Catholic News issue 8, 2017

SINGAPORE $0.70 cents / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

MCI (P) 013/08/2016

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

Vol 67

No. 08

Image of Jesus being nailed to the cross. CNS photo

Sunday April 16, 2017

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

ARCHBISHOP’S EASTER MESSAGE

My dear brothers and sisters, The peace of the Risen Lord be with you!

Peace is the first gift of Easter which the Lord imparted to His disciples. Peace comes from the victory of Christ over sin and death. With His resurrection, we know for certain that everything has been overcome and conquered. Evil is not the last word because the goodness of God has triumphed. Injustice is defeated by the justice of God in raising His Son, who was unjustly crucified as a criminal, from the dead.

Sin, too, is overcome by the forgiveness of God in the death of His Son. Finally, death, too, is conquered by the resurrection of Christ. In Christ we know that there is a certain future, a sure hope of justice, peace, joy and new life. Nothing can destroy the plan of God for humanity. What will happen at the end of time is the reign of justice, peace, righteousness, joy and love in the Holy Spirit.

But what was won by Jesus is ours only if we allow the Risen Lord to enter into our hearts.

Jesus is coming to our lives but we must open the doors of our hearts. So long as we stay behind closed doors and remain in the tomb, we cannot see the light or find freedom in life. The New life gained for us by the Lord must be accepted by us.

The tragedy is that some of us

remain dead in our tombs even though Christ has already risen.

The stone has been removed but we are not willing to come out.

Sin and death have been overcome, but many of us are still living in sin and fear of death. What is it that prevents us from leaving our tomb to face the rising Sun of the day?

Firstly, it is guilt. Many of us continue to live in our guilt for the mistakes we have made. We cannot forgive ourselves for the wrongs we have done. We live in regret for the missed opportunities and wish it were otherwise.

Indeed, many of us hate ourselves for causing so many to suffer because of our foolishness and selfishness.

We have gone for confession many times and yet never felt forgiven or freed from the chains of our past. We need to cling to Jesus who promised us that our sins are forgiven. Just as He offered forgiveness to the apostles who betrayed Him, we too must embrace His mercy and forgiveness.

Secondly, we cling to the hurts others have inflicted on us. We cannot forgive or let go of the sufferings in our lives.

Many of us continue to live in our past. The unpleasant memories continue to haunt us and unsettle us. We continue to bear grudges, harbour suspicions and hatred of our enemies and those who have betrayed or hurt us.

We forget that we are sinners as well, and just as the Lord has forgiven us for our many sins,

we too must forgive in order to receive the full forgiveness and healing grace of God. So long as we allow our grievances to have a hold over us, there can be no joy, peace or freedom.

Thirdly, we are still in our hole because we are fearful of the future. We worry all the time about our health and our finances and our loved ones. We want to be in control, especially during this time of economic uncertainty.

Our worries about our financial commitments and health keep us awake.

Instead of doing what we can and meeting each challenge along the way, we dare not take risks.

We can live boldly each day in the midst of challenges, trials, confusion and difficulties, knowing that the grace of Christ will bring us to a triumphant end.

We dare not surrender ourselves to divine providence, making full use of the opportunities that come our way. Instead, we live in the past, finding refuge in those nostalgic times, as if they were better than today, when then we too were not happy.

We do not want to change the status quo. We seek to relive the past when the Lord wants to give us better things in the future. We are like Mary Magdalene who wanted to cling to her love for the Jesus of History when the Lord was inviting her to a deeper love and union with Him, the Risen Lord, so that she too can share the joy of the Trinitarian love of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.

So what must we do to enter into the New Life that Christ has won for us? We must live the present from the future revealed to us. What Jesus has shown to us all, the ultimate victory over sin, hatred and suffering, even death, should also be ours. We must be clear that in Christ we can do all things in Him who strengthens us. (cf Phil 4:13) Having seen the reality of the future blessings ahead of us, we need not fear, not even death, for death, the last enemy of man has been overcome. (1 Cor 15:26) Instead, we can live boldly each day in the midst of challenges, trials, confusion and difficulties, knowing that the grace of Christ will bring us to a triumphant end.

Indeed, when we live from a certain and clear future of what could be for us, we can then forget our past and let go of the unpleasant events in our lives easily. Like those of us who have suffered much for our children when they were young.

Now that they have grown up and are doing well in life, we share

in their happiness and joy.

The sufferings of the past and the sacrifices made are forgotten.

These are remembered not with sadness but with joy, for we know that it is only through pains that we are now able to experience the joy of success.

So, too, when we think of the joy of friendship, love and harmony among friends and family members; the thought of being reunited again will help us to forget the silly mistakes made in the past, since all of us are growing and learning how to love more perfectly in life.

With St Paul, let us push forward, leaving the past behind and strive each day to be one with Christ in His death and resurrection. He said, “I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.�

(Phil 3:13f) With the apostles, we must now live our lives confidently and courageously. Easter means that we are sure of ultimate victory and guaranteed of everlasting life, of joy, love and peace with God. Devotedly yours in Christ,

Archbishop William Goh

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

BUILDING THE CHURCH of Tomorrow 3

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

CHANCERY NOTICE

24 March 20 17

CHN/CN/20 17/008

APPOINTMENTS 1. Mgr Philip Heng SJ has been appointed as the Rector for the Church of St Joseph for a term of three [3] years with effect from 19 March 2017.

2. Fr Adrian Danker SJ has been appointed as Spiritual Director for Courage (a support group ministering to persons with same-sex attraction) for a term of two [2] years with effect from 23 March 2017.

St Joseph’s Rosary Garden blessed

3. Fr Paul Staes CICM has been appointed as Director and Board member for Clarity Singapore Limited for a term of two [2] years with effect from 23 March 2017.

4. The following have been appointed to the Board of Family Life Society for a term of two [2] years with effect from 23 March 2017: a. Christopher Murugasu b. Robert Conceicao c. Lional Tseng d. Dr John Lim Khai Liang OTHER MATTERS Congregatio Discipulorum Domini (CDD) The following have been elected to the new provincial council of the Congregatio Discipulorum Domini (CDD) for a term of three [3] years from 2017 - 2020: Fr Francis Wang CDD – Provincial a. b.

Fr Dominic Kong CDD – Vicar Provincial c.

Fr Joseph Mi CDD – Consultor d.

Fr Peter Zhang CDD – Consultor e.

Fr Joseph Low CDD – Consultor NUS Catholic Students Society (NUSCSS) Fr Jovita Ho who has been chaplain to the NUS Catholic Students Society will relinquish his post to leave for studies in Rome. The pastoral leadership of NUSCSS will be assumed by the Office for Young People (OYP) with effect from 7 May 2017.

Fr John-Paul Tan, OFM, JCL, Chancellor Chancery of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore #07-01 Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187954 Email: chancery@catholic.org.sg

Archbishop Goh blesses the Rosary Garden at St Joseph Church, Bukit Timah.

The new outdoor Rosary Garden at St Joseph Church in Bukit Timah was officially opened and blessed by Archbishop William Goh on March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

The 775-sq-m garden features 59 large fibreglass beads and a reclining stainless steel cross to represent the rosary. It also has

a 2.4-m-tall statue of the Virgin Mary.

In addition, there is a mural at the side with artwork depicting the Four Mysteries of the Rosary on the front and other symbolic icons on the other side. This artwork was produced by the parish’s newly-formed Art Ministry.

At the blessing, Archbishop Goh released a white bird and planted a tree. The bird was found injured and in distress in the garden

by Art Ministry members in the

course of their work. They decided to care for it until it was able to fly.

A Thanksgiving Mass preceded the blessing. In his homily, Archbishop Goh complimented the parish on the addition of the Rosary Garden, saying that the church now hosts a “complete” place for devotion along with its existing outdoor Stations of the Cross.

The Rosary Garden is lighted daily from 7pm-10 pm to provide a suitable ambience for individual and group prayer. n

The Rosary Garden with its large fibreglass beads and cross.

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Archdiocesan statement on London attack The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Singapore, His Grace Archbishop William Goh, has expressed sorrow over the tragic events that have taken place in London: “We are saddened to hear of the terrorist attack in the heart of London, the symbol of democracy and law. We are outraged at such insane and inhumane actions.

“We pray for those who lost their lives and also for the families coping with the loss of their loved ones.

“For the perpetrators of such crimes against humanity, we also pray that they will be enlightened in the truth and that their hearts will be moved by the sorrow and grief of the innocent; including their own loved ones who will be implicated by their senseless actions.

“We want to assure our Muslim friends of our solidarity with them in this difficult time as they work to protect the good name of Islam, a religion of peace.

“We will continue to work together to eradicate hatred and evil from society.” n Submitted by:

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SINGAPORE

Stations of the Cross for married couples at OLPS A romantic candlelight dinner, an exchange of gifts, or even a short getaway without the children are just some of the conventional ways couples celebrate a wedding anniversary.

However, Mr Stephen Manlapig and his wife, Mabel, parishioners of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS), chose to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in another way.

When the Filipino couple saw a notice in their parish bulletin that the parish’s Family Life Ministry was organising the Stations of the Cross for Married Couples on March 24, they decided to sign up for it.

They were among the more than 90 couples who attended the special devotion, a collaborative initiative by OLPS with Worldwide Marriage Encounter Singapore to bring a specially tailored reflection to the parish.

The Stations of the Cross for Married Couples helps couples to reflect on their own marriages.

For example, when praying at the 14th station which highlights Jesus’ burial, couples reflected on the question: “If I were to be laid to rest tomorrow, would I have

Couples praying during the special outdoor Stations of the Cross on March 24.

loved you enough for you to experience God’s love?”

Such a reflection aimed to remind couples of their vocation in their own marriages to bring their spouses closer to God. Many of the couples did the Stations of the Cross outdoors, climbing steep slopes amid humid weather. Others did theirs indoors.

For Mr Gregory Anderson, 56, and his wife, Andrea, it was the first time they prayed the Stations of the Cross as a married couple.

They found a few of the reflection questions helpful in strengthening their marriage of 17 years.

“We reflected deeply about how, at times, couples take each other for granted and assume the other party knows what’s going on in their minds,” said Mrs Anderson.

“I believe that we must not be afraid to confide in each other and share our worries and fears so that we can tackle them together.”

OLPS’ Family Life Ministry frequently partners other organisa-

tions and groups to bring meaningful programmes and activities to the parish community. The recent Stations of the Cross for Married Couples was one of several collaborations it has had with Marriage Encounter (ME) Singapore.

Previously, this special devotion was organised for the ME Singapore community. Starting in 2015, ME Singapore collaborated with parishes and other groups to invite married couples outside the ME community to participate. n

Church’s response to queries on imam incident Imam Nalla Mohamed Abdul Jameel Abdul Malik was convicted of committing an act prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious groups and was fined $4,000.

The Roman Catholic Church in Singapore has given the following responses to media queries on the incident:

Q:

What does the Singapore Catholic Church think of this incident, which has happened in Singapore’s multi-religious society?

What does it say about the importance of the religious teachings given out by the respective leaders?

A: Religious leaders are shepherds

of their flock. The faithful look to them to interpret the tenets of faith, to lead and to guide them in making sense of this world and in living out the fullness of their religion. By virtue of the trust given them, leaders have a grave moral responsibility not only to impart good values by word and personal example, but

also to set the tone for harmonious living, especially in multi-racial, multi-religious Singapore, where faith and life are often inseparable.

Peace is what every religion promotes, but peace cannot be won by conquest. It can only be realised when there is mutual respect and appreciation for each other’s differences and faith beliefs.

Religious leaders must also consider and weigh carefully what and how they speak on matters that affect other religions. If they are unschooled or unfamiliar with what other religions teach, they should keep to their own religions rather than comment on other religious beliefs and risk misinterpreting the beliefs of other religions.

Q: This case also garnered at-

tention because someone captured a video of the imam uttering these words and uploaded it online. Does this mean religious leaders have to be more mindful than ever about what they preach today, why or why not?

A

: Digital and social media are very useful tools that can be used to reach out to our congregations far beyond from the pulpit. However like all technology if used unwisely, there could be serious consequences. Religious teachers or any person in leadership should always be mindful that he or she has a responsibility to the audience that they address. History has taught us time and again how emotions can run high and out of control if a speaker knows how to manipulate an audience that is charged up or is looking for a reason to act in a certain way.

Because of the media, religious teachers must be conscious that they are no longer addressing just their believers but also to the

world as well – since what they say could also be heard by others.

Hence, they must be more cautious that even when they address their audience, they must not be seen as slighting other religions even as they teach their beliefs.

Q: How should the public react if they were to come across such content/videos?

A

: The laws of the land are enacted to ensure harmonious living.

But laws cannot achieve their end if they are not respected by the very people they seek to protect.

We should all play our part so that all can enjoy the fruits of peace and harmony in our country.

Those who feel that a preacher

has gone overboard should report to the authorities and not circulate the message on social media as it could rouse anger and resentment.

We should leave it to the authorities to investigate before we make any sweeping conclusions.

We also must understand that some preachers lack prudence and are not intending to cause division. Not all are deliberately seeking to cause division among religions. They should be disciplined and warned. n Issued by: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SINGAPORE

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

SIM students, alumni visit elderly home

By Darren Chan Members and alumni of the Singapore Institute of Management Catholic Society (SIM-CS) visited the residents of the Villa Francis Home for the Aged to engage them in games and other activities.

The March 25 visit, part of the society’s Lenten outreach, saw 19 current and former SIM students interacting with the elderly and donating an estimated 200 Quaker Oatmeal packets as it was one of the items on the home’s wish.

The visitors and the elderly participated in a tablet-based activity programme which is being developed through the National University of Singapore (NUS) for the elderly. The programme involves the use of large-screen tablets to play games and watch videos.

At times, the visitors helped guide and teach the elderly how to play the games. Board games such as carrom and tablet games

such as colouring a virtual picture using a stylus and virtual bowling were some that the elderly enjoyed.

The aim of the tablet-activity programme includes preventing depression through technology.

Ms Jean Ang, a member of SIM-CS shared that the most heartwarming moment for her was “when this old lady that I interacted with told me to visit her more often, and would smile and wave at me whenever I walked past her.”

Another member of SIMCS, Mr Aaron Moses Pang, said he felt a strong connection with the elderly. “It reminded me to journey deeper in my faith and to

Members of the Singapore Institute of Management Catholic Society having a laugh with the elderly of the Villa Francis Home for the Aged.

love others as Jesus loved us,” he said.

Villa Francis Home for the Aged is one of the beneficiaries of Catholic Welfare Services Singapore.

The home strives to build a positive and cheerful environment for the elderly. n

The visitors and the elderly participated in a tablet-based activity programme which involves the use of large-screen tablets to play games and watch videos.

A member teaching a resident how to play games on a tablet.

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CHARIS affiliates launch vocational centre for poor youths in Myanmar Two CHARIS affiliates have jointly opened a vocational centre in Myanmar to cater to impoverished youth.

The Canossian Sisters and the Magdalene Mission Myanmar (M3) opened the Gate of Hope centre in Nyuang Shwe on March 25.

The centre, located in the Shan State’s Taunggyi District, will provide students with a one-year course in English, values education and professional skills for the tourism and hospitality sector, and a one month internship at local hotels with potential employers.

The purpose of the centre is to prepare them for entry into the Singapore-Myanmar Vocational Training Institute launched by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Yangon last year. Graduates also have the option to find jobs in the hospitality industry.

In the last seven years, M3 has been working closely with the Canossian Sisters who set up the Canossa Home, a training centre for educators on the outskirts of Yan-

gon. Graduates from the Formation of Educators programme are paid to work in boarding houses to provide care and learning for young children and youths from poverty-stricken backgrounds.

When these youths reach 18, they enter the local public institutes of higher learning if they meet the minimum criteria. M3 noticed that some students could not further their education after leaving the boarding houses and they ended up working on farms, turning to drugs or being forced into prostitution or early marriage.

M3 then approached CHARIS (Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives, Singapore) to help set up the Gate of Hope centre for these youths to learn hospitality skills. CHARIS paid for infrastructural costs.

Canossian Sr Angela Ng, coordinator of the Formation of Educators programme in Myanmar, will oversee the centre with the help of Ms Rose Phyo Yu Bar, a graduate of the programme.

Canossian Sr Angela Ng speaking to trainees at the Gate of Hope vocational centre.

The centre located in Nyuang Shwe.

Ms Theresa Goh, founder of M3, said: “I view the Gate of Hope closing the loop on a mission which started as a formation of educators to care for boarding house children. When these children grow up, they now have a

centre to go to that prepares them for the job market and break out of the poverty cycle.” M3 will fund the staff’s salaries and raise funds for the centre’s operational costs. They will also continue to connect volunteers to teach

specialised topics at the centre.

Among those present at the March 25 ceremony were Mr Robert Chua, Singapore ambassador to Myanmar; Sr Theresa Seow, Provincial Superior of the Canossian Daughters of Charity (Singapore/Myanmar); village chiefs and local business people in the hospitality industry.

Archbishop Basilio Athai of Taunggyi and local priests celebrated a thanksgiving Mass the next day. n Submitted by CHARIS To find out more about M3 and the Canossian Sisters’ mission in Myanmar, see them at the CHARIS Humanitarian Forum & Fair on June 10. For more information, visit http://www.charis-hff. org/

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Queen of Peace leaders learn to imitate Jesus in ministry

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace listening to a sharing during the leadership retreat.

The best person to model ourselves after as Church leaders is none other than Jesus Himself.

This was the message for about 30 leaders of the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace (QoP) at a leadership retreat organised by the parish leadership team together with Caritas Singapore.

The retreat, held on March 25 and 26, was the result of a year-long effort to develop a programme for ministry leaders to understand what it means to be a Church leader, the qualities of a good leader and how the work of the ministries must ultimately contribute to the mission of the Church – to draw people to God and witness to God’s love.

“A special taskforce was

formed about a year ago as a result of the parish assembly to look into how we could develop our leaders,” said Mr Harry Pereira, chairman of the QoP Leadership Committee. “This was because when we looked at the common challenges facing our ministries, we realised that one of the root causes was the lack of leadership formation.”

Together with the Caritas Singapore Formation Team led by Infant Jesus Sr Maria Lau, the group formulated a programme modelled after Jesus as a servant leader in mission.

Time during the retreat was also spent on prayers and reflections, combined with group discussions across the individual, ministry and parish levels. Partici-

pants were also introduced to the social teachings of the Church, especially in the area of respect for the dignity of each human person and the call to reach out to the poor and vulnerable in society.

“The retreat was a good reminder of who we are as Catholics and why we serve,” said Mr Leroy Tor, a youth leader in the Legion of Mary of Queen of Peace Church.

Others found the retreat refreshing, insightful and useful in widening their perspective of ministry work beyond the functional aspect.

“Community, spirituality and evangelistic mission must also be part of ministry work,” noted Ms Karen Ho, vice president of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. n

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Biblical teams learn about their role The Archdiocesan Biblical Apos- creative in reaching out to actolate organised a retreat cum tive Catholics as well as inactive workshop for coordinators of Catholics,” she said.

Participants were then divided parish Biblical Apostolate teams into groups, made up of repre(BATs) on April 1.

The event, led by Verbum sentatives from different parishes, Dei Srs Sandra Seow and Leticia to discuss their goals as well as Candelario Lopez, saw 30 partici- share ideas and ways to reach out pants from various parishes come to parishioners.

Ms Lene Lee, a coordinator together at the Catholic Archdiocfrom the Church of Christ the esan Education Centre.

Sr Sandra and Sr Leticia are King, said: “This session provided respectively the director and as- us an opportunity to understand sociate director of the Archdioc- the obstacles we face in our ministry, which is how to esan Biblical Aposget more Catholics tolate.

Be bridges to read the Bible.

Titled Role of The chance to meet BAT: Disciples of for people the BAT coordinathe Word, the event to encounter tors from other parwas part of the ishes is helpful as apostolate’s outChrist through we can harness our reach to gather BAT Scripture. limited resources coordinators from and implement acthe different par– Verbum Dei tivities for the good ishes to be renewed Sr Sandra Seow to of the parish comin their role as well Biblical Apostolate teams munities.” as create a space for Mr Irving Teo, them to share expefrom the Church of St Bernadette, riences and challenges.

The day started with an hour shared, “This has been a very useof praying the Word of God fol- ful time. It is a good reminder that lowed by Sr Leticia giving an in- we are called to make time each put to participants about the need day to encounter Jesus through to be disciples who listen and the Word of God.” The Archdiocesan Biblical put the Bible into practice. “We need to give God’s word to those Apostolate is organising a Bible around us,” she said. “However, Sunday Seminar called “Liswe first must learn to listen and teners of the Word, Prophets of Today” on July 8. For more input His word into practice.”

Sr Sandra conducted a work- formation, visit http://biblicashop which reminded participants lapostolate.catholic.sg/ n of the spiritual dimension of their ministry. “It is not just to organise talks or conduct Bible studies or even to be concerned with the quantity of participants coming for various activities, but to be bridges for people to encounter Christ through Scripture,” she said.

“We need to be BATs with clear intention to facilitate that living encounter as well as to be

‘

’

Above: Sr Leticia Candelario Lopez speaking at the event.

Right: Coordinators of Biblical Apostolate teams in a group discussion.

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Left: A St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School student praying over her parents during the school retreat. Right: Students with their artwork based on biblical quotes.

Students, parents bond in school’s Lenten retreat

By Perpetua Ho and Chantel Beins A hundred and twenty students of St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School (SACPS) together with 80 parents came together for a Lenten retreat organised by the school.

The March 31 retreat, which was focused on Faith, Hope and Love, was in line with the school’s theme for the year.

The highlight of the event, held at the school, was the parentand-child reconciliation session.

Fr Johnson Fernandez invited the families to reflect on the words of St Paul to the Corinthians before getting them to do a short examination of their lives as a Catholic family.

He then led parents and chil-

dren in a prayer as they laid their hands on each other. Participants also reflected on the roles they play in the family during the session.

Many parents said they found the session moving, and resolved to bless their children on a daily basis and pray together as a family every day.

Mrs Julianne Soh, a parent, shared that the Gospel can be summarised in one sentence, “God loves me”. She said her family will try to deepen their faith by reading the Bible together.

Some of the students who attended the retreat said they wished that other Catholic students in the school could have chosen to attend it so that they too could grow deeper in their understanding of faith, hope and love. n

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

One man’s unique ministry to the elderly

For decades, Andrew Goh has been using dialects to teach the faith to the elderly. Annabelle Liang catches up with him.

C

OME rain or shine, Mr Andrew Goh mounts his maroon scooter to perform his daily mission.

For the past 24 years, the 80-year-old has been teaching the Catholic faith to elderly and sick people in the comfort of their own homes or in groups at churches.

“All the young people go to RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults] classes,” said the seasoned catechist. “Nobody works with the elderly. They are neglected.”

Mr Goh, who introduces the faith to these people upon request, is multilingual. He converses and prays with his students in English, Mandarin, and the Peranakan, Hokkien, Hainanese, Teochew and Cantonese dialects.

At the first session, he teaches them about the Trinity. Then, he teaches them how to make the sign of the cross. He also uses visual aids such as hand-coloured diagrams to tell the story of creation. “I found that it’s very easy for people to understand,” he said.

A string of pearls illustrates a parable where a merchant sells everything for what he values. To show the effects of bad habits, Mr Goh wraps a bicycle chain around his arms.

Among the curious items in his backpack are mustard seeds, a jar of rice, a bag of dirt, paper cutouts that look like communion hosts and children’s books. “This is mind therapy. Once they can envision something, they can remember,” Mr Goh explained.

To teach the names of Jesus’ disciples, Mr Goh weaves a narrative. He associates the apostle Philip with the popular brand, which manufactures colour televisions.

A typical session lasts for an hour. Often, he is asked to return.

After 13 to 26 lessons, depending on the student’s health, baptismal arrangements are made after the person has indicated his or her desire to become a Catholic.

Some of the visual aids that Mr Goh uses in his ministry.

Mr Goh using props to teach catechism in the home of an elderly person.

FORMERLY an insurance agent, Mr Goh missed out on a promotion and quit his job in the late 1980s. A friend asked him to attend Novena Church. He went and was later baptised at the Church of the Holy Family in 1991. “Then I served Jesus instead of serving insurance,” he quipped. “I wanted to go out and spread the Good News.”

He became a full-time funeral minister and later a communion minister. At that time, the late Fr Alfred Chan, who could speak several dialects, was holding catechism classes for the elderly at Holy Family Church.

Mr Goh tagged along. He had grown up speaking Peranakan and Hokkien, but also managed to pick up Hainanese and Teochew.

Cantonese was the hardest to master, so he watched cooking shows by chef Martin Yan. In 1993, Mr Goh printed out name cards in the hope of reach-

ing out to elderly people in their homes. Only three people were interested. Later, however, the number grew by tens before reaching a peak in 2005, when he helped 103 people to be baptised.

Mr Goh uses a scooter to get around.

Mr Goh converses with his students in English, Mandarin, and the Peranakan, Hokkien, Hainanese, Teochew and Cantonese dialects.

‘All the young people go to RCIA classes,’ he said. “Nobody works with the elderly.

They are neglected.’

Last year, 68 people were baptised, bringing the total number he has helped become Catholics to 1,427. He has 360 godchildren.

MR GOH currently helms weekly classes for the elderly at Holy Family Church (see story below) and the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. When Novena Church reopens later this year, he is set to lead classes there as well.

On Sundays, another group gathers at his house where he lives with his wife, who is a free thinker. They have two children.

He does not charge for classes or home visits. “What God gives me for free, I give you for free,” Mr Goh said. However, he accepts donations to cover transport.

Mr Goh is also looking for people to continue his unique ministry. For months now, a few younger persons have been helping with his classes. One has start-

ed to make visits on his own.

What Mr Goh teaches “is very basic stuff,” said Fr Damian De Wind, who oversees the catechetical ministry at Holy Family Church. As most of Mr Goh’s students are elderly, “it isn’t easy to comprehend much more.”

Sometimes, Fr Damian skims through Mr Goh’s worksheets to ensure they are aligned with Church teachings. “Andrew is a unique person. Definitely, we need pastoral care from someone like him, who is able to relate to the elderly,” said Fr Damian.

“I think he is living up to Vatican II, which is about the empowerment of laity. This is where a lay person can play an important role, teaching catechism to the housebound, elderly and dialect speaking.”

If you would like to help, or know of an elderly person who would like to know about the faith, contact Mr Goh at 6348-0169 or 9115-5673. n

A typical class at Holy Family Church

Mr Goh conducting a class.

Mr Goh’s Thursday catechism class at the Church of the Holy Family draws 30 people on average. Catholics and non-Catholics are welcome.

They sit in a circle and wait for class to begin. It starts with a prayer in English, which is translated into Mandarin and a variety of dialects, depending on the needs of those in attendance.

A Bible verse is read by Mr

Goh and translated by his assistants before role play or sharing starts.

The class also sings wellknown hymns like I Surrender All and Let There Be Peace on Earth. Also included are dialect favourites Lai Sin Ya Soh (Believe in the Lord in Hokkien) and Sayang Isa (Love Jesus in Peranakan).

Most attendees are elderly.

Some have faced life-changing

illnesses such as cancer, while others have doubts or questions about the Catholic faith.

Ms Sharon Tay attends to learn a thing or two. The 48-year-old is involved in the Society of St Vincent de Paul at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.

“I want to reach out to old folks who are neglected but have a desire to know God,” she said.

“I think it’s really meaningful.” n

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

New head of Kuching archdiocese

By Liza Magnus KUCHING, MALAYSIA – Kuching archdiocese has a new leader – Archbishop Simon Poh. The former Auxiliary Bishop of Kuching was installed at St Joseph’s Cathedral on March 20 in a ceremony witnessed by thousands, including politicians and representatives of various faiths.

Archbishop Poh takes over from Archbishop John Ha, who was appointed Archbishop of Kuching in 2003.

In a speech during the ceremony, Archbishop Poh noted that the archdiocese is embarking on the 3R process (Review, Reassessment and Renewal).

“We are seeking a vision of what we want our Church to be and seek ways to live this vision in our parishes,” he said.

“I invite you to join me, to-

Archbishop Simon Poh was installed on March 20.

gether with your priests, parish councils and leaders, and we will review, reassess, renew and seek God’s vision and our mission in the Archdiocese of Kuching.”

Kuching has the largest Catholic population in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. There are 11 parishes, with an estimated Catholic population of 197,134. n

Cardinal presses HK incoming chief executive for reform CNS photos

HONG KONG – Cardinal John

Tong of Hong Kong has asked Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam to push forward with democratic reform while Chinese state-run media warned the city not to copy foreign “political formats.”

Cardinal Tong’s letter was sent on March 28, two days after Ms Lam, a practising Catholic, became the first woman Chief Executive of Hong Kong. She was selected with 777 votes from a 1,194-member election committee comprised mostly of Beijing loyalists. The diocesan weekly posted the letter on Facebook the day after Hong Kong Free Press published the letter on March 29.

Cardinal Tong said in his letter that he hoped Ms Lam would “promote the democratic process in Hong Kong” so that the goal of universal suffrage will eventually be achieved as the Church follows the “social teachings of successive popes” and attaches great importance to the significance of democratic elections.

The voter base of the recent election was “far from being able to achieve a degree of universal participation”, the cardinal noted.

Ms Lam promised in her election manifesto that “if elected, I will do my best to work towards creating a favourable atmosphere to take forward political reform within the framework of the 831 decision”.

The 831 decision refers to one made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress in 2014 – that a 1,200-member election committee continue to decide chief executive elections

Cardinal Tong said he hoped Ms Lam would ‘encourage a free airing of views’. and that only two to three candidates be able to run.

The decision was criticised by pro-democrats as not reflecting real universal suffrage because most citizens were deprived of the right to nominate people to the election committee. It led to the outbreak of the pro-democracy movement the same year.

An editorial in state media Global Times on March 26, election day, warned that people in Hong Kong should avoid “naively thinking that just by copying foreign political formats they could solve the severe problems Hong Kong faces”.

On March 27, nine key participants of the pro-democracy movement were prosecuted. Local media cited police sources saying that 39 more may follow, includ-

Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam.

ing Cardinal Joseph Zen, retired bishop of Hong Kong. However, Cardinal Tong’s letter did not touch on the prosecution.

In his letter to Ms Lam, Cardinal Tong said the diocese is committed to serving the needy and is willing to collaborate with the government “for the goodwill of the people”.

He hoped she would “encourage a free airing of views, listen to voices from all sides and promote the unity and progress of our society”.

Cardinal Tong also hoped the government under Ms Lam would continue to protect the local people’s freedom of religious belief, expression and pluralism in running schools.

Before the election, the cardinal demanded that she drop a religious policy from her manifesto that included the possible set up of a “Religious Affairs Unit” because of fears it could introduce a system similar to that in mainland China. n UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Vietnamese Church reaches out to people with autism CNS file photo

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM – Ho

Chi Minh City archdiocese is helping people with autism take part in catechism and communion, starting with a special service to mark on World Autism Awareness Day. Some 80 people, including 30 people with autism, attended the event, Faith Encounter with Autistic People, held by Caritas at Ho Chi Minh City Pastoral Centre on April 1.

“Let children, especially those who have special situations come to God because He wants to meet them. Let them naturally show their feelings to God because He wants them to find the freedom He gives to human beings,” Jesuit Fr Joseph Dao Nguyen Vu said during a special Mass.

He said the archdiocesan Committee for Catechism will teach autistic people who want to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. After the Mass, 20 people with autism registered for the classes.

Ms Anna Nguyen Thi Xuan Hong was pleased. “Now I believe that my son will receive his First Communion in the future,” she said, smiling, as her autistic son registered.

Ms Hong said her son can play the piano and ride a bicycle. She patiently works with him and teaches him life skills. “If people with au-

Children with disablities are seen in a Catholic-run centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City archdiocese is giving catechism classes to autistic people who want to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist.

tism are not looked after well, they will live a life of animals,” she said.

Ms Mary Tieu My Linh, whose 17-year-old daughter has autism, said when her daughter was a child, she cried loudly during Mass and other churchgoers forced them out. Mother and daughter did not go to church for years.

Ms Linh, who spends all her time looking after her daughter at home, said she never dared ask parish priests to allow her daughter to attend catechism classes for fear they would deny her but now she has hope.

“We hope the local Church will

organise Sunday Masses for autistic people and train them to serve as altar servers as a way to give them an education in faith,” she said.

Other parents shared their difficulties, particularly how much time it takes for them to care for their children. They are in a difficult situation because public schools refuse to admit autistic pupils and parents cannot afford to send them to private schools.

It is hard for the 200,000 Vietnamese with autism to integrate into society and live independently because there are few public vocational centres for them. n UCANEWS.COM

Bangladesh Church joins Nobel prize winner’s campaign for child rights DHAKA – The Catholic Church in Bangladesh has joined the Indian Nobel Peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s global campaign to eliminate child labour, end child exploitation and promote education.

Cardinal Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka gave his full support at the launch of Satyarthi’s “100 Million

for 100 Million” campaign at St Joseph’s secondary school in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, on April 2.

“Together with all the students and teachers of Catholic educational institutions, I pledge my commitment to the 100 million disadvantaged children,” said Cardinal Rozario who is also the

CNS cartoon

chairman of the Bangladesh Catholic Education Board.

Mr Satyarthi, an Indian child rights and education advocate won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with Pakistan’s Malala Yousafzai. He launched the campaign in Delhi last December through his organisation, Children’s Foundation. Mr Satyarthi also attended the launch of the campaign in the Bangladeshi capital.

The cardinal said he was extremely delighted by the initiative, which was in keeping with Church teachings.

“We, who have received an education, cannot hold it back, but must spread the light of education among others,” said Cardinal Rozario.

Christians in Bangladesh are hailed for their contribution in education. The Catholic Church runs a university, eight colleges and 580 primary and high schools, providing education to some 100,000 students, most of them non-Christians.

Caritas offers basic education to 158,605 children aged 3-14 from the poorest and most marginalised families in 1,005 villages across Bangladesh. n UCANEWS.COM

Cardinal urges ‘common security’ approach to issue of migration VATICAN CITY – A more Christian, as well as more effective, approach to the global migration crisis would be to move from a concern about “national security” to a concern for “common security”, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila told participants at a Vatican conference.

The cardinal, who also serves as president of Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organisation for national Catholic charities, spoke on April 4 at a conference marking the 50th anniversary of Blessed Paul VI’s encyclical, Populorum Progressio.

The document, Cardinal Tagle said, urges a recognition that questions of poverty, development and migration are not matters of statistics and programmes, but involve the lives of real people and their God-given dignity.

Keeping the people at the centre of focus means looking at the causes of migration, its consequences, “the wounds it inflicts, the social costs on families and countries of origin and destination”, he said.

“You know,” the cardinal said, “it is not always the case that the forced migrant’s departure from a miserable condition changes their lives automatically for the better when they reach their destination.

The initial causes of displacement are often replaced by other vulnerabilities like security issues, threats, exploitation, scapegoating – every problem is attributed to migrants – conflicts.”

“The life of a forced migrant,” he said, “is a pilgrimage, leaving a past with hope for a future of

peace, a fuller life of integral human development.”

To combat a fear of migrants or the fear that they may impinge on the security and economic well-being of their host communities, the cardinal said Catholics must foster a “point of encoun-

Cardinal Tagle urged a move from ‘national security’ to ‘common security’. CNS file photo

ter” with migrants based on “our common humanity, our common aspiration for fullness of life, and hopefully this will lead to a common commitment to fight the globalisation of indifference and to promote integral development for all human beings.” n CNS

Indigenous communities win victory in oil drilling ruling LIMA, PERU – A Peruvian court

has upheld the right of Awajun and Wampis indigenous communities to be consulted about oil drilling on their land, in a case supported by Catholic Church leaders.

The court ordered the government to ensure that two oil companies, one French and one Canadian, suspend operations and withdraw from the lease known as Block 116, in Peru’s northern Amazonas and Loreto regions, until a consultation is held.

“The decision shows that life and health are more important than economic activities,” said Mr Zebelio Kayap Jempekit, an Awajun leader who is a plaintiff in the case.

Just days before the March 28 ruling, Mr Kayap testified before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, USA, with indigenous leaders from other South American countries and representatives of the Church’s Pan-Amazonian Church

Network, known by its Spanish acronym as REPAM. “The court decision requires the government to review the way it deals with indigenous peoples in cases involving large industrial projects [and] find a solution that allows it to promote investment while also respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and national and international environmental standards,” said Mr Ismael Vega Diaz, director of the Amazonian Center for Anthropology and Practical Application, founded by the Peruvian Catholic Church to advise the bishops on Amazonian issues.

The ruling that the government should have consulted the Awajun communities before the lease was signed and before the environmental impact statement was approved is the first of its kind for petroleum operations in Peru, said Mr Juan Carlos Ruiz, a Catholic lawyer with the non-profit Legal Defense Institute, which is handling the case. n CNS

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Child protection body seeks new ways to work with victims VATICAN CITY – Following the on March 1 by National Catholic resignation of a prominent mem- Reporter, Ms Collins said an unber and abuse survivor, a pontifi- named dicastery not only refused cal commission charged with ad- to respond to letters from victims, dressing issues related to clergy it also refused to cooperate on sex abuse vowed to continue to the commission’s safeguarding seek input from victims and sur- guidelines. vivors.

In its statement, the commisThe Pontifical Commission for sion emphasised Pope Francis’ the Protection of Minors said the letter to the presidents of the bishresignation of Ms Marie Collins ops’ conferences and superiors was a “central topic” of its March of institutes of consecrated life 24-26 plenary assembly, and it and societies of apostolic life, in “expressed strong which he called for support for her contheir close and comtinuing work” to plete cooperation promote healing for with the Commisabuse victims and sion for the Protecensuring best praction of Minors. tices for prevention.

“The work I have “Commission entrusted to them inmembers have cludes providing asunanimously agreed sistance to you and to find new ways your conferences to ensure its work through an exchange is shaped and inof best practices and formed with and by Abuse survivor Marie through programmes victims/survivors. Collins resigned from the of education, trainSeveral ideas that Pontifical Commission for ing and developing have been success- the Protection of Minors. adequate responses fully implemented to sexual abuse,” the elsewhere are being carefully pope wrote on Feb 2, 2015. considered for recommendation Commission members spoke to the Holy Father,” the commis- again of their willingness to work sion said in a March 26 statement together with the Congregation published by the Vatican. for the Doctrine of the Faith comAmong the main concerns ad- municating a “guidelines temdressed by the commission was plate” to episcopal conferences outreach to victims, an issue first and Religious congregations, both raised by Ms Collins shortly after directly and through the commisshe resigned from her position. sion website, the statement said.

In an editorial published online n CNS

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Church leaders offer prayers, consolation after UK terror attack MANCHESTER,

ENGLAND

–

Church leaders have rallied to comfort people reeling from the March 22 terror attack at London’s Westminster Bridge.

The Catholic priest serving the British Parliament said people were weeping at prayer services the day after the Westminster terror attack.

Fr Pat Browne conducted the March 23 services in Parliament’s Chapel of St Mary’s Undercroft with Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, the Speaker’s chaplain and an Anglican.

“There were lots of tears,” Fr Browne told Catholic News Service in a March 23 telephone interview. “There were a lot of staff there, members of Parliament, peers. People were very shaken.

“For some it was the first time they could sit down and reflect on what had happened. They didn’t feel, until they got home last night, what had really happened,” he said.

“They are very shaken people.”

Rev Hudson-Wilkin preached at the first of the three services, he said, and she reminded the congregation to respond with compassion and solidarity to the evil that had entered their lives “in a very dramatic way”.

“Westminster Parliament is like a village and, when something like this happens, everyone comes together,” Fr Browne said.

Left: People assist an injured person after the attack on London’s Westminster Bridge on March 22.

Below: Cardinal Vincent Nichols called for prayers for the dead and wounded.

CNS photos

“It doesn’t matter if you work in the kitchen or you are a cleaner or a member of Parliament, everyone rallies together.”

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, whose cathedral is just a short walk from the scene of the attack, called for prayers for the dead and wounded.

“Yesterday’s attacks in Westminster have shocked us all,” he said in a March 23 statement. “The kind of violence we have seen all too of-

ten in other places has again brought horror and killing to this city.”

The five fatalities included Aysha Frade, a 43-year-old Catholic mother mowed down by a car driven by the assailant as he sped over Westminster Bridge towards the British Parliament. Frade was on her way to pick up her children from school when she was killed.

“Pray for Aysha Frade,” Cardinal Nichols said, adding that her two children attended St Mary of the Angels Primary School, a Catholic school in West London.

“Pray for them and for their father. And please remember the young French students who have been injured.”

He added, “We pray in particular as well for Keith Palmer, the police officer who died, and for his family, thanking God that so many show such brave dedication to keeping our society safe.”

Pope Francis sent a message to Cardinal Nichols on March 23, assuring the president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales of his prayer for the nation.

Communicated via Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, the message said: “Deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and of the injuries caused by the attack in central London, His Holiness Pope Francis expresses his prayerful solidarity with all those affected by this tragedy.

“Commending those who have died to the loving mercy of almighty God, His Holiness invokes divine strength and peace upon their grieving families, and he assures the nation of his prayers at this time,” it said. n CNS

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Christian unity highlighted as Jesus’ tomb is restored JERUSALEM – Less than a year

after restoration work began, the Edicule – the traditional site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection – was inaugurated in an ecumenical ceremony led by representatives of the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian churches, including Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.

The 200-year-old structure was rehabilitated for the first time after Israeli authorities deemed it unsafe and leaders from the three Churches that share custody of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre came to an agreement for the work to proceed.

Some did not believe the Churches could overcome their centuries-old disagreements, but the project was a sign that “with God, nothing is impossible”, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, said at the March 22 ceremony.

“This apparent mission impossible became possible because we allowed God to enlighten our thoughts and our eyes and our relations. Things do not change by themselves. If we are here for this celebration, it is because the different Churches and leaders were able to hear the voice of God and

The structure was rehabilitated after it was deemed unsafe and Church leaders came to an agreement for work to proceed.

People wait to enter the Edicule, the traditional site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection, on March 23 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. CNS photo

understand and realise and accept that it was time to build new relations between us of trust and respect,” he said.

Franciscan Fr Francesco Pat-

ton, custos of the Holy Land, said it was “providential coincidence” that this year, as the Edicule is restored, all the Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same

Vatican concerned over Trump’s policies VATICAN CITY – The Vatican tle by little, other positions and hopes that US bishops and others political voices will emerge, and will continue to raise their voices so we hope that Trump himself in defence of fighting climate will reconsider some of his decichange and, in time, can persuade sions,” the cardinal said.

US President Donald Trump to “Various American bishops change his position, a top Vatican have already spoken about the official said. president’s position, and this could Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect have an influence,” he said. Perof the Dicastery for Promoting In- haps, Mr Trump will come to see tegral Human Development, told that not all the promises he made reporters on March 30 that there in the campaign would be good for is concern at the Vatithe country, he added. can over Mr Trump’s A change in popolicies, including on sition is not imposthe environment. sible, Cardinal TurkMr Trump’s posison said. “There is tion on immigration another superpower and his efforts to roll – China – that is back US commitrethinking its posiments on environtion” and has allomental regulations cated funds for proare “a challenge for grammes to reduce us”, said the cardidangerous emisnal, whose office sions. “One hopes it Cardinal Peter Turkson works on both isis not only because it sues and is charged with assisting is a country with ever more smog bishops around the world as they and pollution.” promote Catholic social teaching.

The cardinal’s remarks came a Still, he said, “we are full of day after the chairman of the US hope that things can change”. bishops’ Committee on Domestic The first sign of hope, he said, Justice and Human Development is the growing number of “dis- said Mr Trump’s executive order senting voices” who are calling calling for a review of the Clean attention to the scientific facts sur- Power Plan jeopardises environrounding climate change and the mental protections and moves the ethical obligation to act to protect US away from a national carbon the environment. standard that aims to help ease “This, for us, is a sign that lit- greenhouse gas emissions.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the committee, said in a March 29 statement that the order fails to offer a “sufficient plan for ensuring proper care for people and creation”. He suggested that an integral approach involving various components of US society can reduce power plant emissions and still encourage economic growth and protect the environment. n CNS

date. It was also fitting, he said, that it was around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that the Churches regained a closer relationship.

Armenian Patriarch Nourhan

Manougian took the opportunity to mention the three other denominations with a presence in the church – the Assyrian Orthodox, the Ethiopian Orthodox and the Coptic Orthodox. He asked that the Anglican and Russian Orthodox Churches be allowed to offer their holy liturgy at the Edicule once a year, after Easter.

Several hundred local faithful, pilgrims and international dignitaries filled the main area of the basilica where the Edicule is located, taking pictures and videos of the pink-stoned structure.

“It is a very exciting day which hasn’t happened in hundreds of years. It is a very big step, we are all united in celebration,” said Marlen Mauge, 53, a Catholic from Jerusalem.

Antonia Moropoulou, a professor at the National Technical University of Athens, directed the work at the site. n CNS US President Donald Trump signs an executive order titled Energy Independence during a March 28 event. His environment policies have raised concerns.

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Vatican offical to UN: Clean water a basic right for everyone UNITED NATIONS – The right to

633 million people – nearly 10 clean water is a basic and pressing percent of the world’s population need for all people of the planet – cannot get the water they need. because without water “there is no Archbishop Auza said there is life,” said the Vatican’s permanent an urgent need to protect and care observer to the United Nations. for the earth, particularly its water Addressing a UN meeting supplies. on water-related issues under the “Access to safe drinking water world body’s sustainable develop- is a basic human right and a conment goals on March dition for sustainable 22, Archbishop Berdevelopment,” ArchAccess to nardito Auza called on Auza said. safe drinking bishop all nations to recognise The UN nuncio the responsibility to water is a basic said that competition care for and share wafor water can destahuman right ter because it is a lifebilise nations espeand a condition cially where aquatic sustaining resource.

The archbishop’s for sustainable resources cross nacomments came as tional boundaries. He development.

World Water Day was pointed to water exbeing observed. The – Archbishop perts and advocates day has been set aside “ominously Bernardito Auza who by international agenpredict that the Third cies and governments to focus at- World War will be about water.” tention on the need for universal “Thus, rather than causing conaccess to clean water, sanitation flict,” the archbishop continued, and hygiene facilities in develop- “the need for water sharing should ing countries. be an opportunity for cross-border WaterAid, a London-based in- cooperation and greater efforts ternational organisation that helps toward adopting binding instrucommunities access clean water ments to ensure stable and predictand proper hygiene, said about able transnational relations.” n CNS

‘

’

Vatican welcomes 3 new refugee families from Syria VATICAN CITY – The first three ref-

ugee families from Syria welcomed by the Vatican left their temporary homes to start their new lives in Italy, and three new families took their places in Vatican apartments.

The papal Almoner’s Office, which helps coordinate Pope Francis’ acts of charity, announced on April 2 that two Christian families and one Muslim family moved into the apartments that housed the first refugee families welcomed by the Vatican in late 2015 and early 2016.

The two Christian families, the papal almoner’s office said, arrived in March after “suffering kidnapping and discrimination” because of their faith.

“The first family is composed of a mother with two adolescent children, a grandmother, an aunt and another Syrian woman who

lives with them,” the office said.

The second family is a young couple, who had their first child – a daughter named Stella – shortly after moving into the Vatican apartment, the Almoner’s Office said.

The third family – a mother, father and two children – arrived in Italy in February 2016, the office said. The children have been attending elementary school in Italy while the mother has been attending graduate courses and currently has an internship.

The Vatican welcomed the refugee families after an appeal made by Pope Francis on Sept 6, 2015, in which he called on every parish, religious community, monastery and shrine in Europe to take in a family of refugees, given the ongoing crisis of people fleeing from war and poverty. n CNS CNS file photo

Pope Francis greets Syrian refugees he brought to Rome from the Greek island of Lesbos in 2016. Three new Syrian refugee families have moved into the apartments that housed the original three families from the Greek island.

Patriarch supports peace march in Iraq IRBIL, Iraq – The Chaldean Catholic patriarch is supporting a more than 128-km peace march during Holy Week to urge an end to violence in his homeland and throughout the Middle East.

The Chaldean Catholic Church has dedicated 2017 as the Year of Peace. For Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad, Holy Week culminating in the Easter celebration offers a fresh hope to breathe new life into prayer and reflection, reconciliation and dialogue.

“Peace must be achieved by us [religious leaders] as well as politicians, through courageous initiatives and responsible decisions,” said the patriarch.

He has repeatedly called on Iraqis to engage in “serious dialogue, openness and honesty” to realise national reconciliation and unity among the country’s vast mosaic of religious and ethnic peoples, battered by years of sectarian violence.

“Some 100 people, Iraqis and foreigners, are expected to participate in the march, which will begin on Palm Sunday with a Mass in Irbil,” the patriarch told Catholic News Service by phone. “They will walk from Irbil to Alqosh in the Nineveh Plain.”

“I will join them in a village

Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad has called on Iraqis to engage in ‘serious dialogue, openness and honesty’. About 100 of them will participate in a 128-km peace march during Holy Week.

near Alqosh on Holy Thursday,” he said.

The march presents a “great occasion for unity,” and a common front against the violence and bloodshed that have scarred Iraq and the region, he said.

This peace initiative is meant to demonstrate the bond among Iraqi communities and churches around the world during the years of suffering and persecution.

These once-flourishing Christian towns have formed the bedrock

The march presents a ‘great occasion for unity,’ and a common front against the violence and bloodshed that have scarred Iraq and the region, said Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad.

of centuries of Christian history and were recently liberated from the brutal control of the so-called Islamic State militants.

Before the US-led 2003 war that toppled Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s Christian population numbered 1.4 million. After being killed or driven out, they number only 250,000 people. Patriarch Sako said in a recent Lenten address, “We need to work hard and pray without ceasing for peace in our country and the regions.”

He urged the faithful “to rely on wisdom and patience and to stay united together on the land where we were born [and have] lived for 1,400 years together with Muslims, sharing one civilisation.” n CNS

Aiding those hit by drought Nairobi, KENYA – Catholics in Nairobi delivered a convoy of aid to the dioceses of Isiolo and Marsabit, where thousands are facing a severe drought.

The convoy, carrying 73,000 kilograms of food and supplies valued at nearly US$78,000 (S$109,000), included items donated by parishes in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, following an appeal by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops in February. The diocese also sent US$16,500 in cash.

Bishop Anthony Ireri Mukobo of Isiolo told Catholic News Service (CNS) that the convoy was “a real Lent. It’s going to save lives.”

“We are now embarking on distributing the food in parishes,” he added. “Some of the neediest areas are distant and the roads are poor.”

He said more relief would be needed because the drought was expected to continue.

As the convoy left on March 17, Nairobi Cardinal John Njue said the bishops had decided to mobilise for food aid because the drought had hit half of the counties in Kenya.

Mr Stephen Kituku, national di-

A girl walks in a dried up watering hole in 2015 near Matinyani, Kenya.

Catholics in Nairobi delivered a convoy, containing food and supplies, to the dioceses of Isiolo and Marsabit, where thousands are facing a severe drought.

rector of Caritas Kenya, said the appeal was ongoing because the forecast showed that the drought was not likely to end soon. At least three million Kenyans need food aid.

“The situation is grave, but we will continue mobilising for support to ensure that no one goes hungry,” he said.

In most affected regions, rains have failed for two seasons, resulting in wide crop failure, acute water shortages and a decline in animal productivity. Food security

and nutrition issues have overcome some people’s ability to cope.

On Feb 10, Kenya declared the drought a national disaster.

In Marsabit, Fr Ibrahim Racho, the diocese’s vicar general, said most of population is affected by the drought and more than 60 percent of animals are dead.

“The water scarcity worsens each day, as boreholes continue to break down due to over use. Nearly all dams and [water] pans have dried up,” said Fr Racho. n CNS

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

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Pope approves provisions to recognise marriages

by SSPX faithful VATICAN CITY – Continuing ini-

Pope Francis walks with World Youth Day pilgrims in Krakow, Poland. Speaking at a Vatican conference, the pope called for human development that affirms ‘inclusion and not exclusion’.

Human development should follow Jesus’ approach VATICAN CITY – A Catholic ap-

proach to development aims at helping people achieve both physical and spiritual well-being and promotes both individual responsibility and community ties, Pope Francis said.

A development that is “fully human” recognises that being a person means being in relationship; it affirms “inclusion and not exclusion,” upholds the dignity of the person against any form of exploitation, and struggles for freedom, the pope said on April 4 at a Vatican conference marking the 50th anniversary of Blessed Paul VI’s encyclical on integral human development, “Populorum Progressio.”

Holistic or integral development, Pope Francis said, involves “integrating” all people into one human family, integrating individuals into communities, integrating

the individual and communal dimensions of life and integrating body and soul.

“The duty of solidarity obliges us to seek proper ways of sharing so that there is no longer that dramatic inequality between those who have too much and those who have nothing,” he said.

Social integration recognises that each individual has “a right and an obligation” to participate in the life of the community, bringing his or her gifts and talents to share for the good of all, the pope said. But it also recognises that well-being is

A development that is ‘fully human’ recognises that being a person means being in a relationship.

not something that can be improved or measured only with economic indicators; it includes “work, culture, family life and religion.”

One of the major challenges to integral development today, he said, is the tendency to focus either exclusively on the value of the individual or to ignore that value completely.

In the West, he said, culture “has exulted the individual to the point of making him an island, as if one could be happy alone.”

Because human beings are both body and soul, working for their well-being must include respecting their faith and helping it grow.

The Catholic Church’s approach to development is modelled on Jesus’ approach to human flourishing, an approach that included spiritual and physical healing, liberating and reconciling people, the pope said. n CNS

Prince Charles and wife meet pope VATICAN CITY – Britain’s Prince

Charles and his wife Camilla, the duchess of Cornwall, met with Pope Francis on April 4 at the Vatican.

The pope and the British royals spoke privately for 27 minutes.

The Vatican did not issue a statement about the topics covered in the private conversation.

Prince Charles presented the pope with a gift basket full of produce from the Royal Gardens at Highgrove, their private residence.

For his part, Pope Francis presented Prince Charles with a bronze sculpture of an olive branch in a white box and told him that it was “a symbol of peace.”

“Wherever you go, may you be a man of peace,” he told the prince.

Pope Francis also gave the royal couple hardbound copies of two apostolic exhortations, Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) and Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). He also gave them a copy of Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home, his 2015 encyclical on the environment.

Before meeting the pope, the prince and duchess were given a

tiatives aimed at a reconciliation with the Society of St Pius X, Pope Francis has made it possible for bishops to ensure the validity of marriages celebrated in the traditionalist society.

A letter published by the Vatican on April 4 said the pope will allow Catholic bishops to appoint priests to assist at SSPX marriages and formally receive the consent of the couples. The nuptial Mass then would be celebrated by the SSPX priest.

In addition, Pope Francis gave bishops the option of granting an SSPX priest the necessary faculties to officiate validly over the marriage rite “if there are no priests in the diocese” available to do so.

The provisions are meant to ensure the validity of the sacrament and “allay any concerns on the part of the faithful,” said the letter published by the Pontifi-

Seminarians walk on the grounds of the Society of St Pius X seminary in Econe, Switzerland. CNS file photo

Cross is sign of God’s love, not just a shiny ornament VATICAN CITY – The cross is a

Pope Francis talks with Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, during a private audience on April 4 at the Vatican. CNS photo

private tour of the Vatican Secret Archives, where they were welcomed by Archbishop Jean-Louis Brugues, archivist and librarian of the Vatican Library.

The royal couple were shown original rare documents relating to the once-complicated history between the Catholic Church and Britain.

Among the documents they were shown was the last letter written by Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, before her execution in 1587 for treason.

They were also shown a letter written in 1555 by Queen Mary I and King Philip II regarding the restoration of the Catholic Church in England. n CNS

cal Commission “Ecclesia Dei,” which is responsible for the Vatican’s ongoing talks with the Society of St Pius X. The commission is led by German Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who signed the letter on March 27.

For decades, the Vatican and leaders of the traditionalist society, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, have been seeking a way to fully reintegrate the members of the society back into the life of the Catholic Church.

During the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis made special provisions to recognise as valid the absolution offered by SSPX priests through the sacrament of confession. After the Holy Year ended, the pope extended that provision “lest anyone ever be deprived of the sacramental sign of reconciliation through the Church’s pardon.” n CNS

sign of God’s love for humankind and not just an emblem of Christianity or a piece of jewellery to display, Pope Francis said.

Its significance can be lost due to a lack of faith in its saving power or the desire to show off, the pope said on April 4 during his morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

“For some people it is a membership badge: ‘Yes, I carry the cross to show that I am a Christian.’

That is good, but it isn’t just a badge as if you were part of a team – a team logo – but a reminder of” Christ, the pope said.

Reflecting on the day’s reading from the Book of Numbers (21: 4-9), which recounted the healing of the people of Israel who were poisoned by serpents,

the pope said the bronze serpent was not only a reminder of how sin entered the world but also a “prophecy” of Christ’s death on the cross.

“Salvation comes only from the cross, from this cross where God was made flesh.

There is no salvation in ideas; there is no salvation in good will, in wanting to be good. No! The only salvation is in Christ crucified because only He – like the bronze serpent – was able to take upon Himself the poison of our sin and heal us,” the pope said.

Christians, Pope Francis said, must ask themselves if they are aware of the importance of the cross or if they carry it like “a trinket adorned with many precious stones and gold.” n CNS

18 Pope francis

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Forgive past sins, pope tells Catholics, Protestants

CNS photo

Pope speaks at congress on ‘rereading the Lutheran Reformation’ VATICAN CITY – Serious research on Martin Luther can help heal relations between Catholics and Protestants, highlight what was legitimate about the Reformation and pinpoint the errors and sins that led to the division of the Church, Pope Francis said.

“Today, as Christians, all of us are called to put behind us all prejudice toward the faith that others profess with a different emphasis or language, to offer one another forgiveness for the sins committed by those who have gone before us, and together to implore from God the gift of reconciliation and unity,” he said.

The pope spoke on March 31 to about 150 people taking part in an international congress organised by the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences. The congress, held from March 29-31, discussed the theme, “Luther: 500 Years Later. A Rereading of the Lutheran Reformation in the Historical, Ecclesial Context”.

The pope said his first reaction to hearing about “this praiseworthy initiative” was one of gratitude to God and “a certain surprise, since not long ago a meeting like this would have been unthinkable”.

Martin Luther depicted in a painting.

“Catholics and Lutherans together, discussing Luther, at a meeting organised by an office of the Holy See – truly we are experiencing the results of the working of the Holy Spirit, who overcomes

Truly we are ‘ experiencing the results of the working of the Holy Spirit, who ... turns conflicts into occasions for growth in communion.

’

– Pope Francis

every obstacle and turns conflicts into occasions for growth in communion,” he said.

Pope Francis said he was pleased that the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation offered this occasion to jointly study such past events.

“Serious research into the figure of Luther and his critique of the Church of his time and the papacy certainly contributes to overcoming the atmosphere of mutual distrust and rivalry that for all too long marked relations between Catholics and Protestants,” he said.

“An attentive and rigorous study, free of prejudice and polemics, enables the Churches, now in dialogue, to discern and receive all that was positive and legitimate in the Reformation, while distancing themselves from errors, extremes and failures, and acknowledging the sins that led to the division,” the pope said.

While the past cannot be changed, he said, 50 years of dialogue means there can be “a purification of memory”, which is “to tell that history differently”, in a way that is “free of any lingering trace of the resentment over past injuries that has distorted our view of one another”. n CNs

POPE VISITS BLIND CENTRE: A blind girl greets Pope

Francis as he visits the Sant’ Alessio-Margherita di Savoia Regional Centre for the Blind in Rome.

The pope, on March 31, returned to a practice he developed during the Year of Mercy – making a Friday afternoon visit to people in need of special care.

He chose the centre for the blind, which is home to 37 adults and senior citizens who are blind or severely visually impaired. The centre also offers specialised classes for 50 children with the same challenges.

The visits were designed to reflect the spiritual and corporal works of mercy with “those who live in situations of physical and social exclusion”, the Vatican said in a statement. n CNs

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Pope asks children to promise Jesus they will never be bullies ROME – Pope

Francis asked 45,000 children preparing for confirmation to promise Jesus they would never engage in bullying.

Turning stern during a lively and laughter-filled encounter on March 25, Pope Francis told the youngsters he was very worried about the growing phenomenon of bullying.

He asked them to be silent and reflect on whether there were times they had made fun of others for how they looked or behaved.

And, as a condition of their confirmation, he made them promise Jesus that they would never tease or bully anyone.

The pope ended his daylong visit to Milan by participating in an expanded version of the archdiocese’s annual encounter for preteens preparing for confirmation.

An estimated 78,000 people filled the city’s famed San Siro soccer stadium; the archdiocese expects to confirm about 45,000 young people this year.

A boy named Davide asked the pope, “When you were our age, what helped your friendship with Jesus grow?”

First of all, the pope said, it was his grandparents. One of his grandfathers was a carpenter, who told him Jesus learned carpentry from St Joseph, so whenever the pope saw his grandfather work, he thought of Jesus. The other grandfather taught him to always say something to Jesus before going to sleep, even if it was just, “Goodnight, Jesus.”

His grandmothers and his mother, the pope said, were the ones who taught him to pray. He told the kids that even if their grandparents “don’t know how to use a computer or have a smart-

Young candidates for confirmation at an event with Pope Francis at San Siro stadium in Milan on March 25. The pope was making a one-day visit to Milan.

phone,” they have a lot to teach them.

Playing with friends taught him joy and how to get along with others, which is part of faith, the pope said. And going to Mass and to the parish oratory also strengthened his faith because “being with others is important.”

A couple of parents, who introduced themselves as Monica and Alberto, asked the pope’s advice on educating their three children in the faith.

Pope Francis asked the children to be silent and reflect on whether there were times they had made fun of others for how they looked or behaved.

Pope Francis borrowed little Davide’s question and asked the parents to close their eyes and think of the people who transmitted the faith to them and helped it grow.

“Your children watch you continually,” the pope said. “Even if you don’t notice, they observe everything and learn from it,” especially in how parents handle tensions, joys and sorrows.

He also encouraged families to go to Mass together and then, if the weather is nice, to go to a park and play together. “This is beautiful and will help you live the commandment to keep the Lord’s day holy.”

An essential part of handing on the faith, he said, is teaching children the meaning of solidarity and engaging them in the parents’ acts of charity and solidarity with the poor. “Faith grows with charity and charity grows with faith,” he said. n CNS

pope in Milan 19

Spread hope, preach Christ, don’t worry about numbers ROME – Visiting Milan, the centre of Italian fashion and finance, Pope Francis spent the morning with the poor and those who minister to them.

He had lunch at the city’s historic San Vittore prison, where all 893 inmates – men and women – are awaiting trial.

But Pope Francis began his March 25 visit on the outskirts of the city, at the “White Houses,” a housing development for the poor built in the 1970s. Three families welcomed the pope into their apartments: Stefano Pasquale, 59, who is ill and cared for by his 57-year-old wife, Dorotee; a Muslim couple and their three children from Morocco; and the Onetes.

Mr Nuccio Onete, 82, was home for the pope’s visit, but his wife, Adele, was hospitalised with pneumonia three days earlier, so the pope called her on the telephone.

The people of the neighbourhood gave Pope Francis a handmade white stole, which he put on before addressing the crowd.

The fact that it was homemade, he said, “makes it much more precious and is a reminder that the Christian priest is chosen from the people and is at the service of the people.”

Arriving next at Milan’s massive Gothic cathedral, Pope Francis met with the archdiocese’s pastoral workers and responded to questions from a priest, a permanent deacon and a Religious Sister, urging them to trust in God, hold on to their joy and share the good news of Christ with everyone they meet.

“We should not fear challenges,” he said. “It is good that they exist” and Christians must “grab them, like a bull, by the horns.”

Asked by Fr Gabriele Gioia about evangelisation efforts that do not seem to result in “catching fish,” Pope Francis said the work of an evangeliser – of all Christians

– is to set out and cast the nets. “It’s the Lord who catches the fish.”

Preoccupation with numbers is never a good thing, Pope Francis said.

Responding to Ursuline Sr Paola Paganoni, who spoke of the challenge of reaching out when so many Religious orders are experiencing an aging and declining membership, the pope spoke as a Jesuit, saying, “The majority of our founding fathers and mothers never thought they’d be a multitude.”

Pope Francis greets the crowd in Milan on March 25. The pope visited prison inmates, three families, pastoral workers and religious from Milan’s Gothic cathedral.

Rather, he said, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to respond to the real needs of their time.

It is not up to the pope to tell Religious orders what their focus should be, he said. They must look to their founding charisms and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But in all they do, he said, “ignite the hope that has been extinguished and weakened by a society that has become insensitive to the pain of others.” n CNS

Pontiff recognises miracle attributed to Fatima visionaries Jacinta and Francisco Marto are pictured with their cousin Lucia dos Santos (right) in a file photo taken around the time of the 1917 apparitions of Mary at Fatima, Portugal. The pope approved the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of Jacinta and Francisco.

CNS file photo

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis

has approved the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of two of the shepherd children who saw Our Lady of Fatima in 1917, thus paving the way for their canonisation.

Pope Francis signed the decree for the causes of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto during a meeting on March 23 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, the Vatican said.

The recognition of the miracle makes it likely that the canonisation ceremony for the two children will be scheduled soon.

The cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation must vote to recommend their canonisation and then the pope

would convene the cardinals resident in Rome for a consistory to approve the sainthood.

Many people are hoping Pope Francis will preside over the canonisation ceremony during his visit to Fatima from May 12-13.

The pilgrimage will mark the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions, which began on May 13, 1917, when nine-yearold Francisco and seven-year-old Jacinta, along with their cousin Lucia dos Santos, reported seeing the Virgin Mary. The apparitions continued once a month until Oct 13, 1917, and later were declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church.

A year after the apparitions, both of the Marto children became ill during an influenza epidemic

that plagued Europe. Francisco died on April 4, 1919, at the age of 10, while Jacinta succumbed to her illness on Feb 20, 1920, at the age of 9.

Their cousin Lucia entered the Institute of the Sisters of St Dorothy and, later, obtained permission to enter the Carmelite convent of St Teresa in Coimbra, where she resided until her death in 2005 at the age of 97.

Following her death, Pope Benedict XVI waived the fiveyear waiting period before her sainthood cause could open. Bishop Virgilio Antunes of Coimbra formally closed the local phase of investigation into her life and holiness on Feb 13, 2017, and forwarded the information to the Vatican. n CNS

20 opinion

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

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Vatican’s media efforts in speaking to the world VATICAN CITY – For the Vatican, “the art of communicating today lies precisely in rediscovering the essence of who we are and what we have to communicate to the world and, then, how to do it,” said Ms Natasa Govekar, director of the Vatican Secretariat for Communication’s theological pastoral department.

“The Church has never had a problem with its content; the challenge is how to communicate the content in the best way for it to be heard and welcomed,” she said.

As the secretariat works to unify Vatican media efforts, a key pastoral concern is to keep open all the channels that allow Pope Francis to speak to the world.

The statistics from the main Vatican accounts – including the more than 33 million followers on the @Pontifex Twitter accounts and about 3.7 million followers on the “Franciscus” Instagram account – are the object of pastoral attention, Ms Govekar said. “It tells us if there is someone out there listening or reading. It would be wrong if we didn’t ask ourselves why so few people read a certain article or were interested in a particular subject.”

While every large organisation and government has a communications apparatus, the Vatican may be unique in having a department like Ms Govekar’s. Her office focuses on the theological and pastoral implications of communications in general, as well as in the faith content of what the Vatican communicates.

The number of page views, clicks, followers and “likes” on Vatican websites and social media accounts is, of course, tracked by the Secretariat for Communication, but those statistics are not the key factor in determining success, she said.

The secretariat fulfils its mission when the Gospel message shines through the social media posts, photographs, videos and news stories.

Ms Govekar’s thesis for her doctorate in missiology at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University looked at “The Transmission of Faith through Images,” so it is no surprise that she has a particular

A screengrab of Pope Francis’ Instagram account.

Ms Natasa Govekar, who monitors and collects comments from the account, shares the Vatican’s media efforts in reaching out to the public.

‘

The Church has never had a problem with its content; the challenge is how to communicate the content in the best way for it to be heard and welcomed.

’

– Ms Natasa Govekar, director of the secretariat’s theological-pastoral department

interest in the pope’s Instagram account, which celebrated its first anniversary on March 19.

She monitors the account, which regularly garners more than 100,000 likes a day and consistently prompts 800-1,000 comments. She collects the comments and prayers from the account to share with Pope Francis.

The most common comment is simply, “Amen,” she said. “But sometimes there are comments that are very profound and requests for prayers that are very moving; people turn to the pope even though they write, ‘I know that you won’t read this post, but I still feel the need to ask you ...’ Clearly, many

have an illness. But many also say something like, ‘I have done so many bad things in my life that I know I am not worthy to pray, so I beg you to pray for me.’”

“People turn to the pope in a personal way and find in him a reference point and a welcome even though they have never met him,” she said.

Her thesis on transmitting the faith through images is confirmed regularly by people’s reactions to Pope Francis.

“Pope Francis – and this is confirmed from the feedback I read, and not just in the comments on social media, but from speaking to people, who say, ‘I don’t go to Church, but I love this pope’ – is able to reach people, even those far from the Church, because he is simply transparent,” Ms Govekar said.

“It seems his heart is readable on his face. The whole world is able to see his spiritual life from his expression. Every little thing – his gestures, his smile – speaks,” she said. “For me, this is a great lesson on where we should focus our work: on the heart, on the profundity of Christian spirituality and the spiritual lives of Christians so that it is revealed in everything we do.” n CNS

Nothing is ever really ours Everything is gift. That’s a principle that ultimately undergirds all spirituality, all morality, and every commandment. Everything is gift. Nothing can be ultimately claimed as our own. Genuine moral and religious sensitivity should make us aware of that. Nothing comes to us by right.

This isn’t something we automatically know.

During a class some years ago, a monk shared with me how, for all the early years of his Religious life, he had been resentful because he had to ask permission of his abbott if he wanted anything: “I used to think it was silly, me, a grown man, supposedly an adult, having to ask a superior if I wanted something. If I wanted a new shirt, I would have to ask the abbott for permission to buy it. I thought it was ridiculous that a grown man was reduced to being like a child.”

But there came a day when he felt differently: “I am not sure of all the reasons, but one day I came to realise that there was a purpose and wisdom in having to ask permission for everything. I came to realise that nothing is ours by right and nothing may be taken as owned. Everything’s a gift. Everything needs to be asked for. We need to be grateful to the universe and to God just for giving us a little space. Now, when I ask permission from the abbott because I need something, I no longer feel like a child. Rather, I feel like I’m properly in tune with the way things should be, in a gift-oriented universe within which none of us has a right to ultimately claim anything as one’s own.

This is moral and religious wisdom, but it’s a wisdom that goes against the dominant ethos within our culture and against some of our strongest inclinations. Both from without and from within, we hear voices telling us: If you cannot take what you desire then you’re weak, and weak in a double way: First, you’re a weak person, too timid to fully claim what’s yours. Second, you’ve been weakened by religious and moral scruples so as to be incapable of seizing the day.

To not claim what is yours, to not claim ownership, is not a virtue but a fault.

It was those kinds of voices that this monk was hearing during his younger years and because of them he felt resentful and immature.

But Jesus wouldn’t echo these voices. The Gospels make it pretty clear that Jesus would not look on so much that is assertive, aggressive, and accumulative within our society, despite the praise and envy it receives, and see this as admirable, as healthily seizing the day. I doubt too that Jesus would share our admiration of the rich and famous who claim, as by right, their excessive wealth and status.

When Jesus states that it is harder for a rich person to go to heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, He might have mitigated this by adding: “Unless, of course, the rich person, childlike, asks permission from the universe, from the community, and from God, every time he buys a shirt!” When Jesus tells us that children and the poor go to heaven more easily He is not idolising either their innocence or poverty. He’s idolising the need to recognise and admit our dependence. Ultimately we don’t provide for ourselves and nothing is ours by right.

When I was in the Oblate novitiate, our novice master tried to impress upon us the meaning of religious poverty by making us write inside of every book that was given us the Latin words: Ad Usum.

Latin for: For use. The idea was that, although this book was given to you for your personal use, you ultimately did not own it. It’s was just yours temporarily. We were then told that this was true of everything else given us for our personal use, from our toothbrushes to the shirts on our backs. They were not really ours, but merely given us for our use.

One of the young men in that novitiate eventually left the order and became a medical doctor. He remains a close friend and he once shared with me how even today, as a doctor, he still writes those words, Ad Usum, inside all his books: “I don’t belong to a religious order and don’t have the vow of poverty, but that principle our novice master taught us is just as valid for me in the world as it is for any professed Religious. Ultimately we don’t own anything. Those books aren’t mine, really. They’ve been given me, temporarily, for my use. Nothing belongs to anybody and it’s good never to forget that!”

It’s not a bad thing as an adult to have to ask permission to buy a new shirt. It reminds us that the universe belongs to everyone and that all of us should be deeply grateful that it gives us even a little space. n

FOCUS 21

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Helping women deal with unplanned pregnancies How the Pregnancy Crisis Service aided a teenager when she decided to keep her baby

I

T IS not easy to deal with an of her child, was supportive of unplanned pregnancy. This keeping the baby. And so they did. is especially so when you However, many challenges awaitare young, single, and finan- ed them as they made that decision. cially unstable. Gail (not her real Gail was working as a car name) is living with no regrets as washer and juggling odd jobs at she raises her child. Life, as she that time. Financially strapped, knows now, would be vastly dif- she sought help from AWWA, a ferent if not for the support given local non-profit organisation that by the Pregnancy Crisis Service provides community-based provolunteers. grammes and services. AWWA Here is her story: linked her up with Pregnancy CriIt was Gail’s 18th birthday sis Service (PCS). when she discovered she was PCS is a community support pregnant again. This was her sec- service under the Singapore archond pregnancy following an abor- diocese’s Family Life Society tion merely a year ago. She was which helps women dealing with lost, afraid, and could not break unplanned pregnancies. Through the news to her family for fear that PCS, Gail found a shelter to take her mother would force her to go her in while she was pregnant. through yet another abortion.

The PCS team regularly followed Gail was up with Gail and brought up in an It was Gail’s 18th provided support abusive environshe needed it. birthday when she when ment. To escape She recalls, discovered she was “When I first her predicament, she ran away from came in contact pregnant again. home at 16. with PCS, I was She was afraid During her first very lost. I knew I her mother would wanted to keep the unexpected pregnancy, her fambaby but I had othforce her to ily coerced her to er problems to deal go through yet have the unborn with. PCS gave me another abortion. the comfort and baby aborted.

Even though she support I desperwas not staying with her family ately needed when I was feeling then, her mother found out about absolutely helpless.” the pregnancy and demanded she The team’s volunteers were get an abortion. able to relate to her situation. AcBeing young and without the cording to Gail, one of the volunsupport of her boyfriend or any teers was so patient and helpful loved ones, Gail could only pro- that it gave her and her boyfriend ceed with the abortion. Little did the strength to go ahead with their she know it was going to be a part decision. of her life she would never forget.

After Gail had given birth, “I was told to lie back while PCS continued to accompany the baby was being pumped out her to doctor’s appointments. of me. I sat up too quickly and Through its After Care Support, caught a glimpse of my dead baby. PCS provided her with tangible It was very traumatic. Till today, support such as milk powder and I still get nightmares of the inci- diapers when she could not afford dent,” said Gail. these necessities. Baby Crystal is However, things were different now about nine months old. The this time. Her boyfriend, the father team will continue to help Gail

until she has the ability to support herself and Crystal.

Gail’s is one of the many lives that PCS has touched in its 31 years of service. In 2016, 16 babies were delivered and the After Care Sup-

port given to those in need. PCS continues to work with women with unplanned pregnancies.

Pregnancy Crisis Service has a 24-hour hotline (6339-9770) that provides assistance to anyone

who may be facing an unplanned pregnancy. The organisation helps women with counselling, parental intervention, financial planning and after-care support. Its website is http://pregnancycrisis.sg/ n

22 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

From Calvary to E

Stories, reflections on the crucifixion and the joy of Christ’s

Exploring Holy Week through drama

P

By Mike Nelson

alm Sunday produces an unsettling wave of emotions like no other day in the liturgical year – from unbridled joy at the arrival of the Messiah in Jerusalem, to unfathomable sorrow at His crucifixion on a cross.

How do we make sense of it all as we head into Holy Week?

One of my most reliable sources of inspiration – as a husband, father and Catholic – is “People of the Passion,” a unique “meditation drama” written in 1985 by Catholic author/actress Mary Rose Betten.

In her story (suitable for stage performance or Scripture study), Betten explores the thoughts of nine people on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion – a few of them familiar (like Pilate’s wife and the bride at Cana), others created by the author’s fertile Catholic mind but entirely plausible.

The reflections of all nine characters are fascinating. But I have always been especially struck by the musings of a wealthy silversmith, a husband and father more intent on providing for his family

materially than spiritually.

One day, encouraged by his wife, he goes to hear “a Nazarene” with a reputation for healing the blind and lame. To his chagrin, the silversmith is captivated by the Nazarene’s words preached to thousands gathered on a hillside.

Captivation turns to astonishment when this preacher miraculously produces thousands of fish and hundreds of loaves, an action that so overwhelms his mute daughter that she bursts into song.

“My daughter is singing!” gushes the happy silversmith.

But his and his wife’s joy are shattered when, upon returning home, they discover their house has been robbed of all the expensive wares that he had created.

“Revenge entered my heart, driving out gratitude and joy,” says the silversmith, “and in its place a wild

A man looks at a statue of the crucifixion. A Catholic author has written a ‘meditation drama’ on the crucifixion.

rage to find the thief. I wanted to kill him; I wanted him to die for making me a poor man, left with nothing.”

The thief is eventually caught and sentenced to die, and on the day of his execution the silversmith, consumed with rage and vengeance, cheers wildly as the thief is

Mary Rose Betten explores in drama the thoughts of nine people on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion – a few of them familiar (like Pilate’s wife and the bride at Cana), others created by the author’s mind.

carried by the Romans to Calvary.

“Crucify him! Let the dog die!”

But in the midst of his rage, the silversmith discovers that to be crucified alongside this thief is “the rabbi who had given my daughter a voice.”

Stunned into silence, the silversmith is further amazed to hear the man who stole his silver ask the rabbi to save him – and to hear the rabbi tell him, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

“I’m not sure what happened to my revenge,” says the silversmith.

“I only know my daughter, my wife

and I are disciples now.”

I can recall, more than 30 years ago, when I was encouraged by my wife to attend the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress at a time when I was more absorbed with my family’s financial welfare than its spiritual well-being. That event, to my chagrin, was a revelation – a wondrous, joyous experience that eventually brought me into the Catholic Church. n CNS Catholic journalist Mike Nelson writes from Southern California.

Easter cannot happen without Good Friday

The risen Christ is depicted in the painting “Resurrection” by 15th-century Italian master Andrea Mantegna. Easter commemorates Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

S

By Fr Herb Weber

hortly after I was ordained, I was asked to give a tour of our parish church to an interdenominational group. A woman stopped me and asked, “Don’t

Catholics believe in the resurrection of Jesus?” I assured that we not only believed, but that that doctrine is central to our understanding of salvation.

At that, the woman pointed to the crucifix and added, “Then why

do you still depict Jesus dying instead of having an empty cross?”

I admit that I was surprised by the woman’s assumption, but since then I have become grateful for her questioning. Having grown up Catholic and having looked at a lifetime of crucifixes, I had never found any contradiction in seeing Jesus on the cross and believing that Jesus rose from the dead.

And I still don’t see a contradiction between the two. In fact, the unity between the two images has only grown stronger as I realise we have to believe in the selfless dying in order to give glory to the rising. Put another way, Easter cannot happen without Good Friday.

Nonetheless, it is easy for people to lose a balance between these two aspects of our faith. Many

Christian songs, I’ve discovered, emphasise the cross and Jesus’ redemptive dying on the cross. This, of course, is not new. Even great old hymns like “The Old Rugged Cross” did the same.

We don’t want to stop at the dying, however. If Jesus’ dying is the ultimate act of sacrifice, the wondrous love that transforms all love, then the rising is the hope for all those who die with the Lord.

At the same time, there is a temptation to glory in the resurrection without admitting the dying.

We truly are an Easter Church but

only when we know that our dying with the Lord has to continue again and again.

At our parish, we have discovered that the best representation of Jesus as the risen Lord is found in the way we live as Church. In other words, we have to live as people who truly believe not only in the resurrection of Jesus, but that the resurrection of Jesus has made a difference in our own lives. n CNS Fr Weber is the founding pastor of St John XXIII Parish in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA.

We truly are an Easter Church but only when we know that our dying with the Lord has to continue again and again.

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Easter

FAITH ALIVE! 23

s resurrection No morning Masses on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday.

Holy Thursday (April 13): Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Adoration till midnight.

Good Friday (April 14): Service only, no Mass.

Holy Saturday (April 15): Easter Vigil.

Easter Sunday (April 16) City District Cathedral of the Good Shepherd Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: noon, 3pm & 6pm Holy Saturday: 9.30pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am, 10.30am & 5.30pm

A man and child light candles after Easter Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City. Catholics are called to announce the Easter message of hope to those burdened by sadness in their lives.

The liberation Easter brings

E

By David Gibson

aster begins in the darkness and at night, when the great vigil Mass for this central Christian feast is celebrated. Yet Easter is all about daylight – a “new day” in time.

The resurrection is like the break of dawn. To state this is to reach into the very heart of Christianity.

Christ is light, just as He is life – new life.

Truth be told, darkness casts a shadow over the lives of too many.

Pope Francis is well aware of this.

“Christ wants to come and take us by the hand to bring us out of our anguish,” the pope said on Easter 2016.

The “first stone” to move aside on Easter, he said, is “the lack of hope that imprisons us within ourselves.” Living without hope is a “trap” that, in his eyes, means living “as if the Lord were not risen.”

But, the pope indicated, Jesus’ followers ought to follow His lead.

So the risen Lord sends each person who encounters Him “to announce the Easter message, to awaken and resurrect hope in hearts burdened by sadness, in those who struggle to find meaning in life,” said the pope.

What freedom do people need that reflects Easter’s new life?

Freedom, possibly, from the fear of putting the finest of their Godgiven gifts to fuller use and thus beginning to grow again.

Easter sets the tone for all Christian living. It is a matter of coming out of the darkness and into the light. It is a matter, too, of accompanying others as they attempt, perhaps haltingly, to discover what new life means for them.

“Goodness always tends to spread,” and “any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others,” Pope Francis wrote in “The Joy of the Gospel,” one of his most-read documents.

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich spoke in 2014, just before becoming Chicago’s archbishop, about the Christian mission to stand alongside those who experience a “dryness” in life that “eats away” at their hopes.

“Our aim should be to make sure that everyone has a place at the table of life,” he said.

He mentioned “the mother needing prenatal and postnatal care, and protection for herself and her child, the former inmate seeking a fresh start, the drug addict who needs someone to help her take one day at a time, the father and mother who want their children to have the educational opportunities other families have.”

These people, the cardinal stressed, represent “the vast army God is inviting us to raise up with Him.” n CNS Gibson served on Catholic News Service’s editorial staff for 37 years.

St Joseph’s Church (Victoria Street) Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 3pm Stations, 4pm, 6pm Divine Mercy & 7pm candlelight procession Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8am, 10am, 11.30am (F*), 3pm (L*) & 5pm Church of Sts Peter & Paul Holy Thursday: 7pm, 7pm (M* @ Chapel), 8.30pm (Cantonese @ Chapel) Good Friday: noon (M*)(Stations at 11.15am), 3pm (Stations at 2.15pm) & 3pm (Cantonese @ Chapel) Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am (M*), 11am, 2pm (Cantonese) & 4pm

Good Friday: 9am, noon & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7.15am, 9.15am, 11.30am & 6pm (M*) Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 9am (M*), noon & 3pm, (Stations at 7pm) 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 Easter Sunday: 7am (M*), 8.45am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 3pm (Children’s Mass) & 6pm Church of St Stephen Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 11am & 3pm Holy Saturday: 9pm (with Baptism) Easter Sunday: 9am, 11am & 5.30pm Church of the Holy Trinity Holy Thursday: 6pm & 8pm.

Good Friday: 8am (M*), 11am, 3pm & 6pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm (with Baptism) Easter Sunday: 6.45am, 8am (M*), 9.30am, 11.15am & 6pm

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 3pm, 6pm Stations followed by Service in Tamil Holy Saturday: 9pm (English & Tamil) Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, 9.30am (T*) & 6.30pm (T*)

Church of Divine Mercy Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 9am; 11.30am & 3pm, Children’s Service (Chapel): 11.30am, (3pm & 5.30pm Stations) Holy Saturday: 7pm (Adult Baptism) Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11.30am & 5.30pm (Infant Baptism)

Church of the Sacred Heart Holy Thursday: 6pm Good Friday: 10am (M*), 3pm & 6pm (2.30pm and 5.30pm Stations) Holy Saturday: 6.30pm (M*), 9pm Easter Sunday: 9am, 10.30am, noon & 5.30pm

St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 9am (M*), 11am & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm (with Baptism) Easter Sunday: 7.15am (M* with Baptism), 9am, 11am & 5.30pm

Church of St Teresa Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 10am (Children’s Service @ Auditorium), 10am Stations followed

by Service, 2.30pm Stations followed by Service Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am, 10.30am, 12.30pm & 6pm Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) Under reconstruction. Celebrations now held at SJI Junior School Hall Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 11am (Passion Play) 3pm (Passion Play & Services) Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8am, 10am & noon Church of St Bernadette Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 9.30am (M*), 11.30am (Indonesian) & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 8am (M*) & 9.30am, 11.15am & 5.30pm Church of St Michael Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 8am (M*), 11am & 2.30pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am (M*) with Baptism, 9.30am & 5.30pm East District Church of the Holy Family Holy Thursday: 7.30pm

North District

Church of St Anthony Holy Thursday: 9pm Good Friday: 9am, noon (M*), 3pm & 5pm (T*). 11.30am (M*) Stations followed by service.

Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am (M*), 11.15am, 5pm Easter Solemn Vespers & 6pm Church of the Holy Spirit Holy Thursday: 7pm Good Friday: 10am & 3pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11.30am & 5.30pm Church of the Risen Christ Holy Thursday: 4pm & 6pm Good Friday: 8am (M*), 10.30am, 2.30pm & 5pm Holy Saturday: 7pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 8.15am (M*), 9.45am, 11.30am & 6pm Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Holy Thursday: 6.30pm & 8pm Good Friday: 8am (M*), 10.15am, 1pm (T*), 3pm & 5.30pm (Tagalog) Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 8.30am, 10.15am, noon, 1.45pm (M*) & 5pm Church of Christ the King Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 7.30am, 10am, 12.30pm (M*), 3pm & 5.30pm Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 10am, noon & 5.30pm

SERANGOON District Church of the Nativity of the BVM Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 8am, 10am Teochew Stations, 10.30am (M*), 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Holy Saturday: 7pm (M*) & 10pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9.15am, 11am & 5.30pm Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Holy Thursday: 6.30pm Good Friday: 10am (Stations at 9.15am) & 3pm (Stations at 2.15pm) 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), 2.30pm & 5.30pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11am & 6pm Church of the transfiguration Holy Thursday: 8pm Good Friday: 9am & 3pm; Stations at 7pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 7am, 9am, 11am & 5pm West District Church of St Ignatius Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: noon, 3pm & 6pm Holy Saturday: 8pm Easter Sunday: 6.45am, 8.15am, 10.15am, 12.15pm & 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, 8.30 pm & midnight (Tenebrae) 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, 3pm (Indonesian), 5pm & 7pm Church of St Francis of Assisi Holy Thursday: 7.30pm Good Friday: 7.30am(T*),10am, 1pm & 3pm (M*).

Holy Saturday: 6pm (M*) & 9pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9am, 11am & 6pm (M*) Church of the Holy Cross Holy Thursday: 6pm & 8pm Good Friday: 7.30am, 10am, 12.30pm, 3pm followed by Stations & 6pm (M*) Holy Saturday: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 7.30am, 9.30am, 11.30am & 1pm (M* with Baptism) Note: Stations refer to Stations of the Cross or Way of the Cross.

Mass/Service in English unless indicated.

(M*): Mandarin; (T*): Tamil; (F*): French; (L*): Latin All information provided correct at press time. Please contact the individual parishes for updates.

24

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

St Agnes of Montepulciano St Agnes of Montepulciano was born in Italy around 1270. She was raised by nuns, and when she was 15, she was made the superior of a new convent. She was asked to find a convent in Montepulciano.

Agnes lived on bread and water, and slept on the ground for 15 years. She was said to have visions and worked miracles.

She died in 1317, and we remember her on April 20.

“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee,” the people in the crowed replied. n Read more about it: Matthew 21

Q&A 1. To which city did Jesus and the apostles travel?

2. What did the people put on the road?

Wordsearch:

n CONVENT n PASSOVER n EXCLAIM n CRUCIFY n SCOURGE n BLOOD

n PRIEST

n MASTER

n JEWISH

n SUPPER

n GREET

n CLOAK

ESSAY: Why is Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem important?

Bible Accent:

5. T

Jesus did and said many things after He arrived in Jerusalem before the Passover.

For example, in Matthew 21, we read that Jesus went to the Temple and drove out the people who were buying and selling things. He was upset that God’s house was being used as a place of business instead of a place of prayer.

He also told many parables. These included the parable of the tenants and the parable of the two sons in Matthew 21, the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, and the parable of the 10 virgins and the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.

Also in Matthew 22, Jesus taught the people that the greatest commandment was to love God with all their hearts and to love their neighbours as themselves. He also told the people in Matthew 23 to listen to the words of the Pharisees and scribes but not to follow their hypocritical examples.

In Matthew 24, Jesus told His apostles about the signs they should look for that signalled His return. He warned His friends to not be deceived by false messiahs.

When the time for Passover came, Jesus and His disciples gathered together for one last meal. We read in Matthew 26 that Jesus gave His friends bread and wine to drink, saying that it was His body and blood. It was during this meal, which we call the Last Supper, that Jesus instituted the Eucharist. n

PUZZLE: Put a T next to the sentences that are true, and put an F next to the ones that are false. Hints have been provided.

1. Jesus cured people in the Temple area. (Matthew 21:14) 2. Jesus told the people to keep their tax money from Caesar.

n n (Matthew 22:15-22) n 3. Jesus said the Temple would not be destroyed. (Matthew 24:1-2) n 4. Jesus told the apostles the exact day of His return.

(Matthew 24:23-26) n 5. Jesus was betrayed by Judas. (Matthew 26:14-16)

Answer to Wordsearch

Spotlight on Saints:

were in front of and behind Jesus.

They were all shouting and waving at Him with excitement.

“Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest,” the people exclaimed.

And when Jesus finally entered the city gates, those who were not outside to greet Jesus were shocked at all the commotion and wondered what was going on.

4. F;

Jesus and His apostles were about to travel to Jerusalem. Before they left, Jesus explained what would happen when they arrived.

“The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and hand Him over to the gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day,” He told His friends.

As they neared Jerusalem, they came to the village of Bethpage on the Mount of Olives.

Jesus told His friends to go into the village, where they would find a donkey tethered with her colt.

“Untie them and bring them here to me,” Jesus instructed. “And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.’”

Jesus asked His disciples to bring Him the animals to fulfil what had been spoken many years ago by the prophets: “Say to daughter Zion, ‘Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on [a donkey], and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

Two apostles went to get the donkey and the colt, and they laid their cloaks on the animals’ backs. Jesus rode them the rest of the way to Jerusalem.

As Jesus and His friends were about to enter the city, they saw a very large crowd. It was near the time for the Jewish festival of Passover, so there were many people visiting Jerusalem.

When the people saw Jesus, they began spreading their cloaks on the road so he could ride over them. Others cut palm branches and laid them in the road as well.

Eventually, throngs of people

Answer to puzzle: 1. T; 2. F; 3. F.;

By Jennifer Ficcaglia

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS

RCIA/RCIY

WHAT’S ON submissions now require the completion of a form from the Archdiocese before the event can be publicised. For events with foreign speakers, please submit the necessary documentation for approval to the Chancery. For more information and to download the form, visit http:// www.catholic.sg/events/announcementadvertisement-request/.

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

A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith.

Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. april 23 to may 20, 2018 RCIA at church of our lady of perpetual succour Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm. New RCIA journey will begin with a welcome night on April 23 and thereafter every Sunday evening. Please register your name or names of those who are interested in our Catholic faith. Registration forms are available at the OLPS secretariat or RCIA ministry @ www.olps.sg.

For more information, T: 96718216 (Christina); T: 96355635 (Peter).

march 26 to may 17 Couple Empowerment Programme (CEP) 2017 CEP is a programme for married couples who wish to discover more about building strong marriages and to raise emotionally balanced children. This programme is faithful to the Catholic Church teachings and incorporates well-studied life skills.

Child-minders available. Venue: Church of St Ignatius. To register: T: 91059921 (Victor); 98579075 (Andrea); E: goto_cep@hotmail.com; W: www.cep-sg.org or fb.com/sg.cep

May 5, 2017 to may 31, 2018 RCIA @ CHURCH OF ST TERESA Every Friday, from 7.45pm-9.45pm.

To register: W: www.stteresa.org.sg/rcia/; E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg; T: 62711184.

Address: 510, Kampong Bahru Road, S099446. may 31, 2017 to april 25, 2018 RCIA @Church of Christ the King Every Wednesday from 8pm-10pm.

Venue: 2221 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, S569809. To register: E: query.rcia@gmail.com; W: http://www.christtheking.com.sg

april 12 to may 17 The prophets - messengers of god’s mercy Every Wednesday from 9.30am-11.30am.

Venue: Church of the Holy Spirit Level 3 Room 10 - Annex Blk. A DVD-based programme presented by Thomas Smith and Sarah Christmyer (Great Adventure Catholic Bible Study). Prophets bridge the Old and the New Testaments, calling us to return to our covenant relationship with God. This study shows us how their words continue to speak to us with urgency today. No pre-registration.

For more information: E: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com april 18 Craft of Catechesis Workshop - Managing Youths in the Prayer Space Time: 7.30pm-10pm. Venue: Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre, 2 Highland Rd, S549102. Please fill out a pre-event survey to help us improve your learning experience at the workshop at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/heg4qy9.

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april 20 to may 18 Basic Catechist Course L2 Introduction to Morality Time: 7:30pm-10pm. Venue: Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre, 2 Highland Rd, S549102. To provide catechists with an overview to the fundamental guiding principles of morality – acts and assessments, moral conscience and principles,virtues and happiness. Please register using the following URL: http://tinyurl.com/ z842sg3. For more information, E: formation@catechesis.org. sg; T: 68583011; W: www.catechesis.org.sg

April 22 clarity’s workshop on ‘a guide to understanding depression’ Time:10.30am-12.30pm. Individuals with depression often have difficulties seeking help for themselves and in most times, causing friends and family members to feel frustrated and burnout. Come 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. CANA The Catholic Centre L2. FOC. To register: E: registration@clarity-singapore.org

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ACROSS 1 It burned without being consumed 5 What the Magi brought 10 Angel’s hat?

14 Madame Bovary 15 “It is not good for man to be _____.”

(Gen 2:18) 16 Son of Eve 17 Wading bird 18 Jobs for towers 19 Prod 20 Brought in

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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

22 These commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion 24 Catholic priest and author, Andrew ___ 26 Printer’s measures 27 Genuflection joint 29 “I will raise you up on ____ wings…”

34 Site of first miracle 38 Cyberzine 40 Path 41 USA 42 Royal

44 Zhivago’s love 45 She saved Joshua’s spies 47 Peak in ancient Palestine 48 Contest 49 Old Testament town that was home of the tribe of Ephraim 51 Travelled 53 US government agency 55 Proximate

60 Clerical contender 65 Workroom 66 Augury 67 “So the last will be ____” (Mt 20:16) 69 Coffin stand 70 11th president of the United States 71 Role for Madonna 72 Sicilian volcano 73 OT book about a Jewish heroine 74 Happen again 75 Sovereign

DOWN 1 Supreme ____ 2 “Burnt” pigment 3 Strike hard 4 Speed 5 Mary Magdalene mistook the Risen Jesus for this (Jn 20:15) 6 Island (Fr.) 7 Dandies 8 US government obligation 9 Television street 10 Ology that is the study of the lives of the saints 11 Peek-____ 12 Incline 13 First person to use an assembly line in his industry 21 Maryland river 23 Former Russian ruler 25 Republic in Arabia 28 Enthusiastic 30 One of 5A 31 Feast in the Diocese of Honolulu 32 Raison d’_____

33 The _____ of Confession 34 Products of 13D 35 Asian domestic 36 Pop classic 37 Asian inland sea 39 Republic in equatorial Africa 43 It leads the way 46 Idiot 50 Young cow 52 “When we ____ this bread…”

54 A dove brought back this branch back to Noah 56 Hicks 57 St. _____ Stein 58 St. Catherine’s town 59 Alternative name for the Pentateuch 60 Office 60A may attain some day 61 Shepherd-turnedprophet 62 Skin 63 Egyptian cross 64 He’s the Red 68 Alphabet string

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1181 P A N I S C P A S H A L F

A G E N T

U N T I E

L I S T E N R E E E A R A R P L A U E A R R L O E E R I C A

D O N I A P L O D D B P A S H S S T S T A

E C O L E P E T E R P E N

E R E E A N L T E G S H A I R O L L E N I T S E T T Y C S G O B I G C O N S R I G A S E G E R

A N G E L O

april 27 to may 18 Panorama of the Old Testament Time: 8pm-10pm. Join us for four weeks of facilitated/DVD little rock Scripture study on the Panorama of the Old Testament. Get a bird’s eye view of all the different books of the Old Testament and how the plan of the old covenant was directed to prepare for the coming of Christ. Organised by the Church of Christ the King, Ang Mo Kio Ave 8.

To register: T: 98321538 (Lene); E:ctkbat@hotmail.com; W:www.christtheking.com april 28 to may 1 Kerygma Retreat – Annual Retreat for Catechetical Teams Venue: Catholic Spirituality Centre (CSC) 1261 Upper S’goon Rd, S534796.

To register: Please register using the following URL: https://cms.catechesis. org.sg/ci vicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=93 For more information, E: formation@ catechesis.org.sg; T: 68583011; W: www.catechesis.org.sg April 29 to may 1 DEEPENING AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS April 29 (9am) - May 11 (4pm).

In the workshop ‘Introduction to Authentic Conversations,’ we became more conscious of an experience of the presence of God through real conversations. In this deepening installation (retreat), we dive into the mystery of presence as a ministry of presence. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $260 (non-AC), $300 (AC). To register: http:// tinyurl.com/deepeningacr; T: 64676072

To register: https://www.catholic. sg/event/craft-catechesis-workshopmanaging-youths-prayer-space/.

For more information, E: formation@ catechesis.org.sg; T:68583011; W: www.catechesis.org.sg

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April 22 FINDING GOD IN MOVIES Time: 2pm-5pm. Stories in movies allow for reflective moments, often inviting us to question something about ourselves, our faith or in a greater sense, humanity.

Join us to watch Queen of Katwe, the inspiring real-life story of Ugandan chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi.

Thereafter, engage in conversation on Phiona’s riveting journey. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $10. To register: http://tinyurl.com/ Godinmovies; T: 64676072 April 22 Clarity’s Self-Worth Introductory workshop Join us for a three-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. Time: 10am-noon.

Venue: Blk 854 Yishun Ring Rd. Cost: $10 per person. For more information, T: 67577990; E: email registration@clarity-singapore

Crossword Puzzle 1182 1

april 21 to 23 April Choice Weekend April 21 (7pm)-April 23 (6pm).

It takes that one weekend to inspire you for the rest of your life. Come away for a Choice Weekend – it is by the choices we make that we define what our life is all about. Organised by Choice Singapore, 47 Jurong West St 42, S649368.

To register: T: 97900537 (Hill) or 97109680 (Francesca); E: registration@choice.org.sg; W: http://choice.org.sg/? page_id=131

M O O N

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www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

may 12 to may 14 The Spirituality Of Work May 12 (8pm)-May 14 (1pm).

Venue: Choice House, 47 Jurong West St 42. A Cenacle programme.

A weekend of prayer and reflection to

What’s On 25 help working professionals experience God’s labour in and through our busy schedules. Take a break to ponder on God’s call and direction of our daily work: How do we participate in God’s passion and find meaning in giving life?

To register: W: www.cenaclemission.com; T: 65652895/97223148.

Contribution $200. may 13 Our Lady of Fatima Centennial Celebrations Time: 6pm-9pm. Come join us for Mass and a candlelight procession for the centennial celebrations of Our Lady of Fatima at St Joseph’s Church, 143 Victoria Street. The celebrations commemorate the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal and to honour the Fatima message of penance and prayer.

May 24 and may 31 Catholicism: Pivotal Players Time: 9.30am-11.30am. Church of the Holy Spirit, Level 3 Room 10, Annex Block. A DVD-based programme presented by Bishop Robert Barron unlocking the truths behind two of the Catholic Church’s most influential people, St Catherine of Sienna and Michaelangelo. No preregistration needed. For more information: E: hsbibleapostolate@gmail.com June 9 to June 11 FINDING GOD IN DRAMA June 9 (7pm)-June 11 (4pm). In this retreat, encounter the Scriptures and God differently. Through Ignatian contemplation and Bibliodrama, participants will be invited to step into the role of a character, or even of an object.

As the Scriptures come alive, recognise areas of your life where God wants to draw your attention to. Organised by Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Rd. Fee: $260 (non-AC), $300 (AC).

To register: http://tinyurl.com/Goddrama; T: 64676072

26 in memoriam Ninth Anniversary In loving memory of

Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Second Anniversary In loving memory of

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.”

In loving memory of our beloved parents Fourth Anniversary

Twentieth Anniversary

Fourteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

– John 6:39

Gabriel Chua Boon Tian Departed: Apr 19, 2015

ADOLF HERMAN DE SOUZA Departed: Apr 22, 2008 Our Lord Jesus knew what was best He took you home for eternal rest We wiped our tears and tried not to be sad And remember the precious times we had.

Always remembered by family and all loved ones.

Mass will be celebrated at 6.15pm on Saturday April 22, 2017 in the Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary.

obituary

Forty-fifth Anniversary In loving memory of

EDWARD FERNANDEZ Departed: Apr 1, 1972 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.

Always remembered by wife, son, daughter and loved ones.

Mass will be offered on Apr 19, 2017 at 6.15pm at the Church of Christ the King.

Seventh Anniversary In loving memory of

Yvonne Yeo Siew Eng Departed: Apr 17, 2010 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 Fondly remembered and dearly missed by your children, grandchildren and all loved ones.

May she rest in peace.

First Anniversary In loving memory of

Eleventh Anniversary In loving memory of

Cyril Edmund Francisco Passed away: Apr 20, 2016 Peacefully sleeping, resting at last, The world’s weary troubles and trials are past In silence he suffered, in patience he bore, Till God called him home to suffer no more.

Fondly remembered by family and loved ones.

STELLA D’CRUZ (STALCY) Who returned to Our Lord on April 18, 2006 We hold you close within our hearts, And there you shall remain, To walk with us throughout our lives, until we meet again, So rest in peace dear Mum And thank you for all you’ve done, We pray that God has given you, The crown you’ve truly won.

Sadly missed and fondly remembered by husband John Silva, children and spouses, grandchildren and loved ones.

miracles, blessings, protection and prayers answered during times of need and also for the divine assistance to my husband’s successful operation and steady r e c o v e r y. P l e a s e continue to intercede, protect and guide me and my family.

Thank you St Jude for prayers answered.

Please continue to intercede for my family and me.

AGNES ANNE PEREIRA Departed: Apr 17, 2003

With love always by children and loved ones Mass will be offered at Church of the Holy Trinity on Apr 17 at 6pm.

We miss you in so many ways We miss things you used to say And when old times we do recall It’s then we miss you most of all.

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by your children, grandchildren, relatives and all loved ones.

Thanksgiving Once again thank you apostle St Jude Thaddeus for prayers answered. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude to Our Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Divine Mercy, Mother Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Lourdes, Sts Joseph, Anthony, Jude and all the Holy Angels and Saints for all the unfailing favours granted,

ANTHONY SHIRLEY

MUTHU Rozario MUTHU Departed:

April 9, 2013 May 29, 1997

We speak of you Mom 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.

First Anniversary In loving memory of

Twelfth Anniversary In loving memory of

Matthew alexander shepherdson Departed: Apr 10, 2005 Twelve years on, Papa...

This day is remembered and quietly kept, No words are needed, we shall never forget, For you, whom we love, don’t go away, You walk beside us every single day.

Unseen and unheard, but always near, So loved, so missed and so very dear.

Always in our hearts, with much love, We remember you... always

Twenty-fourth Anniversary In loving memory of

Mummy, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Sixteenth Anniversary In loving memory of

JOSEPH ANTHONY Returned to the Lord: April 7, 2016 In silence he suffered With patience he bore Till God took him home To be with Him to suffer no more.

In memoriam rates: Minimum $80 for an insertion not exceeding an eight-centimetre column.

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A year has gone since you left us.

You have gone from our sight But never from our hearts You are part of our lives and always will be.

Fond memories will always linger on till we meet again.

Deeply missed by wife, sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons and all loved ones.

X. FRANCIS FERNANDEZ Departed: Apr 17, 1993

SOLOMON JACOB Departed: April 14, 2001 Not only today but every day we can feel you in our lives.

We know you’re watching and praying for each of us.

We love you and will always miss you.

Always cherished by your loving wife, children and all loved ones.

Thank you for the years we shared Thank you for the way you cared We loved you then and we love you still Forget you, we never will.

Deeply missed and always remembered by wife Fernandez Mary Celine, children and loved ones.

Mass will be celebrated in the Church of St Anthony on Monday April 17 at 6.30pm.

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Sunday April 16, 2017 n CatholicNews

Twelfth Anniversary In loving memory of

In loving memory of

FRANCES GALISTAN nee Carvalho Departed: Apr 16, 2005 Even when we close our eyes There’s an image of your face And once again we come to realize You’re a loss we can’t replace.

Fondly remembered

by Selwyn, Jacqui and family, Leslie and Iona and sister Doris.

Twenty-fourth Anniversary

Twenty seventh Anniversary

CECILIA CHEW

CHENG NAI Departed:

Apr 13, 2012

IRENE LOW GECK MUI Departed: Sep 21, 1993

JOSEPH LOW NAM HWA Departed: Dec 7, 1990

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

Remembered by family and friends.

In loving memory of

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“Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you I have called you by your name, you are mine.”

Fifth Anniversary

Fourth Anniversary

Tenth Anniversary

Third Anniversary In loving memory of

Fourth Anniversary In loving memory of

Eighth Anniversary In loving memory of ALICE KLYNE DOUGLAS

NEE KOH KLYNE Departed:

April 9, 2013 Dec 29, 2007

peter soh poh min Departed: Apr 14, 2009 Time may heal the broken heart Time may make the wound less sore But time can never stop the longing For the loved ones gone before.

Dearly missed by wife, Helen and all loved ones.

Third Anniversary in loving memory of

VICTORIA McLEOD Departed: Apr 14, 2014 Aged 17 It was His will that she die His will that we should let her go And we must ever bow to it But oh dear God We miss her so.

Deeply missed, deeply loved forever, by all in the McLeod family.

Special thanks to St Ignatius Saturday Rockers

In loving memory of Our Dearest Papa and Mummy

VAREED MARIAM MANUAL LOPEZ LOPEZ Departed: Jul 12, 1988 Apr 12, 2003

Our thoughts are always with both of you, Our hearts are sore with pain, This world would be like heaven, If you were both here again.

Lovingly remembered and cherished by all your children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

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David Eu Wing Kee Departed: Apr 14, 2013 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 remembered by loving wife, children & their spouses, grandchildren and loved ones.

In ever loving memory of our dearest sister who touched our lives in a most special way

Josephine (Linda) Silva

(Daughter of Joseph & Julianal Silva) Called home to the Lord on 20th April 2004

Take her in your arms, dear Lord and ever let her be, A messenger of love Between our hearts and thee.

Mass will be offered at Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour on Saturday, Apr 15, 2017 at 6.30pm.

Lovingly remembered and cherished by all.

Third Anniversary In loving memory of

Kenneth Mak Keng Kok Departed: Apr 21, 2014 His life was earnest, his actions kind, A generous hand and so active mind, Wise in all ways, thoughtful to the end, A loving father and faithful friend.

Deeply missed and fondly remembered by his wife, Antonia; his daughter, Louise; and his grandchildren, Sarah and Lauren.

Time changes many things but not the memory this day brings Till now you are still in our minds and hearts.

Dearly missed and fondly remembered by loved ones.

ROSELINE PEREIRA Departed: Apr 19, 2014 Gone from our lives One so dear But in our hearts Forever near.

May she rest in peace.

Loving Sister Mavis

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