JANUARY 25, 2015, Vol 65, No 02

Page 1

SUNDAY JANUARY 25, 2015

SINGAPORE $0.70 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$2.10

MCI (P) 005/08/2014

PPS 201/04/2013 (022940)

NO. 02

INSIDE

POPE IN SRI LANKA

ReFonFiliation means dialogue ÂśSursuit of truth¡ COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – ArriYing in Sri /anNa, a country recoYering from two-and-a-half decades of ethnic and religious ciYil war, Pope Francis said reconciliation would require its people to explore their painful recent history and accept persistent differences within their multicultural society. “The process of healing also needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity,â€? the pope said on -an 3 at an arriYal ceremony at Colombo’s international airport. Pope Francis addressed his words to Sri Lanka’s new president, Mr Maithripala Sirisena, who was elected on Jan 8 and sworn in the next day. During his campaign, Mr Sirisena promised an independent inYestigation into war crimes allegedly committed during the -year struggle between goYernment forces and rebels belonging to the country’s Tamil minority. In his remarks to the pope, Mr Sirisena noted that during the last papal Yisit, by St John Paul II in 1995, “Sri Lanka was embroiled in annihilating terrorism, following the mayhem caused by the terrorists in the daily liYes of the peopleâ€? – a reference to the Tamil Tigers, Âżnally defeated in 9 by the military under Mr Sirisena’s predecessor, President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The war diYided Sri Lanka along religious as well as ethnic lines, since members of the Sinhalese majority are typically Buddhist, and Tamils for the most part Hindu. Catholics, who make up 7 percent of the country’s population, include members of both ethnic groups. Mr Rajapaksa, who sought reelection on Jan 8, had his political

VOL 65

HOME New Evangelisation oIĂ€Fe¡s Slans Special programmes for young people among them „ Page 2

ACTS builds KigK sFKool in Cambodia A ‘realisation of a dream’ „ Page 3

FOREIGN COMMUNITIES Serving Chinese migrant workers in S¡Sore More commitment, coordination needed „ Page 7

ASIA 3RSH )UDQFLV DFFHSWV D JLIW IURP 6UL /DQNDQ 3UHVLGHQW 0DLWKULSDOD 6LULVHQD LQ WKH SUHVLGHQWLDO RIÂżFH LQ &RORPER 6UL /DQND RQ -DQ CNS photo

base in the country’s Sinhalese-Buddhist majority. Mr Sirisena enjoys more support among minorities. “Sri Lanka for many years knew the horrors of ciYil strife and is now seeking to consolidate peace and to heal the scars of those years,â€? Pope Francis said, his Yoice hoarse and weary-sounding after the 1 -hour Ă€ight from Rome. “I am conYinced that the followers of the Yarious religious traditions haYe an essential role to

play in the delicate process of reconciliation and rebuilding which is taking place in this country.â€? That afternoon, the pope met with local Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and other Christian leaders, telling them that efforts at “interreligious and ecumenical relations take on a particular signiÂżcance and urgency in Sri Lankaâ€? as sources of “healing and unityâ€? after years of “ciYil strife and Yiolenceâ€?. Again, he sounded a note of

The process of healing needs to include the ‘pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening

old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice, healing and unity.

’

– Pope Francis referring to the 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka

Minorities œreFonverted¡ to Hinduism

realism, stressing that dialogue could not eliminate cultural differences but would emphasise the need for their acceptance. “For such dialogue and encounter to be effectiYe, it must be grounded in a full and forthright presentation of our respectiYe conYictions. Certainly, such dialogue will accentuate how Yaried our beliefs, traditions and practices are. But if we are honest in presenting our conYictions, we will be able to see more clearly what we hold in common,� the pope said. “Men and women do not haYe to forsake their identity, whether ethnic or religious, in order to liYe in harmony.�

Cardinal urges Indian PM to stop such actions

„ &ontinXeG on Page

„ Page 15

„ Page 10

POPE FRANCIS Pontiff names new Fardinals 3 from Southeast Asia „ Page 14

PoSe honours mothers They are ‘strongest antidote to selÂżsh indiYidualism’

2

HOME

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

ONE’s plans for 2015 unveiled Archbishop William Goh also encourages catechists to look to Mary as their model By Mel Diamse-Lee A number of new initiatives were unveiled by the 2f¿ce for the New Evangelisation (ONE) on Jan 3, 15 to kick off the Catechetical <ear. The launch, attended by about catechists, was held at the Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre. Among the new initiatives is a second centre for the Bridging Programme, which prepares children and youth who had missed catechism classes for more than a year, for integration into their respective parish catechetics programme. This centre will be based at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and is expected to start this month. ONE will also pilot a DiscipleSHIP Project for teens in Secondary 3 and at St Joseph Church (Bukit Timah) in collaboration with the Singapore Archdiocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal. SHIP stands for spiritual, human, intellectual and pastoral, the four components of the project. The Disciple-SHIP Project will

It is the hope of the ‘&DWHFKHWLFDO 2I¿FH that in the near future we also look beyond ourselves and see how we can collaborate with others.

’

– Fr Edward Seah, Assistant Catechetical Director

Catechists line up to place their written offerings to Jesus in the new catechetical year.

be based on an entirely local curriculum and will be rolled out in stages, according to Ms :endy Loe, Catechatical Of¿ce associate director. A second pilot project is the Made-for-More programme for Secondary or post con¿rmation

groups. Developed by Family Life Society, the programme hopes to help youths understand themselves better, and to know how to form and maintain meaningful relationships with others. “Concurrently, we wish to offer formation to support parents in their role as primary educators of faith,” added Ms Loe. To help ONE with this project is the Couple Empowerment Programme, which provides support and formation to young married couples. Meanwhile, the curricula for special needs children, Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults

(RCIA) and youth as well as infant baptism are currently under review. The curriculum for children with special needs being offered now in eight parishes will be aligned to the primary level curriculum introduced in 1 . This new curriculum will be rolled out in 1 . Part of the preparations for catechists embarking on teaching children with special needs would include a course on the pedagogical principles undergirding special needs education and a training on using the adapted curriculum.

In his address, Fr Edward Seah, assistant catechetical director, encouraged catechists to attend ONE courses and ongoing formation “so as not to shortchange the young entrusted to your care”. He also announced that ONE hopes to explore the possibility of forming a pool of “master catechists” to assist in the continued growth and formation of catechists at the diocesan or district level to help “to identify the needs and concerns of catechists in the parishes”, he added. Fr Seah concluded his address by giving a glimpse of ONE’s direction. “It is the hope of the catechetical of¿ce that in the near future we also look beyond ourselves and see how we can collaborate with others, perhaps with Of¿ce for <oung People and Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools.”

Si[ point reÁection for catechists Archbishop :illiam *oh offered catechists the following reÀection pointers during the launch of the Catechetical <ear.

is healed. So just love them more. The naughty ones, give them more attention.

Feedback from participants

To be a catechist is a vocation. *od put the desire to be a catechist in the heart. It is a conviction, a passion done purely out of love. Love for *od and for humanity. Passion is not dependent on how much you are paid or how much recognition you receive. Humility. Catechists are not to project themselves. Once the message is given, we disappear from the stage. This kind of humility, a self-effacing attitude is important for catechists. Conversion is God’s work. Don’t ever think that conversion will take place because you are such a great teacher, such a passionate teacher. Faith. This virtue enables catechists to persevere when things are not moving or when some of the children are “hard nuts to crack”. Prayer. Catechists need to

Archbishop William Goh’s address to the catechists was punctuated with humour.

have a real relationship with the Lord. Those who attend your classes must know that you are deeply in love with the Lord, that you know Him. Only when you share what’s in your heart can you change lives. Charity. Our children today are wounded. Some have no love at home and there is a dichotomy between faith (as taught in church) and life as lived out at home. A student cannot absorb till the heart

Ms Bernadette Lee, a catechist at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary felt that the archbishop’s message was a wake-up call and a reminder of her duty as a catechist. “The words of the archbishop hit me hard,” she added. For Ms Daphne Conceicao, youth coordinator at the Church of the Holy Trinity, “to believe and witness as a child of *od is a timely reminder”. She was also struck by the Archbishop’s reminder that catechists are not the main attraction in class. “I was very touched by His *race’s message to love the children >as they are@,” revealed Mr Matthias Paul Toh, who is part of the home-based catechesis at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. “Sometimes we expect our own responses to be expressed by our children.” mel.lee@catholic.org.sg

HOME 3

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

ACTS’ mission trips to Cambodia in December

Building of high school in Cambodia was the ‘realisation of a dream’

The new Don Bosco High School in Teuk Thla looms impressively with a statue of her patron standing watch at the entrance.

:hile 35 ACTS (A Call to Share) participants were on their annual mission trip to Phnom Penh from Dec 1 - , some got the chance to witness the inauguration of the Don Bosco High School in Tuek Thla, Cambodia, on Dec 15. The high school was constructed as ACTS wanted to help the Salesian Sisters build a safe and enriching environment for students, as well as to expand it and create a kindergarten, a primary and secondary school, and the latest addition, a high school. The inauguration ceremony was attended by guest-of-honour, His Excellency Pa Socheatvong, *overnor of Phnom Penh and Battambang. Representatives from the major donors, several bishops of Phnom Penh and Battambang,

priests, Religious and of¿cials from various ministries also attended the inauguration. ACTS participants played a huge part by securing the free services of a Singaporean engineer and quality surveyor to supervise the construction of the new high school. The group which started 1 years ago, also raised more than 1 million through private fundraising efforts, and secured donations from CHARIS and Dutch Foundation Porticus – all of which went into the construction of the 1.8 million building. During the ceremony, Dr Damian Png, chairman of ACTS, received a government medal on behalf of ACTS. The highlight of the ceremony was when the school choir sang <ou Raise Me 8p, which moved

The group raised over a million dollars through private fundraising efforts to build the school. participants to tears. “The inauguration of the high school was the realisation of a dream. One which started six years ago and the fruit of the efforts of hundred of selÀess ACTS volunteers and friends,” shared ACTS founder, Dr John Lee. The idea to build a school came when ACTS approached the former Salesian Provincial Superior, Sr Sarah *arcia, and the Salesian Sisters in 8. In 13, the Don Bosco High

Governor of Phnom Penh and Battambang, Mr Pa Socheatvong, (third from right) Dr John Lee, founder of ACTS, (in black blazer) and current Salesian Provincial Superior, Sr Teresita Garcia entering the new hall of the Don Bosco High School for the inauguration ceremony.

School welcomed its ¿rst batch of female students and their lessons were held in the elementary school. *roundbreaking took place in April, and the cornerstone was laid in September that year. Lessons began in the new high school in October 1 . The high school run by the Salesian Sisters has classrooms, with each room able to hold students. The new school comes with a science laboratory, a home economics hall, a music room, a computer lab and a canteen. Meanwhile, during the mission trip led by spiritual director Dominican Fr David *arcia, the ACTS education team conducted enrichment activities and lessons on ¿nancial literacy, interview skills and personal grooming for

girls in vocational levels. There was also a pi]]a-making masterclass. Moreover, the ACTS medical team conducted free consultations in several villages including their base in .ampong Speu – a remote and rural village. Another team went to the Missionaries of Charity Home everyday to do spring cleaning, painting, as well as deliver food items such as rice and cooking oil to the less fortunate in the neighbouring villages. They also helped the Sisters organise a Christmas party for at least 3 young street children. During the trip, at least 1, love offerings comprising a bucket of rice, cooking oil and other essentials were given out to poor families. CONTRIBUTED BY: TRIXIE YAP

More than 100 in Battambang outreach It was the ¿rst time that a large group of 118 ACTS volunteers, led by spiritual director Fr Jovita Cyprian Ho, travelled to Battambang Prefecture in northwestern Cambodia from Dec -13 last year to do mission work. Previously, about 3 ACTS volunteers went there annually. The volunteers, who also included non-Catholics, formed various teams, and set out to parishes in ¿ve different places – Battambang and nearby villages in Nikum, Crab 9iel, Tahen and Chomnaom. In all ¿ve places, ACTS kindergarten teams did arts and crafts and other activities with the children, while the various ACTS work teams assisted in painting work. In Battambang, the team paint-

ed the parish church and Our Lady’s grotto in Nikum, they painted a kindergarten playground set and set up the Stations of the Cross within a parish in Crab 9iel, they painted a dental hygiene mural in Tahen, they painted toilets and shoeracks, and in Chomnaom, they painted the church’s dining hall. Some ACTS volunteers also taught catechism lessons, conducted motivational talks and gave English and dance lessons. To spread the Christmas cheer, the ACTS Obrum team worked with Arrupe Centre, which helps people with disabilities receive education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. As part of their outreach mission, the ACTS team went to re-

Kindergarten kids playing with ACTS volunteers in Nikum during a lesson on colours.

mote places and celebrated Christmas with children from farming communities in Pum Peas, .bal

.robey and Rattanakmondul. They also visited a parish in Tapung to examine the roof of

the church and see if repairs were needed. Another team comprising doctors and medical students gave health talks in parishes and villages in Battambang. Rice and other basic food items were distributed to poor families and 7 goodie bags comprising a T-shirt, sweets, toys and shoes were handed out to the children. “The children reminded me of how lucky I am, and >that@ I should appreciate the life I am living,” wrote an ACTS participant in a feedback form. Another wrote “The warm hospitality that we >ACTS volunteers@ received taught me humility and generosity.” CONTRIBUTED BY: TRIXIE YAP

4 HOME

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Students score good results for IB programme Students from St Joseph’s Instituition (SJI) and St Joseph’s Institution International did well in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). The results were released on Jan 5. It was a signi¿cant milestone for SJI, as the Class of 2014 is the school’s ¿rst batch of IDBP students. They were admitted in 2013 for the two-year pre-University programme. Not only did all 76 students pass, the school’s average score was 39.4 points out of a maximum of 45 points. Three students achieved a near perfect score of 44 points. Two students were also awarded the prestigious Bilingual Diploma. Twenty students achieved at least 42 points, while 44 students scored at least 40 points. “We are heartened that our students were not only able to develop themselves academically but many also found time to grow as a person through their active

participation in the school and wider community aiming to be a positive difference in the lives of others,” said principal of SJI, Dr Koh Thiam Seng. For SJI International, six of its students scored a perfect 45 points. Three other students scored 44 points, while seven others scored 43 points. According to Mr Bradley Roberts, principal of SJI International, 26 percent of students from SJI International’s Class of 2014, scored 40 points or more – a result achieved by only 6.9 percent of students worldwide. “The academic programme at SJI International is only one part of our truly holistic programme, which sees all our students fully involved in the very extensive programme of activities, sport and community service,” said Mr Roberts. SJI International started its IBDP programme in August 2007.

Teaching kids proper behaviour at Mass By Merilyn Dasson Who deserves your respect when you are in Mass? Why do we need to listen in the Mass? These were some of the questions that Dr Margaret Anne Carter, a senior lecturer in Education at James Cook University, Australia, asked catechists during a two-hour workshop held at the Church of St Ignatius. The Jan 4 workshop called Children’s Behaviour and Reverence was organised by the Archdiocesan Commission for Catholic Schools. It aimed to equip catechists and parents with various ways to teach young children aged between ¿ve and 12, the appropriate social behaviour during Mass. Apart from these questions, Dr Carter suggested role play in order to get children to answer questions such as, how are you going to stay calm during Mass, and what can you do instead of ¿dgeting. The senior lecturer also gave some advice on how the parish can help children behave better. One way is to include tips in parish newsletters or on PowerPoint slides Àashed during Mass on what parents can do when their children get restless during the

Senior lecturer in Education, Dr Margaret Anne Carter, speaking to participants during the Jan 4 workshop. PHOTO : CATHERINE ONG

celebration. A booklet for children could also help them follow what is going on during Mass. She added that priests can also do their part by reminding and thanking everyone in the congregation, including children, when they behave appropriately. Another suggestion by Dr Carter was to have designated areas for families with young children to go to when the kids get restless during Mass.

Participants at the workshop gave positive comments. Ms Cecilia Teo from the Church of St Ignatius said the workshop gave her a greater insight on how to help a young child behave better during Mass. Another participant from the Church of the Holy Spirit said he learnt how to help young children by listening and talking to them in simple terms.

HOME 5

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Visually-impaired students defy odds to do well in O Levels Lorna O’Hara speaks to St Anthony’s Aashwini Gunasilan and SJI’s Ian Luke Chan “Having my eyesight gone was as if my life had literally ended, and that there was nothing that I could do,” said 17-year-old Aashwini Gunasilan from St Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School. Despite this handicap, she scored seven distinctions in the GCE O Level exams. In December 2012, Gunasilan’s world turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease, a rare auto-immune condition which resulted in her losing her central vision. It was as though she was seeing “through a thick jelly”, she said. “It was devastating. I cried a lot. It was like being able to see and then waking up and not seeing at all.” In three months, Gunasilan’s condition became chronic and she decided to skip her 2013 GCE O Levels. Gunasilan, a parishioner of the Church of Christ the King, said her faith took a beating. “I lost my faith. I asked myself why did it happen to me, and I questioned God, like where is God? I stopped going to church. I used to go to Novena every Saturday and then I stopped. I didn’t go for Sunday Masses and I didn’t pray at home,” she said. Whenever Gunasilan’s mother asked her why she was not going to church, “the excuse I gave was like I can’t see, so why do I have to go the church? I can’t see the missal, I can’t see what’s on the screen, so why bother?”

To help her get back on her feet in 2013, her family, teachers and classmates rallied together to give her much needed support that year. Family members gave Gunasilan “two-hour talks” everyday, and during the ¿rst two weeks when she was absent from school, her classmates “recorded whatever happened in class”. After school, they would take turns to read from the textbook

During the weeks that Gunasilan was absent from school, her classmates recorded whatever happened in class for her. After school, they would take turns to read from the textbook and record it also. and record it. “Then, they would come to my house over the weekends and pass it to me,” she recalled. Eight friends also visited her daily. “When I came back to school, my friends made me feel normal ... I think that’s really important as you don’t want people to start looking at you and treating you differently,” she said. Her role as president of the school’s Catholic Activities Council (CAC) also helped her realise that she “missed going to church”.

Aashwini Gunasilan (centre) seen here with her mother Usha Glora Das and sister Pavethra Gunasilan. Aashwini suffers from a condition which resulted in her losing her central vision.

Soon, she began to attend Novena services and Sunday Mass again. Her school counsellor also got in touch with a social worker from the Singapore National Eye Centre over Gunasilan’s condition. She was then directed to iC2 PrepHouse, a facility which assists and support children with

low vision, and which helps them stay in mainstream schools, said Ms Jannine De Cotta, Gunasilan’s form teacher in 2013. During the sessions at iC2 PrepHouse, Gunasilan learnt how to use a CCTV magni¿er, which allows her to read texts by adjusting font sizes, colour contrast and text

colour. She also took up braille lessons. During the O Level exams, she used the magni¿er and relied on audio devices to complete her papers. “I wasn’t expecting results like these,” beamed the teenager, who shared that she has “been wanting to pursue law since 14”.

Support of classmates, teachers helped blind student score

SJI’s Ian Luke Chan lost his vision last year. Nevertheless, he managed to score ¿ve distinctions.

Despite losing his vision completely last year, St Joseph’s Institution student Ian Luke Chan managed to score distinctions in English, Combined Humanities, Physics, and Elementary and Additional Maths. He had a B3 for Chemistry. Chan had been having vision problems since young, having lost sight in one eye due to glaucoma. “My right eye has been blind since I was eight, so I have practically been with one eye,” said Chan. When he was 15, he started “freaking out” when he saw “white spots” developing in his other eye. After getting the eye checked, doctors concluded that glaucoma had also affected his left eye. Chan took a break from school in 2013, and when he returned in 2014, he could no longer see. Chan, who is a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Spirit,

shared that his faith was affected for “a little while”. “I was ¿rst angry for a while because I did not understand why I was going blind,” he said. “But after the anger went away, I guess I just accepted [it].” His classmates and teachers were supportive when he returned to school. “If the teacher wrote things on the board ... my classmates sitting near me would tell me what’s on the board,” he said. And when he needed to “walk around the school” or “go to the canteen, they would guide me”, he added.

If the teacher wrote ‘things on the board ... my classmates sitting near me would tell me what’s on the board.

’

– Ian Luke Chan

“My teachers were patient with me and they coached me through things that I really did not understand.” When the O Levels drew near, Chan also “stayed back a little later” in school and “prayed more often”. For his Maths and Science O Level papers, he had to vocalise his answers and a scribe would write it down, while for his humanities and English papers, he relied on a computer to type his answers. When asked if he lost his patience at any time while studying for the O Levels, he said “never”. Chan, who has an aggregate score of 11 points for six subjects, said he will apply to study in Catholic Junior College. He also hopes to study Psychology in university. lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg

6 HOME

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

CONCERT REVIEW

Simple melodies, deep messages Jesse Manibusan performing at the Church of Divine Mercy. Photo: GERARD GOH

By Michael Nathanael Chee Jesse Manibusan’s dulcet tones ¿lled the Church of Divine Mercy on a tranquil Jan 10 evening. The American musician and songwriter, whose forebears were from Guam, spreads the Word through music and song. When not touring, he serves as a youth and music minister in various parishes in the US. During the recent concert here, the father of three displayed his prowess on the guitar. However, it was his affable personality belying a quick wit and a wry sense of humour which enabled him to connect with the audience. The crowd was encouraged to sing along to the refrains of most of his songs. He also demonstrated his abil-

ity to reach out when he called on the young people in the crowd to demonstrate the actions to numbers like Come Fish with Me; Yes, Lord; and Bless the Lord. He also covered some of his most popular songs such as With all the Saints, Open my Eyes and the exuberant Malo! Malo! Thanks be to God! Keeping the melodies simple, Manibusan’s songs carry deep messages conveyed by his earnest, heartfelt singing. He also peppered the night with personal anecdotes and repeatedly called upon the audience to af¿rm their faith by asking them questions such as: “Who is the Church? We are! Where is it? Right here!” While this is Manibusan’s ¿rst foray onto our sunny shores, there is no doubt that he is on his way to building a loyal fan base here.

Restaurant owners share how they put faith into practice By Benedict Tang Maintaining high ethical standards, witnessing to their beliefs, and being people-oriented. These were some of the workplace practices the Catholic owners of The Halia Group of Restaurants said they put in place as a result of their faith. Mr Christopher James Wee and his wife, Esther, told more than 30 business professionals on Jan 8 that there were times when they ran into ¿nancial dif¿culties. However, they chose to keep their restaurant outlets open rather than closing them as they believe in investing in their staff. The couple said they believed in building on the strengths of their staff and cross training them so that they can be encouraged to take on other roles within the business. “Our mission is the staff, cultivating people,” said Mr Wee. The Wees were speaking in the latest session of the “My Journey” Series of talks organised by the Catholic Business Network. The talks feature Catholic business leaders sharing about their achievements and struggles from business and spiritual perspectives. Mr Wee shared that he insists on maintaining high ethical standards in doing business, which means “talking straight instead of

Mr Christopher James Wee and his wife, Esther (both left), at the ‘My Journey’ Series of talks on Jan 8.

glazing [over] the truth”. He also has to be prepared to make less pro¿ts as they do not believe in undercutting prices, he said. Mrs Wee also shared that she tries to be more vocal about her faith and has even started Whatsapp prayer groups for her staff. Her practices of prayer and fasting have even generated interest among people of other faiths, she said. The couple, who are parishioners of the Church of St Ignatius, shared that their faith practice in the past was limited to attending Sunday Mass. All that changed when they attended a Conversion Experience Retreat (CER) at the Catholic Spirituality Centre last year.

“I struggled up to last year about believing in the existence of God,” shared Mr Wee. “The CER experience was a turning point, where I came to the realisation that you can have a personal relationship with God.” Dr Lu Di, 29, a Chinese business director working in Singapore, said he was happy to hear the couple sharing about how they put their faith into practice in their business despite challenges. “It’s very inspiring,” he said. “God will provide. I believe in it totally.” For more information on the Catholic Business Network, visit www.cbn.sg.

7

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Coordination of activities needed for Chinese migrant worker community

A volunteer presents a gift to a Chinese migrant worker during a Christmas party at the Church of St Vincent de Paul.

Queuing up to get dinner during a gathering at the Church of St Mary of the Angels.

By Lorna O’Hara Better coordination and more commitment from local Catholics are needed to better serve Chinese migrant workers attending activities in parishes. This was a comment made by parish coordinators serving some of the 200 or so blue-collar workers – both Catholic and nonCatholic – who attend activities in at least six parishes. These are the parishes of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Sts Peter and Paul, St Mary of the Angels, St Vincent de Paul, Holy Trinity and Risen Christ. As part of its ongoing series featuring foreign Catholic communities in Singapore, CatholicNews spoke to some of these parish coordinators to ¿nd out more about these activities.

Activities in parishes Nativity Church caters to about 100 non-Catholic Chinese workers, said Mr John Lim, a local Catholic from the Gospel Station, the parish’s outreach body serving these migrants. For the ¿rst three Sundays of the month, the parish holds talks on “the Catholic faith and social issues in China”, said Mr Lim. Following this are fellowship and dinner. Every week, Mr Lim forks out money from his own pocket to help pay for the meals. “I don’t mind because as volunteers, we should take care of them,” he said. On the last Sunday of the month, “we have a large gathering where about 70 to 100 migrant workers come to Nativity Church for fun activities,” he added. Some of these include Chi-

Some of the workers getting their hair cut by volunteers from Nativity Church.

nese dumpling-making. “We provide them the ingredients so the workers can make and eat Chinese food,” said Mr Lim. Traditional Chinese medicine consultations and free haircuts by volunteers are also given. “Hopefully, through these activities, the non-Catholic Chinese migrant workers would become one of us Catholics,” said Mr Lim. Some workers told CatholicNews they enjoy the activities. Mr Zhou Guo Sheng, 47, a construction worker from Jiangsu province, said that after attending a Christmas party at Nativity Church three years ago, “I felt that people here are just like my brothers and sisters, like coming back home.” Mr Liu Mo, 23, a welder from Shanxi province, shared, “We just want a place which feels like home.” Mr Liu was baptised at Nativity Church two years ago. He now helps to prepare meals for other Chinese migrant workers here.

At the Church of St Mary of the Angels, activities are held for about 50 Chinese workers. Canossian Sr Josephine Ng told CatholicNews that English lessons, Bible sharing, karaoke sessions and dinner are held on the second Sunday of the month starting at 8.45 pm. A Christmas party was held on Dec 14, she said. At the Church of the Risen Christ, a coordinator who gave her name as Meiling, said the parish organises free legal services every second Monday of the month and English, ukelele and piano lessons every fourth Sunday of the month.

At least six parishes in Singapore now hold activities for a total of about 200 blue-collar Chinese migrant workers.

Chinese workers play a game of checkers at Nativity Church.

Challenges the community faces Currently, Masses for these workers are held on the ¿rst and third Sundays of the month at 8 pm at the parishes of Sts Peter and Paul and St Vincent de Paul respectively. An organiser for these Masses, who declined to be named, said it is a big challenge to hold weekly Masses. He noted that most migrant workers ¿nish work after 5pm. Furthermore, after requesting for volunteers from parishes to serve as Mass lectors, Eucharistic ministers or choir singers, there have been occasions where they were unavailable, he said. “If these challenges can be brought to the archdiocesan level, I think it would de¿nitely help,” he added. Ms Meiling from Church of the Risen Christ suggests setting up “a committee for Chinese migrants in the diocese”. Sr Josephine agrees, saying that there is need for such a body

to coordinate “the activities for the Chinese migrant community overall”. Mr Lim from Nativity Church also acknowledged the need for “committed Catholics who are willing to volunteer”. Sr Josephine noted that some migrant Chinese workers choose to “join Protestant churches as they hold weekly services” for them. Mr Joseph Ho, organising secretary for the Commission for the Apostolate of Mandarin Speaking (CAMS), which coordinates Mandarin-speaking groups in the archdiocese, told Catholic News that activities for this group “are held independently within the different parishes”. “At CAMS, we will continue to offer support,” he said. For more information on CAMS, visit www.cams.org.sg, call 6282-3787 or email joehkc@ singnet.com.sg. lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg

8 ASIA

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Pope Francis meets religious leaders at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo. CNS photos

Interfaith efforts vital for ‘healing’ Sri Lankans, Indians From Page 1

The pope urged followers of different religions to cooperate in social service, providing for the “material and spiritual needs of the poor, the destitute” and thus “rebuild the moral foundations of society as a whole”. At the interreligious meeting, held at a Colombo conference centre, a Hindu leader, speaking in Tamil, voiced hopes for lasting peace and draped a saffron silk shawl over Pope Francis’ shoulders. A representative of the local Muslim community condemned “terrorism, racism, extremism”, including recent killings by Islamist militants at a Paris newspaper and a military-run school in Pakistan. A Buddhist monk, representing the faith of 70 percent of Sri Lanka’s population, noted the common dedication of great religions to the values of love, selfsacri¿ce and peace, as well as the common susceptibility of humanity to hatred and violence. Pope Francis’ ¿rst day in Sri Lanka started when his plane from Rome landed at 9 am. He was greeted by traditional dancers and drummers, a 21-gun salute and a choir of teenagers who sang a song of welcome in English, the language the pope and Mr Sirisena used for their remarks. Girls in white dresses and boys in neckties and shorts waved gold-and-white Vatican Àags. Nearby stood 40 elephants

draped in colourful fabrics, a traditional gesture of honour for distinguished guests. The pope’s entourage, led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, wore white cassocks, keeping with the ecclesiastical custom in tropical climates. The pope rode to the nun-

For dialogue to be ‘effective, it must be grounded in a full and forthright presentation of our respective convictions.

’

– Pope Francis to religious leaders

cio’s residence in an open-sided popemobile past crowds waving Vatican Àags. A persistent breeze made it impossible for him to keep his zucchetto on for much of the ride. Because the pope made frequent stops to greet and bless individuals along the way, his ride took twice as long as expected, leading him to cancel a meeting with Sri Lanka’s bishops planned for the early afternoon. The day marked the start of Pope Francis’ second trip to Asia, following a visit to South Korea in August. He was scheduled to spend two full days in Sri Lanka, before Àying to the Philippines on Jan 15. CNS

Buddhist monks attend Pope Francis’ meeting with religious leaders.

line road to see pope

<oung people wave Àags as they wait for the pope’s arrival in Colombo. COLOMBO, SRI LANKA – Sri Lankans and Indians got up early to line the route from the airport to downtown in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Pope Francis. Hundreds of schoolchildren lined the roadside; nuns and elderly women were brought in wheelchairs to join the crowd on the roadside. The pope’s welcoming ceremony at the airport was broadcast over loudspeakers for them to hear. Many came with umbrellas to stand in hot and humid weather, while most of them carried colourful Àags with portraits of the pope. Some held rosaries. “The visit of the pope to Sri Lanka is a blessing. I wanted to see the pope as closely as possible,” said Mr Selvan Perumal, a Catholic businessman. He was dressed for the occasion with a

papal Àag on his Panama hat. “We are in Sri Lanka for two reasons: to see the pope and attend the canonisation of Blessed Vaz. He is our saint,” said Mr Menino Carvalho, who had travelled from Goa state in India. Thousands of Indian Catholics, mostly Goans, came to Sri Lanka for the papal visit at which Blessed Joseph Vaz, originally from the former Portuguese colony of Goa, was to be canonised. Indian contingents could be seen carrying giant national Àags as they waited for Pope Francis. When the pope passed by in his popemobile, people waved their Àags. “Seeing the pope is a dream for Catholics,” said Mr Carvalho, a retired government of¿cial who was accompanied by his wife. CNS

Bishop e[presses conÀdence in new Sri Lankan president ROME – Sri Lankan Bishop Vianney Fer-

nando of Kandy said he is hopeful that “a new era of prosperity and peace” would begin following the country’s presidential election on Jan 8. President Mahinda Rajapaksa conceded defeat to former Sri Lankan Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena. Several groups were concerned regarding the timeliness of the elections given the close proximity to Pope Francis’ visit to the nation. In an interview with the Catholic Church’s Fides news agency, Bishop Fernando welcomed the results, as well as ex-

pressed his con¿dence in the new president. “With a delegation of bishops, we had met the president-elect before the vote,” he said. “He had shown his programme of good governance, with the ¿ght against corruption and commitment to development and reconciliation. “He said he will work for a better division of powers, reducing even those regarding the president himself, appointing independent commissions for justice, for public services, for ¿nancial controls. Surely he will have a lot to do to form a government, having to give account to a heterogeneous

coalition, but has the necessary political experience to do it.” Among the issues that Bishop Fernando hopes Mr Sirisena will tackle is peace in the country, which is still reeling from the effects of a civil war. “A solution must be based on the principle of decentralisation of power, unity and reconciliation,” the bishop said. “For me there is a good chance that this can happen. Outgoing President Rajapaksa should be ascribed the credit for having put an end to a bloody civil conÀict. Now we need a political solution.”

“Peace based on justice is needed,” he continued, adding that he welcomed the new president’s promise to “form an independent commission to ascertain possible crimes”. The Bishop of Kandy also expressed his con¿dence that the pope’s visit to Sri Lanka would have a positive effect on both Christians and non-Christians alike. Christians form a minority in the country, comprising just 7 percent of the population. “The pope understands our sufferings and dif¿culties,” Bishop Fernando explained. “Buddhists await him as a messenger of peace.” ZENIT

ASIA 9

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Nuncio stresses dialogue with other communities at bishops’ meeting By Vincent D’Silva JOHOR BAHRU – Allow Christ to move from within the Church to outside the Church, the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia told bishops from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. “The goal is always to make Christ more present not only within the communities that you serve, but also towards those who embrace and live other faiths,” said Archbishop Joseph Marino who is also Apostolic Delegate to Brunei. Archbishop Marino was speaking at the opening of the Jan 5-9 plenary session of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. The meeting took place at Majodi Centre, Plentong, in Johor. He told the Church leaders present that Pope Francis proposed a pastoral strategy to the Church in Asia during his visit to South Korea last year. Archbishop Marino said Pope Francis highlighted two ways of dialogue – a dialogue about everyday life, that is the dialogue of life; and a dialogue of charity, or a dialogue of collaboration. Authentic dialogue can only take place if we “open our minds and hearts” to the other and if we have “empathy towards others”, he said. He added that receptivity, ac-

goal is always ‘The to make Christ more present not only within the communities that you serve, but also towards those who embrace and live other faiths.

’

– Archbishop Joseph Marino

Archbishop Joseph Marino, Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia and Apostolic Delegate to Brunei (seated, fourth from right), poses for a photo with Church leaders from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Photo: FRANCIS GOPAL

ceptance and welcome are important for the Church in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei as it is “home to a great variety of cultures”, religions and ethnicities. He added that “once we see others as ourselves, true relatives to me, we listen not only to the words which others speak, but to the unspoken communication of

their experiences, their hopes and aspirations, their struggles and deepest concerns”. The agenda of the bishops’ twice yearly meeting included discussions on the Synod on the Family held in Rome last October, the upcoming synod this October, seminaries and formation, and catechetics.

10 ASIA

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Indian cardinal criticises forced ‘reconversions’ to Hinduism NEW DELHI – The president of the Christian families in a programme Catholic Bishops’ Conference of in western Gujarat state. More India has criticised forced conver- than 40 Christians were reconsions of Christians to Hinduism. verted a day later in two commuCardinal Baselios Cleemis nities in southern Kerala state, and Thottunkal, major archbishop another 30 Christians “embraced of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Hinduism” in a ceremony at a Church, said in a statement on Hindu temple, according to variDec 23, that he was gravely con- ous broadcasts. cerned that “conversion events “The government should take are being held under the label of stringent steps to stop [such] coer‘homecoming’”. cive conversions,” Cardinal ThotHe urged Intunkal said. &16 ¿OH SKRWR dian Prime MinisHe also crititer Narendra Modi cised calls for a law to intervene to to ban conversions address concerns from Hinduism surrounding “forto other religions cible conversions” altogether, saying across the country, such a move would citing reports of be “contrary to the such actions in Utrights enshrined in tar Pradesh, Gujarat the constitution of and Kerala states. the country”. Some Hindu Three Catholic leaders have said bishops in New that India is a HinDelhi, representdu nation, and the ing India’s three “reconversions” are Cardinal Thottunkal Catholic rites, urged the Indian simply reclaiming joined other Chrispeople who origitian delegates in a prime minister to nally were Hindu. meeting with Mr address concerns “Those who Modi on Dec 24. surrounding strayed were lured They expressed away. They were ‘forcible conversions’ disappointment aflooted from us,” ter they said that across India. said Mr Mohan Mr Modi told them Bhagwat, head there was no need of the National Volunteer Corps, for him to speak out against what known as the ideological foun- is happening concerning convertainhead of Hindu nationalism. sions. Reports surfaced on Dec 9 that However, Delhi Archbishop 57 migrant Muslim families were Anil Couto told Catholic News “reconverted” under the watch- Service that Mr Modi assured the ful eyes of members of a Hindu leaders that he would ensure the fundamentalist group in Uttar safety of Christians. Pradesh. Other reports referred The National United Christo “ghar vapasi”, or reconversion, tian Forum, of which the Catholic of Christians by Hindu funda- Church is a member, expressed mentalist groups in December. “serious concern about the curOn Dec 20, the World Hindu rent situation of the minorities” Council claimed to have recon- on Dec 20. verted 500 members of 100 tribal “We strongly oppose the call for a national ban on conversions,” the forum said. It said this amounted to “a direct attack on individuals’ freedom of conscience to choose one’s faith”. CNS

WORLD 11

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Vatican contributes 3 5 m to Àght Ebola VATICAN CITY – The Vatican is

helping Catholic dioceses and agencies step up the ¿ght against Ebola and is urging other donors to help. The Ponti¿cal Council for Justice and Peace announced on Jan 7 that the Holy See would be making a “¿nancial contribution” to support Church-sponsored assistance to those affected by the outbreak. Vatican Radio reported the sum would be US$3.5 million (S$3 million). “The Holy See encourages other donors, whether private or public, to add to these funds as a sign of solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering gravely in the areas affected by the disease,” the council said in a written communique. Cardinal Peter Turkson, council president, travelled to Liberia and Sierra Leone from Dec 1619 to meet with government of¿cials and Church leaders and to demonstrate the Vatican’s support for those affected by the crisis. The Vatican’s ¿nancial contribution will go “to purchase muchneeded protective supplies, to assist with the transport of patients and to pay for the renovation of buildings” as well as help support families affected by the virus and children who have been orphaned, the council said. The funding also will be used to help residents in affected areas learn about and follow strategies

A Liberian man looks at an Ebola sensitisation campaign painted on a wall in downtown Monrovia, Liberia. &16 SKRWR

needed to stop the spread of Ebola; train and support clergy, religious and lay pastoral workers to attend better to people’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs; and help local parishes counteract “the Ebola-related stigma now emerging as a serious problem, particularly for survivors”. The funding, it said, will be administered by Caritas Internationalis, the umbrella organisation for national Catholic charities, but will be available by request to projects run by dioceses, Religious congregations and other Church-based organisations. The ponti¿cal council also released a document titled “Expanding the Catholic Church’s

Commitment to the Ebola Emergency Response” in English and Italian to provide details of how the Church has responded to the crisis on the local level and what more needs to be done. The document also noted that the Church is uniquely able to offer emotional and spiritual support to patients in additional to physical care. The Church “must offer our spiritual closeness in ways that will bring them and their family members comfort and hope”, said the document. CNS 7KH 9DWLFDQ GRFXPHQW LV DW KWWS SUHVV YDWLFDQ YD FRQWHQW VDODVWDPSD LW EROOHWWLQR SXEE O L F R KWPO 7HVWR LQ OLQJXD LQJOHVH

Vatican panel: Romero was a martyr VATICAN CITY – A panel of theologians advising the Vatican’s Congregation for Saints’ Causes voted unanimously to recognise the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero as a martyr, according to the newspaper of the Italian bishops’ conference. The panel declared on Jan 8 that the archbishop had been killed “in hatred for the faith”, Avvenire reported on Jan 9. The decision is a key step in the archbishop’s cause, following an extended debate over whether he was killed for political reasons or for his faith. The next step in the process lies with the cardinals and bishops who sit on the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, who will vote on whether to advise the pope to issue a decree of beati¿cation. A miracle is not needed for beati¿cation of a martyr, though a miracle is ordinarily needed for his or her canonisation as saint. Archbishop Romero, an outspoken advocate for the poor, was shot and killed on March 24, 1980, as he celebrated Mass in a hospital in San Salvador during his country’s civil war.

Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot in 1980 as he celebrated Mass in a hospital in San Salvador during his country’s civil war. &16 ¿OH SKRWR

His sainthood cause was opened at the Vatican in 1993. Pope Benedict XVI told reporters in 2007 that the archbishop was “certainly a great witness of the faith” who “merits beati¿cation, I do not doubt”. But he said some groups had complicated the sainthood cause by trying to co-opt the archbishop as a political ¿gure. In March 2013, Pope Francis reportedly told El Salvador’s ambassador to the Holy See: “I hope that under this ponti¿cate we can beatify [Archbishop Romero].” Pope Francis told reporters in August 2014 that “For me, Romero is a man of God.” CNS

German bishops favour allowing sacraments for divorced, remarried OXFORD, ENGLAND – Germany’s “The Church’s teaching and Catholic bishops have published pastoral work must uphold Jesus’s a report detailing their views on instruction on the indissolubility marriage and family. It suggests of marriage, but also His invoking most bishops now believe sacra- of God’s mercy on those who are ments should be available to di- sinful,” said the report. vorced and remarried Catholics “Civil divorce and remarriage who do not have an annulment. often cause people to distance “This document contains re- themselves from the Church, or Àections only and has no juridical widen the distance they already power,” said Mr Matthias Kopp, felt before divorce,” Cardinal spokesman for the Bonn-based Marx said. “It is not uncommon bishops’ conference. for this evolution to lead to the He said the German bishops’ abandonment of the Christian conference hopes “to offer its own faith, and this is why the German theological contribubishops’ conference tion in this area”. 7KH\ VD\ WKH wants to step up its The bishops pubpastoral outreach.” H[FOXVLRQ lished “TheologiHowever, Gercally Responsible man newspapers RI GLYRUFHG and Pastorally Apsaid several bishops &DWKROLFV ZDV had distanced thempropriate Ways for µQR ORQJHU Accompanying the selves from the conDivorced and Re- FRPSUHKHQVLEOH¶ ference report, with married” on the bishBishop Stefan Oster ops’ conference web- WR PDQ\ SULHVWV of Passau telling the site in late December. Passauer Neue Presse It said most of Germany’s 66 daily he saw “currently no theobishops now favoured allowing logical possibility” of enabling divorced Catholics living in new remarried Catholics to receive civil unions to undergo confession communion without “simultaneand receive Communion in “par- ously undermining the teaching ticular justi¿ed instances”. on marriage’s indissolubility”. While a few bishops still beAccompanying the bishops’ lieved such Catholics “on princi- website statement was a summary ple, could not be admitted to the of responses to a Vatican quessacraments”, the document added, tionnaire. It said most Germans all now agreed on the need to “in- viewed Catholic views of family tensify pastoral care” for them. life as “too idealistic and unrealThe report said the exclusion istic”, while Church teaching on of divorced Catholics was “no premarital sex, homosexuality, longer comprehensible” to many divorce and contraception were priests. “virtually never accepted”. CNS

12 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Markets cannot be answer to economic inequities, pope says &16 ¿OH SKRWR

VATICAN CITY – The world cannot

wait for an economic system that will cause poverty to ¿x itself, Pope Francis said. “Markets and ¿nancial speculation cannot enjoy absolute autonomy,” he said. There must be “programmes, mechanisms and procedures aimed at a better distribution of resources, job creation and the integral advancement of those who are excluded”, he said in a recently published interview. “We cannot wait any longer to ¿x the structural causes of poverty, to cure our society from a disease that can only bring on new crises.” The latest interview, conducted in October 2014, was published in a new book titled Pope Francis: This Economy Kills by Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli. While the book was released on Jan 13, excerpts from the interview were published in the Italian newspaper La Stampa on Jan 11. While noting the positive outcomes of the current globalised economy in lifting many people from poverty, the pope said it also “condemned many others to die of hunger”.

There must be programmes, mechanisms and procedures aimed at a better distribution of resources, job creation and the integral advancement of those who are excluded, said Pope Francis.

A boy and his younger brother eating a free meal during a feeding programme at a slum area in Manila.

While globalisation raised the level of global wealth, income disparity also increased and new forms of poverty have emerged, he said. This globalised economy is supported “by a throwaway cul-

5.9 m people joined pope for Vatican events in 2014

ture” where policies and social behaviours have made money, not people, the focus. “Money becomes an idol, and men and women are reduced to simple tools of a social and economic system characterised, no, dominated by deep imbalances,” he said. Abortion and the abandonment of the elderly are also consequences of this throwaway mentality, he said.

“I often ask myself: Who will be the next to be thrown away? We have to stop ourselves in time. Let us stop this, please” he said, adding that people must not give up trying to build a world where all people and their well-being are at the core, not money. Pope Francis said the earliest Fathers of the Church highlighted the importance of helping the poor and the fact that the earth and its resources belong to every-

one, not just the wealthy. He said if he were to use the same phrases from the homilies of these early Church Fathers “on how to treat the poor, there would be someone accusing my homily of being Marxist”. “This attention to the poor is in the Gospel and is in the tradition of the Church, it is not an invention of communism, and there is no need to turn it into an ideology, as has sometimes been the case throughout history,” he said. The Gospel message of helping the poor is meant for everyone, he said. “The Gospel does not condemn the rich but the idolatry of wealth, that idolatry that makes people insensitive to the cry of the poor,” he said. CNS

Honoured: murdered missionaries, kidnapped priests, Ebola victims VATICAN CITY – In addition to its

People cheer as Pope Francis greets the crowd during one of his general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. &16 ¿OH SKRWR VATICAN CITY – More than 5.9

million pilgrims and visitors joined Pope Francis for an audience, liturgy or prayer at the Vatican in 2014, the Vatican said. The Prefecture of the Papal Household, the Vatican of¿ce that coordinates the audiences and distributes the free tickets to papal audiences and liturgies, said a total of 5,916,800 people attended a papal event at the Vatican. The Vatican released the statistics on Dec 29. The 2014 total was down by about 680,000 from the 6.6 million visitors Pope Francis received in the ¿rst nine and a half months of his ponti¿cate in 2013 – from his March 13 election to the end of the year.

For the 12 months of 2014, at least 1.19 million people attended Pope Francis’ 43 weekly general audiences; more than 567,000 participated in special group audiences; more than 1.1 million participated in papal liturgies in St Peter’s Basilica or St Peter’s Square; and more than 3 million joined the pope for the Angelus or the “Regina Coeli” prayer on Sundays and major feast days in St Peter’s Square. The ¿gures released by the prefecture do not include numbers from papal events in the city of Rome, in Italian dioceses or on the pope’s foreign trips, and the numbers are approximate, based on the number of tickets requested and estimates of crowd size. CNS

annual report on Church workers murdered during the year, the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples highlighted the sacri¿ce of pastoral workers who died of Ebola contracted while caring for others and reminded Catholics that the fates of ¿ve kidnapped priests remain unknown. Fides, the congregation’s news agency, reported on Dec 30 that 26 pastoral workers were killed in 2014, most during robbery attempts: 17 priests, one Religious Brother, six Religious women, a seminarian and a layman. Even if most of the murders were committed during robberies, Fides said many of them were carried out with such “brutality and ferociousness” that they are signs of intolerance and “moral degradation” as well as “economic and cultural poverty”. But the agency also drew special attention to the four members of the Hospitallers of St John of God, the Religious Sister and 13 lay workers who died at Catholic hospitals in Liberia and Sierra Le-

For years, the Vatican list focused only on priests and Religious killed in mission territories, but it now focuses on ‘all pastoral workers who died violently’. one after contracting Ebola. The 18 “gave their lives for others like Christ”, said Fr Jesus Etayo, prior general of the order. The fates of ¿ve kidnapped Religious-order priests remains unknown, Fides said: Three Assumptionist priests from Congo were kidnapped in North Kivu in October 2012; Italian Jesuit Fr Paolo Dall’Oglio was kidnapped in Syria in 2013; and Indian Jesuit Fr Alexis Prem Kumar, director of Jesuit Refugee Service in Afghanistan, was kidnapped in June outside a JRS-run school in Herat.

For years, Fides’ list focused only on priests and Religious killed in the Church’s mission territories, but it now focuses on “all pastoral workers who died violently”. The agency said it does not refer to them as “martyrs”, which is a formal recognition by the Church that the person was killed in hatred for the faith, but as “witnesses” to Christ. Breaking the statistics down by continent, Fides said 14 pastoral workers – 12 priests, one Brother and a seminarian – were killed in the Americas; seven – two priests and ¿ve sisters – were killed in Africa; two – a Jesuit priest in Syria and a woman Religious in Malaysia – died in Asia; a priest and a lay collaborator were murdered in Papua New Guinea; and in Europe, an Italian priest was beaten to death in his rectory. The murders in the Americas included: four priests and a seminarian in Mexico; two priests and a Salesian brother in Venezuela; two US priests, and one priest each in Canada, Colombia, Nicaragua and Peru. CNS

POPE FRANCIS 13

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Pope offers Mass for victims of Paris attack VATICAN CITY – The morning after 12 people were shot to death and 11 others injured at the Paris of¿ce of a satirical weekly newspaper, Pope Francis dedicated his early morning Mass to the victims and their families. At the beginning of the Mass on Jan 8, he told the small congregation that the attack in Paris on Jan 7 was a reminder of “the cruelty man is capable of. Let us pray at this Mass for the victims of this cruelty – there are so many! And, we pray also for the perpetrators of such cruelty that the Lord will change their hearts.” Two armed men burst into the of¿ces of Charlie Hebdo weekly during an editorial meeting. Among the dead were the weekly’s editor and four cartoonists, who have been criticised in the past by Muslim groups for their caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad. French President Francois Hollande called the slayings “a terrorist attack without a doubt.” Although he met personally on Jan 8 with Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois of Paris, Pope Francis also sent a telegram to the cardinal expressing his condolences to the victims’ families and the entire French nation. Through his prayers, the message said, the pope shares “the pain of the bereaved families and the sadness of all the French” and asked God to comfort and console the injured. He also reiterated his condemnation of such violence and asked God for peace. Hours after the attack, Pope Francis condemned the killings and called on all people of goodwill to work to stem “the spread of hatred and every form of violence, both phys-

People light candles as they gather in Paris to commemorate the victims and condemn the killings at of¿ces of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical newspaper on Jan 7. Pope Francis condemned the killings of at least 12 people at the of¿ces of the publication and denounced all ‘physical and moral’ obstacles to the peaceful coexistence of nations, religions and cultures.

ical and moral, that destroys human life, violates the dignity of persons and radically undermines the fundamental good of peaceful coexistence among persons and peoples no matter their nationality, religion or culture.” The of¿ce of Cardinal Vingt-Trois released a statement expressing the cardinal’s “horror” at the attack and “his deep compassion for the families and friends of the victims. With the Catholics of Paris, he condemns this act of barbarism and calls for people to work ever more diligently to build relationships

Let us pray for the ‘ victims of this cruelty. And, we pray also for the perpetrators of such cruelty that the Lord will change their hearts.

’

– Pope Francis

of peace and mutual respect in our society.” “This society, made up of all manner of diversities, must continually work to construct peace,” said the Jan 7 statement. “The barbarism shown in this killing wounds us all, and in this situation, when anger may envelop us, we must devote attention more than ever to our weakened fraternity.” News of the attack came as Pope Francis was holding his weekly general audience; among the groups present for the audience and a brief conversation with the pope were four imams from France.

CNS photo

Imams comment Speaking later with the French Catholic news agency I.Media and the French Catholic newspaper La Croix, Mr Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the French Union of Mosques, said the country’s Muslims condemned the attack and must react against their faith being “exploited by criminals”. The head of the mosque in Bordeaux, Tareq Oubrou, said French Muslims were “traumatised” by the attack and feel their faith is being “taken hostage by crackpots”. The imams and French Cardinal JeanLouis Tauran, president of the Ponti¿cal Council for Interreligious Dialogue, issued a joint statement on Jan 8 saying they shared Pope Francis’ sentiments and joined him in “denouncing cruelty and blind violence”.

“We invite believers to demonstrate, through friendship and prayer, their human and spiritual solidarity with the victims and their families,” the statement said. Given the fact that the targets were employees of a newspaper, the cardinal and the imams also said that “without freedom of expression, the world is in danger.” “Given the impact of the media” on society and on individuals, they said, religious leaders of every faith must “offer information respectful of religions, their followers and their practices, thus promoting a culture of encounter”. Although many around the world have condemned the attack on the French satirical weekly, others have criticised the magazine’s provocative tone. CNS

14 POPE FRANCIS

Sunday January 25, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Pope names new cardinals, three from Southeast Asia VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has

named a total of 15 new cardinals, including three from SoutheastAsia, who are eligible to vote in a papal conclave. He also named ¿ve new cardinals who are over the age of 80 and, therefore, ineligible to vote. The three cardinals from Southeast Asia are Thai Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij of Bangkok, 65; Vietnamese Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon of Hanoi, 76; and Myanmar Archbishop Charles Bo of Yangon, 66. The pope announced the names on Jan 4, after praying the Angelus with a crowd in St Peter’s Square, and said he would formally induct the men into the College of Cardinals on Feb 14. (See graphic on next page). The pope appears to be continuing a movement he started with his ¿rst batch of appointments a year ago, giving gradually more representation at the highest levels of the Church to poorer countries in the global South. Apart from the three new cardinal electors from Asia, three are from Latin America, two from Africa and two from Oceania. Cardinals from Europe and North America now make up 56.8 percent of those eligible to elect the next pope, down from 60 percent as of Jan 4.

CARDINAL-DESIGNATE FRANCIS XAVIER KRIENGSAK KOVITHAVANIJ was born on June 27, 1949, in Bangkok. He was ordained a priest on July 11, 1976. He was appointed Bishop of Nakhon Sawan on March 7, 2007 and episcopally ordained on June 2 that year. He was appointed Archbishop of Bangkok on May 14, 2009.

CARDINAL-DESIGNATE CHARLES BO OF YANGON was born in Monhla, Myanmar, on Oct 29, 1948. He was ordained a priest in April 1976 and became Bishop of Lashio in December 1990. He also served as Bishop of Pathein and Apostolic Administrator of Mandalay archdiocese before being installed as Archbishop of Yangon in May 2003.

CARDINAL-DESIGNATE PIERRE NGUYEN VAN NHON was born on April 1, 1938 in Da Lat, Vietnam. He was ordained a priest on Dec 21, 1967. He was named Coadjutor Bishop of Da Lat on Oct 11, 1991, and episcopally ordained on Dec 3 that year. He became Bishop of Da Lat on March 23, 1994. He was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Ha Noi archdiocese on April 22, 2010 and became its archbishop on May 13 that year.

The shift reÀects the pope’s emphasis on Africa and Asia, where the Church is growing fastest, and on his native region of Latin America, home to about 40 percent of the world’s Catholics. According to Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Fr Federico Lombar-

di, for the ¿rst time, the Church’s cardinals include bishops from Cape Verde, Tonga and Myanmar. A number of the selections also reÀect Pope Francis’ emphasis on social justice. The new Mexican cardinal named leads a diocese that has been hard hit by the current wave of drug-related violence in his country. And one of the Italian cardinalsdesignate, the archbishop of Agrigento in Sicily, leads the Italian bishops’ commission on migration,

an issue on which Pope Francis has placed particular importance. The Feb 14 ceremony to induct the new cardinals will bring the total number of cardinals under the age of 80 to 125. Pope Francis said the ceremony will follow a two-day meeting of all cardinals on Feb 12 and 13 “to reĂ€ect on guidelines and proposals for reform of the Roman Curiaâ€?. The pope’s nine-member Council of Cardinals is currently working on a major reform of the

The pope’s choice of cardinals appear WR UHÀHFW KLV HPSKDVLV RQ $IULFD DQG $VLD where the Church is growing fastest.

Vatican bureaucracy, including a new apostolic constitution for the Vatican curia. Apart from the three SoutheastAsian cardinals, the others are: „ French Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, prefect of the Apostolic Signature, 62 „ Portuguese Patriarch Manuel Jose Macario do Nascimento Clemente of Lisbon, 66 „ Ethiopian Archbishop Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel of Addis Ababa, 66 „ New Zealand Archbishop John Dew of Wellington, 66 „ Italian Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli of Ancona-Osimo, 75 „ Mexican Archbishop Alberto Suarez Inda of Morelia, who turns 76 on Jan 30 „ Italian Archbishop Francesco Montenegro of Agrigento, 68 „ Uruguayan Archbishop Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet of Montevideo, 55 „ Spanish Archbishop Ricardo Blazquez Perez of Valladolid, 72 „ Spanish-born Panamanian Bishop Jose Luis Lacunza Maestrojuan of David, 70 „ Cape Verdean Bishop Arlindo Gomes Furtado of Santiago de Cabo Verde, 65 „ Tongan Bishop Soane Ma¿, 53 „ Colombian Archbishop Jose de Jesus Pimiento Rodriguez, retired, of Manizales, who turns 96 on Feb 18 „ Italian Archbishop Luigi De Magistris, 88, retired pro-major penitentiary at the Vatican „ German Archbishop Karl-Joseph Rauber, 80, a former nuncio „ Argentine Archbishop Luis Hector Villalba, retired, of Tucuman, 80 „ Mozambican Bishop Julio Duarte Langa, retired, of Xai-Xai, 87. „ CNS

POPE FRANCIS 15

Sunday January 25, 2015 „ CatholicNews

‘Only Holy Spirit can World without mothers open hearts to God’ would be ‘inhumane’, lacking tenderness: pope VATICAN CITY – Mothers are indispensable to society and the Church, showing the world what it means to generously give oneself for others, to respect life and to display tenderness and moral strength even in times of trouble, Pope Francis said. Speaking to some 4,000 people gathered indoors for his general audience on Jan 7, the pope continued his series of talks about the family. Even though mothers are often “exaltedâ€? with praise and poetry, he said, they often get very little concrete help and appreciation. In fact, he said, “the willingness of mothers to sacriÂżce themselves for their children is often taken advantage of in order to ‘save’ on social spendingâ€?. “One should better understand their daily struggle to be efÂżcient at work and attentive and loving in their family; it is necessary to better understand what they are striving for in order to express the best and most authentic fruits of their liberation,â€? he said. Pope Francis recalled his own upbringing as one of Âżve children, and spoke of how much work and how many problems, but also how much happiness, come with motherhood. “Mothers are the strongest antidote to the spread of selÂżsh individualism,â€? he said. A world without mothers would be “inhumaneâ€?, he said, “because mothers always know how to give witness – even in the

Mothers feed their babies in a maternity ward at a hospital in Manila. Society and even the Church do not always do justice to the contributions and sacriÂżces of mothers, said Pope Francis. &16 SKRWR

worst of times – to tenderness, dedication and moral strengthâ€?. “Being a mother does not mean just bringing a child into the world, but it is also a life choice. What does a mother choose?â€? he asked. “It is the choice to give life and this is great, this is beautiful.â€? If societies do not do justice to the contributions and sacriÂżces of mothers, the Church is not always better, he said. “Perhaps mothers, who are ready to make many sacriÂżces for their children and often also for othersâ€? should Âżnd greater reception and attention in the Church, he added. It is often the mother who

passes on “the deepest sense of religious practice� as she plants and cultivates the seed of faith in a child by sharing prayers and devotional practices, he said. “Without mothers, not only would there be no new people of faith, but the faith would lose a good portion of its simple and profound warmth.� Mothers are the biggest enemies of war, “which kills their children�, he said, admitting he has thought many times of those women who receive the dreaded letter notifying them of the loss of their children in their defence of the nation. “How much a mother suffers,� he commented. „ CNS

Pope meets leaders of Yezidi community VATICAN CITY – In his They tried to covert many appeals for an end to the to Islam, killed thousands persecution of minorities and drove tens of thouin Syria and Iraq, Pope sands from their homes Francis often has menwith almost no warning. tioned both the Christians Thanking the pope for and the Yezidis attacked his support “during this by Islamic State Âżghters. time of persecution and For more than half an sufferingâ€?, the delegation hour on Jan 8, Pope Franinformed the pope about cis met with global leaders “the situation of about of the Yezidi ethnic and 5,000 Yezidi women rereligious group, including duced to slaveryâ€? by the their secular leader Tahsin Islamic State, Fr LomSaid Ali Beg and Sheikh bardi said. Kato, who is their spiritual The delegation also leader or “Baba Sheikh.â€? spoke about the good relaJesuit Fr Federi- Pope Francis greets Tahsin Said Ali Beg, a Yezidi tions between Christians co Lombardi, Vatican leader. His community faces persecution from the and Yezidi and their efspokesman, said that in Islamic State. &16 SKRWR forts to help one another. addition to the two leaders “The Holy Father asThe Yezidi are a Kurdish comwho live in Iraqi Kurdissured the delegates of his tan, other representatives of the munity with a monotheistic reli- spiritual closeness and his support community came from north- gion with Zoroastrian and other in this time of trial, expressing his ern Iraq, Georgia and Germany, inĂ€uences. When militants of the hope for a quick reestablishment Islamic State proclaimed a ca- of justice and the conditions necwhere many have Ă€ed. Thanking Pope Francis for his liphate in June 2014 and began essary for a free and peaceful life support, one of the delegates re- their rampage through Syria and for the Yezidi and all minorities ferred to the pope as “father of the northeastern Iraq, they particular- facing discrimination and violy targeted Christians and Yezidis. lence,â€? said Fr Lombardi. „ CNS poorâ€?, Fr Lombardi said.

VATICAN CITY – Courses in yoga, ence. Pride, vanity, smugness and Zen meditation, even extensive a sense of superiority can also lead studies in Church teaching and people to become closed up, he said. spirituality can never free people “Religious narcissistsâ€? also enough to open their hearts to God “have a hard heart because ... they and His love, Pope Francis said in are not open. And they try to dea morning homily. fend themselves with these walls Only the Holy Spirit can they build up around themselves,â€? “move the heartâ€? and make it he said. “docile to the Lord, docile to the Insecurity causes people to freedom of loveâ€?, the pope said on look for things “to grab onto to be Jan 9 at Mass in the Domus Sanc- secureâ€?, he said, like the Pharisees tae Marthae, his residence. and Sadducees who were “so atThe pope looked at how Jesus’ tached to the letter of the lawâ€?. disciples could fail to recognise They may feel safe and secure, and be open to the Lord’s mira- the pope said, but they are like cles, like His walking on someone “in a jail cell water, the multiplication Painful and behind bars: It is a securiof the loaves and enty without freedomâ€?, and GLIÂżFXOW countering Him on the it was freedom that Jesus road to Emmaus. H[SHULHQFHV came to bring humanity. “They were the When the heart “is FDQ FDXVH hardened, apostles, those closit is not free SHRSOH WR and if it is not free it est to Jesus. But they didn’t understand,â€? he KDUGHQ WKHLU is because it does not said, according to the he said. KHDUWV VDLG love,â€? Vatican newspaper, God’s perfect love WKH SRSH “crushes fearâ€?, he said, L’Osservatore Romano. “It was because their because “in love there is hearts had been hardened,â€? he said. no fear because fear assumes pun“But how does a heart harden? ishment and whoever is afraid is not How is it possible with these people perfect in love. He is not free. He is who were always with Jesus, every always afraid that something painday, who listened to Him, saw Him.â€? ful or sad will happen.â€? The pope said he had asked his The pope asked, “Who teaches secretary why he thought people’s us to love? Who frees us from this hearts become so closed. Together hardness?â€? His answer, “Only the they came up with a number of Holy Spirit.â€? reasons, he said. “You can take a million catePainful and difÂżcult experi- chetical courses, a million courses ences can cause people to harden in spirituality, a million courses their hearts because they do not in yoga, Zen and all these things. want to be vulnerable to “another But all of this will never be able to ordealâ€? or be disillusioned once give you the freedomâ€? of being a again, the pope said. child of God. He said the saying in Argentina, The Holy Spirit “movesâ€? “If a person gets burned by milk, hearts and compels people to cry then he will cry when he sees a out, “Father,â€? and become docile cow,â€? expresses this idea of becom- to “the freedom of His love,â€? said ing fearful after a painful experi- the pope. „ CNS

16 OPINION

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

2 Highland Road, #01-03 Singapore 549102. Telephone: 6858 3055. Fax: 6858 2055. Website: www.catholicnews.sg Facebook: www.facebook.com/catholicnews MANAGING EDITOR: Father Richards Ambrose: ra@catholic.org.sg

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: memoriam@catholic.org.sg

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Christopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg Mel Diamse-Lee (Features): mel.lee@catholic.org.sg

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: subscriptions@catholic.org.sg ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: advertisements@catholic.org.sg

STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Lorna O’Hara: lorna.ohara@catholic.org.sg EDITORIAL MATTERS AND QUERIES: cnedit@catholic.org.sg

WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: medona.walter@catholic.org.sg

Please include your full name, address and phone no. for all DESIGN / LAYOUT: letters to the editor. All decisions on submissions rest with Christopher Wong: design@catholic.org.sg the CatholicNews. Published submissions will be edited. Elaine Ong: elaine.ong@catholic.org.sg The views or positions presented in articles in CatholicNews do not necessarily represent the views of the Church. Advertisements that appear in CatholicNews are not necessarily endorsed by the Church.

LETTER

Rotate priests regularly I was happy to read the Chancery Notice dated Dec 8, 2014, published in CatholicNews, Dec 28, informing that some priests have been assigned to certain parishes. The notice specifically stated a term of six years for three parish priests, perhaps indicating that such term is optimal, or is a marker for future appointments. If so, it is indeed a welcome regime of rotating parish priests (and assistants) regularly. During the initial months, the parish priest can assess the characteristics and needs of his new parish, and be acquainted with the lay groups and volunteers.

Then, he has several years to make needed improvements, and to refresh the faith of his Àock by his example, vigour and pastoral care. He himself will be reinvigorated by a new environment and congregation: priests are not immune to jadedness, a condition common in the secular world. The faithful would welcome a new parish priest, not because they were “tired” of the previous, but because a new servant-shepherd may offer fresh dynamism and rapport that might have dissipated over the years. Hence, their spiritual life and intimacy with

the Church can be reinforced. What is one parish’s loss could be another parish’s gain, but, over time, the whole Catholic community will benefit from a regular exchange of priestly gifts. The priestly mission is inherently a sacrifice; priests do face shades of fatigue and dryness. So they need and deserve their breaks, away from the bleating of the flock for a while. But they return, refreshed and recommitted. Regular rotations will also help. Andrew Tan Singapore 358627

Understanding and appreciating differences IT’S common for us to see God’s grace and blessing in what unites us. We naturally sense the presence of grace when, at our core, we feel a strong moral bond with certain other persons, Churches, and faiths. That, biblically, is what de¿nes family. But what if what separates us, what if what makes other persons, Churches, and faiths seem foreign and strange is also a grace, a difference intended by God? Can we think of our differences, as we think of our unity, as a gift from God? Most religions, including Christianity, would answer af¿rmatively. Thus in both the Jewish and the Christian scriptures, there is the strong, recurring motif that God’s message to us generally comes through the stranger, the foreigner, from the one who is different from us, from a source from which we would never expect to hear God’s voice. Added to this is the notion that when God speaks to us, we generally experience it as a surprise, as something unexpected, and as something that does not easily square with our normal expectations as to how God should work and how we should learn. There’s a reason for this. Simply put, when we think we are hearing God’s voice in what’s familiar, comfortable and secure, the temptation is always to reshape the message according to our own image and likeness, and so God often comes to us through the unfamiliar. Moreover, what’s familiar is comfortable and offers us security; but, as we know, real transformative growth mostly happens when, like the aged Sarah and Abraham, we are forced to set off to a place that’s foreign and frightening and that strips us of all that is comfortable and secure. Set off, God told Sarah and Abraham, to a land where you don’t know where you’re going. Real growth happens and real grace breaks in when we have to deal with what is other, foreign, different. Learn to understand, writes John of the Cross, more by not understanding than by understanding. What’s dark, unfamiliar, frightening and uninvited will stretch us in ways that the familiar and secure cannot. God sends His word to the earth through “angels” and they’re not exactly something we’re familiar with. If this is true, then our differences are also a grace. Accordingly, seeing things differently does not mean that we are not seeing the same things. Accordingly, different notions about God and different ways of speaking about God do not mean that we’re speaking of a different God. The same holds true for our Churches. Having difference concepts of what it means to be Church does not necessarily mean that there isn’t some deeper underlying unity inside our diversity. Similarly for how we conceive of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, how we imagine Christ as being really present inside of bread and wine, can take many forms and can be spoken of in different ways without it meaning that we’re speaking of a different reality. St John Paul II, addressing an interfaith gathering, once commented that “there are differences in which are reÀected the genius and spiritual riches of God to the nations”. The late Cistercian monk, Fr Christian de Cherge, after a lifetime of dialogue with Islam, suggested that our differences have a “quasisacramental function”, that is they help to give real Àesh in this world to the riches of God, who is ineffable and can never be captured in any one expression. Our differences, then, are part of the mystery of our unity. Real unity, which needs to reÀect the richness of God, does not exist in uniformity and homogenisation, but only in bringing into harmony many different gifts and richness, like a beautiful bouquet of Àowers brings together a variety of different Àowers inside one vase. Our legitimate differences are rooted inside of the same God. This has implications for every area of our lives, from how we receive immigrants in our countries, to how we deal with different personalities inside our families and places of work, to how we deal with other Christian denominations and other religions. Without endorsing a naive syncretism and without denying the rightful place for discernment, it must still be af¿rmed that our differences, conceived as an expression of a deeper unity that we cannot yet conceive, open us up more fully to the deep unfathomable, ineffable mystery of God and, at the same time, prevents us from making an idol of our own ideas, our own religious traditions, our own ways of understanding faith, and our own theologies and ideologies. Moreover, accepting differences as being intended by God and as the presence of grace in our lives should prevent us from constructing our identity, particularly our religious identity, on the basis of opposition to others and the unhealthy need to forever protest our own uniqueness and truth against what’s other. God loves us all equally. Difference, then, understood as part of the mystery of unity, should help keep us humble and honest enough to let others take their proper place before God.

FOCUS 17

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

$ ORRN DW UHDFWLRQV WR 3RSH )UDQFLV VLQFH KH DVVXPHG RIÀFH DOPRVW WZR \HDUV DJR WASHINGTON, USA – In the sec-

ond year of his ponti¿cate, Pope Francis is still experiencing love and support from people, and not just from Catholics or those from his homeland of Argentina. A study released on Dec 11 by the Pew Research Center, a think tank based in Washington, DC, shows that 60 percent of 43 nations polled had a positive view of the pontiff. And according to the study, 78 percent of Americans view the pope favourably. Pope Francis told reporters that President Barack Obama and the US Congress had invited him to Washington and that the UN secretary-general had invited him to New York. The pontiff, who was on the cover of many magazines in 2013, still had the coveted cover spot – not usually reserved for religious leaders – on Rolling Stone magazine last February. He was also the topic of a number of books issued last year and innumerable Catholic discussions either during fellowship gatherings after Masses or larger-scale symposiums at Catholic universities. During a talk last Feb 3 on the “Francis factor” at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, panellists used descriptors such as “troublemaker” and “antiestablishment” in their discussion about Pope Francis. They also commended his strong leadership and management style and of course, his popularity. Ms Kerry Robinson, executive

When was the last time you had fun? Name the occasion. The last time I had fun was when I went for an outing with Chinese migrants. We played a game called “four-legged race”. Before the race, my team agreed to walk faster. In the end, our group ended up last. Nevertheless, I enjoyed myself. Name an occasion you felt embarrassed or humbled. One day, I went to give the last rites to a bedridden person. He wanted to make a confession. He said to me, “Father, I want to make a good confession, I will confess all the sins that I have committed since I was young.” I was touched

director of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, said the pope’s strongest action so far had been urging people to personal conversion. The conversion he seeks in the world, she said, “starts now, with us”. At the same gathering, hosted by Georgetown’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Mr John Allen, associate editor at the Boston Globe newspa-

per, said there are likely some cardinals who might say the pope has done things that make them nervous, but they would still no doubt appreciate his overall appeal. One catch, so far with the pope’s popularity, is that it has not, as of yet in the US, drawn more people, or those who have left the church, back to Mass or the sacraments in measurable numbers, according to a Pew Research Center poll last year. Some observers have said the

Pope Francis has ‘succeeded in a short time in brightening up the gloomy atmosphere that had settled like mildew on the Church’. – German Cardinal Walter

pope’s impact shouldn’t be measured in returning Catholics, but in the restored image of the Catholic Church and the number of Catholics who feel proud of their faith again. Ms Eileen Burke-Sullivan, associate theology professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, told Catholic News Service in March that in visits to various parishes in the country, she heard numerous stories of parents’ grown children who have been inspired by the example of the pope and want to come back to the Church. She also said parishes should be prepared for these returning Catholics and be sure they are ready to serve as “¿eld hospitals” welcoming all, as the pope has said they must do.

Pope Francis greeting the crowd at St Peter’s Square. Although he is popular, he also has his share of critics. CNS photo

Name an occasion when you felt God was far away. Recently, I felt that God was far away from me when I struggled to ¿nd inspiration to prepare homilies.

What are the usual distractions during your prayer time? What do you do about them? Sleepiness and thinking about the things I need to do during the day. I try to stay awake by changing prayer locations. When I realise I am thinking about the things I am going to do, I tell myself that since I cannot do them now, it is better to stay focused on my prayer.

What do you like best about being a Religious/consecrated person? Having a community of Brothers sharing the same vision and mission. Bringing consolation to people through ministering the sacraments and pastoral visits.

Pope Francis calls for a Church for the poor, by the poor. How do you live that within your vocation? I try to live out the vow of poverty by living a simple life. When people who are in real need come for help, I try my best to help.

by his humility. At the same time, I felt humbled. An elderly man confessed his sins to a priest who was less than half his age.

What do you like doing most when with your biological family? Being with them and getting to know their life during family meals.

Last October, the pope had a lot of eyes on him during the extraordinary Synod of Bishops meeting on the family at the Vatican. The pope opened the ¿rst working session but never expressed his views during the gathering. At the meeting’s end, many news outlets said the ¿nal report was a “setback” or “loss” for the pope, because it did not include the midterm’s conciliatory language towards people with ways of life contrary to Church teaching, or reÀect the theme of mercy, the pope so often articulates. German Cardinal Walter Kasper, who gained attention during the synod for his proposal to make it easier for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion, told an audience at The Catholic University of America in Washington in early November that Pope Francis is “a pope of surprises”. The German cardinal said Pope Francis has “succeeded in a short time in brightening up the gloomy atmosphere that had settled like mildew on the Church”. He also acknowledged that the pope has his detractors, saying: “What for some is the beginning of a new spring, is for others a temporary cold spell.” The cardinal said the pope doesn’t “represent a traditionalist or a progressive scheme” but instead “wants to lead faith and morality back to their original centre”, to the heart of the Gospels. CNS

What do you normally do to relax? Play badminton, walk or swim.

Favourite book or author? I like the colourful biography of St John Bosco, the life stories of St John Mary Vianney, and St Therese of Liseux. Favourite food? I like the Teochew dessert orh nee (yam paste). Chinese Fr Joseph Zhang Liyong Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord (CDD)

18

Sunday January 25, 2015 „ CatholicNews

Sunday January 25, 2015 „ CatholicNews

19

20

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

God sent a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah became faint in the heat of the sun. God asked Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry over the gourd plant?” Jonah answered, “I have a right to be angry – angry enough to die.” “You are concerned over the gourd plant which cost you no effort and which you did not grow; it came up in one night and in one night it perished,” God told Jonah. “And should I not be concerned over the great city of Nineveh,

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

Wordsearch:

St Blaise

THROW SACKCLOTH GOURD

Read more about it: Jonah 1-4

Q&A 1. How many days and nights was Jonah in the belly of the great ¿sh? 2. What did the people of Nineveh wear to show their repentance?

FASTING PAID ASHES

BIBLE TRIVIA: What is sackcloth?

Bible Accent:

Answer to Bible Trivia: Coarse cloth made of goat hair. 4. B

Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t kill the messenger”? It means that when a person delivers a message on behalf of someone else, those who hear it may not like it and may take out their anger on the person who delivered the message. Sometimes this happened to God’s prophets, and they were afraid to deliver God’s messages because they were afraid of being hurt or killed. This was not so for Jonah. He didn’t want to deliver God’s message because he wanted to make sure Nineveh was destroyed. He did not want to give the people a chance to repent and receive God’s mercy. God tried to show Jonah that the prophet was thinking about things the wrong way. He did this by letting a plant grow near Jonah then letting it die the next day. Jonah liked the plant and was upset when it died. God said if Jonah was right to be concerned about one plant, that God had the right to be concerned with thousands of people in Nineveh. We do not know if Jonah understood God’s example, but it is a lesson that we can understand today.

PUZZLE: Prophets and others in the Bible often prayed to God. Match the name of the person on the left with the quote from his prayer on the right. Hints have been provided. 1. Samson A. “O Lord, I have heard your renown, and am in awe, O Lord, of your work.” (Habakkuk 3:2) 2. David

B. “You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea, and the Àood enveloped me.” (Jonah 2:4)

3. Habakkuk

C. “Strengthen me only this once that I may avenge myself on the Philistines at one blow for my two eyes.” (Judges 16:28)

4. Jonah

D. “Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love.” (Psalm 51:3)

Answer to Wordsearch

St Blaise (d. 316) was said to have been born into a rich family. He received a Christian education and became a bishop in Armenia at a young age. It is said that a woman once brought him a little boy who was near death because of a ¿shbone stuck in his throat, and the saint healed him. That is why on his feast day there is a blessing of the throats. When Christians in his area were being persecuted, he went to live in a cave in the mountains. He healed wild animals, which is how some hunters found him and took him to the person who was persecuting Christians. He was tortured and eventually beheaded. We remember the saint on Feb 3.

PLANT PROPHETS ANGRY

in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot know their right hand from their left, not to mention all the animals?”

3. A,

God called Jonah to be one of His prophets. He told Jonah to travel to Assyria – the enemy of Israel – and preach against the capital city of Nineveh. The city’s people were wicked, and God wanted Jonah to warn the people that they would be destroyed for their evil ways. Instead of listening to God, Jonah ran away as far west of Nineveh as he possibly could go. He paid for passage on a boat that was heading to Tarshish. But God made a storm on the sea that was so powerful that the ship Jonah was on was about to break apart. The ship’s sailors were afraid they would die. They soon ¿gured out the storm had come because of Jonah. The sailors decided to throw Jonah overboard to make the storm stop. After the sailors threw Jonah into the sea, the storm stopped, but Jonah

did not die. God sent a great ¿sh to swallow him. Jonah prayed to God during the three days and three nights he was in the belly of the ¿sh. At the end of the third day, God commanded the ¿sh to vomit Jonah onto dry land. For a second time, the Lord told Jonah to preach against the people of Nineveh. This time Jonah listened. When the people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s message from God, they showed their repentance by fasting and wearing sackcloth and ashes. Even the king wore sackcloth and sat in ashes, and he ordered that all of the animals of the city be dressed in sackcloth, too. When God saw the people’s repentance, He decided to spare Nineveh. This made Jonah angry. He went outside of the city to see if God would change His mind and destroy Nineveh. Instead, God made a gourd plant grow up to give Jonah shade as he waited, which Jonah liked. The next morning,

Answer to puzzle: Answers: 1. C, 2. D,

By Jennifer Ficcaglia

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www. catholic.org.sg/webevent_form.php CATECHISM FOR THE ELDERLY Catechism classes for the elderly are held in English, Mandarin, Peranakan, Hokkien, Teochew and Cantonese on Thursdays from 1pm-2.45pm at Holy Family Church and on Saturdays at St Joseph’s Church, Victoria Street, parish hall from 9.30am-11.30am. Register T: 9115 5673 (Andrew). JANUARY 18 TO FEBRUARY 1 CARLO CATHOLIC SOCIETY BURSARY 2015 Applications are now open for Primary/ Secondary/JC/CI students. Applicants must be Catholic – Singaporeans or foreigners – and must be full-time students. The applicant’s gross monthly household income divided by the total number of household members must not exceed $450, or the gross monthly household income must not exceed $2000. Applicants must possess good conduct and satisfactory academic results, and must not be receiving any other scholarship/bursary. Application forms available at 225-B Queen Street, or can be downloaded from www.carlo.org.sg. JANUARY 18 TO NOVEMBER 24 PERSONAL MORAL COMPASS COURSE 7.30pm-9.30pm: Every Tuesday from Jan 6, join us for a year-long systematic course in Moral Theology comprising six modules. This course is open to all who are interested in formation in the foundation of Ethics and Moral Theology. Fee: $60 per module. Organised by Caritas Singapore. At Catholic Centre, 55 Waterloo Street, Level 3. Register T: 6338 9453 (Gail); E: formation@caritas-singapore.org. JANUARY 19 ENCOUNTER: BEARING SPIRITUAL FRUITS, WOMAN TO WOMAN 7.30pm-9.30pm: As women, how do we strengthen our faith, love and hope in our encounter with other women? How do we live out the joy of the Gospel as women? Come and see how to enhance your feminine genius. Fee: $20. Organised by ICPE Mission Woman to Woman Ministry. At Church of St Teresa, 510 Kampong Bahru Road, St Paul’s Room. Register E: icpew2w@gmail.com. JANUARY 20 TO MAY 20 BIBLE STUDY, BOOK OF GENESIS 8pm-10pm: Every Wednesday, there will be Bible study sessions conducted by Msgr Ambrose Vaz. Free of charge. Organised by Bible Apostolate team, Church of St Francis Xavier. At Church of St Francis Xavier, 63A Chartwell Drive, SFX room, parish centre. Register E: ronlee@lucas.com.sg (Ron Lee) / maisielee21@gmail.com (Maisie Lim). JANUARY 20 TO MAY 5 ST MARK’S GOSPEL – FULL OF FAITH, PASSION AND CHOICE 9.30am-11.30am or 7.45pm-9.45pm: Every Tuesday, join us for a 14-week Bible course conducted by Fr Eugene Vaz on St Mark’s Gospel. Organised by Archdiocesan Biblical Apostolate. At CAEC, 2 Highland Road, St Paul’s Auditorium, #01-09. Register T: 6280 0354 / 8433 2683; E: bibleapostolate@catholic.org.sg. JANUARY 20 EFFECTIVE CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP – MODELLING HENRI NOUWEN’S SPIRITUALITY 2-6pm: Seminar; 7.30pm-9.30pm: Talk. The talk will be an overview of what was discussed during the seminar. Topics will include intimacy with God, self and others; ministry and spirituality; qualities for tomorrow’s leader; temptations and disciples of leadership; downward mobility-being wounded healer; call to be a contemporary mystic and social critic. Fees: $40 (Seminar); $20 (Talk). Organised by ICPE Mission Singapore. At Church of St Teresa, 510 Kampong Bahru Road, St Paul’s Room. Register E: icpe.sg@gmail.com. JANUARY 22 TO MARCH 26 BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY 9.45am-11.45am: Every Thursday for eight sessions, there will be informative sharings by Fr Valerian Cheong on the Book of Deuteronomy. Organised by Bible Apostolate (AM) of the Church of the Holy Spirit. At Church of the Holy Spirit, 248 Upper Thomson Road. Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare); E: HSBibleApostolate@gmail.com.

JANUARY 23 TO JANUARY 25 JANUARY CHOICE WEEKEND 6pm (Friday)-6pm (Sunday): 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 de¿ne what our life is all about. Organised by Choice Singapore. At 47 Jurong West Street 42. Register T: 9790 0537 (Hillary) / 9424 2606 (Jacqueline); E: registration@choice.org.sg. JANUARY 24 TO FEBRUARY 7 SE7EN – AFTER GOD’S HEART Calling all young working adults between ages 25 and 35. Come, discover God’s love. Join us for a three-week programme on two Saturdays from 2-4pm, on Jan 24 and Feb 7. There will also be a stay-in weekend retreat from Jan 30 at 8pm to Feb 1 at 2pm, at the IHM Retreat House, 46 Kovan Road. Fee: $90. Register E: http://tinyurl.com/se7en2015. Enquiries T: 9272 7884 (Martin); E: se7en.msc@ gmail.com. Register by Jan 11, 2015. JANUARY 24 INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE LEARNING TRIPS – FIRST IN A SERIES 2pm-4.30pm: 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II Declaration on the relations of the Church to non-Christian religions. To promote mutual respect and friendship with people of other faiths, join us to visit the Central Sikh Temple. Participants must have attended a two-hour orientation and formation session on Jan 13. The session would be held at Church of St Ignatius. A debrief will be held after the visit. Registration closes on Jan 9. Organised by Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue. At Central Sikh Temple, 2 Towner Road. Register E: gerald@accird.org.sg. Please include your name, parish and mobile number. JANUARY 24 INTRODUCTION TO AUTHENTIC CONVERSATIONS: HOW TO ENGAGE IN AND FACILITATE ONE? 9.30am-5pm: The dire lack of authentic conversation spaces has reduced many conversations to gossip, slander and the vulgar. How does one facilitate and nurture safe spaces for authentic conversation that is so critically needed in the Church and the world today? Facilitated by Lance Ng and Diana Koh. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Sacred Heart Hall Annexe, #0202 (behind St Ignatius Church). Fee including lunch and refreshments: $50. Contact T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@ gmail.com; W: www.kingsmeadcentre.sg. JANUARY 26 TO FEBRUARY 1 CHARIS MISSION FRIENDSHIP – DENIYAYA VILLAGE IN SRI LANKA The CHARIS mission trip to Sri Lanka to help build toilets in the Deniyaya village will be postponed to Jan 26-Feb. CHARIS has helped fund the building of 50 latrines to help with the village’s sanitation situation. A mission team will be deployed to help with the building of these toilets. Bio-sand water ¿ltration training will also be conducted there. Come experience faith in action and joy of mission work. Organised by CHARIS. Register T: 6337 4119; E: lilynne@charis-singapore.org. JANUARY 31 TO FEBRUARY 14 PARENTING WORKSHOP: COMMON SENSE PARENTING 9am-1pm: Join us for a parenting workshop which is certi¿ed and proven from Boystown USA to help raise responsible children. Gain more con¿dence in managing your child’s behaviour, and guiding them in their choices. Organised by Morning Star Community Services. At 4 Lor Low Koon. Register T: 6285 1377; E: programs@morningstar.org.sg. FEBRUARY 5 TO MARCH 26 CATHOLIC FAITH EXPLORATION (CAFE) 7.45pm: Every Thursday from Feb 5, join us for a CaFE video-based programme called The Joy of the Gospel. Organised by Church of Christ the King. At Church of Christ the King, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, Room 105. Register T: 9777 9109 (Stanley); E: ctkcafe@gmail.com. FEBRUARY 7 FINDING GOD IN MOVIES 2pm-5pm: Stories in movies allow for reÀective moments. It often invites us to question ourselves about our faith, and in a greater sense, about humanity. Join us to watch Frozen, and engage in conversation thereafter. Facilitated by Diana Koh and Joy Toh. Fee: $10. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road, Hall of the Pilgrim. Register T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@ gmail.com; W: www.kingsmeadcentre.org.

RCIA/RCIY A journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. TUESDAYS JUNE 24 RCIA @ CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30pm-9.30pm: 225A Queen Street. Register T: 9753 6863 (Joanna Sng, coordinator); E: sng.joanna@gmail.com. WEDNESDAYS FEBRUARY 11 RCIA @ CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 8pm-10pm: 221 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, RCIA Room 105. Register T: 8188 4141 (Benjamin Chan) / 8188 4242 (Gwen Lim); E: query.rcia@gmail.com. SUNDAYS APRIL 12 RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR 7.30pm-9.30pm: 31 Siglap Hill. Register T: 9630 3276 (Edward); E: jjwong5@yahoo.com.sg. FRIDAYS MARCH 6 RCIA @ CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE 8pm-10pm: 4 Sandy Lane. Enquiries T: 9030 9527; E: admin@queenofpeace. sg / martinds52@gmail.com. FEBRUARY 7, FEBRUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 28 CHRISTIAN MEDITATION – INTRODUCTORY PROGRAMME 9.30am-11am: Join us for a three-session introduction to Christian meditation. The event is free of charge. All are welcome. Organised by Clarity and WCCM Singapore. At Block 854, Yishun Ring Road, #01-3511. Register T: 6757 7990; E: lyn.pereira@clarity-singapore.org. FEBRUARY 9 TO APRIL 13 AT HOME RETREAT 7.30pm-9.30pm: Join us for a 10-week programme based on the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, which will enable participants to know Jesus Christ more intimately in the midst of the daily routine of life. Each session will include faith sharing, daily prayer using scripture and spiritual direction. Organised by Cenacle Sisters and team. At St Joseph’s Church, 143 Victoria Street. Register T: 6565 2895 / 9722 3138; E: cenaclesing@gmail.com. FEBRUARY 11 WORLD DAY OF THE SICK: LIVING WITH ILLNESS 9.30am-noon: Join us for a talk on “Living with Illness”, followed by Mass by Jesuit Fr Leslie Raj. Love offerings would also be collected. Organised by Kingsmead Centre. At Kingsmead Centre, 8 Victoria Park Road, Hall of the Pilgrim. Enquiries T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@ gmail.com; W: www.kingsmeadcentre.sg. FEBRUARY 28 LOGOS THE ENCOUNTER 1: JESUS THE INCARNATE WORD 9am-5pm: This is the ¿rst out of ¿ve series of retreats which aims to encourage participants to pray with the Scriptures, and apply the Living Word to their own lives. Organised by Verbum Dei Missionaries. Fee inclusive of lunch and tea breaks: $50. Closing date to register: Feb 16. At IHM Retreat House, 46 Kovan Road. Register T: 6280 0354; E: logosencounter@gmail.com. MARCH 1 TO APRIL 28 A BIBLICAL WALK WITH THE BLESSED MOTHER – PRESENTED BY DR ED SRI 9am-10.45am (Sundays); 8-9.30pm (Tuesdays); 10-11.30am (Fridays): If you wonder why Mary is so important to Catholics, join us for a DVD study series ¿lmed in the Holy Land, which will take you into the life of Mary while on earth, and how she works in our lives. The series is free of charge. Organised by the Biblical Apostolate Team from IHM. At CAEC, 2 Highland Road, St John’s Room Level 2 (Sundays) / Immaculate Heart of Mary, 24 Highland Road, Parish Centre, St Philips Room, Level 2 (Tuesdays and Fridays). Register E: bat@ihm.sg (Christina / Laura). APRIL 17 TO APRIL 19 RETROUVAILLE – A LIFELINE FOR TROUBLED AND HURTING MARRIAGES If you are serious about making your marriage work, this programme could be worthwhile for you. Organised by Retrouvaille Singapore. At Marriage Encounter House, 201B Ponggol Seventeenth Avenue. Register T: 6711 6774 (Laurence and Christina Tan).

DEVOTEES HOLD THE BLACK NAZARENE STATUE DURING ANNUAL PROCESSION IN MANILA: Men hold onto the Black Nazarene statue as it is pulled on a carriage during an annual procession in Manila, on Jan 9, ahead of Pope Francis’ Jan 15-19 visit to the Philippines. The life-size wooden statue of Jesus carved in Mexico, brought to the Philippines in the 17th century, is believed to have healing powers in the predominantly Catholic country. CNS photo

24

ADVERTISEMENT

Sunday January 25, 2015 CatholicNews

PUBLISHED BY THE CATHOLIC NEWS, 2 HIGHLAND ROAD #01-03, SINGAPORE 549102. PRINTED BY TIMES PRINTERS PRIVATE LIMITED, 16 TUAS AVENUE 5, SINGAPORE 639340.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.