april 22, 2012, vol 62, no 08

w w w . c a t h o l i c n e w s . s g

SINGAPORE 50 CENTS / WEST MALAYSIA RM$1.20 MICA (P) 043 / 01 / 2012 PPS 201/04/2013 (022940) VOL 62 NO. 8SUNDAY APRIL 22, 2012

HOMEBuilding youth communities Young Catholics learn from Acts of the Apostles� Page 2

HOMECreating NCCs New parish grapples with challenges� Page 3

ASIAMore illegitimate ordinations Six priests illicitly ordained in China� 0

WORLDAssessing Catholic-school identityUS foundation initiates programme� Page 11

WORLDCombining faith and businessVatican-issued book gives some tips� Page 13

WORLDDissent in ChurchPope criticises disobedience to Church teaching� Page 15

INSIDEChurch leaders, media hail Suu Kyi’s victoryVATICAN CITY – Church leaders and Catholic media have hailed the sweeping victory of Ms Aung San Suu Kyi’s party in Myanmar’s by-election, but cautioned against expecting too much too quickly.

News of the pro-democracy icon’s win made it to the front �� newspaper L’Osservatore Roma-no on April 3.

A news story headlined The Seat of Hope reported on the suc-cess of the National League for Democracy (NLD) leader in the �� vote to be held in Myanmar in more than 20 years.

“The result of the vote should �� -��the Vatican newspaper, comment-ing on the possible lifting of Unit-ed States and European Union sanctions against Myanmar.

“According to analysts, the ef-fects of the return of Aung San Suu Kyi to Parliament and of the vic-tory of her party will be numerous �� Romano noted, adding as a caveat that this will happen only if “for-�� !

Vatican Radio hailed the vote ��" �� "��-��#��!

Fr Massimo Cenci, under-secretary of the Vatican’s Con-gregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, praised the country’s "��$�� merit to the NLD leader.

“Suu Kyi has stirred the peo-ple’s longing not only for democ-racy, but for involvement in what happens in their country from the �� %�� &�� '�� Missions priest told ucanews.com.

Nevertheless, he cautioned ��$��*��"�� +�“We still need to wait and see. But

‘If the opening up of the country picks

up steam, the Church �� terms of freedom.’

– Fr Massimo Cenci, Vatican’s Congregtion for

the Evangelisation of Peoples

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi waves to supporters as she leaves her National League for �� CNS photo

what happened this weekend is ex-�� #�� !�

He said the Vatican and the Catholic Church are following the situation closely.

“We are very interested in the developments. There are still sig-� �� /��-tivity there. But if the opening up of the country picks up steam, the /�� !�

Archbishop Paul Zingtung Grawng of Mandalay said he was happy about the election results.

“Everybody knew what the outcome would be if elections were free and fair as prom- �� /�� AsiaNews quoted him as saying.

He added that the Church can help lay “the foundations of a �� -eas like “health care and educa- �� "1�� 4�� 4�� 5� �

has called on everybody, religious and ethnic minorities included, to contribute actively in building the ��!

Bishop Francis Daw Tang of Myitkyina, in the northern state of Kachin, was quoted as saying, "&�� will join parliament can work for

the good of the country and that ��5�� !

“This vote can be opportunity �� said.

A Myanmar priest Cathol-icNews contacted said Ms Suu Kyi’s win could mean “more free-dom for the Catholic Church in #��!

“Up to now, [the Church is] � �� adding that the bishops of Myan-mar met up with Ms Suu Kyi last December after the Yangon cathe-dral’s centenary celebrations.

However, the priest also not-ed that the NLD had won only a few seats in parliament. As to the eventual impact that will have on Myanmar society, “we have to �� !�� UCANEWS.COM

� Page 8: The Church and Myanmar’s progress

2 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews22 HOME

ARCHBISHOP’S DIARYApr 15 5.30pm Church of Divine Mercy:

Mass – Feast of the Divine MercyApr 20 6.00pm SJI International: Mass –

Thanksgiving – Lasallian FamilyApr 21 5.30pm Church of St Mary of the Angels:

#��9�/�� Apr 22 10.00am Cathedral of the Good Shepherd:

Mass – Pope’s 7th Anniversary 3.00pm Church of St Ignatius: Mass

– Founder’s Day – National Council of the Society of St Vincent De Paul

Apr 28 6.00pm Church of St Ignatius: Mass – Ordination to the Priesthood of Augustinus SJ

Young Catholics from various par-ishes learnt what it takes to build up a dynamic youth community by focusing on six important “pillars”.

Some 100 young people at-tended the Building Youth Com-munities Workshop organised by the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre (CAYC) and Church of St Francis Xavier Youth Community from March 23-25.

During the stay-in programme, held at the Church of St Francis Xavier (SFX), participants learnt how prayer and worship, evange-lisation and mission, community living, discipleship, sacraments and scripture are the pillars of community building.

These concepts are taken from Acts 2:42-47, according to the or-ganisers.

CAYC youth ministry co-ordinator Edwyn DeSouza told CatholicNews that these pillars “help us to form our identity in the Father” and not from the activities that people engage in.

">�� from our discipleship, we are

called to serve,” he said. “Jesus called the disciples to be with Him before He sent them out” to per-form service, he added.

Two young adults who are active in their communities also shared their experiences during the workshop.

One said it was important to be able to deepen one’s experi-ence of God and one’s Catholic identity after RCIA. Being part of a community has helped her to grow in these areas, she said.

Another shared that commu-nity contributed to one’s sense of belonging and growth in disci-pleship through journeying with committed, like-minded people.

Participants also had the op-portunity to see how BASIC, Youth Vineyard and Cornerstone, three of seven youth communities from the Church of St Francis Xa-vier, conducted their meetings.

According to one participant who attended the BASIC group’s meeting, the session centred on the Word of God with the youths giving personal sharings on how

the past week had been for them and how the season of Lent was helping them to grow spiritually.

“The youths were not afraid to share areas of weakness,” recalled the participant. “There was an environment of trust and prayer which are essential

components in community.” According to Mr DeSouza, the

CAYC and SFX youth communi-ties decided to hold this workshop as both share the same vision.

Most of the sessions were fa-cilitated by leaders of the SFX communities.

Participants came from the Holy Family, Immaculate Heart of Mary, St Bernadette, St Teresa and St Francis of Assisi parishes.

One participant, Mr Gerald Bryan Tan, 24, said that the work-shop taught him how important it was to “build up true and authentic relationships centred on Christ”.

“I came to realise myself, coming from a background of ser-vice in ministry, that though it is very important to get things done, it is just as or even more important to focus on building up the com-munity that serves as disciples of Christ,” he said. �

‘I realise that though it is

very important to get things done,

it is just as important

to build up the community.’Mr Gerald Bryan Tan,

a participant

Young people learn about communitybuilding Workshop focuses on practices in Acts of the Apostles

Above: Participants of the Building Youth Communities Workshop pose for a photo.

Left: A healing session with the Blessed Sacrament.

3Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews HOME

By Martin See

The two-year-old Church of Di-vine Mercy in Pasir Ris is now conducting a parish mission to build up the Catholic community in the area.

Since January, eight to 10 Re-demptorists, together with priests of the parish, Fr Johnson Fernan-dez and Fr Ignatius Yeo, have been visiting families from Mon-days to Thursdays.

“When building the physical church, the parish council decided to also build the Christian com-munity living in Pasir Ris,” said Fr Fernandez.

Each priest or Religious ?�� at a time. Parishioners are also asked if they would be interested to start Neighbourhood Christian Communities (NCC).

Families are then invited to at-tend a group Mass that Friday, in which they share their views with one another, facilitated by the priest or Brother who had visited them earlier in the week.

The parish mission has so far reached out to 1,400 families and several hundred more are expected to be visited before the programme concludes at the end of May, said Fr Fernandez.

Responses to NCCs have been varied among the parishioners, �� @Q?�*�� -iums and private housing.

“It’s hard to get people to-gether especially with our busy schedules of work and family,” said Mrs Geraldine Mak, when the team visited her family.

“I would consider being in an NCC,” Ms Lilian Chan told Cathol-icNews after the visit. “However now is not a good time for me be-cause I have too many commitments with two young kids, full-time work and also being part of the children’s

liturgy in church.”Ms Charlotte Stephen, on the

other hand, said her family “ex-changed contact details with an-other family in the hope of start-ing an NCC”.

“They also have kids around the same age group as mine, so �� !�>��like to know this family socially �� $� �� start praying together,” said Ms Stephen, who has two young sons.

“We need someone to lead if we were to start an NCC,” another

parishioner, Mr Johnathan Wong, shared. “There have to be guidelines and structure on what we are to do.”

During a group discussion on March 30, many echoed parish-ioner Susan Peh’s view that “a parish is about community and not just a building for worship”.

Redemptorist Fr Glenn de Cruz also suggested the possibil-ity of building small Christian communities, based on common interests, in addition to NCCs.

A Preach Mission Week, scheduled for April 9-15, has also

been planned as part of the parish mission. Masses are celebrated with a special theme, such as One in Unity in the Family, and One in the Church.

“There are going to be several follow-ups after the parish mis-sion,” said Fr Fernandez. “Our Parish Pastoral Council will be collating the comments and needs that our parishioners shared with us, and we will look at addressing those needs.” �

[email protected]

New parish tries to start NCCsVaried responses emerge as Divine Mercy Church conducts parish mission

Left: Redemptorist Fr Glenn de Cruz speaking to a family during a home visit. Right: Fr Peter Wee (left) prays with a resident and her friends.

‘It’s hard to get people together especially with our busy schedules

of work and family.’– Mrs Geraldine Mak


By Martin See

The old and dilapidated Maris Stella Convent, which houses the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) Sisters in Holland Road, will be demolished and a new one built in its place.

“The convent we live in is over a century old and has severe ter-mite infestation which runs deep into the soil,” FMM Sr Marjorie Almodiel told CatholicNews.

“Our roofs leak badly and there is extensive damage to the roof beams and infrastructure. It is no longer safe to live there,” she said.

The old convent will be torn down and rebuilt at the current site at an estimated cost of $4.5 million. Fundraising efforts are now underway and the nuns hope to move into the new building by next Easter.

“The new convent has to be elderly-friendly and low-mainte-nance” as the average age of the 20 nuns who live here is 70, said Sr Marjorie, chairperson of the fundraising committee.

The new two-storey building will come equipped with a lift, �� *�� -ated access for those with walking � ��

can accommodate six nuns. The new convent will also re-

_� �� with housing regulatory stand-ards.

According to FMM Sr Sabina Fernandez, the nuns bought the building from English expatriates around October 1953.

>�� 4 �� in Singapore in May 1953, they stayed with the Infant Jesus Sis-ters temporarily, she added.

The present Maris Stella Convent at Holland Road.

The new convent has to be elderly friendly as the average age

of the nuns who live here is 70.

– Sr Marjorie Almodiel, chairperson of

fund raising committee

FMM nuns to rebuild convent100-year-old building plagued by termites and leaky roofs

The late Bishop Michael Ol-comendy and a Fr Duquet helped them obtain their current Holland Road premises.

There are a total of 30 FMM Sisters in Singapore at present.

In their 59 years in Singapore, the nuns set up Maris Stella Kindergarten, Hai Sing Catholic School, Poverello Teen Centre for young people to develop their skills, Apex Day Rehabilitation Centre for the

Elderly, the Filodep programme for Filipino domestic workers, and the Madonna soup kitchen that provides food to construction workers.

Apart from the Holland Road convent, the area is also home to the FMM House of Prayer and Formation; the Atelier workroom, which makes priests’ vestments throughout Singapore; Maris

Stella Kindergarten and Filodep.Fundraising efforts include

a food and fun fair at the FMM premises at 49D Holland Road on April 28, and a gala dinner at the Shangri-la Hotel on Aug 2. For more information, contact Sr Marjorie (6273 4510) or Janice (9060 0789). �

[email protected]

Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews 5Advertisement


By Rachel Tan

Easter eggs were probably the last thing on the minds of 40 paint-splattered churchgoers working hard on their artwork during Holy Week.

Each had a sheet of paper pinned on the wall in front of him or her, and had spent the time be-tween Maundy Thursday evening and the end of Easter Sunday in a contemplative yet colourful re-treat.

For most, the Holy Week Art-fully Lived retreat, held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels, �� -ed a brush in decades.

Yet, they poured much effort into their creations. Each partici-pant, even the children, averaged four to six pieces of work during the retreat and they ranged from the simple to the dramatic, from the monochromatic to the cheery.

Participants were free to choose their own subjects even though it was clear that the con-templation gravitated towards the Easter celebrations.

Said Franciscan Friar John Quigley, who conducted the re-treat: “With spiritual art, your work generates an energy that gives you access to the spiritual world. It’s an invitation to come

to where God wants us to be. The church’s art ministry

Heartspace@St Mary’s, had in-vited the Canadian friar and priest to conduct the programme as he is one of a rare breed of spiritual directors who combine art and ministry.

The priest runs painting re-treats where participants use art as a means of self-expression, heal-ing and growth.

At the recent retreat, each session started and closed with a prayer and some input by Fr

Creating Holy Week art

‘Spiritual art generates an energy that gives you access to the spiritual world.’

– Franciscan Friar John Quigley

Above: Friar John Quigley speak-ing to a participant.

Left: Participants of the Holy Week Artfully Lived retreat working on their art pieces.

Quigley, but most of the six-hour daily sessions were spent creating art. The silence was broken only when the friar made his rounds to advise each artist individually on the work they had done.

With a suggestion here, a nudge there or a re-orientation of the canvas, the retreatants were

directed to explore their inner thoughts, concerns and the move-ment of the Spirit within them.

There were challenges for everyone, even those with art backgrounds like designer Pius Purpink, who shared: “I was stuck and had to change the orientation of my art piece to break through.

And interestingly, while I chose the orientation I least liked, I struggled to work on it and some- �� !�

Ms Esther Tan from the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour was initially skeptical when she signed up.

“I enjoyed painting but I was cynical about how art could move �� !� "?�� }��one day, I was surprised at just how much I could be touched and by just being open to the experi-��!��

7Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews HOME

By Darren Boon

Participants of a recent camp for Catholic polytechnic students say �� ~�� greatly and helped them get to know students from different polytechnics.

Twenty-four young people aged 17-20 took part in the camp held at the Catholic Archdioc-esan Youth Centre from March 30-April 1.

Most of them were about to start their studies, while a few were second- and third-year students.

Julian Stewart, about to enter Singapore Polytechnic, said the camp activities helped him draw closer to God and that he intends to join the Catholic ministry in his school.

He also made new friends, which helped prepare him for polytechnic life, he said.

Trudie Teo, who will be en-tering her third year at Nanyang Polytechnic, said that while she had not yet participated in her school’s Catholic society activi-ties, she hopes to do so when term begins.

She said the camp taught her the importance of community life.

During the camp, participants took part in a game in which they �� -ed, symbolising their search for Christ. The blindfold was to repre-sent the times when they were too distracted to experience Him.

Participants also washed each other’s feet as a gesture of servant-hood and commitment to serving

one another within the community. According to Francis Xavier,

one of the camp’s organisers, student life can be stressful and sometimes students neglect their relationship with God.

The annual programme aims to encourage new and existing stu-dents to join the Catholic groups in the various campuses, he said. It is also a time for meeting and bonding with other Catholics from other institutions, he added.

School term begins around mid April.

�� year, was organised with help from Living Stones Campus Out-reach, a ministry to students in educational institutions. �

[email protected]

By Martin See

“There can be no Eucharist with-out the priesthood, just as there can be no priesthood without the Eucharist,” said Archbishop Nich-olas Chia during the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday, April 5.

“Priests in love with the Eucharist are capable of instilling in the faithful a deep apprecia-tion and love for the Eucharist,” he told diocesan and Religious priests at the Mass.

The annual Chrism Mass, usu-ally held on Maundy Thursday �� the priests with their bishop and is an expression of the fullness of

the bishop’s priesthood. This year, the local celebration

was held at the Church of the Na-tivity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In his homily, Archbishop Chia urged his priests to become more holy, more joyful and more impas-sioned in leading their ministries so as to increase priestly vocations.

The priests later renewed their priestly vows.

During the Mass, Archbishop Chia blessed the Oil of the Sick; the Oil of Catechumens, used for their initiation; and consecrated the Chrism, used for Baptism, /�� @��!��

[email protected]

Archbishop Nicholas Chia presiding at the Chrism Mass on Maundy Thursday. Photo: HENRY SEAH

Blessing of the oils at Chrism Mass

Polytechnic campreaches out to new students

Participants of the March

30-April 1 polytechnic

students’ camp washing each

other’s feet.

8 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews ASIA

By Thomas Toe

YANGON – The by-elections in Myanmar on April 1 brought home the issue of civic responsi-bility in ways that the previous na-tional polls in 2010 could not do.

Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, former political prisoner, spearheaded the landslide electoral victory in 1990, only to see the results ignored by the country’s military rulers.

She is now a member of the lower house of parliament.

Forty-two other National League for Democracy candidates won in constituencies across My-anmar in an election that was, by and large, considered free and fair.

But after years of political op-pression, during which engaging in political activities invited a pris-on sentence or worse, the people of Myanmar are taking an active if limited role in shaping their future as a nation struggling to embrace a democratic system of governance.

Archbishop Charles Bo of Yan-gon says this opening, engendered by recent political reforms by Pres-ident Thein Sein and a warming in relations with the West, bodes well for the Church in Myanmar to help promote active civic participation and reconciliation.

In particular, Archbishop Bo �� * �� Myanmar’s ethnic regions for decades must end if democracy is ��*�� !

“There will be peace only when there is reconciliation, and development will be achieved only when there is true and genu-

ine peace,” he said recently.The prelate also praised Ms

4��5� �� -mitment to the people of Myanmar, �� *�� ~��well beyond the small rural constit-uency of Khawmu in the Irrawad-dy delta which she now represents.

“I suppose her voice will be heard not only throughout the coun-try but also in the whole world.”

While her victory in the by-elections has been widely cel-ebrated across the country, it has also led some to consider what wider role she may play in the government in coming years.

Archbishop Bo says he hopes the current constitution, which guarantees 25 percent of parlia-mentary seats to the military, will be amended, and that Ms Suu Kyi may one day play a much larger political role.

While political reforms have inspired many to hope for genuine and lasting change, Archbishop Bo says much remains to be done in teaching people what it means to be free – a role he sees as a ��/��!

Five decades ago, Catholics took an active role in nation build-ing, in education, health and in so �� !

“True freedom is to be able to do what is right, honest, sincere, and pure, and not to do simply what one wants to do.”

He added that respect for just laws and respect of others and their different religions will all be challenges during the continuing process of reform. � UCANEWS.COM

Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi addresses supporters and reporters. CNS photo

Church hasimportant role in Myanmar’s progress

9Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews ASIA

DHAKA – For the past two dec-ades, Caritas has been working to reduce the risk to lives and liveli-hoods in the disaster-prone coast-al region of southern Bangladesh.

The Catholic Church’s social service agency has planted tens of thousands of trees to erect a “green wall” against the frequent tropical storms, cyclones and tidal bores. It has also built 244 cy-clone shelter centres in 11 coastal districts, each with the facility to accommodate up to 1,000 people.

Construction and maintenance costs for a centre total around 4-10 million taka (S$60,000-$150,000). Many centres are also being used as schools.

“We’ve been offering school fa-cilities in 58 of the centres,” said Mr Benedict Alo D’Rozario, executive director of Caritas Bangladesh. “Be-sides bringing immediate protection and relief from disasters, Caritas also works to develop employment skills and opportunities for people.”

He was speaking at the open-ing of the latest centre in the vil-lage of Chakamaiya. Caritas Swit-zerland and Caritas Luxemburg aided this latest initiative.

Ms Jakia Parvin, a 50-year-old housewife, recalled how one of the Caritas centres saved her life when the last cyclone, Aila, struck

in 2009. “At least 2,000 people like me took shelter in the centre when the cyclone raged through the area. We headed straight there after hear-ing the disaster warning,” she said.

According to the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management, as many as seven million people in the southern region are vulner-able to natural disasters. It is also estimated that while there are about 3,000 cyclone centres in the country today, more than double

that number is needed.However, despite the scale of

the task and the horrifying death tolls, statistics suggest that Bang-ladesh has made progress in its disaster preparations.

About 500,000 people died in a cyclone in 1969, with another 143,000 killed by another cyclone in 1991. Yet the fatalities from cy-clone Sidr in 2007 and cyclone Aila in 2009 were not more than around 10,000 each time. � UCANEWS.COM

A Bangladeshi family tries to recover their belongings after a cyclone struck. Caritas has constructed hundreds of cyclone shelters in the south to aid victims.

��

�� SEOUL – Leaders of South Ko-rea’s major religions have voiced their support for journalists who have gone on strike in protest for more than 70 days.

The journalists are protesting against what they say is censor-ship by politically biased manage-ment.

The strike has resulted from “the suppression and control of the press by the current govern-ment”, religious leaders said in a statement read out at a press conference at the Press Centre in Seoul on April 6.

The statement was signed by 257 priests, pastors and monks.

“The people’s desire for new alternative media shows they want the press criticising injus-tice and disclosing the truth,” the statement said.

The government must stop “its irrational policy to gag the press”, it added.

Fr Peter Choi Young-min, who signed the statement, said the government, which is sup-posed to promote “the freedom of the press” has used “the me-dia for its own purposes by para-chuting in presidential cronies” to run the country’s major media stations.

Fr Choi, director of the Ig-natius Media Communications,

said “many people have shown support for the strike through social networks,” though the mainstream media has not cov-ered it.

Around 700 workers from the country’s second biggest broad-caster, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, began the strike on Jan 30, and called for the resigna-tion of their CEO, who they ac-cuse of censoring stories critical of President Lee Myung-bak.

These workers were quickly followed by 1,000 workers at the largest broadcaster, Korea Broad-casting Station.

Workers from Yonhap Tel-evision News joined the strike on March 8 and those from Yon-hap News Agency walked out on March 15.

The protesters say manage-ment has limited coverage of stories ranging from protests against free trade agreements to a controversy surrounding the al-leged “illegal” purchase of land for President Lee’s retirement home.

“Religious leaders voicing support for the strike shows that the violation of free speech in this country is very serious,” said Mr Cho Sang-un, the union head of the Kuminilbo daily. � UCANEWS.

COM

��back media strike

10 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNewsASIA

DALI, CHINA – A Chinese bishop who is not recognised by the Vati-can has presided over the ordina-tion of six priests despite warn-ings and criticism from within and outside China.

Bishop Joseph Ma Yinglin of 5�� -emony, which took place at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in the ancient city of Dali on March 26.

A local Church source, who asked not to be named, said three

foreign priests were among the 16 concelebrants.

They were an American Maryknoll priest studying in Dali and two Korean Benedic-tine priests whose community makes donations to the Dali mi-nor seminary.

“They came here upon learn-ing the news of the ceremony. We had no reason for not letting them concelebrate,” said the source.

The new priests belong to the three ecclesiastical territories in southwestern Yunnan province – Dali diocese, Kunming diocese and Zhaotong apostolic prefec-ture.

When asked if any of them were unwilling to be ordained by the illegitimate bishop, the source said: “I don’t know but I saw they were happy.”

Hundreds of Catholics, mostly from various ethnic minorities in the area, appeared happy to wel-come the new priests, the source noted.

Commenting on the inci-dent, Mr Anthony Lam Sui-ki,

senior researcher of Hong Kong diocese’s Holy Spirit Study Centre, said that Bishop Ma would now find it more diffi-cult to receive pardon from the Holy See after repeated

violations of Church law.His example “would encour-

age more opportunists [to] disre-gard Church principles”, said Mr Lam.

Before the ordination, some

mainland bloggers had appealed to Bishop Ma to “repent and avoid making another mistake” while others said he was doing “a glori-ous deed for China”. �� UCANEWS.

COM

Four of the six priests ordained on March 26 pose for a photo with relatives and friends after the ceremony.

More illicit ordinations in ChinaIllegitimate bishop ordains four priests in Yunnan

UCANEWS.COM photo

11Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews 11WORLD

LAOS – Hundreds of Lao Catholics were forced to gather and celebrate Easter without a priest outside their chapel in a parish bordering Thailand on April 8 following its recent closure by the government.

“Around 200 Lao Catholics recited the rosary, sang hymns and read the Gospel to celebrate Easter in front of Kengweng chapel, while four armed soldiers watched from the chapel’s gate,” said Lovers of the Holy Cross Sr Josephine Seusy, who organised the ceremony.

“We prayed with the risen Christ for the government to re-turn the chapel,” she said.

The chapel, built in 1964, was closed off to parishioners by Sa-vannakhet provincial authorities in February.

The 200 sq m chapel set on a 500 sq m plot of land is located in Xaybuly district of the province.

“The government decided to �� we had no ownership papers,” she said.

“It plans to build a school on the plot.”

On April 7, three local Catholics were arrested and questioned by se-�� a closure notice which was posted

on the main door of the chapel by �� '��!

The faithful had also gathered outside the chapel to celebrate Palm Sunday.

Sr Seusy said priests from elsewhere are still being prevent-ed from providing pastoral ser-vices for local Catholics.

4�� -ices have to hold prayers, teach catechism and provide commun-ion, baptism and funeral services

There are around 3,000 Catho-lics among 850,000 people, most of them Buddhists, in Savanna-khet province. �

JASHPUR, INDIA – When Sr Anne saw a teenager begging on a rail-way platform in India, she was moved by her plight and stopped to talk to her.

The 14-year-old girl told the nun she was taken to Mumbai, Goa and Delhi. At each place, she es-caped from abusive employers.

Now she had returned to the area she originally hailed from, with nothing but the ragged clothes she was wearing.

Coincidentally, Sr Anne was at the railway station in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh, to welcome back a girl who had also been abducted from her parish in nearby Kansabel.

“Innocent girls, mostly in their teens and unaware of what lies ahead, often go without their par-ents’ knowledge,” says Fr Praful Kujur, director of Jashpur dio-�� $ �� -ment.

“The girls are taken far away to cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Goa and even to South Indian states. Sometimes they are lured there by their own relatives.”

According to a diocesan sur-vey made in 2007, 3,642 victims ��$��-cal villages.

The Jashpur diocese initiative �� $ �� 2005. Many Religious in the area have also taken it up as their per-sonal ministry.

It operates on several fronts. “We organise various programmes

in partnership with youth groups, women’s organisations and parish councils, in which we share vic-tims’ experiences through exhibi-tions and plays,” says Fr Kujur.

“To a certain extent, the men-ace has been arrested. Now many Catholics are not interested in go-ing out and falling prey to touts ��$��!�

Fr Kujur laments that no other charity or voluntary organisation

INDONESIA – Since the launch of evangelisation in South Kali-mantan four years ago, 65 Dayak tribal people have been baptised as Catholics.

“The people in Magalau are very interested in Catholicism and every Friday they attend cat-echism classes,” said a volunteer Caesilia Betan.

Bishop Petrus Boddeng Timang had said during a dioc-esan assembly at that time that the Church must defy the jungles of Kalimantan and reach out to Day-aks.

With a team of volunteers, priests, seminarians and lay peo-ple, the mission started with the setting up of basic facilities in order to educate Dayak children, whose parents are mostly illiter-ate and heavily rely on whatever nature can produce.

The team then established

several mission centres in Uren, Ka’ar, Magalau, Malangkayan and Manginding, all within the jurisdictions of Ave Maria Church and St Vincent a Paulo Church.

The Magalau centre was in-augurated in 2009 by the former apostolic nuncio Archbishop Le-opoldo Girelli, while other cen-tres began operations early this year.

The centres are multi-func-tional, and serve as elementary

schools, places of worship, chil-dren and adult catechism centres, and health clinics among others.

“We are grateful to the team for providing us with clean water fa-cilities and teaching our children,” said Mr Ibramsyah, a local Dayak leader in Magalau. “The lives of people have improved notably,” he said.

“I hope in the future the Church will also build a high school and set up a cooperative which can lend money to people to buy seedlings or start small business,” he added.

According to government sta-tistics, there are more than 35,000 Dayaks scattered around South Kalimantan.

They are mostly poor people living in remote areas, and de-pend primarily on farming, plant-ing rubber trees, and panning for gold. � UCANEWS.COM

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roch-ester-based Catholic Education Foundation has initiated a pro-gramme to help Catholic grade schools and high schools evaluate their Catholic identity.

Called the Catholic School Identity Assessment, it is a diag-nostic tool to help schools spot their strengths and weaknesses, according to Fr Peter Stravinskas, the foundation’s executive direc-tor.

“Catholic identity in Catho-lic schools was taken for granted when the faculty and adminis-trators were almost exclusively clergy and Religious,” he said, but “with the heavy involvement of lay teachers and administrators that has not always been a given”.

The assessment was originally created for Catholic high schools and then last year some priests and principals said they wanted something like that for their grade schools, the priest said in a recent interview with Catholic News Service.

“That the identity issue would �� not malevolence,” Fr Stravins-kas said. Rather, it often results because some lay administrators and teachers “either never went to Catholic school themselves”, he said, or they attended “in an era when Catholic identity was wan-ing”.

He said the foundation’s as-sessment tool is an opportunity to discuss the subject. “Even just by asking the questions, one already has started to address

the identity issue,” he said.Fr Stravinskas said the process

starts with a self-assessment by the school. Next comes an onsite visitation by a team. Team mem-bers visit classrooms; interview students, faculty and parents; ob-serve interactions at the school; and write up an evaluation.

“Atmosphere, mood, attitudes, like charity” are among what a team will observe at a school, he told CNS. Teams also consider the physical environment, look for Catholic art on display, gauge the reaction of students to the pres-ence of clergy and Religious and see whether prayer is a normal part of school life, “not simply at a once-a-month Mass”, he said.

When he leads workshops

about the identity issue and talks ��“no resistance to increased Catho-lic identity” and is in fact greeted with “enthusiasm for it”.

Principal Joseph Skerjanec of St Anthony Catholic School in Sterling, Colorado, which is in the Denver Archdiocese, said in a statement that through the foundation’s assessment tool, “we were able to identify our areas of strength and our areas in which we need to grow”.

It helped “us in expressing our Catholic identity” and a detailed follow-up prompted the school to develop a new Catholic Lay Lead-ership Formation Programme for all parish and school employees, Mr Skerjanec said. �

A statue of Mary stands outside Sacred Heart School in Wisconsin, USA.

US project to assess schools’ Catholic identity

A girl prays during a candlelight vigil in Jammu, India

��

��Easter without priest

The mission started with the setting up of basic facilities

in order to educate Dayak children.

��

has come forward to help the dio-cese in its efforts.

“However, since this issue has often been raised in the state as-�� cooperative in curbing human ��$ �� 4�� %�� is also a lawyer.

A 2006 UN report states that �� $ �� most lucrative illicit business in the world. India serves as a major hub of activity, with an estimated three million sex workers. �

12 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNewsWORLD

DUBLIN – Commemorations of the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago will put the spotlight on an Irish priest whose photographs are some of the only surviving im-ages of life onboard the liner on ��!

Jesuit Fr Frank Browne (1880-1960) became a prominent documentary photographer and a much-decorated chaplain in the ?� �� >��>��&!�

A collection of his photographs, “Father Browne’s Titanic Album” has been reprinted to mark the cen-�� !�� was constructed in Belfast, Ireland, �� $��!�More than 1,500 people died when ��$��1�� !

In 1912, the Jesuit novice was � �� !�Because of a gift from his uncle, he was able to travel on the Titanic in the initial stages of its maiden voyage, from Southampton, Eng-land, to Cherbourg, France, and ��&��!�

While onboard, the self-taught photographer took photos, includ-ing those of passengers who later �� !�@�� last leg of the journey, and thus �� !�� CNS

Above and below: Photos of the Titanic taken by the late Irish Jesuit Fr Frank Browne. A collection of his photos, Father Browne’s Titanic Album, has been reprinted to mark the centenary of the liner tragedy. CNS photos

Seminarian’sTitanic photos

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, USA – The Connecticut Senate voted to repeal the death penalty on April 5, positioning the US state to be-�� !

The bill, which replaces the death penalty with life in prison without parole, now heads to the @�� ~�� !

Governor Dannel Malloy has said he would sign the legislation �� $!

The 20-16 vote was welcomed by the Connecticut Catholic Pub-lic Affairs Conference, which rep-resents the state’s Catholic bish-�� !

The conference “is thrilled with the passage of the repeal of the death penalty”, executive di-rector Michael C Culhane told Catholic News Service hours after �� !

@�� 1�� @�� #�� @�� 1��-bishop William E Lori, the bishop of Bridgeport newly appointed to head Baltimore archdiocese, had contacted legislators seeking the � ��!

The conference also had mount-ed a campaign through its website and in messages in parish bulletins asking parishioners to contact their

elected representatives and ask �� !

Parties on both sides of the �� campaign as the legislation was �� 4��!

Abolition proponents said the time had come to end the use of cap-ital punishment because the practice is outdated and the risk of killing �� !�

Supporters of capital punish-ment said the practice is suitable for perpetrators of particularly � �� !

�� -necticut state recently voted to repeal the death penalty. CNS photo

US state votes to end death penalty

The Church opposes the death penalty except in the most serious of cases when it is the only way society has of “defending human lives against an unjust aggressor”, according to the Catechism of the /�� /��!�

@�� /�� -ers such cases “very rare, if not practically nonexistent”, the Cat-�� !�

The US Catholic bishops as a group have spoken out against the death penalty several times since ��!�� CNS

LAGOS, NIGERIA – A Nigerian archbishop credited security forc-es for preventing a catastrophe at a Christian church on Easter when a suicide bomber was turned away and ended up detonating a car ��!

Archbishop Mathew Ndagoso of Kaduna said that the death toll would have been much higher had the bomber been able to en-ter the grounds of the Evangeli-cal Church of West Africa, where �� !

Authorities said many of the 39 people who died after the bomb exploded in the northern

city were motorcycle taxi opera-��!� #�� }�� !

Debris from the blast was ��}��!�

The Evangelical Church of West Africa and the All Nations Christian Assembly Church sus-tained serious damage from the �� }�� !�

Nearby hotels and homes had their windows blown out and roofs torn off by the force of the �~�� !

Archbishop Ndagoso said the blast did not affect any of the /�� 5��!�� CNS

LONDON – It is high time that the UK government stopped interfer-ing in public morals and focused its efforts on the common good, says the Catholic paper, The Uni-��!

The UK publication made this remark in a recent editorial highlighting a ruling by European judges that same-sex marriages �� !

The judges of the European /��@�� ruling in Strasbourg, France, in March following a case involving a lesbian couple in a civil partner-� �!� �� French courts for not allowing �� !

The judges’ decision follows the launch of a consultation over marriage in the UK in which the Equalities Minister promised to change the law, reported the Uni-�� !

The judges’ decision “totally opposes the claim by ministers that ‘gay marriage’ is a universal human right and that same-sex couples have a right to marry be-cause their mutual commitment is just as strong as that of heterosex-�� !��

According to The Universe, the Strasbourg judges said: “The �� /�� @�� _� �� -ber states’ governments to grant same-sex couples access to mar-� ��!�

“With regard to married cou-ples, the court considers that in view of the social, personal and legal consequences of a marriage, the applicants’ legal situation could not be said to be compara-�� !��

Muslim and Sikh groups have also spoken out against the UK ��!��

VATICAN CITY – The Church needs to address the alienation of-ten surrounding those living with autism, especially children and young people, says a Vatican of-�� !

Archbishop Zygmunt Zi-��$ �� %�� -��/�� @��/��>��$-ers, said those who draw near to people with autism can help break down the barriers of silence and join in them in solidarity and ��!

The archbishop made his com-ments in the council’s message for the Fifth World Autism Awareness Q��1�� !

“The Church sees as impel-ling the task of placing herself at the side of these people – children and young people in particular – and their families, if not to break down these barriers of silence then at least to share in solidarity and prayer in their journey of suf-�� !

Along with suffering often come frustration and resignation,

especially from the families of those affected, said the archbish-��!� '�� ~�� -cussions and are often “led to be closed up in an isolation that mar-� �� !

Archbishop Zimowski said he hopes that all people of good will and the Church may become “travelling companions” with people suffering from autism and express their awareness, support-iveness and sensitivity to those ��!

@�� $�� -nities, health care workers, educa-tors, professionals and volunteers �� !�@��encouraged the continuation of �� policies that could increase diag-nostic, therapeutic and rehabilita- �� !

Archbishop Zimowski con-cluded his message by reminding family members that “they are passionately loved by God” and that they are never alone despite � �� !�� CNS

Security forces reduced death toll

Support those livingwith autism: archbishop

Gay marriage not a human right, say judges

13Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews WORLD

BEIRUT – Pope Benedict XVI will visit Lebanon from Sept 14-16, Maronite Catholic Patriarch Bechara Rai announced during Easter Mass at the patriarchal seat in Bkerke, Lebanon.

Patriarch Rai said on April 8 that the pope will meet with the �� -cials, including President Michel Sleiman, a Maronite Catholic.

During an open-air Mass in Beirut on Sept 16, the pope will present the apostolic exhortation on the October 2010 special Syn-od of Bishops, which met under the theme: Communion and Wit-ness.

In a statement, Mr Sleiman said the pope’s visit would af-�� " �� relations that tie Lebanon with the [Vatican] and will form an occa-sion to focus on Lebanon’s posi-tion, message and role as a wit-ness of freedom and coexistence”.

The announcement comes amid increased concern over the plight of Christians across the Middle East, emigrating in in-creasing numbers.

Of Lebanon’s population of nearly four million, approxi-mately 33 percent are Christian, considered a high estimate. Half a century ago, Christians repre-sented about half the population.

In Iraq, a Christian exodus since the American-led invasion in 2003 has reduced the Iraqi Chris-tian population by two-thirds.

In an interview with Vatican Radio broadcast on April 9, Arch-bisop Paul Sayah, vicar general of the Maronite Patriarchate, said the �� " �}�� dynamism”, not only in the Leba-nese society and Christians, but in the whole region.

Noting that the Christian pres-�� "� �� impact” on the country, Arch-bishop Sayah said the visit would " �� play the role they are expected to play in this part of the world”.

The archbishop said the apos-�� ~�� "��special message not only to Leba-non but also, and especially, to the countries of the region”.

The pope’s message, he said, will be especially important for the "�� 4�� "� ��I am sure the Holy Father will ad-dress in one way or another”.

��1��"��a word of encouragement, a word of hope”, he said, emphasising that Christians in the region need directives on how to approach �� "�� -ties they face amid a revolution in their homeland. �

Maronite patriarch: Pope to visit Lebanon

VATICAN CITY – In an effort to help businesses stay strong and �� }�� peace council has released a hand-book for business educators and entrepreneurs.

Vocation of the Business Lead-��+�1��*�� -�� %�� /�� Justice and Peace that spells out the risks of unethical economic strate-gies and the principles needed for running a sound, moral business.

It seeks to heal the so-called "� � �� /�� -ers, who may practise their Chris-tian values at home and church, but not in the company they man-age or run.

"Q � � �� one’s faith from one’s work in business is a fundamental error which contributes to much of the damage done by businesses in our world today,” says the booklet.

The damge cited is overwork-ing to the detriment of family or spiritual life, an unhealthy attach-ment to power to the detriment of one’s own good, and the abuse of economic power in order to make even greater economic gains, the booklet says.

The ethical principles of the Church’s social teaching are pre-sented not as hindrances to the smooth functioning of a market economy but as tools for its repair.

"> �� and virtuous leadership, business-es can be places in which expedi-�� }�� corrupts wisdom, technical instru-ments are detached from human dignity, and self-interest margin-alises the common good,” it says.

The council’s president, Car-

dinal Peter Turkson, presented the guidebook at the congress of Christian business leaders in Lyon, France to about 2,000 people. Car-dinal Turkson said the Church wanted to help business people �~�� !

The handbook offers a re-newed vision of what successful businesses are meant to be and do.

�� $�� "�� -ness leaders – and future ones at-tending business schools – with both principles and tools for dis-covering the good and deliber-ately pursuing it”, helping them "�� -

�� *�� Cardinal Turkson.

Mr Kishore Jayabalan, direc-tor of Acton Institute’s Rome of-�� }�� the council’s decision not to dic-tate policy, but to take a more pas-toral approach.

"&�� inspire business people” and ��" �$��to incorporate their faith more into what they do”, he told Catho-lic News Service.

&��" � �� be a good Christian and a good businessman; they’re saying there’s no fundamental incompat-ibility”, he said.

The primer was the brain-child of three business educators: Robert Kennedy and Michael Naughton of the University of St Thomas and Andre Habisch of the Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt, Germany. They were among the 40 Catholic business leaders and professors who at-tended a February 2011 seminar at the Vatican looking at Pope Ben-edict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth).

In his talk Cardinal Turkson told Christian business leaders the �� was over. Cardinal Turkson said � ��"��development of each man and of the whole man”. �

�� !!��"��"��!��-��!��!�� !#��$%&��$%&'��$%&�� !#��-��!*� ��+��"��

The booklet promoting the running of a sound, moral business.

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Vatican promotes morals, principles in business

14 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews

Resurrection changed world: popeVATICAN HOLY WEEK

VATICAN CITY – Jesus’ death and resurrection conquered sin and death for all time, Pope Benedict XVI said on Easter.

“If Jesus is risen, then – and only then – has something truly new happened, something that changes the state of humanity and the world,” the pope told tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square before giving his Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

Pope Benedict began the cel-ebration of the morning Mass on April 8 just 10 hours after having �� hour-long Easter vigil in St Pe-ter’s Basilica.

In his Easter message at the end of the morning Mass, the pope said every Christian can share the experience of Mary Magdalene, ��risen Jesus on Easter morning.

The encounter “lets us expe-rience all God’s goodness and truth”, he said.

The risen Lord “frees us from �� *��-ing way, but sets us free radically, heals us completely and restores our dignity”.

The resurrection means that Jesus belongs not just to the past, but is present today, giving hope and comfort to all those who suf-fer, the pope said.

Pope Benedict offered spe-cial prayers and encouragement to Christians persecuted for their faith and to the people of the Mid-dle East.

He asked members of all reli-gious and ethnic groups to work together for the common good and respect for human rights.

“Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and rec-onciliation” after months of vio-lent battles between Syria’s gov-

Lighting of the paschal candle be-fore the start of Easter vigil.

The pope greets the crowd at Easter.

CNS photos

The risen Lord ‘frees us from evil not

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the world, the Mass began with �� !�

In the atrium of St Peter’s Ba-silica there was a large brazier full of blazing coals.

An assistant lit a small taper from the coals and handed it to the pope so he could light the tower-

ing Easter candle.A deacon carried the candle to

the entrance of the darkened ba-silica and chanted, “The light of Christ.”

The smaller candle carried by Pope Benedict was lit and he got onto his mobile platform to be

pushed up the aisle of the basilica in silence.

In his homily, Pope Benedict said “to say that God created light means that God created the world as a space for knowledge and truth, as a space for encounter and freedom, as a space for good and love”.

The world needs the light of Christ and the light of faith be-cause darkness always attempts to obscure people’s vision of what is good and evil and what the purpose of their life is, the pope said. �

ernment and opposition forces.The pope also prayed for the

people of Iraq, for Israelis and Palestinians, for those suffering famine and violence in the Horn of Africa, and for those suffering ��* �� #�� 4��and South Sudan.

At the Easter vigil the night before, the pope welcomed eight adults into the Catholic Church.

Like Easter vigils throughout

15Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews 15VATICAN HOLY WEEK

VATICAN CITY – During a Mass in which priests renew their promises �� /� ��%��?�� &�� /�� -��!

4�� "��than a sincere attempt to conform �� /� �!

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Pope criticisesdissent fromChurch teaching

The pope said a group of priests has called for

disobedience of Church teaching,

��>�� women’s ordination.

Pope Benedict XVI breathes over chrism oil during the Chrism Mass at the Vatican on Holy Thursday. The gesture symbolises the infusion of the Holy Spirit. CNS photo

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16 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews WORLD

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI has donated US$100,000 (S$125,000) to help the people of Syria.

�� -moting and coordinating charity announced on March 31 that the pope made the donation to fund “the charitable work of the local Church in Syria supporting the population” that has been hit by ongoing violence in the country.

Msgr Giampietro Dal Toso, ��%��- �� /�� /�� to personally deliver the aid on March 31 and meet with Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus, Syria, as well as other local Church leaders.

In predominantly Muslim Syria, the Catholic Church helps all peo-ple in need through its charitable or-ganisations but is particularly active in the area of Homs and Aleppo, the council said in a press release.

The pope also earmarked the collection during his Holy Thurs-day evening Mass for humanitar-ian aid to Syrian refugees.

Syria’s government has been �� pro-democracy movements in Tu-nisia, Egypt and Libya. � CNS

Pope donatesto Syrians

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – A Catholic nurse in central Eng-land has won a battle over her right to refuse involvement in abortions.

The nurse, who asked not to be named because of fear of re-prisal from her hospital employer, convinced National Health Ser-vice managers that her right to conscientious objection was pro-tected by law.

Without anyone going to court, the managers dropped their threat to dismiss the nurse because of her refusal to work in an abortion clinic attached to the hospital in the British Midlands, she told Catholic News Service on April 2.

Managers pointed out to her that she was not being required to perform an abortion but only to prepare women for the proce-dure, she explained, and that oth-er Catholics were working in the abortion clinic.

“I said, ‘I can’t be responsible for other people’s beliefs. I can only speak for myself,’” said the nurse, a married mother of two in her early 40s.

“I stood by that,” she added. “I said, ‘I am not happy to do it and I’m standing by my princi-ples.’”

The woman’s ordeal began when she began working ad-ditional hours in 2011 after her

three-year-old son started attend-ing nursery school.

The nurse said she was not told that she would be required to �� $-ing time off and that within two months her name appeared on the clinic’s roster.

When she refused to work in the clinic, she was told by manag-ers that she faced dismissal.

She said she turned for advice to her parish priest, who referred her to the Thomas More Legal Centre in Warrington, England. The centre offers free legal as-sistance to Christians claiming to be victims of discrimination and harassment because of their faith.

Mr Neil Addison, the centre’s director, said he wrote to hospi-

�� ~�� nurse’s conscience rights were protected under the 1967 Abor- �� 1�� _� �$��backed down.

He also said that the woman’s view that human life begins at conception was a “philosophi-cal” belief protected by the 2010 Equality Act and also by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Any attempt either to pressure the nurse to change her mind or to suggest to her that her career prospects might suffer would breach laws against harassment and discrimination, Mr Addison said.

The nurse resolved the dispute less than a month after a Scottish court ruled that the Abortion Act did not allow two Catholic mid-wives to opt out of supervising late-term abortions at a hospital in Glasgow.

In an April 2 email to CNS, Mr Addison said together the two cases showed that the right of health care workers to object to involvement in abortions for reasons of conscience was under pressure in the United Kingdom. �

� See related story on facing page

UK nurse wins right not to assist in abortions

The English Catholic nurse was

threatened with dismissal because

she refused to work in an abortion

clinic attached to her hospital.

17Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews WORLD

WASHINGTON – The Vatican has given its approval to the publica-tion of a Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.

The rite was earlier approved by the US bishops in November 2008, the US Conference of Cath-olic Bishops announced on March 26.

The blessing was prepared to support parents awaiting the birth of their child, to encourage parish prayers for and recognition of the gift of the child in the womb, and to foster respect for human life within society.

It can be offered within the context of Mass as well as outside of Mass, and for an individual mother, a couple or a group of ex-pectant parents.

The Vatican approval, or “rec-ognitio”, came from the Congre-gation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

The blessing originated when then-Bishop Joseph E Kurtz of Knoxville, Tennessee, (now Arch-bishop of Louisville, Kentucky) asked the US Catholic bishops’ pro-life committee to see if such a blessing existed.

When none was found, the committee prepared a text and submitted it to the bishops’ di-vine worship committee in March 2008.

“May almighty God, who has created new life, now bless the child in your womb,” the blessing says.

“The Lord has brought you the joy of motherhood: May He bless you with a safe and healthy preg-nancy. You thank the Lord today

for the gift of your child: May He bring you and your child one day to share in the unending joys of heaven.”

The blessing includes inter-cessions for the US government and civic leaders “that they may perform their duties with justice and compassion while respecting the gift of human life” and “for a safe and healthy pregnancy for all expectant mothers and for a safe delivery for their children”.

It also expresses concern “for

Vatican approves rite for unborn children

The blessing is to support parents awaiting the birth of their child.

children who are unwanted, un-loved, abandoned or abused, that the Lord will inspire His people to protect and care for them”.

If used as a blessing outside Mass, the service includes intro-ductory prayers, Scripture read-ings, intercessions, the actual blessing of the mother and child, and a concluding rite.

There are also optional prayers for fathers, for families and for the parish community. � CNS

18 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNewsOPINION

NOT all fear is created equal, at least not religiously. There’s a fear that’s healthy and good, a sign of matu-rity and love. There’s also a fear that’s bad, that blocks maturity and love. But this needs explanation.

There’s a lot of misunderstanding about fear inside of religious circles, especially around the Scriptural passage that says that the fear of God is the begin-ning of wisdom. Too often texts like these, as well as

religion in general, have been used to instil an unhealthy fear inside of people in the name of God.

We need to live in “holy fear”, but holy fear is a very particular kind of fear that should not be confused with fear as we normally un-derstand it.

What is “holy fear”? What kind of fear is healthy? What kind of fear triggers wisdom?

Holy fear is love’s fear, namely, the kind of fear that is inspired by love. It’s a fear based upon reverence and respect for a person or a thing we love. When we genuinely love another person we will live in-side of a healthy anxiety, a worry that our actions should never grossly disappoint, disrespect, or violate the other person.

We live in holy fear when we are anxious not to betray a trust or disrespect someone. But this is very different from being afraid of somebody or being afraid of being punished.

Bad power and bad authority intimidate and make others afraid of them. God is never that kind of power or authority. God entered our world as a helpless infant and God’s power still takes that same modal-ity.

Babies don’t intimidate, even as they inspire holy fear. We watch our words and our actions around babies not because they threaten us, but rather because their very helplessness and innocence inspire an anxiety in us that makes us want to be at our best around them.

The Gospels are meant to inspire that kind of fear. God is Love, a benevolent power, a gracious authority, not someone to be feared. Indeed God is the last person we need to fear. Jesus came to rid us of fear. Virtually every theophany in scripture (an instance where God appears) begins with the words: “Do not be afraid!” What frightens us does not come from God.

In the Jewish scriptures, the Christian Old Testament, King David �� !�1��in the Old Testament, including Moses and the great prophets, David �� ~�� $��this earth in the image and likeness of God, even though at a point he grossly abuses that trust.

Despite his great sin, it is to David, not to Moses or the prophets, to �� @ �� !�Q�� /� �� Testament. He walked in holy fear of God, and never in an unhealthy fear.

To cite just one salient example: The Book of Kings recounts an incident where David is, one day, returning from battle with his sol-diers. His troops are hungry. The only available food is the bread in the temple. David asks for that and is told that it is only to be consumed by the priests in sacred ritual.

He answers the priest to this effect: “I’m the King, placed here by God to act responsibly in His name. We don’t ordinarily ask for the temple bread, but this is an exception, a matter of urgency, the soldiers need food, and God would want us to responsibly do this.”

And so he took the temple bread and gave it to his soldiers. In the Gospels, Jesus praises this action by David and asks us to imitate it, telling us that we are not made for the Sabbath, but that the Sabbath is made for us.

David understood what is meant by that. He had discerned that God is not so much a law to be obeyed as a gracious presence under which we are asked to creatively live. He feared God, but as one fears some-one in love, with a “holy fear”, not a blind, legalistic one.

A young mother once shared this story with me: Her six-year-old had just started school. She had taught him to kneel by his bed each night before going to sleep and recite a number of night prayers.

One night, shortly after starting school, he hopped into bed without ��$�� !�4�� words: “Don’t you pray anymore?” His reply: “No, I don’t. My teacher at school told us that we are not supposed to pray. She said that we’re supposed to talk to God ... and tonight I’m tired and have nothing to say!”

Like King David, he too had discerned what it really means to be God’s child and how God is not so much a law to be obeyed as a gra-cious presence who desires a mutually loving relationship, one of holy fear. �

Fortnightly newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore

2 Highland Road, #01-03 Singapore 549102.Telephone: 6858 3055. Fax: 6858 2055. Website: www.catholicnews.sg

IN MEMORIAM: Susan Lim: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS: Richard Paul: [email protected] ADVERTISEMENTS: Elaine Ong: [email protected]: Medona Walter: [email protected] / LAYOUT: Christopher Wong: [email protected] Elaine Ong: [email protected]

Holy and unholy fear

MANAGING EDITOR: Father Johnson Fernandez: [email protected]

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Christopher Khoo: [email protected]

STAFF CORRESPONDENTS: Darren Boon: [email protected] Martin See: [email protected]

EDITORIAL MATTERS AND QUERIES: [email protected]

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

POPE WASHES FOOT OF PRIEST during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome on April 5.

CNS photo

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we enter into the season of Easter, I cannot help but look back towards a Holy Week that I will remember for a long time to come.

You will have heard about the “Escape Chapel Party” that was to have taken place at CHIJMES Hall on Holy Saturday evening.

We learnt of the party on the morning of Holy Monday and that was the beginning of three days of what can be seen as our own participation in the Passion in the ��!�

The promotions for the event were offensive. Young girls dressed in provocative adapta-tions of a nun’s habit distributed �� *�� -es. Advertising material featured images of similarly dressed girls and promised “a sacrilegious night of partying” and the pres-ence of “nuns”.

These were an affront to Cath-olics.

The fact that the party was to be held in what was once the CHIJ chapel and on Holy Saturday com-

pounded the disrespect not just to our faith but to the many women Religious who have devoted their lives to God and who have con-tributed greatly to Singapore with their schools, homes and work with the poor.

Happily, the organisers can-celled the party. They apologised, and we have forgiven them this whole episode.

This incident underscores the importance of mutual respect for all religions in our multi-religious country, and a better understand-ing of the different religions.

The organiser said that they did not mean to offend Catholics and did not use any religious sym-bolism. What are the nun’s habit and the rosary if not Catholic?

I was heartened by the uproar against the party from the ground, and commend those who coura-geously voiced their disapproval. It shows our faith and our willing-ness to speak up for that faith, but we must be sure to do so reason-ably and responsibly, and above all, charitably as Jesus showed us.

It is my wish for the Church to be a constructive voice for har-mony and a positive presence in Singapore civil society.

I call on all the faithful especial-ly those actively engaged in public �� *�� /� �� your compassionate conduct.

With the help of God, all of us can and must play our part in fostering greater harmony within our national community, even as we stand up for our faith.

May the Lord bless you with abundant graces this Easter. �

Archbishop Nicholas Chia

Archbishop’s message onCHIJMES ‘party’

Straits Times article on the cancellation of the event.

I was heartened by the uproar against the party from the ground.

19Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews LETTERS / OPINION

THIS year marks the 50th anni-versary of the start of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Vatican II was momentous, not least for the Church in Asia.

Churches here became con-scious they were Asian. Before, they were more in contact with Churches in the West.

For example, when the late Cardinal Valerian Gracias of Bombay returned from Rome af-ter Vatican II, he said he found that Asian bishops had more friends in Europe and North America than in Asia as they had studied abroad.

&�� -can II ended, Pope Paul VI vis-ited the Philippines. The more than 150 Asian bishops gathered there took the opportunity to set up the Federation of Asian Bish-ops’ Conferences (FABC). They asserted that they were an Asian Church, and that the Asian Church is a Church of the poor.

Since then, Churches in Asia, mainly through national justice and peace commissions, have come out and dealt with issues af-fecting the poor and society.

The Church in India, for exam-ple, came out strongly in support of the rights of the dalit (former untouchables in the caste system).

The Church in Japan spoke out strongly against development of nuclear weapons and also the use of nuclear power.

For the Church in Pakistan, justice and peace are crucial issues because Christians there have felt the brunt of many injustices.

During that time, there also emerged Third World theologies as a response to the increasingly brutal and repressive regimes of the times. Sri Lanka, for example, had much freedom in the 1960s but all that changed.

A milestone was reached in ��'1?/��Human Development met in To-kyo. It decided there was a need for a mechanism to address in-

justices throughout Asia beyond making statements.

The Asian Centre for the Pro-gress of Peoples was set up, based in Hong Kong, as a “hotline” to document injustices and excesses committed throughout Asia. It was set up by the Asian bishops but is an independent body.

The centre gathers information mainly from national justice and peace bodies and sends the infor-mation to its network of churches and Church institutions as well as individuals for their action.

It suggests actions such as letter writing campaigns, giving addresses and information on rel-

evant government bodies, ambas-�� !�

�� 1� �� 15 years following Vatican II was that of a strong desire and urgency to take forward the council’s ideas and ideals as these represented the voice of the universal Church.

In 1978 came Pope John Paul II, who had a slightly different focus. He came up strongly on solidarity with workers. Then, the more conservative voices in the Church became very nervous and tried to push their own agenda. Now, we have a mix of different voices within the Church.

?��

COMMENTARY

Rediscovering Vatican II in AsiaThere is need for a new dynamism in the Asian Church regarding the Vatican Council, asserts Fr Bonnie Mendes

CNS photos

Christians, including Catholic clergy and women Religious, demonstrating for an end to discrimination against dalit, or low-caste, Christians in India.

15 years after Vatican II is certain-ly not there anymore. In the last two decades, dynamic Asian bish-ops have become fewer and fewer.

After Vatican II, there was a tremendous number of formation programmes organised for Asian bishops and other Church lead-ers. For example, between the mid-1970s and mid-80s, seven BISAs (Bishops’ Institutes for So-cial Action) were held. The eighth was held only 25 years later – last January in Bangkok.

This malaise has led some peo-ple, such as the late Japanese Car-dinal Hamao Fumio, to say there should be a Vatican III, so that the bishops themselves can again make a strong stand. There is a certain dynamism when all bishops gather.

An FABC plenary meeting in Vietnam this coming November is an opportunity to recover the dy-namism that we had in the Asian

Church. Having a cardinal (Car-dinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay) as FABC secretary general will give it more strength.

�� '1?/� �� make proper preparations and come up with a solid stand and good documentation on issues of the poor. People have to see a sol-id stand that is in line with Vatican II and the teachings of the Church.

There is hope. I feel something more dynamic will emerge in the FABC. � UCANEWS.COM

Pakistani Fr Bonnie Mendes is former executive secretary of the FABC’s Of-��G�� /�;�� -mer regional coordinator of Caritas K��"� G�� G�-�� /�;�� Singh, Pakistan, and former executive ��>� �� <�National Commission for Justice and Peace

Japanese taking part in a nuclear, biological and chemical weapons exercise. The Japanese Church has spoken strongly against nuclear power.

�� K�� QV�>��Vatican II was that of a strong desire to

take forward the council’s ideas and ideals. �� >��"

I had the opportunity to sit in the ��4��/�� Victoria Street on Easter Sunday as a godparent for the St Alphon-sus Church (Novena) RCIA bap-tismal mass.

From my position, I had an un-blocked view of all the proceed-ings that took place during the beautiful Mass presided over by the Redemptorist priests.

It was to be a spiritually over-whelming afternoon for me. Some

LETTER

Joy of those newly baptised moved me to tearsof the newly baptised were in joy-ful tears after being prayed over (in groups of three) as they walked towards the baptismal fount to be submerged by the priests.

There were some elderly ones who were physically struggling to climb into the fount with great anxiety and earnestness. Oth-ers emerged from the water with a great sense of happiness and peace despite their wet condition.

There was a general display of

joy, obedience and acceptance of our faith by these new Catholics.

It was a humbling and timely reminder for all cradle/Sunday Catholics, like myself, that we have taken our faith in God for granted for too long. Each time we are in His house or when we are in front of the Holy Eucharist, many of us do not feel the spiritual presence or connection with Him.

That afternoon, thanks to the 120 new Catholics and tireless

sponsors and administrators, I felt the huge presence of the Holy Spirit. At times, I found my eyes welling up like the newly baptised.

I pray that many more cradle/Sunday Catholics will have op-portunities to witness how new Catholics embrace our faith and, in that we will be inspired to rec-alibrate our personal faith in God.

It is a blessing that we were introduced to Him much earlier as newborns and not having to

discover Him ourselves after we grew up.

Let us not take this privilege for granted. Pray earnestly for the presence of the Holy Spirit next time you step into church before Mass so that you will be spiritu-ally connected with Him. Experi-ence the difference and feel His presence.

Bernard LimSingapore 160122

EASTER BAPTISMS20 Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews

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Family of four baptised together

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EASTER BAPTISMS 21Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews

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r share with Darren Boon their faith journeys and hopes for the future


CHILDREN’S STORY:

By Joe Sarnicola

The apostles were gathered in one place talking about the events of the past few days. Jesus had been be-trayed and brought to trial. He was given a sentence of death by cruci-�~ ��!�?��!�@ ��tomb had been found empty, and two of His followers had met Him on their way to Emmaus.

Then suddenly, Jesus was in the room with them.

“Peace be with you,” He said. �� !� ��

thought a ghost had appeared in front of them. So Jesus asked, “Why are you troubled? And why do ques-tions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a

��*��as you can see I have.”

Jesus held up His hands, then he pointed to His feet to show His friends the nail marks from when He �� !��happy because they knew it really was Jesus and that He was back with them.

“Have you anything here to eat?” He asked.

They gave Jesus a piece of baked �� @��@��$�� them about the Scriptures.

“Thus it is written that the Mes-siah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that re-pentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Je-rusalem. You are witnesses of these

things. And (behold) I am send-ing the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then Jesus told His apostles to come with Him, and He went with ��?��!��@��to pray with them. With His hands raised, Jesus said a blessing for His friends. While He was still praying, Jesus was taken up to heaven.

The apostles rejoiced over what

they had just witnessed and praised God all the way back home, and they praised God in the temple as well. �

Read more about it: Luke 24

Q&A1. What were the apostles doing when

Jesus appeared to them?

2. What happened when Jesus was blessing His apostles?

PUZZLE:Code: r = a; t = e; p = i; w = o; m = uUse the code provided above to change the letters in the following �� !��"�spoke in the story above. (/ = the space between the words.) Puzzle: _ tr _ t / _ t / _ p _ _ / _ wm.

Bible TriviaHow many sacraments are there, and can you name them all?

Bible Accent:The most important message of the four Gospels is the life and teach- ��!�?��into heaven, He promised His follow-ers He would send a promise from His Father that would give them “power from on high” (Lk 24:49).

This promise from the Father came upon the apostles when they were praying in Jerusalem on the day of Pen-tecost. The coming of the Holy Spirit enabled the early Christians to travel throughout the world of their day spreading the good news about Jesus.

The Acts of the Apostles, which was written by Luke, tells us about the ministries of Peter and some of the other ��4��~� ��-version and missionary journeys of Paul. �

SPOTLIGHT ON SAINTS:St Mark

Answer to Puzzle:Peace be with you.

Answer to Bible Trivia: Seven: [��?��?�� ?�Holy Orders, Reconciliation,Marriage and Anointing of the Sick.

WORDSEARCH:� APOSTLES

� EVENTS

� BETRAYED

� TOMB

� EMMAUS

� PEACE

� MESSIAH

� QUESTIONS

� BETHANY

� BLESSING

Answer to Wordsearch

Mark (d. 74) was the author of one of the four Gospels. Most scholars be-lieve that he is the man referred to in the book of Acts as “John who is called Mark”, and that in the early days after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the house of Mark’s mother was a frequent meet-ing place for the apostles.

Mark was invited by the apostle %�� ?��-bas on one of his missionary jour-��!�1��#��$�served as an interpreter for Peter on his missionary work, in one of Peter’s letters he says that Mark is with him.

It also is very likely that Mark was the young man who ran away frightened after Jesus had been arrested in the gar-den of Gethsemane (Mark 14). We honour him on April 25. �

23Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews

25Sunday April 22, 2012 � CatholicNews WHAT’S ON

Crossword Puzzle 1056

Solution to Crossword Puzzle No. 1055

10 Refuge11 “_____ let us

adore him…”12 “Angel of God,

my guardian _______…”

13 Young male horse21 Sib23 Playbill feature25 Put in a stake26 Her tomb was the

�� in the Bible

27 Tolerate28 Greased29 Boldness30 Prepares for

publication31 Steals from32 Sacks

33 Join in wedlock36 Happening every

two years37 A deadly sin39 Jesus was

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associated with a Doctor of the Church

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oversight agcy.14 Unfolds15 Daughter of Jacob16 US government

agency17 Skins an apple18 Scoop19 OT prophetic book20 Marriage

ceremony22 “Great” teacher of

Aquinas24 902, to Nero25 Not pro26 Personal interests28 Quick examination32 “Out of the

mouths of _____” (Mt 21:16)

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account without further _____…” (2 Macc 2:32)

35 Parched36 Bundled hay�� *��38 Son of Jacob39 Exhausted40 Schemes41 The Good _____43 Charles Martel

saved Christian

Europe here44 Very small45 Light melody46 “Many are invited,

but few are ____.” (Mt 22:14)

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53 Road service org.54 Catholic custom

of dropping into the Church for a few minutes to say a quick prayer

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done on _____”59 Bay60 Tool of trade for

Peter and Andrew61 It may be blank62 Tombs

DOWN1 Leader of the

Church2 Monkeys3 “…and darkness

was upon the face of the _____” (Gen 1:2)

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Ike7 Monetary unit of

Iran8 Besides9 Even

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A N Y S T E E P L ES Y N O D S J A I RR E A D Y T A L C G L E NT A P E D R I V E R I T EA H A S R I L E N I S A N

C A B S W I M P L EU M B R A G E H A GR A R I N G W A S H A B L EB R I O I R I S H R E U PA I N T N O L T E K E N ON A G S G I L E S S S T S

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EVENT SUBMISSIONSWe welcome information of events

happening in our local Church. Please send your submission at

least one month before the event.Online submissions can be made at

www.catholic.sg/webevent_form.php

Wednesdays April 18 to May 23BOOK OF DANIEL9.30am-11.30am: By Church of the Holy Spirit Bible Apostolate. At Church of the Holy Spirit Room A2-01. Register T: 8228 8220 (Clare), 9815 4098 (Genevieve). E: [email protected]

April 18 THE WHYS OF HUMAN SUFFERING AND OVERSEAS HUMANITARIAN WORK 7-9pm: Speaker: Fr David Garcia, OP. By CHARIS. At Church of the Holy Spirit Room 03-02 (248 Upp Thomson Rd). Register T: 6338 0182 (Albert); E: [email protected]

Thursdays April 19 to June 21EASTER BIBLE STUDY7.30-9.30pm: Journey with an adult Catholic community. Cost: $20. By Harvesters Community. At Church of St Bernadette. Register: E: [email protected]

April 20CHURCH OF ST ANTHONY FUND-RAISING GOLF EVENT11.30am-9.30pm: To raise funds for parish’s new church building. Guest of Honour: Dr Tan Cheng Bock. At Warren Golf & Country Club. T: 9748 8308 (Louise); E: [email protected]

April 21STEPS TO HAPPINESS – POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 9.30am-12pm: Talk on Positive Psychology tools that help improve your happiness level through simple lifestyle changes. Speaker: Dr Christopher Cheok. By Clarity Singapore. At National Voluntary & Philanthropy Centre (The Central #04-88, 6 Eu Tong Sen St). Register T: 9710 3733; E: [email protected]

April 22FRIENDS IN NEED MASS��+�/�� 4�Q%��meeting in 1833 and birthday of SVDP founder. Main celebrant: Archbishop Nicholas Chia. By Society of St Vincent de Paul National Council. At Church of St Ignatius (120 Kings Rd). E: [email protected];

Wednesday April 25 to Saturday April 28 PSYCHO-SPIRITUAL TALKS 7pm (daily): Fr Michele Vezzoli will speak on Enneagram and Spiritual Growth, Transactional Analysis and Relationship with God, Stages of Spiritual Growth, Prayer in the Modern World. At Canossa Convent Primary School (1 Sallim Rd). Register T: 6466 2178; E: [email protected]; W: http://www.lifespringscanossian.com

Wednesdays April 25 to May 9 LIGHT! CONSTITUTION! ACTION!8-10pm: Discover how we can personalise 2 Vatican II documents, Lumen Gentium and Gaudium Et Spes and make them relevant to our spiritual and interior lives. At Church of St Mary of the Angels. E: [email protected]; Register W: http://www.stmary.sg/vatican2/2012/04/05/lights-constitution-action/

April 27 CONTEMPORARY JESUIT HYMNS: THEOLOGICAL UNDERSTANDING OF LITURGICAL MUSIC 7.30-9.30pm: Explore salient theological aspects of Jesuit Liturgical Music in this talk. At CANA The Catholic Centre (55 Waterloo St Level 2). Register T: 6336 4815, 6336 4467; E: [email protected]

April 27 EXAM MASS@NATIVITY CHURCH7.30-9.30pm: For youths preparing for their exams. Parents are encouraged to attend with children. At Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1259 Upp Serangoon Rd). All welcome.

RCIA/RCIYA journey for those seeking to know more about the Catholic faith. Baptised Catholics are also invited to journey as sponsors.

Wednesdays from April 18RCIA@CHURCH OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI 7.30-9.30pm: At Church of St Francis of Assisi (200 Boon Lay Ave). T: 9765 1315 (Carol); E: [email protected] from April 26RCIA@BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 7.30-9pm: At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 6474 0582, E: [email protected]. Registration forms �� request by email. Fridays from April 27 RCIA@CHURCH OF ST TERESA 7.45-9.15pm: At Church of St Teresa (St Paul Room Level 4 Parish House). T: 6271 1184; E: [email protected] Saturdays from May 12 RCIY@CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 4-6pm: For 15-21 years old. At Church of St Ignatius (120 King’s Rd). T: 9762 6330 (Evelyn); 9362 0912 (Pascalene); E: [email protected]; W: stignatiusrciy.blogspot.comTuesdays from May 29RCIA@CHURCH OF ST IGNATIUS 8-10pm: At Church of St Ignatius Hall (120 King’s Rd). T: 6466 0625 ext 10 (Angela) E: [email protected] Sundays from May 27RCIA@CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR (MANDARIN) 9-10.30am: At Church of the Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (31 Siglap Hill). T: 9625 3897 (Molly), 9687 6021 (Zheng Ying); E: [email protected] Thursdays from May 31RCIA@CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 8-10pm: At Church of the Holy Spirit (248 Upper Thomson Rd). T: 9010 2829, E: [email protected] Tuesdays from June 12RCIA@CHURCH OF STS PETER AND PAUL 7.30pm: At Church of Sts Peter and Paul (225A Queen St). T: 9753 6863 (Joanna); E: [email protected]. Registration �� !�

April 28JESUIT OPEN HOUSE1-5pm: With refreshments and music at the Loyola Jesuit Novitiate ending with the ordination of Agustinas Tanudjaja to the priesthood, SJ. At Loyola Jesuit Novitiate, Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). T: 9711 9717; E: [email protected]

April 29A TAPESTRY OF SACRED MUSIC – GLIMPSES OF FAITH: GREGORIAN CHANTS 2.30pm: With music from the traditional Catholic Mass. Free. By The Esplanade Theatres of the Bay. At Esplanade Concert Hall. W: http://www.tapestryofsacredmusic.com/2012/free_faith.htm

Monday April 30 to Thursday May 3 SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY TRAINING 9.30am-1pm: 3-day training course for new members of School Chaplaincy Teams by Dr Michael Downey. By ACCS. At CAEC (2 Highland Rd). T: 6858 7085 (Louis). E: [email protected]

Wednesdays May 2 to May 16FINDING GOD IN YOUR READING 8-9.30pm: Based on Mitch Albom’s Have a Little Faith and through Ignatian �� *�� the environment and the Divine. Facilitated by Fr Leslie Raj, SJ. Love offering. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: [email protected]

Fridays May 4 to June 8 CaFE: SAINTS – HELPING US TODAY 7.45-9.30pm: Learn how the saints’ teachings can give us practical help in our lives today. By ACPT. At Church of St Bernadette (12 Zion Rd). Register with name, age and contact no SMS: 9007 0987; E: [email protected]

May 6BILINGUAL PERANAKAN MASS AT BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH 10.45am: In English and Peranakan. Celebrated by Fr Alfred Chan. All welcome. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Dr).

Friday May 11 to Sunday May 13LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR7.30-9.30pm (Fri), 7-9pm (Sat), 9am-6pm (Sun): Rediscover and experience God’s love through the power of the Holy Spirit. At Church of Holy Trinity Register T: 9692 0186 (Jeremy) E: [email protected]

Saturdays May 12 to May 19 BEING & BECOMING THROUGH ART JOURNALING 2-5pm: Learn about art-journaling, using the language of design to help you focus, express, and connect with yourself. Cost: $160. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: [email protected]

Tuesdays May 29 to August 7LANDINGS8-10pm: For “returning” Catholics and those who wish to renew and share their faith experience. At Blessed Sacrament Church (1 Commonwealth Drive). T: 9750 3998 (Steven), 9668 2391 (Lilian); E: [email protected]

Friday June 8 to Sunday June 10THE BREAD OF LIFE: A DIRECTED RETREAT 7pm (Fri)-5pm (Sun): A silent retreat ��*�� @��Communion and Christian commitment. Facilitated by CISC spiritual directors. Cost: $110 (non-air con), $160 (air-con). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At 8 Victoria Park Rd. T: 64676072; F: 6468 7584; E: [email protected]

June 27PRAYING WITH ANOTHER FOR HEALING 7.30-10pm: Participants will pray in silence for each other and experience God’s healing. By Fr Matthew Linn, SJ. Cost: $20. By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At St Ignatius Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register T: 6467 6072; E: [email protected]; W: http://catholic.org.sg/cisc

June 30THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE: TURNING STRESS INTO STRENGTH 10am-5pm: Learn to transform your cause of irritation, anxiety and depression into an experience that endows you with new strength. Cost: $80 (with lunch). By Centre for Ignatian Spirituality and Counselling. At Kingsmead Hall (8 Victoria Park Rd). Register T: 6467 6072; F: 6468 7584; E: [email protected]; W: http://catholic.org.sg/cisc


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

MEXICO CITY – The Mexican Senate narrowly approved a constitutional provision pro-viding “freedom of religion” days after Pope Benedict XVI completed a visit to the country marked by an outpouring of en-thusiasm and affection.

The Senate approved chang-es to Article 24 of the Mexican Constitution on March 29, guar-anteeing freedom of religion and making it possible to lift re-strictions on religious groups to hold services outside of author- �� $-ing government permission.

Earlier in the day, the Senate approved changes to Article 40 of the constitution by including

the word “secular” as one of the descriptions of the Mexican state.

The Mexican bishops’ con-ference welcomed the changes, saying in a March 29 statement that with the reforms, “Mexico incorporates the highest levels of respect and promotion of hu-man rights”.

Others, however, criticised the move. “In Mexico, there’s re-ligious freedom. What’s limited is priests’ political expressions,” Senator Pablo Gomez wrote in the newspaper Milenio. The con-stitutional changes now must be approved by a majority of Mexi-co’s 31 state governments.

Pope Benedict visited central Mexico from March 23-26. � CNS

VATICAN CITY – The Vatican spokesman has praised Cuba’s decision to accept Pope Benedict XVI’s request to make Good Fri-day a national holiday this year.

“It is certainly a very positive sign,” Jesuit Fr Federico Lombar-di, the Vatican spokesman, said on April 1.

Good Friday fell on April 6 this year.

During the pope’s private meet-ing with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana on March 27, the pope asked for further freedoms for the Catholic Church in the com-munist nation, including the decla-ration of Good Friday as a holiday.

The Cuban government ac-cepted the proposal on March 31 after the pope returned to the Vati-can on March 29.

The Vatican hopes Pope Ben-edict’s March 26-28 visit to Cuba “continues to bring the desired fruits for the good of the Church and all Cubans”, Fr Lombardi added.

Only Good Friday 2012 has been made a public holiday. The

government has not decided whether it will become a perma-nent celebration, news reports said.

Blessed John Paul II’s trip to Cuba in 1998 led to Cuba recog-nising Christmas as a recurring public holiday. � CNS

HAVANA – Pope Benedict XVI called for full religious freedom and greater respect for human rights in Cuba at a Mass in Ha-vana’s Revolution Square, loca-tion of the headquarters of Cuba’s Communist Party.

“In Cuba, steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry out her essential mission of expressing the faith openly and publicly,” the pope said during his homily on March 28. “Nonethe-less, this must continue forward.”

The Catholic Church is not ask-ing for special privileges but for the recognition of the basic right to re-ligious freedom and freedom of ex-pression, which includes expressing one’s faith in concrete acts of charity and service to society, the pope said.

To carry out its obligations to

proclaim and live the Gospel, the Church “must count on basic reli-gious freedom, which consists in her being able to proclaim and to cele-brate her faith also in public, bring-ing to others the message of love, reconciliation and peace”, he said.

With President Raul Castro seated near the altar platform, the pope said the Church’s wit-ness is usually expressed through “preaching and teaching”, which is one of the reasons why the Church hopes that “the moment will soon arrive” when it can operate schools and universities in Cuba.

“Cuba and the world need change,” the pope stressed, but that will happen only if each and every person “is in a position to seek the truth and chooses the way of love, sowing recon-

ciliation and fraternity”.People started gathering for the

Mass before 6 am. They prepared for the liturgy with songs and by listening to priests and a catechist explaining basic Church teaching on baptism and the Eucharist, the role of the pope in the Church and Pope Benedict’s biography.

The Mass began at 9 am under a clear blue sky with a light breeze blowing. As at the papal Mass in

Santiago de Cuba on March 26, thousands in the crowd were dressed in white T-shirts and baseball caps.

4 ~�� Perez said he was pleased to be present. “I am very happy because he is the vicar of God,” he said.

Msgr Jose Felix Perez Riera, assistant secretary of the Cuban bishops’ conference and pastor of St Rita of Cascia Church, told Catho-lic News Service the previous day that many of the people who were to be at the Mass were being brought by the Communist Party and other government-related organisations. Many Catholics in towns outside Havana were unable to get tickets or transportation to the event, he said.

As he prepred to leave Cuba at the end of a three-day pastoral vis-it, Pope Benedict XVI made his

��4��of the island and the embargo’s impact on the country’s poor.

All Cubans need to work togeth-er to build a renewed and reconciled �� -en a “lack of material resources, a situation which is worsened when restrictive economic measures, im-posed from outside the country, un-fairly burden its people”, the pope �� #��£�� farewell ceremony.

@�� States by name.

The Vatican has repeatedly �� 4� �� measure that has not forced Cuba’s communist government to respect human rights, but instead has had a devastating effect on the Cuban people, especially the poor. � CNS

Mexican Senate approves religion liberty provisions

Pope Benedict XVI and Cuba’s President Raul Castro seen outside the Palace of the Revolution in Havana.

Good Friday 2012 now public holiday

... says Pope Benedict XVI at his final Mass in Cuba

The Church is asking for the recognition of the basic right to religious freedom in Cuba, said the pope.

Pope Benedict carries his pastoral staff after Mass in Revolution Square in Havana on March 28. A woman attending Mass with the pope holds a sign in Spanish that reads, ‘God loves you’.

CNS photos

POPE IN CUBA

april 22, 2012, vol 62, no 08

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