JULY 31, 2011, vol 61, no 15

www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY JULY 31, 2011

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20

MICA (P) 030 / 01 / 2010

PPS 201/04/2012 (022727)

VOL 61

NO. 15

INSIDE

S’pore Church prepares to use new Roman missal Dear Brother and Sisters, At the recent meeting of the Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, the bishops decided upon the implementation of the new revised translation of the Roman Missal.

So, towards the end of this year, a new revised English translation of the Roman Missal will come into use throughout the English-speaking world and in all the parishes of our Archdiocese.

The Roman Missal is the book which contains the prayers and texts of the Mass. The new Revised Roman Missal with its new English translation will come fully into use on 27th November, the First Sunday of Advent, and from that date onwards, the third edition of the Roman Missal (England and Wales) will be the only English-language version of the Mass which is authorised for use in Singapore.

My dear Brothers and Sisters, as your Archbishop, I want to underscore the fundamental importance of this matter, because these texts will be used for our Sunday and daily Masses for years to come. This is the form of the Mass we will need to be familiar with, and which our young people and children will also begin to learn and use very soon.

This new revised Roman Missal is essentially a new translation of the original Latin.

As Catholics in Singapore, we are part of the Latin-Rite Catholic Church. Even though we do not necessarily speak or read or understand Latin any more, nor do we use it very much in liturgy and worship, Latin is our tradition and patrimony.

It is in “Church” Latin that the Mass and much of our sacramenWDO ZRUVKLS LV ¿UVW ZULWWHQ GRZQ

HOME New French priest bikes with youths Finds durians and chilli a challenge Page 7

HOME Reaching out to hospice patients Altar servers spend time with cancer sufferers Page 8

ASIA In wake of Mumbai blasts Indian bishops call for unity Page 10

The new English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal will come into full use in November. CNS photo

This is one of the reasons why the new translation is deliberately closer to the original Latin, so that it captures more fully the theological and spiritual meaning of the original text, thereby allowing it to slowly seep into our minds and hearts, affecting how we assimilate the true faith through our worship in the liturgy.

The great Latin motto and axiom regarding the liturgy is lex orandi, lex credendi , lex vivendi, (the rule of worship, is the rule of belief, is the rule of life). How we worship not only reveals and guards what we believe but guides us in how we live our Christian IDLWK DQG IXO¿O RXU &KULVWLDQ PLVsion in the world by manifesting the continuing presence of the Risen Jesus Christ.

How the Church worships is

a prophetic witness to the truth of what she professes. Good worship becomes a dynamic means of drawing the entire human community into the fullness of life and mission in Jesus Christ. It attracts – through beauty to Beauty.

Liturgical worship informs and transforms both the person and the worshipping community that participates in it. That is why getting the text right is getting the liturgy right, and it in turn makes right our lives and social mission in Jesus Christ.

In the Catholic Church, the Mass, no matter the language, is our form of worship, but the texts we use are there to help us worship the one true God in our own language and to express the true Continued on back page

IN SUMMARY

The new Revised Roman Missal will come into full use on Nov 27, the First Sunday of Advent.

This is the form of the Mass which Catholics in Singapore will need to be familiar with, and which young people and children will begin to learn and use.

The new texts express and preserve the sanctity and sacredness of the Mass.

The Mass will remain fundamentally the same except for some changes, such as to the parts prayed by the people and priest.

The new “Order of Mass” will be used starting this September.

The Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission has been tasked to implement the new Roman Missal.

WORLD ‘We can’t break seal of confession’ Irish priests reject govt plan on child-abuse reporting Page 16

ANALYSIS Trends facing S’pore’s Catholic community A sociologist analyses census reports Pages 20-21

FAITH ALIVE! Magnetism of World Youth Day

What brings young people to this celebration?

Page 22

2 HOME

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

‘US award is an DIĂ€UPDWLRQ DQG EOHVVLQJ¡ %ULGJHW 7DQ VKDUHV KHU WKRXJKWV DIWHU UHFHLYLQJ KHU DQWL KXPDQ WUDIĂ€FNLQJ DZDUG LQ :DVKLQJWRQ

By Darren Boon Receiving the US State DepartPHQWÂśV DQWL KXPDQ WUDIÂżFNLQJ award was a surprise and a humbling experience for Ms Bridget Tan. “To me it’s God blessing,â€? she said. “It’s a feeling that after all WKHVH \HDUV ÂŤ WKHUHÂśV DIÂżUPDWLRQ from God, that I have done His will.â€?

Ms Tan, founder and chairman of the NGO, Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics (HOME), is one of the most wellNQRZQ DFWLYLVWV IRU PLJUDQW ZRUNers’ rights in Singapore today.

On June 27, she received the 2011 Hero Acting to End ModernDay Slavery Award from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington.

6SHDNLQJ WR &DWKROLF1HZV DIter returning home, Ms Tan, 62, said she accepts the award on behalf of those who are in the “same service for the cause of justice [and] human dignity� and also for the people she has served.

Ms Tan, a Catholic, founded HOME in 2004 after leaving the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ACMI), which she was instrumental in setting up.

HOME believes in the basic KXPDQ ULJKWV WR GLJQLW\ RI ZRUN SHUVRQ DQG OLIH DQG ³VHHNV WR XShold the human dignity for all peoples wherever they come from�, says its website. So far HOME has provided assistance, such as VKHOWHU WR PLJUDQW ZRUNHUV DQG YLFWLPV RI KXPDQ WUDI¿FNLQJ ,Q WKH FRXUVH RI KHU ZRUN 0V 7DQ KDV HQFRXQWHUHG ZRUNHUV ZKR have been abused, suffer from GHEW ERQGDJH KDG WKHLU ZRUN

‘

The Church must not be afraid to say something that might be unpopular, but right and just.

’

– Ms Bridget Tan (seen holding her award) on why Church leaders should speak out on a weekly rest day for domestic workers

contracts changed unfavourably upon arrival, were being forcibly repatriated, and women who were sexually exploited. Sometimes she has even put herself in harm’s ZD\ LQ ¿JKWLQJ IRU WKHLU ULJKWV Although Ms Tan says she sees KHU ZRUN DV *RGœV ZRUN QHYHUtheless, given a choice, she would QRW KDYH HPEDUNHG RQ WKLV FRXUVH

as it had been “hard� for her.

However, if one believes in what is right, and when God calls one to action, one will just act, says Ms Tan. God will give one the strength and help to overcome challenges, she added. “If you accept it as the will of God, everything is possible beFDXVH *RG PDNHV LW SRVVLEOH ´ VKH

said, adding that she surrenders KHU ³GLI¿FXOWLHV WR *RG´ DQG ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR GR KHU ZRUN DV ORQJ DV

Straits Times report on Ms Tan receiving her award from Mrs Hillary Clinton.

God gives her the ability to do so. )RU 0V 7DQ KHU ZRUN VWHPV from her belief in practising what Scripture teaches. Quoting from the prophet Micah, Ms Tan said God desires us to “act justly, to ORYH PHUF\ DQG WR ZDON KXPEO\ with God�.

Justice can be lived out in one’s relationship with others regardless of the person’s status. One should bring compassion to others and understand the need to “do unto others what you want others to do unto you�, she stressed.

Thus Christians should lead by example in giving their domestic ZRUNHUV D GD\ RII HDFK ZHHN VKH said.

7KH %LEOH VD\V WR NHHS WKH Sabbath holy, and if one wants to do so and enjoy rest on that day, VR GRHV WKH GRPHVWLF ZRUNHU VDLG Ms Tan. Yet some Catholics are unable to recognise this and do QRW JLYH WKHLU GRPHVWLF ZRUNHUV their Sabbath rest. “We are schooled in catechism. We go to church. We listen to the words of the bible. The Beatitudes should be the principle of life,� she said. Migrant and QRQ PLJUDQW ZRUNHUV VKRXOG DOO be treated the same, “no double standards�, she stressed.

The question then, is of one’s conviction of putting Christian values into practice, she said.

Ms Tan also urged Church OHDGHUV WR VSHDN FRXUDJHRXVO\ from the pulpit on the issue of JLYLQJ GRPHVWLF ZRUNHUV D ZHHNO\ rest day. “The Church should be the SURSKHW WR VSHDN RXW ÂŤ 7KH Church must not be afraid to say something that might be unpopular, but right and just,â€? Ms Tan said.

6KH DGGHG WKDW VKH DOVR ÂżQGV comfort, encouragement and a role model in Mother Mary whom she has a special devotion to.

Mary vocation’s was that of the handmaid of the Lord, faithful to God from the beginning to the end no matter what, said Ms Tan. She said she prays that Our Lady will save the world from the FULPH RI KXPDQ WUDI¿FNLQJ „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY Jul 24 Jul 30 -XO Aug 05

11.00am Church of St Anne: Mass – Feastday 6.00pm SMU: Mass – 10th Anniversary of SMU FIDES DP &KXUFK RI 6W 6WHSKHQ 0DVV ¹ &RQ¿UPDWLRQ 6.00pm Church of St Bernadette: Mass – 50th Sacredotal Anniversary of Fr Paul Staes CICM

Sunday July 31, 2011 CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

3

4 HOME

Sunday July 31, 2011 CatholicNews

ME helps cancer patient renew vows

By Darren Boon Marriage Encounter (ME) presenter Evelyn Yong, who is suffering from fourth-stage cancer, had wanted to renew her marriage vows in church.

When she got married to her husband, Alan, 12 years ago, she was not yet a Catholic. Alan, in his own words, also described himself as a “lukewarm” Catholic then.

The couple said their wedding “was just going through the PRWLRQV´ WR IXO¿O $ODQ¶V SDUHQWV¶ wishes of having a church wedding.

On June 26, Evelyn, 38, got her wish to have a church “wedding” – thanks to help from her ME “love circle” community.

She and Alan renewed their vows at the SJI International chapel in the presence of family members and friends. A rock band added to the celebratory mood.

Evelyn said that for the past few years, she had thought “it would be nice to have gotten married in church as a Catholic with Alan”.

The idea arose after taking part in an ME weekend in 2008 and after having presented three weekends, which helped her “to EHWWHU XQGHUVWDQG WKH VLJQL¿FDQFH

Alan and Evelyn Yong renewed their marriage vows at SJI International chapel. Evelyn is suffering from fourthstage cancer.

of the Sacrament of Marriage”.

Evelyn added that her battle with cancer was a journey of faith, which had made her “want to experience that oneness with Alan in *RG¶V SUHVHQFH´ In an email to one of the couples, Jerome and Roseline Chang, from her ME love circle, Evelyn had expressed her wish to renew her marriage vows in church. This sparked a covert operation within

WKH JURXS WR IXO¿O (YHO\Q¶V GUHDP The plan also took on greater XUJHQF\ DIWHU (YHO\Q¶V KHDOWK started deteriorating in May. Each love circle member was put in charge of a task. Through their network of friends and contacts, they managed to organise the ceremony within a month, complete with a rock band.

The plan involved only Alan at ¿UVW (YHO\Q FDPH WR NQRZ DERXW

it when Alan “proposed” to her again towards the end of an ME weekend in early June, in which they were both presenters.

However, the renewal of vows ceremony was nearly called off ZKHQ (YHO\Q¶V KHDOWK WRRN D WXUQ for the worse. But she recovered and the event went ahead as planned.

Evelyn said she saw the celebration as a miracle, and added that

In an email to a couple in her ME ‘love circle’, Evelyn had expressed her wish to renew her marriage vows in church.

This sparked a covert operation WR IXO¿O KHU GUHDP she was humbled and touched by the love of her friends. She said she was also happy to see her parents, who are not Catholics, see their daughter celebrate life and love.

“God has been part of the family, giving His special blessing on this day,” said Alan, 40.

The couple have three daughters. darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Sunday July 31, 2011 CatholicNews

ADVERTISEMENT

5

6 HOME

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

OLPS celebrates 50 years

By Stacey Rodrigues It has been 50 years since the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS) threw open its doors at Siglap Hill to welcome SDULVKLRQHUV IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH To commemorate this milestone, OLPS kicked off its yearlong Golden Jubilee celebrations, themed One Church, One Family, with a triduum, a feast day Eucharistic celebration and a soldout gala dinner – attended by a ZKRSSLQJ SHRSOH Archbishop Nicholas Chia was the main celebrant at the July 0DVV There was a haze of nostalgia as the Mass was concelebrated not only by the current priests of the parish, but also familiar faces who used to call Siglap Hill home, such as Fr Michael Arro, Fr Paul Goh and Msgr Francis /DX The celebration began with the choir leading the congregation in singing Come Celebrate with the Lord, composed specially for WKH RFFDVLRQ A candlelit procession was held around the church compound, led by parish priest Fr Gregoire Van Giang, while paULVKLRQHUV SUD\HG WKH URVDU\ 7KH celebration came to an end when Archbishop Chia crowned the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual 6XFFRXU While Apostolic Nuncio to Singapore, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, was not present for this Mass, he celebrated Mass the following day and presented the apostolic blessing from Pope

Closewise from above: Apostolic nuncio Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli presents the pope’s apostolic blessing to parish priest Fr Gregoire Van Giang.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia taking part in the candelit procession on July 2.

Some 2,000 people at the gala dinner on July 3.

Benedict XVI to all priests and SDULVKLRQHUV RI 2/36 The celebrations were not all VREULHW\ DQG TXLHW UHÀHFWLRQ KRZHYHU 7KH ZHOO DWWHQGHG JDOD GLQner at the Singapore Expo on July 3 was anything but serious, as guests – including Bishop Dominic Su of Sibu, Malaysia – were treated to a night of entertainment with dance performances, live music led by prominent musicians and parishioners Wayne Sandz and John Molina, and the ribtickling antics of comedian Alfred *HRUJH This was just the beginning of a series of events and activities which will go on till June 2012, including the Day of Dedication

on Oct 7 (the actual date when the church was blessed and consecrated) and the Parish Renewal Experience happening in the midGOH RI The year of celebrations comes to a close with a special Kampong 'LQQHU LQ -XQH “The parish chose the theme One Church, One Family to remind us that the church is made up of its people and not just the infrastructure,� says Mr Matthias Toh, honorary secretary of the OLPS Parish Pastoral Council ([FR “Organised by all segments of the church’s community, the wide range of activities will cater WR \RXQJVWHUV DGXOWV DQG VHQLRUV

We hope that our parishioners will get to know one another better, be energised spiritually and develop a strong community spirit to serve one another in Christ’s ORYH ´

Built in 1961, OLPS was to accommodate the growing number of Catholic worshippers living in the Katong and then-rural 6LJODS DUHDV The community has since JURZQ WUHPHQGRXVO\ $IWHU DGGing a three-and-a-half storey annex building to the original structure and renovating the church to increase its seating capacity to 1,600, a time capsule was installed at the foyer of the annex building, which houses memoraELOLD IURP WKH FKXUFK It will be opened in 2061 when 2/36 FHOHEUDWHV LWV FHQWHQDU\ +HUHœV WR DQRWKHU \HDUV „

HOME 7

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

French priest getting used to S’pore’s pace of life

By Darren Boon Certain religious observances in Singapore as well as the frenetic pace of life here are things French priest Fr Emmanuel Danjoux is still getting used to.

One ritual the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP) priest found himself performing since coming here four months ago was the blessing of parishioners’ homes and cars.

This practice is now uncommon in France, he said.

Fr Emmanuel, 41, assistant priest at Church of the Christ the King, also noted that life in southeastern France, where he comes from, is more relaxed and people tend to take things easy.

One way for him to unwind here, he shared, is to take part in RXWGRRU DFWLYLWLHV DV KH ¿QGV ³QDture inspiring�.

Fr Emmanuel said he likes sporting activities such as swimming and cycling (see other story) and has even participated in caving trips. Sometimes he would WDNH D QRYHO ZKLFK KH ÂżQGV KHOSful in preparing homilies. “I think it’s important to have timeâ€? for yourself, he said. “If \RX UHDOO\ ZDQW WLPH WR UHĂ€HFW RQ WKH :RUG RI *RG WR UHĂ€HFW RQ -H-

Fr Emmanuel Danjoux: still not used to durian and chilli.

sus, or life as a priest, you need to make time.�

Fr Emmanuel says one challenge he faces here is mastering English. He had previously studied English in school and had two months of intensive lessons in Scotland. He had also spent six months in a parish in the US. “I guess ‌ after a few months or one year or two years, I hope , ZRXOG EH PRUH Ă€XHQW ´ KH VDLG Fr Emmanuel added that he enjoys his weekly meetings with fellow French MEP priests here.

+H VDLG KH ÂżQGV WKHLU VKDULQJ EHQHÂżFLDO DQG WKDW WKH PHHWLQJV JLYH him the opportunity to speak his native language.

Nevertheless, he said he has no problems adapting to Singapore and its culture although he is not used to “durian and chilliâ€?. )U (PPDQXHO VDLG KH ÂżQGV the Church here “dynamic and enthusiasticâ€?. Admitting that he tends to be shy and reserved, he VDLG KH ÂżQGV LW D QLFH VXUSULVH WKDW parishioners are willing to come forward to speak with priests and to share their lives.

The support of the priests in the parish, Frs Peter Koh and Kenny Tan, has also helped him settle down in his new posting.

Some of the ministries Fr Emmanuel oversees in the parish are the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Legion of Mary, various prayer groups and youth groups.

On July 2, he took part in an overnight cycling trip with parishioners.

He said he feels a sense of freedom when on a bike, which is why he would rather cycle to visit parishioners than drive a car. It is also simpler, he added. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Fr Emmanuel (second from left) with participants of the Church of Christ the King cycling trip.

Cycling with parishioners Twelve Church of Christ the King parishioners took part in an overnight cycling activity with Fr Emmanuel Danjoux on July 2.

Most participants were aged between 18 and 30, with one cyclist in her 50s.

It was organised for the youths of the parish to strengthen their bonds with Fr Emmanuel, their new spiritual director.

The cyclists started their journey from the church and headed towards Seletar and Jalan Kayu before turning to Punggol, SengNDQJ DQG +RXJDQJ DQG ÂżQLVKLQJ back in the church. “Fr Emanuel was very enthusiastic about the activity as he loves the outdoors,â€? said Sean Chew, 19, from the Maranatha Prayer Ministry which organised the event.

“And throughout the ride, he was always looking out for the rest of us and supported us with words of encouragement. His involvement in this ... allowed us to know [him] on a more personal level, not only as our spiritual director but as a friend as well.�

7KLV ZDV DOVR WKH ÂżUVW WLPH that Joel Er, 20 went cycling with a priest. During the event, he got to know more about Fr Emmanuel who shared his experience and life with the group, said Er. The activity also allowed Er to get to know some of the other parishioners better. He described Fr Emmanuel as “receptive to ideasâ€?.

For Fr Emmanuel, the activity allowed participants to “discover the importance of being united to do something� as one “cannot act in the Church alone�. „

8 HOME

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

SFX altar servers reach out to hospice patients

By Darren Boon Altar servers from the Church of St Francis Xavier spent time with cancer patients at Assisi Hospice recently.

The objective of the outreach was to expose the youths to service within the wider community and strengthen the bonds among them, said Mr Raphael Ng, 21, an altar server and coordinator for the programme.

The 90 altar servers divided WKHPVHOYHV LQWR ÂżYH JURXSV ZLWK each group spending a day at the hospice, located on Thomson Road, during the June holidays.

In the morning, the volunteers learnt about the hospice and the topic of death. They also learnt practical skills such as hygiene and infection control, the use of wheelchairs and how to interact with the patients.

The volunteers then spent time with the patients in the afternoon.

Those in lower secondary and primary school played games and served the day-patients with tea and snacks, with the older boys serving as guides. Some of the older boys also spent time with the inpatients.

Apart from the outreach, the altar servers had also sold tickets for the hospice’s Charity Fun Day, held on June 19, and made “gifts RI ORYH´ LQ WKH VKDSH RI Ă€RZHUV containing encouraging messages. These were presented to the patients.

The altar boys said the outreach was a memorable learning experience.

Geoffrey Tan, 16, said he could see God’s love at work in the patients through their optimism and their efforts to interact with the volunteers.

However, one of the challenges he faced was the language barrier as some patients could only converse in dialects or Malay.

Nevertheless, the boys overcame this by working in groups, with each person chipping in to

Above and below: Altar servers from the Church of St Francis Xavier spent time interacting with Assisi Hospice patients during the June school holidays.

interpret and translate whatever he could.

For one patient who was unable to speak, the volunteers used cards to communicate.

Andre Dumont, 12, said he realised that service to God extends beyond one’s service to the parish.

Small acts, such as spending time with the hospice patients could “make a difference�, and this was something that “even primary school kids� could do, he said.

He added that he hopes for another similar outreach as helping others makes him “feel happy inside�.

The other volunteers also said that they would like to return to Assisi Hospice as volunteers.

Mr Shawn Wong, 21, another outreach coordinator, told CatholicNews that one altar server even signed up to be a volunteer at the hospice.

Assisi Hospice staff also gave positive feedback on the volunteers. They said the boys were enthusiastic and caring towards the patients, which more than made up for the language hurdles.

The older servers also acted as good role models for the younger boys.

Assisi Hospice, a Catholic charity, provides palliative care to adults and children with lifelimiting illnesses. „ darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

Although the group faced occasional language barriers with the patients, they overcame this by working in groups, with each person chipping in to interpret and translate whatever he could.

HOME 9

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Blessed Sacrament parishioners learn about NCC mission

By Ray Christian Parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Church deepened their understanding of the mission of Neighbourhood Christian Communities (NCC) during a recent retreat in Johor.

Vicar General Msgr Eugene Vaz led the July 1-3 retreat, which was spearheaded by Sr Geraldine Ee, FMDM. A record number of 107 participants took part in the programme held in the Majodi Retreat Centre.

Half of the participants were new to such a retreat and there was also a substantial number of younger ones who gave many new ideas.

The main theme for the programme was Growing in Discipleship.

Participants learnt that every Catholic living in their neighbourhood or zone is automatically a member of the NCC by the fact of their baptism.

Participants also studied the various aspects of the Church.

Priests’ appointments „ Fr James Yeo is on medical leave from Aug 30-Dec 31. „ Fr Francis Lee has been appointed parish priest of St Anne’s Church from Sept 1. „ Fr Joachim Chang has been appointed parish priest of Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace from Sept 1. „ Fr Christopher Lee will be on a sabbatical course in New South Wales, Australia, from Sept 5-Dec 4. „ Redemptorist Fr Paul Pang from Novena Church has left Singapore to join the Redemptorist Formation Team in Lipa, Manila, the Philippines. „ We also continue to pray for the health of Fr William Lim and Fr Joseph Tan. „

Above: More than 100 people took part in the July 1-3 retreat on Neighbourhood Christian Communities. Below: Small-group discussion.

They learnt that the Church is a “participatory Church�, in which Catholics are called to reach out to their neighbours and be aware of their needs; as well as a “collaborative Church�, which includes the involvement of priests, Religious and members of NCC zones and ministries.

Participants also learnt that the Church is a “co-responsible Church� with regard to commitment; and a “prophetic Church� which helps the poor, shares the faith and celebrates together in fellowship.

Retreatants also broke up into small groups to discuss issues on discipleship, such as what is God’s mission for the NCC, and how can NCC groups help to build the parish.

7KH\ ORRNHG DW ÂżYH DUHDV These were: Putting Jesus ÂżUVW LQ DOO WKLQJV IROORZLQJ -HVXVÂś teaching, love for others, evangelisation and fruitfulness.

The retreat also included fun recreational activities such as songs and dance and a barbeque. „

10 ASIA

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Indian bishops call for unity NEW DELHI – People from various religions attended a prayer service in Delhi archdiocese organised for the victims of the July 13 Mumbai bomb blasts. “We include in our prayers those misguided elements who indulge in terror activities,� Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi told those who attended the July 16 service in front of Sacred Heart Cathedral. “It is a very sad and unfortunate incident where innocent people have lost their lives,� he added.

Three near-simultaneous blasts on July 13 claimed 21 lives and wounded many people in Mumbai, India’s commercial capital. The blasts exploded at places SDFNHG ZLWK RI¿FH ZRUNHUV DQG commuters.

Archdiocesan spokesman Fr Dominic Emmanuel, who organised the programme, said people should not only condemn such attacks but also pray for terrorists so that they change their minds and work for peace and reconciliation.

The day after the blasts, Indian bishops called for unity in the FRXQWU\ÂśV ÂżJKW DJDLQVW WHUURULVP “We believe this is a moment in which the entire nation needs to be united in order to face terrorism with the greatest resolve.

United in the spirit of brotherhood, we will be able to overcome the powers that are trying to destabilise our country,� said the

‘

Mumbai, unfortunately, has once again become a victim of senseless violence carried out by elements that are terribly misguided: this must be battled in every way.

’

– Statement from the Indian bishops’ conference

Mr Mahant Mandal displays a photo of his brother Kishan, who was among those killed when three bombs exploded in central Mumbai on July 13. CNS photo

statement from the Indian bishops’ conference.

The statement, published by the Vatican missionary news agency Fides, condemned the bomb attacks as “shameful acts�.

The bishops offered condolences to the families of the dead and expressed hope for a speedy recovery of the injured, many of

whom were rushed to the city’s hospitals. “Violence is never an enduring solution to any social problem, and to indulge in violence only brings misery to other human beings. Mumbai, unfortunately, has once again become a victim of senseless violence carried out by elements that are terribly misguided: this must be battled in every way,� the statement said.

The bishops appealed to the Indian government to do everything possible to stop the terrorists. The entire Indian society, they said, should work together to oppose the “nefarious designs of criminal groups� in the country.

In 2008, Mumbai was struck by a series of bombing and shooting attacks by terrorists that left 166 people dead.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of

Mumbai told Vatican Radio that people in the city had responded to the latest attacks with a spirit of cooperation. “People come out to help regardless of religion, caste, community, race. Everybody comes together to help those who DUH LQ GLIÂżFXOW\ ´ KH VDLG Members of other Christian organisations also made their views heard. “These explosions are the handiwork of terrorists. With its volatile neighbourhood, India has been a repeated target of terrorist activity,â€? said Mr John Dayal, secretary general of the All India Christian Council.

Mr Samuel Jaikumar of the National Council of Churches in India expressed concern over security arrangements in the country. “There is a serious lapse in the security system in the country.

Our intelligence has to be better,� he said. „ UCANEWS.COM, CNS

ASIA 11

Sunday July 31, 2011 CatholicNews

Papal envoy meets with region’s bishops, Religious representatives

By Vincent D’Silva JOHOR BAHRU – The new papal envoy, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, has commended the region’s bishops for their efforts in promoting evangelisation and interreligious dialogue.

6SHDNLQJ IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH WR the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei on July 4, he said: “Your evangelical zeal is ... manifested by WKH HYLGHQW HIIRUWV LQ WKH ¿HOGV RI ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, particularly in the dialogue with Islam.”

“You have also played a very important role in encouraging processes of mutual understanding and reconciliation,” he added.

The archbishop, who is apostolic nuncio to Singapore, and apostolic delegate to Malaysia and Brunei, was speaking at Majodi &HQWUH RQ WKH ¿UVW GD\ RI WKH ELVKops’ July 4-8 plenary meeting.

He told the bishops he had personally witnessed the evangelical spirit of the Church in the region, which is expressed in many ways.

In fact, he said, the Holy See and the whole Church are grateful for the work of evangelisation in Southeast Asia.

“The increasing number of baptisms is a sign of tireless efforts to instruct the people of God in the Word of God and in the life based on the sacraments.”

Archbishop Girelli, 58, also conveyed the Holy See’s gratitude for the services the Church in the region provides, such as in education, medical care and social work, as well as works of charity.

He also pointed out that one of the key elements for the vitality of the Church in Asia is unity: unity among bishops; unity of pastoral workers – priests, Religious and laity; unity and collaboration between individual dioceses and the bishops’ conference; and between the Church in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and the Holy See. He emphasised that the relationship between local dioceses and the bishops’ conference was vital. According to the tradition of the Church emphasised by the Second Vatican Council and the Code of Canon Law, he said, the bishop is the person responsible for his diocese.

The bishop is the head of the community of God and therefore the basis of unity in the diocese, he said, adding that “the bishop cannot act in isolation”.

“The existence of the Episcopal Conferences as a sign of unity among bishops in the same nation or region has proved to be of great importance in the pastoral activities of individual bishops,” he asserted.

According to Archbishop

Girelli, a bishops’ conference cannot curb the power and responsibility of the bishop. That is why, he said, such a conference does not assume the governance of a diocese as a substitute for the bishop.

He stressed that the conference is there to assure continuity, and serves as a forum in which the bishops can discuss and formulate common policies on issues that have implications wider than WKRVH FRQFHUQLQJ D VSHFL¿F GLRcese.

Touching on unity in the Church, Archbishop Girelli said the Church demands that there be collaboration between bishops and the Holy See. He said he was happy to note that the Church in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei has manifested its bond with the Apostolic See in many ways.

Archbishop Girelli said a key element for the Asian Church’s vitality is unity – among bishops, between dioceses and the bishops’ conference; and between the Church here and the Holy See. Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Archbishop John Ha of Kuching, said one highlight of the gathering was discussion on the new English translation of the Roman Missal.

Archbishop Ha, the conference’s vice president, said the bishops had earlier decided to adopt the version approved for use in Great Britain.

He added that this version will RI¿FLDOO\ EH LQ XVH IURP WKH ¿UVW Sunday of Advent this year. But prior to that, he said, there will be an “acclimatisation” to this version for the faithful in the region from September onwards. This will include catechesis and a trial run.

The bishops also discussed matters relating to sex education in schools, the vocation situation in the region, interfaith issues, and campus and youth ministry, according to Archbishop Ha. On July 5, Archbishop Girelli addressed the annual meeting of the Conference of Religious Major Superiors of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CRMS), which

Papal envoy Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli (front row, centre) poses for a photo with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Archbishop Girelli with members of the Conference of Religious Major Superiors of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei.

met from July 4-6, also at Majodi Centre.

He urged them to awaken in the hearts of the young, through self-giving love, the desire to respond to God’s call to priestly ministry and Religious life.

The papal representative urged the Religious major superiors that “profound care be taken to ensure an appropriate spiritual, human, psychological, mental, academic formation of our future Religious men and women”, adding that this will help avoid the sad, scandalous incidents that have rocked the Church elsewhere in the world.

He also praised the Religious for their unity with ecclesiastical authority. “Unity is vital among

priests, Religious and laity as well as unity and collaboration between all dioceses and the Episcopal Conference in the region,” he said.

The CRMS also met up with the bishops’ conference.

According to CRMS president, Gabrielite Br Dominic Yeo

Koh, the meeting was fruitful and enlightening.

“At this joint meeting of the bishops’ and CRMS, mutual concerns were aired and discussed at length for possible and amicable solutions and understanding of each other’s pastoral roles in the Church,” he said.

12 ASIA

Sunday July 31, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CHURCH IN CHINA

Another illicitly ordained Chinese bishop is excommunicated 8&$1(:6 &20 ÂżOH SKRWR

VATICAN CITY – 7KH 9DWLFDQ VD\V

a Chinese bishop ordained illeJLWLPDWHO\ LQ PLG -XO\ KDV EHHQ DXWRPDWLFDOO\ H[FRPPXQLFDWHG and lacks the authority to govern his diocese. $W WKH VDPH WLPH WKH 9DWLFDQ praised bishops loyal to Rome ZKR UHVLVWHG SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ WKH ordination ceremony before being forced by authorities to do so. “The Holy Father, having learned of these events, once again deplores the manner in ZKLFK WKH &KXUFK LQ &KLQD LV EHing treated and hopes that the preVHQW GLIÂżFXOWLHV FDQ EH RYHUFRPH DV VRRQ DV SRVVLEOH ´ VDLG D -XO\ 9DWLFDQ VWDWHPHQW 7KH 9DWLFDQ ZDV UHDFWLQJ WR WKH RUGLQDWLRQ RI )U -RVHSK +XDQJ %LQJ]KDQJ RQ -XO\ DW 6W -RVHSKÂśV &DWKHGUDO LQ 6KDQWRX LQ VRXWKHUQ &KLQDÂśV *XDQJGRQJ province. %LVKRS -RKDQ )DQJ ;LQJ\DR of Linyin, president of the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic 3DWULRWLF $VVRFLDWLRQ ZDV UHSRUWHGO\ WKH PDLQ FHOHEUDQW +H ZDV RQH RI HLJKW 9DWLFDQ DSSURYHG bishops at the ordination. ,W ZDV WKH VHFRQG RUGLQDWLRQ RI D &KLQHVH ELVKRS ZLWKRXW SDSDO PDQGDWH ZLWKLQ D PRQWK 2Q -XQH )U 3DXO /HL 6KL\LQ

Fr Joseph Huang Bingzhang was ordained bishop illicitly on July 14.

ZDV RUGDLQHG %LVKRS RI /HVKDQ LQ the presence of about 1,000 guests DQG JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFLDOV DW 2XU Lady of the Rosary Church in Emeishan.

7KH 9DWLFDQ KDV H[SUHVVHG deepening concern and emphaVLVHG WKDW ZLOOLQJ SDUWLFLSDQWV LQ such ordinations face severe penDOWLHV XQGHU &KXUFK ODZ LQFOXGLQJ DXWRPDWLF H[FRPPXQLFDWLRQ IRU the ordained bishop and the consecrating bishops. ,Q WKH ODWHVW FDVH WKH 9DWLcan said, Fr Huang “had been informed some time ago that he

could not be approved by the Holy See as an episcopal candidate, inasmuch as the Diocese of Shantou already has a legitimate bishop�.

7KH 9DWLFDQ VWDWHPHQW VDLG RIÂżFLDOV LQ 5RPH KDG OHDUQHG WKDW VRPH &KLQHVH ELVKRSV ZKHQ FRQWDFWHG E\ FLYLO DXWKRULWLHV ZHUH XQZLOOLQJ WR SDUWLFLSDWH LQ WKH RUdination and had offered “various forms of resistanceâ€? before being obliged to take part. “With regard to this resistance, it should be noted that it is meritoULRXV EHIRUH *RG DQG FDOOV IRU DSSUHFLDWLRQ RQ WKH SDUW RI WKH ZKROH &KXUFK (TXDO DSSUHFLDWLRQ LV DOVR due to those priests, consecrated persons and members of the faithIXO ZKR KDYH GHIHQGHG WKHLU SDVtors, accompanying them by their SUD\HUV DW WKLV GLIÂżFXOW WLPH DQG sharing in their deep suffering,â€?

WKH 9DWLFDQ VDLG 7KH $VLDQ &KXUFK QHZV DJHQF\ 8&$ 1HZV UHSRUWHG WKDW VRPH ELVKRSV ZHUH DFFRPSDQLHG WR WKH RUGLQDWLRQ E\ JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżcials.

Church sources said many of WKH GLRFHVDQ SULHVWV ZHQW LQWR KLGing days before the ordination, but WKDW VRPH ZHUH IRXQG E\ JRYHUQPHQW RI¿FLDOV DQG PDGH WR DWWHQG the ceremony. „ CNS

Blog for China’s Catholics launched

By John Thavis VATICAN CITY – Sometimes the

need for delicacy in handling politically sensitive situations conÀLFWV ZLWK WKH QHHG RI WKH IDLWKIXO to have clear guidance.

7KLV ZDV VHHQ LQ D -XO\ 9DWLcan statement that left some room for interpretation, particularly regarding the status of the Chinese ELVKRSV ZKR DFWHG DV FR FRQVHcrators at the ordination of Fr Paul /HL 6KL\LQ RQ -XQH LQ /HVKDQ 7KH 9DWLFDQÂśV RIÂżFLDO VWDWHPHQW VDLG KH ZDV RUGDLQHG LOOHgitimately, “has no authority to govern the diocesan Catholic communityâ€?, and he incurred sanctions “through violation of the QRUP RI FDQRQ RI WKH &RGH RI &DQRQ /DZ´ 7KH IDLWKIXO LQ &KLQD ZHUH OHIW ZLWK TXHVWLRQV RQ ZKDW WKH VDQFWLRQV ZHUH 7KHVH ZHUH DQVZHUHG LQ D TXHVWLRQ DQG DQVZHU UHVSRQVH SRVWHG RQ -XO\ LQ D QHZ EORJ Being Catholic in China (http:// catholicsinchina.blogspot.com/).

The blog is operated by the Fides QHZV DJHQF\ RI WKH 9DWLFDQÂśV

Fides, the news agency of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, created the blog site. &16 SKRWR

Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

7KH ¿UVW TXHVWLRQ ZDV LI KH ZDV H[FRPPXQLFDWHG ³<HV ´ ZDV the response.

The blog also said the consecrating bishops are presumed to EH H[FRPPXQLFDWHG XQWLO VXFK time that they can prove to the 9DWLFDQ WKDW WKH\ ZHUH DFWLQJ XQder duress.

7KH GD\ DIWHU LW ZDV ODXQFKHG Fides published a story saying the EORJ ZRXOG EH ÂłD PHDQV RI LQIRUmation and training for Chinese &DWKROLFV´ DW D WLPH WKDW ÂłUHTXLUHV a careful reading of the situationâ&#x20AC;?, DQG LW KRSHG WKH EORJ ZRXOG SURPRWH XQLW\ ZLWKLQ WKH &KLQHVH &DWKROLF FRPPXQLW\ DQG EHWZHHQ Chinese Catholics and the universal Church. Â&#x201E; CNS

ASIA 13

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Needed: Tough laws on child sex abuse GOA, INDIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman has urged the government to enact legislation targeting the increasing sexual exploitation of children in the Indian state.

The prelate said a crackdown RQ 7KDLODQGÂśV Ă&#x20AC;RXULVKLQJ FKLOG sex trade has driven those who WUDIÂżFN LQ FKLOGUHQ WR ORRN IRU QHZ locations in Asia.

India, which has the largest number of sexually abused children in the world, should guard against the â&#x20AC;&#x153;onslaught of childsex tourismâ&#x20AC;? the archbishop said at a recent seminar titled Protecting Children in Tourism: Role of the Goa Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Act 2003.

The number of child prostitutes in the country could be as high as 1.5 million, Archbishop Ferrao said, adding that revisions of the Goa Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Act were needed to combat new threats.

A seminar in India has stressed the need to protect children against sex tourism.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The need of the hour is to press on for a legislation that will forcefully declare zero-tolerance for child sexual abuse, particularly for tourism-related crimes against children in India.â&#x20AC;?

He further stressed the need to create conditions that would prevent children from becoming involved in the sex industry.

Mr D C Sahoo, secretary of tourism, said his department would install billboards and hoardings in various parts of Goa stating the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to protecting children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Licences would be granted or renewed to tourism establishments on condition that they agree to abide by the Goa Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Act and other laws,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The seminar also addressed the need for victimsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; assistance units, in addition to a witness protection programme.

Delegates at the seminar also highlighted the need for effective district inspection teams to monitor childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes and a timebound settlement of legal cases in the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s court.

The seminar also sought the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adoption of a childfriendly tourism code that would be binding and carry severe consequences for violators. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;sia, Holy See to set up full diplomatic ties CNS photo

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Malaysia has be-

came the 179th state, out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, to establish full diplomatic ties with the Holy See. After a July 18 meeting between Pope Benedict XVI and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, the Vatican and Malaysia reached an agreement to establish GLSORPDWLF UHODWLRQV IRU WKH ÂżUVW time.

The agreement appeared to signal an effort by the Malaysian government to improve ties with the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christian minority, which in recent years has warned of Islamisation in the Southeast Asian nation.

The meeting between Mr Najib and the pope took place at the papal residence outside of Rome and lasted for about 20 minutes. The prime minister later met separately with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and other top Vatican GLSORPDWLF RIÂżFLDOV A Vatican statement announcing the agreement to establish diplomatic relations noted the â&#x20AC;&#x153;cordialâ&#x20AC;? tone of the talks and the â&#x20AC;&#x153;positive developments in bilateral relationsâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, the political and social situation in the world and on the Asian continent was reviewed, with particular reference to the importance of intercultural and interreligious dialogue for the promotion of peace, justice and greater understanding between peoples,â&#x20AC;? the Vatican statement said.

Observers have hailed this PRYH DV D VLJQLÂżFDQW FRQWULEXWLRQ to fostering good relations between Christians and Muslims not only in the Asian state but also on the global stage.

About 60 percent of the 28 million people in Malaysia are Muslims. About 9.1 percent are Christians including more than 900,000 Catholics.

In 2010, tensions increased between the Muslim and Christian populations which saw extremLVWV ÂżUHERPELQJ DQG YDQGDOLVLQJ churches.

In his meeting with Pope Benedict, Mr Najib recalled how he is a product of Catholic education, having studied at a De La Salle school, and the two leaders talked EULHĂ&#x20AC;\ DERXW WKH FRQWULEXWLRQ made by the Church to society through its role in education.

Mr Najib also recalled his September 2010 speech to the United Nations, where he called for a Global Movement of the Moderates, and emphasised the need to work for peace and avoid violence.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Mr Najib said Malaysia

Pope Benedict XVI receives a gift from Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prime Minister Najib Razak during their meeting at the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer residence.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I am very happy for this meeting and its outcome, and I hope it will bear abundant fruit.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur

Having an apostolic nuncio in Kuala Lumpur â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;could have many positive effects on the entire Christian community in Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fr Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Herald Catholic newspaper

had agreed to establish diplomatic relations because it was keen to share its experience and promote world peace and harmony with like-minded states such as the Vatican. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The world is at a crossroads.

The forces of irrationality and discord are threatening our longcherished and hard-gained stability and prosperity,â&#x20AC;? he said.

After their private conversation, he presented his wife, Datin

Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, and his multi-faith entourage to the pope. The group included Archbishop Murphy Pakiam of Kuala Lumpur, who was there as the Malaysian Church representative. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am very happy for this meeting and its outcome, and I hope it will bear abundant fruit,â&#x20AC;?

Archbishop Pakiam told Fides, the news agency of the Vaticanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

Having an apostolic nuncio in Kuala Lumpur â&#x20AC;&#x153; could have many positive effects on the Church and the entire Christian community in Malaysiaâ&#x20AC;?, said Jesuit Fr Lawrence Andrew, editor of the Herald Catholic newspaper in Malaysia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Communications between the government and the Church will improve. Furthermore, it is for us Christians an opportunity to visibly become a big â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;moral bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, that is to say a point of reference for morality, for the diffusion and protection of values, to ÂżJKW FRUUXSWLRQ DEXVH DQG RWKHU evil things that plague our national life,â&#x20AC;? he told Fides.

The pope and Mr Najib exchanged gifts after their meeting.

The Malaysian leader presented the pope with a large traditional framed songket embroidery, whereas the pope gave him a ceramic plaque with a view of St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square. Â&#x201E; VATICAN INSIDER, CNS, FIDES

14 ASIA

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

WYD bans for 4 Myanmar dioceses YANGON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Myanmar Catholic Church has slapped a ban on four dioceses from sending delegates to upcoming World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid after several youths sought political asylum at the last gathering in $XVWUDOLD LQ The decision to impose the ban was made by the bishops, said Fr Gerald Pho Khwa, youth director of the National Catholic Youth Commission.

Five young people from Hakha, Kalay, and Banmaw dioceses failed to return from Australia, while another from Myitkyina diocese initially claimed asylum but later changed his mind and returned to Myanmar, according to Church sources.

This year, the bishops and youth directors in each diocese are being asked to guarantee that their youth delegates do not abscond at the Aug 12-16 Madrid celebrations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope those delegates affected can understand our decision.â&#x20AC;?

But the reputation of the Church and our young people are at stake, Fr Pho Khwa said.

The youth leaders who represent each diocese must be zealous, ready to work for the Church and strive for the development of the Church by putting their experiences at international events to good use, he added.

Mr Anthony Htoi San Aung, youth director of Myitkyina diocese, criticised the ban. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is very unfair. Church leaders should examine the probOHP DQG ÂżQG D EHWWHU VROXWLRQ UDWKer handing out punishments like this,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Brigit Su Thet Wai 23, secretary of Pathein dioceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youth commission, said the decision was regrettable yet understandable. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel very sorry these delegates wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the chance to go to Madrid. We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t guarantee that they wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do the same as the ones who went to Australia.â&#x20AC;? Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Indonesian diocese gives masks to volcano evacuees JAKARTA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Manado diocese, in

Indonesiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North Sulawesi, has distributed breathing masks to WKRXVDQGV RI SHRSOH Ă&#x20AC;HHLQJ WKHLU homes due to the eruption of Mount Lokon in Tomohon.

7KH P KLJK YROFDQR erupted on July 11. Bursts of thick gray-white volcanic mateULDO UHDFKHG DQ DOWLWXGH RI P $ERXW SHRSOH KDYH WDNHQ refuge in a Protestant-run senior high school in the area. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are helping the evacuees DQG GLVWULEXWLQJ PDVNV ´ said Fr Benny Salombre, who heads the dioceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commission for socio-economic development.

He said the area was still covered by the ash rain. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will

keep distributing masks as they are urgently needed,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The commission had worked out what else was urgent. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we are preparing to help the evacuees with tents, food and medicines,â&#x20AC;? he continued.

He called on all parishes and Catholic organisations in the diocese to also help the evacuees.

In helping the evacuees, the commission worked together with local seminarians and Catholic young people as well as Caritas Indonesia or Karina, and local government and military.

Fr Paulus Sigit Pramudji, FKDLUPDQ RI .DULQD FRQÂżUPHG WKH organisation had distributed aid to the evacuees through the diocese. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Korean actress to help combat teen suicide SEOUL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A popular young TV

actress has joined a Catholic campaign to prevent teenage suicides.

Gabriella Seo Hyun-jin, 26, agreed to become an â&#x20AC;&#x153;Angel for Pro-Lifeâ&#x20AC;? during a meeting with Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jinsuk of Seoul on July 11.

The Angels for Pro-Life teenage anti-suicide group, was recently established by the OneBody One-Spirit Movement (OBOS), the Seoul archdioceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s social arm, to combat an upsurge in teen suicides in the country.

Seo was also appointed as an OBOS ambassador and received a FHUWLÂżFDWH IURP WKH FDUGLQDO Cardinal Cheong said it is cruFLDO IRU SHRSOH WR JDLQ IXOÂżOPHQW in life, noting, however, that many think about taking their own lives

when they feel inadequate or suffer a sense of underachievement.

Seo said she would do her best WR SOD\ D VLJQLÂżFDQW UROH LQ \RXWK suicide prevention.

The actress, who made her ÂżUVW 79 DSSHDUDQFH LQ LV QR stranger to charity or social work.

She helped poor children in 0RQJROLD DQG &DPERGLD LQ by participating in an overseas volunteer programme run by the OBOS, according to Fr Joseph Kim Yong-tae, its general director.

South Korea has one of the highest overall suicide rates in the world, according to the national police agency. Government statistics indicated that the teenage suiFLGH UDWH LQ VWRRG DW SHU XS IURP SHU the previous year. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Church in Pakistan tries to promote peace amid violence LAHORE, PAKISTAN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Church

in Pakistan is sponsoring peace seminars and prayer vigils amid ongoing violence in the south.

2Q -XO\ LQ /DKRUH D JURXS which included several priests joined together to light candles in memory of those who were killed in recent violence in the area. The group also prayed and released pigeons.

The National Council for Interfaith Dialogue recently also organised a prayer service following ethnic violence in Karachi, in southern Sindh province, where hundreds of families have been evacuated.

A heavy contingent of security forces have now taken control of WKH DUHD EXW SHRSOH LQFOXGing one Christian, are said to have been killed in the violence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a mini-civil war. The situation is deteriorating and slipping out of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s control. A sense of fear and insecurity is prevailing among citizens who are compelled to stay indoors, and the business hub of the country presents a gloomy and deserted look,â&#x20AC;? said Fr Francis Nadeem, coordinator of the interfaith council.

The Christian Study Centre also organised a workshop, titled Peace and Composite Heritage, DW WKH &DULWDV 3DNLVWDQ RIÂżFH LQ Quetta. $ERXW SDUWLFLSDQWV IURP GLI-

Children in Pakistan at a candelight vigil. The Church here is concentrating on peace efforts. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

ferent religious backgrounds and tribal communities attended the workshop, which focused on engaging youths to promote peace in military-occupied regions that have faced exploitation for decades.

A recent NGO report titled Voice for Missing Baloch Persons has claimed that state agencies KDYH NLGQDSSHG PRUH WKDQ ORcal residents in Balochistan provLQFH VLQFH ZLWK PRUH WKDQ SHRSOH NLOOHG Caritas Pakistan Quetta (CPQ) says that nine Christians have been shot dead in the last decade.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We shall not stop our efforts for peace. Our hopes lie with youth who can help bridge the gap,â&#x20AC;? said Sheezan William, executive secretary of CPQ, told a seminar in June.

Others attending the seminar expressed fears over extrajudicial killings and the failure of authorities to maintain the peace. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our lives are at risk. Hotels do not allow the organising of programmes that criticise the government,â&#x20AC;? said the head of an NGO on condition of anonymity. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

Bangladesh Church groups work to curb premarital sex DHAKA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Church groups in Bang-

ladesh have stepped up efforts to curb underage and premarital sex in the capital, where adolescents and youths comprise a large percentage of the population.

Groups including the Salesian Sisters and Missionaries of Charity, along with Caritas, the social arm of the Catholic Church, have established awareness campaigns to address an issue they say has severe health, as well as moral, implications. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The adverse effects of Western culture, the availability of pornoJUDSKLF ÂżOPV DQG WKH DEXVLYH XVH RI mobile phones and the Internet are to be blamed for such moral degradation,â&#x20AC;? said Salesian Sr Zita Rema, D WULEDO *DUR &DWKROLF QXQ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Young people are exceeding the boundaries ... of love and eventually fall prey to various social problems,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Mr Edward Pallab Rozario, a Caritas HIV/AIDS project coordinator, highlighted the health risks

of indiscriminate sexual activity among young people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As far as I know, there are at OHDVW &KULVWLDQ $,'6 SDWLHQWV >LQ 'KDND@ DQG SHUFHQW RI them are young people. Most had no moral formation instructions and no idea about how they can become HIV-positive,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Church groups have pointed to a survey of sexual activity among adolescents and youths conducted by the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research-BanglaGHVK LQ DQG WR H[SODLQ the urgency of the issue and the need for greater education and intervention.

The survey found that among WKH \RXWKV EHWZHHQ WKH DJHV RI DQG LQWHUYLHZHG ZKR frequented hotels for the purpose RI VH[ DERXW SHUFHQW KDG WKHLU ÂżUVW VH[XDO H[SHULHQFH EHIRUH WKH DJH RI 1HDUO\ SHUFHQW RI \RXWKV interviewed reported that they had never used a condom, the report

stated, further noting that in most cases, sexual partners were either professional or casual sex workers.

Sr Rema said awareness campaigns focus on educating young people about the appropriate context for sexual experiences. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We organise seminars for youths in various Church areas and parishes.â&#x20AC;? Information includes â&#x20AC;&#x153;ways of talking, laughing, touching, and whether they can kiss or have physical relations with their partnerâ&#x20AC;?, she said.

Caritas also arranges presentations at schools and universities as well as counselling services for HIV/AIDS patients, Mr Rozario said.

An AIDS patient, who asked QRW WR EH LGHQWLÂżHG ZDUQHG \RXQJ people to think about the consequences of their actions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Today Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m an AIDS patient because of my indiscipline and immoral life. I urge young people like me to avoid such immoral actions,â&#x20AC;? he said. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

WORLD 15

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Belfast bishop urges Catholics, Protestants to show restraint BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The bishop of Belfast appealed

for Catholic and Protestant residents to prove to the world they can live together in peace after IUHVK VHFWDULDQ YLROHQFH Ă&#x20AC;DUHG during the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contentious Protestant marching season.

Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor appealed to both sides to show restraint and respect toZDUGV SROLFH DIWHU SROLFH RIÂżFers were injured on July 11. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I ask all who attend parades or protests in the days ahead to avoid provocation,â&#x20AC;? he said in a July 12 statement.

He urged local residents to ensure that â&#x20AC;&#x153;events are not manipuODWHG E\ GHVWUXFWLYH LQĂ&#x20AC;XHQFHV from outside the communities where parades take placeâ&#x20AC;?.

Police have expressed concern that fringe elements opposed to the 1998 Good Friday peace accord might be orchestrating communal strife.

On July 12, the traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;Orangemanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dayâ&#x20AC;?, Loyalist demonstrations commemorate the 1690 defeat of the Catholic King James II by the Protestant Prince :LOOLDP RI 2UDQJH WKDW GHÂżQLWLYHly installed Protestantism as the religion of the British monarchy.

Nationalists â&#x20AC;&#x201C; who want Northern Ireland to break from Great Britain and form a single united Ireland with the Irish Republic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; are angry at what they describe

1DWLRQDOLVW \RXWKV DQG SROLFH LQ ULRW JHDU FODVKLQJ LQ WKH $UGR\QH DUHD RI 1RUWK %HOIDVW CNS photo

as provocation and triumphalism from the Loyalist marchers.

Loyalist protesters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mainly Protestants who want Northern Ireland to remain part of Great Britain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; reacted angrily and rioted when police removed BritLVK DQG SDUDPLOLWDU\ Ă&#x20AC;DJV WKDW had been erected near a Catholic Church in Ballyclare on July 9.

6L[ SROLFH RIÂżFHUV ZHUH LQMXUHG after protesters drove a hijacked bus into a police vehicle.

The same weekend, a Catholic church in nearby Ballymena was damaged when paint was thrown at the exterior. From 1996-1998, the

church had been the scene of Loyalist protests during weekly Masses.

Bishop Treanor appealed for both communities to â&#x20AC;&#x153;prove to ourselves and the world that we can celebrate our diversity in a PDQQHU WKDW DIÂżUPV RXU FRPPRQ dignity and futureâ&#x20AC;?.

After several years of relative calm, parades have become increasingly controversial in recent years as Orangemen have sought to march their traditional routes while many Catholic residents have objected, insisting that the routes are no longer exclusively Protestant enclaves. Â&#x201E; CNS

Preparations on track with minor problems, say WYD organisers MADRID â&#x20AC;&#x201C; With less than a month to go before half a million young Catholics descend on Madrid, ÂłWKHUH DUH DQ LQÂżQLWH QXPEHU RI small problems to solveâ&#x20AC;?, said the executive director of World Youth Day 2011.

Mr Yago de la Cierva said on July 18 that he has â&#x20AC;&#x153;seven tons of rosaries I have to bail out of customsâ&#x20AC;?. The US-based Family Rosary Crusade had the rosaries made in Ecuador and sent to Madrid for distribution to participants at World Youth Day (WYD), Aug 16-21.

But, Mr de la Cierva said, it is D ELW GLIÂżFXOW WR FRQYLQFH FXVWRPV agents that seven tons of anything shipped internationally is meant as a gift and not a product to be sold and, therefore, taxed.

A produce company has promised to donate 11,000 kg of bananas, but if organisers accept the fruit, ÂłZH KDYH WR ÂżQG D ZD\ WR GLVSRVH of all those peelsâ&#x20AC;?, he told reporters at a news conference in Madrid.

With just a short time left to plan six days of activities for the more than 420,000 young people who already have registered for World Youth Day and for the 1.2 million people expected at the popeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mass on Aug 21, organisers estimate the event will cost more than US$70 million.

However, they said they expect to cover it all with registration fees and donations, especially of

supplies. The donated material includes the bananas and other food for participants, but also big-ticket LWHPV OLNH SULYDWH VHFXULW\ RIÂżFHUV and the materials and labour for the stages and altar platforms for papal events.

The Madrid headquarters is staffed with 250 people, â&#x20AC;&#x153;working 25 hours a dayâ&#x20AC;?, Mr de la Cierva said. About 200 of the staff members are volunteers from around the world. Many are housed, fed and transported by WYD, but none of them are paid. Âł$OO WKH SODQV KDYH EHHQ ÂżQDOised. The work is going forward.

We currently are reviewing what else needs to be done,â&#x20AC;? the executive director said.

One of those things, he said, is to accept more volunteers. The original plan was to have 23,000 helping from Aug 16-21, but now organisers are rallying 30,000 volunteers. Just the task of coordinating all those volunteers is a major undertaking, he said.

Mr David Martin Valles, vice director of Madridâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism proPRWLRQ RIÂżFH VDLG WKH GHPDQG IRU hotel rooms in the city this August is â&#x20AC;&#x153;150 percent higher than normal for Augustâ&#x20AC;?. In a city that has about 70,000 hotel rooms, the occupancy rate is expected to be complete, he said. Hotels in towns nearby also are experiencing a boom in bookings. Â&#x201E; CNS

Catholics urged to support democracy movement in Tunisia VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tiny Catholic community is praying for the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transition to democracy and hopes that the nation will embrace full religious freedom, said Archbishop Maroun Lahham of Tunis. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are certainly for the separation of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mosque and stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but we say clearly that a healthy democratic society must have as its foundation values that, whatever anyone says, have a religious root: freedom, respect, peace, equality, the preferential option for the poor, solidarity,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The archbishop wrote a pastoral letter on the attitude that Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 22,000 Catholics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all of whom are foreigners â&#x20AC;&#x201C; should have towards the majority-Muslim countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s political and social changes. Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s authoritative government was overthrown in January and a process of democratisation began.

Vatican Radio reported on the archbishopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s letter on July 14.

For Christians, Archbishop Lah-

People Ă&#x20AC;HHLQJ XQUHVW LQ 7XQLVLD LQ 0DUFK DUH FKHFNHG E\ ,WDOLDQ SROLFH RQ WKH VRXWKHUQ LVODQG RI /DPSHGXVD CNS photo

KDP VDLG WKH ÂżUVW ZLVK ÂłLV WR VHH WKH FRXQWU\ ÂżQDOO\ DUULYH DW D GHPRcratic regime. It is clear that a revolution is one thing, and a successful democratic transition is anotherâ&#x20AC;?.

Elections are scheduled for October.

As part of a religious community that makes up less than 1 percent of Tunisiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population and is composed of non-citizens, Catho-

lics in the country are called to be prayerful, supportive and humble witnesses of how Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spirit is at work, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us be ourselves, ready â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;to account for the hope within us.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; We are in Tunisia to reveal the face of Christ through the witness of our lives, our words and actions.

Besides, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what the Tunisians expect of us,â&#x20AC;? he wrote. Â&#x201E;CNS

3HRSOH SRVH IRU D JURXS SKRWR RQ 0D\ DW DQ DUHQD LQ 0DGULG PDUNLQJ GD\V XQWLO WKH VWDUW RI :RUOG <RXWK 'D\ CNS photo/courtesy of World Youth Day 2011

Diocese to educate all its kids KURNOOL, INDIA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kurnool dio-

cese in Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Andhra Pradesh has come up with an ambitious plan to educate all its Catholic children and improve their lot.

On July 9, Bishop Anthony Poola of Kurnool met with the heads of Catholic educational institutions to discuss how best to achieve this goal.

The 102 participants present decided that no school will deny admission to a Catholic child. The school heads said students will be exempt from all fees except for 50 percent of the monthly tuition fee.

If any parent has three children, the school will educate the

third one free, they said.

Students that have no Catholic school in their locality will be accommodated in boarding houses attached to the schools for just 1,000 rupees (S$27) a year.

The diocese will meet the rest of the expenses, said Archbishop Poola.

For little children, the diocese has already started kindergartens in remote villages.

Two districts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kurnool and Anantapur â&#x20AC;&#x201C; fall under Kurnool diocese, with a combined Catholic population of 72,000. The diocese has 123 Church-run schools. Â&#x201E; UCANEWS.COM

16 WORLD

Sunday July 31, 2011 CatholicNews

Irish priests reject suggestion that they break seal of confession &16 ¿OH SKRWR

DUBLIN – The group that repre-

A man stands between discount advertisements at the entrance of his shop in Athens. The economic crisis in Greece is taking its toll on Catholic churches and Church programmes in the predominantly Orthodox nation. CNS photo

Athens archbishop fears disaster looms for Greek Catholic Church OXFORD, ENGLAND – Greece’s

Catholic Church faces disaster because the current economic crisis is forcing it to end vital social and charitable projects, said Archbishop Nikolaos Foskolos of Athens.

“This crisis could be the worst in our history,” Archbishop Foskolos told Catholic News Service on July 6. “There’s corruption everywhere, especially among our politicians. We get no help from the state or other Western Churches, and our faithful can’t give any more. Our parishes and dioceses are in deep trouble, and in a few months we won’t be able to support our staffers and employees.”

The archbishop voiced the FRQFHUQV DV (XURSHDQ 8QLRQ ¿nance ministers released emergency funding to rescue the faltering Greek economy. Amid violent street protests, the Greek legislature approved tough austerity measures and tax increases on June 29, paving the way for the EU action.

The archbishop said the higher taxes would have more impact on the Catholic Church than on the country’s predominant state-supported Orthodox Church. But the Orthodox Church still faced “serious problems” after being told its clergy’s state-paid salaries would be cut by half, he said.

“We’re only a small minority,

with few properties and resources, and we’ve been burdened in recent years by many Catholics coming here from poor countries in search of a better life, using Greece as Europe’s eastern gateway,” he said.

“Since we joined the EU in 1981, we haven’t received any help from other Western Churches, since we’re considered a rich country ourselves and they can only aid the Third World,” he added. “But we have parts of the Third World here in Greece, and it’s creating great pastoral and social hardships.”

In addition to spending cuts, the economic plan passed by the Greek Parliament calls for tax increases, a “solidarity levy” on households, sweeping privatisation, school closures and sharp state sector staff and wage reductions.

Archbishop Foskolos said the crisis has forced Caritas Greece and the Sisters of Charity to reduce assistance to refugees and asylum seekers. The Catholic-run hospice and two soup kitchens in Athens also plan to close by the end of 2011 because they do not have adequate resources.

The archbishop oversees a church numbering 200,000 Greek and foreign members in four dioceses. CNS

sents Ireland’s Catholic priests says the secrecy of confession must be protected, despite government indications that confessions would not be exempt from rules on mandatory reporting of child abuse.

Irish Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald had said, “The point is, if there is a law in the land, it has to be followed by everybody. There are no exceptions, there are no exemptions.”

Fr P J Madden, spokesman for the Association of Catholic Priests, insisted that the sacramental seal of confession is “above and beyond all else” and should not be broken even if a penitent confesses to a crime.

He said he would strongly urge and appeal to the penitent – whether a priest or anyone else – to confess a crime to the police and have the civil aspect dealt with, but that he did not approve of the idea of reporting what was said.

“The seal of confession is a very sacred seal for lots of different reasons way beyond this one single issue, however serious this one single issue is,” Fr Madden insisted.

The Irish government said it would introduce legislation that makes it mandatory for priests to reveal details of child abuse, even if they become known in the confessional. The offence is punishDEOH ZLWK XS WR ¿YH \HDUV LQ SULVRQ The announcement came after a judicial commission investigating the Diocese of Cloyne revealed on July 13 that allegations of abuse were being mishandled and withheld from the police as recently as 2008.

Irish Prime Minister Enda

The Irish government said it would introduce legislation that makes it mandatory for priests to reveal details of child abuse, even if they become known in the confessional.

Kenny said on July 14 that canon law would not be allowed to supersede state law.

Ms Fitzgerald said the government was not concerned about “the rules governing any body”.

“This is about the law of the land. It’s about child protection.

Are we saying ... if a child is at risk of child sexual abuse that should not be reported? We cannot say that. The law of the land is clear and unambiguous,” she said.

Bishop John McAreavey of Dromore told Catholic News Service that the bishops would await the publication of the legislation before assessing it. However, he said, he felt it was “unreal to suggest that the seal of confession

has prevented the reporting of the abuse of children”.

The new legislation is not expected to be published soon, and sources close to the Irish bishops’ conference expected that a heavy lobbying campaign will get under way to ensure that a suitable exemption is considered.

Mr David Quinn, director of the think-tank, Iona Institute, called the proposal “unprecedented”.

“No child abuser will go to a priest in confession knowing the priest is required to inform the police. But cutting off the avenue of confession to a child abuser makes it less likely that he will talk to someone who can persuade him to take the next step,” he added. CNS

British Filipina’s song is a WYD anthem LONDON – A song written and performed by a young Catholic singer from London has been selected as a World Youth Day (WYD) anthem after receiving more than 400,000 plays and beating more than 200 entries in a WYD song contest.

Singer-songwriter Cherrie Anderson’s entry in the Tuned into Madrid song contest, entitled Faith In You, has been voted a huge hit by Internet music players and WYD organisers alike.

The Tuned into Madrid jury of ¿YH PXVLF DQG VRQJ FRPSRVLWLRQ specialists, together with WYD organisers, had to consider which songs from the 270 submissions from 40 countries best promoted the festive, creative and cultural dimension of the Catholic faith through the language of music and best testify to the eternal relevance of the Christian message.

Jury members were so im-

World Youth Day logo

pressed with the UK entry from the British Filipina that they created a special category for it. Faith In You received the highest number of plays – 400,405, on the competition’s website – and was awarded a new “distinction” category in the RI¿FLDO SXEOLVKHG UHVXOWV The song borrows Jeremi-

ah’s image of a tree planted by a stream, whose roots reach out to be nourished and sustained by the ÀRZLQJ ZDWHU Anderson, 24, is lead singer in the Catholic electroband trio Ooberfuse, who came together after members met at the First Sunday Mass at Farm Street church in London.

Since forming, Ooberfuse have been chosen to perform the youth anthem for Pope Benedict’s visit to Britain last year and were involved with national charity Crisis UK to help raise funds to aid homeless people in Britain.

Recently, they played at Manila’s 15,000-seater Araneta Coliseum and were broadcast live on Philippine national TV to an audience of around 80 million people.

Faith in You can be heard at http://soundcloud.com/ooberfuse/ faith-in-you-world-youth-day.

THE UNIVERSE

WORLD 17

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Harry Potter and his friends â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;mature from the lightheartedness of infancy to the complex reality of adulthoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. CNS photo

+DUU\ 3RWWHU Ă&#x20AC;OP FKDPSLRQV YDOXHV 9DWLFDQ QHZVSDSHU VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The last battle of

the almost-grownup Harry Potter may be too scary for young viewers, but it champions the values of IULHQGVKLS DQG VDFULÂżFH WKH 9DWLcan newspaper said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The atmosphere of the last few episodes, which had become increasingly dark and ominous, reaches its pinnacle,â&#x20AC;? said one of two reviews of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 published RQ -XO\ LQ WKH 9DWLFDQ QHZVSDper, Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Osservatore Romano.

The darkness â&#x20AC;&#x153;may disturb younger audiencesâ&#x20AC;?, said reviewHU *DHWDQR 9DOOLQL â&#x20AC;&#x153;Death, which was a rare occurrence [in the previous Harry 3RWWHU ÂżOPV@ LV WKH SURWDJRQLVW here,â&#x20AC;? which is another reason the ÂżOP PD\ QRW EH DSSURSULDWH IRU everyone, he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As for the content, evil is never presented as fascinating or attractive in the saga, but the valXHV RI IULHQGVKLS DQG RI VDFULÂżFH are highlighted. In a unique and long story of formation, through painful passages of dealing with death and loss, the hero and his companions mature from the lightheartedness of infancy to the complex reality of adulthood.â&#x20AC;?

Young people introduced to Potter through the seven books by - . 5RZOLQJ DQG WKH ÂżOPV EDVHG on them have grown with him and KLV IULHQGV 9DOOLQL VDLG ÂłDQG WKH\ certainly have understood that magic is only a narrative pretext useful in the battle against an unrealistic search for immortalityâ&#x20AC;?.

In the second review, AntoQLR &DUULHUR UHDIÂżUPHG RQH SRLQW 9DWLFDQ UHYLHZHUV KDYH PDGH VLQFH WKH +DUU\ 3RWWHU ERRNV ÂżUVW appeared in Italian: The story captured the imagination of millions

of children around the world and got them reading books.

And, he said, the saga championed values that Christians and non-Christians share and provided opportunities for Christian parents to talk to their children about how those values are presented in a special way in the Bible.

Potterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s archenemy, Lord 9ROGHPRUW ÂłGRHV QRW UHSUHVHQW Satan, as it would be easy to think, but is a man who has made bad choices in his lifeâ&#x20AC;?, Carriero said.

9ROGHPRUW KDV FKRVHQ QRW WR love others and sees himself as the centre of the universe, he said. &DUULHUR VDLG 9ROGHPRUW LV OLNH many modern men and women who think they can do without God and without others, they do not believe in heaven, and yet they are most frightened of dying. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eternal life is reached through death, not without it. And Harry Potter, although he never declared himself a Christian, calls on the dark magician to mend his ways, repent for what he has done and recognise the primacy of love over everything so he will not be damned for eternity.â&#x20AC;?

The Deathly Hallows demonstrates that â&#x20AC;&#x153;from the pure of heart like the young Harry, ready to die for his friendsâ&#x20AC;? come big lessons, Carriero wrote.

7KH ÂżOP DOVR WHDFKHV WKDW ÂłLWÂśV possible to change the world.

It is Harry, with his inseparable friends, who demonstrates that it is possible to vanquish evil and establish peace. Power, success and an easy life do not bring the truest and deepest joys. For that we need friendship, self-giving, VDFULÂżFH DQG DWWDFKPHQW WR D WUXWK that is not formed in manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s imageâ&#x20AC;?, the review said. Â&#x201E; CNS

18 LETTER/OPINION

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Things hidden from the learned

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: johnson.fernandez@catholic.org.sg

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

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christopher Khoo: christopher.khoo@catholic.org.sg

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: subscriptions@catholic.org.sg

STAFF CORRESPONDENT: Darren Boon: darren.boon@catholic.org.sg

ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: advertisements@catholic.org.sg WEBMASTER: Medona Walter: medona.walter@catholic.org.sg

EDITORIAL MATTERS: cnedit@catholic.org.sg

Please include your full name, address and phone no. for all articles and letters. Published submissions will be edited.

DESIGN / LAYOUT: Christopher Wong: design@catholic.org.sg Elaine Ong: elaine.ong@catholic.org.sg

A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;newer wayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of being church? ,W ZDV GLIÂżFXOW GHFLGLQJ ZKHWKHU to share this opinion of mine.

Having been a Catholic all my life, I feel that over time, many of us may have lost the basic compass of our faith.

Increasingly today, reverence seems to be of secondary importance. We have allowed pews and spaces in churches to be treated like concert halls and meeting points, with relentless chatter and mobile texting.

Is this the newer way of being church?

Recently, my wife and I atWHQGHG D &RQÂżUPDWLRQ VHUYLFH $V there were a substantial number of candidates, the Imposition of Hands took a while to complete.

Meanwhile, sections of the congregation were already posing for pictures.

2XU FKXUFKHV DUH ÂżOOHG WR the brim for Sunday Masses, not

Increasingly today, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;reverence seems to be of secondary importanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

to mention weekday lunchtime Masses at many venues. Could we be overly concerned about being RUJDQLVHG DQG HIÂżFLHQW WKDW ZH have missed the point of being KXPEOH VHUYDQWV EHIRUH *RG ÂżUVW" We live in a world that speaks of quality of life, yet we deny our-

selves the joy of pious devotion DQG UHYHUHQFH WR WKH &UXFLÂżHG Lord. We proclaim the True presence of God in the Eucharist yet we empty Him of His dignity. Â&#x201E; Kevin Toh Singapore 520107

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve lived and worked within academic circles for most of my adult life, studying in various universities, teaching within university circles, and having university professors as close friends and colleagues.

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that world like? What kind of folks inhabit academic circles?

Perhaps my experience is atypical because most of the scholars under whom I studied and most of the theologians and other scholars who have been my colleagues became professors and university lecturers in function of ministry, as a vocation, rather than as a career.

Thus, instead of struggling with faith and Church, they were driven to become academics in function of their faith and church commitments.

In some ways, professors in theology schools and schools of ministry arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t typical of academic circles.

But an academic is an academic and graduate and post-graduate studies, whatever the motivation for doing them, have some of the same effect on people. And so I suspect that the circles I have been part of, in the end, are more typical than atypical. And what is typical?

Academics, scholars, and university professors, like any segment of VRFLHW\ DUH D FRPSOH[ PL[ ,Q XQLYHUVLW\ FLUFOHV \RX ZLOO ÂżQG VRPH RI WKH PRVW KXPEOH JUDFLRXV IDLWK ÂżOOHG DQG JHQXLQHO\ JRRG SHRSOH \RX ZLOO HYHU PHHW MXVW DV \RX ZLOO DOVR ÂżQG VRPH RI WKH PRVW DUURJDQW VHOI absorbed, amoral, and cynical people in the world. The academic world looks like the rest of the world.

Given that truth, I have long been haunted by a saying of Jesus that, often times, the deep secrets of life and of faith are hidden from the learned and the clever and revealed instead to children, to those of a less complex mind. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t doubt the truth of this; I wonder why.

Why? Clearly intelligence and learning are good things. Intelligence is the gift from God that sets us apart from animals and access to learning is a precious right given us by God. Indeed, ignorance and lack of education are things every healthy society and every healthy individual strive to overcome.

Scripture praises both wisdom and intelligence and the health of any Church is partly predicated on having a vigorous intellectual stream within it. Every time in history that the Church has let popular piety, however sincere, trump sound theology it has paid a high price.

7KH 5HIRUPDWLRQ DURVH RXW RI MXVW WKDW DQG RQH RI WKH ÂżUVW WKLQJV WKDW the Council of Trent mandated for Roman Catholics was that its priests be better trained intellectually.

Intelligence and learning are good things. God did not give us intelligence and then ask us not to use it. NaivetĂŠ is not a virtue and should never be confused with innocence. So why is being â&#x20AC;&#x153;intelligent and cleverâ&#x20AC;? something that can work against our understanding of the deeper secrets within life and faith?

The fault is not with intelligence and learning, both good things in themselves, but in what they can inadvertently do to us.

Intelligence and learning often have the unintended effect of undermining whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s childlike in us, that is, the very strength that they bring into our lives can allow us to unconsciously claim a superiority and have us believe that, given our intelligence, we have both the need and the right to isolate ourselves from others in ways that the natural neediness of children does not permit them to do. &KLOGUHQ DUH QRW VHOI VXIÂżFLHQW HYHQ WKRXJK WKH\ ÂżHUFHO\ ZDQW WR EH They need others and they know it. Consequently they more naturally reach out and take someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the luxury of selfVXIÂżFLHQF\ When we are â&#x20AC;&#x153;learned and the cleverâ&#x20AC;?, we can more easily forget that we need others and consequently donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t as naturally reach for anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand as does a child. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier for us to isolate ourselves.

When we are less aware of our contingency we more easily lose sight of the things to which God and life are inviting us. The very strength that intelligence and learning bring into our lives can instil in us a false VHQVH RI VHOI VXIÂżFLHQF\ WKDW FDQ PDNH XV ZDQW WR VHSDUDWH RXUVHOYHV in unhealthy ways from others and understand ourselves as superior in some way.

And superiority never enters a room alone, but always brings along a number of her children: arrogance, disdain, boredom, cynicism. All of these are occupational hazards for the â&#x20AC;&#x153;learned and the cleverâ&#x20AC;? and none of these helps unlock any of lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deep secrets.

But we must be careful not to misread the lesson. Faith does not ask us to not stretch our minds. Neither ignorance nor naivetĂŠ serve faith.

Faith not only doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fear the hard questions, it invites us to ask them.

7KH GHSWKV RI LQÂżQLW\ DUH QHYHU WKUHDWHQHG E\ ÂżQLWH LQWHOOLJHQFH And so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never a bad thing to become learned and sophisticated; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a bad thing if we remain there. The task is to become postsophisticated, that is, to remain full of intelligence and learning even as we put on again the mindset of a child. Â&#x201E;

LETTER/OPINION 19

Sunday July 31, 2011 CatholicNews

Use pulpit to spread ‘authentic Good News’ I agree with Edmund Loh that our priests need to “Use Pulpit to Address Controversial Issues” (CN July 17) simply because Jesus had commissioned His followers, especially our shepherds, to “teach”, “preach” and “proclaim” just before He ascended into heaven.

The mode of teaching and preaching has been made easier in this era through the means of print, radio and television, and many of our shepherds have relied on these to “proclaim” the Good News to the world.

However our mission as Christians is not merely to send to the “lambs” the media articles for them to read just as we do not simply pass the Bible to the laity to read and interpret God’s message all by themselves without the guidance of the Church.

Too often, priests at the pulpit remind us of the not-so-controversial issues like abortion and extra-marital affairs and these are

Christian lives remain strangely silent from our clergy.

In addition to the more common controversial issues listed

by Mr Loh, other related issues like civil unions, same-sex marriages, vasectomy, tubal ligation, cohabitation, living wills, organ transplants, capital punishment are never heard from the pulpit.

It is a fallacy for our bishop and priests to believe that if these issues are aired, albeit infrequently, in our national newspapers like The Straits Times and in the Catholic News, the laity are “informed” and the clergy’s job is “done”. This is a mistaken noWLRQ DQG DQ LQVXI¿FLHQW PDQQHU WR CN, July 17

merely addressed on the surface, if at all.

(For example, during the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a priest I know didn’t even use the word

“abortion” and simply preached that we must protect innocent lives and to speak up.)

Other important but controversial issues which impact our

spread the Good News.

It is particularly important in this age of moral relativism that our priests be armed to proclaim the falsities of these seemingly “compassionate” issues impacting our society and the laity’s daily lives.

After a week-long retreat, I pray that our priests in Singapore will be renewed with passion to simply and courageously preach the authentic Good News – without avoiding its hard and controversial issues – to the faithful in Singapore.

Edmund Leong

Singapore 558732

20 ANALYSIS

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Trends facing the Catholic Stella R. Quah analyses what various censuses reveal about

T

HE resident population census, conducted in Singapore once every 10 years following international convention, gives us a collective picture of ourselves as a nation.

Some aspects of the 2010 Resident Population Census are relevant to the Catholic community, particularly when seen in comparison with the previous population census taken in 2000 and the Catholic Community Census of 2007 conducted during Mass over two consecutive weekends.

Like all population censuses, the Population Censuses of 2000 and 2010 collected basic information on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s age, gender, ethnicity and type of dwelling from administrative records while other information such as marital status, occupation, and educational level, were estimated based on a representative sample of 200,000 households.

The Catholic Community Census of 2007 was different from the population census in two main ways: the type of questions asked and the people included.

Regarding the type of questions, the 2007 Catholic Census had a wider scope: it included the same standard information in population census plus information on the attitudes and practices of Catholics on religion; prayer; membership and involvement in the Church; religion and family life; and a sense of Christian community.

Concerning the people covered, the 2000 and 2010 censuses aimed at the total population of Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

In contrast, the 2007 Catholic census covered only Catholics aged 12 and older, attending the Saturday and Sunday Masses at all the churches in Singapore on the weekends of Aug 25-26 and Sept 1-2, 2007.

The Department of Statistics provides the Population Censuses reports online on its website. The 2007 Catholic Census Report was submitted to Archbishop Nicholas Chia in January 2008, and individual Parish Reports were given to each Parish Priest.

A summary of the Catholic &HQVXVÂś PDLQ ÂżQGLQJV ZDV DOVR published in two parts by the CatholicNews (May 25, 2008 and Aug 3, 2008).

Has the Catholic community changed over time? Yes, partially.

Interesting trends emerge when WKH ÂżJXUHV RI WKH WKUHH FHQVXVHV are compared in terms of age, ethnicity, marital status and formal education.

Trends Chart 1 shows the age distribu-

CHART 1

Age distribution of Catholic and Total Resident Population, Singapore 2000, 2007 and 2010

CHART 2

CHART 3

Ethnic distribution of Catholic and Total Resident Population, Singapore 2000 and 2010

Marital Status of Catholic and Total Resident Population, Singapore 2000 and 2010

tion of the Catholic population in 2000, 2007, and 2010 and, the total resident population in 2010.

The Catholic community aged 12 and older shows a very similar age distribution to that of the total population aged 15 and older: About 40 out of every 100 persons are in the age group 30 to 49; seven to nine are in the youngest group 15-19, and six to eight of every 100 are 70 years old or older. %XW WKHUH DUH VRPH ÂżQHU GLIIHUences: the proportion of Catholic adults 30 to 39 increased slightly since 2000 and it was the largest age group in the Catholic community in 2010.

The ethnic distribution is pre-

sented in Chart 2. The ethnic composition of the Catholic population is different from that of the total population.

In 2010, Chinese made up 75.6 percent of the total population; Malays, 12.5 percent; Indians 8.5 percent; and 3.4 percent were from Other ethnic groups.

In contrast, 71 percent of Catholics in 2010 were Chinese, down from 80 percent in 2000 and the percentage of Catholic Indians remained relatively stable (10 percent) and very close to the proportion in the total resident population. +RZHYHU UHĂ&#x20AC;HFWLQJ WKH UHFHQW LQĂ&#x20AC;X[ RI UHVLGHQW &DWKROLFV ERUQ in other countries, the propor-

tion of Catholics from other ethnic groups rose from 9 percent in 2000 to 20 percent in 2010.

These trends are observed when we use percentages which is DQ HIÂżFLHQW ZD\ RI PDNLQJ FRPparisons across groups and time.

If we look at the actual numbers, there are more Chinese Catholics today than in 2000. The ethnic distribution shown by the 2007 Catholic Census was somewhat different because as indicated earlier, that census covered only people attending weekend Masses, not the total population.

Marital status and property Regarding marital status (Chart

3), the Catholic population follows basically the same trends as the total population and there has been very little change over the past decade: Out of every 10 Catholics, about six are married and three are single.

6LJQLÂżFDQW GLIIHUHQFHV DUH HYLdent when comparing the Catholic community and the total population in 2010 in terms of type of residence (Charts 4a and 4b).

The proportions of people living in landed property and private Ă&#x20AC;DWV LQFOXGLQJ FRQGRPLQLXPV DUH VLJQLÂżFDQWO\ KLJKHU DPRQJ Catholics (13 percent and 18 percent respectively) compared to the Â&#x201E; Continued in facing page

OPINION 21

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

community Catholics in Singapore

By Anne Lim

Â&#x201E; From previous page total population (7 percent and 10 percent respectively).

This trend goes hand in hand with the level of formal education (education and housing type give a glimpse of earning power).

As shown in Chart 5, the level of formal education in the Catholic FRPPXQLW\ LV VLJQLÂżFDQWO\ KLJKHU than that of the total population and has increased noticeably from 2000 to 2010.

At the lower end of the educational scale, only 9 percent of Catholics in 2010 had primary or lower education compared to 22 percent of the total population.

At the upper end of the education scale, the 2010 proportion of Catholics with university education was 39.6 percent compared to only 23 percent of the total nonschooling population.

Implications The overall picture from the cenVXV ÂżJXUHV LV D SRVLWLYH RQH 7KH standard of living among Catholics (suggested by educational level and housing type) has improved and it is encouraging to see the predominance of young adults 30-39 and the increase, albeit small, in the proportion of younger members, those below the age of 20. %XW WKH ÂżJXUHV DOVR JLYH XV VRPHWKLQJ WR UHĂ&#x20AC;HFW XSRQ ,W LV intriguing that the proportion of married Catholics follows the same pattern of the total population.

Should we expect that family formation be more evident â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with higher proportion of married members â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in our Catholic community even though we have a very high proportion of university graduates?

What does education have to do with marriage, you may ask.

Well, education is relevant here because sociological studies have shown consistently that marriage and parenthood tend to be postponed by young people with higher education as they pursue their degrees and launch their careers.

The similarity in marriage trends suggests that Catholics KDYH WKH VDPH GLIÂżFXOWLHV DV WKH general population in balancing the demands of a career with those of marriage and parenthood.

Could we as a community do better in helping single Catholics WR ÂżQG WKHLU OLIH SDUWQHUV DQG LQ supporting working married couples? Â&#x201E; The writer is a Catholic sociologist whose areas of research are in medical sociology, family sociology and public policy.

Losing our sacred balance?

CHART 4A

Type of Dwelling of Catholic Singapore Residents, Population Census 2010

CHART 4B

Type of Dwelling of Total Singapore Residents, Population Census 2010

CHART 5

Catholics by Formal Education and Non-student Population 2000 and 2010

$/%(57 (,167(,1 ZDV DPRQJ the great thinkers of our time who said that â&#x20AC;&#x153;a human being is part of the wholeâ&#x20AC;?. And this â&#x20AC;&#x153;wholeâ&#x20AC;? is what we call â&#x20AC;&#x153;the universeâ&#x20AC;?.

Einstein went on to say that the human being, who is â&#x20AC;&#x153;limited in time and spaceâ&#x20AC;? is deluded into â&#x20AC;&#x153;experiencing himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separate from the restâ&#x20AC;?.

To live under such a delusion is to live in a kind of prison, one that restricts us to â&#x20AC;&#x153;our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to usâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures,â&#x20AC;? added Einstein.

There was a time when humans understood the sacred UK\WKPV RI 1DWXUH 7ULEDO DQG indigenous peoples held in their rituals, songs and prayers a deep awareness of the interconnectivity of all living things. This was because they lived and breathed LQ FORVH FRPPXQLRQ ZLWK 1DWXUH They had a direct experience of how the stars, forests, oceans and creatures were interdependent. They knew that nothing existed in isolation and every act had a consequence affecting each component of the whole.

But then more people began WR PRYH DZD\ IURP 1DWXUH IURP the rural to life in cities, and there came a devotion to consumerism.

Within the past century, manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to exploit the environment has reached near-obscene proportions. This exploitation of the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources is being fuelled by gargantuan consumer demands in the so-called developed nations.

Perhaps, man became too smart for his own good.

We now have a fragmented view of the world. Our human species has lost its sense of place as a component in the cosmos.

Added to this is the delusion that

we are entitled to get richer from plundering the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resources.

Unbridled economic growth has become an end in itself.

Physicist and author Brian Swimme points out that humans used to gather together to understand our cosmology, i.e., to learn the meaning of the universe. Âł1RZ ZH JDWKHU WRJHWKHU DQG watch TV ads. Every ad is a cosmological sermon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the universe is a collection of objects to be fashioned into items for our consumption, and the role of humans is to work and buy objects.â&#x20AC;?

Environmentalist David Suzuki writes in The Sacred Balance, that as we distance ourselves from the natural world, we become more and more dependent on our inventions. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We become enslaved by the constant demands of technology created to serve us.â&#x20AC;? ,Q 6LQJDSRUH WKLV LV HDVily observed in the attachment to electronic gizmos. Consider the knee-jerk reaction to a ringing cellphone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; remember the guy who picked up his call durLQJ 0DVV DQG ZKLVSHUHG Âł, DP LQ church!â&#x20AC;? to the distraction of the congregation? Fortunately, we are having less of this nowadays.

Consider how much we take for granted in urban Singapore.

Our children are among those belonging to the most-disconnectedIURP 1DWXUH JHQHUDWLRQ LQ KLVWRU\ Suzukiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book reminds us of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;profound schismâ&#x20AC;? between KXPDQV DQG 1DWXUH WKDW UHVXOWV from living in the city. Our food is highly processed and packaged and we forget where it comes from. We forget the sources of our energy and where our garbage and sewage end up.

All these add up to the illusion that all is well as long as we have economic growth.

The question remains: Are we losing our sacred balance? Â&#x201E; The writer is a parishioner of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary with a special interest in Creation Spirituality. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

Bolivian indigenous women sharing a light moment. Tribal and indigenous people usually have a deep awareness of the interconnectivity of all living things.

22 FAITH ALIVE!

,1 %OHVVHG 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO II began a pilgrimage of young people to Rome. This gave birth to World Youth Day (WYD), which has increased in size and popularity year by year.

Now celebrated every two or three years in a different country, this weeklong event will draw more than a million youths to Madrid this summer from Aug 16-21.

Temperatures soar in Spain at that time of year. Airline fares have already risen sharply. Travel is frequently troublesome, especially with heightened security.

Many young people have been working for two years to raise money for travel, and some are still doing so. Yet, in spite of obstacles even more severe than these, participants will converge on WYD from every corner of the world.

A good number have done it before and have pledged to keep on coming. Why? Is there a special brand of WYD magic, a spirit that captivates even the most reluctant? %DVHG RQ P\ DWWHQGLQJ VL[ WYD celebrations since 1993 and preparing for a seventh, I can offer a few ideas about the appeal of the event for young people and the adults who support them.

WYD places on display the universality, diversity and richness of Catholicism in ways that are informative, inspiring, engaging, spiritually uplifting and a lot of fun. All of this speaks to youthful desires for relationships, adventure, learning and celebration, DQG WKH QHHG WR ÂżQG RQHÂśV SODFH and identity within a community of faith and tradition.

At the beginning of his pon-

By Willy Thorn THE sight of rows of youths pedaling away on stationary bicycles â&#x20AC;&#x201C; recharging MP4s, laptops, mobile phones and other devices â&#x20AC;&#x201C; will be a common sight at World Youth Day in Madrid and could become a hallmark of the event for years to come.

The installation of energygenerating bicycles is just one of a number of measures that organisers have instituted to reduce any negative impact on the environment by this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gathering that is expected to draw over a million youths from around the world.

The measures are a clear nod to a young generation that

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

WYD displays the universality and richness of Catholicism in informative, inspiring and fun ways.

All of this speaks to youthful desires for relationships, adventure, learning and celebration.

Members of the Singapore contingent at the World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.

WLÂżFDWH %OHVVHG -RKQ 3DXO FKDOlenged us to â&#x20AC;&#x153;open wide the doors to Christâ&#x20AC;?. He repeated this often in his ministry, especially on the RFFDVLRQ RI :<'V 3RSH %HQHdict XVI has enthusiastically continued the tradition of WYD, calling it â&#x20AC;&#x153;an encounter with Christ!â&#x20AC;?

Foremost among the many ways to encounter Christ is the celebration of the Eucharist, which takes place every day, and in the sacrament of Reconciliation, which is available throughout the entire time.

There are many other opportunities for prayer in large and small

ÂżQGV HQYLURQPHQWDO VWHZDUGVKLS increasingly inseparable from Christian culture.

A â&#x20AC;&#x153;100% Naturalâ&#x20AC;? campaign is in place to make World Youth Day very eco-friendly. The campaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stated goal is to achieve a zeroemission and pollution-free event that will be â&#x20AC;&#x153;the most environmentfriendly World Youth Day everâ&#x20AC;?.

Ms Eva Latonda, director of the 100% Natural campaign, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leaving a planet Earth in good condition for future generations is a concern for every Christian, and therefore, for World Youth Day as well.â&#x20AC;?

An online application for carpooling and ride-sharing will be available along with mapped

settings, including an outdoor Way of the Cross and a huge prayer vigil at which the pope presides.

For many young pilgrims, seeing and hearing the Holy Father is a highlight of the event along with encounters with the thousands of bishops, priests, deacons and other Church ministers there.

WYD has a strong teaching component. On three days there are three-hour religious education sessions in different language JURXSV %LVKRSV DQG D WHDP RI OD\ facilitators and musicians lead the sessions. Further faith formation is possible through the speeches of

the pope, lectures, witness talks, concerts, artistic programmes and exhibits, prayer services, Eucharistic adoration, etc.

Over the years, WYD has developed the right mix of spiritual, catechetical, social, artistic and cultural elements that bring young people into contact with the richness of the Catholic faith.

Some very common reactions during and after the event are: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I now feel part of something much larger;â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I received a lot of support for living my faith,â&#x20AC;? and simply, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m proud to be a Catholic.â&#x20AC;?

For some young people, the

routes and schedules for those who will want to walk, cycle or take public transportation to events.

Organisers have created what they call a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sustainable routeâ&#x20AC;?, one that is carefully charted to provide

D VDIH DQG HIÂżFLHQW SDWK IRU SLOgrims moving by foot or bicycle from the city of Madrid to Cuatro 9LHQWRV ÂżHOG ZKHUH 3RSH %HQHGLFW XVI will say the concluding Mass.

Organisers are working directly with the city of Madrid to develop and manage a network of collection points for waste and recyclables. They are also purchasing carbon credits to offset pollution. $ FDUERQ FUHGLW LV D FHUWLÂżFDWH that shows that a government or other agency has paid to have a certain amount of carbon dioxide â&#x20AC;&#x201C; usually equivalent to one ton â&#x20AC;&#x201C; removed from the environment.

The buying of carbon credits is in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, an international agree-

WYD pilgrimage attunes them to hearing Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call to a vocation.

Studies have shown that about one-third of men being ordained priests these days say that WYD was a key element in their vocational journey. Young women have found that WYD sensitised them to a religious vocation, and there are stories of young men and women who heard the call to marriage and found their future spouse at the event.

Pilgrims this year should expect the usual structure to the event but with some distinctively Spanish twists. For example, the Way of the Cross celebrated along an avenue in central Madrid will be in the style of los pasos.

This celebration features 14 great sculptural works from different Spanish cities that depict Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journey to Calvary. Â&#x201E; McCord is the director of the US bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth

ment linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Kyoto Protocol sets binding targets for 37 industrialised countries and European communities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

World Youth Day organisers ZLOO EX\ FDUERQ FUHGLWV IRU ÂżYH different projects: a hydropower plant in Honduras, a reforestation SURMHFW LQ 8JDQGD ODQGÂżOO PHWKane recovery projects in China and Turkey, and a wind energy ÂżHOG LQ 1HZ &DOHGRQLD RII $XVtraliaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s east coast.

Emissions will be calculated

by Zeroemissions (www.zeroemissions.com), a company based in Abengoa, Spain. Â&#x201E; CNS

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

23

24

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STORY:

St Olaf of Norway 2ODI RI 1RUZD\ ZDV WKH VRQ RI D 1RUZHJLDQ ORUG DQG KH VXFFHHGHG KLV IDWKHUÂś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Ă&#x20AC;RZHG WKDW ZDV VDLG WR KDYH KHDOLQJ SURSHUWLHV 2ODI ZDV ODWHU YHQHUDWHG DV D PDUW\U :H KRQRXU KLP RQ -XO\ Â&#x201E;

Bible Accent: 7KH %LEOH LV GLYLGHG LQWR WKH 2OG 7HVWDPHQW DQG the New Testament, and those two major secWLRQV DUH GLYLGHG LQWR VPDOOHU FDWHJRULHV 7KH ERRNV RI 3URYHUEV DQG WKH 6RQJ RI 6RQJV ZKLFK DUH EHOLHYHG WR KDYH EHHQ ZULWWHQ DW OHDVW LQ SDUW E\ 6RORPRQ DUH LQFOXGHG LQ WKH FDWHJRU\ FDOOHG WKH :LVGRP ERRNV 2WKHU ERRNV LQ WKLV VHFWLRQ DUH WKH ERRNV RI -RE 3VDOPV (FFOHVLDVWHV :LVGRP DQG 6LUDFK 3URYHUEV DUH ZLVH VD\LQJV WKDW DUH LQWHQGHG WR WHDFK WKH YDOXH RI JRRG OLYLQJ DQG PDNLQJ JRRG FKRLFHV LQ OLIH 0DQ\ VFKRODUV DQG &KULVWLDQV LQ JHQHUDO EHOLHYH WKDW 6RORPRQÂśV ZULWLQJV ZHUH D UHVXOW RI WKH JLIW RI ZLVGRP WKDW *RG JDYH KLP ,Q WKH ,QWURGXFWLRQ WR WKH %RRN RI 3URYHUEV 6RORPRQ WHOOV XV Âł7KH IHDU RI WKH /RUG LV WKH EHJLQQLQJ RI NQRZOHGJH ´ /HW XV DOZD\V ORYH WKH /RUG DQG VHHN +LV JXLGDQFH Â&#x201E;

Bible Trivia: Who was Solomonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous father?

NLQJ KH VKRZHG PDQ\ H[DPSOHV of the wisdom that God had given to him, and the people of Israel ZHUH DPD]HG 7KH\ NQHZ WKDW 6RORPRQ ZDV D YHU\ VSHFLDO NLQJ WKDW *RG KDG EOHVVHG LQ PDQ\ ZD\V Â&#x201E; Read more about it: 1 Kings 3 Q&A 1. What did Solomon ask God for?

2. What did God give Solomon in addition to what he had asked for?

PUZZLE Answer the following questions about kings. Hints have been provided to help you: :KR ZDV WKH ÂżUVW NLQJ RI ,VUDHO" 6DPXHO

2. How many books with the title of Kings are in the Old Testament? :KLFK NLQJ RI ,VUDHO ZURWH PDQ\ RI WKH SVDOPV" :KDW GLG WKH VLJQ RQ WKH FURVV RI -HVXV VD\" 0DWWKHZ

:KR ZDV NLQJ RI -XGHD ZKHQ -HVXV ZDV ERUQ" 0DWWKHZ

6. Whom did John see riding a white horse in Revelation 19? :KDW ZDV WKH WLWOH RI WKH (J\SWLDQ OHDGHU ZKR KHOG WKH ,VUDHOLWHV FDSWLYH" ([RGXV

WORDSEARCH Solomon z incense z VDFULÂżFHV z request z servant z happy z riches z statutes z commandments z Jerusalem z peace z offering

Answers to Bible Trivia: David

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

/RUG VDLG WR 6RORPRQ ³, JLYH \RX VXFK ULFKHV DQG JORU\ WKDW DPRQJ NLQJV WKHUH LV QRW \RXU OLNH $QG LI \RX IROORZ PH E\ NHHSLQJ P\ VWDWXWHV DQG FRPPDQGPHQWV DV \RXU IDWKHU 'DYLG GLG , ZLOO JLYH \RX D ORQJ OLIH ´ :KHQ 6RORPRQ ZRNH XS KH LPPHGLDWHO\ ZHQW WR -HUXVDOHP DQG PDGH D SHDFH RIIHULQJ WR WKH /RUG E\ WKH DUN RI WKH FRYHQDQW WKHQ KHOG D IHDVW RI FHOHEUDWLRQ IRU DOO RI KLV VHUYDQWV 'XULQJ 6RORPRQœV UHLJQ DV

Answers to Puzzle: 1. Saul, 2. 2, 3. David, 4. King of the Jews, 5. Herod, 6. King of kings and lord of lords, 7.

Pharaoh

Solomon loved the Lord and would RIWHQ RIIHU VDFULÂżFHV WR +LP $Q\ RIferings that were given to the Lord or DQ\ LQFHQVH WKDW ZDV EXUQHG KDG WR EH GRQH RQ RQH RI WKH KLJK SODFHV EHFDXVH WKHUH ZDV QR WHPSOH :KHQ 6RORPRQ ZDV LQ *LEHRQ WR RIIHU KLV RZQ VDFULÂżFHV WKH /RUG DSpeared to him in a dream during the QLJKW 7KH /RUG VDLG WR 6RORPRQ Âł$VN something of me and I will give it to \RX ´ 6RORPRQ WKRXJKW FDUHIXOO\ EHfore he made his request: â&#x20AC;&#x153;O Lord, P\ *RG \RX KDYH PDGH PH \RXU VHUYDQW NLQJ EXW , DP D PHUH \RXWK QRW NQRZLQJ DW DOO KRZ WR DFW , VHUYH \RX LQ WKH PLGVW RI WKH SHRSOH ZKRP \RX KDYH FKRVHQ D SHRSOH

VR YDVW WKDW LW FDQQRW EH QXPEHUHG RU FRXQWHG *LYH \RXU VHUYDQW WKHUHIRUH DQ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ KHDUW WR MXGJH \RXU people and to distinguish right from ZURQJ )RU ZKR LV DEOH WR JRYHUQ WKLV YDVW SHRSOH RI \RXUV"´ *RG ZDV YHU\ KDSS\ WKDW 6RORPRQ KDG PDGH VXFK D UHTXHVW +H VDLG WR 6RORPRQ ³%HFDXVH \RX KDYH DVNHG IRU WKLV ¹ QRW IRU D ORQJ OLIH IRU \RXUVHOI QRU IRU ULFKHV QRU IRU WKH OLIH RI \RXU HQHPLHV EXW IRU XQGHUVWDQGLQJ VR WKDW \RX PD\ NQRZ ZKDW LV ULJKW ¹ , GR DV \RX UHTXHVWHG , JLYH \RX D KHDUW VR ZLVH DQG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ WKDW WKHUH KDV QHYHU EHHQ DQ\RQH OLNH \RX XS WR QRZ DQG DIWHU \RX WKHUH ZLOO FRPH QR RQH WR HTXDO \RX ´ $V LI LW ZHUH QRW HQRXJK WKDW *RG said that he would give Solomon the ZLVGRP KH KDG DVNHG IRU *RG JDYH KLP PRUH WKDQ WKDW ³,Q DGGLWLRQ ´ WKH

Answers to Wordsearch:

By Joe Sarnicola

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON 25

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; 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

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.

Fridays from September 2 MANDARIN RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER & PAUL 7.30-9.30pm: At 225A Queen St. T: 6337 2585

TUESDAYS LAY MISSIONARY FORMATION 7.30-9.30pm: A course for those wanting to know how to better prepare for missionary activities. By ACMA. At Church of the Holy Spirit (A201 St Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Room). T: 6474 9184, 97320730; E: acma.lmf@gmail.com

July 29 EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR CHILDREN 7.45-8.45pm: Come and pray as a family before the Blessed Sacrament in the main church. At Church of the Holy Spirit. E: childreneucharisticadora@gmail.com

EVERY FRIDAY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MY FAITH 7.30-8.30pm: Go beyond RCIA. In-depth Catholic teachings. Sessions with Victor & Vivienne Wee. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room 03-02)

July 29-31 CHOICE WEEKEND 7.30 (Fri) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6pm (Sun): A weekend for singles to relook the multiple changing roles they experience and improve relationships with family and friends.

At 47 Jurong West St 42. Register T: 9880 3093 (Dawn), 9047 2297 (Albert), Magdalene (9685 9416); E: choicewk@ yahoo.com; W: http://www.choice.org.sg

Mondays, July 18 to September 19 REFLECTIONS ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 7.30-9.30pm: 14 sessions on the Gospel of Matthew by Fr Ambrose Vaz. At Blessed Sacrament Church (Fr Damien Centre, St James Room). T: 9838 0472 (Royston); E: roystonk80@yahoo.com.sg; W: http://www.bsc.org.sg

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

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

July 30 GENERAL MEETING FOR CHOIR LEADERS & ORGANISTS 8.30am-12pm: General meeting for choir leaders and organists regarding New Translation of the Roman Missal, with spiritual director Fr JJ Fenolon. Cost: $20.

By Liturgical Music Committee.

At Church of St Teresa (Auditorium).

E: lmcsingapore@gmail.com

July 27 MASS FOR VOCATIONS 8pm: Topic: Responding to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world. Celebrant: Fr Ravi Louis, SJ. At Church of the Holy Family (Function Room).

August 5 to 7 DISCERNMENT RETREAT FOR SINGLE MALES 6pm (Fri) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6pm (Sun): Come and learn from Our Lord how to listen the desires that animate your heart and the inspirations that motivate your world. Retreat Director: Fr Ravi Michael Louis, SJ. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 64676072; F: 64687584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com 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 childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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). T: 6315 8812; E: programs@morningstar.org.sg Saturdays August 6 to 27 BASIC CATECHIST COURSE LITURGY MODULE 1 9.30am-12.30pm: Part of the Level 1 FHUWLÂżFDWLRQ SURJUDPPH IRU FDWHFKLVWV $ 4-week course for all catechists and those involved in faith formation. This course lays a basic foundation for understanding the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s liturgy, including a look at the New Roman Missal. Conducted by Fr Ignatius Yeo, Liturgical Commission, and Fr Erbin Fernandez, catechetical director.

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 Ambrose Vaz. Cost: $30. At Church of the Holy Spirit (Room A2-01). T: 9833 4623; E: andrew_loo_ts@yahoo.com.sg August 6 CATHOLIC SINGLES MEETUP@ HANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 5-9pm: For faith and fellowship. Faith-based

Crossword Puzzle 1037 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

27

28

36

24 29

30

45

39

49

43

59

61

35

65

66

44

52

55

60

34

48 51

50 54

33 40

47

46

13

25 32

42

41

58

31

38

37

12

22

21 23

26

11

56 62

53 57

63

64

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75 www.wordgamesforcatholics.com

ACROSS 1 Play part 6 Tools of trade for Peter and Andrew 10 Omission and commission, for example 14 Insults 15 Stadiums 16 Mourn 17 Sucrose 18 Monster loch +LQGX JRGGHVV RI ÂżUH 20 The New and the Old 22 Adverse fate 23 Govâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t agency 24 Faith is like a mustard

26 29 32 36 38 40 41 42 44 45 47 48

____ Jackie Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hubby â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ have mercyâ&#x20AC;?

Denounce Positions Mortgage Never-to-be-released Ugandan strongman, Idi ____ Top monk Taboo White-and-black mammal The Wise Men followed it ____ News

49 51 53 54 56 58 61 67 68 69 70 71

St. ____ Merici Vessel Milan crowd?

You wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put one of these under a bushel basket Like some news Urbi et ____ (papal speech) Descendents of 5D Land in which Ruth was born Lining Home of St. Teresa Metal fastener It may follow something

72 BBC conveyance 73 These hands are the devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s workshop 74 Hookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand 75 Politician Kefauver DOWN 1 Aide (abbr.)

2 Hint 3 Pulls

4 Angry 5 Another name for Jacob 6 3 PM 7 First place 8 Trials 9 Talked back 10 Clothes of Baby Jesus 11 Othelloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s betrayer 12 El ___ 13 Slender 21 Money 6QDNHOLNH ÂżVK 26 Blow on the cheek delivered by the bishop DW &RQÂżUPDWLRQ 27 ____ Catholic Church 28 Frosting 30 Adam donation, and more 31 In some versions of The Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prayer, trespasses are called these 33 What the game was, according to Holmes 34 Male voice 35 Wear away 37 Through character, sacraments create this kind of â&#x20AC;&#x153;markâ&#x20AC;? on the soul 39 Shemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father 43 Reuben or Gad, for example 46 In the manner of 50 Vestments worn under albs 52 Roman governor who condemned Jesus 55 Sacred song 57 Donates 58 Discontinued Dodge 59 ____ to Emmaus 60 Remove water 62 Trick 63 On sheltered side 64 Slant 65 She, in Paris 66 â&#x20AC;&#x153;___ me!â&#x20AC;?

NOTE: The wrong clues were supplied for the last issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crossword puzzle. :H KDYH UHFWLÂżHG WKHP IRU WKLV LVVXH and apologise for the error.

interactive games available after dinner. Pay what you order. At Hanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s CafĂŠ (Pickering St) E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com 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, OP, and Dr Peter Chew, senior consultant of obstetrics and gynaecology and founder of aLife. At FMM House of Prayer (49 Holland Rd). T: 9147 9388 (David); E: stgiannasoc@gmail.com; W: http://www.stgianna.sg Fridays August 12 to September 30 ST PAULâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 1ST & 2ND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS 7.30-9.30pm: 8 sessions by Msgr Eugene Vaz. Cost: $20. At Church of Lady of Loudes. T: 9007 6022; E: pastoral_ admin@lourdes.sg August 13 IGNATIAN APPROACH TO DECISION MAKING 9.30am-12.30pm: Based on the book, Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Your Decision? How to Make &KRLFHV ZLWK &RQÂżGHQFH DQG &ODULW\ E\ Michael Sparough, SJ, Jim Manney, SJ and Tim Hipskind, SJ. Exchange views, discuss and learn how good decisions can be made. The panel will help to crystallise understanding of the discernment process.

Panellists: Fr Paul Goh, SJ, Sr Rosalia, fdcc and Lance Ng. Register by Aug 6.

August 13 HEALING GRIEF AND LOSS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; EMBRACING LIFE! 9am-5.30pm Sr Carmen Francis, FMDM, (pastoral counsellor) will present the grieving process, share ideas on how to manage emotions and give support to those who are grieving. This workshop ZLOO EHQHÂżW WKRVH ZKR KDYH H[SHULHQFHG loss and grieving, and those who wish to help anyone who is grieving. Cost:

$10 (with tea). At Solomon Hall, Caritas Singapore (55 Waterloo Street, Catholic Welfare Centre, #09-03). T: 9710 3733 ; E: lightingtheway@clarity-singapore.org August 13 NTU CATHOLIC STUDENTS APOSTOLATE SILVER JUBILEE 5.30-9.30pm: Cordially inviting all CSA alumni back for Mass and dinner, a time to relive wonderful memories. At Catholic Junior College. T: 9173 4501 (Leonard), 9220 1806 (Alycia); E: sji@ntu.edu.sg August 19 to 24 SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT: A LIVE-IN DIRECTED RETREAT 8pm (Fri) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6pm (Wed): This 5-day livein retreat is for those who wish to discern Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will for them through mental prayer using the Bible, examination of consciousness, and spiritual direction.

By Fr Paul Goh, SJ, and CISC spiritual directors. Cost: $175 (non-aircon); $300 (aircon). At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T. 64676072; F: 64687584; E:cisc2664@gmail.com August 21 FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM 7pm: Mass, candlelight procession with rosary and Benediction. In Tamil. All are welcome. By St Joseph Tamil Group.

At Blessed Sacrament Church.

Tuesdays August 23 to November 7 LANDINGS 8-10pm: A 10-week welcoming programme for â&#x20AC;&#x153;returningâ&#x20AC;? Catholics as well as for those who wish to renew and share their faith experience. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 9750 3998 (Steven), 9668 2391 (Lilian); E: landings@bsc.org.sg August 27 CATHOLIC SINGLES JB DAY TRIP 9am-6pm: JB one-day shopping and food trip. For fellowship and friendship. Meeting point at Woodlands MRT McDonalds.

E: CatholicSingle@gmail.com

28 BACK PAGE

Sunday July 31, 2011 Â&#x201E; CatholicNews

Philippine senators: Bishops can keep gifts IURP RIÃ&#x20AC;FLDO FKDULW\

Â&#x201E; From page 1

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6HQDWRUV KDYH H[RQHUDWHG VHYHQ &DWKROLF ELVKRSV ZKR DFFHSWHG GRQDWLRQV RI PRQH\ DQG YHKLFOHV IURP WKH 3KLOLSSLQH &KDULW\ 6ZHHSVWDNHV 2I¿FH GXULQJ WKH DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ RI IRUPHU 3UHVLGHQW *ORULD 0DFDSDJDO $UUR\R 7KH VHQDWRUV VDLG WKHUH ZDV QRWKLQJ LUUHJXODU LQ WKH ELVKRSV¶ DFWLRQV EHFDXVH WKH YHKLFOHV ZHUH XVHG WR KHOS SHRSOH QRW SURPRWH UHOLJLRQ UHSRUWHG WKH $VLDQ &KXUFK QHZV DJHQF\ 8&$ 1HZV +RZHYHU WKH ELVKRSV KDG DOUHDG\ DGPLWWHG WKDW WKH LVVXH KDG EURXJKW VKDPH RQ WKH &KXUFK DQG WKH\ UHWXUQHG WKH YHKLFOHV GHVSLWH WKH 6HQDWH¶V GHFLVLRQ ,Q D VWDWHPHQW UHDG E\ $UFKELVKRS 2UODQGR 4XHYHGR RI &RWDEDWR GXULQJ WKH -XO\ KHDULQJ WKH ELVKRSV VDLG WKH YHKLFOHV ZHUH XVHG IRU VRFLDO SURJUDPPHV LQ WKHLU UHVSHFWLYH GLRFHVHV EXW WKH\ ZRXOG UHWXUQ WKHP 7KUHH SUHODWHV IURP /X]RQ EURXJKW WKHLU YHKLFOHV WR WKH 6HQDWH DQG UHWXUQHG WKHP WR &KDULW\ 6ZHHSVWDNHV RI¿FLDOV $UFKELVKRS 4XHYHGR VDLG YHKLFOHV LQ 0LQGDQDR LQFOXGLQJ WKH RQH IRU KLV DUFKGLRFHVH DUH UHDG\ IRU LPPHGLDWH UHWXUQ WR D GXO\ DXWKRULVHG VZHHSVWDNHV UHSUHVHQWDWLYH 6L[ RI WKH VHYHQ ELVKRSV LQ-

nature of the Mass as the sacraPHQW RI WKH 6DFUL¿FH RI &KULVW LQ ZKLFK ZH DUH VDQFWL¿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¶V SDUWV DQG WKH SULHVW¶V SDUWV WR WKH SURSHU SUD\HUV RI WKH Mass which change from week to ZHHN DQG GD\ WR GD\ 7KHUH ZLOO EH VOLJKW FKDQJHV LQ WKH , &RQIHVV WKH *ORU\ WR *RG WKH &UHHG WKH (XFKDULVWLF 3UD\HUV DQG FHUWDLQ UHVSRQVHV )RU LQVWDQFH WKH VLPSOHVW DQG EHVW NQRZQ UHVSRQVH RI DOO ³7KH /RUG EH ZLWK \RX ± $QG DOVR ZLWK \RX´ ZLOO EH FKDQJHG WR ³7KH /RUG EH ZLWK \RX ± $QG ZLWK \RXU 6SLULW´ $OO RI XV SULHVWV DQG ODLW\ ZLOO QHHG WR JHW XVHG WR WKH QHZ WH[WV

Archbishop Quevedo answers Philippine senatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; questions during the July 13 hearing. CNS photo

YROYHG LQ WKH FRQWURYHUV\ IDFHG WKH 6HQDWH FRPPLWWHH %HVLGHV $UFKELVKRS 4XHYHGR WKH ELVKRSV LQFOXGHG $UFKELVKRS 5RPXOR 9DOOHV RI =DPERDQJD %LVKRSV 5RGROIR %HOWUDQ RI %RQWRF /DJDZH /HRSROGR -DXFLDQ RI %DQJXHG -XDQ GH 'LRV 3XHEORV RI %XWXDQ DQG 0DUWLQ -XPRDG RI ,VDEHOD $UFKELVKRS (UQHVWR 6DOJDGR RI 1XHYD 6HJRYLD ZKR ZDV RXW RI WKH FRXQWU\ ZDV UHSUHVHQWHG E\ $X[LOLDU\ %LVKRS 'DYLG $QWRQLR Â&#x201E; CNS

ARCHBISHOPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MESSAGE

$ FDWHFKHWLFDO RSSRUWXQLW\ These prayers are our inheritDQFH IURP DOO ZKR FDPH EHIRUH XV DQG WKH OHJDF\ WKDW ZH KDQG RQ WR WKRVH ZKR ZLOO IROORZ XV 7KXV ZH FRQWLQXH WR EH WKH ³RQH KRO\ FDWKROLF DQG DSRVWROLF &KXUFK´ ,Q REHGLHQFH WR WKH WHDFKLQJ DXWKRULW\ RI RXU &KXUFK OHW XV DYRLG VWUD\LQJ IURP WKHVH ZRUGV WKDW ZHUH FKRVHQ FDUHIXOO\ )RU WKLV UHDVRQ WR KHOS XV JHW XVHG WR VRPH RI WKH QHZ WH[WV ZKDW ZH FDOO ³7KH 2UGHU RI 0DVV´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Ã&#x20AC;HFW XSRQ WKHLU PHDQLQJ $QG

when the time comes for us to use WKH QHZ WUDQVODWLRQ RI WKH 5RPDQ 0LVVDO OHW XV DOO EH RI RQH KHDUW DQG RQH PLQG LQ D VLQFHUH FHOHEUDWLRQ RI WKH VDFUHG P\VWHULHV SUD\LQJ WKH ZRUGV RI WKH QHZ WH[W IDLWKIXOO\ DV RQH ERG\ RI &KULVW 2XU $UFKGLRFHVDQ /LWXUJLFDO &RPPLVVLRQ ZLOO KHOS XV WR XQGHUVWDQG DQG LPSOHPHQW WKH QHZ 5RPDQ 0LVVDO 7KH 5HJLRQDO /LWXUJ\ &RPPLVVLRQ RI WKH &DWKROLF %LVKRSV¶ &RQIHUHQFH KDV SURGXFHG PDWHULDOV IRU XVH WKURXJKRXW RXU UHJLRQ WR KHOS XV LQ WKLV HIIRUW $V ZH HQWHU WKLV QH[W VWDJH RI OLWXUJLFDO UH¿QHPHQW LQ RXU &KXUFK OHW XV VHHN WR HQULFK RXU RZQ DSSUHFLDWLRQ RI WKH VDFUHG P\VWHULHV WKDW H[SUHVV DQG FHOHEUDWH ZKR ZH DUH DV *RG¶V KRO\ SHRSOH %H DVVXUHG RI P\ SURIRXQG DSSUHFLDWLRQ DQG JUDWLWXGH WR DOO RXU FOHUJ\ 5HOLJLRXV DQG ODLW\ IRU DOO WKDW \RX GR HDFK DQG HYHU\ GD\ WR EXLOG XS WKH %RG\ RI &KULVW LQ RXU $UFKGLRFHVH Â&#x201E; 0D\ *RG EOHVV \RX DOO 'HYRWHGO\ \RXUV LQ &KULVW

$UFKELVKRS 1LFKRODV &KLD '' 67/

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