SUNDAY MAY 27, 2018
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Fake news highlighted at Communications Day Mass
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INSIDE HOME
Neocatechumenal Way members mark 50th year Share experience meeting pope
By Christopher Khoo Fake news, lies and half-truths. These were the focus of the World Communications Day Mass held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on May 13. “The Church recognises the role that mass media and communications, play in the life of each and every human person,” Fr John-Paul Tan said in his homily. Just like any human creation, the mass media has the potential to do good or evil, he said at the annual Universal Church event which celebrates the achievements of the communications media and focuses on how it can best use them to promote Gospel values. Speaking to a crowd that included people working in communications, he noted that Pope Francis, in his message for World Communications Day (WCD) this year, focused on the phenomenon of fake news “which threatens to undermine trust and friendship” between people. “All of us … to different degrees are both the purveyors and the consumers of fake news,” said Fr John-Paul. “Today’s commemoration invites us to relook at how we communicate with one another”, such as through the use of WhatsApp or email, and also for those who are working in mass media, he said. He noted that though people may be outright opposed to lies, some may nevertheless be more comfortable with half-truths. “Half truths breed gossip, create tension among families and friends and may even undermine our family relationships. That’s how insidious half-truths can be,” he said. “Truth, on the other hand,
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Same-sex unions and marriage Fr Garcia comments on the issue n Page 11
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All of us… to different degrees are both the purveyors and the consumers of fake news
ASIA The crowd at the World Communications Day Mass held at the cathedral on May 13.
Church leaders express hope n Page 13
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Indonesian suicide bombings
– Fr John-Paul Tan throws light and guides us in our human relationships,” he said. However, truth needs to be tempered by love. “Truth without love can easily end up being oppressive and aggressive,” he added Fr John-Paul stressed that the mandate that the Church received when Christ ascended to heaven was to go and proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. “What we aim as a Church is to build a civilisation of love for the world,” said Fr John-Paul. “A civilisation of love that is built on truth.” He noted that every Christian can play a role in using social media in a responsible way. “Those of us who have Facebook and Twitter – how do we use them to build up a civilisation of love that is based on truth?” he asked, adding that it was important to allow love to moderate one’s tone.
North-South Korean summit
Church activities continue n Page 14
POPE FRANCIS
On young people’s selfie culture A video showing the communications work of the archdiocese was screened.
By doing so, “we propose a new language,” he said. “A language that is marked by respect, a language that invites dialogue, a language that is compassionate and merciful, that defines who we are as disciples of Jesus using social media.” The celebration saw media and communications practitioners receiving a special blessing from Mass celebrants Frs John-Paul and Terence Kesavan.
During the Prayer of the Faithful, special prayers were also offered for those involved in social media and mass communications, that they will do their part to “stem fake news and communicate only that which is true and life-giving”. A special WCD video was also screened, showing the communications work of the archdiocese. n christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg
Expresses concern over lack of interaction n Page 17
FAITH ALIVE! Celebrating Pentecost
Trusting God and growing in the Spirit n Page 23
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Celebrating marriage and priestly life at ‘Love Matters’ event More than a hundred couples together with several priests celebrated marriage and the priesthood at the Church of the Transfiguration on May 1. Themed “Love Matters”, it was the third year that the celebration was jointly organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Family (ACF) and Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) Singapore. A hundred and thirty-one couples and 11 priests, together with their families and friends, attended the event, which also marked WWME’s 39th anniversary. The celebration saw family counselling psychologist Adrian Lim speaking on the topic, “Men Arise! Reclaiming and celebrating God’s plan for Fathers (and Mothers)”. He noted that God’s masterplan is for humanity to eventually return to Him in heaven. Marriage and family are God’s masterpiece, consisting of man as husband and woman as wife, who bear and raise children to be His people, he shared. The family is designed and created by God himself to fulfil his masterplan, said Mr Lim, who used references from the Old and New Testaments in his talk. Mr Lim also noted the importance of men rising up to fulfil their destiny in God’s masterplan – as protector, provider and spiritual leader in their roles as husband, father and brother. He shared about the presence of men’s movements in the Catholic Church here, such as the Sons of St Joseph at the Church of the Holy Spirit, as well as other men’s groups at the Churches of St Mary of the Angels and Divine Mercy. A Mass commemorating WWME Singapore’s 39th anniversary followed, celebrated by
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Couples renew their marriage vows during the celebration on May 1.
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George and Sarah Tan celebrated 51 years of marriage
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Mr Adrian Lim: Marriage and family are God’s masterpiece.
Vicar General Msgr Ambrose Vaz and fellow priests. “It is because we believe in God that we believe in love and we believe in the Sacrament of Marriage,” said Msgr Vaz in his homily. The anniversary Mass saw the couples present renewing their marriage vows. There was also a
Eleven priests took part in the event.
special celebration for 71 couples celebrating their fifth to 50th wedding anniversaries this year, in multiples of five years, as well as those who have been married for longer. Seven priests also celebrated similar milestones in their priestly life. The event saw the launch of a Singapore-edition book commemorating the growth of the
global Marriage Encounter movement over the past 50 years. The book has a chapter on WWME Singapore, and also messages from Pope Francis and Archbishop William Goh. Edmund and Christina Bong, coordinating couple of WWME Singapore, said that “We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe” is
the theme of WWME’s 50th anniversary. “We, in Singapore wanted also to remember and give thanks to the many couples and priests who have been instrumental in helping Marriage Encounter locally grow for the past 39 years,” they said in a statement. “The coming together of married couples and priests to celebrate their milestone marriage and sacerdotal anniversaries at this very special Eucharistic celebration is really the highlight. Their presence is a witnessing of them living fully and joyously the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the Sacrament of Matrimony.” n
It is because we ‘ believe in God that we believe in love and we believe in the Sacrament of Marriage.
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– Msgr Ambrose Vaz in his homily
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thirsting for knowledge to serve The Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore (CTIS) is a vital part of the archdiocese’s vision for a missionary and evangelistic Church. It seeks to educate and form lay Catholics, equipping them with the resources to serve God in the various ministries. In this article, volunteer writer Amanda Yap, discovers how Andrew Ng was inspired to search for knowledge about the faith at CTIS and apply that knowledge in serving with the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry. For most of his 63 years, Andrew Ng would have classified himself as a ‘Sunday Catholic’. However, God in His infinite mercy and goodness, led him on a path to early retirement in 2013 to allow him to “do what was necessary for God”. A year earlier, Andrew went on a pilgrimage to Israel. After a tough, yet enlightening experience, he returned to Singapore with an intense thirst to acquire faith-filled knowledge of the Catholic Church. It was an unexpected, never before experienced, yearning. Andrew said, “I felt compelled to read as many books on the Catholic Faith as I could lay my hands on and yet I wasn’t satisfied. It finally dawned on me that my search for faith needed structure.”
ctis When the Catholic Theological Institute of Singapore (CTIS) was formed in 2013, Andrew was “overjoyed” and quickly seized the opportunity to register for the courses available. CTIS was established for the systematic formation in Catholic theology. Its courses are structured for candidates preparing for ordination and the religious life, as well as for lay students. Through its education programmes, CTIS equips the laity with the necessary knowledge of the Church’s teachings so that they can better participate in the mission of the Church and transform the world according to the Gospel of Christ. The structured curriculum appealed to Andrew and allowed him to effectively learn about the teachings of the Church, which in turn, strengthened his formation in the Catholic faith. With his commitment and perseverance, Andrew acquired a Certificate, and then later, a Diploma in Theology. He said, “I was, and still am, very impressed with
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Andrew (third from left) together with his group of fellow RCPM volunteers. Photo: Andrew Ng the lecturers. They foster a conducive culture for learning and are incredibly knowledgeable. It was illuminating, learning about the complexities of the Second Vatican Council, Moral Theology, and much more.
ministry work While serving in RCIA, Andrew was invited by a fellow sponsor to help develop a workshop for the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry (RCPM). After reviewing what RCPM stood for and praying about it, it became clear that God was leading him to his real calling to prison service. He said, “I was certain that God always had this plan for me.” Volunteers in the RCPM work as a team to fulfil their mission to be the compassion of our heavenly Father for our brothers and sisters in Christ - ‘I was in prison and you visited me’. Mt 25:36. Now, serving within a small group of volunteers, Andrew commits himself to engaging a group of inmates, imparting the faith through scripture sharing and discussions that encourage faith exploration, development and formation. The knowledge gained from attending the courses at CTIS has helped Andrew to more
effectively clarify doubts and answer questions posed by the inmates in matters of the faith. “Sometimes, they just need someone to talk to, and it can really help to unburden them. They only get this outlet for two hours, once a week, and its importance is immeasurable to them. We clearly see them walk out of the room lighter than they did walking in.” Working alongside and providing sorely needed assistance to priests, RCPM holds intercessory prayer and inner healing sessions, provides counselling for inmates, and follows up with those released from prison.
perseverance Returning to society and one’s life after incarceration is the biggest challenge of all. While Andrew recognises the difficulties faced by exinmates in their struggle to reintegrate back to society, this does not shield him from the disappointment that arises from learning about an ex-inmate’s relapse to his “old ways”. Andrew recounted, “I cope by holding onto the belief that God has carved a unique journey for each person. Every one of us is a child of God, and comes with our own personal cross to bear.”
it finally dawned on me that my search for faith needed structure.
During these moments, Andrew would also fall back on his relationship with God, which he described as one of immense “thankfulness”. He shared, “It is only through the loving mercy and grace of God that I am alive. It is my belief that I am here today, to do His work. Right now, I know he wants me to continue serving him by sharing my knowledge of the faith with those who are desperate for it.”
Our archdiocese envisions a more vibrant, missionary and evangelistic Church. As the fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Singapore, the Catholic Foundation has launched the Giving in Faith & Thankfulness (GIFT) campaign to urge every Catholic to participate in making the vision of the archdiocese a reality.
Gift Now
gift.catholicfoundation.sg
serving god Through serving in RCPM, he witnesses God at work, especially through seeing how Catholic and nonCatholic inmates alike, are touched by the selflessness and commitment of members of this ministry. More importantly, he is aware of the importance of being anchored in the Catholic faith, and the necessity of the role of lay people in supporting and collaborating with priests to do God’s work. To this end, Andrew encourages individuals to enrol for the Certificate in Theology to deepen their understanding and appreciation of the faith to encounter Christ. He said, “I hope that more brothers and sisters in Christ will be open to the New Evangelization and strive to be knowledgeable in our faith to serve our very personal best.”
a series contributed by
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Humanae Vitae – the stuff of heroes and heroines
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Whenever Catholics are taught that Natural Family Planning (“NFP”) is the way to plan their family, they are referred to the encyclical Humanae Vitae (“HV”), but few understand why contraceptives are frowned upon, and even fewer practice NFP. A 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth found that those who used contraceptives, or resorted to abortion or sterilisation are twice as likely to divorce. Does HV throw light on why contraceptives weaken the marital bond? HV makes clear that the issue of birth control must be addressed by an understanding of God’s plan for love and marriage, with conjugal love involving a mutual self-donating love that looks beyond itself and seeks to remain open to new life in co-operation with God. There are four characteristics of conjugal love: human (i.e. love which involves the senses and the spirit, and freely seeking the good of each other instead of using the other in casual sexual encounters), total (i.e. without reservations or self-interest), faithful and exclusive, and fruitful (i.e. the communion of persons doesn’t exhaust itself in the attainment of sexual climax, but proceeds to the giving of new life). At the core of its teaching, HV stressed that the conjugal act has to be both unitive and procreative to strengthen the communion of persons. The introduction of contraceptives frustrates these aspects, and deeply wounds the marital bond. HV also taught that natural family planning must be practised with the objective of realising responsible parenthood. This requires the couple to regularly review their circumstances to decide whether they are open to having another child. Of importance, they must recognise their duty towards God to be open to life, and be trusting and generous in their decision. HV has been hailed as prophetic in its predictions, which include an increase of marital infidelity and a general lowering of moral standards. As the foundations of our familial relationships reel from the destructive effects of the widespread use of contraceptives 50 years on, HV remains a clarion call to the faithful to be noble and to choose the life-giving way of spacing births. We now look at the intimate sharing of two couples who have chosen to practise NFP and how these testify to the truth and beauty of the core teachings of HV.
The truth about contraceptives
“While we knew theoretically that the use of contraceptives was frowned upon by the Church, we had problems grappling with what seemed to be a rather archaic concept in the modern world, where contraceptives are widely used and prescribed,” explains Julie. “The prospect of Him blessing us with even more children became more difficult to accept especially since we could hardly cope with the children that we already had. The practical considerations of the
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delivery room just after delivering our fourth child, she developed post-partum hemorrhage, a severe maternal complication,” recalls Corey, “and this left me with serious doubts about the wisdom of NFP.” After much deliberation, the couple decided to try the Pill, but as Julie explains, what started out as a seemingly rational solution to the issue of family planning began to affect their relationship in subtle ways. “I was never quite at peace
It is indeed by the grace of God that we have come this far. Corey, a medical doctor and his wife, Julie, are CEP presenters who have taken the HV charter and are currently among the first batch of 50-plus students of the Maryvale certificate course. When they first got married,
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the couple practised NFP simply because it was the right “Catholic” thing to do. However, when the kids came in quick succession, in intervals of about two years, they started to feel the strain of coping with a big family.
typical Singaporean parent spoke much louder than the teachings of the Church and it was easy to find many excuses not to practise NFP.” The fourth delivery really led the couple to question their reliance on NFP. “As my wife lay in the
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with it and there were times in the midst of our intimate moments together when I felt that Corey could not quite look me straight in the eye, perhaps because we were no longer truly in sync with each other. Our love relationship
was affected in ways that I could not fully understand. Perhaps that is what Pope St John Paul meant when he said that ‘the body has a language’. Through my body, I make a total gift of myself to Corey in love. It is unconditional. But the use of contraceptives runs contrary to this. It was as if Corey accepted me but without my fertility and I felt that our love was being shortchanged.” The situation was made worse by Corey’s great reluctance to talk about the issue, and that troubled Julie, as she had always deeply treasured their close relationship. She prayed fervently as she waited for Corey to be ready, and her prayers were answered when CEP came to their parish in 2008. “CEP came with childminding, which couldn’t have been more perfect … but, more importantly, it provided the much-needed platform for us to start talking.”
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“We shared about our innermost fears and our dreams for our marriage, and we prayed,” adds Corey. “Over time, I realised that the fundamental obstacle to my acceptance of NFP had nothing to do with the method or its reliability, but my unwillingness to trust God and allow Him to be in the driver’s seat.” Julie understood that, for Corey, reverting back to NFP involved no less than a complete change in mindset. “I thank him for loving God and me enough to make that decision for us. We took the Humanae Vitae Charter and never looked back. Through it all, we have come to realise that it is only when we let Him take over that He truly empowers and transforms us. The verse in Corinthians rings so true that it is indeed “God who causes all things to grow.” God blessed them with their fifth child, whom they welcomed in 2013. Even though the pregnancy brought back some of the old fears along with some new ones, but with contraceptives out of the way, they felt that they were back in full communion with God and each other and that gave them the quiet assurance that, come what may, He would be there to see them through. “Joshua will always be a permanent reminder of His love for us and of our refusal to compromise on our love for each other,” Julie concludes, “It is indeed by the grace of God that we have come this far.”
The freedom to love as God loves us Eugene and Trillion have been married for 20 years and have three boys aged between 14 and 18, the fruits of their love and God’s gift to them. They hadn’t heard about HV until they became part of the expat church community when living in Shanghai in 2013, and they joined the MPC programme as volunteers. The curriculum was based on Theology of the Body by St Pope John Paul II and HV. Despite their lack of understanding of HV, they had been practising NFP anyway, having been introduced to it during their MPC in preparation for their wedding. “I was not a Catholic then,” says Trillion, “but NFP sounded like a really good idea as I didn’t want to take the Pill or use other invasive contraception methods for fear of side effects.” “NFP is a wholesome, loving
way of deciding together with our spouse how many children we plan for in the family,” explains Eugene. “At the same time, it allows us to be open to more children if God should kindly bestow them to us as a gift. I see it as God’s way of allowing us to co-operate with Him to building a family together.” “One challenge is to abstain from sex during my fertile period,” explains Trillion. Working it out involved some discussion, adjustments and time. “We spend time doing non-sexual things and Eugene will try to distract himself by doing more housework and washing the car. Our friends are always amazed at how we can keep our house so clean without a helper. The secret is NFP!” Jokes aside, the couple reveals that, as a result of NFP, their relationship is much stronger. They feel closer, sex is more
meaningful, and because they focus on activities outside of their intimate time, they have grown so much more fulfilled as a couple – so much so that they often now think the same way, say the same things and behave similarly, as if telepathic.
They are now a presenting couple at MPC and use the power of story-telling to share authentically about their experience practising NFP with engaged couples, sharing the challenges as well as the positive effect it has had on their marriage.
I see it as God’s way of allowing us to co-operate with Him to building a family together. “I’m just so thankful to our Lord for Trillion, and also for NFP as a gift being so instrumental to help me see her for the wonderful person she truly is,” Eugene exclaims. “One day we were driving and I was sharing with Trillion how much I loved her, how I miss her whenever she has to travel for work, how I yearn to be with her when she is not around. And maybe that is what it means to be one in the Sacrament of Marriage. Then it dawned on me that perhaps that is how God feels with us. That He loves us that much. He can’t wait to be with us, that’s why he is always beckoning to us, courting us. And perhaps why there is the Sacrament of Matrimony so that by loving our spouse so much, being called to be so close to each other as to become one, we can be privileged enough to have a glimpse of how much the Father and Son love each other.”
“It’s easy to learn,” promises Trillion, “and for the ladies, you will get to know when you are fertile and when you are not. This helps you, as it did me, when you are trying to conceive, space out your children or prevent a pregnancy.” “Both Trillion and I are work in progress,” says Eugene. “We have much to learn and to progress through in our spiritual life. But through the practice of NFP, what we have found is a glimpse of true freedom. A freedom not shackled by or rooted in our personal cravings or desires, but a freedom to love.”
population. Pope Paul VI expanded the commission, which eventually led to his release of Humanae Vitae (HV) in 1968. HV reinforced the reasoning that marital relations constitute a union of the loving couple with a loving God in which a new person can be created. This love is total and as such there can be no accommodation for giving
something less than oneself as created by God, as would happen with contraception. Criticism was loud, especially from organisations fighting population growth and, by the 1980s, the spread of HIV. With decades of poor catechesis, Humanae Vitae is likely the most ignored teachings of the Catholic Church.
To hear more of Eugene and Trillion’s sharing as well as sharings from other couples, do sign up for the HV50 Conference happening in July (Refer to details of the conference in the Catholic Family Events Calendar below).
How HV came to be Prior to 1930, all Christian churches held the view that the use of contraception was an intrinsic evil. It was at the Lambeth Conference of 1930 that the Anglican Church allowed for contraception in limited circumstances, opening of the floodgates to a widespread use of contraception. Then when the first oral contraceptives hit doctor’s clinics in 1960, the
celebrated Pill blurred the lines still further. Questions were raised as to whether oral contraception should still be banned by the Church since, in some views, it didn’t interfere with the physical act of procreation. At the same time, the highly ideological presentation of Malthusian overpopulation was a growing concern as to how the population growth in poor countries would affect
the future. The laity was voicing confusion over marrying the need to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, yet fearing the devastating human consequences of leaving population growth unchecked. In changing times, the real concerns needed to be addressed, and Pope John XXIII issued a commission in 1963 to open up the questions around birth control and
Catholic Family Events in May - July 2018 May
June
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1 Marriage Encounter Weekend
24 May to 30 August 2018
1 - 3 June (Friday - Sunday) Friday 8 pm - Sunday 6 pm Marriage Encounter House 201B Punggol 17th Avenue Singapore 829651
Encourage Singapore provides supports to parents, spouses and family members of persons with SSA, and meets every 2nd Tuesday of the month. For more information: sdcourage.sg@gmail.com www.courage.org.sg
Discover the weekend that has been transforming marriages all over the world for more than 40 years. For couples married two years and above. wwmesg.org/me-weekend-selector to book a weekend.
catholicfamily.org.sg/events
July 26
Courage and Encourage Singapore Courage Singapore offers a spiritual support system to assist men and women with samesex attraction (SSA) to live chaste lives in fellowship, truth and love. Led by a Spiritual Director, Courage members meet every Thursday at 7pm.
For a list of family events in the Archdiocese visit
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Pieta Monthly Support Session for Bereaved Parents 26 June 2018 (Tuesday) 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Agape Village 7A Lorong 8 Toa Payoh Singapore 319264 We meet as a group of bereaved parents to find mutual support through prayer, scripture and sharing of experiences. No need to register, just walk in. Pieta.singapore@gmail.com facebook.com/PietaSingapore
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CHOICE Weekend
HV50 Conference
29 June – 1 July 2018 Friday 7 pm to Sunday 6:30 pm CHOICE Retreat House, 47 Jurong West Street 42, Singapore 649368
14 July 2018 (Saturday) 10 am – 4.30 pm SJI Lecture Theatre 2 38 Malcolm Road Singapore 308274
CHOICE is for single young adults aged between 18 – 40 years old (Catholics and Non-Catholics) seeking some time to re-examine the values, lifestyle and relationships in their own lives.
Come learn more about Blessed Pope Paul VI’s prophetic Encyclical, Humanae Vitae, and learn how its teachings can be applied to the challenges facing marriage, the family and society today.
registration@choice.org.sg Hillary (9790 0537) Carrie (9671 6695) Francesca (9710 9680)
To register, please visit www.hv50sg.info
This section is produced by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Family and is published on the last issue of each month. For more information on Catholic family life matters, visit catholicfamily.org.sg.
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Neocatechumenal Way members share experience of meeting pope By Andrew J. Wong About 160 members of the Neocatechumenal Way from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand were in Rome to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the movement with Pope Francis. The Neocatechumenal Way guides Catholics in an itinerary of exploring the meaning of their baptism and learning to live according to its promises. After the milestone celebration on May 5 at Tor Vergata, on the edge of Rome, some Singaporean members shared their experience. Mr Cyprian Chia, 22, from the Church of St Anthony, said that the meeting with the pope validated “the path I have taken for my faith journey.” He added that he was inspired to continue the necessary work of spreading the Gospel to others. The celebration with the pope encouraged Mr Casimir Si-
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mon, 24, deeply, as the pontiff affirmed the “whole purpose” of the Neocatechumenal Way, “which is to carry on the work of the new evangelisation,” he shared. Ms Jane Loo, 47, from the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace, said she was “moved” by Pope Francis’ “strong affirmation and encouragement for the charism” of the movement. Fr Timothy Yeo, parish priest of Queen of Peace Church, said he was grateful to hear Pope Francis give thanks for the 50 years of the Neocatechumenal Way; in particular, the Holy Father saying that, “this charism is a great gift of God for the Church of our times.”
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way from Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand pose for a photo at Tor Vergata, Rome.
For more information about the Neocatechumenal Way in Singapore, visit http://ncwaysingapore.sg/index.html or email Andrew Wong at thewayinsg@ gmail.com. See related story on Page 21
Mr Cyprian Chia said that through the meeting with the pope, he was inspired to continue the necessary work of spreading the Gospel to others.
The Singapore contingent outside the Basilica of St John Lateran.
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GET CONNECTED: 2 LORONG LOW KOON, SINGAPORE 536449 T 6285 2571 | 6286 0341 W www.oyp.org.sg For enquiries, please email: info.oyp@catholic.org.sg
FEATURE
FEATURE
Poly Leaders Commissioning Mass 2018
JC/Army Day of Recollection
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The Lord prompted me to reflect deeply on my life and my relationship with Him. He renewed my purpose and commitment and reminded me of the direction to take in my life in order to draw closer to Him and grow in holiness. Above all, He reminded me to continue to place my faith and trust in Him, no matter what may happen, even when it seems like nothing is turning out the way I want it to. - John Khoo
The OYP Chaplains with the Poly Leaders, their family and friends
by Joseph Ng On the 18th of April 2018, the Catholic communities from all five Polytechnics (Singapore Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Temasek Polytechnic, Nanyang Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic) gathered together to celebrate the annual commissioning of their leaders.
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Despite coming from different walks of life, the leaders were united in their common desire to serve the Lord by stepping up and mirroring the Good Shepherd in their respective campuses. Leadership is rarely an easy-breezy journey and can be filled with challenges but this has not deterred them. “The journey hasn’t been easy and it can be difficult to rely on God. However, I have noticed God with me in these trials. He has always been present in the people around me who are journeying with me and supporting me.” -Grace, National Polytechnic
We continue in our support for this new batch of leaders as they bring the Lord’s love and light to their respective campus communities. We ask that you keep them in prayer as they seek to serve their communities.
Emmaus in the City
Sat,23 June 2018 (10 am) to Sun, 24 June 2018 (6pm)
Time: 7.30pm to 10:00pm Date: Every Monday from 16 April to 28 May 2018 Venue: Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, Annex Level 3 Hall
Praise & worship
Each leader was given a crucifix symbolising the call to carry one’s cross faithfully just as Jesus carried His cross everyday, and to follow Him in serving others. “Having encountered Christ for myself, I couldn’t agree more with this quote, “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement”. I feel extremely hopeful and excited to invite more people on this adventure of pursuing Christ with me and seeing their own love stories with Jesus slowly unfold.” -Ariel, Temasek Polytechnic
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UPCOMING
KICKSTART Freshmen Gathering 2018
FEATURE
Small group sharing
OYP Chaplain Fr. Brian D’Souza encouraged the leaders to trust in God’s providence and faithfulness. In God’s time and God’s way, the community will grow if they remain open and steadfast in Him. He also reminded them of their identity, that is not based on the number of their members or the work that they do, but in the love of Jesus Christ. “For me, God is a companion beside me on my journey towards leadership. He is always there to guide me on this path. My desire for the community on campus is to put Christ in the center of our community, and to help everyone journey closer to God through prayer, reflection and fellowship.” - Garren Yap, Nanyang Polytechnic
If you are in JC or army, join us! We meet at 10:00am every Saturday at OYP. To find out more, visit www.oyp. org.sg/caya/.
by Ian Cheng As young working adults, we are thrust into a world inundated by many voices that can overwhelm and confuse. This often leaves us thirsting for more.
Are you entering university and wondering how to grow your faith life? Looking for a community of fellow Catholic students on campus? Join us at KICKSTART Freshmen Gathering 2018 for a time of PRAYER, WORSHIP, COMMUNITY and ENCOUNTER! The Father waits with open arms. Want to find out more? Sign up at http://oyp.org.sg/kickstart2018/
Like the disciples that walked the Road to Emmaus, we young working adults can often fail to recognize Jesus in our lives. Many of us are deafened by the voices of the world. We yearn to have ‘our hearts burning within us”. This Easter Octave, the Office for Young People started a 7-week series– ‘Emmaus in the City’ – an outreach for young working adults, by young working adults. Held weekly at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, ‘Emmaus in the City’ seeks to help young working adults recognize the Risen Christ in our lives, as well as to learn to walk with Jesus on a daily basis. This is done through prayer, worship, breaking of the Word as well as testimonies and sharings from fellow young working adults.
THANKSGIVING
Going into KICKSTART, I was utterly and completely lost. At that point I hadn’t been accepted into any university yet and felt like a fraud. The retreat was incredibly healing for me as my brothers and sisters in Christ rallied around me and encouraged me to trust in God’s plan for me and not to place my self-worth on my education. It was the first ‘yes’ I had said to the Lord in a long time.
“For me, Emmaus in the City has been all about finding Jesus in the midst of a busy life. I leave our sessions with a heart full of love and a smile on my face because in some way through prayer, conversation, a reflection or song, I have encountered Christ. Between deadlines, stress from work and family life, it is a way for me to keep Easter alive in my heart and truly treasure this beautiful season.” - Renee Jain
In surrendering my burdens and heart to Him, I allowed Him to work in His own ways. I even met one of my closest friends now from that retreat! Since then, the Lord has been showering me with His many blessings and I have become even more aware of His blessings and promptings. ‘Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest’ - Matthew 11:28. - Gillian Koh, SIM.
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Family ministry addresses workplace issues, challenges Every worker is at his or her workplace for a unique and special purpose, said Mr Francis Mane, president of the Christian Family and Social Movement (CFSM). Speaking during the celebration of the feast of St Joseph the Worker and the commemoration of Labour Day, Mr Mane said that Catholics are called to lead and be exemplary by showing kindness to their fellow workers. With love, we can make great changes at our workplace, he added. The event, held on May 1 at CANA The Catholic Centre, also saw CFSM’s spiritual director Fr Terence Kesavan speaking to about 50 members and guests. Quoting from Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice And Be Glad), Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the call to holiness, he urged attendees to live a life of holiness and said that each person must be holy in his or her way including at work. In another address, one CFSM member said that CFSM members must understand the social teachings of the Catholic Church thoroughly and cannot remain in-
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different to the plight of workers. Members were also reminded to discuss work issues in their monthly group meetings and not limit themselves to family issues. Another member shared some challenges faced by migrant workers in Singapore such as those working in the construction industry. The event also saw participants break into groups to share the issues faced by present-day workers. Some issues raised were extended working hours and the use of technology that has an adverse impact on workers and families, such as having to respond to emails after office hours or on weekends. Other issues included the need for management to properly care for the well-being of workers and their families. A Mass was celebrated by Fr Terence in remembrance of all workers. As he is scheduled to go overseas for further studies, CFSM presented him with a farewell gift and card. The CFSM has its origins in the 1950s in France, when Mr
Rene Delecluse, a missionary social worker, helped to start a family movement. The CFSM began in Singapore in 1962 and is registered with the Registry of Societies. There are about 15 family groups, each with about five-10 members, meeting regularly in their homes to share their life’s challenges and to keep growing as persons. n
Fr Terence Kesavan, the Christian Family and Social Movement (CFSM) spiritual director, was presented with a farewell gift as he is scheduled to go overseas for further studies.
Christian Family and Social Movement members and guests pose for a photo with Fr Terence and Fr Andre Christophe, their former spiritual director.
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Dear Buddhist friends, On behalf of the Catholic community, we extend to all of you our heartfelt and warmest wishes as you celebrate your most sacred festival of Vesak, remembering the birth, enlightenment and final nirvana of Gautama Buddha. Indeed, enlightenment is what the world needs so desperately today. Greed for power and possessions, whether in politics, business or even in religious institutions, has driven many to use unlawful means to achieve their goals, often at the expense of the poor and putting lives at risk, so much so, that the United Nations has designated Dec 9 as International Anti-Corruption Day. Pope Francis has said that the only way out of corruption is service – “Because corruption comes from pride and arrogance, and service is humbling.”
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(Morning Meditation, Domus Santae Marthae, June 16, 2014). Dear friends, in the Second Precept of Buddhism, “I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from taking that which is not given,” you too denounce corruption as a toxin that causes immense suffering and a disordered society. Not only does Buddhism disapprove of the act of taking what does not rightly belong to one, but Buddhist teachings also seek to enlighten the depraved mind that is corrupt so that it rises above all desire for temporal gratification.
Notwithstanding that both our religious traditions decry the evil of corruption; unfortunately some of our followers have not been spared this social scourge. May we combat corruption together, not with passive silence, but with an active re-commitment to fostering a culture imbued with lawfulness and transparency, and an environment free of material, political and spiritual corruption by
living lives of honesty, integrity and service to others. May Christ’s and Buddha’s way of life of detachment, wisdom and compassion inspire us all to do likewise. As Christians, we walk with you in cultivating a spirit of detachment for all earthly things which are passing so that we can put all we have to use towards the service of others. In this way, we will live a truly enlightened way of life, free from all attachments so as to be free for altruistic love. In this spirit, we thank you for
your dedication to building bridges of harmony and unity between us and the other religious traditions here in our country. I wish to thank your leaders for their warmth, friendship and hospitality towards us and their support in strengthening religious harmony. Let us continue to inspire and collaborate with one another. May you have a joyous and peaceful feast day! n
Most Rev William Goh Archbishop of Singapore
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Same-sex unions and their right to marriage Moral theologian Fr David Garcia comments on the issue IT SEEMS that prohibiting people of the same sex from getting married is a case of blatant, unjust discrimination. Clearly, homosexual persons can love each other just as much as heterosexual persons love people of the opposite sex, and if so, don’t they deserve the same right to marriage as anybody else? Is it even conceivable that people who claim that all human beings are equal in dignity regardless of their religion, race, nationality, gender or sexual orientation, could deny homosexual couples their right to marriage? All this presumes a premise that often goes unnoticed, namely, the assumption that the institution of marriage is a conventional, social construct. According to such premise, what marriage is will be determined by societies or human legislation based purely on conventional agreements. It presumes that we decide what marriage is. As a legal decision, it seems, it is the fruit of legislators’ wills and so, deciding to deprive some persons of the privileges of marriage is guilty, unjust discrimination. Such a view forgets that marriage is three things: a natural association, a social institution and an ecclesiastical sacrament. As members of the human species, people associate for reproductive purposes in a particular arrangement called marriage. As social persons, we enshrine that association in a juridical framework recognised in society called the institution of marriage. As members of the Church, marriages between baptised Christians are sacraments. For the purpose of this discussion, we shall focus on the first two.
Natural association Animals associate according to their nature. Fish associate in schools, lions in prides and wolves in packs. The nature of the
Marriage is three things: a natural association, a social institution and an ecclesiastical sacrament. the most vital form of association in any society. Marriage predates the state and the state should be at the service of marriage, and not contrariwise. species in question, not the will of the scientist, determines what those associations are. The nature of lions dictates what a pride of lions is. Scientists have the authority to teach what they discover, but not the authority to determine how animals should associate. Among the most important forms of associations in animals, there is the sexual association. Ravens form monogamous pairs for life, geladas associate in harems etc. Each species associates sexually according to its nature. The human species is not different. It also has a sexual form of association that we call marriage, and like other forms of association, it is determined by human nature and not by human convention.
why societies and states give social and legal recognition to marriages is because the persons implicated in a marriage, namely the spouses and their children, engage in a relationship of rights and duties that need the protection of society. Another reason, among others, is that the association of marriage contributes to the common good of society in a unique way, unparalleled to any other form of association; namely, it creates society by procreating the next generation. Society and the state have therefore the obligation to protect the natural association of marriage with a juridical structure that protects, sustains and defends
Human convention Obviously, humans not only associate according to their nature, but also according to their free, conventional decisions. Associations like country clubs, nations, and football teams are only some examples. The concept of those associations is purely arbitrary and dictated by human convention. This is the crucial difference between marriages and other kinds of associations, including same-sex unions. We are simply not free to decide what marriage is. We don’t have the authority to decide what marriage should be; human nature does. This distinc-
tion is often ignored but clearly decisive in the topic at hand. People of the same sex, homosexual or not, may be free to associate in terms permitted by the law, and that would be their liberty, but that liberty is far from being a basic human right equivalent to the right to marriage.
Other conditions It is not the mutual affection, important as it is, that makes marriage an institution. Love alone does not give the right to marriage. There will be other conditions that make a person fit for marriage, i.e. to be of mental capacity, sexually mature, free of coercion… and be of the opposite sex. Certainly all human persons enjoy the same basic human rights, among them the right to marry a sexually mature person of the opposite sex, mentally competent and free to marry. And persons may enjoy the liberty to associate according to their affection, their religions commitment (as religious communities do) or many other reasons, but none of those is marriage, no matter how loving they are. Discussions on the right to marriage equality are often barking up the wrong tree and bypass altogether the central issue: there is such a thing as human nature and it does not depend on us. n
Marriage institution This natural association is recognised in human societies as the institution of marriage. Not all natural human associations are considered a social or legal institution. Friendship, necessary as it is, is not enshrined in a juridical framework of rights and duties, and thus we do not speak of the institution of friendship. In the case of marriage, we do. One reason, among others,
Medical guild’s bioethics centre The Catholic Medical Guild of Singapore (CMG) provides 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.
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The CMG bioethics centre – consisting of moral theologian, Dominican friar David Garcia, and medical doctors trained in medical ethics – will be available to address ethical dilemmas via the email cmgethicscentre@ gmail.com, or if necessary, through a personal face-to-face dialogue at a date and time that can be arranged. n
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Timor-Leste boosts pilgrimages DILI, TIMOR-LESTE – Undaunted by its fledgling economy and tiny stature, Timor-Leste has started to develop pilgrimages to give the Catholic-majority country a much-needed boost and help promote religious devotion. The Timor-Leste Church launched the campaign on April 19 in conjunction with the government by welcoming its first batch of 28 pilgrims under the scheme. Members included Mr Manuel Vong, Timor-Leste’s tourism minister, as well as catechists, leaders from various parishes and a chaplain. The group made a pilgrimage to key religious sites in the coastal enclave of Oecusse District from April 20-24. Mr Etelvina Pinto, 60, who has worked for the last 35 years as a catechist at St Anthony Church in Dili, said he had previously only heard about Oecusse but had never got the opportunity to visit before. “It’s amazing. At my old age I just feel blessed to be able to see the sites and relics with my own eyes,” he said. “I hope more people, particularly young people, will come to these places so they can stay closer to God,” he added. Mr Rui Manuel, 32, is a member of the lay group Missionaries
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for Jesus Christ. He said now is the right time for the government to boost pilgrimages in the country. “This kind of spiritual pilgrimage further strengthens my devotion,” he said. The first Portuguese missionaries arrived in Lifau, Oecusse, in 1515, 500 years before the district was made the Special Economic Zone of Oecusse.
The local Church and government are working to develop pilgrimages, which in addition to helping people spiritually, also aids the country economically. Much of this religious heritage has been preserved in the form of Gothic churches built in the popular Portuguese style of the 16th century, a relic of St Anthony, the lying statue of Jesus (Senhor de Morto) – only open for public veneration on Good Friday – Marian pilgrim sites and more. Fr Angelo Salsinha, coordinator of the trip to Oecusse, said the
Church has identified dozens of pilgrimage destinations, with the goal of preserving local culture and history, as well as boosting the economy. “Many foreign tourists from countries like Australia, Portugal, India, Japan, Korea and Indonesia have expressed eagerness to visit Timor-Leste,” the priest said. He said pilgrimages to Oecusse will be officially launched for international groups in August, in the form of two packages that run for 12 or 18 days. Bishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili said it is time for the Church and government to unite and develop forms of religious tourism that are rich not only on the spiritual side but also in social, economic, cultural and historical aspects. He has asked parish priests in Dili diocese to work with the people who maintain religious sites. Fr Albino Marques, parish priest of St. Anthony Church in Oecusse, said the parish has prepared accommodation for tourists who want to spend time in the district. “The local Church will collaborate with the government to maintain the sites,” he said. n
Catholic women carry wooden crosses during a Palm Sunday procession in Dili, TimorLeste. The country is looking towards running pilgrimage packages for both locals and overseas tourists.
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Korean Church praises summit as prelude to peace, dialogue PANMUNJOM, SOUTH KOREA – South Korean Church leaders
welcomed the results of the historic April 27 inter-Korean summit held at the truce village of Panmunjom on the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) that has separated the two countries for 65 years. “The Panmunjom Declaration is very important as it opened the way for peace and reunification through complete denuclearisation,” said Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul on April 30. “I welcome the efforts of the two leaders to take the initiative in encouraging both sides to lay down their guns and hold hands in the name of peace,” he added. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un were seen smiling and holding hands as they crossed the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) and later enjoyed a banquet together with their wives. It marked the first time a North Korean leader has crossed into South Korean territory in decades and comes on the heels of Mr Kim’s recent trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, a close ally and sponsor of the regime. Mr Kim is due to meet US President Donald Trump next month, who recently tweeted that
he would also like their meeting to occur on the DMZ. Singapore and the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar have been raised as other potential venues. The prospect of the upcoming meeting has sparked considerable interest given that not long ago, the two leaders were threatening to attack each another with missile strikes. “I believe the blaze of the Holy Spirit has not blown out,” said Cardinal Yeom, who accepted the role of apostolic administrator of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, despite not being unable to travel to the communist country. “Still there are faithful who meet God in their deep prayers, who remember the grace of the sacraments and who long for God. I will pray for the day when I can meet the faithful of Pyongyang diocese and offer a liturgy with them,” he said. The two Korean leaders capped the summit by announcing the Panmunjom Declaration for
South Korean President Moon Jae-in (right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands inside the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas on April 27.
Peace, Prosperity and Unification of the Korean Peninsula. They pledged to work together to end the Korean War, which is technically ongoing as the bitter trench fighting ended with the signing of an armistice, and usher in a new era of peace. They also committed to reconciliation, peace, prosperity and improved inter-Korean relations as the world has watched a series of aborted efforts to this end in recent decades, including a failed attempt
pray for the day when I can meet ‘I will the faithful of Pyongyang diocese and offer a liturgy with them.’
– Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul, the apostolic administrator of Pyongyang, the North Korean capital
at a joint Korean industrial zone. Archbishop Hyginus Kim Heejoong of Kwangju, who serves as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, was also keen to praise the results of the summit. “A new [chapter of] history has begun in terms of coexistence and peace on the Korean Peninsula [with this event] marking the end of our long history of confrontation and struggle,” he said on April 29. “What is important for peace is that we smash our prejudices ... through mutual understanding,” he added. “For our part as Catholics, we will contact the [North Korean regime-run] Korean Catholic Association and seek out opportunities for further exchanges.” Bishop Lazarus You Heungshik of Daejeon, who serves as
president of the Bishops’ Committe for Justice and Peace, said the summit was a God-given opportunity to initiate dialogue and embark on the path to reconciliation. “Now it is our mission to help fulfil the declaration,” he said. “Christians should do our mission as God’s workers to help the two Koreas reunify.” Pope Francis also commented on the historic meeting on April 29 after leading a prayer at St Peter’s Square. “I accompany with prayer the positive success of last Friday’s Inter-Korean Summit and the courageous commitment assumed by the leaders of the two sides, to engage in a course of sincere dialogue for a Korean Peninsula free of nuclear arms,” he said. n UCANEWS.COM
Cardinal urges daily bell Praying for religious freedom in China prayer tolling to highlight murders event was held Aonspecial April 30 in HONG KONG –
MANILA – Cardinal Luis Anto-
nio Tagle called for church bells in Manila archdiocese to toll at 8 pm each day to protest the continuing spate of killings in the country. He said the tolling of the bells will “haunt the perpetrators of violence and killing to remember their victims, never to forget them,” reported Asian Church news agency ucanews.com. “The bells beckon us to remember the dead ... and to ask God to remember them,” said a statement from the cardinal. Ucanews.com reported a Catholic priest and a broadcast journalist were the most recent victims of assassinations. Fr Mark Ventura was shot to death after celebrating Mass in Cagayan province on April 29. Cardinal Tagle invited the faithful “to pause, remember and pray” for Fr Ventura, the second priest to be killed in four months. In December, Fr Marcelito Paez was shot dead in the province of Nueva Ecija.
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“It’s sad that a priest was killed ... and even if he’s not a priest, a person. Isn’t he a gift from God? Is it that easy nowadays to just kill and throw someone away?” asked Cardinal Tagle. He said the tolling of the bells is a call to everybody to commit to actions of truth, justice, love, and respect for God’s gift of human life and dignity. Archbishop Sergio Utleg of Tuguegarao has appealed to authorities for a speedy investigation into the killing of Fr Ventura, 37. The priest was among those who opposed black sand mining in the province of Cagayan. “There have been too many murders already done with impunity in our country by assassins ... May this be the last,” Archbishop Utleg added. A day after the shooting of Fr Ventura, assassins also shot broadcast journalist Edmund Sestoso in the central Philippine city of Dumaguete. n CNS
Hong Kong for China to stop repressing religious freedom. It was jointly organised by Hong Kong’s Justice and Peace Commission, Christians for Hong Kong Society, Hong Kong Christian Fellowship of City Concern and Hong Kong Christian Institute. The 40 participants met outside the liaison office of the Central People’s Government to sing hymns, read a joint statement, post crosses on a map of China and march around the building. Commission project officer Or Yan-yan told Asian Church news agency ucanews.com that Catholics were very upset as they kept hearing news about the restrictions on religion. “Hong Kong, as the place closest to China, should speak out for those who are isolated and helpless to fight suppression,” she said. She hoped believers on the mainland would see support from Hong Kong and let Chinese authorities know that “even though our strength is so small to make any changes, we still want them not to in-
A priest hears confession in Beijing. A special prayer event calling for an end to repressing religious freedom was held on April 30 in Hong Kong. CNS file photo
fringe on human rights arbitrarily.” Rev Lau Chi Hung of Christian City Mission Church told ucanews.com that the prayer represented persistence. “As long as the problem exists, we still need to speak out,” he said. The four groups that initiated the prayer and two other groups issued a joint statement calling on the Chinese government to stop suppressing religious freedom,
particularly in Henan province where the situation is severe. The Chinese government was called on to immediately stop the seizure of house and underground churches, the suppression of religious personnel who have not registered with the government, the removal of crosses from churches, and the installation of video surveillance cameras in religious places. n UCANEWS.COM
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Church activities continue despite Surabaya attacks SURABAYA, INDONESIA – Chris-
tians in Indonesia’s second city Surabaya say the community is struggling to recover from the shock and loss suffered following suicide attacks on three churches on May 13. The attacks, carried out by members of a single family with links to the Islamic State group, initially killed 13 people and left scores injured. Some of the bombers included young children. Another attack on police headquarters the following day by another family – including an eightyear-old girl – left at least four dead and 10 injured. Since then the death toll had risen to 25. “Parishioners are still haunted by trauma,” said Mr Fransiskus Xaverius Ping Tedja, security coordinator at the Santa Maria Church. The Catholic-run church was the first one attacked and where at least six people lost their lives. Despite the bombing, church activities are still going as usual, including daily Mass, said Mr Tedja. “There has been an increase in the number of people attending
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There has been an increase in the number of people attending Mass, because they want to pray together for the victims.
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– Mr Fransiskus Xaverius Ping Tedja, security coordinator at Santa Maria Catholic Church
The site of the May 13 explosion outside Santa Maria Catholic Church in Surabaya, Indonesia. Fr Alexius Kurdo Irianto, parish priest of Santa Maria Catholic Church, said the church is now focusing on providing assistance to the victim’s families. CNS photo
Mass, because they want to pray together for the victims,” he said. Ms Rosalia Siswaty, an aunt of Aloysius Bayu Rendra Wardhana, who was killed while trying to prevent the suicide bombers from entering the church, said she and her family were very proud of her nephew’s actions.
“We are devastated by this incident, but we are also proud because he died saving many people,” she told Asian Church news agency ucanews.com. Fr Alexius Kurdo Irianto, parish priest of Santa Maria Catholic Church, said the church is now focusing on providing assis-
tance to the victim’s families. Mr Josua Poli, a member of the Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church, another target, said their congregation was still in shock following the attack, but “so far our relationship with residents in the neighbourhood has been fine,” he said. Meanwhile, heavy security remains around the two churches, as well as the Surabaya Pentecostal Church, which was also attacked. Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini ordered blanket security to ensure that “there would be no more incidents,” according to public order agency spokesman Mimik Sugiono.
“We do not want to lose anymore people,” he told ucanews.com. Security has also been tightened at Protestant and Catholic schools, he added. “We always coordinate with intelligence services and security measures are based on their information,” said Mr Sugiono, adding that at least 10 security personnel are stationed at each location. Young Catholics have also been asked to bolster security, including at Surabaya’s Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, said Mr Indra Tewa, a church security coordinator. “Since the incident, every night, there are 30 Catholic youths on guard,” he said. At the Vatican on May 13, Pope Francis said he was praying for all those affected by the “serious attack against places of worship” and for the violence to stop. He asked that “everyone find room in their heart for feelings – not of hatred and violence – but of reconciliation and fraternity.” Indonesian President Joko Widodo called the attacks “the act of cowards, undignified and barbaric.” n UCANEWS.COM, CNS
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M’sian bishops ask for prayers after watershed election KUALA LUMPUR – The bishops of Malaysia have urged Catholics to pray and commit towards peace and unity in the wake of the May 9 general election. In a statement, the bishops said they “would like to give praise and thanks to God for a relatively peaceful GE14 without much incidents,” referring to the country’s 14th general election. “This was possible because many came out of their ‘comfort zones’ to sacrifice and toil much to make a better Malaysia where freedom and justice are ensured to all,” said the statement dated May 12. “A New Malaysia has emerged!” the bishops added. They observed that during the course of the election, “we have seen reconciliation offered and received; observed graciousness in defeat; a love for peace and harmony for this country”. They stressed that “we all need to continue to pray for Malaysia. We must pray for healing and unity among all of us including the Church. … Let us be creative. Let us be bridge builders. Let
Vietnamese Catholic students bring joy to villagers YEN BAI, VIETNAM – Catholic
students have shown solidarity with ethnic Hmong villagers in northwest Vietnam by offering them food to enjoy on national holidays. Some 130 Catholics who study at colleges and universities in the capital Hanoi paid a special visit to 200 Hmong Catholics in Ngon Lanh subparish in Van Chan district of Yen Bai province from April 29-30. Mr Peter Vu Duc Bien, an organiser, said it was meaningful for students to spend their free time visiting underprivileged people in remote areas. Vietnam had national holidays on April 30 (Reunification Day) and May 1 (International Workers’ Day).
“The visit aimed to give us an opportunity to share Christ’s love with local people and encourage them to overcome challenges to practise their faith,” Mr Bien said. Students travelled 300 km by bus and walked 8 km along hilly paths to Ngon Lanh. Mr Bien, 25, said students attended Mass, played traditional games with Hmong children and danced with them around a campfire at the subparish’s chapel under construction. They served food, gave a concert performance and held Taize-style prayers. They also spent the night at local people’s houses and offered them old clothes and food items. n UCANEWS.COM
A jubilant Dr Mahathir Mohamad seen at a May 10 news conference. CNS photo
We must pray for ‘healing and unity among all of us. ’
– From the Malaysian bishops’ statement
us build a Malaysian Church for a Malaysian Malaysia.” The Church leaders also proposed a time of prayer from May
12-20. They suggested that during this period, Catholics could offer a thanksgiving Mass, a Holy Hour, a prayer for peace in Malaysia during community or family rosary prayers, or a personal commitment to be an instrument of peace unity. “May the love of God and the love for this nation keep us Malaysians united in love,” said the bishops. n
Catholics, Muslims welcome Ramadan MARAWI CITY, PHILIPPINES –
Catholics in the battle-scarred southern Philippine city of Marawi have joined the predominantly Muslim community in welcoming the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan. A thousand Catholic and Muslim residents participated in the start of the “Duyog Ramadan” celebration spearheaded by the Catholic prelature in the city’s Datu Saber district on May 13. The annual celebration, which started in 1979, aims to encourage Christian families to “accompany” their Muslim neighbours in fasting, prayer and service to the poor. “Fasting and prayer are major commonalities among Christians and Muslims,” said Redemptorist Fr Gary Alvarado, head of the Duyog Marawi group. The priest said it is not a new concept “but it would strengthen bonds” Duyog Marawi is a rehabilitation project of Marawi’s Catholic prelature and the Redemptorists in the war-torn city. “After the destruction of the city, Catholics need to show more solidarity with our Muslim
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brothers and sisters,” Fr Alvarado said. Bishop Edwin dela Pena of Marawi said “Duyog Ramadan” or One with Ramadan, is “an appreciation of the early memories” of Muslim and Christian interaction in the city. The programme encourages
lims and Christians in Mindanao. The five-month conflict last year between terrorist gunmen and government forces resulted in the destruction of the city and the displacement of at least 400,000 Muslim and Christian residents. n CNS
Residents of battle-scarred Marawi cleaning their home. CNS file photo
Christian families “to sacrifice one meal” in any day of Ramadan and to donate the cost of the meal to the rehabilitation of Marawi communities. The bishop said the prelature would take advantage of Ramadan to hold peace-building activities especially among young Mus-
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Order signed to give faith groups stronger voice in US govt
Sunday May 27, 2018 n CatholicNews
Theologians call for regular consultation of laity in Church decisions CNS photo
VATICAN CITY – The Catholic
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order he signed during a White House ceremony on May 3 to establish a faith-based office, the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. CNS photo WASHINGTON – In front of a
and the federal government. small crowd of cabinet memIt said the “White House Faith bers and religious leaders at the and Opportunity Initiative” would White House Rose Garden on provide recommendations on May 3, President Donald Trump programmes and policies where announced, and then signed, an faith-based and community organiexecutive order giving faith-based sations could partner with the govgroups a stronger voice in the fed- ernment to “deliver more effective eral government. solutions to poverty.” “It’s a great day,” It also pointed The new he said after signing out that the new oforder would fice would enable the the order and passing out pens to religious Trump administration ensure that leaders who surroundto know of failures, faith-based within the executive ed him outside on the spring morning for organisations branch, of complying the National Day of with religious liberty have an Prayer event. protections and would No details about the ‘equal right ensure that faith-based order were given at the organisations have to exercise ceremony, but religious “equal access to govleaders were reminded their deeply ernment funding and of the work they do right to exercise held beliefs.’ equal in caring for those in their deeply held beneed and were assured liefs.” by the president that their religious The initiative will be led by freedom would continue to be pro- the newly created position of adtected by the federal government. viser to the White House Faith and A White House document Opportunity Initiative and will be posted online after the order was supported by community and faith signed said its purpose was to leaders outside of the federal govensure that faith-based and com- ernment. It will have designated munity organisations “have strong liaisons from executive departadvocates” in the White House ments and federal agencies. n CNS
Church needs to seek the input, commitment and talents of all of its members if it is to be truly catholic and to evangelise effectively, said a new document from the International Theological Commission. Pope Francis has called for the Church to be “synodal,” which does not just mean holding regular meetings of the world Synod of Bishops, but constantly finding ways to live and work in the world with a greater sense of the value of the prayers, experience and advice of everyone in the Church – including laypeople, the document said. “Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church” was published in early May with the approval of Archbishop Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the authorisation of Pope Francis. The International Theological Commission is a board of theologians, appointed by the pope, who advises the doctrinal congregation. The new document explored Pope Francis’ frequent calls for the Church to be “synodal” or characterised by “walking together” as the pilgrim people of God. The theologians said a synodal attitude and way of being Church flowed naturally from the Second Vatican Council’s description of the Church as a communion and its emphasis on the responsibility of all Catholics for the Church’s life and mission, although each person has been given different gifts and roles by the Holy Spirit. The document explored ways the Church already exercises synodality, including through par-
Laypeople at Mass. A new document from the International Theological Commission emphasises the role of the laity in the mission of the Church.
ish councils, diocesan presbyteral councils, national bishops’ conferences, regional councils of bishops, the synods of bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches, the world Synod of Bishops and ecumenical councils, like Vatican II. While synodality is based on the baptismal gifts and responsibilities of each Catholic, the document said, it is not a call for some form of a Catholic parliament. The pope and the bishops, assisted by their priests, still retain their decision-making authority. But “the participation of the lay faithful is essential,” the document said. “They are the vast majority of the people of God and there is much to learn from their participation in the various expressions of the life and mission of the ecclesial community, in popular piety and in pastoral work as whole, as well as from their
They are the vast majority of the people of ‘God and there is much to learn from their participation in the various expressions of the life and mission of the ecclesial community.
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– From ‘Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church’
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specific competence in the various spheres of cultural and social life.” Any process of Church discernment, the theologians wrote, should begin with a consultation of the laity and for that to be effective, laymen and laywomen must be given more opportunities for education in the faith and more spaces in the Church where they can learn to express themselves. Greater effectiveness also requires overcoming “a clerical mentality that risks keeping them at the margins of Church life,” the document said. Calling for “conversion for a renewed synodality,” the document emphasised the need for all Church members to be better educated in “the spirituality of communion and the practice of listening, dialogue and communal discernment.” The synodal nature of the Church is not something activated only on special occasions, the document said. “It must be expressed in the Church’s ordinary way of living and working,” which always begins with prayer and listening to God’s word, then trying to discern together where and how the Holy Spirit is calling the community to act. n CNS
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Jerusalem archbishop calls for peace as violence breaks out JERUSALEM – As the world wit-
nesses “another outburst of hatred and violence, which is once again bleeding all over the Holy Land,” the head of Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarchate called for prayers for peace. “We need to pray more for peace and our conversion and for all,” said Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the patriarchate, or diocese. The Associated Press reported that the same day the United States was inaugurating its embassy in Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and killed 57 Palestinians and injured more than 2,700 during mass protests along the Gaza border on May 14. In addition, a baby died from tear gas inhalation, the Gaza Health Ministry
said, bringing the death toll to 58. “The lives of so many young people have once again been shut down and hundreds of families are mourning their loved ones, dead or wounded,” said the state-
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa asked that the liturgy on Pentecost be dedicated to prayers for peace. ment from Archbishop Pizzaballa. “As in a kind of vicious circle, we must condemn all forms of violence, any cynical use of human lives and disproportionate violence. Once again we are forced by circumstances to plead and
cry out for justice and peace!” He announced that May 19, the eve of Pentecost, the Church would hold a prayer vigil at the Church of St Stephen at L’Ecole Biblique. He asked the entire diocese to dedicate a day of prayer and fasting for the peace of Jerusalem and that the liturgy on Pentecost be dedicated to prayers for peace. “We must truly pray to the Spirit to change our hearts to better understand His will and to give us the strength to continue to work for justice and peace,” the archbishop said. Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital and now feel that, with the US embassy there, the US cannot be a fair broker in the peace process with Israel. Many Israelis see opening the
Selfie culture leads to departure from reality: pope ROME – While taking selfies can be an occasion to capture treasured memories, it can also be a sign that young men and women are deprived of meaningful human interaction with others, Pope Francis said. Responding to questions on May 14 at a meeting with 1,700 priests and lay leaders of the Diocese of Rome gathered at the Basilica of St John Lateran, the pope said he realised the negative social implications of technology a few days earlier when he was greeting teens participating in a programme of the international network of “Scholas Occurrentes.” The network promotes a “culture of encounter” through arts, sport and technology. “They were all there waiting for me,” he said. “When I arrived, they made noise, as young people do. I went to greet them and only a few gave their hand. The majority were with their cellphones [saying], ‘photo, photo, photo. Selfie!’” “I saw that this is their reality, that is the real world, not human contact. And this is serious. They are ‘virtualised’ youths,” the pope said. “The world of virtual communication is a good thing, but when it becomes alienating, it makes you forget to shake hands.” Archbishop Angelo De Donatis, vicar of the Diocese of Rome, had asked Pope Francis about his impressions of the meeting in March in preparation for the upcoming Synod of Bishops on “young people, faith
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A couple takes a wefie. Pope Francis said he was worried that young people ‘communicate and live in a virtual world’. CNS photo
and vocational discernment” and how the Church should respond to the needs of young men and women. The pope said he had “a good impression” of the presynod meeting and the meeting’s final document was “beautiful.” He also praised the commitment of the young delegates and their seriousness in addressing the challenges facing young people today. However, he warned against cultural alienation. Young people today receive proposals that are alienating them “from values, from insertion into society, alienating them from reality: they propose a life of fantasy,” the pope said. “It worries me that they com-
municate and live in a virtual world. They live like this, communicate like this and do not have their feet on the ground,” he said. “We must make young people ‘grounded’ in the real world; to touch reality without destroying the good things the virtual world may have because they are useful. This is important: reality, concreteness.” An important way to help young people engage with the reality around them is to encourage them to get involved in charity work and in the corporal works of mercy, he said. “Do something for others, because this helps them be concrete, it grounds them, and they enter into a social relationship.” n CNS
CNS photo
Palestinians run for cover from Israeli fire and tear gas at the Israel-Gaza border during a protest against the US embassy move to Jerusalem on May 14.
embassy as the long-awaited official recognition of Jerusalem as their capital and the fulfilment of
a promise made by numerous US presidents to move the building there from Tel Aviv. n CNS
Church urged to care for those with mental illness who struggle heroically to assist their loved ones,” the letter said, ops issued a pastoral letter out- emphasising that Christians must lining ways the Church could do “encounter them, accompany a better job of serving those who them, comfort them and help bear struggle with mental illness, stress- their burdens in solidarity with ing that it is an “essential part of them – offering our understandthe pastoral care of the Church.” ing, prayers and tangible and onThe letter, “Hope and Heal- going assistance.” ing,” was published in English, The California bishops also Spanish and Vietnamese online identified the scope and burden of on the website of the California mental illness today, noting that the Catholic ConferNational Institute of ence, the public Mental Health says Christians policy arm of the one in five adults state’s bishops, on must encounter in the US suffered May 1, the start of from a mental disthose with the Mental Health order over the last mental illness Awareness Month. year and nearly It said all Cath10 million Ameriand help bear olics are “called to can adults – about their burdens provide hope and one in 25 – have a healing to others” mental illness that in solidarity and in recognising is severe enough with them, that every human to cause serious life is sacred, they functional impairsaid a pastoral should not only “atment. And 20 perletter issued tend to those in our cent of adolescents midst who suffer in currently have, or by California’s body or mind” but previously had, a also work with fam- Catholic bishops. seriously debilitatilies, mental health ing mental disorder, professionals, community organi- according to the institute. sations and all individuals and inThey point out the increase of stitutions engaged in such work. depression and anxiety for young The bishops pointed out that people, the rise in suicides from often people with mental illness men and women in nearly every suffer in silence in contrast with age group, the number of drug those who have a medical illness overdoses and alcohol-related and usually receive an outpour- death, and the current opioid criing of sympathy and support from sis. their parish and community. “These crises of our time rep“This should not be so in our resent an urgent call to all Cathocivic communities and cannot be lics. We must respond,” the letter so in our Catholic communities. said. n CNS Those living with a mental illness should never bear these burdens n See also ‘On suicide and dealone, nor should their families spair’ on Page 22 SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, USA – California’s Catholic bish-
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Church must learn to listen to young people, pontiff says
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A Swiss Guard has faith, courage: pope VATICAN CITY – The steadfast
faith and love for the Catholic Church that have characterised members of the Swiss Guard for centuries must be part of the men’s lives even after they have stopped wearing their colourful mediaeval uniforms and carrying their halberds, Pope Francis said. Welcoming 33 young Catholic men from Switzerland who were to be sworn in as Swiss Guards on May 6, Pope Francis told them, “A Swiss Guard is a Swiss Guard when he is on duty and when he’s not.”
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New recruits are sworn in every May 6, commemorating the date in 1527 when 147 Swiss soldiers died defending the pope during an attack on Rome. “Remembering that historic gesture is a constant call to keep in mind and to live the typical qualities of the corps,” the pope said, listing them as: “living the Catholic faith coherently; persevering in friendship with Jesus and in love for the Church; being joyful and diligent in important as well as small and humble daily tasks; courage and patience,
generosity and solidarity with all.” Pope Francis said it is wonderful to watch how young men in the Swiss Guard pay attention to others and show such care and concern towards visitors and pilgrims, especially those most in need. He also encouraged the new recruits to pray on their own, participate in the Swiss Guards’ community prayer, read the Bible and attend Mass regularly – all of which are part of “the secret of the effectiveness of your work here in the Vatican.” n CNS
Young people cheer during World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland. In a video message to young people, Pope Francis warned of the ‘dangers of speaking to young people without letting them speak’. CNS file photo VATICAN CITY – The Catholic woman among the young, a womChurch must not keep young men an of our days.” and women at a distance, but inHer youthfulness stayed with stead must learn to listen to them, her throughout her life as “a disciPope Francis said. ple of her son with the enthusiasm In a video message to young of young people, following Him people gathered at several sites to the cross with the courage that around the world to pray the ro- only youths possess.” sary together on May 12, the “She continues to be young, pope warned of the “dangers even now when we contemplate of speaking to young people her in heaven, because holiness without letting them keeps her eternally speak, leaving them young,” he said. Young at ‘a safe distance.’” He encouraged “Young people do young adults in the people are not bite, they can come Church to “not be a ‘prophecy afraid to be saints” and close and have enthusiasm,” said Pope Francis. follow the examof peace and to The international ple of Mary and other Marian vigil organ- reconciliation saints “who have preised at the Shrine of St ceded you and show for all of Gabriel of the Sorrowyou the way.” ful Mother in Teramo, Pope Francis addhumanity,’ Italy, connected Italian ed that the internasaid Pope young adults with their tional Marian event peers from Panama, was proof that young Francis. Russia, Ireland and people are a “prophTaiwan via video link ecy of peace and recto pray for the upcoming synod in onciliation for all of humanity” October on “young people, faith and that they must teach adults, and vocational discernment.” “whose hearts are often hardened, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, to choose the path of dialogue and the general secretary of the Synod harmony.” of Bishops, celebrated the vigil’s “I will never tire of repeating concluding Mass, the Vatican said it: Do not raise walls, build bridgon May 12. es. Unite the shores of the oceans In the video, Pope Francis said that separate you with enthusiasm, praying the rosary was a way for determination and the love that young people to show their af- only you are capable of showing,” fection for Mary who is “a young he said. n CNS
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Discern right path with poverty, patience, prayer, pope tells Religious VATICAN CITY – The only way to understand and choose what is right in a world full of conflict, difficulties and materialism is by living a life of poverty that is filled with prayer and patience, Pope Francis said. “If you pray, if you are poor, if you are patient, rest assured that you will be fruitful,” he told about 700 consecrated men and women in the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall on May 4. The Religious were attending an international congress sponsored by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The congress, held in Rome from May 3-6, brought together members of many different forms of consecrated life, lay associations and movements to reflect on the meaning of “consecration” and issues related to consecrated life. In his off-the-cuff talk to participants, the pope said he was asked to come up with some “authentic criteria” for how to discern what is really happening in the world and how not to get lost in “the fog of worldliness,” temptations and “the spirit of war.” Calling infighting within com-
So many conflicts within a community are caused by people not having the patience to put up with each other, the pope said.
Pope Francis poses for a photo with women Religious. He said patience is needed to avoid conflict within a Religious community. CNS photo
munities “a scandal,” he also warned his audience against the three “tiny steps” that will turn any consecrated Religious into “a worldly Religious”: money, vanity and pride. If people are vigilant against being attached to material wealth, he said, then the other vices will not follow. “What are the things the Spirit
wants to stay strong in consecrated life?” he asked. “Prayer, poverty and patience,” he answered. It is not good that some people seek to “get ahead” in Religious life as if it were a career, he said. Prayer helps people rediscover that “I work for that Lord, not for my interests or for the institution I work at, no, for the Lord.” “One cannot discern what is
happening without talking with the Lord,” the pope said. But it also is impossible for a consecrated person to understand the world without a proper “spirit of poverty,” which is non-negotiable, he said. It will be with this “spirit of poverty that the Lord defends us – He defends us! – from many problems and many things that try to destroy consecrated life,” the pope said. Finally, he said, patience is needed. So many conflicts within a community are caused by people not having the patience to put up with each other, he said. And then, so often the strongest end up winning, he said, and they are not always the best because they were the ones who were impatient.
Patience is shown in small ways, even breaking into a smile “when I want to start swearing,” he said, and it is shown in big ways, like sacrificing oneself, even one’s life. Patience also is needed when vocations are diminishing and institutions must close, he said. Congregations must avoid “the art of dying well,” which is “the spiritual euthanasia of a consecrated heart that can’t take it anymore, doesn’t have the courage to follow the Lord,” the pope said. The situation is seen when a congregation decides to stop accepting prospective members and starts selling what they have left to survive, he said. “This is a sign, a sign that death is near, when a congregation begins to become attached to money,” he said. “It doesn’t have patience” to pray for new vocations and succumbs to a lack of spiritual poverty. Religious must have the same patience God asked of Abraham, who yearned for offspring, but had to wait until he was 100 years old, Pope Francis said. “‘Patience,’ the Lord said. Hope. Keep going” without bitterness. n CNS
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Vatican office tasked to promote reflection on women’s role The Dicastry for Laity, the Family and Life has been tasked to offer ‘a contribution to ecclesial reflection on the identity and mission of women in the Church and in society, promoting their participation.’
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has
updated the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, adding among other things a specific reference to the office’s responsibility for promoting a deeper reflection on the role of women in the Church and society. “The dicastery works to deepen the reflection on the relationship between men and women in their respective specificity, reciprocity, complementarity and equal dignity,” the new statutes said. “Valuing the feminine ‘genius,’ it offers a contribution to ecclesial reflection on the identity and mission of women in the Church and in society, promoting their participation.” The new statutes, approved by the pope on an experimental basis, were released by the Vatican on May 8 and were to go into force on May 13. They replace statutes issued in June 2016. While most of the articles in the statutes were unchanged, the new set eliminated a requirement that the office have three separate sections – for laity, for family and for life – each presided over by an undersecretary. However, the new statutes said the office will have “at least two lay undersecretaries.” The introductory article added a reference to how, “in accordance with the principles of collegiality, synodality and subsidiarity,” the
One of Pope Francis’ updates to the statutes of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life was to promote a deeper reflection on the role of women in the Church and society. CNS file photo
dicastery is to maintain relations with national bishops’ conferences, dioceses and other Church groups and promote collaboration among them. And, in response to Pope Francis’ call in “Amoris Laeti-
tia”, the apostolic exhortation addressing the pastoral care of families, to improve marriage preparation programmes the new statutes called on the dicastery to offer “guidelines for training programmes for engaged couples
preparing for marriage, and for young married couples.” The statutes also gave the dicastery added responsibility for expressing “the pastoral care of the Church also in relation to so-called ‘irregular’ situations,”
which include cohabiting couples and couples who are divorced and civilly remarried. The new document also expanded references to the office’s care for youth and young adults, promoting their involvement in the Church and advocating for their needs in society. The dicastery, it said, “expresses the particular concern of the Church for the young, promoting their agency in the midst of the challenges of today’s world. It supports the initiatives of the Holy Father in the field of youth ministry and is at the service of the episcopal conferences, of international youth movements and associations, promoting their collaboration and organising meetings on an international level.” n CNS
Be wary of the devil’s lies and seduction: pontiff Unfortunately, he said, too ofloser,” but he still tricks people ten “we like being seduced.” The devil is “the great liar, the into giving him power, Pope Franfather of lies,” the pope said, “and cis said. The devil “seduces us; he we fools believe him.” “We must be aware of the devknows how to appeal to our vanity and curiosity and we buy it all,” il,” he said, and Jesus taught his the pope said on May 8 during his disciples that the only way to do that was to watch, pray and fast. homily at Mass in his residence. And, Pope Francis said, it’s The day’s Gospel passage from St John ends with Jesus tell- especially important that Christians don’t think they ing His disciples “the can approach the devil, ruler of this world has One who see what he’s like and been condemned.” is afraid of then just walk away The phrase refers to the devil’s unscathed. the devil, Pope Francis As one of the Fasaid. With the resurrecinfluence can thers the Church tion of Jesus, the devil always turn wrote, of the devil is like has been defeated, but to Mary, said an angry, rabid dog that he still pretends to have power and still tries to Pope Francis. is chained up, he said. People know when influence people. “He has this ability to seduce,” they are playing with fire, the the pope said. “That makes it hard pope said. They know when they to understand that he is a loser are approaching that angry dog. because he presents himself with “Please, don’t,” he said. One who is afraid of the devgreat power, promises you many things, brings you gifts – beauti- il’s influence can always turn to ful, all wrapped up,” he said. “He Mary, he said. “When children knows how to seduce us with the are afraid they go to their mother. package without letting us see ‘Mum, mum, I’m afraid.’ When what’s inside. He knows how to they have bad dreams, they go to present his proposals to appeal to mum. Go to the Blessed Mother; she protects us,” he said n CNS our vanity, our curiosity.”
VATICAN CITY – The devil is “a
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Pope Francis greets people during a gathering of the Neocatechumenal Way at a field on the edge of Rome on May 5.
Neocatechumenal Way marks 50th year, learns about ‘patient’ evangelisation Sharing the Gospel means being a witness to love, responding to questions and patiently walking alongside people, not dictating how and when they take the next step, Pope Francis told members of the Neocatechumenal Way. Some 100,000 members from more than 130 countries gathered in a field on the edge of Rome on May 5 to welcome Pope Francis and celebrate the 50th anniversary of the movement, which guides Catholics in an itinerary of exploring the meaning of their baptism and learning to live according to its promises. Mr Kiko Arguello, one of the Spanish co-founders of the movement, introduced the members to the pope – calling out one by one the nations represented and introducing the bishops and cardinals who accompanied many of the groups. Before sending 34 teams of Neocatechumenal Way members off on new missions, including to poorer parishes on the “peripheries” of Rome, Pope Francis reminded all the members about the obligation of every Christian to evangelise, and he gave notes on how it should be done. First, he said, a Christian must never forget that God always loves His children and always keeps His promises. “Whatever we do, God continues to love us faithfully,” the pope said. “And when the dark clouds of problems seem to gather around you, remember that the faithful love of God shines always like a sun that never sets.” To evangelise is to share with others that faithful love of God,
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he said. “It is to proclaim that the Lord loves us and will never tire of me, of you, of us and of our world even if we sometimes tire of it.” Jesus told His disciples to “go out,” the pope said. “The temptation is strong to stay, to not take risks and to be content with having the situation under control. It’s easier to stay home, surrounded by those who love us, but that is not Jesus’ way.” The Lord calls Christians to be “pilgrims in the world in search of the brother or sister who still does not know the joy of God’s love,” he said.
One must ‘ accompany and wait, remembering that the journey of the other is not identical to mine.
example, not to dictate the gait of others. But rather, one must accompany and wait, remembering that the journey of the other is not identical to mine.” In the Neocatechumenal Way’s outreach to others, the pope said, members must be sensitive to the individual needs of the people they are inviting. “What counts are not arguments that can convince, but a life that can attract,” Pope Francis told them. It is not “the ability to impose, but the courage to serve.” And, he told them, be humble. “Don’t put in first place the negative aspects and things that need to change, but look with your hearts, with a gaze that appreciates, an approach that respects and a trust that is patient.” n CNS
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– Pope Francis
Being a pilgrim requires travelling light and renouncing comfort, wealth and power, the pope said. “Only a Church that renounces the world can proclaim the Lord well. Only a Church detached from power and money, free of triumphalism and clericalism can witness in a credible way that Christ frees a person.” The Lord also sent His disciples forth together, the pope noted. “One who is fully missionary does not go alone but goes together.” And, he said, “walking together is an art, which must be learned always. One must be attentive, for
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REFLECTION
Why is loving God so hard and demanding? By Msgr Philip Heng, SJ Why is loving God so difficult and demanding? This question is far more complex than it appears and more so for those who are going through the painful challenges of life. Loving God is difficult. What does this mean? Loving God is difficult if the love we have for ourselves is a self-centred love. Many of us are often in conflict between knowing how much to love God and how much we are to love ourselves, as we are often blinded by our self-centred love. Such self-centred love often includes the narrow and preoccupied love we have for our family; making us oblivious to the needs outside our families (e.g. poor, needy, church building fund and the like). If we reflect on this common human experience more deeply and if we are inspired by the Holy Spirit, there should be no conflicts between loving God and loving ourselves. If we love Jesus deeply enough, then the Spirit will guide us to develop a heart that is discerning. We can presume that God’s will is for us to love ourselves and others in wholesome ways. Related to these challenges are the common experiences of God being “demanding”; especially so, for those of us who find the living of the Gospel values of Jesus to be very challenging to fulfil like: forgiving and relating to someone with compassion when he/she has hurt us deeply and even destroyed the family (e.g. through infidelity). Other “demands” of God could be perceived as the need to live a more moral and upright life, to care and serve those in need selflessly, and to share our blessings of time, talents and treasures from God generously; for the greater good of people in need, the Church and most importantly, for the greater glory of God. St Paul in his letter to the Romans 7:18-19 says, “in my unspiritual self – for though the will to do what is good is in me, the
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performance is not, with the result that instead of doing the good things I want to do, I carry out the sinful things I do not want.” Reflect on these inner struggles and conflicts of St Paul and ask ourselves, “How true is this of me?” Loving God is difficult and demanding if we are not clear about the meaning of love. If our love for God is not deep enough, then whatever penetrates our minds and seeps into our hearts from the secular world will influence our thinking and mould our values. As such, the meaning of true
ily, priesthood and Religious vocation. The true meaning of love that Jesus proclaims is a commitment to love God with our whole heart, soul and mind (Mt 22:37), and our neighbours as Jesus loves us. Such love for others as Jesus has for us and continues to love us (Jn 13:34) must be the centre and foundation of all our love. As such, the fundamental challenge you and I face is: “How deep is our love for God?” If our love for Jesus is deep, personal and intimate, then our
Loving God is difficult and demanding if we are not clear about the meaning of love. love as proclaimed by Jesus in the Gospel, will be confused with romantic infatuation, passing attractions of physical looks, intelligence, social status, popularity and the fantasies that go with such a secular world view of love that does not bring peace, let alone fulfilment and lasting happiness in our lives. Essentially, such distorted forms of love are forms of selfcentred love that feed and gratify our senses, but at the same time dilute, distort and even destroy relationships; including our fam-
self-love will be wholesome and in accordance with God’s will, and for His greater glory. We will then have Jesus’ light and love to live in the wisdom that is inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit of the Risen Lord; a wisdom that gives us the peace that the world cannot give, and a love for God that will be filled with deep and lasting joy and happiness, instead of a love that is difficult and demanding. n Msgr Heng is the rector of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
On suicide and despair FOR centuries, suicide was considered as an act of despair, and despair itself was seen as the most grievous sin of all. In many religious circles, despair was seen as the most sinful of all acts and ultimately unforgivable. Sadly, a strong residue of that remains. Suicide is still seen by many as an act of despair, an affront to God and to life itself, an unforgivable relinquishing of hope. Many Church people still see suicide as the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit. However, the person who is taking his or her own life is not intending that act as an insult or affront to God or to life (for that would be an act of strength and suicide is generally the antithesis of that). What happens in most suicides is the polar opposite. The suicide is the result of a mammoth defeat. There’s a powerful scene in the musical adaption of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. A young woman, Fantine, lies dying. She tells of once being youthful and full of hopeful dreams; but now worn-down by a lifetime of poverty, crushed by a broken heart, and overcome by physical illness, she is defeated and has to submit to the tearful fact that “there are storms we cannot weather”. And that’s the case with most people who die from suicide. For reasons ranging from mental illness to an infinite variety of overpowering storms that can break a person, there’s sometimes a point in people’s lives where they are overpowered, defeated and unable to continue to will their own living – parallel to one who dies as a victim of a drought, hurricane, cancer, heart disease, diabetes or Alzheimer’s. There’s no sin in being overpowered by a deadly storm. To begin with, we don’t fully understand mental illness, which can be just as real and just as death-producing as any physical illness. We don’t blame someone for dying from cancer, a stroke or a physical accident, but we invariably cast moral shadows on someone who dies as a result of various mental illnesses which play a deadly role in many suicides. Happily, God is still in charge and our flawed understanding, while generally permanently tainting the way someone is remembered in this world, doesn’t affect salvation on the other side. Beyond mental illness, we can be defeated in life by many other things. Tragedy, heartbreaking loss, unrequited obsession and crippling shame can at times break a heart, crush a will, kill a spirit and bring death to a body. And our judgment on this should reflect our understanding of God: What all-loving, merciful God would condemn someone because he or she, like Victor Hugo’s Fantine, could not weather the storm? Does God side with our own narrow notions where salvation is mostly reserved for the strong? Not if Jesus is to be believed. Notice when Jesus points out sin, He doesn’t point to where we are weak and defeated; rather He points to where we are strong, arrogant, indifferent and judgmental. Search the Gospels and ask this question: On whom is Jesus hardest? The answer is clear: Jesus is hardest on those who are strong, judgmental and have no feeling for those who are enduring the storm. Notice what He says about the rich man who ignores the poor man at his doorstep, what He says about the priest and scribe who ignore the man beaten in a ditch, and how critical He is of the scribes and Pharisees who are quick to define who falls under God’s judgment and who doesn’t. Only a faulty understanding of God can underwrite the unfortunate notion that being crushed in life constitutes despair. n
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FAITH ALIVE! 23
Sunday May 27, 2018 n CatholicNews
Spiritual fruits of Pentecost The feast commemorates the Holy Spirit descending upon the apostles 50 days after Christ’s resurrection By Barbara Hosbach
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ESUS assured His disciples He would not leave them as orphans; He promised that the Father would send another advocate to be with them always (Jn 14:16-18). That promise was kept on the day of Pentecost, considered the birthday of the Church, when Jesus’ followers received the Holy Spirit. We who believe are also blessed with the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, as with the apostles, the Spirit’s manifestation is astonishing and the results immediate. Our experience may not be as sudden or startling, but it’s no less profound. One Pentecost Sunday reading, taken from St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, lists the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (5:22). This fruit can’t be developed independently. I know. I tried. Picture an apple tree. Apples never grow in isolation. Those that fall from the tree eventually rot. Similarly, efforts to be good or gentle or patient on my own usually fail. I simply can’t produce these qualities singlehandedly. Although I might keep it up for a little while, sooner or later my pleasant veneer wears down. If I’m “generous to a fault” and others don’t reciprocate – or at least notice and thank me – I become resentful. As I try to exercise self-control, the more I suppress my feelings, the louder they nag at me. I’ve even tried willing myself into patience.
A scene from Pentecost is depicted in a stained-glass window. The feast marks the end of the Easter season.
When annoyed, I’d lecture myself. It never worked. “You’ve got to be patient,” I’d mutter to myself,
all the while feeling like a cartoon character ready to shoot steam out of my ears. Knowing what I should do – even if I want to – doesn’t enable me to do it. Knowing and doing are two different things. That’s where the power of the Holy Spirit makes all the difference. After all, the disciples didn’t manufacture the Holy Spirit, they received it. For example, I’ve heard that patience can’t be achieved
CNS photo
through willpower; it’s acquired by letting go of self-will. Accepting God’s unconditional love empowers me to accept myself as a frail human in need of His help. That humility makes room for the Holy Spirit to emerge. Of course I feel more peaceful when I treat myself gently instead
of pressuring myself. I can be kinder to others and more patient when I’m not trying to force things to go the way I think they should. When I relax, my relationships with others always improve. These gentler attitudes pave the way for joy. Maybe it’s no accident that – at least in the English language – the word fruit can be singular or plural. St Paul listed the first fruit of the Spirit as love, but all the others are connected – they come
When I allow myself to pause and breathe in God’s love through the Holy Spirit, I become more effective in genuinely carrying His message of love. from and lead to love. When I allow myself to pause and breathe in God’s love through the Holy Spirit, I become more effective in genuinely carrying His message of love. It helps to remember that spiritual growth is a process. Apples don’t materialise fully formed. They start as tight little buds that aren’t even edible, then slowly blossom. It takes time for them to ripen. They need to receive nourishment from the sun and rain before they develop into fruit that will nourish others. That’s why we need to remain faithful and be patient with ourselves, trusting God’s own faithfulness, patience, gentleness and generous love for us. We can’t give what we don’t have. As we grow in the Spirit, bearing fruit becomes a natural process. Jesus said, “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Christ keeps His promises. When we open ourselves to receive the blessings He offers through the Holy Spirit, we will bear much fruit. n CNS Hosbach is a freelance writer.
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By Jennifer Ficcaglia One day, as Jesus was getting ready to go on a journey, a man rushed up to Him and knelt down. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” he wanted to know. Jesus studied the man for a few moments. “You know the commandments,” Jesus replied, “’You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honour your father and your mother.’” The man nodded his head in agreement. “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth,” he said. Jesus looked at the man with love. “You are lacking in one thing,”
He told the man. “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The man’s face fell. He sadly and slowly got up and walked away from Jesus without saying another word. He was a very wealthy man, and he was not willing to part with his possessions in order to follow Jesus. Jesus watched the man walk away and then turned to the apostles, who had been watching the exchange. “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” Jesus exclaimed. “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Jesus’ friends were astonished. “Then who can be saved?” they wondered.
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Jesus looked at them. “For men it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God,” He told His friends. “We have given up everything and followed you,” Peter pointed out. Jesus looked at Peter. “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in
this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come,” Jesus said. “But many that are first will be last, and [the] last will be first.” n Read more about it: Mark 10
Q&A 1. Who asked Jesus a question? 2. What did Jesus tell the man to do?
Wordsearch:
SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:
St Joan of Arc St Jeanne La Pucelle (1412-1431), more familiarly known as St Joan of Arc, was born on the feast of the Epiphany. During much of St Joan’s childhood, France was in the grips of a civil war and was invaded by the army of the British King Henry V. When she was 14 years old, St Joan had a vision, the first of many, that started her on a path of service to the Lord and eventually led to martyrdom. St Joan heard what she called “The Voices,” who would direct her to make certain demands, such as an audience with representatives of her king. St Joan requested that an army be given to her to fight for the French village of Orleans. After much questioning by his advisers, the king granted St Joan’s request. She led the army in white armour. St Joan was successful in this battle, but was later betrayed and given over to the British, who had her tried as a witch and a heretic. St Joan remained true to God and was burned at the stake at the age of 19. We honour her on May 30. n
n LIFE n ENTER n FOLLOW n VILLAGE n FRIEND n YOUTH n GIVE n HONOUR n PASS n FRANCE n ANGEL n GOSPEL
TRIVIA: What special favour did James and John ask of Jesus? (Hint: Mark 10:35-37)
PUZZLE: Unscramble the words and arrange them to form a quotation from the children’s story. em hent lolfwo moce . ––––––––
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Answer to Wordsearch
Answer to Trivia: For one to sit at His right hand and the other at His left in heaven.
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Abraham in heaven, while the rich man was sent to the netherworld to be tormented for eternity. When the rich man saw this, he begged Abraham to have pity on him. Abraham reminded the rich man that he had a good life on Earth while Lazarus had suffered a bad life, which was why Lazarus had found comfort in heaven. This parable – along with the story of the rich man and Jesus in Mark 10 – warns us that loving wealth and possessions more than God and our neighbours is wrong and can have negative consequences. n
Answer to puzzle: me then follow come: Then come, follow me.
In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus used another example of a rich man to teach His followers a lesson. Jesus told the parable of a wealthy man who lived a luxurious life, dressing in fine clothes and eating delicious meals every day. And every day a poor man covered with sores lay outside his door. The man, named Lazarus, would have loved to have a few scraps of food from the rich man’s table, but the rich man did not pay any attention to him. One day, both the rich man and Lazarus died. Lazarus was carried away by angels to
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WHAT’S ON 25
Sunday May 27, 2018 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 25 TO MAY 29 LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD RETREAT A stay-in retreat open to Catholics above the age of 21. Come away and allow yourselves to be encountered by the Lord. Programme includes daily Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, talks, praise and worship sessions and spiritual counselling. Retreat master: Fr Terence Pereira. To register: W: www.one.org.sg/events. Organised by Office for the New Evangelisation. MAY 26 TO MAY 29 COME AWAY (BEACH RETREAT FOR YOUNG ADULTS) A Cenacle programme. Take a holiday in a meaningful way in this “play and pray” retreat designed to help us grow and deepen our faith despite our busy lifestyle. Following the pattern of the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, these days offer tips on self-care, daily discernment and a way of finding God in all things and time. For more information, E: cenaclemissionsingapore@gmail.com; W: cenaclemission.com.
RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. APRIL 8, 2018 TO JUNE 9, 2019 RCIA @ THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm. New RCIA journey will begin with a welcome night on April 8 and thereafter every Sunday onwards in Verbist Hall, Level 4. Please register your name or names of those who are interested in the Catholic faith. Registration forms are available at the parish secretariat. For more information, W: www.olps.sg; T: 96671137 (Elayne); T: 96355635 (Peter). MAY 3, 2018 TO JUNE 6, 2019 RCIA @ BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH Every Thursday from 7.30pm-9.30pm. For more information, T: 64740582; E: rcia@bsc.org.sg; W: https://tinyurl.com/RCIA-BSC. MAY 16, 2018 TO JUNE 6, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY Every Wednesday from 7.30pm-9.30pm at 6 Chapel Road. From July, sessions will also be held on Sundays. Registration forms are available at the parish office. For more information, T: 63440046; 93414999; E: rciaholyfam@gmail.com. JUNE 3, 2018 TO APRIL 21, 2019 RCIA @ THE CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER “Come and See” information session will be held on June 3 from 10.15amnoon at the Good Shepherd room. To register: W: tinyurl.com/sfxrciy2018; E: rciy@sfxchurch.sg. Registration forms are available on the parish website. Actual RCIA sessions begin on June 19 from 8pm-10pm. JUNE 6, 2018 TO MAY 29, 2019 RCIA @ CATHEDRAL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Every Wednesday from 7.30pm-9.30pm. Register at goo.gl/xJ4AgX and at the cathedral office. For more information, E: cathedral.rcia@catholic.org.sg; T: 96308346 (Terese). JUNE 6, 2018 TO JUNE 5, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST Every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm9.30pm at the parish hall. Registration forms are available at the parish office. For more information, T: 94243608; E: iwanttobeaCatholic@gmail.com. JUNE 7, 2018 TO JUNE 13, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Every Thursday from 8pm-10pm in room #03-02. RCIA inquirer registration forms are available at the parish office. For more information, T: 64820959; E: rcia.svdp.sg@gmail.com
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MAY 26 JESUS-MARY RALLY 2018 Time: 1pm-4pm. All are invited to encounter Jesus Christ through Mary, the first disciple! Programmes includes praise and worship by Jesus Youth, Eucharistic adoration and a preaching by Fr Luke Fong. Venue: Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, “A” Queen Street. Organised by the Legion of Mary and Office for the New Evangelisation. For more information, T: 69110420; E: enquiry@one.org.sg; W: www.one.org.sg. MAY 30 HOW TO MAKE STRESS YOUR FRIEND Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Based on the latest research by Dr Kelly McGonigal, learn how the handling of stress can either shorten or extend our healthy life span. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $50 ($80 if also attending “What is the Key to Happiness talk”). To register: W: http:// tinyurl.com/MattLinn18; T: 64676072. MAY 31 TO JUNE 3 FAMILY CAMP 2018 Come and spend some time away with your family to encounter God in each other. Sessions for children, teenagers, and adults. Cost: $350 per adult/teen and $200 per child. Venue: Batam View Beach Resort. To register: W: www.one.org.sg/ events. Organised by the Office for the New Evangelisation and Archdiocesan Commission for the Family. MAY 31 WHAT IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS? Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Where are the happiest people in the world, and what are their secrets to yielding true happiness? We will answer this with research from JUNE 10, 2018 TO APRIL 21, 2019 RCIY @ CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER Sessions will be held every Sunday from 10.15am-noon. “Come and See” information session will be held on June 3 at the Good Shepherd room. For more information, W: tinyurl.com/sfxrciy2018; E: rciy@sfxchurch.sg. JUNE 14, 2018 TO APRIL 20, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BVM Every Thursday from 7.30pm-10pm. Every Sunday from 10.45am-12.30pm. For more information, call 96856673 (Genevieve Lau); E: nativitysg@yahoo.com.sg. Registration forms are available in the parish office. JUNE 25, 2018 TO MAY 13, 2019 RCIA (MANDARIN) @ BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH Every Monday from 7.30pm-9.30pm. For more information, T: 64740582; E: rcia@bsc.org.sg; W: https://tinyurl.com/RCIA-BSC.
the award winning documentary “Happy.” Experience simple processes to daily find happiness wherever it eludes us. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $50 ($80 if also attending “How to Make Stress Your Friend” talk). To register: http:// tinyurl.com/MattLinn18; T: 64676072. JUNE 1 TO JUNE 3 PEACE BE WITH YOU: TRANSFORMING FEAR INTO GIFT June 1 (7.30pm)-June 3 (5pm). This healing retreat will focus on how Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to transform the disciples “behind locked doors out of fear” into bold, risk-taking apostles rooted in a deep peace. Discover how this transformation can happen to us. Facilitator: Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $270 (non-AC), $330 (AC). To register: T: 64676072; W: http://tinyurl.com/MattLinn18 JUNE 2 MASS FOLLOWED BY PRAYERS FOR HEALING All are welcome and no registration is needed. Time: 2pm-4pm. You are invited to join us for praise and worship and Mass followed by prayers for healing. After Mass, prayer teams will be available to pray with you for healing. Celebrant: Fr Tom Curran. Organised by Praise@Work. Venue: Church of Sts Peter and Paul. For more information, E: praiseatworksg@yahoo.com; T: 97472467. JUNE 2 FULLY ALIVE IN GOD’S LOVE Time: 10am-5.30pm at Agape Village (7A, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh S319264). Preregistration is required. A social mission event for young adults to discern their own personal mission and get to know more about what the Church is doing to help those in need. To register: E: youngadults@ caritas-singapore.org; T: 63383448. JUNE 5 TO NOV 20 THE BIBLE TIMELINE Time: 7.30pm-9.45pm. Due to popular demand, F.R.E.E. Ministry will be presenting a rerun of “The Bible Timeline” – a 24-week Bible video course. Come and see how God’s loving plan for humanity unfolds, resulting in a greater love for God and a deeper appreciation of our Catholic faith. A study kit is available at $66. Venue: Church of the Risen Christ Parish Hall. To register: W: http://free.risenchrist.org. sg; E: free.risenchrist@gmail.com. JUNE 8 GLOBAL ROSARY RELAY & MASS OF THE SOLEMNITY
OF THE SACRED HEART Time: 10am-2pm. Join Catholics around the world to pray for all priests on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart (also designated as the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests). The event comprising the Rosary, Mass and spiritual reflections is organised by the Carmelite Friars and the Good Shepherd Sisters. Venue: Good Shepherd Place (Chapel) 9 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, S319253. JUNE 18 TO JUNE 24 PARISH RETREAT Theme: Building a vibrant and missionary community. Retreat Masters: Fr Michael Payyapilly, VC, and Fr Joseph Edattu, VC. Sessions start at 8pm on weekdays at the Church of the Transfiguration. Full-day session will be held during the weekend at Holy Innocents High School. Cost: $100 per person. Registration forms are available at the parish office or may be downloaded at www.transfiguration.sg. JUNE 22 TO JUNE 24 WORKING WITH OUR DREAMS Friday (8pm)-Sunday (1pm). Venue: Lifesprings Spirituality Centre, 100 Jalan Merbok. This programme will help us understand our dreams and their symbolic language, listen to and experience them as a way in which the Divine can speak to us. Participants are asked to bring a significant dream to use during the weekend. Conducted by Sr Linda Lizada, RC, and Cenacle team. To register: W: www.cenaclemission.com; T: 97223148. JUNE 23 BISHOP’S CATECHESIS FOR NEOPHYTES Time: 10:30am-12:30pm. Venue: Church of the Holy Trinity, 20 Tampines Street 11, S529455. This third talk by Archbishop William Goh aims to rally the neophytes to continuing conversion as new members of the Body of Christ. Register using the following URL: https:// docs.google.com/forms/d/1DpKBxqJrRm cDZlJmQHvvDUMBFMhCcsJ5F5NSY io-Tqo/edit. For more information, E: formation@catechesis.org.sg; W: www.catechesis.org.sg; T: 69110400. JUNE 23 CLARITY’S INTRODUCTORY GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY WORKSHOP Time: 10.30am-12.30pm. Venue: Agape Village. Anxiety is a normal emotional response many experiences as part of everyday life. However, some of us experience anxiety in ways that affect our daily lives. We will explore the reasons
Crossword Puzzle 1210
JULY 1, 2018 TO JUNE 2, 2019 RCIA (MANDARIN) @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Every Sunday from 9am-10.30am. Calling all who wish to know about Catholic faith. Organised by Church Of Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour, 31 Siglap Hill, S(456085). For more information, T: 97712135; W: www.olps.sg. JULY 3, 2018 TO JUNE 9, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS Every Tuesday from 8pm-10pm at St Ignatius Hall. For more information, T: 64660625 (Angela); T: 96286472 (Sandra); W: https://tinyurl.com/stignatius-rcia.
JULY 14, 2018 TO JUNE 9, 2019 RCIY @ CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS Calling all youths who are not Catholic aged 17-24. Key dates: welcome tea and information session: July 14 (4pm-6pm). Introductory Sessions: July 21 and July 28 (4pm-6pm). Subsequent RCIY sessions will commence on Aug 7 and continue every Tuesday from 8pm-10pm. For more information, T: 97247613 (Eliza); T: 82283419 (Aaron); T: 98172118 (Debbie); E: rciy.ignatius@gmail.com; W: https://tinyurl.com/ignatiusrciy.
JUNE 26 AND JULY 10, 17, 24, 31 BASIC CATHECHIST COURSE LEVEL 1 – LITURGY: THE MASS Every Tuesday (except July 3). Time: 7.30pm-10pm. Venue: CAEC 2 Highland Rd, S549102. Contribution: Waived. Speaker: Fr Erbin Fernandez. In this basic course, catechists will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of liturgical worship in their lives as Christian disciples. Register before June 21 using the following URL: https://tinyurl.com/yblxwyzg. For more information, E: formation@catechesis. org.sg; W: www.catechesis.org.sg. JULY 4, 2018 TO FEB 27, 2019 JEFF CAVINS’ BIBLE TIMELINE Journey through the entire Bible and experience God’s love for His people in the amazing salvation history recorded in the Bible since the beginning of time. Every Wednesday from 9.30am-noon at the Church of St Ignatius. For more information, T: 97852268 (Viv); T: 81832273 (Jo). JULY 13 TO JULY 15 MONTFORTIAN XPERIENCE II (MXII) – TRUE DEVOTION TO MARY Friday (6:30pm)-Sunday (1pm). A weekend live-in retreat based on the spirituality of St Louis Marie de Montfort. To him, Mary is “the surest, easiest, shortest and most perfect means by which to go to Jesus Christ.” Discover for yourselves the means given by God Himself to bring us salvation through the way of Mary. Venue: Montfort Centre. Facilitators: Br Dominic Yeo-Koh, SG, and Br John Albert, SG. Cost: $130 (twin/sharing). For more information, E: enquiries@montfortcentre.org; T: 67695711. JULY 16 FEAST DAY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL Mass times: 6.30am, 2.30pm (Mandarin), 4.30pm, 6.30pm. Venue: Carmelite Monastery, 98 Bukit Teresa Rd, S099750. JULY 16 TO OCT 15 A STUDY ON THE BOOK OF REVELATION By Msgr Ambrose Vaz. The Book of Revelation is not so intimidating once you understand what the author was up to. Every Monday frpm 7.45pm-10pm. Venue: Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. Cost: $10. To register: W: https://www.cognitoforms.com/OLPS1/ ABiblicalCourseByMsgrAmbroseVaz.
DOWN 1 Where Jesus met the Samaritan woman 2 List parts 3 Honest incense? 4 Squeal 5 St. Angela’s surname 6 First letter of the Hebrew alphabet 7 Alley 8 Explosive stuff 9 Some inserts 10 He anointed David 11 Part of the Eucharistic Prayer 12 It sometimes gets upped 13 Tres _____ 21 Egyptian deity 22 Obscene 24 Its base is Ben Gurion 25 Commandment word 26 ___ Name Society 29 Symbol of the Holy Spirit 30 ____ Na Na 31 Gnostic being
JUNE 26, 2018 TO APRIL 20, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS For English: Every Thursday at 7.45pm. It begins on June 28. For Mandarin: Every Tuesday at 7.45pm. It begins on June 26. For more information, E: holycrosschurch.rcia@gmail.com; T: 97577115 (Susan for English RCIA); T: 96772709 (Wendy for Mandarin RCIA).
JULY 7, 2018 TO MAY 19, 2019 RCIA @ CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY New RCIA journey will begin with a welcome day on July 7 and thereafter every Saturday onwards in the parish hall, Level 2. It will begin at 3pm. Registration forms are available at the parish office.
behind our anxieties, debunk myths and misconceptions that we may have and learn different ways to manage our anxieties. Cost: $15. To register, W: https://tinyurl.com/TC23Jun; T: 67577990.
32 Devout 33 Years Jacob promised to work to marry Rachel 34 151 in ancient Rome 36 Used to be 38 Game of chance 39 Jubilee entry 41 It’ll cost you to be in it 42 “Cheer, cheer for ole Notre ____…” 44 Floor covering 45 Biblical money 47 The Tigris, in the Garden 48 Microwave and convection 49 Challenged 50 Papal emblem 51 Comstock is a notable one 52 Prod 54 US space agency 56 RR stop 57 23rd letter of the Hebrew alphabet 58 Former coin of France
Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1209
ACROSS 1 Leah, to Jacob 5 Island in Acts 27–28 10 Car maker 14 “To be,” to Pierre 15 Antelope 16 Years in old Rome 17 What a faucet may do 18 Leases 19 Spouse 20 Alphabet string 21 Hollow cylinder
22 Unit of candle intensity 23 Rough design 25 Catholic actor Martin ____, of “The West Wing” fame 27 Chou En-_____ 28 Shrieked 30 Mother of Isaac 33 Parboil 35 In Matthew, Jesus pointed out that birds of the air don’t do this
37 Cad 38 Catholic actor, Gene ____ 39 Opera singer 40 Earthlink rival 41 The Evil One 42 Prescribed amounts 43 A Creed 45 Literally, “The Way” 46 Republic in equatorial Africa 47 Strict disciplinarian
50 Coquet 52 Heap 53 Sometimes it’s mini 55 Coil 56 Kitchen top 58 Vaccines 59 Musical direction 60 Captivated by 61 Singles 62 Exploit 63 Turn away 64 Amer. government agency
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26 REFLECTION
Sunday May 27, 2018 n CatholicNews
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Discovering a life-changing joy after battle with cancer By Olivia Clarke Silver
When you have a disease like cancer, there is a real fear. I wanted to help keep the joy alive by creating a place that offers empathy and hope.
W
HEN you’re in your 20s and 30s, you often feel invincible – like there’s so much time to make mistakes because you’ll fix them tomorrow. It’s easy to boast that this is the time to do whatever you want. But then something happens. Maybe you lose your job or your longtime friend stops returning your texts. Or, maybe you learn at age 35 that you have breast cancer – and that’s what happened to me. Like any tragedy, it’s impossible to not be changed by what happens to you when you get your diagnosis. And at the same time, you want to interact with those who have experienced this similar life-changing event. The problem is that young adult cancer (cancer affecting those in their 20s and 30s in particular) is not as commonly discussed as the cancer your great-aunt or grandmother gets. You’re often the only one in a waiting room trying to squeeze in your oncology appointment between work conference calls. Or you must worry about whether the chemo drugs will take
away your ability to have children – something you hoped for many years down the road after one of your online dates turns serious. About a year after I got through cancer, I thought I was fine and could just go back to my old life as if nothing happened. I carelessly fell back into the habit of thinking I could do whatever I wanted.
As a reward for beating cancer, I went on a pilgrimage to Italy with other young adults from my parish. During that trip, I realised that I had been changed by cancer. I couldn’t find joy in the same activities as before. I came home from Italy and started volunteering to help a poor church, school and food pantry by raising money; getting new winter coats donated to the
school; helping with social media and a newsletter; coaching a student slam poetry team; and creating an artist mentorship programme for the students. I found joy raising money for turkeys at Thanksgiving or by sharing the words of Pope Francis on the Church’s Twitter account I maintained. Once I got started, I kept thinking about what else I should do. I thought about how to help others facing cancer. In November 2017, I started an online community called Humor Beats Cancer. I wanted to create a place for those experiencing or having beaten cancer
in their 20s, 30s and 40s to talk about their journeys, but with an added twist. So much of what you read about cancer can foster hopelessness. I wanted people to be able to share uplifting stories and allow them to laugh at all the crazy stuff we experience. When you have a disease like cancer, there is a real fear that your heart will go dark and the light in your eyes will go out. I wanted to help keep the joy alive by creating a place that offers empathy and hope. Instead of reminding them that they could die, I wanted to remind them that they’re still alive. Pope Francis talks often about the importance of joy, particularly in the little things of life. He describes how being joyful with others brings us closer to God. And I believe that. If we can bring joy to someone’s life, without asking for anything in return and so that they forget their insecurities or pain for a little bit – then we are practising our faith. Joy changes lives and gives people hope – just like it has done for me. n CNS
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Olivia Clarke Silver is a parish leader at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
IN MEMORIAM MAY THEY REST IN PEACE Twenty-fifth Anniversary In loving memory of
Seventeenth Anniversary In loving memory of
Seventeenth Anniversary In loving memory of
Nineteenth Anniversary In loving memory of
Softly within the shadows God gave a gentle call With farewells left unspoken Mum, you silently left us all Our hearts still ache with sadness and Silent tears still flow For what it means to love and miss you, Mum JOHN K. YOUNG No one will ever know. Departed: June 1, 1999 Dearly missed CATHERINE and forever cherished ROSA NG “The Lord is my JOYCE JULIANA ESBRAN by children HOCK KHIM Shepherd, there is D’ROZARIO and all loved ones. Departed: June 1, 1993 Departed: May 26, 2001 Departed: May 20, 2001 nothing I shall want.” Gone from our lives Psalm 23 The depths of sorrow One so dear In loving memory of we cannot tell, Ninth Anniversary But in our hearts Of the loss of one In loving memory of Twelfth Sixth Forever near. we love so well, Anniversary Anniversary Always remembered And while she sleeps by your children, a peaceful sleep, grandchildren and Her memory we shall great-grandchildren. always keep. Mass will be celebrated Always remembered at Church of St Teresa by husband, children, on Friday June 1, grandchildren, in-laws 2018 at 6.00pm. and all loved ones.
CLASSIFIED THANKSGIVING
40 for word.
O Holy St Jude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you, to whom God
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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.
AGATHIA TAN PATRICK LIM POH HIANG CHOR SOUY Departed: May 28, 2012 Oct 3, 2006
In our hearts you will always live Your love, your voice and your smile Are forever imprinted in our minds. Love, your children Peter, May, Lucy, Christina and grandchildren Leane and Geraleine and all loved ones.
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.
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. Eighth Anniversary In loving memory of
ALFRED MORALES Departed: May 20, 2010 Rest in peace, dear loving father, Eight long years have passed away; You’re gone, but are still living In the hearts of those who stay. Dearly missed by loved ones.
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Seventeenth 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. Second Anniversary In loving memory of
Sixth Anniversary In loving memory of
JULIAN SIMON Departed: May 25, 2012 The depths of sorrow we cannot tell, Of the loss of one, we love so well, And while he sleeps a peaceful sleep. His memory we shall always keep. Deeply missed and always remembered by wife Esther Julian, children and loved ones.
Twenty-fourth Anniversary In loving memory of
JOANNA TAN KUENG ENG
The Lord is my shepherd I lack nothing In grassy meadows he lets me lie I make my home
THERESA KANG Departed: May 31, 2016 In our home she is fondly remembered, Sweet memories cling to her name; Those who loved her in life sincerely, Still love her in death just the same. Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.
ANNA CHAN NYA NYA Departed: May 22, 1994 From: All her loved ones.
in his house to eternal rest 25 May 2012
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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
Fourth Anniversary In loving memory of
DOROTHY OLGA SCHOOLING Departed: June 2, 2014 In our hearts you will always live Your love, your voice and your smile Are forever imprinted in our minds. Forever loved and dearly remembered by family members, relatives and friends.
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.
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