A publication of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore SUNDAY OCTOBER 14, 2018
SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10
MCI (P) 076/06/2018
PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)
VOL 68
NO. 21
The gov - Ar “int
INSIDE Aiding flood victims in Myanmar S’porean Catholics do their part n Page 7
Our parish communities Featuring the Church of St Michael n Page 8-9
Catechism students walking past a First Aid Station during the evacuation exercise.
What young people want from the Church A look at their views n Pages 10-11
David Ong The quiet peaceful Sunday morning of Sept 23 was suddenly shattered at 9.20. The shrill ring of an alarm bell pierced the surroundings of the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace in Tanjong Katong. This signalled the start of the parish’s firstever emergency response and evacuation exercise, interrupting the Sunday morning and Catechism class routine. Immediately, the Parish Emergency Response Team members sprang into action to assess the situation. A “fire” had broken out on the second floor of one of the buildings where Catechism classes were held. The team radioed to the Parish Control Centre and ordered the evacuation of the building while they moved in to control the fire. Within minutes, the Parish Evacuation Team, Traffic Control Team, First Aid Team and Catechists were mobilised to evacuate all
standard operating procedures. “Driving this initiative was a very smooth affair, right from the get-go. I think this was because everyone recognised how important it was to prepare our parish for an emergency,” said Mr Harry Pereira, Chairman of the Parish Emergency Preparedness Team (PEPT). “Many qualified parishioners came forward readily when we asked for help. We have doctors, nurses and officers from the uniformed
120 children safely from the four-storey building to a safe assembly area 100 m outside the church premises. Singapore Civil Defence n Continued on Page 12 (SCDF) officers were also present to lend a touch of realism. They drove the Red Rhino into the church compound and uncoiled the fire hoses to “fight the fire”. At 9.42 am, the exercise ended. The children made their way back to class to resume their lessons. A debrief was held for all volunteers immediately after. Even though the exercise took only 22 minutes to complete, it involved more than 80 adult parishioners and was the result of many hours of planning over six months to carefully form the various teams, provide basic training and develop the The Emergency Response Team all set for action.
Sulawesi earthquake victims CHARIS appeals for donations n Page 14
Pray rosary daily in October Pope asks for prayers to protect Church n Page 16
Dance as a form of prayer Integrating dance and faith n Page 24
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Archbishop calls for workplace equality for migrants The Church of the Transfiguration in Punggol Central is certainly not the usual place to attract foreign workers on their day off. But on Sept 23, it was a special day for these foreigners as they turned up in force to celebrate this year’s Migrant Sunday Mass. Celebrated by Archbishop William Goh, the Mass and the ensuing event were no less colourful than previous years. Before Mass began, parish priest Father Joachim Chang welcomed representatives from various Catholic migrant communities, each bearing symbolic gifts relating to their culture. About 3,000 faithful attended the annual celebration organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI). In his homily, Archbishop Goh said that everyone has ambitions in life. “Motivation, ambition can help us.” But in that Sunday’s second reading and Gospel, that “ambition can be disruptive” and “motivation can be selfish,” he noted. “We must transform and change this ambition to vocation, which is the call to serve God and to serve humanity.” “This is the context for Migrant Sunday: all of us must have
2. Fr Terence Kesavan is appointed Director of the Office for Catechetics (OFC) for a term of three [3] years with effect from 16 August 2018. 3. Fr Adrian Danker SJ is reappointed a member of the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS) for a term of two [2] years with effect from 19 October 2018. 4. Fr Antony Maria Joseph is reappointed Spiritual Director for the Archdiocesan Commission for Tamil Speaking (ACTS) for a term
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the duty to find our vocation and we must also help others to fulfil their vocation of love and service.” Turning to dignity at the workplace, Archbishop Goh spoke about the abuse of workers at the hands of employers, some of whom are Catholic. “It breaks my heart, honestly, when I hear of the abuse.” He urged those who hold influential workplace positions to look
CHANCERY NOTICE
1. Fr Rusdi Santoso SSCC is appointed Assistant Priest for Church of the Blessed Sacrament for a term of three [3] years with effect from 28 June 2018.
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APPOINTMENTS
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of two [2] years with effect from 14 September 2018. 5. Fr Charlie Oasan CICM is reappointed Spiritual Director for the Filipino Catholic Community for a term of two [2] years with effect from 14 September 2018. 6. Fr Terence Pereira is reappointed Episcopal Vicar to the Malayalam Apostolate for the Archdiocese of Singapore covering the three Rites: principally the Latin, Syro-Malabar and the SyroMalankara, for a term of five [5] years with effect from 23 October 2018. 7. Fr Anthony Hutjes SSCC is reappointed Assistant Priest for Church of the Blessed Sacrament for a term of three [3] years with effect from 20 September 2018. n
Fr John-Paul Tan, OFM, JCL, Chancellor Chancery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore #07-01 Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187954 Email: chancery@catholic.org.sg
Children from the Vietnamese Families in Sengkang putting on a dance. Photo: JAMES TAN
out and speak up for those who are unjustly treated in the office. After Mass, there was lunch and the various migrant communities put on cultural performances in the parish hall. There were hymns sung by the Sri Lanka community and the Tamil-speaking representatives from the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes. Other highlights included a Tobelo dance by the Indonesian
Catholic community, a guzheng performance by the Mandarinspeaking community and an Áo bà ba dance by children of the Vietnamese Families of Sengkang. Mr Charith Fernando, from the Sri Lankan Catholic community, said that although he has represented his community eight times during the annual celebration, it still feels “special to
be welcomed by the Singapore Catholic community”. Long-time volunteer with ACMI, Ms Conny Fernandez, said that “the colours and festivity from so many nationalities together as one community reminds me what it means to be Catholic, especially in these times where we don’t appreciate enough how the presence of other cultures truly enrich ours.” n
Parishioners beware the email scams! The Archdiocese of Singapore has received reports that new email spoofing incidents are being sighted by the faithful. These new spoof emails, which are in fact online money scams, are mimicking emails addresses that may look like those used by the priests and religious in our Archdiocese. This is a repeat of similar incidents which took place in July 2018 and was reported at https:// www.catholic.sg/impersonate/. These spoof emails usually start with an innocent question or remark to draw a response from the recipient. For example “I need a favor from you, please email me back”. If the email recipient replies, he/she identifies himself/ herself as a potential victim to the scammers. Be wary when receiving emails from addresses you are not familiar with. And when in doubt, contact the person by other means. Read on to empower yourself and learn how to handle spoof/ fake/fraudulent emails. How to spot a spoof/fake/fraudulent email? • The email address is different from the organisation’s regular domain name (e.g. catholic. org.sg).
• It is sent from a different address (usually a free email account) than what is usually used by the sender. • The email was completely unexpected, uncharacteristic of the sender and out-of-the-norm. • It may use a greeting or salutation that you’re not familiar with or seems out-of-the-ordinary. • It may contain spelling, grammatical errors or sentence structures which seem abnormal. • It may contain an urgent callto-action or a request for urgent help (e.g. log in to your account now, or an appeal for urgent help). • It may start with a quick question or remark which draws a response from the recipient (e.g. Are you available, I have an Urgent Request). • It may request your assistance to purchase an electronic voucher or gift card because the sender cannot for whatever reason. • It may request for personal information such as user name, password, etc and may lead to an official-looking website (always double-check online for official website addresses). What should I do if I receive a spoof/fake/fraudulent email? • Do not reply to the email
or contact the sender in any way. If you do, you identify yourself as a potential victim to the scammers • Do not open any attachments or click on any links on the email. It may lead to a virus or malware infection • Report the spoof/fake/fraudulent emails to the respective email service providers. Learn how to do it at https://www.wikihow.com/Report-Scam-Emails (read Part 2 – Reporting Scams on Different E-mail Accounts) What should I do if I’ve already got scammed or provided sensitive information? • Contact the police and make a report at https://eservices.police. gov.sg/content/policehubhome/ homepage.html • Contact the relevant organisation/s that you may have given details about (eg. your bank, credit card company, etc) Note: Members of clergy, the religious, and Archdiocesan organisations without catholic.org. sg email accounts should request for an account at https://archcomms.catholic.sg/request/ n ArchComms, 17 Sep 2019
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BUILDING THE CHURCH OF TOMORROW 3
Sunday October 14, 2018 CatholicNews
prioritising catholic education Xavier Woon, 13, excelled academically throughout his time at Montfort Junior School. Although he had many secondary school choices available to him after completing his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), he decided to study at Montfort Secondary School for the Catholic ethos it offers.
Xavier has many happy memories of his time at Montfort Junior School (MJS), but the undeniable highlight was Primary 6 Graduation Day 2017 when he was called up to the stage a total of four times to receive various awards: 1st in Position, Best in Science, Montfortian Scholar P6, and the Edusave Character Awards.
SPOILT FOR CHOICE Xavier had truly outdone himself by scoring an A* for Mathematics, and As for the remaining subjects in the school exams. He scored equally well for PSLE. Xavier said, “I really need to thank God for my grades. He played a big part and gave me so many schools to choose from. However, I decided that I wanted to continue with Montfort.”
MONTFORT JUNIOR SCHOOL Xavier became a student of MJS as his parents wanted him to attend a Catholic school. Living in Sengkang, David and Lynn Woon, parishioners of St Anne’s Church, could have sent Xavier to a host of primary schools in their neighbourhood. Xavier explained, “They wanted me to grow up in a Catholic environment and did not like the idea of my exposure to the faith being limited to just a few hours on the weekends. It was very important to them that I grew up learning values of a good Catholic, and Montfort was the nearest Catholic School.” Having spent his formative years in MJS meant that Xavier’s development was not focused solely on academic excellence, but rather, on
a more holistic approach designed to build character. “My six years in MJS were great. We had truly good, kind and caring teachers who really took time to explain everything, down to the smallest details. They made sure we understood what was taught,” Xavier related. “The principal, Mr Wong, is great too! He tries to speak to students during school assembly and finds joy in telling stories that teach values. The school also puts special emphasis on the CHRISTE Values - Compassion, Humility, Respect, Integrity, Service, Team Spirit, and Excellence,” he continued. While it is obvious that Xavier’s development in academic excellence is commendable, this was only one aspect of his growth.
RECLUSE NO MORE Initially, Xavier was unlike most of his classmates. He was timid, and preferred to keep to himself at all times. Xavier confessed, “Now, it is tough to explain exactly why I was so unsociable. I did not really speak up and was quiet all the time. I did not have any friends and found it very difficult to open up.” Through the nurturing and supportive environment at MJS, Xavier gradually became more open, forthcoming, better-mannered, and overall, a friendlier person. “I developed the confidence to speak up and have my opinions heard,” he said. This transformation began when he was made the monitor of the class. Naturally, he had various responsibilities
Xavier’s parents, David (left) and Lynn (right) Woon, pose proudly with their son, and with the Principal of Montfort Junior School, Mr Wilbur Wong, on Graduation Day. Photo: Xavier Woon. entrusted to him, the most difficult of which was ensuring that the class kept quiet when it was required to. His teachers were encouraging and reassuring. Xavier remembers them telling him not to be disheartened and that the only expectation was that he tried his best. “They told me that I should never give up, and that if I thought I had already tried my best, no one should expect anything more of me,” he recalled.
THE MONTFORT FAMILY The positivity and care that have shaped Xavier, have prompted him to continue his secondary school education at Montfort Secondary School (MSS). Xavier’s choice was also influenced by his parents, who wanted a school that would help him nurture his personal and moral values too, not just focused on academic results. Character building, such as personal resilience, respect for the dignity of every human person and social responsibility, are also essential considerations for his parents.
The Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS) is one of several organisations in the archdiocese supported by the GIFT Campaign. ACCS works with Catholic schools to strengthen the Catholic ethos in their communities, and support the religious, civics and moral education these schools provide. It organises events and formation programmes to bring the different families of Catholic schools together and better equip school staff and parent volunteers with the skills needed to build students up in the Catholic faith. Additionally, ACCS has also established the Council of Catholic School Principals (CCSP). With leaders from all
Lynn Woon, Xavier’s mother, said, “We were pleased he made this choice because MSS satisfied our requirement, that he chose a Catholic school. We were glad to find out that many of his new friends were headed to MSS too.” Dr David Woon, Xavier’s father, added, “Initially, I was sceptical about sending Xavier to an all-boys school, but after witnessing his development, both academically and spiritually, I am fully convinced that my son should continue his Montfortian education.” Xavier did consider other Catholic schools like St Joseph’s Institution and St Patrick’s School. “I have heard good things about these schools too, but they were geographically too far away from home,” he recounted. “I hope that after 10 years in Montfort, I can look back and say with confidence that I have made the right choice, and that I have not only grown as a student but also as a socially responsible young adult, trying my best to lead the Gospel life,” he concluded.
Our archdiocese envisions a more vibrant, missionary and evangelistic Church. As the fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Singapore, the Catholic Foundation has launched the Giving in Faith & Thankfulness (GIFT) campaign to urge every Catholic to participate in making the vision of the archdiocese a reality.
Gift Now
gift.catholicfoundation.sg
Catholic primary, secondary and junior college schools as members, the Council serves as an organised forum for the principals to implement Catholic education in their respective schools. Wilbur Wong, member of CCSP, has been the principal of Montfort Junior School (MJS) for the past four years. He said, “ACCS has been very supportive of what we are trying to do, that is to incorporate the imparting of Catholic values into curriculum time. CCSP in particular has been a tremendous help. The members come together on a regular basis. It is a great opportunity to share and learn from one another so we can all make Catholic schools a better environment for students.”
a series contributed by
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he Church is often accused of “interfering in politics” when she speaks on issues that affect society. What should the relationship between religion and politics be? This article explores the distinct but complementary relationship between Church and State. Right from the outset, we must be clear that there is a distinction between the Church and the State. This is rooted in the Gospel, in Jesus’ guiding principle, “Render to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” (Mt 22:21) The temporal and spiritual spheres are interrelated, yet distinct. The State must respect the freedom and practice of religion, whilst religion must respect the jurisdiction of the State. The Church is no way opposed to the State: Her role is to help the State to govern with justice and compassion in truth and love. Pope Benedict wrote, “Justice is both the aim and the intrinsic criterion of all politics. Politics is more than a mere mechanism for defining the rules of public life: its origin and its goal are found in justice, which
by its very nature has to do with ethics.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 28) A good government rules justly and fairly. But what is justice? This is where interpretations can differ. How does a society determine whether a law is moral or ethical? The fact that everyone believes in truth and justice suggests that truth can be discerned and that morality exists. But how, and on what basis, do we determine if something is ethical? Should morality, (ie., truth) be decided by popular opinion, or by principles based on natural law and reason? The truth is that all views are determined by certain worldviews, be they atheist, humanist or religious. No one judges things independently of his own background. For example, when speaking of human rights, we may not realise that many of its principles originate from a Christian understanding of the human person. Why do we speak only of human rights, not animal rights? Why is it morally acceptable to kill animals but not people? Why is suicide a crime when a person is taking his or her own life, not another’s? Is it not because the law presupposes
that human beings – and not animals - are unique and sacred, having been created in the image and likeness of God? Similarly, why is polygamy illegal in most countries today, despite many societies having permitted it in the past? Is it not for stability in relationships, which protects the family unit and its children? But is it not also based on the Christian understanding of marriage as a life-long union between two adults of the opposite sex? No moral viewpoint is completely neutral, objective, “scientific” or “secular”. Everyone’s views are conditioned by his personal, cultural and philosophical beliefs. Our world view, which includes religious views, determines how we look at life, humanity and our social values. Laws cannot be just unless they are based on truth, morality and ethics. But today, most governments no longer claim to speak for their society’s morality. In fact, they are most uncomfortable making decisions that have a moral element. They claim that
the laws they pass are simply intended to reflect the norms and values of their society, without reference to religious grounds. However, we should be aware that the state, intentionally or not, inevitably influences the development of moral norms through the law that it chooses to enact or enforce. Indeed, “[t]his is where Catholic social doctrine has its place: it has no intention of giving the Church power over the State. Even less is it an attempt to impose on those who do not share the faith ways of thinking and modes of conduct proper to faith. Its aim is simply to help purify reason and to contribute, here and now, to the acknowledgment and attainment of what is just.” (Ibid.) The Church has a right and duty to contribute to society in the area of morality. She proposes – never imposes – her views based on natural law and reason, to form consciences in political life. This is why she speaks up about the living and working conditions of our foreign workers in Singapore. She contributes her views to the government on bio-ethical issues such as
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“As far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the principal focus of her interventions in the public arena is the protection and promotion of the dignity of the person, and she is thereby consciously drawing particular attention to principles which are not negotiable. Among these the following emerge clearly today: • Protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death; • Recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family – as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage – and its defence from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilisation, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role; • The protection of the right of parents to educate their children.
embryonic stem cell research, and on moral issues such as death penalty, abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy, samesex unions and the adoption of children by same sex couples, as well as sex education in schools. Singapore is not a secular state but a multi-religious state with a secular government. The government is neutral and impartial in its dealings with all religious groups, as well as with those of no religion. It does not mean that the government is anti-religion, or that religious considerations must be excluded from its decision-making processes. Over 80% of Singapore citizens profess some form of religious belief. Hence, it is in the government’s interest to consult religious bodies so that its policies will be for the good of all. Our government promotes harmony among religious groups so that their followers can co-exist in mutual respect for the good of the nation. It established the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and supports the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) to promote harmony between all peoples. Beyond the religious sphere, the government has formed Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC) so that Singaporeans with no religion are also included in Singapore’s ongoing dialogue to foster trust and peaceful co-existence. When the Church offers her views to help the State build a just social and civil order, she is neither “imposing her beliefs” on the State nor “interfering in politics”. Pope Benedict in a 2006 audience with members of the European People’s Party, said, “It must
not be forgotten that, when Churches….intervene in public debate, expressing reservations or recalling various principles, this does not constitute a form of intolerance or an interference, since such interventions are aimed solely at enlightening consciences, enabling them to act freely and responsibly, according to the true demands of justice, even when this should conflict with situations of power and personal interest.” The Church is not, and will not become, a political entity or party which seeks to gain temporal power and prescribe a programme for the development of society. Indeed, “the Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the State.” (Deus Caritas Est, 28) It is through her appeals to reason and natural law that the Church hopes to foster justice and the common good. The common good, or the “good of all”, is the “sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment as human persons more fully and more easily.” (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 164) However, the common good is not the sum total of every individual’s needs at any one point in time. What is good for each person needs to be considered in relation to what is good for society and the nation, as a whole; and not just for this day and age, but for the future too. Clearly while there is a distinction between politics and religion, there will inevitably be areas of overlap since both are concerned with the well-being of the people.
These principles are not truths of faith, even though they receive further light and confirmation from faith; they are inscribed in human nature itself and therefore they are common to all humanity. The Church’s action in promoting them is therefore not confessional in character, but is addressed to all people, prescinding from any religious affiliation they may have. On the contrary, such action is all the more necessary the more these principles are denied or misunderstood, because this constitutes an offence against the truth of the human person, a grave wound inflicted onto justice itself.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Address to the Members of the European People’s Party, 2006) The Church, in articulating her views, serves all members of society by shedding light on the foundation of morality and ethics. When rights are claimed in an individualistic way, without reference to truth, solidarity and responsibility, they are not truly just. The separation of Church and State does not mean keeping faith wholly apart from social issues that touch on morality and ethics. Real democracy requires us to be receptive to all ideas. To stop religion from contributing to the good of society is to destroy true democracy because democracy means dialogue between all religions and cultures. Furthermore, there is a real risk that attempts to divorce reason from faith would herald the end of a genuine dialogue between cultures and religions. Pope Benedict in his 2006 address at the University of Regensburg, said that “In the Western world it is widely held that only positivistic reason and the forms of philosophy based on it are universally valid. Yet the world’s profoundly religious cultures see this
exclusion of the divine from the universality of reason as an attack on their most profound convictions. A reason which is deaf to the divine and which relegates religion into the realm of subcultures is incapable of entering into the dialogue of cultures.” In the final analysis, every citizen subscribes to some form of belief system, be it religious or philosophical. Even secularists operate from certain assumptions about the world and the human person. No system of morality or ethics is free of pre-suppositions about the nature of human dignity, truth and freedom. Although the Catholic Church does not get involved in partisan politics, the Church and her individual members – as concerned citizens of the body politic – must speak up on political issues that impact their lives and the common good. The Church, therefore, encourages Catholics as responsible citizens not to be indifferent to politics. Pope Francis once said, “None of us can say, ‘I have nothing to do with this, they govern.’ ... No, no, I am responsible for their governance, and I have to do the best so that they govern well, and I have to do my best by participating in politics according to my ability. Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good. I cannot wash my hands, eh? We all have to give something! A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern.” (Homily, St Martha’s House, Sep 16, 2013) A good Catholic is a participative and conscientious citizen. We betray our vocation as Catholics and Singaporeans when we keep silent on vital issues which affect the moral well-being of our nation. As Catholics, each of us must articulate his or her vision for Singapore, guided by a well-formed conscience and the moral compass laid out in the Scriptures. In solidarity with Catholics and all people of goodwill, we must work courageously for the common good in Singapore and the world, and “be at once a sign and a safeguard of the transcendent character of the human person” (Gaudium et Spes, 76). We do not act based on the changeable whims of current public opinion, but on values recognised, and promoted as elements of an objective moral law. (Compendium, 397) We need to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with our God (Mic 6:8): standing up for the Truth, and always in Charity.
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M Ch to Ju H Nineteen companies offered more than 500 job openings. Photos: ZACH DILAROCA
Catholic business group offers help to jobseekers
Workshops to assist jobseekers to ace interviews.
More than 180 jobseekers looking to get back into the job market were given a helping hand when they attended an employability fair at Agape Village at Lorong 8 Toa Payoh. Besides 500 job offerings from 19 companies, there were also workshops on acing interviews, resume writing, mock interview sessions and advice on SkillsFuture. The SkillsFuture offers various resources and tools to help Singaporeans in their ca-
reer planning and skills upgrading needs. The Sept 25 job fair was organised by the Catholic Business Network (CBN) in partnership with Employment and Employability Institute (e2i). This is the third annual job fair organised by CBN. According to CBN, the purpose of the half-day job fair was to “empower jobseekers to be the best they can be” even in the face of challenges such as not having the necessary
skills set or being unemployed for a significant period of time. Other issues shared by jobseekers at the fair included coping with jobs that require shift hours, manual labour and long standing periods. Majority of the jobseekers also shared they would be open to the idea of picking up new skills that may allow them to find better, more suitable jobs and to meet the expectations of employers. n
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Reaching out to flood victims in Myanmar Three Singaporeans braved the rain, flood waters and difficult terrain to bring aid to flood victims in two villages in Myanmar. For the three Catholic volunteers it was an unforgettable mission as they packed food supplies and waded through murky water to give these to the flood victims. Mr Jerome Teo, together with Mr Christopher Yit and his wife Christina Lee, were responding to a call for relief aid from Bishop Justin Saw Min Thide, who heads Hpa An Diocese. The mission was part of an outreach by A Call To Share (ACTS), a Singapore Catholic missionary group, an affiliate of Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives Singapore or CHARIS. (See other story). Hpa An, the capital of Myanmar’s Kayin State, had been hit by severe flooding over the past few months due to prolonged heavy rain and the rising water levels of the Than Lwin River. The flood victims were mainly padi farmers who lost their livelihoods as entire villages turned into expanses of water. From Aug 30 to Sept 4, the trio assisted the Salesian Sisters there in buying, preparing, packing and delivering food supplies to two villages near Hpa An. The Salesian Sisters are involved in education and also provide humanitarian relief assistance. The villages were only accessible by boat or by vehicles that can drive on mud tracks due to the floods. The team endured and reached out to more than 200 families in Nga Net Pyar village, most of whom were Buddhists, and Hton Bo Quay village, where most were Catholics. As the flood waters blocked the road at Nga Net Pyar village, the villagers helped the team to unload and carry the supplies to the villagers. The gratitude of the villagers could clearly be seen on their faces. “We initially came to share our skills, supplies, and our love with
Nga Net Pyar villagers and members of an ACTS mission team unloading food supplies.
these villagers, but in the end we received so much more,” said Mr Yit. Mr Teo added that despite the lack of food, clean water and proper sanitation, “the villagers have shown to us a strong sense of resilience, patience and love for
one another. They continue to live with gratitude and hope, knowing that they are not forgotten.” The group realised that besides financial aid, showing solidarity and support was crucial in seeing Christ in these disaster victims.
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Mr Christopher Yit giving food aid to a villager.
CHARIS and ACTS had each given more than $16,000 in aid for the flood victims. After the trip, the team shared that they were reminded of the words of Pope Francis: “The world tells us to seek success,
power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” The mission trip also drew a reflective response from Mr Teo. “The mission had brought about a respite for the villagers, but how long would it last?” he asked. n
About CHARIS
The Singapore mission team and the Salesian nuns they worked with. From left: Mr Jerome Teo, Sr Goretti, Sr Agatha, Ms Christina Lee and Mr Yit.
Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives Singapore (CHARIS) is the umbrella body for overseas humanitarian aid by the Singapore Archdiocese. CHARIS is a member of Caritas Singapore and was launched on Aug 20, 2010, by Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia. CHARIS is also part of Caritas Internationalis, which comprises more than 160 Catholic relief, development and social service organisations to build a better world for the poor and
marginalised in over 200 countries. CHARIS, together with its 21 affiliates within the Archdiocese, works towards supporting disaster victims and contributing to development and rehabilitation through grants and mission trips. This year, CHARIS also gave $50,000 to Caritas India in aid of flood victims in Kerala, and $50,000 to Caritas Cambodia for flood victims there. n The CHARIS website is charis-singapore.org
8 OUR PARISH COMMUNITIES
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A modest 2-storey bungalow, that’s where it all began … Although a small parish, the Church of St Michael more than makes up for it in many ways. JARED NG takes a closer look in this series on parish communities. Tucked away at the junction of Jalan Semerbak and St Michael’s Road is a church known for its “kampong spirit”. Just about everyone at the Church of St Michael knows one another, there are always smiles and greetings of “peace be with you”, said Ms Jennifer Noronha, Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council Executive Committee. The church serves about 900 parishioners every weekend. Inter-ministry activities play a big part in achieving this community spirit. Each year, interministry retreats are held a few times for members to bond and learn more about other ministries. Through this sense of connectedness, the ministries would embark upon other roles outside of their mission. One example is the O What a Night! event organised several times a year by different ministries. The family-centred event sees participants and loved ones travelling in chartered buses to places such as Kallang Riverside Park and Esplanade to have pic-
nics, with food, songs and games to keep everyone occupied including children. “It’s a really popular event ... We have up to 100 parishioners attending and bringing food to share so it falls back to the kampong style and spirit of our parish,” said Ms Noronha. Another initiative taken up by the wardens and Eucharistic ministers sees members journeying with Primary 2 and 3 children respectively. The wardens would journey with families, either in the parish or the family’s home, to prepare the Pri 2 children for their first Sacrament of Reconciliation while the Eucharistic ministers do the same for Pri 3 children preparing for their first Holy communion. The sessions, prepared by parish priest Father Terence Pereira, allow the ministry members to reach out to families in the neighbourhood, said Ms Noronha. Since July this year, the Burning Bush ministry has organised formation sessions that aim to deepen participants’ understanding
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A silent moment before the statue of St Michael. Photo: VITA Images
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The Church of St Michael serves about 900 parishioners every weekend.
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Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
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The parish’s O What a Night! event – one of the many activities for parishioners. Photo: CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL COMMS MINISTRY
of their faith. The sessions, held on Sundays, use Scripture to enable participants to learn to be a committed disciple of the Lord and action plans are drafted for the work of evangelisation. Other parish activities such family picnics at East Coast Park, family camps in Johor and parish retreats in the MAJODI Centre in Johor Bahru engage parishioners of varying ages. With all these programmes available, Ms Noronha said that
another aim for the parish is to “reach out to and engage the ‘new faces’ sitting in the pews on Sundays”. “We are working on a number of hospitality programmes which we hope will be upcoming soon,” she said. One other target group that the parish has set its sights on is the elderly. Based on a recent survey conducted by the parish, about 40 percent of parishioners are made up of seniors.
High-tea events for seniors have been organised to encourage the elderly to spend time together in the church. Food, songs and games such as bingo form part of the entertainment for seniors who attend. Fr Terence, 59, said that these sessions are organised to find out more about the needs of seniors because “we hope to form an elderly community with spiritual and social programmes.” n
Pray to St Michael daily Pray the prayer of St Michael for strength against temptation from the evil one, said Archbishop William Goh. Speaking on Sept 29, the feast of the saint, at the Church of St Michael, he reminded the congregation that “Jesus’ time on earth was a spiritual warfare ... exorcism was a part of His ministry.” The feast day celebration also saw Archbishop Goh consecrating the altar by anointing it with chrism as well as incensing it. “The presence of evil spirits is real, look at the world today. Things are going downhill,” he said, referring to the gender identity disorder and the clerical sex abuse scandals in certain countries. We need to be more discerning and alert of how the devil is working today, he said. “The Internet is one example, there is so much information that no one knows the truth anymore ... It is frightening how the world is developing.” We must take this presence of evil seriously, urged Archbishop Goh. “Turn to St Michael for
Archbishop Goh anointing the altar at the Church of St Michael with chrism. Photo: VITA Images
protection, you need to pray the prayer to him daily. If not there will be division, quarrels and disagreements.” “There is no point condemning the world,” said Archbishop Goh. “What we should do is strengthen our marriages and our families through love, care and prayer.”
He also noted that in our Catholic schools, there are so few Catholic students and teachers that it becomes so hard to educate young people to be strong in the faith, he said. “Many [students] are ashamed to say they are Catholics because there are too many questions they can’t answer.” n
HISTORY The Church of St Michael started out at a two-storey bungalow. It was acquired in the 1950s in view of the growing Catholic community in the Toa Payoh area as well as those living between town and Paya Lebar. The church’s first Eucharistic celebration was held on Oct 1, 1961, with Father John Lei as parish priest. Since then, it has undergone two major construction developments to cater to the growing Catholic population. The first milestone construction was completed in 1964. During the construction, parishioners would gather in a temporary attap shed for Mass. Unfortunately, the church suffered from a host of construction flaws and soil settlement issues and the floors soon began to crack
An early undated photo of the church.
and even the steeple had to be taken down for fear it would topple. Also, with only just two meeting rooms, it was insufficient to meet the community needs. In July 1991, the church was demolished and the new building, which had a basement columbarium, was completed in December 1993. The church continued to grow and new ministries, groups and initiatives were born like the Parish Renewal Experience and the Neighbourhood Christian Communities. In 2011, the parish celebrated its 50th anniversary celebration with the theme, Fidelity to Christ, Passionate in Response. Source: https://stmichael.catholic.sg/about-us/. n jared.ng@catholic.org.sg
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Jared Ng Living in this era where there are many conflicting and complex demands on the young, just how and what can the Church do to help them in their life’s journey? Their answers ranged from wanting to be engaged in discussions, not wanting to be pressured, and helping them to relate God’s teachings to their everyday life. Having various Church community groups for the young to join in their activities is important. It helps them to bond and strengthen their faith. And, one area they hope to see is for priests to use their homilies to address current issues and fill the gaps on what they see as grey areas in Christian teachings. Some topics suggested include everyday issues like same-sexattraction, bullying etc. Relating homilies to everyday issues can make going to Mass more meaningful than just a perfunctory attendance. This dipstick sampling of views from a cross-section of young people was carried out by the Catholic News and the Office for Young People. There are many distractions and temptations for young people to overcome in today’s world with a high reliance on social media and the Internet. The proliferation of fake news, planted news and distorted news would hold sway on the readers’ minds. This happens so much so that the Church and other establishments have to fight hard to push back and protect the masses from being misled. “How does my faith help me in today’s world? Why can’t I love who I want to love? Will my faith do the studying for me? Will my faith support me in looking after my parents when they get older?” Young people find themselves constantly grappling with these questions and most end up prioritising secular objectives. Catholics News found that respondents who are active in the Church placed paramount importance on having a faith-centred community to journey with. Also,
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be it in a school, parish or organisation, Church leaders should always encourage young people to join faith-centred communities. Justin Toh, 19, who is with the Catholic Students’ Society in Singapore Polytechnic, said, “As a member of one of my parish’s youth faith communities for three years since my confirmation, I truly feel that my community, with the guidance of mentors, has allowed me to grow and strengthen my faith.” Concurring, Alexandrea Ang, 22, from the Catholic Students’ Apostolate at Nanyang Technological University, said, “Having communities and ministries that emphasise on being consistently committed would help me.” Joseph Fernandez, 22, from the Ubi Caritas Catholic Community at Yale-National University of Singapore, said, “I cannot state enough the importance of having
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Justin Toh (bottom row, third from right) said that he has been able to grow in faith through the support of his parish community.
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people today such as love, chastity and the need for religion. Julian Lowe, 18, from the Young Adults Community at the Church of St Vincent de Paul, emphasised the importance of the Word of God. “Scripture is an essential part of faith in which many of our beliefs are rooted ... Making connections to the Church’s teachings and Word of God to our daily lives would make the faith more relatable instead of them just being things you need to know because you’re obligated to as a Catholic.” Apart from deepening the young with an appreciation of Scripture, “Our faith can also be strengthened by the Church ad-
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pray the rosary or attend weekday Masses. This eventually resulted in a group of them leaving the Church. One other area of concern among the respondents is that homilies are no longer applicable or relevant to their faith. This then makes attending Mass more of a chore than what it should be: the source and summit of Christian life. Amanda shared some topics for homilies that “can help young people reflect and recognise God’s presence in their lives.” These include topics on trusting God and His plan, God’s love and our identity as His child as well as forgiveness from past hurts and how
God continuously forgives us as sinners. Julian said homilies that address current affairs and controversial secular topics such as homosexuality and bullying would be a great way to tackle these issues. “Even though the Church has an overarching stand towards many of these topics, there are so many grey areas that it can be difficult to reconcile the Church’s beliefs with other valid arguments that challenge them ... I think that homilies can fill in the gap for both youths and adults by connecting the word of God to all these issues, and providing a perspective, based on Scripture, on how to approach such topics,” he said.
“I cannot state enough the importance of having brothers and sisters in Christ to journey with... It is only because I am making this journey not by myself but with my campus community that my faith can hold steady.” – Joseph Fernandez, Ubi Caritas Catholic Community at Yale-National University of Singapore
brothers and sisters in Christ to journey with.... “I find that the stresses of the academic sphere, the constant questioning and judgement by people who do not share our values and the never-ending fear of missing out on campus life can take quite a toll on someone’s faith. It is only because I am making this journey not by myself but with my campus community that my faith can hold steady.” Nina Anastasia Lopez, 20, from the Catholic Youth Apostolate in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and Amanda Tan, 23, from the Fides Catholic Community in Singapore Management University, suggested organising more parish events such as retreats, prayer sessions and talks on topics that are relevant to young
dressing issues on morality,” said Julian. “One of the main reasons why many people are ambivalent towards the Church is because their personal ‘progressive’ values seem to be divergent from the Church’s seemingly rigid and ‘old-fashioned’ ways. Opening up that discussion would enable young people to explore and recognise the beauty of the Church by seeing it through God’s eyes,” he added. Other ways in which the Church can support them from a spiritual perspective would include “meeting them where they are in their spiritual life instead of setting an expectation of where they should be,” said Nina, who shared an experience of how the youth in her church were “pressured” to
Amanda Tan (right), seen here with a friend, said topics such as forgiveness during homilies “can help young people reflect and recognise God’s presence in their lives.”
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Julian Lowe (fourth from right) emphasised the importance of making connections of Scripture to a young person’s daily life.
Joseph urged priests “not be afraid to delve into more intellectually weighty issues in homilies.” “I believe young people today are more educated and are more critical thinkers. It would be a disservice if we do not present to them the faith in all its magnificent intricacies. This is especially true in the modern world where our young Catholics are being challenged by their classmates on issues as transcendental as the existence of God, to more concrete issues such as sexual ethics.” To help the Church stay relevant to them, what role would these young people offer to play in this movement? Acknowledging their limitations and finite resources, personal evangelisation at school is a major tool which young people can tap on to bring others back to the faith. According to Joseph, more young people are stepping up in leadership roles to help lead the Church “into a more evangelistic direction”. “In the university scene, Catho-
lic students play an important part in reaching out to classmates, especially lapsed Catholics who have strayed away from the faith ... to find ways to get them into community and to journey with them and see how we can help them return to and grow deeper in their faith.” Amanda said that the first step she would take is “to reach out to as many people as possible – within school and if possible, outside school too” in order to help the Church move in this direction of allowing individuals to return to the faith. Alexandra and Nina said offering their time to serve and organise
camps in their parishes would be another way to evangelise and outreach to other young people. Why do these young people feel a need to continue living out their faith despite the world telling them it is time to move on? The Church has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the faith and to respond to the criticisms of the secular world, said Joseph. “I remember a priest once said that ‘faith stirs faith.’ I think we see this in confirmation camps when the confirmands see their service team on fire with the love for God, but also in reverse, as when these 16-year olds encounter God,
“Making connections to the Church’s teachings and Word of God to our daily lives would make the faith more relatable instead of them just being things you need to know because you’re obligated to as Catholic.” – Julian Lowe, Young Adults Community at the Church of St Vincent de Paul
Joseph Fernandez (second from right) said Catholic students play an important part in reaching out to classmates, especially those who have strayed away from the faith.
Nina Anastasia Lopez (in red front row) would like more parish events on subjects more relevant to young people..
the faith of the service team is edified too,” he said. Organisations such as the Office for Young People (OYP) and the Catholic Spirituality Centre have played a pivotal role in providing Julian avenues to “grow in my love and desire for Christ”. “The people in them, have been the instruments of God’s love to me ... After providing me with the opportunity to encounter the Lord, they followed up by allowing me to learn how to live a life for Christ, and in turn allowing me to sustain my faith life in the long-term, through the different communities as well as the various interactions with the people from these organisations,” said Julian. Those keen to find out more about OYP can visit http://oyp.org.sg/. For Justin, the Church has sup-
ported him since he was an altar server during his primary school years. Now in Singapore Polytechnic, OYP has kept him rooted in his faith through the Catholic communities. “I was worried that my faith would waver during my polytechnic studies but to my surprise, I feel that I have grown the most in my faith during this period.” Amanda’s experience at a retreat by OYP in 2015 reminded her that “God is so patient and gentle with me even if I require a long time to make my way back to Him.” To put it simply, “The Church is the foundation of my faith. It was in Her that I knew about the faith,” said Alexandrea. n jared.ng@catholic.org.sg
Alexandrea Ang (front row fourth girl in black from left): “The Church is the foundation of my faith. It was in Her that I knew about the faith.”
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Ignatian Festival to feature “mosaic” workshop, marriage talk, retreat Learning to pray while making mosaic patterns, finding God amidst the challenges of marriage, and deepening one’s understanding of the Pope’s encyclical on the environment. These are just some of the programmes that the Kingsmead Centre for Ignatian Spirituality & Counselling is offering for its 12day Ignatian Festival, from Oct 10-21. According to the organiser, Mr Keith Neubronner, this is the first time that the centre, which turns 28 in October, is holding a festival to celebrate its anniversary. The centre offers various programmes based on Ignatian spirituality, including retreats, seminars and workshops. “We usually do not do anything special to celebrate our centre’s anniversary, but this year we were inspired to try something different having heard of similar festivals organised in the Philippines and beyond,” said Mr Neubronner, who is the centre’s Programmes & Publicity Co-ordinator. “We hope to attract those who know little of Ignatian spirituality but are interested to learn more, as well as advanced seekers who would like to encounter the spirituality anew with the breadth of programmes offered.” The festival comprises 12 programmes consisting of a workshop, talks and a retreat. The workshop is titled Finding God through Mosaic Making and is the first such workshop organised at the centre. Facilitated by Ms Lisan Chng, a Catholic mosaic artist, the Oct 13 session will invite participants to enter into a time of prayerful contemplation and dialogue with God through the creation of a piece of mosaic art. For married couples, one talk they would find interesting is Finding God in the Conflicts and Challenges of Marriage on Oct 12. It aims to give participants
practical tools to help them love their spouse in a deeper way, and is facilitated by Ms Lissy Puno, a counselling psychologist. For those who wish to deepen their understanding of the Pope’s encyclical on the environment, Jesuit Father Gregory Tan will give a talk titled An Ignatian Reflection of Laudato Si’. Drawing from his research for his sacred theology licentiate thesis on Ecologicial Virtue Ethics as well as Ignatian spirituality, Fr Gregory will reflect on the Pope’s insights in his encyclical. Rounding off the festival are
The First Aid Team tending to an “injured” evacuee.
Keeping our churches safe and sercure n From Page 1
Connecting to God through making a mosaic art piece.
two talks and a weekend retreat by an American Jesuit, Fr Jerry Cusumano. He will focus on the four key meditations on spiritual growth featured in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius on Oct 17 and 18. The Oct 19-21 retreat will see participants reflecting on some major themes found in the Spiritual Exercises with the aid of Scripture passages. Most of the programmes are free. For further details and registration, visit: http://www.kingsmeadcentre.sg
services in our teams. We also received very strong support from members of the Archdiocesan Emergency Response Operations [AERO] team and senior and junior SCDF officers who attended our meetings and today’s exercise in an advisory capacity.” Mr Pereira noted that “as this is only the first phase of the parish emergency evacuation plan, we decided to restrict the exercise only to the building where catechism classes are held since children are the most vulnerable during times of emergency. For phase two, we plan to train more volunteers so that we can achieve our objective of having trained parishioners at each Mass to perform an emergency evacuation, should the need ever arise.” The exercise, the first of its kind among the East District parishes, was conducted in response to AERO’s call to be prepared for emergencies. AERO was formed in 2016 as an Archdiocesan Commission to plan, train and coordinate emergency safety and security aspects of our Archdiocese. It was also in response to the Singapore Home Team agencies’ and SGSecure Community Network’s call to religious organisations to be crisis-ready in anticipation of potential fires, natural disasters and bomb threats. “The road has been long, but we have since moved from raising individual capabilities and bench strength of emergency response teams of each parish community, to focus on enabling parishes to work within a coordinated framework in the Archdiocese’s districts,” said Mr Kevin Ho, Chairman of AERO. “Ultimately it’s about working
Conducting a headcount at the assembly point.
as a community, not in isolation, focusing not only on preparedness capabilities, but also building on the will of the faithful to carry on and work towards – ‘returning to normalcy’ together with other religious communities, should anything happen in Singapore,” he stressed. After standing down from the fire drill, Marc Leong, a Pri 6 participant shared, “Although I knew it was only a drill, I found it very meaningful because it helps us to know what to expect and do during an emergency. My school conducts fire evacuation exercises twice a year. So I’m glad that we have started to do this in our parish as well.” Mr Gerald Khor, a catechist for Pri 5 students, echoed this sentiment “This exercise is important and I’m glad that we’ve finally done our first one”. He added that the safety and security concerns for the Church is “very real
and we should all be prepared”. “The sense of community responsibility and purpose is very strong in our parish,” said parish priest Father Timothy Yeo. “We are very grateful to all the volunteers who have stepped forward to join our Emergency Response and Evacuation teams to make our parish a safer place for everyone.” Editor’s Note: All parishes are rolling out Emergency Response Teams and every member of the faithful community is encouraged to volunteer in various roles such as coordinators, medical, security or fire safety personnel. It’s our business to keep our communities safe for all our families. Please contact your Parish Secretariat for more information. n The writer is a parishioner of Queen of Peace Church.
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Jesus did a lot of travelling so He could speak to as many people as possible about God. One day, Jesus decided to send 72 of His followers ahead of Him to the communities He planned to visit. “The harvest is abundant but the labourers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out labourers for his harvest,” He said as he split the men into pairs. Jesus warned His friends that He was sending them “like lambs among wolves.” He also told them they could not carry money bags, sacks or sandals, and told them not to greet anyone along the way. When they arrived in a town, they were to visit people in their homes. “Into whatever house you enter,
first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you,” Jesus said. Jesus told His friends to stay in one peaceful home only and not move around from house to house. They also were to eat and drink whatever their hosts offered, “for the labourer deserves payment”. “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you,’” Jesus continued. He also told the 72 what to do if they were not welcomed. “Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say, ‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you,’” Jesus said. “Yet know
SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:
this: The kingdom of God is at hand.” When Jesus finished speaking, the 72 left. When they returned from their missions, they were very excited. “Lord,” they said, “even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus agreed that He did indeed give them great power but warned them not to take pride in it. “Do not rejoice because the spir-
its are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven,” He advised. n Read more about it: Luke 10
Q&A 1. How many men did Jesus send out to evangelise? 2. What were the men speaking excitedly about when they returned?
Wordsearch:
St John of Capistranto
n RECEIVE n ISRAEL
n CONTINUE n ABUNDANT
St John of Capistrano was born in Italy in 1386. He met his wife, who was from a prominent family, while studying law in Perugia. He later became the city’s governor in 1412. While he was imprisoned during a civil war, John had a vision of St Francis. He had a spiritual conversion and decided he wanted to join the Friars Minor, which he did in 1416 after he was dispensed from his marriage vows. He was ordained a priest in 1420. He became a great preacher and worked hard to make his order better. He also led part of a Christian army to victory over the Turks, who had laid siege to Belgrade in 1456. John died not long after the battle was over, and we honour him on Oct 23. n
n TOWN
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ESSAY: Jesus told his followers to be more concerned with their lives in heaven than with their earthly lives and possessions. How do you follow Jesus’ advice in your life?
Bible Accent:
Answer to puzzle: 1. name; 2. you; 3. lambs; 4. house; 5. Satan
In Matthew 10, we read that there was another group of men that Jesus sent out to evangelise – the Twelve Apostles. Jesus gave the apostles the power to drive out unclean spirits and cure diseases. He told them not to take anything with them on their journeys, such as second tunics and walking sticks. He also warned His friends that He was sending them like sheep in the midst of wolves. That’s why He suggested that they “be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves”. “But beware of people,” Jesus said, “for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” Some of what Jesus told the apostles sounds similar to what He told His 72 followers when He sent them out to bring God’s word to the people. However, He gave the apostles some additional instructions. “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town,” Jesus told the Twelve. “Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” n
PUZZLE: Complete the sentences below using the hints provided from Luke 10 about the mission of the 72. 1. Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your ______. (verse 17)
2. Whoever listens to ______ listens to me. (verse 16) 3. Behold, I am sending you like ______ among wolves. (verse 3) 4. Do not move about from one ______ to another. (verse 7) 5. I have observed ______ fall like lightning from the sky. (verse 18)
Answer to Wordsearch
By Jennifer Ficcaglia
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Catholic agencies aiding Sulawesi quake victims JAKARTA – Catholic aid agencies
are working to assess the needs and get relief to people in Sulawesi after an earthquake and tsunami left more than 1,200 people dead. Indonesia’s disaster agency said on Oct 2 that the death toll from the magnitude 7.5 earthquake and tsunami was expected to rise as rescuers pulled bodies from the rubble. It said nearly 800 people were severely injured and nearly 50,000 people had been displaced by the disaster so far. Father Joy Derry Clement, chairman of the Socio-Economic Commission of Manado Diocese in North Sulawesi, said some parishes in the area have been heavily hit. Speaking with Asian Church news agency ucanews.com, Fr Clement said he was told at least two parish churches in Palu have been partially destroyed. “Their walls are cracked. In some cases, heavy steel pillars have become detached from their brackets,” he said, adding that a number of priests suffered minor injuries due to the quake. Fr Clement said that his bishop, Bishop Benedictus Estephanus Rolly Untu, has appointed him to coordinate the diocese’s relief efforts. “We’ve formed a team that will be sent to Palu soon to assess the situation there. I’ve also set up a
logistics team in the commission’s office where material aid from local Catholics can be collected,” he said. Mr Aryo Saptoadji, an emergency response team member with Caritas Indonesia, the local Church’s charity arm, said that his group is working with the diocesan commission and similar bodies in South Sulawesi to provide assessments and relief. The Association of Indonesian Catholic Health Services; Catholic Relief Services from the US, and several NGOs have pitched in to help, he added. Mr Rudi Raka, a volunteer with the assessment team despatched by Makassar Archdiocese in South Sulawesi, said they will travel to Palu to provide assistance. “We’ll do a rapid assessment and decide what action we need to take based on the results,” he said. The disaster has drawn the attention of the international community, including Pope Francis. After reciting the Angelus with members of the faithful at St Peter’s Square on Sept 30, the pontiff expressed his condolences. “I pray for the deceased – unfortunately, [they are] numerous – for the wounded, for all those that have lost their homes and work,” the Pope said. “May the Lord console them and support the efforts of all
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Below: An Indonesian rescue team searches for victims and survivors in a destroyed hotel.
those that are involved in bringing help. Let us pray together for our brothers of the Island of Sulawesi.” IN SINGAPORE, the Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore (CHARIS) is appealing for donations. CHARIS said Caritas Indonesia has asked for basic food necessities, clean water, portable shelter and medical supplies. For information on how to donate, please visit charis-singapore. org. n CNS, UCANEWS.COM
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Vietnam bishops urge support for families facing challenges HANOI – Bishops in Vietnam
have asked Catholics in a fast-changing society to provide pastoral care to internal migrant couples as well as families facing difficulties such as marriage breakups. Church leaders, in a Sept 28 pastoral letter, said due to economic difficulties, many family members had to move to big cities from their rural homes to try to earn a living. Only a few succeeded while most continued to struggle financially, including paying the education costs of their children. The Church treats those who are divorced and remarried with motherly love, the bishops said following a Sept 24-28 national meeting of representatives from 26 dioceses in
My Tho City of southern Vietnam. On average, Vietnam records 60,000 cases of divorce per year, mostly of young couples, according to the country’s Institute for Family and Gender Studies. The bishops noted that religiously mixed marriages sometimes ran into difficulties due to a lack of shared beliefs, including disagreements on the faith education of children. They also noted that people who moved away from their family homes often found it hard to integrate into new parishes. Local Catholics were urged to openly receive them, so that the newcomers could deepen their faith and overcome their challenges. n UCANEWS. COM
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God looks for disciples among the despised, says Holy Father CNS file photo
VATICAN CITY – God went look-
ing for and chose so many Christians and saints from the dregs of society, inviting some of the worst sinners to be His disciples, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. It would be easy to think, he said, that Jesus “doesn’t have good judgement in choosing people” given that He chose so many people from “the most despised place” a person could be from at the time. That is because Jesus does not come to call the righteous, but the sinners, because “those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do”, the Pope said, quoting from the day’s Gospel reading during Mass in his residence on Sept 21, the feast of St Matthew. This feast day has great significance for the Pope, who, as a 17-year-old boy, strongly felt God’s presence and mercy that day, inspiring him to Religious life. His episcopal and papal motto – “Because He saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him” – is based on the account of Jesus seeing Matthew, a sinner and tax collector, and calling him to “follow Me”. Focusing on the day’s Gospel passage (Mt 9:9-13), the Pope
“God’s mercy seeks everyone, forgives everyone,” said Pope Francis.
said people must remember who they were when God called them to become Christian and always keep fresh in their minds “the memory of our sins, the memory that the Lord had mercy on my sins and He chose me to be Christian, to be apostle”. When Matthew left behind his life as a corrupt tax-collector for the Romans in order to follow the Lord, the Pope said, he didn’t dress in luxurious clothes or brag about his new status; “No! He worked his whole life for the Gospel.” “When apostles forget their origins and begin to build a ca-
reer, they distance themselves from the Lord” and become executives. Perhaps they do a lot of good in life, but they are not apostles since they are unable to share or represent Jesus,” he added. “They will be a good organiser of pastoral plans, of many things, but in the end, a business man – a business man of the kingdom of God because they forgot where they were chosen from,” the Pope said. In the Gospel passage, the Pope noted, the Pharisees are scandalised when they see Jesus and His disciples eat with tax collectors and sinners, thinking that being close to such “impure” people “infects you” with impurity. But Jesus tells them to go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’, which means, the Pope said, “God’s mercy seeks everyone, forgives everyone. He only asks you to say, ‘Yes, help me.’ Only that.” “Understanding the Lord’s mercy is a mystery. The greatest, most beautiful mystery is the heart of God,” Pope Francis said. “If you want to get right to God’s heart, take the path of mercy and let yourself be treated with mercy.” n CNS
Crossword Puzzle 1220 1
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
ACROSS 1 Recent pope, affectionately 5 Person in authority 9 The start of an oak 14 Pull down 15 Writer Wiesel 16 Jesus was in the tomb for these many days 17 Interval 18 Liquid measure 19 Confronts 20 Watched the baby 21 Cries of discovery
22 23 25 28 29 33 36 37 38 39 40 41
Friends Selected by vote Nazareth, to Jesus Church seat Bleak The Evil One Loom-made Broadcast to the world (abbr.) Goes to court Howled Salamander As yet unscheduled, briefly
42 “…a chosen race, a ____ priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9) 43 The house of a parson 44 Meetings 46 Nahum follower (abbr.) 47 Cod relative 48 Adjective for Esau 52 202, in ancient Rome 55 “We are many parts, we are all one ____…”
56 A ____ on your house 57 Relaxes 59 _____ of milk and honey 60 Mtg. 61 Farewell, from Juan 62 The duck in “Peter and the Wolf” 63 Inheritor 64 Okays 65 Give notice 66 Medieval Spanish chest
DOWN 1 ___ tree 2 Adjective for the Bishop of Rome 3 Angry 4 There was no room here 5 Lot, to Abraham 6 Greek epic poem 7 Cartons 8 Court unit 9 US Justice Dept. agency 10 Oratory 11 Killer whale 12 Go for a spin? 13 Promontory 21 “A dillar, a dollar, _____ o’clock scholar” 24 IRS experts 25 Lean-to 26 Pundit’s page 27 “For us _____, and for our salvation…” 29 DC Catholic university team 30 Balanced 31 Plants 32 Satisfy 33 They travel at speeds greater than the speed of sound (abbr.)
34 French department 35 Mr. Mack, and others 36 “Fort” diocese in Indiana 39 _____ of Genesis 40 Apprehends 42 Narrow inlet 43 Catholic author ___ Higgins Clark 45 Old Testament town that was home of the tribe of Ephraim 46 Some years of Jesus’ life 48 According to Proverbs, a gracious woman gets this (Prov 11:16) 49 The _____ Room, where the disciples experienced the Holy Spirit 50 Theme 51 Not needed 52 Stuff of creation 53 Set of principles 54 Hip bones 55 Small yeast cake 58 Military sign-up org. 59 Not high 60 “I got it!”
Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1219 A R K S
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H E L P P A E L U M R S O S N O O N R T H
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G R E H E Y S T R T S C Q U R U S E O P S T T E L O A R N E D
A I D A
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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com
16 WORLD
VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis asked every
Catholic in the world to pray daily in October for the protection of the Church from attacks by the devil. Also, he asked to pray that the Church would be more aware of its sins and stronger in its efforts to combat abuse. This call underscores Pope Francis’ concern that the Church is facing a serious crisis and for Catholics to seek Mother Mary’s intercession to get protection for the Church. (See graphic below). In a statement issued by the Vatican on Sept 29, to mark the Feast of the Archangels, it said: “…at the same time making her [the Church] more aware of her sins, errors and the abuses committed in the present and the past, and committed to fighting without hesitation so that evil would not prevail”. United “in communion and penitence as the people of God”, the statement said, Catholics should plead for protection against “the devil, who always seeks to divide us from God and from one another”.
Adapted from CNS/Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Newtwork
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
Earlier in September, Pope Francis met Jesuit Father Federic Fornos, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer, to ask that the recitation of the rosary in October conclude with “the ancient invocation ‘Sub Tuum Praesidium’ (‘Under your protection’) and with the prayer to St Michael the Archangel, who protects us in the battle against evil”. The first prayer, to Mary, goes: “We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.” The prayer to St Michael reads: “St Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of heavenly hosts, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” n CNS
Sun
WORLD 17
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
Oct 13, 1917 was the sixth and last time that Our Lady appeared at Fatima; her consistent message was, “I want you to continue saying the rosary every day.” Father Geoffrey A. Brooke Jr The rosary simultaneously manages to be one of the easiest and the most difficult prayers of the Catholic Church. Easy because it was developed to simplify the Gospels and contains the most commonly known prayers, the Hail Mary and Our Father. Difficult because it is so easy to get distracted while repeating the same prayers over and over. One of the noted side effects of the new digital age is a rapidly shortening attention span. This makes it even more difficult for the younger generation to pray the rosary when they’ve grown up on a steady diet of social media and the now seemingly antiquated 24hour news cycle. Does this mean that the rosary should be given up, forgotten or abolished for the younger generations? Absolutely not. Perhaps it can be seen in a different light and as a great gift to the young faithful. Two of my fondest memories growing up are going to sports competitions and going on vacation. There is something that both have in common: crowds. For a child, those crowds can be quite intimidating. So we were taught to hold on to Mum’s hand and not let go. She would lead us through the swarm of people and obstacles.
When we pray the rosary, Mary does the exact same thing. She leads us not through the crowds at the stadium but rather through life. Like a good mother, she wants to keep us close and safe. As we navigate the various temptations and struggles of life, Mary desires to lead us through the mess. Life throws its twists and turns at all of us. We often feel like we have no idea what to do. Many young people will jump on YouTube, Pinterest or Facebook to find the best advice capable of resolving their problems. All the time, there is Mary, holding out her hand, the rosary, for us to latch on to and allow her to guide us in our time of need, fear or sorrow. Instead of trying to come up with all the answers ourselves, we can allow Mary to pull us through. There is of course a great irony about young people complaining that the rosary is “too repetitious” and “boring”. In a certain sense, the rosary was developed just for them, albeit some 800 or more years in advance. The rosary actually grew out of a necessity for those who couldn’t read as they can now learn the Gospel stories. As a modern-day analogy, the mysteries become like “tweets” of the Gospel. When the rosary is seen as a “Twitter version” of the Gospel, then it becomes a great
A Hail Mary prayer on the wall of a Catholic school. CNS file photo
tool to help introduce young people to Jesus, not something to be abandoned. Young people today might be tempted to think of the rosary as boring, repetitious or as an oldfashioned practice. However, when contemplated with a fresh perspective, one can see how through the rosary, Mary reaches out to lead us on life’s journey. It’s not a journey to nowhere. Rather it’s filled with many digestible and short signposts, tweet-sized mysteries leading us to Christ. n CNS Fr Brooke is a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Missouri, USA.
18 OPINION
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
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REFLECTION
Understanding chastity and celibacy Where God is the first love Father Luke Fong There is a very prevalent but very weak appreciation of chastity and it’s close cousin, celibacy. And I say this not just in reference to the laity, but sadly, also in reference to the many Religious and clerics who have taken the vow of celibacy for life. Just a strong and deep understanding of chastity as the Church teaches can lead one to be generous, selfless and giving in many ways. On the flip side, a weak and shallow understanding and appreciation of it can lead to just the opposite – where one is stingy, calculative, selfish and inward looking, and fearful (which is the antithesis of loving). The world has been scandalised ad nauseam by the horrendous revelations of the reports of how Religious, clerics and some bishops have lived double lives. They had been involved in many cases of sexual misconduct in various dioceses all over the world, leaving many to ask how could men (and even women) who have pledged a lifelong commitment to chastity succumb to such a depraved pit in the conduct of their moral lives. Did they not have a conscience that was speaking volumes to their hearts? How could they fall in this way, and in such staggering numbers? The answer surely cannot be a facile one. However, it cannot be denied that one of the strongest reasons would have to be that there was a very simplistic and insufficient appreciation of what chastity was, and the great potential that it can have for the world when one embraces it with the mind of the Church. Whether one is secular (read worldly) or whether one is religious, living a chaste life is not something that is easy and readily welcome. Why? Because in our DNA as human beings, we are wired for Godliness.
God’s divine attributes are that of being life-giver and creator, and in our sexuality lies the germ of this attribute. God, as Genesis tells us, made us in His image, and as such, our sexuality has inside of it, an aspect of godliness that God has shared with us. Sexuality isn’t a bad or dirty thing, despite what many may think. It is truly a beautiful and precious gift from God to us. If it weren’t a powerful energy inside every human person, the human race would not be populating the world the way it does.
Having said that, when one accepts the call to live chastely and be celibate for life, it is not that one is praying that he or she be somehow neutered and asexual. It is not a call to not love oneself. But one will not love oneself if one doesn’t first endeavour to love God first. If we don’t nurture a pure love of God, we will only end up loving ourselves, and in the wrong ways. How then ought one to broach chastity and celibacy? It has a lot to do with purity of heart. It’s interesting to note that nowhere in the Gospels do we see Jesus teaching his disciples to be celibate and chaste. But He does instruct them on the great need to live
with a purity of heart. Having a heart that is pure is what makes one able to “be holy as God is holy”, and to be “perfect as God is perfect”. How does God love? He loves the very being of the person. He doesn’t allow the actions or the words of the person to blur or stymie His intention to love. Our love for others, unfortunately, is very often predicated on the recipient’s kind and positive actions, demeanour, tone of voice, physical appearance etc. The more the other person doesn’t meet with our expectations, the less we are likely to love him or her. That’s not the way God loves. Because God’s love is pure, He is able to love despite one not being “loveable” according to our standards. To be pure of heart then is to want to love as God loves, and to see others as God sees them. In this way, we will also love them for their sake, and not ours. A misuse of this will be when we use others for our sake, and this is where impure intentions and impure hearts lead to impure actions. Chastity and celibacy when healthily understood and lived out cannot but result in a person who is outward looking and life-giving in many ways. A person who taps on this grace-energy doesn’t become less energetic and lethargic, but truly full of vigour and is able to channel his or her energies in a proper and respectful way. Understanding this still doesn’t make chastity and celibacy easy by any means. It will always be something that sees one pushing against the goad, but it then becomes absolutely necessary that one constantly seek God’s grace to be chaste in all aspects of life – to have chaste hopes, chaste dreams (both day and night dreams), chaste desires, and above all, chaste intentions. Indeed then, blessed will they be – those who are pure of heart. n Fr Luke Fong is Assistant Priest at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Internet of things and its impact on our lives INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY and social media aren’t my mother tongue. I’m a digital immigrant. I wasn’t born into the world of information technology but migrated into it, piece-meal. I was nine years old before I lived with electricity. I had seen it before; but neither our home, our school, nor our neighbours had electricity. And while I grew up with radio, I was 14 before our family got its first television set. Electricity and television quickly became a mother tongue, one lit our home and the other brought the big world into it. But the phone was still foreign. I was 17 when I left home and our family had never had a phone. The phone wasn’t much to master, but it would be a goodly number of years before I mastered: Computers, the Internet, websites, mobile phones, smart phones, television and movie access through the Internet, cloud storage, social media, virtual assistants, and the world of myriad apps. It’s been a journey! I was 38 when I first used a VCR, 42 before I first owned a computer, 50 before I first accessed the web and used email, 58 when I owned my first mobile phone, the same age when I first set up a website, 62 before I first texted, and 65 before I joined Facebook. With email, texting, and Facebook being all I can handle, I still do not have either an Instagram or Twitter account. I’m the only person in my immediate Religious community who still prays the Office of the Church out of a book rather than off a mobile device. I protest that paper has soul while digital devices do not. The responses I get are not particularly sympathetic. But it’s for reasons of soul that I much prefer to have a book in my hand than a kindle device. I’m not against information technology; mainly it’s just that I’m not very good at it. I struggle with the language. It’s hard to master a new language as an adult and I envy the young who can speak this language well. What’s to be said about the revolution in information technology? Is it good or bad? Obviously, it has many positives: It’s making us the most informed people ever in the history of this world. Information is power and the Internet and social media have levelled the playing field in terms of access to information and this is serving well the developing nations in the world. Moreover it’s creating one global village out of the whole world. We’re the best-informed and best-connected people ever. But all of this also has a pejorative underbelly: We talk to each other less than we text each other. We have many virtual friends but not always many real friends. We watch nature on a screen more than we ever physically touch it. We spend more time looking at the device in our hands than actually engaging others face to face. Is this a good thing? Does it foster friendship and community or is it their substitute? It’s too early to tell. The initial generations who lived through the industrial revolution did not have any way of knowing what the effects of this would be long-range. The technological revolution, I believe, is just as radical as the industrial revolution and we are its initial generation. At this time we have no way of knowing where this will ultimately take us, for good or bad. But one negative that seems already evident is that the revolution within information technology we are living through is destroying the few remaining remnants we still retain in terms of keeping “Sabbath” in our lives. The 13th century mystic, Rumi, once lamented: “I have lived too long where I can be reached.” That’s infinitely truer of us today than it was for those living in the 13th century. Thanks to the electronic devices we carry around with us, we can be reached all the time – and, too often, let ourselves be reached all time. The result is that now we no longer have any time apart from what we regularly do. Our family times, our recreational times, our vacation periods, and even our prayer times are constantly rendered regular time by our “being reached”. My fear is that while we are going to be the most informed people ever, we may well end up being the least contemplative people ever. But I’m an outsider on this, a digital immigrant. I need to bow to the judgments of those who speak this language as their mother tongue. n
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COMMENTARY 19
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
S’pore mum shares US pitfalls after legalising gay marriage Kalynn T. I am a Singapore citizen who moved to the US over 20 years ago. I hope to return home when my family’s grown because it is where my heart is. I am a suburban mom with zero interest to promote the rights of one group over another. But I cannot remain silent when influential Singaporeans are rallying people to repeal 377A under the misguided concept of repression. It is my duty as a Singapore citizen to speak up having lived through how it’s unfolded in America. If any group is repressed, it is the silent majority who believe that sex and marriage should be between a man and a woman. Going by my experience in the US, anybody who holds a different opinion is labelled intolerant, a bigot or a Nazi. That’s the first problem. These labels are judgmental, shutting down dialogues, breeding social discord and division. Decriminalising gay sex is the doorway to legalising gay marriage. One precedes the other. The LGBTQ has deep pockets and a very loud voice. They have the support of the media and Hollywood celebrities, and some of the richest men in the world and powerful social media engines like Google, Facebook, and big corporations. In Singapore, they have the esteemed to get the ball rolling, and support from a list that reads like a Who’s Who in Singapore. To use the victim mentality, claiming to be repressed because of being a minority group is a disingenuous argument. It is evident that the private right to marry has become politics in America. The Democrats use gay rights to garner votes.
We witness in America that you can’t decou- is fluid, one can choose any bathroom based ple gay rights from politics. What is there to on the gender of your choice. It would be stop foreign interference in domestic poli- an affront to my elderly mother’s dignity to cies when these interest groups start getting see a man using a woman’s toilet. We can’t funding and support for their causes under protect our daughters or grand-daughters. the guise of human rights and civil liberty? Schools are sued for trying to accommodate If you see what’s happening in America, trans by letting them use staff bathrooms. it is no longer about the right to love and The LGBTQ community has shown itmarry someone of the same sex. That right self consistently, to be intolerant. to choose in one’s private life has snowballed Singapore is a multicultural society. If you into a huge social dilemma. The gay commu- remove all the religious arguments and look at nity presents its case as an equal right to love, the values and norms of our society, every rawhich appeals to any decent human being. cial group – Chinese, Malays, Indians (except But that is not what it is bethe Greeks) will agree that cause it doesn’t stop there. In sex and marriage is between I fear for the US, there are cases upon a man and a woman. It is ludiSingapore seeing crous that it has to be debated, cases of small businesses who are sued for discriminadefended, like the world is what’s happening or tion. Once gay marriage is round. There are some things legal, then any refusal to prowhich are immutable truths in America, if vide service becomes illegal however you twist it. And 377A is repealed. they should not be subject to – discriminatory. Somehow gay rights trump religious based on popular culThe ramifications change freedom which was supposed ture propagated by the powto be protected under the First erful, rich and famous. are huge. Amendment. So, if citizens I grew up in a pre-war are not protected in America, which has a law house with an extended, multi-generational set in stone by its forefathers, what is there to family of great grandmother, grandmother, protect that personal religious or cultural be- great aunts, uncles and cousins in a very lief of Singaporeans if 377A is repealed? Taoist household with ancestral altars. Then Gays and transgenders are not equal. I spent 10 years in a convent school with They are not content to be equal as they de- Irish nuns. I was raised by an agnostic dad mand more than equality. They are so pow- and a Methodist mother. We coexisted. erful that even the 108-year-old Boy Scouts With the gay movement, there is no room of America has caved in to admit gays and for coexistence. There is no wiggle room or trans as scouts and scout masters. As far as compromise. All that matter is what they are they are concerned, there are no boundaries. entitled to. They violate the very civil rights Many bathrooms and locker rooms in they fight for. And they have deep pockets gyms are now gender neutral. Since gender and a massive machinery for their cause.
I fear for Singapore seeing what’s happening in America, if 377A is repealed. The ramifications are huge. I fear deep racial and class factions similar to that of liberals and conservatives in America. I fear social unrest from the resentment of the repressed silent majority who have no voice. Because their voice will cost them their jobs, business and friends. Repealing will offend every cultural sensibility of the masses and create deep divide in the country. It is naive to think if gay sex is legalised, they will live happily ever after and our lives go unchanged. They are unstoppable as it’s never “enough” for them. Singapore has the added complexity of a multi-racial and multi-religious society whose survival hinges on a finely-honed political system that balances economic growth, public welfare and individual rights vs a laissez-faire system. We just need a page from America’s playbook to see how LGBTQ rights have disrupted every facet of society. There can be no turning back because it’s now a cultural phenomenon, a wave so big it can’t be contained. In a city with almost six million people compressed in about 720 sq km, the stakes are even higher as there is no room for error. The government has been chosen by the people to lead the country, to maintain unity, protect their economic interest and peace and prosperity. Therefore, it cannot be persuaded or coerced by the rhetoric of the elitist, which has created an issue overnight. So, before the government considers repealing 377A, I appeal to all concerned, to consider the risk and heavy cost to our nation – our hard-earned order and stability. n Kalynn is a Singaporean currently living in the US.
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Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
Sun
Compile d by Jared Ng and Christo pher Wo ng
Oct 18
Oct 19 to 21
Meditations & Psychological Components of the Spiritual Exercises – Part 2 Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Venue: Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. This talk focuses on the three classes of men and contemplation to attain love meditations, as found in the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. These meditations will be illuminated with psychological research findings. Facilitator: Fr Jerry Cusumano, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. Cost: $50. To register: W: http://tinyurl.com/jcsj18; T: 6467 6072.
A Scriptural Journey through the Spiritual Exercises Oct 19 (7.30pm)-Oct 21 (4.30pm). Venue: Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. In this retreat, participants will reflect on some major themes found in the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, from the graced history, to getting to know Jesus more intimately in our everyday life. Facilitator: Fr Jerry Cusumano, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. Fee: $270 (non-AC), $330 (AC). To register: W: http://tinyurl.com/jcsj18; T: 6467 6072.
Oct 19 to 21
Oct 24, 31 and Nov 7, 14, 21, 28
Light and Hope Venue and time: Church of Divine Mercy on Oct 19 at 7.45pm. Church of St Ignatius on Oct 20 at 7.45pm. CANA invites you to Light and Hope: The Music of Fr Ricky Manalo and Janet Sullivan Whitaker. Tickets at $25 are available at Cana The Catholic Centre. For reservations, E: canatheplacetobe2013@gmail.com; T: 6338 4080.
Basic Catechist Course Level 2 – Human Sexuality* Time: Every Wednesday from 7:30pm-10pm. Venue: CAEC 2 Highland Road, S549102. *NOTE* Participants are required to have attended Basic Catechist Course Level 2 – Intro to Morality. Cost is waived for 2018. Register using the following URL: https://cms.catechesis. org.sg/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=249. For more information, T: 6911 0400; E: formation@catechesis.org.sg; W: www.catechesis.org.sg.
Oct 15 My Journey Series Talk Time: 7:30-9pm. Venue: Catholic Centre Level 3, 55 Waterloo St. Catholic Business Network presents an evening of Christian fellowship and sharing by Mr Ooi Boon Hoe, CEO of Jurong Port. He will speak on his personal and corporate life journey; his perspective and approach to balance faith, family and a successful career as a shepherd in the marketplace. FOC. A light dinner will be provided. To register: E: celine@cbn.sg; T: 9858 4782.
Oct 26 to Oct 28 Montfortian Experience Retreat (MX6) – Christian Discipleship Time: 6:30pm (Fri)-1:30pm (Sun). Venue: Montfort Centre. A Christian disciple is a person free with the freedom that comes from God, detached from everything and devoid of self-interest. Animator: Br Dominic Yeo-Koh, SG, Br John Albert, SG. Cost: $130 (twin/sharing). For more information, E: enquiries@montfortcentre.org; T: 6769 5711.
Oct 17 Meditations & Psychological Components of the Spiritual Exercises – Part 1 Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. Venue: Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. This talk focuses on the principle and foundation and the call of the king meditations, as found in the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. These meditations will be illuminated with psychological research findings. Facilitator: Fr Jerry Cusumano, SJ. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. Cost: $50. To register: W: http://tinyurl.com/jcsj18; T: 6467 6072.
Oct 27 and Nov 3 Basic Catechist Course Level 2 – Learning To Listen & Facilitate (Intensive) Time: 8:30am-4pm (Oct 27). 10am-4pm (Nov 3). Venue: Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace 4, Sandy Lane, S437321. One of the fundamental tasks of catechesis is the initiation and education in community life. In this course, participants will learn the key to
Guide for Funerals in the Archdiocese
Death of a Catholic
Deaths and funerals are often a time of distress for families. Making funeral arrangements under these circumstances can be challenging especially with the need to coordinate multiple issues.
1 2
As a principle the funeral is normally arranged at the parish of the deceased.
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The parish of the deceased is determined by the parish that he/she normally had been attending for their Masses and liturgical services.
The parish secretary will assist in sourcing a priest of the parish or another priest for the families to conduct the funeral rites.
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For all other logistics in relation to the funeral day and rites, it will then be directed to the parish that will be conducting the funeral.
3
Before arranging a time or day of funeral and cremation, do contact the parish concerned to determine the availability of a priest.
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In the case of dispute, the territorial parish will assume responsibility for the funeral.
In the event that the parish that was contacted is not the parish of the deceased, it would be the duty of the secretary to forward the information to the relevant parish and inform the families concerned.
The family or funeral director must secure parish venue and priest first before booking the crematorium
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M No Lif M th It in Th ho Fo Fo W
Funeral Is it parish of the deceased?
The Archdiocese of Singapore, in helping to streamline the process for families of the deceased, has outlined the broad principles to assist the bereaved.
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If the parish venue is not available, the parish should arrange for an alternative venue. In exceptional cases, the Mass for the funeral can be held at the venue of the wake.
Family contacts parish of the deceased
The parish of the deceased is determined by the parish that he/she normally had been attending for their Masses and liturgical services
Parish office contacts correct parish of the deceased
In the case of dispu will assume respo
ws
WHAT’S ON 21
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
facilitating small faith-sharing groups which is how to listen authentically as well as the practical skills needed to help individuals and communities grow in faith. For more information, W: www.catechesis.org.sg; T: 6911 0401.
Nov 10 commencing Maryvale Certificate in Catechesis (MCC) This is a two-year, part-time, distance-learning course for those interested to develop his or her faith. It includes practical aspects of catechesis, as well as a solid foundation in key areas of theology and spirituality. Organiser: Office For Catechesis. E: actp@catechesis.org.sg (Jane).
Nov 17 “A Life Surprised By ... ” – A Retreat for Young Adults Time: 9am-5pm. Venue: Verbum Dei Singapore (4 Sommerville Road S358228). Come, and let Him surprise you! “A Life Surprised By ...” is a one-day retreat for young adults aged 20-40 years old organised by the Verbum Dei missionaries and disciples. Cost: $50 per adult (includes tea and lunch). To register: W: tinyurl.com/alifesurprisedby. For more information, T: 6274 0251; E: Vdeisgevents@gmail.com.
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Nov 17 St Patrick’s School 85th Anniversary Dinner Time: 7.15pm. Venue: Fairmont Hotel. All alumni are invited to join us for this celebration and fellowship. Tickets are available at the school office. T: 6344 0929 (school hours). Per head: $150. Per table: $1,380. Extra costs apply for specially requested halal food.
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Nov 3 and Nov 10
Nov 18 to Nov 24
My Child is Made for More Nov 3: 9am-1.30pm. Nov 10: 9am-4.30pm. Venue: Lifelong Learning Institute, 11 Eunos Road 8, S408601. My Child is Made for More will enable you to be the primary sexuality educator of your child. It addresses the sexuality issues facing your child, including pornography, pre-marital and casual sex. The approach is to focus on dignity, respect, sexual honesty and authentic freedom, not consequences. For tickets: T: 6488 0278 (Look for Hershey/Sophia). For more information, W: education@familylife.sg; W: madeformore.peatix.com.
Week of Guided Prayer @ Church of the Holy Cross The Sojourners’ Companions invites you to learn how to pray with Scripture and develop a closer relationship with the Lord. Taster on Nov 18 from 2pm-5pm. Nov 19-23: daily 30mins at home and 30mins with personal prayer guide at the church, at a convenient time between 9am-10pm. Closing on Nov 24 from 2pm-5pm. To register: W: www.sojourners.sg; E: wogp@sojourners.sg. Registration is also available on Nov 10 and 11 at the church foyer or parish office after Mass. Cost: $30.
Funeral Arrangement Policy in Singapore Based on Senate Communication
s it parish of he deceased?
Is parish venue availabe?
Is priest available?
Priest negotiates date and time of funeral with the family
Parish ffice contacts orrect parish the deceased
Parish office looks for another venue
Parish office looks for another priest
The logistics will be arranged by the parish where the funeral is held
the case of dispute, the territorial parish will assume responsibility for the funeral
For more clarification or information, please contact your parish priest.
EVENT SUBMISSIONS WHAT’S ON submissions now require the completion of a form from the Archdiocese before the event can be publicised. For events with foreign speakers, please submit the necessary documentation for approval to the Chancery. For more information and to download the form, visit http://www.catholic.sg/ events/announcement-advertisement-request/. Once forms have been submitted online, kindly send us details of your event for publication at www.catholicnews.sg/whatson/ at least one month ahead of the publication date.
Nov 23 to Nov 25 Quieting the Soul: Singapore Time: Nov 23 (7pm) to Nov 25 (4pm). Venue: St. Patrick’s House (behind St Patrick’s Sch) 490 East Coast Rd, S429058. Step aside from the busyness of life to spend time in quiet prayer and reflection and to deepen your relationship with God. This is an individualised weekend retreat, guided by a trained spiritual director who will help you process your prayer and to discern God’s voice. By Cenacle Sister and team. Cost: $250. To register: W: www.cenaclemission. com. Please register before Nov 10.
Dec 5 to Dec 7 Fr Anthony Ho 50th and Fr Francis Lee 43rd Sacerdotal Anniversary Celebrations Fr Anthony Ho’s and Fr Francis Lee’s sacerdotal anniversary Triduum Mass at St Anne’s Church with celebratory dinner in church dining hall on Dec 7 at 7.15pm. Dinner tickets at S$50/pax or $500/table. Tickets can be purchased at church office on a first come first serve basis. Mass Timings: Dec 5: 8pm, Dec 6: 8pm (Rosary at 7.30pm on 5th and 6th). Dec 7: 6pm.
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22 IN MEMORIAM
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
Second Anniversary In loving memory of
Third Anniversary In loving memory of
SEBASTIAN YAP SOON HUAT Departed: Oct 17, 2016 Lord, at your passion love did conquer fear, Now share that triumph with his soul so dear Banish his sorrow, let your light shine O grant him pardon, Jesus Saviour blest And give his spirit light and endless rest. Dearly missed and fondly remembered by his only sister and all loved ones.
ELAINE GEH SINGARAYAR Departed: Oct 10, 2015 We cannot forget you Our loved one so dear, Your memory grows sweeter Year after year. Dearly missed by loved ones.
Fifth Anniversary In loving memory of
Twentieth Anniversary In loving memory of
Fifteenth Anniversary In cherished memory
DAVID MAHESAN Departed: Oct 15, 2003 We think of you in silence No eyes can see us weep For still within our hearts Your memory we always keep. Remembered and loved by family, wife Helen, Noel & Belinda, Marcelle Tyler & Tania
CLASSIFIED
THANKSGIVING
Thank you St Expedite for your healing power, for giving me the resources to have the help that I needed and for guiding me.
OBITUARY In loving memory of
MANUEL JOSEPH DECRUZ Departed: 12 Oct 1998
Eternal rest grant unto Papa, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. Fondly remembered by your loving children, in-laws, grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Mass will be celebrated at the Church of St Michael on Friday 12 Oct 2018 at 6pm.
Ninth Anniversary In loving memory of
Fourteenth Anniversary In loving memory of
ANDREW HONG KIM POH Departed: Oct 6, 2013 Even when we close our eyes There’s an image of your face And once again we come to realize You’re a loss we can’t replace. Dearly missed and always remembered by wife, sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren In loving memory of
Third Anniversary In loving memory of
CHNG CHENG YEO MARY Departed: Oct 7, 2015 In our hearts you will always live Your love, your voice and your smile Are forever imprinted in our minds. Dearly missed by loved ones.
Second Anniversary In loving memory of
ROSA CHIA KHIUM SIEW Departed: Oct 18, 2011 In our home she is fondly remembered, Sweet memories cling to her name; Those who loved her in life sincerely, Still love her in death just the same. GABRIEL DE SILVA VINCENT FOO Fondly remembered by Departed: Oct 7, 2009 CHUNG FONG Adrian & Helen, Victor, Departed: Oct 8, 2004 Valerie & Benjamin, In the emptiness and grandchildren and silence of our mourning You had a heart of gold comes the comfort One of the best to behold great-grandchildren. From on high You were generous, “Let perpetual light With peace in our loving and kind shine upon him.” hearts and the joy that These are the memories Fifteenth you are always nearby. you left behind. Anniversary Dearly missed by, Dearly missed by In loving memory of Wife: Freda Chua, beloved wife Margaret, Daughter: Charmaine children, grandchildren, and all loved ones. relatives and friends.
JOSEPH BERNARD VALBERG Departed: Oct 11, 2016 Our Lord Jesus knew what was best He took you home for eternal rest We wiped our tears and tried not to be sad And remember the precious times we had. Deeply missed and remembered by mother, brothers, sisters and loved ones.
In loving memory of Twenty-seventh Anniversary
In loving memory of
Twenty-third Anniversary
In loving memory of Mum and Dad SOOSAI MADURENDIRA AROKIAM Departed: Aug 24, 2018 Our Lord Jesus knew what was best He took you home for eternal rest We wiped our tears and tried not to be sad And remember the precious times we had. Dearly missed and lovingly remembered by wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends. Mass will be celebrated at Church of Christ The King on Sunday, Oct 7 2018 at 5.30pm.
BEATRICE WANG nee TAN SIEW GUAT 27 Oct 1946 to 19 Oct 2006
WANG CHEE TING 10 Oct 1931 to 15 Oct 2008
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. –1 Corinthians 13:13
JONNY JEFFERY ALEX Departed: Oct 19, 2003 Our Lord Jesus know what was best He took you home for eternal rest. We remember and cherish the happy times together and forever imprinted in our minds. Always remembered by your family and loved ones. Mass will be offered at the Church of St Michael on Oct 14, 2018 at 10am.
KOH HOU SEN MARY TAN LIM KEE Departed:Oct 13, 1991 Departed: Nov 14, 1995
Dearest parents, You are in God’s Kingdom The glory of His universe Eternally the peace and joy Flow like a watering-can. Always remembered by loving children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
ANTHONY JOHN IRIS THERESA DANKER DANKER Departed: Oct 4, 2012 Departed: Oct 11, 1987
We speak your name with love and pride We smile with tears we cannot hide We thank you for the years we shared The love you gave, the way you cared Eternal rest grant unto you both and may perpetual light shine on you always. Rest in Peace beloved Mum and Dad.
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Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
In loving memory of
FIRST ANNIVERSARY
FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY
In loving memory of our parents
DOMINIC TEO THERESA HENG BOON MENG GUAN HIANG Departed Nov 26, 1995 Oct 21, 1987
Rest in peace. Fondly remembered by children, children-in-laws, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loved ones. Twentieth Anniversary
In loving memory of
ANTHONY WILLIAM VALBERG JOHN Departed: Oct 18, 2010 FERNANDEZ SEBASTIAN You led a life Departed: Oct 13, 1998 of quiet strength You gave all A light from home you could give has gone And in our hearts, The voice we loved forever more to hear is stilled We remember Gone is your face how you lived. we so dearly loved Leaving a vacuum Dearly missed in our home by children and Never shall your their families. memory fade Sweet thoughts of you will always remain. Dearly missed and always remembered by wife Christina, family and loved ones.
PAULINA NAI GEK HOON
JOSEPH LIM TECK KIM
Born: November 11, 1925 June 23, 1926. Departed: Oct 6, 2017 August 29, 2003
Dearest Pa and Mummy, Though you’re both no longer here with us, we know that you’ve not left us. Somewhere in Heaven, you’re watching over us and praying for each of us… like you always did. When we miss you, we look for you in our hearts and memories. We see you in our dreams. There may be a lingering sadness when we think of you and the times we’ve spent together, but we’re glad that you’re in a much better place now… eternal life, love, peace and joy with Our Lord and His choirs of angels. One day we shall be together again. Till then… know that we love you both and that we’re praying for you too. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dearly loved, deeply missed and forever cherished by your children, grand-children, great grand-children and loved ones.
24 HOME
Expressing your prayers in a dance
Mr Nicholas Lye (foreground) leading participants through a dance.
Sunday October 14, 2018 n CatholicNews
is really intimate and it helps me express my emotions and feelings more freely.” Who are you to others? Who are you to Mr Lye, currently doing freelance work yourself? Are you satisfied with the an- for the Church, said that TranscenDANCE swers? aims “to use dance as a platform to ‘tranMore importantly, do you know who scend’ and connect with our Lord in prayer, God says you are? as well as to “transcend” beyond the ways Participants of a recent dance workshop, of the world and become more configured TranscenDANCE, were invited to ponder to our true selves and nature as God’s beupon these questions on their identity. loved children.” Seventeen people of varying ages atHe has been conducting these worktended the workshop held at CANA The shops once a month since a year ago. Catholic Centre on Sept 27. Each session typically includes a brief Led by Mr Nicholas Lye, 37, who re- introduction of a particular Christian theme ceived dance training in university and oth- or Scripture passage, learning the dance er schools, participants were choreography as well as a taught simple dance moves time of reflection and shar“I’ve always that allowed them to express ing. their hurts and struggles on On why he decided to had a dream their perceived flawed idenstart TranscenDANCE, “I’ve and inspiration always had a dream and intities. Through two songs, This Is Me (from the movie spiration to integrate dance to integrate The Greatest Showman) and with our Christian faith. You Say by Lauren Daigle, dance with our Having learnt various forms they reached out to God of dance myself, I saw how through meaningful and pur- Christian faith.” many of the dance principles poseful dance movements. taught to us actually reflect – Mr Nicholas Lye Even those with no prior some of the theological prindance experience were seen ciples [of the Church]. As moving to the music and letting their bodies such, I wanted a dance workshop that albe an expression of their emotions. lowed people not only to learn dance, but Mr Lye continuously encouraged them also learn Christian principles along with it, to have freedom and creativity during the and even possibly encounter God through dances and to not hold back for fear of the process.” judgement from others. “I’ve also watched participants well ad“I really enjoy how dance is non-judge- vanced in their age breaking down in tears mental, no use of words ... and how you use and experiencing much healing, joy and your body as an expression of prayer. I also freedom after finally being able to express love seeing the young people here being their emotions after so many years,” he comfortable and being themselves!” said added. n Ms Carolyn Seow, 57. Jonathan Tham, 20, said, “Dance, to me, jared.ng@catholic.org.sg
Jared Ng
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