MAY 08, 2011, vol 61 no 09

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www.catholicnews.sg SUNDAY MAY 8, 2011

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VOL 61

NO. 9

INSIDE HOME Support for cancer patients Year-old group holds retreat for patients, caregivers

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ASIA Aquino to ‘risk excommunication’

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7KH EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ RI 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, RQ 0D\ )HDVW RI 'LYLQH 0HUF\ LV D JUDQG RFFDVLRQ for celebration within the Catholic Church all over the world. %HDWLÂżFDWLRQ LV WKH ÂżUVW VWHS towards sainthood, which is the UHFRJQLWLRQ E\ WKH &KXUFK WKDW D person has lived the Christian virWXHV LQ DQ H[WUDRUGLQDU\ ZD\ DQG LV D PRGHO WR EH LPLWDWHG E\ RWKHUV Âą D WUXH LPDJH RI &KULVW -RKQ 3DXO ,, ZDV JHQXLQHO\ D KRO\ PDQ whose essence and spirit touched all who met him. 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, ZDV ERUQ .DURO -y]HI :RMW\OD LQ 3RODQG RQ 0D\ +H ZDV WKH \RXQJHVW RI WKUHH FKLOGUHQ DQG KLV HDUO\ FKLOGKRRG ZDV PDUNHG E\ WKH GHDWK RI KLV PRWKHU VLVWHU and brother, which affected him GHHSO\ After his father’s death in KDYLQJ ORVW HYHU\RQH KH ORYHG .DURO :RMW\OD EHFDPH aware of his true path and was orGDLQHG WR WKH SULHVWKRRG RQ 1RY $OO 6DLQWVÂś 'D\ $W WKH DJH RI .DURO :RMW\OD EHFDPH WKH \RXQJHVW ELVKRS LQ 3RODQG DQG ODWHU EHFDPH $UFKbishop of Krakow. During his decades as a bishop LQ 3RODQG .DURO :RMW\OD IRXJKW WLUHOHVVO\ DJDLQVW FRPPXQLVP using a non-violent approach to confront government oppression. :KHQ KH ZDV WROG WKDW KH FRXOG not build a church in a communistcreated “utopianâ€? capital and industrial town outside of Krakow, .DURO :RMW\OD DQG RWKHUV HUHFWHG D FURVV RQ D PXGG\ ÂżHOG RXWVLGH the gates of the town’s steel mill DQG KHOG 0DVVHV WKHUH He petitioned the government several hundred times to build a Catholic church on the premises,

„ Page 2

Refuses to scrap bill allowing contraception „ Page 10

WORLD Record number of indigenous baptisms Hundreds receive sacrament in Vietnam „ Page 11 Karol Wojtyla poses for a picture RQ WKH GD\ RI KLV ¿UVW &RPPXQLRQ on May 25, 1929.

WORLD Ivory Coast mission aids 30,000 refugees Fears of cholera outbreak „ Page 13

Pope John Paul II prays during a special audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall in 2004.

A 1946 photo of the newly ordained Fr Karol Wojtyla.

DQG HYHQWXDOO\ KLV HIIRUWV SDLG RII and the communist government consented. 7HQ \HDUV ODWHU :RMW\OD FRQVHFUDWHG WKH &KXUFK RI 2XU /DG\ ZLWK ZRUVKLSSHUV LQ DWWHQGDQFH 7KLV H[SHULHQFH LQ 3RODQG VKDSHG :RMW\ODÂśV RXWORRN LQ dealing with authoritarian governments, which would later become

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a pivotal skill in his role on the world stage as the leader of the Catholic Church. 2Q 2FWREHU .DURO :RMW\OD EHFDPH 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, adopting the name out of respect IRU KLV SUHGHFHVVRU -RKQ 3DXO , ZKR VHUYHG DV 3RSH IRU RQO\ GD\V EHIRUH KLV XQWLPHO\ GHDWK -RKQ 3DXO ,, ZDV WKH WK 3RSH

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JUBILARIANS Honouring priests and Religious celebrating their anniversaries „ Pages 16-17

FAITH ALIVE! Why marriages are ‘holy ground’ Allowing God to take centre stage „ Page 18

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Support group gives hope to cancer patients, caregivers By Marie Jude Bendiola ³7KLV UHWUHDW KHOSV \RX IRFXV RQ *RG ,W PDNHV \RX UHDOLVH WKDW \RX KDYH WR OLYH \RXU OLIH WR WKH IXOOHVW HYHU\ GD\ ´ VD\V \HDU ROG FDQFHU VXUYLYRU (VWKHU QRW KHU UHDO name). (VWKHU ZDV VSHDNLQJ RQ WKH VLGHOLQHV RI WKH ¿UVW UHWUHDW KHOG E\ WKH St Mary of the Cross cancer support JURXS OHG E\ )U -RVHSK 7DQ 7KH JURXS ZDV IRUPHG DERXW D \HDU DJR $ERXW FDQFHU SDWLHQWV FDQFHU VXUYLYRUV DQG FDUHJLYHUV DWWHQGHG WKH $SULO UHWUHDW KHOG DW WKH ,PPDFXODWH +HDUW RI 0DU\ Church Retreat House. 7KH HYHQW KDG WKH WKHPH :DONLQJ ZLWK -HVXV WKLV /HQW DQG VDZ SDUWLFLSDQWV VKDULQJ LQ VPDOO JURXSV &DUHJLYHUV DOVR VSRNH RI WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV MRXUQH\LQJ ZLWK ORYHG RQHV ZKR DUH VXIIHULQJ IURP FDQFHU 7KH UHWUHDW KHOSHG SDUWLFLSDQWV UHFDOO WKH WLPH WKH\ IRXQG RXW WKDW they had the disease. Fr Joseph, 63, HQFRXUDJHG SDUWLFLSDQWV WR SUD\ SXW FORVXUH WR WKDW GLI¿FXOW PRPHQW LQ WKHLU OLYHV DQG PRYH RQ -XVW OLNH WKH RQHV KH LV KHOSLQJ )U -RVHSK OHDUQHG WKDW KH ZDV VXIIHULQJ IURP FDQFHU EDFN LQ 6LQFH WKHQ KH KDV XQGHUJRQH YDULRXV RSHUDWLRQV EHHQ SUHVFULEHG VHYHUDO YDULHWLHV RI PHGLFDWLRQ DQG H[SHULHQFHG WKHLU VLGH HIIHFWV :LWK WKH KHOS RI RWKHU FDQcer patients, he initiated the St 0DU\ RI WKH &URVV VXSSRUW JURXS in May 2010 to reach out to others H[SHULHQFLQJ WKH VDPH VLWXDWLRQ DQG KHOS WKHP UHDOLVH *RGœV SUHVHQFH GXULQJ WU\LQJ WLPHV ,Q QDPLQJ WKH JURXS )U -RVHSK VDLG KH ZDV LQVSLUHG E\ WKH VWRU\ RI 6W 0DU\ 0DF.LOORSœV PLUDFXORXV LQWHUFHVVLRQ LQ WKH KHDOLQJ RI D FDQFHU SDWLHQW 7KH $XVWUDOLDQ VDLQW ZKR ZDV FDQRQLVHG ODVW \HDU ZDV DOVR NQRZQ DV 6W

Fr Joseph Tan speaking to participants of a recent retreat held for cancer patients and caregivers. The St Mary of the Cross cancer support group organised the retreat.

‘I’m comfortable here knowing that there are also other cancer patients sharing the same faith. I am not angry.’ – Cancer patient Anna (not her real name) Mary of the Cross, 7KURXJK WKH VXSSRUW JURXS DERXW SHRSOH IURP YDULRXV SDULVKHV VD\ WKH\ KDYH IRXQG KHOS LQ GHDOLQJ ZLWK WKHLU VLWXDWLRQV Âł, KDYH DFFHSWHG P\ LOOQHVV WKURXJK WKLV VXSSRUW JURXS ´ VDLG $QQD QRW KHU UHDO QDPH Âł,ÂśP FRPIRUWDEOH KHUH NQRZLQJ WKDW WKHUH DUH DOVR RWKHU FDQFHU SDWLHQWV VKDULQJ WKH VDPH IDLWK , DP QRW DQJU\ , MXVW DFFHSW WKDW LW LV DFFRUGLQJ WR +LV SODQ ´ &DQFHU VXUYLYRU 0LFKHOOH QRW KHU UHDO QDPH VD\V Âł:H VKDUH RXU HPRWLRQV DQG H[SHULHQFHV VLQFH WKHVH DUH UHDOO\ LPSRUWDQW WR

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARY May 01 11.00am Church of St Joseph (Bukit Timah): Mass – Feastday 5.30pm Church of Divine Mercy: Mass – Feastday & Commemoration of the %HDWL¿FDWLRQ RI 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,, May 08 2.00pm St Francis Xavier Major Seminary: Mass – Vocation Retreat 0D\ SP &KXUFK RI 6W ,JQDWLXV 0DVV ¹ &RQ¿UPDWLRQ 6.00pm Church of the Risen Christ: Mass – Vocation Sunday 0D\ SP &KXUFK RI WKH +RO\ )DPLO\ 0DVV ¹ &RQ¿UPDWLRQ

XV 0\ SXUSRVH LV WR KHOS RWKHUV DQG JLYH WKHP FRQÂżGHQFH ´ 7KH JURXS PHHWV PRQWKO\ DQG RQ SXEOLF KROLGD\V 0HPEHUV VD\ WKH\ ÂżQG VWUHQJWK UHDGLQJ %LEOH SDVVDJHV WRJHWKHU 7KH JURXS DOVR DVVLJQV SHRSOH to accompany cancer patients durLQJ WKHLU KRVSLWDO YLVLWV DQG KHOSV WKHP GHDO ZLWK WKHLU VLWXDWLRQV “Cancer is not a death senWHQFH ,W LV DOZD\V D FKDQJH RI OLIHVW\OH D VLPSOLÂżHG OLIHVW\OH ´ VD\V Fr Joseph. „ For more information about the group, email limrosa@singnet.com.sg

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Sunday May 8, 2011 CatholicNews

3ULHVW ÀQGV ¶PLVVLQJ· %OHVVHG -RKQ 3DXO ,, UHOLFV Items that the late pope used when he visited Singapore in 1986 are now being kept by the archdiocese Photo: Br Edward Seah

By Darren Boon The Singapore archdiocese is in possession of a chair, chalice, chasuble and stole which Blessed John Paul II used when he celebrated Mass in Singapore in 1986. The chair and chalice are now kept in the rectory of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd while the chasuble and stole are being cared for by the De La Salle Brothers at St Patrick’s School. Prior to this, however, the chalice and vestments went “missing” for a while before they were found by Fr Ignatius Yeo. Recalling how he found the items, Fr Ignatius said he was staying in the Catholic Spirituality Centre during his study break in 2007 when he decided to explore the sacristy. There he found some gold cloth and his instinct told him it was probably some old vestments. As he unfolded what turned out to be a chasuble with two long panels from top to bottom, front and back, a sense of familiarity struck him. Pope John Paul II’s coat of arms was embroidered on the cloth. The last time Fr Ignatius remembered seeing the garment and chalice was during the late Archbishop Gregory Yong’s 80th birthday celebration in 2005 at the Catholic Spirituality Centre. Previously, these items had always been kept in the cathedral’s sacristy. As the garment was dirty, he handed it over to Lasalle Brother Jeffrey Chan for cleaning. Speaking to CatholicNews, Br Jeffrey said he sent the garment for dry cleaning as it had “some stains” on it. It looked much better after that, he said. Fr Ignatius also found the stole the pope used in the sacristy’s vestment cupboard. While these vestments had been found, no one knew that the chalice had been missing from the cathedral’s sacristy until 2008 when it was supposed to be used at Archbishop Yong’s funeral Mass. A search then proved futile. “I was sad for the diocese,” recalled Fr Ignatius. However, he did not give up but prayed that the chalice be found HDFK WLPH KH SUD\HG WKH EHDWL¿FDtion prayer for Pope John Paul II. It was later that year, when the major seminary contacted Fr Ignatius over the electroplating and engraving of chalices to be presented to the acolytes that he found the chalice, which had been kept in the storeroom. Fr Ignatius said he later learnt the chalice had been given to the

The chair used by the late pope, now kept in the rectory of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.

The vestments (above) that Pope John Paul II wore during Mass in Singapore in 1986 and the chalice (below) that he used.

Fr Ignatius Yeo found the chalice and vestments which went ‘missing’ for a while. seminary by the late Archbishop Yong’s family members who thought it belonged to him. The chalice has since been returned for safekeeping in the cathedral’s rectory. Unlike most chalices that are polished and shiny, the chalice which Pope John Paul II used was “unassuming … a simple goblet” that was matt gold, said Fr Ignatius. On further inspection, the

pope’s coat of arms can be seen emblazoned on the nut used to fasten the chalice, and which can be seen at its bottom. For Fr Ignatius, watching Pope John Paul II raise the chalice during the 1986 Mass was one of ³WKH PRVW VLJQL¿FDQW´ PRPHQWV for him as a young boy. He had also replayed that moment, captured on video, a few times. Having seen the chalice used at a Mass later in 2002 also “created an impression” on him, he said. He said it could be this deep impression and his prayer for the

chalice to be found which led to its discovery. Meanwhile, the chair used by the pope is now a little weather beaten and has some green spots on its frame. Fr Ignatius says these items are priceless. Now that Pope John Paul II is on the road to being declared a saint, they are considered “second class relics”, items used or owned by the saint. First class relics, on the other hand, are physical remains of saints. The vestments will be on display at Church of Divine Mercy on May 1 to commemorate Pope John 3DXO ,,¶V EHDWL¿FDWLRQ WKDW GD\ darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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selves as a kind of Christian Community too.

Archbishop Nicholas Chia, together with the Senate of Priests, has decided to cease the usage of “Small Christian Community� or SCC in favour of “Neighbourhood Christian Community� or NCC. Parishes and diocesan agencies are requested to adopt the change of terminology in their communications and publications by the second-half of 2011.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the growth of many small neighbourhood groups in the Church. Because our parishes had grown so large, these small communities were seen as a way to continue fostering a personal experience of the Church for Catholics. These groups also made it possible for ordinary Catholics to witness Christian living in areas where parish organisations could not reach. Many of these groups became the Small Christian Communities (SCCs) that the Pastoral Institute promoted and supported. However, many priests and lay Catholics had their own understanding of what the SCC was. Different perspectives on the SCC began to emerge, and eventually there was confusion on how the term Small Christian Community was to be used – QHDUO\ DQ\ JURXS VHHPHG WR ÂżW LQWR WKH FDWegory of the SCC. Alongside neighbourhood communities, RWKHU OD\ DVVRFLDWLRQV ZHUH Ă€RXULVKLQJ LQ the parishes, such as the Legion of Mary, the Charismatic renewal, bible sharing groups, prayer groups, choirs, and so on. These also began to consider themselves communities and asked; “Can we call our groups SCCs?â€? In addition, trans-parish or diocesan groups, family associations, and covenant communities began to establish themselves as well; such as Focolare, the Neo-catechumenal way, Catholic Family Social Movement (CFSM), Couples for Christ, Earthen Vessels, and many others. They viewed them-

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$Q (PSKDVLV RQ &RPPXQLW\ In Catholic teaching, community is indispensable for Christian discipleship. This emphasis on community is evident in the teaching of our Lord that the love of God and the love of neighbour are closely connected (Matthew 22:36-40). Faith is to be lived through community life. The Second Vatican Council echoes this emphasis in the Constitution on the Church: “At all times and in every race, God has given welcome to whosoever fears him and does what is right. God, however, does not make men holy and save them merely as individuals, without bond or link between one another. Rather, it has pleased God to bring all together as one people.â€? (n. 9) Community comes from God’s own inner-life. The intimacy between God the FaWKHU WKH 6RQ DQG +RO\ 6SLULW LV UHĂ€HFWHG LQ human nature in our desire to love God and one another. We are created in the image and likeness of God who is Holy Trinity.

On 12 and 19 May 2010, the Singapore Pastoral Institute conducted two study days with all the priests to review the effort made so far in the promotion of Christian communities. After the Study Days, ongoing GLVFXVVLRQ DQG UHÀHFWLRQ ZHUH FRQGXFWed among the priests at the district levels and in the Senate of Priests. Archbishop Chia eventually decided in the December Senate meeting to uphold the promotion of communities that are neighbourhood-based as the way forward, and to call them Neighbourhood Christian Communities (NCCs). In brief, an NCC is: 1. A group of Christ’s disciples located within a particular neighbourhood 2. Small enough for close relationship in Christian community life 3. Inclusive enough to recognise and admit different kinds of people who bear different gifts from God $I¿OLDWHG WR WKH SDULVK E\ DQ DFWLYH connection to the ordained pastor 5. Where Catholics live out their eucharistic faith; sharing life and contemplating the Word of God together When we refer to Neighbourhood Christian Communities (NCCs) in the Singapore context we are primarily speaking about groups of Catholics who gather in the residential areas to do what the Church does. NCCs are where ordinary baptised

Catholics respond to Christ’s command to love God and neighbour. Catholic families living in a certain area come together in an NCC as a social network of faith; they are a community of disciples that tries to bring about the Kingdom of God in that particular place. Members of an NCC understand their primary vocation as lay Christians to respond to God in daily life, becoming leaven that transforms the world. There is a need for all Catholics to understand why the Church needs NCCs. We are required to grasp the values, the approaches, the structures, the methods, and the challenges of the Church in the world today. The Singapore Pastoral Institute is tasked with the responsibility to assist us in WKLV RQJRLQJ UHÀHFWLRQ

&RQFOXVLRQ Jesus called the Church to make disciples of all nations. This work rests primarily on the shoulders of Catholic laypeople. Although priests and religious bear some of this burden, it is the laity with their numbers and experience of operating in the world who can be most effective in bringing Christ’s Good News to all. NCCs are platforms where Catholic laypeople can carry out this witnessing of Christ, not merely as lone Christians, but as a community of friends rooted in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. „ For a further explanation of NCCs, please refer to the April issue of the Singapore Pastoral Institute E-newsletter. http://catholicspi.org/eNews/enews%202011-04.pdf

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Calling all communicators‌ The Singapore archdiocese invites individuals from all facets of communications, including broadcasting, journalism, public relations, advertising and education, to attend a special Mass to mark the 45th annual World Communications Sunday. The Mass will be held at Church of Divine Mercy on June 5 at 5.30 pm, and will be followed by a reception. Archbishop Nicholas Chia will celebrate the Mass, acknowledging the important role that Catholics SOD\ LQ WKH ÂżHOG RI FRPPXQLFDWLRQV and reiterating the pope’s theme of Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age. In his 2011 World Communications Sunday message, Pope Benedict XVI states that the new social media has caused a “cultural transformation‌ giving birth to a new way of learning and thinking, with unprecedented opportunities for establishing relationships and building fellowshipâ€?. The pope further asserts that the Christian way of being present in the digital world “takes the form of a communication which is honest and open, responsible and respectful of othersâ€?. Archbishop Chia will explore these ideas as they relate to the role of Catholic communicators in Singapore. „ ,I \RX ZRUN LQ WKH ÂżHOG RI FRPmunications and are interested in attending this event, please RSVP to www.catholic.org.sg/events by May 25.

... and smartphone users

For the CatholicNews’ Communications Sunday issue (May 29), the paper would like to feature some of the Catholic smartphone apps that readers have discovered, DQG ZKLFK WKH\ ¿QG XVHIXO IRU spiritual growth. We invite you to drop us a note at cnedit@catholic.org.sg (by May 13) with the following information: „ App name: „ What it does: „ :K\ \RX ¿QG LW XVHIXO „ Whether the app is free or needs to be purchased (give price): „ Your full name, age, parish: „ A digital photo of the app icon (if possible) We will also need your contact QR DQG DGGUHVV IRU YHUL¿FDWLRQ purposes. „

Canossian school marks 70 years

The present Canossa Convent Primary School (above) will have a new building in 2015.

Students will enjoy a Multimedia Resource Library and learn public speaking skills.

Canossa Convent Primary School (CCPS), which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, is looking forward to a brand new school building in 2015. CCPS, located on Sallim 5RDG KDV EHHQ LGHQWLÂżHG E\ WKH Ministry of Education to undergo PRIME (Programme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools (PRIME) from January 2013 to Dec 2014. When completed, the new building will house a Multimedia Resource Library with expanded reading resources.

range of programmes. “While the essence of the Canossian values will be the foundation of the education, the improvements to the school building would create more learning spaces and facilities for programmes that would prepare pupils for the 21st century,� says principal Grace Tan. The present school will move to a holding site in 2013 until the

It will also have a stage where SXSLOV FDQ EXLOG XS WKHLU FRQÂżdence in public speaking. The indoor sports hall will be enlarged to allow for more learning activities. A science laboratory will open out to a science garden and allow students to learn about bio-diversity even as they examine specimens under the microscope. There will also be a dance studio as dance is now a popular cocurricular activity. The new school will go single-session to allow for a wider

new school building is ready. „ Well wishers and ex-Canossians are invited for a dinner to celebrate the school’s 70th anniversary on July 1 at 7 pm in the school grounds. Proceeds go to the School Building Fund. Tickets at $100 and $50. Donations are also welcome. For enquiries, call 6844 1418 or email canossa70@gmail.com.

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Journeying together The ‘One Montfort Journey’, which aims to establish a common ethos for the two Montfort schools, was stressed at their recent Founder’s Day celebration

Wushu teams of Montfort Junior and Montfort Secondary Schools putting on a performance at the April 16 Charity cum Gala Dinner. Both teams now come under the same instructors.

Principals of both Montfort Junior and Secondary Schools have reiterated the importance of an ongoing effort which aims to create common values and greater synergy between both schools. With about 55-60 percent of Montfort Junior boys progressing to Montfort Secondary, there DUH ÂłFOHDU EHQHÂżWV´ LI WKH VFKRROV can “develop them over a 10-year period through more streamlined academic and non-academic proJUDPPHV ´ VDLG 0RQWIRUW -XQLRU principal Genevieve Chye. She was speaking to students and staff of both schools during their 95th Founder’s Day celebration on April 16. 7KH Âł2QH 0RQWIRUW -RXUQH\´ which both schools are undertaking, began in 2008 when the School Management Committee felt the need for a common ethos to provide the boys greater continuity as they moved from the primary to the secondary school. During the recent celebration, Ms Chye and Montfort Secondary principal Andrew Tan shared that in 2009, the schools, together with Montfort alumni and the School Management Committee, established common mission and vision statements. In 2010, the schools established a common set of values, called CHRISTE (Compassion, Humility, Respect, Integrity, Service, Team spirit and Excellence). These values are “critical in ensuring that we are rooted in what is enduring and that each member of staff and each student .. embody WKHVH YDOXHV ´ VDLG 0U 7DQ Both principals explained how they decided to collaborate in areas beyond annual events such as Founder’s Day and National Day. The schools have begun to streamline some key programmes, such as their badminton and wushu cocurricular activities, where they have common coaches. However, the success of One Montfort lies very much in whether the teachers believe in it. “We recognised the need to

provide greater synergy between WKH VWDII RI ERWK VFKRROV ´ VDLG 0V Chye. “This is critical if we are to capitalise on the strengths of each school and grow in positive directions to take the schools to the QH[W OHYHO ´ Teachers of both schools met last November to better understand the upper primary and lower secondary curricula. This was so that both schools could better bridge the primary-secondary school transition. )RU WKH ÂżUVW WLPH WHDFKHUV responsible for character and student leadership development also came together for a common training programme.

The ‘One Montfort Journey’ began in 2008 when the School Management Committee felt the need to provide students greater continuity as they moved from the primary to secondary school. Meanwhile, Montfort Secondary is reconstructing its school building under an Education Ministry programme to rebuild and upgrade existing schools. The school upgrading, which costs $24 million, is expected to be ready by year end. It will have a new library, a refurbished auditorium and an outdoor theatre. There will also be a new wing connecting both schools and which will house shared facilities such as the Heritage Gallery, Sports Gallery DQG D EUDQG QHZ V\QWKHWLF ÂżHOG On April 16 evening, the school and its alumni held a Charity cum Gala Dinner to raise funds. Archbishop Nicholas Chia, a Montfort alumnus, was guest of honour. „

Model of the new Montfort Secondary School, which is expected to be completed by year end.

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

SJI Foundation launched By Daniel Lim The launch of the SJI Foundation “marked a new beginning, a new opportunity, a new necessary response to a different age,â€? said Mr George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs. Mr Yeo, an old boy St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) was speaking at WKH RIÂżFLDO HVWDEOLVKPHQW RI WKH foundation at SJI International on April 23. The foundation is a charitable institution aimed at helping the Josephian community and its friends support the mission of the De La Salle Brothers, as well as the education of young people in Singapore and the region. “For who and what we are today, we have the Brothers and the teachers to thank and we do so with gratitude,â€? said SJI Foundation vice-chairman Edmund Tie at the event. He said the foundation felt a need to “provide a new platformâ€? for the community to work together with the Brothers to further their mission. 6-, )RXQGDWLRQÂśV ÂżUVW SURMHFW was a fund raising drive in support of the further development of

The foundation is a charitable institution aimed at helping the Josephian community and its friends support the mission of the De La Salle Brothers.

From left: Mr Edmund Tie, vice-chairman, SJI Foundation Board of Trustees; De La Salle Brother Visitor Thomas /DYLQ DQG )RUHLJQ $IIDLUV 0LQLVWHU *HRUJH <HR SUHVHQWLQJ D SODTXH RI /D -XOLH WKH VKLS WKDW EURXJKW WKH ÂżUVW EDWFK of De La Salle Brothers to Singapore in 1852, to the founding members of SJI Foundation. Photo: BRIAN THENG

SJI International. It saw 30 SJI old boys coming forward to contribute more than $2 million. During the April 23 event, 0LQLVWHU <HR RIÂżFLDOO\ RSHQHG D new academic block of SJI International, which was substantially

funded by this donation. Mr Tie said the foundation would support the Christian Brothers’ schools beyond fundraising by also contributing “professional expertise, thoughts and ideas�.

The foundation had its genesis on May 7 last year when Mr Philip Yeo, chairman of SPRING Singapore and head of the foundation’s board of trustees, announced that a group of SJI old boys had come together to start this initiative.

'XULQJ WKH RI¿FLDO ODXQFK principals of SJI and both SJI International Elementary and High Schools updated the audience on their new programs that were available in the coming years, notably SJI’s introduction of the Integrated Programme and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. There are now seven schools started by the De La Salle Brothers in Singapore, with 159-year old SJI as its oldest and SJI International, established in 2007, as its youngest. „

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Special outreach inspires parishioners of St Bernadette

BLESSING OF THE OILS: Deacon Clem-

ent Chen presenting oil to Archbishop Nicholas Chia at the Chrism Mass held at the Church of the Holy Spirit on Maundy Thursday, April 21. Archbishop Chia blessed the Oil of the Sick; the Oil of Catechumens, used for their initiation; and

consecrated the Chrism, which is used for the VDFUDPHQWV RI %DSWLVP &RQ¿UPDWLRQ DQG +RO\ Orders. The annual Chrism Mass is one of the principal expressions of the fullness of the bishRSœV SULHVWKRRG DQG VLJQL¿HV WKH FORVH XQLW\ RI WKH priests with him. „ Photo: HENRY SEAH

Redemptorist Fr Simon Pereira speaking to youths during the Feb 21-April 10 parish mission.

By John Kwik The Church of St Bernadette, with the help of Redemptorist priests, conducted a special parish outreach from Feb 21 to April 10. The purpose of this parish mission, themed Our Parish Our Life in Christ, was spiritual renewal through promoting people’s sense of belonging to and participation in parish life. About 12 Redemptorist priests conducted the outreach, which included visits to parishioners’ homes, special group Masses, and nine days of Eucharistic celebra-

tions and preaching on topics such as the Word of God, baptism, marriage and youth. A core team of 13 members coordinated the home visits, liturgies, daily intercessory prayer sessions and group discussions. Members of various parish ministries and other parishioners also supported the core team. Many parishioners said they appreciated the inspiring homilies delivered by the Redemptorists as well as the home visits and blessings. The parish now plans to implement further programs to continue the spiritual renewal. „

Priest portrays Christ’s passion

Fr John Bosco, parish priest of Church of St Francis Xavier, re-enacted Christ’s sufferings on Good Friday. Photo: DOMINIC WONG

In order to make the sufferings of Christ come alive for his parishioners, Fr John Bosco, parish priest of Church of St Francis Xavier, played the role of Jesus during the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Together with several parishioners and the choir, he re-enacted the steps Jesus took on his way to Calvary. The dramatisation of the First Station took place in the church. The congregation then moved outside where Fr Bosco and the

other actors, in full costume, took the people back in time. Parishioners watched as the actors dramatised how Jesus was stripped of his garments, beaten, fell under the weight of the cross, was nailed to it, and then died on it. Many people said the re-enactment, done with much passion, brought to life the sufferings that Jesus went through for all. Seeing their own parish priest play the part of Jesus also helped them realise Jesus’ love and compassion for them, they said. „

HOME 9

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Archbishop Chia’s Pastoral Letter for 2011 General Election My dear brothers and sisters, As we approach the 2011 General Election, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on the relationship between Church and State and highlight to you the importance of taking an active role in the political process. When Jesus returned to JeUXVDOHP KH ZDV JUHHWHG ÂżUVW by adoring crowds waving palm branches, and then, as we know, the mood turned. People became suspicious of this Man who was speaking against the establishment. When he was asked, hypocritically, by some Pharisees whether it is lawful to pay taxes, Jesus referred to a coin with the image of Caesar on it and said, “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to Godâ€? (Mk 12:17). This witty answer helped Jesus walk the line between politics and religion. His words express eloquently the legitimate autonomy and respect that religion and politics must always maintain. Church and State have distinctive roles, but they share one mutual goal: the pursuit of the common good of society. Values promoted by the Church, such as honesty, integrity, love and respect for the human person, represent the founding principles of good citizenship in a democratic society. Thus, by remaining true to his/her faith, the Christian citizen acts responsibly in the social community. When considering the issues and the candidates that will represent us in the upcoming election, we as Catholics PXVW UHĂ€HFW RQ RXU GXW\ WR

use our free vote to further the common good while remaining true to the Christian values that Jesus has taught us. Human rights and the dignity of the human person must be respected. We must also ensure that the poor, the elderly and the marginalised in our society are cared for. Finally, we must protect the beautiful world that God has given us by addressing the impact that our actions have on the environment. The right to vote is one of the founding principles of a

‘We as Catholics PXVW UHĂ€HFW RQ our duty to use our free vote to further WKH FRPPRQ JRRG Âś democracy. Each one of us has a voice and can make a difference in the world in which we live through our choices in the election process. Each vote is VLJQLÂżFDQW As we embrace this Easter season, a season of joy and new life, I encourage all of you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to exercise your vote carefully and thoughtfully, in respect of the compatibility between your Catholic values and the common good of Singapore. „ Yours in Christ,

Archbishop Nicholas Chia

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Aquino willing to ‘risk excommunication’ MANILA – Philippine President Benigno Aquino said he is willing to risk excommunication from the Catholic Church rather than scrap the so-called Responsible Parenthood Bill, reported the Asian Church news agency UCA News. “I remain committed to pushing for the introduction of a law for responsible parenthood ... at risk of excommunication, it is my obligation as a leader,� he told graduates from the University of the Philippines. “In the end I must listen to my conscience and do what is right,� the president said. He said he cannot stand by and watch the cycle of poverty continue as unplanned births spiral. The proposed legislation faces strong opposition from the Catholic Church because of provisions

that allow the use of contraception. UCA News reported that, earOLHU &KXUFK RIÂżFLDOV FDOOHG IRU WKH scrapping of the Responsible Parenthood Bill and the Reproductive Health Bill, now pending in the Philippine Congress. Mr Aquino’s spokeswoman Ms Abigail Valte said the Responsible Parenthood Bill will not favour the Church’s stand or the position of those supporting the Reproductive Health Bill. “There is a need to revise, refocus and educate Filipino couples and provide them with all available information regardLQJ QDWXUDO DQG DUWLÂżFLDO PHWKods of family planning, and for them to consult with the individual religious entities they belong to,â€? Mr Aquino said earlier. „ CNS

Vatican commission concerned over China VATICAN CITY – A Vatican com-

mission on China expressed deep concern over worsening relations with the Chinese government and appealed to authorities there to avoid steps that would aggravate Church-state problems. 6SHFLÂżFDOO\ WKH FRPPLVVLRQ urged Chinese authorities not to persist in imposing new government-backed bishops who do not have papal approval. The “Message to Chinese Catholicsâ€? was issued on April 14 after a three-day annual meeting of the commission at the Vatican. The commission expressed joy that Shanghai diocese was launchLQJ WKH EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ FDXVH RI 3DXO Xu Guangqi, a Chinese scholar who worked closely with famed Jesuit missionary Fr Matteo Ricci in the 16th and 17th centuries. The commission’s message notes the “general climate of disorientation and anxietyâ€? of the China Church after recent setbacks in Church-state relations. It said that given the numerous vacant dioceses in China, the selection of new bishops was an urgent necessity and at the same time “a source of deep concernâ€?. “The commission strongly hopes that there will not be new wounds to ecclesial communion,â€? it said. “We look with trepidation and fear to the future: We know that it is not entirely in our hands, and we launch an appeal so that the problems do not grow,â€? it added. The message said the ordination of a new bishop of Chengde ODVW 1RYHPEHU Âą WKH ÂżUVW ZLWKRXW papal approval in four years – was D ÂłVDG HSLVRGH´ WKDW KDG LQĂ€LFWHG a “painful woundâ€? on Church unity. It emphasised that the Church considers the appointment of bishops a religious, not a political matter, which rightly falls under

Chinese Catholics pray during Mass in Xi’an, China. A Vatican commission says it hopes ‘there will not be new wounds to ecclesial communion’ in the country. &16 ÂżOH SKRWR

the pope’s authority. The message said the Vatican, while it does not have reason to regard the ordination in Chengde invalid, considers it “gravely illegitimate� because it was conferred without papal mandate. As a result, it said, the bishop’s exercise of ministry is also illegitimate. The message also addressed the fact that several other bishops, including some in communion with the pope, took part in the Chengde ordination. Because they may have been forced to participate, excommunication was not automatically incurred, the Vatican commission said. But it called on all bishops involved in the ordination to explain themselves to the Vatican and to their own priests and faithful, to help “repair the external scandal� caused by their participation. The message also criticised the Chinese government-controlled National Congress of Catholic Representatives held in Beijing

from Dec 7-9. Many bishops, priests, Religious and laypeople were forced to take part in it. The commission cited Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 letter to Chinese Catholics which said Catholic doctrine cannot accept that state-controlled organisations outside the structure of the Church can guide the life of the Catholic community. The commission’s message said the Church was open to “sincere and respectful dialogue with the civil authoritiesâ€? to overcome WKH SUHVHQW SUREOHPV 6SHFLÂżcally, it said the Vatican was ready to consult with Chinese authorities on the redrawing of diocesan boundaries in China. The message asked the whole Church to pray for Chinese Catholics, in particular on May 24, the feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, which Pope Benedict has designated as a day of prayer for the Church in China. „ CNS

WORLD 11

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

John Paul II’s blood to EH XVHG DW EHDWLÀFDWLRQ VATICAN CITY – A small vial of 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO ,,œV EORRG ZLOO EH XVHG IRU YHQHUDWLRQ GXULQJ KLV EHDWL¿FDWLRQ 0DVV WKH 9DWLFDQ said. 7KH UHOLF LV WR EH SUHVHQWHG WR 3RSH %HQHGLFW ;9, DQG H[SRVHG IRU YHQHUDWLRQ GXULQJ WKH 0D\ 0DVV LQ 6W 3HWHUœV 6TXDUH WKH 9DWLFDQ VDLG RQ $SULO $IWHU WKH 0DVV LW ZLOO EH NHSW with other modern relics in the $SRVWROLF 3DODFH LW VDLG 7KH 9DWLFDQ H[SODLQHG WKDW IRXU YLDOV RI EORRG ZHUH GUDZQ IURP WKH ODWH SRSH GXULQJ WKH ¿QDO VWDJH RI KLV LOOQHVV E\ KLV SHUVRQDO SK\VLFLDQ 7KH YLDOV ZHUH VHQW WR WKH 9DWLFDQ RZQHG %DPELQR *HVX Hospital in Rome in case the ailing pope needed a transfusion, it said. No transfusion was ever

needed, and after the death of 3RSH -RKQ 3DXO RQ $SULO two of the vials went to the pope’s personal secretary, CarGLQDO 6WDQLVODZ ']LZLV] RI .UDNRZ 3RODQG DQG WKH RWKHU WZR remained in the custody of the 'DXJKWHUV RI &KDULW\ RI 6W 9LQFHQW GH 3DXO DW WKH KRVSLWDO WKH Vatican said. 2QH YLDO RI EORRG IURP WKH KRVSLWDO ZLOO EH SUHVHQWHG IRU YHQHUDWLRQ DW WKH EHDWL¿FDWLRQ 0DVV DQG EH SODFHG LQ D ³SUHFLRXV UHOLquary specially made� for the occasion, it said. 7KH VHFRQG YLDO ZLOO UHPDLQ DW the hospital. 7KH 9DWLFDQ VDLG WKH EORRG LQ DOO IRXU YLDOV KDV QRW VROLGL¿HG EHFDXVH DQ DQWL FRDJXODQW KDG EHHQ DGGHG DW WKH WLPH WKH EORRG ZDV drawn. „ CNS

Christians hope Sai Baba’s social work will continue PUTTAPARTHI, INDIA – Christians in India have expressed deep sorrow at the passing away RI 6DWK\D 6DL %DED D SRSXODU Hindu spiritual leader and philanthropist. “We express our deepest condolences to all his followers. It is D ELJ ORVV ´ VDLG )U %DEX -RVHSK VSRNHVPDQ RI WKH &DWKROLF %LVKops’ Conference of India. 0U -RKQ 'D\DO VHFUHWDU\ general of the All India Christian Council, said, “We are deeply JULHYHG E\ WKH SDVVLQJ DZD\ RI WKH 6DWK\D 6DL %DED DQG VKDUH WKH ORVV IHOW E\ KLV IROORZHUV ´ He recalled the “tremendousâ€? DPRXQW RI VRFLDO ZRUN GRQH E\ WKH VSLULWXDO ÂżJXUH LQ KLV EXLOGLQJ of hospitals and educational institutions. %LVKRS 0RVHV ' 3UDNDVDP RI

Nellore expressed the hope that the philanthropist’s work would continue even after his demise. 7KRXVDQGV RI SHRSOH KDYH EHQH¿WHG IURP WKH +LQGX OHDGHUœV initiative of providing free heart surgery, quality education, drinking water and other welfare programs. 6DL %DED DOVR EXLOW WKH KRVSLWDO LQ 3XWWDSDUWKL LQ WKH VRXWKHUQ ,QGLDQ VWDWH RI $QGKUD 3UDGHVK WKH place from where he ran his spiritual ministry. 7KH \HDU ROG VSLULWXDO leader was undergoing treatment at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of +LJKHU 0HGLFDO 6FLHQFHV WKH hospital he founded, when he died on Easter Sunday. He was suffering from pneumonia that led to multiple organ failure. „ UCANEWS. COM

Easter baptism boost for Church in Vietnam

Ethnic villagers waiting to attend Easter Vigil Mass in a chapel. PLEIKU, VIETNAM – 7KHUH KDV

EHHQ D UHFRUG QXPEHU RI EDSWLVPV among Vietnam’s central highland villagers, who do not have a resident priest, during the Easter Vigil 0DVV Âł7KHUH ZHUH LQGLJHQRXV SHRSOH IURP YLOODJHV ZKR ZHUH EDSWLVHG ´ VDLG )UDQFLVFDQ %U 3HWHU 1JX\HQ 7UXQJ 3KDW Âł7KLV LV D UHFRUG QXPEHU RI EDSWLVPV ZH KDYH KDG VLQFH ZH started to work with villagers in ´ %U 3KDW VDLG ,Q WKH SDVW WKH )UDQFLVFDQV EDSWLVHG SHRSOH D \HDU KH DGGHG 7KHVH YLOODJHV DUH ORFDWHG LQ ,D

Grai district in Gia Rai province. %U 3KDW QRWHG WKDW VRPH FDWHFKLVWV WUDLQHG E\ WKH )UDQciscans quietly provide one-year courses in catechism for villagers. Âł7KH\ ZRUN ZHOO EHFDXVH WKH\ know the ethnic languages and culture,â€? he said. 0V 0DULD 5RFKDP +Âś'H DQ HWKQLF -DUDL FDWHFKLVW VDLG VKH travels weekly to villages and teaches catechism. “It is dangerRXV EHFDXVH ZH ULGH PRWRUELNHV through forests during night time,â€? WKH \HDU ROG ZRPDQ VDLG 0V 3XLK .ORQ ZKR ZDV UHFHQWO\ EDSWLVHG VDLG VKH FDQQRW UHDG

DQG ZULWH VR Âł, OHDUQW E\ KHDUW HYHry word of catechism, the order of 0DVV KRZ WR PDNH D FRQIHVVLRQ GDLO\ SUD\HUV DQG HYHQ WKH %LEOH ´ 6KH KHU KXVEDQG DQG WZR FKLOGUHQ ZHUH EDSWLVHG GXULQJ WKH (DVWHU 9LJLO 0DVV LQ D FKDSHO DW her village. $ERXW &DWKROLFV DWWHQG services at the chapel. $ GR]HQ )UDQFLVFDQV WKHUH SURYLGH %DQD -DUDL DQG 6HGDQJ ethnic villagers with health care, IRRG EDVLF HGXFDWLRQ FOHDQ ZDter and livestock. Young people are also given vocational skills. „ UCANEWS.COM

Church agency helps counsel Myanmar quake victims THIRI, MYANMAR – 3ULHVWV IURP

Sri Lankan faith leaders protest UN report COLOMBO – Leaders of differ-

ent faiths have protested against a UN report that alleged the Sri Lankan government committed ZDU FULPHV LQ WKH ÂżQDO VWDJH RI WKH FRQĂ€LFW DJDLQVW 7DPLO UHEHOV WZR years ago. “While terrorists were attacking religious places and civilians, WKH 81 GLG QRW WDON DERXW KXPDQ rights violations,â€? said Fr Sarath Hettiarachchi, co-chairman of Inter-religious Alliance for National Unity (IANU) at the protest site in &RORPER RQ $SULO $IWHU FRQFOXGLQJ D \HDU war, the UN is trying to interfere with the internal matters of Sri Lanka, said Fr Hettiarachchi. “Sri Lanka was not involved in any kind of war crimes. Gov-

HUQPHQW IRUFHV ZHUH ¿JKWLQJ ZLWK terrorists for the good of all. It was a humanitarian operation,� VDLG 9HQHUDEOH .XPEXUXJDPXZH :DMLUD 7KHUD D %XGGKLVW PRQN and chairman of the alliance. 81 6HFUHWDU\ *HQHUDO %DQ .L 0RRQ ODVW -XQH DSSRLQWHG D panel to advise him on alleged huPDQ ULJKWV DEXVHV GXULQJ WKH ¿QDO VWDJHV RI WKH ZDU DJDLQVW WKH 7DPLO 7LJHU UHEHOV 7KH SDQHO JDWKHUHG HYLGHQFH IRU PRQWKV DQG VXEPLWWHG LWV report to him. A copy was handed to the Sri Lankan government. 7KH 81 UHSRUW DOVR DOOHJHG WKDW WKH 7DPLO UHEHOV KHOG FLYLOLDQV DV D EXIIHU DQG NLOOHG RWKHUV ZKR DWWHPSWHG WR ÀHH DUHDV LW FRQtrolled. „ UCANEWS.COM

0\DQPDUÂśV .HQJWXQJ GLRFHVH DUH reaching out to traumatised villagers in Shan State to help ease their fears following a major earthTXDNH WKHUH LQ 0DUFK Fr Stephen Arno, director of .DUXQD .HQJWXQJ 6RFLDO 6HUYLFHV said the priests are talking to quake victims and getting them to express their feelings and experiences. 0HDQZKLOH .DUXQD KDV LQYLWHG YLOODJHUV QHDU 7KLUL SDULVK WR watch television every night and DUUDQJH IRRWEDOO PDWFKHV WR HDVH WKHLU WUDXPD )U $UQR VDLG 3HRSOH HVSHFLDOO\ \RXWKV DUH DOVR EHLQJ encouraged to sleep in the church compound. 7KHUH KDYH EHHQ DIWHUVKRFNV IROORZLQJ WKH 0DUFK TXDNH DQG most villagers will not sleep in their homes out of fear their houses will collapse if another quake strikes, the priest explained. 0V 'DZ $U %H D %DSWLVW IURP 3XKROLDQ 6KDQ 6WDWH VDLG she had never experienced such DQ HDUWKTXDNH EHIRUH

A Buddhist monk walks near a temple that was destroyed in the March earthquake in Tarlay, Myanmar. CNS photo

She said her village is in a rePRWH DUHD DQG RQO\ .DUXQD KDV RIfered help. ³, GR UHDOO\ WKDQN .DUXQD IRU WKH food, thatching for our roofs and for OLVWHQLQJ WR RXU SUREOHPV DQG RIIHUing encouraging words,� she said. 0U 8 3KLOLS IURP 7KLUL VDLG GHVSLWH .DUXQD SXWWLQJ XS

WHPSRUDU\ VKHOWHUV KH ÂżQGV LW hard to sleep at night in case another quake strikes. “I do really thank the priest for his regular visits and encouraging words. Going to the movie screenings and meeting fellow villagers every night is helping to ease fears,â€? he said. „ UCANEWS.COM

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

L’Osservatore Romano’s new website

Vatican paper’s new site VATICAN CITY – The Vatican’s

VHPL RI¿FLDO QHZVSDSHU KDV launched a new website on April 19, marking the anniversary of Benedict XVI’s election in 2005. In addition to the daily Italian edition, L’Osservatore Romano’s weekly editions in Italian, English, German, French, Spanish and Portuguese, as well as its monthly edition, can be accessed at http://www.osservatoreromano.

va/portal/dt?locale=en Subscriptions to the weekly/ monthly editions are already available, according to ZENIT news agency. The daily edition will be available for free until Aug 31, with subscriptions beginning on Sept 1. L’Osservatore Romano has been publishing since 1861; the ¿UVW LVVXH KDG IRXU SDJHV 3RSH Leo XIII in 1885 made it an organ of information for the Holy See. „

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his urbi et orbi blessing to the city of Rome and to the world from a balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday. CNS photo

Pope prays for peace, freedom at Easter VATICAN CITY – In an Easter

blessing to the world, Pope Benedict XVI prayed that Christ’s resurrection may open paths of “freedom, justice and peaceâ€? for troubled populations of the Middle East and Africa. The pope urged an end to violence in Libya and Ivory Coast, DVVLVWDQFH WR UHIXJHHV Ă€RRGLQJ RXW of North Africa and consolation for the victims of the Japanese earthquake. He prayed for those persecuted for their Christian faith, and praised their courage. He spoke from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica on April 24 in his urbi et orbi (to the city of Rome and to the world) blessing, after celebrating Mass for nearly 100,000 people in St

‘The entire cosmos is rejoicing today.’ – Pope Benedict XVI in his Easter message Peter’s Square. Broadcast to many countries and live-streamed on the Internet, it was the last major event on the 84-year-old pontiff’s heavy Holy Week schedule. Pope Benedict said the resurrection must not be viewed as “the fruit of speculation or mystical experienceâ€?. It happened in a precise moment and marked history forever, giving human events new strength, new hope and new meaning, he said. “The entire cosmos is rejoicing todayâ€? and every person open to God has reason to be glad, he said. But the joy of Easter contrasts with “the cries and laments that arise from so many painful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violenceâ€?. He prayed that “the splendour of Christ reach the peoples of the Middle East, so that the light of peace and of human dignity may overcome the darkness of division, hate and violenceâ€?. In Libya, he said, diplomacy and violence need to take the place of armed ÂżJKWLQJ The pope alluded to the civil unrest that has spread throughout northern Africa and the Middle East, encouraging all citizens there, especially young people, to work for a society where pov-

erty is defeated and where “every political choice is inspired by respect for the human personâ€?. The pope said the many forms of suffering in “this wounded worldâ€? make the Easter message all the more meaningful. In a lengthy Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter’s Basilica the night before, the pope baptised and conÂżUPHG VL[ DGXOWV IURP $OEDQLD China, Peru, Russia, Singapore and Switzerland. In a sermon, he analysed why the Christian’s sense of environmental responsibility is directly connected to the core beliefs of the faith. “We relate to God the creator, and so we have a responsibility for creation,â€? he said. “Only because God created everything can he give us life and direct our lives.â€? He said the Christian account of creation is not about the scienWLÂżF SURFHVV EXW VRPHWKLQJ GHHSer: the source of everything is not pure chance, but “creative reason, love and freedomâ€?. On Good Friday, the pope presided over a night-time Way of the Cross at Rome’s Colosseum, where tradition holds that early Christians were put to death. Kneeling on a platform on a hillside facing the ancient amphitheatre, the pope opened the ceremony with a prayer that drew attention to the constant struggle between good and evil in human history. He appeared to refer to the priestly sex abuse scandal when he spoke of the “hour of darknessâ€? when “an emptiness of meaning DQG YDOXHV QXOOLÂżHV WKH ZRUN RI education, and the disorder of the KHDUW GLVÂżJXUHV WKH LQQRFHQFH RI the small and the weakâ€?. „ CNS

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

Ivory Coast mission aids 30,000 refugees Fears of cholera outbreak

Children sleep on the ground at St Ambrose Church in Abobo, Ivory Coast. Another Church-run mission in Duekoue is presently housing thousands of refugees. CNS photo DUEKOUE, IVORY COAST – The priest directing a mission in Ivory Coast where at least 30,000 refugees remain says he fears an outbreak of cholera if more aid is not received soon. Food, water, medicine and sanitation facilities are in short supply for those who took refuge at a Salesian-run mission in 'XHNRXH DIWHU DUPHG ÂżJKWLQJ RQ March 29 left at least 800 dead in this multi-ethnic city of 47,000. “There is no food, people are sleeping on the ground, there is nowhere else to go, there are no toilets or washing facilities and we have no drinking water,â€? Salesian Fr Vicente Grupeli, director of the St Therese of the Child Jesus Mission in Duekoue, told the Salesian news agency ANS. 7KH 6DOHVLDQ PLVVLRQ RIÂżFH LQ Madrid launched an urgent appeal for food, water, medical supplies and other needs. The mission, the site of a vocational training centre, a home for children and a youth centre, suspended all activities to care

for the refugees who have overwhelmed the facility, Father Grupeli told ANS. Refugees from the city and surrounding villages streamed into the mission as army forces and militia supporting then President-elect Alassane Ouattara attacked security personnel and mercenaries loyal to outgoing President Laurent GbagER ZKR UHIXVHG WR OHDYH RIÂżFH DIWHU Mr Ouattara was declared the winner of elections in November. French and UN forces in Abidjan arrested Mr Gbagbo on April 11 after an assault on his residence. UN forces have guarded the mission since the violence erupted. Some refugees have started returning to nearby villages with the help of UN troops, but others have been required to pass through checkpoints set up by supporters of Mr Ouattara, where they have EHHQ DVNHG DERXW WKHLU WULEDO DIÂżOLation, Fr Grupeli said. “This does not mean that there is more security,â€? he added. “On the contrary, the people are afraid.â€? „ CNS

14 LETTERS/OPINION

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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Crosses from palm leaves I refer to Mr John Wee’s letter, Save Our Earth On Palm Sunday (CN, March 27). With regard to using plastic palm leaves, I would like to say that there are eco-friendly ways to using palms meaningfully. In the photo (right), I have two different types of crosses using one blade of a soft palm frond. I used to teach my students in catechism class how to fold these crosses. I have also been teaching the parishioners of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church for the last three Palm Sundays, at the invitation of Rev Gabriel Liew, one of their pastors. Each frond gives you an average of about 15 to 20 crosses. I have given them to friends who have used them for various purposes: for hanging in the car, sticking onto the computer screen at work, for children to put at their study tables, for non-Christian

friends who like the way the cross is folded from a blade of palm leaf, for those attending a wake (in place of the red string), gifts

in Bibles and other books, and for the homebound who cannot attend church services. I have also pasted them onto bookmarks and laminated them so that they will last forever. The remaining odd pieces of leaves and branches are put into the compost heap. The feedback I got this last Palm Sunday was that people look forward to this yearly event of making these crosses as they want to replace their old crosses, and also to refresh their memory so that they can make more crosses to give away. If you would like to learn how to make these crosses, go to these websites: http://www.kingofpeace.org/ palmcrosses/ http://www.fisheaters.com/ customslent11.html Ellen Tan Singapore 578840

How to love our enemies, really Lorenzo Rosebaugh, an Oblate priest shot to death in Guatemala two years ago, used to share at Oblate gatherings some advice that American Jesuit priest and peace activist Daniel Berrigan once gave him. Lorenzo, contemplating an act of civil disobedience to protest the Vietnam war, was told by Fr Berrigan: If you can’t do this without becoming bitter, then don’t do it! Do it only if you can do it with a mellow heart! Do it only if you can be sure you won’t end up hating those who arrest you! That’s hard to do; but, in the end, it’s the ultimate challenge, namely, to not hate those who oppose us, to not hate our enemies, to continue to have gracious and forgiving hearts in the face of misunderstanding, bitter opposition, jealousy, anger, hatred, positive mistreatment, and even the threat of death. And to be a disciple of Jesus means that at some point we will be hated. We will make enemies. It happened to Jesus and He assured us that it will happen to us. But He also left us the ultimate example of how we need to respond to our enemies. When Scripture tells us that Jesus saved the people from their sins, it doesn’t just mean that in offering His death to His Father as D VDFULÂżFH LQ RQH HWHUQDO DFW +H WRRN DZD\ RXU VLQV It also points to His way of living and how, as He demonstrated, forgiving and loving one’s enemies take away sin, by absorbing it. Jesus’ great act of love, as Danish Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said, is meant to be imitated not just admired. But how do we do this? It seems that we don’t know how to love our enemies, that we don’t have the strength to forgive. We preach it as an ideal and naively believe that we are doing it. But, for the most part, we aren’t. We really don’t love and forgive those who oppose us. Too often we are distrustful, disrespectful, bitter, demonising, and (metaphorically speaking) murderous towards each other. If there is much love and forgiveness of enemies in our lives, it’s far from evident, both in our world and in our churches. As the late English theologian, Fr Ronald Knox, once said, as Christians, we have never really taken seriously Jesus’ challenge to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek. I say this sympathetically. We need help. The old saying is true: To err is human, to forgive is divine. So how do we start? We might start by both acknowledging our failure and admitting our helplessness, individually and as churches. We aren’t very loving and forgiving in the face of opposition! Next, we need to highlight this inadequacy and the importance of this failure in our preaching and teaching. Loving our enemies is the real moral and religious litmus test! We don’t have a right to call anyone a “cafeteria Christianâ€? or a FRPSURPLVHG IROORZHU RI &KULVW XQOHVV ÂżUVW RI DOO ZH RXUVHOYHV DUH persons who are gracious, respectful, loving, and forgiving in the face of anyone who opposes us. Let’s start, all of us, from this humble place of admittance: We aren’t very much like Jesus in the face of opposition. Then, perhaps most important of all, we need to seek each other’s help, akin to the dynamics of an Alcoholics’ Anonymous meeting. Alone we haven’t the strength to love those who hate us. We need grace and community, God’s power and others’ support, to UHWDLQ WKH PRVW GLIÂżFXOW RI DOO VREULHWLHV WKDW LV WR ZDON ZLWKLQ D VWHDG\ strength that enables us to remain warm, gracious, forgiving, loving, and joyful in the face of misunderstanding, jealousy, opposition, bitterness, threat, and murder. Speaking personally, I consider this to be the greatest challenge of my life, morally and humanly. How to love an enemy: How do I not let a jealous glance freeze my heart? How do I not let a bitter word ruin my day? How do I not demonise others when they oppose me? How do I remain sympathetic when I’m misunderstood? How do I remain warm in the face of bitterness? How do I not give in to paranoia when I feel threatened? How do I forgive someone who doesn’t want my forgiveness? How do stop myself from slamming the door of my heart in the face of coldness and rejection? How do I forgive others when my own heart is bitter in self-pity? How do I really love and forgive as Jesus did? I often wonder how Jesus did it. How did He retain peace of mind, warmth in His heart, graciousness in His speech, joy in His life, resiliency in His efforts, the capacity to be grateful, and a sense of humour in the face of misunderstanding, jealousy, hatred, and death threats? He did it by recognising that this was, singularly, the most important challenge of His life and mission, and, under the weight of that imperative, by falling on His knees to ask for the help of the One who can do in us what we can’t do for ourselves. „

ARCHBISHOP’S MESSAGE 15

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

„ From page 1

Millions of people would turn up to hear him celebrate Mass, often delivered in the native language of the country visited as John Paul II spoke 13 languages! The Holy Father’s general audiences at the Vatican were attended by 15 million people. ,W LV GLIÂżFXOW WR UHFDOO D SHUVRQ living or dead who has seen or has been seen by so many! In addition to his travels, John 3DXO ,, ZDV D SUROLÂżF ZULWHU KDYing written 15 encyclicals, 50 maMRU GRFXPHQWV ÂżYH ERRNV SRHPV and plays (two of which have been made into movies). He canonised VDLQWV EHDWLÂżHG SHRSOH and appointed most of today’s active bishops. John Paul II also established global movements such as World Youth Day in 1984, World Day of Peace in 1986, and World Day of the Sick in 1992, among his many ³¿UVWV´ DV 3RSH 7KH PDJQLWXGH and diversity of his accomplishments as a global statesman, philosopher, theologian and Church leader were amazing. He constantly challenged us, encouraged us to raise our moral and religious standards. “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors to &KULVW ´ KH UDOOLHG XV 3RSH -RKQ Paul II stood for peace, justice, unity and above all, love. During his papacy, John Paul II came into contact with believers from many different religions and DOZD\V VWULYHG WR ÂżQG FRPPRQ ground. At the inaugural World Day of Peace, held in Assisi on 27 October 1986, more than 120 representatives of numerous religions and Christian denominations came together for a groundbreaking day of fasting and praying. In his message to the diverse assembly, John Paul II said, “With the World Religions we share a common respect of and obedience to conscience, which teaches all of us to seek the truth, to love and serve all individuals and people, and therefore to make peace among nations... “Peace awaits its builders. Let us stretch our hands towards our brothers and sisters, to encourage them to build peace upon the four pillars of truth, justice, love and IUHHGRP ´ Visited Singapore In continuing his mission of spreading peace and unity, John 3DXO ,, EHFDPH WKH ÂżUVW 3RSH WR grace Singapore with his presence on 20 November 1986. Despite torrential rain, a crowd of 63,000 people gathered peacefully in the National Stadium to attend the Mass. It was the ÂżUVW WLPH LQ WKH KLVWRU\ RI 6LQJDpore that such a large number of Catholics gathered in one place.

Pope John Paul II greeting members of the Singapore Church hierarchy in 1986. From left: the late Archbishop Gregory Yong, Dr (Rev) Robert Balhetchet (behind the pope) and the late Fr Albert Renckens.

guidance to families emphasising that “husbands and wives together with your children, you are the vital FHOO RI VRFLHW\ DQG WKH ÂżUVW IRXQGDtion for its stability and well-being. “Families must remain open to the larger community so that the loving concern they show in their homes may be extended to others for the betterment of all. It is the right of the married couple to make a free, informed and mutual decision, in accordance with objective moral principles, regarding the spacing of births and the size of the family. “This decision should be based on their recognition of their responsibilities to God, to themselves, to their children, to their family and to society. In pursuing these decisions, couples should be able to rely on those morally licit methods of family planning that are in accordance with the dignity of the person and with the authenWLF H[SUHVVLRQ RI FRQMXJDO ORYH ´ Reached out to youth

Fr Karol Wojtyla in an outdoor activity in Poland in the early 1950s.

As the Choir sang “Glory AlleOXLD´ WKH 0DVV JRW XQGHUZD\ -RKQ Paul II told the crowd that he had come to Singapore “as a servant of WKH ORYH DQG SHDFH RI &KULVW ´ Indeed the overwhelming sentiments expressed by those present was that the Pope represented ÂłSHDFH ORYH DQG XQLW\´ QRW RQO\ for the Catholic Church, but for people of all races and nationalities around the entire world. Catholics and non-Catholics alike came to see the Pope because, as one observer noted, “He is respected by people of all religions. He is impartial in his views and does not take sides in SROLWLFV +H LV D PDQ RI SHDFH ´ Another witness commented, “I think his coming will unite everybody in Singapore, which is a multi-racial, multi-religious sociHW\ EHFDXVH KLV PHVVDJH LV SHDFH ´ One gentleman, who was not Catholic at the time, was so moved by the Pope’s visit, that it prompted him to consider becoming baptised in the Catholic faith, comparing his experience in the rain to baptism. He remarked, “Being baptised means total immersion in the font,

+H ZDV DOUHDG\ D SUROLÂżF ZULWHU ZKHQ KH ZDV Archbishop of Krakow in the 1960s.

‘Throughout his life, Pope John Paul II transcended race, religion and politics. We will now have a new saint in heaven to guide the world to peace, love and unity!’ and there I was wet right down to the dollar bills in my wallet. It is my wish someday soon to have the strength and courage to ask for EDSWLVP ´ ,Q UHĂ€HFWLQJ RQ 3RSH -RKQ Paul II’s homily in 1986, I recall that the Pope spoke intently about peace and love to the people of Singapore, and these words of 25 years ago are even more relevant today for Singaporeans, as well as the rest of the world. Pope John 3DXO ,, DIÂżUPHG Âł3HDFH UHTXLUHV justice and where there is no justice, there can be no peace. Peace LV WKH IUXLW RI ORYH ´ The Pope talked about relations between Christians and non-

Christians, instructing us “seek to maintain friendly relations with non-Christians. Love constitutes the very essence of the teaching of Christ. Life – the lives of all of us – must be based on love. Genuine KXPDQ ORYH LV D IDLWKIXO UHĂ€HFWLRQ of God’s love. “Therefore, love is characterised by a deep respect for all people, regardless of their race, beliefs or whatever makes them different from ourselves. Love responds generously to the needs of the poor, and it is marked by compassion IRU WKRVH LQ VRUURZ /RYH LV TXLFN to offer hospitality and is persevering in times of trial. It is always ready to forgive, to hope and to reWXUQ D EOHVVLQJ IRU D FXUVH ´ Offering a challenge to the crowd, the Pope said, “It is this Church that I call to even greater spiritual growth. Peace-making is D WDVN WKDW LV QHYHU ÂżQLVKHG :H must constantly work for peace. Peace is possible only where there is just order that ensures the rights of everyone. I make this appeal to you – build your lives on love. Do all you can to live at peace with HYHU\ERG\ /HW XV EXLOG SHDFH ´ 7KH 3RSH DOVR RIIHUHG VSHFLÂżF

To the young people in the crowd, the Pope offered words of encouragement and support saying, “Do not underestimate the great need for your contribution in promoting peace. Peace and youth go together. Do not be afraid. The task of peace-making belongs to every RQH RI XV %H 3HDFHPDNHUV ´ John Paul II was known as a great friend to the sick, offering special blessings and personally delivering communion to the sick at the National Stadium. He said that “the mystery of the world is URRWHG LQ VXIIHULQJ´ DQG DVNHG those who are weak to become a source of strength for the Church. John Paul II is credited for his instrumental role in bringing an end to communism in Europe, for his non-violent approach to politics, for his attention to the sick, for his strong emphasis on preserving the dignity of the human person, and for his role as a humble and caring pastor, which is perhaps his greatest gift to humanity. The Polish Bishop’s Conference has expressed that “the gift of the life and ministry of Pope John Paul II enriched the life of the contemporary Church and of the world. From the beginning of KLV SRQWLÂżFDWH WKH +RO\ )DWKHU put in focus the person of Christ, 5HGHHPHU RI WKH KXPDQ UDFH ´ Throughout his life, Pope John Paul II transcended race, religion and politics due to his commitment to living Christian values. He radiated peace, unity and the love of God for all people of all nationalities. His life was truly an example of Christ’s image on Earth and an inspiration to all. His EHDWLÂżFDWLRQ PDUNV WKH ÂżUVW VWHS towards his journey to sainthood. We will now have a new saint in heaven to guide the world to peace, love and unity! „

16 JUBILARIANS

We salute our Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CatholicNews honours priests and Religious celebrating FR JOSEPH JEANNEQUIN

FR ALBERT BRYS By Darren Boon Ex-parishioners and friends of Fr Albert Brys, CICM, describe him as a dedicated priest full of missionary zeal and willing to give himself totally to God’s people. Fr Brys visited parishioners and would always leave the door of this RIÂżFH RSHQ IRU WKHP UHFDOOHG 0UV Faith Ho, who knew him from his days as assistant priest at Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS). It did not matter that people sharing their problems with him would consume his time or mess up his schedule as he felt “he has to make himself available for the people of Godâ€?, said Mrs Ho. Fr Brys was also instrumental in pioneering the RCIA programme in the archdiocese. Ms Veronica Wong, who worked with Fr Brys in OLPS, said he made it a point to visit all the sponsors in their homes and also to interview the catechumens. “He always has this personal relationship with everybody,â€? said Ms Wong. Fr Brys helped form the lay RCIA facilitators and was present

at every session, even if the lessons were conducted by the facilitators and not by him. Fr Brys also participated actively in the parish’s home catechism classes and was supportive of the group’s efforts. There was also a yearly Fr Brys award for the best behaved child which he would give away, said Mrs Ho’s husband, Meng Kit, who was involved in the programme. Fr Brys was born in Belgium in 1925. He had been serving in Singapore since his arrival in 1982 after 22 years of work in Belgium and Congo. He was assistant priest at OLPS until 1997 after which he was transferred to Church of St Francis of Assisi. In 2010, he retired and lived at St Joseph’s Home. On April 10 this year, he left Singapore for his congregation’s motherhouse in Belgium for good. Mrs Ho and Ms Wong said he was reluctant to leave the home as he was concerned over the spiritual needs of residents there. Mrs Ho said that Fr Brys has been an example and inspiration to her. 6KH VXIIHUHG D GLI¿FXOW SUHJ-

By Darren Boon

nancy, and even though her son suffers from disability, Fr Brys kept HQFRXUDJLQJ KHU WR UHPDLQ FRQÂżGHQW in the Lord. He was always encouraging the faithful to “have faith in God, live your faith and always be thankfulâ€?, she said. Fr Brys’ friends also recalled that he took the vows of obedience faithfully and had no problems taking instructions from his superiors or a parish priest younger than him. Mrs Ho said that he would always tell them that it is about obedience to one’s superiors. Fr Brys will celebrate his diamond jubilee on July 29. „ darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

SR MARCELLINA FUMAGALLI Sr Marcellina Fumagalli had wanted to be a missionary from the age of six. Her mother had told her stories about the saints and the young Marcellina had understood that her calling was to serve in mission lands. Joining the convent required her to give up her worldly possesVLRQV DQG PDNH RWKHU VDFULÂżFHV and it was a bit of a struggle for her as she came from a close-knit family, she told CatholicNews. Sr Marcellina Fumagalli arrived in Singapore from Italy in December 1954. A skilled dressmaker, she was put in charge of the Sewing Centre

FR PETER WEE Redemptorist Fr Peter Wee is currently involved in the administration and operation of the shrine at Novena Church and its pastoral and liturgical ministries. He is also coordinator of the Redemptorists’ Parish Missions in Singapore and occasionally organises foreign missions to Malaysia and Siem Reap, Cambodia. „

managed by the Canossian Sisters. There she managed to secure sewing contracts for the girls studying in the centre. She also worked at the nowclosed Canossian Vocational Centre which accepted girls who dropped out of school. There she taught vocational skills and other subjects. She now helps out at the San Zeno thrift shop at the Canossaville Children’s Home at Sallim Road and animates a group of lay Canossians known as Magdalene’s Apostles. She also helps to organise the cleaning of the Church of St Stephen.

Fr Joseph Jeannequin, MEP, is ever ready to hear penitents’ confession and bring them God’s grace and forgiveness, say those who know him. “He wants people to have God’s peace and fullness of His life in their hearts,� said Ms Veronica Ang, who works at Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) where Fr Jeannequin is assistant priest. Ms Ang says she remembers him sharing with parish staff that his “greatest joy as a priest is to be able to be a channel of Christ’s forgiveness, peace and love�, adding that Fr Jeannequin can sit in the confessional for hours. Another parishioner, Mr Jude Tan, describes Fr Jeannequin as a “kind, good-hearted, fatherly priest�. He said he has never seen Fr Jeannequin raise his voice at others. Fr Jeannequin was sent to Burma after his ordination at the MEP chapel in Paris in December 1951. He studied English and Burmese, taught Latin and was the spiritual director of the minor seminary in Rangoon. He assisted in the Chinese parish of Rangoon every Sunday and later became parish priest there. “How I loved that parish!� Fr Jeannequin told CatholicNews. When the Burmese generals expelled missionaries from the country, Fr Jeannequin asked his superior to send him to any Chinese parish in Southeast Asia. “My request was granted and after a long journey of 42 days at sea on a cargo boat around Africa, touching again Singapore [which he stopped enroute before going

to Burma]. I reached my new mission, the Chinese parish of Phnom Penh, a Teochew parish,� he said. He learnt Teochew before heading to Taiwan to study Mandarin. He arrived in Singapore in May 1972 and served as assistant priest at Church of the Risen Christ for two years before being posted to Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary where he served for 27 years. Over there, he would celebrate Mass in Mandarin once every three weeks. He also celebrated Mass in Burmese once a month in the Canossian school chapel in Bedok and later at IHM for eight years until a Burmese priest took over about four years ago. Meanwhile Fr Jeannequin describes his ministry at IHM as happily assisting the parish priest. Ms Ang said of Fr Jeannequin, “He has touched many lives, including mine. I ... will always remember him saying that he chose to leave France so that he could give himself more completely to our Lord.� „ darrenboon@catholic.org.sg

Not all priests and Religious celebrating their jubilees are featured here as some have indicated they prefer not to have their anniversaries publicised.

FR PETER KOH

SR THERESA LIM

Fr Peter Koh has been parish priest of Church of Christ the King since 2003. He was appointed assistant priest at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in 1986 and Church of Our Lady Queen Of Peace in 1990. He was appointed parish priest of Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea in 1998. „

Sr Theresa Lim, from the Daughters of St Paul nun, served for six years as secretary of the Regional Commission for Social Communications of Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. She had also served in Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia and Italy. She has manned her congregation’s media FHQWUH FRQGXFWHG ¿OP UHWUHDWV DQG taken media literarcy courses in the US. „

JUBILARIANS 17

JUBILARIANS Sunday May 8, 2011 CatholicNews

their 25th, 50th and 60th anniversaries this year MSGR FRANCIS LAU

FR PAUL STAES

SR BERNADETTE YEO

SR FLORENCE WONG

SR AGNES KONG

Msgr Francis Lau was born on Dec 12, 1932, and ordained on June 18, 1961. He served at the Church Of St Joseph in Bukit Timah and Church of St Michael before going to Kuala Lumpur to study Chinese from 1963-1964. He was later assistant priest at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace and Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was rector of the minor seminary from 1970-1980. He then studied Canon Law in Rome until 1983. In March 1983, he was appointed Vicar General of the Singapore archdiocese. He was later acting parish priest at the Church of the Risen Christ and parish priest of the Church of Sts Peter And Paul. On Oct 19, 2000, he was elected Archdiocesan Administrator by the Board of Consultors after it was announced that the pope had accepted Archbishop Gregory Yong’s resignation. He is now assistant rector at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd after being parish priest at the Church of the Holy Cross for three years.

Scheut Missions priest, Fr Paul Staes, was born in Belgium in 1937 and ordained on Aug 6, 1961. He then continued his graduate studies in psychology and moral theology until 1969. The CICM priest was a missionary to the Philippines and the US, and was for 11 years in Rome as Treasurer General of his congregation. He came to Singapore in 1994. After eight years of ministry in the parishes of Holy Spirit, St Bernadette, and St Stephen, he is now rector of his community’s District House in Pandan Valley. He helps out in various ministries such as with the prisons, Inter-Religious Organisation and NTU, and coordinates the distribution of the congregation’s Missionhurst magazine. He also assists in the work of fellow missionaries in Mongolia. As of 2007 he has been the CICM coordinator for Justice and Peace efforts in Singapore.

Sr Bernadette Yeo, from the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, is presently serving in Clinical Pastoral Care at Mount Alvernia Hospital and Assisi Hospice. She has also worked in Mount Alvernia Hospital in Guildford, UK, Our Lady’s Hospital in Ipoh, Malaysia, and Villa Francis Home For the Aged in Singapore. She has held the positions of Local Superior, Postulant Mistress and Clinical Pastoral Care Coordinator. Sr Yeo received her training in the UK, Singapore, Australia and India.

While in her 20s, Sr Florence Wong worked in the Palestine Hospital in Jordan after the ArabIsraeli War. Prior to this, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood nun served in Mount Alvernia Hospital in Guildford, Surrey, in UK. She was the FMDM Regional Leader for Singapore and Malaysia from 1990-1995 and Administrator of Mount Alvernia Hospital from 1980-1983. She has also conducted workshops for those in mid-life. Nowadays, she gives spiritual direction and retreats for Church programmes Landings and Rachel’s Vineyard.

Sr Agnes Kong was trained as a general nurse and midwife. She served in Portiuncula Hospital in Ireland for six years before returning to Singapore. She was the Sister-in-charge in the Midwifery Ward at Mount Alvernia Hospital for many years until she retired in 1998. She was then actively involved as a volunteer in Assisi Hospice and with Lions Befrienders, which included visiting the poor and the elderly housebound. In 2003, she suffered a severe stroke which prevented her from living an active life. Nevertheless, she accepted her illness with peace, and is a great example to many of her friends.

SR ROSE LOW Sr Rose Low has worked for 16 years in the Canossaville Children’s Home and has also served elderly Sisters in the Canossian community in Italy. Currently, she is the community leader of the Canossian community in Sallim Road, which includes the Canossian “eduplex” such as the primary school, kindergarten and children’s home.

SR MARGARET SYN Sr Margaret Syn was a teacher and school counsellor at St Anthony’s Convent Secondary School in the 1970s. In the 1980s, she worked with Single Parent Families in Canossaville Children’s Home, and started the Before and After School Care as well as HELP (Help Every Lone Parent) Family Service Centre. She also introduced the Beginning Experience Weekend (BE), Rainbows for All Children

programme and Single Parents Encounter groups (SPE). In the 1990s, she was with Caritas Prato in Italy helping immigrants from mainland China. From 2005-2008, she served in -LQGH &KDULWLHV WKH ¿UVW &DWKROLF social service organisation in China) in Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China. Since 2008, she has been serving in the Yunnan Catholic Social Service.

SR JANE CHONG Sr Jane Chong had worked in the Canossian-run kindergartens and was trained in Pre-school and Special Needs Education. She currently offers spiritual direction.

18 FAITH ALIVE!

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

What is happiness? By Sr Joan Roccasalvo, CSJ

W

HAT makes a person happy? Where does happiness come from? Does it rest in external sources? In money? In food? In physical or sexual pleasure? What about the happiness of one’s soul? According to St Thomas Aquinas, happiness is the thing itself that we desire to attain. It includes the attainment and the use or enjoyment of the thing desired. Happiness is joy in possessing integrity at the core of one’s being. +DSSLQHVV LV WKH ÂżQDO SXUSRVH LQ life, the attainment of the “perfect goodâ€? (Summa Theologiae). The quest for happiness controls every other decision a person makes. Jesuit Fr Robert Spitzer outlines four levels of happiness: 2Q WKH ÂżUVW OHYHO KDSSLQHVV comes from external sources: from a good meal or movie, a sports event, a concert. These externals are FHQWUHG RQ WKH VHOI 7KH\ JLYH Ă€HHWing pleasure and fail to challenge the person experiencing them. Therefore, one must ask: Can , ÂżQG KDSSLQHVV RQ WKLV OHYHO" &DQ I live solely for food, the ease and comfort of money and the company of people? The second level of happiness LV JUDWLÂżFDWLRQ RI WKH VHOI +DSpiness shifts from the outside to one’s inner world. This happiness FRPHV IURP DFDGHPLF RU ÂżQDQFLDO achievement, position or prestige. Here a person is the centre of

The quest for happiness controls every other decision a person makes.

attraction that often leads to admiration and popularity – things that can give him control and power over others. By choosing to live on this level, thoughts are focused on the self, and in advancing self-interests for their own sake, in comparing and contrasting himself with others, he plays the ego game. If a person ascends to the third level, however, the self is turned outward to others. When he allows others to make demands on his gifts

and time, energy and patience, he brings happiness to them, wishes them the good he wishes to himself. This builds up the culture of love, one person at a time. This other-centred life energises the person on the third level as he or she chooses to evoke the best in others. Living on this level becomes a habit, even an instinct. It endures forever. In giving happiness, happiness is received. Read Jesuit Fr Walter Ciszek’s

two books, With God in Russia and He Leadeth Me. Also read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. Both men were imprisoned and suffered in concentration camps: Fr Ciszek in Soviet prisons and Frankl, an Austrian-Jew and neurological psychiatrist, in various Nazi concentration camps. Both lived on the third level of happiness, purposefully, in the sacrament of the present moment. At the fourth level of happi-

ness, a person realises that God is his or her “perfect good�, delight and beauty, and truth for today and always. It is God who gives complete intelligibility to life. Tortured questions may invade the heart, but no matter what the question is, the triune God, revealed in Jesus Christ, is the answer to this person’s hopes, pleadings and questions. The Word of the Father, the God-man, lived and died for everyone. With St Augustine, people on this fourth level can pray in earnest: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee,� and “late have I loved thee, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new; late have I loved thee� (Confessions, Chapters 1 and 10). „ CNS Sr Roccasalvo, of the Sisters of St Joseph, Brentwood, New York, writes on liturgy, beauty, the arts and Ignatian spirituality.

Marriage – God’s call to holiness By Fr Luke Fong PATRICK and Rachel, the new coordinating couple for Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME) Singapore came to see me a few weeks ago to decide on a theme for the movement’s 32nd anniversary Mass. We prayed together and the theme we agreed upon was Marriage – God’s Call to Holiness. Many think of “holiness� in terms of extremely pious people whose images appear on holy cards or statues that adorn altars. In their minds, holiness seems to be something that is more unattainable than attainable; more of an ideal than a reality. Patrick and Rachel admitted they too had the same impression till they got to understand what this “call to holiness� means when they attended their original Marriage Encounter Weekend. Indeed, holiness in your marriage is more than just praying together and going for retreats and

pilgrimages as a couple. Holiness is not in doing extraordinary things in our lives, but rather, doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. What many married couples do not realise enough is that the arena of holy living lies right there within their marriages. One doesn’t really need to go out of one’s way to be holy. To be sure, every single baptised person is called to mission. When marriage, especially a sacramental one, is fully understood and lived as it is meant to be, the partners in the marriage become holy and in the process make one another holy by ministering to each other and the world. It calls to mind what St Francis of Assisi was supposed to have said to fellow friars, “Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words.� When it is understood that the hard task of Christian living is in the “living� and not just the “preaching�, we can appreciate our marriages more when we see

Photo: KENNETH KOH

that they are the “living� spaces where holiness can and should be exercised. When spouses truly begin to see that their marriages are holy ground, they will do well to do as Moses did when he approached the burning bush. He removed his sandals.

What are the sandals that couples can remove to uphold the holiness of a marriage? For Patrick and Rachel, sandal removing in their spousal relationship means consciously putting one’s need to be right all the time, to have the last word in every situation, or to exercise control and to do things his or her way. One of the more challenging but needful things about the Christian life is to move oneself out of the centre of the universe and let God really take centre spot. When a spouse is only interested in having his or her needs pandered to, the marriage will suffer. Removing one’s ego needs allows one to walk barefoot to meet the other in holiness and to love the other for the sake of the other, as St Thomas Aquinas so beautiIXOO\ GH¿QHV ORYH One of the things that WWME tries to do is help couples make their marriage become a Holy Ground in which God is met each day in the spouses.

We recommend strongly a dialoguing environment where spouses open up and communicate with one another, especially when it is seen that communicaWLRQ VHHPV WR EH VR GLI¿FXOW DIWHU some years in a marriage. Is the search for holiness necHVVDU\" &HUWDLQO\ ,V LW D GLI¿FXOW task? Without doubt. But when we make this a shared agenda within a sacramental marriage, we truly become partners for life where we give life to one another. „ Fr Luke Fong, Patrick and Rachel Tee are the Ecclesial Team - Worldwide Marriage Encounter Singapore. Worldwide Marriage Encounter Singapore’s 32nd Anniversary Mass will be held on Tues, May 17 (public holiday) at 10.10 am at Church of St Vincent de Paul. Please click www.MEsingapore. org or call Dominic and Fiona (6726 2133) to register your attendance and/or participate in the Milestone Marriage celebration.

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

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Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

CHILDREN’S STORY: By Joe Sarnicola

The apostles and other followers of Jesus were together on the day of Pentecost. Out of the sky came a VRXQG OLNH D GULYLQJ ZLQG WKDW ÂżOOHG the house they were in. Tongues of ÂżUH DSSHDUHG RYHU WKHP DQG WKH PHQ began to speak in different languages, as the Holy Spirit directed them. Many people were in Jerusalem for the holy day, visitors and residents, and they heard what was happening. They were amazed because they heard the men praying in their native languages at the same time. Other people thought the men had just had too much to drink. To explain what was taking place, Peter stood up to speak to the crowd. “You who are Jews,â€? he said, “indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.

Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. These people are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.â€? Peter recited a passage from the book of the prophet Joel, and then he said, “You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know.â€? In order to convince the people that he was telling the truth, Peter quoted from the Scriptures again, the psalms of David, when he said, “You have made known to me the SDWKV RI OLIH \RX ZLOO ÂżOO PH ZLWK joy in your presence.â€? Peter explained that David was dead, but that Jesus was very alive.

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:

St Magdalene of Canossa Magdalene (1774-1835), after the death of her father and the remarriage of her mother, was turned over to be raised by her uncle. Although the uncle cared for her, the governess who was in charge of her was very mean to her and her three siblings. Magdalene decided to become a nun, but returned home a short time after entering the convent. While in Venice, Italy, to escape the Napoleonic wars, Magdalene saw a vision of Mary leading six Religious ¿JXUHV LQWR D FKXUFK D KRVSLWDO DQG D KDOO ¿OOHG ZLWK FKLOGUHQ VR SRRU WKDW WKH\ ZHUH dressed in rags. Mary told her to work with all three groups, but especially the children. Upon return to her home town of Canossa, Italy, Magdalene was able to begin this work in hospitals and with poor children. Her work spread to other cities under the name of the Canossian family of the Sons and Daughters of Charity. We honour her prayerful and charitable life on May 8. „

“God raised this Jesus; of this we are witnesses,â€? he said. “Exalted at the right hand of God, He received the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured it forth, as you [both] see and hear. ... Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you cruFLÂżHG ´ When Peter said this, many of the Jews regretted what had happened to Jesus. They asked, “What are we to do, my brothers?â€? Peter gave them a simple and direct answer: “Repent and be bap-

tised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.� After that, God worked many wonders and miracles through the apostles. They praised God everyday for the blessings He had given to them. „ Read more about it: Acts 2 Q&A 1. What holy day were the Jews celebrating? 2. What did Peter tell the Jews to do to receive God’s forgiveness?

WORDSEARCH

BIBLE ACCENT:

APOSTLES z PENTECOST z JERUSALEM z PETER z WONDERS z SIGNS z JOEL z PSALMS z DAVID z LANGUAGES z WIND z HOLY SPIRIT Answer to Wordsearch:

The Acts of the Apostles was written by Luke and is a very important record of the beginning of the Church and the work of WKH ÂżUVW &KULVWLDQV Jesus had told his apostles to wait for the Holy Spirit to come from the Father. The story of the coming of the Holy Spirit can be found in Chapter 2 of the Acts of the Apostles. Life was not easy for the early Christians. Many of them were arUHVWHG DQG SXW LQ MDLO 6RPH ZHUH HYHQ NLOOHG 6WHSKHQ ZDV WKH ÂżUVW PDUW\U of the Christian church. 2QH RI WKH -HZLVK RIÂżFLDOV ZKR ZDQWHG WR SXQLVK WKH &KULVWLDQV ZDV a man named Saul, who we know better as Paul. God showed his power to Paul, and Paul became one of the most important men of the early Church. Some of his letters to churches and individuals are included as part of the New Testament. 7KH $FWV RI WKH $SRVWOHV DOVR WHOOV WKH VWRU\ RI &RUQHOLXV WKH ÂżUVW Gentile to become a Christian.

WHAT’S ON 21

Sunday May 8, 2011 „ CatholicNews

EVENT SUBMISSIONS We welcome information of events happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at least one month before the event. Online submissions can be made at www.catholic.sg/webevent_form.php MARRIAGE PREPARATION COURSE 2011 July 10 and Oct 9. Couples getting married should attend the course at least 6 months before the wedding. Allocation of SODFHV RQ D ÂżUVW FRPH ÂżUVW VHUYHG EDVLV T: 9114 2862; E: mpcsingapore@gmail. com;W: www.catholic.org.sg/mpc EVERY FRIDAY 7.30-8.30pm: Do you want to fall in love with God, Mary and the Catholic Church? Sessions with Victor and Vivienne. Church of the Holy Spirit (Room 03-02) Mondays May 2 to July 10 LANDINGS SP $ ZHHN MRXUQH\ /DQGLQJV LV D community welcoming Catholics who have left the Church but who are now seeking to return. Catholics interested in this outreach to inactive Catholics are also welcome. Register T: 9688 0920 (Tony); E: returning@landings.org.sg May 4 SPIRITUALITY IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY 7.30-9.30pm: Understand Christian ministry and what one needs to foster good ministry. By Singapore Pastoral Institute. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org May 5 HOLINESS IN A HECTIC WORLD 7.30-9.30pm: Finding holiness in the midst of our busy schedule. By Singapore Pastoral Institute. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre

(2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 3011; E: admin@catholicspi.org Thursdays May 5 to May 26 INTERPRETING THE CHANGELESS WORD IN A CHANGING WORLD 8-10pm: By Fr Ambrose Vaz. Love offering. By Christ the King Bible Apostolate Team. At Church of Christ the King. E: ctkbat@hotmail.com Saturdays May 7 to May 21 ART FOR SELF-DISCOVERY 2-5pm: A 3-session art therapy programme for adults who want to explore creativity in art as a means of self expression and self-discovery. No art experience needed. Conducted by Ms Joanna Tan, a registered art psychotherapist. Cost: $180 (art materials). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T: 6467 6072; E: cisc2664@gmail.com May 7 A TASTE OF NON-VIOLENT COMMUNICATION 10am-4.30pm: By Sr Rosalia Yeo, FDCC. Cost: $40 (with lunch). At LifeSprings Canossian Spirituality Centre (100 Jalan Merbok). T: 6466 2178 (Brenda); E: lifsprng@singnet.com.sg Wednesdays May 11 to August 31 INTO THE HEART: THEOLOGY OF THE BODY 7.45-10pm: Inviting young adults to discover the beautiful truth of our human body and how we can truly live out our calling in life through the grace of our Lord with Christopher West’s DVD series “Into the Heart� as we delve deeper into the Theology of the Body by Pope John Paul II. At Church of St Ignatius (AV Room, Sacred Heart Hall, Level 2). T: 9106 9125 (Tinu), 9746 7549 (Terence); E: yam.stignatius@gmail.com May 11 THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN

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. Wednesdays and Sundays RCIA@CHURCH OF HOLY FAMILY Every Wednesday 7.30-9.30pm and Sunday 11am-12.30pm (from June). T: 9666 6542 Saturdays from April 2 RCIY@ ST MARY’S 3.30pm: A call to all youths 13-20 years old. Registration E: andNdrew@hotmail. com; T: 9100 4382 (Andrew) Thursdays from May 5 RCIA@BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 7.30-9pm: Every Thursday evening. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Dr). T: 9147 8890 (Dominic), E: rcia@bsc.org.sg Fridays from May 6 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45pm: At St Paul Room (Level 4, Parish House). Registration forms from 3DULVK 2I¿FH RU SULHVWV RI WKH SDULVK 7 6271 1184; E: stteresa@singnet.com.sg Saturdays from May 7 RCIY@ CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 4-6pm: Inviting youths (15 to 22 years) for an introduction to the Catholic faith and to discover God and self. Information session on May 7. Register T: 9689 6500 (Noel), 9762 6330 (Evelyn); E: stignatiusRCIY@hotmail.com; W: http://stignatiusrciy.blogspot.com Thursdays from May 6 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45pm: At St Paul Room (Level 4, Parish House). Registration forms DYDLODEOH DW 3DULVK 2I¿FH RU SULHVWV RI the parish. T: 6271 1184; E: stteresa@ singnet.com.sg Wednesdays from May 11 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER Every Wednesday evening. At Church of St Francis Xavier (RCIA Room, Level )RUPV IURP SDULVK RI¿FH Thursdays from May 12 RCIA AND RCIY@CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Every Thursday evening leading to baptism at Easter 2012. Forms available DW FDWHFKLVW URRP RU SDULVK RI¿FH 7 3DULVK RI¿FH ( SDVWRUDO# svdp.sg

Thursdays from May 12 RCIA MANDARIN@CHURCH OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL Every Thursday evening leading to baptism at Easter 2012. Forms from FDWHFKLVW URRP RU SDULVK RIÂżFH 7 3DULVK RIÂżFH ( SDVWRUDO#VYGS VJ Thursdays from May 19 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST STEPHEN 7.30-9pm: Every Thursday evening. Awareness night on May 19. At Church of St Stephen. T: 9757 2102 (Peter); E: pthien88@yahoo.com Fridays from May 20 RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE 7.45pm: Every Friday evening. At Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace. SMS: 9030 9527 (Peter); E: admin@ queenofpeace.sg

CHINA – WHAT WE IN SINGAPORE CAN DO 8pm: Open forum/panel (bilingual) with Frs Henry Siew and Jerooom Heyndrickx, CICM. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul

Women Religious Vocation Team. At Church of the Holy Spirit. T: 9362 5408 (Sr Angeline); E: wrvocationteam@gmail. com May 15 ST JOSEPH TAMIL PRAYER GROUP 4.45pm: Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Divine Mercy prayers and 32nd anniversary of St Joseph prayers. At Blessed Sacrament Church (Damien Centre, St James Room, 3rd Floor). With 7pm Mass in church. All are welcome.

Thursdays May 12 to June 9 FINDING THE MOTHER OF GOD IN SCRIPTURE 8-10pm: Presented by S Menon, this new Scripture-based programme will also cover the Church’s teachings on our Blessed Mother. No registration needed. At Church of St Ignatius (new annexe level 2). T: 9731 8432 (Raymond), 9667 6690 (Matthew); E: henrywu@lucas.com.sg May 13 DIVINE MERCY PRAYER AND STORY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL 7pm: Divine Mercy Devotion followed by the amazing story of St Vincent de Paul. At Novena Church (Peter Donders Room). T: 9185 9675 (Johnny) May 14 MEDITATIVE PRAYER WITH THE SONGS OF TAIZE 8-9.30pm: At the Armenian Church of St Gregory (60 Hill St). A Brother from the Taize Community will give a short meditation before the prayer. All are welcome. E: bennycah@gmail.com; W: http://www.taize.fr May 15 CATHOLIC SINGLES MEET-UP AT ST JOSEPH CHURCH (VICTORIA ST) 10am: Calling all singles to attend Mass at St Joseph Church Victoria Street. Meet at church canteen. Proceed for lunch fellowship after Mass. Do invite your VLQJOH IULHQGV WR MRLQ

May 17 WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER 32ND ANNIVERSARY MASS 10am-1pm: Marriage – God’s Call to Holiness. Come celebrate your marriage vocation with your family and community. Receive special blessings if this year marks the milestone of your marriage (5th, 10th, 15th etc). Mass followed by lunch reception. By Marriage Encounter Singapore. At Church of St Vincent de Paul. T: 6726 2133 (Dominic/Flora); W: http://www.MEsingapore.org

May 15 CHILL OUT WITH WOMEN RELIGIOUS 2-5pm: Inviting single women aged 23-35 years on the occasion of World Vocation Sunday to meet women Religious and ÂżQG RXW PRUH DERXW UHOLJLRXV OLIH %\

Sunday May 22 to Saturday May 28 WEEK OF GUIDED PRAYER@ CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Learn to listen to God through Scripture. Taster afternoon on Sunday to introduce prayer methods – Ignatian Contemplation and Lectio Divina and to meet prayer

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Thursdays May 26 to July 28 POST ALPHA COURSE – LIFE WORTH LIVING 7.45-9.30pm: A post Alpha programme. Based on Paul’s letter to the Philippians, A Life Worth Living is a 9-session Bible study examining the changed life of a Christian. Talks include: New Heart; New Purpose; New Attitude; New Responsibilities; New Friendships; 1HZ &RQ¿GHQFH 1HZ $PELWLRQV New Resources. At Church of Blessed Sacrament. T: 9385 3381 (Richard), 9239 5562 (Anne); E: bsc.alpha@gmail. com; W: http://www.alpha-bsc. May 27 CANDLE ROSARY WALK AND EUCHARISTIC ADORATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS 8-10pm: May is the month of Mary. Honour our Blessed Mother in a Candlelight Rosary :DON IROORZHG E\ 6FULSWXUDO 5HÀHFWLRQ and Eucharistic Adoration. At Garden of Light (behind Kingsmead Hall, Church of St Ignatius). Organised by Generation CHRIST! Ministry. E: gen.christ. ministry@gmail.com

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Thursdays from May 26 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 8-10pm: Every Thursday evening. Explore the teachings of the Catholic Church. At Church of the Holy Spirit (248 Upper Thomson Rd). T: 9010 2829 (Kim Ho); E: kim_f_ho@yahoo.com

Wednesdays from June 26 RCIA@CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY 7.45pm: At Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Hall A/B) (24 Highland Rd). T: 9627 3835 (Nancy); E: rcia@ ihm.sg; W: http://www.ihm.sg/rcia

May 24 WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CHINA 8pm: Concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Nicholas Chia. At the Church of Sts Peter and Paul.

Crossword Puzzle 1032

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Tuesdays from June 14 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 8-10pm: Every Tuesday evening. Sessions conducted by Fr Philip Heng, SJ. T: 9630 8346 (Terese)

May 22 PERANAKAN MASS 10.45am: Inviting all Peranakans to celebrate the 5th Sunday of Easter Mass. Mass in English and Peranakan by Fr Alfred Chan. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 9777 7400 (Grace)

May 17 HEART ISSUES, HARD DECISIONS 2: SUB-FERTILITY OPTIONS FOR CATHOLIC COUPLES 1-4pm: Many Catholic couples are aware that IVF is not allowed by the Church. This forum discusses the reasons for this and explores the lesser known but nonetheless effective and ethical options available. By Catholic Medical Guild. At Catholic Archdiocesan Education Centre (2 Highland Rd, St Paul Auditorium). Register name and contact number E: heartissues.harddecisions@gmail.com

Tuesdays from May 24 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST BERNADETTE 8-9.30pm: Every Tuesday evening. At Church of St Bernadette (Mt Tabor Room, 12 Zion Rd). T: 9060 0789 (Janice), E: st.bern_rcia@yahoo.com.sg; 5HJLVWUDWLRQ IRUPV DW SDULVK RIÂżFH RU : http://www.stbernadette.org.sg

Tuesdays from May 31 RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30-9.30: Every Tuesday evening. We welcome you to “Walk With Christ� and experience the adult initiation process of prayer and discernment of God’s will in our lives. At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (248 Upper Thomson Rd). T: 9796 1288 (Allen), 9753 6863 (Joanna)

guide. One hour personal prayer time from Monday to Friday and then meet prayer guide in church for half-hour at most. Closing session on Saturday. At Church of the Holy Spirit. ( VRMRXUQHUV#FDWKROLF RUJ VJ : KWWS ZZZ FDWKROLF RUJ VJ VRMRXUQHUV

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ACROSS 1 ___ and abstinence 5 Mentioned in the book of Esther, chief minister of the Persian King 10 ____ of the Mohawks, St. Kateri Tekakwitha 14 Islamic chieftain 15 Chicago airport 16 Hosea, in the Douay 17 Melody 18 One studying to become Catholic 20 View 22 Detest 23 Female members of religious orders (abbr.) 24 Climbing shoot 27 Worn by women in India 29 Stringed toys 31 Catholic football great, Knute _____ 35 “When we eat this bread and

drink this ____‌� 38 The patriarchs were probably glad to see these 40 Giver 41 To you, to Pierre 43 Make merry 45 Night light 46 Dern of Rambling Rose 48 Spiritual program 50 Wind direction 51 Holy oil 53 Edged ahead 55 Son of Noah 57 Backslide 61 Color TV pioneer 64 Top spot (abbr.) 66 Position oneself for prayer 67 Act of ____ 71 Bank contents 72 Othello’s betrayer

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12 Sly look 13 Urges 19 King of Judea at the time of Christ’s birth 21 Buck and switch ender

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Sunday May 8, 2011 CatholicNews

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

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