JULY 26, 2015, Vol 65, No 15

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SUNDAY JULY 26, 2015

SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

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PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

VOL 65

NO. 15

INSIDE HOME Prisons Week Mass Photos: DOMINIC WONG

“I’m very proud to be a Catholic!” This was the sentiment expressed by participants after the Joy SG50 Thanksgiving celebration on July 4. About 10,000 people, including about 1,800 volunteers, packed the Singapore Indoor Stadium to give thanks for the nation’s 50 \HDUV RI H[LVWHQFH 'XULQJ WKH ¿YH and-a-half hour event, they listened to stirring speeches from guest-ofhonour, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Archbishop William Goh, as well as a special message from Pope Francis himself. However, for many, it was the sight of priests, Religious and laity performing song-and-dance items together after the Mass that made a deep impression on them. As Mr Nicholas Lim, who watched the celebration via “live” Internet streaming, put it: “Even from home, we could feel the powerful display of collaboration between the clergy, Religious and laity, and what came out quite clearly was the message of joy and hope for the future Church.” 7DNLQJ WR WKH VWDJH DV WKH ¿UVW speaker for the event, Redemptorist Fr Simon Pereira threw several questions at the crowd. “Will the Church in Singapore be packed 50 years from today?” he asked. “Yes!” was the resounding response. “Will the young people still pack the churches?” he asked. “Yes!” shouted back the young people in the audience. The “tiny seed”, which was the Catholic Church in Singapore 50 years ago, “has grown into a mighty oak tree,” said Fr Simon. “We owe a deep gratitude to all Religious, priests and laypeople who are continuing to build up the Church.” However, he also noted some “hard truths” for the Church here. Singapore’s population now stands at 5.47 million of which

‘Don’t let prejudice prevent us from reaching out’ Page 4

ASIA MERS in Korea Catholic medical team lauded for service Page 10

WORLD Greece’s ÀQDQFLDO FULVLV Church badly affected Page 11

Seminarian Nicholas Lye was among the energetic dancers and singers at the Joy SG50 Thanksgiving celebration.

3.47 million are residents. The Catholic population stands at 350,000 including permanent residents and immigrants. The “huge challenges for the Church” in the future, he said, include a low birth rate, rising singlehood, late marriages, married couples having few children and younger people leaving for other cities. However, on the positive side, “the new immigrants are

packing the church”, he said. He predicted that though the Church may encounter turbulent events in the future, “more people will be drawn to God and religion”. A time of praise and worship followed, led by young people. Archbishop Goh, in his opening address, noted that the celebration was to pay “special tribute” to the local Church’s “missionary and pioneering priests and Religious, who have giv‘Will the en their lives to the service Church in of the people Singapore and nation”. Speaking be packed to the audience, 50 years which included Prime Minister from Lee and Deputy Prime Mintoday?’ ister Teo Chee – Redemptorist Hean, both of Fr Simon Pereira whom studied

Interfaith action in US

in Catholic schools, Archbishop Goh said that over the years, the Catholic Church has contributed much to the growth of Singapore “not only in education and healthcare but most of all to the moral and social development of our peoples”. “Indeed, the Church has always stood out as a voice for the poor, the helpless and the marginalised in society, for these are the people closest to the heart of God,” he said. “Today she continues in her mission to recognise the new ‘poor’ in our midst who are vulnerable to … secularisation, moral relativism, individualism, materialism, consumerism and the negative impact of the internet and social media. “Particularly at risk are our youths and families which form the basic building blocks of society. As stewards of creation, we

Catholics, Buddhists strive for social justice

Continued on Pages 2 and 3

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POPE FRANCIS (FXPHQLFDO Charismatic gathering ‘Blood of martyrs’ unites us: pope Page 13

FOCUS SG50 video, YLUWXDO H[KLELWLRQ How these came about

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Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

‘In times of disquiet, may you continue to offer peace and comfort. To those in distress, may you continue to bring succour and solace.’ – Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Left: Archbishop William Goh and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pose for a photo with Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia and Fr Robert Balhetchet (in wheelchairs) and othe

‘I am very proud

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need also to care for the environment,� he added. Paying tribute to the government, he noted that “we have a government that is secular but not secularised, as it recognises the important role that religions can play in the moral development of our peoples�. “We are truly grateful� to the government, he said, “for championing religious harmony, which is especially crucial at a time when religious extremism is threatening the peaceful coexistence of peoples�. Archbishop Goh said “it behooves the Church to work closely with the state and other religions to prevent moral decadence, to preserve families, to strengthen the marriage institution and to promote justice, peace and harmony�. Another highlight of the event was a special message from Pope Francis read out by the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli. The pope “gives thanks to Almighty God for the many graces bestowed upon your country in the last half century, not least of all through the services freely rendered to the nation by dedicated priests, men and women Religious and lay faithful of the archdiocese�, read the nuncio. “Pope Francis prays particularly that, as the local and universal Church prepares to celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy, the joyful missionary fervour of Christ’s people will bring abundant fruits to the Church and society in Singapore. “On this happy occasion, His Holiness invokes upon all Singaporeans the abundant divine blessings of peace and joy,�

he said to thunderous applause. A special video on the history of the Catholic Church in Singapore was then screened after which elderly clergy and Religious, including Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia and Fr Robert Balhetchet who were on wheelchairs, took to the stage to enjoy a special tribute. Prime Minister Lee also took to the stage to greet these pioneer Church leaders and pose for photos with them. In his address, Mr Lee thanked the Church for its service to the nation. Appearing emotionally moved during his speech, he commended the Church for bringing “light and hope to many, nurturing the young, moulding people into upright citizens, uplifting the downtrodden, succouring the needy, ministering to the sick, living your faith through your deeds, building a community with sound values and a sense of social responsibility, and

duty and obligation to one anotherâ€?. He highlighted the Church’s role in education, noting that he himself studied in Catholic High School, and in charity work such as through Caritas. “Because of you, children from poor homes can get school uniforms, textbooks, stationery and scholarships. Migrant workers receive legal help from the Catholic Lawyers Guild. Terminal patients, in their last GD\V RQ HDUWK ÂżQG FDUH DQG UHVSLWH in the Assisi Hospice. You do very good work. Thank you very much,â€? he said to loud applause. Mr Lee also thanked the Church for its role in strengthening communal harmony.

“You have been a responsible, reliable and sensitive partner, helping us to strengthen our multi-racial and multi-religious society,â€? he said. “You have worked with us in the government to manage delicate interreligious issues. You have been assiduous in building up personal links and trust between Church leaders and leaders of other groups, between Catholics and those of other faiths. And you set the tone for all communities to live peacefully with each other.â€? +LV ÂżQDO ZRUGV ZHUH RQHV RI HQcouragement: “In times of disquiet, may you continue to offer peace and comfort. To those in distress, may you continue to bring succour and solace.

‘The Church has always stood out as a voice for the poor, the helpless and the marginalised... for these are the people closest to the heart of God.’

Singer-songwriter Corrinne May performing her song, Bless Our Singapore.

– Archbishop William Goh

To all the rest of us, may you continue to contribute your spirits, your energies and your guidance to help us ÂżQG RXU ZD\ IRUZDUG WRJHWKHU ´ Following Mr Lee’s speech, Singaporean singer-songwriter Corrinne May took to the stage to perform Bless Our Singapore, a song she composed for the occasion. A hush fell over the audience as she sang: O Lord, hear our prayer Bless this land where we stand May we be light for our nation May we be salt for this land The mood was especially magical in another song when the crowd WXUQHG RQ WKHLU VPDUWSKRQHVÂś Ă€DVKlights and the darkened stadium glowed with dancing points of light. In a note to CatholicNews after the event, she said that “it took me a long timeâ€? to write Bless Our Singapore. “But from the beginning, a couple of things stood out in my mind. I knew that I wanted to incorporate in the song the mission

From left: Frs Edward Lim, Derrick Yap and Mark Aloysius singing in harmony.

SG50 3

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Photos: DOMINIC WONG

other pioneering clergy and Religious. Right: About 10,000 Catholics and guests packed the Singapore Indoor Stadium for the SG50 Thanksgiving Mass.

to be a Catholic!’ of the Church to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.� She added, “I felt that the song had to also speak of our journey as pilgrims on this earth. Pilgrims on our way to heaven. It had to talk about our mission on earth to ‘restore all things to Christ’.� “It was so heartwarming to hear all the people at the SG50 Thanksgiving Mass sing along with Bless Our Singapore,� she said. In his homily during the Mass which followed, Archbishop Goh had the crowd in stitches. He noted that “many people didn’t expect Singapore to survive as a nation�, however, “I want you to know that this tiny red dot is of chilli padi stock, so don’t play play ah!� he said to much laughter. Commenting on the presentday Church, he said that “today our Catholics are very pro-active... our laity no longer just sit back and let clergy do the work�.

“Unless the laity takes part in the mission of the Church, we have not grown,â€? he said. Archbishop Goh also highlighted four qualities that have served Singapore well. These were selfVDFULÂżFH MXVWLFH DQG HTXDOLW\ HFRnomic development, and moral and spiritual development “Without moral and spiritual foundation, everything would be destroyed,â€? he said. “Although Singapore is a secular country, a secular government so to speak, the government is not secularised,â€? he noted. “The government is pro-religion‌ they see the importance of religion as fostering moral

and spiritual growth. They know that without moral foundation, the future of Singapore would be at stake.� “How do we ensure the leaders of tomorrow are well grounded in integrity, honesty?� he asked. “This is where the role of religion is very important.� The post-Mass segment was a kaleidoscope of music, dance and talent as priests, Religious and laypeople joined hands to put on showstopping numbers. Students from St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools wowed the crowd with their percussion performance, followed by a rousing song-and-dance item by a

‘On this happy occasion, His Holiness invokes upon all Singaporeans the abundant divine blessings of peace and joy.’ – Apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, conveying Pope Francis’ message

St Anthony’s Canossian school students in a percussion performance.

group of singers, dancers and a choir. Many were amazed to see a seminarian, Br Nicholas Lye, dancing in his cassock, and in perfect sync with his fellow dancers. Students from CHIJ (Kellock) came onstage next to sing You Are Mine, stealing the hearts of the crowd. Three priests – Jesuit Fr Mark Aloysius, Franciscan Friar Derrick Yap and Carmelite Fr Edward Lim – then sang Fr Mark’s original composition, Lord to Whom Shall We Go. This was followed by a rendition of Matt Maher and Ed Cash’s As It Is In Heaven by other priests, nuns and laypeople. The closing medley of Oh Happy Day, Joyful Joyful and Shine Jesus Shine had the crowd on its feet, singing and dancing to the pulsing rhythm. People CatholicNews spoke to said they thoroughly enjoyed the SG50 celebration. “Fantastic!� said Ms Maria

Priests and Religious join laypeople in a song-and-dance item.

Koh, 49, from the Church of the Holy Trinity. She added that she never realised that Catholics can be “so very vibrant and energetic. We used to be very quiet compared to other Christians.� Her daughter, Clarissa, 16 quipped: “I’m very proud to be a Catholic!� Mr Gabriel Lim, 24, from the Church of St Francis of Assisi, said he felt the event “brought the while community together as one�. Mrs Gerry Lim, who watched the entire event at home with her husband, Nicholas, and three children, including her 10-month-old daughter, said, “Our two sons even sang along when the artistes performed Shine, Jesus, Shine at the post-Mass musical!� Organising committee chairman Friar Derrick Yap, in comments to CatholicNews, said that “the measure of success� of the event “is to see if the participants and those who attended the event have been called to greater faithfulness, if their hearts were moved to praise God, moved to serve God�. “Many said they were proud to be Catholics, and that’s one of the outcome of the event, but it must not end there,� he said. “This pride bursting within our souls, must radiate forth as joy and light for others, in terms of how we treat our families, our colleagues, the whole of creation.� He added, “I see this event as a catalyst, and almost like the Big Bang, and where the energy radiates to, we will have to leave it to the Lord.� „ Page 17: How SG50 video and virtual exhibition came about

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Sunday July 26, 2015 CatholicNews

Don’t label prisoners as ‘goners’, says archbishop By Melvyn Sum “It can be daunting and frustrating at times when those we seek to help fail to listen and respond,” said Archbishop William Goh during the annual Prisons Week Mass held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels on July 5. But “before we label such people [convicts] as ‘goners’,” said the archbishop, “the Gospel reminds us to think carefully and not allow prejudice to prevent us from reaching out to people in need.” He then invited all present to ask themselves why people end up in jail. Parents upbringing of their children are vital to their character and behaviour, he said. “Everyone wants to be successful in life; no one wants to fail but problems at home and further getting labelled in school as ‘hopeless’ leaves [the person] thinking ‘I have no hope’ and ‘I have no future’.” Thus turning to gangs and GUXJV LV WKH SHUVRQ¶V ZD\ WR ¿QG escape, he said. Archbishop Goh also reminded parents to take a genuine interest in their children’s lives, and not just in getting good academic results. However, he acknowledged that there were cases where despite parents’ and teachers’ best

Left: Archbishop William Goh speaking during the homily. Inset: The crowd at the Prisons Week Mass.

efforts, the child still refuses to respond, change and remains rude DQG GH¿DQW The archbishop advised all present that they should not allow WKH KXUW LQÀLFWHG E\ WKH GH¿DQW child to affect them. He ended off by saying that ZLQQLQJ RYHU D GH¿DQW FKLOG UHquires love, mercy and compassion. Archbishop Goh also said that there shouldn’t be any judgement, and that prayer and fasting are nec-

essary to change people’s lives. He thanked Fr Kenny Tan, spiritual director of the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry; Fr Eugene Lee, assistant spiritual director and all volunteers of the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry for their sacrifce and commitment. He also urged those present to consider joining the ministry. To know more about the Roman Catholic Prison Ministry, visit http://www.rcpm.org.sg/

Sunday July 26, 2015 CatholicNews

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Symposium: The Word of God is a person – Jesus The Word of God is “someoneâ€?, not “somethingâ€?. This point was repeatedly emphasised during the July 11 Bible 6\PSRVLXP WKH ÂżUVW VXFK HYHQW organised by the newly formed $UFKGLRFHVDQ %LEOLFDO $SRVWRlate. “The Word of God is Jesus ‌ ZLWK D YRLFH D IDFH DQG D KHDUW ´ said Verbum Dei Sr Sandra Seow DW WKH GD\ORQJ HYHQW KHOG DW &DWKROLF -XQLRU &ROOHJH Âł,Q WKH :RUG -HVXV FDPH WR JLYH XV +LV YHU\ self.â€? +DYH \RX ÂłNQRZQ DQG PHW WKH DXWKRU´ RI WKH %LEOH VKH DVNHG WKH PRUH WKDQ VWURQJ FURZG DW WKH VFKRROÂśV DXGLWRULXP Âł:H HQFRXQWHU -HVXV E\ OLVWHQLQJ WR +LV :RUG ´ 6U 6DQGUD GLUHFWRU RI WKH ELEOLFDO DSRVWRODWH WROG SDUWLFLSDQWV Âł/LVWHQLQJ WR -Hsus pushes us to offer to others the :RUG RI /LIH ´ )LYH ZRUNVKRSV ZHUH KHOG GXULQJ WKH V\PSRVLXP ZKLFK ZDV KHOG WR FHOHEUDWH %LEOH 6XQGD\ ZKLFK IDOOV RQ -XO\ WKLV \HDU ,Q 7KH :RUG 3UD\HG ZRUNshop, Verbum Dei Sr Maria Jose 0 (JLGR VKDUHG ZLWK SDUWLFLSDQWV that “prayer is relationshipâ€?. Âł3UD\HU LV D GLDORJXH RI ORYH between two people,â€? she said. Âł7KH :RUG LQFDUQDWHG LV D SHUVRQ Âą -HVXV 7KH ÂżUVW WKLQJ ZKHQ ZH SUD\ LV WR HQFRXQWHU WKH SHUVRQ ´ 3DUWLFLSDQWV ZHUH WKHQ JLYHQ D ELEOLFDO SDVVDJH RQ -HVXV FDOPLQJ WKH VWRUP DVNHG WR UHĂ€HFW RQ it and see if there is any word or SKUDVH WKDW WRXFKHV WKHP

Verbum Dei Sr Maria Jose M Egido conducting The Word Prayed workshop at the Bible Symposium on July 11. Inset: Sr Maeve Heaney staging a concert to help participants experience the Word of God.

The Word of God is ‘Jesus ‌ with a voice, a face and a heart.’

– Verbum Dei Sr Sandra Seow

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JR IRUWK DQG IRUP FHOO JURXSV RI DERXW ÂżYH SHRSOH HDFK Âł*HW together and share the Word of *RG ´ KH H[KRUWHG ,I WKH\ ZHUH WR GR WKDW WKHQ ÂłWKH &KXUFK ZLOO grow by leaps and bounds.â€? 3DUWLFLSDQWV WROG &DWKROLF1HZV WKDW WKH V\PSRVLXP JDYH WKHP QHZ LQVLJKWV LQWR 6FULSWXUH 0U 0LFKDHO &KRQJ VDLG WKH HYHQW EURXJKW DFURVV WR KLP the message that “the Word of God is a person, who has to be inFDUQDWHG LQ PH´ 0UV 0DXUHHQ 3HVWDQD VDLG VKH LV QRZ PRWLYDWHG WR SUD\ WKH 6FULSWXUHV PRUH $QRWKHU SDUWLFLSDQW 0V -XOLDQD 7DQ VDLG VKH LV JRLQJ WR WDNH XS $UFKELVKRS *RKÂśV FKDOOHQJH WR VWDUW D FHOO JURXS DPRQJ KHU friends. „

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LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH: A combined Canossian schools choir comprising St Anthony’s Canossian Primary and Secondary Schools, Canossa Convent Primary School and the Canossian School for the hearing impaired, took part in an interfaith concert to mark SG50. The 180-strong choir sang Let There Be Peace on Earth at the July 6 event titled Harmony in Diversity: Concert in Cel-

ebration of Singapore’s Religious and Racial Harmony. The concert, held at The Star Vista, was organised by New Creation Church and Taoist Federation (Singapore). The event brought together 10 of the major religions and the four main races in Singapore in an ensemble of song and dance. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the guest of honour.

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Sunday July 26, 2015 CatholicNews

Religious leaders in South Korea tell National Assembly to abolish death penalty SEOUL – Representatives from

er, this is not enough.” South Korea’s main religions “We have presented the same have submitted a petition to the request four times,” the prelate country’s National Assembly in explained, “but it never made it to support of a bipartisan draft bill the National Assembly. Now the to abolish the death penalty. atmosphere has changed. A lawLed by Msgr Lazzaro You maker told me that the bill should Heung-sik, president of the Epis- JR WKURXJK 7KH ¿QDO GLVFXVVLRQ copal Commission for Justice and is scheduled for September.” Peace, the delegation met with On July 6, lawmakers submitMembers of the National Assem- ted a bipartisan bill to the Nably to “place man at the centre of tional Assembly to abolish the society, even when he does wrong death penalty, citing a clause in and crimes are committed”. the South Korean Constitution A Protestant that requires leader, a tracitizens to “reReligious leaders ditional Budspect human dhist monk and have come together for dignity”. a Won Budnew this battle because we draftThebill aims dhist monk accompanied the all agree that life is not to raise Korea’s Catholic clerstatus to that of in the hands of man. gyman. Won an outright ab– Msgr Lazzaro You HeungBuddhism origolitionist counsik, president of the Episcopal inated in Korea try, said chief Commission for Justice and Peace in 1916. sponsor Mr The group Yoo Ihn-tae of met with lawmakers and journal- the main opposition New Politics ists on July 6, the day the draft Alliance for Democracy. was presented. “It is time we ban the death “Out of 299 Members of the penalty here, in a country that has National Assembly, 172 have produced a UN secretary-general signed this petition. Religious and is a member of the UN Huleaders have come together for man Rights Council,” Mr Yoo this battle because we all agree added, referring to UN chief Ban that life is not in the hands of Ki-moon. man,” said Msgr You to AsiIn December 2014, when the aNews. UN voted to abolish the death “South Korea has enforced a penalty in the world, South Korea de facto moratorium on execu- abstained together with 33 other tions,” said the prelate. “Howev- nations. ASIANEWS

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China cross demolition campaign spreads to other dioceses HONG KONG – A Chinese gov-

ernment-led cross demolition campaign has spread from Wenzhou to other dioceses in ZhejiDQJ SURYLQFH ZLWK ¿YH &DWKROLF churches having their crosses removed recently. The crosses on churches in Songmun, Xinhe, Muyu and Dasi of Taizhou diocese as well as the Xiaoshan Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of Hangzhou diocese were removed on July 2. Authorities said the crosses were removed in order to “sinicise” the churches, a local source in Taizhou told ucanews.com. “When we asked WKH RI¿FLDOV ZKDW PHDQV E\ µVLQLFLVH¶ the churches, they said they did not know either but they have to remove the crosses anyway,” he added. “It is obviously an action directed against Christianity,” the source said. “Sinicisation” of religion was ¿UVW PHQWLRQHG E\ &KLQHVH 3UHVLdent Xi Jinping during the central United Front Work Department meeting in May. Under the policy, churches must adapt to Chinese society by XVLQJ V\PEROV WKDW UHÀHFW &KLQHVH culture under Communist rule. In late 2013, the Chinese government embarked on a demoli-

The cross of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Xiaoshan being removed on July 2. UCANEWS.COM PHOTO

tion campaign, with a number of KLJK SUR¿OH GHPROLWLRQV RI 3URWestant churches. A Protestant catechist told ucanews.com that at least 1,100 churches were recorded as having their crosses removed, although the number could be much higher. A Catholic source in Hangzhou said he witnessed the cross removal at the Xiaoshan church. “The parish priests are left alone to face the political pressure in the campaign. There is little support from their hierarchy, and there is no united action among dioceses in the same province,” said the source who asked not to be named. “The authorities told our priests either to allow the cross to be removed or have the whole church building demolished. It

was a dilemma and they were inclined to compromise,” he said. “Some priests have demanded that the local hierarchy issue a statement earlier with regard to the demolition but the draft turned out to be an indifferent one. Some Church leaders said it would be bad if we made the government angry. But see what happened now?” the Hangzhou source said. The Sacred Heart Church was the fourth church to have its cross removed in Hangzhou. Another church in Fuyang city was noti¿HG ODVW PRQWK WKDW LW WRR ZRXOG face the same fate. ³7KH RI¿FLDOV VDLG WKDW RQO\ WKH Catholic cathedral and two Protestant churches will be saved from the campaign,” the Hangzhou source revealed. UCANEWS.COM

Philippine bishops sound alarm against MERS MANILA – The country’s Catholic bishops on July 7 called on the Philippine government to “exercise due diligence” to ensure that people will be protected from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS). The bishops issued the statement after the Department of +HDOWK RQ -XO\ FRQ¿UPHG WKDW D 36-year-old foreign national from the Middle East who travelled to Manila had been tested positive for the virus. The health department announced that it is monitoring eight people who had close contact with the patient. “The government must make sure that it has the resources and the capacity to treat [the virus] and prevent it from further spreading,” Fr Jerome Secillano, spokesman of the bishops’ conference,

told ucanews.com. The government assured the public that the situation is under control. “President [Benigno] Aquino has tasked the [health department] to tighten surveillance and quarantine measures at ports of entry and to ensure the prompt reporting by all hospitals of patients who show symptoms of the disease,” said presidential spokesman Herminio Coloma Jr. In June, the country’s Catholic bishops advised Filipinos to temporarily forego travel to South Korea due to the reported occurrence of MERS in that country. Some 55,000 Filipinos are working in South Korea, according to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. UCANEWS.COM See also story on Page 10

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Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Priests visit hospitals and funeral parlours after Philippine boat accident MANILA, PHILIPPINES – A Philip-

moc, said as soon as he heard about pine priest said he and others vis- WKH DFFLGHQW RQ -XO\ KH ZHQW WR D ited hospitals and funeral parlours, funeral parlour and a hospital. and celebrated Masses for victims Âł7KHUH ZHUH DERXW ERGof a deadly boating accident. ies at the funeral parlour,â€? said A Philippine Coast Guard )U 3HWLORV Âł$QG WKHUH ZHUH DW VSRNHVPDQ FRQÂżUPHG ZLWK &DWKR- the Doctor’s Hospital of Ormoc. I OLF 1HZV 6HUYLFH &16 RQ -XO\ blessed them all.â€? WKDW DW OHDVW SHRSOH KDG GLHG DI)U 3HWLORV WROG &16 WKDW LQ WKH ter a motorised passenger outrig- GD\V WKDW IROORZHG KH DQG RWKHU JHU WXUQHG RYHU DV LW SXOOHG DZD\ SULHVWV ZHQW WR WKH GRFN DW WKH SRUW from the Port of area and blessed Ormoc, on the as they We [priests] went bodies ZHVWHUQ FRDVW RI ZHUH EURXJKW WR to the wharf and Leyte province. shore by divers. Authorities say Fr Petilos said WKUHZ Ă€RZHUV LQ WKHUH ZHUH SULHVWV FHOHthe sea as our survivors. brated Mass at the 2IÂżFLDOV VD\ offering to the dead, port’s terminal on the total num-XO\ WR KRQRXU as a sign of our ber of people acthe dead and to ofmourning and counted for far fer thanks for the H[FHHGV WKH rescue and emerlove for them. listed on the maniJHQF\ ZRUNHUV – Fr Isagani Petilos, a fest submitted by “After the pastor at Sts Peter and Paul Mass, since there the ship’s capChurch in Ormoc ZHUH QR FRIÂżQV tain. Coast guard spokesman Pedro \HW ZH ZHQW WR 7LQDPSD\ WROG &16 WKH\ ZHUH WKH ZKDUI DQG WKUHZ Ă€RZHUV LQ WKH looking at “excess passengers or sea as our offering to the dead, as overloadingâ€? as a possible cause a sign of our mourning and love of the accident. for them,â€? he said. 6XUYLYRUV VD\ EDUHO\ PLQ7KH SULHVW VDLG WKDW RQ -XO\ XWHV DIWHU WKH P YHVVHO Âą EHDU- D &RDVW JXDUG VKLS ERUH VRPH ing bags of cement and rice as of the dead and their famiZHOO DV SDVVHQJHUV Âą OHIW WKH SRUW OLHV RQ FKRSS\ ZDWHUV WR &DLW KLW D ELJ ZDYH DQG WXUQHG RQ LWV PRWHV ,VODQGV NP VRXWKZHVW VLGH 7KHQ LW Ă€LSSHG RYHU WRVVLQJ of Ormoc. scores of passengers into the sea. The Coast Guard said Philippine Fr Isagani Petilos, a pastor at SROLFH ÂżOHG PXUGHU FKDUJHV RQ -XO\ 6WV 3HWHU DQG 3DXO &KXUFK LQ 2U- DJDLQVW WKH RZQHU DQG FUHZ „ CNS

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Filipino survivors rest after being rescued from a motorised boat on July 2 that capsized off the Port of Ormoc, on the western coast of Leyte province, Philippines. CNS photo

10 ASIA

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Catholic team lauded for WKHLU Ă€JKW against MERS SEOUL – “To all personnel who ULVN WKHLU OLYHV WR ÂżJKW DJDLQVW MERS, I offer my heartfelt gratefulness,â€? Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung told a medical team serving MERS patients in Seoul. “The medical team of CMC [Catholic Medical Centre] has played a critical role,â€? he told staff of Seoul St Mary’s Hospital of the Catholic University of Korea. “You have shown real courage in dreadful situations and truly lived out the spirit of the hospital founded on respect for human beings,â€? Cardinal Yeom of Seoul said to 15 doctors, nurses and other staff members of the hospital on July 8. Before he left the hospital,

he gave each person a rosary and encouraged them to “always give their best effort with a prayerful heartâ€?. He added that he will always pray for them. Ms Stella Sun-hee Yun, a nurse who volunteered to serve MERS patients, said that “when I heard about the MERS outbreak and how my colleagues are riskLQJ WKHLU OLYHV WR ÂżJKW DJDLQVW WKH crisis, I felt the urge to offer my service.â€? She shared that she was moved patients’ gratitude. “I was very touched when a patient said to me, ‘Thank you so much for coming here, I know it wouldn’t be easy.’â€? On July 12, a Mass to pray about the MERS outbreak was celebrated in Yeouido St Mary’s Hospital, also in Seoul. Medical staff from CMC’s

Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung of Seoul visits Seoul St Mary’s Hospital on July 8 to greet medical staff on the IURQWOLQH LQ WKH ¿JKW DJDLQVW 0(56 CNS photo

eight hospitals prayed together with patients and their families. During the Mass, the staff made a declaration, promising to give their best efforts to looking after MERS patients.

CMC has the largest medical network in Korea, and includes medical schools, nursing schools, the Graduate School of Catholic University and Biomedical Industrial Research Centre.

shown real courage ‘Youinhave dreadful situations.’

– Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung to staff of Seoul St Mary’s Hospital

The CMC hospitals received praise from the government for handling the MERS outEUHDN LQ D VSHHG\ DQG HI¿FLHQW manner. In the wake of the outbreak, many hospitals in the country rejected patients suspected of having the disease. &0& DI¿OLDWHG KRVSLWDOV WRRN over the care of these patients. „ ASIANEWS

Secretly ordained bishop installed with govt approval UCANEWS.COM photo

Bishop Martin Wu Qinjing of Zhouzhi (left) at his installation ceremony.

HONG KONG – Bishop Martin Wu Qinjing of Zhouzhi, who was secretly ordained bishop in 2005, has been installed with government approval. The event took place on July 10 at the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady Cathedral in Zhouzhi and presided by Bishop Yang Xiaoting of Yulin (Yan’an), a vice chairman of the bishops’ conference, and Bishop Anthony Dang Mingyan of Xi’an. “The atmosphere inside the FKXUFK ZDV ÂżQH ZKLOH LW ZDV WHQVH outside as there were a lot of se-

FXULW\ RIÂżFHUV DQG SODLQ FORWKHV police around,â€? a Zhouzhi diocesan source, who requested anonymity, told ucanews.com. “Everything on the surface seemed smooth for Bishop Wu,â€? said another source who identiÂżHG KLPVHOI DV -RVHSK Âł%XW RQ the eve of the installation, almost all the priests were under government control,â€? he said. “Each priest could only bring three Catholics along and they had to stay at the same guesthouse and were then sent to the cathedral together the next day.â€?

Bishop Wu, a priest of the government-approved Catholic Church, was secretly ordained bishop with Vatican approval after he returned from his studies in the US in 2005. He revealed his status to his priests on May 22, 2006. He was then interrogated by the government and later abducted by a group of unknown men from the cathedral in September EXW ZDV UHOHDVHG DIWHU ÂżYH days. In March 2007, he was summoned to a “learning classâ€?. It was later discovered he was under house arrest at the minor seminary in Xi’an diocese. In recent years, surveillance on him has been loosened. He could meet guests and celebrate Masses privately. However, he was not allowed to return to his diocese until last year. „ UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 11

Sunday July 26, 2015 CatholicNews

*UHHFH·V ÀQDQFLDO crisis affecting work of Catholic Church

People queue to withdraw money from an ATM outside a branch of Greece’s National Bank in Athens. Parishes and dioceses ‘simply have no money’, said an archbishop. CNS photo

ATHENS – Greece’s worsening

economic crisis was severely hampering the pastoral work of the Catholic Church, which has been unable to maintain its buildings or provide priestly services for migrants and refugees now arriving in large numbers. “People are now very poor, and our parishes and dioceses simply have no money,” said Archbishop Sevastianos Rossolatos of Athens. “We simply haven’t been able to pay our taxes this year, so we’ll face an even heavier burden in future,” he told Catholic News Service on July 7. The Catholic Church makes up just 3 percent of Greece’s population of 11 million, compared to 97 percent belonging to the Orthodox Church, which is declared the ‘’prevailing religion” in the national constitution. Archbishop Rossolatos said he welcomed the “help for suffering people” provided by Caritas Italy, but said current hardships were

being felt equally throughout the Greek Church, as government taxes and duties consumed half of all Church resources and had a “devastating and debilitating impact”. He added that retirees were lining up at bank cashpoints in the early hours of the morning, hoping to withdraw money before it ran out, while others appeared “disorientated and confused”. Greek banks were forced to close on June 29, allowing citizens to withdraw only 60 euros (S$90) daily from cash machines, thanks to emergency loans from the European Central Bank. Archbishop Rossolatos said Catholic clergy had intensively debated the July 5 referendum – in which citizens rejected demands

simply haven’t ‘We been able to pay our taxes this year. ’

– Archbishop Sevastianos Rossolatos of Athens

by international creditors – but did not adopt a collective position and had no clear data to date on how laypeople had voted. Catholic leaders, who were forced to close charitable projects after a tax increase of more than 40 percent in 2013, have been outspoken during the current crisis, blaming corruption among the country’s politicians and harsh, unrealistic attitudes among Greece’s international creditors. In a June 29 open letter to Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras and other party leaders, the secretary-general of the six-member Catholic bishops’ conference, Archbishop Nikolaos Printezis of Naxos, said both sides were to blame for the crisis and urged Greek politicians to seek “national, not party solutions” and “serve rather than mislead the people”. On July 1, Pope Francis urged prayers for Greece and its people, saying the country was weathering a “keenly felt human and social crisis”. CNS

US Congress urged to help those released from prison WASHINGTON – Miami’s arch-

bishop and the head of Catholic Charities USA have urged the US Congress to pass legislation they say would help more than 650,000 men, women and juveniles who re-enter society each year from prisons, jails and detention centres. “Those who return to our communities from incarceration face VLJQL¿FDQW FKDOOHQJHV 7KHVH LQFOXGH ¿QGLQJ KRXVLQJ DQG VWDEOH employment, high rates of substance abuse, physical and mental health challenges and social isolation,” said Archbishop Thomas G Wenski and Dominican Sr Donna Markham. The archbishop is chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development and Sr Markham is president of Catholic Charities. They made the remarks in a July 8 letter to Republican Senator Charles E Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Senator Patrick J Leahy, who are chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The archbishop and nun wrote in support of the reauthorisation of the Second Chance Act, a 2008 law that authorised the use of fed-

eral grants to government agenFLHV DQG QRQ SUR¿W RUJDQLVDWLRQV to help people who are returning from prisons, jails and juvenile facilities. “The Second Chance Act supports much needed programmes in government agencies and nonSUR¿W RUJDQLVDWLRQV WKDW SURYLGH employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victim support and other services to individuals returning to the community from prison or jail,” they wrote. Archbishop Wenski and Sr Markham said that without necessary support services, those released from prison have “an increased chance of re-offending causing harm to society and increasing our nation’s prison costs”. They also said they joined with Pope Francis in advocating for those who are leaving incarceration. They said efforts to help these individuals will “not only enhance public safety by providing the necessary resources to address prisoner re-entry and recidivism, but promote human dignity by improving the quality of life in communities across the country”. CNS

12 WORLD

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Catholics and Buddhists in US strive for social justice VATICAN CITY – Catholics and %XGGKLVWV IURP ¿YH 86 FLWLHV KDYH LVVXHG D MRLQW VWDWHPHQW H[SUHVVLQJ WKHLU FRPPLWPHQW WR ZRUN WRJHWKHU WR KHOS OLIW WKHLU FRPPXQLWLHV RXW RI SRYHUW\ DQG UHPHG\ RWKHU VRFLDO LOOV LQ WKHLU QHLJKERXUKRRGV 7KLV QHZ SUDFWLFDO DSSURDFK WR LQWHUUHOLJLRXV GLDORJXH PDUNV D VKLIW IURP WKH PRUH WUDGLWLRQDO GLVFXVVLRQV DLPHG DW PXWXDO NQRZOHGJH DQG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WR D JUHDWHU HPSKDVLV RQ SODQQHG FROODERUDWLRQ IRU VRFLDO SURMHFWV ³, VHH LW DV D UHÀHFWLRQ RI D PDWXULQJ RI WKH UHODWLRQVKLS ZKHUH WKH GLDORJXH VKLIWV IURP YHUEDO

XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WR FRRSHUDWLRQ LQ FRPPXQLW\ VHUYLFH ´ VDLG 0U 5RQDOG .REDWD RI WKH %XGGKLVW &KXUFK RI 6DQ )UDQFLVFR 0U .REDWD ZDV LQ 5RPH LQ ODWH -XQH IRU WKH ¿UVW QDWLRQDO PHHWLQJ RI 86 %XGGKLVW DQG &DWKROLF OHDGHUV 7KH -XQH GLDORJXH LQFOXGHG %XGGKLVWV DQG &DWKROLFV PRVWO\ FOHULFV LQYROYHG LQ LQWHUUHOLJLRXV GLDORJXH RU VRFLDO DFWLRQ IURP 6DQ )UDQFLVFR 1HZ <RUN /RV $QJHOHV &KLFDJR DQG :DVKLQJWRQ '& 7KH WKHPH ZDV 6XIIHULQJ /LEHUDWLRQ DQG )UDWHUQLW\ 7KH PHHWLQJ ZDV VSRQVRUHG

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is not ‘Compassion the monopoly of any faith tradition.’

– Mr Ronald Kobata of the Buddhist Church of San Francisco

IRU WKH GLDORJXH VDLG 0U $QWKRQ\ &LUHOOL DVVRFLDWH GLUHFWRU RI WKH 86&&% VHFUHWDULDW ³0RYLQJ IURP WDONLQJ DERXW ZKDW ZH¶G OLNH WR GR WR GRLQJ ZKDW ZH FDQ WR SURPRWH WKH ZHOO EHLQJ RI RXU FRPPXQLWLHV ZH FDQ VHH WKDW FRPSDVVLRQ LV QRW WKH PRQRSRO\ RI DQ\ IDLWK WUDGLWLRQ ´ VDLG 0U .REDWD 0U &LUHOOL VDLG ³%RWK WKH %XGGKLVW DQG WKH &DWKROLF WUDGLWLRQV SODFH PXFK HPSKDVLV RQ H[WHQGLQJ PHUF\ DQG FRPSDVVLRQ WR WKH RWKHU ´ +H DGGHG WKDW WKH SDUWLFLSDQWV DJUHHG RQ WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI UHFRJQLVLQJ WKH ³EURNHQQHVV

RI KXPDQ UHODWLRQVKLSV´ DQG RI ³LQWHQWLRQDO GLDORJXH IRU EULQJLQJ KHDOLQJ ´ 7KH\ DOVR DJUHHG WKDW LQWHUUHOLJLRXV GLDORJXH FDQ EH PRUH HIIHFWLYH ZKHQ DFDGHPLF GLDORJXH DW D QDWLRQDO OHYHO LV FRPSOHPHQWHG E\ JUDVV URRWV VRFLDO DFWLRQ DW WKH ORFDO OHYHO 3DUWLFLSDQWV LVVXHG D MRLQW VWDWHPHQW DW WKH PHHWLQJ¶V FRQFOXVLRQ LGHQWLI\LQJ DUHDV IRU FROODERUDWLRQ DQG VRFLDO DFWLRQ SURMHFWV VXFK DV FOLPDWH FKDQJH \RXWK RXWUHDFK SULVRQ PLQLVWU\ UHVWRUDWLYH MXVWLFH DIIRUGDEOH KRXVLQJ DQG UHVRXUFHV IRU PLJUDQWV DQG WKH KRPHOHVV „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 13

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope to Charismatic Christians: the blood of martyrs unites all of us VATICAN CITY – Catholics, Prot-

estants and Orthodox must pray together and work hand-in-hand helping the poor, Pope Francis told thousands of Catholic charismatics and members of other Christian communities. All Christians can and must pray together, as they have all received the same baptism and are striving to follow Christ, he said. More than 30,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square on July 3 to take part in an ecumeniFDO JDWKHULQJ RI UHÀHFWLRQ SUD\HU and song dedicated to praying for unity and for those killed for their Christian faith around the world. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Israeli singer Noa were part of the lineup of performers. The pope invited members of the Renewal in the Spirit to St Peter’s Square as the Italian branch met for its national meeting from July 3-4. Leaders from the Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox Churches, also attended the audience. The pope said Christian unity was the work of the Holy Spirit, which meant Christians need to

pray together in a “spiritual ecumenism, an ecumenism of prayerâ€?. He said some people may not realise they can pray with Christians of other denominations, adding that people must do so because “all of us have received the same baptism, all of us are following the path of Jesus, we want Jesusâ€?. “All of us have caused these divisions in history, for many – but not good – reasons. But now is the time that the Spirit is making us think how these divisions will no longer do, that these divisions are a counter-witness and we must do everything to go togetherâ€? in prayer, charity, work and reading the Bible because “then the Spirit will do the rest.â€? The “blood of martyrsâ€? is already uniting divided Christian communities, he said, as the indiscriminate persecution and murder of Christians worldwide has shown, he said. Those who hate and target ChrisWLDQV DUH QRW LQWHUHVWHG LQ ÂżQGLQJ RXW whether they are Lutheran or Methodist, he said; it is enough that they are committed to Jesus Christ. The

Pope Francis arrives to greet participants in the Renewal of the Spirit meeting in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican on July 3. CNS photo

killers “aren’t confused, they know there is a common root there� and they have no problem recognising it as the devil guides them, he said. The pope asked that Christians work together to help people have

Pope Francis also told Church leaders not to forget that they are ‘servants’.

a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, encouraging the formation of small groups based on oneon-one relationships since “huge gatherings often just end there� with little follow-up. He also reminded leaders not to forget that they are really servants. The devil tempts founders and leaders to believe they are indispensible and that they, not Jesus, are the ones in charge, he said.

“Forgive me for saying so, how many leaders become peacocks? Power leads us to vanity� and pride, which can also lead to corruption, he said. Positions of leadership in the Church should come with term limits, the pope said. “There are no leaders for life in the Church.� There is no other Lord than Jesus and there is no one in the Church who is indispensable except the Holy Spirit, he said. „ CNS

14 POPE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Highlights of Pope Francis’ July 5-12 visit to Ecuador, Bolivia and P

Pope asks activists to defend earth, apologises to indigenous people SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA – Meeting with an international gathering of grassroots activists, Pope Francis spoke about “standing up to an idolatrous [economic] system which excludes, debases and killsâ€?. He also apologised to the indigenous people present for the Catholic Church’s “sins against the native peoplesâ€? in its cooperation with the Spanish and Portuguese who settled much of the Americas. Addressing the World Meeting of Popular Movements in Santa Cruz on July 9, Pope Francis acknowledged he did not have a “recipeâ€? for a perfect economic-socialpolitical system, but he said the problems with the current system are obvious and the Gospel contains principles that can help. The activists – including labour union representatives and people who organise cooperatives for the poor who make a meagre living recycling trash or farming small plots or ÂżVKLQJ Âą FRPEDW ÂłPDQ\ IRUPV RI H[clusion and injusticeâ€?, the pope said. “Yet there is an invisible thread joining every one of those forms of exclusion,â€? the pope said. They all are the result of a global economic system that “has imposed the menWDOLW\ RI SURÂżW DW DQ\ SULFH ZLWK QR concern for social exclusion or the destruction of natureâ€?. At the meeting, sponsored by the Vatican and organised with the help of Bolivian President Evo Morales, Pope Francis shared the sense of urgency shown by par-

I wish to be quite ‘Here clear, as was St John Paul II: I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offences of the Church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.

’

– Pope Francis

Pope Francis speaks at the second World Meeting of Popular Movements in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on July 9. CNS photos

ticipants, who adopted a long statement of commitments promising to mobilise in the defence of the rights of the poor and of the Earth. “Time, my brothers and sisters, seems to be running out; we are not yet tearing one another apart, but we are tearing apart our common home,â€? the Earth, he said. Âł7RGD\ WKH VFLHQWLÂżF FRPPXQLty realises what the poor have long told us: Harm, perhaps irreversible harm, is being done to the eco-

system,� Pope Francis said. “The Earth, entire peoples and individual persons are being brutally punished� by the effects of pollution, exploitation and climate change. Then, speaking to indigenous people present, “I say this to you with regret: Many grave sins were committed against the native peoples of America in the name of God,� the pope said. “Here I wish to be quite clear, as was St John Paul II: I humbly ask forgiveness, not

only for the offences of the Church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.� At the same time, Pope Francis asked the meeting participants to recognise that many Catholics – priests, nuns and laity – willingly gave their lives in service to the continent’s peoples. The pope urged participants including the poor to look to Mary, “a humble girl from small town lost

on the fringes of a great empire, a homeless mother who turned an animals’ stable into a home for Jesus with just a few swaddling clothes and much tenderness�. The pope and the Catholic Church do not have a programme or “recipe� for solving the problems of injustice and poverty in the world, he said. But it is clear that the economy should be “at the service of peoples.� “Let us say ‘no’ to an economy of exclusion and inequality, where money rules, rather than service. That economy kills. That economy excludes. That economy destroys Mother Earth,� he said. At the end of his 55-minute speech, Pope Francis made his customary request that his audience pray for him, but knowing that many of the meeting participants are not believers, he asked those who cannot pray to “think well of me and send me good vibes�. „ CNS

ECUADOR

Unity in Church is key to evangelisation Educate young to care for Catholics will The congregation gathered for but knocking gently and draw- Earth, pope tells teachers never be effective evangelisers if the Mass was just as varied; mem- ing near to “those who are far QUITO, ECUADOR –

they are squabbling among themselves, and they cannot show the world how faith in Christ responds to the human yearning for freedom and peace if they are divided, Pope Francis said. The pope’s Mass on July 7 at Quito’s Bicentennial Park was billed as a Mass for evangelisation, but the pope insisted Christians would convince no one of the power of the Gospel if they could not demonstrate in their lives and behaviours that faith pushes a person beyond self-interest to concern for others. Christians do not look at the world through rose-coloured glasses, the pope said, but they can dream. Like Jesus, they see the ZRUOGœV ÀDZV EXW DOVR OLNH -HVXV they love the world God created. /RFDO &KXUFK RI¿FLDOV VDLG more than 800,000 people gathered at the park, a former airport, for the Mass.

bers of different indigenous groups and visitors from other South American countries risked a forecast of rain to pray with each other and with the pope. Those who gather around

The desire for unity ‘involves the delightful and comforting joy of evangelising.

’

– Pope Francis

the altar and share Communion should be united with one another, setting aside worldly desires for power and petty squabbles in order to show the world the peace and unity that comes with faith in Christ, Pope Francis told them. Evangelisation is not beating down people’s doors, he said,

from God and the Church, who feel themselves judged a priori by those who think they are pure and perfect�. In his homily, Pope Francis said that “the desire for unity involves the delightful and comforting joy of evangelising, the conviction that we have an immense treasure to share, one which grows stronger from being shared and becomes ever more sensitive to the needs of others�. Because of sin, he said, unity takes real effort. It requires a commitment to explicitly trying to include everyone, to avoid selfishness, to promote dialogue and encourage collaboration. Society needs people committed to unity, the pope said, and so does the Church. “How beautiful it would be if all could admire how much we care for one another, how we encourage and help each other.� „ CNS

QUITO, ECUADOR – Education is a

right and a privilege that should impart not only knowledge and skills, but also a sense of responsibility for others and for the earth, Pope Francis told representatives of Ecuadorean schools and universities. “God gives us not only life, He gives us the earth, he gives us all of creation,â€? the pope told an estimated 5,000 educators and students gathered IRU DQ RXWGRRU PHHWLQJ DW WKH 3RQWLÂżcal Catholic University of Ecuador. God created man and woman for each other and gave them huge potential, the pope said on July 7, but he also gave them – and gives each person – a mission to be part of His creative work. Quoting from and explaining some of the principles in his encyclical letter on the environment, “Laudato Si’,â€? the pope said God created the world and everything in it not “so He could see Himself reĂ€HFWHG LQ LW ´ EXW LQ RUGHU WR VKDUH LW

“We are invited not only to share in the work of creation and to cultivate it, but to make it grow and develop it,â€? he said. At the same time, “we are called to care for it, protect it and be its guardiansâ€?. 6HOÂżVKQHVV FRQVXPHULVP D GHsire for money and power, a lack of respect for God’s design for all of creation – human beings included – have a negative impact on people and on the environment, he said. “Just as both can ‘deteriorate,’ we can also say that they can support one another and can be changed for the better.â€? “How do we help our young people not to see a university degree as synonymous with higher status, money and social prestige?â€? he asked. “How can we help make their education a sign of greater responsibility in the face of today’s problems,â€? especially responding to “the needs of the poor, concern for the environment?â€? „ CNS

POPE IN SOUTH AMERICA 15

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

d Paraguay, as he speaks on aboriginals, unity and democracy BOLIVIA

At Bolivian prison, pope calls himself man ‘saved from his many sins’

3RSH )UDQFLV DUULYHV IRU D PHHWLQJ ZLWK UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV RI FLYLO VRFLHW\ LQ WKH &KXUFK RI 6W )UDQFLV LQ 4XLWR (FXDGRU RQ -XO\ CNS photos

Pope on democracry, tells Church leaders don’t ‘lose roots’ QUITO, ECUADOR – Pope Francis

called for inclusiveness, dialogue and mutual respect in civic life in Ecuador and the rest of Latin America. In a democracy, all social groups – indigenous people, those of African descent, women, civic groups and those in public services – must have a voice, the pope told representatives of civic organisations gathered at the Church of St Francis in Quito on July 7. The pope called for justice in the use of natural resources, saying the earth is “an inheritance from our parents, but also a loan from future generations, to whom we must return itâ€?. 0HQWLRQLQJ (FXDGRU VSHFLÂżcally, the pope said that natural resources should not be tapped for

immediate gain, but must be managed so future generations can also enjoy them. 5HIHUULQJ WR FRQĂ€LFWV LQ 3HUX and Bolivia, where governments depend on natural resources such as minerals and timber to boost economic growth, the pope warned that economic growth “must reach everyone, and not remain merely a matter of statistics,â€? adding that “without solidarity, that is not possible.â€? Problems common to many of the region’s countries – including migration, urban growth, consumerism, the crisis of the family, unemployment and persistent pockets of poverty must be addressed jointly by governments and the wider society, Pope Francis said. Both legislation and civic ac-

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tions must “promote inclusion, open avenues for dialogue, and leave behind the painful memory of any type of repression, disproportionate control and the erosion of freedomsâ€?, he said to applause from the audience, which included business and indigenous leaders and members of various civic groups. On July 8, Pope Francis met with Sisters, priests, seminarians and bishops. In his address at the El Quinche Marian shrine, the pope said, “Don’t forget where you are from.â€? Noting that some priests and Religious who grow up speaking an “ancient and nobleâ€? indigenous language later give it up, he said: “It’s very sad when they don’t want to speak it. It means they forgot where they came from.â€? As the pope entered the Marian shrine, the site of one of Ecuador’s most important religious devotions, priests and Sisters crowded close. He placed a bouquet of roses on the altar and prayed before the statue before speaking to the audience. “Mary was never the protagonist. She was a disciple all her life, KHU VRQÂśV ÂżUVW GLVFLSOH ´ KH VDLG He advised his listeners, “Every day, perhaps before you go to sleep, turn your gaze to Jesus and say, ‘You have given me everything for free,’ and get yourself back on track.â€? Warning his listeners against the illness of “spiritual Alzheimer’s,â€? Pope Francis said: “Don’t forget where you came from. Do not deny your roots.â€? “What you received for free, please give it freely. Please do not charge for grace,â€? the pope added. „ CNS

,QPDWHV ZDWFK GXULQJ 3RSH Francis’ YLVLW WR WKH 3DOPDVROD prison in 6DQWD &UX] %ROLYLD RQ -XO\ SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA – Pope

pay for everything on the inside – Francis visited one of Latin Amer- including food and places to sleep. ica’s most notorious prisons, call- The prison is open for the most ing himself “a man who was and is part, families say, with an economy saved from his many sinsâ€?. of shops, services and food spots “I couldn’t leave Bolivia with- set up; the wives and children of out seeing you, without sharing the some inmates live on the inside. hope and faith given in the cross,â€? “[It’s] judicial terrorism,â€? while he told people at Palmasola prison those with money pay for lawyers in Santa Cruz. and exit quickly, said Ms Analia 6SHDNLQJ RQ WKH ÂżQDO PRUQLQJ Parada, who spoke for the female of his less than 48-hour visit to Bo- prison population, which included livia, the pope called for conver- “many pregnant women.â€? sion and a changing Pope Francis of attitudes among The pope asked called for solidarity inmates in their rewith prison populathe inmates to lations among each tions, but also for inother and the broader mates to show solidarpray for him, society, which often ity among themselves. ‘because I, views such popula“Being impristions with suspicions. oned, ‘shut in,’ is not too, have my 7KH YLVLW UHĂ€HFWHG the same thing as bemistakes, and the pope’s preocing ‘shut out.’ Detencupation for prison tion is part of a process I too must do populations, who, in of reintegration into penance.’ Latin America, often society,â€? Pope Franserve their sentences cis said. “The way in overcrowded and violent facili- you live together depends to some ties – if they’re sentenced at all. extent on yourselves. Suffering and Inmates told Pope Francis of GHSULYDWLRQ FDQ PDNH XV VHOÂżVK their tribulations inside the prison. of heart and lead to confrontation. “I consider this place to be So“Do not be afraid to help one dom and Gomorrah. There is no con- another. The devil is looking for trol here,â€? inmate Leonidas Martinez, rivalry, division, gangs.â€? who has spent 18 years in Palmasola, The pope ended his speech by told Pope Francis. “No authority does asking the inmates to pray for him, anything to stop any of this abuse.â€? “because I, too, have my mistakes, Papal well-wishers lined a mud- and I too must do penanceâ€?. „ dy road to the prison, where families of the inmates say they have to „ 0RUH VWRULHV RQ EDFN SDJH

16 OPINION

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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COMMENTARY

South America itinerary shows heart of pope’s faith By Cindy Wooden ASUNCION, PARAGUAY – With

almost every step Pope Francis takes on his foreign trips and with his every embrace, he pleads for dialogue and inclusion. His denunciations of a “throwaway cultureâ€? – cultures in which certain people and most material goods are deemed disposable – are passionate and well-explained in his speeches and writings. But KLV SRLQW LV GHPRQVWUDWHG ÂżUVW RI all in the events he personally insists be included in his itinerary. Visiting Ecuador, Bolivia and 3DUDJXD\ KH IXOÂżOOHG GLSORPDWLF obligations by meeting with the nations’ presidents and posing for photos with their families. The formality of the meetings gave way quickly, though, to the heart of his trip: visits with residents of a home for the indigent elderly in Ecuador, a prison in Bolivia and a poor settlement in Paraguay. He also made unscheduled stops in Paraguay at a womHQÂśV SULVRQ DQG DW WKH 6W 5DIDHO Foundation, which cares for poor SDWLHQWV ZLWK $,'6 DQG FDQFHU runs centres for abandoned and abused children, and homes for the elderly. The informal and spontaneous Pope Francis obviously enjoys the informal and spontaneous atmosphere the meetings usually have, but it also is clear he truly believes the heart of the Gospel is revealed best in the enduring faith of the poor and disadvantaged. At Bolivia’s notorious Palmasola prison on July 10, it was clear prisoners saw him as a powerful advocate who could help pressure the government to speed up the nation’s judicial process, improve prison conditions and put an end to practices that they said amounted to buying and selling justice. But the pope stood before them and introduced himself as “a man who has experienced forgiveness. A man who was, and is, saved from his many sins. That is who I am. I don’t have much more

Pope Francis greets an elderly woman as he meets with people of Banado Norte, a poor neighbourhood in Asuncion, Paraguay, on July 12. CNS photo

to give you or to offer you, but I want to share with you what I do have and what I love: It is Jesus Christ, the mercy of the Father.� 2Q KLV ODVW PRUQLQJ LQ 3DUDguay, before celebrating a public Mass, Pope Francis travelled to Asuncion’s Banado Norte neighbourhood, meeting families who see their homes repeatedly threatHQHG HDFK \HDU E\ ÀRRGLQJ The meeting was not a politi-

I want to share ‘ with you what I do have and what I love: It is Jesus Christ, the mercy of the Father.

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– Pope Francis to prisoners of Palmasola prison, Bolivia

cal rally or a cry for the government to do something. He encouraged the residents in their faith, but he also allowed them to nourLVK KLV RZQ UHĂ€HFWLRQ RQ ZKDW LW means to believe in God. 6RPH RI WKH PRVW GLVFXVVHG issues of the trip concerned the FUXFLÂż[ RQ WRS RI D KDPPHU DQG sickle, which Bolivian President Evo Morales gave him, and a ORQJ FRPSOH[ ÂżHU\ VSHHFK 3RSH

)UDQFLV JDYH LQ 6DQWD &UX] %ROLYia, on July 9 to grassroots organisers, including the pope’s beloved “cartonerosâ€? from Buenos Aires. The cartoneros, who live in poor barrios on the edge of the city, go into town each night searching the streets for discarded paper they can collect and recycle. 6XUURXQGHG E\ KLV IULHQGV who also represented indigenous groups, environmental groups, labour unions and others who live and work with the poor, Pope Francis did, in fact, call for a revolution – one in which human dignity, basic human rights and care for the earth no longer take a back VHDW WR SURÂżWV LQ WKH ZRUOGÂśV HFRnomic and political systems. 6XPPDULVLQJ WKH OHVVRQV KH personally illustrated by his acWLRQV LQ 6RXWK $PHULFD WKH SRSH told the crowd in Paraguay that Christianity is “about learning to live differently, under a different law, with different rules. It is about turning from the path of VHOÂżVKQHVV FRQĂ€LFW GLYLVLRQ DQG superiority, and taking instead the path of life, generosity and love. It is about passing from a mentalLW\ ZKLFK GRPLQHHUV VWLĂ€HV DQG manipulates to a mentality which welcomes, accepts and cares.â€? „ CNS

The God of our desires WHAT lies deepest inside authentic faith is the truth that God is the object of all human desire, no matter how earthy and imperfect that desire might seem at times. This implies that everything we desire is contained in God. We see this expressed in the Psalms, which tell us that God is the object of our desires, and in Jesus, who tells us that it is in God that our deepest hungers and thirsts will be satiated. And so we pray, without perhaps ever really being conscious of what we are saying: My soul longs for you in the QLJKW <RX /RUG DORQH FDQ ¿OO P\ KHDUW <RX 2 /RUG DUH P\ DOO But is it really God that we are longing for in the night and aching for in our desires? Do we really believe that God is the real object of our desires? When we look at all that is beautiful, full of life, attractive, sexually alluring, and pleasurable on earth, do we really think and believe WKDW WKLV LV FRQWDLQHG LQ DQ LQ¿QLWHO\ ULFKHU ZD\ LQVLGH RI *RG DQG inside the life into which God invites us? Do we really believe that the joys of heaven will surpass the pleasures of earth and that, already in this world, the pleasures of virtue trump the sensations of sin? Do we really believe that faith will give us what we desire? It would seem not. We, and most everyone else, struggle to turn RXU DWWHQWLRQ WRZDUGV *RG :H ¿QG UHOLJLRXV SUDFWLFH DQG SUD\HU more of a disruption to life than an entry into it, more a duty than an offer, more an asceticism than a joy, and more as something that has us missing out on life than entering into its depths. In most of us, if we are honest, there is a secret envy of those who recklessly plumb sacred energy for their own pleasure, that is, we doggedly do our duty in committing ourselves to something KLJKHU EXW OLNH WKH 2OGHU %URWKHU RI WKH 3URGLJDO 6RQ ZH PRVWO\ serve God out of obligation and are bitter about the fact that many others do not. This side of eternity, virtue often envies sin and, truth be told, this is particularly true regarding sexuality. But partly this is natural and a sign of health, given that the brute reality of our physicality and the pressures of the present moment naturally impose themselves on us in a way that can make the things of God and spirit seem abstract and unreal. That is simply the human condition and God, no doubt, understands. You would have to be a true mystic to be above this. However it can be helpful to tease out more explicitly something ZH SURIHVV LQ IDLWK QDPHO\ WKDW DOO WKDW ZH ¿QG DWWUDFWLYH EHDXWLIXO irresistible and pleasurable here on earth is found, even more fully, inside of its source, God. God is better looking than any movie star. God is more intelligent than the brightest scientist or philosopher. God is more witty and funny than the best of our comedians. God is more creative than any artist, writer, or innovator in history. God is more sophisticated than the most learned person on earth. God is more exuberant than any young person. Everything that is alluring on earth is inside of God, in even a richer form, since God is its author. However that does not take away the power of earthly things to allure, nor should it. Countless things can overwhelm us with their stunning reality: a beautiful person, a sunset, a piece of music, a work of art, youthful exuberance, a baby’s innocence, someone’s wit, feelings of intimacy, feelings of nostalgia, a glass of wine on the right evening, a stirring in our sexuality, or most deeply of all, an inchoate sense of the uniqueness and preciousness of our own lives. We need to honour those things and thank God for the gift, even as we make ourselves aware that all of this is found more richly inside of God and that we lose nothing when virtue, religion, and FRPPLWPHQW DVN XV WR VDFUL¿FH WKHVH WKLQJV IRU VRPHWKLQJ KLJKHU Jesus, Himself, promises that whatever we give up for what is higher will be given back to us one hundredfold. Knowing this, we should live our lives fully enjoying what is earthy and earthly. The beauties and pleasures of this life are a gift from God, meant to be enjoyed. But, by being aware of their source, we can also then be free enough to accept the very real limits that life puts on our desires. And, better still, we need not fear death since what we lose will be trumped one hundredfold by what we gain. „

FOCUS 17

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

History comes alive with SG50 video, virtual exhibition On July 4, we celebrated not only a national Church event, but DOVR SUHPLHUHG RXU ÀUVW KLVWRULFDO YLGHR DQG ODXQFKHG D YLUWXDO exhibition on the history of the Church. Screened at the preMass segment of the Joy SG50 event, Our Catholic Light traces how the light of Christ has been conveyed through the ages, how it reached Singapore and how it dwells in the Church.

“S

O HOW? Can the Chancery do the exhibition or not?â€? This was a simple question posed by Friar Derrick Yap, OFM, to the Chancellor earlier this year. No one could have predicted the rollercoaster ride that the Chancery Records and Archives unit was plunged into in the months to come. Our initial plan was simple enough – a poster exhibition that people could view in groups. HowHYHU DV LGHDV VWDUWHG Ă€RZLQJ LW ZDV clear that this was not the right vehicle. We wanted as many people as possible to know the history of our Church! The idea gradually evolved to become a virtual exhibition. We knew we wanted a static element that people could read in their own time, and something visual like a video that would capture the heart and essence of the Church in Singapore. When the project started some time at the end of April, the foremost question on our minds in those early days was: “How are we going to complete this by July?â€? There was just so much to research and write in order to do justice to our Church’s history, and only two of us in the Chancery Records and Archives handling the project! Nonetheless, trusting in God’s goodness and mercy, we forged on ahead. For the virtual exhibition, we called on parishes and various church associations to give us their history, as well as made a call for volunteers to help us in research. Many were more than willing to help, and gave us copies of their publications and write-ups that we could use. We roped in a web developer to start the architecture of the exhibition site and worked with him on the structure of the exhibition. Many calls and trips were made to the CatholicNews archives to get photos and copies of their earlier newspapers. 2QH RI RXU ÂżUVW UHVRXUFHV WR KHOS us get our history correct was Fr Rene Nicolas, the Church historian, who shared with us many wonderful stories of his own research into the Church’s history in Singapore. During his time as assistant priest in the cathedral, he was also the one who realised that a relic of St Laurent Imbert was kept there. Jeanette Chang shared with me that in working on this exhibition, she enjoyed putting together the information. However more

than that, she is more excited about the possibilities of more stories that she hopes people will come forward to share through the Our Catholic Histories page that is built into the exhibition. Beyond the history-writing however, we needed audio-visual storytelling. Therefore, the main attraction of our exhibition was to be a video on the home page of the virtual exhibition. For the video to be done right, it needed artistry, graphics and rendering, the keen eye of a moviemaker, the compelling voice of a storyteller and the

This was conveyed through interviews with priests, Religious Brothers and Sisters, Church workers and volunteers. Similarly, the virtual exhibition aims to tell the story of Catholicism in Singapore through the voices of people who helped to build the Church. Valerie Siew from the Chancery 2IĂ€FH VKDUHV KRZ WKH YLGHR DQG YLUWXDO H[KLELWLRQ FDPH DERXW

XV WKDW HDFK 0(3 PLVVLRQDU\ ZDV given a large pipe and a cross once they were given an overseas PLVVLRQ 3HUKDSV KH PXVHG WKH smoke of the pipe was to deter insects from getting too near when they were in the jungles. Sr Jean Marie, FMDM, jumped into ambulances in the middle of the night when Mount Alvernia needed an ambulance driver. Br Emmanuel shared about his involvement in the early Charismatic movement in Singapore with the late Fr Dufay, and his memories spent with the boys of

Infant Jesus Sisters being interviewed in CHIJMES garden.

grandeur of beautiful music. Fortunately, we were able to ÂżQG WKLV LQ 3L[HO0XVLFD D ORFDO media production company and its award-winning creative director, Linus Jeremiah Koh. After several discussions, we envisioned that the video would convey the historical narrative of the Church through its contributions to education, health and social services in Singapore. This would be done through unscripted interviews with different key people who could share about what they knew of our Church. All the interviewees did was to speak from their hearts. Linus asked questions and the interviewees simply answered. It was personal, it was intimate, and through this roundabout way, the story of the Catholic Church began to emerge. I had the privilege of being present during these interviews and even being part of the interview process at one point. It was here that I learnt so much of our faith, our Church, and the struggles of our early Catholic pioneers. Fr Nicolas, for example, told

Boys’ Town where they knew him as “the smiling tigerâ€?. I know I was not the only one who was touched by the interviews. The most memorable interviewee would probably be Sr Gerard Fernandez, RGS, as she shared how she ministered to death row inmates. Despite the numerous interYLHZV WR EH ÂżOPHG SHUKDSV WKLV was the easier part. The challenge was in screening through, editing and stringing together a coherent story from more than 50 hours of interview footage. There was also the special ef-

fects and animation as well as the cutaways that had to be done. For me, it was an eye-opening expeULHQFH LQWR KRZ D ¿OP ZDV EHLQJ made as well. The light had to be just right; there should be minimal surrounding noise; the angles had to be correct to hit the light etc. One of the most challenging shoots was the Infant Jesus Sisters’ interview in the CHIJMES garden. On top of having to battle shadows cast by the ever-changing sunlight as the morning quickly turned to noon, the ever-resourceful producers Amelia Lee and Catherine

SURXG WR EH &DWKROLF 3HUKDSV WR put things into perspective, Linus also shared that “the time and efIRUW ZH SXW LQWR PDNLQJ WKLV ÂżOP LV nothing compared to the depth of VDFULÂżFHV RXU SULHVWV DQG PLVVLRQaries have made for our people.â€? However, the story does not end here. There are more stories waiting to be told. Not all of these would be happy ones. Yet we hope they will spur local Catholics onwards to greater mission, reaching out to others and offering them the light of Christ. The Chancery Records and Ar-

Fr Paul Tong being interviewed at the Church of the Sacred Heart.

Zhang even had to request for the restaurants to lower the volume of their music during the shoot and to pacify the nervous security guards. In the week leading up to July 4, I saw the editing and after-effects team going into overdrive mode as they continuously edited and enhanced every single detail RI WKH ÂżOP 7KLV ZDV ZLWK VSHFLDO effects, sound animation or simply coordinating the music with the exact sequence to produce a VSHFLÂżF LPDJHU\ Many have since said that ZDWFKLQJ WKH ÂżOP PDGH WKHP VR

The virtual exhibition at http://history.catholic.org.sg/

chives will be embarking on a new venture to inspire Catholics with more stories, both in video and the virtual exhibition site. We are workLQJ WR ¿OO XS PRUH SDJHV RI WKH VLWH so that there will always be something new for people to discover. If you have a story or picture about the Church and what our Church used to be like in the past, we want to hear from you. You can share your story by submitting this online at the Our Catholic History tab, accessed at http:// history.catholic.org.sg. We are also looking for: „ Sponsors who are interested in funding the making of more Catholic Church history videos, „ Volunteers who can help to research and write historical narratives of our Church, and „ Academics who have written about the history of the Church and would like to donate a copy of their theses to the archives. „ If you can contribute in any way, write to chanceryrecords@catholic.org.sg or call 6336-9408 for more details.

18 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

The role of being a shepherd in the world There are leaders of many kinds in the Church, however, every Christian has the vocation to live as Christ, the Shepherd.

By David Gibson Few citizens of 21st-century megacities know much about caring for sheep. When they look for work, they don’t scan the classiÂżHG DGV IRU MREV KHUGLQJ VKHHS What do sheepherders actually GR" 'R WKH\ ZRUN GXULQJ WKH GD\ RU DW QLJKW RU ERWK" $UH WKH\ SHQDOLVHG LI D VKHHS LV ORVW RU NLOOHG" What challenges does sheepherdLQJ HQWDLO" It can seem as though Christianity makes an assumption when it comes to shepherds, namely that we and our contemporaries know something about the needs of sheep. Shepherds, after all, are mentioned somewhat frequently in the Church’s worship. Are we expected to relate in rewarding ways to the lives and ZRUN RI VKHSKHUGV" ,Q WKH HQG one can assume, there must be something shepherds do that merLWV UHĂ€HFWLRQ DQG FRQWHPSODWLRQ Allow me, then, to reintroduce a few of the shepherds best known among Christians, with the goal of asking whether we ever do what they do. The shepherds who stunningly reappear annually in the Church’s liturgy at Christmas, surrounded by angels announcing the birth of -HVXV ZHUH ÂłOLYLQJ LQ WKH ÂżHOGV´ according to Luke’s Gospel. If that sounds a little uncomfortable, the Gospel adds that they were “keeping the night watch over WKHLU Ă€RFN´ Their night watch rings a bell IRU PH 'LG \RX HYHU NHHS D QLJKW watch with a newborn infant who

Jesus the Good Shepherd. File photo

seemed to need you at every moPHQW" ,I VR \RX NQRZ ZKDW UHDO fatigue, commitment and love feel like. 7KH VDPH LV WUXH RI ÂżOOLQJ LQ at night for a friend who is the primary caregiver for a sick, aged parent, but who right now needs not so much to be “cared aboutâ€? as to be “cared for.â€? She has gone

far too long without any respite. Shepherding also comes into view in the Christian community whenever the parable of the lost VKHHS LV SURFODLPHG /N 7KH ZHOO NQRZQ ÂżJXUH FHQWUDO WR this parable has 100 sheep but loses RQH :KDW GRHV KH GR" +H VHDUFKHV IRU WKH ORVW VKHHS XQWLO KH ÂżQGV LW 8SRQ ÂżQGLQJ WKH ORVW VKHHS KH

hoists it onto “his shoulders with great joyâ€?. Then he invites friends and neighbours to celebrate with him. The image of a shepherd bearing a sheep on his shoulders became popular in the Church’s early centuries. It was depicted frequently in the Roman catacombs, the underground burial places for early Christians. For today’s Christians, this is the image of someone who is happily ready to bear others’ burdens, to serve without being served and WR LQYHVW KLV RU KHU ÂżQHVW VWUHQJWKV in supporting and caring for them. Christians relate rather naturally to a shepherd who gives life to others. Moreover, I think there is a sense among Christians that it is not only possible for them to share life with others but that they ought to try to do this. The question is: How is life JLYHQ RU VKDUHG" A good shepherd shares life E\ VDFULÂżFLQJ IRU RWKHUV ,W LV D unique role, undoubtedly. Still, it is not unusual for us to be called on to share life by sacriÂżFLQJ WLPH RU SHUKDSV VXUUHQGHUing a goal that now seems barely VLJQLÂżFDQW LQ OLJKW RI VRPHRQH

else’s very important need. Families do this quite often. 6DFULÂżFLQJ IRU RWKHUV LV RQH ZD\ WR VKDUH OLIH 'RLQJ ZKDW RQH can to give birth to hope in a suffering person and to give rise to a new appreciation for life is another way. We may not know fully how life is shared by us with others, just as we do not know fully how God shares His life with us. Think, though, of a couple who fall in love. Part of what makes this couple happy is their sense that life is shared between them through the trust they place in each other, through their unconditional love and through the depth of their mutual understanding. Certainly, what people in love want for each other is “to have life and have it more abundantlyâ€?. They are committed to each other’s well-being. The Good Shepherd who gives His life for others and the shepherd carrying a lamb on His shoulders generally are accepted in the Christian community as images of Christ. Furthermore, discussions of leadership in the Church tend to focus strongly on these images of a shepherd. There are leaders of many kinds in the Church, however, and every Christian has the vocation to live as Christ, the Shepherd, lived. The gifts of the Good Shepherd are a treasure, but the treasure is not private. Aren’t His gifts of life, care and support meant to EH SDVVHG RQ E\ XV WR RWKHUV" „ CNS Gibson served on Catholic News Service’s editorial staff for 37 years.

A leader’s duty is to respond to all By Mike Nelson In John 10:4, Jesus tells us that a sheep knows His master’s voice and responds accordingly. That should tell us as much, if not more, about the shepherd as it does about the sheep. Most of us are called to be shepherds of some sort. Take the workplace, for example. There are all kinds of leaders, or shepherds. I have worked for some good leaders and also for some who are best not to mention at all. Those who were good leaders – those whose voices I would respond most willingly and enthusiastically to – were those who genuinely cared about the individuals in their charge. That doesn’t mean a leader does whatever his “sheep� want him to do. A shepherd’s sheep, for example, might be just as happy lounging in the barn all day long or perfectly content hanging out in the pasture. Not being any sort of sheep

A teacher works with students in a computer lab in New York. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

whisperer, I wouldn’t know, but I suspect that sheep instinctively obey their shepherd because they sense the shepherd has their safety and welfare uppermost in mind. That is the sort of workplace leader I’ve tried to be, when called

upon – one who cared, above all else, about the personal welfare of his staff (most of whom had personalities far more complex than sheep). Yes, there were goals that we all strove to achieve, but to me those were secondary to keeping my

people (at least reasonably) happy. Some would say that’s not a very smart way to run things or a very admirable trait in a leader. In the working world, you can get into trouble if you let personal feelings get in the way of the good of the business. My reply is that a leader who shows care and concern for his charges’ welfare while keeping everyone aware of and dedicated WR IXO¿OOLQJ WKH LQVWLWXWLRQDO JRDO and purpose (what many today call the mission) is more likely to draw support and loyalty, and better results, from those he leads. And when we talk about mission, it might be worth considering what sort of worthwhile mission does not take into account the welIDUH RI WKRVH HPSOR\HG WR IXO¿O LW" I recall vividly the opening address of Encuentro 2000, the US Catholic celebration of the jubilee year, in Los Angeles by the late Vietnamese Archbishop (later Cardinal) Francois-Xavier Nguyen Van

Thuan. The then president of the 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU -XVWLFH DQG Peace, alluded to this very point. “Jesus,â€? the archbishop smiled, “is no good at math. He thinks one equals 99, perhaps even more.â€? That’s an interesting concept for those who lead – whether they lead a team, a classroom, a department, a corporation, a family or a ministry. What about that one who JRHV DVWUD\" 'R ZH IRUJHW DERXW KLP" &XW RXU ORVVHV DQG PRYH RQ" We shouldn’t accept that thinking. We can’t accept that some people are not worth the trouble, that some should be written off, left behind and ultimately forgotten. I don’t believe God works that way, and we shouldn’t either. Everyone has value, everyone has God-given life and dignity – and a good shepherd, in any capacity in the Church, knows this. „ CNS Nelson is former editor of The Tidings, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, USA.

FEATURE 19

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Saving the environment with help from pope’s encyclical If every person chose to eat meat one less day a week, it could reduce crop demand for feed.

%\ (I¿H &DOGDUROD I must admit, encyclicals are not at the top of my summer reading pile. So, even though a papal document wouldn’t normally go to the beach, Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home by Pope )UDQFLV LV GH¿QLWHO\ D PXVW UHDG The pope’s writing on climate change and the environment garnered a lot of press, even hostile criticism, before it was published. Let’s hope it continues to command attention. It’s long, but QRW GLI¿FXOW <RX FDQ *RRJOH LW easily. We all know the earth’s in trouble. But when a pope lends his moral authority to problems and solutions, it should focus my attention. It’s a spiritual issue: The environment has now been included in Catholic social teaching. So, as I use clean, hot water in the shower, my thoughts go to all the people worldwide who suffer poor water quality and shortages. And those most impacted, the pope points out, are the poor. But even those of us who live in areas where spring rains have

:D\V WR SURWHFW WKH HQYLURQPHQW )URP OHIW 8VH FORWK EDJV HDW PRUH JUHHQV DQG XVH ZDWHU HIÂżFLHQWO\ ZKHQ washing dishes.

been plentiful worry about depletion of our precious aquifers. Poor public policy and overuse strain our water supply everywhere. Water, of course, is just one of many areas the pope touches on. Pope Francis challenges us to reassess our basic ideas about our economy. He uses phrases such as “compulsive consumerismâ€? to describe the seduction of our market economy – an economy that fosters “greedâ€? over “need.â€? 0RUH SURÂżWV PRUH VDOHV PRUH

growth, more resources exploited to make more things – these are values that we’ve learned to associate with progress. As Jesuit Fr James Martin has explained, the pope’s words are not a condemnation of capitalism, but a critique. What is our addiction to consumption doing to our earth? Pope Francis says “the earth itself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor�.

Pope Francis uses the word “revolution� to describe what must happen. Christianity, if lived authentically, is certainly a revolutionary way of life. So I ask: How can I be a better steward of the earth? Where can the revolution start within me? One simple statistic has caught my attention: A meat-based diet requires 30 percent more water than a vegetarian diet. If every person chose to eat meat one less day a week, it could reduce crop

demand for feed and each year save an amount of water. Catholics could certainly make that choice. Meatless meals were once our Friday staple, and we’re still asked to make a sacriÂżFLDO RIIHULQJ RQ )ULGD\V I have cloth bags to replace plastic for grocery shopping. But can I remember to take them a little more often? Do I really need a new dress for an upcoming event, or can I “shopâ€? in my overcrowded closet? Can I be more careful about wasting produce? Could I remember to bring my own “doggie bagâ€? container to restaurants to avoid the styrofoam? Countless little choices present themselves. But one big choice? Let your elected representatives know the environment is a top concern of yours. Tell them you can recommend a great read on it. „ CNS

20

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

By Jennifer Ficcaglia It was almost time for the Jewish feast of Passover. At that time, Jesus and His apostles crossed the Sea of Galilee, and there was a very large crowd awaiting them. The people had heard about Jesus curing the sick, which is why they wanted to follow Him. Jesus went up a mountain and sat there with His apostles. The Lord saw that the large crowd was coming toward them. He said to one of His apostles, Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?� Even though Jesus asked Philip the question, the Lord already knew what he was going to do. Philip took a good look at the sea of people. He shook his head and turned toward Jesus. “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough

for each of them to have a little [bit],â€? Philip said. Just then, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, rushed up to Jesus. Âł7KHUH LV D ER\ KHUH ZKR KDV ÂżYH EDUOH\ ORDYHV DQG WZR ÂżVK ´ KH WROG the Lord, “but what good are these for so many?â€? Jesus was very calm and did not look worried. “Have the people recline,â€? He told His friends. There was a large grassy area nearby, so all of the men – about 5,000 in all – sat down there. -HVXV WRRN WKH ÂżYH EDUOH\ ORDYHV and gave thanks. He then handed out the bread to all the men who were seated in the grass. They also were given DV PXFK ÂżVK DV WKH\ ZDQWHG WR HDW When everyone who had eaten was full and didn’t want any more of the bread and fish, Jesus asked

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Romanus St Romanus was a soldier in Rome in the year 258. He saw the example of St Laurence, who was in jail waiting to be martyred. St Laurence was suffering, but he was happy instead of sad. That made Romanus want to become Catholic. He was instructed in the faith and baptised by St Laurence in prison. Romanus talked about what he had done. He was arrested and put to death, one day before St Laurence was martyred. We remember St Romanus on Aug 9. „

Just then, Jesus went to the mountain alone, because He knew if He stayed, the crowd would carry Him off and try to make Him king. „

His apostles to clean up. “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted,� the Lord said. The apostles did what was asked of them, and they came back with 12 wicker baskets full of leftovers. The people gathered saw the sign that Jesus had done. “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world,� they said to each other.

Read more about it: John 6

Q&A 1. How many loaves did Jesus and His friends have to feed the crowd? 2. About how many men were in the crowd?

Wordsearch: „ FISH

„ SEA

„ CALM

„ FOOD

„ LOAVES „ FIVE

„ BREAD

„ CROWD

„ PEOPLE „ LORD

„ SICK

„ GRASS

BIBLE TRIVIA: What other Gospels contain the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000?

Bible Accent: Answer to puzzle: 2, 5 Answer to Bible Trivia: Matthew, Mark and Luke

PUZZLE: Put an X next to the sentences that describe miracles that Jesus performed. 1. Raining down bread from heaven (Exodus 16:4)

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2. Walking on water (Matthew 14:25)

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3. Parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21)

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4. Resurrecting the Shunammite’s son (2 Kings 4:34) 5. Turning water into wine (John 2:9)

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Answer to Wordsearch

Bread was very important in biblical times. It was a staple in the Israelites’ diets, which means it was something that was eaten all the time. Bread became a symbol of life to the people. Sometimes the Israelites gave bread as an offering to God. People who had visitors would give their guests bread to show that they were good hosts. When the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, they complained of being hungry. They even wished they were back in Egypt, where they at least had bread to eat. God heard their grumbling, so He told Moses, “I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you.â€? This bread, called “mannaâ€?, was collected and eaten every day. In the New Testament, Jesus twice fed huge crowds of SHRSOH ZLWK MXVW D IHZ ORDYHV RI EUHDG DQG VRPH ÂżVK In John 6, not long after feeding 5,000 people with ÂżYH ORDYHV RI EUHDG DQG WZR ÂżVK -HVXV WROG WKH SHRSOH Âł, am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.â€? And at the Last Supper, Jesus broke bread and gave it to His apostles, telling them it was His body and to eat it. „

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

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

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. FRIDAYS FROM JULY 24 RCIA @ CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART 7.30pm-9.15pm: 111 Tank Road. Register T: 6737 9285; E: sacredheartchurch@catholic.org.sg.

CATECHISM FOR THE ELDERLY Catechism classes for the elderly are held in English, Mandarin, Peranakan, Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese on Thursdays from 1pm-2.45pm at Church of the Holy Family and on Saturdays at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street), parish hall from 9.30am11.30am. Register T: 9115 5673 (Andrew). CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART COLUMBARIUM – UPDATING OF NICHE APPLICATION RECORDS The Church of the Sacred Heart is currently carrying out an exercise to update the records of all niche applications. If you have purchased a niche for yourself or for a loved one, we would be grateful if you could obtain a copy of the “Niche Update Formâ€? at the bulletin stand or from our 3DULVK 2IÂżFH .LQGO\ UHWXUQ WKH IRUP WR WKH 3DULVK 2IÂżFH EHIRUH $XJ )RU TXHULHV E: columbarium@sacredheartchurch.sg. REGISTRATION FOR CANOSSIAN CONVENT KINDERGARTEN – A SANCTUARY ON THE HILL TOP 5HJLVWUDWLRQ IRU FODVVHV 1 WR . is open. For children born between 2010 and 2013. Come, explore and discover! We will be running a comprehensive ÂżYH DQG D KDOI KRXU SURJUDPPH ZLWK daily meditation and prayers led by the Canossian Sisters. Organised by Canossian &RQYHQW .LQGHUJDUWHQ $W -DODQ 0HUERN RII -DODQ -XURQJ .HFLO (QTXLULHV 7 ( FFNJJHQHUDORIÂżFH# gmail.com: W: www.canossian.org.sg. EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH PIECES OF APRIL 9am-6pm: Pieces of April is a Canossian green initiative to save the earth and give new OLIH WR XVHG LWHPV UHFHLYHG WR EHQHÂżW WKH SRRU 2XU WKULIW VKRS RSHQV HYHU\ ÂżUVW 6XQGD\ of the month. Do drop by to show your support! Organised by Canossian Sisters. At Canossa Convent, 1 Sallim Road, Gate (QTXLULHV (PDLO SFVRIDSULO#JPDLO FRP FRIDAYS FROM JULY 24 TO SEPTEMBER 4 CaFE SAINTS – HELPING US TODAY 8pm-9.30pm: Join us every Friday to listen to CaFE speaker David Payne as he goes on location to the places changed by the lives of St Patrick, St Benedict, St Francis of Assisi, St Catherine of Siena, St Ignatius of Loyola and St Therese of Lisieux. Don’t miss this endearing and inspiring six-session programme on the lives of these saints. There will be no screening on Aug 7. It’s free! Organised by CaFe. At the Church of St Francis Xavier, 63A Chartwell Drive. Register T: 9664 2127 (Ignatius) / 9688 5867 (Vincent) E: cafe.sfx@gmail.com.

JULY 24 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8pm-9pm: Come join us in this ecumenical meditative prayer with the songs of Taize, every third Friday of the month. Organised by Taize Group at Good Shepherd Place. At Good Shepherd Place Chapel, 9 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. (QTXLULHV 7 0V $GHOLQH 7D\ ( D TXLHW WLPH#JPDLO FRP : ZZZ taize.fr/en. JULY 24 TO JULY 26 JULY 2015 CHOICE WEEKEND It takes that one weekend that will inspire you for the rest of your life. Come away for a Choice Weekend. It is by the choices ZH PDNH WKDW ZLOO GH¿QH ZKDW RXU OLIH LV all about. Register T: 9790 0537 (Hillary) -DFTXHOLQH E: registration@choice.org.sg; W: http:// www.choice.org.sg/registration.htm. JULY 25 SYMPOSIUM ON DIVORCE, SEPARATION AND ANNULMENT 9am-5pm: The theme for this symposium is, What does the Catholic Church actually teach about Divorce, Separation $QQXOPHQW" .H\QRWH VSHDNHUV LQFOXGH Fr Terence Pereira, Catholic lawyer Peggy /HH DQG SULQFLSDO WKHUDSLVW .HOY\DQQH Teoh. Registration starts at 8.30am. Fee: $25. Organised by ACF. At Catholic Junior College, 129 Whitley Road. Register W: http://catholicfamily.org.sg. WEDNESDAYS FROM JULY 25 TO AUGUST 1 CHARIS-BARRÉ MISSION LEADERSHIP TRAINING %DUUp DQ DI¿OLDWH RI &+$5,6 UXQV D 10-year education programme in various villages. BarrÊ organises four mission trips a year to run interactive English lessons and are seeking mission leaders to lead week-long trips in future. A CHARIS-BarrÊ mission team will be deployed to receive training as potential mission leaders. Come join the big family of BarrÊ and the wonderful people of the Central Highlands! Register E: lilynne@charis-singapore.org. SATURDAYS FROM JULY 25 TO AUGUST 22 SELF-WORTH WORKSHOPS 11am-1pm: Join us for a four-session workshop and understand self-worth and its importance and impact in your life.

Through activities and exercises, practise ways to recognise and replace selfdefeating thoughts. Organised by Clarity. At Clarity Singapore, 854 Yishun Ring Road #01-3511. Fee: $10. Register T: 6757 7990 / 9710 3733; E: registration@clarity-Singapore. JULY 26 ST ANNE’S CHURCH FEAST DAY 2015 Theme: You Are Called. There will be nine days of Novena from July 17-25. For the Novenas, there will be Rosary from 7.30pm, and Mass from 8pm with extended preaching. On July 26 from 7.30am1.30pm, we will be holding a Feast Day Carnival. Masses will be at 7.15am, 9am, 11am (celebrated by Archbishop William Goh), 1pm (Mandarin) and 6pm (with procession of St Anne’s statue). Organised by St Anne’s Church. At St Anne’s Church, 6HQJNDQJ (DVW :D\ (QTXLULHV T: 6386 5072; W: http://stanneonline.org/. JULY 26 MAY AWA ANG DIYOS 10.30am-4pm: A Day of Recollection for Filipino friends to come together for SUD\HU TXLHW DQG UHÀHFWLRQ 7KHUH ZLOO EH presentations, personal prayer and group sharings. Fr Lester Maramara, SJ, will lead participants in discovering their call to love and mercy in their daily lives. $W .LQJVPHDG &HQWUH 9LFWRULD 3DUN Road, Singapore 266492. Fee (inclusive of lunch): $10. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com. WEDNESDAYS FROM JULY 29 TO SEPTEMBER 23 A BIBLICAL WALK WITH THE BLESSED MOTHER 8pm-10pm: A DVD-based programme presented by Edward Sri. This is a Catholic Bible study that will bring you on an extraordinary pilgrimage, revealing 0DU\œV XQLTXH UROH LQ *RGœV .LQJGRP DQG our lives. Fee: $32 for study set. Organised by Bible Apostolate from Church of the Holy Spirit. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road #03-02. Register T: 9479 3120 (Alexander); E: hsbibleapostolate.pm@gmail.com. JULY 31 TO AUGUST 2 FILIPINO WEEKEND RETREAT July 31 (Friday)- August 2 (Sunday): Theme: Mercy – The Invitation to Love. This silent stay-in retreat will allow SDUWLFLSDQWV WR VSHQG WLPH LQ TXLHW UHÀHFWLRQ and contemplation based on presentations in choosing mercy, sharing love, and living life. Facilitated by Fr Lester Maramara, SJ. Fee: $180 (non-aircon); $220 (aircon) including SD stipend. Organised by .LQJVPHDG &HQWUH $W .LQJVPHDG &HQWUH 8 Victoria Park Road. Register T: 6467 6072; E:cisc2664@gmail.com. AUGUST 1 JOYFUL PARENTING PUBLIC FORUM 1pm-5.30pm: Our Joyful Parenting Public

discovery, joy and sadness, love, life and brokenness, and engage in conversation thereafter. Water and light refreshments ZLOO EH SURYLGHG )DFLOLWDWRUV 'LDQD .RK and Diana Tan. Fee: $10. Organised by .LQJVPHDG &HQWUH $W .LQJVPHDG &HQWUH at 8 Victoria Park Road. Register T: 64676072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com.

Forum is in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week 2015. Join us at this public form to understand how you can nurture your child from birth from our team of doctors and family educators. Organised E\ )DPLO\ /LIH 6RFLHW\ $W ..+ Bukit Timah Road, Auditorium, Level 1, Women’s Tower. Register T: 6488 0278; W: http://bitly.com/mom_n_breastfeeding.

AUGUST 15 UNDERSTANDING GAMBLING ADDICTIONS 10am-noon: Gambling is as serious as, if not more than, any other forms of addictions. Yet only 10 percent of problem gamblers seek professional help. When is gambling considered out of control? What are the ways to battle DQG TXLW WKLV DGGLFWLRQ" &RPH MRLQ XV WR ÂżQG RXW PRUH VR \RX FDQ KHOS \RXUVHOI or someone you care about. Refreshments provided. Fee: $10. Concession for THRIVE partners only. At Multi-Purpose Hall 1, Agape Village, 7A Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. Register: T: 6757 7990 / 9710 3733; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org.

AUGUST 4 TO NOVEMBER 3 (FOR 14 TUESDAYS) FOUR HISTORICAL BOOKS BY MSGR AMBROSE VAZ Two sessions per day: 9.30am-11.30am or 7.45pm-9.45pm. Join us on 14 Tuesdays for a Bible course on the books of Judith, Ruth, Tobit and Jonah. Organised by: Archdiocesan Biblical Apostolate. Fee (inclusive of materials and refreshments): $100. At CAEC 2 Highland Road. Register E: biblicalapostolate.wordpress. FRP (QTXLULHV 7 RI¿FH hours); E: bibleapostolic@catholic.org.sg. AUGUST 6 TO AUGUST 8 QUENCH – YOUTH RETREAT 8pm (Thursday)-9pm (Saturday): Calling all youths! Join us for a 3D2N Youth Retreat. Theme: Let anyone who is thirsty come to me (John 7:37). Organised by -HVXV <RXWK DI¿OLDWHG WR 6$&&5( At Choice Retreat House, 47 Jurong West Street 42. Register W: singapore. MHVXV\RXWK RUJ (QTXLULHV 7 (Fionne) / 9688 0412 (Natalie).

AUGUST 15 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMME (REAP) CONDUCTED BY BRISBANE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TEAM 8.30am-2.30pm: There will be a training programme by Brisbane’s Religious education team for all Catholic educators and catechists. Fee (inclusive of resources, materials and meals): $45. Organised by Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools. At CJC’s Training and Development Centre, 129 Whitley Road. Register E: susie.lim@catholic.org.sg; W: www.accs.sg.

AUGUST 6 TO OCTOBER 15 DVD BIBLE STUDY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 8pm-10pm: Come and join us for 10 weeks of Bible study on the Book of 1 Corinthians. See how our struggles today DUH YHU\ VLPLODU WR WKH FRQÀLFWV RI WKH early Christians. With increasing societal problems – division, marital breakdown, immorality, persecution the message of St Paul is urgent for our times. Organised by Biblical Apostolate Team of Church of &KULVW WKH .LQJ $W &KXUFK RI &KULVW WKH .LQJ $QJ 0R .LR $YHQXH 5HJLVWHU YLD SMS: 9832 1538 (Lene); E:ctkbat@hotmail.com.

AUGUST 22 INTRODUCTION TO AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS 9.30am-5pm: How does one facilitate and nurture safe spaces for authentic conversation that is so critically needed in the Church and the world today? Facilitators: Lance Ng and Celina Lin. Fee (inclusive of lunch): $50. Organised E\ .LQJVPHDG &HQWUH $W .LQJVPHDG Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road. Register T: 6467 6072; Email: cisc2664@gmail.com.

AUGUST 14 TO AUGUST 16 A SPIRITUALITY FOR THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE – PART 2: LIFE AFTER THE MIDLIFE TRANSITION BY CENACLE SR LINDA LIZADA 8pm (Friday)-1pm (Sunday): This is a continuation of Part 1, and will primarily focus on living out the fruits of the PLGOLIH WUDQVLWLRQ 3DUWLFLSDQWV ZLOO EHQH¿W more from the weekend if he/she has participated in Part 1 or any other midlife programme. Fee: $250. Organised by Cenacle Sisters. At Montfort Centre, 622 Upper Bukit Timah Road.

AUGUST 22 INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE LEARNING TRIPS 2015 – 3RD IN A SERIES 10.30am-1.30pm: Come join us on a visit WR WKH 6UL 9DLUDYLPDGD .DOLDPPDQ 7HPSOH As preparation, all participants (inclusive of former participants) must attend a 2-hour formation and orientation session on either Aug 17, 18 or 20 at 7.45pm at the Church of St Ignatius. Alternative dates / times can be worked out. There will be a debrief right after the visit. Lunch will be provided by the temple. Organised by ACCIRD. $W 6UL 9DLUDYLPDGD .DOLDPPDQ 7HPSOH 2001 Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. Register (1) name (2) parish (3) hp number by Aug 7 with Gerald: gerald@accird.org.sg.

AUGUST 15 FINDING GOD IN MOVIES 2-5pm: Come and watch the movie, 0\ 2OG /DG\ .HOYLQ .OLQH ZLWK Maggie Smith). It includes a narrative of

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ACROSS 1 Holy _____ 5 “Mercy!â€? 9 Yemen, in biblical times 14 Edison’s middle name 15 “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor _____ nor gather into barns‌â€? (Mt 6:26) 16 This Jesuit has a crater on the moon named for him 17 ____ accompli 18 Drinks (as a cat) 19 Cheerful 20 And so forth 22 Multitudes 23 Some houses 24 Book of Samuel character 25 There was no room here 26 Repulsive 30 Belonging to him 33 Biblical heroine 36 Enthusiastic okay, in Seville

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24 POPE IN SOUTH AMERICA

Sunday July 26, 2015 „ CatholicNews

PARAGUAY

Pope calls for cooperation for common good CAACUPE, PARAGUAY – Pope many ordinary Paraguayan people, Francis was as close to home as he whose names are not written in hishas been since becoming pope in tory books but who have been, and March 2013 as he celebrated Mass continue to be, the real protagonists at Paraguay’s popular shrine of in the life of your nation,â€? the pope Our Lady of Miracles of Caacupe. said on July 10 during the evening Only 40 km from the border reception at the presidential palace. with Argentina, tens of thousands During a rousing meeting on of Pope Francis’ fellow Argentines July 11 with “representatives of ÂżOOHG WKH VTXDUH LQ IURQW RI WKH civil societyâ€? – teachers, artists, shrine and the streets around it on business leaders, communications July 11 to pray with “theirâ€? pope. professionals, indigenous leadThe Mass highlighted his af- ers and farmers – Pope Francis fection for the Paraguayan people said he was impressed by the vaand, particularly, for riety of groups and their cultures and their commitment The creation of to working for the popular religiosity. “Being here common good. ... wealth must with you makes me Responding to always be at the TXHVWLRQV IURP OD\ feel at home, at the feet of our mother, people and a pubservice of the the Virgin of MiraOLF RIÂżFLDO 3RSH common good, cles of Caacupe,â€? Francis tried to be Pope Francis said concrete in his sugand not only in his homily. gestions for moving IRU WKH EHQHÂżW At the Mass – the nation forward. of a few. and during an evenWith President ing meeting on July Cartes and mem– Pope Francis 10 with government bers of his cabinet RIÂżFLDOV DQG GLSORsitting in the front mats at the presidential palace in row, Pope Francis insisted that Asuncion – Pope Francis expressed trading votes for favours – “somehis admiration for Paraguayan thing that happens in every counwomen. They are credited with tryâ€? – is a form of corruption and keeping the country going during will hold the country back. and after the war of 1864-1870, a 7XUQLQJ WR WKH TXHVWLRQ RI HFRdisaster for Paraguay in which the nomic growth, Pope Francis insistmajority of the country’s men died. ed that a morally correct economic The July 10-12 papal visit to OLIH SXWV SHRSOH EHIRUH SURÂżWV Paraguay had begun with a trib“Certainly every country ute to St John Paul II, beloved needs economic growth and the by many Paraguayans as a world creation of wealth,â€? he said. “But leader who stood up to dictator the creation of this wealth must alGeneral Alfredo Stroessner, who ways be at the service of the comruled the country for 35 years. mon good, and not only for the “I wish to pay tribute to the EHQHÂżW RI D IHZ ´ „ CNS

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Poor Paraguayans remind pope of Holy Family ASUNCION, PARAGUAY – Pope

Francis visited Banado Norte on July 12, a poor neighbourhood near the Paraguay River where UHVLGHQWV EDWWOH VHDVRQDO Ă€RRGLQJ and face possible eviction. “I couldn’t be in Paraguay without being with you, in your land,â€? he told the crowd gathered outside St John the Baptist chapel, one of 13 chapels in the huge Holy Family Parish. The pope praised the people for their solidarity, calling it a “human and Christian virtue that you have, and which many, many of us have to learnâ€?. “If you don’t have a heart of solidarity, if you don’t know what is happening to your people, your faith is very weak, or it is sick, or it is dead. It is a faith without Christ, without God, without brothers and sisters,â€? he said.

Pope Francis also said that the families he met as he walked down an alley in Banado Norte reminded him of the Holy Family. “They also had to leave all they had and go to another land, where they knew no one, where they had no home or family,â€? he said. As the pontiff sat on the stage beside the chapel on July 12, Ms Maria Garcia, who heads an umbrella group of 11 community organisations, called for affordable land titles, “decent housing or the possibility of improving what we have, health care and the possibility of a decent educationâ€?. As Pope Francis bade farewell WR WKH FURZG KH RIIHUHG D ÂżQDO word of encouragement. “Keep going,â€? he told the crowd, “and don’t let the devil divide you.â€? „ CNS

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

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