Today's Catholic Vol.30 No.5 August 2018

CATHOLIC today’s

A monthly publication of the Archdiocese of Kuching, Sarawak

Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

Inside...

Vol 30 No 5 August 2018

Miri Diocese welcomes FOCUS Mission

Feast of Assumption falls on 15 August

P3

P11 & P23

Jesus said, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Jn 6:51

Grand celebration at St Ann’s Parish

Archbishop Simon Poh anointing the Altar during the Rite of Dedication

One of the many stalls at St Ann’s Annual Sales KOTA PADAWAN — The parish of St Ann, Kota Padawan, capped off a series of celebrations which lasted four days with the St Ann’s Feast Day Mass, presided by His Grace, Archbishop Simon Poh on 29 July. The four-day celebration was the culmination of months of preparation to give thanks to the Lord for this once-in-a-lifetime “4-in-1” blessing; beginning with the Opening and Dedication of the recentlycompleted Church of St Ann (26 July), the priestly ordination of Friar David Au OFM (27 July), the Parish Golden Jubilee Thanksgiving Dinner (evening of 27 July) and the Feast Day celebration (weekend of 28 - 29 July).

The opening and dedication of the

new Church of St Ann began at 6.30 pm on Thursday, 26 July. Forty-six months after the construction began, the church was officially consecrated

by Archbishop Simon Poh in a solemn but joyous Eucharistic celebration.

Also present were Archbishop Joseph Marino (Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia), Archbishops Emeriti John Ha and Peter Chung, Friar Phillip Miscamble OFM (Provincial Minister of the Franciscan Province of the Holy Spirit) and Friar John Wong OFM (Custos of the Franciscan Custody of SingaporeMalaysia-Brunei), who made the liturgy even more special. The altar and the 12 pillars of the church were anointed with sacred chrism and incensed, symbolising

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Archbishop Simon Poh anointing the hands of Fr David Au at the Ordination Mass

Cutting of the celebration cake with the Nuncio at the thanksgiving dinner the total dedication of the church as a sacred place of worship to God Most High. Following that, Friar David Au OFM was consecrated and ordained a priest the very next morning. Despite being a working day, the church was filled with faithful well-wishers who came from near and far. It was a special day for the parish as this was the first ordination of a local in the new church, and the second within Friar David’s own family. His brother, Fr Felix Au is currently serving the Blessed Sacrament Church as Rector. Friar David joins Friars Gerard Victor, William Lee and Don Don Ramerez in serving the flock at St Ann’s.

With so many reasons to thank

the Lord, a beautiful and joyous thanksgiving dinner was held at a local restaurant on the evening of 27 July. The occasion marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of St Ann’s as a parish. Earlier during the week, Fr James Meehan, who served as her rector from 1971 to 1986, returned home to the Lord, after dedicating his entire life as a faithful priest and missionary to the people of Sarawak.

It was the grace of God and cooperation of everyone (priests and laity) who have toiled to build up the body of Christ here at Mile 10, that made the thanksgiving dinner all the more meaningful.

• Continued on p4

Contact us at 082-231164 (Tel), 082-425724 (Fax), todaycat@gmail.com (E-mail), P O Box 940, 93718 Kuching (Post)

NEWS

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM

Think on these things (Phil 4:8)...

PUBLISHER The Archbishop of Kuching ADVISOR Fr Felix Au EDITOR Stella Chin ASSOCIATE EDITOR (Chinese) Magdalene Yeo EDITORIAL TEAM Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (English) Victoria J Lim

(English Children’s Section) James Lo (Chinese) Margaret Bong

(Chinese Children’s Section) STAFF Audrey Yu

A

s mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.

- St Thomas Aquinas

Bidding the last farewell to Fr James Meehan, MHM KUCHING — 28 July was a sad day for the Archdiocese of Kuching. The Archdiocese lost one of his faithful sons who spent ¾ of his life serving God, away from his own homeland of Scotland.

The clergy, the laity and friends of the late Fr James Meehan, MHM gathered at St Joseph’s Cathedral to bid final farewell to their beloved brother, mentor and friend. The Funeral Mass was presided

by Archbishop Simon Poh, concelebrated with more than 30 priests and two archbishop emeriti.

In his homily, Archbishop Simon Poh recalled how Fr Meehan was a blessing for parishioners and priests alike.

“I have known Fr Meehan from our Seminary days in the 80s. As the rector of St Ann’s Mission, he generously offered to accept seminarians for the weekend pastoral work in the parish. He had indeed blessed many of us who are now ordained priests.”

The Archbishop said that Sarawak has a special place in the heart of Fr Meehan. The gospel reading at Mass (Jn 17:24-26) was a reflection of his desire to make known God’s love to the people of Sarawak.

“Fr Meehan personally told me that he would like to die here in Sarawak, the land where he carried out his mission for 59 years.”

“As I recalled, Fr Meehan was in two serious car accidents and an open heart surgery but he survived them. He was indeed like ‘the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed...’ (2 Cor 4:7-15),” said the prelate.

“When he was hospitalised for the third time recently, I could see that he was getting

REST IN PEACE ... Fr Albert Jacobse, MHM incensing the body of the late Fr James Meehan weaker. Just before he passed on, he told Sr Eunice that he is ready. His peaceful death was a testimony of the Lord’s mercy and of his faith in the Lord Jesus to the very end,” said the Archbishop.

“The greatness of a person’s life is neither measured by the number of years he or she lives on earth nor by his or her achievements and possessions.

Rather, it is measured by the

depth of one’s love for others – for we live in deeds not in years, in thoughts not in breaths, in feelings not in figures,” said Fr Matthews Olili, MHM, the representative of Mill Hill Missionaries in Sarawak in his short remark before the burial ceremony.

“He touched many hearts: the faithful from Serian, St Ann Padawan, Kanowit, Bintangor, Stutong and Home of Peace,”

he said.

On behalf of the family members and Mill Hill Missionaries, Fr Olili thanked everyone who had supported, accompanied and cared for Fr Meehan in his sickness.

After the Mass, the parishioners joined the bishops and the clergy in the short procession to the cemetery next to the Cathedral for his final resting place.

Fr James Meehan, was born in Bailleston in the Archdiocese of Glasgow, Scotland, on 27 November 1933, the fourth of ten children.

He had seven sisters and two brothers. His father, also named James and a labourer by profession, was married to Catherine (née Kelly).

From 1947 to 1951, James received his secondary education in Lochwinnoch and in Burn Hall, where he obtained the A-levels certificate.

Make meditative prayer a daily practice

MIRI — We should make meditation a daily component of our conversation with Christ, if we want to have meaningful relationship with Christ. Conversation with Christ is not necessary only with words but also through personal quiet time with our Lord, said Fr Gregory Hon, OCD. Speaking at the retreat held on 19 – 20 July, the Carmelite priest said that meditation serves two purposes in spiritual life. It helps the soul to attain closer union with Christ and it prevents relapse into sins.

Stating that meditation binds the intellect with the will of the pray-er in his or

A GREAT RETREAT ... Retreatants at a photo call with Fr Gregory Hon (front, in brown) her conversation with Christ, Fr Hon proceeded to guide the retreatants on the steps to prepare oneself for good meditation which include

selecting spiritual readings for reflection, freeing oneself against distractions and readying a humble heart to converse with God whole-heartedly. He further

stated that it is essential to persevere and to make it a daily habit. Fr Hon also elaborated on the preparative steps for the meditation like choosing a quiet

• Continued on p6

place and a good posture to begin with. While he warned the retreatants that distractions will be aplenty, he encouraged them to stay still in silence and remained in focus with the Lord.

Ultimately meditative prayer must lead us to love God, which in turn bear fruits of love in us. When we love Christ, our love will reflect in the way we live our lives and how we treat others in our lives, he concluded.

The two-day retreat was held at St Francis’ Chapel adjoining to the Carmelite Monastery.

Stephen Then

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

NEWS

Blessed Sacrament Parish Family Day a success!

KUCHING — Blessed Sacrament Parish held its Family Day on 29 July. In conjunction of the Day, a Food Fair was also held to raise funds for its church’s airconditioning project.

The Day started off on an optimistic note, and ended on the high note with its set target met exceedingly beyond its expectation.

A total of 70 stalls were set up selling both perishable and non-perishable items. The Food Fair resembled like an international food fair with various local favourites such as lemang, pansuh chicken in bamboo, kacangma lining up side by side with lasagna, chicken pie and spaghetti.

The highlight of the Day was the ‘Water Bucket Challenge’ which had 5 levels of RM1,000 each being challenged for collection. The last level at RM5,000 saw the

Solemn Profession of Sr Alice Mary of the Holy Spirit

BRING IT ON ... Parishioners awaiting to watch Fr Felix Au (seated, blue shirt) being drenched with ice-cold water parish rector, Fr Felix Au, taking up the challenge to be drenched with a bucket of ice-cold water!

Fr. Felix in his remark, said that the Water Bucket Challenge was a creative and exciting game for everybody including himself.

He thanked everybody for their active and joyful participation.

He added, “I did not expect the

target to be reached, but it was sure nice to have cold water poured over me on a hot day!”

Lastly he also expressed his sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone who were involved one way or another, and to all those who came to patronise the Fair.

Ivy Chai

Miri Diocese receives FOCUS Missions for an outreach to Lapok

MIRI — The Diocese recently hosted 21 students from United States of America as well as local students from various tertiary institutions across the nation for a twoweek outreach programme to Lapok from 16 to 31 July.

The programme came under the FOCUS Missions which is an arm of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) based in United States of America. The students were accompanied by a chaplain priest, Fr John Michael Metz, and three fulltime missionaries, all of whom are Americans.

FOCUS Missions seeks to mobilise the college students to serve at home and around the world in response to Pope Francis’ call to promote a culture of encounter. The Lapok Outreach is part of the FOCUS Missions’ annual Summer Mission Programme which enables the college students to spend their summer break in the other parts of the world, to share their experience of faith with their counterparts of the host countries.

The group arrived on 16 July in Miri where they settled in the Church of Mater Dei, Lutong for the first week in preparation for their second week of the Outreach at Lapok. They were guided on discipleship, evangelisation or how to lead the Bible study or share their testimonies of

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IT’S OFFICIAL ... Sr Mary Alice making her final profession MIRI — 21 July was a day assistant in Brunei for nine of joy and jubilation for the years. She received her first Carmelite Community in Miri and novitiate profession on 16 as the Community received July 2015, after one and half another final professed nun in years of formation as postulant the person of Sr Mary Alice of and novice. the Holy Spirit.

Hundreds of parishioners Sr Mary Alice, who was joined the Community and born on 8 August 1981, is the her family to witness the third child of Vincent Engga solemn profession at the Mass and Angela Zaiton. She has five presided by Bishop Richard others siblings – three brothers Ng together with nine other and two sisters. concelebrating priests from Prior entering the Carmelite the Diocese.

Monastery on 8 January 2014, • Continued on p5 Sr Mary Alice worked as a sales

Holy Spirit Parish celebrates Bible Sunday

WELCOME TO MIRI ... FOCUS missionaries from the United States of America paying a courtesy visit to the bishop of Miri, Bishop Richard Ng (centre) faith. Throughout the week-long visited longhouses and villages formation, the importance of of Long Jegan, Rh Agnes, Rh having prayer life is stressed. Wen, Rh Peberi, Sungai Bain The formation also allowed the and Loagan Bunut. Besides group members to get to know conducting Bible studies and each other and to bond as a exchanging their experience community. of faith with the villagers, The group managed to the students had also taken witness the Solemn Profession on the community projects to of Sr Mary Alice of the Holy improve the basic amenities Spirit, OCD when they visited of the villages like paving the Nuns at the Carmelite the access road. They bonded Monastery of the Sacred Heart with the younger members of of Jesus. After the visit, the the villagers through friendly group paid a courtesy call to His game of football. In return, the Lordship Bishop Richard Ng villagers shared with them the who gave his blessing for their local culture in the forms of journey of faith to experience traditional native dances and the life and challenges that delicacies. the Catholics face in the rural At the conclusion of their parish.

Outreach, the group returned While at Lapok, they were to their base at the Church of stationed at the Church of Mater Dei where they debriefed Holy Family under the care of on their experiences and insights the Parish Priest Fr Andy Lee. gained during the week.

• Continued on p7 Throughout the week, the group

FOR THE KIDS ... Children participating in a colouring contest at St Louis, Raso I LUNDU — In conjunction children while a talk for adults with the marking of Bible was given by Catechist Louis Sunday in July, the prayer Joph. leaders of the Holy Spirit Parish Meanwhile at the Church organised a series of activities of Santa Maria in Serayan for the children, youths and Keranji, the prayer leaders adults alike. shared on the message for The churches involved in Bible Sunday prepared by the the programme were Good Regional Bible Commission, Shepherd Church, Pueh; St while a Bible Quiz was held Timotius, Sebiris; St Maria, for the congregation.

Serayan; St John, Sebako; St On the whole, the response Felix, Biawak; Holy Family, from the congregation was Paon; St Louis, Raso I; St encouraging and beyond Mark, Rukam; and St Vincent, expectation. The faithful were Stungkor Baru. happy that these activities In Holy Spirit Church, Bible were organised for them Quiz and colour competition in which they participated was held for the primary school wholeheartedly. - Contributed

NEWS

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Solemn Profession of Sr Alice Mary of the Holy Spirit

• Continued from p3 During the Rite of Profession, Sr Mary Alice pronounced the three evangelical vows of chastity, poverty and obedience to God and to her Order, before receiving the black veil from Bishop Richard Ng. Commending Sr Alice Mary for her courage and determination to commit her life totally to God, Bishop Richard Ng urged her to persevere in her vocation, and to continuously surrender herself to the love and grace of God. “Love for God is what motivates you to consecrate yourself totally to God as a cloistered nun,” said the Bishop who also encouraged her to exemplify and manifest her love for God by loving others through her prayers.

The Mass was followed by a brunch fellowship during which a simple cake ceremony took place to mark the joyful occasion.

Sr Mary Alice shares a brief account of her religious journey to be a Carmelite nun with the readers of Today’s Catholic.

With Compliments PALM-SPIRIT SDN BHD (668356-U)

Yoshi Square, Blk A, Unit A4-3F, No 4, Jalan Pelabuhan, Pending, 93450 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Tel: +6 082 484789 Fax: +6 082 483789 Email: jklrufus@yahoo.co.uk

2ND ANNIVERSARY In ever-loving memory of

MARY REAT AK NGISON Born: 27 May 1934 Departed: 18 August 2016

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon her.

May she rest in peace. Amen.

Deeply missed by husband, sons, daughters, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren and all loved ones.

1ST ANNIVERSARY In loving memory of

Why did you become a nun?

In the beginning, it was not a thought of being a nun. But I remember when I was seven or eight years old, I felt within me a desire to belong to someone who is the son of an incomparable King – a King who reigns both on this earth and in heaven. This desire was in me; I don’t know why, how or when it came. The desire never left me, and had enlightened and protected me whenever I was in danger until it eventually led me to Carmel.

When and how did you receive your ‘calling to become a nun?

This ‘calling’ was with me from my earliest age, and it followed me through my secondary schooling days. The desire to become a ‘Sister’ was there even though I did not know what kind of ‘Sister’ there is. I certainly did not have any idea

What attracted you to the Carmelite Order?

I have always longed for a place that is secluded from the noisy world. And since Jesus said, ‘I chose you’, it was Jesus himself who brought me to the Order of Carmel.

What do you like about this kind of lifestyle?

When I was in the world, meaning those years when I was working, it was impossible for me to pray and to be alone with God. Here in Carmel, prayer is our life. We remain in prayer even as we do our daily chores.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering religious life?

Read the word of God. Meditate on those words that touched you. From this, you will recognise your ‘calling’.

What is a typical day for you?

In Carmel, all days of the year are good. In my falling and in my rising, I walk my journey with Jesus who says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”.

What role do you play in your community?

In my years of formation, I helped the community to accomplish whatever duty that they asked of me.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I like to do cleaning, painting, making rosaries, gardening, among others.

What is one thing (if any) you dream of doing someday?

I have no specific dream, but I will do whatever God’s will has for me.

Sophia Soo

Grand celebration at St Ann’s Parish • Continued from p1 Scores of stalls lined the surroundings of St Ann’s Church over the weekend of 28 - 29 July, as a festive mood descended upon the parish. The Annual Sales marking the Feast of St Ann and Joachim, proved to be a resounding success as nearly 90 stall owners came together from various kampungs and tamans of the parish to offer various items for sale ranging from jungle produce, barbecued meats, rice, cakes, desserts, books, second-hand clothing and even fruit plants.

The festivities, which also featured a live band and various

activities for the young, kicked off on Saturday morning and lasted well into the night, giving a wonderful ‘pasar malam’ atmosphere to the whole event.

The fun and thanksgiving continued the next morning and ended on Sunday afternoon with the lucky draw for the grand prize of a Perodua Bezza.

Friar Gerard Victor OFM, the Rector of the parish commented: “I am overwhelmed by the support and love of the people of St Ann’s. The celebrations have indeed been a wonderful way of thanking God for his faithfulness in building his people here at Kota Padawan

6TH ANNIVERSARY In ever-loving memory of

JOHN FELIX NARANG

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him May he rest in peace. Amen.

19 July 1948 – 28 July 2017

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.

Always remembered and deeply missed by beloved wife, Susanna; sons and daughter, daughters-in-law, son-in-law, grandchildren and all loved ones.

about the Carmelite Nuns.

DAVID CHIN SWEE HUA whom the Lord called on 7 September 2012

Dearly and lovingly remembered by: Wife: Juliana Elizabeth Martin Son: Valentine Chin Daughter-in-law: Janet Yu Jia Ling Grandson: Alexandar Chin Xing Xing Foster daughters, foster sons-in-law, sister-in-law, sisters, foster grandchildren, nephew, nieces and all loved ones.

Requiem Mass will be celebrated on 7 September, 5.30 pm, St Joseph’s Cathedral

over the last 50 years. I would like to thank everyone, from the Parish Pastoral Council and Organising Committee to every single umat who have contributed their time, talent and energy to make this historic celebration such a success.

“In my 13 years of serving here at the parish, I have witnessed many miracles, and this is certainly one of them.

Without a doubt, I can boldly say: What a powerful patron we have in St Ann! Thank you, St Ann, for interceding for us! Puji Tuhan!”

Contributed

NEED HELP? Catholic Counselling Service (Archdiocese of Kuching)

Please call for enquiry and appointment St Joseph’s Cathedral Parish Office 082-423424 / 082-423425 (Office hours only)

CLASSIFIED

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

In Loving Memory

COME and EXPERIENCE the GOOD NEWS of JESUS’ LOVE & POWER

ALVIN ALEXANDER TING KA SENG

Brother Stephen Bong from the Holy Cross Ministry of Deliverance & Healing will be giving the first teaching for this year on “Jesus’ Love and Power”.

The teaching will be followed by a deliverance and healing session.

Date: Friday, 26 October 2018 Time: 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm Place: Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre, Lot 2500,

Block 10, Jalan Stampin, KCLD, Kuching Entry is free. All are welcome.

Departed: 17 August 2017 Dear Alvin, Dear wonderful you.

Loving son and brother.

Generous uncle.

Holy one of God. This world may hurt you, judge you and take all that you have.

But God himself says, "Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Deeply missed and dearly remembered by parents, siblings and nephews.

For more information please contact: The Holy Cross Centre No 681, Lorong 1, Jalan Bayor Bukit, Tabuan Jaya, 93350 Kuching.

7TH ANNIVERSARY

8TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of

Tel: 082-363945 Fax: 082-364923 Email address: holycross.deliverance@gmail.com Website: www.holycross-ministry.org

*Note: For non-Muslims only

15TH ANNIVERSARY

“We do not fix our affections on borrowed goods, because we know that they must soon be returned to the owner. All the goods of this earth are lent to us…” ~ St Alphonsus di Ligouri

4TH ANNIVERSARY

In loving memory of

CECELIA DENGGI AK DADAM

Departed: 3 August 2003

JOHN PETER ALLAS

Departed: 25 August 2014

In loving memory of our beloved

LILY POH

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upoh them.

May they rest in peace.

Deeply missed and always remembered by daughters, sons, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

REMOND CHIN LEE HIN

Born: 6 July 1914 Departed: 6 August 1995 Age: 81 years

Specialise in: Construction & Cleaning of Grave Monuments Manufacturing Gravestones imported from China, Italy

23RD & 10TH ANNIVERSARIES

whom the Lord called home on 18 May 1995

FR PETER AICHNER MHM

15 Nanas Road 93150 Kuching, Sarawak Tel: 082-617616 / 0138117616 Fax: 082-627616

Departed: 1 March 2010

Deeply missed by children, family and loved ones.

In ever-loving memory of

Simon Sim See Huat

Departed: 24 August 2011

ANNA LIM CHAI SUAN

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upoh them.

May they rest in peace. Amen.

23RD ANNIVERSARY

Tomb Maker

ALBERTUS CHIN TSOI ON

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace.

Deeply & lovingly remembered by the family of Theresa Yeo, Chua Boon Kwang Children: Charles, Caroline & Claudia

and 18 February 1960 11 August 2008

God took them home, it was his will, but in our hearts we love them still. Their memory as dear today as in the hour they passed away. We often sit and think of them when we are all alone, for their memory brings a grin.

Always remembered and deeply missed by: mother, mother-in-law Lucy Goh Siew Ha, wife Racheal Sinung, children, nieces, nephews, grand newphews and nieces, and all loved ones.

7TH ANNIVERSARY In ever-loving memory of

23RD & 16TH ANNIVERSARIES In memory of our beloved parents, grand/great-grandparents

HILDA LIM

who was called to be with the Lord on 22 August 2011

PETER YEO LAI POO

Departed: 10 August 1995

ANNA SIM SIAM CHOO

Departed: 11 February 2002

Deeply missed by Maria’s & Theresa’s families and loved ones.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon her, may her soul rest in peace.

Amen Deeply missed by son, Stephen, daughter-in-law, Shirley and grandson, Isaac

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Open House & Blessing of new Carmelite Monastery, Kuching - 12 August (Sunday) 11.00 am - 3.00 pm - (Open House) - 15 August (Wednesday) 9.00 am - Feast of Assumption Mass

- Blessing of Monastery by Archbishop

Simon Poh 10.00 am - Monastery Open house 12.00 noon - Angelus & Closing of Monastery

doors

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Ladies Guild learns a mother’s role in parenting

LUNDU — 173 Archdiocesan Ladies Guild (ALG) members spent an interesting and meaningful Recollection Weekend on 7-8 July at St Anthony’s, Kpg Pasir Hulu, Lundu.

The talk themed “Mother’s Role in Effective Parenting”

by Fr Jerome Juleng was held outdoor at Mother Mary’s Grotto. The programme included a workshop and sharing session where the participants’ creative presentation had the participants in stitches and awe.

The evening “Happy Hour” saw dance and singing

Fr Jerome Juleng delivering his talk in front of the Grotto presentation by the nine parishes.

Parishioners and visitors also celebrated the birthday of Fr Joseph Chai during the dinner.

The ALG Committee also

held their quarterly meeting with Holy Spirit, Lundu being the gracious host for both the Meeting and Recollection Weekend. — Janet Brodie`

Requiem Mass in remembrance of the late Fr James Meehan

SERIAN — “Rest in Peace with God forever, dear Fr James Meehan. We shall always remember you for your great help you have for us to grow and get closer to God.” These were the unsaid grateful words from the hearts of the congregation who gathered together for the Requiem Mass of the late Fr James Meehan on 27 July at St Theresa’s Church, Serian.

The Mass was presided by the Parish Rector, Fr Paul Henry. In his homily, Fr Paul recounted many fond memories of the late Father and concluded by saying, “Fr James Meehan was a good, faithful and wellrespected priest.”

Fr Meehan had served the Serian Parish starting in 1962 until 1971 with a short break

SPECIAL CORNER ... The Book of Condolences placed at a corner in St Theresa’s Hall in 1965. He began his third and Home in Stutong and Hope of last tour with Serian in 1986 Peace, Kota Padawan until his until his retirement in 2012. He passing on 23 July. spent his last years at Mother Mary Priests’ Retirement Joseph Then

Bidding the last farewell to Fr James Meehan

• Continued from p2 He went on to study Philosophy in Roosendaal and subsequently to Mill Hill, London, for the study of Theology. On 7 May 1958 he took the Perpetual Oath and was ordained priest on 12 July 1959

by Cardinal Godfrey. That same year he left for Kuching.

Fr James served three years in Kanowit before he was transferred to the mission at Serian. There he served as assistant priest at the same time a headmaster of the primary school. His service there was interrupted for one year during which he worked in Binatang (Bintangor).

In 1971, Fr James was appointed as a parish priest at St Ann’s Parish, Padawan. In 1979, he went for his renewal course in the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila. He returned to Serian in 1986 to take up the rectorship of St Theresa’s Parish. He later gave up the rectorship in order to allow a younger local priest to take up the leadership, while he

LAST JOURNEY TOGETHER ... Priests bringing the casket to the cemetery next to the Cathedral after the Funeral Mass stayed on as assistant. In 1987 he went for his second renewal seminar at the Missionary Institute London.

Fr James was fluent in Iban, Bidayuh and Hakka.

In 2009 he underwent a heart by-pass and valve replacement surgery. In 2012 he retired from active priestly ministry due to increasing failing health.

He spent his retirement at

Mother Mary Home of Retired Priests in Stutong before he was transferred to Home of Peace in 2017 for the personal care that he had needed. His health gradually deteriorated in the last three months of his life with the last three weeks coming in and out of the intensive care unit. He passed away peacefully on 23 July at the age of 85. — Audrey Yu

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

NEWS

PAGE 7

Lay Leadership Formation at St Theresa’s Parish SERIAN — The Parish Pastoral Council of St Theresa’s Parish prepared a series of talks, on 30 June – 1 July, for the lay leaders of the Parish comprising of the Village Committee Leaders, BCC (Basic Christian Community) Leaders and Lay Ministries Leaders. The objective of this two-day programme is to share and enlighten the development of the church following the inaugural Kuching Archdiocesan Pastoral Assembly (KAPA) in August 2017, and the ensuing discussions by the Parish Pastoral Council.

On the morning of 30 June, a seminar for the Sunday School Teachers was held while in the evening,

the Council Secretary, Mr Matters Chairman, Mr Tom Wilson Banyui, shared on Naar, spoke on the mission the formation and roles of land possession.

The KAPA with BCC Leaders.

Treasurer of the Council, Mr Such similar talks are being Anthony Taguk, presented planned for the various the financial report on the zones in the parish until the building fund project. The end of the year. two-day programme ended After the Mass on the with the Q-&-A session.

1 July, YB Tuan John Ilus, The Chairperson of the ADUN for Bukit Semunja, Council, Mr Dennis Sung, shared ideas on Leadership thanked the participants and Administration. Mr for their presence and Ambrose Linang from attendance.

He also UNiFOR (Unit for Non expressed his appreciation Islamic Organisation) who to YB Tuan John Ilus and is also the Secretary General Mr Ambrose Linang for of ACS (Association their time and effort to share of Churches Sarawak) FOR THE ALBUM ... Lay leaders at a group photo with YB Tuan John Ilus their knowledge with the enlightened the floor on the leaders. Lastly he thanked (4th left) ADUN for Bukit Semunja and Fr Paul Herry (3rd left) role of UNiFOR. the Organising Committee After lunch, Mr Wilson talk about the Parish Pastoral and financial matters while for the job well done.

Banyui took over the floor to Council’s formation, functions the Council’s Mission Land Joseph Then

A short but fruitful pilgrimage to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU — A group of 39 pilgrims from Kuching and Mukah embarked on a three day two night pilgriamge to Kota Kinabalu on 21-23 July.

The pilgrims, made up of legionaries and members of other lay ministries, were hosted by Our Lady of Assumption Presidium of St Simon Church, Duvanson.

On the first day, the group visited St Simon Church, Duvanson in the morning and celebrated the Sunset Mass at Holy Nativity Church, Tarawi in the evening. The pilgrims were then treated to a fellowship dinner hosted by Legion of Mary Our Lady of Assumption, St Simon.

The next day, the group visited St Peter Claver Church, Ranau. The pilgrims were welcomed by Fr Nicholas Stephen. He briefed them on the history of St Peter Claver Church, and took them on a guided tour on the various holy

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Another highlight of St Peter Claver Church was the Stations of the Cross. Each station is situated in different kampungs around the church. According to Catechist Regina, it takes two and a half day to complete the 14 Stations!

The last day saw the pilgrims

visiting St Michael Church, Panampang, which is the second oldest church in Sabah.

They celebrated a special Mass presided by Fr Dom Columba Ned Moujing before returning to Kuching.

The pilgrimage was a short one, but the pilgrims had gained much from it.

Johnny Kon

Miri Diocese receives FOCUS Missions • Continued from p3 One experience that left a deep impression in them was the scarcity of water due to prolong dry spell that the place was experiencing.

Having been forewarned by Fr Andy Lee, the group consciously used the water sparingly and avoid wastage.

The missionaries felt blessed for the opportunity to live the life of the local Catholics which is markedly different from theirs.

Throughout the two-week journey, the missionaries were reminded that all people are

Here is a rule for everyday life: do not do anything which you cannot offer to God.

FOCUS missionaries together with Fr Andy Lee after Mass at Church of Holy Family Lapok united in one spirit one body to Christ has changed their own through Jesus Christ. Indeed lives to a better turn. by the Holy Spirit, their ‘Yes’ Michelle Anastasia

PAGE 8

NEWS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Pope Francis decides to update Church Catechism: ‘The death penalty is inadmissable’

VATICAN — Now, under all circumstances, the Church retains: ‘The death penalty is inadmissable.’

Pope Francis, in the audience granted on 11 May, to the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, approved the following new text of the n. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, arranging for it to be translated into the various languages and included in all the editions of the aforementioned Catechism.

“The new formulation of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church,” it states, “desires to give energy to a movement towards a decisive commitment to favour a mentality that recognises the dignity of every human life and, in respectful dialogue with civil authorities, to encourage the creation of conditions that allow for the elimination of the death penalty where it is still in effect.”

In light of this revision, Pope Francis, in an audience with Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on 28 June, approved the

a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good.

Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.

present letter, adopted in the Ordinary Session of this Congregation on 13 June, and ordered its publication.

Cardinal Ladaria’s letter to all bishops was sent from the Office of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on 1 August, the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori.

Idolatry of wealth, beauty demands a costly sacrifice, Pope says

VATICAN CITY — Idolatry is a human inclination that spares neither believers nor atheists and deprives people of life and love in exchange for slavery to unfulfilled dreams, Pope Francis said.

Although wealth, fame, beauty and power differ from the idols of ancient times, they all require “a human sacrifice,” the Pope said on 1 August during his weekly general audience.

“For a career, children are sacrificed (by) neglecting them or simply not having them,” he said. “Beauty demands human sacrifice. How many hours are spent in front of the mirror?"

“Idols demand blood,” Pope Francis said.

After a month’s summer break and as temperatures in the Eternal City reached nearly 35 degrees Celsius, the Pope resumed his audiences inside the air-conditioned Paul VI audience hall.

Returning to his series of audience talks about the Ten Commandments, Francis focused specifically on the command “You shall not have other gods beside me”.

Christians, like anyone else, can fall prey to the world’s “supermarket of idols,” relying on earthly goods rather than on the spiritual goods offered by

God through prayer, the Pope said.

Setting aside his prepared text, Francis talked about walking near a park in his native Argentina and seeing perhaps 50 tables set up where people could have their fortunes told through tarot card readings.

“They went there to ‘pray’ to their idol,” the Pope said. Instead of praying to God, people went to have their cards read and their futures foretold. “This is an idolatry!”

Over time, the Pope continued, a person’s idol evolves into a “fixation and obsession” that has the power to enslave.

While idols seem to promise life, he said, “in reality they take it away. The true God doesn't ask for life but rather gives it. The true God doesn’t offer a glimpse of our success but rather teaches us to love. The true God doesn’t ask for your children but rather gives his son to us.”

Francis said the first “step on the path of love” is to recognise one’s own idolatries because “to truly love, you must be free of idols”.

“Carry this in your heart: Idols rob us of love, idols make us blind to love,” the Pope said. Ask yourselves, ‘What is my idol?’ Then take it and throw it out the window.” — CNS

Here is the Vatican-provided English translations of the text of the revision, as well as the letter that Cardinal Ladaria sent from the CDF to all bishops: The death penalty 2267. Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following

Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.

Zenit.org

Pope Francis calls for delicate, necessary balance of being faithful to God’s Word, and accompaniment

VATICAN — Being faithful to God’s Word, appreciate others’ viewpoints even if you do not agree, and using these elements to show solidarity with and accompany others.

These three elements, Pope Francis stressed are essential, in a message he sent for the opening of the III International Conference of Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2629 July on theme “A Critical Time for Bridge-Building: Catholic Theological Ethics Today.”

The theme of their meeting – focused on the need to build bridges, not walls – Francis said is one which he has had at heart and to which he often calls attention.

“Without renouncing prudence, we are called to recognise every sign and mobilise all our energy in order to remove the walls of division and to build bridges of fraternity everywhere in the world.”

In this complex and demanding scenario, the Pope said there is need for individuals and institutions capable of assuming a renewed leadership. “There is no need, on the other hand,” he pointed out, “for hurling slogans that often remain empty, or for antagonism between parties jockeying for the front position.

We require a leadership that can help to find and put into practice a more just way for all of us to live in this world as sharers in a common destiny.”

With regard to the question of how theological ethics can make its own specific contribution, I find insightful your proposal to create a network between persons on the various continents who, with different modalities

and expressions, can devote themselves to ethical reflection in a theological key in an effort to find therein new and effective resources.

With such resources, suitable analyses can be carried out, but more importantly, energies can be mobilised for a praxis that is compassionate and attentive to tragic human situations, and concerned with accompanying them with merciful care. To create such a network, it is urgent first to build bridges among yourselves, to share ideas and programmes, and to develop forms of closeness.

“Needless to say, this does not mean striving for uniformity of viewpoints, but rather seeking with sincerity and good will a convergence of purposes, in dialogical openness and the discussion of differing perspectives.”

Pope Francis encouraged men and women working in the field of theological ethics, to be passionate for such dialogue and networking. This approach, he noted, can inspire analyses that will be all the more insightful and attentive to the complexity of human reality.

“You yourselves will learn ever better how to be faithful to the word of God which challenges us in history, and to show solidarity with the world, which you are not called to judge but rather to offer new paths, accompany journeys, bind hurts and shore up weakness.”

Pope Francis concluded, imparting his Apostolic Blessing and ask those present to pray for him.

Zenit.org

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

FOCUS

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ON APOLOGETICS

Was Jesus Christ crucified?

by Deacon Dr Sherman Kuek, OFS On the matter of whether Jesus Christ was really crucified and whether his “alleged” death was necessary for the salvation of mankind, it has been explained in my previous articles that the sacrificial death of Jesus was necessary in order to break the age-old curse of Original Sin. This would then make it possible for humanity to enter into the final covenant with God through Christ by baptism. We have also established that the crucifixion of Jesus was not senseless, that his sacrifice on the cross was an effective action when understood from the Jewish perspective of sacrifice and atonement.

This, however, is not all there is to be said about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Historically, there may yet be those who continue to doubt the truth of the crucifixion, to be exact, whether the event truly did take place. Hence, we need to present further evidence for the crucifixion.

3. There is ample evidence for the crucifixion.

We know that the crucifixion took place because history is fraught with documentational evidence regarding the reality of this event. It was far more than just the imaginative hallucination of a few men and women. a) There were eyewitnesses of the crucifixion in the Bible.

One strong evidence that cannot be dismissed for the historical crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the testimony of eyewitness sources for this event. Many of our Muslim friends do not believe that eyewitness sources actually existed and continue to exist regarding the crucifixion. Ibn Taymiyya claimed, “Not a single one of the Christians was a witness with them [the Jews]. Rather the apostles kept a distance through fear, and not one of them witnessed the crucifixion” (Ibn Taymiyya, A Muslim Theologian’s Response to Christianity, ed. and trans. Thomas F. Michel [Delmar, NY: Caravan Books, 1984], 110).

The above argument is usually based on how the Scripture passage Matthew 26:56 is construed: “Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away.” Whilst it is true that the disciples ran away from the immediate presence of Jesus, Mark 15:54 asserts that there were still witnesses from a distance, and one such material witness was Peter himself.

In John 19:26-27, it is shown that Jesus spoke to this “anonymous disciple” while he was on the cross, commending the Blessed Virgin Mary to him as his mother, and likewise, him to her as her son. The Gospel of Luke 23:27 also reports that while Jesus was carrying the cross, “Large numbers of people followed him, and women too, who mourned and lamented for him”.

In addition to these people mentioned above, the Gospels contain references to other eyewitnesses, such as, Jewish leaders (Matthew 27:41; Mark 15:31), the Roman centurion (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47) and soldiers (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:35; John 19:18, 23).

The notion that there were absolutely no eyewitnesses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ certainly does not correspond with the historical data available. b) There is medical evidence for the crucifixion.

The Romans were a highly scientific people by the standards of their day. In administering capital punishment such as the ones they inflicted on Jesus and other criminals, they knew exactly what kind of methodologies to apply in order to bring about precisely the intended effect of the said punishment. Nothing was done by accident and nothing was left to chance. In other words, the tortures exacted on Jesus was a scientific procedure. Therefore, to assume that these Romans would have allowed for Jesus to somehow escape the punishment of the cross unnoticed by them cannot make sense. They knew exactly how to kill a man in the most painful way possible, and they knew when the person was no longer alive.

(Part VII)

Medical scientists have examined what had been recorded by the Gospel writers regarding the torture and murder of Jesus in order to ascertain if the reports contained in the Gospels corresponded or contradicted the modern medical science. They had concluded from this research that the Gospel reports were rather precise in regard to the conditions experienced by a crucified victim.

Firstly, in Luke 22:44, it is reported that Jesus sweated “great drops of blood” when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane. Dr Alexander Metherell, a medical doctor and scholar in the University of California whose expertise is in the subject of death by crucifixion, confirmed the observation that this is “a known medical condition called hematidrosis”. Although rare, when a human person is placed under extreme conditions of emotional stress, tiny capillaries in his sweat glands can rupture, thereby causing the excretion of blood with his perspiration. The most frequent cause of this phenomenon, scientific research shows, is acute fear. Whilst the extent of blood loss is usually minimal, hematidrosis results in one’s skin becoming extremely tender and fragile, meaning that the victim feels pain more easily than usual.

The tortures exacted on Jesus was a scientific procedure.

Secondly, when Jesus was on the cross and said “I am thirsty” (John 19:28), indicating that He needed water, this was another known medical condition identified as hypovolemic shock. Such condition would have been a result of the whipping Jesus went through. Dr Metherell taught that hypovolemic shock has four consequences: the heart works harder than usual to pump blood that is no longer there, the blood pressure drops dramatically and causes fainting or collapse, the kidneys stop producing urine in order to maintain the volume of water that is remaining, and the person becomes extremely thirsty as the body craves fluid to replace the lost volume of blood.

Thirdly, the evidence resulting from the spear that was thrust into Jesus’ side confirmed that Jesus indeed did die on the cross. Dr Matherell, when describing the hypovolemic shock suffered by Jesus, taught that this condition causes rapid heartbeat thereby resulting in the accumulation of fluid around the heart. The condition is known as pericardial effusion. In John 19:34, it stated that when one of the soldiers present at the site of execution thrusted a spear into the side of Jesus who was hanging on the cross, blood and water gushed out. The spear apparently went through the right lung into the heart. When it was pulled out, fluid came out which looked clear like water, which in his medical assessment was the pericardial effusion and the pleural effusion.

Given the above evidence, even the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross contradicted the findings of modern medical science.

(To be continued)

FEATURE

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Sacramentals as a door to the sacred

by Effie Caldarola It was near the end of a long East Coast visit, a road trip that took us to visit a priest friend at the University of Notre Dame, the sights at Niagara Falls and an Italian cousin who was visiting my husband’s extended family.

We had driven hundreds of miles, but this day we were merely out doing errands, picking up household necessities for a daughter moving into a new apartment.

The crash came, like they all do, suddenly. We must have been in the lady’s blind spot, the lady who suddenly threw on her blinker and turned directly into our path. Taking evasive action, my husband swung the car dramatically to the right.

Like a movie car chase, we bumped roughly over a curb and came to an abrupt stop. Unlike a movie, we did not slam the car into reverse and speed off merrily down the street. Two tires were collapsed and fluid leaked ominously.

The other driver was irritatingly nonchalant. I don’t think she realised that our car was close to being totalled from this misadventure.

When events like this happen, we often wonder, where was God in all this? Of course, we were very grateful that we and the other driver and her passenger walked away safely.

But still, I recalled that at the beginning of our road trip, I had taken a little vial of holy water that I had

Sacramentals open our hearts to God and are not superstitious assurances that we are somehow magically protected from the world’s threats. obtained on a recent trip to Ireland and blessed our car with it. The water came from the site at Knock where an apparition of Mary was said to have occurred in the 19th century as the country was recovering from famine.

I examined my motivations for this act of private devotion. I love the sacramentals of our faith – the symbols that the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines as “sacred signs that ... signify effects, particularly of a spiritual

nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the church.”

I have a lively Catholic imagination, and love the bells and whistles – the medals, pilgrimages, the candles lit in dusky churches, the relics, the holy water.

If it’s not your cup of tea, that’s OK. But for me, it’s a source of solace and closeness to the sacred.

The important thing is to remind myself that these sacramentals open my heart to God and are not superstitious assurances

that I am somehow magically protected from the world’s threats.

In his new book, “Barking to the Choir,” Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, who has made a career out of helping ex-gang members reclaim their lives, offered a comment I have meditated over.

“God does not protect (us) from anything,” Father Boyle said, “but he sustains (us) through everything.”

Fr Boyle was remembering how, during the World Trade Centre bombings, many people were killed in the towers but many, for reasons as mundane as oversleeping or stopping to buy doughnuts on the way to work, were spared death. Did God somehow “protect” some people? No, God’s grace was operating with all those who died and with those who lived. How this works is part of the mystery of our God. We have a natural inclination to ask God to protect us. In tight situations, I say the Hail Mary like a mantra.

I believe, if anything, God offers us protection from the evil one, the very real presence of wickedness that pursues us.

But we’re all going to suffer and we’re all going to die. We don’t ask to be spared this, just as Jesus was not spared, but we ask to trust the will of God who sustains us.

CNS

Taking a public health crisis seriously

by Richard Doerflinger

The recent tragic deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain have dramatized what The New York Times calls the “public health crisis” of suicide. That crisis was underscored on June 8 when the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the U.S. suicide rate increased almost 30 percent from 1999 to 2016.

Unfortunately, people in general, and news media in particular, have not known how to help. Even news reporting on suicide can aggravate the problem, say guidelines promoted by the World Health Organisation, US Surgeon General’s office, and suicide prevention organisations.

WHO urges: “Avoid language which sensationalises or normalises suicide, or presents it as a solution to problems”; “Avoid explicit description of the method used in a completed or attempted suicide”; and “suicide notes should not be published.”

Initial reports of Spade’s death ignored this plea, by dwelling on the specific means of death (which could be copied by impressionable people) and quoting an alleged suicide note.

By the time Bourdain died three days later, news agencies learned of these concerns and acted more responsibly.

And they helped educate the public about preventing suicide.

Prevention has to reach beyond people with identified psychiatric problems, to encompass those facing stressful situations Prevention has to reach beyond people with identified psychiatric problems, to encompass those facing stressful situations such as health problems, broken relationships and job or financial difficulties. The CDC says more than half of those taking their lives had no “known mental health condition” at the time – which, as psychiatrists observe, means that the condition was not diagnosed, not that it didn’t exist.

Experts have also identified warning signs. For example, a person may talk about wanting to die, about “feeling hopeless or having no purpose,” about “being a burden to others” (see http:// reportingonsuicide.org). If someone I

know shows some of these signs, I should not leave him or her alone; I should remove anything that could be used for suicide and seek medical help.

In some circles, however, this “comprehensive” effort to prevent suicide has a glaring loophole. People facing serious physical illness have been tagged by a well-funded advocacy campaign as needing suicide “assistance” rather than suicide prevention.

The leading advocacy group, “Compassion & Choices,” claims that when these patients take their lives, using drugs deliberately prescribed for that purpose, this is “aid in dying” or “death with dignity” rather than suicide.

Yet the means are the same as in many other suicides; the patients are almost never evaluated for a mental disorder; in Oregon, more than half say they are doing this because they are a “burden” on others; and physical illness is well known as one “stressor” increasing one’s suicide risk.

What’s more, stories used to promote this agenda – most notably that of Brittany Maynard, the young cancer patient whose quest for doctor-assisted death in Oregon was on the cover of People magazine at most grocery checkout lines in 2014 ­– egregiously violated the guidelines on responsible reporting. Self-killing was glorified and presented as a solution – the only solution – to her problems.

And sure enough, suicide rates have risen – not least in Oregon, which for the past three years of the CDC study has a suicide rate (not counting “aid in dying” cases) 37 percent higher than the national average. The highest rate of all is in Montana, the only state with a court ruling allowing assisted suicide in some cases.

I applaud the renewed public effort to protect people from suicidal temptations. All of us – including physicians, lawmakers and journalists – are needed in that effort. And all of us, without exception, deserve to benefit from it. — CNS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

FEATURE

PAGE 11

Feast of Assumption: Mary, the model of virtue and of faith Come 15 August, the Catholics will mark the day with prayers and reflection, the day to commemorate the end of Mary’s earthy life and her assumption into heaven. This day is the Feast of Assumption. The Day is relatively young having just officially defined

by Pope Pius XII in Munificentissimus Deus on 1 November 1950. Before it was proclaimed as dogma of faith, the Church celebrated it as the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos or ‘the falling asleep of the Mother of God’ as early as 6th century.

Pope Francis reflected in 2017 Angelus that “the Gospel introduces us to the young woman of Nazareth who, having received the Angel’s Annunciation, leaves in haste to be closer to Elizabeth, in the final months of her prodigious pregnancy. Arriving at Elizabeth’s home, Mary hears her utter the words that have come to form the “Hail Mary” prayer: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Lk 1:42). In fact, the greatest gift Mary brings to Elizabeth — and to the whole world — is Jesus, who already lives within her; and he lives not only through faith and through expectation, as in many women of the Old Testament: from the Virgin, Jesus took on human flesh for his mission of salvation.

In the home of Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah, where sadness

Q&A

Assumption of the Virgin Mary, fresco painting at San Petronio Basilica, Bologna, Italy (Photo: CNA) once reigned for lack of children, there is now the joy of a child on the way: a child who will become the great John the Baptist, the precursor of the Messiah.

And when Mary arrives, joy overflows and gushes from their hearts, because the invisible but real presence of Jesus fills everything with meaning: life, family, the salvation of the people. Everything! This joy is expressed in Mary’s voice in the marvellous prayer that the Gospel of Luke has conveyed to us and which, from the first Latin word, is called Magnificat. It is a song of praise to God who works great things through humble people, unknown to the world, as is Mary herself, as is her

Source: Libreria Editrice Vaticana (https://w2.vatican.va/content/ francesco/en/angelus/2017/documents/ papa-francesco_angelus_20170815. html)

Salvation for a nonbeliever?

Q

In a recent issue of our diocesan paper, I read an article about a conversation that had occurred in Italy between Pope Francis and a young boy. The boy – who was both fearful and tearful, as he whispered his question to the Pope – wanted to know whether his deceased father was in heaven. The answer Pope Francis gave to the boy seemed shocking to me as a believing Catholic.

The little boy had told the pope that his father was “not a believer” but was “a good man” and had seen to it that all of his children were baptised. The article quoted the Pope as saying, “He had a good heart. ... With a dad who was not a believer but who baptised his children … do you think God would be able to leave him far from himself? ... Does God abandon his children when they are good?”

The Pope then encouraged the boy to talk to his father and to pray to him – so essentially he was telling this boy that his dad was saved.

For the Pope to tell a child that his dad is in heaven simply because he baptized his kids rings false to me. If one only needs to baptise one’s children to be a shooin for heaven, then why put ourselves through the difficulty of practicing our Christianity? And isn’t it true that “being good” doesn’t save us without faith?

I understand that the Pope wanted to console this grieving child, but only acceptance of Jesus’ redemptive work saves us from our sins and we’re not sure whether the father ever made a confession of faith. So I feel that the only accurate answer to give to the boy was, “We just don’t know.”

A

spouse Joseph, and as is the place where they live, Nazareth. The great things God has done with humble people, the great things the Lord does in the world with the humble, because humility is like a vacuum that leaves room for God. The humble are powerful because they are humble: not because they are strong. And this is the greatness of the humble and of humility. I would like to ask you — and also myself — but do not answer out loud — each of you respond in your heart: How is my humility?

The Magnificat praises the merciful and faithful God who accomplishes his plan of salvation through the little ones

and the poor, through those who have faith in him, who trust in his Word as did Mary. Here is the exclamation of Elizabeth: “Blessed is she who believed” (Lk 1:45). In that house, the coming of Jesus through Mary created not only a climate of joy and fraternal communion, but also a climate of faith that leads to hope, prayer, and praise.”

He further urged us to “have all of this happen today in our homes too.

Celebrating Mary Most Holy Assumed into Heaven, we would once again wish her to bring to us, to our families, to our communities, this immense gift, that unique Grace that we must always seek first and above all the other graces that we also have at heart: the grace that is Jesus Christ!

By bearing Jesus, Our Lady also brings to us a new joy full of meaning; she brings us a new ability to traverse with faith the most painful and difficult moments; she brings us the capacity of mercy, in order to forgive each other, to understand each other and to support each other.

Mary is the model of virtue and of faith.”

Technically, I suppose, you are right. Pope Francis could not issue an absolute and ironclad guarantee that the boy’s father was in heaven. But I would have answered the same way he did, and here is why: I believe – and Pope Francis probably does, too – that most people are going to wind up in heaven.

Otherwise, why would a loving God have created billions and billions of people if the whole enterprise was largely doomed to failure? So, in my mind, the odds are that the boy’s father – especially since he was a “good man” – is now in heaven or on his way there, and the boy can reasonably speak to his father and even pray to him.

And by the way, I disagree with your contention that, in order to make it to heaven, a person must make a conscious and personal “confession of faith” in the redemptive

by Fr Kenneth Doyle

Why would a loving God have created billions and billions of people if the whole enterprise was largely doomed to failure?

Photo: CNS work of Jesus.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, quoting the Second Vatican Council, says, “Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience – those too may achieve eternal salvation” (No. 847). — CNS

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Bible Sunday Message 2018

YOUNG

PEOPLE , FAITH and VOCATION DISCERNMENT

Each year, the Church gives special emphasis to the Word of God by celebrating Bible Sunday. This year, Bible Sunday falls on 8 July.

Today’s Catholic presents a two-part reflection by the Regional Biblical Commission. Part I was published in the July 2018 issue.

Two areas young people can apply scripture to their development of faith and discernment of vocation.

Paul begins a series of strong charges directed to Timothy and all young people.

He reminds the young person of the aspects of developing the gift of faith that he or she receives.

1. Rekindle the gift of God For this reason, I remind you to rekindle, (fan into flame) the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. (2 Tim 1:6) What is this gift of God? It refers to the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit to equip a young person in faith to be of service. Some may have the gift to teach catechism, another to be part of a choir and yet another to work among the poor. Pope Benedict reminds us that even these noble talents are nothing without the gift of faith which enables us to experience the risen Christ. It is not enough to be a good person, even to the point of working for the eradication of evil and injustice. In the words of Pope Benedict, “indeed many Christians dedicate their lives to those who are lonely, marginalised or excluded…but it’s through faith that we recognise the risen Christ in those who ask for our love” (Article No.14 Motu Proprio Data- Porta Fidei, Apostolic letter of Pope Benedict XVI for the indiction of the year of faith). Hence, faith expresses itself through love, not just by a show of activity (cf. Gal 5:6).

St Paul uses the word “stir up” or “fan into flame” (Greek: anazopureo), it means to keep blazing and to keep the flame of the fire burning. It could also mean to rekindle or to re-stir the flame, indicating that the flame could be dying out. Sometimes a young person needs to be re-stirred and rekindled. “Zeal is required to stir up the gift of God for it lies within our power to kindle or to quench grace. By laziness and carelessness, it is extinguished, and by attentiveness and diligence it is kept aflame” (St John Chrysostom, homilies on 2 Timothy 1).

Pope St John Paul II, speaking on reaching out to fellow Catholics as a means to a “New Evangelisation,” calls young people not to be afraid to use new methods of witnessing to the unchanging truth of the gospel. Timothy may have been a good fellow, even a kind and loyal Christian, but Paul is reminding him to keep his spiritual gifts blazing and burning to the hottest degree possible. It echoes the apocalyptic reprimand, “Because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth” (Rev 3:16).

The idea of “stirring up” (Greek: anazopureo) is in the present tense, which means it is progressive and a continuous action. The young person is to keep stirring up his gifts, never letting its flame lose its intensity. Never slacking or losing zeal. Every young person anointed with the Holy Spirit at Confirmation possesses a very special grace. God has gifted him or her with a special vocation in faith. The young person must therefore do exactly what God has gifted them to do.

2. In the spirit of power, love and self-control “God has not given us a spirit of timidity but rather a spirit of power and of love and self-control.” (2 Tim 1:7) Too often young people fear standing up for Jesus and his Church not because they do not love God but because they fear ridicule. One may feel the embarrassment of being called “holy”. Mockery and criticism follow if a mistake occurs. Opposition from elders that “You are not mature enough” or being abused for standing up for justice reinforces these fears. Every young person at one time or another will experience such an obstacle when witnessing to their faith (cf. 1 Tim 4:12). It is precisely for this reason that the Holy Spirit infuses power into the heart of the young person to face the strain of difficulties and trials. Power to take on a job and do it well. Power to be confident in proclaiming Jesus both in deed and word. Power to withstand the temptations of darkness and sin (cf. Mic 3:8). I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power in your inner being (Eph 3:16; Acts 1:8: 4:33).

Paul is quick to add love into any gift of the Holy Spirit so that it will be well executed in a wise and mature manner. “Follow the manner of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts” (1 Cor 14:1). The kind of love that Paul speaks about is “agape” love (Greek: unconditional sacrificial love). Agape love is God’s love. God alone possesses it therefore only God alone can infuse it through the Holy Spirit, “...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God” (Eph 5:2).

To make it complete, the Holy Spirit infuses self-discipline (Greek: sophronismou),

(Part II) meaning, a disciplined character (1 Tim 1:7) with self-control which is the final fruit of the spirit (cf. Gal 5:22). Self-control is the mastery over one’s mind, heart and actions despite the opposition (cf. Rom 8:5-7; 1 Thess 5:6-7; Hebrews 12:7; 1 Pet 1:13). Self-control makes a mockery of the superficiality of our age. It bares open the immaturity and the curse of instant satisfaction which results in a vicious cycle of a hangover, shame and destruction. It calls young people to move beyond surface living into what is genuine and meaningful. For the many young people who are in bondage caused by pornography, fornication, drugs and drinking, scripture has strong warnings on the condition of their soul. “They are blots and blemishes, reveling in the pleasures while they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable, they are experts of greed - an accursed brood” (2 Pet 2: 13b-14).

Even for the lukewarm and self-confident, St Augustine cautions, “we are lost when we are satisfied with our condition”.

Self-control and spiritual discipline are not simply for saints or sinners but rather the ordinary means of seeking liberation. The Church calls this abstinence or penance. Dr Richard J Forster in his work ‘Celebration of Discipline’ emphasises: “Self-control is not some means to terminate liberation but, rather on the contrary, it results in dancing, singing even shouting a ‘Yes’ with fists in the air as a result of triumphant victory. It is not some dull drudgery aimed at exterminating laughter from the face of the earth. It is certainly not for the coward and the weak but for the humble and the honest”. Thomas Merton encourages the young when he says, “But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything but beginners all our life!”

(Merton, Contemplative Prayer) Conclusion Therefore, if any young person like Timothy be guided by faith and is willing to respond to the stirring of the gifts, inevitably the young person will develop and progress in his capacity to discern what is true “agape” love and the mastery of selfcontrol.

The testimony of hundreds of case studies have proven that the young can be victorious in their struggle against the dark world of sin and shame (Rabbi Basil F. Herring, “Choice Diminished Behaviour and Religious and Communal Policy,” in Yitzchok Berger and David Shatz (edts), Judaism, Science and Moral Responsibility: Orthodox Forum, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield (2006), pp.162, 168). It is to these young ones who are willing to plunge into sacred scriptures, whom none else can instruct better but one willing to keep the word of God in his heart (cf. Psalm 119:911).

Ultimately it is the young people that Pope Francis sees as the future of our humanity with the vision of faith enkindled in their hearts. Pope Francis, in his message for World Mission Day 2017 states that young people are the hope of mission.

The person of Jesus Christ and the Good News he proclaims continue to attract many young people to a vocation as disciples, following in the footsteps of their Divine Master. With courage and enthusiasm, they seek ways to put themselves at the service of humanity. “There are many young people who offer their solidarity in the face of the evils of the world and engage in various forms of militancy and volunteering … How beautiful it is to see that young people are street preachers, joyfully bringing Jesus to every street, every town square and every corner of the earth!” (Message of Pope Francis, for World Mission Day 2017- Mission at the heart of the Christian Faith-106).

Questions for reflection 1. Who are the elders, mentors and heroes in your life that have shown you the beauty of faith and scripture?

2. What is the primary requirement for a young person embarking on the faith journey?

3. Do you agree that the discipline of self- control is essential to counter a culture of death? Why? 4. How can I pursue a life of joy, strength and purpose as a young person?

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

CHILDREN

PAGE 13

The Assumption

Hi Kids!

(15 August)

This month we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mother Mary into heaven. Wouldn’t it be nice to be in heaven with Jesus like our blessed mother? Let’s ask Mother Mary to teach us to be faithful disciples of Jesus, like she was, so we can be where she is now next time!

Aunty Jo

Looking for a sign Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

JOHN

6:35 Read John 6:24-35 Complete this wordsearch puzzle.

Then, colour the picture below.

On this feast of Mary, we celebrate a special favour that God gave to Mary, our Mother.

The Assumption means that Mary was taken up into the glory of heaven not only with her soul, but also with her body.

Jesus, the Son of God was born from Mary’s pure womb.

So when Mary died, God the Father and Jesus, would not let the body of the Mother of God be spoilt. This was her reward for her love of God and her years of faithful prayers and suffering.

Now Mary is in heaven. She is queen of heaven and earth. She is the Mother of Jesus’ Church and queen of apostles. Every time Mary asks Jesus to give us graces, he listens to her request.

After the resurrection from the dead, we, too, can go to heaven with our bodies. Our bodies will be perfect. They will not suffer illness any more. They will not need any more food and drink to keep alive. They will be beautiful and splendid!

If we use our bodies now to do good, those bodies will share in our heavenly reward.

As we celebrate the feast day of Mary on 15 August, we can ask our Blessed Mother Mary to guide, protect and care for us.

A word to the wise

Be careful then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5:15-16

LIFE ETERNAL SIGNS RABBI

HEAVEN TRUE FILL BELIEVE

LOAVES MANNA THIRSTY LIFE

TRUTH DESERT LAKE HUNGRY

FATHER MOSES BREAD FOOD

I am the living bread Read John 6:41-51.

Find the words from the passage in this crossword puzzle.

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world.”

JOHN

6:51

Can you find your way to God’s word in the Bible?

God’s protective gear

ACROSS 5. To gain knowledge through experience or study 7. To make an effort to hear something; to pay attention 8. A person who speaks for God; Isaiah, for example DOWN 1. To accept as true or real 2. For everlasting time; eternally 3. The earth with its inhabitants 4. The son of God 6. To continue to be alive

Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Ephesians 6:11

LIVE LEARN BELIEVE LISTEN

FOREVER WORLD PROPHET JESUS

YOUTH

PAGE 14

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Youth 2018 Road to KAYD19 KAYD18 Workshops

KUCHING — The Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Commission organised two workshops as part of a series of activities in preparation for Kuching Archdiocesan Youth Day (KAYD) which will be held in 2019. The two workshops – Design & Publication, and Dance & Drama Workshop – were held on 30 June and 14 July respectively.

Dance & Drama Workshop

Design & Publication Workshop

Eighteen youths from various parishes attended a workshop on the design and publication on 30 June at the ACCPC. The workshop was animated by Ms Catherine Lee who is an engineer by profession and a member of Empowered Ministry.

During the Workshop, Ms Catherine guided the participants on the various aspects of design and publication such as the theory and principles of design. She interestingly shared the importance of the discernment process during the conceptual phrase which included prayer and reflection in order to get a good meaningful design. Brainstorming with others or doing a rough sketch is also an excellent way to get out a good design.

In addition to the various tips including resources sourcing, Ms Catherine also shared with the participants the various software that are commonly used in the graphic designs. Lastly, she shared the appropriate ways of designing the posters and banners for the church activates. To apply what they have learnt from the Workshop, the participants were given an

opportunity to design for KAYD19.

The Workshop proved to be insightful and inspiring for the participants as they were being exposed to various methods of producing good poster designs as well as resources that can be harnessed during the process.

“I learnt how to produce a good poster in an easy and attractive way. We were introduced to various graphic design software such as Microsoft Publisher, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrators. I hope that this Workshop can be held again in future. For me, I will share the knowledge that I have gained here with my fellow youths,” said Walter Jaludin from St Jude’s Parish, Bunan Gega.

As for Angeline Bernard from St Mark’s Church, Batu Kawa, the highlight of the Workshop is the idea of using software to design artworks.

She said, “The Workshop has inspired me to do more productively with my computer resources. I am motivated to improve my parish youth ministry in the design and publication.”

Ashley

More than 40 youths from several parishes and youth groups signed up for the Dance & Drama Workshop held on 14 July at the ACCPC. The theme of the Workshop is “Dance like David Dance.’

The Workshop was animated by Mr Kelvin Chan who is a member of Empowered Dance & Dance Ministry.

After a brief introduction on the Workshop, the participants were formed into three groups. The three groups were led in turn by three separate choreographers to learn and practise the different parts of the ‘Dance like David Dance’ song.

At the end of the Workshop, the three groups came together and showcased what they have learnt in one complete ensemble dance piece of ‘Dance like David Dance’.

The Workshop left an impact on the participants whom many of them were exposed to dancing workshop for the first time in their lives. They learned how dancing can be a form of praising the Lord, and that proper dancing actually entails discipline, confidence and humility.

Elliesha Tumeh from St Jude’s Parish, Bunan Gega shared that she learnt how to praise God with the music and body language. “I discovered that I can praise Almighty God and spread his love through dancing. I realised that dancing needs passion, discipline, humility,

and confidence. No matter how awkward I may feel with my body, as long as I follow the grooves and enjoy myself, people will definitely feel and receive my message of God’s word,” quoting 2 Sam 8:1-15.

Seraphina of IPGBL on the other hand said that it was a wonderful experience for her as she has learnt another way of praising God. “It also gave me a chance to experience how one’s attitude can change things,” she said.

“Thank you to Empowered Dance & Drama Ministry for sharing their blessing through dancing with every one of us. It was my first experience, learning how to dance while praising God,” shared Jennifer Awing from IPGBL. “Saya seronok dan gembira kerana dapat mempelajari pelbagai langkah gerak tarian yang berbeza sesi workshop 1, 2 dan 3. Workshop ini mengajar kami untuk tidak berputus asa dengan mudah kerana terdapat lebih banyak cabaran yang kita akan hadapi pada masa akan datang terutama jika kita mengikuti ajaran Tuhan Yesus Kristus. Selain itu, praise and worship amatkan menyentuh hati saya kerana dapat merasai kehadiran Tuhan Yesus Kristus kita,” Elmarch anak Robert from St Ann’s Mission, Kota Padawan, shared.

Danny Ronny

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

YOUTH

PAGE 15

One word: Dignity Christian or Muslim. Pro-life or prochoice. Liberal or conservative. One of us or one of them.

The list of the familiar dichotomies that divide us and change the way we think about ourselves and other people goes on endlessly – often to the point that I fear we cease to remember that we are all, in fact, people.

For that very reason, I have long believed that the greatest poverty in this world is a lack of recognition of our own dignity and that of those around us.

I remember it as a child, in the voices of peers teasing me incessantly for my New York accent when I moved to Missouri. I have seen it in downtrodden classmates unable to see their worth beyond academic or relationship difficulties. I hear it from the lips of men speaking about women as if their value were no more than the sum of their parts.

I see it in the eyes of women who have believed those same lies and define themselves in comparison to others.

I read it on my Facebook feed in rants personally attacking public figures and groups of people who the authors flatten to the one dimension indicated by the headline of an article.

I hear it every time I tune into the news and hear about another scandal,

Photo: Hobart Kho

another tragedy, another politician demonising anything contrary to his or her political agenda. I feel it in myself every time I hear and see these things and fail to respond.

If I could whisper one word in the ears of bishops as they prepare for the synod on “Young people, the faith and vocational discernment” next October, that word would be dignity.

By dignity, I am talking about the inherent value that every person has by their nature as a human being, made in the image and likeness of God. It is a word that our society, our young people and

our church use with great frequency, but our culture applies selectively. The sad irony is that many of today’s polarising labels are formed to uphold the dignity of a certain group, while some advocates trample on the dignity of others in the process.

Those of us who are Catholics need to lead the way in reversing such a trend, and perhaps this next synod could provide a road map for doing so.

Voices of respectful dialogue and dignified disagreement seem fewer and farther between, but I have experienced the beauty of such exchanges firsthand.

One of God’s greatest gifts to me has been the friendships I have developed with people who have almost completely different views from my own on everything from religion and politics to music and movies.

Some of these friends are as passionate in their stances as I am in mine, but the lively conversations we have shared over hikes, camping trips and meals at local dives stick with me, inform my faith and bring joy to my life in a way that I lose when I let myself get caught up in vitriolic social media posts and sensationalised news reports – even ones that argue for a cause with which I would otherwise agree.

I would love to hear the voice of young people in the church become the consistent voice of dignity in every forum where it is called into question.

In doing so, they will be tilling ground and planting seeds everywhere where hardened hearts and callous statements have led people to fall away from the faith (or passionately run from the faith).

This is the message that our world is craving, it is the mission and direction that our youth need, and it is the voice that Our Lord has always invited us to share.

John Ruggiero / CNS

今日教友

PAGE 16

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

砂朥越古晉總教區 耶稣说： 「我所要賜 給的食糧，就是我的 肉，是為世界的生命 而賜給的。」 （若6:51） Permit No PPK 148/01/2013(031378)

第364期

2018年青年世界主教會議 教宗任命三位主席代表

《人類生命》通諭頒佈50週年： 基督徒夫妻活出婚姻聖召的助力 保 禄 六世教宗的 讲话言简意 赅。他说： 「这份教宗 文件不只是 道德律的负 面声明，意 即排除各种 阻碍生育的 保禄六世教宗探访堂区 (@L'Osservatore Romano)。 行为；这文 （梵蒂冈新闻网）1968年 件还特别正面陈述了夫妻相爱 7月的最后一天，保禄六世教 与传生使命的美德。」 宗在冈道尔夫堡夏宫的宗座大 蒙蒂尼教宗深知，教会内 楼主持周三公开接见活动。信 外对这份文件都有所批评和保 众慷慨激昂，却不是因为盛夏 留，众人热烈讨论。因此，他 暑热，而是教宗在要理讲授中 觉得有必要加以解释。在通谕 的第一句话引起了一阵骚动。 的编纂过程中，保禄六世亲自 他说：「今天我们无可避免 严谨地逐段审视修订，使之成 地要谈论《人类生命》通谕的 为一份训导文件，而非一种专 主题。」教宗开诚布公地直接 断独行的思想，对他人冷漠以 向信友们说明这个主题。事实 待，甚至予以压制。这份文件 上，他刚于一周前颁布这道通 首先是一位父亲慈爱地针对家 谕，一份他费尽多年心力、终 庭提出的省思，尤其是针对日 告完成的文件，触及他牧职期 复一日怀著信德善度生活的家 间和当代教会中最棘手且复杂 庭。 的议题。 在周三公开接见活动中，

蒙蒂尼教宗谈及「在辛勤编写 这份文件的四年内」心中所怀 的三个「情感」。他吐露道， 「第一个情感是我们无比重大 的责任感」，它「也使我们在 精神上受了不少煎熬」。「我 们竭尽所能地研究、阅读、讨 论，并殷切地祈祷」。教宗在 讲话中使用了第一人称复数， 似乎是要把这份辛劳扩及更多 的人，无意隐瞒他聆听了相关 领域众多意见的事实。 接著，教宗指出，「另一 个不断在工作中引导我们的情 感出自于爱德，也就是要以牧 灵的敏锐度面对所有蒙召将自 己独特的性格融入在夫妻和家 庭生活中的人」。第三个情感 则与「望德」有关。教宗格外 期盼「基督徒夫妻能理解，我 们愿意用那或许看似严格而艰 涩的话语，作为他们真爱的诠 释。真爱蒙召效法基督对祂的 净配教会的爱，给现代家庭注 入爱的灵修，那是每个人成圣 并在社会上作出道德见证的泉 源」。

聖座視察員霍澤總主教開始在梅久戈耶履行使命 （梵蒂冈新闻网）霍 泽（Henryk Hoser）总主教 7月22日主日以一台隆重感 恩祭开启他作为梅久戈耶 （Medjugorje）堂区圣座视察 员的使命。众多信友和朝圣 者随同圣座驻波斯尼亚和黑 塞哥维那大使佩祖托（Luigi Pezzuto）总主教和方济各小兄 弟会省会长斯泰科（Miljenko Steko）会士一起参与了弥撒。 霍泽总主教首先重申， 教宗方济各派遣他来到梅久戈 耶的使命旨在确保「这个堂区 团体和前来当地朝圣的信友们 得到稳定而持续的陪伴」。「 圣父派遣我们来到有人群生 活、有信友聚在一起寻找救恩 之光的地方」。「上主为我们 树立了传教的楷模」，对那些 跟随祂的人群动了怜悯的心， 因为「他们好像没有牧人的羊 群」（谷六34）。 接著，霍泽总主教谈到 梅久戈耶这个地方，并提出一 个基本问题：为什么每年会有 许多人来到梅久戈耶呢？答案

是：他们前来是要会晤 某个人，是要与天主相 遇，与基督相遇，与基 督的母亲相遇。他们也 愿意发现那生活在天父 和天主之母家中、走向 幸福的道路，以及那条 最肯定和最可靠的圣母 玛利亚之路。 这是多年来一直在 这里举行的敬礼圣母玛利亚的 道路，即那神圣的敬礼。「这 的确是一种以基督为核心的敬 礼」，正如保禄六世所指出的 那样，因为一切起因和效果都 源自基督，一切都在基督内完 成，而且因著基督和圣神，我 们被引领到天父面前。 梵二大公会议极力强调： 「原来教会在健全而正统的教 义范围内批准了对天主之母的 若干敬礼形式，其目的是要教 人在敬礼圣母之际，也认识、 爱慕、光荣基督，因为一切 都是为祂而存在」（《教会宪 章》66号）。 霍泽总主教指出：「在梅

梅久戈耶。

久戈耶举行的民间热心敬礼正 是如此：他们以弥撒圣祭和朝 拜圣体为中心，经常参与忏悔 圣事，同时也伴随著其它的敬 礼形式，例如诵念玫瑰经和拜 苦路。」 霍泽总主教最后表示， 荣福童贞玛利亚，天主之母和 教会之母在此地也有「和平之 后」的称号。「的确，世界非 常需要和平，每个人都渴望和 平，尤其是这个曾经历过巴尔 干战争的国家的人民。促进和 平意味著建设一种以爱、共 融、兄弟情谊、正义、和平， 以及自由为基础的文明」。

教宗任命保祿·魯菲尼為聖座傳播部部長

教宗方济各接见保禄·鲁菲尼 (Vatican Media)。

（梵蒂冈新 闻网）教宗方济各 任命意大利记者保 禄·鲁菲尼（Paolo Ruffini）为圣座传 播部部长。在此之 前，他是意大利主 教团电视台TV2000 的台长。 鲁菲尼1956年 10月4日生于意大

月刊出版者：古晉總主教 顧問：歐慶偉神父 Fr Felix Au 英語編輯 ： 陳佩蓮 Stella Chin 中文編輯 ： 楊秀音 Magdalene Yeo 編輯組 ： 羅國璋 James Lo

黃儀惠 Margaret Bong

楊清華 Cecil Yong Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (Eng) Victoria J Lim (Eng) 工作人員 ： Audrey Yu

利巴勒莫，毕业于罗马大学法 律专业。自1979年起成为职业 记者，曾在意大利诸多著名媒 体工作，从印刷媒体到广播电 台，最后是电视台。1986年他 与玛利亚·阿尔真蒂（Maria Argenti）结婚。 鲁菲尼曾获多项新闻奖 项，经常参加关于基督徒在资 讯、传播伦理和新媒体中角色 的研讨会。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）有鉴于 世界主教会议第15届常规会议 将于今年10月在梵蒂冈举行， 主题为「青年、信德与圣召分 辨」，教宗方济各7月14日任命 了3位主席代表。他们分别是： 巴比伦加色丁礼宗主教暨伊拉 克加色丁礼教会教务会议领导 人萨科（Louis Raphaël I Sako） 枢机、马达加斯加图阿马西 纳总主教萨拉哈扎纳（Desiré Tsarahazana）枢机、缅甸仰 光总主教貌波(Charles Maung Bo）枢机。 《世界主教会议准则》 (Ordo Synodi Episcoporum）第 二章规定了主席代表的职责， 其中包括：在教宗的任命下， 以教宗的名义和权威主持世界 主教会议大会。由于主席代表 是为大会而任命，一旦大会解 散，主席代表的职务便随之解 除；而在本届的情况中，教宗 任命了多位主席代表来主持大

会，因此他们要按照教宗决定 的次序，轮流履行这项职务。 除了主持世界主教会议 的活动以外，主席代表还可以 在适当的机会上委派给某些成 员特殊任务来促使大会以最佳 方式进行，以及签署大会文 件。倘若某届大会有多位主席 代表，则所有主席代表都要在 大会的结束文件上署名。 本届世界主教会议的准 备工作正在循序渐进地推展： 今年3月，来自世界各地的青 年在罗马参加了世界主教会议 会前会议；6月19日，圣座新 闻室举行记者会，介绍《工作 文件》(Istrumentum Laboris) 。这份文件以10万多名青年在 网路问卷中的回答等材料为基 础，试图提出一些能解读当 今青年现况的关键词，诸如聆 听、陪伴、皈依、分辨、挑 战、圣召和成圣。

教宗方濟各牧職 六週年官方紀念 幣即將發行

一无所留」（Nulla è perduto con la pace. Tutto può esserlo con la guerra），取自庇护十 二世教宗1939年8月24日的广 播讯息。第一次世界大战结束 已经过去一个世纪，不幸的是 我们每天依然要在和平与战争 中作出选择。 每一个纪念币都附送一 张带有编号的质保卡，卡片上 有圣座国务院和意大利国家造 币厂的钢印。该纪念币的最大 发行量为：30套三联体，30面 金币，1500面银币，2000面铜 币。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）纪念 币的设计者是嘉辣·普林奇佩 （Chiara Principe）。正面是教 宗方济各的牧徽，牧徽上方的 鸽子从上而下散发出一道道光 芒，象征著圣神赐予教会的恩 典。硬币的外缘写著「梵蒂冈 城」和纪念币编码。 纪念币的反面分为上下两 个场景：上面的橄榄枝与母亲 怀抱孩子代表了和平；下面的 荆棘条代表了强制和暴力的战 争。在分割两个场景的地方生 长出一株传统的罂粟花，象征 了战争的遇难者。纪念币四周 的文字「和平一无所缺，战争

教宗方济各牧职六周年官方纪念。

聖座推出「梵蒂岡音頻」應用程序, 幫助各國朝聖者理解教宗講話 （梵蒂冈新闻网）教宗方 济各在公共场合祈祷、讲道和 发言时，说的是意大利语。在 《梵蒂冈新闻网》的协助下， 听不懂意大利语的朝圣者也能 直接听懂教宗讲话。只需在苹 果公司和谷歌的应用程序商店 （App Store和Google Play）下 载「梵蒂冈音频」（Vatican Audio），即可选择不同的收听 语言，在圣伯多禄广场上轻松 又快速地操作。 本应用程序支援6种语言： 意大利语、西班牙语、英语、 法语、德语和葡萄牙语。倘若 贝尔格里奥教宗使用的是他的 母语西班牙语，这个应用程序 也能帮助意大利朝圣者理解教 宗的讲话。除了这项新的服务 以外，圣座传播部也透过网路 和广播提供多种语言解说的现

「梵蒂冈音频」应用程序。

场直播。 教宗方济各7月31日接见6 万多名前来朝圣的辅祭员时， 朝圣者也将能受惠于这个应用 程序。这些朝圣青年是参加国 际辅祭员联合会举办的朝圣活 动，因而相聚在罗马。他们来 自18个国家，其中德国团体的 人数最多，约有5万人，陪伴 他们的将是德国主教团青年事 务委员会主席奥斯特（Stefan Oster）主教，以及该国主教 团的众多成员。

今日教友

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

教宗呼籲各國遵守在巴黎氣候會議許下的承諾 （梵蒂冈新闻网）为了 避免「留给后代子孙一个满目 疮痍、遍地荒漠和肮脏污秽的 未来」，务必「有组织且具体 地采取符合整体生态学的行 动」。教宗方济各7月6日在梵 蒂冈接见一场国际会议与会者 时，指出了这个当务之急。 这场国际会议纪念《愿祢受赞 颂》通谕颁布三周年。 教宗在讲话中指明，今 年12月将在波兰的气候峰会能 成为一个「里程碑」，这个 进程的起点正是2015年的巴黎 气候协议。教宗说：「众所周 知，为了落实那份协议，必须 付出很多努力。各国政府应当 竭力遵守在巴黎许下的承诺， 以免气候危机带来更严重的后 果。减少温室气体的排放需要 靠诚实、勇气和责任感来达 成，势力最强大、污染最严重 的国家尤其必须做到这点。我 们不能允许自己在这进程上浪 费时间。」 不仅国家应当投入这个 进程，「公民社会团体、经济 和宗教组织也能促进整体生态 学的文化和实践」。为此，旧

金山将于今年9月12日至14日举 办峰会来探讨在气候危机中的 全球行动，教宗祈愿这次峰会 能提供适切的对策。 此外，金融机构也要扮演 重要的角色。「金融模式需要 有所改变，以促进人类的整体 发展。国际组织，例如国际货 币基金组织和世界银行都可以 促成有效的变革，使发展更具 有包容性和可持续性。」教宗 方济各引用本笃十六世的话， 期许道：「金融应重新成为一 个致力生产财富和发展民族 的工具。」（《在真理中的爱

德》，65号）。 至于其它主角，教宗方 济各提及青年和原住民，他们 是天主教会接下来两届世界主 教会议的焦点，也是在第一线 应对整体生态挑战的人。教宗 说：「看到原住民的土地遭到 剥夺，以及他们的文化受到掠 夺和新殖民形式的践踏，实在 令人伤心。浪费文化和消费文 化助长了这一现象。」教宗最 后鼓励众人继续「为彻底的变 化而奋斗」，「不公义不是不 能克服的」(《愿祢受赞颂》, 74 号）。

PAGE 17

『願禰受讚頌社區』項目正式啟動 （梵蒂冈新闻网）由慢食 运动和意大利列蒂（Rieti）教 区发起的「愿祢受赞颂社区」 项目7月28日召开第一次会议， 讨论塑料造成的污染以及对生 态系统的影响。这也是今年6月 5日世界环境日的主题。与会者 借此机会将省思教宗方济各在 其《愿祢受赞颂》通谕中提出 的整体生态学概念。教宗的这 份通谕意在鼓励我们度可持续 性的生活，并且对我们所生活 的环境保持敏感。 意大利中部阿马特里切 2016年发生地震后，慢食运动 和列蒂教区在教宗训导的启 发下提出建立「愿祢受赞颂国 际社区」的构想。教区主教 多梅尼科·彭皮里（Domenico Pompili）解释说，「这一社区 有两个主要目的：首先是让那 些认同通谕观点的人具体落实 其中的精神，促进人与环境的 关系。其次，期望这些社区能 重新启动该地区的活力」。 主教表明，「对我们列蒂

教宗接见《愿祢受赞颂》三周年纪念国际会议的与会者 (Vatican Media)。

教区而言，恢复地区活力首先 意味著『未来之家——愿祢受 赞颂研究中心』项目」。该中 心由建筑师斯特凡诺·博埃里 （Stefano Boeri）设计，用以 接待前来阿马特里切参观的研 究小组，特别是青年团体。 彭皮里主教还说，「地 震是人与自然关系中的一个关 键事件。在悲剧面前，例如地 震，舆论的反应一开始很强 烈，之后随时间的推移而逐渐 消退。我们认为有必要保持对 这些问题的正确关注，不要丢 弃那些受地震影响的团体」。 列蒂的主教强调,「环境 保护的议题至关重要，因为它 能让我们重新发现我们的受造 属性。我们已经迷失了造物主 的概念，认为我们周围的一切 随时为我们服务。我们忘记了 必须受到尊重的自然平衡。如 果我们没有意识到我们的行为 可能对大自然及生活在其中的 我们造成致命的危害, 我们的 共同家园将面临毁灭的危险

废弃的塑料瓶 (AFP or licensors).

耶稣显圣容庆日（8月6日）

嗨!小朋友， 耶稣告诉我们祂是生命的食粮，到祂哪里的，永远不会饥 饿，信从祂的，永远不会再口渴。你相信吗？ 群众请求耶稣把生 命的食粮赐给他 们。请将右图的食 粮，分配给有需要 的人，并用直线连 起来。

虽然我们没有亲眼见 过耶稣的真貌，但是 透过祂遗留给我们的 说话，我们可以认识 祂及认识父，并以这 些说话作为我们生活 的指标。请就所示的 图案，写出耶稣留给 我们的教训。

圣母蒙召升天节（8月15日） 圣母玛利亚是最应受赞美的女人，原因是她无条件的奉献自己，对主坚信 不移和实践天主给她的使命。 "凡听了父而又向祂学习的人，都要到我这里来。" 若6:45

请你把你最喜欢或最欣赏圣母的美德填入心内，试简略说明。那些美德你 想效法她而愿意实践的，请填上你喜欢的颜色。

试在下表中写出在生活中如何实践由天父所听到的教导。 听天父的话

 恒常祈祷  爱人如己  乐于行善  传扬福音  孝顺父母  宽恕别人

那两个月份教会定作敬礼圣母的：

生活实践

 早、晚念天主经     

效法祂

日期：

月份，称为

月。

月份，称为

月。

你曾否参与某些敬礼圣母活动，试述内容和感受。

“唯祢有永生的话，我 们 去 投 奔 谁 呢 ？ ” 若6:68

决志行动 我

愿意追随基督,

凭着信德，我们确实相信主耶稣是 天主的圣者，祂的话就是神，就是生 命，不跟随祂！还有更好的选择吗？ 请重组词语，好能找出达到永生正确 的路径。

签署：

实践：在这星期内，我以 作为生活态度，以达永生。

今日教友

PAGE 18

中國教會推五年工作規劃，專家指為「中國化」建立合理性 【天亚社． 香港讯】近日，中 国天主教主教团和 中国天主教爱国会 （「一会一团」） ，向全国教区发出 中国教会坚持中国 化方向五年工作规 划。陆续有教区或 地方教会学习有关 四川宜宾教区举行天主教中国化学习会议。 文件，有参加者认 ［图片来源：中国天主教网站］ 为，当局望以规划 控制教会。 国教区发出《推进我国天主 一直关注基督宗教状况 教坚持中国化方向五年工作规 的专家邢福增教授指，「一会 划》（2018-2022），并要求各 一团」把「中国化」纳入本地 教区就各自情况，在教区中制 化及梵蒂冈第二届大公会议的 定「五年工作计划」，并于八 脉络中，是为宗教「中国化」 月底前向「一会一团」汇报。 建立合理性，借此驳斥中国化 有关《工作规划》主要针 乃政治化的批评。 对在二零一八年至二二年间， 目前，一些地方教会已 就中国天主教中国化所推行的 经陆续就有关规划举办学习 工作和组织实施等，当中并用 班，当中包括四川省的宜宾教 了七十二个「中国化」贯穿全 区、河北省教会等。 文。 「一会一团」官方网站 香港中文大学崇基神学 「中国天主教」报道，四川省 院院长邢福增教授指出，自从 六月廿九日于该省的宜宾教区 国家主席习近平在二零一五年 纳溪天化宾馆举办教区二零一 提出宗教必须中国化，到二零 八年上半年工作总结会，会上 一六年再指出要建立中国特色 传达学习「一会一团」制定 社会主义宗教理论，宗教中国 的《中国化五年规划纲要》。 化便成为各宗教不能回避的任 会议由该教区的罗雪刚主教主 务。 持。 他认为，跟前国家主席江 另外，河北省消息人士 泽民提出的宗教与社会主义社 对天亚社说，他们也于六月廿 会相适应不同，当年五大宗教 五至廿九日在承德举行了信息 在回应上各有参差，但今次应 员培训班，会上他们同样学习 感受到必须认真及加强探讨。 了有关规划。但他坦言，没什 目前，五大宗教中，基督教率 么意义，「就是要在五年之内 先 于 三 月 底 推 出 五 年 工 作 计 搞定中国化的社会主义道路」 划，详细列出各项工作重点。 。 这自然对其他宗教形成一个示 他认为，「一会一团」 范，也是压力。因此，天主教 不仅为回应上面的要求而发出 也在六月提出其五年的工作计 有关规划，而是「如果把这个 划。 社会主义中国化搞成，哪怕教 邢教授对天亚社说，在 廷那边无法取到认同，但在政 方向上，由于中央已就中国化 府这边也可取得信任」。 提出三个重要方向：「政治认 他又说，这个中国化同 同、社会认同及文化认同。故 样可放到中梵谈判里，「中梵 天主教五年计划，也是顺着这 无论以何条件建交，大陆都可 三方面作出引申讨论。」 以这规划来控制教会」。 他续说，具体内容方面， 「一会一团」六月向全 必答题是社会主义核心价值，

印度主教團主席： 取消告解聖事是荒謬的提議 印度格拉 西亚斯枢 机。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）「性 骚扰行为必须受到国家和教会 的处分。教会非常严肃认真地 对待这个问题，但认为取消告 解圣事的想法是荒谬的」。 印度主教团主席格拉西亚斯 （Oswal Gracias）枢机针对全 国妇女委员会的提议如此作出 反应。该委员会就近期指控圣 职人员骚扰和勒索妇女的案 件，呼吁政府禁止这个圣事。 最近在印度旁遮普 邦（Punjab）和喀拉拉邦 （Kerala）出现两起针对圣职 人员性骚扰的起诉案件：第一 件涉及一位天主教主教，他被 指控在2014年至2016年期间强 暴一名修女；第二件是关于4 位东正教叙利亚-马兰卡礼司 铎对一位堂区妇女进行骚扰和 勒索的行为。在第一个案件

中，那位修女被怀疑是出于个 人报复；第二种情况仍在进行 调查。 格拉西亚斯（Oswal Gracias）枢机指出，全国妇委 会的提议不仅反映出缺乏对这 个基督信仰圣事性质的了解， 也没有得到所有成员的支持， 就连政府也不会予以支持。无 论如何，调查正在进行当中， 真相该当厘清。那要求取消告 解圣事的提议乃是侵犯受到宪 法保障的宗教自由。 枢机7月30日接受《梵蒂冈 新闻网》采访。他表示：「我 认为这个向政府提出的请求反 映出对基督信仰圣事的性质、 意义和重要性缺乏了解。很多 人透过这件圣事得到了天主的 宽恕和内心平安，在灵性上有 所成长。」 「该委员会不知道他们所 要求的是什么，我深信政府不 会接纳这个请求。在我发表声 明之后，喀拉拉邦的主教们也 表明了立场，政府说不会支持 这个提议。」 印度全国妇委会的提议从 表面上看是设法保护妇女免遭

然后是中国文化。 「由于中央对宗教 中国化的关心，不 是文化上，而是政 治及社会方面，故 如何从天主教神 学、教义上去作『 时代进步的诠释』 ，会是主要的重 点。」 邢教授又说， 从五年工作规划可 见，特别希望将「中国化」纳 入普世教会的本地化及梵二的 脉络，此举相信是要为「中国 化」建立合理性，借此回应中 国化乃政治化的批评。 他也指出，从规划中可 见，中国天主教历史也是一个 进路，似乎要从明清天主教历 史总结教训，就是「与皇权及 传统关系搞不好，就会有『禁 教』的后果。利玛窦就是『适 应』路线，借此为廿一世纪的 中国化确立根据」。 邢教授又认为，中国天主 教独特的制度（民主办教、一 团一会）都为在「中国化」名 义下，确立其合法性。 他表示，总的来说，「中 国化」是中共借此强化在意识 形态及制度上，对各宗教的指 导及管控。政治上必须与中共 的意识形态（社会主义核心价 值）合模；社会上要符合中国 社会的和谐关系；文化上与中 国传统文化相适应。 《推进我国天主教坚持 中国化方向五年工作规划》 （2018-2022），全文逾六千五 百字、长达十五页，共分为九 大点，包括：背景；指导思 想、主要目标和基本内涵；深 化中国天主教的政治、法律和 社会认同；促进天主教与中国 优秀文化融合；构建具有中国 教会特色的神学思想；创新具 有中国特色的教会组织和管理 形式；探讨具有中国元素的礼 仪表达；倡导具有中国审美特 征的教堂样式以及绘画和圣乐 创作，以及组织实施。

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

印度第七個城邦通過反改宗法 印度教徒在北阿坎德邦北部 的一所寺庙内。

（天亚社）印度北部北阿 坎德邦通过法例，把改变宗教 列为犯法行为。基督教领导们 对此作出审慎的回应。 亲印度教人民党领导的 邦政府，于三月二十日通过北 阿坎德邦的宗教自由法案，并 由邦长里希纳．康德．保禄 （Krishna Kant Paul）在四月十 八日签署确认。 邦高层官员达尔尚． 辛格．拉瓦（Darshan Singh Rawat）五月二日告诉天亚社， 当局把法案刊宪后，随即生 效。 新法例规定，强迫未成 年人、女性，或属于弱势社群 的低种姓居民或原住民，改变 他们的宗教，会被判处两年监 禁。 按照其他邦的同类法例， 要求任何人主持改变宗教的仪 式，须于仪式举行前一个月， 通知邦政府官员。法例亦规定 任何人士，若以欺诈、武力或 利诱的手段使别人改变宗教， 将会视为犯法，违者会被判入 狱及罚款。 北阿坎德邦已是第七个实 施同类法例的印度城邦，其他 还包括奥里萨邦、中央邦、恰 蒂斯加尔邦、古吉拉特邦、喜 马偕尔邦和贾坎德邦。 新法例另外规定，若一宗 教男士跟另一宗教女士结婚， 只为改变她的宗教取向，家事 法院有权宣判这婚姻为无效。 北阿坎德邦有部分地 方，属于巴雷利教区。该教区 的依纳爵．德索萨（Ignatius D’Souza）主教对天亚社说，教 会官员意识到有关的法例，但 相信对教会的福传工作不会带

来负面影响。 德索萨主教说：「我们 几十年来，一直在民间做慈善 及福传的工作，从来没遇到任 何严重的问题。」 「新法例是打击使用武 力或利诱，导致他人改宗的事 件；但在天主教会内，不存在 类似的问题。」 「我们对改宗不感兴 趣，而只是着眼于向民众阐明 耶稣基督的教导，好使他们能 过更好的生活。」 然而，服务北阿坎德 邦另一部分地方的密拉特教 区，其主教方济各．卡利斯特 （Francis Kalist）却表示，无 法预测新法例的影响。他说： 「我们还未知道法例将如何实 施。」 基督教领导们指，反改 宗法在印度独立二十年后开始 出现，旨在监控印度教徒改信 基督教或伊斯兰教的情况。印 度教的社动分子认为，改宗导 致社会分裂。 尽管法例存在着，但迄 今还未有基督徒被判罪。而在 过去十年间，有几宗案件曾遭 起诉。其中许多个案发生在印 度北部的村落；在那里，印度 教团体把基督教在教育和医疗 卫生方面的福传工作，解读为 欺诈或以改宗为最终目的。 卡利斯特主教说，在北 阿坎德邦的基督徒，「至今为 止，从未遭遇过任何组织的任 何形式的严重敌对行为。」 北阿坎德邦拥有一千万 人口，大部分是印度教徒，基 督徒只占不足一成，而伊斯兰 教徒占一成四。

菲律賓主教發起3天守斎祈禱活動，祈求天主的慈悲與公義 （梵蒂冈新闻网）菲律宾 主教们最近发表牧函，邀请信 友们从7月17日至19日与他们 一起守斋、祈祷及行哀矜，以 此呼求天主对「那些亵渎天主 圣名的人、那些诽谤别人和作 假见证的人、行凶杀人或把杀 人作为打击犯罪活动的手段而 为之辩护的人，施予慈悲和公 义」。 菲律宾是亚洲唯一的天主 教国家，人口超过1亿，其中八 成以上的国民称自己是天主教 徒。因此，在这个国家弥撒圣 可能发生的性骚扰，但实际情 况如何？格拉西亚斯指出：「 实际上，性骚扰事件在天主教 会或许没有发生，但在我们东 正教会的弟兄当中还不清楚是 否有过。警方正在调查。我认 为该当处分这样的人。」 「教会非常、非常严肃地 对待这个问题，因为在我们的 教会法典中这属于违法行为。 然而，要求完全取消这件圣事 是荒谬的。许多司铎为了捍卫 这圣事而作出了牺牲，也有许 多殉道者。那种认为这是一件 微不足道的事，我们无需认真 对待的想法乃是荒谬的。」

祭之多且到处都是绝非一种偶 然现象，因为感恩祭不仅在圣 堂，也在街道、广场甚至商业 中心举行。 在马尼拉的普世博爱运 动成员比塔尔（Romeo Vital） 描述天主教会在菲律宾和该国 人民的日常生活中是如何地根 深蒂固时，如此表示：「这里 的每个人，富人和穷人，都把 天主圣言挂在嘴边。众人在每 件事上都依靠天主。」 「在最近的一次民意调 查中，菲律宾人民受邀指出他 们最信任的机构，结果占首位 的正是教会。教会在这里比其 它任何一个机构都有能力引导 人民生活的选择。」 菲律宾教会在促进不同 宗教信仰的对话上也起到重要 作用。比塔尔解释道：「亚洲 是各大宗教共存的场所，也能 成为这些宗教彼此接触的场所 之一。」正因为如此，普世博 爱运动选定了菲律宾和马尼拉 作为举办国际青年节的地点。 马尼拉总主教塔格莱 （Luis Antonio Tagle）枢机几 天前在庆祝加尔默罗山圣母瞻 礼的机会上对信友们说，「如 果你们爱基督，许多人就会恨 你们」。枢机强调，对信友们

菲律宾主教与信友们。

而言，跟随基督的路将不那么 容易，在这个「天主有许多竞 争者」的时代尤其如此。「跟 随基督，你们就要背负许多十 字架；追随『虚假的神』则会 除去十字架，走上一条谎言之 路」。 塔格莱枢机表明，「有 时，那些虚假的神似乎很有 吸引力，其弟子比基督的还要 多」。天主教徒却不同，尽管 教会最近受到攻击，天主教徒 却不应参与任何形式的争斗。 「我们没有必要争吵，我们的 目的不是参与这些辩论，而是 准备受到攻击，因为这是为了 基督」。

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

月全蝕：梵蒂岡天文學家眼中的宇宙

月全蚀。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）这将 是本世纪最长的一次月全食。 在火星上发现一大片液态咸水 湖后，7月27日晚的月食将是 我们这个时代最特别的事件之 一。 在长达约1小时43分钟的 过程中，地球在日落后的影子 将覆盖整个月球，月球似乎消 失了一样。唯一可见部分也将 呈现微红色，这是由于地球大 气层中阳光折射所致。但月食 不是今晚唯一的观察对象，因 为在日落之后火星、地球和太 阳将排成一条直线，火星所处 的轨道离地球很近，因此在我 们眼中显得特别明亮。 “这一特殊的事件让我们 再一次反思人类在一个几乎无 限的宇宙中的地位”。梵蒂冈 天文台宇宙学家耶稣会士加俾

额尔·琼蒂（Gabriele Gionti） 神父如此表示。梵蒂冈天文台 于1532年成立，并于1891年重 建。上个世纪30年代，天文台 在庇护十一世教宗的授意下从 梵蒂冈迁至教宗夏宫冈道尔夫 堡，并被委托于耶稣会管理。 加俾额尔神父解释说，「 我们在消除一个神话，梵蒂冈 天文台所做的不是神学或哲学 研究，而是纯粹的科学研究」 ，正如其成立章程所写的，这 是它最初的使命。良十三世教 宗1891年3月14日颁布《奥秘》 手谕（Ut mysticam）批准建立 梵蒂冈天文台，就是为了回应 对教会的持续指责。当时教会 被认为反对科学进步，是蒙昧 主义者。 因此，教会促进科学和传 播其研究成果，因为科学与信 仰并不抵触。基于这一理由， 加俾额尔神父强调，梵蒂冈天 文学家所提出的问题和其他科 学家一样，但“我们从不同的 角度出发，并且也是为了培育 神父和会士」。神父继续说， 「寻找外星生命并不意味著以

某种方式反对信仰」，「也许 我们必须根据今天的科学知识 对圣经经文进行诠释」，一如 伽利略和圣伯拉民（Roberto Bellarmino）所说。「当然，天 主是宇宙的创造者，包括一切 生命的形式」。 观察今晚的月全食现象 让我们回归现实。加俾额尔神 父表示，地球是离太阳最近的 第三颗行星，太阳系是我们银 河系周边的一部分，银河系只 是千亿个星系中的一个，其中 每个星系都有数十亿颗恒星和 行星。因此，我们「微小而无 足轻重，就像海滩上的一粒沙 子，但每一粒沙子本身都包含 与上主息息相关的生命根源， 这一无限的根源也使人类感到 惊讶」。 教宗方济各6月14日在接见 梵蒂冈天文台天体物理学暑期 学校的学员时说，「透过我们 人类，可以说，宇宙能意识到 它自己及创造我们的那一位； 我们是这宇宙中具有思想和理 性的受造物，这是天主所赐的 恩典」。

都靈總主教諾西亞: 没有人能低估聖殮布的價值

（梵蒂冈新闻网） 来自意大利北部皮耶蒙特 (Piemonte）和瓦莱达奥斯塔 （Valle d’Aosta）行政区的2千 名青年将于8月10日夜晚在都 灵瞻仰圣殓布。都灵总主教诺 西亚（Cesare Nosiglia）7月25 日在记者会上介绍这项朝圣活 动时表示，「圣殓布具有极大 的价值，它能在灵修和牧灵层 面带来惊讶和赞叹，任何人都 不能否认和低估这一点」。总

主教说，这并不是圣殓布的展 示，而是让聚集此处的青年有 机会收敛心神祈祷和默想。 为迎接今年以青年为主题 的世界主教会议，意大利各教 区的青年将于8月3日展开全国 徒步朝圣活动，最终在罗马相 聚。皮耶蒙特和瓦莱达奥斯塔 的这些青年也将出席8月11日 至12日的活动。诺西亚总主教 说，圣殓布让我们记得耶稣对 人类的爱。圣殓布是一个具体

可见的事实，是耶稣爱我们的 标记，同时也是希望的标记。 「这份爱衍生出生命。就如教 宗方济各所说的，不是我们在 注视圣殓布，而是圣殓布在注 视著我们」。 根据最近一份有关圣殓布 的研究显示，圣殓布上的血迹 至少有一半是不真实的。都灵 总主教对此表示，这是一项研 究，如同在几个世纪以来所发 生的那样，缺乏科学根据。每 一项研究，即使持怀疑态度， 都有助于我们省思。诺西亚总 主教总结道，尽管科学辩论很 重要，但对信徒而言，他们并 不太在意。他们所关切的是， 瞻仰圣殓布就是看到福音：圣 殓布就是福音的反映。

意大利青年徒步前往朝聖為世界主教會議做準備 （梵蒂冈新闻网）每个 人都有不同的动机，但都具 有相同的愿望，那就是与教宗 方济各会晤。8月3日，3万名 意大利青年从各自的教区出 发，像过去的朝圣者一样徒步 前往罗马。每个人都会沿著不 同的路线前行，但他们将在同 一个地点——罗马汇合。他们 首先在马西莫竞技场（Circo Massimo）举行祈祷守夜礼， 然后在圣伯多禄广场参加弥 撒。 这些青年来自意大利200 个教区，他们将重温古代朝圣 者的经历。意大利主教团青年 牧灵全国服务办公室负责人弥 额尔·法拉布雷蒂（Michele Falabretti）神父说：「除了在 罗马与教宗方济各会晤之外， 我们愿意组织一些活动让青年 为这段经历做好准备。所以， 我们决定组织『千路之行』， 让青年和他们的陪伴者一起踏 上这段旅程。」 关于徒步朝圣的重要 性，法拉布雷蒂神父继续说： 「我们认为，要求青年们踏上 旅程意味著帮助他们摆脱日 常生活，帮助他们获得不同 的体验，因为搭乘火车或飞机 旅行与步行完全不同。对时间 的体验是不同的，能让时间

新樞機拜訪榮休教宗

拜会荣休教宗本笃十六。

（梵蒂冈新闻讯）教宗方 济各六月廿八日在梵蒂冈圣伯 多禄大殿主持公开枢密会议， 擢升十四位新枢机。 这些新枢机在礼仪中领受 了枢机红方帽、权戒和在罗马 的领衔堂区或执事区。 教宗在礼仪讲道中表明， 那唯一令人信服的权威：就是 为服事基督当做众人的仆役。 枢密会议结束后，教宗方 济各和新枢机搭乘两辆小型巴 士， 前往梵蒂冈内的「教会之 母」隐修院， 拜会荣休教宗本 笃十六世。他们在小圣堂内齐 声诵念圣母经。本笃十六世简 短地问候众人并赐予降福后， 十四位新擢升的枢机分别回到 保禄六世大厅和宗座大楼接受

祝贺。 十四名新枢机当中，包 括教宗赈济所所长克拉耶夫 斯基（Konrad Krajewski）。 梵蒂冈六月廿九日举行盛大的 庆祝活动， 邀请约二百八十 位穷人参加克拉耶夫斯基擢升 枢机的晚宴。这是新枢机的意 愿。 令人意外的是，教宗方 济各也亲临晚宴，坐在最后一 桌仅剩的空位。事实上，连克 拉耶夫斯基枢机本人事先也不 知情。教宗笑着对他说：「我 是为了穷人而来，不是为你。 」教宗在那里与大家共进晚 餐，停留了约两小时。他与出 席者亲切交谈，聆听他们的故 事，其中有痛苦也有希望。

教宗意外出現婚禮 並為新人舉行婚配聖事

教宗与雷纳托神父。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）教宗方 济各7月14日周六在梵蒂冈内的 圣斯德望堂为一名瑞士卫兵和 一名巴西女孩举行了婚礼。在 毫不知情的状况下，巴西籍的 雷纳托（Renato Dos Santos） 神父和在场人士对于教宗的出 现感到惊喜。事后， 雷纳托神 父向《梵蒂冈新闻网》表示, 当

他进入更衣所准备婚礼时, 看 到教宗面带微笑地坐在那里等 候。「在我的生命中从未想 过, 能在更衣所里碰到教宗 雷纳托神父接著说，「 参加婚礼的人彼此问道，他们 看到的那人真的是教宗方济各 吗？我所看到的教宗就如同一 位真正的本堂神父一样，细心 照顾堂区里的羊群 他一直是 这么做的 为了度圆满的婚姻生 活，教宗在弥撒讲道中提到三 个关键词，即「开始」、「停 下来」和「继续前行」。雷纳 托神父对此表示，「这体现 了教宗非常关心婚姻的价值。 在他内有一种对婚姻圣事的关 爱，该圣事组成了一个渴望把 天主放在中心位置的家庭」。

教宗反對人口販 運：呼籲停止這一 可耻罪行

意大利青年徒步前往罗马朝圣。

慢下来，越过小乡村，参观朝 圣地，了解今天的人在艰辛与 希望之间的故事。这一切意味 著让他们获得关于生命和信仰 见证的视野。我希望，青年们 不要把朝圣之旅只局限在自我 探索的层面，而要在教会内进 行，因为行走的目的是让青年 在教会内重新思考自己，在这 种情况下省思与教宗的会晤」 。 因此，朝圣活动与觐见教 宗密切相关。正如法拉布雷蒂 神父所解释的那样，「千路之 行」和「我们在这里」这两项 活动实际上是「同一枚硬币的 两个面」。8月11日和12日，青 年们先后在马西莫竞技场和圣 伯多禄广场与教宗会晤。法拉 布雷蒂神父指出，「与教宗会 晤有助于让青年了解，在生活 中有一些人蒙受自上而下的圣 言的召叫，这圣言由教会和教

宗传递给这个时代的人。」 为了让青年更好地参与活 动，主办方还在社交媒体中设 立了主题标签和社交墙，让他 们分享各自的故事、路线和相 遇经历。

（梵蒂冈新闻网）教宗方 济各7月29日在三钟经祈祷活动 结束时，强烈谴责人口贩运。 教宗称之为「可耻的罪行」， 指出这一问题往往与移民现象 有关，要求政府和民间组织采 取一致行动。 教宗说：「明天是联合国 发起的世界打击贩运人口行为 日。这一祸害本著劳动和性剥 削、器官贩运、乞讨和强迫犯

梵蒂冈

罪的目的，使许多男人、女人 和儿童沦为奴隶。贩运者和剥 削者也经常使用移民路线招募 新的贩运受害者。所有人都有 责任谴责不义并坚决反对这种 可耻罪行。」

教宗方濟各出人意料地探訪了一位老婦人 （梵蒂冈新闻网）7月28日 不是个普通的日子，对于生活 在罗马亚历山德里亚路的居民 而言更是如此。当天下午晚些 时候，教宗方济各乘坐他蓝色 的福特福克斯，出乎意料地来 到了罗马的亚历山德里亚路， 亲自探访一位老妇人。这位妇 人是教宗熟识的友人，现在卧 病在床而无法出行。她曾多次 要求觐见教宗。 当地社区有几个人认出了 这辆蓝色汽车，但是他们不敢 相信。尽管天气炎热，他们依

然决定在门口等候教宗出来。 陪伴教宗的只有梵蒂冈宪兵和 一些便衣警察，他们守在这位 妇人生活的住宅入口。 这次探访持续了大约一个 小时。当教宗走出住宅楼来到 街上时，遇到了一些住户，他 们一如往常那样热情地问候教 宗。教宗和大家一一握手，给 予他们拥抱和微笑。教宗特别 停下来和一个孩子玩耍, 与此同 时一位年轻的女性目睹教宗来 访, 情不自禁地流下激动的泪 水。另有一位先生赠送教宗一

个小十字架。和老妇人同住一 栋楼的一位患病男性得知教宗 来访后, 也下楼寻求安慰, 请求 教宗为他祈祷。教宗向他保证 会这样做。教宗上车后, 继续 向在场的人致意, 降福他们。 对于这个社区的人而 言，这是充满喜悦的一刻。教 宗非常熟悉这个社区，距离这 里几百米远的布宜诺斯艾利斯 广场上有一座阿根廷国家堂— 忧苦之母堂，他在担任枢机时 经常搭乘公车前去那里看望他 的同道司铎。

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

在 砂 朥 越 服 務 近 六 十 載 彌 赫 爾 傳 教 士 詹 姆 斯 · 彌 翰 (James Meehan) 神 父 安 息 主 懷

詹姆斯·彌翰神父遗容。

（古晋讯）七月廿八是 古晋总教区一个伤感的日子， 总教区的司铎、平信徒和弥 赫尔传教修会会士詹姆斯· 弥翰神父（Fr James Meehan, MHM）（也译作詹士敏神 父）的朋友齐聚圣若瑟总主 教座堂，向这位离开苏格兰老 家，在古晋总教区这片土地用 他四分之三的生命为主服务的

忠仆告别。弥撒由傅云生总主 教主持，卅多位司铎及两位荣 休总主教共祭。 傅总主教在证道时忆述弥 翰神父如何是教友和司铎们的 福气。他说他在八十年代在修 院时就认识弥翰神父，对修生 在周末到堂区进行牧灵实习培 训他永远乐意接受，许多已经 晋铎的神父都曾受惠。 傅总主教说，砂朥越在弥 翰神父心中占着特别的地位， 「弥翰神父曾私下告诉我，他 愿意终老在砂朥越这片他执行 传教事业59年的土地。」 「我记得弥翰神父曾经 历两次严重车祸和一次心脏手 术，但他都活过来了。他就像 「在瓦器中存有这宝貝，为彰 显那卓著的力量是属于天主, 並 非出于我们。 我们在各方面 受了磨難, 卻沒 有被困住; 绝了 路，卻沒有绝 望；被迫害，

卻沒有被棄捨; 被打倒, 卻沒有 喪亡…。」(格后4:7-15) 总主教 说。 「当他最近第三次住院 时，体力明显地衰弱。就在他 临终前，他告诉修女他已经准 备好。他安详的安息是主的慈 悲和他对主耶稣的至终的信德 的见证。」 弥赫尔传教修会在砂朥越 的代表玛窦·奥利利神父在安 葬仪式前说：「一个人生命最 伟大的既不是用他在世生命的 长短，也不是用他的成就和所 拥有的来衡量，而是用他对别 人的爱衡量---因为我们活在作 为中，不是岁月中，在心念， 不是在气息中，在感觉而不是 在形体中」。他说，「他触 动了许多人的心：西连、巴达 湾、加拿逸、民丹莪、实都东 和平安之家的信友们。」 奥利利神父代表弥翰神 父的家人和弥赫尔传教士们感 谢每一个在弥翰神父生病期间 支持他、陪伴他和照顾他的人

圣德莉莎堂大堂设 了瞻仰詹姆斯·彌翰 神父一角供教友们 吊唁祈祷

西 連 堂 區 慶 祝 2018年 豐 收 節 閉 幕 儀 式 (西连讯) 七月七日星期六 对西连甘榜安補岸的居民熱情 地張开双手迎接傅雲生總主教 及远近各方的教友前耒一起庆 祝2018年丰收节闭幕仪式。 陪同傅总主教岀席闭幕 仪式的西连神父有: 主管博亨 利神父，拉哲神父和部拉达神 父。古晋圣伯鐸大修院之法兰 西士达共神父带領六名修士出 席。其他出席者包括西连堂区 议会主席宋文国，理亊们及其 各小组成員，修女们，來自古 晋，蓬马可区的教友和甘榜安 補岸居民。 当主办單位同时为主管 博亨利神父和拉哲神父分别庆 祝晋铎十五和十六週年时，给 他们意外的惊喜。

2018年丰收节推展仪式是 于五月十九日星期六在峇耒粦 吟区之依班甘榜，甘榜卡兰岸 耶也举行。 据蓬马可区主席邱柏冠称: 此項庆祝会是由蓬马可区主摧 由比达友甘榜，甘榜安補岸居 民协办。 据悉，蓬马可区是西连 堂区于2016年初由主管博亨利 神父所設的堂区内十個区部之 一，由八個鄰近甘榜组成，以 方便主办教会活动和接近基层 教友们。 当天的庆祝仪式前在圣德 莉莎堂奉献一台感恩弥撒，由 傅总主教主祭，主管博亨利神 父，拉哲神父，部拉达神父和 法兰西士达共神父共祭。众多

自右起: 拉哲神父，傅云生主教，甘榜安補 岸首领詹士粦凱和蓬马可区主席邱柏冠在 模型祭坛前合摄。

丰收节闭幕礼的卷席礼，自左2起: 甘榜安補岸首领詹士粦 凱，蓬马可区主席邱柏冠，傅云生主教，拉哲神父和主管博 亨利神父。

古晉聖母軍開展招收團員活動 以拓展福傳工作

招收团员日活动一瞥

教友参与。 傅总主教在证道时呼吁毎 個基督教家庭都应该備有圣经 和圣经读本，不是用耒擺设而 是用耒与家庭成員分享其中讯 息，特别是小孩和青年们，使 他们日后离乡背井到外地受教 育或谋生时会依主之训导，不 致误入歧途。 弥撒结束后，大家便进入 不远处之民众会堂参与2018年 丰收节闭幕仪式。依据古时的 祭礼用品被安排在会堂中央， 众人圍绕而坐覌賞仪式节目。 仪式开始前，司仪向众人介绍 祭礼。 整个仪式在卷席礼后圆 满礼成结束，随着开始余兴节 目。（邓亚玉报导）

（古晋讯）古晋圣母军督察 区团联合光荣圣母区团及诸宠圣 母区团于七月廿三日早上九时假 肯雅兰圣三堂堂区中心举办圣母 军招收团员活动，邀请教友参加 圣母军组织以拓展福传工作。 首先由总神师黄伟乾神父 领念开会经及致欢迎词，后由督 察区团长黄岐初兄弟致词及介绍 督察区团及区团职员。接着中英 文区团分别进行介绍圣母军历史 背景及分享活动、问题及解答， 直到中午以闭会经及午餐作为结 束。约一百余教友参加此活动。 (图文: 许道介)

们。

弥撒后，弥翰神父被安葬 在总主教座堂近邻的墓园。 弥翰神父于1933年11月27 日出生在英国苏格兰的格拉斯 哥总教区。在十个兄弟姐妹中 他排行第四，他有七位姐妹和 两位兄弟。父親也名叫詹姆斯, 是一名工人, 母亲名卡特琳。 1949年至1951年间，詹姆 斯在洛赫温诺赫 (Lochwinnoch) 和本侯尔 (Burn Hall) 上中学, 毕 业后到罗森达尔修哲学，及在 伦敦弥赫尔修神学。他在1958 年5月7日宣发永愿, 1959年7月 12日由戈弗雷枢机 (Cardinal Godfrey) 祝圣晋铎, 并于同年离 乡前来砂朥越, 他在11月20日扺 达加那逸的圣方済各堂，在加 拿逸服务三年后被派往西连， 担任助理本堂，同时担任小学 校长，过后他被派往民丹莪一 年。 1971年他受委巴达湾圣亚 纳堂区的主理神父。1979年， 他赴菲律宾马尼拉东亚牧灵学 院参加续修课程。1986年他重 新回到西连堂区担任堂区主 理。1987年他到伦敦传教学院 参加第二次续修研讨会。 弥翰神父先后三次在西连 堂区服务，第一次是1962年至 1965年；第二次是1966年至1971 年和第三次是自1986年6月至 2012年。所以他不但是西连堂 区年纪最長的，也是在西连堂

区服务最長久的神父。 弥翰神父于2012年二月 廿九日因需要有更佳的医疗照 顾，才依依不舍迁居古晋。 弥翰神父能讲流利的伊 班语、必达友语和客家方言。 他在1960年代在西连堂区向伊 班兄弟姐妹们傳播天主福音。 2009年他做了心脏绕道和 瓣膜置换手术。2012年因健康 益发不济而退休, 迁入实都东 的圣母玛利亚退休司铎之家, 并于2017年为得到必需的护理 而入住平安之家。他的健康状 况在过去三个月中逐渐衰退， 最后三个星期来进出加护病房 多次 他在7月23日下午六吋五 十二分安详逝世, 享年85岁。 西連聖德莉莎堂追悼弥 翰神父 「弥翰神父安息吧, 我们 会永远记着你使我们认识並靠 近天主。」这是七月廿七日下 午六时卅分, 于此间圣德莉莎 堂追悼弥翰神父的弥撒中,在 教友们腦海中所浮现的真心字 眼。 西连堂区主管博亨利神 父主持追悼弥翰神父弥撒。 他在证道时与教友们分享弥 翰神父的有趣故亊，並总结时 表示: 弥翰神父是一位和蔼可 亲，很受尊敬的神父。 堂区乐齡组为弥撒呈献 曲曲动听的圣歌，以资怀念。 （俞金琳/邓亚玉报导）

聖體堂常年期第十六主日 舉行砂朥越獨立日感恩彌撒

全体教友肃立唱州歌。

〈古晋讯〉天主教圣体堂 於本月22日早上举行常年期第 十六主日暨砂拉越独立日感恩 弥撒。该台弥撒圣祭是由荣休 总主教拿督斯里钟万庭主礼， 数百教友参与。 弥撒中，教众感谢天主恩 赐砂州各种恩惠与祝福；祈求

天主继续祝福政府，政治工作 者，赐予他们明智与公正，尽 心尽力为全民服务。在这多元 种族里，大家都能彼此接受及 尊重不同的宗教，不同语言， 不同的文化，团结合作，共同 努力致使砂州成为一个和平及 幸福的家园。（许中新报导）

聖體堂舉辦義賣會籌款 為聖堂裝置冷氣 〈 古 晋 讯〉座落于BDC 的圣体堂为了要 提供更舒适的祈 祷环境，堂区议 会在精心筹划 下，议决将为教 堂装置冷气设 备，于7月29日 圣体堂义卖会的热闹场面。 举办了一场义卖 筹款。 据圣体堂 堂区议会主席陈 绍丰透露：义卖 会当天共摆设了 70多个摊位，在 众教友及公众踊 跃参与下，获得 「冰桶挑战」筹款进行一瞥。右为自告奋勇接 空前成功。 受挑战的欧庆伟神父。 陈主席对 义卖筹款的达标，深深感谢幕 的是来一项「冰桶挑战」，即 前幕后的工作者，赞助者及支 将一桶冰冻冷水往挑战者头顶 持者，愿全能的天主赐予大家 倒。非常欣慰的圣体堂堂区主 满满的祝福。 任欧庆伟神父自告奋勇接受挑 义卖会中，除了售卖一般 战，此举为教堂筹得一笔不菲 食物及各类物品外，最为特别 的义款。（许中新报导）

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

護教學

2018年聖經主日文告 (下） （续 上期）

青年、信 仰和聖召分辨

在信仰成长和圣召分辨 中，年轻人可以在这两方 面善用圣经： 2．大能、爱德和慎重之 神 「天主所赐给我们的，并 非怯懦之神，而是大能、爱德 和慎重之神。」（弟后1:7） 年轻人常害怕挺身维护耶 稣和教会，不是因为不爱天 主，而是害怕被嘲笑。他们可 能会因为被称「圣洁」而感到 尴尬；如果发生错误，将受到 嘲笑和批评；或遭到长辈反呛 「你还不够成熟」或因伸张正 义的行为被滥用。这些都使恐 惧加剧。每个年轻人在某个时 刻都会在见证信仰时，遭到这 样的障碍。（参阅弟前4:12） 正是因为这个原因，圣神将大 能倾注在年轻人心中，以面对 困难和考验。使他们有能力承 担工作并将它做好；有自信的 能力以言以行宣扬耶稣；有能 力抵挡黑暗和罪恶的试探（参 看米3:8）。「求他依照他丰富 的光荣，藉着他的圣神，以大 能坚固你们内在的人。」（弗 3:16；宗1:8，4:33） 保禄敏于将爱注入圣神所 有恩赐中，好让它能以明智和 成熟的方式执行。 「你们要 追求爱，但也要渴慕神恩。」 （格前14:1）。保禄谈到的那 种爱是「爱加倍」的爱（博爱 ）（希腊语：无条件牺牲的 爱）。博爱是天主的爱，唯独 天主拥有它，因此只有天主才 能将它经由圣神倾注，「...... 在爱中生活，就如基督爱了 我们，且为我们把自己交出， 献于天主作为馨香的供物和祭 品。」（弗5:2）。 为使爱满全，圣神倾注节 制（希腊语：Sophronismou） ，意即一个有纪律的品格（弟 前1:7），这是圣神果实的最 后一个（迦5:22 ）。节制征服 了人的思想，心灵和行为。 （参阅罗8:5-7；撒前5:6-7；希

12:7；伯后1:13）。节制嘲弄我 们的肤浅时代。它揭开了未成 熟和瞬间满足感的诅咒，导致 了宿醉、羞耻和破坏的恶性循 环。它呼吁年轻人从表面生活 转向真正有意义的生活。对于 许多因色情，淫乱，毒品和饮 酒而受到束缚的年轻人，圣经 对他们灵魂的状况给予强烈的 警告。「他们是些污秽肮脏的 人；当他们同你们宴乐时，纵 情于淫乐；他们满眼邪色，犯 罪不嬮，勾引意志薄弱的人； 他们的心习惯了贪吝，真是些 应受咒骂的人。」（伯后2:13b14）。甚至对于不冷不热和自 信的人，圣奥斯定也严警，「 当我们对自己的状况感到满意 时，我们就会迷失方向。」 节制和灵修纪律不仅是为 圣人或罪人，而是寻求解放 的基本方法。教会称之为斋戒 或刻苦。Dr. Richard J. Foster 强调：「节制不是终止解放的 一种方法，相反，它会让你 手舞足蹈、歌唱，甚至举拳高 喊「太好了」表示胜利。它并 不是什么沉闷苦差，旨在让笑 声从地球表面消失。它肯定不 是为了懦夫和弱者，而是谦卑 和诚实的人」( Celebration of Discipline)。多默牟顿这么鼓励 年轻人：「让我们相信一个事 实，即我们终生都是初学者。 」（牟顿，沉思的祈祷） 总结 因此，如果任何年轻人如 同弟茂德，接受信仰指导，并 且愿意回应被激起的恩赐，那 么年轻人必将成长，并有能力 辨别什么是真正的「博爱」， 以及驾驭节制。 数百个案例的见证，证 明年轻人可以在黑暗世界的 罪恶、羞耻的挣扎中取得胜 利。（Rabbi Basil F. Herring, “Choice Diminished Behaviour and Religious and Communal Policy,”in Yitzchok Berger and Davis Shatz(edts), Judaism, Science

and moral Responsibilty: Orthodox Forum, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield (2006), pp.162,168）。 是这些年轻人愿意沉浸于圣经 中，任谁都无法给予更好的指 示，唯有个人本身愿意将天主 的话语置于心中。 （参阅咏 119:9-11） 最终，正是这些心中点燃 着信仰愿景的年轻人，被教宗 方济各视为我们人类的未来。 教宗方济各在2017年世界传教 日的讯息中指出，年轻人是使 命的希望。 耶稣基督和祂所宣讲的福 音，继续吸引许多年轻人成为 门徒，跟随他们神圣师傅的脚 步。他们怀着勇气和热忱，尽 力为人服务。「有许多年轻人 在面对世界的邪恶时表现出团 结一致，并且参与各种形式的 战斗和志愿活动…看到年轻人 是街头传教士，快乐地将耶稣 带到大街小巷、每个城镇广场 和地球的各个角落，这是多么 美妙的事啊！」（教宗方济各 于2017年世界传教日讯息 - 基督 徒信仰中心的使命-106） 撰写：马新汶主教团圣经 区域委员会 翻译：新加坡《海星报》 省思问题： 1． 谁在你的生命中，是曾经 指引你信仰和圣经之美的 长者、导师和英雄？ 2． 为一个年轻人，踏上信仰 旅程的基本条件是什么？ 3． 你是否同意，节制的纪律 对于抵制死亡文化是至关 重要的？为什么？ 4． 身为年轻人。我该如何寻 求一个充满喜乐、力量和 意义的生命？ 推荐阅读著作： 1. 圣 依 納 爵 · 羅 耀 拉 《 神 操》； 2. 聖方濟各·沙雷氏《虔誠 生活入門》； 3. 潘霍华《团体生活》。

西連聖德莉莎堂區牧靈議會舉辦週末學習活動 西连武吉舍慕惹州议員约翰依 鲁斯为堂区各单位領导们主讲 精明領导和行政效力後与参加 者合照留念。其中前排自左起: 堂区议会秘書威生班税，堂区 议会副主席安东尼达谷，堂区 议会主管博亨利神父，州议員 约翰依鲁斯和堂区议会主席宋 文囯。

(西连讯)此间圣德莉莎堂 区牧灵议会于六月卅日星期 六和七月一日星期日，为堂 区領导和教友们举办多种講 座会。 主办之活动包括: 星期六 早上的主日学老师会议; 晚上 由议会秘書威生班税向堂区 基督基層组织讲解有关古晋 总教区牧灵大会(KAPA)的组 成结构。隔天星期日早上主 日弥撒过後，西连武吉舍慕 惹州议員约翰依鲁斯为堂区 各单位領导们主讲精明領导 和行政效力; 过後由非伊斯兰

组织单位（UNIFOR）的官員 安布鲁斯先生(Ambrose Linang) 主讲有关该单位的操作，下午 則是堂区牧灵议会会見堂区各 单位領导们和基層，由议会秘 書威生班税主讲堂区牧灵议会 操作，及該议会土地拥有组 主席唐那阿主讲有关教会土地 事項，和擬议中之牧灵中心筹 款財政安东尼达谷报告財务壮 况，并解答疑问。 堂区牧灵议会主席宋文囯 表示誠心感谢西连武吉舍慕惹 州议員约翰依鲁斯，UNIFOR 的官員安布鲁斯先生及全体岀

席者在百忙中抽空前耒出席活 动。他也感谢堂区牧灵议会同 仁努力合作，成功主办各項活 动。（邓亚玉报导）

賢哲箴言 「如航海者藉星辰的 導引進入海港，基督 徒也如此藉聖母瑪利 亞引導進入天堂。」 聖托馬斯·阿奎那 (St Thomas Aquinas)

耶稣基督有没有被釘死 在十字架上？（六） 在十字架上？（七） 在俗方济会士郭渊龙执事 在《耶稣基督有没有被 钉死在十字架上》和祂的「所 谓的」死对人类的救赎确实是 必要的这个事件，我在前面的 文章里已经解释过，耶稣的祭 献式的死对破解原罪的古老咀 咒是必要的。这使人类可能藉 着圣洗通过基督进入和天主的 盟约。我们也已经确定耶稣被 钉死十字架不是没有意义的， 祂在十字架上的祭献，当从犹 太人对祭献和赎罪的观点上了 解，它实际上就是一个有效的 行为。 尽管如此，这不是耶稣 基督的十字架苦难的全部。作 为一宗历史事实，还有人继续 怀疑耶稣被钉死十字架的真实 性，确切地说，这事是不是真 的发生。因此，我们需要提出 耶稣被钉死十字架上更详尽的 证据。 3. 耶稣被钉死十字架有大 量证据 我们知道，耶稣被钉死十 字架是因为历史上充满了有关 这件事的真实性的文字记录的 证据。它不是单单少数几个男 人或女人想象的幻觉。 a）圣经中有亲眼见证耶稣 被钉死十字架的人 一个耶稣基督被钉死十字 架的历史强有力不能忽视的证 据是这事件的目击者。许多我 们的穆斯林朋友不相信亲眼见 证耶稣被钉死十字架的来源确 实存在，并继续存在。伊本· 泰米葉（Ibn Taymiyya）宣称： 「没有一个基督徒是见证人和 他们（犹太人）在一起。宗徒 们因恐惧避得远远的，他们没 有一个亲眼看到十字架刑」（ 伊本·泰米葉，《一位穆斯林 神学家对基督信仰的回应》)。 上述的论点通常是建立 在对圣经章节玛窦福音26:56 的推断为基础：「门徒都撇下 衪逃跑了」。虽然门徒们确实 从耶稣身边逃跑，但马尔谷福 音15:54断言，在不远处仍有见 证者，其中一个就是伯多禄本 人。 若望福音19:26-27中指出， 耶稣在十字架上对这位「匿名 的门徒」说话，将童贞圣母玛 利亚托付给他作他的母亲，同 样的，让他作她的儿子。路加 福音23:27也报道说当耶稣背着 十字架时，「有许多人民及妇 女跟隨着耶穌，婦女搥胸痛哭 衪」。 除了上述的人们之外，福 音也有其他目击者的记述，例 如，犹太人领袖（玛27:41；谷 15:31），罗马百夫长（玛27:54 ；谷15:39；路23:47）和士兵（ 玛27:35；谷15:24；路23:35；若 19:18,23）。 耶稣基督被钉死十字架绝 对没有人亲眼见证的论点肯定 与所有的历史数据不相符。 b）耶稣被钉死十字架有医 学证据 按当时的标准，罗马人是 科学水平很高的人们。在执行

像他们判耶稣和其他罪犯这样 的极刑时，他们知道用什么方 法行刑以达到该刑罚所要的效 果。不能恣意而行，也不能有 意外。换句话说，加于耶稣的 折磨是一个合乎科学的程序。 因此，那些罗马人故意让耶稣 在他们不注意时避过十字架的 刑罚的假设是不合理的。他们 知道如何以最痛苦的方法弄死 一个人，他们知道那人何时已 死了。 医学家已检查了福音作 者所记述的关于耶稣所受的 折磨和杀害，以证实福音中 的报道和现代的医学相符或 是相悖。他们的研究的结论 是，福音所报道关于被钉死 十字架者的经历的情况非常 精确。 首先，在路加福音22:44 中报道耶稣在山园，「祂的 的汗如同血珠」。亚历山 大·梅特勒（Dr Alexander Metherell）医生，加利福尼亚 大学的一位医学博士和学者， 他的专业就是研究受十字架刑 罚的死，他确认这状态是一个 称为血汗症（hematidrosis） 的已知医学状况。这种状况虽 然非常罕见，但当一个人情绪 处于极端压力下时，他的汗腺 的微血管会破裂，而使他流汗 时流出血。科学研究显示，造 成这种现象最常见的成因是激 烈的恐惧。失血的程度通常很 轻微，血汗症会造成一个人的 皮肤变得极端的柔软和脆弱， 他比正常人更易感觉痛。 其次，当耶稣在十字 架上说「我渴」时（若19:28 ），表示祂需要水，这也是 另一个已知的医学状况--低 血容量性休克（hypovolemic shock）。这状况或许是耶 稣所受鞭打的后果。梅特勒 博士说，低血容量性休克可 造成四个后果：心脏比平常 加速工作泵已不足的血液， 血压急剧下降造成晕眩或昏 厥，肾脏停止生产尿液以保 留体内的水分，因身体急需 液体来补充失去血液的容 量，这人感觉极度的口渴。 其三，枪刺透耶稣肋 旁所得的证据证实耶稣确实 已死在十字架上。梅特勒博 士在形容耶稣所经历的低血 容量性休克时教导说，这个 状况造成急剧心跳而引发液 体囤积在心脏周围。这状况 称为心包积液。在若望福音 19:34中，记述当一位在刑场 的士兵用枪刺透挂在十字架 上的耶稣的肋旁，血和水流 了出来。那枪明显地刺透了 右肺刺进了心脏。当枪被拔 出来时，流出来的液体看起 来像水一样清澄，依他的医 学判定，那是心包积液和胸 膜积液。 有了上述的证据，甚至 美国医学协会期刊都总结， 说耶稣没有死在十字架上的 假设是违反现代医学的调查 结果。

PAGE 22

FOKUS

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

MENGENAI APOLOGETIK

Adakah Yesus Kristus disalibkan?

Oleh Diakon Dr Sherman Kuek, OFS

Mengenai sama ada Yesus Kristus benar-benar disalibkan atau tidak, dan sama ada kematianNya “seperti yang didakwa” benar-benar perlu atau tidak untuk penyelamatan umat manusia, ia sudah dijelaskan di dalam artikel-artikel saya sebelum ini bahawa kematian Yesus sebagai korban adalah perlu untuk memecah sumpahan Dosa Asal sejak berzaman lamanya.

Dengan ini, umat manusia dapat memeterai perjanjian muktamad dengan Allah menerusi Kristus dalam pembaptisan. Kita juga sudah menentukan bahawa penyaliban Yesus memang masuk akal, bahawa pengorbananNya di atas salib sebenarnya merupakan satu tindakan yang berkesan apabila difahami dari perspektif Yahudi tentang pengorbanan dan penebusan.

Bagaimanapun bukan ini sahaja segalanya yang ada untuk diperkatakan mengenai penyaliban Yesus Kristus. Dari segi sejarah, mungkin masih ada mereka yang terusmenerus meragui kebenaran penyaliban, atau lebih tepat lagi, sama ada peristiwa itu benar-benar pernah berlaku ataupun tidak. Maka itu, kita perlu mengemukakan bukti lanjut bagi penyaliban itu.

3. Terdapat bukti yang mencukupi tentang penyaliban itu.

Kita tahu penyaliban itu pernah berlaku kerana sejarah penuh dengan bukti dokumentasi mengenai kebenaran peristiwa ini. Ia adalah jauh lebih daripada sekadar halusinasi imaginasi segelintir lelaki dan wanita. a) Terdapat saksi-saksi penyaliban dalam Al-Kitab.

Satu bukti kukuh yang tidak dapat disangkal bagi penyaliban Yesus Kristus dalam sejarah adalah keterangan sumber saksi bagi peristiwa ini. Ramai rakan kita yang Muslim tidak percaya sumber saksi itu benar-benar wujud dan masih wujud berhubung penyaliban.

Ibn Taymiyya mendakwa, “Tidak ada satu pun orang Kristian yang menjadi saksi bersama mereka (orang Yahudi). Sebaliknya rasul-rasul menjauhkan diri kerana takut, dan tiada seorang pun daripada mereka menyaksikan penyaliban itu.” (Ibn Taymiyya, A Muslim Theologian’s Response to Christianity, disunting dan diterjemahkan ke dalam bahasa Inggeris oleh Thomas F. Michel [Delmar, NY: Caravan Books, 1984], 110).

Hujah di atas biasanya berdasarkan fahaman mengenai petikan dari Injil Matius 26:56: “Kemudian semua murid meninggalkanNya dan lari.”

Walaupun ia adalah benar bahawa murid-muridNya lari dari hadirat Yesus, Injil Markus 15:54 menegaskan saksi masih ada dari jauh, dan seorang saksi yang begitu penting adalah Petrus sendiri.

Dalam Injil Yohanes 19:26-27, ia menunjukkan Yesus sedang bercakap dengan “murid tidak dikenali” ini ketika Dia berada di atas salib, sambil menyerahkan Bonda Perawan Maria kepadanya sebagai ibunya, dan demikian juga, menyerahkan murid itu kepada bonda sebagai anaknya.

Injil Lukas 23:27 turut melaporkan ketika Yesus memikul salib, “Ramai orang mengekoriNya, dan wanita juga, yang mengabungi dan meratapiNya.” Selain orang-orang yang disebut di atas, Injil mengandungi rujukan kepada saksi-saksi lain, seperti ketua-ketua Yahudi (Matius 27:41; Markus 15:31), ketua askar Romawi (Matius 27:54; Markus 15:39; Lukas 23:47) dan askar-askar (Matius 27:35; Markus 15:24; Lukas 23:35; Yohanes 19:18, 23) Pendapat bahawa tiada langsung saksi kepada penyaliban Yesus Kristis ternyata tidak selari dengan data sejarah yang ada. b) Terdapat bukti perubatan bagi penyaliban itu.

Orang Romawi merupakan bangsa yang amat saintifik menurut standard pada zaman mereka. Ketika menjalankan hukuman mati seperti hukuman yang mereka laksanakan ke atas Yesus dan penjenayah lain, mereka tahu dengan tepat jenis

(Bahagian VII)

metodologi untuk digunakan bagi memberi kesan sebenar yang diinginkan daripada hukuman tersebut.

Tiada yang berlaku secara kebetulan dan tiada yang diserahkan kepada nasib.

Dalam erti kata lain, penyeksaan yang dilakukan ke atas Yesus merupakan satu prosedur saintifik.

Maka itu, untuk mengandaikan orang Romawi ini telah membenarkan Yesus untuk melarikan diri daripada hukuman salib tanpa diketahui mereka adalah sesuatu yang tidak masuk akal. Mereka sesungguhnya tahu bagaimana untuk membunuh seseorang dengan cara yang paling menyakitkan, dan mereka tahu apabila seseorang itu tidak lagi hidup.

Saintis perubatan sudah meneliti perkara yang telah direkodkan oleh penulis Injil berhubung penyeksaan dan pembunuhan Yesus untuk menentukan sama ada laporan yang terkandung dalam Injil adalah selari atau bercanggah dengan sains perubatan moden.

Mereka merumuskan dari penyelidikan ini bahawa laporan Injil agak tepat mengenai keadaan yang dialami seorang mangsa yang disalib.

Pertama sekali, dalam Injil Lukas 22:44, Yesus dilaporkan berpeluhkan “titisan darah” ketika Dia berada dalam Kebun Getsemani.

Dr Alexander Metherell, seorang doktor perubatan dan sarjana di Universiti California dengan kepakaran dalam subjek kematian menerusi penyaliban, mengesahkan berhubung pemerhatian ini bahawa ini adalah “satu keadaan perubatan yang dikenali sebagai hematidrosis”.

Walaupun amat jarang sekali berlaku, apabila seseorang manusia itu diletakkan di dalam keadaan tekanan emosional yang ekstrem, kapilari kecil dalam kelenjar peluh boleh pecah, seterusnya menyebabkan darah dikeluarkan bersama peluhnya.

Punca paling kerap bagi fenomena ini, penyelidikan saintifik menunjukkan, adalah ketakutan yang amat serius. Sementara jumlah kehilangan darah biasanya minimum, hematidrosis menyebabkan kulit seseorang itu menjadi amat lembut dan rapuh, yang bermakna mangsa rasa sakit dengan lebih mudah berbanding kebiasaan.

Kedua, apabila Yesus berada di atas salib dan berkata “Aku haus” (Yohanes 19:28), yang menunjukkan Dia memerlukan air, ini merupakan satu lagi keadaan perubatan yang dikenali sebagai kejutan hipovolemik.

Keadaan sedemikian adalah hasil daripada sebatan yang dilalui Yesus. Dr Metherell mengajar bahawa kejutan hipovolemik mempunyai empat akibat: jantung bekerja lebih kuat berbanding kebiasaan untuk mengepam darah yang tidak ada lagi di sana, tekanan darah turun secara dramatik dan menyebabkan kepeningan atau pengsan, buah pinggan berhenti menghasilkan air kencing untuk memelihara jumlah air yang masih ada, dan individu berkenaan menjadi amat haus sekali kerana tubuh mengidam cecair untuk menggantikan jumlah darah yang hilang.

Ketiga, bukti yang terhasil daripada lembing yang ditusuk ke dalam rusuk Yesus mengesahkan Yesus sesungguhnya wafat di atas salib.

Dr Matherell, ketika menerangkan tentang kejutan hipovolemik yang dialami Yesus, mengajar bahawa keadaan ini menyebabkan jantung berdenyut dengan cepat seterusnya menyebabkan cecair terkumpul di sekeliling jantung. Keadaan ini dikenali sebagai ‘pericardial effusion’.

Dalam Injil Yohanes 19:34, ia menyebut bahawa apabila salah seorang askar yang ada di tapak pelaksanaan hukuman menusuk lembing ke dalam rusuk Yesus yang bergantung di atas salib, darah dan air mengalir keluar.

Lembing itu dipercayai menembusi paru-paru kanan dan memasuki jantung.

Apabila ia ditarik keluar, cecair mengalir keluar yang kelihatan jernih seperti air, yang dalam penilaian perubatannya adalah ‘pericardial effusion’ dan ‘pleural effusion’.

Dengan bukti di atas, malah Jurnal Persatuan Perubatan Amerika merumuskan, andaian bahawa Yesus tidak mati di atas salib bercanggah dengan penemuan sains perubatan moden.

Penyeksaan yang dilakukan ke atas Yesus merupakan satu prosedur saintifik.

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Hari Perayaan Kenaikan Maria: Maria, model kebaikan dan kepercayaan Pada 15 Ogos ini, umat Katolik akan meraikan hari itu dengan doa dan renungan, hari untuk memperingati penghujung kehidupan Maria di Bumi dan kenaikan bonda ke syurga. Hari itu adalah Hari Perayaan Kenaikan Maria.

Hari itu agak muda kerana ia hanya ditakrif secara rasmi oleh Pope Pius XII dalam Munificentissimus Deus pada 1 November 1950.

Sebelum ia diwartakan sebagai dogma kepercayaan, Gereja merayakannya sebagai ‘Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos’ atau “ketiduran Bonda Maria” seawal abad ke-6.

Pope Francis merenungkan dalam Angelus 2017 bahawa “Injil memperkenalkan kita kepada wanita muda dari Nasaret itu yang, selepas dia menerima Pengumuman Malaikat, pergi dengan tergesa-gesa untuk berada di sisi Elisabet, dalam tempoh beberapa bulan terakhir kehamilannya yang luar biasa.

Apabila dia sampai di rumah Elisabet, Maria mendengar dia menyebut katakata yang telah membentuk doa ‘Salam Maria’: “Terpujilah (Berbahagialah) engkau di antara wanita, dan terpujilah (berbahagialah) buah tubuhmu” (Lukas 1:42).

Sebenarnya, hadiah terbesar yang Maria bawa kepada Elisabet — dan kepada seluruh dunia – adalah Yesus, yang sudah pun hidup di dalamnya; dan Dia hidup bukan sahaja menerusi kepercayaan dan menerusi jangkaan, seperti yang dialami ramai wanita dalam Perjanjian Lama: daripada Perawan itu, Yesus memperolehi daging manusia

untuk misi penyelamatanNya. Di rumah Elisabet dan suaminya Sakaria, yang pernah diselubungi kesedihan kerana tiada anak, sekarang ia dipenuhi kegembiraan kerana seorang bayi bakal dilahirkan: bayi yang akan menjadi Yohanes Pembaptis yang agung, pembuka jalan bagi Al-Masih (Mesias).

Dan apabila Maria tiba, kegembiraan melimpah dan mengalir dari hati mereka, kerana kehadiran Yesus yang tidak kelihatan namun benar mengisi segalanya dengan makna: kehidupan, keluarga, penyelamat bangsa. Segalanya!

Kegembiraan ini disuarakan menerusi Maria dalam doa indah yang telah disampaikan oleh Injil Lukas kepada kita dan yang dipanggil Magnificat, dari perkataan Latin yang pertama lagi.

Ia adalah kidung pujian kepada Allah yang melakukan perkara hebat menerusi

Hati ke hati...

dari pena penulis jemputan,

Fr Lazarus Swinie

Pada suatu hari sekumpulan murid dari sekolah menengah yang berdekatan telah datang ke gereja untuk melakukan gotong royong.

Sedang mereka sibuk melakukan tugasan masing-masing maka datanglah seorang lelaki dewasa lalu berkata kepada saya, “Wah! Ramai juga kuli kamu, Father?”

Walaupun ianya sematamata gurauan namun saya amat terkilan dengan kata-kata tersebut. Murid-murid sekolah menengah yang datang untuk bergotong royong pada hari tersebut bukannya kuli yang bekerja semata-mata untuk mendapatkan ganjaran tetapi

melakukan kewajiban sebagai umat. Mereka datang secara suka rela bukan atas undangan dari pihak gereja atau diarah oleh pihak sekolah. Mereka datang kerana sangat perihatin dengan keadaan sekeliling.

Berdasarkan kepada pengakuan Yesus, “Aku tidak lagi memanggilmu hamba, kerana hamba tidak tahu apa yang dilakukan oleh tuannya, Aku memanggilmu sahabatsahabat-Ku, kerana segala perkara yang Kudengar daripada Bapa-Ku telah Ku beritahu kepadamu” (Yoh. 15:15), patutkah kita memanggil mereka ini kuli? Bukankah semua kita ini adalah saudara

orang sederhana, tidak dikenali dunia, seperti Maria sendiri, seperti suaminya Yosef, dan seperti tempat di mana mereka tinggal, Nasaret.

Perkara hebat yang Allah telah lakukan dengan orang yang rendah hati, perkara hebat yang Tuhan lakukan sekarang di dunia dengan orang rendah hati, kerana kerendahan hati umpama kekosongan yang memberi ruang kepada Allah.

Orang yang rendah hati memiliki kuasa kerana mereka rendah hati: bukan kerana mereka kuat. Dan inilah kehebatan orang yang rendah hati dan kerendahan hati. Saya ingin bertanya kepada anda – dan juga diri saya sendiri – tetapi jangan jawab dengan suara yang kuat – masingmasing menjawab dalam hati sendiri: Bagaimanakah kerendahan hati saya?

Magnificat memuji Allah Maha Rahim

dan Maha Setia yang melaksanakan rancangan penyelamatanNya mnerusi orang-orang kecil dan orang miskin, menerusi mereka yang ada kepercayaan kepadaNya, yang percaya kepada FirmanNya seperti Maria.

Ini adalah seruan Elisabet: “Berbahagialah dia yang percaya” (Lukas 1:45).

Dalam rumah itu, kedatangan Yesus menerusi Maria mewujudkan bukan sahaja iklim kegembiraan dan kesatuan persaudaraan, tetapi juga iklim kepercayaan yang membawa kepada harapan, doa, dan pujian.”

Beliau seterusnya menggesa kita untuk “melakukan semua ini pada hari ini di rumah kita juga. Meraikan Maria Paling Suci Yang Dinaikkan ke Syurga, kita akan sekali lagi menginginkan agar dia membawa hadiah yang amat besar ini kepada kita, kepada keluarga kita, kepada masyarakat kita, Rahmat unik itu yang kita mesti selalu cari terlebih dahulu dan lebih daripada rahmat lain yang kita juga ada di dalam hati: rahmat iaitu Yesus Kristus!

Dengan membawa Yesus, Bonda kita juga membawa kepada kita kegembiraan baharu yang penuh bermakna; dia membawa kepada kita keupayaan baharu untuk mengharungi waktu paling menyakitkan dan sukar dengan kepercayaan; dia membawa kepada kita keupayaan untuk berbelaskasihan, untuk memaafkan satu sama lain, untuk memahami satu sama lain dan menyokong satu sama lain.

Maria merupakan model kebaikan dan kepercayaan.”

Sumber: Libreria Editrice Vaticana

Gereja adalah keluarga kita di mana Yesus adalah ‘Abang’ kepada semua.

kepada Yesus juga? Sebagai saudara kepada Yesus melalui pembaptisan, patutkah kita memandang rendah terhadap satu sama lain?

Seorang kuli atau hamba melakukan tugasan berpandukan kepada arahan majikan. Mereka sangat berhati-hati kerana takut dimarahi jika cuai. Mereka juga sangat mementingkan masa bekerja. Saudara atau sahabat membawa maksud yang sangat istimewa. Mereka melakukan tugasan dengan seikhlas hati tanpa memikirkan akan dimarahi atau didenda jika cuai. Saudara atau sahabat tidak takut untuk berbincang dan menyuarakan pendapat masingmasing sebelum atau semasa melakukan tugasan. Dengan cara yang demikian, ianya boleh membuahkan hasil yang lebih baik.

Yesus inginkan buah yang

baik daripada kita. Kata-Nya, “Jika kamu tetap dalam-Ku dan Aku dalammu, kamu akan berbuah lebat” (Yoh. 15:5b) dan “Kemuliaan Bapa ternyata apabila kamu berbuah lebat” (Yoh. 15:8a). Saya percaya murid-murid sekolah menengah yang datang untuk bergotong royong pada hari itu datang adalah atas dasar tersebut. Yesus adalah satu-satunya mentor kita dalam melakukan kehendak Bapa yang di syurga. Kata-Nya lagi, “Sesiapa yang melakukan kehendak Bapa-Ku yang di syurga, merekalah saudara lelaki, saudara perempuan dan ibu-Ku” (Matius 12:50).

Jika kita bersatu dengan Yesus kita tidak akan kesuntukan masa atau kekurangan tenaga untuk melayani. Memang tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa ‘masa itu emas’ tetapi ianya lebih berharga jika kita utamakan Tuhan di

dalam pelayanan kita. Jika kita melakukan segala sesuatu kerana cinta kasih Tuhan, kita tidak mengharapkan ganjaran atau penghargaan duniawi.

Menjadi saudara lelaki, saudara perempuan dan ibu Yesus bukan sahaja satu anugerah yang sangat berharga tetapi juga tanggungjawab yang perlu kita pikul. Setiap orang diberi tanggungjawab untuk menjaga kebajikan dan kesejahteraan ahli keluarga.

Gereja adalah keluarga kita di mana Yesus adalah ‘Abang’ kepada semua. Sebagai abang, Yesus telah memberikan contoh yang sangat baik untuk kita teladani.

Marilah kita dengan rendah hati melakukan tugasan kita di gereja tanpa perlu diberitahu atau diundang. Sesungguhnya tugas-tugas di gereja adalah tanggungjawab kita bersama.

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

(Bahagian II)

Pesanan Hari Minggu Alkitab 2018

Orang Muda, Iman dan renungan mendalam tentang Panggilan Setiap tahun, Gereja memberi penekanan khas kepada Firman Tuhan dengan meraikan Hari Minggu Alkitab. Pada tahun ini, Hari Minggu Alkitab jatuh pada 8 Julai. Bahagian I telah diterbitkan dalam isu Julai.

Dua bidang di mana orang muda boleh menggunakan kitab suci untuk perkembangan iman dan merenung secara mendalam tentang panggilan mereka Paulus memulakan satu siri perintah yang tegas kepada Timotius dan kepada semua orang muda. Dia mengingatkan orang muda tentang aspek membangunkan karunia iman yang diterima oleh mereka.

1. Mengobarkan semula karunia Tuhan Kerana itulah ku peringatkan engkau untuk mengorbankan karunia Allah yang ada padamu oleh penumpangan tanganku atasmu (2 Timotius 1:6).

Apakah karunia Allah ini? Ia merujuk kepada karunia rohani Roh Kudus untuk melengkapkan seorang anak muda dalam iman untuk melayani. Sesetengah mungkin mempunyai karunia untuk mengajar katekismus, yang lain menjadi sebahagian daripada ahli koir dan yang lain untuk bekerja di kalangan orang miskin. Paus Benediktus mengingatkan kita bahawa bakat-bakat mulia ini tidak akan bermakna tanpa karunia iman yang membolehkan kita mengalami Kristus yang bangkit.

Tidak mencukupi menjadi seorang yang baik, biarpun melakukan pekerjaan itu untuk membasmi kejahatan dan ketidakadilan. Dalam kata-kata Paus Benediktus, “sesungguhnya banyak orang Kristian mendedikasikan hidup mereka kepada mereka yang kesepian, terpinggir atau disingkirkan ... tetapi melalui iman kita mengenali Kristus yang bangkit pada mereka yang memerlukan kasih daripada kita” (Artikel No.14 Motu Proprio Data - Porta Fidei (Pintu Iman), Surat Apostolik Paus Benediktus untuk mewartakan tahun iman). Oleh itu, iman menyatakan dirinya melalui cinta, bukan hanya dengan mempamerkan kegiatan (lihat Gal 5:6).

St Paulus menggunakan perkataan “kobarkan” atau “mengipas api” (Yunani: anazopureo), ia bermaksud untuk terus menyala dan untuk menjaga nyala api sentiasa bernyala. Ia juga boleh bermaksud untuk menghidupkan semula atau menyalakan api, yang menunjukkan bahawa api boleh terpadam. Kadang-kadang orang muda perlu diadun dan dikobarkan semula. Minat adalah perlu untuk mengobarkan karunia Tuhan kerana untuk menyalakan atau memupuk rahmat adalah terletak dalam kekuatan diri kita. Melalui kemalasan dan kecuaian, ia dipadamkan, dan melalui penuh perhatian dan ketekunan, ia terus menyala (St Yohanes Krisostom, khutbah tentang 2 Timotius 1).

Sri Paus St Yohanes Paulus II yang bercakap tentang menjangkau sesama umat Katolik sebagai cara untuk “Penginjilan Baru” menggesa golongan muda agar tidak takut menggunakan kaedah baru untuk memberi kesaksian akan kebenaran Injil yang tidak berubah. Timotius mungkin berperipadi baik, malah seorang Kristian yang tulus dan setia, tetapi Paulus mengingatkannya untuk memastikan karunia rohaninya bersemarak dan menyala ke titik yang paling hangat. Ia menyuarakan perintah apokaliptik, “kerana engkau suam-suam kuku, dan tidak dingin atau panas” (Wahyu 3:16).

Idea “mengobarkan” (bahasa Yunani: anazopureo) adalah dalam nahu kala kini, yang bermaksud ia adalah progresif dan tindakan yang berterusan. Orang muda harus terus mengobarkan karunianya, tidak pernah membiarkan nyala api kehilangan bahangnya. Jangan sekali-kali kendur atau kehilangan semangat. Setiap orang muda yang diurapi dengan Roh Kudus semasa sakramen penguatan memiliki rahmat yang sangat istimewa. Tuhan telah mengurniakan kepadanya dengan panggilan yang khusus dalam iman. Oleh itu, orang muda mesti melakukan apa yang Tuhan telah anugerahkan untuk mereka lakukan.

2. Dengan roh yang membangkitkan kekuatan, kasih dan ketertiban Sebab Allah memberikan kepada kita bukan roh ketakutan, melainkan roh yang membangkitkan kekuata, kasih dan ketertiban (2 Tim 1:7).

Sering kali orang-orang muda takut untuk mempertahankan Yesus dan GerejaNya bukan kerana mereka tidak mengasihi Tuhan tetapi kerana mereka takut akan cemuhan. Mereka berasa malu disebut “suci”. Ejekan dan kritikan terjadi apabila kesilapan berlaku. Bantahan daripada para penatua bahawa “anda tidak cukup dewasa” atau diperlakukan secara buruk kerana berdiri untuk keadilan memperkukuhkan ketakutan ini. Setiap orang muda pada satu-satu ketika akan mengalami cabaran dan kekacauan sedemikian (rujuk 1 Tim 4:12). Justeru atas alasan ini Roh Kudus membekalkan kuasa ke dalam hati orang muda untuk menghadapi tekanan dan kesukaran. Kuasa untuk melakukan kerja dan melakukannya dengan baik. Kuasa untuk yakin dalam mewartakan Yesus sama ada dalam perbuatan atau perkataan.

Kuasa untuk melawan godaan kegelapan dan dosa (rujuk Mikha 3:8). “Aku berdoa supaya Ia, menurut kekayaan kemuliaan-Nya, menguatkan dan meneguhkan kamu

oleh Roh-Nya di dalam batinmu” (Efesus 3:16, Kisah 1:8, 4:33).

Paulus dengan cepat menambah cinta kasih ke dalam setiap anugerah Roh Kudus supaya ia dapat dilaksanakan dengan bijak dan matang. “Kejarlah kasih itu dan usahakanlah dirimu memperoleh karunia-karunia Roh” (1 Kor 14:1). Bentuk cinta kasih yang diperkatakan oleh Paulus merupakan cinta kasih “agape” (Yunani: cinta kasih tidak bersyarat). Cinta kasih agape merupakan cinta kasih Tuhan. Hanya Tuhan yang memilikinya. Oleh itu hanya Tuhan sahaja yang dapat menanamkannya melalui Roh Kudus, “...hiduplah di dalam kasih, sebagaimana Kristus Yesus juga telah mengasihi kamu dan telah menyerahkan diri-Nya untuk kita sebagai persembahan dan korban yang harum bagi Allah” (Efesus 5:2).

Untuk menjadikan lengkap, Roh Kudus menerapkan disiplin diri (Yunani: sophronismou) yang bererti, sifat berdisiplin (1 Tim 1:7) dengan kawalan diri yang merupakan buah akhir roh (lihat Gal 5:22). Kawalan diri adalah penguasaan atas minda, hati dan tindakan seseorang walaupun mendapat bantahan (rujuk Rom 8:5-7; 1 Tesalonika 5:6-7 dan Ibrani 12:7; 1 Pet 1:13). Penguasaan diri mencemuh kecetekan zaman kita. Ia menelanjangi ketidakmatangan dan laknat kepuasan segera yang mengakibatkan lingkaran ganas kebencian, malu dan kemusnahan. Ia memanggil orang-orang muda untuk bergerak melampaui permukaan hidup ke dalam apa yang sebenarnya dan bermakna. Bagi kebanyakan orang muda yang terkurung disebabkan oleh pornografi, percabulan, dadah dan alkohol; kitab suci memberikan peringatan kuat mengenai keadaan jiwa. “Mereka adalah kotoran dan noda, yang mabuk dalam hawa nafsu mereka kalau mereka duduk makan minum bersama-sama dengan kamu.

Mata mereka penuh nafsu zina dan mereka tidak pernah jemu berbuat dosa. Mereka memikat orang-orang yang lemah. Hati mereka telah terlatih dalam keserakahan.

Mereka adalah orang-orang yang terkutuk!” (2 Petrus 2:13b-14). Malah bagi yang suam-suam kuku dan yakin diri, St Augustinus mengingatkan, “kita hilang apabila kita berpuas hati dengan keadaan kita”.

Pengawalan diri dan disiplin rohani bukan semata-mata untuk orang kudus atau pendosa tetapi sebagai cara biasa untuk mencari pembebasan. Gereja memanggil ini berpantang atau penebusan. Dr Richard J. Forster, dalam karyanya Celebration of Discipline, menekankan “pengawalan diri bukanlah satu cara untuk menghapuskan pembebasan tetapi sebaliknya ia mengakibatkan tari-tarian, menyanyi bahkan jeritan ‘Ya’ dengan genggaman tangan ke udara sebagai hasil daripada kemenangan yang jaya. Ia bukanlah satu kebodohan yang membosankan yang bertujuan untuk menghapuskan tawa riang dari muka bumi. Pastinya bukan untuk mereka yang pengecut dan yang lemah tetapi untuk mereka yang rendah hati dan jujur”. Thomas Merton menggalakkan golongan muda apabila dia berkata, “Tetapi marilah kita diyakinkan bahawa kita tidak akan menjadi apa-apa tetapi sebagai pemula sepanjang hidup kita!” (Merton, Doa Kontemplatif).

Kesimpulannya Oleh itu, jika ada orang muda seperti Timotius yang dipimpin oleh iman dan sanggup menanggapi pengorbaran anugerah, pasti anak muda itu akan membangun dan maju dalam kemampuannya untuk membuktikan cinta kasih sejati “agape” dan mambu untuk menguasai diri.

Testimoni dari beratus-ratus kajian kes telah membuktikan bahawa golongan muda dapat menang dalam perjuangan mereka menentang dunia gelap dosa dan rasa malu (Rabbi Basil F. Herring, “Choice Diminished Behaviour and Religious and Communal Policy” in Yitzchok Berger dan David Shalz (edts), Judaism, Science and Moral Responsibility: Orthodox Forum, Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield (2006), pp 162, 168). Kepada orang muda inilah yang sanggup menelaah ke dalam kitab-kitab suci, yang tidak ada yang dapat mengajar dengan lebih baik melainkan orang yang bersedia menyimpan firman Allah dalam hatinya (lihat Mazmur 119:9-11).

Akhirnya orang mudalah yang dilihat oleh Paus Fransiskus sebagai masa depan umat manusia dengan visi iman yang bersinar di hati mereka. Bapa Suci Fransiskus, dalam mesejnya untuk Hari Misi Sedunia 2017 menyatakan, orang muda merupakan harapan misi. Peribadi Yesus Kristus dan Berita Baik yang mereka wartakan terus menarik banyak orang muda. Mereka mencari cara untuk meletakkan diri mereka dengan keberanian dan keghairahan dalam pelayanan kemanusiaan. “Terdapat ramai orang muda yang menawarkan solidarity mereka dalam menghadapi kejahatan dunia dan terlibat dalam pelbagai bentuk militia dan kesukarelawan ... Betapa indahnya apabila melihat orang muda menjadi pengkhutbah jalanan, dengan gembira membawa Yesus ke setiap jalan, setiap dataran bandar dan setiap sudut bumi!” (Mesej Bapa Suci Fransiskus, untuk hari misi dunia 2017 - Misi di tengah-tengah Iman Kristian - 106).

BERITA

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

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CATHOLIC today’s THE TEAM

Fikirkanlah perkara ini (Phil 4:8)...

PENERBIT Uskup Agung Kuching PENASIHAT Fr Felix Au EDITOR Stella Chin EDITOR BERSEKUTU (B Cina) Magdalene Yeo SIDANG EDITOR Freddy Bohari (BM) Martha Ngui (B Inggeris) Victoria J Lim (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Inggeris) James Lo (B Cina) Margaret Bong (Halaman Kanak-kanak B Cina) STAF Audrey Yu

S

eperti kelasi dibimbing ke pelabuhan oleh sinaran bintang, begitu juga umat Kristian dibimbing ke syurga oleh Maria.

— St Thomas Aquinas

Selamat Jalan, Father James Meehan, MHM KUCHING — Tarikh 28 Julai merupakan hari yang menyedihkan bagi Keuskupan Agung Kuching.

Keuskupan ini telah kehilangan salah seorang puteranya yang setia melayani Tuhan hampir sepanjang hidupnya, jauh dari tanah air sendiri di Scotland.

Paderi, jemaat awam dan rakan mendiang Father James Meehan, MHM berhimpun di Katedral St Joseph untuk mengucapkan selamat jalan buat kali terakhirnya kepada saudara, mentor dan sahabat yang mereka sayangi.

Misa Pengebumian dipimpin oleh Uskup Agung Simon Poh, yang merayakannya bersama lebih 30 orang paderi dan dua orang uskup agung emeritus.

Dalam homilinya, Uskup Agung Simon menceritakan bagaimana Fr Meehan menjadi berkat bagi anggota paroki dan paderi.

“Saya sudah mengenali Fr Meehan dari zaman seminari kami pada zaman 80-an.

Sebagai rektor Misi St Ann, beliau dengan murah hati

Jemaat awam menaburkan bunga-bunga di atas keranda Father James Meehan (gambar sisipan) sebagai tanda selamat jalan menawar untuk menerima seminarian bagi kerja pastoral pada hujung minggu di paroki tersebut. Beliau sesungguhnya telah memberkati ramai daripada kami yang kini sudah menjadi paderi yang ditahbis,” katanya.

Uskup Agung berkata Sarawak mempunyai tempat yang istimewa di dalam hati Fr Meehan.

Bacaan Injil dalam Misa itu (Yohanes 17:24-26) merupakan

• Bersambung dari ms24

Soalan-soalan untuk renungan

Pesanan Hari Minggu Alkitab 2018

1. Siapakah para penatua, mentor dan wira dalam hidup anda yang telah menunjukkan keindahan iman dan kitab suci?

2. Apakah keperluan utama dalam melakukan perjalanan iman untuk orang muda?

3. Adakah anda bersetuju bahawa disiplin mengawal diri adalah penting untuk menentang budaya kematian?

Mengapa?

4. Bagaimanakah saya dapat meneruskan hidup yang gembira, kuat dan mempunyai tujuan sebagai seorang remaja?

cerminan bagi keinginannya untuk memberitahu rakyat di Sarawak tentang kasih Tuhan.

“Fr Meehan sendiri memberitahu saya bahawa beliau ingin meninggal dunia di sini di Sarawak, bumi di mana beliau menjalankan misi beliau selama 59 tahun,” ujar prelatus itu.

“Saya ingat Fr Meehan terlibat dalam dua kemalangan kereta yang serius dan satu pembedahan jantung terbuka

tetapi beliau selamat juga.

Beliau sesungguhnya umpama ‘tempayan tanah yang menyimpan harta karun ini, untuk menjelaskan bahawa kuasa yang begitu kuat datang dari Allah dan bukan dari kami.

Kita dalam kesusahan di semua bahagian, tetapi tidak pernah dikepung; kita tidak melihat jawapan kepada masalah kita, tetapi tidak pernah berputus asa; kita telah ditindas, tetapi tidak pernah diabaikan; dijatuhkan, tetapi tidak pernah dibunuh…”

(2 Korintus 4:7-15).”

“Ketika beliau dimasukkan ke hospital buat kali ketiga baru-baru ini, saya dapat melihat bahawa beliau semakin lemah. Sejurus sebelum beliau meninggal dunia, beliau memberitahu Sister Eunice bahawa beliau sudah bersedia.

Kematiannya yang tenang merupakan kesaksian kerahiman Tuhan dan kepercayaannya kepada Tuhan Yesus hingga ke detik terakhir,” kata Uskup Agung.

“Kehebatan kehidupan seseorang itu tidak diukur oleh jumlah tahun yang dia jalani di bumi mahupun pencapaian dan

harta miliknya. Sebaliknya, ia diukur oleh kedalaman kasih seseorang itu untuk orang lain – kerana kita hidup menurut amalan bukan menurut tahun, menurut fikiran bukan menurut nafas, menurut perasaan bukan perangkaan,” kata Father Matthews Olili, MHM, wakil Perkumpulan Mubaligh Mill Hill di Sarawak dalam kenyataannya yang ringkas sebelum upacara pengebumian.

“Beliau menyentuh banyak hati: jemaat dari Serian, St Ann Padawan, Kanowit, Bintangor, Stutong dan pusat ‘Home of Peace’,” katanya.

Bagi pihak anggota keluarga dan Perkumpulan Mubaligh Mill Hill, Fr Olili mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua yang telah menyokong, mengiringi dan menjaga Fr Meehan ketika beliau uzur.

Selepas Misa, anggota paroki menyertai uskup dan paderi dalam perarakan singkat ke tanah perkuburan yang bersebelahan dengan katedral untuk upacara pengebumian. bersambung di ms27

Kaunseling Krisis Kehamilan Kumpulan Pro-Life menyediakan: + Kaunseling Krisis Kehamilan - Secara peribadi atau melalui telefon - Sulit dan rahsia + Maklumat berkenaan kehamilan dan jahat pengguguran + Tempat berteduh + Sokongan satu dengan satu semasa dan selepas kehamilan + Bantu mengatur pengambilan anak angkat sebagai satu alternatif kepada pengguguran Hubungan kami Telefon: 082-413454

E-mel: kprolife@gmail.com

Atau datang ke Pejabat Pro-Life: Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre, 1st Floor, Lot 2500, Jalan Stampin, 93350 Kuching Laman web: http://www.prolifegroupkuching.org

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Belia Kuching hadiri Jamboree Nasional SEKAMI 2018

(Dari kiri) Maria Amella, Uskup Agung Simon Poh, Rachel Remus dan Danny Veno di Jamboree Nasional SEKAMI

PONTIANAK — Pada 3-7 Julai lalu, tiga orang belia telah mewakili Keuskupan Agung Kuching untuk hadir sebagai peninjau program Jamboree Nasional Serikat Kepausan Anak Misioner Indonesia (JAMNAS SEKAMI 2018) yang diadakan di Pontianak, Indonesia.

Danny Veno mewakili kumpulan Pelajar Kristian Belia Kuching (KYCS), Rachel Remus mewakili Kumpulan Belia Chapel Bonda Maria Stutong, dan Maria Amella mewakili Komisi Belia Kuching.

Turut hadir sama adalah Bapa Uskup Agung Kuching, Simon Poh.

Program ini diselenggarakan sempena ulang tahun ke-175 SEKAMI. Ia juga merupakan peluang bagi menyatukan anak-anak remaja dan pendamping SEKAMI se-Indonesia dengan tema ‘Berbagi Sukacita Injil Dalam Kebinekaan’.

Acara pembukaan dimeriahkan dengan persembahan pancaragam dan juga tarian pelangi nusantara yang melibatkan seramai 175 orang anak remaja dari Keuskupan Agung Pontianak.

Misa pembukaan diadakan di Katedral St Yosef Pontianak yang diraikan oleh Bapa Uskup Agung

“Dari saat kami tiba dan menjejak kaki di Pontinak sehinggalah hari terakhir, layanan yang diberikan sangat baik. Keramahan mereka membuatkan kami rasa sangat dialu-alukan di tanah air mereka. Saya kagum dengan kreativiti animator dalam berkongsi cara mengajar anak-anak tentang pengetahuan Al-Kitab, seperti menggunakan boneka mainan (puppet) dan membuat permainan kad. Hubungan yang terjalin antara anak-anak yang mengikuti program ini amat menyenangkan hati. Saya rasa sangat kagum melihat anak-anak dari seluruh Indonesia, tidak kira warna kulit atau bangsa yang berlainan, datang bersama untuk meraikan peristiwa penting ini. Panitia, pendamping rohani dan angle turut banyak membantu kami selama menyertai program ini. Sesungguhnya Tuhan hadir di antara kita.” – Rachel Remus (Chapel Bonda Maria, Stutong)

Deligasi dari Kuching mengambil gambar kenangan bersama belia Kumpulan Lidwina, Kampung Nazareth, Indonesia

Pontianak iaitu Msgr Agustinus Agus. Beliau turut mengucapkan selamat datang kepada semua yang menghadirkan diri dalam jamboree ini.

Pada hari kedua, peserta berkesempatan untuk mendengar ideaidea animator dari pelbagai keuskupan di Indonesia untuk menggalakkan anak remaja membaca Al-Kitab serta menjadi misioner di usia muda bagi menyebarkan Berita Baik dalam keberagaman budaya dan bangsa.

Antara yang menarik dari idea-idea tersebut seperti menggunakan boneka mainan, membuat teka silang dan bercerita melalui lukisan.

Hari ketiga diteruskan dengan program ‘Dialog Bersama Bapa Uskup’, di mana anak remaja dan animator diberi peluang untuk bertanya soalan langsung kepada Bapa Uskup sendiri. Acara ini mendapat sambutan yang amat baik dari peserta program.

Pada hari ke-empat, Misa penutupan JAMNAS SEKAMI 2018 diakhiri dengan upacara melafaz ikrar komitmen peserta JAMNAS SEKAMI 2018.

Maria Amella

“Jamboree Nasional SEKAMI 2018 merupakan salah satu program yang saya akan kenang sampai bila-bila. Saya telah mempelajari pelbagai ilmu yang berguna serta bernas khasnya sesi bagi animator, perkongsian dan dialog yang telah diadakan. Saya rasa bertuah kerana dapat menghadiri program ini serta merasakan bahawa Indonesia adalah negara yang terdiri daripada pelbagai bangsa namun tetap bersatu teguh sebagai umat Katolik. Melalui kerjasama pelbagai pihak seperti panitia, pendamping rohani dan angle, program dilihat berjalan dengan lancar dan berjaya.” – Danny Veno Leslie (KYCS)

Penutupan Perayaan Gawai Dayak 2018 di Paroki St Theresa SERIAN — Penduduk Kampung Ampungan yang terletak kira-kira 10 kilometer dari Gereja St Theresa amat gembira menyambut tetamu dari jauh dan dekat untuk memeriahkan acara penutupan Perayaan Gawai Dayak 2018 pada malam 7 Julai lepas.

Turut hadir di majlis itu adalah Uskup Agung Kuching, Simon Poh, Rektor Father Paul Herry, Father Arokyaraj, CMF, Father Pratap, CMF, Father Francis Daku dari Seminari St Peter, Kuching, dan enam orang seminarian.

Rektor Fr Paul Herry dan Fr Raj menerima kejutan apabila hadirin meraikan ulang tahun pentahbisan kepaderian masing-masing yang ke-15 dan ke-16.

Perayaan Gawai 2018 dilancarkan pada 19 Mei lalu di Kampung Kerangan Jaya, sebuah kampung masyarakat

Iban.

Pengerusi Zon Bung Mako Gilbert Guan memberitahu perayaan itu dimulakan oleh Zon Bung Mako dan dianjurkan oleh masyarakat Bidayuh dari Kampung Ampungan.

Zon Bung Mako merupakan satu daripada 10 zon dalam Paroki Serian dengan lapan buah kampung yang dilancarkan pada awal 2016 oleh Fr Paul Herry untuk membantu dalam usaha pembangunan dan aktiviti kerohanian di paroki tersebut selain untuk mempertingkatkan lagi hubungan dan komunikasi dengan anggota paroki pada peringkat akar umbi.

Misa Kesyukuran, yang dipenuhi kongregasi, dirayakan oleh Uskup Agung Simon Poh bersama Fr Paul Herry, Fr Raj, Fr Pratap dan Fr Francis Dakun.

Dalam homili beliau, Uskup Agung menggesa semua keluarga Kristian untuk

KESUDAHAN YANG SEMPURNA: (Dari kedua kiri) James Lingai selaku Ketua Kaum Kampung Ampungan, Gilbert Guan selaku Pengerusi Zon Bung Mako, Uskup Agung Simon Poh, Fr Raj dan Rektor Fr Paul Herry menyertai acara simbolik menggulung tikar. memiliki Al-Kitab atau buku- maklumat di dalamnya dan buku tentang Al-Kitab di rumah, mendidik generasi muda, bukan untuk ditunjuk-tunjuk terutamanya kanak-kanak. tetapi untuk membahagikan “Ini adalah supaya pesanan

dari Al-Kitab dapat melindungi mereka daripada menuju ke arah yang salah apabila mereka meninggalkan rumah untuk melanjutkan pengajian atau menjalani kehidupan baharu di tempat lain di dunia,” katanya.

Selepas Misa, hadirin bergerak ke dewan masyarakat untuk majlis penutupan Gawai.

“Benda upacara berdoa” dipamerkan di bahagian tengah dewan yang dikelilingi orang ramai.

Pengacara majlis menjelaskan makna sebenar Gawai dan benda yang dipamerkan sebelum dia menjemput tetamu untuk mengambil bahagian dalam tarian tradisional mengelilinginya.

Perayaan berakhir dengan acara simbolik menggulung tikar.

Joseph Then (Terjemahan)

TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

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Perayan gilang-gemilang di Paroki St Ann

RUMAH TUHAN BAHARU … Gereja St Ann baharu yang dipenuhi umat sempena Misa Pembukaan dan Dedikasi, 26 Julai KOTA PADAWAN — Paroki St Ann, Kota Padawan, melengkapkan siri perayaan selama empat hari dengan Misa Hari Perayaan St Ann yang dipimpin oleh Uskup Agung Kuching Simon Poh pada 29 Julai lepas.

Perayaan selama empat hari itu merupakan kemuncak bagi persiapan selama berbulanbulan untuk memanjatkan kesyukuran kepada Tuhan di atas keberkatan “4-dalam-1” yang berlaku sekali dalam seumur hidup ini.

Ia bermula dengan Pembukaan dan Dedikasi Gereja St Ann yang siap barubaru ini (26 Julai), pentahbisan kepaderian Friar David Au OFM (27 Julai), Majlis Makan Malam Kesyukuran Jubili Emas Paroki (malam 27 Julai) dan Sambutan Hari Perayaan (hujung minggu 28-29 Julai).

Pembukaan dan dedikasi Gereja St Ann yang baharu bermula pada jam 6.30 petang Khamis, 26 Julai. Selepas pembinaan dimulakan 46 bulan sebelum itu, gereja tersebut dikonsekrasikan secara rasmi oleh Uskup Agung Simon Poh dalam

satu perayaan Ekaristi yang diselubungi kegembiraan.

Turut hadir Uskup Agung Joseph Marino (Nunsio Apostolik ke Malaysia), Uskup-uskup Agung Emeritus John Ha dan Peter Chung, Friar Phillip Miscamble OFM (Minister Wilayah Fransiskan Roh Kudus) dan Friar John Wong OFM (Kustos bagi Penjagaan Fransiskan di Singapura-Malaysia-Brunei), yang menjadikan liturgi lebih istimewa lagi.

Altar dan 12 tiang gereja diurapi dengan minyak krisma suci dan didupai, yang melambangkan dedikasi gereja itu sepenuhnya sebagai tempat ibadat yang suci kepada Allah Maha Tinggi.

Friar David Au OFM dikonsekrasikan dan ditahbis sebagai paderi pada keesokan pagi. Walaupun hari itu hari bekerja, gereja penuh dengan jemaat yang datang dari dekat dan jauh.

Ia ternyata hari yang istimewa bagi paroki ini kerana ini merupakan pentahbisan pertama seorang anak tempatan di gereja baharu itu, dan kedua dalam keluarga Friar David

PENTAHBISAN … Diakon Friar David Au bersujud sambil semua umat memanjatkan doa untuk beliau semasa Misa Pentahbisan, 27 Julai

sendiri.

Abangnya, Father Felix Au, kini menabur bakti di Gereja Blessed Sacrament sebagai Rektor.

Friar David menyertai Friar Gerard Victor, Friar William Lee dan Friar Don Don Ramerez untuk melayani jemaat St Ann. Dengan begitu banyak sebab untuk rasa syukur kepada Tuhan, majlis makan malam kesyukuran yang indah dan ceria diadakan di sebuah restoran tempatan pada malam 27 Julai.

Perayaan itu menandakan ulang tahun ke-50 penubuhan St Ann sebagai sebuah paroki.

Pada awal minggu itu, Father James Meehan, yang berkhidmat sebagai rektor di sana dari 1971 hingga 1986, kembali kepada Tuhan, selepas mengabadikan seluruh kehidupannya sebagai seorang paderi dan mubaligh yang setia kepada rakyat Sarawak.

Rahmat Allah dan kerjasama semua orang (paderi dan jemaat awam), yang telah berusaha dengan gigih dan tekun untuk membangunkan tubuh Kristus di Batu 10, menjadikan majlis makan malam kesyukuran ini

lebih bermakna lagi.

Puluhan gerai memenuhi persekitaran St Ann pada hujung minggu 28- 29 Julai lepas, dan suasana perayaan memeriahkan keadaan di paroki itu.

Jualan Tahunan yang diadakan pada Hari Perayaan St Ann dan Joachim ternyata begitu berjaya sekali kerana hampir 90 pemilik gerai datang dari pelbagai kampung dan taman perumahan dalam paroki itu untuk menawarkan pelbagai barang jualan seperti hasil hutan, daging panggang, beras, kek, pencuci mulut, buku, baju terpakai dan malah pokok buahbuahan.

Perayaan itu, yang turut memaparkan sebuah kumpulan muzik yang membuat persembahan secara langsung selain pelbagai aktiviti untuk golongan muda, bermula pada pagi Sabtu dan berlarutan sehingga ke malam, untuk memberikan suasana ‘pasar malam’ yang indah kepada seluruh acara.

Keseronokan dan kesyukuran diteruskan pada keesokan pagi dan berakhir pada petang Ahad dengan cabutan tiket bertuah untuk hadiah utama iaitu sebuah

kereta Perodua Bezza.

Friar Gerard Victor OFM, Rektor Paroki, berkata: “Saya begitu terharu sekali dengan sokongan dan kasih sayang jemaat St Ann. Perayaan yang diadakan sesungguhnya satu cara yang amat bagus sekali untuk memanjatkan kesyukurn kepada Allah di atas kesetiaanNya dalam usaha membangunkan jemaatNya di Kota Padawan sejak 50 tahun yang lalu. Saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua orang, daripada Majlis Pastoral Paroki dan Jawatankuasa Penganjur hingga kepada setiap umat yang telah menyumbang masa, bakat dan tenaga mereka untuk menjayakan perayaan bersejarah ini.

Selama 13 tahun saya berkhidmat di paroki ini, saya telah menyaksikan banyak keajaiban, dan ini ternyata salah satu daripadanya.

Tanpa ragu-ragu saya boleh menyatakan dengen berani: Betapa berkuasanya penaung yang kita miliki dalam St Ann! Terima kasih, St Ann, kerana mendoakan kami! Puji Tuhan!” — Sumbangan

Selamat Jalan, Fr James Meehan, MHM Beliau menyentuh banyak hati: jemaat dari Serian, St Ann Padawan, Kanowit, Bintangor, Stutong dan pusat ‘Home of Peace’. — Fr Mathews Olili, MHM

• Bersambung dari ms25 Fr James Meehan dilahirkan di Bailleston dalam Keuskupan Glasgow, Scotland, pada 27 November 1933, anak keempat di antara 10 orang anak.

Beliau mempunyai tujuh orang adik beradik perempuan dan dua adik beradik lelaki. Bapanya, juga bernama James dan seorang pekerja buruh, mendirikan rumahtangga bersama Catherina (nama asal sebelum kahwin adalah Kelly).

Dari 1947 hingga 1951, James menerima pendidikan menengah di Lochwinnoch dan di Burn Hall, di mana beliau memperolehi sijil A-Levels.

Beliau seterusnya melanjutkan pelajaran dalam bidang Falsafah di Roosendaal dan seterusnya beliau pergi ke Mill Hill, London, untuk pengajian

Teologi.

Pada 7 Mei 1958, beliau melafazkan Kaul Kekal dan ditahbis menjadi paderi pada 12 Julai 1959 oleh Kardinal Godfrey. Pada tahun itu juga beliau pergi ke Kuching.

Fr James berkhidmat selama tiga tahun di Kanowit sebelum beliau dipindahkan ke misi di Serian. Di sana beliau berkhidmat sebagai penolong paderi dan pada waktu yang sama menjadi guru besar sekolah rendah.

Khidmat beliau di sana diganggu selama setahun apabila beliau bekerja di Binatang (sekarang Bintangor).

Pada 1971, Fr James dilantik untuk menjadi paderi paroki di Paroki St Ann, Padawan.

Pada 1979, beliau menyertai kursus

pembaharuannya di Institut Pastoral Asia Timur di Manila.

Beliau kembali ke Serian pada 1986 untuk menjadi rektor di paroki di sana.

Beliau melepaskan jawatan selaku rektor untuk memberi peluang kepada paderi tempatan yang lebih muda menerajui kepimpinan, sementara beliau sendiri menjadi penolong.

Pada 1987, beliau menyertai seminar pembaharuan keduanya di Institut Mubaligh London.

Fr James fasih bercakap dalam bahasa-bahasa Iban, Bidayuh dan Hakka.

Pada 2009, beliau menjalani pembedahan pintasan jantung dan pembedahan penggantian injap jantung.

Pada 2012 beliau bersara daripada pelayanan kepaderian yang aktif

disebabkan oleh keadaan kesihatan yang semakin merosot.

Beliau menghabiskan waktu persaraannya di pusat ‘Mother Mary Home of Retired Priest’ di Stutong sebelum beliau dipindahkan ke pusat ‘Home of Peace’ pada 2017 untuk mendapatkan penjagaan peribadi yang beliau perlukan.

Kesihatannya merosot perlahanlahan dalam tempoh tiga bulan terakhir dalam hidupnya, dan dalam masa tiga minggu terakhir, beliau keluar masuk ke unit rawatan rapi.

Beliau meninggal dunia dengan tenang pada 23 Julai ketika berusia 85 tahun.

Audrey Yu (Terjemahan)

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TODAY’S CATHOLIC AUGUST 2018

Pope Francis memutuskan untuk mengemaskinikan Katekisme Gereja: “Hukuman mati tidak boleh diterima” VATIKAN — Sekarang, dalam semua keadaan, Gereja menegaskan: “Hukuman mati tidak boleh diterima.”

Pope Francis, dalam perjumpaan rasmi yang diberikan pada 11 Mei lalu, kepada Pengawas Kongregasi bagi Doktrin Kepercayaan, Kardinal Luis Ladaria, meluluskan teks baharu seperti berikut bagi n. 2267 dalam Katekisme Gereja Katolik, dan mengatur agar ia diterjemahkan ke dalam pelbagai bahasa dan dimasukkan ke dalam semua edisi Katekisme seperti yang disebut sebelum ini.

“Formulasi baharu bagi nombor 2267 dalam Katekisme Gereja Katolik”, katanya, “ingin memberi tenaga kepada satu pergerakan ke arah komitmen yang penting untuk menyokong mentaliti yang mengiktiraf maruah setiap nyawa manysia dan, dalam dialog yang hormat dengan pihak berkuasa sivil, untuk menggalakkan kewujudan keadaan yang membolehkan penghapusan hukuman mati di mana ia masih berkuatkuasa.”

Berikutan pindaan ini, Pope Francis, dalam satu perjumpaan rasmi

dengan Setiausaha Kongregasi bagi Doktrin Kepercayaan, pada 28 Jun lalu, meluluskan surat itu sekarang, yang diluluskan dalam Sesi Biasa Kongregasi ini pada 13 Jun lalu, dan mengarahkan penerbitannya.

Surat Kardinal Ladaria kepada semua uskup telah dihantar dari Pejabat Kongregasi bagi Doktrin Kepercayaan pad 1 Ogos lepas, Hari Peringatan bagi Saint Alphonsus Liguori.

Di sini adalah terjemahan Inggeris yang disediakan oleh Vatikan bagi teks pindaan tersebut, serta surat yang dihantar oleh Kardinal Ladaria dari Kongregasi bagi Doktrin Kepercayaan kepada semua uskup: *** Hukuman mati 2267. Pelaksanaan hukuman mati oleh pihak berkuasa yang sah, selepas perbicaraan yang adil, sudah lama

dianggap sebagai tindakan yang sewajarnya kepada keseriusan jenayah tertentu dan satu kaedah yang diterima, walaupun kejam, untuk melindungi kebaikan umum.

Bagaimanapun, pada hari ini, kesedaran semakin meningkat bahawa maruah seseorang itu tidak hilang walaupun selepas dia melakukan jenayah yang sangat serius. Selain itu, fahaman baharu sudah muncul tentang makna hukuman mati yang dikenakan oleh kerajaan. Akhir sekali, sistem tahanan yang lebih berkesan sudah diusahakan, yang memastikan pelindungan yang sewajarnya bagi warga negara tetapi, pada waktu yang sama, tidak menafikan secara mutlak kemungkinan bagi penebusan untuk orang bersalah.

Akibatnya, Gereja mengajar, di bawah cahaya Injil, “hukuman mati tidak boleh diterima kerana ia adalah satu serangan ke atas maruah dan sifat manusia yang tidak boleh dicabul,” dan ia bekerja dengan keazaman untuk memansuhkannya di seluruh dunia.

Zenit (Terjemahan)

Penyembahan kekayaan, Umat Kristian di India peringati kecantikan menuntut pengorbanan Hari Kemartiran yang mahal, kata Pope Francis KOTA VATIKAN — Penyembahan berhala merupakan satu kecenderungan manusia yang tidak membezakan di antara orang percaya mahukan orang yang tidak percaya kepada kewujudan Tuhan, selain menafikan kehidupan dan kasih sayang bagi manusia sebagai balasan bagi perhambaan kepada impian yang tidak dipenuhi, kata Pope Francis.

Walaupun kekayaan, kemasyhuran, kecantikan dan kuasa adalah berbeza daripada berhala-berhala pada zaman purba, semua mereka memerlukan “korban manusia”, kata paus itu pada 1 Ogos lepas sewaktu perhimpunan umum mingguannya.

“Demi karier, anak-anak dikorbankan dengan mengabaikan mereka atau langsung tidak melahirkan mereka,” katanya.

“Kecantikan menuntut korban manusia. Berapa jamkah dihabiskan di hadapan cermin?”

“Berhala menuntut darah,” kata Pope Francis.

Selepas waktu rehat selama sebulan pada musim panas dan ketika suhu di Kota Abadi hampir mencecah 35 darjah Celsius, paus menyambung perhimpunannya di dalam dewan perhimpunan Paul VI yang berhawa dingin.

Kembali kepada siri ceramah perhimpunan mengenai Sepuluh Suruhan, Francis memberi tumpuan khusus kepada suruhan “Jangan menyembah berhala lain selain Aku”.

Umat Kristian, seperti orang lain,

boleh menjadi mangsa kepada “pasar raya berhala” di dunia, bergantung kepada barangan duniawi dan tidak kepada barangan rohani yang ditawarkan oleh Allah menerusi doa, kata paus itu.

Francis yang mengetepikan teks yang disediakan, menceritakan bagaimana beliau berjalan dekat sebuah taman di negara asalnya Argentina dan melihat mungkin 50 buah meja yang disediakan untuk orang yang ingin tahu tentang nasib mereka menerusi bacaan kad tarot.

“Mereka pergi ke sana untuk ‘berdoa’ kepada berhala mereka,” kata paus itu.

Daripada berdoa kepada Allah, orang mahu kad mereka dibaca dan masa depan mereka diramalkan. “Ini adalah satu penyembahan berhala!”

Lama-kelamaan, kata paus itu, berhala seseorang itu bertukar menjadi “ketaksuban dan obsesi” yang mempunyai kuasa untuk memperhambakan kita.

Sementara berhala seakan-akan menjanjikan kehidupan, beliau berkata, “dalam realiti ia merampas kehidupan.

Allah yang benar tidak meminta kehidupan sebaliknya memberikan kehidupan. Allah yang benar tidak memberi imbasan kejayaan kita sebalikya mengajar kita untuk mengasihi. Allah yang benar tidak meminta anak-anak kita sebaliknya memberi AnakNya kepada kita.”

Francis berkata “langkah pertama di jalan kasih” ialah untuk mengenali penyembahan berhala pada diri kita sendiri kerana “untuk benar-benar mengasihi, kita mesti bebas daipada berhala”. — CNS (Terjemahan)

INDIA — Umat Kristian dari pelbagai mazhab di seluruh India memperingati orang Kristian yang dibunuh kerana kepercayaan mereka dengan doa-doa pada 22 Julai lepas.

Kumpulan Kristian, kebanyakannya dari mazhab-mazhab Pentekosta dan Protestan, memperingati Hari Kemartiran Kristian India dan berdoa untuk mereka yang kebanyakannya dibunuh oleh pelampau Hindu.

“Sekurang-kurangnya 10 orang Kristian sudah dibunuh sejak tiga tahun lalu di tengah-tengah penindasan yang berterusan,” kata Shibu Thomas, pengasas ‘Persecution Relief’, sebuah forum ekumeni yang memulakan acara itu pada tahun lepas.

Acara ini bertujuan untuk berdoa bagi mereka yang dibunuh dan mendorong umat Kristian untuk menghidupkan kepercayaan mereka, kata Thomas.

Di antara mereka yang dibunuh adalah seorang gadis sekolah berusia 14 tahun di negeri Chhattisgarh, bahagian tengah India, yang turut dirogol.

“Gadis itu diserang kerana keluarganya enggan meninggalkan kepercayaan Kristian mereka,” kata

Thomas kepada ucanews.com.

Tiga tahun lalu, Sonawati Dhan melihat suaminya dan pastor tempatan Chamu Hasda Purty ditembak mati di hadapannya. Empat orang anaknya turut menyaksikan pembunuhan itu.

Dhan berkata memperingati hari itu “adalah satu galakan” bagi “kerja saya yang berterusan untuk mewartakan (firman) Allah” di negeri Jharkhand.

Hari Kemartiran Kristian bermula pada tahun lepas kerana bimbang mengenai keganasan yang semakin meningkat ke atas orang Kristian di seluruh negara.

Pemimpin Kristian berkata ini berlaku sejak Parti Bharatiya Janata (BJP) yang pro-Hindu memegang kuasa di New Delhi empat tahun lalu.

Thomas berkata organisasi beliau merekodkan 508 insiden serangan ke atas orang Kristian dari Januari hingga Jun tahun ini setakat ini.

Yayasannya merekodkan 732 insiden sedemikian pada 2017, meningkat dua kali ganda jumlah insiden keganasan yang berlaku ke atas orang Kristian setahun sebelum itu.

UCANEWS (Terjemahan)

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