DECEMBER 27, 2015, Vol 65, No 26

SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

MCI (P) 009/08/2015

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

VOL 65

NO. 26

Mary and the child Jesus are depicted in a 17th-century painting by Il Sassoferrato. CNS photo

SUNDAY DECEMBER 27, 2015

2 YEAR OF MERCY

Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Archbishop Goh launches the Year of Mercy as he opens the Holy Door at Divine Mercy Church Photo: ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SINGAPORE

By Christopher Khoo “May the doors of our hearts be wide open to His call and may the doors of all our parishes be open to all who seek the living God,� said Archbishop William Goh as he launched the Jubilee Year of Mercy on Dec 8.

In a solemn ceremony outside the designated Holy Door at the Church of Divine Mercy, Archbishop Goh said, “Jesus is the door.

In the words of Pope Francis, there is only one way that opens wide the entrance into a life of communion with God.�

He told the 1,800-strong crowd gathered for the event on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception that “today as we enter through ‌this Holy Door, let it be a reminder to all who pass through here that Jesus is the way to salvation.â€?

He added that the Holy Door “serves as a symbol of God’s everlasting mercy and His constant invitation for us to return home to Him.�

Archbishop Goh then blessed the door with holy water and incensed it.

A hush fell over the congregation as he pulled open the door and walked through it to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy Mass.

In his homily, Archbishop Goh told the crowd that “as we begin the Year of Mercy, I want you all to be messengers of God’s mercy. Give hope to people, be merciful‌.

Be compassionate because we ourselves are sinners. The bishop is a sinner too.�

More than 100 Catholics from 17 parishes took part in a “Mercy Walk� for peace to mark the International Year of Consecrated life as well as the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy on Dec 8.

Laypeople joined Daughters of St Paul, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Good Shepherd and Canossian nuns, and Jesuit and Franciscan priests, in walking from Changi Prison Museum to the Church of Divine Mercy to participate in the Jubilee Year Mass.

The idea of starting the 5.2-km journey from Changi Prison Museum came from Fr Johnson Fernandez, parish priest of Divine Mercy.

He explained that “the venue is symbolic because we want the Church to remember those who have most need of God’s love and mercy – namely the prisoners themselves. The Holy Father calls us to be merciful to others just as God is merciful to us.�

He explained that going through the Holy Door, an important aspect of the Year of Mercy, means “I want now to walk the way of Jesus.â€? “It means ‌ from now on Jesus is my door, Jesus is my shepherd. I want to walk the way of truth, the way of love, the way of life.â€?

He stressed that “mercy makes us loving people, gives us hope.

And so for this year, make your resolution: ‘I will be the channel of God’s mercy.’�

Several participants CatholicNews spoke to said they were moved

For this year, ‘ make your resolution: ‘I will be the channel of God’s mercy.’

’

– Archbishop Goh

by the special Mass and its symbolic VLJQLÂżFDQFH “It was very good, very inspiring, to know that it’s not the ‘door’ that’s important, but that the door represents Jesus,â€? said Ms Fidelia Eber, a parishioner of the Church of Divine Mercy. “So it’s important to follow Jesus.â€?

She said she feels that the special year will be “more meaningful if we have love in our hearts for one another�.

Mr Victor Ong, 49, from St Anne’s Church, said the Mass and the opening of the Holy Door showed him how rich the Church

Archbishop William Goh blesses the Holy Door at the Church of Divine Mercy with holy water. The door is open from 7 am-9 pm daily.

is in “ritual, culture and history�.

He said the celebration of the special year was “quite apt because ZRUOG LV LQ FKDRV ÂżJKWLQJ WHUURUismâ€?. “I thought the Church response of mercy is appropriate,â€? he said.

He added that if all Catholics in Singapore could demonstrate this quality in their workplaces and famiOLHV ³, WKLQN WKLV FDQ EH D VLJQL¿FDQW transformation for Singapore�. „ christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg

The congregation at the Jubilee Year of Mercy Mass.

Photos: RICHARD LIM

Above: Laypeople and Religious taking part in the walk. Right: Wheelchair-bound Bernard Peter Ting also joined the group.

The walk was an initiative of the Conference of Religious Major Superiors and organised by Jesuit Fr Colin Tan and some volunteers who served as group leaders.

The mini pilgrimage started with an opening prayer by Fr Colin, who prayed that the whole Church will experience an outpouring of God’s

mercy during this jubilee year. He further encouraged the pilgrims to pray during the walk for their loved ones who are held captive by their RZQ DGGLFWLRQV DQG DIĂ€LFWLRQV Despite the heat, humidity and ominous-looking clouds, participants said it was a good spiritual experience.

“It was a very sacred time where all of us walked in unison for a good cause and everyone in the group took out their rosaries and prayed in silence,� said Ms P S Lee, a teacher who came with a group of friends. “It was also a good time of bonding after the rosary as we chatted and got to know new friends.�

Wheelchair-bound Bernard Peter Ting, who also joined the group, summed up the experience: “It’s the Spirit that brought us here.�

The Year of Consecrated Life, which overlaps with the recently launched Year of Mercy, started on Nov 30, 2014, and will end on Feb 2, 2016. „

YEAR OF MERCY 3

Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS: Parish priest Fr Richards Ambrose opened the Holy Door during the Sunday 11.30 am Mass. The door is open daily from 6 am-7 pm except on public holidays.

CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST: Parish priest Fr John Sim opened the Holy Door during the Saturday 6 pm Mass. The door is open daily from 6.30 am-7 pm.

The four other designated parishes opened their Holy Doors during Masses over the weekend of Dec 12-13

CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL: Parish priest Fr Michael Sitaram opened the Holy Door during the Sunday 11 am Mass. The door is open from 8 am-8 pm daily except for public holidays.

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART: Parish priest Ft Stephen Yim opened the Holy Door during the Sunday 10.30 am Mass. The door is open from 6.30 am-8 pm daily.

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Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

ARCHBISHOP’S PASTORAL MESSAGE

My dear brothers and sisters, We have just inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Divine Mercy.

Celebrating Christmas is truly a celebration of God’s mercy for humanity. We were once living like orphans in exile, without knowing our true identity and our destiny.

As St Paul wrote in his letter to Titus, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, KDYLQJ EHHQ MXVWLÂżHG E\ +LV JUDFH we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.â€? (Titus 3:4-7) Indeed, the great joy of Christmas is that God who has always been invoked as a God of mercy, even among other monotheistic religions, has now come to us in person to show us His divine mercy, not because we deserve His grace but purely out of His mercy and compassion.

This is what the author of the letter of Hebrews wrote, “Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom He also created the worlds. He is the UHĂ€HFWLRQ RI *RGÂśV JORU\ DQG WKH H[DFW LPSULQW RI *RGÂśV YHU\ EHLQJ and He sustains all things by His powerful word.â€? (Heb 1:1-3) ,QGHHG WKURXJK -HVXVÂś OLIH SDVsion, death and resurrection, God in His divine mercy has shown us how much He loves us even to the extent of emptying Himself in assuming our humanity.

Jesus’ birth is just the beginning of the manifestation of God’s mercy. The cause of our celebration

is in view of His death and resurrection, for it is His paschal mystery that we come to discover His true identity as true God and true man.

The second person of the Trinity became man by emptying Himself of His divinity at the Incarnation so that He could once again empty Himself of His humanity at the passion. The divine mercy of God is therefore one RI VHOI HPSW\LQJ +H LV LGHQWLÂżHG with us in all things except sin.

Hence, the letter to the Hebrews exhorts us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has

been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and ÂżQG JUDFH WR KHOS LQ WLPH RI QHHG ´ (Heb 4:15f) Truly, Jesus shares with us all our pain, suffering, and even the consequences of sins. “For our sake He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.â€?

(2 Cor 5:21) St Peter wrote in a similar vein, “When He was abused, He did not

(Mt 8:16f). No one can accuse God and say that He does not understand what we are going through and how much we are suffering or hurting when we are sick or misunderstood or even unjustly treated.

Consequently, in the light of *RGœV PHUF\ UHYHDOHG LQ &KULVW DV His incarnation, birth, life, passion, death and resurrection, we too are called to be channels of God’s mercy to others. Just as we have received mercy, we must now give mercy to our brothers and sisters.

The giving of gifts at Christmas

In the light of God’s mercy revealed in Christ as His incarnation, birth, life, passion, death and resurrection, we too are called to be channels of God’s mercy to others. Just as we have received mercy, we must now give mercy to our brothers and sisters. return abuse; when He suffered, He did not threaten; but He entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.�

(1 Pt 2:23f) And St Matthew wrote, “That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick. This ZDV WR IXOÂżO ZKDW KDG EHHQ VSRNHQ through the prophet Isaiah, ‘He took RXU LQÂżUPLWLHV DQG ERUH RXU GLVHDVHVϫ

is rooted in the giving of God Himself. With Christ, we want to empty ourselves for the service of others, E\ EHLQJ LGHQWLÂżHG ZLWK WKH SRRU WKH suffering, those who are spiritually thirsty and or materially hungry.

Most of all, we want to show our forgiveness to those who have hurt us and cheated us or even destroyed our family and reputation.

Today, sinners are waiting to be forgiven and reconciled, your exspouse, your children, your friends.

We must go beyond the giving of material gifts at Christmas to the giving of ourselves, our resources, our time,

our love and our forgiveness. Let us WDNH WKH ÂżUVW VWHS WR UHDFK RXW DQG be reconciled with our enemies and those who have hurt us. Let us move out of our comfort zones and attend to the wounded and bruised body of our Lord in the suffering of others.

Let us never forget that Christmas is always celebrated in view of His paschal mystery and ultimately His Second Coming. This explains why the gospel never gave us the exact date of His birth or even the exact year of His birth. In fact, Christmas was only celebrated in the 4th century.

The older and more ancient feast celebrated prior to Christmas was the feast of Epiphany.

What matters for the Church is not the chronological event but the theological meaning of this Christevent, which is the manifestation of *RGÂśV ORYH DQG GLYLQH PHUF\ :KDW is underscored is that Christ is the /LJKW RI WKH ZRUOG +LV ÂżUVW FRPLQJ is celebrated only because we are awaiting His Second Coming at the end of time. ,I ZH FHOHEUDWH +LV ÂżUVW FRPLQJ LW is in order that whilst waiting for His Second coming, our enthusiasm can be sustained by contemplating on the mercy of God in the birth of Christ.

Christmas must not be misunderstood or celebrated as a sentimental, nostalgic celebration of the past, of the birth of the cute little baby Jesus.

Rather, the liturgy of Christmas focuses on the Second Coming of Christ when He will be the King of the Universe and God will be all in all.

So to celebrate Christmas is to let His divine mercy be born in our hearts through the Spirit as we become the adopted sons and daughters in Christ. Then sharing in His paschal mystery as we give ourselves in complete selflessness and humility in the service of our fellowmen, we share in His resurrection.

Consequently, notwithstanding all the joys and rejoicing, let us not forget to let Christ be born again in our hearts in contemplative prayer and worship, just as Mary and the shepherds did. In our merry-making, we must not be so distracted and become so worldly that we do not have time to ponder over this event quietly and meaningfully.

We must not fall into the temptation of allowing the external celebrations and rejoicing to crowd out the objective of our celebration – the mercy and grace of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus. May you all have a holy and blessed Christmas! „

Archbishop William Goh

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Sunday December 27, 2015 CatholicNews

Risen Christ youth orchestra raises funds for Syrian refugees The audience in the Church of the Risen Christ listened in rapt attention as vocal, violin and flute soloists displayed their virtuosity, and as the orchestra performed music from Lord of the Rings and familiar Christmas classics.

The 60-member strong Risen Christ Youth Symphony staged A Light to the World, a concert in aid of the Syrian refugees in Europe on Dec 5.

The concert also saw the premiere performance of a Childhood Scenes of Singapore, a piece composed by the orchestra’s conductor, Dr Aloysius Leong.

Dr Leong explained to the audience that as a result of the terror attacks in Paris, more doors in Europe will now be closed to the refugees who are already living in dire conditions.

A musician can respond to the anger, violence and terrorist activities in the world today by taking up his instrument, as music can heal and bring peace in chaos, he added.

Dr Leong also noted that the

parish-based orchestra is made up of young people from different backgrounds, religions and ethnicities, and that this makes it a microcosm of Singapore’s cohesive multiculturalism.

Dr Leong told CatholicNews that the orchestra received a pleasant surprise when Pope Francis himself apparently replied to a member’s email. Mr Daniel Chin, a violinist, had emailed the Vatican to tell the pope about the orchestra’s desire to help the refugees through the concert.

Mr Chin later received an emailed letter from Msgr Peter B Wells, Assessor of the Vatican Secretariat of State, saying that the “Holy Father has received your letter, and he has asked me to thank you. He appreciates the concerns which prompted you

Risen Christ Youth Symphony performing a concert titled A Light to the World on Dec 5.

to share your work with him.”

The letter goes on to say: “His Holiness will remember you and the members of the Risen Youth Symphony in his prayers. Invoking upon you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ, he sends you his blessing.”

A musician can respond to the anger, violence and terrorist activities in the world today by taking up his instrument, as music can heal and bring peace in chaos, said orchestra conductor Aloysius Leong.

According to Dr Leong, the total amount raised at the concert was more than $14,000, which will be given to CHARIS ((Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore), to dispense to the refugees.

The youth orchestra, the brainchild of parish priest Fr John Sim, started in January 2013. It has performed for various Church

events including the SG50 Mass on July 4.

Young people who wish to be part of the Risen Christ Youth Symphony may email Dr Leong at dr.al.leong@gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/ RCYSOfficial/ for more information.

6 HOME

Sunday December 27, 2015 CatholicNews

Annual Christmas concert marks SG50, choir’s own 50 years The Cathedral Choir of the Risen Christ performing at its concert, Christmas in Singapore SG50 – Peace in the World, on Dec 6.

The Cathedral Choir of the Risen The decoration of the Christmas Christ’s Christmas concert this year Tree of Peace followed, which saw was extra special in various ways. 32 heads of foreign delegations The concert celebrated Singapore’s placing ornaments emblazoned 50th anniversary as well the choir’s ZLWK WKH ÀDJ RI WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH own half century of existence. nations. They included the ambasIn the segment when Singapore sadors of the United States, Israel, representatives and heads of for- Brazil and the United Kingdom. eign delegations hung ornaments Countries represented for the on a Christmas tree to symbolise first time were Vietnam, Turpeace, Dr Lee Suan Yew, brother key, Mongolia, Cuba, Chile and of the late Lee Kuan Yew, placed Panama. an ornament bearing the silhouette The ornament for Singapore of Singapore’s founding father was placed by Mr J Y Pillay, against a background of a crescent chairman of the Council of PresiDQG ¿YH VWDUV dential Advisers. The T h e c o n c e r t , Dr Lee Suan Yew, tree was then blessheld at St Joseph’s ed by vicar general brother of the Church (Victoria St) Msgr Philip Heng. late Lee Kuan on Dec 6, also saw The concert also Yew, placed an the 80-strong choir saw the choir singing singing a Christmas ornament bearing and dancing to a medcarol for Singapore ley of carols from 35 the silhouette titled Light to the countries in 20 differof Singapore’s World, composed by ent languages, earning the choir’s founder- founding father on praise from Mr Pillay, the Christmas tree. who said that “it was director Peter Low. The concert began a spectacle that could with excerpts from Handel’s Mes- rank alongside the world’s best”. siah, interspersed with four short It was also a night of surprises readings from the Old Testament as the choir presented Dr Peter Low foretelling the birth of the Christ. with a special balloon emblazoned This was followed by a dramat- with the number 50 to mark the ic musical presentation of excerpts choir’s 50th anniversary. of Lani Smith’s A Child of Hope, The choir raised more than portraying how the voice of scep- $62,000 through the concert for tics through the ages challenged the Cathedral Restoration Fund the promise of Christ’s kingdom and the St Joseph’s Church Fund. of peace. A mime presentation by An additional $8,763 collected that three children to the carol, Do You evening was donated to Caritas HuHear What I Hear, then advocated manitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, prayer as the ultimate solution to Singapore (CHARIS) man’s predicaments.

The choir had its beginnings as The statue of the Christ Child the Youth Choir at the Church of was then brought in procession by St Michael in 1965. It went over church rector Fr Ignatius Yeo, who to the Church of the Risen Christ ZDV SUHFHGHG E\ ¿YH WRGGOHUV DJHG in 1971 and then to the Cathedral two and three dressed as angels. of the Good Shepherd in 2002.

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Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Working alongside typhoon victims Photos: KENNY TAN and GABRIEL LEE

CHARIS volunteers and Philippine villagers form a human chain to pass along bags of sand to build shelters for typhoon victims.

CHARIS volunteers laying the foundations of a house.

By Michele Tan and Edwin Lim

took months to arrive. The support and aid that we received from our brothers and sisters in Singapore provided us with the belief and strength to carry on.�

The house building project, named Caritas Village, is run by The Archdiocese of Cebu’s Relief & Rehabilitation Unit (RRU), a group comprising young Filipinos intent on bringing hope to their fellow displaced. They have so far completed 48 out of 150 homes in the village of Bungtod.

RRU has also put in place a “Sweat Equity� programme to promote local self-reliance. Each family in the village would need to complete about 400 hours of

For seven days, 25 CHARIS volunteers worked alongside victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, shovelling sand and soil into sacks and helping to lay foundations for houses. The Singapore volunteers DOVR EXLOW D ZDWHU ÂżOWUDWLRQ V\VWHP for villagers in Bogo City, Cebu, to help them have clean and safe drinking. “It was a wonderful experience coming here and helping the people to improve their lives,â€? said Singapore volunteer Tania Roy. “It was good to note that despite the language barrier, we are coming together as a community in solidarity to support one another.â€?

Ms Roy and her fellow vol-

unteers were in Bogo City from Nov 29-Dec 5 working on a shelter-building site that CHARIS (Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore) supports with donations from the Singapore Catholic community.

The volunteers’ work included toiling in the sun forming human FKDLQV WR KDXO EDJV ¿OOHG ZLWK VDQG and soil.

When Typhoon Haiyan hit the Visayan Islands in November 2013, it left in its wake a violent path of destruction and devastation.

Most of Cebu’s residents, whose homes are largely made from planks, plywood boards, zinc sheets and other materials, found their homes destroyed. When the storm subsided, basic necessities

provided by the mayor of Cebu SURYHG WR EH LQVXIÂżFLHQW WR PHHW the needs of survivors.

Archbishop JosĂŠ S Palma of Cebu told the Singapore volunteers: “The biggest donation came from all of you [CHARIS], and it came immediately, while government aid

It was good to ‘ note that despite the language barrier, we are coming together as a community in solidarity to support one another.

’

– CHARIS volunteer Tania Roy

Bringing Christmas message to kids

By Darren Chan Members of the Singapore Institute of Management Catholic Society brought cheer to children from the Canossaville Children’s Home with an Advent skit on the true spirit of Christmas.

The skit, planned with the help of members of Ubi Caritas, the Catholic society in Yale-NUS College, depicted how Christmas was not about presents or decorations but about giving from the heart.

It was one of several activities organised during the home’s Family Bonding Carnival held on Dec 5. According to the home director, Ms Wong Lai Chun, the carnival aimed to teach the children to “not only receive goodwill from others but also to give back to the community�.

The event saw the home’s children creating and selling their handicraft bookmarks and Christmas cards. One of the children had

Singapore Institute of Management Catholic Society students putting on a skit for children from the Canossaville Children’s Home.

come up with the idea of creating a handicraft booth.

Student volunteers from Riverlife Church and Singapore Polytechnic also helped to set up games and food booths for the

children and their families.

Canossaville Children’s Home was set up by the Canossian nuns to provide housing for girls, aged six to 12, who come from family situations that may put them at risk. „

house-building after which they are eligible for house allocation through the drawing of lots.

Apart from construction work, the Singapore volunteers also built and taught people how to use Bio6DQG ZDWHU ÂżOWUDWLRQ V\VWHP DQ initiative of CHARIS. Ms Jaclyn Lawerence, a Cebuano mother of two, shared: “Last time, we got water from the tap and everyone had to queue up to draw water and then boil it before drinking. Now with Bio-Sand, it will make our lives better by providing immediate clean drinking water.â€?

For more information about CHARIS, visit http://www.charissingapore.org/

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Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Kids experience faith and fun at West District Bible camp

By Nisi Lee 2YHU WKH FRXUVH RI ¿YH PRUQLQJV IURP 1RY PRUH WKDQ FKLOGUHQ DJHG ¿YH WR IURP WKH :HVW GLVWULFW SDULVKHV JDWKHUHG DW WKH &KXUFK RI 6W ,JQDWLXV WR JHW WR NQRZ &KULVW EHWWHU WKURXJK IXQ DQG IDLWK ¿OOHG DFWLYLWLHV 7KH DLP RI WKH SURJUDPPH WLWOHG &DWKOHWLFV ± 7UDLQLQJ WR EH &KDPSLRQV RI &KULVW ZDV WR IDPLOLDULVH FKLOGUHQ ZLWK WKH OLIH RI &KULVW ZLWK WHDFKLQJV RQ WKH &RPPDQGPHQWV WKH %HDWLWXGHV DQG WKH )UXLWV RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW 7KH FKLOGUHQ ZHUH JURXSHG LQWR ¿YH GLIIHUHQW WHDPV DQG URWDWHG DURXQG ¿YH VWDWLRQV WKDW RIIHUHG FKDOOHQJHV EDVHG RQ WKH GDLO\ WKHPH YLUWXH DQG VFULSWXUH YHUVH :KHWKHU LW ZDV VWDFNLQJ XS V¶PRUHV DW WKH VQDFN VWDWLRQ VWULQJ LQJ FRORXUIXO EHDGV DW WKH FUDIW VWDWLRQ VWULNLQJ D EDOO DW WKH JDPHV VWDWLRQ VXVWDLQLQJ WKHLU VSLULWV DW WKH IDLWK VWDWLRQ RU GDQFLQJ WKHLU KHDUWV RXW DW WKH PXVLF VWDWLRQ HDFK FKLOG ZDV LQVSLUHG WR EHFRPH D FKDPSLRQ IRU &KULVW LQ KLV RU KHU RZQ ZD\

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Children dancing during the Bible camp, held from Nov 24-28.

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Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Hearing-impaired student aces PSLE with help from school You have to work ‘ hard and... have hope,

By Jared Ng It was two days before the PSLE listening comprehension exam when CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ Primary student Lynette Tay had a scare.

Her cochlear implant, a surgically implanted electronic device to aid the hearing-impaired, had stopped working, leaving her mother with little option but to rush to the hospital for a replacement. “We went to get a replacement the next day from the hospital but it also broke down,� said Mrs Tay, 46, Lynette’s mother.

Mrs Tay eventually got the cochlear implant to work, but 12-year-old Lynette shared that she felt “anxiousâ€? during the listening comprehension for fear of the implant turning off again. %RUQ GHDI /\QHWWH KDG KHU ÂżUVW FRFKOHDU LPSODQW VXUJLFDOO\ ÂżWWHG into her right ear when she was only about a year old.

Subsequently, she had to undergo intensive training that taught her how to pick up sounds and react to them accordingly.

Although the cochlear implant in her right ear now allows her to

hope is important in getting you through trying times.

’

– Lynette Tay’s advice to other kids with special needs

CHIJ St Nicholas Girls Primary student Lynette Tay, who is hearing-impaired, scored a PSLE aggregate score of 257.

hear clearly, Lynette shared with CatholicNews that she still faced complications over the course of

her primary school education.

She often had to play catch-up at school as she would sometimes

“leave lessons early or skip the entire school day to attend check-ups at the hospital�.

She also “missed school for a full monthâ€? in Primary 5 because RI VXUJHU\ WR ÂżW D FRFKOHDU LPSODQW into her left ear.

With little time to revise for exams, Lynette shared how the school staff and classmates rallied around her. “Sometimes when I cannot pick up what the teacher is saying, my friends are always there to tell me what she said all over again. “When I was worrying about my cochlear implant going off during the listening comprehension, my classmates would encourage me by saying, ‘It’s okay it’s okay’. They gave a lot of moral support and I’m very grateful for them.�

Lynette also praised school

principal, Mrs Tan Wai Lan, for helping her to cope with her condition. “Mrs Tan was always happy to help and give her permission if any special arrangements were needed for me to sit for my exams,� shared Lynette.

When asked for her advice to other kids who might be going through a similar situation, Lynette said: “Just because you have a special condition, it doesn’t really make you less smart. It depends on how hard you work and how much you want it. “It also doesn’t make you a lesser human being, it makes you that much more special and different from others. “You have to work hard and... have hope, hope is important in getting you through trying times.�

Lynette had an impressive PSLE aggregate score of 257.

As for what she aspires to be in the future, Lynette, who aims to to move on to CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ 6HFRQGDU\ Ă€DVKHG D VPLOH DQG said: “I prefer something languageoriented, but I’m also a one day at a time person.â€? „ jared.ng@catholic.org.sg

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ASIA

Sunday December 27, 2015 CatholicNews

Cardinal concerned about peaceful power transition in Myanmar

&DUGLQDO %R VWLOO GLI¿FXOW WR GHWHUPLQH WKH PRWLYHV RI WKH PLOLWDU\ YANGON – Cardinal Charles

his Yangon residence, “I hope that Maung Bo of Yangon has raised his the country will move forward in concern over the smooth transition a transition to democracy if Suu of power from the ruling military- Kyi reconciles with all stake holdbacked government to Ms Aung ers – the ruling-USDP members, San Suu Kyi’s National League for government and the military.”

Democracy (NLD) after the party’s Despite promises of a clean landslide victory in handover by the the Nov 8 polls. military, CardiThe cardinal’s nal Bo said that it comments come ZDV VWLOO GLI¿FXOW as Ms Suu Kyi, the to determine the Noble Peace lauremotives of the milate who co-chairs itary who ignored the NLD, met with elections results in President Thein 1990 that the NLD Sein and the Mywon, plunging the anmar’s military’s country into two Chief General Min decades of darkAung Hlaing sepaness. rately on Dec 2.

“The [recent] “President election was a very Thein Sein and Suu peaceful one but Kyi have openmy main concern ly discussed the is on the motives smooth transfer of of the military and power to a new 0V $XQJ 6DQ 6XX .\L how they are thinkgovernment and ing or planning the how to approach the transition,” power transfer, despite the military a statement from the presidential and the government promising RI¿FH RQ 'HF UHDG a smooth transfer power,” said Cardinal Bo told ucanews. Cardinal Bo, 67. com in an exclusive interview at The cardinal, who was named WKH FRXQWU\¶V ¿UVW FDUGLQDO E\ 3RSH Francis in February, regularly speaks out on human and religious rights and political issues.

Mr Gint Kam Lian, a Christian politician from the Zomi Congress for Democracy party in the Christian-majority Chin state, who won a federal upper house seat, said the talks were a positive move towards national reconciliation.

“We hope that Suu Kyi and the military’s chief discussed the possibility of a constitutional amendment on a clause that bars her from becoming the president,” he added. “The people have a strong desire for her becoming president and an agreement on amending it would help the country’s peace process,” he said.

UCANEWS.COM

ASIA 11

Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

&DUGLQDO 7DJOH FDOOV IRU HQG WR FRUUXSWLRQ MANILA – Cardinal Luis Antonio

A nun and children collect stones to build a wall around their convent near the site of the Myitsone Dam project in Myitkyina, the capital of Myanmar’s Kachin state. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

(QYLURQPHQWDO FRQFHUQV UDLVHG DERXW GDP SURMHFW YANGON – Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon is urging Myanmar’s QHZO\ HOHFWHG JRYHUQPHQW WR KDOW WKH FRQWURYHUVLDO 0\LWVRQH GDP project in Kachin state, which is ZLGHO\ YLHZHG DV HQYLURQPHQWDOO\ DQG FXOWXUDOO\ GHVWUXFWLYH Cardinal Bo said Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League IRU 'HPRFUDF\ WKDW ZRQ WKH 1RY election, said before the poll that a JRYHUQPHQW LV HOHFWHG E\ VXSSRUW from the people. ³6R LI VKH UHDOO\ ZDQWV WR IXO¿O the desire of the people, she should try to end the project completely.

And she should follow the desire of WKH HWKQLF .DFKLQ SHRSOH ´ &DUGLQDO Bo told ucanews.com.

The US$3.8 billion (S$5.4 billion) dam is being built on the IrUDZDGG\ 5LYHU 0\DQPDUÂśV SUHPLHU waterway for hydro electricity that ZLOO EH XVHG DOPRVW H[FOXVLYHO\ LQ QHLJKERXULQJ &KLQD SURYLGLQJ

6,000 megawatts of electricity.

It will be the 15th largest hydroelectric power station in the world if completed as planned by 2017. It will be 1,310m long and 139.6m high.

7KH ,UUDZDGG\ LV RXU ‘PRWKHU DQG RXU OLIH EORRG ULYHU VR HQGLQJ WKH SURMHFW LV QRW RQO\ WKH ZLOO RI HWKQLF .DFKLQV EXW DOVR WKH SHRSOH RI 0\DQPDU

’

– Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon

By 2010, the dam’s construction caused at least 2,000 people to be relocated from their ancestral KRPHV LQ $XQJ 0\LQ 7KDU YLOODJH 7KH PLOLWDU\ EDFNHG JRYHUQment of President Thein Sein

suspended construction in SeptemEHU ZKLOH &KLQD YLJRURXVO\ agitated for recommencing work on the project. “The Irrawaddy is our mother DQG RXU OLIH EORRG ULYHU VR HQGLQJ the project is not only the will of ethnic Kachins but also the people RI 0\DQPDU ´ &DUGLQDO %R VDLG He promised to speak out on the issue “when I get a chance to meet ZLWK 6XX .\L SHUVRQDOO\ ´ “No matter how [much] we need good relationships with neighbouring countries such as China, the Suu Kyi-led new JRYHUQPHQW VKRXOG FRQVLGHU WKH ZLOO RI WKH SHRSOH LQ 0\DQPDU ´ Cardinal Bo said.

He warned that an accident during the dam’s construction could GHVWUR\ VHYHUDO YLOODJHV ZKLOH HQYLURQPHQWDO GHVWUXFWLRQ FDXVHG by the dam will largely impact local people. „ UCANEWS.COM

Tagle of Manila called for an end to rampant corruption as he signalled WKH VWDUW RI WKH REVHUYDQFH RI WKH Catholic Church’s Year of Mercy in the Philippines on Dec 9. “Stop the rampant corruption. Stop the abuse of women and children. Spread mercy, stop WKH HQGOHVV DEXVH RI WKH ZHDN ´ Cardinal Tagle said in Tagalog. “Let us build a society on the foundation of the merciful Jesus, and let each one of us be a stone of a construction of a just, truthIXO ORYLQJ VRFLHW\ RI PHUF\ ´ KH said.

After opening the Manila cathedral’s Holy Door, Cardinal Tagle urged hundreds of Catholics attending the Mass “to make D GHFLVLRQ LQ IDLWK´ DQG JR RXW WR VHUYH WKH SRRU “Through the Church we go RXW WR WKH ZRUOG ´ KH VDLG DGGLQJ that the door to the Church is also WKH ÂłGRRU RI PLVVLRQ ´ Âł7KLV \HDU ZH KDYH D PLVVLRQ ´ said the cardinal. “The mission is WR VSUHDG PHUF\ ´ The cardinal urged the people not only to enter through the Holy Doors of cathedrals and basilicas but also to go through “doors of FKDULW\´ RI WKH KRPHOHVV WKH SRRU

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila reminded Catholics about the mission to spread mercy and build God’s love. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

the imprisoned, and the sick.

Instead of breaking open a seal as was done by Cardinal Jaime Sin when he opened the Holy Door during the Great Jubilee of 2000, Cardinal Tagle and his companions pushed the door open.

Pope Francis declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy beginning on Dec 8 on the feast of the Immaculate Conception and FRQFOXGLQJ RQ 1RY RQ WKH IHDVW of Christ the King. „ UCANEWS.COM

&KXUFK JURXSV MRLQ SURWHVW DJDLQVW FRDO GXVW VWRFNSLOHV MANILA – 2Q WKH HYH RI WKH FXO-

mination of the climate summit in Paris, urban poor residents and church groups in Manila joined hands in protesting the operation of a coal dust storage facility in the middle of the Philippine capital. “It is terrible that these poor people are exposed to such dangerous KHDOWK KD]DUGV ´ VDLG 1RWUH 'DPH Sr Anne Brittain.

The facility, which stands in the PLGGOH RI 0DQLODÂśV LPSRYHULVKHG district of Tondo, had been ordered FORVHG E\ WKH JRYHUQPHQW HDUOLHU in 2015 due to the opposition of residents. “It is really unfortunate that they DUH RSHUDWLQJ DJDLQ ´ 6U %ULWWDLQ D British missionary in the Philippines for 15 years, told ucanews.com.

Sr Elizabeth Burgo of the Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines said: “It is rather timely that as people in power talk about climate change DQG HQYLURQPHQWDO GHJUDGDWLRQ ZH KLJKOLJKW WKH KXPDQ FRQGLWLRQ ´ Sr Burgo said that as the Paris meeting ends, “one thing that world leaders should not miss out is the human dimension of industrial RSHUDWLRQV ´ Âł7KH VXSSRVHG GHYHORSPHQW that purports to uplift poor people’s situation are in fact the factor that kills and induces the sufferings of SHRSOH ´ VKH VDLG Residents complained that when it rains, black residue settles on the roof of their houses. „ UCANEWS.COM

&KXUFK UXVKHV WR KHOS à RRG KLW &KHQQDL CHENNAI, INDIA – Caritas is

A family takes shelter at the community hall of St Antony’s Parish in Chennai on Dec 2. CNS photo

rushing to aid people in Chennai, ZKHUH UDLQV DQG ÀRRGZDWHUV KDYH marooned most of the southern Indian city, killing hundreds and displacing millions.

7ZR GD\V RI KHDY\ UDLQV through Dec 2 brought double the normal rainfall the Tamil Nadu state FDSLWDO QRUPDOO\ UHFHLYHV GXULQJ its entire two-month rainy season.

This led to the immediate RYHUĂ€RZLQJ RI UHVHUYRLUV DQG WKH FLW\ÂśV $G\DU ULYHU VXEPHUJLQJ homes, roads, rail lines and the airport, and cutting off most of the

city’s 6.5 million people from the rest of India. &DULWDV ,QGLD WKH VRFLDO VHUYLFH agency of the Indian Catholic bishops’ conference is working with local Chingleput diocese, and two major local archdioceses of Madras-Mylapore and PondiFKHUU\ &XGGDORUH WR SURYLGH IRRG clothing and essential materials. “Our effort will be to bring basic support to the neediest of families who may be sheltered in school buildings and other JRYHUQPHQW PDQDJHG FDPSV ´ said Fr Frederick D’Souza, Caritas

,QGLD H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU Mr John Arokiaraj, Caritas ,QGLD RIÂżFHU UHVSRQVLEOH IRU 7DPLO Nadu, said that Caritas is looking to help some 4,000 families in such camps with local diocesan partners prioritising marginalised groups.

Caritas is also coordinating with state and other agencies to DYRLG GXSOLFDWLRQ DQG HQVXUH HI¿FLHQF\ KH DGGHG Local parishes, Christian communities and institutions are also doing what they can to shelter and help the affected people, he said. „ UCANEWS.COM

12 WORLD

Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Members of different faiths pray for US shooting victims &16 SKRWRV

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA –

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral was dark as men and women of different faiths walked down the centre aisle of the church.

The names of the 14 victims of the Dec 2 shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino in California were read out.

More than 400 gathered in the Diocese of San Bernardino’s mother church for an evening vigil on Dec 7. They came to pray for the slaughtered and 21 injured in what President Barack Obama has called a terrorist attack.

After welcoming the interfaith congregation to his church, Bishop Gerald R Barnes of San Bernardino said he and his fellow religious leaders were there to “walk with� the families and friends of the victims in their pain, anger, sorrow and confusion. “We know that we cannot go back to the way things were before this horrible tragedy occurred,� he said. “We can’t forget. We have to be brave as we seek healing and strength.�

He stressed that “we do not want our enemies to win over our hearts, to terrify our future. We do not want our hearts to turn against any person, any race, any religion.

A small memorial is seen outside Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino prior to a Dec 7 prayer vigil.

Posters of those in a Dec 2 mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, are displayed during a Dec 7 vigil in San Bernardino. Many vigils were held for the victims around San Bernardino, including a Dec 7 interfaith service at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral.

And so I invite you this evening to be open to the Lord. Let your heart and your mind be open to God’s message for you, for our community and our families. Be open to where our God, a God of mercy and love, leads us.�

+H XUJHG ³/HW XV ¿QG *RG calling us to be better neighbours, to be better at loving each other, to be committed workers for justice and peace, to be strong witnesses to God’s presence and God’s mercy in our home, our community and the world.�

Imam Aslam Abdullah, representing the community’s Muslim community, said the killers wanted people from different faiths, like those present, to hate each other, to be disunited. But they failed because “we substitute love ... we are united.�

:H GR QRW ZDQW RXU KHDUWV ‘WR WXUQ DJDLQVW DQ\ SHUVRQ DQ\ UDFH DQ\ UHOLJLRQ ’

– Bishop Gerald R Barnes of San Bernardino

“Every human life is precious,� he said. “And we should take care to defend that human life, even if we have to give our own life for somebody. We believe that. We believe that each one of us has a right to live the way God wants us to live. We believe that life must be protected. And as people belonging to different religions, we hold that.

Life is precious.�

Rabbi Hillel Cohn asked all SXEOLF RIÂżFLDOV WR FRPH IRUZDUG LQ front of the altar. He then led them and members of the congregation in a “Prayer for Our Governmentâ€?.

Rev Sally Burton of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in San Bernardino, shared: “We’ve been strengthened here tonight by our united effort and our diversity, by prayer and the source of our love of our creator. “Each one of us shares the image of God and the divine within us,� she said. “We must shine that light as a lantern on sometimes a very dark road. Each and every one of us is needed for this calling. Go from this vigil tonight to be seeds of peace. Do not be afraid of what the evil people have done.� „ CNS

Faith leaders: US must not bar refugees WASHINGTON – Some religious

leaders have joined US senators to say “enough is enough� to those who want to bar Muslim refugees from the US after terrorist attacks in Paris and Southern California.

In the Nov 13 Paris attacks, shooters identified as jihadists killed at least 129 people. In San Bernardino, California, a married couple, who authorities say were radicalised Muslims, killed 14 people and injured 21 others on Dec 2. “There is absolutely no reason to stop or pause the resettlement of Syrian refugees. The fear around this is wrong and as people of faith, we must demand more from our public RIÂżFLDOV ´ VDLG &DUGLQDO 7KHRGRUH E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, on Dec 8.

The House of Representatives has passsed legislation that would stop the Obama administration’s plan to take in at least 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year. A similar bill will be taken up by the Senate. Lawmakers backing the measures claim there are too many

Syrian refugee children covered with dust arrive at the Jordanian border with Syria and Iraq. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

holes in the process to properly vet refugees to be resettled in the US. But Cardinal McCarrick in his remarks said the United States “has the most secure refugee resettlement process in the world.

Refugees are the most scrutinised and screened individuals to enter the United States.�

Bishop Sally Dyck of the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church said,

Âł0DQ\ IDPLOLHV ÂżQG WKHPVHOYHV between the violence behind them and the refusal of resettlement in some place with peace and safety, which is all that they really want.

I trust that all of our elected leaders will not prevent these Syrian families from being able to resettle in our country.�

The senators and the religious leaders also roundly criticised an anti-Muslim backlash that has followed the latest terrorist attacks.

After the rampage in San Bernardino, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Dec 7 called for all Muslims to be barred temporarily from entering the US XQWLO WKH JRYHUQPHQW ÂżJXUHV RXW what is behind such attacks.

Rabbi Jack Moline, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance, said barring refugees from the US because they are Muslim is a violation of the Constitution, which “says there should be no religious WHVW´ IRU UXQQLQJ IRU RIÂżFH IRU ÂłRXU compassionâ€? or for “the humanity of a refugeeâ€?. „ CNS

WORLD 13

Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Released: document on importance of Religious Brothers’ vocation A Franciscan friar prays with immigration reform advocates in Washington.

A 50-page UHĂ€HFWLRQ ZDV released on Dec 14 by the Vatican to better promote the vocation of Religious Brothers.

CNS photo

VATICAN CITY – To help appreciate

French President Francois Hollande holds a box containing an international petition to support the climate talks as he poses with religious leaders in Paris. CNS photos

Catholic activists, pope say more work needed after UN climate talks PARIS – German Msgr Josef Sayer prayed over a crowd of environmental activists at Saint-Merry Catholic Church, where they had Mass after two weeks of intense lobbying in and around the UN climate change conference, which ended on Dec 12.

The same day, after reciting the Angelus at the Vatican, Pope )UDQFLV VDLG WKH ÂżQDO DJUHHPHQW required a “concerted commitmentâ€? to continue forward. “In the hopes that it guarantees particular attention to the most vulnerable populations, I urge the entire international community to continue the path undertaken with care, in a sign of solidarity that becomes ever more constructive,â€? Pope Francis said.

Catholic activists had lobbied amongst other issues, for the inclusion of human rights protections and lowering the threshold for the earth’s temperatures to be more in OLQH ZLWK VFLHQWLÂżF UHVHDUFK Mr Bernd Nilles, who served RQ WKH 9DWLFDQÂśV RIÂżFLDO GHOHJDWLRQ to the climate change conference, said because the issue of human rights for indigenous and other vulnerable people had made it only to the preamble and not in the new accord’s binding body, some nations might say: “Yes, we have to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so we build major hydroelectric, or major dams and we move all these people.â€?

Ms Genevieve Talbot, who lobbied at the Paris talks for the Canadian Catholic organisation Development and Peace, concurred that “the human rights aspect should have been included in the operative part� of the text, as well as the issue of food security. “In fact in the operative part, we

and better promote the vocation of Religious Brothers, the Vatican UHOHDVHG D SDJH UHĂ€HFWLRQ RQ WKH importance of their life and mission of evangelisation, fraternity DQG VDFULÂżFH The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life released Identity and Mission of the Religious %URWKHU LQ WKH &KXUFK LQ ÂżYH ODQguages on Dec 14 as a guide for the whole Church.

Pope Benedict XVI asked the congregation in 2008 to draft an instruction in order to underline the importance of the vocation of lay Brothers, said Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, secretary of the congregation.

Archbishop Rodriguez said the document is meant to highlight “the richness and necessity of all the vocations in the Church, especially the vocation of lay Religious life for men and women.â€? +H VDLG LW ZDV KRSHG WKH UHĂ€HF-

tion would help all members of the Church become more aware and better appreciate the service and gifts of Religious Brothers, and help encourage and guide them in living their vocation “with authenticity and joy.�

The instruction underlines the importance of serving like the Good Shepherd in order to make Christ present in the world and to enlighten, bless, raise up, heal and free humanity.

The text urged Religious brothers to see no human situation as “alien� to their presence. Whether they engage in manual labour, defend human rights, teach, work in health care or serve in other ways, Religious Brothers must accept God’s invitation to go to the world’s peripheries and lead people to salvation. “Today more than ever, the world needs consecrated persons who, from the heart of secular realities and of human life itself, bear witness to knowing and loving the God of life, said the document.� „ CNS

No euthanasia for ‘psychological suffering’ Environmentalists hold a banner that reads, Standing and Determined for the Climate, during a Dec 12 protest in Paris as the UN climate conference ended.

no longer mention food security... which is quite worrisome: It means that in order to ensure food security, [greenhouse gas] emission can increase,� Ms Talbot said.

Mr Michel Roy, secretarygeneral of Caritas Internationalis, said that despite the new accord’s “essential connection between climate change, poverty eradication and equitable access to sustainable development,� it was “regrettable that human rights are not at the core�.

On another key issue – what the highest threshold should be for the earth’s heat – some Catholic groups heralded what they saw as a major feat. Throughout the conference, the groups had referred to scienWL¿F VWXGLHV VKRZLQJ WKDW OLPLWLQJ global warming to an increase of GHJUHHV &HOVLXV ZRXOG EHQH¿W millions of the world’s people by reducing adverse weather disasters.

The accord’s “long-term goal is well below 2 degrees Celsius, which

is a great step,� said Ms Talbot.

However, another long-term goal of Catholic and other activists in Paris – to wean the world off fossil fuels, whose extraction and burning are responsible for the global warming that the summit ostensibly aimed to curb – was not met, said Mr Nilles.

7KH ÂżQDO WH[W RI WKH DFFRUG VHW no clear limits on greenhouse gasemitting fuels, said Mr Niles.

In light of the Paris agreement, and ahead of UN climate talks scheduled for next year in Morocco, Catholic groups said further mobilisation on a widespread scale would continue to be vital. “We have to start immediately to put all our forces together from the civil society, from the politicians, IURP WKH RIÂżFLDOV LQ WKH FRPSDQLHV and also from the shareholders – they have not to think about the VKRUW WHUP SURÂżW EXW DERXW WKH long term,â€? Msgr Sayer said. „ CNS

OXFORD, ENGLAND – Belgium’s Catholic bishops welcomed a statement by top medical professors, psychiatrists and ethicists, who rejected a proposal to allow euthanasia for patients facing “psychological suffering.â€? “We’re always opposed to euthanasia, so we approve and support this initiative,â€? Jesuit Fr Tommy Scholtes, spokesman for the Brussels-based bishops’ conference, told Catholic News Service on Dec 11. “Although the Church holds QR SRVLWLRQ RQ WKH VFLHQWLÂżF DUJXments around euthanasia, we can see these medical practitioners have explained them effectively here...strong suffering can be very GLIÂżFXOW WR EHDU SDOOLDWLYH FDUH ZLOO always offer a better answer.â€?

In a Dec 8 letter in Belgium’s De Morgen daily, 65 medical experts demanded the revision of legislation allowing euthanasia in cases of “incurable psychological suffering.�

7KH VLJQDWRULHV VDLG D VLJQLÂżFDQW proportion of the 2,000 euthanasia deaths annually in Belgium involved patients complaining of

depression and mental pain. They added that the term “incurable psychological sufferingâ€? had “no VFLHQWLÂżF IRXQGDWLRQ ´ VLQFH LW ZDV impossible to judge when a patient had “resisted all treatment.â€? “Certain people who considered themselves incurable have renounced euthanasia because new possibilities opened up for them,â€? said the letter.

Assisted dying and voluntary euthanasia were legalised in Belgium in 2002, and euthanasia deaths are increasing by 27 percent annually, according to Health Ministry data.

Belgium’s bishops condemned the law’s extension to make the traditionally Catholic country the ZRUOGœV ¿UVW WR DOORZ GRFWRU DVsisted killing of suffering children.

Fr Scholtes said since euthanasia was the law, “it’s natural it will become an ever more banal occurrence.�

He also noted that the Church could not impose its view. “All we can say is we’re against these things and believe good palliative care should always be there for those who need it,� he said. „ CNS

14 WORLD

Sunday December 27, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Vatican prepares for Christmas A peek into how the season is being celebrated here Clockwise from left: A Christmas tree decorates the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican, the Vatican’s 2015 Christmas stamps feature a manuscript illumination of the Holy Family by an unknown 15th-century artist, and an Advent wreath decorates the Apostolic Palace.

The Christmas tree in St Peter’s square is seen as Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio on Dec 8.

CNS photos

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Rodrigo de la Serna stars as the young priest who would later become Pope Francis in the movie, Call Me Francesco. The poor, homeless and refugees were treated to the movie premiere in the Vatican. CNS photo

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Seeing how well the movie was UHFHLYHG E\ WKH JXHVWV ZDV ³VRPHWKLQJ WKDW , ZLOO QHYHU IRUJHW ´ 'DYLG RQH RI WKH WKRXVDQGV RI KRPHOHVV SHRSOH DWWHQGLQJ WKH SUHPLHUH VDLG WKDW LW ZDV ³WUXO\ HPRWLRQDO´ WR WKH VHH WKH SDWK IRO ORZHG E\ 3RSH )UDQFLV ³+LV ZD\ RI EHLQJ FORVH WR WKH SRRU FORVH WR SHRSOH LQ QHHG DQG WKH HQGOHVV VWUXJ JOH DJDLQVW HYLO´ ZDV SDUWLFXODUO\ PRYLQJ KH WROG &16 Â&#x201E; CNS

POPE FRANCIS 15

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

3RSH XUJHV \RXWKV WR UHDG %LEOH WDONV DERXW KLV RZQ stall. No! Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let that happen.â&#x20AC;?

The Bible is not just a piece is old and beat up, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth more to him than anything money can of literature, he said. There are Christians in the world today bebuy, says Pope Francis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you saw my Bible, you would LQJ SHUVHFXWHG MXVW IRU KDYLQJ D not be impressed,â&#x20AC;? he wrote to young %LEOH ÂłHYLGHQWO\ WKH %LEOH LV DQ people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What? This is extremely dangerous bookâ&#x20AC;?.

Pope Francis asked young the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible? A book so old, so EHDW XS"Âś <RX PLJKW HYHQ ZDQW WR people to read from the Bible each JLYH PH D JLIW RI D QHZ RQH VRPH- day and with attention. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ask â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What does this say to thing that costs my heart? What 1,000 euros. But â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you saw my is God saying to I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want it.â&#x20AC;?

Bible, you would me through these Pope Franwords?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? the cis wrote about not be impressed. pope counselled. his Bible and Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d say, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I want to tell his Bible-readyou how I read ing habits in the This is the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s my old Bible. Ofpreface to the GerBible? A book so ten I pick it up, man-language read a bit, then old, so beat up?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; study guide, set it down and let Youth Bible for You might even myself be seen by the Catholic want to give me a the Lord. I am not Church. It was the one looking at released in late gift of a new one ...

Him, but He looks October by the But I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want it.â&#x20AC;? at me. God is truly Germany-based there, present.â&#x20AC;?

Katholisches BiPope Francis reassured the belwerk and the YouCat Foundation.

The well-worn Bible has been young people that it is not uncomwith Pope Francis for half his life, mon at all to feel like God is not the pope wrote. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has seen my joy saying anything. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, patiently, I and has been bathed by my tears: it stay there and I wait, reading and is my priceless treasure,â&#x20AC;? he says, praying.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pray seated,â&#x20AC;? he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;beand â&#x20AC;&#x153;nothing in the world would cause it hurts when I kneel.

PDNH PH JLYH LW XS´ In the preface, Pope Francis 6RPHWLPHV ZKHQ ,ÂśP SUD\LQJ , HYHQ urges young people to use the fall asleep, but thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s OK because study guide and to read their Bible Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m like a son near his father and daily. He asks them not to hide thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what counts.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do you want to make me it on a bookshelf where it will happy?â&#x20AC;? the pope asked the youths. gather dust â&#x20AC;&#x153;until one day your own children sell it at a used book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then read the Bible.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; CNS

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Although his Bible

Church must evangelise LWVHOI Ă&#x20AC;UVW SRSH VD\V VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7R EH DEOH WR IXOÂżO its mission of preaching the Gospel, WKH &KXUFK PXVW ÂżUVW HYDQJHOLVH itself, Pope Francis said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mission, in fact, is a force capable of transforming the Church ZLWKLQ LWVHOI HYHQ EHIRUH LW GRHV VR LQ the life of peoples and cultures,â&#x20AC;? the pope told participants of the plenary assembly of the Congregation for WKH (YDQJHOLVDWLRQ RI 3HRSOHV The meeting, which comPHPRUDWHG WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ad Gentes,â&#x20AC;? the Second Vatican Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decree on the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PLVVLRQDU\ DFWLYLW\ IRFXVHG RQ missionary awareness and the work being done in regions of the world WKDW KDYH EHHQ HYDQJHOLVHG PRVW recently.

5HFDOOLQJ KLV YLVLW WR $IULFD IURP 1RY WKH SRSH VDLG WKDW KH H[SHULHQFHG ³¿UVWKDQG WKH VSLULWXDO and pastoral dynamism of so many young Churches in that continent, as ZHOO DV WKH KDUVK GLIÂżFXOWLHV OLYHG by most of the population.â&#x20AC;? Âł, KDYH VHHQ WKDW ZKHUH WKHUH DUH needs, there is almost always a presence of the Church ready to heal the

wounds of the neediest in whom they UHFRJQLVH WKH ZRXQGHG DQG FUXFLÂżHG body of our Lord Jesus,â&#x20AC;? he said.

7KH SRSH VDLG WKDW E\ LWV YHU\ QDWXUH WKH &KXUFK HYDQJHOLVHV KRZHYHU LW PXVW DOZD\V EHJLQ E\ HYDQJHOLVLQJ LWVHOI LQ RUGHU WR KDYH the â&#x20AC;&#x153;grace of the Holy Spiritâ&#x20AC;? as its foundation and safeguard its â&#x20AC;&#x153;apostolic freshness and urgencyâ&#x20AC;?.

In this way, he said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the Holy Spirit transforms those who are EHOLHYHUV E\ KDELW RQO\ LQWR GLVFLples [and] alienated disciples into missionaries, pulling them out of their fears and closures and sending WKHP LQ HYHU\ GLUHFWLRQ WR WKH HQGV of the worldâ&#x20AC;?.

Pope Francis said that in HYDQJHOLVLQJ \RXQJ &KXUFKHV PLVsionaries must learn to listen to the cry of the poor and the marginalised. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us pray and work so that the Church is always more along the lines of the Acts of the Apostles,â&#x20AC;? which describes the lifestyle and missionary enthusiasm of the ÂżUVW &KULVWLDQV KH VDLG Âł/HW XV EH inspired by the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; CNS

3DSDO DQQXOPHQW UHIRUPV FRPH LQWR HIIHFW The process to make annulments quicker began on Dec 8, the start of the Year of Mercy VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; As reformed rules for marriage annulment cases came into effect, Pope Francis said the new norms are to be adhered to in order to help bring healing to failed marriages.

With the release of two papal documents in September, the pope rewrote a section of canon law with the aim of making the Catholic Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s marriage annulment process quicker, cheaper and much more of a pastoral ministry.

A juridical process is always necessary for making accurate judgments, and the new rules were not about promoting annulments, but rather about helping Catholic couples with the process so they would not be â&#x20AC;&#x153;oppressed by the shadow of doubtâ&#x20AC;? for prolonged periods, he had said in the papal documents.

The papal documents, Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus, the Gentle Judge) for the Latin-rite Church and Mitis Et Misericors Iesus (The Meek and Merciful Jesus) for the Eastern Catholic Churches, went into effect on Dec 8, the opening day of the Year of Mercy.

The pope issued a papal order, RIÂżFLDOO\ NQRZQ DV D ÂłUHVFULSW´ RQ 'HF DV D UHPLQGHU RI REVHUYLQJ and carrying out the new norms and WR FODULI\ WKH ÂżQHU GHWDLOV The pope said the new norms ZHUH JLYHQ WR ÂłFDUU\ RXW MXVWLFH and mercy concerning the truth of the bond of those who experienced the failure of marriageâ&#x20AC;? as well as to â&#x20AC;&#x153;harmoniseâ&#x20AC;? the updated procedures with the proper norms of the Roman Rota â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a Vatican tribunal

The new norms are to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;carry out justice and mercyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for those who â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;experienced the failure of marriageâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, said the pope. that mainly deals with marriage annulment cases. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The laws that now go into effect aim precisely to show the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closeness to wounded families, desiring that the large number of those who experience the drama of a failed marriage be touched by the healing work of Christâ&#x20AC;? through the Church in order to then go on to be â&#x20AC;&#x153;new missionaries of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercy towards other EURWKHUV DQG VLVWHUV IRU WKH EHQHÂżW of the institution of the familyâ&#x20AC;?, the pope wrote.

The changes made by Pope Francis, particularly the responsibility and trust placed in local

bishops, are the most substantial changes.

The norms include a set of â&#x20AC;&#x153;procedural regulationsâ&#x20AC;? outlining how the papal reforms are to take place, encouraging bishops in small dioceses to train personnel who can handle marriage cases and spellLQJ RXW VSHFLÂżF FRQGLWLRQV ZKHQ a bishop can issue a declaration of QXOOLW\ DIWHU DQ DEEUHYLDWHG SURFHVV Those conditions include: when it is clear one or both parWLHV ODFNHG WKH IDLWK WR JLYH IXOO FRQVHQW WR D &DWKROLF PDUULDJH when the woman had an abortion WR SUHYHQW SURFUHDWLRQ UHPDLQLQJ in an extramarital relationship at the time of the wedding or immediDWHO\ DIWHUZDUG RQH SDUWQHU KLGLQJ knowledge of infertility, a serious contagious disease, children from D SUHYLRXV XQLRQ RU D KLVWRU\ RI LQFDUFHUDWLRQ DQG ZKHQ SK\VLFDO YLROHQFH ZDV XVHG WR H[WRUW FRQVHQW for the marriage. Â&#x201E; CNS

16 YEAR OF MERCY

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We have to put mercy before judgementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ... says Pope Francis as he launches the Jubilee Year of Mercy at the Vatican CNS photos

Pope Francis pushes open the Holy Door of St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica (left) on Dec 8 to inaugurate the Year of Mercy, and walks through it.

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; On a cloudy,

damp morning, Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; voice echoed in the atrium of St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Open the gates RI MXVWLFH ´ :LWK ÂżYH VWURQJ WKUXVWV he pushed open the Holy Door, a symbol of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s justice, which he said will always be exercised â&#x20AC;&#x153;in the light of His mercyâ&#x20AC;?.

The rite of the opening of the Holy Door was preceded by a Mass with 70,000 pilgrims packed in St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square on Dec 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the beginning of the special Holy Year of Mercy.

As the sun broke through the clouds, heralding the start of the jubilee year, the pope bowed his head and remained still for several minutes in silent prayer.

Amid a crowd of dignitaries and pilgrims, a familiar face was also present at the historic event: retired Pope Benedict XVI, who followed Pope Francis through the Holy Door into St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica.

In his homily, Pope Francis emphasised the â&#x20AC;&#x153;simple, yet highly symbolicâ&#x20AC;? act of opening the Holy Door, which â&#x20AC;&#x153;highlights the primacy of graceâ&#x20AC;?, the same grace that made Mary â&#x20AC;&#x153;worthy of becoming the mother of Christâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fullness of grace can

transform the human heart and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception, he continued, serves as a reminder of the grandeur of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love in allowing Mary to â&#x20AC;&#x153;avert the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this worldâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures. But the promised triumph of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love enfolds everything in the Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mercy.â&#x20AC;?

The Year of Mercy, the pope stressed, is a gift of grace that allows Christians to experience the joy of encountering the transforming power of grace and rediscovering Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LQÂżQLWH PHUF\ WRZDUGV VLQQHUV â&#x20AC;&#x153;How much wrong we do to God and His grace when we speak of sins being punished by His judgement before we speak of their being forgiven by His mercy,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have to put mercy before judgement, and in any event Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s judgement will always be in the light of His mercy. In passing through the Holy Door, then, may

Pope Francis greets retired Pope Benedict XVI prior to the opening of the Holy Door.

Pope Francis prays after walking through the Holy Door.

we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of love.â&#x20AC;?

Fifty years ago, he said, the Church celebrated the â&#x20AC;&#x153;opening of another doorâ&#x20AC;?, with the Second Vatican Council urging the Church to come out from self-enclosure and â&#x20AC;&#x153;set out once again with enthusiasm on her missionary journeyâ&#x20AC;?. The council closed on Dec 8, 1965.

3RSH )UDQFLV WKH ÂżUVW SRSH WR EH ordained to the priesthood after the council, said the council documents â&#x20AC;&#x153;testify to a great advance in faithâ&#x20AC;? but the councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s importance lies particularly in calling the Catholic

Church to return to the spirit of the early Christians by undertaking â&#x20AC;&#x153;a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces. Wherever there are people, the Church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the Gospel. After these decades, we again take up this missionary drive with the same power and enthusiasm.â&#x20AC;?

Shortly after the Mass, as thousands of people waited in St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square for a chance to walk through the Holy Door, Pope Francis led the midday Angelus prayer.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception has a special connection to the start of the Year of Mercy, he said, because â&#x20AC;&#x153;it reminds us that everything in our lives is a gift, everything is mercyâ&#x20AC;?.

Like Mary, the pope continued, Christians are called to â&#x20AC;&#x153;become bearers of Christâ&#x20AC;? and to â&#x20AC;&#x153;let ourselves be embraced by the mercy of God who waits for us and forgives everything. Nothing is sweeter than His mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be caressed by God. The Lord is so good and He forgives everything.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; CNS

YEAR OF MERCY 17

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Time for forgiveness has begun, pope says, as Holy Doors open worldwide VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Francis

opened another Holy Door on Dec 13 at the Basilica of St John Lateran, and declared that the time for tenderness, joy and forgiveness had begun.

As holy doors around the world were opened at city cathedrals, major churches and sanctuaries, the pope said this simple gesture of opening Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house to the world serves as â&#x20AC;&#x153;an invitation to joy. The time of great pardon begins. It is the Jubilee of Mercy.â&#x20AC;?

The pope began the ceremony outside the basilica in front of the bronze holy door. The door depicts D EDV UHOLHI RI WKH FUXFLÂżHG &KULVW looking down on Mary tenderly holding the baby Jesus, whose small foot shines like bright gold from the countless kisses and touches of visiting pilgrims. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the door of the Lord.

Open for me the gates of justice. I will enter your house, Lord, because of your great mercy,â&#x20AC;? the pope read solemnly before climbing two marble steps and pushing open the large door. He crossed the threshold GHFRUDWHG ZLWK D JDUODQG RI Ă&#x20AC;RZHUV and greenery and bowed his head in silent prayer inside the darkened interior of the basilica.

7KH &KXUFK DQG WKH SHRSOH RI God are called to be joyful, the pope said in his brief homily. :LWK &KULVWPDV DSSURDFKLQJ â&#x20AC;&#x153;we cannot allow ourselves to become tired, no form of sadness is allowed even if we have reason for it with the many worries and multiple forms of violence that wound our humanity,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Amid the bullying, injustice and violence wrought, â&#x20AC;&#x153;above all, by men of power, God makes it known that He Himself will rule His people, that He will never leave them at the mercy of the arrogance of their leaders and that He will free them of all anguish,â&#x20AC;? the pope said.

The Holy Year of Mercy is meant to be a time for people to re-

Pilgrims hold up images of Our Lady of Guadalupe during an annual pilgrimage at the cathedral in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. The Vatican announced on Dec 12 that the pope will visit Mexico from Feb 12-17.

Pope to venerate Mary, celebrate Mass at Mexico border next year VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; On the feast of Our

Pope Francis receives his pastoral staff after opening the Holy Door of the Basilica of St John Lateran on Dec 13. He declared that the time of great pardon had begun. CNS photo

discover Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s real presence in the world and His tenderness, he said. $V &KULVWLDQV DUH FDOOHG WR FURVV the threshold of â&#x20AC;&#x153;the door of mercy,â&#x20AC;? they are asked to welcome and experience Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love, which â&#x20AC;&#x153;re-creates, transforms and reforms life.â&#x20AC;?

From there, people of faith must then go out and be â&#x20AC;&#x153;instruments of mercy, aware that we will be judged by this,â&#x20AC;? the pope said. Being a

&KULVWLDQ FDOOV IRU D OLIHORQJ MRXUQH\ and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;more radical commitmentâ&#x20AC;? to be merciful like God the father, he added. &KULVWLDQV DUH DVNHG WR EH MR\IXO as they open their arms to others and give witness to â&#x20AC;&#x153;a love that goes beyond justice, a love that knows no limits. This is the love we are responsible for despite our contradictions,â&#x20AC;? and weaknesses, he said. Â&#x201E; CNS

Witness, not proselytise, pope says VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Missionary spirit

is manifested by preaching love, humanity and faith through oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s witness and not through proselytism, Pope Francis said. )DLWK LQ -HVXV &KULVW LV VKDUHG ÂżUVW WKURXJK ÂłZLWQHVV WKHQ ZLWK words,â&#x20AC;? the pope said on Dec 2 at his weekly general audience.

The pope dedicated his audiHQFH WR UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWLQJ RQ KLV WULS WR Africa from Nov 25-30 when he visited Kenya, Uganda and

WKH &HQWUDO $IULFDQ 5HSXEOLF +H VDLG WKDW WKH ÂżQDO VWRS RI KLV WULS WKH &HQWUDO $IULFDQ 5HSXEOLF took him to â&#x20AC;&#x153;the heart of Africaâ&#x20AC;? and it was the primary reason for his visit given that it â&#x20AC;&#x153;is a country that suffers so much.â&#x20AC;?

The early opening of the Holy Door at the cathedral of Bangui, he said, was done as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a sign of faith and hope for that people, and symbolically for the whole African population who are most

in need of rescue and comfort.â&#x20AC;?

The pope appealed to all young SHRSOH FDOOLQJ RQ WKHP WR UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW on their vocation and â&#x20AC;&#x153;to not exclude the possibility of becoming a missionaryâ&#x20AC;? and to preach with their lives, not by proselytising. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Those who are looking for something else are the ones that [proselytise],â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Faith is SUHDFKHG ÂżUVW WKURXJK ZLWQHVV WKHQ with words â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but slowly.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; CNS

Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis announced that he would travel to the Marian shrine in Mexico and SUD\ WR 0DU\ VR WKDW &KULVWLDQ communities â&#x20AC;&#x153;may become oases and rivers of mercy.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;To ask her this, in a strong way, I will travel to venerate her at her shrine on Feb 13. There, I will ask this for all of America, of whom she is especially a mother,â&#x20AC;? the pope said.

The pope made the announcement during a Dec 12 Mass in St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica honouring Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to St Juan Diego in 1531.

In his homily, recalling Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words to St Juan Diego, the pope said the presence of the Lord and His mother is the source of peace and joy even in the midst of suffering.

Entrusting the sufferings and joys of â&#x20AC;&#x153;the whole American continentâ&#x20AC;? to Mary, Pope Francis prayed that she may â&#x20AC;&#x153;sow merciful love in the hearts of people and familiesâ&#x20AC;? during the jubilee year.

The same day, the Vatican announced details about the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Feb 12-17 visit to Mexico.

With the poverty on both sides of the US-Mexico border, Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; visit to the region will be

an important opportunity for the &DWKROLF &KXUFK ÂłWR HPSKDVLVH WKH mercy of God that is at the core of WKH &KULVWLDQ IDLWK ´ Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how the organisation, &DWKROLF ([WHQVLRQ YLHZV WKH WULS 7KH &KLFDJR EDVHG SDSDO VRFLHW\ has a long history of providing support to El Paso and the other &DWKROLF GLRFHVHV DW WKH 86 0H[ico border.

Pope Francis will stop in six cities, including two in the state of &KLDSDV DQG Âą DFURVV IURP (O 3DVR 7H[DV Âą &LXGDG -XDUH] The pope is scheduled to be in &LXGDG -XDUH] RQ )HE DQG KLV visit will culminate with a Mass at Benito Juarez Stadium right next to the border.

According to the diocese of El Paso, the Mass will include a cross-border component.

Following the Vaticanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anQRXQFHPHQW &DWKROLF ([WHQVLRQ issued a news release saying it will work with the Diocese of El Paso to plan papal visit events on the US side of the border. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope that in a special way Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; visit to this region will give voice to these often voiceless people here on the border, especially children and families who are the most vulnerable,â&#x20AC;? said El Paso Bishop Mark J Seitz. Â&#x201E; CNS

18 OPINION

Sunday December 27, 2015 CatholicNews

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: Recently, I was invited to a Protestant church service as it was in memorial of my late father who passed away. During the service, bread and wine were offered to those who were baptised.

Question: Can baptised Catholics partake of these?

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YEAR OF MERCY 19

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

5HFRYHULQJ WKH YLUWXH RI PHUF\ 7KH WLPLQJ RI WKH ([WUDRUGLQDU\ -Xbilee Year of Mercy, which opened on Dec 8, is providential.

It comes at a time when the ZRUOG LV GXPEVWUXFN E\ WKH PDVsacres in Paris and Mali, and across WKH 0LGGOH (DVW DQG PXFK RI $IULFD PXUGHU LV FRPPLWWHG LQ WKH QDPH RI religion and for the sake of power.

In the United States, people are debating whether to accept UHIXJHHV Ã&#x20AC;HHLQJ WKHVH ZDU WRUQ FRXQWULHV EHFDXVH IHDUV RI WHUrorism.

7KLV -XELOHH <HDU RI 0HUF\ proclaimed by Pope Francis comes at a time when so many people DUH IHHOLQJ DQ\WKLQJ EXW PHUFLIXO Vengeance, fear, anger, resentment, HQY\ ± \HV 0HUF\ ± QRW VR PXFK Pope Francis, who has echoed his predecessors in declaring the FHQWUDOLW\ RI PHUF\ LQ WKH &KXUFK¶V mission and message, has observed WKDW PHUF\ ³VHHPV WR KDYH GURSSHG RXW RI XVH´ LQ WKH PRGHUQ OH[LFRQ Indeed, one of the most common XVHV RI WKH ZRUG PHUF\ LV QRZ DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK GHDWK PHUF\ NLOOLQJ So how providential it is that ZKHQ RXU DJH LV EDUUHQ RI PHUF\ WKH &KXUFK LV UHPLQGLQJ XV WKDW mercy is at the heart of the Christian witness. The good news we SURFODLP LV WKDW ³WKH /RUG LV NLQG DQG PHUFLIXO´ WKDW *RG¶V ³PHUF\ HQGXUHV IRUHYHU´ In Advent, we are reminded that the greatest act of mercy of all KLVWRU\ ZDV *RG VHQGLQJ +LV 6RQ WR UHGHHP XV WKH LQQRFHQW VDYLQJ WKH JXLOW\ Mercy is the most radical of PHVVDJHV LQ D ZRUOG ZKHUH VXUYLYDO RI WKH ¿WWHVW DQG WKH PRVW XQIRUJLYLQJ LV PRUH WKH RUGHU RI

WKH GD\ 0HUF\ FDOOV IRU WKH YLUWXH RI KXPLOLW\ IRU ZH ZKR NQRZ WKDW RXU RZQ VDOYDWLRQ GHSHQGV RQ *RG¶V PHUF\ DUH FDOOHG WR EULQJ D PHVVDJH RI PHUF\ WR RXU IDPLOLHV RXU FRPPXQLWLHV RXU QDWLRQ 0HUF\ GRHV QRW UHTXLUH XV WR WXUQ D EOLQG H\H WR VLQ QRU GRHV LW GHQ\ MXVWLFH 0HUF\ JRHV EH\RQG MXVWLFH KRZHYHU ,Q WKH *RVSHO VWRU\ RI -HVXV DQG WKH DGXOWHUHVV -HVXV UHFRJQLVHV WKH VLQIXOQHVV RI WKH ZRPDQ ³*R DQG VLQ QR PRUH´

A young woman lights a candle in Republique square in Paris in memory of victims of terrorist attacks. CNS photo

yet saves her life â&#x20AC;&#x201C; despite what WKH ODZ VD\V LV WKH SXQLVKPHQW IRU DGXOWHU\ +H GRHV VR E\ LGHQWLI\LQJ the sin in the hearts of those who ZHUH DERXW WR VWRQH KHU PDNLQJ LW clear that they, too, were in need RI *RG¶V PHUF\ This Holy Year is a blessing IURP *RG FDOOLQJ DOO RI XV WR acknowledge the mercy we have experienced and to share that mercy with others, perhaps in the IROORZLQJ ZD\V Â&#x201E; 6KDUH LW LQ RXU IDPLOLHV ZKHUH mercy is sometimes the most lack-

ing and the most needed. In the IDPLO\ PHUF\ FDQ EH IRXQG LQ WKH VPDOOHVW RI JHVWXUHV \HW VRPHWLPHV LV WKH PRVW GLI¿FXOW WR VKRZ Â&#x201E; 6KDUH LW LQ RXU SDULVKHV DQG dioceses, where the pope invites XV WR PDNH SLOJULPDJHV WR SXW LQWR SUDFWLFH WKH FRUSRUDO DQG VSLULWXDO ZRUNV RI PHUF\ WR UHDFK RXW WR WKRVH ZKR PD\ IHHO PRVW XQORYHG RU XQZHOFRPH Â&#x201E; 6KDUH LW LQ RXU QDWLRQ ZKHUH WKH SRZHUIXO ZLWQHVV RI PHUF\ PD\ be an antidote to the anger and the

How providential it is that when our age is barren of mercy, the Church is reminding us that mercy is at the heart of the Christian witness. bitterness that seems so prevalent.

In the psalms and the parables, in the lives of the saints and teachings of the popes, in the words of the Mass that we say every week, OHVVRQV RI PHUF\ DERXQG &DWKROLFV VKRXOG QRZ EHJLQ D \HDUORQJ UHÃ&#x20AC;HFtion on the mercy we have received and the mercy we are being called to live. Â&#x201E; CNS 7KLV HGLWRULDO ¿UVW DSSHDUHG LQ WKH 1RY 24 issue of Our Sunday Visitor, a Catholic newsweekly based in Huntington, Indiana, USA.

,QIRUPDWLRQ RQ -XELOHH <HDU HYHQWV LQ 5RPH VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Whether in Rome

or at home, Catholics will have a variety of ways to take part in the Year of Mercy.

7KH 3RQWL¿FDO &RXQFLO IRU WKH Promotion of New Evangelisation, WKH RI¿FH RUJDQLVLQJ HYHQWV IRU WKH +RO\ <HDU SUHVHQWHG GHWDLOV DERXW some of the events planned at the Vatican and the services available for pilgrims.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, FRXQFLO SUHVLGHQW VDLG DW D QHZV conference on Dec 4 that the SRSH ZLOO FDUU\ RXW D ³V\PEROLF JHVWXUH´ UHODWHG to one of the works of mercy on one Friday RI HYHU\ PRQWK GXUing the Holy Year. He ZRXOG EHJLQ ZLWK D ³VWULFWO\ SULYDWH´ YLVLW on Dec 18 to a shelWHU UXQ E\ WKH 5RPH diocesan Caritas.

Other activities LQFOXGH Â&#x201E; Until the year ends on Nov 20, 2016, every HYHQLQJ LQ IURQW RI WKH VWDWXH RI 6W 3HWHU LQ 6W 3HWHU¶V 6TXDUH JURXSV ZLOO WDNH WXUQV OHDGLQJ WKH recitation of the rosary. Â&#x201E; In addition to the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s :HGQHVGD\ JHQHUDO DXGLHQFH KH ZLOO KROG D VSHFLDO JHQHUDO DXGLHQFH RQH 6DWXUGD\ D PRQWK Â&#x201E; Special confessionals with wheelchair access will be available in St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica and other 5RPH FKXUFKHV $XGLR YLGHR DQG ³WDFWLOH ERRN´ UHVRXUFHV ZLOO EH DYDLODEOH IRU SHRSOH ZLWK D YLVXDO or hearing impairment. Â&#x201E; Pilgrims who wish to walk WKURXJK WKH +RO\ 'RRU DW 6W 3HWHU¶V RU

WDNH SDUW LQ RWKHU PDMRU MXELOHH HYHQWV in Rome will have to pre-register in order to receive the free tickets.

This can be done online at www.

LP YD RU LQ SHUVRQ DW WKH RI¿FLDO SLOgrim information centre at Via della Conciliazione 7, which is along the ZLGH ERXOHYDUG OHDGLQJ WR 6W 3HWHU¶V Â&#x201E; 7RXULVWV ZDQWLQJ RQO\ WR visit St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica will be in a separate line from pilgrims who DUH UHJLVWHUHG WR JR WKURXJK WKH Holy Door. Â&#x201E; Pilgrims who come to Rome, especially those travelling on foot, will UHFHLYH DQ RI¿FLDO ³WHVWLPRQLXP´ IURP WKH pilgrim information centre. Organisers warned against ³LQDXWKHQWLF´ FHUWL¿FDWHV WKDW PD\ EH LQ FLUFXODWLRQ Â&#x201E; Pilgrims VKRXOG ORRN IRU WKH Year of Mercy trademarked logo as a kind of ³VHDO RI DSSURYDO´ WKDW DOVR ZLOO JXDUDQWHH IDLU SULFHV IRU food and lodging at participating EXVLQHVVHV 7KH SRSH DOVR KDV ³JUDQWHG DOO the bishops of the world the power to give the papal blessing at the holy Mass for the opening of the Holy 'RRU DQG IRU WKH FORVXUH RI WKH GRRU DW WKH HQG RI WKH +RO\ <HDU ´ Archbishop Fisichella said.

A series of eight Holy Year books on themes of mercy, confession, the saints and Mary, are DYDLODEOH LQ ODQJXDJHV 2UGHULQJ information is at www.im.va or IURP WKH 86 GLVWULEXWRU 2XU 6XQGD\ Visitor at www.osv.com. Â&#x201E; CNS

20 FAITH ALIVE!

By Mike Nelson In his book The Innocents Abroad, recounting his travels to Europe and the Holy Land, Mark Twain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; clearly impacted by what he encountered â&#x20AC;&#x201C; made an observation that rings as true today as it did almost 150 years ago: Âł7UDYHO LV IDWDO WR SUHMXGLFH bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifetime.â&#x20AC;?

Travel is about encounter, something that the Holy Father has been encouraging us to do more of, and is perhaps an apt message during Christmas when we need to open our hearts to people of all walks of life.

How does â&#x20AC;&#x153;encounterâ&#x20AC;? with others provide spirituality? It takes us out of our normal element and puts us into another, probably less familiar and likely less comfortable element.

Travel guru Rick Steves notes in his TV shows and travel guidebooks that the best and most rewarding kind of travel entails going off the beaten, touristy path and into the back streets, or the back roads, to get a sense of what that destination and, especially, its people have to offer.

That means encounter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; human encounter, with people youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never met, whose language

By Janelle Alberts Notable in many homes every Christmas season is the creche, otherwise known to many of us DV WKH 1DWLYLW\ VFHQH 2IÂżFLDOO\ it represents the scene at Jesus Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birth, and it is displayed at homes and churches and public spaces during Christmas in various places around the world.

8QRIÂżFLDOO\ LW LV WKH VFHQH RI a mother, a new and young mother who said yes to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promises and â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after a gruelling trip to Bethlehem during the last stages of her pregnancy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; found that there was no place for her to rest along with her husband and, later, her newborn child.

Her â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? had come resiliently, when Mary saw the angel and heard the words and trusted her God. But that was then. This scene, daunting by anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s measure, had to be sobering to a vulnerable mother.

Even under those trying circum-

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

you may not know, whose customs may startle you, but people whose Creator is the same as yours.

At Christmas, it may mean helping out at a homeless shelter,

providing clothing to someone in need or even lending an ear to the lonely or help to the sick.

Encounter means movement, QRW MXVW RI WKH ERG\ EXW DOVR RI the mind and heart. Encounter is a UHFXUULQJ WKHPH LQ WKH SRQWLÂżFDWH of Pope Francis, who speaks and, more importantly, acts in ways to drive home the point that we are endowed by God with a capacity for, and called by Jesus to act upon, encounter.

Pope Francis spoke of this in May 2013, addressing representatives of some of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecclesial movements. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We cannot be concerned solely with ourselves, withdrawing into loneliness, discouragement and a sense of powerlessness in the face of problems,â&#x20AC;? said the pope. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Please do not withdraw into yourselves! This is a danger: we shut ourselves up in the parish, with our friends, within the movement, with the like-minded ... but do you know what happens? â&#x20AC;&#x153;When the Church becomes closed, she becomes an ailing Church, she falls ill! That is a danger.â&#x20AC;?

This Christmas, think of 0DU\ DQG -RVHSKÂśV MRXUQH\ WR Bethlehem. How many times were they refused room at an inn? Or, put another way, how many times did innkeepers A sculpture showing an expectant Mary with Joseph en route to Bethlehem. Catholics are called to meet people outside their comfort zone and discover how the Lord lives in them.

stances, Mary still soldiered on.

Hers was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? that would grow more costly in time, when her child wandered, when He grew into a man and when He died on a cross after suffering humiliation and physical pain.

Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s was an expensive â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;? and yet the angel had told Mary that God would be with her. The funny thing about Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s promises is that they sound like what we most want to hear. However, knee-deep in the middle of them, they look nothing as we imagined them.

Sometimes what we yearn for looks good, seems reasonable. We never imagine that the reality may also mean hardship.

But as time passes, we realise WKDW VDFULÂżFH LV SDUW RI WKH MRXUQH\ and we tether ourselves to God and walk one step at a time, obediently saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;yesâ&#x20AC;?.

We experience God, even if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s among the stinky animals, like Mary and her child did in that stable.

Discover how the Lord lives in people... who offer us opportunities for growth, for a closer relationship with Jesus. refuse an encounter with them?

Have we behaved in a similar way towards others? What can we do to encounter the Holy Family in others this Christmas?

What about the shepherds on the night of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; birth? They could have scurried away from the angels and hid in fear. The disciples walking the road to Emmaus could have told the stranger seeking to engage them in conversation to leave. Any of the apostles could have told Jesus the same thing. But they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t.

It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make life the least bit easier for any of them. Encounter, as Scripture and our life experiences tell us, is not always pretty. Yet as disciples of Christ, this is our calling: to move beyond our comfort zone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; physically, emotionally, spiritually â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and discover how the Lord lives in people who may or may not be of â&#x20AC;&#x153;our groupâ&#x20AC;? but who offer us opportunities for growth, for a closer relationship with Jesus.

Who or what can we encounter this Christmas? How can we open our hearts to encounter the beautiful baby Jesus in others? Â&#x201E; CNS Nelson is former editor of The Tidings, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

There is nothing like nestling in the promises of God, especially when the promises are big ones.

Remember that He promised Mary He would be with her each step of the way, and He kept that promise.

During a 2015 visit to Paraguay, Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the shrine of Our Lady of Miracles of Caacupe, where tens of thousands attended in the square outside the basilica.

In his homily, the pope said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mary is the mother of yes: Yes to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream. Yes to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care.

Yes to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will.â&#x20AC;?

May our Nativity scene at Christmas remind us this season of the possibilities that begin with RXU VLPSOH VPDOO Ă&#x20AC;DZHG EXW ZLOOing â&#x20AC;&#x153;yes,â&#x20AC;? and carry on with a God who honours His promises to those like Mary. Â&#x201E; CNS Alberts is a freelance writer and media relations specialist.

A painting shows Joseph and Mary entering the stable where baby Jesus was to be born.

FAITH ALIVE! 21

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

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Christmas started in the midst of a family. No family is more willing to share our happiness and our tears than the Holy Family.

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Masses at SJI JUNIOR SCHOOL, 3, Essex Road, Singapore 309331 Dec 24 : 9pm-Carolling, 9.30pm-Pageant, 10pm Dec 25 : 10am Dec 31 : 10pm-Praise & Worship, 10.30pm

ST JOSEPHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHURCH Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

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CHURCH OF STS PETER & PAUL Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

9pm (M), Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 8.30am (M), 11am 6pm-Solemn Vespers, 7pm (Tri) 9am

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES Dec 24 : 7.30pm-Caroling, 8.30pm, 10pm-Caroling (T), 10.30pm (T) Dec 25 : 9am, 10.30am (T), 12pm, 6.30pm (T) Dec 31 : 7.45pm-Rosary, 8.30pm, 10pm-Rosary (T), 10.30pm (T) Jan 1 : 8.20am-Rosary, 9am, 10.30am (T)

CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART Dec 24 : 9pm (M), Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 9am, 10.30am, 12pm Jan 1 : 9am, 5.30pm

CHURCH OF ST TERESA Dec 24 : 7.15pm-Carolling, 8pm, 11.15pm-Carolling, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 8.30am, 10.30am & 12.30pm Dec 31 : 10pm Jan 1 : 8.30am & 10.30am

CARMELITE MONASTERY 98 Bukit Teresa Road (Kampong Bahru Road), Singapore 099750) Dec 24 : SP 2I¿FH RI 5HDGLQJV 11.30pmâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Caroling, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 8am Dec 31 : SP 2I¿FH RI 5HDGLQJV SP

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FHOHEUDWLQJ WKH ELUWK RI D SRRU REVFXUH FKLOG ERUQ LQWR DQ HPSLUH WKDW ZRXOG HYHQWXDOO\ NLOO +LP" &KULVWPDV DIWHU DOO VWDUWHG LQ WKH PLGVW RI D IDPLO\ 1R IDPLO\ LV PRUH ZLOOLQJ WR VKDUH RXU KDSSLQHVV DQG RXU WHDUV WKDQ WKH +RO\ Family. /LIH GRHVQ¶W RIIHU SHUIHFW FKRLFHV LW RQO\ RIIHUV XV WKH FKDQFH WR PDNH FKRLFHV ZLWK ORYH DQG thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important thing to UHPHPEHU DERXW &KULVWPDV 0D\ DOO RXU FKRLFHV EHJLQ DQG HQG ZLWK ORYH Â&#x201E; CNS Caldarola is a freelance writer and a columnist for Catholic News Service.

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CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING

Dec 24 : SP &KLOGUHQ¶V 0DVV

Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 8am (M), 9.30am, 11.15am & 6pm Dec 31 : 10.30pm Jan 1 : 9.30am

Dec 24 : 5.30pm-Pageant, 6pm, 8.30pm Cantata, 9pm, 11.30pm-Cantata, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 8.15am (M), 9.45am, 11.30am & 5.30pm Dec 31 : 10.30pm Jan 1 : 10.30am

CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY Dec 24 : SP &KLOGUHQ¶V 3DJHDQW 0DVV 8.15pm-Carolling, 9pm, 11.15pm-Carolling, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 7am, 9am, 11.30am, 3pm, & 5.30pm Dec 31 : 7pm Jan 1 : 9am, 11.30am & 5.30pm

NORTH

CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

8pm, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 8am (M) & 9.30am, 5.30pm 8pm 9.30am

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9pm, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 9.15am, 11.30am, 6pm (M) 10pm 10am

CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

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CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Dec 24 : SP &KLOGUHQ¶V 0DVV SP Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 7.15am (M), 8.45am, 10.30am, 12.30pm & 6pm Jan 1 : 8am & 10.30am

CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

11.30pm-Carolling, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 8am (M), 11am & 6pm 9.30pm 11pm & 6pm

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CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

9pm & Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 8am, 10am & 6.15pm 11pm 7.30am & 6.15pm

CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER Dec 24 : 6.00pm-Pageant, 6.30pm, 8.30pm-Carolling, 9pm, 11.30pm-Carolling, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 9am, 11am, 5.30pm Dec 31 : SP 5HÃ&#x20AC;HFWLRQ SP Jan 1 : 10am

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CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

9pm & Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 7am, 9am, 11am, 6pm 11pm 9am & 6pm

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WEST CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS Dec 24 : SP &KLOGUHQ¶V SDJHDQW SP 11pm Dec 25 : 8.15am, 10.15am, 12.15pm & 6pm Dec 31 : 6pm Jan 1 : DP DP DQG SP

BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

7.30pm (M) 9.30pm, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass 7am, 9am (M) 10.45am & 5.30pm 6pm & 8pm 7am, 8.30am & 6pm

CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS Dec 24 : SP &KLOGUHQ¶V 0DVV

9pm, Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 7.30am (M), 9am, 11am, 12.45pm Dec 31 : 9pm Jan 1 : 6.55am, 10am, 6.30pm

CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI Dec 24 : Dec 25 : Dec 31 : Jan 1 :

8.30pm (M), Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass, 6pm (T) 7.30am, 9am, 11am 10.00pm 7.30am, 9am (T)

CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS Dec 24 : 7pm (Family Mass), 9.30pm (M), Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nite Mass Dec 25 : 7.30am, 9.30am & 11.30am Dec 31 : SP %L /LQJXDO

Jan 1 : DP +RO\ +RXU DP Note: Dec 31: Thanksgiving Mass. (For weekday Masses on Dec 31, please refer to the respective parishes) M: Mandarin; T: Tamil; F:French; L:Latin In: (Indonesian), Tri: Trilingual Please check with parishes for updates.

22

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

23

24

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

By Jennifer Ficcaglia When Caesar Augustus ordered everyone to go to their hometowns to be counted in a census, Joseph and his pregnant wife, Mary, travelled to Bethlehem, the city of David, because Joseph was a member of King Davidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family.

The city was so crowded that the FRXSOH FRXOG QRW ÂżQG D URRP DW DQ inn, so they instead found shelter in a stable. Mary had her baby there, and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger.

When the baby was born, an angel appeared to shepherds who were ZDWFKLQJ WKHLU Ă&#x20AC;RFNV GXULQJ WKH QLJKW â&#x20AC;&#x153;Do not be afraid,â&#x20AC;? the angel told the shepherds, â&#x20AC;&#x153;for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the

city of David, a saviour has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And WKLV ZLOO EH D VLJQ IRU \RX <RX ZLOO ÂżQG an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.â&#x20AC;?

So the shepherds went to BethleKHP WR ÂżQG WKH LQIDQW O\LQJ LQ D PDQJHU When they found Joseph, Mary and the baby, they told everyone what the angel had said.

When the baby was eight days old, He was given the name Jesus. When He ZDV DERXW D PRQWK ROG +LV SDUHQWV WRRN Him to Jerusalem to be presented at the temple, according to the law of Moses.

A very devout man named Simeon lived in Jerusalem. God revealed to him through the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.

The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple on the day Joseph, Mary and

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Elizabeth Ann Seton 6W (OL]DEHWK $QQ 6HWRQ G

was born into an Episcopal family in 1HZ <RUN &LW\ LQ 6KH PDUULHG D ZHDOWK\ EXVLQHVVPDQ DQG KDG ÂżYH children. When her husband died, she decided to become a Catholic and was received into the Church in 1805. ,Q VKH IRUPHG WKH ÂżUVW RUGHU of women Religious founded in the US, the Daughters of Charity of St Joseph.

The order helped the poor, founded orphanages and hospitals, DQG ZRUNHG ZLWK SDURFKLDO VFKRROV When she died in 1821, her congregation had 20 communiWLHV LQ WKH 86 ,Q VKH EHFDPH WKH ÂżUVW QDWLYH ERUQ 1RUWK $PHULFDQ VDLQW :H KRQRXU KHU RQ -DQ Â&#x201E;

Jesus were there. When Simeon saw -HVXV KH WRRN WKH FKLOG LQWR KLV DUPV â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation,â&#x20AC;? he said.

-RVHSK DQG 0DU\ ORRNHG DW HDFK other. They were surprised by what they had heard. Just then, the prophetess Anna, who worshipped in the temple all the time, came over to see the infant.

6KH WKDQNHG *RG DQG WROG HYHU\RQH in Jerusalem who was waiting for the Messiah all about the baby Jesus.. Â&#x201E; Read more about it: Luke 2

Q&A 1. In what city was the temple in which Jesus was presented?

2. Who would not die until he had seen the Messiah?

Wordsearch: Â&#x201E; MANGER Â&#x201E; SPIRIT

Â&#x201E; TEMPLE Â&#x201E; FAMILY

Â&#x201E; DEVOUT Â&#x201E; STABLE Â&#x201E; SAVIOUR Â&#x201E; PARENTS Â&#x201E; ANGEL

Â&#x201E; INFANT Â&#x201E; JOY

Â&#x201E; BABY

BIBLE TRIVIA: What are swaddling clothes?

Bible Accent: Answer to puzzle: 1. consecrated; 3. your salvation;

2. Simeon; 4. amazed

Answer to Bible Trivia: Long, narrow strips of linen or cotton cloth used to wrap around newborns.

PUZZLE: The following sentences can be found in the story of the presentation RI -HVXV 5HDG WKH VWRU\ LQ /XNH WKHQ ÂżOO LQ WKH EODQNV ZLWK the missing word(s).

1. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every male that opens the womb shall be __________ to the Lord.â&#x20AC;?

2. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was _________.

3. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[L]et your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen __________.

4. The childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father and mother were ________ at what was said about him.

Answer to Wordsearch

There are many instances in the Bible when Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s angels appeared to people to give them messages or to help them. For example, in Exodus 23, God sent one of His angels to help Moses guard the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land.

In Genesis 19, two angels came to the city of Sodom and warned Lot, the nephew of Abraham, to leave the city, because God was going to destroy it. ,Q .LQJV ZKHQ (OLMDK Ă&#x20AC;HG IRU KLV OLIH IURP -H]HEHO the pagan wife of King Ahab of Israel, an angel brought him IRRG DQG GULQN VR KH ZRXOG KDYH WKH VWUHQJWK IRU WKH ORQJ journey to the mountain of God, Horeb. ,Q /XNH WKH DQJHO *DEULHO FDPH WR 0DU\ WR DQQRXQFH the birth of Jesus, and also to Zechariah the priest to announce the birth of John the Baptist. In Matthew 28, an angel appeared at Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tomb to tell Mary Magdalene and the other Mary that the Lord had been resurrected.

And in Acts 5, the apostles were thrown in jail for preaching about Jesus, but an angel opened the doors of the prison and led them out. Â&#x201E;

RCIA/RCIY

EVENT SUBMISSIONS

A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors.

All WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON submissions now require the completion of a form from the Archdiocese before the event can be publicised. Events that have foreign speakers also need to submit the necessary documentation for approval to the Chancery. For more information and to download the form, visit http://www.catholic. org.sg/chancery/announcementadvertisement-request/.

Once forms have been submitted, kindly send us details of your event for publication at www.catholicnews. sg/whatson at least one month ahead of the publication date.

NOV 1 TO DEC 25 2016 CALLING YOUTHS TO JOIN OUR CATHOLIC FAMILY! The RCIY team is welcoming non-Catholics, aged between 14 and 24 years old, to join us on a journey to know about the Catholic faith from November 1. Venue: Church of Christ the King. Sessions will take place on Sundays at 3pm. Register. T: 96718555 (Randy), T: 81880239 (Bernadette) DEC 3 TO MAY 11 2017 RCIA NEW JOURNEY â&#x20AC;&#x153;COME AND SEEâ&#x20AC;?. Every Thursday evening from 7.45pm-9.30pm at Church of St Michael, St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s room (level two) Register. E: stmike@singnet.com.sg; 7 DGPLQ RIÂżFH

Address: 17 St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road S(327976)

JAN 9 2016 MEDITATIVE PRAYER USING THE SONGS OF TAIZE Come and pray with fellow Christians and all who want to create greater trust and openness through meditative prayer.

No registration needed. All are welcome.

Time: 8pm-9.30pm. Organised by the Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;pore Taize core group at the Armenian Church of St Gregory the Illuminator, 60 Hill Street. E: bennycah@gmail.com; W: www.taize.fr/en

JAN 14 TO NOV 26 2016 BRIDGING PROGRAMME A one-year catechetical programme for children aged 9 to 13 years who have missed, or not had formal catechesis, or who are seeking baptism. Sessions are conducted weekly at the Catholic Archdiocescan Education Centre (CAEC) at 2 Highland Road, and the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour at 31 Siglap Hill. Managed by the Catechetical 2IÂżFH 5HJLVWHU 7 (PLO\

E: emily@one.org.sg

JAN 10 TO JAN 24 2016 KERYGMA SCHOOL 7KH .HU\JPD 6FKRRO UXQ E\ WKH 2IÂżFH for Young People, is a two-week live-in formation. It inspires, equips and releases participants to share with joy the basic message of the Gospel. Participants will gain practical experience of what it means to evangelise. Age range: 18-30 years old.

Registration closes on Dec 20. Cost: $200.

Venue: OYP 2 Lorong Low Koon, S536449. For more info, W: www.oyp. org.sg; E: info.oyp@catholic.org.sg

JAN 23 2016 COME, DISCOVER, LIVE

By Sr Elizabeth Sim, FDCC. Time: 10am-12noon. Sr Elizabeth will speak of the discovery, the transformation and the freedom of being in union with God. Venue: 100 Jln Merbok. Register. T: 64662178 (Brenda); E: lifesprings @singnet.com.sg; W: www.lifespringscanossian.com JAN 28 TO MAR 31 2016 AT HOME RETREAT Every Thursday from Jan 28 to Mar 31 at Sts Peter and Paul Church. 7.30pm-9.30pm. A 10-week programme based on the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola to know Jesus more intimately in the midst of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daily routine. Programme includes weekly meeting of faith sharing, daily prayer of scripture. Organised by the Cenacle Sisters.

T: 65652895; E: cenaclesing@gmail.com; W: www.catholicsg.info/cenacle

JAN 13 TO MAR 23 2016 ST PETER â&#x20AC;&#x201C; CORNERSTONE OF CATHOLICISM A DVD-based programme presented by Dr Tim Gray. The story of St Peter begins with an ordinary act of trust, which would change the entire course of his life. Every Wednesday from 9.30am-11.30am (10 sessions). Venue: Church of Holy Spirit DWWLF WK Ă&#x20AC;RRU &RVW /RYH RIIHULQJV welcomed. Register. T: 82288220; E: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com

Crossword Puzzle 1149 1

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ACROSS 1 Peter did this after he denied Jesus (Mk 14:72) 5 Where you might ÂżQG D PRQN 10 Eveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second 14 Rod on a rig 15 Back portions of feet 16 Traditional knowledge 17 Incline 18 Fish covering 19 French wood 20 _____ of milk and honey

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IN MEMORIAM 25

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON

Sunday December 27, 2015 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Knot in wood Supplements Church spire Trim Lecherous Expels â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eye has not seen, ____ has not heardâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

36 Bishopric 37 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will ___ me three times.â&#x20AC;? (Mt 26:34)

38 Pilate washed his in front of the crowd 40 Shut with force 41 Fuss 42 Easter Bunnyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s delivery 43 Most likely, Paulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ÂżUVW HSLVWOH DEEU

45 Constructed by humans 47 _____ Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;rith 48 Catholic AcademyAward-winning actress Young 52 Jubilee entry

55 Biblical site of the temple of Dagon 58 Mortgage 59 Boo Booâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buddy 60 Newspaper items (abbr.)

62 Mild oath (slang) 63 Book before Nehemiah 64 Cowboy wear 65 Greek god of love 66 Hold as an opinion 67 Trinitrons, e.g.

68 Slender missile

CLASSIFIED THANKSGIVING

DOWN 1 Basilica of St. Paul outside the _____ 2 Letter by which a priest is released from one diocese and accepted into another 3 Flat surface 4 Inclination 5 Exclamations of pleasure 6 St. Thomas _____ 7 Pole or kidney 8 Scat queen 9 North Sea feeder 10 This â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greatâ&#x20AC;? saint is the patron of the natural sciences 11 ___ of Genesis 12 Clevelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lake 13 To a smaller extent 24 Abbr. for two NT epistles 25 Whipped 27 Tribe of Israel 28 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Twelfth Nightâ&#x20AC;? duke 29 Land in the water 30 â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;Śand the waters

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Thank you, St Jude and Mother Mary for your Holy intercession. With heartfelt gratitude to the Lord Our Father, Jesus that were gathered Christ and the kind together he called Spirit for answering my _____.â&#x20AC;? prayers. Sanjay Skirt bottoms Yellow cheese Please turn to pages 26 and 27 coated with red for more in memoriam and wax FODVVLÂżHG DGYHUWLVHPHQWV Sacred scripture of Hinduism A party to Bath site (abbr.) â&#x20AC;&#x153;His mercy is from _____ toâ&#x20AC;Śâ&#x20AC;?

(Lk 1:50) Protected Sailor Sister of Moses Catholic screenwriter and novelist best known for â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Exorcistâ&#x20AC;?

Papal crown Male voice Unfocused dread Colored Exude slowly Grimm fellow Lots Peek-_____ Biblical mount Evidence of a leak

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1148 W O M B

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Grateful thanks to Jesus, Mother Mary, St Joseph, St Anthony, St Jude, St Joseph of Cupertino for success in examination, admission to school, recovery from asthma, good job and many favours received. SD

C O B O R S L S A T D P O E T E D S R A D I U R S T T S H M R M O U B A T E O C H N R E D O R

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Sunday December 27, 2015 CatholicNews

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