DECEMBER 18, 2011, Vol 61, No 25

Page 1

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY DECEMBER 18, 2011

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China ordination gets Vatican, govt approval

VOL 61

NO. 25

INSIDE HOME Learning about Church the fun way

However, presence of excommunicated priest at ceremony creates problems

Special kids’ camps held

YIBIN, CHINA – A Chinese priest

HOME Advent cheer for elderly

was recently ordained bishop with the approval of both the Vatican and the Chinese government. However, the participation of an excommunicated priest at the ceremony drew sharp criticism from the Vatican. Fr Peter Luo Xuegang was ordained coadjutor bishop of Yibin diocese in southwestern China’s Sichuan province on Nov 30. 3ROLFH RIÂżFHUV ZLWK WKHLU GRJV monitored the crowd at St Mary’s Church, and no phones, cameras or liquids were allowed in the venue, reported the Asian Church news agency UCA News. Participants had to arrive three hours before the ordination began to be security screened. Bishop Luo’s ordination had the approval of the Holy See. However, excommunicated Fr Paul Lei Shiyin of Leshan, wearing bishop’s garb despite his excommunication earlier this year when he was ordained without papal approval, was among the four other Vatican-approved consecrating bishops. This despite a Vatican spokesman conveying the wish that “no illegitimate bishop will participateâ€? in the ceremony. At the Vatican, Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, papal spokesman, called the ordination “positiveâ€?. However, he said Fr Lei’s presence at the ceremony and the “repeated nature of his disobedience to the norms of the Church unfortunately aggravates his canonical positionâ€?. “In ordinary situations, the presence of the Bishop Lei Shiyin should have been absolutely excluded and would bring canonical consequences for the other par-

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi called the ordination of Bishop Peter Luo Xuegang ‘positive’. Fr Lombardi noted that the presence of an excommunicated priest at the event and the ‘repeated nature of his disobedience... aggravates his canonical position’. CNS Âżle photo

Fr Peter Luo Xuegang was ordained coadjutor bishop of Yibin diocese. 8C$N(:S.C20 Âżle photo

Excommunicated Fr Paul Lei Shiyin was among the consecrating bishops. 8C$N(:S.C20 Âżle photo

ticipating bishops,â€? Fr Lombardi said. “In the current circumstances, it is probable that the latter [the participating bishops] were not able to prevent him without seriRXV GLIÂżFXOWLHV ,Q DQ\ FDVH WKH Holy See will be able to better evaluate the question when it re-

ceives more ample and complete information.� Bishop Luo, 47, is the third bishop ordained with both papal approval and government recognition this year. In recent years, many ordinations have followed the pattern of bishop candidates being elected

by diocesan representatives, then being approved separately by the government-approved Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China and the Holy See. During the Nov 30 ceremony, Bishop John Chen Shizhong of Yibin, 95, presided over the ordination, which was attended by 61 priests, 35 nuns, 800 lay CathoOLFV JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV DQG UHSresentatives of other religions. Bishop Luo and Fr Lei were ordained priests together in Leshan 20 years ago. Bishop Luo was loaned to Yibin diocese in 2009 and was elected the bishop candidate. He received the papal mandate last year. $Q RI¿FLDO RI WKH JRYHUQPHQW approved Church authority in China said in April that 11 dioceses have elected their bishop candidates and await the approval of the bishops’ conference. +RZHYHU RQO\ ¿YH HSLVFRSDO ordinations have taken place so far, including Fr Lei’s and one other held without papal mandate earlier in the year. „ CNS „ Page 15: A gauge of ChinaVatican ties

„ Pages 2 & 4

Foreign workers perform for residents of home „ Page 7

HOME Training for special-needs adults Hearts@Work helps them WR EH VHOI VXI¿FLHQW „ Page 9

ASIA Cambodian war crimes trial ‘A time to forgive’ „ Page 12

FAITH ALIVE! Prophecies of the season Treasuring the Word of God „ Page 16

COMMENTARY *lobal Ànancial authority – a practical idea? $ SULHVW UHÀHFWV „ Page 17

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Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Learning, fun at kids’ Bible camp Children from various parishes learn about Mass, Christian virtues at end-of-year event 6RPH FKLOGUHQ DJHG ¿YH WR PDGH IULHQGV KDG IXQ DQG OHDUQHG PRUH DERXW WKH 0DVV GXULQJ D IRXU GD\ %LEOH FDPS KHOG DW WKH &DWKROLF $UFKGLRFHVDQ (GXFDWLRQ &HQWUH DW +LJKODQG 5RDG 7KH &KLOGUHQ¶V +ROLGD\ %LEOH &DPS RUJDQLVHG E\ WKH 6LQJDSRUH 3DVWRUDO ,QVWLWXWH¶V &DWHFKHWLFDO 2I¿FH KDG WKH WKHPH 7KH 0DUYHOORXV 0\VWHU\ ± WKH 0DVV (DFK GD\ RI WKH FDPS EHJDQ ZLWK DQ LQWURGXFWLRQ RI WKH WKHPH DQG D YLUWXH IRU WKH GD\ WKDW WKH FKLOGUHQ ZHUH HQFRXUDJHG WR SUDFWLVH 7KH \RXQJ SDUWLFLSDQWV ZKR FDPH IURP SDULVKHV ZHUH GLYLGHG LQWR JURXSV DFFRUGLQJ WR WKHLU DJH DQG YLVLWHG LQ WXUQ ¿YH VWDWLRQV )DLWK *DPHV 0XVLF &UDIW DQG 6QDFNV 'XULQJ WKH )DLWK VWDWLRQ WKH FKLOGUHQ WRXUHG WKH &KXUFK RI WKH ,PPDFXODWH +HDUW RI 0DU\ DQG OHDUQHG PRUH DERXW WKH 0DVV DV ZHOO DV WKH GLIIHUHQW SDUWV RI WKH church. 7KH\ DOVR VSHQW VRPH TXLHW WLPH EHIRUH WKH %OHVVHG 6DFUDPHQW &DWHFKHWLFDO GLUHFWRU )U (UELQ )HUQDQGH] DOVR VSRNH WR WKHP DERXW YRFDWLRQV DQG KLV FDOO WR WKH SULHVWKRRG 7KH JDPHV FUDIWV VRQJV DQG VQDFN DFWLYLWLHV DW WKH RWKHU VWDWLRQV UHLQIRUFHG WKH GDLO\ WKHPHV DQG YLUWXHV 2QH RI WKH YLUWXHV ZDV ³JHQHU-

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the school holidays, children have ‘During a long break from catechesis ... few of the children get any spiritual enrichment. ’

– Ms Jane Lau, Coordinator of Parish Catechesis, on the reason for organising the camp

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Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Kids learn about church architecture By Don Gurugay Twenty-one children built little church models out of ice cream sticks, visited their full-size counterparts and learnt the story of Noah’s Ark during a two-day Bible camp. The Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS) organised the Nov 28-29 camp for WKH FKLOGUHQ DJHG ÂżYH WR HLJKW ,W was held at the St Francis Xavier Kindergarten at Serangoon Garden. “The idea behind the Bible Camp was to introduce the children, none of whom have received First Holy Communion, to the sacramentals of the Church DQG WKHLU VLJQLÂżFDQFH ´ VDLG 0V 0HULO\Q 'DVVRQ SURMHFW GLUHFWRU of Early Childhood Education at ACCS. Âł,W ZDV DOVR WR KHOS WKH FKLOGUHQ EHWWHU DSSUHFLDWH WKH 0DVV when they follow their parents to church and thus cultivate a love IRU WKH &DWKROLF IDLWK ´

7KH ¿UVW GD\ EHJDQ ZLWK WKH children listening to the story of Noah’s Ark as well as the parable about the man who built his house on sand, to help them understand the need to have a strong faith. The next task was for the children to build little churches from ice cream sticks and cellophane paper to help them learn the basic architecture of a church, and then connect it with the churches they would visit. The children were later taken E\ EXV WR WKH &KXUFK RI 6W 0DU\ of the Angels. Here they were briefed on the background of the church and its connection with St Francis and the Franciscan order. The children were also brought

Children at the Nov 28-29 camp making little churches out of ice cream sticks and cellophane paper.

around and shown the external and internal features of the church building as well as the various sacramentals seen in it. On the second day, they visited the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd where they learnt the differ-

The two-day ACCS-run camp was to introduce the children to sacramentals and help them cultivate a love for the Catholic faith.

ence between its more traditional design and the contemporary GHVLJQ RI 6W 0DU\ RI WKH $QJHOV 7KH\ DOVR OHDUQW WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH of the statues, plaques and pipe organ in the cathedral. A picnic lunch at Fort Canning Park followed and then it was on to the Church of Sts Peter and Paul and the nearby St Joseph’s &KXUFK ,Q ERWK FKXUFKHV WKH FKLOdren were able to walk around for a closer look at the various parts of the buildings.

“The camp is very refreshing as it enables the children to know the history of the churches, DQG , HVSHFLDOO\ OLNH KRZ WKH ÂżHOG trip introduced the rituals of the &KXUFK WR WKHP ´ VDLG 0UV 6KDURQ Lim, mother of two students who attended the camp. Xavier Pan, a student from the Holy Trinity kindergarten, said he and his young friends learnt “a lot of things like the four liturgical FRORXUV DQG , DOVR OLNH WKH JURWWR DW 6WV 3HWHU DQG 3DXO´ „

Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

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Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

Preschool educators learn art therapy By Don Gurugay An art therapy workshop plus a talk by a special education consultant were the highlights of the Catholic preschool educators’ year end Thanksgiving Day. Sixty two principals and teachers attended the event held at the St Joseph’s Kindergarten in Upper Bukit Timah on Nov 24. ,W VWDUWHG ZLWK D EULH¿QJ DQG updating of Catholic preschool activities by Ms Merilyn Dasson, project director of Early Childhood Education at the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools (ACCS). This was followed by a tour of the kindergarten, where the educators were shown the facilities, classrooms and methods used at the various levels. St Joseph’s Kindergarten has both kindergarten and childcare facilities. Ms Caroline Essame, a creative art specialist with 24 years of working experience in Europe and Asia, conducted the art therapy session. The course aimed to pro-

Catholic preschool educators take part in an art therapy practical exercise during their Thanksgiving Day.

vide participants with an opportunity to explore art therapy and learn basic skills that can be used with children, including those with special needs. During the session, the educators were given hands-on experience of how art therapy could be used for their students. Later, Dr Margaret Anne Cart-

er, a special education consultant from James Cook University, spoke on What is the Legacy You Want to Leave your Students? She highlighted the impact a teacher could make in the life of a child and then went on to discuss various behavioural patterns. She also spoke on whether adults in the 21st century were doing more “for” rather than “with” children, and whether adults were actually empowering or disempowering these young people. The day ended with a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Vicar General Msgr Eugene Vaz, which marked the end of the academic year for the Catholic preschool educators. “We hope that the programme proves useful for the preschool educators as we try to equip them with ideas to deal with their students and particularly the special needs children in their classroom,” said Ms Dasson.

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Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

Important announcement for users of Catholic columbaria If you have booked a Niche or have a deceased relative whose remains are interred at a Catholic Columbarium, you must complete an Updating Form and return it to any Catholic church no later than 14 December 2011. You may pick up a form at any Catholic church. A HOTLINE has been set up to answer questions related to the new Terms and Conditions for Catholic Church Columbaria, which will enter into effect on 1 March 2012. The hotline will run from 11 December 2011 through 20 February 2012. Hotline number: 6656-2428. Hotline hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm, except public holidays.

Domestic workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar performing for residents of the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick.

Domestic workers bring Christmas cheer to elderly Some 50 foreign domestic workers sang, danced and distributed snacks to residents of the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick in an effort to bring them Christmas cheer. The archdiocesan migrants’ commission organised the outreach project on Nov 27, which saw the workers performing carols and distributing gift packets containing sweets, biscuits, towels and drinks. On the way to the home, the domestic workers – from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar – also passed a hat around in the bus to raise funds for the home’s building fund.

PRIESTS’ APPOINTMENTS: Fr Paul Yeo has been appointed assistant priest at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea as of Dec 1.

“It was heartbreaking for us to see the old people far from their family and left under the care of caregivers at the old folks’ home,” said Ms Emelia Eglarinda. “I hope that in one way or another we have given them a little bit of joy in sharing our talents with them.” Most members of the group are participants of the Caregiver Course run by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants & Itinerant People (ACMI). To further enhance their skills,

ACMI collaborates with homes like the Sree Narayana Mission Home for the Aged Sick, named after a Hindu saint, to provide these students additional handson training. To further engage the students and volunteers, ACMI earlier this year encouraged them to organise a community outreach to the residents they are already serving. Within two months, a choir was formed and their dance movements choreographed by fellow domestic workers.

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Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

Catholics urged to love unconditionally at AIDS Day Mass The Landings ministry recently distributed copies of this postcard to reach out to those who have left the Church.

Postcards for Catholics struggling with their faith By Darren Boon A Church ministry that reaches out to those struggling with their faith is trying to raise awareness about this group of people this Advent. The Landings ministry is urging the Catholic community to bring Christ to these people, and also inviting these people to rediscover their faith, through the distribution of special postcards. These postcards were given out to the Saturday crowd at Novena Church on Dec 3. The Church of the Holy Spirit and Blessed Sacrament Church, both of which run the Landings programme, also distributed the postcards. Landings is a 10-week parishbased programme that reaches out to Catholics who had drifted away or left the Church, but are now interested in returning and receiving the sacraments. “Our project is not so much to get people to join Landings but rather to promote the awareness of the fact that there are Catholic brothers and sisters … struggling with their faith,” said Mr Anthony See, Landings coordinator for Singapore and Malaysia.

These Catholics usually have a desire to have a closer relationship with God; some may even wander into a church occasionally, said Mr See. A mention of a “possible return” to the Church “may be … a catalyst for action”, he added. Mr See said the Catholic community at large can play a part in helping these Catholics during the Advent season, when awareness of Christ is heightened. Such an outreach “must involve every Catholic,” said Mr See. “People will surely know someone who is out of the Church. It is the Church’s responsibility to reach out. And we the people are this Church.” Mr Lee also added that the community can provide support to returning Catholics. The Landings programme was started by the Paulist Fathers in the 1980s. It provides a supportive environment for those who are rediscovering their faith and who wish to return to the Church. For more information about Landings, go to http://www.landings.org.sg/ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Catholics should show unconditional love to People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs), participants at the recent World AIDS Day Mass were told. “Whatever you do to the least of your brothers, you do unto me,” Fr Anthony Hutjes reminded the congregation of Jesus’ words during the Dec 1 Mass held at Blessed Sacrament Church. Fr Hutjes told the 70-strong crowd that Catholics should see and experience Christ in the people around them, especially the suffering, sick and outcast of society, and love them. Addressing those living with HIV/AIDS, Fr Hutjes assured them of God’s unconditional love for them. They need not prove anything to God to show their worthiness even though in the eyes of the world, they may be considered worthless. Just as Jesus loved and reached out to the weak, the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden, today God continues to reach out to those who are low in spirits and sick, including PLWHAs, he said. Mr Michael Png, president of Catholic AIDS Response Effort,

son or daughter ‘If your invited a PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) home for a meal – what would your response be?

’

– Mr Michael Png, president of Catholic AIDS Response Effort

which organised the Mass, likened PLWHAs to the lepers during the time of St Damien of Molokai. St Damien ministered and took care of these people living in a colony in Molokai, Hawaii, during the 19th century. The priest later contracted the disease himself. Today, there is still fear, ignorance, stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, said Mr Png. “If your son or daughter invited a PLWHA home for a meal – what would your response be? How can we as Catholics respond to the needs of PLWHAs?” he asked the congregation. A booklet on HIV/AIDS was

An exhibition on the plight of PLWHAs was also held.

distributed at the Mass. Apart from information on the disease and preventive measures, it also highlighted the challenges faced by PLWHAs, the Church‘s stand, and how Catholics may respond to the needs of PLWHAs in Singapore. A mini-exhibition was also held at the church’s Damien Hall. The exhibits highlighted the plight of PLWHAs and showed ways that Catholics can help them live in dignity. A forum was also scheduled at the church on Dec 6. In an interview on Radio Vatican on Dec 1, Msgr Robert Vitillo, Special Advisor on HIV/AIDS for Caritas Internationalis, said that prejudice against people living with the condition is still widespread. He stressed that it is very important to encourage Catholic parishes and church communities not to reject people with HIV, but rather welcome them and care for them. The World AIDS Day Mass in Singapore has been held annually since the 1990s.

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Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Project helps adults with special needs to be self-sufĂ€cient By Darren Boon Denise Chan, 23, was one of several adults with intellectual challenges who manned a jumble sale recently. The Nov 20 activity, held on the grounds of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was organised by Hearts@ Work, a project of the Catholic Welfare Services. Since Nov 2009, Hearts@ Work has been providing vocational training and supporting employment for adults with intellectual challenges. The jumble sale, held every quarter, aims to help these adults put their skills to use and interact with the public. Miss Chan told CatholicNews VKH GLG QRW KDYH DQ\ GLIÂżFXOW\ working as a cashier at the sale and completing all the tasks at hand. She is one of nine adults, whose ages range from 20s to 40s, who attend activities at the Hearts@Work centre, located on the grounds of the church. Miss Chan said she enjoys learning skills, and taking part in games and outings at Hearts@ Work. She said she particularly likes the art and craft sessions and hopes to become a “true artistâ€? in the future. Hearts@Work “is a good place to be in for my daughterâ€?, said her mother, Patricia. The “trainers are supportiveâ€? and have “given her a sense of belongingâ€?, boosting her VHOI FRQÂżGHQFH VKH DGGHG Hearts@Work provides its trainees with training in janitorial, retail, customer service, gardening, and art and craft skills. Part of the curriculum involves managing a thrift shop at the centre’s grounds every Monday The initiative aims to help the WUDLQHHV EH VHOI VXIÂżFLHQW DEOH WR work and lead independent lives. Most of the trainees are Catholics. Centre administrator Lily Wee said her organisation tries to place

A Hearts@Work trainee working as a cashier during a jumble sale held on Nov 20.

Hearts@Work ‘is a good place to be in for my daughter’. The ‘trainers are supportive’ and have ‘given her a sense of belonging’. – Ms Patricia Chan

the trainees in jobs suitable to the individual’s strength and interest. The trainee will be assessed over a period and when deemed ready, would be given on-the-job training. Ms Wee acknowledged the challenge in getting employers to hire these people as employers may feel these adults are not able

to be as productive as others. But Ms Wee said that with the correct instructions, these “high functioning� adults are able to perform their tasks well. Ms Wee also pointed out that parental support is essential in caring for the intellectually challenged child. Some parents prefer to keep their child shielded from the outside world, thus not giving them “the opportunity to be reached out to�, said Ms Wee. Ms Wee said she hopes to increase the enrolment at Hearts@ Work and encourages parents who have intellectually challenged children to come forward. For more information on Hearts@Work, call 6284 8010 „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

10 ASIA

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Clinton’s visit a signiĂ€cant start ... but reform must be lasting, says Myanmar archbishop YANGON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to MyanPDU VLJQDOOHG VLJQLÂżFDQW FKDQJH but President Thein Sein must do more to convince the world that democratic reform is real and lasting, said Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon. The comments came on the eve of a historic meeting between the president and Mrs Clinton, who arrived in the administrative FDSLWDO 1D\S\LGDZ PRUH WKDQ NP QRUWK RI <DQJRQ RQ 1RY Archbishop Bo, who also serves as the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, said true democratic reform required substantially more effort. “The government needs to release the remaining political prisoners to show that they are serious about democratic reform,â€? he told the Asian Church news agency 8&$ 1HZV DGGLQJ WKDW FHDVH ÂżUH agreements between the military and ethnic minority opposition forces also were needed. <HDUV RI DUPHG FRQĂ€LFW KDYH

had a devastating impact on the country’s infrastructure and educational system, Archbishop Bo said. “Through peace alone can the government bring development to the country and improve education,â€? he said. “Without proper education to an international standard, we will remain in the dark.â€? He added that a primary concern for the Church, amid more general issues of democratic reIRUP ZDV DFFHVV WR FRQĂ€LFW DUHDV in Myanmar and communities in need of relief assistance, particularly in Kachin state, where ÂżJKWLQJ EHWZHHQ WKH .DFKLQ ,Qdependence Army and government forces has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of residents. 0UV &OLQWRQ WKH ÂżUVW 86 VHFretary of state to visit Myanmar in half a century, arrived after months RI GLVFXVVLRQV DPRQJ 86 RIÂżFLDOV DERXW WKH VLJQLÂżFDQFH DQG H[WHQW of reforms in the country, accordLQJ WR D EULHÂżQJ VWDWHPHQW LVVXHG

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton touring the Shwedegon Pagoda in Yangon on Dec 1. CNS photo

by the US State Department. Mrs Clinton arrived “with a VHULHV RI YHU\ VSHFLÂżF VWHSV WKDW we would like to see in terms of WKH QH[W SKDVH RI WKH SURFHVV WKDW

is under way� in Myanmar, the statement said. She met Myanmar’s foreign minister, Mr Wunna Maung Lwin, and the president. She also met

with legislators and opposition leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the National League for Democracy. „ CNS

Catholics stage protest ‘Obscene words’ list now under review against NATO strikes KARACHI, PAKISTAN – The Pakistan Catholic Church’s justice and peace commission organised a protest condemning a NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The Asian Church news agency UCA News said that, holding pro-army banners and QDWLRQDO Ă€DJV PRUH WKDQ protesters from several Catholic institutions gathered outside the press club in Karachi on Dec 2. They shouted slogans, prayed and lit candles for the “faithful martyrsâ€?. The protesters – including two SULHVWV DQG IULDUV Âą H[SUHVVHG outrage at what they called an attack on their country’s sovereignty and demanded justice for the affected families. NATO helicopters attacked two Pakistan border posts on Nov 26, killing 24 soldiers. The attack prompted Pakistan to pull out of early December talks in Germany to discuss neighbouring Afghanistan’s future. The Pakistani government also blocked NATO supply routes to Afghanistan and demanded the US leave a remote airbase used IRU GURQH Ă€LJKWV At the German meeting, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged a thorough investigation of why the Pakistani soldiers were killed in the airstrikes.

Pakistani soldiers on duty. A NATO airstrike killed 24 troops.

A statement from the justice and peace commission said: “It is time to take our airbases back from foreign armies. The government should press for a transparent investigation into the NATO raid.â€? Fr Thomas Gulfam, generalsecretary of the Heralds of Peace, an interfaith group, said: “We supSRUW RXU DUP\ ZH VKDOO VDFULÂżFH everything for our homeland and no longer stay silent.â€? Capuchin Fr Abid Habib, president of the Major Superiors Leadership Conference of Pakistan, said the cost in civilian lives because of the war against the Taleban was unacceptable. “The war on terror has killed RYHU FLYLOLDQV DQG WKHUH DUH PDQ\ PLOHV WR JR LQ D FRQĂ€LFW WKDW is not ours,â€? he said. „ CNS

LAHORE, PAKISTAN – Pakistani &KXUFK RIÂżFLDOV KDYH H[SUHVVHG relief over a decision by the government not to include the name Jesus Christ among a list RI ZRUGV WR EH EDQQHG IURP WH[W messages. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) decided recently to delay a proposed EDQ RQ (QJOLVK DQG 8UGX words deemed to be obscene, among which was the name Jesus Christ. “[The PTA] was under immense pressure and now denies any involvement in the selection [of the words]. The blow to religious freedom has now been averted,â€? said Bishop Sebastian Shah of Lahore archdiocese. Christian politicians, clergy and some Muslim clerics had condemned the proposed ban as a blow to interfaith harmony.

The Catholic Secular Forum (CSF), a Mumbai-based non-governmental organisation, further issued letters of complaint to Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari, the communications minister and the PTA chairman. “The list forwarded to cellular mobile telephony operators is tentative and under review. PTA has asked them for their suggestions as well. Your point is considered DQG UHFWLÂżHG LQ WKH UHYLVHG OLVW ´ Mr Ahmed Shamim Pirzada, director of PTA, wrote in an email response to the CSF letter. All mobile operators have DOUHDG\ UHMHFWHG RUGHUV WR ÂżOWHU words out of fear the procedures would lead to a slow-down of GDWD WUDIÂżF DV WKH NH\ZRUGV DUH widely used in normal communication. Fr James Channan, regional coordinator of the United Reli-

gions Initiative, said he hoped the initiative to ban the name Jesus Christ and other suggested words would not be repeated. “Christ is among four major prophets in Islam. I was surprised to see this mockery. The government should be more sensible in dealing with religious matters which have serious implications for locals in our region [who are] starving for peace.â€? He added: “Pulling out words IURP PRELOH >WH[WV@ GLFWLRQDULHV or cyberspace won’t help to impose morality. It is largely linked to the intention behind using them.â€? 3DNLVWDQ UDQNV ÂżIWK LQ WKH world for the number of SMS messages sent within the country. Media reports have said that more WKDQ PLOOLRQ WH[W PHVVDJHV DUH H[FKDQJHG LQ 3DNLVWDQ HDFK day. „ UCANEWS.COM

App popularises breviary among HK Catholics HONG KONG – It is becoming

more common these days in Hong Kong to see people in public places reading, watching videos, SOD\LQJ JDPHV RU WH[WLQJ IULHQGV while being completely oblivious to the world around them. This phenomenon coupled with a change in people’s reading habits has inspired a middle-aged priest to develop a new app to promote daily prayer among the Catholics.

The iBreviarium, a Chineselanguage app developed by Fr Paul Leung Kai-kwong, provides daily Mass readings, prayers, liturgical information and stories of Church saints. Since it was launched for the iPhone for free in August, about SHRSOH KDYH EHHQ XVLQJ LW Users no longer have to download the app from iTunes, as Fr Leung has added a QR code that makes it more convenient for downloading.

The Android version, which became available on Nov 16, is also free of charge. Fr Leung said he hopes more laypeople make use of this app to pray the breviary, which is not a “monopoly� of priests and Religious. During a workshop on Nov 19, the Salesian priest introduced WKH DSS WR DERXW SHRSOH DQG demonstrated how to download and use it. „ UCANEWS.COM

ASIA 11

Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

Asian Church movements discuss new evangelisation

Participants of the second gathering of Ecclesial Movements in Asia pose for a photo. PATTAYA, THAILAND – Representatives of 14 Church movements in Asia met in Pattaya, Thailand, recently to discuss fresh approaches towards living and proclaiming the Gospel. 3URORQJHG ÀRRGV LQ WKH FRXQtry had prevented all 28 ecclesial movements on the continent from attending the second gathering of Ecclesial Movements in Asia, held at the Redemptorist Centre from Nov 25-27. The FABC-OE (Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference ± 2I¿FH RI (YDQJHOL]DWLRQ DQG FEMA (Fraternity of Ecclesial 0RYHPHQWV LQ $VLD RUJDQLVHG WKH meeting with the theme, Mission in Asia – New Evangelisers for the New Evangelisation. The gathering focused on the widespread culture of secularism that is affecting families, individuals and communities. Participants discussed how a tendency to FRQ¿QH *RG WR WKH SULYDWH VSKHUH is creating a culture of apathy towards God in society today. At the same time there has been a rise in narrow forms of

faith such as sects and different forms of fundamentalism that give a negative image of religiosity. In addition, societies face the phenomenon of migration of peoples across countries causing families to be uprooted and cultural roots to be forgotten. Another reality is the complex world of the media and technology which has brought enormous EHQH¿WV EXW ZKLFK KDV DOVR LPpacted the way people think, act and relate to one another. On another front, many societies are ageing quickly, posing new issues requiring special attention. The gathering acknowledged that lay movements need to be ever vigilant and continually discern their Christian response to such developments. Focolare’s representative to the Gathering, Mr Chun Boc Tay, pointed out the need for Church movements to “live the reality of the Church as communion: unity in diversity, being one in Jesus while maintaining the beauty of one’s own charism”. Ms Wendy Lui of the Hong

Kong Catholic Lay Missionaries Association said she was happy to be able to “share experiences and stories with fellow lay brothers and sisters in Asia – cutting across cultures and unique charisms”. Mrs Shelley Ee of Worldwide Marriage Encounter remarked, “I was inspired by the diverse charisms of the ecclesial movements in Asia” and inspired by advice that “lay missionaries need to be relevant and creative in responding to the times”. Mr Manoj Sunny, FEME coordinator said the organisers held this meeting “for a deeper study DQG UHÀHFWLRQ´ RQ WKH lineamenta, or text written in preparation, for the October 2012 Bishops’ Synod. The bishops’ meeting has the theme, The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. “The three days we spent together under the leadership of FABC-OE were a time of knowing, inspiring and challenging each other to contribute more to the mission of the Church in Asia using our unique charisms,” he said.

12 ASIA

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Interfaith body protests ‘peaceful assembly’ bill PENANG, MALAYSIA – An interreligious body of minority faiths in Malaysia has denounced a bill regulating peaceful assembly and GHPDQGHG LW EH ZLWKGUDZQ The Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011 “clearly hands the police and home minister more powers and is restrictive, repressive and against freedom of assembly and against freedom of religionâ€?, said a Dec 2 statement by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, &KULVWLDQLW\ +LQGXLVP 6LNKLVP DQG 7DRLVP The alliance “is particularly FRQFHUQHG WKH ELOO QRZ VSHFLÂżHV places where public assembly cannot be held and includes all places of worship,â€? the statement DGGHG The interreligious body is particularly worried at what it sees as the government’s ability to curb SURWHVWV The bill gives police the pow-

er “to impose restrictions and set conditions on gatherings including the duration of an event >DQG@ SDUWLFLSDQWVÂś FRQGXFW ÂŤ ,W can also refuse gatherings on the grounds of cultural or religious sensitivityâ€?, the statement continXHG “While governments all over the world are opening up democratic processes, we appear to be EDFN WUDFNLQJ (YHQ 0\DQPDU KDV QRZ SDVVHG D ÂľSURWHVW ELOOÂś which allows citizens to protest SHDFHIXOO\ ´ WKH JURXS VDLG The bill was passed in the lower house of parliament on Nov 27 and is scheduled to be reviewed E\ WKH 6HQDWH RQ 'HFHPEHU It has been subject to widespread protests since it was tabled LQ SDUOLDPHQW RQ 1RY The alliance called on all religious leaders to pray every Friday for the government to withdraw WKH SURSRVHG ODZ „ UCANEWS.COM

Church leaders slam free trade ratiĂ€cation SEOUL – The National Council of Churches in Korea has issued a statement strongly criticising the passing by the National Assembly of a highly controversial free trade DJUHHPHQW ZLWK WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV The Nov 23 statement accused the ruling Grand National Party of blatantly ignoring widespread objections from opposition parties and civic groups by pushing through the vote behind closed GRRUV WKH GD\ EHIRUH Many believe the free trade DJUHHPHQW )7$ ZLOO EHQHÂżW PDjor corporations at the expense of IDUPHUV DQG VPDOO EXVLQHVV RZQHUV Catholic churchmen also atWDFNHG WKH PRYH Mr Augustine Maeng Joohyung, education director of Seoul archdiocese’s Environmental Pastoral Committee, said the move was “hasty because measures to VDIHJXDUG WKH ZHDN KDG QRW EHHQ \HW IRUPXODWHG´ He called on all Koreans to

“punish the Grand National Party in general and presidential elecWLRQV´ QH[W \HDU )U 6WHSKHQ <DQJ .L VXN VHFretary general of the Korean Catholic Solidarity for the Creation of ,QWHJULW\ VDLG DQ\ VDFULÂżFHV PDGH as a result of the FTA would be PDGH E\ WKH ZHDN He said the local Church should have done more to oppose the deal and come down “on the VLGH RI WKH ZHDN´ LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK &KULVWÂśV WHDFKLQJV Following the vote, the main opposition Democratic Party SOHGJHG WR ÂżJKW WR VFXSSHU WKH agreement, while around 3,000 people later held a demonstration LQ 0\HRQJGRQJ LQ FHQWUDO 6HRXO South Korea and the US signed WKH IUHH WUDGH GHDO LQ -XQH 7KH 86 &RQJUHVV UDWLÂżHG LW LQ 2FWREHU The Nov 22 vote in South KoUHD PHDQV WKH DJUHHPHQW ZLOO WDNH HIIHFW RQ -DQXDU\ QH[W \HDU „ UCANEWS.COM

A Cambodian villager lights incense at a memorial containing skulls of victims of the Khmer Rouge on the outskirts of Phnom Penh. CNS Âżle photo

War crimes trial offers chance to ‘forgive’ PHNOM PENH – $V D 81 EDFNHG

war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh reconvened to hear testimoQ\ IURP IRUPHU WRS RIÂżFLDOV RI WKH Khmer Rouge, Catholics in the capital welcomed the opportunity for justice and forgiveness after PRUH WKDQ \HDUV RI ZDLWLQJ Nuon Chea, 85, the chief ideologue and “Brother Number Twoâ€? of the Khmer Rouge, Khieu Samphan, 80, former head of state, and Ieng Sary, 86, former defence minister, face charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes DJDLQVW KXPDQLW\ A fourth defendant, Ieng Thirith, former social affairs minister, was deemed mentally ill and WKXV XQÂżW WR VWDQG WULDO E\ WKH FRXUW Fr Un Son, a priest serving in Kampot province, said the trial was instructive not only for surviYRUV EXW IRU DOO &DPERGLDQV “The trial is the right thing to GR WR VKRZ WKDW MXVWLFH PXVW WDNH place and as a lesson for the future,

that no regime should ever repeat ZKDW WKH .KPHU 5RXJH KDV GRQH ´ The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh in April 1975 and began a reign of terror that saw the death from murder, torture, starvation and illness of an estimated PLOOLRQ SHRSOH EHIRUH WKH\ were overthrown by Vietnamese IRUFHV LQ “I suffered from starvation and lost two members of my famLO\ GXULQJ WKH .KPHU 5RXJH UXOH I expect the court will arrive at a VXLWDEOH VHQWHQFH ´ VDLG )U 8Q 6RQ Mr Pen Ra, a Catholic lawyer and businessman, said the trial ZDV LPSRUWDQW IRU WKH VDNH RI WKH victims’ peace of mind but noted that the process towards justice KDV EHHQ ORQJ DQG H[SHQVLYH “A lot of money and time is beLQJ VSHQW RQ WKH WULDO , KRSH WKHVH UHVRXUFHV DUH XVHG HIÂżFLHQWO\ DQG the case will come to a conclusion VRRQ ´ Phan Bora, president of the St

Vincent de Paul Society, said the trial also serves as a reminder of WKH QHHG IRU IRUJLYHQHVV “As a Catholic, I forgive them in my heart and I encourage eveU\RQH WR GR VR :H FDQQRW EH DQJU\ IRUHYHU ´ All three defendants claim to be innocent of the charges against WKHP This is the second case brought before the Extraordinary ChamEHUV LQ WKH &RXUWV RI &DPERGLD ,Q WKH WULEXQDOÂśV ÂżUVW FDVH ODVW \HDU .KHQJ *XHN (DY EHWWHU NQRZQ DV 'XFK ZDV VHQWHQFHG to 35 years in prison, which was FRPPXWHG WR \HDUV 7KH VHQtence was for crimes committed as commandant of the Tual Sleng GHWHQWLRQ FHQWUH LQ 3KQRP 3HQK Here, about 16,000 victims were tortured before being sent to WKHLU GHDWKV LQ WKH ÂłNLOOLQJ ÂżHOGV´ RXWVLGH WKH FDSLWDO His appeal is due to be heard LQ )HEUXDU\ „ UCANEWS.COM

Sri Lankan Church boycotts state Christmas events COLOMBO – The Catholic Church

is to boycott all government functions during Christmas in protest over the arrest of a nun on child WUDIÂżFNLQJ FKDUJHV At a press conference in Colombo on Dec 3, the archbishop, Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, said he will not participate in government-sponsored events this fesWLYH VHDVRQ He said the Church strongly condemns the arrest of Sr Mary Eliza, an Indian nun serving at Prem Nivasa orphanage in MorDWXZD QHDU &RORPER 7KH RUSKDQage also provides shelter for abanGRQHG VLQJOH SUHJQDQW ZRPHQ “Our reaction to this is to

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith

stay away from any state functions or state-organised event this Christmas until this matter is sort-

HG RXW ´ WKH FDUGLQDO VDLG He said the arrest on Nov 25 was carried out without any founGDWLRQ RI SURRI Police and National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) ofÂżFLDOV UDLGHG WKH RUSKDQDJH IROlowing a tip-off that children were EHLQJ VROG WKHUH “The Sisters serving in these homes are from different counWULHV DQG GR D PDJQLÂżFHQW VHUYLFH The NCPA has acted purely on an anonymous telephone call,â€? the FDUGLQDO VDLG “The NCPA gave interviews to the media without investigating the anonymous call they reFHLYHG ´ KH VDLG „ UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 13

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Excessive focus on money destroys environment: cardinal DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – Exces-

sive focus on money is destroying the environment and dehumanising people, said Honduran Cardinal 2VFDU 5RGULJXH] 0DUDGLDJD SUHVLdent of Caritas Internationalis. Religious communities have a duty to call attention to the importance of the human person, who is “at the centre of creationâ€?, he said while international leaders were debating the extension of legal limits on the production of greenhouse gas emissions. 2IÂżFLDOV IURP QHDUO\ countries were in Durban from Nov 28-Dec 9 for United Nationssponsored climate change talks. The cardinal, archbishop of Tegucigalpa, led a 20-person Caritas delegation to the talks to press for a reduction of emissions by more than 40 percent by 2020, and for an agreement on behalf of poor countries that have been severely impacted by climate change. In a Dec 1 panel discussion with religious leaders on “What’s God got to do with it?â€? when it comes to the issue of climate change, Cardinal Rodriguez said, “Our economic system and its search for money above all have dehumanised human beings. Religious groups have a duty to humanise them again.â€? According to a Caritas Internationalis news release, panellists, who represented Christian, Jewish and other faiths, argued that climate change is a moral issue, not just an environmental concern. However, Cardinal Rodriguez

VATICAN CITY – Attending a university abroad can enrich a student’s life, but it should not promote the “brain drain� phenomenon that sees a country’s best and brightest young people enticed to emigrate, Pope Benedict XVI said. Foreign students need “a healthy and balanced intellectual, cultural and spiritual preparation so they do not fall prey to the ‘brain drain’, but form a socially and culturally relevant category in view of their return as future leaders in their country of origin,� the pope told international students and those who minister to them. Three dozen foreign students and about 100 representatives of

bishops’ conferences and campus ministers participated in the Third World Congress on the Pastoral Care of International Students from Nov 30-Dec 3. The congress was sponsored E\ WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU 0Lgrants and Travellers. The pope said universities are called to educate “a new generation capable of dialogue and discernment, committed to promoting respect and collaboration for peace and developmentâ€?. “With their intellectual, cultural and spiritual formation, international students have the potential of becoming artisans and protagonists of a world with a more human face.â€? „ CNS

Criticism over governor’s use of ‘holiday tree’ Local residents march in Durban, South Africa, ahead of the international climate talks which started on Nov 26. CNS photo

said climate talks two years ago in Copenhagen failed even to focus on the environment and instead only debated economic issues, resulting in a failed bid to create a worldwide agreement that would bind major industrial nations to emissions reductions. “Our tendency to search for money is destroying the environment,â€? he said. 'XULQJ D 0DVV FHOHEUDWHG at Emmanuel Cathedral on Dec 4, the cardinal said people need to understand that a materialist, consumerist lifestyle not only has a harmful impact on the environment, it also distances peoSOH IURP *RG Âł:HÂśUH ÂżOOLQJ XS our lives with things, but remain

empty inside. We’re informed about everything, but have no idea where to direct our lives,â€? he said. People must shed “all the suSHUĂ€XRXV WKLQJV LQ RXU H[FHVVLYH consumer societyâ€?, embrace only that which is necessary for life, and be guided by God’s peace and love in order to promote justice and solidarity in the world, he said. The Durban meeting is the latest in a series to consider follow-up action to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which obligated industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas HPLVVLRQV E\ D VSHFLÂżF DPRXQW 7KH Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012, and the Durban encounter is considered crucial in forging an additional commitment period. „ CNS

End Syrian violence, says Vatican ofÀcial VATICAN CITY – $ 9DWLFDQ RI¿FLDO

deplored the growing violence in Syria, and called on political leaders there to enact “real reforms�. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi made the remarks on Dec 2 to a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, which was discussing the Syrian crackdown on regime opponents that has left an estimated 4,000 people dead in recent months. Archbishop Tomasi, the Vatican’s representative to the UN and other agencies in Geneva, said the Vatican was following “with great concern the dramatic and growing episodes of violence in Syria, which have caused many victims and grave suffering�. He said the anti-government protests that began in Syria arose from legitimate aspirations for “better future of economic wellbeing, justice, freedom and participation in public life�. “They point to the urgent necessity of real reforms in social, economic and political life,� he added. Archbishop Tomasi said it

Avoid brain drain: pope

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, USA – A Colorado blue spruce

tree (right) is standing tall at the centre of controversy in the Rhode Island Statehouse rotunda for what it is being – or more importantly, not being – called. US Governor Lincoln D Chafee invited the public to attend a “Holiday Tree Lighting� ceremony on Dec 6 at the Statehouse, leaving many, including Providence Bishop Thomas J Tobin, to question the governor’s choice of such secular terminology in referring to a symbol most commonly associated with the Christian celebration of Christmas. “Governor Chafee’s decision to avoid the word Christmas at the Statehouse ceremony is most disheartening and divisive,� said Bishop Tobin in a statement released to the media the evening of Nov 29. “It is sad that such a secular spirit has swept over our state. The governor’s decision ignores long-held American traditions and is an affront to the faith of many citizens,� the bishop said.

“For the sake of peace and harmony in our state at this special time of the year, I respectfully encourage the governor to reconsider his decision to use the word Christmas in the state observance.� Earlier that day, the governor said in a statement that he is only following in the footsteps of how previous governors have termed the event. “Use of the term ‘holiday tree’ is a continuation of past practice, and does not represent a change of course on my part,� he said. „ CNS

SSPX on Vatican statement VATICAN CITY – The head of the

6\ULDQ UHIXJHHV ZKR ÀHG WKH YLROHQFH LQ 6\ULD VLW LQ WKHLU WHPSRUDU\ KRPH in Mafraq, Jordan. CNS photo

was important that such changes take place without intolerance, GLVFULPLQDWLRQ RU FRQĂ€LFW EXW through respect for truth and for the “legitimate rights of individuals and groupsâ€?. “Such principles must guide leaders while taking account of the aspirations of civil society as

well as the instances of the international community,� he said. The Vatican representative also expressed the Church’s condolences to the families of the victims. The Arab League has threatened new sanctions against Syria unless it allows international observers into the country. „ CNS

traditionalist Society of St Pius X (SSPX) said a “doctrinal preamble� presented by the Vatican needs changes before it can be accepted as the basis for the group’s reconciliation. The statement was made by Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the society. However, it was unclear whether the Vatican would be willing to revisit the text. “It is true that this doctrinal preamble cannot receive our endorsement, although leeway has been allowed for a ‘legitimate discussion’ about certain points of the [Second Vatican] Council. What is the extent of this leeway?� Bishop Fellay said in an interview posted on the society’s website on Nov 29. In September, when Bishop

Fellay was handed the preamble, the Vatican did not publish the document but said it “states some doctrinal principles and criteria for the interpretation of Catholic doctrine necessary to guarantee ÂżGHOLW\´ WR WKH IRUPDO WHDFKLQJ RI the Church. In his interview, however, Bishop Fellay said the preamble was “a document which can be FODULÂżHG DQG PRGLÂżHG DV WKH DFcompanying note points out. It is QRW D GHÂżQLWLYH WH[W´ “The proposal that I will make in the next few days to the Roman authorities and their response in turn will enable us to evaluate our remaining options. And whatever the result of these talks may be, WKH ÂżQDO GRFXPHQW WKDW ZLOO KDYH been accepted or rejected will be made public,â€? he said. „ CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Prayer as seeking depth

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

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WXUHV SUHVXPH D FHUWDLQ IUHHGRP RI PRYHPHQW ´ WKH VSRNHVPDQ VDLG )U /RPEDUGL DGGHG WKDW WKH 9DWLFDQ ZDV ³JUDWHIXO IRU WKH DIIHFWLRQDWH FRQFHUQ IRU WKH SRSH¶V VDIHW\´ EXW DGGHG WKDW WKH FRPSODLQW GLG QRW VHHP WR UHÀHFW PXFK ÀH[LELOLW\ LQ LQWHUSUHWLQJ WKH PHDQLQJ RI WKH ODZ $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH *HUPDQ UHSRUWV WKH ODZ\HU ZKR ¿OHG WKH FRPSODLQW VDLG KLV FOLHQW ZDV SULPDULO\ FRQFHUQHG DERXW WKH VDIHW\ RI WKH \HDU ROG SRSH „ CNS

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FEATURE 15

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

A gauge of China-Vatican ties A 20-year-old Church newspaper in China has seen its subscriptions rising and dipping according to relations between the two states SHIJIAZHUANG, CHINA – The ups

and downs of Sino-Vatican relations are mirrored in the fortunes of Faith Weekly, a national Catholic newspaper published by Hebei Faith Press. “Our subscription rate is like a barometer,â€? says Fr John Baptist Zhang, Hebei Faith Press founder. ´,W UHĂ€HFWV YHU\ DFFXUDWHO\ WKH VHQVLWLYH VLWXDWLRQ RI WKH &KLQD Church.â€? “It also shows clearly that the paper is closely tied to the fate of the Church in China and the religious sentiment of Chinese Catholics.â€? Besides local and international Church news, the paper also pubOLVKHV DUWLFOHV RQ HYDQJHOLVDWLRQ the consecrated life and faith stories, as well as stories for children. Faith Weekly was launched in 1991 but suspended in 1997. It started operations again in 1998, when China and the Vatican restarted their dialogue. With hopes of the establishment of diplomatic ties running high, the paper’s anQXDO FLUFXODWLRQ UHDFKHG LWV ÂżUVW peak of 57,000 copies. 7KHQ LQ ÂżYH ELVKRSV were ordained without papal mandate and China criticised the Vatican’s canonisation of 120 Chinese martyr-saints. As the relationship lost its warmth, the paper lost 12,000 subscribers. After Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005, subscriptions in 2006 again topped 50,000 copies. In 2007, the pope wrote to Catholics in China urging reconciliation. One result of this was another hike in readership. The upward trend continued to a peak of 61,000 copies but, amid a series of fallouts between &KXUFK DQG VWDWH DJDLQ ÂżJXUHV fell in 2008-2009. “Our bulk subscriptions are usually renewed between December and February, before the Lunar New Year, which falls around -DQXDU\ DQG )HEUXDU\ (YHQ VOLJKW friction between the Vatican and China during this period affects subscription,â€? says the newly appointed director of Hebei Faith Press, Fr Joseph Li Rongpin. “Faith Weekly is an innocent YLFWLP ZKHQHYHU WKHUH DUH WHQVLRQV ´

Fr Li is also aware that the recent blossoming of diocesan newspapers has impacted Faith :HHNO\ ÂżJXUHV 7KHUH DUH PRUH than 30 newspapers and a dozen journals circulating in the China Church, according to estimates. “Since most of them are offered free, and most are diocesan, readHUV ÂżQG WKHP PRUH UHOHYDQW WR WKHLU OLYHV 7KLV LV FOHDUO\ DQ DGYDQWDJH for local papers,â€? says Fr Li. +RZHYHU ZLWK WKLV \HDUÂśV subscriptions holding steady at 50,000 copies, the publishers are pleased to be able to record a patWHUQ RI RYHUDOO JURZWK VLQFH WKH paper’s inception.

After Pope Benedict XVI was elected, subscriptions topped 50,000 copies. There was another hike in readership after he wrote to China’s Catholics urging reconciliation. $OWKRXJK WKH\ KDYH NHSW D ORZ SURÂżOH LQ WKH SDSHUÂśV WK DQQLYHUVDU\ \HDU OHWWLQJ LW SDVV ZLWKout celebration, they are looking SRVLWLYHO\ LQWR WKH IXWXUH In September, they changed JHDU IURP SXEOLFDWLRQ HYHU\ GD\V WR ZHHNO\ 7KH HGLWRUV KDYH enhanced the content, differentiating it from local competitors with more commentaries on social issues as well as more in-depth reporting. “I’m optimistic,â€? says Fr Li. Âł+DYLQJ VR PXFK FRPSHWLWLRQ PRWLYDWHV XV WR VWULYH IRU LPSURYHment.â€? „ UCANEWS.COM

Issues of Faith Weekly published by Hebei Faith Press. UCANEWS.COM photo

16 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

The wonderful prophecies of the Advent/Christmas season By Fr Gerald O’Collins, SJ

W

HEN we think of the church community to which we belong, it can be tempting to follow that archpessimist of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, and say: “What has been, that will be; what has been done, that will be done. Nothing is new under the sun!â€? (1:9). Even when we focus on ourselves, we can drift. I, for example, might conclude: “O’Collins yesterday, today and the same forever; as he was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, faults without end. Amen.â€? But this would ignore advice coming from St Paul, who cautions us not to “quench the Spiritâ€? (1 Thes 5:19). St Paul pictures the Holy Spirit as a life-giving force. Other early Christians compared the Spirit WR ÂżUH WR D SRZHUIXO ZLQG DQG WR fresh water springing up into the air. We should not extinguish WKLV ÂżUH KLGH RXUVHOYHV IURP WKLV wind, or put a concrete cap on this fountain. Further on in 1 Thessalonians (5:20), St Paul gives another caution not to “despise prophetic utterances.â€? This is because one major way that the Holy Spirit remains dynamically active is through those who utter words of prophecy. When they speak out, their teaching can enlighten and warm XV DV D FKHHUIXO ÂżUH GRHV LQ ZLQtertime. Of course, we need to test what prophetic people have to say: Are they truly led by the Holy Spirit? Does what they say encourage us

Elizabeth tells Mary: ‘Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would EH IXOÂżOOHG Âś

“Rejoice!� When, really, do you hear that word other than at Christmastime? “Joy� and images of rejoicing angels are salted into the season. Joy ranks high among the basics of Christmas. And when you consider how often one sees the word “rejoice� punctuated with an exclamation mark, the entire notion assumes the characteristic of a happy command, as if to say: “There is good reason to rejoice. Do it, therefore. Rejoice!� But for Christians, joy is not a basic only of Christmas; it is a year-round basic. It seems that St Paul, very early in the Christian era, wanted the Christians in Thessalonica to be clear about that.

through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and ... to guide our feet into the path of peace� (Lk 1:68, 76-79). The Nativity story provides other spectacular examples of prophetic utterances. When writing his Gospel, Luke tested and retained them. We too should treasure what we hear from God’s word! „ Jesuit Fr O’Collins has taught theology at the Ponti¿cal Gregorian University in Rome. He has also published 48 books.

‘The spirit of the Lord God is upon me’

all in being faithful disciples of Jesus Christ? Once we have followed St Paul’s instruction to “test everything�, we should “retain what is good� (1 Thes 5:21). This involves treasuring what we have

heard, putting it into practice and sharing it with others. In the Christmas season, we ÂżQG ZRnderful examples of “prophetic utterancesâ€?: „ (OL]DEHWK ÂżOOHG ZLWK WKH Holy Spirit, tells Mary: “Most

Joy – a year-round attitude for Christians By David Gibson

blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ... Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulÂżOOHG´ /N „ $IWHU WKH 0DJQLÂżFDW WKH hymn of praise coming from 0DU\ /N =HFKDULDK the father of John the Baptist, is ÂżOOHG ZLWK WKH +RO\ 6SLULW DQG XWters this prophecy: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has visited and brought redemption to His people... And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give His people knowledge of salvation

What should Christians do? St Paul counselled the Thessalonians to “rejoice alwaysâ€?, while also praying “without ceasingâ€? and giving thanks “in all circumstancesâ€? (1 Thes 5:16-18). But today, some wonder how apparent it would be to others that joy is a trait esteemed by Christians. Would people who are not Christians gain the impression that joy is overshadowed among Christians by other worthy and more solemn goals? There are good reasons be\RQG WKHLU RZQ SHUVRQDO EHQHÂżW for Christians to hone the virtue of joy. It commonly is thought that joy communicates a compelling “messageâ€? to others. In other words, in others’ eyes, joy lends credibility to Christian life. I should note in this context that St Paul encouraged the Thessa-

lonians always to rejoice right after encouraging them to “build one another up� and seek “what is good ... for each other and for all� (1 Thes 5:11, 15). In a Christmas 2007 homily, Pope Benedict XVI talked about the reason the angels rejoiced the night of Jesus’ birth. The pope suggested that their reason is our reason too. The early Church Fathers interpreted “the song of the angels� as “an expression of joy over the fact that the height and the depth, heaven and earth, are once more united; that man is again united to God�, the pope explained. There is reason to rejoice, he said, because “in the stable at Bethlehem, heaven and earth meet�. As a result, “a light shines from the stable for all times� and “joy is enkindled�. „ CNS

The third Sunday of Advent emphasises the closeness of the Lord to His people.

By Carole Norris Greene GAUDETE SUNDAY, which occurs on the third Sunday of $GYHQW VLJQLÂżHV WKH QHDUQHVV of the Lord, whose coming is anticipated with great joy. In fact, throughout Advent, continual reference is made to Christ’s coming, which is emphasised on Gaudete Sunday by expressions of gladness during the Mass. In Chapter 61 of the Book of Isaiah, the prophet describes his anointing by God and the blessings that the Lord will bring upon his return in glory: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has ... sent me to ... announce a year of favour from the Lord

and a day of vindication by our God. ... I will rejoice heartily in the Lord, my being exults in my God� (1-2, 10). And, according to Isaiah in verses 8-9, the Lord will repay everyone according to his deeds: “I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, an everlasting covenant I will make with them. “Their offspring shall be renowned among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them: ‘They are offspring the Lord has blessed.’ � „ Greene is Associate Editor of the Faith Alive! series

COMMENTARY 17

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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18 SERVICES

Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

ARCHDIOCESE OF SINGAPORE

Penitential Services CITY Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Dec 13: 8.00pm Dec 18: 8.45am & 5.45pm (Tamil) Church of St Teresa 14 Dec: 8.00pm Church of St Michael Dec 15: 8.00pm Church of St Alphonsus (Novena) Dec 16: 8.00pm Church of Sts Peter and Paul Dec 18: 1.00pm (Mandarin), Dec 20: 8.00pm Church of St Bernadette Dec 19: 8.00pm EAST Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Dec 14: 10.30am, 8.00pm Church of St Stephen Dec 15: 8.00pm Church of the Holy Trinity Dec 16: 10.30am, 8.00pm Church of the Holy Family Dec 19: 10.30am, 8.00pm Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Dec 20: 8.00pm Church of Divine Mercy Dec 21: 8.00pm NORTH Church of Christ the King Dec 9: 10.30am, 8.00pm

Church of the Holy Spirit Dec 12: 10.30am, 8:00pm Church of the Risen Christ Dec 13: 10.30am, 8.00pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Dec 14: 8.00pm St Joseph Church (BT) Dec 15: 8.00pm Church of St Anthony Dec 16: 8.00pm SERANGOON Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Dec 12: 8.00pm Church of St Francis Xavier Dec 13: 8.00pm Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Dec 14: 8.00pm St Anne’s Church Dec 15: 8.00pm Church of St Vincent de Paul Dec 16: 8.00pm WEST Blessed Sacrament Church Dec 16: 8.00pm Church of St Francis of Assisi Dec 19: 8.00pm Church of St Ignatius Dec 20: 8.00pm Church of the Holy Cross Dec 21: 8.00pm Church of St Mary of the Angels Dec 22: 8.00pm

Simbang Gabi sa 2011 Theme: The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary Organised by the Filipino Community Dec 15, Thursday, 8pm MOTHER OF CHRIST CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY Contact: Francis Cepe (94761255) / Tony Odiada (91052930) CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA Contact: Jay Pisigan (98794572) / Elmer Del Rosario (93826874) / Butch Sarmiento (91349109) CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI Contact: Yolly Ligon (94876534) / Alda Victoriano (96147106) Dec 16, Friday, 8pm MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS Contact: Arman Ardiente (81961945) / Benjo Castillo (97650411) CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Contact: Maleen Ngan (97867143) / Violet Liew (91542797) CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY Contact: Asuncion Mendiola (98496229) / Rvikki De Jesus (81805294) Dec 17, Saturday, 8pm MOTHER MOST PURE CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY Contact: Zap Sapiera (82881025/ 84848065) / Marie Sapiera (94783985) CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Contact: Third Gutlay (96340743) / Luz Gutlay (91376938) CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE Contact: Mel Diamse-Lee (91995621) Dec 18, Sunday, 8pm MOTHER MOST CHASTE CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL Contact: Fr Angel Luciano, CICM (63920592) CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS Contact: Buddy Castro (91769340) / Joy Ng (97389946) / (Bong Nungay (90401529) CHURCH OF ST BERNADETTE Contact: Edilberto Endeno (96583526) / Renelen Villabesa (93255106) / Dodeth Vergara (84440213) Dec 19, Monday, 8pm MOTHER INVIOLATE CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS Contact: Melinda Dumalogdog (82174536)/ Tony Anaya (94368247) CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Contact: Pauline Olindang (97510262) / Ma.Victoria Balan (84926086) / Nelly Callanta (98318044)

CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN Contact: Arnold Cordova (96478721) / Rey De Luna (97453947) / Manulet Bulaong (91258086) Dec 20, Tuesday, 8pm MOTHER UNDEFILED ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH Contact: Jenny Arancon (93425839) CHURCH OF ST TERESA Contact: Eric Arroyo (85713310) / Gilbert Naguit (92474555) CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER Contact: Damian Low (81239673) / Annaliza Tan (81180179) / Dominic Tan (93827463) Dec 21, Wednesday, 8pm MOTHER MOST AMIABLE CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING Contact: Marvin Arrabaca (93639480) / Robert Mendoza (97861448) CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Contact: Daisy Leong (90995035) / Malou Tay (97669971) CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Contact: Zap Sapiera (82881025/84848065) / Edwin Justiniano (98307153) Dec 22, Thursday, 8pm MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Contact: Marie Avi Garcia (96450814) / Amapola Hernandez (84211678) CHURCH OF ST ALPHONSUS (NOVENA CHURCH) Contact: Rev Claveria (96717755) / Rey Tatoy (90122243) BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH Contact: Beboy Delicano Jr (82624866) Dec 23, Friday, 8pm MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES Contact: Jenny Arancon (93425839) ST ANNE’S CHURCH Contact: Alex / Geraldine Quiambao (91516794) CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST Contact: Tocing Kew (96246061) / Alice Wong (93669180) / Maricel Lee (92383579) / Helen Palec (96118674) Dec 24, Saturday, 6pm MOTHER OF OUR SAVIOUR CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL Contact: Jenny Arancon (93425839)

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Sturmi Sturmi (705-779) was cared for by St Boniface, who brought him to the abbey of Fritzlar to receive his education and later his ordination as a priest. His early religious work was as a missionary in dangerous territory that was frequently attacked by Saxons. Sturmi moved into a safer area and established a monastery in Fulda. St Boniface apSRLQWHG KLP DV LWV ¿UVW DEERW Sturmi travelled to Italy in order to study Benedictine observance. There he also received encouragement for his work in the monastery from Pope St Zachary. The monastery suffered political FRQÀLFW DPRQJ LWV PRQNV DQG ZDU IURP WKH RXWVLGH GXULQJ D GLI¿FXOW time in history. 6WXUPL LV EHOLHYHG WR EH WKH ¿UVW *HUPDQ WR EHFRPH D %HQHGLFtine monk. We honour him on Dec 17. „

Bible Accent: When Jesus was on earth, He said that He had FRPH WR IXO¿OO WKH SURSKHFLHV DERXW +LP WKDW were recorded in the Old Testament. We can learn about the life and teachings of Jesus by reading the New Testament. The four Gospels tell us about His birth, His ministry, His miracles and, most important of all, His death and resurrection. But there is much more. The Acts of the Apostles shows us how the early Christians tried to obey Jesus and spread the Gospel, aided by the Holy Spirit. The books that follow are actually a collection of letters written by men who were very important to our faith, such as Paul, Peter, John and James. Most of these letters were written to churches or individuals to help them understand the word of God. The Book of Revelation, alWKRXJK GLI¿FXOW WR XQGHUVWDQG WHOOV XV DERXW WKH VHFRQG FRPLQJ RI Jesus and the kingdom of God. „

with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognise, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.â€? On the very next day, while John was baptising people, he saw Jesus coming. He immediately called out, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.â€? -RKQ VDZ D GRYH Ă€\ GRZQ DQG remain on Jesus, so he said, “I did not know Him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water told me,

‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, He is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.’ Âł1RZ , KDYH VHHQ DQG WHVWLÂżHG that he is the Son of God.â€? „ Read more about it: John 1 Q&A 1. Who did John say that he was? 2. How did John know that Jesus was the Son of God?

KIDS’ CLUB: Share your thoughts on this week’s Bible story with family and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: Why was John the Baptist so important to the ministry of Jesus?

WORDSEARCH: „ JOHN „ MESSAGE „ RANKS „ GRACE „ FATHER „ MESSIAH „ ELIJAH „ PROPHET „ ANSWER „ DESERT „ STRAIGHT „ ISAIAH

PUZZLE: List the titles of nine books of the Bible that use only letters that appear in the following verse: Make straight the way of the Lord. Answer for Puzzle: Esther, Wisdom, Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, Haggai, Matthew, Mark, Timothy

There was a man named John who had been chosen by God for a very special purpose. He was charged with announcing the light, so that everyone would believe in that light. He was not the light, only a messenger, and he was to proclaim that the light, the true light, was soon going to be coming into the world. And this was John’s message: “The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because He existed before me. From His fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed Him.� As John continued to preach,

some of the priests and Levites wondered who he was, so they asked him directly, “Who are you?� “I am not the Messiah,� John replied. “What are you then? Are you Elijah?� “I am not.� “Are you the Prophet?� “No.� “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?� John answered: “I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord,�’ as Isaiah the prophet said.� Some of the people who were questioning John were Pharisees, and they asked him, “Why then do you baptise if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?� So John said to them, “I baptise

Answer for Wordsearch:

By Joe Sarnicola

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday December 18, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Thursdays from December 1 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL 7.45pm: At Church of St Michael. T: 6291 9272; E: lilipll@singnet.com.sg Sundays from January 8 RCIY@IHM 3pm: For youths aged 14-21 years. At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (24 Highland Rd). T: 9875 1235 (Daniel), 9710 8145 (Seishen); E: rciyihm@gmail.com; W: http://rciy.ihm.sg Sundays from February 5 2012 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 7.30-9.30pm: At Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. With welcome night on Jan 30. T: 9671 8216 (Christina), 9630 3276 (Edward), 9760 0038 (Bob). Forms available at church secretariat. CHRISTMAS SALE@CANA 11am-5pm, Mondays to Saturdays. At 55 :DWHUORR 6W QG ÀRRU 7 (for late shopping hours) CHINESE CATECHISM 2012 @ NATIVITY CHURCH 5.45-6.45pm: Nativity Church has catechism in Chinese for children from nursery level to Secondary 3 FRQ¿UPDWLRQ HYHU\ 6DWXUGD\ 'HWDLOV and registration T: 6280 0980 SDULVK RI¿FH /LOLDQJ

RETROUVAILLE WEEKEND If you are serious about making your

marriage work, this programme could be worthwhile for you. Weekends on Mar 23-25, Jun 22-24, Sep 28-30 2012; T: 6749 8861; Register W: http://helpourmarriage.sg

to the Society of SVDP for the poor and for choir facilities upgrading. At Church of St Vincent de Paul. Cost: $15 (per ticket). Donations welcomed. E: actconcert2011@gmail.com

CHANGE IN NOVENA CHURCH MASS TIMES From Jan 1, Sunday Mass times at 7am, 9am & 5.30pm. Tagalog Mass every 2nd and 4th Sundays at 11am. No changes to weekday Mass times.

Tuesdays January 3 2012 to May 22 2012 BOOK OF PROPHET JEREMIAH 9.30-11.30am or 7.45-9.45pm. 17 sessions by Msgr Eugene Vaz on the prophet Jeremiah. By Singapore Pastoral Institute. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). Cost: $95 ($90 before Dec 20). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org

Friday December 16 to Sunday December 18 ROMAN CATHOLICISM 201 7pm (Fri) -1pm (Sun): 3-day Catholic apologetics seminar. Learn the art of explaining why you are Catholic. Topics include Catholics and Protestants, differences and similarities, apologetics after Vatican II, the spirit of the liturgy, the Theology of the Body and many more. By Apostolate for Catholic Truth. At Choice Retreat House (47 Jurong West St 42). Cost: $40. T: 9649 3983 (Andrew); E: andrewkong@me.com; W: http://www.catholic.sg/act December 16 YEAR END REFLECTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS SP $Q HYHQLQJ RI 5HĂ€HFWLRQ RQ “Walking into a New Year, into God’s Presenceâ€?, followed by Eucharistic Adoration & fellowship. All are welcome. By Generation CHRIST! Ministry. At Church of St Ignatius Kingsmead Hall (St Francis Xavier Chapel). E: gen.christ. ministry@gmail.com December 17 TOWARDS INNER FREEDOM WITH CHOICE THEORY 2-5pm: By Sr Louisa Lim, fdcc. Cost: $20. By Lifesprings Canossian Spirituality Centre. At 100 Jln Merbok. T: 6466 2178; E: lifesprings@singnet. com.sg; December 23 CHRISTMAS TAPESTRY CONCERT 8pm: Featuring sacred songs and heartwarming Christmas tunes sung by tenor Matthew Chua and soprano Teng Xiang Ting, and accompanied by Dorothy Chia. All proceeds will go

Wednesdays January 4 2012 to July 18 2012 THE BIBLE TIMELINE 7.45-9.45pm The Bible Timeline is basic enough to suit those who haven’t studied the Bible before. It offers ways to go deeper that will challenge the Bible-study veteran. Salvation history is covered from its beginning in Genesis through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Catholic Church. Cost: $48 (for materials). At Church of the Holy Spirit Room A2-01. T: 9833 4623 (Andrew), E: andrew_loo_ts@yahoo.com.sg Wednesdays January 4 2012 to March 21 2012 WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? 8pm Gain deeper knowledge of Jesus through 12 evening sessions reading Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 1, praying, and sharing experiences and insights. Facilitated by Fr Christopher Soh, SJ. Cost: $60 or $40 (before Dec 15). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Cost: $40. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: cisc2664@gmail.com January 5 RED MASS 7pm: The Red Mass for Catholics in the legal profession will be celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia. All in the legal profession (including law students) and their families are invited. By Catholic Lawyers Guild. At Cathedral of Good Shepherd. T: 6333 1003 (Julie)

January 14 TRANISTIONS THROUGH MIDLIFE CRISIS 9-11am: Feeling lost, having self-doubts, restricted options, and strong desires to PDNH GUDVWLF VLJQLÂżFDQW FKDQJHV WR OLIH RU self are common in the midlife passage. Sr Linda Lizada, M.A. will deal with how to transform problems into promise and QHJRWLDWH WKLV GLIÂżFXOW SHULRG %\ &ODULW\ Singapore. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul Level 2, Room 8 (225 Queen St). Cost: $15. T: 9710 3733; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org; W: http://www.clarity-singapore.org

Pope urges Catholic-Orthodox unity VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI said Catholics and Orthodox have a duty to show a united front of faith in facing challenges intenVLÂżHG E\ LQFUHDVHG VHFXODULVP In a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the pope said Catholics and Orthodox are faced with “the exact same challenges, whether of a cultural, social, economic, political or ecologic natureâ€?. Christ’s message must be renewed in those areas that “today are suffering the effects of a secularisation that impoverishes man in his most profound dimensionsâ€?, the pope wrote.

He said the shared principles of Orthodox and Catholics could help overcome obstacles along the ecumenical path in confronting such problems. “Faced with such an urgent task, we have the duty to offer humanity an image of people who, having acquired a mature faith, can come together despite human tensions�, thanks to a common search for truth and the shared understanding that “future evangelisation depends on united testimony given for the Church�, he said. The pope’s message was carried to Patriarch Bartholomew in

Istanbul by Cardinal Kurt Koch, SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQcil for Promoting Christian Unity, who led a Vatican delegation to a celebration of the feast of St Andrew the Apostle, the patriarchate’s patron saint. The pope told Patriarch Bartholomew that he “saved in his heartâ€? the memory of their last meeting during October’s peace pilgrimage to Assisi. He emphasised how the prayers of Catholics were the same as those of Orthodox in calling for peace in the world, prosperity of the Church and “the unity of all those who believe in Christâ€?. „ CNS

Call for greater access to AIDS therapy VATICAN CITY – The deaths each

year of more than a million people from AIDS, the suffering of their families and the new infections of hundreds of thousands of infants are unacceptable when the medicines needed to prevent them exLVW D 9DWLFDQ RIÂżFLDO VDLG Archbishop Zygmunt ZiPRZVNL SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO Council for Health Care Ministry, said World AIDS Day must be a time “to promote universal access

to therapies for those who are infected, the prevention of transmission from mother to child, and education� in responsible sexuality. In a Dec 1 statement, he said that despite the development of antiretroviral drugs 20 years ago, an estimated 1.8 million people still die of AIDS each year. “These are people who could lead normal lives if they only had access to suitable pharmacological therapies,� he said.

The deaths “are no longer jusWLÂżDEOH´ WKH DUFKELVKRS VDLG QRU is the pain experienced by their families and fact that hundreds of thousands of children are orphaned each year. Universal access to antiretroviral therapy is essential, he said. But greater efforts also must be made in educating people, especially the young, in a responsible exercise of their sexuality, he said. „ CNS

Saturday January 21 to Tuesday January 24 RETREAT IN MALAYALAM 9am (Sat) – 6pm (Tues): Rejuvenate and rediscover yourself through the Word of God. The following sessions will be held concurrently: adults’ retreat (Malayalam) by Jerusalem Retreat Centre, Kerala led by Fr Davis Pattath; children’s retreat (for 4-12 years old) by Christeen, Kerala, and teens’ retreat in English (for 13-19 years old) by Jesus Youth. By Malayalam &KDULVPDWLF *URXS 6LQJDSRUH $I¿OLDWHG to SACCRE). T: 9186 7456 (Milen), 9820 6084 (Nibu) for adults’ retreat; 9790 3482 (Joby), 9149 3328 (Beena) for children’s retreat; 9022 4690 (Ajith), 8401 4006 (Shibu) for teens’ retreat.

Saturday January 7 to Sunday January 8 THE CONTEMPLATIVE DIMENSION OF FAITH 8.30am: Seminar aims to further deepen the spirit of friendship and collaboration among the different faiths in Singapore. Common Ground will focus on the contemplative practice of religion and how the shared experience of silence in meditation can enhance interreligious

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dialogue. Led by Fr Laurence Freeman, OSB with contributions from other religious leaders. By IRED, WCCM and supported by IRO. At CJC Performing Arts Centre (Whitley Rd). Cost: $50. Register T: 8411 3130/ 6336 4815; E: commonground2012@ gmail.com

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ACROSS 1 She appeared in “Where the Boys Areâ€? before becoming a nun 5 Catholic Surrealist painter 9 Aquinas’ opus, for short 14 Topping in a tub 15 Writer Wiesel 16 Head of a monastery 17 The Wise Men followed it 18 Containers 19 Religion of the Muslims 20 Headset 22 Sacred vessels 23 Movable cupboard 24 “___ Holy Queenâ€? 25 Cell “messengerâ€? Âł&KULVWLDQ´ ÂżUVW used here (Acts 11:26) 30 First word of Mr. Roger’s refrain 33 Teaching of the Buddha 36 “In the ___ of the Father‌â€? 37 First prime minister of India 39 United States farmer’s org. 40 Jeopardy 41 Loyal 42 St. Therese of Lisieux is a patron of this country 44 Little drink 45 The Archdiocese of Toronto is here

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Church ___ Waterfall Our Mother of ___ Biblical occupation 57 John Paul II’s encyclical, “___ De Eucharistiaâ€? 58 In Mt 12:25, Jesus said this divided could not stand :KDW WKH Ă€HVK LV sometimes 60 Org. 61 Friendship 62 Femme’s pronoun 63 Bound 64 The house of a parson 65 Colored 66 Possessive pronoun DOWN 1 One of the prophets 2 Focal place of the Mass 3 Equip again 4 Apathy 5 Judge of Israel 6 Type of dress 7 Geometry basic 3OXUDO VXIÂż[ 9 Unlike 59A, this is willing 10 Member of an order of St. Angela Merici 11 “Should anyone press you into service for one ___‌â€? (Mt 5:41) 12 Castle’s defense

13 Weapons 21 Major religion in India 22 Catholic family conference 24 Chief minister of the Persian king in the Book of Esther 27 Rowing implements 28 902, to Nero 29 “Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our ___ and shieldâ€? (Ps 33:20) 30 “And lead us not ___‌â€? 31 Web-footed aquatic bird 32 Close 34 Builder of the golden calf 35 Dietary data 38 They view things as they actually are

40 Parable of the ___ of great price 42 Of high grade 43 Timed 46 Butcher’s cut 48 Advent foliage 50 Fish covering 51 Actor Davis 52 Smarter 53 Vegas Casino 54 Fraud 55 Prolonged unconsciousness 56 Those who want to be rich have many “foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ___� (1 Tim 6:9) 57 Fishy 59 Receive a sacrament

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1046 W E P T

E V O O

O L A F

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K B R S I N E A D A L D A L I I S S I O G T O N O G N I C R E D N E W S T A I N W I L D E O L G R R E E V D S T E

I N O R N E P A L

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S M I A E N N C A N E S A S S S E Y H A T M O N S S E S A E R T E S R

E C O L E

T R O L L

S E R I F

C A N A

T I E D

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Sunday December 18, 2011 CatholicNews

PUBLISHED BY ARCHBISHOP NICHOLAS CHIA, 2 HIGHLAND ROAD #01-03, SINGAPORE 549102. PRINTED BY TIMESPRINTERS, 16 TUAS AVE 5, SINGAPORE 639340.

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