Catholic News issue 7 2018

SUNDAY APRIL 1, 2018

SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

MCI (P) 010/08/2017

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

VOL 68

NO. 07

I mage of ‘ Je sus Meets the W omen of Je rusalem’ by artist V irgil C antini. CNSphot o

2 HOME

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Cathedral holds 24-hour prayer event A special “2 4 Hours for the Lord” initiative was held recently to offer C atholics an opportunity for both E ucharistic adoration and sacramental confession.

Held at the C athedral of the Good Shepherd on March 9 , 6 pm, to March 1 0 , 6 pm, the event drew a crowd of over a thousand over the 2 4 hours.

The initiative was organised by the ffice for the ew vangelisation in collaboration with the C athedral of the Good Shepherd, and ArchC omms (the archdiocesan communications office .

“These 2 4 hours are an opportunity to experience the immense love of our Lord,” said cathedral rector Msgr Philip Heng in his opening address.

There were guided hourly reflections based on the theme of Pope F rancis’ 2 0 1 8 Lenten Message, “Because of the increase of iniq uity, the love of many will grow cold” (Matt 2 4 : 1 2 ), as well as prayers to aid the congregation to encounter J esus.

Many priests were available for most of the 2 4 hours to administer the Sacrament of R econciliation.

The entire event was also live-

Archbishop Chia’s 80th birthday Archbishop meritus N icholas C hia will celebrate his 80t h birthday with a thank sgivi ng Mass on April 7 at 10.30 am at the C hurch of the H oly C ross.

All are welcome to j oin in the celebration. n

streamed on the archdiocese’s Y ouTube channel for the homebound and those who were not able to attend.

Ms Masha Lim, 3 2 , commented that the initiative allowed her to better prepare for E aster.

In Pope F rancis’ Lenten message, he invited the C hurch to celebrate the Sacrament of R econciliation in the context of E ucharistic adoration during the “2 4 Hours for the Lord” initiative.

This year’s theme was inspired by Psalm 1 3 0 : 4 , “With you is forgiveness.” The objective, according to Archbishop Salvatore F isichella, president of the ontifical ouncil for romoting New E vangelisation, “is to offer to all – especially to those who feel uncomfortable entering a church – the opportunity to seek the merciful embrace of God”.

In previous years, the Archdiocese of Singapore has held a decentralised “2 4 Hours for the Lord” in various parishes. This year, it was held solely at the cathedral to foster a greater sense of communion. n Su b m i t t e d b y O F F I CE F O R T IO N

T H E

NE W

E V A NG E L I SA -

P eople praying in front of the Blessed S acrament during the ‘ 24 H

ours for the Lord’ eve nt.

BUILDING A VIBRANT, MISSIONARY AND EVANGELISTIC CHURCH EVENTS BY THE FOLLOWING ARCHDIOCESAN ORGANISATIONS IN 2018 O R GAN I S ATI O N S Archdiocesan C ommission for Apostolate of Mandarin S peak ing

MA

AP R I L • F aith F ormation (15 Apr) • F amily Parenting C amp (6- 8 Apr)

• World D ay of Prayer for the C hurch in C hina (24 M ay) • R osary Month Procession (19 M ay) • Love Matters 3 ( 1 M ay)

Archdiocesan C ommission for the F amily Archdiocesan C ommission for the P astoral C are of Migrants and I tinerant P eople

• Befrienders’ F ormation I – V alue of Self & C ommunity • Befrienders’ D evelopment I – Active Listening – Skills D evelopment E nrolment

Archdiocesan C ommission for Tamil S peak ing

• Marriage Preparation C ourse (29

• Befrienders D evelopment II – C ontracting

Apr) • C BN Golf C lassics (16 M ay) • Annual General Meeting (24 M ay)

C atholic Business N etwork C atholic S pirituality C entre

• C E R #60 ( 25- 29 Apr) • Inner Healing R etreat #1 ( 5- 8 Apr) • R evival F riday (6, 13, 20, 27 Apr) • 4t h Sat Healing Mass (21 Apr)

• C ouples R etreat #4 ( 1 1- 13 M ay) • R evival F riday (4, 1 1, 18,25 M ay) • 4t h Sat Healing Mass (19 M ay) • Pentecost C elebration (20 M ay)

C atholic Theological I nstitute of S ingapore

• E nrolment for Semester 2 O pens (7 Apr)

• Information Night (4 M ay)

C aritas H umanitarian Aid & R elief I nitiative s, S ingapore

• Mission Trip – C ebu, Philippines

C aritas S ingapore

• Living our F aith in C ommunity Workshop (7 Apr) • Personal Moral C ompass – Module 3 (19 Apr-7 J un) • C harity Golf 2018

• R eview of Life Workshop (1 5 & 1 6 May)

ffice for atechesis

• Basic C atechist C ourse Level 2: Introduction to Morality (4 Apr-2 M ay) • Archdiocese C atechist Training: Study D ay (2) (10 Apr) • R C IA: Sponsors Training (14 & 15 Apr) • C atechist E lective C ourse: Special Needs C atechesis 2 ( 17 Apr-15 M ay) • Praying with C atechumens and Sponsors (21, 28 Apr)

• R C IA: Pentecost R etreat (5- 6 M ay) • Introduction To R C IA (17- 19 M ay ) • Archdiocese C atechist Training Program: aryvale ertificate in atechesis tudy Weekend (1) (26, 27 M ay) • Bridging Programme: F irst R econciliation/ F irst Holy C ommunion R etreat (2 9 -3 1 May) • Bridging Programme: Parent F ormation (3) (29 M ay )

ffice for the New vangelisation

• E MHC Study D ay (7 Apr) • Hope in the C ity (21 Apr) • Wardens’ Study D ay (28 Apr)

• Labourers in the V ineyard R etreat (25- 29 M ay) • J esus Mary R ally (26 M ay) • F amily C amp (31 M ay-3 J un)

ffice for oung People

• Treasure #9 ( 5- 8 Apr) • Poly C ommissioning Mass (18 • Nox Gaudii (20 Apr)

S ingapore Archdiocesan C atholic C harismatic R enewal

Apr)

• School of C harismatic Leadership Module 2 ( 7, 8 Apr) • Spiritual Preparation for Pentecost R etreat (21, 2 Apr)

• C ommunities’ F ormation (5 M ay) • School of C hristian Leadership (18- 28 M ay) • Pentecost R etreat (5, 6 M ay) • Pentecost R ally (20 M ay)

N ote: F or more information, please refer to the respective O rganisation’ s website. This information is correct at the time of printing.

Compiled by Office for the New Evangelisation (ONE), www.one.org.sg

HOME 3

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Walking a barefoot Way of the Cross in Singapore More than 140 people, from teens to senior citiz ens, took part in a special barefoot Way of the C ross across Singapore recently.

The annual event, called C rucis Singapura, was organised by J esus Y outh Singapore. This was the eighth time that the group, part of the J esus Y outh movement which started as a C atholic lay movement in India in 1985, has organised the activity during Lent.

The March 17 event saw people gathering at eight churches across the island and then walking barefoot on hot pavements as they made their way to Agape V illage in Toa Payoh, covering distances ranging from 3 t o 20 km.

Walking in pairs, participants were given material for spiritual reflection, focusing on the plight of Peter the Apostle and his experiences during Passover night and after.

Activities were conducted at various points along the routes, including having participants wash each other’s feet.

When they reached their journey’s end at Agape V illage, participants shared the spiritual experiences they had during their walk. Some were moved to tears by their experiences.

The J esus Y outh music ministry also led a time of worship.

F r F rederick Q uek, the group’s spiritual director, blessed the participants. He told them that just as J esus asked Peter, “D o you love

‘s harT

he s arh pai w ih l e i ngadpr pr o v e dt obe ca alh sa w e l l as t he eh ta –Z

P articipants walk ed in pairs cove ring distances ranging from 3 to 20 their j ourney.

me?” J esus is also asking the same of each person.

“If we do not really do what the Lord wants us to, we are denying Him and not loving Him,” said F r F rederick.

Z achary Q uek, a participant from the C hurch of D ivine Mer-

ns t ath oc c ru r e d ay i ngw i t hm y par t ne r l e nge t ode al w i t h, f r om t he gr ound.

’

achary Q uek from the C hurch of D ivi ne Mercy

k m and also washed each other’ s feet along

cy, shared: “Walking barefooted was an insightful experience to me. The sharp pains that occurred while sharing and praying with my partner proved to be a challenge to deal with, as well as the heat from the ground.

“It made me realise about how challenging and trying the Way of the C ross is, but through everything, I can become stronger in my journey, and grow closer to God.” J esus Y outh has been active in Singapore for the past 16 ye ars.

T he J e s us Y out h Si ngapor e w e bs i t e i s ht t ps : / / s i ngapor e .j e s u s y o ut h.or g/ n

4 BUILDING THE CHURCH OF TOMORROW 3

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

protecting the collection and use of god’s resources In this final instalment of the series on governance and financial accountability, Msgr Philip Heng delves into how the archdiocese ensures accountability of the collection and use of its funds through its fundraising arm, the Catholic Foundation.

Our archdiocese envisions a more vibrant, missionary and evangelistic Church. As the fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Singapore, the Catholic Foundation has launched the Giving in Faith & Thankfulness (GIFT) campaign to urge every Catholic to participate in making the vision of the archdiocese a reality.

Gift Now

gift.catholicfoundation.sg

In the past three articles of this series, we learned about the Church’s canon law, organisational structures, funding pools, fundraising bodies, as well as the archdiocese’s approach to financial governance.

The previous issue in particular showed us how the archdiocese is funded in two ways; through a portion of the Mass collections made in every parish, as well as donations to the Catholic Foundation.

This two-pronged funding model, with the Catholic Foundation serving as the fundraising arm of the archdiocese, helps the Church ensure a greater level of governance and transparency in fundraising for its mission.

a registered charity Much transparency and accountability is assured firstly through the legal construct of the Foundation.

The Catholic Foundation was set up in Singapore as a company limited by guarantee (CLG) under the Companies Act, and a registered charity

under the Charities Act (UEN o 01 1 1k).

This positions the Catholic Foundation as a corporate body that is subject to the laws and regulations of both the Companies Act and the Charities Act, as well as the regulations set by the Commissioner of Charities.

Thus, as with all other registered charities, Catholic Foundation’s fundraising

grants can be found.

In addition, Catholic Foundation seeks to conform with the Code of Charity overnance issued by the Charity Council in Singapore, and discloses its compliance with the Code on the charity portal. The Code identifies leading governance practices which are required of charity boards.

this two-pronged funding model... helps the church ensure a greater level of governance and transparency in fundraising for its mission. activities follow the rules set out by the Commissioner of Charities.

The Foundation also produces an annual set of financial statements in line with Charity Accounting tandards. These financial statements are audited by a public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche, and are presented in an annual report where further details of fundraising activities and

catholic foundation board Accountability of funds raised are also assured through the Foundation’s board of directors. t is made up of both leadership priests and lay personnel with relevant networks and expertise such as accounting, legal, and corporate governance.

All the directors have legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities under the

Companies Act and the Charities Act for the activities of the Foundation.

Such a partnership between the clergy and laity of the archdiocese also helps direct the Foundation to constantly keep its focus on the mission of the Church, while maintaining the highest levels of governance in its activities.

going beyond In fact, the approach taken by the board and staff of the Foundation in ensuring accountability and transparency goes beyond what is required by the law.

This can be seen firstly through the extent of communication between Catholic Foundation and its stakeholders. A glance at its website, annual report, and other communication collaterals will show the Foundation’s dedication to providing detailed information.

Where appropriate, it is provided in a drill down fashion.

For instance, the frequently answered questions (FAQ) on the Foundation’s website comprises 58 questions

5 BUILDING BUILDINGTHE THE CHURCH CHURCH OF OFTOMORROW TOMORROW 4

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

grouped into 10 categories.

It has also distributed guides for parishes to follow when handling contributions to the archdiocese.

In addition, the Foundation regularly communicates its fundraising results to relevant stakeholders and the public. The results of the GIFT campaign, for instance, are provided to parishes and published in Catholic News on a quarterly basis.

The Foundation also seeks accountability to each and every contributor. On top of acknowledging each

contribution, all contributors are also given access to their individual accounts with the Foundation on an online portal.

Through this, contributors are able to edit their profiles, view their individual and aggregate contributions to date, and provide direct feedback to the Foundation.

the archdiocesan finance office (AFO).

The Archdiocesan Finance Council (AFC), headed by the archbishop, decides how funds should be used in the archdiocese.

An archdiocesan grants committee, working closely with the AFO, was also established to work with the various organisations and offices of the archdiocese to streamline their budgets, before making their proposals to the AFC for any approvals.

These structures have facilitated much growth in

grant making Accountability does not only end at the fundraising process.

After raising what it can for the Church, the Foundation subsequently disburses funds through block grants through

accountability of fundraising

the archdiocese in the past three years. But as the Lord continues to build us up to be a more vibrant, missionary and evangelistic Church, much more resources are needed to carry out His work.

I urge all Catholics today to pray, get involved, and support our Church in all that it does. Borrowing the words of St Therese of Liseux, “Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labours.�

Catholics support the Church

Laws, Regulations and Guidelines ACRA (Companies Act)

Catholic Foundation Fundraising arm of the Archdiocese of Singapore

Commissioner of Charities (Charities Act)

Board & Audit Committee Executive Team

ow N t f i G IC ATHOL .SG C .

T F I G ATION FO U N D

Independent Auditors

Block Grants

accountability of grant making

Decision makers on how funds should be spent Archbishop

Board of Consultors Archdiocesan Finance Council (AFC) Grants Committee

Archdiocesan Finance Office (AFO)

Funding

Funding

Archdiocesan Organisations

Capital Projects

Archdiocesan Commission for the Family (ACF)

Bethany East (Retirement residence for priests)

Office for Young People (OYP)

St Francis Xavier Seminary

Office for the New Evangelisation (ONE)

Archdiocesan Hub

And many more...

Sinking Funds

a series contributed by

6

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Companions for your journey…

In this issue of FamFare, ACF writer Ange Dove interviews three Couple Mentors about the need for and the importance of couple accompaniment. family time ine, it’s all about For Zach and Jann

When couples prepare for marriage or are navigating those first crucial years, going it alone is not a wise option. With over 20% of marriages ending in divorce in Singapore, if you are a newly married couple today, the odds are not stacked completely in your favour.

The Catholic Church mandates that couples preparing for marriage attend a marriage preparation course to gain the skills needed to navigate obstacles and ensure that God is present in the marriage. But when the honeymoon period is over, who do you turn to when you need help. And you will. will

Nobody enters into a marriage able to manage it perfectly. Firstly, it’s a new situation you will not have a past personal reference for. Your model for marriage will have come, in most cases, from your parents. And your spouse may have a different frame of reference for what a marriage should be than you do, due to a different upbringing. Additional challenges may arise if you enter into a mixed-faith marriage.

Add to that the fact that men and women communicate very differently (AKA Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus) and you’ve got some work ahead of you, no matter how prepared and accepting of each other you think you are now.

Couples cannot walk alone We need the grace of God and the support of the Church’s community to sustain, nourish and strengthen marriage. ACF has introduced the parish-based Couple Mentor Journey (CMJ) programme specifically to mentor engaged couples and those in their first few years of marriage.

It augments existing marriage preparation programmes like Catholic Engaged Encounter and Marriage Preparation Course.

Its aim is to help couples build a strong, faithful and fruitful Christ-centred marriage.

CMJ provides vital new tools to newly weds We put our couple mentors through a training course so that they are better prepared to deliver CMJ and arm their mentees with skills for a loving and God-filled marriage. But not surprisingly, these couple mentors found that the learning helped to enrich their own marriages. The tools from the Smart Loving training provided some new communication skills they had not been aware of before.

Stop. Reflect. Connect.

Jannine and Zach are one of our couple mentors. They’ve been married 12 years and, like all married couples, they still face difficulties from time to time. One issue came up not long after they had attended the training course to deliver CMJ. As the couple looks back, they can see that the Stop. Reflect. Connect. tool they learned on the course really helped them through the rough patch, as Jannine explains: “Zach runs his own business and, as the boss, had taken a female colleague to dinner alone one evening to discuss something away from the office.

I felt really uncomfortable about this. I trust him of course, but I didn’t think it was wise for him to put himself in a situation where he could get tempted.”

So Jannine confronted Zach with her feelings, and the couple

started to get into a heated debate as Zach simply couldn’t see that he’d done anything wrong and felt she didn’t have anything to be upset about. As voices rose, the couple remembered the Stop.

Reflect. Connect. tool and called a time-out on their argument.

They realised that talking while emotionally charged wasn’t going to resolve the issue. They went off alone to reflect on what each other had said and examined the situation from the other’s point of view. When they reconnected 10 minutes later they followed the Stop. Reflect. Connect. process and took turns to talk uninterrupted in a calm manner. From there, they were able to understand each other’s feelings and agree on future behaviours.

“We wouldn’t have resolved this issue so quickly if we hadn’t done the course,” Zach observes. “I really couldn’t see that I had done anything wrong and was surprised by her reaction at first. But by applying the tools, I was quickly able to see things from Jannine’s point of view, and she had a point about not putting myself in the way of temptation. Now I hold all staff meetings in the office and during office hours.”

The couple have come to a new and deeper level in their marriage where they are very open and honest with each other, now that they have these vital communication tools.

Gabriel and Karren with son s Zinedine and Zac

enjoying Jeremy and Alicia

er couple time togeth

The new tools learned on the course also helped one of our other couple mentors, Alicia and Jeremy. “There’s no such thing as a perfect marriage,” says Jeremy.

“It’s a journey where every day is a challenge to love and grow in intimacy. There’s no end game.”

Remember the bigger picture Jeremy added that we all go through many years of formal education to prepare ourselves for our careers.

But we enter into marriage not necessarily equipped with the skills and tools. We learn through trial and error. Yet these skills are the fundamentals to a successful God-filled marriage. “Couples really owe it to their marriage to invest the time to learn these skills now. What I took away most from

the course was the importance of taking time every day to remember our vows and the commitments we made to each other.”

Alicia explains that couples should expect fights every now and then. That’s part of a healthy marriage. But we have to remember the bigger picture. How we are both in this for life. So fight fairer, reflect and have more empathy for one another.

“I used to think that fighting was bad,” says Jeremy. “But now I understand that it gives us a chance to grow. When we use the skills taught to fight fair, it becomes a win/win situation for both parties and brings us closer together. It’s a journey and an ongoing process. It’s not just about romance but about developing a deeper communion.”

7

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Surviving a mix ed- faith marriage As Catholics are required to bring their children up in the Church, being able to communicate well in a mixed-faith marriage is all the more important. For our couple mentors Karren and Gabriel, this was not an issue they expected to face when they entered married life.

“We both were not Catholics when we got married and as such we didn’t go through any marriage preparation course,” Karren explains. “But I always felt we needed some tools we didn’t have. We married young at 24 and 25 years of age and found it difficult to cope as young parents. I entered into the Church first and I always wanted to volunteer. A Nepal trip came up when my first child was two and I knew I had to go. Gabriel was dead set against this as he thought I should be at home with our son.

But for me, there is never a “right” time as parents, and I realised we had very different perspectives on our roles, which we needed to deal with.”

H ow does CMJ work?

When you enrol on CMJ, you and your partner will be paired with a mentor couple from your parish who has been married for more than five years and has been trained to guide you through the programme You will visit your mentors in their home. This way you get to see live, in real time, what married life is like, warts and all. You’ll see the issues faced with raising children, managing time and household chores together and how work, children and priorities can alter the marriage dynamics. You’ll learn, as they have learnt, how to use the Smart Loving tools to connect at a deeper level and to achieve unity in marriage.

we had our differences on how to raise them. This pressure, on top of our very different communication styles, led to disagreements.”

“I suggested attending the Couples Empowerment Programme to try to improve on our relationship and communication with each other,” added Jeremy.

“Through this, we became convinced that we should put Jesus at the heart of our marriage. When we were asked to be mentors in CMJ, it seemed like a natural progression to us as we felt that,

When she returned from Nepal, she signed up for Marriage Encounter, recommended by a friend. “We benefitted from the Love Circle a lot,” Karren remembers. “Because I know the impact such courses have had on our marriage, I wanted to sign up as a mentor on CMJ to give back.

We really believe we could be saving a marriage in some cases.

Ours was certainly saved.”

“Karren baptised the boys when she got baptised, but at that time I didn’t see the need to convert,” Gabriel adds. He was able to understand and respect her decision and didn’t object to his children being brought up as Catholics. “The Love Circle had helped us tremendously in how we communicated with one another.

We even had friends with failing marriages approach us to ask how we managed to make our marriage work so well.”

As time went on and the children got older, Gabriel started to feel he was missing out on important family bonding and togetherness. So he started to attend mass with his family and got touched by God, entering the Church four years after his wife and kids.

Alicia and Jeremy, however, entered marriage as a mixed-faith couple and continue to be so.

“Jeremy is a Catholic and I’m a Methodist,” explains Alicia. “We stopped attending church during the first few years of marriage.

Then when the kids came along,

Your mentors will share their experiences in their own marriage to guide you. Couples have found this to be a particularly useful aspect of the programme as they get to realise that their situation is not as unique as they thought and that in fact everyone goes through similar feelings and challenges.

Through the programme, you will also come to understand that having differences of opinions and arguments is not an indicator that you are failing in your marriage.

Q uite the opposite in fact! It is natural and expected to come across situations in which you will disagree. CMJ will teach you how to communicate effectively in such situations so that the

resolution brings you closer together as a couple and helps you to grow. Through CMJ, you’ll get to understand the beauty of the sacraments God has given us, and learn to know and understand each other better. You’ll become more attuned to each other as you get to understand your partner’s perspective and learn to make adjustments together.

Your mentors are not professional counsellors or experts by any means, but because they have been through the challenges, they can help you avoid making the same mistakes, and therefore smoothen your transition into marriage and a life together with God.

H ow long is the programme?

Who is it for?

You will visit your mentors at their home for six sessions and they will take you through one of the six modules of the programme at each session. The expected duration is 12 weeks, though this is flexible, and you will have homework to do after every session. Once the sessions are over, your mentors will still be there for you any time you have a question or need some guidance. It is hoped that you develop a long-lasting friendship.

If you are engaged to be married or if you are married (three years or less), this course is for you.

Gabriel’s baptism with his Godparents (and Love Circle mentors)

T he initial y ears are a vital y et delicate period during which couples grow in an awareness of their vocation and mission.

- T he final report of the 2 0 1 5 Sy nod of B ishops to the H oly Father, P ope Francis

24

24 April (Tuesday) 7 .3 0 pm - 9 .3 0 pm Agape V illage 7 A L orong 8 T oa P ay oh Singapore 3 1 9 2 6 4 W e meet as a group of bereaved parents to find mutual support through pray er, scripture and sharing of ex periences.

N o need to register, j ust walk in.

P ieta.singapore@ gmail.com

Sign up for CMJ by scanning the Q R code or go to http:// catholicfamily.org.sg/cmj/mentees If you have questions you can write in to cmj@ acf.org.sg

The cost is $ 9 8 , which will cover a set of Couple Workbooks used during the journey.

For a list of family events in the Archdiocese visit

catholicfamily .org.sg/ events

May 1

27

P ieta Monthly Support Session for Bereaved P arents

H ow do we register?

H ow much will it cost?

Catholic Family Events in April - May 2018 April

with the tools that we have learnt, we could share our experiences on a more personal level with newly married couples. This kind of support was something we did not have during our initial years in marriage.”

One thing all three mentor couples agree: the single most important ingredient to a lasting marriage is Jesus Christ. Join the journey by enrolling on CMJ and build a strong, faithful and fruitful Christ-centred marriage.

4

Retrouvaille

L ove Matters

Marriage E ncounter Weekend

27 - 29 April (Friday - Sunday) Friday 7 pm to Sunday 6 .3 0 pm Marriage E ncounter H ouse 2 0 1 B P unggol 1 7 th Avenue Singapore 8 2 9 6 5 1

1 May (Tuesday) 8 .3 0 am - 1.3 0 pm Church of T he T ransfiguration 5 1 P unggol Central Singapore 8 2 8 7 2 5

4 - 6 May (Friday - Sunday) Friday 8 pm - Sunday 6 pm Marriage E ncounter H ouse 2 0 1 B P unggol 1 7 th Avenue Singapore 8 2 9 6 5 1

For couples with marital problems including those who are considering marriage separation and those who are already separated or divorced but want marriage help.

L O V E MAT T E RS is organised by ACF and W W ME SG to celebrate marriage and the priesthood and milestone anniversaries of these vocations. ACF and W W ME SG invite couples and priests to celebrate their milestone anniversaries at this special event. Come be enriched by our Formation Day T alk as well.

Discover the week end that has been transforming marriages all over the world for more than 4 0 y ears.

retrouvaille.singapore@ gmail.com + 6 5 6 5 22 8 7 5 0

For couples married two y ears and above. wwmesg.org/ me- weekend- selector to book a weekend.

catholicfamily.org.sg/ lovematters

facebook.com/ P ietaSingapore

This section is produced by the Archdiocesan Commission for the Family and is published in the last issue of each month. For more information on Catholic family life matters, visit catholicfamily.org.sg.

8 HOME

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

A Church that reaches out to the periphery Archbishop Goh urges Catholics to take up Pope Francis’ mission of being people of mercy at Pope’s Day Mass

By C hristopher Khoo F ollow Pope F rancis in being people of mercy, people who are welcoming, people who are not afraid to go beyond their comfort z one, said Archbishop William Goh during the annual Pope’s D ay Mass.

Speaking to the congregation gathered at the C athedral of the Good Shepherd for the 10.30 am Mass on March 1 1 , he stressed that the thrust of the pope’s pontificate over the past five years have been about mercy, inclusivity, joy, compassion, forgiveness and life.

Pope F rancis “speaks of a C hurch that is a welcoming C hurch”, not a cold, legalistic one, said Archbishop Goh at the ass to mar the fifth anniversary of the pope’s election.

“He believes in a C hurch that comes out of itself to the world, reaching out to those on the periphery,” he told the congregation which included priests, R eligious, ambassadors and other members of the diplomatic corps.

The pope isn’t speaking about people living on the geographical periphery, but those on the “existential periphery”, those who are in misery, suffering from pain, injustices, illness and poverty, said Archbishop Goh in his homily.

“These are the people the

C hurch is called to reach out to,” he said, noting that Pope F rancis has said many times that he wanted a C hurch “that is bruised, hurting and dirty, not a C hurch that is confined in her security, loo ing always within”.

“The C hurch is not about ourselves. The C hurch is about humanity, about society,” said Archbishop Goh.

‘t r ut T

he

doc

t r i ne s ,t he hs w e pr oc l ai m – t he s e ar e t he i de al s .

B u t p e o p le a re s tr u g g lin g t ol i v e out t he i de al s .

A ndt h at i s w hy t he H ol y F at he r i nv i t e s us t oap pl y t he G os pe l of m e r c y i n r e ac hi ng out t ot he s e pe opl e .

’

– Archbishop Goh

And that is why the pope wants the C hurch to be a C hurch of mercy, a C hurch that is welcoming to everyone, including sinners, said Archbishop Goh. “The C hurch that Pope F rancis speaks of is a C hurch that goes beyond rules, doctrines, and laws.

The C hurch that he believes in

Archbishop W illiam Goh and Msgr Y ov k o P ishtiysk i, C hargé d’ Affaires a.i. of the Apostolic N unciature in S ingapore, celebrating the P ope’ s D ay Mass on March 1 1. P hot o: V I T A I m age s

cannot be just a C hurch of dos and don’ts,” said Archbishop Goh. However, that does not mean that Pope F rancis does not hold on to the truths of the Gospel. “Of course he does,” said Archbishop Goh. “What he is speaking about is that we need to put people’s existential problems and needs before the ideals.

“The doctrines, the truths we proclaim – these are the ideals. But people are struggling to live out the ideals. And that is why the Holy F ather invites us to apply the Gospel of mercy in reaching out to these people,” said Archbishop Goh. He noted that for those with

same-sex orientation, the pope has said, “Who am I to judge?”

“Those of you whose marriages are failing, those of you who have been divorced and remarried, the Holy F ather knows your struggles. He knows your pain. Nobody gets married to be divorced, let’s face the fact,” said Archbishop Goh. “These are manifestations of a wounded humanity. Therefore we need to be welcoming, we cannot afford to be judgemental.”

F or those who are suffering, “we must help them discern, accompany them. And more than anybody else, these are the people who need our support and love”, said Archbishop Goh. “This is what a merciful C hurch is all about. This is a C hurch

that reaches out to the periphery.”

He urged the congregation to “take up this same mission; follow Pope F rancis in being people of mercy, people who are welcoming, people who are not afraid to go beyond the boundaries of our comfort z one”.

At the end of the Mass, Msgr Y ovko Pishtiyski, C hargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Apostolic Nunciature in Singapore, thanked the congregation for their “constant prayers” for the pope and for their generous support of Peter’s Pence, a papal charity.

He conveyed to the congregation the greetings of the Holy F ather and his apostolic blessing upon them and their families. n christopher.kh oo@ catholic.org.s g

9

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

GET CONNECTED: 2 LORONG LOW KOON, SINGAPORE 536449 T 6285 2571 | 6286 0341 W www.oyp.org.sg For enquiries, please email: info.oyp@catholic.org.sg

SPECIAL FEATURE

FEATURE

SCHOOL OF WITNESS 2018

LIVING A CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE

38 courageous young men and women gave 8 weeks of their lives to the Lord and just like mustard seeds, He increased their faith and transformed their lives. On 2nd March, we celebrated the school’s Comissioning Mass. More than just a bookend to the school, it was a celebration of thanksgiving for the grace and healing that our dear participants experienced . It was also a beautiful time of empowerment and blessing as participants prayed for and ministered to their family and friends who came to support them.

by Bryan Francisco In the fast paced society of Singapore, where all we can really ever think about is what we’re going to do next, be it at work or at school, what does it mean to put God at the center of our lives? More often than not, when we say we put God at the ‘center’ of our lives, we often tend to compartmentalize Him. We say we’ll give an hour of our day to the Lord to speak to us and limit Him to that one hour with “Speak Lord in this time!”

And when we do not discernibly hear Him in prayer, we begin to view our prayer time as routine and dry, leaving us restless and eventually losing our purpose or initial intention to make God the centre of our life!

It is crucial for every committed Christian to have a disciplined schedule and structure in their lives which includes time for prayer. In addition to protecting our prayer life, how can we truly allow God to be at the center of our lives? Here are some things that I find particularly helpful.

Participants and staff of the school with Archbishop William Goh and the OYP Chaplains and staff

(Above & below) Participants praying for their loved ones

I was crippled by fear, but the Lord always fights my battles and delivers me to victory. I’m no longer purposeless, for He holds my life’s purpose. My freedom is knowing that my God has plans for me and walks by my side. He has restored my soul. - Adeline Setyo The Lord has set me free from my own expectations and the need for others’ recognition. He is my Shepherd and his plans for me are greater than my own. He has shown me true freedom and joy. He loves me and I am a child of God. - Nicholas Isaac Siew

increase our faith: thanksgiving

by Veronica Wong “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her” - Luke 1:45 School of Witness 2018 (SOW) was a journey of learning to trust in the Lord’s faithfulness and to give my ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ to Him no matter how difficult. And truly, the Lord has been faithful to His promises to me through all the ‘yeses’ I had given to Him over these two months!

die to myself and to trust in the Lord’s promises to me. I was challenged to surrender my past wounds and brokenness, wounds that have intrinsically created a barrier between me and God. I was challenged to let God into past memories and to give Him full control over them, even when that meant that I had to relive painful memories that I had effectively forced myself to forget over the years. I was challenged to forgive people who had inflicted these wounds on me, and most importantly, I was challenged to forgive myself.

I had no intention of attending SOW and even rejected the idea when my community (Living Ark) members encouraged me to attend. I had quit my job in December and was eager to look for a new one so as to continue progressing in my career.

A two-month program would get in the way of that. The high demands of my previous job led me far away from God, and I felt extremely unprepared for an experience like SOW.

Include Him in Our Every Action Start every activity with a prayer; invite the Lord into our every minute, every hour and really just allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our thoughts, our words, our actions. You’d be surprised to see how tangible and noticeable God’s hand is in our daily lives. Personally, this practice has helped me to become more Christ-like in my every action.

This mindfulness of the Lord has helped me to navigate trying conversations by allowing me to see the face of Christ in the other person and challenging me to honour their true identity as a child of God, whether they are life-giving to me or not.

This grace has allowed me to lay aside any frustrations or resentment that I would normally have felt. It has allowed me to love my fellow brother and sister in Christ genuinely and has made it a whole lot easier to forgive them and let go of negative emotions.

Bryan is an alumnus of SOW 2017. To read the full article, visit: http://oyp.org.sg/living-christ-centered-life/

UPCOMING Veronica (middle) during a creativity item

Veronica (pictured, middle)

However, the Lord is truly a relentless God who left the 99 to chase me down—He never stopped sending people to me even after I had said no! It all changed when someone told me, “Whenever in doubt, always give your yes to God first and He will take care of the rest.” It struck me that when God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice (Gen 22:1-19), He did not tell Abraham, “Sacrifice your son and I will spare him after that!”. God only gives us part of the story and asks for our yes in faith in return. And that was the first of my many ‘yeses’ to the Lord.

Through each challenge, the Lord always waited for me to die first—to die to myself—just as He waited for Jairus’ daughter to die first before He healed her (Matt 5:21-43). The Lord peeled away bandages of rot, bandages that had hardened against my skin over the years. He peeled them away so that I could once again be bare and vulnerable before Him. He peeled them away so that I could grow new skins of faith. He peeled them away so that I could become a new creation once again.

Healing is a process, and through the school, God has only just begun His work in me. Will you trust God to enter into the darkest areas of your lives so that He can fulfill His promise of a new life for you?

“When we become aware that we do not have to escape pain, but that we can mobilise them into a common search for life, those very pains are transformed from expressions of despair into signs of HOPE.” - The Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen.

TREASURE#9

“Jesus healed me of the chains of guilt and shame that have been binding me for the past 3 years. I feel the love of Jesus now and can walk free of my burdens.”

- Charles Lim, 30 “I came to the retreat weary and burdened. After Treasure, I felt the power of God’s love and am secure in the knowledge that I am His beloved child. Praise the Lord that I may go out to share this good news with others!”

- Genevieve Wong, 30

OYP’s stay-in retreat for young working adults, Treasure 9, is open for registration. It will be held from 5 Apr (Thu) 7:30pm – 8 Apr (Sun) 6:00pm, at S$130 per person. To register, visit: http:// oyp.org.sg/treasure9/

Throughout the school, I was challenged time and again to

Final.indd 1

15/3/18 11:18 AM

10 HOME

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Virtual reality a new service for St Joseph’s Home residents The newly renovated home celebrated its 40th anniversary on March 19

By J ared N g R esidents of St J oseph’s Home can now enjoy reminiscing their favourite places of old with the help of virtual reality technology.

The technology creates a simulated environment to immerse the user inside a 3 -D and 3 6 0 degree experience.

It simulates senses such as sight, sound and touch, and allows users to interact with the simulated environment.

This special service was showcased during the official opening of the newly renovated St J oseph’s Home, located at J urong West, on March 1 9 , the feast of St J oseph.

The event also marked the nursing home and hospice’s 4 0 th anniversary.

Archbishop William Goh and D r Amy Khor, Senior Minister of tate for ealth, got a first-hand experience of how the virtual technology worked.

Westwood Secondary School students came up with the project for St J oseph’s Home.

Other highlights during the opening included performances by residents as well as children from a childcare centre located

within the home. There was also a video presentation on the history of St J oseph’s Home and its journey towards its 4 0 -year milestone.

In his address, Archbishop William Goh said that St J oseph’s Home focuses on “providing holistic care through love and compassion”.

The home is “not a place where the aged wait for death but instead a place where they live meaningful lives,” he said.

D r Khor in her speech emphasised the importance of activities that encourage interaction between young and old such as the intergenerational playground on the home’s premises that was launched in August last year.

Other new features of the home include a new dementia ward for up to 7 2 residents and an indoor pool for hydrotherapy, a rehabilitation programme to help seniors with mobility issues and to reduce pain.

The home can also house up to 2 0 hospice residents.

St J oseph’s Home was set up

by C atholic Welfare Services in collaboration with the C anossian Sisters at Gek Poh R oad (currently part of J urong West)

Above : Archbishop W illiam Goh and D r Amy Khor, S enior Minister of State for Health, got a first-hand exp erience of vi rtual reality technology at S t Jos eph’ s H ome residents. I t is a proj ect by W estwood S econdary S chool students.

in 1 9 7 8 . In 1 9 9 3 , the home moved to its current location where it remained until September 2 0 1 4 . It later moved to temporary premises at 9 Mandai E state due to redevelopment works. It moved back to its current location in 2 0 1 7 .

The six-storey home can now accommodate up to 4 1 2 residents. n j ared.ng @ catholic.org .sg

O t he t he ane f or upt andi f or

r en hom

w f e ta ur e s o f e i nc l ude w ed m e nt i aw ra d 72ro e s i de tn s ndor pol yh dr ot he r apy .

Middle photo: Archbishop Goh, D r Khor ( on his right) and S r Geraldine Tan ( on his left) , exe cutive director of the home, were among those present to celebrate the 40t h annive rsary of S t Jos eph’ s H ome.

Bottom photo: A S t Jos eph’ s H ome resident work ing on a puz z le.

ASIA 11

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Catholics in Indonesia urged to be alert during Holy Week J AK AR TA – hurch officials have the eligious ffairs inistry s called on atholics in Indonesia irectorate General for atholic to stay alert in the run up to and ommunity Guidance issued a cirduring oly Wee following a cular following the church attac , number of attac s on churches in calling on atholics to stay alert. several parts of the country.

“Security in churches must be n arch , si men smashed tightened and cooperation with their way into a chapel in Ogan police and security personnel Ilir district in outh umatra and must be improved, he said. burned statues and liturgical items C apuchin Archbishop Anicetus before escaping. ongsu inaga of edan in orth A month earlier on F eb 1 1 , a man umatra said the church attac s armed with a sword have made atholics burst in on a Sunday more vigilant. ut be Se c ur i t y i n ass at a church in inclusive, don t create c hur c he s m us t Yogya arta s leman enemies, he said. district and attac ed e said the Imbe t i ght e ne d a D utch priest and maculate C oncepandc ope r at i on three parishioners. tion of ary atheWe call on each dral hurch formed w i t hpol ic e parish and mission a 12- member secuands e c ur i t y station to stay alert rity team following ahead of the obseran attac on a priest pe r s one l m us t vance of oly Wee during unday ass be i m pr ov e d. and aster. This is at a church in edan very important, a- – F r F ranciscus X ave rius in ugust . cred eart of esus Sukendar ignyosumarta esides attac F ather F elix Astono ing the priest with an tmojo, vicar-general of alem- a e, the teenage attac er also atbang Archdiocese in South Suma- tempted to detonate a bomb in his tra, said on arch . bac pac , which failed to e plode. e also called on atholics to s aria Theresia rlien, a continue building good relations parishioner of t oseph hurch with people from other religious in atraman, ast a arta, said bac grounds. It was sad to see the call for alertness should get the attac . ut we can learn from serious attention. it; we need to continue to promote our people were illed in a togetherness, he said. bomb blast at the church on C hristIn emarang archdiocese, mas ve, . eing vigilant is which also serves Yogya arta, important despite security personnel icar General r ranciscus ave- usually being deployed for oly rius u endar Wignyosumarta said Wee , she said. n U CA NE W S. CO M

‘

’

Bishops hope pope will visit Pakistan VATICAN CITY – Sitting in a small

circle with Pope F rancis in the papal library, five bishops of a istan felt li e they were having a family discussion, including about their problems, said Archbishop J oseph rshad of Islamabad- awalpindi.

The archbishop, president of the a istan bishops conference, spo e to atican ews on arch after the meeting with the pope as part of the a istani bishops ad l i m i na v i s i t s , which every bishop in the world ma es to the atican periodically to report on the status of his diocese, to discuss his diocese s most pressing concerns and to affirm bonds with the pope.

The problems of a istan s small C atholic community – just 2 percent of the population are serious, the archbishop said. ut some of the worst problems li e discrimination or becoming victims of an abuse of the country s antiblasphemy laws – impact other

groups as well, including members of the uslim majority, he said.

F or example, he said, while there are famous cases of hristians falsely being accused of blasphemy against Islam and the prophet uhammad, the same happens to uslims. ut, he said, the government is ta ing steps to ma e it harder to abuse the law.

And, Archbishop Arshad said, C atholic leaders in the country continue to be committed to dialogue with their uslim counterparts, which is very important .

If circumstances permit, he said, we would li e the oly ather to come visit us because he loves us.

The other bishops ma ing their ad l i m i na visits were rchbishop oseph outts of arachi, ishop amson hu ardin of yderabad, rchbishop ebastian haw of Lahore and ishop enny ario Travas of ultan. n CNS

ndonesian atholics re-enact esus walk to alvary on been attacked in the country over the past months. CNSphot

ood riday in this file photo. A number of churches have o

12 ASIA

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Catholic leaders criticise Duterte’s withdrawal of Philippines from ICC

Catholics urge Japan to atone over ‘comfort women’

CNS photo

Several Philippine C atholic leaders criticised President R odrigo D uterte’s March 13 decision that he was withdrawing the country from the International C riminal C ourt (IC C ), which is investigating his international war on drugs.

“The Philippines is not D uterte,” said Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, head of the E piscopal C ommission on the Laity. His remarks were reported by Asian C hurch news portal ucanews.com.

The bishop said the president’s decision only showed that there might be a basis for the allegations levelled against him. “[ He] is afraid of accountability. D uterte should be investigated,” said Bishop Pabillo.

U canews.com reported that Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon said the president might be “simply afraid” of a possible conviction for his “crimes against humanity.”

“His withdrawal ... is an act of cowardice that makes his name more infamous,” added the prelate.

Mr D uterte accused U N special rapporteurs and IC C investigators of painting him as a “ruthless and heartless violator of human rights who allegedly caused thousands of extrajudicial killings.”

The president complained about what he said were “baseless,

M ANIL A

–

P ope F rancis greets ‘ comfort women’ at Myongdong cathedral in S eoul in 2014.

C atholic institutions in the country have urged Jap an to apologise ove r using the women as sex w ork ers during W orld W ar I I . CNS file photo

P hilippine P resident R odrigo D uterte was criticised by C atholic leaders for his decision to withdraw the P hilippines from the I nternational C riminal C ourt.

unprecedented and outrageous attacks on my person and against my administration, engineered by officials of the nited ations.

F ranciscan F r Pete Montallana said only the truth can set Mr D uterte free.

“Let him be courageous enough to face investigation to prove that he has nothing to hide,” he said.

Sr Mary J ohn Mananz an, a Benedictine nun who helped organise the Movement Against

Tyranny opposition group, called Mr D uterte’s withdrawal from the IC C “cowardly.”

However, Bishop R uperto Santos of Balanga said the Philippines is sovereign and independent, and whoever commits a crime “should be tried here with our people.”

By law, the International C riminal C ourt can only investigate and prosecute the crimes in situations where states are “unable” or “unwilling” to do so themselves. n CNS

colonial rule. We should look into S E O U L – A coalition of C atholic institutions in South Korea has the comfort women issue fairly,” called on the J apanese govern- said Abbot Blasio Park, who also ment to apologise for forcing serves as the Apostolic Administra“comfort women” from Asia to tor of Tokwon in North Korea.

The prelate criticised Tokyo provide sexual services for its for continuously denying it ran a troops during World War II. U nlike Germany, J apan has wartime policy of recruiting or ennever committed itself to making slaving comfort women despite eviamends for alleged war crimes dence and testimony to the contrary.

“The Korea-J apan C omfort against its Asian neighbours, a constant source of vexation for Women Agreement should be nulcountries like South Korea that lified because it was formulated in disregard to the views of victims,” fell under its colonial rule.

The National C atholic Action he said, referring to a deal reached for Nullity of Korea-J apan C omfort in D ecember 2 0 1 5 that offered some compensation Women Agreement no apology. and J ust and E vanAbbot lasio but At the end of his gelical Settlement conducted a Mass in ark criticised trip to South Korea in November 2014, front of the J apanese Tok o for Pope F rancis met with embassy in downtown continuousl seven comfort women Seoul on March 1 and asked Tokyo to settle den ing it ran a at Myeongdong C athedral in Seoul bethe matter in a just and wartime polic fore attending a Mass fair manner.

March 1 marked of enslaving calling for inter-Korean reconciliation. the 9 9 th anniversary The women, many of what in Korea is comfort women. of whom are C atholic, known as Samiljeol, or the March F irst Independence staged weekly demonstrations in Movement D ay, one of the earliest front of the J apanese embassy for displays of Korean resistance to years but few are alive today.

The coalition is made up of J apanese rule.

The Mass was presided over diocesan justice and peace comby Abbot Blasio Park Hyun-dong mittees, religious institutions and of St Benedict Waegwan Abbey C atholic NGOs. It has vowed and other priests including F r Paul to press its demands by offering Moon Kyu-hyun, a social activist, Masses every May 2 and Aug 14.

Aug 14 is a day named in tribute and J esuit F r Nakai J un of J apan.

“Today is the day to recall the to the comfort women in South unsolved problems during J apanese Korea. n U CA NE W S.C O M

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

13

14 WORLD

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

US Church offers prayers after bridge collapse W AS H ING TO N – The Archdiocese of Miami said it was praying for those affected by the collapse of the pedestrian bridge near F lorida International U niversity on March 1 5 .

Six people died in the incident.

V ia Twitter, the archdiocese said it was “saddened to learn of the tragic event that has affected our community this afternoon.

Please join us in praying for everyone involved.”

The archdiocese also said on

March 1 5 that it was praying for victims, those injured, their loved ones, first responders and the university community.

News reports said that because of a red light, various cars had stopped under the bridge, which had been lifted into place just days before it collapsed.

Some are q uestioning the construction method used to build the 9 6 0 -ton structure meant to bring greater safety to those trying to cross the eight lanes of traffic below. n CNS

nvestigators and police officers are seen at the site of a collapsed pedestrian bridge at F lorida I nternational U nive rsity in Miami. CNSphot o

Pope to visit Baltic states in September VATICAN CITY – The V atican an-

nounced that Pope F rancis will make a four-day trip to Lithuania, Latvia and E stonia in September.

In a statement released on March 9, V atican spokesman Greg ur e said the pope will visit five cities during the Sept 2- 25 trip, including V ilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania, R iga and Aglona in Latvia, and Tallinn, E stonia.

The pope’s schedule, Mr Burke said, “will be published shortly”.

The pope’s visit coincides with the 10t h anniversary of all three Baltic countries declaring their independence from R ussia in 198.

Lithuania, Latvia and E stonia were incorporated into the Soviet U nion in 1940 until 19, shortly before the socialist state was dissolved.

This will be the second visit from a pontiff to the three Baltic nations. St J ohn Paul II visited Lithuania, Latvia and E stonia in September 193. n CNS

atican o cial urges nancial support or Mideast Christians

isplaced people sit in a truck with their belongings in Afrin, Syria. he head of the ongregation for astern hurches has urged aid for hristians suffering from the turmoil in the Middle ast. CNSphot o VATICAN CITY – C hristians in the

Middle E ast, particularly those who have been forced from their homes by violence and persecution, need the support of the C atholic hurch, a atican official said.

“Let us show them concretely our closeness, through our constant prayer and through our monetary aid,” said C ardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the C ongregation for E astern C hurches.

Such support is especially key now that the Ninevah Plain in Iraq has been liberated from the Islamic State and “most Iraq i C hristians and Syrians want to return to their own land where their houses were destroyed, with schools, hospitals and churches devastated. Let us not leave them alone,” he said in a letter sent to bishops around the world.

The V atican released a copy of the letter on March 12.

In the letter, the cardinal urged C atholics around the world to give to the annual collection for the Holy Land on Good F riday or on the date established by their local bishops’ conference. The collection was established in 1 6 1 8 by Pope Paul V

to support E astern-rite C hurches in communion with R ome and maintenance of holy sites under C atholic care in the Holy Land.

The cardinal wrote that the traditional collection is a way for C atholics worldwide “to be one with our brethren in the Holy Land and the Middle E ast”.

“U nfortunately, from those territories, the outcry of thousands of persons who are deprived of everything, at times even of their own human dignity, continues to reach us, breaking our hearts and inviting us to embrace them through C hristian charity, a sure source of hope,” he wrote.

The majority of the funds go

‘L c e onc t us

s owh t he m r e t e l y our c l os e ne s s ,t hr ough uro c ons t ant pr ay e r ndta hr oughr m one t ar y ai d.

’

ardinal eonardo Sandri

to the F ranciscan C ustody of the Holy Land, an administratively autonomous province of the F ranciscan order that is responsible for most of the shrines connected with the life of J esus as well as for providing pastoral care to the region’s C hristians: running schools, developing low-cost housing, operating charitable institutions and training future priests and R eligious.

The congregation uses the remaining funds for the formation and support of seminarians, priests and R eligious, and to help cover educational costs for young students.

Along with C ardinal Sandri’s letter, the atican press office released some details of how the congregation disbursed the U S$ 7 .2 million (S$ 9 4 .8 million) raised in 2 0 1 7 .

Nearly U S$ 9 0 0 ,0 0 0 was provided in emergency assistance to R eligious in Syria and for extra support in J erusalem; more than U S$ 8 .3 million was used to support C atholic education at every level; and about U S$ 1 .6 million went to support churches in J erusalem, J ordan, Iraq , Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, E gypt, E thiopia and E ritrea. n CNS

Intercessory prayers require courage, persistence VATICAN CITY – Praying for

God’s intercession takes courage, dogged persistence and patience, said Pope F rancis.

“If I want the Lord to listen to what I am asking him, I have to go, and go and go – knock on the door and knock on God’s heart,” the pope said in his homily on March 15 at morning Mass in his residence.

“We cannot promise someone we will pray for him or her

and then say an ‘ Our F ather’ and a ‘ Hail Mary’ and then leave it at that. No. If you say you’ll pray for another, you have to take this path. And you need patience,” he said.

Pope F rancis’ homily focused on the day’s reading from the Book of E xodus (32: 7- 14) , in which Moses interceded for his people.

“F or prayers of intercession, you need two things: courage,

that is par r he s i a, and patience,” he said.

People’s hearts must be truly invested in the thing or person they are praying for; otherwise not even courage and patience will be enough to keep going, he added.

People should ask God for the grace to pray frankly and freely to God, as sons and daughters would talk to their father, knowing that “my father will listen to me”, Pope F rancis said. n

15

ADVERTISEMENT

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Visit us at NATAS Travel 2018 - BOOTH 5H17 23 - 25 March 2018, 10am - 9.30pm, Singapore Expo

Religious Tours 6D Pilgrimage to Lourdes

fr

US$969*

8D Holy Land Discovery

fr

US$1,299*

9D Spiritual Highlight of Italy

fr

US$1,189*

10D Grand Catholic Italy

fr

US$2,499*

11D Marian Shrines of Europe

fr

US$2,209*

12D Fatima, Lourdes & Shrines of Spain

fr

US$1,399*

160 Year Anniversary th

PILGRIMAGE PRIVATE GROUPS

Do call us to make an appointment if you are keen to organise exclusively for your group. We can customise your programme to suit your budget and meet your requirements. By practising open-style communication, we build lasting relationships with our clients.

Europe River Cruising FREE Arrival Transfer + Up to US$3,000 OFF* per couple

cosmostours.com.sg

8D Romantic Rhine Amsterdam - Basel

fr

US$2,986

8D Paris to Normandy Paris - Paris

fr

US$3,686*

9D Active Discovery on the Danube

fr

US$3,730*

10D Danube Dreams Budapest - Prague

fr

US$3,513*

11D The Legendary Danube

fr

US$3,726*

11D Burgundy & Provence

fr

US$4,596*

15D Magnificent Europe

fr

US$6,470*

Linz - Budapest

Prague - Budapest Cote D’azur - Paris

Amsterdam - Budapest

*

Europe with Oberammergau 2020 The Passion Play of Jesus Christ has been performed every 10 years in the beautiful Bavarian countryside of Oberammergau, Germany, since 1634 and will next be held in 2020. fr 8D MUNICH, SALZBURG & US$2,649* VIENNA WITH OBERAMMERGAU - 2020

Munich, Oberammergau, Salzburg, Vienna

Special Sailing 2020 12D DANUBE DREAMS WITH OBERAMMERGAU 2020

fr

US$5,689*

Budapest - Munich

fr 9D CATHOLIC CENTRAL US$3,149* EUROPE WITH OBERAMMERGAU - 2020

Munich, Oberammergau, Lucerne, Rhineland, Cologne, Frankfurt globustours.com.sg

BOOK WITH US NOW!

Flights

Cruises

Coach Tours

Rocky Mountaineer

6226 3611 *Information correct at time of print and subject to change without prior notice.

Terms & Conditions apply. TA469

“Faith is seeing light in your heart when all your eyes see is darkness”

E: scenic-sales@globaltravel.com.sg 151 Lorong Chuan #04-08 New Tech Park (Lobby H) Singapore 556741

/ScenicTravelSG

scenictravel.com.sg

16 WORLD

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Church leaders praise Hawking for contribution to science, dialogue CITY – Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who said he did not believe in God, was still an esteemed member of the ontifical cademy of ciences and fostered a fruitful dialogue between science and faith.

The academy, which Pope Pius IX established in 1 8 4 7 , tweeted, We are deeply saddened about the passing of our remar able cademician tephen # Hawking who was so faithful to our academy.”

“He told the four popes he met that he wanted to advance the relationship between faith and scientific reason. We pray the Lord to welcome him in his glory,” @ asina ioI , the academy, tweeted on March 1 4 .

The V atican observatory, @ SpecolaV aticana, also expressed its condolences to Hawking’s family.

We value the enormous scientific contribution he has made to q uantum cosmology and the courage he had in facing illness,” the observatory tweeted in Italian.

VATICAN

The ritish-born theoretical physicist, cosmologist and popular author died on March 1 4 at the age of 7 6 .

C ardinal V incent Nichols of Westminster tweeted, “We thank tephen aw ing for his outstanding contribution to science. s a member of the ontifical cademy of cience, he will be missed and mourned there, too.” nglican rchbishop ustin Welby of C anterbury tweeted, “Professor Stephen Hawking’s contribution to science was as limitless as the universe he devoted his life to understanding. His was a life lived with bravery and passion. s we pray for all those who mourn him, may he rest in peace. t ohn aul II named aw ing a member of the papal acad-

A l t houg

hSt e phe t hi s di notd di la gueo ande ndca ont r i but

nH

aw

k i ngw

P ope F rancis greets S tephen H awk ing during an audience with participants attending a plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences at the Vatican on Nov 28, 2016. Hawking, the British-born theoretical physicist, cosmologist and popular author died on March 14 at the age of 76. CNS file photo

emy in 1 9 8 6 . The academy’s members are chosen on the basis of their academic credentials and professional e pertise not religious beliefs. lessed aul I, the first of four popes to meet Hawking,

as anv

ow

e dat

he i s t ,

k e e hip m f r mo e ngai gin n e w i t ht eh C hur c has ih s w or k i ont ot he apl ac dea m y s owh e d. bat

gave the then -year-old scientist the prestigious Pius X I gold medal in 1 9 7 5 after a unanimous vote by the academy in recognition of his great wor , e ceptional promise and important contribution of his research to scientific progress.”

Hawking had most recently met ope rancis when he delivered his presentation on The rigin of the niverse at the academy’s plenary session on science and sustainability in 2 0 1 6 .

lthough he was an avowed atheist, this did not keep him from engaging in dialogue and debate with the C hurch as his work and contribution to the papal academy showed.

He also debated on C NN’s Larry ing Live in with esuit r obert pit er a philosopher and educator – over the scientific underpinnings of the beginning of the universe and the theological arguments for the e istence of God. n CNS

SJI Open House 14 April 2018 | 9am 9am - 1pm 1pm Register at www.sji.edu.sg

Nurturing Men of Integrity and Men For Others

POPE FRANCIS 17

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Pontiff asks youth to help rejuvenate Church; youth ask Church to listen Event held in preparation for the Synod of Bishops meeting on young people in October R O M E – The C atholic C hurch needs the enthusiasm, daring and hope of young people so that it can preach the Gospel energetically and respond to the que stions men and women raise today, Pope F rancis told some 30 young adults.

“We need to rediscover in the Lord the strength to get up after failure, to move forward, to strengthen hope for the future,” the pope said on March 19, opening a week-long meeting in preparation for October’s Synod of Bishops.

Most of the young people gathered with the pope at the Legionaries of C hrist’s Maria Mater E cclesia C ollege in R ome were chosen as delegates by their national bishops’ conferences.

Others represented a variety of C atholic movements or ministries, including R eligious life. But the V atican also invited delegates from other C hristian C hurches, other religions, including Islam, and young people who describe themselves as nonbelievers.

Pope F rancis told the young people that they are the ones who can help the hurch fight the logic of ‘ it’s always been done this way.’”

The C hurch and its members must continue to go out, continue asking what God is calling them to and continue finding new ways to respond, the pope said.

Of course, he said, everyone must “keep an eye on the roots” of the C hurch and preserve its essential teachings, but they also must find creative ways to share those teachings and reflect on how the Gospel responds to people’s que stions today.

Spending the morning with the young people, Pope F rancis heard directly from 1 0 of them, who represented every region of the world.

Some lamented the amount of time their peers spend on social media, while others spoke of how technol-

had not been baptised, but had q uestions about the meaning of his life and his relationship to the world and to God, if God exists. He said he was not sure if he wanted to approach the C atholic C hurch for help because it is so big and he didn’t want to give up his freedom. But he asked the pope where he should start.

“Y ou have already begun,” the pope told him. “The danger is not allowing the q uestion to come up.”

Y oung people must have “the courage to tell themselves the naked truth” about their hopes and weaknesses, the pope said, and then they must find a wise person someone patient, “who won’t be frightened by anything with whom they can talk through their q uestions.

Disconnected from the Church P ope F rancis speak ing at a pre- synod gathering of youth delegates in R ome on March 1 9 . Also pictured are C ardinal Lorenz o Baldisseri ( left) , secretary- general of the S ynod of Bishops, and U S C ardinal Kev in J . F arrell, prefect of the V atican’ s D icastery for Laity, F amily and Life. CNS p h o t o s

Australian delegate Angela Mark as speak ing at the pre- synod gathering of youth delegates.

ogy helps connect young people and rally them in support of good causes. Some talked of a need for better catechesis and support in fighting the culture of relativism, while others asked for an open and honest discussion of the C hurch’s teaching on sexuality and on the role of women in the C hurch.

P ope F rancis greets a young man during the pre- synod gathering of youth delegates.

About tattoos And one, a seminarian from U kraine, asked about tattoos.

Y ulian V endz ilovych, a seminarian at Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv, asked the pope how a young priest is to judge which parts of modern culture are good and which

Pope to celebrate Holy Thursday in prison VATICAN CITY – Pope F rancis

will once again celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper in a prison and wash the feet of 12 i nmates.

The pope will celebrate the evening Mass on March 29 at R ome’s R egina C oeli prison, the V atican announced on March 20.

Before Mass, the pope will visit sick inmates in the prison infirmary, the atican said. e will celebrate the Mass and wash the feet of 12 inmates in the prison’s central rotunda and, afterward, will meet some inmates in the prison’s Section V III, a protected section of the prison for inmates

convicted of sexual crimes and other inmates who could be in danger in the general population.

A former convent built in the 160s , R egina C oeli has operated as a prison since the 1890s . More than half of the inmates are nonItalians.

F rom the beginning of his pontificate, ope rancis has celebrated the annual Holy Thursday evening liturgy at a place of particular suffering. His immediate predecessors celebrated the Mass either in either St Peter’s Basilica or the Basilica of St J ohn Lateran.

In , for his first papal celebration of Holy Thursday, he

went to R ome’s C asal del Marmo juvenile detention centre, where he washed the feet of young male and female offenders. The next year, he presided over the Mass and foot-washing ritual at a rehabilitation facility for the elderly and people with disabilities on the outskirts of R ome.

In 2 0 1 5 , he went to R ome’s main prison, R ebibbia, where he celebrated the Mass with the male prisoners there and women from a nearby women’s detention facility.

In 2 0 1 6 , he celebrated with refugees at a centre north of R ome.

And, in 2 0 1 7 , he went to a prison in Paliano, near R ome. n CNS

are not. He used the example of tattoos, which many young people believe “express true beauty,” he said.

“D on’t be afraid of tattoos,” the pope responded, noting that for centuries E ritrean C hristians and others have gotten tattoos of the cross.

“Of course, there can be exaggerations,” the pope said. But a tattoo “is a sign of belonging,” and asking a young person about his or her tattoos can be a great place to begin a dialogue about priorities, values, belonging, “and then you can approach the culture of the young.”

Journey towards Catholicism A young man from F rance, Mr Maxime R assion, told the pope he

A ‘ e e ly

s y uto If oungpe g u id a n c e fro m T he r e ar e m i s t hat y out hf

h,w

e ar opl

so m e any r e e l di

Like many of the speakers, Ms Angela Markas, a C haldean C atholic and a delegate from Australia, spoke to Pope F rancis and her peers about young people’s que stions regarding their identity.

“As youth, we are in need of guidance,” she said. But from talking to friends, family and young people she tutors, “I feel young people are less drawn to seek this guidance from someone associated with the C hurch. There are many reasons, but a consistent one is that youth feel disconnected from the C hurch.”

“Y outh do not always feel they have a place in the C hurch,” she said. “They need a place where they feel safe, welcomed and loved.”

But they also want the C hurch to take them and their concerns seriously, Ms Markas said. “There is a tendency in the C hurch to avoid matters that are not so easy to talk about. This includes same-sex marriage, our sexuality, and also the role of women in the C hurch.”

Mr Nick Lopez , a campus minister at the U niversity of D allas and a delegate chosen by the U S C onference of C atholic Bishops, also addressed the opening session with the pope.

Many young people today, he said, have already decided that the C hurch is not relevant to them.

But they are still searching, and C hurch members should go out to meet them and help them see that C hrist is the answer to many of their que stions, he added. n CNS

e i ne e ar e l e o n e a sso e as ons ,but s c one c

e ofd s s dr aw c ia te d ac t e df r om

gui

danc

e . tn os e e k t ih s w i t h t h e Ch u r c h . ons i s t e nt one t he C hur c h.

’

– M s Angela Mark as

18 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Pope: imitate St Pio’s care for poor S AN G IO VANNI R O TO ND O , ITAL Y – Many people admire St Padre

Pio, but too few imitate him, especially in his care for the weak, the sick and those whom modern culture treats as disposable, Pope F rancis said during Mass at Padre Pio’s shrine.

“Many are ready to ‘ like’ the page of the great saints, but who does what they do?” the pope asked on March 1 7 . “The C hristian life is not an ‘ I like,’ but an ‘ I give myself.’”

Pope F rancis celebrated the Mass outside the Shrine of St Pio of Pietrelcina with about 3 0 ,0 0 0 people after visiting children in the cancer ward of the hospital St Pio founded, C asa Sollievo della Sofferenz a (House for the R elief of Suffering).

In his homily, the pope reflected on three words that both summarised the day’s readings and, he said, the life of Padre Pio: prayer, smallness and wisdom.

Smallness, he said, calls to mind those whose hearts who are humble, poor and needy like the young patients cared for in Padre Pio’s hospital and those who in today’s world are unwanted and discarded.

P ope F rancis prays in front of the body of S t P io in the C hurch of S anta Maria delle Graz ie in S an Giovan ni R otondo, I taly. CNSphot o

D eparting from his prepared text, Pope F rancis said he remembers being taught in school about the Spartans, who, “when a boy or girl was born with malformations, they would take them

to the top of the mountain and throw them over.”

“We children would say, ‘ How cruel,’” the pope said.

But, “brothers and sisters, we do the same. With more cruelty

and more knowledge. Whatever isn’t useful, whatever doesn’t produce, is thrown away. This is the throwaway culture. The little ones are not wanted today.”

“Those who take care of children are on the side of God and defeat the throwaway culture, which, on the contrary, prefers the powerful and considers the poor useless,” he said. “Those who prefer the little ones proclaim a prophecy of life against the prophets of death of every age.”

Only with wisdom, motivated by love and charity for others, can true strength be found, he said. C hristians aren’t called sim-

ply to admire great saints like Padre Pio, but rather to imitate their way of fighting evil wisely with humility, with obedience, with the cross, offering pain for love”.

Prayer, he said, is “a gesture of love that is often stifled by excuses and leads to C hristians forgetting that without God “we can do nothing”.

“We must ask ourselves: do our prayers resemble that of J esus or are they reduced to occasional emergency calls? Or do we use them as tranq uilisers to be taken in regular doses to relieve stress?” the pope asked.

Padre Pio recognised throughout his life that prayer “heals the sic , sanctifies wor , elevates healthcare and gives moral strength”, he said.

Pope F rancis began his day of tribute to St Pio with an early morning visit to Pietrelcina, where the C apuchin saint was born in 1 8 8 7 .

Thousands waited outside the sq uare of the C hapel of the Stigmata which houses a piece of the elm tree Padre Pio sat in front of when he first received the stigmata – wounds on his feet, hands and side corresponding to those esus suffered at the crucifi ion in September 1 9 1 8 .

Pope F rancis entered the chapel where he prayed privately for several minutes before making his way to the sq uare to greet the faithful.

The pope said that it was in Pietrelcina that the future saint “strengthened his own humanity, where he learned to pray and recognise in the poor the flesh of C hrist”. n CNS

P adr e P i o‘ l e ar ne dt opr ay nda recognise in the poor the esh of Chr i s t ’ ,s ai dP ope F r anc i s .

Catholics urged to dialogue with govt leaders VATICAN CITY – Liberating the

poor, the oppressed and the persecuted is an integral part of what God wants his C hurch to do, Pope F rancis said.

“In order to set free those who today are oppressed, rejected and enslaved,” C atholics must promote dialogue with government leaders, “a dialogue that takes into account people’s actual experiences, sufferings and aspirations, in order to remind everyone once more of his or her responsibilities,” he told C atholic leaders working on refugee and migration issues.

That dialogue is key to help develop “much-needed new ways for the international community to respond with foresight to these

phenomena typical our time”, he said on March 8.

The pope’s comments came in his address to participants in the plenary council of the International C atholic Migration C ommission, which was meeting in R ome.

Pope F rancis praised the commission’s work over the past 67 years, noting how it also offers expert assistance to bishops’ conferences and dioceses to respond to local and national challenges.

“It is my hope that this work will continue to inspire local churches to do all they can for persons forced to leave their home countries and who, all too often, become victims of dishonesty, violence and abuse of every sort,” he said. n CNS

POPE FRANCIS 19

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Retired pope slams criticism of Pope Francis VATICAN CITY – On the eve of C hristian,” the retired pontiff the fifth anniversary of Pope wrote.

F rancis’ election, retired Pope Msgr V igano read the letBenedict X V I defended the con- ter during a presentation of the tinuity of the C hurch’s teach- 1 1- volume series on March 1 2. ing under his successor and He said he had sent a message to dismissed those who Pope F rancis and Pope criticise the pope’s Benedict regarding P ope theological foundathe publication of the tions. book series.

F r anc i s i s In a letter sent to He also asked if am anw ith Msgr D ario V igano, Pope Benedict would prefect of the V atican be “willing to write a pr of ound Secretariat for C ompage or a page and a l os ophi c al munication, Pope phi half of dense theology Benedict applauded in his clear and puncand the publication of a tual style”. t he ol ogi c al new book series tiInstead, the retired f or m at i on. tled The Theology of pontiff “wrote a beauPope F rancis. tiful, personal letter,” – P ope Benedict “It contradicts the Msgr V igano said. foolish prejudice of Pope Benedict those who see Pope F rancis as thanked Msgr V igano for having someone who lacks a particular given him a copy of the book setheological and philosophical for- ries, which was authored by sevmation, while I would have been eral notable theologians. considered solely a theorist of “These small volumes reatheology with little understand- sonably demonstrate that Pope ing of the concrete lives of today’s F rancis is a man with profound

‘

’

etired Pope Benedict is seen talking with Pope rancis in this file photo. he retired pontiff has criticised the foolish pre udice of those who see his successor as lacking a particular theological and philosophical formation . CNS p h o t o

philosophical and theological formation and are helpful to see the interior continuity between the two pontificates, even with all the differences in style and temperament,” the retired pope wrote.

Pope Benedict has made no

secret of his affection for and admiration of Pope F rancis.

D uring a V atican celebration for the 65t h anniversary of Pope Benedict’s priestly ordination on J une 28, 2016, the retired pope expressed his gratefulness to Pope F rancis, saying that his goodness

from the first moment of your election, in every moment of my life here, touches me deeply”.

“More than the beauty found in the V atican Gardens, your goodness is the place where I live; I feel protected,” Pope Benedict said. n CNS

20 OPINION

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

F ortnightly newspaper of the C atholic Archdiocese of S ingapore

2H

i ghl ndRa oad,#0103Si gaporn e 549 02.1 T e le p h o n e : 6 8 5 8 3 0 5 5 . F a x : 6 8 5 8 2 0 5 5 .

W : w w w .c a th o lic n e w s .s g F B : w w w .fa c e b o o k .c o m /c a th o lic n e w s

I G : c a th o lic n e w s .s g

MAN AGI N G E D I TO R : F ather R ichards Ambrose: ra@ catholic.org.sg

E D I TO R I AL MATTE R S AN D Q U E R I E S : cnedit@ catholic.org.sg

AS S I S TAN T E D I TO R : C hristopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@ catholic.org.sg

S U BS C R I P TI O N S : R ichard P aul: subscriptions@ catholic.org.sg

I N ME MO R I AM: R acq uel C astanares: memoriam@ catholic.org.sg

S TAF F C O R R E S P O N D E N T: Jar ed N g: jared.ng@ catholic.org.sg

AD V E R TI S E ME N TS : E laine O ng: advertisements@ catholic.org.sg

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

D E S I GN / LAY O U T: C hristopher W ong: design@ catholic.org.sg E laine O ng: elaine.ong@ catholic.org.sg

The views or positions presented in articles in CatholicNews do not necessarily represent the views of the Church.

Advertisements that appear in CatholicNews are not necessarily endorsed by the Church.

REFLECTION

Challenging how we perceive people, faith

By Msgr P hilip H eng, S J This morning, one of the “homeless poor” (Mr C han, not his real name) came to our C athedral of the Good Shepherd for his usual monthly financial support.

Mr C han is 62 years old. He shared with us that he really thinks he is not going to live much longer; not more than three years, as he has many illnesses. He has been homeless for some years, sleeping on the streets.

When he came to us, he never asked for money for food. He just wanted a shelter as it was cold sleeping on void decks and street corners.

His bones get very painful due to his bone degenerative disease.

One of our C athedral Social Mission ministry volunteers noticed that when Mr C han was waiting for his turn to be interviewed, he took out buns from his bag and shared them with the others who were in the que ue. When asked about what he did, he remarked, “One bun is enough for me, the others looked hungry.” Because Mr C han is poor and has felt cold and hunger, he felt for others.

Through our advice, he is now receiving financial assistance from ocial ervice ffice , applied for a rental flat and has a free medical card as he is very sickly. Meanwhile, our C athedral Social Mission is providing rental for his shelter.

This morning, Mr C han shared that he wants to nominate our cathedral as the beneficiary of his , so that we can continue to help others who are poor. He shared that he has no family, friends or relatives, and he is very touched by our C hurch’s social outreach to him, and caring for him with dignity and respect.

Mr C han is not a C atholic, but recently, he was seen attending Mass. I was very touched by Mr C han’s deep gratitude and sincerity of heart. He is only one among the other many poor who come to our cathedral, with such gratitude and sincerity of heart, for monthly financial assistance.

Mr C han has specially reaffirmed my perceptions of the “poor and needy”. They are sent to us by God who wants us to embrace them with His compassionate love and care, through our C athedral’s Social Mission ministry.

In the living of our faith daily, each of us has certain perceptions of God, life and people. Many of us perceive the “poor and needy” narrowly and negatively, and keep a “distance” from them.

C an we honestly say to J esus that we have deep empathy for

hunger pangs of an empty stomach, and the hurts of rejection by people.

Y et, many of their hearts, like r han, are filled with deep gratitude and sincerity, when we reach out to them with respect, dignity and compassion.

If we have not “seen and experienced” this side of the poor and needy, then in all probability we have “insulated and isolated” ourselves from them. If so, how then are we to experience such gratitude and sincerity in such persons of God, in our midst?

The H omeless Je sus sculpture at the cathedral. The needy are sent to us by God who wants us to embrace them with H is compassionate love .

M nya of us pe r c e i v e t he op or ande e dy nar r ow l y and ne gat i v e l y ,andk e e p adi s t anc e f r om t he m . these anw i m (Hebrew: the poor who depend on the Lord’s deliverance) of our society?

How many of us feel the compassionate love of C hrist for them?

What if we were in their shoes, and are shunned as “shameless beggars, drunkards, the laz y and useless in society”? How would we feel if we were in their shoes?

What is J esus saying to us during this Holy Week and E aster season? Are these a n a w i m not precious children of God? They also have a human heart of flesh li e our spouse, children, siblings, parents and grandparents, who also feel the cold piercing their bones, the

Likewise, as we prepare our hearts for Holy Week and the E aster season, let us also challenge the perceptions we have of our faith.

Let us ask for God’s transforming love to challenge our perceptions of the people we relate to daily; not only the poor and needy, but especially our family, relatives, friends and C hurch communities.

Let us put on C hrist-like perceptions, indeed the perceptions of the R isen C hrist, and never assume that our present perceptions do not need to be challenged to be more in accord with God’s will.

To do this, we need the humility of heart to allow the Holy Spirit to challenge our perceptions and reframe them into more C hristlike perceptions, and continue to pray for the wisdom of openness to allow ourselves to be challenged by God’s transforming, compassionate love. n M s gr H e ng i s t he r e c t or of t he Cat he dr al of t he G odShe phe r d.

Lord, teach us to pray!

U n le s s y o u s o m e h o w h a v e a fo o t o u ts id e o f y o u r c u ltu re , th e c u ltu re w ill s w a llo w y o u w h o le .

American J esuit priest and anti-war activist, F r D aniel Berrigan, wrote that and it’s true too in this sense: U nless you can drink in strength from a source outside yourself, your natural proclivities for paranoia, bitterness and hatred will invariably swallow you whole.

The disciples in St Luke’s Gospel understood this. They approached J esus and asked Him to teach them how to pray because they saw Him doing things that they did not see anyone else doing. He was able to meet hatred with love, to genuinely forgive others, to endure misunderstanding and opposition without giving in to self-pity and bitterness, and to retain within Himself a centre of peace and nonviolence.

This, they knew, was as extraordinary as walking on water, and they sensed that He was drawing the strength to do this from a source outside Him, through prayer.

They knew they themselves were incapable of resisting bitterness and hatred and they wanted to be as strong as J esus and so they asked Him: L o r d , t e a c h u s t o p r a y .

No doubt they imagined that this would simply be a q uestion of learning a certain techniq ue; but as the Gospels make clear, linking to a divine source outside of ourselves isn’t always easy or automatic, even for J esus, as we see from His struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, His “agony in the garden”.

J esus, Himself, had to struggle mightily at times to ground Himself in God as we see from His prayer in Gethsemane. His struggle there is described as an “agony”, and this needs to be carefully understood. “Agony” was a technical term used at the time for athletes.

Before entering the stadium or arena for a contest, athletes would first wor their bodies into a sweat, a warm lather, an agony, to ma e their muscles warm and ready for the contest.

The Gospels tell us that J esus also worked Himself into a sweat, except that in His case, He sweated blood as He readied Himself in His heart for the contest, the test He was about to enter – His passion.

Amidst all the darkness, hatred, bitterness, injustice, and misunderstanding that surrounded Him, amidst everything that stood unfairly against Him and was antithetical to His person and message, J esus struggled mightily to cling to a source that could give Him the strength to resist the hatred and violence around Him, that could give Him the heart to forgive His enemies, that could give Him the graciousness to forgive the good thief, and that could give Him the inner strength to turn humiliation, pain, and injustice into compassion rather than bitterness.

In Gethsemane, J esus stayed awake to His identity as God’s beloved. His disciples didn’t.

As the Gospels tell us, during J esus’ great struggle, they fell asleep and their sleep (“out of sheer sorrow”) was more than physical fatigue. This was evident when, immediately after J esus has managed to ground Himself against hatred and violence, Peter succumbed to both and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter was asleep, in more ways than one, in a sleep that signifies the absence of prayer in one’s life.

Prayer is meant to keep us awake, which means it’s meant to keep us connected to a source outside of our natural instincts and proclivities, which can keep us grounded in love, forgiveness, nonretaliation, and non-violence.

L o rd , te a c h u s to p r a y ! n

Catholic News on Instagram!

Follow us at catholicnews.sg!

FOCUS 21

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Three truths that parenting taught me about Lent No morning Masses on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday.

Holy Thursday (March 29): Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Adoration till midnight.

Good Friday (March 30): Service only, no Mass.

Holy Saturday (March 31): Easter Vigil.

Easter Sunday (April 1) CITY DISTRICT CATHEDRAL OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: noon, 3pm & 6pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am, 10.30am, 1pm & 5.30pm

A family prays during Mass. This Lent, remember the ones closest to you.

They may hold the truths God is waiting to teach you. CNS file photo

more fruit than trying to do it all.

The second: What matters is Our greatest spiritual teachers can faithfulness, not success.

It is not wrong to desire good be our nearest and dearest. The familiar ones with whom we share for our families. But if we start to lust after idols of success, we can sinks and sheets and silverware.

I don’t mean that all families lose sight of God. No one is handing out trophies are full of prophets, pastors or professors. But the simple fact of at the end – to kids or parents. No bumping up against each other’s college scholarship, top-notch needs and flaws can teach us vol- job, big house or comfortable reumes about humility, forgiveness tirement can guarantee joy or fulfilment for us or our children. and faith.

“We are called upon not to be All of which come in handy successful, but to be faithful,” said during Lent.

This year as I prepared for St Teresa of Kolkata. Her wisdom the season’s practices of prayer, reminds us that society’s end goal fasting and almsgiving, I real- is not the ultimate good.

If we inverted our view of Lent ised three truths my children have – not as a win-or-lose taught me about parcontest but as a slow enting and Lent.

The plans towards God – The first: You we made must walk we might discover don’t have to do evebe set aside what looks like failure rything. faithfulParents today feel to take up the isnessactually if we keep trying. pressure to give their unexpected The third: God is children every opporin control, not you. tunity. Kids have bedirection Parents are no come overscheduled, in which more in control of their activities overtheir child’s life than specialised.

God leads. their own, despite our Take youth sports, for example – now a year-round secret wishes, our deepest prayers industry of travel teams, elite and an entire industry of parenting coaches and offseason training experts, books and solutions.

We can give our children love, starting with the youngest players. Meanwhile, the widening gap comfort, instruction and discibetween rich and poor means that pline as they grow. But we cannot many get left behind, lacking the shape them into our own creation resources that allow a lucky few or save them from the world (or themselves). to play the game or join the club.

Lent is the same: a journey of Whenever our family opts for less instead of more, I feel the humility. Not a do-it-yourself pronagging tug of guilt. What if our ject of self-fulfilment, but a gift of kids can’t play high school sports growth to be received with head because they didn’t start as pre- bowed.

The plans we made must be schoolers?

Yet contrary to popular wis- set aside to take up the unexpected dom, I find that the less we fill our direction in which God leads.

This Lent, remember the ones family calendar, the more peace closest to you. They may hold the and contentment we feel.

Likewise, Lent can turn into truths God is waiting to teach you. a competition – with ourselves or n CNS others. The Olympics of prayer, Fanucci is a mother, writer and difasting and almsgiving.

But less can be more for the rector of a project on vocation at the spiritual life, too. Picking one or Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, two simple practices often bears Minnesota, USA.

By Laura Kelly

ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH (VICTORIA STREET) Under renovation/restoration CHURCH OF STS PETER & PAUL

Holy Thursday: 7pm, 7pm (M* at chapel),

8.30pm (Cantonese at chapel) Good Friday: noon (M*), 3pm & 3pm (Cantonese at chapel) Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am (M*), 11am, 2pm (Cantonese) & 4pm

CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 3pm (2.30pm Stations of the

Cross), 6pm (T*) (Stations of the Cross after service) Holy Saturday: 8pm (English) & 11.30pm (T*) Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am (T*), 11.30am, 1pm & 6.30pm (T*) CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART Holy Thursday: 6pm Good Friday: 2.30pm & 5.30pm Stations of the Cross followed by services Holy Saturday: 8pm with baptisms Easter Sunday: 9am, 10.30am, noon & 5.30pm

CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 9am (M*), noon & 3pm, 7pm (Stations of the Cross) Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am (M*); 9am, 10.45am & 5.30pm CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR Holy Thursday: 5pm & 7.30pm Good Friday: 7.30am (M*), 10am, 12.30pm & 3pm Holy Saturday: 8pm with baptisms Easter Sunday: 7am with baptisms (M*), 8.45am, 10.45am, 12.45pm, 3pm (Children’s Mass with baptisms) & 6pm CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN

Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 11am, 3pm. 8pm (Stations

of the Cross)

Holy Saturday: 9pm Easter Sunday: 9am, 11am & 5.30pm

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY

Holy Thursday: 6pm & 8pm Good Friday: 8am (M*), 11am & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 6.45am, 8am (M*), 9.45am,

11.30am & 5.30pm

CHURCH OF DIVINE MERCY

Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 9am, 11.30am, 3pm &

5.30pm (Stations of the Cross) Holy Saturday: 7pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11.30am & 5.30pm NORTH DISTRICT ST JOSEPH CHURCH (BUKIT TIMAH)

SERANGOON DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BVM

Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 8am, 10am Teochew

Stations of the Cross followed by service at 10.30am (M*), 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm (English & Mandarin) Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9.15am, 11am & 5.30pm CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 10am (9.15am Stations of the Cross) & 3pm (2.15pm Stations of the Cross) Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 6.45am, 8.30am, 11.15am & 5.45pm CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER

Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 9am, noon & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11am & 5.30pm

ST ANNE’S CHURCH

Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 8am, 11am & 3pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7.15am, 9am, 11am & 6pm

CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL

Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 11am (Tagalog), 3pm &

5.30pm

Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11am & 6pm

CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 9am & 3pm, Stations of the

Holy Thursday: 6pm & 8pm Good Friday: 9am (M*), 11am & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm with baptisms Easter Sunday: 7.15am (M* with

Cross at 7pm

CHURCH OF ST TERESA Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 9.30am (Children’s Service at auditorium), 9.30am Stations of the Cross followed by service, 2.30pm Stations of the Cross followed by service Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am (Children’s Mass), 10.30am, 12.30pm & 5.30pm

CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 9am, noon (M*), 3pm & 5pm (T*).

Holy Saturday: 7.30pm with baptisms & confirmation Easter Sunday: 7.30am (M*), 9.15am, 11.15am & 5.30pm

Holy Thursday: 7.30pm

CHURCH OF ST ALPHONSUS (NOVENA CHURCH) Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 3pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8am, 10am, noon & 5.30pm

Holy Thursday: 6pm & 7.30pm Good Friday: 9am, 11.30am & 3pm

CHURCH OF ST BERNADETTE

Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 8am (M*), 11.30am

(Indonesian) & 3pm (2.30pm Stations of the Cross) Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 8am (M*), 9.30am, 11.15am, 1.15pm (Tagalog) & 5.30pm CHURCH OF ST MICHAEL Holy Thursday: 9pm Good Friday: 9am (M*), noon & 3pm (2pm Stations of the Cross) Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8am (M*), 10am & 5.30pm EAST DISTRICT CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 9am, noon, 3pm & 5.30pm (M*) Holy Saturday: 7.30pm with baptisms Easter Sunday: 7.15am, 9.15am, 11.30am & 6pm (M*)

Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11am & 5pm

WEST DISTRICT

baptisms), 9am, 11am & 5.30pm

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

(Stations of the Cross after service) Holy Saturday: 7.30pm with baptisms Easter Sunday: 7am, 9.30am & 11.30am

CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS

Good Friday: noon, 3pm & 6pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 6.45am, 8.15am, 10.15am, noon & 6pm BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH

Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 10am, 12.30pm (M*) & 3pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9am (M*), 11am

& 5.30pm

CHURCH OF ST MARY OF THE ANGELS

Holy Thursday: 6pm, 8pm & midnight

(Tenebrae)

CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST Holy Thursday: 4pm & 6pm Good Friday: 8am (M*), 11am, 3pm & 5pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 8.15am (M*), 9.45am, 11.30am (celebrated by Archbishop William Goh) & 6pm

Good Friday: 8.30 am (morning prayer), 9am, 11am, 1pm (M*), 3pm, 5pm & 7pm Holy Saturday: 9am (morning prayer) & 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am (M*), 9am, 11am, 1pm, 5pm & 7pm

CHURCH OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA Holy Thursday: 6.30pm & 8pm Good Friday: 8am Stations of the Cross followed by service (M*). 10.15am Stations of the Cross followed by service.

1pm (T*). 3pm Stations of the Cross followed by service. 5.30pm (Tagalog) Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am, 10.15am, noon, 1.45pm (M*) & 5pm

Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 10am, 1pm (M*), 3pm &

CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

5.30pm (T*)

Holy Saturday: 6pm (M*) & 9pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9am, 11am, 6pm

(M*) & 7.30pm (T*)

CHURCH OF THE HOLY CROSS

Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.30am,

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING

1.30pm (M*) & 3.30pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.30am & 5pm

followed by service (M*), 11am, 2.30pm Stations of the Cross followed by service (M*) & 5pm Holy Saturday: 7pm with baptisms Easter Sunday: 7am, 8.15am (M*), 9.45am, 11.30am & 5.30pm

Note: Mass/Service in English unless indicated.

(M*): Mandarin; (T*): Tamil.

Please contact the individual parishes for updates.

Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 8.30am Stations of the Cross

22 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Stories about the struggles and

Reflecting on Palm Sunday T t T a

By D avi d Gibson

HE Palm Sunday cry of C hristians, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” was heard many centuries ago in J erusalem’s streets. It still is heard today.

The words of this cry are so familiar that their meaning risks being overlooked or taken for granted. They hold a great challenge, however.

Let’s visit the writing of E theria, a woman from Galicia, a Spanish province, who travelled to the Holy Land in the fourth century.

Her word images of C hristian life in J erusalem became an invaluable tool for future historians.

The Palm Sunday procession she described must have been qu ite a sight. It began at the Mount of Olives, with the people bearing palm and olive branches. Parents carried children on their shoulders, as the somewhat slow-moving procession made its way from the mount’s top and through the city.

It advanced slowly, E theria explained, in order not to weary people.

Her account revealed that much of the day had been and still would be devoted to prayer, singing and worship.

Notably, after the Gospel account was read aloud of J esus entering J erusalem on a donkey, surrounded by children carrying branches and

oesn t the alm Sunda cr of Christians challenge ever Christian and Christian communit to come in the name of the ord

P eople carry palm leave s during a P alm S unday Mass at the V atican. Mark ing the start of H oly W eek , C atholics are reminded that to be bonded with C hrist is to be bonded in H im with so many others. CNS file photo

palms, the procession commenced.

E theria indicates that people of all ages and ranks walked together, praying, singing and responding to each other, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

This happened around the year

AD 385, setting in motion the events of the week ahead, known to E theria as the Great Week, and known to us as Holy Week.

There can be a sense, as Holy Week begins that, light now will be cast on whatever is good and

whatever detracts from the good.

The days of the E aster triduum, beginning on Holy Thursday and ending on E aster, are like one day in which currents of death and new life converge wondrously.

With the start each year of Holy

Week, C hristians turn intently towards J esus. Paradoxically, however, to turn towards J esus does not req uire turning away from others.

Instead, to be bonded with C hrist is to be bonded in Him with so many others and to turn towards them too!

D oesn’t the Palm Sunday cry of C hristians, then, challenge every C hristian and C hristian community to come “in the name of the Lord”?

We know much about J esus. He cared for the sick. He befriended the poor, instilled hope and communicated life and love. D oesn’t coming in the name of the Lord imply all of that and more?

As Bishop D aniel E . F lores of Brownsville, Texas, U SA, said recently, the kingdom of the crucified and risen hrist is not about cultivating relations with people who can profit you, it s about being good to people who cannot pay you back.” n CNS Gibson served on Catholic News Service s editorial staff for ears.

The days of Holy Week

By S hemaiah Gonz alez Spiritual writer, Kathleen Norris, in her book, “The C loister Walk,” shares her Holy Week schedule. It includes morning prayers, choir rehearsal, and evening liturgy services. But what I really noticed, was right smack in the middle of her afternoons, she wrote “NAP! ! ! ” Y es, in capital letters and extra exclamation points.

I was grateful to read this, as if

Ms Norris gave me permission to admit the exhaustion of Holy Week.

As we walk through the story of C hrist’s passion, I feel it in every atom of both my body and my soul.

My parish has a joyful processional for Palm Sunday. My schoolage sons are radiant, waving their palm fronds as we parade into the church, our path lined with trumpeters and singers.

I’ll remember that just a week

later the joyous crowd transforms to a jeering mob, calling for Our Lord’s death. It’s a vulnerability I feel in my own body, staying with me as we stand, my knees shaking, listening to the Passion readings.

This grief stays with me all week, as I turn the story over in my heart.

On Holy Thursday, the Last Supper, I imagine the amaz ement of the men as they watched J esus wash their feet. How could he lower Himself to serve us in this way?

They asked each other, not knowing what is in store for their beloved C hrist.

That night, I lie in bed, thinking of Peter’s denial and how that could so easily have been me. I make a mental note to take a nap after service tomorrow.

On Good F riday, my legs wobble as I move forward in the line for the veneration of the cross. I imagine myself, there before Him in pain, dying. E ven though I shouldn’t, I attempt to control my emotions in front of my fellow parishioners.

I think of J esus’ last words as I wrap myself in a blanket on my couch at home: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” J esus’ loneliness and grief surpassed mine.

And on E aster V igil, even

S

O

da E m E n ap tra

w w ho th of “v

w ne ta – th

al m ot

A bishop washes the feet of a man during H oly Thursday Mass. The act reenacts Je sus’ washing the feet of H is disciples. CNS file photo

though our catechumens are baptised that evening, reminding us of the glory to come, my body is sore, my soul exhausted, like the children who fall asleep on the church pews.

I am waiting, and I wonder if the disciples remembered the psalm, that Saturday night, as they too waited: “Wait for the Lord; take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord! ” (Ps 27: 14) .

It s not just that first assion that I am reliving. It’s personal, my own walk with C hrist, today, one where I so desperately need the season of Lent, to refocus my love and desires on Him.

The next morning, I feel the weight of despair lift as I ready the family for E aster Mass.

The dark colours of mourning have been replaced with our brilliant E aster best. We are now transformed, energised, our faces revealing freedom and love.

My friend Ann Marie says, “E aster isn’t nearly as meaningful to me if I don’t go through those liturgies first. I d have to agree, as I watch the jubilant processional. My eyes are full of tears again but this time they are tears of joy as I sing with all creation, “Oh praise Him! Alleluia! ” n CNS

FAITH ALIVE! 23

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

nd joys of Holy Week and Easter

ns

n n

owot rs. is ny o! ry ry ty

He ed mn’t m-

of eciut le ng ou

er-

re-

he he

ng ilsal-

ys, ul itsI My his ng m!

The Road to Emmaus and the Scriptures

By N ancy de F lon N THE first aster unday, two of J esus’ disciples, disillusioned by the events of the past three days, set out from J erusalem for E mmaus, several kilometres away.

E n route they meet a stranger who appears totally unaware of what has transpired in J erusalem. esus, they tell the stranger , was “a prophet mighty in deed and word , an earthly hero who, they hoped, would redeem Israel , and they seem skeptical about the report of the empty tomb and the women’s vision of angels .

They invite the stranger to stay with them because evening draws near. As they sit down to a meal, He takes, blesses and breaks the bread and their eyes are opened and they recognise J esus.

Suddenly, He vanishes.

D espite the distance they have already travelled, they return immediately to J erusalem to tell the others their amaz ing news.

When their eyes are opened it

O

isn’t merely a matter of recognition but of enlightenment.

When they recognise J esus in the breaking of the bread they see more than a mighty prophet: They see the risen Lord.

Once again J esus has proven Himself “mighty in deed and word . The two disciples recognise him in the breaking of the bread – the deed – but they were prepared

by His words as He “interpreted to them what referred to Him in all the criptures.

Their journey has been both a physical journey from J erusalem to E mmaus and a journey of spiritual enlightenment as they encounter the risen Lord. But this encounter isn’t simply a happy reunion; it prepares them to be J esus’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. They had a journey to make – now they have a story to tell.

The next stage of their journey takes them to the place of J esus’ ascension into heaven, and then to the upper room in J erusalem, where the Holy Spirit will empower them to fulfil the Lord s command to be

The two disciples journe has been both a ph sical journe from erusalem to mmaus and a journe of spiritual enlightenment.

An 18t

h- century American painting entitled C hrist on the R oad to E mmaus. CNS file photo

His witnesses to the ends of the earth.

This command extends to us as well. And we, too, need to have our eyes opened. J esus’ explanation of the prophecies presupposed the disciples’ familiarity with the Scriptures. ow do we get started C atholics are blessed to belong to a liturgical C hurch, in which the daily and weekly readings are predetermined according to the feasts and seasons, so that over the course of a year the entire paschal mystery, explained and recounted by the New Testament and set into a wider context by the Old Testament, unfolds before us.

There is, as I’ve heard said, a

certain humility in letting ourselves be thus guided in our reading of the Scriptures – rather than picking a passage from the Bible at random and reading it independently of any context.

A variety of resources, in print and online, is available to help us read the day’s readings before the Mass, many of which have commen-

taries to further our understanding.

At the liturgy we are fed by the word as well as at the eucharistic table. eading and reflecting on the word ensures that we get the most out of the banque t God sets before us. n CNS e Flon is the author of The o of ra ing the salms.

24

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Wh

o decided to betray Je sus?

2.

Wh at did Je sus bless and give to the apostles to eat?

Wordsearch: nF R U I T nR O O M n BLE S S n D AV I D

BIBLE TRIVIA:

n F E AS T n BO R N n P ALM

How much money was udas paid for betraying J esus?

n AGR E E n S AI N T

( H int: M atthew 2 6 : 1 4 - 1 6 )

n BR E AD nF R E E D n ME AL

atholics remember the events of esus crucifi ion, death and burial by praying the S tations of the C ross. P ut the stations in the correct order they re prayed. ith a parent, visit www. usccb.org and search for the scriptural S tations of the C ross. esus is scourged and crowned with thorns A. Je sus dies on the cross B. Je sus in the Garden of Gethsemane C .

Je sus is condemned by the S anhedrin D .

Je sus bears the cross E .

Je sus is j udged by P ilate F .

Je sus is helped by S imon the C yrenian to carry the cross G. esus meets the women of erusalem H . esus is crucified I. Je sus is denied by P eter J. Je sus promises H is k ingdom to the good thief K. Je sus speak s to H is mother and the disciple L. esus, betrayed by udas, is arrested M. Je sus is placed in the tomb N . _

_

i bl e T r i v i a: s ilv e r s .

PUZZLE:

A ns w e r t Bo e c e s of

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

A n s w e r to W o rd s e a rc h

ust days before e was crucified and died, esus travelled to J erusalem with his apostles to celebrate the Passover.

The Passover was a very important celebration for the J ews. On that day, they gathered together in J erusalem to remember how God had freed them from slavery in E gypt.

In Matthew 21, we read that J esus entered the city riding upon a don ey and a colt, which fulfilled an ld Testament prophecy about Him. There was a large crowd of people who saw J esus coming.

As He rode by, they shouted excitedly, and many people placed their cloaks or tree branches on the road for J esus to ride over.

“Hosanna to the Son of D avid; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest,” the people in the crowd said.

“Who is this?” some people asked when they heard all the commotion.

“This is J esus the prophet, from Naz areth in Galilee,” the people replied.

E very year, C hristians remember J esus’ entry into J erusalem for the Passover. This remembrance takes place on the Sunday before E aster, which is called Palm Sunday. n

1.

30pi

Bible Accent:

14

Q & A

E :7 J :4

St Benedict the Moor was born in Sicily in 1526.

His parents were slaves, but as the eldest child, he was freed.

Nicknamed “the holy Moor” because of his faithfulness and good works, he became a hermit.

He eventually became a F ranciscan lay brother and worked as a cook in a convent near Palermo, Sicily. Many people came to visit the convent because Benedict was so holy and also was known for his miracles. E ven though he could not read or write, he was named the convent’s superior.

He died in 1589.

On April 4, we honour Benedict, who is the patron saint of Palermo and of African-Americans. n

R ead more about it: Mark 1 1 &

D :3 I : 10 N: 41

St Benedict the Moor

with three of is apostles. When e finished praying, He told His friends that the time of His betrayal was at hand. n

z le : C: 1 H :9 M :2

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

Then J esus took a cup. After He gave thanks, He handed the cup to each of His friends, and they all drank from it.

“This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many,” J esus said. “Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Afterwards, they went to the Mount of Olives, where J esus prayed

r t opuz B : 13 G :8 L : 21

J esus and His apostles travelled to J erusalem to celebrate the Passover and the F east of U nleavened Bread.

Two days before the feast, the chief priests and scribes were plotting to have J esus arrested and killed.

“Not during the festival,” they said, because they feared the people would riot.

In the meantime, J esus and the apostles went to the home of Simon the leper to share a meal with him.

After the meal, one of the apostles, J udas Iscariot, sneaked off to visit the chief priests and scribes. He offered to hand over J esus to them, and they agreed to pay J udas for betraying J esus. n the first day of the east of U nleavened Bread, the apostles asked J esus where they would be eating their

meal. J esus told two of them to talk to a certain man, who would show them an upper room that was furnished and ready for them to use.

In the evening, J esus and his friends gathered in the room to eat the Passover meal. While they were sitting at the table, J esus made an announcement that shocked the apostles.

“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me,” He said. “F or the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.”

As they continued to eat the Passover meal, J esus picked up some bread and blessed it.

“Take it,” He told His friends as they handed them pieces of bread, “this is my body.”

A ns w e A :6 F :5 K :1 1

By Jennifer Ficcaglia

WHAT’S ON 25

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

RCIA/RCIY

E V E N T S U BMI S S I O N S AT’ S O N submissions now req uire the completion of a form from the Archdiocese before the eve nt can be publicised. F or eve nts with foreign speak ers, please submit the necessary documentation for approval to the C hancery. F or more information and to download the form, v isit http: / / www.catholic.sg/ eve nts/ announcementadve rtisement- req uest/ .

O nce forms have been submitted online, k indly send us details of your eve nt for publication at www. catholicnews.sg/ whatson/ at least one month ahead of the publication date.

A j ourney for those seek ing to k now more about the C atholic faith. Baptised C atholics are also inv ited to j ourney as sponsors.

WH

F E B 21 TO MAY 3 0 BI BLE S TU D Y : AC TS O F TH E AP O S TLE S C onducted by Msgr Ambrose V az .

V enue: C hurch of St F rancis X avier.

E very Wednesday night from 8pm -10pm (14 l ectures). F OC .

To register: E : maisielee2 1@ gmail.com; nsron203@ yahoo.com.

F E B 2 TO MAY 3 1 BI BLE S TU D Y : AC TS O F TH E AP O S TLE S C onducted by Msgr Ambrose V az .

E very Thursday from 8p m-10pm at the C hurch of St Ignatius, annexe hall (level 2) . No pre-registration. F OC .

All are welcome. C ome enjoy the living Word of God. F or more information, E : henrythwu@ gmail.com.

F E B 27 TO MAY 2 2 U N C O V E R I N G S T MAR K’ S GO S P E L

BY MS GR AMBR O S E V AZ E very Tuesday from 7.45 pm-10pm .

What was the purpose of St Mark’s writing?

Who is he writing for? What does his Gospel emphasise? Let Msgr Ambrose V az guide you in 10 insightful sessions on St Mark’s Gospel. F OC . Organised

by F .R .E .E . Ministry at the C hurch of the R isen C hrist, Toa Payoh. To register: W: http: / / free.risenchrist.org.sg; E : free.risenchrist@ gmail.com.

AP R I L 3, 4 AN D 7 AN GE LI C O AR T AW AR D 2018 D I ALO GU E S E S S I O N S April 3 ( 10a m), April 4 ( 7pm ) and April 7 ( 4.30pm ). V enue: C atholic C entre, 5 Waterloo Street, 2nd l evel. F acilitated by J oanna Tan from Heartspace. These casual dialogue sessions are open to anyone interested in joining the Angelico Art Award (AAA) 2018.

This is a que stionand-answer session with an introduction to AAA as well as the theme, Prepare the Way for the Lord. F or more information, E : enqui ries@ angelicoart.com.

AP R I L 8, 2018 TO JU N E 9, 2019 R C I A @ TH E C H U R C H O F O U R LAD Y O F P E R P E TU AL S U C C O U R Time: 7 : 3 0 pm-9 : 3 0 pm. New R C IA journey will begin with a welcome night on April 8 a nd thereafter every Sunday onwards in V erbist Hall, Level 4. P lease register your name or names of those who are interested in the C atholic faith. R egistration forms are available at the parish secretariat. F or more information, W: www.olps.sg; T: 9671 137 ( E layne); T: 9635 ( Peter).

JU

N E 6, 2018 TO JU N E 5, 2019 R C I A@ C H U R C H O F TH E R I S E N C H R I S T E very Wednesday evening from 7.30pm 9.30pm at the parish hall.R egistration forms are available at the parish office. or more information, E : iwanttobeaC atholic@ gmail.com; T: 942 43608.

AP R I L 4 TO MAY 2 BAS I C C ATE C H I S T C O U R S E 2 – I N TR O D U C TI O N TO MO R ALI TY Time: 7.30 pm-10pm . V enue: C AE C , 2 Highland R d. Speaker: F r D avid Garcia.

This course seeks to provide catechists with an overview of the fundamental guiding principles of morality. F or more information,W: www.catechesis.org.sg.

AP R I L 7 MAS S F O LLO WE D BY P R AY E R S F O R H E ALI N G All are welcome and no registration is needed. Time: 2pm -4pm . Y ou are invited to join us for praise and worship and Mass followed by prayers for healing.

After Mass, prayer teams will be available to pray with you for healing.

C elebrant: F r Tom C urran. Organised by Praise@ Work. V enue: C hurch of Sts. Peter and Paul. F or more information, E : praiseatworksg@ yahoo.com; T: 97426.

AP R I L 7 C LAR I TY ’ S WO R KS H O P O N ‘ A GU I D E TO U N D E R S TAN D I N G D E P R E S S IO N ’ Time: 10.30a m-12.30pm . V enue: Agape V illage. Individuals with depression often have difficulty see ing help for themselves and in most times, cause friends and family members to feel frustrated and burned out. C ome join us to find out what depression is about and share insights on the journey of providing care to your friends or loved ones who may need help. C ost: $15.

To register: W: https: / / tinyurl.com/ LTW7A pr.

AP R I L 8 TO AP R I L 15 C H AR I S MI S S I O N F R I E N D S H I P C E BU 2018 J oin us as we work hand-in-hand with our brothers and sisters in need to help provide clean water to their homes.

Location: C aritas V illage Hagnaya and Tacup in San R emegio, C ebu, Philippines.

C ost: $870 pe r person. Maximum number of participants: 15. F or more information,: T: 63741 19 ( Gabriel); E : gabriel@ charis-singapore.org.

AP R I L 1 1 TO S E P TE MBE R 19 F AI TH F O R MATI O N AT C H U R C H O F S T TE R E S A C ome journey on an exciting 24 w eeks through the Bible to learn, understand and be inspired by God’s great plan in salvation history and your role in this great plan. D iscover how the Bible relates to your life and get to know better the God who loves you and is forever faithful to His promises. R egister online at: www.goo.gl/ U MsU PS. AP R I L 13 TO AP R I L 15 A S P I R I TU ALI TY F O R TH E S E C O N D H ALF O F LI F E : TH E MI D LI F E TR AN S I TI O N April 13 ( 8pm )-April 15 ( 1pm ) at Montfort C entre. This weekend retreat deals with the experience of transition that moves us into midlife – a stage of personal growth and development. R ecommended for those 38 ye ars old and above. Organised by the C enacle Mission. F or more information, T: 65289; T: 9728314; E : cenaclemissionsingapore@ gmail.com.

AP R I L 14 AN D AP R I L 15 R C I A S P O N S O R S TR AI N I N G To provide participants with a better understanding of the role of a sponsor and to equi p them with tools to be an effective sponsor. Who should attend: R C IA coordinators, R C IA core team members, R C IA catechists, R C IA sponsors and C atholics interested in R C IA process. Time: 9 .3 0 am-5 pm. The second day will end with a Mass. V enue: C AE C , 2 H ighland R d, S549102. R egister by April 6 vi a this link: https: / / tinyurl.com/ ycxdxnz l. F or more information, W: www.catechesis.org.sg.

AP R I L 20 TO AP R I L 2 H E LO V E S ME , H E LO V E S ME N O T A weekend retreat from April 20 ( 7pm )April 2 ( 5pm ). This retreat helps you to grow in the conviction of God’s love.

E xamine images of self and God, and become aware of any obstacles to God’s love, so you can free yourself to fall in love with God. Presented by spiritual directors at Montfort C entre. C ost: $30.

To register: E : anthony@ montfortcentre. org; T: 9631 1943.

MAY 26 TO MAY 29 C O ME AW AY ( BE AC H R E TR E AT F O R Y O U N G AD U LTS ) A C enacle programme. Take a holiday in a meaningful way in this “play and pray” retreat designed to help us grow and deepen our faith despite our busy lifestyle. F ollowing the pattern of the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, these days offer tips on self-care, daily discernment and a way of finding God in all things and time. or more information, E : cenaclemissionsingapore@ gmail.com; W: cenaclemission.com.

AP R I L 20 Q U E E N O F P E AC E C H U R C H H O U R O F D I S C E R N ME N T Time: 8pm . V enue: House of D avid, room 4.1. O rganised by the parish vocation team of Q ueen of Peace C hurch.

F ellowship thereafter in canteen.

Potluck welcome. F or more information, T: 9 6103 ( E vangeline Kwok).

AP R I L 21 TO MAY 19 C LAR I TY ’ S S E LF - WO R TH I N TR O D U C TO R Y AN D S MALL GR O U P WO R KS H O P S E very Saturday from 10a m-noon.

J oin us for a four-session workshop to understand self-worth, its importance and impact in your life. Through various activities and exercises, practise ways to recognise and replace self-defeating thoughts. Learn how to love and accept yourself in spite of your imperfections and how to make your life more meaningful.

V enue: Blk 854 Y ishun R ing R d. C ost: $15 pe r person.

F or more information, T: 67590.

MAY 30 H O W TO MAKE S TR E S S Y O U R F R IE N D Time: 7.30pm -9.30pm . Based on the latest research by D r Kelly McGonigle, learn how the handling of stress can either shorten or extend our healthy life span. F acilitator: F r Matthew Linn, SJ . Organised by Kingsmead C entre, 8 V ictoria Park R d. F ee: $ 5 0 ($ 8 0 if also attending “What is the Key to Happiness talk”). To register: W: http: / / tinyurl.com/ MattLinn18; T: 64702.

MAY 13 WH AT I S TH E KE Y TO H AP P I N E S S ?

Time: 7.30pm -9.30pm . Where are the happiest people in the world, and what are their secrets to yielding true happiness?

We will answer this with research from the award winning documentary “Happy.” perience simple processes to daily find happiness wherever it eludes us. F acilitator: F r Matthew Linn, SJ . Organised by Kingsmead C entre, 8 V ictoria Park R d. F ee: $50 ( $80 i f also attending “How to Make Stress Y our F riend” talk). To register: http: / / tinyurl.com/ MattLinn18; T: 64702.

AP R I L 2 TO AP R I L 28 WE E K O F GU I D E D P R AY E R @ C H U R C H O F C H R I S T TH E KI N G The Sojourners’ C ompanions invites you to learn how to pray with Scripture and develop a closer relationship with the Lord. April 2 2 : 2 pm-5 pm: Taster. April 2 3 27: D aily 30m ins @ home + 30m ins with personal prayer guide at a convenient time between 9a m–10pm . April 28: 2pm –5pm : closure. V enue: C hurch of C hrist The King. C ost: $30.

To register: W: www. sojourners.sg; W: wogp@ sojourners.sg.

F or more information, visit the parish office on the wee end of pril and .

MAY 31 TO JU N E 3 F AMI LY C AMP 2018 C ome and spend some time away with your family to encounter God in each other. Sessions for children, teenagers, and adults. C ost: $350 pe r adult/ teen and $20 pe r child. V enue: Batam V iew Beach R esort. To register: W: www.one.org.sg/ events. rganised by the ffice for the New E vangelisation and Archdiocesan C ommission for the F amily.

AP R I L 27 TO AP R I L 29 C H O I C E AP R I L WE E KE N D It takes that one weekend to inspire you for the rest of your life. C ome away for a C hoice Weekend – it is by the choices we ma e that we define what our life is all about. V enue: C hoice R etreat House, 47 J urong West Street 42, S 64938.

F or more information: 97053 (Hillary); T: 971068( F rancesca); W: http: / / www.choice.org.sg/ ?page_i d= 8.

JU MAY 25 TO MAY 29 LABO U R E R S I N TH E V I N E Y AR D R E TR E AT A stay-in retreat open to C atholics above the age of 21. C ome away and allow yourselves to be encountered by the Lord. Programme includes daily Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, talks, praise and worship sessions and spiritual counselling. R etreat master: F r Terence Pereira. To register: W: www.one.org.sg/ events. rganised by ffice for the ew E vangelisation.

N E 1 TO JU N E 3 P E AC E BE WI TH Y O U : TR AN S F O R MI N G F E AR I N TO GI F T J une 1 ( 7.30pm )-J une 3 ( 5pm ). This healing retreat will focus on how J esus sent the Holy Spirit to transform the disciples “behind locked doors out of fear” into bold, risk-taking apostles rooted in a deep peace. D iscover how this transformation can happen to us. F acilitator: F r Matthew Linn, SJ . Organised by Kingsmead C entre, 8 V ictoria Park R d. F ee: $270 ( non-AC ), $30 ( AC ). To register: W: http: / / tinyurl. com/ MattLinn18; T: 64702.

REFLECTION

he hurch as eld hospital

By S r Alicia Torres Many young people are hurting inside – even deeply wounded.

Whether it be from a difficult childhood, abuse or sins that haunt them, they are struggling and don’t know where to turn. These wounds manifest themselves in so many ways and drain energy.

This is exactly where the C hurch must meet young people. E very time I speak to a group of teens or young adults and ask them if they’ve experienced suffering in their lives, hands always shoot up, heads nod.

Particularly after speaking to young adults, I’m often surprised by how many women and men will come up to me, asking for advice to deal with their own specific wounds.

Pope F rancis said that the hurch should be a field hospital.

What does that mean? ave you ever seen a field hospital? C heck out “We Were Soldiers” or “Gone with the Wind” to get an

idea of how messy, earthy, acute and bold a field hospital really is.

It is run by men and women who are both responsive and attentive – who can assess needs and make decisions, who know what they are able to provide and where their limits are.

What kind of resources does the hurch have in her field hospital”? We have people – priests, consecrated men and women, and laity – who have hands to serve and hearts to love. We have the treasure of the sacraments – especially the E ucharist and reconciliation – that literally have the power to set people free. We have the spiritual gifts of wisdom, under-

This is exactl where the Church must meet oung people.

standing, counsel and fortitude.

U ltimately, we have J esus C hrist, who came to set us free.

D o we know J esus? C an we testify to how J esus has changed our lives? How, as a C hurch, are we giving witness? D oes that witness bear authenticity? D oes it draw people who are hurting to the One Person who can set them free?

In our hurch that is a field hospital we need brave soldiers who are willing to risk their reputations and even at times their lives to care for the wounded. We need men and women who are so convicted by what J esus has done for them that they boldly and confidently invite others into a relationship with J esus, who can set them free.

Setting captives free – this indeed is what J esus asks of his C hurch right now. n CNS Sr Torres is a member of the Francis cans of the ucharist of Chicago, Il linois, USA.

A priest hears confession from a young person. I n the C hurch’ s field hospital’ , there are the sacraments – especially the E ucharist and reconciliation – t hat have the power to set people free.

CNS file photo

26 IN MEMORIAM In loving memory of

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

Twenty- seve nth Annive rsary In loving memory of

F R E D D I E MO R AE S D eparted: Mar 2 6 , 1 9 8 6 Only the memory of bygone days And a sigh for a face unseen; A constant feeling that God alone knows best what should have been.

Always remembered by loved ones, especially his granddaughter.

D AS S O N BAR TH O LO ME W Who was called to the Lord on April 3 , 1 9 9 1 We’re assured of your love E ven though we’re apart ‘ C ause so much we’ve shared Is written in our hearts.

F ourteenth Annive rsary In loving memory of

F orty- sixt h Annive rsary In loving memory of I s e e t he s T yh owp e rt T he sn i ngs m H ow rg e at

t ar s ,I eh ar hr o ughot y s oul m, T houar t!

t he r ol l i ngt hunde r, t eh uni v e r s e di s pl ya e d y Sav i our G odt To eh e H ow gr e at T houar t!

N inth Annive rsary In loving memory of

E ighth Annive rsary In loving memory of

MAR GAR E T MAR Y P E R E I R A D eparted: Mar 27, 209 Thank you for the years we shared Thank you for the way you cared We loved you then and we love you still F orget you, we never will.

F ondly remembered by husband, sons, daughter-in-law, grandson, brothers, sisters and loved ones.

V AN H U I Z E N TH E O D O R A C AR ME N D eparted: Mar 2 9 , 2 0 1 0 If in one fleeting moment I could see you smile I’d give up everything I have So I could hold your hand for a while We all love you so much We miss you so badly And we won’t ever forget the happy times that we shared.

D early missed by loved ones.

S econd Annive rsary In loving memory of

C Y R I L F R AN C I S TH O MAS D eparted: March 25, 2016 We remember and cherish the happy times together R emembering him today and forever.

Lovingly remembered by Kenneth Thomas and family and loved ones.

Twenty- second Annive rsary

In loving memory of

In loving memory of R AY MO N D LI AN N O N I S C alled home: Apr 5, 204 We speak your name with love and pride.

We smile with tears we cannot hide.

We thank you for the years we shared, The love you gave, the way you cared.

F rom your children and spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

JU

E D W AR D F E R N AN D E Z D eparted: Apr 1 , 1 9 7 2 Time takes away the edge of grief But memory turns back every leaf Gone from our lives one so dear But in our hearts forever near.

Always loved and remembered by wife, Susy and children.

CLASSIFIED THANKSGIVING O Holy St J ude, apostle and martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of J esus C hrist, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you, to whom God

has given such great power, to come to my assistance. Help me in my present urgent petition. In return, I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St J ude, pray for me and all who invoke your aid. Humbly in need of your intercession.

Amen. Thank you for answering my prayers.

JO H N AN G ME N G S E N G D OB: 26 M ar 198

C AR O L C ATH E R I N E P E R E I R A

R est in peace dear loving father, grandfather & great grandfather.

Treasured memories hold you near and in our hearts you will remain forever dear.

Always cherished and remembered by your loved ones.

Mass will be celebrated at the C hurch of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on 26 M ar 2018 a t 6.15pm .

In celebration of her birthday on Mar 29 C alled Home to the Lord on Nov 17, 2013 Always in the hearts of D ennis, D enise, C arl, Nicole, Martha, Alexandra (R afa), Gabriel, Martin, Bryan, J asmine, D alva, and all family and friends.

T ih kn how s he m su t be w i s ih ng T hat w e c oul dal l k now t dayo H ow otn ih ngbut uro s adne ss Cant r ul y asp s aw ya I nt

H apy

A ndt he eh F or not A nds

hi nk fo ar t s of t hi ngl vo he w as l

B i r t hd

ay M

um

he hos

r sa l i v e s he t e di s e v e ov e ds om

i ng ouc he d r l so t uc h

m y / Car ol / G r andm

MAR Y S O H KE O W N O I D OB: 26 S ep 192

TO MMY S I M S E O W Y O N G D eparted: Mar 2 8 , 1 9 9 6 The angels came to take you home And you left us all alone We know you keep watching us from above As we still pray for the one we love.

D early missed by: Wife Shirley D aughter: E ulindra Son-in-law: Ivan Lim Son: Brandon D aughter-in-law: C laire Tang Hui Sim Grandchildren: Z achary / C hloe / Helena / Ayden Lim Ashley / J oshua Sim.

Crossword Puzzle 1206 a!

D O NW 1 One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit 2 Playwright E dward _ 3 Seventh sign of the z odiac 4 Intense light beam 5 Middle easterners 6 See 30D 7 Type of angel that Michael is 8 E xtents 9 E lijah held his challenge here 10 D escribes some men in the Gospel of Matthew 1 1 C ulture medium 12 Priscilla and Aqui la left here because the J ews were ordered out 13 F irst name of the subject of an 1857 U S Supreme C ourt decision 21 _ j et 23 Agape _ 25 In 1 C orinthians, Paul asked where was its sting?

68

64

63

62

61

60

59

58

57

56

54

52

50

46

43

39

37

35

34

3

31

30

28

Monsters With 6D , a Holy Land site 507, t o Nero Long fish 20t h letter of the Hebrew alphabet J esus is the _ of God C upid nspecified in number Hoodwink Paddled Written guarantee Pop classic Impasse Non-pro sports org.

Silhouette “__ us peace” E rrand runner C lear the board Indoor game _ of Thunder Streetcar Assess _ ve ra F ormer R ussian ruler Mythical sea monster

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1205 AC R O S S 1 C halice covering 5 Son of Sarah and Abraham 10 One of two names in a C atholic book publishing company 14 Hip bones 1 5 F ranciscan founder of C alifornia missions 16 C omposer Stravinsky 17 R ecedes 1 8 Indy 5 0 0 participant 40

38

34

29

27

26

24

2

20

19

Identical Saint of Avila D id a carpenter’s job Longed for Holy _ Topping in a tub J acob’s dream, in Genesis In Luke, the Pharisee was surprised to notice that J esus did not do this Othello’s betrayer E mbankment

41

Typee seque l Pharaoh refused to give this to the Hebrews 4 Is unwell 45 R ite in the C atholic C hurch 4 7 D aughter of C ronus 84 Kitchenware 94 St. Katherine’s surname 15 Shot contents 35 OT prophetic book 5 Hauled 06 A street in D amascus, as 65

42

75

74

73

72

71

70

69

67

6

named in Acts R oman goddess of the dawn Like much lore He housed Paul and Silas in Thessalonica A place to worship from?

Western pact Away Make a home Hook’s hand “Have _ _ _ _ on us” V ery, in V ersailles

IN MEMORIAM 27

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

wenty-fifth Annive rsary In loving memory of

S I MO N AN TH O N Y 26 / 1 1/ 31- /8 4/ 93

Y our heart of gold stopped beating Two smiling eyes at rest God broke our hearts to prove He only takes the Best The tears in our eyes will wipe away But the love in our hearts Will forever stay.

D early missed and fondly remembered by wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loved ones.

F I R S T AN N I V E R S AR Y In loving memory of

In Loving Memory of Our D earest P apa & Mummy

MAR GAR E T TS ’ AI Y U AN H S I N D eparted: April 6, 2017 It’s been a year since you’ve gone One year with you away Y et your presence still lingers Memories of you will always stay With the passage of time The days that pass us by C omes the time we’ll meet again Till then, we will not cry

JO

S E P H

S I LV A &

JU

LI AN AL S I LV A

At Home in Glory with the Lord J esus C hrist November 8t h 1986 & March 29t h 203

A ligh t from the home has gon e, The voices we loved to hear are stilled G one are your faces we so dearly loved L eaving a v acuum in our home Never shall your memories fade S weet thoug hts of you will always remain.

Mass will be offered at the C hurch of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour on Saturday, 24t h Mar 2018 a t 6.30 pm .

Lovingly remembered and cherished by all.

In loving memory of F irst Annive rsary

S ixt eenth Annive rsary

F E LE C I A TS AI GR AC E C H E O N G D eparted March 26, 2017 May 26, 20

Treasured memories hold you near Thoughts of you bring many a tear Tears in our eyes we can wipe away But the love in our hearts will forever stay.

D eeply missed by family & loved ones.

P le a s e tu r n to p a g e 2 6 fo r m o r e in m e m o r ia m a d v e r tis e m e n ts .

Thanks for the memories Thanks for watching us grow We will seek solace in remembering And suppress the hurt and sorrow Always cherished by Late husband: Andrew D aughters & Spouses: C armel & Noel, Gillian, Audrey & Song Granddaughters & Grandson in law: Louise & Ginno, Laura & Lorraine, all relatives & loved ones.

28 WORLD

Sunday April 1, 2018 n CatholicNews

US Catholic school students pray, march in National School Walkout W AS H ING TO N – C atholic school

students across the country prayed with their school communities for school shooting victims or joined marches protesting gun violence on March 14 during the National School Walkout, a student-led response to the F eb 14 school shooting in ar land, lorida.

In the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis, more than 10 Highland C atholic middle school students, teachers and parents gathered on the school’s front steps for 17 minutes of silence and prayer. They lit blue candles in memory of those who died at Marjory Stoneman D ouglas High School and held signs in honour of each deceased individual.

Students also wrote petitions, which were prayed in the gym following the time of silence outside.

Other C atholic schools around the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis held similar observances on arch . rovidence cademy in Plymouth also offered a symposium after school for juniors and seniors to discuss gun violence.

Students at Benilde-St Margaret’s in St Louis Park walked out of classes and distributed information about legislators and voter registration for seniors.

In Missouri, St Louis C atholic high schools also participated in the ational chool Wal out.

At C hristian Brothers C ollege High School in St Louis, students and staff members who attended a prayer service circled around their school grotto and listened as the

I one C at hol i c hi gh s c olh ,s t ude nt s not onl y gat he r e df or pr ay e r but t he y al s o w r ot e t ot he i r e l e c t e d officials, researched i nf or m at i onabut gunc ont r ol and hadm oc k de bat e .

S tudents of P resentation Academy, a C atholic school in Louisvi lle, Kentuck y, U S A, stand arm- in- arm on March 14 to call attention to gun violence. hey were among thousands around the nation who participated in a National School alkout. CNSphot o

names of 2 7 schools impacted by shootings were read aloud and then were silent before reading reflections and praying the ur ather.

The presenters urged students to write a commitment to action and place it in a basket in the chapel. The suggestions included reaching out to someone at the school who may be e periencing difficulties or is picked on, expressing love and care to a family member.

Students at C ardinal R itter C ollege Preparatory High School in St Louis took to the streets for about an hour in support of the ar land students.

Wearing orange arm bands or orange shirts, students, faculty and staff members marched about 1 km carrying posters with messages such as #S topTheV iolence, E nough is enough and Blessed are the children.

Students at C atholic high schools in the D iocese of Trenton, New J ersey, made prayer the focal point of their gatherings during the ational chool Wal out.

“Let’s pray for God to empower us to be the voices for those who cannot speak,” said E ileen Hart, moderator of the C elebrate Life C lub at Notre D ame High School in Lawrenceville, ew ersey.

School seniors J ulianna Okupski

and Trystan C richton led almost 10 students and some adults in a prayer for victims and peace outside in the school s grotto.

Trenton ishop avid .

O’C onnell joined the students in prayer and said he was “deeply moved to do so. ishop dward . Weisenburger of Tucson, Ariz ona, joined students at St Augustine C atholic High School in Tucson when they prayed the rosary during the National chool Wal out.

At San Miguel C risto R ey C atholic High School in Tucson, students not only gathered for prayer but they also wrote to their elected officials, researched information about gun control and had a moc debate.

In D enver archdiocese, where schools were holding special Masses, praying the rosary or holding prayer services on March , rchbishop amuel . uila urged archdiocesan C atholic schools to use the time of prayer for the conversion of hearts and for the souls of those who died. n CNS

Study of universe makes life’s problems look small, Vatican astronomer says TR O Y, NE W YO R K – J esuit Br Guy C onsolmagno, director of the V atican Observatory, told a crowd at a U S C atholic C hurch that the study of the universe makes the petty problems of life look insignificant.

“We get so provincial in thinking our problems are the world’s problems. God who created the universe is perfectly capable of ta ing care of us, he said.

He cited Psalm 1 3 9 , “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me,” and added: “There are places in the universe we haven’t set foot on yet, and maybe we won’t,” but they are “as much a part of God s creation as the earth.

“God is bigger than just what we see around here,” Br C onsolmagno said.

Attendees were visibly moved by the photos he shared of planetary landscapes, moon craters, stars and gala ies. e was uic to note that none of the images were artist’s renderings; close-up photos showed places “we have P U B L IS H E D

B Y TH E

visited with our machinery and left our footprints.

The astronomer emphasised the need to see other heavenly bodies as specific places. e shared a clip from a panel discussion televised on C -SPAN after a Mars rover landing in which a mission team member described his awe at seeing photos of the red artian landscape.

Br C onsolmagno related all of this to faith in his talk on F eb 28 at C hrist Sun of J ustice church in Troy as part of the parish’s annual wee -long Lenten spea er series.

Throughout the talk, photos flashed by on the viewscreen: n The rocky surface of V enus, captured by a R ussian lander that

‘t haG

o id s bi ge r nj us t w ath w e s e e ar oundhe re [ one ar t h] .

’

– B r Guy C onsolmagno, director of the V atican O bservat ory

CATH O L IC NE W S , 2 H IG H L AND

R O AD

lasted only minutes in the 70degree, high-pressure atmosphere where sulphuric acid fills the air. n Io, a moon of J upiter with a yellow surface covered with erupting volcanoes. n “E arthrise,” with the earth seen from orbit, coming up from behind the moon.

Along with the pictures came uotes from t rancis of ssisi’s “C anticle of the Sun”: “Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially Sir Brother un ... through ister oon and the stars ... through rothers Wind and ir ... through ister Water ... through rother ire ... through our ister, other arth.

The canticle was composed in the year 1 2 2 5 , but Br C onsolmagno said its spirit is just as applicable today. e pointed to Laudato i , Pope F rancis’ encyclical on the environment, which expressed similar ideas about respect for creation.

“We are made by God and we are siblings,” the astronomer said. To e ploit nature is to e -

# 0 1 - 0 3 , S ING AP O R E

5 4 9 1 0 2 . P R INTE D

B Y TIM E S

U S J esuit Br Guy C onsolmagno, an astronomer with the V atican O bserv atory, is pictured with the observatory s meteorite collection in this 2006 file photo.

ploit your little sister.

Br C onsolmagno, a native of D etroit, shared his own life story, from studying the moons of J upiter to serving in the Peace C orps, teaching physics and, in 193, joining the staff at the V atican Observatory, where he has studied meteorites and asteroids and now serves as director.

Br C onsolmagno also has travelled to Antarctica to search for meteorites. e noted that the pho-

P R INTE R S

P R IVATE

L IM ITE D , 1 6 TU AS AVE NU E

tos he took there resembled the surfaces of other planetary bodies: harsh, barren landscapes that, nevertheless, have much to reveal about creation.

E ven the smallest meteorite cross section – thinner than a human hair – shows incredible crystalline structures, he said, noting “that sense of discovery, that I’ve seen this little thing … it’s like the voice of God behind me, saying, ‘ Isn’t this cool?’” n CNS 5 , S ING AP O R E

6 3 9 3 4 0 .