JULY 17, 2011, vol 61, no 14

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www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JULY 17, 2011

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Christian leaders issue evangelisation guide Vatican, World Council of Churches and World Evangelical Alliance reject ‘inappropriate methods of exercising mission’

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INSIDE HOME Serra congress inspires youths Participants learn value of Eucharist „ Page 8

ASIA Experiencing unity at Mariapolis gathering

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican and

other Christian representatives have issued a series of recommendations for evangelisation in multifaith societies, rejecting aggressive or coercive methods but defending the right to profess, propagate or change one’s religion. The principles were outlined on June 28 in a document, Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct, issued jointly by the 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQFLO IRU ,QWHUUHOLgious Dialogue, the World Council of Churches and the World Evangelical Alliance. “Christian witness in a pluralistic world includes engaging in dialogue with people of different religions and cultures,â€? the docuPHQW VDLG ,W DGGHG WKDW ZKLOH HYHry Christian has the duty to witness to Christ, “conversion is ultimately the work of the Holy Spiritâ€?. Âł,I &KULVWLDQV HQJDJH LQ LQDSpropriate methods of exercising mission by resorting to deception and coercive means, they betray the Gospel and may cause suffering to others,â€? it said. The document was the prodXFW RI ÂżYH \HDUV RI FRQVXOWDWLRQV by some 40 experts in ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the head of the Vatican’s interreligious FRXQFLO VDLG GHÂżQLQJ WKH SULQFLSOHV ZDV ÂłQRW HDV\´ EXW WKDW WKH Âżnal text was important and should now be studied by Christian communities around the world. Âł,WÂśV YHU\ LPSRUWDQW WKDW UHOLgions, especially Christianity, appear not as a source of division but a source of solidarity and communion,â€? he told Vatican Radio. An essential point, he said, was that witnessing the Gospel cannot

VOL 61

Focolare event inspires young people „ Page 12

ASIA Illegitimate ceremonies Vatican slams ordinations in China and by St Pius X society „ Pages 9 & 14

A Christian studies the Bible. Christian leaders have issued a document, Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious :RUOG 5HFRPPHQGDWLRQV IRU &RQGXFW DIWHU ÂżYH \HDUV RI FRQVXOWDWLRQV &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

be an “aggressive campaign�. The document strongly emphasised that exploitation of situations of poverty and need has no place in Christian outreach. While education, health care, relief services and advocacy of justice are an integral part of witnessing to the Gospel, it said that “Christians should denounce and refrain from offering all forms of

DOOXUHPHQWV LQFOXGLQJ ¿QDQFLDO incentives and rewards, in their acts of service�. Among the document’s 12 major principles for evangelising were the following points: ‡ ,Q DOO DVSHFWV RI OLIH DQG ZLWness, Christians are called to follow the example and teachings of Jesus Christ. ‡ Christians are called to con-

&KULVWLDQV DUH FDOOHG WR FRQGXFW WKHPVHOYHV ZLWK LQWHJULW\ FKDULW\ FRPSDVVLRQ DQG KXPLOLW\ DQG WR ÂľRYHUFRPH DOO DUURJDQFH FRQGHVFHQVLRQ DQG GLVSDUDJHPHQWÂś

duct themselves with integrity, charity, compassion and humility and to “overcome all arrogance, condescension and disparagement�. ‡ Christian healing ministries should be carried out with discernment, “ensuring that the vulnerability of people and their need for healing are not exploited�. ‡ Christians are called on to reject all forms of violence or the abuse of power in their witness. They should also reject any form of violence or discrimination by any religious or secular authority. ‡ Religious freedom is an essential human freedom and includes „ Continued on Page 16

WORLD Same-sex marriage in New York Bishops criticise passage of legislation „ Page 17

BIBLE SUNDAY MESSAGE Creative power of God’s word „ Page 20

OPINION Will pope visit Asia next year? Possibility not ruled out „ Page 21

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

‘Mindset change’ needed for effective migrant outreach By Darren Boon

A Chinese migrant worker (right) helps himself to a meal during an outreach by a Singapore parish.

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Jul 10

11.30am Church of Divine Mercy Mass – Prison’s Week 3.30pm Church of St Mary of the Angels: Mass – Bible Sunday (Mandarin) Jul 14 9.30am Changi Prison: Mass – Prison’s Week -XO DP &KXUFK RI 6WV 3HWHU DQG 3DXO 0DVV ¹ &RQ¿UPDWLRQ Jul 18 to 22 Priests’ Retreat Jul 22 7.30pm Cathedral of the Good Shepherd: Mass – Commissioning of Youths (Participants of World Youth Day) Jul 23 5.30pm Church of St Joseph (Bukit Timah): 0DVV ¹ &RQ¿UPDWLRQ

Put aside one’s prejudices, acquire a better understanding of migrants’ motivations, and change one’s attitude towards volunteerism, Catholics were told at a forum on outreach work to Chinese migrant workers. Some 30 people took part in the July 3 forum, organised by the Commission for Apostolate of Mandarin-speaking, which aimed to help Catholics reach out better to such workers. It was held in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Speaking in Mandarin, Mr John Lim from Gospel Station, the parish’s outreach arm to Chinese PLJUDQWV QRWHG WKH GLI¿FXOW\ LQ ¿QGLQJ YROXQWHHUV DQG KLJKOLJKWHG concerns deterring Catholics from coming forward to serve. Some people are fearful that migrants would take advantage of them, others are unaccustomed to serving those they consider of lower social status, while yet others fear unwanted amorous entanglements, said Mr John Lim from Gospel Station, the parish’s outreach arm to Chinese migrants. He said there are volunteers who think that reaching out means to complete certain assigned tasks and once these are done, they do not interact with the people they serve. Reaching out to migrants means taking the initiative to interact with them, getting to know their backgrounds and work situa-

tion, and conversing on topics they can relate to, said Mr Lim. Above all, one must treat them as equals. He also noted that many migrants are here to make money and work long hours, sometimes seven days a week. Mr Lim said the only way to evangelise migrants “is to use love, care and concern to move them ‌ so that they can feel the goodness of being Catholicâ€?. It

Mr John Lim speaking at the July 3 forum on serving Chinese migrant workers.

would be easier to share the faith with them once volunteers get to know them better, he added. Mr Lim also shared some of the services Gospel Station offers on Sunday evenings such as English classes, meals and karaoke sessions. Volunteers also take the migrants on outings on occasionally. The group serves mostly

workers in the manufacturing, service and construction industries. Mr Lim’s recent visit to workers’ dormitories near the church to promote Gospel Station has also yielded positive results, he said. 7KHUH DUH RQO\ ÂżYH YROXQWHHUV at Gospel Station who volunteer every Sunday. There is a need for more volunteers to prepare the food and drink, teach English, organise recreational activities, and interact with the migrants, he said. The forum saw some positive results with some people indicating their desire to serve in this ministry. One participant, Ms Rosemary Soon, said she will assist in food preparation as well as interact with migrants. Ms Kathleen Sim from Church of the Risen Christ also said she would volunteer at Gospel Station as migrant workers “need to be shown a lot more care and concernâ€?. Representatives from the Mandarin-speaking community of Church of St Mary of the Angels said they are considering starting a similar outreach. Mr David Yap, from Nativity Church, said he found the forum helpful in giving volunteers a better idea of what such outreach work involved. One challenge is to get adequate manpower, he said. The community also hopes to mobilise the English-speaking Catholics in the future, he added. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

St Vincent de Paul Church starts Mandarin Mass The Church of St Vincent de Paul has started a monthly Mandarin Mass every third Sunday of the month to evangelise Chinese migrants while serving the needs of those attending the Mandarin Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Some recently-baptised Mandarin-speaking Catholics from the parish as well as from the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have been encouraged to attend the 8 pm Masses, which started on June 19, and interact

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with the Chinese migrants. Joining in the Mass on June 19 were Chinese migrants from a group called Pilgrims’ Abode (Tu Yang Zhi Jia) and another from the Church of Sts Peter and Paul. Newly baptised Assunta Chong told CatholicNews she would do her very best to reach out to the migrant workers, adding that this is a good way of taking part in the Church’s mission of evangelisation. At the same time, the parish is

also starting a basic conversational Mandarin course every Monday evening from July 4 for Englishspeaking Chinese parishioners to help them understand the Mandarin Mass liturgy. The course also aims to equip participants with the basic lanJXDJH VNLOOV DQG FRQ¿GHQFH WR reach out to Chinese migrants. Several parishes in Singapore presently hold activities for Chinese migrants on Sunday evenings as most of these people are busy at work at other times. 7KHUH LV FXUUHQWO\ D ¿UVW 6XQday of the month Mandarin Mass at 8 pm at Church of Sts Peter and Paul and faith formation classes at the Church of St Francis Xavier on the second Sunday of the month. Mr Francis Teo, who works with the migrants, says he hopes there will eventually be Masses in each archdiocesan district to cater to these people. „

Sunday July 17, 2011 CatholicNews

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Sunday July 17, 2011 CatholicNews

Reaching out to kids through drama By Darren Boon

Children from Church of Christ the King performing a skit for their parents on June 22 after attending a drama workshop.

A youth group from the Church of Christ the King recently organised a drama workshop for the parish’s children as a means of bringing them closer to God. Thirty-seven children aged six to 12 years took part in the workshop, run by Theatre of Gifts, from June 20-22. The young participants learnt simple techniques such as voice projection, and were also broken up into groups to create their own skits based on their interpretation of family love. Some of the themes the groups came up with included honesty, forgiveness and the importance of family time. On June 22 evening, the parents gathered to watch their kids’ performances which included a mass dance. Theatre of Gifts wanted children to feel the love of God through the family and church community, said Jared Ng, 19, one of two senior leaders of the group. “We introduce drama as a medium to God”, said Ng, adding that the “interesting and fun” approach could help children learn important values and Bible verses. The children enjoyed themselves during the workshop, judging from their “enthusiasm and … willingness to try different things despite being a bit shy”, he added. The young participants agreed. Zidane Oh, nine, and Natalie

Lai, 10, said they enjoyed the games, drama exercises and skits. Another participant, Timothy Tan, 11 said he learnt that God has given everyone a talent and that people should hone their talents and use them well. He added that he has also developed an interest in drama as a result of the workshop.

The drama workshop ‘created a sense of belonging for the children … a sense of identity’ with the parish, said a parent. The workshop also “created a sense of belonging for the children … a sense of identity” with the parish, said Timothy’s mother, Maria. The skits the children came up with, although “simplistic”, gave an idea of how they saw their family life and relationships, she said. Each skit also had its own moral lesson, she added. According to Jared Ng, Theatre of Gifts hopes to continue with the workshops annually as a means of engaging children and journeying with them. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday July 17, 2011 CatholicNews

Youths prepare spiritually for WYD By Benedict Tang Some 60 people from various youth groups took part in a special Way of the Cross recently to prepare them for their World Youth Day (WYD) experience in Spain. Millions of Catholic youths are expected to converge on the European nation for the international celebration to be held from Aug 16-21. The Way of the Cross, conducted at the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre on June 25, was organised by Ravenahl Study Centre, a youth centre run by the Prelature of Opus Dei in Singapore. Participants knelt in silence as Opus Dei priest, Fr Joe Lopez, blessed them with the Blessed Sacrament at the start of the session. The Way of the Cross devotion, which followed, featured a specially-edited video containing clips from the movie Passion of the Christ, and meditations from St Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. Ravenahl youth director Pablo Callejo then gave a short presentation on his home country, warning that August is the hottest period in Spain when temperatures could go up to 47 deg Celsius. Nights will be cool though, and he advised participants to bring

Young people taking part in a special Way of the Cross which featured clips from the movie, Passion of the Christ.

along a light jacket. The Spaniard also gave a short Spanish lesson at the end, drawing laughter as the youths tried their best to use the foreign phrases in conversation. Participants were later treated to Spanish food such as tortilla española (Spanish omelette), patatas bravas (Spanish fried potatoes) and sangria (fruit punch). Mr Colin Ng, a parishioner of the Church of the Risen Christ, said he is looking forward to meeting other Catholic youths from around the world and seeing the pope in Spain. He is also keen to visit sites associated with St Josemaria in his own birthplace.

Participants of the Way of the Cross came from parishes, diocesan groups such as Living Stones Campus Outreach, Neo-Catechumenal Way and (Karismatik Katolik Indonesia Holy Spirit), and student groups from the Singapore Management University and Nanyang Technological University. Archbishop Nicholas Chia is expected to commission all youths going to World Youth Day during a special Mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on July 22.

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Manga artist hopes his work inspires By Darren Boon A Singapore artist who worked on manga comics featuring Pope Benedict XVI, St Paul and Old 7HVWDPHQW ÂżJXUH -XGLWK VD\V KH hopes people would be inspired E\ WKHP “All these books come with good teachings ‌ I hope I can encourage more people to read up on these kind of books besides those comics [which are] just based on YLROHQFH RU IDQWDV\ ´ VDLG IXOOWLPH PDQJD DUWLVW 6HDQ /DP &DWKROLF \RXWKV ZLOO EH DEOH WR VHH WKH \HDU ROG DUWLVWÂśV ZRUN when his comic book on the pope is distributed during World Youth 'D\ WKLV $XJXVW 7KH 6W 3DXO DQG -XGLWK FRPLF ERRNV DUH DOUHDG\ RQ VDOH LQ WKH 86 Lam, a self-confessed “free WKLQNHU´ VDLG WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR work on these Christian characters came as he was scouring the ,QWHUQHW IRU SURMHFWV $IWHU VRPH GLVFXVVLRQV ZLWK -RQDWKDQ /LQ RI Manga Heroes in the US, which publishes Catholic manga comics, /DP FDPH RQERDUG /LQ KLPVHOI LV D &DWKROLF Working on the series strengthened his conviction that it ZDV IRU D JRRG FDXVH 7KH FKDUacters are inspiring and the stories teach about qualities such as

Left: Sean Lam with his latest manga, Many are Called, on his computer, as well as published mangas on St Paul and Judith. Above: His comic book on the pope.

courage, faith and determination, KH DGGHG Lam said he is glad to be able to help present the Pope Benedict manga to an international audiHQFH DW :RUOG <RXWK 'D\ LQ 0DGULG :RUNLQJ RQ WKH FRPLFV DOVR helped him rediscover “his oriJLQV´ DV KH JUHZ XS LQ D &KULVWLDQ IDPLO\ KH DGGHG Lam, an ex-art director in the DGYHUWLVLQJ LQGXVWU\ VDLG KH KDG DOZD\V EHHQ SDVVLRQDWH DERXW

GUDZLQJ VLQFH KLV \RXQJHU GD\V and fell in love with comics and PDQJD GXULQJ KLV VHFRQGDU\ VFKRRO \HDUV 7KH NH\ WR Ă€HVKLQJ RXW WKH characters and scenes is to plunge RQHVHOI LQWR WKH VFULSW RU VWRU\ DQG GHYHORS D ÂłIHHO´ IRU WKH FKDUDFWHUV KH VKDUHG $ ORW RI UHVHDUFK needs to be carried out as well as discussions with the publisher and ZULWHU RQ KRZ WKH\ ZDQW WKH FKDUDFWHUV WR EH SRUWUD\HG

³2QFH \RX LPPHUVH \RXUVHOI LQ WKH VWRU\ \RX FDQ DFWXDOO\ FRPH XS ZLWK WKH YLVXDOV TXLWH HDVLO\ ´ KH VDLG In addition, Lam would also come up with his own ideas on KRZ WR ³VSLFH XS´ WKH ORRN RI FKDUDFWHUV DQG WKHLU FORWKLQJ Manga, which originated in -DSDQ WHQGV WR HPSKDVLVH ³GUDPDWLF VFHQHV´ DQG VPDOOHU SDQHOV ZLWK FORVH XSV 'XH WR WKH GUDmatic visuals, the characters can

EH H[DJJHUDWHG RU ÂłIDQWDV\ OLNH´ VDLG /DP For the Christian manga series, /DP RSWHG IRU D VW\OH WKDW FRXOG DWWUDFW FKLOGUHQ DV \RXQJ DV HLJKW For example, the characters of St 3DXO DQG -XGLWK DUH ÂłWRQHG GRZQ ÂŤ VOLJKWO\ VLPSOLÂżHG LQ WHUPV RI OLQH ZRUNV ÂŤ WKH H\HV DUH PXFK HDVLHU WR XQGHUVWDQG´ For the manga on Pope Benedict, Lam read news on the pontiff DQG ZLWK KHOS IURP WKH VWRU\OLQH developed a better understanding RI WKH SRSHÂśV FKDUDFWHU DQG OLIH 2QH FKDOOHQJH ZDV WR SRUWUD\ WKH SRSH LQ PDQJD VW\OH EXW HQVXULQJ WKH UHVHPEODQFH LV WKHUH Âł+H LV DQ LQVSLUDWLRQDO ÂżJXUH ZKR DFWXDOO\ FRPPDQGV D KXJH YRLFH LQ WKH ZRUOG ´ VDLG /DP adding that he took about a month to illustrate the 32-page manga on WKH SRQWLII /DP VDLG KH KDV MXVW ÂżQLVKHG D PDQJD HQWLWOHG 0DQ\ $UH &DOOHG EDVHG RQ YDULRXV SDUDEOHV )ROlowing this is an extended manga RQ 3RSH %HQHGLFW The artist said he hopes to ZRUN RQ D PDQJD RQ %OHVVHG -RKQ 3DXO ,, DV ZHOO DV -HVXVÂś GLVFLSOHV whom he described as “wonderful characters we should see in FRPLFV´ „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday July 17, 2011 CatholicNews

Canossian nun’s social service work aids Yunnan villagers By Darren Boon It is almost a one-woman operation for Canossian Sr Margaret Syn who is presently serving in China. The 69-year-old nun, who celebrated her golden jubilee on June 25 in Singapore, was invited by the Yunnan dioceses to start the Yunnan Catholic Social Service in 2008. Since then, she has been busy canvassing, managing and approving funds for projects to improve the lives of the poor. In the course of her work, she endures long road journeys to villages in mountainous terrains to study the need for infrastructural projects. The people here are not starving as they have land to grow food and vegetables, Sr Margaret told CatholicNews. However, they do need cash for projects. Yunnan Catholic Social Service provides bursaries of 600 yuan (S$113) a year for primary school children and up to 4,000 yuan for university students from poor families. The social service receives requests to fund infrastructure projects such as the construction of water collection systems and reservoirs, arterial roads within mountain villages, and the laying of water pipes. Together with a local priest, Sr Margaret visits villages to assess the situation before approving projects. The priest oversees and executes the project together with the local church leader while she raises funds.

She says she is fortunate to be able to obtain funds for projects costing between 50,000 and 60,000 yuan, thanks to the generosity of various overseas funders. Caritas Hong Kong also provides funding for one project a year. Sr Margaret started with nothing when Yunnan Catholic Social 6HUYLFH ¿UVW EHJDQ “I don’t know [where I got the money from]. I believe in God. Somehow I would get it,” she said. Right now, her main concern is to search for a suitable candidate to ensure the continuation of the service. Sr Margaret says she derives immense satisfaction from being able to reach out to people living in the mountains. Catholic villagers are overjoyed at seeing a Religious and priest visit them, she said. At the same time, Sr Margaret is involved in pastoral work such as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, giving talks in church as well as starting a youth group in Kunming which meets for Bible sharing every Sunday. The nun says she had never imagined giving talks in Mandarin as she does not come from a Mandarin-speaking background. “As I do the work, the necessary gifts are given to me,” she said. God really works wonders, she added. “He sent me on all these missions and I just follow His lead … the fears disappear.” Sr Margaret said she used to get carsick but has since gotten used to the long trips up the mountains. She also managed to

Priests’ appointments Carmelite Fr John Chua, former vocation director at the Carmelite Friars’ Formation House in Punggol, has been appointed parish priest of Church of Sts Peter and Paul. He took over from Carmelite Fr Anselm Phang on July 3. Fr Phang will be based in the formation house and will be on regular mission trips to China. Fr Thomas Curran is now vocation director while Fr Daniel Lim, from Malaysia, will be the house superior.

Speaking to CatholicNews on his appointment as parish priest, Fr Chua said that he hopes to “promote family life in the context of Carmelite spirituality” within the parish. Fr Stephen Yim was of¿FLDOO\ DSSRLQWHG SDULVK priest of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on July 3. Fr Luke Fong will leave Singapore in early August to pursue a master’s degree in Sacred Theology in the Dominican House of Studies in Washington DC, USA. He will be away for two years.

Sr Margaret Syn (centre) with villagers in Yunnan, China. The Canossian nun celebrated her golden jubilee recently.

In the course of her work, Sr Margaret Syn endures long road journeys to villages in mountainous terrains to study the need for infrastructural projects.

overcome her initial discomfort of working with handicapped people when she was asked to help out in a school for handicapped children in China. She has worked at Jinde Charities in Shijiazhuang where she helped in translation and public relations, and mentored a programme for AIDS patients. Each of her ministries present-

ed her with new opportunities and challenges – what she describes as a “leap in the dark”. She had also previously worked with Chinese immigrants in Italy, some of whom were illegal immigrants. With the help of dictionaries and translation guides, she was able to help them with interpretation and translation. Sr Margaret describes the work she has been doing as a Religious as a “person-oriented” one. She started out as a teacher but left the profession to pur-

sue social work. She helped to start para-counselling in schools, before-and-after school care and the HELP Family Service Centre which provides assistance to single parents and children from single parent homes. Sr Margaret was also instrumental in starting the Beginning Experience in Singapore in 1988, a peer ministry which helps the widowed, divorced or permanently separated to overcome their loss and to heal. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday July 17, 2011 CatholicNews

Serra congress inspires youths

Young participants at the Serra Eucharistic Congress, holding copies of a handbook on Catholic teachings, pose for a photo with Archbishop Nicholas Chia.

By Leonard Yeo A Eucharist Congress organised by the Serra Club of Singapore has impressed upon young Catholics the importance of developing their spiritual life, participants say. “The congress raised an awareness of the importance of the Eucharist and the need to be more devoted to Eucharistic adoration,” said Mr Daniel Tay, 22, from the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace. “Most of us receive the Eucharist every Sunday, but we do not appreciate the power of the Holy Eucharist … and how [it] has the power to guard us from evil,” he added. Mr Tay was one of some 200

young Catholics who attended the Serra Eucharistic Congress 2011, held at the Church of the Holy Cross from July 1-3. The congress, which had the theme, Be Empowered to be Holy, also attracted 14 participants from Malaysia. The Serra Club aims to promote priestly vocations. Two well-known priests from overseas, Fr Antoine Thomas, founder of the worldwide Children’s Eucharistic Adoration movement, and Fr Clement Machado, a Canadian-born exorcist-priest based in Rome, were the main speakers. Fr Thomas stressed the importance of having a fervent love for the Eucharist and encouraged the

Some 200 people from took Singapore and Malaysia took part in the event.

youths to receive the sacraments and go to Confession frequently. The priest, from the Congregation of St John who has organised youth events and retreats worldwide, also stressed the need for daily prayer and Eucharistic Adoration for one to draw closer to God. During the congress, he guided participants in Eucharistic Adoration through meditative prayers and songs, readings from Bible passages as well as silent prayer DQG UHÀHFWLRQ

Fr Machado spoke on the seven deadly sins, focusing on lust and its corresponding and often neglected virtue of chastity and purity. The priest, who has an international evangelisation ministry and who has hosted programmes on Vatican Radio and the Catholic EWTN network, emphasised the importance of modesty in dressing as our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Fr Machado, who is from the Society of Our Lady of the Most

Most of us receive the Eucharist every ‘Sunday but we do not appreciate its power. ’

– Mr Daniel Tay, a participant

Holy Trinity, also highlighted the dangers of New Age and occult practices such as consulting horoscopes, palm-reading and consulting mediums. During Mass on July 2, Archbishop Nicholas Chia, blessed a handbook containing prayers and teachings of the Catholic faith compiled by the Serra Club of Singapore. This was distributed to all participants. Francis Lee, 17, from the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, said the congress gave him a new perspective on prayer and spirituality. He noted that there are “a lot of things in his lifestyle [which need to be] changed” and added that he would now allocate more time to prayer. Mr Tay also added that the congress made him realise that “attaining holiness is not easy as following the plan of God requires a lot of effort and trust”.

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Vatican condemns ordination of China bishop VATICAN CITY – The Vatican has condemned the latest ordination of a Chinese bishop without papal approval, saying the prelate has no right to govern the diocese. The statement also warned that the penalty of excommunication may apply not only to the ordained bishop but also to the consecrating bishops who were involved. Fr Paul Lei Shiyin was ordained without a papal mandate on June 29 as Bishop of Leshan in the presence of about 1,000 guests and JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV DW 2XU /DG\ of the Rosary Church in Emeishan. Bishop Johan Fang Xingyao of Linyi, president of the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, was the main celebrant. The six other bishops who laid hands on Bishop Lei had all been ordained with Vatican approval. Speaking to reporters on July 4, Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi said the language of the Vatican communique left little doubt that Bishop Lei had incurred excommunication, as foreseen by canon law. The Vatican has previously said that consecrating bishops face the same penalty, but that extenuating circumstances may apply, for example, if the bishops are coerced to participate. The Vatican said Bishop Lei “had been informed, for some time, that he was unacceptable to the Holy See as an episcopal candidate for proven and very grave reasonsâ€?. It said the ordination was a wound to Church unity and had “deeply saddenedâ€? Pope Benedict XVI, who desires communion for the Church in China. Meanwhile, three priests in northern China’s Hebei province have been reportedly detained by authorities. Handan diocese had planned to proceed with the ordination of Fr Joseph Sun Jigen, elected coadMXWRU ELVKRS E\ GLRFHVDQ RIÂżFLDOV and approved by the Vatican. +RZHYHU JRYHUQPHQW RIÂż-

cials objected to the ordination date of June 29, the feast of Sts Peter and Paul, saying it was too close to the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of China July 1. Fr Sun was forcibly taken away E\ VHFXULW\ RIÂżFHUV RQ -XQH DQG was being “looked afterâ€? by governPHQW RIÂżFLDOV 8&$ 1HZV UHSRUWHG 2Q -XO\ PRUQLQJ WKH UHOLgious affairs bureau summoned Fr John Huai Jianting, the diocesan chancellor, to discuss matters related to Bishop-elect Sun.

Fr Paul Lei Shiyin was ordained Bishop of Leshan without Vatican approval. 8&$1(:6 &20 ÂżOH SKRWR

Fr Huai disappeared after setting off from the government ofÂżFH LQ D GLRFHVDQ FDU +LV GULYHU said the priest was taken away by JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV DFFRUGLQJ WR local sources. That evening, diocesan consultor Fr Peter Liu Xiuhua was also summoned by religious afIDLUV RIÂżFLDOV According to his driver, Fr Liu was later bundled into a van by several people as he left the government building at around 10pm. His family and friends went to the religious affairs bureau to inquire but were told the priest had left earlier. Sources said he was taken away E\ SXEOLF VHFXULW\ RIÂżFLDOV IURP the local district. „ CNS, UCANEWS.COM „ Page 14: St Pius X society’s ordinations ‘illegitimate’

China Church names 1st spokesperson BEIJING – The government-sanc-

tioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) have named a young priest from Beijing as their ÂżUVW HYHU VSRNHVSHUVRQ The Vatican does not recognise either of the organisations, which were established in 1957 and 1980 respectively. Conference president, Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming, said having a spokesperson is “a new thing for the China Church, and is essential given the present VLWXDWLRQ IROORZLQJ WKH (LJKWK 1Dtional Congress of Catholic Representativesâ€?. The congress last December re-elected the association and conference leaderships. Though the Vatican had warned against attending it, about 300 representatives including 45 bishops were present. A joint CCPA and BCCCC meeting recently named Fr Joseph Yang Yu, vice secretary-general

Fr Joseph Yang Yu. 8&$1(:6 &20 SKRWR

of the conference, as the new spokesperson. The priest said his role will involve “passing on accurate information about the Catholic Church in China to domestic and international media in a timely fashion� and building a positive image of the Church.

The association and conference will also respond to questions related to Church affairs in China “to eliminate doubts and misunderstandings, and enhance mutual understanding and tolerance with the universal Churchâ€?. Fr Yang, who was ordained a priest in 2000, currently serves as a teacher and spiritual director of Beijing diocesan seminary. He studied theology for six years and KDV D OLFHQWLDWH IURP WKH 8QLYHUVLty of St Mary of the Lake/MundeOHLQ 6HPLQDU\ LQ &KLFDJR 86$ ,Q DQ LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK WKH RIÂżFLDO ;LQKXD 1HZV $JHQF\ UHFHQWly, he said the China Church faces the urgent task of selecting and ordaining bishops in an “active and prudentâ€? way as more than 40 of the country’s 97 dioceses are without a bishop. Association and conference leaders said at their recent meeting that the Church would strive to select and ordain the bishops without delay. „ UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Church groups struggle to help Kachin refugees à HHLQJ 0\DQPDU YLROHQFH MYITKYINA, MYANMAR – Church

organisations are providing aid to the mainly Christian Kachin HWKQLF JURXS DV PDQ\ Ă€HH LQ WKH ZDNH RI ÂżJKWLQJ EHWZHHQ UHEHOV and military forces. Caritas Myanmar or Karuna is organising relief for the Kachin, says solidarity for the affected mainly Christian Kachin ethnic group, says the Fides missionary news agency. The problem for the displaced is their abandonment of their crops, which means hunger and suffering, a priest from Myitkyina priest told Fides. “The churches are open to receive refugees, Caritas has been mobilised and all dioceses are organising aid for the Diocese of Myitkyina, affected by the conĂ€LFW 7KH QHZV LV IUDJPHQWDU\ EXW we know that the suffering of civilians and displaced persons continue rising, over 10,000. All this LV PDGH PRUH GLIÂżFXOW E\ WKH UDLQ\ season,â€? the priest was quoted as saying. At present,there are at least 800 displaced people camped in Myitkyina: 220 displaced people in the Catholic Church of St Joseph, 330 in the Baptist church, and others in Buddhist temples scattered around the villages. The Catholic Church’s Radio Veritas, together with Radio Free Asia, are broadcasting news to the refugees, encouraging them, LQIRUPLQJ WKHP DERXW WKH ÂżJKW-

TOKYO – Japanese bishops have

decided to boost Church support for recovery and reconstruction efforts in the two dioceses most severely affected by March’s massive earthquake. Developed during the bishops’ June 13-17 plenary assembly, the aid package calls for the country’s remaining 14 dioceses to participate in reconstruction assistance for the Church in the Sendai and Saitama dioceses, reported the Asian Church news agency UCA News. The decision formalises a policy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan, in effect since late May, of having a coordinated nationwide earthquake relief effort within the Church. The bishops’ conference has HVWDEOLVKHG DQ 2I¿FH IRU 5HFRQstruction Assistance to coordinate communication with the various ecclesiastical provinces, religious

orders and mission societies in the region. Financial assistance will be spread over three years beginning this year. The bishops’ conference will send 30 million yen (S$450,000) annually to Sendai diocese. Saitama diocese will receive about 10 million yen per year. Sendai and Saitama also will be exempt from their normal contributions to the bishops’ conference for three years. The remaining 14 dioceses are being asked to make up the shortfall of funds to support the conference’s operation. The bishops also agreed to facilitate the assignment of priests from around Japan to the Sendai region. The country’s three archbishops will oversee Japan’s ecclesiastical provinces and work with the Japanese Conference of Major Superiors to form a “support desk�, which will be available for consultation on clergy assignments. „ CNS

5HIXJHHV WUDYHO RQ YHKLFOHV ZLWK WKHLU EHORQJLQJV DV WKH\ ÀHH ¿JKWLQJ QHDU Myanmar’s border with China. CNS photo/US CAMPAIGN FOR BURMA

ing and sometimes urging them to leave their areas for their safety. Myitkyina Bishop Francis Daw Tang has also launched an appeal to the people, saying: “The Church is ready to help you, our churches and the faithful will welcome you with open arms, to dry your tears and console you.â€? Meanwhile, Karuna in the northern Banmaw diocese has been providing clothing and food, says Bishop Raymond Sumlut *DP Âł2XU ÂżUVW SULRULW\ LV WR XVH our limited resources to help the needy and that is what we are doing.â€?

Fr Luke Kha Li, a priest from Zaubung parish, said, “We’re giving moral support by reaching out to them and helping families.â€? The Church here also urged Catholics to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament for peace at St Patrick’s Cathedral during the feast of Corpus Christi. Fighting which broke out between government troops and the rebel Kachin Independence Army on June 9 saw thousands Ă€HH WKHLU YLOODJHV DQG KHDG DFURVV the Myanmar-China border or to larger towns further away from the clashes. „ UCANEWS.COM

%LVKRS DGPLWV DFFHSWLQJ JRYW ÂśGRQDWLRQV¡ MANILA – A Philippine bishop has admitted to accepting “donationsâ€? from the Philippine Charity 6ZHHSVWDNHV 2IÂżFH XQGHU WKH IRUmer Arroyo administration. “Yes, I received an ambulance in December 2009. I asked [the] president ‌ for it,â€? said Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Cotabato. UCA News reported that the bishop said he saw nothing wrong in accepting donations from the government if these were used to EHQHÂżW WKH FRPPXQLW\ He added that he had also accepted money – about 50 million to 100 million pesos (S$1.4 million-2.8 million) – from the administration of another president, Corazon Aquino, which was used to build schools. +H FODULÂżHG WKDW KH VSHFLÂżcally asked Ms Arroyo for an ambulance to serve a home for the aged, not a sport utility vehicle (SUV) for personal use. The Commission on Audit said recently that the previous administration gave “giftsâ€? to congressmen and religious lead-

Japanese bishops plan WR ERRVW TXDNH UHFRYHU\

Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said he accepted money from the administration of Corazon Aquino (above).

ers in the form of ambulances and SUVs, apparently to win their support. “The ambulance is the property of Cotabato Bahay Maria, Inc., a home for the aged and incapacitated. It is used not only by Bahay Maria but also by patients from

outside. It’s open to the public; they just have to pay for gas and the driver’s salary. Maintenance cost is very minimal,� Bishop Bagaforo said. He added that NGOs were the ones soliciting funds to support Church-related programs. “They ask for our endorsement, our help; and there are instances when the offer comes from the government itself.� The Senate was scheduled to start an investigation into alleged bribery of bishops by the previous government. Lawmaker Edcel Lagman said recently that the “solicitation or acceptance by Catholic bishops of motor vehicles or cash gifts from the government is not a crime per se, but is morally offensive�. He said there is no law penalising those who violate the “doctrine of separation of Church and State�. He also denied that he was one of 29 legislators accused of receiving vehicles from the PCSO under the Arroyo administration. „ UCANEWS.COM

A young man and his grandmother praying for the victims of the March 11 earthquake in Miyako, Japan. CNS photo

Interfaith group seeks end to US bases TOKYO – A new interfaith lobby group says it is time for the US presence on Okinawa to end and has pledged to galvanise the nation into pressing for the closure of military bases there. “Japan has enjoyed peace for over 60 years, but the war has still not ended in Okinawa,â€? said Bishop Toshio Oshikawa of Naha, a founder member of the Assembly of Religious Persons for an Okinawa Without a Base. He was speaking recently at the group’s inaugural gathering in a conference room at the House of 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV RIÂżFH LQ 7RN\R Around 200 people from various religions attended the group’s gathering, including 13 other Catholic bishops, members of other Christian denominations and Buddhists. About 75 per cent of American forces in Japan are based in Okinawa and are often criticised IRU KDYLQJ D QHJDWLYH LQĂ€XHQFH RQ an island that many feel is still under post-war occupation. “We bear a sense of respon-

sibility, after having ignored this situation until now, to convey the voices of Okinawans to a greater number of people through conferences, assemblies and meetings,â€? Bishop Oshikawa said. He said the group also aims to lobby the Japanese government. Daily life is being disrupted, he said. He recalled attending a recent Mass at Futenma Church near the US Marines’ Futenma Air Station, where the service was interrupted a number of times by the QRLVH IURP ÂżJKWHU DLUFUDIW Bishop Oshikawa also drew a parallel with the accidents at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. “If the government and the Tokyo Electric Power Company [which operates the power plant] were to form a secret agreement to build another reactor right there in Fukushima, how would people react? Okinawa has been subjected to this kind of behaviour ever since it was returned to Japan 40 years ago,â€? he said. „ UCANEWS.COM

ASIA 11

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Christians fear new Nepal laws could ban conversions KATHMANDU – Christians have

H[SUHVVHG DODUP DW D GUDIW RI D QHZ FULPLQDO FRGH SXW EHIRUH SDUliament recently that could see the UHWXUQ RI D EDQ RQ UHOLJLRXV FRQYHUVLRQV The law and justice ministry, in consultation with judges, preVHQWHG WKH GUDIWV RI QHZ FULPLQDO DQG FLYLO FRGHV RI ODZ WR SDUOLDPHQW RQ -XQH 7KH QHZ FRGHV IROORZ D IRXU \HDU UHYLHZ E\ D government committee to revamp RXWGDWHG FLYLO DQG SHQDO FRGHV +RZHYHU WKH\ FRQWDLQ SURYLsions to re-criminalise evangelisation and religious conversion, HIIHFWLYHO\ UHQRXQFLQJ VHFXODULVP ZKLFK WKH +LPDOD\DQ FRXQWU\ GHFODUHG LQ DQG UHWXUQLQJ WR LWV IRUPHU VWDWXV DV WKH ZRUOGÂśV RQO\ +LQGX VWDWH $UWLFOH RI WKH SURSRVHG FULPLQDO FRGH ZRXOG SURKLELW DQ\ act which may cause a person to FRQYHUW IURP D WUDGLWLRQDO FRPPXQLW\ RU IDLWK WR DQRWKHU DQG ZRXOG FDUU\ KHIW\ ÂżQHV DQG LPSULVRQPHQW RI XS WR ÂżYH \HDUV $FFRUGLQJ WR &DULWDV 1HSDOÂśV director Fr Silas Bogati, he and WKH UHJLRQDO VXSHULRU RI WKH 1HSDO Jesuit Society, together with other &KULVWLDQ OHDGHUV KDYH EHHQ PHHWLQJ ZLWK IRUHLJQ DPEDVVDGRUV DQG national leaders to express conFHUQ RYHU WKH GUDIW FRGH The United Christian Alliance

People queuing for a blessing at Assumption Catholic Church in Kathmandu, Nepal. A new criminal code could re-criminalise evangelisation in the former Hindu state. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

RI 1HSDO KDV KHOG DQ HPHUJHQF\ PHHWLQJ DW WKH 1DWLRQDO &RXQFLO RI &KXUFKHV RIÂżFH LQ .DWKPDQGX and issued a statement highlightLQJ &KULVWLDQVÂś IHDUV “We expressed our concern DERXW ZK\ QHZ ODZV ZHUH GUDZQ XS ZKHQ WKH QHZ FRQVWLWXWLRQ LWVHOI KDV QRW EHHQ ZULWWHQ LQ GUDIW IRUP ´ VDLG DOOLDQFH PHPEHU 3DVWRU .DOL %DKDGXU 5RNN\D ZKR LV DOVR DQ H[HFXWLYH PHPEHU RI WKH 1HSDO 1DWLRQDO +XPDQ 5LJKWV &RPPLVVLRQ Âł:KHQ RQH WDONV RI D QHZ 1HSDO Âą VRPH RI WKHVH ODZV UHĂ€HFW WKH ROG DQG RXWGDWHG 1HSDO ´ KH DGGHG

1HSDO QRZ KDV DQ LQWHULP FRQVWLWXWLRQ SURYLGLQJ IRU D &RQVWLWXHQW $VVHPEO\ ZKLFK LV FKDUJHG ZLWK ZULWLQJ D QHZ FRQVWLWXWLRQ 7KH ERG\ KDV PLVVHG WZR HDUOLHU GHDGOLQHV DQG KDV EHHQ JLYHQ XQWLO $XJ WR SUHVHQW D GUDIW Various international organisations expressed concern over WKH FULPLQDO FRGH EHIRUH LW ZDV SXW EHIRUH SDUOLDPHQW Christian Solidarity Worldwide has urged the government not to go down a road “which will VHH VLJQLÂżFDQW UHVWULFWLRQV RQ UHOLJLRXV IUHHGRP´ „ UCANEWS.COM

Bishops back ban on Filipino maids MANILA – 7KH &DWKROLF %LVKRSVœ

&RQIHUHQFH RI WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV &%&3 KDV ZHOFRPHG WKH GHFLVLRQ RI 6DXGL $UDELD WR VWRS KLULQJ GRPHVWLF ZRUNHUV IURP WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV DQG ,QGRQHVLD VD\LQJ LW JLYHV WKH 3KLOLSSLQH JRYHUQPHQW RQH OHVV KHDGDFKH Fr Edwin Corros, executive VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH &%&3ÂśV (SLVFRSDO &RPPLVVLRQ RQ 0LJUDQWV DQG ,WLQHUDQW 3HRSOH VDLG WKH EDQ Âą DOWKRXJK QRW GHVLUHG E\ WKH $TXLQR DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ Âą ZRXOG SUHYHQW WKH SUREOHP RI PDLG DEXVH E\ IRUHLJQ HPSOR\HUV Âł,WÂśV EHWWHU WKDW ZH VWRS GH-

SOR\LQJ KRXVHKROG VHUYLFH ZRUNHUV >+6:V@ WR 6DXGL $UDELD WR DYRLG H[SORLWDWLRQ OLNH ZKDW ZH RIWHQ UHDG LQ WKH SDSHUV ´ KH VDLG 6DXGL $UDELD KDV VDLG LW ZRXOG VWRS KLULQJ IURP WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV and Indonesia, citing strict reTXLUHPHQWV DQG XQIDLU UHJXODWRU\ SURYLVLRQV DFFRUGLQJ WR $UDE 1HZV 7KH PRYH ZLOO DIIHFW VRPH GRPHVWLF ZRUNHUV VXFK DV PDLGV DQG GULYHUV RU DERXW SHUFHQW RI WKH PLOOLRQ )LOLSLQRV QRZ LQ 6DXGL $UDELD 3KLOLSSLQH /DERXU 6HFUHtary Rosalinda Baldoz, however,

downplayed the Saudi decision, saying the government can turn to Australia and Canada, which are H[SHULHQFLQJ D ÂłODERXU VKRUWDJH´ 7KH 3KLOLSSLQH ODERXU DWWDFKpV in those countries, she said, are FXUUHQWO\ LQ WDONV ZLWK RIÂżFLDOV WKHUH WR ÂłPDWFK WKH ODERXU GHPDQG ZLWK ODERXU VXSSO\´ 6RPH VHFWRUV LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV KDYH EHHQ DVNLQJ IRU D EDQ RQ GRPHVWLF ZRUNHUV WR WKH 0LGGOH (DVW VD\LQJ WKH SUREOHPV FDXVHG E\ WKHLU GHSOR\PHQW IDU RXWZHLJK WKH EHQHÂżWV JDLQHG E\ the government and the migrant ZRUNHUV „ UCANEWS.COM

Vietnamese youths to miss WYD HO CHI MINH CITY – A Church leader says young Catholics in Vietnam will miss the upcoming World Youth Day (WYD) ceremonies in 6SDLQ GXH WR ÂżQDQFLDO GLIÂżFXOWLHV “We are deeply concerned that our youth leaders will not go to 6SDLQ IRU :<' LQ $XJXVW EHFDXVH they have not enough money to cover expenses,â€? said Bishop JoVHSK 9X 9DQ 7KLHQ RI +DL 3KRQJ %LVKRS 7KLHQ KHDG RI WKH (SLVFRSDO &RPPLVVLRQ IRU <RXWKV RI WKH 9LHWQDP %LVKRSVÂś &RQIHUence, said the 13-day trip is expected to cost people 2,200-2,500

euros (S$3,900-$4,450) each, ZKLFK LV D YHU\ ODUJH VXP IRU ORFDO SHRSOH :<' LV VFKHGXOHG WR WDNH SODFH IURP $XJ LQ 0DGULG “It is sad that we have no monH\ WR FRYHU WKH H[SHQVHV RI RXU delegates, so those who are poor FRXOG QRW DIIRUG WKH PRQH\ WR JR RQ WKH WULS ´ KH VDLG +H VDLG ORFDO \RXQJ &DWKROLFV DOVR IDFH DQRWKHU EDUULHU 7KH 6SDQLVK DPEDVVDGRU WR Vietnam only grants entry visas to local people who have sent money WR :<' RUJDQLVHUV LQ 0DGULG EXW local people are not allowed to

VHQG PRQH\ WR IRUHLJQ FRXQWULHV KH DGGHG Bishop Thien said 50 WYD DVSLUDQWV KDYH DVNHG KLP WR LQWURGXFH WKHP WR WKH 6SDQLVK DPEDVVDGRU WR JHW D YLVD $QRWKHU SHRSOH PRVW RI them priests, have registered with a local tour operator to visit Spain GXULQJ :<' KH VDLG 0U 3HWHU 1JX\HQ &RQJ /LFK who attended past WYD programmes, said only priests, ReOLJLRXV DQG ULFK SHRSOH DUH DEOH WR DWWHQG :<' SURJUDPPHV „ UCANEWS.COM

12 ASIA

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Participants of the Mariapolis, held in Johor Bahru from June 10-12.

Experiencing unity at Focolare’s Mariapolis gathering By Michelle Teo SINGAPORE – Mr Jonathan Francis had stayed away from the Church for 10 years. That was until he met up with an old friend from the Focolare Movement. Over a meal of soya bean curd, the friend invited him to a threeday Mariapolis in Johor Bahru. Mr Francis, 21, did not hesitate. “The draw of the Focolare has always been the love and unity that can be felt so strongly,� he said. “It’s so contagious that people new to the movement pick up on it so quickly.� He joined more than 160 others from Singapore and Malaysia for the June 10-12 Mariapolis, a gathering organised by the local branch of the Focolare. The lay movement was founded by the late Chiara Lubich in Italy in 1943. The Mariapolis, or City of Mary, is held all over the world annually and sees people of all ages and backgrounds come together to know more about Focolare’s spirituality of unity. This is done through sessions held separately for adults, youth and children, but who also come together for daily Mass, games and workshops. The theme for the Mariapolis in Johor Bahru this year centred on understanding God’s will as a response to His love. Focolare members Ms Vanna Lai and Mr Jorge Nicolas Iturralde Vasco presented the sessions. Us-

ing the writings and talks of Chiara Lubich, they spoke on discerning the will of God even in the simplest moments of everyday life. During the three days, participants also learnt about Chiara Luce Badano, an Italian girl who died in 1990 at the age of 18 and ZKR ZDV EHDWLÂżHG ODVW \HDU She was an ordinary teenager but bore her terminal illness with such fortitude that she touched many people. During the gathering, people also shared how they tried to discern God’s will and overcame difÂżFXOWLHV “Their experiences are very helpful,â€? said Madam Evelyn Chung, 51. Fifteen-year-old Ignatius Tan said he found it easy to bond with new friends in the Focolare. “Sometimes people are just reluctant – they have this inner circle of friends and they don’t want you to join in,â€? he explained. “People in the Focolare are more open and inclusive.â€? Vincent Wong, who is preparing to receive the Sacrament of &RQÂżUPDWLRQ VDLG RWKHU FKXUFK camps and retreats he attended usually required him to meditate or seek out God alone, which he IRXQG GLIÂżFXOW DW WLPHV At the Mariapolis however, “there are people to help you and everybody does things togetherâ€?, D VLWXDWLRQ WKH \HDU ROG ÂżQGV helpful for his spiritual growth. „

WORLD 13

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Christian Churches rally for unity in Sri Lanka COLOMBO – A Christian interdenominational rally was staged in Colombo recently in a bid to bring the nation’s Christians closer together. As well as being a celebration of diversity, some observers believe the event may have had an underlying agenda: to calm religious tensions. Thousands of Christians, including Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, members of the Ceylon Reformed Church and evangelical groups joined in worship and song at the city’s main Anglican church, the Cathedral of Christ the Living Saviour, on June 25. “This is a dream we have been dreaming for years. Christian unity will be the best gift we can give to the coming generations,â€? Presbyterian Pastor Piyadasa told the gathering. He added that diversity is both beautiful and essential. “It would be great if we can keep our denomination in second place and JLYH ÂżUVW SODFH WR RXU SRVLWLRQ DV children of one God,â€? he said. His views were echoed by Rev Sydney Knight, an Anglican vicar. “We have to learn from other religions because Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims are united. Ours is the one which is divided,â€? he said. “Unless we are united we

Worshippers place candles in a Catholic church in Colombo. A recent ecumenical rally in the Sri Lankan capital saw thousands of Christians joining in worship and song. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

don’t have a message to the world. We can’t say ‘love one another’ without living with one another.â€? The participants watched video coverage of a rally in Paris held in 2009, in which a Vatican representative also delivered a strong message on the need for unity. Cardinal Walter Kasper, then SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQcil for Promoting Christian Unity, told the Paris gathering that until there was “unity among different Christian denominations, there would be no lasting peace or justice in the worldâ€?. In Sri Lanka, a number of Christian leaders and Buddhist monks have expressed suspicions that evangelical churches have been

involved in unethical conversions. Now the Jathika Hela Urumaya, a predominantly Buddhist party, is steering a bill through parliament which would outlaw the practice. The Prohibition of Forcible Conversions of Religion Bill would make it illegal to offer cash or any other material incentive to convert a person from one religion to another. If passed, the bill will make the offence punishable with up to seven years imprisonment and a ¿QH RI UXSHHV 6 Some Sri Lankan Catholics have voiced concerns that this could lead to dissent, not only between Christian denominations but between Christians and the majority Buddhists. „ UCANEWS.COM

Caritas Australia to support South Sudan AUSTRALIA – The president of

the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference has called for support for an appeal by Caritas Australia for the Republic of South Sudan, scheduled to emerge as the world’s newest state on July 9. Archbishop Philip Wilson wrote in a letter released by Caritas ahead of the historic event: “This week we will celebrate in solidarity with the people of The Republic of South Sudan offering our prayers for a peaceful transition to statehood and a future free from poverty.â€? He added, “Our generosity towards this appeal will not only see Caritas Australia bolster its humanitarian assistance at this time of urgent need, but also enable the Caritas network to continue authentic human development programs long into the future.â€? Caritas Australia says it will help support at least 100,000 benHÂżFLDULHV E\ PHDQV VXFK DV * Providing community-led Disaster Risk Reduction training * Broadening early-warning mechanisms through the Catholic Radio Network

Korean deacons visit mosque in interfaith visit SEOUL – A delegation of 19 Catholic deacons visited a mosque on June 23 in an effort to promote interreligious dialogue in the capital. The Korean Bishops’ Conference arranged the meeting to help the deacons better understand the Muslim faith, its culture and history. “Islam was unfamiliar to me,� said Deacon James Bang Jongwoo, who attended the meeting. “I learned that Islam longs for peace in the world.� He added that there are about 35,000 Korean Muslims in the country and another 100,000 foreign-born Muslims. Lee Ju-hwa, imam of the Korea Muslim Federation, said interest in Islam has risen since the Sept 11 attacks in the United States, and he welcomed the

dialogues as a way of promoting better understanding between faiths. “Protestants as well as Catholics have visited our mosque recently. I hope that Islam has more opportunity to communicate with other religions and understand each other,� he said. The deacons attended the Asr, or afternoon worship, after meeting with the imam. The delegation had visited the Apostolic Nunciature in Seoul prior to their visit to the mosque. The group was also scheduled to visit the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, the Anglican Church of Korea and the Orthodox Metropolis of Korea. The Korean Bishops’ Conference has organised such interfaith exchanges since 2008. „ UCANEWS. COM

Archbishop against focusing on only 1 faith in syllabus BHOPAL – The Indian government should not mix religion with education and politics, says an archbishop. Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, who heads the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh, supported the Church’s demand that the state government include summaries of all religions in the academic curriculum rather than just one religion. The demand follows the government’s decision to include lessons from the Bhagvad Gita, the Hindu scripture, from the current academic year in schools. Educational institutions should not be used to promote a particular religion in a secular country, the archbishop said on July 4. Mixing religion with education and politics would have longODVWLQJ UDPL¿FDWLRQV KH DGGHG He said the government was

consistently ignoring the minorities and their issues and trying to impose the majority religion on them. The Church is not against teaching precepts of all religions but is against promoting only one religion, he said. According to a government RI¿FLDO OHVVRQV IURP WKH +LQGX scripture would be introduced for students from grade one to 10 as a supplement like moral science. When state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced his intention to include a summary of the holy book in the school curriculum, minority communities including Christians, Muslims and Sikhs had objected strongly. They said it was totally against the spirit of the country’s secular fabric and appealed to the state government to refrain from it. „ UCANEWS.COM

Balinese kids ‘go green’ at camp DENPASAR – Close to 900 chil-

A girl sings the South Sudan national anthem during a rehearsal of the Independence Day ceremony in Juba, Sudan. CNS photo

* Providing emergency shelter, blankets, cookware, mosquito QHWV HWF IRU IDPLOLHV ZKR KDYH ÀHG their homes * Delivering water and sanitation community training and infrastructure including water tanks,

bore holes, latrines, and water puUL¿FDWLRQ WDEOHWV ¿OWHUV * Distributing food throughout displaced communities and initiating agricultural projects in drought-ridden communities. „ CATHNEWS, CARITAS AUSTRALIA

dren and youths in Denpasar diocese in Bali learnt how to “go greenâ€? during a three-day camp. The June 20-22 event in Ekasari, in Jembrana district, saw the young people from 19 parishes and four mission stations take part in art performances, games, and tree planting. More than 100 formators joined the young people, who are PHPEHUV RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO 6RFLHW\ of Children and Youth Missioners 6(.$0, The camp saw participants planting durian, mangosteen and magnolia trees in the gardens of 215 homes. Organiser Yohanes I Wayan

Puniastha said the trees were planted in villagers’ gardens so that they would be more likely to take care of them. The children also helped villagers clean up garbage scattered around their homes. “Hopefully we’ve encouraged the children to develop their faith, to love the environment, to become more independent, and to care for others,â€? said Fr Herman Yoseph Babey, regional coordinaWRU RI WKH ,QGRQHVLDÂśV 3RQWLÂżFDO Mission Aid Societies. Bishop Silvester San of Denpasar said the camp was a demonstration of the Catholic Church’s love for Bali, Indonesia and the world. „ UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Mexican tribunal wants sanctions against Church for political comments MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s elec-

toral tribunal has ordered the Interior Ministry to sanction the Archdiocese of Mexico City for comments urging Catholics not to vote for political parties promoting liberalised abortion laws and same-sex marriage. The Mexican bishops’ conference and the Mexico City archdiocesan spokesman, Fr Hugo Valdemar Romero – also named in the ruling – have questioned the legality of the order. “According to the [tribunal] judges, a citizen’s critical opinion of a political party for its immoral, criminal and destructive actions towards the family and its values is an attack against the democratic life of our country,â€? Fr Valdemar said at a July 3 press conference, two days after the tribunal ruling. “Such a proposition is not only a judicial contradiction, but borders on the ridiculous.â€? Fr Manuel Corral, spokesman for the bishops’ conference, called the ruling “an insultâ€?. It is uncertain if the tribunal, D ÂżYH MXGJH SDQHO DNLQ WR WKH 6Xpreme Court with exclusive jurisdiction over electoral matters, has the authority to order the Interior Ministry to act. The president of the College of Catholic lawyers of Mexico, said the case would be appealed and acknowledged it might take years to settle. The ruling highlights lingering

&16 ÂżOH SKRWR

St Pius X society’s ordinations are ‘illegitimate’: Vatican VATICAN CITY – The ordinations

A woman prays in front of a statue in a Mexico church. A political party has lodged a case against Mexico City archdiocese for criticising a ruling on same-sex marriage.

Church-state tensions in Mexico, where Church leaders traditionally have avoided giving opinions on political matters or directly criticising political parties and politicians. The electoral tribunal cited the need to keep Church and state separate as the reason for its ruling. The case against Fr Valdemar and the archdiocese, lodged by the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, has generated legal confusion as it has bounced among the country’s electoral institute, electoral tribunal and Interior Ministry. „ CNS

of 20 new priests for the tradiWLRQDOLVW 6RFLHW\ RI 6W 3LXV ; DUH “illegitimate, periodâ€?, said Vatican spokesman Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi. $OWKRXJK 3RSH %HQHGLFW ;9, lifted the excommunication of the society’s four bishops in 2009, said Fr Lombardi, he made it clear that until the society had reconciled fully with the Vatican – particularly regarding its position on doctrinal questions – its members KDYH QR RIÂżFLDO VWDQGLQJ LQ WKH Church. The group ordained four priests in mid-June in Winona, Minnesota, USA; 12 new priests in late June at its headquarters in Econe, Switzerland; and four new priests on July 3 at its seminary in Zaitzkofen, Germany. Responding to reporters’ questions on July 5, Fr Lombardi quoted from the letter Pope Benedict wrote in 2009 explaining the status of the society: “As long as the society does not have a canonical status in the Church, its ministers do not exercise legitimate ministries in the Church. ... In order to make this clear once again: Until the doctrinal questions are clari-

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi commented on recent ordinations by the traditionalist society.

ÂżHG WKH VRFLHW\ KDV QR FDQRQLFDO status in the Church, and its ministers ... do not legitimately exercise any ministry in the Church.â€? Fr Lombardi said, “The ordinations are, therefore, to be considered illegitimate.â€? The Vatican spokesman declined to comment on the discussions that the society’s leaders be-

gan with the Vatican after the pope lifted the excommunications. In February, Bishop Bernard Fellay, the society’s superior general and one of the bishops whose excommunication was lifted, said reconciliation talks with the Vatican would soon be coming to an end, but with little change in the views of either side. In an interview published on the society’s website, he said that in addition to disputes over the changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council, new problems KDYH EHHQ FUHDWHG E\ WKH EHDWL¿cation of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict’s call for an interreligious prayer meeting in Assisi, Italy, in October. Bishop Richard Williamson, another of the four bishops, reportedly did not participate in the ordinations in Germany. The lifting of his excommunication set off a wave of criticism of the Vatican because of his denial of the extent of the Holocaust. Just two days after the ordinations in Zaitzkofen, lawyers represented him in a German courtroom, where he is appealing a conviction on charges of denying the Holocaust. „ CNS

Campaign for work-free Sundays in Europe OXFORD, ENGLAND – Catholic church groups have joined trade unions in the European Sunday Alliance, which will campaign to protect Sundays and ensure fairer conditions for family life. “Some people say there can never be a return to work-free Sundays – but the many working together in this alliance don’t share this view,� said Ms Anna Echterhoff, legal adviser for institutional and social affairs at the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, one of the organisations supporting the alliance. The alliance was launched on

June 20 in Brussels by 65 Church organisations, unions and civil associations. Among them are Europe’s Catholic Youth Network, the Central Committee of German Catholics, representatives of the German bishops and the European Jesuits, Poland’s Solidarity union, France’s Force Ouvriere and the Danish food workers union. It also includes family organisations from a dozen countries. In a July 4 interview with Catholic News Service, Ms Echterhoff said Sundays were protected under EU law as a rest day for children and adolescents. She said she hoped work-free Sundays

would be reinstated under an EU directive now being prepared. In a founding declaration, the European Sunday Alliance said decent working hours were of “paramount importance� to citizens of the European Union, which should uphold “the social contract of a modern European society� by encouraging “reconciliation of professional and family life�. “Only a well-protected, common work-free day enables citizens to enjoy full participation in cultural, sports, social and religious life, to seek cultural enrichment and spiritual well-being,� said the declaration. „ CNS

Vatican exhibit to include WWII material VATICAN CITY – Documents from

the still-sealed World War II section of the Vatican Secret Archives will be part of a major exhibition of Vatican papers hosted by the city of Rome. The exhibit marking the 400th anniversary of the Vatican archives will be open FebruarySeptember 2012. Bishop Sergio Pagano, prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives, said that “a very limited number� of documents related to World

War II would be among the 100 documents and objects from the eighth to the 20th century placed on display. The archives will present ³IRXU RU ¿YH GRFXPHQWV DFFRPpanied by photographs� that will convey a sense of the drama of World War II, which marked the SRQWL¿FDWH RI 3RSH 3LXV ;,, VDLG the bishop at a July 5 news conference. But a real picture of the pope and his actions during the war will

not be possible until the archives have organised and catalogued DOO WKH SDSHUV IURP KLV SRQWLÂżFDWH and the pope has authorised their being opened to scholarly study and scrutiny, he said. The pope has been criticised by some for his “silenceâ€? during the Holocaust. Bishop Pagano said the material, which is still being chosen for the exhibit, probably will consist of testimonies or diaries of Nazi victims. „ CNS

WORLD 15

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Nuns stay on in Libya despite dangers CNS photos

BENGHAZI, LIBYA – A Catholic

nun working in rebel-held eastern Libya says she and other Sisters have remained because of their commitment to the people they serve. Âł7KLV LV RXU ÂżUVW H[SHULHQFH RI being in a war, and we’re sad to see the people dying, especially the youth who are offering themselves for freedom and for the future of this country. “But it’s our duty to be here, no matter how much life has changed,â€? said Sr Priscilla Isidore, a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception of Ivrea. The Tanzanian nun has lived in Libya for 16 years and works as a nurse in the city’s 7th October Hospital. Sr Isidore, 56, said 24 nuns remain in eastern Libya, working in Benghazi, al-Marj, al-Bayda, Derna and Tobruk. Three other Sisters left the country in response to the ÂżJKWLQJ VKH VDLG “The situation here isn’t easy, and we Sisters are free to remain or leave,â€? she told Catholic News Service. “Because the Lord is our hope, we will continue with our work among the sick and injured people here and, if necessary, to die with them.â€? Libya is a Muslim country, with Christianity restricted mostly to enclaves of foreign workers, many of whom have been evacuated from the country. Sr Isidore said she has had no problem with the country’s Muslims. “People love us so much. This

Above: A street in Libya devastated E\ ÂżJKWLQJ Left: Tanzanian Sr Priscilla Isidore VHUYHV DV D QXUVH LQ %HQJKD]L

year, our congregation has been here for 100 years. We have a strong history of love, unity and communion with the people ... They see we didn’t come here for other interests, only to work for God and the people. So they love

us and we have no problems staying amidst them,â€? she said. Sr Isidore said she is inspired by the devotion of those around her. “We have seen the people pray a lot during this period, pray together, putting their life in God’s hands, struggling together with God. We have seen the people suffering. In the hospital we have seen increased problems of high blood pressure and diabetes, V\PSWRPV RI WKH GLIÂżFXOW VLWXDWLRQ the people are facing,â€? she said. “We hope this situation won’t be for nothing, but will be for good, that it will be better in the country. We pray that God will again give us peace,â€? she said. „ CNS

Alpha meeting showcases Christian unity LONDON – More than 1,500 del-

egates from some 100 nations attended a two-day Alpha Conference in which they were taught how to run the Alpha course. The conference was part of the Alpha International Week 2011, held in London from June 6-10. Delegates from various Churches, including the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Pentecostal and Anglican Churches were represented. They came from Iceland, Armenia, Chile, Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, Australia and other countries. A message from Cardinal Kurt .RFK SUHVLGHQW RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO Council for Promoting Christian Unity, was delivered at the conference. He observed that “through the Alpha courses, and the testimonies of those who participate in their sessions and groups, faith is renewed, rekindled, takes root. This is an invaluable experience for many people, and a real sign of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. “An additional aspect of the Alpha courses is the ecumenical

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witness that they bear, uniting Christians of many traditions in a deepening of faith in Christ so that they may work together to present the message of good news to the world.â€? Archbishop JosĂŠ Octavio Ruiz $UHQDV VHFUHWDU\ RI WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, also spoke about his hopes for the growth of Alpha in the Catholic Church. Fr Jacob Rethinam, from Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, who represented Singapore at the Alpha International Week, said, “It was a wonderful and informative conference. I did see the unity of the

Church and oneness of the people.� He added, “I will try to implant the spirit of the movement into the migrant Tamil-speaking community to which I am the coordinator.� There is now a total of 11 parishes in Singapore offering the Alpha course in 2011. Some of the parishes run multiple courses during the year. In additions, the Catholic Prayer Society also runs ALPHA in the Workplace for working adults in the city. „ For more information on the Alpha course, go to http://www.alpha.org.sg/

16 WORLD

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Pope launches Vatican web portal, tweets the news VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict

XVI inaugurated the Vatican’s online news portal with a click, and then announced the launch with WKH ÂżUVW HYHU SDSDO WZHHW “Dear Friends, I just launched 1HZV YD 3UDLVHG EH RXU /RUG -Hsus Christ! With my prayers and EOHVVLQJV %HQHGLFWXV ;9, ´ WKH pope said in his message on the QHZV VLWHÂśV 7ZLWWHU DFFRXQW His tweet – 117 characters – ZHQW YLUDO DQG ZLWKLQ KRXUV KWWS WZLWWHU FRP QHZVBYDBHQ KDG PRUH WKDQ IROORZHUV 7KH SRSH ZDV Ă€DQNHG E\ 9DWLFDQ FRPPXQLFDWLRQV RIÂżFLDOV RQ -XQH DV KH WDSSHG DQ L3DG DQG RIÂżFLDOO\ ODXQFKHG ZZZ QHZV YD which aggregates news content from the Vatican’s newspaper, raGLR 79 DQG RQOLQH RXWOHWV 7KH SRQWLII ZDV WKHQ JLYHQ D EULHI WRXU RI WKH SRUWDOÂśV IHDWXUHV 7KH ODXQFK FDPH RQ WKH HYH RI WKH feast of Sts Peter and Paul and the WK DQQLYHUVDU\ RI 3RSH %HQHGLFWÂśV SULHVWO\ RUGLQDWLRQ $UFKELVKRS &ODXGLR &HOOL ZKR KHDGV WKH 3RQWLÂżFDO &RXQcil for Social Communications, VDLG DW D QHZV FRQIHUHQFH RQ -XQH WKDW WKH VLWH ZRXOG VWUHDPOLQH news from the Vatican newspaper, /Âś2VVHUYDWRUH 5RPDQR 9DWLFDQ 5DGLR WKH 9DWLFDQ WHOHYLVLRQ VWDWLRQ &79 WKH 9DWLFDQ ,QIRUPDWLRQ 6HUYLFH 9,6 WKH )LGHV PLVVLRQDU\ QHZV DJHQF\ WKH 9DWLFDQ SUHVV RIÂżFH DQG WKH PDLQ 9DWLFDQ ZHEVLWH ,W RIIHUV SULQW YLGHR DQG DXGLR PDWHULDO LQ ,WDOLDQ DQG (QJOLVK 1HZ ODQJXDJHV ZLOO EH DGGHG JUDGXDOO\ EHJLQQLQJ ZLWK 6SDQLVK IROORZHG SUREDEO\ E\ )UHQFK DQG 3RUWXJXHVH KH VDLG 0U 7KDGGHXV -RQHV DQ RIÂżFLDO RI WKH SRQWLÂżFDO FRXQFLO ZKR FR-

The home page of the new Vatican news portal seen on an iPad. CNS photo

ordinated the creation of the porWDO VDLG WKH VLWH JLYHV DOO WKH QHZV JHQHUDWHG E\ WKH YDULRXV LQIRUPDWLRQ VRXUFHV EXW ZLOO KLJKOLJKW WKH latest most important items of the GD\ It features a list of the 10 mostread stories and offers links to PDQ\ VRFLDO QHWZRUN VLWHV 8VHUV can share content through FaceERRN 7ZLWWHU DQG HPDLO 0U -RQHV VDLG 0U *XVWDYR (QWUDOD &(2 RI 101, the Spanish digital media agency chosen for the technical GHYHORSPHQW RI WKH QHZ VLWH VDLG it was constructed on a high-end ÀH[LEOH SODWIRUP WKDW DOORZV PLOlions of people to use it at the VDPH WLPH 7KH ¿UVW ELJ WHVW VDLG -HVXLW )U )HGHULFR /RPEDUGL KHDG RI WKH 9DWLFDQ SUHVV RI¿FH ZLOO EH WKH $XJ :RUOG <RXWK 'D\ HYHQW LQ 0DGULG ZKLFK ZLOO EH

DWWHQGHG E\ 3RSH %HQHGLFW DQG ZKLFK LV H[SHFWHG WR JHQHUDWH KHDY\ WUDIÂżF WR WKH VLWH &RVWV RI WKH GHYHORSPHQW DQG PDLQWHQDQFH RI WKH VLWH ZLOO EH ERUQH H[FOXVLYHO\ WKURXJK GRQDWLRQV IURP SULYDWH RUJDQLVDWLRQV DQG IRXQGDWLRQV $UFKELVKRS &HOOL VDLG ,W ZLOO QRW EH VXSSRUWHG DW SUHVHQW RU LQ WKH IXWXUH E\ DGYHUtising or other commercial initiaWLYHV KH VDLG While Pope Benedict may not DSSHDU WR EH D PHGLD VDYY\ SRQWLII $UFKELVKRS &HOOL VDLG ÂłLQ UHality, with this pope Vatican comPXQLFDWLRQV KDYH PDGH HQRUPRXV VWULGHV´ 7KH DUFKELVKRS JDYH DV DQ H[ample the pope’s reply when his DGYLVHUV SURSRVHG DQ DSSHDUDQFH RQ <RX7XEH $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH DUFKELVKRS WKH SRSH UHSOLHG Âł, ZDQW WR EH SUHVHQW ZKHUHYHU WKH SHRSOH DUH IRXQG ´ „ CNS

50 years of ecumenical dialogue „ From page 1 WKH ULJKW WR ÂłSXEOLFO\ SURIHVV SUDFtise, propagate and change one’s UHOLJLRQ´ :KHUH UHOLJLRXV SHUVHcution occurs, Christians are called to engage in prophetic witness deQRXQFLQJ VXFK DFWLRQV ‡ Changing one’s religion is D GHFLVLYH VWHS WKDW UHTXLUHV VXIÂżFLHQW WLPH IRU UHĂ€HFWLRQ DQG SUHSDUDWLRQ ‡ &KULVWLDQV VKRXOG EH FDUHIXO WR acknowledge what is good in other EHOLHIV DQG QRW WR ÂłEHDU IDOVH ZLWQHVV FRQFHUQLQJ RWKHU UHOLJLRQV´ The drafters of the document VDLG WKH WH[W VKRXOG QRZ EH VWXGLHG E\ &KXUFKHV QDWLRQDO DQG UHJLRQal Church structures and mission organisations, especially those

ZRUNLQJ LQ LQWHUUHOLJLRXV FRQWH[WV They said those organisations should encourage Christians to VWUHQJWKHQ WKHLU RZQ LGHQWLW\ EXW DYRLG PLVUHSUHVHQWLQJ WKH EHOLHIV and practices of people of differHQW IDLWKV DQG VKRXOG FDOO RQ JRYernments to ensure that freedom RI UHOLJLRQ LV UHVSHFWHG )U -DPHV 0DVVD H[HFXWLYH GLUHFWRU RI WKH 86 ELVKRSVœ 6HFretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, was a participant LQ WKH FRQVXOWDWLRQV In their histories with one another, the three Christian groups LVVXLQJ WKH JXLGHOLQHV KDYH KDG instances of denying each other’s religious freedom or using coerFLRQ KH VDLG EXW WKHLU HFXPHQLFDO GLDORJXH RYHU WKH SDVW \HDUV

has “allowed us to look at mission ZRUN ZLWK IUHVK H\HV´ Additionally, he said, ChrisWLDQVÂś H[SHULHQFH RI OLPLWHG UHOLgious freedom in some parts of the world today also prompted reQHZHG UHĂ€HFWLRQV RQ WKH HVVHQWLDO need for full respect of an indiYLGXDOÂśV FRQVFLHQFH DQG IUHHGRP WR H[SUHVV KLV RU KHU IDLWK 5HVSHFW DQG SURFODPDWLRQ ÂłDUH QRW PXWXDOO\ H[FOXVLYH 2QH FDQ EH FRPPLWWHG WR WKH SURFODPDWLRQ RI -HVXV &KULVW DQG DOVR FRPPLWWHG WR UHVSHFWIXO GLDORJXH´ KH VDLG 7KH ÂłFRUH SULQFLSOH´ LQ WKH new guidelines, Fr Massa said, is that “it is the nature of faith that it EH D IUHH UHVSRQVH´ WR *RGÂśV FDOO Âł$ FRHUFHG IDLWK LV QRW IDLWK ´ KH VDLG „ CNS

WORLD 17

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

New York bishops slam approval of same-sex marriage ALBANY, NEW YORK – Following passage of legislation to allow same-sex marriage, the Catholic bishops of New York state expressed concern “that both marriage and family will be undermined by this tragic presumption of governmentâ€?. In a June 24 statement, the heads of the state’s eight Catholic dioceses said they were “deeply disappointed and troubledâ€? at approval of a bill that will “alter radically and forever humanity’s historic understanding of marriageâ€?. The state Senate passed the measure 33-29 in an evening vote on June 24, and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat and a Catholic, signed it into law later that night. Unless it is delayed by legal challenges, it will take effect in late July. New York would then become the sixth US state to permit same-sex marriage. It currently is allowed in Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont, in addition to the District of Columbia. 7KH ELVKRSV VDLG WKH WUXH GHÂżnition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman “cannot change, though we realise that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organisations that preach these timeless truthsâ€?. One of the bishops, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, in a separate statement, said both Republicans and Democrats had “succumbed to powerful political elitesâ€? with their votes. “More than half of all New Yorkers oppose this legislation,â€? he said. “Yet the governor and the state Legislature have demonised people of faith, whether they be Muslims, Jews or Christians, and

LGHQWLÂżHG WKHP DV ELJRWV DQG SUHMudicedâ€? if they opposed changing WKH IXQGDPHQWDO GHÂżQLWLRQ RI PDUriage, he added. A last-minute amendment to the legislation exempts clergy who decline to perform same-sex weddings and protects any employee who is “being managed, directed or supervised by or in FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK D UHOLJLRXV FRUporation, benevolent order or a QRW IRU SURÂżW FRUSRUDWLRQ ´

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo gives the thumbs up as he marches in the Gay Pride Parade in New York on June 26. CNS photo

It also says failure to provide same-sex ceremonies would not “result in any state or local government action to penalise, withhold EHQHÂżWV RU GLVFULPLQDWH DJDLQVW such religious corporation, benevROHQW RUGHU D QRW IRU SURÂżW FRUSRration operated, supervised or controlled by a religious corporationâ€?. Bishop DiMarzio said the amendment showed that “our political leaders do not believe their own rhetoricâ€?. “If they did, how in good conscience could they carve out any exemption for institutions that would be proponents of bigotry DQG SUHMXGLFH"´ KH DVNHG „ CNS „ Page 18: Use pulpit to address controversial issues

18 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

The size of our hearts

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 MANAGING EDITOR: Father Johnson Fernandez: MRKQVRQ IHUQDQGH]#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: PHPRULDP#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ

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Use pulpit to address controversial issues The recent passing of the Marriage %LOO LQ 1HZ <RUN WKDW RI¿FLDOO\ recognises same-sex marriage is another blow to the Truth that the Church has been commissioned, E\ &KULVW WR SURWHFW DQG SURFODLP This can lead, as in other WHUULWRULHV WKDW KDYH OHJDOLVHG same-sex marriages, to potential ODZVXLWV DQG OHJDO DFWLRQ WDNHQ DJDLQVW LQGLYLGXDOV DQG LQVWLWXtions (religious or otherwise) who refuse to recognise, teach, practise RU SXEOLFLVH VXFK D YLHZ In short, it can lead to a real SHUVHFXWLRQ RI WKH 7UXWK :KDW LV WURXEOLQJ LV WKDW WKHUH are also many Catholics deeply inYROYHG LQ RU VXSSRUWLQJ VXFK PRYHPHQWV :KLOH , ZRQGHU ZK\ WKH\ are still Catholics (since they do QRW EHOLHYH LQ WKH WHDFKLQJV RI WKH Church), I am more puzzled to the UHDVRQV ZK\ WKH\ DUH LQYROYHG DQG , ZRQGHU KRZ PDQ\ KDYH EHHQ PLVOHG GXH WR LQDGHTXDWH FDWHFKHVLV (YHQ LQ 6LQJDSRUH \RX FDQ see Catholics openly supporting and lobbying for issues that are directly against the teachings of WKH 0DJLVWHULXP :KLOH , NQRZ WKDW VXFK LVVXHV

People march in the Gay Pride Parade in New York on June 26 following passage of legislation to allow same-sex marriage in the state. CNS photo

DUH FRYHUHG LQ WKH 5&,$ RU LQ FDWechism classes, there is a great need for such teachings to continue beyond these lessons as we, especially our youths, are faced with such issues almost on a daily EDVLV $QG ZKDW EHWWHU ZD\ WR GR VR WKDQ IURP WKH SXOSLW ,Q P\ OLIH DV D &DWKROLF , KDYH QHYHU KHDUG DQ\ SUHDFKLQJ IURP WKH SXOSLW RQ SRWHQWLDOO\ FRQWURYHUVLDO LVVXHV OLNH DERUWLRQ HXWKDQDVLD homosexuality, same-sex marriage, DUWL¿FLDO FRQWUDFHSWLRQ ,9) HWF $ SDVVLQJ UHPDUN RU WZR PD\be, but no clear and solid preach-

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Fighting secularist pressures (9(5< &DWKROLF FKDULW\ LQ WKH :HVW WRGD\ IDFHV LQWHQVH SUHVVXUH WR VHFXODULVH That pressure comes in many forms: the offer of public funds in return for downplaying of Catholic identity; the promise of inFUHDVHG SHHU DSSURYDO LQ UHWXUQ IRU quietly dropping unpopular moral SULQFLSOHV DQG WKH GLI¿FXOW\ RI ¿QGLQJ WDOHQWHG VWDII ZKR DUH IXOO\ FRPPLWWHG WR WKH &KXUFK¶V YLVLRQ It is not surprising, then, that PDQ\ &DWKROLF FKDULWLHV KDYH drifted away from the Church that RQFH LQVSLUHG DQG QRXULVKHG WKHP It is clear that, from the beginQLQJ RI KLV SRQWL¿FDWH %HQHGLFW ;9, KDV JUDVSHG WKLV SUREOHP DQG made a concerted effort to draw FKDULWLHV EDFN LQWR WKH KHDUW RI

WKH &KXUFK 7KDW ZDV D NH\ WKHPH RI KLV YHU\ ¿UVW HQF\FOLFDO Deus Caritas Est. In late May, the Pope made a major address to one of the Church’s most important charitaEOH ERGLHV &DULWDV ,QWHUQDWLRQDOLV Each year this organisation reOLHYHV WKH VXIIHULQJ RI WKRXVDQGV of the world’s neediest people: the YLFWLPV RI ZDU DQG QDWXUDO GLVDVWHUV %XW IRU VRPH WLPH 9DWLFDQ RI¿FLDOV KDYH ZRUULHG WKDW &DULWDV LV in danger of succumbing to secuODULVLQJ WHPSWDWLRQV The Holy See refused to allow Caritas’ capable secretary-generDO /HVOH\ $QQH .QLJKW WR VWDQG for re-election and made a concerted effort at the general assemEO\ LQ 5RPH WR HQFRXUDJH &DULWDV

WR WDNH D QHZ GLUHFWLRQ In an unusually blunt speech, Pope Benedict urged Caritas to UHGLVFRYHU LWV GLVWLQFWLYH &DWKRlic identity, to ensure that all its documents are in harmony with the Magisterium and to promote WKH ³QRQ QHJRWLDEOH´ YDOXHV RI WKH &KXUFK LQ LWV RXWUHDFK WR WKH QHHG\ +H DVNHG GHOHJDWHV WR VHH &DUitas’ ecclesial identity as its greatest asset rather than as an inconYHQLHQW LQKHULWDQFH 7KH 3RSH¶V ZRUGV VKRXOG JLYH courage to those waging an often lonely struggle against secularising pressures within Catholic charLWLHV DQG KRSH WR WKRVH ZKR VHHN WR RIIHU D GDLO\ ZLWQHVV WR *RG¶V ORYH for the neediest through their serYLFH „ THE CATHOLIC HERALD

IT’S COMMON, particularly among religious commentators, to describe the human heart as small, narrow, and petty: How small-hearted and petty we are! , ¿QG WKLV GLVWUHVVLQJ EHFDXVH UHOLJLRXV WKLQNHUV HVSHFLDOO\ VKRXOG NQRZ EHWWHU :H DUH QRW FUHDWHG by God and put on this Earth with small, narrow, DQG SHWW\ KHDUWV 7KH RSSRVLWH LV WUXH God puts us into this world with huge hearts, KHDUWV DV GHHS DV WKH *UDQG &DQ\RQ 7KH KXPDQ heart in itself, when not closed off by fear, wound, DQG SDUDQRLD LV WKH DQWLWKHVLV RI SHWWLQHVV 7KH KXPDQ KHDUW DV 6W $XJXVWLQH GHVFULEHV LW LV QRW IXO¿OOHG E\ DQ\WKLQJ OHVV WKDQ LQ¿QLW\ LWVHOI 7KHUH¶V QRWKLQJ VPDOO DERXW WKH KXPDQ KHDUW %XW WKHQ ZK\ GR ZH VR RIWHQ ¿QG RXUVHOYHV UHODWLQJ WR WKH ZRUOG WR each other, and to God, in fact with hearts that are small, narrow, and petty? The problem is not the size or the natural dynamics of the human heart, but what the heart tends to do when it is wounded, fearful, disreVSHFWHG SDUDQRLG RU VHOI GHOXGHG E\ JUHHG DQG VHO¿VKQHVV ,W¶V WKHQ WKDW it closes itself to its own depth and greatness and becomes narrow, petty, IHDUIXO DQG VHO¿VK %XW WKDW EHKDYLRXU LV DQRPDORXV QRW WKH KXPDQ KHDUW DW HLWKHU LWV QRUPDO RU LWV EHVW $W LWV QRUPDO DQG DW LWV EHVW WKH KXPDQ KHDUW LV KXJH JHQHURXV QREOH DQG VHOI VDFUL¿FLQJ The early Church Fathers had a simple way of expressing our strugJOH KHUH 7KH\ WDXJKW WKDW HDFK RI XV KDV WZR KHDUWV WZR VRXOV ,Q HDFK SHUVRQ WKH\ DI¿UPHG WKHUH LV D VPDOO SHWW\ KHDUW D pusilla anima 7KLV LV WKH KHDUW WKDW ZH RSHUDWH RXW RI ZKHQ ZH DUH QRW DW RXU EHVW This is the heart within which we feel our wounds and our distance IURP RWKHUV 7KLV LV WKH KHDUW ZLWKLQ ZKLFK ZH DUH FKURQLFDOO\ LUULWDWHG and angry, the heart within which we feel the unfairness of life, the heart within which we sense others as a threat, the heart within which we feel HQY\ DQG ELWWHUQHVV DQG WKH KHDUW ZLWKLQ ZKLFK JUHHG OXVW DQG VHO¿VKQHVV EUHDN WKURXJK 7KLV WRR LV WKH KHDUW WKDW ZDQWV WR VHW LWVHOI DSDUW IURP DQG DERYH RWKHUV $QG WKLV LV WKH KHDUW WKDW LV PRVW RIWHQ GHVFULEHG E\ UHOLJLRXV WKLQNHUV ZKHQ WKH\ GHVFULEH KXPDQ QDWXUH DV VPDOO DQG SHWW\ But the Church Fathers taught that inside of each of us there was also another heart, a magna anima, a huge, deep, big, generous and noble KHDUW 7KLV LV WKH KHDUW ZH RSHUDWH RXW RI ZKHQ ZH DUH DW RXU EHVW 7KLV LV WKH KHDUW ZLWKLQ ZKLFK ZH IHHO HPSDWK\ DQG FRPSDVVLRQ 7KLV LV WKH KHDUW ZLWKLQ ZKLFK ZH DUH LQÀDPHG ZLWK QREOH LGHDOV This is the heart where we inchoately feel God’s presence in faith DQG KRSH DQG DUH DEOH WR PRYH RXW WR RWKHUV LQ FKDULW\ DQG IRUJLYHQHVV ,QVLGH HDFK RI XV VDGO\ RIWHQ EXULHG XQGHU VXIIRFDWLQJ ZRXQGV WKDW NHHS LW IDU IURP WKH VXUIDFH OLHV WKH KHDUW RI D VDLQW EXUVWLQJ WR JHW RXW 7KXV RQ DQ\ JLYHQ GD\ DQG DW DQ\ JLYHQ PRPHQW ZH FDQ IHHO OLNH 0RWKHU 7HUHVD RU OLNH D ELWWHU WHUURULVW :H FDQ IHHO UHDG\ WR JLYH RXU OLYHV LQ PDUW\UGRP RU ZH FDQ IHHO UHDG\ WR ZHOFRPH WKH VHQVDWLRQ RI VLQ :H FDQ IHHO OLNH WKH QREOH 'RQ 4XL[RWH LQÀ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¶V D YDULDWLRQ RQ WKH G\QDPLFV RI repentance and healing as the great mystic, St John of the Cross, deVFULEHV WKHP )RU KLP WKH PRVW HIIHFWLYH ZD\ WR PRYH WRZDUGV KHDOLQJ LV QRW E\ focusing on the moral and spiritual areas within which we particularly VWUXJJOH )RU KLP ZH KHDO DQG JURZ DQG HYHQWXDOO\ ³FDXWHULVH´ RXU IDXOWV E\ IDQQLQJ WKH ÀDPHV RI ZKDW LV DOUHDG\ YLUWXRXV EHVW LQVLGH XV $V ZH IDQ RXU YLUWXHV WR IXOO ÀDPH WKRVH ¿UHV HYHQWXDOO\ EXUQ RXW RXU VHO¿VKQHVV DQG RXU ZRXQGV 2XU YLUWXHV ZKHQ IDQQHG WR IXOO ÀDPH OHDYH QR URRP LQVLGH XV IRU SHWWLQHVV DQG VPDOO KHDUWHGQHVV )DQQLQJ ZKDW¶V KLJKHVW LQ XV HYHQWXDOO\ PRYHV XV PRUH DQG PRUH WRZDUGV OLYLQJ RXW RI RXU ELJ KHDUWV UDWKHU WKDQ RXU SHWW\ KHDUWV 1RW HYHU\WKLQJ FDQ EH ¿[HG RU FXUHG EXW LW VKRXOG EH QDPHG FRUUHFWO\ 1RZKHUH LV WKLV PRUH LPSRUWDQW WKDQ LQ KRZ ZH QDPH ERWK WKH VL]H DQG WKH VWUXJJOHV RI WKH KXPDQ KHDUW :H DUH QRW SHWW\ VRXOV ZKR RFFDVLRQDOO\ GR QREOH WKLQJV :H DUH UDWKHU QREOH VRXOV ZKR VDGO\ RFFDVLRQDOO\ GR SHWW\ WKLQJV „

OPINION 19

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Have some ‘cellphone consideration’ Could the misuse of cellphones be spawning a lack of interiority, asks Fr Eugene Hemrick WHEN I take the train from Washington, DC, to New York, I make it a practice to sit in the “quiet carâ€?. As you enter it, signs on seats remind passengers to shut off their cellphones and avoid loud talking. Conductors collecting tickets also remind people to be quiet in the quiet car. And yet, every time I sit in the quiet car, someone enters it, sits down, and immediately carries on a loud conversation on a cellphone. This leads me to believe that ZH QHHG WR UHĂ€HFW PRUH GHHSO\ RQ the cellphone’s pros and cons before irritations that erupt over inconsiderate use of it turn into wars. Positively speaking, cellphones have spawned welcomed revolutions. People disenchanted with their governments have taken to the streets, sending pictures and text

messages that have overthrown tyrants. 1HZV UHSRUWV DUH ÂżOOHG ZLWK stories of desperate, stranded people who used their cellphones to call for emergency help. Parents are able to stay in better contact with their children by using cellphones, and even though family members may be separated, cellphones help to keep them together. These are but a few of their positive advantages. As a disadvantage, however, cellphones have become an addiction that feeds a person’s need for continuous stimulation. More annoying than this, they spawn inconsideration. Synonyms for the word “conVLGHUDWLRQ´ LQFOXGH ÂłUHĂ€HFWLRQ´ “thoughtfulnessâ€? and “importanceâ€? (in the sense that importance is placed on a matter). People glued to cellphones,

‘

Cellphones have become an addiction that feeds a person’s need for continuous stimulation.

’

however, often give the impression that they alone bear any importance. But their boisterous conversations, more often than not, are mindless chitchat. Here we must ask: Could the

misuse of cellphones be spawning a lack of interiority? Years before the invention of the cellphone, theologian and philosopher Fr Romano Guardini sensed the insatiable need for stimulation and activity in our world.

He wrote: “All around us we see activity, organisation, operations of every possible type; but what directs them? An inwardness no longer really at home with itself; which thinks, judges, acts from the surface, guided by mere intellect, utility, and the impulses of power, property, and pleasure. “An ‘interiority’ too superÂżFLDO WR FRQWDFW WKH WUXWK O\LQJ at life’s centre; which no longer reaches the essential and everlasting, but remains somewhere just under the skin-level of the provisional and the fortuitous.â€? There is a saying that only those who can be silent can speak. Is the cellphone causing us to lose our thirst for silence and the interiority it creates? A major challenge of our times is to keep technology in its place by placing respect, consideration and thoughtfulness before its use in any arena. „ CNS

20 BIBLE SUNDAY

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

POPE BENEDICT XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation after the 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God (held from Oct 5-26, 2008) was published on Sept 30, 2010. Entitled Verbum Domini (The Word of the Lord) it gives a theology of the Word of God and goes into the relevance and importance of the Word for the Church’s life and ministry and for her mission to the world as well. At its meeting in February this year, the Regional Biblical Commission (RBC) decided to dedicate the annual Bible Sunday message to this document. Word in creation, history and prophetism Jesus Christ the Word of God holds all the various meanings of the ZRUG RI *RG UHĂ€HFWHG LQ FUHDWLRQ DQG KLVWRU\ 3ULRU WR WKH LQFDUQDWLRQ DOO FUHDWLRQ FDPH LQWR EHLQJ through the eternal Word of God. It was through Him that “all WKLQJV ZHUH FUHDWHG DQG ZLWKRXW Him was not anything made that was madeâ€? (Jn 1:3). This is preVHQWHG LQ WKH VWRU\ RI FUHDWLRQ LQ *HQ ,QGHHG WKHQ FUHDWLRQ WUXO\ speaks God’s word. )ROORZLQJ FUHDWLRQ KLVWRU\ DOVR EHFDPH D ZD\ LQ ZKLFK *RG FRPPXQLFDWHG ZLWK KXPDQNLQG *RG GLG WKLV EHFDXVH RI WKH XQLTXH DQG VLQJXODU SRVLWLRQ RFFXSLHG E\ PDQ LQ FUHDWLRQ ZKLFK ZDV IRXQGHG RQ WKH IDFW WKDW *RG KDG FUHDWHG KLP LQ +LV RZQ LPDJH and likeness (Gen 1:27). Man was gifted with reason, IUHHGRP DQG FRQVFLHQFH )URP WKLV UHDOLW\ Ă€RZV DQ LPSRUWDQW FRUROODU\ PDQ LV JXLGHG E\ WKH QDWXUDO ODZ ZKLFK LV ZULWWHQ RQ KLV KHDUW FI 5RP 1DWXUDO ODZ then is also a form of God’s word. ,W ÂżQGV LWV IXOÂżOPHQW E\ WKH ODZ RI WKH *RVSHO JLYHQ E\ -HVXV &KULVW God’s image and likeness in KXPDQ EHLQJV HQDEOH WKHP WR HQFRXQWHU +LP LQ KLVWRU\ 7ZR KLVWRULFDO HYHQWV DUH VLQJOHG RXW KHUH L *RGÂśV FRYHQDQW ZLWK $EUDKDP DQG LL +LV FRYHQDQW ZLWK WKH UDFH RI ,VUDHO $EUDKDPÂśV GHVFHQGDQWV mediated through Moses. Events in history were a learning experiHQFH IRU ,VUDHO 7KURXJK WKHP WKH\ GLVFRYered God dealing with them and through them with the entire KXPDQNLQG ,Q WKHVH KLVWRULFDO HYHQWV *RG FRPPXQLFDWHG ZLWK them and invited them into a relationship with Him. In this relationship He made them His own

SHRSOH DQG FKRVH WR EH WKHLU *RG In order to help His people understand more fully and more FOHDUO\ +LV FRPPXQLFDWLRQ RI ORYH with them through events in history, God gave them prophets. These ZHUH *RGÂśV ÂłVSRNHVPHQ´ EHDUHUV of God’s word to His people. 3URSKHWLF PHVVDJHV ZHUH KXPDQ EXW LQVSLUHG H[SUHVVLRQV RI *RGÂśV ZRUG FDOOLQJ WKH SHRSOH EDFN WR FRYHQDQWDO UHODWLRQVKLS with Him. They explain the meanLQJ RI FUHDWLRQ DQG KLVWRU\ DV IRUPV RI *RGÂśV ZRUG 7KH\ FRXFK WKH word of God in human language. Word Incarnate, &UXFLĂ€HG $QG 5LVHQ The Old Testament provides amSOH HYLGHQFH RI *RGÂśV ZRUG FRPPXQLFDWHG WKURXJK FUHDWLRQ HYHQW (history) and human words. But all these different expressions RI *RGÂśV ZRUG DUH LQFRPSOHWH LQ themselves. 7KH\ ÂżQG WKHLU IXOO PHDQLQJ only in Jesus Christ, the eternal :RUG RI *RG PDGH Ă€HVK 7KH LQFDUQDWH :RUG LV ÂłDQ XQSUHFHGHQWHG DQG KXPDQO\ LQFRQFHLYDEOH QRYHOW\´ ÂłWKH GHÂżQLWLYH ZRUG ZKLFK God speaks to humanityâ€? (VD 11). +H LV WKH IRUFH RI XQLW\ RI DOO the various forms of expressions or meanings of God’s word. “In a SHUIHFW ZD\ +H KHDUV HPERGLHV DQG FRPPXQLFDWHV WR XV WKH ZRUG of Godâ€? (VD 12).

-HVXV WKH LQFDUQDWH :RUG RI *RG H[KDXVWHG +LV FRPPXQLFDtion with humankind at His death on the Cross. There, He held nothing of what it [He] had to tell usâ€?. There He was “revealed as the word of the new and everlasting FRYHQDQW´ 'HL 9HUEXP 'RJPDWLF &RQVWLWXWLRQ RQ 'LYLQH 5HYHODWLRQ DQG DFFRPSOLVKHG RXU GHÂżQLWLYH VDOYDWLRQ Following His death on the Cross, Jesus rose from the dead. 7KLV ZDV +LV YLFWRU\ RYHU GHDWK +LV UHVXUUHFWLRQ ÂłWRRN SODFH WKURXJK WKH FUHDWLYH SRZHU RI WKH word of Godâ€? (DV 13). With it, a QHZ FUHDWLRQ QRZ FDPH DERXW Christ’s death on the Cross and +LV UHVXUUHFWLRQ RQ WKH WKLUG GD\ WRRN SODFH ÂłLQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK WKH 6FULSWXUHV´ 7KLV PHDQV WKDW &KULVW WKH LQFDUQDWH FUXFLÂżHG DQG ULVHQ :RUG RI *RG IXOÂżOV DOO 6FULSWXUHV DQG HPEUDFHV DOO WKH GLIIHUent meanings of the word of God. This also means God’s plan of salYDWLRQ IRU DOO KXPDQNLQG FDPH WR EH IXOÂżOOHG E\ -HVXV &KULVW Word in living tradition of the Church 7KH 6FULSWXUHV UHYHDO WKDW LQ WKH IXOÂżOPHQW RI WKH GLYLQH SODQ RI salvation, the Holy Spirit was at work. Indeed the Holy Spirit was present in salvation history and in WKH OLIH RI -HVXV Âą IURP +LV FRQFHSWLRQ WR +LV GHDWK '9

,Q IDFW LW LV WKDQNV WR WKH +RO\ Spirit that the word of God is expressed in human words. For He LQVSLUHG VDFUHG DXWKRUV WR FRPPLW the word of God to writing. 8SRQ +LV UHVXUUHFWLRQ &KULVW sent the Holy Spirit upon His apostles gathered in prayer with Mary RQ WKH GD\ RI 3HQWHFRVW $V D UHVXOW of this outpouring of the Spirit on them, these apostles were empowHUHG WR FDUU\ RXW WKH PLVVLRQ &KULVW KDG JLYHQ WKHP WR SUHDFK WKH JRRG news of God’s kingdom. Faithful to their Lord and MasWHU WKH\ SURFODLPHG ZKDW WKH\ WKHPVHOYHV KDG UHFHLYHG IURP WKH WHDFKLQJV DQG ZRUNV RI &KULVW and indeed from His way of life. Through the prompting of the +RO\ 6SLULW WKH\ DOVR SURFODLPHG ZKDW WKH\ KDG FRPH WR XQGHUVWDQG RI DOO WKDW WKH\ KDG UHFHLYHG IURP Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, the apostles handed on all these UHDOLWLHV WKDW WKH\ KDG UHFHLYHG E\ WKHLU RUDO SUHDFKLQJ E\ WKHLU H[DPSOH DQG E\ WKHLU RUGLQDQFHV What they passed on gave ELUWK WR ZKDW ZH FDOO 7UDGLWLRQ RI WKH &KXUFK 7KLV 7UDGLWLRQ RI DSRVWROLF RULJLQ OLYHV RQ E\ WKH power of the Holy Spirit. It is “esVHQWLDO IRU HQDEOLQJ WKH &KXUFK WR grow through time in the understanding of the truth revealed in WKH 6FULSWXUHV´ 9' The Constitution on Divine 5HYHODWLRQ DIÂżUPV Âł%\ PHDQV RI

WKH VDPH 7UDGLWLRQ WKH IXOO FDQRQ RI WKH VDFUHG ERRNV LV NQRZQ WR WKH &KXUFK DQG WKH KRO\ 6FULSWXUHV themselves are more thoroughly XQGHUVWRRG DQG FRQVWDQWO\ PDGH HIIHFWLYH LQ WKH &KXUFK´ '9 7KH $SRVWROLF ([KRUWDWLRQ JRHV RQ WR VWUHVV WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI SURSHUO\ WHDFKLQJ DQG WUDLQLQJ WKH 3HRSOH RI *RG ÂłWR DSSURDFK WKH VDFUHG 6FULSWXUHV LQ UHODWLRQ WR WKH &KXUFKÂśV OLYLQJ 7UDGLWLRQ DQG WR UHFRJQL]H LQ WKHP WKH YHU\ ZRUG RI *RG´ 9' The word of God takes on different forms of expression in the VDFUHG 6FULSWXUHV %XW LQ WKH ÂżQDO analysis God speaks only one single Word in Jesus Christ. In Him God reveals Himself fully to all humankind. In Him God invites every huPDQ SHUVRQ WR FRPPXQLRQ ZLWK Himself. In Him, therefore, it is SRVVLEOH IRU HYHU\ KXPDQ SHUVRQ WR HQWHU LQWR FRPPXQLRQ ZLWK God and share in His life. 7RGD\ WKH &KXUFK FRQWLQXHV +LV PLVVLRQ RI SURFODLPLQJ WKH Word of God to all humankind and LQYLWLQJ WKHP WR D OLIH RI FRPPXQion with God and share in His life. Conclusion 7KH RQH :RUG RI *RG ZDV FRPPXQLFDWHG LQ PXOWLSOH IRUPV ZLWKLQ WKH JUDVS RI DOO KXPDQ FUHDWXUHV RI *RG FUHDWHG LQ +LV LPDJH DQG OLNHQHVV +H EHFDPH Ă€HVK LQ RUGHU WR EUHDN LQWR WKH FRPSDQ\ RI DOO humankind. The role of the Holy Spirit in DOO WKLV PXVW EH DFNQRZOHGJHG ,Q IDFW WRGD\ WKH :RUG RI *RG OLYHV among all men through the Holy 6SLULW DQG FRQWLQXHV WR EH SURFODLPHG LQ DQG E\ WKH FRPPXQLW\ RI GLVFLSOHV RI -HVXV &KULVW WKH :RUG RI *RG PDGH Ă€HVK FUXFLÂżHG and risen. 2Q WKHVH JURXQGV 9HUEXP 'RPLQL FRQÂżGHQWO\ UHLWHUDWHV ZKDW 'HL 9HUEXP DIÂżUPV Âł,QGHHG the word of God is given to us in VDFUHG 6FULSWXUHV DV DQ LQVSLUHG WHVWLPRQ\ WR UHYHODWLRQ WRJHWKHU ZLWK WKH &KXUFKÂśV OLYLQJ 7UDGLWLRQ LW FRQVWLWXWHV WKH VXSUHPH UXOH RI IDLWK´ 9' '9 The following questions are to help readers do a recapitulation of the Bible Sunday message. 1. Down through the ages God spoke one word in many words. How did He do it? 2. The one word spoken by God is not dead, but “living and activeâ€? (Heb 4:12) even to our day and until the end of time. How? „

OPINION 21

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Will pope visit Asia in 2012? By Gerard O’Connell POPE BENEDICT XVI has visLWHG IRXU RI WKH ¿YH FRQWLQHQWV VLQFH EHFRPLQJ SRSH RQ $SULO DQG LV DERXW WR JR WR $IULFD IRU D VHFRQG WLPH %XW KH KDV QRW \HW YLVLWHG WKH ODUJHVW FRQWLQHQW ZKLFK LV KRPH WR RYHU SHUFHQW RI WKH ZRUOG¶V SRSXODWLRQ DQG SHUFHQW RI LWV &DWKROLFV 7KLV KDV FDXVHG GHHS GLVDSSRLQWPHQW DPRQJ PDQ\ &KXUFK OHDGHUV DQG &DWKROLFV DFURVV WKLV UHJLRQ 7KH\ UHVSHFW WKH SRSH EXW FRQVLGHU D YLVLW IURP KLP DV WKH PRVW YLVLEOH VLJQ WKDW WKH SHRSOHV DQG &DWKROLFV RI $VLD KDYH D VSHFLDO SODFH LQ KLV KHDUW WRR 3RSH 3DXO 9, PDGH WZR WULSV WR $VLD DQG YLVLWHG VL[ FRXQWULHV 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, FDPH VHYHQ WLPHV YLVLWLQJ FRXQWULHV ³$VLD LV MXVW WRR LPSRUWDQW WR LJQRUH DQG WKHUHIRUH , WKLQN WKH +RO\ )DWKHU PXVW FRPH KHUH ´ &DUGLQDO *DXGHQFLR 5RVDOHV WKH $UFKELVKRS RI 0DQLOD WROG PH +H ZHQW RQ WR KLJKOLJKW QRW RQO\ WKH JURZLQJ SROLWLFDO DQG HFRQRPLF LPSRUWDQFH RI $VLD LQ WKH VW FHQWXU\ SDUWLFXODUO\ ZLWK WKH HPHUJHQFH RI &KLQD DQG ,QGLD DV ZRUOG SRZHUV EXW DOVR WKH LPPHQVH QHZ RSSRUWXQLWLHV RSHQLQJ XS IRU WKH &DWKROLF &KXUFK WR HYDQJHOLVH LWV SHRSOHV DQG WKH LQFUHDVLQJ QXPEHU RI YRFDWLRQV DQG PLVVLRQDULHV WKLV FRQWLQHQW LV JLYLQJ WKH &KXUFK ³%HFDXVH RI DOO WKLV DQG HYHQ WKRXJK WKH QXPEHU RI &DWKROLFV LQ WKLV SDUW RI WKH ZRUOG LV VPDOO WKH +RO\ )DWKHU VKRXOG WDNH D VHULRXV LQWHUHVW LQ $VLD DQG WKH LQÀXHQFH RI &DWKROLFV LQ WKLV SDUW RI WKH ZRUOG DW WKLV PRPHQW LQ KLVWRU\ 7KLV DUHD QHHGV WKH YLVLW RI WKH +RO\ )DWKHU ´ KH VDLG :KHQ LQ -XO\ WKH 3KLOLSSLQH ELVKRSV OHDUQHG WKDW 3RSH %HQHGLFW ZRXOG WUDYHO WR 6\GQH\ IRU :RUOG <RXWK 'D\ WKH\ LPPHGLDWHO\ LQYLWHG KLP WR VWRS RYHU LQ WKH 3KLOLSSLQHV WKH PDLQ &DWKROLF FRXQWU\ LQ $VLD +RZHYHU EHFDXVH RI WKH SRSH¶V VFKHGXOH WKH 9DWLFDQ VDLG WKDW ZRXOG QRW EH SRVVLEOH 7KH 3KLOLSSLQH ELVKRSV DOVR LQYLWHG KLP WR WKH WK DQQLYHUVDU\ FHOHEUDWLRQV WKLV \HDU RI WKH HVWDEOLVKPHQW RI WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 6DQWR 7RPDV WKH IDPRXV &DWKROLF XQLYHUVLW\ LQ WKHLU FRXQWU\ $JDLQ WKH\ ZHUH XQVXFFHVVIXO 6HYHUDO RWKHUV KDYH DOVR LQYLWHG WKH SRSH WR WKHLU FRXQWU\ $UFKELVKRS &KDUOHV %R RI <DQJRQ DGGUHVVLQJ WKH 6\QRG RI %LVKRSV RQ 2FW LQYLWHG KLP WR FRPH WR 0\DQPDU /DWHU LQ SULYDWH WKH SRSH WROG KLP KH ³ZRXOG EH UHDG\ WR PDNH D VKRUW YLVLW WR 0\DQPDU´ LI KH GHFLGHV WR JR WR DQRWKHU $VLDQ FRXQWU\

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The priests of the archdiocese will be on retreat from July 18-22. Here is a schedule of Masses and communion services during these days. For updates, please check with your parish. CITY DISTRICT

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd 0DVV -XO\ SP Church of St Joseph (Victoria Street) &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ SP Church of Sts Peter & Paul 0DVV -XO\ DP SP Church of Our Lady of Lourdes 0DVV -XO\ SP DQG SP Church of the Sacred Heart &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH &KDSHO -XO\ SP Church of St Teresa &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ SP Church of St Alphonsus (Novena Church) 0DVV -XO\ DP SP SP

South Korean President Lee Myung Bak visits Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in 2009. CNS photo

The most pressing invitation to Pope Benedict XVI to visit Asia has come from South Korea’s President Lee Myung Bak. He has invited the pope no less than six times to his country. 0U /HH ³LV FRQYLQFHG WKDW %HQHGLFW ;9,¶V YLVLW ZLOO JUHDWO\ FRQWULEXWH WR SHDFH DQG GHYHORSPHQW LQ WKH .RUHDQ SHQLQVXOD DQG LQ 1RUWK (DVW $VLD DQG EULQJ *RG¶V EOHVVLQJ WR DOO WKH SHRSOH RI .RUHD´ WKH FRXQWU\¶V DPEDVVDGRU WR WKH +RO\ 6HH 0U 7KRPDV +RQJ 6RRQ +DQ WROG PH 7KH ODWHVW LQYLWDWLRQ WR ODQG RQ WKH SRSH¶V GHVN FDPH IURP ,QGLD &DUGLQDO 7HOHVSKRUH 7RSSR SUHVLGHQW RI WKH &RQIHUHQFH RI &DWKROLF %LVKRSV RI ,QGLD GHOLYHUHG LW RQ 0D\ ZKHQ ELVKRSV IURP WKH FRXQWU\¶V QRUWKHDVWHUQ VWDWHV PHW WKH SRSH IRU WKHLU ¿YH \HDUO\ YLVLW /DWHU WKDW ZHHN ZKHQ WKH FDUGLQDO PHW WKH SRSH LQ SULYDWH DXGLHQFH WKH\ GLVFXVVHG WKH PDWWHU LQ VRPH GHSWK $IWHUZDUGV WKH FDUGLQDO WROG PH WKDW WKH SRSH¶V UHDFWLRQ ³ZDV YHU\ SRVLWLYH´ KH LQGLFDWHG KLV ZLOOLQJQHVV WR JR WR ,QGLD ³LI P\ KHDOWK SHUPLWV´ 7KH\ DJUHHG LW ZRXOG EH LGHDO LI WKH YLVLW FRXOG FRLQFLGH ZLWK WKH

Church of St Bernadette &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP Church of St Michael &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP EAST DISTRICT

Church of the Holy Family 0DVV -XO\ DP &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ SP

DEOH SK\VLFDO VWDPLQD GXULQJ KLV YLVLWV WR WKH 8. DQG &URDWLD +H ZLOO WUDYHO WR 6SDLQ *HUPDQ\ DQG %HQLQ ODWHU WKLV \HDU DQG ZRXOG QRW EH WUDYHOOLQJ VR PXFK LI KH KDG VHULRXV KHDOWK FRQFHUQV $OO WKHVH WULSV DUH VKRUW KRZHYHU WKH ORQJHVW LV DURXQG KRXUV ZKHUHDV DQ\ MRXUQH\ WR $VLD ZRXOG LQYROYH D ÀLJKW WLPH UDQJLQJ IURP VHYHQ KRXUV 1HZ 'HOKL WR KRXUV RU PRUH 6HRXO DQG 0DQLOD 1HYHUWKHOHVV ZKLOH KLV GRFWRUV PD\ FRXQVHO DJDLQVW ORQJ WULSV DQG KLV DGYLVRUV PD\ ZRUU\ DOVR DERXW WKH DJHQGD LW LV WKH SRSH ZKR ¿QDOO\ GHFLGHV 5LJKW QRZ VHYHUDO ³DSRVWROLF MRXUQH\V´ DUH XQGHU FRQVLGHUDWLRQ IRU ³1R GH¿QLWH GHFLVLRQV KDYH EHHQ WDNHQ \HW HYHU\WKLQJ LV VWLOO RSHQ ´ D 9DWLFDQ RI¿FLDO WROG PH UHFHQWO\ +H FRQ¿UPHG WKDW ³D YLVLW WR $VLD LV QRW H[FOXGHG´ „

Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP -XO\ SP

VATICAN INSIDER

Church of St Joseph (BT) &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP

The writer is a journalist reporting on Vatican Affairs from Rome.

Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP

Church of St Anthony 0DVV -XO\ DP SP Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea 0DVV -XO\ DP &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ SP Church of the Holy Spirit &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP Church of the Risen Christ &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP Church of Christ the King &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP SERANGOON DISTRICT

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP Church of St Francis Xavier &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP St Anne’s Church 0DVV -XO\ DP SP Church of St Vincent De Paul &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP WEST DISTRICT

Church of St Ignatius 0DVV -XO\ DP SP

Church of St Stephen 0DVV -XO\ DP &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ SP

Blessed Sacrament Church 0DVV -XO\ DP DQG DP &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DQG DP -XO\ DQG DP -XO\ SP

Church of the Holy Trinity 0DVV -XO\ DP 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP -XO\ SP

Church of St Mary of the Angels 0DVV -XO\ DP SP

Church of the Divine Mercy &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP

Church of St Francis of Assisi &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP SP

NORTH DISTRICT

Church of the Holy Cross &RPPXQLRQ 6HUYLFH -XO\ DP -XO\ SP 0DVV -XO\ SP

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

23

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Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY:

Jesus decided to tell a story to the many people who had come to hear him. “A sower went out to sow,� He said. “And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. “Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. “Whoever has ears ought to hear.� Later, after the crowd had gone home, the apostles asked Jesus a question: “Why do you speak to them in parables?� Jesus answered, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the

kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.â€? Jesus wanted His apostles to know He was following the words of the Scriptures, so He said to them, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ Isaiah’s prophecy is fulÂżOOHG LQ WKHP ZKLFK VD\V Âľ<RX VKDOO indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.’â€? Jesus wanted to make another comparison to the earlier prophets for the sake of His friends, so He told them, “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St John Gualbert John Gualbert (995-1073) was the son of an Italian nobleman. After his brother was murdered, John plotted his own revenge against his brother’s killer. When he had cornered the murderer and intended to kill him with a sword, the man begged for mercy. Remembering the mercy that Christ showed to the other two men on the crosses next to His, John forgave the man, and they made peace with each other. His journey brought him to a monastery, where he felt the call to join the religious order. John began to lead the life of a man devoted to God. He left his monastery because of a scandal involving the new abbot and founded a small monastery of his own, which followed the strict rules of St Benedict. He helped the poor whenever he was able but embraced a life of poverty for himself. He earned the respect of several popes for his charitable work. We honour him July 12. „

Bible Accent: Matthew was working as a tax collector when Jesus called him WR EH RQH RI +LV ¿UVW DSRVWOHV Many people of the time would have said that a tax collector would have been an unlikely person to be a follower of the Messiah, but Jesus must have seen the good inside of Matthew to have called him. Matthew researched the family history of Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, and recorded it in his Gospel, along with a beautiful telling of the Christmas story. Matthew wanted to convince his readers that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God. Matthew’s Gospel contains many of the most famous stories about Jesus, including His baptism by John, the calling of the apostles, the beatitudes and the passion narrative. Scholars cannot conclusively say how Matthew died, but with his life he left behind a legacy as an important early Christian writer. „

but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.� Then Jesus explained the meaning of the parable of the sower and the seeds: “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. ... The seed sown among thorns is

the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it.� „ Read more about it: Matthew 13 Q&A 1. Why does Jesus use parables when speaking to the crowd? 2. How does Jesus let His friends know that He is following the Scriptures?

Grace before meals

Here is a table tent of prayers before and after meals. Just cut on the dotted line, and glue this on a thick paper. Fold inward along the dotted line and place it on your dining table. This card will remind and help you pray before and after meals.

PUZZLE 6ROYH WKH VLOO\ SKUDVHV WR ÂżQG terms that are more familiar to us from church or the Bible. Example: Bee shop Ă? church leader Ă?bishop 1. Pair of bulls Ă? stories Ă? ____ 2. Tropical plants Ă? songs or poems Ă? _____ 3. A curve Ă? Old Testament boat Ă? _____ 4. One who cannot Ă? singer Ă? _____ 6FLHQWLÂżF ZHLJKW Ă? church service Ă? _____ 6. Opposite of western Ă? holy day Ă? _____ 7. Action word Ă? wise saying Ă? _____

KIDS’ CLUB: Share your thoughts on this week’s Bible story with family and friends by writing an essay in response to this question: What do you think is the most important lesson Jesus tried to teach us while He was here on earth?

Answers to puzzle: 1. parables, 2. psalms, 3. ark, 4. cantor, 5. Mass, 6. Easter, 7. proverb.

By Joe Sarnicola

WHAT’S ON 25

Sunday July 17, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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

Jesus’ love. Video talks by Michelle Moran – world renowned UK evangelist DQG PHPEHU RI WKH 3RQWL¿FDO &RXQFLO RI the Laity. Topics include: The Call, Our Lifestyle, Sharing Your History, Being Relevant, The Gospel Message. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). Register with name SMS: T: 9007 0987; E: acptcafe@gmail.com ; W: http://www.catholicafe.sg

EVERY FRIDAY 7.30-8.30pm: Do you want to fall in love with God, Mary and the Catholic Church? Sessions with Victor and Vivienne Wee. Church of the Holy Spirit (Room 03-02)

July 16 SJI OPEN HOUSE 9am-1pm: School tour starts from foyer. Last tour at 12.40pm. Introductory talks on SJI at every hour from 10am. Special programmes trial classes at 9.30am and 11.30am. Talent student presentations at 9.30am & 11.30am. At St Joseph’s Institution (38 Malcolm Rd). Register T: 6250 0022; E: contact@sji.edu.sg

EVERY FRIDAY FISHERS OF MEN NOVENA MINISTRY 7-9.45pm: Divine Mercy prayer followed by activities. At Novena Church (Peter Donders Room). T: 9185 9675 (Johnny); E: ndavidik@hotmail.com; : KWWS ¿VKHUVRPHQ GRQXPFULVWL FRP LUNCHTIME MASS 12.15pm: The Catholic Prayer Society brings the celebration of the Eucharist to you in the midst of your busy week on Wednesdays and Days of Obligation at SGH Campus, Medical Alumni Association, Level 1 MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE 2011 Oct 9. Couples getting married should attend the course at least 6 months before the wedding. Allocation of places on a ¿UVW FRPH ¿UVW VHUYHG EDVLV T: 9114 2862; E: mpcsingapore@gmail. com; W: www.catholic.org.sg/mpc Wednesdays, July 6 to Nov 23 GOD’S COVENANTAL LOVE THROUGH THE AGES 7.45-9.45pm: Journey through the bible with Fr Aloysius Ong. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Rd) Register T: 6858 3011 (Anna); E: admin@catholicspi.org July 10 PRISONS WEEK 11.30am: Mass celebrated by Archbishop Nicholas Chia at Church of Divine Mercy. Also, a time of prayer for the prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Tuesdays, July 12 to August 23 BIOETHICS – EMBRACING THE GIFT OF LIFE 7.30-9.30pm: In the 3rd core module of Personal Compass: Navigating Ethical Ambiguity, Fr David Garcia, OP, addresses the ethics of life issues such as cloning, IVF, euthanasia, and interestingly – plastic surgery. By Wonderfully Made. Cost: $80. At CWS Auditorium (55 Waterloo St 8th Floor). T: 6858 7012 (Janice); E: janice@catholicspi.org, W: http://www.wonderfully-made.org, http://www.catholicspi.org Wednesdays, July 13 to September 7 JEFF CAVIN’S A QUICK JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE 7.30-9.30pm: 8 sessions studying Jeff Cavin’s A Quick Journey Through the Bible. Easy to follow. All are welcome. Cost: $20. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (Level 3 Chapel). E: henrywu@lucas.com.sg July 13 LITTLE SINGERS OF MONACO CONCERT IN AID OF CATHEDRAL RESTORATION FUND 7.30pm: The famed Little Singers of Monaco will return for a one-night only charity concert, in association with the Consulate of Monaco. Sacred and secular choral works from Renaissance to modern times, from masters including Bach, Mendelssohn and Rachmaninov. Concert in aid of Cathedral of Good Shepherd Restoration Fund. Cheque and cash donation at event, or advanced donation with reserved seats (subject to availability). T: 6337 2036 (Irene) Fridays, July15 to August 12 PASS IT ON – A CAFE PROGRAMME 7.45-9.30pm: Come learn how to spread

RCIY/RCIA A journey in faith for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors. Thursdays from July 7 RCIA@CHURCH OF NATIVITY OF THE BVM 7.30-9.30pm: At 1259 Upper Serangoon Rd. T: 9745 1498 (Grace)

July 16 COPING WITH CANCER FOR CAREGIVERS 10am-2pm: Dr Anna Leybina (psychology lecturer) will talk about tools that modern psychology has provided to help caregivers take better care of themselves and how they can better deal with the wider society which may not comprehend the struggles and challenges of being caregivers. Lunch provided. By Life in the Vine Cancer Support Group. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room A2-01). T: 9863 1470 (Elaine), 9663 5256 (Adrian); E: vine.csg@gmail.com July 16 UNDERSTANDING OUR THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS 2-5pm: Where do our thoughts and emotions come from and how do they LQÀXHQFH RQH DQRWKHU %\ 6U (OL]DEHWK Sim. Cost: $40 (with tea). At Lifesprings Canossian Spirituality Centre (100 Jalan Merbok). T: 6466 2178 (Brenda); E: lifsprng@singnet.com.sg. Sunday July 17 to Saturday July 23 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER@ CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS Come learn to listen to God through Scriptures. Taster afternoon on Sunday to introduce prayer methods – Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina and to meet prayer guide. 1 hour personal prayer time from Monday to Friday and then meet prayer guide in church for half-hour at most. Closing session on Saturday. At Church of St Ignatius. Register T: 9679 2381 (Bobby); E: sojourners@catholic.org.sg; W: http://www.catholic.org.sg/sojourners July 16 FEAST OF MT CARMEL Masses at 6.30am, 2.30pm (Mandarin), 4.30pm and 6.30pm will be celebrated at the Carmelite Monastery (Bt Teresa Rd). Kindly refrain from calling the monastery. July 16 PROFESSION OF SECULAR FRANCISCANS 2pm: Witness the profession of Cecilia Michael, Janette Po-Tan, Joanna PngChew and Monica Michael into the Fraternity of St Joseph. At Church of St Mary of the Angels. T: 9631 6547 (Janet); E: janetsfo@gmail.com July 17 CATHOLIC SINGLES MEET UP FOR MASS AND LUNCH 10am: Meet at church canteen at St Joseph Church (Victoria St) for Mass followed by fellowship over a Penang lunch. E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com Mondays, July 18 to September 19 REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 7.30-9.30pm: 14 sessions on the Gospel RI 0DWWKHZ E\ )U $PEURVH 9D] $W Blessed Sacrament Church (Fr Damien Centre, St James Room). T: 9838 0472 (Royston); E: roystonk80@yahoo.com.sg; W: http://www.bsc.org.sg Mondays, July 18 to November 14 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? 7.30-10pm: 8-session course by Deacon Sherman Kuek, SFO, on understanding the differences in practices and beliefs of the Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Fridays from July 8 RCIA@CHURCH OF CHRIST THE KING 8-10pm: At 2221 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8. T: 9671 4907 (Paul); E: query.rcia@gmail.com Fridays from July 15 RCIY@CHURCH OF THE RISEN CHRIST 8pm: For those between 15 and 25. At 91 Toa Payoh Central (St Matthew Room). T: 9489 8086 (Jeremy)

Christians. By Singapore Pastoral Institute. At CWS Auditorium (55 Waterloo St 8th Floor). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org

July 24 COUPLE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME 1.30-5pm: Join the Couple Empowerment Program (CEP) 2011 for D IXOÂżOOLQJ DQG HQJDJLQJ MRXUQH\ RI ORYH that focuses on current issues faced by couples. Learn the latest life skills to build a more emotionally intelligent marriage. Ideal for young married couples and helpful for all couples open to re-discovering one another. At Church of St Anthony (Auditorium). T: 9674 4711 (Jason/Andrea), 9670 7327 (Philip/Sharon); E: goto_cep@hotmail.com; W: http://catholic-cep.webs.com/

Thursdays July 21 to August 25 COMMON SENSE PARENTING WORKSHOP SP &HUWLÂżHG ZRUNVKRS E\ %R\VWRZQ 86$ 3DUHQWV ZLOO JDLQ FRQÂżGHQFH DV they discover a practical approach to manage misbehaviours and guide children in the choices they make. Cost: $150 (per participant), $240 (per couple). At Morning Star Community Services (Hougang). July 20 VISIT TO SIKH TEMPLE/CENTRE 6.30pm: An opportunity to learn more about the beliefs and practices of Sikhism. By Council for Inter-religious and Ecumenical Dialogue (IRED). At 9 Jalan Bukit Merah. Register T: 9756 0239; E: iredsingapore@gmail.com

July 29-31 RETROUVAILLE WEEKEND If you are serious about making your marriage work, this programme could be worthwhile for you. Register T: 6749 8861; W: http://helpourmarriage.sg

July 22 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS 8-9.30pm: Come and experience the peace and joy that comes from a face-toface encounter with Jesus. With rosary, VFULSWXUDO UHĂ€HFWLRQ DGRUDWLRQ DQG Benediction. By Generation CHRIST! Ministry. At Church of St Ignatius (St Francis Xavier, Kingsmead Hall). E: gen.christ.ministry@gmail.com

August 5 to 7 DISCERNMENT RETREAT FOR SINGLE MALES 6pm (Fri) – 6pm (Sun): Develop a discerning heart. Come and learn from our Lord how to listen deep into the desires that animate your heart and the inspirations that motivate your world. See what no eye has seen and hear what no ear can hear and glimpse what no heart is capable of imagining. Retreat Director: Fr Ravi Michael Louis, SJ. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 64676072; F: 64687584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com

July 23 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS 7-9pm: Discover with a professor of theology what scripture and Catholic tradition have to say about our all important destination and learn how, with this vision, we can live our lives on earth to the full. By Apostolate for Catholic 7UXWK $W ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 3OD]D $QVRQ Rd 29-03). T: 9649 3893 (Andrew)

Saturdays August 6 to 20 SCHOOL READINESS FOR PRESCHOOLERS 9am-1pm: Proven strategies to equip your preschooler with academic, language, and social skills for primary school. The School Readiness programme by

The Incredible Years is designed to promote children’s school readiness and increase the ability of young children to manage their emotions. Cost: $150 (per participant), $240 (per couple). At Morning Star Community Services (Hougang). Saturdays August 6 to 27 BASIC CATECHIST COURSE LITURGY MODULE 1 9.30am-12.30pm: Part of the Level 1 FHUWL¿FDWLRQ SURJUDPPH IRU FDWHFKLVWV A 4-week course for all catechists and those involved in faith formation. This course lays a basic foundation for understanding the Church’s liturgy, including a look at the New Roman Missal. Conducted by Fr Ignatius Yeo, Liturgical Commission and Fr Erbin )HUQDQGH] FDWHFKHWLFDO GLUHFWRU At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org Wednesdays August 10 to September 28 GOSPEL OF MARK 7.45-945pm: Gospel of Mark by Fr $PEURVH 9D] &RVW $W &KXUFK RI WKH Holy Spirit (Room A2-01). T: 9833 4623; E: andrew_loo_ts@yahoo.com.sg August 9 THE LIFE WORKSHOP 10.30am-5.30pm: A day of discussion and prayer, organised by young people for young people where we explore the philosophical, theological, medical and psychological aspects of abortion with our experts, Fr David Garcia, and Dr Peter Chew, senior consultant of obstetrics and gynaecology and founder of aLife. Supported by Family Life Society. At FMM House of Prayer (49 Holland Rd). T: 9147 9388 (David); E: stgiannasoc@gmail.com; W: http://www.stgianna.sg

Crossword Puzzle 1037 1

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36

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35

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48 51

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9 Spotted wildcat 10 Salutation 11 Former monetary unit of Italy 12 Send forth 13 Barely passing grades 21 Opera highlight 22 ______ box 25 St. Therese the Little ______ 27 Biblical occupation 29 O’Neill’s daughter +H VXUYLYHG WKH Ă€RRG 31 Span. lass 32 Mil. branch 33 The Inferno 34 Berlin Mrs. 36 Second of IHS 39 Pertaining to Scripture 43 Cook in the microwave (slang) 44 Certain prayer sets 45 Islamic chieftain 48 Sundry 50 Steep bank under a rampart 52 Version of the Bible 54 First of the twelve Minor Prophets 55 Pertaining to birth 56 Useful 57 Repair 58 Melville work 59 â€œâ€Śand there was no one to _____ the groundâ€? (Gn 2:5) 61 “I am the _______, you are the branches.â€? (Jn 15:5) 63 Color TV pioneer

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25 32

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12

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11

56 62

53 57

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75 www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 5 9 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 26 28 32

Fellow St. ______’s Fire Eyed First-class Cut of meat Serious wrongdoing Liver hors d’oeuvre Otherwise Strange and mysterious Triumphs Skirt folds Snakes Astir “Vaya con ______� Skin care items TV frequency

35 37 38 40 41 42 43 46 47 49 51 53 57 60 62

Symbol of hope A queen of Jordan Slav Rank Exodus insect Jai ______ ______ Creed Exclamation of surprise Pretentious nonsense Papal see Enjoyed Hindu Preserver ______ candle Cold weather coat Vestment worn under the alb 63 Undoing

64 ____ Spumanti 65 Tooth 6LWH RI ÂżUVW PLUDFOH 67 ______ presence in the Eucharist 68 Voting sites &HUWDLQ DIÂżUPDWLYH YRWHV 70 Not bright DOWN 1 ______ magna (episcopal cape) 2 Accumulate 3 Put in a stake 4 Annoyed 5 Kyrie ______ 6 Recline in a relaxed manner

7 “Ite, _____ est.â€? 8 â€œâ€Ś ______, holy, catholic and apostolic‌â€?

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1036 T O O T H A N D R O R E D E M P B E J A G U A R O G E R E N G A G E P A I R P S H E P I F E T O C T A G O C H R I S M C I E L I U L E E Z R E D D E

M I T E R S A G I N M I I

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

I S R A E L T H E E

C H I R P

H O T E L

R E E S E

T O W E R

R E E D S

A S H Y

L A T E I X O N E E M S

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Sunday July 17, 2011 CatholicNews

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

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