnightly meetings at different members’ houses, usually on Friday or Saturday evenings, Mr Cheung said. But he added that every gathering will be announced to everyone, and if other groups’ members are interested in the topic that is going to be covered, they can also join in solely for that session. However, Mr Cheung told CatholicNews that they do not have a lot of ministries. The altar boys are part of the main group in Church of Sts Peter and Paul, but nonetheless the community has its own choir, and also the Rite of Christian Initiation in Cantonese. A new process will commence on Friday, June 13, and will be from 8 to 9.30pm. For sacraments, they had a record number of 13 baptisms three years ago, while three adults and two babies were baptised at Easter this year. Mr Cheung said that after baptism, members move on to First Holy Communion, which is also done within the community. However, community members will have to join the St Peter and Paul SDULVK IRU &RQ¿UPDWLRQ Challenges faced by the community Mr Cheung told CatholicNews

that a few years ago, the community had children’s catechism but they now prefer to go back to their choice of parish for English catechism, as the children are mostly studying in local schools and are English-speaking. “We would like to have Bible study every Wednesday evening in Cantonese,” Mr Cheung added. The group used to hold such sessions but not on a regular basis, and these were interrupted when previous chaplain Fr Anselm Phang left for Taiwan. Another challenge that the community faces is that they “don’t have the youth coming in”. Mr Cheung shared that they had tried to VWDUW D \RXWK JURXS DERXW ¿YH \HDUV ago but it was not very successful. “The Catholic Church is not very good in attracting the young people,” Mr Cheung said. “I feel that even in the local churches, the activities are not very interesting to young people.” The community also tries to connect with Cantonese-speaking Catholics in other parishes, although Mr Cheung shared that he feels it is “still not very successful”.

Participants at the Sacred Heart Cantonese Basic Christian Community’s annual National Day Retreat.

There have been visitors ‘from Malaysia and Hong Kong for Sunday Masses.’

– Hong Kong Catholics in Singapore coordinator Alfred Cheung

For example, Mr Cheung said that there is a “sizeable number of Cantonese Catholics in Church of St Teresa [but we] haven’t had the chance to integrate with them there”. After Fr Daniel took over from Fr Anselm Phang, he also had to learn Cantonese on his own. He told CatholicNews that despite having “little knowledge of Cantonese, I tried my best to support them in their needs of celebrating Masses, confessions and various activities and events”. Collaboration with local Church and future plans According to Mr Cheung, the FRPPXQLW\ LV RI¿FLDOO\ HQGRUVHG by Archbishop Goh to have trilingual Masses. He added that the Church of Sts Peter and Paul “is very supportive of our activities”. Therefore this year during Easter, the hymns for Mass were in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Fr Daniel also said that the community members have “actively participated and collaborated in the parish works, events and activities and all other pastoral works outside the parish”.

The community held a Lunar New Year celebration at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul last year.

Many community members have been in Singapore since the 1990s, and some of them have become Singapore citizens. “That’s how we can last for 20 years, it’s very fortunate,” Mr Cheung said. On May 31, the community will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Other events that the group carries out together include an annual full-day retreat on National Day, which had about 250 people attending last year. During this event, at least two Cantonese priests from Singapore or overseas will be invited to provide spiritual input, and there will also be sharings and opportunities for people to get to know one another. The National Day retreat this year is themed Joy of Gospel, and will be held at the Catholic Spirituality Centre on Aug 9 from 9am to 6pm. During Lent, they will also have a day event with Stations of the Cross and Confession, while in October or November, the community has a residential three-day retreat, which was held at the Church of St Teresa last year.

The community’s chaplain, Carmelite Fr Daniel Lim (right), and coordinator Alfred Cheung.

“There have been visitors from Malaysia and Hong Kong for Sunday Masses, but most of them are not fully aware of the community’s activities,” Mr Cheung said. “We are not just focused on Hong Kong Catholics, we would also like to have more locals.”

For more information on the Sacred Heart Cantonese Basic Christian Community, contact Mr Cheung at alcheung20140328@ gmail.com or visit www.shbcc.net. clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

By Joe Sarnicola

evil spirits, causing the people to rejoice. Simon was a Samaritan who had After a man named Stephen had given gained the respect and admiration of his life because of his faith, the new his fellow citizens because he would Christians found they were persecut- amaze people with his magic, but ed everywhere in Jerusalem. Some of when the people saw the power of WKHP Ă€HG IRU VDIHW\ LQ QHDUE\ -XGHD God in Philip, they obeyed him and were baptised. Simon saw what was and Samaria. One of the toughest authorities, happening, and he, too, was baptised. When word of the work that the who were trying to punish the Christians, was a man named Saul. He went Lord was doing in Samaria through from house to house, literally taking Philip reached some of the apostles, the men and women out of their homes they sent Peter and John to help him. When the two men arrived in Saand having them sent to prison. Just because some of the Christians maria, they prayed that the people there had left Jerusalem did not mean they would receive the Holy Spirit. When had stopped spreading the Gospel. One Simon saw the power of the Holy Spirof these was Philip, who preached about it being given through the hands of the apostles, he offered them money and the Messiah to the people in Samaria. The Samaritans listened to his said, “Give me this power too, so that words and they saw the wonderful anyone upon whom I lay my hands things he was doing in the name of the may receive the Holy Spirit.â€? Peter said to him, “May your Lord. He healed many who were crippled or paralysed and he rid others of money perish with you, because you

thought that you could buy the gift of God with money. You have no share or lot in this matter, for your heart is not upright before God. Repent of this wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, your intention may be forgiven.� Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.� Peter and John continued to preach and baptise the people in vil-

lages throughout Samaria before they returned to Jerusalem. An angel of the Lord appeared to Philip and told him to take the desert route into Gaza. „ Read more about it: Acts 8

Q&A 1. Why did some of the Christians leave Jerusalem? 2. Why were the apostles angry with Simon?

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

Wordsearch:

St Augustine

„ DESERT „ HEALED „ FAITH „ REJOICE „ UPRIGHT „ POWER „ APOSTLE „ FELLOW

BIBLE TRIVIA: How many men did Jesus choose to be his ÂżUVW DSRVWOHV"

Answers to Puzzle: Peter, John, James, Timothy

Bible Accent:

Answer to Bible Trivia: 12.

The word “apostleâ€? comes from a Greek word that means “someone who is sentâ€?. In the case of the Bible, the apostles are the ÂżUVW PHQ WKDW -HVXV FKRVH WR KHOS +LP ZLWK +LV PLQLVWU\ and to carry on His work after He had returned to Heaven. We know that one of these men, Judas, betrayed JeVXV ,Q WKH ÂżUVW FKDSWHU RI WKH $FWV RI WKH $SRVWOHV D PDQ was chosen to replace Judas. The man who was chosen was named Matthias, and he was selected because he had been with the apostles at the time Jesus was baptised and he also was a witness to the resurrection. In Galatians Chapter 1, Paul, who we also read about in Acts, said he was an apostle “through Jesus Christâ€?. „

PUZZLE: The Bible contains many books that are named after people. Put an “X� next to the books in the list below that are part of the New Testament. ________________

1. Paul

________________

5. Thomas

________________

2. Peter

________________

6. James

________________

3. John

________________

7. Barnabas

________________

4. Andrew

________________

8. Timothy

Answer to Wordsearch

Augustine (d. 605) was the leader of a group of monks chosen by Pope St Gregory to spread the Gospel throughout Anglo-Saxon England. Not long after this team of missionaries left Rome they were given warnings about the dangers of the people of pagan England and the hazards of crossing the English Channel. The pope assured them they would be safe, and they were. Augustine soon after made a journey to France, where he was named the bishop of the English in the city of Arles. Augustine, following the pope’s directions, converted pagan temples into Christian churches, and pagan festivals were changed into Christian celebrations and feasts. He continued his evangelical work until the time of his death. We honour him on May 27. „

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday June 1, 2014 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www. catholic.org.sg/webevent_form.php

RCIA/RCIY

THURSDAYS JUNE 12 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL 8pm: At 301 Yio Chu Kang Rd. Register T: 6482 0959. FRIDAYS JUNE 13 RCIA @ CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 8-9.30pm: In Cantonese. At 225A Queen Street. Register T: 6337 2585 / 9237 1615 (Yvonne); E: sts_peternpaul@singnet.com.sg SATURDAYS JUNE 14 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST ALPHONSUS (NOVENA CHURCH) 3.45-5.45pm: In Mandarin. At 300 Thomson Road. Register T: 9626 8546 (Alphonsus); E: alphs_cool@singnet.com.sg

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

ONGOING RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA At 10 Yishun St 22. E: rcia.olss@gmail.com

TUESDAYS JUNE 17 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BVM 8-10pm: In Mandarin. At 1259 Upper Serangoon Rd. Register E: augustine_chua@yahoo.com.sg

ONGOING RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY 7.30-9.30pm: At 6 Chapel Road. From May, sessions will also be held on Sundays. Register T: 9666 6542; E: Rciaholyfam@gmail.com

WEDNESDAYS JUNE 18 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY 7.45-9.45pm: At 24 Highland Rd. Register T: 9627 3835 (Nancy) / 9616 2001 (Agnes); E: rcia@ihm.sg

ONGOING RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN 8-9.30pm: At 30 Sallim Road. Register T: 9107 6862 (Peter Thien); E:peter3562@yahoo.com.sg ONGOING RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45-9.30pm: At 510 Kampong Bahru Rd. Register T: 6271 1184; E: stteresa@gmail.com SUNDAYS JUNE 1 RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 9-10.30am: In Mandarin. At 31 Siglap Hill. Register T: 9841 2263 (Joe) / 9891 6648 (Regina); E: joelimcy@yahoo.com

WEDNESDAYS JUNE 4 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI 8-9pm: At 200 Boon Lay Avenue. Register T: 6264 0078; E:secretariat@sfa-parish.org.sg

FRIDAYS JUNE 20 RCIA @ CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 8-10pm: At 2221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8. Register T: 9889 0027 (Joey); E: query.rcia@gmail.com TUESDAYS JUNE 24 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY 7.45pm: At 20 Tampines Street 11. Register T: 8444 5505 (Greg); E: rciaht@gmail.com or drop by at the FKXUFK VHFUHWDULDW WR ÂżOO XS D IRUP

TUESDAYS JULY 1 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER 8-9.45pm: At 63A Chartwell Drive. Register T: 6280 6076; E: sylseck@yahoo.com

FRIDAYS JUNE 6 RCIY @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI 8-9pm: At 200 Boon Lay Avenue. Register T: 6264 0078; E:secretariat@sfa-parish.org.sg

FRIDAYS JULY 4 RCIY @ CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST 8-9.30pm: At 91 Toa Payoh Central. Register T: 9489 8086 (Jeremy), E: jeremyleehr@gmail.com

THURSDAYS JUNE 12 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 8-10pm: At 248 Upper Thomson Rd. Register T: 9636 8526 (Audrey); E: holyspiritrcia.coordinator@gmail.com

SUNDAYS JULY 6 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL 9.30am: In Mandarin. At 17 St Michael’s Road. Register T: 9622 8749 (Marie) / 9682 9679 (Sophia); E: mariechong4christ@gmail.com

MAY 30 CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT AND DINNER 1-10pm: The Charity Golf Tournament & Dinner is in aid of Montfort Junior School’s upgrading project. All proceeds will go towards the School Building Fund for new facilities such as a teaching laboratory, band room, dance studio and student care centre. At Orchid Country Club. Register T: 6510 1588 (Mrs Brenda Ng); E: brenda_koh@moe.gov.sg FRIDAY MAY 30 TO SUNDAY JUNE 1 MAY CHOICE WEEKEND 6pm (Fri)-6pm (Sun): Single young adults aged 18 to 35, come away for a Choice Weekend – it is by the choices we make WKDW ZH GH¿QH ZKDW RXU OLIH LV DOO DERXW At 47 Jurong West Street 42. Register T: 9790 0537 (Hillary David); E: registration@choice.org.sg

THURSDAYS JUNE 26 RCIA / RCIY @ CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BVM 8-9.30pm: At 1259 Upper Serangoon Road. Register T: 9685 6673 (Genevieve); E: nativitysg@yahoo.com.sg / ailianlau@ hotmail.com

TUESDAYS JUNE 3 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 8-10pm: At 120 King’s Rd. Register T: 6466 0625 (Angela); 9630 8346 (Terese)

CARLO CATHOLIC SOCIETY BURSARY SCHEME 2014 Application is now open for ITE/ Polytechnic/University students. Applicant must be a Catholic full-time student. The applicant’s gross monthly household income divided by the total number of household members must not exceed $450, or the gross monthly household income must not exceed $2000. The applicant must possess good conduct and satisfactory academic results. Closing date: June 30. Application form available at 225-B Queen Street, or E: bursary@carlo.org.sg; or W: http://on.fb.me/YoIA27

FRIDAY MAY 30 CANDLELIGHT ROSARY WALK FOR YOUNG ADULTS 8-9.30pm: May is Mary’s month. Join us for a Candlelight Rosary Walk in the Garden of Light (behind Kingsmead Centre) followed by Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction at the St Francis Xavier Chapel, Church of St Ignatius. E: gen.christ.ministry@gmail.com FRIDAY MAY 30 CHILDREN’S EUCHARISTIC ADORATION 7:45pm: Come, bring the little children and together let us adore Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar! At Church of the Holy Spirit. E: sonely.arocha@gmail.com MAY 31 DANZA QUEENS – CANOSSIANS CONNECT 2014 6.30-10.30pm: Calling all Canossian ex-pupils! The alumni dinner of the year is happening again - this time, we’ll DANCE! 2014 celebrates the 120th year of Canossian Sisters in Singapore as they continue with the mission of our Foundress. This eight-course dinner is also dedicated to the PRIME fundraising project for Canossa Convent Primary School. Tickets are at $88 per person;

Matthew Linn, SJ. How to know when to stop to help another or pass by on the other side to care for yourself before you collapse? In this seminar Fr Linn explores the dynamics of “compassion fatigue� and how we can choose whether it blesses or breaks us. By Kingsmead Centre, at 8 Victoria Park Rd. Contribution $30. Register by June 12, T: 64676072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

$880 per table. $1200 for a donation table. At Copthorne King’s Hotel (Havelock Road). Register T: 9039 2130 (Catherine); E: info@canossianalumni.com JUNE 1 CELEBRATING INNER FREEDOM – CHOOSING TO BE HAPPY 2-5pm: It is never easy until you know how to. This workshop based on Choice Theory is suitable for everyone who values personal growth and relationships. You will learn to: identify cause of unhappiness, understand your needs and behaviour and acquire skill to exercise effective control of one’s life and make a deliberate choice to be happy. At LifeSprings Spirituality Centre, 100 Jalan Merbok. Cost: $35. Register T: 6466 2178 (Brenda); E: lifesprings@singnet.com.sg

THURSDAY JUNE 19 TO SUNDAY JUNE 22 HEALING THE EIGHT STAGES OF LIFE 9am (Thurs)-5pm (Sun): We get overwhelmed with present pain whenever it touches the unhealed pain from early hurts. This retreat will focus on strengthening our positive memories and KHDOLQJ WKH KXUWV RI WKH ÂżUVW WZHOYH \HDUV of life as well as help develop our adult strengths and move into a fully adult relationship with God. Conducted by Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. By Kingsmead Centre, at 8 Victoria Park Rd. Contribution $420/$500 (aircon). Register by June 8, T: 64676072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

JUNE 7 PENTECOST RALLY – STAND UP! PROCLAIM! 2-7pm: The speaker for the rally is Fr Simon Pereira, and Archbishop William Goh will be celebrating Mass at 6pm. At Church of the Risen Christ. No registration is required, all are welcome. E: risenchristcpg@catholic.org

JUNE 24 DISCOVERING THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH SP $V ZH DJH ZH ÂżQG WKDW “everything hurts and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t workâ€?? This seminar with Fr Matthew Linn, SJ, will draw on psychology and spirituality to answer life’s dilemma: How to live now so that the future will be happy and healthy rather than sad and sick. The session will close with a prayer process. By Kingsmead Centre, at 8 Victoria Park Rd. Contribution $30. Register T: 64676072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

FRIDAY JUNE 13 TO SUNDAY JUNE 15 BELONGING: CREATING BONDS OF HEALING AND RECOVERY 7pm (Fri)-5pm (Sun): Millions worldwide are plagued with addictions ranging from persistent drug, alcohol or gambling addiction to the most common problems where we run from our shame and pain by too much overeating, shopping, television, or working. This retreat is for everyone who is longing for more freedom and new life. Retreat Master: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. By Kingsmead Centre, at 8 Victoria Park Rd. Contribution $280/$340. Register by June 3, T: 64676072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com

SATURDAY JULY 26 TO MONDAY JULY 28 CAMS YOUTH CAMP 2014 9am (Sat)-5pm (Mon): CAMS Youth Annual Camp (conducted in Mandarin) is back again. Activities include spiritual activities, talks on the Ten Commandments by priests and many games. CAMS Youth Committee aims to build up the bonds of the youth who attend Mandarin Mass across the island. 'R MRLQ XV HYHQ LI \RX DUH QRW FRQÂżGHQW in Mandarin. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Register T: 9113 6598 (Nic); E: nicholas.cheang91@gmail.com

MONDAY JUNE 16 TO SUNDAY JUNE 22 CHARIS MISSION FRIENDSHIP Ban Mae Surin Refugee Camp is located along the Thailand-Myanmar border deep in the mountains. The residents are not allowed to leave camp and are dependent on external humanitarian aid for survival. /DVW 0DUFK D PDVVLYH ÂżUH HQJXOIHG PRVW of the camp; CHARIS helped fund the rebuilding of a new social service centre and child-friendly space. CHARIS will deploy a mission team to help with the maintenance of these buildings. Join us to render assistance and experience the joy of mission work. Register T: 6337 4119 (Lilynne); E: lilynne@charis-singapore.org

MONDAYS JULY 7 TO AUGUST 25 LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS 7.30pm: LISS is a spiritual programme comprising talks, Sacraments, sharing, prayer, scriptures and ministering to deepen personal relationship with Christ. At Church of Risen Christ. Register T: 9005 4511 (Maria); 9657 3097 (Helen); E: m4trinity@gmail. com / dchelen52@gmail.com

JUNE 17 WHY DID THE GOOD SAMARITAN STOP? 8-10pm: An evening seminar with Fr

Crossword Puzzle 1111 1

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ACROSS 1 â€œâ€Śa poor man is better than a ____â€? (Prov 19:22) 5 Eden fruit? 10 Angelus time 14 US government agency 15 East Indian pepper plant 16 “My treatâ€? 17 Stuff of creation 18 Copper and zinc alloy 19 Some votes 20 “____ the vine‌â€? (Jn 15:5) 21 Golly! 22 Toothed wheels 23 Originate 25 Frat letters 27 Jesus told Peter to cast this out 28 Christmas song 30 ____ culpa 33 Title for Pio 35 German submarine 3URYHUE ÂżQDOH 37 Topping in a tub 38 Pile 39 Latin 101 verb

40 Gov’t auto agency 41 Vestment worn under the alb 42 Cleans 43 Wind dir. 44 St Martha is their patron saint 45 “Do it, ____ willâ€? 46 ____ of Jonah 47 Thomas Aquinas is patron saint of these Catholic institutions 51 Abraham was one 54 “Love is not jealous, it does not put on ____.â€? (1 Cor 13:4) 55 OT prophetic book 56 Israel’s airline 57 Cold comment? 59 Small yeast cake 60 Describes some men in the Bible 61 Mob men 62 Mountain range 63 Drunkards 64 â€œâ€Śand darkness covered the ____.â€? (Gen 1:2) 65 “Auld Lang ____â€?

DOWN 1 President Johnson’s daughter who converted to Catholicism 2 Religion of the Muslims 3 Opening pair? 4 Not much hope 5 Boss monk 6 What the early Christians suffered 7 Egyptian deity 8 French “these� 9 High trains 10 Catholic poet, best known for “The Highwayman� 11 Prime rating 12 Five-star Bradley 13 Monster loch 21 We should enter by the narrow one 22 Covered in gold (var.) 24 Roman emperor associated with 6A 25 The Litany of the Saints is chanted during some of these 26 Saturate 29 You may be taken this way

30 Francis Xavier was one 31 Cain traveled this direction from Eden (Gen 4:16) 32 Pub drinks 33 Seed containers 34 Charity 38 LA problem 39 Continental money 41 Not a base 42 Cries from Homer Simpson

46 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 57 58 59

St Francis de ____ Rosary starter Brother of Rebekah Laminated rock Good ____ Potpourri Pole Nautical call Muslim title of honor Corn spot Passenger vehicle

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1110 S A C R E

A T M A N

S P A S

H E L I

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S C R O L L A N I L A S P

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Sunday June 1, 2014 CatholicNews

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

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