OCTOBER 06, 2013, Vol 63, No 20

Page 1

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY OCTOBER 6, 2013

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20

MCI (P) 081/08/2013

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

The Church has ‘to

Otherwise it risks losing the ‘freshness’ of the Gospel, says pope CNS photo

VATICAN CITY – In a lengthy and

wide-ranging interview, Pope Francis spoke with characteristic frankness about the perils of over-emphasising Catholic teaching on sexual and medical ethics; the reasons for his deliberate and consultative governing style; and his highest priority for the Church today. The pope’s remarks appeared in an interview with Jesuit Fr Antonio Spadaro, editor of the Italian Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica. The interview, conducted in August, was the basis for a 12,000word article published on Sept 19 in the US magazine America, and simultaneously in other Jesuit publications in other languages. According to the editor of America, Jesuit Fr Matt Malone, Pope Francis personally reviewed the article and approved its publication. “We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods,� the pope said in the interview, noting that he had been “reprimanded� for failing to speak often about those topics. “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. “The dogmatic and moral teachings of the Church are not all equivalent,� the pope added. “The Church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently. “Proclamation in a missionary style focuses on the essentials, on the necessary things,� he said.

of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.

Pope Francis greets a boy after a general audience in St Peter’s Square.

proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, ‘Theprofound, radiant. It is from this proposition ’

– Pope Francis in his interview with an Italian Jesuit journal

“The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then

major themes: the need for mercy rather than judgment when approaching sin. “The thing the Church needs

most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful. It needs nearness, proximity,� he said. “The Church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most im tion: Jesus Christ has saved you,� the pope said. “The confessional is not a torture chamber,� he said, “but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better. “Those who today always look for disciplinarian solutions, those who long for an exaggerated doctrinal ‘security’, those who stubbornly try to recover a past that no longer exists – they have a static and inward-directed view of things,� Pope Francis said. “In this way, faith becomes an ideology among other ideologies.� Pope Francis also spoke extensively about his approach to Church governance. “Many think that changes and reforms can take place in a short time,� the pope said. “I believe that we always need time to lay the foundations for real, effective change. And this is the time of discernment. “Sometimes discernment instead urges us to do precisely what do later. And that is what happened to me in recent months,� he added, though without specifying the action in question. The pope described the evolution of his governing style, starting with his appointment at age 36 as superior of the Argentine province of the Jesuits. „ Continued on Page 16

VOL 63

NO. 20

INSIDE HOME Mid-Autumn Festival for migrants Chinese nationals attend celebration at Nativity Church „ Page 6

Hundreds attend Latin Mass Liturgical preferences shouldn’t be source of discord: archbishop „ Page 10

ASIA Training for overseas mission work CHARIS’ programme a boon for volunteers „ Page 12

Pope ‘may visit’ Thailand next year Pontiff meets with Thai prime minister „ Page 13

WORLD Navy Yard shooting and culture of death Washington cardinal comments on tragedy „ Page 15

FAITH ALIVE! When different cultures meet in a parish Dialogue vital to resolve tensions „ Page 21

2 HOME

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Pressing issues raised a Educators, parents, Religious brainstorm way By Stefania Hartley How can Catholics witness to being Christian in the pluralist, multireligious environment in Singapore Catholic Schools? This was the question under

! " lic Education Conference, entitled You Are To Be My Witnesses, held at Catholic Junior College from Sept 13-14. More than 300 people, including teachers, parents, principals, viceprincipals, together with members of school management committees and Religious congregations, met to discuss the current situation of Singapore’s Catholic Education and a vision for the future. Australian La Salle Br Gerard Rummery, who has many decades of experience working in and with Catholic schools around the world, gave two keynote speeches. Other speakers also shared their views during the conference, which included a panel discussion, small group discussions and a Teachers’ Day Mass. In his talks, Br Rummery noted that dialogue with the world and its cultures, together with inculturation of the faith (bringing the Gospel to life from within the local culture) are ways to genuinely witness the Gospel today.

Photos: DOMINIC WONG

Keynote speaker, La Salle Br Gerard Rummery. Panel discussion at the Catholic Education Conference. From left: Ms Jocelyn Loong, a student; Verbum Dei Sr Sandra Seow; La Salle Br George Van Grieken; Mr Lim Boon Heng; Mr Laurence Lien; Fr Edward Seah and SJI principal, Dr Koh Thiam Seng, who was moderator.

Being witnesses of Christ in a pluralistic society does not simply mean to accept diversity, he said. It is to engage meaningfully and respectfully in dialogue with other Christians and with people of different religions, and to celebrate common ground – based on Catholics’ own convictions, he added. In his response to a question, Br Rummery noted that Singapore parishes, unlike other countries’,

are well attended, vibrant and alive. He said that the parish, school and family should be working together to educate young people. Franciscan Friar Michael D’Cruz noted that although Catholic schools in Singapore are good at being inclusive of other religions and people of other faiths, they should beware of complacency. In the schools there is a tension between fostering a Catholic ethos and engaging with a pluralistic society – but it is a healthy one, he said, which will bring growth. And while it may be relatively easy to engage in a dialogue with other religions, it is much harder to engage with the “culture of death�, which is the culture of “I just want to achieve, do not disturb me,� he said. Ms Wendy Louis, executive director of the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS), said that Catholic schools

must address the human longing for meaning and questions such as “What makes happiness? What # success in a Catholic perspective?� A Catholic school must provide a compelling proposal of how to live life well, and what success and the good life look like, she said. The message needs to be consistent in the way the school operates and not only discussed within Religious Education lessons. La Salle Br George Van Grieken, Brother President of SJI International, shared that witnessing Christ is not about posturing.

Most of the time, witnessing consists of a silent example, carried out in deeds rather than words, he said. Good teachers leave a mark on the lives of their students not because of the Catholic doctrine they teach but because of their acts of kindness which show the students that they are loved as persons, he added. Mr Lim Boon Heng, Monfort alumnus and chairman of Temasek Holdings, said he believes there is a role in Singapore for Catholic schools in developing a pluralistic society. If Singapore wants to be a society based on values, it has got to be one founded on religious values because secular „ Continued on Page 3

Participants felt there was a need for Religious Education teaching to be properly recognised and considered as part of a teacher’s performance review.

HOME 3

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

at education conference

y forward for Catholic education in Singapore „ From Page 2

ones can only go so far, he said. During the conference, participants also broke into small groups to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Catholic education in Singapore, the challenges and opportunities it faces and to identify ways in which all stakeholders can better support and enhance Catholic education. Some of the requests which emerged were: „ Training and formation in the faith. „ A stronger presence of Religious and priests in schools. „ A wish for more Catholic parents to send their children to Catholic schools. „ A stronger focus on faith and values rather than performance. „ A need for Religious Education teaching in schools to be properly recognised and considered as part of a teacher’s performance review. „ Proper induction for new teachers, principals and vice-principals to prepare them for their role as Catholic educator and

Catholic school leader. „ A central database to help match Catholic teachers with vacancies in Catholic schools. „ New resources for Religious Education. „ Greater communication and sharing of good practices between Catholic schools. „ The need for more school chaplains. Participants interviewed after the conference said they found it “It ‌ gave the Catholic teachers a voice to be heard by ACCS and the authority of the Catholic Church,â€? said Mr Alphonsus Gregory, a teacher at St Joseph’s Institution. “I think ACCS and the Catholic schools have a lot in common. We need to have more opportunity for dialogue and collaboration between the two groups.â€? Mrs Anastasia Xavier, coordinator of the Parent Catechists and the Parents’ Prayer Group of St Stephen’s School, said: “I think that this conference was long overdue ‌ I hope that ACCS can carry forward its plans. It is now up to

Participants broke into small groups for discussions.

our Catholic schools to decide how best they can be a witness for Christ in the school community.� ACCS says it will draft a plan which includes: „ The setting up a directory of Catholic teachers, principals and vice-principals. „ Expediting the setting up of

chaplaincy teams, which includes laypeople, in all Catholic schools. „ Enhancing the dialogue between parishes and schools. „ Facilitating greater involvement of parents in schools. „ Providing more training opportunities for teachers, vice-

principals and principals. „ Revising and producing new resources for Civics and Moral Education, and for Religious Education „ Page 4: Teachers’ Day Mass Page 20: Interview with Br Rummery

4 HOME

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Catholic education ‘is a vision of life and God’ Archbishop Goh urges Catholic educators to offer students ‘truth’ Photos: DOMINIC WONG

By Stefania Hartley If Catholic schools concentrate only on grades, they have lost their objective, which is to mould students’ characters to help them to become truly loving people. “There is no use in educating people who then become ‘successful’ in life but do not contribute to humanity. These people will not be fully alive or happy.� Archbishop William Goh made these remarks during the Teachers’ Day Mass on Sept 13, " $ cation Conference. More than 300 people attended the Mass, held at Catholic Junior College. “The task of education is to challenge people to the pursuit of the ultimate truth,� said Archbishop Goh in his homily. “But where is truth to be # "

proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life,� said the archbishop. “If we want to refer someone to the truth, without doubt, that is to be found in the Gospel,� he added. “Catholic education requires that we offer this truth to all men and women. Whatever we do in our schools must be permeated by this,� he said. “A school is not Catholic just because it holds catechism ses-

sions before school or because pupils recite the Our Father and the Hail Mary at morning assembly,� said the archbishop. “Catholic education is not one subject added to others. It is a vision of life and God that permeates everything that happens in the school.� The hope is that “eventually all our students will have a deep, personal encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ,� said Archbishop Goh. “There is nothing that we can offer to our students that is more precious than the gift of Jesus.� He noted that Catholic schools “are one of the most important means through which the Catholic Church evangelises the world�. “The importance of Catholic schools and the mission of the teachers cannot be under-estimated because the seeds of the Gospel must be sown when children are young,� he said. $

profess Christ at the end of their studies, we can be certain that our students will have imbibed the Gospel values, which are based on universal truths.� In order to accomplish this, " % rience a real encounter with Jesus, said Archbishop Goh. “The real problem of Catholic schools is that many of our Catholic teachers are not yet evan-

is truth ‘Where to be found? proclaim that the Truth and the Life. – Archbishop Goh speaking at the Teachers’ Day Mass on Sept 13

gelised. They just happen to be Catholic but are not convinced of Jesus as the Messiah and Saviour.� Archbishop Goh stressed that “teachers should be able to give reasons for the things they believe�. “It is not Catholic education when teachers are just teaching secular subjects but happen to be Cath-

’

olic. The real challenge of Catholic education is that teachers should recognise their need for faith formation and want to grow in faith.� Archbishop Goh admitted that even after teaching theology in the seminary for more than 20 years, he still feels the need to study. He also noted that “young

% by words but by witnessing�.

“Teachers who are kind, compassionate, generous, understanding, patient, able to see the good in others will be remembered for life,� he said. Apart from Archbishop Goh, the other Mass celebrants were Fr $ ! & ' * + & ' Alphonsus Dominic, Franciscan Friar Michael D’Cruz, and Jesuit Frs Leslie Raj and Colin Tan. „

Archbishop Goh speaking to some 300 people at Catholic Junior College.

Archbishop Goh speaking to some 300 people at Catholic Junior College.

HOME 5

Sunday October 6, 2013 CatholicNews

CHANCERY NOTICE APPOINTMENTS 1. Fr Stephen Yim has been appointed Senate Chair for a two-year term beginning 22 August 2013. 2. Fr Henry Siew has been elected Senate Secretary for a two-year term beginning 22 August 2013. 3. Fr Eugene Vaz has been appointed Spiritual Director to the National Council of the Society of St Vincent De Paul for a two-year term beginning 24th August 2013. 4. Fr Michael Arro, MEP, has been appointed as a Consultant and member of the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Ecumenical Dialogue. 5. Fr Joseph Chang Liyong, CDD, has been appointed as Spiritual Director for the Legion of Mary, Mandarin East Curia, with effect from 26th August 2013. 6. Sr Maria Lau, IJ, has been appointed chairperson to the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue. 7. Sr Theresa Seow, FDCC, has been appointed viceChair to the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue. 8. The following are committee members assisting the Chancery in overseeing

Clergy Welfare (Pastoral, Spiritual, Health, Intellectual, Fellowship): a. 5 District Chairs b. Fr Antonio González, OP c. Fr Kamelus Kamus, CICM OTHER MATTERS In accordance with canon 297, consent was given by Archbishop William Goh, DD, STL, to Prelature of the Holy Cross and Opus Dei to establish a Centre of the Prelature for women at 30 Bright Hill Drive, Singapore 579650 on 22 August 2013.

September 3, 2013

Fr Francis Leong MM, a retired Maryknoll Missionary is available to assist with Mass supplies and can be contacted when his priestly services are required. He can be reached at drfleong@yahoo. com As a general working principle for the new administration of Archbishop William Goh DD, STL, there will be a moratorium for the approval of new religious institutes and groups for one year pending the review of the pastoral needs of the Archdiocese with effect from September 2013. RIP

Rev Fr Robert Balhetchet has been given permission to continue living at his home in Johor Bahru because of his failing health and the need for better care. Fr William Lim is on home leave at the moment from hospital and being cared for at St Joseph’s Home.

Fr Noel Chin from Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea passed away on 21 August 2013. Priests are reminded to offer three Masses for the repose of the soul of Fr Noel Chin in accordance with the Priests Directory of the Archdiocese of Singapore, art 17.1.

Fr John-Paul Tan OFM, JCL, Chancellor, Chancery of the Titular Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore Archbishop’s House, 31 Victoria St, Singapore 187997 Tel: 6337 8818 Fax: 6333 4735 Email: chancellor@catholic.org.sg

6 HOME

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with Chinese migrants By Darren Boon * / *

& $ *

< & * < = < +

> &

K Q & = Z/ '

" [ \ ] =

! ^_ / % ^`{ "

! K / *

&

K "

! = / |!=} /~& = < &

& $ € & * % < & = < = Z/ '

"

/

= Z K " ! |"/=!~

&

"

K & & !=} /& " Q / " " " ! =

Migrant workers from The Angelic Inn lead in the singing.

During these ‘ two years, I have come to experience God’s great love.

’

– Mr Guo Yong Jun, a migrant worker The crowd at the celebration at Church of the Nativity of the BVM on Sept 15.

/ ' Q ! & "/=! &

K Q &

% & %

-

 K K &

&

/ " K / *

' ! ' ‚ &

" & K

* & ' ‚ K = Z/ '

" Q

„

K & &

„

" K K " [ K /

Z" " K & = = & " [

& % Z / " K & = " &

! & \ K &

Q K& = " = + " †

& &

‡ $ ' ! & = " &

& K

K

< " " „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Sunday October 6, 2013 CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

7

8 HOME

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Carlo Catholic Society bursaries By Darren Boon Carlo Catholic Society has awarded a total of $18,650 in bursaries for 2013. These include: Nine recipients for the Primary School bursaries at $350 each. Eleven recipients for the Secondary School and ITE bursaries at $500 each. Two recipients for the Polytechnic bursaries at $1,000 each.

Four recipients for the University bursaries at $2000 each. The society says it thanks the Catholic community and donors who have contributed towards the bursary. Applications for the bursary in 2014 will begin in December. Announcements will be made in CatholicNews, Hai Sing Pao and through the various parishes. „

Young Catholics visit Singapore Buddhist Lodge Photos: Nigel Ang and Amanda Wong

darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Dialogue with Buddhists of the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, facilitated by Venerable Yan Xu (far left).

By Lee Tuck Leong As part of another interreligious dialogue learning trip for young adults, nine Catholics visited the Singapore Buddhist Lodge at Kim Yam Road on Sept 14. The lodge is run by lay Buddhist members, and serves to promote Buddhist teachings and provide community services. It also houses some ordained Buddhists in the monastic order.

A resident monk, Venerable Examen and Benedictine Lectio Yan Xu and members from the ‰ Š & \ lodge welcomed the Catholic visi- dles. They also discussed the diftors. They showed them around ferent processes leading to Budthe place, including the Chinese dhist and Catholic ordinations. Br Shawn Wong, 23, from St bas-relief carvings on the exterior granite walls of the compound, Francis Xavier Major Seminary and explained how these illus- said he found the hosts at the trate that with training, Buddhists Lodge “very welcoming, very can gain insight into the different & Amanda Wong, 20, from the realms of existence. The group also visited the oth- Church of St Mary of the Angels, er facilities in the building like the said the visit gave her a deeper unsoup kitchen, the meditation hall, derstanding of Buddhism and also the ritual spaces and the memorial of the Buddhists she interacts with hall which houses ancestral tablets. daily. Mr Pascal Yee, 28, a workThis Buddhist community is committed to offering radical hospitality and scholarship. Its kitchen serves vegetarian food to all visitors, including neighbours staying close to the Lodge, devotees, migrant workers as well as the poor and destitute. Its library houses a collection of historical sacred texts and contemporary Venerable Yan Xu showing Catholic participants the Singapore Buddhist Lodge’s Library. Buddhist teachings. During the visit, Venerable Yan Xu spoke on Bud- ing professional, said he was dhism: A Religion and a Way of impressed by the Buddhist techLife. He elaborated on the history niques to attain tranquility, and of Buddhism, its basic beliefs, the feels inspired to rediscover the different Buddhist schools, and richness of Catholic prayer and the adaptation of Buddhist teach- contemplative practices. This series of learning trips ings in different cultures. He emphasised that Buddhism is not is organised by the Archdiocesan atheistic, but rather non-theistic – Catholic Council for InterreliBuddhists accept the existence of gious Dialogue (archCCID). For more information on indivine beings, but not an originat terreligious events and formation A lively dialogue between in the archdiocese, email gerald@ Buddhist and Catholic partici- archccid.org.sg. Fr James Kroeger, an interrelipants followed as they discussed the different concepts of “salva- giousm dialogue practitioner, will

- be giving several talks in October. tices. They compared the Ignatian Refer to What’s On for details. „

HOME 9

Sunday October 6, 2013 CatholicNews

Lay Canossians discuss work, collaboration at conference By Cecilia Chin and Martina Ho Some 70 lay Canossians attended a special conference recently to network and explore possible areas of growth and collaboration. The objective of the Conference of the Association of Lay Canossians (ALC) “is to bring the Canossians together to one identity and help to understand where we are”, Sr Theresa Seow told the group, which comprised people in their 30s to 80s. Apart from the lay Canossians, more than 20 Canossian nuns from Singapore, Malaysia and Timor Leste, together with a postulant who was a lay Canossian in Myanmar, also attended the conference. The event was held at St Jo-

seph’s Home at Jurong Road on Sept 14. The lay Canossians are the “extended arms” of the Canossian Sisters’ community. They comprise the Canossian Lay Missionaries (CLM), Consecrated Lay Canossians (CLC), Lay Canossians (LC), Canossian Oblates, and Sodality of our Lady of Sorrows (SOLOS). During the conference, Sr Marilyn Lim spoke on Humility in Charity, the theme of the event. She quoted Pope Pius XI on the charity of St Magdalene of Canossa, founder of the Canossian Religious congregation: “Never fail to descend to the most humble and to share with them not only the material goods of life, but life itself.’’ Another speaker, Sr Rosalia Yeo touched on the suffering life of Mary. People can connect their sufferings with Mary’s and draw

Lay Canossians have been involved in outreach to the slums in the Philippines, refugee camps in Malaysia and parish ministries.

Canossian nuns and lay Canossians pose for a photo after the Sept 14 conference held at St Joseph’s Home.

strength from her, she said. Sr Elizabeth Sim, National Sister Animator to the ALC, set out the vision ahead for the lay Canossians: to prayerfully keep God in the centre of their lives, compassionately manifest God’s love in the world, and creatively use technology for evangelisation. Archbishop William Goh then celebrated a Mass for participants. In his homily, he expressed his deep appreciation to the nuns and their team for taking care of the sick and aged, and attending to their needs. A special enrolment ceremony was also held during the Mass in which nine Canossian Oblates, three Lay Canossians and one Sodality of Our Lady of Sorrows member were welcomed into the lay Canossian family.

THE LAY CANOSSIAN FAMILY The Sodality of Our Lady of Sorrows was established on April 10, 1908, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in September 2008. The Canossian Lay Missionaries started in 1965 with Project Africa. Their mission has extended to serving street children, people living in the slums in the Philippines, Chinese refugees in Italy, an “untouchable” community in South India, and refugee camps in Malaysia. The Lay Canossians, also started in 1965, strive to deepen and live their faith through cultivating a humble and joyous lifestyle dedicating time, ener-

gy and resources to the service of others. They are involved in parish ministries and outreach to the deprived in society. The Consecrated Lay Canossians started in 1986 and aim to live the Canossian charism and spirit wherever they are. They profess the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. The Canossian Oblates are residents in St Joseph’s Home. They offer their sufferings and prayers for the Canossian Sisters.

10 HOME

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews Photos: DOMINIC WONG

A section of the 250-strong crowd at the Sept 21 retreat for Teochewspeaking Catholics.

Teochew-speaking Catholics learn about St Therese

Hundreds attend Latin Mass celebrated by Archbishop Goh

By Clara Lai A recent retreat for Teochewspeaking Catholics provided the largely elderly participants with an opportunity for spiritual growth and interaction, said participants. The Sept 21 retreat helped them in their “spiritual search� and desire for “more Gospel knowledge�, said Mr Joseph Tan, 80, a parishioner of the Church of St Bernadette. Madam Mary Chia, 64, from the Church of Christ the King agreed. The Called by the Grace of God retreat, held at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, helped “elderly people to be active and spiritually nourished�, she said. About 250 people, mostly in their 50s to 70s, attended the event conducted by parish priest Fr Henry Siew. In his talks, Fr Siew spoke on St Therese of Lisieux’s life and spiritual journey. He told his audience to acquire the innocence of a child and of the Infant Jesus. This was St Therese’s philosophy, he noted, adding that all through her life, she had wanted to be a saint. He then urged the participants

goal is. Fr Siew also stressed that every person is unique in the eyes of God. Just as every plant, leaf and branch is different, every person is different, he said. The six-hour long retreat included rosary prayers and Teochew praise songs. The young adults group of Nativity Church also put on a skit, with a pre-recorded Teochew dialogue voiceover, to illustrate the life of St Therese. According to Fr Henry, he has been conducting this twice-a-year * & retreats were held at the Catholic Spirituality Centre just across the road, before they moved to Nativity Church.

Archbishop Willam Goh speaking at the Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form at the SJI International School Chapel.

Fr Henry Siew conducting a session.

Retreatants suggested more activities for elderly Catholics. Some participants CatholicNews spoke to suggested further activities for Teochew-speaking Catholics. Madam Chia suggested exercising together or having Teochew praise and worship sessions, while Madam Alice Chong, 53, from Nativity Church, said that cooking events could help people to bond. Fellow parishioner Anthony Tan, 58, suggested having Teochew talks by prominent lay Catholics. Mrs Lucy Chua, 60, and Madam Yap Jia Yan, 46, said that there should be karaoke sessions or Teochew singing competitions to provide more interaction for the elderly. Otherwise “they have no one to talk to�, said Madam Yap. „ clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

“Unity in diversity� characterises the liturgical worship of the Church, said Archbishop William Goh during a Traditional Latin Mass held at the SJI International School Chapel. At the Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form on Sept 15, Archbishop Goh said both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms of the Mass exist to enrich each other. The Extraordinary Form (EF) deserves respect as it had nourished the saints of the Church for centuries and “retains a sense of selves drawn to�, he said. The EF, also known as the Tridentine or Traditional Latin Mass, ^` from pre-existing rites. It was the rite of the Roman Catholic Church until the Second Vatican Council introduced the Ordinary Form in 1969. This permitted Mass to be celebrated in the vernacular, with the priest facing the people. During the Sept 15 Mass, Archbishop Goh stressed that licit liturgical preferences should never be a source of discord or division among Catholics. Instead, the true test of Catholic worship is whether it inspires them to a deeper love of God and neighbour. About 200 people attended the Mass, which was concelebrated by Fr Augustine Tay, who has been appointed the priest-incharge of the EF community in Singapore. Fr Cary Chan assisted as deacon and Mr Michael Feng as subdeacon. An all-male choir, the Schola Cantorum Sancti Gregorii Magni choir, chanted the Mass propers

in Latin. The congregation also joined in the familiar people’s parts such as the Kyrie, Gloria and the Sanctus. During the Mass, Archbishop sat on a cathedra (chair) with a canopy and backdrop emblazoned with his episcopal coat of arms. The vestments and canopy of the cathedra were hand-made by members of the local EF community, a diverse group with representation from almost every

& which includes young families and young people. Mr Lucas Neo, a choir member from the Church of the Holy Spirit, commented: “The Mass chants remind me of the Church’s rich musical tradition, since Vatican II reminded us that Gregorian chant should have pride of place in any choir’s repertoire.�

Priests in Singapore began celebrating EF Masses in 2009, two years after then-Pope Benedict XVI issued the apostolic letter, ! „

& ing the use of the older liturgy. In 2010, EF Sunday Masses began to be celebrated on a regular basis at the SJI International Chapel. A number of local baptisms and weddings have also been conducted using the EF liturgical books. ! „

been credited with a revival of interest in traditional Catholicism worldwide, and a surge of religious vocations to societies that use the EF liturgy, such as the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP). EF Masses will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) at 3 pm every Sunday from Oct 6. „

is the priest in charge of the celebration of the Latin Mass.

Sunday October 6, 2013 CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

11

12 ASIA

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Training programme a boon to S’pore volunteers aiding Filipinos SINGAPORE – Her vehicle had a

K K mission trip to the Philippines. However, a training programme she underwent prior to the trip taught her “to remain calm�, said Ms Joan Tan. “We were in a foreign country,� said Ms Tan, 50. “I realised we were not going to get anywhere in a hurry.� Thanks to the IVA (International Volunteerism Association) training, the co-leader of the mission trip to Mindanao said she was able “to co-ordinate with the rest of the team as planned in an emergency�. In August, the Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives (CHARIS) ran a volunteer mission leaders’ training with the help of IVA. Fourteen volunteers from "Q/‘*! as Project Micah, NTU Catholic Students Apostolate and A Call To Share (ACTS) underwent two days of theoretical sessions and, after that, hands-on practice in a farm in Lim Chu Kang. The training included lessons on how to develop a cohesive mission team, how to organise mission programmes, risk assessment, emergency medical response and measuring the sustainability of the mission’s social cause. Ms Tan was part of a team of eight volunteers who later helped to build homes in the Barangay Babag in Compostela Valley,

Mindanao, from Sept 8-15. During their stay, they transported bricks, planks and construction materials, mixed cement, laid bricks and shovelled earth in preparation for foundation work. At the end of each day, Mass was celebrated with spiritual sharing and formation. CHARIS had funded and supported some of the restoration work for victims of Typhoon Pablo in 2012. The recent mission trip was to participate in home building to show solidarity with the local community and to support the work that CHARIS funded. A young Filipino couple told the Singapore team, “If God were to give us three things, we would want good health, work, and education for our children.� They were one of 40 families living in evacuation centres, and who had been waiting for eight months before seeing the building of their transitional homes. One of the Singapore volunteers, Ms Sharon Heng, said, “I was more aware of the sensitivities of the local community after attending the IVA training and was on the lookout for opportunities to learn from them, were.� She added, “I was able to put the risk assessment lessons learnt into practice in Davao when we were at the worksite.� CHARIS organised the training in partnership with IVA “as

Singapore volunteers helping to build homes for victims of Typhoon Pablo in Mindanao.

we felt there was a real need to give our volunteer mission leaders a sense of what can happen or go wrong on a mission trip, and how to deal with some of these scenarios,� said Mr Edwin Sim, chairperson of CHARIS’ Missions and Outreach Committee. “They can then go back to their organisations and share the lessons learnt.� CHARIS is a member of Caritas Singapore, and provides overseas humanitarian aid to countries affected by natural disasters and other adverse circumstances. „

Participants of the CHARIS programme at a farm in Singapore, the venue of part of their training programme.

HK Church appeals to UN over religious repression in China HONG KONG – Hong Kong dio-

cese is asking the United Nations to urge Beijing to adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which it is a signatory. The request was submitted by the diocese’s Justice and Peace commission to the UN Human Rights Council on Sept 2 ahead of its Universal Periodic Review Regarding Religious Freedom in the People’s Republic of China The commission reported in early September that four priests from non-government approved Catholic communities in China were detained in August. In its submission to the UN, the commission says, “The Chi-

nese authorities have imposed political and religious policies that have been against the principles and practices of the Catholic faith and have gravely violated human rights.� It says that these policies lie at the basis of the split in the Catholic Church in China into groups that have registered with the government’s Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and those which have refused. “This brings pain and suffering within the Church,� the submission states. It points out that both the registered, or government-approved communities, and the unregistered ones have suffered as a result of these policies which it la-

bels a violation of human rights. It points to priests who have been placed under illegal surveillance, house arrest, detention, abducted without trace, illegally

& to attend political classes, conferences or religious activities that are contrary to Church teaching, and even tortured. It is also claiming that Catholic people are denied the right of freedom of association, as they are sometimes forced to join government-registered groups. “Therefore, the faithful in China have not only their religious freedom distorted, but also their personal liberty and freedom of association being violated,� the statement says. „ ASIANEWS

ASIA 13

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

CHURCH IN PAKISTAN

Bishops’ head calls church attack ‘shameful act of cowardice’ KARACHI, PAKISTAN – The president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference called the suicide bomb attack on Sept 22 at All Saints’ Church in Peshawar a “shameful act of cowardice�, adding that all Christian educational institutions in the country would be closed on Sept 23-25 in mourning and protest. Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi also demanded that the Pakistani government take immediate steps to apprehend those responsible and protect the worship sites of all religious minorities in Pakistan. “We condemn this act in strongest terms,� Archbishop Coutts said in a statement on Sept 22. The death toll in the bombing had reached 85 on Sept 23. Police said two suicide bombers detonated themselves after a Sunday service with 600 Protestants. Jundallah, a group linked to the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in response to US drone strikes, the latest of which on Sept 22 had reportedly killed seven people in the tribal area of North Waziristan. “Until and unless the drone strikes are stopped, we will con K an opportunity against non-Muslims,� said a Jundallah spokesman. A statement on Sept 23 from Mr Peter Jacob, head of the Catholic bishops’ National Commission for Justice and Peace in Pakistan said, “Rather than an emotional outburst we need to strengthen our efforts and initiatives for a

VATICAN CITY – Thailand’s prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra invited Pope Francis to visit her dience of a Thai head of government at the Vatican. Ms Yingluck met privately with the pontiff on Sept 12, during a European tour. “His Holiness replied that he might go to Thailand next year,� Thailand’s ambassador to the Holy See, Mr Chalermpol Thanchitt, told ucanews.com. “We would like very much to welcome the Holy Father to Thailand.� Pope Francis had previously said that a trip to Asia is one of his priorities, as his predecessor Benedict XVI never went to East Asia

*

Philippines are likely destinations and it has been strongly suggested that the pope will visit Sri Lanka too. During their brief meeting at the Vatican, the two leaders also discussed the role of Catholics and other Christians in Thailand, who number around 400,000. Ms Yingluck praised the “contribution they bring to society, in terms of education and human resources�. According to a Vatican statement, the two leaders “went on to discuss various matters of current international interest and the political situation in Asia, focusing in particular on the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the promotion of human rights, peace and justice throughout the region�. „ UCANEWS.COM

Members of the Pakistani Christian community chant slogans to condemn the suicide attack at All Saints Church on Sept 22. CNS photo

Enraged Christians took to the streets to protest the attack, with many condemning both the government and the militants. long-term response,� he said. But enraged Christians already took to the streets in cities across the country to protest the attack, with many condemning both the government and the militants. One Lahore demonstration demanded the resignation of the provincial

security to its religious minorities. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced compensation of 500,000 rupees (S$10,000) for the victims’ families and three

days of mourning in the state. “We condemn the horrible act,� said Mr Victor Azariah, general secretary of the Lahore-based National Council of Churches in Pakistan, which encompasses all the major non-Catholic Christian churches. “[The government] should crush the terrorists, otherwise they will continue to do the same. The nation has been suffering from such dastardly actions for long.� Mr Azariah expressed relief that media, human rights and prominent Muslim groups had joined the chorus of protest against the deadly suicide blasts. Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bomb blasts. He said, “Terrorists have no religion, and targeting innocent people is against the teachings of Islam and all religions,� he said. „ CNS

Muslim scholars call for death penalty for misuse of blasphemy law ISLAMABAD – „ K body of Muslim religious scholars has recommended an amendment to the country’s controversial blasphemy law, calling for the death penalty for people who falsely accuse others of insulting the Prophet Mohammad. The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) is constitutionally authorised to advise lawmakers on the compatibility of laws with Islamic Shari’a. At a meeting in Islamabad on Sept 18, the council said misuse of blasphemy laws is as blasphemous and punishable as the act itself. Those who abuse the law should also be punished with the death penalty, it said. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, which has effectively claimed the lives of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti after the two politicians spoke out and

Pope ‘might visit’ Thailand next year

called for the law to be reformed. Ms Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of four, has been in jail for the past four years on blasphemy charges, having drunk water from a cup that was reserved for Muslim women. Rimsha Masih, a 14-year-old Christian girl was detained in a maximum security prison for several weeks in August 2012, after falsely being accused by a Muslim cleric of burning pages from the Qur’an. Rights group and religious minorities say the law has often been abused with false accusations being used to settle personal feuds. CII member and Chairman of Pakistan’s Ulema Council, Al / & recommendation. “I thank Allah that I attained a "** meeting which approved the death

[accusation] of some blasphemous incident,� he said after the meeting. “I dedicate this effort to all those including Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, who have fought for righteousness,� he added. The All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA), an umbrella organisation representing minorities and marginalised communities, hailed the CII recommendation as “a positive step forward�. “We have been engaged in a long struggle towards this very end to stop misuse of the blas & a good development,� said APMA chairman, Dr Paul Bhatti, Shahbaz Bhatti’s elder brother. The APMA made this very same demand at its national conference in February this year to end this abuse of the law, he added. „ UCANEWS.COM

Thailand’s Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra presents a gift to Pope Francis during a private audience at the Vatican on Sept 12. CNS photo

Donations for mooncakes for HK prisoners HONG KONG – Pope Francis’ response to a request for a symbolic mooncake donation to prisoners in Hong Kong has generated ex

nations since it was published in early September. The Asian Church news portal ucanews.com reported that Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, retired archbishop of Hong Kong, issued the request to Pope Francis in August. He noted that the new pope was well known for his charity and regard for the poor as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, “so I guessed he would also be interested in donating mooncakes to prisoners here�. For the past three years, Cardinal Zen has headed an effort to distribute mooncakes to prisoners in jails throughout Hong Kong, reported ucanews.com. Shortly after Cardinal Zen issued his request, Pope Francis sent a card on which he wrote in Italian: “Dear Faithful, I gladly join with you to donate mooncakes to our brothers and sisters in the prisons of Hong Kong. Jesus will recognise us at the door of heaven. Happy Moon Festival! I cordially bless you, PP Francesco.�

Cardinal Zen translated the message and printed it on the back of a photo taken in June when he concelebrated Mass with the pope. These cards have been issued to every mooncake donor. An early September appeal that featured the photo and message generated more than HK$170,000 (S$27,500) in donations for the purchase of the sea-

sonal delicacy, which Cardinal Zen said was very near the target amount for the purchase of more than 10,000 mooncakes. Volunteers had been enlisted ahead of the festival to deliver the mooncakes to the government’s distribution station, to be sent out to the prisons, correctional facilities, rehabilitation centres and addiction treatment centres in Hong Kong. „ CNS

14 WORLD

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Syrian Christians are targeted by outsiders, says Jerusalem Catholic Church leader CNS photos

JERUSALEM – Christians in Syria

are continuing to be targeted by outside fundamentalist groups who have joined the country’s long civil war, said the head of the Syriac Catholic Church in Jerusalem. Bishop Boutros Melki, Syriac Catholic patriarchal vicar, told Catholic News Service on Sept 18 that Christians fear that the situation in Syria will become like that in Iraq, where half the Chris

the American-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein. In an interview after returning from Montreal, Canada, where he met with Syriac Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, the bishop said the historic city of Maaloula, with its ancient churches and monas & between rebel and government forces. Attacks against churches and Christian homes occurred and Christian icons and crosses were destroyed and defamed, he said. “We can’t accuse anybody, but when we know about such actions we ask ourselves what does all this mean and why?� he said. “We always remember what happened in Iraq. Unfortunately, Iraq is still in a bloody nightmare.� Several priests as well as bishops have been kidnapped over the past six months and have not been heard from since, he said. At least

A damaged Syriac Catholic Church is pictured in Homs, Syria, on Sept 15.

killed. Christian civilians are also being targeted for kidnappings and shot by militias, he said. Foreign “jihadists�, Bishop Melki said, are coming from different countries with the impression that the Christians in Syria K & " are not immigrants in Syria but have been in the country since the beginning of Christianity, he said. The bishop said countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey and European nations who other could easily lower the levels of bloodshed in the country by

A funeral Mass for three men killed by Syrian opposition near Damascus.

We want to live with dignity ‘ with all our rights as citizens and not to be considered second class.’

– Bishop Boutros Melki, Syriac Catholic patriarchal vicar

simply refusing to sell weapons to either side. other, with which arms are they doing that? Where did they buy them?� he asked. “I can’t defend anybody, not the regime and not the opposition,� Bishop Melki added. “I am

really just talking in a human way when I see all this suffering and destruction [and] I say why?� “Can we have anything good with these people? Unfortunately, the media targeted the Christians as pro-regime [of Syrian President Bashar Assad]. We are not for one or the other. We are looking at the

reality...as in Iraq we are not for Saddam Hussein, or here Bashar Assad. We are for the human being,� the bishop continued. “If we want to change and put in another regime would that it be a better one. We want to live with dignity with all our rights as citizens and not to be considered second class.� Bishop Melki said there is a deep fear “that the outside groups will take control�. Meanwhile, it is impossible to know how many of Syria’s Chris countries, he said. „ CNS

Philippine bishops call for release of hostages CNS photos

MANILA – Bishops in southern

Philippines have condemned rebels’ use of hostages as human ment troops. since Sept 9, after hundreds of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) K ernment troops who were securing ‚ Meanwhile, an Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman said that as of 6 pm on Sept 24, the death toll from the clashes had reached 140, with 213 wounded. =[†' ^^{ killed, 93 captured and 45 surrendered. Security forces had 13 K & ^—˜ K & 14 wounded. At least 12 civilians were killed and 51 wounded, while 182 hostages had been rescued. Among the hostages was Fr Michael Ufana, who was visiting family members in Santa Catalina when the MNLF members arrived. Msgr Crisologo Manongas, ‚ Archdiocese, reported over Church-run radio Veritas 846 that the rebels had freed Fr Ufana on Sept 13. The priest’s mother and two siblings escaped during gun

! ^™& "

Philippine Red Cross personnel carry a wounded hostage rescued from rebels belonging to the Moro National Liberation Front.

Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines reported. Msgr Manongas said he spoke to Fr Ufana by phone immediately after his release and described him to be “in good spirits�. One news photo showed hostages rounded up in a street with a rope tied around the group supposedly to protect MNLF as they moved around. ‚ cial action director appealed over

A rosary is seen on the uniform of a government soldier as he guards a road in downtown Zamboanga, Philippines.

Veritas 846 for relief goods, saying supplies were running low for thousands of evacuees. In their statement on Sept 13, 17 bishops and Msgr Manongas expressed “our solidarity with all those affected, Muslims and Christians�. They said “this terrible tragedy to human life and property� saddened them. “We condemn the terror that

We condemn the inhumane act of

using hostages as human shields,� the Church leaders said in an appeal to the rebels to negotiate for the release of the hostages. “We appeal to the government, NGOs, religious groups, and civil society to provide assistance to evacuees,� they added. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, who at one time led the Episcopal Commission on Interreligious Dialogue, told Catholic News Service on Sept 12 that the bishops issued

the statement because they realise “things might get out of hand in ‚

for the better soon�. He said bishops were concerned, “if some groups decide to use the armed answer to this situation, it can explode�. The bishops wanted to express solidarity with the affected people and were concerned about the “long-term repercussion� of the standoff, he said. Bishop Martin Jumoad of * "[! had reached remote towns of his prelature located between ‚ ! Q he and two other Christians are members of a crisis committee in Basilan that began meeting K “The role of religious in these times is to give hope,� Bishop Jumoad said. “If we are taken hostage, or attacked and we lose our church or home, that is part of the mission...part of the ‘yes’ that we promise when we are ordained.� He echoed the Church leaders’ remark in their statement on ‚ } ! š& we joined Pope Francis in a day of prayer and penance for world peace, particularly in the war-torn country of Syria. Now we also offer our prayers for peace in Mindanao,� he said.„ CNS

WORLD 15

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Culture of death highlighted after Navy Yard shooting WASHINGTON – One day after the

tragic shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, Cardinal Donald W Wuerl celebrated a Mass for consolation and healing in which he prayed for the victims of the rampage and asked God to “heal the wounds in our society so that we can prevent tragedies such as we have just witnessed�. “We commend to the hands of our merciful and loving God, who alone can judge human hearts, the souls of all who died yesterday,� Cardinal Wuerl said on Sept 17. “We pray for not only the healing of those who are recovering from this violent attack but also for a greater healing, a healing that touches what is wounded and broken in our world.� The Washington cardinal was the main celebrant of the Mass at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle. Several priests concelebrated the mid-day liturgy, which was attended by about 250 people. The Mass was offered, Cardinal Wuerl said, because “we know our prayer will be joined to the great prayer that Jesus offers with us and for us�. On Sept 16, just as the workday began, a gunman went on a shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard, killing 12 and injuring at least 14 others. The '\*

Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old for a military contract worker. Alexis was killed after a shootout with “Death came suddenly and in an unexpected manner to those at work at the Navy Yard. It is a reminder to all of us that we know not the day nor the hour of death’s visitation,� Cardinal Wuerl said in his homily. “Jesus calls us always to walk in a way that we can go to meet him when that moment comes.� All of the shooting victims were civilian employees at the Navy Yard or military contractors working there. No active military personnel were killed, but at least one DC Metropolitan Police of [ + guard were among the injured. The Navy Yard is home to the Naval Sea Systems Command, which includes the headquarters of Navy command staff. The facility oversees the engineering, construction and maintenance of the Navy’s ships, submarines and combat systems. Early reports had suggested that there were one or two additional gunmen involved in the K& said that Alexis apparently acted alone. In his homily at the Cathedral

‘Kenyan spirit’ hailed in hostage crisis NAIROBI – As Kenyan security forces worked to end a standoff at an upscale mall, the nation’s Catholic leaders praised their fellow citizens for “the Kenyan spirit�. In a statement released on Sept 23, two days after the attack and hostage crisis began, the bishops praised security of & Kenyans for donations of blood, K health services; all who have volunteered in any way to save the lives of our brothers and sisters in danger�. The statement said Catholics sent condolences to all Kenyans, “especially those who have lost loved ones and friends in the

Westgate [mall] hostage crisis. It is a time of great pain and sorrow for all Kenyans as the innocent people brutally lose their lives.� Extremists from al-Shabab, an Z› & [ robi’s Westgate mall on Sept 21,

civilians. Kenyan authorities described the extremists as “a multinational collection from all over the world�. As of Sept 24, at least 62 people have been killed and at least 175 injured. The Church statement was signed by Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay, Kenya, vice president of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops. „ CNS

! " # $ %& ' CNS photos

# = $ >%' CNS photo

England bishop considers canonising late writer

* + # # # / $ / * '

of St Matthew, Cardinal Wuerl called on the faithful to recognise that “something is wrong, that sin still persists in our world�. “Our prayer for healing is offered as well for whatever it is that fostered such a culture of violence, a culture of death,� he said. “Somehow we need, once again, in our country, in our land, in our nation, to foster that healing that comes only when we recognise there is a right and a wrong, that we are not free to kill,� Cardinal Wuerl said.

He said that the faithful should act as peacemakers and create “a civilisation of love.� He said that “we are capable as a people, as a nation, as individuals, to build a civilisation of love.� “The church, over and over again...calls us to love one another,� he told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Washington Archdiocese. “Love alone can conquer violence. Love alone can bring consolation and healing. Love alone supersedes and is victorious, even over death.� „ CNS

We need... to foster that healing ‘ that comes only when we recognise there is a right and a wrong.’

< * # / ! "

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – The bishop of Northampton, England, has appointed a priest to investigate the possibility of opening the cause for sainthood of G K Chesterton, a British journalist and author of the early 20th century. A statement released on Sept 19 by the diocese in central England said that the decision to investigate the cause followed numerous approaches from devotees of Chesterton, including many from the United States. Fr John Udris, spiritual director at St Mary’s College, Oscott, a seminary in Birmingham, will lead the effort, the statement said. The appointment represents

could result in the eventual canonisation of a man who created the famous “Father Brown� liter Chesterton was born in London in 1874 and died of heart failure in 1936 at the age of 62 in Beacons &

& the Diocese of Northampton. Baptised an Anglican, he became a Catholic in 1922 and wrote acclaimed religious books such as “Orthodoxy� and “The Everlasting Man�. Chesterton wrote 80 books as well as hundreds of short stories,

= * ? Q >U '

essays, poems and several plays. His works continue to enjoy universal appeal and popularity. „ CNS

16 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

People of God on a journey „ From Page 1

“My authoritarian and quick manner of making decisions led me to have serious problems and to be accused of being ultraconservative,� Pope Francis said, adding, “I have never been a right-winger. It was my authoritarian way of making decisions that created problems.� Later, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he adopted another approach, meeting often with his auxiliary bishops. “I believe that consultation is very important,� the pope said, noting his establishment as pope of the so-called Group of Eight panel of cardinals to advise him on possible reforms of the Roman Curia. “I want to see that this is a real, not ceremonial consultation.� With respect to the Vatican bureaucracy, whose reform he has made a clear priority of his six

& „ ' cis pointed to the need to devolve more authority to local Churches. ! ] risk of becoming institutions of censorship�, he said. “It is amazing to see the denunciations for lack of orthodoxy that come to Rome. I think the cases should be investigated by the local bishops’ conferences, which can get valuable assistance from Rome. These cases, in fact, are much better dealt with locally. The Roman congregations are mediators; they

are not middlemen or managers.� In matters of belief rather than governance, Pope Francis said that the pope and bishops share authority with the laity. “The Church is the people of God on the journey through history,� he said. “Thinking with the Church, therefore, is my way of being a part of this people. And all the faithful, considered as a whole, are infallible in matters of belief.�

Those who long ‘ for an exaggerated doctrinal “security�, those who stubbornly try to recover a past that no longer exists – they have a static and inward-directed view of things.

’

The pope quickly added that “we must be very careful not to think that this ‘infallibilitas’ of all the faithful I am talking about in the light of Vatican II is a form of populism. No; it is the experience of ‘holy mother the hierarchical Church’, as St Ignatius called it, the Church as the people of God, pastors and people together.� Among the other topics the pope addressed in the interview

Pope Francis shakes hands with a girl at St Peter’s Square.

more visible role for women in a Church with an all-male priesthood. “I am wary of a solution that can be reduced to a kind of ‘female machismo’, because a woman has a different makeup than a man,� he said. “The Church cannot be herself without the woman and her role. The woman is essential for the Church. Mary, a woman, is more important than the bish-

ops. I say this because we must not confuse the function with the dignity.� Pope Francis, whose simple way of celebrating Mass has attracted criticism from traditionalist Catholics, also took up the controversial subject of liturgy. Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 decision to lift most restrictions on celebrating the Tridentine Mass “was prudent and motivated by the desire to help people who have

this sensitivity�, Pope Francis said. “What is worrying, though, is the risk of the ideologisation of the [old Mass], it’s exploitation.� The pope also said that the liturgical reform that followed in the wake of the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council is “absolutely irreversible�. „ CNS The full interview is at http:// www.americamagazine.org/popeinterview

QUOTES FROM THE POPE’S INTERVIEW

A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person. Ours is not a ‘lab faith’, but a ‘journey faith’.

We should not even think ... that ‘thinking with the Church’ means only thinking with the hierarchy of the Church ... . The Church is the totality of God’s people. The Church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules. The most important proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you.

If the Christian is a restorationist, a legalist, if he wants everything clear and safe, then he will Tradition and memory of the past must help us to have the courage to open up new areas to God.

God is to be encountered in the world of today.

Even the other sciences and their development help the Church in its growth in understanding. There are ecclesiastical rules and precepts that were once effective, but now they have lost value or meaning. The view of the Church’s teaching as a monolith to defend without nuance or different understandings is wrong.

The thinking of the Church must recover genius and better understand how human beings understand themselves today, in order to develop and deepen the Church’s teaching. When does a formulation of thought cease to be valid? When it loses sight of the human or even when it is afraid of the human or deluded about itself.

POPE FRANCIS 17

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Abortion as product of ‘throwaway culture’

Pope Francis speaks at a meeting with young people in Cagliari, Sardinia.

Pope Francis denounces globalisation, unemployment VATICAN CITY – Visiting an Ital-

ian region especially hard hit by $

& „ '

by greed and said those who give

nity. � & & the pope said on Sept 22, in his on the Italian island of Sardinia. “We don’t want this globalised

/ & < &

! ™{ cent, rising to nearly 50 percent

\ K of about 20,000 near the Cagliari city port, Pope Francis heard a series of speeches in greeting, in

& K joblessness “wears you out to the depths of your soul�. In response, the pope discard K

We don’t want this ‘globalised economic system that does us so much harm. At its centre there should be man and woman, as God wants, and not money.

’

– Pope Francis in his address in Sardinia, Italy Pope Francis recalled the * ^¥¢{ / “They lost everything. There

K& *

& * K * K

\ * you: courage.� K

* * œ

&

Â&#x; Â "

& * * & this historic challenge with solidarity and intelligence.� The pope said that the current

quence of a global choice, of an

&

tered on an idol, which is called

* K & which the pope said should be considered “as if they had been K & K preneurs who, “in spite of every &

& K K K & that the crisis had led to an in K& & K rity or without respect for creation�. „ '

Â?

&

estry. „ CNS

Church as a ‘merciful mother’ VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

said the Church should approach & & erring children and never ceases of Christian living. K

! ^˜ K ence in St Peter’s Square, where he elaborated on his previous K K

� " „ ' K "

her children even when they err. * K

cult situations,â€? he said. “They don’t K Â&#x; Â

& K %

& but they have no fear, and they do

† K & & " K “never shuts� its doors; “does not judge, but offers God’s forgiveness, offers the love that invites even those children who have fallen into a deep abyss to return

to the path�. * K % ! Monica, who never ceased praying for the conversion of her son, St Augustine, the pope said that their children, “especially the K & & K " thing,� he said. “She puts in the hands of the Lord, through prayer, all the situations of her children.� „ CNS

VATICAN CITY – In his strongest public words to date on the subject of abortion, Pope Francis af K to the pursuit of social justice. “In all its phases and at every & ‡ /

ter of faith, but of reason and science!� the pope said on Sept 20 to a gathering of Catholic gynecologists. Pope Francis characterised abortion as a product of a “widespread & œ culture’, which has today enslaved & &

ings, above all if they are physical K }

œ The pope grouped together unborn children, the aged and the

" called especially to love. “Every unborn child, though �

& has the face of the Lord, who even before his birth, and then as soon as he was born, experienced the rejection of the world,� he said. “And every old person, even if & "

ž Quoting Caritas in Veritate, the social encyclical by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis connected

the protection of unborn life with

Â? }

& “If personal and social sensitivity &

K each other.� Pope Francis told the physicians that they faced a “paradoxi-

An illustration of a human foetus. cal situation� in their professional & science discovers new cures for disease, the “health care profes

to respect life itself�. The pope characterised this par % “cultural disorientation� in which growing disrespect for life. „ CNS

A loving dialogue in the digital world VATICAN CITY – Helping the

" < on a loving passion for reaching out to others than being tech savvy or a verbal warrior, Pope Francis " “I believe that the goal is to understand how to enter into dialogue in order to appreciate their desires, their doubts and their hopes,� K

! ™^ during a special audience with par „

" ! "

! ^ÂĄZ 21 at the Vatican. The discussions focused on the Church and digital

Q K

how to dialogue and, with discern &

K as to reveal a presence that listens, converses and encourages�. ! let down by a Christianity that to the gift of faith�, the pope said. Q Christ requires a personal encounter

that cannot be forced or engineered.

the church today� to engage in “spir &

of conscience, a theological brainwashing�, which, in the end, he said, only leads people to an encounter "

Sending the Gospel message through modern technology requires loving passion. Meeting Christ involves the living Christ and the individual experiencing the encounter, “not œ & late people�, the pope said. / K bringing Christ into this area and

" & K „ CNS

18 OPINION

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

2 Highland Road, #01-03 Singapore 549102. Telephone: 6858 3055. Fax: 6858 2055. Website: www.catholicnews.sg Facebook: www.facebook.com/catholicnews MANAGING EDITOR: Father Richards Ambrose: ra@catholic.org.sg

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: memoriam@catholic.org.sg

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: subscriptions@catholic.org.sg

STAFF CORRESPONDENTS: Darren Boon: darren.boon@catholic.org.sg Clara Lai: clara.lai@catholic.org.sg

ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: advertisements@catholic.org.sg

EDITORIAL MATTERS AND QUERIES: cnedit@catholic.org.sg

Please include your full name, address and phone no. for all letters to the editor. All decisions on submissions rest with the CatholicNews. Published submissions will be edited.

WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: medona.walter@catholic.org.sg DESIGN / LAYOUT: Christopher Wong: design@catholic.org.sg Elaine Ong: elaine.ong@catholic.org.sg

ARCHBISHOP GOH’S MIGRANT SUNDAY MESSAGE

Welcoming the stranger is welcoming Christ

Migrant workers at a Photoshop and PowerPoint class run by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People. The Church here celebrates Migrant Sunday on Sept 29.

As we celebrate another Migrant and Refugee Sunday, it is appropriate for us to take cognizance of the important contributions immigration and migrant workers have made in shaping the fabric of our society and not least, our economic development. For many of us, our forefathers were themselves immigrants who came in search of a living, but decided to sink their roots and raise their families here. Over time, we grew to be successful through collaboration and hard work, and a common mission and purpose to survive, as a people, and as a country. We have even developed a distinctive way of life, manifested in our foods, language and even idiosyncrasies. We call ourselves Singaporeans, and are proud of it. In the last decade, Singapore’s multicultural society has % Asian and Western professionals, low-skilled migrants from across Southeast Asia, and new immigrants from “non-traditional� “sending countries�. Even as we recognise our dependence on a migrant population

to keep our economy competitive, we cannot but also recognise the stresses on the sociological front, as the local population grapples with the challenges in assimilating the cultural norms of the migrant population. As Christians, how should we view these changes in our landscape, and what can we do to make welcome our “new neighbours�? Our Holy Father has chosen

As Christians, what can we do to make welcome our ‘new neighbours’? for his message on this World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2013, the theme: Migrations: Pilgrimage of Faith and Hope. In his message, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI suggests that migration (both internal and external) provides the Church with both a challenge and an opportunity for evangelisation, the process of social integration is one of the important roles that the Church plays in this evangelisation.

In one of his general audiences, the Pope Emeritus said, “Welcoming immigrants and refugees, giving them hospitality and integrating them into our society and communities, is for everyone an imperative gesture of human solidarity.� The phenomenon of migration does, however, provide an opportunity to proclaim the Gospel in a new way. This year the Holy Father’s message underscores that: “Where migrants and refugees are concerned, the Church and her various agencies ought to avoid offering charitable services alone; they are also called to promote real integration in a society where all are active members and responsible for one another’s welfare, generously offering a creative contribution and rightfully sharing in the same rights and duties.� It is my prayer that this World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be an encouragement for all of us: priests, consecrated men and women, and lay faithful, to live Christian harmony to the full, in the belief that anyone who welcomes the stranger is welcoming Christ Himself. „

The value of atheists IN HIS monumental study of atheism, Jesuit theologian Michael J Buckley suggests that atheism is invariably a parasite that feeds off bad religion. It feeds off bad religion, picks on bad religion, and picks apart bad religion. If that’s true, then ultimately atheists are doing us a huge favour. They pick apart bad religion, showing us our blind spots, rationalisations, inconsistencies, double standards, hypocrisies, moral selectivity, propensity for power, unhealthy fears and hidden arrogance. Atheism shows us the log in our own eye. On our honest days, we admit that this is a needed challenge. Ideally,

& Z Z cal to see all these things for ourselves or, barring that, be attentive enough to our own prophets to stay aware of where we’re falling short. But that’s rarely the case and, as a result, there’s invariably bad religion and this has always helped spawn negativity towards religion and atheism. And we see this playing out at different levels: Philosophically, of course, its most powerful expression comes from the two most famous atheists of the 19th century, German philosophers Ludwig Feuerbach and Friedrich Nietzsche. Their real criticism of religion and of us, its practitioners, is not so much that belief in God is “the opium of the people� and that a focus on the next life helps keep us subjugated in this life, Rather, their deeper criticism has to do with our religious actions, namely, that we use the idea of God and religion to rationalise our own desires. For Feuerbach and Nietzsche, God did not make us in His image and likeness; but rather we’ve made God in our image and likeness. For them, God is a projection of the mind and we have perennially used that projection to morally justify and bless our own immaturity, our own will, our own fears, and our own rationalisations. As individuals and as churches, we simply use the idea of God to do whatever we want, and then call it God’s will. We are not, in the end, obedient to any power or a will beyond our own, except that religion makes it seem that we are. In our ordinary church lives, where few, if any, ever read Feuerbach and Nietzsche, we simply meet this criticism in a different language; bad religion still gets picked apart. Inside the culture, we have people like British-American author Christopher Hitchens and English ethologist Richard Dawkins who keep the knives of atheism sharp and operative. More painful for us though is the fact that bad religion gets picked upon and picked apart by many of those who are dear to us, not least our own children. More recently, a lot of that criticism has centred upon the sexual abuse crisis in the Church; but, everywhere within our culture, religion and our churches are being picked apart because of our inconsistencies, blind spots, and moral selectivity. Much as this criticism hurts and can seem unfair, at the end of the day, most of it is true. Moreover, our attempts to defend ourselves, our apologias, are often simply further rationalisations and further failures to admit our own shortcoming, giving our critics even more of a corpse to feed off. Defensiveness is not helpful here. Our response to atheism and to other critics who feed off our religious faults must begin with an acknowledgement of where they are correct, even if those criticisms emanate from voices that are unfair and are, themselves, rationalising. For example, an unfair media does not create any of our sins and shortcomings – we do. Our response to atheism and criticism of our faith and religion should be threefold: First, we should be grateful for the challenge. We’ve never been fully faithful and we’re better off openly hearing what’s being thought of us and said of us than not hearing it. Denial is not a friend. Second, we need to acknowledge, without undue defensiveness, what’s true and resist the temptation to defend ourselves in ways that simply create more bad religion for our critics to feed upon. When we’re over defensive before our critics, we not only cast ourselves and our churches in a bad light; worst of all, we cast God in a bad light. Finally, most important, the real response to bad religion is never secularism or atheism, but better religion! We need to be more consistent, both in private conscience and in church practice. What is better religion? How do we recognise better religion? We recognise true religion in the same way as we recognise true beauty and goodness. They’re self-evident when they appear. Beauty and goodness are received more than discerned. Nobody need tell us what’s beautiful. Beauty is ultimately received. It declares itself. The same is true for good religion. But the reverse is also true. Bad religion also declares itself, and no amount of sincerity will ultimately hide that. Atheism is a parasite that feeds off bad religion. So, when, like today, atheism takes on a particularly nasty aggression, perhaps we need to examine more closely what this mirrors inside of religion. „

FOCUS 19

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

VATICAN’S MESSAGE FOR MIGRANT SUNDAY

Faith and hope are in hearts of many migrants VATICAN CITY – Migrants are usually forced to leave their countries because of poverty, hunger or violence, but faith and hope help them face their hardships and seek a better life elsewhere, says the Vatican in its message for the annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Catholic Church in Singapore celebrates the special day on Sept 29 this year. Pope Benedict XVI had chosen Migrations: Pilgrimage of Faith and Hope as the theme for this year’s celebration before he stepped down as pope. “Faith and hope are inseparable in the hearts of many migrants, who deeply desire a better life and not infrequently try to leave behind the ‘hopelessness’ of an unpromising future,� the pope emeritus wrote. Migration by its nature involves suffering the pain of uprooting and separation from family, country and possessions, the message says, but faith and hope allow those who emigrate can believe it will lead to a better future. They are not just seeking to & political condition, Pope Benedict said. People who leave their own countries are hoping to “encounter acceptance, solidarity and help� from those in their new country who can recognise the values and resources they have to offer.

Migrants trust that ‘they will encounter acceptance, solidarity and help.

’

– {

$ ! = _ `' CNS photo

The Church, the message says, is a witness to the “immense poverty and suffering entailed in migration� that often leads to “painful and tragic situations�. The Church is on the ground with its various agencies to assist migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in emergencies and in beginning their new lives. Church agencies, the message says, should not forget the

religious dimension of migrants’ lives and “must devote special attention and care� to their spiritual needs. Ecumenical dialogue is important for assisting other Christians, the message adds, and even with Catholic immigrants, it may mean accommodating the faithful of various rites. Migrants and refugees who are guests have the right to expect solidarity, but they also have

to abide by the rules of the host country, says the message. The pope emeritus also spoke about the plague of human traf K & migration policies in the wealthier countries could help in combating the various forms of exploitation that illegal immigrants often face. Those policies, he said, should not, however, lead to “a hermetic sealing of borders� or simply

adopting measures that discourage immigrants. The pope’s message was introduced in a news conference at the Vatican by Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio and Bishop Joseph Kalathiparambil, respectively president and secretary of the „

" = and Travellers. Cardinal Veglio emphasised the need to treat migrants and refugees with respect, and said their integration must be accompanied by proper regulations, both international and domestic. Bishop Kalathiparambil noted how refugees often are forced to put their lives in the hands of traf K & &

K great sums of money, continue to exploit them as forced labourers or sex workers. „ The Vatican’s full message is available at http://www.vatican.va/ holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/ migration/documents/hf_ben-xvi_ mes_20121012_world-migrants-day_ en.html

Pope Francis says he does call people who write to him VATICAN CITY – Picking up the

phone and calling people out of the blue is no big deal for Pope Francis, according to a Vatican of Msgr Dario Vigano, director of the Vatican Television Centre, said the pope told him that the many calls the journalists have brought to light are just the tip of the iceberg: “Good thing they don’t know about all the ones I have made!� the pope reportedly said. In an interview on Sept 13 with Famiglia Cristiana, an Italian Catholic magazine, Msgr Vigano said that during a recent meeting with the pope, he asked the pontiff about the media frenzy over reports of papal cold calls. The monsignor said the pope looked at him amazed and said, “Tell the journalists that my calls are not news.� According to Msgr Vigano, the pope said, “That’s the way I am; I’ve always done this, even in

Buenos Aires�, where he served % ning in 1992 and archbishop from 1998 until his election as pope in March. Msgr Vigano said the pope explained that any time he got “a card or a letter from a priest hav & prisoner, I would respond�. The pope said, “For me, it’s much easier to call, to ask about the problem and suggest a solution, if there is one. Some people I call, others I write to instead,� according to Msgr Vigano. The monsignor told the magazine he has gotten several calls himself from the pope and not all of them were work-related. “Once me happy birthday.� The head of the Vatican’s television production centre said the constant stream of papal calls signals a kind of telephonic pastoral care.

$ | ? '

Being able to hear someone’s voice allows the caller to understand the feelings of the person on the other line and get “in tune with� the person’s problems and needs, he said. Getting a call from the pope sends a strong signal that God

cares, he said. If the pope “takes it upon himself to call me, it means I am special to him and above all in God’s heart�, he said. A number of people have come forward telling news outlets they have received calls from Pope

Francis. Among those reported include a divorced pregnant woman who said the pope offered to baptise her baby after she wrote saying her boyfriend insisted she have an abortion. There were also reports that the pope responded to a rape survivor’s letter. The Vatican has declined to

K frequent calls. The Vatican said the pope made only one call to France in early September to Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon and to no one else, in an effort to deny, K

of, a claim by a young man in France who said the pope called him and said his homosexuality “didn’t matter�. The pope’s habit of making calls to people who write to him, however, also makes it easier for pranksters to pretend to be the pope over the phone. „ CNS

20 FEATURE

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

The challenges faced by Catholic schools, and the solutions Stefania Hartley speaks to La Salle Br Gerard Rummery, keynote speaker of the Catholic Education Conference, for his views on Catholic education Catholic schools across the world are still very much alive and in demand, according to La Salle Br Gerard Rummery, keynote speaker of the Catholic Education Conference. In an interview with him before the conference, the Australian Br Rummery spoke about Catholic education in Europe, Australia and the US. He said Catholic schools attract not just Catholic families, but also a large number from other religions because they want their children to have good discipline and sound values above academic performance. Catholic schools are the heart and the head of the Universal Church’s mystical body, said Br Rummery. They are the “places where values are not only taught but also embodied�. Br Rummery quoted examples of schools he visited, where the students are encouraged to take part in initiatives along the lines of: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat� (Matt 25:35). He shared an occasion when some boys from a Catholic school were serving in a canteen for the homeless people. When it was time for the boys to have their meal, they sat next to some

&

they were getting up and walking away. The boys were surprised by the unfriendly response. The next day, the teacher’s able questioning allowed the boys

and understand the inexplicable behaviour: “The men were dirty and smelly and we were clean, perfumed and dressed in the latest gear. They must have looked

Catholic schools are the Church’s presence in society, and should uphold traditional Catholic values while fostering inter-religious dialogue and ecumenism. – A point made by Br Gerard Rummery

at us as if we came from Mars!� said one boy. When the teacher said, “I need to let them know if we are going again next week. What shall I tell them?� The overwhelming answer from the class was: “Of course we are going again!� Regarding the biggest challenges that Catholic education face today and how Catholic schools should respond to them, Br Rummery mentioned the invitation of the second Vatican Council to Catholics not to separate themselves from the world. He highlighted that 50 out of the 120 paragraphs of Pope Paul VI’s

dialogue, and therefore invited all Catholic schools to have dialogue with brothers and sisters of other religions. He added that Catholic schools are the Church’s presence in society, and should uphold traditional Catholic values while fostering inter-religious dialogue and ecumenism. “We might never get to the point we are aiming at [i.e. religious unity], but we are travelling together and that is what matters,� said Br Gerard. He added that while Catholics are called to “proclaim� the Good News to all nations, they are not expecting that the whole world will become Catholic. Catholics are to share this gift with others, while recognising that good can be found in other religions too. Br Rummery had taught secondary education in Australia before pursuing post-graduate studies in Moral Education and Religious Education in Europe. He was also editor of various Australian publications and an Adjunct Professor at the Australian Catholic University. Br Rummery has also conducted national catechetical workshops in England, Ireland, Philippines, USA and Australia. „

FAITH ALIVE! 21

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

Proclaiming the Gospel to the cultures that come to us By Dan Mulhall

As people come to learn more about each other in parishes, tensions and misunderstandings are resolved.

T

HE Gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark say that Jesus gave His dis before He ascends into heaven: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you� (Mt 28:19-20). According to tradition, the disciples took this command seriously. The faith was inculturated into each of these local churches, and each developed its unique way of following and worshipping Jesus Christ. The process by which the faith takes root in a culture and brings forth fruit unique to that culture is called “inculturation�, a word created by the Catholic Church to describe this process of sharing faith across cultures. Inculturation describes the work of missionaries and evangelists who strive to bring the message of Christ to the wider world. Inculturation has become increasingly important in parishes within the United States as they become more ethnically and culturally diverse. The religious practices of the many different communities are practiced locally. This mingling of cultural and ethnic groups within a parish is

People gather for a Spanish-language Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in the Corona neighbourhood of the New York borough of Queens. CNS photo

a relatively recent phenomenon in the US. During previous great waves of immigration that shaped the nation, ethnic parishes were often established. It was not uncommon then for even small towns to have two or three Catholic churches to serve the various ethnic groups that lived in the area. This happened because people are generally more comfortable in a setting in which they know the language and customs than they are when things seem foreign to them. A similar discomfort is often felt by members of an established community. They have grown comfortable with their communities.

Often, they’re happy to have them as they are, and do not want to see them change. When they feel that they are being pressured to change by newcomers – even if the pressure is non-verbal and very light – tensions may mount, resulting in erected barriers and harsh words.

D

URING the year 2000, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops hosted Encuentro 2000: Many Faces in God’s House. This event was designed to celebrate the many gifts shared within the Church by the various ethnic communities who now are mem-

Who is my neighbour? By Fr Lawrence E Mick We all like to be among our kind. It is easier to live among those who share our background, our ways of thinking and acting. Those who are different are usually perceived as a challenge or threat. In the beginning, Israel thought that every nation had its own god. Their God, revealed through Moses, was seen as greater than the other gods, especially when the Israelites defeated other groups in battle. In time, they began to understand that there was only one God, and that raised the question of how God viewed other nations. The prophets worked hard to teach Israel that God cared for all, not just for them. The others, the gentiles (“the nations�) were included in God’s love. The Gospels show that Jesus often made the same point. This should have been obvious from the beginning of the Church, if Luke’s account of Pentecost is to be believed. On that day, Acts tells us, people were gathered from many nations: “We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopota-

mia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travellers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs.� And Luke says about 3,000 people joined the Church that day. We were a diverse lot right from the start. Of course, these were apparently all Jewish Christians, so the big crisis that faced the early Church was what to do about gentiles who came to believe in Christ. Paul insisted that they did not have to become Jews in order to be Christians, which caused great dissension in the Church that was only resolved > The Gospels recount several times when Jesus pushes us to broaden our thinking. In one case,

With the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus challenged listeners to recognise that the term ‘neighbour’ must include more than our own kind.

He seems to have been pushed Himself, when the Canaanite woman begs Him to heal her daughter. He says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel,� but her faith leads Him to grant her request. With the parable of the good Samaritan, Jesus challenged listeners to recognise that the term “neighbour� must include more than our own kind. Jews and Samaritans were bitter enemies, but it is the Samaritan who is the true neighbour to the injured Jew. When Jesus cured the Roman centurion’s servant, He acknowledged the faith of this non-Jew, saying, “Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven.� And, of course, He gave the Church the task of making disciples “of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you�. „ Fr Mick is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and a freelance writer.

bers of our parish communities. As part of Encuentro 2000, the bishops’ Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs – the originator of the event – created a process that brought all of the different communities in a parish to the table for conversation and fellowship. As people came to learn more about each other, tensions and misunderstandings were resolved, cooperation and collaboration between people were encouraged. The USCCB’s Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church has recently created a training programme to help parishioners become better aware of the great gifts that people from various cultures bring to the life of a faith community. The training programme, which can be found at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/ intercultural-competencies/index. cfm, focuses on helping people develop intercultural competencies. The page begins with a quotation from the recent world Synod of Bishops on the new evangelisation that explains the importance of being open to other cultures if we are to spread the Gospel effectively today. It says:

“A new evangelisation is synonymous with mission, requiring the capacity to set out anew, go beyond boundaries and broaden horizons. The new evangelisation Z & a withdrawal into oneself, a status quo mentality and an idea that pastoral programmes are simply to proceed as they did in the past. Today a “business as usual� attitude can no longer be the case. It also says that “some local churches, already engaged in re &

is the time for the Church to call upon every Christian community to evaluate their pastoral practice on the basis of the missionary character of their programme and activities�. The training programme is available online or can be purchased in printed form. The programme can be studied by individuals, by small groups, by parishes or by dioceses. All that is needed is the willingness to be open to those from other cultures, to invite them into our communities and encourage them to make a home among us. As Christians, we were commissioned by Christ to proclaim the Gospel to the world, and to inculturate it everywhere. We have an opportunity, now that the world has come to our country, to proclaim the Gospel to these new members, to be open to letting them proclaim the Gospel to us in new and exciting ways. „ Mulhall served for 10 years as assistant secretary for catechesis and inculturation for the USCCB.

22

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

By Joe Sarnicola

men picked up their traveling packs and began walking with Jesus. Hours When Jesus was talking privately later, as Jesus and His apostles apwith His apostles, one of them said to proached the entrance to a small vilHim, “Lord, increase our faith.� lage, 10 lepers called out to Jesus. Jesus thought for a moment be“Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!� fore He said anything. He held out His Against the advice of His friends, Q % Jesus walked closer to the lepers so He His thumb, with only a small space could see their faces. The lepers, who between them, indicating something often begged outside the village, did very small. “If you have faith the size not allow people to get close to them, of a mustard seed,� He said as He not wanting the disease to spread. Jesus then spread His arms open wide, “you gave them a command that followed would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be the laws of Moses regarding lepers. uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and “Go show yourselves to the it would obey you.� priests,� He said. The lepers immeAfter He had given His friends diately obeyed Jesus, and as they time to think about what He had said, headed into the village they all were Jesus stood up and reminded them healed of the leprosy. One of them, a they still had many miles to go before Samaritan, turned around and praised they would return to Jerusalem, and God, then bowed down and thanked they would be passing through Sa- Jesus for the miracle. maria and Galilee along the way. The Jesus asked him: “Ten were

Q&A 1. What did Jesus say about the mustard seed? 2. What did the Samaritan leper do that the other lepers did not?

Wordsearch: „ FAITH „ LEPERS „ VILLAGE „ MIRACLE „ DISEASE „ LEPROSY „ PRAISED „ SAVE

BIBLE TRIVIA: Jesus often told lessons by using stories. What is the special name we sometimes use for these stories?

PUZZLE: On the lines below, write the people, things and Bible verses from the lists that go together. Example: David, slingshot, 1 Samuel 17 People: Adam, Shadrach, Simon, Samson, Paul, Judas, Peter, Moses Things: Garden, wind, silver, burning bush, blindness, furnace, haircut, net Verses: Genesis 2, Judges 16, Acts 9, Exodus 3, Acts 2, Matthew 26, Mark 1, Daniel 3 PERSON 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

THING

VERSE:

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––

–––––––––––––––––––––––––

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Bible Accent: The mustard seed that Jesus told His listeners about was very small, yet it could grow into a very large bush, producing oil and seasoning. Other plants could be eaten and used for other purposes. Aloe was used to clean and heal wounds and sores, and balm, an evergreen plant, was also used as a medicine. Reed plants, such as bulrushes, were used to make paper and writing instruments, and they could be used for weaving. Myrrh, one of the expensive gifts the Magi brought to the baby Jesus, is the gummy extract of a rare bush that could produce either a spice or an oil. Frankincense, another gummy extract, gave off a fragrant aroma when burning. Oil made from olives was used for cooking, burning in lamps and as a lotion. „

Answer to Wordsearch

Emily de Rodat was born in 1787 in a manor house in southern France. She spent most of her childhood living with her grandmother and went to school at a nearby convent. When she was 18, she taught geography at the convent and " munion. Her teaching eventually expanded into a small room of her own where she taught as many as 40 students at the same time. With the support of the convent’s spiritual director, Emily continued her studies and became a nun in another community that she started, while also renting more property to use as her school, which grew to 100 pupils. As the school developed, Emily expanded her services to caring for women in need. She died of cancer in 1852. We remember her on Sept 19. „

Read more about it: Luke 17

Answers to Puzzle: 1) Adam garden Genesis 2. 2) Moses burning bush Exodus 3. 3) Samson haircut Judges 16. 4) Shadrach furnace Daniel 3. 5) Judas silver Matthew 26. 6) Simon net Mark 1. 7) Peter wind Acts 2. 8) Paul blindness Acts 9.

St Emily de Rodat

Jesus looked at each one of His friends before He spoke again. Then He said, “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.� „

Answer to Bible Trivia: Parables.

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?� Jesus reached His hand out to the Samaritan. “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.� Later that day, Jesus said to His disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see / the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day.�

23

Sunday October 6, 2013 CatholicNews

Take your first step today to journey with the poor Whose job is it to help the poor? Sure there are government schemes and charities, but the Church teaches that all of us must care and reach out to our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

P

overty is growing in Singapore. There is a widening income gap. And there are many who are getting poorer, and struggling to get by. According to an analysis of statistics published by the Ministry of Manpower, the real median wages of cleaners and labourers fell by 35 per cent from 2000 to 2011, while those of service and sales workers declined by 15 per cent in the same period. When some people are so poor that they and their children struggle to have three decent meals a day, it must give the rest of us discomfort. Can you imagine living on less than $5 a day on food and transport? Yet about 387,000 Singaporeans from 105,000 families do. How do we respond? Aren’t there plenty of government schemes and charities to help the poor? Yes, there are. But what can we do, as people of God? First, it is worthwhile learning from the social teachings of the Church. The key principle of the Church’s social teachings is the primacy of the human person. As we are made in the image of God, each person has equal dignity and equal importance in God’s eyes. We also know God’s desire that we all form one family and treat one another as brothers and sisters. Secondly, the Church

recognises the universal destination of material goods. We can affirm each person’s right to private property, but that right is subject to the basic right that everything belongs to everyone. Therefore, we are not making a gift of our possession in giving it to the poor but giving what belongs to him or her. Jesus’ teachings clearly warn us against greed too. In Luke 12, he tells us to guard against avarice of any kind, illustrating this point vividly with the parable of the rich fool. In Luke 18, Jesus laments: How hard it is for those who have riches to make their way into the kingdom of God. Thirdly, the Church teaches us the principle of solidarity with the poor. The encyclical Gaudium et Spes tells us that the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus emphasises how we must treat the poor and the less advantaged in our midst. In Matthew 25, he tells us that whatever we do for the least of our brothers, we do for Him. Love of God and love of one’s neighbours are the first and greatest commandments. It is an inescapable duty to make ourselves the neighbour of every person, no matter who he

or she is. We therefore have no option but to act in the face of injustices. The first necessary action is for us to care, and actively seek understanding of the day-to-day realities of the less fortunate. If one listens to stories of the poor, one would find that in many cases, the poor do not deserve their plight. Life’s circumstances seem to conspire to make their lives so hard that it’s near impossible to get by. Many poor families face multiple challenges, perhaps having a father in jail, children with disabilities and serious health issues. The poor are no different from the rest of society. They want the best for themselves and their families. They also want to count on themselves and their hard work. Most do not want to receive handouts because handouts can destroy self-respect and reinforce inadequacies. Next, we have to be mindful that we do not take away the dignity of the person when we help families in need. We need to partner the poor in their

journey. We cannot simply dish out assistance like a painkiller that merely numbs the discomfort, but does not solve root issues. Instead, we must redesign the methods we use, to build on the strengths of those in need, leading to the recovery and empowerment of each poor person. The poor do not want to be stigmatised as helpless victims. Those of us working with them are partners, and we are journeying with them, not taking a walk in the park. It won’t be sunny and cool all the time. It will rain, it may pour, the path may turn wet and slippery. Time and again, they could fall, we may falter. That’s when we have to remind ourselves that God is with us and with them for the long haul. Only with patience will we witness with wonder when and how they find the power and resources within themselves to speak for themselves and what they need to live with dignity. We must also relook the way we live. It is not wrong to want to live better.

What is unacceptable is a hedonistic lifestyle that assumes that having more is more important than being more, and that the aim of life is the singular pursuit of individual material enjoyment. What is also improper is people indulging in mounting excesses, while others are mired in poverty. Instead of merely chasing the trendiest fashion, latest gadgets and most popular experiences in the name of creativity and innovation, can we not focus instead on spreading compassion and empathy, and showing solidarity for the less advantaged? We ought to make more ethical and sustainable choices in purchasing, caring about the morality of the entire production chain, including the environmental impact and the compensation and treatment of workers. We should also demand more services that feed the soul. With poverty in our midst, we are all called to act. It is not an option, but a chance to truly show our love for God.

Those of us working with the poor are partners, and we are journeying with them, not taking a walk in the park. It won’t be sunny and cool all the time. It will rain, it may pour, the path may turn wet and slippery. Time and again, they could fall, we may falter. That’s when we have to remind ourselves that God is with us and with them for the long haul.

24 WHAT’S ON EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www. catholic.sg/webevent_form.php FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS OF THE MONTH RELAXATION EXERCISES IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE RESPECTIVELY 10-11am: Therapeutic breathing and guided imagery exercises will be taught to release tension, boost energy and mood to help one stay calm and stable in midst of the stresses of life. First Wednesdays conducted in English and third Wednesdays in Chinese. By Clarity Singapore. At Block 854 #01-3511, Yishun Ring Road. Register: 6757 7990, 9710 3733; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2 AND THURSDAY OCTOBER 3 INTERRELIGIOUS HARMONY AND MY FAITH (OCT 2); BUILDING CHRISTIAN UNITY AND MY FAITH (OCT 3) 8-10pm: Well-known speaker, theologian, professor and interreligious dialogue practitioner, Fr James Kroeger, MM, has been invited to speak as part of the archdiocese’s efforts to promote interreligious dialogue. At Church of St Ignatius St Ignatius Hall (120 King’s Road). Register by Sept 30. T: 6858 7016 (Gerald); E: gerald@catholicspi.org

Sunday October 6, 2013 „ CatholicNews

OCTOBER 5 EVANGELISATION IN A MULTIRELIGIOUS CONTEXT: ARE DIALOGUE AND PROCLAMATION IN CONFLICT? 9.30am-12.30pm: By Fr James Kroeger, MM. For Catholic catechists, educators and youth workers/leaders/active youth. By Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (archCCID). At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Road). Register by Sept 30. T: 6858 3011(Sylvia); W: http://www.one.org.sg TUESDAYS OCTOBER 8 TO NOVEMBER 19 PERSONAL MORAL COMPASS: ETHICS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE ENVIRONMENT 7.30-9.30pm: This module addresses topics such as economics, consumerism, money, politics, the environment and our Catholic understanding of stewardship for the common good. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Road). Register by Sept 30. T: 6858 7012 (Janice); E: janice@catholic.org.sg THURSDAY OCTOBER 10 TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 13 PARISH RENEWAL EXPERIENCE AT BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 7.15pm (weekdays), 1.30pm (weekends): A renewal weekend for Catholics, both for clergy and laity. It gives one a sense of belonging to the parish and understanding the meaning of being Catholic. Snacks provided. At Blessed Sacrament Church (Damien Hall). E: pre@bsc.org.sg

OCTOBER 12 EFFECTIVE PARENTING IN EARLY YEARS 9am-12pm: Learn to balance being a parent, a successful professional, and keeping in touch with friends. Learn from a panel of four prominent speakers all of whom are parents. At IRAS Revenue House (55 Newton Road). Register W: http://www. familylife.sg/events/effective-parentingyoung-parents; E: susie@familylife.sg OCTOBER 12 MAKE CHRIST KNOWN – ARCHDIOCESAN NCC DAY 2013 1.30-6pm: Annual NCC Day for all NCC members. Theme: Make Christ Known. Keynote speaker: Fr Eugene Vaz. At CJC Training & Development Centre. Register E: daphne@one.org.sg OCTOBER 13 18TH FAMILY ROSARY RALLY 2-5pm: Theme: Celebrating our Faith in the Love of Mother Mary. With rosary, Mass by Fr Angel Luciano and fellowship. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1259 Upper Serangoon Rd). T: 9099 5035 (Daisy), 9366 9584 (Nicy), 9766 9971 (Malou), 9654 8467 (Allan); E: allanbsato@yahoo.com.sg FRIDAY OCTOBER 18 TO SUNDAY OCTOBER 20 MARRIAGE RETORNO Fri (8.30pm)-Sun (5.30pm): A couple spirituality weekend. Spend a weekend away from the hustle and bustle. A ¼_{

Z

booking. At ME House (201B Punggol 17th Avenue). Register by Sept 30. T: 9655 3708 (Susie) or 9011 2795 (Esme). OCTOBER 20 WORLD MISSION SUNDAY EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION 12pm: Main celebrant: Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia. By ACMA. At Church of St Ignatius. E: acmasg@singnet.com.sg OCTOBER 27 CELEBRATING INNER FREEDON 9am-4pm: Explore inner landscape, identifying frustrations and goals in life. † K

This programme is suitable for anyone who values personal growth and relationships. It is a journey towards celebrating inner freedom. Cost: $60 with lunch. By LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre. At 100 Jalan Merbok. Register T: 64662178; E: lifesprings@singnet.com.sg NOVEMBER 2 STRESS MANAGEMENT 12.30-2pm: Learn about the symptoms and common sources of stress and pick up tips on how to manage the stress in one’s life more effectively. Speaker Huang Zhang Jin, Clinical Psychologist, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Cost: $20.

By Clarity Singapore. At At Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Auditorium, Tower B. Register T: 6757 7990, 97103733; E: registration@clarity-singapore.org SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2 TO SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9 MISSION AWARENESS PROGRAMME (MAP) 2013 – PATTAYA THAILAND MAP 2013 will provide participants with a better understanding of mission and its intrinsic usefulness and relevance to everyday Christian living. The spiritual director for MAP 2013 is Fr Larry Radice, an American Maryknoll missionary. Participate and discover more about one’s vocation and mission. Cost: $700 (covering air and land transport, food and lodging). Register by Sept 30. T: 9732 0730 (Lynnette); E: admin@acma.sg TUESDAY NOVEMBER 5 TO SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9 GROUP LEADERSHIP ORGANISATION AND SPIRITUALITY 9.30am-5.30pm: This 5-day workshop aims to help participants become more aware of the structures and processes at work in the collaborative ministry teams in which they minister. The guiding matrix will be The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. Participants should be currently working in a collaborative ministry team or similar group. Facilitated by Fr Michael Smith, SJ, and Mrs Bernadette Miles from Campion Centre, Melbourne. Cost: $500. By Kingsmead Centre (CISC). At 8 Victoria Park Rd. Register by Oct 25. T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com FRIDAYS NOVEMBER 8 TO NOVEMBER 22 THE SACRAMENTS – STILL RELEVANT TO YOUR LIFE TODAY? 7.45-9.30pm: Frank interviews with priests in Rome and the UK that show how the sacraments can transform one in this lively DVD course. By Archdiocesan CaFE Promotion Team. At Church of St Bernadette AVA Room (12 Zion Rd). Register by Oct 28 with name and contact information SMS: 8467 6161, 8467 6363; E: acptcafe@gmail.com

sg/act/ACT/Welcome_to_ACT/ Entries/2013/11/10_Entry_1.html MONDAY NOVEMBER 18 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24 HOUSE BUILDING MISSION TRIP TO BANDUNG INDONESIA This house-building project, undertaken in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, is to help build houses for the poor and disadvantaged families living in impoverished, overcrowded and substandard housing in Bandung, Indonesia. E: info@charis-singapore.org; W: http:// www.charis-singapore.org Register W: http://www.charis-singapore.org/index.php/ register-online-for-mission-trips?view+form FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 24 BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND Fri (6pm)-Sun (5pm): Beginning Experience Weekend Programme is run by people who have shared a similar experience of losing a loved one through divorce, separation or death of spouse. Work through one’s grief and put one’s & in life and love oneself, God and others. Register T: 9661 8089 (Joseph), 9828 5162 (Jean), 9647 9122 (Sue); E: josephchew@ippfa.com NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMER 7 OR DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 7 QUIETING THE SOUL RETREAT IN CHIANGMAI Choice of 5 days (Dec 1 to Dec 7) or 8 days retreat (Nov 28 to Dec 7). A silent retreat at Seven Fountains Chiangmai, Thailand. Dates inclusive of travel time. By Cenacle Sisters. Register by Sept 30. T: 6565 2895/9722 3148; E: cenaclesing@gmail.com; W: http://www.catholic.org.sg/cenacle

NOVEMBER 9 MEDITATIVE PRAYER USING THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8-9.30pm: At the Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator (60 Hill Street). T: 9837 7256 (Benny); E: bennycah@ gmail.com; W: http://www.taize.fr/en

NOVEMBER 30 CHRIST@WORK 2013 CONFERENCE 8am-6.30pm: Targets working adults who are looking to hear from other Catholic Christ in their workplaces. Keynote speaker Hector Molina has appeared in numerous forums around the world. Early bird rate, till 29 Oct: $60 (Adult), $40 (Student) Normal: $70 (Adult), $40 (Student) At Catholic Junior College Performing Arts Centre. Register E: admin@cbn.sg; W: www.christatworkconference.com

SUNDAYS NOVEMBER 10 AND NOVEMBER 17 THEOLOGY OF THE BODY CRASH COURSE 9am-5pm: Based on Christopher West’s DVD series. At International Plaza (10 Anson Road, 29-03). Cost: $17 (for workbook). T: 9649 3893 (Andrew). Register W: http://www.catholic.

DECEMBER 13 TO DECEMBER 21 ACTS29 MISSION TRIP 2013 Experience living with the community and join in the works of the acts29 mission group in both social and spiritual work in Manila, Philippines. Registered missioners may join anytime within the dates of the mission. Register E: charmainekxh@gmail. com; W: http://www.acts29mission.com

€ _ ! $ %>'  € ‚ ! ‚ ! * '

Behind the pope’s residence CASTEL GANDOLFO, ITALY – As the thick, dark amber rippled into the container, Mr Vincenzo Scaccioni, head of agricultural opera

& & “This is a historic moment.� *

for the new pope by the little known, but very busy, papal bees. Mr Scaccioni oversees 26 em-

ployees who work on the villa’s 55 hectares of gardens and farmland. Pope Pius XI expanded the papal farm in 1930, Mr Scaccioni said, which provides fresh poultry, fruits, vegetables and herbs for the papal menu. What the pope and his closest aides do not use is sold to Vatican employees and retirees at the

Vatican discount supermarket. Having a papal farm today is “a real sign of the popes’ attention to creation, nature and the countryside�, Mr Scaccioni said. Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis have all visited the farm to see the animals and watch how the milk is made, he said. „ CNS

28

ADVERTISEMENT

Sunday October 6, 2013 CatholicNews

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

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.