Catholic News issue 11, 2017

Sunday May 28, 2017

SINGAPORE $0.70 cents / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

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Vol 67

No. 11

Inside home

Couple celebrates 60th wedding anniversary They renew vows in church they were wedded n Page 10

The statue of Our Lady of Fatima is carried during the candlelight procession on May 13.

Blessing for redeveloped St Joseph’s Home New intake for residents in July

Photo: BARRY JONATHAN

St Joseph’s Church marks Fatima centennial The greatness of Mary lies not in her being the biological mother of Jesus, but in the fact that she was His spiritual mother, keeping God’s word and always saying “yes” to God and doing His will right up to the cross.

Archbishop William Goh shared this during a Mass held at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St) to mark the centenary of Mary’s appearance at Fatima, Portugal.

Those who have a true devotion to Mary would be transformed, just as the shepherd children who saw her were transformed, Archbishop Goh said during the May 13 Mass celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima.

The church was packed for the celebration that day with more than a thousand gathered outside, watching the celebration on a large screen.

Archbishop Goh urged the faithful to change the world through prayer and mortification – to do penance, first for their own conversion and then for the conversion of hearts, which was the

very essence of Mary’s message to the three shepherd children, Jacinta and Francisco Marto and their cousin Lucia dos Santos.

Fittingly, on the day that Jacinta and Francisco were canonised

by Pope Francis, the celebration at St Joseph’s saw much participation from children.

Before Mass began, 24 little “angels” – girls from St Anthony’s

Canossian Primary School – and three children dressed as the shepherd children were among those who walked ahead of the celebrants in the entrance procession.

The St Ignatius Eucharistic Adoration Children’s Choir sang the Prayer of the Angel of Fatima, while the three “shepherd children” moved the crowd with their rendition of Schubert’s Ave

Maria, before the crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Adding to the joyful atmosphere during the Mass were a musical ensemble made up of the Church’s resident choir, the Sacred Heart Choir; members of the Risen Christ Youth Symphony String Group; and a flautist and trumpeter. n Continued on Page 2 Archbishop William Goh celebrates the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima together with (from left) Fr Augustine Tay, Fr Antony Maria Joseph, Fr Andre Christophe and Msgr Yovko Pishtiyski from the apostolic nunciature.

Photo: VITA Images

n Page 11

Three-parent embryo A solution or problem? n Page 12

WORLD

Kidnapped priest releases video Appeals for help n Page 15

Fight culture of destruction Pope tells young people n Page 16

POPE FRANCIS

Pope meets Aung San Suu Kyi Diplomatic ties with Myanmar established n Page 21

ASCENSION DAY MASS SCHEDULE n Page 23

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Kids, music feature in celebration ‘Angels’ from St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School strew rose petals during the procession.

Crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Photo: BARRY

Photo: BARRY

JONATHAN

JONATHAN

n From Page 1

A prayerful candlelight procession with the recitation of the rosary followed the Mass, with rose petals strewn along the way by the “angels”.

After the Benediction, Archbishop Goh blessed a special anniversary almond sugee cake, traditionally associated with the Eurasian community which formed a large part of the congregation in the early days of St Joseph’s Church.

Specially boxed and blessed pieces of cake were distributed to the crowd together with holy pic-

tures of Mary’s appearance to the three children of Fatima.

Mr Edmund Choo, a non-Catholic Christian, was among those who attended the celebration. “I was moved by the Mass and the homily of the archbishop,” he said.

“It put into perspective the role and purpose that devotions to Mary have in the Catholic Church.”

St Joseph’s Church (Victoria St) will hold a series of activities to mark the centenary of Mary’s appearance at Fatima, culminating in a special celebration on Oct 13. More details will be released in due course. n

Archbishop Goh urged the faithful to change the world through prayer and mortification.

Children dressed up as the three shepherd children of Fatima. Photo: BARRY JONATHAN

Part of the crowd at the candlelight procession.

Photo: VITA Images

Christian leaders affirm ties at Easter lunch

By Jared Ng Fostering greater Christian unity and continuing dialogue with each other. These were some of the key points brought up during the annual ecumenical Easter lunch on May 4.

The event, held at CANA The Catholic Centre, saw pastors and pastoral staff from various Christian traditions and communities share their experiences of ecumenism in Singapore over the years.

This was the fourth such event organised by the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue (ACCED).

Commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation this year, participants also shared what the occasion meant to them.

“It provides an opportunity for us [Christians] to reflect on past experiences and to look forward with renewed hope,” said Rev Martin Yee from the Lutheran Church in Singapore. He added that the most important thing about the Reformation was for Catholics and Lutherans to learn from the “painful experiences of the past” so as to build a platform for more collaboration in the future.

Christian representatives having fellowship at Crossings Cafe on May 4.

Fr Jude David from the Church of St Francis Xavier recalled an experience of how an ailing father with two sons – one Catholic and the other a Methodist – was baptised only on his deathbed.

He could not choose whether to be baptised a Methodist or Catholic, said Fr Jude, alluding to the walls of division that have damaged Christian unity.

Fr Abey M. Chacko from the St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral said he hopes to see greater fraternity between Christians.

“We have theological differences but we are all Christians.

All part of one human body with God as the head,” he said.

To “acknowledge each other as children of God, Fr Abey said Christians must first “see each

other as humans, regardless of religion, race or sex.”

He cited the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as an event which “highlights the steps that the various Christian communities in Singapore have taken to foster relationships.”

Rev Malcolm Tan, from the Covenant Community Methodist Church, noted the importance

of “working together to do God’s work.”

“It can be tough to do God’s work all by yourself. This really is the value of unity, to have friends during the good and bad times so you don’t ever feel alone.”

Ending the sharing, Msgr Philip Heng, rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, reminded his fellow Christians to protect and treasure the “interreligious harmony in Singapore.”

“Sometimes a lot of what we say about other religions can be taken out of context or misinterpreted, so we have to be conscious,” he said.

He also encouraged those gathered to “continue to affirm one another and build stronger relationships through events and gatherings like today.”

Participants then proceeded to Crossings Cafe to enjoy lunch and fellowship with one another.

Last year, Pope Francis and leaders of the Lutheran World Federation launched a year of activities in Sweden to mark the 500th anniversary in 2017 of Martin Luther’s efforts to reform the Church. n jared.ng@catholic.org.sg

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BUILDING THE CHURCH of Tomorrow 3

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Hai Sing robotics team wins world championship It took the team more than a year to prepare for the competition.

From spending long hours to train to programming the autonomous code of the robots.

Hai Sing Catholic School’s Robotics Team pose for a photo after their victory in Kentucky, USA.

Hai Sing Catholic School’s Robotics Team was crowned the Middle School World Champion at the World Vex Robotics Competition held in Louisville, Kentucky State, USA. The team, comprising 20 Sec 2-4 students, competed against 160 other teams around the world including the US and China to emerge as champions.

Held from April 19-22, the

team was crowned the Middle School Robot Skills and Programming Skills World Champion, and the Middle School Tournament World Champion.

The first competition tested teams on how well their robots were programmed. The second took the form of games such as requiring team robots to pick up objects and hurl them into the opponent’s side.

The winner was the team with the most objects picked up and thrown into the opponent’s side.

This is the fourth time that the school has clinched the awards, after 2012, 2013 and 2015.

It took the team more than a year to prepare for this competition. From spending long hours to train and create the most up-todate robotics design, to programming the autonomous code of the

robots and honing their driving skills.

Besides these technical skills, the students also had to balance their time between academic work and training.

These experiences taught them to focus and multitask between training and doing school work, according to the school.

Teamwork was also an important takeaway for the team as

there were times when members had to cover for one another.

Team president Shannon Chua said, “This programme helped me to grow into a confident individual. During the finals in front of the thousands of people in the audience, the ability to stay composed and come back after losing the first round to win 2-1 is a testament to our fighting spirit and determination.” n

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Balloon rosary to mark Fatima centennial

Montfort Junior School students watch as the balloon rosary floats above their heads on May 12.

A student tying his prayer card to the balloon rosary.

By Jared Ng Montfort Junior School students and teachers looked on in awe as a giant balloon rosary floated above their heads right up to the highest level of the four-storey school building.

Made up of 59 helium-filled yellow and blue balloons complete with a balloon-shaped cross, the special structure was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mother Mary’s first appearance to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, on May 13, 1917.

To prevent the structure from flying off, four ends were tethered to the school courtyard.

Before the release of the balloon rosary during the May 12 school celebration, about 130 Catholic students recited the Glorious Mysteries joined by teachers, parents and Br Dominic Yeo-Koh, Supervisor of the Gabrielite Schools. n jared.ng@catholic.org.sg

Students and teachers look on as the balloon rosary soars upwards.

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Celebrating 60 years of marriage Joseph and Mary Tan renewed their vows at the same church they got married in

Joseph and Mary Tan (centre) renewing their marriage vows in Teochew at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Photo: H. M. TEH

By Clara Lai

Match-made

His name is Joseph. Her name is Mary. And just like the biblical Mary and Joseph, their years of marriage have been greatly blessed.

On May 10, Joseph Tan, 88, and his wife Mary, 78, celebrated 60 years of marriage at the same parish that they were wedded.

In the presence of family and friends, the couple renewed their marriage vows and exchanged wedding rings at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, just like they did on May 25, 1957.

During the Mass, celebrated in English, Mandarin and Teochew, Redemptorist Fr Simon Tan said that the elderly couple certainly “understand one thing – ‘I love you’ means ‘I love you’.”

He called them a “model for young people”, as younger couples tend to plan their weddings extensively, only to forget that “love is a decision – you make the decision, and you stick to it”.

At the end of his homily, Fr Simon encouraged the couple’s family and friends present to “give thanks to God for their faithfulness to one another, and more importantly, for their faith in God”.

Speaking to CatholicNews in Mandarin after the Mass, Mr Tan credited his 60 years of marriage to a life lived simply, and of trusting and relying on each other with God at the centre of the family.

“Day by day passes, and without even realising it, 60 years have passed,” he said.

He gave thanks to God for His blessings, such as a peaceful family life, and healthy and wellbehaved children.

The couple have three children and two grandchildren.

Mr Tan was born into a Catholic family in China. He was an altar server and would accompany priests to churches in various provinces.

At the age of 17, he was sent to Singapore to work. After 10 years, he was match-made with Mary Tan, then a non-Catholic, and one year later, they were married at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The couple, who lived in Ang

Wedding photo of the couple taken 60 years ago.

Mo Kio then, opened their home for Teochew Bible study sessions for about five years before the Church of Christ the King was built.

They would also lead the Stations of the Cross in Teochew at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and later at the Church of Christ the King.

When the Church of Christ the King was established, they served in the parish’s St Joseph’s Dying Aid group, leading night prayers in Teochew during wakes.

The couple also pray the rosary and attend novena devotions. n

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Blessing for redeveloped St Joseph’s Home, staff

Franciscan Friar John-Paul Tan blessing a room in St Joseph’s Home.

By Jared Ng

St Joseph’s Home was set up

by Catholic Welfare Services in A special blessing ceremony was collaboration with the Canossian held for the newly redeveloped Sisters at its original location at St Joseph’s Home and its staff.

Gek Poh Road in 1978. In 1993, The celebration, held on May the home moved to Jurong Road 16, began with a Mass celebrated where it remained until September

by Franciscan Friar John-Paul Tan. 2014 when it moved to its tempoFriars Rowland Yeo, Julian rary premises at 9 Mandai Estate Mariaratnam and Francisco Jude due to redevelopment works.

Basnayake concelebrated.

Staff and residents returned to St Joseph’s Home the Jurong home on St Joseph’s is “more than just a Feb 18 this year. healthcare facility,” Home is ‘more St Joseph’s Home said Friar John-Paul, currently has about than just a “we give God to the 130 mostly elderly residents.” residents. With its rehealthcare He said that staff development, the sixfacility, we and management of storey home can now the home play the give God to accommodate up to most important role residents. the residents.’ 412The as they “represent the home will start – Friar John-Paul Tan taking in new residents face of Christ.”

“It is important from July this year. that we treat residents with the New forms of exercises such respect and dignity that they de- as music therapy, hydrotherapy as serve,” Friar John-Paul added. well as physiotherapy have also After Mass, the priests blessed been introduced to further cater the staff before blessing the differ- to the mental and physical wellent areas of the home. being of residents.

During that time, residents Other facilities include a childwere entertained with music per- care centre and an upcoming assistformances by St Anthony’s Ca- ed living block for senior citizens. n nossian Primary School students. jared.ng@catholic.org.sg

A view of the six-storey home in Jurong West.

BUILDING A VIBRANT, MISSIONARY AND EVANGELISTIC CHURCH EVENTS BY THE FOLLOWING ARCHDIOCESAN ORGANISATIONS IN 2017 june

Organisations Archdiocesan Commission for the Family (ACF)

Office for Young People (OYP)

• Kickstart (9-10 Jun) • Nox Gaudii (16 Jun)

• Communion in Mission Experiment Retreat (Early July) • Community Leaders Retreat (14-16 July) • Asian Youth Day (30 July-6 Aug)

Office for the New Evangelisation (ONE)

• Milestone Conference follow up (3 Jun) • Pentecost Rally (4 Jun)

• Lectors Study Day (8 July) • Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion EMHC DOR (22 July) • Wardens Day (29 July)

Catholic Spirituality Centre (CSC)

• Pentecost Triduum & Vigil Mass (2 & 3 Jun) • Corpus Christi Prayer Vigil & Mass (16-17 Jun) • Awaken (29 Jun-2 July) • Revival Fridays (9, 23, 30 Jun) • 4th Sat. Mass & Healing service (24 Jun)

• Awaken (29 Jun-2 July) • Discipleship Retreat (14-16 July) • Revival Fridays (7, 14, 21, 28 July) • 4th Saturday Mass & Healing service (22 July)

Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal (SACCRE)

• Pentecost Rally – Celebrating the CCR Golden Jubilee (4 Jun) • School of Healing Prayer Level 2 (17, 18, 24 & 25 Jun)

• LISS Training Workshop (8 & 15 July) • Servant Leaders’ Meeting (29 July)

Office for Catechesis (OFC)

• Liturgy of the Word for Children Workshop Communi-Tea: LOWC Catechists’ Gathering (6 June) • Intro to RCIA (29 Jun - 1 July) • Basic Catechist Course – Liturgy: The Mass (27 Jun - 18 July)

• Catechist Elective Course: Introduction to Virtues (6 July - 17 Aug) • OFC Open House (8 July) • Communi-Tea: Children’s Catechists’ Gathering (19 July) • Craft of Catechesis Workshop: Planning Confirmation Retreat for Youths (26 July) • RCIA Sponsors’ Training (22, 23 July)

Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI)

• Gospel Art (4 Jun) • Skills Development Programme (SD) – 1st Semester Graduation Day (18 Jun)

• Spiritual Living Through Art-Baking (13 July) • Migrant Think Tank Conference (14 July) • Party@CJC, 40 Migrants (16 July) • Skills Development Team Day (30 July)

Caritas Singapore (Caritas)

• Agape Experience Alive! programme for post confirmands (6, 8, 13 & 15 Jun)

• Agape Experience @Holy Cross (22 July) • Agape Experience @St Vincent De Paul (29 July) • Personal Moral Compass Module 4 “Ethics of Sex, Love and Marriage” (4 July) • CST workshop (22 July) • Building the Kingdom for Leaders (29 July)

Staff receive a special blessing after the Mass.

july

• The Catholic’s Divorce Survival Guide (21 Mar-6 Jun, every Tue)

Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS)

• CHARIS Humanitarian Forum & Fair (10 June)

Archdiocesan Commission for Apostolate of Mandarin-speaking (ACAMS)

• Intercessory prayer session (every Wed) • Primary School Faith Camp (16-18 Jun) • Pre-School Camp (17 Jun) • Family Bonding (25-26 Jun) • Pentecost Rally (26 Jun)

• Bible Sunday Talk & Mass (9 July) • Walking in Discipleship (14, 21, 28 July) • Faith Formation North/Serangoon District (23 July)

Archdiocesan Commission for Tamil Speaking (ACTS)

• Retreat

Archdiocesan Biblical Apostolate (ABA)

• Bible Sunday Seminar 2017 (8 July)

Note: For more information, please refer to the respective Organisation’s website. This information is correct at the time of printing.

Compiled by Office for the New Evangelisation (ONE), www.one.org.sg

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Three-parent embryo: a new solution or a new problem?

Moral theologian Fr David Garcia explores the ethics behind this development

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T IS now possible to have children from two genetic mothers and one father. It is popularly known as the three-parent embryo.

In April, 2016, one couple benefited from such a procedure in Mexico where such interventions are not regulated. Reportedly, the parents had lost two previous babies to a rare genetic disorder called Leigh syndrome, a disease that affects the central nervous system progressively and results in death within two to three years.

This disease is caused by mutations in the mitochondrial DNA. Not all our DNA is in our chromosomes. Less than 1 percent of the total DNA in a cell is contained in cell organelle called the mitochondrion. This mitochondrial DNA represents about 37 genes out of some 20,000 in total.

The question is: what if women afflicted with Leigh syndrome could use “donor’s” mitochondria to have healthy children? That is exactly what the three-parent embryo technique aims to achieve.

This technique involves an egg donated from a third party. The nucleus of the egg of the motherto-be is removed and implanted in the egg of the donor. The result is one egg that has the chromosomal DNA of one woman and the mitochondrial DNA of the donor.

The egg is then fertilised invitro with the father’s sperm and the resulting embryo is implanted into the mother’s womb. The embryo will grow, hopefully, free from Leigh syndrome.

This procedure offers couples the possibility to have a baby that is much more genetically related to the mother as opposed to using IVF (in vitro fertilisation) with a donor’s egg. In IVF using a donor’s egg, the baby will be genetically related to the father and the donor, but not to the “mother”.

needs to originate in the sexual act of the spouses to respect the dignity of the spouses and that of the child.

This therefore excludes the licit use of procedures like IVF and other Assisted Reproductive technologies that forego the participation of the sexual act, including the three parent embryo technique.

The sexual act

Photo of an eight-cell human embryo. Last year, one couple had a baby from a three-parent-embryo procedure done in Mexico.

However, in the three-parentembryo procedure, the baby will inherit the chromosomal DNA from the father and the mother and only the mitochondrial DNA from the donor.

Objections Some scientists have however objected to this three-parent embryo.

First there is the safety issue.

This procedure is so new that we still don’t know the side effects that it will have in the future. Others argue that creating new genetic changes that will be passed down to future generations is trespassing on ethical grounds. Still others see a slippery slope path to

In the three-parentembryo procedure, the baby will inherit the chromosomal DNA from the father and the mother, and the mitochondrial DNA from the donor. germ-line editing and a closer step to “designer babies”.

A higher level of concern is the further blurring of the concept of motherhood by adding one layer of confusion with the concept of “mitochondrial” motherhood.

In a document issued in 2008 and called Dignitas Personae (The Dignity of the Human Person), the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) addressed issues related to the use of biotechnologies in human fertilisation.

The document explains that “human cloning is intrinsically illicit in that, by taking the ethical negativity of techniques of artificial fertilisation to their extreme, it seeks to give rise to a new human being without a connection to the act of reciprocal self-giving between the spouses and, more radically, without any link to sexuality. This leads to manipulation and abuses gravely injurious to human dignity” (Dignitas Personae 28).

This statement reiterates what other Church documents have affirmed before: human procreation

The sexual act is not merely a biological act, but first and foremost an intimate, personal act that both expresses the mutual, personal self-giving of the spouses and creates a new person. Separating these two intrinsic meanings of the marital act would be a violation of its intrinsic integrity.

In other words, people should neither intend to render sexual acts infertile nor to have recourse to fertility outside the sexual act.

What is at stake here is not simply an obsession with the integrity of sexual acts, but above all with the respect of the dignity of the persons involved.

In marriage, spouses are given rights and duties, among which is the right to be a parent only with one’s spouse. This excludes any romantic and/or genetic third party, such as a sperm, egg donors, or, as in the procedure in question, mitochondrial DNA. The dignity of the child is at stake as well. Human persons have rights and among them is the right to come into existence out of the act of love of one’s parents.

Not by a technological act that could or could not have a loving intention, but by the bodily and personal act which is in itself directed to express spousal love and generate human life.

God, who is both ultimate Life and Love and cannot be divided, is the ultimate foundation of why human beings should not separate giving life from giving love. n

Help for ethical dilemmas The Catholic Medical Guild of Singapore (CMG) is providing a resource for those who are seeking help in answering reallife ethical dilemmas on issues ranging from contraception and abortion counselling to that of end of life care in a manner that is both professional and faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The new CMG bioethics centre consisting of moral

theologian, Fr David Garcia, OP, and two medical doctors both trained in medical ethics at the John Paul II institute for marriage and the family in Melbourne – Dr Colin Ong and Dr John Hui – will be available to address ethical dilemmas via the email cmgethicscentre@gmail.com, or if necessary, through a personal faceto-face dialogue at a date and time that can be arranged. n

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Catholics express hope in new S Korean president CNS photo

SEOUL – Catholics in South Ko-

rea have high expectations for unity, equality and an end to corruption under the country’s new president, Mr Moon Jae-in.

In a congratulatory message to Mr Moon that also noted the national rift that led to the special election, the head of the Korean bishops’ conference, Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong of Gwangju, said the country needed “a credible leader who keeps principles and steps towards true peace and justice beyond today’s conflicts and confrontations”.

“May the new president be a great leader who can make democracy take root in this country and bring peace and prosperity to the Korean people,” he said in a statement.

Mr Moon, a Catholic and member of South Korea’s Democratic Party, won the May 9 election with 41 percent of the vote among a slate of 13 candidates.

The son of North Korean immigrants had remained in the frontrunner position since former President Park Geun-hye’s ouster in early March.

“I hope that the new president will lead this nation to be one where, in the spirit of the constitution, the vulnerable and disadvantaged in the society can be treated with human dignity and respect,” said Archbishop Kim.

Supporters of South Korea’s new President Moon Jae-in celebrate in Seoul.

Mr Moon, 64, was buoyed by the growing dissatisfaction of ordinary citizens angry over corruption under Ms Park.

Mr Moon ran on a promise to see Ms Park’s trial through, while the top conservative- and moderate-leaning candidates leaned towards pardoning her.

Franciscan Fr Moses Kim Ildeuk of Hongcheon County, east

Mr Moon Jae-in has been described as ‘a good Catholic’.

of Seoul, said he thought “all friars ... in Korea, with only a few exceptions, are enjoying this victorious result”. He described Mr Moon as “a good Catholic” whom he expects to “clear up all the corruption that is deeply settled in all the public systems of Korean society”.

Mr Simon Han, 27, a Jesuit pre-novitiate candidate and member of a Catholic young adult group in Seoul, said Mr Moon had a lot of support from young Catholics. “He’s a more liberal ruler and better suited for the presidency in terms of morality and Catholic faith,” said Mr Han. n CNS

Vatican, UN members slam Philippines on human rights MANILA – The Vatican and

several United Nations member states have expressed grave concern over the human rights situation in the Philippines, particularly with drug-related killings.

At the recent UN Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, 45 countries recommended that the Philippines conduct a “thorough” investigation into the killings and hold the perpetrators accountable.

The Philippines underwent the human rights review, which every UN member country undergoes every four years, before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on May 8.

In remarks at the UN review, the Vatican delegation condemned “the perpetuation

of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances”, described as “deeply troubling”.

Vatican representative, Msgr Mauro Cionini, also noted “troubling reports of trafficking of Filipino men and women, and children, for labour exploitation.”

In its recommendations, the Holy See urged the Philippines to ensure the “protection of the right to life from conception to natural death”.

Msgr Cionini also called on the Philippine government “to sustain and promote familybased marriage between a man and a woman”.

The Vatican also recommended the continuation of policies that provide the poor access to education. n UCANEWS.COM

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Young HK Catholics urged to get involved in bishops’ meeting on youth HONG KONG – Cardinal Lorenzo

people on the earth”, not just Baldisseri, secretary-general of Christians. the Synod of Bishops, encouraged He encouraged the young young Catholics in Hong Kong to Hong Kong Catholics not to igget involved in preparation for the nore the “opportunity to be innext Synod of Bishops volved” in the synod meeting, which will and to keep a look out The Synod discuss young people. “at the general secof Bishops Asian Church news retariat website for a portal, ucanews.com, questionnaire, which meeting in reported that during a can fill out online”.

October 2018 youUniversity 90-minute dialogue held student will discuss Philomena Poon and on May 13 with a group of mostly young Cathoother participants the topic of some lics, Cardinal Baldistold ucanews.com they seri explained how the young people. are interested in exChurch is preparing for pressing their views. the October 2018 synod, which has “In the past, we got pontifical the theme, “Young people, faith and writings on issues such as family, vocational discernment”. marriage and love, but this time Cardinal Baldisseri added that it is about young people, and we the theme “referred to all young also get a cardinal coming here to

Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, speaks to young Catholics in Hong Kong.

meet us. It shows the Church pays heed to us, which gives us motivation to get involved,” said Poon.

Cardinal Baldisseri was making his first seven-day visit to

two Chinese communities in East Asia.

Besides meeting with young people, he delivered a talk on the family on May 14 as part of the di-

ocesan programme for the Year of Family 2017. He also was scheduled to attend a conference on the family in Taiwan and meet with youth there. n cns

Running across Italy to help displaced Iraqis On Mother’s Day, pope Loaded with peaparking lot” as long as it urges appreciation of mums nut butter sandwiches, had a gas station and pizROME –

VATICAN CITY – Pope Fran-

cis marked Mother’s Day on May 14 by asking everyone to appreciate their mothers.

After reciting the “Regina Coeli” prayer with an estimated 25,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square, the pope said, “Let us remember with gratitude and affection all mothers, including our mothers in heaven, entrusting them to Mary, the mother of Jesus.”

The pope also called for greater pro-life and pro-maternal support, saying “the future of our community requires from everyone, especially institutions, concrete attention to life and maternity”.

He also greeted those taking part in Italy’s “Empty Stroller”

The pope waves to the crowds on Mother’s Day. CNS photo

initiative, which called attention to the country’s low birthrate by the parking of hundreds of empty strollers near the Colosseum on May 14.

The Family Forum, which organised the initiative, said having a child is one of the main causes of poverty in Italy. The group wants the government to provide more help to families because “the children of today are those who will keep the nation of tomorrow standing”.

The pope also prayed for all those affected by war.

“Today ... there is a great need of prayer and penance to plead for the grace of conversion, to plead for the end of so many wars that are all over the world and that are increasingly spreading, as well as the end of absurd conflicts – big and small, that disfigure the face of humanity,” he said. n cns

power bars, Gatorade, grit zeria to replenish tanks and and prayer, nine US semitummies. narians studying in Rome He said the men take ran relay-style across the turns running one leg Italian peninsula to raise of 8-14 km to a planned funds for displaced families checkpoint and then the in Iraq. finishing runner would Warm-up included a “slap hands” to hand-off pre-dawn Mass on May 6 at the virtual baton to the next the Pontifical North Amerirunner in the relay. can College where the During the event, the students live, followed by men stretched and rested in packing two vans with nine the moving van, encouragrunners, two drivers and ing the one on the road. protein- and carb-rich proThe one-day run raised visions, seminarian Chrismore than US$15,000, tian Huebner of the Archdi(S$21,000) in part thanks ocese of Washington, DC, to an anonymous donor told Catholic News Service who matched every dollar on May 4. pledged. The money goes One van headed to the to the pontifical foundaMediterranean Sea near tion, Aid to the Church in Fiumicino and the other A US seminarian studying in Rome takes part in Need, which will use the van went east to the Adri- a relay-run across the Italian peninsula. CNS photo money to continue a proatic Sea. gramme that feeds some “When we arrive, we dip a is about 380 km across, he said. of the 12,000 displaced famifinger in the water and run to the The students meet up in the mid- lies from Mosul living in Irbil. middle” of the peninsula, which dle by evening “in some random n cns

Church leaders visit Buddhists on Vesak Day HANOI – Cardinal Peter Nguyen Van Nhon of Hanoi and two priests offered a large bouquet to Buddhist officials at Quan Su Temple, headquarters of the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam, in Hanoi.

The Church leaders visited Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu and other Buddhist officials on May 8 visit, ahead of Vesak Day. During the meeting, Cardinal Nhon said Catholics and Buddhists “stand in solidarity and friendship and work together to bring peace and contentment to the nation”, a Bud-

dhist-run newspaper, reported.

Most Venerable Nhieu said he hoped that both sides maintain their good relationship and traditions.

On the same day, a delegation led by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Do Manh Hung of Ho Chi Minh City visited Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, vice head of the Buddhist Shangha of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City.

“On this special occasion, we come to one another to strengthen our close friendship,” Bishop Hung said.

Most Venerable Quang was

similarly pleased. “Although we have different faiths, we share the same aim of loving and serving all people,” he said.

Bishop Hung gave out copies of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue’s Vesak Day message to Buddhists.

Buddhism and Catholicism are the largest religious groups in Vietnam. Their followers cooperate in caring for people with HIV/ AIDS, providing food to people in poor communities and promoting harmony and peace among communities. n UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Head of French bishops welcomes Macron’s election PARIS – The head of the French bishops’ conference welcomed the election of new President Emmanuel Macron and said he hoped the June legislative elections would not place the country “in an ungovernable situation”.

Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille, president of the French bishops’ conference, told Vatican Radio on May 8 that French Catholics had also been left “divided like the rest of French society” and said he counted on Mr Macron and his new government “being able to function”.

“Macron has been elected in an important manner – we must hope he succeeds for the good of our country, otherwise it will be catastrophic,” said Archbishop Pontier.

“Priorities for his new five-year term must include struggling against unemployment, which is so destructive for families, for prospects and for projects, as well as the necessity of staying in Europe – and giving this Europe the means of retaining the respect of every people.”

Mr Macron, 39, ran on a promarket platform that included support for the European Union and cuts to public administration, as well as lower corporation taxes and measures to defend secular values.

In a May 3 interview on his diocesan website, Archbishop Pontier said the Catholic Church had sought to encourage “reflection and discernment” among voters, rather than “taking sides for one or another candidate”.

Born in Amiens, northwest of Paris, Mr Macron was educated at Jesuit-run La Providence high school, before studying at the capital’s prestigious Ecole Nationale d’Administration and join-

ing Rothschild and Cie Banque in 2008 as an investment banker.

French writer Samuel Pruvot, who interviewed the new president at length for a book, said Mr Macron sought baptism at age 12 under the influence of his Jesuit teachers, but viewed the Catholic faith “more intellectually than spiritually” and would “distance himself as much as possible from Church, faith and Catholicism” as president. n CNS

‘We must hope he succeeds

for the good of our country, otherwise it will be catastrophic.’

Mr Emmanuel Macron celebrating at his victory rally near the Louvre in Paris on May 7. CNS photo

– Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseille

Priest kidnapped in Yemen pleads for help in new video VATICAN CITY – Indian Salesian

Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, who was kidnapped in Yemen last year, has pleaded in a new video message for the Indian government and the Catholic Church to do more to secure his release.

The video was posted on YouTube by the news site Aden Time on May 8. The heavily bearded and very thin priest is shown seated with a cardboard sign in his lap with the date April 15, 2017. A similar video was posted in December.

An official at the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, which includes Yemen, said on May 9 that the person in the video is the kidnapped priest, but would not comment further.

Fr Uzhunnalil was kidnapped in Aden on March 4, 2016, in an attack in which four Missionaries of Charity and at least 12 others were killed at a home for the aged.

In the recent video, the priest began by stating his name and date of birth and thanking “my dear family people” for their messages of concern, which he said he has received.

“My health condition is deteriorating quickly and I require hospitalisation as early as possible,” he said. He added that his captors have contacted Indian government authorities “several times” and the replies, which he said he has seen, were “very, very poor”.

“They also contacted the bishop, Bishop of Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“There, too, the response was not

‘My health

condition is deteriorating quickly.’

– Fr Tom Uzhunnalil in the video

Fr Tom Uzhunnalil is seen in a screen grab from a recent YouTube video.

encouraging. Neither the bishop nor the Indian government authorities ask them what they really want to get me released. It is a poor response, and I am sad about that.”

Asking his family and friends to pressure the authorities, he said, “Please, please, do what you can to get me released. May God bless you for that.” n CNS

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Indonesian bishop slams mega Jesus statue project JAYAPURA, INDONESIA – A Catholic bishop in Indonesia’s Papua province has criticised a plan by local authorities in Jayapura to build “the world’s tallest statue of Jesus”, calling the move a waste of money.

Mr Djuli Mambaya, head of Papua’s public work agency, told reporters recently that construction would cost 300 billion rupiah (S$31.5 million) and begin sometime next year.

Planners say the statue at 73 m high would dwarf the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is 38 m high.

A museum will also be built that would highlight Papua’s Christian and cultural heritage, they said.

The announcement brought swift condemnation by the local Catholic bishop.

“It’s unnecessary. The money should be allocated for more urgent things such as education, health and alleviating poverty,” Franciscan Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura told ucanews.com.

Papua governor, Mr Lukas Enembe said the project aims to dispel perceptions that Papau is a place of violence and attract visitors to the Christian-majority province.

“It will be an icon and a symbol of Christianity in Papua,” he said.

About 65 percent of Papua’s 3.2 million people are Protestant, while about 18 percent are Catholic.

Bishop Laba Ladjar said the local government should sit down with Church leaders “and address

more important issues, such as poverty, killings, and other forms of crimes that are against Christian values.”

Ms Yuliana Woi, a vegetable seller in Jayapura, said the government needed to get its priorities right by placing the interests of local people first. Building a market so people do not have to sell their wares on the street would be a start, she said.

CNS file photo

The Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil. A plan to build a taller statue in Indonesia has been criticised.

“A statue will not change our lives, but being able to sell things will,” she said.

Mr Yan Kristian Warinusi from the Reformed Evangelical Church in Papua doubted whether the statue would prove a big tourist draw. He said a 30-m-high statue of Christ – so far the largest in Indonesia – erected a few years ago in Mansinam Island in West Papua, has failed to attract visitors. n UCANEWS.COM

Pope asked to visit Hiroshima VATICAN CITY – Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki has asked Pope Francis to visit the atomicbombed Japanese city and send a message of peace to the world.

Mr Yuzaki made the call during the pope’s general audience in St Peter’s Square on May 3. He also met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to relay his hope for a visit to Hiroshima by

the pope, Kyodo News reported.

“Hiroshima is a symbol of reconstruction, hope and peace. The pope’s visit would attract worldwide attention and provide a chance for everybody to think about the abolition of nuclear weapons,” Mr Yuzaki said after the audience.

The pope has constantly called for nuclear disarmament. If a trip to Hiroshima is realised, it would be the first papal visit to Japan since Pope John Paul II in 1981.

Japan’s bishops have been inviting Pope Francis to visit the nation since he became pope. n UCANEWS.COM

Struggle against the ‘culture of destruction,’ pope tells teenagers VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis told Italian students he was shocked when a massive US bomb used in Afghanistan was referred to as “the mother of all bombs”.

“They called it ‘the mother of all bombs,’” the pope said. But “a mother gives life and this brought death”.

The 7,000 young people were participating in a course on peace and human rights sponsored by the Italian ministry of education.

They gave the pope sustained applause on May 6 for his comment about the US bomb, formally called the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB). US forces used it in Afghanistan on a tunnel complex for suspected Islamic State militants on April 13.

Pope Francis told the young people they should be worried about the state of the world, which seems to be embracing a “culture of destruction”.

At the same time, he said there are millions of people in the world giving their lives in service to others. The vast majority of them are “hidden” and never make the news, but they exist and the young people should join their ranks.

A young woman who gave her name as Maria asked the pope what was going on in the world with so much violence, hospitals and schools being bombed and refugee children drowning in the Mediterranean? The pope said he asks himself the same question.

Because of sin and the work of the devil, he said, human beings have destroyed one another since Cain and Abel. But cruelty and destruction seem to be increasing.

Another young woman told the pope that in school she and her classmates are studying “Laudato Si’,” his encyclical on the environment. She said she

A Massive Ordnance Air Blast, also known as MOAB or Mother Of All Bombs, is pictured in this undated handout photo. CNS photo

They called it ‘‘the mother of

all bombs’... [but] a mother gives life and this brought death .

’

– Pope Francis

knows people need to change their behaviours to protect creation, but she wonders if it’s too late and, she said, it’s tempting to be resigned to the Earth’s destruction.

“That makes me angry,” the pope said. “Resignation is a forbidden word for us. Never, never.

We have to keep going, struggling, being creative.”

The pope said many people today will not even eat an apple without peeling it because of the pesticides used and “there are doctors who tell mothers not to give their children factory-farmed chicken because hormonal imbal-

ances” in children may be caused by the hormones used to fatten the chickens.

“Evil, money and power,” but especially money, are behind much of the destruction of human beings and of creation, the pope said. Weapons manufacturers make more weapons than nations need to defend themselves, so they sell them to opposing sides in a tense situation, helping to ignite violence.

Meekness, dialogue and placing human beings – not money – at the centre of concern are key weapons in fighting the culture of destruction, he said. n cns

Mexican Church warns against ‘pseudo saint’ MEXICO CITY – A Mexican archdiocese is warning against the veneration of a “pseudo saint” created to legitimise criminal activities such as stealing gasoline, saying it is “playing with people’s faith”.

Officials with the Archdiocese of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City, say a band of gasoline thieves known as “huachicoleros” have altered an image of the Santo Nino de Atocha (Holy Child of Atocha) – a popular image of the Christ child – to show the child holding a gas can and

hose and bearing the name “Santo Nino Huachicolero”.

“This image can never be accepted. Being a ‘huachicolero’ is practically a crime. The Church cannot be in favour of this, much less be in favour that images are used in this way,” said archdiocesan spokesman, Fr Paulo Carvajal.

Thieves tapping pipelines belonging to Pemex, the state oil company, stole more than 600 million gallons (2,271 megalitres) of gasoline in 2016, according to online news organisation Animal Politico.

The number of illegal pipeline taps, meanwhile, numbering 6,159 in 2016, has increased by 791 percent since 2010, the company reported.

The crisis is especially acute in parts of Puebla, where gangs known as “huachicoleros” employ hordes of locals – for tasks that include tapping pipelines, transporting and selling the stolen product and spying on the movements by police – in areas plagued by an absence of economic opportunities. n cns

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Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Bishops put UK’s future at top of list of election issues MANCHESTER, England – The bishops of England and Wales have put the post-Brexit future of the United Kingdom at the top of a list of priority issues for Catholic voters to consider before the June 8 general election.

In a two-page letter published on May 15, the bishops reminded Catholics of their duty to vote and advised voters to question politicians seeking their support on a range of 10 key issues.

The consideration at the top of the list was titled “leaving the European Union,” and voters were asked to determine the attitude of candidates to the future status of EU citizens who live in the UK. The bishops also invited voters to ask candidates what issues “should be the top priority when forming new international partnerships,” adding that “human and workers’ rights, the environment, and the development of the world’s poorest countries” must be considered.

In their preamble, the bishops said the election “takes place at a pivotal moment in the life of our

The consideration at the top of the list asked voters to determine the attitude of candidates to the future status of EU citizens who live in the UK.

A European Union flag and British Union flag are seen at Parliament Square in London last year. The bishops of England and Wales issued a letter containing issues for Catholic voters to consider before the June 8 general election. CNS file photo

nations as we prepare to leave the European Union,” following the outcome of the June 2016 referendum on EU membership.

“To a great extent, the outcome of this election will determine the approach taken on how this is achieved, the priorities we

pursue and the values we wish to treasure as our own in the UK and as partners with countries around the world,” the bishops said. “It will determine how we can heal divisions in our society, care for the vulnerable, how our public services are run and whether we

Pope wants meeting dedicated to people in Amazon VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is

considering dedicating a meeting of the Synod of Bishops to the concerns of the indigenous people of the Amazon region, a Peruvian archbishop said.

Although the Church has continued to assist the native populations in the Amazon, which occupies 63 percent of Peru, efforts must continue “to revitalise” the Church and its work in the region, said Archbishop Salvador Pineiro Garcia-Calderon of Ayacucho, president of the Peruvian bishops’ conference.

“The Holy Father told us he would like a synod for the Amazonian people in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil,” Archbishop Pineiro told L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper.

In an interview published on May 16, the archbishop said the Peruvian bishops met with Pope Francis for two and a half hours on May 15 during the “ad limina” visit that bishops are required to make to the Vatican to report on their diocese.

The challenge of evangelising in remote communities was among the main themes the bishops discussed with the pope, Archbishop Pineiro said.

Among the problems facing bishops, he said, is the difficulty in physically reaching the native populations. For example, he said, al-

can remain a united kingdom.”

The second question on the list deals with euthanasia and assisted suicide, with Catholics urged to ask candidates if they would uphold a 2015 House of Commons vote against a bill to permit doctor-assisted death.

Abortion is not explicitly mentioned, but the bishops suggested that Catholics asked their candidates if they would “support measures to promote the intrinsic value of life at every stage.”

The bishops also asked voters to press candidates about their policies on prison reform in face of “unprecedented levels of violence and suicide.”

They highlighted the need

World Youth Day logo shows symbols for Mary, Panama PANAMA CITY – A logo

An indigenous member of the Desano ethnic group handles a camera during a meeting in Mitu, Colombia. The president of the Peruvian bishops’ conference said that Pope Francis is considering dedicating a meeting of the Synod of Bishops to the concerns of the indigenous people of the Amazon region. CNS photo

though they are in the same Church province, one bishop is five hours away and another is 17 hours away.

“It’s easier to meet in Rome,” he told L’Osservatore Romano, adding that “the pope is very concerned.”

As a nation, he said, “we have turned our back on” the native people of the Amazon and have been “insensitive to their suffering, their marginalisation.”

The Church, he said, has been the only voice that has spoken out in defending the indigenous people of the Amazon. In the early 1900s,

St Pius X strongly denounced the mistreatment of the native population in the rubber plantations of Peru, Archbishop Pineiro said.

A synod, he said, would expand that message and strengthen current efforts to evangelise.

“It is difficult to evangelise the native population,” he said.

“Recently, the seeds have begun to be sown. Some of my brother bishops who are in that area have learned to speak the native language in order to draw closer to the population.” n CNS

for a fair migration system and the expansion of schemes to find homes for refugees to the UK, as a commitment to protect persecuted minorities overseas, “including Christian minorities.”

The letter also makes modern slavery and poverty relief both at home and abroad issues of concern.

In the face of aggressive secularism that has led to attacks against state-funded Catholic education, voters should question candidates if they supported the rights of parents to choose Catholic schools for their children, the bishops suggested.

The eight Scottish bishops also released the text of a pre-election letter to Catholics on May 15, asking voters to focus principally on issues touching on the sanctity of human life; marriage and the family; poverty; political asylum; and religious freedom.

In the letter, which will be read out in churches from May 20-21, the bishops included sections on the arms trade and nuclear weapons and on threats to free speech.

Politics, the bishops said, needed a new direction “where dialogue is respectful and where different points of view, including those of a religious nature, are tolerated.” n CNS

depicting symbols for Mary, Panama and the Panama Canal was selected as the winning design to promote World Youth Day 2019.

The design by Amber Calvo, 20, a Panamanian student studying architecture, was chosen from 103 entries submitted for the event that will take place from Jan 22-27, 2019, on the IsthThe winning design for World Youth Day mus of Panama.

2019. CNS photo The entries were first evaluated by a group of graphic site of the event, is represented design and marketing profession- across the top of the design in als who settled on three designs the shape of a stylised “M.” The submitted for review by the WYD image refers to the Panamanian Executive Committee 2019 and theme, “Bridge of the World, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Heart of the Universe.” It also Family and Life. suggests the name of Mary and Calvo’s design is in the shape her motherly heart leads the pilof a stylized heart. It is two shades grim to Jesus, her son. of blue with a red cross. The artWithin the image of Panama work includes a silhouette of and above Mary’s head are five Mary on the right at the moment small white dots that represent her she says, “Thy will be done” to crown as well as the fact that pilGod. The Panama Canal flows grims will travel to the event from through Mary, symbolising the five continents outside of North pilgrim’s path through Mary to America.

Jesus.

The logo will appear on all At the left in red, is an image World Youth Day materials, handof the Pilgrim Cross. outs, social media and websites.

The Isthmus of Panama, the n CNS

18 Pope in fatima

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Pope canonises Fatima se

Ponitff commemorates 100th anniversary of Mar

Pope Francis celebrates the canonisation Mass of Sts Francisco and Jacinta Marto, two of the three Fatima seers, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal on May 13. The Mass marked the 100th anniversary of the Fatima Marian apparitions, which began on May 13, 1917.

FATIMA, Portugal – Standing

before the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pope Francis canonised two shepherd children who saw Mary at Fatima, but more importantly, he said, they heeded the call to pray for sinners and trust in the Lord.

“We declare and define Blessed Francisco Marto and Blessed Jacinta Marto as saints,” the pope said on May 13 as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims broke out in applause before he finished speaking.

The relics of the young shepherd children, encased in two thin golden crosses, were placed in front of the famed statue of Our Lady of Fatima, the “lady dressed in white” as the siblings and their cousin described her.

The Marian apparitions began on May 13, 1917, when nine-yearold Francisco and seven-year-old Jacinta, along with their 10-yearold cousin Lucia dos Santos, reported seeing the Virgin Mary.

The apparitions continued once a month until Oct 13, 1917, and were later declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church.

After contracting influenza, Francisco died on April 4, 1919, at the age of 10, while Jacinta succumbed to her illness on Feb 20, 1920, at the age of nine.

The children, beatified by St John Paul II in 2000, are now the youngest non-martyrs to be declared saints by the Catholic Church.

Before his arrival at the shrine, the pope met privately with Portuguese Prime Minster Antonio Costa and then made his way into the sanctuary that houses the tombs of Sts Francisco and Jacinta and their cousin Lucia, who died in 2005 at the age of 97.

The diocesan phase of her sainthood cause concluded in February and now is under study at the Vatican.

Pope Francis stood for several minutes in front of the tombs with his eyes closed and head bowed.

In his homily at the canonisation Mass, the pope reflected on the brief lives of the young sibling saints.

He told the crowd that it is Mary’s message and example, rather than an apparition, that is important. Portuguese authorities estimated the crowd to be about 500,000 strong.

“The Virgin Mother did not come here so that we could see her.

We will have all eternity for that, provided, of course, that we go to heaven,” the pope said.

Instead, he continued, Mary’s

Portuguese shepherd children Lucia dos Santos (centre) and her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, are seen in a file photo. The cousins are now the youngest non-martyrs to be declared saints by the Catholic Church after their canonisation.

messages to the young children were a warning to all people about leading “a way of life that is godless and indeed profanes God in his creatures.”

“Such a life – frequently proposed and imposed – risks leading to hell. Mary came to remind us that God’s light dwells within us and protects us,” the pope said.

The hopeful message of Fatima, he said, is that men and women have a mother and like children clinging to her, “we live in the hope that rests on Jesus.”

Mary’s messages to the young children were a warning to all people about leading ‘a way of life that is godless and indeed profanes God in his creatures.’

the heart” and “worsens our myopia.”

It is with the light of hope, the pope added, that the Church can radiate “the true face of Jesus” and reach out to those in need.

“Thus, may we rediscover the young and beautiful face of the Church, which shines forth when she is missionary, welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means and rich in love,” he said.

Addressing the sick before concluding the Mass, Pope Francis said that Christ understands the “meaning of sorrow and pain” and, through the Church, offers comfort to the afflicted just as it did for Sts Francisco and Jacinta in their final moments.

“That is the Church’s ministry: the Church asks the Lord to comfort the afflicted like your-

selves, and He comforts you, even in ways you cannot see. He comforts you in the depths of your hearts and He comforts you with the gift of strength,” the pope said.

The “hidden Jesus” the young shepherds adored in the Eucharist is also present “in the wounds of our brothers and sisters” where Christians can recognise Christ.

Pope Francis encouraged the sick present at Mass to “live their lives as a gift” and to not think of themselves simply “as the recipients of charitable solidarity” but rather “a spiritual resource, an asset to every Christian community.”

“Do not be ashamed of being a precious treasure of the Church,” he said. n CNS

– Pope Francis

Pope Francis called on the pilgrims to follow the example of heroic virtue lived by St Francisco and St Jacinta, particularly their insistent prayer for sinners and their adoration of “the hidden Jesus” in the tabernacle.

This continual presence of God taught to them by Mary, he said, “was the source of their strength in overcoming opposition and suffering.”

By following their example, the pope said, Christians can become “a source of hope for others” and counter “the indifference that chills

Pope Francis prays at the tomb of Fatima seer Francisco Marto before celebrating the canonisation Mass for him and his sister, Jacinta.

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Pope in fatima 19

eers, leads vigil at shrine

rian apparitions with May 12-13 visit to Portugal

Honour the believing, tender Mary, says pope FATIMA, Portugal – Mary’s ex-

ample of believing and following Jesus is what matters most; she cannot be some image “of our own making” who Christians barter with for mercy, Pope Francis said.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions at Fatima, the pope asked tens of thousands of pilgrims on May 12 to reflect on “which Mary” they choose to venerate, “the virgin Mary from the Gospel” or “one who restrains the arm of a vengeful God?” Is the Mary they honour “a woman blessed because she believed always and everywhere in God’s words or a ‘plaster statue’ from whom we beg favours at little cost?” he asked.

As the sun set at the shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, pilgrims held thousands of lit candles, filling the square with a fiery light before Pope Francis led them in praying the rosary.

The pope arrived at the shrine by helicopter from Monte Real air base. Excited crowds, waving flags and white handkerchiefs, cheered as he arrived in his popemobile.

He then made his way to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions where Mary appeared to three shepherd children on May 13, 1917. The apparitions continued once a month until Oct 13, 1917.

The festive cheering of the crowd turned to near absolute silence as the pope spent several minutes with his head bowed and hands clasped in prayer, occasionally looking up at the statue of Mary venerated by his predecessors and millions of devotees across the globe.

Pope Francis then recited a prayer he wrote, an expanded version of the traditional Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen).

Alternating his verses with a choral refrain venerating the “Queen of the Rosary of Fatima,” the pope consecrated himself to Mary and entrusted to her intercession a suffering humanity where blood “is shed in the wars tearing our world apart.”

Begging Mary’s assistance, the pope prayed that believers would “tear down all walls and overcome all boundaries, going to all peripheries, there revealing God’s justice and peace.”

“In the depths of your being, in your immaculate heart, you keep the sorrows of the human family, as they mourn and weep in this valley of tears,” the pope prayed.

As Blessed Paul VI and retired Pope Benedict XVI did before him, Pope Francis placed a small silver

depths of your being, ‘Inin the your immaculate heart,

you keep the sorrows of the human family, as they mourn and weep in this valley of tears.’

– Pope Francis’ prayer for Mary’s intercession

Pope Francis leads the blessing of candles in the Little Chapel of the Apparitions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal on May 12. CNS photos

vase containing 24-carat gold roses at the foot of the statue. Embedded in the statue’s crown is one of the bullets used in the assassination attempt against St John Paul II on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, 1981.

Returning to the little chapel for a nighttime vigil, Pope Francis reminded pilgrims to pray, as Mary taught the children at Fatima, for “those most in need” of God’s mercy.

“On each of the destitute and outcast robbed of the present, on each of the excluded and abandoned denied a future, on each of the orphans and victims of injustice refused a past, may there descend the blessing of God, incarnate in Jesus Christ,” he said.

Pope Francis held up Mary as a “model of evangelisation,” particularly because Christian men and women can look at her and see

Pilgrims pray as the pope leads the blessing of the candles at the Little Chapel of the Apparitions.

that “humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong.”

Those who emphasise God’s punishment of sinners, he said, commit “a great injustice” to Him by not recognising that sinners “are forgiven by His mercy.”

“Mercy has to be put before judgment,” he said, “and, in any

case, God’s judgment will always be rendered in the light of His mercy.”

“With Mary, may each of us become a sign and sacrament of the mercy of God, who pardons always and pardons everything,” he said. n CNS n See related story on Page 20

20 Pope francis

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Returning from Fatima, pope says he has doubts about Medjugorje ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM PORTUGAL – While the

investigations into the very first alleged apparitions at Medjugorje must continue, Pope Francis said he has doubts about claims that Mary continues to appear in the village of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Asked on May 13 about the authenticity of the Marian apparitions, which reportedly began in 1981, the pope referred to the findings of a commission chaired

by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the retired papal vicar of Rome.

“The report has its doubts, but personally, I am a little worse,” the pope told reporters travelling with him from Fatima, Portugal.

“I prefer Our Lady as mother, our mother, and not Our Lady as head of the post office who sends a message at a stated time.”

“This isn’t Jesus’ mother,” he said. “And these alleged apparitions don’t have much value. I say this as a personal opinion, but it is clear. Who thinks that Our Lady says, ‘Come, because tomorrow at this time I will give a message to that seer?’ No!” Three of the six young people who originally claimed to have seen Mary in Medjugorje in June 1981 say she continues to appear to them each day; the other three say Mary appears to them once a year now.

Despite his personal doubts, the pope said that the “spiritual and pastoral facts cannot be denied: People go there and convert, people who find God, who change their lives.

There isn’t magic there,” he said.

Pope Francis said about his May 24 meeting with US President Donald Trump that he would not judge ‘a person without listening to him first.’

Pilgrims praying around a statue of Mary on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The pope said he had doubts about the authenticity of the alleged apparitions here. CNS file photos

In February, Pope Francis appointed Polish Archbishop Henryk Hoser of Warsaw-Praga to study the pastoral needs of the townspeople and the thousands of pilgrims who flock to Medjugorje each year.

Also during the in-flight news conference, the pope was asked about his meeting with US President Donald Trump, who will visit the Vatican on May 24 as part of his first foreign trip as president.

Specifically asked how he would speak to a head of state with clearly opposing views on issues such as immigration, the pope said he would never “make a judgment about a person without listening to him first.”

“There are always doors that aren’t closed. Look for the doors that at least are a little bit open, enter and speak about things held in common and go forward, step by step,” the pope said. “Peace is artisanal; it is made every day,” he said.

Pope Francis also was asked about the resignation of Ms Marie Collins, one of the founding members and the last remaining abuse survivor on the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

She left the commission on March 1, citing the reluctance of members of the Roman Curia to implement recommendations or cooperate with the commission’s work.

The pope praised Ms Collins’ work on the commission and her continuing role in training bishops to deal with abuse allegations.

As for her reasons for leaving the commission, Pope Francis said, “She is a little bit right because there are so many cases that are delayed.”

However, the pope said the delays in handling cases are due to the need to draft new legislation and to the fact that

Despite his personal doubts, the pope said that the ‘spiritual and pastoral facts cannot be denied: People go there and convert, people who find God, who change their lives.’

Ms Marie Collins, a survivor of clergy sexual abuse, seen in a file photo.

The pope said she was ‘right about some things’ when asked about her resignation from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

there are few people capable of handling cases of sexual abuse.

“We are going forward, but Marie Collins was right about some things,” he said.

Asked about continuing discussions to fully reconcile the traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) with the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said he is patient. “I don’t like to rush things.”

He has made overtures to the faithful attached to the society by recognising the validity of absolution granted by SSPX priests and the validity of marriages they celebrate, but the Vatican still is waiting for the society’s leadership to sign a document affirming certain teachings of the Church.

“This isn’t a problem of winners and losers,” the pope said; it is about “brothers who should walk together, looking for ways to take steps forward.” n CNS

Pope francis 21

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Reject prejudice, leave space Media reform must for hope in communications be intelligent, ... says Pope Francis in his World Communications Day message VATICAN CITY – At a time when the media seem to feed a “vicious cycle of anxiety” and a “spiral of fear,” Christians should respond with honest stories that identify problems and evil, but also inspire real solutions, Pope Francis said.

“Every new tragedy that occurs in the world’s history can also become a setting for good news, inasmuch as love can find a way to draw near and to raise up sympathetic hearts, resolute faces and hands ready to build anew,” the pope wrote in his message for World Communications Day 2017.

Following a long tradition, the pope’s message was released on Jan 24, the feast of St Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists.

The Vatican and most dioceses will mark World Communications Day on May 28, the Sunday before Pentecost.

The pope chose “‘Fear not, for I am with you.’ Communicating Hope and Trust in Our Time” as the theme for the 2017 commemoration.

In his letter, Pope Francis said promoting hope and confidence is not to pretend evil does not exist or to spread misinformation, rather it means identifying and reporting ills in a way that does not “generate apathy, fear or the idea that evil has no limits.”

A particular problem today, he said, is reporting about tragedies and human suffering in a way that almost turns the story into entertainment.

What is needed, he said, is “an open and creative style of communication that never seeks to glamourise evil but instead to concentrate on solutions and to inspire a

Pope Francis speaking with journalists aboard his flight from Cairo to Rome on April 29. In his World Communications Day message, the pontiff said the media must report ills in a way that does not ‘generate apathy, fear or the idea that evil has no limits.’ CNS photo

positive and responsible approach on the part of its recipients.”

The story of Jesus is a clear example, the pope wrote. “This good news – Jesus Himself – is not good because it has nothing to do with suffering, but rather because suffering itself becomes part of a bigger picture. It is seen as an integral part of Jesus’ love for the Father and for all mankind.”

For Jesus and for all who believe in Him, “hardship and the cross do not obstruct, but bring about God’s salvation,” he said. “Weakness proves stronger than any human power and failure can be the prelude to the

fulfilment of all things in love.”

Faith tells Christians that God is at work at every moment in an individual’s life and at every moment of human history, he said.

That confidence always has given Christians hope, which is “the humblest of virtues for it remains hidden in the recesses of life, yet it is like the yeast that leavens all the dough.”

The text of the pope’s message is available at: http://w2.vatican. va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/ papa-francesco_20170124_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali. html n CNS

The pope chose “‘Fear not, for I am with you.’

Communicating Hope and Trust in Our Time” as the theme for the 2017 commemoration of World Communications Day.

even fierce: pope

VATICAN CITY – To best recations, Vatican press office, spond to new challenges in the Vatican Internet office, Vatican field of communication, the Radio, the Vatican television Vatican needs smart, coura- production studio and the Vatigeous teamwork, not nostalgia can newspaper, printing press, for a glorious past or doomsday photograph service and pubforecasts, Pope Francis said. lishing house. The statutes say As the Vatican continues to the coordination was needed to integrate and coordinate its nu- unify the many Vatican commumerous media outlets under the nications and media operations Secretariat for Communication for a more “coherent” effort in as part of a wider process of evangelisation and to respond to reform, the pope said “we must the growth of digital media and not be afraid of this word,” re- “factors of convergence and inform. teractivity” in social communiReform is not cations. brushing a bit As of next of fresh paint on year, he said, the The work things, but “reVatican newspais great, the form is giving per, L’Osservatore challenge is another form to Romano, will be things, organising part of the secregreat, but it them in another tariat and will have can be done, it to find a “new and way,” he said on May 4 in a speech different” way to must be done. to the secretariat’s reach a greater – Pope Francis to the members, direcnumber of readers Vatican Secretariat tors and officials, than it currently for Communication’s who were holding does in print formembers their first plenary mat. Fewer than assembly since 10,000 copies of the pope instituted the body in the daily edition, printed in Ital2015. ian, are printed a day.

“Let’s not allow the tempThis will require a willingtation of clinging to a glorious ness to find “a new plan for past to prevail. Instead, let us production and distribution,” make great team players in or- he said. “The work is great, the der to better respond to the new challenge is great, but it can be challenges in communications done, it must be done.” that today’s culture demands of Valuable experience and acus without fear and without im- complishments from the past agining apocalyptic scenarios,” must be an inspiration for a new he said in off-the-cuff remarks future, not become a “museum” The pope had created the that is nice and interesting to secretariat to coordinate the look at, “but not able to supply work that had been done in- strength and courage for contindividually by the Pontifical uing the journey,” Pope Francis Council for Social Communi- said. n CNS

‘

’

Pontiff meets Suu Kyi, launches diplomatic relations Pope to meet Shortly after Pope a Vatican description of the medallion. Trump on May 24 Francis met privately with MyanMs Suu Kyi has won internationVATICAN CITY –

mar’s de facto leader, Ms Aung San al support for her efforts to shore up Suu Kyi, the Holy See and Myanmar Myanmar’s fledgling democracy afannounced they were establishing ter decades of military rule, but serifull diplomatic relations. ous questions have been raised about The Vatican announced on May 4 her government’s treatment of the that the pope would appoint a nunRohingya people, who are Muslim. cio to the Southeast Asian nation and Pope Francis has appealed for that Myanmar would name an amtheir protection on several occabassador to the Vatican. The agreesions. At a general audience on Feb ment brings the number of countries 18, the pope said the Rohingya “are to 183 with which the Holy See has good people. They are our brothers full diplomatic relations. and sisters. They have been suffering Ms Suu Kyi, who was awarded for years. They have been tortured, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, had Pope Francis exchanges gifts with Ms Aung San Suu Kyi killed, just because they want to keep spent almost 15 years of the period during a private audience at the Vatican on May 4. CNS photo their traditions and their Muslim between 1989 and 2010 under house faith.” her entourage entered the papal library. arrest. Her party, the National League for The 2017 annual report of the US ComShe gave Pope Francis a small bas reDemocracy, won the general election in lief of a dove and Pope Francis gave her a mission on International Religious Free2015 and she was named the de facto head new medallion illustrating a passage from dom labeled Myanmar one of 16 “Tier 1” of government in April 2016. the Book of Isaiah, “The wilderness will countries of particular concern based on Welcomed to the Vatican by Pope become a fruitful field.” their level of religious repression.

Francis, Ms Suu Kyi took his hand and According to the Vatican’s latest statis“The dry thorny branch that blossoms and bowed her head. She and the pope met bears fruit symbolises the passage from self- tics, Myanmar has about 659,000 Catholics privately for more than 20 minutes before ishness to sharing, from war to peace,” said out of a population of about 51 million. n CNS

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump will visit the Vatican and meet with Pope Francis on May 24 as part of his first foreign trip as president.

White House officials said the visit will be part of a trip that will include stops in Israel and Saudi Arabia before Mr Trump attends a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Brussels on May 25 and the G7 summit in Taormina on the island of Sicily from May 26-27.

The trip was an attempt to unite three of the world’s leading religious faiths in the common cause of fighting terrorism, reining in Iran, and “unifying the world against intolerance,” White House officials said on May 4.

The information was confirmed by Ms Paloma Garcia Ovejero, vice director of the Vatican press office.

Mr Trump’s meeting with Pope Francis is to take place in the Apostolic Palace and will include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, secretary for relations with states. n CNS

22 opinion

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

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Reflection

How walking at our children’s pace can help our faith

By Laura Kelly Fanucci I balance the laundry basket on my hip while coaxing a sleepy preschooler downstairs. He wants me to carry him. I explain that my hands are full. He crosses his arms and pouts. I ask him to come with me. He takes one stubborn step down the first stair and glares.

Exasperated, I give up and scurry ahead of him. He’s fine and safe on his own, I rationalise. And I’m busy. And in a hurry.

In 20 minutes, I’m rushing his brothers into the car. “Hurry up!” I urge. “Backpacks, lunches, swim gear, shoes, let’s go!” So we can get out the door – punctuated by claps – on time.

While working from home with multiple children underfoot (and another on the way), I often find myself hurrying everyone along so we can get to the next thing.

Yet, rushing rarely works. I turn into the yelling mom, they turn into angry kids. I brood each time our morning unravels. Am I just unorganised? Too impatient to parent with gentleness? What’s wrong?

One sunny Saturday, I took the kids to explore a state park while my husband was home sick. The older kids ran ahead, confident of the trails, calling out sights they recognised from past hikes. I was left to walk with the littlest.

Halfway through the hike, I realised this was our first visit without a stroller or baby carrier. What’s more, I couldn’t carry him safely on tree-rooted hills while pregnant.

So we walked together. Slowly. Holding hands.

I lifted him up when he stumbled. I praised him when he did not complain. I celebrated when we summited a huge hill. We drank in the waterfall views, noticed rocks beneath our feet and heard squirrels scampering alongside the trail.

It turned into the perfect pace for both of us.

He hiked two miles on twoyear-old legs. I avoided getting short-winded from pregnancy exertion. We both plopped into the car at the end, red-cheeked and happy.

A mother with her child.

Parents can grow in their faith, slowly over time, by being patient with their children and following their pace.

Here’s what a long walk with a short companion reminded me: God doesn’t rush us. God is always waiting patiently. God never hollers back from 20 metres ahead, “Hurry up! You’re making me late!”

Scripture repeats the quiet truth of God’s gentle pace over

Out of love, God comes to each of us at our own pace.

This is how we grow into faith: slowly over time. and over: “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:11). “When you look for me, you will find me” (Jer 29:13). “Come to me … and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

The Church reflects this healthy, holy pace in our liturgical rhythms. Lent’s slow season stretches with 40 spacious days to pray and prepare. Advent’s

measured weeks temper our antsy yearning for Christmas.

Out of love, God comes to each of us at our own pace. This is how we grow into faith: slowly over time, not force-fed by someone else’s frantic schedule.

Am I too busy for the ones God has given me? No. If I feel like I am, then I am the one who needs to slow down.

So I pad our morning routine with 10 more minutes to let us breathe. I pause to look at each of my children with lingering eyes of love, setting aside my to-do list.

I remember to let each child lead. As they stir the cookie dough, slow as molasses. As they erase their homework with painful precision. As they walk downstairs beside me, holding my hand.

And I give thanks for this patience-building life: the chance to raise these children and learn from their pace each day. The pace that slows me back to God. Fanucci is a mother, writer and director of a project on vocation at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, Minnesota, USA. n CNS

Becoming a ‘holy beggar’ With the exception of Scripture and a few Christian mystics, Christian spirituality, up to now, has been weak in presenting us with a vision for our retirement years. It’s not a mystery as to why. Until recently, the majority of people died shortly after retirement and so there was no need for a highly developed spirituality of generativity after our active years.

What are our retirement years meant for, spiritually? What’s our vocation then? What might generativity mean for us, after our work’s been done?

Henri Nouwen, one of the first contemporary writers to take up this question, makes this suggestion: There comes a time in our lives when the question is no longer: What can I still do to make a contribution?

Rather the question becomes: How can I live now so that my aging and dying will be my final great gift to my family, my community, my church, and my country?

In Hinduism, life is understood to have five natural stages: First, you are a Child. As a Child, you are initiated into life, you learn to speak, you learn how to interact with others, and are given time for play.

The second stage is that of being a Student. In Hinduism, you’re a Student until you get married, begin a family, and establish a career.

As a Student, your primary focus is to enjoy your youth and to prepare for life.

Then you become a Householder. This, the third stage of life, begins with marriage and ends when your last child is grown-up, your mortgage is paid, and you retire from your job. As a Householder, your task is family, business, and involvement with civic and religious affairs. These are your duty years.

The fourth stage is that of being a Forest-Dweller. This period should begin when you are free enough from family and business duties to do some deeper reflection. Forest-Dwelling is meant to be an extended period wherein you withdraw, partially or fully, from active life to study and meditate your religion and your future. Very practically, this might mean that you go back to school, perhaps study theology and spirituality, do some extensive retreats, engage in a meditative practice, and take some spiritual direction from a guide.

Finally, once Forest-Dwelling has given you a vision, you return to the world as a Sannyasin, as a holy beggar, as someone who owns nothing except faith and wisdom. As a Sannyasin, you sit somewhere in public as a beggar, as someone with no significance, property, attachments, or importance. You’re available to others for a smile, a chat, an exchange of faith, or some act of charity. In effect, you’re a streetperson, but with a difference. You’re not a street-person because you do not have other options (a comfortable retirement, a golf course, a cottage in the country), but rather because you have already made a success of your life. You’ve already been generative. You’ve already given what you have to give and you’re now looking to be generative in a new way, namely, to live in such a way that these last years of your life will give a different kind of gift to your loved ones, namely, a gift that will touch their lives in a way that in effect forces them to think about God and life more deeply.

A Sannyasin gives incarnational flesh to the words of Job: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I return.” We come into this world possessionless and possessionless we leave it. A holy beggar incarnates that truth.

Imagine what a witness it could be if very successful people, doctors, bank presidents, athletes, journalists, teachers, business people, tradespeople, farmers, and happily married persons who had raised children successfully, people who have all kinds of comfortable options in life, would be sitting, as “holy beggars”, in coffee shops, in fast-food outlets, in malls, on street corners, and in sporting arenas.

Nobody could feel superior to them or treat them with pity, as we do with the street people who sit there now. Imagine the witness of someone becoming a voluntary beggar because he or she has been a success in life. What a witness and vocation that would be!

But this concept, being a “holy beggar”, is obviously an idealised image that each of us needs to think through in terms of what that might mean for us concretely.

In the early centuries of Christianity, spirituality saw martyrdom as the final expression of Christian life, the ideal way to cap off a faithfilled life. Justin, Polycarp, Cyprian, and countless others “retired” into martyrdom. Later, Christians used to retire into monasteries and convents.

But martyrdom and monasteries are also, at a certain place, idealised images. What, concretely, might we retire into? n

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Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Helping the physically challenged get back on their feet How ABLE provides physical rehabilitation and employment support

CITY

Left: Ms Stephanie Yip at a physiotherapy session.

Below: An ABLE staff assisting a client in his rehabilitation.

When she woke up one morning feeling weakness in her legs, Ms Stephanie Yip realised she had suffered a stroke. She was hospitalised for a month.

Ms Yip, who is in her early 60s, had been suffering from diabetes before her stroke in May 2015.

The stroke led to weakness in her left arm and stiffness in her fingers which impeded her ability to carry out daily activities, such as bathing and eating, in the initial months.

Nonetheless, she was optimistic about returning to work as an accounts assistant after her rehabilitation. After coming to know about Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations (ABLE) from St Andrew’s Community Hospital, Ms Yip joined the charity’s Return-to-Work programme in September 2016.

In addition to the weekly therapy sessions, she attended a career fair with ABLE’s case manager where she had the opportunity to be interviewed for a few jobs in the hospitality and printing industry.

Ms Yip was successfully placed as a full-time staff at ABLE SEAS in December 2016, where she is employed as a full-time accounts assistant.

ABLE SEAS is a social enterprise start-up funded by ABLE, which seeks to be the accounting services provider of choice to the charities sector and beyond.

Ms Yip is also currently attending the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) certification training arranged by ABLE.

Return-to-Work ABLE’s rehabilitation centre offers

two main programmes – Returnto-Work (RTW) and day rehabilitation. The RTW programme aims to support the vocational goals of clients, aged between 18-67, and equip them with specific skills for reintegration into the workforce.

Day rehabilitation aims to improve functional performance for daily living and community participation.

There are currently 45 clients on the RTW and day rehabilitation programme. Six clients have been successfully placed in employment to date. Over half of the clients are stroke survivors.

The RTW programme involves a three fold approach consisting of: • Physical rehabilitation (occupational therapy, physiotherapy and pilates rehabilitation) to optimise functional capacity.

• Case management to address psychosocial well-being.

• Vocational rehabilitation to facilitate suitable and sustainable employment.

The programme provides for: • A holistic, individualised and client centred care plan.

• An active physical and vocational rehabilitation by a multidisciplinary team.

• Training to enhance employability.

• Pre- and post-job placement support To provide a differentiated therapeutic approach, ABLE also offers pilates rehabilitation techniques, which complement other conventional rehabilitation. ABLE’s volunteer pilates instructors (presently five volunteers) and therapists undergo annual refresher training with Ms Elizabeth Larkam, pilates master instructor and creator of The Moving Body programme in the US.

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd May 24: NIL May 25: Noon, 1.15pm & 7pm

Church of the Nativity of the BVM May 24: 6.30pm & 8pm (M*) May 25: 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8pm

St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) May 24: NIL May 25: 6.30pm & 8pm

Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.15am, 6.15pm & 8pm

Church of Sts Peter & Paul May 24: 5.30pm May 25: 7.20am, 5.30pm & 7.30pm (M*)

Church of St Francis Xavier May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8.30pm

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes May 24: 6.30pm May 25: 12.30pm, 6.30pm & 8pm (T*)

St Anne’s Church May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 6.15pm & 8pm

Church of the Sacred Heart May 24: 7pm May 25: 7am, noon & 7pm

Church of St Vincent De Paul May 24: 8pm May 25: 7am, 6pm & 8pm

Church of St Teresa May 24: 8pm May 25: 12.30pm & 8pm

Church of the Transfiguration May 24: 6.30pm May 25: 6.30am & 8pm

Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) Under reconstruction May 25: 12.15pm at Church of The Risen Christ

Church of St Ignatius May 24: 6pm May 25: 7am, 6pm & 8pm

Church of St Bernadette May 24: 6pm May 25: 6.30am & 7pm

Blessed Sacrament Church May 24: 7.30pm May 25: 7am, 8.30am, 6pm & 7.30pm

Church of St Michael May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am & 8pm

Church of St Mary of the Angels May 24: 7pm May 25: 6.55am, 12.15pm , 7pm & 8.30pm

EAST Church of the Holy Family May 24: 7.30pm May 25: 6.15am, 1pm & 7.30pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace May 24: 6.30pm May 25: 6.30am, 7pm & 8.15pm (M*)

About ABLE ABLE’s vision is “to be a vibrant hub of the Catholic Church’s Social outreach to the Physically Challenged community.” It is a member of Caritas Singapore, incorporated in October 2010, and is certified as an Institution of a Public Character (IPC). ABLE provides rehabilitation therapy, training and job support services to enable the physically challenged to return to suitable and sustainable employment. It also offers respite services to family caregivers and their physically challenged care recipients.

Since November 2015, ABLE has been providing these services at the Rehabilitation and Respite Centres at Agape Village.

ABLE welcomes those who know someone who is physically challenged and may need rehabilitation therapy, family caregivers of the physically challenged who need respite, those who are able to help with employment opportunities, and volunteers.

For more information, visit www.able-sg.org, call 6801-7460 or email enquiries@able-sg.org. n

SERANGOON

Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 12.30pm, 6pm & 8pm Church of St Stephen May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 8pm Church of the Holy Trinity May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 6pm & 8pm Church of Divine Mercy May 24: 7pm May 25: 6.30am, 1pm , 7pm & 8.30pm NORTH St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 6.30pm & 8pm Church of St Anthony May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am & 8pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea May 24: 6.30pm May 25: 6.45am, 12.15pm , 6.30pm & 8pm Church of the Holy Spirit May 24: 7.30pm May 25: 6.30am, 6pm & 7.30pm Church of the Risen Christ May 24: 7pm May 25: 6.30am, 12.15pm, 6pm & 8pm Church of Christ the King May 24: 8pm May 25: 6.30am, 1pm, 6.15pm & 8pm

WEST

Church of St Francis of Assisi May 24: 7pm May 25: 6.30am, 7pm (M*) & 8.15pm Church of the Holy Cross May 24: 6.15pm & 8pm (M*) May 25: 6.15am, 6.15pm & 8pm CATHOLIC PRAYER SOCIETY All Masses below are on Thursday, May 25, 2017 CPS Orchard Venue: Grand Hyatt Hotel (please refer to event board for room venue) Time: 12.30pm & 1.20pm Contact: 9754-3672 / 9794-0963 CPS Outram Venue: The Medical Alumni Association, Level 2 Auditorium, 2 College Road, SGH Campus Time: 12.15pm Contact: 9823-3971 / 9878-2833 CPS Shenton Venue: 36 Robinson Road, S068877

(directly opposite Lau Pa Sat – Robinson Road)

Time: 11.20am, 12.20pm & 1.20pm Contact: 9046-3061 / 9114-9240

CPS Suntec Venue: Suntec Singapore Convention, 1 Raffles Boulevard Level 3 Room 331.

Time: 12.15pm & 1.15pm Contact: 6408-7891 / 9366-5573 CPS Raffles Venue: The 3rd Space, China Square Central 18 Cross street, #B1-05.

Time: 11.15am, 12.15pm & 1.15pm Contact: 9827-0815 / 9380-0202 CPS Jurong East Venue: German Centre, 25 International Business Park #05-105, 5th floor S609916.

Take the West Wing lift, instead of the usual East Wing lift. See signage for direction.

Time: 12.15pm Contact: 9889-3438 / 9376-9897 Note: M*: Mandarin; T*: Tamil Please check with parishes for updates.

24

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

By Jennifer Ficcaglia At the Last Supper, Jesus told His apostles that God would send them someone to help them after Jesus returned to heaven.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it.

But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you,” Jesus told His friends.

Not long after this conversation with the apostles, Jesus was arrested, crucified and died on the cross. In three days, He resurrected from the dead.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared in the midst of the apostles, who were in a locked room in Jerusalem.

Jesus ate a piece of baked fish and He talked to them about what He wanted

them to do after He ascended to heaven.

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,” Jesus instructed His friends.

“Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

Jesus then reminded His friends about the coming of the Holy Spirit.

He told them to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Jesus and His apostles gathered on the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem. The apostles wanted to know if Jesus was going to restore the kingdom to Israel before He ascended to heaven.

“It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by His own authority,” Jesus replied. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jeru-

Spotlight on Saints:

St Boniface of Mainz St Boniface was an English monk who was ordained at age 30. He was a very popular preacher and teacher, and he wrote many instructions about the Bible.

He felt that he was being called as a missionary, so in 716 he travelled to what is now the Netherlands. After he stayed in the Netherlands for a while, he travelled to Rome and was asked to evangelise the people of central Germany.

Boniface was made a bishop in 722 and an archbishop in 732. He later was name archbishop of Mainz.

After helping to organise the Church of Germany, he decided to return to the Netherlands as a missionary and was martyred there in 754. We remember him on June 5. n

salem ... and to the ends of the earth.”

As Jesus spoke, a cloud came and lifted Him into the sky out of the apostles’ sight.

The apostles gazed into the sky where they last saw Jesus. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes appeared.

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will re-

turn in the same way as you have seen Him going into heaven.”

Afterward, the apostles returned to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit. n Read more about it: Acts 1

Q&A 1. Who was the advocate God was sending to the apostles?

2. How was Jesus taken into heaven?

Wordsearch: n Bishop n MARTYR n TONGUE n PREACHER n Israel n BIBLE

n church n MATTHIAS

n Rome n OLIVET n BAPTISE n PENTECOST

BIBLE TRIVIA: What is the special name we call Jesus’ return to heaven?

Bible Accent: Answer to puzzle: 2. wisdom; 3. fear of God; 6. strength Answer to Bible Trivia: The Ascension

PUZZLE: There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, six of which are outlined in the Bible. The list below contains three of those gifts. Circle the correct ones, using Isaiah 11:2 for hints.

1. cunning

2. wisdom

3. fear of God

4. talent as a preacher

5. ability to speak foreign languages

6. strength

Answer to Wordsearch

After Jesus returned to His Father in heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit.

The apostles decided to replace Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus. They thought Judas’ replacement should be someone who had been with them from the time of John the Baptist until Jesus’ return to heaven. The apostles prayed about it and chose a man name Matthias to be one of the Twelve.

During Pentecost, the apostles heard a sound like a strong, driving wind. The Holy Spirit descended upon each man’s head in the form of a tongue of fire.

After they were filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles began speaking in foreign languages, something they could not do beforehand.

A large crowd of people from many different nations heard the noise. They were shocked to hear the apostles speaking in languages they could understand.

The people in the crowd said that the apostles were drunk, but Peter said that was not true.

Peter went on to preach about Jesus, and about 3,000 people were baptised that day. n

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS WHAT’S ON submissions now require the completion of a form from the Archdiocese before the event can be publicised. For events with foreign speakers, please submit the necessary documentation for approval to the Chancery. For more information and to download the form, visit http:// www.catholic.sg/events/announcementadvertisement-request/.

Once forms have been submitted online, kindly send us details of your event for publication at www. catholicnews.sg/whatson/ at least one month ahead of the publication date. may 9 to may 30 Special Needs Catechesis 2 Developing Differentiated Catechetical Sessions Every Tuesday from 7:30pm-10pm.

Venue: CAEC 2 Highland Road, S549102.

Contribution: Waived for 2017. Please register using the following URL: https:// cms.catechesis.org.sg/ci vicrm/event/info? reset=1&id=100. For more information: E: formation@catechesis.org.sg; T: 68583011; W: www.catechesis.org.sg may 15 to june 29 Catechesis for Adults & Youths Time: 8pm. God loves as you are! Come and meet Him! Every Monday and Thursday at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, 4 Sandy Lane. Organiser: Neocatechumenal Way. For more information, visit ncwaysingapore.sg may 17 and may 24 Craft of Catechesis Workshop: Praying With Your Catechumens Venue: CAEC 2 Highland Road, S549102.

Contribution: Waived for 2017. Please register using the following URL: https://cms.catechesis.org.sg/ci vicrm/ event/info?reset=1&id=99. For more information: E: formation@catechesis.org. sg; T: 68583011; W: www.catechesis.org.sg may 21 to may 28 Week of Guided Prayer at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour The Sojourners’ Companions invites you to learn how to pray with Scripture and develop a closer relationship with the Lord. May 21, 2pm-5pm. Taster, May 22-26: Daily 30 mins at home plus 30 mins with personal prayer guide at a convenient time between 9am-10pm. May 28, 2pm–5pm: closure.

Venue: Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church; Fee: $30. To register: W: www. sojourners.sg / wogp@sojourners.sg. Visit the parish office or the church foyer after Mass on the weekend of May 13 and 14.

May 24 and may 31 Catholicism: Pivotal Players Time: 9.30am-11.30am. Church of the Holy Spirit, Level 3 Room 10, Annex Block.

A DVD-based programme presented by Bishop Robert Barron unlocking the truths behind two of the Catholic Church’s most influential people, St Catherine of Sienna and Michaelangelo. No pre-registration needed. For more information: E: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com.

May 24 Receiving the Gifts of the Near Death Experience Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Near Death Experiences (NDE) reveal a divine template for the spiritual journey into unconditional love. Explore how the processes of each stage of an NDE facilitate a transformation with us. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $50. To register: W: http:// tinyurl.com/MattLinn; T: 64676072.

If you wish to attend multiple talks by Fr Matthew (see his talks listed here: May 24, May 25, May 31 and June 1), the prices are as follows: 2 talks – $80, 3 talks – $105, 4 talks – $120). may 25 Sleeping With Bread: A Spiritual Tool for Burnout & Connecting with Your Heart Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. The will of God is that we give and receive love and life ever more deeply. However, despite our greatest desires to know God’s will, most of us struggle to hear His voice. Learn about the daily inventory for finding God in all things. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $50. To register: W: http://tinyurl.com/MattLinn; T: 64676072 may 26 to may 28 Healing Our Relationships: Walking with the Prodigal Son May 26 (7.30pm)-May 28 (5pm).

This retreat will integrate spirituality

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. april 23 to may 20, 2018 RCIA @ church of our lady of perpetual succour Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Registration forms are available at the OLPS secretariat or RCIA ministry @ www.olps.sg. For more information, T: 96718216 (Christina); T: 96355635 (Peter).

May 5, 2017 to may 31, 2018 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST TERESA Every Friday, from 7.45pm-9.45pm.

To register: W: www.stteresa.org.sg/rcia/; E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg; T: 62711184.

Address: 510, Kampong Bahru Road, S099446. may 24, 2017 to may 16, 2018 RCIA @ Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Every Wednesday from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Please register at cathedral.rcia@catholic. org.sg. Registration forms are also available at the entrance of the cathedral.

May 28, 2017 to may 20, 2018 RCIA @ Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Every Sunday from 3pm-6.30pm.

For more details, please contact Catherine at kosp2411@yahoo.com.sg or Gregory at teiktiong@yahoo.com. may 31, 2017 to june 5, 2018 RCIA @ Church of the Risen Christ Venue: 91 Toa Payoh Central, S319193.

Every Wednesday from 7.30pm-9.45pm.

Registration forms are available at the church’s secretariat/website. For more information: W: www.risenchrist.org.sg; E: rcia1718@gmail.com. and psychology to heal our relationship with God, with those who have hurt us. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $270 (non-AC), $330 (AC). To register: W: http://tinyurl. com/MattLinn; T: 64676072 may 27 Viva la MusiCAA - Canossians Connect 2017 Time: 2pm-5pm (registration begins at 1pm with pre-party activities). Calling all Canossian alumni! Join us for an afternoon of music and dance with your favourite nuns and teachers! Venue: Concorde Hotel @ Orchard. Cost: $68. Book your tickets at www.canossianalumni.com may 31 Healing our Difficult Relationship Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Each of us knows a difficult person in our lives. As we move through the steps of forgiveness and finding new life, we will experience a transformation just as the disciples at Emmaus did. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $50. To register: W: http://tinyurl.com/MattLinn; T: 64676072 june 1 How to Add More Years to Your Life & Life to Your Years Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Learn of the lifestyle and spirituality that creates longevity. It will close with an exercise of the most important trait, finding our unique purpose in life – that by itself adds more healthy years to our lifespan. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $50. To register: W: http://tinyurl.com/MattLinn; T: 64676072 june 2 to june 4 You Don’t Have to Die to Experience Heaven Now June 2 (7.30pm)-June 4 (5pm). Near Death Experiences (NDE) reveal a Divine template for the spiritual journey into unconditional love. In this retreat, we will explore in depth how the processes of each stage of an NDE facilitate a transformation within us. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $270 (non-AC), $330 (AC). To register: W: http://tinyurl. com/MattLinn; T: 64676072 June 9 to June 11 FINDING GOD IN DRAMA June 9 (7pm)-June 11 (4pm). In this retreat, encounter the Scriptures and God differently. Through Ignatian contemplation and Bibliodrama, participants will be invited to step into the role of a character, or even of an object. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $260 (non-AC), $300 (AC). To register: http:// tinyurl.com/Goddrama; T: 64676072

What’s On world 25 may 31, 2017 to april 25, 2018 RCIA @ Church of Christ the King Every Wednesday from 8pm-10pm.

Venue: 2221 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, S569809.

To register: E: query.rcia@gmail.com; W: http://www.christtheking.com.sg. june 16, 2017 to june 1, 2018 Cantonese RCIA @ Church of Sts Peter and Paul Every Friday from 7:45pm-9:30pm at parish second floor, room 8. For enquiries, T: 63372585 (Parish Office); T: 97120452. june 18, 2017 to june 3, 2018 Mandarin RCIA @ church of our lady of perpetual succour Every Sunday from 9am-10.30am.

Organised by Church Of Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour, 31 Siglap Hill S456085.

For more information: T: 94517396 (Magdalene); W: website@ www.olps.sg. june 28, 2017 to march 31, 2018 RCIA @ Church of the holy cross Every Wednesday (Chinese) and every Thursday (English) from 7.45pm-10pm.

Venue: 450 Clementi Ave 1 S129955. For more information: T: 97577115 (Susan); E: holycrosschurch.rcia@gmail.com. july 1, 2017 to may 19, 2018 RCIA @ Church of Divine Mercy Every Saturday from 3pm-5.30pm. Register at the parish office. For more information: T: 65833378; E: rcia@divinemercy.sg. july 4, 2017 to may 20, 2018 RCIA @ Church of Sts Peter and Paul Every Tuesday at 7.30pm. Sessions will be held in the chapel (3rd level, parish building). Registration forms are available at the parish office or register your interest via http://sppchurch.org.sg/contact- us/ june 17 Clarity’s Take Control – A Guide to Understanding Anxiety Overwhelmed by anxiety? Do you suffer from panic attacks? Join us at this interactive workshop where we seek to find out more about anxiety. We will explore the reasons behind our anxieties, debunk myths and misconceptions that we may have and learn different ways to manage our anxieties.

FOC. Venue: CANA The Catholic Centre, St Flora room. To register: T: 67577990; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org july 14 to july 16 Montfortian Xperience 4 – Love of Eternal Wisdom Friday (6:30pm)-Sunday (1pm).

“To know Jesus Christ incarnate wisdom, is to know all we need. To presume to know everything and not know him is to know nothing at all” (LEW 1:11).

If you have a burning desire to acquire wisdom,come and join us for a weekend live-in retreat based on the spirituality of St Louis Marie de Montfort. Venue: Montfort Centre.Conducted by Br Dominic YeoKoh and Br John Albert. Cost: $130. july 17 to july 19 Montfortian Xperience 6 – Christian Discipleship Monday (9am)-Wednesday (1pm).

St Louis Marie de Montfort, in his Love of External Wisdom no. 179 Beatitudes, attributed to the disciples of Wisdom which is clearly the disciple of the Master’s Cross. Are you guided by the same spirit, and live with the same life as Jesus? Come amd discover at a live-in retreat based on the spirituality of St Louis Marie de Montfort. Venue: Montfort Centre. Conducted by Br Dominic YeoKok and Br John Albert. Cost: $130. july 22 SJI 165th Anniversary Gala dinner Time: 6:30pm. Venue: Fairmont Ballroom, Raffles City Convention Centre. SJI is celebrating our 165th year as a Lasallian school. Our history since 1852 has been rich, not only because of the school’s accomplishments but, more so, because of the many contributions Josephians have made to Singapore, the world and to the local Church. For more information, W: http://www.sji.edu.sg/165th- anniversary. aug 20 Catholic Nurses’ Guild Bi annual General Meeting and Annual Mass 2017 Come celebrate our bi-annual general meeting and Mass at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace 4 Sandy lane S437321. Time: 3pm (meeting), 5.30pm (Mass) followed by dinner at $10/pax. For more information, T: 97670579 (Laura); 92361047 (Theresa); 91093391 (Doreen); 93210031 (Janet)

Students using their smartphones. It is worth reflecting whether a person’s technological devotion points towards, or away from, faith.

Technology and its impact on faith

By Brett Robinson

when you wake up in the morning? Pray or check your phone?

I once asked some high school Our rituals, our communication, students to identify a couple of our leisure and our work have all trees – a birch and an elm – based been revolutionised. on pictures of their leaves. They It’s a remarkable time in histooffered a few sheepish guesses: ry, and it’s worth asking whether Oak? Maple? They kept guessing. our technological devotion points Eventually they figured it out, towards, or away from, faith. but it was clear that there were no Psalm 26 says, “I walk in my future botanists in the room. Then I integrity.” showed them two logos, a bluebird What does it mean to walk and an apple. No hesitation this in integrity? Integration means time. “Twitter! Apple!” wholeness. It means they shouted. The signs paying full attention What’s the of technology were to the person across second nature to them, first thing you from us at dinner, not while nature itself do when you partial attention as the seemed a little passe. digital devotee does. wake up in We’ve reached a Why do our point where we have the morning? friends look so happy come to know more on Facebook when of the world through Pray or check we know they are our technologies than your phone? depressed? We know through our own senses. as Catholics that our Twitter delivers our news while fight is a spiritual one. But it is Apple devices deliver, well, every- also a psychological one. thing else. A double rainbow is not We are called to simplicity, a double rainbow until it has been poverty and sacrifice, not because captured with an iPhone, posted they are pious postures, but beon social media and gone viral. cause they integrate mind and The Church has an old saying, heart, offering an antidote to our “lex orandi, lex credendi” – the new environment. n CNS way we worship shapes what we is director of communications believe. Devotion to technology Robinson and Catholic media studies at the Univershapes much of our daily routine. sity of Notre Dame McGrath Institute for What’s the first thing you do Church Life in Indiana, USA.

Vietnamese celebrate Fatima centennial: Youth play traditional Vietnamese drums outside Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houston, Texas, USA, on May 14 to honour the anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. CNS photo

26 in memoriam OBITUARY

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Eighteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

JOHN K. YOUNG Departed: June 1, 1999

Your presence is ever near us Your love remains with us yet You were the kind father Your loved ones will never forget.

Sadly missed but always remembered by wife, children and loved ones.

May God grant him eternal rest.

Sixteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

O Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your speical patronage in times of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you,

In loving memory of

Eleventh Anniversary

to whom God has given such great power, to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St Jude pray for me and all who invoke your aid. Humbly in need of your intercession.

Amen. Thank you for answering my prayers.

Please turn to page 27 for more in memoriam advertisements.

Fifth Anniversary

JOYCE JULIANA AGATHIA tAN PATRICK LIM D’ROZARIO CHOR SOUY Departed: May 26, 2001 POH HIANG Departed: The depths of sorrow May 28, 2012 Oct 3, 2006 we cannot tell, Of the loss of one In our hearts you will always live we love so well, Your love, your voice and your smile And while she sleeps Are forever imprinted in our minds. a peaceful sleep, Her memory we shall Love, your children always keep.

Peter, May, Lucy, Christina and Always remembered grandchildren Leane and Geraleine by husband, children, grandchildren, in-laws and all loved ones. and all loved ones.

In cherished memory of our beloved parents, grandparents & great-grandparents

With love we remember

MARIE ELEANOR FRANCIS GERARD OLIVEIRO (BABE) OLIVEIRO Born: Sep 12, 1921 Oct 10, 1927 Apr 1, 2007 Departed: May 27, 1987

BASIL A. OLIVEIRO Aug 20, 1958 Apr 29, 2002

In life inseperable, In death together with the Lord.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

Always remembered and cherished by siblings and loved ones.

Fifteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

Third Anniversary In loving memory of

RONALDO JOSEPH MORALES Departed: Jun 1, 2002 Time changes many things; but not the memory this day brings Pa, you’re still in our mind and hearts.

Lovingly remembered and forever cherished by sons, daughters, grandchildren and loved ones.

Dorothy Olga Schooling Departed: June 2, 2014 We miss you in so many ways We miss things you used to say And when old times we do recall It’s then we miss you most of all.

Forever loved and dearly remembered by family members, relatives and friends.

In loving memory of

Seventh Anniversary In loving memory of

CLASSIFIED Thanksgiving

Sixteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

SAURIAL SARAL FERNANDEZ Departed: May 22, 2001 Our hearts are sore, As time goes by, we will miss you more, Your loving smile, your gentle face, No one can fill your vacant place Always remembered by loved ones.

ALFRED MORALES Departed: May 20, 2010 Rest in peace, dear loving father, Seven long years have passed away; You’re gone, but are still living In the hearts of those who stay.

Dearly missed by loved ones.

v. pinnavanam anthony gnanapragasam amblor mary Departed:

Apr 26, 1994 May 18, 2011

Dear parents We’re assured of your love Even though we’re apart ‘Cause so much we’ve shared Is written in our hearts.

Fondly remembered by family and loved ones.

Crossword Puzzle 1185 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

14

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23 27

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DOWN 1 New Testament writer 2 Alphabet string 3 NT epistle 4 “I can see for ____” 5 Before this time 6 _____ of sin 7 The false prophet Zedekiah made himself two horns out of this (1 Kings 22:11) 8 Flashlight 9 AKA Hadassah 10 The Gospel _____ to Luke 11 Controversial filmmaker and practicing Catholic 12 Relative by marriage 13 Trades 24 Peter cast one out 26 Bible section 27 Flat circular plate 28 Suffix denoting state or quality 29 Disfigure

31 Catholics Pavarotti, Carreras, or Domingo 34 Joseph was from here 36 Committed 38 Refrain syllables 39 “…is now, and ____ shall be…”

40 Cervine animal 42 It’s gold and white with a papal symbol on it 47 Vane reading 50 Noah’s boat was measured in these 52 Archdiocese in Poland 54 The house of a parson 55 Take as one’s own 56 Jewish month of Passover 57 Greek writer of fables 59 Thrill to pieces 62 Calcium compound 64 Tropical tree 65 Resound 66 Increases

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 6 AM prayer time 6 _____ of Christian Initiation 10 Among 14 Up and about 15 Greek god of love 16 Fruit of the pine 17 Beneficial 18 Three-year-old salmon 19 Pepsi or Coke 20 Unit of luminous flux 21 Unit of length 22 Type of history 23 Joseph and Benjamin, to Jacob

25 Book after Philemon 27 _____ Kapital 30 Catholic Australian novelist and author of The Shoes of the Fisherman 32 “…your ____ and your staff comfort me.” (Ps 23:4) 33 South American Indian 35 Heading for overtime 37 Greased 41 Sash 43 A mark of the Church 44 Tart stealer

45 Saint who gave his name to an alphabet 46 Protuberance 48 Kind of club 49 Mary ____ Killop, saintly founder of the Sisters of St Joseph 51 Sign of papal office 53 JFK datum 54 Archdiocese in Nicaragua 58 Surrender, as a territory 60 Entrance 61 Catholic horror actor Lugosi

63 Blow on the cheek delivered by the bishop at Confirmation 67 Snack 68 “________ something I said?”

69 Adam and Eve were afraid because they were this 70 Foretell 71 Heavy book 72 Lieu 73 Sicilian volcano 74 Risked getting a ticket 75 Boat spines

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1184 E A R T H A G R E E R E S T R I A D U N C L A B L O O D I T H E S S A R I D L S I S A T H A N R A T I N G A B A T E S B A S H H O A C T E T I E R T

D E C A D E E G G S O N E

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

D E L E T E G A E L

A M E B A

M I T E R

E R O S E

C A P R I

A L O U D

M A T S

T I C S E A T H E L A H

www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

Twenty-third Anniversary In loving memory of

Second Anniversary In loving memory of

“The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”

Psalm 23

Eighth Anniversary In loving memory of

ANNA CHAN NYA NYA Departed: May 22, 1994 From: All her loved ones.

Twenty-fourth Anniversary In loving memory of

SR CECILIA CHEW IJ Departed: May 22, 2015 You had a heart of gold One of the best to behold You were generous, loving and kind These are the memories you left behind.

Always remembered

by Magdalene Low 刘凤枝 (Mrs Lek).

First Anniversary In loving memory of

In loving memory of Our Dearest Parents

ROSA NG HOCK KHIM Departed: June 1, 1993 Gone from our lives One so dear But in our hearts Forever near.

Always remembered by your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mass will be celebrated at Church of St Teresa on Wednesday June 1, 2016 at 6.00pm.

Seventeenth Anniversary

THERESA KANG Departed: May 31, 2016 It was His will that she die His will that we should let her go

And we must ever

bow to it But oh dear God

We miss her so.

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.

God looked around His garden and found an empty place He then looked down upon this Earth And saw your tired face.

He put his arms around you And lifted you to rest God’s garden must be beautiful He always takes the best.

Always in our hearts: WILLIAM LIM children and Departed: May 29, 2013 grandchildren.

Fourth Anniversary In loving memory of

Third Anniversary

CUTHBERT ANNIE LA FABER LIM Departed: Mar 31, 2000 May 28, 2014

We think of you in silence No eyes can see us weep But still within our aching hearts Your memory we keep.

Deeply missed and always remembered by children, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and loved ones.

Fifth Anniversary In loving memory of

In loving memory of

JULIAN SIMON Departed: May 25, 2012

RAPHAEL TAYE

AGNES LEE GUEK NGIN

Departed: May 19, 1996 Departed: May 24, 1981

“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.”

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by family and all loved ones.

Time takes away the edge of grief But memory turns back every leaf Gone from our lives one so dear But in our hearts forever near.

Deeply missed and always remembered by wife Esther Julian, children and loved ones.

Please turn to page 26 for more in memoriam and classified advertisements.

MARIA WANG SUNG KENG Mother of Sarah Wong (deceased) Departed: May 31, 2009 We remember and cherish the happy times together Remembering them today and forever.

Always remembered by children, in-laws, grandchildren and loved ones.

in memoriam 27

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Sunday May 28, 2017 n CatholicNews

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